entertainment blog
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 ...
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 ...
Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show to Livestream on Paramount+
In June, Foo Fighters announced that they were working with the Hawkins family to organize tribute concerts for the late Taylor Hawkins. Today (August 17), Paramount+ has announced that it is partnering with Foo Fighters and the Hawkins family to bring the first of two tribute events to viewers. The first concert will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 3. Paramount will broadcast the event live on Paramount+ in the United States, on Pluto TV internationally, and on MTV’s YouTube channels. The concert will also be available on-demand via Paramount+ starting September 3, with streaming options available on Pluto TV and MTV on-demand beginning the week of September 5. The first event will feature performances from Liam Gallagher, Joshua Homme, Travis Barker, Chrissie Hyde, Qu...
Father John Misty Performs “Buddy’s Rendezvous” on Kimmel: Watch
Father John Misty stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night (August 17) to perform “Buddy’s Rendezvous” from his recent album Chloë and the Next 20th Century. He was joined by a lounge-style band including a string section and saxophonist. Watch it below. Chloë and the Next 20th Century is Father John Misty’s fifth album and includes the singles “Funny Girl,” “Q4,” “Goodbye Mr. Blue,” and “Kiss Me (I Loved You).” Shortly after the album’s release, he was the musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where he performed the latter track. A deluxe box set edition of Chloë and the Next Century comes with a 7″ featuring Lana Del Rey’s cover of “Buddy’s Rendezvous.” That cover is now available digitally alongside a video directed by Emma Elizabeth Tillman. Father...
Lee Fields Announces New Album Sentimental Fool, Shares New Song
Soul legend Lee Fields has announced his first new album in three years. It’s titled Sentimental Fool and it’s out October 28 via Daptone, marking it his full-length debut on the label. Today, he’s shared the title track along with a music video directed by Andrew Anderson. Check it out below. Sentimental Fool follows Lee Fields’ 2019 album It Rains Love, which he recorded with his band the Expressions. Produced by Daptone Records founder Bosco Mann, Sentimental Fool spans 12 tracks in total, including the previously released “Ordinary Lives.” This fall, Fields will embark on a North American tour in support of his new album. The trek kicks off with a set at Rail & Hops Brewers Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee before Fields hits the road in earnest in October. Find the full list of t...
Quavo Explains Why Takeoff Wasn’t on Migos’ “Bad and Boujee”
Quavo has finally revealed the reason behind Takeoff‘s absence on the Migos hit “Bad and Boujee.” A recent teaser for the newly-revived Rap Radar podcast shows Quavo and Takeoff sitting down with hosts Elliot Wilson and Brian ‘B.Dot’ Miller. Wilson asks Takeoff why he didn’t appear on the No. 1 hit, and Quavo chimed in to explain that “it was just timing” as they had a lot to deal with it while getting music out fast. He shared, “We was just trying to get something out. We was actually pissed off because we ain’t have no music out. I think like a couple months before that whole little wave and we was going through the litigation with 300 [Entertainment], so we ended up leaking ‘Bad and Boujee’ on SoundCloud first.” Quavo added that he wasn’t even supposed to be on “Bad and Boujee” as well,...
Megan Thee Stallion Dips Her Toes In House Music: Listen to “Her”
After dropping her sophomore album, it’s clear Megan Thee Stallion was influenced by electronic music. With the help of “Savage” producer Whethan, who is credited on the album’s ninth track, Traumazine is a breath of fresh air for the chart-topping rapper. She leans heavily into dance music at times, blending electronic elements with her signature, sexually charged lyricism. The album’s fifth track, “Her,” is a standout. In true Meg nature, the arrangement kicks off with bravado before being swept up by a driving house rhythm. The accompanying music video features monochrome multiples of the rapper dancing along to the track’s thumping bassline. Scroll to Continue Recommended Articles It’s not the first time Stallion has dipped her toes i...
