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In the eighth episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson & Damien Scott run through Megan Thee Stallion’s new album, Camila Cabello’s C,XOXO and what they thought of Drake’s features. Additionally, the trio breaks down the highlights from the 2024 BET Awards, including Usher’s tribute and Will Smith’s first performance, along with other standout moments.
Damien Scott: If this was just a 10-track album, it would have been like a…
Trevor Anderson: It would have been a 10/10? Album of the year?
Damien Scott: Classic record.
Carl Lamarre: It killed me knowing that you got two Drake records and they kind of were somewhat of a dud and then you come with a heater.
Trevor Anderson: I’m hoping we can take this and can continue going forward, build off this year and keep it going back.
Carl Lamarre: It’s been quite some time.
Damien Scott: Hey, hey!
Carl Lamarre: Just a little bit, everybody was doing their thing. Little vacays.
Trevor Anderson: Yeah. It’s that time of year.
Carl Lamarre: Yeah, BET.
Damien Scott: Skin tan, hair long. Smell like a vacation.
Carl Lamarre: I love that. You got a little tan on you, pop.
Damien Scott: A little bit.
Carl Lamarre: Alright!
Trevor Anderson: Oh, yeah. I forgot! Yeah! Well I know you were out in L.A. last week, obviously.
Carl Lamarre: Yeah I was in L.A. for BET.
Trevor Anderson: You can see…. I’m thinking of that Sexyy Red video with the…
Carl Lamarre: Oh she made it rain on me.
Trevor Anderson: Go check this out, if you haven’t seen Carl on the Billboard hip-hop social because what’s was the line?
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.pngYveto2024-07-05 19:36:272024-07-05 19:36:27Rating the ‘Megan’ Album — And Are Drake’s Features On Camila’s ‘C,XOXO’ Redemption? | Billboard Unfiltered
The first week of July has been lit up with firework displays and, as usual, a shimmering batch of new music releases from several different artists.
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Leading the charge is Zach Bryan, whose highly anticipated new album The Great American Bar Scene dropped Thursday (July 4), fittingly timed for the United States’ most patriotic day of pub drinking. The rootsy, 19-track effort features collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer as well as previously released singles “Pink Skies,” “Purple Gas,” “Better Days” and “Memphis; The Blues” feat. John Moreland.
Also taking advantage of the Independence Day theme is Kesha, who aptly dropped her first song as an independent artist — as in, free from her contract with Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records — on the Fourth. “Joyride” — a topsy-turvy, summer-ready dance track — finds the California native embracing the signature sound that made her a star in the late 2000s.
The week was also marked by a couple all-star collaborations, with Lana Del Rey and Quavo releasing their much-teased duet “Tough” — along with a dreamy music video — and Eminem hyping fans up for his fast-approaching new album The Death of Slim Shady by teaming up with Big Sean and BabyTron on “Tobey.” Plus, Morgan Wallen shared new single “Lies Lies Lies” to commemorate the one-year anniversary of his record One Thing at a Time, while Childish Gambino dropped “Lithonia” ahead of his upcoming final album, Bando Stone & the New World, which arrives July 19.
Whether you reside in the Land of the Free or elsewhere, you have the right to vote for your favorite piece of new music released this week. Tell us your pick by casting your ballot below.
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As the United States celebrated Independence Day on July 4, across the pond, one of country music’s reigning luminaries, Morgan Wallen, showcased his global appeal before 50,000 fans for his debut headlining show at BST’s Hyde Park in London. This marks the largest country concert ever held in the United Kingdom.
Among the throngs of attendees were celebrities Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, as well as Kansas City Chiefs player Patrick Mahomes and retired soccer player Brittany Mahomes. “Country concert in London, count me in,” Brittany wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the couple at Wallen’s concert.
Wallen’s July 4 show expanded upon the singer-songwriter’s previous sold-out headlining set at London’s O2 Arena in December 2023. His lengthy set at BST’s Hyde Park was highlighted by a solo rendition of his Post Malone collaboration, “I Had Some Help” (which reigned for six weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 chart), as well as an acoustic rendering of his song “Lies Lies Lies.” He wrapped the show by throwing it back to his breakthrough 2018 hit “The Way I Talk,” from his If I Know Me debut project.
Wallen also made a surprise release of the U.K. exclusive “Lies Lies Lies” physical CD, while the official recorded version of the song is also available on all streaming platforms. The release follows 2023’s Abbey Road Sessions, which featured a performance of “Lies Lies Lies” and was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios.
Stateside, Wallen’s One Night at a Time Tour has been a concert juggernaut, often selling out multiple stadium shows in various cities, such as his three-night, sold-out stint at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium earlier this year. Wallen’s global recognition has been steadily ascending, too, with his blend of country, rock and hip-hop elements proving that his stardom expands beyond geographical or genre perimeters. Wallen’s international impact was on display in recent weeks when “I Had Some Help” topped Billboard’s Global 200 chart. The success illustrates Wallen’s steady growth, as the 11-time Billboard Music Awards winner previously notched a top 5 on the Global 200 with 2023’s “Last Night,” and had top 10 hits on the Global 200 chart with 2022’s “Don’t Think Jesus” and 2021’s “Wasted on You.”
Wallen’s concerts have showcased his numerous record-breaking songs and albums (such as his One Thing at a Time album, which earlier this year broke the record for the most weeks at No. 1 for a country album on the Billboard 200 chart) while simultaneously supporting the mission of The Morgan Wallen Foundation, which helps provide children with resources to thrive through sports and music, with a portion of every concert ticket purchased supporting that goal. That aim continued in London, with the Morgan Wallen Foundation earmarking $20,000 to support London Youth Choirs, which gives disadvantaged young people access to music, singing and performance.
The Hyde Park show served as an early taste of what U.K. fans can expect later this year, when Wallen further builds upon his international success with an overseas return on Aug. 28 with a show in Stockholm, Sweden, to launch his first European headlining tour. The seven-concert trek will also feature stops in Copenhagen, Denmark; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Glasgow, U.K. and more before wrapping with two back-to-back nights in Dublin, Ireland.
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Glastonbury Festival took place at Worthy Farm in Somerset in South West England this past weekend (June 28-30), headlined by Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA. The festival is inarguably the pinnacle of the U.K.’s festival season as 200,000 fans head to the British countryside for a varied lineup. SEVENTEEN, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Avril Lavigne and Shania Twain all performed on the bill, alongside emerging names like The Last Dinner Party, Kneecap, English Teacher and more.
Talk has already turned to next year’s edition. Festival boss Emily Eavis has confirmed that she’s already in conversation with artists for next year’s lineup, and that they’ll take their traditional fallow year in 2026. These are the acts that are potentially in contention to headline the 2025 edition.
Oasis
Talk of the Gallagher brothers reuniting is now a fixture in the chatter around potential headliners. The group – helmed by brothers Noel and Liam – headlined once (in 2004) prior to their acrimonious split in 2009, though there’s a sense of unfinished business. Both have performed at the festival in recent years: Noel warmed up the crowd for Paul McCartney before his epic 2022 slot, while Liam took a similar slot in 2019. This summer, Liam embarked on a sold-out U.K. tour for the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ debut album, Definitely Maybe. The pair recently denied a report that suggested shows were imminent, but it’s the rumor that just won’t go away.
Taylor Swift
Similarly, it feels as if Taylor Swift is at some point destined to headline the Pyramid Stage. Swift was due to take top billing in 2020 alongside Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar before COVID put touring on hold. Post-pandemic, Swift returned with her blockbuster The Eras Tour. Given that the festival’s fees are famously low, and that the Eras run concludes in December 2024, a return could be tricky to negotiate.
Harry Styles
It’s perhaps a shock to learn that Harry Styles hasn’t topped the bill for Glastonbury yet. His former band One Direction never got the invite and, as it stands, the 30-year-old has yet to perform at Worthy Farm. That could change, though: a new album is reportedly in production, his first since 2022’s Billboard 200-topping Harry’s House. There were rumors he would make an appearance during Shania Twain’s Legends slot in 2024, but perhaps he’s holding out for next year….
Sam Fender
For the past decade, opportunities for British artists to ascend to headliner status at Glastonbury have been slim. If there’s a queue forming, however, Sam Fender would be at the front of it. The Newcastle-born musician’s second album Seventeen Going Under went to No. 1 on the U.K.’s Official Album Charts, and last summer he played a huge show at St. James Park, his home city’s soccer stadium. In 2022, he played before headliner Billie Eilish on the Pyramid Stage. With album three due later this year, this could be the moment.
Raye
Similarly, only a handful of women – Florence + The Machine, Adele, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and SZA – have headlined the festival in recent history, something Eavis is keen to rectify. Raye is a perfect option. The British artist had a global hit in 2023 with “Escapism,” feat. 070 Shake, which landed at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 — and she scooped up a record-breaking six Brit Awards in February 2024. She headlined her first festival at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May and the trajectory suggests Glasto could be next.
Madonna
Madonna was heavily rumored to take the Sunday headline slot in 2024 until negotiations reportedly broke down over a performance fee. The Celebration Tour – which grossed a remarkable $225.4 million, per Billboard Boxscore – wrapped in May 2024, but a show out of her touring cycle may be more manageable and achievable.
Rihanna
The Barbadian star has also flirted with a performance at the festival and has been heavily rumored in the past. In 2023, it was reported that she had to withdraw from the lineup due to the impending birth of her second child with husband A$AP Rocky. There were more whispers earlier this year, but with new music seemingly further away from what Navy stans would like to imagine, perhaps 2025 is more likely.
Olivia Rodrigo
The “Drivers License” singer is currently in the midst of her GUTS World Tour, which wraps in Australia this October. It would be a quick turnaround to get back on the road for June 2025 with a new record, but given how successful her last Glastonbury appearance was in 2022, she may well fancy heading back to Worthy Farm sooner rather than later.
Dave
U.K. rap has enjoyed considerable success at the festival in recent years. In 2019, Stormzy became the first from the scene to headline the festival. That same year, Dave went viral when he brought up audience member ‘Alex from Glasto’ for a scene-stealing appearance on the mic. The U.K. artist has enjoyed considerable commercial and critical success with his two records (2019’s Psychodrama and 2021’s We’re All Alone In This Together), and his joint single “Sprinter” with Central Cee is the longest-running rap No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart. If a third album materializes before next summer, consider him a shoo-in.
Fred again..
By the time 2025’s edition rolls around, an electronic act will not have headlined the Pyramid Stage for two decades, stretching back to Basement Jaxx’s slot in 2005. Whether that’s through a lack of viable acts or reluctance from the festival, Fred again..’s popularity suggests a clear path to bring dance music back to the main stage. His 2023 set on The Other Stage drew one of the festival’s biggest ever crowds and his secret sets at the 2024 edition caused areas to be shut down hours in advance. He headlined Coachella’s second weekend with Skrillex and Four Tet in 2023 and performed a solo set at Los Angeles’ 77,500-capacity Coliseum last month, suggesting he’s more than up for the challenge.
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The U.K. has elected a new government. Following the country’s General Election on Thursday (July 4), Labour won an overwhelming majority with 412 elected MPs, and its leader, Sir Keir Starmer, is the new Prime Minister. The U.K. had been under Conservative rule since 2010, but the Rishi Sunak-led party lost 249 seats, finishing with just 121, the worst result in its history.
This comes as little surprise, as polling consistently put the left-wing party Labour ahead of its rivals. The only real question was how comprehensive the result would be. Starmer’s success rivals previous Prime Minister Tony Blair and his landslide victory with Labour in 1997’s General Election.
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Starmer ran his campaign on a ticket of “Change,” but few knew quite what that meant. There were promises of economic growth and a greater respect for the office, but a final YouGov poll released the day prior to the election found that only 5% of registered voters were choosing Labour MPs for “policy reasons.” Despite the seat majority — 326 elected MPs are required to win in the U.K.’s first-past-the-post electoral system — Labour’s vote share has increased by just 1.5% from the 2019 General Election that it lost comprehensively. It’s been a line of attack hammered repeatedly: What does Labour actually stand for?
It’s a question that the music industry has been asking, too. Between the cost-of-living crisis, the rise in inflation and the long-running impact of Brexit, a perfect storm has been brewing under the Conservatives which, Ed Sheeran suggested earlier this week, did “not value art at all”.
There are positive noises. In its manifesto, Labour says it “will implement our creative industries sector plan as part of our Industrial Strategy, creating good jobs and accelerating growth in film, music, gaming, and other creative sectors.” There are references to assisting performers in touring through the EU, ensuring “new consumer protections on ticket resales” and plans to ban “no fault” evictions which, as NME previously reported, is contributing to the housing crisis felt by creatives and society at large.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), is optimistic that the members he campaigns on behalf of — venues, clubs, bars, performers, workers and more — feel positively towards the new government. Fourty four percent of respondents to the NTIA’s Consumer Insight Survey feel that Labour is supportive of the arts, culture and sport, compared to the Conservatives at just 11%.
“There’s been lots of positive rhetoric behind the scenes,” says Kill, but “it still seems very unclear where Labour is from the manifesto.” There will now be additional concern that Thangam Debbonaire, who had been widely expected to become the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports, failed to win her seat in her Bristol Central constituency; she is one of just two shadow cabinet ministers to not join the party in government.
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The changes that Kill and other industry bodies like the Music Venue Trust (MVT) are calling for are simple. He points to the VAT rate (Value Added Tax) that campaigners like the NTIA and Save Our Scene want reduced to 12.5%, and a reduction of VAT on tickets for music events at grassroots venues. They say these changes would bring them closer to comparative rates in Europe.
In 2022, it was estimated that the nighttime economy generated £136.5 billion, an increase from 2019’s pre-pandemic figure of £121.3 billion, but the NTIA’s report notes that inflation and an increase in operating costs means that any turnover gains will be “essentially wiped out.” Between policy, legislative and financial issues, the live music and hospitality industry is on the back foot.
“We do need to change the attitude in terms of the value we bring,” Kill says. “The nighttime economy needs to start to be perceived as non-burdensome and more value-driven. The worry that we have is that the U.K. is going to lose that status as a real driver of culture.”
There are similarly pressing issues for artists, too. Lily Fontaine, lead singer of indie-rock band English Teacher, which released its critically acclaimed debut album This Could Be Texas on Island Records this year, says artists like themselves are in a dire position. “I’m still not earning. It’s still a struggle for me and my band,” she says. “And it’s even more of a struggle for smaller artists that are trying to make a career.”
When Fontaine gave evidence to the Culture Media & Sport Parliamentary Committee on Grassroots Music Venues in March, she pointed out the “cost-of-touring” crisis and the burden it places on her and her band to keep their tour crew — from technicians to production staff — employed and paid. Though the band received funding from PPL Momentum Accelerator to help record its first single, the sheer cost will lead to a landscape unrepresentative of the U.K.’s diverse music scenes.
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“We didn’t have enough time to maintain full-time jobs to get enough money,” Fontaine says. “It was so hard to create and to enjoy creating [our debut album] when you’ve got to think about earning. Then that creates a homogenised scene because only the people that can afford it would do it.”
Manchester-based musician Chloe Slater — who released her single “Nothing Shines On This Island” earlier this year — is concerned that young people are being priced out of music events that help inspire creativity, and that grassroots music venues are closing at an alarming rate. The MVT says that 125 grassroots venues shut down in 2023, while the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) says that 50 independent music festivals have been canceled, postponed or closed in 2024.
“Grassroots venues and festivals [are] where young musicians hone their craft, and the industry is an ecosystem,” Slater says. “And if you lose those venues, it’s such a massive part of that. I don’t understand where all the new artists are supposed to come from if they’re not there.”
A levy on tickets at larger venues to help support the grassroots venues has been recommended by MPs. Kill welcomes this suggestion but wants to ensure the whole ecosystem is supported, not just music venues. Elsewhere, Labour has suggested a crackdown on secondary ticket touts, but its position on AI is still uncertain, even as it’s become a pressing topic in the music industry and beyond.
The in-tray is bulging and the U.K. music industry is holding its breath, hoping that the incoming Labour government can meet the challenge.
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Benson Boone has become the latest male pop star to enter the scene, and to celebrate his recent success, Billboard is diving into his musical journey in the latest installment of Billboard Explains.
The Monroe, Wash., native discovered his love for music when his friend asked him to join their group for a Battle of the Bands competition. He went on to audition for American Idol, where he received a standing ovation from the judges.
However, he ultimately decided to drop out of the competition to pursue his music career and signed to Imagine Dragons’ lead singer Dan Reynolds’ label, Night Street Records.
On the Billboard charts, Boone debuted at No. 33 on the Emerging Artists chart in October 2021. His first Hot 100 track, “Ghost Town,” entered the chart at No. 100.
His biggest hit to date is “Beautiful Things,” which went viral on TikTok and debuted at No. 15 on the Hot 100, and later peaked at No. 2. It topped the Streaming Songs chart and the Pop Airplay chart.
Check out Benson Boone’s full musical journey in the clip above.
Benson Boone dazzled on American Idol, but he dropped out to pursue his solo career in music. Since then, he’s been in the Hot 100 with “Beautiful Things,” “In The Stars,” and “Ghost Town.” His album, ‘Fireworks & Rollerblades,’ debuted at No.6 in the Billboard 200, but how did he climb to the top so fast? Keep watching to learn more!
Tetris Kelly:
Benson Boone is living the dream. The pop-rock artist has been a staple on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Beautiful Things” since its debut, and recently opened for Taylor Swift for one of the London stops of The Eras Tour. But who is Benson Boone? How did he get his start? And how did he become a Hot 100 success? This is Billboard Explains: Benson Boone’s Beautiful Chart Success. Hailing from Monroe, Washington, Benson didn’t discover his voice and love of music until high school. His best friend asked him to play the piano in their school’s battle of the bands competition after the lead singer dropped out. Benson filled in and that decision undoubtedly altered the course of his life. He then went on to audition for American Idol, where he received a standing ovation from judges and Katy Perry gave him the ultimate compliment. Benson ultimately decided to drop out of the competition to pursue music on his own. He went on to sign to Imagine Dragons’ frontman Dan Reynolds’ record label Night Street Records. Then, Benson made his Billboard chart debut at No. 33 on the Emerging Artists chart in October 2021. He earned his first Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Ghost Town,” peaking at No. 100. Next came “In the Stars,” his second Hot 100 hit. The song reached No. 82 and broke into the top 50 on the Global 200.
There’s not many Ukrainian Jewish people walking around Brooklyn that can be taken seriously when it comes to carving out a legitimate rap career.
Your Old Droog — Droog means close friend in Russian — has repeatedly defied the odds to get to this point a decade into his career as an independent artist, which finds him still dishing out boom-bap raps and catering to a lane that’s a dying breed as far as mainstream hip-hop goes.
Do a quick Google search for Droog (born Dmitry Kutsenko) interviews, and you’ll notice there aren’t many since he made waves on the scene about a decade ago — when rap fans ran with a conspiracy theory he was actually Nas undercover.
The early days of preumss caused him to lose faith in the media — but he’s willing to give it another shot in support of his latest alb Movie, which arrived on June 21.
“I got tired of journalists twisting my words,” he tells Billboard. “I got PTSD from early on in my career where you think you’re having a good conversation with somebody and the article comes out, ‘Your Old Droog is still not Nas!’”
Growing up, whenever Droog would see a supernatural stunt in a film, his parents would reply in Russian, “Movie!” He bottled that energy up to get his Martin Scorsese on and direct his own blockbuster with this album.
The 35-year-old has compiled quite the Rolodex of collaborators over his career, as he connects on this album with producers like king of the underground Madlib, Conductor Williams and the legendary Roc-A-Fella orchestrator Just Blaze. Yasiin Bey and Method Man also pop up as special guests for lyrical sparring sessions throughout the 47-minute expedition.
Check out our interview below with Your Old Droog, as he speaks on his definition of success, working with Madlib and the idea of celebrity in America.
Who are some of your favorite storytellers — whether they be directors, rappers?
Scarface as far as rapping goes — Slick Rick. As far as movies go, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Brian De Palma — all the greats. A nobody could tell a great story. Just like an average person.
How do you measure success for your album? What metrics are you using?
Personally, I try not to get too caught up in the metrics, because you could go crazy. Comparison is the thief of joy. I don’t think numbers always tell the full story. I am successful when I made the album, or even before I did. The definition of success — I was listening to a self-help thing, it’s the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. I think I’m doing that.
Do you feel like you’re preserving an old-guard in rap and a part of rap that isn’t pushed in mainstream as much?
Not at all. I don’t think I’m championing an old sound or old aesthetic. I still rap the same way on the rap I grew up on. In that sense, maybe I’m preserving what I appreciate about hip-hop. What raised me. But I don’t set out to be like, “Yo, we’re bringing 2003 back!” When I came out they were calling me a “’90s revivalist.” I appreciate ’90s music, but I was a child. I wasn’t knee-deep into hip-hop yet. Early 2000s was more my era.
Right — and the whole thing that came out saying you were Nas ghostwriting that EP.
You know journalists, they rehash talking points and it sounds cool. ’90s rap! Like I remember when Joey Bada$$ came out, the aesthetic was a little ’90s. I don’t think my aesthetic was ever ’90s. A lot of it has to do with maybe that’s one of the more recent times New York rap was at the forefront. The heyday and golden era so to speak. So that’s what people tend to point to.
You said Kendrick Lamar being the top rapper gives you hope for storytelling lyricism. Seeing his run that he’s been on, does that inspire you?
It was a little complicated, because I’m trying to release music and dudes are dropping diss tracks back-to-back. So we gotta kinda wait this out, but those guys are heavyweights in the game so you gotta give them that respect. I think it’s good for the cultural, period, as long as it doesn’t spill out in the street. At the end of the day, these guys are using words and it’s good for lyricism.
Kendrick Lamar being the biggest rapper in the game gives me hope for storytellers and #lyricism
How did you link up with Mos Def on “Care Free?” I loved [that] you said, “I got a free verse like Ye in ’03.” That was funny.
I heard through a few people he was a fan of mine. We ended up meeting when he had a show at Brooklyn Steel a few years ago. We met and he was showing me love that I almost forgot to fan out myself. A business partner passed my number to him and I get this weird text from an international number and lo and behold it’s Yasiin. Just understanding my story and my side of Brooklyn and being Ukrainian, that’s something he appreciates. Just a great dude.
How was working with Madlib and Conductor on this album if you could compare and contrast those experiences?
Both excellent producers. Madlib is a crazy legend and Conductor is still coming up. He’s killing it, but Madlib is near the father of this underground. They’re both similar and easy to work with. They understand what I should be lending vocals to. They understand my voice and my writing. There’s really not too much to talk about, since they know what to send over.
Working with Just Blaze harkens back to what we were talking about with the early 2000s era.
Yeah, that’s the era I’m bringing back. [Laughs.] Just, I’ve known him for a while. I always wanted to rhyme over a Just Blaze beat. That’s something we did coming up. It’s something else to have a Just Blaze beat. He doesn’t really talk on records like that and he did the vocals on the interlude.
On “Success & Power,” you said, “Don’t talk about Jews, that’s how Ye screwed up.” As a Jewish person, what’s your relationship with Ye’s music and has it changed?
I always had a love and hate. I didn’t love everything he did musically. Just to see him unravel in the public was really sad. To me, that was wordplay and a spin on his line. I like to have fun and not take myself too seriously, but I think there’s a lot of truth in that line too. He’s talented, but in recent years I guess I stopped caring [about his music]. I respect the line about the bleached a–hole. Musically, he’s a genius.
You had an interview in skits on your album. I feel like you haven’t done much press for recent albums. Was that intentional?
There came a point I realized I didn’t need to do press. If you get it you understand it and that’s fine. I had no hope in the journalistic profession as far as hip-hop. I don’t think there was a good landscape at the time. I was like, “I’m gonna make music for myself and my supporters.” There were writers that did it get it too, though.
My favorite record that I related to was “Grandmother’s Lessons.” Talk about your relationship with your grandma.
If you go through my music, I always mention my grandmothers. That’s a different type of love, if you’re fortunate enough to experience it. That’s like a mother on steroids. When I wrote it, I wasn’t even thinking about who else might like it. It’s just a song that I needed to write. That was enough for me. To get the feedback that I’ve been receiving, people are hitting me up telling me they shed tears to that song or their grandma is alive and they’re appreciating her more. That’s probably the best feedback you could ask for.
“Crescent Moon” has a ton of NBA references. Talk about your relationship with hoops growing up and meeting Dirk Nowitzki.
That was dope. When he tells me “all the best,” I take it literally. That’s Dirk. He’s cool as hell. I’m a Dallas Mavericks fan. Growing up, you dream of doing it professionally until you realize you’re not good enough or you smoking too much weed and you can’t really play ball like that. Basketball is life for me. When the playoffs are on, I can barely do anything else. It’s a big part of my life. I rap about whatever I’m interested in. Something in the back of my mind — any trivia or any basketball player type of thing. My high school didn’t have a basketball team. We just smoked marijuana, cut class and things of that nature.
How did you become a Dallas Mavericks fan? What did you think of the run to the NBA Finals this year? That was pretty special for it all to click.
I told Dirk the same thing. It was 2006 in the Finals and I kinda thought they got jerked by the refs. Part of me wanted to see them comeback and win. It took five years for them to get back and I just stayed on the bandwagon after that. Nobody expected them to go this far [this season]. I can’t be as upset as I was in 2006. It’s a different type of feeling and a different team. I’m excited for the future.
I feel like the placement of it was important because it’s right before “How Do You Do It?” That story that I tell on that song is so uniquely mind that I feel like nobody else could write it. That’s the sentiment I got from his quote. I want to do something that a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant could talk about.
Just trying to fit this mold — like preserving the value of something, but you don’t have to dress up a certain era. You could pay homage in the right way. It doesn’t have to be readily apparent to people. You don’t have to throw hoodies on and hang out with [Olde English] 40s.
You’re not gonna get the jeans out with all the NBA teams on them.
Nah, not even the Denver Nugget jeans on. My son got the drip. I grew up during that time. Usually when I see people paying [homage] to it, they’re nostalgic for an era they didn’t live in. I was around for that time. It wasn’t that great. Let’s move on.
I read your Varietyinterview and you were like, “How’d we go from having celebrities like Sammy Davis Jr. to Khloe Kardashian?” What do you think about the evolution of celebrity?
I don’t even know what it means anymore. Everybody’s a star. And I’m not s–tting on her. The dude could just be super poppin’. I didn’t know who Mr. Beast was. I think it was harder to be famous and you were famous for a real reason in those days. Sammy Davis Jr. is a legend. I think I watched a documentary and that stuck out in my mind. Following his work and talk show appearances, there’s never gonna be a person like that in American pop culture. Reality TV became a thing, I understand how things play out.
Going off that within rap, I feel like the young generation’s stars aren’t as big compared to when we were growing up with Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West. Do you see that the same with the landscape of rap?
I think that goes back to the point I had about media. Certain things aren’t in place for there to be stars. No disrespect to the interviewers, I see flyers where the interviewer’s name is bigger than the artist and that doesn’t even make sense. These people are building their brands at the same time. You have journalists who want to be rappers. If the guy covering you wants to be famous, where does that leave you? They don’t have a stake in it. It’s a free-for-all.
What does it even mean to be a rap star these days? You saw what happened to Pop Smoke. People don’t want to see you do well, it’s sad. Do you even want to be a star on that level? Do you want what comes with that?
Jim Jones always says rappers have the most dangerous job in America.
Dudes is hating on you before you even make it, so imagine when you are that guy. People are literally seething.
What’s your advice for upcoming independent artists in how they can navigate the business?
Everybody’s not cut out to be an independent artist, but some of us are left with no choice. You gotta just go for it. You gotta release the music. You gotta be strategic too. You gotta understand where you’re at in your career, and where you’re tryna go. I think independent is the way to move. I work best without somebody standing over me telling me what to do. I got into this profession so I wouldn’t have to work, so I’m definitely not doing that. Maybe some people like being told what to do, but I don’t think you need to get in the music game [for that]. You could just go to McDonald’s.
James Dolan will continue his run as Sphere Entertainment Co.’s executive chairman/CEO for another three years. Sphere Entertainment gave Dolan a three-year contract extension that runs from July 1 to June 30, 2027, according to a July 3 regulatory filing.
Sphere Entertainment consists of Sphere, the groundbreaking, $2.3-billion venue in Las Vegas; MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet; and the streaming platform MSG+. Sphere Entertainment spun off MSG Entertainment, a live events company that owns venues such as Madison Square Garden, in 2023.
According to Billboard Boxscore, sphere generated revenue of $170 million in the quarter ended March 31, its second full quarter since U2 opened the dazzling venue in September with a 40-date residency that grossed $245 million in ticket sales. A deal to construct a second Sphere in London fell through in January, but the company is “in discussions with several markets” and has encountered “plenty of interest all around the world,” Dolan said during a May 10 earnings call.
The new contract will pay Dolan a base salary of not less than $230,000 and an annual target bonus opportunity not less than 200% of his base salary. He will receive non-qualified performance vesting options to purchase 1.8 million Class A shares of Sphere Entertainment and performance vesting options to purchase 984,700 shares. Through his participation in the company’s long-term incentive programs, Dolan is expected to receive one or more long-term awards with an annual target value of at least $11.8 million.
Dolan was also extended as the executive chairman/CEO of MSG Entertainment on June 21. He carries the same titles at MSG Sports and as owner of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.
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.pngYveto2024-07-05 18:37:312024-07-05 18:37:31James Dolan Will Be Sphere Entertainment’s CEO for Three More Years