Big Sean took to X last night and addressed biting accusations brought forth by some rap fans.

The Detroit rapper dropped the video for his month-old single “Yes” a couple of days ago and some immediately accused him of using Baby Keem‘s flow, leading to both rappers trending on X. “We really live in a world where baby keem has 40 year old sons,” one X user said, while another tweeted, “Kendrick and Baby Keem bout to send Big Sean a cease and desist.”

Later that night, Sean tweeted, “Must not be familiar wit my game,” seemingly in reference to the chatter online.

Fans tried to bring up Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar‘s (Keem’s older cousin) history of beef, but Sean recently told Charlamagne Tha God that they’ve settled things. “We already talked about it. I already got an apology for it,” he said in regards to a version of Lamar’s song “Element” that leaked in 2019. “I ain’t really had too much communication with him since then and you know, I represent a lot of people from my city from where I come from, fans of mine who think I didn’t stand on my sh—t and that’s not the case.”

In that version, Lamar rapped, “Big Sean keep sneak dissin,’ I let it slide/ I think his false confidence got him inspired/ I can’t make them respect you, baby, it’s not my job/ You finally famous for who you date, not how you rhyme/ Cute ass raps, get your puberty up/ Then make you a classic album before you come at us/ Drake and Meek Mill beef might got you gassed up/ But I’m a whole ‘nother beast, I really f— you up.”

Big Sean’s sixth solo album Better Me Than You was originally expected Aug. 9, but he decided to push the release back and has yet to announce another date.

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Hello Kitty is officially 50 years old, and to celebrate the milestone, Igloo has created an official limited-edition Hello Kitty cooler that will be the spotlight of your merch collection.

Just like the adorable character, the outdoor brand is encouraging you to get together with friends new and old with a special cooler that’ll keep snacks and beverages fresh while you picnic in the park. The design doesn’t just show off a statement-making gradient color scheme, but has a built-in handle that’ll make carrying a breeze. Another standout feature is the side push button that’ll open the cooler with a simple push.

Reviewers are even gushing over the cooler saying they “love the reliability of Igloo cooler and the cuteness of a childhood friend.” The cooler will also tug on your nostalgic side featuring images of Hello Kitty and and graphics of her favorite things — including her iconic bow.

Keep reading to learn more and shop the Hello Kitty cooler.

Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Little Playmate Cooler

Buy Now on igloo $44.99

Beach trips won’t be complete until you pack this exclusive cooler. While the exterior features and graphic that oozes cuteness, the interior has a seven quart capacity and insulating THERMECOOL foam that will help keep your drinks and goodies at a refreshing temperature — and with the added bonus of being eco-friendly.

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With the Hello Kitty cooler being a limited-edition design, that means that once it’s sold out, it most likely won’t be restocked. If you happen to miss out on snagging this limited-edition cooler, you can still find more Hello Kitty designs including one that spotlights the character by herself, a Hello Kitty x Care Bears crossover cooler design and a Hello Kitty & Friends version that are all only $45.

For the cooler brand, this latest collection only expands the collaborations that they’ve released with other popular ones including The Powerpuff Girls and a Dookie-themed design.

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best music coolers, portable grills and tote bags.

A$AP Rocky‘s forthcoming fourth album Don’t Be Dumb was slated to arrive on Aug. 30, but in his new Billboard cover story that came out Thursday (Aug. 22), he revealed that he’s pushing the project to the fall.

“LEAKS & SAMPLE CLEARANCES ARE DISRUPTING THE ALBUM. ITS BEEN 6 YEARS & I WANNA MAKE THE BEST ALBUM EVER. IM SORRY FOR THE WAIT,” he wrote on X in response to NFR Podcast sharing Billboard‘s reporting about Rocky’s delayed album release.

The Harlem rapper (real name Rakim Mayers) told Billboard that Don’t Be Dumb will feature frequent collaborator and friend Tyler, The Creator and Morrissey and an all-star roster of producers, including Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Hitkidd, Madlib, Metro Boomin and The Alchemist. “I sat and I played the album for Tim Burton, and he was f—ing with it heavy,” he said, adding that the Beetlejuice director was “rocking his head” while listening to it. “He’s like, ‘Wow! I didn’t know you made that kind of music!’”

Don’t Be Dumb will arrive six years after Testing, which was released on May 25, 2018, via ASAP Worldwide, Polo Grounds Music and RCA Records. The 15-track project featured collaborations with Moby, T.I. and Kid Cudi (“A$AP Forever REMIX”), FKA twigs (“Fukk Sleep”), Skepta (“Praise The Lord (Da Shine)”), Kodak Black (“CALLDROPS”), Juicy J (“Gunz N Better”), French Montana (“Brotha Man”) and Frank Ocean (“Purity”). It reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Lady Gaga took to Instagram on Thursday (Aug. 22) to celebrate the love she and Bruno Mars have received for their swoon-worthy new collaboration, “Die With a Smile.”

“Watching fans from all over the world celebrate this music has meant so much to me, to see the words of the song touch your heart and the video provoke this huge wave of dancing and fun is beautiful to watch and I’m so grateful,” she wrote alongside a series of photos, in which Gaga is seen in her retro-style attire from the track’s accompanying music video. “Thank you thank you thank you for loving our song i love you for real and i hope the message of love we shared will continue to create special moments for you all in your lives—I know it does in mine every day. The power of music is big and your love of this song reminded me of that.”

See the post here.

Shortly after the project dropped last week, the Joker star and “Uptown Funk!” hitmaker gave “Die With a Smile” its live debut at Mars’ Thursday night (Aug. 15) concert at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. For the show, he wore a cowboy hat, while Gaga again sported bee-hive hair akin to her look in the music video, maintaining the song’s retro feel.

Following the drop, Gaga took to TikTok to share a video in which she’s seen singing along to her freshly released collab, rocking a bright blue eye makeup look as she sweetly cradles a tiny French Bulldog.

When Home Rule Records owner Charvis Campbell got a cold call from the Office of the Vice President of the United States on May 3, 2023, he felt the way most people would have when confronted by the same scenario: perplexed.  

“It felt like an interview, like a background check,” Campbell tells Billboard. “When we were done, I was like, ‘Wait, this is kind of weird.’” 

But the calls continued. Next, VP Kamala Harris’ representative asked if anyone from the Uptown Washington, D.C., record store would be in the shop that day and mentioned that someone from the office might stop by. Then, Campbell got another call from a different representative who strongly suggested he stick around. The next thing he knew, the Secret Service came to inspect the 2,700 sq. ft. independent record store — and then the vice president followed.  

With a swarm of press around Vice President Harris, Campbell tried to help her around the store by asking what she might be interested in. “I’m like, ‘Okay, you want to talk about Coltrane?’ and she was like, ‘No, I want Mingus.’ She was looking for the real jazz,” says Campbell. “She had that keen sense to want some real hardcore music.”  

On May 9, Harris posted a video on Instagram that showed her walking away from HR Records — which specializes in used jazz, soul, R&B, funk and more — with three vinyl records: Charles Mingus’ Let My Children Hear Music (“one of the greatest jazz performers ever”);  Roy Ayers’ Everybody Loves the Sunshine (one of her “favorite albums of all time”); and Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald’s “beautiful” collaborative 1959 album, Porgy and Bess. 

“It was one of those things that wasn’t planned,” says Campbell, adding that Vice President Harris asked about the challenges of running his small business and engaged with several people who happened to be in the shop. “It was very unexpected, but sincere in the sense of her enjoying the music and wanting to learn more about the shop.

“For me,” Campbell adds, “it was, ‘There’s a lot of other places you can be right now, but the fact that you took the time says you’re supportive of small businesses, but also of our shop.’” 

After Harris’ visit and her subsequent clinching of the Democratic nomination for president, Campbell says there has been a notable increase in HR’s social media engagement, and out-of-town visitors will stop by to take a photo where Harris once was. It’s been a boon for one of the rare Black-owned record stores in the country (Campbell estimates there are only about 20 to 30 across the nation), not to mention for such a young establishment.  

Campbell and his business partner Michael Bernstein opened HR Records in 2018 with no music business experience between them (though Bernstein had worked as an independent musician many years prior). Campbell had been driving up to Baltimore from D.C. on a regular basis to purchase vinyl from the small independent shop East-West Records until its owner, Bill Coates, informed Campbell the store would be closing for good.

“I would tease the owner and say, ‘Hey, if we bring this to D.C., we’ll make some money,’” says Campbell. “Being the wise sage that he was he said, ‘No, you don’t want to get into the record business.’” 

Undaunted, Campbell bought Coates’ entire collection and quickly realized he needed to do something with it. Initially, the collection went into the back of an antique shop for about six months, before Campbell and Bernstein landed on a location for HR Records. In 2018, they opened their doors on 702 Kennedy Street NW and began selling exclusively used vinyl.  

HR Records does not lack for inventory, with thousands of records packed into bins and decorating the walls. (“Too many to count,” says Campbell.) 

In addition to vinyl, the store carries CDs and merch that each account for roughly 10% of its inventory. The other 80% is a curated collection of rare and used jazz, soul, reggae and African music records. While the store has participated in Record Store Day, Campbell found it overwhelming for such a small and niche shop. “I would prefer to have that ‘68 Blue Note on the wall as opposed to the reissue of it,” he says. “The reissue sounds great, but I’ll go for the original any day.” 

To fill the crates with rare vinyl, Campbell has had to develop relationships with a lot of private collectors, which he considers the hardest and best part of his job. “Once we sell that amazing Sun Ra or Coltrane or Eric Dolphy record, it’s gone,” Campbell says. “That’s what I think [Coates] was getting at. It’s going to take time and effort to build up a place where people feel comfortable giving you their records so that records are coming in the door.” 

It has taken years for Campbell to acquire many collections, but he says the effort has been worthwhile. Developing those private collector relationships has led to even greater opportunities, like creating The HR Music and Film Foundation, which was born from COVID-relief work the store did for musicians by hosting gigs at the small stage in the back of the shop, filming them and promoting the videos and artists on their social media. After roughly 15 shows, the HR team realized they could get more support if they formed a not-for-profit organization.  

Today, the HR Music and Film Foundation produces live musical performances, concerts, film screenings and festivals. It also educates youth in the community through workshops, classes and hands-on experience, allowing them to develop confidence and skills in music production, audio production, filmmaking, photography and graphic design. The foundation’s first project was a documentary on Black Fire Records, a Black-owned independent jazz label that started in D.C. in the 1970s. In support of the film, the foundation launched a local outdoor festival with live music and an evening screening of the documentary in 2022. The third annual Home Rule Music Festival took place in June and the documentary aired on PBS in 2023. 

“When I think of the work we’ve done now with our foundation and the documentaries,” says Campbell, “It’s about using the medium of film combined with music which is so powerful in terms of being able to tell stories and educate people and educate our community.” 

More in this series: Grimey’s in Nashville, Tenn.; Twist & Shout in Denver, Colo.