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If you thought Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was content with the empire he’s built around his hit crime drama, Power, you don’t know 50. The multihyphenate took to Instagram earlier today to announce the development of his next show, Power Origins. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news […]
After serving up their “Dirty Nachos” single in February, Mike Will Made-It and Chief Keef are expanding their appetites to a full project. The Ear Drummers producer and Chicago native both hope you saved some room for dessert,as the duo joins forces for Dirty Nachos the mixtape, which will be arriving on Friday (March 15). […]
Imagine Eminem is your boss, but he’s causing more havoc around the office than Jeremy Piven’s Ari Gold character in Entourage.
That’s the case here as Slim Shady stars in the “Doomsday 2” video directed by Lyrical Lemonade‘s Cole Bennett, which fittingly arrived on Wednesday, March 13, known as 313 Day in Detroit.
In the visual, Em emerges from the curtains and walks through the chaotic office scene with papers flying around him and the walls nearly caving in. Still, the Rap God isn’t phased as he peppers the beat like a mini Uzi.
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Dressed for the occasion, Eminem rocks his version of business-casual attire with black slacks and a button-down shirt, but made sure to have his Air Jordan “Thunder” Retro 4s matching his yellow tie.
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There’s plenty of star power helping Em amplify his message, with younger artists such as Big Sean, Swae Lee, JID, Cordae, Babytron, Denzel Curry and more making cameos.
“And that’s why I’m back with Cole Bennett/ And I been at the level J. Cole been at/ It’s Aftermath that I ride for ’til I die,” Em raps to close out his verse.
“Doomsday Pt. 2” landed on Cole and Lyrical Lemonade‘s All Is Yellow album in January. The project arrived via a partnership with Def Jam Records and it peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard 200.
“It was really about breaking down that door and bringing people together,” Bennett told Billboard about the album in February. “When there’s someone who can act as the glue within it all, people really put their egos down. I want rap music to be more unified, I want there to be more collaboration. Growing up, this is what I was into — I loved posse cuts, I loved left-field features that you wouldn’t expect, I loved seeing my favorite artists from two completely different sides of the spectrum in a photo together. These are all things that fed me, so I wanted to create a world where that was the theme.”
Before hopping on “Doomsday” to kick off the year, Eminem closed out 2023 on a high note when he connected with Benny Blanco for “Lace It” — which also features the late Juice WRLD — in December.
Watch the “Doomsday 2” video below.
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Megan Thee Stallion is hitting the road. The Houston rapper announced plans for the Hot Girl Summer Tour on Wednesday (March 13).
Meg will be connecting with her Hotties across the globe. Following a North American leg — which kicks off in May — she’ll be heading across the pond for a handful of dates in Europe.
“HOTTIESSS GET READY TO COME HAVE SOME FUN WITH ME AT THEE HOT GIRL SUMMER TOUR Get your outfits ready nowww,” she wrote to social media. “We getting started this MAY I told you what cities today to get yall prepared! Check back in on thee 20th for official dates im so exciteddddd.”
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She’ll be making stops in Minneapolis, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and more. Look for the full schedule — including dates and venues — to be released next week (March 20).
Megan Thee Stallion is coming off earning her first solo No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Hiss” in February. The scathing track caused quite the uproar, appearing to take shots at Nicki Minaj (who responded with a “Big Foot” diss of her own), as well as Pardison Fontaine, Drake, Tory Lanez and more.
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“Hiss” is still holding on to the elusive chart, where it sits at No. 94 this week. An album may still be on the way before she hits the road for tour, which would be her first LP since 2022’s Traumazine.
Megan is now independent from her deal with 1501 Ent. and 300, but revealed in February she inked a partnership for distribution with Warner Music Group.
Within the structure of the unique deal, the Houston Hottie will have access to WMG’s global services ranging from music promotion to distribution and worldwide marketing, while maintaining ownership of her masters and publishing.
“This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter of my life and career,” Megan said in a statement. “I’m really focused on building an empire and growing as an entrepreneur, so I’m proud to take this next step in my journey and work with Max Lousada and the entire Warner Music Group team in this new capacity. I know we’re going to create history together.”
Find out if Megan is coming to a city near you this summer in her announcement below.
More than 75,000 fans laced up their cowboy boots and attended Bun B’s 2024 RodeoHouston set at NRG Stadium on Tuesday (March 12).
Drake joined the headlining performer for the night as the UGK rapper welcomed Houston’s “newest resident” to the stage. Riding in style, the 6 God entered with more protection than the governor of Texas with a cavalcade of black SUVs while Chino Pacas tunes boomed throughout the stadium.
“And to thank you for all that you’ve done for me and my family, I present to you, The Boy,” Bun said. “This is our newest resident, please make some noise for Drizzy Drake.”
Drake emerged from the SUV rocking a Bun B Trill album T-shirt and orange jacket to kick off his set, taking fans down memory lane with his So Far Gone “November 18th” throwback ode to Houston while paying homage to the late DJ Screw. “The first time I did this song in Houston, Texas [I] was at Warehouse Live,” Drake recalled.
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The OVO boss kept the crowd’s energy on 100, running through an array of hits in his decorated discography including “SICKO MODE,” “Nonstop,” “Energy,” “Hotline Bling” and wrapped up with For All The Dogs‘ “Rich Baby Daddy.”
Outside of Drake’s performance, there was plenty of star power in the building, as Rick Ross, Lil Jon, Nelly, Ying-Yang Twins, Eve, E-40, Too Short, That Mexican OT and more performed.
The stop in H-Town made sense for Drake while he’s still on the road, as the It’s All a Blur – Big as the What? Tour will be heading to nearby San Antonio for a pair of shows at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday (March 14) and Friday (March 15).
Watch some highlights from Drake’s performance below.
Initially, BossMan Dlow didn’t think he crafted a breakout hit in “Get In With Me” — after recording the track last year, he quickly discarded it into his dossier of files and got back to working on his next hopeful street anthem. But he’s happy to be wrong: the song become his debut entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-February and has since reached a No. 49 high in five weeks on the chart. In the March 1-7 tracking week, “Get In With Me” earned 9.6 million official U.S. streams, according to Luminate.
The 25-year-old credits the slick rhymes on the trunk-rattling single to the alcohol flowing through him during a November studio session in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “Patrón was talking to me,” he tells Billboard. “That beat came on and I think I had just spent $1250 on some shoes — so that was in my brain, ‘Pair of shoes $1250.’ It just came to me on some drunk s–t to be real.”
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Dlow motivates listeners with his work hard, play hard mentality stacking paper and getting fly to floss on the competition. (“You wanna be a boss, you gotta pay the price,” he raps on “Get In With Me.”) And he isn’t apologizing for his making recent waves in the industry, either, breaking through after pounding on rap’s door seeking entry since 2019 (“I’m trying to step on they throat — ya hear me”).
He signed a record deal with Alamo Records last summer, and he’s the latest integral piece to an already-loaded R&B/hip-hop roster that boasts stars Rod Wave and Lil Durk. And with a label team in tow, life is moving faster than ever for the burgeoning Florida native. He’ll look to stay hot with the release of his gritty Mr. Beat the Road mixtape on Friday (March 15). The 17-track project boasts features from Sexyy Red, Rob49 and more.
Below, Dlow tells Billboard about the success of “Get In With Me,” manifesting a Future collab and his entrepreneurial plans outside of music.
Did you know “Get In With Me” was a hit when you first recorded it?
Hell nah. I had just ran through it. I heard the beat and that probably took me 45 minutes to an hour and then I was like, “You know what? F–k it, next song.” Type of s–t. That’s just another song. [I’m] punching in freestyling. I used to write. Now I don’t be having no time like that. I just go in that b—h and speak my mind, which is a little better.
Where were you eating hibachi on the 50th floor?
That’s boss activity. Get you a bad b—h and take her to the 50th floor and order the most expensive s–t you can. You know, just living life. Doing s–t to talk about doing s–t.
When did you know it was a hit outside your fanbase?
When I first did the freestyle, the s–t went up to like 200,000 likes. I ain’t never had that many likes. Then it was people reposting it. Rod Wave, Moneybagg Yo, even Ciara posted it, DaBaby wanted to get on it. He posted it. A lot of reaction from big rappers too so it’s really crazy.
I saw Quavo using your lyrics in an Instagram caption. What do you think about seeing that?
That s–t crazy. From playing these dudes’ [songs] to now they playing my music. I never talked to him, he just did that.
What was your reaction to making the Hot 100?
The s–t just keep getting crazier and crazier. That’s hard as f–k to do, bro. Especially rap music. It’s unbelievable.
Do you ever have the mentality of “I’m trying to make the Hot 100” when making music?
Nah, I was really in the streets. This is new to me. So my manager telling me, “You at No. 52 on Billboard [Hot 100].” Like damn, Billboard?! I don’t really know what it mean but you know that s–t is hard.
What do you think about “Get In With Me” taking off on TikTok and helping promote it?
Yeah, I seen Lil Baby posted it. It’s crazy. I really didn’t know that song was gonna do all that. That’s what I learned. It be the songs you don’t like. That’s just how it goes. I’m not saying like I thought it was trash, I’m saying more I put it to the [side] like this ain’t one of ‘em. This ain’t my main focus.
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How’d you link up with the producer Dxntemadeit?
Yeah, I f–k with bro. Bro was in the studio with us and we got a couple beats off him. I f–k with his selection and how he make his beats. We started working and we gonna keep it going. We got us some [more] s–t coming for sure.
How did you end up signing with Alamo last year? The label is loaded with you, Lil Durk and Rod Wave to name a few.
Real street. My music started off in Tallahassee and started swinging its way up north and down south in Florida. Couple rappers were reposting my music from the start, and it ended up having me to keep going. [I signed with Alamo during] Last year around August or September. Yeah, we finna crush. We got no time to play.
What was your childhood like growing up? I know you were a hoops fan.
Yeah, Port Salerno. Small hood running around doing kid s–t. Riding dirt bikes and s–t. Couple of streets to ride on, couple of dirt path roads to ride on. Play a little basketball and it’s really just the streets after that. You’ll catch the streets young where I’m from. It’s all around. You end up doing street s–t and then you end up in trouble and then you end up all in now. Just some small city.
Who were some of your early music inspirations?
My people used to play old-school music. I used to play Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa. That was my s–t.
What did you find so appealing about Future’s music?
He’s been going for a long time and he can drop a hit whenever he wants to. It speaks for itself. I want to be long-lasting like that. He’s probably looking at 20 years right now.
We’re gonna get that Dlow and Future collab?
We definitely gon’ get it.
I read you wanted to change your name from BossMan Dlow. What was it gonna be?
Yeah, in 2019 I was BossMan Dlow and I got locked up and had some s–t to deal with. I didn’t want to get back out and rap with the same name I got locked up in. I was gonna just be Big Za. I had a little music, and I had my listeners knowing me as BossMan Dlow. I didn’t wanna throw them off so I just kept it.
What about “Slide” by H.E.R. helped you get through being locked up?
When I heard it, I just had to go by myself and zone out. I picture me just seat laid back, foreign car, I’m on [Interstate] 95 talking to this b—h and good za. I’m just sliding and handling business. That song put me in that mode for real. I used to play a lot of Roddy Ricch too.
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What are some of your 2024 goals? [Is there] Another project on the way?
We’re trying to go on tour, bro. We trying to get this tour right. We trying to get to the arenas and sell out arenas and make better music. We gon’ stay consistent. We gon’ keep it rolling. Another tape and we gon’ have an album this year too.
Bossing up, what other ventures do you have lined up to create avenues for income outside of music?
I want a trucking business. We gon’ rent and sell cars. We gon’ buy property houses. We gon’ build houses. We gon’ own car washes and restaurants. We gonna do it all. I want every store you pass to be Dlow’s establishment. You could come work for Too Slippery Entertainment.
A version of this story originally appeared in the March 9, 2024, issue of Billboard.
Magic City meets SXSW. Jermaine Dupri and Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment premiered the Magic City: An American Fantasy at SXSW 2024 on Monday night (March 11). JD’s onboard as an executive producer of the three-part series alongside Adel “Future” Nur, Peter Nelson, Jami Gertz and Michael Mauldin. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest […]
Chris Brown banks his 19th No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart as “Sensational,” featuring Davido and Lojay, rules the list dated March 16. The collaboration jumps from No. 3 following a 14% boost in weekly plays that made it the most-played song U.S. monitored mainstream R&B/hip-hop radio stations in the week ending March 7, according to Luminate.
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The Afrobeats-inspired “Sensational,” released on CBE/RCA Records, replaces Offset and Don Toliver’s “Worth It” after the latter’s one week in charge. Last week’s champ slides to No. 5 after a 7% dive in plays during the tracking week.
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With “Sensational,” Brown achieves his 19th leader on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. While he remains in third place for the most among all acts since the chart launched in 1993, but inches closer to runner-up Lil Wayne, who has 20 No. 1s. Drake is far and away the titleholder, with 45 visits to the summit.
As “Sensational” joins the club, let’s review Brown’s No. 1s on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart:
Song Title, Artist (if other than Chris Brown), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1“Shortie Like Mine,” Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown & Johnta Austin, two, Dec. 9, 2006“Kiss Kiss,” featuring T-Pain, two, Dec. 8, 2007“With You,” one, March 22, 2008“Deuces,” featuring Tyga & Kevin McCall, 10, Sept. 4, 2010“No BS” two, Feb. 5, 2011“Look at Me Now,” featuring Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, seven, April 4, 2011“Strip,” featuring Kevin “K-Mac” McCall, two, March 31, 2012“Birthday Cake,” Rihanna featuring Chris Brown, three, May 19, 2012“It Won’t Stop,” Sevyn Streeter featuring Chris Brown, eight, Nov. 30, 2013“Loyal,” featuring Lil Wayne & French Montana or Too $hort or Tyga, nine, May 17, 2014“New Flame,” featuring Usher & Rick Ross, Oct. 18, 2014“Hold You Down,” DJ Khaled featuring Chris Brown, August Alsina, Future & Jeremih, three, Nov. 15, 2014“Only,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown, four, Jan. 10, 2015“Post to Be,” Omarion featuring Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko, six, May 23, 2015“All Eyes on You,” Meek Mill featuring Chris Brown & Nicki Minaj, three, Sept. 19, 2015“No Guidance,” featuring Drake, 10, Aug. 10, 2019“Go Crazy,” with Young Thug, six, July 18, 2020“Under the Influence,” eight, March 11, 2023“Sensational,” featuring Davido & Lojay, one (to date), March 16, 2024
For featured artists Davido and Lojay, “Sensational” becomes each performer’s first No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. The former previously attained a No. 14 best, with “Fall” in 2019, while the latter’s sole prior appearance came through his and Jess Glynne’s featured spots on French Montana and Swae Lee’s “Wish U Well,” which reached No. 37 last October.
Elsewhere, “Sensational” repeats at its No. 7 high on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which ranks songs by combined audience totals from mainstream R&B/hip-hop and adult R&B radio stations. There, despite no change in position, the song added 14% in audience to reach 14.1 million in the tracking week, spurred both by its increase on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay as well as a 29-25 rebound on Adult R&B Airplay (up 10% in plays). With the jump, “Sensational” returns to its best showing on the latter chart, first achieved six weeks ago.
Plus, “Sensational” climbs 8-5 on Rhythmic Airplay through a 13% surge in plays.
Lichelle Laws, better known as the pioneering gangster rapper BO$$, died Monday (March 11) from kidney failure. She was 54.
Despite being born and raised in Detroit, Laws became best known as a part of the burgeoning West Coast gangster rap scene in the early ’90s. With dreams of launching a rap career, she moved to NYC. But after being unable to make anything happen in the birthplace of rap, she decided to head to Los Angeles.
Laws continued to struggle to make ends meet once in LA, but things began to turn around when she met West Coast rap legend DJ Quik. Quik took Laws under his tutelage and connected her with a bevy of rappers with whom she would later collaborate, including AMG, who put her on a song on his debut album.
In 1993, after the success of Queens-based group Onyx, Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons decided that the historic label needed to take full advantage of the growing popularity of gangster rap. He decided to launch LA-based Def Jam West (DJ West) and look for artists from California who brought the same energy as N.W.A and Death Row’s roster of hitmakers. Laws, under the name BO$$, was Simmons’ first signee to DJ West and, in fact, was the first female rapper ever signed to Def Jam.
An acronym for Bi—es On Some Sh–, BO$$ was actually a duo that consisted of Laws and her DJ, Irene “Dee” Moore. Their debut album Born Gangstaz was released in May 1993 and sold close to 400,000 copies. It featured production by some of Def Jam’s heavy-hitters, including Jam Master Jay and Erick Sermon.
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The Barry White-sampling “Deeper” was a standout track on the album and featured BO$$ talking about the stresses of trying to keep money in her pocket without succumbing to the pull of the streets and falling deeper and deeper into a life of crime.
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Despite the relative success of their debut, BO$$ never had a chance to release a sophomore project. After an album full of gangster and street tales, a Wall Street Journal article called into question the reality of Laws’ claims. The fallout resulted in BO$$ being dropped from DJ West.
In 2017, Laws suffered a stroke after being diagnosed with renal disease. A 2021 GoFundMe raised $18,000 to assist with her medical bills.
Upon news of her death, many rappers paid tribute to Laws with posts on social media.
Hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow took to Instagram to pay his respects, writing: “The Hip Hip Alliance is saddened by the passing of our Beloved ‘BO$$.’ First Detroit Female Gangsta rapper signed to Def Jam. She will never be forgotten and will live in our hearts forever. We send our sincere condolences to her family, friends, Detroit, and the entire world. RIP legend.”
Bun B posted a photo of Laws on Instagram and called her “one of the best female MCs and a dear friend.”
DJ Premier also posted on Instagram and revealed that Gang Starr did a remix to “Deeper” that Def Jam never dropped. “Back in 1993 she came to D&D and recut her vocals to my beat. It was so RAW,” he remembers. “We had a good session drinking 40’s, puffin Lah, and vibing.”
Ayesha Curry got her own line in Drake’s 2021 album, Certified Lover Boy, and she shared her thoughts about it in a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live. “I think I was dumbfounded,” the cookbook author and wife of NBA star Stephen Curry told host Andy Cohen of the “Race My Mind” line, in […]