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With all the Nike and Air Jordan retro sneakers set to return in 2025 that has sneakerheads all in their feelings (and pockets), Nike is continuing to up the ante as they’re bringing back a new classic Air Jordan in a new colorway.
According to Highsnobiety, the skateboard Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 is set to return later this year but instead of the pine green and red colorway that we went crazy for in 2022, this iteration will be donning a “Midnight Navy” blue colorway that’s sure to be a bigger hit than it’s predecessor. Though there have been pictures of other SB 4’s circling the internet including and all-black version along with a red and grey sample, rumors of the blue Air Jordan 4 SB’s dropping next was well-known for quite some time.
Now that it seems like that does seem to be the case, many sneakerheads are anxiously awaiting a release date and stock numbers as collaborations like this tend to be highly sought after with limited product being available upon release days.
Per Highsnobiety:
The skate sneaker is set to get its second release and it has adopted navy blue paneling for the occasion. It’s not quite the original Military Blue AJ4, but it looks mighty similar.
And the similarities between this shoe and the OG Jordan 4 from 1989 go beyond just the colorway: it’s also in the shape of the shoe. Nike SB and Jordan tweaked the AJ4 design so that the shape around the toe box was more aligned with that of the original ‘89 model.
This update wasn’t made purely for aesthetic reasons (although, sneakerheads are notorious for moaning that the new-shape models don’t look as good), it’s to help the bubble-soled basketball shoe skate better. The new (well, old) toebox makes for a better flick according to Nike.
As many sneakerheads have learned over the years, the Air Jordan 4 is easily one of the most painful sneakers to wear all day regardless of how fly it compliments the entire fit. That’s why the Nike SB model was such a hit amongst the sneaker community and not only was it a comfortable pair of kicks, but roomy as well. It got to the point where it’s said that Nike ultimately decided to use their updated model for future Air Jordan 4 releases.
Now that we’re getting a new colorway of the SB 4’s, you can bet your bottom dollar these will be tough as nails to come by whenever release date rolls around.
Check out pics of the upcoming “Midnight Navy” Air Jordan 4 SB’s below and let us know if you’ll be checking for them when they drop in the comments section.
A Manhattan federal judge has tossed out a sexual assault lawsuit against Russell Simmons on grounds that he now lives in Indonesia, but legal problems still abound for the Def Jam co-founder.
In a decision issued Tuesday, Judge John Koeltl ruled that Simmons had shown by “clear and convincing evidence” that he is now a permanent resident of the Indonesian island of Bali, meaning his federal court lacked required form of jurisdiction to hear the case.
The ruling is a setback for the unnamed Jane Doe plaintiff, who sued Simmons last year over accusations that he raped her in the 1990s while she served as an executive at Def Jam. But the case can likely be re-filed in state court, where it would potentially not face the same issues.
In a statement to Billboard on Thursday, her attorneys vowed to do so – claiming Simmons was trying to “dodge accountability for his reprehensible behavior and escape litigation on procedural grounds.”
“From the beginning of this case, Simmons has claimed to be a stateless citizen domiciled in Bali, despite building his life and career in New York and taking advantage of his clear ties to the state when it benefits him,” said Kenya Davis, a lawyer at the firm Boies Schiller Flexner. “Our plaintiff is not deterred by this gamesmanship. We respect the judge’s decision, and we will see Mr. Simmons in New York state court.”
In his own statement, an attorney for Simmons praised the judge’s decision to dismiss the case: “Our justice system is based on rules and procedures,” said David Fish an attorney at the law firm Romano Law. “We are pleased that the court followed the rules of civil procedure and case law related to who can be brought into court.”
Asked about whether the case would continue in state court, Fish said: “I can’t predict what plaintiff’s counsel will do going forward.”
Simmons, who founded Def Jam Recordings in 1984 and later built a formidable hip hop empire, has faced a slew of abuse allegations since 2017 — first in an investigative article by the New York Times, then in a 2020 documentary film that featured interviews with numerous alleged victims.
Last year, Simmons was hit with two lawsuits over such claims. The first came from the Jane Doe at the center of this week’s ruling, who says that she was serving as a successful music video producer when she was “sexually harassed, assaulted, sexually battered, and raped by her boss.”
The other case came from Drew Dixon, a former A&R at Def Jam who accused Simmons of rape in both the Times article and the documentary. In her February 2024 lawsuit, Dixon accused Simmons of defaming her by suggesting during an interview that she was lying about the incident.
That case remains pending. Simmons had moved to dismiss Dixon’s lawsuit at the outset on free speech grounds, but that request was denied by a judge last week, sending the case toward more litigation and an eventual trial.
Simmons also faces additional litigation from three other accusers — Tina Klein-Baker, Toni Sallie and Alexia Norton Jones – who alleged in New York court filings last month that the hip hop mogul had reneged on confidential settlements that separately required him to pay them a total of nearly $8 million.
2 Chainz was one of the Atlanta artists Kendrick Lamar named in the third verse of “Not Like Us” who had worked with Drake in the past before proceeding to call him “not a colleague” but a “colonizer.” And now, the “Watch Out” rapper is sharing his thoughts on the mention.
Chainz stopped by The Breakfast Club on Wednesday (Feb. 12) with Larry June and The Alchemist in support of their Life Is Beautiful album, and Charlamagne Tha God asked the rapper formerly known as Tity Boi about Lamar name-dropping him on the Drake diss that arrived last May.
“I just think it was kind of like some wordplay, ’cause Drake and I got a song called ‘No Lie,’” said the rapper, who has teamed up with Drizzy in the past for other tracks, including “All Me,” “Big Amount,” “F–kin’ Problems” and more. “And so when he said he lied, it just felt like, I don’t know, but I didn’t take it as no kind of way. I don’t think he was taking a shot at me.”
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He continued: “I’ve heard all type of instances where somebody want me to say something back. I just think it was a moment where it was about Atlanta artists.”
On the Grammy-winning track, which went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 and break the record for most weeks atop the Hot Rap Songs chart, Lamar rhymes: “2 Chainz say you good, but he lied/ You run to Atlanta when you need a few dollars/ No, you not a colleague, you a f—in’ colonizer.”
June, meanwhile, said he hasn’t heard “Not Like Us” in its entirety. “I never heard that full song,” he said. “I f–k with everybody. I just didn’t particularly hear that song fully. I heard a lot of it on Instagram and stuff like that. But I was doing the album with him at the time, so I wasn’t really listening to too much s–t like that.”
The Alchemist, who produced “Meet the Grahams,” expanded on how the diabolical Drake diss came to be, noting it was actually built around a gospel sample. “Yeah, that’s a gospel record. Yeah, the sample was,” he said. “I wanna be Switzerland really. Leave me out of it, but they end up making me the battleground … I had sent the record to Dot months before that happened and I heard it when everyone else heard it.”
Watch 2 Chainz, Larry June and The Alchemist talk about “Not Like Us” on The Breakfast Club below:
Mufasa: The Lion King is set to hit digital retailers this month, and to celebrate all the bonus content that will become available for fans to enjoy, Billboard is sharing an exclusive clip that finds two of the creative forces behind the live-action musical reminiscing on their early Lion King memories. Explore Explore See latest […]
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Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance was already historic, but it was his background dancer, Zul Qarnain, who stole the spotlight with a powerful political statement. As Kendrick rocked the stage, Zul used the massive platform of the Super Bowl to bring attention to the ongoing suffering in Gaza and Sudan.
Standing on top of a car, Zul pulled out both a Sudanese and Palestinian flag and waved them proudly, sending a clear message of solidarity. However, his peaceful protest was short-lived as security quickly tackled him and escorted him off the field. While he wasn’t arrested or charged with anything major, Zul was banned from attending any NFL events for life.
Zul Qarnain is no stranger to activism. He is the owner of the Open Book Platform, an initiative that unites Muslims and promotes peace. In his work, Zul has continuously tried to bridge divides, and he recently made headlines by visiting one of America’s most dangerous neighborhoods, Chicago’s “O-Block,” to reduce violence and help people turn toward faith.
His Super Bowl protest, though controversial, was an extension of his lifelong mission to raise awareness and encourage peace in places that need it most. Despite the consequences, Zul’s actions sparked conversation around global issues and demonstrated his commitment to using his platform for positive change.
Check out Hip-Hop Wired’s full conversation with Zul Qarnain:
Fetty Wap is back at No. 1 on a Billboard chart as “Again” jumps 8-1 to rule the TikTok Billboard Top 50 tally dated Feb. 15.
The TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States based on creations, video views and user engagement. The latest chart reflects activity accumulated Feb. 3-9. Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.
“Again” reigns a week after its debut, coinciding with its return to the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 41; the track had previously debuted at No. 33 on the Aug. 29, 2015-dated chart, a rank that currently stands as its peak.
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Its rise is thanks to a TikTok trend; more of a meme of sorts, the song is used in a variety of clips whose audio is altered as though one is listening to “Again” through JBL speakers 10 years ago.
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“Again” earned 12.2 million official U.S. streams in the week ending Feb. 6, good for a 154% gain and a re-entry on the Streaming Songs chart at No. 30. Catalog-wide gains for Fetty Wap also drives his self-titled 2015 album to No. 33 on the Billboard 200 with 19,000 equivalent album units, the set’s best rank since May 2016.
The entire top four of the TikTok Billboard Top 50 reaches a new peak on the Feb. 15 tally, some hitting the top five for the first time as a result. Leading the trio that follows “Again”: Aphex Twin’s “QKThr,” which jumps 9-2. Having previously enjoyed a best of No. 4 (Oct. 26, 2024), “QKThr” enjoyed a boost on TikTok in late 2024 via the “subtle foreshadowing” trend and is more recently utilized in clips describing some type of “core” alongside other viral usages.
Doechii’s “Denial Is a River” vaults into the top three, jumping 15-3 for its first time in the top 10. Though the song had found success on TikTok before the 2025 Grammy Awards (it debuted at No. 50 on the Jan. 11 ranking), it’s exploded in the days following the Feb. 2 ceremony, with one of the top-performing clips an upload from her performance at the show itself, plus a bevy of lip synchs, dances and more.
“Denial Is a River,” spurred by its TikTok success plus the buzz from its Grammy performance, leaps 55-27 on the Hot 100, sporting 13.8 million streams (up 66%), 7.8 million radio audience impressions (up 32%) and 2,000 downloads (up 346%).
Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove,” which reached a new peak of No. 6 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 dated Feb. 8, does two better on the Feb. 15 survey, rising 6-4 via a variety of dance videos, some following a specific trend and others highlighting their own moves to the song, which reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 in 1981.
The week’s top debut on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 belongs to Lady Gaga, whose “Abracadabra” bows at No. 9. It’s Gaga’s second top 10 in two appearances, following the No. 3 peak of “Die With a Smile,” her duet with Bruno Mars, last September.
“Abracadabra” debuts after its Feb. 2 premiere, with Gaga herself sporting many of the top-performing uploads, from behind-the-scenes clips from its music video to a post showing off her Grammys trophy (she won for best pop duo/group performance for “Die With a Smile”). Other clips show users trying to re-create the video’s choreography or making up their own dance moves.
“Abracadabra” concurrently starts at No. 29 on the Hot 100 via 13.7 million streams, 1.4 million audience impressions and 1,000 downloads.
See the full TikTok Billboard Top 50 here. You can also tune in each Friday to SiriusXM’s TikTok Radio (channel 4) to hear the premiere of the chart’s top 10 countdown at 3 p.m. ET, with reruns heard throughout the week.
The producers of the 2025 NAACP Image Awards seem to understand that we could all use a laugh these days. Two days after announcing that comedian Dave Chappelle will receive the President’s Award during the awards show on Saturday, Feb. 22, they are coming back with the news that The Wayans family will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
Wayans family members include Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Kim Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Damien Dante Wayans and Chaunté Wayans. Works created by Wayans family members include the Scary Movie film series, The Wayans Bros., In Living Color, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, White Chicks, My Wife and Kids, and Little Man.
The Hall of Fame Award is presented to individuals or groups who have been pioneers in their respective fields, and whose influence continues to shape their industry. The Wayans Family are the fifth recipients primarily known for comedy, following Richard Pryor (1996), Bill Cosby (2007), Eddie Murphy (2021) and Good Times star Esther Rolle (1987).
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The 56th NAACP Image Awards are set to air live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. This year, the broadcast will be extended 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.
“For decades, the Wayans family has been at the forefront of comedy, breaking barriers and opening doors for waves of entertainers,” Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO, said in a statement. “Their trailblazing work in television, film and stand-up has transcended pop culture and cemented their legacy. Recognizing their achievements with this induction is a celebration of a multi-generational legacy that continues to advance and uplift communities.”
“The Wayans family revolutionized comedy by blending cultural commentary and fearless humor,” added Connie Orlando, EVP of specials, music programming and music strategy at BET. “From In Living Color to blockbuster films, their influence spans generations, breaking barriers for Black entertainers and redefining mainstream comedy. Their ability to push boundaries while resonating with diverse audiences has left an undeniable mark on the industry.”
Keenen Ivory Wayans created the groundbreaking sketch comedy series In Living Color. That Fox series launched the careers of such Hollywood heavyweights as Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Lopez, while setting new standards for diverse storytelling. Wayans won a Primetime Emmy in 1990 as an executive producer of that series, which was voted outstanding variety music or comedy series. Wayans received six nominations for his work on that show. His brother Damon Wayans received four.
By visiting the NAACP Image Awards’ website, the public can vote to determine the winners in select categories. NAACP will recognize winners in non-televised categories virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 18, and Wednesday, Feb. 19, on its YouTube channel and at the 56th NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors Friday, Feb. 21.
Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe are competing for entertainer of the year. GloRilla received the most nominations in the music/recording categories, with six, followed by Doechii, Lamar and Usher, with four nods each. RCA Records received 11 nominations, the most among record labels.
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Joe Budden and Drake have engaged in friendly, and not-so-friendly back-and-forth jabs over the years but it appears that the on-and-off banter between the two is taking a new turn. On an episode of his eponymously named podcast, Joe Budden brushed off jabs from Drake that the Canadian rapper allegedly delivered from a Finsta page.
On Wednesday (Feb. 13), The Joe Budden Podcast addressed Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show performance, taking note of the Compton native’s artistry and attack in regards to the ongoing Drake feud and the impact of hearing “Not Like Us” and “tv off” on such a large stage.
Around 50 minutes in on episode 799 of Budden’s podcast, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill posed a question to his castmates regarding Lamar and pondered if the show was the final bow on the beef. Buddem pushed back with his observations of what occurred and things took off from there.
“Drake on Instagram now posting me,” Budden says slyly, referring to the @plottttwistttttt page rumored to be run by the Canadian superstar.
Budden continued, “Stop it, it’s over. My little walking out the [Madison Square] Garden smoking a little something. Don’t get your ass kicked for the last nine months then come back over here kee-keing. Nope!”
The “Pump It Up” star drove the point home further saying, “Drake, don’t shoot at me now that you ice cold. I’m not doing a back-and-forth with a corpse. I wanted to do it when you was lit. It was fun. Don’t go get shot all through the year and then pop up like Bernie at Weekend At Bernie’s wanting to shoot at me now.”
Check out the episode in question below. The discussion starts around the 48:00-minute mark in the video version versus the 50-minute mark on the audio.
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Photo: The Joe Budden Podcast
“As the volume of digital distribution reaches new heights, a new Billboard chart will better detail how songs are competing in that emerging market,” read a story on page six of the Jan. 22, 2005, print issue, announcing the arrival of the Digital Song Sales chart.
Two weeks later — as we were fervently filling up our iPods with up to thousands of favorites, and taking music on-the-go more easily than ever before — paid downloads first contributed to the multimetric Billboard Hot 100.
Sales of songs had impacted the Hot 100 dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, start (then via retailers’ self-reported ranked lists. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, however, singles — which had evolved from 7-inch vinyl to cassettes and CDs — were disappearing from the marketplace, as labels began holding back song releases to entice consumers to buy (more expensive) full albums instead. The shift resulted in the Hot 100 in that period increasingly reflecting radio airplay reach.
The launch of the iTunes Store, among other digital retailers, brought single sales back, and by the mid-2000s, Billboard’s charts reflected the trend. For more than a decade beginning in the mid-2000s, the No. 1 sales hit each week regularly sold more than 100,000 downloads in the U.S., according to Luminate. In December 2015, Adele’s “Hello” ran up a weekly-record 1.1 million in digital sales.
While streaming has since taken over as the most accepted currency of on-demand song consumption — and vinyl, cassette and CD singles are again among consumer offerings — paid downloads remain a part of the Hot 100’s formula 20 years on.
As Billboard celebrates the top-performing artists, albums and songs of the first 25 years of the century since 2000, browse below, the acts with the most No. 1s on the Digital Song Sales chart in that span.
Plus, check out Top Artists of the 21st Century, Top Billboard 200 Albums of the 21st Century and Billboard’s Top Hot 100 Songs of the 21st Century charts, as well as all coverage of Billboard’s 21st Century charts here.
Billboard’s Top Artists, Top Billboard 200 Albums and Top Hot 100 Songs of the 21st Century recaps reflect performance on weekly charts dated Jan. 1, 2000, through Dec. 28, 2024. The Top Artists category ranks the best-performing acts in that span based on activity on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100. (Titles released prior to mid-1999 are excluded, although such entries that appeared on the Billboard 200 or Hot 100 in that span contribute to the calculation of the Top Artists chart.)
29, Taylor Swift
Drake and PartyNextDoor are here to spice up your Valentine’s Day. The OVO pairing shared the tracklist to their anticipated $ome $exy $ongs 4 U joint project on Thursday (Feb. 13), just a day before it hits streaming services. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The effort is […]