Music

15 Nov 2023

Nigerian Rapper Oladips Dies at 28

Nigerian rapper Oladips has died at 28, his management team confirmed in a statement shared to Instagram on Wednesday (Nov. 15). A cause of death for the rapper was not revealed publicly.

“We are saddened to inform the general public that Oladipupo Olabode Oladimeji aka OLADIPS has passed away on Nov. 14 Tuesday evening at exactly 10:14 p.m. We are still in shock as we speak,” the statement read. “For over two years he has kept his battles within himself, his body is now with his family and funeral services will be announced as soon as it is concluded! The family asked that we respect their privacy in this trying time. May god give us all the fortitude to bear this great loss.”

Oldadips first rose to prominence in 2015 after winning an online rap competition called The King is Here, hosted by Nigerian rapper D’Banj.

The rapper’s death comes before the anticipated release of his album, SUPERHERO ÀDÚGBÒ (The Memoir), originally scheduled to arrive on Thursday, Nov. 16 according to the BBC. In February, Oladips shared a fan tweet that begged for the record’s release, to which he responded he was “out here all day in the studio with my sick self [sick emoji] rounding this album up still!” The post was edited and updated three days prior to his death announcement, with the project’s official title.

The rapper’s most recent single, “Die Young,” was released last month on Oct. 6.

Read the statement regarding Oldadips’ death below.

15 Nov 2023

Shakira & Fuerza Regida Sing About the Abuse of Power in ‘El Jefe’: Here Are the Lyrics in English

In September, Shakira and Fuerza Regida joined forces for “El Jefe” (“The Boss”), a catchy corrido-meets-ska track about being tired of their 9-to-5 jobs and the desire to become their own bosses. 

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“It’s a Mexican ska, and it sounds very fresh, very original, very punk in a way. It has tons of energy […] it’s about abuse of power,” the Colombian superstar previously told Billboard of the collab. “We had the song and thought, ‘Oy, who could we get for this?’ and we thought of Fuerza Regida. JOP’s voice is very special. We wrote him, and he flew in the following day from Los Angeles and we recorded it in three days.” 

“El Jefe” — which is dedicated to Lili Melgar, the nanny of Shakira’s sons Milan and Sasha — reached No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart this week (Nov. 18), becoming the artist’s 21st leader, giving her the most No. 1s among women since the chart launched in 1994. This marks the Mexican-American group’s second No. 1 title on the tally. 

In honor of Shak and Regida’s new No. 1, check out the lyrics of “El Jefe” translated to English below: 

7:30, the alarm has gone off
I want to be in bed
But it can’t be done
I’m taking the kids at nine

The same coffee, the same food
Always the same thing, the same routine
Another sh—y day
Another day at the office

I have a sh—y boss who doesn’t pay me well.
I arrive walking and he arrives in a Mercedes-Benz
He has me as a recruit
That son of a b—h, yeah

You’re dreaming of leaving the hood
You have everything to be a millionaire
Expensive taste, the mentality
All you need is the salary

The bills are adding up, being poor sucks
Mom always told me that studying everything is ensured
I studied and nothing happened, d–n life’s so hard
I work harder than a bastard, but I screw less than a priest
What irony, what madness, this is a torture

You kill yourself from dawn to dusk and don’t have a deed
They say that there is no evil that lasts more than a hundred years
But there’s my ex-father-in-law who hasn’t set foot in the grave.

I have a sh—y boss who doesn’t pay me well.
I arrive walking and he arrives in a Mercedes-Benz
He has me as a recruit
That son of a b—h, yeah

You’re dreaming of leaving the hood
You have everything to be a millionaire
Expensive taste, the mentality
All you need is the salary

Lili Melgar
This song is for you, that they didn’t pay you compensation

You’re dreaming of leaving the hood
You have everything to be a millionaire
Expensive taste, the mentality
All you need is the salary

15 Nov 2023

Keke Palmer Named Host of Soul Train Awards 2023

Emmy Award-winning actress-artist Keke Palmer will host the upcoming Soul Train Awards 2023. Tagged as the “house party of the year,” the awards ceremony will premiere Nov. 26 on BET and BET HER (8 p.m. ET/PT).

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“Keke Palmer is a globally recognized multihyphenate talent who embodies confidence and positivity, and is one of the most engaging and lovable personalities working in entertainment today,” stated Connie Orlando, BET exec. vp specials, music programming & music strategy, in the press release announcement. “We can’t wait to have her host the Soul Train Awards house party. BET gave Keke her first talk show, where she made history as the youngest talk show host in television, and today we are honored to have her back on the Soul Train Awards stage. As always, expect our star-studded slate of soulful artists and can’t-miss moments to illuminate your screens for a night dedicated to soul music.”

Palmer will also be among the awards show’s slate of performers, which includes BJ The Chicago Kid, Coco Jones, Danté Bowe, Fridayy, Muni Long and SWV.

Soul Train Awards 2023 is being taped in Los Angeles at an undisclosed location. Leading this year’s tally of nominees are Summer Walker, Usher and SZA — all of whom are in a three-way tie with nine nominations each. Orlando is overseeing the annual show and executive produce for BET with Jamal Noisette, vp specials & music programming. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, will serve as executive producer along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.

15 Nov 2023

Dua Lipa Invites Fans to LA’s Houdini Estate for Escape Room & Disco Party: ‘Let’s Have a Dance!’

When Dua Lipa announced a trio of release-week fan events for her new single “Houdini,” taking place in London, Los Angeles and Tokyo, she kept the exact locations a secret. But was there ever any doubt where the LA party had to be held?

Lipa invited hundreds of her biggest fans to the mysterious Houdini Estate in the winding hills of Laurel Canyon Boulevard on Tuesday night to navigate an escape room (fitting for the famous illusionist and the slippery new song) and to dance the night away at an open-air disco party.

“Wow, the energy is insane!” Dua Lipa said to the roaring crowd as she made her way behind the DJ booth after 8 p.m. “Have you guys had a chance to go into the escape room? Was it fun?” she asked to a resounding “yeah!” “Was it hard?” she asked, getting a “no!” in return. “All right, I’m going to be having a word with someone then,” she said with a laugh.

After hits from Jamiroquai, Grace Jones, Human League and, of course, Lipa herself, we finally got to the track of the hour. “You guys wanna hear the song? All right, let’s f—ing do it! Let’s have a dance!”

Lipa pressed a button to launch “Houdini” — “I’ll play DJ,” she laughed — and kicked the party into overdrive as she danced and sang along to the single that kicks off her post-Future Nostalgia era.

According to early numbers reported to Luminate, “Houdini” drew 14 million all-format airplay audience impressions in its first four full days (Nov. 10-13) and will debut on the Radio Songs chart (dated Nov. 25, reflecting airplay Nov. 10-16), perhaps in the chart’s upper half, with pop and adult pop airplay leading the way. It could be Dua’s highest Radio Songs debut, previously set when her Barbie soundtrack cut “Dance the Night” started at No. 28 in June.

Fans right next to the DJ booth passed their phones up to Lipa so she could shoot selfie videos and pics along with the song, and when “Houdini” wrapped up, Lipa agreed to a fan request for a repeat spin. “One more time? Let’s f—ing go!”

When the second go-round wrapped up, Lipa teased that she wouldn’t be leaving the estate just yet. “You guys are the f—ing best, thank you so much! I want you guys to stay, enjoy your time, those that haven’t, try the escape room. I’m going to do a little walk around. I’ve got to go and see this spooky-a– place.”

True to her word, the pop star popped up in the escape room, offering a magical surprise to the lucky fans inside.

Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa hosts an exclusive “Houdini” LA fan event at The Houdini Estate on Nov. 14, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Dua Lipa’s London fan event took place on Thursday at the English National Ballet, where the “Houdini” music video was filmed. She gave fans a sneak peek at the visual before its official release. The next event is in Tokyo, and fans can still sign up to attend here.

Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa hosts an exclusive “Houdini” LA fan event at The Houdini Estate on Nov. 14, 2023 in Los Angeles.

–Additional reporting by Gary Trust

15 Nov 2023

Sabrina Carpenter Says Opening for Taylor Swift Is a ‘Childhood Dream Come True’

Sabrina Carpenter is in the midst of opening for Taylor Swift on the Latin American leg of the popular Eras tour, and the “Nonsense” singer reflected on the pinch-me moment she found out about the gig in a new interview with Who What Wear.

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“I’m not gonna say I peed my pants because that sounds really graphic and maybe not sanitary, but I think it really just caught me off guard,” she recalled of hearing the news. “It was very much a childhood dream come true.”

She added, “I still probably have not processed it if I’m being completely honest with you.”

Carpenter says that she first met Swift backstage at a show when she was just 17 years old. “She had her cats with her,” she said. “I have older sisters, so if anything, it felt like that type of a relationship.”

Carpenter will again join the 12-time Grammy winner to open a series of February and March shows in Australia and Singapore. “That is one of my main inspirations ever since I was a little girl, and now to just be able to watch that show every night is going to be so special,” Carpenter previously told Billboard of touring with Swift. “Watching her in and of itself is how you learn. I admire her work ethic and her talent and she’s just so amazing.”

Last month, the pop singer covered Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” for Spotify Singles. “Well she nailed it,” Swift wrote on a screengrab of the Disney actress’ take on the Red hit.

15 Nov 2023

Sabrina Carpenter Says Opening for Taylor Swift Is a ‘Childhood Dream Come True’

Sabrina Carpenter is in the midst of opening for Taylor Swift on the Latin American leg of the popular Eras tour, and the “Nonsense” singer reflected on the pinch-me moment she found out about the gig in a new interview with Who What Wear.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“I’m not gonna say I peed my pants because that sounds really graphic and maybe not sanitary, but I think it really just caught me off guard,” she recalled of hearing the news. “It was very much a childhood dream come true.”

She added, “I still probably have not processed it if I’m being completely honest with you.”

Carpenter says that she first met Swift backstage at a show when she was just 17 years old. “She had her cats with her,” she said. “I have older sisters, so if anything, it felt like that type of a relationship.”

Carpenter will again join the 12-time Grammy winner to open a series of February and March shows in Australia and Singapore. “That is one of my main inspirations ever since I was a little girl, and now to just be able to watch that show every night is going to be so special,” Carpenter previously told Billboard of touring with Swift. “Watching her in and of itself is how you learn. I admire her work ethic and her talent and she’s just so amazing.”

Last month, the pop singer covered Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” for Spotify Singles. “Well she nailed it,” Swift wrote on a screengrab of the Disney actress’ take on the Red hit.

15 Nov 2023

2023 Latin Grammys: All Performers & How to Watch

The 24th annual Latin Grammy Awards promises to be an unmissable celebration. This year’s ceremony will be the first to be held internationally, taking place at the Conference and Exhibition Centre, broadcasted from FIBES in Seville, Spain on Thursday (Nov. 16).

Sebastián Yatra, Roselyn Sánchez, Danna Paola, and Paz Vega will take on hosting duties for the event, featuring nominations spanning from Karol G to Shakira and Edgar Barrera (for full list of nominees, click here). The Latin Grammys will unite some of the most prominent figures in Latin music, celebrating their achievements and hits from the past year.

The telecast will air on Univision, UniMás, and Galavisión in the U.S. at 4:30 p.m. ET. In Spain, the broadcast on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) begins at 10:30 p.m. CET.

Discover who is performing, presenting and hosting the 2023 Latin Grammys, as well as how to watch below.

Performers 

The following artists are among those who are confirmed to take center stage at the 2023 Latin Grammy Award Show: 

  • Andrea Bocelli
  • Alejandro Sanz
  • Bizarrap
  • Borja
  • Camilo
  • Carin León
  • Christian Nodal
  • David Guetta
  • DJ Premier
  • Édgar Barrera
  • Eslabón Armado
  • Feid
  • GALE
  • Iza
  • Joaquina
  • Juanes
  • Kany García
  • Laura Pausini
  • Leon Leiden
  • Maluma
  • Manuel Carrasco
  • Maria Becerra
  • Milo J
  • Natascha Falcão
  • Ozuna
  • Pablo Alborán
  • Paola Guanche
  • Peso Pluma
  • Rauw Alejandro
  • Rosalía
  • Sebastián Yatra
  • Shakira

Presenters

  • Anitta
  • Carlos Ponce
  • Carlos Vives
  • John Leguizamo
  • Jorge Drexler
  • Luis Figueroa
  • Fonseca
  • Majo Aguilar
  • Mon Laferte
  • Natalia Lafourcade
  • Nicki Nicole
  • Pedro Capó
  • Tiago Iorc
  • Yandel

Hosts

  • Danna Paola
  • Paz Vega
  • Roselyn Sánchez
  • Sebastián Yatra

Person of the Year

  • Laura Pausini

“Laura Pausini is one of the most talented and beloved artists of her generation whose commitment to advocacy and equal rights is exemplary,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Throughout her more than three-decade career her extraordinary voice continually breaks down barriers across languages and genres, creating a special bond with audiences around the world.”

Pausini will be celebrated at a special star-studded gala and tribute concert, where an array of artist and friends will perform renditions of her renowned repertoire. 

How to Watch

Viewers have the option to catch the Latin Grammys on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S. at 4:30 p.m. ET. In Spain, the broadcast on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) begins at 10:30 p.m. CET.

The ceremony will be televised on TNT at 7:30 p.m. in Mexico, 8:30 p.m. in Panama and Colombia, 9:30 p.m. in Venezuela, and 10:30 p.m. in Argentina and Chile.

The global reach of the event extends to over 80 countries, so be sure to check with your local broadcasters for additional airing details.

15 Nov 2023

2023 Latin Grammys: All Performers & How to Watch

The 24th annual Latin Grammy Awards promises to be an unmissable celebration. This year’s ceremony will be the first to be held internationally, taking place at the Conference and Exhibition Centre, broadcasted from FIBES in Seville, Spain on Thursday (Nov. 16).

Sebastián Yatra, Roselyn Sánchez, Danna Paola, and Paz Vega will take on hosting duties for the event, featuring nominations spanning from Karol G to Shakira and Edgar Barrera (for full list of nominees, click here). The Latin Grammys will unite some of the most prominent figures in Latin music, celebrating their achievements and hits from the past year.

The telecast will air on Univision, UniMás, and Galavisión in the U.S. at 4:30 p.m. ET. In Spain, the broadcast on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) begins at 10:30 p.m. CET.

Discover who is performing, presenting and hosting the 2023 Latin Grammys, as well as how to watch below.

Performers 

The following artists are among those who are confirmed to take center stage at the 2023 Latin Grammy Award Show: 

  • Andrea Bocelli
  • Alejandro Sanz
  • Bizarrap
  • Borja
  • Camilo
  • Carin León
  • Christian Nodal
  • David Guetta
  • DJ Premier
  • Édgar Barrera
  • Eslabón Armado
  • Feid
  • GALE
  • Iza
  • Joaquina
  • Juanes
  • Kany García
  • Laura Pausini
  • Leon Leiden
  • Maluma
  • Manuel Carrasco
  • Maria Becerra
  • Milo J
  • Natascha Falcão
  • Ozuna
  • Pablo Alborán
  • Paola Guanche
  • Peso Pluma
  • Rauw Alejandro
  • Rosalía
  • Sebastián Yatra
  • Shakira

Presenters

  • Anitta
  • Carlos Ponce
  • Carlos Vives
  • John Leguizamo
  • Jorge Drexler
  • Luis Figueroa
  • Fonseca
  • Majo Aguilar
  • Mon Laferte
  • Natalia Lafourcade
  • Nicki Nicole
  • Pedro Capó
  • Tiago Iorc
  • Yandel

Hosts

  • Danna Paola
  • Paz Vega
  • Roselyn Sánchez
  • Sebastián Yatra

Person of the Year

  • Laura Pausini

“Laura Pausini is one of the most talented and beloved artists of her generation whose commitment to advocacy and equal rights is exemplary,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Throughout her more than three-decade career her extraordinary voice continually breaks down barriers across languages and genres, creating a special bond with audiences around the world.”

Pausini will be celebrated at a special star-studded gala and tribute concert, where an array of artist and friends will perform renditions of her renowned repertoire. 

How to Watch

Viewers have the option to catch the Latin Grammys on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S. at 4:30 p.m. ET. In Spain, the broadcast on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) begins at 10:30 p.m. CET.

The ceremony will be televised on TNT at 7:30 p.m. in Mexico, 8:30 p.m. in Panama and Colombia, 9:30 p.m. in Venezuela, and 10:30 p.m. in Argentina and Chile.

The global reach of the event extends to over 80 countries, so be sure to check with your local broadcasters for additional airing details.

15 Nov 2023

SEVENTEEN Prepping Live Concert Movie ‘SEVENTEEN Tour ‘Follow’ to Japan: Live Viewing’ For Holiday Release

K-pop band SEVENTEEN will return to movie theaters around the world on Dec. 16 with their live concert film SEVENTEEN Tour ‘Follow’ to Japan: Live Viewing. The film will be broadcast from Japan’s Fukuoka PayPay Dome and broadcast live to Australia, South Korea, the U.S. and Canada, Brazil and European territories; all the participating countries will be announced on the band’s official site on Nov. 21.

According to a release, the 13-member group’s largest-scale dome tour since their debut, the movie promises to share the band’s “electrifying blend of dynamic performances and enchanting melodies live on the big screen with CARATs all around the world.”

“We’re excited to join forces with HYBE once again to bring K-pop icons SEVENTEEN to the big screen, this time broadcast live from Tokyo, Japan,” said Trafalgar Releasing COE Marc Allenby in a statement. “2022’s SEVENTEEN POWER OF LOVE : THE MOVIE, was a hit with the group’s devoted fanbase and we’re proud to present them with the opportunity to experience this highly anticipated concert event as a global community. We hope this event further demonstrates the enduring appeal of K-pop in cinemas.”

The movie will spotlight special unit performances by the group’s vocal unit (Woozi, Jeonghan, Joshua, DK, Seungkwan), their performance unit (Hoshi, Jun, The 8, Dino) and hip-hop unit (S. Coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu and Vernon).

Global tickets for the film will go on sale here on Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. ET; tickets for Korean cinemas will go on sale on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. KST.

SEVENTEEN released their 11th mini album, SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, last month.

Check out the concert poster and a promo video below.

SEVENTEEN

SEVENTEEN

15 Nov 2023

SEVENTEEN Prepping Live Concert Movie ‘SEVENTEEN Tour ‘Follow’ to Japan: Live Viewing’ For Holiday Release

K-pop band SEVENTEEN will return to movie theaters around the world on Dec. 16 with their live concert film SEVENTEEN Tour ‘Follow’ to Japan: Live Viewing. The film will be broadcast from Japan’s Fukuoka PayPay Dome and broadcast live to Australia, South Korea, the U.S. and Canada, Brazil and European territories; all the participating countries will be announced on the band’s official site on Nov. 21.

According to a release, the 13-member group’s largest-scale dome tour since their debut, the movie promises to share the band’s “electrifying blend of dynamic performances and enchanting melodies live on the big screen with CARATs all around the world.”

“We’re excited to join forces with HYBE once again to bring K-pop icons SEVENTEEN to the big screen, this time broadcast live from Tokyo, Japan,” said Trafalgar Releasing COE Marc Allenby in a statement. “2022’s SEVENTEEN POWER OF LOVE : THE MOVIE, was a hit with the group’s devoted fanbase and we’re proud to present them with the opportunity to experience this highly anticipated concert event as a global community. We hope this event further demonstrates the enduring appeal of K-pop in cinemas.”

The movie will spotlight special unit performances by the group’s vocal unit (Woozi, Jeonghan, Joshua, DK, Seungkwan), their performance unit (Hoshi, Jun, The 8, Dino) and hip-hop unit (S. Coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu and Vernon).

Global tickets for the film will go on sale here on Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. ET; tickets for Korean cinemas will go on sale on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. KST.

SEVENTEEN released their 11th mini album, SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, last month.

Check out the concert poster and a promo video below.

SEVENTEEN

SEVENTEEN