‘Monday Night Football’ Doubleheader: How to Stream the Bengals vs. Commanders & Jaguars vs. Bills Games Live Without Cable

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Monday Night Football is back with a doubleheader! The Jacksonville Jaguars face the Buffalo Bills, while the Washington Commanders face the Cincinnati Bengals for MNF Week 3 on Monday (Sept. 23).

The Bills are set to host the Jaguars at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., to lead off the first of two games on the Monday’s roster. The game will air on ESPN.

Next up, the Bengals host the Commanders at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium, airing live on ABC.

The Voice contestant Micah Tryba will perform the national anthem ahead of the Bills vs. Jaguars game. Country singer Walker Montgomery will perform the anthem before the Bengals vs. Commanders game.

For the football fans who want to watch them face off in person, there’s still time to score tickets at an affordable price. The cheapest tickets for the Bills vs. Jaguars game are currently priced from around $55 and up at StubHub and $75 and up for the Bengals vs. Commanders.

Read on for a schedule of upcoming games, plus ways to watch and stream live and on-demand (with and without cable).

How to Stream Monday Night Football on ABC, ESPN & More

Good news for fans who don’t have cable: MNF has expanded into network TV! ABC will simulcast select games this season, as the network announced last September, per The Hollywood Reporter.

You can stream MNF games on DirecTV, Fubo, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV.

Select MNF games will simulcast across ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, including tonight’s doubleheader. The Jaguars vs. Bills will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT (Monday Night Kickoff with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman is at 7:15 p.m. ET).

The Commanders vs. Bengals game airs on ABC and streams ESPN+. As with most MNF games, kickoff will start at 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT.

This season’s doubleheaders include games between the Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions on Sept. 30.

directv free trial

How do you watch football games and other sports for free? Good news for DirecTV customers! A deal was reached between Disney and DirecTV over the weekend, officially restoring ABC and ESPN channels to subscribers. If you’re not already a customer, you can now join for free and enjoy Disney-owned networks including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ACCN.

DirecTV offers a free trial at sign up and over 90 cable and local channels. Streaming plans start at $79.98/month (reg. $94.98/month) for a limited time.

Not interested in DirecTV Stream? For customers looking for streaming alternatives, Fubo, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV are some of the streamers that provide instant access to ABC, ESPN and other channels.

There are also several other affordable ways to watch local channels like ABC, NBC and CBS. For example, you can buy an HDTV antenna like this one on sale at Amazon for $24 (free shipping for Prime members), and of course, football lovers can subscribe to streamers such as FuboTV and Sling TV.

For around $20-$75, you’ll get to stream live TV and on-demand content, including sports channels and DVR storage. And now that the football season has officially arrived, many of your favorite streamers are offering streaming deals for the NFL season and beyond.

For example, you’ll get a free trial with Fubo to watch your favorite football games for free for up to a week and a discount at sign up.

Looking for more streaming deals? Sling TV is half off for your first month. That means you can subscribe and stream all TV shows, movies, football games and other sports content starting at just $20 for the first month. One of Sling’s best streaming deals is the Orange & Blue packages and the Sports Extra bundle for $199 when you prepay four months in advance.

sling tv: prepay & save promo

Looking for another affordable option? Subscribe to Fubo and save $30 off your first month.

Fubo’s streaming plans start at $49.99/month (reg. $79.99) after a week free. Fubo Pro, one of the cheapest among the aforementioned streaming plans, includes 202 channels, 1000 hours of Cloud DVR and streaming on up to 10 screens. Fubo Elite is currently discounted to $69.99/month (regularly $99.99/month) for 301 channels and Fubo Premier is $79.99/month (reg. 109.99/month) for 322 channels, 4K streaming, Showtime and more. For Spanish speakers, Fubo Latino is $19.99/month (regularly $32.99/month) to stream 61 channels.

fubo tv free trial

Between free trials and discounted streaming plans, DirecTV has one of the best streaming deals for football fans but without ABC and ESPN, sports fans are looking for different ways to stream. Now that DirecTV and Disney reached a deal, sports lovers will be able to stream MNF again. Additionally, DirecTV Stream offers other channels that broadcast football including Fox, CBS and NBC.

Depending on which package you choose, DirecTV’s streaming plans lets you access specialty channels like Big Ten Network, ACC, SEC, MLB Network, CBS Sports Network, Starz, Encore, Max, Ion, NHL Network and more.

You can also watch NFL games on YouTube TV and NFL+, the latter starts at $6.99/month for the base subscription and $14.99/month for NLF+ Premium.

Get NFL+

With NFL+, football fans can watch or listen to games live and on-demand, plus enjoy recaps and more.

How to Watch Monday Night Football Games on ESPN+

Gone are the days of simply switching channels to catch all of your favorite NFL games, and it can be hard to keep track of which games are streaming on which platforms. For example, Prime Video is the streaming home for Thursday Night Football, while Sunday football games are available on NBC, CBS, Paramount+ and Peacock, and some Monday Night Football games are scheduled to simulcast on ESPN+ and ABC.

get ESPN+

With ESPN+, you’ll get access to football and more for $10.99 a month (or bundle with Disney+ and Hulu). Watch the NFL, college football, soccer, MLB, NBA, NHL, UFC, PGA Tour, Top Rank, PLL Playoffs, Premiere League, La Liga, cricket and other sporting events on ESPN+.

What else can you stream on ESPN+? Sports lovers can binge dozens of must-watch series and TV shows, and original content such as PPV fights, the entire 30 for 30 series and tons of other exclusives such as In the Arena: Serena Williams, The Captain, Tom Brady: Man in the Arena, Al Davis vs. The NFL, Vick, Be Like Water, Breakaway, More Than An Athlete with Michael Strahan, Eli’s Place, Abby’s Place, The Place’s Universe, Why Not Us: Grambling Dance and Our Time Baylor Basketball.

ESPN+ isn’t on sale right now, but you can subscribe to the annual plan ($109.99) to save around $22 off the monthly price. Also, Hulu offers a student discount for just $1.99/month and bundle deals allow you to save on streaming packages. For example, the Disney+ Trio Basic bundles Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ for $14.99/month.

Keep in mind, while there are different ways to watch football games from your TV, phone, laptop or computer, the price will vary depending on the platform. Fortunately, ESPN is available on several streamers including Fubo, Sling and Hulu + Live TV.

Hulu + Live TV gives you access to 90+ channels in edition to ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+, and DVR storage, for $76.99/month. And there’s a free trial for three days.

hulu + live tv free trial

Monday Night Football: Games, Dates & Time

Monday Night Football kicked off on Sept. 9 and will continue into January 2025. The season’s debut game between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers averaged 20.5 million viewers, down from the previous year.

By comparison, last year’s MNF kickoff games between the Jets and Bills drew a record-breaking 22.6 million viewers, making it the most watched MNF game in history beating out the previous record-holder, a 2009’s game between the Packers and Vikings.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2023 win over the Chiefs (21-17) last November drew a record 29 million viewers in total, a 27-year ratings high and the highest numbers of the season for a single game since the Super Bowl.

Tonight’s game launches a season of doubleheaders. However, some doubleheaders, will broadcast around the same time. That means football fans will be flipping channels during MNF and if you don’t have cable, you can watch and record both games under the streaming plans with DirecTV, Fubo and other streaming plans mentioned above.

Beyond the game itself, NFL ratings have received a boost thanks in part to Taylor Swift who appeared at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens season kickoff last week, and has shown up to a few other games to support for her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

NFL ratings hit another high mark last Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Thanksgiving game between the Cowboys and Commanders snagged a whopping 44 million viewers, the third-largest audience for a regular season game in history. The game aired on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

The Cowboys beat the Commanders 45-10. The NFL team is no stranger to Thanksgiving games as the Cowboys have played a game on Thanksgiving day nearly every year since 1966.

Will the new season score big in ratings? We’ll have to wait and see, but fans who want to watch games live, either from home or on-the-go, can easily stream select NFL games and more on ESPN+.

MNF sound a bit different this season. That’s because ESPN enlisted the help of J Balvin to curate the music for select games. Chris Stapleton, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake curated the music for last year’s games, preceded by Marshmello in 2022, Drake in 2021, DJ Khaled in 2020 and Diplo in 2019.

To kick off the collaboration, the NFL debuted a remix of Balvin’s song “DOBLEXXO” featuring Feid from his new album Rayo.

“ESPN’s Music curation program with Monday Night Football continues with an artist that will amplify the bold and new music strategy,” said Curtis Friends, ESPN vice president of sports marketing. “J Balvin is a global icon whose influence hits with diverse cultures and genres. His music choices embrace the anticipation and excitement the ESPN football season offers, and we can’t wait for him to come along the season-long ride with us.”

With the season is just getting started, there are a ton of games left on the MNF schedule, and plenty of opportunities to watch them live. Click here to get tickets to see your favorite NFL games in person.

Want to stream MNF from outside of the U.S.? With ExpressVPN, NordVPN and PureVPN you can access several streaming platforms and channels.

See the full 2024 MNF schedule here.

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David Joseph Stepping Down as Universal Music UK Chairman/CEO

LONDON — Universal Music U.K. chairman and CEO David Joseph has announced he is stepping down after almost 17 years at the helm of the company.  

The widely respected executive and longstanding label boss joined the U.K. arm of Universal in 1998 as general manager of Polydor and was promoted to chairman and CEO of Universal Music U.K. and Ireland in 2008. His departure was announced in a memo to staff on Monday (Sept. 23) in which Joseph said he was leaving the music business to study for a master’s degree in religion and theology at King’s College London, commencing next week.

“It has been an honour to work alongside you, creating something truly exceptional, a company that wasn’t only number one but also led with heart and creativity. We’ve done that together,” said Joseph in the memo, which has been viewed by Billboard.

Joseph went on to say that his career in the record business, “once impossible to imagine, has been a gift for which I’m deeply grateful. Now, after 17 years in this role, it’s time to step into something new.”

The outgoing exec — who oversaw the EMI, Decca, Island, Polydor and 0207 Def Jam labels, as well as Abbey Road Studios — praised his former colleagues at Universal Music U.K. who “will undoubtedly continue to inspire, innovate, and lead the way.”

Joseph also issued a “special thank you” to Universal Music chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge “without whom none of this would have been possible. First, he hired me, and then he let me be myself.”  

“This place, the people, the building, the conversations, the inspiration, and the music that somehow makes the rest of life blur into the background – these will all be missed immeasurably,” said Joseph, who described his 26 year career at Universal Music as “an absolute pleasure.”

In a separate staff memo, also seen by Billboard, Grainge described his two decades-plus working with Joseph, beginning with the turnaround of Polydor in the late 1990s, as a “remarkable journey.”

“One of the many things I respect about David is that he never tried to be anyone but himself and he guided the U.K. company to heights in a way that was completely authentic to him. In addition, I have enormous respect for his decision to take an entirely different path after so many outstanding years at UMG,” said Grainge.

The Universal Music chairman/CEO went on to say that he would be informing staff “what comes next” for the U.K. arm of the company “shortly, but today is about David.”

“His contributions—as an executive, as a leader and as a friend—have always been focused on making our company a better place for our employees and our artists. I know you will join me in wishing David our very best,” concluded Grainge.

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Chappell Roan Reflects on ‘Amazing & Hard’ Past Year on ‘Midwest Princess’ Anniversary

It’s officially been one year since Chappell Roan altered the course of her career with the release of debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and the 26-year-old musician didn’t let the anniversary pass without marking the occasion on Instagram Sunday (Sept. 22).

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Sharing a photo of herself holding up a Midwest Princess vinyl in front of a wall of promotional posters for the project, Roan wrote that her life “has been changed forever” in the 12 months since she dropped the 14-track LP.

“this has been amazing and hard and beautiful and eye opening and empowering and transformative and every emotion ever,” she continued. “Thank you thank you thank you for everything. Thank you for showing up for this project and believing in me.”

The Missouri native also noted that the success she’s experienced over the past year wouldn’t have been possible without the help of “a team of people working their a–es off day and night to keep this afloat.” “I am so lucky and feel so loved,” she added.

Produced by Dan Nigro, Midwest Princess didn’t fully take flight until several months after its September 2023 release. After gaining traction with her opening stint on Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour this past spring, Roan debuted at No. 127 on the Billboard 200 in April. She’s steadily climbed the chart in the months since thanks in part to her headline-making performances at festivals over the summer, and in late August, Midwest Princess finally reached No. 2.

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None of the album’s songs charted on the Billboard Hot 100 until June, when “Red Wine Supernova” and “Hot to Go!” finally entered the ranking. Since then, Roan’s also notched entries with “My Kink Is Karma,” “Pink Pony Club,” “Casual” and “Femininomenon,” though her biggest hit to date is still No. 6-peaking follow-up single “Good Luck, Babe!”

And though the rollercoaster ride has led to some major highs — a best new artist win at the 2024 VMAs, for instance — Roan has also been open about the lows of fame. “I went to a psychiatrist last week because I was like, ‘I don’t know what’s going on,’” she revealed in a recent interview with The Guardian.

“She diagnosed me with severe depression — which I didn’t think I had because I’m not actually sad,” Roan continued. “But I have every symptom of someone who’s severely depressed. I think it’s because my whole life has changed. Everything that I really love to do now comes with baggage.”

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Shaboozey Adds 11th Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, Chappell Roan Reaches Top 5

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” earns an 11th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, extending 2024’s longest command.

The hit, which became the Virginia-born singer-songwriter’s first Hot 100 No. 1 in July, is one of just five songs to reign for 11 or more weeks this decade, and the first since another country/pop crossover smash, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” dominated for 16 weeks in March-August 2023.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” also furthers the longest No. 1 run on the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart this year, logging a 15th week in the top spot.

Plus, Chappell Roan notches her first top five Hot 100 hit as “Good Luck, Babe!,” which became her first top 10, leaps from No. 7 to No. 4.

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The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations. All charts (dated Sept. 28, 2024) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, Sept. 24). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

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This Iconic Brand Is Teasing a Beyoncé Collaboration for Its ‘New Chapter’

“Oh, you wish you were my Levi’s jeans,” Beyoncé sings on the chorus of the Post Malone-assisted “Levii’s Jeans.” Little did fans know, they may soon have the chance to zip up the same denim as Bey.

Levi’s teased a collaboration with Beyoncé is on the horizon on Monday (Sept. 23). The famed denim clothing company posted an image on Instagram featuring what appears to be Bey riding a horse, à la Cowboy Carter, while rocking a cowboy hat.

Levi’s tagged Beyoncé in the photo on social media, and added a caption to the post hinting at the next era: “INTRODUCING: A New Chapter.” The account also teased fans regarding the collaboration. “Let the countdown begin,” the bio reads.

“COWBOY CARTER WORLD TOUR SPONSORED BY LEVIIS,” one fan guessed on the Instagram post, while another is ready to hit the checkout button, writing, “sighs and pull out credit card.”

Others’ pockets are feeling stretched. Commented another, “I don’t have no more money, Beyoncé!”

Billboard has reached out to reps for Bey and Levi’s for additional information.

This would mark the first official collab between Bey and Levi’s. Following “Levii’s Jeans” arrival in March, the brand enjoyed a spike in sales and the company’s CFO, Harmit Singh, gave Bey her flowers for the uptick thanks to her The-Dream-produced ode to the jean maker. “There’s no better person than [Beyoncé], who we call the center of culture,” he said in April.

Cowboy Carter debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 earlier in 2024 with 407,000 total album-equivalent units. With the feat, Beyoncé became the first woman to debut her first eight albums at the chart’s apex.

The last week of September is proving to be a busy one for Beyoncé. She stunned in three different looks as part of a new promo video for her SirDavis American Whisky brand, which is cued to Betty Davis’ 1974 soul funk classic “They Say I’m Different.”

See Levi’s Beyoncé teaser post below.

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The Cure Tease First Single in 16 Years, ‘Alone’

The wait is over, almost. After months of teasing their recorded return, The Cure confirmed on Monday morning (Sept. 23) that their first new single in 16 years will drop on Thursda (Sept. 26). The band offered an 18-second preview of the song “Alone,” on which singer Robert Smith sings, “This is the end of every song that we sing/ The fire burned out to ash, the stars grow dim with tears,” over the long-running mope rock group’s signature slow-march drums and gothic drone.

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Robert Smith of The Cure

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The track will premiere on Mary Anne Hobb’s BBC Radio 6 music show in the UK at noon (7 a.m. ET) on Thursday. The news finally kicked-off what fans anticipate will be the proper roll-out of the long-awaited follow-up to the Cure’s most recent album, 2008’s 4:13 Dream, which peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 album chart upon release.

Last week, Cure fans’ hopes were raised when some received cryptic postcards that appeared to confirm that the album will be called, as long rumored, Songs of a Lost World, and that it will drop on Nov. 1. In the lead-up to the new album’s release, the Cure released a special double A-side vinyl featuring live versions of two new songs, “And Nothing Is Forever” and “I Can Never Say Goodbye,” which were recorded during their 2022 Shows of a Lost World tour. It was unknown at press time if those two tracks will appear on the upcoming album.

Listen to the preview of “Alone” below.

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Lady Gaga Shares More Cryptic Messages, But Won’t Reveal What They’re About: ‘It’s a Secret’

Lady Gaga is continuing to send fans spiraling with cryptic messages on Instagram — and no, she doesn’t care to elaborate. 

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Lady Gaga attends the "Joker: Folie A Deux" photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on Sept. 4, 2024 in Venice, Italy.

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The superstar has been posting one new message every day since she first piqued people’s interest on Sept. 20 by sharing a note reading “I’m ready for my interview,” meaning there’s two more to obsess over. Starting with Sept. 21, Gaga uploaded a black tile with white lettering that says, “Don’t tell me what to wear.”  

One day after that, the 13-time Grammy winner shared a green tile bearing the message, “No duct tape, no mission.” This time, the post came with an audio snippet featuring a mellow chord progression on acoustic guitar. 

Gaga is both gearing up for the premiere of Folie à Deux — in which she stars as Harley Quinn opposite Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker — and the release of her seventh studio album, which she recently confirmed is arriving in February. That’s left fans confused as to whether her string of Instagram posts pertains to the film or new music, but the “Rain on Me” singer isn’t giving them answers just yet.  

When asked about the matter during an on-camera interview with Entertainment Tonight posted Sunday (Sept. 22), Gaga froze up and smiled. “It’s a secret,” she said quietly. “That was a good question there — it stumped me.” 

Fans can at least be sure that a new single from her upcoming album will drop in October, something Gaga revealed with a recent subtle Instagram post outlining her schedule for the next few weeks. The schedule also contained her appointments at Folie à Deux press junkets, including the Joker sequel’s world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival Sept. 4, which the vocalist attended with fiancé Michael Polansky on her arm. 

At another recent Folie à Deux event, she hilariously passed out bags of popcorn ahead of an early screening in Los Angeles. “Enjoy the f–king show!” she cheers in a clip taken inside the theater, looking peak-Gaga in a whimsical dress and puffy platinum hair. 

Watch Gaga refuse to comment on her cryptic posts and pass out popcorn below. 

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Nicki Minaj Thanks Eve for Being a ‘Trendsetter’ in Heartfelt Post: ‘Unapologetic Talent & Charisma’

Nicki Minaj is giving Eve her flowers. The Young Money rapper penned a heartfelt message to the Ruff Ryders’ first lady on Sunday (Sept. 22) for being a “trendsetter” and the “groundbreaking” level of “emotional and spiritual maturity” she displayed throughout her career.

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Eve has been on a press tour in support of her Who’s That Girl? memoir, and she revealed that she joined therapy after finding out that Minaj was joining the Barbershop: The Next Cut cast in 2016, which seemingly prompted a response from the Barbz leader.

“Dear Eve, The various things you’ve shared recently, are groundbreaking (in my opinion) for so many reasons,” she began in her message posted to X. “First, thank you. The level of grace; the level of emotional & spiritual maturity it takes to be this vulnerable & transparent is a sign of TRUE peace, happiness, fulfillment, & mastery of self. Self reflection @ its height. I always say that I think accountability is the sexiest trait a person can have. I was one of the kids in NY watching Ruff Ryderz on TV.” “

Nicki reflected: “I DEFINITELY remember how when you took the game by storm, that there were some ppl who couldn’t hide their insecurities. Even tho it’s swept under the rug now, I remember that you handled it with grace but ALSO a big sprinkle of unapologetic TALENT & charisma. You soared & soared. Classic music w/the illest team, to the BIG SCREEN. And made it look easy, too. Trendsetter. The Eve blonde short cut, the Eve paw print tats on the chest…”

While they never released music together, the Queens artist recalled being on set with Eve for Barbershop and how they bonded amid women typically feeling the pressure to compete against one another. Eve later called Nicki a “good addition to the cast” during an interview with Larry King in 2016.

“I was so nervous coming onto that movie set every day,” Nicki added in her tweet. “You looked like a pro & I admired that so much. Thank you for trying to not do to me what was done to you. Women feel so much pressure to compete & it’s a shame b/c we usually have so much in common & could rlly benefit from one another just as human beings. We all share so many of the same experiences as artists, wives, moms, ups & downs, anxiety, etc. I remember telling a friend of mine that I didn’t think you liked me after our first day on set together.”

Minaj continued: “But you know something crazy? I swear. I KNEW that YOU could tell deep down inside that I really liked YOU. So you went easy on me. lol Loved the way the movie turned out. Blessings to you & your beautiful family. Congratulations on your new book as well as all your many accomplishments in Hip Hop & Film & TV. P.S. you STILL looK sooooo pretty.”

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Eve’s Who’s That Girl? with Kathy Iandoli arrived earlier in September. The rapper’s memoir explores the depths of her decorated career and it previously made headlines when she recalled a phone call from Jay-Z where he tried to temper expectations when it came to Eve’s 1999 debut LP. However, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady went on to top the Billboard 200 with more than 200,000 total album units sold in the first week. 

As for Nicki, she’s trekking across North America for a second U.S. run of shows as part of the Pink Friday 2 World Tour. The rest of the month includes stops in San Diego, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

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Nick Cannon & ‘Wild ‘N Out’ Fans Raise $25K for Rich Homie Quan’s Family

Nick Cannon, the Wild ‘N Out community and the city of Atlanta are all looking out for the family of Rich Homie Quan following the 33-year-old rapper’s death Sept. 5. 

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Rich Homie Quan

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During the hip-hop comedy show’s recent tour stop through the Georgia capital Thursday (Sept. 19), the Masked Singer host brought a few of Quan’s family members on stage and presented them with $25,000, according to local news network WSB-TV. Fans of Wild ‘N Out, Cannon explained, had raised the first $10,000, which he then personally matched in full. The night’s venue, State Farm Arena, provided the final $5,000. 

“That’s how much I love that dude,” Cannon said of the late Atlanta musician, who was born Dequantes Lamar. “We’ve got to support one another, because this is what community looks like.”

Earlier in the night, the Drumline alum and his Wild ‘N Out castmates honored Lamar by performing a handful of Rich Homie Quan songs. The show came exactly two weeks after the “Flex” artist’s death sent the hip-hop world reeling, with Quavo, Playboi Carti, Jacquees and more artists posting condolences online following Lamar’s passing.  

The cause of Lamar’s death has not yet been revealed. A memorial service was held for him Sept. 17 in South Fulton, Ga., near his hometown of Atlanta, where hundreds of people — including friends, family and industry peers such as Killer Mike and D.C. Young Fly — gathered to mourn the Rich Gang alum.  

At one point, his father, Corey Lamar — who was also in attendance at Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out show two days later — shared some emotional remarks. “From the day I met Quan and I held him, my life changed,” he said. “I knew failure was not an option. But little did Quan know, he pushed me to be a dad, a role model and to be an example as what a man should be. Built upon integrity, morals and values.” 

Watch Cannon present Rich Homie Quan’s family with $25,000 and honor the late rapper below.

@missjordan_radio

@Nick Cannon presents richhomiequan’s family with a check for $25,000at @wildnout Tour in atlanta. The check was originally for $10,000, Nick matched it to make it $20,000 and then @State Farm Arena added an additional $5,000! @N’Style Atlanta #statefarmarena #atlanta #fyp #foryoupage #foryourepage #viral #trending #wildnoutatlanta #wildnout #wildnoutatl #wildnoutvideos #NardoWick #wildnouttour #statefarm #nstyleatlanta #nstyleatlantauncut

♬ original sound – Miss. J 📻

@melissablueberrysaywhat

Pastor @Dc Young Fly #rip #richhomiequan #dedication #memory #nickcannon #statefarmarena #atl #behindthescenes #wildnoutvideos #foryoupage #fypシ゚viral #preacher

♬ original sound – MzMelissa_Blueberry_Say_What!

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Chow Lee Talks New Project ‘SEX DRIVE’ & Growing New York’s Sexy Drill Sound


Chow Lee is basking in the moment. Just a week shy of what was supposed to be the release date of his new album SEX DRIVE, he flashes a dimpled smile on a morning Zoom call before expressing his excitement: “I can’t wait to drop. I’m feigning to drop.” 

Although the 25-year-old Long Island native has recently ascended in the sexy drill wave he co-pioneered with Cash Cobain and Lonny Love, the newly released project SEX DRIVE marks his 12th album since 2018. After sample clearances delayed the album’s release date twice, he’s finally ready to introduce fans to his most versatile ensemble yet.

Like most Gen Z artists, the majority of his references trace back to the early ’00s, when hip-hop and R&B fusions were re-defining both genres. He cites Drake and his OVO imprint as early inspiration when he began rapping nearly a decade ago in high school. He released a string of albums and mixtapes before linking up with the Bronx hitmaker Cash Cobain in 2020. Their instant creative chemistry led to the successful 2 Slizzy 2 Sexy mixtape two years later. They buffed the rough-around-the-edges drill markers with sultry R&B samples and lusty pillow talk on popular tracks like “JHOLIDAY,” and “VACANT.” Not as sensual as R&B, but not as gritty as New York and Chicago drill, sexy drill was born. 

“People were like, ‘Sexy drill? What is that?,’” he recalls.

Last year, he performed on Rolling Loud Miami’s main stage and was recruited to open up for Sexyy Red’s Hood’s Hottest Princess Tour and Lil Tecca’s HVN ON EARTH Tour. He also teased the project with back-to-back one-offs like the TikTok viral hit, “swag it!,” a catchy melodic track with punchy bass.

His horny escapades are at full throttle on SEX DRIVE. He penetrates the sexy drill sound with Jersey club pulses and experimental regional mashups. An unlikely crew of features from AJ Tracey, Anycia, Flo Milli, and Roy Woods takes listeners on a sonic journey from the U.K. to a tropical escape. He links back up with Cash Cobain on tracks like the Bay Swag-assisted “act bad twin!,” a dance mix undergirded by PARTYNEXTDOOR’s “Resentment.” 

He’s here for a good time, not a long time on sinful tracks like “ms. beautiful v!” and “im not really spiritual!,” featuring U.K. drill vet AJ Tracey. He cruises on loverboy mode on “Tequila Vacay” featuring OVO signee Roy Woods, but reverts back to his old ways on the “Swag it” remix featuring Flo Milli. On “Get Back,” he enlists Atlanta’s newest “It Girl” Anycia whose relaxed delivery is juxtaposed by his retaliatory actions. “Ten times out of ten if you f–king my mans, I’m f–king your friend,” he declares over flirty piano riffs. 

A sonic tale of a reckless slizzy summer, Lee’s new album embodies the “love, sex and drugs”-fueled ambitions of a young rapper on the rise. He builds on the heavily sampled sexy drill niche while underlining not-so-guilty pleasures. Right before he headed back to his new home in Miami to celebrate the release of SEX DRIVE, Lee spoke to Billboard about his collaboration with Cash Cobain, expanding his sexy drill sound, and what makes a slizzy summer. 

Tracks from the 2 Slizzy 2 Sexy mixtape like “JHOLIDAY” and “VACANT” led up to the sexy drill sound you’re experimenting with on SEX DRIVE. What inspired sexy drill? Was it from the natural creative chemistry that you both share? 

It’s really a little bit of both. It was kind of a natural part of our creative process. We talk about women and Cash is the mastermind behind the beats. I’ll give him a song to sample or he’ll sample something. He’ll type in YouTube and ask like, “Give me a song to sample?’’ Then, he’ll sample it. Shit, we’ll just rap on it. That’s really the creative process. And we kept doing that. And we also worked with artists like Lonny Love. He also helped us create sexy drill too. It was all three of us.

You’re definitely making a statement with SEX DRIVE and the cover art. What was the creative process behind the album’s cover art?  

We wanted to make it sexy and still be on brand. It’s kind of a high school vibe with the letterman jacket and the cool car. We shot it in Cali and had to get that old school car. I had to go with the American muscle. 

You team up with a variety of artists on this album. What was it like to bring together all these different sounds and meld it with your sexy drill signature? 

It’s a blessing. It shows that everyone from different places can get on sexy drill. Like [AJ] Tracey is on there. He’s from the U.K. It’s a universal thing. It’s past New York at this point.

Speaking of sexy drill being universal, “swag it” took TikTok by storm and was everywhere. Can you talk about linking up with Flo Milli on the remix?

It was a movie. We shot the video and it was mad cool. She came and loved the song. She made a TikTok to it, so we reached out to her and asked if she wanted to get on the song. She did that s–t mad fast. She was willing to shoot the video so we shot it in L.A. She was a great person to work with. Hopefully I can get her on more stuff and we can drop again.

One of my favorite songs on the album is “tequila vacay!”. What was the idea behind that direction with Roy Woods?

I made that song probably like a year or two years ago. I had contacted him because he was following me. He was like, “Yo send me some s–t and I’ll send you something.” That was the first song that came to my mind ‘cause you know how Roy Woods gets. I was like, “I have to switch it up.” I sent him some s–t I thought he would be good on and he went crazy. I was like, ”Nah, I needed this for the album. They not gon’ expect that one.”

You also enlist collaborators like Cash Cobain, Sleepy Hollow and Bay Swag for a few tracks on the album. Why is it important to show the flexibility of the sexy drill sound? 

When you think outside the box, you get better results. You’re not going to get far if you keep doing the same thing. I take my creative process very seriously, and fans are already saying it’s a classic before the album drops. That matters to me. 

You’ve been on tour for the past year from performing at Rolling Loud in Miami last summer to opening for Sexyy Red’s tour. What is it like to bring the energy of your songs to the stage? 

It’s a movie. You can go on stage and perform your songs, and people will like it and not really know it — but that means something. It’s not that hard to go on stage, you just have to bring that energy. The songs are already getting them lit. It can be a curse sometime, cause some people will be like, “Listen, we wanna see Sexyy Red. Get off stage already.”

Are there any standout songs for you? Any artists in particular who you just had to work with and you got them on the album?

Definitely Roy Woods and AJ Tracey. I always used to bump Roy Woods. I never got a chance to make a song with someone who can sing like that. Usually, I’m making songs with the guys or another rapper. I never got to do a song with someone who can sing. I wanna sing like that, but I can’t.

Take me through your songwriting process. When you’re getting ready to record, are you inspired by a night out or is this just coming off the dome?

It depends on the mood I’m in. I can think about a scenario and write about that and fabricate it or I can talk about something that actually happened with a girl. Or I can make some whole s–t up and write about it. I’ve watched enough movies. I may get drunk and freestyle and say some bulls–t.

How does SEX DRIVE embody a slizzy summer? 

A slizzy summer is being outside. It’s a lifestyle. It’s catering to the women, having fun and being yourself. Not being a bozo while handling your business at the same time. SEX DRIVE is just…SEX DRIVE. Keep that sex drive up because we outside. I’m trying to keep it PG-13, but it speaks for itself.

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