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27 Oct 2023

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’: How to Watch the Video Game-Turned-Movie Adaptation Online

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Five Nights at Freddy’s popularity as a video game franchise has earned it a movie adaptation, which is premiering in theaters and on streaming on Friday (Oct. 27). You can still get tickets to see it on the big screen through Cinemark and Fandango. If you prefer to watch the horror movie with the lights on, Peacock has it available to stream online.

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The film stars Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) as Mike, a security guard who begins working at the children’s pizza restaurant Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. During the day, the cute animatronics seem harmless, but as Mike spends his first night on duty, he begins to realize more sinister things are at play.

Five Nights at Freddy’s comes from Blumhouse Productions and also stars Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Mary Stuart Masterson and Matthew Lillard. The animatronic characters were created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop

Keep reading to learn the streaming options.

How to Watch Five Nights At Freddy’s

Five Nights at Freddy’s is a Peacock original film that can be seen in theaters or exclusively on the Peacock platform. If you already have a Peacock subscription, then you can watch the new movie for no additional cost — just log into your account and find it under new releases.

Don’t have a subscription? Peacock may not have a free-trial, but it is one of the more affordable streaming platforms on the market with plans starting at $5.99/month. Click here or the button below to sign-up now.

Peacock has two subscription plans to choose from: Premium or Premium Plus. The Premium plan is $59.99/month and is the ad-supported subscription that includes over 80,000 hours of sports, TV and movies along with new, exclusive and original content, live sports and events, access to current NBC and Bravo shows and over 50 always-on channels. Premium Plus is $11.99/month and comes with everything in the Premium plan without ads, the ability to download and watch content offline and your local NBC channel live 24/7.

Looking for additional savings? If you sign-up for an annual plan you’ll save money by paying for the cost of 10 months instead of 12.

Besides Five Nights at Freddy’s, Peacock gives you access to library filled with hundreds of titles, live events and exclusives such as Bupkis, Mrs. Davis, Poker Face, Bel-Air, Poker Face, Yellowstone, The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, Vanderpump Rules, Queens Court, The Traitors, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Sick, Based on a True Story, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and other Peacock Originals in addition to NBC and Bravo shows, sports and more.

Anyone new to the game can try it out for themselves through a complete set of the video game series for only $26.

cover of five nights at freddys

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“Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Core Collection” $26.00 $39.99 35% off

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Enjoy playing games 1-4 and delve into the lore of the original Five Nights at Freddy’s video games. You’ll be the main character this time as you fight to survive a night alone on guard. It’s available in three editions: Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One.

Check below to watch the trailer for Five Nights at Freddy’s.

27 Oct 2023

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Chayanne, Laura Pausini & More

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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Chayanne, Bailemos Otra Vez (Sony Music Latin)

Chayanne, a.k.a. “Latin America’s eternal boyfriend,” presents his highly anticipated 20th studio album, Bailemos Otra Vez, marking his first set in nine years. In the diverse nine-track journey — home to previously released tracks “Bailando Bachata” and “Te Amo y Punto” — the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter reinvents his sound while keeping his essence intact.

If the former, his first-ever bachata, was an indication, he isn’t afraid to navigate from ranchera music in “Necesito Un Segundo” to the rhythmic cumbia in “Como Tú y Yo,” a song that celebrates true love amidst an ocean of disposable relationships (and even samples his own 1998 hit “Dejaría Todo”). “De Tanto,” on the other hand, is a classic Chayanne ballad. Recorded in Miami and penned by the artist, Bailemos Otra Vez boasts a wave of Latin hitmakers adding their magical beats and penmanship, including Andrés Torres, Édgar Barrera, Elena Rose, Florentino Rivera, Julio Reyes, Maffio, Mauricio Rengifo and Rafa Pabón. — INGRID FAJARDO

Laura Pausini, Almas Paralelas (Warner Music Italy/Gente Edizioni Musicali)

Five years after her last studio album — the 2018 Latin Grammy winner for best traditional pop vocal album, Hazte Sentir — Laura Pausini returns like a typhoon with Almas Paralelas, a 16-track set inspired by real stories, of her own and others, which displays an artistic and personal evolution, both vocally and lyrically. Featuring a more guttural interpretation, but without losing her essence, Pausini opens the album with “Cero,” a dance-pop number full of energy and empowering lyrics like “From now on I will not settle for less/ Give me only emotions different from zero.” She closes it with “Frente a Nosotros,” a sensitive piano ballad — which the Italian pop superstar walked down the aisle to when she married producer Paolo Carta last March, after 18 years together. In between, she takes us on a passionate and compelling journey addressing topics as basic as love, forgiveness, motherhood, and family.

“It is a truly conceptual album that… celebrates diversity and the right to individuality, which in my opinion should be respected more being citizens of the same streets but with different souls, different dreams, different desires,” Pausini tells Billboard Español weeks before being honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2023 Person of the Year. “In this world represented [on the album cover] by the street and its zebra crossing, I’d like there to always be respect and love between the individuals who inhabit it, and I would like for the listener to fall in love with the human beings who live like souls on a parallel path.”

Available in Italian as Anime Parallele, Almas Paralelas also includes the previously-released singles “Un Buen Comienzo,” dedicated to those who’ve had people in their lives trying to bring them down; “Durar,” about the love and daily commitment of a couple who decides to build a life together; and “Hogar Natural,” an emotional piece that marks her first duet with her daughter Paola. It is, overall, a pop gem that will make you dance and laugh, heal and reflect. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Jay Wheeler, TRAPPii (Linked Music/Dynamic Records/EMPIRE)

In a striking divergence from his more romantic repertoire, as evinced by albums like Platónicos (2020) or last year’s R&B-infused El Amor y Yo, Jay Wheeler embraces a grittier, more provocative allure on this week’s TRAPPii. In typical trap fashion, which revels in the pleasures of excess, the Puerto Rican trap star manages to maneuver the juxtaposition of raunch, vulnerability and desire across a dozen tracks. “TRAPPii,” featuring Arcángel, serves as the album’s high-impact introductory track. Exuding a raw, hard-hitting beat with a pulsating bassline that demands attention, Jay Wheeler and Arcángel make a powerful statement about wealth, materialism and the true value of knowledge and integrity over material possessions.

Infused with subtle drill undertones, courtesy of Botlok, Yeziell, Dimelo Suru and DJ Nelson, “Repeat” sees the singer yearning to reconnect with a special someone who’s moved on to a new partner. On “Jumping Out the Window,” equipped with melodic guitar arpeggios, the Puerto Rican artist swaps to English, a risqué track that hints at the emo rap style popularized by SoundCloud rappers. Then there’s the earlier single “Gangsta Luv,” featuring newcomer Anubiis, where the protagonists allude to the perilous lifestyle of their chosen subculture. While Wheeler maintains his distinctive fusion of irresistible sensuality throughout the LP, he injects unabashed intensity. In other words, TRAPPii glitters in the dark. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Lenny Tavárez feat. Sergio George, “El Yate” (Warner Music Latina/Kristoman)

Lenny Tavárez has brought a fan-favorite track to life with “El Yate.” The Puerto Rican artist first teased the unreleased song a couple of years ago, when he shared a home video on social media performing the song with his acoustic guitar. After much praise from his followers, the urban star teamed up with renowned award-winning producer Sergio George for a flavorful salsa version. Though the beat will keep you on your feet with its live piano, percussion, cello and trumpet melodies, “El Yate” is backed by some sad, heartfelt lyrics. “Everyone knows that it’s the law of life/ That a story without heartbreak/ Is a boring adventure/ That you can moor a yacht/ But never two hearts/ Unless God decides,” Tavárez’s sweet vocals chant — also marking a new musical era that’s not too shabby for Lenny. — JESSICA ROIZ

María José Llergo, ULTRABELLEZA (Sony Music España)

Spanish singer-songwriter María José Llergo hits the ground running with her debut album ULTRABELLEZA (Ultra Beautiful) while honoring her family heritage. Through the 13-track set, the Andalusian artist experiments beyond of the conventional boundaries of flamenco, delivering a contemporary gypsy masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of her artistry. Her deep, soul-stirring vocals and poignant lyrics about love, empowerment and life’s trials are skillfully complemented by electronic elements such as synthesizers and potent bass lines.

Standout tracks like “Superpoder,” where she pens the poignant line, “I learned to cry by singing, I learned to sing by crying,” and others like “Rueda, Rueda,” narrate her inspiring journey from humble beginnings to burgeoning stardom. About the latter, Llergo expressed in a press release, “This song is a sincere thanks and celebration of being able to dedicate myself to what truly fills me.” ULTRABELLEZA is a mesmerizing, autochthonous project infused with a contemporary flair that not only defines her as an artist but also signifies the evolution of flamenco into the modern era. It is a commendable effort to break the genre free from cultural confines, paving the way for a wider audience to embrace its beauty. — LUISA CALLE

Listen to more new Latin music recommendations in the playlists below:

27 Oct 2023

Friday Music Guide: New Music From Taylor Swift, Brent Faiyaz and More

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

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This week, Taylor Swift turns back the calendar to 1989, and Brent Faiyaz delivers another star turn. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) 



The arrival of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) was always going to be a big deal: after all, her 2014 album was one of Taylor Swift’s critical and commercial high points, scoring three No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 and winning the album of the year Grammy after fully reinventing the country superstar as a pop icon. When 1989 was announced as the fourth of Swift’s six albums to receive the Taylor’s Version treatment, fans understandably turned giddy at the thought of Swift’s new takes on her old classics, plus the “From the Vault” goodies coming from that time of high-wattage, cinematic pop music.

And while 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is landing at a particularly busy time for Swifties — considering the fact that “Cruel Summer” sits atop the current Hot 100 after its months-long viral comeback, the Eras Tour concert film dominated the box office this month and wholesome content of Swift and Travis Kelce is darn near inescapable — the achievement that it represents should not be overlooked, even by the most casual of fans. Perhaps more than any Taylor’s Version release thus far, the re-recorded 1989 subtly tinkers with songs like “Blank Space,” “Welcome to New York,” “Out of the Woods” and “Clean” in compelling new ways, reanimating its gems from a fresh perspective and with a more seasoned pop voice.

Click here to read more about all five “From The Vault” tracks on 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

Brent Faiyaz, Larger Than Life 



Larger Than Life could represent another leveling up for Brent Faiyaz, the singular R&B star whose 2022 album Wasteland earned a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 and signaled a mainstream breakthrough; although billed as a mixtape, his new project boasts guest spots from Missy Elliott, A$AP Rocky, Coco Jones and Babyface Ray, among others, to help prove its commercial bonafides. Yet Larger Than Life is at its best when Faiyaz’s croon is operating with ample space and over woozy, zapped-out beats, as songs as like “Best Time,” “Wherever I Go” and “Forever Yours” succeed based on his style and taste.

Jay Wheeler, TRAPPii 



Puerto Rican star Jay Wheeler dives headfirst into trap music on his fifth studio album, following the success of his single “Pacto” — and while that hit exists as a centerpiece in the middle of the TRAPPii track list, Wheeler cooks up a dedicated, often riveting exploration of its sound in other areas. While “Walk My Way” marks a tender dip into English-language belting, “Frio” sizzles in the back half of the album, with Wheeler’s tone gliding naturally above the programmed drums.

David Guetta feat. Ayra Starr & Lil Durk, “Big FU” 



“Big FU” may be dripping in bitterness — the title of the David Guetta/Ayra Starr/Lil Durk summit represents a middle finger to the person who’s taken your place in a relationship — but as a dance track, the unlikely trio form a sweaty, effective symbiosis, and Guetta puts Starr and Durk in positions to win. Durk continues to provide rock-solid features and sinks his teeth into the bass line here, while Starr continues her upward trajectory by giving her scorn ample momentum on the hook.

Editor’s Pick: Yebba, “Waterfall (I Adore You)” 



The majority of singer-songwriter Yebba’s best-known tracks are collaborative in some way, from “Yebba’s Heartbreak” on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy to “Best Part of Me” with Ed Sheeran to her A$AP Rocky-assisted “Far Away” — and while new single “Waterfall (I Adore You)” has been released with a solid alternate version featuring R&B artist Sweata, the solo take on the track best showcases Yebba’s delicate R&B approach and nuanced vocal prowess. Following her 2021 debut album Dawn, “Waterfall (I Adore You)” feels at once more naturally rendered and sonically opulent than her previous output, and suggests a must-hear next project.

27 Oct 2023

5 Best Moments From Metro Boomin’s Red Bull Symphonic Concert

“S–t’s so beautiful,” Metro Boomin beamed during his Red Bull Symphonic concert at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre Thursday night (Oct. 26).

His one-night-only experience marks the West Coast premiere of the Red Bull Symphonic, which showcases a collaboration between a modern artist and a classical musical director, together with a full-scale symphonic orchestra. It made its U.S. debut last November, when Rick Ross teamed up with conductor Maestro Jason Rodgers and the 50-piece, all-Black Orchestra Noir in Atlanta.

But this time around, the hip-hop super-producer partnered with conductor Anthony Parnther (Encanto, Star Wars: The Mandalorian, Creed II, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and the Symphonic Orchestra to reimagine many of his biggest hits, including Future‘s “Mask Off,” Migos and Lil Uzi Vert‘s “Bad and Boujee,” Post Malone and Quavo‘s “Congratulations,” Kanye West‘s “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” and his own “Creepin’” alongside The Weeknd and 21 Savage. Considering his star-studded list of collaborators, Metro treated attendees with surprise guests John Legend, Swae Lee, Nav and Roisee to perform songs from his 2022 Billboard 200-topping album Heroes & Villains, and the 2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack he executive produced.

It’s rare to see Metro’s DJ controller not be the main instrument of his show, but the 45-piece ensemble elevated the cinematic, orchestral elements embedded in his production’s DNA. And while the Symphonic Orchestra adhered to every one of Parnther’s precise, nimble hand gestures, the black tux-clad hitmaker still ran the show from behind the booth (and sometimes from standing on top of it), his white-gloved hands waving through the air. Metro’s recent ascent into rarefied air as a producer-turned-superstar artist has allowed him to continue headlining major gigs and building out his own sonic, heroic world on new stages across the world.

“Tonight is a celebration. We celebrate music, we celebrate culture, we celebrate y’all for listening to this music and making it what it is,” Metro told his devout fans.

Check out Billboard‘s five biggest highlights from Metro Boomin’s Red Bull Symphonic concert below.

27 Oct 2023

Beanie Sigel Endorses Robert F. Kennedy Jr. For President

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2023 Rock The Bells Festival

Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty

Beanie Sigel is putting his support behind controversial candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his 2024 presidential campaign and explained why in a video.

As the 2024 presidential election draws closer, Hip-Hop figures like Beanie Sigel are getting more vocal about who they’d like to see in the White House. For the Philadelphia native and former Roc Nation affiliate, it’s Robert Kennedy Jr. He made a public declaration of support for the independent candidate and nephew of former president John F. Kennedy on Thursday (October 26) in the form of a video he posted on his Instagram account.

“This is actually the first time that me following a presidential campaign that I believe in the person that was running was honest,” he began. “I’m supporting for this upcoming campaign. I had a chance to read over a lot of his policies and the things he wants to bring forth.”

In a direct tone, Beanie Sigel continued: “This is the first time I believe that a person is trying to empower the people, especially my people. I believe he’s honest because you don’t have policies that’s over here and over there. Everything seems to work together and I really believe in it and I’m supporting his campaign.” The Broad Street Bully ended his message succinctly.”I suggest that you support his campaign, especially in the tri-state area. You hearing it from me, Beanie Sigel and I’m supporting Kennedy,” he said.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has gained some notoriety since announcing his run for President. He initially began to campaign as a Democratic candidate but switched his affiliation to become an independent challenger to the incumbent President Joe Biden and leading Republican nominee Donald Trump. Kennedy has been excoriated for touting conspiracy theories claiming vaccines cause medical conditions among other falsehoods.

Despite that, Sigel’s endorsement comes after Kennedy had sent out a photo of himself and Ice Cube along with former campaign manager Dennis Kucinich after a BIG3 game in July. Kennedy called the rapper and entrepreneur a “civil rights leader” in the caption, which led many to question Ice Cube over his intentions. Ice Cube would vehemently defend himself online afterward. “For all the simple-minded short bus people out there. A picture is not an endorsement, dummy. Now get your ass over to bungalow 51 and STFU,” he wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

27 Oct 2023

Meek Mill Announces That His Criminal Record Has Been Wiped Clean

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Meek Mill x Rick Ross

Source: The Morning Hustle / The Morning Hustle

Meek Mill can finally get a job…if he needed to anyway.

By that we mean that Meek Mill’s criminal record has been expunged according to the Philadelphia rapper himself. Earlier this year Meek Mill was granted a pardon by Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Wolf, and during a recent appearance on The Morning Hustle, Meek Mill was joined by the Bawse, Rick Ross when he announced that after months of waiting, his criminal record has been wiped clean.

Calling it a “burden,” Meek told the radio crew that “My record was still showing up as if I was a felon, if I tried to do anything like, normal, and the system – it took a few months to go by, but I got the letter yesterday telling me that my record is officially clean.”

Good for Meek!

With Rick Ross beside him and leading the cheering squad by announcing “That boy Meek Mill record clean!” the two are seemingly in a better place than they were years ago when Meek was dealing with all kinds of legal issues and his relationship with Ross seemed strained beyond repair.

Now that Meek’s been living his best life having gotten over his legal problems, squashed his beef with Drake and reunited with Ross, he and Rozay are prepping for the release of their collaborative album, Too Good To Be True which is slated to drop on November 10.

With his record is now freshly clean, we just hope Meek stays out of trouble and keeps from making social media headlines for all the wrong and weird reasons as he’s been prone to do over the past few years.

What do y’all think of Meek’s record being wiped clean? Let us know in the comments section below.

27 Oct 2023

Swastikas & Hitler Love: The Wildest Kanye West Stories In The ‘New York Times’ Investigation

adidas + KANYE WEST New Partnership Announcement

Source: Jonathan Leibson / Getty

Along the way to becoming a rap star, Kanye West also became a poster child for the tolerance of otherwise inexcusable behavor. But bumrushing the MTV VMA’s stage or calling slavery a choice is light work compared to his shenanigans at adidas, which were recently exposed by a lengthy New York Times article investigating his time at the brand.

Nevertheless, the New York Times learned that the German sportswear brand was putting up with Ye’s antisemitic rhetoric basically since the start of their almost 10-year business relationship. Obviously, Mr. West made them a gang of money, so don’t expect many tears to be shed on their behalf.

The NY Times found evidence that Ye allegedly routinely made antisemitic comments, sexually offensive comments, and displayed out of pocket behavior that still wasn’t enough to stop execs from cutting ties with the artist. And best believe, they have the receipts.

This article is the fullest accounting yet of their relationship. While some details have been reported earlier, The Times interviewed current and former employees of Adidas and of Mr. West, and obtained hundreds of previously undisclosed internal records — contracts, text messages, memos and financial documents — that reveal episodes throughout a partnership that was fraught from the start.

Some of the documented antics have been told before, others are new revelations and low-key mind-blowing. We had to compile some of the most blatant tomfoolery documented in the story, for archival purposes. See below.

1. Swastika Ye

adidas + KANYE WEST New Partnership Announcement

Source:Getty

Kanye West was so unimpressed with the initial batch of designs presented to him by adidas when they first joined forces in 2013 that he took a marker and drew a swastika on one of the illustrations. We’re not kidding. 

Per the NY Times: 

“The Adidas employees, thrilled to get started, had arrayed sneakers and fabric swatches on a long table near a mood board pinned with images.

But nothing they showed that day at the company’s German headquarters captured the vision Mr. West had shared. To convey how offensive he considered the designs, he grabbed a sketch of a shoe and took a marker to the toe, according to two participants. Then he drew a swastika.”

Bruh…

HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 28: (L-R) adidas CMO Eric Liedtke and Kanye West at Milk Studios on June 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California. adidas and Kanye West announce the future of their partnership: adidas + KANYE WEST. (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for ADIDAS) photography,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,topix,bestof,waist up,california,males,hollywood – california,milk studios,adidas,partnership – teamwork,ye – musician

2. Kiss Hitler

adidas Creates 747 Warehouse St. in Los Angeles - An Event in Basketball Culture

Source:Getty

No good can come from a Hitler obsession. Allegedly, Ye told a Jewish employee they should kiss a photo of Hitler. The employee in question, revealed to be Jon Wexler who helped bring him into the adidas fold, yelled at Ye. 

Per the NY Times: 

“He later advised a Jewish Adidas manager to kiss a picture of Hitler every day, and he told a member of the company’s executive board that he had paid a seven-figure settlement to one of his own senior employees who accused him of repeatedly praising the architect of the Holocaust.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Kanye West onstage at adidas Creates 747 Warehouse St. – an event in basketball culture on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for adidas)

3. Roshe Homicide Confirmed

Street Style - Paris Collections: MEN SS16 - June 24 To June 28, 2015

Source:Getty

Sneakersheads were saying this from jump the adidas Yeezy 350 got the then super popular Nike Roshe outta here.

Per the NY Times: 

“First came a suede high-top, followed by the Yeezy Boost 350 — a sleek sneaker inspired by Nike’s Roshe Run and nicknamed “the Roshe killer” inside Adidas. It had a flat front, not the standard rolled toe that Mr. West disdained. It put a Yeezy spin on Adidas innovations: Boost foam, a new cushioning technology, in the sole, and a patterned knit fabric on top. The shoe wasn’t suited for running or sports, but complemented the athleisure apparel that was coming into fashion.”

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 26: Buyer from ANROSA boutique Romain Rabiller wears Adidas by Kayne West sneakers on day 3 of Paris Collections: Men on June 26, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images)

4. Porn Ye

Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - October 14, 2022

Source:Getty

Ye is a well-documented fan of pornography. However, it’s not the best of looks in the workplace. For example: 

Per the NY Times: 

“Mr. West continued to show pornography to Adidas employees, and chose porn actresses to appear in Yeezy promotional photos, according to several people who worked with him. They also said they had seen him drinking at work and noticed that he sometimes went days with little or no sleep.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 14: Kanye West is seen on October 14, 2022 in Los Angeles, California (Photo by MEGA/GC Images) 

5. Morals?

adidas + KANYE WEST New Partnership Announcement

Source:Getty

Ye’s then manager, Scooter Braun, tried to fight it, but adidas insisted on and was a granted a moral clause when his contract was re-upped in 2016. Talk about “CYA.” But, Ye got a 15% royalty and $10 million guaranteed annually. 

Per the NY Times: 

“Mr. West eventually conceded on Adidas’s terms for termination: felony conviction, bankruptcy, 30 consecutive days of mental health or substance abuse treatment, or anything that brings “disrepute, contempt, scandal” to him or tarnishes Adidas, according to a copy of the contract obtained by The Times.”

HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 28: Kanye West at Milk Studios on June 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California. adidas and Kanye West announce the future of their partnership: adidas + KANYE WEST (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for ADIDAS) 

6. Break

Harper's Bazar Icons party, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week, USA - 09 Sep 2016

Source:Getty

After signing his new adidas contract in May 2016, Kanye West would infamously suffer a mental break that required hospitalization later that year. The NY Times got some new details about when he was committed soon after he canceled his tour. 

Per the NY Times: 

“Harley Pasternak, his friend and former trainer, arrived at the musician’s house in Los Angeles that week to find him consumed with paranoid thoughts, including that government agents were out to get him. He was writing Bible verses and drawing spaceships on bedsheets with a Sharpie, while a handful of worried friends and employees lingered nearby. When Mr. Pasternak encouraged him to come to a nearby office he owned, Mr. West emerged with suitcases packed with pots, pans and Tupperware.

Mr. Pasternak, who later provided an account of the incident in a deposition for Mr. West’s touring company as it sought insurance payouts for the canceled shows, took him to the office. A psychiatrist from U.C.L.A. Medical Center and another doctor were among those called to the scene. After observing Mr. West’s behavior escalate — at one point he threw a bottle, breaking a window — the doctor called 911.”

Kanye West performing (Photo by Swan Gallet/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images) 

7. Blame Farrakhan

Kanye West x Infowars

Source:Youtube

Ye’s relationship with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has been shaky. But in 2013 Ye let off some potentially antisemitic remarks when he told The Breakfast Club that Jews had “connections” but he said much more egregious rhetoric behind closed doors. 

Per the NY Times: 

“He was becoming closer to Mr. Farrakhan. When Mr. West had drawn criticism that he was perpetuating dangerous stereotypes in 2013 by saying “Black people don’t have the same level of connections as Jewish people,” the minister quickly came to his defense. The rapper went on to help him with a documentary about the Nation of Islam. His manager, Mr. Braun — the grandson of Holocaust survivors — told others in the industry that Mr. West made him attend a private dinner with the minister.”

Mr. West also told some Adidas colleagues that he admired Hitler’s command of propaganda, viewing him as a master marketer.”

In 2018, he disclosed to Mr. Liedtke and another manager that he had paid a seven-figure settlement to the outgoing chief executive of his Yeezy operation, who had accused him of commending Hitler and creating a hostile workplace, according to someone familiar with the conversation.”

8. Kanye West x TMZ edit

Kanye West x Drink Champs

Source:Youtube

We all know that Kanye West told TMZ that he thought slavery sounded like a choice, and the firestorm it set off. It turns out that he also said that we should both sides Nazis in the same interview, but his manager managed to get it removed. 

Per the NY Times: 

“During the TMZ interview in which Mr. West made the slavery comment, he said it was important to love everyone, including Nazis. Before the interview aired, Mr. Braun phoned Harvey Levin, founder of the celebrity news website, to discuss the Nazi reference, according to someone with knowledge of the call. In the end, the remark was cut but was disclosed in 2022 by a former journalist from the site. TMZ declined to comment.”

9. Shoe Me The Money

Kanye West Adidas Nike

Source:Kanye West Purchases Second City In Wyoming To Bring Yeezy Production To The US

Apparently, Ye wasn’t a fan of traditional advertising. Instead, he wanted the cash, and he would take it from there. 

Per the NY Times: 

“Mr. West, who objected to advertising and other traditional promotion, had insisted that Adidas’s money was better spent on anything that drew public attention to him. So the executives had agreed to replace the Yeezy marketing budget with a $100 million annual fund that Mr. West could spend with less oversight.”

10. The start of the ending…

In September 2022 while Ya made wild public demands of adidas, he thought it was a good idea to show the execs he was meeting with pornography to bolster the point that he was being exploited. That didn’t work out too well.

11. The Aftermath

Street Style - LFW September 2022

Source:Getty

Despite officially cutting ties with Ye on October 25, 2022, he was still entitled to arbitration. Part of the agreement with adidas was to release the remaining stock of adidas Yeezy product, reportedly worth north of $1 billion. While part of the revenue goes to the Anti-Defamation League and an organization created by George Floyd’s family, most goes to adidas, and Ye gets 15% of that. Through June, they made a cool $437 million, which also pushed adidas into better financial footing. What a time. 

But most of the revenue would go to Adidas, and Mr. West was entitled to royalties.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: A fashion week guest seen wearing red adidas yeezy shoes, outside paul and joe during London Fashion Week September 2022 on September 17, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images) 

27 Oct 2023

UMI Opens Up About Her Mental Health Journey and the Importance of Prioritizing Wellness  

UMI is a 24-year-old Seattle native pioneering a new sound rooted at the intersection of neo soul and folk. Meaning ocean in Japanese, “umi” is a beautiful reflection of her artistry – soothing like a day spent in nature. 

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The singer-songwriter made her debut in 2017, but UMI’s life changed after the release of the 2019 hit “Love Affair.” Since then she has shared a couple projects, Introspection Reimagined and Forest in the City, as well as recent single “happy im.” Currently living in Los Angeles, UMI continues to create genre-bending music that captivates and inspires listeners. She is gearing up to release a new EP, Talking to the Wind, a project meant to help fans work through their feelings.

This month, UMI is featured on Sound Mind’s latest episode of Unmasked, a video series that features artists opening up about their personal mental health journeys. In the new episode, she speaks about her own struggle with anxiety and how prioritizing wellness has improved her quality of life.

UMI told Billboard, “When we see our mental health as a form of communication and self love – we understand that it is necessary to tend to like breathing. Nothing in life can be fully enjoyed without the container of a healthy mind. And we all deserve to feel the full vibrancy of each moment.” 

Each person is at a different stage on their journey with mental health, but UMI credits meditation as something what keeps her grounded through all life has to offer. 

She said, “Teaching people the power of meditation feels like one of my purposes on this earth. Meditation has helped me to release anxiety, develop a connection with my authentic self, trust in life, and know my truths.”

Unmasked was created to promote free mental health resources, as well as foter an open dialogue about mental health for artists and fans alike. Check out UMI on the latest episode of Unmasked and stay tuned for more from Sound Mind. 

27 Oct 2023

HHW Gaming: Sarah Bond Becomes President of Xbox Following Leadership Reorganization, Gamers Salute

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Sarah Bond Promoted To President of Xbox, Gamers Salute Her

Source: Kate Green/BAFTA / Getty / Sarah Bond

We are quickly seeing the aftereffects of Xbox’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. Xbox is reorganizing its leadership structure, and Sara Bond is rising in the ranks.
Following the $69 billion acquisition was FINALLY approved, Microsoft and Xbox have begun moving with way more confidence after walking on eggshells, hoping regulatory agencies would give them the green light.

Now that everything is officially a go, Xbox has reorganized its marketing and leadership less than two weeks after the ABK deal was given the thumbs up.

Microsoft is promoting Matt Booty to president of game content and studios, and he will also oversee ZeniMax. Sarah Bond is now Xbox president and will oversee the Xbox platform and hardware work.

Chris Capossela, who has been with Microsoft for 32 years, is stepping down as chief marketing officer.

In an internal memo obtained by The Verge, Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer explained broke down the reorganization, “ZeniMax will continue to operate as a limited integration entity led by Jamie Leder, President and CEO, reporting to Matt.”

With Booty now overseeing Zenimax and Bethesda, the goal is to avoid another Redfall situation. Redfall was one of the first-party titles Xbox gamers were looking forward to, but when it launched, it was a broken mess, It has since been patched up and is running better.

“Great games are fundamental to everything we do,” Spencer continues in the memo. “We believe that an expanded gaming content organization — one that enables Xbox Game Studios and ZeniMax’s development studios to collaborate effectively together — will empower those world-class studios to do their best work in growing our portfolio of games players love.”

Sara Bond Has Been A Rising Star In Xbox Ranks

It’s been no secret how vital Sara Bond has been to Team Xbox since joining in 2017, and for her brilliant work behind the scenes, she earned a promotion.

She was pivotal in getting the ABK deal done, especially with her explanation of video games and the Xbox business to Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley during her appearance at the FTC v. Microsoft hearing.

Bond will now take over the hardware and software platforms of Xbox.

“To manage the platform of today and build the platform of tomorrow, we are bringing together the teams that will make this possible,” says Spencer. “Sarah Bond will lead this team as President of Xbox — bringing together Devices, Player & Creator Experiences, Platform Engineering, Strategy, Business Planning, Data & Analytics, and Business Development.”

News of Bond’s promotion was celebrated on X (formerly known as Twitter). It’s no secret in the video game space that Black and Brown representation in the world of gaming is still a struggle; to see a Black woman in such a high position is a massive win.

Salute to Sarah Bond.

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

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Photo: Kate Green/BAFTA / Getty

2. Neccesary reading.

27 Oct 2023

Jay-Z Reveals the True Inspiration Behind Blue Ivy’s Name — and It Isn’t What Fans Speculated

Contrary to popular belief by Jay-Z and Beyoncé fans, Blue Ivy Carter’s name was not derived from her father’s critically acclaimed Blueprint album series. In Hov’s latest interview with CBS Mornings, which aired Friday (Oct. 27), the rapper revealed that Blue’s name was meant to be something else altogether, but changed after they saw the sonogram.

“Her name was meant to be Brooklyn. That was the name we had in theory, but when we got the sonogram, it was super small and we was calling her blueberry,” he told Gayle King. “Like, ‘Look at the little blueberry!’ It was a nickname. For nine months, we were like, ‘Look at the little blueberry,’ so it was natural. We just took the ‘berry’ off and called her Blue.”

The “Encore” rapper, however, did not explain Blue’s middle name, Ivy. Fans of the couple have speculated that it comes from Bey and Jay’s shared birthday number four, as the “Alien Superstar” singer was born on Sept. 4, and the rapper was born on Dec. 4.

Elsewhere in the interview, Jay gushed about his daughter performing onstage alongside her superstar mother for “My Power,” and said seeing the 11-year-old perform has made him “super proud.” He continued, “I still get goosebumps seeing her walk on stage ’cause Blue’s been born into a life she didn’t ask for. Since she was born, she’s been in scrutiny, in public eye and having an opinion of even a little girl how she keeps her hair, so for her to be on that stage to reclaim her power and the song is called ‘My Power,’ you can’t write a better script.”

Watch Jay’s CBS Mornings interview in the video above.