TV/Film
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Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest film released its first official trailer on Monday (May 5), ahead of its nationwide arrival in theaters this August.
The director and Denzel Washington reunite to work together for the fifth time in the crime thriller, which also stars A$AP Rocky as Yung Felon, who’s Washington’s son in the movie, and the project serves as Ice Spice’s feature film debut, who does not appear in the new trailer.
The film is said to be loosely based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 noir High and Low, which finds an individual at a moral crossroads and dealing with the chaos of New York City.
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“There’s more to life than just making money. There’s integrity, there’s what you stand for. There’s what you actually believe in,” Washington narrates in the clip. “The hard times will come from the money and the mayhem follows … That’s the question I have for you, can you handle it? All money ain’t good money.”
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Produced by A24 along with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Highest 2 Lowest was shot throughout New York City. The film is set to premiere at Cannes Film Festival later in May before coming to theaters on Aug. 22 and eventually landing on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5.
“And A$AP, man. Fire,” Spike Lee gushed about Rocky’s acting during an appearance on Carmelo Anthony’s 7pm in Brooklyn show in April. “I mean, there’s some scenes with him and D head to head, he ain’t backin’ up. It’s like, ‘I’m here too!’ Very, very happy with the way the film turned out and looking forward to sharing with the world.”
Rocky was also impressed with Denzel Washington’s music taste, as he revealed that the esteemed actor pulled up to the movie set bumping Memphis rappers such as Pooh Shiesty and Moneybagg Yo.
“He likes to listen to Memphis rappers, but modern Memphis rappers,” Rocky told Vogue recently. “Then he started quoting NLE Choppa … He’s really tapped in. Working with Denzel was a dream come true, he’s an OG.”
Watch the Highest 2 Lowest trailer below.
As Godfather of Harlem returns for its fourth and final season on MGM+, the gritty television series about 1960s crime boss Bumpy Johnson — played by Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker — closes out with one last original soundtrack curated by none other than Swizz Beatz. With nearly three decades of hitmaking under his belt, Swizz has served as executive music producer for all four seasons, enlisting an all-star lineup of veteran MCs and rising voices to match the show’s powerful storytelling.
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The latest 10-track project features collaborations with the likes of Conway the Machine, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, and Jay Electronica, while the lead single “Danger Danger” pairs Swizz with Jadakiss and Pusha T. Additional contributions come from Cruel Youth, ScarLip, Sauce Walka, Tobe Nwigwe, Larry June, and more — proving that the series is going out with a bang.
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Billboard caught up with Swizz Beatz in New York City to talk about what first drew him to the series, how the music helps elevate its message, and what advice Bumpy Johnson might give to today’s generation of artists.
Godfather of Harlem is such a captivating show. What initially drew you to get involved with it, and how did your role evolve over time?Godfather of Harlem is the gift that keeps on giving. I’ve always been a big fan of Forest Whitaker — and come to find out, he was a big fan of mine. When they were looking for an executive music producer, Forest was like, “No, we need somebody from New York who understands the streets — someone who comes from the streets — to give the show the real, the grit that it needs.”
I got a phone call from Forest and a call from the team. It was a simple conversation: “Yo, we’re working on this show based on Bumpy Johnson. It’s set in Harlem.” Most of my family still lives in Harlem. I’m from the Bronx, but it’s HBO — Harlem Bronx Only. That’s what we say. I was just like, “OK, let’s have fun.” Four seasons in, it’s been an amazing journey, and we’re just getting started.
The show explores themes of power, identity and culture in Harlem. In what ways do you think the music you created enhances those themes, and how do you balance staying true to the history while adding your own personal touch?
When I first started, I was just doing tracks. I was like, “Okay, this track sounds good, that track could sound good.” But the way that I really broke down the formula for the show was making the songs voices in the head. My voice is what Bumpy Johnson is thinking. Then you have other artists’ vocals, which are what Rome’s thinking, what Mimi’s thinking. Make the musicians characters themselves in the film. When you see the score and how it’s lined up, it’s coming from the mind of the actor or actress you’re seeing at that moment. I kind of scored the individual actors for the music, instead of just doing music and having them put it with the scene.
How did working on the show influence your approach to creating music? Did it spark any new ideas or projects you’re excited about?
Working on the show is different from a lot of other things, especially in TV. In TV, they really have strict direction of where they want to go. I’m not gonna lie, I had the freedom to do whatever on this show, which is cool because I was able to invite a lot of new artists to the project. I didn’t have to just get hit songs to make the project seem cool. When you listen to the music, you don’t care if it was made then or now, it fits the property of the show.
Chris Brodo and my whole team have been super supportive, just saying, “Listen, let Swizz do what he’s gonna do.” We have parties in the studio — when we’re shooting Godfather of Harlem, it’s a party. The artists are there, the actors are there, the producers are there, the production manager, the sound man… we keep an open-door policy of creativity, and that’s how we feed off the energy from season one to season four.
As someone who’s both a creative force in music and involved in the TV/film world, how do you balance those two worlds? And what advice would you give to others trying to expand their creative boundaries?
The balance of TV and any other part of music is using the same part of the brain, they all go together. They’re all brothers and sisters, photography and artists, brothers and sisters, art and music as brothers and sisters, cinema, photography — all of these are still under the umbrella of art. It’s not even a hard job to just switch your brain from the subject matter.
The advice I would give to anyone is just to be as original as possible. Just do something disruptive, stand on it, and not really follow what everybody’s doing.
If I were to follow the rules or follow what everybody’s doing for this series the music wouldn’t feel organic. I’d feel pressured to make a hit record and feel pressured to do something on the charts. I built and designed this for the viewers and the listeners, but the viewers first.
What’s one song from the soundtrack that you think defines the show?
I would say, ” Crown Don’t Make You King” — that’s Conway the Machine, featuring Cruel Youth. When you see this song in the show, it’s at such a pinnacle peak: You got the crown, but it takes many more things to be a king than just the crown that you’re wearing. It’s what’s under the crown that makes you the king. The way that Teddy Sinclair wrote the words to those vocals is just unbelievable. And then Conway the Machine, just giving his energy on it, it’s one of my favorites.
What’s one piece of advice that you think Bumpy would give to rappers in this day and age?
Bumpy was about building community. Although he had a bad rap for being a gangster, if you really look at what he was doing, it was basically like Robin Hood, he was investing back into his people. He was investing back into every major program — he would fund every major government program. Even his wife would fund them. He was a big philanthropic gangster. I think what he would tell people is to give more, double down more, get your education, and be smart about risking your life.
Sabrina Carpenter and Quinta Brunson teamed up for a catchy musical tribute to short people during Saturday Night Live on May 3.
In her opening monologue, the Abbott Elementary creator and star joked about her height before the “Please Please Please” singer joined her for a playful performance celebrating “shorties” everywhere.
Brunson, hosting SNL for the second time, noted that she was “proof you can do anything you put your mind to even if people look down on you.” She continued, “Whether it’s because of where you come from or literally because you’re only 4’11′ — yeah, that’s right, I’m short … But I love being short, and I want other short people to know the sky’s the limit. So shorties, tonight, this one’s for us!”
Brunson then launched into a humorous song about her stature, noting that she’s a cheap date who gets “wasted off of one glass of wine,” and name-checked other famously petite celebrities including Simone Biles, Kendrick Lamar and Tom Holland.
Carpenter — who’s around five feet tall herself — soon joined Brunson on stage, exchanging jokes with the host about eating short ribs and reading short stories. The performance culminated in a group number joined by SNL cast member Marcello Hernandez (5’6″) and former NBA star Dwyane Wade (6’4″).
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“It’s how we like our movies, and how we like our margins,” they all sang together. “We’ve been the same height since kindergarten. Life is just more fun when you’re fun size.”
Elsewhere in the episode, pop star Benson Boone made his SNL debut, performing two tracks — “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” and “Mystical Magical” — from his upcoming sophomore album, American Heart. The new project is scheduled for release on June 20 through Night Street Records/Warner Records. Watch Boone’s SNL performances here.
Check out Brunson’s SNL monologue below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
Benson Boone brought his dynamic stage presence and first-class showmanship to Saturday Night Live on May 3.
Making his debut as the musical guest on the long-running NBC sketch comedy series, the 22-year-old pop sensation performed two tracks from his forthcoming sophomore album, American Heart.
Following an introduction from SNL host Quinta Brunson, Boone nailed one of his electrifying signature backflips before briefly serenading the actress and comedian with his song “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” which peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year.
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Later in the episode, the 2025 best new artist Grammy nominee returned to the stage for a performance of “Mystical Magical.” Dressed in a velvety purple ensemble, Boone delivered the jangly pop-rock track amid a dreamy backdrop of glowing pink and blue lights, supported by a full band and backup singers dressed in white.
“‘Cause it feels so mystical, magical, oh baby/ ‘Cause once you know, once you know/ My love is so mystical, magical, oh baby/ ‘Cause once you know, once you know,” he sings on the song, which interpolates “Physical,” an Olivia Newton-John classic, in the chorus.
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Boone’s SNL debut arrives ahead of the release of American Heart, scheduled for release on June 20 through Night Street Records/Warner Records. Both “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” and “Mystical Magical” appear on the forthcoming project.
His appearance at Studio 8H follows a standout run at Coachella in April, where he wowed audiences with high-energy sets packed with backflips — and even a surprise cameo from Queen guitarist Brian May during a cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody” on weekend one.
Watch Boone’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
Will Ferrell shocked the world when he revealed that the first concert he ever attended was a Roddy Ricch show. Being 57 years old, many thought he’d go elsewhere with his answer during a recent appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’s Colbert Questionert segment. Colbert had no idea about the Compton rapper and […]
ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires — the upcoming fourth film in Disney‘s supernatural series — is all about the battle between light and dark, and we see that back-and-forth come to life with the debut of the new original song “The Place to Be” and its music video, premiering exclusively on Billboard.
The first single from the ZOMBIES 4 original soundtrack showcases Freya Skye as Nova, leader of the Daywalkers, and Malachi Barton as Victor, leader of the Vampires. Skye tries to convince Milo Manheim’s Zed that the “light side” is “The Place to Be,” while Victor lobbies Meg Donnelly’s Addison toward the “night side.”
ZOMBIES 4: DAWN OF THE VAMPIRES
Disney/Matt Klitscher
“The Place to Be” is one of nine new original songs (plus two reprises of earlier songs) on the Walt Disney Records soundtrack, which is now available for pre-order (all pre-orders include an instant download of “Place”). A Music from ZOMBIES green vinyl album will be released on July 11 and is also available for pre-order.
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Below, watch “The Place to Be” music video and find the full track list for the ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires original soundtrack.
• “Legends In The Making” – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell
• “The Place to Be” – Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
• “Dream Come True (Intro)” – Performed by Freya Skye, Malachi Barton
• “Don’t Mess With Us” – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
• “Dream Come True” – Performed by Freya Skye, Malachi Barton
• “Kerosene” – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
• “My Own Way” – Performed by Freya Skye
• “Possible” – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
• “Someday (Reprise)” – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly
• Show the World – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
• “Ain’t No Doubt About It (Reprise)” – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly
• “Together as One” – Performed by Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
• “Score Suite” – Performed by Tom Howe
ZOMBIES 4: DAWN OF THE VAMPIRES
Disney
The soundtracks for the first three ZOMBIES movies all hit the top five on both Billboard‘s Kid Albums and Soundtracks charts, with the original film’s album spending 10 weeks at No. 1 on Kid Albums and the most recent soundtrack spending two weeks atop the chart.
ZOMBIES 4 premieres July 10 on Disney Channel and streams starting July 11 on Disney+.
On Friday (May 2), the TODAY show announced the 30th-anniversary lineup for its Citi Concert Series on TODAY, with outdoor performances on the way from Kelly Clarkson, Jonas Brothers, Blake Shelton, Cynthia Erivo and more.
Clarkson will kick things off next week with a Rockefeller Plaza concert on Tuesday, following the release of her new single “Where Have You Been.” The rest of the 2025 roster includes Blake Shelton (May 13), Sebastián Yatra (May 30), Cynthia Erivo (June 6), Ciara (July 11), Zac Brown Band (July 25), Jonas Brothers (Aug. 8) and Role Model (Aug. 29).
More performers will be announced, including concerts through September.
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While TODAY‘s Concert Series has gone through different creative directions in the past three decades, the summer tradition began with the first Rockefeller Plaza concert from Earth, Wind & Fire back in 1995, as Al Roker recalled to Billboard.
“It started with Earth, Wind & Fire literally on the plaza. In the last 30 years, we’ve had musical icons and first appearances of icons-to-be,” Roker tells Billboard exclusively. “It’s been imitated but never duplicated because of the excitement that our plaza audience gives and gets from our concert performances.”
Anyone can attend the famous outdoor concerts — known for attracting fans as far as the eye can see outside TODAY‘s New York studio — by registering for Fan Passes at TODAY.com/Concerts, which allow priority access to the show ahead of General Admission. Viewers can also join the General Admission line the morning of each concert and will be admitted if space permits; the line entrance is located at 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza.
Find the full lineup below:
May
Tuesday, May 6: Kelly Clarkson
Tuesday, May 13: Blake Shelton
Friday, May 30: Sebastián Yatra
June
Friday, June 6: Cynthia Erivo
July
Friday, July 11: Ciara
Friday, July 25: Zac Brown Band
August
Friday, Aug. 8: Jonas Brothers
Friday, Aug. 29: Role Model
September
TBD
Benson Boone broke out his signature backflip on Thursday (May 1) to promote his upcoming appearance on Saturday Night Live. When the first SNL promo opens, the pop sensation is nowhere to be found, missing his cue after host Quinta Brunson excitedly introduces him as the episode’s musical guest. “Huh, he was supposed to flip […]
When it comes to the prospect of being trapped on a deserted island, Kelly Clarkson would want to be with a fellow American Idol alum. The hypothetical scenario came up on Thursday’s episode (May 1) of The Kelly Clarkson Show during a round of “Playing Dice With God,” with guests Tina Fey and Will Forte. […]
Bruce Springsteen: Backstage and Backstreets, produced by ABC News Studios, was nominated for outstanding arts, culture or entertainment coverage at the 2025 News & Documentary Emmy Awards. The nominations were announced on Thursday (May 1).
Springsteen has been nominated for three Primetime Emmys, but has yet to win. He was nominated for outstanding variety, music or comedy special for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (HBO, 2001), outstanding special class – short-form live action entertainment program for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Super Bowl Halftime Show (NBC, 2009) and outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) for Springsteen on Broadway (Netflix, 2019).
Springsteen has won 20 Grammys and an Oscar. He received a Special (honorary) Tony Award in 2018 to honor his show Springsteen on Broadway, which played in 2017-18 and again in 2021.
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Celine’s Story, an NBC News special with Hoda Kotb, Celine Dion’s first TV interview after being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, is nominated for outstanding edited interview.
As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial is nominated for outstanding arts and culture documentary. In the doc, which premiered on Paramount+ in February 2024, Killer Mike sat down with rapper Kemba to delve deeper into the criminalization of lyrics in hip-hop.
The 46th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards honor programming that originally premiered in calendar year 2024. The 2,200 submissions were judged by a pool of more than 980 peer professionals from across the television and streaming/digital media news and documentary industry.
The 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards will be presented live at the Palladium Times Square in New York City, and will be streamed live on The Emmys website and via The Emmys apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV and Roku.
The awards will be presented in two ceremonies:
News ceremony – Wednesday, June 25, at 7 p.m. ET
Documentary ceremony – Thursday, June 26, at 7 p.m. ET
Here are the nominees in categories most relevant to the music community. The complete list of nominees is available on The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ website:
Outstanding arts, culture or entertainment coverage
10 Million Names, ABC News Live, ABC
Bruce Springsteen: Backstage and Backstreets, ABC News Studios, ABC
“Finding His Voice,” CBS Sunday Morning, CBS
“Illegal Gambling,” Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller, National Geographic [Muck Media]
“The Last Heroes of Normandy,” ABC World News Tonight With David Muir and Nightline, ABC
“Netflix Is Betting Big on Latin America,” The Circuit With Emily Chang, Bloomberg
Outstanding arts and culture documentary
As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial, Paramount+ [MTV Entertainment Studios, District 33, Park Pictures, Strike Anywhere]
Butterfly in the Sky, Netflix [Sidestilt Films, Window Pictures, XTR]
Hollywood Black, MGM+ [Radical Media, Culture Machine, Significant Productions]
King Coal, POV, PBS [Narrow Vision Endeavors, Cottage M, Drexler Films, King Coal Productions LLC, Fishbowl Films]
Madu, Disney + [Disney Branded Television, Hunting Lane Films]
Outstanding edited interview
“Celine’s Story: An NBC News Special with Hoda Kotb,” NBC News Special Report, NBC News
“The Democratic Ticket,” 60 Minutes, CBS News
“Ketanji Brown Jackson,” CBS Sunday Morning, CBS
“Pope Francis,” 60 Minutes, CBS News
“Prisoner in Russia: The Brittney Griner Interview,” 20/20, ABC
Outstanding music composition – documentary
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story, National Geographic [Silverback Films]
“Dan Winters: Life is Once. Forever,” Photographer, National Geographic [Little Monster Films]
Endurance, National Geographic [A Little Dot Studios, Consequential, History Hit Production, Little Monster Films, National Geographic Documentary Films]
Frida, Prime Video [Imagine Documentaries, TIME Studios]
Mafia Spies, Paramount+ [CreativeChaos vmg]