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Source: Jordan Brand / Jordan Brand
Golf may not be thee most popular sport in the culture, but regardless the good folks over at Jordan Brand are doing what they can to help golfers take their game to the next level. The house that Air Jordan built has introduced their latest footwear tech to give players a new advantage out on the green whenever swinging that 9-iron.
Source: Jordan Brand / Jordan Brand
On Monday (April 14) Nike unveiled their Jordan Brand Air Rev silhouette, which was made specifically for the golfers of the world. It boasts their innovative Flight Lock technology, which promises to help players take their game to another level. Will it turn the average man into Happy Gilmore overnight? Of course not, but if you’re already familiar with the sport and know your way around the Front Nine, you may appreciate what Nike and Jordan Brand have to offer next time you hop out that golf cart and get things popping.
Per Nike:
Designed to promote efficiency and consistency for a full day on the course, the Air Rev’s Flight Lock technology debuts a moveable Air Zoom unit that pairs with an interchangeable Formula23 foam insert, dial lacing system and leno weave strap to help golfers go the distance like never before.
The Air Zoom unit is intended to be inserted into a pouch in the sidewall of the golfer’s trail (back) foot, providing appropriate pressure with every swing, while the Formula23 foam is to be used on the lead (front) foot, delivering cushioned stability. This customizable system allows both left- and right-handed golfers to use the same model of shoe, swapping the Air Zoom unit and Formula23 foam to meet their needs.
Sounds like a helluva unit, but unfortunately we don’t know much about golfing so we may never find out how amazing these joints are to wear on the golf course.
Still, the NBA GOAT is excited about his brand’s latest product, and if he’s excited, his fellow golf buddies should be too.
“The future of golf isn’t tied to its past,” says Michael Jordan. “For the next generation, it’s bolder and more modern. Jordan Brand Golf blends performance, innovation and iconic style, building a future where the players, not the past, define what’s next.”
Might have to cop a pair just to walk around a park and see what the fuss is all about.
Will you be copping the Jordan Air Rev on May 14 to help you up your game next time you hit the golf course? Maybe even miniature golfing? Let us know in the comments section below.
Source: Jordan Brand / Jordan Brand
04/15/2025
Our staff’s favorite songs from a year that confirmed that hip-hop and R&B were now at top 40’s center, but also had plenty of great rock, country and dance-pop to go around.
By 
Rania Aniftos, Katie Atkinson, Katie Bain, Eric Renner Brown, Anna Chan, Hannah Dailey, Stephen Daw, Kyle Denis, Griselda Flores, Paul Grein, Jason Lipshutz, Joe Lynch, Heran Mamo, Rebecca Milzoff, Taylor Mims, Gail Mitchell, Melinda Newman, Isabela Raygoza, Kristin Robinson, Jessica Roiz, Dan Rys, Michael Saponara, Andrew Unterberger, Christine Werthman, Kristen Wisneski
04/15/2025
Where’s the beef? Fans think it’s cooking between Kesha and Katy Perry, especially after the former posted an interestingly timed selfie with a plastic Wendy’s cup just hours after the fast-food chain penned a shady comment on X about the latter.
In the photo uploaded Monday night (April 14), the “Tik Tok” singer, wearing a pair of sunglasses, smiles innocuously while sipping on a Wendy’s cup with the logo clearly facing the camera. Forgoing a caption, Kesha let the picture speak for itself — and in turn, people online have interpreted it as the pop star throwing a subtle jab Perry’s way.
That’s because Wendy’s had earlier in the evening spoken negatively of the “Firework” singer, who was one of six passengers on Blue Origin’s all-women flight crew who landed safely back on earth after a brief trip to space Monday. Under a post announcing that Perry had returned from her expedition, the brand’s official account replied, “Can we send her back.”
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In another X message, the fast-food chain shared a photo of the “Firework” singer planting a smooch on the earth after landing, captioning it with a nod to her lyrics, “I kissed the ground and i liked it.” When one X user quipped that Perry had only been in space for about 10 minutes, the brand shot back, “Don’t short change her it was 11 minutes.”
Billboard has reached out to reps for Kesha, Perry and Wendy’s for comment.
Though it remains unclear why Wendy’s might have an issue with the former American Idol judge, fans are sure that Kesha’s seemingly snarky selfie is all to do with the two women’s respective histories with Dr. Luke. In 2014, Kesha alleged that the Kemosabe Records founder drugged and raped her in 2005, after which he sued her for defamation while vehemently maintaining that her claims were “false and shocking.” Their ensuing legal battle continued for nine years before the two parties finally reached a settlement in 2023.
Before the settlement, however, Perry’s name was brought up in the lawsuit when Dr. Luke’s lawyers claimed that Kesha had at one point told Lady Gaga via private text messages that the producer had previously raped Perry. In a deposition dated July 2017 and released in August 2018, however, Perry denied that Dr. Luke ever assaulted her, leading Kesha’s team to issue a response saying that a major label CEO had been the one to share that allegation with Kesha and Gaga.
But despite Kesha’s allegations against Dr. Luke, Perry still made the controversial decision to work with him on her 2024 single “Woman’s World” — something she later defended on a September episode of Call Her Daddy. “He was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with,” she said of the producer, who worked on her older hits “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream.” “But the reality is, it comes from me. The truth is, I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that — one of the writers, one of the producers.”
Even so, countless people online are now cheering Kesha on for appearing to support the Wendy’s diss. “Kesha is HILARIOUS for this,” one person wrote of the situation on X, while another fan said, “KESHA IS SO SHADY LMAOOO.”
“I think Wendy’s was stupid to do this, but Kesha is absolutely justified in hating a person who continues to platform the man who raped her,” another person added.
Explained one X user to another who was confused by what the shade may be about, “Katy Perry worked with Dr Luke. Wendy’s trolled Katy yesterday so Kesha ran to post with Wendy’s.”
See Kesha’s Wendy’s selfie below.
Thomas Rhett‘s surprise appearance at Contemporary Christian Music artist Forrest Frank’s recent sold-out Bridgestone Arena show in Nashville on Sunday night (April 13) didn’t quite go as planned. The eight-time ACM award winner surprised fans by joining Frank for a performance of their recent collaboration “Nothing Else” — and ended up leaving the arena in […]
Bow Wow discusses his success with The Millennium Tour and why he loves touring, reflects on his Hot 100 hits including “Let Me Hold You,” “Like You” and others. He also shares what you can expect from his new album with Chris Brown, Future’s cameo in his music video and more!
What’s your favorite Bow Wow song? Let us know in the comments!
Carl Lamarre:Y’all, I am deputy director of R&B and hip-hop, Mr. Carl Lamarre. We are here at the Barclays Center for a special tour — The Millennium Tour — super throwback, super nostalgic, but we are here with Mr. 106, but I told him today he’s gonna be Mr. Hot 100. I’m talking about 21, of them, bad boys. Three top 10.
Bow Wow:That’s crazy.
Mr. Bow Weezy.
What’s up, man?
How you feeling?
I’m good. I feel blessed. I’m great.
Listen, man, we are on tour in Barclays at Brooklyn. Man, how has the tour been for you so far?
Tour has been a blessing. You know, this is our fourth Millennium Tour, third one for me, and just going out on these … on the stage, and going to these arenas and just looking at 13, 14,000 people every night. Words can’t even describe because now staring at myself at 38 years old knowing that I was doing it 25 years ago and I’m still doing it. I’m still going down these tunnels and hallways. Sometimes, young child artists that start off young, they usually don’t make it this far. For me to still be here doing it, man, something must be going right
That’s God working right there. Absolutely, for cats who haven’t seen you perform, what’s your stage game like right now?
Keep watching for more!
Just weeks after being named Billboard‘s 2025 Woman of the Year, Doechii is heading to the Create & Cultivate Festival to inspire women in business as the event’s headlining performer.
As announced exclusively by Billboard on Tuesday (April 13), the Swamp Princess will take the stage at Rolling Greens DTLA in Los Angeles in front of an audience of female executives, innovators and entrepreneurs on July 19. Billed as the “largest event for women in business,” the two-day festival will also feature speeches from Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles, Proper founder Amanda Kloots, TV personality Paige DeSorbo and more, as well as a keynote address from Ciara.
According to the event’s online schedule, attendees will experience back-to-back days filled with workshops, networking opportunities, start-up pitch competitions, live podcast recordings, investor meetings and more. Doechii will perform at the end of Day 1 on the Main Stage.
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“We’re pioneering a new type of event to better serve the needs of modern businesswomen said Create & Cultivate CEO Marina Middleton in a statement. “Most women-focused event experiences focus exclusively on empowerment or are reserved for side events of large industry-specific conferences built only for industry optics. The Create & Cultivate Festival will break down industry barriers to unite a newly formed community of ambitious women across business, tech, sports, entertainment, hospitality, finance and culture.”
For a festival about empowering women, it’s hard to think of a performer who’s better suited than the “Denial Is a River” rapper. In February, she became only the third woman to ever win the best rap album category at the Grammys thanks to her hit mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, and in March, Billboard gave her top honors at the 2025 Women in Music Awards.
“I stand here as a fierce ally,” the Florida native said during her acceptance speech at the latter event. “This event was created out of a necessity. That word, necessity, is important. My mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, was a space I created out of necessity. A space where I could feel seen, heard and connect with other people through experiences.”
“This is our motherf–king night to rightfully come together to acknowledge each other, support each other and to celebrate,” she added at the time. “We are the creators, we are the executives, we are the innovators who are just as central to this industry as the men. Clock it.”
EMPIRE Publishing has hired !llmind as a senior vp of A&R. As part of his duties, the tech entrepreneur and Grammy-winning producer, who has worked with Drake, The Carters, Eminem, Ye, Nicki Minaj, Nathy Peluso, Romeo Santo and more, will screen songs and provide feedback, based on his production expertise. !llmind will also act as a bridge between EMPIRE’s publishing and label arms.
Along with !llmind’s appointment, the independent music giant is also promoting Al “Butter” McLean to executive vp of global creative, where he will keep co-leading EMPIRE Publishing with senior vp of global head of business Vinny Kumar. Over McLean’s 30-year career as an artist, producer, street promoter, manager and A&R, he’s inked deals for names like Yung Bleu, Childish Gambino, Alicia Keys, Daddy Yankee, Lecrae, Mint Condition, KEM and Kirk Franklin. As part of his elevation, McLean will now be responsible for overseeing all global deals and signings. He will also provide internal leadership to ensure EMPIRE Publishing continues to grow.
“I’ve worked with !llmind for years and have seen firsthand how his passion, taste, and commitment to excellence inspire everyone around him,” says Kumar. “He’s a true visionary—constantly evolving, embracing new technology, and defining the future of music and culture. We’re beyond excited to officially welcome him to the EMPIRE Publishing family.”
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“I was fortunate to have signed the amazing !llMind to a publishing venture years ago – so now this is full circle not only re-signing him as a writer, producer, and publisher, but to work alongside him as a colleague,” says McLean. “He is a legend and what he brings to our entire EMPIRE Publishing and Creative team is immeasurable”.
Adds !llmind: “My entire career I’ve always felt like an outsider because I like to dive head first into innovation, solving things in unique ways and pushing the sound of music forward. I can’t wait to contribute to this movement and learn more in the years ahead!”
Yeisy Rojas’ “Inmigrante y Qué?” has topped Billboard’s latest Latin music poll published on Friday, April 11. In support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors, readers voted for the emerging artist’s new track as their favorite music release of that week. The Cuban singer’s poignant single — a fusion of rumba […]
Two heavy metal icons are teaming up for a 22-city co-headlining tour this fall. Original shock rocker Alice Cooper, 77, will share stages with British hard rock legends Judas Priest for the Live Nation-produced outing that is slated to kick off on Sept. 16 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS. The tour will […]
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John Boyega is now a solidified actor due to his various stage, television, and film roles for more than a decade and counting. Before landing his big role in the Star Wars franchise, John Boyega shared a heartwarming story of how his finances were in a bad place before being cast as Finn in the last Star Wars trilogy.
John Boyega sat down at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo last Saturday (April 12) with Happy Sad Confused podcast host Josh Horowitz, as reported by PEOPLE. In the chat, Boyega, 33, shared that he endured a grueling auditioning process with director and producer J.J. Abrams that ended up being not for naught.
“I had been auditioning for so long, so I felt like he kind of took away my dignity a little bit,” Boyega said during the chat. “So I decided to pretend as if I was busy, you know, when you just pretend that you’re busy. ‘I got other stuff to do, J.J.,’ “
Boyega added that he pretended to be busy and attempted to brush Abrams off, saying that he was out at an art show. The reality for Boyega was that Abrams wanted to meet at a local restaurant, and Boyega was compelled to make the meeting. However, with just £45 in his bank account, which is just under $60 in USD, Boyega had to use a good amount of his funds to meet with the director.
Fearful that Abrams was setting up the meeting to tell him he didn’t get the part, Boyega began to appeal that he could audition again and rattled off the various accents he could do. However, Abrams ended all suspense by using the moment to tell Boyega that he would be appearing in the latest Star Wars films.
John Boyega would star as the defecting stormtrooper Finn alongside Daisy Ridley, who played the role of chief protagonist Rey, and Adam Driver in the role of Kylo Ren. Boyega has been critical of the Star Wars fandom, which has engaged in reported toxic behavior online over Abrams’ casting choices.
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Photo: Getty