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Category: Trending

  • Rihanna teases special release ahead of ‘Music of the Sun’ 20-year milestone

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    On August 27, 2025, Rihanna sparked a wave of excitement by updating her social media profiles across X and Instagram. Her longtime profile picture was replaced, and the banner now showcases the titles of all her studio albums, signalling something big is on the horizon.

    Roc Nation, her label, further fuelled speculation with a shareable video plastered with the names of her albums and a link teasing new merchandise. The merch is set to drop this Friday, in honour of the 20th anniversary of her debut album, ‘Music of the Sun’.

    It’s been nearly a decade since Rihanna released her critically-acclaimed eighth album, ‘ANTI’. Whilst she’s made sporadic musical appearances—most recently contributing songs to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and a Smurfs movie soundtrack—fans have eagerly awaited new studio material. Rihanna has also been balancing her artistic pursuits with flourishing entrepreneurial ventures. Her Fenty brand—including fashion, beauty, and hair products—has elevated her to billionaire status. On the personal front, she and partner A$AP Rocky are expecting their third child.

    Amid all this, Rihanna has been quietly working on her ninth studio album. She recently shared during a red carpet interview at the Fenty Hair launch that she’s returning to the studio with renewed energy. Reflecting on her creative process, she said:

    “I’ve been working on the album for so long… now I’m prepared. So I’m gonna start over… see what I’m still in love with.”

    Whilst the merch drop is a confirmed celebration, fans are hoping this moment might also mark the beginning of a new musical chapter. Rihanna’s twenty-year milestone could well be the perfect launching point for her next era.

  • Missy Elliott’s lawyer breaks silence on songwriting lawsuit settlement

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    Hip-Hop icon Missy Elliott has officially settled her protracted legal battle with music producer Terry Williams—just moments before jury selection began in a Philadelphia federal courtroom on August 22, 2025.

    Williams, who initially sued Elliott in 2018, claimed he had co-written four songs on Sista’s 1994 album ‘4 All the Sistas Around da World’ but was omitted from the songwriting credits. He also attempted to claim credit on Aaliyah’s 1996 single ‘Heartbroken’, but US District Judge Nitza I Quiñones Alejandro dismissed that allegation in August 2024, ruling it was barred by the statute of limitations.

    Despite denials from both sides and anticipation of a courtroom showdown, Elliott’s attorney, Mike Trauben, confirmed that “no money was paid in connection with any of Terry Williams’ claims”, though a “small sum” was paid to acquire beats Williams created that Elliott ultimately used in her songs. Additionally, Elliott’s personal writings and music in Williams’ possession were returned to her upon settlement.

    The lawsuit, which spanned nearly seven years, also named producer Timbaland and major record labels—Elektra, Atlantic, Warner Music Group, and Reservoir Media—but many of those claims were dismissed or stayed during the litigation.

    By resolving the dispute just before the trial, Missy Elliott avoids a juried reckoning over her early career contributions and preserves her legacy as one of Hip-Hop’s most influential creatives.

  • Drake reigns supreme as Billboard’s top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Century

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    Billboard has officially crowned Drake as the #1 R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the 21st Century, recognising his unrivalled impact on both Rap and R&B since his chart debut in 2009. Drake’s dominance is backed by numbers few artists in history can rival: Thirty #1 singles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, 15 #1 albums, and 67 weeks atop the albums chart. On top of that, he holds the record for the most top-10 hits (135) and most total entries (355) on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. These figures not only underline his prolific output but also highlight a consistency that stretches across more than a decade.

    What sets Drake apart is his ability to bridge genres. From introspective R&B ballads like ‘Marvins Room’ to arena-ready Rap anthems such as ‘God’s Plan’, he has blurred the lines between Hip-Hop and R&B in ways few before him managed. His versatility has made him a streaming powerhouse, shaping playlists, radio rotations, and global soundscapes.

    Billboard’s list also reflects the broader landscape of modern music. Drake edged out titans such as Beyoncé (#2), The Weeknd (#3), Chris Brown (#4), Usher (#5), Lil Wayne (#6), JAY Z (#7), Rihanna (#8), Eminem (#9), and Alicia Keys (#10)—a mix of singers, rappers, and genre-shaping icons.

    Beyond accolades, the milestone underscores Drake’s cultural influence. His collaborations have uplifted younger artists, he has set streaming records with nearly every release, and his sound continues to define a generation of Hip-Hop and R&B fans worldwide. In short, Drake isn’t just topping charts—he’s rewriting how success is measured in the 21st century.

  • Cardi B tells Apple Music about making ‘Imaginary Playerz’ and ‘Am I the Drama?’

    Cardi B joins Apple Music’s Zane Lowe for an in-depth conversation about her highly-anticipated second studio album, ‘Am I the Drama?’. In the conversation, Cardi B reveals what exact time JAY Z approved ‘Imaginary Playerz’, and opens up about overcoming writer’s block, the pressure of following her chart-topping debut, personal challenges over the past few years, and more.

    Video | Cardi B tells Apple Music about making ‘Imaginary Playerz’ and ‘Am I The Drama?’

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QkmgCjW2XY&h=315]

    Video | Cardi B gives advice to fans via her 1-800-DRAMA Hotline

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM2jANLp4CY&h=315]

    Video | Full interview

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QkmgCjW2XY&h=315]

    Cardi B tells Apple Music about having writers block while creating ‘Am I the Drama?’

    Zane Lowe: There’s a lot of life going on around this time as well. It wasn’t just like you were sitting on music, you were trying to find balance, I’d imagine that was what was going on.

    Cardi B: Yeah. It was just trying to find balance in life. And not only that, but it’s just like I don’t know, it got to the point for me that it’s like nothing was pleasing me. And it’s so funny because even when I get dressed up, when I wear clothes and stuff, there’s sometimes I’d be like, “Oh my gosh, I feel like I already did this. Oh my God, I feel like somebody already wore something similar to this.” And that is the same way that I feel about music. And it’s just, you’ll be surprised. I got 80 songs that I did probably these past seven years. And it’s just like I just be like three weeks later, it’s like I don’t love it, I don’t want it, I feel stupid, it sounds dumb, it’s sounds this. And even when people come and try to help me, it’s like I still don’t like it. It’s like I really went through a crash that nothing was pleasing me, nothing.

    Cardi B tells Apple Music about matching the success of her debut album ‘Invasion of Privacy’

    Zane Lowe: How much was the success that you achieved with ‘Invasion of Privacy’ and the songs that came from that? And then of course the world opens up and people fall in love with you. So music is the key. And then they’re like, yeah, we love the music, but we love her. How much of that got inside your head as well a little bit?

    Cardi B: It’s not really much. It’s just like I don’t go with the pressure of ‘Invasion of Privacy.’ Because what’s funny, when it came to ‘Invasion of Privacy,’ I wasn’t really thinking of like, oh, I need to make these numbers. I need to make these things. I just really felt like it’s like I have to keep my career. Because it was the first time I got pregnant and people were saying it’s like, oh, this never happened before. We never had an artist in the label that got pregnant right at the beginning of their career. So I just was in a rush to do my deadline and deliver my album. So that was on my mind.

    Now things have changed because people criticize me a little bit harder more than I feel like any other artist, which I feel like is not fair to me. But it’s like, you know what? They don’t do it to the people they don’t think that they’re great or they don’t whatever. And it’s like one of the key that I feel confidence that I’m going to be okay because it’s like no matter what I do, it’s like sometimes I could put this fire-ass outfit and I could kill Fashion Week, and it’s like people would be cool, but where’s the music? I could drop a product and people be like, okay, but where’s the album? I could be in a drama, some controversial shit, and people are like, we don’t give a fuck. We want the album.

    Cardi B tells Apple Music about other female rappers not liking her

    In the industry, there is a lot of different female rappers, but for some reason, it’s something about me that these bitches can’t stand. They can’t fuck with me. Some bitches, I feel like they’re on this class right now, they’re sophomores, and I’m a senior. And it’s like you want to fuck with the senior so bad. You think you’re here with the senior. You’re not even a junior. And it’s like you need to worry about them other sophomores before you start worrying about here, the fucking senior. But it’s something about it that it’s like they can’t even focus on them. They got to focus on me. And they always got to focus on throwing me shots and throwing me slings. No matter if you’re a fucking sophomore or in motherfucking college, it’s me.

    Cardi B tells Apple Music about the start of ‘Imaginary Playerz’

    I was in the studio last year in the Summertime and I was really caught in a funk. I ain’t got my hair done, I ain’t got my makeup done in weeks. I’m sleeping on the couch. It was the fourth, third day that I’m sleeping on the couch in the studio. And I just feel so down, not down, but I just don’t feel like my best.

    I’m exhausted, I’m pregnant as fuck. And I was just going through some drama in my life and I just was so tired, so over it. And then my engineer was like, “Cheer up.” He’s like, “Come on, come on. We got to wake up, we got to get up.” And I was like, “All right. All right.” Then he started playing [Jay-Z’s] ‘Imaginary Players’. And I just started laughing because it was so random for him to play that. And I was like, yeah. I’m like, yo, imagine if I flip this but my way because it’s like my life. Because it’s like I got a lot of shit to brag about. I really do live a different lifestyle than a lot of people.

    Cardi B tells Apple Music about making ‘Imaginary Playerz’

    Cardi B: It’s like I’m practically rapping about what I’m living. Everything that I’m talking about is the things that I live or the things that my fly friends… Because I be looking like, it’s like what this bitch wearing? What this bitch talking about? What this and that? And it’s like I literally just have to make it rhyme, make it sound good, but it’s like this is my life. And I just took notes of everything that I was doing. It’s like even in the music video, I was really having a fitting. I just had my hair done and my makeup done and the people that were fitting me, they’re really the fashion houses fitting me for a show. All those outfits that I wore, I wore them for a show.

    Zane Lowe: That’s not a set.

    Cardi B: It’s not a set. And it’s like they’re really fitting me couture pieces while I’m doing a music video. This is my life. This is really my life. It’s like I’m wearing couture, but I’m not wearing it for a music video. I’m wearing it because I’m about to wear this to a show this week.

    Cardi B tells Apple Music about feeling like she was dying the past year

    Cardi B: I really like to do my things very colourful. I’m a very colorful person. But it’s just like this past year, I feel like something kind of was dying in me. My humbleness, me trying so much to be unproblematic, me trying to avoid drama, avoid the disses, avoid the bitches, avoid the talks, it’s like that shit is dying, that’s dying out in me. It is like that’s really dying in me. Because I’m really about to show you, bitch, that you are not fucking with me. The cockiness is being born again. And not only that, but it’s like my life, my relationships, everything, it’s like that shit is dying now too. It is giving chances, giving chances to men, giving chances to women, giving chances to people that it’s like just want to see the nice shorty shorty. It’s like, oh, just ignore it, be the bigger person. That shit is dying. Now it’s like I feel like I gave y’all too much grace to think that y’all could fuck with me. And it’s like that shit is dead, bitch. Now I’m going to embrace that. You wanted that, bitch. Now I’m going to give it to you. And I hope you could take it when I motherfucking give it to y’all. That’s how I feel, for real. You see that I’m getting kind of angry?

    Zane Lowe: It’s a real emotion though. It’s a real human energy.
    Cardi B: Yes, yes. Because imagine being in your crib. You’re going through so much, so much drama. You probably got into an argument with your aunt and your cousins and shit. Then your fucking husband doing some bullshit. Then in your music career in the studio, you got fucking writer’s block. You have all these problems going on. Then a bitch starts fucking with you. And it’s like while all this is happening, you got a bitch fucking with me. And it’s like all right, bitch, I can’t get to you at that moment, but I’m going to get to you now. And you’re going to get it on my time as well.

    Cardi B tells Apple Music about JAY-Z approving ‘Imaginary Playerz’ at 4:44 PM

    Cardi B: Life, it just changed for me and I just needed to be outside. So I was just writing fly shit down. Then when it was time to submit it to get approved, I was a little scared. I was a little shaky. Wait a minute, Jay-Z got to approve it. I mean, I always knew that he got to approve it, but it was like, how about if he don’t approve it? How about if he fucking likes it? And he did like it. And it’s so crazy, the text message of him approving it, it was at 4:44 PM.

    Zane Lowe: Are you kidding me? Is he living like that or is that just some crazy universe fucking spiritual shit? Because I don’t really think he’s sitting there waiting till 4, 4, 4.
    Cardi B: No, nobody does.

    Cardi B tells Apple Music how she is processing life after getting divorced

    Zane Lowe: You’re still going through it though? Does it feel like you’re still processing? You talked about life changing.
    Cardi B: Yes. Yes. You know when you graduate high school and now you’re about to go to college, you don’t know what you expecting. Well, not only do you got to go to college, it’s like I had to move out. So it’s like now you really in the real world. And it’s like I feel like I’m getting that reset again, but it doesn’t feel as good because I’m in my 30s and I shouldn’t be having a reset at my 30s. It should just be almost planned out, almost like this is what is coming for the rest of my life. It’s like sometimes I feel like I’m in my 20s and I don’t really want to feel like I’m in my 20s. I want to feel like I’m in my grown 30s because I got three kids. And it’s like I’m not a… I like to be outside. I like to have fun. But it’s like I like to have my things planned out. I’m always a person that thinking about five years from now. You know what I’m saying? I like to think about family. That’s just the type of person that I just am. So experiencing that, experiencing the streets and stuff like that, it’s just a little weird. And then it’s like going through a divorce is very, very tough because you marry somebody and the person that you divorcing is not that person that you married. It’s like you really ask yourself like who the fuck did I marry? Who did I marry? There is no love there. There is no love. There is no love. But to me, I always felt like if I ever walk away from something, I get along with all my exes. Even if we don’t talk, we never ended it on some nasty, nasty stuff. So I never wish them bad. I don’t wish them bad or nothing like that. It has gotten to the point that it’s like, oh my gosh, I feel like I really hate you. I think I hate you. And I never wanted that. I always be wondering, it’s like why do women hate their baby daddy so much? Why do people say that divorce is so tough? I feel like if the love is dead, people should just go their separate way.

  • American singer-songwriter Conan Gray tops the charts with new album ‘Wishbone’

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    Today, multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter and former YouTuber Conan Gray tops the charts with his critically-acclaimed new album ‘Wishbone’, marking his highest debut album and biggest sales week of his career. ‘Wishbone’ makes massive debut at #1 on the Billboard Album Sales chart, and Top 3 on Billboard 200 chart. Upon release, ‘Wishbone’ was immediately received with praise from fans and critics alike. Billboard honoured the album as their “Editor’s Pick of the Week” with Rolling Stone declaring Conan has “never sounded more confident”.

    Conan performed songs from Wishbone for the first time on television with a special release day appearance on Today Show’s Summer Concert Series. Performing to a jam-packed audience of fans in New York’s iconic Rockefeller Plaza, the set included monumental performances of ‘This Song’, ‘Vodka Cranberry’, ‘Caramel’, and Conan’s multi-platinum hit ‘Heather’.

    On ‘Wishbone’, Conan Gray returns to his singer-songwriter roots after falling in love for the first time, showcasing his creative talents more than ever before. ‘Wishbone’ is entirely written by Conan Gray and executive produced by GRAMMY Award-winning longtime collaborator Dan Nigro. Nigro has worked with Conan since 2018, producing his multi-platinum hits ‘Heather’ and ‘Maniac’. Conan also worked with producers Ethan Gruska, Noah Conrad, Luka Kloser and Elvira on Wishbone. Alongside the album, Conan released a trilogy of music videos for ‘This Song’, ‘Vodka Cranberry’, and ‘Caramel’, following the love story of Wilson & Brando. The music videos are directed by Danica Kleinknecht (MkGee), co-starring Corey Fogelmanis, and filmed in Conan’s home state of Texas.

    ‘Conan Gray: The Wishbone Pajama Show’ with special guest hemlocke springs, will kick off on September 11 making stops across the United States including his first performance at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 6. The tour concludes with Conan’s Mexico debut (support TBA), including headlines in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

  • Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz spark romance rumours with cosy Rome stroll

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    On August 25, 2025, TMZ dropped fresh footage that sent fans into a frenzy: Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz were seen strolling arm-in-arm through the streets of Rome—and the internet can’t stop buzzing. The sighting—captured in a video shared by a fan to X (formerly Twitter)—shows the duo walking together, backs toward the camera, clearly enjoying each other’s company. Styles opted for a casual “Canadian tuxedo” denim jacket and jeans paired with sunglasses, whilst Kravitz looked effortlessly chic in a white sundress, black baseball cap, flats, and shades.

    @nssmagazine Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz were spotted arm-in-arm yesterday whilst strolling around Rome @Bia Lyrio #harrystyles #zoëkravitz #couple #rome #roma ♬ Adore You – Harry Styles

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    The stroll arrives amid a whirlwind of public appearances and speculation. Just days earlier, Kravitz was seen in Paris, sparking rumours amid her promotional tour for ‘Caught Stealing’ alongside Austin Butler. Meanwhile, Styles—who split from Taylor Russell in May 2024—has been mostly low-profile since wrapping his “Love On Tour” run. Fans have taken to social media to react—some thrilled by the unexpected pairing, others scrutinizing the dynamics, given Kravitz’s close friendship with Styles’ ex, Taylor Swift. Despite the buzz, neither party has confirmed anything, and their representatives have yet to respond.

    For now, this Roman rendezvous—real or staged—has captured the world’s imagination, blending gorgeous scenery with celebrity intrigue… and leaving fans yearning for the next chapter.

  • Watch Florence + The Machine move briskly through green pastures in ‘Everybody Scream’

    Fittingly so, their forthcoming album ‘Everybody Scream’ comes out on Halloween Day (October 31, 2025).

    Four days ago, English Indie Rock band Florence + The Machine shared the official music video for ‘Everybody Scream’. Against a green pasture, the lead singer, Florence, walks in a bright red dress, brassiere, and matching heels, as a man rides backwards on a galloping horse—perhaps a symbol of disorientation. Eventually, her crew falls in line and walks with her, before ending up in a pub with the horseman. Ironically, in the howff, the people appear to be possessed by spirits. Notably, my thoughts are proven in the outro:

    “The witchcraft, the medicine, the spells, and the injections
    The harvest, the needle protect me from evil
    The magic and the misery, madness and the mystery
    Oh, what has it done to me?
    Everybody scream”

    Watch the Autumn de Wilde direction for the single produced by Juliet Naylor. The band has been nominated for GRAMMYs seven times. Perhaps, they’ll take one home in 2026.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03iBgkXb1EE&h=315]

  • Doja Cat features rapping persona in 80s-inspired jam ‘Jealous Type’: Watch the video

    Three days ago, American superstar Doja Cat released the elaborate official music video for her eighties-inspired track ‘Jealous Type’. In the stunning visual, the genre-blending artist often referred to as the “Queen of Pop-Rap” explains what spawned the insecurity she’s experienced, linked to the ex-girlfriend of the person in question:

    “Said, “You wanna do what now with who?”
    I don’t need a pin drop or text tonight
    I ain’t even coming out with you
    You don’t wanna show me off to your ex or your friends tonight
    Nigga, you must be on Molly ’cause y’all ain’t kick it when we started up
    And if she really was a friend like you said she was
    I would’ve been locked in, but I called your bluff”.

    Watch the eye-popping video directed by Boni Mata below to see her strut her stuff in a leopard print swimsuit. The single is from her forthcoming album ‘Vie’, set to release on September 26, 2025.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv1MwS56aCo&h=315]

  • Kesha comes out as omnisexual on Feeld dating app

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    On August 19, 2025, Pop superstar Kesha opened up about her sexuality on the dating app Feeld, identifying as omnisexual—a revealing departure from mainstream labels like pansexuality. Whilst both orientations embrace attraction to all genders, the distinction lies in awareness and preference.

    For Kesha, being omnisexual isn’t just about being open to every gender—it’s about noticing a person’s gender and letting it animate her attraction. Feeld’s Creative VP, Andrew Peet, even reported an “uptick” in members identifying similarly after Kesha’s update. In their words, pansexual individuals are “gender-blind” in attraction, whereas omnisexual individuals are “gender-aware”, with that awareness potentially enhancing the connection.

    This isn’t the first time the term has been used publicly: Singer Sophie B Hawkins (of ‘Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover’) openly identified as omnisexual back in 1992, and even the Doctor Who character Captain Jack Harkness is canonically omnisexual.

    Though subtle, this distinction invites broader conversations about how sexual attraction can vary—not just in scope, but in nuance. As sexuality language evolves, identities like omnisexuality and pansexuality help articulate very personal experiences of attraction that go beyond simple labels.

  • Bad Bunny and Danny Ocean lead Premios Juventud 2025 nominations as awards head to Panama

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    The nominees for the 22nd annual Premios Juventud were unveiled on August 19, 2025, marking a significant moment in Latin Pop culture. In a packed announcement, Bad Bunny and Danny Ocean emerged as the year’s frontrunners—each scoring six nominations—the most of any artists this year. Hot on their heels are a cadre of prominent Latin music talents, including Anitta, Beéle, Carín León, Emilia, Myke Towers, Netón Vega, and Peso Pluma, each securing five nods.

    This year’s ceremony, slated for September 25, 2025, will take place at Panama City’s Figali Convention Center, marking the first time the prestigious event has been held outside the United States. The broadcast will air live on Univision, UniMás, Galavisión, and the ViX streaming platform.

    Under the theme “Evolucionando al ritmo de la música”, this edition introduces eight new categories that reflect the evolving interests of young Latin audiences. Among the additions are Best Alternative Mexican Music Song, Afrobeat Latino of the Year, and Podcast of the Year, further broadening the awards’ cultural scope. Fans are encouraged to head to the official website to vote for their favourites before the deadline on September 1.

    With its international debut location and expanded categories, the 2025 Premios Juventud promises to be a landmark celebration of Latin music’s most dynamic voices and cultural trends.