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Dave Chappelle’s Saturday Night Live monologue caused a stir when he revealed that producers had told him he couldn’t talk about two hot-button topics: Gaza and transgender issues. For over 15 minutes, Chappelle delivered his usual edgy humor but hinted at the censorship behind the scenes. Known for his fearless approach to comedy, Chappelle’s never been one to hold back, but on SNL, there were limits.
When it comes to Gaza, Chappelle had already called the situation a “genocide,” a term that’s been super controversial, especially with mainstream media trying to avoid the heat. With so much tension around the issue, producers didn’t want to risk opening that can of worms on live TV.
In ‘The Closer’ (2021), Dave Chappelle got mad heat for his jokes about trans folks, which many saw as straight-up “punching down.” He talked about a trans woman friend of his, but the way he framed it rubbed people the wrong way. His comedy sparked a lot of noise, with folks calling him out for disrespecting a marginalized group. That drama made waves all over, even having shows like SNL hesitant. With all the backlash, the legendary comedian had to tone down his jokes, especially around trans and Gaza topics, just to avoid catching heat.
Dave Chappelle’s comedy is known for hitting hard and not caring who it offends. He tackles tough topics like race, gender, and social issues with no filter, often crossing lines that others wouldn’t dare. Some folks see it as crossing the line, but Chappelle argues his goal isn’t to hurt—it’s to make people think and start conversations.
A lawsuit accusing Bassnectar (born Lorin Ashton) of sexually abusing three underage girls has been settled ahead of trial. According to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Tennessee on Tuesday (Feb. 18), the case against the electronic music producer was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled, after the two sides reached […]
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Nike and Tom Sachs are back on good terms, which means a crispy pair of sneakers. The latter, dropped a couple of photos of the forthcoming NikeCraft Mars Yard 3.0 which is guaranteed to be one of the most hyped—and likely difficult to acquire (for retail price)—sneakers of the year, already.
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However, you can’t gloss over the fact Sachs—a renowned but controversial contemporary artist—and Nike were recently on the outs after allegations of his abuse behavior toward employees began to surface in early 2023. At the time, Sachs and Nike were in the midst of pushing the NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe, which came to a quick halt after the allegations and just several colorways were released. Although the model (which sported a more democratized purchase process that meant easier access and more pairs) was paused, Nike never completely severed ties with Sachs, taking a wait and see approach, and officially resuming their partnership in late 2024. “Tom has demonstrated and recommitted to fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity,” said Nike in a statement at the time.
As far as we can tell, Sachs’ hasn’t generated any new troubling headlines, and he’s back in official business with the Swoosh, and the NikeCraft Mars Yard 3.0 is set to drop in September per his Instagram post. At first glance, the sneaker itself doesn’t look like a radical departure from the Mars Yard 2.0 (which dropped in 2012 and 2017) but it is more like an optimization. Some of those updates include Nike’s React cushioning in the midsole, a black TPU toecap and a carbon fiber plate.
The Mars Yard 2.0 from 2017 was a smooth $200 (and fetches $1600 on StockX at the moment) so you can probably expect the 2025 version to be at least a bit pricier. Good hunting—we suggest you call up your sneaker plug not now but right now.
Central Cee, Ayra Starr and Vybz Kartel were all winners at the MOBO Awards (Music Of Black Origin) in Newcastle, England, on Tuesday evening (Feb. 18). The ceremony honors homegrown and international artists from diverse scenes including hip-hop, R&B, grime, jazz, and Afrobeats.
First held in 1996, the MOBOs were founded by Kanya King and Andy Ruffell to provide representation for Black artists at a dedicated ceremony. The awards were held every year up until 2017. Following a brief hiatus, they returned in 2021 and 2022, but took a fallow year in 2023 and resumed once again in 2024.
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Central Cee scooped the best male act prize for the second year in a row, and gave the Londoner his seventh MOBO trophy overall. The win puts him level with Stormzy as the most-decorated UK rapper in the Awards’ history.
British-Nigerian Afrobeats star Darkoo was victorious in the best female act category, earning the 23-year-old her debut MOBO Award. She also performed at the ceremony alongside Spice, Krept & Konan, Odeal, Nova Twins, Bashy and more.
The ceremony was hosted by comedian Eddie Kadi and Love Island star Indiyah Polack and broadcast live on YouTube. Highlights from the ceremony will air on BBC One on Friday evening (Feb. 21).
There were also wins in major categories for Bashy, who scooped best album for Being Poor Is Expensive, which featured in Billboard U.K.’s albums of the year list in December. Song of the year went to Darkoo for her Dess Dior collaboration “Favourite Girl,” while Benin-born, Nigeria-raised Ayra Starr won best international artist (the first African female to win the prize) and best African music act (the first female to win for 16 years).
Vybz Kartel won the honorary MOBO impact award, which in recent years has been awarded to pop trio Sugababes and boxer Frank Bruno. Ezra Collective prevailed in the best jazz category for the third time in their career; the London group are nominated for four awards at this year’s BRIT Awards on March 1.
In recent years the MOBOs has broadened its categories to recognise the contributions made by Black artists to the U.K’s rock scene and its club culture. At 2025’s ceremony, rock duo Alt Blk Era won the best alternative act, while DJ and producer TSHA picked up best dance act.
See the full winners of the MOBO Awards 2025 below.
Best male act
BashyWINNER: Central CeeD-Block EuropeGhettsNemzzzSampha
Best female act
Cleo Sol
WINNER: Darkoo
Jorja Smith
Little Simz
Nia Archives
Raye
Album of the year
WINNER: Bashy – Being Poor Is ExpensiveCleo Sol – GoldGhetts – On Purpose, With PurposeJorja Smith – Falling Or FlyingSampha – LahaiSkrapz – Reflection
Song of the year
Central Cee Feat. Lil Baby – “Band4band”
Chase & Status, Stormzy – “Backbone”
WINNER: Darkoo Feat. Dess Dior – “Favourite Girl”
Jordan Adetunji – “Kehlani”
Leostaytrill – “Pink Lemonade”
Odeal – “Soh-soh”
Best newcomer
Chy Cartier
Elmiene
Fimiguerrero
Flowerovlove
Jordan Adetunji
Len
Leostaytrill
Myles Smith
WINNER: Odeal
Pozer
Video of the year
Meekz – “Mini Me’s” (Directed By Kc Locke)
WINNER: Mnelia – “My Man” (Directed By Femi Bello)
Raye – “Genesis” (Directed By Otis Dominique & Raye)
Sampha – “Only” (Directed By Dexter Navy)
Skepta – “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” (Directed By Steveo)
Unknown T Feat. Loyle Carner – “Hocus Pocus” (Directed By Felix Brady)
Best R&B/soul act
Cleo Sol
Elmiene
Flo
Jaz Karis
Jorja Smith
Nippa
WINNER: Odeal
Sasha Keable
Shae Universe
Sinead Harnett
Best alternative music act
WINNER: ALT BLK ERA
Bob Vylan
Hak Baker
Kid Bookie
Native James
Spider
Best grime act
Chip
D Double E
Duppy
Kruz Leone
Manga Saint Hilare
WINNER: Scorcher
Best hip hop act
WINNER: Bashy
Cristale
Headie One
Nines
Potter Payper
Skrapz
Best drill act
163MargsCentral CeeHeadie OneKairo KeyzK-trapWINNER: Pozer
Best international act
AsakeWINNER: Ayra StarrBeyoncéGloRillaKendrick LamarLattoMegan Thee StallionNicki MinajTemsTyla
Best performance in a TV show/film
Angela Wynter As Yolande Trueman In EastendersCaroline Chikezie As Noma In Power Book II: GhostDiane Parish As Denise Fox In EastendersDionne Brown As Queenie In QueenieGhetts As Krazy In SupacellWINNER: Jacob Anderson As Louis In Interview With The VampireJasmine Jobson As Jaq In Top BoyJosh Tedeku As Tazer In SupacellKingsley Ben-adir As Bob Marley In Bob Marley: One LoveTosin Cole As Michael In Supacell
Best media personality
WINNER: 90’s Baby ShowAJ OduduChuckie OnlineCraig MitchHenrie KwushueMadame JoyceMicah RichardsSpecs GonzalezThe Receipts PodcastZeze Millz
Best African music act
Asake (Nigeria)
WINNER: Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Bnxn & Ruger (Nigeria)
King Promise (Ghana)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Rema (Nigeria)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Best Caribbean music act
Popcaan
WINNER: Shenseea
Skillibeng
Spice
Valiant
Yg Marley
Best jazz act
Amy Gadiaga
Blue Lab Beats
Ego Ella May
WINNER: Ezra Collective
Kokoroko
Yussef Dayes
Best electronic/dance act
Eliza Rose
Nia Archives
Pinkpantheress
Salute
Shygirl
WINNER: Tsha
Best producer
Ceebeaats
Inflo
WINNER: Juls
M1onthebeat
P2j
Sammy Soso
Best gospel act
WINNER: Annatoria
Imrhan
Limoblaze
Reblah
Still Shadey
Volney Morgan & New Ye
MGK is looking forward to his second round of fatherhood. The rocker, who is expecting a child with his ex-fiancée Megan Fox, took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday (Feb. 16) to share a photo of a church stage, which showed the projected message, “Your past is not your purpose—your priority is ahead of you.” […]
Cynthia Erivo‘s next role is the exact opposite of wicked. As announced Tuesday (Feb. 18), the singer/actress is locked in to star as the titular role in Jesus Christ Superstar, running three nights in a row at the Hollywood Bowl this August. The Pinocchio star personally shared the news of her casting on Instagram, as […]
Farruko is back atop Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart as “Cables Cruzados” lifts 2-1 to rule the Feb. 22-dated tally. The Puerto Rican returns with his first song to rule in over a year.
“Cables Cruzados” was the focus track on Farruko’s 26-track studio album Cvrbon Vrmor (2024), his first full-length since the No. 1 set La 167 (2021). The song was a full embrace of the pop side he periodically showcased on past releases and arrived following his transformative spiritual conversion.
“Cables Cruzados” lands at No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay, where it vaults 5.8 million audience impressions across U.S. pop radio stations in the tracking week ending Feb. 13, according to Luminate; that’s a 22% boost in weekly plays from last week.
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The song dethrones Shakira’s “Soltera” from its 18-week-straight coronation, the third-longest reign in the 2020s decade (Rauw Alejandro’s “Todo De Ti” and Karol G’s “Provenza” dominated for 28 and 21 weeks, respectively, in 2021 and 2022).
“Cables” becomes Farruko’s eighth win on Latin Pop Airplay among 40 career entries. The single also gives him a first champ since 2023, when “Pasa_je_ro” seized the No. 1 slot for five consecutive weeks in 2023, his longest-leading song there.
Farruko’s winning streak began with 2016’s “Obsesionado” (two weeks in charge). That same year, “Chillax,” featuring Ky-Mani Marley, led for one week.
As it has become a norm for Farruko’s leading songs on Latin Pop Airplay, “Cables” lands at No. 1 in its 17th week, a two-digit run to the penthouse as the rest of his eight champs. Let’s take a closer look at those eight winners and their journey to No. 1, from least to most:
Weeks to No. 1, Song, Weeks at No. 1, Year11, “Obsesionado,” two (2016)13, “Perfecta,” with Luis Fonsi, two (2020)13, “Me Pasé,” with Enrique Iglesias, one (2021)16, “Si Me Dices Que Sí,” with Reik & Camilo, two (2020)17, “Cables Cruzados,” (2025)21, “Chillax,” featuring Ky-Mani Marley, one (2016)22, “Pasa_je_ro,” five (2023)25, ‘Calma,” with Pedro Capo, one (2019)
Thanks to a winning performance across radio pop stations, “Cables Cruzados” delivers its first top 10 appearance on the overall Latin Airplay chart, where it climbs 18-10, Farruko’s 18th top 10 there.
All charts (dated Feb. 22, 2025) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, Feb. 19, a day later than usual due to the Presidents’ Day holiday in the United States Feb. 17. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Sabrina Carpenter started the month of February by winning her first two Grammys ever, and as it turns out, she was just getting started.
Last week, Carpenter graced the cover of Vogue for the very first time — earning praise from Madonna for her Marilyn Monroe-inspired photo shoot that recalled Madge’s own Vanity Fair spread from the early ’90s (“Is this a Valentine’s present to me?”). Then first thing Friday, she dropped the deluxe edition of her Short n’ Sweet album that included a remix of her Billboard Hot 100-topping “Please Please Please” with none other than Dolly Parton.
Then on Sunday night, Carpenter got not one, but two looks on the blockbuster Saturday Night Live 50th-anniversary special, opening the show alongside Paul Simon with “Homeward Bound” and then joining a Domingo sketch alongside Bad Bunny and Pedro Pascal. Whew.
On the new Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are talking all about Carpenter’s big week and recapping all the music moments on the SNL50 special.
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Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on Kendrick Lamar’s post-Super Bowl splash on both the Billboard 200 albums chart and Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as the GNX album returns to No. 1 on the former and “Not Like Us” is back at No. 1 on the latter. Plus, could Drake — the subject of the diss track “Not Like Us” — actually replace Lamar at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 next week? His new collaboration album with PartyNextDoor, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, came out last Friday, so it could happen.
And we finally got our first pop headliner at the Sphere in Las Vegas, with the announcement of a Backstreet Boys residency in July.
The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)
Banda Los Sebastianes De Saúl Plata wins big this week achieving its seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart (dated Feb. 22), as “Voy a Levantarme” climbs 4-1 for its first week atop the ranking following a 10-week run in the top 10.
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“My people, we are very happy to be No. 1 on Billboard with ‘Voy a Levantarmé,’ how cool, honestly!” Armando “Choco” Celis, one of Los Sebastianes vocalists, tells Billboard. “Excited and happy, really, thank you for sharing our music, because this entire song is symbolic, about personal improvement.”
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“Voy a Levantarme” advances to the summit on Regional Mexican Airplay despite a 5% dip in airplay in the U.S. — that’s 5.8 million audience impressions logged in the tracking week of Feb. 7-13, according to Luminate. The song unseats Gerardo Coronel’s “CHSM El Hígado” from the lead. The latter manages to remain in the top 10 despite a 37% decline in plays. It drops to No. 9 with 4.1 million impressions across regional Mexican stations.
“Voy a Levantarme,” released Sept. 13, 2024, on Fonovisa/UMLE, gives Fonovisa its first win of 2025. So far, Universal Music Latin’s sublabel has reached a No. 9 high through Banda El Recodo de Cruz de Lizárrga’s “Coqueto Tazo Dorado” (chart dated Feb. 8). Fonovisa last secured a No. 1 when Los Tigres del Norte’s “Aquí Mando Yo” ruled Regional Mexican Airplay for one week last August.
As mentioned, Banda Los Sebastianes achieves its seventh No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay. Before the latest coronation, the Sinaloans placed one champ in 2024. The collaboration with Edgardo Nuñez, “El Humo de Mi Gallo,” held at No. 1 for one week in 2024. The reigning champ became the group’s only win through a co-lead billing.
“We love you very much and all this work is for you,” adds Javier Larrañaga, the group’s second vocalist. “Thank you very much for everything. We’re on!”
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” adds another honor to a triumphant February for the artist, breaking the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The culture-shaping hit re-enters directly at the summit on the list dated Feb. 22 after its high-profile inclusion at Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show (Feb. 9) and five wins at the Grammy Awards (Feb. 2), including record and song of the year.
With its recovery, “Not Like Us” picks up an unprecedented 22nd week atop Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It breaks from a tie with SZA’s “Kill Bill” to stand alone as longest-leading No. 1 in the chart’s history, which dates to 1958. The returning champ, which debuted in May and charted through November, is the first track to re-enter at No. 1; the previous return high was a No. 3 comeback for Juice WRLD’s “Lucid Dreams” on the list dated Dec. 21, 2019, following the rapper’s death that month.
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“Not Like Us” wins its record week at No. 1 through a combination of 49 million official U.S. streams, 20.5 million in airplay audience and 33,000 digital download sales in the Feb. 7-13 tracking week, according to Luminate. The single surged by 156%, 31% and 432% in the metrics, respectively, compared with its results last week.
As the record of the year winner rewrites the record books, here’s a look at the longest-running No. 1 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart:
22, “Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar, 2024-25
21, “Kill Bill,” SZA, 2022-23
20, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019
18, “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22
18, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 2016
16, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013
15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006
15, “Lovin on Me,” Jack Harlow, 2023-24
Elsewhere, “Not Like Us” re-enters at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart to secure a record-extending 26th week in charge, while it flies 15-1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for a third leading week.
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“Not Like Us” leads a parade of 17 Lamar tracks on the 50-position Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including a full occupation of the top six slots. Former champs “Luther,” with SZA, “TV Off,” featuring Lefty Gunplay, and “Squabble Up” book Nos. 2-4, respectively, and each gains in all three tracking metrics after their inclusion in the halftime show set.
Another SZA-Lamar collab, “30 for 30,” climbs 6-5 despite not being performed at the Super Bowl, though as a current single, it continues to grow at radio and earns gains in other metrics from fans’ wider streaming of SZA and Lamar’s larger catalogs. Finally, yet another team-up from the pair, 2018’s “All the Stars,” re-enters at No. 6 following its halftime show presence.
With 11 of Lamar’s songs this week from his GNX album, it’s little surprise that the set rebounds 3-1 for a fifth week at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album, released last November, earned 236,000 equivalent albums in the tracking week, up 264%. The sum also powers it 4-1 on the all-genre Billboard 200, where it captures the summit for the first time since its debut week.