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Hot 100 First-Timers: FIFTY FIFTY Feels the Love With ‘Cupid’

South Korean girl group FIFTY FIFTY is officially a Billboard Hot 100-charting act, as the quartet achieves its first entry on the latest list (dated April 1) with “Cupid.”

The song, released Feb. 24 via Interpark Corporation, debuts at No. 100 with 5.7 million official U.S. streams (up 23%) in the March 17-23 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The track is also a hit around the world, as it jumps 106-65 on the Billboard Global 200 (22.9 million streams, up 39%, worldwide) and 119-69 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S.

Contributing to the song’s streaming surge are three versions: its original recording, a “Twin” mix and an instrumental version. (All versions of “Cupid” roll up into one listing on Billboard’s charts.)

TikTok has been a key factor in the single’s growing profile, as portions of the track have been used in more than 400,000 clips on the platform to-date. The song’s #CupidChallenge hashtag has also been added to more than 65 million videos. (TikTok does not contribute directly to Billboard’s charts.)

FIFTY FIFTY, which also rises 20-19 on the Emerging Artists chart, was formed by South Korean entertainment agency ATTRAKT last year. The group debuted its first single, “Higher,” on its introductory four-track EP, The Fifty, released Nov. 18.

The four-piece comprises Aran, Keena, Saena and Sio.

Billboard’s Hot 100 First-Timers column highlights artists who achieve their first career entries on the Hot 100.

Hot 100 First-Timers: Yng Lvcas Arrives With ‘La Bebe,’ Sparked by Peso Pluma Remix

Singer-songwriter Yng Lvcas scores his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated April 1), thanks to his breakthrough single “La Bebe,” newly remixed with fellow rising Mexican artist Peso Pluma.

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The song, which Yng Lvcas released independently in December 2021, debuts at No. 77 with 6.8 million U.S. streams (up 128%) in the March 17-23 tracking week, according to Luminate. Its Peso Pluma remix arrived March 17 via Warner Latina. (All versions of the song are combined into a singular listing on Billboard’s charts.)

The track concurrently vaults 35-11 on Hot Latin Songs in its sixth chart week. It also surges 74-20 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and 103-21 on the Billboard Global 200 (32.1 million streams, up 79%, worldwide).

TikTok has been a big factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of it has been used in more than 35,000 clips on the platform to date. (TikTok does not contribute directly to Billboard’s charts.)

Yng Lvcas is a newcomer to Billboard’s charts. “La Bebe” became his first chart entry upon its debut on the Hot Latin Songs and Global Excl. U.S. surveys dated Feb. 25.

Outside of the charts, he has released Wup? Mixtape1 and the LP LPM, both in 2021. He also released two EPs last year: Taka Taka Mixtape and Puerqueo EP.

As for newcomer Peso Pluma and recent Hot 100 First-Timer, he scores his fifth Hot 100 hit with “La Bebe.” All five tracks are currently charting on the Hot 100: “Ella Baila Sola” with Eslabon Armado debuts at No. 26, “AMG” with Gabito Ballesteros and Natanael Cano stands at No. 70 (after reaching No. 66 in February), “Por Las Noches” rises 92-72 in its second week on the chart, and “PRC” with Cano rises 95-73 (a new peak),

Billboard’s Hot 100 First-Timers column highlights artists who achieve their first career entries on the Hot 100.

Eslabon Armado & Peso Pluma Earn Career-Highs on Hot Latin Songs & Hot 100 Charts With ‘Ella Baila Sola’

Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma celebrate multiple career chart achievements as their collaborative hit “Ella Baila Sola” earns both artists their highest charting entries on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs and Billboard Hot 100 charts (dated April 1). On the former it starts at No. 2, and at No. 26 on the latter.

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Eslabon Armado’s previous high on Hot Latin Songs came with the No. 3-peaking “Jugaste y Sufri,” featuring Dannylux, in 2021, which also marked its Hot 100 high, climbing to No. 69. For Peso Pluma, the act went as high as No. 6 on Hot Latin Songs with “AMG,” a co-billed collab with Gabito Ballesteros and Natanael Cano, in February. It was also its highest charting hit on the Hot 100, reaching No. 66.

“Ella Baila Sola” is Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s first partnership. It was released March 17 via Prajin Parlay/DEL Records and arrives at No. 2 on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart after its first full tracking week mainly on the strength of streaming activity. The list blends airplay, digital sales, and streaming data.

“Ella Baila Sola” logged 16 million official streams in the U.S. during the March 17-23 tracking week, according to Luminate. The figure makes for a No. 1 start on Latin Streaming Songs and a No. 10 debut on the overall Streaming Songs chart. It’s the second No. 1 on Latin Streaming Songs for Eslabon Armado, and the first leader for Peso Pluma. On the all-genre Streaming Songs chart, it’s the first top 10 for both acts.

Notably, with 16 million streams in its opening week, “Ella Baila” logs the second-largest streaming week for a Latin debut this year thus far, trailing only Karol G x Shakira’s “TQG” which collected 29 million on the March 11-dated list.

While Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” registered 5 million in its opening week (Jan. 21) from only two days of activity — it then posted a 341% gain in its second chart week (and first full week of tracking), with 20 million streams. (It was released Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. ET, and launched with less than two days of activity.)

Further, only one other regional Mexican collaboration has accumulated at least 15 million official streams or more: Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera’s “Bebe Dame” (Feb. 4-dated ranking)

Sales also contribute to “Ella Baila’s” high start on Hot Latin Songs: Although the song sold a little under 1,000 downloads in its initial week, it generated enough to debut at No. 4 on Latin Digital Song Sales.

Global Entry

Elsewhere on the charts, “Ella Baila Sola” makes its first appearance on both Billboard Global charts, which rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate.

The track bows at No. 12 on the Billboard Global 200 with 47 million streams and 1,000 downloads sold. Meanwhile, the song collects 31 million streams and negligible amount in sales which yields a No. 14 launch on Global Excl. U.S. While Eslabon clocks its first entry on the latter, the song earns both acts their highest entry on Global 200.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: Loosey LaDuca Still Isn’t Over the ‘Actually Crazy’ Virality of ‘Let Loose’

After 13 episodes and the introduction of 16 queens, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15 has finally revealed our top four queens.

On last week’s episode (aired Friday, March 24), the top five contestants took part in the now-iconic makeover challenge, transforming teachers from around the country into fabulous drag queens bearing a strong family resemblance to their respective queens.

Transforming her teacher into a sickening drag daughter named Alektra, Anetra immediately wowed the judges not only for her phenomenal makeup skills, but for constructing two iconic outfits that conveyed the family resemblance they were looking for in this challenge. The star took home her third maxi challenge win, tying her for the most wins of the season with frontrunner Sasha Colby.

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Meanwhile, after a hair-splitting critique, Luxx Noir London and Loosey LaDuca found themselves in the bottom for their makeovers of Asia Azul and Lala LaDuca, respectively. Lip-syncing to guest judge Hayley Kiyoko’s “For the Girls,” Luxx pulled out all the stops, earning a spot in the top four, leaving Loosey as the eliminee.

Billboard caught up with Loosey following her elimination to talk about her song “Let Loose” going ultra-viral following her talent show performance in episode one, whether or not she was “delusional” during her Drag Race run, and which queen she felt should have been lip syncing against Luxx instead of her.

Congrats on making it to the top five! How are you feeling about your Drag Race journey?

I feel really great — I’m so incredibly proud of the job that I did. Of course, I would love to be top four … but other than that, I really look back and am just so proud of myself for everything that I did. 

Before we get into anything else, we have to talk about the sensation that is sweeping the nation — “Let Loose” is inescapable on social media at this point. What has it been like to watch this song absolutely blow up?

It’s so weird! I wasn’t sure about what the fanbase’s take would be on me, and then I was sick on the couch with COVID, when my phone just started blowing up. And it has not stopped since — every day I think, “Alright, I’m sure it’s passed.” Nope. It’s truly insane. People are now congratulating me, not for Drag Race, but saying, “Congratulations on ‘Let Loose,’ I mean, my god.” 

I mean, I get it — the song just passed 100,000 streams on Spotify, so it’s worth congratulating you on!

Yeah, it’s wild. I’m getting videos of people all over the world performing it, it’s actually crazy. All credit to my very good friend Andrew Barret Cox, he wrote and produced the track; he also did “Jantasy” for Jan. He is absolutely incredible and a certified bop-maker. 

Along with “Let Loose” going viral, another Drag Race moment caught the attention of none other than Kevin Bacon, who applauded your performance in the Rusical challenge! How gagged were you?

That was absolutely incredible, 100 percent the best moment of my mom’s life. I had COVID all last week, I was firmly planted on my couch with my dog, and sure enough, Kevin Bacon came up in my notifications. I was like, “Oh, I’m sure this is a Kevin bacon fan account or something.” And sure enough, it was actually him, which is absolutely insane. So now I’m one degree away from Kevin Bacon. 

It helps that the Rusical was genuinely so good — from the performances to the music, it was top-to-bottom excellent. 

Oh, I am so proud of the Rusical. I look back and I’m like, “God, we did so good.” The music was so good, and such earworms! They were bops, Leland and the entire team and all of the vocalists on those tracks were so talented and wonderful. I’m very honored to have been a part of, I think, one of the best Rusicals. 

Now, another thing that’s being flying around the internet are accusations of “drag delusion” in your direction. After being on set and after watching the show, do you think that you were experiencing said delusion?

I think … hmm, how to put this? I think what was shown looks like delusion. That’s all! [laughs] I trust that folks can read between the lines.

In the latest episode, getting to do the makeover challenge with teachers is such a lovely idea, especially with all of the anti-LGBTQ classroom laws being passed around the country. What do you feel like you got to learn from working with teachers who are having to deal with all of this legislation?

Yeah, completely. My teacher who I got to work with — Miss Lala LaDuca, thank you very much — was just so wonderful and so sweet. You could tell that she was the type of woman who was just born to be a teacher. I think what I really gained from that was that, a lot of times, teachers are the people who teach all of their students about the world. If kids are only getting the scope of what’s at home, that’s a very small, narrow point of view. School and teachers, it is sort of their job to open kids up to the rest of the world — if they’re not being legally allowed to teach about sexuality or identity, then these laws are stifling teachers’ jobs, which is to help cultivate who these kids are! No laws should be getting in the way of that. 

I do hope people understand how difficult the makeover challenge is — can you explain what it is about this challenge that makes it so tough?

Completely! I think, first of all, you’re putting drag makeup that has been designed to be perfect for your face on another human being. So now, it might not look the same — luckily, I thought my teacher looked sickening. She looked fully like a LaDuca. But the thing that’s especially hard about it is that you need to have a family resemblance, but it can’t be exact, but it can’t be too subtle. There’s so many factors in there that the judges can really pick apart, and that means there’s not usually a very clear winner or loser in these challenges, because there’s such a grey area. 

Before you go, I want to talk about the placements in this episode. You mentioned in your confessional that you were shocked to be in the bottom this challenge — full tea, who did you think should have been in your spot in the bottom two?

Ooh. I think, for lack of originality, probably Mistress — she wore that gown several times on the show, so if I had to say someone, I would say her. 

Morgan Wallen Tallies 10th Week at No. 1 on Artist 100

Morgan Wallen scores a 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated April 1), holding as the top musical act in the United States thanks to the continued success of his new LP, One Thing at a Time.

The 36-track album tallies a third week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with 209,000 equivalent album units earned in the March 17-23 tracking week, according to Luminate, after opening with 501,000 units, the largest weekly sum for an album this year. The set became Wallen’s second No. 1, following 2021’s 30-track Dangerous: The Double Album. The latter places at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 (42,000 units).

Contributing to Wallen’s Artist 100 rule are 18 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Two weeks earlier, he set a one-week record, with 36 songs on the chart, and then claimed the second-most weekly entries last week, with 28, with all from from One Thing at a Time. “Last Night” leads his 18 titles on the latest Hot 100 at No. 2, after becoming his first No. 1 two weeks ago.

Wallen is the 11th artist to reach the 10-week milestone on the Artist 100, dating to the chart’s 2014 inception. Taylor Swift leads with 64 weeks at No. 1, followed by Drake (37), The Weeknd (28), BTS (21), Adele (20), Ariana Grande (15), Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Ed Sheeran (14 each), Billie Eilish (12) and Wallen (10).

U2 re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 5, thanks to its new 40-track LP Songs of Surrender, which starts at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 (46,000 units). It’s the band’s 13th top 10 and makes the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers just the fourth group with new top 10s in the 1980s, ’90s, 2000s, ’10s and ’20s, after AC/DC, Def Leppard and Metallica. U2 topped the Artist 100 for a week in 2017.

Plus, BTS member Jimin debuts at No. 10 on the Artist 100 thanks to his new solo single “Set Me Free, Pt. 2.” The song debuts at No. 30 on the Hot 100 with 6.4 million official U.S. streams and 63,000 downloads sold, as he becomes the first BTS member to score an unaccompanied solo top 40 hit on the Hot 100. He’s the third member of BTS (which re-enters at No. 100) to reach the Artist 100’s top 10, joining RM (No. 6 peak in December) and Jin (No. 10, November).

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multidimensional ranking of artist popularity.

Ben Affleck Praises Jennifer Lopez for ‘Love & Support’ That Made New Movie ‘Air’ Possible

Ben Affleck just sang the praises of Jennifer Lopez, who was right there at her husband’s side Monday (March 27) at Los Angeles’ Regency Village Theatre for the premiere of his new movie, Air.

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While introducing his latest directorial project, which serves a courtside look at the creation of Nike’s famous partnership with basketball legend Michael Jordan, Affleck took a moment to thank the important players who contributed to the making of the film — one of whom, he said, was absolutely his superstar wife.

“I want to say that none of it would be possible — this company, this movie, this joy tonight — without the love and support of my wife who means more to me than anything in the world,” he said moments before Air‘s debut.

“I want to say thank you,” added Affleck, who also stars in the film as Nike founder Phil Knight. “I love you. You mean the world to me. You’re fabulous, you’re amazing, you’re wonderful, good, kind, magnificent and I love you.”

The 50-year-old actor had more to say about Lopez — whom he married in a summertime Las Vegas chapel ceremony last year — while walking the red carpet before Air‘s premiere. “She’s brilliant,” he told ET. “And [she] helps me in every conceivable way.”

The “Let’s Get Loud” singer, whose new album This Is Me … Now arrives this summer, afterward posted about the event on Instagram. With a video montage of clips from the red carpet, she shared footage of her posing with Affleck on the carpet in a neon yellow gown, the Oscar winner signing autographs and hanging out with costar and longtime best friend Matt Damon. See her video below:

Kaya Stewart Gets Help From Superstar Dad During Impressive ‘American Idol’ Audition

By this point, singers auditioning for American Idol understand that they need one of three things if they have any hope of making it through the early auditions rounds: unimpeachable talent, a great/moving backstory or an unexpected hook that makes for good TV.

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What very few can do, however, is bring along a ringer to accompany them who has sold as many, or more, records as judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Kaya Stewart ticked all those boxes and more on Sunday night (March 26), prompting Perry to exclaim, “Oh my God, blast from the past!” upon seeing Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart standing proudly next to his daughter.

Richie noted that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year along with the Annie Lennox-fronted British new wave duo known for such hits as “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” “Here Comes the Rain Again,” “Love is a Stranger” and “Missionary Man,” among many others. No big deal, but Kaya, 23, said she toured with the duo while her mom was pregnant with her and that music has always been part of her DNA. Go figure.

“Music has been a part of my life since before I was even born. My dad was in a group called the Eurythmics,” she told the judges. “When I was born, my dad was on tour, and I was going to shows when I was still in my mom’s tummy… The musician’s lifestyle has been something that’s just been a part of my life. There was never a question of what I wanted to do with my life. That was always going to be what I was going to do.”

Taking a chance, Kaya sang an original she wrote with her pops, “This Tattoo,” an emotional country pop break-up ballad featuring the refrain, “And I’ve got a feeling that it’s over/ And I couldn’t be any better/ And I’m gonna get this tattoo removed.” The judges were all impressed, with Perry subtly hinting at some potential nepo baby potholes along the way, suggesting that the panel may be “a bit more nitpicky with you” because of Kaya’s famous lineage and because the singer understands how the business works.

That said, they flagged Stewart through to the next round, with Richie calling the performance “great” while commending Kaya for presenting an original song, especially alongside her A-list dad. “In the midst of all this you slayed it,” he said, with Bryan adding that he could tell Stewart had grown up on stage and seemed comfortable performing for an audience.

Check out Stewart’s Idol audition below.

‘Snowfall’ Star Damson Idris Says Jay-Z Helped Him Get His Green Card

As Damson Idris continues to help roll out the series finale of the popular FX show Snowfall, the British actor recently sat down with Complex as the publication’s latest cover star to discuss myriad topics, including how Jay-Z helped him land his green card. 

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“Hov didn’t offer that up. I had to ask him,” Idris shared when asked if the rumor was true. “But he’s done many things for me over the years. He’s always supported me. He supports everyone. He supports so many people that you don’t even know. Like, genuinely I should tell everyone this right now: If you ever run into Jay-Z, just say thank you and keep it moving because he is definitely a pioneer of the culture, but of everything.”

Jay-Z has a history of being of great help to his friends and peers in the industry, including Meek Mill and Lil Wayne. When the Philly rapper was imprisoned in 2017 for violating his probation, Jay-Z not only wrote a New York Times op-ed calling out the justice system, but according to Meek, quietly spent millions of dollars on his legal fees as well. 

“Jay-Z is actually responsible for some of my legal fees, which I thought was the dopest in the world because it was some millions of dollars,” Meek revealed in a 2020 interview with The Breakfast Club. “I don’t even think I could have afforded it.”

Elsewhere in Idris’s interview with Complex, he shed light on his friendship with Tyler, the Creator. “He’s a great guy. He’s hilarious,” Idris gushed. “You’ll introduce Tyler to someone important, and randomly, he’ll be like, ‘Yeah, me and Damson take bubble baths together, and you’re like, ‘Whoa. No, we don’t.’ He’s just like that.”

Watch Damson Idris’ entire interview below.  

PUMA & Rhuigi Villaseñor To Drop Part 3 Of Capsule Collection That Celebrates Hip-Hop Culture

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PUMA x Rhuigi Villaseñor Capsule Collection Part 3

PUMA is one of the most respected athletic brands in the game and has a deep connection to Hip-Hop culture, and an ongoing collaboration with celebrated designer Rhuigi Villaseñor adds to that legacy. The two unveiled the third part of their capsule collection that honors the birthplace of Hip-Hop and its massive global influence on culture overall.

PUMA x Rhuigi Villaseñor Capsule Collection Part 3

As Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary looms just ahead, PUMA and Rhuigi Villaseñor’s latest drop takes us back to the 1970s and the early days of Hip-Hop by honoring the b-boys, b-girls, and the city that never sleeps.

The collection boasts the T7 Track Top and Track Pants, both stylish and functional for those ready to hit the floor and show off some moves as only the best breakers can. Along with the top and pants are an array of graphic t-shirts and a customary bucket hat. Completing the set is the Suede BBOY, which brings everything in the capsule drop together in the best of ways.

PUMA x Rhuigi Villaseñor Capsule Collection Part 3

For the campaign drop, New York’s W.A.F.F.L.E. dance crew modeled the designs, as seen in the images below. Pieces range from $40 to $185 and the capsule will officially drop on April 1 at PUMA.com, PUMA’s mobile app, PUMA NYC’s flagship store, and retail locations around the globe.

PUMA x Rhuigi Villaseñor Capsule Collection Part 3

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PUMA x Rhuigi Villaseñor Capsule Collection Part 3

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Madlib Says He’s Finishing Up His Collaborative Album Featuring the Late Mac Miller

There’s potentially more Mac Miller music on the way. On Monday (March 28), revered hip-hop producer Madlib told Sway in the Morning that he’s finishing several projects, including a posthumous release with the late rapper. 

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“Right now, I’m finishing up the Mac Miller album, the Planet Asia album, and the Erykah Badu album,” he said while discussing his newly released joint project Liberation 2 with Talib Kweli. Sway then asked if Mac’s estate agreed to the completion of the project, which Madlib confirmed. 

For years, rumors have swirled regarding the possible release of the collaborative effort between Miller and Madlib. In a 2019 interview with DJ Booth, Miller’s producer Theolonious Martin said the two recorded an entire project together and dubbed it Maclib. He also revealed that he had a song of theirs during Madlib’s set at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago that same year. 

“[Madlib] just randomly plays a Mac Miller joint. And I turn to him, I’m like, ‘There’s more of these, right?’ He’s said, ‘Oh, yeah, there’s a whole album. Maclib,’” Martin said at the time. “If Madlib decides to bless the world with that project, he should.” 

Clips of an unreleased song between Miller — who died in September 2018 — and Madlib titled “Shut the Front Door” surfaced in 2019, but were later scrubbed off the internet. The last Mac Miller album to be released was 2020’s Circles, intended to be the companion to his August 2018 Grammy-nominated effort, Swimming. Producer Jon Brion helmed the production for Circles; the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 164,000 album-equivalent units, the highest opening week of Miller’s career. 

Billboard has reached out to Miller’s reps for comment. Check out the clip of Madlib’s interview below.