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03 Aug 2023

Lil Tjay Looks Back at Surviving His 2022 Shooting & Working With Ice Spice

Last month, Lil Tjay returned to the limelight when he released his new album, 222. The Bronx rapper’s latest output features Summer Walker, YoungBoy NBA, The Kid Laroi, Polo G, and more. He recently caught up with Billboard to discuss his newest effort, performing alongside his “Gangsta Boo” collaborator Ice Spice and more. 

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For Tjay, 222 comes after the Bronx rapper was shot seven times last year during a botched robbery attempt. The near-fatal shooting left TJay with wounds to his lungs, neck and chest. In his song “Beat The Odds,” he rapped about the ordeal saying, “Grateful for the s–t I got ’cause I come from a hard life/ Demons on my mental, saw some s–t I wanna archive/ Feds lookin’ out tryna bring a n—a down/ Just thinkin’ ’bout the possibility, I frown.”

“I feel like the best I could feel,” he shares with Billboard a year after the incident. “My body works fine, my mind is in an alright place and my music is doing well. The trajectory for the next five years is only up.” Tjay also notes his appreciation for life now, after taking the little things for granted.

“I take life a little bit more seriously now. I take my career a lot more seriously now. I feel more appreciative. When I was in the hospital, I remember I woke up and couldn’t get out the bed or nothing. I had a tube in my throat and couldn’t brush my teeth. It was for days, and the amount of money I would have paid if they allowed me to brush my teeth is crazy.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Tjay shares his jubilation for his Bronx teammate and “Gangsta Boo” collaborator Ice Spice, with whom he shared the stage with at Hot 97’s Summerjam concert in June. 

“It’s crazy because I was supposed to perform but missed my set,” remembers TJay. “I was late. I was like, ‘Ice. Yo bring me out.’ We had spoke about it before that. I wasn’t sure, but I wound up just doing it. It was turnt. I ain’t gon lie. It was lit.”

He adds: “It was one of those full circle moments, being that I met Ice before who she is today. To see the crowd go crazy for her for the first time in person, it was lit.”

Watch Tjay’s full interview with Billboard News.

03 Aug 2023

Lil Tjay Opens Up About Getting Shot, Working With YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Ice Spice & More | Billboard News

Lil Tjay opens up about the aftermath from the shooting a year ago, collaborating and working with YoungBoy Never Broke AGain and Ice Spice, explains his post about the charts and Gunna, his upcoming Beat the Odds tour and more!

Catrise Johnson:
It’s been it’s been off the charts, literally. You performed with Ice Spice for the first time — your Bronx sister — at New York Hot 97 Summer Jam. What was that feeling like? What was it like performing with her knowing you have that connection with her?

Lil Tjay:
It’s crazy because I was supposed to have performed and I missed my set. I was late for me. I was like, ‘Yo Ice, bring me out.’ We spoke about it like before that, and I wasn’t sure. And I winded up just doing it. And it was turnt! I ain’t gonna lie, that was lit. It was kinda like one of them full circle moments, you know, being that like, I met Ice, like, before, she was like, you know who she is today. And see the crowd go crazy for her for the first time in person was lit.

Watch the full video above!

03 Aug 2023

Apple Services Revenue Hits All-Time Record as Company Tops 1B Paid Subscriptions

Apple says it now has more than 1 billion paid subscribers to its various services, as that line of its business has hit an all-time high.

The company revealed the number in its quarterly earnings report, disclosing total revenue of 81.8 billion, a decline of 1 percent from a year ago. This is the third consecutive quarter to see a decline in revenue from Apple, thanks to slower sales of its hardware devices, like the iPhone and Mac lines. Net income was $19.9 billion.

However, its services business continues to grow at a rapid pace, hitting $21.2 billion in the quarter, up from 19.6 billion last year. Apple services include Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple News, and iCloud+. It also includes subscriptions through apps on the app store. The company did not break out how many subscribers used which service, beyond the topline 1 billion figure.

On the company’s earnings call, however, CEO Tim Cook said that Apple TV+ had hit a revenue record and touted the addition of soccer superstar Lionel Messi to Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami. Apple has the global exclusive rights to MLS.

“We are focused on original content and so we are all about giving great storytellers the venue to tell great stories and hopefully get us all to think a little deeper,” Cook added. “And sport is a part of that because sport is the ultimate original story.”

One thing that did not come on the call was the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes. of course, for Apple, its content business is a tiny piece of the overall pie. Apple’s total profits last quarter were nearly double Warner Bros. Discovery’s total revenue in the quarter, with WBD noting that it is firmly in the content business.

“We are happy to report that we had an all-time revenue record in Services during the June quarter, driven by over 1 billion paid subscriptions, and we saw continued strength in emerging markets thanks to robust sales of iPhone,” said Cook in a statement. “From education to the environment, we are continuing to advance our values, while championing innovation that enriches the lives of our customers and leaves the world better than we found it.”

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.

03 Aug 2023

Shawn Lee ft. Blueface “Up Next,” Chris Rivers “Prodigal Son” & More | Daily Visuals 8.3.23

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Blueface

Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz

Things for Blueface have been unsually quiet as we’re used to the man and his ride-or-die Chrisean Rock trending for all of the ratchet reasons. But for now it seems like the controversial rapper is refocusing on his music career and is hoping on some features to remind everyone he does indeed have a life outside of social media.

Linking up with Shawn Lee for the visuals to “Up Next,” Blue and Shawn hit the streets with some cars that can bounce and some women that can twerk while Blue turns a florescent light bulb into a threatening weapon. Remember when Blue used to always use mops in his videos? Now a lightbulb. Son might’ve been a janitor in a past life.

Back in the BX, Big Pun’s legacy lives on through his see, Chris Rivers and for his clip to “Prodigal Son,” Rivers hits the studio to drop his bars and show and prove that the apple didn’t fall very far from the monumental tree. That kid is nice, b.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from That Mexican OT, Destroy Lonely, and more.

SHAWN LEE FT. BLUEFACE – “UP NEXT”



CHRIS RIVERS – “PRODIGAL SON”



THAT MEXICAN OT – “COWBOY KILLER”



DESTROY LONELY – “HOW U FEEL?”



HDBEENDOPE FT. CONNIE DIIAMOND – “HAPPENING”



SKENG – “SHALALALA”



VALEE & HARRY FRAUD – “YEA BUT UM”



SUGARHILL, DDOT & LUH TYLER – “3AM IN THE YAMS”



ICE DOLO – “BITCOIN”



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03 Aug 2023

NewJean’s EP Debuts at No. 1, Lizzo Responds to Sexual Harassment Lawsuit & More | Billboard News

Lizzo responds to the sexual harassment lawsuit brought on by three of her dancers. The singer calls them “false allegations” and “sensationalized stories.” The microphone Cardi B threw at a fan is being auctioned for charity. Taylor Swift announced new Era Tour dates in the U.S. and Canada for 2024. NewJeans’s EP ‘Get Up’ debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week and the ‘Barbie’ soundtrack lands at No. 2. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Lizzo reacts to allegations. Cardi’s mic drop hits eBay and Taylor extends her tour. Lil Tjay stops by our studio. Post Malone talks fatherhood and puffy nipples. NewJeans makes some major moves on our charts. And we run down the top songs of the summer 2018.

I’m Tetris! Welcome back to Billboard News. It’s Thursday, August 3rd and we’ve got an update on some of this week’s top stories.

Lizzo is speaking up about those banana allegations, Cardi B’s mic is a piece of history and Taylor Swift is coming back to the US. Boy, do we have some updates for you!

After dancers are suing Lizzo for sexual harassment, alleging she fat-shamed them and had them bite bananas from sex workers’ vaginas, she’s finally speaking out. She posted “These are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed. These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”

Lizzo:
But I’m trying to go to the show where you eat the banana out of the p*ssy. Which one is that?

Host:
That’s the Banana Bar.

Lizzo:
That’s the Banana Bar? And they have a banana in the c**chie?

Host:
And ping pong balls.

Lizzo:
And you have to go?

Host:
Yes.

Lizzo:
That’s what I want to do.

Tetris Kelly:
She continues to say, “I take my music and performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans… I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.”

Watch the full video above!

03 Aug 2023

LIT Killah, Tiago Pzk, Maria Becerra, Duki, Emilia, Rusherking, Big One & FMK’s ‘Los Del Espacio’ Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Argentina Hot 100

The all-star team comprising LIT Killah, Tiago Pzk, Duki, Emilia, Rusherking, Big One and FMK return to No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart as “Los Del Espacio” rebounds 2-1 on the July 29-dated ranking. The song enters into a tie with another Emilia song for the most weeks atop in 2023: “En La Intimidad,” with Big One and Callejero Fino, which also dominated for seven weeks.  

“Los Del Espacio” outs another Becerra tune from the lead as “Corazón Vacío” dips 1-3 in its fifth week.

Meanwhile, Myke Towers misses the top with “Lala” rising 3-2 also in its fifth week. Plus, Spaniard Quevedo scores his fifth top 10 as “Columbia” climbs 13-6. 

The Hot Shot Debut goes to Grupo Frontera and Ke Personajes’ “Ojitos Rojos” as the team-up starts at No. 35. 

Further, Bad Gyal, Young Miko and Tokischa take the Greatest Gainer honor of the week as “Chulo Pt. 2” soars 34 rankings, from No. 98 to No. 64. 

Elsewhere on the chart, Ulises Bueno and Big One capture their fifth entry with “Mentiras: CROSSOVER #3,” with Rusherking, at No. 71 

Lastly, two other songs debut this week, MYA and Dread Mar I’s “MYA Live P3: Que Pasará” at No. 85, while Young Miko’s “Wiggy” opens at No. 100, her sixth total entry.

03 Aug 2023

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’: How to Watch the Movie Online

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The wait is officially over! The final installment of the action-packed trilogy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, dropped on streaming platforms Wednesday (Aug. 2), which you can finally rewatch the film from the comfort of your couch.

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Join Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) on their final adventure as they look to protect the universe yet again and one of their own from an enemy of the past. If they fail, it could mean the end of Guardians forever.

The film brings back director James Gunn who made the previous Guardians of the Galaxy films as well as other cast members such as Sean Gunn, Will Poulter, Nico Santos, Sylvester Stallone, Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Debicki.

Keep reading to learn how to stream the movie.

How to Watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Since the movie is a part of the Marvel universe, you can stream and the entire trilogy through Disney+. Already subscribed to Disney+? You can watch the movie for free through your membership. If you don’t have a subscription, you’ll need one in order to view the film.

While Disney+ doesn’t currently have a free trial, the streaming service offers a budget-friendly plan starting at $7.99/month for its ad-supported plan or $10.99/month for its Premium plan.

Disney+

$From $7.99/month

With your membership, you’ll be able to watch Disney original shows and movies as well as programs from National Geographic and the Marvel universe. Like bundles? You can save more money bundling Hulu and ESPN+, which will expand your library of offerings for as low as $9.99/month.

Programs you can look forward to streaming include American Born Chinese, Lady & the Tramp, Peter Pan & Wendy, Muppets Mayhem, Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All, J-Hope in the Box, SUGA Road to D-Day, The Prouder Family: Louder & Prouder, WandaVision, The Mandalorian, Loki, The Book of Boba Fett, The Beatles Get Back, The Simpsons, Welcome to Earth and Called to the Wild.

Another money saver: join Disney+ through Verizon. Right now, Verizon customers can get the Disney+ Bundle for $10/month with Verizon’s MyPlan, which can help save up to $4.99/month. The best part? You can toggle off perks each month and only pay for what you use.

Looking for more ways to stream the movie? You can also watch the film through Prime Video with options to rent or buy the movie. You can take advantage of Amazon’s 30 day free Prime membership trial, which will give you access to Prime Video for free. You don’t need a Prime membership to do watch the movie though — just head to Prime Video and purchase it through the site, app or page.

Check below to watch the trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

03 Aug 2023

Diddy’s $185M Deal With Cannabis Company Goes Up In Smoke

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The 94th Academy Awards - Show

Source: Variety / Getty

The legal cannabis business is all the rage these days and with your favorite Hip-Hop artists getting in on the game, Diddy decided it was the perfect time to buy his way into the business. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out exactly how he had hoped.

TMZ is reporting that a $185 million deal that the OG Bad Boy had lined up with a cannabis company unfortunately went left and left Diddy out in the cold for the time being. Though we’re sure Diddy won’t be giving up on his vision of owning his own weed company, this was a setback that he didn’t see coming as he was patiently waiting for the deal to get done.

TMZ reports:

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Sources with direct knowledge tell us Diddy waited in the wings as Cresco Labs and Columbia Care planned their proposed merger that was agreed upon last year.

However, we’re told the shareholders never reached an agreement, and Diddy’s deal was terminated earlier this week as a consequence. Diddy’s team tells us he and his Combs Global empire still have a vested interest in pursuing opportunities to diversify the cannabis industry … they just have to find the perfect fit.

The move would’ve made Diddy the owner of 9 stores throughout New York, Massachusetts and Illinois, with each having its own production facility … effectively making him the biggest Black cannabis business owner.

Y’all know Diddy might be a little peeved at the fact that he’ll have to wait a bit longer to become the “biggest Black cannabis business owner” in the game. He’s gonna love saying that to anyone willing to listen.

When the next deal presents itself remains to be seen, but best believe he’s not going to settle for some regular old marijuana company that has a store or two. If Diddy isn’t going big, he’s going home. That’s just how he rolls.

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03 Aug 2023

Jonathan Majors’ Domestic Abuse Trial Moved To September

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US actor Jonathan Majors' trial on assault charges begins in New York

Source: Anadolu Agency / Getty

Jonathan Majors will have to wait until next month to begin his anticipated trial on charges of domestic violence, as ordered by the court.

On Thursday (Aug. 3), the Creed III actor appeared before Judge Michael Gaffey in court in Manhattan, New York. The hearing would be brief. “The people are not ready for trial today,” Assistant District Attorney Kelli Gallaway said to the judge. Judge Gaffey remarked, “Time will continue to run against the people.” He then set the date for proceedings to begin Sept. 6.

Majors’ trial was set to begin today before the reassigning of the new date. Judge Gaffey reminded the actor to abide by the order of protection barring him from any sort of contact with the accuser. “Yes, sir,” Majors responded simply while holding a Bible and notebook. He and his defense team, along with his new girlfriend, Harlem actress Meagan Good, (who also accompanied him to his June 20 hearing) would be dismissed afterward.

The actor’s lead defense attorney, Priya Chaudhry, quickly issued a statement afterward. “One hundred and thirty-one days ago, authorities unjustly cuffed Jonathan Majors in his own home, hauling him off to jail based on the word of a woman now hunted by the NYPD,”  the statement began. “For an excruciating four months, Jonathan Majors, the real victim in this shameful ordeal, has had his life, career, and reputation torn apart,” Chaudhry said. “Yet he remains unwavering in his determination to be absolved from this harrowing ordeal.”

Chaudhry also put the blame on the prosecution for the delay of the trial, saying that she had received a two-terabyte hard drive of evidence from their team on Wednesday (Aug. 2). She also claimed that the New York Police Department was poised to arrest the ex-girlfriend accusing Majors the moment she “sets foot back in New York.” Reportedly, the woman currently resides in the United Kingdom.

The news of the trial comes as questions still linger about Majors’ career opportunities going forward.  The 33-year-old actor faces up to a year in prison if convicted of misdemeanor charges of assault and harassment. Disney has released the latest trailer for the second season of its acclaimed Loki series, which will air on Disney Plus this October. Majors will feature prominently in the show as Victor Timely, the ancestor of his Kang The Conqueror character.

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03 Aug 2023

Microphone That Cardi B Flung At Fan To Be Auctioned For A Good Cause

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Offset Attends Nebula

Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty

Does Cardi B have the Midas touch?! We’re not sure but it certainly seems like damn near everything she touches turns to gold even if those things are used as a weapon.

Days after Cardi B went viral for flinging a microphone at a fan who tried to splash her with a liquid substance at a Las Vegas performance, TMZ is reporting that the mic in question is actually going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder because, well, why not? While Cardi’s actions led to numerous comedic memes that have been floating around social media since the incident, no one’s really paid attention to the microphone used in retaliation. Don’t be surprised if it ends up bringing in some big bucks.

TMZ reports:

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The mic Cardi hurled into the crowd at Drai’s Nightclub actually belongs to an audio production company called The Wave in Sin City, and the owner tells us he decided to auction it off to benefit a couple of charities. Scott Fisher tells TMZ … it was pretty easy to track down the mic after the show, because the white tape across the bottom of it says “MAIN,” and it still works despite Cardi chucking it into the crowd. Scott says his company provides audio support for most of the major nightclubs in Vegas, including Drai’s.

Cardi might wanna put a bid on that mic just so she can recover some evidence as the woman who caught her wrath has filed a battery report with Las Vegas authorities. Y’all already know she’ll be trying to extract as much paper from Cardi in the process.

The $1000 microphone is currently on eBay with a starting bid of $500, and according to Scott, the proceeds will go to both The Wounded Warrior Project and a local Vegas charity named Friendship Circle Las Vegas, which helps teens and young adults with special needs. Great way to use a viral moment to help some good causes.

Would you bid on the microphone that Cardi B turned into a weapon? Let us know in the comments section below.

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