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11 Aug 2023

Tyrese Gibson Sues Home Depot Over Alleged Racial Profiling

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Tyrese Gibson has filed a lawsuit against Home Depot, claiming that he and his employees were racially profiled in one of their stores.

The Fast & Furious franchise actor filed the lawsuit on Wednesday (Aug. 9) in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to Fox LA. Eric Mora and Manual Hernandez, two construction laborers who work for the actor, are also named as plaintiffs in the civil rights lawsuit. In the filing, Gibson accuses Home Depot of negligent supervision, hiring and retention while seeking $1 million in compensatory damages in addition to punitive damages.

The alleged incident took place Feb. 11 at a Home Depot store location in the West Hills neighborhood. The 44-year-old, not wanting to cause a commotion, sent Mora and Hernandez in with his credit card to pay for selected items while he went to his car. He returned to the store when he learned that the cashier refused to complete the transaction, who “gave no reasonable explanation other than repeating store policy and demanded to see a form of identification,” according to the suit. The manager declined to speak to Gibson, and the transaction was finally completed only after a heated confrontation.

Gibson, as “one of the most recognizable Black actors and musicians in the United States, and his associates … experienced outrageous discriminatory mistreatment and consumer racial profiling first-hand inside the Home Depot retail store in West Hills,” the suit stated. “The company needs to understand that there are consequences for discriminatory mistreatment and consumer racial profiling.”

A spokesperson for Home Depot issued a statement shortly after news of the lawsuit emerged. “Diversity and respect for all people are core to who we are, and we do not tolerate discrimination in any form,” it began. “We value Mr. Gibson as a customer, and in the months since this happened, we’ve reached out to him and his attorneys several times to try to resolve his concerns. We will continue to do so.”

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11 Aug 2023

60 People Injured At Travis Scott Concert In Rome’s Circus Maximus: Report

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Earlier this week Travis Scott shocked his Roman fans when he brought out Kanye West to perform alongside him at Rome’s Circus Maximus near the famed Colosseum. Unfortunately, the surprise did lead to some injuries as the crowd went too wild and hurt others while turning up.

TMZ is reporting that things were all good during the Monday (Aug. 7), show until someone in the crowd decided to spray pepper spray into the crowd, which led to some 60 people requiring medical attention including a 14-year-old who fell off a wall.

From TMZ:

During the unrest, Romans reportedly inundated the local fire department with calls about a possible earthquake writing on social media, “Anyone feel an earthquake?” But all the shaking residents were feeling was not from a natural disaster … rather, it was coming from the multitude of fans jumping around at Travis’ concert when Kanye West made a surprise appearance onstage and started rapping with his longtime friend.As a result, Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum Archeological Park, has now called for the end of concerts at Circus Maximus with the exception of operas and balletsRusso told CNN … “The Circus Maximus is a monument. It is not a stadium, not a concert hall. These mega rock concerts put it at risk.”

We can’t lie, we’re surprised authorities let Travis Scott rock at such an ancient site. This isn’t a good look for the rapper, who’s planning on doing the same at the Giza Pyramids as well. That show might never happen given what went down in Rome.

On the “bright side,” at least they’re not accusing Scott of holding another satanic ritual with this incident. Just sayin’.

What do y’all think? Are Travis Scott concerts too lit for his fans? Let us know in the comments section below.

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11 Aug 2023

Rauw Alejandro, Karol G & More: What’s Your Favorite New Latin Music Release? Vote!

This week, our New Music Latin roundup — a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums, and videos recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — is powered by new music from Rauw Alejandro, Karol G, and Trueno, to name a few. 

Karol G dropped her new album Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), a set that’s not considered a deluxe or remix album but rather includes 10 fresh tracks. Re-entering her Bichota Era, this time with light-pink hair, Karol G delivers songs about overcoming adversities, self-confidence, being over her ex, and believing in love again. 

She navigates from hard-hitting perreos (“Gatita Gangster”) to chill reggae beats (“Me Tengo Que Ir”) to her first-ever cumbia song (“Mi Ex Tenía Razón”), inspired by Selena Quintanilla, and reeled in some impressive collaborators, such as Peso Pluma and Young Miko, to name a few.

While Karol G is celebrating life and love, Rauw Alejandro is heartbroken in his new track “Hayama Hana by Raúl.”

In the ballad set over weeping keyboards, Rauw not only opens up about his recent breakup from Rosalía but also pens an honest love letter. “What will come next? I don’t know/ But I know that for you it will be all the Grammys, hey/ They will study your art over time/ When they plan, I know that they always take you as an example,” he sings. “I’ll finish our little house in case you feel like coming back/ Today I stop writing to you, not loving you.” 

Other notable releases this week include Banda MS and Yahritza y Su Esencia’s first collaborative effort in “Solo Que Lo Dudes,” Luis R. Conriquez’s attempt at reggaeton music in “Botelleo,” and Trueno’s “TRANKY FUNKY,” among others.

Last week, Feid’s “Vente Conmigo” won the reader poll with over 44 percent of the votes. What’s your favorite new Latin music release of the week? Vote below! 

11 Aug 2023

Myke Towers’ ‘Lala’ Rules Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Chart

Myke Towers captures his third No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart as his latest single, “Lala,” rises 2-1 to lead the Aug. 5-dated ranking. It’s his first champ since “Bandido” ruled for seven weeks in 2021. Since then, the Puerto Rican artist has placed two other No. 2-peaking songs: “Ella No Es Tuya,” with Rochy RD and Nicki Nicole, and “Pareja del Año,” with Sebastián Yatra, during the same year. 

“Lala” ejects “Los Del Espacio” by LIT Killah, Tiago Pzk, Duki, Emilia, Rusherking, Big One and FMK from the lead, with a 1-3 dip, after its seven-week command. 

Meanwhile, Maria Becerra’s “Corazón vacío” rebounds 3-2 after its one week in charge (July 22-dated list). 

A new top 10 arrives this week: Big One, Ulises Bueno and Rusherking’s “Mentiras | CROSSOVER #3” rallies 71-7 in its second week. With a 64-place climb, the song scores the Greatest Gainer honors and concurrently earns Bueno his first top 10 on his second try.

The Hot Shot Debut of the week goes to El Jordan 23 and Ugly Duck who both score their first entry with “Cabaña” at No. 58.

11 Aug 2023

Missy Elliott Recalls Walking to a Gas Station in Inflatable Suit From ‘The Rain’ Video: ‘We Was On a Budget’

Missy Elliott took a moment to reflect on one of her most iconic videos, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” this week, revealing that she encountered a bit of a mishap after the inflatable suit she wore in the video was blown up to its large size.

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“Fun fact I had to go to a gas station in Brooklyn NY to get air in this blow up suit & the suit blew up so big I couldn’t fit in the car so I had to walk back to set down the street in this outfit in BROOKLYN,” Elliott wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in response to Rolling Stone ranking the clip at No. 1 on the list of the 150 best hip-hop videos of all time. “Dem ppl was riding pass like she must be high.”

Elliott shared some behind-the-scenes footage from the video set, which showed her — with help from her team — trying to make a quick dash wearing the shiny black ensemble. “High as a kite…I wonder if anybody from Brooklyn saw me that day walking down the street in that hot ass suit. If you look at the music video it had deflated by the time I got back to set so some scenes the suit flat after all that walking.”

The suit proved to be cumbersome to keep inflated — “but sh– we was on a budget so we kept the scenes where the the suit was deflated…that was so hood.”

The video and the inflatable suit were well worth the trouble. Following the track’s release, “The Rain,” along with single “Sock It 2 Me,” peaked at No. 4 on Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and put Elliott on the musical map.

Revisit the music video for Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and see her recollections below.

11 Aug 2023

This Dedicated Taylor Swift Fan Made an Eras Tour Dress Entirely of Friendship Bracelets

One creative Swiftie has taken the friendship bracelet trend on the Eras Tour to a whole new level.

Taylor Swift fan Laura Petty has been on TikTok documenting her process making an outfit for the superstar’s sixth show at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, sharing a series of viral videos in which she glued together hundreds of friendship bracelets — which fans exchange at Eras Tour shows — onto a gold dress to create a colorful gown weighing a whopping 13 pounds.

The dress is color coordinated by album era, with track lists and moments from each project appearing in beads on the bracelets in each section.

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Petty’s creation finally got its big moment on Wednesday (Aug. 9), when she wore it to the LA concert. To make it even more special, that show was where Swift announced that the re-recorded version of her 2014 album 1989 will be arriving on Oct. 27.

“To be perfectly honest,” Swift wrote on her social accounts after the show, “this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind. But not for long!”

1989 (Taylor’s Version) will be Swift’s fourth “Version,” since announcing her re-recording project in 2019. The previous three all logged time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: Fearless (Taylor’s Version) with two weeks in 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version) with one week in 2021, and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with two weeks in 2023.

See Petty’s friendship bracelet dress below.

11 Aug 2023

Disturbed Scores 12th Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 With ‘Unstoppable’

Disturbed notches its 12th ruler on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, as “Unstoppable” rises to No. 1 on the Aug. 19-dated tally.

It’s the David Draiman-fronted quartet’s first leader on the list since “Hey You,” which reigned for three weeks in September 2022.

In between “Hey You” and “Unstoppable,” the band reached No. 2 with “Bad Man” this March.

Disturbed first led Mainstream Rock Airplay in November 2006 with its cover of Genesis‘ 1980s classic “Land of Confusion.”

With 12 No. 1s, Disturbed moves into a four-way tie for the fifth-most toppers in the chart’s 42-year history, alongside Foo Fighters, Godsmack and Metallica. Shinedown leads all acts with 18 No. 1s.

Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay
18, Shinedown
17, Three Days Grace
14, Five Finger Death Punch
13, Van Halen
12, Disturbed
12, Foo Fighters
12, Godsmack
12, Metallica
10, Tom Petty (solo and with the Heartbreakers)
10, Volbeat

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Concurrently, “Unstoppable” bullets at its No. 9 best on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 2.9 million audience impressions, up 7%, Aug. 4-10, according to Luminate.

On the most recently published, multi-metric Hot Hard Rock Songs tally (dated Aug. 12), “Unstoppable” re-entered at No. 23. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 230,000 official U.S. streams in the July 28-Aug. 3 tracking week.

“Unstoppable” is the third single from Divisive, Disturbed’s eighth studio album. The LP debuted at No. 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums list last December and has earned 115,000 equivalent album units to date.

11 Aug 2023

The Weeknd Says He’s Done With Features — Unless This Group Gets Back Together

On Wednesday night, The Weeknd announced the “final feature” of his career during his Warsaw tour stop.

The Canadian-Ethiopian superstar born Abel Tesfaye performed his verse from “Another One of Me” at Poland’s PGE Narodowy. “This next song I’m about to perform is an unreleased record. I haven’t dropped it yet. It’s called ‘Another One of Me,’” he announced. “And I just wanna say that this is gonna be the last feature I ever do, ever in my career. So I wanna perform it for you guys tonight.”

While the other artist on “Another One of Me,” as well as the song’s release date, has yet to be revealed, The Weeknd did underline the only condition that would get him to do a feature one more time. “The final feature… unless daft punk ever get back together,” he wrote on socials.

The Weeknd and Daft Punk previously collaborated on the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Starboy” as well as “I Feel It Coming” from the former’s 2016 album Starboy. But five years later, the beloved French EDM duo comprised of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo broke up, marking the end of their 28-year musical career. “Those guys are one of the reasons I make music, so I can’t even compare them to other people. Their branding and how seriously they take their craft and image and everything — they’re almost not even real,” The Weeknd previously told Variety.

The “Blinding Lights” singer has also been hinting at his own retirement. In his cover story with W Magazine, he revealed that the album he’s currently working on, the follow-up to 2022’s Dawn FM, “is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd. This is something that I have to do. As The Weeknd, I’ve said everything I can say,” he said at the time. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”

11 Aug 2023

Demi Lovato Reimagines Daisy Jones & The Six’s ‘Let Me Down Easy’

Demi Lovato presented a convincing argument as to why they should join Daisy Jones & The Six when they unveiled their version of the fictional-turned-real band’s “Let Me Down Easy” on Friday (Aug. 11).

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The song features the same swinging guitars and harmonies as the original, complete with Lovato’s characteristically powerful vocals as they belt the chorus, “If you’re gonna let me down / Let me down easy.”

“Let Me Down Easy” originally appeared on the band’s debut album Aurora, co-written and produced by Blake Mills and released in March of this year. The record has since accumulated over 50 million times and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Soundtracks chart. The band, which was subject of the successful Prime Video series Daisy Jones & The Six, is comprised of fictional characters Daisy Jones (Riley Keough), Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin), Karen Sirko (Suki Waterhouse), Graham Dunne (Will Harrison), Eddie Roundtree (Josh Whitehouse) and Warren Rojas (Sebastian Chaon).

Lovato, meanwhile, is prepping a Revamped album featuring rocked-out versions of her biggest hits. The album is slated for a September 15 release and will feature the reimagined guitar-heavy versions of the previously released “Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version),” “Heart Attack (Rock Version)” and “Cool For the Summer (Rock Version).”

Listen to Lovato’s “Let Me Down Easy” below.

11 Aug 2023

Worth Buying? Here’s What You Need to Know About the Motorola Razr Plus

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Sales of flip phones spiked in the U.S. last year, due to Gen Z-ers diving deep into nostalgia, but flip phones themselves have evolved and are now competing with the likes of iPhone, Google Pixel and other popular smartphones.

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In June, Motorola introduced the Razr Plus ($999.99) and Razr 40 Ultra ($1,099), an upgrade to its previous Razr released in 2020. The new-and-improved Razr manages to stand out among an already crowded market of smart phones. It has the largest display screen of any flip phone on the market at 6.9 inches, which is slightly larger than the 6.7-inch screen on Samsung’s Z Flip 5. The outer display screen is also bigger than competitors at 3.6 inches.

Is the Motorola Razr worth buying? If you’re ready to make the leap over to flip phones, the Razr Plus is a fun, functional and pretty damn cool, pocketable phone. It’s become my go-to gadget for snapping selfies, surfing the web and streaming and recording videos, and it fits nicely in my smaller purses and fanny packs.

The Razr Plus display screen features 2,640 x 1080 resolution with a 165Hz refresh rate. The outer screen is 1066 x 1056 (413ppi for both screens).

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Motorola Razr Plus

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Versatility is what makes Razr Plus so much fun for me personally, namely because it works just as well when it’s open as when it’s closed. You can access plenty of apps, make phone calls and take photos while the phone is closed. When the phone is open to its full screen, I use it to stream videos because the picture quality is extremely clear compared to my iPhone 12, but I also like switching between small and large screens.

The only issues that I ran into with Razr Plus, which is more of an issue with Android in general, is having to adjust the screen brightness almost constantly, even with adaptive brightness activated. From a technical perspective, Razr Plus might take some getting used to if you’re not as familiar with an Android interface but I’ve only had an iPhone for a couple years, so while it wasn’t as hard to revert back to Android, the transition might not be smooth for longtime iPhone users.

Nonetheless, Razr Plus has everything you need to stay connected and customizable display screens that make using the phone even more exciting. My personal favorite display screen is an interactive, digital character that you can watch throughout the day (think Tamagotchi, but with better graphics, and more independent). The character brushes its teeth, commutes to work and sits at a desk typing away on a computer before taking a lunch break (if you tap the screen, the character will offer you a bite of food). You can also watch the character eat dinner and go to sleep.

But back to the photo and video clarity. While some customer reviews have complained about the camera quality, I love it. Whether you’re creating content, capturing memories at concerts or music festivals or simply snapping photos for fun, Razr Plus takes crystal-clear photos and videos. The phone is equipped with Dolby Atmos audio, Bluetooth and a 32-megapixel front camera that’s excellent for selfies. It can snap photos in any light and features a 12MP wide, 13MP ultrawide camera along with functions like Auto Night Vision and Macro Vision.

The battery lasts all day — up to 38 hours of talk time — and it takes around an hour to fully charge. Razr Plus has wireless charging and fast charging capabilities; 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.

Available in glacier blue, infinite black and the ultra-cool viva magenta, you can buy a Razr Plus through major phone carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile for as low as $10 per month. The phone is also available at Amazon, Best Buy and Motorola.com.