Music

15 Sep 2023

Doja Cat Continues Teasing ‘Scarlet’ With New ‘Balut’ Single: Stream It Now

“Remember this, girls,” rings the intro of Doja Cat’s latest new track. “None of you can be first, but all of you can be next.”

The intro — lifted from professional wrestler Ric Flair — heralds the beginning of “Balut,” the final song on the star’s upcoming new album Scarlet and its most recent single. The track features production contributions from Yeti Beats, Roget Chahyed and Kurtis McKenzie. The latter two creatives, alongside Doja and Y2K, also have writing credits on the laidback rap track.

“Balut” marks the fourth single from Scarlet. Doja first introduced the world of her fourth studio album with “Attention,” a boom-bap-leaning hip-hop track that debuted and peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. A Dionne Warwick-sampling pop-rap track entitled “Paint the Town Red” soon followed as the album’s first radio single, reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100 this week (chart dated Sept. 16, 2023). On Sept. 1, Doja then unleashed “Demons,” a raucous punk-rap track that boasted a chilling horror-themed music video starring Emmy-nominated Yellowjackets actress Christina Ricci.

The release of “Balut” comes the same week as Doja’s star-turn 2023 MTV Video Music Awards performance, in which she delivered a show-stopping medley of “Attention,” “Paint the Town Red” and “Demons.” At Tuesday night’s ceremony (Sept. 12), “Attention” won the Moonperson for best art direction.

Scarlet is slated for a Sept. 22 release with an accompanying headlining arena tour to follow. The Scarlet Tour kicks off on Oct. 31 at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA, with special guests Ice Spice and Doechii.

Stream “Balut” now:

15 Sep 2023

Thomas Rhett’s ‘Angels’ Flies to No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart: ‘This One Is Really Special’

Thomas Rhett scores his 19th No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Angels (Don’t Always Have Wings)” soars from No. 6 to the top of the survey dated Sept. 23.

In the Sept. 8-14 tracking week, the single gained by 14% to 27.5 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.

The 33-year-old Georgia native co-authored the song with Julian Bunetta, Teddy Swims and Josh Thompson. It’s the third single from Rhett’s LP Where We Started, which opened at No. 2 on Top Country Albums in April 2022. Lead single “Slow Down Summer” hit No. 2 on Country Airplay in May 2022 and “Half of Me,” featuring Riley Green, ruled for a week last November.

Before “Summer,” Rhett’s “Country Again” led for a week in September 2021. He banked his first leader almost 10 years ago, when “It Goes Like This,” his third entry (and first of 22 top 10s), began a three-week domination in October 2013.

“This one is really special,” Rhett tells Billboard. “Crazy to think my first No. 1 in Billboard was 10 years ago, and now to be celebrating ‘Angels’ going No. 1 is just really exciting and humbling. Getting a No. 1 in Billboard is not an easy one to get, so we never take it for granted. I’m so grateful for the last 10 years, and can’t wait for the next 10 …”

Meanwhile, as it flies 6-1, “Angels” makes the biggest swoop to the top Country Airplay chart’s to perch since Scotty McCreery’s “In Between” blasted 8-1 in June 2020.

Now with 19 Country Airplay No. 1s, Rhett ties Garth Brooks for the 12th-most since the chart began in January 1990. Among all artists, Kenny Chesney ranks first with 32 No. 1s, followed by Tim McGraw (29) and Blake Shelton (28).

15 Sep 2023

Jeezy Files for Divorce From Jeannie Mai

After two and a half years of marriage, Jeezy has filed for divorce from his wife and former TV host Jeannie Mai, Billboard can confirm. 

The rapper filed the petition on Thursday (Sept. 14) at Fulton County Superior Court in Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution — who was first to break the news — reported that the pair have a prenup in place, and that he’s seeking joint custody of their 1-year-old daughter, Monaco.

According to the document viewed by Billboard, the filing states that the former pair are “currently living in a bona fide state of separation.” The rapper also states that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” with “no hope for reconciliation.”

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Billboard has reached out to Jeezy’s and Mai’s reps for comment.

The two met in 2018 during Mai’s time on The Real, but remained mum regarding their dating status. Then, the couple confirmed they were dating in 2019, and revealed their engagement the following year. Because of the tight COVID-19 restrictions, they shifted their wedding from France to their Georgia home in 2021, where they held an intimate ceremony. 

“We were really looking forward to having all of our friends and family there to celebrate,” Mai told Vogue in April 2021. “But we had to change all of our wedding plans due to COVID. After Jeezy’s mother unexpectedly passed, we quickly learned that life is too short. And at the end of the day, Jeezy and I really just wanted to become husband and wife. So we decided to turn our original wedding into a mini-mony, where we exchanged our vows in front of our immediate family and a few close friends.”

At the top of 2022, Jeezy and Mae welcomed their first child. “I asked God for a life of love and happiness. He sent me my family,” Mai announced Instagram at the time. “Baby Jenkins is here.”

15 Sep 2023

Here’s Why *NSYNC’s ‘Trolls’ Song Promotion Doesn’t Break Hollywood Strike Rules

*NSYNC set Tuesday night’s 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on fire when they reunited during the broadcast and presented Taylor Swift with the best pop Moon Person for her Midnights hit “Anti-Hero.” The group — consisting of Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and Lance Bass — spent their time onstage reminiscing about their MTV salad days, basking in the glow of the adoring audience, and getting some serious love from a gobsmacked Swift.

But after Swift admitted she was “not doing well” pivoting from hugging her childhood pop crushes to accepting the award, she also said the thing that was probably on everyone else’s mind: “Are you doing something? What’s going to happen now?”

And then… nothing else happened.

The timing of the reunion was fitting, since less than 48 hours later, *NSYNC announced their first new song since 2002, “Better Place,” their boppy contribution to the upcoming Trolls Band Together threequel starring Timberlake; the song is due Sept. 29. In the lead-up to the awards show, longtime fans were freaking out over posters around New York that appeared to tease the iconic *NSYNC logo that led to this site. That led to rampant speculation that, as Swift suggested, “something” would happen during the prime VMA spot at the top of the nearly four-hour program.

The band did not, however, mention the movie, nor the song, during their appearance, which came in the midst of the the ongoing Hollywood writers and actors strike that began in May when members of the Writers Guild of America walked out, followed by SAG-AFTRA members joining them in July, effectively shutting down Hollywood.

*NSYNC did end up promoting the song in an Instagram post first shared on JT’s feed Thursday (Sept. 14), in which the quintet shared their emotional studio reunion (though there were no tags relating to the film, soundtrack or studio on the post). “So many stars aligned, that’s why I hit y’all,” Timberlake tells his bandmates in the video. “If we do this song, it’s a love letter to our fans. I would be honored to have the group on this song. Who’s ready for a reunion?” The clip then shifts to Timberlake behind the boards giving the rest of the group direction on their vocal tracks while recording his own vocals.

The post begged the question: Did *NYSNC break the rules regarding the promotion of movies and/or soundtracks during the strike?

Earlier this summer, SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland broke down the strike rules about promotion of new or previously completed projects, noting that artists are expected to avoid promoting music created for TV, film or streaming under the old contract during the strike.

“Musicians who are members of SAG-AFTRA are equally subject to the rules around the strike — we cover vocalists in the music industry, as well as vocalists in the film/TV/streaming side and some broadcast journalists — and when any member is working on a project as an actor, then the rules mean that they are not in a position to promote that project, even if they are more generally known as a singer or recording artist,” Duncan Crabtree-Ireland previously told Billboard.

At the time, however, Crabtree-Ireland also said that members cannot enter into any new music licensing agreements or approve any new tracks for film or TV projects and must cease promoting songs already licensed for the duration of the strike.

However, when reached following the VMAs — without specifically mentioning the band or the song — a spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA told Billboard in a statement that: “While some songs are made for a movie under our Theatrical CBA, others are made under our Sound Recording Contract and acquired via a license deal. Songs that are not made under our Theatrical CBA are not subject to the strike order and promotional rules.”

At press time, spokespeople for Timberlake and Trolls studio DreamWorks Animation could not be reached for comment on the promotion of the song, though a source confirmed to Billboard that the track was covered under the Sound Recording Contract.

The 2023 VMAs were noticeably light on the usual parade of A-list and up-and-coming Hollywood actors taking the stage to introduce acts or musicians plugging their latest acting gigs as promotion has ground to a dead halt while the dual strike by actors and writers enters the fall with no end in sight.

The *NSYNC exception is different from the one governing Swift’s recent announcement and promotion of her Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour concert film. After that project was announced, a source close to the film confirmed to Billboard that the Eras doc obtained clearance under an interim agreement struck by SAG-AFTRA covering individual non-AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) productions that meet the same standards the unions are seeking in their negotiations with the studios; the source added that the clearance was nailed down before the Eras doc was shot in Inglewood, California, during the first three nights of the singer’s six-night run at SoFi Stadium.

Billboard also confirmed that the Swift film is included under an assumed name on the list of approved interim agreement projects.

For now, it’s unclear how much, if any, further promotion *NSYNC will do for the song that appears in Trolls Band Together, in which Timberlake’s Branch reunites with his brothers to get their childhood boy band, BroZone, back together. Though *NSYNC got back together to record the song — and fans are predictably freaking out — in the film, Timberlake’s bandmate brothers are voiced by Troye Sivan, Eric André, Daveed Diggs and Kid Cudi.

15 Sep 2023

Drake Teases New Yeat Collab in Adventurous NOCTA Glide Trailer

Drake and Year are teaming up for a cinematic new collaboration that soundtracked a promotional campaign for NOCTA’s new Glide release.

Drizzy shared the daring teaser to Instagram on Wednesday (Sept. 13), featuring two people jumping off a snowy mountain and gliding through the air in wingsuits. The track, which plays in the background, features church-like chants over a rolling hip-hop beat before the two rappers come in for their verses towards the end of the clip.

“NOCTA GLIDE 2023,” he captioned the post. “Available tonight on nocta.com, Music by Twizz and The Boy, Directed by Mahfuz Sultan.” Watch the video here.

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Drake is fresh off the release of a new SZA collaboration, “Slime You Out,” which arrived on Friday (Sept. 15) as the first single from Drizzy’s upcoming album For All the Dogs. The green slime-covered cover art for “Slime You Out” originates from Halle Berry getting slimed at the 2012 Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards.

For All the Dogs will be released next Friday, Sept. 22, via OVO Sound and Republic Records. The album marks the 6 God’s eighth studio album and his first solo album since his dance-heavy Honestly, Nevermind project which was released in June 2022 and topped the Billboard 200 albums chart.

15 Sep 2023

Gracie Abrams & Aaron Dessner Perform at Hollywood Forever: Photos From the Concert

“We called this the Good Riddance Acoustic Shows, but we’re doing things from previous times … and future times,” teased singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams. Talking to the packed yet intimate room at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever in Los Angeles (which has a capacity of around 150) on Sept. 14, Abrams was joined onstage by her close friend and collaborator Aaron Dessner.

The pair crafted Abram’s stellar debut, Good Riddance, together at Dessner’s Long Pond studio, and as a delayed celebration of sorts recently embarked on a three-date trek of shows in New York, Nashville and L.A. Abrams said she grew up seeing shows at the Lodge, commenting on the beauty of the small room.

“The last show we played in L.A. was at SoFi [Stadium],” she later said with a smirk, nodding to her opening slot on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, while the passionate crowd erupted into cheers and applause. “It’s just like this, a tiny little hole in the wall,” she joked.

Throughout the 90-minute set, Abrams and Dessner coated the room in comfortability both with her introspective songs and their friendly banter. They played a new song called “Sad About It” (Abrams kept her phone in hand “in case of emergencies” since the lyrics are so fresh), and even tossed in a gorgeous cover of Swift’s “Invisible String.”

Before the night ended, Abrams closed with some especially kind words in appreciation of Dessner, saying, “For me to know you in this way has changed my life … I don’t know where the industry would be without [you].”

15 Sep 2023

Gunna Notches His First Solo No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay Chart With ‘Fukumean’

Gunna nabs his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart with “Fukumean,” which vaults from No. 4 to the top of the tally dated Sept. 23.

It’s the rapper’s first unaccompanied No. 1 on the chart. He first reigned as featured on Chris Brown’s “Heat” in November 2019, followed by “Lemonade,” a co-bill with Internet Money and featuring Don Toliver and Nav, in November 2020.

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In between “Lemonade” and “Fukumean,” Gunna rose as high as No. 4 on Rhythmic Airplay with “Pushin P” with Future and featuring Young Thug in April 2022.

The coronation of “Fukumean” on Rhythmic Airplay follows the song’s ascents to No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rap Airplay; it leads each list for a second week.

On the most recently published, multimetric Billboard Hot 100 (dated Sept. 16), “Fukumean” placed at No. 9, following its No. 4 peak in August. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 19.7 million official U.S. streams and sold 1,000 downloads in the Sept. 1-7 tracking week, according to Luminate. It also topped the multimetric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts for five weeks each, beginning in July, having become Gunna’s first No. 1 on each ranking.

“Fukumean” is the second radio single from A Gift & a Curse, Gunna’s fourth LP. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart dated July 1 and has earned 474,000 equivalent album units to date.

All Billboard charts dated Sept. 23 will refresh on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

15 Sep 2023

V Takes the Stage Solo for Laid Back ‘Blue’ Live Performance: Watch

V‘s Layover track “Blue” got the music video treatment earlier this week, showcasing the BTS member in black and white while he impatiently searched for someone at an apartment complex to no avail. The impatience from the video took a back seat in V’s live performance of “Blue” on Friday (Sept. 15) for Naver’s NPOP, but the black-and-white filter remained as he took the stage.

The stripped back showcase features V wearing a similar look to the one in the “Blue” video, consisting of a studded black leather jacket, matching black leather pants and a classic white T-shirt. The BTS vocalist takes the stage solo, with white smoke billowing on the floor around him and the lighting design resembling shards of glass.

“What if I show you/ And make it all new/ Green, yellow, red, blue/ Whatever seems good to you/ A day to the moon/ Like borrowed stars/ Everyone’s looking at you/ But, baby, you’re all blue, blue/ Blue, blue/ Blue, blue/ Blue, blue/ Blue, blue, blue,” the 27-year-old sings on the first verse and chorus.

The new performance of “Blue” comes amid the arrival of V’s Tiny Desk Korea set, where he performed a series of tracks from Layover on Sept. 14. His performance — a brief three songs — included album tracks “Love Me Again,” “Slow Dancing” and “For Us.”

Watch V’s new performance of “Blue” above.

15 Sep 2023

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Becky G, Sebastian Yatra & More

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

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Becky G, “Querido Abuelo” (Kemosabe Records/RCA Records)

It’s impossible to not get emotional when you hear Becky G’s tribute to her abuelo. The latest single from her upcoming música mexicana album, “Querido Abuelo” is a tear-jerking track that can be described as an open letter to Becky’s late abuelito as she honors his existence and the influence he had on her ever since she was little. “Querido abuelo,” she sings emotionally, “Your memory in my soul is always present/ I would give anything to hug you once more.”

The song is powered by an equally nostalgic requinto that amplifies the song’s pathos and Becky’s raw and powerful vocals. “Querido Abuelo” — produced by Edgar Barrera — comes with a beautiful music video featuring childhood footage of Becky and her grandpa at their ranch in Mexico. Becky, who is currently on tour, is set to drop her new album, Esquinas, Sept. 28. — GRISELDA FLORES

Sebastián Yatra, “Energía Bacana” (Universal Music Latino)

Similar to his achingly sincere and ear-candy catchy “Tacones Rojos,” Yatra’s “Energía bacana” (Cool Energy) is a letter to the girl he loves with a laundry list of attributes that evokes Cole Porter’s classic “You’re the top.” Yatra rattles off reasons to love (“You have an energy that’s cool/You make my week feel like a Saturday/ You don’t have friends, you have sisters/ And before I was your boyfriend, I was your buddy”) in terms that manage to be contemporary, yet sweet and clean without falling into the cheesy or trite. The same can be said of the music: Global pop built on strong melodies and hooks, but with hand claps. The cherry on the cake is the video, Yatra’s directorial debut, which features Georgina Rodríguez and a brief cameo from her significant other, Cristiano Ronaldo. Look for it. — LEILA COBO

Christian Nodal, México en Mi Voz (Christian Nodal/Sony Music Mexico)

Many have tried to interpret the great, timeless songs of the undisputed King of Ranchera Music, Vicente Fernández, but a majority have failed. However, Christian Nodal’s intoxicating voice soars high; and his latest EP, México en Mi Voz, is a lachrymose affair. In typical mariacheño fashion — the mariachi and norteño fusion he invented — he seamlessly weaves accordion riffs with swirling brass metals, continuing to innovate within the confines of traditional música mexicana. But perhaps the biggest accomplishment is the manner in which the rugged cowboy delivers his heart to honor Chente’s most beloved songs: “Acá Entre Nos,” “Mujeres Divinas,” “La Media Vuelta,” and more — with spine-chilling effects and an utmost respect.

“This EP means too much for me. I am from Sonora and on September 16, traditional Mexican music is heard in every house. I had been wanting to redo some precious pieces left by our great interpreters for a long time,” explains Nodal in a statement, just in time for Mexican Independence Day. “We chose five songs, and it was very difficult and, at the same time, a very precious process. We poured some very good tequilas, and what I can tell you is that you are going to love [this EP] if you have Mexico in your heart. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t Mexican, this album is for you, and if you are Mexican, all the more reason.” — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Nathy Peluso & Tiago PZK, “Ella Tiene” (5020 Records/Sony Music España)

Argentina stars Nathy Peluso and Tiago PZK join their voices in a delicious bachata “dedicated to romance… that tells a turbulent love story,” as Peluso says in a press release. In this passionate song narrated in third person, she complains that he didn’t know how to love a woman and he gives her his side of the story. “I saw her pass by, she cried while she deleted the photographs she had of you from her cell phone,” Peluso sings in Spanish, to which Tiago later replies: “I see someone empty, who gave this heart betrayal in cold blood.” 

Their voices blend in beautiful harmony in the chorus, part of which says: “She has a tattoo of great disappointment, you said you loved her but in love there are no conditions.” The respective music video, directed by Rocío Gastaldi, shows Peluso dancing in a captivating manner while both artists reminisce about the pain inflicted by a lost love. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Laura Pausini, “Durar” (Warner Music Italy/Gente Edizioni Musicali SRL)

“Durar” (“To last”) is the new single by Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, and the first track of her upcoming album ALMAS PARALELAS, which will be released on October 27. Produced by Michelangelo and Paolo Carta, the singer’s husband, the emotional ballad is a love letter about a relationship that has gone through different stages to maturity and remains firm over time. “I feel like smiling/ See; we ended up getting it” reads part of the lyrics. “This song is about how I can still believe in love stories that want to build a life path to think together. To know each other, desire each other, invent each other, and understand each other. And even to go crazy together. To discover how good, it is to share a destiny. Durare. It is possible.” comments the Italian in a statement. Pausini is preparing to go out with her Laura Pausini World Tour 2023/2024 which includes cities in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. — LUISA CALLE

Ozuna, Saiko & Ovy on the Drums, “Te Mentí” (Aura Music/Sony Music Latin)

In a new collaborative effort, following “Chao Bebe” (2022), Ozuna and Ovy on the Drums join forces in “Te Mentí” — this time, reeling in Spanish newcomer Saiko. The three-minute song kicks off with a simple synth beat backing up Ozuna’s sugary vocals before transitioning into a hard-hitting reggaetón track. In “Te Mentí,” which translates to “I lied to you,” both the Puerto Rican act and rising artist are sad and regretful. “I lied to you/ I haven’t deleted you, I’m still looking out for you/ I stopped drinking alcohol but I went back/ Losing you hurt,” they sing. On the beats, the Colombian hitmaker navigates a futuristic reggaetón fusion with trap flair. — JESSICA ROIZ

Listen to more editor’s picks in the New Music Latin playlist below:

Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.

15 Sep 2023

Cardi B Takes Notes From Beyonce When It Comes to Handling Haters: ‘Every Artist Should Do What Works for Them’

Cardi B has never been one to hide how she feels or cower in fear of her haters. In a new interview with The Spout Podcast, the Grammy-winning “Up” rapper opens up about her approach to handling haters, and where she takes cues from Beyoncé’s example.

“Surprisingly, I have held myself back a lot … from a lot of things,” Cardi B shared. “You see how Beyoncé addresses her things — she does not address them at all. I feel like every artist should do what works for them and what’s good for they mental health because I feel like, if addressing things to Beyoncé affects her mental health, then don’t do it.”

From political spats with Candace Owens to beefs with fellow rappers such as Nicki Minaj, Cardi has always spoken her mind. Nonetheless, she understands that that approach does not work for everyone.

“But me, bottling things inside and let people, like, front certain narratives of me, it will bother me inside.  So, I’d rather just let it out,” she explained. “So, I feel like everybody should, like, address their issues however they feel like they’re going to be comfortable in doing. That’s how I feel, like, everybody is different.”

In the new interview, Cardi also touched on the release of “Bongos” and her friendship with Megan Thee Stallion, saying, “I know what it feels like when you feel like everybody, like, turned your back. Don’t ever think it’s because you did something wrong. You didn’t do anything wrong. People just love something to debate about.”

The pair performed “Bongos” — their first collaboration since 2020’s seismic “WAP” — at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday (Sept. 12).

Watch Cardi B on The Spout Podcast below: