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20 Mar 2023

Harry Styles Helps Fan With Marriage Proposal During Singapore Love on Tour Stop

Harry Styles’ Love on Tour is a popular destination not only for fans ready to enjoy the star’s hits-filled catalog, but also for lovebirds to kick off engagements. During the “Watermelon Sugar” singer’s set at Singapore’s National Stadium on Friday (March 17), a fan proposed to his girlfriend with a little help from the Grammy album of the year winner.

“Kenneth asked for some help. Can I get some romantic music, please? After you, Kenneth,” Styles said, which prompted the fan to get down on one knee in front of his girlfriend.

When the couple were shown on a giant screen, fans in the stadium went wild with applause. “She said yes! Kenneth and Kimmy, everybody!” Styles added, later joking that the fan stole his thunder. “Kenneth, hear me, you both seem wonderful. I wish you a life of happiness. Congratulations. Make some noise, everybody.” Billboard has reached out for comment.

The proposal during the Asia leg of Love on Tour is far from the first one that Styles has experienced or facilitated — in August, the European leg of the global trek concluded with a fan going onstage to serenade his girlfriend with Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” He then got down on one knee, and asked her in front of the entire arena, “Will you marry me?” The girlfriend said yes. And, for a bit of history, Styles also helped facilitate a fan’s #1DProposal during a 2014 One Direction concert in Georgia. (The woman said yes, too.)

Styles’ Love on Tour recently broke a Billboard Boxscore record. The singer’s 15 shows at Madison Square Garden in 2022 grossed $63.1 million and sold 277,000 tickets, making it the highest grossing headline engagement in Boxscore’s three-decade-plus history.

See videos from the Singapore proposal in the TikToks below.

20 Mar 2023

Get Inspired To Make Your Next Viral Video With This Creator-Approved Playlist

Later this week, the Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective takes over Dallas for its second iteration. The event, which takes place from March 21 through March 22, aims to serve as an inviting and inclusive learning environment where creators both new and more established can learn trade secrets and tips from some of the best in the business to further grow their followings across all social media platforms. Featuring music-making demonstrations, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and live performances, this year’s Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective puts audio at the forefront showcasing how creators can best utilize music to elevate their offerings. 

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To round out the weekend’s festivities, Billboard asked several major player creators to collaborate on a playlist that will serve as the soundtrack during the final morning of the Samsung Galaxy Creative Collective. Featuring TikTok creator Tefi, the respective winners of Samsung and Billboard’s NXT 1.0 and 2.0 Bronze Avery and Nyla XO, TikTok artist DJ Habi Beats, among others, this Coffee Hour playlist will represent an eclectic mix of the top artists and songs encompassing the diversity of the attendees themselves. 

For those who can’t attend in person, the Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective will be available to watch via livestream beginning on March 21 at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. EST on Samsung’s Twitch and YouTube channels. And for those looking for an immediate jolt of musically creative inspiration, check out the full creator-approved playlist below. 

Tefi 

Justin Nozuka – “Nova”

For Tefi’s first pick, TikTok’s best friend opted for the smooth nature of “Nova,” which hears Nozuka express some tender infatuation over a lover and he’s not afraid to shoot his shot. With his silky falsetto, the track shapes up as a go-to soundtrack for all the optimistic romantics and the perfect addition for our coffee hour. 

Kwaku Asante – “Feel Something”

“Feel Something” injects warm R&B into the mix, courtesy of Tefi’s second pick by Kwaku Asante. The cut hears the rising singer/songwriter walk a thin line of old school R&B with elements of neo-soul sprinkles throughout, leaving listeners with nothing but some feel-good energy. And yet, it’s so effortless and versatile that it could fit into the mix of a dancefloor. 

Bronze Avery

Holly Humberstone, “Overkill”

The first of Bronze Avery’s picks is “Overkill” by Grantham, England-bred sing-songwriter Holly Humberstone. Much like Avery’s highly emotional output, “Overkill” sees Humberstone singing  about the universal phenomenon of oversharing to a new romantic partner. The track’s video, which was filmed by Holly’s sister Eleri, sees the artist traipsing through the forest outside of her childhood home at dusk, with Holly stating that “it was basically my version of a 5k run.”

Bronze Avery, “SOFTSHELL”

For his second pick, Avery chose to highlight his own track, “Softshell.” Fresh off the artist’s 2022 debut album SOFTMETAL, the penultimate single sees the 28-year-old multihyphenate and inaugural Billboard NXT winner creating lush and longing alternative pop music that makes for a perfect backdrop, whether you’re cruising with the top down at sunset or wistfully staring out a rain-drenched window.

Nyla Xo

Lianne La Havas, “Unstoppable (FKJ Remix)”

For her first pick, NXT 2.0 winner Nyla XO steps up to the plate with the playful and bubbly remix of the Lianne La Havas track “Unstoppable” courtesy of French-multi instrumental and remixer French Kiwi Juice (or FKJ for short). The uplifting and highly danceable tune sees La Havas’s vocals perched above a beautiful melange of sunny piano chords and synth flourishes. 

Nyla XO, “Summer Days”

For her second pick, Nyla XO turns the focus back on herself, celebrating her 2020 single “Summer Days.” The song and its corresponding video – which was shot, edited, and directed by Nyla herself – both serve to celebrate the healing and rejuvenating qualities of nature during a year when many across the world prioritized getting back to the great outdoors for the very first time. 

Marilyn Hue 

PinkPantheress, “Break It Off”

Photographer and creator-at-large Marilyn Hue knows how to set a mood. Take her first pick; “Break It Off” by Kent, England’s PinkPantheress. At under two minutes, the energetic, seductive, and extremely catchy DnB-infused pop banger is the perfect way to inject just a little bit of fun and hyperpop into any day’s shoot schedule. 

TV Girl, “Cigarettes Out The Window”

Continuing on her moody streak, Hue chose “Cigarettes Out The Window” by Los Angeles indie rock act TV Girl. The third track off of band’s 2016 album Who Really Cares, “Cigarettes Out The Window” makes use of vintage as well as contemporary samples to create a song that is as timeless as it is evocative.

Drex Lee

Lana Del Rey, “Gangsta’s Paradise x Jealous Girl” (SicKick Remix TikTok)

Smartphone-centric film director Drex Lee knows all about setting a scene and how to contrast disparate elements to come to an end result that is bigger than the sum of its parts. Take, for instance, Lee’s first song choice, the SicKick mashup of Lana Del Rey’s “Jealous Girl” and Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.” While this pairing may not seem like a fit on paper, in practice, the songs work well to build upon shared themes of longing and violence. 

Steve Lacy, “Bad Habit”

Next up from Drex Lee, the breakout single from Odd Future affiliate and The Internet member Steve Lacy. Off his critically acclaimed sophomore solo album Gemini Rights, “Bad Habit” is a video creator favorite where the SoCal crooner waxes poetically about a failed love interest where slick guitar chords and vocal harmonies, featuring singer-songwriter Fousheé, serve to cushion any fall.

Tetris Kelly

Meghan Tranior, “Mother”

While Billboard News Host Tetris Kelly’s life might look like a dream, it most definitely sounds the part when soundtracked by his first pick, Meghan Tranior latest single “Mother.” With sonic nods to the 1954 track “Mr. Sandman” by girl group The Chordettes, the Kris Jenner-starring video plays with ideas of the fantastical to create the perfect accompaniment to any head in the clouds fantasy you might be trying to conjure. 

Taeyang feat. Jimin “Vibe”

Up next from Kelly, “Vibe” from former Big Bang member Taeyang with an assist from BTS’s Jimin. The song – a dance pop bop with equal nods to K-Pop, R&B, and New Jack Swing – is the perfect soundtrack for anyone with hearts in their eyes, whether it’s for a new crush or even if you are simply just admiring somewhere for their unique aura and vibe.

James Dinh

Taylor Swift, “Lavender Haze”

The first pick from Billboard’s James Dinh is also the first Taylor Swift song to grace the playlist, and it sure does pack a punch. “Lavender Haze” takes the best techniques of pop, ambient house, R&B, and electro and combines them all in an earworm worthy of syncing up with your end of night dance party or, for the more health conscious set, your most triumphant gym routine. 

Catching Flies, “Let Your Hair Down”

Continuing on this moody streak, Dinh’s second pick is the welcome refresh of “Let Your Hair Down” by London-artist Catching Flies. Somewhere between hip hop, trip hop, hip house, and downtempo, “Let Your Hair Down” invites you to do just that, whether you are relaxing after a long day or perhaps even savoring a meditative moment before you embark on your next adventure. 

Sarah Lombard

Niall Horan, “Heaven”

Ahead of his hotly anticipated third studio album entitled The Show, former One Direction-member Niall Horan graces us with its first single, “Heaven.” The first of Billboard staffer Sarah Lombard’s picks, “Heaven” is a crooning pop rock anthem about living life on your own timeline. 

Reneé Rapp, “Bruises”

The second of Lombard’s picks comes in the form of actress and singer Reneé Rapp’s “Bruises.” A song about vulnerability, “Bruises” provides the perfect soundtrack for any content aiming for introspection or deep hearted soul searching.

Quincy Green

Doechii feat. SZA, “Persuasive”

Up first for Billboard’s own Quincy Green, we see Tampa, Florida-bred Doechii’s 2022 banger, “Persuasive.” An uptempo hip house track with a vocal assist from none other than SZA, “Persuasive” will have you feeling yourself within seconds, perfect for any video content that speaks to renewed feeling of self-worth. 

KAYTRANADA feat. H.E.R., “Intimidated”

Up next from Green is KAYTRANADA’s 2021 track, “Intimidated.” Off the EP of the same name and featuring vocals from H.E.R., “Intimidated” sees Kaytranada effortlessly blending soul, house, and hip hop into pop music perfection that somehow feels both futuristic and like a cherished throwback. 

Steven Levine 

Coi Leray, “Players”

Speaking of throwbacks, next up we have Billboard’s Steven Levine with Coi Leray’s Grandmaster Flash-indebted “Players.” With bars that speak to female bravado and a beat you won’t be afraid to blast at the club or even a family cookout, “Players” is a perfect cherry on top for any good day.

PinkPantheress, Ice Spice, “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2”

Up next from Levine we have “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” from PinkPantheress and Ice Spice. These two burgeoning superstars pack a song of the summer anthem in under three minutes, proving that good things can truly come in small packages. 

Olive Mannella

Dermot Kennedy, “Something To Someone”

First from Billboard’s Olive Mannella, we have pop country in the form of Dermot Kennedy’s “Something To Someone.” Whether you are embarking on a cross country road trip or simply miss seeing the stars in your big city environment, “Something To Someone” will help you feel a little closer to home. 

Taylor Swift, “Invisible String”

Finally from Mannella, we have a pop folk ballad from the princess of pop Taylor Swift. A mellower, more sentimental side of Swift, “Invisible String” is the perfect soundtrack for mending up any wounds, lacing up your shoes, and continuing charting your own path, wherever your life may be taking you. 

20 Mar 2023

Proud Boys Catch A Proper Fade At NYC Drag Queen Protest

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Protesters Gather In New York City To Rally Against Vaccine Mandates

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Members of the Proud Boys met with fierce resistance at a drag event held in New York City, with one going viral after a video of them sustaining an injury was released.

On Sunday (March 19th), the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in Greenwich Village in Manhattan held the Drag Story Hour Read-A-Thon with New York Attorney General Letitia James. It took place from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M.

and was met with protests from right-wingers and the far-right Proud Boys group members. James shared a tweet of her attending and supporting the event later in the afternoon.

Counter-protesters clashed with the Proud Boys, with one group member storming away after having his face bloodied though it was unclear if it was due to fighting a counter-protester. That moment was captured on video, where he said to the cameramen, “I came here to help people, not to get the s*** beaten out of me.” The video currently has over two million views on social media.

Other members of the group were chased away by counter-protesters who yelled at them to leave. One person was jailed after breaking through NYPD-mandated boundaries throwing punches and yelling “Antifa” while trying to grab press cameras. James’ office offered no comment on the clash outside of the center when contacted by the press. But her support didn’t go unnoticed. “The LGBT Center is incredibly important to me personally, and to our community. The fact that there is a drag story hour and that the Attorney General of the State of New York is attending and is in support of this means something, to me,” activist Jay W. Walker said to the press. “We knew these evil, disturbed people were going to show up here and try to cause trauma for kids and their parents and we just want to be here to block that.”

The right-wingers are part of a larger movement that has sprung up in recent months across the country targeting drag performers and other members of the LGBTQ community. They’ve zeroed in specifically on events that are accessible to children such as drag story hour events where performers read at libraries. Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee recently signed SB003 into law, which criminalizes any drag event held within 1,000 feet of a school or park or any time a day a minor might be near. 18 other states are looking to adopt similar legislation.

20 Mar 2023

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: Salina EsTitties on How the Show’s New Rusical Reflects Our ‘Very Scary’ Reality

Drag queens and musical theater go together about as well as peanut butter and jelly, a fact that was proven yet again on the latest installment of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

On last week’s episode (aired Friday, March 17), the six remaining contestant got to perform in a fan-favorite challenge: the Rusical! Fighting for parts and learning their songs and choreo, the queens put on a show-stopping performance of Wigloose: The Rusical, telling the story of a small town trying to ban drag —which sounded pretty familiar to the audience at home.

With the judges struggling to find flaws in what was one of the best Rusical performances to date, they ultimately adored Anetra’s hilarious-yet-moving performance as the show’s supportive mother. Meanwhile, the panel split hairs and decided that Loosey LaDuca and Salina EsTitties didn’t wow them as much as the other girls on the runway, landing them both in the bottom.

Performing in a chilling lip-sync to Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” both queens did their best to showcase the inherent drama of the song. Ultimately, Loosey’s eerie performance earned her another week in the competition, bringing Salina’s competitive run to a close.

Billboard caught up with Salina following her elimination to talk about surviving three lip-syncs on the show, how timely Wigloose feels today, and the backstage drama that came from RuPaul’s infamous question, “who should go home tonight and why?”

You made it to the top six! How are you feeling about your Drag Race journey?

I feel amazing about it. Being there, it didn’t feel like it was that big of a deal, because I was like, “Yeah, I wanted to get to the top!” But after the fact, looking back, I was like, “Wait … top six out of 16 bitches? That’s great.” 

With being in the top six, you also join a handful of Drag Race queens who have survived three or more lip syncs, like Jujubee, Coco Montrese and others. Was that something that you were consciously thinking about in the moment?

I mean, no, because we all know that third Beyoncé lip sync was supposed to be Mistress — we all saw that interview! [laughs] No, no, it’s fine, I got to give an iconic Beyoncé moment, I was fully ready, bitch. The thing with our season is it felt like anyone could have been in the bottom at any point. We’re all so talented and good at this, that if you put any one of the girls there, it would have been a fight regardless. It did feel good winning, obviously. But at the same time, it really felt like anyone could have been in my situation, which made it such a weird experience to live through. To be able to keep going felt amazing. 

A lot of the girls were like, “Oh, I’m just here to have fun!” But I think, deep down, we were all really there to try and win and do our best. 

Yes, girl, people are trying to win this season. 

Oh, we see that with Miss Loosey, don’t we, honey? [laughs]

I’ve also love that you shouting the phrase “Free Willy” when Anetra leapt over Marcia in the episode prior has become a full-blown meme on Twitter. 

I was so happy they kept that in. When we were watching that lip-sync, when she leapt over her, it was the most iconic lip sync situation we had seen all season. So the fact that they made me a part of it was just sickening. And Marcia had no clue that happened in the moment! The way everyone was screaming in the room, it was just insane. 

Let’s get into this week and the Rusical episode. For the one trillionth time on this show, we get this moment where Loosey and Luxx are fighting over who gets to play the lead. You backed out quickly from that fight — do you think it’s really worth it to fight for the lead role in these challenges?

In a situation like this where you’re really vying for wins and you want to get noticed by the judges, in the lead role, you’re going to get noticed the most. Usually, the conversation quickly steers towards, “Oh, you could really mess up! You could do really bad!” But I think with musicals, and the fact that a lot of us drag queens are theater queens, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to showcase everything we can do — dance, sing, act, lip-sync — all at once. As a theater major myself, I wanted that lead role, too! But, I wasn’t gonna fight over it.

I think everyone was very struck by how unbelievably timely this Rusical was. Having a show about a small town trying to ban drag while that actual real thing is actively happening in Tennessee and on the precipice of happening in other states felt really wild. 

It’s literally so insane. It’s fully like that thing with how The Simpsons kept predicting the future — now it’s Drag Race. At the time of filming, which was almost a year or so ago, Ru had just done an interview with Jimmy Fallon, I think, talking about acceptance and drag queen story hour, which was sort of the main issue at the time. But it’s still happening today, and now it’s even crazier. It’s actually wild how relevant it is today, and I’m really grateful that this is all lining up the way that it is, because what a great way to combat this and show that it’s really about love at the end of the day.

How have you been dealing with all of the news coming out of places like Tennessee lately?

It’s crazy. Our good sister Aura lives in Tennessee, and she has been a very vocal advocate, and she’s been using her platform to fight against it. We’ve all kind of been asking her, “What can we do to help?” 

It’s interesting, too, now that I’m traveling to these smaller, rural towns where I’m thinking, “Wait … y’all don’t like us.” It’s very scary out here today. 

Getting back to the Rusical, the judges weren’t kidding when they said that all of you killed this performance. When you were preparing for Wigloose, could you tell that this one felt like such a strong Rusical challenge?

The music is so good. We could not stop singing “Everybody’s going Wigloose” ever since we left the show. Like, we’ve all been talking about how we genuinely can’t wait for it to go on iTunes so we can actually listen to it. Leland is a literal genius, and he’s fast making all of this stuff while we’re there. It’s insane. 

So, yes, we knew we were crushing it. When the critiques happened and there were no bad critiques, it felt correct. Like, “the show was perfect, let’s just read you guys for your looks.” So it was like, “Okay, cool, we did something iconic that’s going to go down in history.” 

Speaking of critiques, this week the dreaded question comes up; “Who should go home tonight, and why?” I appreciate that you let the girls who said your name know exactly how you felt about being picked. What’s that experience like, having to answer, and being told that these girls want you gone?

Well, in that moment, I was truly like, “Well, it’s only two people out of five.” I had a feeling in my heart that they didn’t even necessarily believe that was true. Up until this point, I had been in the bottom for two design challenges and the one interview challenge, which no one thought I should have been in the bottom for to begin with. So, Loosey straight up told me, every design challenge, “You shouldn’t have been in the bottom.” So, in the moment, I was like, “If that’s the case, Loosey, your math about why I should go home just doesn’t add up.” 

So I thought, “Let’s go out with a bang. If this is my last episode, I’m gonna go down with a fight.” And I was so mad that they weren’t pushing back at me during Untucked! Like, “fight with me, dammit!” And then Anetra comes in with, “Well, RuPaul was asking about who deserved to go,” and I was like, “Shut up, Anetra, I’m not even talking to you, I’m talking to Loosey!” [laughs]

We get to this lip sync — I just want to know what your approach was, knowing you had this chilling, emotional song to perform while wearing giant hot dog fingers?

Girl, it was giving Everything Everywhere All At Once. The whole point of EsTitties is that she’s an actress, she takes these serious beats, but the reality of who she is really is just chaos, insanity and camp. I knew it would look ridiculous, but as long as I played it so serious and heartfelt, it would make it even more hilarious that I had these massive hands. 

20 Mar 2023

14-Year-Old Shooter Dubbed “El Chapito” Arrested By Mexican Officials

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MEXICO-POVERTY-EDUCATION

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By now everyone knows that the Mexican cartels are a big problem south of the border. But shockingly enough they now have children putting in the kind of work you’d expect from John Wick. A 14 year old has just been taken into custody for racking up a body count that would make some hitmen blush.

CBSNews is reporting that Mexican authorities announced that they’ve arrested a teenage hitman they dubbed as “El Chapito” for the suspected murders of eight people near Mexico City. According to authorities from the Federal Public Safety Department, the suspect in question rode up on a motorcycle and opened fire on an entire family in the Mexico City suburb of Chimalhuacan this past January. Along with the 14-year-old hired gun, police also booked another man connected to the killings along with seven other members. They were taken in on drug charges.

The victims were holding a party at their house at the time of the attack, which also left five adults and two children wounded. It was reportedly a birthday party.

The boy’s name was not released, but his nickname — “Little Chapo” — is an apparent reference to imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. El Chapo has been serving a life sentence in a “supermax” maximum security prison in Colorado since his 2019 conviction on charges including drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons-related offenses. 

Though authorities haven’t revealed why this birthday party was targeted, Mexican cartels are known for gunning down rivals and forcing kids into the lifestyle with threats of death if they don’t comply.

In 2010, soldiers detained a 14-year-old boy nicknamed “El Ponchis” who claimed he was kidnapped at age 11 and forced to work for the Cartel of the South Pacific, a branch of the splintered Beltran Leyva gang. He said he had participated in at least four decapitations.

After his arrest, the boy, who authorities identified only by his first name, Edgar, told reporters that he was drugged and threatened into committing the crimes.

Along with the 14-year-old shooter, authorities also confirmed that they had arrested a woman connected to at least nine murders in the border city of Mexicali. The woman in question already had two warrants out for her arrest for two killings but was also named in seven other possible homicide investigations.

Things are too wild in Mexico these days, b. We guess these cartels feel the whole “spare the women and children” is somewhat of an antiquated notion.

What do y’all think of the news coming out of Mexico? Let us know in the comments section below.

20 Mar 2023

‘Destiny’ Community Honors The Late Lance Reddick With Touching In-Game Tributes

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Lance Reddick Remembered By The 'Destiny' Community

Source: Rachel Murray / Getty / Lance Reddick

Lance Reddick was loved not only in the real world but also in the virtual world.

The world was stunned following the tragic loss of Lance Reddick. The actor, best known for his role on the iconic HBO Series The Wire and other standout performances on other shows, was also HUGE in the video game space.

Reddick recently took on the character of Albert Wesker in Netflix’s now-canceled Resident Evil series, a role the showrunner said he was perfect for. Reddick himself wished he could continue playing.

The actor’s likeness brings to life Sylens, the mysterious antagonist in Horizon Zero Dawn and its fantastic sequel, Horizon Forbidden West.

But Reddick has become legendary with players of Bungie’s looter/shooter franchise, Destiny. The actor’s iconic voice is behind the Titan Vanguard of the Tower, Captain Zavala, who issues out missions to guardians.

He was also an avid player of the game as well.

To pay tribute to Reddick, Destiny 2 players have been showing love to Captain Zavala by kneeling in front of him and making other gestures to show love to the 60-year-old actor who died from what is described as “natural causes” by his family.

So dope.

It will be interesting to see how Destiny and the Horizon franchises handle Reddick’s passing because he was integral to the progression of both games’ main stories.

Until then, you can see more touching in-game tributes from Destiny 2 players and more in the gallery below.

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Photo: Rachel Murray / Getty

2. So cool

3. Lance Reddick will live forever

20 Mar 2023

E-40 Launches New Spirits Brand Tycoon Vodka

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NBA : Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors pregame

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E-40 is expanding his empire. He has launched a new spirits brand in Tycoon Vodka.

As spotted on Complex, the Vallejo, California native is bossing up yet again. This week he announced his newest foray into the alcohol category. On Thursday, March 16 he took to social media to make the unveiling with a quick video of the finishing stages of the bottling process. The packaging seems to be directly influenced by the classic Art Deco design era and features black and gold branding on the logo bed.

This is not E-40’s first entry to the spirits industry. Back in 2013, he launched Earl Stevens Selections with an offering of Mango Moscato and a Red Blend wine. Since then, he has launched E. Cuarenta Tequila line with Blanco, Reposado and Anejo varieties. Additionally, he has his own malt liquor and cognac. Tycoon Vodka is available online for $44.95. You can buy it here.

Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty

20 Mar 2023

David Jolicoeur Honored By De La Soul, ‘The Tonight Show’ Crowd In Touching Moment

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De La Soul's The DA.I.S.Y. Experience at Webster Hall

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During a sit-down with The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon before their now-viral performance with The Roots, the remaining members of De La Soul recounted the band’s early days. They shared a touching moment with the enthusiastic audience. 

Vincent “Maseo” Mason and Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer shared memories with Fallon about recording the group’s seminal debut, 3 Feet High and Rising. They also led the audience in a brief, heartfelt tribute to David “Trugoy The Dove” Jolicoeur who passed away last month at 54. 

Jolicoeur died just weeks before the group’s catalog hit streaming services after years of legal disputes. 

Maseo and Posdnuos told Fallon about how the group met in Amityville, Long Island and recalled their first public performance opening for Stetsasonic. “We did [one] song and I remember DMC came backstage and was like, ‘Yo, do the song again,’ it was just amazing,” Mercer said.

More recently, DJ Drama announced that he has a new Gangsta Grillz mixtape coming with the group, telling Elliot Wilson and Brian “B. Dot” Miller for a new episode of Rap Radar, “For me being a mixtape DJ I was always addicted to the new sh*t. I was a teenager in the 90’s so that’s my era; that’s what I ride around listening to” he explained. “De La Soul is coming to streaming [platforms] and I couldn’t be more excited. And we got a Gangsta Grillz coming. That’s a little sidebar.”


https://youtube.com/watch?v=newaSzZo42Q&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

At the conclusion of the interview, Maseo thanked Reservoir Media which secured the group’s six-album back catalog through its acquisition of the previous label, Tommy Boy Records in 2021. He also led the audience in thanking Trugoy the Dove. 

“Can you please say for me ‘thank you, Dave?’” Mason asked the crowd.

“Thank you, Dave,” the crowd responded.

“Tonight, he’s watching,” Fallon added.

Later in the show, De La Soul and The Roots performed “Stakes Is High,” the titular Jay Dee-produced track from the group’s 1996 album. The moving performance made the rounds last week on social media with fans and other hip-hop connoisseurs calling the performance, “flawless.” 

Watch the performance below. 


https://youtube.com/watch?v=lZ6JXCaOttw&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

20 Mar 2023

NFL Veteran J.J. Watt Praises Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour: ‘She Crushed It’

A Swiftie is born! J.J. Watt was a lucky attendee at Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour on Saturday night (March 18) and took to social media the following day to share his thoughts on the show.

“44 Songs. 3 Hours and 15 Minutes. So much respect @taylorswift,” the former Houston Texans player captioned his tweet following the concert, which he attended with his wife, professional soccer player Kealia Ohai, and her friends. “When your fans pay for a ticket, they are getting their money’s worth and some. Touché.”

The football star added in a video: “I’ve got a few observations from the show. First off: unbelievable. The production, the set design, the video boards, the sound quality, the speakers — you can tell when somebody does something at the top of their game and is trying to do the right way for their fans.”

He went on to praise Swift’s unrelenting stamina during the 44-song set, saying, “She did not stop the whole time. There was no intermission. There was no halftime. There was no TV timeouts. The longest break she took was maybe three minutes for a costume change. And she was singing, dancing, entertaining the entire time — 70,000 people hanging on every single word and move she was making… And she crushed it. And she didn’t even look tired! I was tired and I was just sittin’ there!”

At the end of the video, Watt also revealed that he even copped some official Swiftie merch after being so impressed with Taylor and the “spectacle of it all.” The Eras Tour is set to continue this weekend with back-to-back shows in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

Watch Watt rave about Swift’s opening weekend performance below.

20 Mar 2023

The Smile, Big Thief and Bon Iver to Headline 2023 Pitchfork Music Festival

Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival announced this summer’s lineup on Monday (March 20), with a roster of headliners that includes Radiohead side project The Smile, Big Thief and Bon Iver. The three-day event (July 21-23) in Union Park will find the Smile’s Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner joined on night one by Alvvays, Perfume Genius, Leikeli47, Nation of Language, Roc Marciano & The Alchemist, Youth Lagoon, Ric Wilson, Grace Ives, Jlin, Axel Boman (Live), Mavi, Sen Morimoto and Contour.

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Saturday night’s lineup — topped by the Adrianne Lenker-led Big Thief — also includes Weyes Blood, King Krule, Snail Mail, Panda Bear + Sonic Boom, Julia Jacklin, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, Vagabon, MJ Lenderman, Yaya Bey, Black Belt Eagle Scout, 700 Bliss, Palm and Deeper.

The final night will feature Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver sharing the stage with: Kelela, Koffee, Killer Mike, JPEGMafia, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Mdou Moctar, ILLUMINATI HOTTIES, Jockstrap, Soul Glo, Florist, Lucrecia Dalt, Rachika Nayar, and Ariel Zetina.

“We’re excited to be back at Union Park with a lineup of artists responsible for some of the very best music of the past year — Alvvays, Kelela, Yaya Bey, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupil, Grace Ives, 700 Bliss, and more — alongside a few special moments with indie icons,” said Pitchfork editor in chief Puja Patel in a statement. “For one, this year will mark the very first time that Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood (as The Smile) and Bon Iver will perform at the Chicago festival. And Big Thief will complete their tour of the fest’s stages over the years with a headlining set, their first at a festival this size.”

Tickets for the festival are on sale now, with three-day passes ($219) and single-day passes ($109) available along with a Pitchfork PLUS ($419 for three-day, $209 for single-day) upgrade with a number of extras; click here for ticket information.

See the full 2023 Pitchfork Festival lineup below.