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Back-to-school season is here! Get ready for the upcoming academic year with our favorite budget-friendly school essentials. From a reliable backpack, to a stylish pencil set, to popular water bottles and base-pounding earbuds, you’ll find all the essentials you need to thrive in class without breaking the bank. Whether you’re moving into a new dorm or gearing up for the 2025 school term, here’s everything you in under $40.
Finding school essentials can be challenging, so we’ve created this short list to speed up the process and help you get started. To kick off your back-to-school shopping list on the right foot, you might want to add this high-quality L.L. Bean tote bag, a sleek, insulated Herschel lunch box, and a simple, but effective desk organizer at Walmart.
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Keep your lunch fresh with the Pop Quiz lunch box carries. The bag features an insulated easy-wipe interior, alongside a a front pocket for storing cutlery or extra snacks. Spilled something? No problem — the inside wipes clean with ease.
Thanks to the brand’s many recording artist and athlete co-signs, including Post Malone and Lionel Messi, Stanley tumblers are the most s ought-after water bottles on the market. For only $35, you can now join in on the bottle craze.
Stand out from the rest of your classmates with these incredible pencils. Featuring an eye-catching natural wood design, premium Japanese graphite, and a long lasting extra-firm lead, Blackwing pencils have quickly become out favorite.
If you don’t want to lug around a backpack all day, this popular L.L. Bean tote bag is the perfect alternative. With a variety customizable features, you can craft the ultimate bag that fits your style.
Do you need to concentrate and study? Block out all the background school noise with these adorable earbuds. They come equipped with bluetooth 5.2, 10mm drivers for deep bass, and a fast charging case.
This 17.5-inch backpack is simple, but effective. It features a water-resistant build with multiple interior and exterior pockets to help keep your things neatly packed. There’s also an interior laptop pocket that fits an up to 15-inch laptop and padded shoulder straps for comfy carrying all day.
Demi Lovato wouldn’t change a thing about her recent reunion with the Jonas Brothers.
In an episode of Chicks in the Office posted Tuesday (Aug. 12) — two days after the pop star made a cameo at the Jo Bros’ kickoff 20th anniversary tour concert in New Jersey — Lovato opened up about how “healing” it was to perform Camp Rock hits “This Is Me” and “Wouldn’t Change a Thing” with former costars Joe, Nick and Kevin for the first time in years. “It was so fun,” they raved. “Seeing everyone and the reactions and everything just filled my soul with warmth and love.”
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“It was so healing for me, too,” Lovato continued. “We’ve been through so much together, all of us, the Jonas Brothers and I. It was really, really great to spend time with them.”
The vocalist also revealed that the plan to reunite with the pop-rock trio only came together a few days before they took the stage at MetLife Stadium. “Joe just asked me last week,” she recalled. “Like, ‘Hey, what are you doing next week? You’ve been a huge part of our journey … This show is really important to us and we would love to have you there.’”
Backstage at the concert, Lovato says Joe, Nick and Kevin spent a lot of time “getting to know my husband” –Jordan “Jutes” Lutes, whom the singer married in May — which was “really meaningful to me.” “I loved it — every second of it was so great,” the singer added.
The Disney Channel reunion comes as both the Jo Bros and Lovato are launching new musical eras, with the former releasing new album Greetings From Your Hometown on Friday (Aug. 8) and the latter dropping single “Fast” a week before that. While gearing up to release new pop music, the Sonny With a Chance alum has been revisiting some of her most iconic moments and memes from years past, from revisiting the frozen yogurt shop Lovato once put on blast to recreating “Disney knees” at Disneyland.
On that note, Lovato says there was no hesitating after the brothers sent out an invitation to perform at MetLife. “It was an instant, ‘Let’s do this,’” they said on the podcast. “In this new era of mine, too, I’m throwing it back to the memes, and some of the things I’ve been posting have been really nostalgic. This just fit in with everything I’ve been doing, and on top of that, it’s such a meaningful song for me. ‘This Is Me’ was the first big song I’ve ever had. It was just so full circle.”
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.pngYveto2025-08-12 20:01:462025-08-12 20:01:46Demi Lovato Explains Why Jonas Brothers Reunion Was ‘Healing’: ‘We’ve Been Through So Much Together’
Raekwon and Mobb Deep shifted hip-hop with their 1995 albums, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… and The Infamous, respectively — now they’re hitting the road for a co-headlining 30th anniversary tour to celebrate.
The Wu-Tang Clan rapper and Mobb Deep’s Havoc announced the North American trek on Tuesday (Aug. 12) with artist pre-sale set for Wednesday (Aug. 13) while the general public’s tickets hit the market on Friday (Aug. 15) at 10 a.m. local showtime.
“Me and Havoc from Mobb will be pure hip-hop at its finest. This is gonna take rap shows to the next level — guaranteed,” Raekwon said in a statement.
Havoc added that “fans can expect nothing less than pure, raw, unfiltered energy on stage. I’m excited to celebrate these two legendary albums — the world doesn’t exist to me without that purple tape in it. This will be a tour the fans will never forget.”
The 19-date tour is slated to kick off in Portland on Nov. 13 and will run through San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Philly, Atlanta and wrap up in Miami Beach on Dec. 15.
The Infamous served as Havoc and the late Prodigy’s magnum opus sophomore album, which reached No. 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in 1995. Prodigy passed away in 2017 at the age of 42 due to accidental choking after a lifelong battle with sickle-cell anemia.
As for Rae, the Chef cooked up his Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… debut album in August 1995, which entered the charts at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
Raekwon’s still sharpening his lyrical sword, as the rap legend delivered his The Emperor’s New Clothes album in July.
Find all of the dates for the co-headlining tour below.
Nov. 13 – Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom
Nov. 15 – Berkeley, Calif. @ The UC Theatre
Nov. 17 – San Diego, Calif. @ SOMA
Nov. 18 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Wiltern
Nov. 21 – Denver, Co. @ Fillmore Auditorium
Nov. 24 – Houston, Tx. @ Bayou Music Center
Nov. 25 – Dallas, Tx. @ South Side Ballroom
Nov. 28 – Chicago, Ill. – Riviera Theatre
Nov. 29 – Detroit, Mich. @ The Fillmore Detroit
Dec. 1 – Wallingford, Conn. @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Dec. 2 – Toronto, Ontario @ HISTORY
Dec. 3 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
Dec. 6 – Boston, Mass. @ Citizens House of Blues
Dec. 7 – New York, N.Y. @ Brooklyn Paramount
Dec. 8 – Silver Spring, Md. @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
Dec. 10 – Charlotte, N.C. @ The Fillmore Charlotte
Dec. 11 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Tabernacle
Dec. 14 – St. Petersburg, Fla. @ Jannus Live (Co-Pro)
Dec. 15 – Miami Beach, Fla. @ Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theatre
The pair became locked in litigation back in 2023 over Oates’ plan to sell his half of their joint venture to Primary Wave, a move Hall called the “ultimate partnership betrayal.” Court filings from Monday (Aug. 11) say the dispute has now been resolved in confidential arbitration — meaning we don’t know how things shook out, including whether or not the Primary Wave deal is going through.
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Hall & Oates enjoyed massive success in the 1970s and 1980s, topping the Billboard Hot 100 a whopping six times with hits like “Rich Girl” and “Maneater.” They broke up and reunited a number of times over the years and were touring together as recently as 2022.
The pair’s relationship publicly blew up in November 2023, however, when Hall launched arbitration seeking to block Oates from selling his stake in Whole Oats Enterprises — which holds the band’s name and likeness rights as well as royalty income — to Primary Wave.
Hall said he was “blindsided” by Oates’ sale plans, saying he did not want to partner with Primary Wave because he disagreed with how the music company goes about exploiting intellectual property rights from the many prominent artists in its portfolio.
The legal filings also shed light on a larger creative “divorce” between Hall and Oates, with Hall claiming his former partner had recently become “adversarial and aggressive” and that they’d been talking about dissolving their touring company and other joint ventures.
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Oates was more tacit in his court papers, saying he was “tremendously disappointed” with Hall’s “inflammatory, outlandish and inaccurate statements.” Oates wrote, “I can only say that Daryl’s accusations that I breached our agreement, went ‘behind’ his back, ‘acted in bad faith,’ and the like, are not true.”
Hall won a court injunction against Oates at the end of November 2023, with a judge in Nashville ruling that the proposed Primary Wave deal could not go through until the duo’s claims were resolved privately in arbitration.
After that, the Nashville court docket was quiet until Monday, when Hall’s lawyers dismissed the case and said in a brief status report that “the claims have been adjudicated in arbitration” and a final judgment has been entered in the confidential proceedings.
Details of the arbitration judgment are not available. A rep for Primary Wave did not return Billboard’s inquiry about whether or not the outcome allows it to buy the Whole Oats Enterprises assets as originally intended.
Attorneys for Hall and Oates have not commented on the legal resolution.
After dropping “The Giver,” a stab at country-pop that lasted just eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 after debuting at No. 4, Chappell Roan unleashed her newest single, “The Subway.” Once again teaming with Dan Nigro, the 2025 Grammy winner for best new artist instantly earned the highest-charting Hot 100 hit of her career when “The Subway” launched at No. 3 on the Aug. 16 chart.
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Though she insists her second album isn’t coming anytime soon, the performance of “The Subway” offers valuable insight into Roan’s ranking in the Top 40 landscape as she moves further away from her breakthrough debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
Will “The Subway” last longer on the Hot 100 than “The Giver?” Does “Subway” have the potential to become Chappel’s first Hot 100 No. 1 hit? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.
1. Chappel Roan’s “The Subway” debuted at No. 3 on the Hot 100 this week. Is that higher, lower or about where you would have expected this song to debut?
Hannah Dailey: Given how long it took for her to release “The Subway” after first performing it at Gov Ball — 14! Months! — I’m pleasantly surprised that “The Subway” debuted as high as it did. Though I feel confident it would have had a straight shot to No. 1 if she’d released it a year ago when everyone was still freshly caught up in the Chappell craze, at this point, I would’ve expected it to enter the chart in the mid- or lower top 10 range. She and her team should be really happy.
Stephen Daw: Just a little bit lower than I’d initially thought. After seeing the massive streaming numbers this song was pulling in during its first few days, I thought it had a better-than-average chance of taking the top spot on the Hot 100. Still, though, debuting a song at your highest chart position to date is no small feat!
Kyle Denis: This is a bit higher than I expected! “The Giver” was fairly divisive, but clearly not enough to overshadow the anticipation for “The Subway.” It also helps that “The Subway” debuted alongside its exceptional music video, marking Chappell’s first proper music video since “Hot to Go” two years ago.
Lyndsey Havens: My instinct was to say higher, but as I think about it, a No. 3 debut is pretty much exactly what I’d expect for “Subway” for two reasons. It’s a natural debut spot for Roan, who has become something of a chart mainstay these last couple of years. Plus, given the more ballad-inspired nature of the song, it fits in perfectly with what else is resonating right now — look no further than previous chart-topper, “Ordinary” by Alex Warren. “The Subway” comes at the right time in both popular music and Roan’s career, as it shows yet another side of the multidimensional pop star, one that’s softer and showcases her incredible vocal prowess — proving that not all hits need to be burning “h-o-t.”
Jason Lipshutz: Higher. Considering that “The Giver” was Roan’s first post-Midwest Princess release, was teased with more fervor than “The Subway” and sounded more uptempo and radio-friendly, I expected that song’s No. 4 debut to serve as a bar that “The Subway” could not hurdle. Yet fans seem to be responding more positively to “The Subway” than to its predecessor, with a huge streaming bow powering an even higher chart launch. As a fan of the new single, I’m pleasantly surprised that “The Subway” is now Roan’s highest-charting hit.
2. Was “The Subway” worth the hype? Is it a worthy follow-up to “The Giver?”
Hannah Dailey: Yes and yes. From the sharp lyrics to Chappell’s stunning vocal delivery — and of course, that glorious outro that hits just as hard as the first time you heard it every time you press “play” — this song is truly a fantastic piece that stands apart from everything else in the top 40 right now in the best way. “The Giver” is a great song, but everything about the rollout for “Subway” feels way more thoughtful and complete. I definitely think she leveled up here.
Stephen Daw: This song absolutely met and surpassed my expectations, and is a phenomenal improvement on what she set up with “The Giver,” all the way down to her strategy when rolling it out. She and Dan Nigro managed to keep the soul of the song intact while changing around some arrangements and adding small production flourishes to make the studio version stand apart from her live performances. Even fans who have been listening to bootlegged live versions for well over a year will keep going back to the studio recording to find the new bits they love.
Kyle Denis: I think so! I can already tell this will have more staying power than “The Giver” on both my daily personal playlist and the Hot 100. Quite simply, “The Subway” is a better execution of Chappell’s vision than “The Giver.” The latter attempted to capture arena-sized Shania Twain-esque country-pop but lacked the necessary punchiness; the former effectively channels the yearning timbre of The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan. “The Subway” isn’t just a worthy follow-up to “The Giver,” it’s also one of my favorite pop songs of the year so far.
Lyndsey Havens: Totally. “The Subway” is a really gorgeous song — and both from a skillset and thematic point of view, it follows “The Giver” nicely. Much like “Subway,” “Giver” showed an entirely new country side of Roan. And I think any fan appreciates when an artist not only walks a new path, but pulls it off this well. Lyrically, you could argue that there’s a thread between giving too much in a relationship that results in losing the girl (“Subway”) — but that’s just one line of thinking. The main takeaway, I think, is that Roan isn’t leaving any stone unturned when it comes to her sonic evolution, and how lucky are we to be along for that ride?
Jason Lipshutz: “The Subway” better showcases Chappell Roan’s respective skill set than “The Giver”: whereas the latter was marked by winking innuendos and genre exploration, “The Subway” utilizes the pop star’s knack for sweeping emotion, presented here in a lush alt-pop landscape and accentuated by a heart-wrenched outro. If “The Giver” felt like an unexpected detour, “The Subway” centers Chappell and sounds like it could become one of her defining songs. So, yes, very much worth the hype.
3. “The Giver,” Chappell’s only other release of 2025 so far, debuted at No. 4 and spent just eight weeks on the Hot 100. Do you expect “The Subway” to stick around a little longer?
Hannah Dailey: I definitely think this song has the capacity to be a lasting hit, especially if Chappell continues to promote it. I could see it easily locking down a semi-permanent spot in the top 10 or maybe even reaching No. 1 at some point. But even if she does just let “The Subway” chug along on its own following this initial round of promo, I’ll be surprised if it completely falls off the chart any time soon. That outro is just too addicting; fans aren’t going to quit listening on repeat for a long, long time.
Stephen Daw: I think so. While “The Giver” was (and still is) a great song, it felt like Chappell and her team put a lot of effort into the weeks leading up to the track’s release, and then offered little else once fans had the song. The way they approached “The Subway,” meanwhile, has felt different, and its release felt much more like an event that got fans around the world talking. If she can get more radio stations to start picking this song up in the coming weeks, I could see “The Subway” becoming a runaway hit that hovers around the top 40, much like “Pink Pony Club” has continued to do for this entire year.
Kyle Denis: I definitely think “The Subway” will stick around longer than “The Giver.” Theoretically, “Subway” shouldn’t have to battle against a “Pink Pony Club” re-peak, and sonically, it’s far more in line with the sound fans and casual listeners have come to expect from Chappell. With a music video in tow and radio already latching on, I expect “The Subway” to stick around well into the fall.
Lyndsey Havens: Not necessarily. With the music video already out, I wouldn’t be surprised if it enjoys a similar lifespan on the chart. And in a way, I wouldn’t be mad if it falls off soon… only because Roan has proven that good things always come back around. And I have no doubt that if and when these songs end up on a project, their staying power will be much stronger.
Jason Lipshutz: Yeah, “The Subway” sounds like the more enduring hit. Although “The Giver” has the hook and tempo of a country-pop track that could cross over to top 40 radio, “The Subway” contains the emotional wallop that made “Pink Pony Club” a months-long smash for Roan. Make no mistake — as a fan, I want Chappell to keep taking left-field chances like “The Giver” and expand her aesthetic. Yet “The Subway” exists more squarely in her pocket of commercial success, so I’d expect it to be around the upper reaches of the Hot 100 for a bit.
4. Chappell recentlyconfirmed that her second album isn’t coming anytime soon. How do you anticipate that might impact the long-term performance of “The Subway?”
Hannah Dailey: It’s very possible that people’s hype for “The Subway” will die down more quickly now that we know it’s not directly leading to a Midwest Princess follow-up, but… I almost wonder if removing that anticipation from the equation will actually enable fans to enjoy the song even more than they would have otherwise. Without any album noise diluting the conversation, people can just appreciate “The Subway” for what it is, coming back again and again and getting more out of the song than they would have if they’d just been treating it as merely one taste of a bigger project to come.
Stephen Daw: With the single-into-album release structure most artists take today, that leads to pretty natural boosts for singles on the charts once the album they’re a part of is out. So, Chappell not releasing an album for a little while could very well mean that “The Subway” doesn’t get the elongated shelf-life that her fans would want to see for it. But, stranger things have happened on the charts — a fictional K-pop band is currently locking down the No. 1 spot! Anything can happen!
Kyle Denis: As it stands, I think it can go either way. “Good Luck, Babe!” became one of her defining hits without ever being attached to a larger project, so “Subway” could certainly replicate that trajectory. On the other hand, if “Subway” peters off a bit earlier than expected, an album release almost always gives the focus singles a second wind. Right now, I’m of the mind that “Subway” will be just fine without an album on the horizon.
Lyndsey Havens: Though I doubt it’s intentional, I think the long wait can only benefit any singles that come until the album. We’ve seen how well Chappell does over time; in fact, the lengthy timespan between the release of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and its chart success is a huge part of Roan’s story as a rising star. If there is a long gap between these singles and an album — assuming they will even be on her next project — that only helps them to be enjoyed all over again.
Jason Lipshutz: It’s tough to say, since streaming listeners aren’t likely to play a song more or less often due to the rumored release window of its host album. If we don’t get any new Chappell music for a while following “The Subway,” that may extend its mainstream shelf life, since it will have less competition from other potential songs from her highly anticipated Midwest Princess follow-up. But if we do get a new album sooner rather than later, “The Subway” might be one of the stronger tracks on it! I think that, whether Roan is telling the truth about her second album or if she’s setting up fans for a surprise, “The Subway” is going to stand on its own as a hit single.
5. “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Pink Pony Club” both peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100. What advice would you give Chappel to get “The Subway” to the top spot and claim her first No. 1 single?
Hannah Dailey: Get on TV and sing. That’s it. “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Pink Pony Club” both took off with a lot of help from Chappell’s string of magnetic festival sets in 2024, because there’s a special sort of magic that’s embedded into each one of her songs that doesn’t fully unlock until she performs them live. If we could just get one definitive performance of “The Subway” on a late-night show, there would be no stopping this song.
Stephen Daw: Outside of pushing for more radio play, I’d love to see her start performing this song live in as many formats as she possibly can. Morning shows? Late-night talk shows? The upcoming MTV Video Music Awards? I think making her voice inescapable could make a big difference for the future of “The Subway.”
Kyle Denis: This is the kind of song that just needs one major performance, preferably one that airs on national TV. Chappell could easily shut down the VMAs or any fall or winter awards show with a rousing performance of “Subway.” After that bridge/outro gets its big moment, it’s outta here!
Lyndsey Havens: Keep us waiting, girl. (Mostly) everything about Roan’s rise has felt slow and steady — at least from the outside looking in — so there’s no reason to rush anything now or push for promotional tactics that feel inauthentic. I wouldn’t be shocked if, over time — even if it takes five years, as she teased of her second album’s timeline — “The Subway” gains in all metrics naturally. As Roan said herself on “The Giver,” “I get the job done.” And I have no doubts about that.
Jason Lipshutz: We need an epic live performance of “The Subway” — which we already got last summer, when Roan debuted the track in front of various festival crowds. Now that a studio version of the song has been released, however, let’s hope a splashy primetime performance (maybe at the upcoming VMAs?) helps its momentum surge, and “The Subway” becomes a very worthy first chart-topper for Chappell.
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.pngYveto2025-08-12 19:56:282025-08-12 19:56:28Will Chappell Roan’s ‘The Subway’ Stick Around Longer Than ‘The Giver’ on the Hot 100?
With assistance from DJ Khaled, the Baton Rouge rapper returned on Tuesday (Aug. 12) with DESHAWN. The 13-track mixtape features only one collaboration with Kevin Gates, as YoungBoy continues the hot streak he started with MASA in July.
These back-to-back releases mark the celebratory end of a tumultuous legal chapter for the young rapper. Until this spring, YoungBoy was entangled in multiple criminal cases, pleading guilty in November to his involvement in a prescription drug fraud ring. In December, he was sentenced by a federal judge in Utah for gun charges. Just when it seemed his career might be over, President Donald Trump issued an unexpected pardon for the rapper this May.
“This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I’ve worked hard for, and I am fully prepared to step into this,” YoungBoy wrote in a statement shortly after the pardon.
Still, through his legal challenges, YoungBoy’s output never faltered. In 2024, he released I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders and followed up with this year’s More Leaks. MASA and now DESHAWN mark his second and third projects, respectively, in 2025 alone.
While MASA‘s sprawling 25 tracks showcased moments of self-reflection and vulnerability regarding his legal troubles, YB’s new mixtape carries that same introspection forward. On DESHAWN, YoungBoy continues to explore the trials and tribulations that have shaped his journey while incorporating moments of celebration and levity along the way.
Let’s get into the music. Here is Billboard‘s ranking of all 13 tracks on DESHAWN.
Diferente Nivel and Carolina Ross’ “No Soy Tu Prioridad” has topped Billboard’s latest new Latin music poll, published on Friday (Aug. 8).
In support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors, music fans voted for the Música Mexicana’s collaboration as their favorite music release of the week.
“No Soy Tu Prioridad” generated more than 41% of the vote, beating out other new releases, including TINI’s “De Papel,” Eden Muñoz’s “Te Juro Que Te Amo,” Piso 21’s “Nuevo” and albums from Lenier (Barrio) and Armenta (Pórtate Bien). Meanwhile, El Malilla and Enayy’s sultry reggaeton Mexa “Rebeca” was a favorite close second with more than 38% of the vote.
Marking the first collaborative effort between the Regional Mexican band and the Sinaloa-born singer, “No Soy Tu Prioridad” is a norteño-pop ballad powered by guitar, piano, accordion and their passionate harmonies. “I prefer you to tell me the truth/ That it tastes like a lie when you say ‘I love you more’/ Because I know it’s a habit that can’t be fixed/ It’s become very clear to me now, I’m not your priority,” they sing about a relationship worn down by a lack of interest.
Similar to Ross’ collab with Grupo Firme — “Todavía Te Amo” released this May — the song with Diferente Nivel was originally recorded a year and a half ago at Joss Favela’s recording studio. “Hide my speakers because this anthem is coming,” the artist’s expressed in a joint Instagram post just days before the song finally released.
Editor’s Note: The weekly New Music Latin poll results are posted if the poll generates more than 1,000 votes.
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.pngYveto2025-08-12 19:26:222025-08-12 19:26:22Fans Choose Diferente Nivel & Carolina Ross’ Collab as Their Favorite New Latin Music of the Week
Dolly Parton has some sage advice for those grieving the loss of loved ones.
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During an interview withEntertainment Tonight posted Monday (Aug. 11), the country discussed whether she had had a chance to reach out to fellow singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson after the recent passing of the latter’s ex-husband, music manager Brandon Blackstock, who was also the former stepson of Reba McEntire.
Parton said she had not yet. “We’ve been so involved in all this stuff here, but I will, I’ll catch up with her,” she shared. “I love Reba and I love Kelly.”
Blackstock died Aug. 7 at the age of 48, following a three-year battle with melanoma. He and Clarkson were wed from 2013 to 2022. McEntire was married to Blackstock’s father, music manager Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015.
Parton has been navigating her own time of personal grief and loss after the March death of her husband, Carl Dean, to whom she was wed for nearly six decades.
As for advice she would offer to McEntire and Clarkson, Parton said, “I think you just have to be grateful for the years that you’ve had with someone, and you just try to remember the very best of all that, and take their energy that they had given you then and just kind of recycle that and let that become a part of you. Just honor their memory and know that they are in a better place than we are these days.”
Following Blackstock’s passing, Starstruck Entertainment, the company that Narvel owned and that Brandon worked at, shared a statement. “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
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.pngYveto2025-08-12 19:26:212025-08-12 19:26:21Dolly Parton Offers Advice on Grief for Kelly Clarkson & Reba McEntire After Brandon Blackstock’s Death
Joe Jonas might catch some heat from the bosses at Disney for seemingly letting a Camp Rock-related secret slip on Hot Ones Versus — but at least he avoided eating a super spicy chicken wing.
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While facing off against his brothers/bandmates Kevin and Nick on the episode posted Tuesday (Aug. 12), the DNCE frontman appeared to reveal that a Camp Rock 3 is in the works. When challenged to either read his most recent Notes app entry or take a bite of a “death wing,” Joe prioritized his taste buds over any NDA he may or may not have in place with a certain entertainment giant.
“Read Camp Rock 3,” he said as silence fell over the set. “It’s the truth. It’s literally right here.”
The trio and Hot Ones crew then burst out laughing at the unplanned revelation — that a script for a third Camp Rock movie appears to exist — as Kevin shrugged, admitting, “That’s a pretty good one.”
“Sorry, Disney!” Joe added.
So there you have it. Though Disney has not publicly indicated that another Camp Rock is in the works, the Jo Bros seem to at least be considering reprising their roles in a follow-up to 2010’s Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, which premiered on Disney Channel two years after the original Camp Rock first aired. In the franchise, the Jonases played three brothers who formed a boy band called Connect 3 — sound familiar? — starring opposite Demi Lovato’s leading lady, Mitchie Torres.
Billboard has reached out to Disney for comment.
Regardless of whether Camp Rock 3 comes to fruition, the timing of Joe’s spontaneous reveal does seem like kismet. Just two days prior to the Hot Ones Versus premiere, the brothers reunited with Lovato and performed Camp Rock hits “This Is Me” and “Wouldn’t Change a Thing” at the Jonas Brothers’ kickoff anniversary tour show in New Jersey.
But for now, the Jonas Brothers are focusing on band activities. In addition to touring, the band is also in the midst of promoting new album Greetings From Your Hometown, which dropped Aug. 8.
Watch the Jo Bros’ full episode of Hot Ones Versus above.
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.pngYveto2025-08-12 19:05:522025-08-12 19:05:52Joe Jonas Seemingly Reveals Secret ‘Camp Rock 3’ Plans to Avoid Eating a Spicy Wing: ‘Sorry, Disney!’
Latto spent a summer Friday giving Billboard the kind of relationship advice that’s equal parts real and unapologetically confident. Fresh off dropping her first solo single of 2025, “Somebody,” and with a new album on the horizon, she’s in a winning season — and ready to tease what’s next.
Days earlier, Latto starred in a playful new D’USSÉ campaign that finally addresses years of internet obsession around “her man, her man, her man,” the long-rumored, unconfirmed partner fans have speculated about for ages. The short film cheekily reveals that her mystery man is actually the D’USSÉ VSOP Magnum Edition bottle, set in a dimly lit booth where Latto praises her “date” for being rich, bold and smooth.
Since the ad plays off dating and relationships and it’s all about D’USSÉ Fridays, it felt fitting to catch up with Latto on a Friday to talk about exactly that. She shared her best advice for dating in 2025, teased the new era she’s stepping into, reflected on what it really takes to lock down a woman like her and much more.
You’ve been killing it across the board. What does a ‘win’ look like for Latto right now, personally and professionally?
I would say personally, maybe like some D’USSÉ Peach Lemonade, good food, go home to my man, some good music, good vibes. And then, professionally, I would say another D’USSÉ Peach Lemonade, good music. Yeah, I think professional and personally might be the same win.
This D’USSÉ campaign was super smart and playful. What made you want to reveal your ‘mystery man’ as the D’USSÉ bottle?
I think it’s just that people are nosy, it’s an internet thing. So, when D’USSÉ wanted to play off that, I was like, sure, why not tease the people?
You said in the teaser, “it’s not just anybody.” What are the qualities that make someone not just anybody in your eyes, especially when it comes to dating?
I mean, I hinted on it a little bit in the teaser, so I’m gonna double down on that: rich, bold, big energy, heavy. He talks heavy. Smooth. I love a smooth guy. Confident guy.
Dating has changed a lot, especially for someone in your position. What’s your best advice for dating in 2025?
I think I stumbled upon my person by just investing in and building myself up. Then I attracted someone who was on the same wavelength, the same frequency. Too many times, we try to chase it instead of being it ourselves.
When you are that, it naturally attracts to you. You gotta be that first, that’s step one.
We all see the memes about “locking down Latto” — but what does it really take to lock down a woman like you?
I am a very loyal person, so I value loyalty, just having my back and being there for me. Aside from doing things for me, what he has to do is be confident.
A confident man is going to respect you, respect himself and carry himself a certain way while respecting the relationship. So yeah, I’d go back to the confidence thing — that’s probably number one. Then loyalty.
What’s a nonnegotiable for a first date with Latto?
I would say meeting somewhere public. Baby it’s 2025, and we ain’t trying to be seen with each other when we don’t even know each other yet. We know how quick people put two and two together. It’s gotta be a private vibe, even if it’s a movie or dinner.
You’ve kept your relationship private for a while. How important is that privacy for you, and does it help keep things real?
Privacy a hundred thousand percent keeps things real. It keeps people out of your business. Evil eyes are real, people will hate and wish bad on you. I’d rather have people out my business.
I think that’s the main thing to success in a relationship: privacy, all the time. We wanna call our homegirl and tell her all our business or post your man on Instagram, you’re just inviting too many people into the energy. At the end of the day, it’s supposed to be just you two against the world.
You just dropped the “Chicken Grease” video today, what inspired the vibe and look for that?
Sugar Honey Iced Tea turns one [on Aug. 9], so I wanted to do a couple of things for my fans and that was one of them. It was hard to choose which video to shoot, but it’s summer, I’ve got big things popping right now, it’s giving “Chicken Grease.”
I wanted it to feel Southern, so we shot it in Atlanta. We also shot some while I was on vacation in Turks, we wanted fresh energy. And of course, I had to have T.I. in the video obviously.
With a new album on the horizon, what sound and message are you bringing with this next chapter?
I think the people are gonna have to wait and see that one. Sugar Honey Iced Tea was my homage to my city — it was like, don’t ever get it twisted, I’m gonna get in that booth and rep where I’m from.
But this next one, I don’t like giving too much away. It’s definitely a new era, though. They’re gonna have to be prepared.
You can’t tease anything? Not one thing?
I really can’t — I’m just going with the flow. I don’t wanna prematurely speak on anything that could change. But I’m recording, and I’m happy.
I came back from Europe on a whole different vibe. I came back from Turks on a whole different vibe. Now I’m back, popping all types of shit about D’USSÉ in the music. It’s constantly evolving, so I don’t even wanna leave any Easter eggs yet.
How much does your personal experiences, relationships, wins, struggles, show up in your new music?
So often. I’m damn near in my notes all the time. Anytime something happens, I’m writing it down like, okay, I gotta make a song about this, or I gotta mention this in the song.
A lot of it is where I’m at right now mentally, physically. Literally, I could be in France making a song, saying “France,” sipping a peach D’USSÉ lemonade, and I’m saying it in the music. It’s 100% authentic, always with me.
Your visuals have always been a big part of your artistry. What’s the creative vision or mood board behind this new rollout?
Again, I’m not gonna spill too much beans,I like it to hit when it’s supposed to hit. I’m fine s—t, so it’s always gonna be some fine s—t in the video.
We‘re still in an era of women in rap. But what pressure do you feel to work twice or hard as men in the genre, or is that long gone?
I don’t know if it’ll ever be long gone, because women are underestimated in any work field. But I think maybe more so now, it’s like working twice as hard to get recognition or approval. But like you said, we’re running s—t. So really, f—k recognition and approval. You see how I’m coming? It’s always gonna be a challenge, but we’re definitely pushing the agenda otherwise.
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.pngYveto2025-08-12 19:05:512025-08-12 19:05:51Latto Shares Relationship Advice & Teases Her Next Music Era: ‘I Stumbled Upon My Person By Building Myself Up’
