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21 Aug 2023

Sam Asghari Asks Followers Help Choose His ‘Paparazzi Disguise’ Following Britney Spears Split

Sam Asghari is preparing for life as a single man following his split from wife Britney Spears. The first order of business? Choosing a paparazzi-proof new look.

In a Saturday (Aug. 19) Instagram Story, the 29-year-old former backup dancer asked his three million followers to help him decide between three wigs in the hopes of masking himself from any intrusive camera flashes. “Help me choose paparazzi disguise ?,” he wrote, according to People.

The first option was by far the most drastic, with Asghari sporting a voluminous gray wig and a matching wispy mustache. The second option featured a curly brunette wig with sunglasses, while the third saw Asghari wearing a simple wavy brown wig over his natural hair.

It seems that the fitness trainer is anticipating an influx in paparazzi following his split from Spears, which went public last week after Asghari filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 16, citing irreconcilable differences. The next day, he posted a statement confirming the breakup. “After six years of love and commitment to each other, my wife and I have decided to end our journey together,” he wrote on Instagram. “We will hold onto the love and respect we have for each other and I wish her the best always. S–t happens. Asking for privacy seems ridiculous so I will just ask for everyone including media to be kind and thoughtful.”

Spears broke her silence on the matter on Aug. 18. “As everyone knows, Hesam and I are no longer together … 6 years is a long time to be with someone so, I’m a little shocked but … I’m not here to explain why because its honestly nobody’s business !!!” the “Toxic” singer wrote on Instagram. “I couldn’t take the pain anymore honestly !!!”

The two first met in 2016 on the set of Spears’ “Slumber Party” music video. After years of dating, they tied the knot in June 2020.

Following reports of their split, reports emerged that Asghari was planning to challenge his and Spears’ prenup agreement, and allegedly threatening to release embarrassing information and videos of the pop star. Asghari denied the rumors via a statement to Billboard from his reps; he is indeed seeking spousal support from Spears in his divorce filing.

“There are many claims that Sam is challenging the prenup and threatening to exploit his ex-wife with videos,” Asghari’s representative, Brandon Cohen, told Billboard in an Aug. 18 statement. “However, all these claims are false, as no negative intention has ever been directed towards her and never will be. Sam has always and will always support her.”

21 Aug 2023

Memphis Bleek Is STILL Pushing For Jay-Z Collab Album, “I Get Shot Down Like A Clay Pigeon”

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Def Jam Island Records Party

Source: Lester Cohen / Getty

When Jay-Z famously spit, “Bleek could be one hit away his whole career/As long as I’m alive, he’s a millionaire,” on Kanye West’s “Diamonds (Remix)” it didn’t really do his homie Memphis Bleek any favors career-wise. While the fellow Brooklyn rapper has continued to work hard at his craft—despite not really needing to considering his big homie’s billionaire status—he’s still getting curved when it comes to a joint project with Mr. Carter.

Bleek admitted so during a quick interview with TMZ.

“I’m on that boat, too. I wish,” said Bleek about seeking another collab, whether it be a song or even an EP project. The “Is That Your Chick” rapper is realistic about landing that Hov collab, though. “I don’t think so,” Bleek told TMZ. “Hov too far gone, man! I was supposed to try this when he had $100 million, not a billion. When you got a billion, it’s hard to get you in the booth. Only his wife can do it.”

Beyonce and Jay-Z did drop the critically acclaimed Everything Is Love Project in 2018. But besides the occasional guest verses, it’s been crickets on a Jigga album since 2017’s 4:44 (not counting his essentially riding shotgun on Jay Electronica’s A Written Testimony in 2020). Nevertheless, Bleek isn’t giving up.

“I’m trying,” added Bleek. “I sending joints. I get shot down like a clay pigeon. Something going to stick one day. If we can drop an EP together come on now.”

Will Bleek and Jay-Z be able to close that “Coming of Age” trilogy? He wants y’all to hold your breath, but Jay-Z is notoriously frugal when it comes to his collaborations. For example, 2 Chainz is another artist who has been petitioning for a collab with Jay-Z to no avail.

But don’t let the lack of joint material let you think Bleek and Jay-Z ain’t still cool. He’s a perennial Roc Nation brunch attendee and Jay-Z was there at Bleek’s wedding back in 2014. See Bleek’s interview with TMZ below.



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21 Aug 2023

Quavo Pays Tribute to Takeoff With Touching New ‘Hold Me’ Music Video: Watch

Quavo has unleashed the official music video for “Hold Me,” a heartfelt BNYX-helmed track off new solo album Rocket Power that grapples with the intricacies of grief and mourning. In the visual, which he uploaded to YouTube on Saturday (Aug. 19), Quavo shares footage from a memorial for Takeoff in Atlanta. Attendees convene and foster community with one another while wearing shirts adorned with the late artist’s face as they come together to honor him. The second half of the music video finds Quavo in Paris flaunting merch, greeting fans and performing for crowds.

Takeoff (né Kirshnik Khari Ball) was shot and killed during a private party he attended in downtown Houston with his uncle and Migos bandmate, Quavo, on Nov. 1, 2022, something that still weighs heavy on the rapper and looms over much of Rocket Power. The album, Quavo’s second solo studio effort, marks his first full-length release since Takeoff’s untimely death. From its somber themes to its title — Takeoff’s only solo studio album was titled The Last Rocket — Rocket Power functions as a touching tribute to the late star. Takeoff even appears on a pair of the album’s tracks: “Patty Cake” and “Back Where It Begins.” Other features that appear on Rocket Power include Future, Young Thug, Hunxho and BabyDrill.

Rocket Power follows Quavo Huncho as Quavo’s sophomore studio album. In 2018, Quavo Huncho peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — the highest ranking for a solo LP from a Migos member. In 2022, Quavo and Takeoff teamed up for a joint album under the name Unc & Phew. Titled Only Built for Infinity Links, the album peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. On the Billboard Hot 100, Quavo has earned six top 10 hits, including the No. 1 single “I’m the One” (with DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne).

21 Aug 2023

Lucian Grainge Weighs In On the ‘Potential’ of AI Innovation — Positive and Negative

Universal Music Group announced on Monday (Aug. 21) a partnership with YouTube to create a set of principles and best practices around the use of artificial intelligence within the music community, as well as a Music AI Incubator bringing together several UMG artists and producers to help study the effect of the technology, including Anitta, Juanes, Yo Gotti, Louis Bell, ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, Ryan Tedder and the estate of Frank Sinatra, among others.

In announcing the new incubator and the three principles — which boil down to embracing the new technological possibilities while protecting creators and establishing content and safety policies — UMG chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge penned an op-ed for YouTube’s blog, in which he acknowledged both the possibilities and the potential dangers of AI.

“Given this tension, our challenge and opportunity as an industry is to establish effective tools, incentives and rewards – as well as rules of the road – that enable us to limit AI’s potential downside while promoting its promising upside,” Grainge writes. “If we strike the right balance, I believe AI will amplify human imagination and enrich musical creativity in extraordinary new ways.”

In reference to the collaboration with YouTube, Grainge points to the video streamer’s development of its ContentID system, which helps screen user-generated content uploaded to the service for copyrighted works, and helps get creators (and copyright owners, such as UMG) paid for their use on the platform. That type of collaboration between DSP and music companies is foundational to the work YouTube and UMG are beginning with respect to AI, Grainge says.

“The truth is, great entertainment doesn’t just reach audiences on its own,” he writes. “It also requires the global infrastructure, new business models, scaled distribution, innovative partnerships and effective safeguards that enable talented artists to create with freedom and receive fair compensation. … Today, our partnership is building on that foundation with a shared commitment to lead responsibly, as outlined in YouTube’s AI principles, where Artificial Intelligence is built to empower human creativity, and not the other way around. AI will never replace human creativity because it will always lack the essential spark that drives the most talented artists to do their best work, which is intention. From Mozart to The Beatles to Taylor Swift, genius is never random.”

Read his full op-ed here.

21 Aug 2023

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Jessie Reyez & Miguel, Larry June, Dylan Sinclair & More

Happy Monday! As we inch towards the end of summer, you can count on this week’s Fresh Picks to keep things hot. From the R&B sounds of Jessie Reyez (with Miguel), Samaria and Dylan Sinclair, to rap bops from 4TUNAT, Larry June and Lil Darius (with Nardo Wick) — we’ve got something for every moment of your week.

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And of course, don’t forget to check out this month’s Fresh Picks (so far) in our Spotify playlist, linked below.

Freshest Find: Jessie Reyez feat. Miguel, “Jeans”

Jessie Reyez and Miguel “fit better than a pair of jeans.” The two join forces here for a sexy, stripped-back collab about a couple being each others’ better halves. “You fit, like your mama made you just for me, baby/ Stroking making me forget to breathe, baby,” Reyez sings. “Jeans” is the singer-songwriter’s first offering since her sophomore album, 2022’s Yessie. She is gearing up to release her first poetry book, Words of a Goat Princess, in the fall. Meanwhile, Miguel has been rolling out music of his own ahead of his new album, also due this fall.

Samaria, “Tight Rope”

Samaria’s “Tight Rope” was created from a place of uncertainty for the Bay Area singer-songwriter, who brings listeners on a journey of losing herself, then discovering her self-worth on her own terms. “‘Tight Rope’ was a final plea to make something work at the time that was showing me exactly why it absolutely would never work,” she shares in a press release. 

4TUNAT feat. Destroy Lonely, “LOOK AT IT GO”

4TUNAT proves his synergy with Destroy Lonely on their new track, “LOOK AT IT GO.” “ The Geffen Records newcomer is carving a lane in Atlanta rap’s scene with his glitchy, high-energy SEE YOU SOON EP, on which this collaboration appears.

Dylan Sinclair, “Fly Girl”

Dylan Sinclair only likes fly girls. While he makes his preferences known, the song marks a sonic expansion for the JUNO-winning artist, who first gave listeners a glimpse into his sound with his 2022 EP, No Longer in the Suburbs. “Keeping this girl ‘round me, I like the way that she talk/ Sending me playlists straight to my phone, she putting me on,” he sings in a soft falsetto.

Lyfe Harris, “Sunkiss” 

“When you’re alone, does the sun kiss you just like me?” asks Lyfe Harris. The Atlanta singer likens his love to the sun’s warmth, delivering an infectious hook and lingering chorus. With “Sunkiss,” Harris captures the essence of intimacy with a bit of a nostalgic touch, as he uses a talk box effect for his vocals.

Larry June & Cardo, “The Good Kind”

Catch Larry June “looking at the ocean, eating smoothie bowls.” The Bay Area rapper links with Cardo Got Wings for “The Good Kind” — a typical West Coast-feeling track where June raps about riding his bike while maintaining his “street n—a” attitude.

Lil Darius feat. Nardo Wick, “Lamborghini Boys”

Known for crafting hits for Drake and Travis Scott, Memphis producer Tay Keith connects with Georgia upstart Lil Darius for his new song “Lamborghini Boys,” featuring Nardo Wick. The two rumble through Keith’s trunk-rattling production seamlessly, racing to the finish line with their unmatched wit. “Fine, she lookin’ like GloRilla, eat it like Tianna Trump,” spits Darius. The rapper and producer duo’s forthcoming mixtape, Young & Turnt, drops later this month.

21 Aug 2023

Travis Barker Surprises 9-Year-Old Blind Drummer With Drumsticks, Donation and Impromptu Jam Session

Travis Barker made a young fan’s dreams come true on Friday when the Blink-182 drummer made a surprise visit to 9-year-old blind drummer Grayson Roberts’ lemonade stand and left behind some unforgettable memories.

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The special moment took place at the Dream Factory space in Los Angeles and footage of it blew up over the weekend after social media influencer Charlie Rocket shared it to his Instagram, noting that business at Roberts’ stand had been super slow earlier in the week.

In the video, Rocket showed Barker walking up the stand with two pair of drum sticks in his hand and introducing himself to Roberts. The budding entrepreneur, focused on his biz, asked Barker if he wanted a cup of lemonade as the drummer offered up much more. “I brought you some drumsticks and I also brought some donations, I brought some money,” Barker said, stuffing some bills into the donation jar and handing over the sticks.

“I saw a video of you playing drums and singing,” Barker added.

After Barker said he’d love some lemonade, Roberts asked if it would be possible for them to sing and play together. “I would love to,” a smiling Barker replied. “No way!” Roberts said in disbelief as he pointed to the spot where his kit was set up. “You want to sing or play drums?” Barker asked.

With Roberts on the mic, Barker quickly learned the beat to Adam Jensen’s 2017 anthem “Street Fight,” as an adoring audience clapped, cheered and shouted Grayson’s name afterwards.

“@travisbarker came to help @graysons_view drum up some business at his lemonade stand!!!” wrote Rocket. “Lol what a great soul Travis barker is. Thank you to @katietua @mikeytua @lukismac @sweetyhigh for helping make this happen !!!” In a previous post, Rocket described rolling up on Roberts’ stand — which explained that he was born blind and that he is determined not to let that stop him from doing “everything you can do” — and asking the community to come together to help the young man reach his dream of traveling the world.

Roberts also shared a video of the encounter, writing, “THANK YOU travis for taking a break while filming your music video to come by my Lemonade stand and allowing me to perform with you!! It was SO amazing And thank you for letting me choose the color of sprinkles because who doesn’t love sprinkles?!”

Blink wrapped the first leg of their 2023 world tour on July 16 with a show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The band will pick things up again on Sept. 1 with a gig at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland for a European swing that will keep them on the road through an Oct. 16 gig in Manchester at the AO Arena; after that they will swing into Las Vegas in late Oct. for the When We Were Young Festival before moving on to Australian and New Zealand in Feb. and March 2024.

Check out footage of Barker’s jam session below.

21 Aug 2023

Rapper Gunplay Arrested For Allegedly Pointing Rifle At Wife & Newborn Baby

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Gunplay mugshot

Source: Miami Dade PD / Miami Dade PD

Rapper Gunplay, born, Richard Morales Junior, has just earned himself a heap of legal trouble as the rapper was arrested over the weekend for alleged domestic abuse towards his wife and newborn baby.

According to XXL Mag, the “Pyrex Poppin” rapper was pinched this past Saturday night (August 19) after he allegedly pointed a rifle at his wife, Vonshae Taylor, and their 6-month-old daughter. Of course Gunplay denies the allegations, but as of press time the Florida rapper is still sitting in a jail cell with bail set at $20,000.

XXL reports:

According to a Miami-Dade County arrest document obtained by XXL, Gunplay was arrested Saturday night (Aug. 19) on multiple charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, false imprisonment and child abuse. Miami journalist Andy Slater is reporting that the former Maybach Music Group artist is being accused of allegedly pointing a rifle at his wife while she was holding their 6-month-old baby.

His wife took to Instagram to describe the events of that night saying that Gunplay’s alcoholism led to the incident and thanked everyone for their well wishes and prayers.

Will Rick Ross pick up the tab and bail out his former protégée? We’ll have to wait and see.

What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments section below.

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21 Aug 2023

PULSE Records Partners With Brent Faiyaz’s Iso Supremacy, Signs Tommy Richman

PULSE Records has formed a joint venture through Brent Faiyaz’s newly established creative agency ISO Supremacy, with Virginia artist Tommy Richman as the first signee, it was announced Monday (Aug. 21). 

Richman currently serves as the opener for Faiyaz’s F-ck the World, It’s a Wasteland Tour and has caught traction with his songs “BUNKER / PREROLL” and ELECTRIFY TONIGHT.” Last year, Richman released his seven-track album Alligator.

“I’m grateful and amazed at the support from Brent, ISO Supremacy, and the team at PULSE Records, which motivates me,” says Richman in a press release. “To have the opportunity to open for Brent on his sold-out tour is an absolute honor and to sign to PULSE Records, a creative community that really understands music and supports artists, I couldn’t ask for more.”

Faiyaz’s relationship with PULSE stems from 2016 when he signed a publishing deal with PULSE Music Group. In 2022, he renewed his contract and followed that up with the release of his debut album, Wasteland, which topped the R&B / Hip-Hop Albums chart and bowed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Last week, Faiyaz announced the title of his creative agency, ISO Supremacy, which stands for In Search of Supremacy. There, Faiyaz operates as CEO, with Darren Xu as COO, Ashani Allick as head of A&R, Michael Alexander as project manager and Zac Matias as art director.

“My partnership with PULSE Music Group since Day 1 has been transformative,” says Faiyaz. “In launching my new label ISO Supremacy and partnering with PULSE Records, we’ve created this platform to give artists like Tommy Richman a creative home with the ability to scale global impact and a team that is accessible who keeps creativity at the forefront. We’re going to continue to make history.” 

21 Aug 2023

Tish Cyrus Marries Dominic Purcell With Miley Cyrus as Maid of Honor: Report

Tish Cyrus and Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell got married over the weekend with daughter Miley Cyrus reportedly acting as her mom’s maid of honor. Just Jared posted purported pics from the nuptials, in which Miley wore a light blue one-shoulder dress while carrying a bouquet of baby’s breath.

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While the bride — who was previously married to Miley’s dad, “Achy Breaky Heart” singer Billy Ray Cyrus for 28 years — wore an elegant white gown and matching veil, Purcell walked the aisle in black pants and a short-sleeve white shirt during what was described as an intimate ceremony in Malibu on Saturday night. The couple announced their engagement in May after going Instagram official in November. At press time Billboard was not able to independently confirm the details of the wedding and it did not appear that Tish Cyrus or Purcell had posted about the wedding on their socials.

In April 2022, Tish filed for divorce from her longtime husband Billy Ray Cyrus. “It is after 30 years, five amazing children and a lifetime of memories, we have decided to go our separate ways — not with sadness, but with love in our hearts,” a joint statement shared to People at the time read. “We have grown up together, raised a family we can be so proud of, and it is now time to create our own paths.”

After marrying Tish in 1993, Billy Ray adopted her two children from a previous relationship, Brandi, 36 and Trace, 34, and then the couple had Miley, 30, Braison, 29 and Noah, 23. Just months after their divorce, Billy Ray got engaged to Australian singer Firerose in Nov. 2022.

21 Aug 2023

David Harbour Reveals Taylor Swift Sent His ‘Speechless’ Stepdaughter a Handwritten Note at Eras Tour Concert

David Harbour is a superhero father on and off screen. In an interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that was posted Aug. 17, the Stranger Things star revealed he got some major Dad points by taking his stepdaughter to see Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour in Minnesota, where the pop star went the extra mile by sending the pair a sweet handwritten note from backstage.

Harbour — who became stepdad to Lily Allen’s daughters Ethel and Marnie when he married the “Smile” singer in 2020 — was spotted enjoying the show from a VIP tent at Swift’s June concert at U.S. Bank Stadium. He got to talking about the show when Horowitz noted the actor must’ve pulled in some major “brownie points” by taking the kids to see an advanced screening of Marvel’s latest Guardians of the Galaxy installment in May, to which the actor replied, “Not as many brownie points as I got taking the stepdaughter to Taylor Swift, though. Talk about points!”

Revealing he “had to call in a lot of favors” in order to see the show, Harbour raved that Swift’s three-hour career-spanning production “was pretty extraordinary.” “We went to Minneapolis because it was the only weekend we could go see it and I love Minneapolis,” the Black Widow star continued. “It’s a real music town, too, like Prince. People are really there to see the concert as opposed to Instagram the concert, so it was like a perfect place to see it.”

“I did say as we went in, ‘If there is an opportunity to say hello …’ And they said, ‘She’s leaving on a plane right after the concert,” he added. “We sat there for about 30 minutes of the opener and then a woman came out with a letter. It was addressed to me and my stepdaughter, and it was a handwritten letter on a particular stationery. I’ve never seen my stepdaughter speechless.”

Harbour didn’t reveal specifics of what Swift’s letter said, but he did share that the “Anti-Hero” singer promised to send his stepdaughter a wave from the stage — a promise she made good on at the beginning of one of her songs. “She is a force of nature,” Harbour gushed.

“I didn’t really have any idea, it’s not really my … my thing was Madonna,” he went on. “I saw Madonna concerts, I saw Guns N’ Roses concerts. Seeing her perform for three-and-a-half hours, that’s like 45 songs. She barely leaves the stage, I don’t know when she pees. It’s ridiculous — she’s a force of nature.”

The interview, recorded prior to the ongoing WGA actors’ strike, comes just a few days ahead of Swift’s first Latin America concert in Mexico City, which will mark the Eras Tour’s first international show. A couple weeks prior, she wrapped up the trek’s first U.S. leg with six straight shows in Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

Watch David Harbour recall his Eras Tour experience above.