Music

29 Aug 2023

August 08, Def Jam Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 31

Los Angeles singer-songwriter August 08 has died at age 31. 

“The entire Def Jam family mourns the tragic loss of Ray’ August 08′ Jacobs,” Def Jam said in a statement to Billboard on Tuesday (Aug. 29). “A brilliant songwriter, an accomplished musician and a singular artist, August will remain in our memory as a beloved colleague and friend. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.”

Born Ray Jacobs, August was the first signee to Jhene Aiko’s Allel Sound label and released his first EP under her imprint in July 2022. Titled Towards the Moon, August’s project was anchored by his song “Water Sign” with Aiko. Towards the Moon was the follow-up to his April 2022 EP Towards the Sun. 

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“August is an incredible writer, singer and artist whose music speaks to me on so many levels… As a fellow Los Angeles native, I am so proud of him,” Aiko told Variety last year upon signing him. “August’s talent, love for songwriting and hands on approach with his art is something I can relate to and have a great amount of respect for. It was a natural evolution of our friendship and musical collaboration to have him become the first artist signed to Allel Sound. I couldn’t be more excited to work with August.”

Before August teamed with Def Jam and Aiko’s label, he previously aligned with 88rising, where he worked with Joji on his Seasick album cut “What We Used To Be.” He also paired himself with ScHoolboy Q on “Cutlass” on the aforementioned project.

“RIP August the kindest and most talented genius you will be missed beyond words,” 88rising shared on Instagram. “Thank you for being an amazing mentor and a steadfast friend through all these years. We are forever grateful to you and the joy you brought in every room, through every song. Your energy, guidance and care gave so much inspiration and strength that will be carried on always.”

In June, August 08 released “Bruises,” which he called “an expression of love through all.” “Been through a lot of heartache in my love life but I’ve always been able to put the pieces back together and move forward. ‘Bruises’ speaks to love and how it may waiver but never completely abandons us,” he said after the release. “This video represents love in all forms and how no matter our difference we can love through all. I love how music can connect people from all over allowing for freedom of express. I wanted to pay homage with love and respect to the art and the community.”

On the songwriting side, August collaborated with Ty Dolla $ign, Duckwrth, Kyle and more. He also co-wrote DJ Khaled’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “I’m the One,” featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne.

29 Aug 2023

Republican Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Shades Eminem After Cease & Desist

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has giving his thoughts after Eminem’s performing rights organization BMI sent him a cease-and-desist letter for the use of his song, “Lose Yourself.”

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“I’ll respect his wishes,” the politician told MSNBC, before referencing the rapper’s “The Real Slim Shady” song. “But I’ll just say, will the real Slim Shady please stand up?”

He continued, “Eminem, in his rise, used to be a guy who stood up to the establishment and said the things that the establishment didn’t want him to say. I think the fact that my political viewpoints may differ from his — I think people will change over the course of their lives. But I have hope for him, that he will one day rediscover the renegade that made him great. And I’m rooting for that success in his life.”

Earlier this week, Ramaswamy retweeted a Daily Mail article detailing the cease-and-desist letter after the candidate rapped rapped the lyrics to “Lose Yourself” while campaigning on stage at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on August 12. “Will The REAL Slim Shady Please Stand Up? He didn’t just say what I think he did, did he?” he tweeted along with a laughing emoji.

See below.

29 Aug 2023

Travis Scott Announces Utopia – Circus Maximus Tour: See Dates

Travis Scott is taking his Billboard 200 No. 1 album Utopia around North America this fall and winter for the Utopia – Circus Maximus Tour, Live Nation announced Tuesday (Aug. 29).

The 28-date jaunt begins at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center on Oct. 11 and travels throughout major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and New York City before wrapping Dec. 29 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. The Utopia – Circus Maximus Tour will also include Scott’s largest headlining show to date at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on Nov. 5.

Despite Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s statement earlier this month about Scott returning to his hometown as part of his upcoming tour, the Utopia – Circus Maximus Tour currently does not have any dates listed for Houston. Houston Police Department Union president Douglas Griffith said in his own statement that Oct. 19 and Nov. 20 “were the dates in which were proposed for the return.” If Scott were to return to Houston for a performance, it would mark his first since the Astroworld Festival tragedy in November 2021, when 10 people died and hundreds were injured during a deadly crowd crush. On the day of Utopia‘s release, on July 28, HPD released a nearly 1,300-page report detailing the investigation into the tragedy. The report arrives just a month after a Houston grand jury declined to file criminal charges against Scott and other Astroworld organizers over the deadly incident. Since the Nov. 5, 2021, event, thousands of alleged victims have filed more than 400 civil lawsuits against Scott, Live Nation and others involved with the festival.

Tickets will go on sale Thursday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. local time at travisscott.com. Live Nation reported that $2 from every ticket sold will go to the rapper’s Cactus Jack Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift Houston youth through toy drives, scholarship programs to HBCU college students, and fulfilling expenses for education and creative endeavors.

Scott’s latest album, Utopia, has spent the last four weeks at the top of the Billboard 200, making it his third No. 1 on the chart and first solo album since 2018’s Astroworld. It’s also the first rap album to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in five years, since Drake’s Scorpion.

The “Meltdown” MC performed the album for the first time in Italy on Aug. 7, alongside special guest Kanye West, in front of 60,000 people at Rome’s Circus Maximus. The concert occurred after his canceled live set at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, which was originally slated for July 28. CNN reported that 60 people were injured at Scott’s Italy concert.

See the dates below.

Oct. 11 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
Oct. 13 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena
Oct. 17 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
Oct. 20 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
Oct. 22 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Oct. 25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
Oct. 29 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
Oct. 31 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
Nov. 5 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium
Nov. 8 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
Nov. 10 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
Nov. 12 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
Nov. 15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
Nov. 18 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
Nov. 21 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center
Nov. 25 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
Nov. 27 – Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
Dec. 4 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
Dec. 6 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
Dec. 8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
Dec. 10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
Dec. 12 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
Dec 15 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
Dec. 18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
Dec. 21 – New York City, NY @ Madison Square Garden
Dec. 23 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
Dec. 26 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
Dec. 29 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena

29 Aug 2023

Róisín Murphy Apologizes for ‘Hurtful’ Gender Affirming Care Comments

Róisín Murphy is speaking out following a viral Facebook comment circulating social media in which the Irish singer appears to criticize puberty blockers for what she called “little mixed up kids,” launching backlash from trans rights and gender affirming care supporters.

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The singer took to Twitter on Tuesday (Aug. 29) to share a lengthy statement, noting that she’s been “thrown into a very public discourse in an arena I’m uncomfortable in and deeply unsuitable for.” She added that she’s had a Facebook account for years, and commented on a post bringing up “a specific issue that was only broadly related to the original post. It was something that had been on my mind. I knew my friends were informed about the topic. I should’ve known too that I was stepping out of line.”

She continued: “I’ve spent my whole life celebrating diversity and different views, but I never patronise or cynically aim my music directly at the pockets of any demographic. The music I make is the core of everything I do and it’s ever-evolving, freewheeling and unpredictable. For those of you that are leaving me, or have already left, I understand, I really do, but please know I have loved every one of you. I have always been so proud of my audience and understood the privilege of performing for you, all through the years.”

Murphy went on to apologize to her fanbase, a large portion of which are part of the queer community. “I am so sorry my comments have been directly hurtful to many of you,” she wrote. “You must have felt a huge shock, blindsided by this so abruptly. I understand fixed views are not helpful but I really hope people can understand my concern was out of love for all of us.”

Dr. Joshua D. Safer, MD, executive director of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, previously told Billboard that when medical intervention becomes necessary for a trans person, there are a number of different procedures minors can undergo. Those who have yet to start puberty may begin their transition process using puberty blockers — medication meant to “pause puberty” for up to a year to prevent permanent physical change.

When it comes to gender diverse people, puberty blockers can simply buy time before the patient decides how they want to proceed with their transition — as blockers are reversible. “If puberty were not paused, irreversible physical characteristics from the natural puberty would occur and require more involved treatment later like surgery,” Dr. Safer explains.

See Murphy’s full statement below.

29 Aug 2023

Doja Cat Ready to Paint the Town ‘Scarlet’ With Next Album: See Cover & Release Date

The next Doja Cat era is upon us: The rapper/singer announced Tuesday (Aug. 29) that her fourth studio album, Scarlet, will arrive on Sept. 22.

Doja shared the news on Instagram, where she also unveiled the project’s cover art featuring an appropriately crimson spider. “SCARLET 9.22,” the caption reads, alongside a spider emoji.

Fans have already heard two songs from the album: lead single “Attention,” which was released in June and has so far peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as “Paint the Town Red,” which reached the Hot 100 top five this week thanks to viral activity on TikTok fueling a rise in streaming and sales. “Red” also moves 5-1 to top this week’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Ahead of its top five ascent this week, “Paint the Town Red” started at No. 15 on the Hot 100 — the highest unaccompanied debut of Doja’s career so far.

Scarlet will follow Doja Cat’s blockbuster 2021 album Planet Her, which launched five top 20 Hot 100 hits: “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA (No. 3 peak); “You Right” with The Weeknd (No. 11); “Need to Know” (No. 8); “Woman” (No. 7); and “Get Into It (Yuh)” (No. 20).

Doja is expected to release “Demons” — a third song from Scarlet — on Friday. She’s shared a series of eerie visual teasers from a likely music video for the song this week on her socials.

See the Scarlet album cover below:

29 Aug 2023

Sinead O’Connor’s Family Thank Fans for ‘Outpouring of Love’ Following Singer’s Funeral Service

Sinead O’Connor was laid to rest in her home country of Ireland on August 8, and on Tuesday (Aug. 29), the late “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer’s family shared a note of acknowledgement in The Irish Times‘ Family Notices section, thanking fans and everyone who was involved in the funeral service.

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“The children of Sinéad together with Sinéad’s extended family wish to thank the countless kind people who sympathised and offered condolences on Sinéad’s recent passing. Their helpful support for the family is much appreciated,” the note begins, adding that Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina were in attendance at the funeral service. According to the note, the musicians that performed at the service included Pauline Scanlon, Éamonn De Barra and Donogh Hennessy, as well as graveside music by Síle Denvir, Nicola Joyce, Noriana Kennedy, Éilis Kennedy and Damien Dempsey.

“Our thanks to the media personnel in general at home and abroad who celebrated Sinéad in song and story while showing respect for the privacy requested by the family,” the note concluded. “We ask that this privacy continue to be respected. Finally, we wish to thank Sinéad’s fans and admirers for the wonderful funeral procession they gave her past her old home in Bray and for the national and international outpouring of love and affection for Sinéad from the time of her passing. The prayers and thanks of the extended O’Connor family are with you all.”

O’Connor died in July at age 56. In a statement from the London Metropolitan Police — which did not refer to O’Connor by name, as is official policy, but which was confirmed by British press reports to be in reference to the singer — officials said a woman [O’Connor] was found unresponsive at her South London home on Wednesday morning and pronounced dead at the scene. The Police noted that the deceased’s next of kin had been notified of her death and that it is not being treated as suspicious; a coroner’s inquest is to follow.

The late star is survived by three children; her 17-year-old son, Shane, died by suicide in January 2022.

29 Aug 2023

Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert & More Late-Night Hosts Team Up for Spotify Podcast Benefiting Striking Writers

As the Hollywood strikes continue, five of the most popular late-night talk show hosts had an idea to meet up every week to discuss the complexities behind the ongoing discussions and protests.

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As a result, Spotify revealed on Tuesday (Aug. 29) that it is teaming up with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver for a new limited-series podcast, called Strike Force Five. The series, which will run for at least 12 episodes, will launch Aug. 30 and feature the hosts’ insights, opinions and, of course, humor to the show as they navigate the Hollywood strikes. The series will be hosted on Spotify’s Megaphone, with Spotify as the exclusive sales partner.

All proceeds the hosts earn from Strike Force Five will go toward out-of-work staff of the hosts’ respective shows as the strike continues, including The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. 

The ongoing Writers Guild of America strike has been affecting TV series, late night talk shows and awards shows since May 1, after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to produce a new deal. “While company profits have remained high and spending on content has grown, writers are falling behind,” the WGA said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “The companies have used the transition to streaming to cut writer pay and separate writing from production, worsening working conditions for series writers at all levels. On TV staffs, more writers are working at minimum regardless of experience, often for fewer weeks, or in mini-rooms, while showrunners are left without a writing staff to complete the season. And while series budgets have soared over the past decade, median writer-producer pay has fallen.”

Listen to the Strike Force Five introduction trailer below.

29 Aug 2023

Chrissy Teigen Officially Declares Herself a BLACKPINK Fan: ‘Phew I GET IT’

Once you go Blink, you never go back — and Chrissy Teigen is the latest proof.

On Monday, the Cravings founder took to Instagram to share her BLACKPINK concert experience and give an update on her fan status after attending the show.

“Finally saw @blackpinkofficial and phew I GET IT. That is A SHOW. What’s the best fan page for me to follow, I need to learn everything there is to know in very little time,” the model captioned a video from her night out with husband John Legend, their daughter Luna and a close friend.

Several moments in the video included a look at Teigen’s sparkly black outfit, her daughter Luna’s friendship bracelet, a sweet photo with Legend taking their seats and scenes from BLACKPINK’s show, including the girls’ background dancers expertly hitting choreography in unison.

The concert was a part of BLACKPINK’s set of four Born Pink Encore Tour performances, which saw members Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé play four extra dates at East Rutherford, New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium (Aug. 12), Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium (Aug. 18), San Francisco’s Oracle Park (Aug. 22) and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium (Aug. 26).

The model is not the first celebrity to to hit up the Born Pink Encore Tour: NFL legend Tom Brady hit up BLACKPINK’s concert at MetLife stadium with his two daughters, and took photos with Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé backstage joking that he got a “new gig in retirement” on Instagram.

See Teigen’s post about attending the BLACKPINK concert below.

29 Aug 2023

Here’s How Dolly Parton Reacted to Hearing Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball’ for the First Time

It’s been 10 years since Miley Cyrus released her first No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, but her country icon godmother Dolly Parton remembers her first time listening to the track like it was yesterday.

The “Jolene” singer sat down with Spotify’s commemorative podcast for the song, Wrecking Ball 10, and recalled her first experience with the track.

“I remember the first time I heard ‘Wrecking Ball.’ It hit me the same way it did the first time I heard ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston,” Parton said, referencing Houston’s famous 1992 cover of the Parton-written song for the Bodyguard soundtrack. “I was driving, heard that one, and I almost wrecked. And when I heard ‘Wrecking Ball,’ I almost wrecked again! I thought, when it started into that chorus, I thought it hit me like a wrecking ball. I thought, ‘Well, how great can a song be?’”

Following its release on Aug. 25, 2013, “Wrecking Ball” went on to wreck its competition on the Billboard charts, becoming Cyrus’ first No. 1 single on the Hot 100 and spending 32 total weeks — three of those at No. 1 — on the chart. The track also became the highest-performing single to come from the Disney Channel alum’s 2013 album Bangerz, which also included “We Can’t Stop” (No. 2 peak, 26 weeks on the Hot 100) and “Adore You” (No. 21, 18 weeks on the Hot 100).

Also featured on the Wrecking Ball 10 podcast are the song’s writers, Mozella and Stephan Moccio; producer Cirkut; Billboard senior director of music Jason Lipshutz; and more.

Listen to Parton talk about “Wrecking Ball” in the video above, and listen to the full podcast episode below.

29 Aug 2023

8 Times Artists Got Petty With Music Video Casting: Usher, Nicki Minaj & More

For years, musicians pretty much had just one artistic outlet for dissing their enemies: through song. That would all change for good circa 1981, however, when the modern music video was born — bringing with it a whole new way for singers and rappers to creatively dunk on their haters, exes, backstabbers, copycats and everyone else in between.

One of the best things about the format is that you can be as subtle or as obvious as you want. On one side of the spectrum, for instance, there’s the Taylor Swift method of hiding cryptic Easter eggs seemingly directed at her nemeses (see: “The Man,” “Look What You Made Me Do,” etc.). But on the other hand, there’s just full-blown pettiness, achieved through nail-on-the-head creative choices such as, say, casting people that you know are going to get a reaction out of someone special (or not so special).

It’s on the latter side of the spectrum where the artists on this list — Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Usher and more — like to dabble. These artists know no fear when it comes to assembling music video casts that are sure to send fans and social media into a tailspin, whether it’s through recruiting an enemy’s enemy or an adversary’s doppelgänger for four-ish minutes of onscreen shade set to music.

Without further ado, here are eight times artists used casting choices to take digs at someone else through their music videos. Bring along a flashlight, though — it’s about to get shady.