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A-Trak Speaks Out Against the ‘Extremely Alarming & Hurtful’ Surge of Antisemitism
As the music industry and realms beyond denounce antisemitic statements made by Kanye West, A-Trak has entered the conversation via a Twitter thread regarding the origins and dangers of antisemitism.
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In the thread posted Sunday, the producer spoke to his own experience as a “very moderate Jew,” noting that “as someone who supports the Palestinian cause and doesn’t agree with the vast majority of Israel’s actions, it would take a lot for me to call sh– out.” He later writes of the “sorrow” of recent “antisemitic sentiments that have been regurgitated by prominent people in the Black community.”
While A-Trak (born Alain Maklovitch) does not call out West by name, he does have a significant history with the rapper. In 2004, A-Trak became West’s first tour DJ, with the pair working together for years in the early ’00s and A-Trak even introducing West to Daft Punk, the French icons West famously sampled on the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Stronger” from his 2007 LP Graduation.
“The last few weeks have made me reflect a lot,” A-Trak writes. “I think there’s something about growing up in the relative calm of the 90s that made me turn my attention / sympathy towards the plight of other people, other minorities. Maybe I assumed people knew what Jews have gone through.
“But a lot of current events are extremely alarming and hurtful, and need to be acknowledged as such. The conspiratorial nature of antisemitism creates a climate of distrust and blame that escalates very quickly. There are patterns that can’t be ignored.
“Saying that Jews control ANYTHING — the media, finance, whatever — is antisemitism, it’s hate speech, straight up. Because it perpetuates these old conspiracies and myths and feeds distrust and hate. This can’t be downplayed.”
The statement continues: “What has compounded the pain lately is that some of these antisemitic sentiments have been regurgitated by prominent people in the Black community,” the post continues. “Speaking for myself, as a DJ who plays Hip Hop and House music — Black music, with love — this has brought a deep sorrow.
“But I wholeheartedly understand the need for some Black Americans, who were robbed of their history AND whom the education system failed, to dig into the past, to explore, to search for answers. We just need certain things to be accepted as bogus, as wrong.
“What we DON’T need — and I don’t want to get into any specific people or examples here — is for disciplinary action to be taken too far, into humiliation. That just perpetuates the distrust and America’s systemic problems.
“What I’m seeing is: Jews are hurting, re-living old trauma and getting more and more fearful. Black people are hurting, feeling chastised and dehumanized. And white supremacists are chilling, enjoying the show. That’s not ok.
“We shouldn’t even be looking at celebrities for any of this. What we should be doing is teaching each other about our histories and understanding each other. Love to my Jewish brothers & sisters, my Palestinian brothers & sisters, my Black brothers & sisters. We need to heal.”
Read the complete statement below in the thread below.
A-Trak’s reflections come as many in the music industry and beyond also speak out to denounce antisemitic hate speech in the wake of West’s racist and antisemitic actions and statements, which have since led to myriad consequences for West. At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony this past Saturday, John Mellencamp stated: “I cannot tell you how f—ing important it is to speak out if you’re an artist against antisemitism.”
Selena Gomez, Harry Styles & More Stars Who Have Endorsed Candidates for the 2022 Midterm Elections
Midterm elections are on Tuesday (Nov. 8), with control of both chambers of Congress on the line, as all 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs.
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With that being said, the results of this election also affect national debate on birth control, abortion, voting rights, marriage rights and more. Leading up to election day, some of today’s biggest stars have taken to social media to show their support for the candidates that they best believe will represent the country.
See below for the candidates celebrities are endorsing.
Selena Gomez
The singer took to social media on Monday morning (Nov. 7) to encourage her followers in Texas to vote for Beto O’Rourke.
“I had the pleasure of meeting @betoorourke a few years ago and was so impressed by him. For those of you in my home state of Texas, please vote for him!” the singer wrote on her Instagram Stories.
Harry Styles
During that sold-out show in Austin — which O’Rourke attended — the “As It Was” singer stood quietly in front of a microphone with his guitar. As shown on the massive screens in the Moody Center, Styles then started to gently rock the instrument back and forth. As the camera zooms in on the guitar, it focuses on a black-and-white sticker that read “Beto for Texas,” which Styles highlighted by repeatedly pointing to and drawing circles with his fingers around.
Cher
In a pair of videos, the pop icon focused in on supporting two female candidates: Governor Kathy Hochul of New York and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.
Maren Morris
Maren Morris is helping encourage voters to get to the polls in an ad for the Democratic National Committee. Morris narrates the ad, which includes footage from the music video for her 2019 hit “Girl.”
Kacey Musgraves
During the “Butterflies” singer’s headlining set during the second weekend of Austin City Limits Music Festival this weekend, the star told the crowd at one point, “Honestly, I could use a drink. Is there any beer or anything out there?”
O’Rourke then surprised the crowd by briefly stepping onstage to hand Musgraves a bottle of beer. Though the duo said nothing at all about the interaction, the country singer-songwriter took a swig of the beverage and said, “That really hit the spot.” O’Rourke is seen waving to the cheering crowd, before walking off the stage to enjoy the rest of the show.
The Chicks
The group took to Twitter to share a clip from their ACL Festival performance, in which Natalie Maines is seen wearing a t-shirt with Ruth Bader Ginsburg on it, passionately telling the crowd, “Do you have a mother? Do you have a daughter? Do you have a sister? Do you have a girlfriend? Vote Beto! If there is a female in your life that you care about, vote for Beto.”
Aaron Carter: His Life in Photos
Aaron Carter, a fixture of Y2K era pop music, died on Saturday (Nov. 5) at age 34. The singer, actor and TV personality passed away at his residence in Los Angeles. He is survived by his son, Prince.
In 1998, Carter — the younger brother of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter — made his solo debut in America with Aaron Carter, featuring the singles “Crush on You,” Crazy Little Party Girl” and “I’m Gonna Miss You Forever.”
His follow-up album, Aaron’s Party (Come and Get It), was released in September 2000. Aaron’s Party peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and went triple platinum. It featured the singles “I Want Candy” and two Billboard Hot 100 hits, “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)” (No. 35) and “That’s How I Beat Shaq” (No. 95). He supported the album as an opening act for Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears on the Oops!… I Did It Again Tour. His third album, Oh Aaron, went platinum in 2001, and he has released two albums since then, most recently LØVË in 2018, where he had a writing credit on every track.
Carter also appeared in TV shows such as Lizzie McGuire, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and 7th Heaven. He made his Broadway debut in 2001 as JoJo the Who in Seussical the Musical and also enjoyed a long stint in the off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks. In a 2019 interview with Billboard, Carter talked about his drive to keep going in the music business: “I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to stop. I’m going to succeed. If something is broken, I’m going to f–king fix it.”
Kesha and Dr. Luke’s Defamation Trial Gets Start Date
A New York judge has scheduled a July trial for Dr. Luke’s defamation lawsuit against Kesha over her accusations of rape against the producer, setting the stage for a courtroom showdown nearly nine years after the case was first filed.
In an order issued Monday, Judge Jennifer G. Schecter said the trial would start on July 19 and wrap up by July 26. A trial had previously been scheduled to start in February, but with key issues in the case still awaiting rulings by a state appeals court, both sides saw that plan as unworkable.
Dr. Luke, whose full name is Lukasz Gottwald, filed his lawsuit against Kesha in 2014, claiming she had legally defamed him with a “false and shocking” allegation that he drugged and raped her after a 2005 party. He claimed she did so as leverage to secure a more lucrative deal.
After nearly eight years of litigation, a trial on those accusations was long scheduled for February. But as the trial loomed, it became increasingly unclear whether that date would work, since the parties are waiting for New York’s highest appeals court rules on two key issues that will play a central role in the case.
The first is whether Dr. Luke is a so-called public figure — a crucial distinction in a defamation case because the First Amendment makes it much harder for such figures to win a lawsuit. The second issue is whether New York’s newly-enacted “anti-SLAPP” law applies retroactively to the case; the statute, designed to protect free speech against bad lawsuits, would also make it far harder for Dr. Luke to win.
After lower courts sided with Dr. Luke on both issues, Kesha is now asking the New York Court of Appeals to reverse the rulings. The cases are pending, but it’s unclear when the court will rule, leaving in doubt whether the trial could proceed.
In dueling August court filings, the two sides each blamed each other for the slow pace of those appeals and the resulting trial delay.
Kesha’s attorneys argued that she had “done everything in her power to try to ensure that trial will begin as scheduled” but that Dr. Luke had “obstructed her efforts at every turn.” Dr. Luke’s lawyers, meanwhile, said it was “Kesha’s attorneys who have delayed the case for years by endlessly filing meritless appeals, which they have lost time and again.”
‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ Renewed Through 2025
The Kelly Clarkson Show will continue to sing through 2025.
NBCUniversal has renewed the syndicated daytime talk show for two additional seasons, taking the series fronted by the former American Idol breakout through its sixth season in 2025.
“Kelly Clarkson is one of the brightest stars of our time,” said Tracie Wilson, exec vp syndicated studios and E! News at NBCUniversal. “With more than 500 hours viewed on broadcast, cable and digital platforms since its launch, The Kelly Clarkson Show has been a home for stories that entertain, inspire important conversations and connect with loyal viewers across multiple generations in meaningful ways. Together, with our best-in-class producing team, we’ll continue to build on the show’s success and legacy.”
In its fourth season, The Kelly Clarkson Show has its largest station lineup yet as it airs in all 211 local markets in premier time periods across the country. The series is averaging 1.3 million viewers since its September return. That makes it the only syndicated talk show to grow in consecutive seasons — a feat not accomplished since 2014. The show is posting year-over-year double-digit gains in adults 25-54 in many top markets.
“As the fourth season reaches new heights of critical acclaim and viewership, Kelly has used her genuine warmth and natural curiosity to create an engaging, fun show. The Kelly Clarkson Show is a treasured part of our programming lineup, and we’re enthusiastic about its continued longevity,” said Valari Staab, chairman of NBCUniversal Local.
Clarkson hosts and exec produces the Daytime Emmy-winning series, with Alex Duda as showrunner.
The renewal comes amid a new wave of syndicated talk shows entering the market following the departure of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Another American Idol breakout, Jennifer Hudson, launched her show from Ellen producers Warner Bros. TV this season as the landscape also features programs fronted by Drew Barrymore, Karamo, Rachael Ray, Sherri Shepherd, Steve Wilkos and Tamron Hall.
This story originally appeared in The Hollywood Reporter.
‘Famous Friends,’ Ashley Gorley, Warner Chappell Music Lead ASCAP Country Music Award Winners
Performing rights organization ASCAP honored some of the most performed country songs of the past year, at the 60th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, revealing this year’s slate of honorees across ASCAP’s social media platforms.
Ashley Gorley picked up his ninth ASCAP country music songwriter of the year honor, thanks to his range of penned songs including “Beers on Me” (Dierks Bentley/Breland/Hardy), “Country Again” (Thomas Rhett), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “New Truck” (Dylan Scott), “Sand in My Boots” (Morgan Wallen), “Slow Down Summer” (Thomas Rhett), “Steal My Love” (Dan + Shay), “Take My Name” (Parmalee) and “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton).
The Chris Young and Kane Brown-recorded “Famous Friends” was named ASCAP’s country music song of the year. The song was co-written by Corey Crowder and published by Big Crowd Publishing, Georgia Song Vibez and Warner Chappell Music. In addition to several chart-topping songs, Crowder has had placements on television series including Nashville, One Tree Hill, and The Real World.
Warner Chappell Music was named ASCAP country music publisher of the year, thanks to work publishing songs including “Buy Dirt” (Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis), “Cold Beer Calling My Name” (Luke Combs and Jameson Rodgers), “Getting Over Him” (Lauren Alaina), “Lil Bit” (Florida Georgia Line and Nelly), “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” (Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce) and “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton).
ASCAP will honor its award-winning songwriters during an invitation-only event held at Nashville’s Soho House on Monday, Nov. 7. For a full list of this year’s celebrated songs, visit ascap.com.
R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Q, SEB, Tempest & More
It’s been unusually warm in NYC in this past weekend, and it’s probably due to all the heat that’s been dropping in the R&B and hip-hop worlds. Regardless of where you’re located, this week, we’ve got 10 new songs to help you enjoy the nice weather or to help keep you warm. From the R&B rhythms of Q and Jahkoy, to boom-bap raps of Pivot Gang and Lakewude, this roundup has everything you need and more to power through the week.
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And of course, don’t forget to share the wealth with our Spotify playlist, linked below
Freshest Find: Q, “Today”
Q’s falsetto earns him this week’s Freshest Find. The Florida-raised singer’s new single “Today” has the ultimate build-up, starting slow and erupting into a funk-infused, R&B bop that’ll make anyone want to dance. Q, who is 23 years old and signed with Columbia Records back in 2020, has an old-soul vibe to his voice and artistry. “Today” is the latest addition to his musical arsenal.
Frsh Waters, “Pray n’ Repent”
Continuing their release streak leading up to the five-year anniversary of John Walt Day, Pivot Gang’s Frsh Waters released a new single called “Pray n’ Repent.” The Saba-produced track finds the Chicago rapper practicing self-forgiveness and repenting for his sins.
Huey Briss, “Warren G”
Huey Briss is no stranger to paying homage to city that made him. On “Warren G,” the Long Beach rapper salutes his fellow LB G-funk artist with the song’s title and many of its bars, rapping “All that s–t y’all talking, it be boring me/ And you know I keep it on me, act accordingly/ I gotta ball, I want it all/ I feel like Warren G.” The song appears on Briss’ new EP Wishing Out Loud.
Tempest, “Heathens”
On “Heathens,” Tempest is embracing her dark side. The alt-R&B/hyper-pop hybrid finds the Long Beach native vibrantly tapping into her villain era, as she sings about “trying to be a heathen.”
SEB, “loving u is harder”
On “loving u is harder,” SEB sings about his confusing relationship with ease. “Loving you is harder than I thought/ You got a reputation breaking hearts/ Guess I should’ve saw this from the start/ A pretty face, you such a work of art,” he laments over the alt-R&B beat. The Chicago-raised artist’s new single touches on codependency and “feeling blindsided by who someone actually is after falling in love with them,” he says in a statement.
Pivot Gang, “911”
Their second single this year, Pivot Gang is back with a new single called “911.” The Chicago collective’s chemistry is undeniable as the group’s vocalists effortlessly tag-team all over the daedaePIVOT-produced beat. The gang is releasing singles both together and individually — again, leading up to this year’s John Walt Day in Chicago on Nov. 26.
Eem Triplin feat. $not, “Let You Know”
Eem Triplin and $not team up for the new single, “Let You Know.” Produced by the former, the song marks the duo’s first collab with both artists on vocals, as they twirl gentle melodies and triplet flows over minor-key organ and finger snaps. “Let You Know” chronicles how pair’s hard-earned trust issues affect their romantic lives.
Lakewude, “Sunlight”
On “Sunlight,” Lakewude reflects on his life and rise as an artist. The Tennessee musician uses intricate wordplay to spit about how times have changed and channeling his “better side.” “N—as bug me, they said they spray like it’s pesticide/ They just wordsmith nerds, ’cause no one ever really dies/ We endorsing violence then parade because they kill our kind/ You see my contradiction?” he raps.
Jahkoy, “Bitter”
Jahkoy is, well, “Bitter.” “You ever get out of a situationship but that person still has some of your things and you lowkey want those things back so now you’re kinda bitter?? Yeah, this is that song,” the Toronto singer told Billboard about the song. The relatable new track is off his upcoming project Sex & Forgiveness.
Phony Ppl, “dialtone.”
With “dialtone.,” Phony Ppl is setting the tone for their new upcoming album. The eclectic funk track is two songs combined, explained the Brooklyn-based band. “‘dialtone.’ is actually two different songs at once! One song (the cause) is about a guy realizing space is only expanding between him and his lover. The other song (the effect) is about a relationship that only exists in the mind of said guy. Either way, there’s something wrong!,” they say in a press statement. “dialtone.” premiered on season five, episode four of Issa Rae’s Insecure. The song will also appear on their upcoming album, Euphonyus, due out Nov. 18.
