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Ashton Irwin is remembering his times with Liam Payne following the 31-year-old singer’s shocking death last week.
On Tuesday (Oct. 22) — six days after Payne suffered a fatal fall in Buenos Aires, Argentina — the 5 Seconds of Summer drummer opened up about the “sunken heart feeling” of losing his friend in a string of tweets. “Been thinking on my times with Liam and how kind he was to me, [whether] backstage, passing by at an airport, he always made the time,” Irwin wrote.
“I feel super confused by his passing and I’m finding it so hard to sum up the way it feels, such a massive loss for many,” the 30-year-old musician continued. “my thoughts are with his family, partner, and the other 1D guys, and all of you. I feel at times I had a front row seat back in the day to watching Liam light up lives with his performances with the band. Gone to soon. This is just horrible.”
Payne died Oct. 16 after falling from the third-story balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A recent preliminary autopsy report showed that he appeared to be alone at the time and suffered multiple traumas and hemorrhages upon impact. A follow-up toxicology test confirmed that the “Strip That Down” singer was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he died, including a recreational drug called “pink cocaine” that mixes substances such as ketamine, MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids and more.
Irwin and his 5SOS bandmates — Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford and Calum Hood — opened for One Direction in 2014 on the Where We Are Tour. “We need to respect that we’re here to warm up the crowd for the headliner, which has sold out the stadium,” the drummer reflected on the experience in an interview with Billboard that year. “We do punk jumps and all that. We just don’t ever say ‘f—‘ onstage.”
Countless other musicians and Payne’s loved ones have also spoken out about the X Factor alum’s death over the past few days, including all four surviving members of 1D: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. In addition to making their own individual statements, the foursome posted a joint message reading, “We will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”
See Irwin’s tweets below.
Been thinking on my times with Liam and how kind he was to me, wether backstage, passing by at an airport, he always made the time, I feel super confused by his passing and I’m finding it so hard to sum up the way it feels, such a massive loss for many.— Ashton Irwin (@Ashton5SOS) October 22, 2024
such a sunken heart feeling, my thoughts are with his family, partner, and the other 1D guys, and all of you. I feel at times I had a front row seat back in the day to watching Liam light up lives with his performances with the band. Gone to soon. This is just horrible— Ashton Irwin (@Ashton5SOS) October 22, 2024
I’ve been afraid to share my feelings publicly cause it terrifies me, but all I’m trying to say is at the end of the day, I am really really thankful for those early days touring with him and seeing the world the way we did was a dream come true— Ashton Irwin (@Ashton5SOS) October 22, 2024
Brianna LaPaglia, known online as Brianna Chickenfry, is asking fans to let her heal her heartbreak following her breakup from country star Zach Bryan.
The Barstool Sports personality shared a nearly four-minute video to YouTube on Tuesday (Oct. 22) titled “Love you guys, be back soon,” in which she’s seen teary-eyed on her bathroom floor. “I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up,” she tells the camera. “I had no idea that post was going up. He didn’t text me, he didn’t call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts being like, ‘Are you OK?’ I’m like, ‘Did my f—ing dad die?’ I’m completely blindsided by that.”
Earlier in the day, the “Something in the Orange” singer took to his Instagram Stories to reveal that the couple, who had been dating since last summer, have parted ways. “Brianna and me have broken up with each other and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart,” he wrote. “She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I’ll always thank her. I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and I never will be.”
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He continued, “Please respect Brianna’s privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too. With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself.”
In her video, LaPaglia shared that she wasn’t expecting such a public announcement just a day after their breakup. “I’m at the point where it’s like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like, through stuff that you shouldn’t because you just love them and you see the good in them? How can you give every ounce of yourself to someone and then be discarded of in a few days?” she shared. “It’s really heartbreaking and I don’t want to talk about details right now. I don’t want to talk about it yet. I will, obviously, but right now, I wanted to heal privately.”
She continued, “I wasn’t ready to do anything publicly and now I’m just getting a bajillion freakin’ texts and s—. I just wanted to handle this as a human first and now it’s not that. I’m just asking if you could please respect my privacy right now and when I’m ready to talk about everything that happened, I will.”
LaPaglia concluded by thanking fans for their support, adding, “I’m going to be OK, I’m going to be fine. I’m just obviously really, really hurt right now. I just wanted to be hurt for a week and lay in bed.”
Speculation that the two had broken up swirled online after LaPaglia posted a cryptic note on her Instagram Stories on Oct. 21 that said, “And eventually you’ll find that life goes on, even if you don’t want it to. The days will pass and the world will move while you ask it to stop. You’ll believe life is cruel for continuing on while your feet are stuck.”
See her full video below.
Titans in Latin music united for the 35th anniversary of Billboard Latin Music Week and the topic of community was highlighted during a panel conversation at The Fillmore.
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On Tuesday, October 15, the “Deja Tu Huella: Inspire Who’s Next” conversation presented by Cheetos saw four creatives discuss how they are actively leaving their mark to uplift and inspire their communities and future generations with their art. Among the guests at the daytime programming were rising stars Omar Courtz and Saiko, Mexican designer Kiko Baez and celebrity yoga coach Yudy Arias, with Billboard’s Isabela Raygoza, Associate Editor of Billboard Español, moderating the conversation.
Below, check out the conversation in full, with some memorable quotes from each panelist:
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Omar Courtz on Daddy Yankee’s Impact on His Career: “Daddy Yankee gave me the opportunity to collaborate with him. And not only did he give me that opportunity, but he also showed up at that first massive concert we did in Puerto Rico. So for me, Daddy Yankee has been a great inspiration since I was a kid. I remember imitating him at talent shows, dressing like him, wearing his clothes, going to his concerts and sharing the same stage. That’s why I say I try to leave my mark, so that people can identify with me, so they can have a story like mine. For me, it’s important to have one of my idols there with me at the concert for that reason, to inspire others who feel the same way I do.”
Saiko on How His Passion Inspires Others: “At the end of the day, I know I’ve been a normal teen. I enjoy what I do [and] could inspire another artist. I don’t consider myself an example of anything, but it’s true that I like to be an inspiration for many people. And this year is incredible. And it excites me, for example, that people from Chile listen to me. It excites me that people from Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain listen to me.”
Kiko Baez on How He Discovered His Work Ethic: “Tijuana, as a border city, is recognized for its work and exports to the United States focused on manufacturing. I think I’ve had that dream since I was a kid, as you said. Curiously, I would work with my dad selling clothes, which I didn’t enjoy since I was five-years-old. Then a woman who sold pirated CDs moved in next to our stand. It was 2005, with Wisin y Yandel’s music, and from then on, I wanted to work because my mom didn’t let me listen to Wisin y Yandel at home since I was just a five-year-old kid. But, from then on, that was my motivation…Believe me, that changed my life because I saw how, as just a kid, it flipped my switch. I wanted to work for one motivation, which was music and gradually this dream became a reality, which is really crazy.”
Yudy Arias on Her Mission to Inspire Youth: “[I’m looking] definitely to inspire. I love what we’re doing with Maluma’s label at Royalty Records. In my case, a lot of people tell me, “Woah, Maluma, you made it,” but honestly, what I love the most about the industry is the process. To me, it’s so exciting to see young people wanting to achieve so much. Being able to contribute a grain of sand feels so good. You have no idea how much love I put into it, how I try to lift them up.”
Omar Courtz, Saiko, Kiko Baez, Yudy Arias, Isabela Raygoza at Billboard Latin Music Week Panels on October 15, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Gustavo Caballero
Atmosphere at Billboard Latin Music Week Panels on October 15, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Gustavo Caballero
Polo G was arrested over the weekend on felony weapon possession charges in Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department jail records.
The Chicago rapper — born Taurus Bartlett — was booked in Van Nuys Jail on Saturday afternoon after being initially detained around 2:20 p.m. PT. Billboard has reached out to Polo’s reps for comment.
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“I checked the L.A. County Sheriff’s website and do show a Taurus Bartlett being booked on 10/19/24 at 2:20 p.m. (booking #6903929),” a spokesperson for the LAPD said via email. “He was booked for 25400(A)(1) PC-Weapon in a Vehicle, a felony, at Plummer Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.”
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He was charged with felony possession of a concealed weapon in a vehicle. Per jail records, Polo eventually secured his release from jail on Monday (Oct. 21).
Polo G has faced a litany of legal issues in recent years. He was arrested in August 2023 alongside his brother Taurean Bartlett (a.k.a. Trench Baby). Police got a warrant to search Polo’s residence after Trench Baby was named a suspect in a robbery while he was living with Polo at the time.
Upon entering, law enforcement discovered “numerous firearms” at Polo G’s Burbank home and both brothers were arrested. Polo ended up being booked for possession of a short-barreled rifle. According to jail records, the 25-year-old posted $100,000 bond and was released a day later.
Earlier this year, Polo G ran into more legal trouble in April when he was arrested in New York City on charges of criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon. With the address listed by an NYPD spokesperson, it appears the arrest took place at The Dominick hotel in New York’s SoHo neighborhood.
According to TMZ, a Dominick hotel employee found a loaded Glock 23 in Polo’s room and alerted authorities. Police executed a search warrant of the room and discovered the weapon before arresting the “Pop Out” rapper. Polo allegedly had about $23,000 in cash on him at the time of the arrest.
On the music side, Polo returned with his Hood Poet album in August, which debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard 200.
Benjamin Glaze, a 26-year-old former American Idol contestant, has been arrested in Oklahoma for possession of child pornography.
According to a recent post on the Tulsa Police Department’s Facebook, Glaze was arrested and booked into Tulsa County Jail on Oct. 18 after authorities found over 700 images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his smart phone. The department first became aware of the singer’s alleged possession of the materials in April, when they “received information regarding criminal activity” about Glaze, after which the Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit obtained a search warrant for his home. His phone was recovered during the search.
Billboard was unable to reach Glaze for comment.
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The Tulsa Police Department’s post also includes a photo of Glaze that appears to have been taken at the station. In the picture, he stares blankly at the camera while wearing a Walmart uniform shirt.
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Though Glaze didn’t make it past his audition on American Idol in 2018, he made headlines amid the show’s 16th season when Katy Perry — one of the judges at the time — kissed him on the lips before he performed. After the then-19-year-old contestant revealed to the pop star and co-judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan that he hadn’t yet had his first kiss, Perry encouraged him to give her a peck on the cheek; when he got close to her face, however, she turned at the last second to sneak a smooch on his mouth.
“Katy!” he exclaimed at the time after falling to the floor. “You didn’t!”
Later, Glaze told The New York Times that while he did not feel sexually harassed, he felt “a tad bit” uncomfortable in the moment. “Would I have done it if she said, ‘Would you kiss me?’ No, I would have said no,” he told the publication. “I know a lot of guys would be like, ‘Heck yeah!’ But for me, I was raised in a conservative family and I was uncomfortable immediately. I wanted my first kiss to be special.”
Even so, Glaze also said at the time that he and his friends back in Oklahoma agreed that the kiss “didn’t really count.” “It was lip contact versus a romantic situation with someone you care about,” he added. “That’s what a real first kiss is.”
The 35th anniversary of Billboard Latin Music Week reached its crescendo with a celebration at the official after party hosted by Bresh, dubbed “the most beautiful party in the world.” The event unfolded at M2 Miami on Friday (Oct. 18), encapsulating an ambience that appealed to all senses. True to its reputation, the traveling party […]
With the presidential election just two weeks away, Bruce Springsteen is getting involved. The Boss will be performing at a series of When We Vote We Win shows this month in support of Kamala Harris and her vice presidential pick, Tim Walz. The two events will take place alongside Harris and former President Barack Obama […]
Nicki Minaj‘s Pink Friday 2 topped the Billboard 200 and launched the highest-grossing female rap tour of all time — could it land the rap queen her first Grammy too?
Minaj has been nominated for best rap album twice in the past — in 2012 for Pink Friday and in 2016 for The Pinkprint — making her second-most nominated female rapper in this category behind Missy Elliott, who earned four nods between 1998 and 2006. Since the Recording Academy established best rap album in 1996, only two female rappers have won the honor; as a part of the Fugees, Lauryn Hill won in 1997 for The Score, and Cardi B triumphed with Invasion of Privacy in 2018.
A nod for Pink Friday 2 would mark Minaj’s first non-soundtrack nomination in nearly 10 years. Last year, she earned a pair of nods alongside Ice Spice and AQUA for their “Barbie World” collaboration from the Barbie soundtrack, but she hasn’t been recognized for her own work since The Pinkprint and its tracks earned three nominations at the 2016 ceremony. Notably, Minaj has yet to win a Grammy, but if Pink Friday 2 can repeat its victory at last week’s BET Hip-Hop Awards (Oct. 15), she may finally take home her very first gilded gramophone.
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In addition to Minaj, Elliott, Hill and Cardi, just two other female rappers have earned nominations for best rap album: Iggy Azalea (2015, The New Classic) and Rapsody (2018, Laila’s Wisdom).
This year, a number of female rappers could earn a nomination for best rap album. In fact, the 2025 ceremony could be the first time in Grammy history that multiple female rappers are simultaneously nominated for best rap album. Most of this year’s contending projects by female rappers also made inroads on the Billboard 200, including Doechii‘s Alligator Bites Never Heal (No. 117), Doja Cat‘s Scarlet 2 Claude (No. 4), Flo Milli‘s Fine Ho, Stay (No. 54), GloRilla‘s Ehhtang Ehhthang (No. 18), Ice Spice‘s Y2K! (No. 18), JT‘s City Cinderella (No. 27), Latto‘s Sugar Honey Iced Tea (No. 15), Megan Thee Stallion‘s Megan (No. 3) and Sexyy Red‘s In Sexyy We Trust (No. 17).
Out of those projects, Scarlet, Ehhthang Ehhtang, Megan and Sugar Honey Iced Tea have the strongest shot at a nod since Doja, GloRilla, Megan and Latto are all previous Grammy nominees. GloRilla, in particular, could pull off a nomination here thanks to her dominant year and the well-timed release of her debut studio LP, Glorious, which snagged the largest opening week total for a female rap album in 2024 during the last few days of first-round voting. Keep an eye on Doechii, as well; she has one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop projects of the year and has been running a steady campaign, which included a recent co-sign from Grammy darling Kendrick Lamar. Of course, voters could opt for a project that didn’t hit the Billboard charts, but still stands on its own merit — Rapsody’s Please Don’t Cry. Already a three-time Grammy nominee, the North Carolina MC could pull off her second nod for best rap album, which would tie her with Minaj as the second-most nominated female rapper in the category.
Outside of the ladies, it was still a characteristically busy year for rap. With six wins to his name in this category, Eminem is the all-time winner here, and he could very well earn his eighth best rap album bid — and first in 10 years! — for his Billboard 200-topping The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). Ye (the artist formerly known as Kanye West) could extend his record as the second-most nominated (eight) and second-most awarded (four) artist in this category if Vultures 1, his joint album with Ty Dolla $ign, earns a nod. This would be Ty’s first nod in this category. Both Em and Ye are vets, and it’s possible some of their peers join them as nominees this year. Common & Pete Rock are strong contenders with The Auditorium Vol. 1, and Killer Mike could bookend last year’s victory with a nod (and possible win) for Songs for Sinners and Saints. Also look out for Juicy J‘s Ravenite Social Club and Erick the Architect‘s I’ve Never Been Here Before.
Obviously, this year in rap was defined by Lamar — but he doesn’t have an album in contention this cycle. Nonetheless, We Don’t Trust You, the Billboard 200-topping Future–Metro Boomin joint album that served as Trojan horse for Lamar’s blistering “Like That” verse, is the clear frontrunner for a nomination here. This would mark the second nomination for both Future and Metro. Both artists have yet to win this category.
Both J. Cole, a recurring star in the Lamar-Drake showdown, and ScHoolboy Q, Lamar’s former TDE labelmate, could earn their third bids in this category with Might Delete Later and Blue Lips, respectively. Like Future and Metro, both Cole and Q are looking for their first victory here. Big Sean, another blog era big dog, could also earn his very first nod in the category with Better Me Than You. 21 Savage, who was nominated here last year alongside Drake for their Her Loss joint album, could earn his third nomination in this category with American Dream.
Also in contention: Don Toliver‘s Hardstone Psycho and Danny Brown‘s Quaranta.
Our Fearless Forecast
Which hip-hop albums will make the final five? Our predictions are: We Don’t Trust You (Future & Metro Boomin), Vultures 1 (Ye & Ty Dolla $ign), The Auditorium Vol. 1 (Common & Pete Rock), Blue Lips (ScHoolboy Q) and The Death of Slim Shady (Eminem).
If these predictions prove to be correct, this would be the sixth consecutive year that men have locked up all the nominations in this category.
GloRilla, Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music’s “Rain Down on Me,” featuring Kierra Sheard & Chandler Moore, roars in at No. 1 on Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Gospel Songs chart (dated Oct. 26).
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The collaboration concurrently begins at No. 2 on the multimetric Hot Christian Songs chart.
The track marks rapper GloRilla’s rookie appearances on Billboard’s faith-based charts. It’s from her LP Glorious, which bows at No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200 with 69,000 equivalent album units, awarding the 25-year-old from Memphis the biggest week of her career, by units, and her first top 10 on the tally. The set also starts at No. 2 on both Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums.
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Meanwhile, “Rain” is the first song to debut at the Hot Gospel Songs summit in 2024. The last No. 1 launch also involved a prominent female rapper: Nicki Minaj’s “Blessings” (featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard), in December 2023.
“Rain” drew 3.7 million official U.S. streams Oct. 11-17, according to Luminate, also sending it to No. 1 on Gospel Streaming Songs. Plus, it drew 2.3 million all-format in airplay audience.
Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin earns his record-extending ninth Hot Gospel Songs No. 1. Maverick City Music adds its sixth leader, the second-best sum. Sheard scores her third No. 1 and Moore, his fourth.
On Hot Christian Songs, “Rain” marks Maverick City Music’s sixth top 10, Moore’s fifth, Franklin’s third and Sheard’s first.
On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, five songs from Glorious chart, led by “TGIF,” up 32-22 for a new high. The other four: “Whatchu Know About Me,” with Sexyy Red (No. 31 debut); “Hollon” (85-48); “How I Look,” with Megan Thee Stallion (No. 90 debut); and “I Luv Her,” with T-Pain (No. 92 debut).
Yandel recruited colleagues and industry friends De La Ghetto, Dei Vi, El Coyote, and Roberto Andrade for the ELYTE: The Beginning and Future of the Genre panel at 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week on Friday (Oct. 18).
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Presented by Warner Music Latina, the reggaeton artists and executives talked about the booming success of Latin urban music. Below, check out some notable highlights.
The Beginning of Reggaetón
Yandel: “Like every artist, you have someone to follow and learn from. For me, one of the leaders was Vico C. I loved his musical style because it was commercial, he set an example, and he had lyrical content. Then I fell in love with perreo when there were duos like Baby Rasta & Gringo, Hector & Tito. I followed Daddy Yankee a lot. For me, reggaeton music was love at first sight. When I got to know that flavor and was able to write about what was happening in the streets, that’s when I fell in love even more. Reggaeton music is in its moment right now.”
Roberto: “I was working in radio in Colombia in 1997. I went to Bogotá to study and work at Tropicana Estereo, which was a salsa station, and I remember between 2002 and 2005, I was a DJ and the programmer would tell us ‘you’re going to play this hourly’ and it was “Gasolina,” “Rakata” or “Felina.” It was a reggaeton hit hourly on a salsa and tropical music schedule. Then they went to a crossover and ended up on a 100% urban music station. […] I want to thank the movement that happened in Panama and plant that great seed, but it was definitely the island, Puerto Rico, that internationalized it.”
The Present & Future
Dei V: “Artists like De La, Yandel and all those who came before me opened those doors. It’s a little easier for us with streaming, but if they hadn’t done it, we wouldn’t be here blessed the way we are. I’m not the only one. A lot of the kids who are coming out now have charged $5,000 for their first parties.”
Yandel: “I always identify with the youth. I always like to be where the youth is and what they are doing. It really catches my attention because they also respect me and I feel that they approach me with respect. For me that is a reward… that the new generation wants to record with me after so many years of working hard.”
Best Career Advice
De La Ghetto: “I always tell everyone to ‘study the greats’. I studied Wisin & Yandel, Yankee, Hector y Tito, Don Omar, Zion y Lennox a lot. From my perspective, when Wisin & Yandel came out, they were the first to make videos with Jessy Terrero, the first to see themselves as American artists. In the late 90s, early 2000s, we saw American hip-hop artists as impossible to get to where they were. These people [Wisin y Yandel] started to invest in their careers, not waiting for record labels, not waiting for anyone. That’s where the change in the genre took place because they made the genre more expensive in the sense of seeing us as the same as American artists. You have to invest in your career, in your image, your clothes, your creams at night. It’s part of your job. Image is everything… It’s a lot of work.”
Watch the full panel below: