R&B/Hip-Hop
Page: 281
Machine Gun Kelly and Trippie Redd are no strangers to collaborating, but they’ve decided to flesh out their thoughts into a full-length joint project. MGK revealed on Wednesday (March 23) that he’s teaming up with his fellow Ohio native for Genre:Sadboy. The collab effort is slated to arrive next Friday (March 29), which is already […]
The cover art for Beyoncé‘s upcoming album Cowboy Carter has stirred up some interesting discussions, most recently and notably from Harlem rapper Azealia Banks. The opinionated MC took to Instagram Stories on Tuesday to give us all a little lesson in cultural criticism.
First, Banks takes aim at the album’s title, writing, “Wow we didn’t even try to put even a little effort into a more artistic title?” Now, to be fair, we don’t know what Beyonce‘s thinking is as it pertains to the title. Some fans believe it’s a play on words. Obviously, Carter is her last name through marriage to rapper/businessman Sean Carter, aka Jay-Z, but it’s also the last name of the family widely seen as the first family of country music. It could be anything or nothing at all. The only person who knows is Cowboy Carter herself.
Trending on Billboard
Banks then takes issue with the cover’s overall aesthetic, asking, “how u switch from baobab trees and black parade to this literal pick me stuff,” referring to the Grammy Award-winning single from The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack Beyoncé executive produced back in 2019. It seems all the Americana imagery is too on the nose for Banks and misses the mark, as she accuses Beyonce of being in “white woman cosplay” and “reinforcing the false rhetoric that country music is a post civil war white art form. And subsequently reinforcing the idea that there is no racism, segregation, slavery, violence, theft, massacres, plagues, manifest destiny craziness that form the bedrock of epithets like ‘proud to be an American,’ or ‘god bless the usa.’”
As if that weren’t enough, Banks also brought up the 2016 CMA Awards performance Beyoncé did with The Chicks (then called The Dixie Chicks), writing, “u do lame stuff like bring out some black listed white women (Dixie Chicks) at the country music awards and they would never ever do the same for you.”
It’s all…a lot. You can check out all of what she wrote below. But it’s interesting to see Banks read so much into the album title and cover when Beyoncé herself took to Instagram on Tuesday to explain to fans why she decided to make Cowboy Carter.
Beyoncé didn’t mention the 2016 CMA Awards specifically, but she did write that the album “was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed.” And while Banks believes Beyoncé is unaware of the genre’s history, Bey explained that after the experience of not feeling welcomed she did “a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.” Similar to 2022’s Renaissance, on which she worked to reclaim Dance music, many feel she will be doing the same with country on this project. But hey, like she said in her IG post, “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.”
Quavo is looking to give back to his local Atlanta community through The Rocket Foundation. Huncho announced the launch of the Spark Grants initiative on Wednesday (March 20), which will award 10 different organizations with $10,000 to help minimize gun violence and spread awareness around the ATL.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The grants will be handed out to recipients on June 18, which is also the birthday of Quavo’s late nephew and Migos bandmate Takeoff and lands in National Gun Violence Awareness Month.
Trending on Billboard
Takeoff (born Kirshnik Khari Ball), 28, was shot and killed early in the morning of Nov. 1, 2022 while attending a private party with Quavo at 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston.
Last year, Quavo headed to Washington, D.C., to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss gun violence and what could be done to help reduce the amount of weapons on the streets. Twenty-four hours later, the White House revealed plans for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
“I am honored to launch this grant program to honor Take and the countless families that have been affected by gun violence,” said Quavo in a statement. “The Rocket Foundation will be giving out $100,000 in Spark grants to local organizations dedicated to reducing community violence in Atlanta.”
He continued: “There is a lot of important work going on in ATL right now, and part of our mission is to uplift these organizations and support them to help save more lives.”
Applications from nonprofit organizations are due by April 21 and then the $100,000 in total will be awarded on June 18. The 10th winner will be selected by the public with voting taking place on The Rocket Foundation’s website.
Investigators said shots rang out during the an afterparty attended by several dozen people, with TakeOff pronounced dead at the scene of what the Harris County coroner’s office said was “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm.”
Less than a month before TakeOff’s murder, Quavo and Take teamed up to form the Unc & Phew duo (TakeOff is Quavo’s nephew) and unleash their Only Built For Infinity Links album. The LP debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200.
The challenger defeats the champion on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart this week as rookie singer 4Batz’s “Act II: Date @ 8,” now featuring Drake, rockets 7-1 to crown the list dated March 23. The buzzy single’s rise comes after the release of a remix, which added the heavyweight, on March 8. In taking the summit, the new leader ends a historic run for SZA, who had reigned atop the chart for the last 53 weeks through four songs – “Kill Bill,” “Snooze,” a featured turn on Drake’s “Slime You Out” and “Saturn.”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Act II: Date @ 8” debuted on the chart dated Jan. 6 and spent its first 11 weeks on the list (including nine in the top 10) billed solely to 4Batz. With the majority of the song’s activity in the latest tracking week coming from the Drake-assisted remix, the song’s chart listing undergoes two key changes: The artist billing switches to “4Batz featuring Drake” and the servicing label, previously just 4Batz, is updated to 4Batz/OVO Sound. From a business perspective, 4Batz and Drake will be partners again soon, as Billboard reported the budding singer signed with OVO Sound — which Drake co-founded — for a one-EP deal.
Trending on Billboard
In the tracking week of March 8-14 for the multimetric Hot R&B Songs chart — which combines streaming, radio airplay and sales data — “Act II: Date @ 8” generated 19.9 million official U.S. streams, according to Luminate, a 187% burst from the week prior. The nearly tripled improvement shoots the track 6-1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart, where it becomes 4Batz’s first champ on the list and Drake’s ninth. It also nabs the week’s Greatest Gainer honor, as the song with the largest streaming increase.
[embedded content]
“Act II: Date @ 8” sold 1,000 digital downloads in the same period, sparking a No. 5 debut on R&B Digital Song Sales. The track also registered 8.4 million audience impressions, helped by gains on multiple radio charts: It climbs 19-16 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (up 21% in plays during the tracking week) and 28-24 on Rhythmic Airplay (a 33% increase).
Elsewhere, “Act II: Date @ 8” powers 26-3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it captures both the Sales Gainer and Streaming Gainer honors, and 61-7 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, with the Streaming Gainer prize to boot.
Though “Act II: Date @ 8” gets most of the shine, two other 4Batz installments also occupy spots on the Hot R&B Songs chart: “Act I: Stickerz 99” rebounds 24-19 in its seventh week on the list, while “Act III: On God (She Like)” slips 10-11 in its second frame.
Ye — the artist formerly known as Kanye West — and Ty Dolla $ign are taking their talents to Egypt next month.
The rapper announced on Wednesday (March 20) that the next Vultures listening experience will be taking place at the Step Pyramid of Djoser on April 20. The show is set for a tentative start time of 8 p.m. locally in the desert of Saqqara, Egypt. There aren’t any other details regarding the show available at this time, but tickets are currently on sale. If the pair go through with it, Ye and Ty will be some of the first in rap to perform at the pyramids.
Travis Scott attempted to put together a show at Egypt’s nearby Great Pyramid of Giza last summer, but plans were eventually scrapped due to “production issues” after the Egyptian Musicians Syndicate reportedly revoked La Flame’s license to perform, citing “rituals” surrounding his artistic values that they believed contradicted Middle Eastern culture.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“After examining social media opinions and feedback, as well as the news circulating on search engines and social media platforms, which included authenticated images and information about peculiar rituals performed by the star during his performance, contradicting our authentic societal values and traditions, the Syndicate’s president and board of directors have decided to cancel the license issued for hosting this type of concert, which goes against the cultural identity of the Egyptian people,” the Syndicate said at the time.
Trending on Billboard
Scott pushed back against the notion and voiced that his music is meant to “unite” his fans around the globe. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he replied in a statement last year. “My only intent with live performances is to unite people around the world over a shared bond in music.”
Only a few American artists have ever had the chance to perform at the pyramids, including the Grateful Dead in 1978 and Mariah Carey, who brought her five-octave vocal range to the Middle East in 2010.
On the rap side, Russ performed at the Pyramids of Giza in 2022. He’s also been spotted with Ye at various stops throughout the Vultures rollout.
After Ye and Ty Dolla earned a No. 1 album atop the Billboard 200 and “Carnival” topped the Billboard Hot 100, the Vultures duo is rolling into the sequel. However, Vultures 2‘s arrival remains murky after earlier tentative release date in March came and went.
Find Ye’s announcement below.
PartyNextDoor’s relationships with women over the years have inspired his moody tunes, but his latest visual flips the script depicting how some females might take advantage of men. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news It isn’t a scene out of the Jennifer Lopez-starring Hustlers, but it could […]
Chief Keef opens up about working with Sexyy Red and Mike Will Made-It, his upcoming album Almighty So 2 and more backstage at Rolling Loud 2024.Chief Keef:Saying she wants to come through and I said, “hell f–king yeah.”
Oh s–t. I’ve been working on that s–t man. It’s actually dope, man.
Man, you know, but when I do go on tour, I mean, I’d be ready to go home.
Tetris Kelly:Chief Keef is the epitome of a mood, and from following him to his juiced set at Rolling Loud and heading backstage with him and Mike Will Made-It. It was down with the man Sosa and Billboard News. Arriving just before his set, everybody — and I mean everybody — was excited for Chief Keef at Rolling Loud, and he ran to the stage to give the people what they want.
And right afterwards, he was in high demand, as he doesn’t do press often, but Billboard was able to hop in the van with the legend for some hilarious shenanigans.
Unknown Speaker:He hit that bih like Tom Cruise.
Tetris Kelly:To cruise backstage and chat all about the show and his new project. Hanging out backstage with Chief Keef at Rolling Loud. Man, the festival has been such a vibe. The fans was loving your set. How was it up there, man?
Chief Keef:Always dope. It’s always loud. Rolling Loud.
Tetris Kelly:I mean, you had Sexyy Red up there, man. How did you guys start working together? It was so good.
Chief Keef:S–t.I just know she f–k with me real heavy. I f–k with her too. Saying she wants to come through and I said “hell f–king yeah.”
Tetris Kelly:And I mean what do you think it is about her that has like made people go so crazy for Sexyy Red?
Chief Keef:She just … you could tell she really just come from where we come from.
Tetris Kelly:I feel you on that, man. Then also you know you just dropped “Dirty Nachos” with Mike Will Made-It, so what made y’all decide to collaborate on a project together?
Chief Keef:That’s my dog. He right up there. Where he at? That’s my boy.
Tetris Kelly:And the fan reaction has been great. How’s it feel to finally have the project out there?
Chief Keef:Man, it ain’t even just … that ain’t even what we suppose to been drop. That just what he decided, you know what I’m saying? Let’s just drop something before we do what we suppose to drop. Yeah, man, like I said, that my mans and we always got together and we always working too.
Tetris Kelly:And then you got Almighty So like the sequel, to part two coming out, man. So tell me what the fans gonna expect from that.
Chief Keef:Oh s–t. I’ve been working on that s–t, man. It’s actually dope, man. Got some different stuff on it.
Tetris Kelly:Got some features you can tease us with a little bit?
Chief Keef:Yeah, I got some features on there, but I just want to, you know, keep it a surprise if they don’t know already.Watch the full interview above!
Cardi B has always been about her dollars long before releasing her financially friendly 2018 single “Money.”
The Bronx native recently sat down with Complex‘s Speedy Morman, who asked about Cardi’s rumored $80 million net worth, which she believes is long in her rear view, as the 31-year-old has entered a new tax bracket.
“I feel like I actually passed almost doing $80 million,” she admitted. “I make a lot of money. I make a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of money.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Cardi B also made sure to explain that the checks aren’t only fattening her pockets, as she takes care of the financial woes of many friends and family around her.
“But also, I got a lot, a lot of bills,” she added. “I’m taking care of [family]. I’m helping a lot. I’m not going to say I take care, I’m helping a lot, and I help a lot of my friends and I help a lot of my family and everything.”
Trending on Billboard
The “WAP” rapper admitted it’s tough to tell her family no when she’s buying plenty of designer garments and luxury items.
“I gotta say no and I’m buying Birkins,” she said. “I don’t like it when I feel like they playing with me … I remember when I was broke, I was never outside. I just seen you buy some designers. Even when I was a stripper and I had some times that I struggled, I was not buying that s–t.”
Cardi will look to keep securing bags in 2024 as she’s staying busy on the music side and promising her long-awaited sophomore album. She heated up the stove with a pair of singles to kick off the year with “Like What (Freestyle),” which debuted inside the Billboard Hot 100’s top 40, and “Enough (Miami),” which arrived on Friday (March 15).
“I took a little break, I came back on social media. I dropped a little freestyle and everything, y’know, just to wet my feet. A week later, I’m dropping this single, and the next announcement is not going to be a single, it’s gonna be an album,” she told Billboard Canada. “I’m back outside, I’m tired of s–t holding me back. It’s been six years since l’ve dropped an album, so I’m gonna drop an album this year.”
Watch the interview below. Talk of Cardi’s net worth starts around 30:55.
[embedded content]
Muni Long’s viral hit “Made for Me” solidifies its status as a radio winner by crowning Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart dated March 23. The song moves from No. 3 after a 20% surge in plays that made it the most-played song on U.S. monitored R&B/hip-hop radio stations in the tracking week of March 8-14, […]
Megan Thee Stallion is arena status. The multi-time Grammy Award winner will embark on her first-ever headlining tour alongside Glorilla and will perform in some of the biggest arenas across the United States.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Tickets for Megan’s Hot Girl Summer Tour will be available today, starting with a Citi presale. City cardmembers will have access to presale U.S. tickets from 1 p.m. EST until Thursday (March 21) at 10 p.m. local time through the Citi Entertainment program.
The Hot Girl Summer Tour will visit 31 cities and major markets, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and the rapper’s hometown of Houston. Megan will also enjoy an international trek beginning July 4 in Glasgow, Scotland, with future shows in England, France, Germany, and Ireland.
Trending on Billboard
The “Savage” rapper announced the tour last week with a provocative teaser poster in which she was spotted lounging on her stomach in a pool in a skimpy thong bikini, an image so hot that it was reportedly flagged by Instagram for being too sexy for public consumption. “Nooooo it’s just a lil cheek lol,” Megan reportedly commented on the news.
Megan is enjoying a strong 2024, which included hoisting a Hot 100 No. 1 single with “Hiss.” She will look to continue her fiery run with an upcoming album slated for later this year. She previewed new music last year with 41’s Kyle Richh.
As for Glorilla, she’s having a fruitful campaign this year, as well after the rise of her single “Yeah Glo!” This week, the CMG upstart visited the White House and met President Joe Biden at a Women’s History Month Reception. The meet-up with Biden comes after Glo met Pittsburg Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin late last year. Following that exchange, she received a co-sign from LeBron James for “Yeah Glo!”.
Check out the tour dates below.
2024 HOT GIRL SUMMER WORLD TOUR DATES
May 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center^
May 17 – Chicago, IL – United Center^
May 18 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena^
May 21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden^
May 22 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center^
May 24 – Napa, CA – BottleRock Napa Valley Festival*
May 26 – Boston, MA – Boston Calling Festival*
May 28 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena^
May 30 – Memphis, TN – FedEx Forum^
Jun 1 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena^
Jun 4 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena^
June 6 – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino^
Jun 8 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena^
Jun 10 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center^
Jun 11 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center^
Jun 13 – Austin, TX – Moody Center^
Jun 14 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center^
Jun 16 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival*
Jun 17 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena^
Jun 19 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center^
Jun 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena^
Jun 22 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena^
Jul 4 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Jul 5 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Jul 7 – Paris, FR – Zenith
Jul 10 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
Jul 11 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
Jul 14 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
Jul 16 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Jul 17 – London, UK – The O2
Jul 27 – Washington DC – Broccoli City Festival*
^With Support From GloRilla