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On this week’s (Oct. 11) episode of the Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century podcast, we finish off the bottom 15 of our list with a pop icon so legendary you can identify him by one letter — and then a quick look back at those Nos. 25-11 artists, with help from a special […]
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Charli xcx rearranges her album with a packed guest list, Jelly Roll continues a triumphant year and JENNIE has a “Mantra” for the ladies. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Charli xcx, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat
Like the Lorde-assisted rework of “Girl, so confusing,” which is in contention for the year’s best pop moment, the new version of Charli xcx’s masterful Brat album allows guest stars to drop by and work it out on the remix, whether it’s Ariana Grande meditating on fame over “Sympathy is a Knife” or Bon Iver crooning alongside Charli’s existential woe on “I think about it all the time”; this project revamps the concept of a remix album and extends Brat Summer into autumn.
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Jelly Roll, Beautifully Broken
Not only has Jelly Roll become one of the most successful new artists in country music in 2024, but he’s also been one of the genre’s most prolific voices — and Beautifully Broken, a 63-minute opus that includes a handful of previously released tracks but far more new country anthems, puts a bow on this fruitful era of the late-blooming singer-songwriter’s heartfelt, driving formula.
JENNIE, “Mantra”
Toward the end of “Mantra,” JENNIE lets out a delighted laugh, as if the “pretty girl mantra” that she’s just delivered is so infectious that even the voice behind can’t help but bask in its pop euphoria; indeed, the new single gives the BLACKPINK star a giddy solo banger designed to be turned up loud prior to a night out.
GloRilla, Glorious
GloRilla may have become a star thanks in part to viral-ready tracks like “F.N.F.” and “Tomorrow 2,” but the Memphis rapper was always capable of a compelling extended statement; Glorious, featuring guests ranging from Megan Thee Stallion to T-Pain to BossMan Dlow, is built around her formidable flow, and demands the listener’s attention for its full run time.
Becky G, Encuentros
Becky G’s exploration of Mexican music continues with Encuentros, her fourth studio album and another project in which the crossover star sounds wholly at ease conjuring hooks while singing in Spanish — although this time, she embraces the contours of her voice, making songs like “Otro Capítulo” and “Desierto” shine with self-certainty.
Rod Wave, Last Lap
On Rod Wave’s new album Last Lap, the twinkling and pretty track “25” is placed back-to-back with “F–k Fame,” a percolating collaboration with Lil Baby and Lil Yachty — that juxtaposition perfectly encapsulates the hip-hop star’s line-straddling aesthetic, as Rod Wave is able to offer soulfulness alongside radio-ready rap fodder.
Halsey, “I Never Loved You”
Although the lead-up to new album The Great Impersonator has found Halsey taking a chameleonic approach and channeling various eras of pop greats before her, new single “I Never Loved You” evokes more of an ‘80s vibe than a specific artist, as Halsey marinates in a breakup while hovering above piano keys and ethereal synths.
Editor’s Pick: Tyla, “Push 2 Start”
The deluxe edition of Tyla’s top-notch self-titled album from earlier this year includes three new songs, and “Push 2 Start” most effectively crystallizes the South African singer’s appeal: over sumptuous percussion and call-and-response harmonies, the “Water” star makes flirtatious car metaphors sound vibrant and celebratory.
Daniel Kyri may be best known for his starring role in NBC’s Chicago Fire, but the actor is starting to turn up the heat on his burgeoning music career as well.
Case in point: Kyri’s new single “Maybe,” which debuts today with a moving music video that depicts two lovers in a literal push and pull as they navigate the thrills and thralls of a modern-day relationship. One of the few music videos to depict two queer Black men in love, “Maybe” confronts the age-old question of whether you should fight for someone and try to make it work, or let them go and let fate take its course.
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The slow-burning, emotionally-charged track is as layered as the subject matter, with Kyri’s soothing voice layered over a mix of minimalist R&B, pop and afrobeats.
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Kyri says he first started writing the song in 2022, but wasn’t able to fully finish it until last year. “I was in one of the most toxic relationships of my life,” he tells Billboard, “and I remember wanting so badly for it to be something good, something healthy…something it wasn’t. And turns out that was extremely painful.”
“Writing ‘Maybe,’” he says, “was a way to process the loneliness and uncertainty that come with those moments where you’re stuck between wanting to hold on and knowing you should let go. This song lives in the space between decisions, in the doubt and in the fragile hope of possibility.”
Directed by Vincent Martell and Jordan Phelps, with choreography by Vic Musoni, the accompanying music video was a way for Kyri to visualize his internal conflict. “[The video] shows us two lovers literally pushing and pulling at each other, wrestling with power and submission, closeness and distance, tenderness, and passion,” the singer says. “We shot it in this old, run-down house because it felt symbolic of their love—what once was a safe, secure space is now falling apart around them.”
“Maybe” is Kyri’s second single, following his debut release “Dreamland Ave, which was released over the summer. Both tracks are expected to appear on the singer’s debut EP, due out next year.
While Chicago Fire just kicked off its 13th season, Kyri says he’s been grateful for the chance to showcase a different side to himself through music. “In acting there are all these pre-existing frameworks that I am performing within. I don’t have control over the words I’m saying, or the direction I’m getting, or even what makes it past the cutting room floor to the screen,” he explains. “Music has proven more expansive,” he continues. “I have more freedom and I can use my voice to tell a story that is important to me.”
What’s important to Kyri is using his voice — and his platform — to advocate for people who look like him and feel like him. The actor-turned-singer says he hopes listeners relate to his struggles and find hope in his journey, which continues to evolve each day. “I’m hungry for representation that models life as it actually is: messy, difficult, painful, beautiful,” he says. “I took my ‘L,’ turned it into a lesson, and I hope someone out there can relate.”
After a nearly yearlong absence, the seventh member of breakout K-pop group RIIZE will rejoin his band mates.
RIIZE’s official social media accounts announced that Seunghan will gradually participate in select group activities starting in November, marking a return that’s been highly anticipated yet fraught with confusing controversy.
Beginning in August 2023, Seunghan’s break stemmed from pre-debut photos and videos of the young star leaking that ignited backlash within some of South Korea’s more conservative social climate. The images showed Seunghan in a bed with an unidentified woman and smoking a cigarette, leading to some fans labeling his actions as inappropriate for a K-pop idol and demanding his removal from RIIZE. Last November, the group’s label, SM Entertainment, announced that Seunghan would “halt activities indefinitely” while reflecting on his behavior with no further updates from the label in a decision that left fans and industry insiders forced to speculate about his future.
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The controversy surrounding Seunghan’s return reflected the broader tension between the global aspirations of K-pop artists and the expectations placed on them by domestic audiences. While RIIZE has earned international acclaim for music and the group’s authentic approach to social media and fan connection — highlighted in a Billboard digital cover touting them as “K-pop stars on the rise” from this past June — Seunghan’s situation highlights the pressure increasingly international idols face to uphold traditional values in a rapidly modernizing industry.
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In the statement, SM Entertainment acknowledged both Seunghan’s personal growth during his time away and the label’s internal deliberation on the timing of his return. While many fans will welcome his reappearance (an online petition requesting his return had 20,000 signatures), the decision to reintegrate him into RIIZE marks a pivotal moment in how the group will navigate its future trajectory both at home and abroad and, potentially, how the K-pop industry can more seamlessly navigate controversies of cultural clashes.
Seunghan followed up on the statement with a handwritten letter uploaded to RIIZE’s Weverse account, in which he apologized to his fans, company, and band mates. The 21-year-old shared that he questioned his future as a musician but pointed out that his RIIZE members Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton actually reached out to him.
“Because I caused such great disappointment, I continued to have more realistic thoughts such as, ‘Will I be able to stand on stage again?’” he wrote. “During that time, the members held my hand once again. It must have been a very difficult decision, and I am only filled with gratitude and apologetic feelings for giving me another chance. I know there is so much I need to show to the members who have taken my hand again, the fans who are worried that the achievements made in my absence might be tarnished, and the company that made the tough decision. Of course, I feel burden and fear about this.”
Earlier today (Oct. 10), RIIZE released the “KENZIE RE:WORKS” remix of their pre-release buzz single “Memories,” which dropped ahead of the septet’s official debut in September 2023.
Read the full statement below (with translation provided via Soompi):
To the BRIIZE [RIIZE’s fandom] who love RIIZE,
Hello, this is Wizard Production, who is in charge of producing for RIIZE. We would like to cautiously make a statement regarding member Seunghan’s return and the direction of RIIZE’s future activities.
As the fans know, it has been around 10 months since Seunghan went on a hiatus from group activities due to issues with his pre-debut personal life.
Seunghan acknowledges that his past actions were wrong, and he has currently halted activities for nearly a year while deeply reflecting [on his actions] and feeling apologetic to the other members and his fans. We also recognized that Seunghan’s past actions were not appropriate as an artist, which is why it took us a long time to debate the timing of his return to activities.
Because there was no announcement regarding Seunghan’s activities, the fans went beyond curiosity to become worried and concerned, and we empathize with those feelings. But as we continued to debate the matter from various angles, [our decision took some time], and we sincerely apologize for the fact that we are only now telling you our decision about the direction of RIIZE’s future activities.
We poured our heart and soul into planning out RIIZE even before their debut, and we have determined that RIIZE’s next chapter would be even more meaningful if the seven members were together. Therefore, after numerous discussions with the staff and members about the direction of the group’s future activities, it has been decided that Seunghan will be returning to the group. After joining the group and preparing for a certain amount of time, we plan for Seunghan to gradually participate in some of the group’s scheduled activities for November and greet the fans once again.
Even during his hiatus, Seunghan has consistently worked to build his skills, and as he still has a lot to show you in the future, we hope that you will look warmly upon him.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for causing confusion and difficulty for the fans who have watched over and cheered for RIIZE’s growth. However, as RIIZE is a group that aims to rise and realize their dreams together, the members think of the group as their top priority and are, even at this very moment, working hard to practice [for their future activities]. We ask that you trust our decision so that we can properly show the fans a RIIZE consisting of seven members.
We are certain that many people are curious about what RIIZE’s next chapter will be, how much farther they will rise, what sorts of dreams they are harboring, and how they will realize those dreams in the future. Because we, the people who are the closest to RIIZE and who are also passionate fans of RIIZE ourselves, are also eagerly looking forward to RIIZE’s next chapter.
We will continue to work hard in the future to repay [the fans] with RIIZE’s great music and performances while sharing the members’ dreams. We ask that you stay with the members and share all of their moments of rising and realizing that will continue to unfold in the future.
Seunghan’s Weverse letter (via Soompi):
Hello, this is Seunghan.
First of all, I sincerely want to apologize to the members and the fans. When the photos from before my debut were released, although they were photos of me, I was deeply disappointed and regretful about myself. If even I felt that way, I can’t even imagine how the members and fans by my side must have felt.
You must have been angry, shocked, and disappointed. I am truly sorry to the fans who supported us from the very beginning, which was such a crucial time, and to those who were hurt by my immature actions. I also feel sorry to the members, with whom I should have been working hard to move forward together, which led to my sudden suspension of activities. I want to apologize to everyone who had to endure and overcome that situation. I felt both sorry for the situation and a sense of despair at not being able to be with everyone.
Because I caused such great disappointment, I continued to have more realistic thoughts such as, “Will I be able to stand on stage again? Can I continue making music?”
During that time, the members held my hand once again. It must have been a very difficult decision, and I am only filled with gratitude and apologetic feelings for giving me another chance.
I know there is so much I need to show to the members who have taken my hand again, the fans who are worried that the achievements made in my absence might be tarnished, and the company that made the tough decision. Of course, I feel burden and fear about this aspect.
However, I am determined to work even harder and do better because of the trust placed in me.
I will strive to be a good member who takes responsibility and does not tarnish the achievements the members have built up. I want to become a necessary presence to the team RIIZE.
Once again, I want to apologize to the members and company staff who made the difficult decision and to the fans who must have been shocked. I will work more diligently and responsibly in the future.
For everyone who thought the season of Brat ended with the summertime, Charli XCX would like you to think again. On Friday (Oct. 11), Charli unveiled her long-awaited remix album, Brat and It’s Completely Different But Also Still Brat. Revamping all 15 songs from the original album (and one additional song from its deluxe version […]
Jennie has created the ultimate anthem for pretty girls all over the world. The BLACKPINK superstar unveiled her brand new solo single, “Mantra,” on Thursday (Oct. 10). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “This that pretty girl mantra/ This that flaunt ‘cha/ Just touched down in LA,” […]
JoJo Siwa opened up about her sexuality and her reputation in a wide-ranging interview with Hailey Welch, a.k.a. the viral “Hawk Tuah” girl.
In the latest episode of Welch’s Talk Tuah podcast, she brings up a recent photo shoot Siwa did with LadyGunn, in which the “Karma” singer is seen posing with a bedazzled gold chest plate and a matching G-string thong with a bulge peaking through. “The stone bulge is — we were just giving a little spice, a little gender-bend, a little you can be anything you want to be,” she said of the male genital addition to the outfit. “It just was spicing myself up a little. It’s like back in the day when Harry Styles wore a dress. Obviously, wearing a bulge is a little different than wearing a dress.”
Siwa was referring to the December 2020 issue of Vogue, where Styles appears on the cover playing with genre-bending fashion by wearing a Gucci dress. Siwa added, “One thing about me is I like to be for the people who are different, for the people who don’t fit in and the people who are unafraid to take risks. Being that person, I have to go as far as I possibly can into the risk zone.”
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Elsewhere in the interview, Siwa discussed her dynamic with her new girlfriend, So You Think You Can Dance alum Dakayla Wilson. “I have big d— energy. It’s not a good thing, it’s not a bad thing, it’s just a thing. When it comes time to –just me at home, I have a switch. My d— gets soft,” she said. “My girlfriend’s always like, ‘I never thought that would happen. I thought you would just be, like, a hard-a– all the time.’ I’m definitely baby spoon vibe, but I will be big spoon. When we fall asleep, we fall asleep as a big spoon. But if we’re watching a movie, put your arm around me. I am nuzzling you.”
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She added of their intimate moments that she had been a “bottom” for most of her relationships, but that has changed with Wilson. “I have dabbled into top land. I prefer being bottom. […] I don’t like being a top, but I’m a really good top because I know what I like as a bottom.”
Watch the full episode of Talk Tuah below.
JoJo Siwa is a fan of Beyoncé, even if a joke she made at the Industry Dance Awards did stir the pot this week.
The Dance Moms alum jumped in on a runaway internet bit Tuesday (Oct. 8) when she shouted out the “Break My Soul” vocalist on stage at the ceremony, telling the crowd: “I also have to say thank you to Beyoncé, just so that we can keep the dancing community safe.”
“Beyoncé, you’ve got great music,” Siwa added at the time as audience members simultaneously groaned and laughed. “We all love to dance to it. We all love you. … Someone had to, and I will be the someone.”
Though the “Karma” singer’s thank-you may seem genuine enough, it actually ties back to a trend of some social media users jokingly giving Bey flowers at every opportunity to stay on her good side and/or maintain prosperous careers. Some people, however, have applied a darker meaning to the joke amid so-far unsubstantiated rumors that the 32-time Grammy winner and Jay-Z are linked to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ alleged crimes, as the Bad Boy Records founder is currently being held in custody as he awaits trial for charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
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When asked about her joke by Us Weekly one day after the Industry Dance Awards, Siwa said, “the internet’s going to run with whatever it is they run with.”
“They do their thing, and I can’t predict what they’re going to do,” the 21-year-old TikTok star added. “I think Beyoncé is great and she’s written a lot of incredible music that we’ve all used [and danced to].”
But while Siwa and other people on the internet aren’t taking certain comments about Bey seriously, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” artist’s legal team is. After Piers Morgan platformed Jaguar Wright on his show Uncensored, allowing the singer-songwriter to make claims about the Carters being “monsters” who have hundreds of victims, Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s lawyer instructed the polarizing media personality to remove the content from his channel — and Morgan obliged.
“Their lawyers contacted us to say that those claims were totally false and have no basis in fact,” Morgan said on another episode of his show earlier this week. “We’ve therefore complied with the legal request to cut them from the original interview. Editing interviews is not something we do lightly on a show called Uncensored. But, like the proverbial cries of fire in a crowded theater, there are legal limits on us, too. And we apologize to Jay-Z and Beyoncé.”
Halsey’s The Great Impersonator is almost here, and the superstar dropped a new track off the album on Thursday (Oct. 10) titled “I Never Loved You.” Leading up to the release, Halsey continued their Instagram series in which they impersonate a different musical icon and the song they inspired. For “I Never Loved You,” the […]
It doesn’t matter how siblings enter your life — they’re going to get on your nerves sometimes. Charli XCX knows this firsthand from her relationship with Matty Healy, who she says is like family to her now by way of The 1975.
Speaking to Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe ahead of the release of her Brat remix album, the alt-pop star said that the “Somebody Else” singer is “like my brother now.” “I hope he wouldn’t mind me saying this,” she continued. “I have an endless amount of respect for him as a songwriter and him as a person.”
“But I sometimes want to strangle him,” Charli added, laughing.
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The “Von Dutch” singer is engaged to George Daniel, drummer for the Healy-fronted 1975. The band is featured on a revamped version of Brat track “I Might Say Something Stupid” arriving Friday (Oct. 11), which Lowe teased is “quite eye-opening” in terms of Healy’s lyrical contributions to the song.
“I really wanted him to do the song,” Charli said of the sometimes polarizing frontman. “Even before being with George — years and years ago — I’ve always been such a fan of [The 1975’s] work … I just really enjoy people who take a risk in terms of what they’re putting out there artistically.”
The 1975 is just one of several artists guesting on the “Apple” artist’s remix album. In addition to her previously released collaborations with Addison Rae, Lorde, Robyn, Troye Sivan and Billie Eilish, Brat and It’s Completely Different But Also Still Brat will also feature Caroline Polachek, The Japanese House, Julian Casablancas and Bon Iver.
Plus, Ariana Grande will jump on an updated “Sympathy Is a Knife,” which fans have suspected was about Taylor Swift amid the “Anti-Hero” singer’s whirlwind romance with Healy last year. “This one girl taps my insecurities,” Charli sings on the track. “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show.”
But Swift has since sung Charli’s praises and put rumors of a feud to rest. “I’ve been blown away by Charli’s melodic sensibilities since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011,” Swift told Vulture in August. “Her writing is surreal and inventive, always. She just takes a song to places you wouldn’t expect it to go, and she’s been doing it consistently for over a decade.”
Added Charli to the publication, “That song is about me and my feelings and my anxiety and the way my brain creates narratives and stories in my head when I feel insecure and how I don’t want to be in those situations physically when I feel self-doubt.”
Watch Charli’s Apple Music 1 interview below.