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Mattel Sues Rap Snacks Over Nicki Minaj ‘Barbie-Que’ Chips
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz Nicki Minaj has long been associated with the iconic Mattel toy Barbie. However, the company is pushing back against the use of their trademark for a new snack named after the doll. TMZ reports that Mattel has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court against Rap Snacks claiming that the company “made the deliberate and calculated choice to launch a new product line using Mattel’s famous BARBIE trademark.” Nicki is not named in the suit. The chips are Barbie-Que Honey Truffle and come in a bright pink bag and feature an image of Minaj on the front. Mattel says that Rap Snacks did not approach them before the release of the flavor and TMZ notes that the company tried to reach out to Rap Snacks to strike an agr...
The National Confirms New Song ‘Weird Goodbyes’ With Bon Iver
Fans of The National knew a new song announcement was coming after posters began appearing around Brooklyn last weekend teasing “Weird Goodbyes” featuring Bon Iver. The news is now official, as The National has confirmed via social media that the track will arrive Aug. 22 at 12pm ET. It can be pre-saved here. “Weird Goodbyes” has been played live nine times on The National’s summer world tour, although it has been written on set lists with different names (“Bathwater” and “Mount Auburn”). The track is piano-led and features an elaborate beat played by drummer Bryan Devendorf, as frontman Matt Berninger sings about grief, old memories and letting go. “This is special,” The National’s Aaron Dessner wrote on Twitter. “We put a lot of heart into making it.” This will be the first appearance by...
Nicki Minaj, LL Cool J and Jack Harlow Will Emcee 2022 VMAs
Nicki Minaj, LL Cool J and Jack Harlow will serve as the closest thing the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards will have as a host on Aug. 28, as they will announce the performers, presenters and winners in a “more innovative and unique approach” than the usual proceedings. As previously reported, Minaj will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award this year and will also perform. LL Cool J also received the Video Vanguard award way back in 1997. He performed on the show twice in the 1990s but has not presented an award since 2000. Harlow is up for artist and video of the year at this year’s VMAs, and is tied for the most nominations with seven. He will perform solo during the broadcast, following his 2021 VMAs teaming with Lil Nas X on their hit song “Industry Baby.” Anitta, Blackpink, J ...
Arab Hip-Hop Artists from the Gulf to Look Out For
Looking into the Arab world, there has been a constant and gradual rise in artists taking the hip-hop route. From North Africa to the Middle East talents are steadily exploring global sounds to match their capabilities and artistry within the region. Music from Arab hip-hop artists range amongst influences from trap, cloud-rap and dancehall to reggaeton and traditional Arabic music. The fusion of various sounds and ever-evolving genre come together to create the raw, underground flavors of Arabic hip-hop. Just this year, the IFPI confirmed that the Middle East and North Africa is the fastest growing music region in the world. Young talents are building themselves from the ground up to establish a local music industry to make history. Hypebeast breaks down different areas within the Middle ...
Omah Lay Is a Budding Vanguard of Afrobeats
With all eyes and ears on the global meteoric rise of Afrobeats, many are tuning into the work of budding vanguard Omah Lay. The Nigerian artist recently followed up his 2020 EP What Have We Done with his official debut album Boy Alone, which saw his introspective storytelling, mesmerizing vocals and infectious rhythms come to life even more. Hailing from Port Harcourt, the Afrobeats phenom already had music coursing through his veins having witnessed his grandfather play percussion for the revered highlife artist Celestine Ukwu. Lay then dabbled in rap and hip-hop before firmly planting his feet in what he claims he knows best: Afrobeats. With his own take on the undertones of R&B, reggae, trap and West African musical influences, the 25-year-old star is steadily becoming a ...
Iggy Pop, Descendents, Parquet Courts Lead Destination Chaos Festival
Iggy Pop, Descendents and Parquet Courts top the bill for the first Destination Chaos festival, which will take place Jan. 28-Feb. 4 at the Senator Resort on Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Tickets for what’s described as “all-inclusive week of music, comedy, booze, culinary madness and tropical debauchery” go on sale Saturday (Aug. 20). “Join us for seven raging nights of live music and laughs across three stages,” organizers wrote on the event Web site. It’s time to leave your suburban home for a holiday in the sun!” Destination Chaos’ lineup further boasts Gogol Bordello, Peter Hook & the Light performing Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures in its entirety, Amyl & the Sniffers, Bouncing Souls, Shame and The Bronx, among others. Comedians Josh Adam Meyers, Eddie Pepitone, Jo...
Cass McCombs and the Subtle Art of Writing ‘Beautiful Losers’
There’s a rustic mysticism to the music of Cass McCombs. An ethereal vibe. A glittering, twang-tinged opaqueness upon which you can project an entire universe of thought and feeling. Part of that effect is by intent. “I want to leave vast spaces for people to explore their own interpretation because I think that’s even better than what I want, in a way,” the 44-year-old singer-songwriter says in a recent chat over the phone. “Every person has their own interpretation to anything. There are different stages to this…what I want to express isn’t necessarily what the next person feels.” Then there’s the basic reality that McCombs is simply tough to read. “I have…what do you call it? Boundaries,” he says quietly. When asked about how he feels he’s perceived by others, he seemed to recoil at the...
Busan Mayor Says He Proposed Military Service Alternative For BTS
The members of BTS have had the prospect of mandatory military service in the South Korean army hanging over their heads for several years now. But what if they could do a different job that would serve the nation but not require them to like, you know, disappear from our lives for the two-year compulsory stint required of all able-bodied men between 18-28? Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news According to the Yonhap News Agency, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon has proposed letting the group’s 7 members swap out their military duties with an alternate gig as public relations ambassadors for his city’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The nation formally appointed the band as official PR ambassadors heading up the bid last month, which Busan is b...
Man Injured After Fall From Stadium Upper Level During Motley Crue Show: Report
A fan at Tuesday night’s (Aug. 16) Stadium Tour stop at Lucas Oil Stadium was reportedly injured in a fall during Mötley Crüe‘s headlining set when he fell from the upper level. According to the Indianapolis Star, a report from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said that “an intoxicated male stumbled over the railing at Lucas Oil Stadium and was transported to Eskenazi Hospital in stable condition” around 10 p.m. Tuesday, 30 minutes after the Crüe took the stage as part of the massive summer outing also featuring Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news On Wednesday, IMPD public information officer Samone Burris said the man was “awake and breathing” when polic...
Blackpink Is Teaming Up With YouTube to Launch ‘Pink Venom’ Challenge
Blinks, get ready to dance. In celebration of their upcoming music video for “Pink Venom,” Blackpink is inviting fans to take part in the #PinkVenomChallenge with a special countdown livestream starting tonight (Aug. 18) at 11 p.m. ET via the girl group’s official YouTube channel. Once Blackpink drops the highly anticipated music video on 12 a.m. ET Friday (Aug. 19), Blinks can head to YouTube Shorts to join Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa for a global dance party as part of the #PinkVenomChallenge. Fans worldwide can participate by creating and sharing their best dance moves from the “Pink Venom” music video on Shorts, and adding the hashtag #PinkVenomChallenge to the caption. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The #PinkVenomChallenge will r...
Katy Nichole’s Debut Hit ‘In Jesus Name’ Hits 20 Weeks Atop Hot Christian Songs Chart: ‘I’m Humbled’
Singer-songwriter Katy Nichole‘s launch single “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” stretches its domination atop Billboard‘s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart to a 20th week (on the list dated Aug. 20). “When we wrote and recorded ‘In Jesus Name,’ my prayer was that the Lord would use this song to bring peace and hope to others,” Nichole tells Billboard. The song rebounds to the chart’s top spot, after it spent 19 consecutive weeks at No. 1 beginning on the March 26-dated tally. Nichole co-wrote it with Ethan Hulse, David Spencer and Jeff Pardo, the latter of whom also produced it solo. “When we wrote and recorded ‘In Jesus Name,’ my prayer was that the Lord would use this song to bring peace and hope to others,” Nichole tells Billboard. “I never could have imagi...
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland Sue Triller for $28 Million, Demand Payment for Verzuz Sale
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland sold their Verzuz series to Triller in 2021, and, today, the producers have filed a lawsuit claiming the company still owes them $28 million, Billboard reports. In the complaint, the duo’s lawyers claim that Triller has failed to respond to demands for payment and have repeatedly defaulted in payment obligations. The lawsuit claims that the duo received cash payments in January and April 2021, but a subsequent payment due in January 2022 never arrived. The musicians’ lawyers claim in the lawsuit that a new payment plan was agreed upon, but promised payments in March of this year and all subsequent months thereafter have not gone through. Pitchfork has reached out to Triller, Swizz Beatz, and Timbaland’s respective representatives for comment. When the news of the ...
