Lollapalooza 2025 brought out the hottest stars to Chicago, and we’re running through the entire weekend. From Doechii’s tour announcement during her performance to Sabrina Carpenter giving TWICE handcuffs to Olivia Rodrigo & Gracie Abrams bringing out iconic surprise guests during their set, keep watching to see everything you missed!

What was your favorite moment from Lollapalooza 2025? Let us know in the comments!

Tetris Kelly:

We spent four days at Lollapalooza, and from interviewing some of the “Gnarly” performers and getting to attend some of the best parties throughout the weekend, we take you there in Billboard All Access. Day one at Grant Park saw festivalgoers kick off the weekend by buying some artist merch and seeing Cage the Elephant cover Ozzy Osbourne. Gracie Abrams had the crowd in her hand before inviting Robyn onstage. Luke Combs took us to Nashville. And then came a legit fire headliner: Tyler, the Creator shut down the main stage with bops from his new album. We kicked off day two in the best way, by hanging out with Two Friends at Soho House. 

Two Friends:

So five of us, me and Eli included, literally right after we graduated high school, that was our first time at Lolla. We drove from L.A. all the way to Chicago, so it couldn’t be more full-circle, coming here to headline Perry stage on Saturday, we can’t wait. 

Tetris Kelly:

And heading to the festival to the perfect oasis that was the Patron Hacienda. Fans lined up to grab some headliner margaritas and catch the boys live. T-Pain ended up having one of the biggest crowds in the festival’s history. And then we got to get up close and personal with the night’s headliner Olivia Rodrigo.

Keep watching for more!

Snow Man’s “SERIOUS” bows at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, on the chart dated July 30.

The 12th single by the nine-member boy band is being featured as the theme song for the new Stigmatized Properties: Possession horror movie starring Snow Man member Shota Watanabe, which hit domestic theaters last Friday (July 25). The track launched with 909,496 CDs to rule sales, and the group scores its tenth No. 1 hit on the Japan Hot 100.

HANA’s “Blue Jeans” slips a notch to No. 2 after debuting at No. 1 last week. The track rules streaming for the second week in a row, while coming in at No. 11 for sales and No. 4 for downloads. The breakout seven-member girl group has five songs charting on the tally this week, with “ROSE” at No. 9, “Burning Flower” at No. 17, “Tiger” at No. 23, and “Drop” at No. 29.

CUTIE STREET’s new song “Kyuu ni stop dekimasen!” follows at No. 3. The track had been available digitally since May 7, but soared on the tally after the CD version dropped July 23 and sold 505,909 copies in its first week. The latest single by the eight-member ASOBISYSTEM girl group comes in at No. 2 for sales and No. 37 for video views.

Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Carrying Happiness” rises 10-4 this week, hitting No. 1 for radio airplay. Streams for the Tokyo Disney Resort summer event theme song is up to 132% from last week and video views to 222%.

LiSA’s “Zankoku na yoru ni kagayake” (English title: “Shine in the Cruel Night”) hits No. 5, breaking into the top 10 from No. 39. This is one of the two theme songs gracing the blockbuster animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle — Part 1: Akaza Returns alongside Aimer’s “Taiyo ga Noboranai Sekai” (English title: “A World Where the Sun Never Rises,” at No. 8 this week). The digital version was released on July 19 and the CD dropped on the 23rd. The latest Kimetsu collab by the “Homura” songstress rules downloads, while coming in at No. 7 for sales, No. 14 for streaming, No. 6 for radio, and No. 17 for video.

In other chart news, J-pop summer staples are back on the Japan Hot 100. YUI’s “SUMMER SONG” (2010) rises 41-38, aiko’s “Hanabi” (1990) jumps 80-52, Keisuke Kuwata’s “Naminori Johnny” (“Johnny Surfer,” 2002) is at No. 73, Kuwata-led Southern All Stars’ classic “Manatsu no Kajitsu” (1990) is at No. 84, and Yuzu’s “Natsuiro” is at No. 86.

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.

See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from July 21 to 27, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English X account.

What do we expect from a K-pop concert? For six-member boy band BOYNEXTDOOR (SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN and WOONHAK), their first tour “KNOCK ON Vol.1” was a coming-of-age story told onstage.

Kicking off at Incheon’s Inspire Arena on Dec. 14–15, 2024, the tour swept through six cities in Japan, then Singapore, Manila, Taipei, Jakarta, Hong Kong and returning to Tokyo, finally wrapping up with a three-night encore at KSPO DOME in Seoul on July 25–27, 2025.

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Despite debuting only in May 2023, BOYNEXTDOOR has quickly built a global fanbase, especially among teens and 20-somethings in Korea. Their first tour featured 21 tracks, pulling from four EPs, a soundtrack appearance, and the fan-dedicated song “400 Years.” Though the initial shows drew praise for solid vocals and performance etiquette, some fans expressed reservations about the overall production.

As leader JAEHYUN shared during the second night of their Incheon concert, “Since it was our first concert, we tried to stay close to the original versions to clearly express the group’s identity.” And while the intent was understandable, performing without any concert-specific arrangements — relying solely on the original choreography and the abilities of members just two years into their debut — felt like a tall order for a venue the size of Inspire Arena, which holds up to 15,000 people. Adding to the challenge was the timing: December is one of the busiest months in K-pop, filled with domestic and international awards shows and year-end specials. BOYNEXTDOOR had already proven themselves on those kinds of high-profile stages, and the group’s consistent pride in their live vocals had only heightened expectations.

Still, the fact that fans could share in such a significant moment — the group’s very first solo concert — was meaningful in itself. When ONEDOORs lit up the venue with light sticks and phone flashlights and sang in unison, “So let’s go see the stars,” the stage glowed like a falling starlight, and the members, overcome with emotion, stood teary-eyed, visibly moved. It was the kind of symbolic moment destined to replay itself throughout their career. After the final show ended, the members went live together, sharing their heartfelt reflections and gratitude with fans.

BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR

Courtesy Photo

Between the Korea launch and the encore finale, the group’s momentum only grew stronger. On Jan. 6, they released digital single “I LOVE YOU Today,” a breezy band-pop track that became a chart-topper in Korea. Then came “I Feel Good,” the title track of their fourth EP <No Genre> (May 13), which swept music shows, earning their first “quadruple crown.”

BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR

Courtesy Photo

Instead of sticking to the usual encore formula — a few new songs, a reshuffled VCR, minor tweaks — “KNOCK ON Vol.1 Final” blew the door open from the first second. The show opened with “Nice Guy,” which originally closed their main set. Notably, this version was identical to the one they performed at the 2024 Mnet Asian Music Awards, complete with synchronized dance breaks and the signature chant: “Who’s there? BOYNEXTDOOR!”

“As WOONHAK said on the first night, ‘There was some regret at first. We waited for this encore show to show everything we’ve got.’” True to his words, the show looked nothing like the Incheon leg — not in setlist, stage design, or wardrobe. Utilizing the KSPO DOME’s relatively low ceiling and wide viewing angles, the backdrop LEDs were fully reconfigured to match each song’s tone. Groovy, retro-tinged openers like “Nice Guy,” “Serenade” and the ‘60s-inspired soul pop track “123-78” were paired with romantic white ensembles and soft-toned visuals, while brighter, bouncier tracks like “Back for More” and “One and Only” leaned into a street-style aesthetic with urban-inspired graphics and costumes. The transitions between sections also stood out for their creative flow: during “Fadeaway,” a dance crew filled the stage as the members exited, sustaining energy without a pause. Elsewhere, the group incorporated sound elements from past album trailers to bridge segments seamlessly. One of the most striking examples came just before “But Sometimes,” the title track of their debut EP (‘WHY..’). RIWOO choreographed a new dance break using the EP’s teaser sound, and all six members joined in — a perfectly-timed detonation of energy before launching into the original track.

Just like their encore concert in Tokyo where the group split into two units — JAEHYUN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK covered Creepy Nuts’ viral hit “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” while SUNGHO, RIWOO, and TAESAN performed Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Ao to Natsu (Blue and Summer)” — the Seoul shows also featured special unit stages. This time, they brought to life cover clips that had gone viral on YouTube earlier in March. SUNGHO, RIWOO, and JAEHYUN delivered a charismatic performance of Primary’s “See Through,” while TAESAN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK earned cheers with their emotive rendition of DAY6’s “Congratulations.”

But above all, it was the introduction of a live band that elevated the encore experience to an entirely new sonic level. Starting from the transition between “Step by Step” and “Amnesia,” the band’s presence became impossible to ignore — amplifying the energy, rhythm, and impact of BOYNEXTDOOR’s music. It felt natural to lead into “I Feel Good,” a track with distinctly rock-oriented textures, but what followed next offered a surprise: a hard cut into “Parental Advisory,” one of the group’s most intense hip-hop tracks. The contrast between genres — yet seamless flow — created a sense of sonic exhilaration that rippled through the crowd.

A particularly moving stretch came with the progression from the tender ballad “Crying” into “Dear. My Darling,” which began with SUNGHO’s solo guitar intro. The emotional buildup peaked with “Pebble,” originally led by a simple guitar riff, but now expanded through the band’s full-bodied arrangement. Even after the members had exited the stage, the musicians continued to play — with the electric guitar and keys holding the atmosphere for nearly a full minute. These same band members would later accompany BOYNEXTDOOR to the Lollapalooza stage.

The official set came to a close with “Earth, Winds & Fire,” the title track from their second EP (‘HOW?’). Poignantly, it was also the very first song that opened their debut concert — completing the arc with perfect symmetry. During the encore segment, most of the members left the main stage and roamed through the arena aisles, connecting directly with fans in both lower and upper sections. All three nights were packed with extended sets, reaching the “encore of encores” each time. The magic of “So let’s go see the stars” returned in full. On the final night, when “Earth, Winds & Fire” made a surprise reappearance during the second encore, WOONHAK shouted, “Put your phones away — let’s really go wild!” And astonishingly, most of the crowd obliged, jumping and dancing with their hands in the air. The final setlist of “KNOCK ON Vol.1 Final” totaled an impressive 27 songs.

BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR

Courtesy Photo

“We are six people who love music, and we’re grateful to sing here tonight for ONEDOOR. Thank you. This has been BOYNEXTDOOR.” With JAEHYUN’s closing words, the curtain fell — but the echoes of the music, the raw emotions, and the candid reflections each member had shared lingered in the air.

So back to the original question: What should we expect from a K-pop concert? In a system where most idols begin their training and careers as teenagers, fans often become the closest witnesses to someone’s growth — watching from the very beginning as these artists find their voice, their confidence, and their place in the world. When you’ve shared in someone’s most vulnerable, formative years, there’s little choice but to keep cheering them on. What began seven months ago as a question — a possibility — has since turned into something certain. And the encore concert made it clear just how much collective effort this team poured into delivering that certainty. BOYNEXTDOOR proved their growth, their sincerity, and their purpose. In a concert — the most intimate and immediate moment in an artist’s journey — they succeeded in showing everything fans had come to see, with nothing left behind.

BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR

Courtesy Photo

On Saturday, local time, BOYNEXTDOOR took the stage at the Lollapalooza Aftershow — just ahead of their main set — and once again showed how effortlessly they enjoy performing. On Sunday, they presented a full hourlong set on the Lollapalooza Chicago stage. It marked the first time the group delivered a fully realized concert experience in North America. What new fragments of youth will these six boys next door gather in this unfamiliar land, in the middle of summer? One thing is certain: Those glittering pieces won’t belong to BOYNEXTDOOR alone — they’ll linger in the memories of every person who was there to see it.

A Jewish publicist suing Ye (formerly Kanye West) for antisemitism is demanding that the rapper repay nearly $100,000 incurred by her legal team in fending off a “frivolous and absurd” motion that argued, unsuccessfully, that artistic freedom allows Ye to call himself a “Nazi” and “Hitler” with no legal recourse.

The development stems from Ye’s attempt to throw out the antisemitism lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which guards against legal action that threatens free speech. Ye’s attorneys argued that the rapper’s private conversations — including text messages where he told his Jewish publicist “I am a Nazi” and “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler” — are part of a “continuous, provocative performance” that amounts to First Amendment-protected artistic expression.

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A judge summarily rejected this argument in June, saying Ye and his company “cannot insulate themselves from defending against allegations of blatantly antisemitic and misogynous harassment and an unashamedly discriminatory and retaliatory firing of plaintiff by simply claiming that defendant Ye’s every word and action, even in a private workplace, is a work of art.”

Judge Theresa M. Traber said Ye’s anti-SLAPP motion was “rife with defects, specious arguments and misstatements of law” that suggest the filing was “frivolous and brought for the purpose of delaying the litigation of this action, rather than to raise serious concerns about free speech.” Therefore, said the judge, the publicist (suing anonymously under the moniker Jane Doe) is entitled to a refund of the legal fees her attorneys racked up defending against this motion.

Doe’s lawyers now say in a July 30 motion that these fees amount to $99,720. This figure was calculated using hourly rates for four attorneys at the law firm Shegerian & Associates, which range from $650 to $1,100.

“Plaintiff seeks attorney’s fees for 106.7 hours of work, which represents reasonable time actually spent opposing a half-baked anti-SLAPP motion,” says the court filing.

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Reps for Ye did not return a request for comment on Monday (Aug. 4). The rapper’s lawyers are appealing Judge Traber’s decision not to throw out the case under the anti-SLAPP statute.

The publicist’s antisemitism claims are part of a stream of backlash that Ye has faced for his rampant anti-Jewish rhetoric in recent years. He lost much of his once-formidable business empire, including fashion partnerships with Adidas, The Gap and Balenciaga, after a string of antisemitic public comments in 2022. And Ye’s behavior has not changed; earlier this year, he ran a Super Bowl ad that directed viewers to buy shirts emblazoned with swastikas.

Meanwhile, Ye is also facing an onslaught of civil lawsuits from multiple former employees who claim they were mistreated by the rapper. In one notable case, a former assistant alleges Ye trafficked and sexually assaulted her.  

Ed Sheeran fans are seeing double once again. Fourteen years after the pop star first tapped Rupert Grint to play his stalker/doppelgänger in the “Lego House” music video, the two ginger gents have teamed up once again for a new music video, coming soon.

Arriving Thursday alongside a new song titled “A Little More,” the video will feature the Harry Potter star seemingly reprising his role from the 2011 “Lego House” visual. In a clip posted by Sheeran on Monday (Aug. 4), Grint steps out of a prison — where he appears to have spent the past decade and a half in custody — and starts walking as the memories of his past crimes flash through his mind. The montage that plays features clips from “Lego House,” showing Grint getting tackled after he sneaks into a concert venue and pretends to be the Grammy winner onstage.

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“14 years later me and @rupertgrint are reunited,” Sheeran captioned the clip. “I had this wild idea after writing the song, and thankfully rupert was up for it. It’s an utterly bonkers video for a very upbeat, fun, but angry song.”

The musician also confirmed that “A Little More” will appear on his upcoming album Play, noting that he thinks it’ll be “a lot of people’s fav song” on the September-slated project. Shortly prior to the official song announcement, Sheeran posted a funny clip of himself and Grint singing along to the lyrics.

The two men have been poking fun at their similarities as fellow red-headed English stars for years. After Grint played Sheeran’s obsessive fan in “Lego House,” the Knock at the Cabin actor joked on an MTV News comedy skit that Sheeran was never a real person, but instead a character he made up.

“After Potter, all I wanted to do was stretch myself, create some real magic, so I created a character,” he said in the sketch. “He’d have the voice of an angel, impossibly wispy facial hair. So I bought a guitar and a bunch of flannel, and I called him Ed — Ed Sheeran.”

See Sheeran’s announcement featuring Grint below.

Even with as much success as Drake has enjoyed, the 6 God is still insecure about some things. While he hasn’t been shy about revealing vulnerabilities in his music, Drizzy opened up about how Gracie Abrams helped him get past hating a birthmark on his arm.

Drake took to his Instagram Story on Monday (Aug. 4), posting a recent selfie of the “That’s So True” singer and then followed up with a photo of himself performing with a similar brown birthmark.

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“I used to hate my birthmark but Gracie got the same one,” he wrote. “Now it’s art.”

Fans chimed in about Drake’s claim. Some are looking to manifest a collaboration between the pair of superstars, while others are curious about his motive.

“Whys drake obsessed with gracie,” one person wrote. Another added: “Now why is drake posting gracie abrams…”

It’s not clear whether Drake and Gracie know each other, but this isn’t the first time Drake has posted Abrams to his IG Story this year. Back in March, Drizzy reposted “I Knew It, I Know You” lyrics from the singer’s sophomore album, The Secret of Us, while championing the track’s beat switch.

“[GOAT]’d beat switch on this,” he wrote. “Second half is [sad emoji, brain exploding emoji, blue heart emoji].”

At that time, the OVO fans discovered the “I Knew It, I Know You” music video and flooded the comments section.

Drake and Gracie Abrams are both currently on the road for their respective tours. The 6 God is across the pond where he’ll hit the stage in Manchester and Belgium this week, while Abrams has a pair of shows at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Showing off your personality goes beyond your fashion and makeup style — you can also incorporate your tastes into your living space. For college students, this includes your dorm room, and if music is a big part of your identity, then incorporating vintage music posters should be considered your dorm essentials.

Whether you’re a fan of classic rock, pop, alternative or hip-hop, make note of your favorite artists and take a peek at Billboard‘s best album covers list to determine who and what pictures you’ll want displayed in your room. There are no rules when it comes to showing off your most-listened-to bands and/or singers, which means you can mix and match everything from genres to color palettes.

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Curious which ones are the most popular? We rounded up some of our previously ranked album covers to help inspire you in your decorating journey.

Keep reading to shop our selection below.

In celebration of the late and great Ozzy Osbourne, you purchase a certified banger of a poster at Walmart depicting Osbourne on the cover of Rolling Stone from 2002. The poster is printed on heavy stock paper and measures 27 x 40 inches.

Your favorite artist’s favorite artist has a slew of posters available that would look pretty stellar on your dorm room wall. This one from Amazon is 24 x 36 inches and is printed on impactful high gloss paper.

$8.18 $8.99 9% off

Buy Now On Amazon

For our Rodrigo fans, this poster serves as a homage to the singer’s stellar career thus far. The 12×18 inch poster is printed on sturdy canvas and features some of the singer’s most memorable looks and lyrics printed in a collage.

Frank Ocean’s Blonde album is a classic. The album holds a special place in the hearts of many, especially you skater boys (you know who you are). This poster retails for $2.96 and neasures 24in x 36in.

collage of red music posters

Amazon

Buy: Woonkit Vintage Rock Band Posters for Room Aesthetic, 70s 80s 90s Retro Music Room Wall Bedroom Decor Art, Vintage Rock Concert Poster Wall Collage, Old Music Album Cover Prints (12 SET B, 7.8X11.8 INCH) $18.99

Rock ‘n’ roll fans will appreciate this set of posters, as it comes with a variety of vintage-inspired posters of artists including Queen, Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, Kiss and more. Plus, you can arrange them on your wall however you want, making it 100% customizable.

pink and gray tyler the creator poster

Amazon

Bring a pop of pink into your space with Tyler, The Creator’s Igor album cover poster, which features an all-pink background and a black-and-white photo of the rapper’s face. You can choose between two sizes: 12″ x 18″ or 16″ x 24″, depending on your preferences.

David Bowie poster with painted lightning bolt

Tilly’s

David Bowie ‘Aladdin Sane’ Poster
$13.79

David Bowie takes the spotlight in this poster for Aladdin Sane as he sports the iconic painted lightning bolt on his face. It measures at 24″ x 36″ and is made with traditional poster paper.

black and white poster with photo of baby

Courtesy Photo

Notorious BIG ‘Ready To Die’ Vintage Art Print Poster
$19.99

Infuse your love of rap into your decor game through The Notorious B.I.G.’s popular ready to die album poster. It comes with a simple photo on a white background that’s minimalist-approved while showcasing your adoration for the music.

A$AP ROCKY ‘LONGLIVEA$AP’ Album Poster
$13.88

Score 15% off A$AP Rocky’s 2013 album poster that has a photograph of the rapper wrapped in the American flag. You can pair it with other black-and-white photos or surround it by color to make it pop.

sza sitting on diving board over water poster

Amazon

Buy: SZA Poster SOS Poster SZA SOS Album Cover Poster Canvas Poster Bedroom Decor Sports Landscape Office Room Decor Gift Unframe-style 12x18inch(30x45cm)

Lovers of SZA can cover that blank wall space with her SOS album poster, which comes with the name and song titles printed underneath a sitting SZA. It’ll also go nicely with another round of you listening to her hits and more.

black and white led zepplin poster

Amazon

Buy: Pyramid America Led Zeppelin I Music Album Cover Cool Wall Decor Art Print Poster 60×90 $13.88

Show some love for Led Zeppelin with this retro album poster that’s not only less than $11, but comes with some subtle color that won’t take away from all your other pieces of dorm decor.

black dark side of the moon poster

Amazon

Buy: A Pink Floyd – Dark Side of The Moon Poster 36 x 12 (UNFRAMED) $11.27

Dedicated Pink Floyd listeners can enjoy a supersized version of the band’s Dark Side of the Moon album art as this poster measures at 36″ x 12″.

Buy: Trends International Beatles-Abbey Road Wall Poster, 22.375″ x 34″, Unframed Version, Bedroom $9.99

If you’d prefer to put up some of the greats, you can’t forget to incorporate the famous Abbey Road album poster. The photo displays all four of the band members walking across the street in London, while showcasing your love for vintage music.

black and white poster with people in front of white house

Redbubble

Kendrick Lamar ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ Poster
$11.80 $15.73 25% off% OFF

Complete your shrine of Kendrick Lamar with a black and white poster of him and others posing in front to the White House. It’s made with a semi-gloss material and comes in two sizes to choose from.

sophie sitting in a dress in water on a purple background

Redbubble

Sophie ‘Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides’ Poster
$13.27 $17.70 25% off% OFF

Sophie’s poster will mesmerize you and your guests as it features a pearl-like background as she sits in water wearing a gorgeous multi-colored dress.

beyonce with braided hair and fur jacket

Redbubble

Beyonce ‘Lemonade’ Poster
$11.80 $15.73 25% off% OFF

The Beyhive will be buzzing to cover their wall space with the artist and what better way than with a poster of her chart-making album Lemonade.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best music coolers, mattress sales and tarot cards.

It’s album time again for Gunna. The Atlanta rapper announced on Monday (Aug. 4) that his The Last Wun LP is on the way, and fans won’t have to wait much longer since it’s slated to hit DSPs on Friday (Aug. 8).

According to Apple Music, Gunna’s sixth album boasts 25 tracks in total, including previously released singles “Won’t Stop” and “Him All Along.”

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Frequent collaborator and producer Turbo appears to be heavily involved once again, as he chimed in on Gunna’s Instagram comments, saying, “It’s time.”

Gunna’s announcement came accompanied by a cinematic trailer to a possible album documentary, showcasing the rapper’s fitness journey and a throwback clip of a neophyte Gunna looking to manifest his music goals.

“I want longevity in the game, to be honest,” a younger Gunna can be seen saying. “I love this sh–, I love rapping.”

Based on the finality of the project’s title, fans have been speculating that this is Gunna’s final project on YSL Records/300 Entertainment.

Gunna and YSL head Young Thug don’t appear to be on good terms since the YSL indictment, as Thugger dissed Gunna in a since-deleted tweet last year.

The 32-year-old hasn’t had a project top the Billboard 200 since 2022’s DS4EVER, but all of his albums have peaked inside the chart’s top three and gone No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart.

“It’ll come to me just through life and just living,” Gunna told Uproxx of the new project. “So for this album in particular, it’s no theme. It’s in current time of what’s happening with me.”

Watch the clip and find the album’s cover art below. Look for The Final Wun on Friday.

When it comes to milestones in standup comedy, selling out Madison Square Garden ranks among the top, and certainly is the pinnacle when it comes to arena performances. According to the venue, there is no comprehensive list of comedians who have done so, but it is in the neighborhood of 15 — a “very small club,” as Matt Rife puts it.

Rife performed two sold-out shows at the Garden on July 18 and 19 as part of his Stay Golden tour. To commemorate the occasion, the venue presented him with a golden ticket. (You can see it on his Facebook page).

“If you think about the performers who have played that venue, [it’s] not just sports teams, but every single one of your favorite musicians,” he raves. “And it’s in New York City, where anybody can go see great shows all over the city seven nights a week, 365 days a year.”

Rife didn’t just perform to sell-out crowds at the Garden. At the age of 29 — he turns 30 in September — he became the youngest comedian to do so, as well as Billboard Boxscore’s top-grossing comedian for the month of June.

In the wake of those achievements, Rife — whose confidence is palpable — spoke to Billboard about the personal significance of the accomplishment, the lengths that is his female fans will go to get his attention, his reaction to Marc Maron‘s snipe at him and what he’s planning for his second act. (Hint: he’s a fan of Adam Sandler.)

You are the youngest comedian to sell out two nights at Madison Square Garden. Thoughts?

A lot of times these kinds of accomplishments and accolades are hard to process in the moment, because everything has been happening so fast. A lot of the shows have broken records at venues, and I go, “Oh, that’s really cool.” But not until two or three months later do I go, “Oh my god, wow, that happened.” T

his was one of the few times that I got to be in the moment and acknowledge that, “Wow, I’m one of [very few] comedians to ever sell out Madison Square Garden.” For a standup comedian, the Garden is pretty much as big as it gets. I think only five comedians have ever played a stadium.

When you’re first starting out on an open mic, the dream is the Garden. So, to get to play it twice, sold-out, before the age of 30, it meant everything to me. I’m so grateful for my fans, my team, my friends and my family and everybody who has helped me get to this point right now. It feels very surreal.

I can share with you another milestone. You are Billboard Boxscore’s top-grossing comedian for June.

No way. That is awesome. It didn’t even feel like June was that busy of a month. That’s the craziest part.

Do you still grade your shows?

I try not to, but I do.

What grade would you give your Garden run?

Oh, that’s a tough one. I’m going to give them both an A — not A+, but A. I really had a good time at those shows, and I felt like the audience did as well. That’s not always the case. Sometimes I have a good time, and I feel like the crowd didn’t. Sometimes I feel like the crowd had a good time, and I didn’t.

I mentioned this onstage – I don’t know if it was a mistake or not but I did mean it — New York typically isn’t my favorite place to perform. In the past, I would say I’ve given my shows there at most a B or B+. So, with it being the Garden, I went in with very low expectations. I thought it could go terribly if people aren’t on board.

No pressure.

I really had a good time. They were some of the more fun shows of the entire tour so far.

The first night you were at the Garden, you brought out Jesse McCartney to close the show. Did he perform the second night as well?

No, just first night. He had a concert in, I think, Wisconsin the next day. He flew out just for that. He’s from [Westchester,] New York.

I love that era of music — the early 2000s — and I’m always playing him in the car. I hit him up, and I’m like, “Yo, I’m in your hometown. I’m just curious if you happen to be around the area and want to pop in and do the Garden.” He’s like, “I’m not in town, but I’d love to come by and give it a show.” He’s a fan of mine, so he enjoyed watching the show as well.

So, you didn’t know him prior to the show?

No, we had never met before. On a whim, I was like, “I’m just going to hit him up.” That’s the power of social media.

Speaking of social media, I was looking at your Facebook post on the Garden shows, and there were a lot of comments about the photo of the woman you’re with in the photo where you both have your backs to the camera. Are you willing to share?

Yeah, it’s my girlfriend, Moriah [Morse]. I don’t post a whole lot about my personal life on social media because people are absolutely insane, and at this point I try to distance your personal and professional life as much as possible.

It’s funny, in the photo you posted, your hands are just above a trash can in the hallway, and someone commented that you were carrying a bucket together.

Hilarious. I didn’t see that. This is why you don’t share stuff from your personal life. People’s speculations are always 100% wrong.

A New Yorker profile of you reported that, in past years, you did so many dates that you exhausted yourself.

Absolutely. This tour that we’re on this year and next is perfect middle ground for me. It’s a cycle of one weekend on, two weekends off. I did that for a balance of maintaining somewhat of a healthy life — but also, I hate not performing. As much as I tell myself, “I need a month break,” I cannot go more than two weeks without performing. I go stir crazy creatively, energetically.

This pace feels like a very healthy balance to me compared to doing 40-50 shows a month for the last two years prior to that. We did [hundreds of] shows the year prior which was a very unhealthy balance. That gets to a point where you’re so physically and mentally exhausted that it starts to feel like work.

But I was performing all around the world, and we’re selling out shows and breaking records at these revered theaters. Oftentimes I go back to those cities, and people are like, “We saw you last year.” I’m like, “I was here last year?” That’s so disappointing for myself. I lived some of these amazing memories, and I was too tired to even enjoy them.

When you do that many shows, do you start to get tired of the material in your set? And how do you deal with that?

Any comedian who says they never get tired of the material is either a liar or doesn’t perform enough. I try to be as present as possible. That’s why I don’t use a traditional microphone because it stops me from just crossing my arms and hiding behind a microphone. It forces me to walk around and use the stage. I like being as present as possible.There’s nothing worse than standing up there, and the words are leaving your mouth but your brain is thinking about something else.

You used a Billy Idol homage for your tour poster, and I read that your grandfather introduced you to his music.

Yeah, my grandpa put me on to classic rock as far back as I can remember. It’s still my favorite genre of music. Both of my last tours have been inspired by classic musicians. I did The Doors for my Problematic Tour poster. And then this one I did Billy Idol, and I actually dyed my hair blonde for it. I’ve never done anything like that before. Funny how the world works out. I actually got to work with Billy on the promo he did for his current tour. I had him sign my arm, and I went straight to the tattoo shop. So now I have Billy Idol tattoo on my arm.

And he did a promo for you. I don’t know if it was really your house, but says he’s been living there for days.

That was not my house. Yeah, we had five minutes to shoot my promo versus two days of shooting his. I was like, “You know what? F—k it. Let’s just see if we can do something on a phone real quick.” He’s the nicest, coolest guy. How he speaks, what he speaks about, the stories he had to tell. I’d love to play him in a biopic someday.

So, what happens after this tour ends?

We’re going to do a second half of this tour next year. The cities aren’t out yet. We’re going to tour about the same as we are this year. We’re going to do international as well. Then when that tour is over at the end of next year. I probably won’t do any prominent tours like this for a while. I might do a full month of shows, and I’ll still be doing spots around town in whatever city I’m popping around to.

But the commitment of knowing I have shows in November and it’s only February — I probably won’t do [again] that for a very long time. I’m really looking forward to transitioning over to film and television and we have a lot of projects in the works that I’m looking forward to moving my focus towards.

Right. By my count, you’re doing Marriage Material with Emma Roberts, Rolling Loud with Owen Wilson, and the Netflix series about FTX, The Altruists. Did I miss anything?

That I’m allowed to speak on? No. We’ve got a couple of things with Netflix. Rolling Loud is coming out at the end of this year. The project with Emma Roberts, we had to postpone due to The Altruists schedule. It’s incredibly unfortunate. I’m such a huge fan of her and her work. The Altruists is an incredible limited series that’s highly anticipated, and I’m very excited to do something that is not comedy. It’s fully a drama, and an amazing opportunity to expand my skill set.

You’re playing Ryan Salame, who’s in prison for his role in that scandal. Have you met him?

I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this, but I am about to meet him. Fingers crossed. It’s interesting playing somebody else, because usually it’s up to the actor to make that character their own. But the directors and producers of The Altruists have been very clear that this is not a biopic series. We’re trying to get as close as possible to telling the true story about how this giant scandal happened and let people know the kind of craziness that went on.

It’s wild. I don’t know anything about the crypto world, and now that I’ve done the research, I’m like, “Oh my god.” I had no idea how many people were affected by this.

Are you looking to follow the career path of, say, Adam Sandler, where you’re going to primarily do TV and film and just do standup when you feel like it?

It’s hard to say. Life is going to take me in whatever direction it wants. But if I had it my way, yeah.

This is the weird thing about accomplishing as much as I have by 30, including the Garden. It’s like, “What do I do now?” It’s the most blessed predicament I can possibly dream of. As far as standup comedy, my dreams have come true. I know it wasn’t pure luck. I’ve worked my ass off, but it almost feels like I’ve hit the mark of, I could retire if I wanted to. I won’t stop performing until I die, but now I have to start thinking about, is there something I’m passionate about that’s new to me?  

Yeah, the goal would be film and television, primarily film. Then doing standup whenever I feel like it — and performing with my friends as much as I can. That’s one thing I love about Adam Sandler is, he’s always kept that tight-knit group around him.

I was looking at the Rolling Loud cast. You’ve got Sexxy Red, Ty Dolla $ign, Ski Mask the Slump God, and that Slizzy superstar Henry Winkler.

Oh, yeah man. This was a wild film experience. Working with Owen especially was a dream come true. You talk about the Mount Rushmore of comedic actors. He’s somebody who made me want to get into acting, and to learn from somebody like him was another dream come true. He’s the nicest, most talented guy. And the rest of the cast – they’re perfect for this movie. Everybody showed up to work. A lot of the times people who aren’t necessarily actors show up late because dedicating a day to acting is a pay cut for them. It’s not necessarily a priority to them. It’s just something where they’re like, “Oh, that would be cool to do.” That wasn’t the case with this movie.

What role you play?

I play Owen’s coworker who ends up at the festival with him and helps him find his lost son.

Are you in the music business in the movie?

No. He and I sell furniture. We have the most boring group of people.

Since this is Billboard, who are some of your favorite music artists?

I’m actually going to see some of them this coming weekend. Right now, I’m really listening to a lot of Red Clay Strays, Sam Barber, Zach Bryan, Morgan Wallen, Tyler Childers, Waylon Wyatt.

So, you’re a big country fan.

I really have moved towards that. To me the rap game has kind of fallen off. Classic rock is my No. 1. That’s always my go-to, what’s playing in the car most of the time. But I’m also a big hip-hop fan. J. Cole is probably my favorite artist of all time. But there’s currently no good hip-hop music. To me, hip-hop dropped the ball so bad. Country swooped in and took all that momentum. I really am feeling this new wave of country, folk, rock kind of blend. It’s beautiful. It really is music for the soul. Do you know who Sam Barber is?

I don’t.

Man, let me tell you. He’s a 22-year-old kid out of Montana who puts out some of the best music I’ve ever heard. I don’t know who hurt this kid, but his songwriting and his voice are absolutely incredible. A big shoutout to him.

Marc Maron took a swipe at you in 2023 calling you the “It Boy of s–tty comedy.” Any thoughts on that in retrospect?

There was never a beef. He was just being a crotchety old man and I’ve never even met the guy. I guarantee he’s never watched one of my shows, so if he wants to be bitter and angry that I get to live his dreams — yeah man, you’re kind of being a d–k to somebody who might have looked up to you. I used to love to watch Marc Maron standup.

I don’t have a beef with a single comedian. I am living my life, dude. What do I possibly have to complain about? I don’t hate on anybody. I don’t talk s–t about anybody. I’m just out here performing to the best of my ability. I play with my puppy and I hang out with my friends. I mind my own business and anybody who has a problem with that, it’s clearly an internal battle.

I was watching the “MILF & Cookies” video online, and I’ve got to know, what’s the wildest proposition you’ve gotten from one of your female fans? The “blowjob” tee shirt you are offered in that video was like, whoa.

People will come to shows with tee shirts all the time that say, like, “I’ll leave my husband for you” or “Matt Rife can offend me anytime.” And the propositions are all over the place, from sexual advances to gifting me jars of their hair.

Seriously? Jars of hair.

Oh, yeah. People are nuts.

Kelly Osbourne knows she isn’t alone as she mourns her late father, Ozzy Osbourne, following the Black Sabbath rocker’s death in July.

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In a message posted on Instagram Stories on Monday (Aug. 4), the TV personality thanked fans for supporting her through the difficult period of grief she and her family are facing immediately after Ozzy’s passing. The rock legend died at the age of 76 in his home city of Birmingham, England, on July 22.

“I’ve sat down to write this a hundred times and still don’t know if the words will ever feel like enough … but from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Kelly began in her note. “The love, support and beautiful messages I’ve received from so many of you have truly helped carry me through the hardest moment of my life. Every kind word, every shared memory, every bit of compassion has meant more than I can ever explain.”

“Grief is a strange thing — it sneaks up on you in waves,” she continued. “I will not be OK for a while — but knowing my family are not alone in our pain makes a difference. I’m holding on tight to the love, the light and the legacy left behind.”

Ozzy’s family members have not spoken out much since his death, which they announced through a joint statement that read, “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning … He was with his family and surrounded by love.”

About a week later, the Prince of Darkness’ funeral procession took place in Birmingham, which Kelly attended alongside her mom, Sharon Osbourne. Later, the Fashion Police alum paid tribute to her father by sharing a clip from the family’s past reality show, The Osbournes, as well as a photo of a flower display reading, “Ozzy F—ing Osbourne.”

Kelly also previously quoted Black Sabbath lyrics as a nod to her dad, writing on her Story, “I feel unhappy I am so sad/ I lost the best friend I ever had.” The lines reference “Changes,” a version of which Ozzy and Kelly recorded as a father-daughter duet in 2003.