Rising Triple-Threat JayDon Is Helping L.A. Reid & Usher Bring Real R&B Back: ‘I’m an Artist of All Realms’

When JayDon springs into the Billboard offices in late May, there’s an unmistakable bounce in his step. At just 17, the wiry triple-threat appears taller than expected — his spry frame helping explain the explosive dance moves that have the R&B world buzzing. As soon as the elevator doors part, he launches into performance mode. With no mic and zero hesitation, he starts crooning with such clarity and control that his voice slices through the office walls, prompting staffers to […]

June 22, 2025

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‘Public Enemy Is Still Fighting the Power’: Iconic Hip-Hop Group Drops New Protest Song ‘March Madness’

Public Enemy has new rhymes designed to fill your mind. The iconic hip-hop group dropped new protest song “March Madness” in honor of Juneteenth on Thursday (June 19). Related Public Enemy’s Chuck D Gets Weird on Psychedelic Solo Single, ‘New Gens’ 04/18/2025 “PUBLIC ENEMY IS STILL FIGHTING THE POWER,” Flavor Flav wrote in a statement posted to X that day before noting how President Joe Biden signed the national holiday into law on June 19, 2021, and that 160 years have […]

June 22, 2025

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Jim Jones Defends Himself Against Nas Comparison: ‘Pull Up My Billboard Entries’

Jim Jones makes his case after a 22-year-old college student from New Jersey said he was influenced more by the Harlem rapper than by Nas on the Don’t Quote Me podcast. While stopping by the Joe and Jada podcast posted Thursday (June 19), Jimmy discussed the viral video. “I admired Nas,” Jones admitted. “When it came to dressin’, the wordplay, the music, everything. I was a superior Nas fan, period. I’ll never take that away from him.” However, once Jones […]

June 22, 2025

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Erykah Badu & The Alchemist Flip a Classic Mobb Deep B-Side for New Single ‘Next to You’: Listen

Erykah Badu and The Alchemist are really making an album together, and their first single is finally here. Related In Dallas With Erykah Badu, a True Original Who’s Prepping Her First Album in 15 Years 03/19/2025 Badu and the West Coast producer dropped their new song “Next to You” at midnight after she performed Badu Presents: Echos 19 in her hometown of Dallas as part of Forever in Rotation, Amazon Music’s Juneteenth celebration. According to a press release, the Dallas singer […]

June 22, 2025

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Molly Santana Talks Hollywood Aspirations, New Album & 21st Birthday Plans: ‘I Wanna Have the Craziest “Project X” Party’

Academy Award-winning director Christopher Nolan inspired a generation of filmmakers in the 21st century, but who would’ve expected his impact to reach a 20-year-old fashion student-turned-rapper? Enter Molly Santana. In an era where Gen-Z rappers seem to have a disregard for album rollouts, Santana wanted to invite fans to be a part of something bigger. After discovering Nolan had made his first feature film, Following, with a frugal $6,000 budget, Santana felt there was no excuse not to bring her […]

June 19, 2025

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NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s Old Rap Videos Are Going Viral

Zohran Mamdani is a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist looking to become the next mayor of New York City. As voters learn more about potential candidates, curious folks have dug up old rap videos from a previous life for Mamdani, who rhymed under the monikers Young Cardamom and then Mr. Cardamom. According to a 2019 story about actress Madhur Jaffrey in The New York Times, Mamdani made his rap debut in the late 2000s while running for vice president at the Bronx […]

June 19, 2025 2

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A 20-Year-Old’s Top-Notch Carnival Cruise Karaoke Performance Leads to Huge Gains for ’90s R&B Hit

Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. This week: Keith Sweat’s “Nobody” gets a bump from an improbable cover source, a less-remembered Black Eyed Peas gets its moment in the TikTok sun and Playboi Carti […]

June 19, 2025

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Who’s the GOAT Rapper & Producer Combo? Rapsody Joins ‘Billboard Unfiltered’ Debate

Billboard Unfiltered returned on Wednesday (June 18) with another brand-new episode featuring a special guest: Rapsody was in the building. This week, senior director of R&B/Hip-Hop Carl Lamarre returned with hip-hop editor Angel Diaz alongside Rapsody to debate who is the greatest rapper/producer combination of all time. Related ‘Billboard Unfiltered’: Reviewing Lil Wayne’s ‘Tha Carter VI’ & His All-Time Ranking… 06/12/2025 First up, Lamarre made the case for Nas and Hit-Boy, who connected for five projects over the course of […]

June 19, 2025

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Bun B Believes Travis Scott Won’t ‘Back Down’ From Pusha T: ‘When These Beefs Happen, You Have to Respond’

Bun B thinks Pusha T is “a dangerous man.” The Texas rap legend sat down with Shannon Sharpe’s Night Cap and was asked about Pusha T’s recent diss aimed at Travis Scott that has been dominating the rap news cycle. Related Mannie Fresh Reveals Bun B Originally Was Going to Be in Big Tymers 08/12/2024 “Pusha’s a dangerous man,” the UGK member told Sharpe. “He’s willing to throw caution to the wind and be like, ‘You know what? I don’t really […]

June 19, 2025

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