R&B/Hip-Hop
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Police in Suffolk, Va., are investigating the manner of death of 17-year-old rapper Rylo Huncho. A spokesperson for the Suffolk PD confirmed to Billboard on Tuesday morning (May 21) that an incident occurred on May 15 around 10 p.m. that “resulted in the death of a juvenile age 17” involving a “self-inflicted gunshot wound.” Explore […]
Lil Nas X‘s Billy Ray Cyrus-assisted “Old Town Road” might be the longest-running No. 1 single in Billboard Hot 100 history (19 weeks), but that doesn’t erase the conflicted feelings the Grammy-winning “Industry Baby” rapper has regarding his controversial reception in the country music space back in 2019, compared to how Beyoncé‘s and Shaboozey‘s country tunes have been embraced in 2024.
While he’s “happy” for the two, Lil Nas X told the BBC on May 19, “I wish this would have happened for me. I wasn’t even able to experience this.”
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Lil Nas and Billy Ray took home the 2019 CMA Award for musical event of the year, but, for the “Montero” singer, even that triumph pales in comparison to how Black artists are currently being received in the mainstream country space. Half a decade after the domination of “Old Town Road,” Black artists are making history in the genre.
At the top of 2024, Beyoncé’s smash hit “Texas Hold ‘Em” became the first song by a Black woman to top Hot Country Songs, as well as the first country song by a Black woman to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100. Months later — following the release of Queen Bey’s Cowboy Carter, the first album by a Black woman to top Country Albums — Shaboozey’s J-Kwon-interpolating “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” reached No. 1 on Country Songs, making him and Beyoncé the first Black artists to score back-to-back leaders in the chart’s 66-year history. “A Bar Song” has since reached No. 3 on the Hot 100, marking Shaboozey’s third appearance on the ranking in 2024, following his dual Cowboy Carter features: “Spaghettii” (No. 31, with Linda Martell) and “Sweet * Honey * Buckiin’” (No. 61).
Cowboy Carter also features collaborations with several ascendant Black country stars, including Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy and Willie Jones. Upon the release of “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Billboard reported massive streaming boosts for Black women in country music, ranging from Martell to Rissi Palmer and K. Michelle.
Lil Nas’ own post-“Old Town Road” music has further explored his affinity for rap, pop and rock, but he’s hinting at a return to country music, confirming to the BBC that he’s been “trying out some country [sounds] here and there over the last couple of years.”
“I want to feel connected to it and not force it,” he said.
Five years ago, “Old Town Road” — which ultimately won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance — achieved the rare feat of simultaneously appearing on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song spent a single week at No. 19 on Hot Country Songs before Billboard removed the country-trap hit from the ranking for “not [embracing] enough elements of today’s country music” despite Lil Nas X labeling the song as “country” in the track metadata upon its Dec. 3, 2018 release.
The ejection of “Old Town Road” from the Billboard country charts sparked a flurry of debate regarding the acceptance and recognition of Black artists in the country music space, and the industry’s apparent compulsion to solely box Black artists into the hip-hop and R&B genres despite the musical composition of their songs. Some even drew parallels to 2016’s “Daddy Lessons,” widely regarded as Beyoncé’s first proper country song, which did not chart on Country Songs despite a No. 26 peak on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and a subsequent remix with The Chicks.
Since “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X has successfully transitioned from viral meme to bonafide pop star cultural lightning rod. Both of his official projects — 2019’s 7 EP and 2021’s Montero LP — reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. He’s also added a bevy of Hot 100 hits to his arsenal, including “Montero (Call Me By Your Name” (No. 1), “Industry Baby” (No. 1, with Jack Harlow), “Panini” (No. 5) and “Thats What I Want” (No. 8).
Cam’ron can turn any interview into a viral moment — just ask Bill O’Reilly. The Dipset rapper appeared on CNN on Monday night (May 20), but claimed he didn’t know he was being booked to talk about Sean “Diddy” Combs and the assault allegations made against him.
The interview quickly went left when host Abby Phillip asked Cam about recognizing Diddy in the video of the “I’ll Be Missing You” artist physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 that CNN obtained last week.
“I don’t know him like that. What do you mean did I recognize him? I seen him,” Cam said. “What do you mean my experiences? I seen him and I thought it was disgusting, I didn’t do a zoom in to see if it was really him or nothing, but he admitted it was him so yeah, it was him.”
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Phillip’s facial expression seemingly gave away she knew the interview was headed down a disastrous path, but she continued to attempt to get Cam’ron’s thoughts on Diddy’s apology video, in which Combs called his actions “inexcusable.”
“The apology ain’t for me, it’s for Cassie,” Cam replied. “He ain’t do nothing for me. What I think about it don’t matter. You need to ask Cassie if she accepts the apology. I said what I said.”
While CNN replayed a heartfelt clip from It Is What It Is about Cam’ron asking Ma$e why he had him sign with The Notorious B.I.G. instead of Diddy, Cam took the chance to promote his Pink Horse Power libido supplement.
He slugged back a cup of the intimacy juice. “Sorry, I’m going to get some cheeks after this Horse Power joint,” Cam said, admitting he was headed to see a woman after the interview.
After one final attempt to pry information and give Cam a chance to speak on Diddy, the “Oh Boy” rapper snapped and asked who booked him to appear on CNN before wrapping up the three-minute segment.
“Who’s the talent agent for this joint? You think I be sitting around watching what Diddy do? I didn’t know this was a Diddy joint that y’all invited me to,” he fired back. “Who booked me for this joint?”
Cam’ron addressed the viral interview on Tuesday’s episode of It Is What It Is and explained he wasn’t appreciative of how CNN didn’t ask him about any of the positive things he’s doing in the community and insisted to harp on the allegations of abuse made against Diddy.
“I just felt you tried to use me, pause,” he said. “I don’t know why they ain’t watch 60 Minutes. They ain’t watch Bill O’Reilly? That’s what I do on them joints… You call me on CNN for the bulls–t, I’ma give you the bulls–t.”
Billboard has reached out to CNN for comment.
Watch Cam’ron’s CNN appearance and his response on It Is What It Is below.
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Eminem is gearing up for… something. The Detroit don continued to tease his next phase on Monday (May 20) in a cryptic post that suggested new music is just around the corner. The X post featured what looked like a text window dated midnight May 31 with a vanishing message that read: “… and for […]
Victoria Monét informed fans on Monday (May 20) that she has been forced to cancel a series of planned festival appearances this summer due to health issues. “I am gutted to share that I will no longer be able to perform at Governors Ball (NYC), Roots Picnic (Philadelphia) or Blavity (Nashville) this June,” she wrote […]
Megan Thee Stallion gets sky-high in the latest edition of her #MeganMonday series this week. The MC dropped the fiery “Like a G6 Freestyle,” a hard-hitting take on Far East Movement’s 2010 hit in which Meg once again serves notice that she’s has the hottest pen in the game. Sporting a curly blonde wig held […]
Kelly Price has clarified her stance after offering Diddy a “prayer” following his apology in response to a 2016 surveillance video of the Bad Boy CEO assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura posted by CNN last week.
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“For those who misconstrued, misinterpreted or just chose to put words in my mouth, this is for clarity. If you choose to believe otherwise that’s your choice, but I won’t let anyone call me out for something I didn’t do,” Price captioned the post to Instagram on Sunday.
She continued: “I can’t offer redemption, forgiveness or Grace because my name is Kelly, not Jesus.Therapy+Jesus that’s doing the Soul work. What happens legally is up to the people who have that authority.”
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The singer expanded on her comments in a 12-minute Instagram Live video, in which she claimed it was “more of a warning” and a push for Diddy to look inward and “do the soul work.”
“I was basically telling him you gotta change your heart, you gotta change your mind, you gotta change your direction,” she added. “I simply was saying he had to do the work.”
Price made sure to clarify that she wasn’t trying to position herself as a “Diddy cheerleader” and she’s “not OK with someone else doing something so horrific,” while seemingly referencing the gruesome footage of the assault.
“I told him, do what you need to do to get your soul right, brother,” she stated. “It’s up to the courts to decide what they do with him legally. I have nothing to do with that.”
Kelly Price responds to criticism after sending prayers to Diddy after horrific video surface of him attacking Cassie. pic.twitter.com/clog9vFgco— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 20, 2024
The “Friend of Mine” singer originally offered up the comment — which was met with vehement criticism — on Instagram following Diddy’s apology before eventually deleting the remark, per Vibe.
“It is my sincere prayer that the power of the Holy Ghost overtake you so that you not not only have a change of heart but a change of mind and a change of direction,” she wrote. “I have seen you at your best and at your worst. I know what you are capable of being when you were at your best despite the seductions of this industry. I want to see you and I want to see you soon too kreate8 this in this business but I need you to pray and I need you to receive from the most high. I need for those prayers to take place sincerely. You are a unique talent, and both sides that represent light and darkness receive you anxiously. Do you know who God is! Lean not unto your own understanding but all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path. [red heart emoji] KP.”
While the myriad of sexual misconduct lawsuits against Sean “Diddy” Combs piled up, CNN posted jarring surveillance footage on Friday (May 17) of Diddy attacking his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016.
Forty-eight hours later, Combs issued an apology for his “inexcusable” actions in a video posted to social media on Sunday.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Diddy said. “I was f—ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.”
Drake probably won’t be cracking open any bottles of bubbly following his latest sports gamble. The Champagne Papi has lost a total of $565,000 after betting that Tyson Fury would win the Saturday (May 18) boxing match against Oleksandr Usyk, who ultimately proved victorious over his opponent to become the sport’s undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk’s victory comes shortly after Drake posted a screenshot of his gambling slip on Instagram Stories last week, proving that he’d put upwards of half a million dollars on Fury’s name via the online casino Stake, with which the rapper has had a long-running partnership. Had Fury won instead of Usyk, Drizzy’s payout would have been just over a million dollars.
To Drake’s credit, it was a close call. One judge at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, originally scored the match 114-113 in Fury’s favor, however, the ruling was overturned by two other judges who favored Usyk 114-113 and 115-112, respectively.
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The news comes amid the Canadian musician’s unresolved feud with Kendrick Lamar, who, ironically, called out his adversary’s gambling hobby on the diss track “Meet the Grahams.” Over the course of April and May, K. Dot has also dropped “Euphoria,” “6:16 in L.A.” and the Billboard Hot 100-topping “Not Like Us” to antagonize Drake, who, for his own part, has released “Push Ups,” “Taylor Made Freestyle,” “Family Matters” and “The Heart Pt. 6” targeted at Lamar.
Fury vs. Usyk aside, Drake has had much better luck with previous gambles. In February, he bet $1,150,000 on a Kansas City Chiefs win in the 2024 Super Bowl, which turned out to be advantageous when the Patrick Mahomes-led team triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers.
“I can’t bet against the swifties,” Drake wrote on Instagram Stories at the time, poking fun at Taylor Swift’s relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams bestowed Diddy with a key to the city last September, but is now looking into the possibility of rescinding the prestigious honor after surveillance footage was leaked by CNN of Sean Combs attacking his then-girlfriend Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel in March of 2016.
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Adams sat down with PIX11 for an interview on Monday (May 20) where he was asked for his thoughts about Diddy receiving a Key to the City after watching the disturbing video clip last week.
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“I think all of us were deeply disturbed by watching that chilling video of the young lady being assaulted by him, and the committee and the team — we’ve never rescinded a key before, but we are now sitting down to see what the next steps forward are going to be,” he said.” “We are taking everything under analysis, and the team will come back to me with a final determination.”
The physical assault appears to mirror an abuse allegation made by Cassie Ventura in the sprawling lawsuit she made against Diddy last November before settling the matter less than 24 hours later.
In the suit, she alleged that Diddy became extremely intoxicated and punched her, leaving Ventura with a black eye during an altercation at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles around March 2016.
“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” said Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, in a statement to Billboard after the jarring footage was released. “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
Diddy then issued an apology for his actions, which he described as “inexcusable,” in a video posted to social media on Sunday (May 19).
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Diddy said. “I was f—ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.”
Watch a clip of Adams’ interview with PIX11 below:
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42 Dugg has started the rollout for his debut album, 4eva Us Neva Them. Yes, you read that right. If you’re confused about how this could be his first album, it’s because the five projects he’s released so far are technically, mixtapes. Even though the last four were released under Yo Gotti’s CMG label, and […]