Music

31 Oct 2023

20 Questions With Green Velvet: ‘I Don’t Feel Legendary, Because My Best Work Is Yet to Come’

Whether you know him as Green Velvet, as Cajmere, as one half of Get Real or as one of his other aliases, the fact is that Curtis Jones’ productions are as vital now as they was when he started making house music back in the early ’90s.

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The Chicago-born artist scored dance world hits early in his career, with Cajmere’s “Percolator” and “Brighter Days” — both released in 1992 — becoming club staples (and in the former’s case, also a jock jam essential.) Both of those songs were also played during Beyoncé‘s 2023 tour behind Renaissance, an album Green Velvet contributed to the as the co-producer of “COZY.” His hefty catalog includes collaborations with a spectrum-spanning collection of dance artists including Chris Lake, Patrick Topping, Flosstradamus, Walker & Royce and many more.

Jones’ most recent release is “The Greatest Thing Alive,” a characteristically funky collaboration with Mark Knight and James Hurr released via Knight’s longstanding label, Toolroom. The last two months of the year will find him playing gigs in the U.K., Mexico, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Arizona.

But before all that, we found him at home in Chicago. Here, Green Velvet talks about how Beyoncé helped deliver one of the proudest moments of his career, his respect for Prince and why – after so much success — he doesn’t yet feel like a legend.

1. Where are you in the world right now, and what’s the setting like?

Right now I’m home in Chicago working in my studio, and the setting is peaceful and inspiring.

2. What is the first album or piece of music you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?

This is very difficult for me to answer, because with my father being a DJ and working in my aunt’s record store I grew up around music. My favorite album, however, was Parliament’s Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome.

3. What did your parents do for a living when you were a kid, and what do or did they think of what you do for a living now?

My father was an electrical engineer, an entrepreneur and DJ.  My mother was a dietitian. My father passed away more than 10 years ago.  He was very proud of what I was doing. My mother still wants me to go back to school to get a PhD so we will have a doctor in the family.

4. What’s the first non-gear thing you bought for yourself when you started making money as an artist?

A tacky, used, stick-shift red sports car.

5. If you had to recommend one album for someone looking to get into dance/electronic music, what would you give them?

Prince’s 1999. The man was a genius, and he knew how to bring synthesizers to life.

6. What’s the last song you listened to?

My upcoming release with DJ E-Clyps and Dajae, ”Hot N Spicy.”

7. The word “legend” is associated with your name. Do you feel legendary?

No, I don’t feel legendary, because my best work is yet to come.

8. Your latest track is “The Greatest Thing Alive.” What, for you, are the greatest things alive?

Babies, puppies and people with love in their hearts.

9.  The song is also very much about feeling yourself. In what moments do you feel like the greatest thing alive?

When I am helping others.

10. You’ve been doing this for more than three decades. What’s the key to your longevity?

God blessing me with creativity and wisdom to make music that continues to resonate with fans, young and old.

11. And in those 30 years you’ve obviously seen the dance world change a lot. How does this moment compare to 10 or 20 or 30 years ago?

Now it is pop culture, where in the past it was underground.

12. You’ve talked before about your religious conversion after having your drink spiked with GhB roughly 20 years ago. How do your faith and your career intersect?

I have always been religious, and a lot of my music reflects that. After by the grace of God I survived my drink being spiked, it made my faith even stronger.

13. What’s the best city in the world for dance music currently? Why?

The music is really global now and one of the results of the pandemic — especially with the internet and streaming — is people have learned to have a good time no matter where they are in the world.

14. The most exciting thing happening in dance music currently is _____?

The return of oversized clothes.

15. The most annoying thing happening in dance music currently is _____?

People having their cell phones stolen at music events.

16. Do you have guilty pleasure music?

My guilty music pleasure is listening to classical music.

17. What’s been the proudest moment of your career thus far?

There are actually two. Hearing “Percolator” on the radio in 1992 and having Beyoncé play “Percolator” and “Brighter Days” during her Renaissance Tour.

18. What’s the best business decision you’ve ever made?

Leaving graduate school at the UC Berkeley Department of Chemical Engineering for music.

19. Who was your greatest mentor, and what was the best advice they gave you?

My music career has been influenced by many people and experiences, but unfortunately, I didn’t have a mentor.

20. One piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?

Get your own drinks and never leave it unattended!!!

31 Oct 2023

Wynonna Judd Is Joining ‘The Voice’ Season 24 as a Mega Mentor

NBC’s The Voice is getting another fiery-locked, country superstar to join its ranks.

On Tuesday (Oct. 31), NBC announced that Country Music Hall of Fame member Wynonna Judd is set to serve as a mega mentor on season 24 of the hit show. Judd will join coaches Niall Horan, John Legend, Gwen Stefani, and fellow Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba McEntire, helping to mentor the remaining contestants heading into the show’s competitive Knockout rounds on Nov. 6.

In a video posted to Instagram, Wynonna appeared alongside McEntire to celebrate joining the latest season of the hit singing comeptition. “[You are] one of the reasons I decided to do this show, because you’re here and I wanted to work with you,” Wynonna told her in the new clip. McEntire returned the compliment in the caption, writing “Wy is the perfect person for this and I can’t wait for you to see all the great advice she gives to these talented artists.”

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Wynonna is currently headlining shows on her Back to Wy tour, where the singer-songwriter performs her first two solo albums — her 1992 self-titled album and its followup, 1993’s Tell Me Why — track-by-track.

Prior to launching her solo career in the 1990s, Judd was part of the mother-daughter duo The Judds, alongside her mother Naomi. The Judds’ enduring legacy was recently feted with the release of the multi-artist project A Tribute to The Judds, which featured McEntire, Jelly Roll, Trisha Yearwood, O.N.E. The Duo, Wendy Moten, Megan Moroney and more.

Of course, Wynonna is no stranger to television; in 2016, she appeared on Dancing With the Stars and in 2011, The Judds debuted their own six-part reality television series on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. Over the years, Judd has also appeared on television shows including Touched By An Angel, Army Wives and Kath & Kim.

Wynonna Judd will appear as a mega mentor on The Voice starting Monday, Nov. 6 at 8 pm E.T. Check out Wynonna and McEntire’s Instagram announcement below:

31 Oct 2023

How Did Blink-182’s ‘One More Time’ Score Such a Big First Week 30 Years Into the Band’s Career?

They may still be best associated with the late ’90s, but pop-punk greats Blink-182 now have a Billboard 200 No. 1 album in each of the first three decades of the ’00s: 2002’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, 2016’s California, and now this year’s One More Time…

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The Oct. 21-released set — the trio’s first LP with original co-leader Tom DeLonge since 2011’s Neighborhoods, with Matt Skiba filling in for him for most of the decade-plus in between — posts 125,000 equivalent album units in its debut week, just getting it past the 120,000 moved by Drake’s For All the Dogs in its third frame. It’s a significant improvement from the 94,000 units notched by Blink’s prior album Nine (2019), which bowed at No. 3 on the chart.

How did Blink manage such a stellar showing a full three decades after their 1993 debut EP? And what could their peers learn from their success? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.

1. Blink-182’s One More Time… debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its debut week with 125,000 equivalent album units, narrowly edging out Drake’s For All the Dogs in its third week. On a scale from 1 to 182, how big an accomplishment would you say that is for a 30-year-old rock band in 2023?

Kyle Denis: 116. Amid talk about the changes in genre trends this year, and while rock music has been present near the top of the Billboard 200 through new albums from the likes of Zach Bryan, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Uzi Vert, Jelly Roll and Noah Kahan, One More Time is the first full-fledged rock album from an instrument-based band to reach the top of the ranking this calendar year. That’s a major feat, especially for a band whose last legitimate crossover hit is around the same age as some of Gen Z’s biggest pop stars.

Josh Glicksman: A rock solid 164. Let’s face it: the peak of the Billboard 200 isn’t often reserved for legacy acts these days. The only other rock bands with more than 30 years pedigree to reach No. 1 this decade are AC/DC and Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Power Up in 2020 and Unlimited Love in 2022, respectively. Drake is the only other artist over 35 years old to reach the top slot this year. Sure, Blink-182 benefits from releasing an album during a relatively tame week for competition, but even so, the feat isn’t anything to downplay.

Jason Lipshutz: A 180! Considering how difficult it is for veteran rock bands to impact the mainstream in 2023, Blink-182’s past year — which includes multiple rock hits crossing over to the Billboard Hot 100, a huge arena tour and now a No. 1 album with a six-figure debut — has been uniquely commanding. Topping the Billboard 200 is partially a symptom of One More Time avoiding the bigger pop release weeks this month, but even so, starting with 125,000 equivalent album units is pretty damn impressive, and the cherry on top of a major return.

Andrew Unterberger: Definitely 134. It’s more an affirmation of what we already know about the band’s continued endurance — just a half year after they stepped in to fill Frank Ocean’s vacated Coachella headlining slot and just a few days after they announced an upcoming U.S. stadium trek — then any new or revelatory breakthrough. But given how unseriously pop-punk was taken as a genre 20-30 years ago, and how hairy things looked for Blink-182’s future prospects just a decade earlier, it’s still definitely one for the resumé for the trio to still be putting up A-list numbers in 2023.

Christine Werthman: The correct answer is 182. This is the first studio effort from the longtime lineup of Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker since 2012, and sure, it’s less bratty and more wizened than the band’s late-1990s, early-2000s skate-punk output, but it’s not a total reinvention. The trio gave the people what they wanted — a reunion, a tried-and-true sound — and the fans showed up. Blink-182 topped Drake! In 2023! Yes, in his third week, but it still counts! Chalk it up as a huge win. 

2. Few of Blink’s ’90s peers are still posting six-digit first weeks in the 2020s, especially after the elimination of ticket bundles from Billboard 200 sales calculations a few years ago. What’s one thing you think the band did particularly well with One More Time to make such a big debut week possible?

Kyle Denis: Given that One More Time is the band’s first LP since the return of Tom DeLonge, there was already a level of inherent comeback hype baked into the record. Couple that with a smart, lengthy campaign that let each pre-release single run its course – both “Edging” and the title track topped Alternative Airplay – and you’re left with a rollout that is primarily concerned with activating their tried-and-true fanbase instead of radically changing their sound to court younger consumers. To that end, however, the social clout of Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian’s marriage likely brought a few new, younger listeners to the blink-182 fandom. Moreover, blink-182 (in its original configuration) came back at the right time considering the mainstream resurgence of pop-punk at the top of the decade.

Josh Glicksman: An extended album rollout. Quickly following the reunion announcement last October with a new single stoked initial hype, and the band carried the momentum through album release day by touring across the world — including at a whole bunch of major festivals — and made sure everyone knew that a project was on the way. It’s not a strategy I’d suggest for major pop stars of the moment, but for a reunion project from a long-tenured band like Blink-182, allowing momentum to steadily grow over the course of a year paid huge dividends.

Jason Lipshutz: The year-long rollout of the release — in which lead single “Edging” was released almost exactly one year prior to One More Time — proved surprisingly effective, since Blink was able to tour arenas and festivals (including Coachella and When We Were Young) for six months and galvanize their fan base ahead of the new album. Maybe One More Time doesn’t hit No. 1 if it was released last October, before hundreds of thousands of fans got to see their impressive headlining set and receive a reminder that, when it comes to their studio output, Mark, Tom and Travis rarely miss.

Andrew Unterberger: The reunion with DeLonge and the feel-good story behind it is almost certainly the biggest factor in this set’s strong performance — but the group did do a good job of leaning into it (both in the album’s lyrics and promotion) just enough to tug the heartstrings but not enough to cheapen it. And the songs are pretty good! That helps.

Christine Werthman: They say timing is everything, and Blink-182 certainly proved that by reuniting right when pop-punk was regaining popularity and the nostalgia for those 1990s and 2000s bands was peaking. The tour and the album could not have been more perfectly positioned for success. 

3. One More Time was preceded by two Hot 100-charting, rock radio-dominating singles in “Edging” and the title track. Do either of them seem like enduring future-classic entries in the Blink canon to you, or is their success more due to name recognition and good timing?

Kyle Denis: I’m leaning towards name recognition and good timing, but I could see “Edging” sticking around as late-career classic.

Josh Glicksman: I don’t know that “Edging” is ever going to supplant the biggest crowd pleasers in the band’s catalog — which is more of a testament to Blink-182’s turn of the century heyday than anything else — but it’s still a hell of a lead single and will be a welcome listen mixed into any greatest hits compilation. Of course, the name recognition and proximity to the reunion announcement helped the song, but the fact that it holds up as well as it does more than a year later means it has plenty of legs to swim on its own power, too.

Jason Lipshutz: I’ve become a big fan of “Edging,” especially after seeing it as a sing-along moment in concert. At first, the single struck me as watered-down hijinks, but those melodies jangle with snotty joy, and the hook is great to yelp along to when your car stereo is a little too loud. The title track packs an emotional wallop, but “Edging” is the new Blink single I’ll be returning to over the next few years.

Andrew Unterberger: I think “Edging” is the better song of the two, but the title track might be the more likely one to endure, just because of what it represents in the band’s story. I could see it becoming a go-to live set-ender or encore over the years, if nothing else.

Christine Werthman: “Edging” feels more in line with the canon, but the title track might be the one that lingers because it’s so revealing. For a band seemingly obsessed with never growing up or acting its age, “One More Time” shows Blink-182 grappling with the inevitable. It’s such a singular track in the group’s catalog that the enduring emo singalong could become a staple.

4. Blink’s third career act is likely going much better than anyone could’ve predicted it would at the height of the acrimony between the band’s classic lineup. Is there anything that other rock legacy acts could learn from their example, or are their accomplishments unique to their circumstances?

Kyle Denis: Age gracefully, stay true to your sound, and focus on activating your existing fanbase and reaching them where they are currently at. Oh, and get with a Kardashian too.

Josh Glicksman: I’d lean more toward the latter, but there’s plenty to glean from the band’s continued success. Blink-182 has done a phenomenal job of embracing the next wave of artists in rock and pop-punk. It’s all too easy to “get off my lawn” a new generation, but the three of them — and Barker in particular — have championed newcomers in a way that allows rising stars to garner the wisdom of the past while shaping the future of the genres. That goes an extremely long way in terms of introducing today’s listeners to the band’s catalog.

Jason Lipshutz: It all feels too serendipitous for other rock bands to study: Mark Hoppus’ cancer diagnosis and successful battle could never have been foreseen, and when their classic lineup reunited, exactly enough time had been between its last studio album and proper tour that demand for both was always going to be high. This Blink-182 comeback arrived at the end of a winding road, but the timing was right, the music was solid, and it’s proven to be a huge achievement.

Andrew Unterberger: Much of it is irreplicable, but I think Blink-182 do a good job of toeing the line between reviving the sound and spirit of their “classic” period while also making room for both musical evolution and lyrical honestly about their current lives. It’s a difficult balance to strike — many of their peers don’t even really seem to try — but it really helps a band like them maintain (and even grow) an audience this deep into their career.

Christine Werthman: The band got lucky with the return of pop-punk, but there are some lessons here for those artists who currently refuse to give it another go. Lesson one: Listen to “One More Time” and realize that it’s never too late to put aside the drama and get back to doing what you love with the people you once loved. Lesson two: Check out those Boxscore numbers. Blink-182 earned more than $85 million from its North American leg, a figure that, though likely rare for reunions, could soften even the hardest of hearts.  

5. What’s another ’90s-popular rock band that you could see scoring a future No. 1 album this decade?

Kyle Denis: My money’s on Green Day. Their new record is dropping in January, and with a stadium tour set to follow, that’ll be a rollout worth observing.

Josh Glicksman: It’s not an overwhelmingly bold prediction given the band has two top-10 albums this decade, but Foo Fighters feels more than capable of returning to the top of the chart in the next few years.

Jason Lipshutz: Did you know that Push and Shove, the comeback album from No Doubt after 11 years apart, is now over a decade old itself? That band’s biggest hits have endured, while Gwen Stefani still has plenty of cultural cache thanks to The Voice and her solo career. Let’s follow the One More Time playbook and get a punchy new single, career-spanning arena tour and surprisingly emotional album together ASAP!

Andrew Unterberger: Radiohead is a band whose reputation and popularity never really seem to diminish over the passing years. If they were to release a follow-up to 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool in the next few years — particularly if they just kinda sprung it on fans, In Rainbows-style — I bet it would have a pretty good shot at capturing the top spot.

Christine Werthman: No Doubt. They’ve got about two years until the 30th anniversary of Tragic Kingdom, so start rehearsing, schedule some reunion shows and parlay that old familiar feeling into some writing sessions for a new album. C’mon, Gwen and Tony!  

31 Oct 2023

Taylor Swift Halloween Costumes Are Surging in 2023

Two things are for sure this Halloween: every other kid (or kidult) in your neighborhood is going to be rocking some sort of Barbie-inspired costume… and the rest of them will probably wear some variation of a look from Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour.

Google Trends searches show that interest in Taylor Swift Halloween costumes went from near-zero in March — right around the launch of the first U.S. Eras Tour swing — to needle-in-the-red peak popularity beginning Sept. 20 before dropping down and then peaking again on Oct. 15 and Oct. 20, with interest remaining strong at press time. For comparison, Swift Halloween costume searches went from near-zero on Oct. 13, 2022 to a similar high-point on Oct. 25 of that year; the chart showed a similar trajectory in 2021.

A specific search for Eras Tour Halloween costumes shows a more up-and-down history, with interest spiking in late August and then shooting up again in mid-October before a steep decline as we slide into All Hallows’ Eve, with California and Texas representing the states with the highest searches.

Those Taylor-ing their looks might team-up with their partner for a couple’s costume nodding to the singer’s reported romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Searches for KelSwift couple costumes first began to trend up on Sept. 25, one day after Swift attended her first Chiefs game, then reached a 100-level search rating in the days after Taylor and a group of fellow A-listers attended the Oct. 1 KC win over the New York Jets. Searches peaked again on Oct. 15, days after KC’s 19-8 home win over the Denver Broncos. Utah and Nebraska lead the charge of spots with the most-searched couple costumes, followed by Arkansas, Kanas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Illinois, Oklahoma, Alabama and Louisiana.

In addition, TikTok is filled with very cute videos of kids (and grown-ups) shipping the reported couple in homemade costumes chronicling their PDA and date nights.

Because there are no official Taylor (or Traylor) costumes on the market, Swifties have filled the gap with their home brews. That included Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, who anchored the show on Tuesday (Oct. 31) dressed in a long blonde wig and sparkly blue and pink leotard, joined by her adorable nine-year-old daughter in a gold skirt and cowboy boots as they performed Swift’s “Cruel Summer.”

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos went as far as calling Tuesday’s episode of Live with Kelly and Mark “Live’s Halloween The Eras Show.” The episode had the couple dressing up as Sonny & Cher, as well as putting on their Traylor drag and opening the show with Ripa promising to run through a series of Eras looks.

If you’re still scrambling for your look and trust Prime to get you what you need, Amazon has dozens of listings for Taylor Eras-inspired costumes, from a pink 1989 two-piece sweatsuit to a gold and blue cheerleader costume, a bejeweled rhinestone bodysuit, sequined bomber jackets, an “Anti-Hero” bodysuit, a variety of glittery oversized suit jackets and Fearless jumpsuit sets.

The National Retail Federation said the historic amount of spending Americans will do this year on costumes, candy and decorations is expected to reach a record $12.2 billion. Swift costumes, however, are not on the top 10 list, which for children is topped by Spider-Man, princess, ghost, superhero and witch. The adult list is similar, with witch, vampire and Barbie taking the top spots, followed by Batman, cat and zombie.

Taylor may not have made the NRF list, but even the august New York Times predicted last week that while Barbie outfits are sure to be everywhere, Swift-Kelce costumes are poised to steal the plastic couple’s thunder in what the paper deemed an “October surprise”; it’s worth noting that SAG-AFTRA discouraged its striking members from dressing up as characters from major movie studio productions in solidarity with the ongoing actors’ strike.

The Times spoke to a number of small, Etsy-style retailers, who said that requests for the hottest pop-pigskin costumes were “surging” in the lead-up to Tuesday. “I’m up until 3 or 4 in the morning every night, customizing bodysuits,” said Etsy creator Angela George, who sold more than 300 pieces inspired by Swift in October alone.

With traditional Halloween retailers such as Halloween Express and Spirit Halloween offering no official (or even generic knock-off) Swift-related merch, Amazon — which declined to comment for this story — lists dozens of Swift-adjacent items when search terms include the singer’s name and Halloween. Among the products that come up are a number of looks parroting Swift’s stage costumes from the Eras Tour, including a flowing blue cape with hood, a shoulder-length wig with blonde bangs, “Tay Tay Cheerleader” outfits, top hats, heart-shaped sunglasses, sequined black shorts and a number of shiny dresses with flapper-like fringe.

As a bonus, many Swifties still have their Eras Tour costumes/outfits in their closets, so some might not have to look very far for inspiration, with the Times noting that throwing on a red Chiefs-style jersey and a fake mustache is pretty light lifting for couples who insist on dressing up together for parties. Another Etsy creator told the Times that she started selling a red “Taylor’s Boyfriend” jersey in September and it quickly became her best seller.

Swift is the leading finalist with nods in 20 categories at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. You can watch the BBMAs here, and via Billboard and the BBMA’s social media channels on Nov. 19.

31 Oct 2023

Selena Gomez Announces Social Media Break Due To ‘Hate, Violence and Terror’ Around the World

Despite picking up the inaugural MTV Video Music Award for best afrobeats (“Calm Down,” with Rema) and scoring her 13th top 10 hit on Pop Airplay with “Single Soon,” Selena Gomez says she’s taking a step back from social media.

In a message shared to her Instagram Story on Monday evening (Oct. 30), the “Love You Like A Love Song” singer said that she’s logging off for the foreseeable future. “I’ve been taking a break from social media because my heart breaks to see all of the horror, hate, violence, and terror that’s going on in the world. People being tortured and killed or any act of hate towards any one group is horrific,” she wrote. “We need to protect ALL people, especially children, and stop the violence for good.”

Continuing her statement, Gomez added that she didn’t feel that voicing her opinions online would help solve any problems. “I’m sorry if my words will never be enough for everyone or a hashtag. I just can’t stand by innocent people getting hurt. That’s what makes me sick,” she continued. “I wish I could change the world. But a post won’t. Love, Selena.”

In a follow-up Instagram Story posted three hours later, the Rare Beauty mogul uploaded a baby picture of her younger sister with the caption, “Having a sister, everyday has made me tragically sick. I would do anything for children and innocent lives.”

This marks the second time this month that Gomez has offered some clarification regarding her social media activity. On Oct. 3, Gomez — the most followed woman, musician and actor in the history of Instagram — cleared up rumors of animosity between her and Grammy-winner Dua Lipa by explaining that she unfollowed the “Dance the Night” singer purely on accident.

Gomez has had a fairly active autumn. In addition to the continued success of “Calm Down” and “Single Soon,” the multi-hyphenate also enjoyed the debut of the third season of her Emmy-nominated murder mystery comedy Only Murders in the Building, as well as the announcement of a special four-part series titled Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays. The “Naturally” singer is also a finalist in five categories at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.

Click here to read Selena Gomez’s statement.

31 Oct 2023

Flavor Flav Defends National Anthem Performance, Says He Was Honoring Family in Military

Flavor Flav surprised fans on Sunday (Oct. 29), when the Public Enemy member took the court to perform the National Anthem at the Fiserv Forum before the Milwaukee Bucks took on the Atlanta Hawks.

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Following the performance, users on X (formerly known as Twitter) questioned Flav’s decision to sing the National Anthem, as he and bandmate Chuck D’s music is heavy on radical political activism — even down to their Public Enemy group name. In response, the rapper shared a statement on Monday (Oct. 30), writing, “It may seem odd for Flavor Flav, a member of Public Enemy to do the National Anthem. But I had family that served in the United States military and I wanted to honor them.”

He continued, “I had family that fought in World War 2. My dad was in the army. They fought for the land that we live on, and some of them didn’t make it back. So when I was singing it, I was thinking about them and the advancements we have made in our community that I can perform the anthem.”

Flav performed the National Anthem while wearing a green No. 59 jersey (in honor of the year he was born), sideways white baseball hat, white shades and, of course, his signature big clock. “The anthem was a long time bucket list item,,, that was fun!,” Flav wrote on X after his big moment. “I can’t live my life worried about what people might say about me. I won’t let that stop me from trying new things and doing things I wanna do. Some people might not like that. But a sure failure is if you stop trying.”

Revisit his performance below.

31 Oct 2023

Zayn Malik Wants to End the ‘Stigma’ Around Non-Alcoholic Beverages With Mixoloshe Partnership

Zayn Malik had already been dreaming of making a splash in the non-alcoholic beverage industry before Kristina Roth came into the mix. All he needed was the right partner, and Roth — who last year founded Mixoloshe, a brand dedicated to mimicking adult drinks minus the hangover — fit that bill.

Now, the ex-boy-bander is the new co-owner and chief creative officer of the company. He and Roth announced the joint venture last week, at the same time unveiling Malik’s first-ever original flavor of “boozy without the booze” mock-seltzer: Lychee Martini, a fruity but floral pain-free potion described as having enough sparkle to “make a unicorn jump with joy.” Boasting 45 calories, the drink’s sleek black can is printed with designs based on the “Pillowtalk” singer’s full-body blend of bad boy tattoos.

Coming into fruition just as Malik polishes up his next batch of new music, the partnership was first teased in the music video for his July single “Love Like This” with a brief shot of one of Mixoloshe’s brightly-colored spritzers.



“These drinks offer an array of benefits, from a healthier lifestyle to being more inclusive for various occasions,” the star tells Billboard. “I want to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and empowered to choose them without judgment.”

Below, Malik teases his upcoming new music, shares his goals for “disrupting” the non-alcoholic beverage industry and the beginnings of his partnership with Mixoloshe:

We’re told you’re busy this week in the studio. Can you give us an update on any new music?

I’m putting the finishing touches on it right now, I’m ready for this to be shared with the world. Excited and ready.

Take us through the timeline of your partnership with MIXOLOSHE. Their website says you started as a fan of their products — did you then reach out to the company with the idea of working together?

My journey into the non-alcoholic beverage industry began about six months ago when I was introduced to Kristina. I’d been interested in this industry for years, primarily due to its potential for innovation and creativity. At the same time, Kristina was actively seeking a creative partner to bring fresh ideas into her venture. In June, we officially joined forces, and we wasted no time getting down to work.

Did MIXOLOSHE’s female leadership in particular motivate you to join the company?

After hearing about Kristina, and meeting her, I was really excited about her passion and drive for the brand. Her business skills spoke for themselves, but the product still had to speak to me in different ways, and it did. Mixoloshe, its goals, its products, its positioning in the marketplace, all of it was aligned with what I wanted to jump into.

As a man, what do you hope to add to a business led and founded by women?

I think it’s just about bringing my very best to the company in every way I can, and that’s what I’m going to strive to do. We lift each other up and that’s what I love about the partnership. Sharing and embracing each other’s skills and talents. Collaboration is key, our joint aim is to deliver the very best for our Mixoloshe customer. If people are going to spend their hard earned money on our drinks I want them to be the very best in the game.

As a musician, what perspective do you hope to bring to MIXOLOSHE that the company may not have considered before your partnership?

I believe there’s a strong parallel between making music and making cocktails, and that’s the importance of striking the right balance to create harmony. The art of creating the perfect music and achieving the perfect sensory harmony are intertwined, in my opinion, as both require a careful balance and a keen sense of creativity. When you’re composing music, every note and instrument must come together in just the right way. Similarly, in the world of cocktails, it’s essential to blend different elements and flavors to create a perfect taste experience.

Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik

Dennis Leupold for MIXOLOSHE

You’ve said that the non-alcoholic beverage market is “ready for disruption.” What do you mean by “disruption,” and how do you plan to bring it?

Disruption in the non-alcoholic space is driven by innovation. Creating unique flavors that can rival their alcoholic counterparts is a game-changer. Consumers are increasingly seeking exciting taste experiences in the non-alcoholic realm. 

Secondly, the quality of ingredients used in these beverages is paramount. Using premium, natural, and sustainable ingredients not only elevates the product but also meets the growing demand for healthier, conscious choices. Finally, affordability plays a crucial role in ensuring broad accessibility for our brand. Innovation in the non-alcoholic category should not only be limited to high-end products but should include options that are affordable for a wide range of customers.

Why non-alcoholic drinks? Why are sober alternatives to alcohol personally important to you and your life?

I have such a busy work schedule so I have to be switched on. I’m always trying new sodas/flavored waters, all types of drinks that are refreshing and still fun. The chance to create my own with tastes I think are missing in the current market in the way we’re delivering them with our brand is really special.

I’ve also really loved the idea that this category brings people together, no matter their drink choice. I’m all about that, and it feels good to be providing a high end product at an accessible price, which was really important for me. 

What do you want your fans to understand about this new venture?

My commitment to eliminating the stigma around non-alcoholic beverages. Non-alcoholic options should not be reserved solely for those who don’t drink, and the idea that non-alcoholic beverages are exclusively for “sober” individuals is a stereotype that I’m determined to challenge. My commitment lies in both innovation and social change, creating an environment where enjoying a non-alcoholic beverage is a choice, not a label, and where these drinks become a vibrant and celebrated part of the beverage landscape.

Do you see this as a stepping stone to becoming someone like Rihanna, Jay-Z, or Justin Timberlake, all of whom are moguls that started out as musicians?

All of them have had great success, and it’s been incredible to see. I’m on my own journey though, I don’t like to look left and right. I’m on my own path from Bradford to wherever it takes me next!

31 Oct 2023

Mitt Romney & Wife Ann Sport Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Costumes for Halloween: ‘It’s a Love Story’

Much like the rest of the internet, Republican senator Mitt Romney and his wife Ann have been watching Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s budding romance — so much so, that the pair dressed up as the duo for Halloween on Tuesday (Oct. 31).

In a photo posted to his Instagram, Senator Romney can be seen wearing the Chiefs tight end’s jersey layered with a black long sleeve shirt, accessorized with an NFL branded football. Romney’s wife Ann, meanwhile, appeared next to him as Swift, donning a blonde wig, red lipstick, angular sunglasses and a replica of the pop star’s cheerleader outfit from her “Shake It Off” music video.

“It’s a love story, baby, just say yes!” Romney captioned the Instagram post. Romney also shared the post to his Instagram Story, with “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” serving as the background music.

Kelce and Swift costumes proved to be popular in 2023 — the Kansas City Chiefs tight end even gave tips to those looking to dress up as him for the spooky occasion. “Man … the mustache is slowly starting to disappear, but I’ll tell you what man — that ‘stache and the 87 jersey was pretty iconic there for a little bit,” he said in an Oct. 20 press conference. “I had it when I met Taylor for the first time.”

Be on the lookout for even more Taylors and Travises now that Halloween has officially arrived. According to an Oct. 9 report by WWD, “Travis Kelce costume” and “Taylor Swift costume” soared by 761 percent and 464 percent respectively in searches online, first prompted by the “Anti-Hero” singer attending the Chiefs’ game against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 24.

See Mitt and Ann Romney’s Halloween costume below.

31 Oct 2023

From a ‘Normal Girl in South Africa’ to a Rising ‘Popiano’ Star, Tyla is Making Major Waves with ‘Water’

Tyla fogged up television screens across America last week when she performed the bacardi-inspired, wet-and-wild TikTok dance (surprisingly without her water bottle in tow) to her latest sultry single, “Water,” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for her U.S. television debut.

“It’s crazy just being a normal girl in South Africa, and then living this dream that I’ve always wanted to live,” she tells Billboard. “I used to be so jealous watching all of the American celebrities on TV, like the Kardashians, Adele, Rihanna, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj. I was like, ‘One day, I’m gonna be there.’ I actually used to want to be born in America only because I thought only Americans could be famous. I did not know it could happen for us because it didn’t really happen very often for people in Africa and especially South Africa.”


https://youtube.com/watch?v=ddcEYB9ot44&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Tyla (real name Tyla Laura Seethal) grew up in Johannesburg, listening to local house and kwaito artists, such as Black Coffee and Mi Casa, as well as American rap and R&B stars, like Tupac, Boyz II Men, Aaliyah and Rihanna. At age 11, she uploaded videos of herself singer covers (like of Justin Bieber‘s “Fall” and “Die in Your Arms”) to YouTube and even stole her father’s cellphone to create an Instagram account so she could post her covers and original songs on there, while also messaging them to celebrities and music industry figures. “I would do everything and anything — because I just felt like, one day, something was gonna catch on,” says Tyla, now 21.

After discovering Tyla from one of her Instagram videos, director and photographer Garth von Glehn (who eventually became her first manager) sent her an email. “I literally felt like I was going to get scammed, so I didn’t respond,” she recalls. “But then a few weeks went away, and something was telling me, ‘Just respond.’ I ended up responding, and then I met up with him with my parents. And I ended up recording for the first time.”

Tyla and her best friend/stylist, Thato Nzimande, proceeded to spend every weekend in 2019 at von Glehn’s apartment/studio, writing and recording music and conducting photo shoots. She eventually linked up with South African DJ/producer Kooldrink on her debut single “Getting Late,” which introduced her refreshing take on amapiano, the increasingly popular South African house subgenre that blends Afro and deep house, jazz and kwaito music, and is characterized by sizzling synths, rattling basslines and soulful piano melodies. “I mixed it with pop because I wanted to make a three-minute song,” she says. “Amapiano songs were like eight minutes, 10 minutes at that time. And I was like, ‘Oh, that’s a bit too long! Let me make an amapiano song that has the normal format of a pop song or an R&B song.”

Her unique “popiano” formula scored her a label deal with Epic Records in 2021, when she started gradually dropping singles — like the boisterous “Overdue,” featuring gqom pioneer DJ Lag and Kooldrink; the tantalizing “To Last,” which was later remixed by amapiano giant DJ Maphorisa and fellow South African singer Young Stunna; the super sleek “Been Thinking;” and the passionate “Girl Next Door” collaboration with Ayra Starr. But it wasn’t until she released “Water” — where her sensual pop/R&B melodies float over bubbling amapiano log drums — and its accompanying dance that Tyla really started experiencing the fame she had desperately desired since childhood.

“Water” debuted at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week ending Oct. 14, and it has since risen to No. 21 (for the week ending Nov. 4). It has spent three weeks at No. 1 on U.S. Afrobeats Songs, marking her first No. 1 on any Billboard chart and ending the record 58-week streak of Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down,” and it’s cracked into the top 10 of the Global 200. “Water” has also been making waves at radio, landing in the top 20 of Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay and debuting at No. 39 on Pop Airplay this week.

“This hasn’t happened in so long for a South African artist, born and raised in South Africa, with an African song, with an African dance style. Everything is so authentic, and the fact that all of that managed to translate overseas is crazy. It’s opening more doors for other South African artists and creatives to just have a place,” she says. “And for me personally, it’s unbelievable. I always wanted to be the biggest pop star in general. I didn’t want to be the biggest African pop star. I just want to be the biggest pop star that was born and raised in Africa. And the fact that I’m already getting a good response from the world [means] I’m one step closer to that dream.”

Billboard spoke with October’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month about Tyla’s signature “popiano” sound, opening for Chris Brown‘s European tour, making an unexpected cameo on The Kardashians and the inspiration behind her viral “Water” dance.

How did you first get introduced to amapiano?

The first time I heard a proper amapiano song was while I was in high school. I remember being in one of my classes and a friend was playing the song called “Gong Gong.” And it’s just a beat — there are no lyrics, no vocals on it. I remember that song till this day because it was my first time hearing something like that.

What makes the genre and the culture so special, in your opinion?

It’s ours. It’s a South African sound that has been able to travel. We haven’t had a genre that traveled this far. It’s brought a lot of pride to South Africans and a lot of jobs and opportunities for us. Amapiano has resulted in so many South Africans being able to travel the world now and make music and make a living off of it. It’s not really just a genre for us — it’s a culture and a movement. That’s why we’re always screaming, “Amapiano to the world! South Africa to the world!” It’s changed our lives.

And it’s very much an open place for us to work in. Everyone is welcoming. Our sessions in South Africa are not like the sessions overseas. All our sessions are open basically, so a session could be happening at this person’s house and then anybody is able to walk up and add a verse, anybody is able to come in and touch the beat. That’s why our songs have 20 people featured on it and the songs are so long.

What influenced you to come up with your signature “popiano” sound? 

In 2019, the year I actually got in front of a mic for the first time, I was experimenting and trying everything to see what sat with me. It got to the point where I was like, “Let me try an amapiano song.” At that time, it was still booming and people weren’t really singing on it. So I tried it and I ended up making my first song “Getting Late.” It just felt right.

And since that day, I just gravitated to that sound more, and as the years went by, and the more songs I made, the more my sound developed. People started calling it “popiano” because it is my own sound. There’s no one that’s really doing it. I just knew that I wanted it to feel like me, and this genre feels like me because I’m able to mix the genres that I was influenced by — R&B and pop, with sounds from home, amapiano and Afrobeats.

The story behind the “Getting Late” music video is inspiring: You wrote on Instagram that you had “set out wanting to make the best video South Africa has ever seen” and filmed a little before production was halted altogether when COVID-19 hit. After lockdown lifted, you resumed working on the video, which was your shot by your manager, and you were styled by your best friend for it.

It was literally like a family business. We shot one scene, COVID hit and then everything closed up. I felt like it was the end because my parents gave me that year to prove myself, because they wanted me to study. But I begged them and I was like, “No! I need to do the singing thing. Just give me one year. I’ll show you guys.” And they eventually gave me that year, and then COVID hit. And I was like, “Ugh! This is the worst time for them to give me the year to prove myself.”

But we made it work. When South Africa would open up a little bit, we would try and shoot a scene. Or we’d try to perform for free at this one place just so we can use the venue. It’s just crazy to think of how we made that video because everyone thinks that we had a huge budget, but it wasn’t that at all. My manager found a way to do it. We all found a way to make it work. And it literally changed my whole life.

At the time of its release, you wrote, “Even if it only gets 270 views on youtube and my career fails, I’ll just watch this video on repeat for the rest of my life and I’m pretty sure I’ll be happy.” Your video has nearly seven million views (so far) and was also nominated for music video of the year at last year’s South African Music Awards.  

It’s literally crazy. We went through so much to make that video — like, I couldn’t stop watching that video, ’cause I was so proud of myself and proud of my team for pushing through it. I just love the video so much that I was like, “OK, guys. We did our best. We’re just putting it out there, [and] whatever happens, happens.”

How did you eventually sign with Epic?

“Getting Late” started doing its thing, and I was just excited that people were retweeting the video. Because I didn’t really know how record labels worked, a record label didn’t even cross my mind at the time. But then my manager told me that labels are reaching out and they want to sign me. I was so confused. I was like, “Cool, what do you mean?” Then they’re telling me, “Oh, this label and this label and Epic Records.” And I was like, “What?! American people? How do they even find me?” America always seemed like it wasn’t a real place for me, so hearing all of that was crazy.

My manager started setting up the calls, and the labels would speak to me over Zoom calls (because it was still COVID) and basically pitch themselves. Epic was actually the first one — and after going through everyone, Epic just felt right, so I ended up signing with them.

I was recently watching an episode of The Kardashians, and I saw you were sitting next to Kim Kardashian in the front row of Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter 2023 runway show during Milan Fashion Week. What was going through your head that night?

The crazy thing is: I didn’t even know I was going to be on the Kardashians show, especially during “Water” time. It honestly feels like everything is just falling into place at the right time. I was on the Chris Brown tour, and the offer came where I would need to fly to Milan to do the Dolce & Gabbana show. And I didn’t have a visa for it, so we were hassling one of the European countries trying to get a visa, and they were not having it. They were like, “We are not going to give you a visa. You need to go back to South Africa and then you can get a visa.”

We flew back to South Africa for 24 hours to try and get a visa, and we ended up getting it, and we had to fly out [to Milan] the next day. That same day, I had to shower, get ready and go straight to the show, where I’m sitting next to Kim Kardashian and I’m literally wearing a Dolce & Gabbana dress. It was like I was in Princess Diaries. It was so crazy even sitting next to [Kardashian], because I was like, “This person is real.” Especially when you only see these people on TV, it’s crazy when you see them in real life. She was nice, and it was just a cool environment to be in. It was also the first-ever fashion week I attended, so it was such a good first experience.

Being a supporting act on the European leg of Chris Brown’s Under the Influence Tour was also a big look for you. First of all, how did that opportunity come about? And what were the biggest lessons you learned from either Chris or the experience overall? 

I was at Tricky Stewart‘s Grammy party and the head of the label, Sylvia Rhone, came to me and asked me, “Do [you] want to open for Chris Brown on his Europe tour?” I didn’t even know what to do. I was like, “What?” I wasn’t even sure I was hearing her correctly. But I just couldn’t stop thinking about that question the whole day. Obviously, I was like, “Yes.” It was such a huge opportunity. And then we literally had to start straightaway preparing. We flew to Europe. We had like two days of rehearsals, I’m not even joking, two days of rehearsals. Then the next day, we had to open at the O2 Arena. It was so crazy!

It taught me so much in terms of performing — especially from Chris, because he’s an amazing performer. He spoke to me a lot. He gave me a lot of tips, and I still use them to this day. I feel like it was literally the perfect bootcamp for me. It gave me a lot of confidence, and it helped me play around with my performance. It helped me get a wider audience, because I was traveling all of Europe, and videos started circling around of me, which was amazing. Opportunities just started falling into my lap. It was the best experience ever. I’ll never forget that tour.



Take me back through the making of “Water.”  

I’ve been recording music for over two years now, since I got signed to the label, making music for my album. And we got to a point where we were like, “OK, let’s start finalizing songs.” But I just felt like I needed that summer dance song, I felt like I was missing that. I said, “OK, I need it to sound like this. I need it to have African influence. It needs to sound like ‘popiano,’ Afrobeats, amapiano, R&B all in one. It needs to live in the clubs. It needs to be a banger.” And I’m not even joking, as soon as I heard “Water,” I was literally like, “It’s over. It’s over for everybody!” I just fell in love with it. I played it for everybody I could, and everyone fell in love with it. So I just knew in my soul that this was the one.

How did you come up with the viral “Water” dance? 

The dance style is actually called bacardi, it’s a dance style in South Africa that originated in Pretoria. And the dance style is usually done with bacardi-type music. Usually when we have songs, I get on a call with my choreographer from South Africa [Lee-ché Janecke] [and] my best friend Thato for hours and we’re thinking, “OK, for this song, what are we going to do?” Then I was just like, “I really feel like this song needs a dance. I really want to do something on TikTok with this song.” Not all the songs I want to make are all TikTok songs where you dance and everything, but this one felt like it needed that.

And then I was like, “Why don’t we make it bacardi?” Obviously, everyone was like, “Um, this isn’t the genre for bacardi.” [Laughs] It felt like that type of style would just go with this song. We actually had a bacardi-type dance for a different song. And we changed it and made that dance for “Water.” We tried a little bit of it in Portugal, but we didn’t pour the water. We ended up reworking it and I was like, “Guys, this is what we’re going to do. You pass me the water, and I’m just going to pour it on my back when I do the bacardi move.” It was exciting for us.

We ended up doing it on the stage for the Giants of Africa Festival, and I was so worried after that performance ’cause I was like, “I don’t know if I did it right.” And then I got videos. I actually DM’ed someone that was in the audience because they posted on their story like, “Please, can you send me the video?” She sent me the video and I edited it and I posted it on my way to a different country. We were on a plane, and I posted it just before we took off and my phone got disconnected. When I landed, it was already at like five million views. I was in so much shock because that flight wasn’t even that long. I was like, “This is crazy!”

How many water bottles would you estimate you’ve spilled down your back while doing the dance? 

[Laughs] I don’t know. Probably a whole water company. [Laughs]



I loved that you teamed up with Ayra Starr on “Girl Next Door” and you performed at Uncle Waffles’ NYC show. What’s it like to shine alongside other female artists coming out of the continent? 

I love it. I’m a girl’s girl for real. Waffles is a girl’s girl, Ayra is a girl’s girl. In general, we all have the same goal: Africa to the world. I feel like we’ve always had the great music and the culture and the vibe, but we haven’t had the audience. Social media helps so much because it’s been able to give us that access to more people. I love seeing Afrobeats artists win, amapiano artists win, everyone in Africa. It’s only up for us really.

Who would you love to collaborate with next? 

I’d honestly love to have a song with Tems. I love her voice, I love her vibe. Her new song [“Me & U”] is on repeat.

I heard you’re finishing up your debut EP. What can fans expect from it?

Definitely more bangers. It’s going to be a short and sweet one, but it’s going to be a glimpse into my sound because I do feel like it has developed over time and it’s more where I want it to be. It’s my first project ever. I’ve been releasing music and making music for years now, so it’s exciting for me to start making worlds for people to listen to and tap into. But it’s definitely a new, fresh sound for the world. And it’s a fusion between my African world and my ideal popstar/R&B world. And I’m super excited for people to listen.

Considering amapiano has become increasingly popular in the U.S. over the last couple of years, what is your hope for the sound in the future? 

I honestly feel like it’s going to be the next biggest thing in dance music. It’s going to be playing in all of the raves, all of the festivals, Ibiza, all of the [places] where they listen to [sings] oontz oontz oontz oontz oontz. I feel like ‘piano is really going to take over that whole world.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming African artists who are hoping to have their music travel across the globe? 

It’s very hard because I’m still figuring out a lot because I’ve been coming [up] and trying to find my way. But based off my experience, just make music that feels like you, that’s very authentic to you. Don’t try copying other people. Just find your sound and what you want the world to see you as and push that forward and believe in it. If you keep working towards it and go day by day as if you’ve already achieved your goal, you will get there.

A lot of people say “manifestation” and whatnot. I don’t want to put a label on it, but personally, ever since I could remember, before “manifestation” was even a word I knew, I always believed that I already achieved that goal. I already believed that it was mine. It was just a matter of time that it was going to be given to me. That really helped me because it really happened. Everything happened the way it was supposed to happen. And if you as an artist feel like that, just keep believing that it’s yours already and I’m sure it will be one day.

31 Oct 2023

Luxurious Lifestyle & Haters: Here Are the Lyrics to Bad Bunny’s ‘Monaco’ Translated to English

Unlike Un Verano Sin Ti, which was an album about being in love and the best summers in Puerto Rico, the lyrical content in Bad Bunny’s Nadie Sabe Que Va A Pasar Mañana is about the downfalls, the wins, the life lessons.

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A true testament is the focus track “Monaco.”

Backed by elegant violin and piano melodies (as heard in Charles Aznavour’s 1964 song “Hier Encore”), the classy trap song is about being the best in the game and having no comparison. He chants about his luxurious lifestyle and having famous friends like Leonardo DiCaprio while sending a clear message to the haters.

“Monaco” is currently No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.

Below, check out the complete lyrics translated into English.

Tell me, ey, tell me, this is what you wanted?
I’m classy, this is gallery trap
You’re joke, Rocky “The Kid”, a piece of crap
I am a champion, Rocky Marciano, Rocky Balboa, Rocky Maivia
I have the route, I have the lane, yes, I have the lane
I spend at nighttime, make money all day
So much money that I spend that
I like to be used, that’s why I do it with all these harpies
You don’t know what it’s like to be on the high seas with two hundred women
That the stewardess suck your **** in the sky
What it’s like to throw five hundred’ thousand in the stripclub
That’s why your opinion matters zero to me
That’s why you are 101 in the top 100 and I am first
They are no longer a rapper, now they are a podcaster
My barber is charging more than you
F***ing and traveling around the world

Drinking lots of champagne, we’re never dry
First Verstappen arrived, then Checo arrived
If Pablo saw me, he would say I’m a badass
You’re talking crap and me and my people are in Monaco
Drinking lots of champagne, we’re never dry
You’re talking alone, talking with their echo
The money sign is my new zodiac sign
Light up a cigar, the family is in Monaco

Believe me, the F1 cars are faster in person
Sofia Vergara is beautiful but she’s more beautiful in person
What you do doesn’t impress me
It’s like making a goal after Messi and Maradona
They don’t even know you in your neighborhood
I was with LeBron and DiCaprio yesterday
They asked me about my stadium tour
We talked about the family and topics of millionaires
I mean, multimillionaire, I mean, billionaire
It’s been a while since I’ve cared about the radio
A while ago I stepped out of trap, and left it to Eladio [Carrion]

Dear Diary,
Today I got deposited, was nominated to the Grammys
They criticized me again, and I didn’t care
I’m relaxed doing my thing
Don Vito, Don Beno, of The Beatles John Lennon
When I die, I’m going to leave 100 land to my grandkids
To all my girls, their butts and boobs done
And to my hater, a F40 without the breaks

For what? So they crash and die
Red, white, or matte black, which do you want?
For what? So they crash and die
R.I.P., I continue in the yacht

Drinking lots of champagne, we’re never dry
First Verstappen arrived, then Checo arrived
If Pablo saw me, he would say I’m a badass
You’re talking crap and me and my people are in Monaco
Drinking lots of champagne, we’re never dry
You’re talking alone, talking with their echo
The money sign is my new zodiac sign
Light up a blunt, the family is in Monaco