Hip-Hop
Unlocking the Truth Break Up as Frontman Malxolm Brixkhouse Launches Solo Career
Unlocking the Truth, the young metal sensations who first created a buzz playing the streets of New York City, have broken up. In turn, frontman Malcolm Brickhouse has started a solo career as Malxolm Brixkhouse, and is supported by his bandmates one final time on his new single “Phantom”. The young band first made a name for itself when a video of one of its street performances went viral on YouTube. The trio, made up of young teenage and pre-teen musicians, went on to play Coachella and Warped Tour, and opened for such acts as Guns N’ Roses, Queens of the Stone Age, and more. In 2014, Unlocking the Truth inked a $1.8 million record contract with Sony, but negotiated their release from the contract a year later. They eventually released the album Chaos independently in 2016, but never qui...
Master P’s ‘No Limit Chronicles’ Docuseries Coming to BET: Exclusive
Part one is set to premiere on July 29 at 9 pm ET on BET. The story of No Limit Records is coming to BET. Billboard confirmed on Monday (June 29) that the five-part No Limit Chronicles docuseries will detail how Master P‘s record label went from the humble beginnings in the trunk of the rapper/impresario’s car to one of the most lucrative dynasties in hip-hop history. “BET is the perfect outlet for the NL Chronicles. I want to continue to inspire and educate my fans and introduce my journey to a new generation,” Master P explains in an exclusive statement to Billboard. “Many will relate to my humble beginnings and realize there are No Limits to what you can accomplish with hard work and determination.” Part one of the docuseries is set to premiere on...
John Legend, Black Eyed Peas & More Set for ‘Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular’
John Legend, The Black Eyed Peas, Lady A and many more are set to take the stage during NBC’s upcoming 44th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. Hosted by Jane Lynch and Today anchor Craig Melvin, the annual Independence Day event will be broadcast live from New York City. Additional performers confirmed for the telecast ahead of the yearly fireworks display include The Killers, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and national youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman. Due to concerns over social distancing amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular will look a bit different than it has in years past. This year, the event is being “reimagined as a series of neighborhood shows” through the city’s five boroug...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Announces MTV VMAs Date & Location
It’s happening! The MTV Video Music Awards are a go. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York made the announcement during his Monday (June 29) press briefing, telling viewers that the annual ceremony would be held in Brooklyn. As the governor announced that New York City would be entering Phase III of reopening on July 6, he shared the unexpected news. “The Video Music Awards are going to be held Sunday, August 30, at Barclays Center,” he said. The slide displayed at the time also noted that “the event will follow all safety guidance, including limited or no audience.” Billboard has reached out to MTV for comment. In May, MTV told Billboard in a statement that they were looking into the possibility of safely holding the event live. “We’re exploring with gove...
Public Enemy Perform “Fight the Power” with Nas, The Roots, and More: Watch
Public Enemy joined forces with Nas, The Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought, YG, and Rapsody for a special performance of “Fight the Power” to kick off the 2020 BET Awards on Sunday night. The all-star collaboration, which was filmed remotely, was interspersed with protest footage and other powerful imagery to go along with updated lyrics referencing George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brook. Elsewhere during the BET Awards, Lil Wayne revisited his 2009 track “Kobe Bryant” in tribute to the late NBA legend; Megan The Stallion delivered a post apocalyptical performance of her new single “Girls in the Hood” and her remix of “Savage”; and DaBaby referenced George Floyd’s murder in a powerful visual for his performance of “Rockstar”. You can replay all of these performances below. ...
Beyoncé Announces New Visual Album Black Is King
Beyoncé will return next month with a new visual album called Black Is King. It’s due out on July 31st exclusively through Disney Plus. The project ties back to Beyoncé’s previous collaboration with Disney on last year’s CGI remake of The Lion King and the companion album, The Lion King: The Gift. According to a press release, Black Is King “reimagines the lessons of The Lion King for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns. The film was in production for one year with a cast and crew that represent diversity and connectivity.” Beyoncé wrote, directed and produced Black Is King herself. The album will incorporate music and visuals from The Gift in addition to featuring the album’s collaborators and other special guests. “The voyages of Black families, th...
Michelle Obama Stresses Voter Registration During Virtual Roots Picnic: Watch
Michelle Obama helped launch this year’s Roots Picnic with a passionate message about voting. Before kicking off the virtual festival on Saturday (June 27), the former first lady joined The Roots‘ Questlove and Black Thought on a split screen to urge voter registration for the upcoming election in November. “These past few months have been pretty heavy for just about everyone, and the truth is we still have our work cut out for us in the weeks and months ahead,” Obama said. “So before we dive into the Picnic, I want to remind everybody that we’ve got an election coming up, and it couldn’t be more important that everyone makes their voice heard this time around.” This year’s Roots Picnic partnered with Obama’s nonpartisan nonprofit...
Usher Debuts ‘I Cry’ With Emotional Performance For ‘Global Goal’: Watch
During Global Citizen’s “Global Goal: Unite For Our Future” live stream on Saturday (June 27), Usher performed his heartfelt new single “I Cry.” With powerful lyrics such as “I cry for the sons without fathers and the pain the mothers hold deep inside,” Usher’s new record sends a deep message of empathy and compassion. “If you chose to put yourself on the front lines of protests, if you chose to put yourself on the front lines by way of posting something or reposting something, know that you’re not alone and we can change this,” he previously said to Billboard. “Just know that you’re not alone and that we’re together in this fight.” He added: “I hope that the entire world, Black Americans and those who are Black in other countries, those who receive prej...
SZA Brings a Breezy ‘Normal Girl’ to Virtual Roots Picnic 2020: Watch
SZA took “Normal Girl” out to nature for this year’s Roots Picnic. The singer delivered a fresh, soothing vocal performance of the CTRL track outdoors for Saturday night’s (June 27) event. Surrounded by trees and accompanied by just a guitarist, SZA crooned about what it might be like to be the “type of girl you wanna take home to mama” and the “type of girl my daddy, he’d be proud of.” SZA was part of a packed lineup for the virtual rendition of the Roots Picnic, which kicked off with Michelle Obama urging viewers to take a minute and vote in this year’s elections. The Roots, H.E.R., Roddy Ricch and Kirk Franklin were among the many other performers. Check out a clip of SZA’s performance below. You Deserve to Make...
6ix9ine Releasing New Song & Music Video on Friday
6ix9ine just went to No. 1 with Nicki Minaj on “Trollz,” but there’s already another new music release in the works. With “Trollz” at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart — a first for 6ix9ine — he’ll be dropping another song and music video on Friday (July 3). “NEW MUSIC VIDEO THIS FRIDAY JULY 3RD,” wrote 6ix9ine on Instagram Saturday afternoon (June 27). “I have about 34 more days ’til house arrest is over, about 34 more days and the ankle monitor comes off and the king of New York is back on the street. I’m gonna give you all one more music video,” 6ix9ine teased in a video accompanying the post. “Just picture this, right. I’ve been on house arrest. I broke a whole b...
H.E.R. Rocks ‘I Can’t Breathe’/’Fate’ Medley for Roots Picnic 2020
H.E.R. brought a two-song medley live from a socially distant studio session to this year’s Roots Picnic. The Roots’ annual Roots Picnic went virtual this year, kicking off Saturday night (June 27) with Michelle Obama encouraging viewers to take action and vote in this year’s elections, and then launching into a series of virtual music performances. H.E.R. started off her spot in the lineup with a powerful, acoustic guitar-led “I Can’t Breathe,” the moving new song she debuted earlier in June inspired by current events and protests following George Floyd’s killing. She switched gears for the second part of her medley, picking up an electric guitar for a rocking rendition of “Fate.” The Roots Picnic began streaming at 8 p.m. ET Saturday ...
‘BET Awards 2020 Needed More Than Ever’: President Scott Mills Reflects on Show’s Lasting Impact & More
BET president Scott Mills wants viewers of this year’s BET Awards to understand one thing up front: don’t call it a virtual awards show. It’s a “complete mischaracterization of what the show is,” says Mills of the BET Awards which, like many other special events, has had to shift gears as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the ceremony will air Sunday evening (June 28) and also make its national broadcast debut on CBS. Noting that other media have tagged the show as virtual, Mills continues, “We actually never have described it as virtual. We said that we’re proceeding with the awards show and not doing it in front of a live audience.” Mills further emphasizes that the show won’t feature artists simply performing from their homes. Instead, performanc...
