With the newly released version of ATEEZ’s No. 1 single “Work” poised to make crossover impact for the K-pop group via the all-English remix featuring G-Eazy, the rapper’s verses have also sparked speculation among fans online that he used the track to take a jab at his ex-girlfriend, Halsey.

Released Friday, Aug. 9, the “Part 4” remix of “Work,” which topped World Digital Song Sales in June for ATEEZ’s first chart-topper on the ranking, features G-Eazy delivering a verse that has fans talking: “Actin’ innocent, no, it’s not your first time/We’re far away if Libra is her sign/ Oof, danger, danger (Danger, danger)/Don’t be a stranger (Don’t be a stranger)/ She said no one can save her.”

This particular line has drawn attention due to Halsey’s Sept. 29 birthday, making her a Libra and leading to widespread speculation that the lyrics could be a thinly veiled reference to his experiences and their past relationship. The stars were in a highly publicized relationship from 2017 to 2018 before an abrupt breakup in July 2018. While neither has spoken up directly about what ended their time together, both artists have released music that fans believe alludes to their breakup. Halsey has also previously mentioned being in an “abusive relationship,” though she has never explicitly confirmed if G-Eazy was involved.

After the collaboration’s release, one user on X (formerly known as Twitter) wrote that they “got weirded out when he sings that [because] I immediately remember Halsey…this is ATEEZ’s song why tf did u make it about u.” One X user added, “A collab of all things to make a little diss at your ex,” with another saying, “G-Eazy shading Halsey in a K-pop collab…this was not on my bingo list AT ALL.”

As some fans have noted, the particular lyrics in G-Eazy’s verse stand out against the backdrop of ATEEZ’s original message in “Work,” which is about focusing in on pushing toward your goals and achieving success. One fan on X wrote, “We’re talking about clocking in and he’s over here harassing his ex.”

Indeed, the K-pop group sings about the hustle in lines like, “I like to party when it’s a party/That’s payin’ me to pull up” and the addictive chorus of “Gotta work, gotta work / Gotta make that money, make purse.” G-Eazy later adds, “Work, flex, work, flex, always in the lab/ How I earn checks/ Hundred thousand dollars for a verse, yes/Wouldn’t lift a finger if it were less.”

The collaboration comes after ATEEZ’s established admiration for Halsey. The K-pop group’s fans, known as ANTINY, know the members frequently share music recommendations: Both Wooyoung and Jongho have shared their fondness for “Boy With Luv,” her hit collaboration with BTS, Yeosang has recommended Halsey’s chart-topping Billboard Hot 100 hit “Closer” with The Chainsmokers to fans. Mingi has also praised G-Eazy’s work, notably his Hot 100 hit “Me, Myself & I” featuring Bebe Rexha, and previously recommended Calvin Harris’ Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2 album, where Halsey features on two tracks.

Representatives for G-Eazy nor ATEEZ did not return Billboard‘s request for comment at press time.

Even if the potential diss has dominated most of the conversation, it’s important to recognize the latest steps in ATEEZ’s barrier-breaking 2024 that includes multiple “Work” remixes, being named an “Up Next” star in Variety’s Young Hollywood Impact Report, and the ongoing [Towards the Light : Will to Power] in North America arena and stadium tour that just took over New York’s CitiField on Saturday, Aug. 2. This year has also been momentous for G-Eazy with the June 21 release of his seventh studio album, Freak Show, marking his first full-length project in nearly three years, which precedes a world tour hitting North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand through this and next year.

Listen to Part 4 of ATEEZ’s “Work” with G-Eazy below:

TikTok user @lockerblocker20 recently came across a treasure trove of Ye merch during a livestream. They found boxes of everything ranging from performance costumes to Yeezy design notes to recording equipment. The latter of which caught the attention to former Ye collaborator Mike Dean.

In the comments of one of the videos, Dean asked, “Any Mike Dean cases in there?” to which the creator replied, “No.”

There was an Ensoniq ASR 10 keyboard with the name “Tarik” on it, though, plus earpieces and microphones. There were also boxes of garments and masks from the 2019 opera “Nebuchadnezzar” and “Sunday Service” costumes, along with YZY season catalogues and patent cards.

Back in December of 2022, Mike Dean reposted a message from Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello reacting to Ye’s appearance on Alex Jones’ Info Wars where he praised Hitler causing some to speculate that the two have had a falling out. “When media attention becomes more important than like itself, you’re on a slippery slope,” wrote Angello. “Saying provocative things to trigger social media for clicks and action is pathetic.”

Then a year later, a fan asked Dean if he wasn’t working with rapper “because of the Hitler thing.” The Houston musician replied, “Because I’m busy with much cooler people.” At the time, Dean was on tour with The Weeknd. Something he had to remind another fan who claimed he “wasn’t invited” to work on Ye’s latest, saying, “I passed thanks. On a little tour” in the now-deleted tweets.

There’s no word as to whether the storage locker belongs to Ye or someone from his team.

If you follow both pop music and politics, you may have to choose which you’re going to watch live on Tuesday, Sept. 10 – the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and VP Kamala Harris or the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

Trump agreed to the debate on Thursday (Aug. 8), after initially saying he wouldn’t appear. In response, Harris said on X, formerly Twitter: “I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10. I look forward to it.”

The Sept. 10 debate will air on ABC. David Muir, anchor of World News Tonight, and Linsey Davis, anchor of the Sunday edition of that broadcast, will moderate the session. That’s the same date that Trump and President Joe Biden had agreed to their second and final debate, before Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race.

The first debate of the 2024 general election between Trump and Biden was held on June 27. Biden’s performance was so shaky that even friends and allies urged him to bow out of the race. Less than one month later, on July 21, he announced that he wouldn’t run again and endorsed Harris for the nomination.

There may or may not be additional debates between Trump and Harris. Fox News has proposed a debate on Sept. 4, and NBC News is hoping to host one on Sept. 25. During an appearance in Michigan, Harris said she was “happy to have that conversation” about additional debate(s).

MTV announced Sept. 10 as the date of the 2024 VMAs way back on April 24 – but apparently “dibs” don’t count for much in the high-stakes world of presidential politics.

The VMAs will air from UBS Arena in New York at 8 p.m. ET/PT. (So, depending on what time zone you live in, you may be able to watch both live.) The VMAs will be held just four days shy of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural VMAs at Radio City Music Hall. (That show aired three full weeks before the first debate between President Ronald Reagan and former vp Walter Mondale, so there was no conflict.)

This is the second time this summer that a newsworthy event in presidential politics has collided with an awards show. An attempt on Trump’s life occurred on July 13, less than two hours before the Kids’ Choice Awards was set to get underway in Santa Monica, Calif. The awards went on as scheduled, with no mention of the stunning event.

It was a busy week in the worlds of hip-hop and R&B. Billboard Unfiltered returns on Thursday (Aug. 8) with an episode attacking Drake’s 100 Gigs dump, Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2 and Latto’s place in the pantheon of female rap.

Drake’s every chess move has been dissected by fans since the fallout from the Kendrick Lamar feud. Deputy Director, Editorial Damien Scott was complimentary of Drake’s shrewd decision making in leaking the three songs and archival footage, which he compared to something Ye would’ve done in the mold of G.O.O.D. Fridays.

“We know he’s a person who thinks about the totality of not only his career, but the whole market and the people he’s playing against,” Scott said. “I think this is extremely novel. It’s really creative. The highest compliment I can pay it is this feels like something Ye would’ve done when he was still killing it. Back when he was doing the G.O.O.D. Friday releases.”

But he still thinks the Lamar feud was weighing on his mind with this move. “I think it’s not crazy to believe, ‘Alright, let me reset for a second.’”

However, Staff Writer Kyle Denis thinks Drake is nervous about the reception of his next single and found a loophole to test the waters. “I do think it’s p—y,” he stated. “Because I would think these three songs are all you dropped versus three songs plus 10 hours of archival footage. If you believed in this new stuff, why are we walking up memory lane at the same time?”

Onto Vultures 2, the panel agrees that the project’s original version didn’t feel completed with fans rightly wanting more from Ye and Ty. “It feels like Ye doesn’t care. If Ye doesn’t care, why should we care?” Scott asked.

Senior Charts & Data Analyst Trevor Anderson is surprised none of the tracks have caught on a path to disrupt the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

“Wherever you want to start post 2015, Vultures 1 ‘Carnival’ are the outliers… I think that was more of a surprise to people,” he said. “This feels a little below — I’m surprised there’s no song jumping…Everything has gone No. 1 going back to College Dropout, you don’t want to make too much of it, but when you look in the record books it’s, ‘Oh, this is where the drop-off really happened.”

With Kanye’s decorated discography, Deputy Director of Hip-Hop/R&B Carl Lamarre is frustrated knowing what Ye’s capable when it comes to V2‘s final product.

“This is somebody I still believe to this day — maybe you could put Kendrick in the same conversation of releasing five consecutive classic albums. To know creatively what he’s been able to do and have such a drop-off and not give a f–k? One of my favorite songs if ‘530’ and I saw flashes, but that last part it went downhill from there,” Lamar said. “That’s why it’s tough for me to dismiss him and say, ‘It’s fully over.’”

After getting an early listen, Denis has high hopes for Latto’s Sugar Honey Iced Tea album and thinks it could vault her into the big three conversation with Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B and Nicki Minaj in female rap.

“One of those [big three] spots is kinda shaky right now, for obvious reasons. This album — I think it’s better than every other female rap album we’ve got this year. I’ll stand on it. I’m very happy with this album.”

Watch the full episode below.