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03 Jan 2024

Dionne Warwick, Chloé Bailey & More to be Saluted at 2024 Urban One Honors

Dionne Warwick, Chloé Bailey, Frankie Beverly and Donald Lawrence will be saluted at the 2024 Urban One Honors, which is set to tape on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Coca Cola Roxy in Atlanta. The two-hour telecast will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 25 on TV One and simulcast on CLEO TV.

Warwick will be recognized as the lifetime achievement honoree, Bailey as the generation next honoree, Beverly as a living legend, and Lawrence for his inspirational impact.

Both Warwick and Beverly have had their old hits revived very successfully in the recent past. Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red,” which features Warwick’s 1964 hit “Walk on By,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks last year. In 2019, Beyoncé covered Beverly’s 1981 hit with Maze, “Before I Let Go,” on Homecoming: The Live Album.

Beyoncé was born two weeks after Maze’s record entered Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, as Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs was then known. Doja Cat was born more than 30 years after “Walk on By” was a hit – which shows the longevity of this prized material.

Warwick, 83, received the Kennedy Center Honors in a ceremony which aired on CBS on Dec. 27. The five-time Grammy-winner received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2019.

Lawrence, 62, won a Grammy in 2008 for best traditional gospel album for Live – One Last Time.

Bailey, 25, has received five Grammy nods, including best new artist, as part of Chloe X Halle.

Beverly, 77, the leader of Frankie Beverly & Maze, has never even been nominated for a Grammy, but the group received a BET lifetime achievement award at the 2012 BET Awards.

“As we unveil the lineup for this year’s Urban One Honors, we are delighted to highlight [their] incredible musical journeys,” Michelle Rice, president of TV One and CLEO TV, said in a statement. “Their selection as honorees is a recognition of their profound impact on both music and culture, spanning generations.”

Urban One Honors bills itself as the ultimate celebration of Black excellence, acknowledging individuals who have left an indelible mark on the arts, media, music and the community. This year’s theme is “Best in Black.”

Bebe Winans, Angie Stone, Teyana Taylor, Damon Little and October London will also appear on the show. There will also be an R&B Divas reunion featuring KeKe Wyatt, Chanté Moore and Nicci Gilbert. Additional names will be announced. Singer and actress LeToya Luckett returns to host the event’s Backstage Pass, featuring exclusive interviews with the show’s honorees, performers and presenters.

The 2024 Urban One Honors marks the official kickoff celebration for TV One’s 20th Anniversary. Throughout the year, TV One is set to roll out an array of special programming featuring curated retrospectives, exclusive behind-the-scenes content and a series of commemorative events.

Urban One Honors is produced for TV One by James Seppelfrick of The Cheat Code. Marilyn Gill is the executive producer. Myriam Leger will serve as director and Daniel Moore as music director. Kashon Powell is the vice president of programming for Radio One and Susan Henry is the executive producer in charge of production for TV One.

03 Jan 2024

Metro Boomin Planning a Trifecta of Albums in 2024

Metro Boomin had an epic 2023, but the in-demand producer is promising he’s got an even bigger 2024 on tap. After co-producing Young Thug’s Business Is Business album and reportedly producing the delayed joint Ye/Ty Dolla $ign collection Vultures — as well as curating the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack — MB promised in an exchange with a fan on X on New Year’s Eve that there is way more coming over the next 365.

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“How many albums do you think you’ll be dropping in 2024?” the X user asked on the eve of the new year. “3 at the very least,” Boomin responded, without specifying the titles or released dates for the projects. The promise of a trifecta came after MB tweeted, “2023 was great but just watch what I do 2024!!!!!”

While Boom didn’t name names, among the albums he appeared to be referring to are anticipated joint projects with Future and J.I.D., as well as a follow-up to his 2022 studio album Heroes & Villains; he is also producing A$AP Rocky and The Weeknd’s next efforts.

Back in October, MB chatted with Billboard for a cover story in which he revealed that there was a studio snafu while he was working on beats for the Future project. “They was beats I was making for the next time I see him, and they was going crazy. Boom, boom, boom. And I just came from Atlanta, and there was a storm,” he said.

“One of my beat machines that I use…. It’s not like a computer, it’s old-school, so it’s plugged up. The power goes out, and you haven’t saved it, that’s it,” he added about the storm that zapped “3 [fire] beats” he’d cooked up on his MPC 3000. “Sometimes, if I’m so far into something and that happens, then I’ll just be like, ‘Alright, I just gotta do something.’ And that usually be a blessing in disguise, I’ve done learned, ’cause the next thing be like, ‘Oh man, I wouldn’t have had this if I hadn’t lose this,’” he said.

See the exchange below.

03 Jan 2024

Jada Pinkett Smith Posts New Photo, Gets Unfarily Compared To Fat Joe & Pitbull

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Celebrity Sightings In New York City - November 14, 2023

Jada Pinkett Smith can’t even blink without folks making it a big moment online for various reasons, and now she’s trending once again on X, formerly known as Twitter. Fans online are unfairly comparing the wife of Will Smith to Fat Joe and Pitbull after she shared a new photo on social media.

Jada Pinkett Smith, 52, shared an image of her outfit on Instagram this past Tuesday (January 2). Decked out in a bubble coat, sweatpants, and jean leg warmers, Pinkett Smith shared in the caption, “I think jean leg warmers is where it’s at for me in 2024.”

Soon after, the photo began making its rounds on X via some of the blog sites looking to drum up engagement. From there, fans began repeating the same two jokes and the lack of unoriginality blossomed into Pinkett Smith becoming a trending topic. Then, someone latched on to the Fat Joe and Pitbull comparisons due to Pinkett Smith sporting a shaved head which she dons for medical reasons.

As it stands, the streets will never let Jada Pinkett Smith live because of the perception that she’s gained after the news of the so-called entanglement with August Alsina and the assumed issues between her and her husband.

Check out the reactions and the picture in question below.

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Photo: Getty

03 Jan 2024

Jack Harlow Goes Back to the Start in Trailer For ‘No Place Like Home: A VR Concert’ Special

They say you can’t go home again, but that is exactly what Jack Harlow does in the trailer for his upcoming concert special No Place Like Home: A VR Concert. The preview opens with Harlow enshrouded in fog on a stage accompanied by his 2023 Jackman track “Ambitious,” in which the rapper reminisces about being a “peach fuzz” faced teen with huge dreams… many of which have come true.

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The-rags-to-riches story reaches it apotheosis in the trailer, as Harlow confidently walks the stage in an all-black leather outfit in front of an adoring hometown crowd. The concert special will premiere on Thursday (Jan. 4) at 8 p.m. ET through Meta Horizon Worlds, which promises an immersive VR experience that will give fans a “front-row seat at an incredible, intimate concert,” as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the KY gigs.

The Live Nation-produced Bluegrass state tour marked the third annual hometown run for Harlow, featuring a six-show mini-tour that kicked off on Nov. 24 at Owensboro Sports Center in Owensboro, KY and wrapping up at Rupp Arena in Lexington on Dec. 3 after hitting Pikeville, Covington, Murray and Bowling Green. The string of gigs came three months after Harlow was honored with a “Hometown Heroes” banner in his hometown of Louisville.

After its premiere, No Place Like Home will be available to replay on Meta Horizon Worlds through Jan. 25. Harlow released his third studio album, Jackman, in April, spawning the global hit “Lovin’ On Me,” which rode the top of the U.K. charts in late 2023 on the way to becoming the MC’s third Hot 100 No. 1.

Watch the trailer for Harlow’s No Place Like Home concert special below.

03 Jan 2024

Skepta Comes Out Of Retirement, Announces New ‘Knife and Fork’ LP

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Skepta, one of the top artists to emerge from the Grime scene in the United Kingdom, announced his retirement back in 2021 after amassing a strong body of work. Now, the British rapper is back on the scene and announced a new album titled Knife and Fork.

Skepta, 41, announced the news of his return on January 1 via Instagram and offered a brief message along with a series of photos detailing what’s getting his attention these days while opening with an image of himself.

From Instagram:

It’s been years since I dropped my last album and I want to thank you for all the love during my hiatus. I’ve seen the messages, tweets and Tik Toks, I’m truly grateful that my music is still resonating with the world, even in my absence.

I’m happy to announce my next studio album #KnifeAndFork is loading this year, the first single #GasMeUp (Diligent) will be out January 26th [raised hands emoji].

Can’t wait to see you all @bigsmokefestival happy 2024.

Skepta’s final project was the EP All In which he dropped in 2021 after stepping away from the game and promising never to return. The creative call was perhaps stronger than he thought and Knife and Fork is under way but a release date isn’t known just yet.

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Photo: Getty

03 Jan 2024

Noah Kahan’s ‘Stick Season’ On Track For U.K. No. 1

Last week, it was festive season on the U.K. singles chart. Now we’re entering Stick Season.

Noah Kahan is on track to snag the first U.K. No. 1 single of 2024 – and the first of his career – with “Stick Season” (via Republic Records), which leads the midweek chart.

The Vermont, U.S.-born singer and songwriter should benefit as Christmas songs make their annual migration from the weekly chart, including last week’s leader, Wham’s “Last Christmas” (Epic).

“Stick Season” is expect to lift 10-1, for its first stint at the summit in its 14th week on chart, having previously peaked at No. 2 last month.

Jack Harlow’s ex-leader “Lovin On Me” (Atlantic) is forecast to bounce 27-2, while Tate McRae’s “greedy” (Ministry of Sound) could return to podium, up 37-3 on the chart blast. Those three titles were the only non-Christmas themed recordings in the U.K. top 40 when the weekly chart was published last week.

Meanwhile, Sophie Ellis-Bextor is set for a return to the top 40 return with “Murder on the Dancefloor” (Polydor), powered by the 2001 pop song’s sync in Emerald Fennell’s dark feature film Saltburn. Lifted from the British artist’s debut full-length LP Read My Lips, “Murder” peaked at No. 2 followings its release more than two decades ago. It’s at No. 27 on the chart blast.

Finally, The Weeknd, BLACKPINK’s Jennie and Lily-Rose Depp should earn a new peak position with “One of the Girls” (Republic Records/XO). Lifted from 2023 HBO drama The Idol, “One of the Girls” is tracking for No. 20, well up on its previous peak of No. 60.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday, Jan. 5.

03 Jan 2024

Taylor Swift Set to Reclaim U.K. Chart Title with ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’

With Christmas out of the way, Taylor Swift is eying a return to the U.K. chart throne by week’s end.

Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) leads the midweek U.K. chart, up 2-1, and is on track for a fourth non-consecutive stint at No. 1.

It’s not just at the pointy end of the midweek chart where Swift marks her territory. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is one of seven Taylor LPs projected to impact the top 40, the Official Charts Company reports, including 2017’s reputation (at No. 9), 2022’s Midnights (No. 10), 2019’s Lover (No. 11), 2020’s folklore (No. 14) and evermore (No. 26), and the original, 2014 release of 1989 (No. 39).

Meanwhile, ABBA’s juggernaut, Gold: Greatest Hits, could rebound to No. 3, its highest chart position since 2008. The career retrospective has already logged a record 1,130 weeks – and counting – on the Official Chart.

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Also on the rise is Noah Kahan’s Stick Season (Island), which is set to lift 8-6, for a new peak, as its title track has a shot at No. 1 on the national singles chart.

Also on the way up, based on midweek sales and streaming data published by the OCC, are collections from Fleetwood Mac (50 Years – Don’t Stop, up 13-7 via Rhino), Michael Jackson (The Essential up 26-18 via Epic), Post Malone’s (The Diamond Collection, up 27-19 via Republic Records) and Elvis Presley (ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits, up 48-35 via RCA).

Festive records should begin their annual pilgrimage down and out of the chart, including Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise), the leader on the most recent tally, published Friday, Dec. 29.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published this Friday, Jan. 5.

03 Jan 2024

Miley Cyrus’ ‘Flowers’ Stands Tall on Year-End U.K. Singles Chart

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” bloomed in a big way, as her pop hit ended 2023 as the U.K.’s biggest single.

The lead track from Cyrus’ chart-leading eight studio LP Endless Summer Vacation (Columbia), “Flowers” captured 198 million combined audio and video streams in the U.K., according to data published by the Official Charts Company — good enough for the most-streamed song and music video for the year.

Along the way, “Flowers” logged 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, raking in some 1.7 million U.K. chart units since its release in January 2023. Also, its 91,000 downloads led all tracks in 2023.

Coming in at No. 2 on the OCC’s tally of biggest tracks for 2023 is Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (via Live Yours/Neighbourhood), a different type of athlete that spent 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and collected 161 million audio and video streams in the territory. “Sprinter” ends 2023 with 1.2 million U.K. chart units. Following its release last June, “Sprinter” set a new record for the biggest streaming week for a rap single in U.K. (13.4 million streams and 108,200 chart units in its first tracking week). By the end of its run, another record for a rap track.

Completing the year-end singles podium is Raye and 070 Shake’s “Escapism” (Human Re Sources), with 1.2 million total U.K. chart units, a sum that includes 142 million audio and video streams.

Taylor Swift appears twice on the tally, with Midnights cut “Anti-Hero” (at No. 4 via EMI) and 2019 Lover album track “Cruel Summer,” which was finally issued as a single in 2023, for a No. 2 peak on the weekly chart and No. 11 appearance on the year-end list.

Christmas only comes once a year, though two festive classics make the year-end cut. Wham’s “Last Christmas” (Epic) which set a new record for endurance when it became the U.K.’s coveted Christmas No. 1 single for 2023, 39 years after release, comes in at No. 18 on the year-end list, which Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas is You” (Columbia) is at No. 29.

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Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2023:

  1. “Flowers” — Miley Cyrus
  2. “Sprinter” — Dave & Central Cee
  3. “Escapism” — Raye featuring 070 Shake
  4. “Anti-Hero” — Taylor Swift
  5. “Miracle” — Calvin Harris/Ellie Goulding
  6. “Calm Down” — Rema
  7. “Kill Bill — SZA
  8. “Boy’s A Liar” — Pinkpantheress
  9. “As It Was” — Harry Styles
  10. People” — Libianca

02 Jan 2024

Fabolous “Slefish Freestyle,” Offset & Mango Foo “Skyami” & More | Daily Visuals 1.2.23

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2023 One Music Festival

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It’s officially 2024 and while we’re all looking to see which artists have their breakout year and make a name for themselves, Fabolous is here to remind everyone that the OG’s are still a force to be reckoned with.

Continuing to drop off new material, Fab comes through with some new visuals to “Selfish Freestyle” in which the Brooklyn rapper throws on a spiffy fur coat to match his white Range Rover and hits the highway on the way to the studio to lay down the kind of bars that made him a fan favorite amongst Hip-Hoppers two decades ago. Jesus H. Christ, time flies.

Offset meanwhile seems to be doing just fine after his public breakup with Cardi B and in the clip for “Skyami,” he and Mango Foo hole up in a private estate where they’re joined by thick bikini clad women who give new meaning to the term “thunder clap” as they twerk like they aren’t putting lives in danger with their rumps. Talk about ride or die.

Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from Lil Tjay, That Girl Lay Lay featuring T.I., and more.

FABOLOUS – “SELFISH FREESTYLE”



OFFSET & MANGO FOO – “SKYAMI”



LIL TJAY – “SCARED 2 BE LONELY”



THAT GIRL LAY LAY FT. T.I. – “FOREAL”



PHILTHY RICH – “NO MOTION”



STACK BEATZ – “ON DA GRIND”



INTENCE – “YEAR OF GEAR”



ERIC BELLINGER & OMARION – “WAITING 4 YOU”



STEFFLON DON & VICTONY – “DEADLY”



02 Jan 2024

‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2024’ Ratings Jump

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2024, a marathon, 5-1/2 hour production which eased ABC TV viewers into the new year, saw ratings increases in all four time quadrants measured, from the start of prime-time until late-late hours.

The show, which Dick Clark originated in 1972, has ballooned over the years in hours of programming, just as the title of the show has expanded. Clark’s name remains in the title nearly a dozen years after his death, a unique and rare show of respect from a network for a long-time network star.

Ryan Seacrest, 49, is six years older than Clark was when the show launched. Seacrest shared hosting duties this year with Rita Ora and Jeannie Mai.

Performers on this year’s show included Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, LL Cool J, Tyla, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Janelle Monáe, Ludacris, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Russell, Reneé Rapp with Coco Jones and Thirty Seconds to Mars.

First Primetime Segment

Airing at 8:00 p.m., the first primetime segment skyrocketed over last year’s broadcast by 35% in total viewers (7.0 million vs. 5.2 million) and by 33% among adults 18-49 (1.81 rating vs. 1.36 rating) to score three-year highs.

Second Primetime Segment

Airing at 10:30 p.m., the second primetime segment jumped over the prior year by 30% in total viewers (10.4 million vs. 8.0 million) and by 32% among adults 18-49 (2.93 rating vs. 2.22 rating) to hit three-year highs.

The Part 2 segment ranked as the highest-rated entertainment telecast on any network in primetime in nine months among adults 18-49 – since ABC’s broadcast of The Oscars on March 12, 2023.

Part 2 was the night’s No. 1 entertainment program in primetime in both total viewers and adults 18-49.

The two primetime segments made the programthe night’s No. 1 most social program across all of TV. It was also the No. 1 driver of social video consumption on the night. In addition, this year’s broadcast grew its video views count by 20% over last year.

First Late-Night Segment

Airing at 11:30 p.m., the first late-night segment attracted 18.0 million total viewers and averaged a 5.33 rating among adults 18-49. The special drew in 22.2 million total viewers and hit a 6.41 adult 18-49 rating in the midnight quarter-hour.

Part 1 of the late-night segment stood as the highest-rated entertainment special on any network in two years – since ABC’s 2021 broadcast of the same show.

Part 1 shot up over the prior year’s broadcast by 30% in total viewers (18.0 million vs. 13.8 million) and by 30% among adults 18-49 (5.33 rating vs. 4.11 rating).

Part 1 ranked as the No. 1 program on New Year’s Eve among adults 18-49.

Second Late-Night Segment

Airing at 1:09 a.m., the second late-night segment grew over last year’s broadcast by 19% in total viewers (5.1 million vs. 4.3 million) and by 14% among adults 18-49 (1.47 rating vs. 1.29 rating).

Sources: The Nielsen Company, Fast National Live+Same Day Program Ratings, 12/31/23 – entertainment excludes sports programming; SCR, Talkwalker.

Penske Media Corporation, Billboard‘s parent company, is a part-owner of dick clark productions and has a partnership with Eldridge.