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Just a few weeks shy of the one-year anniversary of her debut studio album, In Pieces, Chloe Bailey (also known as Chlöe) is back with new solo music. On Wednesday (Feb. 28), the Grammy-nominated R&B star revealed the artwork and NSFW title of her latest single. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See […]
Ja Rule told his British fans that he was “devastated” that his planned U.K. anniversary tour has been scotched after he was denied entry into the country due to his criminal record. “I’m so devastated I can’t believe the UK won’t let me in I’ve spent a half million dollars in production of my own […]
Jack Harlow is representing for his hometown in a major way. The “First Class” rapper announced the launch of Gazebo Festival in Louisville, Ky., on Wednesday (Feb. 28).
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The inaugural two-day festival is coming to Kentucky’s Waterfront Park on Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-26) to celebrate “the intersection of music and culture.”
SZA is slated to co-headline the festival on the Ohio River with Jack Harlow, while James Blake, Vince Staples, Veeze, Pinkpantheress, Rich Homie Quan, Omar Apollo, Majid Jordan, Slum Village, BNYX, Karrahbooo and more round out the bill.
“I GIVE YOUUU… GAZEBO FEST,” Harlow wrote on Instagram when announcing the festival.
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Pre-sale tickets will be available starting on March 6 at 10 a.m. ET, while the general public can get its hands on tickets through the festival website on March 8 at 10 a.m. ET.
Prices for the general admission tickets are penciled in to start at $255. VIP packages are available, which include viewing upgrades with better food options and access to an air-conditioned VIP lounge.
“Jack Harlow is an extraordinary Louisvillian who continues to give back to his hometown,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg in a press release. “This is yet another way Jack is showing up for our city, and I can’t wait to see the excitement this festival creates. I am so grateful for his commitment to making first class things happen for Louisville and our people.”
A portion of all ticket proceeds will benefit community organizations and local initiatives in the Louisville area through the Jack Harlow Foundation, which the “Lovin On Me” rapper launched last year.
Find the entire Gazebo Fest lineup below.
Alicia Keys and Billie Eilish’s friendship dates back to when Alicia beautifully covered the 22-year-old’s “Ocean Eyes.” Keys recently gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at her preparation while getting ready for her Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show appearance with Usher earlier this month. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]
Jack Antonoff knows exactly where he stands. In a Wednesday (Feb. 28) interview with the Los Angeles Times, the 39-year-old producer reflected on the moments he’s called out artists such as Damon Albarn – who in 2022 came under fire for questioning Taylor Swift’s songwriting credentials – and Kanye West.
“I’m a little b—h sometimes,” he told the publication. “But you come after my friend Taylor, you’re toast to me.”
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The interview comes more than two years after Albarn ruffled feathers by saying Swift “doesn’t write her own songs” in an interview. The “Anti-Hero” singer – who’s a frequent collaborator of Antonoff’s — quickly shut down the claims with a heated post on X, writing, “I was such a big fan of yours until I saw this … Your hot take is completely false and SO damaging.”
Albarn later apologized and said that his remarks had been “reduced to clickbait,” but not before Antonoff slammed the Blur frontman in a tweet of his own. “i’ve never met damon albarn and he’s never been to my studio but apparently he knows more than the rest of us about all those songs taylor writes and brings in. Herb,” the former Fun band member wrote at the time.
In the new interview, Antonoff said that questioning Swift’s songwriting prowess “is like challenging someone’s faith in God,” adding, “You just don’t go there.”
The Bleachers founder is fresh off his third producer of the year Grammy win in a row. He and Swift also won album of the year at the 2024 awards thanks to their work on the “Karma” musician’s Midnights LP.
And while accepting the prize for best pop vocal earlier in the ceremony, Swift announced the duo’s latest project together: The Tortured Poets Department, which arrives April 19.
As for West – who’s notably an adversary of Swift’s — Antonoff has long been critical. In 2022, he called the “Donda” rapper a “little b—h” in response to Ye’s many antisemitic comments that year, and in late January, he tweeted, “kanye on bleachers release date is hilarious little cry baby b-tch.” (The rapper’s Vultures 2 and Bleachers’ self-titled album are both scheduled to arrive March 8.)
To the L.A. Times, Antonoff reiterated that West “just needs his diaper changed so badly.”
“It’s been a long time since I would’ve taken Kanye’s call,” he added when asked about whether he’d want to work with Ye in the future. “I’m so incredibly bored when someone doesn’t have the sauce anymore, so they go elsewhere to shock. It’s just a remarkable waste of space.”
Beyoncé is already making history with her swerve into the country lane. But after scoring a surprise No. 1 hit with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” some of Queen Bey’s Canadian fans think her new two-step has a familiar ring to it.
A week after TikTok videos pointed out that the tune’s bouncy finger-picked intro bears a striking resemblance to the theme song from the late 1990s/early 2000s children’s cartoon Franklin, the musician behind that show’s iconic opening track, “Hey, It’s Franklin,” says he’s just fine with the comparisons.
According to TMZ, veteran Canadian rocker Bruce Cockburn, 78 — best known for his 1984 hit “If I Had a Rocket Launcher” — told the outlet that he is honored by the many side-by-side videos. “I think Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ is a good record. Unfortunately, I can’t claim to have any part in writing it,” he said.
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“The rhythmic feel is similar to my theme song for the Franklin TV series, but to my ears, that’s where the similarity stops. ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ is her song, and I wish her success with it!” Cockburn added.
It appears the resemblance was first pointed out by TikTok user Ashleigh Aedan on Feb. 18, when she played a bit of the Bey song and captioned her video, “Now go listen to the Franklin theme song and tell me these are the same”; that clip ha since racked up more than 3.5 million views. The post began making news in Canada soon after, with a radio DJ doing a mash-up that boosted the notion that the songs share a similar git-up.
A music expert told CBC News that the comparisons make sense since both use fingerstyle plucking, instead of strumming, with Beyoncé’s opening with a banjo played in the Clawhammer style. Musicologist Claire McLeish said the Franklin theme opens with a style called Travis picking, with a “strong Clawhammer influence.” McLeish also pointed out that both are played in the key of D, with the instruments tuned in a similar style, which is what McLeish said people are picking up on.
And while they sound similar, McLeish said “they don’t sound alike in a way that would cause any legal problems” because you cannot copyright an “idea,” and the Travis picking style is a common idea used in country and folk music all the time. In fact, McLeish compiled a playlist of songs in a similar style, including ones by Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin and Cockburn, noting that since Beyoncé isn’t using the same melody or lyrics that are close to the Franklin theme it’s probably safe from any legal issues.
Last week, Bey became the first Black woman to top the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, followed by the track topping the Billboard Hot 100, giving the singer her ninth leader on the list.
Listen below and see if you hear the similarities.
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Cardi B’s new album era is seemingly upon us (finally!). The rapper took to her Instagram Stories to re-share a fan’s post, in which a snippet of an upcoming song is teased. “I ain’t even got dressed / Any L that I took come after YS / Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man,” […]
Sneakerheads know the importance of going the extra mile to keep footwear spotless. Some might wear bags over their kicks in the rain, while others will spray pairs with a protective sealant. DJ Khaled was on his way to a Miami Beach performance over the weekend and before hopping out of his custom cream-colored Mercedes-Maybach, […]
On Sunday (Feb. 25), Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign narrowly squeaked by Yeat to maintain their reign on the Billboard 200 for a second consecutive week with their collaborative Vultures 1 album. For Mr. West, this feat marks the first time since 2011’s Watch the Throne that he’s been able to have multiple weeks at No. 1, while for Ty, it’s the first No. 1 of any duration on the chart in his career.
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As Yeezy continues to post star-level numbers, despite the backlash to his many recent controversies, this is new territory for his veteran crooner collaborator. After nine mixtapes, three collaborative EPs, and two solo albums, Ty finally has a No. 1 album on his resume. With nearly 15 years in the game, it’s a landmark win for Ty – but can it also be the start of something more for him as a solo star?
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Throughout his career, Ty has proven himself to be the quintessential hook man, deftly elevating rap songs with his silky vocals and pinch of bravado. His first assist came in 2010 when he aided Cali cohort YG with his Def Jam debut single “Toot It and Boot It.” The record peaked at No. 67 on the Hot 100 and No. 12 on the Rap Songs charts, eventually earning platinum status from the RIAA. Following that early win, Ty showed he could also be a solo threat as a lead artist, scoring his first Hot 100 top 40 single in 2013 with “Paranoid” alongside producer DJ Mustard and guest rapper B.o.B. The combination of Mustard and Dolla $ign wreaked havoc again when partnered up on the titillating “Or Nah,” which peaked at No. 48 on the Hot 100 and saw The Weeknd and Wiz Khalifa join in on the remix. These singles were packaged into his excellent 2014 EP, Beach House – a filling appetizer, including notable features from a rookie-era Travis Scott and bubbling French Montana.
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During the mid-2010s, Mustard dominated radio and the clubs with his bouncy West Coast production; Ty was a massive beneficiary of that success, doing features for his Taylor Gang captain Wiz Khalifa, Travis Barker, Chris Brown, Big Sean and more hitmakers. He even showed that he could provide a spark on the pop side when plugged in alongside acts like Fifth Harmony and Post Malone, with both records becoming top five hits on the Hot 100, and the latter becoming his first Hot 100-topper.
The West Coast singer also continued to show promise on the solo side, notably on his debut album, Free TC, in 2015. When paired with singers like Brandy and James Fauntleroy (“LA”), Babyface (“Solid”), and Jagged Edge (“Straight Up”), Ty held his own and created memorable moments without being washed away by the featured artist. Then, when paired with rappers, Ty’s swagger provided enough heat to stand alongside some of the toughest cats of the time, including Kendrick Lamar, Future and Kanye. Although he didn’t land a high Billboard 200 peak, Free TC shined on many year-end lists and solidified Ty as a formidable lead artist.
But Ty began stretching himself too thin, releasing one too many projects at a time. Following Free TC, he dropped his mixtape Campaign a year after its release and delivered his sophomore album, Beach House 3, in 2017. That’s three projects in two years. While BH3 had noteworthy features, including Lil Wayne, Pharrell, and Future, it failed to get Ty his first top 10 album on the Billboard 200, forcing him to quickly swim back to the features well. Though he secured great album-cut looks as a co-star on Kanye West’s “Real Friends,” Drake’s “Jaded,” and The Carters’ “Boss,” instead of using that momentum to release a solo album, he paired up with Jeremih for their joint album Mihty in 2018. After coming off a Hot 100 No. 1 with Post Malone in “Psycho” that year, it would have been the ideal time for Ty to be a little more selfish and release an album on his own. But the reception to MihTy was mild, as it failed to gain velocity on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 60.
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Ty’s last solo album came in 2020, Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, which earned the highest Billboard 200 debut of his career (No. 4), with a bloated effort consisting of 25 songs. The glossy guest list was good, as he nabbed familiar faces like Kanye, Nicki Minaj, Post Malone and Kid Cudi, but it again proved the less-is-more adage needs to be a greater focus for Ty in the future. In 2021, he released another collaborative album with DVSN titled Cheers to the Best Memories – which didn’t move the needle for either party commercially, peaking at No. 139 on the BIllboard 200. The album was also panned by fans and critics, who yearned for more from the two respected acts.
But the door is open again for Ty to re-establish himself as a solo star, following the release of Vultures 1. The chart-topping LP features a masterclass performance by Ty Dolla $ign, doing what he does best — being the assist man. With Kanye helming the production and serving as the lead artist, Ty colored between the lines and kept the songs rock steady despite Ye’s radioactive raps. Songs like “Burn” and “Back to Me” showed flashes of vintage Yeezy but are anchored by Ty’s hooks and songwriting abilities. Though Mr. West was undoubtedly the conductor, Ty’s smoothness rounded out this project greatly, which makes one wonder: What if Ty recorded his next solo album with Kanye as the executive producer?
Or, to take things further, Ty can take a page out of Pusha T’s book and have two producers helm his new album. He could tap his old friend in DJ Mustard to do half the album while Mr. West takes on the second half, providing fans a look at the past and the present since, he has done his best work with both behind-the-scenes maestros. Fans adore him for his collaborations, but seeing more of Ty on the solo front could benefit him as a lead artist, considering there’s some stagnancy on the male side of R&B, with no definitive leading man at the moment.
While Ty has enjoyed a fruitful career and will become one of this generation’s most important featured artists, he hasn’t always needed to share the spotlight. But if Ty finishes all three Vultures installments with Kanye (with 2 and 3 currently slated for March 8 and April 5, respectively), it will propel him even higher – and hopefully, he can one day use the momentum to become the star of his own carnival.
Mike Dean is preparing to take fans on an out-of-this-world, synth-powered journey this Friday night (March 1) during his Live at The Wiltern concert. “Witness the maestro behind the scenes step into the spotlight, showcasing not only his own original compositions but also delivering special renditions of the iconic hits he’s crafted over the years. […]