R&B/Hip-Hop
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Jhené Aiko is the latest star offering support in the midst of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Over the weekend, the “Sunshine” singer announced that she and her wellness brand, Jhenetics, are sponsoring free massages for the first responders from the L.A. Fire Department.
“Thank you to our first responders, those who have spent days away from their families, working tirelessly to protect us. We hope this small gesture of gratitude makes a difference during these long shifts,” Aiko wrote in an Instagram post featuring a series of slides of the Jhenetics team working on first responders.
The post also shouted out LAFD Foundation and the other massage therapists who contributed to the effort from Manly Handz mobile spa.
Aiko is one of the thousands of Angelenos who’ve lost their homes in the midst of the two-week spate of deadly wildfires that have killed 27 so far and destroyed more than 12,000 homes and other structures while burning more than 40,000 acres to date. On Jan. 9, Aiko revealed that her home “burned to the ground with all of our things inside. She confirmed that her two children she shares with Big Sean — 16-year-old daughter Namiko and two-year-old son Noah — were both safe.
“Lord have mercy 🙏 Thankful we still have eachother 💙 starting from scratch. My heart is so heavy 💔,” she wrote at the time, adding, “praying for everyone this morning. those who lost their home, those who lost their life’s work, those who lost their life. praying for my city. praying for the wild life and lost pets. praying for the world 💙.”
The L.A. area continued to be under a red flag warning for the potential spread of fires due through Tuesday morning (Jan. 21), with officials warning that the destructive Santa Ana winds could whip up again as more than 41,000 residents remain under an evacuation order.
In addition to Aiko, others who’ve talked about losing their homes include Paris Hilton, Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Mandy Moore, Diane Warren, Miles Teller and many more.
Among the many charitable contributions and relief efforts launched to date is the upcoming all-star FireAid Benefit Concert at the Kia Forum in L.A. on Jan. 30 that will include appearances by Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, a reunited No Doubt, Katy Perry, Jelly Roll, Sting, Stevie Nicks, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews, Green Day and many more.
Travis Scott appeared at the College Football Playoff National Championship halftime show on Jan. 20, where he debuted his new song “4×4” atop Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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The performance at the Notre Dame and Ohio State game marked Scott’s first solo release since 2023’s Utopia and offered fans a glimpse of what’s to come from the chart-topping rapper.
The single, set to officially release on Jan. 24, will be accompanied by a philanthropic initiative. Scott announced that 100% of the net proceeds from special merchandise—a shirt and zip hoodie honoring Los Angeles’ first responders—will benefit Direct Relief’s California Wildfire Response Fund. You can pre-save at shop.travisscott.com. A CD single for “4×4,” also available for pre-order, will contribute to the same cause.
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Performing on a custom stage built on the roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the game’s halftime show, fans were treated to a preview of “4×4” following Scott’s teasing the debut on social media, in the lead-up to the performance.
In addition to his performance at the College Football Playoff National Championship, Scott previewed “4×4” during an appearance on WWE’s Monday Night Raw, which is set to become the official theme song for Raw.
Scott’s return to the spotlight follows a series of Billboard milestones. Utopia, his fourth consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, delivered some of his biggest hits to date and spent four consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking the first hip-hop release to spend more than a single week atop the chart in over a year. The album’s tracks, including “Meltdown” featuring Drake (No. 3) and “Fe!n” featuring Playboi Carti (No. 5), dominated the Billboard Hot 100.
His previous album Astroworld spent multiple non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, making it one of the longest-running number-one rap albums of its decade. Back in 2020, Scott became the first artist to have three songs debut at number one on the Hot 100 in less than a year.
With “4×4” on the horizon, fans and critics alike are eager to see how the single will perform on the charts and whether it signals the arrival of his highly anticipated fifth studio album.
Scott’s philanthropic efforts join other artists supporting victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, with several participating in the FireAid benefit concert on Jan. 30. The star-studded FireAid lineup includes the likes of Billie Eilish and Finneas, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Sting, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, and Tate McRae.
Nelly will be performing at president-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural ball on Monday (Jan. 20), an inside source has confirmed to Billboard.
The 50-year-old “Hot in Herre” rapper joins a lineup of previously announced inauguration performers that includes Carrie Underwood, Kid Rock, Village People, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Parker McCollum, Lee Greenwood and Gavin DeGraw.
In an interview on Willie D Live, posted to YouTube on Saturday (Jan. 18), Nelly explained the reasons behind his decision to perform. He said in part, “I apologize. I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices, and I thought it was the things that you do not the things that you say should be done if you follow what I do. This shouldn’t even be an argument. He’s the president. He won. This isn’t a campaign. This isn’t the RNC. I’m not on the political campaign.”
Nelly went on to add, “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this because it’s an honor. I respect the office. It don’t matter who is in office, the same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever’s in office. So if they can put their life on the line for whoever in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever … Nobody’s allowed to change, right? … If my past was once going to prevent me from winning today, I wouldn’t be here. I’m not saying that that he ain’t got some fucked up ways. That’s not what I’m saying at all. That’s why I’m not telling you who to vote for. But what I’m saying is that he’s the president of the United States…”
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During the interview, Nelly also addressed whether he was invited to participate in the Kamala Harris campaign. The rapper said he wasn’t invited, noting, “I didn’t get none of that 1.5 to try to help somebody get voted.”
Nelly isn’t the only rapper to participate in Trump’s inauguration festivities. Earlier this weekend, it was widely reported that Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy performed at the president-elect’s Crypto Ball pre-inaugural soiree in Washington, D.C., at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on Friday (Jan. 17).
Snoop and his fellow rappers faced backlash for their performance at the event. In the comments section of a video from the show shared on the Shade Room’s Instagram, users criticized the artists for their participation. “This is culturally embarrassing and disrespectful as hell,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Not a check in the world is worth selling my soul to the Devil…”
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon also covered the performance during his livestream, Lemon LIVE at 5, questioning whether Snoop and the artists were “sellouts” or “grifters who only care about a dollar.”
Snoop hadn’t publicly addressed the backlash at press time, but he did share an Instagram Story featuring himself and Ross at the event.
GloRilla officially stepped into Studio 8H on Jan. 18, marking her highly anticipated Saturday Night Live debut as the musical guest alongside host Dave Chappelle.
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The 25-year-old Memphis rapper opened her performance in dramatic fashion, donning an orange jumpsuit and standing behind bars on a jail-themed set that later transitioned into a front porch scene. She performed “Yeah Glo!” from her 2024 mixtape, Ehhthang Ehhthang. The anthemic track has earned GloRilla two Grammy nominations for best rap song and best rap performance at the upcoming 2025 ceremony, set to air Feb. 2.
Later in the show, GloRilla returned for a dynamic medley of tracks from her 2024 debut album, Glorious, which hit No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The performance featured a vibrant pink and purple backdrop, with GloRilla and her dancers delivering energetic choreography. She mashed up “Whatchu Kno About Me” and “Let Her Cook,” wearing a shiny pink ensemble.
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GloRilla’s SNL debut comes three months after the release of Glorious, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The project spawned the single “TGIF,” which peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, Glo’s highest-reaching unaccompanied entry on the chart.
SNL is currently in its 50th season, with a special anniversary episode planned for Feb. 16. This season has seen appearances from high-profile hosts like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, John Mulaney and Chris Rock, while musical guests have included Hozier, Gracie Abrams and Stevie Nicks, among others.
SNL returns on Jan. 25 with Timothée Chalamet pulling double duty as both host and musical guest. Chalamet recently portrayed Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, the biopic directed by James Mangold. The Dune actor performed all of his own vocals in the film.
Watch GloRilla’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
SZA is reflecting on her friendship with Mac Miller after the release of his posthumous album, Balloonerism. On Friday (Jan. 17), the 35-year-old Grammy-winning artist honored the late Pittsburgh rapper, urging fans to listen to the new project, which dropped on what would have been Miller’s 33rd birthday. “I love my friend I miss my […]
Wallo has stepped in to try to mediate the recent back and forth between Cam’ron and Jim Jones.
Known for giving motivational pep talks to young rappers, and the Internet in general, through his social media platforms and his Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast with his cousin Gillie, the Philly native wrote a lengthy caption addressing the two Dipset members.
“I’m writing this letter from a place of deep admiration and respect,” he began before referencing the his 20-year bid. “From my prison cell, I witnessed something truly incredible—the bond and brotherhood you two shared. Through BET, MTV, college radio, XXL, The Source, and so many other platforms, you brought Harlem’s energy to the world in a way that was nothing short of legendary.”
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He continued by highlighting their chemistry on songs and the influence their group The Diplomats had during the early 2000s. “The connection between you brothers was unmatched. The energy, the swag, the culture—it was magnetic,” he said. “Watching you both rise together gave people like me something to admire and hold onto, even in the toughest times. Straight up, I HATE seeing the distance now, because what you two had was more than music; it was a movement.”
Adding, “I’m sitting here catching a cold, but before I lay it down tonight, I had to get this off my chest. I needed to let you know how much I appreciated everything you shared with us all. Y’all embodied that Harlem pride and made it feel like we were all part of something bigger. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for giving us that. I truly believe that tomorrow can be better than yesterday, and I’m holding onto the hope that you two can find that brotherhood again. I love y’all, and I’ll forever respect the impact you’ve made.”
Cam and Jimmy have been feuding on and off for years now with this new round being set off by an interview Killa conducted with former foe 50 Cent where they brought up a time when Capo and Juelz decided to make an appearance at a G-Unit concert as 50 and Cam were beefing on wax.
Popular streamer Kai Cenat has reacted to being mentioned in Drake‘s UMG lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us.” During a recent stream, Cenat was confused at first as he read over the section of the 81-page lawsuit that highlights himself and other streamers like RDC World and Zias! “Wait, why am I in this […]
Kendrick Lamar is kicking of 2025 with a bang. The rapper’s monumental hit, “Not Like Us,” has officially surpassed one billion Spotify streams. Lamar’s anthemic track, released in May 2024, marked the end of the highly publicized feud between himself and Drake and became a longstanding hit, topping the Hot 100 for two nonconsecutive weeks. […]
2025 is off to a fast start in the hip-hop world as Billboard Unfiltered returns with another brand new episode on Friday (Jan. 17).
The fellas swerve and bend that corner while discussing LiAngelo Ball’s reported $8 million deal with Def Jam, which is worth up to $13 million, Drake going ahead with his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group and more.
Gelo’s “Tweaker” hit debuted at No. 29 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100, but staffers Kyle Denis and Damien Scott aren’t too confident he’ll be able replicate this kind of success going forward. “He might get $2 [million] of that. The rest of it is going to be put toward actually making his music a success. And signing and producing music under his label,” Scott said. “I’m utterly shocked that they gave him a label deal. He’s shown no experience at making music. We have no idea how this song was made.”
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Denis doesn’t think there’s any “singular song worth a deal like this. And if that song exists, it’s not ‘Tweaker.’”
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He continued to say there’s a philosophical misjudment by the labels latching on to who makes the viral track rather than understanding why something is going viral. “[People] wanted to hear stuff like that. Maybe they didn’t want to hear more Gelo,” Denis added. “The label saw that and said, ‘Y’all want more LiAngelo.’”
Both Denis and Scott would’ve rather seen Def Jam spread out the millions of dollars to other emerging artists rather than betting big on Gelo.
The rap world thought Drake was backing down when he withdrew his legal petitions against UMG, but hours later, returned with an official lawsuit against his label filed in New York for defamation surrounding Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” earlier this week.
“It’s gonna be a tough case for him,” Scott suggested. The debate went on to the lawsuit being a ploy in his contract renegotiation for his next deal. “Someone will give Drake the money he wants. He’s too big — it’s Drake, bro. This is craziness.”
Kyle Denis hasn’t taken the lawsuit seriously because the “suit hinges on the idea Drake’s reputation was pristine before ‘Not Like Us’ and that’s just a fantasy.”
He added: “Look at how people reacted to For All The Dogs, look at how people reacted to Her Loss when he came at Megan [Thee Stallion]… I can’t really sit here and act like ‘Not Like Us’ is the source of all this Drake hate.”
At one time, Drake could make this go away by dropping his next hit and that just hasn’t happened. “Your bread and butter used to just be drop a banger and you’d be back,” Denis stated. “And that hasn’t worked for you yet, and now you ran to the Southern District of New York.”
Watch the full episode below.
Carmelo Anthony has finally explained the context behind the photo of him and Rihanna that went on to become a viral meme in the mid-2010s. He cleared the air during the Thursday (Jan. 16) episode of 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, where he detailed the situation that originated from a 2014 Met Gala afterparty. Explore Explore […]