Latest news with #KendrickLamar
The National
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Labour are engulfed in major online safety furore
It worked for rapper Kendrick Lamar; why not Technology Secretary Peter Kyle? Kyle delivered a quite extraordinary, spittle-flecked response to critics of the Online Safety Act on Tuesday morning. Nigel Farage is on the same side as paedophiles, Kyle spat. Not just any paedos either, the minister said that Farage would be on the same side as Jimmy Savile, were he still alive. Going even further later on, he said that anyone wanting to overturn the controversial legislation is 'on the side of predators'. That includes more than 400,000 people who have signed a petition calling for the Act to be repealed and could expand to organisations like Liberty, Big Brother Watch, Index on Censorship and the parent companies of Facebook and Wikipedia. Even Ian Russell, the chair of the Molly Russell Foundation, a child protection charity, said that the Act was not up to snuff and had to be replaced by something even tougher. Who knew paedophiles had so many allies? Quite why Labour are defending a Tory piece of legislation – the Act was passed by the Conservatives but is only coming into force now – is a question with a couple of answers. The first is a political one. 'Protect our children' has become a potent rallying cry for the right, identifying bogeymen in everyone from asylum seekers to drag queens. This is Labour's counterblast: You're putting children at risk. If you're against us, you're on the same side as child abusers. READ MORE: Labour respond as 400k demand repeal of Online Safety Act As a strategy it could work. Many parents will doubtless be glad to see the Government come down hard on the worst bits of the internet. It will certainly be welcomed by many that unregulated social media companies will be held responsible for removing content like child pornography and blocking children's access to sexual content or instructions for committing acts of self-harm or suicide. There is unlikely to be great amounts of sympathy for arguments about the sanctity of end-to-end encryption or free online speech. The flipside: are Reform UK railing against the Act – which this week enforced age restrictions on adult content – as a means to target the porn-addicted, misanthropic young men likely to make up its youth base at the next election? Quite possibly. (Image: James Manning/PA) The other reason that Kyle and his Labour comrades so aggressively back the Act is that they genuinely believe in it. They do not care about warnings that by introducing strict age checks, people might be pushed into downloading software to evade restrictions and access the darker corners of the internet. Demand for virtual private networks, which allow people to browse the web away from the prying eyes of regulators, is soaring. Kyle, as a rational being, must consider it plausible that the Act could have unintended consequences, though he shows no signs that he does. He seems to believe that the intention of legislation is its effect. He appears to care only about why laws were introduced, not how they work. Keir Starmer's response to criticism of the Act earlier this week took a similar approach: 'I don't see that as a free speech issue, I see that as child protection.' It surely cannot be beyond him that the two are not mutually exclusive. So it was with the SNP's doomed Named Person Scheme. Ministers were warned in 2016 that while the aim of the policy was 'unquestionably legitimate', it would violate people's human rights. It took another three years before it was officially ditched by the Scottish Government. With Donald Trump's sidekick JD Vance threatening consequences for governments insufficiently amenable to his definition of free speech, perhaps Starmer and co might catch up with the laws of unintended consequences sooner rather than later.
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Kendrick Lamar Matches His Biggest Radio Hit
Kendrick Lamar and SZA's 'Luther' ties 'Not Like Us' as his longest-running No. 1 on Billboard's Rap ... More Airplay chart at 17 weeks. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 09: Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by) Kendrick Lamar's career was already one of the most impressive in hip-hop history before he released 'Not Like Us,' his Drake diss track that ended the high-profile battle between the two superstars. That tune propelled him to never-before-seen heights, and it's now regarded as one of his biggest and best, and it succeeded across the board, from sales and streams to continued radio play. 'Not Like Us' gave Lamar the longest-running No. 1 of his career on Billboard's Rap Airplay chart, but it seems that record may not belong to that one title for long. 'Luther' Reigns on the Rap Airplay Chart Throughout much of 2025, Lamar's 'Luther,' a collaboration with his friend SZA, has dominated as one of the biggest hits in the world. The track continues to receive intense radio play across the United States, and remains a massive hit across a variety of formats. 'Luther' is currently steady at No. 1 on the Rap Airplay chart, earning its seventeenth frame in the penthouse as it holds. 'Luther' Ties 'Not Like Us' The hugely popular 'Luther' is now tied with 'Not Like Us' as Lamar's longest-running No. 1 hit ever on the Rap Airplay tally. Both have commanded the tally for 17 frames, and it appears likely that 'Luther' will push past 'Not Like Us' when Billboard refreshes its rankings, likely making it Lamar's first 18-week leader. If that happens, it won't just mark Lamar's greatest success on this list, 'Luther' will become one of the most impressive champions of all time on the ranking. 'Luther' May Beat 'Not Like Us' Again 'Not Like Us' disappeared from the Rap Airplay chart after 39 weeks, nearly half of which it spent at No. 1. 'Luther' is currently up to 33 weeks on the tally — just a little over a month behind 'Not Like Us' — and it's still holding at No. 1. Later this summer, 'Luther' could easily pass 'Not Like Us' in terms of longevity. It may even beat the 42 weeks that 'Love,' a collaboration with Zacari, managed and become the rapper's longest-charting tune, in addition to his most dominant No. 1. Kendrick Lamar Dominates The Rap Airplay Chart The Rap Airplay chart only features 25 spots, and this week, Lamar claims 20% of them. He occupies four spaces inside the top 10, as 'Luther' is joined by 'Peekaboo' with AzChike, 'Squabble Up,' and 'TV Off' alongside Lefty Gunplay. Those cuts land at Nos. 2, 6 and 10, respectively. Lamar also scores a new hit this week alongside the rap group Clipse, as 'Chains and Whips' opens at No. 24.
Tatler Asia
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Inside the LA hotel featured in Maroon 5 and Lisa's ‘Priceless' music video
The hotel has a rich cinematic history, appearing in films like Interstellar , Rain Man and San Andreas , and recently in music videos for Kendrick Lamar and SZA's 'Luther' and HAIM's 'Down to be Wrong' featuring Logan Lerman. It was even featured for a Fear Factor stunt in 2002, involving plexiglass discs suspended from the building's fifth floor. Beyond theatrics and cinematic cameos, its appeal endures because it strikes a careful balance between spectacle and comfort, where even within such expansive interiors, guests can find quiet corners to retreat to. A 'Priceless' location Above Maroon 5 and Lisa of Blackpink's 'Priceless' music video features the iconic Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. The 'Priceless' video is styled like a high-stakes game of romantic cat and mouse between Adam Levine and Lisa. It features a series of intimate and playful moments, often framed by the hotel's stark geometry, particularly the chase sequences. The reflective surfaces, massive concrete pillars and overlapping levels of the atrium contribute to a mood of distance and allure, matching the push-pull dynamic of the song's narrative. Above Behind the scenes at the 'Priceless' music video shoot The 'Priceless' video also features scenes filmed in LA Prime, the hotel's rooftop steakhouse situated on the 35th floor. The restaurant offers panoramic views of Los Angeles through floor-to-ceiling windows and provides an intimate, understated contrast to the dramatic atrium scenes. LA Prime's refined yet relaxed atmosphere adds a layer of sophistication to the visual narrative. While The Westin Bonaventure has long been a favourite filming location, its role in 'Priceless' introduces this architectural gem to a wider audience. For visitors, the hotel offers a unique chance to experience a space where architecture, pop culture and cinema intersect. NOW READ It's staycation season: 10 city hotels you don't have to venture far for Home tour: A mindful restoration of a mid-century home in Los Angeles with relaxed Palm Springs vibes 7 concrete masterpieces: The world's most striking Brutalist hotels now
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
NFL fines 100 players for Super Bowl ticket scalping
The NFL has fined 100 players and two dozen club officials for selling Super Bowl tickets above face value, according to reports. While players and officials are allowed to sell tickets at face value, they are banned from doing so at inflated prices. The face value price for Super Bowl tickets for the clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, which included a half-time performance by Kendrick Lamar, earlier this year, varied between $950 and $7,500 each. However, the average resale price hit $10,417 on ticketing websites. The minimum salary for a 'rookie' NFL player is understood to be around $750,000 a year. But once established, their annual pay packet can hit $5m, with superstars – often quarterbacks – frequently earning twice as much. Details of the clandestine transactions followed an investigation by the NFL. 'The investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of 'bundlers' who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value,' Sabrina Perel, the head of compliance at the NFL, wrote in a memo. Players who touted tickets will be fined one and a half times the face value of the ticket and banned from buying any for the 2026 Super Bowl, unless their team is competing. Officials will be fined double the face value of the tickets. However, the move merely scratches the surface of a flourishing industry in reselling tickets to major sporting and entertainment events. Resell market worth $3.4bn According to industry estimates, the resale market, which is legal in the US, was worth $3.4bn last year. The practice is controversial with some companies using 'bots' – computerised programmes – to hoover up thousands of tickets at a time as soon as they go on sale, before putting them back on the market at vastly inflated prices. To the fury of President Donald Trump, previous attempts to curb the use of bots have failed, leaving fans having to pay as much as 70 times the face value of a ticket. In March, Mr Trump signed an executive order to protect fans from ticket touting and crack down on what he described as 'unscrupulous middle-men who impose egregious fees on fans with no benefit to artists'.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Drake and Central Cee drop new track after Wireless tease
Drake has dropped a new single with UK rapper Central Cee ahead of a three-night run of shows in Manchester. The song - Which One - was revealed during an episode of the Canadian's Iceman stream, broadcast on Thursday, which was filmed around the city. It features scenes of the rapper running from a pursuer in a Pinocchio mask - a symbol fans interpreted as "lies" following Drake around. Which One is the second collaboration between the Hotline Bling star and Central Cee, who released his first album at the start of this year. The artists previously came together in the booth back in 2023 for the song On the Radar Freestyle. Drake teased his latest during the second of his three headline slots at London's Wireless festival. He brought Central Cee on-stage during his performance, and told the crowd: "I'm so proud of this guy. "He's going around the world, killing it, shutting down every show, record after record." Drake also praised other UK rappers during his takeover of the festival. "Nobody can out-rap London rappers. This is the best, this is the highest level," he told fans. Drake's feud with Kendrick Lamar captivated music fans last year, and any new release from either rapper is scoured for references to the other. Earlier this month, Drake released What Did I Miss? which addressed the beef, questioning the loyalty of friends choosing to hang around with his rivals. Fans speculated he was referring to NBA player LeBron James and fellow Toronto singer The Weeknd. The song debuted at number two on the US Billboard 100 chart, and Drake expressed frustration at being kept off the top spot by Alex Warren's hit Ordinary. "I'm taking that soon don't worry, one song or another," he wrote on his Instagram Story. Iceman will be Drake's 9th studio album and his first solo release since 2023's For All Of The Dogs, which went to number one in the charts. "I'm working on my album, we got a lot to talk about," he told the crowd at his Birmingham concert this week, part of his first UK tour in 6 years. In February, he released $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, a collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, which features the viral hit 'Nokia'. Drake is one of the most-streamed artists in the world and is currently tied with Michael Jackson as the male solo artist with most number one songs (13) in Billboard Hot 100 history. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. Disappointment as Drake's final Wireless show ends after 40 minutes Fans disappointed by last-minute Wireless line-up A decade in the making, Central Cee says you Can't Rush Greatness
