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In today’s episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis and Damien Scott react to LiAngelo Ball signing a deal with UMG & Def Jam after “Tweaker” became a viral sensation, Drake’s defamation lawsuit against UMG over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” and more! Kyle Denis: Like give to people who actually do […]
SZA promised fans updates and new songs would be added to her Lana project earlier this month, but nothing has changed yet 11 days later. Fans voiced their frustrations with the Grammy-winning singer on X, and she clapped back in a series of messages posted shortly after midnight ET. “Punch was right,” she began by […]
The Black Music Action Coalition, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are announcing their third annual BMAC x Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Music Maker Grants. Presented in association with ASCAP and Wasserman Foundation, the grants will be awarded at a ReStore and ReBuild L.A. fundraiser on Jan. 29. Proceeds from the Los Angeles-held event will […]
Mac Miller’s estate has finally gifted fans with Balloonerism, a posthumous album that has been the subject of speculation for years.
Released on Jan. 17, the album arrives days ahead with what would have been Miller’s 33rd birthday. The Pittsburgh rapper died in 2018 at age 26 of an accidental overdose.
Balloonerism is a 14-track journey that showcases Miller’s experimental side, blending neo-soul and jazz elements. The album kicks off with “Tambourine Dream” and features standout tracks like “5 Dollar Pony Rides,” “Friendly Hallucinations,” “Mrs. Deborah Downer,” “Stoned,” “Manakins,” and “Rick’s Piano.” Notably, the album includes collaborations with artists such as Thundercat, SZA, and Ashley All Day.
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The origins of Balloonerism trace back to 2014, a prolific period for Miller during which he was also working on projects like Faces. Despite its significance, the album was shelved in favor of other releases, leaving fans to piece together unofficial versions circulating online.
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Following the circulation of leaked songs amongst fan communities, the record’s official release was teased with a trailer at November’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival.
Miller’s family previously shared a statement on his Instagram explaining why they’ve decided to release the project. “Many of Malcolm’s fans are aware of Balloonerism, a full length album that Malcolm created around the time of the release of Faces in 2014,” they wrote.
“It is a project that was of great importance to Malcolm — to the extent that he commissioned artwork for it and discussions concerning when it should be released were had regularly, though ultimately GO:OD AM and subsequent albums ended up taking precedence.”
They added, “We believe the project showcases both the breadth of his musical talents and fearlessness as an artist. Given that unofficial versions of the album have been circulating online for years and that releasing Balloonerism was something that Malcolm frequently expressed being important to him, we felt it most appropriate to present an official version of the project to the world.”
Based on the lyrics and music of Miller, and directed by Samuel Jerome Mason, the animated Balloonerism “follows a group of school friends who are transfigured by the music of a chord organ and launched into a shadow world”, a synopsis of the film reads. “Swallowed by the turtle of time, they must plod through the underbelly of adulthood.”
The film was released on Jan. 15 throughout the U.S., with international fans receiving it one day later. A series of “One Night Only” advance theater screenings were scheduled around the world, including in New York City and Miller’s native Pittsburgh, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, and the U.K.
Miller’s debut studio album, Blue Slide Park, topped the Billboard 200 upon its release in back in 2011, the first independently distributed debut album to do so since 1995. Over the course of five studio albums, Miller evolved into one of the most eclectic artists of the 2010s, delving into alt-rap, soul and R&B with equal fervor.
Following Miller’s untimely death in September 2018, his music saw renewed interest on the charts. His album “Swimming” re-entered the top 10 of the Billboard 200, jumping from number 71 to number 6.
Fans can cop a physical version of the album, which includes a limited-edition deluxe two-LP pressing that features a rainbow foil-wrapped slipcase with white splatter cloud vinyl and a 32-page color booklet featuring photos and lyrics, as well as a limited one-time pressing that features clear vinyl available now on balloonerism.com.
Stream Balloonerism below.
Wendy Williams and her niece called in to The Breakfast Club recently to speak with her old protégé Charlamagne on her health, the conservatorship she’s apparently in and her thoughts on Diddy, who is currently awaiting trial on multiple charges which includes sex trafficking. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts […]
Method Man has denied allegations of assault at a gym in Staten Island as reported by the New York Post on Thursday (Jan. 16). A rep for Meth — born Clifford Smith — tells Billboard: “Mr. Smith categorically denies the allegations as reported and has not been the subject of an arrest by any law […]
What is Drake doing?
Tuesday night, Rap Twitter was sent into a frenzy when news of Drake withdrawing his legal action accusing his label UMG and Spotify of using bots and payola to push Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” diss track to one of the biggest songs in the world. Social media lawyers simultaneously claimed victory and defeat, but little did they know he was clearing the way for something more serious and ridiculous (depending on who you ask).
Then on Wednesday, news broke that the Toronto superstar decided to file a straight-up defamation lawsuit against his current and longtime parent record company, Universal Music Group. Drake claims UMG benefited and helped promote a “false and malicious narrative” and chose “corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.”
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Drake’s lawyers claim the drive-by shooting of one of his security guards outside of his Toronto mansion (a.k.a. “The Embassy”) may be connected to “Not Like Us,” because it happened just days after the song was released. “UMG’s greed yielded real world consequences,” his lawyers wrote. “With the palpable physical threat to Drake’s safety and the bombardment of online harassment, Drake fears for the safety and security of himself, his family, and his friends.”
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A few days after the shooting, an intruder was apprehended trying to break into Drake’s residence, and while The Embassy is featured prominently on the cover art for “Not Like Us,” the address is well-known and was the location used for the “Toosie Slide” music video released during the Covid lockdown of 2020, a video that has since racked up close to 400 million views on YouTube. And a week before both incidents at Drake’s crib took place, The Weeknd’s manager Cash’s security guard was also shot in front of his security gate. At the time, many fans speculated both shootings were connected based on the history between the Canadian record labels XO and OVO.
Elsewhere in the filing are less-serious claims if you’re familiar with rap battle etiquette (or lack thereof). Firstly, his lawyers mistakenly say Kendrick grew up in Oakland when they reference the “Not Like Us” line, “I think that Oakland show gon’ be your last stop.” Drake’s lawyers allege that Kendrick was suggesting that Drake “would not make it out alive” if he chooses to perform in the city where the late 2Pac once lived. Drake famously (and notoriously) used an A.I. version of ‘Pac’s voice and told Lamar that he should mention Drake “likin’ young girls.” Secondly, they claim “Not Like Us” actually “alludes to Drake’s Jewish heritage saying that Drake is ‘not a colleague’ but ‘a f—kin’ colonizer,” completely disregarding the bars that preceded those statements that mention his history of aligning himself with artists from Atlanta to allegedly bolster his street credibility.
Drake winning this lawsuit has the potential to change the way diss songs are handled moving forward. Mind you, Drake insinuated that Kendrick’s kids aren’t his and that he has abused the mother of the children — who, according to him, are really the children of his friend and business partner. Kendrick could sue as well if he truly wanted to, but the game isn’t played that way. There are many unwritten rules in hip-hop, and suing over a diss song is one of the 10 Rap Commandments of dos and don’ts.
Ironically, Drake suing over a diss further complicates his relationship with hip-hop culture, making him look like an outsider and *check notes* a colonizer. He can win this lawsuit, but he’s already lost in the court of public opinion. He’s currently doing more damage to his public perception amongst rap fans than “Not Like Us” ever could. Rap music has always been full of hyperbole. Most rap fans don’t take every single lyric literally and Drake, who has said publicly that he “studies rap battles for a living” on LeBron’s talk show The Shop should know that.
To quote one of the great philosophers of our time:
“The streets is the streets, this is industry. N—as wanna bring they lawyers to muthaf—kin’ battles, man. Don’t bring your lawyer, bring your gat or bring your clique, man. So, it’s a big difference… They not ghetto celebrities if they tellin’.”
Eminem’s longtime spokesperson has spoken out against the collection of leaked songs from Slim Shady’s vault in recent weeks. While the Detroit legend hasn’t officially released anything this year, fans have stumbled upon a handful of tracks that have gone viral on social media, including songs with longtime collaborators 50 Cent and Dr. Dre, as […]
Lil Wayne won’t be playing the Super Bowl halftime show at this year’s game in his hometown, but Weezy will be one of the headliners (with the Roots) of the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The iconic event that will host more than 5,000 acts on 14 stages from April 24-May 4 on the Fair Grounds Race Course announced this year’s lineup on Wednesday (Jan. 15), which will also feature headliners Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, Lenny Kravitz and Kacey Musgraves.
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Other acts booked for this year’s predictably eclectic edition include: Santana, John Fogerty, Burna Boy, HAIM, Cage the Elephant, Laufey, Bryson Tiller, Harry Connick, Jr., Patti LaBelle, Trombone Shorty, My Morning Jacket, Gladys Knight, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, Babyface, Diana Krall, Goose, The Revivalists, Big Freedia and many more.
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Louisiana residents have the chance to snag lower prices for weekend passes and single-day tickets now, with non-resident weekend passes and VIP packages already available already and single-day tickets slated to go on sale at a later date; fans need to set up an account with AXS.com to purchase tickets, with more information available here.
Among the other acts slated to take the stage this year are: Banda MS, Irma Thomas, Tank and the Bangas, Branford Marsalis, Kamasi Washington, The Wailers with Julian Marley, Ledisi Sings Nina, PJ Morton, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly, James Bay, Margo Price, Rickie Lee Jones, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Morris Day and the Time and others.
Check out the full lineup below.
Lil Baby isn’t letting up. The Atlanta rapper recently dropped off the deluxe version of his fourth solo album WHAM and is planning on releasing another project entitled Dominique some time in February. He’s also mentioned working on a tape with Future, but made sure to mention Young Thug may be involved in what they […]