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JIN covered a lot of ground during his appearance on The Tonight Show Wednesday (May 21), from opening up about BTS‘ upcoming reunion to trying out his skills as a late-night host and chatting about … butts.
During one of the more serious moments from his interview with host Jimmy Fallon, the K-pop star reflected on his feelings about bandmates RM, Suga, V, Jimin and Jung Kook approaching the end of their respective military enlistments in South Korea, after which ARMY is expecting the guys to resume full-band activities as early as June. JIN completed his service in June 2024, while J-Hope finished in October.
“It was great to be alone,” said JIN, who released two solo EPs, Happy and Echo, during the band’s time apart. “But when they come back, since they worked very hard, I’m going to honor them and give them great respect.”
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“They are my lifesavers, so I need to show my appreciation and take care of them,” he added of his bandmates as fans in the audience went “Awwww.”
The remaining band members will be discharged in June, allowing all seven of the Bangtan Boys free to regroup for the first time since JIN enlisted in December 2022. BTS hasn’t released a proper studio album since 2020’s Be, which topped the Billboard 200.
Elsewhere in his conversation with the Saturday Night Live alum, JIN talked about his love for Tom Cruise, working on new EP Echo and gearing up to embark on his upcoming solo tour. One of the silliest moments, however, came as the performer switched places with Fallon, testing out his hosting capabilities behind the famous Tonight Show desk. “Thank you for coming to my show!” JIN quipped as Fallon laughed. “I am a superstar.”
JIN went on to pose a very important question to his “guest.” “Do you think we have one butt or two?” he asked a perplexed Fallon, who eventually answered that humans have just one butt.
“One? No!” the “Running Wild” singer hilariously replied, standing up from his seat before gesturing to his own tush in demonstration. “It’s left leg and right leg, and left, right — two!”
Also on the show, JIN performed “Don’t Say You Love Me,” transforming the show’s stage into a giant bed. In conversation with Fallon, he revealed that the track is about the tough feeling of knowing you need to break up with someone, but not having the heart to do it.
Watch JIN’s full Tonight Show interview above.
When Ye (formerly Kanye West) shared his “Alive” collaboration with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, which samples Playboi Carti’s “Crank,” to his Instagram on Wednesday (May 21), many thought it signaled a truce between West and the Opium frontman, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Shortly after the embattled rapper shared “Alive,” Carti dropped his version with YoungBoy and fired at Ye with his caption, claiming ownership of the track. “DIS MY SONG LIL BRA @ye,” he wrote in the since-deleted post.
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Billboard has reached out to the “Stronger” rapper’s camp for comment.
It’s unclear who had the track first, but streamer Sneako, who has been with Ye over the last month or so in Spain, claimed that it’s Yeezy’s and he made the beat for the track, which sounds like a sister of the blaring “New Slaves” from West’s Yeezus album.
“Ye made the beat, clearly,” claimed Sneako. “If you listen to Carti’s version, it’s not good.”
Ye — who has been criticized for his repeated hate speech the last few years — ended up releasing “Alive” on Apple Music on Thursday morning (May 22), while Carti and YoungBoy have remained quiet. It’s unclear whether Carti will take action, since “Alive” samples DJ Swamp Izzo’s version of “Alive,” which is featured as part of Playboi Carti’s “Crank” track.
Carti moved on quickly Wednesday and leaked another song titled “Some More” on Instagram, but that post was also deleted. YoungBoy even shared a solo track called “Finest,” so it ended up being a great day for hip-hop fans of the three artists.
There have been instances where Ye has had issues with sample clearances in the past, as tracks from his Vultures album were removed due to unauthorized use, including “Good (Don’t Die)” for a Donna Summers sample.
Yeezy and Playboi Carti’s relationship soured earlier this year when the Atlanta rapper left Ye off his Music album and opted to invite guests including Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar into the fold.
“I DECIDED NORTH WONT BE DOING ANY SONGS WITH CARTI HOW IT LOOK FOR ME TO GET LEFT OFF THE ALBUM AND THEN HE ASK KIM TO HAVE VOCALS FROM MY DAUGHTER,” Ye wrote to X in March.
Carti’s response to that? “YE STFU.”
Annie Knight, an OnlyFans star who is known for sleeping with several partners at a time via her content, recently slept with 583 men. Annie Knight later shared that she had to be hospitalized after the marathon sex session, but it doesn’t appear she has any regrets.
Annie Knight, 28, is billed as “Australia’s most sexually active woman” and has promoted her career with a sense of boldness and pride. Speaking exclusively with Us Weekly, Knight did say that despite the pain she’s feeling, she’s hoping to get back to herself very soon.
“I’m not doing very well, I’ve been bleeding a lot since the challenge,” Knight said to Us Weekly, adding that she has the condition endometriosis. “It was definitely a bit raw down there and I did get a small cut.”
Knight told the outlet that despite the high number of participants, the challenge itself wasn’t difficult at all for her.
“Doing 583 in a day is quite a lot so I was a little bit worried that I was gonna really struggle with it, because the most I’ve done before that was 24 in a day,” Knight added. Over 2,000 men signed up for the May 18 event and only expected around 200 men to appear. When the number was more than double that, Knight said she was excited to take on the challenge even more.
Knight’s chosen profession certainly has its fair share of critics, and some had choice words for the men who signed up for the act. Knight took up the mantle to defend her male participants.
“People seem to, like, get so uptight about it. At the end of the day, these men just want to have sex. God forbid, a man has sex. And I’m providing a service for free,” Knight said. “It really upsets me when I see people coming after the guys and being so mean about the guys that showed up, because I feel quite protective of them, and so when I see all these negative comments toward them, it really, like, upsets me.”
Knight posted another video saying that she could’ve done 100 more men and that the post-recovery discomfort was the only thing she was dealing with.
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Photo: Instagram / @AnnieKnight
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Rob49 has spoken about the negative reception Justin Bieber‘s verse got on his “WTHelly” remix, and tells Billboard he doesn’t know if he’s gonna drop it.
The New Orleans rapper speaks about his new album, Let Me Fly, and touches on the divisive reception he got after teasing an unreleased remix of “WTHelly” featuring Biebs. After teasing the song on a Twitch livestream with the streamer Reggie, fans were quick to clown the pop star for trying to turn a lighthearted track into a soulful ballad. Rob said after speaking with Justin, he doesn’t know if he’ll officially release it to the public.
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“I talked to Justin a couple of days ago and he was telling me he wanted to do some more songs, so I don’t know,” Rob says when when discussing whether he’ll drop off the remix. “It’s funny, when he first did it he was like, ‘What you think? You think I can go harder?’ I told him like, ‘Man, I love it bro, if you feel comfortable about it, if you like it, then I love it.’ You know? I just told him, ‘If you like it you like it.”
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When asked about whether he was surprised the verse was so divisive, Rob shares, “No, not really. I knew it was a possibility because, it was the same way when he asked me, ‘Do you think I can go harder?’”
Rob admits that he knew the singing aspect of Bieber’s verse would turn some heads, and said that’s just how it goes when trying to make a hit record.
“You just never know what it’s gonna be, and fans don’t understand that all the time,” he says. “That you don’t know what a hit is! Like it just kinda happens. Some people might’ve been like, ‘Oh my god he sung!’ and if it would have been a hit, it would have been a crazy banger. That be the difference between songs.”
However, Rob says other “WTHelly” remixes will soon see the light of day, and that the G Herbo revamp will be the first to arrive.
“I was gonna drop the [remix] with [G Herbo] first and add it to the album, but we wound up doing it too late,” Rob says of why it wasn’t on Let Me Fly. “So it might come out the next day on the album, then we’re just gonna go from there with it.”
Let Me Fly drops Friday (May 23) and includes features from Birdman, Meek Mill, Sexyy Red, Quavo, Polo G and Fridayy.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Tired of the regular ol’ vodka-smelling hand sanitizer? Disney and Touchland have you covered. The two brands have teamed up for […]
After a blockbuster 2024, PlaqueBoyMax has announced he’s signing to Captiol Records and Field Trip Recordings. The streaming star made the announcement on Thursday (May 22), with the producer capping off an insane year after emerging in 2024 with his Twitch series In The Booth and Song Wars. He dropped off his debut EP 5$TAR […]
Megan Thee Stallion’s legal team released a detailed report Thursday blasting claims from Tory Lanez’s supporters about new evidence that will exonerate him, calling them as “false narratives” from “foolish bullies.”
The report came after Lanez’s legal team claimed they had uncovered new evidence that would prove he did not shoot Megan in 2020, a crime for which he was convicted in 2022 and is currently serving a 10-year sentence.
In the 31-page document, Megan’s attorneys said claims of a new witness were “unsworn rumors being spread as fact” and that Ring camera footage of the 2020 shooting – purported to be new evidence of Lanez’s innocence – was already played at his trial.
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“Despite Mr. Lanez being convicted at trial by overwhelming evidence (that included his own admission of his guilt), he and his team – flanked by any ignorant person they can find – have pushed whatever misleading narrative they can,” said Alex Spiro, Megan’s longtime attorney.
“One by one, their misleading statements unravel and all that is left is the simple truth: he was convicted by overwhelming evidence and those who seek to traumatize the victim of the crime should be called out as foolish bullies,” Spiro added.
The new response echo Megan’s own statement on the claims. In a social media post Tuesday, the superstar said that “FACTS ARE FACTS” and that the case was already decided in court: “TORY PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE you are a f–king demon.” SZA has also expressed support for Megan, saying Wednesday that she was “shocked” by statements supporting Lanez.
Lanez was convicted in December 2022 on three felony counts for shooting Megan in July 2020 during an argument following a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s house in the Hollywood Hills. In August 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He has filed an appeal of that verdict, which remains pending.
Last week, Lanez’s legal team from the group Unite The People held a press conference claiming they had new evidence in the case. They argued that Bradley James, a bodyguard of Pete’s former friend Kelsey Harris, had overheard Harris say that she fired the gun – the central defense argument advanced by Lanez’s team during his trial.
Then earlier this week, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-R) called for the singer to be pardoned, claiming there was new “compelling evidence” that would exonerate him. In a later interview, Luna cited surveillance footage that she said corroborated James’ account.
But in Thursday’s report, Megan’s team said both of those claims were false. They noted that James was “not present at the scene of the crime” and had never spoken publicly about the case, in court or otherwise.
“James has not publicly addressed these claims himself — Peterson’s team merely alleges what James said,” Spiro and the other lawyers write. “Despite being cited as a key source, James failed to appear at the press conference to support these allegations.”
As for the surveillance footage, they argued that was nothing new: “There is no new Ring camera footage,” Megan’s lawyers write. “The Ring camera footage was previously admitted as evidence during Lanez’s trial, it was played for the jury, and the footage captured the sound of 5 gunshots.”
They also say other claims from Lanez’s supporters – including longstanding suggestions that DNA evidence calls his guilt into question – are also false: “When the firearm was tested by DNA experts, testing established that there was a 90% chance that the DNA found came from a man.”
A representative for Unite The People did not immediately return a request for comment. Lanez’s appeal of his verdict, lodged with California’s 2nd Appellate District, has been fully briefed since October but has not yet been argued before the court.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Since 2023, Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Yachty has partnered with sports apparel company Nike on a line of signature sneakers. And now, […]
Billboard’s Dance Moves roundup serves as a guide to the biggest movers and shakers across Billboard’s many dance charts — new No. 1s, new top 10s, first-timers and more.
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This week, on charts dated May 24, Mau P, Zach Martino, Calvin Harris and others achieve new feats. Check out key movers below.
Mau P
Mau P earns his first-ever No. 1 on a Billboard chart this week, as his remix of Tame Impala’s “The Less I Know the Better” jumps 5-1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. Released in February via Nervous Records, the song hits No. 1 with a 31% surge in plays among 24/7 dance reporters and pop stations’ mix show hours, according to Luminate.
The remix reimagines Tame Impala’s 2015 psych-pop staple from its album Currents, which ruled the Top Alternative Albums and reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The original track was a fan favorite, reaching No. 35 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and No. 37 on Alternative Airplay.
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Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, credited as the sole writer, collects his third No. 1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay, following two smashes with Dua Lipa in 2024: “Houdini” (four weeks at No. 1) and “Illusion” (five weeks). He also reached the chart as a writer on Lady Gaga’s “Perfect Illusion” in 2016 (No. 28 peak).
As for Mau P (also known as Maurice West), the Amsterdam-born DJ scores his first No. 1. He previously appeared on Dance/Mix Show Airplay with “Drugs From Amsterdam” (No. 16 peak; 2023) and “On Again” (No. 24; 2024). He’s also charted four entries on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: “Drugs From Amsterdam” (No. 25), “Gimme That Bounce” (No. 35; 2023), “Receipts,” with Diplo featuring Gunna (No. 24; 2024), and “The Less I Know the Better” (No. 14).
Mau P has been active in the house and techno worlds for nearly a decade. He’s collaborated with other dance heavyweights, including Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris and Armand van Helden.
Zack Martino, JAYEM & Aviella
Zack Martino, JAYEM and Aviella debut on this week’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart with their collaborative single, “Afterlove.” Released in December on Liftoff Recordings, the song arrives at No. 31, earning the week’s highest debut, with a 32% spike in plays.
The song earns Martino his fifth career chart entry, and first since 2020’s “Something About You,” featuring Kifi (No. 33 peak). He first cracked the chart in 2018 with “Hold On to Me,” which climbed to No. 3.
“Afterlove” is also a milestone for New York City-based DJ JAYEM (real name Justin Mondello), as the song marks his first-ever appearance on Billboard’s charts. “[Charting on Billboard has been] a dream of mine I’ve been longing to achieve ever since I started producing music,” he shared in a post on Instagram. “It’s an honor to be on such a prestigious chart alongside artist[s] I’ve looked up to my whole career.”
For Aviella, the song earns the singer-songwriter her fourth career entry on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. She topped the chart with her debut hit in 2021, “Tell Me What You’re Thinking.”
Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas
Calvin Harris’ “Blessings,” featuring Clementine Douglas, debuts at No. 3 on the latest Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, marking the highest debut of the week. It opens with 2.9 million U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads sold earned in its opening week (May 9-15).
The song earns Calvin Harris his 54th career entry on the chart, and 25th top 10 — the third-most in the chart’s history after David Guetta and Kygo (27 each). It’s also his record-extending 14th top five hit.
As for Douglas, the song is her third career entry on the chart, after “Miracle Maker” with Dom Dolla (No. 35 peak; 2022), and “Asking” with Sonny Fodera and MK (No. 44; 2023).
PinkPantheress
PinkPantheress’ new mixtape Fancy That, released via 300/AG, debuts at No. 4 on the latest Top Dance Albums chart with 14,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week (May 9-15). It also opens at No. 72 on the Billboard 200 and No. 21 on Vinyl Albums.
PinkPantheress has charted two other albums on Billboard’s charts, but neither appeared on Billboard’s dance rankings: To Hell With It reached No. 73 on the Billboard 200 in 2021 and Heaven Knows peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard 200 in 2023.
Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke
The duo’s new electronic/ambient project, Tall Tales, debuts at No. 14 on the Top Dance Albums chart with 4,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week.
The album earns Pritchard his second career entry on Top Dance Albums, after his solo album Under the Sun in 2016 (No. 15 peak). It’s Yorke’s fourth entry, after The Eraser Rmxs (No. 13; 2009), Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes (No. 13; 2015) and Anima (No. 1; 2019).
Billboard’s Producer Spotlight series highlights creatives currently charting on Billboard’s producer rankings. Whether they are new to the industry or have been churning out hit after hit, the intention is to showcase where they are now, and their work that’s having a chart impact.
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Longtime hard rock producer Carl Bown scores a career milestone on Billboard’s latest charts (dated May 24), thanks to his work on Sleep Token’s breakout album, Even in Arcadia.
The band reaches unprecedented heights this week, as the album debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 127,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in its first week, according to Luminate. Concurrently, all 10 tracks from the album land on the Billboard Hot 100, making Sleep Token the first hard rock act in history to chart as many as 10 songs simultaneously in a single week.
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Here’s a full breakdown of Sleep Token’s entries on the Hot 100:
No. 56, “Dangerous” (debut)
No. 57, “Caramel” (re-entry; peaked at No. 34)
No. 58, “Emergence” (re-entry; peaked at No. 57)
No. 61, “Even in Arcadia” (debut)
No. 66, “Look to Windward” (debut)
No. 70, “Past Self” (debut)
No. 72, “Damocles” (re-entry; peaked at No. 47)
No. 75, “Gethsemane” (debut)
No. 77, “Provider” (debut)
No. 100, “Infinite Baths” (debut)
Bown is credited as the sole producer on all 10 tracks, propelling him to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Producers chart for the first time in his career. He also claims the top spot on Rock Producers, Alternative Producers, Hard Rock Producers, and Rock & Alternative Producers.
Bown, a veteran of the U.K. hard rock scene, has been a go-to producer for many of the genre’s biggest names. He’s also worked with Bullet for My Valentine, Bring Me the Horizon, While She Sleeps, Gunship, Pendulum and Trivium, among others.
Before teaming up with Sleep Token, Bown had only appeared on Billboard’s song charts with four singles by Bullet for My Valentine:
“You Want a Battle? (Here’s a War)”: No. 37 on Mainstream Rock Airplay, No. 46 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2015)
“Don’t Need You”: No. 49 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2016)
“Knives”: No. 16 on Hot Hard Rock Songs, No. 39 Mainstream Rock Airplay (2021)
“Shatter”: No. 24 on Hot Hard Rock Songs (2021)
Based in Manchester, U.K., Bown is also the founder and owner of Treehouse Studios in Chesterfield, a popular recording hub for many of the records he’s helmed.
Meanwhile, two of Sleep Token’s members, Vessel I and Vessel II, also achieve a notable feat. They rank at Nos. 1 and 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songwriters chart, respectively. Known for their anonymity, the cloaked and masked artists have remained publicly unidentified. Vessel I is credited as a writer on all 10 of the band’s Hot 100 entries, while Vessel II is credited on eight.
Billboard launched its songwriters and producers charts in June 2019, including those for individual genres. The charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on their respective “Hot” or “Top” chart. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).
The full Songwriters and Producers charts, plus those for other genres, can be found on Billboard.com.
