Music
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WWE superstar turned actor John Cena opened up about his love of hip-hop while visiting Shannon Sharpe at Club Shay Shay.
While growing up in West Newbury, Massachusetts, Cena admitted to rebelling as a youngster in the predominately white small town. “I was one of five boys, and I had a lot of angst with how the household was being run. I was a rebel. That music found me at the right time,” Cena said around the six-minute mark. “So, even though a song like ‘F—k tha Police’ might have been an anthem for the state of the social well-being in South Central Los Angeles — to a 13-year-old kid the police are my parents, and it was me who was like, ‘Well, f—k that.”
He then talked about his iconic entrance song “The Time is Now” and his only rap album You Can’t See Me, saying he decided to make his own rap music because he wasn’t feelin’ the “stock rap music” the company had to offer.
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“At the time, WWE was a rock and roll company. They didn’t have any depth of field for hip-hop, and I listened to my own music being like, ‘I could do better than this,’” he said. “I called up a friend who knew a friend who had a studio. We got some beats and we made an album. And that was it, that was it.” His debut album, released in 2005, peaked at No. 15 on the 200 chart.
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Cena also named his top three athlete-rappers and his Mount Rushmore of Rap. Shaq, Kobe, and Master P made up the former, while Rakim, Jay-Z, Nas, and Eminem rounded out the latter. “Everyone has their bias and I know that list is obviously going to incite riots,” he admitted. “We all have our bias. We all have our favorites. That’s what makes music special. That’s what makes creativity. I was brought up in the East Coast boom bap. I love wordplay, I love poetry, that’s what I based my character on. So I think all that’s super clever.”
His signature “You can’t see me” hand gesture he often did in the ring was inspired by the G-Unit’s Tony Yayo. In 2022, the Queens rapper posted a clip of Cena explaining where he got it from while making an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
You might be able to see who Shannon Sharpe is talking to, but you can watch the full episode here.
Ludacris traveled to Alaska recently and he couldn’t go all the way there without checking something off his bucket list — or as he calls it his “f— it list.” The Atlanta rapper-turned-actor posted a video to Instagram on Monday featuring himself drinking some Alaskan glacier water, which sparked concern from fans. Explore Explore See […]
Former world boxing champion Julio César Chávez will open his home to millions of viewers in a reality show titled Los Chávez. The series, which premieres on Sept. 11 on Disney+, will follow Chávez, his wife and children, showing a more human side of one of Mexico’s greatest sports figures.
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The opening theme song for each of the 10 episodes, “El César del Box,” is performed by Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga and was released Wednesday (Aug. 28) across digital platforms.
“We have a very good relationship with the champion and the people in his office,” Lizárraga, the group’s leader and producer of the song, told Billboard Español. “When the project was put together, he didn’t hesitate to call us and ask us for the song, which for us is a great honor.”
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“When he heard the song was already finished, he loved it. Very nice things came from there,” he added. “We sang it to him live and he was moved to tears.”
Released under Lizárraga’s label, Lizos Music, and charged with their usual Sinaloan banda sound, “El César del Box” tells in broad strokes the life of the pugilist, in first person. “Mis hijos los traigo en la mente/ Bajo el ring los golpes son más fuertes/ Toquéqué el cielo, ya conocí el suelo/ Y aún sigo en el top/ Yo soy Julio Chávez/ Más bien/ Soy el César del boxeo,” goes part of the lyrics. That translates to, “I have my children in my mind/ Under the ring the blows are stronger/ I touched the sky, I already knew the ground/ And I am still on top/ I am Julio Chávez/ Rather, I am the Caesar of boxing.
Chávez’s life has been full of emotional moments, with highs and lows that include drug problems. For this reason, said Lizárraga, writing about his life was a challenge for composer Omar Robles, who is responsible for Banda MS hits such as the romantic “El Color de Tus Ojos.”
“They gave us the freedom to talk about his life. The only request was that we focus on the positive things and the achievements of the champion,” said Lizárraga.
For the music video, Banda MS invited Chávez to Mazatlán, where the star was “always in good spirits and willing to work for the 16 hours” of filming. The clip shows the fighter, accompanied by Banda MS, simulating his triumphant entrance into the ring.
At 62 years old, JC Chávez, as he is also known, can boast of having made history in the super featherweight, lightweight and super lightweight divisions, becoming the pride of an entire country.
“Personally I consider myself a fan of boxing and of course of Julio César Chávez’s career,” said Lizárraga, noting that the sport has given Mexicans many joys, including recently at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Mazatlán’s Marco Verde won a silver medal.
He also recalled with emotion Chávez’s historic fight against American Meldrick Taylor on March 17, 1990: “It was defined in the last round by a knockout when it was felt that it was already lost. And then came that blow that made our champion greater.”
Watch the video of “El César del Box” below, which premieres Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. ET:
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There are just two more days for current voting and professional members of the Recording Academy to enter recordings for the 67th annual Grammy Awards. The submission window closes Friday (Aug. 30) at 6 p.m. PT.
The entry process has changed in recent years. There used to be no limit to the number of entries members could make. Some members took advantage of that liberal policy and submitted a large number of entries, causing the entry list to bloat. The Academy now allows each voting or professional member just five “courtesy entries” before charges apply.
Furthermore, in an effort to get procrastinators to make their entries in timely fashion, those entry fees escalate the closer we get to the eligibility cut-off. The charge for members was $40 per entry from July 17-July 31 (what the Academy calls “early bird pricing”) and $75 per entry from Aug. 1-Aug. 22 (standard pricing). In this final week, it is $125 per entry (final deadline pricing). (In all cases, these are the charges for entries beyond the five courtesy entries.)
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In its rules, the Academy notes: “There will be no refunds for any entries once submitted to the Recording Academy, including those entries found to be ineligible.”
Media companies may also enter entries, but they don’t get five courtesy entries. And their charges were higher for the first two submission submission periods – $65 through July 31 and $95 through Aug. 22. The final deadline pricing charge for media companies is the same as for members – $125 through Aug. 30.
The Recording Academy defines a media company as “a legitimate business entity whose core business function is to create, aggregate and promote audio and/or video content for multiple artists for commercial purposes, and must have product in national U.S. commercial distribution on our approved streaming platforms within the current eligibility period. It cannot just be an imprint in name only for the artist.” Media companies pay an annual $180 registration fee.
It is the submitter’s responsibility to provide streaming links or physical product in some cases. “Without streaming links or commercially released product (if applicable), your entries cannot be screened or verified, which can result in disqualification,” the Academy notes.
Physical product must be submitted for consideration in five craft categories – best recording package, best boxed or limited edition package, best immersive audio album, best album notes and best historical album. Rules note “If you made entries in craft categories that require physical product, you will receive a separate email detailing the product required and further shipping instructions. Include a copy of the packing list with shipped product. Send in as soon as possible but no later than Sept. 6.”
No physical product is necessary in six other craft categories – best engineered album, non-classical; best engineered album, classical; best immersive audio album; best instrumental composition; best arrangement, instrumental or acapella; and best arrangement, instruments and vocals.
The Academy notes “Prior to the first round of voting [which opens on Oct. 4], we will be sending each submitter an email showing final category placement of their entries.”
The eligibility period for the 67th Grammy Awards is Sept. 16, 2023 – Aug. 30, 2024. First-round voting runs from Oct. 4 through Oct. 15. Nominees will be announced on Nov. 8. Final-round voting runs from Dec. 12 through Jan. 3, 2025. The Grammys will be presented on Feb. 2, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Ariana Grande is continuing her 10-year celebration of her sophomore project, My Everything.
The superstar took to Instagram to announce that she released a limited 7″ vinyl bundle featuring “Problem,” “Break Free,” “Love Me Harder” and “One Last Time,” in addition to a digital bundle with a capella and instrumental versions of those same singles as well as “Bang Bang” on Tuesday.
“i love you all so, very much and i am deeply, eternally grateful,” she wrote in her Instagram post, which features photos from the 2014 era of the project.
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As always, her longtime collaborator The Weeknd, who teamed up with Grande on “Love Me Harder,” shared love for his pal on his Instagram Stories. “10 years,” he wrote alongside a white heart, while re-sharing Grande’s Instagram post.
Last week, Grande announced new vinyl and digital deluxe editions of the Billboard 200 chart-topping project, which also dominated the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 with hits such as “Break Free,” “Love Me Harder” with The Weeknd and “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea. The pink-tinted vinyl, which is available on Grande’s website, features the original set’s track list plus songs that were previously never made available in the format: “Bang Bang,” “Only 1,” “You Don’t Know Me,” “Cadillac Song” and “Too Close.”
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Eleven years ago, Grande’s debut project, Yours Truly, also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, but she told Billboard in 2014 that she allowed herself to celebrate for only about an hour before immediately getting back to work on the project that would become My Everything. “I’m a workaholic, and a perfectionist,” she said at the time. “I never thought I’d be able to say this, but I love this [album] five times as much as I love Yours Truly. They’re different, but I love this one so much more.”
Eight years after the deadly mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in June 2016, local police closed their investigation into the venue’s former owners, with no charges being filed. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In an emailed statement to The Associated Press, the Orlando Police Department stated […]
J. Prince isn’t happy with YSL Woody and the prosecutors handling the ongoing YSL RICO trial. Earlier this week, the prosecution once again called Woody to the stand to ask him about statements he’s made to police. In one instance captured on video and shared on social media, a prosecutor asked about Woody allegedly mentioning […]
Flavor Flav was known for giving nicknames to his Flavor of Love contestants, and now he has a new moniker of his own. The Public Enemy star sat down as a guest on the most recent episode of Politickin’, hosted by Gavin Newsom, Marshawn Lynch, and Doug Hendrickson. When asked if he has a collab […]
Former gang leader Duane “Keefe D” Davis had his bond once again denied on Tuesday (Aug. 27), and he will remain behind bars as he faces a first-degree murder charge for his role in the September 1996 shooting death of Tupac Shakur.
Per the Associated Press, Clark District Court Judge Carli Kierny made her decision known on Tuesday, and was uncertain of the origins of Davis’ potential $750,000 bail funds. According to the AP, Kierny said she was skeptical after receiving two letters that were identical claiming that it was music executive Cash “Wack 100” Jones who wired him the payment.
“I have a sense that things are trying to be covered up,” the judge stated after revealing the signature on one letter was from a person not connected to the business, and the second had a typo in the name as well as a return address to a doctor’s office.
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Prosecutor Binu Palal believes the defense may have committed a crime if they indeed submitted false paperwork. “The state takes that very seriously,” he said, according to the AP. “Be advised that it will not go uninvestigated.”
Wack 100 previously testified in June about his motives for wanting to help bail out Davis. According to the AP, Wack said that David has “always been a monumental person in our community … Especially the urban community.” He also cited Davis reportedly battling cancer.
Wack also discussed bailing out Keefe D during an interview with VladTV earlier this year. “It’s only $750,000,” he told Vlad at the time. “I’ve been thinking about going to get him with the stipulations that I’ll do the series on it.”
However, Jones also admitted in a June court hearing that he sometimes says things for entertainment purposes and to drive up engagement. Keefe D was preparing to post bond back in June, but when he went to enter his $750,000 bail, the courts blocked the process due to concerns about the legitimacy of the funds.
In addition to denying Keefe D’s bid to be released on house arrest, Kierny also pushed Davis’ trial back from Nov. 4 to March 17 on Tuesday.
Davis was arrested in September 2023 and charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon in connection to the September 1996 Las Vegas shooting of Tupac Shakur. The legendary rapper ultimately succumbed to his injuries six days later on Sept. 13, 1996.
Drake left a Kendrick Lamar breadcrumb within his “100 Gigs” project.
In a two-minute video filed under MVI_7806.MP4 in the 2.0 NWTS_1 folder, he, OVO 40 and OVO Hush are listening to a beat produced by 40 and Omen meant for Drake and an unnamed guest feature. As 40 talks about how the beats builds, Drake nods in agreement and says, “For him, where he’s at, I know he’s gonna murder this.” 40 then replied, “When he told me Kendrick, it just made so much sense. Oh, the brilliance! So good.”
The Toronto rapper ended up not using the beat and the collab never happened. However, the beat did find a home, ending up in the hands of Queens rapper Action Bronson for his song “Actin Crazy” from his 2015 album Mr. Wonderful.
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Drake recorded his third solo album, Nothing Was the Same, between 2012 and 2013, and released it on Sept. 24, 2013. This is relevant information because Kendrick’s “Control” verse in which he called multiple rappers out by name, including Drake, dropped in August 2013.
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Drake talked about said verse twice: once in a Billboard cover story (August 2013) and again during 2013 a sitdown with Elliott Wilson. “I didn’t really have anything to say about it. It just sounded like an ambitious thought to me,” he told Billboard at the time. “That’s all it was. I know good and well that [Lamar]‘s not murdering me, at all, in any platform. So when that day presents itself, I guess we can revisit the topic.” Then about a month later in September, he downplayed Lamar’s verse again, telling Wilson, “That [‘Control’] verse was a moment to talk about. Are you listening to it now, though?”
Those quotes led to Dot responding during TDE’s BET Cypher that aired in October 2013, in which he rapped, “Yeah, and nothing been the same since they dropped ‘Control’/ And tucked a sensitive rapper back in his pajama clothes.”
While Kendrick has remained quiet since releasing the “Not Like Us” video, Drake may have hinted at another round with the Compton rapper in the Stories of his finsta Instagram account @plottttwistttttt.
new posts by Drake’s finsta account alluding to Round 2/Game 2 👀 a picture of ‘A Better Tomorrow’ 1987 movieand the iconic 2004 Pistons Rasheed Wallace interview “yall put it on the front page, back page, middle of the page… we will win Game 2″they went on to beat the… pic.twitter.com/36CfjQcIDA— SOUND (@itsavibe) August 26, 2024