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SM Entertainment’s boy band RIIZE is gearing up for a comeback on May 19 with its first full-length album, ODYSSEY, and everyone is celebrating, including Amazon.
Prior to the launch of the group’s highly anticipated comeback, RIIZE hyped up fans by releasing an Amazon Prime exclusive photobook CD. ODYSSEY is the first full-length album the boy band is dropping since its debut back in 2023. In other words, this release is a big deal. To prep for RIIZE’s long-awaited album, we’ve compiled a list of merch you can shop through Amazon Prime right now that’ll have you looking and feeling like a true BRIIZE.
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RIIZE Lightstick
RIIZE Offical Lightstick
A clear lightstick with the band’s logo inside.
Want to cheer on your RIIZE the official way? Amazon features the boy band’s lightstick in all its glory for $60. The accessory comes in an orange and white component and includes decorative stickers and a wrist strap to make the lightstick your own.
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With a press of a button, you can change LED modes to make streaming the band’s new album a full-on party. The official lightstick also features Bluetooth compatibility when connected to the SM Town app, allowing users to enjoy a variety of official K-pop content. AAA batteries are required to make this thing shine, but they’re sold separately.
UJIMS RIIZE Bracelet
UJIMS RIIZE Bracelet
A stainless steel chain bracelet with RIIZE charms.
Nothing says “major fan” like repping RIIZE’s name on your wrist. Retailing for $10.89, UJIMS features an ultra-cute stainless steel bracelet with the K-pop act’s name spelled out in dangling letter charms studded with high-shine gemstones.
The accessory doesn’t outright look like K-Pop merch, which could be a plus for some, subtle enough to flex on other fans without screaming “Koreaboo.” What’s more? The bracelet is hypo allergenic and doesn’t tarnish or rust when in contact with water. Worn with other simplistic silver pieces, real or otherwise, the bracelet is a stand-out for sure.
UJIMS RIIZE Keychain
UJIMS RIIZE Keychain
A dangling keychain with charms.
UJIMS also stocks unique keychains for all your K-pop needs. RIIZE’s special keychain features a few whimsical charms made of acrylic attached to a large stainless steel jump ring. Charms include some of the band’s most notable iconography, such as the official lightstick, and the name in Hangul scrawled in black set on a white background. The accessory can be affixed to keys or attached to your favorite shoulder bag for a playful textural moment. Or go rogue and attach it to your RIIZE lightstick.
BC233 K-POP Idol Group Special Matching Card Game
BC233 K-POP Idol Group Special Matching Card Game
A RIIZE-themed UNO-inspired card deck.
Perfect for a road trip or waiting out RIIZE’s album drop, BC233 features a RIIZE-inspired card deck that is much like UNO, but with a K-pop twist. Each card in the themed deck includes photos of the RIIZE members. Just like a regular game of UNO, players are meant to match up cards by coordinating colors and numbers, racing against opponents to get rid of the cards in your hands. The addition of RIIZE’s pictures makes this card deck a wonderful gift for K-pop and boardgame fans alike. With a price point like $9.99, it’s kinda hard to say no.
JNIAP RIIZE Tote Bag
JNIAP RIIZE Tote Bag
$7.89
$15.89
50% off
A cotton tote bag with RIIZE members faces on it inspired by their song “Get a Guitar.”
Inspired by RIIZE’s hit song “Get a Guitar,” JNIAP offers a $7.89 tote bag. Crafted of structural waterproof cotton, the bag features all six members of the band on the front depicted as cute little characters, along with lyrics from their aforementioned track in black. Sturdy shoulder straps hold up the tote, giving the bag extra support.
The bag is extremely roomy and meant to carry the essentials from a laptop to your favorite K-pop albums. Stylish enough for a coffee date or a trip to the movies, the bag is ready for any adventure you might take it on.
Save this storySaveSave this storySaveMembers of the Austin, Texas, rock band Lord Buffalo have said that they are canceling a tour of Europe because their drummer, Yamal Said, was detained by agents from United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The alleged incident took place on Monday, May 12, when Said “was forcibly removed from [the band’s] flight to Europe” at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.According to his bandmates, Yamal Said “is a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States (green card holder).” Last year, in an interview with VoyageAustin, the drummer said that his “family moved to Austin in the late ’80s, after a devastating earthquake hit Mexico City.”Said “has not been released,” according to his bandmates, but he “has secured the legal representation he needs.” Pitchfork has reached out to CBP’s office of public affairs for comment and more information on the situation.Lord Buffalo, a heavy psychedelic-Americana quartet, had been planning to play European shows in support of Holus Bolus, the album they released last year via Blues Funeral Recordings. The tour was set to begin on Thursday, May 15, in the Netherlands, and close on Friday, May 23, in Iceland. Lord Buffalo were going to be touring with Sweden’s Orsak:Oslo.Orsak:Oslo will continue their tour without their co-headliners. In a statement, Orsak:Oslo wrote, “No one should be pulled off a plane and jailed for simply trying to travel and make art with their band. We won’t pretend to understand the full complexity of the situation, but this should not happen anywhere.”Yamal Said’s arrest comes as more people have had difficulties entering and exiting the United States under the Trump administration. Members of the British punk band U.K. Subs said they were denied entry to the United States, apparently due to incorrect visas and also undisclosed reasons. The band’s bassist, Alvin Gibbs, speculated that his “regular and less than flattering public pronouncements regarding [President Donald J. Trump] and his administration were a factor” in his denial into the country.Additionally, Bells Larsen, a trans singer-songwriter based in Montreal, said he was canceling a tour because he could not apply for a visa due to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ new policies that do not recognize transgender identities. FKA twigs has also had visa issues, and Grzegorz Kwiatkowski of the Polish rock band Trupa Trupa recently told NPR that he and his band had to miss out on performance opportunities due to visa delays.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Ever wondered how some of the biggest acts in K-pop were made? Amazon‘s documentary Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop dives deep into the inner workings of the popular music genre as seen through the eyes of legendary South Korean business executive and record producer Lee Soo Man.
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Directed by Ting Poo, the one hour and 47-minute film is currently available to stream on Amazon’s Prime Video via a Prime subscription, which will run you $14.99 per month. The documentary was made available on the streaming platform on May 13.
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‘Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop’
A brand new Amazon’s Prime Video documentary discussing the life and work of legendary music producer and businessman Lee Soo Man.
From Man’s beginnings in the traditional town of Jeonju, to his work at hallowed entertainment company SM Entertainment, the documentary chronicles the good, bad and ugly of the K-pop industry, with the hallowed producer behind the wheel. Many credit Man with starting what is known as the “Hallyu wave,” a phenomenon that speaks to the surge in popularity of South Korean culture, particularly its music, dramas and films.
Man founded SM Entertainment back in 1989. During his roughly 33 years at SM Entertainment, Man is credited with creating some of the company’s most popular groups, including Exo, Super Junior, Aespa, Girls Generation, Red Velvet, NCT, TVXQ and SHINee. The company is largely credited as a key driver of the global success of K-pop. Man left the company in March of 2023 due to a slew of logistical issues and a heated management dispute, which are briefly touched on in the documentary.
While the Hallyu movement began in the 1990s, the figurative wave has grown to monsoon levels, taking the music industry by storm. The K-pop sphere has gained major recognition over the past few years, becoming an immensely popular genre throughout the world, thanks to the work of Man and industry bigwigs like him. This documentary is a must-watch for fans of the genre who are seeking an insider’s perspective on some of their favorite groups.
Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Tengoku” hits No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated May 14, becoming one of the three songs by the band taking up the top three slots on this week’s chart.
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“Tengoku” (“Heaven”) was written as the theme song for the movie Shinso wo ohanashi shimasu (“Let me tell you the truth”) starring the band’s frontman Motoki Omori alongside timelesz member Fuma Kikuchi and debuted at No. 11 last week. On this week’s tally, it rules streaming with 9,383,288 weekly streams while coming in at No. 3 for downloads, No. 2 for radio airplay, and No. 4 for video views.
The popular three-man band dominates the top three positions on this week’s Japan Hot 100 with “Lilac” following “Heaven” at No. 2 and “KUSUSHIKI” at No. 3, becoming the second act to do so. The first artist who accomplished this feat was Ado, on the chart released Aug. 17, 2022. (“New Genesis,” “Backlght,” and “I’m Invincible” at Nos. 1, 2, 3, respectively. Fun fact: Motoki Omori wrote “I’m Invincible.”)
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WEST.’s “WEST SIDE SOUL!” debuts at No. 4. The theme song for the movie URASYAIN starring all seven members of the boy band sold 236,601 copies in its first week to rule physical sales and comes in at No. 24 for radio.
DXTEEN’s “Tick-Tack” bows at No. 5. The opening theme song for the drama series Yabusaka dewa gozaimasen launches at No. 2 for sales with 90,311 copies sold and comes in at No. 8 for radio.
Other notable chart moves include Shota Shimizu’s “PUZZLE,” which rises 18-11. Released last October as the theme song for his alma mater, the song started gaining traction on TikTok and social media around April, leading to an increase in video views and streams. Streams are up to 112% and downloads to 162% from the week before.
Also, several songs by KinKi Kids have charted after the duo released its extensive catalog on streaming platforms on May 5. “Ai no katamari” comes in at No. 14, “Garasu no shonen” at No. 42, “Aisareruyori aishitai” at No. 81, “Flower” at No. 92, and “Boku no senaka niwa hane ga aru” at No. 99.
The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.
See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from May 5 to 11, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English X account.
Profitability at K-pop company JYP Entertainment fell in the first quarter due to a lack of large tours and an album release schedule that favored young, developing artists. While revenue reached 140.8 billion KRW ($97 million), up 3% from the prior-year period, operating profit fell 42%. Operating margin — operating income as a percentage of […]
Shakira fans commuting from the TriState Area to her concerts at MetLife Stadium on Thursday and Friday (May 15-16) may need to rethink their travel plans. NJ Transit announced on Monday (May 12) it will be halting rail and bus service to the stadium for both shows. “Due to the potential rail service stoppage, NJ […]
From Missy Elliott to Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes has collaborated with plenty of icons throughout his decorated career, but now he’s got his eyes on potentially working with a fellow New York-bred rap titan in Cardi B. Bus-A-Bus linked up with Cardi B at Madison Square Garden on Monday night (May 12) as the pair […]
Singer-songwriter MAJOR. (real name Major R. Johnson Finley), who has previously found chart success on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay list, notches his first No. 1 on Gospel Airplay (dated May 17). “I Prayed for You (Said a Prayer)” jumps three spots to the top, up 13% in plays among reporting stations during the May 2-8 […]
Source: Getty Images / Boosie Badazz / Cassie
You can’t count on Boosie Badazz to deliver a hit record nowadays, but you can damn sure bet on him delivering some heada** opinions on matters.
Nobody asked Boosie Badazz what he thought about Diddy’s situation, but that isn’t stopping the “Wipe Me Down” rapper from sharing his thoughts.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the Louisiana rapper dropped easily one of the dumbest takes about Cassie and Diddy ahead of the mogul’s former girlfriend taking the stand in his high-profile case.
“IF ANYTHING, THIS SHOULD BE A DOMESTIC ABUSE CASE NOT A SEX TRAFFICKING CASE,” Boosie said on the social media platform. “SHE ENJOYED THE WILD SEX PARTIES N THE EXTRAVAGANT GIFTS ON THE BACKEND. ALL OF THESE YEARS OF SEX PARTIES N YOU MEAN TO TELL ME SHE DIDNT ENJOY IT .IM CONVINCED SHE ENJOYED IT . IM PRETTY SURE SHE CAME DURING THOSE FREAK OFFS.”
He stupidly added, “IT WAS A LIFESTYLE! THIS WAS CONSENSUAL SHE WAS HIS GIRLFRIEND. TRYING TO GIVE SOMEONE LIFE N PRISON FOR THIS IS BULLSH*T!”
This isn’t the first time rapper put on his cape for the allegedly egregiously horny and now disgraced Bad Boy general.
“I feel DIDDY N JAIL FOR BASICALLY DOING WHAT EVERY OTHER FAMOUS ENTERTAINER HAS DONE ‘FLEW B****ES OUT FOR 3 SOMES,” the Louisiana rapper typed. “HE JUST FREAKIER WE ACTUALLY GO CALL WOMEN PROSTITUTES WHO FLY N WILLINGLY TO BE WITH THEY PARTNERS FOR SEX?,” Boosie said following Diddy’s arrest last September.
Social Media Reminds Boose Badazz That He Is A Trash Individual
As expected, social media quickly dragged Boosie, reminding him of his questionable behavior regarding his minor son and nephew.
“He’s the same one who hired women to perform sex acts on his minor sons. I am not surprised he’s defending this,” one person wrote in response to Boosie’s thoughts on Diddy.
Another person wrote, “Every defense is a confession.”
Where’s the lie?
We wished Boosie would just shut the hell up. Nothing good ever comes out of his mouth.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Charli xcx is ready to throw a party 4 her fourth studio album, How I’m Feeling Now, which celebrates its fifth birthday Thursday (May 15) amid the viral resurgence of one of its tracks — for which the musician has announced a new music video.
In a heartfelt handwritten letter posted to Instagram Wednesday (May 14), the pop star first opened up about crafting her 2020 LP, the release of which she wrote “honestly just feels like yesterday.” “So much has changed since then: me, my life, elements of my music and most definitely the world,” Charli wrote.
“I made the album in just five weeks, from conception to release, entirely publicly in collaboration with all of you,” she continued of crafting the album at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was so special. I felt like I rediscovered myself, my sanity + my sense of connection with the world, at a time where we were all so alone.”
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Though far from her most commercially successful, How I’m Feeling Now is one of Charli’s most beloved works among her fanbase. Released four years before she’d experience a career breakthrough with 2024 year-defining album Brat, the LP peaked at No. 111 on the Billboard 200.
In recent months, however, the album has undergone a renaissance thanks to one of its tracks in particular: “party 4 u,” which made its Billboard Hot 100 in early May a full five years after its release after going viral on TikTok. On the chart dated May 17, 2025, it reached a new peak at No. 55.
With the well-timed retroactive success of “party 4 u,” Charli went on to announce Wednesday that she has a music video in the works for the half-decade-old track. Sharing a seconds-long closeup of her eyes paired with a snippet of the song, she wrote on her social media accounts, “5 years later… the party 4 u video. tomorrow.”
The news comes shortly after she shared a clip of herself running down an empty street while holding a bushel of pink balloons — a direct reference to one of the song’s lyrics — on TikTok. And in her handwritten note, the Essex-born star had hinted, “I really can’t believe that 5 years later one of the Angel favorites is having its own special moment.”
“So obviously I wanted to do something to celebrate…,” she’d continued. “This one’s for you Angels.”
The How I’m Feeling Now anniversary comes just a few weeks after Charli performed at Coachella 2025, incorporating “party 4 u” into her Weekend 2 setlist. The weekend prior, she brought Lorde, Troye Sivan and Billie Eilish on stage with her to perform their respective Brat remix collaborations: “Girl, So Confusing,” “Talk Talk” and “Guess.”
Charli is now fresh off of four nights at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on her own headlining Brat Tour. She’ll next embark on a European leg starting May 31 in Poland.
See her post about How I’m Feeling Now‘s anniversary below.