Music

04 Nov 2022

Drake Eulogizes Migos‘ Takeoff: ’We Love You and I Appreciate the Memories’

The hip-hop world is reeling from the loss of Migos rapper Takeoff, who was killed during an early morning shooting on Tuesday in Houston. And while police are still on the hunt for the shooter in the incident, Drake took a few moments on the night of the album release for his 21 Savage collab album Her Loss to eulogize his fallen comrade.

“Before I get into the pleasantries, I’d just like to send our deepest condolences from the family to the entire QC, to our brother Quavo, to our brother Offset, to the friends and loved ones of the legendary, unprecedented Takeoff — a guy that I knew for a long, long time,” Drake said in the open of his Table For One show on Drizzy’s Sound42 SiriusXM channel on Thursday night.

The OVO boss nodded to the remix of the Migos 2013 debut single, “Versace,” that he was featured on as the origin story of their close connection before emotionally diving deeper into their bond. “And from there, you know, we formed a brotherhood. I always talk about the fact that this was one family. My friends in the music industry are not friends, they’re family,” he said. “So, our deepest condolences — tragic loss for all of us and, you know, a dark cloud over this business that we love so much.”

Takeoff (born Kirsnick Khari Ball), 28 was killed after suffering gunshot wounds to the head and torso early Tuesday at downtown Houston’s 810 Billiards & Bowling while hanging with uncle and Migos bandmate Quavo when investigators say shots rang out during an afterparty. Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene, and two other victims — a 23-year-old male and 24-year-old female — checked themselves into a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. At press time police had not yet announced a suspect in the case.

In his eulogy, Drake encouraged everyone to “lock into” a mindset of honoring life as he became the latest in a long list of fellow musicians paying homage to the man considered by many to be the musical heartbeat of the Atlanta-bred trio. “It’s a life that’s worth living, and everybody deserves that chance,” Drake said. “It’s unfortunate that one of our dear, dear brothers had to leave us this week. And it’s tough to even talk about, I don’t even know how to really — I don’t have the words, I feel like I’m rambling, but, yeah… Again, our deepest condolences from the family. We love you, and I appreciate the memories, appreciate the memories.”

The tribute came two days after Drake posted a picture of him on stage with Takeoff, writing, “I got the best memories of all of us seeing the world together and bringing light to every city we touch. That’s what I’ll focus on for now rest easy space man Take ?.”

Charlamagne Tha God also had thoughtful words for Takeoff during an episode of his Comedy Central talk show Hell of a Week, where he took a minute to give the MC his flowers while noting that he was much more than just a rapper. “He was a rapper but that man is a human, and a son, and a nephew, and a friend and we’re mourning the fact that we won’t ever get any more new music from Takeoff, but his family is mourning the fact they won’t see Takeoff at Thanksgiving this year,” Charlamagne said. “Rest in power, king.”

Listen to Drake and Charlamagne below.

04 Nov 2022

Carin León Reveals The Next Step In Building His Own Empire

After being the lead vocalist of norteño act Grupo Arranke for four years, Carin León is certain that going solo in 2018 was the best thing to happen in his career. “There’s a time to make those kinds of decisions,” he says. “I made it when I felt capable. I felt that I could dominate a stage. I felt that I could compose, produce [and] make my product by myself … And I didn’t have to deal with people who didn’t have the same vision as me.”

To help launch his solo career, the regional Mexican artist born Óscar Armando Díaz de León Huez signed to Tamarindo Rekordsz, the independent label owned by his manager, Javier “El Tamarindo” González. He found quick success, scoring his first entry on Billboard‘s Regional Mexican Airplay chart in 2019 with “Me La Aventé” and since collecting eight top 10 hits, two of which reached No. 1 (“El Tóxico” with Grupo Firme in 2021 and “Ojos Cerrados” featuring Banda MS in March).

Starting next year, León will expand his independence with the launch of his own label, through which he will sign and develop new talent — primarily from his hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico. He also plans to release a new studio album (his first under his own label), where he will experiment with other genres such as vallenato, bachata and bluegrass, but with, as he says, “a lot of soul.”

“The moment you have the freedom to make the music that you like, it gives you a very strong power called ‘sincerity,’ ” adds León. “When your essence is really there and you are not satisfying the needs of the industry and you are the owner of your image, people feel it and connect with it.”

Most of your Billboard hits are collaborations. As an independent regional Mexican artist, why is this beneficial?

I’ve always noticed it in the urban market, but in our genre, a lot of artists are territorial with their work. After I began collaborating, I realized that I can progress a lot and I could solidify my audience. It’s not so much that collaborations have benefited me, but it’s simply the model of the music that is being used now.

As you’ve gained momentum, why did you remain independent?

I was never open or closed to the possibility [of signing a major-label deal]. I think things began to happen in my solo career, and I don’t know why, but no record company paid attention to what I was doing at the time. Then I began to see that the path could be achieved independently. I personally think that being independent is the best thing that can happen to any artist because it means developing your art in the freest way possible and not depending on many things.

What is key for indie artists when building a team?

It’s letting the artist develop, taking care of them to a certain point and always trying to polish and exploit the best things about them. In the end, there are many people who can influence the final product but might not really trust or love it the way that you do. Make sure that the interests are not only for business or numbers but that there is also chemistry for making art. Everyone on your team has to like how the music and the product are being made and feel proud of it.

What’s your advice for emerging indie artists?

Learn from the opportunities that life gives you, and pay attention to what the music industry is lacking. I feel that looking within, you’ll realize what type of music fans want to listen to. But truthfully, be sincere with your music. Learn how to express yourself and discover what makes you different. Regardless, after any good deal or promo plan, I believe that when you make good music, there is no human power that can prevent something from working.

This story will appear in the Nov. 5, 2022, issue of Billboard.

04 Nov 2022

Beyoncé Shares Rare Family Photo in ‘The Proud Family’ Halloween Costumes

Proud, proud family! Beyoncé shared a look at her family’s epic Halloween costumes on Thursday (Nov. 3), with her entire brood dressed up as characters from Disney Channel’s The Proud Family.

In the photo, Queen Bey does double duty as Suga Mama and Trudy Proud, while Blue Ivy Carter is a real-life doppelgänger for middle schooler Penny Proud. Meanwhile, Jay-Z does his best Oscar Proud impression — suspenders and all — while wrangling 5-year-old twins Sir and Rumi as BeBe and CeCe Proud.

The superstar and her Destiny’s Child bandmates — Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — famously served backing vocals for her younger sister Solange on the beloved Zoog Disney-era sitcom’s original theme song back in 2001.

However, the network opted to enlist rising R&B singer Joyce Wrice to remake the bop for the 2021 Disney+ revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, which brought back original stars Kyla Pratt, Paula Jai Parker, Soleil Moon Frye, Karen Malina White, Jo Marie Payton, Alisa Reyes and Tommy Davidson, along with new characters voiced by Zachary Quinto, Billy Porter, Keke Palmer, A Boogie with da Hoodie and more.

Recently, the “Alien Superstar” singer also posted a few behind-the-scenes looks on social media of the custom Gucci gown she wore to the 2022 Wearable Art Gala organized by her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson. During the event’s lively auction, Blue Ivy got into a bidding war over a pair of Lorraine Schwartz diamonds once worn by the superstar, and Bey seemingly confirmed an upcoming world tour in support of her latest album Renaissance by auctioning off a VIP ticket package for the show of the highest bidder’s choice.

Get a look at the Carters as The Proud Family below.

04 Nov 2022

Selena Gomez Calls Justin Bieber Breakup ‘the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’

Selena Gomez‘s headline-making romance with Justin Bieber may not have worked out in the end, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t gain anything positive from the breakup. In her new documentary My Mind & Me, the 30-year-old pop star opened up about how her high-profile split from the “Baby” singer, though painful, turned out to be the best thing that could have happened in her journey toward independence, confidence and self-love.

Gomez dated Bieber on and off for most of the 2010s, starting in 2011 and ending for good in 2018. Just a couple months after that final split, Bieber got engaged to his now wife, model Hailey Bieber.

“Everything was so public,” the Only Murders in the Building star said in the doc, which dropped Friday (Nov. 4) on Apple TV+. “I felt haunted by a past relationship that no one wanted to let go of. Then I just moved past it, and I wasn’t afraid anymore.”

The “no one” she’s referring to would be the millions of “Jelena” fans who rooted for Gomez and Bieber’s romance, many of whom continued to make their devastation over the breakup known on social media for months — and in some cases, even years — afterward. The public fixation on Gomez and the “Peaches” musician’s relationship is something Hailey also recently spoke about while appearing on the podcast Call Her Daddy, describing how she she sometimes feels “numb” from the hate she gets from people who think she “stole” Bieber from Gomez.

“I feel like I had to go through the worst possible heartbreak ever and then just forgetting everything at the drop of the hand, it was really confusing,” Gomez, who was recently photographed being friendly with Hailey, continued in My Mind & Me. “But I just think that needed to happen and ultimately it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

The Grammy nominee also recalled writing her single “Lose You to Love Me,” which was inspired by her breakup from Bieber. “I text Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter and said, ‘I think I’m ready to just say I’m sad,’” she said, referring to her co-writers on the 2019 track. “We wrote the song in 45 minutes. The fastest song I’ve ever written.” 

The song appeared on Gomez’s Billboard 200 chart-topping album Rare, which came out in 2020. A couple weeks after its release, “Lose You to Love Me” ascended to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, marking the singer-actress’ first ever No. 1 single.

“It’s about more than a lost love,” she added. “It’s me learning to choose myself, to choose life, but also hoping that people can find grace and peace in that too. The song is about knowing that you completely lost every part of who you are just to rediscover yourself again.”

04 Nov 2022

Drake’s ‘Jimmy Cooks’ Tops Radio Charts as He Replaces Himself at No. 1 Again

Drake and 21 Savage’s “Jimmy Cooks” collaboration conquers two more Billboard radio charts this week with coronations on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rap Airplay lists. Though the song arrived in June, promotional efforts have ramped up in recent weeks, with the song’s official music video release on Oct. 22 and the pair’s joint album, Her Loss, released Friday (Nov. 4). (“Cooks” does not appear on the album.)

“Jimmy Cooks” jumps 5-1 to crown Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay following a 9% increase in plays that made it the most-played song on U.S. monitored mainstream R&B/hip-hop radio stations in the week ending Oct. 30, according to Luminate. With the leap, Drake replaces himself at No. 1 for a seventh time in his career, as “Jimmy” ousts Future’s “Wait for U,” featuring himself and Tems, from the top slot.

Here’s a rundown of Drake’s seven exchanges at the summit:

Drake’s Self-Replacements at No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay

  • “Make Me Proud,” featuring Nicki Minaj, replaced by “The Motto,” featuring Lil Wayne, March 3, 2012
  • “ Tuesday,” ILOVEMAKONNEN featuring Drake, replaced by “Only,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown, Jan. 10, 2015
  • “For Free,” DJ Khaled featuring Drake, replaced by “Controlla” Aug. 27, 2016
  • “God’s Plan,” replaced by “Look Alive,” BlocBoy JB featuring Drake, April 28, 2018
  • “Look Alive,” BlocBoy JB featuring Drake, replaced by “Nice for What,” May 19, 2018
  • “In My Feelings,” replaced by “Yes Indeed,” with Lil Baby, Aug. 25, 2018
  • “Wait for U,” Future featuring Tems & Drake, replaced by “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage, Nov. 5, 2022

Overall, “Jimmy Cooks” secures Drake’s record-extending 43rd No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. He’s clear and away the leader, with more than double the champs of second-place Lil Wayne (20), with Chris Brown (17) in third.

Featured artist 21 Savage, meanwhile, acquires his third No. 1 on the radio list. He previously ruled through a guest spot on Post Malone’s one-week champ, “Rockstar,” in 2017, and again for a week with his own “A Lot” in 2019.

Over on Rap Airplay, “Jimmy Cooks” climbs from No. 2 following a 5% bump in registered audience in the week ending Oct. 30. The new champ gives 21 Savage his second Rap Airplay No. 1, after “Rockstar.” Drake lands a record-extending 39th song to reach No. 1, and as “Jimmy Cooks” dethrones “Wait for U,” a remarkable 12th time knocking himself from the top slot. Here’s the dozen count:

Drake’s Self-Replacements at No. 1 on Rap Airplay

  • “Fancy,” featuring T.I. & Swizz Beatz, replaced by “Right Above It,” Lil Wayne featuring Drake, Nov. 6, 2010
  • “I’m on One,” DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne, replaced by “Headlines,” Oct. 15, 2011
  • “Make Me Proud,” featuring Nicki Minaj, replaced by “The Motto,” featuring Lil Wayne, Feb. 18, 2012
  • “No Lie,” 2 Chainz featuring Drake, replaced by “Pop That,” French Montana featuring Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne, Oct. 20, 2012
  • “F**kin Problems,” A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar, replaced by “Started by the Bottom,” April 6, 2013
  • “Only,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown, replaced by “Truffle Butter,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake & Lil Wayne, three, Feb. 21, 2015
  • “Hotline Bling,” replaced by “Jumpman,” with Future, Jan. 23, 2016
  • “Controlla,” replaced by “For Free,” DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Sept. 10, 2016
  • “God’s Plan” replaced by “Look Alive,” BlocBoy JB featuring Drake, May 5, 2018
  • “Look Alive,” BlocBoy JB featuring Drake, replaced by “Nice for What,” May 19, 2018
  • “Way 2 Sexy,” featuring Future & Young Thug, replaced by “Girls Want Girls,” featuring Lil Baby, Nov. 27, 2021
  • “Wait for U,” Future featuring Drake & Tems, replaced by “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage, Nov. 5, 2022

Plus, two other Drake-related tracks have also been direct successors at No. 1 on Rap Airplay. The Young Money collective track “Bedrock,” featuring Lloyd, in which Drake delivers one of six verses from the imprint’s roster yielded to Timbaland’s “Say Something,” featuring Drake, in March 2010. And in October 2018, “Nonstop” ceded to Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” which also featured uncredited vocals from the superstar.

04 Nov 2022

LE SSERAFIM and (G)I-DLE Score First Top 10s on Billboard’s Album Sales Chart

LE SSERAFIM and (G)I-DLE each notch their first top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated Nov. 5) as ANTIFRAGILE and I Love: 5th Mini Album debut at Nos. 3 and 9, respectively.

Plus, Taylor Swift’s Midnights makes a spectacular debut at No. 1 with the largest sales week for any album since her own Reputation debuted in 2017, while the latest albums from Arctic Monkeys, Carly Rae Jepsen and Meghan Trainor arrive in the top 10.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Swift’s Midnights blasts in at No. 1 on Top Album Sales with 1.140 million copies sold in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 27, according to Luminate. It’s the largest sales week for any album since Swift’s Reputation debuted atop the chart with 1.216 million sold in its first week (chart dated Dec. 2, 2017). (Read more on the full breakdown on Midnights’ first-week sales.)

Arctic Monkeys collect its highest charting effort yet, and fourth top 10, on Top Album Sales as the band’s latest album The Car drives in at No. 2 with 28,000 copies sold. Vinyl sales comprised a robust 19,000 of that sum, enabling the set’s debut at No. 2 on the Vinyl Albums chart.

LE SSERAFIM’s ANTIFRAGILE debuts at No. 3 on Top Album Sales, marking the first top 10 and chart entry for the South Korean girl group. The five-song set sold 20,000 copies in the week ending Oct. 27 – with CD album sales comprising nearly all of that sum and digital album downloads comprising a negligible number. Like many K-pop releases, the CD configuration of ANTIFRAGILE was issued in collectible deluxe packages (eight total, including a version exclusive to Target), each with a standard set of items and randomized elements (such as photocards, postcards and a poster). The set was not released in any other physical format, such as vinyl or cassette.

Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city vaults from No. 52 to No. 4 with 15,000 sold (up 535%) – nearly all on vinyl – following the set’s 10th anniversary reissue on CD, cassette and five vinyl editions. The reissue does not contain any additional audio content, but boasts alternative artwork and color vinyl variants.

Stray Kids’ MAXIDENT falls 2-5 with 14,000 sold (down 44%).

Carly Rae Jepsen’s latest release The Loneliest Time enters at No. 6 on Top Album Sales with 12,000 sold – it’s her third top 10-charting effort on the list. If The Loneliest Time goes no higher on the tally, it will mark her third top 10 to debut and peak at No. 6.

Meghan Trainor’s Takin’ It Back bows at No. 7 with 11,000 sold. It’s the fourth top 10 for Trainor and her highest charting set since 2016’s Thank You debuted and peaked at No. 2.

Queens of the Stone Age’s self-titled debut album reaches the top 10 on Top Album Sales for the first time (re-entering at No. 8 with 10,000 sold; up from a negligible sum the previous week) following a new vinyl pressing for the album – its first vinyl release in a decade. The set, first released in 1998, was reissued on black vinyl and orange-colored vinyl on Oct. 21. Essentially all of the album’s sales for the week were on vinyl, enabling the title’s re-entry at No. 4 on Vinyl Albums.

South Korean pop group (G)I-DLE claims its first top 10 on Top Album Sales as I Love: 5th Mini Album debuts at No. 9 with 10,000 sold. Essentially all of the set’s sales were on CD, with a negligible sum on digital album download. The title was available in two collectible CD packages (including one exclusive to Target), each with a standard set of items (photobook, lyric paper, etc.) and randomized elements (such as photocards, bookmark and a poster). The set was not released in any other physical format, such as vinyl or cassette.

Rounding out the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart is Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Return of the Dream Canteen, which falls to No. 10 in its second week, with 9,000 sold (down 85%).

In the week ending Oct. 27, there were 2.794 million albums sold in the U.S. (up 66.3% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 2.290 million (up 73.4%) and digital albums comprised 504,000 (up 40.1%).

There were 998,000 CD albums sold in the week ending Oct. 27 (up 55% week-over-week) and 1.270 vinyl albums sold (up 90.7%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 28.401 million (down 6.6% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 31.968 million (up 4.1%).

Overall year-to-date album sales total 77.626 million (down 6.2% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 60.812 million (down 1.1%) and digital album sales total 16.813 million (down 20.9%).

04 Nov 2022

Flo Milli Announces Challenge One In Samsung & Billboard NXT 2.0 Singing Competition

Season two of Samsung and Billboard’s NXT singing competition has selected its talented dozen to compete for the crown — and the first challenge has been revealed.

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On Friday (November 4), Flo Milli was announced as the second mentor in the singing face-off, where the rising rap star shared details for the kickoff challenge in the competition. “I’m so excited that I’ll be a mentor for Samsung NXT, a competition in search for the next great unsigned artist. 12 contestants have been chosen to compete for a grand prize,” the star told viewers in an announcement video. “For the first challenge, the contestants will have to perform their own version of the same song. Get creative using your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and your Galaxy Buds2 Pro.” For the dedicated song, the dozen will have to put their own spin on BTS’ “Butter,” to which they’ll be ranked on a specialty Billboard chart.

Flo Milli follows Mariah Angeliq as the second mentor in the singing contest. A third mentor will be revealed as the competition marches on in the coming months. The mentors will share their expertise with the final three contenders ahead of a grand finale in Los Angeles in 2023 and the stakes are high. The winner of Samsung and Billboard’s NXT 2.0 competition will win a special digital Billboard cover opportunity, a meeting with a record label, studio time to record their first single, funding for a music video and tickets to the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.

“As an artist, I understand the importance of having community, mentorship and support coming into this business,” the rap star said in a statement. “I’m excited to be a mentor for the Billboard x Samsung competition. My number one goal is to give someone the knowledge and support that’s needed to take their dreams and aspirations to the next level.”

Earlier this week, the 12 contestants were unveiled to the public, with representation from 10 different states. Click here for more updates on Samsung and Billboard’s NXT 2.0 singing competition!

If you want even more from Flo, make sure you check her out at Billboard Live: R&B/Hip-Hop at Academy LA in Los Angeles on November 17. The evening will be devoted to female rap and see the star open up for City Girls as part of the the first consumer event to celebrate the unveiling of Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players list and issue honoring executives across the business. Tickets to the Billboard Live: R&B/Hip-Hop event are on sale now.

04 Nov 2022

First Stream: New Music From Drake & 21 Savage, Selena Gomez, Joji and More

Billboard’s First Stream serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

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This week, Drake and 21 Savage expand their collaborative streak across a full-length, Selena Gomez gives us a peek inside her “Mind,” and Joji makes good on his artistic promise. Check out all of this week’s First Stream picks below:

Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss 

Drake and 21 Savage have always pushed each other: while 21 Savage’s menacing flow has challenged Drake to sharpen his bars on their past collaborations, Drake has brought 21’s dense delivery onto some pop-crossover stunners, like their recent No. 1 smash “Jimmy Cooks.” With that dynamic in mind, the joint effort Her Loss functions exactly how you’d expect, and hope — punch and counterpunch, Drake returning to hip-hop braggadocio following his dance sojourn with Honestly, Nevermind, 21 Savage less concerned with pop culture references than ripping beats in half. It’s a focused, slightly chilly, largely riveting effort that ends both artists’ big years on a high note.

Selena Gomez, “My Mind & Me” 

“All of the crashin’ and burnin’ and breakin’, I know now / If somеbody sees me like this, then thеy won’t feel alone now,” Selena Gomez sings as an epiphany on her searing new single. With the release of her new documentary My Mind & Me, Selena Gomez has released an accompanying song that captures the issues of sharing yourself with the world (especially as an ultra-famous artist) in the social media age, as well as the conclusion, over stately piano notes, that every struggle has been worth it if it had helped someone else in the process.

Joji, Smithereens 

“Glimpse of Us,” the quietly devastating Joji single that became one of the year’s biggest breakthrough hits, may have introduced the 88Rising singer-songwriter to a much wider audience, but anyone familiar with Joji’s dulcet tones and emotionally revealing lyricism could have predicted that he’d become a solo star. New album Smithereens allows Joji to capitalize on a major moment with more melancholy and contemplation, but more accomplished vocals and songwriting than featured on 2020’s Nectar — a song like “Die For You” continues to refine his craft, taking the high of “Glimpse of Us” and pushing further upward.

Various Artists, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By

Curated by Kendrick Lamar, the 2018 soundtrack to Black Panther was a blockbuster, with multiple crossover hits (“All The Stars,” “Pray For Me”) and a perfectly orchestrated intermingling of superstars and rising artists. The soundtrack to the upcoming sequel boasts similar firepower — its opening track is “Lift Me Up,” the first new Rihanna single in six years, after all — as well as an impressive cross-section of artists either adjacent to or dominating the Afrobeats world, from Burna Boy to Tems to Fireboy DML to CKay, creating another high-profile, powerful showcase of Black culture.

P!nk, “Never Gonna Not Dance Again” 

P!nk’s last two albums, 2017’s Beautiful Trauma and 2019’s Hurts 2B Human, were led by singles (“What About Us” and “Walk Me Home,” respectively) that veered away from the pop star’s party-starting image — less “Raise Your Glass,” more raising the emotional stakes, as it were. So while “Never Gonna Not Dance Again” serves as a defiant ode against wasting time and self-seriousness, the song also gives P!nk another chance to operate at a faster tempo and groove over a nu-disco hook, setting up a welcome return to the dance floor.

Lindsay Lohan, “Jingle Bell Rock” 

Interested in the Lohanaissance, playing Christmas music multiple weeks before Thanksgiving, and Mean Girls nostalgia? Lindsay Lohan has got you covered with her take on “Jingle Bell Rock,” from the resurgent singer-actress’ upcoming Netflix film Falling For Christmas, which leans into its good-spirited kitschiness and will be at home on any holiday streaming playlist (plus, everybody in the English-speaking WORLD knows this song!).

04 Nov 2022

Paramore Announces 2023 North American Tour: Here Are the Dates

Get ready, North America — Paramore is coming. On Friday (Nov. 4), bandmates Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro announced plans to embark on an arena tour in 2023, with shows in 26 cities across the United States and Canada.

The tour, simply titled Paramore in North America, kicks off in Charlotte, N.C., on May 23 — five days after the pop-punk group opens for Taylor Swift at one show on her recently announced Eras Tour — and ends in St. Paul, Minn., on Aug. 2 next year. Bloc Party, Foals, The Linda Lindas and Genesis Owusuare are slated to open for the band at select shows on the trek, which will also make stops at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Austin’s Moody Center, Los Angeles’ Kia Forum and more.

Tickets go on general sale at 10 a.m. local time next Friday (Nov. 11), and will be available on Paramore’s website. A presale for American Express cardholders will go live 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday (Nov. 9), meanwhile a general presale for verified fans starts at 8 a.m. local time the following day.

Fans have until Monday (Nov. 7) to register for both presales on Ticketmaster’s website. A portion of ticket sales for all North American shows will be donated to eco-conscious hunger relief nonprofit Support + Feed and environmental nonprofit REVERB.

The tour will follow the Feb. 10 release of Paramore’s sixth studio album This Is Why, the band’s first LP in almost six years. The record’s lead single — which doubles as the title track — dropped in September.

The “This Is Why” era comes after Paramore took a nearly five-year hiatus from releasing music and performing. The trio made their official return to touring this fall with a run of intimate North American shows, their first circuit since 2017’s After Laughter Tour.

See the full list of dates for Paramore’s 2023 North American tour below:

PARAMORE IN NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES

  • Tue May 23 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center*×
  • Thu May 25 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena*×
  • Sat May 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Adjacent Festival!
  • Tue May 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden*×
  • Fri June 02 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena*×
  • Sun Jun 04 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse*×
  • Mon Jun 05 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse*×
  • Wed Jun 07 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena*×
  • Thu Jun 08 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena*×
  • Sat Jun 10 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center*×
  • Sun Jun 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paint Arena*×
  • Tue Jun 13 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center*×
  • Wed Jun 14 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live*×
  • Thu Jul 06 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center+°
  • Sat Jul 08 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena+°
  • Sun Jul 09 – Austin, TX – Moody Center+°
  • Tue Jul 11 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center+°
  • Thu Jul 13 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena+°
  • Sun Jul 16 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena+
  • Wed Jul 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum+
  • Sat Jul 22 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center+
  • Mon Jul 24 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena+°
  • Tue Jul 25 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum+°
  • Thu Jul 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena+°
  • Sat Jul 29 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center+°
  • Sun Jul 30 – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center+°
  • Wed Aug 02 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center+°

*With Support Bloc Party

+With Support from Foals

°With Support from The Linda Lindas

×With Support from Genesis Owusu

!Festival Performance

04 Nov 2022

Christmas Queen Mariah Carey Assures Martha Stewart She Hasn’t Forgotten About Thanksgiving

Martha Stewart went on The Today Show Thursday morning (Nov. 3) to make a very important plea to Christmas Queen Mariah Carey to slow her jingle roll and let Thanksgiving get some shine before she dives right into the yuletide season. “Mariah, you know me. I’m a traditionalist with a twist and you cannot give up Thanksgiving just ‘case you don’t like turkey,” Stewart told the morning show. “I love turkey and many, many other people love turkey. So do not think that we are going to give up Thanksgiving just because you say so.”

Buckshots fired!

In case you missed it, the reason Martha’s gizzards were seemingly in a twist is because earlier this week MC posted a video in which she seamlessly made the transition from the end of Halloween to the kick-off of Christmas season while appearing to glide right over gobble time. As the calendar flipped to Nov. 1, Mariah let us know what time it was by posting the visual in which she sits on a stationary bike dressed as a witch surrounded by jack o’lanterns and CG bats before squealing “it’s time!” as the scene flips to a winter wonderland and her signature snowy hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You” rings out.

Well, far be it from Mariah to diss a domestic doyenne. On Thursday night (Nov. 3) MC responded to Martha with a generous offer to break some turkey leg with her. “Dearest Martha!! NEVER will I give up Thanksgiving!! But we can still start getting into the festive spirit now!,” Carey tweeted before adding a tantalizing, teasing invite.

“P.S I’d love to have you at my Thanksgiving dinner although I’ve yet to be invited to your Thanksgiving extravaganza!,” Mariah noted adding Stewart’s always-stoned TV cooking pal to the mix. “And THAT is MAJOR! Esp if Snoop’s coming!”

See the tweets below.