State Champ Radio R&B/Hip-Hop
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Let’s go! Good news awaited GloRilla when she landed in Los Angeles Tuesday morning (Nov. 15) as the nominees for the upcoming 65th annual Grammy Awards were being announced — she was one of them. Her breakout hit single, “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” with Hitkidd, earned her a coveted spot in the best rap performance category.
“I’m in disbelief. I don’t think this is happening for real. This crazy,” she tells Billboard shortly after the announcement. “My team let me know, [but] I had to go look it up for myself because I had thought maybe they was playing.”
Surely enough, the 23-year-old MC found herself with the likes of DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Young Thug and other hip-hop heavyweights in the same category. “It’s super lit!” she says of being in their company. The 2022 summer anthem “F.N.F.” propelled GloRilla into stardom this year, reaching No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and peaking at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as inviting a deal with Yo Gotti‘s CMG label in July.
The song not only put Glo on the map, but it also helped shine a light on Memphis. “That’s what we were lacking in Memphis. We got great male artists coming out, but for females, the light was so dim. She’s opened up doors and put a spotlight on a lot of females,” her manager Marcus Ward told Billboard back in February.
“It’s a hood triumph fo sho,” Glo says. “I feel super blessed.”
Post Malone and Swae Lee celebrated a major milestone this week when their smash Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse single “Sunflower” became the highest-certified single in RIAA history. The pair took a photo op with their gaudy hardware on Monday (Nov. 14), showing off their 17x-platinum award, posing alongside co-producer Louis Bell and co-writer Billy Walsh.
The 2018 single leapt into first place over the previous record holder, Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road,” which previously held the record at 15x platinum. In addition to appearing on the Spiderverse soundtrack, the song was also on Posty’s third album, Hollywood’s Bleeding. It was a big haul for Posty on Monday, when he also picked up 14 other pieces of RIAA hardware, including a 14x-platinum plaque for “Congratulations” and a 10x-platinum one for “Psycho,” while his debut single, “White Iverson,” hit 10x-platinum as well.
TMZ reported that Rae Sremmurd’s Swae Lee was feeling the love from fans, who he thanked for their continued support. “You guys made history with us!” he said. “And to post and [Spiderverse character] Miles Morales, glad the music could get the attention and love it deserves. So much more to come! SREMMLIFE!”
The site also reported that Malone gave huge kudos to Swae Lee for being the “secret sauce” behind the moving hip-hop ballad, saying that his rhyme partner was very involved in the arranging of the melodies and did the “heavy lifting” on the song. The “Sunflower” video has racked up nearly 2 billion views to date.
Malone is getting ready to wrap the North American leg of his Twelve Carat Tour, with a pair of shows at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov. 16) nights.
See the pair with their plaque below.
Happy Monday! This week’s column is proof that R&B, in all its forms, is alive and well. From buttery ballads by Elmiene, Kenneth Cash and Khamari to the alt-R&B offerings of Sylo and deem spencer, lovers of the genre are in for a treat for the next seven days. Be sure to share the wealth with our Spotify playlist, linked below!
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Freshest Find: Elmiene, “Why (Spare Me Tears)”
This week’s freshest find goes to London-based artist Elmiene. “Why (Spare Me Tears)” is the new artist’s second solo single of his career and showcases his soft, buttery vocals. Last year, the singer-songwriter’s debut song “Golden” was featured in Virgil Alboh’s final Louis Vuitton fashion show, a moment that created a buzz around the singer as it was his first introduction to the world. Co-written and produced with Jamie Woon, “Why (Spare Me Tears)” serves as the gleaming start to Elmiene’s career and is the first taste of his forthcoming project coming soon.
Sylo, “Air”
An acronym for “a– in rotation,” Sylo’s new single “AIR” is a velvety story of getting caught in a comfortably imperfect routine, unable to break the cycle. The Korean-Canadian alt-R&B savant provides a ballad full of orchestral swells and a playful kind of sexiness. “Forcing yourself to stay when you know you gotta go is always tumultuous,” Sylo said of the song in a press release. “AIR” is the first single off his upcoming EP blanket.
deem spencer, “To have it all”
“To have it all” is minimally optimistic. On the new alt-R&B/pop offering, deem spencer contemplates his relationship with fame. “When I wrote ‘To have it all’ I was in a period where I needed something to shake. I felt stagnant and lost the optimism for this dream that I dedicated myself to,” spencer shares in a press statement. “I was questioning why become famous at a time like this? Why become another rise and fall story? A lot of times when you come from nothing you can be consumed by desire. I want people to think about what they do have and recognize the value in it.”
Braxton Cook feat. Masego, “90s”
Emmy Award-winning musician Braxton Cook connects with Masego for a refreshing, jazz-R&B take on Black love, as the two kindred spirits serve up a smokey homage to the ‘90s Black love they grew up seeing in film, TV and art. “The protagonist is asking to be loved like a classic ’90s Black film,” said Cook. Adding Masego, “I’ve spoken to many women about the dating market, and it’s ghetto out here. We need healthy relationships shown in media, and a realistic view on what a sustainable partnership looks and feels like.”
Kenneth Cash, “Catnip”
Kenneth Cash just wants a little bit of love. On “Catnip,” the rising R&B artist likens love to catnip — he only needs a little bit for it to hit. “Just a little bit/ A little bit of love gives a little hit/ It’s better than the drugs, now I’m giving it up/ So why I feel the buzz,” he sings.
Kenzo Balla, “Krash Out”
Kenzo Balla is yet another emerging voice out of New York City’s drill scene right now. In his new single “Krash Out,” the Bronx rapper delivers quick bars about getting sturdy and keeping his foot on the gas. He also makes it known that he’s been making moves long before gaining notoriety, rapping, “N—as cap in they rap, what’s that bout?/ I been doing s–t before I had clout.” “Krash Out” will appear on Kenzo Balla’s upcoming EP Mr. Ready to Blitz, due out Nov. 15.
Archy Moor, “Have It In My Hands”
Nigerian-born, Dublin-raised rapper Archy Moor is speaking his unfiltered truth on his new single, “Have It in My Hands.” The new artist is embracing a fresher, braver side of himself while creating his own lane in hip-hop. Nick Mills provides a chilling-yet-calm chorus, heightening Moor’s personal reflections embedded in the track.
Nolan fka, “Houndstooth”
On “Houndstooth,” Nolan fka is making nods to lo-fi. The Detroit rapper-producer deviates from his usual boom-bap, soulful production to create a dreamy, downtempo track dedicated to Black women. “‘Houndstooth’ is a product of my admiration for outlets such as Soulection, Godsconnect, etc. It has that downtempo soul feel but also shows influence from the lofi community,” Nolan says in a press release. “My aim is to always keep things classic in my work. In other words, preserve culture. Houndstooth is a classic global design but nobody wears it like a woman does. Not to mention a black woman! And although the lyrics may suggest some toxicity, this track is really for the ladies!”
Obai, “Missed Call”
Geffen’s newest signee Obai is here with debut single “Missed Call.” A mid-tempo ballad about the disappointment when a romantic relationship does not turn out as planned, “Missed Call” embodies the essence of Obai’s sound: a blend of R&B melodies inspired by the artist’s Sudanese roots, along with a catchy pop flair that seeks to recapture R&B’s own art of storytelling and distinctive vocal delivery.
Khamari, “Tell Me”
Fresh Picks mainstay Khamari is back with another tender single. “Tell Me” blends R&B and soul with a hint of alt-rock as the Boston native reminisces on the way things were in his relationship, over a minimal and stripped-back beat. “‘Tell Me’ is about that feeling of insecurity you get in a relationship while watching it deteriorate from the inside,” Khamari says in a press release. “Dealing with the vacuum of doubt and confusion that bad communication leaves, but not acting on it because you’re hopeful it’ll work itself out.”
Following the release of their Billboard 200 chart-topping album Her Loss, Drake and 21 Savage blasted in with seven collaborative tracks in the top 10 of the the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart dated Nov. 19, 2022.
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Savage is no stranger to the upper tier of the tally, as he’s had six top 10 hits before the success of Her Loss — including his two No. 1 smashes, “Rockstar” with Post Malone and “Jimmy Cooks,” again, with Drizzy.
With such an impressive list of top 10 tracks, we at Billboard want to know which is your favorite. Let us know by voting below.
We live in an age when nothing is ever the last word. That appears to be The Weeknd‘s thinking when it comes to his beloved Trilogy project. The collection originally dropped in Nov. 2012, a year after the then-enigmatic singer released a series of three intriguing mixtapes, House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence.
Trilogy whipped together remastered and remixed versions of 30 songs, including lead single “Wicked Games,” which topped out at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. At the time, though, a number of the samples and mixes from the original mixtapes were reworked because of an inability to clear the samples for Trilogy; in March 2021 the singer re-released the original version of House of Balloons with the original mixes and samples for the first time to commemorate its 10th anniversary.
“if y’all wanna hear the trilogy how it’s supposed to be listened to … listen to House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence individually,” the singer tweeted. “Not all samples are on trilogy and the mix isn’t the original mix. But shout out trilogy but fyi, for the new fans, it isn’t an album.” He then dropped a bit of news, suggesting that he might “get rid” of the compilation “just so there’s no more confusion, now that ALL the samples are finally cleared since Dec. 17, 2021.”
The collection’s songs feature a number of prominent samples. including Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Happy House” on “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls,” as well as Beach House’s “Master of None” on “The Party & the After Party” and the Cocteau Twins’ “Cherry Coloured Funk” on “The Knowing.” But in a sign that the idea of wiping Trilogy from streaming services might have ben a fleeting thought, a short time later Abel seemed to immediately reconsider his historical revisionism.
“But I also know there are fans of the compilation so I might not get rid of it,” he tweeted. “But just want to be clear for all the new fans and the weirdly older fans.”
House of Balloons was released as a free download from The Weeknd’s official website on March 21, 2011, before it was combined with his other 2011 mixtapes Thursday and Echoes of Silence for Trilogy, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 2012.
See Weeknd’s tweets below.
if y’all wanna hear the trilogy how it’s supposed to be listened to … listen to House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence individually. not all samples are on trilogy and the mix isn’t the original mix. But shout out trilogy but fyi, for the new fans, it isn’t an album— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 13, 2022
I might get rid of the compilation just so there’s no more confusion, now that ALL the samples are finally cleared since December 17, 2021— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 13, 2022
But I also know there are fans of the compilation so I might not get rid of it. But just want it to be clear for all the new fans and weirdly older fans …— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 13, 2022
Joe Tarsia, founder of Sigma Sound Studios and chief engineer for Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Records, died on Nov. 1 in Lancaster, Penn. The 88-year-old’s cause of death was not disclosed.
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In collaboration with songwriter/producers Gamble, Huff, and Thom Bell, Tarsia played an instrumental role in crafting PIR’s distinctive brand of sophisticated soul, dubbed the Sound of Philadelphia. He left his imprint on a host of classic hits such as Jerry Butler’s “Only the Strong Survive,” The O’Jays’ “Love Train” and “Back Stabbers,” Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones” and The Spinners’ “I’ll Be Around.” Tarsia also amassed credits on recordings by Teddy Pendergrass, the Stylistics, Patti LaBelle, the Delfonics and Lou Rawls.
Beyond the stable of PIR acts, Sigma Sound in Philadelphia also attracted the likes of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie and the Jacksons. Tarsia also operated a Sigma Sound branch in New York from 1977-1988, booking sessions for Madonna, Whitney Houston and Elton John, among others.
Paying tribute to his and Huff’s longtime creative comrade and friend in a statement, Gamble said in part, “As our main studio recording engineer for PIR, Joe was a tremendous asset in helping us create what became the legendary Sound of Philadelphia. For all of the songs written and produced by me, Huff and our label and recorded by our artists, Joe was the sound recording architect to the music we gave to the world. Joe’s passing is a great loss to me personally, professionally and to the legacy of recorded music.”
“Joe and his Sigma Sound Studios were second to none,” added Huff. “I too am very saddened for the loss of our dear friend and one of the greatest sound engineers ever. Joe’s connection to me and Gamble was like Quincy Jones’ relationship with his personal engineer, Bruce Swedien. More importantly, it was an honor for me to share my music career with Joe and blessed to have him in our recording booth as I played on those sessions that helped us create the Sound of Philadelphia.”
A native of Philadelphia born on Sept. 23, 1934, Tarsia worked at electronics company Philco before joining Cameo-Parkway Records as the label’s engineer in the early ’60s, recording artists such as Chubby Checker and Bobby Rydell. It was during this period that he first met Bell, Gamble and Huff, engineering the latter pair’s 1967 hit with the Soul Survivors, “Expressway to Your Heart.” He later risked borrowing against his home to found Sigma Sound Studios in 1968 — so christened after Tarsia saw the word Sigma on a place mat at a Greek restaurant.
“Literally, I hocked my house and [took] all the cash I had accumulated — everything I had — and got a bank to lend me forty thousand dollars and never looked back,” Tarsia recalled in the 2003 book Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sigma Sound’s founding in 2018, Tarsia told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “If I made a contribution, it was that Philadelphia had a unique sound. I was able to attract the best technicians, the best engineers. And the history speaks for itself. Sigma — not me — has 200 gold and platinum records … There was the Motown sound. The Memphis sound. The Muscle Shoals sound. And there was the Sigma sound.”
Tarsia’s survivors include his wife Cecelia, daughter, Lori, and three grandchildren.
Fans celebrated the musical legacy of slain rapper Takeoff on Friday (Nov. 11) at a memorial service in Atlanta, near where the artist grew up, that drew Justin Bieber, Drake and other big names in the music industry.
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Takeoff, part of the Grammy-nominated trio Migos with uncle Quavo and cousin Offset, was shot and killed earlier this month outside a Houston bowling alley. A woman and another man were also wounded in the shooting. No arrests have been made.
Jenifer Loving, 22, stood in line with her infant son, Mateo, for more than an hour before the doors at State Farm Arena opened to fans who were able to get a free ticket. She said Takeoff’s death was heartbreaking in part because he was only 28 years old.
Migos’ music represented the creativity and culture of the Black community, she said, and she worried the group would be too saddened to make new music — at least for a while.
“It’s just something that you can play anywhere, and everybody will just come out and come around and dance,” she said. “It’s how it brings people together. It’s how it makes the whole room just fill up with positivity.”
Eric Hood, an Atlanta firefighter, said he was shocked when he heard about Takeoff’s death because of the three members of Migos, he was considered the most laid back.
Migos’ music was an “escape” for many people, he said, and he was hopeful the event would leave the rapper’s family and the rest of the group with lasting memories of him.
“I pray for them,” he said. “I hope they continue to be uplifting, positive, influential members in the society and keep pushing forward.”
Dozens of fans lined up early at the arena, home to the Atlanta Hawks, despite rainy weather. A massive sign outside was lit up with the rapper’s image.
Free tickets to the memorial service were available to Georgia residents, but State Farm Arena said well before Friday that the event had reached capacity and fans without tickets should not come downtown.
Organizers did not release a program for the event or allow media inside. Several fans leaving the event confirmed Bieber and Drake’s presence and said Offset and Quavo also talked.
Atlanta resident Jeffrey Wilson said the event was moving.
“His mother was up there, and I could see the tears in her,” Wilson said. “I felt the kinship myself, like I knew him personally.”
Tyler Williams drove hours from Montgomery, Alabama, on Friday morning with his 2-year-old son, Ashton.
“He probably won’t remember it,” he said of his son. “But it’s something to have when he gets older, to know he was there.”
Migos broke out nearly a decade ago with the 2013 hit “Versace,” which hit even greater heights in popularity through a Drake remix. The trio were largely raised by Takeoff’s mother in an Atlanta suburb.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said the day after the shooting that Takeoff, born Kirsnick Khari Ball, was “well respected,” and there was “no reason to believe he was involved in anything criminal at the time.”
Migos’ record label, Quality Control, mourned Takeoff’s death in a statement posted on Instagram that attributed it to “senseless violence and a stray bullet.” Police have said nothing about the gunshot being stray.
Instead of flowers or gifts, his family has asked that people make donations to The Rocket Foundation, which was established in Takeoff’s honor and aims to prevent gun violence, according to its website.
The public funeral for the beloved Migos member Takeoff took place on Friday (Nov. 11) at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, near where the late rapper grew up.
Free tickets to the memorial service were available to Georgia residents, but the State Farm Arena said well before Friday that the event had reached capacity. Alongside fans who made it inside the venue, stars including Offset, Cardi B, Drake, City Girls, Chloe Bailey, Justin Bieber and more gathered to remember the life of a star gone too soon.
During the event, Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens honored Takeoff’s family with the city’s highest honor, the coveted Phoenix Award. Drake spoke onstage remembering his late friend, while Chloe Bailey, Justin Bieber and Byron cage performed at the touching memorial event.
Takeoff (born Kirshnik Khari Ball) was just 28 years old when he was shot and killed on Nov. 1 during a private party at a bowling alley in downtown Houston with Quavo. The musician was killed by “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm” according to a report from the Harris County coroner’s office. A woman and another man were also wounded in the shooting, though no arrests have been made.
Migos’ song streams surged 182.2% in the seven days following his death, while his solo material grew 434.9% in the same period, according to initial reports to Luminate.
In honor of the slain star, see below for our gallery of photos from Takeoff’s Celebration of Life in Atlanta, Georgia.
You get one shot! Eminem‘s Detroit eatery, Mom’s Spaghetti, is officially coming to New York City for a limited time.
The rapper and his manager Paul Rosenberg shared the news that the restaurant — which takes its name from a famous line in Eminem’s 2002 smash “Lose Yourself” — would be hosting a pop-up in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his movie 8 Mile.
“Rabbit, run! -to the #8mile20 pop-up in NYC!” Rosenberg wrote on Instagram. “We open today with @momsspaghettidetroit served hot, merch and experiences. RSVP at momsspaghetti.com for an appointment or walk-up and wait for a slot.”
The pop-up will be open through Sunday, Nov. 20, and the menu includes spaghetti, spaghetti and meatballs and a vegan option served with “rabbit balls.” In addition, it will also include unique “fan experiences” and custom merch centered around the Oscar-winning quasi-autobiographical drama based on Eminem’s life.
Fans can RSVP for tickets for specific windows of time on the Mom’s Spaghetti website, though walk-ins are also welcome.
Earlier this month, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 alongside Dolly Parton, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon. During the ceremony, Dr. Dre inducted his protege and longtime collaborator. “I knew that his gifts were undeniable,” said Dre. “Each of us was what the other one needed — and I was willing to bet my entire career on it.” He also credited Em with “[bringing] hip-hop to middle America.”
Check out the announcement of Mom’s Spaghetti in New York below.
All he needs in one mic, one beat, one stage — and The Garden will do just fine. Following the release of Nas‘ new album, King’s Disease III, the rapper announced on Friday (Nov. 11) that he will be performing a special one-night-only concert at Madison Square Garden, a show that marks the rap icon’s first time hitting the stage at the historic music venue.
The show — which is set to take place on Feb. 24 — will be produced by Live Nation. Tickets go on sale to the general public Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster. Chase cardholders will have early access to tickets starting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 10 a.m. through Thursday, Nov. 17, at 10 p.m. And for those wanting to score tickets the old-fashioned way, they can be purchased in person at Madison Square Garden and the box offices of its affiliated venues, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre.
The one-night-only show comes on the heels of Nas’ recently wrapped NY State of Mind Tour, which saw him hit the road with Wu-Tang Clan and special guest Busta Rhymes for a series of 25 dates across the U.S. and Canada, including stops at Los Angeles, Toronto, Atlanta, and Newark.
King’s Disease III, which contains a total of 17 songs, was produced and executive produced by Hit-Boy. Nas — who found success in the late ’90s and early 2000s — also participated in the executive production of the record. The album marks Nas’ first offering since the release of his surprise nine-song LP, Magic, which was released last year on Dec. 24.
See the announcement for Nas’ one night only show at MSG below.
