entertainment blog
Late?: Balenciaga Cuts Ties With Ye
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Edward Berthelot / Getty That took longer than expected. Renowned luxury fashion house Balenciaga has cut ties with Ye fka Kanye West. In an exclusive statement to WWD, Balenciaga says it has severed its ties with the “Power” rapper and alleged billionaire. “Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,” said French company Kering, the owner of Balenciaga, in a statement to the publication. This news comes after about a week of Ye spewing antisemitic rhetoric on a variety of platforms including the Drink Champs podcast and in an interview with Piers Morgan. And that’s not including antisemitic statements that were edited out of his interview with Tucker Carlson and a The Shop episode that got completel...
Jay-Z To Sell D’Ussé Stake, Says Bacardi Is Lowballing Him
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Chelsea Lauren / Getty Jay-Z earned his status as one of the top moguls today by way of a series of savvy business maneuvers, including purchasing a major stake in the D’Ussé cognac brand. The Brooklyn star is seeking to sell his stake back to D’Ussé’s parent company Bacardi but claims that he’s being lowballed in return. TMZ has been at the forefront of reporting about the impending sale, noting that Jay-Z launched a lawsuit against Bacardi earlier this week and demanding to see financials regarding the cognac. Jay-Z and Bacardi are currently split down the middle in regards to owning the cognac brand, which has emerged as a major player in the vast world of adult beverages. More from TMZ: According to docs, Jay’s company, SC Liquor, exercised its right ...
Kanye West Reportedly Plans To Build a Mini-City Called the “Yecosystem”
Following the news that Balenciaga has decided to part ways with Kanye West, it appears the rapper has already moved on to his next project. According to Rolling Stone, Ye has filed trademark applications for a series of enclosed mini-cities that he wants to call the “Yecosystem.” The Yecosystem is described as “self-sustained enterprise that would have its own branded products and services,” per Rolling Stone. The trademark applications detailed plans for not just one community, but several mini-cities located across the United States. Ye is aiming to launch the first city in the next year. Among the names Ye has filed to trademark are “Yzyverse,” “Yxyverse” and “Yeezyverse.” “He comes from a good place,” a source told Rolling Stone about the Yecosystem. “It’s definitely his goal tha...
Lucinda Williams Announces Memoir, Don’t Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You
Lucinda Williams will release a memoir on April 25, via Crown. Don’t Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You will tell the story of the singer-songwriter’s life and career. “For decades now, I’ve shared my innermost thoughts and experiences via my songs,“ Williams said in a statement. “After years spent toying with the idea, I’ve decided to finally tell my stories more fully. But this won’t be a sugar-coated memoir; I want people to really see the truth of my life.” The book will chronicle Williams’ “traumatic childhood in the Deep South, her years of being overlooked in the music industry, and the stories that inspired her enduring songs,” according to a press release. Read the 5-10-15-20 feature “Lucinda Williams on the Music that Made Her.” All products featured on Pitchfork are independent...
John Lennon Sings on the Beatles’ Early “Yellow Submarine” Demo: Listen
Last month, the Beatles announced an expansive reissue of their 1966 LP Revolver. Now, the group has shared “Yellow Submarine (Songwriting Work Tape / Part 1),” a previously unreleased early demo that features spare acoustic instrumentation and vocals from John Lennon. (Ringo Starr famously sings lead vocals on the final, actual “Yellow Submarine.”) Listen to the outtake below. Speaking with USA Today, Starr and the reissue’s producer, Giles Martin, described how “Yellow Submarine” came together. “The boys used to write a song for me and they’d present whatever they thought would be good for me,” Starr said. “They had this song and they decided to liven it up.” Added Martin, “I had no idea [the work tape] existed…. It wouldn’t have been as commercial in that original form, and you can hear...
Watch Water From Your Eyes Implore John Wilson to Direct Their New Music Video
Water From Your Eyes—the Brooklyn electro-pop duo of Rachel Brown and Nate Amos—have had an eventful couple of years. In 2019, they issued their eight-song record Somebody Else’s Song, followed by their Wharf Cat debut, Structure, last summer. But they are hungry for more. Tasked with finding a director for their upcoming music video, Brown and Amos have set out on a seemingly impossible quest: to get John Wilson to helm their next shoot. Armed with a camera, the pair roamed the streets of New York—specifically Ridgewood, where Wilson lives—trying to contact the filmmaker by any means necessary. They visit his local bookstore and ask neighborhood residents about possible sightings, but the elusive documentarian is nowhere to be found. Will they be able to reach him? Water From Your Eyes’ h...
Run the Jewels Announce New RTJ4 Remix Album, Share Song: Listen
Run the Jewels are releasing a new RTJ4 remix album. The full-length, RTJ Cu4tro, features remixes and new versions of tracks made entirely by Latin artists. It’s out November 11 (via Jewel Runners/BMG). Below, check out a new version of “Walking in the Snow,” now titled “Caminando en la Nieve” and featuring Akapellah, Apache, and Pawmps, below. Orestes Gomez and Nick Hook are behind the new “Caminando en la Nieve” remix. Hook also curated and co–executive produced RTJ Cu4tro, which has additional contributions from Bomba Estéreo, Mas Aya, Lido Pimienta, and others. The album also includes Mexican Institute of Sound’s version of “Ooh La La” and Toy Selectah’s remix of “Ju$t.” In a press release, Run the Jewels’ El-P said: We are honored and delighted to have had the opportunity to work wit...
Armani Caesar Delivers Sequel Album to 2020’s ‘The Liz’
Two years after dropping her debut LP The Liz, Armani Caesar has returned with a sequel to the hard-hitting rap project. While 2020’s effort landed Caesar on the radar of both fans and music critics alike, The Liz 2 sees the rapper come into her music style, further experimenting with sound, lyrics and production. “It’s been a long time coming,” Caesar said. “The Liz 2 displays my growth lyrically, sonically, vocally and as a woman. I’m more vulnerable in my music this time around.” Since The Liz, Caesar has racked up an impressive list of guest appearances on songs from some of hip-hop’s greats. She boasts verses on “Lil Cease” from Westside Gunn’s Flygod Is An Awesome God 2 and “Anza” off of Conway The Machine’s From King To A GOD. Both Gunn and Conway The Machine appear on The Liz 2, as...
How Doja Cat’s ‘Vegas’ Transcended ‘Elvis’ to Become Her Latest Pop Radio Hit
The past two years have been a whirlwind of success for Doja Cat, who emerged from TikTok virality to become one of radio’s most beloved artists of the young decade so far. And she’s been on the type of hot streak that has her in rarefied territory: With five top five hits on Pop Airplay off her latest album, the RCA-released Planet Her, her album became just the seventh to ever accomplish that feat, a mark she set over the course of an entire calendar year — an impressive achievement in an era when attention spans are short and longevity is fleeting. This week, Doja Cat adds to her run of success as her latest single “Vegas,” off the Elvis soundtrack (also out on RCA), became her sixth No. 1 single at Pop Airplay — replacing her collaboration with Post Malone, “I Like You (A Happier Song)...
First Spin: The Week’s Best New Dance Tracks From Bonobo, Gorgon City & More
This week in dance music: The first full-fledged Amsterdam Dance Event kicked off in the Dutch capital on Tuesday (watch for our full recap early next week), Claude VonStroke’s iconic Dirtybird label was acquired by the San Francisco-based EMPIRE, Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz hit the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, and we went deep with one of the actual inventors of electronic music Jean-Michel Jarre. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news And bangerz with a Z? We’ve got those too. Let’s dig in. Bonobo, “Defender” Before Bonobo completes his North American tour this weekend, he’s leaving a parting gift. New single “Defender,” out on his Outlier label in partnership with Ninja Tune, is another surprise drop following previous loosie “ATK.” Both deli...
Swifties Can‘t Get Enough of Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’: ‘There Are No Skips In This Album’
Taylor Swift unveiled her 10th album Midnights at midnight ET on Friday (Oct. 21), and Swifties have spent every hour since devouring the LP’s 13 songs and seven bonus tracks. Naturally, the ardent fandom took their opinions to social media, with one fan declaring on Twitter, “THERE ARE NO SKIPS IN THIS ALBUM.” Several Swifties honed in particularly on highlight “Anti-Hero.” “When Taylor said, ‘IT’S ME, HI, I’M THE PROBLEM IT’S ME. AT TEA TIME, EVERYBODY AGREES. I’LL STARE DIRECTLY AT THE SUN BUT NEVER IN THE MIRROR. IT MUST BE EXHAUSTING ALWAYS ROOTING FOR THE ANTI HERO.’ my self-sabotaging a– felt that deeply,” one wrote. Another called the track “officially the anthem of my life.” A separate Swiftie made a number of callbacks to past fan-favorite songs when dissecting Midnights, saying,...
Ask Billboard: Taylor Swift’s Career Streaming, Airplay & Sales, Ahead of the Chart Debut of ‘Midnights’
Submit questions about Billboard charts, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S. Or, tweet @gthot20. Let’s open the latest mailbag. Hi @gthot20, Taylor Swift will release her 10th album next friday. Could you update her Top 10 most streamed/best selling songs in the US? We will be very grateful ❤️ — Taylor Swift Charts (@TChartSwift) October 14, 2022 Taylor Swift’s Career Streaming, Airplay & Sales Totals There’s a good chance you’re listening to Midnights if you’re reading this, so let’s not make this too much of an interruption and get right to it. Here is a rundown of Taylor Swift‘s career album sales and top songs measured by on-demand official strea...
