R&B/Hip-Hop
Page: 64
New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams made somewhat of a cameo in The Notorious B.I.G.‘s video for the rapper’s debut single “Juicy.” According to a resurfaced tweet from New York Times reporter Jesse Drucker, his eagle-eyed son spotted the now-mayor as he was watching the video. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See […]
Ludacris is on a “water quest” after going viral for drinking still water from a glacier in Alaska. The rapper and actor was in town to perform at the Alaska State Fair, but he had to make sure to do some sightseeing while he was there. Luda posted a video of himself drinking water from […]
It’s always a busy week in the hip-hop and R&B worlds. Much of the chatter remains surrounding Diddy’s bombshell arrest on federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. As part of the fallout from Sean Combs’ crumbling empire, 50 Cent announced that his upcoming documentary surrounding the allegations against Diddy will be coming to Netflix.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“This is a story with significant human impact. It is a complex narrative spanning decades, not just the headlines or clips seen so far,” 50 relayed in a joint statement to Variety last week. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives.”
Trending on Billboard
On the music side, Future continued his historic run with his third consecutive No. 1 album thanks to Mixtape Pluto. It’s his eighth Billboard 200 leader in a row as the Atlanta star etches another chapter into a Hall of Fame career.
The Weeknd reunited with Playboi Carti for “Timeless,” which will land on the Canadian singer’s upcoming Hurry Up Tomorrow album. It’s the second single headed for Abel’s third and final installment of his After Hours/Dawn FM trilogy. “Dancing in the Flames” initially debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Sept. 28.
Tommy Richmond capitalized on his breakout summer with the release of his debut album, Coyote. To the surprise of many around the industry, the Virginia native didn’t include hits like “Million Dollar Baby” and “Devil is a Lie” on the LP.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop – from BIA’s frustrations on wax to Doodie Lo and Mozzy linking up for a gritty street anthem. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Tia Wood, “Sky High”
The Indigenous R&B singer-songwriter makes a statement with her Pretty Red Bird EP, but Tia Wood’s coo is also more soothing than any chirping birds in the morning. A funky bassline and some pop-leaning soul provide the canvas for Woods on the project standout “Sky High.” The Amy Winehouse-inspired artist looks inward to heal rather than for outside support: “Who needs a savior? Got myself on retainer,” she sings. But if you’re gonna snap a picture to capture the Alberta native’s gaze, just don’t forget about her good side.
Ray Emmanuel, “#NEEDTHAT”
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. After exploring a couple of laps across the globe, Ray Emmanuel wants to come home. On “#NEEDTHAT,” the North Carolina wordsmith taps into his romantic side as he pens a love letter to a former flame he wants back. This go around, a decisive Ray knows the timing’s right. “And I know I’ma see you again/ Don’t give up on me because this the way it ain’t gotta end,” he pleads over the dreamy production. “I don’t really care that I ain’t your first, I’ll be your last.” Emmanuel is ready to do whatever it takes to win her over. The 19-year-old has shown plenty of dexterity with his artistry throughout the four singles he’s delivered in 2024.
Montell Fish, “It’s Gonna’ Cost You”
The second installment in the JCM Trilogy, Montell Fish brings the chaos with his “sonic evolution” of Charlotte. The Christian artist rumbles through the grunginess of “It’s Gonna’ Cost You.” Fish lets the rage fuel him as he’s beaming with confidence on the rock-tinged track. “Greatest that you’ve ever seen/ And I don’t want nothing/ These flows is all I need,” his falsetto vocals pierce the rowdy disarray. Fish explained that with the project his “goal was to make an art piece inspired by theological Ideas through the lens of a breakup with a slight to psychological concepts for answers.”
BIA & Lil Yachty, “Pissed Off”
Even while traveling the country opening for one of her rap heroes in Nicki Minaj on tour, somebody managed to piss BIA off. “Somebody gon’ die today, this sound like Jeff in the ride today,” she raps to open her verse with an homage to Young Thug’s “Die Today.” BIA runs through a questionnaire trying to find who’s real around her. Lil Yachty has proven time and time again to be a versatile collaborator and Boat’s malleability shines here. He compares his Chanel watch to a glass of milk and defends his CEO ability as Yachty made all his homies millionaires.
Doodie Lo & Mozzy, “Glock’D In”
A gritty street anthem connecting the Illinois upstart to Sacramento’s veteran soldier. Doodie Lo narrates his rags to riches story while flexing his AP but remembering the days of hoisting his G-Shock like a Rolex. “That n—a been a b—h, you could ask Siri,” he raps in a cheeky jab that cuts deeper than the surface. Mozzy invades the show with his raspy flow that doubles as a natural instrument. He’s been around the block once or twice and demands his respect for trailblazing a path for others to follow. “I bled the block and paved the way,” the CMG rhymer spews.
Monaleo & Sauce Walka, “Er-er”
The Houston rap princess meets one of the city’s well-respected sargeants. “Er-er” goes the sound of the bed as 2 Chainz collectively taught us on 2012’s “I’m Different.” Monaleo shows off her shrewd wordplay prowess while also paying homage to the talk show legend Jerry Springer, who passed away last year. The raunchy collab could be taken to the next level if another Houston native joins the party, with Megan Thee Stallion hopping on a potential remix. The thumping piano-driven production is where Meg makes her living, and her appearance would extend the track’s shelf life. Either way, the 23-year-old is undoubtedly going to be heard from in the years to come as she looks to shake up the rap hierarchy.
The Weeknd and Playboi Carti have unleashed the visual to their “Timeless” anthem. The Gunner Stahl-directed clip arrived on Monday (Sept. 30) following the single’s release last week. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news It’s an all-Black affair in the gloomy video as The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) […]
Chino XL — born Derek Barbosa — died on July 28 at the age of 50, but no cause of death was given at the time. His family confirmed to People on Monday (Sept. 30) that the rapper-actor died by suicide.
“It’s been the most painful and personal experience of our lives, but in honor of Suicide Awareness Month, we decided to share this truth,” Chino’s children relayed in a statement, which also noted that the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office had listed his cause of death as asphyxia due to ligature hanging.
Trending on Billboard
“Our father was our rock and our best friend. Papa Bear loved us and taught us so much. Hundreds of emails, texts, chats and beautiful posts and comments on social media, have shown us that Dad was a fountain of strength to so many,” his children continued. “He encouraged and comforted pretty much everyone in his path and left this dimension with an untouchable creative legacy. We are grateful beyond words for our time with Dad and are overwhelmed by the immeasurable global outpouring of love from around the world.”
The statement also noted that the rapper was diagnosed with congenital heart failure in 2020 along with stage 4 prostate cancer earlier in 2024. He also struggled with bouts of depression throughout his life.
Chino XL is survived by his five kids, five grandchildren, his mother Carole and former longtime partner Stephanie. His niece Lady London was among those in the hip-hop community to pay tribute to the New Jersey-bred star.
Over the weekend, the late rapper-actor’s estate cleared up that there is no October release date for Chino XL’s upcoming posthumous album that’s in the works.
“It is with frustration, anger and pain that we renounce the ‘October release’ date for Chino XL’s posthumous album,” they wrote to Instagram. “The family and estate of Derek Barbosa own all rights, copyright and trademarks of the Chino XL name; his voice and likeness.”
Chino XL was born in the Bronx and raised in East Orange, N.J. He formed the Art of Origin duo with Kerri Chandler, and they signed to Def Jam Recordings via Warner in 1991.
His Here to Save You All debut album arrived in 1996 and reached No. 56 on the Top R&B Albums chart. Chino XL also notched collaborations over the years with the likes of Kool G Rap, Proof, J. Dilla and B-Real. He even headed to give Hollywood a try as an actor where he starred in movies such as Alex & Emma, while appearing in television shows such as CSI: Miami, The Young and the Restless and Reno 911!
If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988 or visiting the website for free, confidential support that is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Two decades ago, while hip-hop maintained its cultural dominance, reggaetón began to carve out a niche in the global music scene, and Fat Joe — deeply connected to his Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage and known for his unmistakable New York swagger — bridged the two genres. As both have evolved, so has he: His involvement in Don Omar’s 2005 “Reggaetón Latino (Chosen Few Remix),” alongside N.O.R.E. and LDA, marked a pivotal moment in bringing reggaetón and rap closer together.
Since then, he has consistently fused Latin influences with hip-hop, from his 2019 salsa-infused track “Yes” with Cardi B and Anuel AA (which samples Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón’s “Aguanile”) to the more recent single “Paradise” with Anitta and DJ Khaled. Fat Joe spoke with Billboard ahead of his conversation with N.O.R.E. during Latin Music Week about the intersection of hip-hop and reggaetón.
Trending on Billboard
How has your Latin heritage influenced your music?
Man, I just love making music for everybody. But every time we can tap the Latino market — because I’m Puerto Rican and Cuban, my wife’s Colombian — we do it for everybody. And you know, nobody knows how to celebrate like Latinos. It’s about time we teamed up with Anitta from Brazil and then DJ Khaled [with “Paradise,” which premiered at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards] and make a Latino national anthem.
Since “Reggaetón Latino,” how have you seen the relationship between these two styles evolve?
I’m just proud of reggaetón and everywhere [those artists have] gone because when we started out, they were the little guys. Now they’re killing the whole game — Don Omar, Tego Calderón, Daddy Yankee, Wisin & Yandel, all the guys who pioneered the game and brought it over to America and then the world.
In your view, how have hip-hop and reggaetón supported or influenced each other’s wider cultural acceptance over the years?
Hip-hop is the blueprint. It’s the foundation of everything. Reggaetón came after and just took it to another level in the Latino space and the global space. Even people who aren’t Latinos love reggaetón, but hip-hop is always the blueprint. It started everything when you talk about the flow, the music, the fashion… It just runs neck and neck.
This story appears in the Sept. 28, 2024, issue of Billboard.
Even over three decades into her decorated career, Mary J. Blige is still adding to her legacy. The queen of hip-hop soul announced her For My Fans Tour last week and revealed the full dates and venues on Monday (Sept. 30).
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Fellow R&B titans Ne-Yo and Mario will serve as openers on the North American trek. Artist pre-sale starts on Oct. 1, while the general public will have their shot on Ticketmaster on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. local time.
“I am so excited to kick off this tour. I have amazing fans and am so grateful for all of the love and support they have given me throughout the years,” Mary J. Blige said in a statement. “This tour is for them, and I cannot wait to be able to travel to all these cities and see everyone.”
Trending on Billboard
She continued: “I am in such a place of immense gratitude and peace at this moment, so also having the chance to release my new album Gratitude on Nov. 15 ahead of this tour is really special to me.”
The 27-city tour kicks off on Jan. 30 in Greensboro, N.C., and will rumble through Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Washington, D.C. and more before wrapping up in Boston on April 14.
The Yonkers legend isn’t letting up the rest of 2024. She kicked off the rollout for her upcoming Gratitude album with “Breathing” featuring Fabolous in August. Look for the project to arrive on Nov. 15.
Before Gratitude hits streaming services, Mary J. Blige will also be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a ceremony for the 2024 class taking place on Oct. 19 in Cleveland to cap off another banner year from the Power actress.
Find the full For My Fans Tour dates below.
Jan. 30 – Greensboro, N.C. @ Greensboro Coliseum
Jan. 31 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Lenovo Center
Feb. 3 – Atlanta, Ga. @ State Farm Arena
Feb. 6 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Spectrum Center
Feb. 8 – Tampa, Fla. @ Amalie Arena
Feb. 11 – Hollywood, Fla. @ Hard Rock Live
Feb. 14 – New Orleans, La. @ Smoothie King Center
Feb. 18 – Houston, Texas @ Toyota Center
Feb. 21 – Ft. Worth, Texas @ Dickies Arena
Feb. 25 – Denver, Colo. @ Ball Arena
March 1 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Intuit Dome
March 7 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Chase Center
March 8 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Golden 1 Center
March 12 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Enterprise Center
March 14 – Chicago, Ill. @ United Center
March 16 – St. Paul, Minn. @ Xcel Energy Center
March 19 – Detroit, Mich. @ Little Caesars Arena
March 22 – Buffalo, N.Y. @ KeyBank Center
March 24 – Toronto, Ontario @ Scotiabank Arena
March 26 – Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena
March 28 – Atlantic City, N.J. @ Boardwalk Hall
April 2 – Columbus, Ohio @ Nationwide Arena
April 4 – Baltimore, Md. @ CFG Bank Arena
April 6 – Newark, N.J. @ Prudential Center
April 10 – New York, N.Y. @ Madison Square Garden
April 11 – Elmont, N.Y. @ UBS Arena
April 14 – Boston, Mass. @ TD Garden
Cam’ron made a big revelation on his and Mase‘s show It Is What It Is earlier Friday (Sept. 27). While greeting each other to start their latest episode, Cam asked Mase if he heard about the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams before casually dropping some interesting news. “You know what’s crazy? This […]
Travis Scott is giving fans across the globe the chance to get their hands on exclusive Circus Maximus Tour merchandise. Fútbol fans are in luck, as La Flame released the UTOPIA collection of soccer jerseys from his travels during recent European and South American tour stops on Friday (Sept. 27). The capsule is currently available […]
50 Cent has been one of the only rappers to be vocal about the alleged sexual misconduct of Diddy. He’s trolled the fallen mogul with baby oil memes and has been talking about making a documentary about his alleged accusations since earlier this year, when he posted a mock poster for a docuseries entitled “Diddy […]