Music

10 Oct 2023

Here Are the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards Winners

At the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards — which took place at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on Oct. 3 and then broadcast Tuesday night (Oct. 10) — Kendrick Lamar emerged the night’s biggest winner, taking home four prizes.

The rapper swept every category he was nominated in, winning hip hop artist of the year, lyricist of the year, best live performer and video director of the year, alongside his collaborator Dave Free.

A slew of artists went home with two awards, including Drake & 21 Savage (hip hop album of the year for Her Loss and best duo or group); Lil Durk feat. J. Cole (best collaboration and impact track for “All My Life”); Lil Uzi Vert (song of the year and best hip hop video for “Just Wanna Rock”); and Metro Boomin (producer of the year and DJ of the year).

Cardi B and 21 Savage entered the show as the lead nominees, with 12 apiece; Cardi was shut out, while Savage scored the two awards above.

The Fat Joe-hosted awards show featured performances by Sexyy Red, GloRilla, City Girls and DaBaby, as well as LL Cool J and Rakim’s tribute to the night’s I Am Hip Hop Award honoree Marley Marl and a So So Def 30th-anniversary tribute featuring Lil Jon, Ludacris, Nelly, Chingy, Bow Wow, Da Brat and more.

Follow along with all the night’s winners below, and see our gallery of red-carpet photos from the BET Hip Hop Awards here.

10 Oct 2023

Here’s Why Jessie James Decker Waited 3 Years to Release ‘I’m Gonna Love You’

The arrival of Jessie James Decker‘s latest single, “I’m Gonna Love You,” was a long time in the making — three years to be exact. The country star sat down with Tetris Kelly for the latest Billboard News interview and revealed that she song was originally completed in 2020, but was put on pause at the request of her team.

“This has been a song I’ve held onto since 2020. I wrote it in 2020 with Emily Shackleton and Liz Rose, two of the most incredible songwriters in town. It was just a song I loved so much, and I felt my team didn’t let me put it out for so long,” she shared. “It wasn’t that they didn’t like it — it was like, ‘Let’s wait.’ And finally, I’m like, ‘I’m not waiting anymore.’ I was playing it live on tour, the crowd would go wild, I just felt like it was the right time to put this song out.”

The song arrived on Sept. 22, with a stripped version of the track arriving on Oct. 6. Of the track, Decker says it “shows a side of me I think no one’s ever seen before. It’s vulnerable, it’s soulful, my heart’s really just all in soul. It’s just one of my absolute favorites, so I’m really glad its out there.”

The country star also shared her thoughts about the genre showing dominance on the Billboard charts over the past year, noting that the controversy surrounding some tracks — such as Jason Aldean’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Try That in a Small Town” — is par for the course.

“There will always be controversy in every genre and every bit of music. It’s just part of it — it gets people fired up inside. Music is always going to make you feel some type of way. It’s either gonna make you sad, make you wanna get up and dance. That’s what makes music so incredible,” she explained. “It can just make you feel something, and this is why I love being a part of its moment. EMD had its moment, rock n’ roll had its moment. I just think it’s country’s turn again.”

The “I’m Gonna Love You” singer is also celebrating the Oct. 10 release of her second cookbook, Just Eat: More Than 100 Easy and Delicious Recipes That Taste Just Like Home. For Decker, branching out into food was a natural progression for her, as she was “raised by amazing cooks.”

“My mom’s side is all Italian coming over from Italy and settling in Louisiana. You got cajun roots, southern roots, and that just makes for good food,” she explained of her motivations — partly inspired by her struggles to feed her former NFL player husband Eric Decker — to branch out into food. “I’m not a chef. I’m not here to intimidate anybody or come up with all these fancy foods. I just wanna make great food and help you make great food too.”

Watch Decker’s full Billboard News interview in the video above.

10 Oct 2023

Missing Katy Perry Co-Writer Camela Leierth-Segura Found Safe

Camela Leierth-Segura was found alive three months after she went missing, according to People.

The Beverly Hills Police Department told the publication, “On October 5, 2023, an anonymous source reported seeing Camela Segura in the City of Santa Monica. The BHPD Watch Commander requested the Santa Monica Police Department follow up. After SMPD contacted Camela Segura, she informed them that she was not in distress and did not want any police services.”

According to ABC7, Leierth-Segura’s friends noted that her “2010 silver Ford Fusion was last seen in Beverly Hills in the middle of the night on June 30” and that her cat also disappeared. Her friend Liz Montgomery filed a missing persons report for on Aug. 8.

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“She had mentioned it to all of us that she was having trouble; Covid definitely was not helpful for her because she’s a musician, model, actress, all that stuff. And there was no money coming in,” Montgomery told The Los Angeles Times in August.

The 48-year-old is known for writing Katy Perry’s 2013 “Walking on Air.”

10 Oct 2023

Phoenix Enlists Pusha T for New Version of ‘All Eyes on Me’

Pusha T is gearing up to feature on a new song this week, and it isn’t with any of his rapper friends. The track comes courtesy of Phoenix, who have enlisted him for a verse on a new version of their track “All Eyes on Me,” the band revealed on Tuesday (Oct. 10).

The group shared a screenshot of a May 2022 iMessage exchange they shared with Pusha that featured a small snippet of the rapper’s addition to the track. Pusha first sent the audio with “okay” hand emojis. In response, one of the members of Phoenix texted, “WE LOVE IT! Thanks for doing this Pusha. Let us know if you’re ever in Paris. Chad Hugo is joining on production and Benee on vocals.”

“Awesome!! Definitely need to meet face to face, song is [fire emojis]. I’ll make sure to make the Louvre a destination on my next Paris visit. Studio has to be sick. Let’s get it!!” Pusha excitedly responded. The band captioned the post with the track’s release date: “Tomorrow” — as in, Wednesday, Oct. 11.

If the collaboration feels unexpected to you, you’re not “The Only One.” On Instagram, fans shared their delight at the collaboration, but several users liked a commenter who remarked: “This is by far the most random collab I’ve seen in a very long time lmao.”

The surprise isn’t unwarranted: Phoenix’s first song collaboration ever occurred last year with the Alpha Zulu single “Tonight,” which featured Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig.

“The playfulness of the track reminded us of Ezra, so we had to call him. We were intimate enough with him that we knew the song was safe,” Phoenix’s lead singer, Thomas Mars, said in the band’s Billboard interview for Alpha Zulu. “If it wasn’t good, we wouldn’t have to put it out or he could say no if he didn’t like it. It’s rare that we know people well enough to do that.”

Since the release of “Tonight,” the collaborations have been fast and furious for the French rockers. Clairo hopped on a new version of “After Midnight,” also on Alpha Zulu, that was released in March. Ahead of Phoenix’s Summer Odyssey Tour with Beck, the band and the Canadian singer dropped “Odyssey” in July and performed the track together during the trek.

Listen to a snippet of Pusha T’s part in “All Eyes on Me” below.

10 Oct 2023

Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane & More to Perform at 2023 Spirit of Life Gala Honoring Lyor Cohen

Next week’s Spirit of Life Gala honoring Lyor Cohen, global head of music at YouTube and Google, will feature a one-time-only edition of DJ Cassidy’s celebrated Pass The Mic Live! The segment will showcase more than a dozen hip-hop and R&B artists, including Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Dru Hill, EPMD, Ja Rule, Memphis Bleek, Swizz Beatz and T.I., all of whom have played a part in Cohen’s 40-year legacy spanning Rush Management, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Warner Music Group, 300 Entertainment and beyond.

The sold-out gala is taking place Oct. 18 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif. It’s a fundraiser for City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses.

DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic series quickly transformed from viral sensation to primetime TV series on BET. Now a live tour, DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! recently sold out Radio City Music Hall in New York with a one-time-only concert featuring 25 icons of hip-hop’s golden era.

“As a 10-year-old deejay and hip-hop kid growing up in New York City, I idolized Lyor Cohen long before he ever knew my name,” DJ Cassidy said in a statement. “Then, as his Def Jam intern in my high school years, a hero became a mentor. I am truly honored to bring ‘Pass The Mic Live!’ to City Of Hope and celebrate Lyor’s commitment to making the best health care available to hip-hop fans and performers by uniting a once-in-a-lifetime lineup of iconic artists who have influenced his massive musical legacy and hip-hop’s global influence as a whole.” 

Chuck D of Public Enemy added: “Lyor Cohen is a pioneer, and myself and Public Enemy have been beneficiaries of his visionary audacity. Hip Hop’s ride through the music industry has been turbulent, but together with Lyor we’ve grown with it and gone through it and organized what was necessary. Working with Lyor makes you pay attention to everything. And he’ll tell you that.” 

City of Hope is celebrating 50 years of partnership with the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) fundraising group. Over this period, industry executives and influencers have raised nearly $150 million to benefit City of Hope’s mission to transform the future of cancer care. 

“Our industry cares so very much about overcoming health inequities for underrepresented groups who continue to get left behind,” said Evan Lamberg, MFEI board president and president of Universal Music Publishing Group. “City of Hope is conscientiously leading efforts to improve health equity. In teaming up with our music, film & entertainment industry, we can take action to remove obstacles so that everyone can get the care they need and deserve.” 

10 Oct 2023

Kim Petras Celebrates a Homecoming of Sorts at Sold-Out Brooklyn Tour Stop

Following a Grammy win for her Billboard Hot 100-topping Sam Smith collab “Unholy” earlier this year (not to mention a Billboard Women in Music honor), Kim Petras is on the road with her Feed the Beast Tour. It kicked off Sept. 27 in Austin and has worked its way up the east coast since then, rolling into New York City’s Brooklyn Mirage on Monday (Oct. 9) night.

Despite Petras being German-born and Los Angeles-based, the Brooklyn concert was a bit of a homecoming for her. “I’ve been thinking of how much I owe to gay clubs – especially gay clubs in Brooklyn,” Petras told Billboard earlier this year when she was honored as the 2023 Women in Music Chartbreaker. “That’s where my career started and where people wanted me to perform. It’s where I performed the sh-t out of my songs on bars and tables and anything. I feel like I owe my career to Brooklyn and the Bushwick gays. I’m so grateful, I will never forget that. It’s my favorite place.”

The fact that Petras went from singing on Bushwick tables to selling out a 4500-capacity venue just a mile and a half from one of those local queer spaces wasn’t lost on her. “You sold out this show! I’m so grateful,” Petras told the NYC crowd, an LGBTQ-heavy audience dressed (or undressed) to the nines. “I remember dancing on a bar in Bushwick and Amanda Lepore was there and all of a sudden people started listening to my music.”

While the Feed the Beast Tour is plenty transgressive — featuring Satanic imagery (sure to cause pearl-clutching among the crowd left scandalized by her 2023 Grammy performance) and a dangling mic that resembles a sex toy during “Throat Goat” — Petras’ history with the neighborhood actually left her choked up during one song. (And no, it wasn’t the latter track.)

Hearing her voice catch while performing certainly made clear that Petras is singing live during this tour – not that anyone could have missed that after watching her belt the poignant “Everybody Dies” earlier that night, which found her showcasing the peaks and valleys of her substantial voice.

“You wanna hit this high note with me, bitches?” she shouted before delivering a money note in “Icy.” Based on the crowd’s response, plenty of people tried; few delivered. No shock there – there’s only one Kim Petras. And on the Feed the Beast Tour, she’s making sure all her fans get fed.

10 Oct 2023

Dolly Parton’s ‘Good Housekeeping Seal’ Renewed: ‘I Guess I’m Old Enough to Deserve Stuff Like That’

To honor the upcoming 115th anniversary of the Good Housekeeping Seal, the magazine has renewed Dolly Parton‘s personal seal, which the Country Music Hall of Fame member and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member originally earned back in 2001.

Parton is the only person to earn the seal since it was introduced by Good Housekeeping magazine in 1909. The seal typically is awarded to products that have been tested and approved by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

In celebrating the upcoming November release of Parton’s debut rock album Rockstar, Good Housekeeping surprised Parton by renewing her personal GH seal, while also awarding the Good Housekeeping Seal to Parton’s Rockstar album.

“Well, I appreciated it before and I didn’t know it was going to happen again – this is amazing!” Parton said in a statement announcing the news. “That is impressive; I guess I’m old enough to deserve stuff like that. Well, I’ll tell you, the Good Housekeeping Seal on everything is always like the best thing ever. You know that’s something you can trust, so … I trust that you love me enough to trust me with this. Thank you so much – that’ll go in the museum. I get to say my rock album has the Good Housekeeping Seal! That’s amazing – rock on.”

The seal renewal took place during the first day of Good Housekeeping‘s inaugural Live Shopping Week with TalkShopLive. Parton recently sat down with Nancy O’Dell and Good Housekeeping‘s group digital director Lauren Matthews Ide to discuss Parton’s Rockstar, out Nov. 17. The segment covers Parton’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, how she decided on the more than 2 dozen songs that made her Rockstar album and more.

10 Oct 2023

BTS’ Jung Kook Shares ‘Golden’ Concept Photos Ahead of Album Release

The rollout for Jung Kook‘s debut solo album, Golden, continues! The BTS vocalist’s label, BIGHIT Music, released a trio of concepts for the album on the group’s respective social media pages, much to ARMY’s delight.

The final set of concept photos, titled “SUBSTANCE,” arrived Saturday and features the BTS member posing against a graffiti backdrop with numbers and words that are special to him, such as 0613 (BTS’ anniversary date), ’97 (his birth year) and the logo for BTS ARMY. The other two photos feature the singer striking a sultry pose in between two more graffiti walls and peacefully shutting his eyes, with his rings and piercings on full display.

The previous two concept photos — “SHINE” and “SOLID” — arrived throughout last week and highlighted the K-pop star’s outward facing personality seen by others and the side of himself that fans do not get to see when he is alone. The “SHINE” images show Jung Kook outfitted in a black suit jacket and jeans with his multiple silver chains and piercings, while the “SOLID” photos show the singer stripped back in casual clothes, like plain white tanks, crewneck sweaters and sweatpants.

Golden is set to arrive Nov. 3. The set has been proceeded by previous singles “Seven feat. Latto” and “3D feat. Jack Harlow.” The tracks peaked at Nos. 1 and 5 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, respectively. Leading up to the album release, Jung Kook is set to feature on The Kid LAROI’s forthcoming single “Too Much” alongside Central Cee on Oct. 20. Following the release of Golden, Jung Kook will perform a special album concert in Seoul to celebrate the LP’s release on Nov. 20.

See all of the Golden concept photos below.

10 Oct 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Says She Sometimes Sleeps ’14 Hours’ While on Tour

Olivia Rodrigo is gearing up for her arena tour in support of her sophomore album Guts, and the star opened up about what her touring life is like with People.

“I sleep so much when I’m on tour, it’s kind of crazy,” she told the publication. “There were some nights where I was just so exhausted from playing a show that I would sleep for 14 hours. Eating healthy is important and also having people that you really love come on the road with you helps a lot — people who can replenish your energy and nurture you.”

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She continued, “Yeah, I brought my mom along last time and my best friend came along for a lot of the dates, so that was really helpful. It’s nice to have a little piece of home with you wherever you go, because the people are what’s really important.”

The 20-year-old “Vampire” singer also gushed over one of her tour openers Chappell Roan, who happened to do background vocals on Rodrigo’s track, “Lacy.” “Honestly, selfishly, I’m just like, ‘She has to come on tour with me because I just want to watch her every night.’ I get a free concert every night. I’m so stoked.”

Proceeds from each ticket for the Guts World Tour will also go to her new Fund 4 Good initiate, which will support community non-profits that work toward girls’ education, reproductive rights and prevent gender-based violence.

See the full list of tour dates here.

10 Oct 2023

LE SSERAFIM Reflect on The Success of ‘UNFORGIVEN’ & First Tour: Interview

LE SSERAFIM is the latest artist in Billboard Japan’s monthly feature interview series which presents various artists and works that have caught its eye. Making its debut in May 2022,  they are  the first girl group produced by SOURCE MUSIC and HYBE, the label behind BTS and countless other global artists.

 In January of this year, LE SSERAFIM released their first Japanese single, “FEARLESS,” and held a showcase event to commemorate it. In May, the group released its 1st studio album, UNFORGIVEN. The album took the top position on Billboard Japan‘s “Hot Albums” overall album chart, the “Top Albums Sales” weekly album sales chart, and the “Download Albums” chart.

 A Japanese version of the album’s title track, “UNFORGIVEN,” was released in August as their second Japanese single. “UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers, Ado) -Japanese ver.-” features Ado, and a Japan-exclusive track, “Jewelry (Prod. imase)” was produced by imase, generating buzz in Japan. Billboard Japan spoke to LE SSERAFIM about what’s happened in the year since their debut, their well-received album and latest single, and their first solo tour. (Due to scheduling issues, HUH YUNJIN was not able to take part in the interview with the rest of the group and was interviewed on her own at a later date.)

It’s been roughly a year since your debut. Could you tell us where each of you thinks you’ve achieved the most personal growth over the course of this year?

KAZUHA: My greatest growth has been in how much my Korean has improved.

What about you, KIM CHAEWON?

KIM CHAEWON: Before our debut, and right after our debut, I wasn’t yet in the right frame of mind to enjoy myself while I was performing on stage. Now, though, I’ve become comfortable enough to have fun on stage. I think that’s an area where I’ve grown a lot.

Could you talk a bit about what makes LE SSERAFIM unique and what your strengths are?

SAKURA: A lot of our lyrics are based on our actual life experiences, so I think our songs can encourage and resonate with people who are going through similar experiences. I think our strength lies in the fact that we sing about our philosophy of how you can live your life.

What about your live performances?

KIM CHAEWON: When we get up on stage, we try to create a live show together with all of our fans, as a group effort. For example, we put in call & response sections so that the audience can respond.

In May, you released your first studio album, UNFORGIVEN. I’ve heard that you recorded several of the songs in Japan. Did you have any insights or discoveries during the recording process?

SAKURA: On this album, there were a lot of songs in genres that I didn’t have much experience with, for example, “Fire in the belly” which has a lot of Latin-influenced sounds. So when we were recording, I discovered new voices I didn’t know I had. Sometimes it was hard, but I think with UNFORGIVEN, listeners will be able to enjoy all kinds of genres through the entire album.

What did you do to prepare for recording?

KAZUHA: We began recording “UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers)” in Japan, and my approach was to sing the opening words “Unforgiven, I’m a villain, I’m a” in a kind of dark, cool way. But I got some advice to try singing it with a bit of a lighter tone, and when I tried it out, the producer was also like, “right there, that’s it.” That part sticks with you, and the producer said he wanted to make it an addictive hook, so I’m glad I was able to pull off that part so well. I think the recording of this album allowed me to experience the best possible recording process, despite the time limitations we were under.

KIM CHAEWON: We didn’t have that much time for recording, so I took a lot of care to make sure my voice was in its best condition.

HONG EUNCHAE: I sang a somewhat long part in “UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers).” It was my first time doing that, and I wanted to do really well, so I practiced to show the best version of myself.     

I feel like your first studio album, UNFORGIVEN, was made with this desire to pave your own way, without being held back by how other people see you or what they think. The album has gained support from a lot of fans and reached the top of the hit charts. What do you think that means for you and how do you feel about the response to the album?

KIM CHAEWON: Our goal wasn’t breaking into the charts when we were preparing for the recording. We just wanted to do what we could and to express ourselves through music. That’s what we were focused on when we made the album. We figured that people would see what we accomplished and recognition would follow.

SAKURA: UNFORGIVEN dropped the day before we celebrated our first anniversary, and you can see the hard work we put in over the course of that year. A lot of people discovered us through “ANTIFRAGILE,” and I think the expectations people had for us had a good impact on us. The real test will be where we go from here. I want us to continue making the kind of music that only we can.

HUH YUNJIN: I can feel the love that so many people have for our songs and performances, and I’m so happy that the message we’re trying to share is reaching people. I want us to be a team that has a positive influence on people who see us perform, helping them courageously join hands and keep pushing forward.

Could you talk a bit about your second Japanese single, “UNFORGIVEN?” One of the songs on the single is a Japan-exclusive produced by imase titled “Jewelry (Prod. imase)” What are the highlights of this song?

KIM CHAEWON: The lyrics are beautiful. A lot of LE SSERAFIM songs have a cool, sophisticated atmosphere, but “Jewelry (Prod. imase)” is a bright, cheery song.

SAKURA: I think it’s a real ear-pleaser, perfect for listening to on late-night drives. A lot of LE SSERAFIM songs are rap-oriented songs, but when we recorded this song we tried to make our voices really shine.

KAZUHA: Usually, during recording, I break things down very precisely, like, “in this part, I’ll do this, and in this part, I’ll do this.” With “Jewelry (Prod. imase),” though, I just felt the energy and had a blast singing.

HONG EUNCHAE: The word “sparkling” appears a few times in the lyrics, and when I sang the song I envisioned beautiful, sparkling scenes and vibed as I sang.

HUH YUNJIN: I love the city pop genre, and both the music and lyrics are wonderful.

The title song, “UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers, Ado) -Japanese ver.-” features the Japanese singer Ado. How did you feel when the decision was made to collaborate with her?

HONG EUNCHAE:  I knew that Ado was a very well-known artist, so I couldn’t believe it when I found out she’d be collaborating on one of our songs.

KAZUHA: Ado has a truly unique singing voice, so I was excited to hear how she’d sound on her collaboration with us.

HUH YUNJIN: It was so unexpected, I couldn’t believe it. I remember being impressed with what a wonderful artist Ado was the first time I heard her. I never expected to be able to work with her.

You started your first solo tour, 2023 LE SSERAFIM TOUR ‘FLAME RISES,’ with a performance in Seoul on August 12. In Japan, you played in Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka. Where did the “FLAME RISES” in the tour name come from?

SAKURA: It refers to us burning the path we walked behind us so there would be no going back, our only choice would be to keep going forward. It’s also because we wanted to put on a blazing hot show.

What has the response been like?

KIM CHAEWON: Even before we debuted, we had our eyes set on putting on concerts. I was so glad to be able to put on our first LE SSERAFIM tour. I’ve had a hard time even believing it. We’re making sure to take good care of our health, and hopefully we can bring the tour to a successful conclusion.

SAKURA: A lot of concerts end with a quiet, soulful song, but we’re ending our concerts with a really exciting song that gets the audience amped up. Like the image evoked by our tour name, “FLAME RISES,” we want to be on fire up on stage. At our shows, we’ve seen the audience enjoying the show with every fiber of their being, so it’s been a thrill for us, too.

HUH YUNJIN: It’s been so fun. I’m so grateful that people have taken time out of their busy schedules to come see us. I want us to keep enjoying ourselves in our shows, staying healthy and putting on impressive performances.

Do you have any final message for our readers or your fans?

KIM CHAEWON:   I hope you put our second Japanese single, “UNFORGIVEN,” on heavy rotation, and if you come to one of our shows, I hope you have the time of your life.

SAKURA:  I’m so glad to be able to experience first-hand the love people feel for our music. We’re going to keep putting on great shows for the rest of this tour, and then achieve even further growth in preparation for our next tour, so we look forward to your ongoing support.