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14 Feb 2023

Spike Lee Slams Beyoncé’s Grammys Loss for Album of the Year: ‘Straight-Up Bullsh–’

Spike Lee didn’t mince words when it came to sharing his opinion about Beyoncé‘s loss at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

Speaking to The Guardian, the director explained that while he’s by no means “the male president of the Beyhive,” he does have “love and support” for the superstar. “Her album is amazing,” he continued. “I know she’s won multiple Grammys, but four times nominated for album of the year and she’s lost every time? No disrespect to those artists like Adele or Harry Styles who won – it’s not their fault – but that’s some straight-up bullsh–.”

She is the most-awarded artist in Grammy history, but Beyoncé has gone zero-for-four when it comes to album of the year nominations as a lead artist. The singer has also only ever one once in any of the Big Four categories — taking home song of the year in 2009 for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”

In his interview, Lee eventually widened the scope of his remarks to reflect on Black artistry as a whole. “We all know their work is great, because art speaks for itself,” the BlacKkKlansman filmmaker said. “But then it always comes down to this tricky territory of validation. Do black artists say ‘F–k it,’ or seek white validation and chase awards?”

While Beyoncé is still without a Grammy for album of the year, her latest single “Cuff It” reached a new high mark on the Hot 100 this week by leaping to No. 6 (chart dated Feb. 18).

14 Feb 2023

Bad Bunny Drops Heartwrenching ‘Ojitos Lindos’ Video on Valentine’s Day: Watch

Bad Bunny dropped a music video for his Bomba Estéreo-assisted “Ojitos Lindos” on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14).

In true Bunny fashion, the Puerto Rican artist, who has been on a social media break, released the video unannounced and with no prior promotion plan. On Tuesday afternoon, the music video was posted on his YouTube channel.

In the clip, helmed by his longtime director Stillz, we see Bad Bunny living his “best” single life as he’s seen dating different types of women. Though he’s all smiles on these dates, none can compare to that special lady in his life with “beautiful little eyes,” as the sweet reggae song says. Toward the end of the clip, we see the artist drop off his dates and drive off furiously, hinting that he can’t get over his ex. He then crashes and wakes up in a hospital bed, where none of his lady friends visit him, only an adorable beagle, who makes him happy in the end.

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Fun fact: On his TikTok profile, Bunny shared multiple videos of the beagle dog he and Gabriela Berlingeri have together. (It’s unclear if the couple is still dating or not.)

“Ojitos Lindos” perfectly merges Bunny and Bomba’s musical worlds, thriving on chill reggae beats and edgy urban melodies fused with Li’s high-pitched vocals and Bunny’s deep, slurred verses. The song peaked at No. 7 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and was nominated for record of the year at the 2022 Latin Grammys.

Watch the music video below:

14 Feb 2023

Future’s ‘Wait for U’ Breaks Top 10 Record on Rap Airplay Chart

Future’s “Wait” pays off as the rapper’s hit single “Wait for U,” featuring Drake and Tems, breaks the record for the most weeks in the top 10 on Billboard’s Rap Airplay chart.

The single, which won a Grammy Award for best melodic rap performance on Feb. 5, captures an unprecedented 40th week in the top 10 despite a 4-5 decline and 7% drop in weekly audience, according to Luminate.

With a 40th week in the top 10, “Wait” surpasses Pop Smoke’s “What You Know Bout Love” as the track with the most weeks in the Rap Airplay top 10. The late Pop Smoke set the mark on the chart dated Oct. 2, 2021, as “Know” ranked at No. 10 for its 39th week in the upper tier.

As the leaderboard shuffles, here’s a look at the tracks with the most weeks in the top 10 of Rap Airplay since the list began in 1999.

Weeks in Top 10, Song Title, Artist, Year(s) in Top 10
40, “Wait for U,” Future featuring Drake & Tems, 2022-23
39, “What You Know Bout Love,” Pop Smoke, 2021
38, “Back That Thang Up,” Juvenile featuring Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne, 1999-2000
38, “Suge,” DaBaby, 2019-20
38, “Baddest,” Yung Bleu, 2 Chainz & Chris Brown, 2021-22
37, “Power Trip,” J. Cole featuring Miguel, 2013-14
36, “For the Night,” Pop Smoke featuring Lil Baby & DaBaby, 2020-21
34, “Girls Want Girls,” Drake featuring Lil Baby, 2021-22
34, “Big Energy,” Latto, 2021-22
34, “Super Gremlin,” Kodak Black, 2022

During its recordbreaking stay, “Wait” captured 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Rap Airplay chart to claim the second-longest run in the chart’s history. It trails only the 19-week reign for Kid Ink’s “Show Me,” featuring Chris Brown, in 2014.

The combination of three radio favorite artists has proven an irresistible teamup for radio programmers and listeners alike. Since its release in April 2022 on Future’s I Never Liked You album, “Wait” has dominated the artists’ home radio R&B/hip-hop format and led to breakthroughs in other arenas. “Wait” racked up a record 16 weeks at No. 1 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and is nearing the all-time top 10 mark there, too. Plus, it led to Future’s biggest Pop Airplay success as a lead act with its No. 20 peak, as all three of his higher-peaking songs featured him alongside core pop acts: Maroon 5’s “Cold” (No. 8), Taylor Swift’s “End Game,” also featuring Ed Sheeran (No. 10) and Ariana Grande’s “Everyday” (No. 18).

The radio juggernaut has also boosted Tems’ appeal in the radio world. Between featured turns on “Wait” and Wizkid’s 2021 smash “Essence,” which ruled R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for 27 weeks, the Nigerian singer-songwriter quickly became a favorite at the radio format. The two titans helped generate interest in her own work, with “Free Mind” the top beneficiary. The song, first released on her 2020 EP, For Broken Ears, improved in streams and led to a radio campaign of its own. It clearly worked – this week, “Free Mind” sits at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart for a sixth week.

14 Feb 2023

Hot 100 First-Timers: Falling in Reverse Lands With ‘Watch the World Burn’

Hard rock band Falling in Reverse scores its first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated Feb. 18), as “Watch the World Burn” opens at No. 83.

The song, released Jan. 31 via Epitaph Records, starts with 5.1 million U.S. streams, 161,000 in airplay audience and 4,000 downloads sold in its first full tracking week (Feb. 3-9), according to Luminate.

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“World” concurrently jumps 3-1 on Hot Hard Rock Songs, becoming the band’s fourth leader, after “Popular Monster” (three weeks in 2020), “Zombified” (two, 2022) and “Voices in My Head” (four, 2022). The group breaks out of a tie with Bring Me the Horizon for the most No. 1s in the chart’s nearly three-year history.

Among other chart moves for “World”: it leads Alternative Digital Song Sales and Hard Rock Digital Song Sales; bows at Nos. 2, 8 and 13 on Hard Rock Streaming Songs, Alternative Streaming Songs and Rock Streaming Songs, respectively; and starts at No. 38 on Mainstream Rock Airplay.

Falling in Reverse has been a staple on Billboard’s rock listings since 2011, when it notched its first chart appearance with its album The Drug in Me Is You. The set debuted and peaked at No. 2 on Hard Rock Albums, No. 3 on Alternative Albums and No. 19 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

Since then, the band has tallied three additional entries on the Billboard 200: Fashionably Late (No. 17 in 2013), Just Like You (No. 21, 2015) and Coming Home (No. 34, 2017). All three sets also peaked at No. 2 on Hard Rock Albums.

Falling in Reverse has earned 10 entries on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, including two top 10s: “Popular Monster” (No. 4 in 2020) and now “World” (No. 8).

The band, which formed in Las Vegas in 2008, comprises Ronnie Radke (lead vocals), Max Georgiev (lead guitar), Christian Thompson (rhythm guitar) and Tyler Burgess (bass).

14 Feb 2023

Coi Leray Hits No. 1 on Emerging Artists Chart Thanks to ‘Players’

Coi Leray rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart (dated Feb. 18), becoming the top emerging act in the U.S. for the first time, thanks to her single “Players.”

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The song, released in November via Uptown/Republic Records, jumps 38-28 in its sixth week on the Billboard Hot 100, with 29.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 20%), 9.4 million U.S. streams (up 23%) and 5,000 downloads sold (up 2%) Feb. 3-9, according to Luminate.

The track became Leray’s fourth entry on the Hot 100, after “No More Parties,” featuring Lil Durk (No. 26 peak in 2021); “Big Purr (Prrdd),” with Pooh Shiesty (No. 69, 2021); and “Blick Blick!,” with Nicki Minaj (No. 37, 2022).

“Players” also holds at its No. 4 high on Hot Rap Songs and ascends 13-10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It additionally pushes 6-4 on Rap Airplay and 9-6 on Rhythmic Airplay, holds at its No. 11 best on both R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and climbs 28-23 on Pop Airplay.

Just below Leray, Samara Joy jumps 45-2 on Emerging Artists thanks to gains following her best new artist win at the Grammy Awards Feb. 5. Joy’s 2022 LP Linger Awhile rises to No. 1 on Jazz Albums, Traditional Jazz Albums and Heatseekers Albums, leading all three lists for the first time, and debuts at No. 158 on the Billboard 200. Plus, her self-titled 2021 set debuts at No. 7 on both Jazz Albums and Traditional Jazz Albums.

Joy became the first jazz act to win best new artist at the Grammys since Esperanza Spalding in 2011.

The Emerging Artists chart ranks the most popular developing artists of the week, using the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across multiple Billboard charts, including the Hot 100, Billboard 200 and the Social 50. (The Artist 100 lists the most popular acts, overall, each week.) However, the Emerging Artists chart excludes acts that have notched a top 25 entry on either the Hot 100 or Billboard 200, as well as artists that have achieved two or more top 10s on Billboard’s “Hot” song genre charts and/or consumption-based “Top” album genre rankings.

For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

14 Feb 2023

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Rebrands Company

Sean “Diddy” Combs has rebranded his parent company from Combs Enterprises to Combs Global as the top rapper and record producer continues to diversify his portfolio of music, fashion, drinks and TV ventures internationally.  

“Combs Global represents the next chapter in my journey as a business leader and a bigger vision to build the largest portfolio of leading Black-owned brands in the world,” Combs said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Bad Boy Entertainment Group founder, who is credited with carving out a new niche within the hip-hop genre, has in recent years expanded with new businesses like Empower Global formally Shop Circulate, Our Fair Share, Love Records and cannabis distribution by acquiring Cresco Labs.

Combs with the rebrand is looking to project continued expansion, and globally. “I’ve enlisted world-class teams of top executives, specialists and strategic partners to bring this new dream to life and put us in the best position to keep making history while leading another 30 years of dominance across industries,” he said.

Combs bought back his Sean John fashion line in 2020 and also forged a partnership with Diageo for his Ciroc Vodka label and later acquired tequila brand DeLeón. He also launched the fitness and wellness water brand AQUAhydrate.

In 2013, Combs launched REVOLT Media & TV, the first Black-owned multiplatform cable music network, which now reaches more 80 million homes and 20 million monthly viewers digitally.

More recently, Combs acquired The Nile List, invested in the creator platform REC Philly and expanded his Capital Preparatory charter school network to now include campuses in the Bronx, New York and Hartford, Connecticut.

The corporate rebrand includes a new website and logo unveiled as part of a Uber One Super Bowl commercial that starred Combs as he dreamed up a hit song for Uber One.

This article originally appeared on THR.com.

14 Feb 2023

Alejandro Fernández Breaks Down 5 Romantic Songs That Are a Must on His ‘Amor Y Patria’ Tour Set List 

Mexican superstar Alejandro Fernández announced Tuesday (Feb. 14) his 21-date Amor Y Patria Tour, which is set to kick off Sept. 8 in Sacramento, Calif. The 2023 stint will follow the prolific touring act’s 2021 Hecho En México trek, which marked his grand return to live shows after the pandemic.

Fernández will be joined by his son Alex Fernández and the Live Nation-produced tour will be an “all new show celebrating” Fernández’s love of music, family and Mexico. “I feel a real sense of pride to see how people are receiving [my son],” Fernández tells Billboard during a phone interview. “It makes me excited because it brings back a lot of memories and brings me a lot of nostalgia.” Fernández also reveals that he will dedicate his shows to God and his father, the legendary Vicente Fernández, who died in December 2021.

For Amor Y Patria, the “Inexperto en Olvidarte” singer will visit major cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas, New York and Atlanta before wrapping up the tour in Miami on Oct. 22. Fernández is also set to perform at Chile’s Viña del Mar Festival on Feb. 21.

“Each show is different, each audience is different, and the reactions are different,” Fernández says about his love for touring. “I always do my job and homework whenever I visit a new city or country. I want to know which songs they are listening to the most in that specific area. I also really like to know the culture and the food. Normally, if I have time and if I go with my girlfriend, I give myself time to get to see the country, to go out to eat at different places,” he adds.

The ranchera singer is also set to release new music and will focus more on releasing singles instead of albums. “We’re going to work a little differently,” he explains. “Physical albums are challenging to sell, and more and more people consume digital. Everyone is adjusting to do more of that format.”

Fernández shares in his own words the five essential romantic songs that are a must on his set list, including his shows for Amor Y Patria. “In other words, none of these songs can be missing from the list because [the crowd] would hang me or throw rocks at me if I don’t sing them,” he explains. “My fans enjoy love [songs] more, but the songs they feel the most are those of heartbreak. The love songs I sing must be excellent songs because some can sound very cheesy.”

“Como Quien Pierde Una Estrella”

In ranchera music, this song was my first hit that I had internationally and proudly, it was with Mexican music.

“Caballero”

This is the song we were opening with for our “Hecho En Mexico” tour and still, it is one of the most popular songs on streaming platforms.

“Me Dediqué a Perderte”

This song is one that fans always sing along to at the top of their lungs at my concerts.

“Inexperto en Olvidarte”

This is my most recent single and it’s had an incredible response so it’ll be a must on the set list.

“Te Olvidé”

This one is not a love song, but it is very good. It’s a heartbreak song, and well, those who are not in love can also have something to listen to.

See the complete list of dates for Amor Y Patria below. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 17 at 10am on Ticketmaster.com. 

14 Feb 2023

Kid Who Took Viral Super Bowl Selfie With Justin Timberlake Arrested in Florida

Back in 2018, then-13-year-old Ryan McKenna made headlines for a viral selfie he took with Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl halftime show. However, this week, McKenna is back in the news after he was arrested in Naples, Florida.

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According to TMZ, who first shared the news, the 18-year-old got into an argument with his 15-year-old friend at California Pizza Kitchen and ended up pushing a table. Police told the publication that the shopping center security attempted to escort McKenna off the property, but he became increasingly aggressive and ended up grabbing an officer’s hand when it was placed on his chest to stop the fight. That’s when he was arrested and booked at Naples Jail Center for felony battery on a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanors, resisting arrest and obstruction of an officer.

McKenna’s mom, Tracy, told TMZ that her son wasn’t drunk, as the initial report said, but rather just “horsing around” with his friends. One of the people he was hanging out with pulled the chair out from under him, and that’s when he pushed the table in an attempt to be funny.

“I just thought to myself, ‘I’ll never get this opportunity again in my whole life,” the Massachusetts said in 2018 after snapping his selfie with Timberlake. “I just went for it.” 

McKenna’s dad said they realized very quickly that his son was turning into an internet sensation. “My phone started blowing up,” father John McKenna told St. Paul Pioneer Press at the time. “It died, like, instantly after it happened. We had friends from all over reaching out. I couldn’t believe it.”

14 Feb 2023

Lele Pons & Guaynaa Spill Wedding Details, Have Megan Fox & MGK Broken Up & More I Billboard News

Lele Pons and Guaynaa give us the exclusive about their upcoming wedding, there are break-up rumors about Megan Fox and MGK swirling following Megan’s recent social media activity, Olivia Wilde catches flack for her spicy comment about A$AP Rocky during Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, the best couples song for Valentines Day and more!

14 Feb 2023

Olivia Wilde Clarifies Reaction to A$AP Rocky at Super Bowl: ‘It’s Hot to Respect Your Partner’

Olivia Wilde is not having it. On Monday, the actress clapped back at trolls who criticized her for calling A$AP Rocky “hot” during Rihanna‘s Super Bowl halftime performance.

“For anyone who got it twisted [eyeroll emoji]… It’s hot to respect your partner,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories. “Especially when your partner just did thaaaaaat.”

Earlier in the day, Wilde had taken heat from her followers for posting a separate, since-expired Story on which she had written, “If I thought he was hot before, this really put me over the edge,” over footage of the “Same Problems?” rapper proudly filming RiRi from his front-row view of the field.

Not only did Rihanna use the Super Bowl spotlight to reassert her position as one of the biggest pop superstars of the last two decades after a seven-year hiatus; she also slyly revealed that she’s expecting her second child with A$AP Rocky less than a year after giving birth to their son. The effortless 13-minute set included tracks from nearly ever era of Rihanna’s discography — from “What’s My Name” and “Only Girl (In the World)” to “Pour It Up,” “Work,” “Umbrella” and “Diamonds.”

Wilde, meanwhile, is recently single after splitting from Harry Styles in late 2022. The pair were linked for nearly two years, starting in January 2021 and throughout the release of sci-fi thriller Don’t Worry Darling, which WIlde directed and co-starred in while Styles served as the film’s leading man.

Get a look at Wilde’s follow-up thoughts on A$AP Rocky here before her Story expires.