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.
A$AP Rocky and Ray-Ban have dropped their next highly anticipated collab, the Wayfarer Puffer, a bold twist on the classic silhouette. The sunglasses made their first dramatic appearance at the 2025 Met Gala, where Rocky stunned in a one-of-a-kind edition handcrafted in Italy, featuring an oversized 18kt gold logo, natural diamonds and gemstones, and diamond-set rivets. He was also spotted wearing them at the Cannes Film Festival, where Rocky hosted an exclusive yacht party. The goal? “Cement the Puffer as a new symbol of elevated streetwear,” said the brand.
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A month later, Rocky and Ray-Ban have officially launched Wayfarer Puffer collection with not one, but seven different colorways. Fans can choose between a chic black or go bold with red, white, yellow, green, blue, and pink options. Each frame features an amplified puffy design with ultra-black lenses and gold detailing for a more elevated aesthetic with a fearless fusion of art, culture and style. If you’re looking for a great pair of sunglasses for the summer, Rocky has you covered.
“Introducing my first iteration of the classic Wayfarer style, I present to you the Puffer,” said A$AP Rocky in a statement.
After being named Ray-Ban’s first-ever creative director in February, A$AP Rocky launched his debut collab in April called the Blacked Out collection. With a similar aesthetic to the Puffer, the release focused on blending classic elements with bold and modern influences. The three frames released were the Mega Wayfarer, Mega Clubmaster and Mega Balorama, which also will feature gold-plated details, brand-new ultra-black lenses and a personalized “tattoo” style AWGE logo on the temple tips.
The A$AP Rocky x Ray-Ban Wayfarer Puffer collection is available now on Ray-Ban.com for $202. Shop each colorway below.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 17:31:152025-06-20 17:31:15A$AP Rocky Launches Ray-Ban Wayfarer Puffer Shades in 7 Different Colorways: Shop Them Here
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.
Axel Arigato just released a collection celebrating all things musicians.
The Swedish brand created new colorways of the Eris sneaker launched on June 11, inspired by a range of musicians from around the world. Retailing for $435, the unisex sneaker campaign was styled on the likes of Parisian musician Camille Jansen, Dutch-British artist Bea and American musician Ana Roxanne. Each sneaker colorway was inspired by the individual artists and their sounds.
Camille Jansen for Axel Arigato Eris campaign.
Axel Arigato
New colorways added to the launch palette of blue, yellow and charcoal include brown, oat, light gray and pink, offering prospective buyers the ability to express themselves with a slew of possibilities. The Eris model is a lifestyle sneaker for those who defy convention, choosing to live boldly.
No matter the colorway, the sneaker’s construction consists of a mix of 86% leather and 14% polyester, leaving a textural finish. Round laces with silicone-dipped aglets give way to plush and bouncy rubber, EVA and TPU soles that cradle the wearer’s feet. Finally, embossed Axel Arigato logo detailing can be spotted throughout the silhouette, offering the shoe an instantly recognizable feel. The monochrome colorways and striking design make these sneakers a statement-maker for sure. You can shop the collection now on Axel Arigato’s website.
Axel Arigato Eris Sneaker in Light Blue/Light Blue<br><a href=”https://axelarigato.com/women/footwear/eris/eris-sneaker-f3490002″></a>
The Eris in Light Blue/Light Blue represents Ana Roxanne’s music and her immersive and meditative sound featuring layered vocals, analog synthesizers and field recordings. Roxanne’s music explores both deeply personal and universal themes, aptly reflected in the soft and dreamy blue hue of her sneakers. In the campaign, her Eris silhouette was worn with an orange strappy dress in a boxy style with a speaker fixed to the front. The chunky sneaker silhouette nicely complemented the boxy nature of her dress. In her alternative look, Roxanne also wore black micro shorts and a faux-fur sweater in a coordinating light blue hue.
Axel Arigato Eris Sneaker in Light Yellow/Off White<br><a href=”https://axelarigato.com/women/footwear/eris/eris-sneaker-f3490006″></a>
Pastel yellow chunky sneakers with textural uppers.
The pastel buttercup yellow colorway represents Bea’s ethereal, emotionally textured soundscapes. The musician’s work is unconventional in structure with sounds that are atmospheric, introspective and emotionally textured. Her music is punctuated with otherworldly vocals that give each track an ethereal vibe. To match her sneakers, Bea wore a pastel yellow blazer, accompanied by black micro shorts and a pastel yellow top with a tie detail on the bodice. Her second look consisted of a structural knotted garment. Both looks are playful in nature, solely pulling from the color of her shoes.
Axel Arigato Eris Sneaker in Light Gray/Gray<br><a href=”https://axelarigato.com/women/footwear/eris/eris-sneaker-f3490001″></a>
Finally, Camille Jansen is repped by the gray colorway. The Parisian artist’s music features acoustic narratives of resilience and self-discovery. Her sound is mainly percussive and acoustic, often painting dreamlike scenarios. Jansen modeled the shoes along with a boxy gray bomber jacket and a black bodysuit. Her second look included a gray sculptural top layered over what looked to be a long-sleeved black top or dress. The monochrome gray colorway is more versatile than the rest, meaning your styling options for this one are virtually endless.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 17:25:462025-06-20 17:25:46These New Axel Arigato Sneakers Celebrate All Things Musicians in Unique Colorways
The artist born Chris Comstock, known to millions of fans as Marshmello, has a long history with pop-punk as both a fan of the genre and through his ‘Mello collabs with A Day to Remember and Yungblud.
Now, Comstock is taking off his helmet and digging deeper into the scene with his new pop-punk band, Underbrook. The six-man group released its debut single, the driving, anthemic “Heads Up” on Friday, (June 20.)
“This isn’t a nostalgia play — this is who I’ve always been at my core,” Comstock said in a statement. “Underbrook is about channeling the emotions and chaos that shaped me, and giving them a voice through the music that first made me feel understood. ‘Heads Up’ is just the beginning.”
The group features Comstock on lead vocals, along with drummer James Brownstein and Hayden Tree, who’s also the lead singer for Crown the Empire, on bass. Josh Strock, who’s written and produced for artists including Motionless In White, Fever 333 and Machine Gun Kelly, is on guitar alongside fellow guitarist Danny Couture, a writer and producer for acts including Bring Me the Horizon, 24kGoldn and Marshmellow, and the group’s third guitarist Jake Torrey, who has written and produced for Linkin Park, Twenty One Pilots and Yungblud.
Of his and the band’s influences in pop-punk and alt-rock, Comstock cited “everyone from New Found Glory, to The Story So Far, to Two Door Cinema Club and The Strokes. We all listen to a wide range of music, but we can all agree that we love those bands. That DNA definitely made its way into Underbrook.”
While there aren’t yet details about the next Underbrook release, the band’s Instagram account suggests there’s more on the way in advising to “get to know us.” The account also features clips of the group in the studio.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 17:12:272025-06-20 17:12:27Hear the Debut Single From Marshmello’s Pop-Punk Band Underbrook: ‘This Isn’t a Nostalgia Play’
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).
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“PUBLIC ENEMY IS STILL FIGHTING THE POWER,” member 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 passed since the Confederates surrendered in the Civil War in 1865. “But it feels like we are on the brink of something similar with ongoing efforts to dismantle diversity equity and inclusion. We don’t want what’s going on in Israel vs Palestine and now Iran. We don’t want what’s going on Ukraine vs Russia,” he continued. “I hate war. I hate what’s going on around the world and in US. We are supposed to be THE UNITED STATES and war ain’t about Unity. We have our rights and can use them while we still have them. I have this platform and will use it will I still have it.”
Flav then went on to share that the song was a collaboration with students from three universities. “It was an honor to work with the students from Harvard, Berklee, and Howard Universities to create a protest anthem about important issues we are facing as human beings right now,” he wrote before ending with, “MARCH ON,!!”
The ominous “March Madness” kicks off with audio from a 911 call, with the operator asking if the caller is still hearing shots, with a newscaster then reporting, “You hear the teacher asking for help As she also tries to keep her students calm.”
“Now I’m America’s nightmare/ A debonaire black millionaire/ Checking these crooked politicians who ain’t playing fair/ Shut up! Too much talk/ We know you don’t care,” Flav begins in verse one before throwing in one of his famous “Yeaaaah boys.” He goes on to rhyme: “911 is still a jokе/ So no, motherf–ka, you ain’t getting my vote.”
Chuck D comes in on the second verse with a scathing commentary on the numerous school shootings that have taken place in the United States in recent years. “Trigger happy, hi, I wanna ask a question/ Does a gun need to be in a school to teach or nones?/ Kids supposed to have fun, none of this ‘Run for cover for your life, son,’” he raps before blasting lawmakers for “acting scared off the NRA.”
He also addressed the issue in a separate statement. “Gun violence is not normal behavior, but it’s been going on for so long that it’s normalized,” Chuck D said. “We need to treat it like the sickness and the epidemic that it is.”
The Grammy-nominated group is currently on a world tour, which kicked off earlier in June in Florence, Italy. Public Enemy will also be the support act for Guns n’ Roses on several of the rock band’s European tour dates this summer.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 16:51:252025-06-20 16:51:25‘Public Enemy Is Still Fighting the Power’: Iconic Hip-Hop Group Drops New Protest Song ‘March Madness’
After catching up on this week’s edition of Executive Turntable — Billboard’s roundup of the latest music industry moves — be sure to explore the 2025 Pride List, spotlighting 27 influential executives making a difference.
Live Nation Entertainment announced that former Liberty CEO Greg Maffei retired from its board of directors, effective following the company’s annual meeting of stockholders on June 12. During the meeting, 11 director nominees were elected to serve one-year terms, according to a filing with the SEC. Notably, directors elected include Maverick Carter, Jimmy Iovine, Rich Paul and LN CEO Michael Rapino. Missing from the list: Kennedy Center director and Trump ally Richard Grenell, who was very recently announced as joining the board. (Live Nation has not responded to requests for comment.) Voting showed strong support for most nominees, though board chair Randall Mays of Mays Family Enterprises and Chad Hollingsworth of Liberty Media received more opposition. Shareholders also approved an advisory resolution supporting the company’s executive compensation (159.8 million votes in favor and 56.7 million against) and ratified Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditor for fiscal year 2025.
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Believe named Romain Becker as chief product of operations and marketing services officer, unifying core functions to enhance its global support for independent artists and labels. Previously president of label and artist solutions, Becker brings over 15 years of experience in music and tech, including roles at Believe and YouTube’s music partnerships team at Google. Based in Paris, Becker has led distribution and marketing across 50-plus territories and will now oversee product, operations, and marketing services to strengthen Believe’s global capabilities. “Romain is the perfect candidate to connect product, operations and marketing services at Believe,” glowed Believe founder and CEO Denis Ladegaillrie. “With his extensive experience and strategic vision, I am confident that he will drive innovation across our services and help further elevate Believe’s position as a leader in artist and label development globally.”
Kyle Loftus is the new president of Independent Artist Group (IAG), the agency formed from the 2023 merger of APA and AGI. Announced by CEO Jim Osborne, Loftus also joins the firm’s board of directors. Starting as an intern 16 years ago, he rose through the ranks to partner and eventually to executive vp and head of content development. In his new role, Loftus will continue leading key departments including Motion Picture and TV literature, alternative TV, media rights and publishing, while expanding his leadership agency-wide. He represents major clients like 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige, as well as several showrunners for hits like Ted Lasso and Gran Torino, and has helped develop production companies for stars such as Gary Oldman and Taraji P. Henson. “This company believed in me from day one, and I have so many amazing colleagues, mentors, clients and friends to thank — most importantly, my partner and friend Jim Osborne, who has been an unwavering champion,” Loftus said. “We have a fantastic team at IAG, and I am proud to step into this role, lend my support and expertise across the agency and continue amplifying the IAG story by championing the growth of our exceptionally talented clients.”
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The Core Entertainment hired Kate Bowling as director of creative, where she will lead visual branding and creative direction across The Core Entertainment, overseeing photo shoots, music videos, digital content and long-term creative strategy. The Core Entertainment’s clients include Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Josh Ross, Hannah McFarland and Nickelback. Bowling joins The Core Entertainment from Warner Music Nashville, where she served as a multimedia designer. –Jessica Nicholson
Prescription Songs promoted Nick Guilmette to senior director of A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Guilmette has signed diverse talents, including songwriter Charli (Tinashe, LE SSERAFIM), producer Cooper Holzman (Mon Rovîa) and Korean-American songwriter EJAE during his three years at Prescription. He also works with artists like Ryan Ogren, Chloe Angelides, and lil aaron. Formerly general manager at Ozone Entertainment, Guilmette began his music career supporting Brockhampton in high school. Head of A&R Rhea Pasricha praised his leadership, saying, “Nick embodies exactly what we strive to accomplish here at Prescription Songs with his creative energy, boundary-pushing ideas, and genuine passion he has while working across the roster.”
444 Sounds appointed Libby Kallins as its new marketing director. Based in New York City, Kallins brings experience from her previous roles at Armada Music and Arista Records/Sony Music, where she focused on marketing, partnerships, and artist development. At Armada, she led U.S. marketing strategies and artist development for acts such as Armin van Buuren, Lilly Palmer and D.O.D, and helped organize the Armada Label Residency with Peloton. She also played a key role in catalog marketing for influential dance labels like King Street Sounds and KMS Records. In addition to her professional work, Kallins actively supports industry advocacy initiatives, including She Is The Music and Support Women DJs.
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WME appointed Laura Ruiz as an agent in its contemporary music department, focusing on electronic music. Based in London, she’ll oversee the agency’s electronic music business in Spain and Portugal. Ruiz brings clients including Oguz, Joyhauser, Don Woezik, Diøn and Milo Spykers. “This appointment further strengthens WME’s commitment to the global electronic music sector, building on a foundation of strategic talent development and market-specific leadership,” the company said. Previously, Ruiz was managing director at The Bliss Office, leading operations across the Americas and representing top talent. She also founded her own agency and worked at The Bullitt Agency in Barcelona, gaining experience across European and American markets.
Musicians On Call, which brings live music to hospitals, expanded its team with nine new hires across various departments. New leadership includes Hailey Gilleland as director of development and Kathryn Bennett as director of individual giving, both bringing extensive experience in fundraising and donor engagement. Katie Trent joins as development coordinator, while Danys Coronel steps in as digital content manager, overseeing MOC’s digital presence and campaigns. Christopher Anthony, with a background in television, is now PR & talent coordinator, managing artist and media relations. Emiley Roye, Abby Tannler and Ella Hunt have been appointed as program coordinators for regions including the Northeast, Denver, Phoenix and the Mid-Southeast, bringing diverse backgrounds in healthcare, entertainment and nonprofit work. Delaney McBride joins as executive assistant to president and CEO Pete Griffin, who said, “The diverse experiences and fresh perspectives they bring will be instrumental as we grow our reach, expand our fundraising, and strengthen our programs across the country.”
Worldwide Entertainment Group (WEG) named Bruce Wheeler as president of its new Live Performance Group. Wheeler, a seasoned executive in live entertainment, has held leadership roles at Central Park SummerStage, The Capitol Theatre and The Beacon Theatre. In his new position, he will oversee WEG’s festivals, tours, corporate events and other live properties while collaborating with the Talent Management and Licensed Merchandise divisions. Reporting to WEG President Dave Lory, Wheeler is tasked with driving innovation and growth in the live sector. “Bruce is the ultimate professional and his experience in running live events and maximizing every aspect of the live event experience will be an incredible addition as we build the Worldwide Entertainment Group,” said Lory.
STURDY., a Los Angeles-based creative studio, announced a major expansion of its brand and experiential division, complete with a new leadership team: Nico Poalillo as director of development, Rikke Heinecke as director of production and development, and Myron Batsa as director of experiential. STURDY. has also partnered with VICE Media’s Pulse Films to enhance its production capabilities and global reach. This collaboration debuted with a high-profile activation at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, featuring major brands like Apple and Formula 1. STURDY. now offers expanded services across production, media and social strategy. Heinecke has led production teams at major companies like Warner Music Group and ViacomCBS, while also playing key roles in launching and scaling several innovative production startups. Batsa has held senior positions at VICE Media and Insomniac Events, where he partnered with leading brands such as Live Nation, Festival Republic, and Tao Group. Meanwhile, Poalillo’s creative career includes work with global brands like GM and Nike, and top agencies including Leo Burnett, Doner, McCann, Pulse Films and VICE.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 16:45:482025-06-20 16:45:48Executive Turntable: Live Nation Board Bids Adieu, Plus Believe and IAG Make Key Promotions
SZA might be extraordinarily busy as she prepares to head overseas with her and Kendrick Lamar‘s Grand National Tour — but that didn’t stop her from swooping in for a quick recording session with her friend Lizzo.
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In a seriesof posts to her Instagram Stories early Friday (June 20), SZA teased fans with a forthcoming collaboration between her and the “Juice” singer. What started as a glimpse of Lizzo’s own new music in the video, the “Luther” singer started sharing clips of her voice playing alongside Lizzo’s in the background. “Working on a guest star for bookie @lizzobeeating’s new mixtape,” SZA wrote in one caption, while calling their link-up a “lil after-dinner session” in another.
Back in March, Lizzo announced that she was officially “done” preparing her new album Love in Real Life, adding that she “got an emergency root canal, announced SNL & finished my album all in one day.” While it’s unclear whether Love in Real Life is the “mixtape” SZA referred to in her post, the album has yet to receive an official release date.
Earlier this week, SZA opened up to Chappell Roan about her friendship with Lizzo during a conversation for Interview Magazine. Speaking about the first time she and the “About Damn Time” singer met, SZA praised the “organic and very random” connection they immediately shared. “One day, we were on the same tour, and I was like, ‘We’re about to drive out to Lake Michigan, do you want to come?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go,’” SZA recalled. “And then we just got drunk and hung out, and we kept doing that, and then our lives and careers progressed, and we kept talking and hanging out.”
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The new song wouldn’t be the first time the pair have worked together, either. Back in 2023, SZA appeared on a revamped version of Lizzo’s 2022 hit “Special.” In May, Lizzo even crashed the stage during SZA and Lamar’s tour stop in Los Angeles to perform the track with her on stage.
The news comes after SZA and her co-headliner Lamar wrap the first leg of their 2025 Grand National Tour. Starting in July, the pair will begin performances across Europe — including shows in Paris, London, Barcelona and Rome — and close out their headline-making run with a set of shows in Australia this December.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 16:30:322025-06-20 16:30:32SZA Shares Behind-the-Scenes Footage of a New ‘Guest Star’ Collaboration With Lizzo
TOMORROW X TOGETHER is getting ready to blow your mind! The K-pop group announced on Friday (June 20) that it is set to embark on its fourth world tour.
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The trek, titled ACT : TOMORROW, will kick off with two shows at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, on Aug. 22 and 23. The membership pre-verification sale begins at 2 p.m. July 28, and ends July 30, with member presales kicking off later that day, according to the announcement on Weverse. General onsale starts Aug. 1. Additional dates and details will be announced at a later time.
According to the press release, the name of the world tour is meant to represent “moving forward together toward a promised tomorrow.” The sentiment appears to be reflected in the tour poster, which shows members SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN, and HUENINGKAI together on a barren beach in the dark, with the starry sky and a beam of light illuminating the way.
The upcoming tour follows previous treks ACT : LOVE SICK, ACT : SWEET MIRAGE and ACT : PROMISE, with the last also including the quintet’s European debut.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s world tour announcement comes after the group performed at Weverse Con 2025 on June 1. The K-pop act also shared a video of clips from their 17-track performance and some backstage chat on Friday.
“It was a true headliner performance,” TAEHYUN says in a backstage clip. Later on, with the group gathered backstage, BEOMGYU notes of their set, “The response was so good, we had so much fun the whole time.”
TAEHYUN then teased, “If you’d like to see an encore …” before the guys all urged together, “Come see us at a TOMORROW X TOGETHER concert!”
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 15:50:322025-06-20 15:50:32TOMORROW X TOGETHER Is Hitting the Road for Its 4th World Tour: Here’s When It Kicks Off
Lou Christie, one of the most beloved teen idols of the 1960s and the voice and songwriter behind Billboard Hot 100-topper “Lightnin’ Strikes,” has died. He was 82 years old.
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The musician died on Wednesday (June 18) at home in Pittsburgh after fighting a long illness, his wife, Francesca, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on Feb. 19, 1943, and hailing from Glenwillard, Penn., Christie soared to fame in the early ’60s with hits such as “The Gypsy Cried” and “Two Faces Have I,” the latter of which reached No. 6 on the Hot 100 in 1963. The star’s biggest hit came three years later, when “Lightnin’ Strikes” ascended to the chart’s summit, but he would still score a top 10 smash years later in 1969 with “I’m Gonna Make You Mine.”
Christie also had two LPs make it to the Billboard 200 chart, including his 1963 self-titled debut and 1966’s Lightnin’ Strikes.
Known for his dexterous falsetto and charisma as a performer, Christie made his name as a teen idol in the age of Frankie Valli, Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka. He cut his teeth as a live artist on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars tour, sharing dates with with Diana Ross and the Supremes.
But what made Christie a particularly special voice of his generation was that he was as gifted at writing his songs as he was at singing them. The musician penned many of his biggest hits, including “The Gypsy Cried,” “Two Faces Have I” and “Lightnin’ Strikes,” and he frequently worked with collaborator Twyla Herbert.
Christie had a wife, Francesca, and a daughter named Bianca. In 2014, he lost his only son, Christopher, to a deadly motorcycle accident in Houston.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 15:38:182025-06-20 15:38:18Lou Christie, 1960s Teen Idol & ‘Lightnin’ Strikes’ Hitmaker, Dies at 82
Forrest Frank’s “Your Way’s Better” stalled the three-month reign of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” on the monthly Top Gabb Music Songs chart when it reached No. 1 on the April 2025 tally, and now he’s joined Gaga and Mars as the only other act with a multi-month No. 1, reigning again on the May 2025 survey.
Billboard has partnered with Gabb Wireless, a phone company for kids and teens, to present a monthly chart tracking on-demand streams via its Gabb Music platform. Gabb Music offers a vast catalog of songs, all of which are selected by the Gabb team to include only kid- and teen-appropriate content. Gabb Music streams are not currently factored into any other Billboard charts.
“Your Way’s Better” rules Top Gabb Music Songs for a second month, concurrent with the release of the song’s parent album, Child of God II, which debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 dated May 24.
The song has topped the Hot Christian Songs chart for the last five weeks (dating to May 24) and has reached a best so far of No. 61 on the all-format Billboard Hot 100. It ranks at No. 68 on the latest list.
“Your Way’s Better” is one of a whopping five Frank songs on the May 2025 Top Gabb Music Songs chart, thanks to a pair of debuts joining the three songs he already boasted on the ranking. “No L’s” and “B.I.G.” debut at Nos. 14 and 19, respectively, while “Drop!” reaches a new peak of No. 13 and “Up!,” a collaboration with Connor Price, remains at its No. 25 best.
Frank’s five songs on the ranking equals the record set by Imagine Dragons on the inaugural Top Gabb Music Songs list for October 2024 — though notably, while Frank has the No. 1 song, Imagine Dragons’ best that month was No. 16, with “Bones.”
Other moves on the latest chart include a three-spot leap for Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” which reaches a new peak of No. 3 after its No. 6 debut on the April tally. “Ordinary” has spent two weeks so far at No. 1 on the Hot 100, beginning with the June 7 survey.
The only non-Frank debut of the week belongs to Morgan Wallen, whose “What I Want,” which features Tate McRae, starts at No. 11. It was also a No. 1 on the Hot 100, debuting atop the May 31 list.
See the full top 25 below.
Top Gabb Music Songs, May 2025
“Your Way’s Better,” Forrest Frank (=)
“Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” Benson Boone (=)
“Ordinary,” Alex Warren (+3)
“Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone (+1)
“Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (-1)
“APT.,” ROSE & Bruno Mars (-3)
“Love Somebody,” Morgan Wallen (=)
“Stargazing,” Myles Smith (+3)
“Slow It Down,” Benson Boone (+1)
“Pink Pony Club,” Chappell Roan (-2)
“What I Want,” Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae (debut)
“God’s Plan,” Drake (-3)
“Drop!,” Forrest Frank (+4)
“No L’s,” Forrest Frank (debut)
“Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” Luke Combs (=)
“Butterfly Effect,” Travis Scott (-2)
“Please Please Please,” Sabrina Carpenter (+1)
“Deja Vu,” Olivia Rodrigo (-5)
“B.I.G.,” Forrest Frank (debut)
“Face 2 Face,” Juice WRLD (-8)
“Heat Waves,” Glass Animals (+1)
“Stressed Out,” Twenty One Pilots (-6)
“Let You Down,” NF (+1)
“Too Sweet,” Hozier (-1)
“Up!,” Forrest Frank & Connor Price (=)
DROPS: “Nothing Else,” Forrest Frank feat. Thomas Rhett; “Pink Skies,” Zach Bryan; “Thick of It,” KSI feat. Trippie Redd
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-06-20 15:03:232025-06-20 15:03:23Forrest Frank Rules Top Gabb Music Songs Chart for Second Month, Charts 5 Songs in All
Two months after Fat Joe sued his former hypeman Terrance “T.A.” Dixon for extortion over “false and vile accusations,” the one-time employee has filed his own lawsuit accusing the rapper of having sex with two underage girls.
In a complaint filed Thursday in Manhattan federal court, Dixon accuses Fat Joe (Joseph Cartagena) of a “deliberate and sustained campaign of exploitation,” leveling claims of sex trafficking, financial fraud, and racketeering. Most seriously, Dixon claims that he “personally witnessed defendant engage in sexual relations with children who were fifteen and sixteen years old.”
“Minor Doe 1 is a 16-year-old Dominican girl residing in New York,” Dixon writes in his lawsuit, obtained by Billboard. “In exchange for cash, clothing, and payment of her cell phone bill, defendant would get oral sex and other sexual acts performed on him by Minor Doe 1.”
Those explosive allegations come two months after Fat Joe sued Dixon and his attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, over claims that they were extorting him by making “wholly fabricated, grotesque, and scandalous allegations,” including “unspeakable acts such as pedophilia.”
In a statement responding to the new case, Fat Joe’s lawyer Joe Tacopina called them a “blatant act of retaliation” and a “desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first.”
“Law enforcement is aware of the extortionate demand at the heart of this scheme,” Tacopina says. “The allegations against Mr. Cartagena are complete fabrications — lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure. Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated. We have taken legal action to expose this fraudulent campaign and hold everyone involved accountable.”
Asked by Billboard about Tacopina’s statement regarding law enforcement, Blackburn repeatedly referred to his opposing counsel by the name Joe Taco Bell: “We offered Joe Taco Bell an opportunity for his client and me to meet at the [U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York] to file our respective criminal complaints and he tucked his tail between his legs and never responded. We met with law enforcement. Let’s see where this goes.”
In his Thursday complaint, Dixon says he dedicated his “talent, labor, and loyalty” to Fat Joe for 16 years, serving not just as a hype man but also a “lyricist, background vocalist, security team member, and creative collaborator.” But he says the star manipulated and abused him in myriad ways, ranging from underpayment to threatening his life.
“Defendants systematically engaged in coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion against plaintiff Dixon, all intended to enrich defendant Cartagena and his associates while deliberately suppressing, silencing, and erasing plaintiff’s substantial creative, artistic, and commercial contributions, which were foundational to defendant Cartagena’s professional success and personal brand,” Blackburn writes on Dixon’s behalf.
That’s a very different story from the one that Fat Joe himself told first in April, when he sued Dixon and Blackburn for defamation over “a predatory plot, built entirely on lies, to destroy Cartagena’s reputation and business for profit.”
In that case, the star says he “compensated Dixon handsomely” and the hype man “never complained or expressed any dissatisfaction.” But he says the ex-staffer recently started airing false grievances about his pay and other issues, and has published “shocking falsehoods” to social media while making “outrageous financial demands.”
The early lawsuit also names Dixon’s lawyers as a defendant, claiming Blackburn threatened to file baseless legal action. Citing a recent ruling by a New York federal judge that sharply criticized Blackburn’s litigation tactics, the suit calls his behavior “shakedown tactics masquerading as lawyering.”
“Dixon’s and Blackburn’s conduct is … a cold-blooded attempt to extort exorbitant sums from Cartagena by leveraging the specter of public disgrace and professional ruin,” Tacopina wrote in April. “His defamatory statements accusing Cartagena of heinous crimes are devoid of any factual foundation, relying instead on the power of shock, scandal and Cartagena’s high-profile status to maximize leverage.”
The allegations about Fat Joe in the newer case are certainly shocking and scandalous. The complaint is 157 pages – far longer than the typical pleadings in such a case – and comes with an unusual bright red “trigger warning” at the top. It is also replete with photos of the alleged teenage victims, and claims that Dixon faced “credible threats” to his life, including “attempts to lure him into a violent ambush.”
The lawsuit also includes claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act – the federal “RICO” statute often used in criminal cases against mobsters and drug cartels. Those sprawling claims allege that Fat Joe and his associates operated an illicit enterprise, and also names a number of outside groups as defendants, including Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
Blackburn included similar civil RICO claims in a sexual assault case he filed last year against Sean “Diddy” Combs on behalf of producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. While a judge has allowed the case to move forward, he dismissed the racketeering claims in March.
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