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Joe Budden & Gillie Da Kid Squash Beef, Tease Upcoming Podcast

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Joe Budden and Gillie Da Kid have made their marks as rappers early on and are now dominating the podcast space via their respective spaces. There was a brewing beef between the two outspoken men that is now in the rearview after a new clip of the two surfaced.

Via the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game YouTube page, a video teaser of an upcoming episode featuring Joe Budden was shared with Budden, Gillie, and Wallo chopping it up outside of a home ahead of recording the episode. Whatever bad blood existed between the pair was clearly done with as evidenced by the embrace they shared and Wallo playfully joking on them both for having retired from rapping.

“This is what you look like when you’re two rappers and it’s over. We celebrating the 50th year of Hip Hop, these is two ancient dinosaurs of Hip Hop. This n*gga made $3,700 his whole rap career. Joe probably made about $77,000,” Wallo said in the video, adding he too attempted a career in rapping.

Clips of the forthcoming episode were shared throughout and it looked like the trio were in great spirits. The episode will air Sunday, August 20 at 7:30 PM ET.

The rest of the teaser showed Gillie and Wallo having a dice game showdown with Wallo losing a significant amount of cash.

Check out the clip by following this link.

Photo: Paras Griffin / Getty

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New Music From J-Hope, FIFTY FIFTY and Sabrina Carpenter, Ciara, Usher & More | Billboard News

Billboard was at Kelly Clarkson’s Las Vegas residency, the Jonas Brothers’ tour opener at Yankee stadium, Quavo’s performance in Atlanta for the Braves game and more during this week’s All Access. Jon Batiste talks about his new album ‘World Music Radio’, working with Jon Bellion, potentially becoming an EGOT and more. J-Hope drops a new album, FIFTY FIFTY brings in Sabrina Carpenter to help give a new twist to one of their biggest songs, Ciara releases her new EP ‘Cici’, Usher latest song “Boyfriend” is here. Nas talks about iconic female rappers in hip-hop and who’s on the rise next?

Tetris Kelly
We’ve got some new K-Pop, country and R&B in your Friday music guide. We sit down with NAS and Jon Batiste and we take you inside this week’s hottest live music event.

Tetris Kelly
It’s almost as they get the weekend started, I’m Tetris Kelly for Billboard News. It’s Friday, August 18. And you know what that means a fresh Friday music guide.

Tetris Kelly
J-Hope has released a physical ‘Hope Edition’ of his debut album ‘Jack in the Box’ that includes the original tracks, instrumentals and live recordings from his historic set at Lollapalooza.

Tetris Kelly
“Cupid” has had us all stuck this summer and now K-pop group FIFTY FIFTY have added Sabrina carpenter to a remix.

Tetris Kelly
Onto our cover star and Billboard Hip Hop Hall of Fame inductee, Nas.

Nas
I can’t believe I’m here. 50 calling in 50 years I’m just happy to be here to witness it as a fan to be honored it’s like no it’s no joke to me it’s like I’m like wow is this real? I remember they were acts like Latifah, Shanté and MC Light what does it feel like to be in a male dominated rap game and how come female rappers are not happening? Just you just you guys, they held it down strong. It took years but it’s just that time they’re not going to be held back it’s their strength, it’s their power, it’s their talent, it’s their beauty. It’s everything wrapped in one that’s just supposed to dominate right now.

Nas
Coming up there’s Latto, Ice Spice, Coco Jones then there’s a few others you know that I like? Yeah.

Watch the full video above!

Quavo Drops 2nd Solo LP ‘Rocket Power’ & Fans On X Approve

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Rocket Power Album Pop Up Shop Hosted By Quavo

Quavo hasn’t released a solo album since his debut album, Quavo Huncho, back in 2018. On Friday (August 18), the Migos member released his sophomore effort Rocket Power, which honors the late Takeoff.

The opening track on Rocket Power, “Fueled Up,” sets the tone for much of the album as the track references the now-ended beef between Quavo and Offset, and Takeoff’s name is mentioned near the end. This continues at several points throughout Rocket Power, with production coming from Kenny Beats, Murda Beatz, Bnyx, Atake, DJ Durel, Buddah Bless, Baby Wave, and more.

Quavo handles much of the rapping duties on his own with features from Takeoff, Future, Young Thug, BabyDrill, and Hnxcho on the assist. On X, it appears that the production is propelling the interest of most fans online but they’re also praising Huncho for delivering an album that does capture some of the grief he’s surely still processing in connection to the passing of Takeoff.

Rocket Power was originally set to come out on August 4, calling the project therapeutic and sharing that he attempts to capture the emotional weight he’s carried since losing his younger nephew. If the reaction on X, formerly known as Twitter, is of any merit, it looks like Quavo achieved his goal and then some.

Check out the reactions below.

Photo: Prince Williams / Getty

‘Harlan Coben’s Shelter’: How to Watch Amazon’s New Mystery Series for Free

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Need a new series to be hooked on? Prime Video just dropped a fresh show that’ll leave you guessing with each episode. Harlan Coben’s Shelter is based on the novel of the same name and is full of mystery and suspense that won’t just captivate fans of the novel.

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The show first aired on Thursday (Aug. 18) and currently has the first three episodes available to watch. Viewers can expect to follow Mickey Bolitar (Jaden Michael) who, after the traumatic death of his father, moves to a the town of Kasselton in New Jersey. With his mother in rehab, he’s left in the care of his aunt and navigates his new life and school. When a creepy old woman appears and tells him his father is alive and a girl is kidnapped all within the same timeframe, Mickey begins to think he’s going crazy and, with the help of a couple new friends, tries to unravel the mystery surrounding his father’s death and it’s possible connection to the girl’s disappearance.

In true Coben fashion, the show brings just as much thrill, suspense and cliffhangers that’ll help take you through the rest of the summer — and potentially have you begging for more.

Other cast members in the show include Adrian Greensmith, Sage Linder, Abigale Corrigan, Constance Zimmer, Tovah Feldshuh, Hunter Emery, Didi Conn, Brian Altemus, Lee Aaron Rosen, Samantha Bugliaro and Manuel Uriza.

Keep reading to learn what streaming options you have to watch the mystery for free.

When & How to Watch Harlan Coben’s Shelter

The mystery series is a Prime Original show with new episodes airing every Thursday for a total of eight episodes. Since it’s a Prime Original, that means it’s exclusive to the streamer and those who have a Prime membership or subscription to Prime Video can watch it for no additional cost.

Not subscribed? If you join Amazon Prime you can enjoy 30 days free before being charged the membership fee of $14.99/month (or $139 for the annual plan) when the trial ends. Qualifying students and EBT/Medicaid recipients can join for half off the regular price.

‘Harlan Coben’s Shelter’ on Prime Video

$14.99/month after 30 days free

Prime members get access to thousands of movies and must-watch shows – along with Prime Originals such as CitadelDaisy Jones & The SixThe Marvelous Mrs. MaiselSwarmThe Power, Harlem,  InvincibleThe BoysTom Clancy’s Jack RyanFleabagThe Summer I Turned PrettyThe Wheel of TimeThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Medellin, The Horror of Dolores Roach, Red, White & Royal Blue and more.

What else can you get with a Prime membership? Member-only discounts, free shipping on millions of items, grocery delivery, free Amazon Music and tons more.  

Check below to watch the trailer for Harlan Coben’s Shelter.



Babyface Back in Hot 100 Top 10 Thanks to SZA’s ‘Snooze’

Legendary singer-songwriter and producer Babyface scores his first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as a producer in 23 years, thanks to his work on SZA’s “Snooze.”

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The song, released in December on SZA’s 10-week Billboard 200 No. 1 album SOS, jumps 15-10 on the Hot 100 (dated Aug. 19). Babyface, who co-produced the track with BLK (real name: Blair Ferguson) and The Rascals (the production duo comprising Khristopher Riddick-Tynes and Leon Thomas III), last appeared in the top 10 as a producer in December 2000, with P!nk’s “Most Girls.” The song climbed to No. 4 the prior month, becoming P!nk’s first career top five hit (of an eventual eight to date).

Babyface is also one of five credited co-writers on “Snooze” (however SZA solely wrote the lyrics).



While “Snooze” marks Babyface’s return to the Hot 100’s top 10 as a producer, he’s tallied three additional top 10s on the Hot 100 this century as a writer, thanks to samples and interpolations of his older hits. (When a song is sampled on another track, credited writers of the original typically receive writing credits on the new song.)

Babyface is credited as a co-writer of Mariah Carey’s 2005 14-week No. 1 “We Belong Together,” thanks to its interpolation of “Two Occasions” by The Deele, in which he was a member; the latter song hit No. 10 on the Hot 100 in 1988. He even gets a shoutout in the lyrics of Carey’s lost-love song: “I gotta change the station / So I turn the dial, tryin’ to catch a break / And then I hear Babyface, ‘I only think of you’ / And it’s breaking my heart.”

In 2020, Babyface notched another top 10 as a writer, via Lil Mosey’s “Blueberry Faygo” (No. 8 peak). The track samples Johnny Gill’s 1990 No. 10 hit “My, My, My,” which he co-wrote with Daryl Simmons. In 2021, Babyface tallied another top 10, thanks to a writing credit on Drake’s “Fair Trade,” featuring Travis Scott (No. 3). The collab samples Charlotte Day Wilson’s 2019 song “Mountains.”

Of Babyface’s top 10 Hot 100 hits in any role (producer, writer or recording artist), seven have hit No. 1. They’ve combined to spend just shy of a year at the summit: 51 weeks.

Here’s a recap:

Artist Billing, Title (Peak Year; Role)
Whitney Houston, “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (1990, one week at No. 1; producer, songwriter)
Boyz II Men, “End of the Road” (1992, 13 weeks; producer, songwriter)
Boyz II Men, “I’ll Make Love to You” (1994, 14 weeks; producer, songwriter)
Madonna, “Take a Bow” (1995, seven weeks; producer, songwriter)
Whitney Houston, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” (1995, one week; producer, songwriter)
Toni Braxton, “You’re Makin’ Me High”/”Let It Flow” (1996, one week; producer, songwriter)
Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together” (2005, 14 weeks; songwriter)

Babyface praised SZA in an interview on Billboard’s Pop Shop Podcast in January. ““I think SZA is amazing,” he said. “She’s so unique and I’m amazed by her talent, to be honest, and very happy for her success. I think it’s very well-deserved.”

Of his own versatility, and longevity, he said, “I think as a musician, I’ve always tried to not be one particular thing and be able to cross different genres. I always kind of look at it [as], if you’re a full musician, then you should be able to do more than one thing. And what allows you to do that is to not have an ego, to the point to where you think what you do is the best thing and always the best. So, it’s always great to collaborate and get into a room and learn.”

Tyler, The Creator Announces 2023 Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival Lineup in Mural Painting Livestream

Tyler, the Creator‘s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival will end its four-year hiatus this November 11 and 12 when it returns with a stacked lineup at L.A.’s Dodger Stadium. This year’s roster was slowly revealed on Friday (Aug. 18) during a livestream in which the names of the acts were painstakingly painted onto a mural over the course of three hours.

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This year’s Camp Flog Gnaw will be headlined by SZA, The Hillbillies and Tyler, the Creator. Other performers include Ice Spice, Clipse, Lil Yachty, Kali Uchis, Earl Sweatshirt, Rex Orange County, Syd, PinkPantheress, Teezo Touchdown, Kevin Abstract, Dominic Fike, WILLOW, Ravyn Lenae, Turnstile, Khamari, Maxo Kream, Paris Texas, Beabadoobee AG Club, Balming Tiger, Left Brain, Liv.e, Spinall, Baby Rose, Redveil, Cuco, Toro y Moi, Fuerza Regida, BADBADNOTGOOD, d4vd and Domo Genesis.

The Odd Future leader launched Camp Flog Gnaw in 2012 (originally named OFWGKTA) as a combination music festival and carnival, with rides and midway games and a lineup featuring Odd Future, Lil Wayne, Trash Talk and Action Bronson.

Subsequent lineups included Frank Ocean, Mac Miller, Earl Sweatshirt and Flying Lotus in 2013, Pharrell Williams, Rick Ross, Hodgy Beats and Freddie Gibbs in 2014 and Snoop Dogg, Atmosphere, Miller, The Internet, YG and A$AP Rocky in 2015. The event spread to two days in 2016 with sets from Lil Wayne, Chance the Rapper, Kaytranada, DJ Mustard and more and Lana Del Rey, Mac DeMarco, Brockhampton, Justice and Migos in 2017.

Tyler continued to mix in more rock and indie acts over the next three years — including Rex Orange County, Little Dragon, Jorja Smith, Billie Eilish, Dominic Fike and Willow Smith — before taking a break in 2020, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and skipping 2022 due to Tyler’s busy schedule. All passes for this year’s event were sold out in June well before the lineup was announced.

Queer Jams of the Week: New Music From Reneé Rapp, Doechii, Anitta & More

Another week means another opportunity to listen to some excellent new tracks from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

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From Reneé Rapp’s long-awaited debut album to Doechii’s steamy new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Reneé Rapp, Snow Angel



Much like the titular winter fixture, Reneé Rapp’s Snow Angel is all about leaving her imprint on pop music. Throughout the rising singer-actor’s debut album, Rapp paints in broad strokes, employing soulful R&B and raucous pop-rock to create an accurate image of her life. The results come in the form of impeccably-written ballads detailing heartbreak and loss (“I Wish” and “Willow” immediately stand out), uptempo bops meant to stir your spirit (“Talk Too Much,” “So What Now”), or even an instantly-relatable queer femme anthem with “Pretty Girls.” From start to finish, Snow Angel serves as an unflinching self-portrait of Rapp’s not-yet-quarter-life crisis — and it leaves even more room for the star to bloom.

Doechii, “Booty Drop”



What more do you need to know than what’s in the title? Doechii makes a promise on her sexy new single, repeating again and again the she “can make your booty pop.” Turns out, she’s not kidding — from the killer bassline to Doechii’s effortless flow, “Booty Drop” is the exact kind of song designed to get you out on the dance floor shaking your money-maker.

Anitta, Funk Generation: A Favela Story



Just a year after giving us her killer album Versions of Me, Anitta is ready to give fans just a taste of what’s to come. With her new 3-track bundle Funk Generation: A Favela Story, Anitta dives head first into funk carioca, letting her buttery smooth voice glide over jumping bass and entrancing rhythms that will pull you in immediately. It’s a complete journey into Anitta’s Brazilian upbringing — and one you need to hear for yourself ASAP.

Demi Lovato, “Confident (Rock Version)”



Continuing her high-octane revitalizations of past hits, Demi Lovato is ready to boss herself up. On the new, raw version of “Confident,” Lovato gives their brassy anthem some serious edge by trading in new growling vocals and putting a heavy focus on the song’s slamming drums. Be sure to do some stretches before listening — because you will be banging your head by the time you reach the end.

K.Flay feat. Vic Fuentes, “Irish Goodbye”



Everyone’s experienced the Irish goodbye at some point or another in their lives — that moment when you look up and realize you haven’t seen your friend in the last 30 minutes. Now, K.Flay and Pierce the Veil’s Vic Fuentes are ready to give that practice its very own theme song. With glitching guitars, relentless drums, and some top-tier songwriting to help, K.Flay proves yet again that she’s a master of bottling angst into a much-needed release of musical dopamine.

Jamila Woods, “Boomerang”



While you may know Jamila Woods for some of her softer, slower jams over the years, she’s here to show you that she can give you plenty of reason to dance on her new single. With “Boomerang,” Woods picks up the tempo, turns up the synths and lets her breezy vocal do the heavy lifting, as she looks a little bit closer at that one relationship that just keeps on coming back.

Slayyyter, “Erotic Electronic”



Looking for something a little more racy? Of course Slayyyter is here to help. On “Erotic Electronic,” the rising pop singer strips herself down — no, literally — as she offers up all of the lengths she will go to in order to get with her lover. Add in some ground-shaking EDM production and a series of peaks-and-valleys synths, and you’ve got another club banger on your hands.

Calum Scott, “At Your Worst”



Sometimes, a heartfelt love song is all you need to get that nice warm feeling going — and Calum Scott is certainly capable of giving you that. “At Your Worst,” the latest from the singer, is a moving slice of pop balladry that sees Scott celebrating his lover even, and especially, in the lowest moments. The soft guitar and bass section certainly helps keep you interested, but the real star, as tends to be the case with Calum Scott songs, is the singer’s gorgeous voice.

Shamir, Homo Anxietatem



Anxiety seems to be the overarching theme for 2023, and Shamir is well-versed on that subject. Throughout Homo Anxietatem, the singer-songwriter seems to seek out, understand and eventually dispel anxiety, studying as many different sides of it — the pressure of stardom (“Obsession”), the stress of a relationship (“Our Song”), and the relief that comes in accepting your life for what it is (“Wandering Through”). It’s no surprise that an artist as talented as Shamir could turn anxiety into its very own concept album, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.

Arlissa, “AUDACITY.”



Knowing your worth is important, and Arlissa wants her ex to know that they cannot afford her. On “AUDACITY.”, the pop-R&B singer grooves her way through a betrayal from her former flame, before coming out the other end stronger. The simplicity of the production mixed with the singer’s inimitable vocal makes lines like “you had the audacity/ to act like you can handle me,” hit that much harder on this burning new jam.

Check out all of our picks on Billboard‘s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:

Taylor Swift’s Chic Earrings Are a Must-Have Accessory: Shop the Exact Pair Here

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With the first leg of Taylor Swift’s tour behind us, we have weeks before she kicks off her international Eras tour dates. To pass the time, the Midnights singer has been seen stepping out in fashionable looks that we’re just clamoring to add into our own outfit rotations.

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Swift has been creating summer trends from her sold-out floral dress to bringing back the classic skort look. The real challenge is grabbing her exact looks before they’re sold-out as fans have notably been selling out both her stadium tour and fashion selections.

Most recently, the 33-year-old was spotted in New York City sporting a maxi dress and black platform shoes, according to the Instagram account @taylorswiftstyled. The social media account tracks and posts the artist’s style including these chic earrings from Jennifer Zeuner — and they’re still in stock!

If you’ve been on the hunt for some of the best Taylor Swift Outfits to wear outside of her Eras tour wardrobe, these huggie earrings will help complete your everyday or dressed up styles.

Keep reading to shop the exact pair Swift wore below.

gold huggie earrings with chain

Jennifer Zeuner

Tasha Earrings

$154

These huggies are unlike the traditional pair as it comes with an Italian chain drop with stones decorating the tip of each. While more of a splurge at $154, it’s worth it as they come in three materials: 14K yellow gold-plated silver, sterling silver and 14K gold that’re durable and long-lasting. The jewelry is versatile enough to pair with everyday looks like jeans and a white t-shirt or for more dressed up occasions that require a cocktail dress or trousers.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of Selena Gomez’s denim maxi skirt trend, the best NewJeans outfits and Billie Eilish outfits.

Noah Kahan Welcomed Fans Into His Mind & Heart at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre

“I never feel uglier than when I’m in LA,” Noah Kahan joked to the sold-out crowd at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre on Friday night (Aug. 11), which was immediately met by roaring laughter and assurance from fans.

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Though it’s unlikely that Kahan could ever feel ugly in his sleek white jacket featuring a photo of his beloved German Shepard and his album title Stick Season written across the back, the balance between humor and touching moments encouraging love and healing were prominent throughout the evening.

Shortly after he received a Taylor Swift-themed friendship bracelet from a fan in the front row that read “folkwhore,” the singer ran through fan-favorite and heart-wrenching tracks from his 2022 deluxe album Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), weaved with throwback hits like “False Confidence” and “Maine.”

Looking out into the audience, who showed just how much they love him by belting out every word to every song, Kahan showed his love back before performing “You’re Gonna Go Far,” a song about taking risks. “I know a lot of people here in LA aren’t from LA. They’ve taken big risks in their lives to come here,” he sweetly told the audience. “Remember that the people back home love you and are happy you’re doing well.”

He also showed his love throughout the show by encouraging his fans to go to therapy if it’s accessible to them. “I had all of these dark feelings and thoughts for a lot of my childhood and I just lied about them to my therapist for 10 years and never said anything real,” he recalled. “I was so lucky and privileged to go to therapy, but I still lied because it was scary to confront what I was actually feeling. I know it looks like I’ve been divorced two times, Los Angeles, I look old as s— but I’m only 26 [laughs] When I was 23, I started being honest and telling the truth to my therapist and I started feeling happier for the first time. It was strange for me but it felt good.”

He continued, “The happiest person in here should be in therapy. It could save your life.”

In general, the show was as cathartic and therapeutic as it gets without actually sitting down with a therapist, as fans in the audience were tearing up constantly as they heard songs that resonate with them, a unique quality of Kahan’s music that isn’t as common in the mainstream music scene these days. The swell of emotions all culminated with the set’s final song, “Homesick,” as all 6,000 people in the crowd, who are chasing dreams likely in the city they did not grow up in, came together to sing and feel at home.

Buy tickets for Kahan’s Stick Season tour here, and check out the full set list below.

Noah Kahan Set List:

All My Love
Everywhere, Everything
She Calls Me Back
False Confidence
New Perspective
No Complaints
Growing Sideways
Maine
Your Needs, My Needs
Northern Attitude
Dial Drunk
Call Your Mom (with Lizzy McAlpine)
You’re Gonna Go Far
Orange Juice
Homesick

Encore:
The View Between Villages
Paul Revere
Stick Season (with Joy Oladokun)

The Most Valuable Lesson Clarence Avant Taught Me

Thumbing through the Feb. 11, 2006, issue of Billboard — a 75th birthday tribute to Clarence Avant — brings back many memories.

Like my first encounter with Clarence sometime in 2000. Having heard about this revered gentleman, I happened to find myself standing near him at an industry function. As I timidly introduced myself, he shook my outstretched hand and said politely, “Yes, you work for that ofay [slang for white] publication.” I had no immediate response to that except to laugh (we both did) because he was right. At that time, inclusion and equity — two of Clarence’s lifelong missions — still weren’t climbing to the top of the music industry’s business charts. And Clarence wasn’t afraid to call out bullshit when he saw it.

Or when Clarence saw me having breakfast one morning and summoned me to his table. He relayed how disappointed he was in a major label executive who’d wrongly accused me of always writing negatively about him and his company. He didn’t have to (and I was unaware until he told me), but Clarence took it upon himself to step in, admonish the executive and set things straight … an example of his storied brokering, mentoring and counseling behind the scenes — and never done for public credit.

And when Clarence’s children Nicole and Alex reached out about surprising their father with a birthday salute in Billboard. I watched and listened intently as an unsuspecting Clarence looked back at his life and career — from growing up a humble country boy to becoming the pioneering godfather to the Black music community. During that interview, I saw and felt the unwavering passion, perseverance, dedication, joy and, yes, the cuss-peppered anger and frustration that drove Clarence as he worked across industry aisles advocating for opportunity and parity. 

“I did it because there was no one else out here doing it,” he declared in 2006. “Black folks [in this industry] had never had anybody they could talk to. The white boys would only give up so much information. My doors were open. And I got involved.”

From then on, we’d chat over lunches or periodic just-checking-in phone calls during which the impish raconteur would regale me with colorful stories about the industry and other circles that he traveled in, from philanthropy to politics. And if I needed perspective for a story that I was working on, a generous Clarence would always take my call. 

The last time I saw him was in April at the dedication ceremony for the South Los Angeles facility named after his lovely wife, the Jacqueline Avant Children and Family Center. It was both a joyous and very emotional occasion for the noticeably frailer industry giant. But Clarence still possessed his signature sly, mischievous grin and joking banter. 

I joined the Clarence Avant fan club later than most. However, I’m thankful for the precious times we spent together. And for the key lesson he taught me, which I’ll continue to embrace in his honor: Keep paying it forward.