Cardi B Debuts Boozy Whipped Cream Partnership During Miami Art Week

Jumping on the celeb-back booze train, Cardi B is now peddling liquor, but her “authentic” spirit isn’t tequila or rum — it’s vodka-infused whipped cream. Whipshots by Cardi and Starco brands are available on Whipshots.com in 500-can-per-day Whip Drops, and the three launch flavors — vanilla, caramel and mocha — have been selling out in under four minutes daily since Dec. 1.

“I’m not really a hardcore liquor-drinking person. And I like things that are sexy and tasty. It’s going to be a party in every can,” Cardi tells Billboard. “At one time I was planning to do margaritas, but this is more fun.”

On Dec. 4, Cardi debuted Whipshots with a sweets-themed party at Pharrell and David Grutman’s The Goodtime Hotel in Miami. Parading into the party with an entourage of music heavyweights including Offset, Mary J. Bilge and Timbaland, record producer Tainy, actor Winston Duke and football player Dale Moss, she popped a few cans, removing the plastic wrap with her teeth and shot the cream into the mouths of party guests. It was served in cones, cocktails and on desserts throughout the event, with chief mixology officer and Las Vegas bartender Rob Floyd putting some flair in the cocktail making.

The Whipshots suggested application is to “enjoy on cocktails, desserts, lovers or solo as a shot.” But Cardi says her current favorite way is on eggnog — just in time for the holidays.

“This is eggnog right here,” Cardi says. “The vanilla one I’ve been eating for a week. We are going to have different flavors next year.”

Starco Brands CEO Ross Sklar says that Cardi was the perfect partner for Whipshots because her fun, playful personality perfectly matches the ethos of the product. Sklar believes they have created the perfect trifecta: highly appealing flavors, plus creative direction and celebrity/influencer strategy.

“We commercialize products and technologies that are meant to be behavior changing,” he says.

And while other companies have tried to release similar products over the years, what makes this one unique is it 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), does not require refrigeration and is non-dairy, made of oat milk and coconut milk, different sugars, flavorings and distilled vodka. Sklar says it is ideal for espresso martinis, or with vodka and soda water, spray on a dollop and mix it in to give a creamy texture. It even works with rum and coke.

“We look at all the sectors that we play in spirits, and food was really lacking innovation,” Sklar says. “We saw this tried in like 2005 and it didn’t work because the product life had issues. From a technology standpoint, and from a formulary vantage point, it’s very hard because the alcohol depresses the foam. You really have to balance it until you find a sort of utopia. And then dialing in packaging, the back end and the automation and supply. It’s a huge enigma to solve. We’ve been working on it for just over four years. It’s an innovation in the celebratory category.”

And then, just add Cardi.

“You’ve got to find somebody that has a personality that is transparent, super fun, super playful. Someone who doesn’t mind being flirty, but above all, is herself. The product delivers and the personality delivers … That authenticity delivers credibility,” Sklar says.

Outside of the daily Whip Drops, Whipshots will hit stores early next year and is priced at $5.99 for 50 mL, $13.99 for 200 mL and $19.99 for 375 mL bottles, respectively.

This was Cardi’s second big partnership announced during Miami Art Week, a convergence of multiple art fairs including Art Basel, Design Miami and Art Miami, among others — and in recent years, a heavy presence from the music, technology and fashion industries. On Friday, Playboy revealed that the rapper would now be its first creative director in residence.

“I’ve been meeting with them since May. I gave them some ideas that I have because I want the brand. I want sex. Sex appeal. I’m a wild girl,” Cardi says. “And that’s what I want on the brand. I want to have conversations that people are afraid to have. I want beautiful women. I just think of Playboy like back-in-the-day Playboy. That’s what I want. I want to bring that back. I’m excited but now I’m getting a little bit overwhelmed because I could get a lot of pressure, but I know that I could do it. “

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Fans Choose Ariana Grande & Kid Cudi’s ‘Just Look Up’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi‘s new collaboration “Just Look Up” has topped this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Dec. 3) on Billboard, choosing the soaring pop track as their favorite new music release of the past week.

“Just Look Up,” which appears in Adam McKay’s upcoming sci-fi black comedy Don’t Look Up, brought in 35% of the vote, beating out new music by Juice WRLD and Justin Bieber (“Wandered to LA”), Shawn Mendes (“It’ll Be Okay”), SZA (“I Hate U”), Ed Sheeran and Elton John (“Merry Christmas”), and others.

“Just Look Up” finds Grande steering some romantic balladry with a gorgeous tone and open heart, while Cudi takes a few seconds to fully deploy his croon but sounds comfortable when it arrives.

“Just look up/ Turn off that s— box news/ Cause you’re about to die soon everybody/ Look up/ Here it comes/ I’m so glad I’m here with you/ Forever in your arms,” Grande belts out.

Don’t Look Up has a stacked cast which includes Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Leonardo DiCaprio and the two singing stars. The film hits Netflix on Dec. 24.

Following in a close second on the past week’s tally with 34% of the vote was Juice WRLD and Bieber’s collab “Wandered to LA,” which appears on the late Chicago rapper’s upcoming second posthumous album, Fighting Demons.

With production by HARV and Louis Bell, the chilled-tune is an account of a bender in the City of Angels. “I wandered to LA hopin’ to explore/ Little did I know, I’d find a little more/ Love at my hotel room door/ From the bed to the hotel room floor,” Juice raps.

See the final results of this week’s new music release poll below.

 

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Pharrell Williams, Haim Visit Chanel Labyrinth at Art Basel Miami Beach

Artist Es Devlin wanted guests to engage in all their senses when she designed “Five Echoes,” the public installation commissioned by Chanel to honor the 100th anniversary of the house’s iconic No. 5 fragrance. More than 2,000 fragrant trees, grasses and other plants were sourced to create a forest-like environment at Jungle Plaza in Miami’s Design District, with a walkable labyrinth 100 feet in diameter — its shape inspired by a French abbey from Coco Chanel’s childhood — rising from its center.

While Devlin sought myriad ways to honor the codes of Chanel in the experience, sustainability was also top of mind, said the British-born artist and stage designer. “We began with a conversation about how a temporary artwork can be made without polluting the planet,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “Sadly, many of them end up in landfills. Once I saw this huge, beautiful space, my immediate thought was to turn it into a temporary forest, and then when all is said and done, replant that forest here in Miami.”

All trees and plants will be donated to public parks in Miami-Dade County, while Devlin adopted the same approach with the labyrinth. Crafted with stretched fabric and timber, the installation’s materials will be donated to local theater companies once the public event concludes Dec. 21. (More information about visiting the space can be found here.)

To celebrate the installation’s opening, Chanel hosted a splashy dinner in Jungle Plaza on Friday evening, Dec. 3, with guests who included Pharrell and Helen Williams, Joe Jonas, Venus Williams, Rebecca Dayan, Dylan Penn, Maluma and the Haim sisters.

For the L.A.-based rock trio, the night’s event was a first for them with both Chanel and Art Basel Miami Beach, and they were quick to agree that they’re big fans of Devlin’s work. “We’ve followed her for a long time,” Danielle Haim said. “The pieces she’s done for rock shows, for U2 or Adele, are incredible. We’ve always been in awe and so inspired by her.”

Like other guests, the three sisters wore head-to-toe Chanel. They also appear in one of the year’s hottest films, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza. Did they have any idea that the movie ultimately would generate so much buzz during production? “It’s not surprising because I was so in love with the script the first time I read it,” Alana Haim told THR. “Doing something you’re passionate about, and you really believe in was important to all of us, and we really believe in Paul. It was such an amazing experience; I wish I could go back and do it again 40 million times.”

Maluma, who’s starring in Marry Me with Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson (expected to release Feb. 11, 2022), likewise embraced the spirit of the evening, pairing a pink-and-white knit cardigan from Chanel’s Spring 2021 collection with white sequined trousers and a group of pearl necklaces. “With my [styling] team, we always think ahead and want to change the game,” he said of his look. “I’m not afraid of trying different things; I love pink, and I love pearls, that’s why I’m wearing this. I like to create trends, not follow them.”

Guests toured the labyrinth and surrounding forest before a seated dinner that included citrus-poached lobster and candy squash risotto, while desserts of basil sorbet and chocolate-chai mousse were being served, Devlin appeared at the center of the labyrinth to introduce the night’s surprise musical guest: Rosalia.

The Barcelona-born singer and songwriter, who won a Grammy in 2020 for best Latin rock, urban or alternative album, shared her own Chanel memories in the middle of a four-song set. “My grandmother, Lucretia, she was obsessed with this perfume,” she told the crowd. “She used to wear it all the time, and let’s be honest, it wasn’t a little. Every time she came to visit us, we all knew Lucretia was there before we saw her because [the scent of Chanel] was all over the house.”

This final night of Art Basel Miami Beach ultimately capped a week of events hosted by the legendary French label, starting with a drone show Wednesday evening, Dec. 1, at Faena Beach. Also designed to celebrate the Chanel No. 5 anniversary, the light show at that event included more than 500 drones creating a rendering of the No. 5 bottle that stretched more than 600 feet in the night sky.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, the brand opened its first boutique in the Miami Design District, with architect and interior designer Peter Marino present to sign copies of his just-released book, The Architecture of Chanel (Phaidon Press, $125), which chronicles his many collaborations with the house. “We’ve done more than 400 boutiques together, but they’ve also given me 12 architectural commissions, and that to me is meaningful,” Marino explained to THR. “Twelve buildings for a brand with the same architect just doesn’t happen, and I wanted to record it.”

How did he approach the look of the Design District boutique? “Chanel waited to be the last brand in the neighborhood, so I created a white cube, the same height and width on all sides, and put all the drama on the inside,” he said. “The design is the cleanest and the simplest of everything we see here, and it’s the one people will relate to the most.” (Among Marino’s upcoming projects is the redesign of Chanel’s Rodeo Drive boutique, expected for completion in 2022.)

From a white cube to a verdant forest, the messages communicated by the brand via art and design throughout the week were wholly intentional. “Every generation that comes along, we have a responsibility to explore our relationship with nature and our surroundings,” Devlin said. “I work with Chanel because I know they take a similar view. I’ve been working with them since 2016, since the first time I met [house perfumer] Olivier Polge, so I’ve experienced that dedication for several years. I feel really supported by them.”

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.

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5 Best Moments From Jingle Ball Los Angeles 2021

The Christmas lights tend to shine a little brighter in Los Angeles, and such was certainly the case with the star-packed lineup behind iHeartRadio’s 102.7 KIIS FM Jingle Ball 2021 on Friday night (Dec. 3). Crowds of families and passionate fans decked out in light-up deer antler headbands and ugly Christmas sweaters filed into the sold-out Forum in Inglewood to see some of pop music’s biggest acts grace the stage after a pandemic-influenced hiatus canceled the Jingle Ball tour’s 2020 outing.

BTS, Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X and Black Eyed Peas were among the show’s headlining acts, all creatively incorporating the spirit and festivities of the holidays into their performances. A laryngitis diagnosis made Dua Lipa a last-minute drop, but performances from The Kid LAROI, Saweetie, Dixie, Tate McRae, Bazzi and surprise guest Anitta kept the crowd in high holiday spirits.

The diverse array of acts gave the L.A. crowd a little taste of everything, from swaying singalongs to bombastic live instrumentation that tore the Forum house down. Stars from the show also spoke with Billboard about their Jingle Ball experiences and voiced excitement about their fellow performers.

Here’s a roundup of the five best moments from Jingle Ball 2021 in Los Angeles.

BTS Blasts the Show Open With Holiday-Inspired ‘Dynamite’

It was hard to dismiss the deafening screams that led up to the seven-piece boy band stepping onto the Jingle Ball stage as the show’s opening act. After a four-night, sold out stint at the neighboring SoFi Stadium, the K-pop supergroup brought their stadium energy to the Forum arena with a two-song set. 

After opening with “Butter,” the group took some time to speak to fans and voice their excitement about the holidays and being able to perform and sing with fans once again. The KIIS FM staff brought out a birthday cake and spearheaded a happy birthday singalong to Jin, who turns 29 today. They ended their brief set with a holiday version of “Dynamite,” with jingle bells complimenting the Hot 100 No. 1 hit.

Lil Nas X’s Hit-Filled Set Came With a Doja Cat Surprise

JoJo Siwa introduced Lil Nas X to the Jingle Ball crowd just before his set, and gushed over his talent to Billboard. “I would be down for a JoJo Siwa Lil Nas X collaboration,” she said. “Never say never!”

And as the show’s penultimate performer, Lil Nas X brought hit after hit and had some friends come along to help out. After running through discography staples like “Industry Baby,” the fitting “Holiday” and “Old Town Road” – which he reminded last night’s audience had come out three years ago to the day – his performance of “Scoop” was met with crowd roars as Doja Cat hopped back on the Jingle Ball stage after her set to play her verse alongside him.

“Who wants love?” Nas asked the crowd while introducing “That’s What I Want,” which was immediately met with cheers. “Well, you’re never gonna get it! I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” he joked.

Of his performance, fellow Jingle Ball act Tate McRae had glowing remarks for the Montero artist. “I feel like [Lil Nas X] has something very very special in his performance quality that no other artist has,” she said. “Watching him and his dancers on stage is incredibly inspiring to me as an artist who aspires to reach that level, just for me to be able to go on stage and hopefully do the same as him!”

Ed Sheeran Performs ‘Merry Christmas’ for the First Time

Ed Sheeran stood out as a pure performer during his Jingle Ball set, stepping onto the stage by himself with his acoustic guitar in hand. Before starting with “Shivers,” he briefly explained his loop station setup to the audience and quickly built out the song’s production elements entirely with his guitar before breaking into the full performance in a creative display of his musical ability.

He assured fans that he picked out songs for his set that the audience knew and that notion was immediately followed with an arena-wide singalong to “Perfect,” crowd slow dancing and swaying phone flashlights in tow. Sheeran ended his set with the first live performance of his “Merry Christmas” single, and a surprising amount of dedicated fans sung along to the newly released holiday track.

Dixie D’Amelio Brings out Sister Charli to Dance

While having to follow BTS might be daunting for most, Dixie held her own with an engaging and choreographed performance of her early singles. Opening with “Psycho” and running through songs like recent single “The Real Thing,” Dixie later brought her younger sister Charli to the stage with a touching introduction about how she’s one of the most important people in her life. Charli then joined in on her older sister’s backing choreography during the performance.

Billboard caught up with Dixie on the show’s red carpet, where she shared some insight into her Jingle Ball tour experience so far. 

“I’ve talked to Tate and watched her set, she’s amazing! I’ve also watched Bazzi’s set which was after mine in Dallas, but I had such a crazy experience,” she said. “I had such a bad migraine [in Dallas] that I fell asleep on the green room floor and I missed everything after my set! I was so upset, but I’m excited to see [the rest of] tonight’s performances.”

The Kid LAROI Starts Heartfelt ‘Long Live Juice WRLD’ Crowd Chant

During his set, The Kid LAROI introduced his collaboration with the late Juice WRLD with a simple question for the crowd: “Does anyone here know Juice WRLD?” After that was met with deafening applause for LAROI’s mentor, the artist born Charlton Howard started a spirited “Long Live Juice” chant for the late rapper and singer, who would’ve turned 23 on Dec. 2.

The Australian singer then went on to finish his set of crowd-pleasing hits, including current Hot 100 mainstay “Stay” and “Without You.” Running back and forth between different sides of the stage to acknowledge fans in different areas of the arena, his formidable vocal talent reverberated all across the Forum as the lively crowd sung his lyrics back to him.

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Stonewall Jackson, Longtime Grand Ole Opry Member, Dies at 89

Stonewall Jackson, a Grand Ole Opry member who had a longtime career in country music, has died. He was 89.

Jackson passed away on Saturday (Dec. 4) following a battle with vascular dementia, the Grand Ole Opry confirmed.

Born in Tabor City, North Carolina, Jackson was then raised in Georgia before heading to Nashville.

Jackson was known for his classic country singles that charted on the Hot Country Songs chart, including the country No. 1s “Waterloo” (1959) and “B.J. the D.J.” (1963), as well as songs like “Life to Go” (1958) and “Don’t Be Angry” (1964).

In an interview with Music Charts Magazine, Jackson recalled the excitement of being offered a five-year contract with the Grand Ole Opry on his first invitation to play there in 1956, after Wesley Rose heard his music and set him up with an audition. Jackson became a member of the Opry without having a record deal at the time.

He joined the Grand Ole Opry on Nov. 3, 1956, longer ago than any other current member.

“I’m not putting down the record end of the business because that’s very important, too,” Jackson noted in the interview. “But to me, the way I came here and all, the Grand Ole Opry’s been the mainstay in my career. I still love the Grand Ole Opry very, very much.”

“I intend to play it as long as I can still sing ‘Don’t Be Angry,’” Jackson said, referencing one of the first songs he ever performed at the Opry.

In a statement after Stonewall’s passing, Nancy Jones, wife of the late George Jones, wrote, “Stonewall’s breakout hit ‘Life to Go’ was written by George [Jones] and they both became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1956. They held a special friendship over the years and although Stonewall was retired, he participated in the final George Jones No Show tribute event after he passed. I will always have a special place in my heart for Stonewall. May he rest in Peace!”

A performance at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night will be in dedication to Jackson.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

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