Morgan Wallen and Post Malone are teaming up again, with their just-released second collaboration, “I Ain’t Comin’ Back.” The two artists previously earned a towering hit last year with “I Had Some Help,” which topped charts in both pop and […]
Tommy Richman and Sexyy Red are “Actin Up” together on the new remix that dropped on Friday (April 18).
“Bend it over, shake that a–, show that print/ Clean a– bi—, smell good, I ain’t got no scent/ Everybody lookin’, I’m the baddest in this b—h/ Got some booty shorts on, coochie fat, I’m feelin’ thick,” she raps on her verse.
Richman originally released “Actin Up” in February via Brent Faiyaz‘s ISO Supremacy and Pulse Records. “Actin Up,” which employs a steel drum pattern similar to that of Soulja Boy’s 2007 pop-rap smash “Crank That,” arrived months after his debut studio album, COYOTE. The 11-track project included the Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit “Million Dollar Baby” and “Devil Is a Lie,” which hit No. 2 on Rhythmic Airplay.
“This is a big record, but this s–t doesn’t define me,” he told Billboard about “Million Dollar Baby” in his Chartbreaker interview last June. “I’m using this as ‘We’re here. We arrived.’ Not as ‘We made it!’ This is the start of a run.”
Trending on Billboard
The Woodbridge-based artist is currently on the Coyote Tour, with a handful of upcoming international stops left in Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and London.
On the other hand, Redd has released a handful of singles this year, from “Fat Juicy & Wet” with Bruno Mars, “YN” with PlaqueBoyMax, BabyChiefDoit, LAZER DIM 700 and Baby Kia, and “Hoochie Coochie.” The St. Louis rapper rang in her 27th birthday earlier this week with Justin Bieber, her “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” collaborator GloRilla and more at The Players Club.
Listen to “Actin Up” remix below.
Davido released his fifth studio album, 5ive, on Friday (April 18) via Davido Music Worldwide, RCA Records and Sony Music UK. The 17-track project includes previously released singles “Awuke” with YG Marley, “Funds,” featuring Odumodublvck and Chike, and “Be There […]
Close to two decades on from his exit from New Order, bassist Peter Hook hasn’t wavered in his animosity toward his former bandmates, labeling the group a “bad cover version” of themselves.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Hook was one of the founding members of New Order, who formed in 1980 following the death of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. Hook, along with Joy Division bandmates Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris, completed their initial lineup with the addition of keyboardist Gillian Gilbert. New Order would go on to receive widespread acclaim in the ensuing decades, with their biggest success in the U.S. arriving by way of 1993’s Republic, which hit No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
In 2007, New Order would split, though Hook would not return for their 2011 reformation, instead choosing to continue with his new band Peter Hook & The Light. A long-running legal battle related to the reunion would eventually be settled in 2017.
Trending on Billboard
However, in a new interview with British publication The i Paper, Hook says he retains a sense of animosity towards his former band, noting he hasn’t spoken to vocalist and guitarist Sumner in 17 years. “As most reconciliations do, once you get over the euphoric honeymoon, you soon realise why you couldn’t f–king stick them – and they, you,” he explains. “I’m not saying I’m Mr. Perfect.”
“I don’t think they’re New Order. They don’t sound like anything like them,” he continued. “I’ve watched them play songs [online] recently, and they’ve dropped the basslines and play it like some weird, bad cover version of a New Order track. So the animosity is obviously still there now.”
Hook also claimed that his thoughts are shared by audience members of contemporary New Order shows, with fans reportedly contacting him to complain about current gigs. “They’re like, ‘You can’t hear the bass!’” he noted. “Obviously, there is a certain smugness one could adopt. But I’m, obviously, way above all that.”
Hook’s comments come as he launches a series of shows with The Light in which they perform New Order’s 2001 album Get Ready in full alongside a selection of hits from both Joy Division and New Order. Launched in the U.K. this week, Hook will bring his tour to North America in May.
As it draws closer to the tenth anniversary of Faith No More’s most recent shows with vocalist Mike Patton, drummer Mike Bordin has claimed the singer is “unwilling” to perform with the band again.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
While Faith No More last performed two dates in 2016 with Chuck Mosley, Patton hasn’t fronted the group since the conclusion of their Sol Invictus Tour the year prior. However, while a global live return was slated to take place in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the band to cancel these dates.
The band were again scheduled to take to the stage in 2021, though Patton’s mental health issues (which he later explained was a diagnosis of agoraphobia) necessitated their cancellation also.
Trending on Billboard
In a new interview with the Let There Be Talk podcast, Bordin has expanded on the situation, discussing how their 2021 shows saw six months of instrumental rehearsing before Patton was set to join the band ahead of their live return.
“It came to pass that when the gear was in the truck, when it was rolling to Chicago, 36 hours before we were supposed to be on stage, and our guy [Patton] doesn’t show for the rehearsal, the one rehearsal that we’re gonna do,” Bordin recalled. “And we go to go see him and see what’s going on. ‘What the hell’s going on here? Our gear’s rolling already to the gig.’ And it was very clear that he was unable at that point to physically do it.
“We made the decision that, ‘Look, we’ve gotta support our guy,’” he adds. “It’s gonna be a s–t storm canceling f–king 75 shows, but none of us wants to be the guy that breaks his back and forces him to do something that he’s not in the position to be able to do. It wasn’t even an argument. The only argument was, ‘How the f–k did we logistically do this? Because we have to.’ I mean, we did support him in our way, and whether that’s perceived or not is beyond — I can’t control it.”
Since the cancellation of the dates, little positive information about a live return for Faith No More has been revealed. While Patton has been performing with Mr. Bungle regularly since their large-scale return to the live stage in 2022, Faith No More’s Roddy Bottum describing the band’s current status as being on a “semi permanent hiatus” in October 2024.
“So it’s my take, my position, my statement on it is that he’s gone from being unable to do the shows to clearly being unwilling to do shows with us,” Bordin continued. “And that’s heavy. That’s a big difference. That’s a big difference. And we haven’t really had much dialogue on it. … It doesn’t feel great to me. It honestly kind of hurts my feelings a little bit, but that’s personal. That’s a private thing. It’s business.
“We were never gonna force somebody to do something that they weren’t able to do,” he adds. “And now, as I say, it looks like it’s more really about being willing to do it.”
Dominic “Mick” Mazzone OAM, a revered Australian music industry veteran, has passed away, his family has confirmed.
“The family of Mick Mazzone would like to announce the sudden and sad passing of our beloved dad, brother and uncle,” a statement issued on the afternoon of Thursday, April 17 read. “A stalwart of his family, he was surrounded by his loved ones in his last days.
“He will be remembered by many in the Australian music industry, which he worked in and loved for over four decades and deeply missed by his countless friends,” it continued. “We appreciate all the love and support shown to us. His legacy will live on.”
Mazzone grew up in Torrensville, a suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide, where he learnt to play the guitar as a young teenager. Performing in a number of local bands, he relocated to Sydney to embark on a career in the music business. Initially working with the Brenton Roberts Band (who were under the managerial guidance of veteran promoter Michael Chugg), Mazzone soon became regarded as an “industry all-rounder” for his versatility in the fields of sound engineering, production, and tour management.
Mighty Management was established by Mazzone where he oversaw names such as Cold Chisel guitarist Ian Moss and Sydney rockers The Radiators. Mazzone also extended his focus into the world of labels, with M Records featuring The Radiators alongside hard rock outfit De Mont, who were also part of the Mighty roster.
Trending on Billboard
Working on tours for the likes of Madonna, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, and R.E.M during their time in Australia, Mazzone later served as founding member of the Music Managers Forum, and would become a founder and trustee of the industry charity the Golden Stave Foundation. In 2018, Mazzone received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of his contributions to the industry and his charitable endeavors.
In February 2024, Mazzone adopted the role of manager for ARIA Hall of Famers the Hoodoo Gurus, who topped the Alternative Airplay chart in 1989 with “Come Anytime,” and hit No. 3 in 1991 with “Miss Freelove ’69.” Mazzone’s promotion to the top job came after longtime manager Michael McMartin stepped down from the role, ultimately passing the following month.
In the wake of his passing, the Hoodoo Gurus shared a statement remembering Mazzone, noting they were “utterly devastated at the sudden loss of our dear friend.”
“It is impossible to convey the shock and grief we are feeling right now,” they wrote. “We have already shed many tears, and there will be many more to come, but our loss is nothing compared to the one that has been dealt to Mick’s close family and friends and, in particular, to his beloved kids, Frank, Antonia and Alex. Our hearts go out to them at this dreadful time.”
The Radiators also offered their condolences to Mazzone and his family, naming him one of their “great friends” and noting his “fantastic ear” and sharp managerial mindset.
“Mick holds a special place in our hearts, and we will forever be grateful for his time spent guiding and mentoring the Rads when we were at a low point in our career,” the band wrote. “His management helped lift us up, and without his strong, sure and steady hand, we as a band may not have been able to navigate the ‘90s.
“He will be sadly missed by so many people in the industry,” they concluded. “He was an incredible human. A quiet genius. Gone way way too soon. The world is a poorer place today, for the loss of one Mick Mazzone.”
For the past 25 years, Mazzone also served as the Technical Director and Production Manager for the annual APRA, Art and Screen Music Awards, held by copyright management organizations APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society).
“Mick’s warmth and sense of humour were legendary among those who had the pleasure of knowing him, like we did,” said APRA Chair Jenny Morris in a statement. “His genuine kindness made everyone feel welcome and valued, creating lasting memories for all who crossed his path. His contributions to the music industry and community will be deeply missed.”
Akon is the latest hip-hop artist to venture into the world of country. TMZ caught up with Akon as he was signing autographs in New York City and asked his thoughts about artists like Snoop and BigXthaPlug collaborating with country […]
American Idol contestant Doug Kiker died of an accidental overdose, the Denver Medical Examiner confimed Thursday (April 17). The official cause of death was the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, methadone and amphetamines, along with recent cocaine use, People reports. […]
Spike Lee gave fans some new details about his upcoming movie Highest 2 Lowest starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky. During a recent conversation on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast 7PM in Brooklyn, Lee praised the Harlem rapper’s acting skills and said […]
Ed Sheeran immersed himself in Persian culture for his “Azizam” single, and there’s no better way to visually represent that culture than a Persian wedding, which takes center stage as the theme of the track’s just-released video.
In the video released Thursday (April 17) and directed by Saman Kesh, Sheeran is seen frustrated while going through writer’s block with his producer, Ilya Salmanzadeh, in the studio.
The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter is thrust into the chaos of preparing for a Persian wedding. Sheeran gets a loaded crash coarse on all things related to the extravagant ceremony as he samples different cuisine, fashion, dancing and more to get him ready for the day.
Trending on Billboard
“When we had all finished ‘Azizam’ in the studio, I asked @ilya_music what we should do for a music video, and he said ‘you gotta do it as a Persian wedding, thats the best way to showcase all of the culture in a video,’” Sheeran wrote to IG. “I contacted @saman_kesh, who I have worked with before, who is also Persian, and asked him to basically make a video which is me going on a crash course Persian wedding. He wanted to make it like other non Persians would experience a wedding for the first time, and how full on, but fun it is.”
He continued: “I found it was so similar in ways to the Irish weddings I grew up going to, but obviously so different in other ways. Much like the rhythms and instrumentation of the song, I find our two cultures have so much intertwined similarities. But underneath it all is love and pride. I loved the day shooting, I learnt so many new things, got to experience all of it with my dad, and work with amazing people.”
The celebratory clip comes to a close with Sheeran returning from the wedding feeling inspired and ready to make another hit song, which the pop star has done plenty of in the past.
“Azizam,” which translates to “my dear” or “my beloved” from Arabic to English, is set to appear on Sheeran’s upcoming Play album. “Azizam” serves as Sheeran’s first single of 2025 jetsetting into the LP.
Like his mathematical symbol album series, Play will follow a similar pattern, including other albums coming down the pipeline like Fast-Forward, Rewind and Stop.
Sheeran stopped by The Tonight Show last month, where he premiered an unreleased single titled “Old Phone,” while “Azizam” was released earlier in April to officially kick off his new era.
Look for Play to arrive later this year and watch the “Azizam” video below.
Stay up to date on exciting projects and upcoming events from the Black Promoters Collective.
©2024 Black Promoters Collective (BPC) All Rights Reserved.
