Music

01 Aug 2023

Drake Flashed His New Tupac Crown Ring During Strip Club Interview

When you drop a milli on Tupac Shakur’s gold, ruby and diamond crown ring you want to show it off. So after first flashing the piece he recently bought at auction in one of his Insta stories last week, Drake put the historic piece on display again recently in an interview with Sidetalk NYC at the Starlets strip club.

The rapper bragged to the show’s host that his son Adonis’ mother, Sophie Brussaux, had a spot on the club’s wall of fame. “I’m wearing Pac’s ring,” Drizzy flexed while pushing his $1.01 million pinkie toward the camera to show off the custom piece worn by Shakur in his final public appearance at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards. “They got my baby mama on the wall over there.”

Asked to name the No. 1 thing he looks for in a “ting,” the single dad said “humor,” noting that if a woman watches his glassy-eyed interview and doesn’t think it’s funny she’s not for him. The video also featured footage of some of the club’s dancers tossing up piles of money and inviting viewers to come on down.

Drake had fun with host Trent Simonian’s all-black basic look, which included a self-promotional t-shirt, washed back denim and Converse sneaks, wondering if TS could “pull a batty” at the club with that outfit. For the record, Drake revealed that Denver has the greatest density of tingz as far as he’s concerned.

Drake and 21 Savage will bring the It’s All a Blur tour to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia tonight (Aug. 1). The rapper canceled a previously postponed show at the FedExForum slated for Aug. 6 this week over what his team said were production issues; the Memphis show had previously been booked for June 29 as the tour’s kick-off date.

01 Aug 2023

Hayley Williams Slams ‘Weird Incel…Internet Bros’ For Criticizing Paramore Over Postponed Shows

The last thing you want to do when you’re not feeling well is fight internet trolls. But, there Paramore singer Hayley Williams was this weekend, hitting back at sexist haters who decided to criticize her for postponing four shows due to what she recently revealed was a lung infection.

“internet bros have been pressed by my proximity to rock music and all its subgenres since 2005,” she wrote in an Instagram Story according to People. “the only thing thats changed is the platform from which they spew their ignorance. don’t think for a second your fav bands – metal or punk or otherwise – endorse your weird incel ass lifestyle. so many of these bands have stood side stage at our shows and treat us with respect. why? bc they aren’t threatened by a strong woman front a great band in a completely diff genre of music.”

On Saturday, Williams gave an update on her health after the band rescheduled four shows in the U.S. due to what was originally described as an illness within the band. “We kick back up Saturday in Tulsa (!!!) after a week of misery, sadness, and bellyfuls of antibiotics and steroids,” Williams wrote, referring to the group’s July 29 concert at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. “For the record, we did not have food poisoning or a band-wide s— fest.”

On July 22, the band postponed a gig in San Francisco just hours before showtime before postponing three more shows in Seattle, Portland and Salt Lake City; all four were rescheduled for this month.

“In all seriousness, this past week has been really tough,” she added in her original post. “Nobody would know this but I started getting sick in Houston (non contagious) and muscled my way all the way through LA. Adrenaline is a wonder! But by the time the excitement and the nerves from all the LA shenanigans wore off, my body just gave out.”

Williams’ since-expired Sunday Story also included a screenshot of a tweet in which someone noted that Metallica and Iron Maiden still “manage” to play shows when they are sick, “all of which are much older than you love.”

“Neither [Metallica singer] James [Hetfield] NOR [Iron Maiden singer] Bruce [Dickinson] are gonna suck your d–k for this, LOVE,” Williams shot back. She also responded to another commenter who noted that Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl came back on stage and performed after falling off a stage and breaking his leg in 2015.

Williams didn’t have time for that one, either. “I have a lung infection you soft s—! Not a broken limb,” she wrote to the person who called her “whiney,” noting, “One you can sing with for 2 hours, another you cant. But worry not! The shows weren’t canceled, merely postponed a week. Maybe you should come out to one of them… like Dave did.”

The latter was a reference to Paramore’s set at Bonnaroo last month during which Williams invited Grohl up to sing a cover of his band’s fan favorite “My Hero.”

01 Aug 2023

Drake Cancels Memphis Show With 21 Savage Over Production Issues After Previously Postponing It

Drake was originally scheduled to kick-off of his It’s All a Blur Tour with 21 Savage at the FedExForum in Memphis on June 29. That gig was postponed just days before and now the rescheduled show has been canceled with just a few days notice.

Drake was set to play the Forum on Aug. 6, but the Ticketmaster site now lists the show as canceled with no explanation other than “the event organizer has had to cancel your event.” According to the Commercial-Appeal, Drake’s team told the venue that, “Due to the magnitude of the production of the Drake concert, it is logistically impossible to bring the show as designed to the FedExForum on August 6th. Unfortunately, the show in cancelled.”

At press time a spokesperson for Drake had not returned Billboard‘s request for further comment on the show cancelation.

Fans who already bought tickets for the sold-out show ill get automatic refunds to the original method of payment, typically within 30 days.

Drake and 21 Savage are slated to play the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia tonight (Aug. 1) and the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Friday (Aug. 4); that show was recently pushed back one day, also citing the size of the production. The Memphis show is no longer listed on Drake’s official site.

USA Today noted that the headliner — whose dad, Dennis Graham, is from Memphis — still came to the city to visit his kin and receive an honorary key to Shelby County last week at a restaurant/nightclub called Railgarten.

01 Aug 2023

Billie Eilish’s ‘Barbie’ Single ‘What Was I Made For?’ Challenges For U.K. No. 1

As Barbiemania sweeps the nation, Billie Eilish’s lowkey Barbie cut “What Was I Made For?” (via Interscope) is challenging for the U.K.’s chart crown.

Eilish’s latest hit sits at No. 2 on the midweek chart, having trailed the leader, Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood), by just 1,500 combined units with the publication of this week’s earliest chart blast.

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“Sprinter” has been unbeatable in its chart run, clocking eight consecutive weeks at No. 1.

Travis Scott could be living his best life with Utopia (via Epic), which is well placed in the national albums chart race. The followup to 2018’s Astroworld, Utopia could yield three top 10 singles, led on the midweek chart by “Meltdown” (No. 7), “Fein” (No. 9) and “Hyaena” (No. 10). Scott has already notched four top 10 appearances.

Further down the list is Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s latest collaboration “Desire” (Columbia), poised for a No. 17 bow. If it holds its position, it would mark Harris’ 41st top 40 single and Smith’s 22nd. The pair previously teamed up on 2018’s “Promises,” which led the national chart for six weeks.

Meanwhile, Sinead O’Connor’s tragic death on July 26, aged 56, is fueling interest in the Irish singer’s biggest hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Chrysalis). The Prince-penned classic from the early ‘90s bounces to No. 19 on the Official Singles Chart Update, dipping from No. 12 on the First Look chart, which ranks tracks based on sales and streaming activity from the first 48 hours. Powered by its emotionally-charged music video, the single led the chart for four weeks following its release in 1990.

Finally, the legendary leftfield electronic music producer Aphex Twin is tuning-up for his highest-ever peak in the U.K. with “Blackbox Life Recorder 21F” (Warp). It’s new at No. 29 on the midweek chart, and could mark the artist’s (real name: Richard David James) first appearance on the singles chart since 1999’s “Windowlicker,” which achieved his career-best peak of No. 16.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, Aug. 4.

01 Aug 2023

Anne-Marie’s ‘Unhealthy’ Takes Narrow Lead on Midweek U.K. Chart

It’s tight at the top of the midweek U.K. chart, as Anne-Marie and Travis Scott tussle for the crown.

Based on data published by the Official Charts Company, Anne-Marie’s third studio album Unhealthy (via Atlantic) has the edge – a wafer-thin one, of less than 100 chart units.

If it stays on target, Unhealthy will give the English artist her third top 10, and first leader. Anne-Marie’s previous albums both impacted the top 3 — 2018’s Speak Your Mind (No. 3) and 2021’s Therapy (No. 2).

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Meanwhile, Scott’s Utopia opens at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update, with three tracks from it (the maximum allowed under the U.K.’s chart criteria) are on track to appear in the singles chart top 10. Utopia is the followup to Scott’s Astroworld (Epic), which peaked at No. 3 on the national survey in 2018. Like Anne-Marie, the Houston, TX rapper has never landed a U.K. No. 1.

Completing an all-new podium on the chart blast is Austin (Island), the fifth studio album from Post Malone. Austin is set to start at No. 3, for Posty’s fifth top 10, a career collection that includes two No. 1s. 

Meanwhile, veteran English pop-rock group Dexys (formerly Dexys Midnight Runners) are on track for their highest-charting LP since 1982 with The Feminine Divine (100 Percent Records), their sixth studio album. It’s new No. 4 on the midweek tally. The last time Kevin Rowland and Co. soared in the top 5 on the U.K. chart was back in 1982, with sophomore effort Too-Rye-Ay, which featured the enduring No. 1 hit “Come On Eileen.” Too-Rye-Ay peakedat No. 2 and enjoyed a 40-year anniversary reissue in 2022.

Last week’s leader, Blur’s The Ballad of Darren (Parlophone), looks set to tumble 1-5.

Finally, folk legend Joni Mitchell could bag her highest chart appearance since the ‘70s with At Newport (Rhino). Recorded in 2022 during a surprise performance at Newport Folk Festival, her first major outing since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015, Mitchell’s latest release sits at No. 11 on the midweek survey and appears set to become her highest charting U.K. LP since 1976’s Hejira, which also peaked at No. 11.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday, Aug. 4.

01 Aug 2023

Paul McCartney Sets ‘Got Back’ Tour of Australia and New Zealand

Paul McCartney has his sights set on a return to Australia, for his first tour there in six years.

The evergreen octogenarian had promised “news coming soon” on his socials, and he delivers with the announcement of a new, Australian swing to his Got Back Tour, which will play two markets for the first time – the satellite cities of Newcastle (north of Sydney) and Gold Coast (south of Brisbane).

The Beatles great’s trek is produced by Frontier Touring, the Melbourne-based concerts giant, part of the Mushroom Group, which secured his previous tour of these parts in 2017. That visit was McCartney’s first Down Under in almost a quarter century.

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In an era when major arena and stadium tours are regularly announced a year ahead of showtime, McCartney’s jaunt, set for this October and November, is tighter than most. McCartney is no ordinary artist.

The two-time Rock And Roll Hall of Famer will embark on his run with an “intimate” date at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Oct. 18, the only arena show on the itinerary. When McCartney and the Beatles played the South Australia capital in 1964, at the very peak of their powers, an estimated 350,000 people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Fab Four. That’s roughly one-third the city’s current population.

The six-city stretch includes outdoor dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Perth misses out.

“I’ve got so many amazing memories of my time in Australia over the years,” McCartney comments in a statement, confirming the Australia leg. “Our last trip was so much fun. We had such an incredible time. Each show was a party so we know this is going to be incredibly special. Australia we are going to rock! I can’t wait to see you.”

Those memories and parties coalesced into a tour for the ages. Macca’s five-city One On One Tour won the Helpmann for best international contemporary concert in 2018, awarded by Live Performance Australia, and was declared a career highlight by legendary promoter Michael Gudinski, the late founder of Frontier Touring.

Joining McCartney on the road is his longtime band, Paul “Wix” Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums).

Following the release of Peter Jackson’s three-part 2021 documentary series The Beatles: Get Back, McCartney embarked on a 16-date U.S. run on his Got Back Tour, which last year nudged his total career gross north of the $1 billion mark, making him one of just 11 artists to surpass the 10-digit mark in Boxscore’s 30-year-plus history.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 11 via frontiertouring.com/paulmccartney, with the Frontier members presale starting earlier, on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Paul McCartney – 2023 Got Back Tour of Australia:
Oct .18 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Oct. 21 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC
Oct. 24 — McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Oct. 27 — Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Nov. 1 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Nov. 4 — Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast

31 Jul 2023

Kenny Chesney Offers Impromptu Acoustic Performance in Key West Bar

Four-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Kenny Chesney‘s longtime affinity for the islands was on display recently, when he dropped into Captain Tony’s Saloon in Key West, Florida.

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Chesney posted a video on his social media of himself, dressed down in shorts, a ball cap and a t-shirt, performing an acoustic rendition of his 2011 hit, “You and Tequila.”

“Feeding my creative soul at Capt. Tony’s. Thanks to everyone for allowing me to sit in,” Chesney wrote in the caption of the video.

Captain Tony’s has a storied musical history, as a place Jimmy Buffett was a regular performer in the 1970s. Captain Tony’s was immortalized in Buffett’s title song to his 1985 album Last Mango in Paris. The location is also the original site of Sloppy Joe’s Bar from 1933-1937, when it was a regular hangout spot for author Ernest Hemingway. Meanwhile, Chesney has also been known to pop in to Sloppy Joe’s Bar at its current location over the years, playing a four-hour show there in 2008, and popping in for shows in 2009 and in 2016, when he was joined by Eric Church and Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey.

Chesney’s “You and Tequila,” which he recorded with Grace Potter, earned two Grammy Awards including best country song and best country duo/group performance. It was the fourth single from Chesney’s album Hemingway’s Whiskey. Matraca Berg and Deana Carter wrote “You and Tequila,” which went on to be certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

See Chesney’s performance below:

31 Jul 2023

Jung Kook’s ‘Seven’ Spends Second Week Atop Global Charts, ‘Barbie’ Songs Soar

Jung Kook’s “Seven,” featuring Latto, spends a second week at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Aug. 5). A week earlier, the song became the first leader on the lists for a member of BTS as a soloist.

Meanwhile, three songs from the Barbie soundtrack surge to the Global 200’s top 10: Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s “Barbie World,” with Aqua; Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”; and Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night,” following the movie and its soundtrack’s July 21 arrival.

Plus, Travis Scott, Bad Bunny and The Weeknd’s “K-POP” debuts in the top 10 of both the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S., and NewJeans’ “ETA” opens in the Global Excl. U.S. top five.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, which started in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

‘Seven’ Still 1, ‘Barbie’ Bounds on Global 200

Jung Kook’s “Seven,” featuring Latto, logs a second week atop the Billboard Global 200, led by 152.1 million streams (down 30%) worldwide July 21-27.

Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” holds at its No. 2 Global 200 high, a week after it debuted at the ranking, up 177% to 30.8 million streams; NewJeans’ “Super Shy” rebounds 5-3, two weeks after it began at No. 2; and Myke Towers’ “LaLa” slips to No. 4 from its No. 3 best.

Travis Scott, Bad Bunny and The Weeknd’s “K-POP” soars in at No. 5 on the Global 200, with 53.2 million streams and 14,000 sold worldwide in its first week. The lead single from Scott’s album Utopia, released Friday (July 28), is his fifth Global 200 top 10, Bad Bunny’s 15th and The Weeknd’s 10th since the chart began.

Meanwhile, three tracks from the Barbie soundtrack blast to the Global 200’s top 10, each for the first time: Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s “Barbie World,” with Aqua (28-6); Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” (18-7); and Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” (27-8), following the July 21 premiere of the movie and its soundtrack, with the film having gone on to an explosive box office bow. The songs drew 52.3 million, 47.7 million and 46.6 million streams globally, up 101%, up 45% and up 83%, respectively. Minaj and Ice Spice each add their third Global 200 top 10, as Aqua earns its first; Eilish tallies her fourth; and Lipa scores her third.

Jung Kook, Tops Global Excl. U.S., NewJeans Debut

Jung Kook’s “Seven” concurrently rules the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for a second week, with 138.1 million streams (down 29%) outside the U.S. July 21-27.

NewJeans’ “Super Shy” returns to its No. 2 Global Excl. U.S. high, from No. 3, and Myke Towers’ “LaLa” backtracks 2-3, two weeks after it led the list.

NewJeans double up in the Global Excl. U.S. top five, as “ETA” arrives at No. 4 with 38.6 million streams and 3,000 sold outside the U.S. The South Korean pop group achieves its fourth top 10, with both “ETA” and “Super Shy” both from its 2nd EP ‘Get Up’, released July 21.

Two Barbie soundtrack songs get dolled up in the Global Excl. U.S. top 10: Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” vaults 24-5 (led by 33.3 million streams, up 77%, outside the U.S.) and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” leaps 19-7 (31.7 million, up 44%). Each artist lands her fourth top 10 on the survey.

Plus, Travis Scott, Bad Bunny and The Weeknd’s “K-POP” starts at No. 6 on Global Excl. U.S., with 34.1 million streams and 1,000 sold outside the U.S. The song is Scott’s third top 10 on the chart, Bad Bunny’s record-extending 15th and The Weeknd’s eighth.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Aug. 5, 2023) will update on Billboard.com Wednesday (Aug. 2). For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

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.

31 Jul 2023

Taylor Swift Reflects on Eras Tour Ahead of SoFi Stadium Shows: ‘Blows My Mind That We Have One Last City’

Taylor Swift is just as excited about her final Eras Tour shows as Swifties are. On Monday (July 31), the “Look What You Made Me Do” singer took to Instagram and shared photos from her back to back nights in Santa Clara, Calif. — the second to last city on her trek in the United States — as well as a pumped up message regarding the last couple of nights on the tour.

“Really blows my mind that we have one last city on the US leg of The Eras Tour. Santa Clara this weekend was a partyyy, both crowds were so loud and rowdy,” Swift captioned the images, which featured the women of HAIM, Aaron Dessner and her performing alongside backup dancers. “And I’ll never forget when @alanahaim @estehaim and @daniellehaim emerged wearing their gowns from the Bejeweled video ? Loved every second of those shows and can’t wait for LA. Playing six shows at Sofi Stadium lets goooooo.”

Elsewhere during the Santa Clara concerts, the HAIM sisters performed “No Body, No Crime” with Swift on stage, while Dessner joined the pop star for the live debut of their collaborative Evermore bonus track, “Right Where You Left Me.”

“Because it’s one of our favorites, there’s more pressure on it,” Swift told the crowd on July 29. “Also, this is one of the wordiest songs. I have been rehearsing this for weeks, OK? And I’ve never, ever gotten it 100% right. Not even one time. If this is the time that I get it right, you have no idea what kind of celebration I’m going to be exhibiting after that. And also, this goes for you. If you can get all the words right to this song, you get to pat yourself on the back. You win an imaginary prize. It’s yours. We love this song and I hope that I somewhat do it justice.” (Spoiler alert: Swift and Dessner did indeed mess up on the track.)

The Eras Tour’s U.S. leg concludes with six shows at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium (Aug. 3-5 and 7-9). See Swift’s post here.

31 Jul 2023

Angus Cloud, Actor on ‘Euphoria,’ Dead at 25

Angus Cloud, the actor who starred on HBO’s Euphoria, has died. He was 25.

Cloud’s family announced the news on Monday.

“It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways. Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss. The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend.  Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence,” read the statement.

“We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone. We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss.”

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HBO added to The Hollywood Reporter, “We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud. He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”

Cloud was walking down the street in Manhattan when he got cast as drug dealer Fezco on Euphoria, HBO’s Emmy-winning drama from Sam Levinson and starring Zendaya. The role, which he played on two seasons, turned Cloud into a breakout star. His role was expanded in the second season.

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.