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Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” adds an 18th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. The song also scores a 15th week atop the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. survey. The ballad first led both lists last September.
The Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.
Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.
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“Die With a Smile” continues its Global 200 command with 83.9 million streams (down 8% week-over-week) and 6,000 sold (down 6%) worldwide April 18-24. At 18 weeks, the song moves to within one week of potentially tying the longest No. 1 run since the chart began:
19 weeks at No. 1, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey (2020-25)
18 weeks, “Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (2024-25)
15 weeks, “As It Was,” Harry Styles (2022)
14 weeks, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus (2023)
12 weeks, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars (2024-25)
Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” holds at its No. 2 Global 200 high; “APT.” is steady at No. 3; Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” keeps at No. 4, following three weeks at No. 1 last August; and Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” bumps 7-5, after it logged seven weeks on top in February-April 2024.
“Die With a Smile” tallies a 15th week at No. 1 on Global Excl. U.S., with 67.7 million streams (down 8%) and 3,000 sold (down 3%) outside the U.S. The song solely claims the second-longest rule in the chart’s archives:
19 weeks at No. 1, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars (2024-25)
15 weeks, “Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (2024-25)
14 weeks, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey (2021-25)
13 weeks, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus (2023)
13 weeks, “As It Was,” Harry Styles (2022)
The rest of the Global Excl. U.S. remains in place from a week earlier: “APT.” at No. 2; “Ordinary” at its No. 3 best; JENNIE’s “like JENNIE” at No. 4, after hitting No. 3; and “Birds of a Feather” at No. 5, following three weeks at No. 1 last August.
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated May 3, 2025) will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, April 29. For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X and Instagram.
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.
Born: Aug. 22, 2001 – Cairo, EgyptMusical Influences: Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Celine DionCurrently Listening To: Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, AdeleFirst Idol Experience: “I’ve been watching since I grew up in Egypt. As a little kid I was pulling up videos of the show any way I could. I remember Carrie [Underwood’s] journey, the compilation of every performance of hers. And Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia.Favorite Alums: Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard, Katharine McPhee, Phillip Phillips, La’Porsha Renae, Quintavious, Roman Collins
For the first seven years of his life, Filo lived with his family in Egypt, where he was introduced to music by the hymns at his Coptic Orthodox Christian church. “It was very much traditional, group singing with just melody, no instruments. That is where I started using my voice, but I didn’t put any thought into it. It wasn’t until I was 10 years old and my brother started downloading music on our iPad where I was introduced to mainstream music. That’s when I first got to hear Mariah Carey, Bruno Mars, John Legend and Meghan Trainor. From there, I sang in the shower and then my uncle said to my mom, ‘Are you hearing this?’”
But Filo says he never got approval for his “shower shows.” “We had moved to Abu Dhabi and there was a church choir we had put together. I loved the message of one particular song and auditioned to sing the solo. A lot of heads turned around when I started singing and that’s when I noticed, ‘Wow, maybe there’s something there. I love this. I love singing for people.’”
Filo’s mom, who has been an emotional presence on Idol this season, realized her son was interested in music and arranged for him to have voice and piano lessons. “That didn’t last long because after two months we moved to the States,” says Filo.
It was a turbulent time for the family. “There was a big revolution in Egypt where Christians were targeted. They burned mom’s hometown church in Minya down. We were lucky to get a visa to the States from the UAE. Luckily, the U.S. opened its doors and now we’re citizens, which is great.”
Along with his mother and older brother, Filo relocated to San Francisco. “It took a minute for me to fit in. Society here is so different to how it was back home and it was really a challenge finding a community. Luckily there were a few Coptic churches around where we lived, so it was slightly easier to transition. I was this awkward kid in eighth grade until I saw a poster for a school musical. I didn’t even know what a musical was. But I thought I would audition for it – it was the junior version of Shrek the Musical.”
Filo says that everyone else was prepared for the audition but he didn’t know any of the show’s songs and so tried out with Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man.” And then? “I got the part of Shrek! That’s when I first felt like I belonged. People enjoyed what I was doing and I thought, ‘This is what I’m meant to do.’”
Moving on to high school, Filo was cast in all of his school’s musicals: Urinetown, In the Heights, Grease and Rent. He joined the choir and competed in local and national choir competitions, including one at Carnegie Hall. “In high school, everything revolved around my music activities.”
Filo was then accepted by the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., where he studied classical music. But people back home had other expectations. “In Egypt, there are only three acceptable careers: Engineer, doctor or lawyer. That’s it, and nothing else matters. The most random people would come up to me and say, ‘So you’re doing this music thing, but what are you actually doing?’ ‘No, I’m doing music.’ ‘As a hobby. So what are you actually doing?’ I’d reply, ‘Great, thank you for your input.’ I didn’t know what to tell them.”
As a result, Filo studied for a music degree while also following a premed route. “Then, in my senior year, COVID happened.” That’s when Filo told his family he was going to dedicate his life to music.
Being on Idol has reinforced that decision. “I’ve learned how much I love to do this. This has not been an easy journey. You’re putting yourself out there for people to criticize and to have opinions. Often people don’t see the vision that you’re seeing or they’re not seeing the career that you want to have. Choosing music has proven to me how resilient I can be. It affirms not just my singing ability, but my character. Like, I’ve got this. No matter what happens on Idol, I’ve still got a vision and I’ve still got the love for the music. That’s what I’ve discovered about myself.”
Cyndi Lauper is bopping into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and she couldn’t be happier. “I’m humbled to be in the company of so many of my heroes – Aretha, Tina, Chaka, Joni, Wanda, to name just a few,” she shared in an Instagram post on Sunday (April 27), after the class of […]
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Source: Pacific Press / Getty / Candace Owens
Donald Trump must be doing something wrong when his biggest fans are now regretting their support for him following his administration’s attack on Harvard University.
Speaking on a recent episode of her podcast, Candace, the far-right conservative, expressed her distaste for Trump and his administration’s attacks on colleges and universities as part of their ongoing campaign to get rid of DEI, calling it a blatant attack on free speech.
“I never thought that I would see a day where I would be rooting for a university above Donald J. Trump and his administration,” Owens said. “But I don’t recognize this administration right now. I don’t recognize what’s happening. I have a theory. I do.”
Hell, we never thought we would see the day either, mainly because Owens has been a staunch supporter of Trump and attacked other organizations like Black Lives Matter, other civil rights movements, plus other liberal ideologies.
Owens also called out people in Trump’s inner circle for continuing to suck up to Felon 47 because they are “are still trying to grift.”
“Which is ridiculous, because when you are out of office, we are going to have to live with these consequences,” Owens said, adding, “Our children are going to have to grow up in this America.”
Ownes Has Her Theories
The edgless conservative feels these attacks are “not worth it” and are only being implemented to make Trump and his supporters feel like they are accomplishing something.
She also feels loudmouths like herself and Tucker Carlson could face serious consequences for the things they say. “Everyone can see what’s happening left and right,” she continued.
Her comments come after Trump’s battle with Harvard, in which the university stood up to his administration, telling them it would not comply with Trump administration’s demands.
The historic institution filed a lawsuit last week after the administration’s threat to freeze research unless they comply.
Social Media Is Not Buying Candace Owens Flipping On Trump
Despite Owens turning on Trump, social media is giving her and those who happily pulled the lever for Trump the ultimate side eye.
“Candace Owens and Joe Rogan spent years hyping up Trump, and now that they’re criticizing him, suddenly they’re the voices of reason? They’re not principled, they’re just riding the wave. They see that Trump’s loyalists aren’t trending anymore, so they’re pivoting,” one person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user on X wrote, “Maaan, don’t let Candace Owens rebrand herself to ingratiate a black audience and be anti-Trump, saying she didn’t know he would be like this. She was throwing us and our “culture” under the bus for years. Leave her where she at – let MAGA care for her lol.”
Beware of the jig.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
04/28/2025
A select few hits have led the chart for at least 10 weeks.
04/28/2025
Sinners and saints dominated the news last week, following the passing of the late Pope Francis and the continued box office domination of Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed, Michael B. Jordan-led vampire-musical-period drama Sinners.
Sinners once again topped the box office, earning the smallest second-week decline for a R-rated horror title in history. Accompanied by a soundtrack featuring the cast, contemporary hip-hop stars Rod Wave and Don Toliver and blues legend Buddy Guy, Sinners stands as the first true cultural phenomenon of the year.
Coogler’s blues-informed film also gave way to a weekend of formal debuts from the latest generation of rhythm and blues artists. Coco Jones (Why Not More?) and Destin Conrad (Love On Digital), two of Gen Z’s preeminent R&B stars both unleashed their debut studio albums over the weekend, while seasoned R&B greats like Ledisi (The Crown) and Smokey Robinson (What the World Needs Now) dropped their own new sets.
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Over on the hip-hop side, Young Thug reiterated his allegiance to Drake and dropped his first single since his release from jail in October 2024; Flo Milli welcomed her first child; and Kendrick Lamar scored 10 nominations at the 2025 American Music Awards, more than any other artist.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Jade Novah’s ode to the ’90s to Aaron Page’s new Domani-assisted joint. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Durand Jones & The Indications & Aaron Frazer, “Flower Moon”
After opening for select dates on Lenny Kravitz’s Blue Electric Light Tour, Durand Jones & The Indications have shared the latest single from their forthcoming Flowers LP. Built on sugary three-part harmonies, mellow guitar, and overall framework ripped from the early ’70s soul playbook, “Flower Moon” is the perfect wind-down tune.
Aaron Frazer handles lead vocals on this cut, his buttery tone adding some beautiful color to picturesque lyrics like, “Well you see, lovers livin’ light like a feather/ Keep it hot in warm summer weather nights/ And the music pours like drinks from the corner/ You can post up too if you want some fun.” The ’70s have had a small moment in popular music ever since the turn of the decade, and “Flower Moon” is one of the rare offerings that rises above the pitfalls of pastiche. — KYLE DENIS
Ray Vaughn feat. Jay Rock, “Klown Dance”
Leading TDE’s next generation alongside Doechii, Ray Vaughn looks to leave an indelible mark on the rap game in 2025 with his The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu mixtape, which he’s compared to his version of Kendrick Lamar’s Good kid, m.A.A.d city. “Klown Dance” finds Vaughn clashing with labelmate Jay Rock, as the pair of shrewd wordsmiths go bar-for-bar over a smooth VanJess sample. The Long Beach native narrates his gritty come-up. “The hood never had a place for doubts/ Look at me wearin’ s–t that I can’t pronounce/ Remember Shaq’s was out/ Couldn’t afford the Jordans/ They roasted a n—a in a Carmelitos,” he raps. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
BunnaB, “Bunna Summa”
Produced by Kristof, BunnaB’s “Bunna Summa” should be played a lot as the weather starts to get warmer. The track, and her Ice Cream Summer EP that she dropped earlier this month, have a throwback sound, as the Atlanta rapper tries to recapture that mid-2000s Southern rap energy. Her music sounds like crisp white tees on a summer day. — ANGEL DIAZ
Flo Milli feat. T-Pain, “Gripper”
After welcoming her new baby boy a few days ago, Flo Milli is back with her new single “Gripper,” which samples T-Pain’s 2005 hit “I’m N Luv (Wit A Stripper).” Flo reimagines the track from the female POV and creates a high-energy anthem that celebrates sexual confidence and not settling for anything less than luxury. She’s in control, calling out a lover who’s hooked on her but reminding him she’s not easily impressed: “Better go buy me a AP.” She balances humor and empowerment, talking about wealth (“I had money before you came”) and independence, while playfully threatening anyone who steps out of line. There’s a lot of flexing, but it’s layered with clever wordplay and a refusal to be undervalued. “Gripper” is a sexy, self-assured banger about knowing your worth, setting the pace in relationships, and embracing your allure. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
Sahsa Keable, “Act Right”
Beyoncé-approved British-Colombian singer-songwriter Sasha Keable is back with her first solo single of the year. Produced by Etienne, “Act Right” finds Keable taking a disappointment of an ex-lover to task over wistful piano chords and plaintive percussion. Perusing both her robust chest voice, raspy falsetto and the full strength of her vibrato, Keable delivers some classic R&B vocal showboating, which the subtle background horns complement perfectly. “‘Cause if you loved me/ You would never hurt me/ That’s to put it simply,” she proclaims in the pre-chorus, as she simultaneously internalizes the truth and holds her torturers accountable. After teasing this track for almost two months, Keable’s full joint meets the lofty expectations. — K.D.
Belly Gang Kushington, “Sorry Mama”
Whether it’s selling $100 white tees or stopping traffic for his From The Streets Performance, Belly Gang Kushington hasn’t wasted any time in 2025 making his presence felt as one of Atlanta’s newcomers, as BGK released his The Streets Is Yours project on Friday (April 25) to capitalize on his momentum. With a penchant for 2000s rap, Kushington calls back to Eminem’s “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” for his cathartic open letter coming clean to his mother on “Sorry Mama,” whom he’s only met a couple of times after she left him as a baby. — M.S.
Bruiser Wolf & Nicholas Craven, “Beat the Charge”
Detroit’s Bruiser Wolf sounds like if Suga Free did spoken-word music about selling drugs instead of the trials and tribulations of a pimp. When you mix that approach with Montreal producer Nicholas Craven’s soulful loops, you get something totally unique. Big Wolf is always good for a great quotable, and there’s really nothing like this out right now, making for a fun, fascinating listen. — A.D.
Aaron Page feat. Domani, “Sympathy”
Houston and Atlanta linked up, and the result is one of the best tracks to drop this week. “Sympathy” finds Aaron Page and Domani opening up about vulnerability, regret and longing for emotional connection. The duo admits they’ve been caught up in the streets — a place that’s offered them no real comfort — and that they’ve been outside for too long, disconnected from love and stability. The “streets” here symbolize the harshness of the world they’re stuck in, making them crave something more nurturing. Produced by B100, Musik Major X and Squat Beats, “Sympathy” is about a man wrestling with his lifestyle and emotions, admitting that he misses the love and peace he once had with someone special. — C.C.
Jade Novah, “90’s Fine”
Modern R&B’s fixation on the ’90s can veer on exhausting, but Jade Novah manages to make that obsession feel fresh with her new “’90s Fine” single. Produced by husband Devin Johnson, “’90s Fine” finds Novah floating over a soulful, percussive mid-tempo landscape accented by subtle synths and delicate strings. It’s a meticulous ode to the song’s namesake era, but the contemporary sheen of Novah’s lyricism brings the track into the 2020s. “Give me your love with no filter / Tell me the truth with no filler / Give me a love that won’t change up,” she croons in the chorus. — K.D.
The Bonfyre, “No Sleep”
The Bonfyre has made her highly anticipated return with her cathartic single, “No Sleep.” The Massachusetts native poignantly opens up about her trials and tribulations along the way, dealing with numbing heartbreak and being the victim of domestic abuse. “My heart is mine to control, l and you don’t know what you’re looking for,” she sings. Putting the pain of her journey into music has reinvigorated Bonfyre creatively, and she’s got plenty more in store for the rest of 2025. — M.S.
Tiwa Savage, “You4Me”
On her new single, Tiwa Savage samples Tamia’s 1998 classic “So Into You” to craft a smooth, heartfelt love song about deep emotional and physical connection. She expresses complete devotion to a partner who stands out from everyone else, celebrating the security, stability and undeniable chemistry between them. “You4Me” is about feeling seen, and swept up in a love that’s equal parts passion and partnership. Tiwa’s smooth vocals and playful lyrics balance flirtation with sincerity, making this track feel sweet, sexy and real. — C.C.
Kaytranada isn’t the biggest fan of how audiences choose to enjoy live shows in the age of smartphones and social media. Over the weekend, the Montreal-based producer responded to a fan on X who apologized on behalf of “real fans” who dance at his shows as opposed to “standing still” in order to capture content […]
Drake’s first Eau de Parfum is here. Drizzy’s Better World Fragrance House launched the Summer Mink parfum, which is now available on the brand’s website for $148.
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“Summer Mink was inspired by a yin-yang principle of fusing warm, creamy base notes with cold spices and sparkling citruses,” said Michael Carby, senior perfumer at Givaudan, in the press release. “The ingredient composition was uniquely crafted to reflect a multinational culture with aspirations toward a Better World.”
The Amber Woody scent comes in a sleek 3.4 fluid ounce bottle in the shape of a navy blue sphere. Built around a creamy musk base, the Summer Mink mixes in elements of sage and Italian citrus, which is topped off with a layer of jasmine sambac.
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The fragrance is only available on the Better World Fragrance House website for now, but will be coming to 1,400 Ulta Beauty locations across North America on May 12.
Drake also stars in an ad for the Summer Mink fragrance, which finds him playing the role of a mad perfume scientist trying to find the perfect formula.
The clip shows the Toronto superstar scurrying around his home in pajamas as his dog follows along, and then during what appears to be the wee hours of the night, Drizzy finally strikes gold with his fragrance potion.
“F–k. F–k, that’s good,” he says after a few orgasmic sniffs. “That’s it. That’s it.”
Drake’s fans had a laugh and enjoyed his acting in the clip shared on Instagram. “Bruh actually a good actor you can tell he be having fun doing ts,” one person wrote of the star, who rose to fame portraying Jimmy Brooks on CTV’s Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Rapper Roy Woods chimed in looking for a shipment of Summer Mink. “Nah fam I need that,” he wrote.
Summer Mink follows Drake’s Carby Musk fragrance oil, which arrived in February 2024 and gave the OVO faithful a chance to smell just like their rap hero.
Watch the Summer Mink trailer below.
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Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty
French Montana kept it moving real quick when asked about the heat surrounding Diddy.
The Bronx rapper, who’s been tight with Diddy for over a decade through his deal with Bad Boy, clearly wasn’t trying to get caught up in that drama. Blogger, Joe Andaloro caught up with French at LAX recently. Everything started off cool, he was all smiles, cracking jokes, talking about the Met Gala and the usual celeb stuff. But the energy flipped the second the cameraman brought up Diddy’s name and the serious allegations he’s facing. French didn’t skip a beat, just hit ’em with a “Come on, man” and walked off without looking back.
It was one of those moments where you could tell he wasn’t tryna be part of that convo at all. Right after, his security stepped in and told the camera guy, “Don’t put that last part.” But it was too late, it was all going down on livestream, so whatever happened was already out there for the world to see.
French’s quick exit didn’t go unnoticed. With Diddy under major scrutiny right now, folks are paying attention to who’s speaking up and who’s staying quiet. French clearly chose the “no comment” route, but in the internet age, silence can be loud too. Whether it’s loyalty or just not wanting to get mixed up in legal mess, French made his stance clear, he’s not talking, and he’s not sticking around for the questions.
Morgan Wallen and Post Malone’s “I Ain’t Coming Back” debuts in the top 10. Tetris Kelly:This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated May 3. Still hanging in the top 10 is “Beautiful Things.” Teddy Swims is at No. 9. Morgan and Post debut a new one at No. 8, while […]
