entertainment blog
Portrait of Asian Elvis Impersonator Removed From Memphis Airport Due to Backlash
The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) has removed an Elvis Presley–inspired piece of artwork at the Memphis International Airport by artist Tommy Kha because of backlash from Elvis Presley fans. The Commercial Appeal reports the piece was installed in a newly reopened concourse in mid-February, but airport administrators removed it this week, citing unspecified negative commentary from fans. “After some disturbing complaints about my work, it was decided, and without my knowledge, the pictures were removed. I’m the only artist they have removed,” Kha wrote in an Instagram post on Monday (March 21). In Kha’s photographic piece, an Asian man dressed in a jumpsuit that recalls Aloha From Hawaii–era Presley stands in a room filled with kitchen and office wares. Kha and the ...
Jon Spencer Says the Blues Explosion Is No More
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the stalwart New York outfit that reimagined blues rock in the 1990s and inspired the subsequent garage-rock revival, is no more, Spencer revealed in a new interview for the Kreative Kontrol podcast. The trio of Spencer, guitarist Judah Bauer, and drummer Russell Simins went on hiatus in 2016 but no longer plans to regroup. Spencer cited Bauer’s health issues as the main factor in the split. Watch him discuss the band’s end below. The trio formed the Blues Explosion in 1991, following Spencer’s tenure fronting the deliberately offensive 1980s garage rockers Pussy Galore. Their 1994 album Orange mixed breakbeats and blues poetry with primal rock’n’roll riffs, subverting the self-reflective grunge orthodoxy of the time. They released a further eight albums ov...
Kid Cudi Directing and Starring in New Netflix Movie Teddy
The road has been long, from it being a tv show for years to finally being a film. So it means so fuckin much to finally be able to bring it to the screen next year, and I cant wait for u all to meet Teddy, his friends, his family and take a walk in his world for a bit. If I could sum up what the movie is about in one sentence, id say this: It’s as if I took the song ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ and wrote a movie about it. I added a lot of my own personal struggles and experiences in it, so this film is very close to my heart. I know, that deep down, this movie will help people in the same ways my music has. Im continuing my mission. Now this is a comedy, but It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t sprinkle some real shit in there. Its trippy, its fun, its sad, its life.
Beyoncé and Billie Eilish to Perform at 2022 Oscars
Beyoncé and Billie Eilish have been added as performers at the 94th Academy Awards this weekend. Beyoncé will perform “Be Alive” from King Richard, and Eilish will be joined by her brother Finneas for a performance of the James Bond theme “No Time to Die.” Sebastián Yatra will also perform the Encanto song “Dos Oruguitas,” while Reba McEntire will perform the Diane Warren-penned song from Four Good Days, “Somehow You Do.” Van Morrison will not be able to perform his song from Belfast, “Down to Joy,” due to his tour schedule. The performers join D-Nice and the Samples on the program, which will also feature an “all-star” band of Travis Barker, Sheila E., Robert Glasper, and music director Adam Blackstone. It happens on Sunday, March 27, at 8 p.m. Eastern. Beyoncé and Eilish are up for...
In Ukraine, Music Promoters Pivot to War’s Front Lines: ‘Culture Needs to Hold On’
The ritual is the same every August. Promoters for Zaxidfest, about an hour southwest of Lviv, Ukraine, dig into storage containers and haul out electrical generators, walkie-talkies and other equipment to put on the latest edition of the event, which has been held since 2009. This summer will be different. “All our storage goes to armed forces and refugees,” says Yakiv Matviychuk, the founder of the festival, which booked punk and metal bands like Cradle of Filth and Lacuna Coil in 2019 and drew 75,000 fans in a single day. “Unfortunately, I am not a soldier. So I help with donations. All people do what they can do the best.” Many men on Zaxidfest’s staff have joined the military to repel the Russian forces who attacked the country on Feb. 24. They’re scattered throughout Ukraine, from Ky...
How to Watch ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Online
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Nearly four months after swinging into movie theaters and grossing more than $1 billion at the box office to become the highest-grossing film of 2021, Spider Man: No Way Home is finally available to stream from the comfort of your own home. The Marvel movie was originally slated to drop on VOD this week but arrived ahead of schedule on March 15. Tom Holland reprises his role as Peter Parker in the superhero flick, co-starring Zendaya as Spider-Man’s girlfriend MJ and Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange. Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, William Dafoe, ...
Becky G & Karol G’s ‘Mamiii’ Expands Its Billboard Latin Charts Domination
Becky G and Karol G’s “Mamiii” hits No. 1 on two new Billboard Latin charts. A week after conquering the Latin Pop Airplay chart (dated March 19), their first collaboration takes over the all-genre Latin Airplay chart as it jumps 3-1 on the March 26-dated ranking. It concurrently ascends 2-1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay. With the move, “Mamiii” now tops six Latin charts concurrently: Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay, Latin Pop Airplay, Latin Rhythm Airplay, Latin Digital Song Sales, and Latin Streaming Songs. The previous instance of that six-chart simultaneous domination occurred almost three years ago when Daddy Yankee’s “Con Calma,” featuring Snow, topped all six of the May 25, 2019-dated tallies and the surveys dated June 15-29, 2019. “Mamiii” ascends to lead Latin Airplay with an 11% increas...
50 Cent Can’t Avoid Rémy Martin’s Copycat Cognac Lawsuit
50 Cent is headed toward a trial in a federal lawsuit that claims his Branson brand of cognac copied the design of Rémy Martin’s bottle after a Manhattan federal judge refused to dismiss the case. E. Rémy Martin & Co. sued in August, claiming the rapper’s liquor brand infringed patent and trade dress rights by mimicking Rémy ’s XO bottle. 50 Cent’s company, Sire Spirits, fired back in October, calling the case “meritless” and accusing the spirits company of trying to “destroy a competitor.” But in two recent rulings – one in January and another on Tuesday (March 22) – U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein denied Sire’s motion to dismiss the case at the outset. The decisions mean 50 Cent is headed for a long legal fight, including exchanges of evidence and potentially a jury trial. “...
‘Black Ink Crew’ Recap: Ceaser’s Struggle Press Conference Comes Back To Haunt Him
HipHopWired Featured Video CLOSE Source: VH1 / Black Ink Crew Last week, a disastrous Puma team-building event turned into a “teachable moment” moment for the crew. This week, Ceaser wants to promote his business better and brings back an OG to help with that. At the same time, he’s still dealing with his own issues. Ceaser Feels The Black Ink Crew Needs To Be On A Billboard Following the previous debacle at the shop, Ceaser feels it’s time his Black Ink brand needs a reboot, and he has to get his artists out there. So he decides to bring back Black Ink Crew OG, Sassy, to help with that and reveals to his artists that he wants to do a photoshoot and put them on a billboard. No longer a cast member on the show, Sassy is now flourishing in the PR business, and Ceaser feels she is the perfect...
She Said What She Said: Megan Thee Stallion Had Time For Carl Crawford On Twitter
HipHopWired Featured Video CLOSE Source: Jason Koerner / Getty Megan Thee Stallion is fed up with her record label and anyone that is still questioning if she got shot by Tory Lanez and decided to call people out on Twitter. Megan Thee Stallion had time on Monday (Mar.21). Following reports that the Houston rapper’s record label 1501 Certified Entertainment is countersuing her, claiming she owes them two more albums and money, Thee Stallion hopped on Twitter to call them out. The label’s legal action follows Thee Stallion taking 1501 Certified Entertainment to court, claiming she fulfilled her contractual obligations. 1501 Certified Entertainment in their suit said nah because they claimed her latest project, “Something For The Hotties,” is nothing more than a mere compilation album full o...
Donald Glover Shares Details On Ending ‘Atlanta’ After 4 Seasons
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Atlanta, the hit series show starring Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, and Zazie Beetz, remains a favorite of fans and critics alike for well-established reasons. During a recent appearance, Glover and the cast discussed bringing the show to a close after its fourth season this coming fall. As reported by Variety, Glover and members of the cast appeared at the SXSW premiere for season three of Atlanta at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas. According to the outlet, Glover broke convention much as he’s done with the show, and reportedly took photos of the reporters at the event via a disposable camera. Related Stories While on the red carpet, Glover didn’t waste time in sharing why he wanted to end Atlanta on ...
Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Baby, J. Cole and More To Headline Lollapalooza 2022
Lollapalooza is returning to Chicago’s Grant Park from July 28 to July 31, with headlining performances from Metallica, Dua Lipa, J. Cole, Green Day, Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Baby and Kygo, the festival announced via Instagram on Tuesday. Elsewhere during the four-day event, The Kid Laroi, Big Sean, Still Woozy, Cordae, YG, Dominic Fike, Don Toliver, Glass Animals, Coi Leray, King Princess, Charli XCX, Denzel Curry, Caroline Polachek, Muna, 100 gecs, Young Nudy and several others will also take the stage. This year’s festival marks the second iteration since the onset of COVID, following last year’s event, which included headliners Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Foo Fighters and Tyler, the Creator, as well as sets from Roddy Ricch, Marshmello, Megan Thee St...
