R&B/Hip-Hop
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Megan Thee Stallion already has her sights set on a new project in 2025. On Tuesday (Dec. 18), the Houston Hottie teased Act: III with a tantalizing tweet. “Real Hot Girl S–t ACT 3 2025 … be ready hotties,” she wrote on X. The tweet came in response to one of her fan accounts showcasing her various […]
The most listened-to artist in Italy in 2024 (according to Luminate) does not, exactly, rap in Italian. Naples’ own Geolier raps in his native dialect — the very musical language spoken on the streets of his neighborhood, Rione Gescal, and now spoken by kids in every corner of Italy who, through Geolier, have learned it.
For the 24-year-old artist born Emanuele Palumbo, that devotion has added up, in the past year alone, to three consecutive sold-out shows at Naples’ Maradona Stadium; a historic appearance bringing the Neapolitan dialect for the first time to the Sanremo Festival, the most important music event in Italy; and triple-platinum certification for his song “Dio Lo Sa,” released in June. Five years after his debut album, Emanuele, Geolier is clearly still taking in this success — as is evident in the way he pauses to reflect on his words in conversation, in his broad smiles in response to compliments and in his lyrics portraying a young man who takes everything (except himself) seriously. He spoke to Billboard Italia about how he arrived here.
Geolier
Vittorio Cioffi
Geolier
Vittorio Cioffi
Did you always know you would be a rapper?
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I didn’t always know this because as kids you can’t predict the future. Obviously I hoped so and imagining myself onstage was the only thing possible, because I didn’t know how to do anything else and I did poorly at school. But I would never have bet on myself. I started working in a factory at a very young age, I continued to rap in my free time, but I saw that [acceptance for the genre was] really far away in Italy. Only pop songs were on the radio back then. I loved rap because I looked up to America, but the maximum that was played in Italy was “In Da Club” on MTV. I admired 50 Cent; I felt close to him.
What did you think you had in common with him?
I saw the film about his life [the semi-autobiographical Get Rich or Die Tryin’], where it is clear that he had taken all the responsibility of the family on his shoulders. He sold crack on the streets of Queens; I never did it, but I started working very young. I found an extraordinary maturity in him and this fascinated me.
When did your own personal turning point come, realizing this could potentially be your career?
I realized I could do this job when they paid me for my first live show. It was about 250 euros but for me it was a lot of money — I was 18 years old. However, I couldn’t say when I reached what can be defined as a milestone.
Geolier
Vittorio Cioffi
Why is this incredible boom in Neapolitan rap happening today?
I come from the ghetto of the ghetto. I think there is a unique realness here; perhaps it’s only possible to find it [elsewhere] in the United States. I think rappers in this city put what they see into their lyrics. The culture of Southern Italy is more known internationally than that of Italy as a whole, also, thanks to TV series such as The Sopranos.
2024 was an incredible year for you, but you experienced some tougher moments as well. At the Sanremo Festival you won the covers night, but the live audience booed you and your guests.
We were there and just tried to defend ourselves. That same night they immediately told me to be careful of potential criticism. I believe that the Sanremo Festival was not ready for rap music; we brought an iconic song for Italy, “Brivido” by Guè featuring Marracash, and the audience booed. Incredible.
Your mother was also in the audience. Did this make it especially painful?
It made me smile, actually. She was furious because she couldn’t do anything, and she wouldn’t even talk to me about it. Even today, when we talk about Sanremo, she has bad memories — but my mother is a normal person and absolutely doesn’t want to be part of the star system.
Were those three sold-out concerts at Maradona Stadium the peak of 2024 for you, or was it something else?
Sure, but I’d say a moment in particular [was] when before the first [of those shows], in the afternoon, I looked through a crack and saw the stadium full. At that moment I thought: “What am I doing?” It was neither a positive nor negative emotion, I had simply never felt it. And I can’t explain it.
Geolier
Vittorio Cioffi
Geolier
Vittorio Cioffi
How do you still stay connected to your roots in your old neighborhood?
I think I do simply because I tell what I see in Naples. I’ll continue to do so even if I have to move away from the city, which is very unlikely. I don’t live that differently now: I continue to see my friends and talk to people. I feel the need also because I want to [be true] with my lyrics. Do you know what normal people tell me the most? Not to take selfies but to remain myself.
If you could choose an American artist to collaborate with, who would they be?
50 Cent. I started making music because of him. But right now I’m also listening to Kendrick Lamar’s new album and I like it a lot.
What do you have coming in 2025?
I just want to do the arena tour, which will start in March, and the two dates at Ippodromo di Agnano in Naples. I don’t think I’ll release new music, apart from some collaborations. I would like to slow down a bit. I think I’ve done a lot, [and] I want to experience this as a game. Because with all the numbers and deadlines, sometimes it seems to have become a routine job. And I surely don’t want that.
12/18/2024
Another year of calm, cool and sexy in the R&B department.
12/18/2024
Rihanna was just a regular ol’ member of the Lambily on Tuesday night (Dec. 17) when she was spotted freaking out during Mariah Carey‘s final Christmas Time tour show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The “Love on the Brain” singer was filmed having the time of her life at the gig where MC returned to […]
Sexyy Red and GloRilla have some interesting things to say about the conversations surrounding today’s female rappers. As part of XXL‘s new cover story, Glo and Sexyy asked each other questions, including about the subject matter of their music. “So, a lot of people give female rappers a hard time, saying we’re too sexual or […]
Sexyy Red and Tyler, the Creator connected in October for their first collaboration, when Tyler recruited Big Sexyy, Lil Wayne and GloRilla for the Chromakopia standout “Sticky.” XXL enlisted GloRilla and Sexyy for their latest cover story, which arrived on Tuesday (Dec. 17) and found the pair of female rap stars in conversation about an […]
J. Cole‘s seventh studio album may be coming sooner than fans think. At the end of his 2014 Forest Hills Drive 10th-anniversary show Monday night (Dec. 16) at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the North Carolina rapper told the crowd he may have new music for them just in time for his festival next year. […]
For the second consecutive year, the NBA will hold its annual NBA Cup championship game Tuesday in Las Vegas, featuring the Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder (Dec. 17). The road to Vegas was tough as four teams vied for the title, including the Atlanta Hawks, the Houston Rockets, the Bucks, and the Thunder. […]
Snoop Dogg has reacted to Drake’s pair of legal actions against Universal Music Group in which he alleges that his label artificially inflated the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
The West Coast legend is on a press run in support of his Missionary album with Dr. Dre, and he stopped by The Bootleg Kev Podcast on Tuesday (Dec. 17).
Kev asked Snoop about myriad topics, including his thoughts on Drake’s legal action against his parent label, which Snoop initially offered up a “no comment” before expanding briefly. “On the West, we hold court in the streets,” he said of his policing preference rather than turning to the legal system.
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In November, Drake filed a pair of legal actions, which also alleged that UMG could’ve stopped the release of “Not Like Us,” which he believes defamed him and falsely accused him of being a sex offender. UMG denied Drizzy’s “offensive and untrue” allegations about artificially inflating numbers, telling Billboard at the time, “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Snoop revealed he spoke to Kendrick Lamar in the weeks since K. Dot expressed his disappointment in one of his mentors on GNX‘s opening track “Wacced Out Murals.” In the midst of Kendrick’s feud with Drake, Snoop reposted Drizzy’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” — which included AI-generated vocals using Snoop’s voice — to Instagram.
“Snoop posted ‘Taylor Made,’ I prayed it was the edibles/ I couldn’t believe it, it was only right for me to let it go,” Lamar raps on the track.
Snoop Dogg quickly apologized and admitted it “was the edibles” and called Lamar the “West West King” shortly after on X.
“He’s a rapper he’s supposed to speak his mind and tell his truth,” Snoop told Bootleg Kev on Tuesday. “I’m his big homebody so I have to take what’s said from his perspective because he’s speaking truth. I’m willing to accept truth when it’s brought to me directly.”
Snoop explained he did a “collaborative post” on Instagram and allegedly didn’t even know what song he was posting. “I’m thinking I’m posting ‘Gin & Juice.’ Then I get the word [Kendrick] didn’t like what you posted,” he added. “Then I deleted it, called nephew and left him a message … Nephew, it’s uncle Snoop, I got the message I apologize I was f–ked up. My bad.”
Watch Snoop’s full interview below.
With just over a week to go before Beyoncé turns the Netflix-NFL Christmas Day halftime show into her very own Cowboy Carter rodeo, there’s still tons of new music racing to get heard before the calendar flips over to January 2025.
Between Bossman Dlow (Dlow Curry), Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre (Missionary) and Roc Marciano & The Alchemist (The Skeleton Key), hip-hop heavyweights kept the new projects rolling in. In addition, R&B sent a sterling representative in Mario, who dropped Glad You Came, his first studio album in six years.
Speaking of Beyoncé, the Billboard staff’s Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century (So Far), also became the woman with the most RIAA-certified titles in history (103). The impressive news comes the day after husband Jay-Z‘s attorney Alex Spiro spoke out Roc Nation’s New York headquarters, reiterating that the minor rape allegations levied against the rap mogul are “provably, demonstrably false” and “never happened.”
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Jay wasn’t the only rap icon in the news this week; Lil Wayne cleared the air on his friction with Kendrick Lamar after the latter secured the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show and name-dropped Tunechi in his “Wacced Out Murals” verse. In addition, Future — who headlined Rolling Loud Miami’s victorious tenth anniversary alongside Travis Scott and Playboi Carti — sent “Too Fast” to the top of three different airplay surveys (Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Rhythmic Airplay and Rap Airplay) in the same week (dated Dec. 21). Finally, SZA officially announced that the deluxe edition of her blockbuster SOS LP will arrive on Friday (Dec. 20).
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Sleepy Hallow and Babyface Ray’s new team-up to Tank and the Bangas’ ode to Black womanhood. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Tank and the Bangas, “This Black Girl”
This year, Tank and the Bangas picked up its third career Grammy nod, as “Todo Colores,” its team-up with Ibrahim Maalouf and Cimafunk, is nominated for best global music performance. To close out the year, the funky musical group has unleashed a loving ode to “This Black Girl.” Lead singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball begins things in media res by employing a spoken word-esque cadence in her delivery of, “This Black girl got a attitude/ This Black girl has a defense mechanism too, I feel played at least once a day/ I need the treatment that you give the white girls/ I know my worth,” over Kaidi Tatham’s lush, warm, slighlty ominous soundscape.
Less of a traditional song, this is Tank seizing the soap box for all Black girlhood and womanhood — particularly those whose Blackness can never be confused or obfuscated. Tank’s voice is filled with the conviction of a priest, the tongue-in-cheek diction sourced from intracommunal conversations and the endless hope and indecipherable exhaustion of generations of Black women. “And I’m only gon’ cut that shit once,” she proclaims in the song’s outro. “I ain’t doing it again/ Ooh, that felt powerful y’all/ Ooh, that felt powerful.” — KYLE DENIS
Sleepy Hallow & Babyface Ray, “Top Tier”
The Brooklyn native returned last week with his Read This When You Wake Up album, and Sleepy Hallow reasserted that he isn’t one to be slept on in the drill scene. The woozy “Top Tier” finds SH connecting with Detroit’s own Babyface Ray, as Sleepy ruminates about his near-death experiences — but he’s still here to tell the tales. “They say you toxic, bae, you top tier/ I keep a Glock, ’cause I got shot and life is not fair,” he raps. Ray invades the scene with a shout-out to NY’s Dyckman neighborhood and admits he’s kicked a prescription drugs habit as he’s put the bottle down. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Mario, “Love Ain’t Perfect”
This year marks the 20-year anniversary of one of the most beloved R&B songs of the ’00s: Mario’s “Let Me Love You.” To celebrate, Mario kept pushing forward and treated fans to his first studio LP in six years, Glad You Came, via his New Citizen imprint through Epic Records. Though the three singles that preceded the album are all strong, “Love Ain’t Perfect” is the set’s hidden gem. “Baby, baby, baby, you turn me on/ Even you play me all day like a radio/ When it feels this good, you can’t let it go,” he croons, succinctly outlining the masochistic allure of an imperfect, but undeniably electric, connection. With BNYX behind the boards and James Fauntleroy helping out on the songwriting side, “Love Ain’t Perfect” is a solid synthesis of classic Mario and where he’s headed next. — K.D.
BossMan Dlow feat. Ice Spice, “Pillsbury Dlow”
BossMan Dlow is everyone’s cup of espresso to get up and be motivated to chase a bag. He caps off his rookie of the year campaign with his Dlow Curry album – an homage to the Golden State Warriors sniper Steph Curry. Nobody expected an Ice Spice appearance on the track, but her feature ended up being a slam dunk, as she slowed down her flow into cruise control mode. “Up and down his algorithm, every pic I post is pain/ I put that on that shit for real, broke hoes don’t even know the name,” she rhymes, while tormenting exes that fumbled her. — M.S.
Kalan.Frfr, “Dice Game”
With GNX keeping the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 locked up, the West Coast is finishing out its seismic 2024 on top. Though he wasn’t one of the L.A. rappers featured on GNX, Kalan.FrFr is keeping up his Pop Out-assisted momentum with a new bass-heavy banger called “Dice Game.” “I done took the Wock’ a lot of places, never been to Poland/ Man, these niggas got lil’ money, Gary Coleman/ Yeah, either way it go, Rick James, Rick Owens/ Yeah, either way it go, bein’ tough ain’t no motion,” he spits over DTB’s gritty, synth-inflected beat, smartly combing cross-generational and cross-medium reference into one punchline-anchored verse. — K.D.
Sugarhill Ddot & Star Bandz, “Energy”
Two of the best teenage rappers out reconnect for another sexy drill anthem with “Energy,” which feels like a track Dej Loaf and Lil Durk would’ve ripped during their days of collaborating. Sugarhill Ddot and Star Bandz’s chemistry feels palpable and authentic. The duo should probably just lock in for a joint project, as speculation rages on that they could be rap’s junior prom power couple. Ddot and Star pass the mic back and forth living as young, wild and free teens figuring out life on the fly: “Yeah I like yo energy/ You bring out the best in me/ This s–t feel like destiny,” Bandz raps on the previously teased tune. — M.S.