Music

10 Sep 2023

Lil Nas X Documentary Premiere Delayed by Bomb Threat at Toronto International Film Festival

The premiere of the documentary Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero was delayed after a bomb threat was called in at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Saturday night (Sept. 9) premiere of the film at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall was delayed by about 20 minutes while authorities verified that the threat wasn’t credible. Lil Nas X was kept off the red carpet during that time.

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Judy Lung, vice president of public affairs and communications for TIFF, said in a statement that Toronto police investigated the vicinity of the red carpet ahead of the screening.

“Our standard security measures remained in place during this time and the screening commenced with a slight delay,” Lung said. “To our knowledge, this was a general threat and not directed at the film or the artist.”

Long Live Montero, directed by Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel, documents the pop superstar’s eight-month tour beginning in September 2022 for his full-length debut album Montero. The film also deals with Lil Nas X “navigating identity, family, expectations and acceptance, all while reflecting on his place within the legacy of Black, queer performers,” according to a press release about the project.

10 Sep 2023

Elon Musk and Grimes Secretly Welcome Third Child, New Biography Claims

Elon Musk and Grimes have secretly welcomed a third child together, a new biography about the Tesla CEO claims.

Musk’s upcoming biography Elon Musk, penned by Walter Isaacson, reveals that the former couple have a new son named Techno Mechanicus, according to a review published by The New York Times on Saturday (Sept. 9). The baby has reportedly been given the nickname “Tau.”

It was unclear at press time if the Space X founder and X (formerly Twitter) CEO’s biography — which is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday (Sept. 12) — contains additional details surrounding the child’s birth, including his age and where he was born.

Musk, 52, and Grimes, 35, co-parent two other children together: son X AE A-XII (“X”), 3, and daughter Exa Dark Sideræl (“Y”), 1. “X” arrived in May 2020, and “Y” was born via surrogate in December 2021.

The estranged couple ended their three-year relationship in September 2021.

“We are semi-separated but still love each other, see each other frequently and are on great terms,” Musk told Page Six at the time. “It’s mostly that my work at SpaceX and Tesla requires me to be primarily in Texas or traveling overseas, and her work is primarily in L.A. She’s staying with me now and Baby X is in the adjacent room.”

In addition to his three kids with Grimes, Musk has six other children with with ex-wife Justine Wilson.

10 Sep 2023

Jimmy Buffett’s 1985 ‘Greatest Hit(s)’ Album Reaches Billboard 200 Top 10 for First Time

The late Jimmy Buffett, who died on Sept. 1, returns to the top five of the Billboard 200 albums chart as his best-of collection Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett’s Greatest Hit(s) re-enters the Sept. 16-dated list at No. 4. It marks the album’s highest rank ever — and first week in the top 10, or even top 40, dating to its release in 1985 — and Buffett’s 13th top 10-charting album.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Sept. 16, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Sept. 12. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

In the tracking week ending Sept. 7, Songs You Know by Heart earned 52,000 equivalent album units (up 2,122%) following the singer-songwriter’s death on Sept. 1 at age 76. It marks the 13th top 10-charting album for Billboard’s most famous alumnus. Buffett was a Nashville-based reporter for Billboard in 1969-70, before the release of his first album.

Of Songs You Know by Heart’s 52,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Sept. 7, SEA units comprise 30,000 (up 1,377%, equaling 40.22 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 13 songs), album sales comprise 15,500 (up 6,826% — making it the top-selling album of the week) and TEA units comprise 6,500 (up 8,813%).

Songs You Know by Heart contains Buffett’s only Billboard Hot 100 top 10-charting hit song, “Margaritaville,” which reached No. 8 in 1977. It also houses the top 40-charting tunes “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Come Monday” and “Fins.”

Songs You Know by Heart joins Buffett’s dozen previous top 10s on the Billboard 200: Life On the Flip Side (No. 2 in 2020), Songs From St. Somewhere (No. 4, 2013), Encores (No. 7, 2010), Take the Weather With You (No. 4, 2006), License to Chill (No. 1, 2004), Meet Me in Margaritaville: Jimmy Buffett The Ultimate Collection (No. 9, 2003), Far Side of the World (No. 5, 2002), Beach House On the Moon (No. 8, 1999), Banana Wind (No. 4, 1996), Barometer Soup (No. 6, 1995), Fruitcakes (No. 5, 1994) and Son of a Son of a Sailor (No. 10, 1978).

Though Songs You Know by Heart had a low-profile chart placing in 1985 — peaking at No. 100 on the Billboard 200 and spending 35 weeks on the list until this week’s return — the set was a sturdy seller through the decades. In 1989, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), recognizing 1 million units shipped of the album to retailers in the U.S. And since Luminate started electronically tracking music sales in 1991, the album has earned 8.26 million equivalent album units — of which 7.14 million are in traditional album sales. Thus, if one combines the RIAA certification and the Luminate-era activity, Billboard estimates that through the lifetime of the album in the U.S., it has earned 9.26 million equivalent album units, of which 8.14 million are in pure album sales.

The Billboard 200 may soon welcome another debut from Buffett. Shortly after his passing, it was announced that his final studio album, Equal Strain on All Parts, is due Nov. 3. The album features a notable lineup of collaborators, including Emmylou Harris, Lennie Gallant, Angelique Kidjo, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Paul McCartney.

10 Sep 2023

Zach Bryan Spends Second Week Atop Billboard 200 With Self-Titled Album

Zach Bryan’s self-titled album spends a second week atop Billboard 200 chart (dated Sept. 16), as the set earned 115,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Sept. 7 (down 42%) according to Luminate.

Also in the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200 chart, the late Jimmy Buffett — who died on Sept. 1 — returns to the top five as his best-of collection Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett’s Greatest Hit(s) re-enters the list at No. 4. It marks the album’s highest rank ever — and first week in the top 10, or even top 40, dating to its release in 1985 — and Buffett’s 13th top 10-charting album.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Sept. 16, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Sept. 12. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of Zach Bryan’s 115,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Sept. 7, SEA units comprise 111,000 (down 77%, equaling 144.08 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 16 songs), album sales comprise 3,000 (down 50%), and TEA units comprise 1,000 (down 36%).

Bryan’s genre-blending album is categorized as country, Americana/folk and rock on Billboard’s charts. It is the first rock effort to spend its first two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in seven years — since the Suicide Squad soundtrack logged its first two weeks at No. 1 (Aug. 27-Sept. 3, 2016 charts). It’s the first Americana/folk project to spend its first two weeks at No. 1 since Chris Stapleton’s Traveller also ruled in its first two frames in 2015 (Nov. 21 and 28). Country, Americana/folk and rock albums are defined as those that are eligible for, or have charted on, Billboard’s Top Country Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, respectively.

A pair of former No. 1s trails Bryan, as Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time climbs 3-2 (84,000 equivalent album units; up 1%) and Travis Scott’s Utopia dips 2-3 (72,000; down 21%).

The late Buffett’s first best-of compilation, the 1985 release Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett’s Greatest Hit(s), re-enters the Billboard 200 at a new peak of No. 4. The album initially peaked at No. 100 the year of its release.

In the tracking week ending Sept. 7, Songs You Know by Heart earned 52,000 equivalent album units (up 2,122%) following the singer-songwriter’s death on Sept. 1 at age 76. It marks the 13th top 10-charting album for Billboard’s most famous alumnus. Buffett was a Nashville-based reporter for Billboard in 1969-70, before the release of his first album.

Songs You Know by Heart contains Buffett’s only Billboard Hot 100 top 10-charting hit, “Margaritaville,” which reached No. 8 in 1977. It also houses the top 40-charting tunes “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Come Monday” and “Fins.”

Like Bryan’s latest album, Buffett’s Songs You Know by Heart is also categorized as a country, Americana/folk and rock album. In turn, with Wallen’s own country set One Thing at a Time at No. 2, there are three country albums in the top four on the Billboard 200 for the first time in over a decade. The feat last happened when the entire top three were country efforts on the Nov. 20, 2010-dated list, with Swift’s Speak Now, Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party and Sugarland’s The Incredible Machine at Nos. 1-3, respectively.

Taylor Swift’s chart-topping Midnights falls 4-5 on the new Billboard 200 (45,000 equivalent album units; down 8%), SZA’s former leader SOS descends 5-6 (nearly 45,000; down 7%), the Barbie soundtrack drops 6-7 (42,000; down 11%), Peso Pluma’s Génesis slips 7-8 (42,000; down 3%), Swift’s former No. 1 Lover falls 8-9 (41,000; down 3%), and Wallen’s chart-topping Dangerous: The Double Album is a non-mover at No. 10 (nearly 41,000; up 1%).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

10 Sep 2023

Ed Sheeran Postpones Las Vegas Concert at Last Minute: ‘There’s Been Some Challenges’

Ed Sheeran postponed his concert at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium at the last minute on Saturday (Sept. 9), leaving thousands of fans waiting outside in the uncomfortable heat.

The British pop star took to social media at around 5:30 p.m. PT to break the news to concert-goers, many of whom traveled from other cities to attend the show and were lined up outside the venue.

“I can’t believe I’m typing this but there’s been some challenges encountered during the load in of our vegas show,” Sheeran wrote on Instagram. “It’s impossible to go forward with the show. I’m so sorry. I know everyone has travelled in for this and I wish I could change it. The gig will be postponed to Saturday October 28th and all purchased tickets will be valid for that date. I’m so, so sorry x.”

With temperatures reaching over 90 degrees, some fans required medical treatment for heat-related issues, the Clark County Fire Department reportedly told Las Vegas’ 8 News Now. One fan was even taken to a local hospital.

“We were just worried about safety and communication,” a ticket-buyer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Us having to be the ones who had to carry the people to medics, having to tell people it was canceled, it was unacceptable.”

Allegiant Stadium crew members told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that 65,000 tickets were sold to Sheeran’s show, which would’ve made it the biggest concert ever at the facility. The singer-songwriter’s complex stage setup — which includes 360-degree video screens and multiple sound towers — ultimately led to “production issues” that forced the postponement, the Review-Journal reports.

Allegiant Stadium officially cited “technical issues” as the reason for delaying the show, a rep for the venue told TMZ. Despite the problems, Sheeran reportedly stayed back for about an hour to sign autographs for fans who made it inside the stadium.

Sheeran is gearing up for the release of his upcoming album, Autumn Variations, which drops Sept. 29 through his Gingerbread Man Records. The set arrives one week after the North American leg of the his Mathematics World Tour wraps at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sept. 23.

Autumn Variations is Sheeran’s second album this year, following Subtract, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums in May. The album also launched at No. 1 on the Top Album Sales chart, with Sheeran’s largest sales week since 2017.

See Sheeran’s post about the Las Vegas postponement on Instagram below.

10 Sep 2023

Joe Jonas Appears to Address Sophie Turner Divorce at Dodger Stadium Concert: ‘It’s Been a Tough Week’

Joe Jonas seemingly opened up to fans about his divorce from Sophie Turner during the Jonas Brothers‘ recent Los Angeles tour stop.

The 34-year-old musician took a moment during the sibling trio’s concert at Dodger Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 9) to address his “tough week” amid filing for divorce from the Game of Thrones actress on Tuesday (Sept. 5).

Just before performing the Turner-inspired song “Hesitate,” from the JoBros’ 2019 album, Happiness Begins, the singer shared a few emotional words with the packed L.A. audience.

“It’s been a tough week,” said Jonas, who wasn’t wearing his wedding ring at the show. “I just want to say, look, if you don’t hear it from these lips, don’t believe it. Okay? Thank you everyone for your love and support. Me and my family love you guys.”

The day after the petition was filed, Jonas and Turner shared a joint statement through Instagram, saying that the decision to split up was arrived at “mutually” and “amicably.” They also appeared to address ongoing speculation from fans and media outlets like TMZ, saying that “there are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children.”

The former couple met in 2016, and married in two ceremonies in 2019. The first was a surprise Las Vegas wedding in May that they held immediately after attending the Billboard Music Awards, where the Jonas Brothers had just performed. They then threw a lavish wedding at the end of June in Southern France.

Jonas and Turner share two children together: daughter Willa, 3, and second daughter, 14 months, whose name has not yet been revealed.

10 Sep 2023

Gunna Makes Triumphant Return to Stage, Reaffirms Support for Young Thug at ‘The Gift’ Concert

In many ways, the most recent years of Gunna’s career have cast the rap superstar in a number of different narratives — some of them false and some of them true. To some, Gunna is a hero — a true star who was able to launch a formidable comeback album amid his precarious new social standing. To others, he is a villain, the new mascot for snitching. On Saturday night (Sep. 9), during his first headlining performance in two years, Gunna obliterated each and every one of those narratives while simultaneously crafting and cementing his story on his own terms.

Treating Brooklyn, New York’s Barclays Center to a special show titled The Gift, a nod to the first part of the name of his A Gift & A Curse album — which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in July — Gunna electrified the arena with an impressively staged, discography-spanning show.

Gunna teamed with PLUS1 and the nonprofit organization Goodr for The Gift. Every $1 per ticket went towards The Goodr Foundation, which, according to its website, “strives to end world hunger by cultivating countless resources.”

A Gift & A Curse served as Gunna’s official follow-up to last year’s Billboard 200 No. 1 album DS4Ever. That record, which spawned memorable hits such as “Pushin P” (with Future and Young Thug) and “P Power” (with Drake), became Gunna’s second consecutive No. 1 album. Primed to become one of the defining hip-hop album eras of 2022, the DS4Ever promotional campaign was cut short in May 2022 when Gunna (alongside Young Thug and 28 other YSL associates) was charged in a 56-count RICO indictment and subsequently turned himself in. After pleading guilty to a single racketeering conspiracy charge last December and receiving a four-year suspended sentence, Gunna was released from jail.

Drawing on imagery informed by Ancient Greece and the Old Testament alike, Gunna tore through a towering set that reminded the arena of his consistent ear for pristine beats, his enviable roster of hits, and his unwavering allegiance to Young Thug and YSL.

To begin his set — which was preceded by brief opening sets from “In The Party” rapper Flo Milli and a remarkably uncharismatic YouTuber-turned-rapper named DDG — Gunna emerged from behind a life-size marble bust of himself toppled onto its side. Donning a gray tank and crystal-studded shorts, Gunna’s entrance was a take on the “phoenix rising from the ashes” trope that only he could deliver. For his first major performance in two years, Gunna arrived completely aware of the gravity of the moment. A video interlude that played before he took the stage traced the imagery of his album covers, eventually landing on the bust that characterized the DS4Ever artwork — his final album before he went to jail.

With his victorious stance atop the toppled bust, Gunna embraced the blows to his name and reputation and funneled them into a winning display of his live performance capabilities and the quality of A Gift & A Curse. Nonetheless, he smartly balanced all of this by choosing “Back At It,” A Gift A Curse’s breezy no-frills opener, as the first song of his setlist. The packed arena erupted into an avalanche of cheers as the song set the tone for a night anchored by a crisp live band and a determined entertainer who tore through his discography without a backing track.

The first half of The Gift featured a slew of hit singles as well as fan favorites. As Gunna maneuvered around the elaborate set — which also included a life-size marble snake and several large crystalline structures — Gunna delivered renditions of a number of DS4Ever songs, a reminder that although the show was thematically centered around his most recent album, the concert also served as the first live performance of several DS4Ever tracks. With the help of a fantastic drummer and guitarist, Gunna’s performances of “South to West” and “Too Easy” rocked Barclays. For “Poochie Gown,” a gaggle of statuesque women struck poses in flowy gowns as Gunna rapped his way through the track; the staging nodded to the song itself while also casting the women in Muse-adjacent roles in Gunna’s Ancient Greece-inspired production.

Gunna’s first moment of onstage banter came in his introduction of “P Power,” his hit Drake collaboration from DS4Ever. He flirted with the ladies in the crowd before launching into a lively rendition of the X-rated track. In terms of crowd engagement, classic Gunna reigned supreme; the lyrics of “Drip or Drown” and “Pedestrian” ricocheted across the arena with notable intensity. The best part of the first half of the show — besides the incredibly dope skull-adorned microphone stand — was when Gunna recreated his viral A Colors Show performance of “Top Off,” complete with a hanging mic.

To introduce the second half of the show, yet another video interlude played on the massive screens behind Gunna and his band. This time, documentary-style footage provided the first real glimpses into Gunna’s psyche regarding the aftermath of the YSL RICO indictment, his stint in jail, and the thorny intricacies of his post-release life. “I don’t think we talk,” a voice advises Gunna over the phone, “We put out the music.” The interlude also included snippets of what appeared to be conversations between Gunna and his mother — tender moments in which she encourages him to keep pushing despite the difficulties he’s facing. The montage showcased a clearly despondent Gunna packing bowls of weed, ruminating on the way his world unraveled, and figuring out how to pick up the pieces and rise from the rubble.

From there, the second half of The Gift launched into the stronger and more memorable A Gift & A Curse tracks, as well as his borderline bulletproof litany of collaborations with Young Thug and Lil Baby. Album standouts “Back To the Moon” and “Bread & Butter” sounded even more lush and layered in their live arrangements; both songs cut much deeper with the added emotional context of the preceding interlude. Gunna performed the beginning of the latter half of his set on an elevated platform adorned with a combination of floral greenery and skulls à la the Gift & A Curse album cover — a move that highlighted the thematic throughline of the show’s art direction. For this part of his set, Gunna opted for an outfit change: gray-black jeans paired with a black top that recalled the obsidian wings of fallen angels. Before launching into a medley of Young Thug collaborations, Gunna flashed a “Free Jeffrey” graphic across the screens, and performances of “Hot,” “Ski,” “Oh Okay,” Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Pushin P” (No. 7), and an exclamation of “Free Slime!” soon followed.

The final act of The Gift featured the two biggest hits from Gunna’s last record. “Fukumean,” which became the highest-charting solo song of Gunna’s career on the Hot 100 (No. 4), roared through the arena, cementing its status as not only one of the most beloved anthems of the year but also an immediate staple in Gunna’s live shows. “Rodeo Dr,” which recently got a cheeky, cinematic music video, elicited even stronger crowd reactions. Shirtless and charged with a new level of urgency and adrenaline, Gunna’s grit and gratitude illuminated Barclays on Saturday night. “I love the f— out of y’all, I swear to God,” he said. “This s— is crazy.”

And crazy it was. For an artist who saw pop culture at its most fickle while at the height of his career, Gunna’s awe was far from contrived. If anything, it was a genuine reclamation of his narrative. By drawing on various pieces of religious imagery, Gunna was able to reassert his own humanity. As triumphant as his return was, he made the admirable decision to not gloss over the hurt, pain, and depression of the past year — and that emotional depth helped add smart pockets of nuance to an already well-staged and well-produced performance. A true gift indeed.

09 Sep 2023

Jimmy Buffett’s Wife Jane Slagsvol Thanks Fans, Doctors & Loved Ones for Support: ‘Jimmy Knew He Was Loved’

Jane Slagsvol, Jimmy Buffett‘s wife, shared a letter on Saturday (Sept. 9) filled with gratitude for those who surrounded the pair and showed support throughout Buffett’s illness and career. The “Margaritaville” singer/songwriter died at age 76 at his home in Sag Harbor on Long Island, New York, on Sept. 1 from skin cancer.

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“Jimmy was love,” she wrote in tribute to her late husband. “Every cell in his body was filled with joy. He smiled all the time, even when he was deeply ill. And his sense of humor never wavered. Jimmy was always the optimist, always twinkling, always making us laugh.”

Slagsvol’s note was published on Buffett’s official website, along with two personal photos of the couple, who married in 1977 and shared three children together.

“As Jimmy said a few months ago, ‘Growing old is not for sissies.’ These last few years have been unimaginably challenging for Jimmy and me, and we’re definitely not sissies. One thing we both knew and experienced, through every difficult moment, was the feeling of being buoyed up by all the people in our lives. Everywhere we went, at arenas, at events, and even in the hospitals, we were surrounded by love. There is a whole world of people I want to thank for the incredible kindness you showed us,” she wrote.

“Since those early days and all through the decades, Jimmy’s fans became a big, boisterous family,” said Slagsvol. “Thank you for creating the world’s most joyful community. The smile that Jimmy beamed at you from the stage was sparked by your spirit. I think that’s why he loved performing so much. He was so grateful to the community you built around him. Your sympathy and support inspire and comfort me and my family.”

Renowned for his wildly enthusiastic fans, known as “Parrotheads,” Buffett had 13 Billboard Hot 100 charting singles, including seven top 40 hits and one top 10, and 40 entries on the Billboard 200 albums chart throughout his career.

“To the teams of doctors, nurses, hospice workers, and caregivers, your compassion was overwhelming in the best possible way,” Slagsvol wrote of the care received by Buffett, who battled Merkel cell skin cancer for four years. “Jimmy listened to everything you said and followed your every order. You gave him hope, even at the most hopeless moments. Thank you for your tenacity in seeking the best solutions at each stage of his illness. You were honest, brave, and empathic; you showed us such dignity and goodness. I could not have asked for a better team of professionals.”

She went on to thank the people who’ve worked with Buffett — “We know that we’ve surrounded ourselves with the best, most honorable, most generous people, and we know how fortunate we have been for all these years,” the letter read — and the pair’s “gracious, generous and kind” friends. “Jimmy brightened telling you stories over long dinners as the cicadas sang,” she recalled. “He loved occupying his place at the head of the table, looking at the people he cherished. You created a microclimate of affection that surrounded us like the sun. It gave us hope; it felt like a celebration even when things were grim.” Slagsvol also expressed her love for her family.

“One of the last songs Jimmy recorded was ‘Bubbles Up.’ He sings, ‘Just know that you are loved, there is light up above, and the joy is always enough. Bubbles up.’ Jimmy knew he was loved. Right until the end, he looked for the light,” she wrote.

“Bubbles Up” is on Buffett’s posthumous album, Equal Strain on All Parts, which will be released on Nov. 3.

Read “A Message From Jane” in its entirety on Buffett’s website here.

09 Sep 2023

Vice President Kamala Harris Calls Hip-Hop ‘The Ultimate American Art Form’ at 50th Anniversary Event

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday (Sept. 9) hosted a celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with appearances by some of the music genre’s pioneers and stars.

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Common, Jeezy, MC Lyte and Roxanne Shante were among the hip-hop artists invited to join Harris for the party at the vice presidential residence.

Hip-hop’s 50th birthday has inspired a host of anniversary events this year. Many trace the genre’s creation to an Aug. 11, 1973, back-to-school party where 18-year-old Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Herc, deejayed at a Bronx apartment building in New York City.

Harris said hip-hop is “the ultimate American art form” that “shapes every aspect of America’s popular culture.”

“Hip-hop culture is American culture,” she told the crowd.

Hip-hop has grown into a global artform, becoming one of the world’s most influential cultural forces, an integral part of social and racial justice movements, and a multibillion-dollar industry built on generations of rapping, emceeing, deejaying, breaking and graffiti.

Harris noted that Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has described rap as “Black America’s CNN.”

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

“It has always channeled the voices of the people. It tells the stories that don’t make the news,” she said before joining her husband, Doug Emhoff, to watch musicians’ performances.

Saturday’s celebration was a collaboration with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Live Nation Urban.

“This is a hip-hop household!” Emhoff said.

09 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Fans Find Four Hidden Tracks on ‘Guts’ Vinyl Records

Guts bonus songs “Obsessed,” “Scared of My Guitar,” “Stranger” and “Girl I’ve Always Been” can be found on Olivia Rodrigo‘s vinyl variations of her new album, fans are reporting.

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Four limited-edition versions of Guts on vinyl are available on Rodrigo’s webstore — red, white, blue and purple — and each color has a different hidden song that plays after the final track of the standard album.

Rodrigo hinted at the four bonus tracks in a promo video released on the pop star’s YouTube channel a couple days before Guts dropped on Sept. 8. In the clip, which is a parody of an infomercial for Guts, the album’s tracklist is shown — but it glitches for the quickest blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, when you can spot the four titles that fans discovered scattered across the multi-colored vinyl variations of the set.

So far, getting one’s hands on Guts on vinyl is the only way to officially own any of the extra songs. They have not been released via streaming services. Some have heard snippets of the four tracks on social media platforms like TikTok, where some vinyl owners have posted short video clips of Guts playing on their record players, but videos like these are short-lived due to copyright strikes.

In a release-week interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Rodrigo said she’d recorded about 25 songs during the Guts sessions. “Some of them will definitely see the light of day,” she hinted, likely thinking of these four surprise tracks.

“Obsessed” is a rock song about an unhealthy fascination with a romantic partner’s previous relationship: “I’m so obsessed with your ex/ I know she’s been asleep on my side of your bed and I can feel it/ I’m starin’ at her like I wanna get hurt,” she admits in the chorus, before warning: “And I remember every detail you would ever tell me, so be careful, baby.”

“Scared of My Guitar” is a confessional from Rodrigo, who strums as she sings, “I’m so scared of my guitar/ ‘Cause it cuts right through to the heart/ Yeah, it knows me too well so I got no excuse/ I can’t lie to it the same way that I lie to you.”

“Stranger” is an acoustic track that has Rodrigo reflecting on an ex, who is now “just some guy.” “You are the best thing that I’ll ever keep so far out of my life,” she says on her way to a chorus that has her finding self-reliance: “I was half myself without you and now I feel so complete/ I can’t even remember what made me lose all my sleep/ I cried a million rivers for you, but that’s over now/ You’re just a stranger I know everything about.”

“Girl I’ve Always Been” is a song leaning country, with Rodrigo asserting: “Well, I have captors I call friends/ I got panic rooms inside my head/ And I get down with crooked men/ But I am the girl I’ve always been.”

The standard version of Guts features 12 tracks, including lead singles “Vampire” and “Bad Idea Right?“; “Vampire” launched at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

Guts is Rodrigo’s follow-up to 2021’s Sour, her 2021 debut that topped the Billboard 200 albums chart and saw breakthrough hit “Drivers License” and second single “Good 4 U” reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100.

The limited-edition vinyl variations of Rodrigo’s Guts album, on which a 13th track is hidden, can be purchased on her website.