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What Is Your Song of the Summer 2020? Vote!

Summer’s here and the time is right for getting “Savage” in the streets. Or maybe you’re ready for a break from the heat and you want it to “Rain on Me”? Whether you’re a Megan Thee Stallion/Beyoncé fan or a Lady Gaga/Ariana Grande stan, it’s time to figure out what your outdoor summer jam will […]

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DaBaby Reflects on His Beginnings After 'Rockstar' Earns Him His First No. 1 on the Hot 100

DaBaby had the perfect reaction to landing his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Roddy Ricch collab “Rockstar.” The track from the MCs third studio album, Blame It On Baby, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated May 2, gives DaBaby his first No. 1, while landing Ricch his second. […]

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Ludacris Says 'It's Time for the Real Leaders to Step Up' Following George Floyd's Murder

Even while in quarantine, Ludacris made the most out of his May. The legendary MC battled Nelly in a high-profile clash on Verzuz — which Billboard‘s scorecard gave Luda the narrow victory — and released the dynamic “Silence of the Lambs” alongside Lil Wayne. Hip-hop editor Carl Lamarre caught up with the ATL native to reflect on […]

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'No Justice, No Peace': Will Smith Debuts Stirring Montage With Barack Obama, Keedron Bryant

On Monday (June 8), Will Smith kept the conversation regarding racial injustice alive when he released his “No Justice, No Peace” montage on social media. The two-minute clip includes former President Barack Obama’s recent speech on George Floyd and some enlightening commentary by Smith himself. “You’re always gonna have a fight you’re going to see […]

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Chika Slams 'Selfish' YG for Filming Music Video During Los Angeles Protest

As protests continue to rise across the nation demanding justice for George Floyd and the entire Black Lives Matter movement, YG joined the Los Angeles demonstrations over the weekend–but Chika is calling him out for misusing his platform. “YG said he here to shoot a video,” the rapper and activist tweeted on Sunday (June 7) from the […]

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6ix9ine Teases Updated Take on Akon's 2004 Song 'Locked Up': Watch

6ix9ine is hard at work on his next album, and he’s recruited Akon to assist in the process. The 24-year-old rainbow-haired rapper, who was recently granted an early prison release amid the coronavirus pandemic, took to social media Sunday (June 7) to share a clip of himself rapping new lyrics over the beat of Akon’s […]

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Black Music Month 2020 Playlist: Jason 'Poo Bear' Boyd Wants Music to 'Represent Our Silence of Emotions'

This year, Black Music Month has taken a different turn. Following the horrific deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and more, we at Billboard hope to uplift and empower African Americans during this cloudy and dubious time. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the remainder of the month, an artist will provide a playlist designed […]

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Meek Mill Takes Aim at Trump on "Otherside of America": Listen

After teasing the track, Meek Mill has released his new song, “Otherside of America.” The politically-charged tune arrives as the rapper just appeared on CNN to discuss criminal justice reform. “Otherside of America” opens up with one of Donald Trump’s many racist remarks. “”What do you have to lose? You’re living in poverty,” he said. […]

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Republic Records Bans the Term 'Urban' Within Label: 'We Encourage the Music Industry to Follow Suit'

Republic Records is banning the word “urban” from its company verbiage, doing away with the term for hip-hop and R&B, which many consider an antiquated generalization that marginalizes music by black artists. The label, which is home to artists like Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Taylor Swift, said on Instagram today that it will remove […]

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Moneybagg Yo Banks First Top 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart

Moneybagg Yo banks a trip to the top 10 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart as “1 2 3,” featuring Blac Youngsta, darts 13-9 on the latest list (dated June 6). The single ascends through a 1% boost to 11.7 million in audience in the week ending May 31, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. The climb […]