State Champ Radio R&B/Hip-Hop
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Kneecap has responded to a member of the group being charged with a terrorism offense by London’s Metropolitan Police.
Mo Chara of the Irish-language hip-hop group was investigated and subsequently charged for allegedly showing support for militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah in historic videos. Both are proscribed as terror groups according to U.K. law, and considered an offense under the Terrorism Act 2000. Mo Chara, born Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18.
“We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves,” Kneecap wrote in a statement posted on their Instagram. “This is political policing,” it continued. “This is a carnival of distraction.” They added: “14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us.”
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“British establishment is focused on us”, Kneecap added. “They profit from genocide, they use an ‘anti-terror law’ against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their ‘crown court’, instead a court that doesn’t have a jury.” Read the full statement below.
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The incident allegedly took place at a show at London’s O2 Forum in November 2024, though the video resurfaced in April following their Coachella sets, in which they displayed a message stating “F–k Israel, Free Palestine.” A number of politicians also criticised the group for allegedly calling for the death of Tory MPs in a performance.
In a follow-up statement, Kneecap denied support for either Hamas or Hezbollah. “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,” the band wrote. “We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.” They also apologised to the families of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, both of whom were murdered by members of the public in 2016 and 2021, respectively.
Following the band’s sets at Coachella in mid-April the band’s activities has drawn condemnation and support from throughout the music industry. Sharon Osbourne called for the group’s work visas to be rescinded, the band split with their U.S. booking agent, and a number of shows were cancelled in Germany and in the U.K.
A number of high-profile artists including Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C. and more signed an open letter denouncing the restriction of free speech for artists. On Friday (May 23), Kneecap are due to play their first show since the furore at London’s Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park.
Mariah Carey and Pitbull are returning to Australia this October as headliners of Fridayz Live 2025, the revived touring festival celebrating R&B, hip-hop and pop.
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Announced Thursday (May 22), the stadium run will also feature sets from Wiz Khalifa, Lil Jon, Eve, Tinie Tempah and Jordin Sparks. It marks Fridayz Live’s first edition since 2023, and organizers MG Live and the Hit Network are calling this year’s return “bigger than ever.”
The four-city tour kicks off Oct. 17 at Brisbane Showgrounds, followed by Sydney’s ENGIE Stadium on Oct. 18, Langley Park in Perth on Oct. 24, and Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Oct. 25. Events are all 18+ except for selected licensed all-ages areas in Sydney and Melbourne.
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Carey’s appearance marks her first Australian performance in over a decade, having last toured the country in 2013. The five-time Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper — whose enduring hits include “Fantasy,” “We Belong Together”, and “Touch My Body” — will bring her vocal powerhouse status to a new generation of fans.
Joining her is fellow Billboard icon Pitbull, returning to Australia for the first time since 2012. The Miami rapper — known as “Mr. Worldwide” — boasts over 100 million single sales globally and is behind hits like “Give Me Everything,” “Timber”, and “Hotel Room Service.”
Fridayz Live will also showcase hip-hop heavyweight Wiz Khalifa, who charted 11 Hot 100 entries in 2011 alon, crunk pioneer Lil Jon, known best for anthems like “Turn Down for What,” will also return while Eve — one of the defining female MCs of the 2000s — brings her chart-topping hits and GRAMMY-winning collaborations.
Also joining the bill are UK rapper Tinie Tempah (“Pass Out,” “Written in the Stars”) and pop vocalist Jordin Sparks, whose breakout single “No Air” with Chris Brown peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 in 2008.
There will be no sideshows or encore dates, with promoters emphasizing that fans will only have one chance to catch this full lineup in each city.
Presales begin May 26 for Telstra Plus members, followed by ANZ Circle pre-sales on May 29, a general Fridayz Live pre-sale on May 30, and general public onsale June 2.
PinkPantheress delivered her acclaimed nine-track Fancy That mixtape this month, and fans are hoping she’ll get back on the road soon to tour around the new project.
Pink has been critiqued as a performer in the past, and she sat down with Capital Buzz where she agreed that the criticism has been “fair” and that she doesn’t make music for the stage.
“I don’t do music to perform, I think is the thing, and that’s perfectly fine,” she said around the 23:55 mark of the interview. “I think that people are probably used to and also expect a singer to be able to perform well. And I don’t blame anyone for thinking that. I’m not the best performer. Again, it’s one of those things where I’m like ‘I’m going to get better.’”
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PinkPantheress continued: “But the thing is, no amount of rehearsals can make a difference when you’re in front of like 10,000, 50,000, 100,000. No amount of rehearsal you can do, and as somebody that has got very bad stage fright… I think one of the things people say is like, ‘Oh, I think her performances are a hindrance to her career.’ And I do think there is a level of if you want to make it as like a big, big pop-diva.”
The British artist is at peace in more intimate settings and doesn’t think the performance aspect is a hindrance to her blossoming career. Pink also caught up with Billboard earlier in May, which saw her reveal that touring with Olivia Rodrigo made her learn that she’s “not an arena artist.”
“Watching her and how she combats an arena and how she actually does the arena made me realize, ‘Wow, some people are arena artists and some people are not.’ I’m not an arena artist,” she admitted. “That’s something I learned about myself. What I learned from her is there are ways you can approach an arena and interact with people in the up theres or the far backs. She did that and is amazing at it.”
PinkPantheress added: “What happened when I watched her was, I saw my own failing and my own incapabilities, and I was like, ‘I’m not an arena artist.’ That’s not for a lack of trying. It just made me realize there are some things in life as an artist you’re told you should try one day — but for me, I think I’m one of those artists where I’m comfortable is where I always strive.”
The 24-year-old opened for Rodrigo for six or seven shows before leaving the tour for personal reasons related to her health in 2024.
As for Fancy That, Pink heavily tapped into the drum and bass genre and pulled on inspiration from Basement Jaxx and Calvin Harris to complete the cohesive work, which she thinks is her sonic magnum opus.
Stream the mixtape below.
Bow Wow gave fans some interesting insight into how beats get passed around, while also making a crazy revelation. Sitting down with former NBA player Jeff Teague for his Club 520 podcast, Bow Wow was asked which songs he’s passed on over the course of his career. First, he mentioned passing on the beat that […]
SZA has come to Megan Thee Stallion’s defense after Tory Lanez‘sattorneys and a Florida congresswoman have spoken out about new evidence that they say will prove the Toronto singer/rapper’s innocence.
SZA was spotted by eagle-eyed fans in the comments of an Instagram video posted by user @theluncheonlawyer, who was speaking on the alleged new evidence uncovered in the 2020 shooting case.
“The density !!!!! I’m actually SO shocked at the amount of ppl fully comfortable bullying a woman that’s proven to be a victim of assault,” SZA wrote in defense of her “Freaky Girls” collaborator. “Like out loud where other ppl can see you ?? Lmao u finna be stupid OUTLOUD ?”
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Megan Thee Stallion has also heard the negativity and noise. She clapped back in a comment on her TikTok earlier this week, where she referred to Lanez as a “demon.”
“At what point are yall gonna stop making me have to re live being shot BY TORY,” she reaffirmed. “At what point are Tory and yall FANS gonna stop lying ? Like how much is the check to keep harassing me?”
Meg continued: “One min him/ yall said I was never shot now yall letting him play in yall face AGAIN and say I was shot but it wasn’t him oh ok… ? Ain’t no new f—ing evidence yall been saying the same sh– for years, TORY PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE you are a f—ing demon.”
Lanez was the victim of a prison stabbing earlier in May. A rep for the Toronto singer claimed he was stabbed 14 times and suffered collapsed lungs, but was “in good spirits” while recovering at a nearby hospital. The Canadian artist was attacked by an inmate inside California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi around 7:20 a.m. PT on May 12, according to a spokesperson for the prison who talked with ABC News.
Lanez is serving a 10-year sentence in prison after being convicted on three felony counts for shooting Megan Thee Stallion during a heated dispute outside a Hollywood Hills party in July 2020. She was granted a restraining order against Lanez in January.
The new evidence claims came from the Los Angeles nonprofit social justice organization Unite the People, as attorney Walter Roberts alleged new findings in Tory’s case during a press conference last week. Roberts claimed that Kelsey Harris’ bodyguard, Bradley James, filed an affidavit saying he overheard Harris admit to shooting the gun and not Lanez.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida’s 13th district also called for Tory Lanez’s freedom earlier this week and claimed that new evidence was going to be presented in the next 36 hours, proving Lanez’s innocence.
“I am calling on Gov. Newsom @CAgovernor to review Tory Lanez’s case and issue a pardon,” she wrote. “His 10-year sentence was based on flawed evidence, political pressure, and prosecutorial bias. Justice must be blind— not driven by headlines. Free Tory Lanez.”
She added on Tuesday: “We have compelling evidence proving Tory Lanez’s innocence, and it will be released within the next 36 hours. Those who rushed to call for his incarceration, and worse yet pushed false evidence, should prepare to be held accountable.”
Glasses Malone is confident Kendrick Lamar is going to respond to Joey Bada$$ in due time. On Tuesday (May 20), Malone — who was shouted out by Lamar at the Grammys earlier this year — was asked on X if he thought Lamar should respond to Joey’s recent string of freestyles where he mentions the […]
Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) teamed up with YoungBoy Never Broke Again for their long-rumored collaboration “Alive.”
The distorted track has yet to hit streaming services, as West released “Alive” through his Instagram on Wednesday (May 21). “ALIVE YE X NBA YoungBoy YZY SZN 10,” he wrote in the caption.
Production-wise, “Alive” sounds like it could be from the same family tree as Yeezus standout “New Slaves,” free of drum kicks and snares. “This that n—a been stealin’ the swag, they know damn well they ain’t invent/ This that n—s ain’t rich, they broke, want a blessing and they ain’t even repent,” Ye raps on the opening verse.
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“Alive” samples DJ Swamp Izzo’s version of “Alive,” which is featured as part of Playboi Carti’s “Crank” track.
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YoungBoy takes the baton and aims at his detractors. “I’ll put the b—h on and blick ’em, them youngins gon’ load up and get ’em, they catch em and stretch ’em/ .223, it ain’t missin’ a beat, we gon’ pray up to Heaven and step in eleven,” he spews.
NBA YoungBoy has long been a fan of West and shown his support to Ye over the years on tracks like 2022’s “This Not a Song, This for My Supporters,” which finds him telling Ye to stand his ground. “It hurt my heart that Kanye let them people break his soul/ How the f— that go? N—a, stay in yo’ home!/ N—a, hold your ground! You strong,” he raps in support of the embattled star.
YB also previewed an unreleased song in November 2023, which featured a sample of West’s 2010 My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy single “Power.”
“RIP to the Donda, now I’m the biggest scholar,” YoungBoy rhymes. “I got my own playlist, I say Kanye’s better.”
West has been entrenched in various controversies over the last few months, as he’s spewed anti-semitic and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric on his social media platforms. Ye’s concert slated for South Korea on May 31 was cancelled due to “recent controversies” surrounding the rapper.
Yeezy also claimed that his controversial “Heil Hitler“ song was banned from DSPs after attempting to release the track earlier in May. He even walked off the set of an appearance on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored show earlier this month, within minutes of the sit-down.
Listen to “Alive” below.
Chris Brown has spoken out for the first time since being released on a $6.7 million bail by a London judge. C. Breezy posted to his Instagram Story on Wednesday (May 21), celebrating the fact that he regained his freedom after nearly a week behind bars. “FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!!” Brown wrote in […]
Cardi B will receive the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Voice of the Culture Award, recognizing her groundbreaking influence on music and culture. On Wednesday (May 21), ASCAP announced that Cardi would be honored with the award for 2025, which comes after Usher received the award last year. “Cardi B has left an […]
SZA is for the children. The Grammy-winning artist took to her Instagram Story on Tuesday (May 20), saying that she convinced a young fan to throw away his whippets canister in exchange for taking a photo or video with them. “Literally talked a CHILD into throwing away his whippet drugs in exchange for a picture/video […]
