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Munchkins, your time is now! After dominating 2023 with four Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits, and kicking off the year with four Grammy nominations — including best new artist — and a Super Bowl commercial, Ice Spice has finally unveiled her debut studio album.
Titled Y2K! — a nod to her Jan. 1, 2000, birthday — the new record finds the Bronx rapper assuming her throne as the queen of New York drill. The album builds on the dynamic she and go-to producer RiotUSA established with 2023’s Like..? EP, looping in new names like Lily Kaplan, Nico Baran, Synthetic and Venny to add different textures to Ice’s take on drill. The album finds its anchors in those skittering snares, but nods to Jersey Club, nifty dancehall samples and star-studded collaborations (Travis Scott, Gunna and Central Cee) make Y2K! feel much more expansive than its predecessor.
And yet, at just under half an hour, Y2K! never tries to be something that it’s not, or overstay its welcome. This is an unfussy collection of 10 tracks that double down on Ice’s (sometimes) poop-minded metaphors, her trademark laid-back flow (although she does beef up her voice for the album’s most drill-forward tracks), and her effortless charisma that captivated the world by way of “Munch” two summers ago.
The “Princess Diana” rapper brought in 2024 with “Think U the Shit (Fart),” a hilariously infectious joint that found her throwing shots at fellow Grammy-nominated rapper Latto over a beat that played on the wonky video game-esque synths of new jazz. Although that track peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 — her highest peak for a solo single — the Y2K! era would not begin in earnest until the springtime, with the Sean Paul-sampling “Gimmie A Light” arriving on May 10.
She then revealed the New York-themed album cover — which drew some ire due to the LP’s title being digitally spray-painted over a trash can — on June 5, with a pre-release single “Phat Butt” arriving later that month (June 21) ahead of her 2024 BET Awards performance. By July, Ice had unleashed the record’s latest radio single, the Central Cee-assisted “Did It First,” which became her first Hot 100 entry since “Fart,” debuting at No. 62 on the chart dated July 27. She also spent the first half of the year guesting on Cash Cobain and Bay Swag’s “Fisherrr” remix and preparing for her upcoming Y2K! World Tour, which kicked off on July 4 at the Rockslide Festival, marking her first headlining trek.
Read Billboard’s ranking of every song on Ice Spice’s Y2K! LP.
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Eminem may have killed off his alter-ego on The Death of Slim Shady, but he still can’t shake off Slim Shady. As part of Complex‘s The Face-Off short series, Eminem argues with Slim Shady as they banter back-and-forth in the clip essentially featuring Em interviewing a version of himself. “I’m back because you got your […]
As the U.S. Department of Justice initiates a review of the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a number of artists have amplified the name and memory of the 36-year-old mother of two while decrying the latest police-involved killing of a Black person by a white officer.
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“The Department of Justice is aware of and assessing the circumstances surrounding the tragic officer-involved death of Ms. Sonya Massey and extends condolences to her family and loved ones,” the federal agency wrote in a statement, according to ABC News.
“First words Sonya Massey said at her front door were ‘don’t hurt me’ she was told ‘why would we hurt you, you called us,’” Solange posted to X on Tuesday. “When have those words meant anything when [you’re] black and woman in this country when do those words protect you from not being murdered in your kitchen, in your bedroom, with your babies, or on your lawn what is ‘reassurance,’ in this place ? rest in power Sonya Massey, and an abundance of love and power to Sonya’s family on this journey.”
According to reports, Massey called 911 in the early hours of July 6 to report seeing an intruder outside her home in Springfield, Illinois, and a half-hour later, the responding officers reported shots fired and that Massey had been struck by bullets. According to ABC 7, former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, 30, was indicted on first-degree murder charges last week and is currently being jailed without bond until trial.
Per video of the incident, after checking for intruders, police went inside and Massey asked if she could walk in the other room to turn down a boiling pot on the stove. An unidentified officer who responded to the call with Grayson then moved aside and Massey is heard saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson, standing in the living room, then threatened to shoot Massey in the face, drawing his weapon.
Massey, in her sleeping clothes, dropped to the ground below the kitchen counter between them and put her hands up while apologizing. As she stood up with what appeared to be the upside down pot in her hand, Grayson fired three shots, including the fatal one to Massey’s head, immediately saying, “F—!,” as he realized he’d fired a fatal shot and telling his partner not to bother getting a medical kit because of the “head shot” he’d unleashed.
After bouncing around between a handful of small police departments, Grayson was hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023 and has since been fired in the wake of Massey’s fatal shooting and has not yet entered a plea to three charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.
Meek Mill — who has had his own yearslong battle in Pennsylvania over a prison sentence tied to parole violations tied to a decade-old drug and gun conviction — reposted a video of Massey’s devastated son describing a call from the hospital informing him that his mother was shot in the eye while refusing to tell him who had shot her. “Can you imagine the cops killing your mom on camera like that … she didn’t even have a pot in her hand she put it down … and we need to erase police reports humans lie!!!” Mill wrote Wednesday on X, adding in another post, “She didn’t even have the pot in her hand if you slow it down!”
In an X Spaces post Wednesday night, Cardi B discussed Massey, saying, “There was no argument, there was no conflict, there was no raise the voice. And she got shot. He [Grayson] didn’t say nothing racial, right? He didn’t say nothing like a racial slur, but one thing for sure is that we definitely know that he knew in the back of his head because she was a Black woman that he was going to get away with it… she got shot for no reason.” (The Massey discussion begins at the 14:29 mark.)
Canadian R&B duo Dvsn were equally horrified by the footage, writing Tuesday on X, “That Sonya Massey video really hurt to watch… that man claiming she ‘CAME at him with boiling water’ just made me think what if there was no body cam?… and how many times they’ve gotten away with these stories when it comes to us… smh. Hurts man.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running to be the Democratic nominee for president, also reacted to the startling footage. “Sonya Massey deserved to be safe,” she wrote Tuesday on X. “The disturbing footage released yesterday confirms what we know from the lived experiences of so many — we have much work to do to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name. President Biden and I call on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill that I coauthored in the Senate. We must come together to achieve meaningful reforms that advance the safety of all communities.”
In a separate post, Biden added, “Sonya Massey, a beloved mother, friend, daughter, and young Black woman, should be alive today. Sonya’s death at the hands of a police officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not.”
Rapper Yung Miami also weighed in, writing, “Let her f—ing just what?????? Die this is beyond sickening!!!! Pure evil!!!”
See some of the tweets about Massey’s killing below. (Warning: Some of the posts below include footage from Massey’s fatal shooting.)
Can you imagine the cops killing your mom on camera like that … she didn’t even have a pot in her hand she put it down … and we need to erase police reports humans lie!!! https://t.co/i9S99BATZq— MeekMill (@MeekMill) July 25, 2024
first words Sonya Massey said at her front door were “don’t hurt me” she was told “why would we hurt you, you called us” when have those words meant anything when your black and woman in this country when do those words protect you from not being murdered in your kitchen,…— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) July 23, 2024
That Sonya Massey video really hurt to watch… that man claiming she “ CAME at him with boiling water” just made me think what if there was no body cam?… and how many times they’ve gotten away with these stories when it comes to us… smh. Hurts man— dvsn ÷ (@dvsn) July 23, 2024
Sonya Massey deserved to be safe.The disturbing footage released yesterday confirms what we know from the lived experiences of so many — we have much work to do to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name.President Biden and I call on Congress to pass the…— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 23, 2024
Sonya Massey, a beloved mother, friend, daughter, and young Black woman, should be alive today.Sonya’s death at the hands of a police officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not.— President Biden (@POTUS) July 22, 2024
the police department is not a broken systemit is working according to plan as the militarized arm of the system of white domination sonya massey was asked to check on boiling waterthen disrespected in her home for no reason to which she responded only w godthen murdered— Vic Mensa (@VicMensa) July 23, 2024
Many streams for “Many Men (Wish Death)” power 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ album flying back to No. 22 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart dated July 27. The set enjoys its highest chart rank since its original 2003 release run, spurred by a “Many Men” streaming boost after many social media users used the song to comment on the July 13 shooting at former president Donald Trump’s rally.
For the tracking week of July 12-18, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ earned 13,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate, a 62% surge from 8,000 units in the previous week. “Many Men” drove much of the improvement, with the song registering 6.4 million official U.S. streams in the tracking week, a 224% rally from its 2 million total in the prior frame. It was the best-streamed Get Rich or Die Tryin’ cut for the week, eclipsing usual frontrunner “In Da Club,” which pulled 3.9 million clicks.
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Accompanying the streaming boost, “Many Men” also experienced a sales lift to 3,000 downloads sold, up from a negligible amount in the previous tracking week. Thanks to the purchases, the track launches at No. 4 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart and No. 14 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales list.
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“Many Men” — with the chorus starting with the line “Many men wish death upon me” — surged in online popularity in the wake of July 13’s apparent attempted assassination of Trump near Butler, Pennsylvania. Social media users soundtracked memes with the song and shared altered Get Rich or Die Tryin’ album covers with the former president’s head superimposed on 50 Cent, who famously survived being shot nine times. The rapper himself joined in on the trend, even promoting his own “Many Men” T-shirts.
With its No. 22 return on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ attains its best showing since its No. 21 rank on the chart dated Oct. 4, 2003. At the time, the album was enjoying its third consecutive top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, “P.I.M.P.,” after prior singles “In Da Club” and “21 Questions,” featuring Nate Dogg, both topped the chart. Notably, although “Many Men” wasn’t pushed as an official single and never charted on the Hot 100, its fan-favorite status gave it 12 weeks on the Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2003.
Elsewhere, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ returns at No. 17 on the Top Rap Albums chart and rockets 185-75 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Latto channels the classic 2006 hip-hop movie ATL in the trailer for her third studio album Sugar Honey Iced Tea. Narrated by the Dungeon Family’s Big Rube, 2 Chainz, T.I., Cascade roller rink and Magic City all make cameos as Big Mama does her best Lauren London-as-“New New” impression. Big Mama teased a few tracks. […]
Wiz Khalifa is a girl dad. The “We Dem Boyz” rapper and girlfriend Aimee Aguilar are officially parents after Aguilar shed light on her postpartum journey in a TikTok video on Wednesday (July 24). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Aguilar posted a clip running through products […]
Will Smith says he’s hard at work — and that he might be dropping a new album soon. The rapper and actor did an interview with Instagram account Black Film Allies where he revealed that he’s been working on new music. “Over the past year and a half, I’ve been in the studio,” he said. […]
The unlikely aligning of a pair of Dons. Donald Trump posted a video soundtracked by Don Toliver’s “Attitude” featuring Charlie Wilson and Cash Cobain to his TikTok account on Wednesday (July 24).
The clip finds the former president blasting Vice President Kamala Harris by utilizing some of his previous soundbites attacking the probable Democratic presidential nominee while “Attitude” vocals thump in the background.
“KAMALA, YOU’RE FIRED,” Trump captioned the video. Toliver has yet to publicly react to Trump’s TikTok. Billboard has reached out to reps for Don Toliver and Charlie Wilson for comment.
With just over 100 days until the election, the twice-impeached former president takes several shots at Harris in the TikTok clip. “You’ve been terrible at everything you’ve done. You’re ultra-liberal and we don’t want you here. We don’t want you anywhere,” 45 spews.
Fans were stunned to hear the worlds of the Cactus Jack artist and Trump colliding. “He saw Kamala use brat for promo and had to lock the f–k in,” one person wrote on X.
Another chimed in, “We’re living in a simulation!”
“Attitude” appeared on Don Toliver’s Hardstone Psycho album in June, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 — his highest since 2021’s Life of a Don. The Cash Cobain-produced single reached No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 16 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
Kamala Harris has also had her share of music moments since Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on July 21. Charli XCX endorsed the Democratic front-runner, claiming that “Kamala IS brat” after her acclaimed LP, and Harris HQ returned the favor by changing her X banner to the signature Brat lime-green tint with black text.
Harris appears to have found a fitting anthem of her own. After walking out to Beyoncé‘s “Freedom” during her inaugural visit to campaign headquarters, the vice president released her first campaign video July 25 featuring Bey’s 2016 hit.
“What kind of country do we want to live in,” she asks in the clip. “There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos, of fear, of hate. But us? We choose something different. We choose freedom.”
Watch Trump’s TikTok below:
In this episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson, Damien Scott and Kyle Denis determine whether Drake’s leaked track with Lil Yachty will help his comeback. They also dive into the rappers who are supporting Trump’s bid for president, new music releases in the world of hip-hop including Childish Gambino, JT, BLXST and more!
Damien Scott:Why are you leaking tracks through Yachty to Kai Cenat?
Carl Lamarre:But I mean, you know he’s playing, he likes playing the strings in the background.
Kyle Dennis:Is it disappointing seeing some of my favorite artists throw their support behind Donald Trump? Absolutely.
Carl Lamarre:Caresha was holding it backm, baby, that’s all I got. I was like, Caresha was the one holding it back.
Hey, guys, and welcome back to a fresh episode of Billboard Unfiltered. So in case you guys missed it, Kai Cenat, he was on a stream. Lil Yachty sent him an unreleased record from Drake and Yachty that’s called “Supersoak.” Previewed it last night, you know, got some mixed reactions to it, so curious to hear y’alls thoughts. Could this be the spark to Drake’s comeback?
Damien Scott:Wait, so he sent it to him saying it’s unreleased?
Carl Lamarre:Unreleased.
Damien Scott:That’s it, there’s no other plans for it. Yeah, it sounds like an unreleased Drake song. Yeah, it’s not, doesn’t sound that special, sounds like pretty run-of-the-mill unreleased Drake song. Which is good because Drake makes good music.
Carl Lamarre:That song could be a B-plus.
Damien Scott:Sure.
Carl Lamarre: OK, I can live with a B-plus.
Damien Scott:It’s fine, I mean I would love to hear the whole thing, CDQ, but you know. Yea sure.
Carl Lamarre:I’m curious to hear y’alls excitement as well.
Keep watching for more!
There are not many places you can order Popeyes wings at 4:30 a.m., but New York City lives up to its “city that never sleeps” nickname. After a night in the studio and looking for some fuel before hitting the gym, Cardi B ordered the new honey lemon pepper flavored wings at Popeyes and gave a brutally honest review for fans to hear on social media during the wee hours of Wednesday morning (July 24).
“Popeyes y’all really fumbled with this flavor because this flavor is not it,” she declared in a video on Instagram Stories. “This lemon pepper flavor with honey or this sweet taste on it, it’s just not good. It tastes like a f–king Sprite soda. I don’t f–king like it.
Cardi continued: “From one through 10, I’ll give it a two. I like the other one, I like the sweet heat. I was trying to be a lil’ different. I was trying to do lemon pepper, [but] I did not [think] it was gonna come with a sweet kick to it. I don’t f–king like it. It’s a dub.”
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The Grammy-winning rapper shared she’d been in the studio for three straight nights and it was finally time to go home and hit the gym. However, she showed some love to NYC for having late-night food options, unlike a lot of cities across the United States.
“Which state is better than New York? Because were are literally eating Popeyes still at 4:30 in the morning,” she said. “That’s crazy. There’s no place on earth that’s serving Popeyes at 4:30 in the morning. Even though it’s a dub … Your state is not giving like New York!”
A rep for Popeyes tells Billboard that the chain welcomes all “rankings and reviews” of its wings from customers.
“If you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen,” a rep for the company quips. “And we are in the kitchen. A lot. … We believe variety is the spice of life and that’s why we have six flavors for wing enthusiasts like Cardi to enjoy. We are not surprised that Cardi loved our Sweet ‘N Spicy wings flavor. Our people will be in contact with her people for a taste of all flavors for the next studio session. And while we wait on her next late-night review, we encourage guests to share their personal Wings ratings with us on social.”
It’s not the first time Cardi B has been critical of Popeyes. In June 2023, she posted a video eating chicken from the fast food chain and complained about it being too big and “the size of her face.”
“Literally, it’s the size of my face — look! It’s too big, it’s too big for me and I don’t like that,” she said at the time.
Cardi is no stranger to reviewing her meals, and she teamed up with famed food critic Keith Lee in March to give their opinion on a burger joint in Los Angeles.
The rapper is continuing to grind in the studio after she promised that her long-awaited sophomore album would indeed be arriving later this year.
“I wanna say this to Bardi gang or anybody who’s just a fan of my music or even my craziness… I have my good days and my bad days but you know what, whether it’s good or bad I couldn’t be happier with the obvious anticipation for my album. Sometimes I get a little aggressive because yall know I don’t like to be told what to do but I promise you it’s coming THIS YEAR,” she confirmed on X July 18. “Thank you for the love and anticipation and always holding me down. I love yall.”