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Playboi Carti: Exclusive Access Backstage at Summer Smash 2024 | Billboard Cover

Billboard cover star Playboi Carti gives us exclusive access into his backstage prep ahead of his performance at Summer Smash 2024. We get to see how the star and his team get ready for his sets, what they each have to say about Playboi Carti and more!

Playboi Carti:

You know, we finna rock Chicago real quick. I ain’t been here in a minute, it’s a blessing you know what I’m saying. It feels good to be back outside if you know what I’m saying. Back on stage. It’s most definitely going to be a movie tonight. 

Team Member:

You want to go up the stairs and stuff?

Playboi Carti:

Should I start on the stairs?

Team Member:

Yeah.

Playboi Carti:

And the gang will be there? 

Team Member:

Yes. 

Playboi Carti:

All good. 

Team Member:

Alright. Can I start? 

Playboi Carti:

Hey guys come on! 

Team Member 2:

You’ve been taking creatine huh? 

Team Member 3:

Yes sir.

Team Member 2:

Love that creatine, great protein. 

Playboi Carti:

No carbs.It’s a lifestyle. I can’t really like say the description of like, you know what I’m saying. It’s understood, ain’t gotta be said. You see it. 

Destroy Lonely:

Before I met him, he was one of my favorite rappers. I studied him just like I studied anything else. So it’s like, I got, I got a lot of sh*t from what I just know myself and what I was into, and then everything goes. Like, he put me down on or we really share a lot of like, like, I done taught him a lot of things too. So it’s just like, when you want to work like this e this, and that’s what you love, and you do, you just kind of bounce off each other.

Keep watching for more!

The Game & Ray Vaughn “87 Cutglass,” A$AP Rocky “Tailor Swif” & More | Daily Visuals 8.30.24

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CMJ Take Over With Schoolboy Q

Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty

It’s been a hot minute since we’ve gotten any new work from the man once known as “Compton’s Most Wanted,” The Game, and though the man has been on a lengthy break today he returns and shows that his pen hasn’t dulled one bit and spits like he’s still looking for his first record deal.

Linking up with Ray Vaughn for the visuals to “97 Cutglass,” Chuck Taylor walks through the streets spitting his bars as he makes his way to the studio to lay down his verse in which he addresses some of his early career drama including issues with 50 Cent and Interscope which led to his independent status. The man can still spit, b.

Elsewhere A$AP Rocky seems to find himself in a fantasy land for his new clip to “Tailor Swif” as he finds himself in a presence of bigfoot, a bathing bunny (not ape) and a breakdancing business man all in the same public bathroom. Yeah, it was a wild scene.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Marques Houston, Fat Trel, and more.

THE GAME & RAY VAUGHN – “87 CUTGLASS”

A$AP ROCKY – “TAILOR SWIF”

MARQUES HOUSTON – “SO ALIVE”

FAT TREL – “ANYTHING”

OCTOBER LONDON – “SHE KEEPS CALLING”

FREDO BANG – “KEEP IT GANGSGTA”

ICEWEAR VEZZO – “YEA OKAY”

PEEZY – “ALL BLACK TRUCKS”

LE SSERAFIM’s ‘CRAZY’ Release & Special Jin Appearance | Billboard News

LE SSERAFIM released their new mini-album and music video titled ‘CRAZY.’ The girls also surprised fans with an appearance from Jin. Keep watching to see some behind the scenes footage!

Tetris Kelly:

A special appearance from Jin, brand-new music, and we have exclusive photos from the set of their music video. This is music you should know: LE SSERAFIM. We are going crazy for “CRAZY.” The song is featured on the group’s freshly released five-song mini-album of the same name. The LE SSERAFIM girls rock Y2K-inspired outfits and pose for the camera in our exclusive behind-the-scenes photos. We see the girls posing with each other, striking dance moves, and serving some serious looks on the set. But the serve we weren’t ready for was from Jin. Like the whole thing is so adorable and wholesome. Mr. Worldwide Handsome indeed. Check out LE SSERAFIM’s “CRAZY” out now. 

Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’ Receives Praise From Nicki Minaj & More | Billboard News

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet has been out for a week now, and she’s receiving love from some of the biggest stars. Keep watching to see who said what about the singer’s latest album!

Tetris Kelly:
If you’re loving Sabrina Carpenter and her new album Short n’ Sweet, you’re not the only one. Some of the biggest names in music are gushing over the pop star and her latest project. When a fan asked Chappell Roan her favorite track off the album, she had this to say on IG Live. 

Chappell Roan:
I like … I want … “Juno.” Her project is so thought out and so, like, genuine and I just really love it. 

Tetris Kelly:
As for her boo, Barry Keogan, he shared his favorite track on IG along with a link to grab her album with a bonus track, like a good boyfriend. Everyone’s singing hits off the new record. Capitol FM even had Camila Cabello singing “Espresso” in the midst of love triangle fan theories between the two and Shawn Mendes. And legends are showing love, too. 

Nicki Minaj:
Shout-out to Sabrina Carpenter and shout-out to all the Sabrina Carpenter fans.

Tetris Kelly:
Nicki Minaj praised Sabrina and her fans after she tweeted, “This one’s for Nicki.” Lady Gaga got in on the praise train, too, commenting on an old video of Sabrina singing “Speechless” on TikTok, saying, “love this so much love her.”

Same, Gaga, same.

El Alfa Talks Viral ‘ESTE’ Song & His ‘El Mejor del Planeta’ Tour | Billboard News

El Alfa has created several viral songs, including “4K” and his most recent, “ESTE.” The singer shares with Billboard how he creates his viral songs, what his fans can expect from his new “El Mejor del Planeta” tour, what it was like to work with Natti Natasha and more.

I want to know, Alfa, where the name for this tour came from.

Honestly, the name came from me and my team, but making Dembow, making people enjoy themselves and dance, we are the best at that. 

That’s true. The impact you’ve had, in fact, I saw that you have many No. 1 songs on the Billboard charts, more than 20 songs in the Hot Latin Songs chart, so no doubt about it. 

Right now, I have a song that’s very hot. Urban music is having a hard time finding success. You can have good placements on the charts, but making the public choose you and having your songs stick like before is hard. It has been 12 months since I had a song succeed as much as this one, but I am enjoying the process and seeing how the business continues to change. I am thrilled. I have just arrived from a tour in Europe which I started by opening for worldwide artists. My line up was for 7/7:30 PM and we finished closing the show at 11 PM. They thought I had to close it. El Alfa always does his best, so when things get a little uncomfortable on stage, I give everything I can because I always like to give my best.

Keep watching for more.

French Montana ft. Jeremih “Goals,” Cordae ft. Anderson .Paak “Summer Drop” & More | Daily Visuals 8.29.24

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If we’ve learned one thing about French Montana over the years it’s that the man loves himself some extra thick women by his side and if she’s thick enough to take up most of the space in one of his two-seaters, best believe she’s getting an invite to one of his private soirees.

Such is the case in his new Jeremih assisted visuals to “Goals,” which finds French Montana and Jeremih at a private beach front property where they’re joined by some women so thick that they make thongs disappear as they kick back shots of Don Julio while enjoying some fun in the sun along with some water sports. French sure knows how to find them.

Cordae meanwhile looks to enjoy the final days of the August and in his clip for “Summer Drop,” he and Anderson .Paak use some retro-ish cinematography to capture the laid back ways they’re spending the dog days of summer.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from DJ Muggs and Raz Fresco, Clarity, and more.

FRENCH MONTANA & JEREMIH – “GOALS”

CORDAE FT. ANDERSON .PAAK – “SUMMER DROP”

DJ MUGGS & RAZ FRESCO – “SMOKE & MIRRORS”

NEISHA NESHAE – “LEAVE ME ALONE”

CLARITY – “ISSUES”

ANN MARIE – “THE ONE”

MIRAA MAY – “NO BAD ENERGY”

WALLIE THE SENSEI FT. JEHKAI – “MISSED HER”

Is a New BTS x Megan Thee Stallion Collab Coming Soon? | Billboard News

Is Megan Thee Stallion teasing a possible BTS reunion or Jung Kook collab? Keep watching for the hints that have been put out!

Tetris Kelly:

Is Megan Thee Stallion collabing with BTS? Or is it Jung Kook? ARMY is speculating and we’re freaking out! Megan jumped on a remix of “Butter” back in 2021, and we are forever grateful for the 3J dance break. Iconic. Just today, she tweeted a horse emoji with a purple heart and some looking eyes. For those who don’t know, purple is a color that represents BTS, and their fans, known as ARMY, use the emoji often. While it could be a sign of her reuniting with the group, some suspect it could be a solo track with member Jung Kook. His documentary is heading to theaters next month and fans think new music could be included. Are you as excited as we are? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Swifties Raise $144,000 for Kamala Harris | Billboard News

Taylor Swift fans have taken it upon themselves to raise money for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Keep watching to see the impact of the “Swifties for Kamala” campaign.

Tetris Kelly:

Though Taylor Swift has yet to make a political endorsement, a group of her fans and some political heavyweights have organized and put money behind Kamala Harris. We’re talking about Swifties for Kamala. Senator Elizabeth Warren was just one of the speakers on the “Swifties for Kamala” call Tuesday on Zoom. The group, which has no official affiliation with Taylor or VP Harris, had raised over $144,000 as of Wednesday for the Democratic presidential nominee. Around 34,000 people joined the two-hour call. The group has over 73,000 followers on X and over 48,000 on Instagram and one of the organizers told NBC, “We’ve seen the good we can do as a fandom and what happens when we mobilize our community, so we don’t need to wait. We personally know what our values are. We also know what Taylor’s values are. She’s made them very clear to us.” Taylor has spoken out against Trump in the past, vowing to vote him out in November 2020. 

Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter & More Dominate TikTok Billboard Top 50 | Billboard News

“Die With a Smile” and “Taste” rapidly took over TikTok, but who is going to take No. 1 with their new hit? Keep watching to find out!

Tetris Kelly:
It’s a battle of the women in pop for the top spot, while three of them make a top 10 debut. 

Zara Larsson:
I watched a lot of your videos. You’re funny. You’re very funny. But stay in school and take your meds.

Tetris Kelly:
Zara Larsson’s 2017 hit with Clean Bandit, “Symphony,” debuts at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the chart posting Aug. 29. 

Zara Larsson:
What do you mean my biggest digital footprint is going to be a picture of a dolphin? For everything I worked for? But thank you, I love it.

Tetris Kelly:
She lands on top thanks to a trend involving dolphins, which Zara’s fully embraced, and even incorporated into her live show.

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” lands at eight. Users are dancing, lip-synching and making Fortnite edits to the new hit.

And our final top 10 debut is Sabrina Carpenter’s “Taste” at No. 9. Everyone is having a blast lip-synching to the song, and her behind-the-scenes video even has 40 million views.

Every Thursday, Billboard will bring you the verified list of the hottest songs on TikTok by monitoring music discovery and engagement on the platform in the United States. To find the TikTok Billboard Top 50 each week, users can simply go to any sound detail page and tap the top right button to access the charts page.

A$AP Rocky’s Relationship With Rihanna, Expectations for His New Album & More | Billboard Unfiltered

In this episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Kyle Denis and Damien Scott discuss A$AP Rocky’s cover story, his one-on-one conversation with Damien and the industry’s expectations for the rapper’s new album. They also dive into Complex’s Best Atlanta Rappers of All Time, debate, who should have taken the No. 1 spot, explore Billboard’s greatest pop stars of the 21st century and more.

Damien Scott:
He sticks with his own vision, he sticks with his own ideas. I’m really excited to hear the rest of the album. What I heard sounds great. 

Carl Lamarre:
André 3000 No. 1 without a solo rap album. 

Kyle Denis:
If you can spit, you can spit. 

Damien Scott:
Can you rap? Or can you not rap?

Carl Lamarre:
50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion, J. Lo, Missy Elliott, Nelly, Cardi B, Doja Cat, Future, Post Malone, SZA, Sean Paul, Chris Brown. These are the names that did not make the top 25.

Well, shout-out to this brother right here. 

Yes, sir.

Big-time Dame, big-time cover story. If you guys haven’t already, make sure you check it out right now on billboard.com with A$AP Rocky. Yes sir. Had a fire profile piece. Man, the album was supposed to come out this Friday, which is pushed and coming out this fall. But, bro, talk about your experience kicking it with Rocky and how that was.

Damien Scott:
It was great. You know, I’ve known Rocky — well not know him — but I’ve watched and had the pleasure of watching his career grow from the moment he released “Purple Swag” to now. I’ve worked at publications who’ve covered him. We’ve had him on the cover for various albums and I’ve been fortunate enough to be close enough to see a different match throughout his career, and I’ve always been a fan.

Keep watching for more!