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16 Oct 2023

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Ken Carson, Westside Gunn, Veeze, Young Thug & More

Between a rumors of joint album from Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign, several revelations from Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir, and a surprise freestyle from Drake’s son, Adonis, the hip-hop world has been in a tizzy for the past week. In the midst of all of these cultural conversational touchstones, a bevy of hot new music also made its way to streaming platforms on Friday (Oct. 13).

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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Naomi Sharon’s smooth ode to unconditional love to Young Thug’s heartfelt response to Mariah the Scientist. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.

Freshest Find: Ken Carson feat. Destroy Lonely, “Paranoid”


https://youtube.com/watch?v=_OpFTPt6G8o&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

The umpteenth reunion of Playboi Cart’s two biggest signees was bound to produce a banger — and Ken Carson & Destroy Lonely do not disappoint. In a nod to the everlasting cultural impact of Barbie, Ken raps, “I f–k Barbie b–ches, yeah, yeah, all my hoes plastic/ All my hoes know how to act, all my hoes classy,” over a skittering trap beat crafted by F1LTHY, Lukrative & Lucian. Both rappers employ madcap flows that cover hip-hop’s most stories tropes (wealth, women, guns, etc.) with an air of wariness that plays into the concept of paranoia that guides the track.

Westside Gunn & Stove God Cooks, “House of Glory”

And Then You Pray For Me may stand as Westside Gunn’s final studio effort, but the Griselda God left us with an incredibly consistent project. One of the record’s standouts is a RZA-produced collaboration with Stove God Cooks titled “House of Glory,” which finds the pair trading verses laden with biblical imagery over a soulful, almost drumless beat that pulls from a Tchaikovsky sample. “Seen Chanel five hundred dollar plates, she in the county/ She pulled up on Tiffany, shot out the Audi/ Another palm angel gained new wings/ Valentino down to my shoestrings,” he spits.

Jay Worthy, Kamaiyah & Harry Fraud feat. Ty Dolla $ign, “Pull Up”

On this cut from Jay Worthy, Kamaiyah & Harry Fraud’s terrific The Am3rican Dream collaborative album, the trio calls upon Ty Dolla $ign to help inject some extra West Coast bounce and flair into the track’s soulful production. It’s a tribute to Black wealth as it relates to the concept of the American Dream through the lens of the contemporary entertainment industry. When Ty and Jay trade the “It go money, hoes, fancy s–t/ Let the ho choose up, don’t ask the b–ch” lines in the hook and pre-chorus, there’s a glint of irony in their delivery that takes the whole thing up several notches.

Naomi Sharon, “Regardless”

As OVO’s First Lady continues to tease her forthcoming debut album, she delves even deeper into her Sade influences on this new acoustic track. “Regardless,” a straightforward track that finds Naomi yearning for truly unconditional love, balances her smooth, seductive timbre with sparkling, subdued keys for a track that understands the beauty of letting the music breathe.

Veeze, “Amusing”

Over a subtly menacing K Money-helmed beat, Veeze delivers a verse-long stream-of-consciousness tirade in this new track from the deluxe version of his acclaimed Ganger album. He does a lot of typical street posturing on the track — “Doin’ deals neat, this the corner suite trap spot/ I done grew a lot, servin’ n—as I could slime out/ Do the drill on feet, take that boy ID, face shot/ All my n—as stand over shit, we don’t do drive-bys,” he raps — but it’s his laidback cadence that every so often bubbles over into a new level of assertiveness that makes “Amusing” such a dynamic and intriguing listen.

Hunxho feat. Dej Loaf, “Make Time”

In this delectable slice of trap&B yearning, rising Atlanta rapper Hunxho and Dej Loaf trade verses about straightening up their ways and doing the work to prove to a potential significant other that they are both ready for a proper relationship. Murky trap drums and slurred flows add to the muddy kaleidoscope of emotions that both artists cycle through in the song. “I wish I could love myself/ Like I love you and nobody else,” Dej croons.

Young Thug, “From a Man”

Over a surprisingly smooth beat courtesy of Turbo and London On Da Track, among other contributors, Thugger delivers a freestyle-evoking track that details his personal and romantic commitments to R&B singer-songwriter Mariah the Scientist, who released her own “From a Woman” track on Friday (Oct. 13) as well. It’s Young Thug’s first new song (as a lead artist) since he dropped off his Business Is Business album earlier this year. The rap great is still behind bars as he awaits the resolution of his RICO case, but “From a Man” proves that he’s still capable of being as prolific as ever.

16 Oct 2023

Netflix Is Opening Physical Retail Stores That Offer Curated Experiences

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Netflix Opening Physical Retail Locations In 2025

Source: PATRICK T. FALLON / Getty / Netflix

Along with raising subscription prices, Netflix is going to open physical retail stores to get more of your money.

Bloomberg reports that the insanely popular movie-streaming giant is gearing up to unleash physical brick-and-mortar locations.

Before going completely digital, Netflix once sent actual DVDs to your home, and now the company hopes subscribers love their original content enough that they want to enjoy curated experiences and buy merchandise based on them.

According to the Bloomberg report, there will be numerous locations across the country, and it will be called Netflix House, where you can also enjoy meals and experiences based on hit shows like Squid Games.

Per HYPEBEAST:

In these stores, Netflix plans to sell merchandise based on some if the platform’s biggest shows. On top of broad range of merch selection, Netflix House will offer guests a curated dining experience as well as live events. For instance, in the two initial locations, guests will be able to experience an obstacle course based on Squid Game. As for the dining experience, the in-house restaurant is slated to serve up cuisines and drinks from the streamer’s many unscripted food-based reality shows. The menu will feature a wide range of options from fast casual to high-end dining. Netflix House also boasts a rotation of art installation based on hit shows, along with live performances for fans.

The streaming giant has yet to confirm the location of the first Netflix House, but according to Bloomberg, the company plans on opening it in 2025.

This will not be the first time Netflix has used physical locations to tie in with its original properties. They have done numerous activations for Stranger Things and other shows like Narcos.

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Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON / Getty

16 Oct 2023

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Hold Hands Again While Out for Dinner in NYC

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce couldn’t help showing off their romance this weekend. Less than 24 hours after the couple was spotted holding hands en route to the Saturday Night Live afterparty, Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end were once again spotted with interlocking fingers. This time, the pair was headed out to dinner at Waverly Inn in New York City Sunday (Oct. 15).

The “Anti-Hero” singer looked chic in a sheer, flower-print top, leathery black miniskirt and fuchsia shoulder purse. Kelce was all smiles, dressed in matching khaki-colored pants and button-up shirt jacket.

Neither Swift nor Kelce have released statements to confirm that they’re dating, but two nights in a row of joint public outings has basically done the trick regardless. On Saturday (Oct. 14), the pair were both at SNL, each of them making surprise cameos on the series’ season 49 premiere. Afterward, they walked into the afterparty together hand in hand.

The two consecutive date nights follow weeks of rumors that Swift and the football star have been courting. Kelce first confessed his feelings for the musician earlier this year, revealing he tried unsuccessfully to deliver his phone number to her at an Eras Tour concert. Flash forward to present day, and Swift is now a frequent guest at Kelce’s games; she’s been spotted sharing a box suite with number 87’s mother, Donna Kelce.

It’s a romantic matchup that has earned commentary from everyone from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to the New England Patriots’ GM Bill Belichick, who jokingly called Swift the “biggest catch” of Kelce’s career. Most recently, Katy Perry weighed in, commenting on an Instagram photo of Swift and Kelce holding hands post-SNL: “I ship.”

See a photo of Swift and Kelce holding hands while out to dinner below:

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have dinner at Waverly Inn on Oct. 15, 2023 in New York City.

Gotham/GC Images

16 Oct 2023

UTA’s ‘Peak Performance’ Report Breaks Down Live Music’s Post-Pandemic Boom

The concert business is set to close out another record year fueled by pent-up pandemic demand, higher priced tickets and intense fan commitment to their favorite artists.

Hoping to capture a snapshot of the concert business when cumulative grosses for the top 100 tours and attendance are higher than ever, Variety VIP+ and talent agency UTA have released a new report titled “Peak Performance” combining data from Billboard and Pollstar with insights from PwC and an online survey of more than 1,500 concert goers.

“Our desire to do this study was spurred by the anecdotal evidence we were seeing from our own music representation and music brand partnerships business,” said Joe Kessler, UTA partner and global head of UTA IQ.

The report paints a bullish and optimistic picture of the concert business with more fans willing to spend money and travel farther to see their favorite artists live, as well as an increased urgency for consumers to find time for more live music and festivals in the post-pandemic period. But the rapidly increasing price of tickets and the increased use of credit cards and debit to pay for experiences continues to represent a potential liability for both music fans and the industry writ large, the report finds.

For the first time ever, the concert business is expected to cross the $30 billion revenue mark in 2023, with the top 100 tours accounting for nearly 20 percent of total sales. Survey respondents overwhelmingly agreed that some of their favorite memories took place at concerts and 79 percent of respondents agreed that attending a concert or festival is more important to them following the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 43% of consumers said live music events were more meaningful to them than other types of live events or experiences.

Driving the enthusiasm for concerts, Kessler explains, are millennials, now in their mid 20s to early 40s, who have “consistently and substantially shown a desire to want to engage in collaborative and communal experiences as a group.”

“Music has always been a big part of that,” Kessler says, noting that it was millennials who fueled the growth of the festival business over the last two decades.

“As the economy improve and they have more disposable spending, I think we’re going to see a continued rise in the desire to want to see live shows,” Kessler says,” a trend he expect to grow “as our lives become increasingly virtual and we spend more and more time behind screens.”

While Taylor Swift and Beyonce have dominated the headlines in 2023, the report found that men still significantly outnumber women in terms of concert attendance, with men more likely to have gone to a concert in 2023, with 42 percent saying they’ve attended a live music show in the past 12 months, compared with 31 percent of women.

The survey also found that more fans are traveling for events than ever before, with half of respondents traveling four hours or more to attend a concert, 39 percent have flown within the U.S. to attend a show, and 30 percent have traveled to another country for a live music event.

While fans are willing to spend more money that ever on concert tickets, the survey also finds that high ticket prices are among consumers’ chief complaints. With average ticket prices north of $122, more than 62 percent of respondents said the biggest impediment to live music attendance was the price, while 38 percent of fans reported that high ticket prices have prevented them from attending at least one concert in the last 12 months.

“That should not be all that surprising,” says Andrew Wallenstein, president and chief media analyst for Variety Plus, noting that while concerns over price have long existed in the concert business, ‘more than half of the consumers surveyed are just as willing to purchase VIP tickets now as they were prior to the pandemic, while 3 in 10 have become more willing” to buy expensive tickets.

“I think there is a demographic out there that despite the cost pressures feels there is more value in spending top dollar than ever before,” Wallenstein says.

Unsurprisingly, debt is fueling a large part of consumer spending. The survey found that more than one-third of fans had used a buy-now, pay later service to buy tickets, while 34% have opened a credit card specifically for a concert or music festival presale.

“Macroeconomic circumstances have to be paid attention to,” says Wallenstein, who notes that federal student loan payments are resuming this month after a three-year pandemic pause, but notes “this demographic values the concert going experience in a way that previous demographics may not have.”

“Despite the fact that student loan forgiveness is out the window, and many are not saving for things like home ownership, [millennials] may still spend money on concerts the same way they have in the past,” he tells Billboard.

While the report doesn’t offer up any forecasts as to how much runway is left for growth in concerts, Kessler says be doesn’t expect the business to cool off any time soon.

“No one can know how long it will last, but I don’t think this is a temporary blip on the map,” Kessler says. “The data that came through the study tells us that, this is here to stay for the foreseeable future.”

Click here to access a copy of the report.

16 Oct 2023

Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign To Reportedly Perform Collaborative LP In Italy

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London Celebrity Sightings - September 26, 2022

Kanye West, also known as Ye, is making his return to music soon with a reported collaborative project with Ty Dolla $ign. With reports that the pair will be performing the project at the end of the month, it’s also come out that Kanye West is looking to shop the project to a distributor partner.

As reported by Billboard, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign have been hard at work on an album, which remains untitled. The Italian version of the music publication previously reported that the joint concert was slated to happen at RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia but those reports are not confirmed by West’s team. For now, the location remains undisclosed but the outlet added that tickets were to go on sale this past weekend.

Recently, Ye made an unannounced appearance at Travis Scott’s Circus Maximus concert in Rome this past August. West has also spent significant time in Italy over the course of the summer.

The outlet added in a separate report that Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign are looking for a distribution partner and are considering offers from five unnamed entities according to sources close to the situation. The album was supposed to be released this past Friday (October 13) but it appears that the business being worked out on the backend moved things to a later date.

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Photo: Ricky Vigil M / Getty

16 Oct 2023

Hot 100 Chart Reveal: Oct. 21, 2023 | Billboard News

Drake completely takes over the Billboard Hot 100 chart. How does Drake’s new album For All the Dogs affect last week’s top two, Doja Cat and SZA? Watch the full video to find out.

Tetris Kelly:
This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated Oct. 21.

Kicking off a big week for Drake’s For All the Dogs is “Fear of Heights.”

Staying in the top 10 is “Cruel Summer.”

Next up from Drake, “Daylight.”

Down from two to seven is SZA, “Snooze.”

SZA is also at No. 6 with Drake on “Slime You Out.”

Drake and 21 Savage at No. 5.

Doja’s “Paint the Town” is strong at No. 4.

At No. 3, Drake has “Virgina Beach,” “IDGAF” featuring Yeat at No. 2.

And debuting at No. 1 and Drake’s seventh song in the top 10 from For All the Dogs is “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole.

16 Oct 2023

Drake & J. Cole’s ‘First Person Shooter’ Debuts Atop Billboard Hot 100, Tying Drake With Michael Jackson for Record

Drake’s “First Person Shooter,” featuring J. Cole, launches at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. The collaboration, from Drake’s LP For All the Dogs – which concurrently debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart – is his 13th Hot 100 leader, tying him with Michael Jackson for the most in the list’s history among solo males, and the fourth-most among all acts.

J. Cole achieves his first Hot 100 No. 1.

Drake, meanwhile, charts seven songs in the Hot 100’s top 10, including six debuts, upping his record total to 76 career top 10 hits.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations. All charts (dated Oct. 21, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Oct. 17). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Here’s a look at the coronation of “First Person Shooter,” the 1,157th single to top the Hot 100 over the chart’s 65-year history, and the 72nd to debut at No. 1.

Streams, airplay & sales: Released Oct. 6 at 6 a.m. ET on For All the Dogs, on OVO Sound/Republic Records, “First Person Shooter” drew 42.2 million streams and 4.3 million radio airplay audience impressions and sold 4,000 downloads in the tracking week ending Oct. 12, according to Luminate.

The single also debuts at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart and No. 7 on Digital Song Sales.

Drake ties MJ with 13th Hot 100 No. 1: “I’m one away from Michael,” chart-watcher Drake notes in “First Person Shooter,” while also shouting out Jackson’s classic 1983 Hot 100 No. 1 “Beat It.” Upon the former song’s debut, the lyric is outdated, as Drake now ties Jackson for the most leaders among solo males: 13 each.

Drake and Jackson tie for the fourth-most Hot 100 No. 1s among all acts, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception.

Most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s:

  • 20, The Beatles
  • 19, Mariah Carey
  • 14, Rihanna
  • 13, Drake
  • 13, Michael Jackson
  • 12, Madonna
  • 12, The Supremes
  • 11, Whitney Houston
  • 10, Janet Jackson
  • 10, Stevie Wonder

Here’s a recap of Drake’s 13 Hot 100 No. 1s:

  • “First Person Shooter,” Drake feat. J. Cole (one week to-date, Oct. 21, 2023)
  • “Slime You Out,” Drake feat. SZA (one week, Sept. 30, 2023)
  • “Jimmy Cooks,” Drake feat. 21 Savage (one week, July 2, 2022)
  • “Wait for U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems (one week, May 14, 2022)
  • “Way 2 Sexy,” Drake feat. Future and Young Thug (one week, Sept. 18, 2021)
  • “What’s Next,” Drake (one week, March 20, 2021)
  • “Toosie Slide,” Drake (one week, April 18, 2020)
  • “In My Feelings,” Drake (10 weeks, beginning July 21, 2018)
  • “Nice for What,” Drake (eight weeks, beginning April 21, 2018)
  • “God’s Plan,” Drake (11 weeks, beginning Feb. 3, 2018)
  • “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla (10 weeks, beginning May 21, 2016)
  • “Work,” Rihanna feat. Drake (nine weeks, beginning March 5, 2016)
  • “What’s My Name?,” Rihanna feat. Drake (one week at No. 1, beginning Nov. 20, 2010)

J. Cole’s first No. 1: J. Cole earns his first Hot 100 No. 1, with his 72nd entry on the chart. He previously reached No. 2 twice, as featured on Lil Durk’s “All My Life” (this May) and with “my.life,” with 21 Savage and Morray (May 2021). As “First Person Shooter” debuts, he now totals 12 career top 10s.

Drake’s record ninth No. 1 debut: “First Person Shooter” is Drake’s record-extending ninth song to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100. He previously started at the top with “Slime You Out,” “Jimmy Cooks,” “Wait for U,” “Way 2 Sexy,” “What’s Next,” “Toosie Slide,” “Nice for What” and “God’s Plan.”

Drake passes BTS for most No. 1s in the ‘20s: Drake ups his haul to seven Hot 100 No. 1s in the 2020s – pushing him past BTS for the most so far this decade. Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift follow with four each in that span.

Drake earned six Hot 100 No. 1s in the ‘10s, the fourth-best sum, after Rihanna (nine), Katy Perry (eight) and Bruno Mars (seven).

Here’s a recap of the artists with the most Hot 100 leaders in each decade:

  • ‘20s, to date: Drake, seven
  • ‘10s: Rihanna, nine
  • ‘00s: Usher, seven
  • ‘90s: Mariah Carey, 14
  • ‘80s: Michael Jackson, nine
  • ‘70s: Bee Gees, nine
  • ‘60s: The Beatles, 18

(Frankie Avalon and The Fleetwoods tied for the most Hot 100 No. 1s, two each, over 1958-59.)

Drake claims 7 of top 10: Drake tallies seven songs overall in the latest Hot 100’s top 10. He infuses the entire top three for a third time (after he tripled up on the Sept. 18, 2021, and March 20, 2021, charts). He and The Beatles (five weeks, 1964) are the only acts with multiple such weeks, while Grande and Swift have monopolized the top three once each.

Here’s a rundown of Drake’s tracks in the latest Hot 100’s top 10 (all of which are debuts except for No. 6):

  • No. 1, “First Person Shooter,” feat. J. Cole
  • No. 2, “IDGAF,” feat. Yeat
  • No. 3, “Virginia Beach”
  • No. 5, “Calling for You,” feat. 21 Savage
  • No. 6, “Slime You Out,” feat. SZA (up from No. 18; debuted at No. 1 on the Sept. 30 chart)
  • No. 8, “Daylight”
  • No. 10, “Fear of Heights”

As J. Cole lands his first Hot 100 No. 1, and 12th top 10, Yeat earns his first top 10 and 21 Savage, his 15th (and 10th in collaboration with Drake).

Drake’s records in top 2, 5 & 10: “First Person Shooter” also contributes to Drake’s marks for the most top two, top five and top 10 Hot 100 hits.

Here’s an updated look at Drake’s leading ranks among acts with the most hits in those tiers:

  • Top 2: Now with 23 top two Hot 100 hits, Drake ties The Beatles and Mariah Carey for the most. (The Beatles boast 20 No. 1s, the most among all acts, and three top two hits; Carey has 19 and four, respectively; and Drake now has 13 and a record 10, respectively.)
  • Top 5: Now with 41 top five Hot 100 hits, Drake moves further ahead of runners-up The Beatles (29). Madonna follows with 28.
  • Top 10: Now with 76 top 10 Hot 100 hits, Drake surges further past Swift, in second place with 42. Madonna is next with 38.

No. 1 on Streaming Songs, R&B/hip-hop charts: As “First Person Shooter” concurrently crowns the Streaming Songs chart, Drake adds his record-extending 19th No. 1. (Justin Bieber and Swift rank next with six each.) J. Cole notches his second No. 1, after “Interlude” led for a week in May 2021.

“First Person Shooter” likewise premieres atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, which use the same multi-metric methodology as the Hot 100. Drake claims his record-padding 30th Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1, further distancing himself from legends Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, each with 20. J. Cole collects his third Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1, after “All My Life” ruled for seven weeks and “my.life,” for one frame. On Hot Rap Songs, Drake and J. Cole also swell their No. 1 totals to a record-extending 30 and three, respectively.

Plus, on the multi-metric Hot R&B Songs chart, “Slime You Out” rebounds for a second week at No. 1.

‘First’ things first: Last but not least, “First Person Shooter” is the fifth Hot 100 No. 1 with the word “first” in its title. Here’s an updated firsthand look:

  • “First Person Shooter,” Drake feat. J. Cole, one week at No. 1, beginning Oct. 21, 2023
  • “First Class,” Jack Harlow, three weeks, beginning April 23, 2022
  • “The First Night,” Monica, five weeks, beginning Oct. 3, 1998
  • “The First Time,” Surface, two weeks, beginning Jan. 26, 1991
  • “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Roberta Flack, six weeks, beginning April 15, 1972

Elsewhere, three songs not by Drake make the latest Hot 100’s top 10, led by Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red,” which falls to No. 4 following three nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1.

SZA’s “Snooze” retreats to No. 7 on the Hot 100 from its No. 2 high. It rules the Radio Songs chart for a second week (77.9 million in audience, up 3%).

Plus, Swift’s “Cruel Summer” slips to No. 9 on the Hot 100 from its No. 3 peak.

Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated Oct. 21), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (Oct. 17).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

16 Oct 2023

10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Blu DeTiger & Mallrat, Lauren Mayberry, Mckenna Grace & More

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

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See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

These 10 tracks from artists including Blu DeTiger with Mallrat, Lauren Mayberry, Mckenna Grace and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.

Blu DeTiger featuring Mallrat, “Cut Me Down”

Both Blu DeTiger and Mallrat have an abundance of self-assuredness — and when they join forces, it becomes impossible for anyone listening not to catch their confidence. On “Cut Me Down,” a dizzying pop song built around a groovy and defining bass riff, the two trade verses about no one being able to bring them down. Who would dare try? – Lyndsey Havens

Desire Marea, “The Only Way“

South African artist Desire Marea was formally trained as a traditional Nguni spiritual healer — and his music is proof enough, with his soulful, feel-good approach. “The Only Way” previews an upcoming EP, The Baddies of isandlwana, out Nov. 9, and makes clear that for Marea, “the only way” he knows how to create is with a larger mission in mind. – L.H.

Allie X, “Black Eye”

Creating a haunting pop song is light work for Allie X, but the Canadian auteur employs larger-than-life synthesizers — somewhere between the opening thumps of New Order’s “Blue Monday” and the hybrid of eastern European post punk/new wave — to create an ’80s-inspired gothic adventure on “Black Eye.” A solid addition to any Halloween playlist, this track sees the singer boldly embracing her pain and daring the listener to flinch at her lack of response. – Starr Bowenbank

Chelsea Cutler, “Loved By You”

On a song that reflects on personal growth and identity within the context of a world-stopping global pandemic, Chelsea Cutler demonstrates the evolution that she’s experienced as a vocalist and songwriter. “Loved By You,” a highlight of new album Stellaria, finds Cutler sinking comfortably into each new thought and attacking the chorus with a persuasiveness that matches the track’s booming drums. – Jason Lipshutz

Lauren Mayberry, “Shame”

“Shame” may be Chvrches star Lauren Mayberry’s second solo single following last month’s ballad “Are You Awake?,” but the new track feels like the start of a fresh, compelling stance: as she sings about internalized shame during different phases of her life, Mayberry navigates a shape-shifting soundscape, electronic zaps and fire-off vocal jabs buckling into stripped-down harmonies. The song is designed to shake Mayberry’s listener awake, and as both a standalone track and representation of her solo prospects, “Shame” succeeds. – J.L.

Wild Arrows, “Got to Know”

New York singer-songwriter Mike Law is best known for his work with EULCID and New Idea Society, and created Wild Arrows as a means of releasing solo work quickly and efficiently. With that in mind, new single “Got to Know” possesses an effortless snappiness that sounds dreamed up in a matter of minutes — but listen closely, sniff out the string plucks and stray riffs, and you’ll realize how much work went into making a song this immediate. – J.L.

Madi Diaz, “Same Risk”

Although Madi Diaz has opened for Harry Styles’ arena shows and is spending this month playing to large crowds in support of My Morning Jacket, “Same Risk,” which precedes her 2024 album Weird Faith, proves that she hasn’t lost an ounce of the intimacy at the center of her 2021 full-length History of a Feeling. “Same Risk” confronts relationship messiness with blunt emotion and musical vulnerability — a few sounds creep into view to join Diaz’s honest vocals and guitar strums, but never enough to overwhelm her words. – J.L.

Mckenna Grace, “Catch Me”

“Why’d you make me fall if you weren’t gonna catch me?” McKenna Grace demands on the resplendent new single “Catch Me,” after the 17-year-old singer-songwriter has listed off the sparks of romance that went unrequited and dreams of a future that will never be fulfilled. Grace’s new EP, Autumn Leaves, ruminates on young heartbreak, and “Catch Me” best distills her talents as a storyteller and creator of woozy, richly textured pop. – J.L.

Cafuné, “Shadowboxing”

Cafuné’s new EP, Love Songs for the End, may have been intended to soundtrack the finales of various life journeys, but Sedona Schat and Noah Yoo sound like their blissful mix of alt-rock and bedroom pop is just getting off the ground and morphing into something truly meaningful. “Shadowboxing” continues their upward trajectory, all sun-kissed harmonies and the type of elongated syllables that will work well in summer festival crowds. – J.L.

Yumi Zouma, “Be Okay”

The moment that “Be Okay,” the latest single from New Zealand indie-pop mainstays Yumi Zouma, flares up musically is the same moment that the bitterness at the heart of the lyrics boils over into anger: “You crush me,” Christie Simpson wails, as the guitars bubbling beneath her voice rise up into a tidal wave. Yumi Zouma have traded in dreaminess for years, but “Be Okay” is a nice reminder that the quartet can handle fury, too. – J.L.

16 Oct 2023

Megan Thee Stallion Reveals She Has Gone Independent, Will Be Funding Her Next Album

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Megan Thee Stallion Reveals She Has Gone Independent

Source: Taylor Hill / Getty / Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion is officially a free agent and is using her money to get her next project out.

On a recent Instagram Live session, Thee Stallion revealed to her loyal Hotties that she has gone independent. No longer having a label means she will be footing the bill to get her next project out.

“This part of my album is definitely very much funded by Megan Thee Stallion because you know we trying to get off… Y’all know what’s the tea,” the Houston Hip-Hop star said.

The “Big Ole Freak” crafter also added that she would be paying for the studio time, music videos, and marketing for the yet-to-be-named project that she could possibly already be teasing in previous IG posts. 

“The next s**t y’all about to see ’bout to be all straight from Megan Thee Stallion’s brain and Megan Thee Stallion’s wallet. Yes, we are in my pockets, hotties, so let’s do our big one,” she said.

Megan Thee Stallion & Her Drama With Her Label

The news of Thee Stallion going independent should surprise no one, and she has been engaged in a very public battle with Carl Crawford’s 1501 Certified Entertainment.

The rapper claimed her last project, Traumazine, which has been certified gold by the RIAA, was the previous project to fulfill her contractual obligation.

Crawford argued the project before Traumazine, Something For The Hotties, did not qualify as an album; thus, Megan Thee Stallion did not fulfill her contractual obligations.

Thee Stallion also accused her former label of trying to sabotage her career and acting funny with her money. She was granted a restraining order by a judge in 2022.

The news also has some on social media reacting, being loud and wrong, mainly directing energy towards Roc Nation, which manages Thee Stallion and has nothing to do with funding her music projects.

As long as Thee Stallion is mentally in a good space, we are happy she has finally rid herself of Carl Crawford and 1501 Certified Entertainment.

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Photo: Taylor Hill / Getty

16 Oct 2023

From the Bordertown to the 305: Grupo Frontera Brings Norteño Magic to Miami Show

Grupo Frontera’s El Comienzo Tour made a stop in Miami on Sunday night (Oct. 15), where the group performed to a sold-out crowd of nearly 5,000 at the James L. Knight Center — a remarkable contrast to the band’s quinceañera and nightclub presentations less than two years ago. 

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As the theater began to fill with people of all ages — the majority wearing cowboy boots and tejana hats — opening act Milla 22 took center stage to pump up the crowd, followed by ambiance music that included Grupo Firme, Bad Bunny, Elvis Crespo and Eslabon Armado, to name a few. 

Sharply at 9 p.m., the lights dimmed and an intro video rolled on the screen, showing each Frontera member’s life before becoming famous, some working at the ranch, others gambling, some having a side photography gig. “We must never lose faith,” said founding member and accordionist Juan Javier Cantú in the clip. “We are very excited to sing in front of so many people and we are ready with our hearts in our hands.”

Soon after, the sextext — accompanied by four other musicians — kicked off the night with its viral TikTok hit — and the one that ultimately put them on the map — “No Se Va.” 

Grupo Frontera

Grupo Frontera

Abelardo Báez

At all times, the band had the crowd chanting and dancing along to songs such as “Di Que Si,” “Le Va Doler,” “En Altavoz,” “Frágil” and “La Ladrona,” one of Grupo Frontera’s earlier career covers of Diego Verdaguer’s 1981 hit. 

The night’s biggest highlight, however, was when Frontera paid tribute to the Tejano and Norteño music pioneers who paved the way for them, performing their own versions of Selena Quintanilla’s “Como La Flor” and Ramon Ayala’s “Te Voy a Esperar,” for example. 

In between songs, percussionist and animator Julian Peña Jr. and vocalist Adelaido “Payo” Solis III talked about a failed relationship and a girl who broke their heart, which set the mood for the last set of songs from the concert: “Ojitos Rojos,” “un x100to,” “El Amor De Su Vida,” “De Lunes a Lunes,” “911,” “Tulum” and “Que Vuelvas,” before wrapping up with an encore of “No Se Va.”

At the end of the concert, Peña Jr. also gave a special shoutout to Latin Grammy-winning producer Edgar Barrera for believing, supporting and propelling Grupo Frontera. 

El Comienzo Tour, which kicked off in April and will wrap in November, is in support of Frontera’s debut studio album of the same name that peaked No. 2 on Regional Mexican Albums chart, and No. 4 on the Top Latin Albums chart.