State Champ Radio R&B/Hip-Hop
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Cardi B delights in surprising and confounding us. Case in point: on Monday (Jan. 27) the rapper announced on X, “sooo….. i got my butt crack pierced.” Naturally, fans had a lot of questions, with one asking, “that’s possible?,” while another said simply, “you WHAAAAT.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest […]
He probably already knows, but here’s a helpful tip for A$AP Rocky about some potential Valentine’s Day gifts to skip this year when shopping for his longtime love Rihanna: no corny love songs please!
In a 90-second video captioned “Savage X Fenty Presents: Love Your Way!” the “Birthday Cake” singer slips into some revealing pink and purple lingerie from her Savage X Fenty collection to frost a cake and answer some sentimental, silly and sexy questions about the upcoming romantic holiday, while dropping some real talk about what she definitely doesn’t want.
After wondering if the frosting is edible — then taking a bite before finding out anyway — RihRih gets right to the heart of the matter when asked if she prefers a valentine or galentine celebration. “I’ve done galentines for, um, several years,” said the mother of two young children. “But it’s very nice to have a valentine.”
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Popping some sprinkles on top, Rihanna was on the fence when it came to choosing between lace or latex, though. “Depends on the day,” she said with a wink, noting that if given the choice between a get-away and staying at home she views staying put as its own kind of get-away.
“I just want to stay home… and watch reality TV,” the billionaire fashion and cosmetics mogul relatably said in the clip captioned “it’s not even my birthday [birthday cake emoji].”
In another useful tip for rapper Rocky, Rihanna made it crystal clear that there is one thing she never, ever wants on the day most dudes spend running out to the local Walgreens to find the last, saddest bouquet of flowers after grabbing the lamest card left on the decimated racks.
“Ugh, please! Never make me a love song!” she huffed when asked to choose between a love tune or a love letter. “That is corny, trust me. I’ve seen it,” she added conspiratorially, without hinting at who she was hinting at.
A few more tips: walk on the beach or movie night? “I say make a movie on the beach,” she said while popping raspberries on her perfect confection. Flirty banter or heart-to-heart? On that one she couldn’t even keep a straight face when trying to solemnly suggest that it’s definitely the latter, because, “I’m a very vulnerable… person.”
In the end, all that frosting was for naught, as the cake slipped from RihRih’s hands at the end and another romantic gesture bit the dust.
Check out the full video here.
Parklife Festival has confirmed its full line-up for 2025, including its second headliner. 50 Cent will top the bill alongside the previously-announced Charli XCX at the event in Manchester on June 14-15.
They’ll be joined by other new names including Jorja Smith, Peggy Gou, Lola Young, Overmono, Pawsa, Ewan McVicar, FLO, Andy C, Mella Dee, Hybrid Minds, Joy Orbison and more. Northern Irish electronic duo Bicep, meanwhile, will be bringing their Chroma AV DJ set to the weekender.
The announcement coincides with the news of Parklife’s 15th anniversary. Since its beginnings in Manchester’s Platt Fields area in 2010, the event has expanded to become one of the U.K.’s biggest weekend festivals, now operating in the 80,000-capacity Heaton Park in a northern suburb of the city.
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Last November, Parklife announced its first wave of acts, which featured Confidence Man, Antony Szmierek, Interplanetary Criminal and Jodie Harsh. View the line-up in full below.
Tickets for the festival will go back on sale on Friday (Jan. 31) at 10am (GMT), following a sold-out first release last year. Weekend tickets start at £135 plus booking fees ($168), while day tickets begin at £85 plus booking fees ($105).
The general on-sale will follow a number of presales that begin tomorrow (Jan. 29) for customers of Three, as well as those signed up to Parklife’s official mailing list.
In 2024, Parklife was headlined by Doja Cat, J Hus and Disclosure. In recent years, artists such as The 1975, Aitch, The Prodigy, Megan Thee Stallion and Tyler, The Creator have also led the charge.
New additions for this year include a brand new stage, Matinée, featuring a 360° DJ booth, as well as a more central location on the site for VIP & Backstage areas.
Check out the full lineup below.
Latto has tapped Playboi Carti for the remix of her 2024 track “Blick Sum,” giving a fresh spin on the standout from her third studio album Sugar Honey Iced Tea. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Released at midnight on Jan. 28, the remix arrives with a visually […]
Solange may be working on new music. The singer posted a picture of producer P’ierre Bourne in the studio that has fans thinking she’s finally ready to give them a follow up to 2019’s When I Get Home. The two were in Paris for Fashion Week as P’ierre has been in town also working on […]
Latto announced Monday (Jan. 27) that she’s linking up with Playboi Carti on the “Blick Sum” remix that’s dropping Tuesday, Jan. 28 at midnight ET. “I don’t trust no man without no blicky. ’Cause when sh– get sticky, where the f–k that blicky at,” she says in the intro with a distorted voice filter. The […]
Future may have another project on the way. The Atlanta rapper took to his Instagram and posted a highlight reel of Paris Fashion Week featuring Pharrell telling him that his project Mixtape Pluto “is the greatest sh–.” And the caption simply reads: “New Tape OTW.” Future had a better 2024 than just about anybody not […]
Will Smith and Big Sean are teaming up for their “Beautiful Scars” single later this week, and they raised hype around the track with a cinematic trailer turning back the clock. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Once upon a time, Smith declined the lead role in The […]
Drake is ready to make a splash in 2025. He shared a message with his Toronto faithful and also gave OVO fans an update on his joint album coming with PartyNextDoor in an Instagram Story on Sunday night (Jan. 26). “Love to all the 6’ers,” he captioned a photo of the CN Tower. “Winter months […]
With the back-to-back frenzy of Grammy Week and Super Bowl LIX officially at our doorsteps, all eyes are on Kendrick Lamar as he uses the two marquee events to segue into his forthcoming North American stadium tour. Last week (Jan. 23), the Compton rapper and Apple Music released a new teaser for his upcoming halftime performance; the clip found SZA, his Grand National tourmate, playfully dumping a container of blue Gatorade on Lamar, confirming her guest appearance during his Super Bowl set.
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See latest videos, charts and news
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Lamar, of course, KO’d Drake in last year’s seismic rap battle — and 2025 already has some sparring of its own. On Can’t Rush Greatness (Jan. 24), his long-awaited debut album, UK rapper Central Cee threw some shots at fellow British MC Aitch, spitting, “I felt like a p—k when I went to the BRITs and they gave the award to a guy called Aitch/ I had my acceptance speech prepared like, ‘Long live F’s,’ I’m goin’ insane.” Mere hours later, Aitch responded with a tract titled “A Guy Called?”; “Little boy is just there to be spun, gettin’ mad at the BRITs, there’s bare to be won,” the Manchester-based rapper snarled. Time will tell if the Cench-Aitch battle can hold a candle to the Kendrick-Drake one.
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In heavier news, the hip-hop community also spent the weekend mourning the losses of journalist and screenwriter Barry Michael Cooper and DJ Unk, the iconic voice behind Billboard Hot 100 hits like “Walk It Out” (No. 10).
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Youssoupha’s rousing call to action to BigXThaPlug and Jessie Murph’s new cross-genre duet. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Youssoupha, “Prose Combat”
As anxiety sweeps the U.S. — and as protests sweep the rest of the world — in the wake of a new American presidential administration, artists are continuing to use their music to speak truth to power. Across “Prose Combat,” a stunning lyrical exercise taken from Amour Supreme, his eighth studio LP, French rapper Youssoupha calls for liberation for oppressed people across the world, from Rwanda to Mali. “Besoin d’une vraie solution ou d’une révolution pour renverser le royaume de Macron/ Besoin de voir l’Afrique jamais résignée, qu’elle arrête de croire que Poutine est plus stylé,” he spits over Akatché & A2B’s gritty production, demanding the dissolution of invisible colonial empires before voicing his support for the Palestinian people at the end of the first verse. “Besoin de grandes gueules quand personne ne dit rien, besoin d’une terre pour l’État Palestinien/ Besoin d’éviter de gros scandales, toute ma vie, j’suis fatigué du prose combat, mais voilà.” — KYLE DENIS
Central Cee & Lil Durk, “Truth in the Lies”
Central Cee’s Can’t Rush Greatness album already gives the U.K. rhymer an early rap album of the year candidate. Cench and Durk connecting has been years in the making and the intercontinental duo didn’t disappoint. “Truth in the Lies” finds Cench and Smurk getting honest about their hesitancies about love in the spotlight over Ne-Yo’s “So Sick.” Central Cee details women switching up on him unless he’s supporting them financially while Durk lives by the famous “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” adage. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
BigXthaPlug feat. Jessie Murph, “Holy Ground”
Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug just dropped the deluxe edition of Take Care featuring several new tracks, including the Jessie Murph-assisted “Holy Ground.” An anthem of resilience and self-empowerment, “Holy Ground” finds the two stars acknowledging life’s struggles while maintaining their pride and strength. Murph’s emotive chorus conveys how hardships become a part of us, with the “smoking gun” symbolizing the unavoidable challenges that shape our lives. BigXthaPlug’s verse reflects on the harsh realities of success — from betrayal to unmet expectations — while reinforcing that loyalty and hard work are the true measures of success. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
Aqyila, “Focus”
Rising Canadian R&B artist Aqyila has been making steady waves for years with tracks like 2023’s JUNO Award-winning “Hello,” and she’s looking to maintain that momentum in 2025. Co-written with Sam Hook and produced by Monro, “Focus” finds Aqyila seductively cooing over a sultry uptempo R&B track that employs dancehall-adjacent synths and Afrobeats-nodding drum patterns. “I need you to focus, give me all your attention/ The slippery slope is when I get your attention,” she croons in the hook, sightly dipping into a bit of a staccato delivery that contrasts nicely with her airy, languid riffs in the pre-chorus. It’s the modulation in the final chorus, however, that really highlights how precise Aqyila’s vocal acrobatics are in the uppermost reaches of her voice. — K.D.
Jordan Adetunji & Bryson Tiller, “305”
“Kehlani” was just the tip of the iceberg for Jordan Adetunji, who showcases his range of flows and a blend of Jersey club, R&B and rap sounds throughout his A Jaguar’s Dream debut project. From Belfast to Miami, Adetunji and Bryson Tiller indulge in everything Vice City has to offer. “305” meshes moody R&B that The Weeknd would lend his croon to with an uptempo electronic twist that would make anyone floor the gas pedal cruising along Ocean Drive. — M.S.
Kacy Hill & 6LACK, “Time’s Up”
Kacy Hill joined forces with 6LACK on “Time’s Up”, a track she initially penned in 2019 and later brought to life by sliding into his DMs. Co-written with Ryan Beatty and produced by Jim-E Stack, the song explores the beauty of taking time in a relationship, valuing the moments spent together. The chorus, with its repeated theme of “takin’ my time,” emphasizes the intention to savor the connection and let things unfold naturally. 6LACK’s verse contrasts the natural high of love with the chaos in his life, touching on the complexities and vulnerabilities of intimacy. Kacy Hill’s verses highlight the clarity and joy the relationship brings, with everything else fading away in their shared moments. “Time’s Up” captures a peaceful contentment, reminding us of the importance of being present and truly appreciating those we care about. — C.C.
1900Rugrat & Kodak Black, “One Take Freestyle (Remix)”
1900Rugrat made some noise in Florida with his “U.O.E.N.O.”-sampling “One Take Freestyle” last year, and the burgeoning rapper is carrying his winning streak into 2025. Kodak Black took notice of Rugrat’s movement and hopped on the official remix for his fellow Sunshine State native. Yak tackles growing from his past, “I admit, I said a lot of dumbass shit when I was a youngin” and pushes back against colorist allegations. “I’m the one, lil’ b—h said I’m a colorist, how the f–k, b—h? I love my mother,” he snarls. — M.S.
Naïka, “Layers”
Naïka refuses to be boxed in. The French-Haitian singer grapples with her identity issues and the labels society continued to throw at her growing up on the soothing “Layers.” She cathartically flips the angst into a gentle guitar ballad while encouraging listeners to celebrate the beauty naturally within themselves. “I hate the boxes, they suffocate me,” she sings. “Baby, all these layers keep me warm and make me me.” — M.S.
Charlie Bereal, “Some People”
Charlie Bereal opens “Some People” with this ethereal chant: “Communicate/ Make a friend/ Teach someone/ Share with them/ Get together/ Start your own/ Build together/ Make it better.” More than a hook that perfectly complements his and Josef Liemberg’s lush, sweeping and soulful soundscape, it’s a much-needed reminder of what we can do on an interpersonal level to make the world an easier place to exist within. With a buttery falsetto that exudes the same warmth his lyrics exalt, Charlie Bereal emerges from his latest LP, Walk With the Father, as one of contemporary soul’s most exciting new artists. — K.D.
Abir, “Butterflies”
The hiatus is over, Abir returns with her first single in four years with the intoxicating “Butterflies” — and she’s back in her R&B bag. The L.A.-based Moroccan singer makes her sweet escape as a fluttery Abir serenades a certain lover who completes her existence. “You’re supplying me with what I need to push the clouds away/ Even a knife is like a sunny day,” she admits while showcasing her mellifluous vocal range. — M.S.
