News

14 Sep 2023

JAY-Z’s “Off-White Lexus” Displayed At ‘The Book Of HOV’ Exhibit, Date Extended

HipHopWired Featured Video

JAY-Z’s “Off White Lexus” at Brooklyn Museum

Source: Lexus / Lexus

The Book Of Hov exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum has been a resounding success, and it’s going to stick around a little longer. Also, the Brooklyn rapper turned mogul’s famed “Off-White Lexus” is going to be parked right outside the building.

JAY-Z’s “Off White Lexus” at Brooklyn Museum

Source: Lexus / Lexus

Roc Nation has partnered with Lexus to bring a vintage 1993 Lexus GS 300, the same one Jay-Z flexed in the “Dead Presidents” video, to the Brooklyn Museum. Is it the exact same whip? Probably not, but it’s all about the nostalgia. The Book of HOV was originally scheduled to close up shop in the fall but will now end its run at the close of 2023.

“We’re excited to partner with Lexus to bring JAY-Z’s iconic ‘Off-White Lexus’ to The Book of HOV. The new installation adds another element of JAY-Z’s career to the exhibit that visitors can enjoy,” said Desiree Perez, CEO Roc Nation, in a press statement. “The response to The Book Of HOV has been overwhelming, so we’re excited to extend the exhibit to December to ensure new and returning attendees can have enough opportunities to fully immerse themselves into the experience.”

Since opening July 14, the Book Of Hov has reportedly hosted over 255,000 visitors and in turn created over 21,000 new accounts thanks to limited edition Jay-Z library cards.

According to Kelly Blue Book, the Lexus GS 300, a four door sedan, had a retail price of a cool $40,000 back in ’93. High-end Lexus automobiles have been name-checked in various Hip-Hop songs throughout the years, and that fact isn’t lost on the brand itself.

“In further celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, we are thrilled to partner with Roc Nation in this special tribute to JAY-Z’s musical legacy,” added Mia Phillips, Senior Manager, Lexus Advertising & Media, in a statement. “The vehicle display is recognition of the mutual respect and admiration between Lexus and JAY-Z, whose brilliance and contributions to culture extend far beyond hip-hop.”

Real recognize real.

JAY-Z’s “Off White Lexus” at Brooklyn Museum

Source: Lexus / Lexus

HipHopWired Radio

Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…

14 Sep 2023

David Hodges Unveils a Love-Loss-Love Journey on ‘The Unattainable/The Unavoidable’: ‘It’s Been So Personally Rewarding’

For the bulk of his career, acclaimed artist, writer and producer David Hodges has found success in the collective work of helping collaborators to shape ideas and messages into songs — as part of the 2000s hitmaking rock outfit Evanescence, as a hitmaking songwriter and with co-writers on more than a dozen of his own solo projects.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

As an early member of Evanescence, David Hodges co-wrote many of the songs on the group’s 2003 debut album Fallen, including the top five Billboard Hot 100 smash “Bring Me to Life.” After leaving the group before Fallen was released, the two-time Grammy winner has spent the better part of the past two decades cementing himself as a key element in the creation of numerous hits, writing on Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You,” Ed Sheeran’s “2 Step” and “Afterglow,” Carrie Underwood’s “See You Again” and “There’s a Place for Us” and Kelsea Ballerini’s “Miss Me More.” He’s also worked with Celine Dion, the Backstreet Boys, Daughtry, Jason Mraz, Avril Lavigne and more.

But on his upcoming, 23-song, two-part double album, The Unattainable/The Unavoidable (out Friday, Sept. 15), Hodges tenders frank vulnerability as he unveils more than ever of his own recent journey.

With The Unattainable/The Unavoidable, Hodges unflinchingly traces his love-loss-love story, excavating every turn of emotions along the way. On the album’s first half, The Unattainable, songs such as “Waves” and “The Man Who Makes Mistakes” chronicle Hodges’ divorce, while The Unavoidable features songs including “Still Be You” and “You Go First” that focus on the early embers of healing and embracing new love.

“When I’m working with artists to develop a whole album, I’m always thinking of sister songs on a record,” says Hodges, who is managed by Lucas Keller’s Milk & Honey and published by Kobalt. “They may not have the same instrumentation or be next to each other on a record, but there’s something that links these two songs together in a broader perspective. So as this album was coming together, it kind of naturally fell into these buckets of going into a valley and coming up from a valley.”

The project’s fulcrum and title track, which Hodges wrote with Drew Kennedy, serves as a musical bridge connecting the two sides of the project. Kennedy presented the idea of writing and positioning lyrics that tell one story when read straight through but tell the opposite story when read in reverse. “At the end, we had this finished piece of art, and you look at those lines differently when you see them in the context of how what comes before, what comes after it,” Hodges says.

He wrote “I’m Around” with Donovan Woods, about the willingness to still support an ex-lover, as he sings, “I might have left your life/ But I didn’t leave town.”

“There’s so much detail about a specific moment,” Hodges says. “That’s what I love about this project — it’s not just about a breakup. This song is about six months after the breakup, you’re still healing from the wounds, but there is also still a real love and care for each other that supersedes current feelings.”

“When it comes to you, emotions flow in twos/ Yellows to saddest blue,” he sings in “Emily,” one of Hodges’ seven solo writes on the album, and a track inspired in part by the Pixar movie Inside Out.

“In Inside Out, Joy is yellow and Sadness is blue and one of the lessons in the movie is that as you grow up, your memories are rarely just one emotion. This song is about thinking back on the relationship, and it’s not all blue and not all yellow. I felt like that song captured a sense of feeling like, ‘We can still look back fondly on some of that stuff, but all of it’s gonna have a bit of a blue tint to it.’”

Overall, the process reminded Hodges of his love for full-length projects, even in an era where streaming and social media places the focus on individual songs.

“I miss the focus on album-making, because the single is the driver for so much art. It’s a unique challenge to have such a finite space to work in. Especially in pop music, when you crack the code, it feels great to make something compelling within this small framework. But making this album reminded me again how much I like long attention spans. When Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” first released, a buddy of mine was asking me about it and I was like, ‘I’m going to try my best to wait until the album is out to hear anything beyond “Vampire,” because I want to know what each of these songs mean in the context of the bigger story she’s telling.’ I don’t know Olivia or if she is drawn to that long-form storytelling — but artists like Billie Eilish, Adele, Ed Sheeran, you can tell they are thinking in terms of this longer storytelling. I love to embrace a whole piece of art.”

Though Hodges is one in a lengthy line of hit songwriters to also issue their own albums — including recent offerings from country songcrafters Lori McKenna and Ross Copperman — he notes the new album is also a heartening prospect for his fellow songwriters.

“I love my job of songwriting, of helping artists tell their stories,” Hodges says. “But it’s also personally rewarding for me to have a body of work that I can say is really mine. I’ve been surprised by how many songwriter friends of mine have reached out to me and said, ‘I’ve been sitting on a collection of songs for years and watching you put out your own music reminded me that I should, too.’ I would love for every songwriter to put out their own music as well; it becomes a calling card for you as a writer, too.”

14 Sep 2023

Publishing Briefs: Reservoir Hitches Ride With Steph Jones; AMR Songs Buys Piece of ‘Hand Clap’

Reservoir Media has signed a go-forward publishing deal with platinum-selling songwriter Steph Jones. The genre-fluid Angeleno has co-written songs for a who’s-who of hitmakers, including Selena Gomez (“People You Know”), P!nk (“Happy”), Keith Urban (“Polaroid”), Panic! At the Disco (“Roaring 20s”), Celine Dion (“Look At Us Now”), Latto (“Lottery”) and Kelsea Ballerini (“Hole in the Bottle”). The biggest feather in her cap, at least recently, has been the success of her collaboration with pop singer Sabrina Carpenter for her 2022 album Emails I Can’t Send. The pair co-wrote several songs on the album, which rose to No. 23 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, including “Bet U Wanna,” “Bad for Business,” the bonus track “Things I Wish You Said” and “Nonsense,” which cracked the top 40 on the Pop Airplay chart. (Fun Fact: Carpenter nearly left it off the album.)

“Among the industry’s circles, ‘Steph Jones’ is the name on everybody’s lips,” said Reservoir executive vp and global creative director Donna Caseine. “Having success across multiple genres, her star burns brighter every day, and her writing continues to impress artists, listeners, and industry experts, alike. We are so happy to be supporting her career and helping her leverage opportunities to create more incredible songs.” 

Reservoir has also acquired the publishing rights to the catalog of multi-Platinum-selling country songwriter, producer, and singer Kerry Kurt Phillips. A longtime collaborator of Tim McGraw, Phillips co-wrote a number of the star’s greatest hits including “Down on the Farm” and “Live Like You Were Dying.” One of the songwriters that defined the sound of country in the 1990s and 2000s, he also wrote with country legends George Jones, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tracy Crd, Craig Morgan and more.

Warner Chappell Music and Warner Chappell Music Colombia have extended their publishing deal with Latin producer CASTA, in partnership with Edgar Barrera’s BorderKid Publishing. Last year, the Colombian producer (born Luis Miguel Gómez Castaño) co-produced Becky G and Karol G’s “MAMIII,” as well as Manuel Turizo’s “La Bachata” — both top five entries on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.

AMR Songs has acquired the songwriting catalog of Fitz and the Tantrums keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna, which includes his rights to the band’s biggest hits like “Hand Clap” “Out Of My League” and “The Walker.” His catalog of hits also includes a piece of Macy Gray’s timeless song “I Try.”

Kobalt has signed Jake Torrey to a worldwide publishing administration deal, including global synch and creative services. Recently, Torrey co-wrote Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s “Desire,” YUNGBLUD’s “Hated” and “Low Life,” and Lauren Spencer Smith’s “That Part.” In addition, he is a longtime collaborator to Charlie Puth (“Light Switch,” “I Don’t Think That I Like Her,” and more) and Justin Bieber (“Off My Face” and “Lifetime”).

Pulse Music Group has joined forces with Wide Eyed Entertainment to extend its global publishing deal with Sarah “Solly” Solovay. The hitmaker is best known for tracks like “Heart Wants What It Wants” by Bebe Rexha, “Summer Of Love” by Shawn Mendes, and “Take You Dancing” by Jason Derulo.

UMP Germany and Electric Feel Europe have joined together to sign Berlin-based producer and songwriter SUENA to a global publishing deal. Best known for co-producing “Roller” — which received Diamond status in Germany — and remains one of the biggest local songs of the decade so far.

Warner Chappell has signed Cole Miracle to a global publishing deal. With credits on songs by Wyatt Flores, LECADE, Shaylen, Graham Barham, Eddie And The Getaway, David J, and Evan Honer, Miracle’s writing spans country, pop and rock.

Reel Muzik Werks — an independent publishing and rights management company — signed a global administration deal with independent production music company Level 77 Music.

14 Sep 2023

Karol G to Receive Spirit of Hope Award at 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards

Colombian superstar Karol G will be honored with the Spirit of Hope award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Billboard and Telemundo announced on Thursday (Sept. 14). The special award — which was established in 1996 in honor of the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla — will recognize Karol for her exceptional commitment to civic, community and humanitarian causes beyond their artistic success.

“I am grateful for this special recognition,” Karol G said in a statement. “My commitment with Con Cora Foundation is a fundamental part of my life and I am proud to be able to help the women who need it most.”

The “Provenza” singer’s impact extends beyond music. In 2022, Karol G founded the Con Cora Foundation, which aims to support the economic, social, psychological and artistic development of underprivileged women. Her philanthropic work will be recognized with the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will broadcast live on Telemundo on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. ET.

Con Cora Foundation has partnered with She Is Foundation, dedicated to empowering women and girls through education in science, technology and entrepreneurship. Together, they aim to help one million women and girls by 2030. In addition, Karol’s foundation has teamed up with Fundación Acción Interna to offer scholarships — which provide skills and knowledge necessary to secure employment and reintegrate into society — to older female inmates in Bogotá and to female family members of those inmates.

A 13-time finalist at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, earlier this year Karol made history with Mañana Será Bonito, becoming the first woman to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with an all Spanish-language album. Currently, she’s on her U.S. stadium tour, which wraps up Sept. 28 in Boston.

This year, Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 21 nods across 15 categories, including artist of the year, songwriter of the year, Global 200 Latin artist of the year, and Top Latin Album of the year. See the complete list of finalists here.

As has been the case for more than 20 years, the Billboard Latin Music Awards coincide with Billboard’s annual Latin Music Week, the single largest and most important gathering of the Latin music industry, taking place Oct. 2-6. The event will feature panels, conversations and workshops at the Faena Forum and exclusive performances and fan experiences throughout the week in Miami. Artists Shakira, Myke Towers, Vico C, Grupo Frontera, Peso Pluma, Nicki Nicole, RBD, and many more, are confirmed to participate.

Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.

14 Sep 2023

Big Loud Records Expands Into Australia and the U.K.

As Big Loud Records experiences global successes with its artists, the Nashville-based label is expanding its footprint by opening offices in Australia and the United Kingdom and bolstering its presence in its Toronto office, which opened in 2015.

Big Loud senior vp of global marketing and strategy Brianne Deslippe will oversee the effort. Reporting to her will be newly named label managers Cayleigh Shepherd in London, who joins from U.K.-based imprint Snakefarm Records; and Johnno Keetels in Brisbane, Australia, where he most recently worked in Universal Music Australia’s media and editorial department. Meanwhile, Toronto-based employee Justin Clark rises from international coordinator to manager of national promotion/associate label manager. 

“We started in year one with our Canadian office, and it has been a long-term goal of ours to have direct Big Loud representation in both Australia and the U.K.,” Big Loud CEO Seth England tells Billboard. “We waited for the best strategic time, but now makes the most sense with how we’ve grown as a company. We continue to keep an eye on other emerging markets as well.”

Deslippe adds, “With 25-plus artists now across multiple imprints and genres, it was important for us to have strong voices on the front lines, finding opportunities and making connections for them around the world. Having key experts in the field will be a valuable resource for our wider teams, staff and managers as well.”

Over the last few years, Big Loud has ramped up its global presence with artists including Morgan Wallen, HARDY, ERNEST, Hailey Whitters, MacKenzie Porter, Stephen Wilson Jr., Lauren Alaina and Griffen Palmer all playing dates outside the United States.

Cayleigh Shepherd

Cayleigh Shepherd

Courtesy Photo

A number of Big Loud artists are experiencing faster gains globally as they build domestically, including a handful of Canadian artists that label has signed. 

“[MacKenzie] had multiple No. 1s in Canada and Australia before breaking through in the U.S.,” notes Deslippe of the Medicine Hat, Canada native. “Ashley Cooke, Hailey Whitters, and MacKenzie have also made inroads in the U.K. over the past 18 months, playing C2C Festival and receiving mainstream radio, press, and DSP support. Stephen Wilson Jr. has done four U.K. visits in the past year. Morgan, HARDY and ERNEST did a sold-out run this spring in Australia/New Zealand, and Morgan celebrated his first #1 ARIA album and single while we were in market. [Canadian artist] Dallas Smith continues to break every country record in Canada and will also spend more time in the U.S. during this next album cycle.”

Big Loud may sign artists specifically for release in Australia and the United Kingdom, but England adds, “It needs to be fantastic, something we love and where we see growth.”

Johnno Keetels

Johnno Keetels

Courtesy Photo

While Big Loud has a global partnership with Republic/UMG for Wallen and Lily Rose, the rest of its releases are distributed internationally by Stem. This move will enhance the label’s strength in Australia and England, where they have also relied on third parties to help promote their artists. 

With leaders in place in the three territories, Deslippe says Big Loud will continue to scale up as needed. “There is so much growth potential in these markets, I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface,” she says. “For a long time, I was the only international team member having moved to Nashville from Canada, but I’ve always been made to feel like a valued member of the core team. I’m excited to pay this sentiment forward and invite some more unique and different voices to the table.”

England says he’s taking a page from music executive Clive Calder, who in the ‘80s and ‘90s built Jive Records into an independent powerhouse before selling it to Bertelsmann Music Group in 2002.

Justin Clark

Justin Clark

James Ramsay / skytography

“[Calder] expanded internationally and made it to where all their records were being worked globally by them,” England says. “And Jive, to my understanding, was the last great label who did this level of international expansion as an independent. And you know it’s no secret we’ve been a fan of studying those who have come before us.”

He also hints that there’s more to come with more partnerships down the road. “That’s why getting these international pipes, if you will, set up now, has never been more important or timelier for us,” England says. “This is the next logical step; be ready for the ones to come and stay prepared for the ones we have.”

14 Sep 2023

How Recording a Rock Album Helped ‘Reignite’ Demi Lovato’s Passion for Her Pop Hits

Appearing on the smoke-filled stage of New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Tuesday night (Sept. 12), Demi Lovato was ready to reintroduce herself to a throng of screaming fans. Sporting a black vinyl gown and their now-signature slicked black hair, Lovato showed the MTV VMAs what it means to re-contextualize your pop stardom into rock glory.

Two weeks before their star-turn set, Lovato tells Billboard that they’re not feeling the nerves about their first performance in six years on the VMAs stage. “We just started rehearsals for it and I’m getting the creative locked in right now,” she says over a Zoom call. “I’m really excited. I think it’ll be a great performance.”

That confidence in her own skills as a performer are largely what helped Lovato make Revamped (out Friday, Sept. 15), her new album of old hits reshaped in her new rock image. The 10-track LP features some of their all-time biggest hits (“Heart Attack,” “Sorry Not Sorry”) alongside fan favorites (“La La Land,” “Tell Me You Love Me”), all refurbished with a punchy pop-punk feel to better fit Lovato’s venture back into the world of rock music.

For Lovato, change has been the constant of their career — whether that means transitioning from pop-punk into pure pop and back to rock music, or publicly opening up about their gender identity (Lovato uses both they/them and she/her pronouns). So going back and making aesthetic changes to her music wasn’t anything new. “It just feels really good,” she says. “I’m really proud of the work that we did, and I’m excited for the songs to be out there.”

Below, Billboard chats with Lovato about the origins of Revamped, which song in her discography was the hardest to translate into rock, her abortion rights anthem “Swine” and her recent split from manager Scooter Braun.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=N4q5Ez1QJuw&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Take me back the beginning of this process — when did you start seriously thinking about going back and re-recording these old hits?

Well, I started putting together these rock versions of the songs last year when I was heading out on tour. I had to figure out the puzzle of how to make [songs] like “Sorry Not Sorry” and “Heart Attack” work with all of the new rock songs I was doing. So, the thought was, “Why don’t we edge them up a little bit and see what what they sound like?” We did that, and they just ended up sounding great. I performed them on tour, and the fans really loved them. I thought, “Why don’t I rerecord and release them?”

Were there any songs in particular on Revamped that felt much more difficult to reimagine as rock tracks than others?

Oh, definitely. I think “Tell Me You Love Me” was the one that felt really tough to translate into a new genre of music. The vocals are just so soulful on that one, and so trying to keep it soulful while also amping it up for this record was pretty difficult. Ultimately, I think we made it work — it turned out really great.

When you started creating these rock versions of your biggest hits, did you find that it changed your relationship to the original pop songs themselves?

Actually no — I think it reignited an excitement inside of me for those songs. Like, take “Give Your Heart a Break,” for example: I got really tired of performing that one live, because it had been in my catalog for so long, and it didn’t really reflect any sound that I had anymore. Even when I went more R&B-pop, it just wasn’t the kind of sound I was looking for anymore, because it was just so pop. But when we put together the rock version, I was suddenly having a really fun time on stage performing it.

It’s worth noting that it’s been 15 years since you put out your debut record Don’t Forget, and your voice has grown and changed a lot since then. Were there any moments in the re-recording process where you found yourself adjusting the songs around your evolved voice?

Yeah, I’d say my voice like expanded in a really positive way. So, if anything, with some of the songs I found myself going, ‘Oh, I can hit higher notes than I used to.’ And so I started hitting higher and higher notes when we were recording — to be honest, I think we added an extra high note on every track. I think that’s actually part of the exciting thing with this album; getting to hear the the higher notes that I’m doing in my songs and like taking it to another level. I’d even say they were easier to record, just because I’ve been singing them for so many years.

Re-recordings have become something of a trend in the business as of late — obviously you have Taylor Swift re-recording her masters, but also icons like Lucinda Williams, Moby, U2 and others going back through their catalogs for re-makes. What is it about revisiting your past work that’s so appealing to artists?

I think that anytime you’ve been like performing a song for a long time — for me, like you said, it’s been 15, 16 years, since I put out some of these records — it’s appealing to get to really reinvent them. It’s also a cool challenge, which is exciting. For me, the challenge was, “How can I go in and make this better vocally?” Because the producing was largely done by my incredible production team [Oak Felder, Alex Nice and Keith Sorrells], so I didn’t really have to challenge myself with that.

I think if you’re the type of person that’s always striving to be better, then this process is going to be naturally appealing to you. So, I guess it just depends on the artist; if the artist is totally chill with having their songs out there as they are, and they’re proud of the work that they’ve already done, then that’s great. But I’m the type of person that wants to out-do myself always.

You made headlines in recent weeks when it was announced that you were parting ways with Scooter Braun and SB Projects. Can you talk about what went into that decision?

You know, I’m really thankful for my time with SB Projects, and now I’m just looking forward to the next chapter in my career. Ultimately, it was just time for me to move on and go in a different direction. But I’m really excited for my next chapter.



Let’s talk a little bit about the other song you put out earlier this year, “Swine.” This felt like such a poignant “f–k you“ anthem about the state of abortion rights in America — what went into making that track in time for the one year anniversary of the Dobbs decision?

Well, when I went into the studio to make “Swine,” my goal was to make an anthem — I wanted to write an anthem for women and people that give birth. It was something that was really thought-out for me. Yeah, to be honest, I just wanted to do exactly what you said; make a f–k you anthem to anybody that opposes our rights. [Laughs.] And it felt really good.

I also wanted to commend you for hosting a gender-diverse cast in the “Swine” video, including trans and non-binary people in the clip. Why was that such an important part of making the video for you?

Inclusivity is just something that’s really important to me, and will always be really important to me. Any time I’m doing something that is such a statement like “Swine,” I want to make sure that we keep it inclusive. I’m not trying to limit my art to just one type of person, I think that’s unfair. There has to be representation in my work, so keeping that in mind always is at the forefront of my mind whenever I’m working.

With Revamped coming out, what can we expect to see next from Demi Lovato?

I think after the VMAs and a couple of show, I’m going to be getting back into the studio after the month of September. We’ll be trying to, you know, figure out what the near future looks like for me.

14 Sep 2023

Drake Teases Upcoming ‘For All the Dogs’ Collaboration With SZA

On Wednesday night (Sept. 13), Drake teased an upcoming collaboration with SZA on his Instagram.  

The cover art is a throwback photo of Halle Berry drenched in green slime at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2012. Drake tagged SZA in the post, and the “Shirt” singer returned the favor and shared the image on her Instagram feed as well. 

Drake and SZA’s untitled collaboration would serve as their first in-studio collaboration. The pair have wound up the rumor mill over their dating history in the last few years, back to Drizzy’s mention of the TDE singer on 21 Savage’s 2020 track “Mr Right Now, where he rapped: “Said she wanna f–k to some SZA, wait/ ‘Cause I used to date SZA back in ’08.”

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

SZA later addressed the rumors in a tweet, saying: “So It was actually 2009 lol … in this case a year of poetic rap license mattered lol. I think he jus innocently rhymed 08 w wait. Anybody who really knows me and was around during this time can confirm … it’s all love all peace.”

Earlier this week, Drake confirmed that For All The Dogs’ first single was coming. “I’m even going to say something tonight in Austin, Texas I haven’t said yet,” Drake said from the stage of the Moody Center. “I know y’all excited to hear the album. I know it’s, like two weeks out. I’m a drop a song for y’all this week. Yeah, yeah. What a time, what a time. I appreciate y’all. Deeply, by the way, I do. It’s a lot of love in Texas.” 

The elusive release date for Drake’s eighth studio album is currently Sept. 22.

Check out Drake and SZA’s post below. 

14 Sep 2023

Justin Bieber Gushes Over Wife Hailey in Anniversary Post: ‘You Have Captivated My Heart’

Justin Bieber is hopelessly devoted to wife Hailey Bieber. The singer celebrated the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary on Wednesday (Sept. 13) in a sweet Instagram post in which he sang the model’s praises as one half of his heart.

“To the most precious, my beloved. 5 years. You have captivated my heart. I know from the depths of my soul down to my bones that this journey with you will only exceed our wildest expectations,” wrote the singer next to a snap of the couple kissing, along with several more happy pics of them holding hands and cheesing for the camera.

“So let’s keep dreaming big baby. Cheers to forever and ever. I love you with every fiber of my being. HAPPY 5TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!” Bieber added. Hailey reposted some of the same pics — plus some additional ones of delicious desserts and sushi rolls — on her Insta along with the message “I love you.”

The “Peaches” singer, 29, and Rhode skincare founder, 26, were engaged for just a few months before getting married in 2019 at the Montage Palmetto Bluff hotel in South Carolina. They actually famously met years before that, though, when Hailey was 12-years-old and she ran into Justin backstage at the Today Show after Bieber made an appearance on the morning program.

Bieber has kept a relatively low public profile over the past year, since revealing last June that he suffered a partially paralyzed face due to Ramsay Hunt Disease, which forced the singer to postpone his Justice World tour to focus on his health.

Check out Justin’s anniversary post here and Hailey’s here.

14 Sep 2023

Loud and Live Inks Exclusive Deal With Salsero Christian Alicea

Loud and Live founder and CEO Nelson Albareda has always carried tropical music in general and salsa in particular, deep inside him. A die-hard fan of Cuban salsero Willy Chirino, he also worked closely with salsa queen Celia Cruz and, through Loud and Live, represents the Celia Cruz estate today.

Now, Albareda is on a quest to elevate and grow the music with which he started his career. As he’s been saying for months, tropical music is having a moment. This week, via his powerhouse promotion and entertainment company, Albareda put his money where his mouth is and signed an exclusive booking agreement with developing salsa star Christian Alicea.

Loud and Live already books major tropical music names like Carlos Vives and Juan Luis Guerra. But the Alicea deal is different in that in addition to booking Alicea’s concerts, Loud and Live will also work in partnership with his management team to support marketing and promotional endeavors surrounding the artist and his music.

Although Alicea has just one album under his belt — Yo, released this past May — he has already placed two tracks in the Top 25 of Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart. This week, a third single, “Aroma,” is at No. 15 on the list.

“Christian is an exceptionally talented young man who, because of his humility, charisma and spectacular and unique voice, we are confident that he will conquer and lead the tropical genre worldwide for many years to come,” said Albareda in a statement.

The partnership, says Alicea’s producer, Urales ‘Dj Buddha’ Vargas, is “the icing on the cake. For us, having someone like Nelson see the vision and the potential of Christian means a lot.”

As Latin music’s focus has slowly shifted from solely reggaetón in the past year, other genres are beginning to rise on the charts. While regional Mexican music undoubtedly leads the fray, pop is also seeing a resurgence, and tropical music — long focused on legacy acts — is finally seeing a smattering of new names, including Luis Figueroa, teenager Luis Vazquez, and, of course, Alicea.

14 Sep 2023

Guitarist in Olivia Rodrigo’s Favorite ’90s Hard Rock Band Reacts to Her Shout-Out: ‘Who Would Have Guessed?’

Olivia Rodrigo has proudly worn her influences on her sleeve during her rocket ride to pop stardom, whether it’s giving them songwriting co-credits on her album (Taylor Swift, Paramore) or including them on her upcoming tour in support of her sophomore album, GUTS (The Breeders).

But when she told Rolling Stone in a new cover story that the opening track of her second album, “All-American Bitch,” was inspired by the OG Riot Grrrl band Babes in Toyland and incendiary political rockers Rage Against the Machine, well, one of them couldn’t believe it.

“Who would have guessed? @oliviarodrigo,” Rage guitarist Tom Morello tweeted on Wednesday (Sept. 13) along with a pic of Olivia and a pull quote from the RS story in which the Grammy-winning singer said, “I have been listening to so much Rage Against the Machine this year. That’s my favorite band right now.”

Though Rodrigo’s songs are spiked with 98% more radio-friendly pop flavor than Rage’s flamethrower rap-metal anthems, she explained in the RS story that the Zack de la Rocha-fronted band’s songs of seething vengeance and furious anger at social inequities were basically all she listened to during the GUTS sessions.

“I would just play it over and over again on my way to and from the studio,” she said of the band’s songs, lamenting that she wants to attend Rage’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 3 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but cannot make it because of an “immovable schedule conflict.” She told the magazine that the conflict is maddening. “I am literally going to cry myself to sleep about it,” she said.

In the meantime, Rodrigo announced the dates for her 2024 GUTS tour on Wednesday, which will also include support from PinkPantheress, Chappell Roan and Remi Wolf on select dates.

See Morello’s tweet below.