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17 Aug 2023

Killah Killa: Ghostface & Cam’ron Reminisce On Cam Looking For Ghost In Shaolin

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To see respect being shared between rappers is always good for the culture. Ghostface recently saw Cam’ron and the two reminisced on when Cam went to Shaolin looking for the Wallabee Champ.

As spotted on HipHopDX the Wu-Tang Clan MC was one of the many legends who graced the stage at the memorable Hip-Hop 50 performance at Yankee Stadium earlier this month. While backstage he was told Cam’ron was still in the building after his performance and made to stop by his area. What proceeded was a mutual exchange of flowers being given. A member of Ghostface’s entourage was quick to remind him that Cam’ron once went to Stapleton projects looking for him and two discussed the moment with smiles on their faces.

“I seen that sh*t!” Ghost proclaimed to which Cam’ron responded “a couple n****s was like, Cam don’t go in there, I said I’m going in,” the Purple Haze rapper recollected. “I wanted to see where Ghost lived at!” When Ghostface asked Killa what time did he make the infamous visit Cam replied “Three in the morning.” This is not the first time The Diplomats member has shown his admiration towards Ghost. Back in 2016 he conducted an interview with 88Rising and explained why he is in his top 5. “To me, it’s no filter with Ghostface, he’s not faking what he’s saying to me. Like, I believe everything he says” he said. “When he does an interview or when he talks, I believe what he’s saying.”

You can see their interaction at Yankee Stadium below.



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17 Aug 2023

Paramount Global Walks Away From Deal To Sell Majority Stake To BET Media

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Just when it seemed like BET Media Group was going to pull a major move and purchase a majority stake in Paramount Global, the deal has fallen apart with Paramount deciding to back away from the proposed deal.

According to Variety, the deal that would’ve led to BET owning VH1, BET Studios, and streamer BET+ came to an end Wednesday (Aug. 16) after Paramount Global came to the realization that the sale “wouldn’t result in any meaningful deleveraging of its balance sheet.” With bids up in the $2 billion to $3 billion dollar range, we’re surprised Paramount Global would walk away from such a Godzilla sized bag, but hey, it’s their company and their choice.

Variety reports:

Variety exclusively reported in March that Sean “Diddy” Combs was among the bidders who expressed interested in the majority stake, joining fellow media moguls Tyler Perry and Byron Allen in pursuing the acquisition of the network.

Combs has previously worked with Paramount Global, producing three iterations of MTV’s “Making the Band” between 2002 and 2009. The rapper, record producer and executive is already the owner of network Revolt, which reaches roughly 80 millions households. Back in March, a source close to Combs told Variety that Combs is “exploring the opportunity to purchase BET as a part of his strategy to build a Black-owned global media powerhouse,” which he believes is “better for the business, for the culture and for building wealth in the Black community.”

It really would’ve been interesting to see what Diddy would’ve had in mind had Paramount Global ended up in his hands. Had Tyler Perry taken control, we probably would’ve seen Madea get her own daytime talk show or something. We wouldn’t be mad at such a show either. Just sayin’.

What Paramount Global has in store for it’s future now is anyone’s guess, but don’t be surprised if they end up suddenly selling the majority stake of their company to Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk or something. That’s just how the game goes sometimes.

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17 Aug 2023

Jack Antonoff Says Taylor Swift Is ‘The First Person Who Recognized Me As a Producer’

From Lorde’s Melodrama to Lana Del Rey’s Norman F—ing Rockwell, both of which earned album of the year Grammy nominations, Jack Antonoff’s impact as one of pop music’s most prolific and acclaimed producers in undeniable. On Thursday (Aug. 17), Antonoff discussed the arc of his career, and Taylor Swift’s impact on it, during a conversation on Time‘s Person of the Week podcast.

“She’s the first person who recognized me as a producer. A lot of people are afraid to sign off on something that isn’t done by a proven person. I had written lots of songs and produced them, but they would always sort of go somewhere else,” he said of Swift’s support of his work on 1989‘s “Out of the Woods.” “So the label or whoever could say, oh, we had this person produce it. And, you know, I put my heart and soul into that song and she said, ‘I love it.’”

Swift and Antonoff first collaborated in 2013 on the Golden Globe-nominated song “Sweeter Than Fiction” from the film One Chance. They have since evolved into one of pop music’s most powerful producer-artist duos, working together on the Billboard 200-topping records 1989 (2014), Reputation (2017), Lover (2019), Folklore (2020), Evermore (2020), Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (2021), Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021), Midnights (2022) and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (2023).

Antonoff’s work with Swift as well as St. Vincent, Fun., Lorde, Lana Del Rey, The Chicks, Diana Ross, Florence + the Machine and more has earned him eight Grammys, including two consecutive triumphs in the producer of the year, non-classical category. Last year, “Anti-Hero,” which he crafted alongside Swift, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“I had played her that track, and I remember, we were at my apartment in New York. And sometimes she gets this look in her eye where she’s like, ‘Oh, I’m going in,’” he recounted. “You know, she goes in in many different ways and is just the greatest writer and vocalist ever. But on that one, I just remember watching her and being like, ‘Uh-oh. We’ve got a live one.’” Given that “Anti-Hero” eventually became Swift’s longest-running Hot 100 No. 1 (eight weeks), they certainly did have a “live one.”

With Bleachers, Jack Antonoff has earned three entries on the Billboard 200, reaching as high as No. 11 with 2014’s Strange Desire. On Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, he has charted seven entries, including his sole top 10 hit “I Wanna Get Better” (No. 10).

17 Aug 2023

Hurry! Dua Lipa’s Puma Sneakers Are Currently 50% Off on Amazon: Shop Here

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Besides dropping Hot 100 chart-topping hits, Dua Lipa has been busy in the fashion scene with everything from a collection with Versace to a previous collaboration with Puma. She also hopped on the Barbiecore fashion trend — especially while promoting the Barbie movie that she contributes a song too and cameos in. That means, if you’re a fan of the 27-year-old singer’s style, there are plenty of opportunities to snag pieces approved by the “Dance the Night” singer.

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Rather than drop hundreds of dollars on designer brands, you can save money and infuse some of the singer’s style into your own as select pieces from Lipa’s Puma collaboration are on sale. — including a pair of Puma sneakers that are 50% off on Amazon.

These shoes come with a platform bottom that will elevate your outfit both in height and chicness. Since the pair comes in a basic, everyday look, they’ll easily replace your casual sneakers, which will allow you to channel the artist every time you tie them up.

Keep reading to shop the Amazon deal below.

black platform sneakers with speckled shoelaces

Amazon

Puma Mayze Flutur Dua Lipa Lace Up Sneakers

$54.95 $110.00 50% OFF

The Puma Mayze Flutur Dua Lipa sneakers not only come with a wallet-friendly $55 price tag, but features a trendy chunky midsole you can pair with everything from you jeans, trousers, dresses and more. Unlike a slip-on style, you can tie up the shoes for a more customized and snug fit. Plus, as an added bonus, the shoes come branded with the collaboration’s exclusive logo. One reviewer even praised the sneakers commenting on how much they “love the style and the smooth black color.”

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best belly chains, crochet bikinis and Billie Eilish outfits.

17 Aug 2023

YOASOBI’s ‘Idol’ Tops Japan Hot 100 for 18th Week, Tatsuya Kitani’s ‘Where Our Blue Is’ Rises to No. 2

YOASOBI’s “Idol” extends its record-breaking streak at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 on the chart dated Aug. 16, now at 18 consecutive weeks atop the tally.

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Ayase and ikura of YOASOBI are keeping themselves busy performing at a different music festival each weekend this month — after returning from performing at 88rising’s Head in the Clouds in Los Angeles, the pair took the stage at the Rock in Japan Festival on Aug. 13 as the headlining act closing out the five-day event, and are set to headline Summer Sonic on Saturday (Aug. 19) as the last act to hit the Mountain Stage.

“Idol” continues to rule downloads, streaming, video views and karaoke although it’s on the decline in terms of overall points. The Oshi no Ko opener slips 17-24 for radio but total points add up to around 1.7 times the track at No. 2 on the Japan Hot 100.

Tatsuya Kitani’s “Where Our Blue Is” climbs 4-2 this week after the rising singer-songwriter performed the Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 opener at Rock in Japan on Aug. 10. The track holds at No. 3 for downloads with 10,149 units and rises 3-2 for streaming with 9,982,812 weekly streams. The song is faring well in all but radio this week: staying at No. 38 for physical sales, rising 8-6 for video, 74-62 for karaoke, falling 27-32 for radio.

Jung Kook’s “Seven” featuring Latto continues to hold at No. 3. The track falls 14-17 for downloads with 2,940 units, 2-3 for streaming with 9,808,590 streams, 9-16 for radio, and holds at No. 3 for video.

Two songs debut in the top 10 this week. Kanjani Eight’s “Okami to Suisei” (Wolf and the Comet) bows at No. 4, selling 150,848 copies in its first week after dropping Aug. 9. Meychan’s “Enjoy,” written by Yuzu’s Yujin Kitagawa, launches at No. 6 after hitting No. 4 for streaming with 9,025,257 streams, boosted by an online event and a campaign to win autographs and other prizes.



The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.

See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from Aug. 7 to 13, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English Twitter account.

17 Aug 2023

Oliver Anthony Introduces Himself Amid ‘Rich Men North Of Richmond’ Success

Virginia country singer Oliver Anthony, a former factory worker, has gone unexpectedly viral thanks to his song “Rich Men North of Richmond,” and on Thursday (Aug. 17) he took to Facebook to introduce himself to his new fanbase.

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“I’m sitting in such a weird place in my life right now,” he wrote, noting that he received “50,000+ messages and emails” recently with people sharing heartbreaking stories. “I never wanted to be a full time musician, much less sit at the top of the iTunes charts. Draven from RadioWv and I filmed these tunes on my land with the hope that it may hit 300k views. I still don’t quite believe what has went on since we uploaded that. It’s just strange to me.”

He continued, “People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off 8 million dollar offers. I don’t want 6 tour buses, 15 tractor trailers and a jet. I don’t want to play stadium shows, I don’t want to be in the spotlight. I wrote the music I wrote because I was suffering with mental health and depression. These songs have connected with millions of people on such a deep level because they’re being sung by someone feeling the words in the very moment they were being sung. No editing, no agent, no bulls—. Just some idiot and his guitar. The style of music that we should have never gotten away from in the first place.”

The singer then ran down his biography, sharing that his name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford, but the stage name Oliver Anthony is in honor of his late grandfather and “1930’s Appalachia where he was born and raised.” He dropped out of high school at age 17, but went on to earn his GED. He worked multiple jobs before suffering a fractured skull after a “bad fall” in 2013, which led him to move back to his home state of Virginia. “There’s nothing special about me. I’m not a good musician, I’m not a very good person,” he wrote. “I’ve spent the last 5 years struggling with mental health and using alcohol to drown it. I am sad to see the world in the state it’s in, with everyone fighting with each other. I have spent many nights feeling hopeless, that the greatest country on Earth is quickly fading away.”

He then opened up about his feelings surrounding the divisive nature of the Internet and reclaiming freedom. “When are we going to fight for what is right again? MILLIONS have died protecting the liberties we have. Freedom of speech is such a precious gift. Never in world history has the world had the freedom it currently does. Don’t let them take it away from you,” he concluded. “Just like those once wandering in the desert, we have lost our way from God and have let false idols distract us and divide us. It’s a damn shame.”

Read his full post here.

The now-viral video of Anthony, posted by radiowv, shows the singer offering an acoustic performance of “Rich Men North of Richmond,” vocalizing the pain and angst of the working class at the hands of greedy rich men. The song takes on high taxes, abuse of welfare and selfish politicians.

Watch it below.

17 Aug 2023

Who Is Your Favorite Rock Lead Singer of All Time? Vote!

The Beatles’ Paul McCartney, Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de la Rocha, Paramore’s Hayley Williams and more: Rock and roll lore often states that a band is only as good as its drummer, but a rock band is only as successful as its lead singer.

This week, Billboard ranked the 50 Greatest Rock Lead Singers of All Time — spanning classic rock and alternative to grunge, punk and everything in between — to rank the most talented and formidable forces within the field, dating back to the 1960s. But which rock lead singer is your favorite?

Singers from ’60s bands take up a lot of real estate on the list, with The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, The Doors’ Jim Morrison, Big Brother and the Holding Company’s Janis Joplin and more all securing spots on the list. The genre soon began to fan outwards by the 1970s, with Lou Reed leading The Velvet Underground, Poly Styrene for X-Ray Spex, Chrissy Hynde for The Pretenders and The Stooges’ Iggy Pop.

And yes, vocalists from more modern bands have made the cut too, with Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, The White Stripes’ Jack White and more earning a spot on the list.

But which rock lead singer is your all-time favorite? While having to decide on just one singer is a difficult task, vote in our poll below to see who is your No. 1 rock lead singer of all time. (Revisit the ranked list here.)

17 Aug 2023

‘Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie’: How to Watch the New ‘Peanuts’ Special on Apple TV+

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With the success of Apple TV+’s revival of Peanuts’ The Snoopy Show and the brand’s collaboration with Cariuma, the streamer is treating us with a new special. This time, instead of following Snoopy and/or Charlie Brown, Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie will spotlight someone we normally don’t get an inside look at: Marcie. Mark your calendars and get the popcorn ready as the movie will drop on Friday (Aug. 18) on Apple TV+.

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As an introvert, Marcie (voiced by Arianna McDonald) enjoys her solitude, but struggles to share her ideas and advice with friends and peers without landing in the spotlight. In the midst of school elections, Marcie discovers how to feel empowered and find the courage to do things her way, and not what her friends want from her.

Other cast voicing the iconic Peanuts characters include Lexi Perri, Etienne Kellici, Antonia Battrick, Isabella Leo, Wyatt White, Caleb Bellavance and Lucien Duncan-Reid.

Keep reading to learn your streaming options to watch the new movie online for free.

When & How to Watch Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie

The new Peanuts special will air on Friday (Aug. 18) exclusively on Apple TV+. If you’re already subscribed to the streamer, then you can watch the movie for no additional cost — just sign into your Apple account to gain access.

Not subscribed? Apple TV+ is $6.99/month after a one-week free trial. If you’re looking for additional ways to save money, you can get three months free with the purchase of an eligible Apple device or a free month trial when you sign up for Apple One, which bundles Apple TV+ with up to five other services.

Apple TV+

$6.99/month after 7-day free trial

Besides Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie, an Apple TV+ subscription will provide you access to the full library of Apple TV+’s original movies, TV series, sports and more. Programs you can look forward to include The Afterparty, The Crowded Room, Ted Lasso, Platonic, The Last Thing He Told Me, Silo, Severance, High Desert, Shrinking, The Big Door Prize, Bad Sisters, Schmigadoon!, The Problem with John Stewart, The Morning Show, Ghosted, Still, Tetris, Palmer and more.

You can also stream Apple TV+ on the Apple TV app, your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and popular smart TVs including Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, Toshiba and others, along with Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV. Apple TV+ is available on PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles as well.

Check below to watch the trailer for Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie.

17 Aug 2023

Britney Spears’ Husband Sam Asghari Files for Divorce

Britney Spears‘ husband Sam Asghari has officially filed for divorce, according to documents obtained by Billboard.

The divorce filing, which was submitted on Wednesday (Aug. 16) in Los Angeles Superior Court, notes that the couple separated on July 28, with Asghari citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for divorce. He also seeks spousal support from Spears. Billboard reached out to Spears’ rep for more information, but did not receive a response at press time. Her lawyer, Matthew Rosengart, declined to comment.

The “Piece of Me” singer and Asghari began dating after they met on the set of Spears’ 2016 “Slumber Party” music video. The couple got engaged in September 2021, and soon tied the knot in a stunning, star-studded Los Angeles wedding ceremony in June 2022. Just a month before their wedding, Spears revealed that she suffered a pregnancy loss.

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Rumors of marital trouble began swirling back earlier this year, when Asghari was seen in March without his wedding ring. His rep told People, however, that he removed it because he was filming a movie. Spears last posted Asghari on her Instagram page earlier this summer, sharing a series of smiling selfies with her husband captioned with a red shoe emoji.

Spears and Asghari have yet to speak out publicly about the divorce, but the pop superstar took to Instagram on Wednesday night amid reports of the couple’s separation to reveal that she is hoping to “soon” buy a horse. “So many options it’s kinda hard,” she wrote. “A horse called Sophie and another called Roar. I can’t make up my mind. Should I join the camaraderie and put a pink cowboy hat on. Either way I think I found my sweet spot with Roar.”

17 Aug 2023

Sophie Turner Trolls Joe Jonas With Taylor Swift Friendship Bracelet: ‘Mr. Perfectly Fine’

Sophie Turner is married to Mr. Perfectly Fine, and proud of it.

Based on a recent Instagram post, the 27-year-old actress seems to have found a subtle way of trolling husband Joe Jonas about his superstar ex-girlfriend, Taylor Swift, while also supporting him on his big day. Sharing photos from the Jonas Brothers’ recent concert at Yankee Stadium — the trio’s first stop on their world tour — Turner showed off her wristful of friendship bracelets complementing her sparkly green dress, one of them reading, “Mr. Perfectly Fine.”

Turner wearing the bracelets in the first place is a subtle tribute to her Swiftiedom; as those who’ve attended an Eras Tour show this summer can attest, the “Anti-Hero” singer has inspired quite the renaissance of handmade beaded friendship bracelets. But “Mr. Perfectly Fine” is a direct jab at Turner’s rockstar husband — with whom she shares two daughters — as he’s widely believed to be the subject of Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version) Vault track of the same name.

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The Game of Thrones alum has previously shared her love for the song, which Swift originally wrote in the late 2000s but didn’t drop until 2021. “It’s not NOT a bop,” Turner wrote on Instagram upon its release, to which Swift responded: “forever bending the knee for the [queen] of the north.”

And while “Mr. Perfectly Fine” didn’t paint her ex in the most flattering way, it’s safe to say that Swift is on good terms with Jonas. The DNCE frontman and Turner have both praised Swift’s music several times — “1989 is a great album,” they agreed in a couple’s TikTok live last year — and in 2019, Swift apologized for putting Jonas “on blast” on The Ellen Show back in 2008.

Plus, as recently as May this year, Joe said this: “I’m cool with Taylor. We’re cool,” adding he hopes her fans like him. “No one f—s with the Swifties, you know?” 

Check out Turner’s full Instagram post below: