Videos

07 Feb 2025

Rob49 Opens The Nest NOLA in Time for Super Bowl, Teases New Album & More | Billboard News

Rob49 opened up his new restaurant, The Nest NOLA, in New Orleans just in time for the Super Bowl, and the rapper is sharing how he was inspired to open a restaurant, what it was like to work with Lil Wayne, his upcoming music releases and more!

Catrise Johnson:

Hey everyone. It’s your girl Catrice J, we are in New Orleans with Rob49 at his new restaurant The Nest NOLA. How you feeling? 

Rob49:

I’m good, good, good. It’s like a lounge type, restaurant type vibe. 

Tell me about it. 

That’s what it is. I just always wanted somewhere like for me and my partners to come instead of going like to these… all these spots that we not comfortable at. 

What does it mean to you to have this restaurant in New Orleans, your home city?

It feels good just because New Orleans food is everything I ain’t- I wouldn’t even feel comfortable building nowhere else. 

New Orleans has one of the richest food cultures in the world. How do you think the flavors of the city are going to represent in this restaurant? 

It’s the one like, I think if they come here, they’re gonna know, like, New Orleans got the best food in the United States. Like, for sure. And I know it sounds crazy, 50 states, 49 of them like, but this the one. 

I feel like it too. I’ll be honest. 

You feel like that? 

I feel like you have the best food in New Orleans. 

Nah, swear to God bro. 

And obviously your restaurant, or lounge- 

Today’s gonna do it for you. 

Oh, I’m excited! 

So we’re here for Super Bowl weekend. How does it feel to have the Super Bowl in your city? 

Keep watching for more!

07 Feb 2025

Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt On a Mission to Rebuild After Palisades Fire | Billboard News

The Palisades fire devastated Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt, and now the couple are regaining the strength to rebuild their life through Heidi’s music. They share their first-hand encounter with the Palisades fire, how fans have impacted Heidi by streaming her music and more. 

Spencer Pratt:

Wow. Here’s the final mix, and it just got in right when we’re on the crosswalk. Pitbull just said in the email he’s donating 100% of his royalties to LA Fire relief, waiving his fee. What a freaking GOAT legend. That’s breaking news right here, God. 

Heidi Montag:

And it looked like a bomb had gone off. So much smoke in the air, and I look at our house and it’s like at the top in the middle of it. Hi, how are you? Can I please get a glass of booze?

Spencer Pratt:

Oh, here we go. Mukbang, a croissant. Heidi says that when I say mukbang, it’s a little intense.

Heidi Montag:

Cheers to our health, and our future. There’s a fire right over our house, so please say some prayers for us. And it’s a mandatory evacuation, and I’m gonna pack up here. I went to evacuate at Spencer’s parents house, which is down the street from us. I thought OK, we’ll spend the night here. Hopefully I’ll go home. I got there and the whole town was gone, and we had just missed that crazy wave on Sunset where everyone was having to leave their cars and run. But thankfully, we missed that, because I had my two kids, and my one son had 104 fever. So I was so focused on mom mode. Spencer was still at the house, and I was waiting for him, and a part of me didn’t want to leave, because I’m like, if I leave, he might stay even longer. 

Keep watching for more.

07 Feb 2025

How Kendrick Lamar Conquered the Hot 100 & Billboard 200 | Billboard Explains

Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated headlining Super Bowl performance is coming, and Billboard‘s breaking down his journey on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100, from Overly Dedicated to his latest project, GNX.

What’s your favorite Kendrick Lamar album? Let us know in the comments below!

Tetris Kelly:
It’s no secret: Everybody’s excited to see Kendrick Lamar take the stage at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. But who is Kendrick? What’s his story? And how did he land on the world’s biggest stage? This is Billboard Explains: How Kendrick Lamar Arrived at the Super Bowl.

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987 in Compton, Calif. Growing up, he took an interest in poetry and creative writing, and excelled academically. Having witnessed gang violence and police brutality at an early age, Kendrick processed his trauma through stories and poems, before later turning them into lyrics. At 16, Kendrick made his first mixtape, 2003’s Y.H.N.I.C. (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year) under the name K-Dot. The project led him to signing with the independent label Top Dawg Entertainment. He dropped more mixtapes, until he decided to go by his real name – Kendrick Lamar – and dropped his fourth mixtape, Overly Dedicated, which was his Billboard chart debut.

Kendrick then made his Billboard 200 debut with Section.80 in 2011, reaching No. 113. In 2012, Kendrick dropped Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, featuring singles like “Poetic Justice” and “Swimming Pools (Drank),” which was his Billboard Hot 100 debut. He followed that up with his next album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album featured the track “I,” which won him his first Grammys for best rap song and best rap performance. Then came his third studio album, DAMN., in 2017. The album earned him another No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and featured the track “Humble,” which peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100. 

Keep watching for more!

07 Feb 2025

Billboard & Vibe Staffers React to 2025 Grammy Winners & The Weeknd’s ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ | Billboard Unfiltered

In this episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Trevor Anderson and Kyle Denis are joined by Vibe’s Regina Cho to recap hip-hop and R&B’s big night at the 2025 Grammys, review The Weeknd’s new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, and more!

Trevor Anderson: 
I mean, who wins five Grammys off of just one song? I mean that is a pretty crazy moment. 

Regina Cho: 
He said that this is the last project under the name The Weeknd, but people are never going to stop calling him The Weeknd, so I don’t know how that’s going to work out for him, but best wishes. 

Trevor Anderson:
This is our first time, kind of a unique set up on this show for the first time. I’ve never had the pleasure of doing it with the esteemed Regina Cho. If y’all remember, she really was one of the ones killing it — y’all both were — on the discussion last year about the Hottest Female Rappers of 2024. She is back with us in 2025. Ms. Regina, how are you feeling?

Regina Cho:
Oh my gosh, I’m so excited to pod with you. I feel like we haven’t had an in-depth conversation in a really long time. I’m so honored to be back here and basically be the designated sixth man of the pod now. I really hold that to a high regard. Thank you guys for tapping me in for this episode, and I’m really excited to get back into it.  

Trevor Anderson:
That is a title we do not give out lightly.

Regina Cho:
He’s like, “We didn’t even give you that title, but …”

Trevor Anderson:
But you know what? Name it, claim it.

Keep watching for more!

06 Feb 2025

Super Bowl Scoop: Kendrick Lamar’s Big Week, NFL Trump Reactions & Swiftie Switch-Ups | Billboard News

The Super Bowl is just around the corner, and Kendrick Lamar dropped some gems at his press conference in NOLA, NFL players are reacting to Trump’s attendance at the Big Game, Swifties are considering switching sides for the game and more. 

Are you excited for Kendrick & SZA this Sunday? Let us know in the comments!

Tetris Kelly:

Kendrick Lamar conquered the Grammys and now is about to conquer the Super Bowl. Plus, we find out what players listen to K.Dot. Are the Swifties moving over to the Eagles after some words from Travis on Trump? And what is SZA going to do? Let’s get humble in this week’s sports wrap-up.

The culture is ready for him. We caught up with Kendrick at his press conference in NOLA, where he celebrated his five Grammys for “Not Like Us.” But when it comes to the halftime show, what tracks do the players want to hear? Also, there has been a lot of chatter from players now that Trump is attending the Big Game, with Travis Kelce saying this. … And even though Swifties are debating about Travis’ allegiance, one Eagles player says the Swifties should be with their team anyway. But another superstar female musician at the game will be SZA, and she’s being tight-lipped about halftime. For all your sports and music coverage, keep it locked on Billboard.

06 Feb 2025

2025 Grammys: Relive the Hip-Hop and R&B Highlights | Billboard News

Check out the hip-hop and R&B highlights from the 2025 Grammy Awards.

Tetris Kelly: 

Genre icons, first-time nominees, and more! Hip-hop and R&B shined bright during the 2025 Grammys, and we have all the highlights. The 67th annual Grammys took over Los Angeles with Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Mustard, Doechii and more walking away with massive wins. The Trevor Noah-hosted show also shined light on the devastating wildfires affecting Southern California, while Bey finally nabbed album of the year, as well as best country album for ‘Cowboy Carter.’

KDot and “Not Like Us” swept all five of his noms, including record of the year and song of the year. And Honda Stage alum Mustard was right by his side to accept the accolade. Some additional Honda Stage artists and genre champs, included Doechii taking home best rap album, Muni Long nabbing best R&B performance and more. As for performances that repped the genres, The Weeknd and Playboy Carti surprised the crowd with a medley of “Cry for Me” and “Timeless,” while an all-star ensemble honored the late, great Quincy Jones. Meanwhile, Honda Stage alumna Doechii showed off her stage skills for a medley of “CATFISH” and “DENIAL IS A RIVER.”

Honda Stage is a music platform bridging the gap between artists and fans to celebrate some of music’s buzziest acts and their journeys of music discovery. Courtesy of the program, fans have been able to hear inspirational stories from acts like the 2025 Grammy-nominated Mustard, Shenseea and Nathy Peluso, just to name a few. For more on the 2025 Grammys, head over to billboard.com.

06 Feb 2025

Lil Wayne’s ‘She Will’ Grabs No. 1 on TikTok Billboard Top 50 | Billboard News

Lil Wayne and Drake’s “She Will” has been crowned No. 1 on this week’s TikTok Billboard Top 50, but the top 10 is filled with a roundup of new hits. Keep watching to see what they are!

Tetris Kelly:
A new leader climbs to the top while the rest of the top 10 sees some major shakeups. Lil Wayne’s “She Will” dances from four to No. 1  on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the chart posting Feb. 6. 5 Seconds of Summer’s “She Looks So Perfect” debuts at three more than a decade after its release thanks to a trend where users describe the trauma that made them funny. At five we have the Vietnamese hit “Không Sao Cả” by 7dnight after debuting at 24 last week. And Fetty Wap’s “Again” debuts at eight. It’s his second hit to make the top 10 in two weeks.

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.

06 Feb 2025

Altadena Residents Share Stories About Surviving the Eaton Wildfires | Billboard News

After the devastating Eaton and Hurst fires impacted the community of Altadena in California, local residents share their firsthand stories of how the fires burned their homes down, how they’re trying to rebuild and more. 

Keep watching this Billboard News special to learn more about those impacted.

Julian Perry:
Just seeing around, like the waves of black smoke coming over the houses and looking down the street, and I can’t even see down the street, but I can see the house over there. You know, it was fully engulfed in flames. 

Adam Clingmon:
I lived here for 40 years. This was just my community. This is where I grew up, my neighbors, my friends, we got the emergency text around 6:30, maybe little earlier than that. Then we saw it on TV that there was a fire in Eaton Canyon. And maybe 15 minutes after that, we get another text saying that we have to evacuate. 

The Edwards Family:
Every house, except for three on our street, burned down. And then she lives pretty far. I remember … Yeah, one mile, far in the sense of a fire, but yeah, she lives exactly one mile away, west of it. 

Julian Perry:
Hearing the loud explosions and the pops and that crunch of the wood was, you know, was terrifying.

Adam Clingmon:
Most people are freaking out. I’m staying calm thinking, like, “You know, we’ve had these before, it’ll be all right.” And so we start packing stuff up. My mom, my sister, my nephew, they evacuate. My dad wants to stay. So I was like, “I’m gonna stay as long as my dad stays.” But then around 8:39 o’clock, the power goes out, and that’s when it gets scary. And then we go outside, and we can see a huge glow on the mountain, a huge glow. That’s when I got scared. 

Keep watching for more.

06 Feb 2025

GELO EXCLUSIVE: “Tweaker” Remix Feature, Def Jam’s “The Best Deal” & Family Fights? | Billboard News

Gelo became an overnight rap sensation when “Tweaker” dropped, and today, he exclusively reveals to Billboard the star feature on the “Tweaker” Remix. He shares how his hit came to life, why he chose to sign with Def Jam, debuting on the Hot 100, album plans and more!

Michael Saponara:

So we gotta talk about “Tweaker” here. It’s going crazy out here, walk me through how this came together. What was… When you started writing for it and then recording it? Paint that whole picture for us.

Gelo:

I had to, like, I always get, like, a little itch to write. If I feel like that, I go make some songs. Well, I wrote it in the garage, but I was feeling like, a certain way, and then I just got to thinking and writing and sh–. That’s what I came up with, though. But at the end of that, like, I knew that sh– was gonna be great. Like, I was like, wow. 

So you’re like, “This is a hit here.” Right? 

I played it all the way home. I’m like, yeah, “This goes hard.” Like, it’s gonna be it.

So were you sending it out? Does LaVar get to hear it? Does LaMelo hear it? Does Lonzo hear it?

I sent it to Melo and Zo, like, two of my friends, like, nothing. It’s not going to be spreading like that.

Gotcha. And they all thought it was out of here too? 

I do that with all my music, though. I got other songs I like more than “Tweaker,” but it’s coming.

And how long, I guess, before we heard it? Did you write the record and record it?

I wrote that, like three weeks ago.

Oh, wow, so this is all fresh. 

Keep watching for more!

05 Feb 2025

Travis Kelce’s Thoughts on Donald Trump Attending Super Bowl | Billboard News

Ahead of the Super Bowl this upcoming Sunday, Travis Kelce shared his thoughts on President Donald Trump attending the big game. 

What do you think about his response? Let us know in the comments!

Travis Kelce:

Doesn’t matter who the president is, I know I’m excited. 

Tetris Kelly:

Travis Kelce is honored to play the big game for Donald Trump. We have the story. We have learned Donald Trump will be the first sitting US president to attend the Super Bowl, which is going down in New Orleans. Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, had this to say:

Travis Kelce:

Doesn’t matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, and having the president there, it’s the best country in the world. 

Tetris Kelly:

The internet is already debating if this was a neutral answer as Trump famously attacked Travis’ girlfriend Taylor Swift, who backed Kamala Harris. Jalen Hurts of the Eagles had a bit chillier response about the president attending, saying: “He’s welcome to do whatever he wants,” adding:

Reporter:

Is there added pressure with Trump attending?

Jalen Hurts:

No ma’am.

Tetris Kelly:

Trump himself has always supported the Chiefs, saying before: “What a great team, coach, quarterback, and virtually everything else, including those fantastic fans, that voted for me (MAGA!) in record numbers.” 

Does Travis’ response to balling in front of the press mean anything to you? Let us know in the comments.