Music

21 Aug 2023

5 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Dolly Parton, Old Dominion, Rhiannon Giddens & More

Collaborations continue to abound in this week’s batch of new country releases, with Country Music Hall of Fame member Dolly Parton teaming with ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, while Luke Combs joins with Charlie Worsham and Old Dominion pairs with Megan Moroney on a new release. Meanwhile, Rhiannon Giddens offers a sterling new release, while bluegrassers Andrew Crawford and Brandi Colt offer a dark tale of one woman’s journey of adventures and misfortunes.

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Dolly Parton feat. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, “Let It Be”

Here, Dolly Parton teams up with McCartney and Starr on this song from her upcoming album Rockstar, which pairs Parton with numerous rock and pop artists to record classic rock tracks. The project is out in November. Parton’s glorious soprano is powerful here as she takes on the Beatles’ themes of hope from their 1970 Billboard Hot 100-topper, her voice weaving the serene melody with a dedicated believability without sounding trite. The trio’s harmonies are magnetic, aided by the thick arrangements of McCartney’s stately piano playing, searing guitar from Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood on drums.

Old Dominion with Megan Moroney, “Can’t Break Up Now”

Old Dominion teams with “I’m Not Pretty” singer-songwriter Moroney on this sultry realization that though two lovers are hitting a rough patch in their relationship, they’ve invested too much into the relationship — and are too embedded into each other’s lives — to shatter what they’ve built. He knows the exact kind of coffee she likes, they share the same friends and even his dog now likes her better. Sonically, the track is classic Old Dominion with its well-constructed lyrics and semi-pop sheen. Lead singer Matthew Ramsey’s voice is well-paired with Moroney’s honey-hued vocals. The song is from Old Dominion’s upcoming Memory Lane album.

Rhiannon Giddens, “Too Little, Too Late, Too Bad”

Written by Giddens and Dirk Powell, “Too Little, Too Late, Too Bad” offers an empowered dismissal to a lover who has signaled their disloyalty through “too many lies/ too many alibis.” Plucky percussion, moody bass, horns and soulful harmonies layer behind Gidden’s unflappable vocals, drawing on classic soul and R&B. This song is included on Giddens’ Aug. 18-released, genre-traversing album You’re the One, in which Giddens wraps her mighty voice around a range of styles, including country, R&B, blues and jazz.

Charlie Worsham with Luke Combs, “How I Learned How to Pray”

Singer-songwriter-session musician Worsham teams with reigning CMA entertainer of the year Combs for this song, which centers around learning to call on a higher power not through rote Sunday school learning or church sermons, but during the nadir of his life (wrecking his car and losing his freedom), though also the serendipitous moments (meeting a potential lover). Combs’ hearty, raspy vocal is nicely paired with Worsham’s relaxed, euphonious singing. Worsham wrote the song with Jeremy Spillman and Ryan Tyndell, and the song will be included on his upcoming album Compadres, out Oct. 13.

Andrew Crawford and Brandi Colt, “Wabash River”

Back in 2021, Crawford issued his debut bluegrass album, but over the past year, this husband-and-wife duo have been steadily releasing a slate of bluegrass songs together. On their latest, they delve into a story of a young girl who grew up in high society, only to fall in love with a young man from the poorer side of town. Razor-sharp fiddle, spright mandolin and Crawford’s on-the-spot harmonies bolster Colt’s crystalline lead vocals, which grow moody as the story unfolds, with the song’s two lovers ultimately leaving behind nothing more than a note and muddy footprints along the banks of the Wabash River.

21 Aug 2023

Bob Dylan Announces New Dates for Fall 2023 North American Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour

After spending this summer criss-crossing Europe on the latest leg of his Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour — which began in 2021 — Bob Dylan announced a new slate of 18 North American fall dates on Monday morning (Aug. 21).

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The legend shared the news on Instagram alongside the tour’s promotional poster: an old school film-inspired advertisement featuring a couple dancing in the shadows while a menacing skeletal figure looks at the viewer. Check it out here.

The outing will kick off on Oct. 1 at with the first of two dates at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, MO, before moving on to St. Louis, a three-night stand at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, a pair of shows in Milwaukee at the Riverside Theater and gigs in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Akron and Toronto before winding down on Oct. 30 at the Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, NY. In his Instagram post, Dylan promised more dates to be announced “soon.”

Tickets for the tour will go on sale here starting this Friday (Aug. 25).

Bob Dylan’s fall 2023 N.A. Rough and Rowdy Ways tour dates:

Oct. 1 — Kansas City, MO @ The Midland Theatre
Oct. 2 — Kansas City, MO @ The Midland Theatre
Oct. 4 — St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theatre
Oct. 6 — Chicago, IL @ Cadillac Palace Theatre
Oct. 7 — Chicago, IL @ Cadillac Palace Theatre
Oct. 8 — Chicago, IL @ Cadillac Palace Theatre
Oct. 11 — Milwaukee, WI @ The Riverside Theatre
Oct. 12 — Milwaukee, WI @ The Riverside Theatre
Oct. 14 — Grand Rapids, MI @ DeVos Performance Hall
Oct. 16 — Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre
Oct. 20 — Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
Oct. 21 — Akron, OH @ Akron Civic Theatre
Oct. 23 — Erie, PA @ Warner Theatre
Oct. 24 — Rochester, NY @ Auditorium Theatre
Oct. 26 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
Oct. 27 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
Oct. 29 — Montreal, QB @ Place des Arts — Salle Wilfrid- Pelletier
Oct. 30 — Schenectady, NY @ Proctors Theatre

21 Aug 2023

Oliver Anthony Music’s ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

Oliver Anthony Music’s breakout viral hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Among other chart achievements for the singer-songwriter, he’s the first artist ever to launch atop the list with no prior chart history in any form.

Plus, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea Right?” enters the Hot 100 at No. 10, marking her sixth career top 10.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations. All charts (dated Aug. 26, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Aug. 22). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Here’s a look at the coronation of “Rich Men North of Richmond,” the 1,153rd song to top the Hot 100 over the chart’s 65-year history, and the 69th to debut at No. 1.

Streams, sales & airplay: Officially released Aug. 11, “Rich Men North of Richmond” drew 17.5 million streams and sold 147,000 downloads in the tracking week ending Aug. 17, according to Luminate. Not being promoted to radio, the song also tallied 553,000 radio airplay audience impressions, the bulk on country stations.

The single also debuts at No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart, and No. 4 on Streaming Songs.

The track by the Farmville, Va.-based singer-songwriter and former factory worker, born Christopher Anthony Lunsford (whose stage name honors his grandfather, Oliver Anthony), first drew buzz online, including on TikTok, where he boasts 1.5 million followers, prior to its Aug. 11 posting on the radiowv YouTube account, which spotlights unsigned Americana and country acts in the Virginia/West Virginia region. (The radiowv recording features simply Anthony’s voice and a Gretsch guitar.)

The song has drawn both praise from the right and opposition from the left, with its lyrics referencing “your dollar taxed to no end ’cause of rich men north of Richmond,” as well as “the obese milkin’ welfare.” Stated Anthony in a video posted Aug. 7, “I sit pretty dead center down the aisle on politics and always have.” He added on Facebook Aug. 17, “I am sad to see the world in the state it’s in, with everyone fighting with each other.”

Anthony’s reaction: Says Anthony exclusively to Billboard, “The hopelessness and frustration of our times resonate in the response to this song. The song itself is not anything special, but the people who have supported it are incredible and deserve to be heard.”

“There was not a whole lot of planning involved,” Draven Riffe, Anthony’s manager, told Billboard Saturday (Aug. 19) of the song’s release. Riffe is also the sole producer of “Richmond,” as well as the co-founder of radiowv, which launched in 2018. “We just knew if we got the video out there, people were going to love the song and it would resonate with a lot of folks. There wasn’t some big, massive planning team around this. I had a few friends who helped us push the song out there, like my friend Josh [Baer], who has a page called Country Central. We all coordinated and Oliver’s following [did], as well; we just tried to push it out there all at once with our little group of friends and that’s how it happened.”

First No. 1, first chart appearance: Prior to this week, Oliver Anthony Music had not appeared on any Billboard chart in any form, making him the first such artist ever to debut atop the Hot 100.

He’s just the sixth artist ever to debut a first solo Hot 100 entry at No. 1, following Zayn, Baauer, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Clay Aiken. Zayn’s debut solo single “Pillowtalk” opened on top in 2016, after he had become established as a member of One Direction; Baauer’s viral hit “Harlem Shake” debuted a week after first appearing on dance/electronic rankings; and Underwood, Fantasia and Aiken soared in, driven by sales, after the season finales of American Idol in 2005 (when Underwood won), 2004 (when Fantasia won), and 2003 (when Aiken finished second). “Inside Your Heaven” brought Underwood to the Hot 100 in her first sole-credited role after she first charted via the group effort “When You Tell Me That You Loved Me,” billed to American Idol Finalists Season 4; “I Believe” marked Fantasia’s debut chart hit, although it reached rankings other than the Hot 100 the week before (as with Baauer’s Hot 100 arrival); and Aiken had charted prior to “This Is the Night” as a singer on the collaborative “God Bless the U.S.A.,” billed to American Idol Finalists.

Unsigned, undeterred: With Oliver Anthony Music doubling as the label credit for the self-released “Rich Men North of Richmond,” the singer-songwriter marks a rare unsigned artist at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Lisa Loeb became the first such act, when “Stay (I Missed You)” led in 1994, although the song was released on RCA Records, from the hit Reality Bites soundtrack. (Loeb subsequently signed with Geffen Records.)

“We are working on a full [lineup] of shows with bigger accommodations in the near future,” Anthony wrote on Facebook. “Everyone in the ‘industry’ is rushing me into signing something, but we just want to take things slow right now. I appreciate your patience.”

Solo-written No. 1: “Rich Men North of Richmond” is the first solo-written Hot 100 No. 1 since Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves,” penned by the band’s frontman, Dave Bayley, dominated for five weeks in March-April 2022.

“Richmond” is the first Hot 100 leader written entirely and sung by a soloist since Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” logged its last of six weeks at No. 1 in January 2018.

Hot 100 & Hot Country Songs No. 1s: “Rich Men North of Richmond” concurrently opens atop Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, which uses the same methodology as the Hot 100.

The track marks the 23rd song to have topped both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs. With Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” having ruled the Hot 100 for 16 weeks, nonconsecutively, from March through last week (tied for the second-longest command in the survey’s history), and Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” leading for a week earlier this month, 2023 is the first year with at least three shared Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs leaders since 1975.

Plus, “Richmond” is the first song by a solo male to start atop both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs simultaneously. It’s the second overall, after Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” opened atop both rankings dated Nov. 27, 2021. (The charts have shared methodology since October 2012.)

Songs to Have Hit No. 1 on Both the Hot 100 & Hot Country Songs Charts:

  • “Rich Men North of Richmond,” Anthony Oliver Music, 2023
  • “Try That in a Small Town,” Jason Aldean, 2023
  • “Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, 2023
  • “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Taylor Swift, 2021
  • “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift, 2012
  • “Amazed,” Lonestar, 1999-2000
  • “Islands in the Stream,” Kenny Rogers, duet with Dolly Parton, 1983
  • “I Love a Rainy Night,” Eddie Rabbitt, 1981
  • “9 to 5,” Dolly Parton, 1981
  • “Lady,” Kenny Rogers, 1980
  • “Southern Nights,” Glen Campbell, 1977
  • “Convoy,” C.W. McCall, 1975-76
  • “I’m Sorry,” John Denver, 1975
  • “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Glen Campbell, 1975
  • “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” John Denver, 1975
  • “Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” Freddy Fender, 1975
  • “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” B.J. Thomas, 1975
  • “The Most Beautiful Girl,” Charlie Rich, 1973
  • “Honey,” Bobby Goldsboro, 1968
  • “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” Jeannie C. Riley, 1968
  • “Big Bad John,” Jimmy Dean, 1961
  • “El Paso,” Marty Robbins, 1959-60
  • “The Battle of New Orleans,” Johnny Horton, 1959

Of the 23 songs listed above, 12 were concentrated in 1973-83. Meanwhile, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and Taylor Swift are the only acts with two songs each that have crowned both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs.

As Billboard reported July 6, country music has surged this year: consumption for the genre in the United States was up 20.3% year-over-year in the first 26 weeks of 2023, according to Luminate. (Comparatively, country grew by 2.5% over the same period in 2022.)

Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” adds a sixth week at its No. 2 Hot 100 high, where it’s steady in rank, and Wallen’s “Last Night” falls to No. 3. Thanks to “Rich Men North of Richmond,” “Fast Car” and “Last Night,” country hits (as defined by those that have hit Hot Country Songs) claim the Hot 100’s top three spots in a single week for only the second time; Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” “Last Night” and “Fast Car” placed at Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, on the Hot 100 dated Aug. 5.

“Last Night,” meanwhile, tops Billboard’s Songs of the Summer chart for a 12th week, having led each week since the list returned.

Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” dips to No. 4 from its No. 3 Hot 100 high, and Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” descends 4-5, after reaching No. 3, as it posts a ninth week atop the Radio Songs chart (85.9 million, down 2%). “Calm Down” also tops the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for a 51st week, extending the longest reign since the ranking began over a year ago.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” holds at No. 6 on the Hot 100, six weeks after it debuted as her third No. 1, and Gunna’s “Fukumean” falls 5-7, after hitting No. 4, as it rules the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts for a fifth week each.

Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” backtracks to No. 8 from its No. 7 Hot 100 best and Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s “Barbie World,” with Aqua – also from the soundtrack Barbie: The Album – slips 8-9, after reaching No. 7, while winning top Airplay Gainer honors for a second consecutive week (36.8 million, up 41%).

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea Right?” debuts at No. 10, with 19.7 million streams, 5.3 million in airplay audience and 4,000 sold.

The song is Rodrigo’s sixth top 10, with all having debuted in the region, following “Vampire”; “Drivers License” (No. 1 for eight weeks, beginning in January 2021); “Good 4 U” (No. 1, one week, May 2021); “Deja Vu” (No. 3, June 2021); and “Traitor” (No. 9, June 2021). Her first four top 10s are from her first LP, Sour, while her two latest are from follow-up Guts, due Sept. 8.

Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated Aug. 26), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (Aug. 22).

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.

21 Aug 2023

Britney Spears Parties With Her ‘Fav Boys’ Amid Sam Asghari Divorce: ‘Played All Night!’

How is Britney Spears doing amidst her divorce from Sam Asghari, you ask? Just fine, thank you very much.

In an Instagram video post shared Sunday (Aug. 20), the Princess of Pop shared that she’s living her best life following her breakup, partying with friends and showing off her glam looks. The clips feature her trying on a sparkly green dress with knee-high boots before posing with five male friends, who hold her up next to a pool.

“I put my green dress on and show up at my friends !!!” she wrote in her caption. “I invited my fav boys over and PLAYED ALL NIGHT !!!”

Spears didn’t mention her split from Asghari in the post, but she did reveal that her night out followed an incident where someone in her life tipped off the paparazzi to her whereabouts: a Dave’s Hot Chicken in Oxnard, Calif., were she was snapped picking up her order.

“When you go to meet up with a so called ‘friend’ and drive an hour for chicken !!!” she wrote. “Then you have to wait in the car and need to use the bathroom … I knew paps were tipped off because the car I was in was never used before … so how I was I followed ??? Malibu Canyon Road is the most horrible road ever to drive on … so what does a b—h like me do !!??!”

The post comes two days after Spears broke her silence on her breakup from Asghari, who filed for divorce from the Grammy winner on Aug. 16, citing irreconcilable differences. “As everyone knows, Hesam and I are no longer together … 6 years is a long time to be with someone so, I’m a little shocked but … I’m not here to explain why because its honestly nobody’s business !!!” she wrote alongside a video of herself dancing to Janet Jackson’s 1993 hit “If.”

“But, I couldn’t take the pain anymore honestly !!!” she continued. “In some sort of telepathic way I have been receiving so many messages that melt my heart from friends and I thank you !!! I’ve been playing it strong for way too long and my Instagram may seem perfect but it’s far from reality and I think we all know that !!! I would love to show my emotions and tears on how I really feel but some reason I’ve always had to hide my weaknesses !!!”

Asghari has also been active on social media since filing for divorce, and even asked followers for help in choosing his “paparazzi disguise” over the weekend. In a prior statement on social media, he wrote, “After six years of love and commitment to each other, my wife and I have decided to end our journey together. We will hold onto the love and respect we have for each other and I wish her the best always. S— happens. Asking for privacy seems ridiculous so I will just ask for everyone including media to be kind and thoughtful.”

See Spears’ post below:

21 Aug 2023

BTS’ V Drops Teaser for ‘Blue’ Music Video: Here’s When It Arrives

No need to feel “Blue.” BTS’ V has just released the first teaser for his forthcoming music video for the Layover track. On Monday (Aug. 21), the artist shared a 23-second black-and-white clip teasing the storyline for the “Blue” music video.

The teaser trailer finds V walking down an apartment building hallway. He then rings the Apartment C doorbell and knocks on the door before the screen cuts to black and displays the name of the single in bright blue text. The full “Blue” music video is slated for Sept. 13 release. The visual will arrive less than a week after the release of Layover, V’s upcoming debut studio album on Sept. 8.

V has already shared two songs from Layover. The BTS member released “Love Me Again” and “Rainy Days” on Aug. 10 and 11, respectively. The two tracks simultaneously occupied the top two spots on the Hot Trending Songs chart dated Aug. 19. As the various members of BTS have started to fulfill their military duties, several have pursued solo endeavors ahead of their mandatory service, including J-Hope, Suga and 2023 Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers Jung Kook and Jimin.

This year, the K-pop group celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The members commemorated the occasion with personal heartfelt messages, a live performance video for “Take Two” and the BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA, which turned all of South Korea purple — from Dongdaemun Design Plaza to the Lotte World Tower.

As a soloist, V has earned one entry on the Hot 100: 2022’s “Christmas Tree” (No. 79). Since the group’s arrival on the music scene a decade ago, BTS has earned six No. 1 singles on the Hot 100, including the Grammy-nominated singles “Dynamite” and “Butter.” On the Billboard 200, the group has scored six No. 1 titles in just five years.

21 Aug 2023

Here Are All the Celebrities Who Have Attended Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito Stadium Tour

Colombian superstar Karol G has officially kicked off her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, her first-ever stadium outing, named after her history-making fourth album.

Karol began her trek on Aug. 10 in Las Vegas at the Allegiant Stadium. Then, on Aug. 14, she performed at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. In Los Angeles, stars such as Selena Gomez, Alicia Keys and Lauren Jauregui were spotted jamming to the Bichota’s hits-stacked setlist. Performing two back-to-back sold-out shows at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Karol cemented her superstardom, performing in front of 60,000 each day (Aug. 18-19).

The Mañana Será Bonito Tour is set to visit major markets such as Miami, Houston, Chicago and Dallas and before wrapping up Sept. 28 at the Gillette Stadium in Boston. Karol’s stadium tour follows her 2022 arena $trip Love Tour, which became the highest grossing U.S. tour by a Latin woman in history. It grossed $69.9 million across 33 shows in North America — according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore — surpassing Jennifer Lopez’s $50 million-grossing It’s My Party World Tour in 2019 and Shakira’s El Dorado World Tour, which grossed $28.2 million in 2018.

In August, Karol G became the first Latina headliner at Lollapalooza. Subsequently, she unleashed her second album of 2023, Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) — six months after the original Mañana Será Bonito. The latter set debuted atop the Billboard 200, becoming Karol’s first No. 1 on the tally, and the chart’s first No. 1 all-Spanish-language album by a woman.

From Selena Gomez to Alicia Keys, here are all the stars who haave spotted at Karol G’s first-ever stadium stint (so far), either in the audience or on stage. The list will be updated as Karol makes her way across the U.S. for her tour, produced by Live Nation.

21 Aug 2023

Dua Lipa Celebrates 8 Years of Debut Single ‘New Love’

Anniversary wishes are in order for Dua Lipa, as her single “New Love” just celebrated its eighth birthday.

The milestone is a special one for the pop star due to it being the first track she ever released, kickstarting her career in pop music. To celebrate the occasion, Lipa posted about “New Love” via her Instagram Story on Monday (Aug. 21) with a special shoutout to the people who helped make the song happen.

“8 Years ago I released my first song that I wrote with @wyattish [Andrew Wyatt] and @emilehaynie (and videos!)” Lipa wrote over a shared post that contained several clips from the song’s music video. “19 year old me would be very happy to know we’d get this far.”

“New Love” appeared on Lipa’s self-titled debut album released June 2, 2017. The track — which arrived ahead of the set two years prior in 2015 — was released as the first of eight singles from the project. While the song didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100, another “New” track would make the tally in a major way: “New Rules,” released as Dua Lipa‘s seventh single, marked the star’s first top 10 single on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 6 and spending a total of 48 weeks on the chart.

Revisit the visual for “New Love” in the music video above, and see Lipa’s celebratory Instagram Story post about the track here before it expires.

21 Aug 2023

Sam Asghari Asks Followers Help Choose His ‘Paparazzi Disguise’ Following Britney Spears Split

Sam Asghari is preparing for life as a single man following his split from wife Britney Spears. The first order of business? Choosing a paparazzi-proof new look.

In a Saturday (Aug. 19) Instagram Story, the 29-year-old former backup dancer asked his three million followers to help him decide between three wigs in the hopes of masking himself from any intrusive camera flashes. “Help me choose paparazzi disguise ?,” he wrote, according to People.

The first option was by far the most drastic, with Asghari sporting a voluminous gray wig and a matching wispy mustache. The second option featured a curly brunette wig with sunglasses, while the third saw Asghari wearing a simple wavy brown wig over his natural hair.

It seems that the fitness trainer is anticipating an influx in paparazzi following his split from Spears, which went public last week after Asghari filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 16, citing irreconcilable differences. The next day, he posted a statement confirming the breakup. “After six years of love and commitment to each other, my wife and I have decided to end our journey together,” he wrote on Instagram. “We will hold onto the love and respect we have for each other and I wish her the best always. S–t happens. Asking for privacy seems ridiculous so I will just ask for everyone including media to be kind and thoughtful.”

Spears broke her silence on the matter on Aug. 18. “As everyone knows, Hesam and I are no longer together … 6 years is a long time to be with someone so, I’m a little shocked but … I’m not here to explain why because its honestly nobody’s business !!!” the “Toxic” singer wrote on Instagram. “I couldn’t take the pain anymore honestly !!!”

The two first met in 2016 on the set of Spears’ “Slumber Party” music video. After years of dating, they tied the knot in June 2020.

Following reports of their split, reports emerged that Asghari was planning to challenge his and Spears’ prenup agreement, and allegedly threatening to release embarrassing information and videos of the pop star. Asghari denied the rumors via a statement to Billboard from his reps; he is indeed seeking spousal support from Spears in his divorce filing.

“There are many claims that Sam is challenging the prenup and threatening to exploit his ex-wife with videos,” Asghari’s representative, Brandon Cohen, told Billboard in an Aug. 18 statement. “However, all these claims are false, as no negative intention has ever been directed towards her and never will be. Sam has always and will always support her.”

21 Aug 2023

Quavo Pays Tribute to Takeoff With Touching New ‘Hold Me’ Music Video: Watch

Quavo has unleashed the official music video for “Hold Me,” a heartfelt BNYX-helmed track off new solo album Rocket Power that grapples with the intricacies of grief and mourning. In the visual, which he uploaded to YouTube on Saturday (Aug. 19), Quavo shares footage from a memorial for Takeoff in Atlanta. Attendees convene and foster community with one another while wearing shirts adorned with the late artist’s face as they come together to honor him. The second half of the music video finds Quavo in Paris flaunting merch, greeting fans and performing for crowds.

Takeoff (né Kirshnik Khari Ball) was shot and killed during a private party he attended in downtown Houston with his uncle and Migos bandmate, Quavo, on Nov. 1, 2022, something that still weighs heavy on the rapper and looms over much of Rocket Power. The album, Quavo’s second solo studio effort, marks his first full-length release since Takeoff’s untimely death. From its somber themes to its title — Takeoff’s only solo studio album was titled The Last Rocket — Rocket Power functions as a touching tribute to the late star. Takeoff even appears on a pair of the album’s tracks: “Patty Cake” and “Back Where It Begins.” Other features that appear on Rocket Power include Future, Young Thug, Hunxho and BabyDrill.

Rocket Power follows Quavo Huncho as Quavo’s sophomore studio album. In 2018, Quavo Huncho peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — the highest ranking for a solo LP from a Migos member. In 2022, Quavo and Takeoff teamed up for a joint album under the name Unc & Phew. Titled Only Built for Infinity Links, the album peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. On the Billboard Hot 100, Quavo has earned six top 10 hits, including the No. 1 single “I’m the One” (with DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne).

21 Aug 2023

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Jessie Reyez & Miguel, Larry June, Dylan Sinclair & More

Happy Monday! As we inch towards the end of summer, you can count on this week’s Fresh Picks to keep things hot. From the R&B sounds of Jessie Reyez (with Miguel), Samaria and Dylan Sinclair, to rap bops from 4TUNAT, Larry June and Lil Darius (with Nardo Wick) — we’ve got something for every moment of your week.

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And of course, don’t forget to check out this month’s Fresh Picks (so far) in our Spotify playlist, linked below.

Freshest Find: Jessie Reyez feat. Miguel, “Jeans”

Jessie Reyez and Miguel “fit better than a pair of jeans.” The two join forces here for a sexy, stripped-back collab about a couple being each others’ better halves. “You fit, like your mama made you just for me, baby/ Stroking making me forget to breathe, baby,” Reyez sings. “Jeans” is the singer-songwriter’s first offering since her sophomore album, 2022’s Yessie. She is gearing up to release her first poetry book, Words of a Goat Princess, in the fall. Meanwhile, Miguel has been rolling out music of his own ahead of his new album, also due this fall.

Samaria, “Tight Rope”

Samaria’s “Tight Rope” was created from a place of uncertainty for the Bay Area singer-songwriter, who brings listeners on a journey of losing herself, then discovering her self-worth on her own terms. “‘Tight Rope’ was a final plea to make something work at the time that was showing me exactly why it absolutely would never work,” she shares in a press release. 

4TUNAT feat. Destroy Lonely, “LOOK AT IT GO”

4TUNAT proves his synergy with Destroy Lonely on their new track, “LOOK AT IT GO.” “ The Geffen Records newcomer is carving a lane in Atlanta rap’s scene with his glitchy, high-energy SEE YOU SOON EP, on which this collaboration appears.

Dylan Sinclair, “Fly Girl”

Dylan Sinclair only likes fly girls. While he makes his preferences known, the song marks a sonic expansion for the JUNO-winning artist, who first gave listeners a glimpse into his sound with his 2022 EP, No Longer in the Suburbs. “Keeping this girl ‘round me, I like the way that she talk/ Sending me playlists straight to my phone, she putting me on,” he sings in a soft falsetto.

Lyfe Harris, “Sunkiss” 

“When you’re alone, does the sun kiss you just like me?” asks Lyfe Harris. The Atlanta singer likens his love to the sun’s warmth, delivering an infectious hook and lingering chorus. With “Sunkiss,” Harris captures the essence of intimacy with a bit of a nostalgic touch, as he uses a talk box effect for his vocals.

Larry June & Cardo, “The Good Kind”

Catch Larry June “looking at the ocean, eating smoothie bowls.” The Bay Area rapper links with Cardo Got Wings for “The Good Kind” — a typical West Coast-feeling track where June raps about riding his bike while maintaining his “street n—a” attitude.

Lil Darius feat. Nardo Wick, “Lamborghini Boys”

Known for crafting hits for Drake and Travis Scott, Memphis producer Tay Keith connects with Georgia upstart Lil Darius for his new song “Lamborghini Boys,” featuring Nardo Wick. The two rumble through Keith’s trunk-rattling production seamlessly, racing to the finish line with their unmatched wit. “Fine, she lookin’ like GloRilla, eat it like Tianna Trump,” spits Darius. The rapper and producer duo’s forthcoming mixtape, Young & Turnt, drops later this month.