State Champ Radio R&B/Hip-Hop
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Miami has long been a staple in the hip-hop community, producing a range of rap stars over the decades. Miami-Dade County is honoring its rich hip-hop history by naming Liberty City neighborhood streets after rappers who have called the Sunshine State home.
Per NBC 6 South Florida, DJ Khaled (We the Best Terrace), City Girls (City Girls Street), Kodak Black (Tunnel Vision Street), Flo Rida (Welcome to My House Street), Trick Daddy (What’s My Name Street), Trina (Still Da Baddest Street) and many more were among those celebrated.
“If you play this music to the people who are from this area, they are going to light up like it’s the Fourth of July. The essence of this is to encourage economic development in our community,” Miami-Dade County District 3 Commissioner Keon Hardemon said. “The essence of this is to… let people know that this exists in Miami-Dade County and you should come and see it.”
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He continued: “In the 1950s or so, during the time of segregation, 18th Avenue was the place to be… It had juke joints, it had bars, it had restaurants, and it had living quarters… That’s why they named it Broadway.”
Hardemon hopes to see economic stimulation in the area to compete with surrounding areas. “Since I’ve been elected, that’s been my mission,” he added. “We’re moving on to the next phase of what it takes to bring Broadway to the 21st century, and allow it to compete with Wynwood and Overtown and things of that nature.”
The committee reportedly weighed Billboard chart success with how much certain artists contributed to the fabric of Miami while also leading philanthropic efforts to give back in the 305 during the selection process.
District 13 Commissioner René Garcia initially opposed the proposal due to lyrical content, but ended up changing her mind. “Even though I’m not a big fan of some of the lyrics in some of these songs, who am I to stand in the way of trying to do something innovative for your community and your constituency?” she said.
It’s been a winning year for DJ Khaled, who collected 17 new RIAA certifications in January. He’s working toward the release of his 14th studio album Aalam of God, which is expected to arrive later this year.
Playboi Carti dropped the deluxe edition of his acclaimed third studio album Music as a surprise on Tuesday (March 25), via AWGE and Interscope Records. The 27-year-old Atlanta rapper (real name Jordan Terrell Carter) added four songs to MUSIC – SORRY 4 DA WAIT: “Different Day,” “2024,” “Backr00ms” with Travis Scott and “FOMDJ.” He previously […]
After rekindling their romance in 2023, Ashanti and Nelly didn’t waste any time tying the knot during a secret ceremony later in the same year.
Upon finding out Ashanti was pregnant with her first child, Nelly explained to Bootleg Kev this week that there were no initial discussions of marriage, but that was sped up as the Country Grammar artist didn’t want the singer to be a “baby mama.”
“Once we found out that she was pregnant… We didn’t talk about any of that,” he said. “I was like, ‘Yo, let’s just knock this out because we’re going to be doing so much and everything’s moving so fast.’ I didn’t want her to be a baby mama because we already knew where we were in life. If we’re back like this, this must be what it’s supposed to be.”
Ashanti gave birth to her first child with Nelly (his fifth), Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, in July 2024. The “Body On Me” singers started dating in 2003, and they dated on and off until ultimately breaking up in 2013.
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The couple confirmed they were once again an item in September 2023. However, Kev wondered if sparks were flying when they reunited onstage during the summer of 2021 at Fat Joe and Ja Rule’s Verzuz battle in NYC.
“When I went to Verzuz, I had someone with me,” he said. “I didn’t want it tense. When I walked in, her mother had saw me and I knew mom was gonna go back and let her know that I was in the building. We didn’t even talk. I went over and got a hug and break the ice. We didn’t talk for probably almost another eight to nine months to a year. Everything happens for a reason.”
Earlier this year, Ashanti revealed that she wants more kids with Nelly and is hoping to bring a daughter into the world.
“We’re going to add some more,” she told E! News. “Definitely a girl to balance it out. I’m outnumbered in the house right now. So, a girl would be great… I am feeling amazing, incredibly pleased, humbled. My life has completely changed for the better. I feel full, you know? My cup is full.”
Elsewhere in his interview with Bootleg Kev, Nelly recalled feuding with Eminem at the turn of the century, which he chalked up to a “miscommunication.”
Nelly famously took a shot at Em on MTV’s TRL during the summer of 2000 following the arrival of his debut album Country Grammar and questioned Em making a St. Louis tour stop. “Well, you know, dirty, dirty, I don’t too much know nothing bout dirty, you know what I’m sayin. But he be having some sly little comments about me,” he said. “I don’t play with candy, you know what I’m saying? I eat M&Ms, flat out.”
A month after its 2000 release, Em’s The Marshall Mathers LP still held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, which meant Nelly would debut behind him at No. 3.
Twenty-five years later, the St. Louis native explained that he “misinterpreted something when I was really, really new. I want to apologize to Em,” Nelly said. “Somehow I misinterpreted that he had something to say about what we were doing.”
The pair would clear the air when Em pulled up on Nelly backstage at a Detroit show with his daughter, Hailie, who was a big fan of Nelly’s.
“I felt like a di–, man. Because we were Eminem fans,” he said. “Just miscommunication, man. Em’s a dope cat and I’m glad we got that out the way. It’s f—ed up when you admire people on a level. Dude spits. I appreciate all factors of hip-hop.”
On Sunday night (Mar. 23), Playboi Carti notched his second Billboard 200 No. 1 album with MUSIC. The colossal 30-track set scored a wondrous debut for the OPIUM leader, as he secured the biggest streaming week for any album in nearly a year. For Carti, this is his first album in five years, and its debut nearly triples the opening week-performance of his previous album, 2020 demon-driven effort Whole Lotta Red, confirming him as a leading light of this rap generation. Though Carti should savor this win, the late great Ben Parker comes to mind: “With great power comes great responsibility.” If Carti wants to be the undisputed torchbearer for hip-hop, he should consider a few crucial factors on his road to glory.
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Before his MUSIC atomic bomb detonated the charts, Carti was a proven features savant. His eccentric delivery and kooky flows made him a must-listen whenever he was penciled in on a guest slot. Over the last couple years, he’s left indelible prints on songs like Kanye’s “Carnival,” Future and Metro Boomin’s “Type S–t,” Travis Scott’s “Fe!n,” and The Weeknd’s “Timeless,” which all became Hot 100 flamethrowers, with the first becoming his first No. 1 hit. Though Carti is a missile on features, he’ll need more enduring hits on the solo front to cement his legitimacy as a bonafide hitmaker.
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His 2017 breakout “Magnolia” from his self-titled mixtape was a seismic force culturally and musically. The Pierre Bourne-produced hit was his first top-30 song and was beloved by rap fans, with the biggest one being Jay-Z, who dubbed the record “incredible.”But eight years later, “Magnolia” is still the only song with Carti as a lone artist to spend more than 10 weeks total on the chart. If Carti wants to be the “Travis Scott of Atlanta,” as he was rumored to have told Akademiks, he’ll need to churn out bangers of his own like his Houston brethren.
So far, Carti might have a heater on his hands with “EVIL J0RDAN,” which is in the early lead as MUSIC’s most popular record, netting nearly 53 million plays on Spotify and debuts just behind Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s five-week No.1 “Luther” at the runner-up spot on this week’s Hot 100. When you think of rap giants like Drake, Kendrick, Cole, Future, Travis, and now Tyler, they all landed a hit that lasted beyond their album’s opening week. The question going forward will be if “EVIL J0RDAN” can stick around in the top 10 longer than its opening week, and have the legs to compete well into the spring.
Carti’s steadfastness in his sound and lack of compromise is also something that will add to his legacy as he goes deeper into his career. Though he brought in the late-2010s rap Avengers in Kendrick, Future, Travis, and Uzi for MUSIC, he doesn’t sacrifice his sound to do that, which plays into his genesis as a superstar. Lamar, arguably in the midst of the most incredible run in hip-hop history, appears thrice on the project and is pretty malleable, sliding seamlessly into Carti’s orbit. Whether he’s playing lyrical hopscotch with his rap “twin” on “GOOD CREDIT” or ad-libbing alongside him on “MOJO JOJO,” Lamar slips into those pockets like a hand-in-glove, without spoiling Carti’s efforts.
Carti’s vision isn’t one that everyone can understand, especially those from an older era, but the fact that he has earned the trust and respect of both Mount Rushmore-caliber rappers like Lamar and Future and even current generational leaders like Uzi and Travis speaks to his unflappable influence. Whole Lotta Red was rage rap at its finest and, for some fans, a challenging departure from his Die Lit days. On MUSIC, though, Carti tones down the vamp rap and made palatable music for his day-one listeners while still showing love for his mosh-pit bandits, especially on “POP OUT.”
As Carti continues his quest for immortality, he must also continue to nurture his burgeoning Opium collective, which has thrived under his watch. The rise of Destroy Lonely and Ken Carson in the last few years has answered questions about Carti’s executive skills. Last summer, Carson notched his first Hot 100 hit with “Overseas,” and before that, he enjoyed a torrid set at Coachella and toured with revered rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. As for Destroy, last year, he earned his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with Love Lasts Forever, also debuting at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. Despite not having Carson or Lonely on the album, there’s always time for Carti to put out an OPIUM project to satiate fans’ hunger between releases, which would bode well for his team and excite fans about the collective’s promising future.
Lastly, the huge question mark is Carti’s productivity. After a grueling five-year wait with MUSIC, Carti can’t afford to make fans wait until 2030 for another album, even if he’s dropping fiery features. Past hip-hop greats have traditionally gone at most two to three years without releasing a project. Carti – still in the early stages of his career – needs to increase his output exponentially. There’s no reason why he can’t release at least two more projects before 2030, which would firmly secure his place as one of the decade’s preeminent greats.
With the “Big Three” conversation still oozing out of barbershops and every other rap podcast, the new topic of choice should be: Does Carti now need to be included in any such discussion? If he amps up his output, grows his collective and scores some huge hits of his own, he absolutely will be.
It’s Billboard Women in Music week, so let’s go ahead and give the ladies their flowers. On Saturday (March 29), Emmy winner Laverne Cox will host the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event, honoring aespa, Ángela Aguilar, Erykah Badu, Glorilla, Gracie Abrams, JENNIE, Megan Moroney, Meghan Trainor, Muni Long, Tyla and Doechii. With Badu earning the Icon Award, Big Glo being named this year’s Powerhouse honoree, Muni Long snagging the Rising Star Award and Doechii — who recently bagged her first Hot 100 top 10 hit with “Anxiety” — landing the Woman of the Year title, this year’s event will celebrate the breadth of women running hip-hop and R&B.
Outside of Women in Music, Ye kept the hip-hop world on its toes by dropping a link to his Bully album, Jack Harlow and Doja Cat joined forces for a new bop featuring a cameo-filled music video and Casey Wasserman — the chairman of the 2028 L.A. Olympics organizing committee — teased a possible Kendrick Lamar performance at the forthcoming Games. Oh, and Playboi Carti notched the biggest Billboard 200 debut of his career, as well as 30 concurrent Hot 100 entries, thanks to his culture-dominating Music LP.
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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from JT’s summer-ready banger to Nettspend and Xaviersobased’s new link-up. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: JT, “Ran Out”
After taking the world by star with City Cinderella and cemeting herself as a solo artist, JT is back with some more heat. “Ran Out,” an infectious, Y2K-nodding banger in the nonchalant, self-assuered spirit on “Okay,” introduces the Miami MC’s new era, complete with an artsy music video starring famed content creator Quenlin Blackwell. Perfectly timed to grow into a summer anthem, “Ran Out” finds JT reviving the irresistible, slightly whiny delivery of the OG City Girl days while building on her penchant for hooks constructed out of flipping the meaning of a word or phrase multiple times. “Had to stay down, bitches ran out/ My card ain’t work, so I ran out/ The time for these niggas done ran out/ I’m still gettin’ money, I ain’t running out,” she spits in the second half of the hook over bass-heavy production from Ben10k, Danes Blood & 254Bodi. — KYLE DENIS
Nettspend feat. Xaviersobased, “Impact”
Brace for “Impact,” a pair of Gen-Z’s burgeoning rap stars have linked up. Virginia meets NYC as Nettspend and Xaviersobased connect for a glimmering track. Nett’s syrupy AutoTune-laced melodies pace “Impact” with a catchy chorus while Xavier fills in the blanks and closes out his verse relaying his “Saks in the mornin’, Neimans in the evening” shopping habits. Rap’s next generation is carving out its own lane, despite the genre’s elder statesmen begrudgingly lending co-signs. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
FLO feat. Chy Cartier, “Get It Till I’m Gone (Remix)“
FLO & Chy Cartier’s “Get It Till I’m Gone (Remix)” is a bold, empowering anthem about reclaiming power after being taken for granted in a relationship. Rather than wallowing in heartbreak, the song flips the script by showcasing confidence and self-worth, with the artists making it clear that they won’t settle for less. The remix adds a fiery intensity, with Chy Cartier’s verse turning up the heat, proving that walking away is the ultimate flex. With its catchy hooks and unapologetic vibe, “Get It Till I’m Gone” serves as both a declaration of independence and a warning to anyone who fails to appreciate the ladies of FLO and Chy Cartier. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
Droogie Otis feat. Boldy James, “Everything Designer”
Madlib and Your Old Droog are dropping a tape this year, which was news to me until I came across this song. And when you think about it, their styles mesh well together. There’s nothing quite like witty bars over Madlib loops, and MCs like Droog and Boldy have raps like that for days. — ANGEL DIAZ
Jada Kingdom, “G.A.D.”
After spending last year sparring in instantly iconic clashes and ruling fetes with global hits like “What’s Up (Big Buddy),” Jamaican dancehall fusion artist Jada Kingdom is back with a terrific new single ahead of her forthcoming EP. Inspired by local slang that unfairly compares women to drugs, Jada flips the slight on its head, spitting, “Word on the street is girls are drugs/ Dem search fi di tightest buff/ Addicted to the squeeze and clutch/ Wan spend it all pon a serious f–k.” As addictive as she paints women to be, Jada is also primarily concerned with infusing a feminist streak in her reimagning of local slang. “Every gyal man a show me love/ Nah fall fi none, mi put mi feelings up/ Just a girl in a money man’s world/ Mi a have my way, but muss!” she proclaims over the electric guitar-infused Zimi Recrods production. — K.D.
Lil Durk feat. Jhené Aiko, “Can’t Hide It”
Lil Durk tied the knot with India Royale last year, and he opens up about marriage with his Deep Thoughts single. “Can’t Hide It” arrives amid the rapper’s murder-for-hire case as Durk remains behind bars while continuing to flood the streets with music. The raunchy yet romantic track invites Jhené Aiko, who purifies the air and floats above with her celestial vocals while Durk taps into his more melodic side. He even harmonizes alongside the R&B singer turning “Can’t Hide It” into a duet. Look for Smurk’s Deep Thoughts album to be released on Friday (March 28) via Alamo Records. — M.S.
Wolfacejoeyy, “Petty”
Wolfacejoeyy’s “Petty” is a playful yet toxic anthem about turning heartbreak into a competition. Instead of expressing vulnerability, he matches his ex’s energy by flexing his lifestyle, flaunting material success, and even mentioning her best friend. The song captures the ego-driven nature of modern relationships, where social media, status, and revenge take priority over honest emotions. With its smooth, melodic flow and catchy hooks, “Petty” masks frustration with a carefree attitude, making toxicity sound effortlessly cool. — C.C.
Shoreline Mafia, “Back in Bidness”
Shoreline could not have picked a better time to make a comeback as the West Coast is currently in somewhat of a resurgence, thanks largely to Kendrick Lamar and his friends over at TDE. This song and video remind me of when Capone-N-Noreaga came back after War Report with the Reunion album. Shoreline hasn’t dropped an album since 2020’s Mafia Bidness, but this is a perfect lead single to get folks ready for the return. — A.D.
Nija, “32nd Floor”
Three-time Grammy-nominated songwrite Nija is back with a new joint, finally giving us the follow-up to last year’s “Unruly.” When we in the hotel lobby, all of them people ‘round me/ Keep calm, but as soon as we go up, boy you know you got me/ Keep it on the 32nd Floor,” she croons over Eliasodt and Mike Hector’s joint production. The privacy of the penthouse suite is a tired-and-true setting for music’s greatest love escapafes, and Nija doesn’t disappoint with her sultry, guitar-inflected take on the concept ahead of her forthcoming new project, her first since 2022’s Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You. — K.D.
TheARTI$T, “Ghost”
TheARTI$t’s “Ghost” captures the raw, haunting aftermath of a love that burns out too soon. With vivid imagery of California sunsets and moonlit drives, the song turns heartbreak into a ghostly presence that lingers long after the love is gone. The ARTI$t’s confusion and longing are palpable as they reflect on what went wrong, leaving them to navigate an emotional void. “Ghost” perfectly blends nostalgia with the painful reality of being left with nothing but memories. — C.C.
Reign, “Lowjacc”
Brooklyn rapper Reign delivers a formidable, fiery tape with It’s Up Forever — and “Lowjacc” is a standout on a project filled with them. Across Dizzy Banko’s high-octane production, Reign spits an impressive stream-of-consciousness verse that finds him balancing talking a big game with dropping incomparable nuggets of wisdom. “What you think we trap for? Push a f–king RAV4/ Run this town you gotta build a f–king rapport/ Live on a prayer and call up a f–king task force/ You know the vibes, what the f–k you gotta ask for?” he spits. — K.D.
Metro Boomin, Machine Gun Kelly and others will help bring the party to WWE‘s WrestleMania weekend with WrestleMania After Dark, a brand-new late-night event series set to take over LIV and LIV Beach at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. In partnership with entertainment group Medium Rare, WWE announced on Tuesday (March 25) that it’d be bringing its […]
The 2022 Academy Awards served as the ultimate rollercoaster ride of emotions for Will Smith, who won best actor honors for his role in King Richard, but also delivered the infamous slap across host Chris Rock’s face on stage for jokes made about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
The actor-rapper received a 10-year ban from the Oscars, and had the option to appeal. The Associated Press caught up with Smith on Monday (March 24), during which he reflected on his actions and explained how he’s planning to move forward.
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“I am looking to be the best human I can possibly be, and I’m gonna take what I get with that,” the 56-year-old said.
Smith has since resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has been apologetic to Rock for slapping him onstage following a G.I. Jane joke about Pinkett-Smith.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Smith wrote in 2022. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be.”
Rock hasn’t been open to speaking with Smith yet, but didn’t rule out returning as host for the Oscars at some point in the future.
“You never know. This is what I would say, the most miserable people on earth are people that can’t forgive,” the comedian said earlier in March. “And not just people, you have to forgive yourself sometimes, too. So, hey, you never know.”
On the music side, Smith is returning with his first album in 20 years, Based On a True Story. The LP arrives on Friday (March 28), and he’ll be hitting the road this summer for a tour across Europe and the U.K.
“A well opened up inside of me, a well of understanding of art and pain … all kinds of things that I didn’t even know were in there,” Smith told Billboard in January of his rejuvenated hunger for music. “Then after the Oscars, that spiritual investigation continued and a whole world woke up inside that I didn’t even know was there.”
Watch Will Smith talk about his Oscar ban below.
Travis Scott extended his Circus Maximum world tour on Tuesday (March 25) with the announcement of a series of 2025 international fall stadium shows. The Live Nation-produced outing will hit five countries in October, beginning with an Oct. 11 show at the 94,000-capacity FMB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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The swing will then take him to Delhi, India, Seoul, South Korea and Sanya, China before wrapping up with a Nov. 8 show at the 31,000-capacity Belluna Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The newest dates are a capper to the tour that began in October 2023 and played 76 sold-out shows in North America, Europe, the U.K., Latin America, Australia and New Zealand, grossing more than $209 million on its way to becoming the highest-grossing rap tour ever.
Presale and on-sale dates for the international fall dates will vary by market; check your local listings here for additional information.
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Earlier this week, La Flame officially announced that the Cactus Jack label compilation, JACKBOYS 2, is “on the way.” The rapper hopped on the mic during Chase B’s DJ set at LIV nightclub in Miami on Monday (March 24) to tease the project. “JACKBOYS 2 on the way, man. Let that motherf—–r ride, ya dig,” he said. “New Sheck Wes what the f–k is we doing?” Scott also performed a handful of records, including ASTROWORLD‘s “NO BYSTANDERS.”
At press time it was unclear when the label compilation is set to drop, though fans suspect it might coincide with Scott’s return to Coachella in April, where he’s promised to “redesign the desert” during his headlining set.
See Travis Scott’s fall 2025 international tour dates below.
Oct. 11 – Johannesburg, South Africa @ FMB Stadium
Oct. 18 – Delhi, India @ Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Oct. 25 – Seoul, South Korea @ Goyang Stadium
Nov. 1 – Sanya, Hainan, China @ Sanya Stadium *
Nov. 8 – Tokyo, Japan @ Belluna Dome
*Non-Live Nation Date
Kids do the darndest things. Just ask Cardi B. The rapper took to her Instagram Story on Sunday to share her horror after her six-year-old daughter, Kulture Kiari Cephus, took a marker to mom’s dark yellow crocodile skin Hermés Kelly bag to tag it with a cute little doodle.
“We spent $60,000 on this purse,” Cardi said in the since-expired Story (which you can re-live in this YouTube video). “Look what my daughter did to my purse. Look what my daughter did to my purse. Look what my daughter did to my f–king purse… mmmmm.” The camera then zoomed in to reveal an adorable little heart inked on the bag in black marker.
Though such purses can cost as much as a luxury ride, luckily it’s not Cardi’s only one. Back in October, she took fans inside her bonkers Birkin closet, where she displayed her three newest crocodile bags in fall-appropriate colors including dark red, grey and mustard yellow, representing nearly $200K worth of Birkin goodness.
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To be fair, before they split, Cardi and ex rapper Offset were happy to shower Kulture with extravagant gifts, from a gold-accented crib, to a $100,000 Word Party chain for her first birthday, a hot pink $10,000 Birkin bag of her own, as well as another custom $48,000 Hermés purse with a bedazzled rainbow.
Back in February, Cardi sparked collaboration rumors when she teamed up with Ozuna in the studio. “A Movie always,” Cardi captioned the first clip of her dancing and singing along to an untitled track in the muted clip. In another clip, Cardi hung out with Ozuna and his crew, which she described as “Un vibe durisimoo (a very hard vibe).” The pair first teamed up in 2017 for “La Modelo,” which reached No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100; they also appeared together on DJ Snake’s 2018 No. 11 Hot 100 hit “Taki Taki.”
Fans are still waiting on news about Cardi’s long-awaited sophomore album, the follow-up to her 2018 debut studio album Invasion of Privacy.
The long-awaited, oft-talked-about Nas and DJ Premier album may really be happening. Over the weekend, Nas posted a screenshot of his calendar to his Instagram Story to wish DJ Premier a happy 59th birthday. However, that’s not why he’s making headlines. Fans noticed that the Queens rapper has multiple weeks blocked off for recording sessions […]
