R&B/Hip-Hop
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For Mark Foster’s next trick the Foster the People frontman has cooked up a triple-headed remix of songs titled “Houdini.” In an Instagram video posted on Tuesday (July 2), Foster explained, “alright, so there’s like two ‘Houdini’s on the radio right now, one from Eminem, one from Dua Lipa,” while sitting at a keyboard in […]
Lana Del Rey and Quavo’s intoxicating country-trap collab “Tough” is here. The anticipated single hit streaming services at noon ET on Wednesday (June 3), just in time to provide the soundtrack for Independence Day barbecues. “Tough like the scarf on a pair of old leather boots/ Like the blue-collar, red-dirt attitude/ Like a .38 made […]
Those loud bangs you’re hearing are not pre-Fourth of July fireworks, but the sound of Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj‘s 2014 collaboration “Bang Bang” cruising past the two billion views mark on YouTube. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The high water spot for the official […]
Despite criticizing Joe Biden and possibly sitting out the upcoming presidential election, Cardi B calmed some fans’ worries when it came to where her party allegiance lies in the political realm.
“She may have betrayed our country and turned Republican but at least she found a nice tune,” a member of the Bardi Gang wrote on X earlier this week in response to Cardi teasing a track for her upcoming album.
The Grammy-winning rapper replied early Tuesday (June 2), promising that she’ll never take the red pill and join the Republican party. “I will never turn republican lol,” she assured.
The fan responded back, essentially attempting to guilt trip Cardi. “You might be forced to next year since you’re not voting and discouraging people from voting,” they said.
In her May cover story with Rolling Stone, Cardi B slammed President Biden for the United States’ involvement in the Israel-Hamas war, and also criticized his inaction on the economy.
“I feel like people got betrayed,” she said. “It’s just like, ‘D–n, y’all not caring about nobody.’ Then, it really gets me upset that there is solutions to it. There is a solution. I know there’s a solution because you’re spending billions of dollars on any f–king thing.”
After interviewing and endorsing Biden in the 2020 election, it seems like Cardi may be distancing herself from either candidate in 2024. “I don’t f–k with both of y’all n—-s,” she said of Biden and Trump in her RS interview.
On the music side, Cardi B is still working toward the release of her sophomore album; the long-awaited project remains without a release date. Cardi teased another track possibly on the LP earlier this week, which finds her showing off a softer side while sampling Janet Jackson’s “Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun).”
“Yall like this vibe for CB2?” Cardi captioned the video, which shows her in a car.
Cardi put out some good energy into the universe on X over the weekend when it comes to her proving her haters wrong once again. “I have everything planned, locked, and ready to go. Every thing I said I would do this year, I’m going to do it. Nothing is going to stop me. I proved myself before and I’m going to do it again… now rest,” she wrote.
The clock is ticking, as Invasion of Privacy celebrated its sixth anniversary in April. Cardi has also teased pivoting to release a Spanish album following her sophomore effort.
See Cardi’s tweet reassuring fans that she won’t be voting red:
I will never turn republican lol— Cardi B (@iamcardib) July 2, 2024
Detroit rapper Big Sean is feeling a sense of déjà vu following the release of his latest collaboration with Eminem, “Tobey.”
This track, which also features fellow Detroit native Babytron, marks the fourth time Sean and Eminem have joined forces. But for Sean, this particular collaboration holds a particularly special meaning.
In a heartfelt post on X, Sean shared his thoughts on this full-circle moment, revealing that Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP was the first CD he ever bought with his own money.
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“Not gon hold you, Slim Shady LP was the first CD I bought wit my own money at Costco,” Sean wrote.
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“Me n Em bout 4 songs in now (DVE, No Favors, Detroit 2 cypher) but being on The Death Of Slim Shady is full circle. I ain’t know when I bought that, that I’d be one of the next ones out da city…”
“Let alone even know Em,” Sean added in his tweet. “A reminder to myself of how real unrealistic really is.”
Not gon hold you, Slim Shady LP was the first CD i bought wit my own money at Costco. Me n Em bout 4 songs in now (DVE, No Favors, Detroit 2 cypher) but being on the Death Of Slim Shady is full circle. I aint know when i bought that, that id be one of the next 1’s out da city…— Sean Don (@BigSean) July 2, 2024
The release of “Tobey” comes just ahead of Eminem’s highly anticipated twelfth studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), set to drop on July 12. It follows 2020’s Music to Be Murdered By, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 to give Eminem his historic 10th consecutive leader.
The album, teased with a series of cryptic messages and a horror-themed trailer, is expected to bid farewell to Eminem’s famed alter ego, Slim Shady.
“Houdini” served as the project’s lead single and gave Em his best-charting hit on the Hot 100 this decade when it debuted at No. 2.
In his latest release “Tobey,” Eminem addresses the perennial debate about the greatest rappers of all time, asserting his dominance while responding to those who have questioned his place in hip-hop history.
He even tackles recent criticism from hip-hop pioneer Melle Mel, who had questioned Eminem’s standing in the culture.
With less than two weeks until the album’s release, the excitement continues to build for what’s set to be a monumental moment in Eminem’s storied career.
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) hits streaming services on July 12.
You can stream “Tobey” below.
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Rihanna recently went viral for hilariously rapping and dancing along to Glorilla‘s “TGIF” single — with A$AP Rocky‘s reaction being a meme in and of itself — and on Tuesday (July 2), Glo posted a DM from RiRi herself containing a “wild hypothetical” question. “You got all summer sis!” the Fenty mogul wrote to the […]
LeBron James’ son Bronny James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers last week and he’s paying tribute to Juice WRLD with his No. 9 jersey.
James was officially introduced as a Los Angeles Laker in a press conference on Tuesday (July 2) where he explained how the late rapper served as the inspiration behind his jersey number selection.
“Juice has been a big part of me keeping calm in some situations that I’ve been through. Just paying homage to him, especially cause he passed. It’s a really important thing for me.”
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The Chicago native was a mental health advocate and vulnerably opened up about his battles with substance abuse, which helped Bronny navigate certain times in life with the spotlight on him as the teenage son of one of the best to ever pick up a basketball.
Back in 2022, Bronny got Juice WRLD’s “9 9 9” affirmations tattooed on his neck behind his ear. Juice explained to MTV News in 2018 that “9 9 9” stood for turning negatives in life into positives, which Bronny struck a chord with James.
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“9 9 9 represents taking whatever ill, whatever bad situation, whatever struggle you’re going through and turning it into something positive to push yourself forward,” Juice told host Sway Calloway at the time.
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Unfortunatley, Juice WRLD’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 21 when he passed away from an accidental overdose due to oxycodone and codeine toxicity after suffering a seizure at Chicago’s Midway Airport in December 2019.
Juice burst onto the hip-hop scene in early 2018 with massive anthems such as “All Girls Are the Same” and the Sting-interpolating “Lucid Dreams.” The latter reached No. 2 on the Hot 100.
LeBron reposted a photo of his son in the No. 9 Lakers jersey to his Instagram Story last week with an homage to the “Robbery” rapper: “999 @Bronny,” he wrote with several fire emojis.
If carrying the James name wasn’t enough pressure, Bronny will look to keep Juice’s message and legacy going while rocking the No. 9 this season for the Lakers.
Los Angeles drafted Bronny with the 55th pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft last week to make good on LeBron’s desire to suit up with his son as Laker teammates this season.
Watch Bronny give Juice WRLD his flowers below.
Bronny James says he chose the Jersey number 9 for the Lakers in honor of Juice WRLD one of his favorite artists, last year he tattooed 999 on his neck as well– ‘Juice [WRLD] has just been a big part of me keeping calm… just paying homage to him especially because he passed… pic.twitter.com/CyZxMngBfj— SOUND (@itsavibe) July 2, 2024
The 2024 BET Awards — hosted by Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson — provided the big news of the weekend, with some of the biggest names across R&B, hip-hop, gospel and Afrobeats descending upon Los Angeles for the ceremony.
Amid parodies of Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us” and countless reminders to vote in the upcoming presidential election, Tyla (best new artist and best international act) and Victoria Monét (video of the year and the BET Her Award) took home two trophies each, Megan Thee Stallion opened the show with fiery medley of tracks from her new Megan LP, and Black country stars Shaboozey and Tanner Adell made their respective BET Awards debuts.
Of course, there was also that star-studded Usher tribute — featuring Monét, Teyana Taylor, Chlöe, Tinashe, Keke Palmer, Childish Gambino, Marsha Ambrosius, Summer Walker, Latto and Coco Jones — which had the entire crowd on its feet, as did Usher’s 15-minute acceptance speech for the lifetime achievement honor.
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While the BET Awards swallowed up most of the weekend’s discourse, there were still scores of new releases across R&B and hip-hop to sift through. With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Lucky Daye & RAYE‘s emotional new duet to Flau’jae and Lil Wayne‘s new collaboration. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Lucky Daye feat. RAYE, “Paralyzed”
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Lucky Daye and Raye are two of the most gifted singer-songwriters across contemporary pop and R&B, so their union was always going to be a winner. “Paralyzed,” a standout track from Lucky’s new Algorithm LP, is an exquisite acoustic ballad that allows both artist’s voices to take center stage. Lucky’s luscious layers of background vocals during his opening verse and chrous are an absolutley haunting color to lyrics that grapple with the anxiety that comes with living and leaving this life without your other half. By the time RAYE comes in with her swaggering rap-sung cadence, the sparse production remains mostly unchanged, with her and Lucky’s smoldering, evocative vocal chemistry becoming the song’s life force. “I’m not leaving, paralyzed/ Say love’s easy, a pair of lies/ Know you see me, terrified/ Pair with mine, come pair with mine,” Lucky croons in the final chorus.
Flau’jae & Lil Wayne, “Came Out a Beast”
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The LSU college hoops star checks a dream collaboration off her bucket list when connecting with Lil Wayne for the thunderous “Came Out a Beast.” Flau’jae’s hard-hitting bars go toe-to-toe with Weezy for a competitive sparring session with one of the best to ever pick up a pen. “I’m a millionaire and I don’t got a degree,” she flexes. Wayne takes the baton and floats with ease, proving the rap alien he really is. “Screaming ‘f–k the world’ like a virgin,” Weezy spits in vintage fashion, with a simile that we’ve come accustomed to hearing for over two decades now. Flau’jae should be proud of her performance, but there’s a reason Wayne is a true one-of-one in this game.
Tinashe, “Getting No Sleep”
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Just after scoring her biggest solo hit in a decade with the deliciously salacious “Nasty,” Tinashe has unveiled the next single from her forthcoming Quantum Baby LP. Less in the slinky hip-hop-inflected lane of “Nasty” and more in a drum-and-bass PinkPantheress-esque space, “Getting No Sleep” finds Tinashe continuing her quest to find someone who can “match her freak.” “All week long, keep pressure high/ Got you whipped, all quick replies,” she coos, slyly playing up the tension of time apart that ultimately gives way to passionate sleepless nights. The urgency of the D’n’B beat is the perfect complement to the “we ain’t getting no sleep” hook; lyrically and musically, Tinahse is utterly relentless, and “Getting No Sleep” triumphs because of it.
Wolfacejoeyy, “Finsta (sexy liar)”
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The Staten Island native isn’t slowing down following the release of his Valentino project via Alamo Records in May. Wolfacejoeyy feels like he’s on the precipice of a breakthrough. Joey returns with “Finsta (Sexy Liar)” as part of a two-pack, which finds him meshing the worlds of sexy drill, pop-rap and infectious R&B into a woozy cocktail. There are layers to his simple-yet-complex songwriting, with “Finsta” serving as a prime example of his talents. Someone’s “fake Instagram” is actually a glimpse into their real personality when they’re not performing for society, and only those closest to them have access to it. “I wanna know the real you, can I get your Finsta,” he cheekily asks. Our grandparents would be so proud.
Eric Benét & Tamar Braxton, “Something We Can Make Love To”
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Ahead of his first album since 2016’s self-titled LP, four-time Grammy nominee Eric Benét has returned with the Tamar Braxton-assisted duet “Something We Can Make Love To.” He opens the slow jam crooning, “I don’t know if he knows what to do when you finally decide to get loose/ Those moments they come far and few/ In between/ I don’t mind If I gotta be the guy that comes to the front of your mind,” painting over Laney Stewart’s production with his heated, soulful tone. Tamar effortlessly matches Benét’s breathy delivery with a vocal performance that helps steer the song’s steady pacing, ultimately ending with cathartic vocables and riffs that pay tribute to the best slow jams of R&B days past.
Jahkoy, “Someday”
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Love can be a hell of a drug. Jahkoy’s “Someday” recalls a classic ‘90s R&B vibe that many from that era wish they could bottle up and implement in today’s music landscape. The Toronto-bred singer is writing checks he might not be able to cash down the line, but knows he needs to do what he can to woo a lover. Jahkoy will do whatever it takes to keep her around even if he can’t live up to her expectations at the moment – a relatable topic for many out there. “Someday I’m gonna love you the right way/ Get you high on satisfaction/ Girl I’m really bout that action,” he croons while painting the picture of a fantasy life. Even if he doesn’t, at least it sounds good. F–k it, we ball!
Beyoncé appears to have given her stamp of approval on Victoria Monét and Teyana Taylor‘s recreation of her and Usher‘s 2004 “Bad Girl” performance during the 2024 BET Awards Sunday night (June 30). The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer shared clips on her Instagram Story Tuesday (July 2) of the duo performing “Bad Girl” from Usher’s […]
Childish Gambino is ready for his final act. Gambino delivered his grungy “Lithonia” single on Tuesday (July 2) and revealed the release date for Bando Stone & the New World, which will be his last under the moniker.
Co-produced by Gambino himself alongside legends Max Martin, Ludwig Göransson and Michael Uzowuru, “Lithonia” hit streaming services on Tuesday (July 2).
“Cody LaRae/ He had a break/ He’s findin’ out/ That nobody gives a f–k,” he raps following a dynamic church organ intro. LaRae could possibly be a character in Gambino’s Bando Stone & the New World movie. As far as the soundtrack, fans can expect the Bando Stone & the New World to arrive in full on July 19 via RCA Records.
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The multi-hyphenate debuted the trailer for Bando Stone during his appearance at the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday (June 30). Gambino took part in the Usher tribute medley at the award show, which he kicked off with a smooth cover of the R&B icon’s 2002 anthem “U Don’t Have to Call.”
Childish Gambino stars in and directed Bando Stone, and also helmed the soundtrack. In the dystopian trailer, his character is a washed-up pop star who finds himself fending off sci-fi monsters looking to take over Earth. He fights for his survival with his co-star companion, who is played by Jessica Allain.
NYC fans are in luck, as Gambino has announced an interactive experience billed as Childish Gambino Live From Little Island, which will offer a first listen of his project. Tickets for the July 6 show go on sale starting on Wednesday (July 3) at 10 a.m. ET on Ticketmaster.
However, fans across the globe will be able to get a live taste, as the “This Is America” rapper is bringing his show on the road this summer. The New World Tour will kick off in Oklahoma City on Aug. 11 with support from Willow. A 33-stop trek is on the horizon before wrapping up the North American leg in Chicago on Oct. 3.
The U.K. and the rest of Europe will have their chance to see Gambino live throughout the fourth quarter of 2024. Stops are slated for France, Germany, Netherlands, the U.K., Ireland and more. The Atlanta creator will also head to Australia for five dates in early 2025.
Listen to “Lithonia” and watch the Bando Stone & the New World trailer below.
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