Cardi B and Stefon Diggs sparked reconciliation rumors over the weekend when the Grammy-winning rapper pulled up to the NFL star’s Diggs Deep Foundation’s Mother’s Day event on Saturday (May 9).
Related
A Timeline of Cardi B & Stefon Diggs’ Relationship
Cardi B’s Little Miss Drama Tour Was Worth the Wait With Exponential Growth in Arenas
Cardi B Reacts to Fan Who Was Brought to Tears by ‘WAP’ Performance While Grieving Late Mom: ‘I Love You’
Clips of Cardi and Diggs hanging out and posing for photos together went viral on social media. The pair’s relationship status isn’t currently known, but they looked happy as Cardi rocked a brown midiskirt and Diggs went with a pink hoodie that was emblazoned with “I [Heart] Home.”
The Bronx native and Diggs even packed on the PDA while the NFL player planted a kiss on his baby mother’s head at the Washington, D.C., event, according to a video shared on X byreporter Kelsey Nicole Nelson.
“A moment for the Moms. Thank you to all the mothers for showing up yesterday and to all of our sponsors and vendors. It was a time,” Diggs wrote to Instagram following the event, which was supported with a like from Cardi.
Billboard has reached out to reps for Cardi and Diggs for comment.
Diggs and Cardi B went public with their relationship in May 2025. There seemed to be trouble in paradise following the Super Bowl in February, which saw the couple seemingly go their separate ways, with the “WAP” rapper embarking on her first-ever headlining arena tour. At her Feb. 15 Los Angeles show, Cardi seemed to confirm their split, saying on stage, “Just because I ain’t f–king with my baby daddy doesn’t mean you get to talk about my baby daddy.”
Cardi and Diggs, who is currently without an NFL team, welcomed a son togetherin November. It was Cardi B’s first child with the former New England Patriot, while she previously had three children — Wave, Kulture and Blossom — with estranged husband Offset.
Prior to the Mother’s Day weekend link-up, fans thought Cardi and Stef could’ve been on good terms when Diggs pulled up to the D.C. date of her Little Miss Drama Tour at Capital One Arena on April 8.
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.pngYveto2026-05-11 16:46:022026-05-11 16:46:02Cardi B & Stefon Diggs Reunite for Mother’s Day Event, Spark Reconciliation Rumors
Gracie Abrams is back. The singer-songwriter finally announced on Monday (May 11) that her third studio album is on its way, revealing the title — Daughter From Hell — cover art and release date on Instagram.
Related
Gracie Abrams Previews Ethereal Song Snippet Following Cryptic ‘Witch’ Clues
Gracie Abrams Talks Working With ‘Badass Women,’ Why Online Haters Are ‘Boring As Hell’ & What She Learned About Touring From Taylor Swift
BTS Reveals Which Celebs Have Left Them the Most Starstruck, Including This ‘Amazing’ Pop Star
“My third album is out July 17,” she wrote in the caption. “Whoa whoa whoa. Freaking out.”
The artwork is an up-close photo of Abrams in a crouched position, her eyes trained on something in the distance. “I am so ready for it to be yours,” she added of the LP.
Per the Daughter From Hell countdown page on Spotify, the project will feature 16 tracks, including lead single “Hit the Wall,” which drops Thursday (May 14). The album was produced by Abrams’ longtime collaborator Aaron Dessner, who worked with her on both her 2023 debut LP, Good Riddance,and 2024 sophomore effort The Secret of Us. Her first album reached No. 52 on the Billboard 200, while her second peaked at No. 2, marking her breakout moment with hit singles such as “That’s So True” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry.”
Abrams has long been teasing that she had new music in the works. In her 2025 Billboard cover story, she said that she and Dessner were “catching each other in these little pockets between hectic times” to work in the studio together as often as possible.
“Every day that I live with the music, things start to become a little clearer,” she added at the time. “There’s something we’re starting to crack that is making both of us feel energized.”
In April, she ramped up her album hints by sharing photos of her journal decorated with “DFH” stickers.
See Abrams’ Daughter From Hell announcement 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.pngYveto2026-05-11 16:36:022026-05-11 16:36:02Gracie Abrams’ Third Album ‘Daughter From Hell’ Is on the Way: ‘So Ready for It to Be Yours’
Next up on the radar for Billboard News’ Trending Up, presented by Sonesta International Hotels, is the world of indie pop and we have the latest acts you should have on your radar.
In our new installment of Trending Up, we’re diving into the indie pop/rock music space and the stars making a buzz in the genre. If you’re a fan of anthemic indie pop/rock, then you must keep The Aces and Beach Bunny on your radar. The former is taking their show to Austin, Texas on June 22. While you’re in Texas, you can make your visit much more than a concert with a stay at Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hill Country. This modern hotel features over 195 spacious rooms and suites with a resort-style swimming pool, rooftop restaurant and bar and easy access to Austin’s live music scene.
Later in the summer, Beach Bunny will touch down for a show in St. Louis, Missouri on July 27. Fans can make it more than a concert by staying at The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis. This historic 398-room hotel is located in the midst of the Central West End. Not only does it boast a Mediterranean-style swimming pool and on-site dining, but there’s even a movie theater if fans want to cool down amid the heat.
Stay tuned for more artists to keep on your radar in upcoming installments of Billboard News’ Trending Up, presented by Sonesta.
FKA Twigs will step into her most challenging acting role to date later this year when she begins filming a biopic of Jazz Age legend Josephine Baker. The as-yet-untitled film from director Maimouna Doucouré (Cuties, Hawa) financed and co-produced by Studiocanal, is being offered for sale at the Cannes Film Festival, which opens on Tuesday (May 12) and runs through May 23.
According to Variety, singer Twigs (born Tahliah Debrett Barnett), 38, said in a statement, “I am honored to collaborate with the immensely talented Maïmouna Doucouré on this incredible project. Josephine Baker’s extraordinary legacy is such an inspiration to me and to so many people around the world. She lives on in our hearts as a visionary, groundbreaking woman whose story is as powerful as it is relevant today. I cannot wait to embody Josephine Baker bringing her fight, her love, her losses, her talent and her heroism to the big screen.”
In addition to writing and directing the film, Doucouré will also produce it under his Bien Ou Bien Prods. banner.
Twigs, who can be seen in theaters now in the Anne Hathaway/Michela Cole musical drama Mother Mary, will take on the challenging role of the St. Louis-born singer, dancer, actress and activist who found fame in France and was the first Black woman to star in a major movie, the 1927 silent film Siren of the Tropics. Known for her high-energy performances and envelope-pushing stage costumes, Baker was a French Resistance spy during WWII, during which she smuggled coded messages to France from opposing forces hidden inside her lyrics. She was also the only female speaker at the 1968 Poor People’s March for civil rights in Washington, D.C. in 1968.
The singer, nicknamed “Black Venus,” took time away from the stage to raise what she called her “Rainbow Tribe” of 12 adopted children from a variety of countries and backgrounds and died in April 1975 at age 68 following a show at the Bobino Theater in Paris. According to Variety, the project is in development with support from Baker’s sons, Jean-Claude Bouillon Baker and Brian Bouillon Baker, as well as the other members of the Rainbow Tribe.
“Josephine Baker has lived with me for years. Working on this film, I realize how modern, fearless and complex she was,” Doucouré said in a statement. “Beyond the legend, I want to explore her contradictions, her wounds and her immense courage, as well as her relentless fight for dignity. With the extraordinary FKA Twigs bringing her rare artistry, intelligence and emotional depth to the role, it is a huge honor to work with Studiocanal to bring Josephine’s story to the screen for a global audience: the story of a woman who never stopped reinventing herself and fighting for justice and equality.”
The magazine said Studiocanal will release the film theatrically in their territories — the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia and New Zealand — with no information at press time about distribution in North America.
FKA Twigs released her fourth studio album, Eusexua: Afterglow, in November.
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.pngYveto2026-05-11 16:36:012026-05-11 16:36:01FKA Twigs Cast As Josephine Baker in Biopic From ‘Cuties’ Director
Sabrina Carpenter turned 27 on Monday (May 11), which means it’s the perfect time to decide: Which of her Billboard hits is the best?
Related
Sabrina Carpenter Says Singing With Stevie Nicks at Met Gala ‘Healed Many Things in Me’
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter Drop Club-Bangin’ ‘Bring Your Love’ After Debuting Song at Coachella
Sabrina Carpenter Apologizes for Her Reaction to Crowd Chant at Coachella: ‘Now I Know What a Zaghrouta Is’
To date, the pop star has notched six top 10 smashes on the Billboard Hot 100. After frequenting the chart just a few times prior — including with Emails I Can’t Send singles “Feather” and “Nonsense” — Carpenter exploded into the mainstream with her Short n’ Sweet era in 2024, which kicked off with the pre-album release of single “Espresso” and its peak at No. 3 on the chart. Soon after, she scored her first and second No. 1s on the chart with “Please Please Please” and “Tears,” respectively.
The next year, Carpenter climbed right back to the top of the Hot 100 with “Manchild,” the lead single from her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend. And while the odds are certainly high that she’ll continue adding to her top 10 tally as her career continues to bloom, her last track to reach the milestone so far was “The Life of a Showgirl.” After the Grammy winner served as an opener on the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift tapped her to appear as a guest vocalist on the Life of a Showgirl title track, which peaked at No. 8.
But which of those hits is Carpenter’s best to date? As she celebrates another year around the sun and enjoys her first day as a 27-year-old, vote for your favorite of the singer-actress’ biggest songs in the poll 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.pngYveto2026-05-11 16:06:142026-05-11 16:06:14From ‘Espresso’ to ‘Manchild,’ Which of Sabrina Carpenter’s Biggest Hits Is Your Favorite? Vote!
In honor of her upcoming 60th birthday this Saturday (May 16), we’re doing a full week of Vintage Pop Stardom deep dives into the all-time greatness off Janet Jackson on the Greatest Pop Stars podcast. Each day this week (May 11-15), we’ll look at a different peak year in Janet Jackson’s singular career — 1986, 1990, 1993, 1998 and 2001 — and hit on all the albums, singles, videos, dance routines, tours, performances, fashion statements, social and political statements, and other big moments that made Ms. Jackson’s contributions to the music and culture of those years absolutely unforgettable.
We kick off our Janet Jackson week today back in Janet Jackson’s breakout year as a true pop star: 1986. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard‘s legendary executive editor of R&B/hip-hop Gail Mitchell to remember the year where Janet was introduced to the public as an artist in control — with the help of brilliant collaborators like writer-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and a then-little-known choreographer named Paula Abdul — and began a 15-year run of chart and cultural dominance that changed the course of pop star history.
Along the way, we ask all the biggest questions about Janet’s first big pop star year: Why did it take until her third album for Janet Jackson to really connect as an artist? Could we tell even from her early TV days that stardom was in her future? Did the Control album begin the shift towards autobiographical statement-making in pop music? How the hell does “The Pleasure Principle” end up as an album’s sixth single (and video)? Does Sharon Bryant of Atlantic Starr regret writing off Jam and Lewis’ music as too “rambunctious”? What’s the best part of the “Nasty” bridge? What were those key earrings all about anyway? And perhaps most importantly: 40 years after Control, does Janet Jackson still have the pop star presence that she really deserves?
Check it out above, along with a YouTube playlist of Janet Jackson’s biggest 1986 moments — all of which are discussed in the episode — and check back for more Janet discussion all week on Greatest Pop Stars, with 1990 coming up tomorrow! Also, subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on Apple Music or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts) for weekly discussions every Thursday about all things related to pop stardom!
And as we say in every one of these GPS podcast posts — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:
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.pngYveto2026-05-11 15:56:222026-05-11 15:56:22It’s Janet Jackson Week on the Greatest Pop Stars Podcast! Start With Us in 1986 and the ‘Control’ Era’s Phenomenal Breakthrough
Kevin Hart knew he was going to take some big hits during Sunday night’s (May 10) Netflix The Roast of Kevin Hart. The Kia Forum capper to the final night of this year’s Netflix is a Joke festival was hosted by comedian Shane Gillis and featured comedic tranquilizer darts from the likes of Pete Davidson, Chelsea Handler, Jeff Ross, Big Jay Oakerson, Regina Hall, NFL great Tom Brady, Lizzo and The Rock.
It’s always expected that your fellow joke-tellers will light you up, but when Hart caught an unexpected barrage from his pal Usher, that one really stung. Dressed in a double-breasted white jacket over a brown shirt and slacks, Usher opened the show by flipping the lyrics to his 2004 Confessions classic “Burn” to scorch the victim of the hour (three hours, actually).
As Usher began singing, a confused Hart asked, “the f–k are you doing?” Undeterred, Ush unleashed his hail of falsetto word bombs on KH, singing, “Tell me why I should stay in this fake friendship/ ‘Cause we ain’t laughin’, Kevin/ It keeps happenin’, Kevin/ Plus, you’re probably somewhere filming some bulls–t/ I think that you should/ Watching Kevin ain’t the same for nobody/ When they go to commercial/ Had to do a roast, ’cause them jokes ain’t/ Crackin’ like they used to/ Look at what money does to you.”
With an equally star-studded audience looking on — including MGK, Jennifer Lopez, Tiffany Haddish, Jay Pharoah, Hasan Minaj, Bert Kreisher, John Stamos and others — Davidson engaged in the time-honored roast tradition of launching (not-so) friendly fire at some of the other roasters on the dais, honing his joke cannons on controversial comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, with rapper Ye catching a stray as well.
“Tony reminds me of Charlie Kirk, in that’s he’s definitely been on camera letting a guy unload in his throat,” Davidson said of late Turning Point leader Kirk, who was killed in September during a rally in Utah. “Oh you don’t know me? yeah Kill Tony. Please someone f–king ‘Kill Tony.’ Tony nothing you say tonight will hurt my feelings. I was in a beef with Kanye so I’ve taken shots from better gay Nazis.”
It wasn’t all good-hearted ego destruction, though. Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor and Venus and Serena Williams got up to read a heartfelt letter of appreciation for Hart, which made way for one of the evening’s shock closers: Katt Williams. “I’m surprised they invited. That’s how little star power you have, they had to start inviting your enemies,” Williams cracked of his famous comedy rival before unleashing the expected barrage of finely tuned insults.
Williams also roped imprisoned hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs into his net, ribbing Hart, “Just because Kevin went to Diddy parties does not mean he did something wrong,” of the disgraced rapper’s reportedly hedonistic sex soirees. “The fact he gets all quiet when you bring it up, that means he did something wrong!”
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.pngYveto2026-05-11 15:41:012026-05-11 15:41:01Usher Torches Kevin Hart With Joke-Enhanced ‘Burn’ Lyrics at Netflix Roast: ‘Them Jokes Ain’t Crackin’ Like They Used To’
SEVENTEEN fans know him already as DINO, but now, he’s reintroducing himself. The K-pop star announced Monday (May 11) that he is making his debut as alter ego Picheolin, with his very first solo mini album set to drop this summer under the new moniker.
Related
Watch DINO of SEVENTEEN Nail His Historic Performance at the 2025 Esports World Cup
SEVENTEEN Makes History as Tiny Desk’s First K-Pop Act Despite Being ‘Super Nervous’ to Perform
SEVENTEEN Achieves Seventh No. 1 on Top Album Sales Chart With ‘HAPPY BURSTDAY’
Titled 吉BOARD — or “Gilboard” — the set’s name is derived from 1990s Korean street music culture, according to the press release. The term is described as a “witty take” on Billboard‘s charts that “referred to unofficial street music charts and cassette compilations at the time.”
“By combining the homophone ‘吉’ (Gil), meaning ‘good fortune,’ with the English word ‘BOARD,’ the album encapsulates Picheolin’s ambition to turn the streets into his stage, spreading joy and prosperity to all through his music,” the release noted.
吉BOARD will arrive on Aug. 3. To give fans a first look at the world he’s creating as Picheolin, DINO also shared an album trailer on Monday. The chaotic visual shows him as Picheolin — a “charismatic CEO and joyful producer of the fictional agency BOMG,” the release stated — across different eras in human history, closing out with his modern-day incarnation dressed in a snappy blue suit and fedora.
At the end of the teaser, fans can see the title artwork for 吉BOARD, with the style of lettering drawing inspiration fromBillboard‘s logo.
DINO has released a couple of solo singles in the past, dropping “Icarus” in 2023 for the television series Castaway Diva. That same year, he released his track “Wait.”
SEVENTEEN’s most recent release was single “Tiny Light” in February. Last year, the group — which is also comprised of JOSHUA, MINGYU, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON, S.COUPS, JEONGHAN, JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, WOOZI, THE 8 and DK — topped Billboard‘s Top Album Sales chart with fifth album Happy Burstday. The band is currently gearing up to greet fans at a SEVENTEEN fan event in Incheon, Korea, this June.
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.pngYveto2026-05-11 15:31:142026-05-11 15:31:14SEVENTEEN’s DINO to Debut as Solo Alter Ego Picheolin With Mini Album Partially Inspired by Billboard’s Charts
The run-up to Madonna‘s much-anticipated Confessions II album just got another glitzy element, with the queen of pop announcing Monday (May 11) that she’ll release a Peggy Gou remix of the lead Confessions II single “I Feel So Free” this Friday, May 15.
Related
Looking Ahead: A Release Calendar of Upcoming Albums in 2026
Madonna Shows How It’s Done With Witchy, Weird Met Gala Look
Madonna Returns to Billboard’s Dance Charts With ‘I Feel So Free’
Gou previewed the remix, titled “I Feel So Free Energy Remix,” via her Instagram Stories, sharing a 13-second preview in which she reveals her addition of some thickness and bounce to the track’s bassline, with a vocal sample declaring, “It all started like this” opening the clip.
This edit will mark the first ever collab between Madonna and the South Korean electronic world star. It is of course far from the first time Madonna has turned to the electronic world for a remix, with artists including Above & Beyond, Tracy Young, Shep Pettibone, David Morales and many more all remixing Madonna tracks over the years.
A follow-up to Madonna’s 2005 all time classic Confessions On a Dance Floor, Confessions II will arrive July 3 on Warner Records. Thus far from the new album, Madonna has released “I Feel So Free,” along with the Sabrina Carpenter collab “Bring Your Love.”
Madonna has re-teamed with the original Confessions On a Dance Floor producer Stuart Price for the new album, with the pair releasing a manifesto for the project in tandem with the release date announcement.
“We must dance, celebrate and pray with our bodies,” it read. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people. Sound, light and vibration Reshape our perceptions Pulling us into a trancelike state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.“
See Madonna and Peggy Gou’s remix announcement 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.pngYveto2026-05-11 15:06:042026-05-11 15:06:04Madonna’s Peggy Gou Remix of ‘I Feel So Free’ Is on Its Way: ‘It All Started Like This’
There were still two more days of this year’s Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival following Kes the Band’s terrific Friday night headlining set (May 8) — and the soca group cleared all the competition.
Related
Soca Superstar Kes Breaks Down Five Favorite Tracks From First Album in 10 Years: ‘It’s Time to Position Ourselves in a Global Way’
The 10 Best Caribbean Albums of 2025 (Critic’s Picks)
After Dropping His Debut LP While Battling Cancer, Dominica’s Trilla-G Is Ready to Take Bouyon to the World: ‘I Want to Be Like the Greats’
Fronted by Kees Dieffenthaller, who also goes by Kes, the band delivered an hour of high-energy renditions of contemporary soca bangers like “Wotless,” “Savannah Grass” and “Cocoa Tea.” The festival stop is just the latest in a string of hectic periods for the band — including a pair of Jazz @ Lincoln Center shows in January and the forthcoming North American leg of its Roots, Rock, Soca Tour.
“[Saint Lucia] Jazz always has such a mixed bag of performers that blows me away,” Kes tells Billboard after soundcheck. “When I was coming down on the plane, I had the chance to have a one-on-one with Billy Ocean, who’s also from Trinidad. He was sitting straight across from me, so I was able to reason and vibe with him, asking him a few questions. I love how Jazz brings together different genres and generations.”
Friday night also kicked off a particularly poignant weekend for the group. The day prior (May 8), Kes the Band made its NPR Tiny Desk debut, marking another landmark moment for the soca stars in a year full of them. If that stripped-down environment showed how Kes could take advantage of small, intimate rooms, the band’s Saint Lucia Jazz set proved they’re more equipped to handle sprawling crowds and venues than most of their peers.
Featuring hits like “Fallin’” and “Hello,” Kes’ Tiny Desk set also brought a pair of notable backup vocalists: Saint Lucia’s very own Teddyson John and Trinidad and Tobago’s Calyopso Monarch for 2026, Terri Lyons. The band also added steelpan player Dane Gulston to further flesh out their sound and showcase Caribbean music and instrumentation to the world. During the seamless performance, Kes also had pictures of his late sister, filmmaker Danielle Dieffenthaller, placed on the desk before him, underscoring the emotional heft of singing “Savannah Grass.”
“That was a dream come true,” he gushes. “I’ve wanted [to play a Tiny Desk set] ever since I fell in love with the platform. It’s a good space for us to showcase our musicianship outside of the frenzy of a fete. When I shot the ‘We Home’ virtual performance during COVID, I was thinking of it as my audition tape for Tiny Desk; it’s just great for the culture. And [with the pictures], everybody was present, and we truly felt their presence.”
Though he skipped it for Tiny Desk, Kes did perform his new Di Genius collaboration, “Masterpiece,” which serves as the Trini star’s take on the acclaimed producer’s “Hill & Gully” riddim. Heavily influenced by mento, a style of early Jamaican folk music, the riddim has quickly become one of the hottest in the dancehall scene — and now soca. Of course, Kes has dabbled in dancehall throughout the years, dating back to 2012’s “Tuesday on the Rocks” and “My Love,” the latter being his take on TJ Record’s “Summer Wave” riddim. “Masterpiece” arrived on digital service providers the day after Kes rocked Saint Lucia Jazz (May 9), setting the song up nicely with a splashy launch.
“Nobody expected that! But when you listen to the riddim and hear the mento roots, you can see how I would suit that style,” Kes explains. “This is positioned to be one of the major riddims this summer — and Genius hadn’t brought one out in a minute. We’re both signed to Warner Chappell Music as songwriters, so we’ve worked in similar spaces. The first thing I told him when I heard the riddim was, ‘Mento!!!’ We went to the studio and got it done quickly; then, I went to Jamaica for their Carnival and shot the music video there.”
Although Kes has dropped off a new tune just in time for the beginning of the summer, he’s still playing coy about his band’s next full-length project. “I’m spending the entire year writing, and by the end of the year, I’ll be finished,” he teases. “I’m in the works of a new album, so I’m looking forward to bringing forward some crazy. I’m always tinkering!”
Next up, Kes the Band launches the North American leg of its Roots, Rock, Soca Tour on May 23 at Soca Fest in Orlando, Fla. They will play theaters and amphitheaters across major cities — including a Forest Hills Stadium date in New York City on June 27 — before concluding on Aug 16 with a joint show alongside Jamaican reggae legend Beres Hammond in Duluth, Ga.
