News

02 Nov 2023

Paul Russell Brings ‘Boo Thang’ to Top 10 on Hot Rap Songs Chart

Paul Russell’s “Lil Boo Thang” jumps into the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart with a 12-9 climb on the list dated Nov. 4. The pop-rap tune, which first went viral on TikTok and other social media networks, continues its chart ascent with gains in all three chart metrics – streaming, radio airplay, and sales – and sprints into the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

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During the latest tracking week, Oct. 20 – 26, “Lil Boo Thang,” released on Arista Records, generated 6.7 million official U.S. streams, a 14% improvement from the prior week, according to Luminate. It also sold 5,000 downloads in the same period, up 8% from the previous week and retains its crown on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart for third, nonconsecutive week. Among all tracks, it’s the third-best seller and sits at No. 3 on the Digital Song Sales chart, down one spot from its No. 2 best last week. In the radio world, “Lil Boo Thang” registered 28.4 million in weekly audience, up 18% from the prior frame. Thanks to that haul, it steps 24-21 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart.

Pop radio has been the single’s biggest supporter, as it pushes 15-13 on the Pop Airplay chart, following a 16% increase in plays at mainstream top-40 radio during the latest tracking week. The adult pop sector follows closely behind, with a 19-15 advance on the heels of a 26% surge in weekly plays, enough to nab “Lil Boo Thang” the chart’s weekly Greatest Gainer tag. Beyond the pop world, the rhythmic format has also embraced the track, which moves 20-17 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart through a 15% weekly play boost.

Across-the-board gains drive “Lil Boo Thang” 58-35 on the Hot 100 and secure Paul Russell’s first top 40 visit on the flagship chart. The rising hit already has a Hot 100 tie-in, sampling The Emotions’ “Best of My Love,” a five-week No. 1 from 1977. Thanks to use of the classic, writers Maurice White (of Earth, Wind & Fire) and Al McKay land another top 40 hit

As “Lil Boo Thang” races into the Hot 100’s top 40, Paul Russell lands a third week at No. 1 on Emerging Artists chart, which ranks the most popular developing artists each week using the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100. The Emerging Artists chart, however, excludes acts that have reached the top 25 on either the Hot 100 or Billboard 200, as well as artists that have achieved two or more top 10s on Billboard’s “Hot” song genre and/or consumption-based “Top” album genre charts.

02 Nov 2023

Here’s Why Kim Kardashian Says North West Prefers Living With Kanye West

North West is the ultimate daddy’s girl.

In the newest episode of The Kardashians that aired on Thursday (Nov. 2), Kim Kardashian tells her sister Kourtney Kardashian that her oldest child with the rapper prefers hanging out at his home. “She’ll be like, ‘Dad is the best,’” she said. “‘He has it all figured out. He doesn’t have a nanny, he doesn’t have a chef, he doesn’t have security. He lives in an apartment.’ And she’ll start crying, ‘Why don’t you have an apartment? I can’t believe we don’t have an apartment.’”

Kourtney could empathize with the situation, as she said her three children with ex Scott Disick feel the same. “They do that at Scott’s too,” the Poosh founder said. “‘Dad has the best house, your house sucks. He has the best house. It’s not super big, the vibe is better.’ I feel like everything falls on the parent that’s more involved.’”

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In a later confessional, Kim shared that Kourtney believes that 10-year-old North is the Skims founder’s “lesson” in her life. “I’m supposed to learn even more about patience—she teaches me patience. She has taught me a lot about life,” she shared.

Kim also shares seven-year-old Saint, five-year-old Chicago and four-year-old Psalm with her ex-husband Ye. Kardashian filed for divorce from West in February 2021 after six years of marriage. Both sides initially said that the split would be amicable, but the relationship between the two superstars has turned increasingly tense in the two years since, especially amid Kardashian’s former romance with comedian Pete Davidson in 2022.

02 Nov 2023

G Herbo Is In A Legal Battle With Ex-Manager For $40 Million

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It seems G Herbo has yet another big fight on his hands. He is in a legal battle with his ex-manager for $40 million dollars.

The Shade Room is reporting the that Chicago, Illinois native will soon be in litigation with one of his earliest believers. According to AllHipHop his former manager Joseph “JB” Bowden claims the “Chiraq” rapper owes him and his label Machine Entertainment over eight million dollars. But No Limit Herbo has countersued claiming the executive actually owes him a whopping $40 million. His filing is based on contracts that were executed when G Herbo was a minor that were allegedly “unfair and one-sided deals”.

“Over the years, [I] been independent working with other labels, Sony/RED, Epic, now we on the Republic [Records] system. I never had a direct deal with the labor. It’s always been with Machine” he explained. “So, over the years, when we started generating money, probably this was on the Sony system, he pulled me to the side like, ‘bro, let me run your business for you.’ I wasn’t really business savvy. This was somebody I trust with my life, like my brother, like a father figure. ‘I’m your business for you, bro.’ Alright, so from then on, he’s running my business.”

The two continued their business deals in a very unique manner where Bowden controlled much of his career; so much so G Herbo’s attorney argues it caused a glaring conflict of interest. “Because [G Herbo’s] money was controlled by [Bowden and Machine], [G Herbo] was forced to ask Bowden to make purchases on his behalf, including for vehicles, [G Herbo’s] rent, and his mother’s rent,” Marguerite E. Patrick said. “Bowden’s conduct, in depriving [G Herbo] of his own funds, was designed to prevent [G Herbo] from leaving Machine or from being able to successfully work with another business manager who would

actually look out for [G Herbo’s] best interests.”

You can see G Herbo explain the matter in detail below.



02 Nov 2023

George Santos Survives 2nd Expulsion Vote From House

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Capitol Hill - Washington, DC

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GOP Congressman George Santos has survived a vote to expel him from the House of Representatives over allegations of criminal actions.

On Wednesday (November 1), Congressman George Santos from New York faced a vote of expulsion from the House of Representatives as a House Ethics Committee investigation into his affairs along with a criminal trial of Santos allegedly defrauding donors’ credit cards and inflating campaign finance reports in his home state. Santos faces 23 federal charges. The vote’s final tally was 179 for expulsion and 213 against, with 19 stating they were “present” and 22 not voting, making it short of the two-thirds needed to kick Santos out.

The vote was the second time that George Santos faced expulsion. The previous vote resolution was introduced by Democrats, and Republicans had all voted unanimously against it. This time, the resolution to expel was brought by New York GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, along with Reps. Nick LaLota and Mike Lawler. They stood with D’Esposito as he forced the vote on the House Floor. “New Yorkers from Queens and Nassau Counties deserve better than George Santos — a total fraud and serial liar representing them in Congress,” LaLota stated.

31 Democrats sided with Republicans against Santos’ expulsion. Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland cited that the House of Representatives has only done so five times in its history for those criminally convicted as the reason behind his vote. “This would be a terrible precedent to set, expelling people who have not been convicted of a crime and without internal due process,” he said after the vote. “It’s a very risky road to go down and we have to stick by due process and the rule of law, as obvious as the eventual result seems.” Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut explained his vote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Neither the Ethics Committee nor the courts have finished adjudicating this. In this country, one is presumed innocent until PROVEN guilty. No exceptions.”

https://x.com/jahimes/status/1719865741611262075?s=20

Santos issued a statement on Thursday (November 2) defending himself. “Despite facing opposition and calls for my expulsion, I remain steadfast in my commitment to serving my constituents and upholding conservative ideals.” he wrote. Another House member, Rep. Marc Molinaro of New York suggested Santos is not out of the woods. “I suspect the report is going to come public soon, and it’s going to be clear that he should be removed from Congress,” he said afterward.

02 Nov 2023

Marvel Studios Struggling To Figure Out Their Future Moves, Might Give Jonathan Majors The Axe

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Avengers: Endgame poster

Source: Marvel / Disney

After years of churning out successful box office films and raking in billions of dollars, Marvel Studios is in allegedly crisis mode and not only because some of their recent films and TV shows have been struggle, but because Jonathan Major’s legal woes don’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

According to Variety, the higher-ups at Marvel Studios are panicking about where their future is going to be headed as their hardcore fanbase have begun to lose interest in their film content and the legal consequences that the star of their next few Avengers films, Jonathan Major, remains murky as he’s still set to stand trial for domestic violence later this month. After being anointed the next big Marvel villain as Kang The Conqueror for Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Majors found himself in major trouble after his girlfriend accused him of putting hands on her earlier this year.

After the incident became public, other people who’ve worked with Majors and/or dated him came out with their own negative stories about the ascending Hollywood star which led to rumors that Marvel was going to recast the role of Kang The Conqueror to avoid negative publicity. Still, Majors remains a part of the MCU but with the recent disappointing films releases and Disney+ shows, it seems like some drastic measures are going to be taken to revamp the struggling franchise and Majors might actually be out of a job sooner or later.

Variety reports:

“Marvel is truly fucked with the whole Kang angle,” says one top dealmaker who has seen the final “Loki” episode. “And they haven’t had an opportunity to rewrite until very recently [because of the WGA strike]. But I don’t see a path to how they move forward with him.”

Beyond the bad press for Majors, the brain trust at Marvel is also grappling with the November release of “The Marvels,” a sequel to 2019’s blockbuster “Captain Marvel” that has been plagued with lengthy reshoots and now appears likely to underwhelm at the box office.

Yeah, The Marvels looks like it’s going to bomb at the box office but you never know.

Because of how dire things are looking at the current moment, ideas have been thrown around to revive interest in the MCU including cutting Kang out of the MCU and bringing in Dr. Doom for the next few Avengers films and even actually bringing back the OG Avengers to life including Iron Man, Black Widow and Captain America (who’s still alive, but in another time).

With Iger publicly acknowledging the downside of a Marvel TV glut that “diluted focus and attention,” the keepers of the comic book empire are considering some dramatic moves. Sources say there have been talks to bring back the original gang for an “Avengers” movie. This would include reviving Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, both of whom were killed off in “Endgame.” (That shouldn’t be a stumbling block — in comic books, beloved characters are often killed off, only to be resurrected thanks to the power of things like the multiverse.) But the studio hasn’t yet committed to the idea — if it were able to bring those actors back, it wouldn’t come cheap. Sources say Downey Jr.’s upfront salary for “Iron Man 3” was around $25 million. 

Yeah, we’d definitely sign up for the return of the OG Avengers. It was all downhill for the MCU after Iron Man bit the dust and Captain America dipped to find love and happiness in the 1940’s.

Still, how this all unfolds is anyone’s guess as their has been talks of the MCU getting a reboot at the end of The Avengers: Secret Wars which will lead to a new MCU which will feature The Avengers along with The X-Men, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man all in the same reality. Should be interesting to see what Marvel Studios does going forward though as they have their work cutout for them to once again reign at the box office as they did in their heyday.

What do y’all think Marvel should do with their struggling franchises? Let us know in the comments section below.

02 Nov 2023

Amanda Seales Speaks On Her Latest Comedy Special In New Interview

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Heineken Suite Of The US Open Tennis Championships At The USTA National Tennis Center In New York

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In a new interview, Amanda Seales opens up about her latest comedy special, her deepening interest in politics and more.

Comedy that makes you think is one way Amanda Seales has made her mark, from her role on the hit HBO series Insecure to her stand-up specials to her Small Doses podcast. As her latest documentary comedy special, In Amanda We Trust is now available to the public, Seales is utilizing her gift for keeping the Black community engaged and expounded on the special’s message in an interview with Blavity.

When asked about the idea of having more of a documentary feel for the special, Amanda Seales explained that what they had for it originally wasn’t up to snuff. “So I decided that I needed to just make an executive decision,” she began, “and I decided we’re just going to make this part of what was going to be interstitials and just kind of segments that will go in between the stand-up. I made the decision to make that the entire project. And it was the right decision.”

Seales also gave her thoughts on how many speculated that she was considering running for political office, jokingly saying: “Girl, I had politicians texting me. I had people in office DM’ing me like, ‘Hey girl, I don’t know if this is what it is, but I got your back.’” She would ultimately say that she doesn’t have political aspirations. “I don’t believe in really never say never, but sitting right here on this call, that’s just not something I aspire to do. I really want to feel I was put here on this earth in this particular lifetime to use my comedy and my art and just my voice as a bullhorn to lift up the work of others who do feel it is their calling to be in politics.”

The conversation also veered into her recent choice of guests for her Small Doses podcast being from the world of reality television. When asked if she’d interview a troubled celebrity such as Chrisean Rock, Seales said she would do it from a place of empathy and would pose questions that would inform her audience about that person. “But anytime I’m in conversation, I’m going to do my best to make sure that my audience leaves, like Denzel, with something. I’m leaving here with something,” she said.

02 Nov 2023

Ice Spice’s Mama Gets Social Media Buzzing With Her Wednesday Addams Costume

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Ice Spice mother

Source: Twitter / Twitter

Ice Spice might’ve had social media buzzing with her Betty Boop Halloween “costume,” but her mama isn’t far behind as the internet is amazed at how Charina Almanzar stunned with her own Halloween getup.

While Ice Spice went with the throwback cartoon character for this year’s All Hallows Eve festivities, her mama decided to dress as Wednesday Addams of The Addams Family which rediscovered it’s popularity late last year thanks to Jenna Ortega’s iteration of the classic character on the Netflix series, Wednesday. While we’ve seen lots of children and teenage girls dress as Wednesday Addams this Halloween, seeing Ice Spice’s mama’s version of the character and dancing with her bad self definitely had social media gawking and saying, “She gets it from her mama!”

Yeah, don’t be surprised if celebrities decide to forego sliding into Ice Spice’s DM’s and head straight for the source as Ms. Almanzar is the talk of the town these days. After the video of Ms. Alamanzar’s Wednesday Addams hit the internet, people were quick to acknowledge that she was indeed a baddy as her daughter had stated before and expressed their desires to meet the woman behind the ascending rap star from the Bronx.

If Ice Spice’s mama doesn’t have a man at the current moment, expect that to change as we’re sure rappers, ballers, and lots of creeps are more than likely shooting their shots behind the scenes. Heck, Jordan Poole might decide to “invest” another $500,000 on a date with her mama when it’s all said and done. Just sayin.’

What do y’all think of Ice Spice’s mom dukes looking like the baddest of the baddy’s? Let us know in the comments section below.

02 Nov 2023

Jung Kook Teases New Track, Inside Look at A Day in the Life of K-Pop Girl Group STAYC & More | Billboard News

Jung Kook teases his new track “Standing Next to You” and is set to make his solo ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ debut on November 6th. K-pop girl group STAYC gives us an inside look at a day in their lives. In this week’s episode of Billboard Explains, we take a deep dive into how the BBMAs are being reimagined with a new concept, what makes the BBMAs different from other awards shows, how the awards show is being revamped and how fans can get involved. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Jung Kook’s got a lot going on ahead of his first solo album. STAYC takes Billboard on tour with them. We’re breaking down the new Billboard Music Awards format. It’s the battle between Blueface’s baby mamas on the TikTok Billboard Top 50. And we played this with that with Wisin.

Welcome back to Billboard News. I’m Tetris Kelly. It’s Thursday, November 2nd and Jung Kook is a very busy boy. Jung Kook’s ‘Golden’ album is almost here. He dropped a new teaser and we have info on his solo journey to late night. Let’s talk all things JK.

Oh my God, I cannot wait. BTS’ youngest member shines in the teaser video for new single “Standing Next to You.” I mean, the Michael Jackson inspiration looks like it will be an iconic visual. The album is out tomorrow, November 3rd. He’ll be promoting the project on his solo ‘Tonight Show’ debut on Monday November 6th as a guest and performer. Jimmy Fallon took to the official ‘Tonight Show’ Instagram to reveal the announcement.

Jimmy Fallon:
Jung Kook!

Jung Kook:
See you soon.

Jimmy Fallon:
Can’t wait for next week! Monday, Monday, Monday…

Tetris Kelly:
K-pop girl group STAYC was just in Los Angeles for their first world tour and took Billboard behind the scenes.

Isa of STAYC:
Hey, Billboard! We are STAYC and this is a day in the life on the Teen Fresh world tour in Los Angeles.

Watch the full video above!

02 Nov 2023

PinkPantheress Reveals She Accidentally Missed a Studio Session With Kendrick Lamar

PinkPantheress has learned her lesson: Don’t leave your phone on “do not disturb” because you never know when Kendrick Lamar might come calling.

In her latest i-D cover story that came out Thursday (Nov. 2), PinkPantheress revealed that she was “nearly” featured on a Kendrick track except she missed the studio session because she was at the theater — “I was watching Nightcrawler with this guy,” she explains — and her date asked her to put her phone on silent.

“Oh f—, I can’t even think about it,” PinkPantheress reflects.

She has collaborated with Lamar’s cousin Baby Keem, however. Alongside Don Toliver, PinkPantheress is featured on “killstreaks” from the deluxe edition of Keem’s Billboard 200 top five debut album The Melodic Blue. A month after the deluxe dropped, Keem earned a co-writing credit on Pink’s single “Do you miss me?” from her 2022 EP Take me home, which also featured “Boy’s a Liar” that later spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top five sequel with Ice Spice.

Elsewhere in the i-D cover interview, she talks about her upcoming debut album, Heaven Knows, which is due Nov. 10. “I had to level up, I couldn’t just use loops anymore. I had to get other people to come in,” she says of her previous sample-heavy musical style. Heaven Knows includes features from Rema (“Another Life”), Central Cee (“Nice to Meet You”), Kelela (“Bury Me”) and, of course, Ice Spice (“Boys a Liar, Pt. 2”) as well as previously released singles “Mosquito” and “Capable of love.”

02 Nov 2023

Wisin Plays ‘This or That’ | Billboard

Wisin plays This or That with Billboard backstage at Billboard’s Latin Music Week 2023.

Wisin

What’s up, my beautiful people? W here, and I’m gonna be playing “This or That” with Billboard’s beautiful people.

Wisin

So don’t miss it!

Horchata or Agua Fresca?

Wisin

Agua fresca.

Dance Bachata or Merengue?

Wisin

I’m gonna get in trouble here! I’m a great dancer, so both. I’m joking! I really like Merengue. Let me tell you the other day I went to see Toño Rosario in Puerto Rico and, people we’re looking at me like: “What are you doing here?” I love Merengue and how it sounds live. So, Merengue.

Tacos Al Pastor or Tacos Pollo?

Wisin

Chicken Tacos.

Baseball or Soccer?

Wisin

Baseball. Yeah we Puerto Ricans are more about Baseball. I like the St. Louis Cardinals in the major leagues.

Spicy or non-spicy food?

Wisin

Not spicy.

Empanadas or Tacos

Wisin

Empanada. Any kind, as long as it’s tasty I’ll try them. I’ll try them, but I do like Empanadas more.

Salsa verde or Salsa rojo

Wisin

You know what, I like both. I like both but it depends on the occasion and where I am.

Mariachis or Vallenatos?

Wisin

I like Vallenato a lot and, Mariachi too, I love both.

Tequila or Mezcal?

Wisin

I like Tequila better. I like Tequila, everytime I go to Mexico, I have some Tequila to clean the system!