R&B/Hip-Hop
Page: 395
Nick Cannon spoke out on his new radio show Friday (April 28) about the end of Jada Pinkett Smith‘s Red Table Talk.
According to The Daily Cannon host, the Facebook Watch show — which also stars Willow and Jada Pinkett Smith’s mom Adrienne Banfield-Norris — being axed was a “good” thing, particularly in light of Will Smith‘s viral slap at the 2022 Oscars.
“If there was no Red Table Talk, then he wouldn’t have slapped the sh– out of Chris Rock,” he said, according to Entertainment Tonight, referring to the Facebook series as “that toxic table.”
“That was royalty, Will and Jada. Then they brought it to the table,” Cannon went on. “I don’t want to know all this sh– about y’all. I just want to mind my Black-owned business. I don’t want to be up in everybody else’s kitchen. Keep that sh– to y’all selves.”
Over the course of Red Table Talk‘s 129 episodes, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star joined his family multiple times to talk about their personal lives. In one memorable 2020 segment, he and his wife opened up in a one-on-one conversation about their private separation and the latter’s ensuing “entanglement” with singer August Alsina.
Cannon’s aversion to hearing about the Smith family’s private business is a bit ironic considering how public he’s been over the years about his own life — particularly his belief in “consensual non-monogamy” and the dozen kids he’s birthed with six different women, five of whom have been born since last summer.
Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” ascends to No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart, jumping to the top of the May 6-dated survey.
It’s Rema’s first Rhythmic Airplay No. 1, earned with his first charting title. The format now has two straight No. 1s by first-time leaders, following Coi Leray’s six-week reign with “Players.”
“Calm Down” is the first No. 1 by an artist in a first Rhythmic Airplay appearance since Steve Lacy, whose “Bad Habit” led for a week last November.
As for Gomez, “Calm Down” is also her first No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay, logged with her 14th charting title. She boasts a pair of previous top 10s: “Good for You,” featuring A$AP Rocky (No. 4, 2015), and “Same Old Love” (No. 6, 2016).
Concurrently, “Calm Down” lifts 3-2 for a new high on Pop Airplay. It also bullets at No. 24 on Adult Pop Airplay and No. 35 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.
On the all-format Radio Songs chart, “Calm Down” held at its No. 4 best on the April 29-dated list with 72.4 million audience impressions in the April 21-27 tracking week, according to Luminate.
The April 29-dated Billboard Hot 100 found “Calm Down” at No. 7, after rising as high as No. 6 so far. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 15.7 million official U.S. streams and sold 5,000 downloads April 14-20.
The collaboration has also topped the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for 34 weeks running, the longest rule since the ranking began a year ago in partnership with music festival and global brand Afro Nation.
“Calm Down” is the second single from Rave & Roses, Rema’s debut studio album, released in March 2022. Since its release, the set has earned 291,000 equivalent album units.
They’ve got it bad! Zendaya and Tom Holland recently had a date night at Usher‘s Las Vegas residency.
“When I tell you we barely had a voice by the end of this… Childhood dream came true,” Zendaya wrote on an Instagram Story Thursday (April 27). The clip shows her singing gleefully along to Usher’s “Confessions Part II” with Holland next to her sporting a green hoodie.
In another moment captured by an attendee, Usher took a moment during the show to acknowledge the Spider-Man: No Way Home stars. “Zendaya is in the house, ladies and gentlemen. Tom Holland is in the house, ladies and gentlemen,” the R&B crooner told the crowd, which broke into rabid applause, and the attendee panned to the couple standing just a few seats away in the same section.
At CinemaCon Thursday, Zendaya opened up about her connection to Holland and her role as MJ Watson while accepting the star of the year award. “Literally my first date was when I was 15 years old and it was to go see [The Amazing] Spider-Man in 3D,” the Emmy winner said during her speech, according to People. “Now I consider myself honored to be able to buy a ticket and sneak into the back of one of your theaters, which I’ve done many times before, and watch my own.”
Usher’s My Way the Las Vegas Residency is currently running at the Dolby Live Theater inside the Park MGM, with 15 shows added through the end of October.
Meanwhile, Zendaya just made her own heralded return to the stage by surprising the crowd at Labrinth’s Coachella set on Weekend 2 to perform “All for Us” and “I’m Tired,” her two collaborations with the British producer featured on the soundtrack to HBO’s Euphoria.
Check out Zendaya and Holland living it up at Usher’s show in Sin City below.
Zendaya shares a video from the Usher concert last night in Las Vegas, “When I tell you we barely had a voice by the end of this… Childhood dream came true.” pic.twitter.com/MrJBNu4HQ6— Zendaya Updates (@Zendaya_Updated) April 27, 2023
“I’ve pivoted in my career. At this point, I want to do things that I’m truly passionate about … things that I want to leave on the table.”
One of those “things” for Radio Hall of Famer Angie Martinez, aka “The Voice of New York,” happens Saturday with the April 29 premiere of Iconic Records. Spotlighting iconic albums in pop culture, the new visual podcast series kicks off its debut season with a look back at The Notorious B.I.G.’s esteemed final studio album, the 11x platinum Life After Death. Martinez doubles as host and an executive producer of the eight-episode series from WMX, Warner Music Group’s next-generation artist services, media and creative content division. Viewers can watch the show on the WMX Hip-Hop channel on The Roku Channel (Ch. 1137; 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Celebrating B.I.G. and 25 years of this album in a different way was exciting,” says Martinez of being approached by WMX about the project’s inaugural season, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. “That’s because some of the people we talked to weren’t the traditional people we see or hear from and who had different types of viewpoints on him.”
The ever-busy multimedia personality also talked about a few other things she’s leaving on the table. Those include her podcast In Real Life With Angie Martinez, nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the arts and entertainment category this year, and still holding court in the afternoons on her eponymous radio show on iHeartMedia’s Power 105.1 in New York. She also shared reflections on hip-hop’s momentous birthday.
As the Iconic Records promotional trailer notes, you spoke to “25 people over five nights.” What was that like?
It was fast. [Laughs] When you do something in five days, you’re, like, immersed in it. But we didn’t want to drag it out; we wanted it to feel fresh. It was cool because the interviews would overlap. Somebody would be walking out, somebody would be walking in and it would create this storytelling energy, even off camera. [Among the guests sitting down with Martinez were Lil Cease, Fat Joe, Pusha T, Rick Ross and Too $hort.] It was this community of people reminiscing about B.I.G. and the album; personal stories that I’d never heard before. And you could feel his spirit. It was also exciting to talk to some of the producers and the people who worked at Bad Boy. There were so many who had been around for a long time and had so much impact in so many areas that I’d never had a chance to talk with before. Like, I’d never interviewed [producer/DJ] Clark Kent, who’s a friend of mine and a beacon in the culture. So to have that moment with him was great.
The first anniversary of In Real Life is in August. Why did you decide to do a podcast?
I’ve been really lucky in my career. I love what I do, always have. The reason I still love what I do is because I’m always trying to challenge myself and grow. It’s not even about reinventing. It’s about making sure my career is aligned with where I am in my life. And that was how IRL opened up. I’ve had a lot of real-life lessons: success, trauma, heartbreak, disappointment. I don’t want to say it was a calling, but I just felt compelled that this was something that I had to offer; I wanted to have this conversation about life. So I kind of jumped out the window with it, calling Lauren London and asking if she’s talk with me. She said yes. [Martinez’s guests since then include Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige and Mike Tyson.]
Everything is so calculated and metrics-driven in our business now that you lose the heart of what just feels right. Honestly, the beauty of creating your own content, owning your own company and being in a position where you can operate from your gut is so freeing and rewarding. I’ve been leaning into that. Sometimes I don’t know who’s going to be the next guest. But somebody will call and say they want to talk. It’s been so natural. Even the audience community that we’re building is organic as I really haven’t done any major promotion yet. It’s been an independent effort, which I’m so proud of. Because now we have the roots that come from an honest, authentic place. And watching that grow is going to be fun for me over the next few years. I also have other ideas about doing live events and creating content for other people. So it’s going interesting as well to see where this evolving road takes me.
Why is radio still important?
Over at least the last decade, I’ve been hearing people say, “You better start figuring something out. Streaming platforms are coming and your job isn’t going to exist anymore.” [Laughs] I still love being on the radio, talking about music and with new artists. At the end of the day, it’s about connection. There are people who feel connected to their favorite radio station or personality. Radio is free, it’s local, it’s comfortable. It’s going to be there although it may shift in terms of how it operates or what the verticals need to be. But radio is just a staple.
What does hip-hop reaching such a momentous birthday mean to you?
It’s a beautiful time to reflect on its history and evolution. It’s come so far that it’s very easy to forget the history. And attention spans are so short that sometimes people skip over details. So this is a great opportunity for us to lift up hip-hop’s history and make sure people are aware of the founders, the ups and downs while celebrating the evolution. There are a lot of people doing cool stuff, which I salute and respect. Like Nas, a pillar of the culture, and what he’s doing with Mass Appeal. But then I also see people just trying to jump on the bandwagon and throwing up hashtags without offering any thoughtful or caring input on the culture. I don’t love to see that. Let’s make this anniversary important; let’s make it matter.
“Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?/ Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” Those two lascivious French language come-on lines are among the most definitive lyrics in the 1974 Labelle Billboard Hot 100 hit “Lady Marmalade.” They appear in a song that has some equally inscrutable couplets including, “Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, da-da (hey, hey, hey)/ Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, here (here)/ Mocha Chocolata, ya-ya (ooh, yeah)/ Creole Lady Marmalade.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
All you need to know is that the song slaps. And that Labelle lead singer Patti LaBelle had absolutely no idea what she was saying when she sang those sweet French nothings into our ears half a century ago. During an appearance on Sherri Shepherd’s syndicated daytime talker earlier this week, LaBelle, 78, made a startling admission when Shepherd asked if she knew it would be such a big hit at the time.
“For once, I can say yes and really mean yes,” she said of her certainty that she needed to immediately record the song with band mates Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx. “I said, ‘We have to record this because it’s a hit,’ and it was,” she recalled telling late producer Allen Toussaint as the group headed to New Orleans to record with the legendary singer/writer/producer. “I had no clue it meant ‘will you sleep with me tonight.’ I didn’t know no French. I knew it was a hit… Yeah, that’s what that song was all about. And it was a hit,” she added about not knowing at the time that the refrain had such a saucy translation.
In addition to it being a smash for Labelle, the song hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 again in 2001 when Pink, Mya, Christina Aguilera and Lil Kim re-recorded it for the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!
Watch LaBelle’s interview below.
If you’ve seen pictures of Post Malone lately you may have noticed that the rapper is sporting a slimmer profile these days. That apparently led to some fans fretting that the party-loving MC and new dad may be burning it too hard on the road in Europe on his Twelve Carat Tour.
Posty addressed those concerns in an Instagram post on Friday morning (April 28) from a stop in Antwerp, Belgium in which he posed shirtless alongside a pair of killer snakeskin/camo cowboy boots while staring intently into the camera. “I wanted to say that i’m not doing drugs, i’ve had a lot of people ask me about my weight loss and i’d suppose, performance on stage,” he said.
“I’m having a lot of fun performing, and have never felt healthier. i guess dad life kicked in and i decided to kick soda, and start eating better so i can be around for a long time for this little angel. next up is smokes and brews, but i like to consider myself a patient man… lol!,” said Malone, who announced the birth of his daughter in June.
Leaning into that new healthy big dad energy, Posty said the good news is that he’s spent some time in the studio lately working on songs for the follow-up to last year’s Twelve Carat Toothache album. “[I] am so excited to share it with you, thank you for your patience and support y’all. you make my heart beat… my brain is in a super dope place, and i’m the happiest i’ve been in a long time. if you’re having a hard time or need some love, i can say that you’re loved more than you know, and keep f–king crushing it.”
Malone got some support from his musical pals, with Cole Bennett commenting, “You’re a special guy Posty” and Billy Strings adding, “Hell yeah!! You’re the raddest dad ever [raising hands emoji] wuuvv yooou.” Orlando Bloom loved the love also, writing, “Gotta love [heart emoji] love and those boot [fire emoji.]”
See Malone’s post below.
Jack Harlow is back. The 25-year-old rapper unveiled his third studio album, Jackman., at the stroke of midnight on Friday (April 28).
The star, whose full first name is in fact Jackman, surprised fans with the project announcement just two days before its release. He revealed the release date alongside the album cover, a shot of a shirtless Harlow standing with his arms crossed in an alleyway next to some garbage cans.
At the time, Harlow didn’t reveal anything surrounding the album’s track list and features, but the secrecy was well worth the wait.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Spanning 10 songs and a running time of just 24 minutes, it’s a truly solo effort; Harlow doesn’t lean on any featured artists.
Jackman. follows Harlow’s 2022 sophomore album, Come Home the Kids Miss You, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and produced hits like “Nail Tech,” “Dua Lipa” and the Hot 100 chart topper, “First Class.” His 2020 debut album, That’s What They All Say, launched the rapper into the spotlight with “What’s Poppin.”
It’s a busy year for Harlow, who is set to star in the upcoming remake of White Men Can’t Jump, which will hit Hulu on May 19.
Until then, listen to Jackman. in full below.
First-time Coachella performer Doechii caught up with Billboard News’ Tetris Kelly to discuss her historic set, a possible “mini tour” this year spanning major cities, collabing with SZA, and her upcoming album. The Tampa, Fla.-born artist is the first female rapper on the TDE roster and views the role as “a huge responsibility.”
“I know that after me, there’s going to be more female rappers that are a part of TDE,” she says. “I want to make sure that I do everything, so that the next girl feels comfortable doing everything.”
Doechii, who joins SZA on the TDE roster, was honored alongside the “Kill Bill” singer at Billboard‘s 2023 Women In Music event. “She actually gave me a shout-out that night,” Doechii recalls. “To even be peers with her, to be getting honored along with artists as big as SZA is amazing.”
Propelled into music by her mother at a young age, Doechii is trained in ballet, tap dance, jazz, contemporary dance and gymnastics, which explains the rapper’s vibrant stage presence and involvement in the creative direction of her visuals and performances.
“I’ve just always been creative and my mom gave me the freedom to be an artist ever since I was young,” she tells Billboard.
In March, Doechii released her single “What It Is (Block Boy),” sampling “Some Cut” and TLC’s “No Scrubs.” Initially released with a feature from Kodak Black, a solo version without the “Super Gremlin” rapper was released after fan backlash. The solo version is trending and has been used in more than 40,000 TikTok videos.
“When [producer J White Did It] played it for me, I was like, ‘This is the summer bop, this is exactly what I’m looking for,’” she explains. “I wanted a fun song, I wanted a hit. And that’s what we got.”
When it comes to her upcoming album, Doechii is leaning into a “genre-bending” style, specifying, “a little bit of alternative hip-hop, rock, pop, rap, it’s a lot.”
Like many people out there, Bhad Bhabie has regrettably gotten a tattoo inspired by an ex. However, in the case of the 20-year-old rapper, she got six.
Bhabie — real name Danielle Bregoli — joined Emily Ratajkowski on the model’s High Low podcast this week, where she revealed that she has six Chief Keef tattoos from when they were dating.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“I have one guy that managed to make it six times, five or six,” she said in the podcast. “So, I have Chief Keef’s birthday, his last name, his name, his nickname, and I have ‘CK’ on my ankle, then I have his last name right here. Actually, I just covered his birthday, and then I have ‘So’ on my ear, and then I have ‘Keef’ on my wrist.”
When Ratajkowski asked why she covered his birthday, Bregoli responded, that she’s “sick of his s—.” She went on to note that she’s planning on getting all of her Keef-inspired tattoos removed. “I’m just tired of being delusional. I’m so over it,” she explained.
The “Gucci Flip Flops” rapper revealed that while “it’s been a long run,” she and Keef were never officially together. “I would say we were pretty close, but I’ve known him for a minute,” she continued, without giving an exact timeline. “I feel like I’m kind of wrong, in a way, because I just walked out without rhyme or reason. I mean, I had a little bit of a reason but it was like, ‘Damn, b—-, you just stopped talking to me?’”
“I don’t mean to sit here and put him on blast,” Bhabie continued, noting that Keef is one of “the only people I could say I really took to and I really loved him.”
Listen to the full episode here.
Nick Cannon spoke out on his new radio show on Wednesday (April 26) about the end of his marriage to Mariah Carey.
“Explain to me how I fumbled Mariah,” he asked his The Daily Cannon co-host Courtney Bee Bledsoe after she joked that he was the one to mess up the relationship, which ended in divorce in 2016. “I just know you’re not with her, so that’s a fumble,” his co-host jokingly clarified, leading him to clap back, “Maybe she fumbled me.”
The host of The Masked Singer went on to insist he “was there” to support the superstar — with whom he shares twins Moroccan and Monroe — throughout their eight-year marriage, but he didn’t delve into any details about their high-profile split.
Of course, since breaking up with Carey, Cannon has added a whopping ten more kids to his brood with five other women — including five babies who’ve all been born since last July. The Elusive Chanteuse, meanwhile, has been in a relationship with one-time backup dancer Bryan Tanaka.
On the topic of his ever-expansive gaggle of kids, Cannon bragged about what he referred to as his “super sperm” on Howie Mandel’s podcast just last week. “‘Cause I’ve practiced birth control, and people still got pregnant,” he explained before adding, “But, to say that, I’m trying to be as responsible as I possibly can, learning lessons.”
One of those lessons? That baby making is officially part of his public brand. Look for the media personality to lean even further into the concept of conception with his upcoming E! game show Who’s Having My Baby With Nick Cannon hosted by his pal Kevin Hart.