News

Asian Doll: Two People Shot At Rapper’s Show In North Carolina

Salisbury, NC – Asian Doll’s performance in Salisbury, North Carolina on Saturday night (October 15) was marred by a shooting that left two people with gunshot wounds and others injured.

According to WSOC-TV, the Dallas-bred rapper (real name Misharron Allen) was performing at a homecoming concert at Livingstone College when a shooting occurred in the crowd.

College officials said a fight broke out in the audience between two people — neither of whom are affiliated with the school — while Asian Doll was on stage. One of them then fired at least one shot.

Authorities were called to the campus around 11 p.m. and discovered two students had been shot, along with multiple others who had been hurt while fleeing the gunfire.

A male victim was flown to a hospital in Charlotte — roughly 35 miles southwest of Salisbury — where he was in stable condition. A female victim who was grazed by a bullet was treated at a local hospital before being released.

Police said the investigation is still in its early stages and no arrests have been made. Asian Doll has yet to issue a statement on the shooting.

“I’m saddened that after a week of homecoming activities without incident, our students, alumni, their families and friends had to witness this senseless act of gun violence,” Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony J. Davis said.

Asian Doll Fights Off Woman Who Tries Stealing Her Diamond Chain: ‘Bitch Saw Nun Else But Stars’

Asian Doll — otherwise known as Asian Da Brat — is best known for her prolific mixtape output and collaborations with the likes of Gucci Mane, PnB Rock and King Von, the latter of whom she was in a relationship with before his death in November 2020.

The 25-year-old has courted controversy throughout her career, from beefing with numerous rappers including City Girls star JT and Katie Got Bandz to supporting Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

See Behind-the-Scenes Photos of The Rudeboyz, Adam Levine & Maluma’s ‘Ojala’ Music Video Shoot

Ahead of The Rudeboyz, Adam Levine and Maluma‘s upcoming collaboration, titled “Ojalá,” Billboard can exclusively share behind-the-scenes photos from the music video shoot.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Directed by Diane Martel via NEON16 & Sony Music Latin, the pictures show candid moments between Levine, Maluma and his longtime collaborators, producing duo The Rudeboyz (Chan El Genio and Kevin ADG), who crowd together in front of a screen to watch the scenes and in one, the director makes an appearance where she’s huddling with the artists.

Los Rudeboyz, Maluma Adam Levine

Los Rudeboyz, Maluma and Adam Levine with “Ojalá” music video director Diane Martel

Guillermo & Maria Juliah

“Ojalá,” where the Maroon 5 frontman sings in Spanish for the first time, marks the debut single from The Rudeboyz’s upcoming first album. Set to be released Thursday (Oct. 20), The Rudeboyz captioned a teaser of the track with the following message: ️”A very important release for us with people we admire a lot!!  Keep your eyes on this !! @maluma @adamlevine.”

The Rudeboyz, who were recently signed by Tainy‘s NEON16, have produced hits for artists such as Shakira, Sech, Jennifer Lopez, Prince Royce and Sebastián Yatra, among others.

Back in June, Levine had already hinted at a possible collaboration with the Colombian hitmaker. He posted a photo of them on Instagram of the two hanging out in a studio and wrote, “World ain’t ready.”

Los Rudeboyz, Adam Levine Maluma

Los Rudeboyz, Adam Levine and Maluma at the “Ojalá” music video shoot

Guillermo & Maria Juliah

The collaboration comes after allegations that the Maroon 5 frontman had been unfaithful to wife Behati Prinsloo, who is currently pregnant with the couple’s third child. In September, influencer Sumner Stroh claimed Levine had affair with her, and alleged that the rocker told her he was thinking of naming his upcoming baby Sumner.

Levine later issued a statement, denying that he had an affair. “A lot is being said about me right now and I want to clear the air. I used poor judgment in speaking with anyone other than my wife in ANY kind of flirtatious manner,” he wrote on Instagram Stories. “I did not have an affair, nevertheless, I crossed the line during a regrettable period in my life. In certain instances it became inappropriate; I have addressed that and taken proactive steps to remedy this with my family.”

Kanye West Offers to Buy Right-Wing Social Media Platform Parler

Kanye West is offering to buy right-wing friendly social network Parler shortly after being booted off Twitter and Instagram for antisemitic posts.

Parlement Technologies, which owns the platform, and West, legally known as Ye, said the acquisition should be completed in the fourth quarter, but details like price were not revealed. Parlement Technologies said the agreement includes the use of private cloud services via Parlement’s private cloud and data center infrastructure.

Ye, was locked out of Twitter and Instagram a week ago over antisemitic posts that the social networks said violated their policies. In one post on Twitter, Ye said he would soon go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,” according to internet archive records, making an apparent reference to the U.S. defense readiness condition scale known as DEFCON.

Ye is no stranger to controversy, once suggesting slavery was a choice and calling the COVID-19 vaccine “the mark of the beast.” Earlier this month, he was criticized for wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt to his collection at Paris Fashion Week.

The potential purchase of Parler would give Ye control of a social media platform and a new outlet for his opinions with no gatekeeper.

“In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” Ye said in a prepared statement.

The acquisition could also breathe new life into Parler, which has struggled amid competition from other conservative-friendly platforms like Truth Social. Parler, which launched in August 2018, didn’t start picking up steam until 2020. But it was kicked offline following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. A month after the attack, Parler announced a relaunch. It returned to Google Play last month.

“This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech,” Parlement Technologies CEO George Farmer said in a prepared statement.

Kanye West Suggests George Floyd Was Killed By Fentanyl – Not Cop Kneeling On His Neck

Kanye West believes George Floyd was killed not by a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes, but from the deadly painkiller fentanyl.

The Chicago rap mogul made the claim during an explosive Drink Champs interview that aired over the weekend, not long after he branded Black Lives Matter — the racial justice movement that gained worldwide traction following Floyd’s death in 2020 — a “scam.”

Kanye, who has admitted he’s never read a book, cited The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM, the new documentary from his friend and rightwing commentator Candace Owens. He attended the film’s premiere in Nashville, Tennessee last week alongside Ray J, Kid Rock and others.

“I watched the George Floyd documentary that Candace Owens put up. One of the things that his two roommates said was, ‘They want a tall guy like me.’ And the day when he died, he said a prayer for eight minutes… They hit him with the fentanyl,” Ye said roughly 15 minutes into the three-and-a-half-hour interview.

“If you look, the guy’s knee wasn’t even on his neck like that,” he added, referencing the viral video of disgraced cop Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd. “When he said ‘Mama,’ Mama is his girlfriend. They said he screamed for his ‘Mama’; Mama was his girlfriend — it’s in the documentary.”

Kanye West then went on to say George Floyd reminded him of his late collaborator, Virgil Abloh, whose death he has also cast doubt on. Earlier this month, Ye accused LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton boss Bernard Arnault of “killing” the beloved designer, who passed away due to cancer in November 2021.

“But something that hit me that fucked me up when I was watching the documentary and it said, ‘They want a tall guy like me.’ When I looked at that image of him — this tall Black dude with the bald head — he reminded me of somebody else,” Kanye continued. “Who you think he reminded me of? He reminded me of Virgil.

“I’m not finna cry in front of y’all ’cause that’s how they get me. But I know that we lost him, and I know that this white company, Louis Vuitton, is now making statues of him, like as a martyr. And we don’t know why exactly — they say it’s cancer.”

Kanye West Called Out By Ahmaud Arbery’s Mother For Making ‘Mockery’ Of BLM Movement

A toxicology report revealed George Floyd had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system at the time of his death. During Chauvin’s trial, the defense blamed the drug for his loss of oxygen — a narrative also spouted by opponents of the Black Lives Matter movement in an effort to discredit the circumstances of his death.

However, forensic toxicologist Dr. Daniel Isenschmid presented data during the trial showing that the level of fentanyl found in Floyd’s blood wasn’t enough to be considered fatal.

Furthermore, Dr. Martin Tobin — an intensive care doctor and expert in pulmonary medicine — said during the trial that Floyd’s breathing did not slow down enough for the fentanyl to have been a factor in his death.

Floyd’s death was ultimately ruled a homicide, with Chauvin being sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in prison on murder charges.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=zBkBmq6Mw3E

Kanye West’s comments about George Floyd’s death were met with outrage and condemnation by fellow rappers and those close to George Floyd’s family.

Boosie Badazz, who was previously outspoken about the “White Lives Matter” shirt Kanye wore at his Yeezy Season 9 show in Paris earlier in October, slammed the DONDA rapper in a series of impassioned tweets.

“@kanyewest U REALLY HAVE A DEEP HATRED N YOUR HEART FOR BLACK PEOPLE ‼️” he fumed. “first you said slavery was a choice, then white lives matter , now George Floyd.N AINT NOBODY GO TELL YO ASS YOU SICK FOR DOING THIS TO OUR RACE smh WELL I AM #justdoit If u think u white JUST DO IT ‼️

“@kanyewest THE HATRED YOU HAVE FOR BLACKS IS SAD. N they STILL SUPPORT YOUR COON ASS. First Slavery was a choice,white lives matter,now George Floyd etc.N ITS SAD THAT BLACKS WITH A PLATFORM AINT TELLING U SHIT for ATTACKING OUR RACE LIKE U DO #WELLIAM U SICK FRFR.”

He added: “Tryin to shit on GF N FUCK UP HIS GLORY SMH #really I THINK U ON FENTANYL.”

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who became friends with Floyd while growing up in Texas and has been a vocal advocate in the fight for justice over his death, expressed his own dismay at Kanye’s remarks on Instagram.

“You know everybody sent me this video. Man, listen,” he said in a video. “The better thing to do is call his daughter or mother, call his cousin Woo. Talk to people who knew him his whole life. When he was on hard times, talk to the people who picked him up … That’s people you need to talk to.

“Don’t talk to opportunists because that’s what you doing. ‘Cause the same time when all this George Floyd shit was going on, everybody was screaming, ‘George Floyd this, George Floyd that!’ ‘Cause everybody was trying to make money off somebody else’s pain.”

He continued: “But that ain’t the hustle no more. The new hustle is talking about him and dissing him. All that shit is weak. All y’all clout chasing, all y’all look sad.”

Jackson addressed Ye directly in his caption, writing: “It’s all noted. To say u a Legend in music @kanyewest it’s sad that u still gotta talk about other people lives to be relevant is wack. Its really sad u doing all this over some ‘Pussy’. Tender dick ass n-gga.”

Clock Starts as BTS Members Commit to Military Service

SEOUL, South Korea — BTS will not be able to perform with its full seven-member lineup until 2025, as the group is headed to the South Korean military. However, the first member to be enlisted, Jin, will release his solo material in the coming weeks.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

BTS label BigHit Music, a subsidiary of HYBE, announced Monday that each of the BTS members – Jin, RM, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook – is going to face mandatory national service, though timing will vary by member.

“Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans,” BigHit Music said in the statement. It added that the group will reconvene around 2025 after their respective drafts are over.

All able-bodied male South Korean citizens must serve in the armed forces for at least 18 months, though the length of service may vary. Draft begins in the year they turn 18 but the men may postpone it until age 28. In December 2020, the South Korean National Assembly passed the so-called “BTS law” to allow K-pop entertainers to postpone the service until the age of 30, with a recommendation from the culture minister.

Jin is turning 30 in December and is the oldest member. Jungkook, the youngest, is 25 years old.

The mandatory military service for the band as well as Korean male pop stars in general has divided the country in recent years, as K-pop’s popularity has grown worldwide. While many including some lawmakers say the musicians’ contribution to the country’s global recognition should qualify them for an exemption, others that include the defense ministry have opposed the move.

In a country that has superpower neighbors such as China and Russia as well as a saber-rattling North Korea, many people believe that the military service requirement serves as a social equalizer and any attempt to take an easy way out has suspended or ruined the careers of several entertainers and other public figures.

For some observers of BTS, writing has been on the wall since June when the band announced that they were taking a break from group activities to focus on individual projects. In July, J-Hope was the first to release solo material with the album Jack in the Box, which featured singles “MORE.” and “Arson.”

On stage at a special free concert on Saturday, where the band performed 19 tracks in support of the World Expo 2030 bid for Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, Jin teased his solo project for the first time. “I got the opportunity to work with someone I like, so a single will come out soon,” said Jin.

Separately, J-Hope addressed the future of the band, telling fans that BTS was “in a stage where we need your trust.”

Read the full statement below.

BIGHIT MUSIC is proud to announce today that the members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service. After the phenomenal concert to support Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030, and as each individual embarks on solo endeavors, it’s the perfect time and the members of BTS are honored to serve.

Since the creation of BTS over ten years ago, the band has risen to international success, broken records, and catapulted K-Pop into the global stratosphere. BIGHIT MUSIC has focused to the milestone moment when it would be possible to respect the needs of the country and for these healthy young men to serve with their countrymen, and that’s now. Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October.

He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans. Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.

With the release of their first anthology album earlier this year it opened the path to allow the members to take some time to explore individual projects. As part of the HYBE family, we support and encourage our artists and are beyond proud that they will each now have time to explore their unique interests and do their duty by being of service to the country they call home.

“Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” is more than a track from their latest album, it is a promise, there’s much more yet to come in the years ahead from BTS.

BTS’ Members Will Serve In South Korea’s Military

BTS fans will have to wait until around 2025 to see the full seven-member band together on stage, as the world’s biggest band is headed to the South Korean military. But the silver lining for fans may be that the first member to be enlisted, Jin is releasing his solo material in the coming weeks.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

BTS label BigHit Music, a subsidiary of HYBE, announced Monday (Oct. 17) that each of the BTS members – Jin, RM, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook – is going to face mandatory national service, though timing will vary by member.

“Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans,” BigHit Music said in the statement.

It added that the group will reconvene around 2025 after their respective drafts are over.

All able-bodied male South Korean citizens must serve in the armed forces for at least 18 months, though the length of service may vary. Draft begins in the year they turn 18 but the men may postpone it until age 28.

Jin is turning 30 in December and is the oldest member. Jungkook, the youngest, is 25 years old.

For some observers of BTS, writing has been on the wall since June when the band announced that they were taking a break from group activities to focus on individual projects. In July, J-Hope was the first to release solo material with the album Jack in the Box, which featured singles “MORE.” and “Arson.”

On stage at a special free concert on Saturday, where the band performed 19 tracks in support of the World Expo 2030 bid for Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, Jin teased his solo project for the first time. “I got the opportunity to work with someone I like, so a single will come out soon,” said Jin.

Separately, J-Hope addressed the future of the band, telling fans that BTS was “in a stage where we need your trust.”

BTS has smashed many records since forming a decade ago. In the United States, the band has led the Billboard Hot 100 with six titles, and ruled the Billboard 200 chart on six occasions.

See the official statement below.

Ex-Beautiful South Singers Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott Score U.K. No. 1 With ‘N.K-Pop’

British singers Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, formerly with the Beautiful South, earn their second U.K. chart crown as a duo as N.K-Pop debuts at No. 1.

N.K-Pop led at the midweek point and does enough to cross the finish line first.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

As members of the Beautiful South, the English artists earned three leaders, with Carry On Up The Charts – The Best Of (from 1994), Blue Is The Colour (1996) and Quench (1998).

Heaton and Abbott also reached No. 1 as a pairing with their last album, 2021’s Manchester Calling.

Coming in at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart is alt-pop outfit Easy Life, with Maybe In Another Life…, an effort that equals the Leicester band’s best chart placing, set with 2021’s Life’s a Beach.

Maybe In Another Life… is the week’s best-seller on vinyl.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance rebounds, partly due to the viral success of album track “Cuff It,” which lifts 10-5 on the singles survey, for a new high. Renaissance improves 20-7 on the Official Albums Chart, published Oct. 14.

U.S. pop singer Charlie Puth bags a third U.K. top 10 album with Charlie, new at No. 9.

Further down the tally, veteran rockers the Cult enjoy their first top 20 appearance since 2016, as Under The Midnight Sun shines at No. 15. Midnight Sun is the Ian Asbury led-band’s 11th full length album.

Ahead of the Mercury Prize ceremony, for which it’s shortlisted, a vinyl reissue of Sam Fender’s 2021 LP Seventeen Going Under, blasts 37 places to No. 16. Seventeen Going Under is Fender’s second chart leader, following his 2019 debut Hypersonic Missiles. The Mercury Prize will be announced Oct. 18 at Eventim Apollo, in Hammersmith, London. Fender has good form at industry awards. He won the Critics’ Choice Award at the 2019 BRIT Awards.

Another classic record on the up thanks to a re-issue is Pink Floyd’s Animals (2018 Remix), which vaults 90-21 following the release of a deluxe gatefold edition.

Canadian indie pop outfit Alvvays earn a second top 40 album with Blue Rev, new at No. 27, a career best.

Finally, as Swifties gear-up for the release of Midnights, her 10th studio album this Friday (Oct. 21), several Taylor Swift albums enjoy spikes on the latest frame. 1989 improves 41-31, and Lover lifts 45-35.

Rüfüs Du Sol Drop Hard Kombucha Drinks Range

When Rüfüs Du Sol put their collective feet up for a well-earned celebratory drink, the electronic trio can imbibe their own supply.

The Grammy Award-winning trio unveil Mate Maker Co., which launches with two ready-to-drink flavors, Mango Peach Smash and Citrus Mule Hard Kombucha.

The boutique business is founded by Justin Medcraft, ex-global senior brand manager at Diageo and brand director at Pabst Brewing co, and co-founded by the electronic musicians and their artist manager Danny Robson, along with drinks trade expert Tom Appleton (formerly Diageo and Four Pillars Gin).

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

According to the team behind the fruity new releases, Mate Maker is small-batch brewed, vegan, uses no artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or hidden ingredients, and is presented with sustainable packaging.

“With a shift towards moderation and mindfulness,” reads a statement, “this group of friends asked themselves: if you choose to drink, why not ‘drink better’? So they set out to create a transparent drink made from better ingredients, that’s better for the world.”

For those who keep count, the two flavors contain 4% alcohol by volume, less than 110 calories and under 5 grams of sugar per can.

“When we discovered hard kombucha a couple years back in the U.S., we immediately thought people in Australia would get it,” comments Jon George, of Rüfüs Du Sol.

“This is something we’ve put a lot of care and effort into and we’re stoked to be able to unveil it now right before we come home to play shows in Australia for the first time in three years. We think people will love it as much as we do.”

Rüfüs Du Sol has been on a tear of late. Just last week, the trio of George, James Hunt and Tyrone Lindqvist scored a leading seven nominations for next month’s 2022 ARIAs in Sydeney, including nods for best group and best album for 2021’s Surrender (Rose Avenue Records/Warner Music), the band’s third leader on the ARIA Chart.

The Sydneysiders cut Surrender during lockdown stints between Joshua Tree and Los Angeles. When restrictions lifted, the threesome performed works from across their four albums at a stretch of sold-out headline shows at Banc of California Stadium in L.A.

Then, at the 2022 Grammy Awards, Surrender track “Alive” won for best dance/electronic recording.

More flavors in the Mate Maker co. range are coming soon, and should make a splash at independent retailers and festivals across Australia later in the year.

Visit matemakerco.com for more.

Taylor Swift Confirms ‘Graham Norton’ Appearance, ‘Midnights’ Music Video Drops

After weeks and months of drip feeds, easter eggs, and product launches, we’ve officially reached Midnights week. For Swifties, the finishing line is in sight.

Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album, Midnights, is due to arrive this Friday (Oct. 21). Release day, however, isn’t where the action ends.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

In a brief new video posted to her social channels, Swift gives us a glimpse at her busy diary, which includes TV stints on both sides of the Atlantic, music video drops, teasers and more.

“Mark your calendars! Meet the Midnights Manifest,” reads TayTay’s latest post, which walks us through a week in her life.

On Thursday (Oct. 20), we’ll see a teaser trailer during the third quarter of Thursday Night Football on Prime video.

The next day is, of course, the big reveal with the Midnights album release, plus a “special very chaotic surprise” at 3am ET, followed by the “Anti-Hero” music premiere at 8am, and a #TSAntiHeroChallenge on YouTube Shorts. Midnights lyric videos will roll out at 8pm.

After a weekend of absorbing Midnights, fans can tune into NBC on Monday, for Swift’s previously-announced appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Then, Tuesday, Oct. 25 sees the release of a second, unnamed Midnights music video, and next Friday, Oct. 28, Swift will stop by the BBC for The Graham Norton Show in the U.K.

It should come as no surprise that “Anti-Hero” is the first cab off the rank. The track, Swift recently said, is “one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. I really don’t think I’ve delved this far into my insecurities in this detail before.” She continued, “I struggle a lot with the idea that my life has become unmanageably sized…Not to sound too dark, but I just struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person — don’t feel bad for me, you don’t need to. But this song really is a real guided tour through all the things I tend to hate about myself; we all hate things about ourselves.”

Swift playfully revealed each of the LP’s 13 track titles with a “Midnights Mayhem With Me” game on TikTok, in which she spun a bingo cage where each ball corresponded to a track from the album.

The album will also be issued on several shades of vinyl. Collect them all, spin them around, and you’ve got a clock (Swift’s website is selling hardware to turn that clock into a functioning timepiece).

Target has the exclusive on the vinyl “Lavender Edition” of Midnights, and a CD which will carry three bonus tracks.

Watch the “Midnights Manifest” clip below.