Music

13 Jun 2023

Jelly Roll’s ‘Whitsitt Chapel’ Debuts on Rock & Alternative and Country Album Charts

Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel blasts onto Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart (dated June 17) at No. 1 and the Top Country Albums tally at No. 2. Released June 2, the set earned 90,000 equivalent album units in the United States, with 63,000 in album sales, in the week ending June 8, according to Luminate.

Whitsitt Chapel also arrives at No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200, giving the Nashville-born artist, named Jason Bradley DeFord, his first top 10 on the ranking.

Thanks to his first country album, Jelly Roll earns the largest week for an initial entry on Top Country Albums since the chart transitioned to a consumption-based methodology (from one based on pure sales) in February 2017. It surpasses The Highwomen, whose lone Top Country Albums entry (a self-titled set) started at No. 1 in September 2019 with 34,000 units. (The group comprises Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires.) The previous best first week on the chart for a solo male belonged to Bailey Zimmerman’s Leave the Light On (32,000 units, October 2022).

Whitsitt Chapel becomes Jelly Roll’s first No. 1 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums in his second appearance on the tally. Previously, Ballads of the Broken peaked at No. 35 in September 2022.

Notably, the new set follows multiple albums in reaching the top two of both Top Rock & Alternative Albums and Top Country Albums. Those have included, this decade: HARDY’s The Mockingbird & the Crow (No. 1 on both charts, this February), Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak (No. 1 on both, June 2022), and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s Reunions (No. 1 on both, May 2020).

Whitsitt Chapel’s album sales were helped by three vinyl LPs (including a color-variant exclusive for Walmart), a standard CD, a signed CD sold through Jelly Roll’s webstore, a deeply discounted digital album (only $4.20 for a limited time during the tracking week in his webstore), nine deluxe CD boxed sets that included branded merch and a copy of the CD, and a “hymnal” zine/CD package.

The album sports 13 tracks, including collaborations with Brantley Gilbert, Struggle Jennings, Lainey Wilson and Yelawolf.

Meanwhile, the LP’s lead single, “Need a Favor,” holds at its No. 2 high on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and pushes 7-4 on Hot Country Songs, with 20.2 million in airplay audience, 11.2 million official streams and 3,000 sold. The track keeps at its No. 3 high on Mainstream Rock Airplay and ascends 14-12 on Country Airplay. On the former, Jelly Roll reigned for a week in May 2022 with “Dead Man Walking.” On the latter list, he led for a week in January with “Son of a Sinner.”

13 Jun 2023

Black Music Month Is Here to Stay: Co-Founders Celebrate Biden’s Presidential Proclamation Locking In the Name

This year, the 44th anniversary of the monthlong celebration of Black music’s rich legacy and influence carries an extra special meaning for the observance’s co-founders: Kenneth Gamble and Dyana Williams. That’s because — by presidential proclamation — the name of the annual June campaign has been changed back to Black Music Month after also being called African-American Music Appreciation Month in recent years.

President Joe Biden signed the proclamation on May 31, 2023. It reads in part, “During Black Music Month, we pay homage to legends of American music, who have composed the soundtrack of American life. Their creativity has given rise to distinctly American art forms that influence contemporary music worldwide and sing to the soul of the American experience.”

In tandem with the proclamation, Biden and first lady Jill Biden are hosting a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn on Tuesday (June 13) at 7 p.m. ET. Performers include Jennifer Hudson, Ledisi, Audra McDonald and Method Man. Biden signed bipartisan legislation two years ago that established Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.

“I’m elated that President Biden issued the proclamation,” says Gamble, co-founder of legendary label Philadelphia International with songwriting-production partner Leon Huff. “Black music represents a multibillion-dollar business and cultural asset that informs human beings globally. When we established the Black Music Association in the late 1970s, it was our intention to galvanize different aspects of the Black music business, along with the all-important consumers, to elevate our industry and garner respect for the creatives and professionals. Black is more than just a color; it’s a frame of mind. All genres of music created by Black folks in America are our heart and soul gifts — as well as a universal language widely felt and embraced worldwide.”

The first observance of Black Music Month, which also featured a concert on White House’s South Lawn, occurred on June 7, 1979, under President Jimmy Carter. Inspired by the efforts of the Country Music Association, which had established October as Country Music Month, BMA members Williams, Gamble and Cleveland radio DJ Ed Wright enlisted the assistance of then-Motown president Clarence Avant, veteran label executive Joe Smith and other industry professionals to petition Carter and launch an annual observance. However, in christening June as Black Music Month at the time, Carter didn’t sign a presidential proclamation.

“Had he done that, every American president that came into office after him would have done so,” says Williams, a veteran broadcaster/media strategist.

Dyana Williams

Dyana Williams

Whitney Thomas

At the suggestion of President Clinton’s administration, Williams began lobbying Congress in the late ’90s. With the help of Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah, the African-American Music Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives. It subsequently secured passage as House Resolution 509 in 2000. But over the years, confusion emerged about which name to use: Black Music Month or African-American Music Appreciation Month.

“I wanted to eliminate the confusion and re-establish the name Black Music Month because that’s how it has always been celebrated in the music industry and broader communities,” says Williams. So she began sending “countless” emails to the succeeding White House administrations over the years. And she kept writing until May 31 when Erica Loewe, the White House director of African American Media, sent her a copy of the Biden-signed presidential proclamation.

“It was a joyful moment,” says Williams, who will also be attending the White House’s Juneteeth concert celebration.

In the meantime, Williams’ and Gamble’s son Caliph Gamble is carrying his family’s music-activism legacy into the next generation as a co-founder of the Sons of Legends Foundation. Like the BMA before it, the foundation will further foster the importance of Black Music Month in addition to launching community initiatives and other projects.

“It’s an honor to have observed my parents’ work over the course of my life,” says Caliph Gamble. “And it’s with great pleasure that we look forward to establishing a blueprint of what they’ve accomplished, so generations to come can use their model as an option toward their own success.”

In lockstep with BMA’s mission nearly 50 years ago to annually recognize and celebrate the economic and cultural power of Black music, Gamble coined the slogan “Black Music Is Green.” Notes Williams, “Kenny was right 44 years ago, and he’s still right now. It’s a profitable business but one that doesn’t always get the respect it deserves. To my very last breath, I will be promoting this music.”

13 Jun 2023

Hailey Bieber Asks Fans to Stop Leaving ‘Mean or Rude Comments’ on Her Behalf

Hailey Bieber is speaking out to stop social media toxicity.

The model took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday (June 13) to ask her fans to stop sending negative comments to others. “If you’re leaving mean or rude comments on my behalf on anyone’s posts just know that I don’t want that, nor do I ever or will ever support or condone hateful, mean or nasty comments,” she wrote in her statement. “Doing that is not supporting me … if you are participating in that you are part of a culture that I want no part of.” 

While she didn’t mention what her post was specifically about, the Rhode founder’s thoughts come just three months after Selena Gomez, who previously dated Hailey’s husband Justin Bieber, also shared a lengthy message amid reports of a rumored feud between the two women. Gomez revealed that Hailey had recently reached out to the Only Murders in the Building star to let her know that she’d been receiving death threats and “such hateful negativity.”

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“This isn’t what I stand for,” Gomez said unequivocally. “No one should have to experience hate or bullying. I’ve always advocated for kindness and really want this all to stop.”

Ever since, Gomez and Hailey have followed each other on Instagram, with the model even liking one of the “Rare” singer’s recent posts.

13 Jun 2023

Foo Fighters’ ‘But Here We Are’ Leads Alternative, Hard Rock Album Charts

Foo Fighters earn multiple No. 1 placements on the Billboard charts dated June 17 as their new set But Here We Are crowns Top Alternative Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums, while the LP’s lead single “Rescued” commands Hot Hard Rock Songs.

But Here We Are bows with 62,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in the June 2-8 tracking week, according to Luminate. Of that sum, 55,000 units are via album sales.

The release is Foo Fighters’ seventh No. 1 on Top Hard Rock Albums since the chart began in 2007. The band first ruled with Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in October 2007 and had most recently led with Medicine at Midnight in February 2021.

The Dave Grohl-fronted band slots into a four-way tie for the most leaders in the tally’s history, alongside Five Finger Death Punch, Linkin Park and Pearl Jam.

Most No. 1s, Top Hard Rock Albums:
7, Five Finger Death Punch
7, Foo Fighters
7, Linkin Park
7, Pearl Jam
6, Disturbed
6, Korn

Foo Fighters also boast six Top Alternative Albums rulers with the addition of But Here We Are, their first and most recent also having been Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace and Medicine at Midnight, respectively. The band’s only set to lead Top Hard Rock Albums but not Top Alternative Albums is 2009’s Greatest Hits, which peaked at No. 2 on the latter.

Foo Fighters take sole possession of the second-most Top Alternative Albums No. 1s. Lana Del Rey leads all acts with seven.

Most No. 1s, Top Alternative Albums:
7, Lana Del Rey
6, Foo Fighters
5, Coldplay
5, Disturbed
5, Imagine Dragons
5, Pearl Jam
5, Jack White

But Here We Are also begins at No. 2 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums.

On the all-genre Billboard 200, the album starts at No. 8, marking Foo Fighters’ 10th top 10. The band first reached the region with the No. 10-peaking The Colour and the Shape in June 1997. Of those top 10s, two – 2011’s Wasting Light and 2017’s Concrete and Gold – hit No. 1.

Concurrently, “Rescued,” the first single from But Here We Are, rises 3-1 on the multi-metric Hot Hard Rock Songs list in its eighth week on the tally. It’s the band’s third No. 1 dating to the chart’s 2020 inception, following the eighth-week rule of “Waiting on a War” beginning in February 2021 and the three-week reign of 1997’s “Everlong” in April 2022, the latter following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins.

“Rescued” totaled 10.5 million radio audience impressions, 1.6 million official streams and 1,000 downloads sold June 2-8.

Concurrently, “Rescued” rules Rock & Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Rock Airplay for a fifth week each and Alternative Airplay for a fourth frame.

Seven songs from But Here We Are appear on Hot Hard Rock Songs, with “Rescued” followed closest by “The Glass” at No. 5 (1.6 million streams).

“Rescued” also jumps 17-12 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, followed by “The Glass” at No. 33.

13 Jun 2023

From New Orleans to ‘Vulture Island,’ Rob49’s Journey Prepared Him for Stardom

Rob49 has persevered through a lot more than the average 24-year-old trying to assimilate into adult life. Raised by his mother while his father was incarcerated for most of his childhood, the New Orleans native still knew his future wouldn’t be boxed inside the Big Easy’s unforgiving 4th and 9th Ward neighborhoods.

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Not many hip-hop stories begin with a stint in the National Guard and pivoting to pursue a nursing degree before finding success in the music industry, but that was indeed the case for Rob, who essentially fell into rapping after making a song in the studio with a friend.

The year 2022 proved to be huge in Rob49’s ascension, as he rode the relentless “Vulture Island” — which received a boost thanks to a remix from Lil Baby — to the biggest song of his career to date. It was all nearly taken away in January when Rob (born Robert Thomas) was reportedly one of 10 people injured during a shooting on the set of a French Montana video in Miami Gardens.

The Geffen Records signee didn’t spend much time on the mend in recovery as he’s been locked in the studio with the likes of Lil Durk, and returned to offer up his first project since the shooting with 4GOD II last Friday (June 9). Draped in an azure blue Amiri sweatsuit with crisp white Air Force 1’s straight out of the box, Rob49 is laid-back in conversation during his April New York City visit, where he could easily be mistaken for Knicks guard R.J. Barrett while walking around the Big Apple.

“As long as you’re doing better than what you did when you started this s–t,” he bluntly says of his mentality when it comes to gauging his current success. “I just want to make some music. I don’t really give a f–k about no fame or nothing.”

Find more from our interview with the rising star below, which finds him explaining why he deaded a Hurricane Chris DM, his appreciation for Lil Wayne and why selling vapes in the army nearly got him kicked out.

Billboard: How does the elevation in your career feel? This is a special time.

Rob49: I’m grateful. Just because I know — like I said, I got signed with 10,000 followers, and anything I drop right now is gone get over 10,000 views. So I really don’t give a f–k.

Not even sitting courtside at the New Orleans Pelicans games?

I’ve always wanted to sit courtside. When me and my cousin would get some tickets, we would always say, “We’re gonna sit courtside.” He said he was gon’ buy them — he had faith in himself that much. He winded up getting a good job in the oil business. He graduated high school before me I said, “I’m not making it to get that much money in three or four years.” I winded up getting it first. 

Are the seats free or do you gotta pay for them? 

Sometimes they invite you and sometimes you gotta pay. I been paying for most of them b–ches though. I be wanting to go to the games I want to go to.

[Curren$y’s] like Spike Lee down there.

That’s exactly what it is. They treat him like that. They treat me like that too. If there’s a three or something in the game, they’ll look at me. They f–k with me like that. They turned my [“Vulture Island”] up. 

The Pelicans just asked me to make a version of “Vulture Island” for them. I just ran into Zion [Williamson] at the movies. He’s like, “What you doing here?” I’m like, “What you doing at the movies?” We went and saw Scream VI.  

Who were some of your early childhood musical influences? What was your mom playing?

My mom was playing Beyoncé. I was listening to Lil Wayne, Kanye [West]. I like what 106 & Park had on. At that time, they were playing Hurricane Chris, “A Bay Bay.” He talking about doing a song [with me]. I’ll show you [the DM]. I ain’t never hit him back because he was looking crazy. He look like he lost all his sauce. That ain’t the same n—a. 

How about listening to Lil Wayne in that prime era of like 2006-2008? That may have been the most prolific rapper we’ve ever seen.

I liked the 2013-2014 Wayne, that Sorry for the Wait 2 and “Hollyweezy.” I listen to that s–t and I’m like, “Damn.” I don’t know nothing about Tha Carters. That skit with his momma on Tha Carter V was so hard. And the Free Weezy album too. I was like seven [during that mixtape run]. I wasn’t listening to no Wayne. I wasn’t listening to nothing but Beyoncé. All I knew was, “To the left, to the left.” No cap. 

What was childhood like for you? Were you playing a lot of sports?

I was playing football. I hated video games — I feel like they were for people I didn’t want to be like. I was outside all day stealing bikes and s–t. 

How about just keeping that relationship going with your dad when he got out of prison?

Immediately. My daddy used to get me from school. It was never about the money. He started working at Walmart and s–t when he got out. So he couldn’t go hard so it was more being a father figure.

What was life like during Hurricane Katrina?

First, we had tried to go to Baton Rouge and we stayed in a gym. They gave us these peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We had went to Houston, so I remember Houston for three or four months. Then we came back home. I stayed in the projects so it was bricks. The houses were f–ked up but the buildings were okay. They was f–ked up but not unlivable.

Did you really go to school for nursing?

Yeah, I was trying to do my prereqs. That’s like math class and s–t. So people say nursing, but I didn’t do all that. I was trying to go to school for nursing, but my partner said he wanted to go to school for nursing. He told me I couldn’t. I went to Southern and he didn’t end up going to college. 

I did one semester, and then I winded up dropping out and making music. I went to the National Guard after [high] school to get into college. I think that was one of the best things that happened to me in my life for real. That s–t make you feel like you could do anything. 

You were selling Juuls and vapes in the National Guard?

Yeah, facts — and they ended up catching me. That was before I even knew about Juuls. I felt like we was the first ones to really discover that. We’d see everybody vaping. They was trying to do it where you don’t get caught because these dudes smoke cigarettes. I didn’t get kicked out for that. I was about to tell them people too. 

I remember my first time getting restarted, I had got into it with this dude. He said I called him a racial slur or something. I swear on my brother that he was deadass lying. They tried to restart us. They called me and my dog from Memphis. We go downstairs, and they like, “Pack y’all bags, too.” 

I’m thinking they ’bout to switch our company, because there was two companies starting together — Alpha and Bravo — and we got the same graduation date. Then they got Charlie started eight weeks after us. So we thought we were going to Bravo. We walked through Bravo and went to Charlie. I just dropped my bags like, “F–k y’all!” They had nothing but 40-year-olds and we were the youngest people in there. 

Were there girls in the army with you?

They got girls in there. Girls out their mind in the army. When I first went to my job schooling, they had a girl in there, and she had a Twitter — everybody like, “This girl from Twitter.” I’m thinking she popping on Twitter. I’m in my room one day and they like, “You saw the girl from Twitter outside lunch today.” 

I’m like, “Yeah, who is that? Show me her Twitter.” Man, this girl was ass-naked on all her Twitter. She playing with herself. She that type of girl. I’m like, “What the fuck?” And she in the training with us. I jumped in her DMs. The whole battalion knew her but me. 

You kinda just fell into rapping too, right?

My same partner that told me I couldn’t go to school for nursing, he was the rapper. I was trying to get behind him, but he was trying to sound like Roddy Ricch. I had made a song in the studio with him. They felt like I was good at it before I felt like I was good at it.

Me and him had gone to a party and they had some live performances. He’s like, “Let me pay them $250 to let you perform.” I tapped him, “Our time is gonna come.” I probably had like 1,000 followers. The same people trying to pay me $60,000 now. That was like three years ago. 

In Miami, we had paid for King of Diamonds for a section for my birthday, and my people had got into it with them, and they wind up not letting us in the club. We sitting out there looking stupid — but now they just gave me that bag to go in that b—h [a year later]. 

YoungBoy fans were pissed that you posted the photo of you working with Durk. They thought you guys wouldn’t collab now. Would you want to work with him?

I don’t know what they was talking about. I mean whoever f–king with me, I’m f–king with it. It’s music at the end of the day. I seen that s–t. 

What game did you take from Birdman?

He just texted me. I remember when he first met me and I only had like 5,000 followers, and he was telling me that I was going to be the one. He just told me to keep going. That’s the only game he ever gave me. 

What’s the “Yeet, Yeet” ad-lib mean on “Vulture Island?”

Yeah, I made it up. That’s just some bulls–t I said on there. I thought it sounded good. It really was my ad-libs. I was just punching in trying to catch a vibe on the song. I remember playing it for my momma and she said, “That sounds so good but just take that yeet, yeet part out and say something else.” 

I’m like, “No.” She been a good A&R though. I remember playing “No Kizzy,” which is going crazy on TikTok. I think I was at 10,000 followers before I signed anything, and she told me, “Don’t release this song. The world not ready for this.” 

What’s the biggest purchase you’ve made in the last year or two?

Probably a chain. I didn’t even wanna buy that chain. I knew I had to get a chain, and I couldn’t keep coming with the lil’ boy chain — because they gonna look at you like a lil’ boy. 

How’d you go broke from your initial signing money?

I didn’t go all the way broke. I went close to broke. I don’t be tryna spend as much as I was spending. I didn’t have nothing to show for it for myself. At least this time, it’s not going to that no more, and I got s–t to show. Momma got a crib. I need to get a financial advisor because I don’t be looking at my account. 

Are you gonna drop another project this year?

Yeah, I’ma drop another project right after this. Probably like three or four months [later]. 

How are you moving differently after the shooting? 

Just moving better. Smart movements — everyone knows what smart moves are. I’m moving like [Drake]. 

13 Jun 2023

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Sexyy Red, Maeta, Sam Tompkins & More

The sky is clear and Fresh Picks is here. This week, we’ve got an array of sounds to get you through the week and beyond — from the R&B stylings of Maeta and Col3trane to rap anthems by Sexyy Red and Statik Selektah. Don’t forget to share the wealth and check out our June picks so far in the Spotify Playlist, linked below.

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Maeta, “Cool Cat”

Maeta includes a cover of Queen’s 1982 cut “Cool Cat” — recently given a bump in exposure by an Amazon Prime ad — on her new EP, When I Hear Your Name. The Roc Nation newcomer adds her falsetto to the funk-rock song, making for a standout track alongside other impressive album cuts, including “Sexual Love” with James Fauntleroy, “ASMR” and “See You Around.”

Sexyy Red, “SkeeYee”

When Sexyy Red hollers “SkeeYee,” that means pull up. The St. Louis rapper has another hit on her hands with the track from her new mixtape, Hood Hottest Princess. She also shared a video to the song, in which her and GloRilla get lit at a strip club.

Sam Tompkins, “Time Will Fly”

After making a splashy entrance alongside Jnr Choi on the 2022 Hot 100 hit “To the Moon,” U.K. singer-songwriter Sam Tompkins blitzes listeners with his poignant single “Time Will Fly.” Tompkins aims for heartstrings as he ruminates about his humble beginnings over the melancholy soundscape. Up against the shot clock, Tompkins’ determination fuels his musical dreams, as he looks to take the next step in his burgeoning career.

Statik Selektah feat. Conway, Ab-Soul & Bun B, “Ain’t Too Much to It”

For this 10th studio album Round Trip, Statik Selektah loads up 20 tracks for his ravenous hip-hop fanbase. Armed with a crew of heavy bar-spitters (Logic, Joey Bada$$, Russ, & Benny The Butcher), Statik Selektah’s lush production and funky soul samples anchor the lyrical collection. Statik’s knack for clever pairings makes Round Trip an even better ride, as he puts together Ransom and AZ on “Historic” along with Conway the Machine, Ab-Soul and Bun B on “Ain’t Too Much To It.”

Tay Iwar, “Summer Breeze”

The title is self-explanatory, and boy, does it not disappoint. Tay Iwar captures the essence of summer on this recent offering, the trailing saxophone melodies and reverberating keys wrapping around Iwar’s perfectly wispy vocals.

Col3trane, “Moderation”

According to many, moderation is the key to a balanced life. On his latest R&B-pop cut, Col3trane agrees. The U.K. artist dips medicine in honey, delivering an important life lesson amidst summertime production and a relatable storyline.

13 Jun 2023

‘AGT’ Winner Michael Grimm Is ‘Awake’ But ‘Has a Really Long Road Ahead’ After Hospitalization

A week after America’s Got Talent season five winner Michael Grimm was hospitalized for an unknown illness, his wife has posted an update.

Lucie Zolcerva-Grimm took to Instagram on Monday (June 12) to share that Grimm is off the ventilator and “medically, he seems to be pretty stable.” He is, however, struggling with side affects from his medication. “His voice is slowly coming back but unfortunately a lot of the medications he was on for sedation…one of the side effects of it is hallucinations and confusion and anger and anxiety,” she explained.

“The hallucinations have really been the worst part of it because he’s really kind of now waking up to reality,” she continued. “With the medications causing hallucinations, he’s having a hard time distinguishing what’s actually in the room and what’s not.”

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Zolcerva-Grimm added that doctors said the side effects will wear off within a week, but “he still has a really long road ahead of him.”

On June 6, Zolcerva-Grimm said that her 44-year-old husband started getting concerned about his health over Memorial Day weekend, as he began looking sickly and had trouble lifting his head or responding to conversation, experiencing tremors and eventually speaking “gibberish.” He was rushed to the ICU and placed on a ventilator, heavily sedated so that he wouldn’t stroke out or flatline.

A Las Vegas, four-hour benefit to help pay for Grimm’s medical costs has since been set for July 9, and his family has also set up a PayPal for donations.

See Zolcerva-Grimm’s latest update below.

13 Jun 2023

NCT DREAM Announces New Album ‘ISTJ’: Here’s When It Arrives

NCT DREAM is coming back with new music. On Tuesday (June 13), the K-pop group announced that it will be releasing a brand new album this summer, with a single from the forthcoming LP to be released six days from now on June 19.

“The return of NCT DREAM! Third full length-album ‘ISTJ’ releases on July 17th! B-side track ‘Broken Melodies’ pre-releases on June 19th!” the group’s official Twitter account shared, along with an image of the seven members — Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Chenle, Jaemin and Jisung — wearing baseball jerseys and gazing up at the scoreboard for the “Dream Stadium.”

The message also promised that the new era for the K-pop group will mark “the beginning of a full-scale comeback promotion” and is a look at “the impact NCT DREAM will bring to the music industry.”

NCT DREAM’s previous studio album release was Glitch Mode. The set — which arrived in March of last year — peaked at No. 5 on Billboard‘s Top Current Album Sales and at No. 2 on the World Albums chart. The reissued version of the album, Beatbox, peaked at No. 8 on World Albums.

NCT DREAM most recently hit the stage earlier this month as part of its The Dream Show 2: In A Dream tour with a series of three sold out performances at the Gocheok Dome in Seoul June 1-3. The Latin American leg of the tour will continue between July 4-11, with stops in São Paulo, Santiago (Chile) and Lima before concluding in Mexico City.

See NCT Dream’s announcement below.

13 Jun 2023

Niall Horan’s ‘Science’ Claims No. 1 on Hot Trending Songs Chart

Niall Horan’s “Science” paces Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart dated June 17, ahead of the song’s June 9 premiere as part of the One Direction member’s new album, The Show.

Billboard’s Hot Trending charts, powered by Twitter, track global music-related trends and conversations in real-time across Twitter, viewable over either the last 24 hours or past seven days. A weekly, 20-position version of the chart, covering activity from Friday through Thursday of each week, posts alongside Billboard’s other weekly charts on Billboard.com each Tuesday, with the latest tracking period running June 2-8.

“Science,” the ninth track on The Show, had not been heard in full prior to June 9. But the song received pre-release buzz due to a brief teaser of Horan singing the song on social media on June 7.

It’s Horan’s first No. 1 on Hot Trending Songs and his second appearance, following the No. 20 debut of “Heaven” in March. One other song from the album reaches the tally June 17: “Must Be Love” at No. 5.

Horan reigns over SHINee, whose “The Feeling” bows at No. 2. The K-pop boyband’s new single was released June 9, but its music video was first teased June 8.

The rest of the top five includes Slipknot, whose “Adderall” bows at No. 3 after a new EP featuring the song was released June 9 (the song originally premiered as the lead track on Slipknot’s 2022 full-length The End, So Far) and BTS’ “Take Two,” which ranks at No. 4 after starting at No. 1 June 10.

Keep visiting Billboard.com for the constantly evolving Hot Trending Songs rankings, and check in each Tuesday for the latest weekly chart.

13 Jun 2023

Doja Cat Finally Reveals Release Date for New Single

New Doja Cat music is finally on the way.

The star took to social media on Tuesday (June 13) to share that her new single will be arriving on Friday (June 16). While she didn’t reveal the name of the song, she included a blood drop emoji and a corresponding cover art with a bloody, upside down letter “A.”

Leading up to the news, Doja’s been sharing some The Scarlet Letter-themed hints, tweeting back on May 24 that “scarlet was here” along with the same blood drop emoji. On June 9, the emoji made another appearance with the tweet, “scarlet’s watching.” Finally, over the weekend, she wrote, “let myself heal, scar finally sealed.”

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A full-length album would follow her 2021 breakthrough project Planet Her, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated July 10, 2021, and produced a number of long-lasting hits including “Need to Know,” “Woman,” “Ain’t S—” and “Get Into It (Yuh).”

Doja surprised fans in May when she took a dig at the highly successful album, as well as her 2019 project Hot Pink. “Planet her and hot pink were cash-grabs and yall fell for it,” she wrote. “Now i can go disappear somewhere and touch grass with my loved ones on an island while yall weep for mediocre pop.”

See her new single announcement below.