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She’s got big Swift energy! Latto declared herself a fan of Taylor Swift by posting a selfie with the superstar from the 2023 Grammy Awards on Monday (Feb. 6).
In the snapshot, Latto sticks her tongue out as Tay plants a kiss on her cheek from her table at Crypto.com Arena. “Swiftie,” the rapper wrote simply in the caption, using a clinking champagne emoji and a pink heart to punctuate her sentiment.
Both artists were nominated at this year’s Grammy Awards, with Swift winning the prize for best music video (for All Too Well: The Short Film) and earning nods for song of the year (for the 10-minute version of the Red (Taylor’s Version) favorite) and best country song (for “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”), while Latto was up for both best new artist and best melodic rap performance (for the live version of her breakthrough hit “Big Energy”).
Elsewhere in the ceremony, the Midnights singer reunited with ex-boyfriend Harry Styles, who eventually went on to win not only best pop vocal album, but also album of the year for his 2022 album Harry’s House. She also celebrated Viola Davis reaching EGOT status on her personal social media accounts following the How to Get Away with Murder actor’s historic win for best audio book, narration, and storytelling recording.
Before she lost out on the best new artist trophy to Samara Joy, Latto opened up to Billboard ahead of this year’s Grammys about why she still considers herself a new artist, reasoning, “Every month I feel like I’m constantly evolving. Especially the content I’m about to roll out — it’s a whole fresh new me.”
Get a look at Latto and Taylor’s Grammys meet-up below.
Eminem‘s daughter Hailie Jade announced her engagement on Monday (Feb. 6) via social media.
“Casual weekend recap… 2.4.23… i love you @evanmcclintock11,” the 27-year-old music industry progeny captioned the snapshots of her fiancé Evan McClintock’s romantic, intimate proposal, peppering the caption with a pink heart, diamond ring and crying emoji.
While Hailie’s famous father hasn’t publicly commented on her big news, she received heartfelt support from celeb pals in the comments section of her post.
“You’re all grown up…congrats Hailie!” Aly & AJ wrote, while Skylar Grey — who collaborated with Eminem on Dr. Dre’s 2011 single “I Need a Doctor” and co-wrote the Rihanna-assisted “Love the Way You Lie” and “Love the Way You Lie (Part II)” — commented, “Omg congrats!!!!”
Earlier this year, 50 Cent let slip that he’s currently working with Eminem to turn the latter’s semi-autobiographical 2001 film 8 Mile into a television series. (“I think it should be there for his legacy,” 50 Cent told Big Boy TV at the time.)
Back in November, Hailie was on hand for her dad’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2022 alongside Dolly Parton, Eurythmics, Carly Simon, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
After being inducted by Dr. Dre, Eminem performed a scorched-earth medley of hits that included “My Name Is,” “Rap God,” “Stan,” “Not Afraid” and more. In his acceptance speech, Eminem told his daughter to “plug [her] ears” as he recounted his struggles with drug addiction, which led to an accidental overdose in 2007.
See Hailie Jade’s sweet engagement announcement below.
Following his Grammy night loss for best R&B album, Chris Brown took to Instagram to project his frustrations onto the category’s winner: 12-time nominee and five-time Grammy winner Robert Glasper for his album Black Radio III. “Y’all playing. Who da f— is this?” Brown wrote on his Instagram story, with a series of cry-laughing emojis.
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Less than 24 hours later (and after a slew of social media critique), the chart-topping R&B singer re-evaluated his actions and sent an Instagram direct message to Glasper, apologizing for his mistake. Here’s what Brown said in the DM, posted to his Instagram Story:
“Congratulations my brother.. I would like to apologize if you took offense to my reaction at the Grammys.. you were not the intended target and I know I came off really rude and mean. After doing my research I actually think your amazing…THE ORGANIZATION ISN’T DOING US BLACKS OUR DUE DILIGENCE. YOU AND I SHOULD never be in the same [category].. two totally different vibes and genres. So from one black man to another.. CONGRATULATIONS. HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO FEED YOUR FAMILY FOR LIFE. God bless my G.”
What Brown’s research may have led him to realize is Glasper’s innumerable accomplishments and contributions as one of the most lauded jazz, R&B and hip-hop instrumentalists of his time. Glasper has worked with 2023 best rap album winner Kendrick Lamar, as well as Mos Def, Lauryn Hill, Lupe Fiasco, Jill Scott, H.E.R., Ty Dolla $ign and Erykah Badu across his many collaborative albums and instrumental work, in addition to his frequent sold-out residencies at New York City’s famed Blue Note Jazz Club.
Following his win, Glasper was all smiles, telling Billboard on the Grammy red carpet he was “ecstatic” about the honor. His tone was far different from Brown’s, offering praise for the R&B star’s nominated project, Breezy (Deluxe), and expressing the feeling that one of his fellow nominees would take the award, adding, “They all have amazing albums.”
At long last, RAYE is in charge of her artistry. “I feel so free as a creative for the first time,” says the 25-year-old London-born singer-songwriter, who went independent in 2021 following seven years under a record deal with Polydor Records. “It’s probably the happiest I’ve been.”
Now, the growing artist, who has writing credits with Beyoncé, Rosalía and Ellie Goulding, is riding the high of her 2022 hit, “Escapism,” with 070 Shake, which first took off on TikTok and continues to build on the Billboard charts. She has no plans of slowing down, either, and will tour throughout the year in support of her recently released debut album, My 21st Century Blues. “[The album] is a different range of feelings and blues within my perspective as a woman in this day and age,” she explains.
RAYE only ever aspired to be a musician: “Make it work, figure it out” has been her mantra from age 7. Influenced by her musically inclined family — including her Ghanaian-Swiss mother, who sang in church as a child, and her grandfather, a songwriter — she enrolled at South London’s BRIT School, home to alumni such as Amy Winehouse, Adele and FKA twigs. But she dropped out after two years, eager to forge her own path. “I felt like it was important not to be taught how to do ‘that thing,’ ” she says. “It’s something you’ve got to learn with your own voice and own way.”
As a teenager, RAYE would take the train after class to songwriting sessions, often “working with 35-year-old white guys,” she remembers. “It was important to get my skills up.” She self-released her first mixtape in 2014 and signed to Polydor in the United Kingdom soon after. Within a few years, RAYE scored her breakthrough on London producer Jax’s “You Don’t Know Me.” But, she says, some of those early wins were bittersweet. “As soon as the [record] deal was signed, I was ushered down a path sonically that I didn’t necessarily intend for myself.” She tweeted her frustrations in 2021, saying the label wouldn’t let her release an album, and parted ways with Polydor that year to go independent.
In June 2022, RAYE signed with distribution and artist services company Human Re Sources ahead of her long-awaited debut album, My 21st Century Blues. “Escapism,” a standout dance-rap fusion with 070 Shake, arrived in October and became RAYE’s first Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching a No. 22 high. The song powers the 13-track set, half of which she co-produced. “Some of these topics, my close friends don’t even know about me,” she says, alluding to themes of body dysmorphia, toxic relationships, substance abuse and sexual violence. She began 2023 opening for Lewis Capaldi on his U.K. arena tour and will hit the road with Kali Uchis in April. “I wasn’t gunning for big chart success,” she says. “I was putting out music I love, now that I’m in complete control of my career.”
A version of this story originally appeared in the Feb. 4, 2023, issue of Billboard.
Offset’s not having it. After TMZ published a report Monday (Feb. 6) about alleged tension between Offset and Quavo at the 65th annual Grammy Awards over the tribute to Takeoff, the “54321” rapper shared a few words on Twitter.
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He appeared to debunk the reported disagreement without naming names, tweeting, “What tf look like fighting my brother yal n—as is crazy.”
According to TMZ, the Migos bandmates had allegedly squared off backstage because Quavo reportedly blocked Offset from performing onstage with him for “Without You,” the former’s tribute song to Takeoff, who was fatally shot in November at age 28.
Billboard has reached out to both Offset and Quavo for comment.
Last fall, rumors about Migos disbanding came when Quavo and Takeoff formed as a duo and released their album Only Built For Infinity Links. In an interview with DJ Scream’s Big Facts Podcast, Quavo spoke on the future of Migos and said, “I just feel like we want to see our career as a duo, you know what I’m sayin’? Because we just came from a loyal family… that’s supposed to stick together. Sometimes, when sh– don’t work out, it ain’t meant to be. So that’s what I think.”
A month after Only Built For Infinity Links was released, Takeoff was shot and killed in Houston. The death rocked Quavo and Offset, and they shared heartfelt messages about their fallen bandmate and family member on social media.
Along with the alleged skirmish, Offset also responded to Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince following the latter’s podcast interview with Million Dollaz Worth of Game. Prince suggested that ‘Set wasn’t there for Takeoff before the 28-year-old’s death. He even went far enough to warn the “Clout” rapper. “Don’t ever put me in a position where I have to defend myself. That wouldn’t be healthy for you,” he said.
Offset replied on social media with words of his own. “Y’all n—as speaking on my real brother… I don’t know what the f–k ya’ll n—as got going on, y’all n—as talkin’ about my real brother,” he said in the minute-long clip. “How dare one of y’all n—as even speak on me and Take relationship. I don’t know you n—as from a can of paint. Ya’ll n—as don’t know how me and my brother rock.”
Jay-Z shared his unfiltered thoughts about the Grammys in a new interview conducted ahead of the ceremony and published on Monday (Feb. 6), after Beyoncé lost out on album of the year for the fourth time.
“I remove myself from the process and hope they just get it right. It got to the point where I was like, it’s just a marketing thing,” he told TIDAL about the race for album of the year days before the winner was announced. “You go, you got an album out and it could help the sales go up. It got to that point, but deep down … Again, we grew up idolizing this. It was like one of the pillars for us.”
However, despite his perspective on the award, Hov still maintained that his wife deserved the top prize for her acclaimed 2022 album, Renaissance. “Look what it’s done to the culture. Look how the energy of the world moved,” the rapper argued. “They play her whole album in the club. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that. The whole entire joint — like, everything?! Every remix is amazing. Everyone’s inspired. It has inspired the world.”
Although album of the year ultimately went to Harry Styles for Harry’s House, Queen Bey walked away from the ceremony with four more Grammy awards — including best R&B song for “Cuff It” and best dance/electronica album. The latest awards from The Recording Academy brought her total career Grammy wins to 32, officially making her the most-awarded artist in Grammy history.
Meanwhile, Jay-Z, who’s won a total of 24 Grammys himself over the years, closed out the telecast by performing “God Did” with collaborators DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, John Legend and Fridayy.
Growing up in south Florida, the closest Christian Breslauer got to Hollywood was a nearby beach named after it. The cinephile looked up to renowned film director David Fincher, who also helmed music videos for Madonna and Billy Idol early in his career. After high school, he started directing clips for local artists. He moved to California in 2016 with sights set on working with London Alley Entertainment, a full-service production company behind award-winning videos for artists including Kendrick Lamar (“Alright”) and Logic (“1-800-273-8255”). Breslauer jokingly recalls that he reached out to founder/executive producer Luga Podesta dozens of times before first working with the company on a 2019 Cîroc commercial. However, London Alley didn’t start representing him until the following year, after Podesta saw the video for Roddy Ricch’s “The Box,” which earned an MTV Video Music Award nomination for best hip-hop video. “Our job as a company is seeing a director’s career long term instead of just per project,” says Podesta. “We strategize about who are the artists they want to work with and who manages those artists.”
Since then, Breslauer has become a go-to creator of visuals that are equally eye-popping and purposeful, working with superstars including The Weeknd, Doja Cat, John Legend and Lil Nas X (The latter’s “Industry Baby” clip with Jack Harlow won three VMAs). At the beginning of 2023, Breslauer directed the video for SZA’s “Kill Bill,” which has over 20 million views — and most recently, he helmed the ultimate Black girl superhero visual for Lizzo’s Special title track. “We helped [Christian] form the relationships with Lizzo and SZA,” says Podesta, also noting that the team “did four or five videos with SALXCO management and then finally got [him] to work with The Weeknd.” Adds Breslauer: “We try to build little Marvel universes for every artist I work with. That’s why artists like to come back and keep working with me.”
Tyga x Doja Cat, “Freaky Deaky”
Christian Breslauer and Doja Cat on the set of the “Freaky Deaky” music video.
Virisa Yong
After Tyga texted Breslauer about shooting a “futuristic” video for “Freaky Deaky,” a Doja Cat collaboration from his forthcoming album, Breslauer imagined a sexy cat-and-mouse game, with Doja capturing Tyga in various traps during a late-night rendezvous. The lyrics helped inspire some of them, including “Black Barbie, perfect and you gnarly,” which reminded Breslauer of a scene from Joe Dante’s 1998 film Small Soldiers when action figures punch out of their plastic boxes. “I put a lot of intention in breaking down the song,” says Breslauer. He often leans on artists to bring their own flair during shoots, noting that Doja Cat’s chastity belt lock featuring a phallic keyhole was an addition by her stylist Brett Alan Nelson.
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Lizzo and Christian Breslauer on the set of the “About Damn Time” music video.
Micayla Catanzariti
Last year, Lizzo’s team asked Breslauer to direct three videos for her Grammy-nominated album Special. But once the newly minted record of the year “About Damn Time” went viral and subsequently reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, that visual took priority. The two set out to make something uplifting, with Breslauer running with Lizzo’s idea to open in a support group setting. The visual won video for good at the 2022 VMAs, with Lizzo dubbing Breslauer “Tittylauer” during her acceptance speech. “We have so many funny moments. She brings such a bubbly energy where you just can’t help but love her,” he said, calling the recent “Special” video his favorite one from her album.
SZA, “Kill Bill”
SZA and Christian Breslauer on the set of the “Kill Bill” music video.
Micayla Catanzariti
For SZA’s latest video, Breslauer wanted to incorporate the singer’s idea of shibari rope bondage during the outro — a second sequence soundtracked by fellow SOS track “Seek & Destroy” — while still largely referencing Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films. “It seemed too on-the-nose to have an Uma [Thurman] cameo, but Vivica [A. Fox] was right to me,” says Breslauer of one of its driving scenes. “She’s got the look, she’s got the swagger.” He adds that they wrapped that shot around 5 a.m. as part of a 19-hour-long shoot that happened just days before Christmas. The video came out two weeks later — which Podesta says is “definitely the fastest video we’ve done in a while.”
A version of this story originally appeared in the Feb. 4, 2023, issue of Billboard.
While the In Memoriam performance at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 5) paid tribute to the passing of many music stars in 2022, several notable omissions left fans irate, most notably the absences of Gangsta Boo and Lil Keed.
Boo, born Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, died on New Year’s Day this year. She rose to prominence during her teenage years and played an integral role in creating Three 6 Mafia. At the time of her death, Memphis Police Department said in a statement that there were no immediate signs of foul play and the investigation into her death was ongoing. She was 43.
Despite a gripping performance delivered by Quavo for his Migos bandmate and nephew, Takeoff, hip-hop fans chirped on social media about Boo’s exclusion. “Leaving out Gangsta Boo, one of the pioneers of Southern female rap, from the GRAMMY memoriam segment is a sin and a shame,” said one fan. “Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop tonight and forgetting to include Gangsta Boo in the memorial video is disrespectful af @RecordingAcad,” tweeted another.
Viewers also had something to say about the omission of YSL’s Lil Keed,” who died last May. “Grammy’s really didn’t honor Lil Keed. Scum,” said a viewer on Twitter.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, Keed’s cause of death stemmed from eosinophilia. Eosinophilia is a rare condition in which the number of eosinophils — a type of white blood cell — is greatly increased, according to cancer.gov.
Billboard has reached out to the Recording Academy for comment about the omissions.
Take a look at some of the tweets reacting to Boo and Keed’s omissions below.
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop tonight and forgetting to include Gangsta Boo in the memorial video is disrespectful af @RecordingAcad.— K E I S H (@MikeishaDache) February 6, 2023
Leaving out Gangsta Boo, one of the pioneers of Southern female rap, from the GRAMMY memoriam segment is a sin and a shame.— AGD. (@TheLexGabrielle) February 6, 2023
Grammy’s really didn’t honor Lil Keed. Scum— dan (@D_Gallagher9) February 6, 2023
Woww they really left Lil Keed and Gangsta Boo out of the #GRAMMYs tribute.😪— Shh the TV On (@shhthetvon) February 6, 2023
How did the Grammys not honor Gangsta Boo during the memorial part of the show?? Unacceptable and so disrespectful.— HXV (@WE_ARE_HXV) February 6, 2023
#GRAMMYs Why was Gangsta Boo not in the tribute to artist we lost? With this being 50 years of hip hop they should have added her picture.— Mzredmoma@gmail.com (@mzredmoma) February 6, 2023
Wow, y’all really gangsta boo off the tribute? Memphis being disrespected left and right this year. #GRAMMYs— Random, naked hoes stop following me!😷 (@WandaNon) February 6, 2023
After attending the 2023 Grammy Awards with wife Cardi B on Sunday night (Feb. 5), Offset posted a no-holds-barred response to recent comments made by J. Prince in which the Rap-A-Lot CEO suggested that ‘Set was not there for his Migos bandmate and cousin Takeoff, 28, before Takeoff’s murder last year.
“N—as be throwing rocks and hiding they hand, and I don’t like them kind of individuals,” Prince said near the end of the latest episode of the Million Dollaz Worth of Game after noting that “nothing changed” in terms of his love for third Migos member Quavo, but that Offset was another situation.
“In reality, the truth of the matter is, n—a you wasn’t really right there with Takeoff when he was alive. So for you to be taking these positions that you taking,” Prince added, suggesting that he’s got people all around and he’s heard “all kinds of things” from unnamed sources about what happened on the night Takeoff was shot and killed during a night out with Quavo in Prince’s hometown of Houston. Prince also made what seemed like a direct warning to Offset, saying, “Don’t ever put me in a position where I have to defend myself. That wouldn’t be healthy for you.”
As you might imagine, Offset did not take kindly to the comments, posting a video in which he reacted to Prince’s latest provocative claims. “Y’all n—as speaking on my real brother… I don’t know what the f–k ya’ll n—as got going on, y’all n—as talkin’ about my real brother,” the Migos MC said in the minute-long black and white clip. “How dare one of y’all n—as even speak on me and Take relationship. I don’t know you n—as from a can of paint. Ya’ll n—as don’t know how me and my brother rock.”
At press time spokespeople for Offset and J. Prince had not returned re Billboard‘s request for comment.
A heated Offset went on to slam Prince for what he said was his “fifth interview” in which he’s discussed Takeoff’s death. “You ain’t think about his momma? You ain’t think about the family n—a?” ‘Set asked. “We ain’t said nothin’. Ain’t nobody said nothing but you n—as. Who y’all n—as think ya’ll n—as is? John Gotti n—a?… And if you heard something from me, I’mma tell you it’s gonna come from me, call my phone.
Speaking directly into camera, Offset derided the “he said, she said” narrative and again encouraged anyone with anything to say to call him directly and stop playing “internet games.”
Following Takeoff’s shooting, Prince posted condolences to the MC’s friends and family on Instagram. “The Prince family would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of a beautiful soul @yrntakeoff,” the statement read. “To Houstonians and families around the world, this one breaks my heart because Takeoff was a brother, a son, a role model, and a God loving human being. Grief is the price of love; a bill people from across the globe are paying right now as we mourn this loss. I’ve been knowing Takeoff, Quavo and Offset for many years and there has been nothing but mutual love for one another and that ain’t going to ever change where we are concerned.”
Lawyers for Patrick Xavier Clark, 33 — the man charged with the shooting of the rapper born Kirsnick Khari Ball — said in court in December that he’s innocent and that “there’s a lot of investigation that needs to be done.” Takeoff was shot in the head and back as more than 30 people were leaving a private party at a Houston bowling alley on Nov. 1. Houston police have said that gunfire followed a disagreement over a “lucrative” game of dice around 2:30 a.m. and that Takeoff was not involved and was “an innocent bystander.”
At Sunday’s Grammys, Quavo and Maverick City Music delivered a moving tribute to Takeoff during the In Memoriam segment when they performed Quavo’s recent single honoring his late nephew/bandmate, “Without You.”
Check out Offset’s video response and J Prince’s comments below.
Questlove had a tall order in pulling together the mind-bending 14-minute tribute to hip-hop history at Sunday night’s (Feb. 5) 2023 Grammy Awards. Tasked with telling the story of the genre that has given him a career and produced some of the most iconic music and performers of the past half-century, the Roots drummer looked far-and-wide — from the West coast to the East coast, over to Philly and down to Atlanta and beyond — to ensure that the breadth of the genre was well-represented.
There’s one voice, though, that did not make it to the stage to perform alongside Big Boi, Ice-T, Missy Elliott, Lil Baby, Method Man, Future, De La Soul, Grandmaster Flash, Run-DMC and the other legends. Quest told Variety that he invited Will Smith to make a special surprise appearance at the event that featured Smith’s longtime musical partner DJ Jazzy Jeff — who rocked the bells with LL Cool J — but that the rapper-turned-actor had to back out due to the filming scheduled for his fourquel, Bad Boys 4.
“I’ll give the spoiler alert away. Will Smith was a part of the festivities tonight, but they started shooting Bad Boys 4 already this week,” Quest said on the red carpet, where he revealed that the “all-inclusive” vibe he was looking for in the segment originally came in at 27 minutes before producers asked him to cut in way down. “There’s a lot of preliminary shots that he had to do, so we had to lose Will. That was gonna be a surprise moment.”
Quest said the invite was “a shot in the dark,” and that he understood the no-show because, “he’s always shooting movies. We had a lot of people and some of them have other jobs.” For example, he noted that the Roots had to get former David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer to fill-in for them on The Tonight Show last week so that they could prepare for Sunday night’s rap tribute.
While Smith was ultimately a scratch, if he had flown in it would have been the Oscar-winner’s first awards show appearance since last year’s shocking incident at the 2022 Oscars where he slapped comedian Chris Rock — shortly before Questlove accepted an Academy Award for best documentary for his film Summer of Soul. Last week Smith announced that he and Martin Lawrence will be re-teaming for Bad Boys 4.
