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21 Feb 2023

50 Cent Humorously Jabs Former Kremlin Official Over Ari Melber Interview

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50 Cent is comfortably in his mogul role as he continues to dominate as an executive producer in the entertainment world via his portfolio of street-savvy dramas. After a well-received interview with MSNBC host Ari Melber last week, 50 Cent got into a humorous war of words with a former Kremlin official over which guest had the most views on The Beat.

The artist born Curtis Jackson didn’t take the first shot as most might expect. This time, the honor went to Andrei Vladimirovich Kozyrev, a former Kremlin official, and Russian politician. Kozyrev was a guest on The Beat last year just as the Ukraine conflict erupted and became the most-watched The Beat segment with 5.4 million views.



As of now, 50 Cent holds second place in the viewership race at 4.4. million from a 2018 appearance on The Beat, prompting Kozyrev to show off a bit in a response to a tweet made by Melber on Feb. 17 highlighting the top four most-watched interviews.

Fif, not to be outdone, replied in his usual hilarious fashion.

In response, Kozyrev let Fif know that his son is a fan of his.

Along with the many feathers in his cap already, could 50 Cent be preparing to enter the high-stakes world of foreign affairs? Stay tuned.

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Photo: JACK GUEZ / Getty

21 Feb 2023

Eminem Wants to Block Two ‘Real Housewives’ From Securing ‘Reasonably Shady’ Trademark

Eminem has picked a legal fight with two “Real Housewives” over their efforts to register the name of their Reasonably Shady podcast as a trademark.

Citing his Slim Shady nickname, lawyers for the superstar (real name Marshall B. Mathers) last week quietly launched a case aimed at blocking Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon (stars of the Real Housewives of Potomac) from securing a federal trademark registration on their podcast’s name.

In a petition filed on Dec. 14 at the U.S. trademark office, Eminem’s attorneys said American consumers view the term “Shady” as a “unique and distinctive” term that’s linked to the rapper – meaning they would likely think that “Reasonably Shady” was somehow connected to Eminem.

“Confusion is unavoidable,” the rapper’s lawyers wrote. “Applicant’s mark ‘Reasonably Shady’ simply looks and sounds like ‘Shady’ and suggests that it represents the services of Mathers.”

In a statement to Billboard on Tuesday (Feb. 21), Dixon and Bryant’s attorney Andrea H. Evans said the duo “intend to defend their trademark application” in the face of Eminem’s accusations. “The trademarks are not confusingly similar and the services are not related,” Evans said.

Bryant and Dixon launched “Reasonably Shady” in 2021, describing it a series of “conversations about being fearless women as they recount stories from their exciting lives.” They’ve released 80 episodes since, covering dating, relationships, motherhood, style, current events and other topics.

Last year, the duo applied at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to secure a trademark registration on the name for a wide range of offerings, including not just producing a podcast but also selling cosmetics, candles and apparel. If granted, the registration would make it easier for Bryant and Dixon to sue someone who used the term “Shady” for similar goods or services.

But last week, Eminem’s attorneys filed their case at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, a court-like body within the USPTO where rival trademark owners can battle over who has better rights to a disputed name.

The rapper, who has “Slim Shady” and “Shady” for decades as the name of a dark alter ego, already owns a number of such trademark registrations on those names, covering music services and merchandise. Giving the similarity of the names, his lawyers say consumers will associate Bryant and Dixon’s proposed trademark with Eminem.

“Applicants use and registration of the mark ‘Reasonably Shady’ is likely to cause confusion in the minds of consumers,” his attorneys wrote, saying the star would be “damaged” by the registration of Bryant and Dixon’s trademark.

A rep for Eminem did not immediately return a request for comment on the case. Dixon and Bryant have until March 26 to file a formal response at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Read Eminem’s entire petition here:

21 Feb 2023

Ed Sheeran Is Spicing Things Up With a Hot Sauce Collab

Ed Sheeran is coming to a kitchen near you. On Tuesday (Feb. 21), the “Bad Habits” singer announced that he has created Tingly Ted’s, a brand of hot sauce in collaboration with Kraft Heinz that is based on his childhood nickname, Ted.

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The singer-songwriter shared the news in a video posted to his Instagram feed that detailed his reasoning for creating a hot sauce brand of his own.

“I love my food — that’s no secret. But the older I get, the more I need spice. So we’ve developed a hot sauce called Tingly Ted’s. I’ve developed this over time with some expert hot-sauce makers and we basically whittled it down to the best flavors, the best chilis,” Sheeran said in the video. “I wanted it the same consistency of ketchup, and I wanted something that took a higher place on my shelf or in the fridge that didn’t just get relegated to the cupboard with all the other hot sauces.”

Sheeran captioned the heartwarming short, “I felt like something was profoundly missing in my life, and after much soul searching, I realised it was a proper hot sauce. So I made @tinglyteds. I love it, coming to a shelf near you soon #therockhastequilaihavehotsauce #bizznizzman #fridge.”

Rafael Oliveira, EVP and president of international markets at Kraft Heinz is excited over the collab with the four-time Grammy winner. “It’s rare to find someone who is as passionate about sauces as we are – and it’s no secret Ed is already one of the biggest Heinz Tomato Ketchup fans you can find – so when we heard he wanted to make his own hot sauce, we of course wanted in,” he said in a press release. “We invited Ed to collaborate and moved quickly to develop a recipe that brought his vision to life. … We can’t wait for people to try it.”

Tingly Ted’s comes in two varieties: Tingly and Xtra Tingly. The Tingly sauce is described as a “medium hot sauce that feels like a warming hug in a bottle,” while Xtra Tingly — listed as having a 39 percent jalapeño content — is ideal for those wanting to take their spice to the next level. According to the Tingly Ted’s website, the sauces “are the perfect squeeze for your fries, nuggets, falafels, fried chicken or, quite honestly, any meal at all!”

Fans and hot sauce aficionados wanting to try Tingly Ted’s will need to wait to try it, as an official release date for the sauces has not been announced. The pair of sauces is currently available for pre-order in Europe, Australia and New Zealand on tinglyteds.co.uk for £6.

Watch Sheeran talk about Tingly Ted’s in the video below.

21 Feb 2023

The Kid LAROI Talks Upcoming Debut Album ‘The First Time’ & Navigating Early Success

The Kid LAROI closed out the final day of NBA All-Star Weekend Sunday night (Feb. 19) with an unforgettable headlining performance at the AT&T NBA All-Star Pre-Game Concert. However, it’s his two new singles, “Kids Are Growing Up” and “Love Again,” that have fans most excited for his upcoming debut studio album, The First Time. 

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“I’m super happy, man. I’m happy to be putting stuff out again and thrilled to be going on tour again,” LAROI tells Billboard about returning to the music scene after a two-year absence. “Believe it or not, I feel like a lot of artists don’t enjoy touring — but I went on my first one last year, and that shit was so f–king fun.”

During the conversation with the 19-year-old artist, it’s clear that he has an unwavering desire to achieve greatness and create music that deeply resonates with his fans. Citing the late Kobe Bryant as one of his favorite basketball players, the Lakers legend’s strong work ethic has profoundly impacted the young Australian’s approach to his craft.

“I’ve been making [the album] over the past two years,” LAROI explains. “Not two years of every day working towards this album, but two years in between other stuff. Making little ideas, and the stuff that I started with at the beginning that I’m going to see through to the end with this

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. And then the stuff that I made three days ago that I feel needs to be on the f–king thing. So, it’s just been a slow process.”

The young prodigy says that he’s really buckled down the past three or four months to complete the much-anticipated musical release. His last project, the Billboard 200 chart-topper F–k Love 3, was something that he confessed he’s not particularly proud of from a messaging perspective. 

“I kind of don’t like that project, man,” he chuckles. “To be honest, I don’t really agree with a lot of the stuff on there anymore. I mean, I don’t agree with the message of the album in general. ‘F–k Love,’ I think it was an immature statement to make. I think it was like a heat of the moment statement.”

In recent years, LAROI’s home country Australia has made an undeniable impact in producing a diverse range of talents in sports and entertainment, including NBA players Ben Simmons, Josh Giddey and Patty Mills. Simmons, in particular, was thrust into the public eye at a young age, an experience that LAROI can relate to — acknowledging that navigating personal growth in the public eye has been a process of trial and error. However, this unique vulnerability and outlook have helped him build a devoted base early in his career, and as The First Time approaches its release date, fans can anticipate more of his exceptional vulnerability and perspective that have propelled him to early fame.

“For me, I think I look at it [as] a big blessing. It’s also a bit of a curse,” LAROI says about his global success at a young age. “I signed my record deal with Columbia when I was 15 … at 15, you don’t know anything. You really don’t. You’re like a literal child, even if you don’t understand that at the time. I’m about to be 20 this year, and I f–king look back at 15, and I feel like I was a literal child and a baby.”

Fans can expect a fresh outlook from LAROI on this up-and-coming LP — but the young star still puts everything in appropriate perspective when it comes to his past efforts.

“The cool thing about music and putting stuff out is it’s like a time capsule, right?” he says. “So, it’s like, ‘Whatever, that’s how I felt at the time.’ And it’s cool that I get to look back, cringe at it, and be proud of the next stuff I’m about to put out.”

21 Feb 2023

Black Thought Pens ‘Love Letter to Hip-Hop’ for Its 50th Anniversary

Legendary rapper Black Thought bared his soul through a love letter to hip-hop as a part of BET’s 50th anniversary of hip-hop programming. In the four-and-a-half minute spoken word, the Roots rapper and co-founder lays out a comprehensive history detailing hip-hop culture’s impact on a multitude of creative spaces including dance, art, music and fashion across the globe.

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Guiding listeners through a half-century of hip-hop, Black Thought pays homage to cultural pillars such as Grandmaster Flash, first female rapper Sha-Rock and hip-hop “godmother” Sylvia Robinson, in addition to fashion architects Dapper Dan and June Ambrose. He seamlessly references turntable play with the line, “One topic of discussion was whose hands were faster,” effortlessly flowing into bars about graffiti tags and the evolution of hip-hop in New York City.

“Cold blooded, no budget but we became raw to end the gang wars, what we started this thang for,” he raps of the genre’s roots, going on to unpack the explosion of hip-hop into a full-fledged global movement through early foundational contributions by groups including Public Enemy and Tribe Called Quest and later expansions by artists and entrepreneurs Jay-Z, Pharrell, Drake and Kanye West.

The poem later touches on identity and the struggle for Black and brown genre pioneers to be accepted into the mainstream. Now that they are, Black Thought stresses the importance of not losing sight of their roots. The Benny Boom-directed black-and-white video features breakdancers interspersed with Black Thought himself and visuals of genre greats such as Nipsey Hussle, Common, NWA and Salt-N-Pepa, and iconic locations including Harlem’s Apollo Theater and Detroit’s 8 Mile Road.

“From here looking back, I say we did it, we made it, they hate it and said we were over and gone. I feel it’s the move to say we proved all of them wrong,” Black Thought raps. “Fifty years down the line we could spark this, my eternal beloved hip-hop is where our hearts live.”

The artist and network also shared a clip on Instagram, captioning a joint post: “This is Part 2 of our Love Letter to Hip Hop and if you’re not keeping up, I need you to. We hit up @blackthought to pen a tribute to Hip Hop as we celebrate its 50th and of course, the pen is ridiculous.”

21 Feb 2023

SZA Expected to Sizzle in 2024 Grammy Nods

SZA played just a small role at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 5. She presented best música urbana album to Bad Bunny, and she was on hand as a nominee for best melodic rap performance for her featured role (alongside Future) on DJ Khaled’s “Beautiful.” (They lost.)

Expect SZA to play a much larger role at the 66th annual Grammy Awards early next year. Her sophomore album, SOS, is a top contender for nominations for both album of the year and best progressive R&B album. “Kill Bill,” the album’s biggest hit to date, has a good chance at record and song of the year nods.

This would be SZA’s first album of the year nod as a lead artist. Her debut album, Ctrl, was nominated for best urban contemporary album (the former name of best progressive R&B album). Three songs from the album – “The Weekend,” “Supermodel” and “Love Galore” (featuring Travis Scott) – were nominated in various R&B and rap categories. In addition, SZA was nominated for best new artist, but lost to Alessia Cara.

SZA has been nominated twice for both record and song of the year. “All the Stars,” a collab with Kendrick Lamar from Black Panther, was nominated for both awards in 2018. “Kiss Me More,” a collab with Doja Cat, was nominated for both awards in 2021. The latter track also led to SZA’s first album of the year nod, as a featured artist on Doja’s Planet Her.

“Good Days,” a one-off single at the time that was included on SOS, was nominated for best R&B song in November 2021.

Many of the producers and featured artists on SOS have Grammy awards or nominations on their resumes. Six Grammy winners – Babyface, Jeff Bhasker, Darkchild (Rodney Jerkins), DJ Dahi, Emile Haynie and Shellback – are among the producers of SOS. All four of the featured artists on the album – Scott, Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers and Ol’ Dirty Bastard – are past Grammy nominees.

SOS has ranked No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in nine of its 10 chart weeks to date. Ctrl is still riding high (it holds at No. 22) in its 297th week on the Billboard 200. “Kill Bill” is in its sixth week at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. SOS has also received warm reviews. It has a 90 rating at the review aggregation site Metacritic.com.

Three albums by Black female artists were nominated for album of the year in November – Beyoncé’s Renaissance, Lizzo’s Special and the deluxe edition of Mary J. Blige’s Good Morning Gorgeous – but no album by a Black female artist (as lead artist) has won the award since Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which won in 1999.

SZA has received 15 Grammy nods to date, but has won just one award, for the aforementioned “Kiss Me More,” which won best pop duo/group performance. Expect her winning percentage to improve next year.

21 Feb 2023

2 Chainz & Ne-Yo Will Have Recurring Roles in 50 Cent’s ‘BMF’ Season 3

The cast of STARZ series BMF has expanded to include two new members. On Tuesday (Feb. 21), the network and its executive producer 50 Cent revealed that 2 Chainz and Ne-Yo will both have recurring roles in the show’s third season.

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“We got @2chainz locked in for #BMF season 3. Just wait, it’s going to be [fire],” the “In da Club” rapper wrote via Instagram, sharing a picture of 2 Chainz. In a second post, he added, “We making big moves for Season 3. Welcome to #BMF @Neyo.” In the comments section of 50’s post, the “Closer” singer excitedly replied, “Yessir!!”

Ne-Yo also shared the news regarding his newest role via his Instagram Stories. “Thanx for the love @50cent,” he wrote over 50’s post with his casting announcement. “Let’s do something dope! #BMF #season3 Let’s get it!”

2 Chainz will play “Stacks,” a “fiercely loyal” and “determined” distributor from Atlanta whose presence earns respect from others, according to the press release. His character will challenge Meech’s (Demetrius Flenory) leadership in a way that’s yet to be seen. Ne-Yo, meanwhile, will play Rodney “Greeny” Green, another Atlanta native who’s main motive is to make money. The press release notes “there’s more than meets the eye to Greeny.”

2 Chainz previously announced that he will be making his acting debut in The Enforcer. Ne-Yo has starred in a series of projects, including Stomp the Yard, Save the Last Dance 2, Hip-Hop Family Christmas Wedding and more.

While fans will have to wait to see 2 Chainz and Ne-Yo in action on BMF, viewers of the show can still catch season two of the show. The program airs on Friday at 12 a.m. ET on the STARZ app, streaming and on-demand platforms.  

21 Feb 2023

Romeo Santos & Rosalía’s ‘El Pañuelo’ Tops Latin Airplay Chart

Romeo Santos and Rosalía’s “El Pañuelo” lifts 2-1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart to crown the Feb. 25-dated survey. The new coronation extends Santos’ record as the tropical artist with the most No. 1s (22), while Rosalía earns her sixth champ (and her fifth straight leader.)

In the Feb. 10-16 tracking period, “El Pañuelo” earned 11 million audience impressions in the U.S., up 1% from the week prior, according to Luminate. It advances from the runner-up slot in its 15th week and sends Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” to No. 2 (with a 2% dip to 10.6 million impressions).

It’s the second time “Pañuelo” has topped a Latin chart. The new coronation arrives three weeks after the song reached No. 1 on Tropical Airplay (Feb. 4-dated ranking), where it remains for a third week (in between, the song dipped to No. 3 on Feb. 11).

Back on Latin Airplay, as “Pañuelo” arrives at the summit, Santos extends his No. 1 record among tropical artists, and enters a tie with Maluma and Wisin for the fifth-most overall, since the chart launched in 1994. Let’s look at the leaderboard:

  • 35, J Balvin
  • 32, Enrique Iglesias
  • 31, Ozuna
  • 27, Daddy Yankee
  • 22, Maluma
  • 22, Wisin
  • 22, Romeo Santos
  • 20, Bad Bunny
  • 18, Ricky Martin
  • 18, Shakira

Rosalía, as mentioned, picks up her sixth leader and fifth straight Latin Airplay No. 1 in over two years, since her featured turn in Sech’s “Relación,” with Daddy Yankee and J Balvin, which also features Farruko, topped the all-genre tally in September 2020. Prior, the Spaniard scored her first ruler with “Yo X Ti, Tú X Mi,” with Ozuna in 2019.

Further, “Pañuelo” marks Santos’ second charting collaboration with a female artist (out of 42 total entries) and first to hit No. 1 amid his 11 collaborative hits. His only other charting collab with a woman, “La Mejor Versión de Mí,” with Natti Natasha, scored a No. 5 high in November 2019.

All charts (dated Feb. 25) will refresh on Billboard.com Wednesday (Feb. 22).

21 Feb 2023

Jessica Simpson Shares Rare Family Photo With Ashlee Simpson & Parents: ‘Together Forevermore’

Jessica Simpson celebrated her dad’s birthday with a family reunion photo on Monday (Feb 20).

“My beautiful family together forevermore,” the one-time pop star captioned a photo of herself with her parents — Joe and Tina Simpson — and her younger sisterm, Ashlee Simpson. “I am proud of us for all that we have accomplished unconventionally with pure honesty. I love each of you exactly as you are…unconditionally, completely, fully, entirely, and endlessly. Happy 65th Birthday Dad!!! Bein’ loved by you has given purposeful soul to my life.”

A second photo in the slideshow featured Simpson and her dad posing with her husband, Eric Johnson, and their 3-year-old-daughter Birdie.

As longtime fans will surely remember, Simpson’s father managed her through her early music career until she fired him from his professional role in 2012, an experience she reflected on in her 2020 memoir Open Book. In the tome, the “I Think I’m in Love With You” singer also claimed her dad didn’t approve of her first husband, Nick Lachey, but still liked to exercise control over the relationship.

She founded her namesake fashion empire, The Jessica Simpson Collection, back in 2005. Ten years later, the brand was making $1 billion dollars in annual sales.

Jessica’s younger sister Ashlee is now married to Evan Ross, and most recently surprised the crowd at Demi Lovato’s L.A. tour stop in September when the younger pop star brought her out to perform her Autobiography era single “La La” together

See the Simpsons reunite for Joe’s birthday celebration below.

21 Feb 2023

Perfect for Spring: Hilary Duff Drops New Limited Collection With Carter’s

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There’s still a few weeks left in winter, but Hilary Duff wants to make sure that your little ones are ready for spring. The How I Met Your Father star launched her second limited collection with Carter’s on Tuesday (Feb. 21).

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Available at Carters.com and in select Carter’s stores, the adorable collection features baby apparel and accessories, including cozy sets, lightweight dresses, swimwear, linen tops and rompers in ultra-soft thermal, textured gauze, breezy linen and lightweight fabrics that are perfect for transitioning from winter to spring.

The collection, designed in a gender-neutral color palette, is priced from $10 to $22 and available in sizes ranging from 0 to 24M. There are also clothing bundles featured in the collection that are priced from around $34 and up.

“I love dressing my kids up, but I know firsthand that practical, comfortable and easy-to-change clothing is a must,” Duff said in a press release. “I’m beyond excited to introduce my newest Carter’s collection. It really feels like springtime with lightweight fabrics like woven gauze and designs like the signature print with little suns, rainbows and arrows. I know parents are going to love the versatility and babies are going to look so stylishly adorable.”

Duff added, “It’s an amazing experience to be working with Carter’s to not only leave my stamp on these capsules but also to share my insight and advice with other parents navigating their own journeys.” 

Hilary Duff for Carters

Hilary Duff for Carters

Courtesy of Carters

Hilary Duff for Carters

Hilary Duff for Carters

Courtesy of Carters

Duff’s eye for style seems to be resonating well with Carter’s customers. Pieces from her last capsule collection sold out in just 72 hours, noted Kendra Krugman, executive vice president of merchandising & design at Carter’s.

“It’s rewarding to bring another collection to life that is inspired by Hilary’s experience as a mom and her eye for style, paired with Carter’s trusted quality, convenience, and value,” said Krugman. “It continues to be a pleasure working with Hilary as our ‘CMO’ to deliver unique clothing and helpful solutions to our Carter’s families and communities.” 

Duff signed on as the first-ever chief mom officer of Carter’s last year. Her position includes working directly with Carter’s as a parenting consultant and creative director designing two limited-edition capsule collections for babies, and a few goodies for moms to enjoy.

The 35-year-old actress put her personal touch on the exclusive collections of baby apparel and accessories. Additionally, Duff’s role includes curating shopping guides that feature tips and tricks for moms along with sharing other parenting content.

“While every mom is a chief mom officer in her own way, I’m honored that Carter’s chose me to represent the brand and be the ultimate champion for mom’s everywhere,” Duff said last year after announcing the partnership. “I was inspired by Carter’s mission and their commitment to inspire parents and future generations. Motherhood is not easy but it’s incredibly rewarding and through my partnership with Carter’s, I hope to be a source of light and inspiration for others as we navigate our individual parenting journeys.”

“At Carter’s, we understand what it means to be a parent, better than any other brand, and nobody embodies this spirit more than Hilary Duff. Not only is Hilary talented but she’s also incredibly relatable as a mom of three who openly shares her parenting journey with her community,” Jeff Jenkins, executive vice president of global marketing for Carter’s said at the time. “The appointment of Hilary as Carter’s chief mom officer was a no-brainer — there’s no one I’d rather share the ‘CMO’ title with – and we warmly welcome her to the Carter’s family. We know Hilary will bring long-lasting value to Carter’s and our customers as she makes her mark on the brand.”

Duff has a 10-year-old son, Luca, whom she shares with her ex-husband and former hockey player, Mike Comrie. She also has two daughters, 4-year-old Banks and 1-year-old Mae, with her husband, musician Matthew Koma.

Shop items from the latest Hilary Duff x Carter’s capsule collection below.

Hilary Duff x Carter’s 4-Piece Baby Boy Hilary Duff Bundle

$46

Carter’s

Hilary Duff x Carter’s 3-Piece Baby Hilary Duff Bundle

$36

Carter’s

Hilary Duff x Carter’s 2-Piece Raise and Rainbows Rashguard Set

$24

Carter’s

Hilary Duff x Carter’s Rays and Rainbows Ruffle 1-Piece Rashguard

$22

Carter’s

Hilary Duff x Carter’s Flutter Peplum Linen Top

$12

Carter’s

Hilary Duff x Carter’s Rays and Rainbows Crinkle Gauze Romper

$18