Music

30 Apr 2024

Bun B, Chase B & More Unveil Their Houston Top 10 Get Up Anthems Playlist

Few songs withstand time, distinguished by their infectious beats, experimental sounds, poignant lyrics or enduring appeal, rendering them as classics. In partnership with Tres Generaciones Tequila, a brand that champions the journey and not just the destination, we’re on a exploration to roundup the top Get Up Anthems over this next year from these six cities: Houston, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles. Guided by curated panels, we delve deep into each city’s sonic history, spotlighting tracks that embody resilience, authenticity, and innovation and celebrate the power music has to inspire listeners to get up and chase their passions, in the spirit of perseverance.

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The Top 10 Get Up Anthems from Houston were crafted through a blend of editorial expertise, data-driven analytics, social impact and personal sentiment, to create a ranked list of the songs which inspired, captivated, and energized the Bayou City. In a historical dive from 1973 to present day, the city’s playlist [click HERE to play] features hometown hits that are synonymous with the city’s rich history and culture, hand selected by Houston’s very own, Bun B. and Chase B, Billboard editors, Damien Scott and Cat Johnson, and moderated by Rocsi Diaz.

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Did they get it right? Or were they off the mark?

Take a look at the Top 10 Get Up Anthems for Houston:

10. “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” – Geto Boys (1991)

Known for its haunting piano loop, gritty production, and raw, introspective lyrics, “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” epitomizes the distinct sound and storytelling prowess of the Geto Boys, off of their 1991 album, We Can’t Be Stopped. The record pushed the album to reach No. 5 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and spent three-weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, No. 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 23 on the Hot 100 and went on to influence Kid Cudi’s No. 3 Hot 100 hit “Day ‘N’ Nite.” The song still pulls an average of 750,000 streams a week since last summer.

Bun B.: “This record not only set the tone for us musically, but also business wise, that you don’t have to run in New York, you don’t have to go to L.A., you don’t need nobody. You can do it right here in Houston. That set the tone for us.”

Chase B.: “I was born in 1990. The song came out in 91, and, literally I was out just running around on Saturday, just going to different brunches and whatever different, DJ sets and everything and I must’ve heard that song 6 or 7 times.”

9. “Savage (Remix)” – Megan the Stallion feat. Beyoncé (2020)

Bringing together two of Houston’s prominent female voices, the remix not only propelled Megan Thee Stallion to greater prominence but also showcased the enduring influence and talent of Houston’s homegrown artists on the global stage. The song’s infectious beats, catchy hooks, and confident delivery epitomize the trademark styles of both artists, creating a synergy that captivates listeners. To no surprise, the song gave Megan her first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 and Beyoncé’s first in almost three years. It was the No. 1 on Streaming Songs, spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay and No. 7 on Pop Airplay. The song still pulls an average of 1.5 – 1.75 million streams a week since last summer.

BB.: “I think it’s also a good look for Houston women in particular. Once again, Beyoncé understands the platform and understands her power and passes that on to the next generation of Houston representatives for the women.”

Cat Johnson: “So it was Megan’s first number one [on the Hot 100] and Beyoncé’s first number one in almost three years, which is a big deal. Like Megan did that for Beyoncé in a sense. The song also pulls an average of 1.5 to 1.75 million streams a week.”

Damien Scott: “t was a massive moment, and Meg was on the rise. And as Bun said, this was Beyoncé passing it forward to the next generation, handing her the baton. And, you know, not just for her being a major, black female musician, but someone from her hometown.”

Rocsi Diaz: “ I think that what Megan did for Beyoncé was bring out more fun out of Beyoncé, I think she gave her the liberty to really go down and drop, although we were already dropping down on our knees.”

8. “Get Throwed” – Bun B feat. Pimp C, Jeezy, JAY-Z and Z-Ro (2005)

Crafted with Bun B’s signature lyrical prowess and accompanied by infectious beats, the 2005 hit record, “Get Throwed” from the legend’s debut album Trill, embodies the chopped and screwed style synonymous with Houston’s rap culture. Featuring collaborations with fellow Houston legends Pimp C, Z-Ro, and Young Jeezy, the song seamlessly blends gritty realism with infectious energy, creating a sonic landscape sure for a crowd favorite. Since its release, it peaked at No. 49 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and No. 24 on Rap Airplay.v

R.D: “ First of all, can I say that’s one of my favorite songs? And that’s not because you’re sitting here that’s just like as a song.”

C.B: “ just when you hear those guitars in the intro, that’s like one of the most important fabrics in Houston culture, just, in general, and it’s been sampled so many times just because of what it means and just the whole aura of it, the atmosphere of the sound and just how slow it comes in. And also just the title of the song, throwed is obviously a huge Houston word, you know, born and bred right here in Houston, Texas.”

7. “25 Lighters” – Fat Pat, DJ DMD & Lil Keke (2001)

The song’s laid-back vibe and infectious groove capture the essence of Houston’s street culture, while its evocative lyrics pay homage to the city’s unique slang and traditions. Released in 1998, although the song didn’t chart nationally, the track became an instant classic within the city’s rap scene, embodying the spirit of Houston’s underground culture.

B.B.: “ It’s so Houston that ZZ Top remade the record. And I don’t mean a play on the record, they literally redid the record just singing instead of rap. And I mean ZZ Top, we’re talking about Texas. We’re talking about Houston. It’s a big deal.”

C.J: “The song didn’t chart, but on a national level though, you’ve heard “25 lighters.”

Damien: “It’s one of those songs that’s just like an indelible part of the fabric of of hip hop. It’s. Everyone knows it. Everyone you know has either recited it or used it or remixed it or sampled it. It’s just one of those songs.”

R.D.: “It was a victim of the timing of when it came out that it just didn’t make it outside of the South. Per se, charting wise, but again, to piggyback on what you said, like, it’s just a classic hip-hop song.”

B.B.: “This was like us getting to hear Pat again after him passing – like new music. That was a big part of this record being as big as it was, like as far as Houston.”

6. “Wanna Be a Baller” – Lil’ Troy feat. Yungsta, Fat Pat, Lil’ Will, Hawk, and Big T (1999)

Serving as an anthem for ambition and perseverance, “Wanna Be a Baller’s” portrayal of the hustle and dreams of making it big resonates deeply with Houstonians, reflecting the city’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive for success. As the fourth track on the album, Sittin’ Fat Down South, it helped propel the album’s success, reaching No. 6 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 20 on the Billboard 200. Lil’ Troy’s melodic delivery and vivid storytelling paint a vivid picture of the city’s street life and aspirations for success, making it an instant favorite among listeners, still pulling an average of 1.25 million streams a week since last summer. The record peaked at No. 5 on Rap Airplay, No. 31 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 70 on the Hot 100 No. 22 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.

B.B.: “It’s unmistakably Houston recipe’s big team. One of the best hooks ever to come out of Houston. That independent spirit, right? Lil’ Troy is one of the first people to have an independent label here. The original person to find and sign Scarface and, I mean, “Wanna Be a Baller” was a hit record as soon as anybody heard it.”

C.J.: “Crazy fact. It still pulls an average of 1.25 million streams a week.”

D.S.: “It’s one of those songs that you hear every year. At least once. If you go to, like a basketball game or, you know, a festival or you watch a movie.”

5. “Southside” – Lil’ Keke (1997)

Off of his 1997 debut album, Don’t Mess With Texas, “Southside” by Lil’ Keke stands as a timeless ode to Houston’s hip-hop culture through its authentic lyrics and enduring impact on the city’s social fabric. Both the title of the song AND album quickly suggests to listeners Houstonian pride, remaining a cherished part of the city’’s musical identity. The song reached No. 28 on the Hot Rap Songs chart and No. 55 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Bun B: “Keke is as Houston a person as you can get. And I’m not talking about music, lyrics or rapping. Any day you sit and talk to Keke and see his personality, his character, he’s Houston, all right.”

D.S.: “I think if this was released later in the time of streaming, it would be a way bigger hit and it would, it would dominate, it would be on every playlist. It would be way, way higher on the hip hop chart, would probably be on the pop charts. It was just a massive song. And you hear it everywhere, it’s one of those songs again that everybody, if you’re a rap fan of a certain age, you just know it. Everyone’s used to it, everyone knows where it’s from. They know Keke. This is a classic record.”

C.B.: “This is the only song from Houston that has a dance attached to it. And to that, I feel like, is an anthem.”

4. “Tops Drop” – Fat Pat (1998)

Fat Pat’s vivid storytelling creates a sonic experience that resonates with listeners, capturing the essence of cruising through Houston’s streets and slab culture. The song’s portrayal of Houston’s car culture and laid-back lifestyle resonates deeply. The record reached No. 5 on Hot Rap Songs and its parent album Ghetto Dreams reached the top 40 of Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, peaking at No. 39.

C.B.: “‘Welcome to the land where just don’t stop is:’ I feel like that just embodies where we are, where we’re from. That’s, you know, MLK on Sundays. That’s this. You really can see the sunshine and old schools and slab lines, you can envision the whole thing when it comes to that song. And, you know.”

B.B.: “The song is a testament to how much Houston loves its hip hop community, and some of us here, as we talked about earlier, will never have nationally celebrated records. But because we’re a part of certain records, that represent the culture of Houston.”

C.J.: “The song is in a major retailer commercial in 2024. And the fact that, again, people from all across America, maybe even the world are going to be re-introduced to the song via this commercial, it’s amazing – iconic.”

3. “Still Tippin’” – Mike Jones feat Slim Thug and Paul Wall (2005)

Released in 2004, the song propelled Mike Jones to national fame while showcasing Houston’s unique rap style and culture to a broader audience. This would become each artist’s first entry to the Hot 100 charts, peaking at No. 60 and No. 25 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Built on a mesmerizing beat, catchy hooks, and Mike Jones’ distinctive flow, “Still Tippin” captures the essence of Houston’s rap scene in the early 2000s and since last August, the song still pulls in 1 – 1.25 million weekly streams on average.

D.S.: “ It’s just rare that you get to witness a watershed moment in music. Yeah. You know, it’s rare that you get to be present for it and see it. And a lot of people at the time don’t may not understand what’s happening. But I think with this, everyone who was watching and listening thought to themselves, this is the start of something new.”

Roxy: “It stayed on the countdown, that’s for sure. Just stayed on the countdown.”

2. “Mo City Don” – Z-Ro (2005)

The 6-minute freestyle, “Mo City Don” by Z-Ro holds a revered place within Houston’s hip-hop pantheon, embodying the ethos and experiences of Mo City (Missouri City), a suburb of Houston. The composition is marked by its raw authenticity and emotional depth and the song’s production features haunting melodies and a hypnotic beat that serves as the backdrop for Z-Ro’s introspective and impassioned lyrics. Although there wasn’t any noticeable charting activity for the song, the influence of this song is undeniable. As the opening track on Let The Truth Be Told, the localized success of the record contributed to the album reaching No. 5 on Top Rap Albums and No. 14 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

C.B.: “First of all, as a loud and proud Missouri City for my entire life, this song is another testament of how well Houston artists flip samples as songwriters, not even necessarily the beats, but as songwriters and just take it our own thing. Growing up in a house party, that middle school, high school and everything, this was our chance to, like, kind of, like, represent where we were from, and it belonged to us.”

B.B: On a daily basis. On an hourly basis. There is no record in Houston, I think in 2024 that more people will agree represent Houston than ‘Mo City Don”

1. “June 27th” – DJ Screw (1996)

You cannot debate Texas music and fail to mention DJ Screw’s chooped and screwed technique. The 1996, 38-minute freestyle evokes a sense of nostalgia and reflection, characterized by its hypnotic tempo, slowed-down rhythms, and manipulated vocal effects. Through its unconventional structure and immersive atmosphere, “June 27th” captures the essence of DJ Screw’s artistic vision and his deep connection to the city he called home and although it never charted due to its non-commercial release, the 38-minute freestyle is a hometown beloved.

B.B: “You’d be hard pressed to find something that represents Houston culture, to a myriad of people right across the board, that this song doesn’t really speak to.”

C.B: “I just feel like if you’re going to pick a Chopped and Screw song, this is obviously the one to do it. And I feel like Chopped and Screw music definitely should be represented on the list. So I feel like June 27th, this is like its purpose right here.”

Watch the full discussion HERE and recreate the cocktails that powered the conversation at home!

30 Apr 2024

SEVENTEEN Is ‘Filled With Joy’ at ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN Tour in Seoul: Exclusive Photos

Hours before SEVENTEEN dropped their new greatest hits album, 17 Is Right Here, on April 29, the K-pop sensations seized the moment by holding two electrifying concerts at the Seoul World Cup Stadium to preview the record and celebrate nearly a decade of hits together.

Against the backdrop of the stadium, SEVENTEEN leader S.Coups noted the sentimental moment, telling the crowd, “Standing here, I feel like I’ve been running towards this very moment up until now,” a testament to the journey they’ve undertaken alongside their devoted fanbase known as CARATs. Seungkwan added, “Our goal today is to present all CARATs here with the best day they ever had.”

With a five-piece live band noticeably elevating the SEVENTEEN musical experience to new heights from opening tracks “Super” and “Don Quixote,” the SVT crew delved into a slightly adjusted setlist for the closing shows of their ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN tour that previously hit Osaka and Kanagawa in Japan, as well as Incheon, South Korea. Offering fans a glimpse into their upcoming album, the live premiere of four new songs — including their maximalstic, break-beat single “MAESTRO” — made the tour finale all the more montemous. Mingyu reflected that they “were both nervous and excited to showcase the first performance of ‘MAESTRO’ here,” with Hoshi noting, “We wanted to show our ‘best’ selves for the CARATs. We really put our best efforts into this performance.”



As the concert drew to a close and each of the 13 members shared parting words with the crowd, Woozi encapsulated a collective sentiment, saying: “The ‘Best [Of]’ album will be released the day after tomorrow. It’s an album dear to me, embodying SEVENTEEN’s beliefs. Today’s show was also like that in some sense. Performing today, I was strongly reminded of all the memories tied to each and every song. Today may have been an ordinary day for some, but for everyone here and us, it was a day of 10 years, making it so much more valuable. This moment is so special to us, so we always try to capture and remember everyone with our eyes as much as possible.”

Read on for more from SEVENTEEN’s Seoul shows, and see exclusive photos of S.Coups, Woozi, Hoshi, Seungkwan, Mingyu, Jeonghan, The8, Joshua, DK, Wonwoo, Jun, Vernon and Dino below:

30 Apr 2024

Here’s How Taylor Swift Should Update Her Eras Tour Setlist to Include ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

ADD:

  1. “Fortnight”
  2. “The Tortured Poets Department”
  3. “Down Bad”
  4. “So Long, London”
  5. “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”
  6. Mashup: “Teardrops on My Guitar” x “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart”
  7. “But Daddy I Love Him”

Note: As Swift’s newest album, Tortured Poets deserves to be the finale. And while, upon first listen, the record may not seem like it has enough stadium-ready bops to close out the show, the above songs 100% have the potential to be converted into the high-energy moments the Eras Tour commands. Just imagine the theatrical potential of “Who’s Afraid,” the meta-ness of a real-life crowd chanting “More!” during “Broken Heart,” and confetti falling from the sky during the final chorus of “But Daddy…” We picture gothic visuals, writing desks, typewriter props, period costumes and lightning strikes during this section.

Now, about that mashup. It’s absurd that Swift has never included any songs from her 2006 self-titled debut album — aka her first-ever era — on the main Eras Tour setlist. But it’s not too late to rectify that.

Picture this: The lights go down after Swift performs “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” Costumes change, a tiger cage and other circus-themed set pieces are wheeled away. Then, the songwriter — her silhouette barely visible under the dim glow of an aquamarine spotlight — sings a cappella the final chorus of the first song about faking smiles in the face of heartbreak she ever released: “Teardrops on My Guitar.” Emphasis on the lyric, “the only one who’s got enough of me to break my heart.”

After she trails off on the last line — “Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won’t see” — the stadium comes to life once more as the crowd’s multi-color light-up bracelets go haywire, an explosion of sound filling the space. “I can read your mind,” Swift jumps in, surrounded by dancers as the lights suddenly go up, revealing one last fabulous costume. “‘She’s having the time of her life…’”

Once that’s done, she’ll move on to the finale, flipping off the haters, embracing her truest fans and proudly proclaiming her love for the man of her dreams in one fell swoop with “But Daddy I Love Him,” disappearing offstage before concertgoers have even finished singing along. Fin.

30 Apr 2024

Slipknot Announces 2024 North American Summer Tour

Slipknot is heading back out on the road! The heavy metal legends announced the dates for the North American leg of their Here Comes the Pain Tour on Tuesday (April 30), which arrives amid the 25th anniversary of their debut self-titled album.

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“We loved what we did with the first record but we didn’t even know if there was gonna be anything after that,” recalls guitarist Jim Root of 1999’s Slipknot in a press statement. “We just wanted people to hear it. Selling out of records and shows, having successful tours– those are goals for any band. But the dream scenario in some ways, came true for us.”

The North American Here Comes the Pain Tour will kick off on August 6 in Noblesville, Ind., before hitting iconic venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and Moody Center in Austin, Texas before wrapping up with Knotfest Iowa at Waterworks Park on September 21. Knocked Loose, Orbit Culture and Vended will be joining the gig as special guests on select dates.

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See the full list of tour dates below.

Aug 06: Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center *
Aug 07: Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake *
Aug 09: Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena *
Aug 10: Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion *
Aug 12: New York, NY – Madison Square Garden *
Aug 14: Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion *
Aug 15: Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center *
Aug 17: Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena *
Sep 07: Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre #
Sep 08: Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Styles Resorts Amphitheater #
Sep 11: Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater #
Sep 13: Inglewood, CA – Intuit Dome #
Sep 15: Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre #
Sep 17: Austin, TX – Moody Center #
Sep 18: Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion #
Sep 21: Des Moines, IA – Knotfest Iowa at Waterworks Park #

* w/ Special Guests Knocked Loose and Orbit Culture
# w/ Special Guests Knocked Loose and Vended

30 Apr 2024

Afrobeats Fresh Picks: Young Jonn, Bloody Civilian, Ruger x Bnxn, Tems, Black Sherif & More

This month has produced the biggest bounty of great releases from African artists in 2024 so far, with some of the most exciting, innovative and fastest-rising artists and veterans releasing not just big singles, but long-awaited albums — and with much more promised for the coming months as summer approaches.

Tems released her reimagining of Nigerian singer-songwriter Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 smash “Love Me Jeje” following her debut performance of the single at Coachella. It’s the first single from her upcoming debut album Born in the Wild, which will be released in May. Meanwhile, Joeboy linked with teenage sensation Qing Madi, ODUMODUBLVCK and Blaqbonez lined up a distinctive collaboration and Black Sherif turned up the aggression with a new banger.

Nigerian Afropop singer Minz talks a big game on his new single “shadow” with German trio 255, who also produced 1da Banton and Bella Shmurda’s “Evidence” collaboration, which has been featured in this column. Speaking of collabs, Ruger and Bnxn put their past troubles behind them and celebrate their harmonious relationship on their joint album RnB. And Young Jonn helped Jamaican dancehall hitmaker Sean Paul earn his career-first entry on Billboard‘s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart this month with “Hold On,” from the latter’s long-awaited debut album Jiggy Forever.

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“I’m an artist and I go to Africa, and they are so appreciative of what we brought to the table. It’s been a symbiotic relationship back and forth over the years,” he told Billboard in an interview last week about the dynamic between Afrobeats and dancehall music. “We’re using drums from the sound that’s been Afro music, people like Fela Kuti and all of these great musicians, and we’re producing it the way we hear it [and] feel it. In Afrobeats [now], they have taken the hint from how we produce and done their own thing with it.”

We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite new Afrobeats (and related) songs that have come out roughly within the last month. Check out our latest Fresh Picks, and catch a vibe with our latest Spotify playlist below.

Minz & 255, “shadow” 

Minz dials up 255 for his bouncy new single “shadow.” “It’s certain, you know I’m killing it,” he flexes in the first verse, while assuring his haters won’t go far in the chorus. His self-assured flow fits perfectly with his and 255’s spirited production.  

Bloody Civilian, “Head Start”

On the heels of her electrifying debut EP Anger Management, Bloody Civilian remains a force to be reckoned with on her first single of 2024, “Head Start.” She leaves her opps quaking, so much so “you go think say they be dancers. Congratulations, you’re the best dancers,” she jeers in the chorus. But the track’s stirring Afropop production, with its alarming sirens, ominous synths and intoxicating percussion, will leave listeners dancing right alongside her opps. “This track is quite raw. Basically, I made a vengeance track that’s Afrobeats but is also low-key Travis Scott coded,” Bloody says in a press release.  

1da Banton & Bella Shmurda, “Evidence” 

Nigerian singer-songwriters 1da Banton and Bella Shmurda join forces for the first time on their summery two-track pack, Evidence / Holy Man. The first single, “Evidence,” is a vibrant, mid-tempo celebration of their success, with its hook “And the evidence choke/ Evidence choke, and the boys dem know/ Boys dem know, and the everywhere I go” proving its up for the boys. Produced by 255, the track’s acoustic guitar drives its laidback production, while the atmospheric pitched-up melodies interspersed throughout “Evidence” adds an extra touch of levity.  

Ruger & Bnxn, “Not Done” 

Ruger and Bnxn make it clear that they’re “Not Done” with their past relationship (even if their ex feels otherwise) on the midtempo closing track of the Afropop stars’ remarkable joint album RnB. Produced by Blaisebeatz, “Not Done” tells the toxic tale of a man who won’t accept the end of a relationship, with Ruger questioning why she would ever want to leave him and Bnxn reminding her who treats her better in the bedroom. “When two artists like us come together, it’s sending a message to everyone around the industry,” Ruger said in a recent Billboard News interview. “For Afrobeats right now, many of us don’t really work together. People don’t drop joint projects like that. But this project actually is taking us to another level.” 

Young Jonn feat. Sean Paul, “Hold On”  

Young Jonn links up with reggae legend Sean Paul on the sensual highlight “Hold On” from his debut album Jiggy Forever. With its stirring string arrangement, melodic vibes, Jonn’s come-hither vocals and Paul’s lustful lyrics, “Hold On” is the kind of record you sing while whining up on your significant other or even a stranger on the dance floor on a warm summer’s night. “I recorded this song in Madrid and was actually in the studio with Memphis Depay. He was actually gonna take the beat, but before you know it, I’d recorded the chorus!” he told Apple Music about the song. “I sent the song to my manager — she’s a very imaginative person and was like, ‘We should get Sean Paul on it.’ Earlier this year she sent me a message saying we got Sean Paul; it was crazy!”

Young Jonn, “Bahamas”

The super-producer has been stringing us along with top-shelf single after top-shelf single for more than a year now, but his Jiggy Forever album is finally here, and it’s no surprise that there are a slew of absolutely beautiful songs sprinkled throughout. His songs have always had a touch of nostalgia, or yearning, to them, both lyrically and musically, and “Bahamas” fits into that lineage perfectly the latest in what is becoming a formidable catalog of big, aspirational hits.

Tems, “Love Me JeJe”

As she gears up for the release of her debut album Born In the Wild in May, Tems comes with a new single that’s perfectly in her pocket, showcasing her voice and her laid-back style, on a track that takes its name from Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 hit. The hook “I’m on your wave right now/ I’m on your vibe now” — finds Tems right where she’s always been best: feeling her way through the music as effortlessly and coolly as any of us could ever hope to.

Black Sherif, “Shut Up”

The Ghanaian street MC has been on a roll lately, with his latest single a fiery, in-your-face cut that takes a derisive swipe at the competition, both inviting attacks from others while chronicling his no-doubt rise to the point he’s at now. It’s more aggressive than the “January 9th” single he dropped earlier this year, which took a more introspective approach, but it’s a status he’s earned by this point.

Joeboy feat. Qing Madi, “Adenuga”

Reliable hitmaker Joeboy recruits the young Nigerian singer Qing Madi to assist him on his latest, a platform for their two voices to dovetail in unexpectedly gorgeous ways as the song winds its way towards its finish. Before that, Joeboy himself tells the story of melting an icy tough exterior as he falls in love, displaying the melodic chops that helped him rise to the top of the Nigerian pop scene. It’s a duet that simply works fantastically.

ODUMODUBLVCK & Blaqbonez feat. Lekaa Beats, “Technician”

There may not be a more distinctive voice in African music in the past two years than ODUMODUBLVCK, whose flow and style are instantly recognizable and add an element to his music that others could wish to have. But if anyone could rival him for originality it might be Blaqbonez, and this collaboration is two fighters sparring at the highest level, with Lekaa Beats’ vocals the perfect icing.

30 Apr 2024

Young Miko Announces the XOXO Tour 2024: Here Are the Dates

Just three weeks after releasing her debut studio album Att., Young Miko has announced she’s hitting the road in 2024 in support of the set.

Her nearly 20-date headlining tour will kick off on July 31 in Denver, Colo., at the Fillmore Auditorium, and will make stops major cities such as Los Angeles; Austin, Texas; New York City; Boston; and Atlanta before concluding in Hollywood, Fla., on Sept. 11 at the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

The news follows her recent Coachella debut performance, which took place on April 12 and 19, where she featured a gigantic boombox center stage.

In announcing the trek Tuesday, she shared an Instagram reel in which the Puerto Rican rapper — who is rocking baggy blu pants and a pink long-sleeve shirt — takes a portable ghetto blaster to a graffiti-decorated alleyway. The camera pans to a fire hydrant emblazoned with the tag “XOXO Tour 2024” to announce the trek.

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Miko’s forthcoming tour backs her new 16-track album — which features songs such as “Rookie of the Year,” “ID” and “Curita” — which debuted in the top 10 of the Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts. She also reeled in collaborators such as Feid, Jowell & Randy, Elena Rose, Villano Antillano and Dei V for the album.

Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale on Wednesday (May 1) at 10 a.m. local time. Additional presales will run throughout ahead of the general onsale on Friday (May 3) at 10 a.m. local time via LiveNation.com.

See her full tour dates below:

  • 7/31   Denver, Colo.                     Fillmore Auditorium
  • 8/3     Wheatland, Calif.              Hard Rock Live Sacramento
  • 8/6     San José, Calif.                 San Jose Civic
  • 8/9     Phoenix, Ariz.                    Arizona Financial Theatre
  • 8/10   Las Vegas, Nev.                 Fontainebleau Las Vegas
  • 8/12   San Diego, Calif.                Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
  • 8/15   Los Angeles, Calif.             Peacock Theater *
  • 8/19   Austin, Texas                      Moody Amphitheater
  • 8/20   Houston, Texas                  Smart Financial Centre
  • 8/21   Irving, Texas                       The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
  • 8/24   Rosemont, Ill.                     Rosemont Theatre
  • 8/27   New York, N.Y.                    The Theater at Madison Square Garden
  • 8/30   Bridgeport, Conn.              Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
  • 8/31   Philadelphia, Pa.                 The Met
  • 9/1     Boston, Mass.                      Leader Bank Pavilion
  • 9/4     Washington, D.C.                The Theater at MGM National Harbor
  • 9/6     Atlanta, Ga.                          Coca-Cola Roxy
  • 9/7     Orlando, Fla.                         Hard Rock Live
  • 9/11   Hollywood, Fla.                    Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

30 Apr 2024

Diddy’s Daughter Chance Combs Attends Prom With Chloe x Halle’s Brother Branson Bailey

They say the world’s small, but Hollywood is even smaller. As prom season takes the U.S. by storm, two major music families hosted a heartwarming crossover moment. In pictures posted to their official Instagram pages on Monday (April 29), Chance Combs, daughter of embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sarah Chapman, and Branson Bailey, younger brother of Grammy-nominated musicians Chlöe and Halle Bailey, showed off their 2024 prom looks.

“Prom 2k24??✨,” Combs simply captioned her set of photos, which contained five pictures of her pastel prom look. She opted for a sleek slicked-back ponytail to match her sparkling strapless purple multi-tone gown, complete with floral embellishments, a corsage and purple-tinged earrings. Bailey sported a classic black tuxedo and matching corsage.

Trending on Billboard

A slew of famous friends and musicians left comments gushing over the young pair, including Combs’ older brother Justin Combs, who showered them with flame emojis. Yung Miami, a Billboard Hot 100-charting rapper who was romantically linked to Diddy, commented “Beautiful” alongside a string of heart-eyes emojis. Baby Phat head Kimora Lee Simmons wrote, “You’re beautiful, Chance,” while Misa Hylton, renowned stylist and mother of Justin Combs, quipped, “Gorgeous fancy Chance!!”

Bailey also shared the pics to his Instagram page, captioning his post “take a chance 2k24,” drawing emoji-filled comments of adoration from his older sisters and congratulations from Yvette Noel-Schure, their renowned publicist. DDG, rapper and boyfriend of Halle, commented, “Halo twinn ??,” alluding to how Branson and his new nephew Halo — born to Halle and DDG earlier this year — look alike.

30 Apr 2024

Mary J. Blige Reveals Plan to Retire in ‘Five or Six Years’… Maybe

Mary J. Blige has been in our ears, and on our screens, for more than 35 years. The nine-time Grammy-winning queen of hip-hop soul released her 14th album, Good Morning Gorgeous, in 2022 and recently co-starred in actor Chiwetel Ejiofor’s directorial debut, Rob Peace, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

From the looks of it she’s not slowing down at all. But in a new interview with Extra, the 53-year-old music icon who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this fall revealed that she is already thinking about her exit strategy. Asked what she’s singing about these days, Blige said, “Mary is singing about life. Life… love… being stable and understanding you can have things like love. You can have a good life.”

Just as importantly, Blige is also thinking about her future, which she said could include an exit from the stage sooner than you might think. “Right now, I’m definitely gonna do some more acting and I’m definitely gonna retire in, like, five or six years,” she told Extra without specifying what retirement would look like for her.

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Now before you freak out, Blige — who has had memorable roles in films including Rock of Ages, Mudbound and the 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic Respect as Dinah Washington — said the music retirement is more of an “eventual” thing, explaining, “Right now, I’m still doing what I’m doing but not as often as I was doing it because I don’t have to now.”

For now her future includes joining Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Kool & the Gang, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest at this year’s RRHOF induction ceremony in Cleveland on Oct. 19. In a recent interview with Tamron Hall, Blige said she was “still trying to process” the news. “It’s a big deal. I’m just so grateful because I know it didn’t have to be this way but it is this way, and I give all the credit to God. I don’t even know what else to do. It’s just so humbling,” she said. “I don’t know what to do besides be grateful and thankful.”

30 Apr 2024

Anne Hathaway Calls These Madonna & Britney Spears Hits the ‘Ultimate Pop Songs’

In The Idea of You, Anne Hathaway stars as Solène, a 40-year-old mom who, despite knowing little about boy bands aside from what her teenage daughter tells her, falls in love with the 24-year-old Harry Styles-esque lead singer of pop quintet August Moon, Hayes Campell (played by Nicholas Galitzine).

And in real life, the Academy Award winner is similar to her character, at least in that department. “I don’t know that much about boy bands,” she admits to Billboard on the red carpet at the film’s New York premiere Monday (April 29) when discussing boy bands. “I was trying to be diplomatic, but the truth is, I’m going totally blank right now.”

But naming pop queens? That comes easily for her. “The ultimate pop song for me is ‘Like a Prayer’ by Madonna, followed by close second, ‘…Baby One More Time’ by Britney [Spears],” she gushes. “We’re really lucky right now — we’re living in this glory time of pop music. There’s so many ones out there right now, but those two … I think ‘Toxic’ is really amazing too.”

Trending on Billboard

Fittingly, August Moon’s frontman knows his stuff. “There’s a song that I used to perform in front of my parents and my sister,” Galitzine tells Billboard when asked what he thinks is the quintessential boy band anthem. “I think it was called ‘Incomplete’ by the Backstreet Boys. It’s so melodramatic, so I think that’s what makes it a perfect boy band song.”

Based on Robinne Lee’s 2017 novel of the same name, The Idea of You has been generating buzz from the moment its trailer dropped in March, thanks to its undeniable real-life parallels to Harry Styles and One Direction (and it probably won’t die down any time soon once the internet gets a hold of Hathaway and Galitzine’s steamier scenes). But the other four members of August Moon — played by Dakota Adan, Jaiden Anthony, Raymond Cham Jr. and Viktor White, who have a group chat with Galitzine titled “Moon Me” and bonded over Mario Kart and Nerf gun battles during filming — agree that the comparisons to 1D and other boy bands are flattering, though they feel that their onscreen group has its own legs.

“We were like, ‘We don’t want to emulate a specific boy band too much, and we want August Moon to stand on its own,’” Anthony, whose character is named Adrian, tells Billboard on the carpet. “But there’s so many iconic [groups] — Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block, One Direction, The Beatles, even. There were so many videos and performances we watched, just to see what it is these bands have and what makes them so special. We kind of just took tidbits and little things here and there.”

Executive music producer Savan Kotecha was also very careful to treat August Moon as if it it were a real act, he tells Billboard, composing a body of work that sounded as if it had evolved alongside the band’s growing career for years. He even has an explanation for that one lyric in August Moon’s lead single “Dance Before We Walk,” which dropped on Spotify March 6 before the film’s premiere and finds Hayes singing, “I think I need a new direction lately.”

“When you see the movie, it’s actually about Hayes Campbell considering leaving the band … It’s about him moving on from August Moon,” Kotecha clarifies. “We had to sort of write the scope of the band, like, ‘What would their first teeny singles sound like,’ and ‘What would the second song be,’ and ‘Now they’re at Coachella, what would that song feel like?’”

The Idea of You hits Prime Video May 2.

30 Apr 2024

Kendrick Lamar Drops Scathing Drake Diss Track ‘Euphoria’: Listen

Grab the popcorn, because Kendrick Lamar has returned. K. Dot emerged to unleash the eviscerating “Euphoria,” taking aim at Drake on Tuesday (April 30).

The Compton artist’s Drake diss hit his YouTube channel early in the day and looks to land a knockout punch, with “Euphoria” — Drake is an executive producer of the HBO show of the same name — serving as his official response to Drizzy’s “Push Ups.”

Drake comes under fire as Lamar refers to him as a “degenerate,” “scam artist” and more, with Kendrick utilizing more of a spoken-word flow before horns come in to turn the intensity up a few notches after the first-minute warm-up.

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Next, Kendrick turns his focus to Drake and his 2018 battle with Pusha T, during which King Push revealed that the 6 God had a son, Adonis, on “The Story of Adidon.”

“Yeah, Cole and Aubrey know I’m a selfish n–a/ The crown is heavy, huh/ I pray they my real friends, if not, I’m YNW Melly/ I don’t like you poppin s–t at Pharrell, for him I’ll inherit the beef/ F–k all that pushin p, let me see you Pusha T, you better off spinning again on him you think about pushing me/ He’s Terrence Thorton I’m Terence Crawford I’m whooping feet,” he raps.

There’s no love lost between Lamar and Drake, with their long-simmering feud dating back more than a decade. K. Dot lets it be known this isn’t about competition, but there’s a genuine hatred for Drake.

“I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk/ I hate the way that you dress/ I hate the way that you sneak dissing/ If I flight it’s gonna be direct/ We hate the b—-s you f–k because they confuse themselves with real women,” Lamar spews.

He isn’t even close to done by this point, as he brings up hating Drake’s mob boss persona, claims the OVO boss doesn’t have a classic record in his discography and questions the legitimacy of his six-pack abs.

“Yeah, my first one like my last one, it’s a classic, you don’t have one/ Let your core audience stomach that/ Didn’t tell ’em where you get your abs from,” Dot continues to fire.

Drake’s “Push Ups” largely centered around him accusing Lamar of having to give away 50 percent of his earnings as part of his deal with Top Dawg Entertainment.

Kendrick turns the tables in “Euphoria,” wondering about Drizzy’s deal in which he was signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money, which lived under Birdman’s Cash Money Records and Universal Music Group.

He even alleges that Drake’s team served up a cease and desist over the Billboard Hot 100-topping “Like That,” which essentially lit the fuse of the feud earlier this year.

“You was signed to a n—a that’s signed to a n—a that said he was signed to that n—a/ Try cease and desist on the ‘Like That’ record/ Oh, what? You ain’t like that record,” he contests.

Lastly, Kendrick attacks Drake’s biracial identity and voices his disgust with him using n—a in his lyrics. “I even hate when you say the word ‘N—a,’ but that’s just me,” he raps before closing out the track. “We don’t want to hear you say n—a no more.”

“Euphoria” arrives 17 days after Drake’s “Push Ups” was leaked before he brought the diss record to streaming on April 19. (The track debuted at No. 19 on this week’s Hot 100.)

Listen to Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” response below.