State Champ Radio R&B/Hip-Hop
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A federal jury on Friday (Oct. 21) said Cardi B was not legally liable in a lawsuit filed by a California man whose back tattoos were unwittingly photoshopped onto an album cover, making it look like — he claimed — he was the one performing oral sex on her, according to Law360. The verdict allows the superstar to avoid millions of dollars in requested damages.
Following a four-day trial, the jurors said that Cardi (real name Belcalis Almánzar) did not violate Kevin Brophy’s rights with the bawdy cover of her 2016 mixtape Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1, which accidentally featured a large image of Brophy’s back tattoo.
The actual man in the image was a model who had consented to the shoot, but a giant tattoo on the man’s back belonged to Brophy. Unbeknownst to Cardi, a freelance graphic designer had typed “back tattoos” into Google Image, found one that fit (Brophy’s), and Photoshopped it onto the model’s body. It apparently didn’t occur to him that he would need anyone’s approval to do so.
Brophy testified that the “raunchy” cover had been a “complete slap in the face” that had caused him “hurt and shame,” but jurors were clearly swayed by Cardi’s defenses — like the idea that nobody could even recognize him from the image of his back.
Brophy sued in 2017 for millions in damages, claiming he was “devastated, humiliated and embarrassed” by the cover. He claimed Cardi and others violated his so-called right of publicity by using his likeness without his consent, and also violated his right to privacy by casting him in a “false light” that was “highly offensive.”
Ahead of the trial, Cardi’s legal team argued those accusations were “sheer fantasy” and “vastly overblown” — and that Brophy was just suing her in an effort to “cash in the legal equivalent of a lotto ticket.” Her team says nobody would have recognized a relatively unknown man based merely on his back, and that he has little proof anyone did.
Friday’s verdict came after four heated days of trial. Cardi took the witness stand on Wednesday, repeatedly sparring with an opposing attorney, demanding “receipts” to support Brophy’s claims, and accusing him and his lawyers of “harassing” her in hopes of scoring a settlement.
Brophy has options to appeal the verdict, if he so chooses: First by asking the judge to overturn the verdict, and then by taking the case to a federal appeals court.
What’s the 411? The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, better known as Mary J. Blige, rocked the Barclays Center stage in Brooklyn on Thursday night (Oct. 20) for her Good Morning Gorgeous Tour, playing classics such as “Real Love,” “MVP,” “Just Fine,” “Good Morning Gorgeous,” and “Enough Cryin.” The New York native, who has six top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, was joined by newer R&B talents Queen Naija and Ella Mai as the opening acts. The two ladies warmed the crowd up for Blige with their own hit records, leaving fans wanting more.
The headlining Blige made the crowd swoon with her soulful vocals and iconic dance moves in four acts, with guest appearances from Jadakiss, Fivio Foreign, Fabolous, and more. Blige also brought out some of New York’s finest celebrities to her sold-out hometown show, including Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Papoose, and Remy Ma.
Billboard compiled a list of the top five best moments from Queen Mary’s show. Check it out below!
1.Ella Mai Brings Out Babyface
After Queen Naija performed, the London singer-songwriter took the stage to perform hits such as “Trippin” and the smash record that put her on the map, “Boo’d Up.” Ella Mai had the crowd singing to every song, but the moment that took her performance up a notch was when she welcomed Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds on the stage. Babyface, who has written for Whitney Houston, SWV, Toni Braxton, and countless other legendary acts, rocked the stage in an all-black ensemble to perform his recent collaboration with Ella Mai, “Keeps On Fallin.” The performance of these two sent the crowd into a frenzy, making it one of the most unforgettable moments of the night.
2. Diddy Bops
“Give me all your love and don’t stop” — Brother Love, that is! Diddy made a grand entrance during Blige’s performance of “All Night Long.” Blige, dressed in a yellow Louis Vuitton set from head to toe, and Diddy dressed in all black, did the “Mary Dance” across the stage, as the beat for the song continued. Diddy and Blige go way back, so it’s no surprise that the superstar paid a visit to his dear friend in their home state to two-step together once again.
3. Jadakiss Rocks the Mic
You can’t mention New York hip-hop without mentioning Jadakiss. For her performance of “Rent Money,” Blige brought out the rapper to spit his verse. “C’mon Jada!” Blige introduced him. The crowd applauded the collaboration, confirming that New York was definitely in the house on Thursday night.
4. Mary Shouts Out GloRilla
In the show’s 2nd act, Blige performed “Not Gon Cry,” actually leading to the singer crying real tears. She hit impressive high notes and even sung the record a cappella with a passion that made the singer look as though she caught the Holy Ghost. “If you ever see me crying, these are happy tears because I’m free,” Blige said to the crowd. She then broke out into rapping rising star GloRilla’s “F.N.F,” which the crowd joined Blige in chanting. Looks like GloRilla got a stamp of approval from another major celeb.
5. MJB is Da Real MVP
During the last act of the night, Blige changed into a sequence set with matching leather silver boots. She then went into her classic bag and performed her 2007 classic. The crowd jumped to their feet, dancing and singing while Blige hit some of her signature old school-dance moves. A shower of sparks flowed behind the R&B legend as she prepared to perform her last record of the night, “MVP.” “Thank my fans all around this building!” Blige raved. “I can call myself the MVP.”
Charlamagne the God appeared on The Brilliant Idiots podcast this week, where he shared an interesting, NSFW conversation he had with Kanye West.
It all started when Charlamagne brought up Ye’s controversial interview with the Drink Champs podcast — which has since been taken down — where the rapper said that the radio host was telling people that Kim Kardashian was dating comedian Pete Davidson because “he has a bigger d—.”
Charlamagne tha God explained that Ye’s comments originated from a phone call between the two last year, when the Yeezy founder’s ex-wife began dating the former SNL comedian. Charlamagne said that Ye tried to “get me on board to s— on someone he knows is my friend, Pete Davidson.”
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“My wife is out here f—ing a white boy with a 10-inch penis! And you won’t help me!” Charlamagne recalled Ye shouting on the phone call. “You’re telling me that’s your friend? When you’re supposed to be culture?”
Ye repeatedly shared attacks on Davidson — whom he called “Skete” — throughout the actor’s nine-month relationship with Kardashian. West wrote that Davidson “will get my kids mom hooked on drugs He’s in rehab every 2 months” and asked SNL writer Dave Sirus to “please help write some more culturally irrelevant jokes for SKETE” while referencing Davidson’s tattoo of Hillary Clinton, which Ye had posted with the caption, “Tramp Stamp. Pete the tramp. Here’s the stamp.”
West also shared two music videos for “Eazy,” in which Davidson is depicted being buried alive and beaten violently. In January, Charlamagne called out “Eazy” for being “corny” with the lyric, “God saved me from that crash/Just so I can beat Pete Davidson’s a–.”
Balenciaga is ending its relationship with Kanye West, the fashion house’s parent company says.
“Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,” Kering told Women’s Wear Daily — a sister publication to Billboard — when asked by the trade publication about the rapper, who now goes by Ye.
The statement comes after West’s numerous antisemitic comments on social media and interviews, though Kering did not provide any details as to why it was cutting ties with him. Billboard has reached out to Kering and West’s reps for comment.
Bloomberg also tried the rapper, who responded to the publication via text message, saying: “God runs the world. We perform only for God. We serve only God. God bless.”
The French fashion house had featured Ye in its Summer 2023 show during Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 2. The rapper opened the event, walking down the runway through the mud in a head-to-toe black outfit featuring a hoodie, oversized security jacket, baggy moto pants, a baseball cap, as well as a mouth guard featuring the brand’s name.
It was Ye’s first time modeling for a major fashion house at Fashion Week. However, it appears that Balenciaga has since removed his appearance from the YouTube video of its Summer 2023 show, which previously showed the rapper being first down the muddy path. The runway show now kicks off with a shirtless male model in sunglasses and black pants.
Balenciaga had also recently collaborated with Ye on the YZY Gap Engineered by Balenciaga line. One of its recent collaborations was described as a “first of its kind creative exploration within the YZY Gap universe continuing YZY Gap’s commitment to bringing creativity to the forefront and delivering a vision of utilitarian design for all together with [Balenciaga creative director] Demna and iconic American brand, Gap.” Billboard has reached out to Yeezy Gap for comment.
Many have spoken out to condemn Ye’s hateful comments since he showed off “White Lives Matter” shirts at his own Paris Fashion Week show earlier this month, which he followed with the antisemitic comments on social media. He then doubled down on them during interviews after being suspended from Twitter and Instagram for posting hate speech.
“It’s just abhorrent,” actress Jamie Lee Curtis said on the TODAY show of his comments about Jewish people.
“Also a little reminder Kanye, using the word death and Jews in the same sentence when 6,000,000 Jews were murdered … is vile and abhorrent and irresponsible+ U shoukd be banned for life everywhere,” tweeted award-winning songwriter Diane Warren. “Let’s see if all these corporations doing business with anti Semitic f–ktard Kanye drop him.”
NBA YoungBoy is celebrating his 23rd birthday with the release of his brand new album Ma, I Got a Family, which features a fresh new collaboration with Nicki Minaj titled “I Admit.”
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The rap duo previously teamed up on Mike WiLL Made-It’s 2020 single “What That Speed Bout!?” The Ma, I Got a Family cover art features YoungBoy with his sweet family, including his fiancée Jazlyn Mychelle and their two children.
The release marks YoungBoy’s fifth drop of 2022 following his Colors mixtape in January and The Last Slimeto in August. In March, he and DaBaby unveiled a collaborative project titled Better Than You and earlier this month, he released his 3800 Degrees mixtape.
Meanwhile, Minaj is also on a music releasing streak. Her “Love In the Way” collaboration with Yung Blue followed the rapper’s Rick James-sampled “Super Freaky Girl,” which topped the Hot 100 in late August, earning the Queen of Rap her first solo No. 1 hit. Prior to that, Minaj ruled the Hot 100 with her feature appearances on “Trollz” alongside the controversial 6ix9ine and on the remix to Doja Cat’s “Say So.”
Listen to “I Admit” below.
Lil Nas X had a very special guest at his concert in Los Angeles on Wednesday night: none other than A-list actor Will Ferrell.
Following the show, the rapper couldn’t help but rave about meeting the funnyman, posting a photo of the two backstage at LA’s Crypto.com Arena with the caption: “WILL FERRELL CAME TO MY F—IN CONCERT ! nobody can tell me sh–.”
However, Lil Nas X did end up finding himself in some hot water after making a joke in the replies to his tweet. One follower asked, “Where is Will’s hand?” and the superstar responded, “he couldn’t resist getting a good hand full of this big fat a–. and i couldn’t say no tbh.”
And just like that, Uproxx ran a story with a headline treating the “Industry Baby” artist’s quip as serious, leading him to post a screenshot of the story and write, “This why i can’t joke around on twitter no more lmaoo.”
When he’s not modeling for Coach’s new “Courage to Be Real” campaign, the prankster has found plenty of other outlets for his practical jokes as of late, including prank-calling famous friends like Lizzo, Olivia Rodrigo and Troye Sivan with his wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hollywood.
During his ongoing Long Live Montero Tour, Lil Nas X has also sent pizza to religious protesters outside Fenway Park and stopped the show in Atlanta for an emergency bathroom break.
See Lil Nas X geek out over meeting Ferrell backstage below.
Quavo and Takeoff’s collaborative album, Built for Infinity Links, yields a No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart as the project starts atop the list dated Oct. 22. Links earned 33,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Oct. 13, according to Luminate.
Streaming fuels the album’s entrance, with 30,500 of the 33,000 units deriving from the consumption method. The 30,500 streaming-equivalent album units equal 41.1 million official on-demand streams of Links’ songs in the tracking week. Two thousand of the remaining units come from traditional album sales, with the outstanding 500 balance owed to track-equivalent album units. (One unit equals the following levels of consumption: one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.)
Elsewhere, Links debuts at No. 3 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
The new champ gives Quavo his second solo chart-topper, after Quavo Huncho ruled for one week upon its debut in October 2018. Takeoff, meanwhile, achieves his first leader, after a prior No. 2 best for his The Last Rocket in November 2018. The pair has also visited the summit as two-thirds of the trio Migos, whose Culture and Culture II led the list in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The group’s future is uncertain – Quavo and Takeoff have said Migos is on an indefinite hiatus, while the trio’s third member, Offset, has announced a solo album for release on Nov. 11.
As Links arrives, three of its tracks debut on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart: “To the Bone,” with YoungBoy Never Broke Again (No. 24), “Nothing Changed” (No. 44) and “Chocolate,” with Gunna (No. 48). “Bone” leads the album’s songs in streaming, with 5.8 million official U.S. streams in the week ending Oct. 13.
In addition, the previously released Links lead single, “Hotel Lobby (Unc & Phew),” rallies 37-19 from the album release’s impact. The track returns to its highest rank since the July 5-dated list (also at No. 19). The track’s 50% surge in streams to reach 5.6 million in the week and 356% swell in sales to 1,000 downloads secure it both the chart’s Streaming Gainer and Digital Gainer callouts.
While John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have shared much of their love story in songs and tweets, respectively, the singer said in a recent interview that he was not always the best partner. In an interview on the latest episode of the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast, Legend went back to a time in his mid 20s when he was the kind of a bad boyfriend.
“I think I was more selfish then,” Legend, 43, said of the first blush of romance with Teigen, 36, who he married in 2013 after first meeting in 2006 on the set of the video for his “Stereo” single. “I wasn’t a great partner at the beginning of our relationship, even though I was very into her and very excited to be with her. I was still selfish. I was in my mid 20s, still not ready to fully be the committed partner that I am now.”
That obviously changed in the ensuing years, with Legend famously dedicating the Billboard Hot 100-topping 2013 true love anthem “All of Me” to his wife, with whom he shares two children, with a fourth on the way after suffering a pregnancy loss with baby Jack in September 2020. And Legend is still writing about the couple’s endless love on tracks such as this year’s “I Don’t Love You Like I Used To,” which he said was about the evolution of a relationship.
“When we first met, we were like, very attracted to each other, our chemistry was great, but that level of attraction is more like infatuation at the beginning of a relationship,” he said. “And love when it is able to stand the test of time, it has to be deeper and more real than that. We’ve been through enough together where it’s really fortified us and made us stronger.” All those tests have helped the couple grow and made them stronger, Legend said, as they’ve discovered all the things they didn’t know about each other. “And going through all of that, to be able to write and sing a song called ‘I Don’t Love You Like I Used To.’ It’s different now but it’s better.”
Legend said he can write that song now because once you “really figure out that you love someone” and you really want to make it work with that person you have to decide, “‘I’m going to do the things that I need to do to be a good partner in this relationship,’” he told Shetty. “And I’ve just grown as a person because of that too. When you stop being so selfish when you think about not only the joy you get from a situation and the pleasure you get from it, but you also think about your responsibly and your commitment in that situation. I think you just grow, and you mature. I think part of it is it’s just a matter of time. You need time to become that person you want to be.”
And while Teigen is not that interested in getting “in the weeds” of Legend’s music-making, he said she always has thoughts on his live show, his setlist and how he should look, and he’s always happy when she’s proud of his accomplishments. Legend also acknowledged, however, that there are plenty of tough times, including the loss of Jack, which Teigen shared with the world in a cathartic series of posts.
“Like I said with Chrissy, I’ve seen so much growth through our grief and through our tragedy,” he said. “It’s always going to be a part of who we are and I’m fine with that. It’s part of who we are. We carry it with us and it’s OK.” He said you have to commit to the hard work necessary to get through the pain, something the couple are both ready to do.
“Like doing the work that we needed to do to get through it. And I think having, already had two kids together was definitely helpful because they just bring so much joy into our lives and laughter and fun and they’re great focus for our energy,” he said of daughter Luna, 6 and son Miles, 4. “And even when you’re going through deep grief on losing a pregnancy you still have these two beautiful babies that you love, and I think that was certainly helpful.”
Listen to Legend’s interview in the podcast below.
Jeezy was asked on Wednesday morning (Oct. 19) about the unaired episode of the YouTube talk show Uninterrupted The Shop that he taped alongside Kanye West and shoe designer Salehe Bembury that was shelved last week in the wake of what producers said was “more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes” reportedly perpetuated by Ye on the show.
Asked on Ebro in the Morning if he could recall anything said during the episode that made him understand why it was not aired or if he thought producers just wanted to stay away from the unfolding backlash against West, Jeezy said he wasn’t sure what the answer was. “I couldn’t tell you that, I could just tell you that… whatever was said, um, whatever reason… I was just there to do my thing,” he said haltingly.
“But again, it’s not my business or place to speak on another man, you know what I mean? That’s just how I’m rockin’. I’m quite sure when one of them come up here they can kind of break it down to you,” he added. “I was a little, like, ‘Damn. They canceled me, I gotta go see Ebro now. I got a project coming out.’ Shoutout to Snowfall right now.”
Pressed by the radio host to say whether he understood why the Shop team shelved the episode, Jeezy again skirted around the controversy. “I can’t say I understood why they took it off, I just know that I came there, we did it, and I got a call and they said, ‘It’s was wrap.’ I didn’t take it personally,” he said, noting that he’s already been invited back to The Shop to appear with filmmaker/producer Tyler Perry.
The producers behind The Shop — which is executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter — decided against airing the episode or revealing what West said. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter last week, Carter said, “Yesterday we taped an episode of The Shop with Kanye West. Kanye was booked weeks ago and, after talking to Kanye directly the day before we taped, I believed he was capable of a respectful discussion and he was ready to address all his recent comments. Unfortunately, he used The Shop to reiterate more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes.”
West has been widely condemned over the past week for his repeated use of hateful antisemitic stereotypes — which got him temporarily restricted from Twitter and Instagram — including during an interview on Chris Cuomo’s new show on Monday in which he referred to the “Jewish underground media mafia” and said Black artists signed to “Jewish record labels… [is] like a modern day slavery.”
Ye continued leaning into his hate-filled rhetoric on English talker Piers Morgan’s show on Wednesday, when he steadfastly refused to show remorse for his antisemitic comments. Asked if he was “sorry” that he said he was going to go “death con 3” on Jewish people, Ye simply replied, “Absolutely not.”
Watch Jeezy on Ebro below (Kanye talk starts around 17:44 mark).
The Soul Train Awards are taking over Las Vegas on November 13, and BET announced its list of nominees for the star-studded ceremony. Actor and comedian Deon Cole will host the night dedicated to celebrating the best in soul, R&B and hip-hop music.
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“Hosting the Soul Train Awards is a dream come true. I grew up watching Soul Train and ‘til this day, I’ve never met a Soul Train Line I didn’t bless with my skilled two step,” said Cole in a press statement. “It is truly a privilege to be given this opportunity to celebrate Don Cornelius’ legacy, all of the amazing Black talent that illuminated our screens on the iconic TV show, and my favorite genres of music: Soul, R&B and Hip Hop.”
Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige lead this year’s list of nominees, with an impressive seven nods each. Ari Lennox follows with six, and Lizzo and Chris Brown each have five nominations. Burna Boy, Muni Long and Steve Lacy all have four nods.
The 2022 Soul Train Awards premiere on Sunday (Nov. 13) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her. See the full list of nominations below.
Best New ArtistCKayCoco JonesDixsonDoechiiFireboy DMLMuni LongSteve LacyTems
Certified Soul AwardChaka KhanCharlie WilsonDiana RossMary J. BligeMaxwellPJ MortonRonald Isley & The Isley BrothersT-Pain
Best Gospel/Inspirational AwardCeCe WinansErica CampbellFred HammondMajor.Marvin SappMaverick City Music X Kirk FranklinTamela MannTasha Cobbs Leonard
Best R&B/Soul Female ArtistAri LennoxBeyoncéH.E.R.Jazmine SullivanLizzoMary J. BligeSZATems
Best R&B/Soul Male ArtistBabyfaceBrent FaiyazBurna BoyCharlie WilsonChris BrownGiveonLucky DayePJ Morton
Album of the YearAn Evening With Silk Sonic, Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)Away Message (EP), Ari LennoxBreezy, Chris BrownGood Morning Gorgeous, Mary J. BligeHeaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe, Jazmine SullivanR&B Money, TankRenaissance, BeyoncéSpecial, Lizzo
Song of the Year“About Damn Time,” Lizzo“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long“Last Last,” Burna Boy“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
The Ashford And Simpson Songwriter’s Award“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé“Church Girl,” Beyoncé“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long“I Hate U,” SZA“Last, Last,” Burna Boy“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
Best Dance Performance“About Damn Time,” Lizzo“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid“Have Mercy,” Chlöe“Persuasive,” Doechii“Pressure,” Ari Lennox“Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)“We (Warm Embrace),” Chris Brown“Woman,” Doja Cat
Video of the Year“About Damn Time,” Lizzo“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige“Have Mercy,” Chlöe“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long“Last Last,” Burna Boy“Pressure,” Ari Lennox“Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
Best Collaboration“Amazing,” Mary J. Blige feat. DJ Khaled“Be Like Water,” PJ Morton feat. Stevie Wonder & Nas“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid“Gotta Move On,” Diddy feat. Bryson Tiller“Hate Our Love,” Queen Naija & Big Sean“Make Me Say It Again, Girl,” Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers feat. Beyoncé“Move,” Beyoncé feat. Grace Jones & Tems“Slow,” Tank feat. J. Valentine
