Month: December 2022

The Los Angeles breeze hugged the air as the exclusive invitees to this year’s Billboard Hip-Hop/ R&B Power Players cocktail reception poured into the patio of the Academy LA for an evening honoring excellence and industry recognition. Annually, Billboard and VIBE team up to publish an esteemed list of executives and personnel shaping the music culture. On Thursday, November 17, those honored gathered around, embracing familiar faces, and exchanging laughs. The energy of the evening was unmatched, as guests sipped on iconic Rémy Martin cocktails throughout the night, including The Rémy Ginger made with VSOP, The Rémy Sidecar made with 1738® Accord Royal, and The Rémy Old Fashioned made with XO. The event was kicked off by a rotation of hits played by DJ Meel, DJ TJ Banks, and DJ R-tistic, courtesy of the luxury cognac brand who were the presenting sponsor of the party.

Before honorees made their way into the venue for the second part of the evening which featured headlining performances and a myriad of Rémy Martin bars, the evening of celebration concluding with the award presentation of the Rémy Martin and VIBE Impact and Excellence Award, an extension of the historical award that prior honored the likes of Mary J Blige, Nas, Nipsey Hussle, and Meek Mill. To join the ranks of honorees, this year’s recipient was SAINt JHN.

Having split his childhood between his birthplace of Georgetown, Guyana, and Brooklyn, New York, SAINt JHN drew from both his Caribbean and American influences, carving a niche for himself within the music scene as a singer/songwriter, philanthropist, and fashion enthusiast. His sound is a fusion of the rockstar nodes and Brooklyn grit; SAINt JHN describes his music as a medium of expression and therapy.

In the spirit of Team Up for Excellence, celebrating collective success for the coveted cognac house, Rémy Martin, Billboard and VIBE editors gathered to discuss the musician’s career and contributions to the genre. 

Check out photos from the night, featuring Rémy Martin HERE.

Visit Rémy Martin to view the collection and cocktails recipes mentioned.

© 2022 E. Rémy Martin & Co., Imported by Rémy Cointreau USA, Inc., New York, NY. All rights reserved, trademarks owned by E. Rémy Martin & Co.. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

Chicago-born rapper Taylor Bennett grew up around music and was constantly working on his craft with his older brother, Chance the Rapper. Over the years, Bennett has carved his own lane as an independent music artist, entrepreneur, and advocate. 

In 2015, Bennett released his debut project, Broad Shoulders, which quickly became a classic of the mid-2010s underground hip-hop SoundCloud era. The EP was headlined by a track named after the project which included a standout feature from Bennett’s older brother Chance. The single took Bennett’s career to new heights and he began to gain mainstream traction. He went on to release Restoration of an American Idol in 2017, BE YOURSELF in 2018, and THE AMERICAN REJECT in 2019 before taking a few years off from dropping new music. Earlier this year, Bennett returned with a new project, Coming of Age, which features iconic artists like Mr. Hudson and Jeremih. 

One year after coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Bennett released his 2018 EP BE YOURSELF and launched a clothing brand under the same moniker. The phrase “be yourself” is much more than a brand or album name to the Chicago native.  On the project, Bennett tackled some important internal conversations he’s never faced publicly or with family and friends. The cover is symbolic of Bennett accepting himself and features the rapper in rainbow underwear and a birthday hat surrounded by balloons. 

In Sound Mind’s latest episode of Unmasked, Bennett credits coming out as the moment he started to gain self-confidence. He is passionate about using his story to build others up and help fans work through any mental health challenges they face. 

“Mental health is so important to me. Every day I try to be my best self so I can show up as a father, a manager, and an artist. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I feel it’s my duty to share my story and connect with others so we can build each other up and combat any mental health challenges we may face. That’s what music is all about. I’m grateful for Billboard and Sound Mind’s “Unmasked” series which helps me do that. If someone out there is struggling, I hope they know they’re not alone. Let’s “unmask” mental health together.”

Unmasked is focused on promoting mental health resources, as well as fostering an open dialogue about mental health for artists and audiences alike. It is imperative that the music industry creates more spaces for artists to be open and honest about their struggles with mental health. Check out Taylor Bennett on the latest episode of Unmasked above and stay tuned for more from Sound Mind. 

Billboard’s First Stream serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

This week, RM presents a bold solo vision, Metro Boomin ends another big year with a superstar affair, and Lewis Capaldi’s latest will turn your frown upside down. Check out all of this week’s First Stream picks below:

RM, Indigo 

Even with the context of every recent solo project from the members of BTS, which have presented their millions of listeners with individual aesthetics and ideas, RM’s official solo debut Indigo ruptures with artistic ambition from the opening minutes, where he raps about his humanity over a buttery R&B beat before Erykah Badu slides in with a majestic pre-chorus. Indigo wriggles free of easy classification, much like its creator: the moment one tries to peg the project as a mainstream hip-hop effort, a song like the arena-ready sing-along “Wild Flower” or the forlorn strummer “Lonely” upends expectations. RM’s curiosity balances out his natural talent on Indigo, resulting in an accomplished, multi-faceted solo step.

Metro Boomin, Heroes & Villains 

From Future to 21 Savage to The Weeknd, Metro Boomin has helped mold the sound of some of the biggest mainstream stars of the past decade as a producer and songwriter — so when he releases his own projects, they (and many others) naturally show up to pay homage. Heroes & Villains, the long-awaited follow-up to the Atlanta studio whiz’s underrated 2018 opus Not All Heroes Wear Capes, is a star-studded heat check before the end of the year that allows superstars to operate over slow-rolling beats (“Trance,” a bleary-eyed team-up between Travis Scott and Young Thug, is a highlight), as well as engage in some rollicking genre exercises (“Creepin’” joyfully re-creates Mario Winans’ “I Don’t Wanna Know” with The Weeknd and 21 Savage).

Lewis Capaldi, “Pointless”

Lewis Capaldi became a star on the strength of sorrow: his singles “Someone You Loved” and “Before You Go” grew into unlikely top 10 Hot 100 hits while embracing heart-wrenched balladry, as the singer-songwriter bet on unbridled emotion as a commercial vehicle and won handily. “Pointless,” the second taste of his upcoming sophomore album Broken By Desire to be Heavenly Sent, taps into another rush of feelings, but this one could soundtrack a wedding dance instead of a tearful night in bed: “Everything is pointless without you,” Capaldi sings, the intensity of his voice and stabs of piano drawing the listener into his love story.

Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time (Sampler) 

After nearly two years of watching his Dangerous: The Double Album become one of the biggest commercial LPs of the past decade, and rebuilding trust in and out of Nashville following some high-profile controversies, Morgan Wallen is setting himself up for a major 2023, with a recently announced international stadium tour accompanied by a three-song sampler of an upcoming studio project. “One Thing at a Time,” “Days That End in Why” and “Tennessee Fan” don’t try to reinvent Wallen’s appeal, instead augmenting the long-running juxtaposition between his rustic, lived-in voice and sparkling, sophisticated country-pop songwriting, while also suggesting that fans will have plenty to look forward to in the new year.

Latto feat. GloRilla & Gangsta Boo, “FTCU” 

From the moment you realize that the acronym “FTCU” stands for “f-ck the club up” in the new collaboration between Latto, GloRilla and Gangsta Boo, you hope that the trio can come as correct as Three 6 Mafia and Waka Flocka Flame did on their respective destroying-the-club anthems from different generations of hip-hop. Fortunately, they deliver: “FTCU” is pure, menacing fun, with Latto dropping threats with efficiency and GloRilla relying on her drawl to accentuate punchlines like “Walk up in your party, make that bitch my party, ayy.”

Arcangel, Sr. Santos 

Sr. Santos, the new project from former Arcangel & De La Ghetto leader Austin “Arcangel” Santos, will likely draw most of its attention toward the explosive Bad Bunny team-up “La Jumpa,” which sounds ready to dominate clubs for the foreseeable future. Although Arcangel’s new album gains strength from its high-wattage collaborators — Bizarrap, Myke Towers and Duki all swing by — the reggaetón veteran also sounds reinvigorated on the project, surrounding the guest-heavy portions of the projects with sizzling solo tracks like “La Roca” and “PortoBello.”

They want money — that’s what they want, that’s what they want. Well, now the Rolling Stones can say they’re also ON money, the face of a new collectible coin issued by Britain’s Royal Mint to celebrate the band’s 60th anniversary.

The new £5 ($6.04) coin features a silhouette image of the iconic band performing — frontman Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, and the late drummer Charlie Watts — as well as the band’s name in what is described as their classic 1973 font. The mint said it was one of the last coins of the year to be released bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September at age 96.

The Rolling Stones were back on the road this year with their 2022 European Sixty tour, ending in Berlin in August.

“We are delighted to be honored by way of an official UK coin,” the band said in a statement included in the Royal Mint’s announcement. “Even more significant that the release coincides with our 60th anniversary.”

The new coin is the fifth in the mint’s “Music Legends’” series, which celebrates legendary British artists. Others so honored have been Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, and The Who.

While the best things in life are free, as the Stones sang in their cover of the Motown hit “Money (That’s What I Want),” the coins will cost something. Similar coins on the mint’s website from the Music Legends series range from 15 pounds ($18.12) to 465 pounds ($561.92).

Kanye “Ye” West has been suspended from Twitter, the suspension coming after the rapper had tweeted a now-deleted post featuring a swastika on Thursday (Dec. 1) evening.

After a chaotic day that saw Ye appear on Alex Jones’ Infowars show and repeatedly say he liked Adolf Hitler, the rapper posted a series of controversial tweets, including supposed text messages between himself and Twitter CEO Elon Musk. Among the tweets, which included praise and support for Balenciaga following the recent backlash against the company, Ye posted a picture of a swastika merged with a Star of David. Twitter deleted the offending post and Ye’s tweet storm came to an abrupt end.

Suspecting he may get suspended, Ye also tweeted an unflattering picture of Musk being hosed by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel on a yacht. Emanuel had previously called for a Hollywood-led boycott of Ye after he made a series of antisemitic comments that ultimately led to brands such as Adidas and Balenciaga cutting their ties with the rapper.

On Truth Social, Ye’s verified account posted another picture of his text interaction with Musk as well as a screenshot showing that he was locked out of his account for 12 hours.

Musk, a self-described free speech absolutist, confirmed that Ye had been suspended, first replying “This is fine” to the unflattering picture, but “this is not” to the now deleted swastika tweet.

After a Twitter user tweeted at Musk to “fix Kanye please,” the CEO replied, “I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended.”

In a further reply, Musk tweeted, “Just clarifying that his account is being suspended for incitement to violence, not an unflattering pic of me being hosed by Ari. Frankly, I found those pics to be helpful motivation to lose weight!”

Doubling down, Musk tweeted the acronym “FAFO” which means f*** around and find out.

The Hollywood Reporter reached out to a Twitter rep for comment, but that employee no longer works at the company.

Ye was only recently reinstated to Twitter, following Musk’s $44 billion takeover of the company and pledge to rescind suspensions to prominent accounts including the rapper, former President Donald Trump and Jordan Peterson. In October, Ye’s initial suspension came after he tweeted that he was going to go “death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.”

“I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” he wrote. “The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”

This article originally appeared in THR.com.

It’s shaping to be a Jimmy Barnes Christmas in Australia, as the legendary rock singer scores another No. 1, this time with a collection of holiday classics.

Barnes’ Blue Christmas (via Liberation/Universal) blasts to the summit of the ARIA Chart, for his 15^th leader, extending his all-time lead in that category.

Blue Christmas is the 20^th solo studio album for Barnesy, as he’s affectionately known in these parts. It adds to his collection of leaders, which includes Bodyswerve (1984), For The Working Class Man (1985), Freight Train Heart (1987), Barnestorming (1988), Two Fires (1990), Soul Deep (1991), Hits (1996), Double Happiness (2005), The Rhythm And The Blues (2009), 30:30 Hindsight (2014), Soul Searchin’ (2016), My Criminal Record (2019), Flesh And Blood (2021) and Soul Deep 30, an anniversary edition which landed at No. 1 in June.

Including his five leaders with Cold Chisel, Barnes boasts an unprecedented 20 No. 1s, comfortably eclipsing the Beatles (with 14), Madonna (12), Eminem and U2 (11).

If laughter is the best medicine, a No. 1 album surely has some healing powers. Barnes collects his latest honor just days after he scrapped his touring scheduled for the months ahead, when surgeons gave him the news that he requires back and hip surgery. He’s expected to make a complete recovery and return to the road again in the second half of 2023.

“This is a fantastic Christmas present and I’m grateful to receive it. It’s been a rough week given that I’ve withdrawn from summer touring to have surgery,” he says in a statement.

“I’d like to say that the warm reception for this album has put a spring in my step, but that would be a medical miracle right now. Instead, I’ll just say thanks to everyone who keeps listening to my new music and thank all the people behind the scenes for their help. I wish everyone the happiest of holidays and can’t wait to get back onstage next year.”

The “Working Class Man” singer is twice inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, first with Cold Chisel (in 1993), and again as a solo artist (2005), and is the first Australian solo act to have a No. 1 album in every decade since the 1980s.

Blue Christmas is Barnes’ fifth consecutive solo chart champion in Australia, unseating Taylor Swift’s Midnights after five weeks at the helm.

Barnes’ pre-Christmas gift is one of several timely titles impacting both ARIA Charts. Andrea, Matteo and Virginia Bocelli’s A Family Christmas (Decca/Universal) lifts 16-9 on the latest albums survey, published Dec. 2, while Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia/Sony) is on the brink of another appearance in the singles chart top 10, vaulting 50-11. Further down the singles list, Wham’s ‘80s classic “Last Christmas” (Sony) reenters at No. 30.

Following a musical salute to the Seekers’ late singer Judith Durham at the 2022 ARIA Awards, the folk-pop outfit’s Carry Me (Decca/Universal) returns to the top tier. The album, which celebrates its 60^th anniversary, drops in at No. 10 on the ARIA Chart. Durham died Aug. 5 after suffering complications from a long-standing lung disease, aged 79.

Finally, Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” (Universal) refuses to budge from the top spot on the ARIA Singles Chart, while Lil Uzi Vert snags the week’s highest debuting single with “Just Wanna Rock” (Atlantic/Warner), new at No. 39.

Morgan Wallen has released a trio of new songs for his One Thing at a Time–Sampler project, a teaser of new music he’s been working on.

The new tunes include “Tennessee Fan” (written by Wallen, HARDY, Ashley Gorley and Mark Holman), “One Thing at a Time” (written by Wallen with ERNEST, Gorley and Ryan Vojtesak), and “Days That End in Why” (written by Driver Williams, Blake Pendergrass and John Byron).

“I’m not quite done making this new album, so I’m going to keep making it through the holiday break and early January to chase this inspiration,” Wallen said via a statement. “I promise I won’t wait too long to reveal the album details. To hold you over, I’m dropping three new songs today as a sampler of what I’ve been working on. Can’t wait to take it one night at a time in 2023.”

Wallen previously shared a snippet of “Tennessee Fan” on social media back in October, featuring lyrics about bringing a girl “across the [University of Tennessee] Vols state line” with him. “She was raised Roll Tide ’til the day she died/ But ever since that night she’s been a Tennessee fan,” he sings.

The trio of tracks follow the recent news of Wallen’s upcoming One Night at a Time World Tour, which will play in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Ernest and Bailey Zimmerman are set to open the concert run, with HARDY and Parker McCollum opening select shows.

The new songs also come as Wallen’s “You Proof” has topped Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart for six (non-consecutive) weeks, while his new single “Thought You Should Know” resides inside the chart’s top 25.

Stream Wallen’s One Thing at a Time–Sampler below.