“Jay-Z is a funny guy.”

That’s what someone on X said regarding another tweet saying that White Christian Nationalists are going to lose it over the news that Bad Bunny was picked to perform at the Super Bowl. And of course, they were right: jokes flew, memes were made. One Bad Bunny fan page posted a screenshot of one of his performances with the closed captions saying, “speaking non-english, singing in non-english.”

Then there was the other side of the spectrum where I saw someone replying to multiple tweets referring to the Puerto Rican superstar as “Speedy Gonzalez,” the type of old-school racism that you can’t help but chuckle at when you come across it. My group chats blew up when the news was official, because about an hour prior certain music news social media accounts did their best Woj impression and spoiled the announcement with some of us not yet ready to call it, even if betting markets had Bunny as the favorite.

Conspiracy theorists and laymen alike assumed it would be Taylor Swift because of her recent engagement with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce and because of fan theories based on hints she supposedly made during her recent appearance on Kelce’s New Heights podcast.Some said it was a no-brainer to have a safer, whiter pick, especially after this string of hip-hop leaning pop stars, and especially after Kendrick Lamar’s politically charged performance during last year’s Super Bowl performance.

It’s hard not to talk politics when it comes to this pick; my conversations Sunday night when the news broke immediately went there. Jay’s relationship with the NFL has been hot and cold depending on who you talk to: He’s been heavily criticized by some because they feel like he co-opted Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest, backlash that led to his unfortunate “I think we have moved past kneeling” comment during a press conference announcing the deal alongside NFL commissioner Roger Goodell where the legendary rapper defended the deal.

However, in Jay’s mind, he felt like a partnership with social justice initiatives at its core made the most sense. “I think it’s time for action,” he said. “We forget that Colin’s whole thing was to bring attention to social injustice. In that case, this is a success. This is the next phase.” The NFL’s Inspire Change initiative is supposed to help address issues like education, economic advancement, criminal justice reform and community-police relations — which is a perfect segue to the decision to tap Bad Bunny for Super Bowl LX this upcoming February.

The 60th iteration of the NFL’s championship game will be taking place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Franciso 49ers, and an area with a considerable Latino population. In fact, according to the county’s website, Latinos make up a quarter of Santa Clara County’s overall population, and while most might not be able to afford Super Bowl tickets in the first place, they’ll be outside partying that weekend just like everybody else. And in Trump’s America, you can damn sure bet that ICE agents will be on the ground, being the haters that they are.

This is an environment Bad Bunny wanted to avoid when he was considering dates for a tour, so instead of touring Trump’s America, he decided to do a 31-date “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” residency in his home country and reluctant U.S. territory Puerto Rico instead. “Man, honestly, yes,” Bunny told i-D after being asked if the way the U.S. is handling immigration had anything to do with his choice. “There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the US, and none of them were out of hate — I’ve performed there many times. All of [the shows] have been successful. All of them have been magnificent. I’ve enjoyed connecting with Latinos who have been living in the U.S…. But there was the issue of—like, f—king ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”

Bunny, whose homeland hasn’t truly been free since 1493, has never really been shy about his politics. Back in 2019, he paused his European tour to join protests calling for the resignation of then Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló after Telegram messages leaked of he and some of his current and former staff making racist, sexist and homophobic remarks about various individuals and political opponents. “My respects to everyone who has had the courage, valor and initiative to go out in the streets and fight for our country,” the singer and rapper said in a since-deleted Instagram post. “I’m in Ibiza in the middle of my European tour, but I’m going to stop everything to jump on a plane to Puerto Rico to be able to go out in the streets and be with my people — the people of Puerto Rico. I wish I was there now.”

The former governor, who was eventually forced to resign, was also for statehood while Bad Bunny stands for independence — a topic that has been a point of discussion on the island, but has been especially on top-of-mind since the signing of controversial bills like the Export Services Act and the Individual Investors Act. Those helped speed up gentrification by attracting wealthy mainland investors with tax incentives and the PROMESA Act by President Obama in 2016, as well as the lackadaisical response by President Trump’s government during and after Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Bad Bunny tackled gentrification on the song “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” where he sings, “They want to take away the river and also the beach, they want my neighborhood and grandma to leave. Don’t let go of the flag… I don’t want them to do with you what they did to Hawaii.” 

He also told Time that most rich American transplants only care about the tax situation and could less about island’s history or culture. “Politically and historically, they know nothing about Puerto Rico, nor are they interested in knowing,” he proclaimed. “They don’t even know that Puerto Ricans on the island don’t even vote for the president, but they do know that they can go to the island to legally evade taxes. That’s something that shocked me.” In 2024, he supported Kamala Harris for president, following comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s infamous quote about Puerto Rico being a “floating piece of garbage” at a Trump rally earlier that year.

When the news became official that he would be the headliner of this upcoming Super Bowl, the bad hombre took to X to stunt a little bit. “I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I’ll do just one date in the United States,” he tweeted. In a statement, Jay said he’s been inspired by Bunny’s love of his homeland. “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,” he said. “We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.” 

Jigga has taken a lot of heat for his relationship with the NFL — and while it’s true that political statements made at a venue as corporate and compromised as some would call the Super Bowl may come across as performative, I’m also sympathetic to the idea that saying or doing something of merit on that stage has the possibility of reaching a singularly massive audience. It could be an opportunity to create a truly timeless moment — particularly from an artist like Bad Bunny, who has talked the talk and walked the walk when it comes to social issues.

Naturally, some right-wingers were up in arms about the pick. Cuban American filmmaker Robby Starbucks (sounds like a porno director) wrote some silly tweet about the NFL wanting to make the Super Bowl political with the pick. “Most of his songs aren’t even in English,” he ranted. “This is not a pick designed to unite football fans or let people just enjoy the show. It was a pick designed to divide fans, and no doubt Bad Bunny will find some way to push a woke message.”

Sports pundit and frequent vomit-spewer Jason Whitlock added his two cents with some textbook fear-mongering and told TMZ that he’s going to use whatever little influence he has to get the NFL to back away from the decision — because he feels like the Puerto Rican singer-rapper, not only makes “demonic” rap music but also “grooms kids into sexual fluidity.” Then there’s certified weirdo Jack Posobiec who suggested on X that maybe former President Obama has some influence on who gets picked, saying that Obama and Jay are besties. There were also a bunch of tweets lamenting having to watch a performance for 15 minutes that’s entirely in Spanish.

Now, I know this doesn’t mean that Bad Bunny will necessarily be making a political statement at the Super Bowl, or that Jay-Z really prioritized all of this when asking one of the more popular acts to play the prestigious Super Bowl Halftime Show, or that Trump and his goons will even have the cojones to send ICE out to Santa Clara during Super Bowl weekend. But just being aware of how all three have moved in the past, I would be willing to bet on two or more of those things happening, especially if those things happened to be Super Bowl prop bets. I’m all for political messages on world stages, but if doesn’t happen and he decides to play it straight, I’m not going to hold it against him. Yes, these gestures are often times viewed as symbolic, however, if his mere presence gets racists mad, then it’s already been a job well done. You don’t have to be fluent in Puerto Rican Spanish to enjoy his music. I’ve seen him live about four or five times now and as an American-born Puerto Rican whose Spanish isn’t the greatest, he’s unequivocally one of the best performers I’ve ever seen. His music is undeniable and it’s the reason why he’s the baddest man on the planet.

So pull up Duolingo to start brushing up on that high school Spanish, stop crying, shut up and dance. 

Over the weekend, international vocal powerhouse and visionary artist Tia Ray unveiled her newest English single “PRESSURE” across global streaming platforms, paving the way for her eagerly awaited debut English album.

An internationally recognized R&B/soul artist, Ray’s forthcoming album — developed over three years — promises to showcase her complete artistic vision with richer diversity and innovative styles.

“PRESSURE” fuses the romantic freedom of R&B with the wild, untamed energy of Afrobeats, embodying Tia Ray’s signature vibrant spirit — a free and vigorous life force that flows through love and desire, raw and unrestrained. The track opens with a provocative guitar riff, setting the stage for a fierce jungle hunt rather than a dull cat-and-mouse game. The bold declarations in the lyrics express that those who want to love give it their all.

Co-written by Ray, the single continues her collaboration with top international producers, helmed by Grammy-winning producer Khris Riddick-Tynes, known for his work with Ariana Grande and SZA. Riddick-Tynes’ production highlights the delicate sensitivity of female artistry while amplifying Ray’s uniquely free-spirited vitality.

“PRESSURE” is now available on Tencent Music Entertainment’s QQ Music, Kugou Music and Kuwo Music, as well as Apple Music, Spotify, KKBOX and other major global platforms. The track has been winning over music critics, further amplifying anticipation for what industry insiders are calling “a sophisticated Chinese urban record elevated by pristine pop production.”

Country music artist Morgan Wallen initially denied throwing a chair off the roof of Nashville bar Chief’s in 2024, according to police video footage obtained by The Associated Press.

The Metro Nashville Police Department released the footage from Wallen’s April 2024 arrest, after the AP filed a public records request. The video was taken through police car cameras and officers’ body cameras.

As shown in the body camera footage, officers are standing next to Wallen outside of the Chief’s bar on Broadway. An officer asks him what happened, and Wallen replies, “I don’t know.” The musician also tells an officer, “We’ve not tried to cause no problems, man. I don’t know what they are, I don’t know why.” The officer tells Wallen that the police were attempting to understand what happened after a chair fell from the bar’s rooftop and landed by the policeman’s patrol car. Wallen answers, “As you should.”

According to the video, officers “spoke to witnesses who identified Wallen as the one who threw the chair, and reviewed security cam footage.” Later footage shows the musician in the backseat of a patrol cruiser, and saying, “I ain’t done nothing wrong.” The footage also shows officers handcuffing him.

Billboard has reached out to reps for Wallen for comment.

Wallen was arrested on April 8, 2024, and briefly jailed after he threw a chair from the sixth-floor rooftop of the bar Chief’s on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville. The chair reportedly landed a few feet away from where two Metro Nashville police officers were standing. The country star was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. In December 2024, Wallen pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment in Nashville court and was sentenced to two years’ probation and seven days in a DUI education center.

Nearly two weeks after Wallen’s arrest, he addressed the incident, writing on social media, “I didn’t feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks. I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility…. I have the utmost respect for the officers working every day to keep us all safe. Regarding my tour, there will be no change. -MW”

Since that time, Wallen has seen his most recent album, I’m the Problem, spend a dozen nonconsecutive weeks atop the all-genre Billboard 200, and has regaled fans with his stadium-headlining I’m the Problem Tour this year.

Watch the video obtained by The Associated Press below:

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week, for the upcoming Billboard 200 dated Oct. 11, we look at new sets by several major artists, all getting in before the biggest pop star in the world sounds perhaps the final buzzer for 2025 next week.  

Doja Cat, Vie (Kemosabe/RCA): Doja Cat has become one of the defining pop stars of the 2020s without a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200: Her career-best to date is still the No. 2 peak of 2021’s Planet Her, blocked from the top spot by Tyler, the Creator’s Call Me if You Get Lost. Still, she’s scored two No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100, and nine top 10 hits — including a pair from her previous album, 2023’s more hip-hop-focused Scarlet: the chart-topper “Paint the Town Red” and the No. 7-peaking “Agora Hills.”  

Doja’s latest set, Vie, eschews the rap focus of Scarlet a bit for a brighter, more ‘80s-hued pop sound — exemplified by the lead single “Jealous Type,” which she opened the MTV Video Music Awards with in September. Released on Friday (Sept. 26), the 15-track set is light on special guests, but does include one big-name feature in pop/R&B superstar SZA, who appears on “Take Me Dancing,” a sort of unofficial sequel to the pair’s Planet Her teamup, the Grammy-winning crossover smash “Kiss Me More.” (Another big name, Jack Antonoff, is a major presence in the album’s writing and production credits.)  

The album is available for purchase in eight vinyl variants and two CDs — with one signed option in each format — as well as in a CD boxed set (with a signed CD and branded T-shirt), standard and deluxe iTunes versions (the latter with bonus videos), and a cassette.  

It will need to do robust sales numbers to challenge for the No. 1 spot, because the streaming tallies its songs have posted so far have not been massive: As of posting, Doja only has one song in the top 100 on the Spotify Daily Top Songs USA chart, and zero in the top 100 on Apple Music’s real-time lasting. With the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack still pulling weekly numbers in the low six digits — and Scarlet bowing with 72,000 units two years ago — it may be tough for Vie to get over the top.  

Young Thug, UY Scuti (YSL/300/Atlantic): The rapper born Jeffery Lamar Williams II was a regular presence atop the Billboard 200 albums chart at the turn of the 2020s, even topping it twice in 2021 alone (with his solo Punk set and his Young Stoner Life: Slime Language 2 full-label effort). But in the four years since then, he’s gone to jail, fallen out with his former partner-in-rhyme Gunna and made more headlines for being at the center of public messiness than for anything he’s done with his music.  

Young Thug is looking to change the narrative with the release of UY Scuti, his first full-length since 2023’s Billboard 200 No. 2-peaking Business Is Business. The set is consumable in 20- and 21-track editions on streaming and digital retailers, with a pair of digital-only 22-track archive editions also offering an exclusive bonus track each. Multiple vinyl, CD and CD boxed set editions are also available.

The set features such big names as Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, Future and even current Billboard 200-topper Cardi B as guests. However, like Doja’s Vie, Scuti has yet to produce a major breakout streaming hit – after a strong Friday start, only opener “Ninja” ranks in the top 100 on Apple Music’s real-time chart (as of Wednesday), and it’s only No. 104 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA — and the set has also been attracting as many headlines for its controversial album cover as for any of its songs.  

Mariah Carey, Here for It All (Mariah/gamma.): The most chart-accomplished artist with a new album out this week is certainly Mariah Carey, who has topped the Billboard 200 six times — although not since 2008, when she last visited No. 1 with her E=MC2 album. Still, Mariah has at least hit the top 10 with every studio album, and has reached the top five with each of her four full-lengths since ‘08.  

That last streak may be in slight jeopardy with the release of Here for It All, her first new album of the 2020s, which will have to do most of its damage in sales, without much to talk about in the way of big streaming numbers. But it should sell fairly well, with help from a trio of alternate variants each on CD and vinyl (two with different covers, one signed), as well as two cassette editions and a deluxe download edition, the latter with an exclusive bonus track.  

IN THE MIX 

Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving (Capitol/Polydor): One artist who is doing just fine on streaming — and better every week — is U.K. singer-songwriter Olivia Dean, whose global breakthrough single “Man I Need” climbs to No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. It should shoot up even higher next week following the release of The Art of Loving, which is also available on seven CD variants, and already appears on its way to a second breakout hit, “So Easy (To Fall in Love).”  

P1Harmony, Ex (FNC Entertainment/Hello82): South Korean pop group P1Harmony has already visited the Billboard 200 once this year, reaching No. 23 on the chart with May’s Duh! EP. The sextet is on track to do even better with September’s five-track Ex EP, helped by a whopping 17 CD variants, as well as six vinyl variants, all with collectible items (some randomized) inside the packaging.