Episodes – Page 1351

“Sunflower” blossoms at #1 on the “Billboard” Hot 100

Republic RecordsAfter one week at #1, Halsey‘s “Without Me” has been replaced by two guys who are pretty familiar with the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Sunflower,” Post Malone and Swae Lee‘s collaboration from the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack, has taken over the #1 spot. It’s Posty’s third #1 hit, and Swae’s first as a solo artist. He previously hit #1 with “Black Beatles,” as half of the duo Rae Sremmurd.

Billboard notes that Swae Lee is the first artist since 2016 to score a #1 hit as a solo artist after previously topping the chart as a group or a duo. The last artist to do it was former *NSYNC member Justin Timberlake with “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”

In addition, “Sunflower” is the first #1 hit by two male artists who are sharing equal billing in close to 27 years. The last one was George Michael and Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” back in 1992.

Halsey shouldn’t feel too badly, though: She just hit the top 10 with another song: “Eastside,” featuring Khalid and Benny Blanco.

Rae Sremmurd assures fans they aren't breaking up amid rumors of a split: “It's SREMMLIFE forever”

ABC/Randy HolmesRae Sremmurd sent fans into a frenzy over the weekend when rumors surfaced of a possible split — but that’s now been denied.

Saturday morning, Slim Jxmmi shared a series of now-deleted tweets that appeared to hint at a shift in the relationship between the hit-making duo.

“I’m not Rae Sremmurd I’m Slim Jxmmi and [sic] Ima sink or swim by myself,” the rapper began before firing off more tweets.

He continued, “Y’all won it’s a wrap. Y’all still got ya mans Swae [Lee] y’all a be [sic] skraight.”

Once Jxmmi’s tweets began circulating online, fans interpreted them as an announcement that the duo was splitting. A few hours later, the official Rae Sremmurd Twitter page attempted to defuse the situation hours later. “Brothers gonna be brothers, it’s SREMMLIFE forever,” the account tweeted.

Later on, Swae subtly chimed in on the matter in response to a tweet which read: “Rae Sremmurd fo life idc.”

“Real Ones Know,” the rapper replied.

A rep for Rae Sremmurd has since confirmed that the duo will remain together, per Billboard.

Oakland Athletics executives to meet with Kyler Murray

Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — A group of executives from the Oakland Athletics will meet with Oklahoma Quarterback Kyler Murray on Sunday in hopes of persuading him to pursue a professional baseball career, sources told ESPN.

The Athletics drafted Murray with the ninth pick in last year’s MLB draft and gave him a $4.66 million dollar signing bonus. Part of the deal allowed Murray to play one more season of college football with the Sooners.

In 2018, Murray won the Heisman trophy after leading the team to the College Football Playoff.

He has until Monday to decide whether or not he wants to declare for the NFL draft.

If Murray decides to play in the NFL he would be the shortest quarterback since Doug Flutie, who retired in 2005.

Missy Elliott, Dallas Austin to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

Courtesy Songwriters Hall of FameThe 2019 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees were revealed Saturday, and among the artists chosen for the honor are Missy Elliott and prolific R&B hit maker Dallas Austin.

The honorees will be saluted at the organization’s 50th annual induction and awards dinner, scheduled to take place June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Chic’s Nile Rodgers, president of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, says, “[W]e are recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time. The 2019 slate of inductees represents diversity and unity across genres and gender, highlighting our dedicated mission to honor music creators who have enriched our lives.”

He added, “The 2019 slate of inductees represents diversity and unity across genres and gender…These are writers who in their time literally transformed music and helped make what’s happening today possible.”

Dallas Austin has penned songs for Madonna, Pink, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, TLC, Brandy, and Boyz II Men. His hits include “Motownphilly,” “Creep,” “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg,” “Unpretty,” “The Boy Is Mine,” “Don’t Take It Personal,” “Just Like a Pill,” “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops),” “Playground,” “lesha” and more.

Missy Elliott’s hits include “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “Work It” and “Get Ur Freak On,” but she’s also written songs for Whitney Houston, Ciara, Fantasia, Keyshia Cole, Jazmine Sullivan, Ginuwine, Tweet and Aaliyah.

Scoreboard roundup — 1/11/19

iStock(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from yesterday’s sports events:

   NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Atlanta       123 Philadelphia 121
Final Washington    113 Milwaukee     106
Final Indiana       121 N-Y Knicks    106
Final Toronto       122 Brooklyn      105
Final Dallas        119 Minnesota     115
Final Houston       141 Cleveland     113
Final Portland      127 Charlotte      96
Final Utah          113 L.A. Lakers    95
Final Golden State 146 Chicago       109

   NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Carolina     4 Buffalo   3
Final Winnipeg     4 Detroit   2
Final Calgary      4 Florida   3
Final Pittsburgh   7 Anaheim   4

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final Maryland 78 (22) Indiana 75

Kelly Rowland say she's open to working with Solange again: “I love her writing”

David Becker/Getty Images via ABCKelly Rowland is taking the new year by storm with a new album.

During a recent sit down with Billboard, the “Motivation” singer shared a few details about her highly-anticipated return to music. “This is by far the longest, most pressure-filled process ever, only because I know what it’s supposed to be and I have been so hard on myself,” Rowland revealed to the outlet.

“I’ve been extremely hard on myself. But it’s definitely coming, and I’m more so excited about this project than anything else.”

Late last year, the mother and newly appointed Fabletics brand ambassador treated fans to her first single in five years, “Kelly.” The bass-heavy track totes comes with all the braggadocious flair of Rowland’s previous days as a member of Destiny’s Child.

And speaking of D.C., while Rowland insisted her recent sightings with Beyonce and Michelle Williamsare simply a “family” matter and not a reunion, she did admit to being open to working with Beyonce’s sister Solange again. Solange has penned songs in the past for Kelly’s solo releases.

“I’m a huge fan. I love her writing and how detailed and particular she is,” Rowland gushed. “I always wanted to figure out how the heck she has so many different layers of harmonies when she is constructing these vocals, and it’s so complex but simple. It’s genius.”

While the details surrounding her fifth studio album’s release are scarce, Rowland teased that she’ll be throwing it back a few decades: She’s been deeply inspired by the golden age of hip-hop.

“That era feels good. And I’ve been inspired by [late Motown legend] Marvin Gaye,” she explains. “He’s like my secret crush.”

“I’ve totally been in that ’90s headspace,” she says of the album’s mix of old and new-school sounds.

Soulja Boy claims that he, not Tyga, was the biggest comeback artist of 2018

ABC/Rick RowellSoulja Boy, or rather Soulja Man, has a bone to pick with hip-hop fans.

Thursday night, the “Crank That” rapper took to Instagram to unload a lengthy tirade in which he claims that he was the artist who had the biggest comeback of 2018 — and manages to skewer Tyga in the process.

“N***** up in here talking about Tyga. Tyga? Tyga?! Huh?” a vexed Soulja said after fans claimed the “Taste” rapper had the most memorable comeback last year. “Tyga had the biggest..? Man, get the f*** out of here!”

He then continued his scathing rant by spewing hate at the current landscape of hip-hop. “You n***** is trash, bruh, making this trash a** f****** music, saturating the f****** game.”

“I sat back 2018, I sat back 2017 and watched you lame a** rappers f*** the rap game up. I been in this s*** 10 years. I started rapping when I was 17,” he said.

Late last year, Soulja boasted about his accomplishments on Twitter.

“I had the biggest come back of 2018 big facts,” Soulja wrote.

Patti LaBelle on why she's been a mentor for Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey & more: “That's my job”

ABC/Lorenzo BevilaquaPatti LaBelle is not just a trailblazer in music: She’s also a mentor for many of R&B’s heavyweights.

Thursday night, the Godmother of Soul appeared on E!’s Busy Tonight, hosted by Busy Phillipps, where she revealed that she’s offered guidance and advice to the likes of Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and more.

“I’ve talked to a lot of young girls. I’ve been mentors to so many… Beyoncé, Mary J. [Blige]… God, so many,” LaBelle recalled.

The “Lady Marmalade” singer then went into more detail about her close relationship with Carey.

“Mariah’s my goddaughter,” LaBelle told Philipps. “I have to slap her every now and then, but she’s so phenomenal and so good, she doesn’t need to be slapped anymore. That’s my baby.”

“I talk to all of these young ladies because they’re ladies. And that’s my job,” she added.

As for her most important piece of advice for women in the music industry, LaBelle advised: “Keep your clothes on. That talent will show. You don’t have to do this and do that to show that.”

Congrats: Juelz Santana and Kimbella have officially tied the knot

Johnny Nunez/WireImageFollowing their engagement, Juelz Santana and Kimbella have wasted no time in heading to the altar.

Just a couple months after the Love and Hip-Hop reality star said yes, the longtime couple exchanged vows during an intimate ceremony on Thursday night. The wedding party consisted of a handful of celebrity guests, including Lil Kim, Joe Budden, Maino and, of course, Juelz’s Dipset cohorts Jim Jones, Cam’ron and Freekey Zekey.

In footage captured of the reception, Juelz and Kimbella are seen sharing a tender moment during their first dance as husband and wife. The Internet, however, has since co-opted the joyous occasion and turned it into a full-on roast, with many poking fun at the couple’s seemingly ill-fitting wedding attire.

As previously reported, Juelz is currently facing a 27-month stay in prison for carrying a loaded gun as well as an illegal substance into an airport in Newark, NJ.

R. Kelly latest: Petition urges RCA Records to drop the singer, while daughter disavows, lawyer defends him

Andrea Kelly/Courtesy of LifetimeIn the wake of the explosive Surviving R. Kelly docuseries, one high-profile personality after another has denounced the R&B crooner. Now, a petition has emerged calling for Kelly’s record label to drop him from its roster.

According to the Color of Change petition, Kelly’s alleged serial abuse of young women — without any serious repercussions — is “unacceptable.”

“Despite Kelly’s decades-long documented coercion and sexual manipulation of young black women, including illegally marrying a 15-year-old when he was 27, countless civil suits and a trial for 14 counts of child pornography, he’s never faced legal or financial consequences,” the petition reads.

The effort to have Kelly dropped from his label is being made in partnership with the women’s rights advocacy group UltraViolet, who have also paid to fly a banner over RCA Headquarters on Friday urging the label to drop Kelly.

There are no specifics as to how many signatures the petition has received.

Meanwhile, Kelly’s daughter Buku Abi has now disavowed her father. In a lengthy statement, posted to her Instagram Story, she addressed why she didn’t condemn Kelly immediately.

“The same monster you [are] all confronting me about is my father. I am well aware of who and what he is,” she wrote. “My choice to not speak up on him and what he does is for my peace of mind…and for MY healing.”

Thursday, Kelly’s lawyer Steven Greenberg issued a statement denying the decades-long accusations against the Chicago native. Greenberg fiercely defended the pop star in an interview with ABC News, saying, “There are no underage victims. There are no sexual assault victims.”

“There are no victims of domestic violence that they’re going to find. It just didn’t ever happen.”