News

Fred Jerkins & Bishop Paul S. Morton’s ‘I Believe’ Hits No. 1 on Gospel Airplay Chart

Singer-songwriter and producer Fred Jerkins’ “I Believe,” featuring Bishop Paul S. Morton, reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated April 15).

The song, Jerkins’ third Gospel Airplay leader and Morton’s first, increased by 1% in plays March 31-April 6, according to Luminate.

The song was solely written and produced by Jerkins, who hails from Galloway, N.J.

“It feels so amazing to have achieved my third No. 1 as an artist on Billboard‘s chart,” says Jerkins. “Also, being able to share this with a legend like Bishop Paul Morton makes it extra special for me.”

Jerkins previously topped Gospel Airplay with “Patiently Praising,” for a week in January 2021, and “Victory,” featuring Last Call, for two frames in April 2019.

Morton’s first Gospel Airplay leader is among 11 appearances, starting in 2005. His lone additional top 10 is “Your Best Days Yet,” which reached No. 4 in 2013. (Also among his history on the chart: “Seasons Change,” with legend Aretha Franklin, hit No. 40 in 2005.)

In addition to his career in music, Morton is the founding bishop of Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International in Atlanta, as well as overseer of Greater St. Stephen Ministries in New Orleans.

Notably, with “I Believe” reaching the Gospel Airplay pinnacle in its 47th week, it completes the longest trip to No. 1 since the chart started in March 2005. It passes two songs that each took 46 weeks to the top: Jonathan McReynolds’ “Make Room” led for a week in December 2019 and Donnie McClurkin’s “I Need You” reigned for a week in April 2017.

Maher’s Fourth Leader

On Billboard’s Christian AC Airplay chart, Matt Maher scores his fourth No. 1 with “The Lord’s Prayer” (up 9% in plays).

Maher previously ruled with “Alive & Breathing,” featuring Elle Limebear, for two weeks in July 2020; “Glory (Let There Be Peace),” for a week in January 2017; and “Because He Lives (Amen),” for four frames beginning in April 2015.

Khalid to Receive BMI Champion Award at 2023 BMI Pop Awards

Khalid is set to receive the BMI Champion Award at the 71st annual BMI Pop Awards. The private event, hosted by BMI president and CEO Mike O’Neill and vice president worldwide creative Barbara Cane, will be held on Tuesday, May 9, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

“Khalid exemplifies the true spirit of a champion as one who believes, one who does and one who generously gives back,” Cane said in a statement.  “In addition to recognizing him for his many creative accomplishments, we’re honoring Khalid for his dedication to charitable causes, community, education, and his commitment to supporting the next generation of songwriters and music makers.”

Khalid has received 20 BMI Awards, including being named 2019 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year. His smash “Talk” from his sophomore album Free Spirit was named 2019 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year.

In addition, he has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards and has won six Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards and an MTV Video Music Award.

Previous BMI Champion Award recipients include Keith Urban, Mark Ronson, Residente, Sebastian Krys and Lee Thomas Miller.

BMI’s Pop Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and BMI’s top 50 most-performed pop songs in the U.S. of the previous year will also be celebrated at the event.

Khalid, alongside his mother, created The Great Khalid Foundation in 2020 to bridge education, innovation and music. The foundation offers music education programs, scholarship awards, community partnerships and gift giveaways to support and nurture children.

‘Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood Star’ Roccstar Holds Would-Be Burglar Trying To Rob His Crib

HipHopWired Featured Video

Roccstar Stops Burglar Trying To Break Into His Home

Source: Erik Voake / Getty / Roccstar

Thieves should think twice before trying to steal from Roccstar.

TMZ Hip Hop exclusively reports that platinum producer for Chris Brown and Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood alum Roccstar took matters into his own hands when someone tried to rob his crib.

Roccstar told law enforcement that he discovered the robber on his roof after being woken up by an alarm early Monday morning and took care of business.

Per TMZ Hip Hop:

Cops say the platinum-selling Chris Brown producer told officers he was awakened a little past 5:00 AM Monday by an alarm alerting him someone was on the garage roof at his Chatsworth, CA home.

Nick Cannon Reveals His Fav Mariah Carey Song, Diplo on His Dating Rumors, & More | Billboard News

Nick Cannon talks about his new radio show on AMP ‘The Daily Cannon’, what makes this radio show different from ones he’s hosted previously and more. Diplo turned some heads during a series of posts on his social media accounts. Mariah Angeliq stopped by Billboard News and talked about the success of her tracks ‘Ricota’ and ‘Perreito’, being named after Mariah Carey and her love for Ivy Queen. Tyler, The Creator continues his Hot Trending Song reign and more!

Kelly Clarkson Takes Van Morrison’s ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ for a Spin in Kellyoke Cover

A Kellyoke first! Kelly Clarkson opened up the Tuesday (April 11) episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show with her signature karaoke segment and gave one of Van Morrison‘s signature tracks a try for the first time, going with the Northern Irish singer’s top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Brown Eyed Girl.”

Backed by her band Y’all, Clarkson kept her vocal delivery for the track relaxed and joyful and wore a breezy purple floral dress for the occasion.

“Hey, where did we go?/ Days when the rains came/ Down in the hollow/ Playin’ a new game/ Laughin’ and a-runnin’, hey, hey/ Skippin’ and a-jumpin’/ In the misty morning fog with/ Our, our hearts a-thumping and you/ My brown-eyed girl/ And you, my brown-eyed girl,” the American Idol alum effortlessly sings on the track.

“Brown Eyed Girl” serves as Morrison’s solo debut track shortly after his band Them broke up in 1966. The track was released in 1967 and later became Morrison’s first track to debut on the Hot 100 that same year, peaking at No. 10. The track marks the singer’s second-highest-charting song on the Hot 100; Morrison’s “Domino” placed one spot higher on the Hot 100 in 1970.

Watch Kelly Clarkson cover “Brown Eyed Girl” for her latest Kellyoke in the video above.

Listen to the Heartfelt Song Joan Sebastian Wrote for His Son Julian Figueroa

The music industry is mourning the sudden death of actor and singer Julián Figueroa, son of the late Mexican star Joan Sebastian and Costa Rican actress Maribel Guardia. Figueroa died Sunday in Mexico City at the age of 28 — just one day after what would have been Sebastian’s 72nd birthday. 

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

In an Instagram post, Guardia said Figueroa was found unconscious in his room while she was at the theater. “They called 911 and when the ambulance and police arrived, they found him already lifeless, with no traces of violence. The medical report indicates that he died of acute myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrillation,” she said.

Figueroa, who was known for songs such as “Pídeme,” “Volaré” “and Cómo Olvidar,” had a close relationship with his father, which could be reflected in one of his last Instagram posts. 

“How slowly 8 years have gone by since the day you left time tastes more bitter. And people proclaim that time is a fix for everything, but this is a vile lie, it hurts more every day, and this is without fear of hurting sensibilities,” the artist wrote, next to a photo of himself as a child with his father.

Sebastian, who died in 2016 after a long battle with bone cancer, had eight children with five different women. His love for his children often shined in his music like in “Julián,” the song he wrote for Figueroa 23 years ago.

The lullaby-like, waltz-inspired track — part of his Secreto de Amor album that spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Albums chart in 2000 — finds Sebastian dedicating sweet words of love, appreciation and promises to his then-5-year-old son. 

Below, listen to the sweet track, followed by the lyrics translated into English: 

When you were a child Julian
You asked me to write a song that said
What I feel for you

That’s not easy, Julian
Although I wrote a thousand songs
The most beautiful thing about love, Julian
Is carried in the hearts

And this waltz is for you, for you, Julian
Dance it, enjoy it from beginning to end
At your graduation and your wedding day
And this waltz is for you, for you, Julian
I will be celebrating too
From a corner, I will be watching you dance

When you were a child Julian
God was very good to me
He gave me the honor of being, Julian
Of being your father and your friend

And this waltz is for you, for you, Julian
Dance it, enjoy it from beginning to end
At your graduation and your wedding day
And this waltz is for you, for you, Julian
I will be celebrating too
I promise I will be watching you dance

Ariana Grande Addresses Body-Shaming Trolls: ‘There Are Many Different Kinds of Beautiful’

Ariana Grande hopped on social media Tuesday (April 11) to call out the body shaming she’s been receiving lately from fans.

“I don’t do this often. I don’t like it, I’m not good at it,” she said directly to the camera on TikTok. “But I just wanted to address your concerns about my body and talk a little bit about what it means to be a person with a body, and to be seen and to be paid such close attention to.

“I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies — no matter what,” the star continued. “If you think you’re saying something good or well-intentioned, whatever it is. Healthy, unhealthy, big, small, this, that, sexy, not sexy, I don’t… We just shouldn’t. We should really work towards not doing that as much.”

Grande then went on to school the masses on the fact that there are better ways to compliment someone than by focusing solely on their physical appearance. Or better yet, that people can choose to refrain from criticizing others’ bodies altogether.

“But I also just wanted to say one, there are many different kinds of beautiful,” she then stated. “There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful. I know personally for me, the body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body. I was on a lot of anti-depressants, and drinking on them and eating poorly, and at the lowest point of my life when I looked the way you consider my ‘healthy.’ But that, in fact, wasn’t my healthy. I know I shouldn’t have to explain that, but I do feel like maybe having an openness and some sort of vulnerability here, something good might come from it.”

Grande is currently hard at work filming the upcoming big-screen adaptation of Wicked, which she noted in a social post earlier this month is now halfway complete.

Watch Ari’s call for kindness below.

Gwen Stefani Welcomes Six Kittens to Her Family: ‘Such an Incredible Experience’

Gwen Stefani took to social media on Tuesday (April 11) to show off a half-dozen sweet new additions to her family.

“Our cat had 6 sweet kittens this morning and we were all there to watch,” the pop star tweeted alongside a video of the baby animals. “It was such an incredible experience !! they r sooo cute.” (Stefani’s poor dog Betty, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to know what to make of all the meowing new additions as they snuggle up to nurse on their mom.)

Animal-loving fans flooded the singer’s replies with positivity and well-wishes for the kittens, with one tweeting, “Congratulations they are so beautiful omg how lucky of them to be welcomed in your family,” followed by three sparkling red heart emojis. Another was more concerned about Blake Shelton’s reaction, joking, “One cat has to be called blake or blake will be pissed ! Just saying.”

Speaking of Shelton, he’s been busy with his final season on The Voice while Stefani tapped out of season 23 to be replaced by returning coach Kelly Clarkson and newcomers Niall Horan and Chance The Rapper.

The fact that the current season is the country singer’s last has been much discussed and used to his advantage when recruiting hopeful singers to Team Blake, and was even lampooned in a hysterical fake biopic on The Voice titled One Last Ride: Blake Shelton’s Final Season, with Horan turning out a pitch-perfect impersonation of the OG coach.

Stefani, meanwhile, recently hit the stage for the very first time at the CMT Music Awards by performing a genre-twisting duet of No Doubt’s classic “Just a Girl” with Carly Pearce.

Check out Gwen and Blake’s litter of kittens below.

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Daniel Caesar, Mahalia, Chase Shakur & More

Spring is in full effect, and as temperatures rise, so does the heat index for new R&B/Hip-Hop releases. This week, we’ve hand-picked the freshest songs by emerging artists to keep you feeling motivated and wanting to go outside. From Chase Shakur and Daniel Caesar’s romantic reflections to Millyz and iann dior’s rap bangers, we’ve got a range of sounds covered — per usual.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Don’t forget to share the wealth with our Spotify Fresh Picks playlist, linked below.

Freshest Find: Daniel Caesar feat. Rick Ross, “Valentina”

You can always bet on a Rick Ross collab — especially when it involves talent from north of the border. On the follow-up deluxe version of his third album NEVER ENOUGH, Daniel Caesar recruited the Maybach Music head honcho for a verse that brings to mind Ross’ 2011 contribution to Drake’s “Free Spirit.” Atop the cool-toned, synth-centric groove, Caesar sweetly serenades a love interest with nostalgic lyrics and melodies. Towards the end, he sets up Ross, who adopts Caesar’s tender approach: “Making love like it’s war when it’s really peace/ I just wanna make you smile, can I see ya teeth?” he raps.

Chase Shakur, “sink or swim”

For his Def Jam debut, Chase Shakur gave us a taste of his upcoming project it’s not you, it’s me. “sink or swim” sees the Atlanta singer questioning whether he and his partner will survive a rough patch. With its staccato hi-hats and bassline, the song sounds right out of the ’90s.

Khi Infinite feat. Pusha T & Chase B, “Lights Please”

Khi Infinite says God threw him an alley oop with “Lights Please.” The Virginia artist made the song last fall and sat on it for a while before taking a chance and sending it to Pusha T to gauge his interest. Not only did the two collaborate, but they also formed a friendship. Khi then connected with Chase B, who added finishing touches to the rollercoaster of a song.

Low.bō, “Ricochet (Ndigo Flip)

Alongside his band ndigo, Low.bō flipped his single “Ricochet” by blending his honeyed vocals with additional instrumentation. Fusing a wide palette of influences that range from alt-R&B to indie rock, the 24-year old Baltimore native is honing in on vulnerable songwriting and live production to create his signature sound.

Mahalia, “Terms and Conditions”

There are terms and conditions to Mahalia’s love. Guarding her heart, Mahalia hops in her rap bag throughout parts of this new anthem to assert that she’s no longer taking s–t from a man. “If you want my love, then let’s discuss the man you’re required to be/ If you tell me lies, you get three strikes/ There’s no coming back, boy please,” the U.K. singer declares on the chorus.

Millyz, “Yoyo”

Millyz continues to apply the pressure with his revered Blanco series. The sixth installment finds the Cambridge, MA MC slinging steely raps coated with sugary melodies. Whether he’s sparring with hard-nosed stars Jadakiss (“Moon Roof”), G. Herbo (“Becoming”), or Berner (“Scriptures”), Millyz’s dexterity remains unmatched. He even shows promise as a mainstream threat when he switches gears and floats over radio-friendly heaters like the Rvssian-produced “Yoyo.”

Joyner Lucas feat. Future, “Blackout (Not Now, I’m Busy)”

After previously working with J. Cole and Lil Baby, Joyner Lucas reels in another blockbuster feature with Future on “Blackout.” The unruly twosome is defiant, spewing venom in every direction as they embrace their toxic personalities. “Heard that was your wifey, I turned her to my whore,” spits Future over the bombastic beat. “Blackout” is the second single off Lucas’ upcoming effort, Not Now, I’m Busy.

iann dior, “10×3”

We want a summer that sounds like this. Iann dior’s latest offering “10×3” is two minutes of witty captions (“If time is money, then why would I spend it on you?”), carefree energy and positive vibes. The track features a simple beat, centering thumping kicks and a tucked synth loop that reminds us of something you’d hear in Super Mario Bros.

Mozzy feat. YFN Lucci, “WE ACTIVE”

Sacramento-born rapper Mozzy joins forces with YFN Lucci on his latest single, “WE ACTIVE.” The CMG signee isn’t allowing time behind bars to stop him from voicing what’s weighing on his heart, rapping about both betrayals and successes. In the visual, YNF sits across from Mozzy, delivering an equally unforgiving verse overtop the RippOnTheBeat-produced instrumental.

Kaytraminé, “4EVA”

You into Kaytranada? What about Aminé? If the answer is two yeses, then let us introduce you to Kaytraminé. The duo has joined forces for an album arriving May 12, and it’s sure the rock the summer. If the dynamic duo wasn’t cool enough already, they brought the king of cool, Pharrell, into the mix for new single, “4EVA.” The cut is bouncy, laidback and perfect to soundtrack the warm days to come.

Every Musician Who’s Spoken About Anheuser-Busch’s Trans-Inclusive Campaign: Kid Rock, Jason Isbell & More

As right-wing legislative attacks against queer and trans people continue to skyrocket around the country, some conservatives seem to only be talking about one thing as of late: Bud Light.

On April 1, transgender TikTok star and social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney shared a video of herself participating in Bud Light’s Easy Carry Contest for the end of March Madness, revealing that the company helped her celebrate her “365th day of womanhood” with “possibly the best gift ever” — a commemorative can of Bud Light with Mulvaney’s face emblazoned on the side.

While Anheuser-Busch (the company that makes Bud Light) told Billboard in a statement that the commemorative cans bearing Mulvaney’s face are “not for sale,” that didn’t stop right-wing commentators from causing an uproar online, saying that the brand shouldn’t be promoting transgender “ideologies.” Some even said that they would be “boycotting” the companies many products, which include Budweiser, Busch, Stella Artois, Michelob Ultra, Hoegarden and others.

Some of those who spoke out included celebrities such as Kid Rock and Travis Tritt, who promised that they would be cutting all ties with the brand from that point forward. Other artists, including Jason Isbell and Zach Bryan, defended the brand against the online backlash, pointing out the importance of diversity. Even shock jock Howard Stern weighed in on the issue, saying he was “dumbfounded by why someone would care so much” about a trans person acting as a spokesperson for the beer brand.

See what artists have had to say about the ongoing Anheuser-Busch controversy below: