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03 Jan 2023

Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Adds 12th Week Atop Hot 100, Nat King Cole Hits Top 10

Even with the latest data tracking week reflecting four days after Christmas Day (Dec. 23-29), Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, reigning for a 12th total week. It leads for a fourth week this holiday season – the most over any Yuletide season since it began topping the tally annually over the holidays in December 2019.

The song also becomes the second holiday hit to reign for four consecutive weeks, and the first in 64 years, after “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four frames at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.

Carey’s “Christmas” leads eight festive favorites in the Hot 100’s top 10 – with carols infusing the top seven spots for the first time. One makes its initial appearance in the tier: Nat King Cole‘s classic “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You),” up from No. 11 to No. 9, as the late legend ranks in the top 10 after an unprecedented break of 59 years, six months and a week. As the song debuted on the chart in 1960, it additionally completes the longest journey to the top 10: over 62 years and three weeks.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data. All charts (dated Jan. 7, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Jan. 4, a day later than usual due to the New Year’s Day holiday). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Carey’s “Christmas,” on Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings, was first released on her album Merry Christmas in 1994. As streaming has grown and holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ playlists, the song first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 in December 2017 and first hit the top five in the 2018 holiday season, before leading over the holidays in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), 2021 (three) and this season (a single-season-best four).

Streams, airplay & sales: Carey’s “Christmas” drew 46.9 million streams (down 4%) and 24.6 million radio airplay audience impressions (down 38%) and sold 6,000 downloads (down 47%) in the U.S. Dec. 23-29, according to Luminate.

The song drops to No. 2 on the Streaming Songs chart after 18 cumulative weeks at the summit; to No. 3 on Digital Song Sales following four total frames on top; and to No. 24 from its No. 11 high on Radio Songs.

On the fourth week of ‘Christmas’ … : Up to 12 total weeks, Carey’s “Christmas” expands its record for the most time atop the Hot 100 for a holiday song. The only other seasonal single to lead, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent, as noted above, four weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.

The two songs now share the mark for the most consecutive frames atop the Hot 100 – four each – for a Yuletide title, as well as the most in any singular holiday season.

In the fifth year of ‘Christmas’ … : With this week’s Hot 100 dated Jan. 7, 2023, Carey’s “Christmas” is the first song to lead Hot 100 charts dated in five distinct years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and now 2023). No other song has reigned in more than two individual years.

Happy new year: Carey has now placed at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in a record-extending 19 distinct years (per Hot 100 chart dates): 1990-2000, 2005-06, 2008 and, thanks to “Christmas,” 2019-23.

Next up are three acts that have each spent time atop the Hot 100 in 10 individual years: Paul McCartney/Wings (1971, 1973-76, 1978, 1980, 1982-84; additionally, The Beatles, with him as a member, led in seven years: 1964-70); Michael Jackson (1972, 1979-80, 1983-84, 1987-88, 1991-92, 1995; additionally, The Jackson 5, with him in the group, led in 1970); and Madonna (1984-87, 1989-92, 1995, 2000).

Carey’s third No. 1 of 12 weeks or more: Carey becomes the second artist, and first woman, with three songs that have topped the Hot 100 for 12 or more weeks each. She joins Boyz II Men for the honor – with Carey and the group having teamed for one song contributing to the feat:

Mariah Carey:
16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, 1995-96
14 weeks, “We Belong Together,” 2005
12 weeks (to-date), “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” 2019-22

Boyz II Men:
13 weeks, “End of the Road,” 1992
14 weeks, “I’ll Make Love to You,” 1994
16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Carey, 1995-96

“Christmas” is the 22nd title to command the Hot 100 for 12 or more weeks, a run that under just 2% of all 1,144 No. 1s have achieved.

Longest span atop the Hot 100: Carey’s “Christmas” extends the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest, to over three years and two weeks (Dec. 21, 2019-Jan. 7, 2023).

Plus, the latest week atop the Hot 100 for “Christmas” stretches Carey’s record for the longest span of an artist ranking at No. 1 on the chart to 32 years and five months, dating to her first week atop the list dated Aug. 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”

Carey’s record 91st week atop Hot 100: With “Christmas,” Carey adds her record-extending 91st week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100:
91, Mariah Carey
60, Rihanna
59, The Beatles
54, Drake
50, Boyz II Men
47, Usher
43, Beyoncé
37, Michael Jackson
34, Adele
34, Elton John
34, Bruno Mars

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades, dating to her first week on top with “Vision of Love.” “Christmas” is additionally the only title to have led in four separate runs on the survey.

No. 1 on Holiday 100: Carey’s “Christmas” concurrently crowns the multi-metric Holiday 100 chart for a 57th week, of the chart’s 62 total weeks since the list originated in 2011. It has led the list for 42 consecutive weeks, dating to the start of the 2015-16 holiday season, and rules as the top title on the Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs chart.

Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” originally released in 1958, keeps at its No. 2 Hot 100 high (for a ninth total week since it first reached the rank in December 2019) and tops the Streaming Songs chart, dancing merrily from No. 2, for the first time. (Its total of raw streams is the week’s second-highest – 46.87 million, just below the 46.895 million logged by Carey’s “Christmas” – but Lee’s hit leads Streaming Songs due to the application of weighting to all titles’ paid/subscription and ad-supported on-demand streams and programmed/radio streams.) “Tree” also drew 20.9 million in airplay audience (down 29%) and sold 2,000 (down 58%).

The late Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” originally released in 1957, holds at its No. 3 Hot 100 high, reached in each of the last four holiday seasons; Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” from 1984, rises to a new No. 4 best, from No. 5, after it hit the top five for the first time a week earlier; and the late Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” from 1964, retreats to No. 5 from its No. 4 peak, achieved over each of the last four Yuletide seasons.

Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” from 1963, keeps at No. 6 on the Hot 100; it hit a No. 5 high during the 2020 holidays. The song’s latest week in the top 10 extends the late singer’s record for the longest span of an act appearing in the tier to nearly 63 years and three months, dating to his first week in the top 10 with “Lonely Street” in October 1959.

José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” from 1970, rises 8-7 on the Hot 100; it reached a No. 6 best over the 2020 holidays.

Notably, holiday hits shine like ornaments in the Hot 100’s top seven spots for the first time in the chart’s history.

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” rebounds 9-8 on the Hot 100 after spending its first six weeks on the chart at No. 1, starting in November. It concurrently leads Radio Songs for a second week, with 80.3 million in audience (up 1%).

Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)” climbs from its prior No. 11 Hot 100 high (first reached over the 2018 holidays) to No. 9, with 27.4 million streams (down 4%), 15.5 million in airplay audience (down 30%) and 1,000 sold (down 41%).

The song, which Cole first recorded while fronting the King Cole Trio in 1946, becomes his third Hot 100 top 10, following “Ramblin’ Rose” (No. 2, 1962) and (opposite in theme from “Christmas”) “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer” (No. 6, 1963). Cole, who passed away in 1965, places in the top 10 for the first time in 59 years, six months and a week, rewriting the record for the longest break between hits in the region set last holiday season by The Ronettes, whose “Sleigh Ride” led the group back to the top 10 after a wait of 58 years and two months.

Before this week, Cole last ranked in the top 10 of the Hot 100 dated June 29, 1963. That week, Kyu Sakamoto’s “Sukiyaki” spent its third and last week at No. 1 and other enduring top 10s included Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party” (No. 2), The Chiffons’ “One Fine Day” (No. 7) and Jan & Dean’s “Surf City” (No. 10).

(After August 1966, Cole was not credited on a Hot 100 hit until “Christmas” returned over the 2013 holidays. He was, however, heard on daughter Natalie Cole’s virtual duet with him, “Unforgettable,” which reached No. 14 in 1991 and won, among other Grammy Awards, record of the year in 1992.)

Plus, Cole’s “Christmas” wraps the longest ascent to the Hot 100’s top 10, dating to its debut on the Dec. 12, 1960, chart. Its odyssey of 62 years and 26 days narrowly surpasses that of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” (62 years and 18 days) for the most time a song has taken to hit the top 10 from its debut; “Rudolph” arrived in 1958 and lit up the top 10 at last over the 2020 holidays.

Rounding out the latest Hot 100’s top 10, Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” repeats at No. 10, after it led the Oct. 29-dated chart.

Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated Jan. 7, 2023), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (Jan. 4).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

03 Jan 2023

Billy Porter, Niecy Nash & More Set to Present on 2023 Golden Globes

Billy Porter, Niecy Nash, Quentin Tarantino, Jamie Lee Curtis and Tracy Morgan are among the presenters for the 2023 Golden Globe Awards. 

Ana De Armas, Ana Gasteyer, Colman Domingo, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Natasha Lyonne and Nicole Byer will also present on the show, which is set to air live coast-to-coast on Jan. 10 from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

As previously announced, Jerrod Carmichael will host the ceremony, which will held at the Globes’ usual home, the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Calif. Eddie Murphy will be the recipient of the 2023 Cecil B. DeMille Award. Ryan Murphy will receive the Carol Burnett Award. 

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Pianist Chloe Flower is set to perform. Flower’s eponymous debut album, released on Sony Music Masterworks, reached the top five on Billboard‘s Classical Crossover Albums chart in March 2022. Flower performed at the Kennedy Center Honors, which aired Dec. 28 on CBS, on behalf of honoree Tania Leon. Flower plans to release a new song, “Golden Hour,” inspired by her Globes appearance.

The Banshees of Inisherin is this year’s most-nominated film, with eight nods, followed by Everything Everywhere All at Once, with six nods. Abbott Elementary is the most-nominated TV show, with five nods.

The 2023 Golden Globes are produced by dick clark productions and Jesse Collins Entertainment in association with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon, a top executive in Collins’ company, will serve as executive producers.

03 Jan 2023

Fall Out Boy Tease 8th Album in Poetic New Year’s Fan Note: ‘We Spent the Last Year Jamming Ideas in a Tiny Room’

Fall Out Boy spent last year doing some serious woodshedding. We know this because in a poetic new year’s note to fans entitled “A Homeboy’s Life,” the Chicago-bred band promised that new music is coming in 2023.

“We spent the last year jamming ideas in a tiny room [and] can’t wait to share them with you,” they wrote in the new year’s day note to their email list signed by all four members, which ended with a teasing P.S. that read, “Thanks for always sticking around. Thanks for working the beat. Spoiler alert: we got more than a gold watch coming for you next year.”

The update was the follow-up to a nearly two-minute animated claymation video they dropped last week — A Claymation Fall Out Boy Celebration — starring a cute black dog, vomiting neon hands and a magical land of bizarre, shape-shifting creatures with what sounded like a brief snippet of new music. The video and note appear to be part of a long tease for the as-yet-untitled album, whose release date has not yet been announced.

The update for fans was also preceded by a website announcing “greetings from pink seashell beach,” with an image of a shell (inscribed with the hint “the answers are all inside of this”) that flips over when clicked to reveal a baseball on the other side and the message “the beach was never real. None of it is”; some fans also received cryptic postcards with the words “Pink Seashell Beach” on them and the message, “I saw you in a bright clear field. Hurricane heat in my head. The kind of pain you feel to get good in the end. Inscribed like stone and faded by the rain: ‘Give up what you love give up what you love before it does you in…’”

Before that, fans also posted images of a full-page ad FOB took out in their hometown Chicago Tribune in late November that read “FOB 8: If you build it, they will come.” At press time no additional information was available on follow to MANIA, which featured the singles “Young and Menace,” “Champion” and “The Last of the Real Ones.”

Check out a copy of the note below.

03 Jan 2023

Jennifer Lopez Shares 2022 Year-In-Review Photo Series Featuring Unseen Ben Affleck Wedding Shots

Jennifer Lopez had a massive 2022. In addition to marrying her former-and-current love actor Ben Affleck — not once, but twice — the 53-year-old singer/actress also announced her upcoming album (This is Me… Now), dropped a documentary about her 2020 Super Bowl halftime show with Shakira and starred in a return-to-form big screen rom-com.

“2022 was one of the best years yet!!! I cannot wait for all that’s to come next year,” Lopez wrote on New Year’s Day alongside an Instagram post featuring a series of snaps from last year, including never-before-seen images from her engagement and wedding to Affleck. “#HappyNewYear #ImJustGettingStarted #WaitingForTonight #ThisIsMeNow,” she added.

Lopez and Affleck got married on July 16 at Las Vegas’ famed Little White Wedding Chapel. The couple then did it again during a second ceremony at Affleck’s Georgia mansion in August. The year in review video opens with images of Affleck and Lopez kissing and a brief glimpse of the poster for her Owen Wilson/Maluma wedding comedy Marry Me, as well as images of the couple chilling at home and on vacation.

There is copious kissing, as well as Lopez accepting the Generation Award at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards, her flexing in a cut out pantsuit combo on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, a shot of that gigantic green ring Affleck put on her finger and footage of her wedding dress fittings and styling.

We get a few more looks at the first wedding in Vegas via some candids of the happy couple in their big day finest, as well as glam shots of Lopez posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris while rocking a gigantic pearl necklace. And then there are more wedding dress sketches, some bathing suit snaps and a few pics of the singer’s 14-year-old twin children from her previous marriage to Marc Anthony, Max and Emme.

Check out Lopez’s year-in-review below.

03 Jan 2023

Michael Buble Enters 2023 With ‘Christmas’ No. 1

Michael Buble’s Christmas (via Reprise) is back on familiar territory — at No. 1 in the U.K.

The Canadian crooner’s holiday classic lifts 3-1, for its fifth non-consecutive week at the summit. Christmas first led the Official U.K. Albums Chart following its release in 2011, and last reached the top in December 2021.

With Christmas in the rearview, holiday albums are enjoying mixed fortunes. On the way down are Cliff Richard’s Christmas With Cliff (2-12 via EastWest/Rhino), the Bocellis’ A Family Christmas (5-20 via Decca), and Andre Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra’s Silver Bells (7-36 via Decca), while the late Bing Crosby bucks the trend with Christmas Classics (UMC/Virgin), up 91-27.

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In the absence of any new releases, hits collections figure prominently on the latest survey, published Friday, Dec. 30.

Among the best-sellers are Elton John’s Diamonds (Mercury/UMC), up 14-5; and the Weeknd’s The Highlights (Republic Records/XO), which lifts 12-7 following the release of his Avatar 2: The Way of Water soundtrack single, “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength).”

Also climbing are Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours (up 13-8 via Rhino/Warner Bros) and 50 Years – Don’t Stop (up 25-15 via Rhino); Eminem’s Curtain Call – The Hits (up 18-11 via Interscope); ABBA’s Gold – Greatest Hits (up 20-13 via Polydor in its 1,078th week on the chart, a record); the U.K.’s top-selling album of all time, Queen’s Greatest Hits (up 23-16 via EMI); Oasis’ Time Flies – 1994-2009 (up 38-23 via Big Brother), Elvis Presley’s Elv1s – 30 Number 1 Hits (up 60-31 via BMG) and George Michael’s Twenty Five (up 74-40 via Aegean).

02 Jan 2023

Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ Returns to No. 1 In U.K.

Wham’s “Last Christmas” (via RCA) is the gift that keeps giving, as the ‘80s classic returns to No. 1 in the U.K.

The holiday standard lifts 2-1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Dec. 30, for its second stint at the summit in 2022.

According to the Official Charts Company, “Last Christmas” scoops over 79,000 combined chart units, including a market-leading 18 million streams, to bag the last No. 1 of the year.

Less than a year earlier, “Last Christmas” was finally crowned on the survey, setting a new mark for the longest journey to the top, at 36 years.

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The latest survey is brimming with Christmas spirit. Indeed, holiday numbers swamp the Top 40, taking out 34 spots, including nine of the top 10. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) improves 4-2; Ed Sheeran & Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic) is up 5-3; Brenda Lee’s 1962 hit “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (MCA) lifts 8-4, for a new peak; Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas rebounds” (Reprise) is up 11-6; Bobby Helms bags a posthumous top 10 — his first in the U.K. — with “Jingle Bell Rock” (MCA) up 14-7; Lizzo lifts 15-8 with her Amazon Music “Original Someday At Christmas” (Atlantic); The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl’s “Fairytale of New York” (Warner Bros) gains 13-9; and Andy Williams’ “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of Year” (Sony Music) soars 21-10. 

LadBaby set a new chart record when “Food Aid” (BMG) bowed at No. 1 last week, the husband-and-wife duo’s fifth Christmas leader. The charity fundraised falls sharply in its second week, down to No. 85.

Expect an entirely different looking chart this Friday (Jan. 6), as Christmas songs make their annual exodus.

The highest charting non-Christmas-themed song belongs to Stormzy, whose This Is What I Mean ballad “Firebabe” (0207/Merky) lights up 10-5, for its equal peak position.

02 Jan 2023

Bad Bunny Responds After Throwing Fan’s Phone: ‘It’s a Disrespect’

Bad Bunny kicked off 2023 defending himself on Twitter after a mishap with a fan went viral on social media. 

In a recent video that began circulating the Internet, the superstar Puerto Rican artist is seen walking with his group of friends and team when an excited fan approached him with her phone and began recording in selfie mode. Just seconds later, an annoyed Bunny grabbed the phone and threw it into the bushes. “You have to respect his space,” said someone from the crew. 

The fan encounter occurred in the Dominican Republic, where the artist spent the holidays.  On Monday (Jan. 2), the “Tití Me Preguntó” singer took to Twitter to express his point of view. 

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“The person who comes up to me to say hello, to tell me something, or just to meet me, will always receive my attention and respect,” he wrote. “Those who come to put a freaking phone in my face I will consider it for what it is, a disrespect, and I will treat it as is.” He also used the hashtag #SinCojonesMeTiene, which loosely translates to “I don’t give a damn.” 

Meanwhile, the Bad Bunny fandom has mixed feelings about his actions. 

“Let’s normalize the fact that artists are human beings and deserve to be treated with respect always,” tweeted one fan. “You are the number one artist in the world and you hope people don’t want a picture with you? Get your feet on the ground,” said another. 

The incident comes just days after the reggaeton artist was spotted handing out toys to children in Puerto Rico as part of his “Bonita Tradición” event held by his Good Bunny Foundation, and later offered an impromptu concert on top of a gas station alongside urbano veteran Arcangel and newcomer Yovngchimi. 

See his tweet below:

02 Jan 2023

Fred White, Drummer of Earth, Wind & Fire, Dies at 67

Fred White, the former drummer of Earth, Wind & Fire, has died. He was 67.

The percussionist’s brother and bandmate Verdine White shared the sad news through social media on Sunday (Jan. 1). Neither the date nor the cause of White’s death had been disclosed at press time.

“Our family is saddened today with the loss of an amazing and talented family member. Our beloved brother Frederick Eugene ‘Freddie’ White,” Verdine White wrote on Instagram alongside photos of his brother.

“He joins our brothers Maurice, Monte, and Ronald in heaven and is now drumming with the angels!” he added. “He was the wonderful bro that was always entertaining and delightfully mischievous! And we could always count on him to make a seemingly bad situation more light-hearted.”

Fred White was born on Jan. 13, 1955 in Chicago. He began drumming at the age of 9 and later performed with Linda Ronstadt and Donny Hathaway before joining Earth, Wind & Fire in 1974. He was the fourth of the White brothers to perform in the Grammy-winning R&B band.

White sat behind the kit for some of Earth, Wind & Fire’s most successful songs, including “Shining Star,” which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1975. He also scored top 10 hits with “Let’s Groove,” “September,” “Sing a Song,” “After the Love Has Gone,” “Boogie Wonderland” and others.

White left Earth, Wind & Fire in the mid-1980s, but he returned for the band’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2000.

During his career, White also lent his drumming talents to recordings for Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, Deniece Williams, the Emotions, Ramsey Lewis, Jennifer Holliday, and Diana Ross. Most recently, he collaborated with Ross on her 2021 album, Thank You.

Verdine White’s tribute post drew a slew of responses from fellow musicians, including Questlove, Lenny Kravitz and Nile Rodgers.

“Sending my love and deepest condolences to you and the family,” Kravitz commented. “I was blessed to have been in his presence and blessed to have been influenced by him. A true king. Rest in power.

See Verdine White’s tribute to his brother Fred on Instagram here.

02 Jan 2023

Drake, Missy Elliott, Ty Dolla $ign & More Pay Tribute to Gangsta Boo

The hip-hop community is mourning the death of pioneering Southern female rapper and former Three 6 Mafia member Gangsta Boo, who has died at the age of 43.

Drake, Missy Elliott, Ty Dolla $ign and Freddie Gibbs are among the many musicians remembering Boo, who was found dead on Sunday (Jan. 1) at a home in Memphis, Tennessee, according to Fox 13 in Memphis, Commercial Appeal and other reports. The cause of her death had not been released at press time.

“Rest in heaven Gangsta Boo,” Drake captioned a throwback photo of the late pioneering rapper in his Instagram Story.

Elliott shared a similar sentiment, tweeting, “Rest Peacefully @GangstaBooQOM.”

Ty Dolla $ign also took to Twitter to remember the late artist. “Long live my home girl Gangsta Boo Queen of the M,” he wrote.

Gibbs, meanwhile, shared what appeared to be a recent photo of himself hanging out with Boo. “Damn we was just together,” the rapper tweeted. “RIP Queen.”

Shortly after the news of her passing, Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Juicy J posted tributes to their former bandmate on Instagram. DJ Paul shared an captionless photo of the late rapper, while Juicy J posted a snapshot of the pair accompanied by a broken heart emoji.

“Man we was jus together three weeks ago,” Lil Jon commented in DJ Paul’s post. “Rest well quenn.”

The Three 6 Mafia members’ tribute posts also garnered comments from Ludacris, Bun B, Outkast’s Big Boi, Ty Dolla $ign, Jay Rock, Krayzie Bone, Cypress Hill’s B-Real, and others.

On New Year’s Eve, Boo shared a video on Instagram about her accomplishments from the past year. “Some of the things that I did in 2022! So fun and productive, climbed out my shell alot!! 2023 go be 23’n! #JORDAN #BOOPRINT #recap Happy New 2023 everyone!” she captioned the clip.

Boo, whose real name was Lola Mitchell, was born in the Whitehaven section of Memphis on Aug. 7, 1979. She joined local hip-hop collective Three 6 Mafia — founded by DJ Paul, Juicy J and Lord Infamous — at the age of 15 in 1994. That same year, she recorded her first solo song with the group, “Cheefa Da Reefa.” The track would set the tone for the Memphis femcee, who later unveiled her most popular hit “Where Dem Dollas At?” from her 1998 debut album, Enquiring Minds.

She went gone through a number of transformations during her career, renaming herself Lady Boo in 2001 and releasing numerous solo albums. In 2013, she joined Da Mafia 6ix before the passing of band member Lord Infamous in December of that year. In 2014, she and Da Mafia 6ix’s other femcee La Chat, also recorded Witch together.

In recent months, Boo was featured on GloRilla and Latto’s collaboration “F— The Club Up,” a play off Three 6 Mafia’s “Tear Da Club Up.”

“This one hit different,” Latto tweeted after discovering her passing. “I’m just glad I got to feel your embrace & give u ur flowers before u left us BIG BOO 4L.”

See more musician reactions to Boo’s death below.

02 Jan 2023

Rapper Gangsta Boo, Former Member of Three 6 Mafia, Dies at 43

Gangsta Boo, a pioneering Southern female rapper and former member of hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, has died, according to Fox 13 in Memphis, Commercial Appeal and other reports. She was 43.

Boo, born Lola Mitchell, was reportedly found dead on Sunday (Jan. 1) at approximately 4 p.m. at a home in Memphis. The cause of her death had not been released at press time.

Shortly after the news of her passing, Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Juicy J shared tributes to their former bandmate on Instagram. DJ Paul shared an captionless photo of the late rapper, while Juicy J posted a snapshot of the pair accompanied by a broken heart emoji.

“Man we was jus together three weeks ago,” Lil Jon commented in DJ Paul’s post. “Rest well quenn.”

The Three 6 Mafia members’ tribute posts also garnered comments from Ludacris, Bun B, Outkast’s Big Boi, Ty Dolla $ign, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Krayzie Bone, Cypress Hill’s B-Real, and others.

On New Year’s Eve, Boo shared a video on Instagram about her accomplishments from the past year. “Some of the things that I did in 2022! So fun and productive, climbed out my shell alot!! 2023 go be 23’n! #JORDAN #BOOPRINT #recap Happy New 2023 everyone!” she captioned the clip.

Boo was born in the Whitehaven section of Memphis, Tennessee, on Aug. 7, 1979. She joined local hip-hop collective Three 6 Mafia — founded by DJ Paul, Juicy J and Lord Infamous — at the age of 15 in 1994. That same year, she recorded her first solo song with the group, “Cheefa Da Reefa.” The track would set the tone for the Memphis femcee, who later unveiled her most popular hit “Where Dem Dollas At?” from her 1998 debut album, Enquiring Minds.

Boo went gone through a number of transformations during her career, renaming herself Lady Boo in 2001 and releasing numerous solo albums. In 2013, she joined Da Mafia 6ix before the passing of band member Lord Infamous in December of that year. In 2014, she and Da Mafia 6ix’s other femcee La Chat, also recorded Witch together.

In recent months, Boo was featured on GloRilla and Latto’s collaboration “F— The Club Up,” a play off Three 6 Mafia’s “Tear Da Club Up.”

Boo spoke with Billboard in December 2022, revealing that she was working on a new project called The BooPrint, which she hoped to release early this year. She also touched on her legacy as a rapper in the hip-hop scene.

“I would honestly say that I have to admit, respectfully and humbly, that I am the blueprint. I hear my cadence in a lot of men and female rappers,” Boo told Billboard. “My sound is a Memphis sound. It’s a Gangsta Boo sound, it’s a Three 6 Mafia sound. So, I am the blueprint and I wear that badge proudly as f—.”