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Rico Nasty is done waiting for permission. The rage-rap innovator, known for bending genre and unapologetically redefining feminine rage, has just dropped her new album LETHAL via Fueled By Ramen (May 16).
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And true to its name, LETHAL is explosive, expansive and razor-sharp, a sonic evolution that fuses her iconic “sugar trap” roots with searing rap-rock chaos and surprising softness.
“It’s like we did the experimentation, and it kind of mixed up the potions of everything that came before,” Rico tells Billboard. “And now we’ve built this bionic titanium steel brick house of a b***h. Yeah. She’s just standing there like — please, want it”.
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The project comes after a transformative year for Rico. She cleared out her emotional closet, cut ties with her previous team, and — in the middle of a solo phase — got the call to perform with Paramore, leading to her new management. The clarity that followed is embedded in every layer of LETHAL, which was executive produced by GRAMMY-nominated Imad Royal.
“I had that pit in my stomach and I was like, I should just do it — what’s the worst that could happen?” she says about leaning harder into rock. “Once you start making music for other people, it takes the fun out of it. I had to grow up and evolve and realize I don’t really care about people’s approval anymore”.
From the shoulder-shrug defiance of lead single “TEETHSUCKER (YEA3X)” to the raw emotional core of tracks like “Smile,” Rico balances rage with vulnerability.
“It’s about my kid. I could be going through so much, and he always makes me laugh… In parenting him, I lowkey learned how to parent myself,” she says of “Smile,” a track inspired by her son. “Even though I’m talking about my kid, I’m also talking about seeing my kid and realizing, wow, he’s so much like me. And I’m still a child, like within my own right. In parenting him, I lowkey feel like I’ve learned how to parent myself too”.
But don’t get it twisted — LETHAL isn’t about playing nice. “Some people just don’t have the same morals as you, and that’s OK. That don’t make them a bad person,” she explains. “But when you stick your arm out for people and they don’t reciprocate, it can create resentment. I’m not going to let that harden me, though. I’m still going to be me”.
And that’s exactly what LETHAL captures: a fully-realized Rico, unfiltered and unbothered. She’s not looking to be copied — she’s looking to connect.
“I definitely did trailblaze this, and I’m not taking any other answer… From the fashion to the hair, the makeup—I definitely own it,” Rico declares.
“I want people to listen and feel free. Like, I’m not the only one who feels like this. I’m not the only person who sees this s–t. I’m not the only person who feels like the whole world revolves around me”.
British pop phenomenon Lola Young has dropped “One Thing,” her first slice of new material since the release of her This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway LP in August.
Inspired by classic boom-bap production, lyrically, the track sees Young assert her agency in the bedroom with a new flame. “I wanna show you just what I like/ I wanna kiss you slow/ Wanna f–k you rough/ Wanna eat you up,” she sings.
“One Thing” arrives after a series of social media teaser clips from the 24-year-old, which were filmed in California after her appearance at Coachella in April. Its accompanying music video was directed by Dave Meyers (Little Simz, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter).
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“I wanted to make a song and music video that is thought-provoking and highlights sex being both a fun and light thing, not always meaningful, as well as showing how gender roles can be reversed,” said Young in a press release.
Young has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past six months. Her anthemic single “Messy” enjoyed a slow-burn rise to the top of the Official U.K. Singles Chart in January, hitting the summit eight months after it was initially released. It has been streamed more than 600 million times on Spotify to date, with listeners drawn to Young’s frank assessment of her own failings.
By spending four weeks at No. 1, Young became the longest running British female artist to be at the top spot since Adele’s “Easy on Me” in 2021. “Messy” broke a tie with Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” (2022) and Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” (2023); both had three-week stints at the top.
Elsewhere, the south Londoner has collaborated with Tyler, the Creator (“Like Him”) and Lil Yachty (“Charlie”), and has recently scooped three Ivor Novello nominations, as well as landing in the best pop act category at the BRIT Awards back in March.
“What I’m realizing about myself as an artist is that I’m not about the glitz and the glam — I don’t scream ‘Hollywood’,” Young told Billboard U.K. of her global success in an interview published last November. “For a long time, I wanted to represent this ideal of Westernized beauty — but then I realized I’m not that. I now choose to give realness and truth. I’ve got a bit of a belly out, I f–king swear a bunch and I have fun. And that’s what people are resonating with.”
Looking ahead, Young is scheduled to perform at festivals across the U.K. and Europe throughout the summer, including Reading & Leeds in August. The following month, she is set to appear at All Things Go in New York City alongside the likes of Doechii and Noah Kahan.
Listen to “One Thing” below:
Sleep Token have claimed their first-ever No. 1 album in Australia, as Even In Arcadia debuts at the summit of the ARIA Albums Chart. The masked U.K. rock act previously peaked at No. 3 in 2023 with Take Me Back to Eden. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news […]
Australian singer, songwriter and EDM icon VASSY has teamed up with Dutch producer RSCL for the release of her latest single, “Beg.”
Released Friday, May 16 via Revealed’s Gemstone Records imprint, “Beg” is the latest in a long line of singles for the Darwin-born, U.S.-based musician. Described as being rooted in emotional surrender and the desire to hide vulnerability, it sees VASSY (born Vasiliki Karagiorgos) using her trademark strength to turn pain into power.
“From the moment I wrote and recorded BEG, I knew it had that special spark—emotive, energetic, and made for the dancefloor,” VASSY explained to Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
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“When the label heard it, they instantly loved it and introduced me to RSCL,” she added. “We clicked right away, and the collaboration came together effortlessly. What we created is a soulful, piano-driven house track that feels like summer—uplifting, emotional, and full of energy that you can feel in every beat.”
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VASSY rose to fame as a musician in her native Australia throughout the ’00s, finding widespread fame in 2012 when her single “We Are Young” topped Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart – her first of seven tracks to do so. She found wider fame in 2014 after appearing as a featured artist on David Guetta and Showtek’s Platinum-certified single “Bad.”
In 2020, the success of “Bad” saw her become a member of APRA AMCOS’ The 1,000,000,000 List in celebration of the track reaching a billion streams. Since the honor, it’s since surpassed the two billion mark, and in 2023, she became the first female recipient of the Icon accolade at the EDM Awards in Miami.
RSCL (pronounced “Rascal”) also boasts an impressive career, with releases on the Spinnin’ Records and Casablanca Records labels, and credits alongside names such as Mr. Belt & Wezol and Jake Shore.
The release of “Beg” comes just a matter of days after the arrival of VASSY’s BossAcoustics EP, a collection of intimate acoustic tracks that showcases her early influences while reimagining her classic cuts with an immersive Bossa style.
Stream ‘Beg’ below:
After surprising her audience in Charlotte, N.C. with special guests Alejandro Sanz and Wyclef Jean earlier this week, Shakira brought another star to the stage on Thursday (May 15), on her first of two nights at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]
It’s taken years, but Rihanna finally released a new song Friday (May 16) — “Friend of Mine,” recorded for the upcoming Smurfs movie in which she voices Smurfette. Featuring the Fenty mogul singing over a happy-sounding Afrobeats-inspired dance track, complete with warm synths and rhythmic drums. A snippet of “Friend of Mine” was first premiered […]
Morgan Wallen’s fourth studio album, I’m The Problem, has officially arrived, heralding the next chapter in Wallen’s already massive, stadium-headlining career.
His previous album, 2023’s One Thing at a Time, featured 36 sprawling tracks, and with his new project he does it one better, with I’m The Problem clocking in at 37 songs.
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The album features collaborations with Tate McRae (“What I Want”), plus artists he has previously collaborated with including Eric Church (the new album features the song “Number 3 and Number 7”), HARDY (“Come Back as a Redneck”), ERNEST (“The Dealer”) and Post Malone (“I Ain’t Comin’ Back”), but many of Wallen’s solo songs are among his most intimate, such as “Superman,” a song devoted to his son Indigo Wilder.
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Wallen co-wrote 22 songs for the album, which arrives on Big Loud/Mercury. He’s already released a handful of songs from the project, including the Billboard Hot 100-debuting “Love Somebody,” the Hot Country Songs chart-topping title track “I’m The Problem,” as well as songs including “Just in Case,” “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” and “Lies Lies Lies.”
I’m The Problem releases on the same day Wallen’s Sand in My Boots festival launches in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The three-day festival will feature an eclectic lineup of artists including Wallen, Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, Riley Green, Three 6 Mafia, Wiz Khalifa, Ella Langley, Treaty Oak Revival and more.
“We didn’t come up with this idea trying to fill a gap, but I believe that is what we have done,” Wallen told Billboard via email. “We created a festival that was centered around my country culture and that just so happens to include a variety of sounds. Sand in My Boots really was born out of building something that I was proud of, and also having a festival that these artists enjoy coming to.”
Wallen also noted in his interview with Billboard that yes, fans can expect to hear music from the new album featured during his set at the festival.
Listen to I’m The Problem below:
JIN of BTS has released his solo EP Echo (echo, echo, echo, echo …).
On Friday (May 16), the K-pop star unveiled the project featuring seven tracks: “Don’t Say You Love Me,” “Nothing Without Your Love,” “Loser” featuring YENA, “Rope It,” “With the Clouds,” “Background” and “To Me, Today.” JIN first announced the mini-album about a month prior to its release, with a statement describing Echo as offering the musician’s “perspective on universal life experiences, capturing everyday emotions with warmth and sincerity.”
“Built on dynamic band sounds, the album showcases his versatile vocals across a spectrum of moods and styles,” the description continued at the time. “It reflects a deeper layer of vocal maturity and personal storytelling that underscores Jin’s evolving artistry.”
Echo follows the November release of JIN’s debut solo EP Happy, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The project featured single “Running Wild,” which marked JIN’s second Billboard Hot 100 entry separate from his mega-famous boy band, following 2022’s “The Astronaut”; the two tracks reached Nos. 53 and 51 on the chart, respectively.
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The new EP arrives about a year after JIN became the first member of BTS to be discharged from the South Korean military. After he completed his obligatory service in June, J-Hope finished in October.
RM, Suga, V, Jimin and Jung Kook are still finishing out their commitments, but will be discharged in June. After spending the past two years or so focusing on solo projects, the seven members are expected to reunite soon.
In the meantime, JIN will promote Echo a few days after its release by performing on The Tonight Show Jimmy Fallon! on Wednesday (May 21).
Listen to JIN’s new EP Echo below.
Just days after suffering a “non-life-threatening medical emergency” that necessitated the cancellation of their spring tour, Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney has provided fans with an update to his health.
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The legendary grunge outfit had initially been scheduled to perform at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena on May 8, though announced the show’s cancellation after Kinney suffered a medical emergency following their soundcheck.
An additional five shows over the next week, including appearances at the Sonic Temple Art & Music and Welcome to Rockville festival, had been scheduled but were cancelled one day later on May 9.
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“While we were all eager to return to the stage, Sean’s health is our top priority at this moment,” the band wrote in a statement. “Although the issue requires immediate attention, his long-term prognosis is positive.”
Now Kinney – one of two remaining founding members of the band, alongside guitarist Jerry Cantrell – has issued his own statement, apologizing to fans for the short-notice cancellation and outlining his experiences dealing with the unspecified medal issue.
“I was very much looking forward to getting back out there and playing with the band again, and it’s been a difficult but necessary decision to make,” Kinney wrote on social media. “I don’t personally utilize social media and I’m not particularly fond of my health issues being made public, but I understand that people are concerned.”
Kinney explained that doctors advised against him performing in the short-term, coming to terms with his situation after a quick trip through the five stages of grief.
“I finally concluded that medical doctors with many hard-earned degrees on their walls might know a bit more about health than a musician with some shiny spray-painted records on his wall,” he explained. “The outpouring of love, concern and well wishes has been both extremely humbling and very much appreciated.
“The good news is that I’m going to be fine and I’m going to live,” he concluded. “The bad news (for some of you?) is that I’m going to be fine and I’m going to live.”
Alice in Chains’ cancelled run of dates were to be their first live appearances since performing at Las Vegas’ Sick New World festival in April 2024.
Currently, their website lists only one upcoming date, which is the Back to the Beginning concert in England on July 5, and boasts a lineup featuring Black Sabbath, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and myriad others.
Morgan Wallen, country’s biggest star and one of the biggest stars in the music world right now, has built his success on super-serving his audience, and his new album, I’m the Problem, is no different. The set, out today, has 37 tracks, besting its predecessor, 2023’s One Thing at a Time by one song and 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album by seven tracks.
As on his past albums, Wallen is still looking for love in all the wrong places, with the majority of the songs serving as midtempo explorations on heartache, longing, co-dependence and missed chances, often while drowning his sorrows. When it comes to love, Wallen (or the songs’ protagonists) admits many of the wounds are self-inflicted and he just can’t get out of his own way.
His willingness to expose his vulnerability is one of the album’s top selling points, as is Wallen’s voice. He’s in fine shape here especially when his twang is matched with a Southern rock-leaning tune, such as on “Workin’ Man’s Song,” where he gives Travis Tritt a run for his money. Similarly, on songs like “I’m a Little Crazy” or “The Dealer,” where he’s examining broader issues than romance, he shows an appealing range.
When there are so many songs, it’s inevitable that some of them sound similar, and that’s not helped by too much reliance on a Roland TR-808 beat and a midtempo sway that renders some of the tracks virtually indistinguishable from each other. Putting out so many songs at once has proven a winning gambit for Wallen with his fans and with the charts, but this album could have lost at least 12 songs for a tighter, less repetitive sound.
Morgan Wallen ‘I’m The Problem’
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Wallen co-wrote 22 songs on the project, which, like his past projects, is helmed by producer Joie Moi, with help from Charlie Handsome and Jacob Durrett. He gets some help from his friends, some old — like Eric Church, Post Malone, HARDY and ERNEST — and some new, like Tate McRae.
The album’s success is a foregone conclusion, given that it’s already spawned three Country Airplay No. 1s with “Lies, Lies, Lies,” “Love Somebody” and “I’m the Problem,” and there seems to be no saturation point when it comes to his fans lapping up his songs.
There’s plenty to enjoy here. Below is an early take on our ranking of the songs on the highly anticipated set.
“Miami”
