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Did you know Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal were hip-hop heads?
As the two actors promote their film The Accountant 2, they sat down with Complex for their “GOAT Talk” series and the topic of Rap Mount Rushmore came up, with Ben offering up some interesting picks.
“I think Lil Wayne should be on there,” he said. “You were talking about Eazy-E today. We were talking about back when we were young. I mean, you know, a lot of talk about, ‘Well, Slick Rick.’ And then of course, there’s Kendrick right now.’”
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Ben seemed to feel put on the spot and was throwing out names off the dome, but when Jon asked him to confirm, the Armageddon actor answered, “Yeah, I mean, I kinda at random, but, yeah I’d take that Mount Rushmore. I’d take that,” before also bringing up Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.
Bernthal essentially agreed with Ben’s picks, but replaced Slick Rick and Lil Wayne with the Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac while also acknowledging that he liked the idea of Affleck putting Weezy on his.
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“I mean, I think you need Biggie on there. You need 2Pac on there,” The Punisher actor said. “But I’ll put Eazy on there and Kendrick, but I love that you put Lil Wayne on there.”
Ben then said that ‘Pac is probably his pick for greatest rapper ever before telling a funny story of his son asking him if he ever heard arguably the greatest diss song of all-time. “My son played me this song the other day,” he joked. “And he’s like, ‘Yo, you heard this?’ And he played me “Hit Em Up.” And I was like, ‘Have I heard this? Mothe—-er, I had a whole f—in’ life that I lived before you were born.’”
You can check out the full video below.
Paris Hilton graced Stagecoach 2025, and the pop queen shared how she prepped for her huge set, the details of her remix album, ‘Infinite Icon,’ and more!
Are you excited for Paris Hilton’s remix album? Let us know in the comments!
Tetris Kelly: We’re out here sliving with one of our favorite pop queens, Paris Hilton. How are you?
Paris Hilton: I am amazing right now. That was so much fun.
I mean, we gotta talk about how much fun it is. But let me tell you, you had one of the hottest sets at Stagecoach because Lance Bass from *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys, Shaboozey, me, we were all outside. We couldn’t even get in Paris.
I heard there was 1000s of people trying to get in.
We were desperately trying to see your set, and you killed it. Brought Lizzo out. How was that?
I love her so much. She is so kind, lovely, talented, beautiful, amazing. Her new single is so sick. And it was just so much fun, feeling the energy and how excited everyone was. And I’m just so proud.
And I mean, you’ve been killing your festival season in general. You also popped up and surprised everybody at Coachella. So how do you prepare to, like, come to these festivals and put on a show like that?
I’ve actually been preparing this set for the past three months. So I’ve been researching, finding the best remixes of every song, remixing my songs, everything. So I want it to be very special and unique. And the outfit like this is from THEBLONDS, like it was a whole thing. And then my dancers, I’m just so grateful to my whole team for helping me put on an iconic show.
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Diane Warren, one of modern music’s most celebrated songwriters, was honored Monday (April 28) night at the New York Pops Gala at Manhattan’s Carnegie Hall for her extraordinary achievements in the music industry. The event brought together Warren, conductor Steven Reineke and a host of award-winning artists to pay tribute to her impact on decades of pop music.
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Warren’s songwriting journey spans what feels like a lifetime of accomplishments with her first Billboard Hot 100 hit dating back to 1983 with “Solitaire,” performed by Laura Branigan. She has earned nine No. 1 hits among 33 top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100, and shares the record for the most No. 1s written by one writer – eight – in the chart’s history. Her vast catalog includes beloved classics such as “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” (Paloma Faith), “Un-Break My Heart” (Toni Braxton), “If I Could Turn Back Time” (Cher) and “Rhythm of the Night” (DeBarge).
The New York Pops recognized the Grammy winner with a series of moving performances by guest artists including Shoshana Bean, Sofia Carson, Taylor Dayne, Ariana DeBose, Micaela Diamond, Brandon Victor Dixon, Angélique Kidjo, Hailey Kilgore, Mykal Kilgore, Storm Large and LeAnn Rimes. Backed by the full orchestra, each artist performed a specially arranged version of one of Warren’s songs. Among the evening’s standout moments was Storm Large’s powerful rendition of “How Can We Be Lovers,” arranged and orchestrated by Dylan Condor. Sofia Carson—best known for her song in the Academy Award-nominated 2023 film Tell It Like A Woman—delivered a stirring performance of “Applause,” penned by Warren for the film. Carson expressed heartfelt gratitude to Warren, praising her dedication and her gift for channeling raw emotion through music.
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Alongside Diane, Reineke and the New York Pops, the PopsEd Program welcomed students from 15 states to the stage, including those in mentorship programs made possible by annual donors and the New York Pops Gala. PopsEd engages students of all ages and backgrounds, through mentorship, to spark creativity, build essential life skills, and make music accessible and fun. The PopsEd Program students sang alongside Mykal Kilgore, singing “Rhythm of the Night,” which DeBarge took to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1985.
With performances spanning hits from the 1980s to the 2000s, the night was a powerful tribute to Diane Warren’s enduring influence and her gift for crafting songs that transcend genres and connect with audiences across generations.
South Korea’s HYBE used its artists’ heavy touring schedule and strong merchandise and licensing revenues to overcome a slight drop in recorded music sales in the first quarter of 2025.
In the historically slow first quarter, total revenue rose 38.7% to 500.6 billion KRW ($350 million), the second-lowest quarterly revenue since the first quarter of 2023. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of 47.3 billion KRW ($33 million) was up 19% from the prior-year period.
“Typically, the first quarter is a period when artists take a break after busy year-end activities and prepare for new albums and projects,” CFO Kyungjun Lee said during the earnings call Tuesday (April 29). “Therefore, in Q1, we had relatively fewer album releases and content offerings, thus posting a slightly lower profitability compared to the prior quarter.”
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Recorded music revenue fell 5.9% to 136.5 billion KRW ($95 million), with streaming accounting for almost half of recorded music sales, said CEO Jaesang Lee. “While album sales fluctuate quarter over quarter depending on release schedules, steady streaming revenue serves as a stable source of profit. Streaming helps mitigate recorded music sales volatility in quarters like this quarter, when the number of new albums is relatively smaller.”
Concerts revenue jumped 252% to 155.2 billion KRW ($108 million). CEO Lee cited the “huge success” of tours in South Korea, the U.S., Japan and elsewhere in Asia by J-Hope, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN and BOYNEXTDOOR. Additionally, J-Hope’s solo shows in Mexico “marked the beginning of active expansion to the Latin market,” he added.
Merchandise and licensing improved 75.2% to 106.4 billion KRW ($74 million). Whereas concert-related merchandise was most popular in the past, HYBE has found success with artists’ character-driven merchandise, such as for Seventeen’s MINITEEN, a group of animal representatives for the band. “All the character products have been selling really quickly, and many items are in high demand, resulting in additional rounds of pre-order sales,” said CFO Lee.
Content revenue fell 32.7% to 41.2 billion KRW ($29 million). It included sales of the Seventeen in Carat Land Memory Book and BTS 7 Moments, an archive of group members throughout 2022 and 2023 that includes a 66-minute video and 180-page photo book.
CEO Lee also teased details of Big Hit Music’s upcoming boy band that will debut in the third quarter of 2025. He described the five-member group as “a next generation creator crew that pursues self-expression in completely new styles and senses” and will perform “very original music that has not existed in the past.”
Separately, a seven-member, all-Japanese boy band called aeon will debut in June. Created by YX Labels, HYBE’s Japanese operation, the group formed from a TV show that aired in Japan on Nippon TV from February to April.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs can claim a slight legal victory ahead of his explosive trial set to take place next week after a judge ruled that a forced labor claim wouldn’t be entered as evidence. Diddy’s legal team initially requested that some evidence be put aside, but it appears that the sex trafficking evidence will be entered.
TMZ reports that Diddy’s legal team’s request to have certain portions of evidence exempt from the upcoming trial was denied in part, with the judge in the hearing stating that prosecutors would not be able to argue over the forced labor claim.
The defense added in their request that prosecutors turned over their evidence too late, thus not giving the defense enough time to devise a countering strategy. However, prosecutors fired back and said that Diddy’s side had ample time and is attempting to hold up the trial.
Court documents reveal that prosecutors said that the request was “a transparent attempt to narrow the scope of the proof against him at trial by any means necessary, and to yet again make a last-ditch effort to secure an adjournment of trial.”
Diddy’s trial is set to begin on May 5.
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Photo: @diddy / Instagram
After spending 18 months in the South Korean military, J-Hope says he is a very different person now that he’s back on the streets as a civilian.
In an interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, the BTS star opened up about his time serving his county leading up to the day he was discharged in October. J-Hope is only the second member of the boy band to finish his enlistment, following Jin; RM, Suga, V, Jimin and Jung Kook will return home from the military this June.
“I think it’s only natural for young people in South Korea to take on this responsibility,” the “Chicken Noodle Soup” singer told Lowe. “I thought it was a very important part of J-Hope’s or Jung Ho-seok’s life. After all, I am a proud citizen of South Korea. I love my country. There are things that I cherish in this country.”
“It’s a different experience,” he continued. “Also, in reality, I’ve learned a different life. And in many ways, I got to meet people from all walks of life and I received a lot of good energy. And I heard a lot of good things. But also, you know, a year and a half is actually not a very short time. That bit made me feel a lot of things. In the end, I think the most important thing was I realized how important the work I’ve been doing for all these years is incredibly meaningful to me.”
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J-Hope, who continued to release solo projects during his enlistment, added, “Even though I was in the service, I think there was a part of me who never really let go of my love for music.”
Their collective service to the military has meant that the members of BTS have been on a break for about two years, last releasing an album in 2020, when Be reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Like Jimin, all of the other Bangtan Boys have also worked on solo releases throughout the band’s time away.
The break will soon be over, however with J-Hope also teasing on Apple Music 1 that he and his bandmates plan to reunite pretty much as soon as possible. “We will quickly get together and talk about what BTS can do in the future,” he told Lowe. “I think it’s going to be a massive energy.”
Watch J-Hope’s full interview with Lowe below.
Nearly five years after first ruling Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, My Morning Jacket earns its second No. 1, topping the May 3-dated ranking with “Time Waited.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The song follows the five-week reign of “Feel You” beginning in September 2020. In […]
YK Osiris says he hasn’t dropped any new music out of fear of “humiliation.” In a livestream with Lil Rodney Son on Monday (April 28), YK Osiris opened up about why he hasn’t dropped anything new, and said he’s scared of embarrassment. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]
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After winning the Super Bowl, key Eagles players like Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown skipped the White House visit with President Trump. If standing on business were a person, it would be Jalen Hurts.
The invite was technically optional, but once fans found out who skipped, the internet lit up fast. Jalen Hurts went viral quick after he gave a weird response when asked about the visit, then his people came out saying he had “scheduling conflicts.” But once NBC and BBC dropped the full list, it was obvious this wasn’t just a calendar mix-up — it was a message.
A lot of folks online saw it as a quiet protest and showed love to the players who stood on their beliefs. “You dropped your crown, kings,” one fan tweeted. Another said, “Huge props to them for standing up for themselves and their beliefs, go Eagles!” At the same time, people weren’t shy about calling out the players who did show up. Some fans were disappointed that none of the white teammates stood in solidarity. And Saquon Barkley caught some heat too — he’s Black and still went, which had people confused and even a little hurt. “Disappointing,” one person wrote, “but proud of the ones who took a stand regardless.”
What was supposed to be a simple celebration turned into a bigger conversation. It wasn’t just about football anymore — it was about who’s really riding for what they believe in. The whole situation put a spotlight on race, unity, and the role athletes play in standing up — or not — when it really counts.
Billboard’s Dance Moves roundup serves as a guide to the biggest movers and shakers across Billboard’s many dance charts — new No. 1s, new top 10s, first-timers and more.
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This week (on charts dated May 3, 2025), David Guetta, ZULAN, Dom Dolla and others achieve new feats. Check out key movers below.
David Guetta & Sia
David Guetta and Sia’s latest collaboration, “Beautiful People,” rises 3-1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay thanks to a 19% increase in plays (among 24/7 dance reporters and pop stations’ mix show hours) in the April 18-24 tracking week, according to Luminate.
The song earns Guetta his 18th No. 1, extending his record for the most in the chart’s 22-year history. It’s also Sia second, after her previous collab with Guetta, “Let’s Love,” in 2020.
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David Guetta’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay No. 1s“The World Is Mine,” feat. JD Davis, 2007“Love Is Gonen,” with Chris Willis, 2007“When Love Takes Over,” feat. Kelly Rowland, 2009“Sexy Chick,” feat. Akon, 2009“Gettin’ Over You,” with Chris Willis & feat. Fergie & LMFAO, 2010“Without You,” feat. Usher, 2011“Turn Me On,” feat. Nicki Minaj, 2012“Stay (Don’t Go Away),” feat. Raye, 2019“Let’s Love,” with Sia, 2020“Bed,” with Joel Corry & Raye, 2021“Heartbreak Anthem,” with Galantis & Little Mix, 2021“I’m Good (Blue),” with Bebe Rexha, 2022“Baby Don’t Hurt Me,” with Anne-Marie & Coi Leray, 2023“I Don’t Wanna Wait,” with OneRepublic, 2024“In The Dark” with Armin van Buuren & feat. Aldae, 2024“Never Going Home Tonight,” with Alesso & feat. Madison Love, 2024“Forever Young,” with Alphaville & Ava Max, 2025“Beautiful People,” with Sia, 2025
Guetta has achieved numerous other records on Dance/Mix Show Airplay, including the most top five hits (32), top 10s (44) and overall entries (67).
Most No. 1s on Dance/Mix Show Airplay18, David Guetta16, Calvin Harris12, Rihanna10, The Chainsmokers8, Ellie Goulding7, Anabel Englund7, Madonna6, Dua Lipa6, Tiësto
Along with “Beautiful People” and “Let’s Love,” Guetta and Sia previously charted together on Dance/Mix Show Airplay with “Titanium” (No. 2 peak in 2012); “Wild One Two” (by Jack Back featuring Guetta, Nicky Romero & Sia; No. 14, 2012); “She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)” (No. 8, 2013); “Bang My Head” (No. 6, 2016); and “Flames” (No. 27, 2018).
ZULAN
ZULAN makes her first appearance on Billboard’s charts this week with her debut track, “Forever.” The song, which she self-released April 11, opens at No. 22 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, powered by 630,000 official U.S. streams. “Forever” is a sped-up dance remix of Clairo’s 2018 song “4EVER.” ZULAN co-produced the track with New York-based producer/engineer Aire Atlantica, whose credits include work with SZA (“Low”), plus Doechii, King Princess and Mariah the Scientist.
Hailing from Argentina, ZULAN performed “Forever” at Coachella’s Do Lab Stage April 12, along with several unreleased tracks, including a remix of Ravyn Lenae’s viral hit “Love Me Not.”
Dom Dolla & Kid Cudi
The pair’s new collaboration, “Forever,” debuts at No. 9 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs with 1.5 million streams in its first week. Released on Three Six Zero/Columbia Records, the song earns Dom Dolla his 10th career entry and third top 10, after “Rhyme Dust,” with MK (No. 9 peak in 2023), and “Dreamin’,” featuring Daya in February (No. 5).
“Forever” is Kid Cudi’s third entry on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, after “Memories 2021” (by David Guetta featuring Kid Cudi; No. 31 peak in 2021) and “Summertime,” with Skrillex (No. 17, 2023).
Marshmello & Kane Brown
Marshmello and Kane Brown’s “Miles On It” spends a milestone 50th week at No. 1 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs thanks 8.2 million in radio audience and 5.5 million streams. It’s just the third song in the chart’s 12-year history to reach the milestone.
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs69, “Happier,” Marshmello & Bastille55, “I’m Good (Blue),” David Guetta & Bebe Rexha50, “Miles On It,” Marshmello & Kane Brown36, “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” Elton John & Dua Lipa33, “The Middle,” Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey27, “Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey26, “Wake Me Up!” Avicii25, “Something Just Like This,” The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
