NBA YoungBoy Shows Love to Donald Trump on New Album Following Pardon: ‘It’s Good for the Youngins’

After receiving a pardon from Donald Trump earlier this year, YoungBoy Never Broke Again (real name Kentrell Gaulden) showed his appreciation by praising the president on his new album MASA, which arrived on Friday (July 25).

“Make America Slimy Again/ Whatever Trump doin’, b—h, it’s good for the youngins,” YB raps on album standout “XXX.”

The slime-covered gun-toting visual — which was shot in Amsterdam — shows a lime-green American flag and graffiti spray painted with the pro-Trump message “All Hail Trump.”

Loaded with 30 tracks, MASA finds the Baton Rouge rapper starring front and center with collaborations from Playboi Carti and Mellow Rackz.

Trump pardoned YoungBoy in May, who was charged with felony possession of weapons. He secured his release in April after being sentenced to 23 months in December on federal gun charges.

“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist,” he in a statement posted on his Instagram Story at the time. “This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I’ve worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this.”

YB continued in his post: “Big thanks to the Pardon Czar, Ms. Alice Marie Johnson, for fighting for second chances for so many people, and my lawyer, Brittany K. Barnett, for being in my corner and all your hard work to make this possible. And thank you to everyone who believed in me.”

Next up, with his legal trouble behind him, YoungBoy will hit the road for his 27-city MASA Tour kicking off on Sept. 2 in Dallas. It’s his first-ever headlining North American trek.

Watch the “XXX” video below.

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Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist’s ‘Alfredo 2’: The 15 Best Lines

Freddie Gibbs is very good at rapping.

He and The Alchemist just dropped Alfredo 2 — the sequel to their Grammy-nominated album Alfredo that they dropped in 2020 — and there are no shortage of bars. The references range from Ja Morant and Zion Williamson to not-so-subtle jabs at former collaborators like Benny the Butcher and Curren$y.

The duo flew to Japan to film a short movie as a couple Americans that use a ramen shop as a front to launder money for Japan’s criminal underground, but none of that really matters in terms of the vitriol Gibbs rapped with. Aside from the album art, the movie, and some of the samples used, the Gary, Indiana MC isn’t making Yakuza references or anything like that.

However, he is slicing through The Alchemist’s production like a Hattori Hanzo sword in Kill Bill as he takes aim at a list of foes that include his ex-girlfriend, Jim Jones, DJ Akademiks and the aforementioned Benny and Spitta. Alfredo 2 is basically a 14-track soundtrack for settling scores and it may be safe to assume that he’ll be getting some responses.

The project only has three features, from Anderson .Paak, Larry June and JID, but only one had a line good enough to make the cut. Find out who here, and be sure to take note of who will probably get upset about being caught up in Gangsta Gibbs’ crossfire because that dude be having beef with everybody.

Check out some of our favorite bars from Alfredo 2 below.

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Madonna’s ‘Veronica Electronica’: All Tracks Ranked

“It’s a natural urge for computer buffs to perfect everything because they can, and we were very wary of that.”

So said William Orbit in a July 1998 interview with Keyboard magazine in which the Ray of Light co-producer unpacked the elements used to make Madonna’s electronic masterpiece, released that same year.

But despite the concern about the songs potentially becoming overly produced into plasticity, there was ultimately enough trust for some of the album tracks to be passed on to other computer buffs, who’d morph them into remixes. These edits were reportedly meant for a Ray of Light companion piece that was never released because of the culture-shaking success of the original album, which won four Grammys and made everyone with ears and access to MTV want to dance herky jerky in the club like Madonna did in the title track’s iconic video.

So finally today (July 25), 27 years after Ray of Light‘s release, Veronica Electronica is officially out. Formed from edits made around the time of the album’s creation, some of these remixes have already been fairly well heard, although they’ve not come out together until now.

With remixes of seven of Ray of Light‘s 13 songs, along with an unreleased demo of a track that didn’t make it onto the album, Veronica Electronica is named for Madonna’s Ray of Light alter ego and includes work by club wizards Sasha, Victor Calderone, Fabien and Peter Rauhofer and Orbit himself.

Here is every track on Veronica Electronica, ranked.

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Latin Mafia, Eslabon Armado, & More: Who Had the Best New Latin Music Release This Week?

This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music, including collaborations by Latin Mafia and Omar Apollo; Elena Rose and Justin Quiles; and Mon Laferte and Conociendo Rusia, to name a few.

On the groovy “Hecho Para Ti,” Mexican indie band Latin Mafia and Indiana-native crooner Omar Apollo “serve up a time-jumping cumbia pulled straight from your tío’s VHS collection, while Apollo adds his signature blend of tender heartbreak,” Billboard Español’s Isabela Raygoza describes. Co-produced by Tyler Spry, the track is an ode to failed love: “If you’re not going to love me, my love/ I’d prefer you hate me, sweetheart,” say the lyrics.

Meanwhile, Carlos Vives recruited a collective of Colombian artists for his new song “500”—a heartfelt tribute to Santa Marta on its fifth centenary. Joining Vives (who’s also celebrating 30 years of his album La Tierra del Olvido) on the historical and cultural song are Bomba Estéreo, Estereobeat, Gloria Torres, L’Omy, Lalo Ebratt, Laura Maré, Olga Lucía Vives, Pao Lacera, Rashid Zawady, and Yera—all from Santa Marta, where Vives was born.

Other new releases this week include music from Christian Nodal, Eslabon Armado, and Cuban newcomers Melanie Santiler & Velito El Bufón. In last week’s poll, Danna’s “Khe Calor” won with more than 80% of the vote. Which release this week do you think is best? Give these new releases a spin and vote for your favorite new Latin music release below:

Editor’s Note: The results of the weekly New Music Latin poll will be posted if the poll generates more than 1,000 votes. This poll closes at 7:30 a.m. ET on Monday, July 28.

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Billboard Georgia Presents: NEXT GEN, the Global Voices Shaping Tomorrow’s Music

In a world defined by digital discovery and borderless creativity, the future of music isn’t born in one place – it blooms everywhere at once.

NEXT GEN, Billboard Georgia’s first-ever international editorial project, captures this global rhythm through a handpicked lineup of 24 rising artists from nine countries – each redefining what it means to be part of the sonic DNA of a new generation.

From Georgian soul and Italian rap rebellion to J-pop reimaginings, Afro-French lyrical fire and vibrant Vietnamese pop, these artists aren’t just riding trends – they’re creating them. One viral verse, sold-out show or heart-wrenching hook at a time, they’re shaping the sound of tomorrow.

This project was made possible through close collaboration with our extended Billboard family – including Billboard Italy, Billboard China, Billboard France, Billboard Japan, Billboard Vietnam, Billboard Philippines, Billboard Argentina, Billboard UK and Billboard Georgia – each of whom contributed their vision, insight and artist picks to build this truly global showcase.

As the first Billboard territory in Eastern Europe to lead an editorial initiative of this scale, Billboard Georgia is honored to contribute to this global conversation.

NEXT GEN is more than a spotlight – it’s a statement.

A love letter to the voices rising worldwide.

And a mirror reflecting what’s next for the music industry.

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A Little Golden Book’s Colorful BLACKPINK Biography Is Now Available for Pre-Order

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Get ready, BLINKs. A Little Golden Book’s biography on beloved K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is currently available for preorder.

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BLACKPINK

BLACKPINK’s History-Making Accomplishments: A Timeline

The book can be preordered through Amazon for $5.99, and will be shipped out starting Dec. 2, just in time for Christmas. You can purchase a Kindle or a hardcover version for the same price. The biography, which was written by Jessica Yoon and illustrated by Honee Jang, chronicles the life of members Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo and Rosé from their childhoods to trainee years under YG Entertainment, up until their eventual debut in 2016.

BLACKPINK's A Little Golden Book Biography: Here's Where to Buy It

BLACKPINK A Little Golden Book Biography

$5.99

Buy Now On Amazon

A BLACKPINK biography.

Readers are then taken on the whirlwind that was the girl group’s success through colorful imagery and descriptive text. The book highlights some major moments in the K-pop act’s career thus far, from releasing hits such as “How You Like That” and “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” to headlining major festivals such as Coachella. While this book is meant for younger readers in the 4 to 8-year range, it would make a great gift for BLINKs of all ages looking to learn more about the girl group they love.

If you’re not into BLACKPINK, A Little Golden Book has biographies on a slew of artists, K-pop or otherwise, including BTS, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Prince, Cher and Chappell Roan. On the non-music front, the book series also covers historic figures both old and new, including Rosa Parks, Serena Williams, Maya Angelou, Jimmy Carter, Colin Powell, Katie Ledecky and Jane Goodall. Each book is meant to give young readers a better understanding of important figures through easily digestible text and fun visuals. In simple terms, it makes learning fun.

BLACKPINK's A Little Golden Book Biography: Here's Where to Buy It

BTS: A Little Golden Book Biography

$5.57

Buy Now On Amazon

A biography about BTS.

BLACKPINK first hit the scene in 2016 with its debut song “Boombayah.” The song went on to top Billboard‘s World Digital Songs chart in the first week of sales. Fans have watched the girls rise to stardom, and now, BLACKPINK has many impressive accolades under its belt. The act is the first K-pop girl group to play at Coachella and to reach one billion YouTube views.

Fast forward to 2025, and the group’s single “Jump” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 with 123 million streams in the week ending on July 17. This achievement marks the girl group’s third No. 1 song on the chart after “Pink Venom” and “Shut Down.” With the group is breaking records left and right, they’re definitely biography-worthy.

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Smokey Robinson Criminal Investigation Grows as 5th Woman Goes to Police

Another woman has filed a sexual misconduct police report against Smokey Robinson, widening the criminal investigation that began when four of the Motown legend’s former housekeepers leveled bombshell rape allegations two months ago.

A sergeant at the Malibu/Lost Hills station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department tells Billboard on Friday (July 25) that a woman came in last week to report sexual battery claims against Robinson.

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Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson Sues His Rape Accusers for Defamation & Elder Abuse: ‘An Extortionate Plan…

This woman, whose identity is not known, is now the fifth alleged sexual assault victim to report Robinson to criminal authorities in Los Angeles. An anonymous group of four former housekeepers for the 85-year-old singer filed a police report against him in May, after filing a $50 million civil lawsuit that claimed Robinson repeatedly raped them over the course of nearly two decades.

Robinson vehemently denies raping anybody and has described his ex-housekeepers’ claims as a greedy cash grab. The singer’s attorney, Christopher Frost, strikes the same note in a statement responding to news of the additional police report on Friday.

“It’s not surprising to us that in the context of very public allegations by the four interconnected Jane Does and their shared attorneys, no matter how untrue, news like this might emerge,” says Frost. “It’s one of the risks of being a celebrity, that others will take the same approach.”

Frost continues, “Our focus is on exposing the falsity of the Doe lawsuit, where the Does and their lawyers have taken a hit-and-run approach — making allegations against a beloved 85-year-old cultural icon and subsequently refusing to reveal their identities or unequivocally sit for a deposition, where the truth can actually be determined.”

Attorneys for the four housekeepers declined to comment on the development Friday.

The ex-housekeepers’ civil lawsuit alleges Robinson forced them to have oral and vaginal sex in his bedroom dozens of times between 2007 and 2024. The women are also suing the singer’s wife, Frances Robinson, claiming she failed to stop the alleged abuse despite knowing that her husband had a history of sexual misconduct.

The Motown star and his wife have responded by countersuing the women for defamation and elder abuse. The couple claims that they were “extraordinarily generous” with their housekeepers, but the women were all the while “concocting an extortionate plan to take everything from the Robinsons.”

Meanwhile, police are carrying out a separate criminal investigation into the claims. Frost has said he and the rest of Robinson’s legal team “welcome” the police probe, since they are “confident” it will clear the singer’s name.

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Billy Joel Slams Donald Trump’s 2017 Charlottesville Speech in Documentary: ‘Nazis Are Not Good People’

Billy Joel may sing “my silence is my self-defense” on his Billboard Hot 100 No. 37 hit “And So It Goes,” but he’s not interested in remaining quiet about what he considers to be very wrong. The musician is once again condemning Donald Trump’s 2017 speech about the white nationalist’s Unite the Right rally that took place in Charlottesville, Va., in which the president said there were “some very fine people on both sides.”

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Billy Joel

‘Billy Joel: And So It Goes’: How to Watch the Two-Part Documentary Online…

In part two of his Billy Joel: And So It Goes documentary on HBO Max, the five-time Grammy winner says that while he “never liked getting political on stage,” there are situations about which he feels the need to speak out, and this is one of them.

“Sometimes, there are things that happen and you can’t just look away,” he said of wearing a Star of David on his suit during his Madison Square Garden concert’s encore a week after the rally in silent protest. “I had to do something. I was angry. Here they are marching through an American city saying, ‘Jews will not replace us.’ We fought a war to defeat these people! And then when Trump comes out and says, ‘There were very fine people on both sides,’ he should’ve come out and said, ‘Those are bad people,’” says the musician.

“There is no qualifying it. The Nazis are not good people. Period!” he adds in the two-part project. “And I was very angry, and I had to do something, but I didn’t want to get up on a soapbox on stage and say, ‘This is wrong,’ so I wore the star. But basically to say, no matter what, I will always be a Jew.”

The Aug. 11, 2017, Unite the Right rally saw right-wing groups and white nationalists clashing with counterprotestors, with Gov. Terry McAuliffe declaring a state of emergency and local officials calling it an “unlawful gathering.” James Alex Fields Jr., who CNN reported was a white supremacist from Ohio, purposefully drove his car through a group of counterprotestors, killing one woman and injuring dozens of others.

A federal appeals court ruled in July 2024 that white supremacist groups would have to pay $2 million in damages to people who suffered physical and emotional damages due to the rally.

In 2018, Joel explained during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning why wearing the Star of David at his MSG show was also personal. “My old man, his family got wiped out. They were slaughtered in Auschwitz. Him and his parents were able to get out,” he shared. “But then he was in the U.S. Army during the war and fought with Patton and was shot at by Nazis.”

He added at the time: “My family suffered. And I think I actually have a right to do that.”

Billy Joel: And So It Goes is available to stream on HBO Max. Part two arrives at 8 p.m. July 25.

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The 10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Coach, & K-Pop Demon Hunter Merch

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Want to shop the best new product releases? In this guide, ShopBillboard highlights our favorite new product launches of the week. From tech-savvy gadgets, to trendy musician merch, to the hottest sneaker releases, we’ve sorted through the good and the best to curate a collection of new arrivals that are worth your time and money.

Shop the Best New Products to Buy This Week, At a Glance:

This week, there’s plenty of splurge-worthy products to shop. A$AP Rocky dropped a futuristic sunglasses collection with Ray-Ban, a new crocheted emotional support Prince doll is fighting off depression, and everyone’s favorite animated K-Pop group, HUNTR/X dropped highly-anticipated merch. For more products, see below.

Don’t see anything you like? We will continuously update this article throughout the month with new releases we think you should know about. Until then, scroll down to shop the 10 best new products to buy this week.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Crocheted Emotional Support Prince Doll

$9.99

Buy Now on Walmart

If his music doesn’t already put you in a better mood, you can now bring home your very own crochet Prince doll that’ll rain purple love with its “emotional support” sign.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Clot Stan Smith Shoes by Edison Chen

$140

Buy Now on adidas

The classic Stan Smith sneaker gets a great redesign by Clot adding in a cozy espadrille sole for a more relaxing look. Grab a pair of the highly-sought after collab now before they sell out.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft

$249.99

Buy Now On Amazon

Bring color to your Kindle with this latest release. The 7-inch Colorsoft display is optimized for reading in color and is different from the Kindle Paperwhite display, which is optimized for only black and white reading. Users can now highlight their favorite scenes in yellow, orange, blue, and pink.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Officially Licensed T-Shirt

$19.52 $22.97 15% off

Buy Now On Amazon

A T-shirt featuring all of the HUNTR/X members on the front.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Pair of Thieves Superiair Boxer Briefs (3Pack)

$19.99

Buy Now on pair of thieves

After selling out, the super light and breezy Superiair boxer briefs are back and a perfect option for staying cool during the summer months.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro

$79 $99 20% off

Buy Now on nothing

Nothing’s budget-friendly smartwatch boasts a new heart rate sensor, improved GPS tracking and a variety of new fitness features (including AI coaching) for casual runners. If you’re looking for great smart tech, this under $100 watch is great entry point.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Coach Mini Rowan Crossbody Bag With Charms

$159

Buy Now on coach outlet

Jump in on the bag charm trend with this trendy mini Rowan crossbody bag.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

A$AP Rocky x Ray-Ban Ultra Wrap 001 Sunglasses

$874

Buy Now on Ray-Ban

Apart of the Next Generation collection, the Ultra
Wrap 001 sunglasses feature a radically reengineered style delivering a hyper-futuristic design.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Asus ProArt Display PA32QCV

$1,299

Buy Now on asus

Level up your office with this top-of-the-line display from Asus. The new monitor features an impressive 32-inch 6K screen and supports HDR10 and VESA DisplayHDR 600.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

NOMATIC Toiletry Bag for Travel

$79.99

Buy Now On Amazon

There’s always 99 annoyances to deal with when traveling, don’t let your toiletries be one.

Shop Our Previous Picks Below

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

A$AP Rocky x Ray-Ban Wayfarer Puffer

$202

Buy Now on Ray-Ban

The classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer gets a bold, puffer redesign by A$AP Rocky. The collection comes in red, white, yellow, green, blue and pink makeover.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Tyler, the Creator x Converse 1908 Jogger

$100

Buy Now at converse

The redesigned Jogger is an effortless, sporty silhouette with Tyler’s signature playful color palette that’s perfect for summer.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Garmin Venu X1 Smartwatch

$799.99

Buy Now On Amazon

Equipped with an AMOLED display, advanced health and fitness features, the Garmin Venu X1 is perfect for the fitness guru in your life.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Cozy Earth Striped Luxe Bath Sheets

$165 $236 30% off

Buy Now on cozy earth

Crafted with a blend of cotton and bamboo viscose using innovative Zero-Twist technology, upgrade your bathroom with these super soft, luxe towel set.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Nomad Leather Mag Wallet

$79

Buy Now on nomad

Keep your phone close, and your wallet even closer.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Weatherproof Vintage Crewneck Pullover Sweatshirt

$69.50

Buy Now on men’s wearhouse

Your weekend uniform just got an upgrade. This classic fit crew neck pullover sweatshirt serves effortless style with its relaxed vibe and timeless design.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

LARQ PureVis 2 Smart Water Bottle

$129.95

Buy Now on larq

Enhance your water quality with LARQ’s built-in 2-stage filtration and purification for cleaner, better-tasting water.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Chamula X Buck Mason Crepe Sole Cancun Huarache

$187

Buy Now on buck mason

Looking for a great elevated summer shoe? The Chamula X Buck Mason is the best choice. The collab features a custom, handcrafted huarache silhouette with veg-tanned leather uppers, a stacked heel, and black rubber soles.

10 Best New Products to Buy This Week: Shop adidas, Ray-Ban & Coach

Nocs Lite View Spotting Scope

$349.95

Buy Now on Nocs Provisions

Bird watching never felt better. Forgo lugging around giant pieces of equipment and grab this lightweight portable scope for a better view of birds and the wonders of nature.

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‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ Campaigns for ‘Golden’ Song of the Summer With David Guetta Remix: Stream It Now

The Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack has already been slaying on the charts, and now, David Guetta is joining the project to give one of its songs an extra boost.

Related

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS

How ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Created the Year’s Biggest K-Pop Hits

Released Friday (July 25) and described in the press release as “a sparkling power pop version of ‘Golden,’ the viral song of the summer,” a new remix finds the DJ infusing the track with his signature EDM juice to ramp up the energy on the song, which appears on the June-released Demon Hunters album. The LP — which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Soundtracks chart — accompanies Netflix’s animated musical fantasy film of the same name.

The revamped version of “Golden” arrives shortly after the original reached an eye-popping No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. With seven Hot 100 top 10 hits under his belt, Guetta’s involvement might just give the track the push it needs to reach No. 1 — a feat the original song already secured on the Billboard Global 200.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Kpop Demon Hunters executive music producer Ian Eisendrath said that he wasn’t surprised “at all” to see “Golden” become the the track from the film that fans rallied around.

“‘Golden’ was a song that we kept looking for — it had to be something transcendent, that functioned as the characters establishing what they want and were going to pursue for the rest of the film,” he recalled. “But then, it was also [the characters’] hit single [in the movie]! We felt like it had to be an aspirational pop song that we could get the audience to believe in and want for HUNTR/X.”

His work on “Golden” marks Guetta’s latest collaboration of 2025, with the French producer also dropping “Beautiful People” with Sia and “Cuentale” with Willy William and Nicky Jam earlier this year, among other songs and remixes. He’s currently in the midst of a residency at club [UNVRS] in Ibiza that wraps in October.

Listen to Guetta’s remix of “Golden” below.

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