GRUNGECAKE

Category: News

  • Watch Until the Ribbon Breaks’ dance-focused visual for ‘You’ starring Indian dancer Vishal Kashyap

    Vishal Kashyap, a young performer from Madhya Pradesh, India, fluidly interprets Until the Ribbon Breaks’ “most simple song” he’s ever written, in a solo dance.

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    In his signature one-of-a-kind manner, Welsh band Until the Ribbon Breaks (fronted by Pete Lawrie Winfield) shares the official music video to his new track, ‘You’ on Friday, July 25. The written song—beautifully written—tells a story about a person born with restrictions, unable to see the stars because they were born with their back to the stars. Perhaps, singing to the sole individual whom he dearly trusts, he asks if they can turn him over to see the world like everyone else. Figuratively, as the months and seasons pass us by, he questions that person if they would still love him when it snows—when things inevitably change.
     

    About his contribution to this moment, Vishal wrote, “This isn’t just a few lines for a video. This is my heart. I come from a place where dreams like this are whispered quietly, not shouted out loud. I was a child with music in my bones and movement in my soul — but no clear path. To be creating with Pete now feels full circle. Like all those lonely nights of rehearsing with nothing but heart were leading to this. Thank you for holding space for my story and helping me turn a quiet dream into a loud, beautiful reality.”

    Adding to it, Pete shared what inspired the record, “‘You’ is the most simple song I have ever written. I don’t mean it was the easiest — in fact, it required a level of vulnerability that I often avoid. It has taken me a long, long time to realize that behind all the white noise and clutter of my busy mind, there is a lot of peace. I just have to remember to forget myself. My only way to do that? Gratitude. ‘You’ is a giant thank you, for many, many things — too many to mention — but they all live under one roof: to be alive. Simple.”

    Check out the enchanting moment frozen in time below. It follows up Until the Ribbon Breaks’ third studio album, ‘Visitor’, released in 2024, featuring Homeboy Sandman, La Pardo, Emoni Wilkins, and Lucius.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1IpZ6aSl_0&h=315]

  • Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio lead heavyweight ensemble in ‘One Battle After Another’: Watch the trailer

    An all-star collision that redefines prestige cinema for 2025 with music from by Beyoncé, co-written by Dean McIntosh (Arrow Benjamin).

    When Paul Thomas Anderson announces a new film, the world pauses—and with ‘One Battle After Another’, it isn’t just pausing. It’s holding its breath.

    From Warner Bros Pictures, this autumnal cinematic offering feels like a masterstroke before we’ve even seen a single frame. Leonardo DiCaprio—an Oscar and BAFTA winner whose name still makes headlines with a whisper—takes centre stage in a story draped in tension, resilience, and raw emotion. Flanking him are fellow giants Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn, lending the film the kind of gravitas only decades of sharp, soul-bearing performances can bring.

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    But Anderson doesn’t stop at legacy. Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Wood Harris, and Alana Haim (back under Anderson’s directing gaze) bring layered, modern vibrancy to the mix. It’s a bold blend of Hollywood’s past, present, and what’s next. With his own screenplay in hand, Anderson’s fingerprints are everywhere—from his longtime collaborations with Michael Bauman and editor Andy Jurgensen, to the return of Jonny Greenwood’s haunting, highbrow compositions. Add in the brilliance of Colleen Atwood’s costume design and Florencia Martin’s visual worlds, and ‘One Battle After Another’ feels less like a film and more like a living museum of modern auteurship.

    Expect conversations about legacy, survival, and humanity’s quiet wars. Expect the kind of silences that shake theatres. And when it opens in theatres and IMAX on September 26, 2025, expect a long, standing ovation—possibly before the credits even roll.

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

  • Hulk Hogan, the legendary American wrestling star, has passed away following “cardiac arrest”

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    Hulk Hogan, the the legendary American wrestling star, has passed away at his home in Clearwater, Florida. According to Page Six, the seventy-one-year-old was carried out on a stretcher and put into an ambulance. TMZ reported that the operators stated that Hogan suffered from “cardiac arrest”. Last week, according to this website, his wife, Sky Daily, denied that her husband had any brain damage and refuted the rumours that he was in a coma.

  • Elon Musk’s net worth drops $12B, Tesla shares suffer substantial loss

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    According to a Forbes article published today (July 24), the world’s richest person has suffered a substantial loss. Elon Musk’s net worth has taken a twelve billion dollar hit since Tesla’s shares nosedived. The South Africa-born entrepreneur hasn’t addressed the news about his loss yet, but based on recent history, we are sure others will have plenty to say about his financial loss. Stay tuned and share this information with a friend.

  • Gunna and Asake to headline Afro+ Fest in Washington, DC

    “This is the block party we’ve dreamed about for a decade.” — Michael Awosanya, Founder

    Afro+ Fest, the East Coast’s first large‑scale festival celebrating the full spectrum of global Black music and culture, will debut Sunday, August 31, 2025, at RFK Festival Grounds in Washington, DC. The inaugural lineup features superstar headliners Gunna and Asake, leading a cross‑continental roster of A‑list talent for an expected crowd of 20,000 fans.

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    Powered by the ethos “Africa, plus more”, Afro+ Fest offers a one‑day, all‑ages experience that honors both the future and the legacy of Black music—Hip‑Hop, Afrobeats, Soca, Dancehall, R&B and Amapiano—alongside immersive art installations, global cuisine, fashion activations and a marketplace of Black‑owned brands and local creators.

    2025 Lineup Highlights

    Gunna
    Asake (closing the festival)
    Gabzy
    DJ Tunez
    Foggie Raw
    Machel Montano
    Ricky Platinum
    Shatta Wale
    Shenseea
    TXC
    Uncle Waffles
    Wande Coal
    Special Guest: Shy Glizzy (D.C.’s own hometown hero)

    A founder’s vision

    “This is the block party we’ve dreamed about for a decade”, said founder and executive producer Michael Awosanya. “With the support of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Events DC, Afro+ Fest is bringing the full diaspora to RFK—music, food, culture—driven by the people and sounds that shape us.”
    What began as a college dream has grown into a cultural movement—created by and for the communities that have defined Black music worldwide. On August 31, Afro+ Fest is set to become Washington, DC’s boldest new tradition. “The festival’s impact will be felt not only through the music, but in the real opportunities it creates for local businesses and visionaries”, Awosanya added.

    Festival Details

    Date/Time: Sunday, August 31, 2025 | 12 PM – 11 PM
    Location: RFK Festival Grounds, 2500 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC

    About Afro+ Fest

    Afro+ Fest is the East Coast’s first large-scale festival dedicated to the full spectrum of global Black music and culture. Founded by DMV-area creatives and community leaders, Afro+ Fest aims to amplify Black sounds, unite the diaspora, and foster economic and creative opportunity through music, art, and entrepreneurship. It is a gathering where every member of the diaspora—and every ally who loves Black creativity—can come together in joyful celebration.

  • Justin Bieber’s new album ‘SWAG’ earns “most listened album worldwide”

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    Justin Bieber’s ‘SWAG’ debuts as the most consumed album worldwide, landing at #1 on the Top Streaming, Pop and R&B Album charts. This marks the tenth Billboard 200 Top 5 album of Bieber’s career and his fiftieth Billboard Global 200 hit. The album topped both the Spotify and Apple Music Album Charts, reaching #1 over 100 territories globally.

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    Upon release, standout track ‘Daises’ claimed the #1 spot on Spotify’s US and Global Song charts and continued to top the United States chart for seven days post-release. It also peaked at #1 on Apple Music Top 100 Global chart and has remained there since, making it the top consumed song globally. It is the #1 most added song at Top 40 Radio. In addition, ‘All I Have’ topped both the United States and Global Apple Singles chart.

  • Stream Jessie Murph’s sophomore album ‘Sex Hysteria’

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    Boundary pushing breakout artist Jessie Murph has delivered her most ambitious work to date with the release of her sophomore album ‘Sex Hysteria’. The fifteen-track collection represents a striking evolution from her debut ‘That Ain’t No Man That’s The Devil’, as the twenty-year-old artist fearlessly explores themes of sexuality, inherited trauma, and personal awakening with unprecedented candour and artistic maturity. ‘Sex Hysteria’ showcases Jessie’s growth as both a songwriter and performer, weaving together deeply personal narratives that examine the complexities of modern womanhood. The album confronts difficult family dynamics, challenges societal expectations, and celebrates the reclamation of personal agency—all delivered through her signature blend of vulnerability and strength and culminating in her most cohesive artistic statement yet.

    The album arrives bolstered by two chart-dominating singles: ‘Blue Strips’, which continues its strong performance on the Billboard Hot 100 (having peaked at #15), and ‘Touch Me Like a Gangster’, holding steady at #56. The project also features collaborations with Gucci Mane on ‘Donuts’ and Lil Baby on ‘Best Behavior’, alongside the recently released tracks ‘Bad As The Rest’ and ‘Heroin’.

    The album has already been met with praise by fans and critics alike, with Rolling Stone lauding “the fast-rising Pop star… [whose] rise will only accelerate with Sex Hysteria, her bold second album.”

    Visually, Jessie nods to sixties femme fatales with a classic beehive on the album cover—a bold contrast to the raw, modern truths she delivers within. To celebrate the album release, Jessie Murph will make her solo late-night television performance debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 21, marking another significant milestone in her rapidly ascending career.

    In support of the album, Jessie Murph is launching the Worldwide Hysteria tour, her biggest international tour to date. The tour kicks off July 27 in Phoenix, Arizona, and spans major cities across the United States, Europe, and Australia, before wrapping in Auckland, New Zealand on November 22.

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    ‘Sex Hysteria’ track listing:

    1 Gucci Mane
    2 1965
    3 Couldn’t Be Worse
    4 A Little Too Drunk
    5 Bad As The Rest
    6 Touch Me Like a Gangster
    7 Heroin
    8 I Like How I Look
    9 Ain’t But a Thing
    10 The Man That Came Back
    11 Sex Hysteria
    12 Donuts featuring Gucci Mane
    13 Blue Strips
    14 Best Behavior featuring Lil Baby
    15 Ur Bill Is Big As Fuck

    Jessie Murph ‘Worldwide Hysteria’ Tour Dates:

    Jul 27 | Phoenix, AZ | Arizona Financial Theatre
    Jul 30 | Austin, TX | ACL Live at the Moody Theater
    Aug 01 | Durant, OK | Choctaw Grand Theater
    Aug 02 | Dallas, TX | South Side Ballroom
    Aug 03 | Houston, TX | 713 Music Hall
    Aug 05 | Chesterfield, MO | The Factory
    Aug 07 | Des Moines, IA | Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park
    Aug 08 | Minneapolis, MN | The Armory
    Aug 09 | Oshkosh, WI | Crossroads 41 Festival
    Aug 10 | Indianapolis, IN | Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
    Aug 12 | Detroit, MI | The Fillmore Detroit
    Aug 14 | Detroit, MI | The Fillmore Detroit
    Aug 15 | Columbus, OH | KEMBA Live! – Outdoor
    Aug 16 | Chicago, IL | Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
    Aug 18 | Cleveland, OH | Jacobs Pavilion
    Aug 19 | Pittsburgh, PA | Stage AE (Outdoors)
    Aug 21 | Buffalo, NY | Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B
    Aug 22 | Syracuse, NY | New York State Fair
    Aug 23 | Philadelphia, PA | The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
    Aug 25 | New York, NY | The Rooftop at Pier 17
    Aug 26 | Brooklyn, NY | Brooklyn Paramount
    Aug 27 | Washington, DC | The Anthem
    Aug 28 | Boston, MA | Leader Bank Pavilion
    Aug 30 | Toronto, ON | Massey Hall
    Aug 31 | Toronto, ON | Massey Hall
    Sep 01 | Montreal, QC | MTELUS
    Sep 04 | Raleigh, NC | The Red Hat Amphitheater
    Sep 05 | Anderson, SC | Wendell’s Outdoor
    Sep 06 | Birmingham, AL | Coca-Cola Amphitheater
    Sep 08 | Orlando, FL | Hard Rock Live
    Sep 09 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | War Memorial Auditorium
    Sep 10 | Tampa, FL | Yuengling Center
    Sep 12 | Atlanta, GA | Coca-Cola Roxy
    Sep 13 | Nashville, TN | Ascend Amphitheater
    Sep 17 | Independence, MO | Cable Dahmer Arena
    Sep 19 | Denver, CO | Fillmore Auditorium
    Sep 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | The Union Event Center
    Sep 22 | Vancouver, BC | Queen Elizabeth Theatre
    Sep 23 | Seattle, WA | WAMU Theater at Lumen Field
    Sep 24 | Portland, OR | Theater of the Clouds
    Sep 26 | Oakland, CA | Fox Theater
    Sep 27 | Los Angeles, CA | The Shrine
    Oct 08 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Melkweg
    Oct 10 | Brussels, Belgium | Ancienne Belgique
    Oct 11 | Hamburg, Germany | Grosse Freiheit
    Oct 13 | Berlin, Germany | Huxleys
    Oct 14 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Vega
    Oct 16 | Cologne, Germany | Carlswerk
    Oct 17 | Paris, France | Trabendo
    Oct 19 | Birmingham, UK | O2 Institute
    Oct 21 | Glasgow, UK | Barrowland Ballroom
    Oct 22 | Manchester, UK | Manchester Academy
    Oct 24 | London, UK | The Roundhouse
    Oct 26 | Dublin, Ireland | 3Olympia
    Nov 7 | Honolulu, HI | The Republik
    Nov 8 | Honolulu, HI | The Republik
    Nov 12 | Perth, Australia | Metropolis Fremantle
    Nov 14 | Sydney, Australia | Enmore Theatre
    Nov 15 | Sydney, Australia | Enmore Theatre
    Nov 18 | Brisbane, Australia | Fortitude Music Hall
    Nov 19 | Melbourne, Australia | The Forum
    Nov 20 | Melbourne, Australia | The Forum
    Nov 22 | Auckland, New Zealand | Town Hall

  • Apple Music to exclusively release DJ mix curated by DJ Green Lantern and DJ Snoopadelic (also known as Snoop Dogg)

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    Two days ago, Apple Music announced an exclusive new Apple Music DJ Mix courtesy of DJ Green Lantern and DJ Snoopadelic (also known as Snoop Dogg), scheduled for release on Friday, July 25.

    “The world is in need of good vibrations. The Mothership Connection is making an Emergency Landing. Me and Green Lantern… taking you from P Funk to G Funk and everything in between, Death Row style!”, Snoop Dogg tells Apple Music.

    “The Mothership project is all about raising the vibration, taking you higher musically!”, says DJ Green Lantern. “Imagine a cool-ass house party in outer space… that’s us!”

    On the DJ mix highlights, DJ Green Lantern reveals listeners can expect: “tracks like October London ‘Make Me Wanna’ mixed with The O’Jays ‘Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby’, which Snoop makes a cameo on… We celebrate Roy Ayers with a new rework of ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’ featuring Jane Handcock on guest vocals… Maze’s ‘We Are One’ was chosen for its universal message of unity and togetherness. That’s what the Mothership is all about, Baby!”

    DJ Green Lantern’s and DJ Snoopadelic’s ‘Live From the Mothership II: Emergency Landing’ is the long-awaited sequel to the duo’s original 2018 mixtape classic, which became available to stream exclusively on Apple Music in December of 2024. Mothership II is the perfect Summer soundtrack—a blend of classic Soul, Funk, and R&B with special cameos from Snoop Dogg himself.

    Tune in and listen to DJ Green Lantern & DJ Snoopadelic’s ‘Live From the Mothership II: Emergency Landing’ DJ Mix live for free on Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits this Friday, July 25 at 12 PM PT/3 PM EST.

    The DJ Green Lantern and DJ Snoopadelic (Snoop Dogg) DJ Mix will be exclusively available to stream on Apple Music from next Friday, July 25.

  • Ghana’s beloved singer Gyakie’s captures Soweto in latest video for ‘Unconditional’: Watch

    Approximately six hours ago, Ghanaian singer Gyakie shared her official music video for her new song ‘Unconditional’. In the video directed by Wayward, she dances alongside four young women and rides through the streets of South Africa on the back of a motorcycle. Some familiar places shown include Rivonia, Vilakazi Street in Soweto (by former South African President Mandela’s house), the famous towers in Soweto (where Costa Titch filmed the viral video ‘Big Flexa’ featuring C’buda M, Alfa Kat, Banaba Des, Sdida & Man T), and local street dancers (or “intersection hustlers”) in traffic at the light (or the robot, as locally described).

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

    Currently sitting at eleven thousand views and counting, the “song bird” has given fans her growing international fan base what they’ve been waiting for—more music. A month ago, Gyakie shared the official music video for ‘Sankofa’.

    If you are unfamiliar with the meaning of Sankofa, according to my research, it translates to “go back and get it” or “return to your past”. It is a word from the Akan people of Ghana that signifies the importance of learning from the past to inform and improve the present and future. Like Gyakie, Sankofa, a bird, with its head turned backwards, carrying an egg in its mouth, symbolises the act of retrieving knowledge from the past. 

    Check out that music video, too.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ0j41abRdw&h=315]

  • Hear Syd’s latest track ‘Die For This’

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    As she gears up to hit the road with Billie Eilish this Summer, Syd lets us peek behind the curtain of her creative process—and unsurprisingly, it’s both effortless and boundary-pushing. On her new single ‘Die For This’, she doesn’t just play with tempo—she bends it to her will. With lush production and vulnerability laced through every lyric, Syd reminds us why her fingerprint on modern R&B is so singular, so studied, yet so nonchalant. You hear her influence in what others try to do—but Syd lives in a lane that’s been hers from the jump. And whilst others may imitate, they can’t recreate the intent or finesse. She’s flattered, not phased.

    Since blessing us with her 2017 solo debut ‘Fin’, Syd has operated as a cultural engine. From helming Hive Mind with her GRAMMY-nominated crew The Internet to co-writing ‘Plastic Off the Sofa’ on Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ (yes, that track) and building her own studio in Los Angeles—she’s built a blueprint in real-time. Collaborations with Zayn, Lil Uzi Vert, Kehlani, Disclosure, and Kelly Rowland? Check. Fronting campaigns for Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas? Also csydheck.

    Ten years after Ego Death cracked the atmosphere and reset expectations, Syd’s presence is just as powerful—if not more nuanced. ‘Die For This’ isn’t just a Summer song—it’s a statement. She crushes, she flexes, she floats. And this tour with Billie? It’s just another page in a book we’re all lucky to read in real-time.