R&B/Hip-Hop
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DJ Khaled and The Kid LAROI are headed to the NHL Stanley Cup Final — but the duo won’t be lacing up their skates (although we would love to see Khaled on the ice). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The NHL tapped Miami resident DJ Khaled and […]
Nick Cannon has teamed with Dr. Squatch and their Ball Valuation Tool to determine the price of his, um, family jewels, and they’re worth eight figures, according to TMZ. Not only has Dr. Squatch given Cannon — who has 12 children with six women — the honorary title of “Most Valuable Balls,” the men’s soap […]
Fresh off his Billboard Hot 100 debut, Cash Cobain continues his hot streak with new song “Rump Punch” on Friday (June 7). Like most of his unreleased music, the snippet for this song has been driving up the hype on social media. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]
Bun B and his wife, Queenie (real name Angela Walls), were the victims of a 2019 armed home invasion. Five years after Demonte Jackson’s arrest, the then 20-year-old intruder has learned his fate: 40 years behind bars, according to Houston’s Fox 26 and CBS affiliate KHOU 11. The decision came Friday (June 7), one day after the musician’s testimony.
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The UGK rap legend — born Bernard Freeman — took the stand at Jackson’s sentencing hearing on Thursday (June 6), where he delivered a poignant testimony recounting the home invasion and detailed the emotional toll its taken on his family.
“There are times when [Queenie] gets closed off,” he said in court footage shared by Houston’s Fox 26. “She can’t communicate, and I just get so angry all over again because she didn’t deserve this. She didn’t ask for this.”
“Just the idea of seeing my wife in this state, hearing her voice in this state,” the artist said in court, per video shared by ABC news affiliate KTRK in Houston. “I mean I’m her husband, that’s my primary job, is protecting her, making her feel safe.”
The couple’s ordeal began in April 2019 when Queenie answered their Houston home’s front door expecting an Amazon delivery, but instead was faced with a masked armed robber. Jackson held a terrified Queenie at gunpoint and demanded valuables while she led him to the garage.
“I wanted to confront the person who put that fear in my wife’s voice,” Bun told the courtroom. “She was very panicked. She was borderline hysterical. She just did not want me to go out that door and face the person with the gun.”
Still, Bun B grabbed his firearm and headed to the garage where he found Jackson behind the wheel of his Audi, and the two exchanged gunfire.
The Trill OG rapper wounded Jackson — now 25 years old — with a shot in the shoulder. After a brief tussle, Jackson attempted to flee the scene on foot, but Bun caught and unmasked him so he could be identified, but the intruder eventually got away. After being treated at a local hospital for his injuries, police apprehended Jackson and he pleaded guilty in December 2019 to two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of burglary.
“I wanted to know who that was behind the mask,” the H-Town rapper explained in court. “I wanted to know if this was someone I knew personally or someone that knew someone I knew personally.”
Bun B also shared that the traumatizing incident still affects Queenie to this day. “She was broken. She was absolutely broken,” he added, according to ABC13. “My wife never stepped foot in that house again.”
Watch clips of Bun B’s testimony below.
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A clip of a witness’ testimony has been making the rounds on X. While being examined Thursday (June 6) by Atlanta state prosecutors during the YSL RICO trial, former Hertz rental car employee Ira Singleton was asked about a 2014 Infiniti Q50 Young Thug (real name Jeffrey Williams) allegedly used in the murder of “rival gang member” […]
Five Finger Death Punch extends its record streak of No. 1s on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, while featured artist DMX achieves a posthumous leader, as “This Is the Way” tops the June 15-dated survey.
The song is Five Finger Death Punch’s 11th straight Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1, lengthening the longest streak of leaders in the chart’s 43-year history. The Ivan Moody-fronted band’s run began in 2018 with “Sham Pain.”
In all, Five Finger Death Punch boasts 15 No. 1s. That gives the band sole possession of the third-most in the chart’s history, breaking out of a tie with Foo Fighters and Metallica. Five Finger Death Punch first led in 2012 with “Coming Down.”
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Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay:
19, Shinedown
17, Three Days Grace
15, Five Finger Death Punch
14, Foo Fighters
14, Metallica
13, Godsmack
13, Van Halen
12, Disturbed
As for DMX, “This Is the Way” is the late rapper’s first No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Airplay, logged in his first appearance on the tally. The track is a mashup of two songs, mixing vocals from his “The Way It’s Gonna Be,” released in 2009, and Five Finger Death Punch’s “Judgement Day,” from the band’s 2022 LP AfterLife.
DMX now sports two No. 1s on Billboard airplay charts. His previously ruled Rap Airplay for six weeks in 2000 with “Party Up (Up in Here).” He died of a heart attack on April 9, 2021.
Concurrently, “This Is the Way” holds at its No. 9 high on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 3.3 million audience impressions, up 24%, in the week ending June 6, according to Luminate. On the most recent multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated June 8, reflecting data over May 24-30), the single ranked at No. 14, after reaching No. 4 in April; in addition to its airplay, it earned 576,000 official U.S. streams and sold 1,000 downloads.
“This Is the Way” is on the deluxe reissue of AfterLife, released April 5.
“The idea of collaborating with DMX had been in discussion for years, and it was a long and winding road to turn this particular item on our wish list into reality,” Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory said in a press release announcing the song. “He was a lyrical warrior, a true original who spoke his mind incorruptibly. We have always viewed DMX as the metalhead of hip-hop because of his aggressive, raw and untamed style. He growled and snarled, aiming to rattle some cages – an attitude we share, as Five Finger Death Punch has always been drawn to the fearless and the real. It made all the sense in the world, but today this is more than just a song; it’s a salute to a legend, a way to honor DMX’s memory.”
AfterLife debuted at No. 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart in September 2022 and has earned 276,000 equivalent album units to date.
Five Finger Death Punch is on tour in Europe through July, ahead of a return to the U.S. beginning in August.
All Billboard charts dated June 15 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, June 11.
It’s pretty easy to imagine that by now Rihanna is sick to death of people asking her when R9 is coming. After dropping albums at a furious, nearly one-a-year pace through 2012’s Unapologetic, the singer has kept her Navy in dry dock since releasing 2016’s Anti. Which is why every time RihRih steps out to […]
Eminem and Jelly Roll linked up for a surprise performance of Slim Shady’s Aerosmith-sampling “Sing for the Moment” at the Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central show on Thursday night (June 6).
Prior to hitting the stage together, the Detroit legend and country star linked up outside the Michigan Central Station venue for a heartwarming interaction, which was shared by Bunny XO, who is married to Jelly Roll. She posted the exchange between Em and her husband on TikTok for the world to see. “When the goat meets THE GOAT,” she captioned the clip soundtracked by Eminem’s “My Name Is” anthem.
The exchange finds Jelly Roll in awe as Em approaches him, and he takes his hat off out of respect for the rap icon before they dap up.
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Their voices can’t be heard in the clip, but it looks as if Jelly Roll was giving Eminem his flowers as a longtime fan. They dap up again before going their separate ways, with Em in a black hooded jacket and sunglasses.
Fans really enjoyed seeing Em and Jelly Roll connect prior to making magic on stage, and let it be known in Bunnie’s comment section.
“I saw someone say ’eminem helped us get through our childhood and jelly roll is helping us get through adulthood’ so true,” one person wrote. Bunnie responded to the comment with the bawling and “100” emojis.
Another noted, “He took his hat off to shake Eminem’s hand hes so respectful even though he is a celebrity too.”
Some are hoping this could eventually lead to a collaboration between Em and Jelly. “Can we get a Jelly Roll featuring Eminem song soon, please,” they asked.
Eminem, who co-produced the concert with his manager Paul Rosenberg, sent the crowd into a frenzy when he performed a surprise four-track mini-set that included the live debut of his new “Houdini” single, which fans are hoping will be earning a lofty debut on the Billboard Hot 100.
Em was joined by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and also performed the aforementioned “Sing for the Moment” with Jelly, along with the Trick Trick-assisted “Welcome 2 Detroit” and “Not Afraid.”
Watch the moment Eminem and Jelly Roll met below.
Roc Nation has spearheaded plenty of philanthropic initiatives in the past, and Jay-Z’s company’s latest campaign hones in on improving youth education for students in Philadelphia. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Roc announced an initiative on Friday (June 7) that will assist students with about […]
Coinciding with its Black Music Month celebratory focus on jazz this year, Apple Music and award-winning artist/producer Robert Glasper have partnered for the exclusive release of his latest album Let Go. (The Grammy- and Emmy-winning artist’s latest project is available on Apple Music now.)
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In a release about the new partnership, Apple Music global editorial head of hip-hop and R&B Ebro Darden said, “At Apple Music, we understand that jazz is not only foundational to Black music, but all popular music. So making sure we lean in and do more with jazz had to be a priority.”
As its title implies, Let Go is intended to help people recalibrate mentally in a world rife with challenges. Among the album’s few vocal moments is the track “Breathing Underwater,” which features a guest turn by artist/bassist Meshell Ndegeocello. Moving forward, the exclusive partnership between Apple Music and Glasper will include additional albums, a radio show and a live performance by the musician.
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“My whole career, everybody’s been saying my music is meditative,” Glasper said of Let Go in Apple Music’s announcement. “People say they study to my music, pray to my music, do yoga to my music; they just zone out. People have wanted me to do this for a long time. I wouldn’t call it the ‘meditation project’ or nothing like that, but it’s something you can put on that helps you find your center. It’s just something that quiets the world and allows you to see what’s within.”
Among the musicians who worked on the album’s instrumental tracks are drummer Kendrick Scott, bassist Burniss Travis and guitarist Chris Sholar, of whom Glasper noted, “The musicians are very, very important because they have to have that same flow and that same center. [For example], the drummer is a water sign. Everything he plays is water. He feels like water. And that’s what I wanted for this. I wanted it to be liquid.”
In honor of Juneteenth (June 19), Apple Music’s jazz focus will be supplemented by Freedom Songs 2024. The playlist of original songs and covers is performed by next-gen jazz musicians such as Lakecia Benjamin, Theo Croker, Savannah Harris, J. Hoard, Alexis Lombre, Endea Owens, Joel Ross, Cisco Swank, Kamasi Washington and Immanuel Wilkins. Apple is also offering curated collections of music spotlighting the role that jazz has played – and continues to play – in other genres like hip-hop, rock, R&B/soul, dance and electronic music through albums, playlists and radio episodes saluting the heroes of jazz then and now.
Glasper’s last formal release was 2022’s Black Radio III. The set featured a diverse mix of artists from R&B, hip-hop and jazz such as the aforementioned Ndegeocello, Esperanza Spalding, Killer Mike, Q-Tip, H.E.R. and Gregory Porter. The album won the Grammy for best R&B album last year.