State Champ Radio R&B/Hip-Hop
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PinkPantheress is ready to step back into the spotlight after taking a few months to herself. You might recall that last August the 24-year-old British singer born Victoria Walker canceled all of her remaining 2024 tour dates — including festival shows and slots opening for Olivia Rodrigo and Coldplay — to focus on her physical health after saying she’d “hit a wall.”
Now, in a new interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the singer says that despite the pushback from her team on hitting pause when things were really starting to hit for her she knew it was the right thing to do.
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“100%. But not even just because things are rolling, but more because of financial reasons why,” she told Lowe. “If you agree to do shows and you don’t follow through, there’s a lot of money being missed out on. There’s also a lot of… the opportunity for backlash to be. Really the least of my concerns, was the money.”
Pantheress said she’s naturally someone who is prone to not looking after herself in an effort to “push through” difficult times, which has caused problems in the past. “And that’s honestly one of the reasons I lost my hearing this ear because of that,” said the singer who in 2022 called off a performance at Spain’s Primavera Festival due to “partial hearing loss” that left her 80% deaf in her right ear. “So after that happened, I don’t know what it was. I think it was when I started cutting my hair with razor blades where I realized, you know what? I’m actually going to stop now.”
The singer who moved to Los Angeles two years ago and now spends her time bouncing between L.A. and London debuted a chopped bob earlier in January and told Lowe that when she cut her hair off she had an epiphany. “I was like, ‘you know what? I’m going to probably take a step back and chill,’” she said. “And I’m not someone that generally… I don’t really suffer with any kind of lapse in judgments when it comes to myself usually, but that’s when I knew… I had an impulse to literally get follicles of hair off of me. So I needed to… I was full up.”
That’s whey she made a decision to step out of the spotlight, something she has no regrets about. “There was something that I needed to address and so I had to leave,” she said. “And I did that for my own good. And obviously it was a very sad moment for people that wanted to see me but couldn’t see me. But obviously, what goes around comes around, and I’ll be back again.”
At the time she hopped off the tours, PinkPantheress told fans, “It is with the heaviest heart that sadly have to announce that i will not be able to continue with the rest of my live shows this year in order to focus on my physical health and overall wellbeing. It appears i have reached a wall which i am struggling to penetrate through. this will include my GUTS tour, Field Day, Summer Sonic, FORM, III Points, and Australia/NZ appearances.”
In January, she was featured on Shygirl’s “True Religion” single, which she followed up in April with her own songs, “Tonight” and “Stateside,” which will appear on her upcoming nine-song sophomore mixtape Fancy That, due out Friday (May 9).
Watch PinkPantheress describe her break to Lowe below.
While the 2025 Met Gala was a star-studded affair on a rainy Monday night (May 5) in NYC, one influential face missing from the hip-hop realm was Playboi Carti. The Atlanta native took to Instagram to post a dapper photoshoot he had with his girlfriend, Gio, where Carti claimed he was banned from attending the […]
For years, the roster for Lil Wayne‘s Young Money crew has included such bold named stars as Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tyga, Lil Twist and Jae Millz, among others. But as Weezy prepares to finally release his long-awaited Tha Carter VI LP on June 6, the Young Money CEO popped into his Young Money Radio show on Apple Music to introduce the next generation roster.
In addition to long-time members Cory Gunz and Twist, Wayne introduced his new artists, who include Jay Jones, Allan Cubas, Domiio, Euro and Lucifena, an East Los Angeles metal-edge singer whose vocals are informed by Nirvana and the Deftones. Also in the crew is New Orleans rapper Poppy, who Wayne said he’s so hyped on he thinks of the MC as like his “motherf–kin’ son.”
Wayne caught up with Gunz, noting that the Bronx rapper has been busy, dropping the Loosie Pack 3 EP and, last July, The Militia mixtape. Gunz said up next for him is “elevation,” raising the bar to the next level, just as Wayne has shown by example in his career. “We got to make each thing better than the last one,” he said while also chopping it up about his resurgent New York Knicks’ run in the NBA playoffs.
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Twist also provided an update, saying he’s stepped into “a whole ‘nother genre” thanks to picking up a live band. “I’m rocking with the alternative hip-hop rock,” he told the boss, who knows about dipping into the rock side thanks to his guitar-heavy 2010 Rebirth album.
New gen Young Money signees Jay Jones and Allan Cubas, both New Orleans natives as well, were up next. Wayne noted that after hearing Honduran-American artist Cubas rap and then go into his “Latin s–t” he was hooked. “That’s something we’ve never had at Young Money,” Wayne said of the sound. Hollygrove-bred MC Jones talked about his January mixtape, Almost Forgot Who I Was, as well as the collaborative Flight 504 project he’s working on with Cubas that will be a “fusion” of their styles.
The sit down also included chats with Euro and the one of the freshest signings, Domiio (aka Drizzy P), with Wayne saying of the latter that his confidence is “through the roof.” The session ended with Wayne introducing Lucifena and Poppy, with Weezy joking that he helped raise Poppy like his son, joking that he was shocked at how “dirty” the MCs sound was. He also described being blown away hearing Lucifena scream on a song called “Tyrant,” which inspired him so much that he laid down both a guitar solo and a verse on the track.
Watch Lil Wayne roll out the next generation below.
Ye (formerly Kanye West) joined Piers Morgan for another interview on Tuesday (May 6), but the combative chat was short-lived as West stormed off just minutes into the sit-down.
Within the first few seconds, things got contentious when Morgan called him “Ye West,” with Ye responding that he’s dropped West to lose his “slave name.”
“You see that view,” Yeezy said with a serene balcony view of the ocean off the Mallorca coast behind him. “Judge me by the view,” he said when asked how his life is “at the moment.”
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Morgan felt that reply was in “direct contrast” to the sentiments Ye has expressed with unhinged rants on X in recent months.
“I already disagree,” Ye cut off Morgan. “It’s not in contrast. It’s so many people and artists that are championing the idea of expressing who they really are and having to go through the war of being attacked by the banks and to still be here with this view, that’s the win.”
Right before things went off the rails, Ye was offended that Morgan got his follower count wrong on X. Morgan listed 32 million when the exact number is upward of 33.3 million at press time.
“You’re not gonna take inches off my di–, bro,” the Chicago native said. “I’m a gift, bro. Why do all you people in media act like you haven’t played my songs at your weddings, or graduations or at funerals or when your child was born?”
He continued: “You take someone like that’s living, like a [John] Lennon or a Michael Jackson. That nuance right there is idiotic. It just shows the hate that you put out for people that put out love. There’s so much love in the art that I put out.”
The Uncensored host was taken aback, and then West stormed off. “This is what you get for now, we can circle back when you can count.”
Morgan called Ye a “sniveling little coward” and took out his frustrations on streamer Sneako, who was seated next to Ye during the interview. Morgan wanted to “hold Ye accountable,” and he pressed Sneako about standing next to Ye in recent months after the rapper had expressed antisemitic remarks and praised the likes of Hitler and Diddy.
Watch the full interview with Ye below.
Bebe Rexha is tired of people commenting on her body. The pop singer/songwriter clapped back on social media after Azealia Banks was trying to play Joan Rivers as she watched the 2025 Met Gala. “Sis gives me – hormonal birth control implant or something,” Banks tweeted on Monday night. “It’s giving Implanon/NuvaRing she needs removed […]
David Oyelowo says he lost points with his children after not knowing who Doechii was. Sitting down for a chat on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Monday (May 5), Oyelowo spoke about his family, which includes his musician wife and his artistic children. However, while the British actor is very close with his family, but […]
Loyle Carner shared two new songs on Tuesday (May 6) from his upcoming album hopefully !, due for release on June 20 (Island EMI). “about time” and “lyin” are the third and fourth songs to be released as singles from the record following “all i need” and “in my mind,” which were released in April.
Both tracks were inspired by his role as a father, with “about time” – the LP’s closing track – featuring a snippet of Carner speaking with his young son, and “lyin” being informed by the changes in his life since having children.
The recent Billboard U.K. cover star recently announced a world tour that kicks off in October and runs through the U.K. and Europe, Australia and North America into 2026; his four shows at London’s historic O2 Brixton Academy in London sold out instantly. On June 27, he will headline Glastonbury’s Other Stage alongside Charli XCX and The Prodigy; headliners on the Pyramid Stage are The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo.
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Speaking to Billboard U.K., Carner discussed the new indie influences on the record such as Fontaines D.C., Mkgee and Big Thief, as well as forming his own band for the recording sessions. “I loved the anonymity of being in a band,” he shared. “I wanted to be around when the magic is happening and to not just be sent a beat after all the fun parts had already happened. I wanted to move away from the words being all that I can contribute.”
He added, “As a rapper, the insecurity is that I don’t have any musical talent or whatever, so I’m like, ‘F–k, I better fill every gap so people know that I was there, too.’ But now I don’t mind people hearing a song and I’m barely on it, because I’m so across from everything else [in the creative process].”
Carner’s new album, hopefully !, will be his fourth and his first since 2022. Carner’s debut Yesterday’s Gone (2017) was nominated for the Mercury Prize; Not Waving But Drowning (2019) landed at No. 3 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart; hugo (2022) landed a second Mercury Prize nomination and saw the Londoner headline the 35,000-capacity All Points East Festival in the capital.
Listen to his two new songs below:
Loyle Carner ‘hopefully !’ World Tour Dates
Oct. 7 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Annexet
Oct. 8 – Oslo, Norway @ Sentrum Scene
Oct. 10 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFS Live
Oct. 11 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live
Oct. 13 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ KB Hallen
Oct. 15 – Berlin, Germany @ UFO im Velrodrom
Oct. 16 – Hamburg, Germany @ Sporthalle
Oct. 18 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith
Oct. 19 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Halle 622
Oct. 21 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Jahrhunderthalle
Oct. 22 – Cologne, Germany @ Palladium
Oct. 24 – Paris, France @ Zenith
Oct. 25 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
Nov. 2 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
Nov. 3 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
Nov. 4 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
Nov. 5 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
Nov. 7 – Cardiff, Wales @ Utilita Arena
Nov. 9 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena
Nov. 12 – Glasgow, Scotland @ O2 Academy
Nov. 13 – Glasgow, Scotland @ O2 Academy
Nov. 14 – Glasgow, Scotland @ O2 Academy
Nov. 18 – Newcastle, England @ O2 City Hall
Nov. 19 – Newcastle, England @ O2 City Hall
Nov. 20 – Birmingham, England @ O2 Academy
Nov. 21 – Birmingham, England @ O2 Academy
Nov. 23 – Manchester, England @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
Nov. 24 – Manchester, England @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
Nov. 25 – Manchester, England @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
Dec. 2 – Brisbane, Australia @ Fortitude Music Hall
Dec. 4 – Sydney, Australia @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Dec. 6 – Melbourne, Australia @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Dec. 9 – Perth, Australia @ Metro City
Feb. 19, 2026 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Feb. 21, 2026 – Toronto, ON @ History
Feb. 22, 2026 – Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre
Feb. 24, 2026 – Boston, MA @ Royale
Feb. 26, 2026 – Washington, DC @ The Fillmore
Feb. 27, 2026 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
March 3, 2026 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
May 3, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
Rockstar Games unleashed the second trailer for the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI on Tuesday (May 6), and fans are headed back to Vice City. GTA has a penchant for perfectly curating the soundtrack to match the game’s vibe, and they did it again with The Pointer Sisters‘ 1986 hit “Hot Together” playing throughout the […]
A$AP Rocky has opened up about his gun assault trial for the first time, calling the experience “gut-wrenching and nerve-wracking.” In a new interview with Variety published on Tuesday (May 6), Rocky talked about what it was like sitting in the courtroom for his gun assault trial in February — he was accused by former […]
106 & Park is back, at least for one night. On Tuesday (May 6), BET announced that 106 & Park is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a host reunion and a night of special performances at the 2025 BET Awards.
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A.J. Calloway, Free, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz and Terrence J will be packing on the nostalgia with a reunion after raising a generation of millennial rap and R&B fans.
“106 & Park was more than just a music countdown show — it was the heartbeat of Black youth culture and one of the highest rated BET programs for over a decade,” BET president Scott Mills said in a statement. “From Freestyle Friday to unforgettable live performances, it launched careers, influenced fashion,and became a platform where voices, style and sound converged. 106 & Park both celebrated and fueled many of the most important musical and culture evolutions that occurred during its two-and-a-half-decade tenure.”
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On the performance side, Mr. 106 & Park himself, Bow Wow, will hit the stage with B2K, Mya, Amerie, Jim Jones and T.I. on June 9. The BET Awards will kick off at the family of BET Networks at 8 p.m. ET.
“106 & Park served as a cultural touchstone, embodying the energy, creativity and authenticity of a generation,” stated Connie Orlando, who serves as the EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “It provided artists a direct connection to their fans, transforming everyday moments into lasting memories. The show’s legacy continues to influence how we engage with music, connect with talent and celebrate Black creativity. We are thrilled to commemorate 25 years of this iconic series at this year’s BET Awards.”
There will be plenty of activations for fans to get in on the festivities in Los Angeles for culture’s biggest week. The BET Fan Fest (BETX) will be set up at the L.A. Convention Center with the 106 & Park stage throughout the weekend on June 7 and June 8, leading into the BET Awards.
Launched on Sept. 11, 2000, 106 & Park enjoyed a fruitful run filled with appearances from music’s biggest stars, and went off the air after a 14-year run in 2014.
