GRUNGECAKE

Category: Music

  • Nas and Resorts World receive unanimous vote for proposed casino in Queens

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    On September 25, 2025, Nas and Resorts World NYC cleared a major milestone in their casino expansion efforts in Queens, winning unanimous approval from the Community Advisory Board for their $5.5 billion proposal. The vote was 6-0 in favour, a signal that the project has strong support among local stakeholders.

    The proposal aims to transform the existing racino at Aqueduct—which currently offers electronic gaming machines—into a full-integrated resort featuring live table games. Among the planned amenities: A 7,000-seat concert and entertainment venue, some 30 food and beverage outlets, a sports and media complex dubbed “The Jet Center” by NBA champion Kenny “The Jet” Smith, additional hotel rooms, and other public‐infrastructure enhancements.

    The economic figures are ambitious: the developers say it could create roughly 24,000 new jobs, ranging from construction to ongoing operations, and generate at least $1 billion in incremental revenue for New York State within the first year of full operation. If all goes according to plan, parts of the facility are expected to begin opening by mid-2026.

    Still, the approval of the Community Advisory Board is not the final step. Next, the proposal must be reviewed by the Gaming Facility Location Board before a full commercial casino license can be granted.

    The vote also drew media attention for its timing and context. A competing Times Square casino bid backed by JAY Z was recently rejected; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards took the moment to quip, “Sorry Jay-Z. We win again.”

    Overall, this is a strong win for the Nas-Resorts World partnership: The unanimous vote suggests broad local buy-in, and the scale of the proposal places it among the largest private development efforts under consideration in New York.

  • Spotify deletes 75 million spam tracks as company tightens rules around AI music

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    Spotify has made a sweeping move against spam content on its platform by removing over 75 million tracks deemed “spammy” over the past year. The decision comes amid rising concern about the misuse of AI tools to generate fraudulent or misleading audio content. Many of these tracks were ultra-short, duplicated, or clear imitations generated via AI—uploaded in bulk to exploit streaming royalties. The goal has often been to capitalise on Spotify’s revenue model: Any track longer than 30 seconds can generate payouts, meaning that these low-effort uploads siphon attention and earnings away from legitimate artists.

    In response, Spotify is introducing new safeguards. First, a music spam filter is being rolled out to detect suspicious uploads and prevent them from appearing in recommendations—or sometimes from ever being uploaded. Second, the company is tightening its rules around vocal deepfakes and impersonations: artists must give explicit permission for their voice or likeness to be used; tracks that impersonate artists without consent are disallowed.

    Third, Spotify is working with the standards organisation DDEX to create voluntary industry metadata standards for labeling AI-assisted content. While disclosures won’t yet be mandatory, the company says this step is about building trust rather than punishing responsible creators.

    Spotify emphasises that despite all this spam and potential for AI misuse, current engagement with AI-generated content on the platform remains very low. The company says it is not seeing meaningful impacts on user listening behavior or on royalty distribution to human artists.

    As AI tools for music become more accessible, Spotify’s latest policies reflect an attempt to balance openness to innovation with protection of artist integrity and listener trust. Whether they will be enough to stem growing concerns over deepfakes, fraudulent uploads, and AI impersonation remains to be seen.

  • South African artist Una Rams and J’Something team up for matrimonial track ‘I Do’: Listen

    “I have finally found the one for me”

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    With reports indicating that over 60% of South Africans have never been married, according to the 2022 census, there’s one Vhavenda man who had other plans. Una Rams, the singer who famously worked with fellow South African musician Black Coffee on the GRAMMY Award-winning album ‘Subconsciously’ released in 2021, teamed up with Portuguese vocalist J’Something (from Mi Casa, a South Africa-based trio) for the matrimonial track ‘I Do’. In the song, he anticipates lifting his bride’s veil and celebrating with his loved ones. Granted, it can be difficult to find the right person to settle down with, but if you’re reading this, you probably shouldn’t give up. There might be someone out there ready to match your fly. Don’t let them down… maybe?

  • R&B star Ella Mai shares bold office-themed music video for ‘Tell Her’: Watch

    Ella Mai sings, “I’m on some new shit, switch up the vibe”

    Last week, R&B/Soul star Ella Mai released the official music video to her new bold single ‘Tell Her’—where the GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter requests her significant other keep it honest with his female friend, who he used to date, about how much he loves the ‘Boo’d Up’ singer and adores her only.

    “But if your ex think she can call your phone
    You better tell her you love me, put no one above me”

    Channeling Destiny Child’s 1999 classic record ‘Say My Name’, a popular single about the protagonist’s need to be acknowledged as the main or only woman in his life, Ella Mai sings,

    “Say my name, say my name (tell her you love me)
    Ain’t finna play no games, it’s time to make it plain
    Boy, don’t be acting strange”

    [media-credit name=”Courtesy” width=1600 align=”center”]Ella Mai cover art for 'Tell Her'[/media-credit]

    As she confidently croons over the Mustard beat, the ‘Trip’ songbird says there’s no one else above her, but as history has shown, your partners can embarrass you. With Mai singing about her man entertaining his ex in 2025, something tells me not much has changed since the ‘The Writing’s on the Wall’ era (twenty-six years prior). We’ll have to wait and see how her story unfolds through her next album. Watch the GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter’s office-themed visual—directed by Cole Santiago–below.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e16X3V3Twtk&h=315]

  • 5@5: A morning playlist featuring Jet Vesper and Chris Bullinger

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    A mix of smooth and non-interruptive music shines on this morning playlist featuring Jet Vesper, Chris Bullinger, Loose Buttons, , and . Therefore, we believe these records are the best of the week. Check them out below.

    Jet Vesper – Sonny (Submission)

    Australian artist Jet Vesper has recently released a new track called ‘Sonny’ from his sophomore album entitled ‘Casual Viewing Experience’. It is a funky, seventies nostalgic lead single that highlights a beautiful sunny day, a family affair, flowers in his señorita’s hair, and all-around good vibes. Let the warm track be part of your day’s soundtrack or playlist. It might put you in a ravishing mood.

    Chris Bullinger – Fallin’ Things Let Fall (Submission)

    Turning the volume up to make your soul rattle and making you get out of bed, American artist and poet Chris Bullinger’s high-octane song ‘Fallin’ Things Let Fall’ is what you may hear in a motion picture tied to one of the craziest, bad-ass action scenes. Listen to the single. It is the second single from his forthcoming album called ‘Nowhere To Fall’. Unfortunately, we do not have a release date yet, but there’s an intention to release more singles in late Summer/Autumn.

    Loose Buttons – Just a Boy in a Band (Submission)

    This week, New York-native four-piece band Loose Buttons released their new sad yet electric track, ‘Just a Boy in a Band’, about chasing fame, facing self-doubts and rejection. When explaining what the song is about, the lead singer Eric Nizgretsky shared the following:

    “This song is about coming to grips with the fact that I’m frankly just a boy in a band, holding onto that childish belief that maybe, just maybe, we can trick you into thinking we’re something more. There’s so much going on in the world and then there’s us, fumbling around, trying to make something stick. And yet here we are, pouring everything we have into roughly three-minute songs, like it might actually change something. The best part is getting to do it with my bandmates and best friends, still chasing that feeling – like a kid who just pulled off their first magic trick.”

    Listen to the new bold track below. If you are okay with getting deep into your thoughts in the morning, you may appreciate it.

    Nizgretsky is a first-generation Ukrainian American with roots in Kyiv; based on the information we received, within the past year, they organised a series of benefit shows to help wounded and displaced people in the country. If I were in New York City, I would have loved to attend one of their shows to see them in a live setting because I think it is a matter of time before they cross over, achieving their hopes and dreams.

  • Watch Lady Gaga’s theatrical performances of ‘Abracadabra’ and ‘The Dead Dance’ at the 2025 MTV VMAs

    À la Disco!

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    There’s a reason why the Queen of Pop was the most-nominated artist, receiving twelve times in 2025! Last night at the 2025 MTV VMAs, the network aired a pre-taped performance from Lady Gaga’s sold-out show at the renowned Madison Square Garden in New York City on September 6. In the clip, she sang two songs—one from her new album ‘Mayhem’ (‘Abracabra’) and another (’The Dead Dance’) from Netflix’s soundtrack for its series ‘Wednesday’.

    It’s been a while since we’ve all had the pleasure of watching Lady Gaga’s showmanship, her warm cheer, the camaraderie she shows to other artists by rising to her feet to clap for them—like she did with Ariana Grande for Lola Young—just ahead of collecting the Artist of the Year award, and how she eloquently addresses the public when she speaks. We celebrate Lady Gaga endlessly, as her concern and support for the general public always seems to come first. Check out the playback of the incredible performance.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHs1LCir63Q&h=315]

  • Watch Doja Cat’s sultry performance of ‘Jealous Type’ with Kenny G at the 2025 MTV VMAs

    “Oh, I’m jealous”

    Giving the world an outstanding performance isn’t new for American superstar Doja Cat! Last night to open the 2025 MTV VMAs, the ‘Jealous Type’ singer-rapper teamed up with the legendary Smooth Jazz saxophonist and musician Kenny G to deliver an electric eighties-inspired performance—laced with sultry and exquisite and choreographed moves fitting to the era—for the lead single from her exciting forthcoming album, ‘Vie’. It was the first time she performed it live. Check out the four-minute-plus video below to relive the moment, or watch it for the first time!

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXDCs3D5iDU&h=315]

    It was her third time performing at the VMAs. In 2021, she made her debut singing ‘Been Like This’ and ‘You Right’. Two years later, she performed shortened versions of singles (’Attention’, ‘Paint the Town Red’, and ‘Demons’) from her album ‘Scarlet’. Doja Cat’s album ‘Vie’ comes out on September 26.

    [/media-credit] Vie album cover

  • Hear Dominican-American musician Twin Shadow’s latest single ‘Awkward Backward’

    “I could make mountains from jealousy”

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    Today, Dominican-American musician Twin Shadow shared the second track, ‘Awkward Backward’, from his forthcoming album ‘Cadet’. For the song, the gifted music-making actor sings about feeling lost, navigating through heartbreak, and what appears to be a relationship that has given him more confusion than clarity. Aside from the complexities tied to his deep emotions, the song is an incredibly endearing one that most people could relate to and potentially enjoy because it was well-made.

    About the self-produced track, Twin Shadow explains,

    ““Awkward Backward’ is a song about insecurities—about always needing to be the first to figure out what’s going on in a relationship, to predict who’s going to jump ship first. It’s about dodging bullets and trying to get the upper hand, all in the name of protecting your own ego. But beneath that defensiveness lies an admission: these are my shortcomings. The song is a confession and an invitation to go deeper, to ask if maybe it’s finally time to stop running and truly connect.”

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUiIiGpMAko&h=315]

  • Afrobeats royalty Kizz Daniel makes his case in ‘To Be a Man’: Watch the lyric video

    “She won’t stop pushing until she see my cadaver”

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    Last week, Nigerian musical legend Kizz Daniel released a new single called ‘To Be a Man’, along with a simple yet striking official lyric video. In the picture, the Afrobeats pioneer, hailing from Ogun State, sings and poses an important question to his partner: Quality time or a Gucci bag?, as a direct response to him being overworked as a provider (”I work hard, 16 hours in a day/No time off, no holiday”). And if you thought that lyric was thought-provoking, he doubled down on the next couple of lines: “Omo, if e easy to be a man/Take my shoes and go crazy”.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRr-5bhkUlM&h=315]

    If you’re an entrepreneur or a man with great responsibilities and the weight of mountains sitting on your skull, you may have an appreciation for this song more than I could. Check it the well-made track above and learn the lyrics so we all can sing together at his concerts.

  • Watch Houston rapper Monaleo’s kickback visual for ‘Putting Ya Dine’

    Her flow sounds a little different than her previous releases.

    Last week, Houston’s rising star Monaleo released the official music video to her new song, ‘Putting Ya Dine’. As the rapper tells her truth and explains why she believes her competitors or fellow rappers cannot get deals, she’s joined by friends and her boyfriend, Stunna 4 Vegas, who’s also DaBaby’s Billion Dollar Baby artist, in what one could simply describe as a chill kickback setting. Watch the music video below to see her rapping with new shiny gold teeth in her mouth.

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    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgPj14GtKJc&h=315]