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K-pop singer and songwriter Wheesung (born Choi Whee-sung), was found dead in his home in Seoul, South Korea on Monday night (March 10). According to The Hollywood Reporter, no cause of death has been determined yet and foul play is not suspected, with Seoul police saying a “substantial” amount of time appeared to have passed before the singer’s body was discovered.
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“The artist Wheesung has left us. He was found in cardiac arrest at his residence and was later pronounced dead,” his agency, Tajoy Entertainment, said in a statement. The singer’s mother reportedly discovered his body and called emergency services.
Wheesung rose to prominence in the early 2000s with his soulful vocals and smooth R&B style in a career cut short by a drug-use scandal.
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Born on Feb. 5, 1982, Wheesung made his performance debut in 1999 with the K-pop boy band A4. After a short stint in the group, Wheesung broke solo in 2000 and released his debut single, the emotional R&B ballad “Can’t We?” in 2002, followed by his R&B/soul-inspired debut solo album, Like a Movie.
After winning best new artist at the 2002 Golden Disc Awards, he dropped his sophomore effort, It’s Real, in 2003, expanding his sound to include hip-hop and pop vibes. Several more albums followed in 2004 (For the Moment), 2005 (Love… Love… ? Love… !) and 2007 (Eternal Essence of Music); his most recent release was the 2018 EP In Space.
Wheesung bounced between a number of different management companies in the ensuing years and a decade into his solo run reverted to his early career stage name, Realslow. His career went into a downswing in 2013 when he was accused of using the surgical anesthetic propofol — the drug that contributed to Michael Jackson’s death — for several years for what he said was treatment for a herniated disk and hair loss.
Within days in March and April in 2020, Wheesung was found passed out in public bathrooms near syringes and vials containing etomidate, another sleep-inducing drug similar to propofol, according to BBC News. Following those incidents, his agency at the time, Real Slow Company, issued a statement in which it said, “He has been going through an incredibly difficult period due to the sudden passing of his father and close friends. He has been suffering from depression and panic disorder and has been receiving psychiatric treatment,” according to the Korea Herald.
In 2021, Wheesung got a two-year suspended sentence for abusing propofol.
The singer, who was also a well-respected producer and songwriter, also worked with a number of other K-pop artists, including the girl groups Twice, T-ara and Orange Caramel, as well as Younha, G. NA and Ailee. He was scheduled to co-headline a show with singer KCM dubbed “The Story,” in Daegu, South Korea at EXCO Auditorium on Saturday (March 15); that show has been cancelled.
Corridos bélicos pioneer Luis R Conriquez is set to hit the road with his Trakas HDSPM U.S. Tour, Billboard can announce. The Live Nation-produced stint will kick off April 25 in New York at the UBS Arena and will visit major cities across the country, including San Antonio and Las Vegas before wrapping up Oct. […]
Stephen Schwartz, who wrote both music and lyrics to all the songs in Wicked, is about to become even more “Popular.” The veteran songwriter is set to receive the 2025 Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala on Thursday, June 12, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
The award presentation will come near the midpoint between the November 2024 release of Wicked, which quickly became the highest-grossing film ever based on a Broadway musical, and the November 2025 release of a sequel, Wicked: For Good. Both films are based on the 2003 stage musical Wicked.
Schwartz, 76, has won three Oscars, four Grammys, four Drama Desk Awards and a Golden Globe. He has received six Tony nominations, in addition to receiving their Isabelle Stevenson Award in 2015 for his support of young artists.
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The Mercer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the SHOF, is reserved for a songwriter or songwriting team who has already been inducted into the SHOF and whose body of work upholds the high standards set by Mercer, wrote dozens of hits from the 1930s through the 1960s. (Learn more about Mercer here.) Schwartz was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.
“With every lyric and melody, Stephen invites us on an unforgettable journey,” SHOF chairman Nile Rodgers said in a statement. “From his iconic list of award-winning musicals, including Godspell, Wicked and Pippin, Stephen continually proves that he is the only person who can turn a simple story into a Broadway musical masterpiece, one catchy chorus at a time!”
Schwartz won his first two Oscars – best original song for “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas and best original musical or comedy score for that same film, in tandem with Alan Menken, who received the Johnny Mercer Award in 2017. Schwartz won his third Oscar – best original song for “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt – by himself.
Schwartz is the second Mercer recipient in the past three years who is largely known for his work in theater. Tim Rice, who teamed with Andrew Lloyd Webber to write such classics as Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, won the award in 2023.
Schwartz has been a major force in the American musical theater since the early 1970’s, when he had three hit shows running on Broadway – Godspell, Pippin, and The Magic Show.
Four of Schwartz’s songs – two from stage musicals and two from films – have become top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. “Day by Day” from Godspell (credited to Godspell) reached No. 13 in 1972. The Jackson 5’s cover version of “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin reached No. 18 in 1972, Vanessa Williams’ “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas hit No. 4 in 1995, and Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey’s “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt reached No. 15 in 1999. The latter film was DreamWorks’ first animated feature.
Schwartz’s other musicals, in addition to those already named, include The Magic Show, The Baker’s Wife, Working, Rags, Children of Eden, and the upcoming The Queen of Versailles, which is slated to open on Broadway this fall. His other films, in addition to those already named, include The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted.
In the classical field, Schwartz collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on Mass and composed the opera, Seance on a Wet Afternoon. He has also released two singer/songwriter albums, Reluctant Pilgrim and Uncharted Territory.
Under the auspices of The ASCAP Foundation, Schwartz runs musical theater workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and serves on the ASCAP Foundation board. He is also a member of the Council of the Dramatists’ Guild.
Gracie Abrams, 25, was announced two weeks ago as the recipient of the SHOF’s other major honorary award, the Hal David Starlight Award. That award, named after the Oscar- and Grammy-winning lyricist, is presented to young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs.
Previously announced 2025 SHOF inductees are George Clinton, Ashley Gorley, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Mike Love, Tony Macaulay and three members of The Doobie Brothers (Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons).
A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction into the SHOF 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.
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Taxstone might be facing additional time. The currently jailed media personality has been charged with smuggling contraband into a Brooklyn jail.
As per HipHopDX, several inmates at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center are accused of either smuggling or being in possession of contraband. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Taxstone used an elaborate scheme to sneak in different prohibited items including marijuana, cigarettes, lighters, a scalpel and more. Back in June of 2024, he is said to have conspired with Ian Diez, Jonathan Guerrero, Abel Mora and Mayovanex Rodriguez to bring in the contraband by throwing out a piece of line outside of a window. An individual located outside of the correctional facility would then “hook” and attach the package so it can be pulled back up and into the jail. Taxstone is alleged to have used a mobile phone to coordinate the plan with external parties who have yet to be identified.
“The safety and security of our federal detention facilities is paramount,” said United States Attorney Durham via a press release. “These actions undermine the order and security of MDC-Brooklyn and endanger everyone within its walls. My Office is working tirelessly to hold accountable those who commit violent acts or introduce contraband into the prison, whether they are inmates or staff. These charges serve as a warning to those who would engage in criminal conduct behind bars, and anyone else who facilitates those crimes: your conduct will be uncovered, and you will be held accountable.”
If found guilty of smuggling, he could face an additional 10 years in prison. In June 2023, he was sentenced to 30 years for fatally shooting Troy Ave’s bodyguard at a nightclub. He was also sentenced to 10 years on federal gun charges in November 2023 for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
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A fundraiser event for New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo was notable for the high amount of powerful women who attended.
Last Friday (March 7), former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo received a big boost for his mayoral campaign, thanks to a breakfast fundraising event that counted over 250 notable women in different fields in the audience. The fundraiser was held at 425 Park Avenue in Manhattan. Those who wished to attend were required to pay $250 for an individual ticket, with supporters chipping in $2,100 and chairpersons required to pay out $10,000. “Once a small group started talking about this event, it took off. We’re now having to turn people away,” a source close to the organizing group said.
Cuomo spoke to everyone in attendance, according to reports. There was even a surprise appearance by Brooklyn Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, who gave her endorsement of Cuomo for mayor. Her endorsement, along with that of former City Comptroller Carl H. McCall and Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres represents striking early political support from some representing the city’s Black and Brown communities.
The attendees included Cuomo’s family – his mother, Matilda Raffa Cuomo, sister Maria Cuomo Cole, sister-in-law Cristina Greeven Cuomo as well as his daughters Cara, Mariah, and Michaela. Other attendees included Tribeca Enterprises co-founder Jane Rosenthal, Renee Rockefeller, Margie Loeb, Tanya Zuckerbrot, Jen Bayer, Simone Levinson, Judith Hope, Fern Mallis, Jennifer Gilbert, Harriet Schleifer, and former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. Activist Patricia Duff, Serena Roosevelt, Melissa DeRosa, and Second Shift co-founder Jenny Galluzzo rounded out the notable personas in the audience.
Cuomo’s fundraiser marks a significant increase in his public appearances since he declared that he would run in the Democratic primary for mayor last week, reminding people of his achievements as governor. His opponents in the primary, including state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, have attacked him on his having to step down as governor due to numerous allegations of sexual harassment in 2021. A recently released poll from Gotham Polling & Analytics favors a Cuomo win in ranked-choice voting, with him beating out Lander and Mamdani at 51% to 31% and 18%, respectively.
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Doechii is really coming up in the world these days as she’s already a Grammy Award winner and well on her way to household name recognition, but nothing says “I made it” like a co-sign from one of the biggest music icons from the previous generation, Lauryn Hill.
Over the weekend the “Ex-Factor” singer was performing at the Jazz in the Gardens (JITG) music festival when she surprised fans during her set by bringing out Doechii to help her perform a rendition of her classic ’90s hit, “Doo Wop (That Thing).” Rapping Lauryn Hill’s verses while Ms. Hill performed the background vocals, Doechii was obviously motivated to show out during the set, as she knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to share the stage with a music legend that rarely pops out, and on the rare occasions when she does, she’s usually hours late (no shots).
Taking to X to express her gratitude over the moment, Doechii thanked the multi-platinum-selling artist and wrote, “Thank you Miss Lauryn Hill. Thank you. My heart is so full. She is my hero. This is the greatest honor hip hop could give me. Praise God 🤎 … my entire body is vibrating with joy right now. I’ll never forget this day! EVER!”
Still on cloud nine from the moment, Doechii tweeted another post in which she said, “I never been so nervous in my life 😭 she is a QUEEN.”
You gotta love it.
Whether or not this will lead to a collaboration between the two women at some point is anyone’s guess (we hope it does), but for now we’re just glad to see these two marvels sharing the same space for the culture.
What do y’all think about Lauryn Hill and Doechii linking up in concert? Would y’all want to hear a cut featuring these two artists? Let us know in the comments section below.
You know how you know you’re a huge pop star? When the mere mention of your name, or a brief, dance-y cameo during the host’s monologue drive the studio audience into uncontrollable shrieking. BTS‘ j-hope knows this feeling.
The singer got ARMY in formation early on Monday night (March 10) during his appearance on The Tonight Show when he snuck out during Jimmy Fallon’s monologue for a bit making fun of the host’s lame dance moves. “I wish I could dance even a 10th as good as he can,” Fallon lamented of his skills compared to his guest, as Roots drummer Questlove assured Jimmy that he indeed had smooth moves. Busting into some seriously cringe dad choreo, Jimmy gyrated to massive screams as a smiling Hobi slipped on stage to show him how it’s done, leaving Fallon thinking that he’d killed it. “You love my dancing!” Fallon blushed.
The singer came back for a sit-down chat, beginning with his favorite things to do when he visits the U.S. Fallon noted that the K-pop superstar recently made his first visit to In-N-Out Burger and he asked how it went. Switching from Korean to English, j-hope said he ordered a cheeseburger, animal-style, a vanilla milkshake and fries. “It was good…. very salty and cheesy and sweety… but not healthy,” he smiled.
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After Fallon shared a recent Instagram post in which Hobi busted out his best Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us” shuffle dance, the singer confirmed that he’s never met K-Dot, but is definitely down for a collab. “I’m ready for work with you, Kendrick,” he said to screeches from the studio audience as he did a command performance of the signature dance from Lamar’s Drake-destroying single.
In addition to talking about his early days in the underground dance crew Neuron — which was inspired by the first time he heard the clothes-to-the-back kid rap duo Kriss Kross — j-hope said that, like Fallon’s pal Justin Timberlake, when he’s in the studio he can’t help dancing to his own songs and dreaming about what it will be like to perform them live.
“Whenever I listen to music, something come up in my mind,” he said. “And I think of how I want to express that on stage.”
The singer also came back to close the show with a performance of his new solo single, “Sweet Dreams,” with Miguel. Standing on a platform on a fog-shrouded set, Hobi harmonized with the soul singer on the song’s love-filled chorus in his first-ever solo spot on the show, before busting out his melodic rap on the verse while rocking the stage in baggy jeans and fuzzy bunny slippers.
Watch j-hope on The Tonight Show below.
Continuing his ascent as one of the U.K.’s most in-demand electronic acts, Barry Can’t Swim has returned with a intense new single. Listen to “The Person You’d Like To Be” below.
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Offering direct spoken-word vocals that cut through discordant arrangements, the track marks the first preview of a forthcoming project from the Scottish artist. More details of the release are expected to arrive soon.
Born Joshua Mainnie, the DJ and producer has had a stratospheric rise over the past 18 months. Following the release of his debut album, When Will We Land?, in October 2023 – which peaked at No. 12 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart – Mainnie has gone on to perform at major festivals across the globe, including Coachella and Australia’s Laneway.
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In September 2024, the record was shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize. His nomination puts him alongside Aphex Twin, Nia Archives, Burial, Jamie xx, Fred Again.. and Jon Hopkins as the only solo British electronic acts to be nominated for the award. Leeds band English Teacher would go on to be named as the winner of last year’s award.
Later that month, Mainnie released “Still Riding,” a dancefloor cut that features a sample of Kali Uchis’ 2015 single “Ridin Round.” It was first aired at one of his sets in 2022, before he released the track – which samples the Colombian-American artist’s vocals – to streaming two years later.
When Will We Land? also led Mainnie to a BRIT Awards 2024 nomination in the dance act category, as well as making the shortlist for the Scottish Album of the Year awards. He performed three sold-out shows at London’s iconic O2 Academy Brixton last October, following a much talked-about slot on The Park stage at Glastonbury earlier in the year.
Mainnie will headline London’s All Points East series on Aug. 22. He will be supported by special guests Confidence Man and Shygirl. Elsewhere, there will be appearances from a bevy of dance acts including DJ Heartstring, Interplanetary Criminal, Salute, Leon Vynehall and ATRIP, among others. The four-night festival will also see RAYE, The Maccabees, and Chase & Status top the bill at their respective all-dayers.
On Aug. 24, Mainnie will appear at Bristol’s Forwards Festival alongside Doechii, Ezra Collective, and Jorja Smith. He is also scheduled to headline Lost Village Festival in Lincolnshire across the same weekend.
He is currently gearing up for a U.S. tour through the spring, which will see him perform in major cities including Boston and New York. The run of dates will culminate with two nights at Los Angeles’ Shrine Expo Hall (May 2-3).
Lil Nas X took some time off, but clearly it was no vacation. The rapper has dropped back-to-back new singles this week and on his latest he’s warning that no games will be played this year. “B–ch, I’m in my prime like a paintbrush/ Big s–t poppin’, walkin’ ’round in a mink vest/ Whoop-whoop, talkin’ […]
The Voice season 27 turned up the heat Monday night (March 10) as the Battle Rounds began, pitting the Top 48 contestants against each other in unforgettable duets to secure their place in the Knockouts.
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Coaches Adam Levine, John Legend, Michael Bublé, and Kelsea Ballerini each paired their artists strategically, but it was Team Adam’s matchup between Fran Posla and Ethan Eckenroad that sparked one of the evening’s most memorable performances.
Performing Noah Cyrus’s emotional hit “July,” Posla and Eckenroad showcased distinctly different vocal strengths on the soulful track.
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Posla, who Levine encouraged to sing slightly sharp to maintain pitch—advice he insisted “makes sense” despite the initial confusion—captivated the audience immediately with her crisp tone and confident phrasing. Her cool, laid-back delivery earned her praise across the board, with Kelsea Ballerini enthusiastically describing Posla as the “ultimate cool girl,” jokingly adding, “I want to go drink a bourbon with you, and I don’t even drink bourbon, ’cause that scares me.”
Meanwhile, Ethan Eckenroad, who has spent considerable time away from his wife and infant daughter during the competition, brought a softer, emotionally charged vocal style that gained momentum throughout the performance.
While he initially struggled to find his footing, Eckenroad eventually won over the coaches with a soulful climax that highlighted his vocal warmth. Michael Bublé particularly praised Eckenroad’s voice as “soft and beautiful,” recognizing the hidden power beneath his gentle delivery.
However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Eckenroad from the start, as both Legend and Levine acknowledged he took some time to find his groove.
Legend noted that while Posla appeared effortlessly comfortable with Noah Cyrus’s track “July,” Eckenroad’s initial uncertainty was apparent. Ultimately, Adam surprised viewers with his decision, advancing Ethan Eckenroad to the Knockouts while eliminating Fran Posla, despite universal acclaim for her standout performance.
Levine appeared conflicted, reflecting openly: “Fran, you really did thrive singing this song. Ethan, it’s not that you didn’t thrive, because you did…but it took a little time.” Despite second-guessing the song choice, Levine placed his bets on Eckenroad’s growth potential moving forward.
The Voice Season 27 continues next week as coaches Legend, Levine, Bublé, and Ballerini guide their artists into the Knockout rounds, inching closer to crowning the next vocal star.