Killer Mike Shares Powerful War-Themed Video for ‘Run,’ His First Solo Song in 10 Years: Watch

Killer Mike has released his first solo music in roughly a decade.

On Monday (July 4), the Run the Jewels rapper dropped the powerful new single “Run,” featuring an opening monologue from comedian Dave Chappelle and a verse from jailed rapper Young Thug.

The No I.D.-produced track is Mike’s first solo music since his 2012 album, R.A.P. Music. Since then, he’s collaborated with producer/rapper El-P in the hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, whose last release, RTJ4, arrived in 2020.

In the war-themed music video for “Run,” Mike is seen on a battlefield, where a battalion of Black soldiers are fighting for their freedom against fascist oppressors.

“If you’re looking at this video, certain things are gonna stand out: Obviously, there’s a war going on for people who want justice and righteousness, and there’s a war that’s symbolized by what you would notice is old Confederate uniforms and Nazi-like uniforms,” he said of the video, according to Rolling Stone.

“I wanted this video — that was inspired by the monologue that Dave Chappelle did at the beginning — to be representative that there’s a fight, the spiritual fight, that is going on every single day with us.”

The surreal Adrian Villagomez-directed clip also references the ongoing legal problems for Young Thug, who is currently behind bars on gang-related charges. During the rapper’s verse, a soldier waves a white flag with the words “Free Thug, Protect Black Art, Free Gunna” (YSL Records rapper Gunna is also in jail as part of the RICO case). The next scene shows another man flashing a white arm band that reads “Free YSL.”

Check out the powerful video for “Run” below.

 

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Husker Du’s Greg Norton Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer

A GoFundMe has been organized for Hüsker Dü and UltraBomb bassist Greg Norton, who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“Tonight should have been the start of the UltraBomb tour in the UK. My apologies to our fans in Nottingham, London, Nuneaton, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Falmouth,” Norton wrote on Facebook on June 30. “At the beginning of June, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. My doctors at the Mayo Clinic believe I have excellent odds, but we need to get in right away and move forward with treatment and surgery.”

“Due to this, we have canceled our upcoming UltraBomb dates in England and Scotland. We will also be pushing our fall tour in the states back a bit to allow me time to recover and return in full force,” he continued.

Norton said, “My sincere apologies to those who had tickets purchased or who were planning on attending our upcoming shows across the pond. I am frustrated, as I know you may be feeling disappointed or upset. I was really hoping to be sharing how excited I was to be coming back to play England for the first time in 35 years!”

“For all of my brothers out there, go get tested,” he urged. “It could be a life changer!”

The GoFundMe for Norton, with a goal to raise $30,000 for his medical treatment, launched shortly after and has already surpassed its original goal. Bob Mould shared the link on FaceBook on Monday (July 4).

Jamie Oliver, Norton’s UltraBomb bandmate, wrote on the fundraiser page: “We can’t imagine the stress and anxiety he and his family must be going through. One thing that’s for sure, though, is that the cost of treatment in the United States is eyewatering. We want to help alleviate some of that pressure, so we’ve decided to set up a GoFundMe account to collect money for Greg to put towards his treatment. Please help us by donating what you can. Let’s get Greg treated and well, back on his feet and rocking out again in no time!”

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Big Sean and Jhene Aiko Are Expecting Their First Child Together

Congratulations are in order for Big Sean and Jhené Aiko. The hip-hop power couple is expecting their first child together.

Sean confirmed the exciting news on social media over the weekend.

“Whole new motivation forreal!” the rapper wrote Sunday (July 3) on his Instagram Story. “Very grateful God continues to bless us, thank you.”

“Can’t wait to be a Dad,” he added alongside a black heart emoji.

Sean and Aiko, both 34, were photographed walking alongside each other in Los Angeles on Saturday, where the singer-songwriter was seen with a baby bump.

“The couple is overjoyed and looks forward to this next chapter,” a representative for Aiko told People.

The songstress also subtly acknowledged her pregnancy on Instagram by posting a childhood photo of herself holding her belly. See the adorable post here.

Aiko already shares a 13-year-old daughter, Namiko Love, with singer O’Ryan. This will be Big Sean’s first child.

Sean and Aiko have had an on-again, off-again relationship since 2016. Their friendship began in 2013 while working together on the rapper’s song “Beware” and “I’m Gonna Be.”

The pair also collaborated on their Twenty88 project in 2016. The self-titled album hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.

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In America, everything is under attack, and it’s exhausting our ability to cope | Opinion

You feel the weight draped on you, right? The world weariness, this film of exhausted depression from fighting all these daily fights that stretch endlessly from an American woman’s womb … Click to Continue »
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No longer cheap haven, Little Havana residents stressed by soaring rents and inflation

The sounds of Little Havana float into Maybelyn Rodríguez Laureano’s apartment every Sunday. It is a song unique to the diverse Miami neighborhood, a mix of roosters crowing, priests preaching … Click to Continue »
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Noah Cyrus Opens Up About Her Music Journey | Billboard News

Catch our full exclusive interview with Noah Cyrus on Billboard News this week.

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BTS’ Label Recruits ARMY to Protect the Band From ‘Personal Attacks and Defamation’

BigHit Music, the South Korean record label, says it is going after “malicious postings” related to K-pop supergroup BTS – and is looking to fans to supply intel to aid in the crackdown.

On June 29, BigHit released a note on social networking platform Weverse warning that the company had recently filed “additional criminal complaints against postings with personal attacks and defamation,” using new information provided by fans and collected through its own monitoring activities.

The Weverse note came two weeks after BTS shook up the pop music world by revealing that the seven-member boy band was taking an indefinite break to pursue solo projects. The group’s fan group, known as ARMY, has lashed out on Twitter against journalists in the U.S. for their portrayals of the group’s break, which was originally translated by BigHit parent company HYBE as a “hiatus” on the video of a dinner where band members discussed the issue. (“We’re going on a hiatus now,” Suga said in Korean.)

While ARMY is well-known for criticizing online posters who make unflattering comments about BTS, toxic cyberbullying is real in Korea — and has been attributed to several high-profile suicides, including in the K-pop world.

BigHit says that one poster uploaded posts containing “insults against [BTS]” using dozens of different IP addresses on DC Inside, a South Korean internet forum. “We have been monitoring these types of malicious postings and filed criminal complaints against the poster for all the postings with malicious comments,” the company said.

The label says it has found other defamatory postings with “extremely malicious and delusional content” and initiated legal proceedings against the posters. “The complaint we have filed includes platforms not mentioned in this notice and we would also like to inform you that we cannot reveal every detail of the content of the complaint to ensure a proper investigation.”

BigHit described their Weverse note broadly as an “update” on its activities to protect BTS. “Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to BTS, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism,” the label said.

The company has refused to settle cases, noting that “the accused of an ongoing investigation recently attempted to settle the case but there will be no settlement nor leniency… our policy of no settlement and no leniency remains in effect.” BigHit urged fans to make continued use of a hotline (protect@bighitmusic.co.kr) to report any cases of abuse.

Tension Over Criminal Defamation and Cyberbullying

In South Korea, unlike in the United States (on a federal level), defamation is a criminal charge — and speaking truth is not always a defense. “Openly false facts” under South Korea’s criminal code can result in up to seven years in prison. But if the court finds that a defendant made true statements with the “intent to commit defamation” and not out of “public interest,” then a defendant can still be convicted and sentenced to up to three years in jail or a fine.

Criminal defamation creates an atmosphere of constrained expression. A defamation law like South Korea’s, which “does not adequately distinguish between truth and falsehood, can act as a powerful tool of repression,” says Pen America, a free expression advocacy organization. International groups like the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression have repeatedly called for decriminalization of defamation around the world because of how it can limit free speech.

In the entertainment world, the threat of defamation charges has often led South Korean media outlets and blogs to self-censor – with gossip publications withholding celebrity names when they report on salacious news. And in recent years, following high-profile suicides, news portal sites have removed the comment sections only for entertainment stories.

Despite more protective laws for targets of potentially defamatory speech, South Korea has been under pressure to crack down on cyberbullying after a series of high-profile suicides.

In 2019, actress and singer Sulli was found dead at 25 after receiving online abuse for years. She rose to prominence as a member of girl group f(x), beginning as a trainee for K-pop company SM Entertainment, and later became known for her outspokenness about her struggles with mental health issues, cyberbullying and even her romantic relationships.

After taking a break from music in 2015 to focus on acting – SM Entertainment said in 2014 that she was “suffering physically and mentally from malicious and untrue rumors spreading about her” – she hung herself on the second floor of her home in Seoul.

The suicide prompted several celebrities to call for better support for those in the K-pop industry.

Then this February, influencer Cho Jang-mi, 27, known as BJ Jammi on YouTube and Twitch, was found dead at her home, with a person claiming to be an uncle writing on Twitch that she had been suffering from severe depression due to online hate speech “and rumors,” Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

Cho had been accused of making a hand gesture in one of her videos implying she hated men; she had appealed for bullying that branded her a “man-hater” to stop.

Her death came a day after Kim In-hyeok, a 28-year-old professional volleyball player, was found dead. He had pleaded with people to stop sending hate comments and spreading rumors online about his appearance and supposed sexuality.

Days after news of Cho’s death, a petition was posted on the South Korean president’s website calling for punishment for YouTubers and online commentators who spread rumors or hate speech about Cho. In just a few days, it had been signed by almost 150,000 people.

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Pro-Choice Hollywood Amps Up Abortion-Rights Giving Led by Lizzo and Live Nation $1M Donation

Hollywood’s abortion-rights advocates have gone into overdrive — and opened their wallets in increased and creative ways — to support reproductive rights after the Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling that overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade.

Supporters, led by a $1 million donation from Lizzo and Live Nation, are amping up their giving to both long-established advocacy organizations and on-the-ground groups (especially ones that are helping women gain imminent access to healthcare), while using their celebrity and influence to inspire further giving. As pro-abortion advocates ramp up their donations, The Hollywood Reporter spoke with a showrunner, a manager/producer, an engagement officer at an entertainment law firm and the leader of an advocacy group for women in Hollywood about what organizations right now they are supporting in the battle for abortion rights.

“Hollywood has been coming together to support leading organizations like the Center for Reproductive Rights — which argued Dobbs before the Supreme Court — in preparation for this moment, and some incredible leaders have emerged,” says Hannah Linkenhoker, chief engagement officer of entertainment law firm Johnson Shapiro. The center counts actresses Elizabeth Banks, Amy Brenneman, Lisa Edelstein, Aja Naomi King and Busy Philipps as members of its ambassador council, while producer Heidi Lindelof is a board member.

“The Center has really created a powerful community in Hollywood,” continues Linkenhoker, “and that community has driven funding, exposure, messaging and more to impact the movement for reproductive rights and abortion access.”

Many entertainment industry insiders are also donating to the venerable Planned Parenthood, including Ellen Goldsmith-Vein of The Gotham Group, who calls the nonprofit a “trusted resource for women for over 100 years.”

Lizzo has been vocal about her support for Planned Parenthood. Within hours of the Supreme Court ruling, the Grammy-winning superstar announced that she will be donating $500,000 of the profits from her upcoming tour to the organization, which offers reproductive healthcare to women across the country. Live Nation, the sponsor of the multi-date tour, has agreed to match Lizzo’s donation, making the total a substantial $1 million.

This week, Olivia Wilde led an online discussion with doctors from Physicians for Reproductive Health, an organization she has supported for many years. Many stars also are joining in protests springing up across the nation, including Philipps who was arrested at an abortion-rights protest in Washington on Thursday, June 30, and Jodie Sweetin (Full House and Fuller House), who was recently shoved by police at an abortion rally in Los Angeles. Additionally, Sweetin sponsored an Instagram fundraiser, which raised $5,000 for Planned Parenthood.

“Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken,” Sweetin said in a statement. “This will not deter us; we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free.”

Other entertainment industry figures have taken to social media to help raise funds. Showrunner and writer Liz Meriwether (The Dropout, New Girl) recently hosted an Instagram fundraiser for The Brigid Alliance, raising over $6,000 in donations.

“When the leak came out in May, I donated to the National Network of Abortion Funds, which is an incredible umbrella organization that funds many smaller local groups who do the on-the-ground work of getting people the care they need,” Meriwether tells THR. “Now I am also donating to Brigid Alliance, because it directly funds all travel and logistics of people trying to get to abortion care, and demand on the group has skyrocketed. I’m also donating to the Plan C organization, which provides medication abortion through the mail to anyone seeking it.”

Debra Messing has shared information on The Brigid Alliance and Apiary for Practical Support, a nonprofit national technical assistant hub for the organizations that provide practical support to people seeking abortions. And Bon Iver is sponsoring a match program for The Brigid Alliance, matching donations up to $22,000. Linkenhoker is also supporting Keep Our Clinics, a fundraising campaign to support independent abortion clinics, which provide the majority of the abortion care in the U.S. and are more likely to be located in states that are working to outlaw abortion. Abortion could be outlawed or severely restricted in more than 20 states this year in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling (around five states now have bans), which will lead to many women traveling to states that allow abortion for reproductive healthcare.

Ariana Debose, speaking with Jimmy Fallon this week, said that she’s focusing her funding efforts on making “a difference on a local level, so I’m trying to find abortion funds in my community that I can support so I can help anyone with a uterus.” In its YouTube clip of DeBose’s appearance on the show, The Tonight Show shared a link to the National Network of Abortion Funds with its fans.

And entertainment figures including Whoopi Goldberg, Chelsea Handler, Ireland Baldwin and Laura Prepon are sharing and resharing their personal stories of abortion, while encouraging support for reproductive rights.

Other Hollywood insiders are coming up with unique ways to engage their followers. BoJack Horseman showrunner Raphael Bob-Waksberg offered up a lottery — pledging to give five Twitter followers signed scripts of their favorite BoJack Horseman episode if they emailed him proof that they had donated to an abortion fund.

Some celebrities have focused their attention on political action and the upcoming midterm elections. Julia Louis-Dreyfus took to Twitter and vowed to match $10,000 in donations to 11 pro-choice candidates for state legislatures where abortion rights are on the line in the upcoming midterms. She also vowed to match $10,000 in donations to 80 local abortion funds.

July 9 may also see a Hollywood contingent show up in Washington, D.C., when the Women’s March sponsors an abortion-rights protest in the nation’s capital. It’s sign-up page provides a box that participants who are willing to risk to arrest can check.

Industry organizations also have banded together to provide their members with information on resources and reputable places to donate. “We created a list of resources that includes what different entertainment companies are doing for their employees and then also general resources,” says Kirsten Schaffer, CEO at Women in Film, which advocates for women in the entertainment industry. “A lot of them are abortion funds … like ARC Southeast, Northwest Abortion Access Fund, Midwest Access Coalition, Fund Texas Choice. People had abortions scheduled and their abortions were canceled, and so now they need to get out of state to make that abortion happen. And that’s what these funds help them do.”

Schaffer says she has seen a positive reaction to Women in Film’s list of resources, which includes a link to support the National Network of Abortion Funds. “People are applying to our newsletter which connected to the resources that they really appreciate the care and concern. And also, they appreciate the access to the resources,” she says.

Amid the flurry of giving, supporters of abortion rights in Hollywood caution potential donors to make sure that their funds are going to legitimate organizations. “Use your network to verify credibility, check the organization’s non-profit status — look at their 990s, look them up on Charity Navigator, look at their board of directors to make sure they are reputable,” says Linkenhoker.

And since supporters of abortions say their battle to restore access across the country will no doubt be long, strategic giving is seen as the way to go by many pro-choice advocates.

“Right now, I am donating to groups making an immediate impact on people currently seeking an abortion, and then I will make another round of donations to political action groups and voter mobilization groups who will be fighting in the long term,” Meriwether says. “This will be a long fight fought on many different fronts, and I think everyone who supports abortion access needs to be prepared for the marathon. The most important thing is to stay involved and active — as my friend Rebecca Traister wrote beautifully in The Cut, ‘Despair is poison.’”

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.

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Harry Styles Copenhagen Concert Canceled After Fatal Shooting Nearby

Harry Styles‘ concert in Copenhagen, Denmark, was called off Sunday (July 3) after a gunman opened fire inside a shopping mall near the venue, killing three people and critically wounding three others.

A 22-year-old Danish man was arrested after the shooting at Field’s, one of the biggest shopping malls in Scandinavia, Copenhagen police inspector Søren Thomassen told reporters, according to The Associated Press. Police said there was no indication that others were involved in the attack, but the investigation is ongoing.

Thomassen said the victims included a man in his 40s and two “young people.” No further details were given.

Styles, who was scheduled to perform Sunday night at Copenhagen’s Royal Arena as part of his Love On Tour, released a statement on Twitter that evening.

“I’m heartbroken along with the people of Copenhagen,” Styles wrote. “I adore this city. The people are so warm and full of love.”

“I’m devastated for the victims, their families, and everyone hurting,” he said.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t be together,” he wrote. “Please look after each other.”

See Styles’ tweet below. He is scheduled to resume his tour in Paris on July 5; a full list of tour dates is available here.

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Bad Bunny Back at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’

Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti bounces back to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated July 9) for a third nonconsecutive week on top, as the set climbs 2-1 in its eighth week. The album earned 115,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending June 30 (down 5%), according to Luminate.

With a third week at No. 1, Un Verano Sin Ti has the second-most weeks at No. 1 in 2022, following the Encanto soundtrack, with nine.

Un Verano Sin Ti’s third week at No. 1 also marks its third total visit to the top, as the album debuted at No. 1 on the May 21-dated chart, then stepped away from the top slot for three weeks. It then returned to No. 1 on June 18, and then moved aside for two more weeks, until coming back to No. 1 on the new chart. Un Verano Sin Ti is the first album with three separate visits to No. 1 since Drake’s Certified Lover Boy also had three distinct stays at No. 1 in 2021, for a total of five weeks atop the list (three weeks: Sept. 18-Oct. 2, then Oct. 23 and Nov. 6, 2021). The all-Spanish-language Un Verano Sin Ti is also the second mostly-or-all-non-English-language album to spend more than a single week at No. 1. The first was The Singing Nun’s self-titled all-French-language album — it concluded its 10-week run at No. 1 in February of 1964. (They are two of the 15 total mostly-or-all-non-English albums to reach No. 1.)

Un Verano Sin Ti has earned over 100,000 in each of its first eight weeks on the chart. The last title to do so was nearly six years ago, when Drake’s Views saw its first 10 weeks all exceed 100,000 units (May 21-July 23, 2016 charts).

Un Verano Sin Ti has yet to fall below No. 2 in its eight weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. The last album to spend its first eight weeks on the chart in the top two was Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, which spent its first nine weeks in the top two (Sept. 18-Nov. 13, 2021-dated charts).

On the new Billboard 200 chart, Bad Bunny leads a busy top 10, as the latest releases from Luke Combs, Chris Brown, NAYEON and Conan Gray arrive, while Lil Durk’s chart-topping 7220 jumps back into the region following its deluxe reissue with bonus tracks.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new July 9, 2022-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Wednesday, July 6 (a day later than usual due to the July 4 holiday in the U.S.). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of Un Verano Sin Ti’s 115,000 equivalent album units earned, SEA units comprise 114,000 (down 5%; equaling 160.18 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks), and album sales and TEA units comprise less than 1,000 units each.

Luke Combs scores both the highest debut of the week and the highest debut for a country album in 2022 as his new studio effort Growin’ Up launches at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The set enters with 74,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 44,000 (equaling 56.33 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 12 tracks), album sales comprise 28,000 and TEA units comprise 2,000.

Growin’ Up is Combs’ fourth album to reach the top five on the Billboard 200, following What You See Is What You Get (No. 1 in 2019), The Prequel (No. 4, 2019) and This One’s for You (No. 4, 2018).

Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind falls 1-3 in its second week on the Billboard 200 with 73,000 equivalent album units earned (down 64%).

Chris Brown logs his 12th top 10 album on the Billboard 200, as his latest release Breezy bows at No. 4 with 72,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 66,000 (equaling 87.36 million on-demand official streams of the album’s 24 tracks), album sales comprise 5,000 and TEA units comprise 1,000.

Lil Durk’s chart-topping 7220 jumps back into the top 10, climbing 18-5 with 68,000 equivalent album units earned (up 217%) after the album was reissued on June 24 with 13 additional tracks. (The album’s total track count now stands at 31.) Harry Styles’ former leader Harry’s House falls 3-6 with 63,000 units (down 21%).

NAYEON’s debut solo effort IM NAYEON: The 1st Mini Album debuts at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 with 57,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 52,000 (making it the top-selling album of the week); SEA units comprise 4,000 (equaling 6.56 million on-demand official streams of the set’s seven tracks) and TEA units comprise less than 1,000. NAYEON is a member of the vocal group TWICE, which has visited the top 10 two times (Taste of Love: The 10th Mini Album, peaking at No. 6, and Formula of Love: O+T=<3, The 3rd Full Album, No. 3, both in 2021).

Like many K-pop releases, the CD configuration of IM NAYEON was issued in collectible deluxe packages (17 total, including exclusive editions for Target and Barnes & Noble), each with a standard set of items and randomized elements (such as photocards, postcards and a poster). 98% of the album’s first-week sales were on CD. The other 2% were digital album sales. (The set was not released in any other format, such as vinyl or cassette.)

Morgan Wallen’s former No. 1 Dangerous: The Double Album falls 5-8 with 51,000 equivalent album units earned (down 3%).

Conan Gray lands his second top 10 album on the Billboard 200 as his sophomore full-length effort Superache starts at No. 9 with 43,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 27,000; SEA units comprise 16,000 (equaling 22.47 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 12 tracks), and TEA units comprise less than 1,000.

Rounding out the new top 10 is Future’s former No. 1 I Never Liked You, which falls 6-10 with 43,000 equivalent album units earned (down 12%).

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

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