entertainment blog
Listen to Phife Dawg’s New Posthumous Song “Forever”
The Estate of Phife Dawg, the late MC from A Tribe Called Quest, has shared a new song called “Forever.” The title track from his forthcoming posthumous solo LP is produced by DJ Rasta Root, V. Rich, and Nottz. “Forever” samples popular uses of the word “forever” in hip-hop by artists like OutKast and Wu-Tang Clan. Check out the song below. This is the third single released from Forever, following “French Kiss Deux” and “Nutshell Part 2.” The album spans 13 songs in total and features cameos from Q-Tip, members of De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Rapsody, and Redman, among others. Forever comes out March 22 via AWAL to honor the sixth anniversary of Phife Dawg’s death. A Tribe Called Quest dropped their sixth and final album, We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service, back in 2016...
Will Butler Says He’s Left Arcade Fire
Will Butler has announced that he’s left Arcade Fire. The band’s longtime multi-instrumentalist and the younger brother of bandleader Win Butler broke the news on Twitter today. “I left at the end of last year, after the new record was complete,” he tweeted. “There was no acute reason beyond that I’ve changed—and the band has changed—over the last almost 20 years. Time for new things.” “I’m working on a new record; booking some shows this summer. I’m working on music for a David Adjmi play (which is so good). A few other projects percolating,” Butler continued. “Thank you to anyone who’s come out to AF shows, or bought a record, or loves our music. It’s meaningful to be part of your lives. Thank you to the crew, staff, management, label people, bands, artists, and friends who have helped b...
SXSW 2022: Kygo Takes the Stage, Shawn Mendes Shares 5 Things You Didn’t Know & More | Billboard News
SXSW is winding down but the music is reaching peak levels. Kygo talked to Billboard about taking risks before he hit The Stage at Waterloo Park, singer Tone Stith spills about his upcoming show with Chris Brown and touring with H.E.R., Shawn Mendes shares five things you don’t know about him and Sunflower Bean frontwoman Julia Cumming speaks on how the band should be on ‘The Batman’ soundtrack. [flexi-common-toolbar] [flexi-form class=”flexi_form_style” title=”Submit to Flexi” name=”my_form” ajax=”true”][flexi-form-tag type=”post_title” class=”fl-input” title=”Title” value=”” required=”true”][flexi-form-tag type=”category” title=”Select category”][flexi-form-...
Tone Stith Dishes on Viral Track ‘FWM,’ What He’s Learned From H.E.R. & More at SXSW 2022: Watch
Tone Stith stopped by South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Friday (March 18) to discuss his viral song “FWM,” what he learned while touring with H.E.R., and his goals for the coming year. Over the summer, the 26-year-old R&B singer — who’s penned songs for Chris Brown and collaborated with 2 Chainz and Ty Dolla $ign — dropped his second musical project, FWM, through RCA Records. Since then, the title track has turned into a viral hit on TikTok. Explore Explore Tone Stith See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I dropped the project, the song is buzzing,” Stith told Billboard News host Tetris Kelly at the Samsung x Billboard Galaxy House. “Months later, people started seeing me in person and they’re like, ‘Yo, you sing that song ‘FWM,’ it’s on my playli...
Julia Cumming of Sunflower Bean Talks Creating New Album, Jamming to DMX & More | SXSW 2022
Sunflower Bean frontwoman Julia Cumming sat down with Billboard’s Tetris Kelly at the Samsung x Billboard Galaxy House at SXSW to discuss creating their upcoming album ‘Head Full of Sugar,’ her love for DMX, wanting to be on ‘The Batman’ soundtrack and more. [flexi-common-toolbar] [flexi-form class=”flexi_form_style” title=”Submit to Flexi” name=”my_form” ajax=”true”][flexi-form-tag type=”post_title” class=”fl-input” title=”Title” value=”” required=”true”][flexi-form-tag type=”category” title=”Select category”][flexi-form-tag type=”tag” title=”Insert tag”][flexi-form-tag type=”article” class=”fl-textarea” title=&...
Wisin & Yandel Break Their Own Record With 10 Choliseo Shows in Puerto Rico
Wisin & Yandel broke their own record yesterday (March 18) after selling out nine concerts to take place at The Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in December, part of their 2022 La Ultima Mision Tour. According to figures provided to Billboard by event promoter Paco Lopez, the reggaeton duo sold out nine dates in 24 hours, resulting in 864,000 ticket sales and a $5 million gross. A tenth date was announced Saturday morning (March 19). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news With this feat, the “Recordar” artists officially break the very record that they achieved in 2018 with eight sold-out Choliseo shows, part of their Como Antes Tour. “We are more than grateful and excited with the reaction of our dear people in Puerto Rico, and we are m...
RIP Goonew: DMV Rapper Goonew Shot & Killed In Prince George’s County, Md., Twitter Reacts.
HipHopWired Featured Video CLOSE Source: Goonew / @goonew64 Goonew, a rapper from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, was shot and killed by unknown gunmen on Friday (March 18) according to still-developing reports. Goonew, who was affiliated with Hoodrich Pablo Juan and rapped under other monikers, was considered one of the innovators of the DMV Hip-Hop scene, as evidenced by the outpouring from fans and associates online. Details of the passing of Goonew are largely scant but what is known is that the rapper was shot and killed in District Heights, Md. in the Washington suburb of Prince George’s County. Emerging on the scene around 2017, Goonew, who also rapped under the names Hoodrich Goonew, Big Wizzle, and other flips of his stage name, he and fellow DMV rapper Lil Dude were fre...
10 Can’t-Miss Performances at Ultra Music Festival 2022
With seemingly endless options at hand, scheduling a day at Ultra Music Festival is no small task. Luckily, you can’t go wrong within one of dance music’s biggest arenas. We’re on the cusp of festival season reaching full swing, and electronic music artists are pulling out all the stops in order to make an early and impactful impression. To help kickstart your planning, we’re highlighting 10 artists who are sure to make a huge impact at Ultra 2022. Nitepunk It’s safe to say Nitepunk is one of bass music’s most refreshing faces. The producer’s unique brand of frenetic breakbeat and pummeling trap has made him a favorite among headbangers in the electronic scene. Nitepunk has been paying his dues in the studio, but 2021 was really the start of him pr...
Aimee Mann Says Steely Dan Dropped Her From Tour, Donald Fagen Apologizes
Well, first of all, the idea that I would make any decision based on the gender of a performer is ridiculous. That’s something that would never even occur to me. There was a communication problem on our end. I was misinformed as to how firm the commitment was to any particular opening act. And, although I have the greatest respect for Aimee as a writer and performer, I thought it might not be the best matchup in terms of musical style. But I can’t pass the buck. I’ll take the blame for the screwup. I apologize for any distress this has caused Aimee and her fans.
Trae Tha Truth Teases Surprise Album, Talks Friendship With ‘Little Bro’ Gunna & Young Thug at SXSW
As a born-and-bred Texan, it’s no surprise that Trae Tha Truth is back in Austin for the 2022 edition of South by Southwest. Backstage at Gunna and Young Thug’s set Thursday night for Billboard x Samsung’s three-night SXSW concert series, Billboard News’ Tetris Kelly caught up with Trae to talk about his friendship with the two young rappers and what it’s like to be back at South By. “I’ve been here since the beginning days,” Trae says. “I’ve seen a lot of artists be created through South by Southwest.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news He also talked about his early interactions with Thug and with Gunna (“that’s little bro”) and how he’s been impacting his Houston hometown since receiving the Change Maker Award at the 2021 Billboard Music A...
Hardwell to Close Out Ultra Miami 2022 After Four-Year Hiatus
Four years after stepping away from the EDM scene that made him a global star, Hardwell will take the stage again in Miami next weekend at Ultra Music Festival, Billboard has learned. The Dutch DJ-producer will close out the three-day festival as the “special guest” in the final main stage slot at 9 p.m. on Sunday, March 27, say three people familiar with the matter. Explore Explore Hardwell See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Hardwell, whose real name is Robbert van de Corput, rose to fame amid the hands-in-the-air commercial explosion of dance music in the U.S. from 2012 to 2018, headlining major festivals like Ultra and TomorrowWorld and holding residencies at top-flight venues like Hakkasan in Las Vegas. He produced a slew of high-energy progressive ho...
Paul Simon Shopping Simon & Garfunkel Recorded Royalties
A year after Paul Simon sold his song catalog to Sony Music Publishing, the legendary artist is now shopping his master recording royalties from his Simon & Garfunkel recorded works, multiple sources tell Billboard. The master royalties include the five Simon & Garfunkel studio albums that the duo recorded for Columbia/Sony starting in 1964, including 1971 Grammy album of the year Bridge Over Troubled Water. The duo has sold more than 100 million records, according to Sony. “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “America,” “Homeward Bound,” “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” and “The Boxer” are among the classic recordings on these albums. A source says Art Garfunkel is not selling his master recording royalties. Simon, one of the most revered singer-songwriters in mo...
