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Oh my God, they’re back again. Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign have returned to deliver their Vultures 2 sequel. The joint LP hit streaming services after plenty of uncertainty early Saturday (Aug. 3). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The sequel arrives about six months after the […]
Three months after Aerosmith rescheduled the remaining dates of their Peace Out farewell tour, the group has officially announced their retirement from touring amid Steven Tyler‘s ongoing vocal cord injury. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The rock band took to social media on Friday (Aug. 2) […]
Boldy James has been on a run for the ages this year. First he dropped the critically acclaimed album Penalty of Leadership with producer Nicholas Craven and then followed that up with another great project in Across the Tracks alongside Griselda producer Conductor Williams. He now plans to release yet another “He’s the producer, I’m the rapper” collab […]
While KCON has long been heralded as the Mecca for K-pop fans, a new party that launched amid the 2024 Los Angeles date could also make it a must-attend for those in the industry as well.
What was meant to be a night to celebrate K-pop ended up being a cross-industry collaboration event hosted by Day 13, a new joint venture merger between K-pop and marketing expert Jenny Zha with Keith Kawamura, the anime and gaming marketing veteran who is also CEO of 3i Productions. Following KCON LA’s second day of concerts on Saturday, July 27, artists, execs, and influencers were on their way to downtown LA hot spot Hatch.
Notable attendees included KCON performers like K-pop star and American Song Contest winner AleXa, as well as Mikha of the Filipino girl group BINI — both of whom enjoyed bites and drinks in the roped-off back section of Hatch with friends like The Kelly Clarkson Show producer Jasmine Stephen, songwriter Vanessa Jefferson whose love of K-pop has been long documented by her sister Lizzo, and Henry Jiang of OfflineTV who talked to AleXa about their interest and collaborating in the game space.
“With the inaugural Day 13 industry party, we wanted to bring everyone together to create more avenues for ideation, and establish a longstanding tradition that can give way to even more exciting cross-collaboration projects,” Zha reflects to Billboard. “Subcultures like K-pop and anime are so pervasive it’s now part of mainstream conversation — especially at the forefront for key stakeholders behind-the-scenes.”
A host of journalists, publicists and other media figures that long worked in the K-pop space were also in attendance. Lively discussions included the extra effort being put into ILLIT’s comeback single, ATEEZ’s recent move to United Talent Agency, excitement and inquiries about TITAN CONTENTS’ first girl group AtHeart (originally revealed on Billboard), a K-pop act’s upcoming song collaboration in partnership with Netflix, a new K-pop artist’s signing with a U.S. PR, gripes about working with and guesses about the future of one major Korean agency, as well as tons more juicy tidbits to compete with Hatch’s wagyu and wasabi skewer.
Also in attendance was award-winning actress and dancer Krystal Ellsworth (who blew up in India after starring in the 2017 flick Heartbeats that was shot in the country). Brian Chau of CAA was in the house, linking up Konami and Bandai Games over drinks to explore how talents could be further integrated in a convo about video gaming industry.
Influencers like “The Transition Guy” Jonny Tran (930,000 TikTok followers) and Twitch streamer iGumdrop (with nearly 300,000 Twitch followers and 450,000 Instagram followers) were seen connecting with members of Sony’s Santa Monica Studios — producers behind the God of War franchise – for collaboration opportunities.
Finneas is coming to his little sister’s defense after a commenter labeled Billie Eilish‘s verse on the Charli XCX “Guess” remix “predatory.”
The takedown occurred in the comment section of a TikTok posted Friday (Aug. 2), in which a user wrote that the 22-year-old singer’s lyrics on the Brat deluxe track were “highkey predatory,” accusing her of “queerbaiting” and “reducing girls to mere objects, all in an effort to convince the masses that she’s actually into them.” The remark appears to be in response to the part of “Guess” where Eilish sings, “Charli likes boys, but she knows I’d hit it/ Charli, call me if you’re with it.”
The producer, however, was having none of it. “What a take you little clown,” he wrote. “I got to watch the entire internet slam my sister for queer-baiting for an entire year when in reality, you were all forcing her to label and out herself.”
It’s unclear whether the user who posted the criticism was coming from a genuine place or simply trying to stir the pot, but Finneas’ point still stands. Eilish has been open about how challenging it’s been for her to speak about her sexuality on her own terms while growing up in the public eye, especially as she’s faced backlash for supposedly queerbaiting — or disingenuously pandering to LGBTQ audiences for commercial gain — since 2019’s “Wish U Were Gay.”
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The two-time Oscar winner was met with similar allegations in 2021 for dancing sensuously with women in her “Lost Cause” music video. At the time, Eilish didn’t publicly identify as part of the LGBTQ community; in November 2023, however, she revealed to Variety that she’s “physically attracted” to women, soon after which she accused the outlet of “outing” her on a subsequent red carpet.
“i like boys and girls leave me alone about it please literally who cares,” she added on Instagram Stories at the time.
Eilish has since grown more comfortable speaking — and singing — about her sexuality. Before “Guess,” she mused about lusting after a female love interest on her Billboard Hot 100 hit “Lunch,” and in her April Rolling Stone cover story, she said, “I’ve been in love with girls for my whole life, but I just didn’t understand — until, last year, I realized I wanted my face in a vagina.”
“Who f—ing cares? The whole world suddenly decided who I was, and I didn’t get to say anything or control any of it,” she continued in the article. “Nobody should be pressured into being one thing or the other, and I think that there’s a lot of wanting labels all over the place. Dude, I’ve known people that don’t know their sexuality, or feel comfortable with it, until they’re in their forties, fifties, sixties. It takes a while to find yourself, and I think it’s really unfair, the way that the internet bullies you into talking about who you are and what you are.”
A$AP Rocky has released the lead single from his upcoming album Don’t Be Dumb.
Produced by Greg Kurstin, Jordan Patrick, Zach Fogarty, Hitkidd and Rocky himself, “Highjack” shows the Harlem rapper getting back in his bag of being one of the most confident rappers out. With bars like “Don’t compare that p—y boy to me (I don’t like that)/ Feelin’ like I’m Sosa, Chiefie Keef (I don’t like that)/ Tired of them n—as sleepin’ on me, I don’t like naps/ N—as f— around and stole the flow and y’all like that?,” he’s leaving things up to interpretation, and we’re sure fans will speculate online about whom he’s referring to exactly.
Those aren’t the only lines packed with subliminals.
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“Before we dropped ‘Peso’ on you n—as, you ain’t like Raf/ N—as want a feature from me? This ain’t a life raft” and “These n—as want my wife bad, the people want my next track/ The coppers want my Black a–, f—ed up, but it’s like that” shows Rocky reminding the game about his influence.
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Rocky spoke with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe recently and he talked about his new music and fatherhood.
About his new single, Rocky had this to say: “I feel like the real is back, man, and it’s just like, this sh– is for the taking. It’s a highjack. Not only that, it’s just we coming with a whole new aesthetic on everything, especially with German expressionism and the whole ghetto futurism grim thing. So that’s just what the sound sounds like and whatnot. The sonics of it.”
About tapping Jessica Pratt and Jon Batiste for a couple unlikely features on “Highjack,” he said this: “I just love alternative. I love just different sounds and whatnot. [Jessica Pratt] kind of gave me this kind of Portishead meets Stevie Nicks vibe a little bit. … So I always f—ed with her as a artist, and so I figured it was necessary to get her, Jon Batiste on this one and kind of make it feel soulful to bring it on home in the outro.”
And on fatherhood influencing his new music, he told Lowe: “I got more personal vulnerable things to talk about and whatnot, and it’s just, I think the trick is having that fine balance of just entertaining and telling a story or giving something, telling somebody listening and view something informative about you and whatnot.”
Don’t Be Dumb is set to release Aug. 30.
You can watch the Zane Lowe Apple Music interview below.
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This week in dance music: We spoke with members of the U.S. breakdancing team ahead of the summer Olympics, we caught up with Empire of the Sun in the wake of their new album, we tracked Charli XCX from her Boiler Room set in Ibiza to the wildly successful ticket sales for her upcoming Sweat tour with Troye Sivan to her panties-forward edit of “Guess” with Billie Eilish. Meanwhile, PinkPantheress announced that she’s cancelling the rest of her 2024 tour to focus on her health, and we chatted with Channel Tres about his new album, his upcoming tour with Kaytranada and a lot more.
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Speaking of a lot more, these are the best new dance tracks of the week.
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Isoknock feat. Cade Clair, “4evr”
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The emo-meets-trance-meets-bass track that you neither knew you needed (nor were aware that anyone was capable of making) arrives via the title track of 4EVR, the surprise album from Isoknock — the collaborative project from San Diego wunderkinds IsoXo and Knock2. The ravey song comes with a stylish video that gives shades of “November Rain,” but with a more opaque ending which is more fully fleshed out in the nine-minute short film, Isoknock: 4evr. The film comes in tandem with the eight-track album, which blends trap, bass and a lot of wild sounds into a hard, loose, very fresh-sounding 27-minute thrill ride that features the previously released RL Grime collab “Smack Talk.”
The Blessed Madonna feat. DJ E-Clips, “Godspeed”
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The Blessed Madonna announces her long-awaited debut album, Godspeed, with the release of the album’s title track, a collaboration with the always excellent DJ E-Clyps that functions as nothing less than the warm welcome to and thesis statement for the entire project. “So sing your song and do your dance; godspeed the boogie, this is your chance,” E-Clyps commands while listing all the good and mysterious things god does over a funky, squelchy beat. This song comes comes alongside the news that Godspeed — out October 11 via Warner Records — will include the Kylie Minogue collab “Another Saturday Night.”
“Godspeed: the word marks the beginning of a journey and sometimes the end of one,” the Blessed Madonna says. “After nearly a year in lockdown, when I signed the paperwork and knew that I was going to be allowed to make this album, I called my dad in Kentucky to tell him the good news. He could not contain his pride and in a way his relief. I was going to be ok. He says it better than I do at the beginning of the record. I lost him suddenly just weeks before the first session, but his voice will live in Godspeed forever and make a million more journeys to everyone who hears it.”
Jamie xx feat. The Avalanches, “All You Children”
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Amid a very big month that’s finding Jamie xx play nearly a dozen clubs nights in New York City and Los Angeles as part of his the pop-up club party, The Floor, the producer has dropped the latest track from his forthcoming In Waves. A collaboration with legends The Avalanches, the song is a sort of call to arms for the album and the dancefloor, with lyrics that encourage that “all you children gather round, we will dance… together ” over warm ’80s synths and a sort of chant reminiscent of Bicep’s 2021 essential “Apricots.” In Waves is out via Jamie xx’s own Young label on September 20. In the meantime, he continues The Floor tonight in L.A.
“The Avalanches have always been an inspiration for me,” the producer says. “Their sample technique and how they piece together different sounds is incredible, and collaborating on a track with them has showed me new ways of making music.”
Caribou, “Volume”
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Caribou takes a sample from M|A|R|R|S’ 1987 all-time jock jam “Pump Up The Volume” and places it within a deep house, near-ambient-at-times production that ramps up with such subtlety that by the end you might be surprised to find yourself dancing with your eyes closed. The track comes ahead of an expansive 27-date fall and winter tour that will take Caribou mastermind Dan Snaith and crew across the U.S. and into Europe and Canada.
“‘Pump Up the Volume’ was the first time in my life I heard electronic music,” Snaith says, “sitting in front of the family stereo system listening to the top 40 countdown on the radio when I was a kid. It completely blew my mind – it sounded like something from another world. It’s stuck with me ever since – I always wanted to rework it in some way. I didn’t consciously think about it when I started working on my track, but I think there’s something really special about having gone right back to the very beginning in making this.”
Carlita feat. SG Lewis, “The Moment”
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Given how prolific SG Lewis has been as a producer lately (check his A+ work with Tove Lo on their recent collaborative EP Body Heat), one could be forgiven for forgetting that he’s also a really good singer. His silky vocals are at the fore of “The Moment,” a lush collab with Turkish-Italian scene star Carlita and the third single from her forthcoming debut album, Sentimental, coming this November on Ninja Tune.
Nicole Moudaber with House of Molly, “Slap Back”
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Techno titan Nicole Moudaber takes a right turn into tech house via her Higher Ground debut, “Slap Back,” an extremely club-ready jam built around a bouncy synth and earworm vocals from London duo House of Molly. Moudaber will likely drop it this weekend during her set at France’s Family Piknik, where she’s appearing alongside Sven Vath, LP Giobbi, Josh Wink and many more.
Armin van Buuren, “Es Vedrà”
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Dutch titan van Buuren has done a casual 16 Ibiza residencies during his inimitable career, so it’s simply correct to say that he understands the vibe of the island and is channeling that sweat, saltwater and sunsets vibe on his latest, “Es Vedrà.” Out via Armada and named for the giant rock that juts out of the water on the island’s west coast (which many party people say has mystical powers), the song is immersive and high energy, lush and tight and really just plainly catchy. Van Buuren returns to Ibiza for a four Sunday run at Ushuaïa this September.
Kesha was dangerously close to becoming a literal “Backstabber” while performing the song at her Lollapalooza set, something she didn’t even realize until afterward. According to the pop star, her prop knife was switched out for a real blade before she went onstage Thursday night — not that anyone told her about it. “sooooo apparently […]
Sam Asghari is looking back at his past relationships with love. The model and actor recently told Us Weekly that he’s “not really focusing on [dating] at the moment,” following his 2023 divorce from Britney Spears, adding, “When you’re in a relationship or any experiences that are major in your life, you learn so much. […]
After 14 years of making a name for himself as Carnage and helping define the EDM, trap and bass music genres during the U.S. dance music boom of the early 2010s — while bridging it with hip-hop — the artist born Diamanté Blackmon rebranded as GORDO.
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In 2022, he announced his retirement from the Carnage project — one that landed him on various Billboard charts, including Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and the Billboard 200 — and introduced his new full-time house and techno project.
“What I want people to understand is that this isn’t me having a new hobby and being like, ‘Oh I want to do this too because it’s fun,’” Blackmon previously said to Billboard. “Honestly, I can’t do the Carnage stuff anymore. I wasn’t happy.”
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Now, the Nicaraguan-American artist and producer has launched his debut album as GORDO named after his real name, DIAMANTE. The album that took four years to create, and is home to 16 bilingual tracks — including notable collaborators such as Drake, T-Pain, Feid, Maluma, and Fuerza Regida.
“I wouldn’t change a thing. I guess that’s why it took me four years, to make sure that I can review it and know it’s perfect,” he said in a press statement. “This album is dedicated to my grandma, my family, friends, and loved ones. I hope everyone enjoys what I believe is the best music I’ve created.”
Below, read Billboard‘s discussion with GORDO about his new album, his collaborators and more.
Congrats on your debut album as GORDO! Can you take us back to the creative process of DIAMANTE?
It was four years of coming up with these songs and trying to get to where I’m at with it. I’m really happy, and it’s been one hell of a ride to get to where I’m at musically, and also mentally. It’s been amazing. I’m super happy with the album, super happy with the turnout, and ready for the next one.
It’s been a ride mentally. Can you describe the state of mind you were in when you would hit the studio?
You know what? I wasn’t in a certain state — because for me, really, I was just making songs whenever I had time or felt creative. Finally when I made the songs, to get to the other song it would take me about a month or two. I wasn’t in a certain state, I think. I was just trying to make the best music possible.
The starpower in the track list is crazy. Two songs with Drake, but also Maluma, Feid, Nicki Nicole, Fuerza Regida, Sech… you recruited some big Latin names.
The album is the album. I’m so happy that I was able to make a dance album that has people like Drake, T-Pain — and at the same time, you have Feid and Maluma. You’re not going to see that type of track listing [anywhere else]. Even if you do something with a Latin producer, it’s going to be way more Latin, but my Latin collabs add a little spice to it [the album].
As for Drake, he’s a great guy. He really cares about me and I care about him. He looked out for me for this album, and knew how important it was for me. He’s a big fan of this album — and yeah, I mean, that’s my boy.
Is there any other Latin artist you had your eye on for this project but the opportunity didn’t happen?
I have a crazy song with Jhayco that’s really good, but he just went ghost on me. So, Jhay, you missed out bud! There are so many artists that didn’t happen, and that’s just how it is, but everything happens for a reason.
In addition to the Fuerza track, you also had the chance to produce some of the songs on their new album Pero No Te Enamores. How did you establish that connection with the group?
JOP is like my brother. We’re mad cool. Any person that I work with, I know them personally and we have that connection that’s like friends making music with friends. It happened so smoothly. Those guys are crazy, they’re so much fun. They’re the sweetest guys, but they’re also very focused on music, work, marketing, and how we’re going to roll out the project. Everything works out in itself.
What came first: Fuerza’s collab on your album or Gordo’s collab on Fuerza’s album?
The song I have with them on the album was actually finished the day before my album came out. When I finished the album, JOP asked me “how come I’m not on your album?” and I said, “Well, because we’re working on yours.” But he sent me his vocals and I created the song literally on the plane the night before.
Now that we’re on the topic, what’s your take on the electro-corrido movement?
I mean, it’s dope. I don’t really care about what you can or can’t do, and the politics of that. Just do it. A lot of people do care about that stuff, and how things are perceived of certain collaborations and certain mixes of genres, but I think as an artist, just do whatever the fuck you want!
What do you think Latin music — whether its regional, urban, tropical, pop — brings into the EDM space?
Spanish vocals. I think that’s the most prominent thing. Right now there’s an influx of Latin vocals on dance records. Obviously, we’re getting to the point where for the longest time all you heard were English words on dance records. Now that there are superstars in different regions and countries, people want to hear that type of artist. In Argentina, you want to hear Emilia, Nicki or TINI, they don’t have to wait and listen to someone like Katy Perry or Taylor Swift. They can listen to their own hometown girls, and the music will be just as impactful or even bigger. It’s great.
To finalize, is there anything — perhaps a certain business strategy or career advice — that you took from your Carnage era into your Gordo era?
Don’t listen to what other people say. Work hard. Save your money. Never let go of the gas, meaning, don’t ever stop. Keep going! I think the number one trait that Hispanic people have is that we’re the hardest working human beings on this planet. A lot of people get comfortable with music. Imagine you come out with an album like mine, someone else would drop the album and then go on vacation… but, this is when the real work starts. That’s what I mean with “don’t let go of the gas.” It depends how bad you want it. I’m addicted to this.