R&B/Hip-Hop

12 Feb 2024

Megyn Kelly Was Definitely ‘Not Into’ Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show, But Says It Could Have Been Worse

Conservative talking head Megyn Kelly was counting her blessings while watching Usher‘s glitzy halftime show during Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The former Fox News staffer and current podcast host weighed in on the “Yeah!” singer’s high-energy performance during the championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in a pointed tweet just as Ush was wrapping things up.

“Not into Usher or this halftime show,” wrote Kelly, mother to three children, Edward Yates (14), daughter Yardley Evans (11) and youngest son Thatcher Bray (10). “However I do appreciate that my kids haven’t had anyone’s vag exposed to them on screen as they innocently wait for the football to start. (Hi J-Lo, Shakira.)”

While the former was the personal takeaway from the host of the daily SiriusXM Megyn Kelly Show, the latter appeared to be an erroneous reference to Jennifer Lopez and Shakira‘s historic 2020 Super Bowl halftime show — during the Chiefs and 49er’s last championship showdown — which drew more than 1,300 complaints to the FCC from parents, many of whom thought the suggestive dancing was inappropriate for children.

While some of the complaints about the first all-Latin SB halftime performance mentioned twerking and skimpy costumes, at no point did either singer — both of who were wearing nude hose and bikini-style bottoms — expose any private parts during the joint set that featured Hustlers star Lopez spinning on a stripper pole while wearing a skin-colored bodysuit with strategically placed strips of sparkling gems.

The responses to Kelly’s tweet seemed to suggest the that a number of commenters didn’t agree with the right wing talker, with one saying, “I’m glad my kids aren’t exposed to you” and another explaining, “J Lo & Shakira were wearing nude bodysuits. Do you also shame figure skaters & gymnasts this way? Do you not let your kids watch those sports? They’re wearing the same thing that J Lo & Shakira wore.”

One even wondered, “So you knew it was a possibility after the J.Lo and Shakira show, and you subjected your kids to the Halftime Show anyway? Sounds like bad parenting to me.”

Usher’s career-spanning set included the singer running through a glamorous, Vegas-themed set of hits, with assistance from Alicia Keys, Will.i.am, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., Ludacris and Lil Jon.

Check out Kelly’s tweet below.

12 Feb 2024

NYC Restaurant Sei Less Launches ‘The Lovers Menu’ in Honor of R&B Artists for Valentine’s Day

After paying homage to hip-hop and its 50th anniversary last year, New York restaurant Sei Less will give flowers to the romantics and R&B lovers with its special Valentine’s Day-themed menu. 

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Beginning Monday (Feb. 12) and throughout February, The Lovers Menu will name its specialty dishes after singers’ classic records, drawing inspiration from renowned R&B acts including SZA, Ashanti, Ne-Yo, Babyface, Alicia Keys and more. In some instances, the dishes also double as some of the act’s favorite meals from the restaurant. The “Boo’d Up,” named after Ella Mai, is a shrimp fried rice meal that, according to owner Dara Mirjahangiry, the singer enjoys when in town. At the same time, the “Rock With U,” an Ashanti favorite, is an appetizer consisting of edamame dumplings and miso truffle. 

“Introducing the Lovers Menu is our way of celebrating the season of love and the talented musicians that make the romantic soundtracks to our lives,” Mirjahangiry tells Billboard. “We wanted to honor these artists in a unique way, especially given their longstanding support of Sei Less. At the end of the day, there’s no better holiday to express our love and gratitude for these icons than Valentine’s Day, and it will make for a special experience for our clientele coming into the restaurant all month long.”

Last year, during its special ode to hip-hop, Sei Less named its dishes and cocktails after iconic songs and albums by Jay-Z, Nas, Ja Rule and more. Since opening in 2022, the restaurant has opened its doors to Cardi B, Clive Davis, Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg, Latto, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, Future, Fat Joe, and many more. 

See the menu below.

Sei Less, Valentines Day

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12 Feb 2024

Will.i.am Praises Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: ‘There Were a Lot of OMG Moments’

The last time Will.i.am shared the stage with Usher during the Super Bowl was when the Black Eyed Peas headlined the halftime show in 2011. But on Sunday (Feb. 11), it was Will’s turn to be the special guest, when he hit the stage at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as Usher’s special guest during the “Yeah!” singer’s electrifying Super Bowl LVIII halftime show to lend a hand on the same song they collaborated on all those years ago, 2010’s “OMG.”

“How can I explain it? There’s no words to really explain that,” Will told The Hollywood Reporter after Sunday’s game, where defending champs the Kansas City Chiefs bested the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. “Now 13 years later, it means something totally different. It’s beautiful. It was wonderful. It’s fantastic.”

Will also praised Usher for bringing some special flavor to the set via a group roller skating extras who spun and flipped across the stage during a performance that also featured guest spots from Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris and Lil Jon. “The reason I say our section was the most ‘What the F?’ is because we’ve never seen roller skating at any type of big world stage like that,” Will said. “It felt like the urban Olympics. He brought the urban Olympics to the Super Bowl.”

Frankly, the face-shield-wearing BEP leader said, Usher’s 13-minute hits blitz had a “lot of OMG moments… so many OMG moments that 60 seconds of ‘OMG’ was all you needed because the show was ‘oh my gosh.’”

Watch Usher’s Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII halftime performance here.

12 Feb 2024

How Usher Paid Loving Tribute to Late Drummer Aaron Spears During 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Performance

You may have missed it amid the flurry of rollerskating, confetti and parade of special guests, but during Usher‘s electric halftime set at Sunday’s (Feb. 11) 2024 Super Bowl the “Yeah!” singer slipped in a touching, subtle tribute to one of his late longtime band members.

While rocking Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with a run of greatest hits, the stage for Usher’s show featured a live band with a double drum kit setup. Eagle eyed viewers, however, may have noticed that one of the kits — a golden one — was left empty in a tribute to Ush’s longtime drummer, Aaron Spears, who died in Oct. 2023 at age 47.

Rolling Stone said it confirmed that the empty kit was an homage to Spears, the beloved drummer who worked with Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus and who was nominated for a Grammy for his production on Usher’s massive 2004 Confessions album.

At the time of his death, Spears’ wife, Jessica, wrote in an Instagram post, “Aaron was not only an incredibly accomplished drummer, admired by many for his unparalleled talent and passion for music, but he was also a devoted father to our precious son, August. His love, guidance, and warmth were the pillars of our family, and his absence leaves a void that words cannot describe. We were blessed to have him in our lives, and his legacy will live on through the beautiful rhythms he created and the love he shared with us. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Please remember Aaron for the incredible person he was and the amazing music he brought into our world. At this time we ask for privacy as we work our way through this.”

The subtle Spears shout-out came amid a powerful set in which Usher cycled through a series of hits, beginning with “Caught Up,” before hitting “My Confessions, Pt. II,” “U Got It Bad” (featuring H.E.R. on guitar), duets with Alicia Keys on “If I Ain’t Got You” and “My Boo,” an appearance by Jermaine Dupri and later Will.i.am for “OMG” as well as Lil Jon and Ludacris for “Yeah!”

11 Feb 2024

Super Bowl 2024: Photos From Usher’s Halftime Performance

Eight-time Grammy-winning R&B icon Usher graced the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show Sunday (Feb. 11) for a maximalist ode to both Las Vegas performance history and his own hit-packed discography.

Performing on both the stage and the literal field of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the “Burn” singer tore through his classic catalog, beginning with Confessions cut “Caught Up” before tearing through hits such as “OMG,” “Love In This Club” and “Nice & Slow.”

The consummate entertainer packed on the choreography, incorporating elements of crunk, dancehall and Afrobeats throughout his 15-minute set. Of course, all of those influences were tempered with a healthy dose of gyration, which eventually gave way to Usher stripping off his cream diamond-studded blazer to flaunt his rippling six-pack.

With nine Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers and a sprawling collection of other hits, Usher could have easily handled the halftime show on his lonesome. Nonetheless, he further leveled up the show’s entertainment factor with a slew of surprise guests including “My Boo” duet partner Alicia Keys, “Yeah!” collaborators Lil Jon and Ludacris, longtime songwriting partner Jermaine Dupri, and Grammy- and Oscar-winning R&B singer-songwriter H.E.R., who shredded her guitar during Usher’s heated renditions of “U Got It Bad” and “Bad Girl.”

In addition to his own hits, Usher also highlighted some of smashes from his guests. He and Alicia Keys harmonized on the latter’s “If I Ain’t Got You” and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What” got some special attention during the show’s last few minutes.

Click through photo gallery to relive all the show-stopping moments during Usher’s dazzling Super Bowl halftime performance.

11 Feb 2024

What Was Your Favorite Moment From Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance? Vote!

Fans got it bad for Usher, who took the stage for the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show presented by Apple Music on Sunday (Feb. 11).

The superstar performed a medley of hits, including “Caught Up,” “Burn,” “U Got It Bad,” “Confessions Part II,” “Love In This Club” and more, all while delivering his characteristically sultry dance moves for the roaring crowd at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

Usher also had a few surprises up his sleeves, as he was joined by a few of his celebrity friends on stage, including Alicia Keys for a mashup of “If I Ain’t Got You” and “My Boo,” before H.E.R. delivered a jaw-dropping guitar solo, and Ludacris and Lil Jon teamed up to hype up the crowd with a medley of “Turn Down for What” and “Yeah!”

In his Billboard cover story, Usher said shared that his Las Vegas residencies had helped him prepare for the halftime show, as has studying past Super Bowl acts. “I’ve watched every performer, analyzing how they maximized those 12 minutes,” he shared. “But you know, your moment is your moment. And this is a moment I’ve prepared for during the last 30 years.”

Usher’s fiery halftime show comes just a few months after closing one of the most successful and buzzed-about Las Vegas residencies in history, as his My Way show grossed $95.9 million.

Which moment from Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance was your favorite? Let us know by voting in our poll below.

11 Feb 2024

Usher’s Super Bowl Triumph Caps One of the Decade’s Greatest Pop Comebacks

Timing really is everything in pop music. At various times in the last 20 years, an Usher Super Bowl set might have seemed too soon, too late or just not quite right. But while the pre-game debate was real about whether Usher was thuddingly obvious or a reach as a halftime headliner, by the time he stepped into the Allegiant Stadium spotlight Super Bowl LXVIII on Sunday night (Feb. 11) it should have been clear to everyone that the time was right for Usher to take the world’s biggest stage. And with his 15-minute, crowd-pleasing, decade-spanning set of classic hits, he reconfirmed his status as one of one of pop’s greatest living entertainers.

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It was the culmination of a half-decade of subtle gains in career momentum for Mr. Raymond, who never totally disappeared, but spent most of the mid-to-late ’10s in commercial erosion amidst underwhelming sales and some tough headlines. But a handful of winning next-gen collabs, an impossibly perfect Hustlers cameo, a well-received Vegas residency (and a meme-spawning Tiny Desk performance) and his biggest chart hit in 10 years (“Good Good”) all served to both remind of his peerless pop and R&B legacy and revitalize his contemporary relevance. With a strong new album (Coming Home) arriving on Friday — just a couple days after the announcement of an upcoming arena tour, his first in nearly a decade, and a month before the 20th anniversary of his Confessions blockbuster — the stage was set in about every conceivable way on Sunday for Usher to answer any remaining “Usher??” questioning around his Super Bowl appearance with a big ol’ “YEAH!”

Unsurprisingly, he did exactly that. From the second he slipped off his robe to transition from early signature hit “My Way” to 2005 smash “Caught Up,” Usher was in control, gliding through about a dozen of his biggest hits — all top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100 hits, except the enduring Confessions fan-favorites “Superstar” and “Bad Girl” — with the effortlessness of a guy who’s been informally training for this opportunity his entire career. Big-name guests were greeted, shirts were shed, rollerskates were rollerskated and 15 minutes went by in a brilliantly choreographed blink.

Really, for a performance billed as the longest in Super Bowl history, the set was still perhaps most notable for its efficiency: expertly plotted transitions like the opening verse to “Nice & Slow” seamlessly igniting the hissing intro of “Burn” minimized downtime, while guests Alicia Keys, H.E.R., will.i.am and Lil Jon were smartly all given their own brief spotlight moments while Usher executed his costume changes and caught his changes. And while some of the buzzed-about home-run guests never quite materialized — sorry, BeyHive and Beliebers — the guests present provided an ideal spread of Usher’s underrated career versatility, equally convincing tearing the club up with Lil Jon, going future-pop with will.i.am and doing classic pop&B love duets with Keys.

The performance thrived more on small moments than true OH S–T jaw-droppers — not like Usher was ever likely to top Rihanna’s reveal from last year in that department. But it was such a rich production that you could’ve missed some of the best details, like the marching band that punctuated set closer “Yeah!” spelling out U-S-H-E-R in the bottom-left corner of your screen, or the wrist-watch graphic projected onto the stage below him during “Nice & Slow” highlighting a 7:00 (on the dot) time. And Usher certainly showcased some of his more unique skills as a performer, turning the stage into a roller-rink (and skating between will.i.am’s legs) on “OMG” and tearing his top off during the climactic “U Got It Bad,” flaunting a still-chiseled physique that should make him the seething envy of 45-year-old males worldwide.

If there was fault to be found with Usher’s halftime performance, it would likely focus on the insufficient mic-ing on his early vocals, which undersold softer moments like his falsetto’d verses on “U Don’t Have to Call” — he’s a strong vocalist, but not so much a powerhouse that he couldn’t have used a little extra juice there. And while it’s not tragic that stellar current hit “Good Good” didn’t make the cut for the tracklist, it was a little bit of a bummer that 2010’s “OMG” was his only song from the last 15 years that did — while most of Usher’s biggest songs may have come pre-Obama, he’s never stopped releasing excellent singles and albums (and had sizable hits with a number of them). It does Ush a little bit of a disservice to present him solely as a catalog act.

But these are relatively small complaints for a thoroughly satisfying, comeback-capping performance from Usher Raymond. “They said I wouldn’t be here today,” he commented while dedicating his rendition of “Superstar” to his mother. “Hey Mama, we made it.” From another performer — especially one with Usher’s exceptional resumé — it could have easily come off as Khaledian bluster, but for Ush, it felt like a fairly well-earned moment of triumph. And whoever they are, they probably won’t be making such comments again anytime soon.

11 Feb 2024

Beyoncé Drops 2 New Songs, Unveils ‘Act II’ Release Date: Here’s When It Arrives

Mere seconds after starring alongside Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale in a hilarious Verizon commercial during Super Bowl 2024, Beyoncé has finally revealed the second act of the three-act project she announced back in 2022.

On Sunday (Feb. 11), the “Cuff It” singer posted a mysterious teaser to her official Instagram page. In the video, an unidentified woman — presumably Beyoncé herself — starts up a car with a license plate that reads “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The woman drives the car down an empty road before the clip then cuts to a group of men staring incredulously at the sky. The focus of their stares? A billboard cutout of a red lingerie-clad Beyoncé lounging in a seductive pose.

“This ain’t Texas,” she croons over finger-picked guitars in the background. “Ain’t no hold ’em/ So lay our cards down, down, down, down.” The clip then cuts to a black screen that reads “Act II, 3.29.”

Queen Bey’s official website sports the same teaser, as well as the same date of March 29. Under the site’s music tab, a section for Act II includes empty credits section, clean and explicit tabs, and two track titles — “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” which are listed as the record’s opening two tracks, respectively. Both tracks are now available to stream on TIDAL and YouTube.

Between the references to her home state of Texas and the country sound of the new music snippet, it looks like fans were onto something with their theory that Beyoncé’s next LP will find her delving into country music. The still-untitled Act II is the follow-up to Renaissance. That album, Beyoncé’s seventh solo studio effort, debut atop the Billboard 200, spawned a pair of Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits — “Break My Soul” (No. 1) and “Cuff It” (No. 6) — and soundtracked the historic Renaissance World Tour, which grossed over $579 million.

Check out Beyoncé’s new Act II teaser and songs below:

11 Feb 2024

Beyoncé Confirms New Music in Verizon Super Bowl 2024 Commercial: Watch

Verizon is just like Beyoncé‘s soul: You can’t break it. After days of rumors that the 42-year-old superstar would be leading the company’s Super Bowl 2024 commercial Sunday (Feb. 11), she finally hit TV screens during the game’s third quarter on a mission to disrupt the world’s cell service — and even hinted at new music, which she confirmed quickly after the ad aired.

The minute-long ad finds comedian Tony Hale challenging Bey to do something so big, it “breaks” Verizon’s 5G internet service. To do so, she holds a lemonade stand pop-up for fans, plays the saxophone, introduces her own “Beyonc-AI” technology, parodies Barbie as “Bar-Bey” and even announces her candidacy for “Beyoncé of the United States” — but still, the company’s ability to power customers’ phones can’t be beat.

Beyoncé being Beyoncé, though, she had to see her mission through. At the very end of the commercial, the “Halo” singer teases that her next strategy will be to simply release a new song or album.

“OK, they ready,” she says from a rocket ship in outer space. “Drop the new music.”

Within minutes of the commercial airing, Bey posted a teaser labeled “act ii” on Instagram, adding the project’s release date: March 29.

Fans had already suspected that the 32-time Grammy winner would star in Verizon’s Big Game placement, thanks to a pair of teasers the brand posted in the week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. In the first sneak peek, Hale had stood at the same lemonade stand used in the full commercial and joked, “She wants me to squeeze all these lemons by myself? This better work.”

Then, Verizon shared a second trailer featuring Bey’s silver Renaissance album cover horse, which fans have dubbed “Reneigh.” “So should we be in a Super Bowl commercial? Yay or nay?” Hale asked a life-size model of the stallion.

Watch Beyoncé’s Super Bowl Verizon commercial below.

11 Feb 2024

Usher Electrifies 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show With Special Guests Alicia Keys, Ludacris, H.E.R. & More

As the lights dimmed for the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas, the San Francisco 49ers led the Kansas City Chiefs 10-3, but that facedown took a 15-minute backseat to a bombastic celebration of one of the most staggering careers in pop history — Usher‘s.

Decked out in a white diamond-studded blazer and pants, Usher ushered in a maximalist ode to Las Vegas, Black performance history and his hometown of Atlanta. Throughout his set, the “Burn” singer incorporated flappers, Cirque du Soleil-esque dancers and roller skaters as he tore through his timeless discography. Performing both on the field and in an elevated stage — which was surrounded by a marching band that spelled out his name — Usher dominated every inch of Allegiant Stadium.

Beginning with “Caught Up,” Usher rolled through decades of hits including “Nice & Slow,” “U Don’t Have to Call” and “Love In This Club.” Armed with an arsenal of solo hits and collaborative smashes, Usher also trotted out a number of eye-popping surprise guests. As heavily rumored, Grammy-winner Alicia Keys indeed made an appearance during the halftime show, and she sported a sultry rhinestone-encrusted red corseted bodysuit for the occasion.

The two R&B icons performed a brief snippet of Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” before delivering a heartwarming rendition of “My Boo,” their 2004 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. Other guests included Oscar-winning R&B singer-songwriter H.E.R. — who delivered a Prince-esque guitar solo during Usher’s show-stopping “U Got It Bad” performance before playing the opening licks of “Bad Girl” — as well as Jermaine Dupri (who introduced “Confessions, Pt. II”) and Ludacris, who flawlessly delivered his iconic “Yeah!” verse.

Gracing the halftime show just a few months after closing one of the most successful and buzzed-about Las Vegas residencies in history — his My Way show grossed $95.9 million — Usher also made good on his promises of shirtlessness, precise choreography and gyration. The “Climax” singer underwent several outfit changes, going from his white ensemble, to a bare chest, before closing with a leather jacket and pants combo in the blue-white-black color palette. Needless to say, the show was a feast for the eyes on all artistic fronts.

As just the second performer to headline the Apple Music era of Super Bowl Halftime shows, Usher delivered an outstanding follow-up to Rihanna‘s two-time Emmy-winning 2023 show. While “Yeah” and
“OMG” unsurprisingly drew the loudest reactions across Allegiant Stadium, the crowd also went wild for cuts such as “Love In This Club.” None of this is too shocking, however, considering Usher’s jaw-dropping success. The eight-time Grammy winner boasts nine Hot 100 No. 1 hits and four Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, including Confessions, which recently earned a 14x platinum certification from the RIAA.

By the end of his performance, Usher presented the ultimate case for not only his King of R&B title, but also the necessity of seeing him on his forthcoming Past Present Future tour. The 44-show trek is set to launch on Aug. 20 in Washington, D.C., and includes multi-night runs at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center (Sept. 6-10), Atlanta’s State Farm Arena (Oct. 17-20) and the brand-new Inuit Dome (Sept. 17-24) in Inglewood, Calif.

Here’s Usher Super Bowl Halftime Show setlist:

  • “Caught Up”
  • “U Don’t Have to Call”
  • “Superstar”
  • “Love In This Club”
  • “If I Ain’t Got You” / “My Boo” (with Alicia Keys)
  • “Confessions, Pt. II” (with Jermaine Dupri)
  • “Nice & Slow”
  • “Burn”
  • “U Got It Bad” / “Bad Girl” (with H.E.R.)
  • “OMG” / “Turn Down for What” (with Lil Jon)
  • “Yeah!” (with Ludacris)