Month: March 2023

Coi Leray claims her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart as “Players” advances to the summit of the list dated March 25. The song jumps from No. 3 as it simultaneously strengthens its radio airplay reach and maintains its steady hand in the streaming sector.

As “Players” tops Hot Rap Songs, it dislodges Nicki Minaj’s “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” after the latter’s one week in charge. With the replacement, Nicki Minaj and Coi Leray combine to give two women rappers successive No. 1s on the chart for the first time since 2014, when Minaj’s “Anaconda” yielded to Iggy Azalea’s “Black Widow,” featuring Rita Ora, on Oct. 18, 2014. (Between the eight-year gap, the switch occurred twice involving a featured artist, with the same pair of songs: On the chart dated Oct. 10, 2020, Travis Scott’s “Franchise,” featuring Young Thug and British rapper M.I.A., ousted Cardi B’s “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion; the latter rebounded the next week.)

“Players” conquers Hot Rap Songs, which blends streaming, radio airplay and sales into its rankings, with 10.2 million official U.S. streams in the week ending March 16, according to Luminate, a 2% slip from the prior week. Still, the song recovers 7-6 on the Rap Streaming Songs chart, where it previously peaked at No. 4 in February. On the Rap Digital Song Sales chart, “Players” climbs 4-3 despite a 9% weekly drop in sales to 4,000 in the latest tracking week. The track has posted seven weeks at No. 1 on Rap Digital Song Sales since its release – one of only five songs since Jan. 1, 2020, to lead for as long.

Radio airplay, however, is where “Players” cements its growth. The single wins a second term at No. 1 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart as the most-played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations after it gained 7% in plays in the most recent tracking week compared with the previous frame. Leray’s hit also gets a second radio chart crown on Rap Airplay, where it lifts 2-1 for her first career champ there. In addition to those victories, “Players” continues to flex on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, where it repeats at its No. 5 high thus far, but increased 7% in weekly plays at the format and Pop Airplay, with a 16-13 boost thanks to an 11% improvement in weekly plays. Strength at the many formats pushes “Players” 10-8 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart. There, it registered 52.5 million in total audience in the last tracking week.

Elsewhere, “Players” rises 6-4 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and, notably, matches the chart peak of its sampled tune. “Players” borrows from the hip-hop classic “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, which peaked at No. 4 in September 1982. On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, the track rallies 24-12 for a new high after having reached No. 16 two weeks ago. The yo-yo of its rise, fall and rise again traces to several high debuts from Morgan Wallen’s, One Thing at a Time album, including five tunes in the top 10 for the country superstar.

Usher has a date with the Dodgers.

The Grammy-winning singer is confirmed to headline the Blue Diamond Gala, the marquee fundraiser for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. Set for June 22 at Dodger Stadium, the gala will be titled “The Party for L.A.” and is presented by the Los Angeles Dodgers Ownership Group.

The whole affair will feature celebrities, Dodger players, alumni, coaches, a blue carpet and pre-show dinner party followed by two hours of entertainment including a DJ set by superstar DJ D-Nice, a post-show party with food trucks and, of course, a mini concert from Usher.

Said Los Angeles Dodgers owner and LADF board chair Mark Walter: “We are thrilled to have Usher perform this year at ‘The Party for LA’ to raise vital funds allowing us to invest in Angelenos and provide the opportunities that they deserve.”

Proceeds benefit LADF and the org’s programs and initiatives aimed at improving education, health care, homelessness and social justice. LADF was reimagined in 2013 and has since raised over $81 million and is on track to raise $100 million in 2023. In the last decade, LADF has invested more than $50 million in its programs and grants to local organizations and impacted more than 9 million youth.

“The gala honors our partners, community members, and everyday champions as the foundation of our success,” offered LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman. “Our theme, ’10 Years Reimagined,’ reflects our vision to build capacity, train future leaders, and provide equitable opportunities for the remarkable organizations and individuals whom we support. Together, we serve as a shining example of placing humanity first.”

Previous Blue Diamond Gala performers include Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Earth Wind & Fire, Fleetwood Mac, John Legend and Jennifer Lopez. Usher has been making waves as of late thanks to his Las Vegas residency at Park MGM.

This article originally appeared in THR.com.

By the time SZA reached the last stop on her sensational arena tour — performing two final shows at Los Angeles’ The Forum on March 22 and 23 — most fans in attendance knew what to expect. 

Opener Omar Apollo has been consistently filling venues across the country — proving he’s the kind of act worth showing up on time for by delivering a headline-worthy show himself. Meanwhile, SZA first revealed to Billboard in her Women In Music cover story that she wanted her concert to feel like a Broadway show, saying “I am deeply excited to pop ass and cry and give theater.”

She (almost) did all three.

On Wednesday (March 22), SZA delivered one of the most compelling and detailed live shows in recent memory — and with the energy and conviction of opening night. Plus, she did so with a star-studded crowd watching, which included everyone from Justin and Hailey Bieber to Adele and Kim Kardashian (who earlier in the day revealed a new “SZA for SKIMS” campaign) and many more. 

It’s hard to pinpoint what aspect of SZA’s show is most impressive, and that’s likely what makes it so strong. Throughout the near 90-minute set, the chart-topper served a series of looks with the speed of a quick-change artist (the set seemed to shift just as rapidly), performed intricate and interpretative choreography, sailed over the crowd in a lifeboat and all the while perfectly blended her two albums — CTRL and SOS — into one cohesive setlist that guided her introspective story from one act to the next. 

From the moment the show began — with SZA recreating the SOS album art — it was clear that water was just as much a main character as she. As such, it became a metaphor throughout, mirroring the rocky waves that too often accompany love or one’s career (particularly in the music industry) but ultimately proving an artist like SZA can survive any storm.  

After performing “Broken Clocks” from a makeshift loading dock, SZA boards a weathered boat that reads CTRL FISHING CO for “All the Stars,” her collaboration with former TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar. It’s smooth sailing on songs like “Garden (Say It Like Dat)” but then, during the assertive “Low,” lightning breaks out as the boat begins to rock, during which SZA falls into an epic split with impressive ease. 

The now iconic rescue boat — as seen on social media — is then unveiled as a lighthouse emerges from the center of the arena’s floor, becoming a beacon as SZA sails above the crowd singing “Supermodel” and “Nobody Gets Me.” She introduces the latter as a song about starting her life over, during which Kim K sings along while recording a selfie video with sister Kylie. 

A new act is revealed when SZA returns to the stage, and this one takes place underwater, with a giant anchor taking the spotlight. She performs the Grammy-awarded Doja Cat hit “Kiss Me More,” on which she features, and soon after an alarm blares as a strobe flashes — leaving viewers uncertain if she’s being rescued or sinking deeper into trouble. 

The next song makes it a bit more clear. The stage is reset yet again as SZA emerges with a deadly flail for “Kill Bill,” which leads into “I Hate U” and “The Weekend” (all of which Hailey Bieber passionately sings along to without missing a word). 

SZA pulls off a final quick change for her one-song encore, the melodic “Good Days,” which she performs much like how she started the show, with her feet dangling over a ledge. And just like that, a screen descends that reads “The End” written in stars, followed by rolling credits that begin with, in all caps: CREATIVE DIRECTION BY SOLANA ROWE.

And as fans float to the exits, much like a director would following a screening, Solana herself appears one last time to deliver a humbled message of gratitude. “Genuinely, thank you,” she says so casually it almost goes unnoticed. “I never thought I would be here.”

From the outside looking in, though, the path here has been nothing short of a perfect storm, one that SZA survived by being in the eye of. And as her victorious headlining tour proved, no matter how much time passes, she will forever remain the center of it all.

Emilia, Big One and Callejero Fino’s “En La Intimidad” rules the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated March 18) for a fourth week. It joins Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” as the only other title to crown the ranking for at least four weeks in 2023.

Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” holds steady at No. 2 for a third week, encompassing its entire run on the chart. TINI’s “Cupido” rebounds 4-3, while BM’s “M. A. (Mejores Amigos)” climbs 5-4 for a new peak after it held strong at No. 5 for a four consecutive weeks. Plus, Lil Cake and Migrantes also make progress as “Mercho,” featuring Nico Valdi, rises to its No. 5 high.

Argentinian Ecko earns his first top 10 on the 100-deep tally as “Te Escapas De Mis Brazos,” his partnership with Callejero Fino and El Perro, ascends 14-10. The rapper had reached a No. 37 high with first entry “Matatan,” with Cazzu, Brray, Alan Gómez, Kaleb Di Masi and Dj Tao, in March 2022. While Fino ups his top 10 career count to five, El Perro secures his second top 10. 

The week’s Greatest Gainer honors goes to Ke Personajes’ “Pobre Corazón,” featuring Onda Sabanera, which rallies 54-16. It’s the highest ranking for the Colombian cumbia ensemble, while Argentinian Ke Personajes reached No. 1 through their featuring turn on Luka Ra’s “Ya No Vuelvas,” which also features La K’onga, in February. 

Nicki Nicole’s “No Voy a Llorar :’)” takes the Hot Shot Debut of the week, at No. 36. It’s her highest start since “Ya Me Fui,” with Bizarrap and Duki, opened at No. 15 in July 2021. 

Elsewhere, seven other songs debut this week, starting with Wisin, Emilia and Lyanno’s “Tu Recuerdo” at No. 63. La Planta, Bm and Alejo Isakk’s “Discoteca,” featuring Locura Mix, follows at No. 72.  Plus, Puerto Rican trap artist Young Miko achieves her first entry with “Lisa” at No. 74. Meanwhile, Mambo Kingz and DJ Luian make their comeback after almost four years with “Más Rica Que Ayer,” with Anuel AA, at No. 75. 

Further, Mya and Cali y El Dandee’s “Legendaria” bows at No. 78. Lolo OG, Callejero Fino, and Alejo Isakk’s “Azote (remix)” debuts at No. 84. And lastly, Milo J scores his third entry with “Morning” at No. 97.