Music

29 Mar 2024

Roc Marciano Returns to Reclaim His Throne with New Album ‘Marciology’: Stream It Now

After nearly two years, Roc Marciano is back with his 11th solo LP Marciology. The project features Larry June, Crimeapple, T.F, Flee Lord, Jay Worthy, Grea8GAWD, and Knowledge the Pirate. While Animoss and Marciano himself handle the bulk of the production, The Alchemist returns for another production spin on “Bad Juju” with Larry June.

Yesterday, Marci dropped the video to the album’s lead single “Gold Crossbow.” The self-produced track features his signature intricate wordplay and gritty production as Marci talks like he has no contenders. He even channels the spirit of Max B on the hook as he sings, “N—as kidnap your girlfriend, money make the world spin, n—as ain’t gettin’ none of it” like a money-hungry crime boss. Marciano starts the second verse off talking about his new crossbow, spitting, “we can keep this between me and you or we can get medieval.”

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The Long Island native has been plenty active in recent years, releasing the collaborative album The Elephant Man’s Bones with The Alchemist in 2022 and handling the production on Jay Worthy’s Nothing Bigger than the Program project that dropped last May. He’s now set to kick off a North American and European Tour where he’ll be hitting cities like L.A., San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Toronto, and Athens, Greece.

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Once you’ve finished playing through Beyonce’s incredible Cowboy Carter, you can leave the rolling plains of the country and get your city slicker on with Marciano’s latest LP. Both he and Bey are outlaws with six shooters that don’t jam.

Stream the new album below:

29 Mar 2024

Best Moments From Xavi’s Poco a Poco Tour Kickoff Show in Mexico City

Xavi chose Mexico to kick off his first tour, Poco a Poco, on Thursday night (March 28). It was the right decision. The hot new regional Mexican music star had a blast at his debut at BlackBerry Auditorium in Mexico City, where he took the opportunity to praise his Mexican roots and charm fans with the rhythms of corridos tumbados and heartbreak songs.

“How pretty she looks tonight! It’s a blessing to be here! It’s a pride to be Mexican!” said Xavi excitedly to the 3,117 people who packed the venue, according to numbers from promoter Ocesa.

Billboard‘s January Artist on the Rise — whose face was featured over Sacred Hearts on some unofficial stamps available outside the venue — began his performance with the song that shares its name with his tour, “Poco a Poco.” It was followed by “Modo DND” and “Ya Te Superé”, which, despite not having yet been released on digital platforms, according to Xavi, was sang by fans at the top of their lungs. (To see the full setlist, click here.)

Dressed in a plaid shirt and a sports cap, the singer from Phoenix delighted a multigenerational audience that also included his mother, to whom he dedicated his 2023 EP My Mom’s Playlist, made up of covers of Latin rock and pop classics including “Rayando el Sol” by Maná.

Xavi’s tour will continue March 30 in Guadalajara, before making its first stop in the United States on April 2 in Los Angeles. Its 24 dates include stops in Seattle, Portland, Phoenix and Las Vegas, ending in San Antonio on May 12. He will also perform at the Sueños Music Festival in Chicago on May 25.

Below are the best moments from the show.

A Hug From Mom

One of the most emotional moments of the night happened when Xavi performed his version of Sin Bandera’s “Kilómetros” for his mom. With tears in her eyes, she gave him a big hug in front of the crowd. Xavi dedicated his EP My Mom’s Playlist, made up of Latin rock and pop classics, to his mother. The set was released for Mother’s Day in 2023.
Interactive Xavi

Throughout the evening, Xavi interacted with his band and a multi-generational crowd that included many children with their parents. In an unforgettable moment, two kids who identified themselves as Oscar and Renata were invited onstage after Xavi saw their sign requesting a photo with him. He snapped the shot onstage amid screams and clapping.
Double the ‘La Diabla’

Xavi performed his hit “La Diabla” not once but twice: first in the middle of his set list, and later to close the show. The song has special meaning for Xavi; it was his first No. 1 on a Billboard chart when it topped Hot Latin Songs in January.
Not Out Yet, But Everyone Knows the Words

Xavi premiered his new track “Ya Te Superé,” noting that “it’s not out yet, but we hope soon.” Regardless, fans already knew it and sang it from beginning to end.

29 Mar 2024

What’s Your Favorite New Music Release of the Week? Vote!

With Easter weekend upon us, there are great new music releases for any genre fanatic out this week.

Kicking things off is Beyoncé’s long-awaited Cowboy Carter album, which features her Hot 100 chart-topper “Texas Hold ‘Em.” In a message posted to Instagram earlier in the month, Beyoncé both stressed that Cowboy Carter is “a continuation of Renaissance” and acknowledged the Billboard chart history she made with “Texas Hold ‘Em.” “I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart,” she shared. “That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.”

J-Hope also unveiled his fittingly titled mini-album Hope on the Street Vol. 1. The six-track mini-album was described in a press release as spanning a “diverse array of sounds and moods that showcase j-hope’s musical prowess and depth.” It also features a number of special guests, including band mate Jung Kook on “i wonder,” as well as Benny Blanco and Chic’s Nile Rodgers on “lock/ unlock,” a dance mix of “what if” with Jinbo the SuperFreak and “NEURON” featuring South Korean hip-hop vet Gaeko of Dynamic Duo and yoonmirae.

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Additionally in the pop world, Camila Cabello is welcoming a newer, blonder musical era with the experimental pop track, “I Luv It,” featuring Playboi Carti.

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Meanwhile, MGK (formerly Machine Gun Kelly) and Trippie Redd teamed up to represent the sad boys of the world with their joint their Genre : Sadboy EP.

We want to know your favorite new music release this week. Let us know by voting below.

29 Mar 2024

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’: The Samples & Interpolations on Her New Album

Beyoncé doesn’t just drop albums, she drops incredibly dense, multilayered bodies of work that pull from decades of musical history across genres and regions to fashion something wholly new and idiosyncratic from the legacies of those who came before her.

With the release of her eighth solo studio album, Cowboy Carter, on Friday (March 29), Queen Bey added yet another culturally immersive record to her illustrious catalog. Across the album’s 27 tracks, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer square dances her way across a sprawling soundscape that incorporates samples, interpolations and production motifs that nod to country, ’70s rock, trap, house, Brazilian funk, opera, blues, gospel, R&B and pop.

“I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive,” Beyoncé wrote in a March 19 Instagram post detailing the album’s creation. “It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”

In order to fashion her very own Western epic out of the roots of country music, Beyoncé chose to sidestep the concept of genre — “a funny little concept,” according to country legend Linda Martell — and completely reimagine classics from the likes of Nancy Sinatra, Fleetwood Mac and the Beach Boys in the process. Cowboy Carter follows directly in the footsteps of its predecessor, 2022’s Renaissance, in the way that Beyoncé looks to the past to fashion new futures out of the different styles she’s experimenting with.

Here’s a list of the samples and interpolations throughout Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter.

“SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON” (with Willie Nelson)
For the first of the album’s radio-themed interludes, Beyoncé recruits country legend and fellow native Texan Willie Nelson to act as radio host. Before Willie hops on the mic, however, there’s a bit of station surfing that references tracks from several pillars of rock ‘n’ roll.

Those songs are as follows:
1. Delta blues performer Son House’s “Grinnin’ In Your Face”
2. Godmother of Rock ‘N’ Roll Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Down by the River Side”
3. 1955 rock classic Chuck Berry‘s “Maybellene”
4. Legendary American vocalist Roy Hamilton‘s “Don’t Let Go”
“Daughter”

On the haunting murder fantasy “Daughter,” Beyoncé interpolates a section from the renowned aria “Caro Mio Ben.”

Entirely in Italian, Queen Bey croons: “Caro mio ben/ Credimi almen/ Senza di te/ Languisce il cor/ Il tuo fedel/ Sospira ognor/ Cessa, crudel/ Tanto rigor.”

(English Translation: “My dear beloved/ Believe me at least/ Without you/ The heart languishes/ Your faithful one/ Always sighs/ Cease, cruel one/ A lot of rigor.”)
“Spaghettii” (with Linda Martell & Shaboozey)

Beyoncé, Martell and Shaboozey built this zany country-rap hybrid off a sample of the beat from Brazilian funk artist O Mandrake’s “Aquecimento Das Danadas” (with DJ Xaropinho).
“II Most Wanted” (with Miley Cyrus)
“Ya Ya”

For this Cowboy Carter standout, Beyoncé ropes in several classics: First, the song begins with a sample of Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” The sample serves as the background music for Bey’s playful call-and-response intro.

Later in the track, Bey interpolates another ’66 Hot 100-topper, The Beach Boys‘ “Good Vibrations,” in the refrain, “She’s pickin’ up good vibrations/ He’s lookin’ for sweet sensations.”

Towards the end of “Ya Ya,” Beyoncé coos “And lover boy, you’re so fine,” in a similar delivery to Sylvia Robinson’s “oh lover boy” on Mickey & Sylvia’s 1957 R&B No. 1 hit “Love Is Strange.”
“Oh Louisiana”

This entire interlude is comprised of a sped-up sample of Chuck Berry’s “Oh Lousiana,” the opening track from his 1972 album San Francisco Dues.
“SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’”

At the very beginning of “SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’,” Beyoncé interpolates the chorus from Patsy Cline’s classic “I Fall to Pieces,” which reached No. 12 on the Hot 100 back in 1961.

Bey sings: “I fall to pieces/ Each time I see you there/ And I miss all our secrets/ So tell me how you been.”

Patsy Cline’s version: “I fall to pieces/ Each time I see you again/ I fall to pieces/ How can I be just your friend?”
“Amen”

Surprise! To close out “Amen,” Beyoncé interpolates the opening track of her very own Cowboy Carter, “Ameriican Requiem.”

In “Amen,” Bey sings: “Say a prayer for what has been/ We’ll be the ones to purify our Fathers’ sins/ American Requiem/ Them old ideas are buried here/ Amen.”

In “Ameriican Requiem,” she sings: “A pretty house that we never settled in/ A funeral for fair-weather friends/ I am the one to cleanse me of my Father’s sins/ American Requiem/ Them big ideas are buried here/ Amen.”

29 Mar 2024

Linda Martell Is ‘Proud’ of Beyoncé for ‘Exploring Her Country Music Roots’ on ‘Cowboy Carter’

Linda Martell is passing the torch. Shortly after the release of Beyoncé‘s new album Cowboy Carter Friday (March 29) — on which the living legend is featured twice — she shared a touching message praising the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer’s decision to embrace country music through the project.

Regarded as the first Black woman to become commercially successful as a country soloist, Martell lent her voice to two tracks on Cowboy Carter: “Spaghetti” and “The Linda Martell Show.” Sharing a screenshot of the latter track, the musician wrote on Instagram Friday morning, “I am proud that @beyonce is exploring her country music roots.”

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“What she is doing is beautiful, and I’m honored to be a part of it,” she continued. “It’s Beyoncé, after all!”

On “Spaghetti,” Martell introduces the song — which also features Virginia country star Shaboozey — with a voice note touching on Bey’s experimentation with musical styles on Cowboy Carter. “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they?” she says. “In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand, but in practice, well, some may feel confined.”

Released as the second act to 2022’s Renaissance, the Ivy Park founder’s new album also features cameos from Dolly Parton — whose classic hit “Jolene” Bey reimagines on the album — Willie Nelson, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus and Willie Jones. On a haunting rendition of The Beatles “Blackbird,” the 32-time Grammy winner invited a handful of modern Black female country stars — Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts — to sing harmonies.

Cyrus posted her own thank-you note to Beyoncé Friday morning in celebration of their Cowboy Carter duet, titled “II Most Wanted.”

“I’ve loved Beyonce since long before I had the opportunity to meet & work with her,” the “Flowers” singer wrote. “My admiration runs so much deeper now that I’ve created along side of her. Thank you Beyonce. You’re everything & more.”

See Martell’s post about Cowboy Carter below.

29 Mar 2024

Nicki Minaj Is Launching Her First Sneaker Collection: ‘An Absolute Dream Come True’

Nicki Minaj has been running the rap game for well over a decade, but now, she’ll have some new pink sneakers to wear while she does laps around the competition.

Minaj announced the launch of her new sneaker brand on Friday (March 29), which finds her teaming up with Loci for the collection featuring 11 different designs that she’s dubbed a dream come true. The debut capsule collection will be released in full on April 12.

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“4/12 = 11 new pairs of my OWN sneaker. 11 completely different designs for you to choose from. An absolute dream come true. I can’t WAIT for you guys to see my 1st collection!!!! Link in bio to SIGN UP NOW,” she wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to my team for helping me make this dream come to fruition. This isn’t a sponsorship. I’m an owner & partner & we will be showing you the first complete collection on 4/12. Love you BARBZ. THANK YOU.”

City Girls rapper JT made a request in the comments: “Congratulations bookie! Can I get a sample pair?”

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The IG post came accompanied by a teaser clip showing off one design, which features a Twizzler-colored gum sole with matching laces, while the rest of the sneaker’s body boasts a bubblegum pink.

One side panel is inscribed with the Loci logo, essentially a slashed zero glyph. A sovereign portrait of Nicki’s face is included on the sneaker’s tongue as well.

Meanwhile, Nicki is still on the road as part of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. After a stop in Philly, she’s slated to return home on Saturday night (March 30) with her headlining show at the Big Apple’s famed Madison Square Garden.

Check out Nicki Minaj’s post about her sneaker line below.

29 Mar 2024

Beyoncé’s ‘Ameriican Requiem’ Slams Haters Who Say She’s Not ‘Country Enough’

Beyoncé is officially in her country era — and she doesn’t care what you think about it.

The superstar opened her freshly released Cowboy Carter album on Friday (March 29) with “Ameriican Requiem,” a half-spoken word declaration of her intentions with the country-tinged project. “Looka there, looka in my hand / The grandbaby of a moonshine man / Gadsden, Alabama / Got folk down in Galveston, rooted in Louisiana / Used to say I spoke, ‘Too country’ / And the rejection came, said ‘I wasn’t country ‘nough,” she sings on the tracks second verse. “Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but / If that ain’t country, tell me what is? / Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years / They don’t, don’t know how hard I had to fight for this / When I sang my song.”

The lyrics are seemingly in response to criticism the Texas native has faced when trying to dabble in country music throughout her career, especially after the release of “Daddy Lessons” from her 2016 album Lemonade. Half a year later, she performed it at the 2016 Country Music Association Awards alongside The Chicks. A pre-show announcement teasing her performance sparked calls for a CMAs boycott on social media, with some people blasting the awards show for including Bey, whose tribute to the Black Panther Party during her performance of “Formation” at the 2016 Super Bowl had also earned pushback.

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“This album has been over five years in the making,” Bey wrote on Instagram earlier this month. “It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”

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She continued, “The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”

29 Mar 2024

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Nelly Furtado & Juanes, Los Avengers & More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Alex Zurdo, “En Hora Buena” (AZ Music)

Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Alex Zurdo delivers a timely message of hope this Holy Week with his latest single, “En Hora Buena.” The track opens with his trademark strumming of acoustic guitar chords, gradually transitioning into a catchy mid-tempo rhythm that blends urban music with cumbia influences. Through his lyrical prowess, the rapper lets his melodic voice flow this time to express gratitude for God’s opportune intervention and his help in times of difficulty. “Nothing fills me like you fill me/ You have arrived at a good time/ You are the peace that gives full life/ Following you was worth it,” Zurdo sings in the melodic chorus. — LUISA CALLE

Beéle & Kany García, “Me Arriesgo Contigo” (Hear This Music LLC/5020 Records)

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Beéle and Kany García join forces for a sweet pop track that narrates an unlikely relationship that actually turns into a risk worth taking. “Me Arriesgo Contigo” starts off with a sparse guitar note that serves as a canvas for Beéle’s delicate yet commanding vocals. Then, it’s García’s turn to take charge — and she does so accompanied by a hip-swiveling bachata beat. But once both join their vocals, the song’s sound evolves into an explosive head-bobbing pop tune that powers the rest of the song. “I want to shout that I love you and I take the risk with you, undressing all fears with kisses we dress up,” they sing in the catchy chorus. — GRISELDA FLORES

Ramona & Daniel & Me Estás Matando, “Amargura”

Tijuana rockers Ramona and Mexico city indie-pop balladeers Daniel, Me Estás Matando team up to resurrect the vintage folklore of a Mexican dark cabaret in this haunting, modern bolero. Delivering a kind of vocal despair that captures the essence of ‘70s-era Latin crooners, their bittersweet lament finds them relief from the agony of longing for someone who doesn’t value the connection. “I’ve been wanting to forget you for a long time and take all this bitterness out of my chest/ Even though I know I still love you and it hurts me to my soul,” they sing. Armed with dissonant violins, moody horns and silky percussion — with stellar production courtesy of Daniel Zepeda, Ivan de la Rioja, Jesús Guerrero, and Omar Córdoba — “Amargura,” in sum, is a captivating glimpse of unrequited love. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Nelly Furtado & Juanes, “GALA y DALÍ” (Nelstar Entertainment/Universal Music Latino)

After unleashing their first collaborative effort in 2002, Nelly Furtado and Juanes join forces once again in “GALA y DALÍ.” A contrast to “Fotografía,” their heartfelt pop track from 22 years ago, their new single is a feel-good bop that fuses Calypso with other tropical rhythms. Just in time for the summer, the flirtatious song finds the Canadian songstress and Colombian artist singing about their sweet chemistry, comparing it to the bond that Salvador Dalí and his wife Gala had. The song also samples part of their 2002 hit, which reached No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, and its lyrics cleverly reference how “since 2002, Nelly has been in love” and preserving their photograph. The music video further shows Furtado and Juanes’ professional connection in the recording studio, as they sing, dance, and even share an anecdote from the first time they performed together at an awards show more than two decades ago. — JESSICA ROIZ

Carin León & Leon Bridges, “It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tú)” (Socios Music)

A month after dueting with Kane Brown on the historic crossover between country and Mexican music “The One (Pero No Como Yo),” Carin León continues to experiment with new collaborators and styles. This time, the música mexicana star joins American R&B singer Leon Bridges for “It Was Always You (Siempre Fueiste Tú),” a bilingual track produced by Edgar Barrera and Casta about an ex who didn’t appreciate their love. “I gave you my heart and you didn’t give a damn/ I sent everyone to hell for your love/ And you’re never happy, no,” León sings softly in Spanish before the catchy mid-tempo chorus: “Maybe it’s you (Maybe it’s you)/ The reason, the reason for all my pain.”

“This song with my friend Leon [Bridges] is very important to me,” León said in a press release. “It is another great moment for American roots music and Mexican music, uniting two languages that, despite having so much in common, need music to express their solidarity.” The song arrives with a picturesque music video filmed in his hometown of Sonora, Mexico under the direction of Willy Rodríguez. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Los Avengers, The Academy: Segunda Misión (Warner Music Latina/Rich Music)

Five years after The Academy was released in 2019, The Avengers — a reggaatón collective composed of Dalex, Dímelo Flow, Justin Quiles, Lenny Tavarez and Sech — has finally released its follow up album, Segunda Misión (Second Mission). The new set boasts nine brand-new tracks, featuring collaborations with renowned artists including Myke Towers, Yandel, Maria Becerra, Arcángel, Eladio Carrión and Natti Natasha. Co-produced by Dímelo Flow and Sech in partnership with other reggaetón hitmakers, this “combi completa” between Panama, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Dominican Republic and Colombia carries with every beat the pure essence of reggaetón, in songs like “Flowhot,” “El Royce,” “Amiga” and “Si si si si.” — INGRID FAJARDO

Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:

29 Mar 2024

Chayce Beckham Tops Country Airplay Chart With Self-Written ’23’

Chayce Beckham’s “23” flies from No. 6 to No. 1 on Billboard’sCountry Airplay chart (dated April 6), becoming his first leader on the list. The single gained by 22% to 28.2 million audience impressions during the March 22-28 tracking week, according to Luminate.

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“I’m so grateful for my family, my team and all the country music fans around the world who made this possible,” Beckham tells Billboard. “Thank you to country radio for embracing this song and making this all a dream come true for me.”

“23” makes the biggest jump to the Country Airplay summit since Thomas Rhett’s “Angels Don’t Always Have Wings” also soared 6-1 last September.

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Plus, as “23” hits No. 1 in its 60th week, it completes the longest trip to the pinnacle since Dylan Scott’s “Can’t Have Mine” did so in its 62nd frame last December.

“23” (not the same composition as Sam Hunt’s song of the same name that topped Country Airplay for a week in April 2022) is Beckham’s second entry on the chart. His Lindsay Ell duet “Can’t Do Without Me” hit No. 46 in June 2022.

The 27-year-old Beckham, from Apple Valley, Calif., was crowned the winner of ABC’s American Idol in 2021 and performed “23” – which he solely penned – live on air during that season. He had written “23” a year before and became the first hopeful to win the competition performing an original song.

Beckham is the fourth Idol winner to top Country Airplay, joining Carrie Underwood (16 No. 1s, after she won in 2005), Scotty McCreery (five; 2011) and Kelly Clarkson (one; the inaugural winner in 2002).

Meanwhile, “23” is the first Country Airplay No. 1 written by a single person since Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s self-authored “Fast Car” ruled for five weeks beginning last July. The only other leaders written by one person in the last 10 years: Garth Brooks’ “Ask Me How I Know,” written by Mitch Rossell (No. 1 on Dec. 16, 2017); LANCO’s “Greatest Love Story” (frontman Brandon Lancaster; Dec. 2, 2017); Little Big Town’s “Better Man” (Taylor Swift; March 4, 2017); and Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind” (Lori McKenna; June 25, 2016). Of the 327 leaders in that span, only six – or 2% – have been solo-written.

Meanwhile, prior to “23,” the last Country Airplay No. 1 solely written by the soloist who also recorded it? Swift’s “Ours,” on the chart dated March 31, 2012.

‘Solo’ Hit

Scotty McCreery, meanwhile, posts his ninth Country Airplay top 10 as “Cab in a Solo” pushes 11-10 (19.1 million, up 5%). The song, which he co-penned, follows “It Matters to Her,” which hit No. 3 last June and “Damn Strait,” which became his fifth leader in July 2022.

McCreery’s latest single introduces his LP Rise & Fall, due May 10.

29 Mar 2024

Which Song on Beyoncé’s New Album ‘Cowboy Carter’ Is Your Favorite? Vote!

Beyoncé is continuing to change the game with Cowboy Carter, an expansive, genre-mixing exploration of the singer’s upbringing, heritage and musical influences that arrived promptly at midnight Friday (March 29).

With a whopping 27 tracks, the project gives listeners a lot to sink their teeth into. Featuring voice note interludes from an array of country legends such as Willie Nelson and Linda Martell, epic takes of iconic tracks by Dolly Parton and The Beatles, as well as collaborations with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Willie Jones, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts, choosing just one favorite track on Cowboy Carter is definitely a tall order. (Billboard knows this first hand — see our ranking here.)

The staggering LP was preceded by two singles, both released on the day of the 2024 Super Bowl in February — “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and “16 Carriages,” which debuted at No. 38 on the chart. The songs set the tone immediately for Bey’s foray into country music with Cowboy Carter, although the 32-time Grammy winner cautioned fans ahead of its release not to put the album in a box.

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“This ain’t a Country album,” she wrote in a March 19 Instagram post, sharing the Cowboy Carter cover artwork for the first time. “This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!”

Spanning nods to a vast collection of sounds, styles, time periods and influences, the songs on Cowboy Carter are some of Beyoncé’s most diverse and boundary-pushing yet. Vote for your favorite one below.

1 … 1,654 1,655 1,656 1,657 1,658 1,659 1,660 … 3,260

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A Hug From Mom

Interactive Xavi

Double the ‘La Diabla’

Not Out Yet, But Everyone Knows the Words

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“SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON” (with Willie Nelson)

“Daughter”

“Spaghettii” (with Linda Martell & Shaboozey)

“II Most Wanted” (with Miley Cyrus)

“Ya Ya”

“Oh Louisiana”

“SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’”

“Amen”

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‘Solo’ Hit

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