R&B/Hip-Hop
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Viral breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has spoken out following her performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics, which received significant backlash at the inaugural breakdancing competition earlier in August.
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Raygun took to Instagram on Thursday (Aug. 15) to defend how serious she took competing in breaking at the Olympics and called the hate “pretty devastating.”
“I didn’t realize that would open the door to so much hate,” she began. “Which is frankly been pretty devastating. While I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all, truly.”
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Raygun continued: “I’m honored to have been part of the Australian Olympic team and to be part of breaking’s Olympic debut.”
Still, fans didn’t care for her explanation, and Gunn’s comments section was filled with backlash. “There needs to be investigation on how you got on Olympics,” one person wrote.
As far as the “allegations” and alleged “misinformation” going around, Raygun directed fans to read the Australian breaking team’s official statement.
“We condemn the global online harassment and bullying of Raygun,” they wrote in her defense. “The pressure to perform on the Olympic stage is immense, especially against the opponents in her particular group. We stand in solidarity with Raygun.”
The World DanceSport Federation came to Gunn’s defense and offered her support from an officer regarding her mental health.
“We offered [the] support of our safeguarding officer,” a statement from the organization’s general secretary read. “We are aware of what has happened, especially on social media, and definitely we should put the safety of the athlete, in this case, mental safety in first place. She has us as a federation supporting her.”
Adele threw her support behind Raygun and admitted the breaking routine made her “very, very happy.”
“I can’t work out if it was a joke, but either way it has made me very, very happy. And me and my friends have been shitting ourselves laughing for nearly 24 hours. But I just wanted to know if you’ve seen it,” she said at a recent show.
Dr. Dre, however, seeminglyblasted Raygun without name-dropping her. “I did not like that. It’s so many great breakdancers, I don’t know why they had this particular person doing that,” he said to Entertainment Tonight. “It was funny, I got some laughs out of it, but what the f—? There are incredible breakdancers out right now — I don’t know how that happened.”
Watch Raygun’s response video below.
Michael Rubin has apologized for comments he made about the Black community on during an appearance on The Breakfast Club yesterday morning (Aug. 15).
While discussing a wide range of topics — like admitting he banned “Not Like Us” to be played at his annual Independence Day party — the subject of Meek Mill‘s relationship with Diddy and the harassment he received on social media came up. “When I see the narrative of, a really good friend of mine like Meek, and people are trying to… Again, if he was gay — which there’s not one gay bone in his body — who cares?,” he said.
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“Number one, If people wanna be gay, it is 2024. Who the f—k cares? Number two, there’s not a gay bone in his body, so why do people wanna lie about that? Why do people want to change the narrative of a bet he made with me to hurt him?,” referring to a clip of the Philadelphia rapper doing “bunny hops” on a tennis court after losing a bet. “That is the one thing I’ve learned about… you know, look, I’m just being blunt because it’s me,” he continued. “It’s the one thing I’ve learned about Black culture that I don’t like is that Black hate on hate.”
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Naturally, that clip went viral on social media and received backlash, most notably from ScHoolboy Q. “Brah… I’m cool on this app this sh—t outta control dog,” the TDE rapper said of a clip he quote tweeted. He then sent out a series of tweets saying “there’s not such thing as black on black anything wtf” and deleted another saying, “You know what I don’t like about you n—s? I hate when you n—s be acting like n—s… basically.”
Earlier today, Rubin took to X and issued an apology. “I got a phone call from one of the people I have the most respect for in the world,” he tweeted. “They told me while they appreciate my intention, it’s not my place to speak on Black culture. I get it and really appreciate the input! My intention was to say how important it is that we need to uplift each other, stop hate on each other, and push each other to win, and always root for each other’s success!” Adding, “My bad , Much love and appreciate the feedback.”
I got a phone call from one of the people I have the most respect for in the world – they told me while they appreciate my intention, it’s not my place to speak on black culture. I get it and really appreciate the input! My intention was to say how important it is that we need…— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) August 15, 2024
Rubin, who was once a minority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, grew close with Meek Mill when the rapper was dealing with probation issues back in 2017. They both continue to work together on social justice through the Reform Alliance.
You can watch the full Breakfast Club interview here.
In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson and Damien Scott react to Latto’s new album ‘Sugar Honey Iced Tea,’ break down the new Killer Mike & Travis Scott feud, debate whether Snoop Dogg is the most beloved rapper of all time and more!
Damien Scott:
He thought when he went to go listen to it that it was the strongest female rap album of the year so far. I tend to agree. I think it edges out Megan.
Carl Lamarre:
Looks like we may have a new feud between, uh, Killer Mike and Travis Scott. I did not have that-
Trevor Anderson:
On the cards? Nah.
Damien Scott:
He’s the most beloved living rapper right now.
Trevor Anderson:
And who was, who was before him? I mean, d*mn, it got quiet.
Damien Scott:
Yeah.
Carl Lamarre:
And gentlemen…
Damien Scott:
Looks good.
Carl Lamarre:
What it do?
Damien Scott:
What up? What up? What up?
Carl Lamarre:
Miss Latto, who put out her new album ‘Sugar Honey Iced Tea’ on Friday.
Damien Scott:
Amazing.
Carl Lamarre:
Fire features. Megan Thee Stallion, Teezo Touchdown. Um, freaking, what’s like 21’s cousin’s name? Bugging.
Trevor Anderson:
22.
Damien Scott:
Young Nudy.
Carl Lamarre:
No.
Trevor Anderson:
That’s his cousin?
Damien Scott:
Yeah.
Trevor Anderson:
Oh yeah, it is.
Damien Scott:
Yeah. Is he also British?
Carl Lamarre:
I don’t know. I thought 21 was born there. Wait, you think Nudy was born there too?
Damien Scott:
I’m just asking.
Trevor Anderson:
No, I think he’s American. OK, so I’m a-
Carl Lammare:
American?
Trevor Anderson:
Right? I’m showing my Olympic spirit, you know, apparently, like we go, we claiming it.
Carl Lamarre
Album dropped, Coco Jones, also, Ciara, um, very Atlanta, pretty stacked, yeah, um, let’s talk about the album. Because a lot of anticipation for it, I feel like she delivered, you know, we’ll get y’all thoughts first, and then I’ll dive in. Mr. Dame?
Damien Scott:
I think it is great.
Keep watching for more!
With the Summer Olympics wrapping Snoop Dogg’s epic run in Paris and the arrival of Latto’s Sugar Honey Iced Tea album, hip-hop continued to make waves.
Billboard Unfiltered returns with another brand-new episode on Thursday (Aug. 15), with co-hosts Carl Lamarre, Damien Scott and Trevor Anderson breaking down Snoop stealing the Olympic show, Latto’s new album and a possible feud brewing between Travis Scott and Killer Mike.
Sugar Honey Iced Tea arrived last Friday, packed with 17 tracks and a myriad of features from Megan Thee Stallion, Young Nudy, Mariah The Scientist and more. Billboard‘s deputy director, editorial Damien Scott believes this is the strongest album from a female rapper released in 2024, dethroning Megan Thee Stallion’s Megan project.
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“I think it’s great,” he said. “Kyle [Denis] in a previous episode said that he thought when he went to go listen to it that it was the strongest female rap album of the year so far. After listening to it, I tend to agree. I think it’s strong. It’s so cohesive. Everything sounds like it all fits together.
“It’s amazing she was able to work with Grizz and land on this sound that sounds like Atlanta but also sounds very modern. These songs could ring off anywhere in the country.”
Being the resident OVO owl on set, deputy director R&B/hip-hop Carl Lamarre felt that Drake’s imprint could be heard throughout Sugar Honey Iced Tea.
“The reason I like it a lot it’s very Drake-coded,” he stated. “You listen to ‘Georgia Peach,’ it gave me ‘Laugh Now, Cry Later’ vibes. You listen to ‘Big Mama,’ there’s a beat switch in the middle and she does the singing first. A little Drake-esque. Then the outro, ‘S/O to Me’ where she threw some darts at Ice Spice, it gave me more the introspective lyrical Drake vibe that we’re used to getting like ‘Middle of the Ocean,’ ’30 for 30′ type vibes. She annihilated the intro and the outro tracks.”
There was no better hire for NBC than Snoop Dogg, who was completing side missions left and right as a correspondent at the 2024 Olympics. From swimming with Michael Phelps to watching equestrian events with his buddy Martha Stewart, Snoop did it all in Paris.
“We thought he was going to jail for murder and now he’s walking with the Olympic torch. [He’s] definitely the most beloved living rapper,” Scott declared.
Senior charts & data analyst Trevor Anderson mentioned LL Cool J as a possible pushback against Snoop as the most beloved rapper, but saluted the Doggfather for what he’s been able to accomplish in so many different industries.
“The thing about Snoop is I think they’re all genuine. None ever feel like this crazy play,” he added. “To think that Snoop Dogg goes from one of the quintessential faces of Death Row and labeled by mainstream media as the face of gangsta rap and everything you don’t want to be. And now your grandma would have him over for dinner. They would kick it and have a good time and she would teach him how to Crip walk.”
Killer Mike seemingly dissed Travis Scott on his Michael & the Midnight Revival album on the heels of winning the best rap album trophy at the Grammy Awards earlier this year. While Scott didn’t respond, there’s been a simmering feud and back-and-forth on social media from both the rappers’ managers.
“Travis Scott is a young popping rapper in the prime of his career,” Scott chimed in about the unlikely foes. “Killer Mike is like 50-plus and has been rapping since I was maybe in high school and made an album that very few people would do what it did. And this is a nice to have for him, so it’s weird that they’re comparing this with Travis’ big comeback album.”
Watch the full episode below.
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Meek Mill wants to sit down with Vice President Kamala Harris and ask her three questions. The Philly rapper took to X on Wednesday (Aug. 14) and had questions about the Democratic presidential nominee’s past as San Francisco’s district attorney. “I wanna ask Kamala Harris questions about her past as a da, even if she […]
Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla have become besties since collaborating and hitting the road together for Meg’s Hot Girl Summer Tour earlier this year.
The “Wanna Be” duo linked up on Instagram’s Close Friends Only podcast, which released their episode in full on Thursday (Aug. 15) following a teaser earlier in the week.
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While Big Glo and the Houston Hottie are tight these days, that wasn’t always the case as they got candid when asking for each other’s honest initial impression of one another when they first connected.
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“I first met you at your Hottieween party last year, and I ain’t gonna lie, I was kinda shy,” Glo said. “You were just acting like you weren’t drinking that night… I’m like, ‘This b—h ain’t acting like she ain’t drinking, like, What’s up with this b—h?’”
The CMG rapper continued: “You was nice as hell when I first met you, on God. I remember when somebody recorded a video of us when I first met you and we was hugging like it just felt like a grandma hug from side-to-side. Where have you been all my life? You were sweet as f–k. I mean, like, you come off as standoff-ish. You come off like you nice, but you standoff-ish. So that’s why I told you I was shy.”
As for Megan’s impression of Glo, she didn’t know if the Instagram shenanigans and craziness was going to actually match her personality in real life.
“I really didn’t know what you was gonna be like before I met you,” Meg said. “I was like okay, from afar, you was turnt, but I didn’t know how turnt it was gonna be. I ain’t know if it was some bulls–t for, like, Instagram, or if it was gonna be real life. But then when I got to know you, I was like, ‘Yes, this might be my cousin! This is my people!’ So yeah, I thought you was really sweet too, and I thought you was funny as hell.”
While on the road together, their friendship grew with heartfelt moments taking place like when Megan surprised Glo with flowers for her birthday and the Memphis native returned the favor in Houston when presenting Thee Stallion with a custom “M” plaque.
“I love the bond that me and @glorillapimp have built in these past few weeks!” Megan Thee Stallion captioned a June Instagram post. “You are my sister 4L , you and cola never getting rid of me.”
Glo replied in the comment section: “I luv you 4L Meg [heart emoji, teary-eyed emoji] I’m so glad I got to do dis tour with you I wouldn’t have had it no other way [party emoji] I can’t wait for dem to hear dat hot shit ahhhh so excited.”
Megan and GloRilla’s “Wanna Be” has maintained top 20 status on the Billboard Hot 100, where it currently sits at No. 13 on this week’s chart.
Watch the full episode below.
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Charlamagne Tha God is in the running for dad of the year after pulling off the ultimate surprise for his daughter’s Sweet 16 party. He also now owes Cardi B a huge favor after The Breakfast Club co-host had the Bronx rapper pull up to the party back in June. Explore See latest videos, charts […]
Following the release of the music video for a remix featuring its namesake, Jordan Adetunji’s “Kehlani” jumps to No. 1 for the first time on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart dated Aug. 17.
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The TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States based on creations, video views and user engagement. The latest chart reflects activity from Aug. 5-11. Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.
“Kehlani” becomes the fourth straight new No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50. After a 10-week reign by Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby,” Blood Orange’s “Champagne Coast” rose to the top of the July 27 list, followed by Clairo’s “Juna” (Aug. 3) and Sevdaliza, Pabllo Vittar and Yseult’s “Alibi” (Aug. 10) before “Kehlani.”
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“Kehlani” initially debuted on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 in June. It spent two weeks in the top 10 in early summer and began to rebound in August. By ruling in its 10th week on the chart, the song holds the mark for longest wait between debut and hitting No. 1 since the ranking began in September 2023.
Its initial virality was accompanied by a dance trend, one that continues with the release of the remix, which adds Kehlani on vocals (it came out June 20, and its music video followed Aug. 2).
“I broke the simulation,” reads Adetunji’s TikTok upload announcing the video on July 30 while Kehlani lip-synchs to the tune.
“Kehlani” concurrently hits a new peak on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Aug. 17, zooming 53-26 with 13 million official U.S. streams, 8.2 million radio audience impressions and 1,000 downloads in the week ending Aug. 8, according to Luminate.
The rest of the top four on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 is made up of previous No. 1s, as “Kehlani” is followed by the aforementioned “Alibi,” “Champagne Coast” and “Million Dollar Baby” at Nos. 2-4, respectively. Charli XCX’s “Apple,” which had reached a new peak of No. 3 on the Aug. 10 survey, falls to No. 5.
Lower in the top 10, one song hits a new peak while another reaches the region for the first time. Alphaville’s “Forever Young” lifts 10-7, while Hanumankind and Kalmi’s “Big Dawgs” jumps 33-10.
“Forever Young” was a No. 65 hit for Alphaville in 1988. It’s mostly been used in videos and trends about nostalgia, from creators remembering when they were younger to edits recalling people who have since passed away.
The song reached the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts for the first time in August. It reaches new peaks of No. 74 on the latter and No. 112 on the former as of the Aug. 17 tallies. In the U.S., it enjoyed a boost of 11% in streams to 2.2 million in the week ending Aug. 8.
“Big Dawgs,” meanwhile, hits the top 10 of the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the first time as the track continues to explode across many platforms, particularly TikTok and YouTube thanks to its viral music video. Many top-performing TikTok uploads featuring the Indian rapper’s song are reacting to the music video, while others emulate Hanumankind’s dancing in the clip.
It concurrently debuts at No. 24 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart dated Aug. 17 with 12.1 million streams, up 58%. The song also zooms 57-31 on the Hot 100.
One must travel all the way down to No. 34 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 to find the week’s biggest debut. That distinction belongs to The Sundays’ “Life Goes On.” Originally released as part of the CD single for the since-disbanded group’s 1997 single “Cry,” the track was given a digital release for the first time on Aug. 3. While some recent TikTok uploads featuring the song had decried how it wasn’t available on most streaming services previously, others follow a trend that follows the prompt “they hate when [you/we] serve.”
See the full TikTok Billboard Top 50 here. You can also tune in each Friday to SiriusXM’s TikTok Radio (channel 4) to hear the premiere of the chart’s top 10 countdown at 3 p.m. ET, with reruns heard throughout the week.
Cash Cobain has recruited a massive crew to help him on his new single, “Problem,” a nearly eight-minute posse cut featuring 14 MCs that dropped on Wednesday (August 14) in the lead-up to the release of the buzzing Bronx rapper’s upcoming album. The woozy sexy drill track whose visualizer video features footage of Cash and […]
Just days after Lauryn Hill abruptly cancelled the highly anticipated Fugees reunion tour, band member Pras Michel has taken aim at his former bandmate with a scathing diss track.
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The song, titled “Bar Mitzfa,” was teased on Pras’s Instagram Story before being exclusively released on TMZ, further fanning the flames of controversy within the iconic hip-hop group.
The Fugees’ reunion tour, which was set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hill’s groundbreaking album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, was supposed to kick off on Friday, Aug. 9, in Tampa, Fla., and continue through major cities across the U.S. and Europe, concluding in Amsterdam on Oct. 22.
However, just days before the first show, Hill announced the tour’s cancellation, citing “sensationalism” by the media over past cancellations as a reason for low ticket sales.
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In “Bar Mitzfa,” Pras doesn’t mince words. He directly blames Hill for the tour’s failure, rapping, “No one will remember: click bait beefs, how many Gucci bags you owned, bogus excuses. People will remember: How you made them feel, if you kept your word, if they could count on you, if you come on Time!!!”
The track, which is now exclusively on TMZ, also touches on Pras’s own legal struggles.
Last year, Pras was found guilty in a political money laundering conspiracy, a high-profile case that has marred his public image. In the track, he references this ordeal, rapping, “Obama’s name in the discoveries had to plead the fifth!”
The Miseducation Anniversary Tour was set to kick off on Friday (Aug. 9) in Tampa, Fla., and stretch throughout the next few months, wrapping up on Oct. 22 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. The tour, which was scheduled to reunite Hill with The Fugees to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Billboard 200 No. 1 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, was also to feature music from The Fugees’ No. 1 album The Score, with Hill’s son YG Marley as the support act.
The 21-date trek was previously postponed in November after Hill revealed that she was struggling with vocal issues.
“As many of you may know, I’ve been battling serious vocal strain for the past month. I made it through each show by taking prescribed prednisone, but this can be detrimental to the body when taken in large amounts over long periods of time,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “In order to prevent any long term negative affect on my voice and my body, I need to take time off to allow for real vocal recovery so that I can discontinue the medication completely.”