Month: June 2022

Just like that, half of the year is over! With June wrapping up, Billboard is asking readers to vote for their favorite Latin collaboration released this month.

The list includes 11 collabs that were featured on Billboard’s weekly First Stream Latin column, such as Prince Royc’s “Si Te Preguntan…” with Nicky Jam and Jay Wheeler, Tiago PZK and Ozuna’s “Nos Comemos,” as well as Camilo’s dream collab with Alejandro Sanz in “NASA,” to name a few.

In May, fans voted Morat and Duki’s “Paris” as the best collab with nearly 50 percent of the votes. Bizarrap and Paulo Londra’s “BZRP Music Sessions #23” was voted the favorite one of April with more than 55 percent of the votes. Sebastian Yatra and John Legend’s “Tacones Rojos (Remix)” took the crown with more than 60 percent of the votes in March. In February, our readers crowned Becky G and Karol G with their sin-pelos-en-la-lengua banger “Mamiii,” nabbing more than 50 percent of the votes, and Christina Aguilera and Ozuna’s “Santo” took the crown in January with more than 62 percent of the votes.

Who should be the winner for June? Vote below!

The 2021 winners for favorite Latin collaborations were Maria Becerra and Cazzu’s “Animal” (January 2021), VF7 and Lunay’s “Codigo Secreto” (February 2021), Danny Ocean and Justin Quiles’ “Cuantas Veces” (March 2021), Sebastian Yatra and Myke Towers’ “Pareja del Año” (April 2021), J Balvin and Maria Becerra’s “Que Mas Pues” (May 2021), Nobeat and Khea’s “Medio Crazy” (June 2021), Enrique Iglesias and Farruko’s “Me Pasé” (July 2021), Sebastian Yatra and Jhay Cortez’s “Delincuente” (August 2021), Sofia Reyes and Becky G’s “Mal de Amores” (September 2021), Anitta and Saweetie’s “Faking Love” (October 2021). (Editor’s note: There were no polls for November and December 2021.)

There’s been an outpouring of love shown to Travis Barker after he was hospitalized on June 28 in Los Angeles, and his family is sharing their appreciation. The rocker’s daughter Alabama and stepdaughter Atiana De La Hoya both addressed fans in Instagram Stories messages on Wednesday (June 29).

“Thank you for the outpouring of love and prayers sent our way at this time,” Atiana wrote in white text on a gray background. “It is heard, felt and appreciated. Xx.”

Alabama felt similarly. In her Story, which features a photo of her right hand with a bedazzled pink manicure next to the drummer’s tattoo-covered left hand, she simply wrote, “Thank you guys for all the prayers and love, I appreciate you & love all of you.”

Among those showing love is Kid Cudi, who shared his message of support earlier in the day Wednesday. “Travis I love u and im prayin for u,” the rapper tweeted.

Atiana’s father is boxer Oscar De La Hoya, who was engaged to Barker’s ex-wife Shanna Moakler. The drummer and model — who were married from 2004 to 2008 — share daughter Alabama, as well as son Landon.

The night of Barker’s hospitalization, Landon joined the drummer’s friend Machine Gun Kelly on stage at the “Bloody Valentine” singer’s sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. Together, the two performed their collaboration “Die in California,” a track from MGK’s Mainstream Sellout.

TMZ was first to report Barker’s hospitalization. The publication had obtained photos of the Blink-182 drummer being taken into a Los Angeles hospital on a stretcher, with wife Kourtney Kardashian walking in with him.

Barker and The Kardashians star have not yet revealed why he has been hospitalized or his current condition. Ahead of the health emergency, the rocker had tweeted that morning, “God save me,” though he did not specify what he was referring to.

Usher had the whole room grooving for his new installment of NPR’s “Tiny Desk” concert series, in which he performed a slew of hits for the 24-minute video.

His jam-packed band featured vocalists Eric Bellinger and Vedo, bassist, Dmitry Gorodetsky, trombonist Lemar Guillary, trumpeter Brandyn Phllips, saxophonist Jay Flat, keyboardist Darek Cobbs, guitarist Erick Walls and drummer Ryan Carr.

“I’m hoping to just really have fun today. This office party that we’re having,” Usher opened the performance, before delivering a smooth rendition of “You Make Me Wanna…”

The star also ran through renditions of hits like “U Don’t Have to Call,” “Nice & Slow,” “Confessions Part II,” “My Way” and more.

Usher also hasn’t released a proper studio album since 2016’s Hard II Love, which yielded two top 10 singles on the Adult R&B Songs chart, but earlier this year, he teased that new music is on the way to People. “While we have been in quarantine, my ideas changed,” he explained to the publication. “I actually learned new things. I was able to really be reflective and find out what things matter and really have some true, honest, deep conversations with people and myself, to take some ownership of some of where my life has gone and some of the things that I’ve come through. It is honest.”

“So, yeah, I’m going to release an album this year, hopefully, but now it’s just a matter of the timing, and what the name of the album is and all of that,” he added.

Watch Usher’s full “Tiny Desk” concert below.

After spending the past few days standing firm on her decision to speak out during concert performances against the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe V. Wade, Halsey has been met with backlash from anti-choice conservatives. But the “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God” singer has also received an outpouring of support from many online — including fellow pop star Katy Perry.

The original discourse originated on Twitter, when Halsey first reacted to a tweet noting several audience members had walked out of their concert after the 27-year-old artist began voicing their impassioned opposition to the June 24 reversal of the landmark case that had previously guaranteed women’s federal rights to abortion for nearly 50 years. “Downside of doing outdoor venues: no door to hit them on the way out,” Halsey, who’s also been leading “My body, my choice” chants at her concerts, tweeted Monday (June 27).

The “Without Me” musician dug in with another tweet on Wednesday (June 27). “The ‘people pay to see you sing not hear your views’ argument is so dumb,” she began. “No, you paid to see me use a stage as a form of expression in the manner that I choose. Sorry you lack the critical thinking to realize that the rhetorical power of music doesn’t always serve your escapism.”

These words inspired Perry to retweet the message on her own Twitter, writing to Halsey, “Go off Queen.”

It marks the first time the “Firework” vocalist has tweeted directly about the overturning of Roe, though she did retweet a post from the day it was overturned reading, “There ain’t even BABY FORMULA ON THE SHELVES.” She also retweeted a photo capturing a moment when a few planets in our solar system were visible in the sky and wrote a day after the court’s ruling, “Dang all the planets comin out to see this s–t show.”

Perry has, however, spoken up in the past about her pro-choice views, even signing an endorsement of Planned Parenthood’s 2020 action fund voting campaign. One of the other 200 artists to sign their name was Halsey, who would go on to also sign a Planned Parenthood 2022 letter condemning the Supreme Court’s decision back in May, when the draft decision was leaked.

“Honored to have my audience,” Halsey also tweeted Wednesday. “Proud they cultivate a space where emotion and action meet. Love doing what I do. And expect me to always tell the truth when I get up there. Show must go on.”

See Katy Perry’s and Halsey’s tweets below:

go off Queen https://t.co/3zVSyiyfH1

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) June 30, 2022

The “people pay to see you sing not hear your views” argument is so dumb. No, you paid to see me use a stage as a form of expression in the manner that I choose. Sorry you lack the critical thinking to realize that the rhetorical power of music doesn’t always serve your escapism.

— h (@halsey) June 29, 2022

Honored to have my audience. Proud they cultivate a space where emotion and action meet. Love doing what I do. And expect me to always tell the truth when I get up there. Show must go on.

— h (@halsey) June 29, 2022

I’ve had abortion statistics in my show since my tour started in May and 16,500 people came to my last show. I’m gonna be fine because my fans are on the right side of history. There’s an empty forum inside your skull. https://t.co/UPbvvJGnVR

— h (@halsey) June 30, 2022

Confused as to why Machine Gun Kelly decided to hit himself in the face with a champagne glass at his afterparty after rocking a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden Tuesday (June 28)? So was Seth Meyers, and the late-night host asked for an answer artist when MGK made a visit to Late Night the following evening.

The conversation started simply enough, with the comedian asking the rocker how he was feeling. Responded MGK, “There are censors, right? I feel like s—t!”

After Meyers pointed out that the “Bloody Valentine” singer also showed up on the late-night show with an injury previously, the musician — whose facial laceration was still visible behind his pink hair — quipped that he’d need to have doctors around the next time he sees Meyers’ show on his schedule, then explained the bloody incident.

“You know when you clink a champagne glass with a fork to kind of get people’s attention?” began the artist, who was promoting his new Hulu documentary Life in Pink. “Yeah, I didn’t have a fork. So I just clinked it on my head.”

“In medicine, they call that ‘asking for it,’” the comedian replied.

MGK also took a few minutes to talk about some of his ink — which was on display, as he wore a deep pink shirt that was wide open at the chest — including the tattoos he and fiancee Megan Fox gave each other.

“Her skin’s so soft. Hers is kind of fading,” he began of the tattoo he gave his love. “Her on me though, she dug it in so deep! … With mine, she was like, ‘Oh no, this is sticking!’”

MGK also discussed the matching voodoo doll tattoos on their ring fingers. “You know, it’s interesting ‘cause we were watching the Pam & Tommy series. I forgot that [tattoo artist] Mark Mahoney did theirs, but Mark also did ours,” he shared. He then joked, hinting at the demise of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s rocky relationship, as well as the infamous sex tape. “Hopefully don’t end up the same! Hopefully don’t take after all the paths!”

Watch his interview below:

Beyoncé unveiled the enchanting cover art on Thursday (June 30) for her highly anticipated album, Renaissance, and penned a sweet tribute to everything that inspired its creation.

Set against a completely black backdrop, the Renaissance cover features a mostly bare Bey with long blonde hair, saddled on a glowing silver horse. “I hope you find joy in this music,” she wrote alongside the reveal. “I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”

The jaw-dropping Renaissance cover is hardly Queen Bey’s first mind-blowing artistic representation of her albums. The superstar often visually captures her musical eras with stunning cover photos.

Was the sleek and simple self-titled album cover your favorite, or is the glam Dangerously in Love debut your top pick? Let us know your favorite Beyoncé cover art by voting in our poll below.

As if Seabrook High didn’t already have enough to worry about, now they’re under “Alien Invasion.”

In a new preview of the Disney Channel film Zombies 3, premiering exclusively on Billboard below, you can get a sneak peek of the electronic song “Alien Invasion” and the epic dance-off that goes with it.

“‘Alien Invasion’ is one of the biggest numbers that we have ever done,” says Chandler Kinney, who plays Willa in the movie series. “It immediately pulls you in.”

The huge production serves as the intro for Zombies 3, out July 15 on Disney Channel, which follows the popular first two movies in the threequel that kicked off in 2018. “I think it’s a great way to open up the movie,” says Meg Donnelly, who stars as cheerleader Meg. “It’s so intense.”

For the new aliens in the cast, they had to really nail their otherworldly dance moves to sell the scene.

“The alien dance style is very sharp and precise and so in sync that it looks robotic because it’s so perfect,” says Matt Cornett, who makes his debut in the series as A-Ian.

The “Alien Invasion” song asks whether the extraterrestrials are “friends or enemies,” and Cornett insists their intentions are pure. “The people of Seabrook and the aliens almost clash because everybody at Seabrook thinks that we’re here to create all of these problems, when in reality, we’re just trying to find our new home.”

To see how things turn out for the aliens and all the supernatural (and human) beings of Seabrook, tune in to Zombies 3 when it premieres July 15 on Disney Channel. A digital soundtrack that includes “Alien Invasion” and other new songs will also be available July 15 via Walt Disney Records. The soundtracks for Zombies and Zombies 2 hit the top five on both Billboard‘s Kid Albums and Soundtracks charts, with the former spending 10 weeks at No. 1 on Kid Albums.

Watch the exclusive “Alien Invasion” featurette below: