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Lil Durk’s “Deep Thoughts” album sees the Chicago rapper exploring personal growth and the challenges of his life, all while reflecting on his faith and the streets that shaped him.
From the introspective opening track “Shaking When I Pray,” Durk sets the tone for the album, starting with a recitation of a Muslim prayer, signaling the importance of religion in his life. He touches on how the streets criticize him for not doing enough, despite his numerous contributions. While it’s an important track, it doesn’t quite hit the mark as an intro compared to some of Durk’s previous work.
“Keep On Sippin’” dives deep into Durk’s ongoing battle with lean. He confesses that whenever life goes wrong, he turns to the cup, and when things go right, he does the same. His partner, India, even makes it clear that they won’t get married if he doesn’t stop. This track captures Durk’s vulnerability and struggle with addiction.
In “They Want to Be You,” Durk reflects on the way the streets look up to him, and how he feels the need to better himself for them. He also stresses that he has nothing left to prove but a lot to be used for. Future’s feature adds to the track, bringing his signature energy. “Soul Bleed” is classic Durk, with that raw emotional honesty fans have come to expect, reminiscent of hits like “All Love” and “Backdoor.” In “1000 Times,” the collaboration with Lil Baby shines, addressing the struggles that come with the street life.
“Turn Up a Notch” serves as an anthem for those looking to level up, while “Vanish Mode” lives up to the hype surrounding its release, echoing the excitement fans felt for “Three Headed Goats.” Lastly, “Monitoring Me” brings back Durk’s drill roots, talking heavy about his ops, much like his hit “AHHH HA.” Deep Thoughts is a solid project that showcases Durk’s growth and depth, balancing his street narrative with introspection and faith.
Check out the ratings of each song and overall for Lil Durk’s latest album, “Deep Thoughts” below.
1. Shaking When I Pray – 5/10
2. Keep On Sippin’ – 5.5/10
3. They Want to Be You – 6/10
4. Soul Bleed – 7.5/10
5. 1000 Times – 7/10
6. Turn Up a Notch – 7/10
7. Vanish Mode – 8.5/10
8. Monitoring Me – 9/10
9. Untouchable – 8/10
10. Notebook (No Hook) – 7.5/10
11. Can’t Hide It – 5/10
12. Wonderin’ Again – 4.5/10
13. Late Checkout – 4.5/10
14. Think You Glowed – 5/10
15. Opportunist – 7/10
16. Alhamdulilah – 6.5/10
17. Deep Depression – 7/10
18. Lil Durk’s “Deep Thoughts” Overall Rating: 6
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With March coming to a close, the music releases haven’t slowed down with a number of A-list stars dropping new singles and albums. Kicking things off is Ariana Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead deluxe edition of her 2024 Billboard 200 chart-topping album, Eternal Sunshine. The extended edition of the original 13-song project features six new tracks, […]
Doechii banks her second No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart as “Denial Is a River” storms to the summit of the list dated April 5. The new champ jumps from No. 5 to crown the list as the most-played song on U.S. panel-contributing rhythmic radio stations for the tracking week of March 21-27, according to Luminate, and improved 13% in plays for the latest tracking period compared to the week prior.
Before “Denial is a River,” released and promoted to radio through Top Dawg/Capitol Records/ICLG, Doechii ruled Rhythmic Airplay with “What It Is (Block Boy).” The single, which features Kodak Black, reigned for one week in June 2023.
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As “Denial” takes the throne, it ousts GELO’s “Tweaker” after a one-week stay in the penthouse. The former leader slips to No. 2 following a 7% decline in plays for the tracking week.
Doechii’s latest coronation arrives just one day before the Grammy Award-winning rapper/singer is set to receive another honor: officially accepting the coveted Woman of the Year title at Billboard’s 2025 Women in Music event. The ceremony will occur tomorrow night (March 29) in Los Angeles, with other honorees including Rising Star winner Muni Long and Icon Award recipient Erykah Badu.
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Beyond its Rhythmic Airplay crown, “Denial Is a River” continues to make waves across other radio formats. It repeats its No. 12 best on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, where, despite no change in rank, the song earned 6% more plays in the latest tracking week. Meanwhile, it pushes 26-23 on Pop Airplay thanks to a 4% boost in plays at mainstream top-40 radio stations. The concurrent improvements from different sectors spark its 28-27 gain on the all-genre, audience-based Radio Songs chart, where the single leaps 10% in weekly audience to 24.4 million.
While “Denial is a River” builds its radio results, Doechii’s latest single, “Anxiety,” is generating favorable momentum. The Gotye-sampling single, which had a nearly six-year journey from initial recording to release, drives 33-21 on Rhythmic Airplay in its second week on the chart from a 181% surge in plays, winning it the weekly Greatest Gainer honor for the largest increase in plays among all tracks. Similarly, “Anxiety” races 36-28 on Pop Airplay thanks to a 199% vault in plays (snagging another Greatest Gainer prize) and debuts at No. 32 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.
All charts dated April 5 will update on Billboard‘s website this Tuesday, April 1.
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Eugene Henley Jr., also known as Big U, is reportedly a prominent leading figure in the infamous Rollin’ 60s Crips gang. Big U was charged this week in a 43-count indictment that includes RICO charges, extortion, and more.The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California issued a press release via the U.S. Department of Justice website’s Central District of California website segment. In the press release, Big U and six other defendants were named in the sweeping indictment, and the charges all stem from federal investigators alleging that Henley used intimidation and street violence to get others to bend to his will.
From Justice.gov:
Eugene Henley, Jr., 58, a.k.a. “Big U,” of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and extortion (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, nine counts of attempted Hobbs Act extortion, five counts of Hobbs Act extortion, one count of transportation of an individual in interstate commerce with intent that the individual engage in prostitution (Mann Act), 15 counts of wire fraud, five counts of embezzlement, conversion, and intentional misapplication of funds from an organization receiving federal funds, one count of bank fraud, one count of tax evasion, and two counts of willful failure to file a tax return.
Also named in the state’s indictment release were:
Sylvester Robinson, 59, a.k.a. “Vey,” of Northridge;Mark Martin, 50, a.k.a. “Bear Claw,” of the Beverlywood area of Los Angeles;Termaine Ashley Williams, 42, a.k.a. “Luce Cannon,” of Las Vegas;Armani Aflleje, 38, a.k.a. “Mani,” of Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles;Fredrick Blanton Jr., 43, of South Los Angeles; andTiffany Shanrika Hines, 51, of Yorba Linda.
Investigators pointed to Henley’s alleged operations hub, known in court documents as Big U Enterprises, for being similar to the Mafia’s style of using violence, extortion, robbery, and even murder to advance the will of the organization.
“As the indictment alleges, Mr. Henley led a criminal enterprise whose conduct ranged from murder to sophisticated fraud that included stealing from taxpayers and a charity,” Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally shared in the press release. “Eradicating gangs and organized crime is the Department of Justice’s top priority. Today’s charges against the leadership of this criminal outfit will make our neighborhoods in Los Angeles safer.”
As seen in the indictment that was handed in on March 26, investigators say that from 2010 until March of this year, Henley’s power and influence extended beyond gang and street culture and expanded into the entertainment world. There have been swirling reports of Henley sanctioning high-stakes gambling meetups, trafficking sex workers across state lines, fraud, and more. Henley allegedly used his status a longtime member of the Crips and the respect it garnered to exact his will.
Henley, Robinson, and Martin would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the racketeering conspiracy count. The bank fraud charge levied against can carry up to 30 years in federal prison.
Read the full indictment here.
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This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music, including albums by Máximo Grado (Somos Leyenda), Fito Paez (Novela), Venesti (Origen) and Natanael Cano (Recordando Ariel Camacho). Plus, Emilia, Tini and Nicki Nicole team up for “blackout,” an electro-pop cheeky collaboration powered by fast-paced merengue rhythms that redefines what […]
SaveLive, the platform launched in 2020 during the pandemic to assist independent venue owners and promote concerts in secondary and tertiary markets, has changed its name to Gate 52. The company was co-founded by John Fogelman and Marc Geiger “to bring scalable services and advantages to independent venue owners and secondary markets,” according to a press release […]
Nick Cannon is realizing that having 12 kids isn’t cheap. The star recently sat down with People, where he reflected on his viral comment from Courtney Bee’s We Playin’ Spades podcast, in which he said he’s not ready to rule out the possibility of having more kids in the future. “My grandmother called me last night, like ‘Another One!’ I […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Máximo Grado, Somos Leyenda (Warner Music México)
The album’s cover art is enough indication that Somos Leyenda is bound to be revolutionary. In the middle of the Eugène Delacroix-inspired artwork, you have Máximo Grado’s frontman Christian Felix waving a flag in triumph surrounded by a powerful battalion comprised of some of the biggest powerhouses in regional Mexican music today, including Carín León, Natanael Cano, Luis R Conriquez, Junior H and Fuerza Regida, to name a few — all featured as collaborators on the album. Released via Warner Music México, the 15-track set cements Máximo Grado’s stronghold on música mexicana and a legacy that has not only stood the test of time but has also influenced a new generation of Mexican hitmakers along the way.
The LP includes reimagined versions of Máximo Grado’s accordion-powered corridos, including “Gallos y Caballos,” “La Guera y La Morena,” “Yo Soy Ivan” and “Unas Heladas.” Besides the aforementioned artists on the album, Somos Leyenda also includes collabs with Grupo Firme, Eden Muñoz, Tito Double P, Netón Vega, Belinda, Los Dareyes de la Sierra, Alfredo Olivas, Grupo Marca Registrada, Codiciado and Legado 7. The significant number of artists who jumped on the project is a nod to the the genre’s collective effort to grow the regional Mexican music global movement. — GRISELDA FLORES
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Emilia, Tini & Nicki Nicole, “blackout” (Sony Music Latin)
When Argentine powerhouses Emilia, Nicki Nicole and Tini unite, they deliver an electrifying collaboration titled “blackout.” This riveting track, part of Emilia’s upcoming new EP, emerges as a vibrant anthem that radiates desire, confidence and unapologetic feminine energy. The song bursts with a dynamic electro-pop backdrop, seamlessly merging vibrant, fast-paced merengue rhythms that invite listeners to get up and dance. The lyrics and melodies not only celebrate physical attraction but also reframe the notion of “being hot,” transforming it into a bold and empowering statement of independence and self-confidence. — INGRID FAJARDO
Natanael Cano, Recordando Ariel Camacho (Live) (Los CT Records/Rancho Humilde)
It’s no secret that Natanael Cano holds deep admiration for Ariel Camacho, the fallen sierreño idol who passed away far too soon at the age of 22. Cano, a key figure in the corridos tumbados movement, credits Camacho — as do many other youth from the booming música mexicana explosion — as a major inspiration behind his groundbreaking sound and career. Recorded during a live performance in Guadalajara’s palenque alongside Camacho’s band, Los Plebes del Rancho, Recordando Ariel Camacho captures Cano’s heartfelt homage through ten tracks that reimagine the late artist’s legacy. Highlights include fan favorites like “El Karma,” “Hablemos,” and “Te Metiste,” paired with new versions of classics such as “El Toro Encartado.” “Ariel Camacho inspired me and so many others,” Cano stated in the 2024 documentary The Global Rise of Mexican Music. “He’s the only person I’ve ever cried for in my life. I admired him, and I still admire him. I never got to meet him”. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Fito Páez, Novela (Sony Music España)
Fito Páez gifts fans a fascinating rock musical with Novela, a 25-song project he spent more than 35 years writing, between 1988 and 2024. The work tells the magical story of Villa Constitución, a town in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, where a strange circus arrives to revolutionize the lives of its inhabitants. Through songs like “Universidad Prix,” “Cuando el Circo Llega al Pueblo,” “Superextraño,” and “El Triunfo del Amor,” Páez introduces us to his singular characters: The school’s dean, Rectitud Martirius; the witches Maldivina and Turbialuz; the young protagonists of the love story Loka (daughter of the circus owner) and Jimmy (singer of a rock band), and more.
“Fantastic adventures, disturbing cabarets. Neighbors darks and freaks. Characters with anguish, tragedies, lights and shadows, who spend their days in the limit between a town and a poor circus that defines the antagonism and the staging of daily life and its reaction to supernatural events that constantly happen, among them, the appearance of love,” the production notes summarize. Co-produced by Páez with Gustavo Borner and Diego Olivero, and recorded between Abbey Road in London and 5020 Studios in Madrid, the album arrives with the uplifting focus track “Sale el Sol,” which, like other songs on the set, works perfectly on its own. But the magic occurs collectively: It’s impossible to listen to Novela without having the whole movie playing in your head. – SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Venesti, Origen (AP Global Music)
After scoring his first Billboard Latin Music Award last Fall (for Latin pop song of the year with “No Es Normal,” featuring Maffio and Nacho), the rising Colombian artist returns to his roots with Origen, his second album. The set, featuring a roster of local Colombian talent, from DJs to rappers, marries Venesti’s signature melodic urban sound to Afro Caribbean rhythms, from the Pacific Coast’s currulao (in the catchy “Taca Tu Tacu”) to the Afro Pop of “Felina,” featuring Nacho. The mixes are layered and subtle, yet convincing. This is an artist coming into his own with a singular sound that touches many borders. — LEILA COBO
Debi Nova, “Tu Manera de Amar” (Sony Music Latin)
An infectious drum and bass line invites the listener to move from the first chords of “Tu Manera de Amar,” the electrifying new love song from Debi Nova. “If you could feel what I feel, you would reach high, to the sky” the Costa Rican singer-songwriter sings over a soft, surrounding pop-rock rhythm. “Your way of loving is what I want.” “‘Tu Manera de Amar’ is a kind of ritual for me, a cleansing, a dance, a shaking off of everything I want to leave behind and the perfect beginning for this new era,” she wrote on X. “So I hope you shake it off and dance to it and make it your own.” For example and inspiration, just watch her dance in the video. – S.R.A.
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
Alex Warren has gone back to back with a second week at No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart with “Ordinary” (March 28). The rising U.S. singer-songwriter and former Hype House member first hit the top spot last week for his maiden No. 1 single. “Ordinary” is the most streamed track in the U.K. over […]
Leigh band The Lottery Winners has bagged its second No. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart. KOKO follows their previous LP Anxiety Replacement Therapy, which achieved the feat in 2023.
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The indie-rockers praised their hometown of Leigh in Greater Manchester when celebrating the news, and toasted the local scene and small venues where they learned their craft. Speaking to the Official Charts Company, the four-piece said, “This is for grassroots music. This is for the working class. This is for Leigh. This is for anybody who has a dream — go out there and get it. Make it happen!”
It continues the group’s upward momentum on the Official Albums Chart over the past few years following the band’s 2020 debut, The Lottery Winners (No. 23), its 2020 follow-up Sounds of Isolation (No. 61) and 2021’s Something to Leave the House For (No. 11).
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The group has played at festivals including Glastonbury, and supported British pop icon Robbie Williams on tour. KOKO’s guest vocalists include Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Britpop band Shed Seven and more.
Elsewhere, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet completes the week at No. 2, while Scottish band Deacon Blue’s 11th studio album, The Great Western Road, lands at No. 3, and gives the group its seventh top 10 U.K. album.
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s joint LP, I Said I Love You First, debuts at No. 4 and is Gomez’s second U.K. top 10 album, following 2020’s Rare (No. 2). It’s the first top 10 LP for her fiancé Blanco, who has a number of U.K. No. 1 singles to his name as a writer and producer, including Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.”
Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM finishes at No. 5, Playboi Carti’s Music falls from the top spot to No. 7, while The Horrors’ first album in eight years, Night Life, enters the charts at No. 16.