entertainment blog
J Hus Announces That His Third Studio Album Is Coming in 2023
Following the release of his last critically-acclaimed album Big Conspiracy in 2022, J Hus has announced that a new album is on the way — and it’s expected to release later this year. The East London artist’s debut album Common Sense reframed British rap, bringing a combination of grime, afrobeats, jazz instrumentation, and much more. The project also brought UK smash singles “Did You See,” “Plottin,” and “Bouff Daddy” — records that kept labels, execs, and fans alike eagle-eyed and excited for what was to come next. Two years later, the musician released Big Conspiracy — after being released from prison — and he announced his new music and freedom on stage with Drake at the 02 Arena in London. The album led with singles such as “Must Be” and “No Denying” while the proj...
The UK’s Most Streamed Songs of 2022 Only Featured British Artists
For the first time since year-end charts were introduced over 50 years ago, British artists made up the entirety of the year’s most-listened-to songs in the UK. Topping the biggest songs of 2022 in the UK was Harry Styles — who Hypebeast also labeled for releasing the best UK album of the year — with his hit single “As It Was.” Unsurprisingly, Ed Sheeran has two songs on the list, while newcomers such as London-based Cat Burns and Scottish dance duo LF System were also included in the top 10. Furthermore, British music also proved that old is gold, with Kate Bush’s 1985-released single “Running Up That Hill” placing sixth following the single’s feature in the latest series of popular Netflix drama, Stranger Things. The remainder of the top 10 was taken up by Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran...
Lady A’s Charles Kelley Opens Up About Sobriety Journey: ‘It’s Amazing What Not Drinking Will Do’
As 2023 gets underway, Lady A member Charles Kelley has been looking back on 2022, which he called “a big year of change” in a recent Instagram post. In August 2022, Lady A announced they were putting their Request Line Tour on hold in order to support Kelley on his sobriety journey. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “We are a band, but more importantly … we’re family,” the trio wrote via a statement at the time. “We’re proud to say that Charles has embarked on a journey to sobriety. So, right now in order to be the healthiest, strongest and most creative band we can be, Lady A will take the time with the support of our families and team of professionals to walk through this together. It’s early on this road, but we are determined to do what will...
Raye Eyes First U.K. No. 1 With ‘Escapism’
With Christmas tunes marching down and out the charts, Raye is targeting her first U.K. No. 1 single. The U.K.-based singer and songwriter leads the midweek U.K. chart with “Escapism” (up 6-1), ahead of SZA’s “Kill Bill” (RCA/Top Dawg) and Central Cee‘s “Let Go” (Central Cee), respectively. A multiple BRIT Award nominee best known for tracks including “Bed” (U.K. No. 3); “Secrets” with Regard; (U.K. No. 6) and Jax Jones’ “You Don’t Know Me” (U.K. No. 3), Raye in flourishing in her new, independent phase. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Escapism” is released through Human Re Sources, J. Erving’s distribution and artist services company, which she signed to in 2022 after publicly splitting with Polydor a year earlier. “Imagine this pain,” s...
Taylor Swift Set to Take U.K. Chart Crown With ‘Midnights’
If 2022 was the year of Taylor Swift in the U.K., the New Year appears much the same as Swift’s Midnights (EMI) takes pole position on the midweek chart. Based on data published by the Official Charts Company, Midnights is on track for the first No. 1 of 2023, and land a fourth non-consecutive week at the summit. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news If it keeps its momentum, the OCC notes, Midnights will eclipse Swift’s 2020 LP Folklore to become her longest-reigning album in the U.K. Meanwhile, SZA’s sophomore album SOS (RCA/Top Dawg) is set to lift 8-2, and the Weeknd’s career retrospective The Highlights (Republic Records/XO) could bounce 15-4 following the release of “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength),” the Canadian R&B singer’s single ...
Australian Music Retailer Sanity to Close Its Physical Stores
BRISBANE, Australia — It’s closing time for Sanity, the once-great Australian music retail specialist which confirmed it would close all its bricks-and-mortar stores in the coming months. In a statement issued Wednesday (Jan. 4), Sanity announced plans to close its remaining 50 stores by the end of April 2023, in line with the lease expiry of each outlet. It’s a sad end to a music and entertainment chain which, like so many brands in the business of racking physical soundcarriers, has been left behind as consumers move to streaming platforms. “With our customer shifting to digital for their visual and music content consumption, and with diminishing physical content available to sell to our customer, it has made it impossible to continue with our physical stores,” explains Sanity CEO and ow...
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Set to Release Debut Solo Album in 2023
BLACKPINK fans were greeted with good news heading into the new year as Jisoo confirmed that her long-awaited solo album will be released sometime later this year. Jisoo is the last group member to release her solo project. The first member of BLACKPINK to go solo was Jennie with the breakout single Solo in 2018, followed by Rosé’s two-track album R and Lisa’s chart-breaking “Lalisa” music video and album in 2021. Though Jisoo recently voiced her uncertainties in early 2022, telling Rolling Stone that she’s stuck between making “the music I listen to, the music I can do, and the music I want to do,” she now seems to have broken through, enthusiastically updating her fans on Twitter. “BLACKPINK’s Jisoo is currently working hard on recording her solo album. While carrying out a busy wo...
Snoop Dogg Recalls Being “Checked” and “Out-Gangstered” by Dionne Warwick
During his appearance in the newest documentary, Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, Snoop Dogg recalled the time when he and other rappers where “checked” and “out-gangstered” by legendary singer. According to CNN, the incident happened early on in Snoop’s career. Warwick was not pleased with how misogynistic the lyrics of ’90s gangsta rap were, so she called Snoop, Suge Knight and several other rappers over to her house to confront them about it. She set a 7 a.m. call time and the rappers were all in her driveway by 6:52 a.m., as they “were kind of like scared and shook up,” Snoop said. Warwick then asked the rappers to call her a “b*tch” to her face as they used the term in many of their songs, adding, “You guys are all going to grow up. You’re going have families. You’re goin...
French Montana’s ‘Coke Boys 6’ Will Be a Gangsta Grillz Mixtape
DJ Drama has announced that French Montana‘s upcoming Coke Boys 6 project will be a Gangsta Grillz mixtape. The producer took to social media to unveil the news, sharing a preview of a music video on his Instagram account that sees Montana aboard his luxury jet. “2023 New Year…Same Hustle Droppin 1/6,” Drama wrote as the caption. “@frenchmontana ‘Coke Boys 6…Money Heist Edition’ Gangsta Grillz…I Gave Yall A Chance To Catch Up…What Happened.” Coke Boys 6: Money Heist Edition was initially planned for a December release but it never came to fruition. The tape will be the rapper’s first release since June 2022’s Montega with Harry Fraud, while it will mark Drama’s first Gangsta Grillz tape of the year following December 2022’s Paint the City with Icewear Vezzo. Check out the announc...
Taeyang Teases New Single, “VIBE” Feat. Jimin of BTS
Shortly after his departure from YG Entertainment and transfer to THEBLACKLABEL, BIG BANG‘s Taeyang has now announced his new single with Jimin of BTS, titled “VIBE.” Earlier this week, Taeyang took to Instagram to share a new photo of himself accompanied by the caption “COMING SOON” getting fans already thinking about his first release under THEBLACKLABEL. Confirming early rumors, the Big Bang member took to Instagram once again to share a teaser image showing himself with Jimin. Framed by the song’s title notes and release info, the duo is seen decked out in Chrome Hearts in front of a bright orange backdrop. The single is currently expected to be part of Taeyang’s rumored fourth studio album, which would be his first solo effort since WHITE NIGHT released back in August 2017. Jimin is j...
BYEGOD: Westside Gunn Announces He Plans To Retire After 2023
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty It seems Westside Gunn has had enough. He has announced he will bow out of the game once this year concludes. As per Complex, the Buffalo, New York talent is leaving rap once his business in 2023 is finished. Last week Westside Gunn took to Twitter to make the announcement. “23’ def my last year doing this sh*t, I don’t have nothing else 2prove, I put my team on, I put my city on, I worked w/everybody I ever wanted to work with” he wrote. “plus MFs still don’t even understand 1-10, FLYGOD, Awesome GOD, or Pray for Paris(mind u Virgil did the cover) im the [goat emoji and shrug emoji].” Related Stories He went on to admit that he has said this prior, but he is standing on business this time. “I know I say I’m a retire a...
Freddie Gibbs Responds To Uncle Murda’s “Rap Up 2022” Slander
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Lorne Thomson / Getty For the past few seasons, Freddie Gibbs has found himself squabbling with a few of his rap peers, and now he’s taking aim at Uncle Murda as he’s taken issue with some bars that the Brooklyn rapper threw at him in his annual “Rap Up” track. Known to take shots at any and everyone in his yearly “Rap Up” song in which Uncle Murda analyzes the past years’ events in a comedic and sometimes disrespectful manner, Freddie Gibbs didn’t take too lightly to Murda’s lines which stated: Related Stories “Let’s talk about Freddie Gibbs, like really what’s up with him?/N*ggas robbed him in Buffalo and he got beat up again/He be out here looking like a cold-blooded sucker.” Needless to say that wasn’t something that Gibbs found too humorous. Taking t...
