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27 Aug 2023

P!nk Pays Tribute to Her Late Dad on 2nd Anniversary of His Passing: ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’

P!nk is honoring her loving father on the second anniversary of his death.

The 43-year-old pop veteran took to social media on Saturday (Aug. 26) to share some heartfelt words about her late dad, Jim Moore, who she lost to cancer in August 2021. He was 75.

“I miss you, Dad. The kids do too. Sometimes I hate how time flies,” P!nk, whose real name is Alecia Moore, captioned a video on Instagram. “Sometimes I hate how we have to be funny in order to avoid the hurt. Today it isn’t funny. Today it just hurts. I’m glad you don’t anymore though. You don’t hurt.”

The brief clip shows P!nk’s jovial father playing in a restaurant alongside what looks to be the singer’s 6-year-old son, Jameson Moon Hart, when he was a toddler.

She continued in her post, “I hope they still call you twinkle toes and that you’re still getting out of line. I hope you’re singing along. I hope you’re making everyone laugh. I hope you feel this love … gone but not forgotten, Daddy Sir.”

P!nk — who also shares a 12-year-old daughter, Willow, with husband, former motorcross star Carey Hart Carey Hart — revealed two years ago that her dad passed away following a battle with prostate cancer.

Earlier this year, P!nk paid tribute to her father in a sentimental post on Valentine’s Day that included a snippet from her latest album, Trustfall.

“Sometimes love leaves us too soon. On Valentine’s Day — I cherish the love I have that I can touch — and the love I have in my heart for those who have gone on to the next adventure,” she wrote alongside a 30-second video preview of the song “When I Get There.”

“This one’s for you, Daddy Sir,” she added, using her affectionate nickname for the Vietnam veteran, who provided voiceover for the clip. “I thought it would be nice if you had some memories of how it all began and where you all came from,” Moore said over images of P!nk hugging her dad, as well as a montage of school pictures of the singer from childhood through her teen years and film of her parent’s wedding.

“It’ll always be so important to all of us,” Moore said before revealing footage of the singer on her first birthday as the song’s majestic piano bed swells up. “I think of you when I think about forever,” P!nk sings amid a montage of video of her and her dad together. “I hear a joke, and I know you would’a told it better/ I think of you out of the blue.”

See P!nk’s tribute to her late dad on the second anniversary of his death below.

27 Aug 2023

Travis Scott’s ‘Utopia’ Spends a Month at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart

Travis Scott’s Utopia makes it a month at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Sept. 2), as the set spends a fourth total and consecutive week in the lead. The effort earned 161,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. 24 (down 13%), according to Luminate. Utopia surpasses Astroworld as Scott’s album with the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

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Utopia is also the first rap album to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in five years, since Drake’s Scorpion logged all five of its weeks at No. 1, from its debut frame (July 14-Aug. 11, 2018). The last rap set with four weeks at No. 1, in total, was Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, which tallied five nonconsecutive frames at No. 1 between Sept. 18 and Nov. 6, 2021.

Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, Hozier scores his third top 10-charting album as Unreal Unearth launches at No. 3, while J-Hope’s year-old Jack in the Box album reaches the top 10 for the first time, as it re-enters the list at No. 6 following its expanded reissue and debut on CD in multiple collectible iterations.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Sept. 2, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Aug. 29. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of Utopia’s 161,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Aug. 24, album sales comprise 92,000 (down 7%), SEA units comprise 69,000 (down 20%, equaling 92.07 million on-demand official streams of the streaming set’s 19 songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum (down 19%). For a second week in a row, the album’s sales profit from a promotional offer in Scott’s official webstore, which deep-discounted the Utopia vinyl LP (available in multiple variants) from $50 to only $5 for a limited time. Of Utopia’s 92,000 sales for the week, vinyl accounted for 89,000.

Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time is a non-mover at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 91,000 equivalent album units earned (down 4%).

Hozier captures his third top 10-charting set — all of which have reached the top five — as Unreal Unearth debuts at No. 3. The album bows with 62,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 39,000, SEA units comprise 23,000 (equaling 29.58 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 16 songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The album was preceded by the hit single “Eat Your Young,” which marked Hozier’s third No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart (May 20-dated list).

Unreal Unearth’s first-week album sales were bolstered by vinyl sales, which accounted for 60% of its opening-week sales figure (23,000 of 39,000). The album was released in five different vinyl iterations, including exclusive color variants for Amazon, independent record stores and Hozier’s official webstore.

The Barbie soundtrack is steady at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 55,000 equivalent album units (down 15%), while Taylor Swift’s former leader Midnights climbs one spot to No. 5 with 53,000 units (down 8%).

J-Hope’s year-old Jack in the Box album bounces back onto the list for its first week in the top 10 (and second week on the chart), as it re-enters at No. 6 with 50,000 equivalent album units earned (up 5,107%). The album was originally released on July 15, 2022, and debuted and first peaked at No. 17 on the July 30, 2022, chart. It was reissued with additional bonus tracks on — and on CD for the first time — on Aug. 19, 2023. The set initially was released only as a digital download album and through streaming services.

Of the set’s 50,000 units earned in the week ending Aug. 24, album sales comprise 47,000 (up 13,238%), SEA units comprise 2,000 (up 250%, equaling 2.99 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks) and TEA units comprise 1,000 (up 44,125%). The CD edition of the album was available in four collectible editions, including exclusive versions for Target and Walmart, all containing assorted branded merchandise (some of which was randomized).

J-Hope is the third member of BTS to score a top 10-charting album on the Billboard 200, following his bandmates RM and Jimin. RM reached the top 10 in 2022 with Indigo (peaking at No. 3) and Jimin reached No. 2 with Face earlier this year. BTS itself has logged seven top 10s, with six reaching No. 1.

Two more chart-topping Swift sets follow J-Hope, as Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) falls 5-7 (48,000 equivalent album units earned; down 21%) and Lover dips 7-8 (46,000; down 14%). Peso Pluma’s Génesis descends 8-9 (nearly 45,000; down 4%) and Wallen’s former No. 1 Dangerous: The Double Album is steady at No. 10 (43,000; down 3%).

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.

27 Aug 2023

Ariana Grande Shares ‘Baby I’ Live Performance from London in Celebration of ‘Yours Truly’ 10th Anniversary: Watch

Ariana Grande is continuing her week-long celebration of the 10th anniversary edition of her debut album, Yours Truly, with a brand new live performance.

On Sunday (Aug. 27), the 30-year-old pop star and actress released a newly recorded live version of “Baby I,” filmed alongside a full band and mini orchestra in London. The new clip follows similar live recordings of Yours Truly core tracks “Honeymoon Avenue” and “Daydreamin’.”

Released as the second single from her debut album, “Baby I” debuted at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 2013. It followed the top 10 track “The Way,” featuring Mac Miller.

At the time of its release, Grande told Billboard that she wanted the “Baby I” video to recall the breeziness of early ’90s music videos from TLC and Will Smith. The “Baby I” clip does just that, showing the singer sporting some choreographed moves, belting in front of graffitied walls and even wearing white overalls. There’s also a house party with giant Crayola crayons.

More Yours Truly live performance videos are on their way, with “Tattooed Heart” and “Right There” arriving on Tuesday (Aug. 29) and “The Way” on Wednesday (Aug. 30). Grande also answered fan questions in a Q&A video on TikTok over the weekend.

The audio tracks for all six of the live performances have already been released as part of the Yours Truly anniversary edition, which dropped Friday (Aug. 25). Grande also uploaded all the tracks to YouTube, after which fans quickly noticed a subtle tribute to Miller, her “The Way” collaborator and late ex-boyfriend.

Released Aug. 30, 2013, through Republic Records, Yours Truly served as the world’s proper introduction to the pint-sized star with major pipes who, up until then, had only been familiar to tweens as the star of Nickelodeon’s Victorious, its spinoff Sam & Cat and Broadway’s 13.

Watch Grande’s “Live From London” performance of “Baby I” below.

27 Aug 2023

Killswitch Engage’s Tour Bus Collides With Elk in Sweden: ‘Take Nothing for Granted’

Killswitch Engage‘s tour bus collided with an elk as the rock band was driving to an appearance at In Flames’ Dalhalla Brinner festival in Rättvik, Sweden, on Friday (Aug. 25).

Frontman Jesse Leach took to Instagram shortly after the terrifying experience to share a video of the large vehicle’s shattered windshield and pen a deep reflection about the incident.

“You never know what tomorrow holds take nothing for granted,” Leach began his post. “This is the scene I woke up to yesterday morning around 6am. Thankfully no one was seriously injured.”

The vocalist goes on to say that the group’s driver “sustained some torn ligaments and was shaken up for sure but he is ok,” and that the elk sadly didn’t survive the collision.

Leach continued, “I don’t carry fear with me when I travel as it would do me no good. However seeing this definitely put some fear in me, not so much for my safety but thought of losing some one I love (or someone being injured seriously). It washed over me as we pulled away in a passenger bus. I felt the tears fall on my face as I thought about the ‘what could’ve been.’”

The frontman also reflected on other touring bands that have gone through similar incidents while on the road.

“I think of my friends out here who do this and the hardworking crews who are out here away from family and loved ones. Sleeping in a vehicle on highways of the world,” Leach wrote. “The cost can be high when living this life. The moments of beauty and triumph can be suddenly interrupted by suffering and loss.”

The singer concluded his heartfelt message by encouraging fans to keep in mind the difficult conditions that musicians and their crew members go through while on tour.

“We live a different life and it isn’t always easy. Rock n Roll can take its toll and often times it comes to collect when you least expect it,” he wrote. “Just so grateful it wasn’t worse than it could’ve been.
Don’t take life for granted you never know what tomorrow holds for you.”

See Leach’s full post about the incident on Instagram below.

26 Aug 2023

Taylor Swift Will Forevermore Be Dancing to ‘Bestie’ Selena Gomez’s ‘Single Soon’

Before Taylor Swift took the stage for The Eras Tour in Mexico City Saturday night (Aug. 26), she showed some love to Selena Gomez.

“Taylena” trended on social media soon after Swift posted an Instagram Story, where she shared a clip from Gomez’s feel-good new “Single Soon” music video and her own thoughts on the track.

“WHEN UR BESTIE IS THE BESTEST,” Swift captioned the post. “WILL BE DANCING TO THIS FOREVER METHINKS.”

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Gomez, who says she’s working on her third full-length album but isn’t quite finished yet, describes “Single Soon” as “a fun little song I wrote a while back that’s perfect for the end of summer.”

Her last full-length was 2020’s Rare. She released her all-Spanish EP Revalación in 2021 and the standalone track “My Mind & Me” in 2022, in support of her documentary. Since Rare, Gomez has also guested on a handful of singles, including Rema’s 2022 hit “Calm Down.”

Join Swift in having “Single Soon” on repeat by watching the video below. The Midnights superstar takes the stage for her third Eras concert in Mexico City Saturday night. She’ll play one more show there on Sunday.

26 Aug 2023

Vampyre Cosmetics Cuts Ties With Alice Cooper After He Called Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Kids a ‘Fad’

Alice Cooper‘s new makeup products, released in collaboration with Vampyre Cosmetics, have been dropped from the cosmetics brand’s website in light of the rock singer’s recent anti-trans comments.

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In an interview published by Stereogum earlier this week, Cooper shared his opinions about best-practice medical care for transgender youth, saying that he was “afraid that it’s also a fad.” Using common anti-trans talking points to elaborate, he said he feels children are not mature enough to make decisions about their gender identity.

“I find it wrong when you’ve got a 6-year-old kid who has no idea. He just wants to play, and you’re confusing him telling him, ‘Yeah, you’re a boy, but you could be a girl if you want to be,’” he said. “I mean, if you identify as a tree … I’m going, ‘Come on! What are we in, a Kurt Vonnegut novel?’ It’s so absurd, that it’s gone now to the point of absurdity,” Cooper said. Research shows that gender-affirming care significantly reduces rates of depression and suicide among transgender youth.

He also shared anti-trans rhetoric about access to public bathrooms, claiming that allowing transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity would lead to violent crimes. “A guy can walk into a woman’s bathroom at any time and just say, ‘I just feel like I’m a woman today’ and have the time of his life in there,” Cooper said. “He’s just taking advantage of that situation … Somebody’s going to get raped.”

In a statement posted on social media on Friday (Aug. 25), Vampyre Cosmetics wrote, “In light of recent statements by Alice Cooper we will no​​​​​​​​​ longer be doing a makeup collaboration. We stand with all members of the LGBTQIA+ community and believe everyone should have access to healthcare. All pre-order sales will be refunded.”

Alice Cooper of Hollywood Vampires

Alice Cooper Calls Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Kids a ‘Fad,’ Condemns ‘the Whole Woke Thing…

Vampyre Cosmetics x Alice Cooper Makeup Collection products have been completely removed from the company’s website.

The collection, which had launched its presale on Aug. 14 and was announced on Cooper’s official website, was said to “exude Alice’s style” with guitar- and amp-shaped makeup palettes and microphone-styled lipsticks. It also featured “a new version of Alice Cooper’s iconic Whiplash mascara, a unisex product originally created to ‘Liberate Your Eyes.’”

Vampyre Cosmetics is described as a “women owned, disabled owned and LGBT+ owned” company on the “About Us” page on its website. “Our products are vegan, cruelty free and talc free. They are also super long lasting as they were specifically formulated for stage and screen.”

26 Aug 2023

Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Yes, hip-hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. But 2023 also marks the golden anniversary for one of R&B’s most seminal albums, Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On.

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Let’s Get It On, the pioneering erotic and emotional follow-up to Gaye’s game-changing 1971 album What’s Going On, is now the centerpiece of a digitally revised 50th anniversary package. Released this week (Aug. 25) by Motown/UMe, Let’s Get It On: Deluxe Edition boasts 33 bonus tracks, 18 of which are previously unreleased and include songs from a lost session by jazz icon Herbie Hancock. The new package replaces a deluxe edition of the album first issued in 2001.

Rush-released as the lead single even before the album was completed, title track “Let’s Get It On” became a No. 1 R&B and pop hit. The album’s subsequent classics included “Distant Lover” and “You Sure Love to Ball,” as well as “Come Get to This” and “Just to Keep You Satisfied.” The eight-track album spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B albums chart, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.

However, also captured sonically on Let’s Get It On: Deluxe Edition is Gaye’s fascinating, long-gestating journey that birthed the original August 1973 album. Beyond releasing that album, 1973 was an important year for Motown. Founder Berry Gordy’s storied label was also celebrating its first full year in Los Angeles after relocating from Detroit. And that celebration resulted in a host of other album releases. That 1973 bumper crop included The Temptations’ Masterpiece, Eddie Kendrick’s eponymous third album, Diana Ross’ Touch Me in the Morning, Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions and Smokey Robinson’s solo debut, Smokey. 

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At that point in time, an experimental Gaye was busy following wherever his creative muse led him. During six months of recording sessions, he was working with collaborators such as artist/songwriter/producer Ed Townsend, arrangers Rene Hall and David Van DePitte and top-notch musicians such as guitarist Melvin “Wah Wah” Ragin and bassists Wilton Felder and James Jameson, in addition to Hancock. It’s the unused music from these sessions — unheard mixes, intriguing instrumental tracks, unreleased versions of ballad recordings — that richly enhance the deluxe edition. They also spotlight Gaye’s versatility both musically and vocally at a time when he was in the throes of a broken marriage and a new romance while grappling with the issue of spirituality versus the flesh.

“Two of the greatest things that happened at Motown was when Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye produced their own music,” said Smokey Robinson during a special Grammy Museum event earlier this week (Aug. 23) commemorating the 50th anniversary of Let’s. Moderated by UMe vp of A&R Harry Weinger, the panel of special guests included songwriter/producer Jimmy Jam and Gaye biographer David Ritz (Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye). Among those in the audience: Gaye’s children Marvin III and Nona.

In outlining Gaye’s mindset in 1973, Ritz referenced a line from the album’s title track: “We’re all sensitive people with so much to give.” As Ritz explained, “Marvin was a beautiful soul, extremely charming and funny, a complicated man, always deep. [With this album], he was thrilled because he was able to express another part of his personality. He took the chaos in his life and harmonized it, taking disparate elements and weaving them together. He knew it was a heavy and autobiographical work. But it was one that people loved.”

Weinger also premiered several tracks from the deluxe edition, including “The Shadow of Your Smile” (“Marvin wanted to be the Black Sinatra; he could sing anything,” said Robinson) and the instrumental “Perfection” with Hancock on piano and Gaye writing/producing. Drawing “ahhs” from the audience was remix guru John Morales’ stripped-down mix of “Just to Keep You Satisfied” that exquisitely showcases Gaye’s searing vocals.

“Listening to this sounds like music in heaven to me,” said Jam of Let’s Get It On. “It’s a brilliant and sublime album with very powerful messages. With Marvin, the deeper you dig the better it gets.”

According to Motown/UMe, the original Let’s Get It On will also be available in Dolby ATMOS in honor of its 50th anniversary. Also in the works: Motown/UMe will premiere new video content for select tracks and an e-commerce-only colored vinyl edition of the original album.

26 Aug 2023

Miley Cyrus Kicks Off ‘Used to Be Young’ Series With Old Family Videos of Billy Ray: ‘Vocally, My Dad Was Underappreciated’

In Miley Cyrus‘ new video series inspired by her introspective single “Used to Be Young,” the pop star says she’s “looking back on my life and sharing untold stories.”

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Cyrus launched the series on Saturday (Aug. 26) with clips on TikTok, where it seems she’ll be posting all the “Used to Be Young” content.

“Sometimes it feels like my life started when Hannah Montana was born,” she wrote in a caption. “But before Hannah there was Miley. My fantasy was to light up the world with laughter, music & iconic moments that last beyond my lifetime. Decades later I continue to fulfill my purpose because of the love provided by my fans. This series ‘Used To Be Young’ is inspired by my new single. Looking back on my life & sharing untold stories from 1992 until now. Let’s start at the beginning…. Forever, Miley.”

In the first of three short videos posted on TikTok Saturday, Cyrus explains, “I am going to start at the beginning of my life in 1992 until now in 2023 and we’re gonna go through the last 30 years,” and jokes, “I got nowhere to be, b—-.”

In a second TikTok clip, she scrolls through a list of the Top 100 Country Songs in 1992, the year she was born and when dad Billy Ray Cyrus had a hit with “Achy Breaky Heart.”

“My dad grew up the opposite of me,” she said. “So I think that’s where me and my dad’s relationship to fame and success is wildly different. Him feeling loved by a big audience impacted him emotionally more than it ever could me. When he feels special or important it’s like healing a childhood wound, and I’ve always been made to feel like a star. It makes me emotional.”

She added, “I do have a lot of great memories singing music with my dad, and learning and absorbing, and I think I can see my wheels turning in watching his voice and the way that he’s using the instrument. I will say that I feel vocally my dad was underappreciated.”

And in a third clip unveiled on Saturday, Miley watches old footage of Billy Ray talking about his daughter, saying that he foresaw her “destiny to bring a lot of hope to the world. She loves to dance, and the more people clap for her, the more she’ll dance.”

“I’m just grateful that that was projected in the universe before I even could fathom what that meant,” Miley said.

These clips were released online following Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation: Continued (Backyard Sessions) special that premiered this week on ABC and Hulu. Follow her on TikTok to continue to watch the “Used to Be Young” series as she posts more videos.

“Used To Be Young” marks the 30-year-old superstar’s first new music since the release of Endless Summer Vacation, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in March.

26 Aug 2023

Adele Attempts Beyonce’s ‘Everybody on Mute’ Challenge at Her Las Vegas Residency

Adele hilariously tried to channel Beyonce during her Las Vegas residency.

The 35-year-old British songstress took a moment during her Weekends With Adele show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Friday (Aug. 26) to attempt — and ultimately fail — Bey’s “everybody on mute” challenge.

For those who have missed it, Beyonce has been challenging her Renaissance World Tour audiences to be completely silent for a moment after she delivers the “Energy” lyric, “Look around, everybody on mute.”

Adele thought it might be a good idea to experiment with the challenge during her own concert, but it didn’t end as she had planned. In a fan-captured video from her Vegas performance, the “Easy on Me Singer” tells the crowd, “Everybody on mute,” but many fans are still heard chattering away.

“You f—ing failed miserably,” Adele playfully chastised. “When I sing ‘everybody on mute,’ you have to be f—ing quiet.”

She then referenced a recent Beyonce concert where the crowd didn’t pipe down during the challenge. “Atlanta failed miserably. There was a video of them this morning!” she said. “And everyone was like ‘wah!’”

Watch Adele attempt Beyonce’s “everybody on mute” challenge on X (formerly Twitter) here.

26 Aug 2023

Doja Cat Shows Off Wicked New Scythe Head Tattoo: See the Photo

Doja Cat is debuting some wicked new body art. The 27-year-old rapper took to her Instagram Story on Saturday (Aug. 26) to show off a fresh tattoo of a scythe on the side of her head.

In the snapshot, Doja sports a closely shaved head with bleached hair while showing off the freshly inked harvesting tool, which is often associated with the Grim Reaper. As seen the photo, the scythe’s handle slides down the back of her neck while the pointy blade wraps around her ear.

Doja’s latest body art closely aligns with her other recent tattoos. In May, she revealed a sprawling portrait of a winged creature’s skeleton covering her entire back. That was preceded by a spider and an antelope skull permanently etched onto her forearms.

Imagery of a scythe appears in Doja’s new horror-themed music video for “Paint the Town Red,” which has reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the video, the rapper dances with both the devil and a Grim Reaper-esque Death figure, who wields a scythe.

While the title of Doja’s upcoming fourth studio album is still a mystery, she has given fans a slew of clues about the aesthetic of her new record, from the blood-stained designs of her teaser videos to the horror vibes of the official music video for “Attention.” The forthcoming set will serve as the official full-length follow-up to Planet Her, Doja’s smash third studio album, which spawned a bevy of hits including “Kiss Me More” (with SZA), “Get Into It (Yuh),” and “You Right” (with The Weeknd).

Earlier in the week, Doja teased on Instagram she has something arriving on Sept. 1. The photo features a dark silhouette of the “Need to Know” singer wearing a pair of devil’s horns. “9.1.23,” she captioned the post with an hourglass emoji.