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As the lights dimmed for Rauw Alejandro’s sold-out show at Miami’s FTX Arena in April 2022, Rosalía — wearing head-to-toe black, eyes hidden behind enormous shades — was quietly ushered to a second-row seat. For once, the spotlight was not on the stylish Spanish artist, but on her boyfriend: a compact, wiry dynamo who, for the next two hours, steamrolled relentlessly from hardcore reggaetón to ’90s-inspired dance bops, supported by a troupe of dancers performing dazzling choreography.
“What Raúl does — sing and dance in a show from beginning to end — no other Latin artist does that,” Rosalía whispered, her voice low but bursting with pride.
A year later, the moment still encapsulates the dynamic of perhaps the most fascinating couple in music right now. Rosalía and Puerto Rican reggaetón star Rauw, both 30, have been together for nearly four years. But even as their relationship and individual careers have flourished — he was No. 3 on Billboard’s 2022 year-end Top Latin Artist chart (behind only Bad Bunny among men), she No. 14 — they’ve rarely appeared in public or given interviews together, and have yet to perform or even collaborate together. Until now.
On March 24, the duo released RR, a three-track EP that is as public and passionate a declaration of love as it gets. On the trio of songs — “Beso,” “Promesa” and “Vampiros” — both artists manage to sound like themselves, while creating an entirely different, beautifully intertwined sonic mix of techno pop with urban beats that moves from dreamy romantic to ’90s dancefloor. At the end of the recently released “Beso” video, Rosalía tearfully displays a diamond ring — confirming the two are now engaged.
Read the full Billboard cover story here.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
On Rosalía: Ferragamo dress and shoes, AGMES earrings. On Rauw: Saint Laurent shirt, Ann Demeulemeester pants, Rick Owens shoes, Letra studio necklace and rings, Octi rings, Alan Crocetti earring and ring.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
Ludovic de Saint Sernin coat, Cruda Shoes.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
Okane coat, Phoebe Pendergast sunglasses, Marco Panconesi jewelry.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
On Rosalía: Gucci suit, shirt, tie, gloves and shoes. On Rauw: Gucci suit, shirt, tie, gloves and shoes, Maria Black jewelry.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
Fendi x Marc Jacobs corset, jacket, gloves and pants.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
Okane coat, Phoebe Pendergast sunglasses, Marco Panconesi jewelry.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
On Rosalía: Gucci suit, shirt, tie, gloves and shoes. On Rauw: Gucci suit, shirt, tie, gloves and shoes, Maria Black jewelry.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
On Rosalía: Ferragamo dress. On Rauw: Saint Laurent shirt, Ann Demeulemeester pants, Letra studio necklace and rings, Octi rings, Alan Crocetti earring and ring.
Image Credit: Kanya Iwana
On Rauw: Ludovic de Saint Sernin scarf and pants. On Rosalía: Ludovic de Saint Sernin coat.
Styling by Chloe & Chenelle. Rosalía: Hair by Natalia Bratin. Makeup by Juliana Gonzalez at Creative Management. Alejandro: Grooming by Millie Morales.
Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour is finally here, and with the kickoff comes a whole set of photos from her first tour in five years.
The “Mastermind” opened her tour Friday night (March 17) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., at the first of two concerts at the venue. “Tonight, we’re going to be going on an adventure, one era at a time!” Swift announced a few songs into the show.
Photos from the show feature moments from Swift’s staggering 44-song setlist. She treated fans to music from every one of her eras so far, from her self-titled debut through Midnights, and brought to life beautifully staged visuals to go along with songs from each of her 10 full-length studio albums. Swift described herself as “really overwhelmed, and trying to keep it together all night,” but pulled off a spectacular three-hour-and-15-minute concert — backed by her crew of talented touring musicians and dancers — in front of thousands of fans, seemingly with ease.
The first set of photos from The Eras Tour capture the trek’s memorable beginning and the star’s connection with her ever-supportive Swifties. Swift is seen giving it her all as she performs songs from Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, Reputation, Lover, Folklore, Evermore and Midnights — debuting many tracks from her latest releases live on tour for the first time, in sparkling bodysuits and gowns that don’t disappoint.
Take a look at some of the highlights of Swift’s show, which included stunning sets and an impressive number of quick costume changes, in these Eras Tour photos.
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Image Credit: John Medina/GI
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Image Credit: John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
After the Oscars, A-list music stars came out in droves for the famous Vanity Fair Oscar party on Sunday night (March 12).
Couples like Offset and Cardi B, Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner and Rita Ora and Taika Waititi all turned heads while hand-in-hand on the Vanity Fair carpet, while Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo were all smiles making one of their first public appearances as a couple following the Maroon 5 rocker’s recent texting scandal at the tail end of 2022.
The annual fête is also another chance for famous faces to turn the fashion up to 100 in the wake of the Oscars champagne carpet, and this year was no exception. Olivia Rodrigo served all the Y2K fantasy in a chic leopard-print gown by Valentino and Sabrina Carpenter stunned in a sheer illusion gown by Paco Rabanne with strategically placed appliqués adding to the high-fashion moment. Billie Eilish, on the other hand, opted for voluminous glamour in an all-black goth-inspired ensemble as she walked the carpet with boyfriend Jesse Rutherford of The Neighborhood.
In a night dominated by neutrals, Saweetie bucked the trend by donning a bright green, high-low ball gown with a dramatic capelet covering her shoulders. Chloe x Halle also reunited for the party after the latter premiered a new look at her upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid during the Oscars telecast with co-star Melissa McCarthy.
The menswear at the Vanity Fair bash didn’t disappoint either, whether it was Ricky Martin serving dashing old Hollywood glamour with a twist thanks to his tuxedo’s oversized lapels or a newly blond-ish Troye Sivan arriving in a Matrix-esque leather bodysuit and matching belt.
Click through all the looks from the Vanity Fair Oscar party below.
Cardi B & Offset
Image Credit: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Cardi B and Offset arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Billie Eilish
Image Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Billie Eilish attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Sabrina Carpenter
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Sabrina Carpenter attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Usher
Image Credit: Alberto Rodriguez for Variety
Usher Raymond at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Shawn Mendes
Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/GI
Shawn Mendes attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
HAIM
Image Credit: Alberto Rodriguez for Variety
Este Haim, Alana Haim, and Danielle Haim arrive at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Donald Glover
Image Credit: Alberto Rodriguez for Variety
Donald Glover arrives at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Megan Thee Stallion
Image Credit: John Shearer/WireImage
Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/GI
Olivia Rodrigo attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Chloe x Halle
Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/GI
Chlöe Bailey and Halle Bailey attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Christina Aguilera
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Christina Aguilera attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
David Byrne
Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/GI
David Byrne and guests attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Saweetie
Image Credit: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Saweetie arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Hailee Steinfeld
Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/GI
Hailee Steinfeld attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Finneas O’Connell & Claudia Sulewski
Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/GI
Claudia Sulewski and Finneas O’Connell attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
M. M. Keeravani & Chandrabose
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
M. M. Keeravani and Chandrabose attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Ricky Martin
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Ricky Martin attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Anderson .Paak
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Anderson .Paak attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Dove Cameron
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Dove Cameron attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Rita Ora & Taika Waititi
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Rita Ora and Taika Waititi attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Charli XCX
Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/GI
Charli XCX attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Halsey
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Halsey attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Maggie Rogers
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Maggie Rogers attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Ellie Goulding
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Ellie Goulding attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Babyface
Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/GI
Babyface attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Sofia Carson
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Sofia Carson attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Troye Sivan
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Troye Sivan attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Suki Waterhouse & Immy Waterhouse
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Suki Waterhouse and Immy Waterhouse attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Adam Levine & Behati Prinsloo
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Dominique Fishback
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/GI
Dominique Fishback attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
The show was going so well. An hour into the set from Kx5 — the electronic music supergroup of genre leaders Kaskade and deadmau5 — it was, as intended, a dazzling feat of light, sound, video and the emotional punch of those elements combined. Then the power went out, and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — and the 46,000 fans assembled there on that drizzly night in December — were thrust into silent darkness.
From the front of the house, deadmau5’s longtime manager, Dean Wilson, sprinted backstage — where, he says, he found “everybody running around like headless chickens, screaming, ‘Generator’s on fire!’ ”
The generator was not supposed to be on fire. However, it had turned itself off due to overheating and was emanating smoke. Its programming had then instructed three backup generators to also shut down to avoid igniting the 17,000 gallons of diesel fuel inside. Frantic staffers worked to salvage what had been billed as a landmark live performance — one that cost “almost seven figures to design and over seven figures to execute,” says Kaskade’s manager, Ryan Henderson.
Success seemed unlikely. “When you have a major failure like that, normally something then doesn’t work,” Wilson says. “Something’s not rebooted properly. Some configuration can’t restart because it has crashed so badly.” But when deadmau5 hit the button that would, in theory, restart the show, restart it did. The performance, co-produced by Live Nation affiliate and powerhouse electronic music promoter Insomniac Events alongside both artists’ teams, set a record for the biggest ticketed global headliner dance event of 2022.
Read Kx5’s full Billboard cover story here. Kx5, presented by Carnival, will perform at Billboard Presents The Stage at SXSW, on March 18. Penske Media Corp. is the largest shareholder of SXSW; its brands are official media partners of SXSW.
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Givenchy sweater.
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
On Kaskade: Dior jacket, Oscar & Frank eyewear. On deadmau5: Amiri jacket
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
On Kaskade: Dior jacket and sneakers, Mouty pants, Oscar & Frank eyewear. On deadmau5: Amiri jacket, pants, and sneakers.
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Amiri jacket.
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
On Kaskade: Louis Vuitton jacket. On deadmau5: Amiri jacket.
Grooming by Christina Guerra. On-Site Production by Kayla Landrum.
A leaked album was the best thing that ever happened to Feid.
In September 2022, the Colombian singer-songwriter was headlining three consecutive sold-out hometown dates at Plaza de Toros La Macarena — Medellín’s famed bullfighting ring and concert venue — where he performed for more than 30,000 people over the course of the three shows. He was due for some much-needed rest the following Monday. But that never happened.
Instead, the artist born Salomón Villada Hoyos, 30, who also goes by the nickname Ferxxo, received an agitated call from his manager, Luis Villamizar, with the news that his album, Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo — scheduled for a December release — had, without their knowledge, arrived much earlier, in the form of a 39-minute voice note first leaked as a link on the internet.
“All my spirits dropped,” he recalls today, still sounding disappointed. “It was incomplete. It was a mess, and I felt rage — but that feeling lasted about half an hour. After that, I talked to my mom to see how we could take advantage of the situation and thankfully, we reacted quickly.”
With help from his team, producers and record label, Universal Music Latino (UML), he took matters into his own hands, working relentlessly for 24 hours to release an album that wasn’t even mixed or mastered yet. Because all 15 tracks had been leaked, Feid changed the title to Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo Te Pirateamos El Álbum (Happy Birthday Feid We Leaked the Album) and had his sister, who’s also his longtime graphic designer, create new cover art that acknowledged how the songs had ultimately spread: Though Universal quickly took down the initial leaked link, the audio had already been shared to DropBox and then sent wide through a chain of WhatsApp conversations. (Six of the 15 tracks had already been released as singles at the time of the leak.)
Read the full Billboard cover story here. Feid, presented by Samsung Galaxy, will perform at Billboard Presents The Stage at SXSW on March 17.
Penske Media Corp. is the largest shareholder of SXSW; its brands are official media partners of SXSW.
Image Credit: Devin Christopher
Feid photographed on January 12, 2023 at Proper Studio in Miami.
Image Credit: Devin Christopher
Feid photographed on January 12, 2023 at Proper Studio in Miami.
Image Credit: Devin Christopher
Feid photographed on January 12, 2023 at Proper Studio in Miami.
Image Credit: Devin Christopher
Feid photographed on January 12, 2023 at Proper Studio in Miami.
Image Credit: Devin Christopher
Feid photographed on January 12, 2023 at Proper Studio in Miami.
Someone has sparked a blunt in the planetarium.
It may be a school night, but no one has come to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, N.J., to learn. Instead, the hundreds of fans packed into the domed theater on Jan. 26 have come to hear Lil Yachty’s latest album as he intended: straight through — and with an open mind. Or, as Yachty says with a mischievous smile: “I hope y’all took some sh-t.”
For the next 57 minutes and 16 seconds, graphics of exploding spaceships, green giraffes and a quiet road through Joshua Tree National Park accompany Yachty’s sonically divergent — and at this point, unreleased — fifth album, Let’s Start Here. For a psychedelic rock project that plays like one long song, the visual aids not only help attendees embrace the bizarre, but also function as a road map for Yachty’s far-out trip, signaling that there is, in fact, a tracklist.
It’s a night the artist has arguably been waiting for his whole career — to finally release an album he feels proud of. An album that was, he says, made “from scratch” with all live instrumentation. An album that opens with a nearly seven-minute opus, “the BLACK seminole.,” that he claims he had to fight most of his collaborative team to keep as one, not two songs. An album that, unlike his others, has few features and is instead rich with co-writers like Mac DeMarco, Nick Hakim, Alex G and members of MGMT, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Chairlift. An album he believes will finally earn him the respect and recognition he has always sought.
“I did what I really wanted to do, which was create a body of work that reflected me,” says a soft-spoken Yachty the day before his listening event. “My idea was for this album to be a journey: Press play and fall into a void.”
Sitting in a Brooklyn studio in East Williamsburg not far from where he made most of Let’s Start Here in neighboring Greenpoint, it’s clear he has been waiting to talk about this project in depth for some time. Yachty is an open book, willing to answer anything — and share any opinion. (Especially on the slice of pizza he has been brought, which he declares “tastes like ass.”) Perhaps his most controversial take at the moment? “F-ck any of the albums I dropped before this one.”
Image Credit: Peter Ash Lee
Image Credit: Peter Ash Lee
Image Credit: Peter Ash Lee
Image Credit: Peter Ash Lee
Image Credit: Peter Ash Lee
Billboard‘s 2023 Women in Music Awards kicked off Women’s History Month on Wednesday evening (March 1) by bringing the best, brightest and baddest bosses in the music industry together.
This year’s extravaganza spread girl power and upbeat energy to every corner of the YouTube Theater at SoFi Stadium, from last year’s Woman of the Year recipient Olivia Rodrigo and this year’s Chartbreaker Award winner Kim Petras uniting with this year’s Breakthrough Award-winning act TWICE backstage to executives like Dina LaPolt, Mary Harrington and Angelique Jones showing off their fabulous pink suits at the cocktail reception.
SZA‘s mother and father watched their daughter and recent Billboard cover star receive the 2023 Woman of the Year honor, and they weren’t the only proud parents in the building. Doechii‘s mother introduced her daughter before giving her the Rising Star Award presented by Honda. Bad Bunny made a surprise appearance to present Ivy Queen with the Icon Award. Other honorees included Impact Award winner Becky G, Rulebreaker Award winner Lainey Wilson, Powerhouse Award Latto, Visionary Award winner Lana Del Rey and Rosalía, who received our inaugural Producer of the Year Award presented by Bose. Epic Records CEO/chairwoman Sylvia Rhone received the 2023 Executive of the Year Award. Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter, Dove Cameron, Chloe Bailey, Coi Leray and Wondagurl were on hand as presenters.
Petras, Wilson, Becky G, Doechii, TWICE and Latto with “Lottery” collaborator LU KALA also took to the stage to perform during this year’s ceremony, which was hosted by Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary actress and writer Quinta Brunson. Check out what was happening inside the 2023 Billboard Women in Music event below.
Olivia Rodrigo & TWICE
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Olivia Rodrigo and TWICE backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Doechii & Chloe Bailey
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Doechii and Chloe Bailey backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Olivia Rodrigo backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Bad Bunny
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Bad Bunny backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Lana Del Rey & Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Lana Del Rey and Olivia Rodrigo backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Erika Jayne & Dina LaPolt
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Erika Jayne and Dina LaPolt attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Sylvia Rhone
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Sylvia Rhone attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Heidi Klum
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Heidi Klum attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Coi Leray attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Lana Del Rey & Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Lana Del Rey and Olivia Rodrigo backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Sabrina Carpenter
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Sabrina Carpenter attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Kakul Srivastava & Christina Coleman
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Kakul Srivastava and Christina Coleman attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Sonia Clavell
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Sonia Clavell attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Lu Kala
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Lu Kala attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Sonia Clavell, Ivy Queen & Leila Cobo
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Sonia Clavell, Ivy Queen and Leila Cobo backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Madison McFerrin & Jasmin Penelope Charles
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Madison McFerrin and Jasmin Penelope Charles attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Dove Cameron
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Dove Cameron attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Latto & Lu Kala
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Latto and Lu Kala backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Samantha Kirby Yoh & United Talent Agency Staff
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Samantha Kirby Yoh (center) and United Talent Agency staff members attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Chloe Bailey
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Chloe Bailey backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Jacqueline Saturn & Sylvia Rhone
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Jacqueline Saturn and Sylvia Rhone attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Chantel Jeffries
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Chantel Jeffries attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Kim Petras & TWICE
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Kim Petras and TWICE backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Mary Harrington, Kerri Edwards, Cris Lacy, Katie McCartney & Guests
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Mary Harrington (left), Kerri Edwards (third from left), Cris Lacy (third from right), Katie McCartney (second from right) and guests attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Helen Yu & Monika Tashman
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Helen Yu and Monika Tashman attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Ashlee Keating & Guest
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Ashlee Keating and guest attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Shenseea
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Shenseea attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Angelique Jones & Tiara Lewis
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Angelique Jones and Tiara Lewis attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Britney Davis
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Britney Davis attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Bozoma Saint John & Lael Saint John
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Bozoma Saint John and Lael Saint John attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Amber Grimes & Äyanna
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Amber Grimes and Äyanna attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Em Beihold
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Em Beihold attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Larsen Thompson
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Larsen Thompson attends the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Chloe Bailey
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Chloe Bailey backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Lana Del Rey
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Lana Del Rey greets fans at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Israel Houghton & Adrienne Bailon
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Israel Houghton and Adrienne Bailon attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Piper Perabo
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
Piper Perabo backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
SZA’s parents
Image Credit: Flo Ngala
SZA’s parents attend the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 1, 2023.
Billboard Women in Music 2023 brought all the female love and support and to the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Mar. 1), where some of the most impactful women in the music industry came together to uplift and celebrate each other.
SZA was honored as the 2023 Woman of the Year, following her incredible 2022 and the release of her impressive sophomore album, SOS, which is enjoying its 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. “You just have to say yes to the possibility,” she concluded her moving acceptance speech at the ceremony. “And thank y’all for saying yes to me.”
Ivy Queen, Rosalía, Lana Del Rey, Kim Petras, TWICE, Lainey Wilson, Doechii, Becky G and Latto were also honored with their own awards at the ceremony. Rosalía was the event’s first-ever Producer of the Year, Ivy Queen accepted the Icon Award, Lana Del Rey was the night’s Visionary, Kim Petras took home the Chartbreaker award, TWICE was the Breakthrough artist, Lainey Wilson was awarded the Rulebreaker honor, Doechii was honored as the Rising Star, Becky G accepted the Impact award and Latto was 2023’s Powerhouse.
The fun continued backstage at Women in Music, where the honorees and the night’s presenters posed for a series of stunning portraits. See them all in the gallery below.
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
SZA
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Rosalía
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Lana Del Rey
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Latto
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Becky G
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Kim Petras
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Ivy Queen
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Doechii
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
TWICE
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Coi Leray
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Dove Cameron
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
WondaGurl
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Quinta Brunson
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Olivia Rodrigo and Lana Del Rey
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Rosalía
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Latto
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
TWICE
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Lana Del Rey
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Latto and Lu Kala
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Dove Cameron
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Coi Leray
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Becky G
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Lu Kala
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
TWICE photographed on March 1, 2023 at YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, CA.
Image Credit: Sami Drasin
Latto and Chloe Bailey
Ivy Queen arrives in full color-coordinated regalia — a form-fitting, floor-length dress in lemon hues that match her long, yellow-tipped acrylic nails and the curly, beach blonde locks that reach her waist. Standing still and ramrod straight, her eyes surveying the room from under impossibly long lashes, she has the bearing of, well, a queen.
It’s a far cry from nearly 25 years ago, when Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez, then 25, walked into the San Juan, Puerto Rico, studios of The Noise, the all-male rap collective formed by the pioneering DJ Negro, who sized her up: a country bumpkin from the island’s west side, her tiny frame dwarfed by oversized jeans and a T-shirt, hair tied in “500 braids,” lips painted blue, nails like talons.
“What’s your name?” he asked. “Ivy Queen,” she replied, without hesitation. “I have a song called ‘Somos Raperos, Pero no Delincuentes’ [‘We Are Rappers, Not Delinquents’].” Overcome by shyness, she then flipped the mic around and rapped, facing the wall. But even with her back to him, DJ Negro was impressed. “Welcome to The Noise,” he said. “You know we don’t have girls here, right? You’re the first one.”
It was 1995, a time when the Puerto Rican airwaves were dominated by glamorous, big-voiced pop divas like Ednita Nazario and Yolandita Monge, and when reggaetón and rap were still underground movements dominated by men.
“When I started in this music industry, I didn’t look like I look right now,” says Ivy Queen, noting she was relentlessly criticized for her deep voice, her fashion choices and her staunch refusal to exploit her sexuality.
Read Ivy Queen’s full Billboard Women in Music profile here.
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
It’s 9:15 a.m. in Seoul, and most of the nine members of TWICE have just woken up. They’re barefaced, dressed casually and cozily in warm knits and sweatshirts; Chaeyoung still wears her parka hood, her blonde hair peeking out of the bottom. Nayeon, seated next to her, cleans her glasses with her shirt sleeve. Tzuyu, however, is alert and attentive. When I ask (through a translator) who’s the early riser of the group, everyone points to her.
This morning, the women of TWICE look more like students who’ve arrived at an early-morning class than the wildly popular K-pop girl group they are. But for their globe-spanning cohort of fans (known as ONCE), this is a familiar sight. The group’s long-running YouTube reality and vlog show, TWICE TV, along with other online vlog content, have gone behind the scenes with the act since its 2015 debut. Over the past seven-plus years, fans have followed along as Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu (who range in age from 23 to 27) have recorded music; toured across South Korea and Asia; attended award ceremonies; debuted their first-ever English-language single, “The Feels”; and, last year, played and sold out U.S. arenas, a still-rare feat for K-pop artists.
“That was our first time having a concert of that scale, so it was really shocking for us to see so many fans in the U.S.,” says Jihyo, recalling TWICE’s two nights in May 2022 at Los Angeles’ Banc of California Stadium.
Read TWICE’s full Billboard Women in Music interview here.
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Nayeon
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Jeongyeon
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Momo
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Sana
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Jihyo
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Mina
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Dahyun
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Chaeyoung
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Tzuyu
Image Credit: Sunhye Shin
Standing, from left: Tzuyu, Sana, Chaeyoung, Nayeon, Jeongyeon and Jihyo. Seated, from left: Momo, Dahyun and Mina. On-Site Production by Stacy Nam.