R&B/Hip-Hop

14 Oct 2024

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Elijah Blake, Dave East, Cordae, Big Moochie Grape & More

We’re in the full swing of autumn, which means it’s “sliding down the wall” season — and that calls for a new Summer Walker album. On Friday (Oct. 11), the Billboard chart-topping crooner announced her third studio LP, Finally Over It, alongside the pre-save for its lead single, “Heart of a Woman.” The new set will follow 2019’s Over It and 2021’s Still Over It, which debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200, respectively.

GloRilla, another beloved Southern female artist, dominated music news this week with the release of Glorious, her highly anticipated debut studio album featuring collaborations with Megan Thee Stallion, Kirk Franklin, Latto, Sexyy Red, Muni Long, and more. Fellow MC J. Cole also grabbed some of the spotlight; last Wednesday (Oct. 9), he released a new track titled “Port Antonio,” in which he detailed his thought process behind stepping out of the year-defining Kendrick Lamar–Drake feud.

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In other news, Ye (formerly Kanye West) is being sued by former assistant Lauren Pisciotta, who alleges the rapper drugged and sexually assaulted her during a studio session he co-hosted with embattled mogul Diddy.

With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Cordae’s blazing new track to Elijah Blake and Sevyn Streeter’s smoldering duet. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.

Freshest Find: Elijah Blake & Sevyn Streeter, “Stuck in My Ways”

Earlier this year (Aug. 2), R&B singer-songwriter Elijah Blake dropped one of the year’s most stellar albums. Now, he’s back for a victory lap with the deluxe edition of his self-titled set. Assisted by a passionate co-lead vocal courtesy of fellow R&B heavyweight Sevyn Streeter, Blake delivers “Stuck in My Ways,” a heartwrenching duet that equally explores the throes of love and pain like only R&B can. “I miss my friend/ Stay the night/ And love me out/ Of these chains/ Got me stuck in my ways,” they croon in the final chorus, Blake’s forlorn falsetto and Streeter’s skittering rap-inflected cadence beautifully coalescing across a sweeping, string-laden soundscape cultivated by Eric Hudson.

S!MONE, “Short Notice”

Led by Grammy winner Coco Jones, the cast of Peacock’s Bel-Air has ample music crossover — and S!MONE (aka Simone Joy Jones, the actress who portrays Lisa Wilkes) is looking to continue that streak. Over neo-soul-evoking bass and swinging percussion, S!MONE sweetly sings of the cat-and-mouse game of the early stages of infatuation. “I left my T-shirt in your car/ Something in the shower/ Thought I left my heart, be there in an hour,” she croons, camping out in her sensual falsetto and occasionally decorating the lead vocal line with tasteful riffs and melisma.

Dave East feat. Jozzy, “Ain’t Get Caught”

New York rapper Dave East has been dropping heat for nearly a decade and a half, and his new Jozzy-assisted “Ain’t Get Caught” is the latest addition to his collection. Nearly four minutes of nuanced self-reflection on his younger, rowdier days, “Ain’t Get Caught” finds East effortlessly flying through a combination of flows that highlight the different pockets of the breezy, bass guitar-inflected Scott Storch production. “I was hiding evidence while they was looking for proof/ Marble floors, elegant, such a heavenly view/ I wake up and hear the birds singing/ Such a beautiful song/ Was guilty to proven innocent but knew I was wrong,” he spits, before Jozzy croons, “Feels so good that we didn’t give up/ Feels so good that we didn’t get caught,” offering a bird’s eye view to complement East’s cerebral verses.

Big Boogie feat. 42 Dugg & YTB Fatt, “Pool Party”

Everyone should want an invite to Big Boogie’s “Pool Party.” The CMG rhymer lifts the spirits of any room he steps in with his jovial personality and cheeky bars. After emerging from underwater, Boog’s raspy flow paints a picture of his ratchet pool party filled with booze, women and money raining from the sky. He then tags in his teammates 42 Dugg and YTB Fatt to complete the 100-meter rap freestyle relay race. Building on the momentum of his Gangsta Grillz Redrum Wizard mixtape from earlier this year, Boogie will deliver a second 2024 serving with his ETHER project on Oct. 18. 

Cordae, “Mad as F*ck”

The Crossroads era is here and Cordae unleashed another single with “Mad as F*ck” finding the DMV spitter taking his frustrations out over starry Smoko Ono production. He raps “Took your dream girl on a f–king date/ I still show up late like Lauryn Hill/ Then I hit her good in my penthouse/ Told her, Get out, like Jordan Peele” like the rent is due. It’s a three-minute lyrical masterclass, with Cordae making his bar exam look easier than a Steph Curry jumper. The 27-year-old hopes to leave his mark on the year’s fourth quarter, with his third studio album arriving on Nov. 15.

Wynne & Conductor Williams, “Bad Girl”

Wynne is letting her guard down and getting even more personal heading into her next body of work. The Portland native delivers a raunchy ride-or-die anthem with “Bad Girl.” Wynne really has an affinity for nailing relationship issues and relatable romance situations that millennials and Gen-Z are struggling to navigate. There are times it feels like looking in a mirror with just how accurate she is. The potent MC doesn’t flinch when coloring in the lines of Conductor’s dusty boom-bap drums as his hard-hitting beats continue to stand out among the pack. 

Big Moochie Grape, “Trollin”

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. Big Moochie Grape goes after his opposition, who turn to trolling and other online antics, which he’s not part of at all compared to some other 20-something artists roaming the music industry. “I don’t give a f–k how I say it, just know everything facts,” the PRE rapper declares in his husky voice. With his legal issues behind him, Big Moochie’s larger-than-life personality will shine through on his Eat or Get Ate 2 sequel project, which arrives on Halloween. 

Wolfacejoeyy feat. BEAM, “Nympho”

A viral snippet fans have been bumping for a couple of months finally received a proper release on DSPs. After Missy Elliott didn’t give Wolfacejoeyy sample clearance, he went back to the drawing board on the woozy production for the BEAM-assisted “Nympho.” The sultry yet intoxicating track feels like something out of the PartyNextDoor or Bryson Tiller playbook with Joeyy’s melodic sauce bringing the steamy composition to another level. “You my main, you never the side-piece/ I’ll make it real for you like Spike Lee,” Joeyy coos. Even after Valentino’s impressive arrival earlier this year, the Staten Island rapper isn’t letting up to close out 2024.

14 Oct 2024

Chris Brown’s South Africa Concert Faces Backlash With Petition to Ban Him Getting 28,000+ Signatures

Chris Brown’s headed to South African for a pair of concerts in December, but a women’s rights advocacy group has launched a petition seeking to ban him from taking the stage due to his history of alleged abuse.

Women for Change started a petition Oct. 2 on Change.org that boasts more than 28,000 signatures as of press time, hoping to stop Brown — who pleaded guilty in 2009 to assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, and was sentenced to probation and community labor — from performing in South Africa, which the BBC reports has a long history of abuse and one of the “highest rates of femicide and gender-based violence in the world.” According to the petition, the group wants the promoters, the South African government and organizers to “reconsider” allowing the artist to perform at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium in mid December.

“His concert is scheduled just days after the global commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, making this event a direct insult to the millions of women and girls affected by violence in South Africa and worldwide,” reads the petition.

“When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed,” Women for Change executive director Sabina Walter told the BBC. “The petition was started to send a strong message that we will not tolerate the celebration of individuals with a history of violence against women.”

She continued: “When someone like Chris Brown is given a platform in a country where GBV is at crisis levels, it sends a damaging message — that fame and power outweigh accountability.”

Billboard has reached out to Brown for comment.

The fan demand for Brown’s initial concert at FNB Stadium was so overwhelming — tickets sold out in under two hours — that a second show was added at the 94,000-capacity stadium.

Brown has faced issues for performing in the past due to his legal history in countries such as New Zealand, Canada, Australia and more. The pair of South Africa shows are currently set for Dec. 14 and Dec. 15.

A documentary surrounding Chris Brown’s alleged history of abuse is coming to the Investigation Discovery network later this month. Chris Brown: A History of Violence will land on ID on Oct. 27 as part of the network’s “No Excuse for Abuse” campaign, which will further explore his legal issues. The doc features an unidentified victim who is coming forward to tell her story of alleged abuse from Brown for the first time.

14 Oct 2024

Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘In Her Words’ Documentary Is Coming to Screens Soon

Megan Thee Stallion’s Hotties will have another reason to celebrate Hottieween this spooky season. Amazon MGM Studios announced on Monday (Oct. 14) that the feature length documentary Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words documentary will be released on Amazon’s Prime Video on Oct. 31.

In Her Words will offer fans “unprecedented” behind-the-scenes access into the “woman behind the persona,” according to the press release. The doc is set to delve into Meg’s most vulnerable moments as she navigates life as a superstar rapper.

TIME Studios, Roc Nation and Amazon MGM Studios are onboard collectively to produce the documentary surrounding the Grammy Award winner.

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“I feel so honored to work with Amazon MGM Studios, Roc Nation, and TIME Studios to share Megan’s story,” director Nneka Onuorah said in a statement. “Her raw and beautiful spirit really shines through in the film. She is a champion for all women who deserve their truth to be heard.”

In Her Words was originally announced in May 2022, and about two-and-a-half years later, the documentary will land on Prime Video on Halloween.

“We are thrilled to be able to work with Roc Nation to share Megan’s story with the world,” TIMES Studios’ Loren Hammonds said at the time. “Millions of people are familiar with her as an entertainer, but this series will give her a chance to share her truth as never before. Her story is a powerful one, and the accomplishments that she continues to achieve are remarkable. We feel lucky to have this opportunity to capture her at a crucial moment in her life and career, as she continues to grow exponentially in both her artistry and global impact.”

It’s a busy spooky season for Megan Thee Stallion. In addition to the doc’s upcoming arrival, the 29-year-old will hit the stage for 2024’s Hottieween at Chicago’s United Center on Oct. 31 in an event she’s promising will be “bigger than ever.”

Tickets for the Halloween show sold out on Friday (Oct. 11); all proceeds will be going toward supporting Megan’s Pete and Thomas Foundation.

Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words

Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words

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14 Oct 2024

Rihanna Says Being a Boy Mom Is ‘So Fun’ But, Candidly, ‘It’s Just Hard to Share Toys and Pacifiers’

Rihanna could not be happier to be the mother of two rambunctious young boys. After a video of her son RZA trying to climb out of his playpen went viral last month, the singer/entrepreneur talked to Access Hollywood about what she’s learned from her children with boyfriend rapper A$AP Rocky — they also share year-old son Riot — and what it’s been like adjusting to full-time mom duty.

“It’s fun, I literally, I enjoy it so much,” said the star who hasn’t released a new album since 2016’s Anti. “I am just looking at them and living through them and I’m amazed by every new discovery of theirs, even their boundaries. They’re teaching me how to be their mom as much as I’m teaching them how to be in this world and guide them as best as I can.”

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As for how RZA is adjusting to being a big bro, Rihanna — who is also an older sibling — said it is “rough. The second that his baby brother cries, he’s there! He’s running down, he’s actually crying too. He’s worried. He loves him! It’s just hard to share toys and pacifiers.”

Rihanna also gave Rocky props for being named one of the co-chairs of the 2025 Met Gala, alongside Pharrell Williams, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, actor Colman Domingo and honorary chair LeBron James.

“This is probably one of my favorite themes of all of them,” said frequent attendee RihRih of the celebration of Black sartorial perfection from the 18th century to today titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

“I’ve had tons of incredible themes with the Met Ball that I’ve enjoyed, but this one it just made me respect it so much more… It’s a celebration of culture. It’s also a celebration of history,” she said. “It’s just brining it to the forefront on a platform where we’ve been kind of hidden and it’s just accepting it.”

12 Oct 2024

Summer Walker Announces ‘Finally Over It’ Album, With Lead Single ‘Heart of a Woman’

Summer Walker‘s Finally Over It album, featuring a new single called “Heart of a Woman,” is on its way.

The new release was announced Friday (Oct. 11), but she hasn’t shared the official date of its arrival yet. Finally Over It (LVRN/Interscope Records) is Walker’s third studio album and the follow-up to her 2021 chart-topping set Still Over It, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

After encouraging fans to guess the title of her next album last week, Walker finally shared the answer in a post on Instagram. There, she also revealed Finally Over It‘s first single is “Heart of a Woman.”

“presave Heart of A Woman now!” she wrote in the caption of a visual teaser for the new music. She shared a pre-save link in her Instagram bio.

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In the teaser video, Walker offers a glimpse at what’s to come. The Atlanta-born R&B hitmaker is seen at home, stepping out of the shower and into a hot pink robe, drink in hand. She plays voicemail left on her answering machine — and those messages hint at relationship trouble. She shatters the glass she’s holding.

“Damn, you gotta do me like that?” a man’s voice is heard saying via voicemail. “I was just helping my cousin with groceries. Hit me back when you can talk. I know you’re finally over it, but damn, let’s talk about it. I love you.”

Last year Walker was featured on a number of singles, including Usher’s “Good Good” and “Prove It” with 21 Savage, who brought her to the SNL stage in February to perform the track when he was musical guest. She also released an EP, Clear 2: Soft Life, a second part to her 2019 EP Clear.

Check out Walker’s new music preview below.

11 Oct 2024

Leon Bridges Finds ‘Peaceful Place’ Atop Adult Alternative Airplay Chart

Leon Bridges’ “Peaceful Place” becomes his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, lifting a spot to the top of the Oct. 19-dated tally.

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The song is Bridges’ first ruler in six years, since “Bad Bad News” led for five weeks beginning in May 2018. He first hit No. 1 with “Smooth Sailin’” for two weeks in February-March 2016.

Although “Peaceful Place” snaps a six-year wait atop Adult Alternative Airplay for Bridges, the Atlanta native remained a common presence on the chart since he last led, with nine entries in between his two most recent No. 1s. During that stretch, he scored five top 10s, paced by the No. 2-peaking “Beyond” in 2018; “Motorbike” (No. 3, 2021) and his Noah Cyrus collaboration “July” (No. 4, 2020) also reached the top five. He boasts 10 total top 10s, dating to his first entry, “Coming Home” (No. 7, 2015).

Concurrently, “Peaceful Place” pushes 39-35 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 1 million audience impressions, up 8%, in the week ending Oct. 10, according to Luminate. It marks Bridges’ highest rank since “Bad Bad News,” which reached No. 31 in 2018.

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“Peaceful Place” is the lead single from Leon, Bridges’ fourth studio album. Released Oct. 4, it’s set to make its chart impact on the Oct. 19-dated rankings, which will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Oct. 15. The LP’s predecessor, Gold-Diggers Sound, hit No. 17 on the Billboard 200 in August 2021 and has earned 198,000 equivalent album units to date.

11 Oct 2024

Interscope Geffen A&M Records Kicks Off Year-Long HBCU Initiative With ‘Homecoming SZN’ Album

Interscope Geffen A&M Records is preparing to launch a year-long initiative to provide support for HBCU institutions (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), which have played important roles in the careers of the company’s various artists and executives. For the initiative’s first phase, Interscope Records will partner with three universities — Howard University, Tennessee State University and Texas Southern University — to kick off its fall Homecoming SZN campaign.

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The campaign’s centerpiece is the new Interscope album, Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 1. The vinyl-only project is comprised of Interscope catalog songs that evoke the spirit of HBCU homecoming celebrations plus two new tracks from rising artists. Immersive student-led pop-ups on each university will give students the opportunity to listen to the album, now available for purchase. Students will also have a chance to win concert tickets.

The album cover features custom artwork created for each of the campuses. In addition, a custom collection of Interscope merchandise, specific to each school and provided by Champion sportswear, will become available later this month. The collection includes crewnecks and T-shirts. The original vinyl artwork for each school as well as the accompanying merchandise were designed by Black multidisciplinary artist Laci Jordan. 

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For every item sold, Interscope will donate $3 to the corresponding university. Interscope/Universal Music Group will also develop HBCU-specific scholarships for prospective interns and mentors and additionally connect HBCU undergrads with HBCU alumni employees for fellowships. Moving forward, more Interscope Geffen A&M/HBCU activations will launch in spring 2025 and include partnerships with additional schools in the future.

In announcing the new initiative, Interscope Geffen A&M’s executive vp/head of urban marketing Laura Carter commented, “Historically Black Colleges and Universities have produced some of the most prominent figures in our country’s history. But HBCUs’ contributions to culture — especially music — have been especially profound. This is one of the many reasons why this compilation project is so important to the artists and executives at Interscope Geffen A&M Records. We want to deepen our ties with HBCUs nationwide and are excited to embark on this year-long journey.”  

Charlie Coleman III, associate vp for development and alumni engagement, said, “We’re excited to showcase this partnership that reflects our commitment to student success and community engagement. The contributions from Interscope Records empower our students to pursue their dreams. Together, we’re cultivating an environment where creativity, entrepreneurship,and tradition flourish as we celebrate Texas Southern University’s 97 years of rich legacy.”

Here’s the Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 1 track list:

SIDE A:

“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar

“TGIF” — GloRilla

“Surround Sound” — J.I.D.

“Turn My Swag On” — Soulja Boy

“No Type” — Rae Sremmurd

“Pretty Girls” — Wale

SIDE B:

“Mo Bamba” — Sheck Wes

“All the Way Turnt Up” — Roscoe Dash

“Win” – Jay Rock

“I Don’t Like” — Chief Keef

“Middle Child” — J. Cole

11 Oct 2024

DaBaby Hosts First-Ever Youth Town Hall For Mental Health Awareness at West Charlotte High School

DaBaby’s mental health initiative, DaBaby Cares, partnered with Mental Health America of Central Carolinas (MHACC) on Thursday (Oct. 10) to host the first-ever youth town hall at West Charlotte High School.

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The year-long partnership will provide a “safe space for young people worldwide, building a supportive community that brings together mental health leaders, young people, and their families to provide real-time support for overcoming mental health challenges.”

In 2020, DaBaby’s brother, Glenn Johnson, committed suicide, leaving three daughters. For Baby, his mission statement is clear: to provide awareness for those in need and an outlet to funnel those mental health woes and frustrations.

“I believe that if more of the correct resources were in place to support mental health awareness and self-love, the world would see far less of these tragedies,” Baby’s mission statement reads. “In honor of my brother’s untimely passing, I have become devoted to utilizing my platform and resources to provide the tools needed to combat mental health issues. Breaking the long going cycle of mental illness in minority communities & normalizing the conversation around mental health. Join me in my journey to save lives one step at a time while preventing families around the world from enduring the tragic pain of losing a loved one.”

During the town hall, they raised awareness about mental health issues among the students. The students there also received their own Youth Mental Health 101 Resource Guide,” co-authored by DaBaby, which helps cop with mental health woes and provides self-care mechanisms. Then, DaBaby held a fireside chat and spoke about overcoming his trauma and rehabilitation.

To access the DaBaby Mental Health Tool Kit, you can go here.

11 Oct 2024

GloRilla’s ‘Glorious’ Album: All 15 Songs Ranked

It’s been the year of GloRilla and she looks to cap off her 2024 with a successful release of her debut album, GLORIOUS, which arrived on Friday (Oct. 11).

Big Glo season is here. Coming into her anticipated debut LP, Big Glo set the stage with her Ehhthang Ehhthang mixtape earlier this year and supported “Wanna Be” collaborator Megan Thee Stallion on her Hot Girl Summer Tour, which ran through arenas across North America.

GLORIOUS boasts 15 tracks in total along with special guest appearances from a range of collaborators like Sexyy Red, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Kirk Franklin, T-Pain, Fridayy, Bossman Dlow, Muni Long and more.

The CMG rhymer set the table with thunderous singles “TGIF” and “HOLLON,” which invaded the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sit at No. 28 and No. 95, respectively.

“I was praying for it, I didn’t know if it was gonna come or not. I was praying for it and manifesting it,” she told Billboard News of her recent success. “I said I’ma give them the mixtape first get ’em back used to me, give ’em a feel of me and that’s gonna prep me for the album. Mixtape did good — did what it’s supposed to do, which prepped me for my album.”

Rihanna even publicly clamored for Glo to drop her album in July — and when RiRi comes calling, you deliver. Three months later, she’s delivered for Rih and her millions of fans with GLORIOUS‘ arrival as Glo looks to cement her status as one of female rap’s titans.

Stream the project below and check out our rankings of all 15 songs from worst to best.

11 Oct 2024

Alicia Keys Readies New ‘Uncharted’ Documentary: ‘Everything Done In This Film Was Done by Women’

From her five Billboard 200 No. 1 albums to her new Tony-winning Hell’s Kitchen musical, Alicia Keys is a true “Superwoman.” Now, “Girl on Fire” is looking to add to those superpowers with a new documentary titled Uncharted. The feature-length film is slated to premiere on Paramount+ on Oct. 22.

Uncharted promises an unflinching look at the lack of access and opportunity the music business grants young Black and brown women. Featuring several bright young songwriters — including rising Chicago R&B star Jean Deaux — Uncharted examines the young women’s respective journeys as they strive to break through the industry with the next big hit.

“Everything done in this film was done by women in every capacity,” Keys tells Billboard. “You get a true sense of the journey of these artists and the songwriting process which is so special.”

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Executive produced by Keys and directed by Emmy and Peabody Award winner Beth Aala, Uncharted takes fans behind the scenes of Keys’ She Is The Music songwriting camp. Launched in 2018, She Is The Music is an initiative founded by Keys, Grammy-winning engineer Ann Mincieli, Universal Music Publishing Group chairman and CEO Jody Gerson, and UTA partner and global head of music Sam Kirby Yoh. The campaign seeks to increase the number of women working in the global music industry, from songwriters to lighting directors.

Uncharted had its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. Additional executive producers include Minicieli, Gerson, Kirby Yoh, Katie Couric, Dr. Stacy Smith, Brenda Robinson, Abby Rodriguez, Regina K. Scully, Geralyn White Dreyfous, and Abby Greensfelder’s Everywoman Studios for MTV Entertainment Studios.

Globally, Uncharted will exclusively premiere on Paramount+ in the U.K., Germany, Switzerland, and Austria on Oct. 23. The documentary will also exclusively premiere on the service in Japan on Nov. 15.

In addition to her five Billboard 200 chart-toppers, Alicia Keys has also earned four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, including 2001’s “Fallin’” (six weeks), 2007’s “No One” (five weeks), and 2009’s “Empire State of Mind” (with Jay-Z, five weeks). Her most recent non-holiday studio album, 2021’s Keys, reached No. 41 on the Billboard 200, spawning the Adult R&B Songs top 10 hit, “Best of Me” (No. 8). Recently, Keys was named an Honorable Mention in Billboard’s ranking of the 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century.

Click here to view the official Uncharted trailer.