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19 Jul 2023

Jelly Roll & Bunnie XO Fulfill Cancer Patient’s Dying Wish With Special Meeting in Nashville

“Need a Favor” hitmaker Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie, who hosts the popular podcast Dumb Blonde, recently made a wish come true for a woman battling stage four cancer.

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The James Bess Foundation, a nonprofit that grants a last wish to adults battling terminal illnesses, shared a video of Nashville resident Suzanne Durham, in which Durham explains that she is battling cancer and her dying wish would be to meet Jelly Roll. Durham is a former Nashville house manager for women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie are known for their devotion to fans, and this was no exception. On Wednesday (July 19), The James Bess Foundation posted another video, this time of Jelly Roll and Bunnie visiting with Durham.

The video later shows Jelly Roll leading Durham and a crowd of her friends in a singalong of songs including The Eagles’ “Take It Easy” and Alan Jackson’s classic “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.” Other videos from the event show Jelly Roll leading the audience in some of his own songs including “Creature.”

Bunnie later posted a video talking about how the meeting with Durham impacted her.

“As soon as we saw her video that was the first thing we wanted to do, was definitely make this lady’s wish come true. When I tell you it was chicken soup for the soul and everything I needed at that moment, God really works in mysterious ways, because just seeing this woman that has been given, I believe, five months to live, who has spent her entire life trying to help other people…that’s what life is all about.”

She continued, “We never know when our last breath on earth is here. If you want to waste your time spreading toxicity and dwelling on things that don’t f–king matter and don’t inspire people, I would much rather inspire people than impress people. I want to leave here with people being like, ‘Dude. She touched my life. She helped me out of a dark spot.’ That’s what I want to do. And that’s what I live for. I don’t care what anybody has to say about me. If they like me, if they don’t like me, cool. Don’t care. Cause you know what? If Suzanne was given five months to live and she chose to live her last five months inspiring people, that alone is enough motivation for me to want to do the same.”

19 Jul 2023

French Montana Reveals His Favorite Moroccan Slang | Billboard

French Montana reveals his favorite Moroccan slang while chatting with Billboard.

French Montana:
What up? What up? It’s your boy, Moroccan Montana today, and this is my three Moroccan slang.

[Speaking in Arabic] … that means “f–k off.”
[Speaking in Arabic] … that means “Go f–k yourself.”
[Speaking in Arabic] … that means “D–khead.”

Shout out to all my Moroccans. Respectfully.

Watch the full video above!

19 Jul 2023

Rolling Loud Miami 2023: How to Watch Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti & More for Free Online

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For the eighth year in a row, hip hop fans will gather together for Rolling Loud Miami 2023. If you couldn’t get tickets or a good travel deal, don’t worry, there’s still a way for you to watch all the sets live — and from the comfort of your home.

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Amazon Music and Rolling Loud Miami have partnered to exclusively livestream the festival on Prime Video and Twitch starting Friday (July 21) until Sunday (July 23). Right now, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for Prime, which means you you’ll be able to catch every artist’s performance including headliners Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti, for free.

Prime Membership Free Trial

Other performances you can watch for free online include Ice Spice, Lil Dirk, Central Cee, Lil Yachty, Key Glock, pop singer PinkPantheress and Latin music stars Anuel AA, El Alfa as well as the punk band Turnstile. Check out the full Rolling Loud Miami 2023 lineup here.

Keep reading to learn how to watch the festival online for free.

When & How to Watch Rolling Loud Miami 2023

On Friday (July 21), fans can tune in to the Prime Video starting at 4 p.m. ET to watch the festival live. If you have a Prime membership, you’ll be able to watch the live stream at no additional cost. You can watch it under Rolling Loud Day 1 or you can find it under the Live Channels section on Prime Video.

Not a Prime Member? Enjoy a 30-day free trial to stream Rolling Loud Miami 2023 and other content in the massive library of films, movies and TV shows. Prime Video has a large selection of original series and movies available to stream free of charge for members. Once the free trial ends, your Amazon Prime membership will cost $14.99/month (or $139/year).

Rolling Loud Miami 2023

$14.99/month after 30 days free

The massive collection of Prime Originals includes Citadel, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Swarm, The Powder, Harlem, Invincible, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Fleabag, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Wheel of Time, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Legend of Vox Machina and more.

Besides Prime Video access, Prime members get access to Prime Music, Prime Gaming and Prime Reading in addition to free same-day, one-day or two-day delivery on millions of items, exclusive deals, groceries, savings on prescriptions and more. Amazon also provides 50% Prime memberships for qualifying students and EBT/Medicaid recipients.

Looking for other ways to watch Rolling Loud Miami 2023 for free? Amazon Music and Rolling Loud’s official Twitch channels will be also be live streaming all three days of the festival.

19 Jul 2023

10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Olivia Dean, Miles Miller, FendiDa Rappa & More

Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts in its menu, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

Here’s a look at 10 acts who appear on surveys for the first time on the July 22-dated charts.

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Olivia Dean

The singer-songwriter, from the London borough of Haringey, England, scores her first Billboard chart appearance, thanks to her song “The Hardest Part,” featuring Leon Bridges. The song, released June 16 via EMI/Island/Republic Records, debuts at No. 39 on Adult Alternative Airplay (up 54% in plays July 7-13, according to Luminate). Dean released an original recording of the song, without Bridges, in 2020. That version appears on her debut studio album Messy, released June 30. Dean is currently touring, with dates scheduled through April 2024.

Miles Miller

The Kentucky native makes his first solo visit to Billboard’s charts with his debut LP, Solid Gold. The set, released July 7 on Easy Lovin Records/Thirty Tigers, debuts at No. 2 on the Bluegrass Albums chart. Although this is Miller’s first solo release, the 30-year-old has already forged a successful career in the Americana and country-folk space. In 2012, he was recruited by Nashville producer Dave Cobb to play drums for Sturgill Simpson, and has since played on each of Simpson’s six most recent studio albums, including 2017’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, which won the Grammy Award for best country album. Outside of touring with Simpson, Miller has drummed on Tyler Childers’ critically-acclaimed Purgatory and Country Squire albums and collaborated with bluegrass mainstay act Town Mountain. He has a string of tour dates lined up in the fall and winter in support of Solid Gold.

FendiDa Rappa

Chicago-based drill rapper FendiDa Rappa lands on Billboard’s charts for the first time with her new collaboration with Cardi B, “Point Me 2.” The song, released July 7 through Giant Music, debuts at No. 82 on the Hot 100 with 7.3 million U.S. streams and 4,000 downloads sold in its opening week. It also enters at No. 14 on Hot Rap Songs and No. 20 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. “Point Me 2” is a remix of Fendi’s 2022 breakout track “Point Me to the Slut’s.” Prior to that, she released her debut 15-track album Str8 From Da Raq in 2021.

Julie Byrne

The singer-songwriter, originally from Buffalo, N.Y., reaches Billboard’s charts for the first time with her new ambient folk album, The Greater Wings. The 10-track set, released July 7 on Ghostly International, debuts at No. 90 on the Top Current Album Sales chart with 1,000 downloads sold in its opening week. Byrne has released two additional albums: Not Even Happiness, in 2017, and Rooms With Walls and Windows, in 2014. Byrne has a string of U.S. and European tour dates lined up through the fall.

Yunchan Lim

The South Korean pianist, 19, arrives on Billboard’s charts for the first time with his new album Live From the Cliburn: Liszt: Transcendental Etudes. The set, released July 7 via Steinway & Sons, debuts at No. 5 on the Traditional Classical Albums chart. Lim made history last year by becoming the youngest person, at age 18, to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. “I was so tired. I practiced until 4 a.m. every day,” he told The New York Times at the time. The new album features Lim’s performance from the semi-final round of the competition.

Panter Bélico

The Mexican singer appears on Billboard’s charts for the first time with his new song “La 701.” The track, released July 7 on Belikiki Music, begins at No. 11 on Regional Mexican Digital Song Sales. Bélico is a relative newcomer to the music scene, having released nine other songs so far, all this year.

Tatsuya Kitani

The Japanese singer-songwriter and composer scores his first Billboard chart hit with his song “Where Our Blue Is.” The track, released July 7 on Sony Music Labels/Legacy, debuts at No. 13 on World Digital Song Sales, as well as No. 31 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and No. 89 on the Billboard Global 200. The song serves as the opening theme to the second season of the Japanese show Jujutsu Kaisen. Kitani has released three studio albums: Seven Girls’ H(e)avens (2019), DEMAGOG (2020) and BIPOLAR (2022).

Shallipopi

The Nigerian artist hits Billboard’s charts for the first time with his song “Ex Convict.” Released July 7 on Plutomania/Dvpper Music, the track debuts at No. 26 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. Shallipopi released his debut single “Gra Gra” in 2021 and followed with five more releases before dropping his debut EP Planet Pluto July 10. He has also released two remixes of breakout song “Elon Musk,” with Fireboy DML and Zlatan.

Saltatio Mortis

The German medieval metal group notches its first U.S. chart appearance, thanks to its new collaboration with Peyton Parrish, “God of War.” The song, released July 7 on Parrish Entertainment, debuts at No. 3 on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales and No. 13 on Rock Digital Song Sales with 1,000 downloads sold in its opening week. The group has released 12 studio albums since its formation in 2000. Four of those albums have hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Germany Albums chart: Das Schwarze Einmaleins (2013), Zirkus Zeitgeist (2015), Brot und Spiele (2018) and Für immer frei (2020). The act is currently on its Taugenichts Tour through the end of the year. Saltatio Mortis, which is Latin for “dance of death,” comprises Alea der Bescheidene, Falk Irmenfried von Hasen-Mümmelstein, El Silbador, Bruder Frank, Till Promill, Jean Mechant der Tambour and Luzi das L.

Blackbraid

The metal act arrives on Billboard’s charts with its sophomore studio album Blackbraid II. The set, which Blackbraid self-released July 7, debuts at No. 49 on Top Current Album Sales and No. 88 on Top Album Sales. The release also sparks the act’s entrance at No. 29 on the Emerging Artists chart. Blackbraid is the solo project of Jon Kreiger (also known by his Native American pseudonym Sgah’gahsowáh).

19 Jul 2023

The Chemical Brothers’ 10th Studio Album Is Coming This Fall

The Chemical Brothers will release their 10th studio album, For That Beautiful Feeling, on Sept. 8.

The LP is the Brothers’ first since 2019’s No Geography, which won the 2020 Grammy for best dance/electronic album, with its lead single “Eve Of Destruction” winning for best dance/electronic recording.

The forthcoming 11-track collection includes the already released single “No Reason,” “The Darkness That You Fear” and “Live Again.” A video for this latter single was released on Wednesday (July 19). Dom & Nic directed the video, who with it deliver their tenth collaboration with the Brothers.

For That Beautiful Feeling was recorded at the Chemical Brothers’ studio on the south coast of England. In a press release, the album is described as “a record that hunts for and captures that wild moment when sound overwhelms you and almost pulls you under yet ultimately lets you ride its wave, to destinations unknown. It’s a record that pinpoints the exact moment you lose all control, where you surrender and let the music move you as if pulled by an invisible thread.”

The album’s release will be followed by Paused in Cosmic Reflection, a book coming October 26 that will span the Chemical Brothers’ nearly 30 year career. The book will feature new interviews with the band along with friends and collaborators including Noel Gallagher, Aurora, Wayne Coyne, Beth Orton, Beck, Michel Gondry and more.

The Chemical Brothers are touring the European festival circuit this summer, with upcoming sets at Electric Castle, Wilderness Festival, Fest Festival and more. The pair — Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons — will play a handful of standalone arena shows in the U.K. this fall.

The music video for “Live Again” above.

19 Jul 2023

‘Hot Girl Bummer’ Star Blackbear Sells Select Music Assets to HarbourView

HarbourView Equity Partners has acquired selected recorded and publishing assets of Blackbear, the hit songwriter and artist whose credits include “Hot Girl Bummer,” “Do Re Mi” and songwriting collaborations like Justin Bieber‘s “Boyfriend.”

In the U.S., Blackbear’s catalog has generated 4.45 million album consumption units, according to Luminate. While the deal announcement doesn’t specify what portion of the Blackbear catalog has been acquired, HarbourView said its acquisition encompasses both publishing and recorded music assets.

In addition, the deal also includes Blackbear’s publishing interest in collaborations with such artists and songwriters as Bieber, Pharrell Williams, Linkin Park, G-Easy, Machine Gun Kelly and 2 Chainz, among others.

“This catalog provides unflinching honesty offering an insight into difficult life journeys that many global fans can relate to,” HarbourView founder and CEO Sherrese Clarke Soares said in a statement. “This transparency creates a powerful sense of unity mobilizing his mission of inspiring his audience to be unapologetically themselves. His brilliant artistry has opened doors for him to work with artists such as Justin Bieber, Pharrell Williams, and Machine Gun Kelly. We are ecstatic to work with Blackbear and his team to make a further positive impact through authenticity.”

With this acquisition, HarbourView continues to move forward acquiring current pop, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and pop-punk on a path different from most private equity-backed music asset investors, which tend to invest in legacy music.

Fox Rothschild served as legal counsel to HarbourView in this transaction, while Blackbear (born Matthew Musto) was represented by Paul Rothenberg and Joseph Duthie of Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder, LLP.

19 Jul 2023

Wiz Khalifa Admits To Being “Shroomed Out” When He Threw 1st Pitch At Pittsburgh Pirates Game

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Cleveland Guardians v Pittsburgh Pirates

Source: Justin K. Aller / Getty

Everyone knows that Wiz Khalifa’s love affair with Mary Jane has been well documented ever since he came into the rap game, but it seems like he may be indulging in another kind of high as the man admitted to being under the influence… while throwing a pitch at a professional baseball game!

On Monday (July 17), Wiz Khalifa threw the first pitch out at the Pirates game in his hometown of Pittsburgh and afterwards took to Twitter to reveal that he was actually on shrooms when he took the mound. Well, at least it wasn’t a performance enhancing drug? Interestingly enough, he announced his intentions beforehand tweeting, “Finna get stoned af and throw this first pitch at the pirates game.”

Get “stoned af” he did but while most of us assumed he’d burn some Khalifa Kush before the ceremonial first pitch, he later tweeted he was actually on some magic mushrooms tweeting, “shroomed out throwin’ a baseball is crazy.”

Luckily, no one was in the batter’s box because that man would’ve gotten plunked. Just look at how Wiz Khalifa missed the plate and actually threw some would be chin music into the batter’s box when it came time to throw some heat.

Benches would’ve cleared had this been an in-game pitch.

Still, it’s pretty cool to see Khalifa take the mound while high out his mind and not even hiding it. Peep a “shroomed out” Wiz Khalifa waving to his adoring fans.

Unfortunately for the team, the Pirates went on to get blown out by the Cleveland Guardians by a healthy score of 11-0. In hindsight, his pitch was probably a preview of what was to come for the rest of the game. They should’ve just let him close it out, f- it.

At least Wiz was able to kick it with the team before taking that horrible loss.

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19 Jul 2023

John Bodega Talks “They Cloned Tyrone” & AI

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John Boyega LEVEL cover

Source: Sarah McColgan for LEVEL / LEVEL

In a new interview, John Boyega talks about his experience in the upcoming Netflix film They Cloned Tyrone as well as the increasing concerns of AI & acting.

The star actor spoke at length in a recent LEVEL cover story about his process of preparing for the lead role of Fontaine for the Netflix film, which also stars Jamie Foxx and Teyonnah Paris: “I was excited at the idea of multiple roles, the idea of playing someone significantly older. I love the idea of different looks because whereas the normality is to play a heightened version of yourself, this gives you a real opportunity to jump into what acting truly is.”

The London native and star of the recent Star Wars trilogy did also touch upon how the film challenges viewers to shed preconceived notions while watching. “When you’re in a modern society where we watch the news and the details of the news are packaged [for] TV, sometimes the nuance is lost,” Bodega said. “In order for us to comprehend the world, it’s easier to generalize.” Referencing Paris’ character of Yo-Yo, who is a sex worker, he elaborated: “Accepting that duality and using our brains to scan people more than just going on generalized stereotypes is a commentary that this film makes. I’m proud that this film does that.”

When asked about the growing usage of AI and the complexities behind it in the film industry and beyond, Boyega replied,  “I’m at the stage now where I’m like, Oh crap, I didn’t know you can do that.” He continued: “In filmmaking, it will help us in some way. On the flip side, in terms of individuality, ownership, [and] fairness, that’s going to be a discussion that people are going to have to figure out.”

Of course, the discussion also turned to the idea of conspiracy theories which are interwoven into the plot of They Cloned Tyrone compelling the 31-year-old to state “maybe the truth in certain scenarios is not as extreme or interesting. Some of it is boring truth. But the funny thing about stimulation as a human being, we still love to discuss it” He also joked about his own conspiracy beliefs regarding celebrities: I was like, They probably got to get into some cult to get to a certain level of power. Then I became a celebrity and went, “That didn’t happen.” At least it doesn’t happen to me!”

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19 Jul 2023

Nas Takes To IG To Announce New Album ‘Magic 2’ Set To Drop July 21

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Wu-Tang And Nas Perform At The OVO Hydro

Source: Roberto Ricciuti / Getty

Some good news for OG Hip-Hoppers began to make the rounds last night as it’s being said that one of the rap game’s GOATs is prepping to drop a brand new album real soon… as in Friday soon.

Last night, Queensbridge King and Hip-Hop icon Nas took to his Instagram account and shocked his millions of followers by posting a distorted image of himself as a youngn’ and as a grown man with the title Magic 2 stamped on it. In the caption, he simply wrote “7.21.”

Who knew he was even working on an album?! We shouldn’t be surprised, though. For the last few years Nas has been consistently hitting us with stellar projects such as the Kings Disease trilogy, which began in 2020 and ended in 2022. Magic was released in 2021. This will make Nas’ 16th studio album in his illustrious career and though details about the new album are scarce, it seems like we’ll be getting a feature from 50 Cent who took to his own IG page to hype up Magic 2 writing, “Y’all ain’t heard me in minute, @nas felt like it was time so it’s done. Check us out Friday 7.21 MAGIC 2.”

Should be a treat for us older heads. Y’all already know heads in Queensbridge are gonna break out the exclusive Nas edition of Hennessy when they bump this new album. Heck, all of New York might do that.

Are y’all excited to hear what Nas has in store for us when Magic 2 drops next week? Let us know in the comments section below.

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19 Jul 2023

Ice Spice Opens Up About ‘Karma’ Collaboration & Friendship With Taylor Swift: ‘We Text All the Time’

Ice Spice has shared her side of the story to how she came to be the featured artist on Taylor Swift‘s “Karma” remix, a collaboration which resulted in Ice getting her first ever Billboard Hot 100 No. 2, the chance to perform three times for a sold out crowd at MetLife Stadium and a long-lasting friendship with one of the biggest pop stars on the planet.

“I was home and my manager called me, and was like, ‘Oh, Taylor wants you on a record.’ And I’m like, ‘Taylor?’” the 23-year-old rapper recalled to Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1’s “Up Next” series. “I was having a really bad day also, I would like to say that. I was having a terrible day. I was crying all morning because I was just so mad at something. And then he called me with that news. And then I cried more, because it was good news.”

“My life is a rollercoaster,” she added. “How I started the day crying and I’m ending it crying, but for different reasons.”

Ice also took Lowe through the process of recording her parts on “Karma,” which she called “amazing.” “We went to the studio and [Taylor] is so humble and so nice,” she said. “I kid you not. I pulled up to the studio and she outside waiting for me. So she’s great. She’s so funny. We text all the time. She is f–king hilarious. I’m not going to lie. She’s the funniest person ever.”

At the first of three Eras Tour shows in East Rutherford back in May, Swift herself shared that she had been a major fan of Ice’s even before learning that the young star was interested in collaborating. “What she didn’t know at the time is that when I was training for the tour, I was listening to pretty much exclusively just her music every single day,” the “Anti-Hero” singer revealed before debuting the “Karma” music video at the show. “So we immediately went into the studio and I just not only fell in love with her, but just decided she’s the entire future.”

Later that night, Ice surprised the audience by taking the stage for the show’s finale, rapping her “Karma” verse before exiting the stage with Swift’s arm around her shoulders.

“The roar that you hear in a Taylor Swift show is unmatched,” Ice recalled to Lowe. “But her show was amazing, and I’m just so grateful. Like 200,000 people, I think we performed for.”

The Bronx native also touched on her relationships with mentors like Nicki Minaj, with whom she’s turned in two collaborations (“Princess Diana” and a remix of Aqua’s “Barbie World” for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie), and Drake. “I feel like I am absorbing advice from [Nicki] and learning from her and stuff,” she shared. And she’ll tell me, ‘Learn from my mistake, do this or don’t do that,’ or whatever. And I just really pay attention to what she’s saying. Because if there’s anyone I’m going to listen to it’s the queen.”

“We talk all the time and we’re always just laughing about some things that go on,” she added of Drizzy. “And I’ll ask him, ‘What should I do with this? Or how’d you go about this? Or did you ever experience that?’ It’s like coach vibes.”

Listen to Ice Spice’s Apple Music 1 interview above.