Latest news with #SZA
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Must-see live gigs and concerts in Wales in summer 2025
2024 was a phenomenal year for music with the likes of Taylor Swift, P!nk, Foo Fighters, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band all performing at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. But this year has the potential to be even better with more worldwide superstars set to make an appearance. Oasis On July 4 and July 5, Oasis will perform at their first concert since V Festival in Weston Park, Staffordshire on August 22, 2009. After over 15 years, the iconic brothers will officially reunite at the Principality Stadium. And if you're an Oasis fan, this might be one of the last opportunities you get to see the duo ever perform on UK soil. Stereophonics Less than a week later, Stereophonics will play on July 11 and 12 as part of their Stadium Anthem Summer '25 Tour with Blossoms as the supporting act. Originally from Wales, Stereophonics will remind Welsh fans of the talent they have on their doorstep. If you enjoy rock music, you would be wise to get a ticket for Stereophonics at Principality Stadium. Kendrick Lamar and SZA Also at the Principality Stadium, international superstars Kendrick Lamar and SZA will play on July 19 in their Grand National Tour. This is the first all-stadium tour for both artists and this show in Cardiff will be one of 39 the pair undertake across Europe and North America. Kendrick Lamar is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time while SZA has won five grammy awards – if that doesn't motivate you to go to a live gig in Wales, nothing will. Catfish and the Bottlemen The British indie rock band which was formed in Llandudno will experience their first ever headline stadium concert on August 1 at the Principality Stadium. The band are known for their energetic live performances having previously performed at festivals such as Glastonbury and Latitude. Catfish and the Bottlemen burst onto the scene in 2007 before being awarded the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act in 2016 and then their second album, The Ride was released and debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart.
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lizzo's ‘Face Hurts From Smiling' On New Mixtape
Lizzo Since the release of her 2022 album Special, Lizzo has been working behind the scenes creating new music while putting in TV guest spots on The Mandalorian and The Simpsons. In March, the Grammy-winning hitmaker announced she had completed her next studio album, Love in Real Life, first teased with the single of the same name in February and 'Still Bad" the next month. While her next LP is coming down the pike, Lizzo is tiding fans over with another project in the meantime: My Face Hurts From Smiling, her first major-label mixtape since signing with Atlantic Records in 2016. Her Special album largely stuck to family-friendly empowerment anthems, but on the new mixtape, Lizzo shows she's ready to party this summer with songs like 'Yitty on Yo T*ttys (Freestyle)," 'Gotcho B***h,' 'Bend It Ova,' and 'Droppin' On It.' To help turn up the fun, Lizzo brought along Doja Cat on 'Still Can't Fuh' and SZA on 'IRL." The latter marks the duo's second collaboration after their 2023 remix of Lizzo's 'Special.' Last month, SZA brought out Lizzo to perform the song during the first L.A. stop of her and Kendrick Lamar's Grand National Tour. After the 'About Damn Time' singer announced My Face Hurts From Smiling's forthcoming release earlier this week, SZA said on Instagram 'I'm not kidding, this is actually the most fye mixtape ever," according to Billboard. Lizzo performed a one-off show in Los Angeles in March, her first in two years, which she said helped her get back on her feet. She told fans she'd been in 'such a dark depression' before her return to the stage after taking her so-called 'gap year' from the spotlight. 'I was so heartbroken by the world, and so deeply hurt that I didn't want to live anymore, and I was so deeply afraid of people that I didn't want to be seen,' she said at the show, per Rolling Stone. A release date for Love in Real Life has yet to be announced.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I Took My Compton A** To Toronto For The Kendrick Lamar Concert. Here's What Happened
Considering Kendrick and Drake's epic 2024 feud, I thought it would be poignant for a fellow Compton native, someone who walked the same streets as Kendrick, to pound the pavement in Toronto as he brings over a decade's worth of hits to the city, one year after obliterating Drake via their rap battle. Does obliterate sound too strong? Maybe it is, considering Drake was still the highest-selling rapper of 2024, despite the narrative surrounding his L in the K. Dot battle. But are we really going to lie and say that King Kunta didn't come out on top? In addition to sharing my perspective as a West side native, I wanted to see how Toronto the city reacts to Kendrick in person. Is there still animosity? Was there ever animosity, or was this 'beef' purely between the artists? Was the battle as big a deal in Toronto as it was perceived to be by the rest of the world? I can tell you one thing, Compton took full pride in Dot's triumph, as demonstrated in the 'Not Like Us' music video that brought the whole city out. However, there is no true document of how that feud was perceived by Drake's fellow countrymen. Yes, some folks in Vancouver pressed Rick Ross for playing 'Not Like Us' during the initial back-and-forth, but then Toronto sold out two massive shows at Rogers Centre to see the man who called their savior a pedophile do so live. This is not to downplay singer SZA's ability to draw a crowd, as the tour's co-headliner also has a massive fan base, many of whom don't give AF about Dot and Drizzy's 2024 tussle either way. Still, it was the talk of the year and continues to stir conversation. I'm not here to give you a peek inside of the concert itself, as VIBE dropped our official review of the GNX show following Lamar's Los Angeles stint. Instead, I'm here to share my own observations regarding the crowd before and after the show, as I was fortunate enough to chop it up with – and eavesdrop on – Toronto natives as they discussed Kendrick, Drake, and why they did – or didn't – choose to pay top dollar to see Mr. Duckworth tear down the stage in Aubrey's hometown. My first observation was that I was far from the only Californian to cross the border in support of Kendrick, with many Los Angeles natives making their presence known IRL and on social media. Two couples who seemingly traveled together – one rocking matching Dodgers jerseys and the other wearing Shaq & Kobe Lakers jerseys – spotted me in my Compton fitted and threw up the W ('Four fingers up, two twisted in the middle' – Mack 10) as they entered the building via Gate 3, with plenty others also making it known that they came a long way to show up for Dot. It was also evident that several New Yorkers, Bostonians, and other American North-easterners made the trek for the show. While this is a sign of Kendrick's immense lock on the culture, it may also be comforting for those taking issue with the idea of Torontonians 'betraying' Drake with their attendance. While residents undoubtedly made up the majority of attendees – as would be the case in any city – it was by no means a night fueled purely by local support. As for the Torontonians that did show up, I observed a distinction that women of the city, quite frankly, couldn't care less about a rap beef, with Camille, a young woman who drove down from Markham, telling me, 'I was playing 'Nokia' on the way here. I love them both. But thinking I'm not going to see Kendrick out of loyalty to someone I've never met is kind of silly to me. Doesn't mean I don't like or respect Drake and what he's done, but Kendrick has, like, a bunch of hits that have nothing to do with that.' This echoes the sentiment of a young woman whose day-of interview went viral on social media, where she stated, 'These are two grown men. Their beef has nothing to do with me. I didn't start it, I didn't have nothing to do with it, it doesn't change my life any which way, I'm still gonna come to this concert.' This isn't to say that only women felt this way, as Jameson, a young man from Toronto, told me, 'Music goes beyond rap beef. I came for a good show from a great artist.' 'The internet and podcasts make that sh*t seem deeper than it is,' added Chris, another attendee and Toronto resident. 'In real life, people are not clocking the beef that closely. It's summertime, people want to be outside, one of the biggest rappers ever comes, you buy a ticket and you go. All this trying to shame people for enjoying themselves is dumb. High school sh*t.' This was the overall vibe of both nights outside of Rogers Centre. Fans, essentially, just wanted to see two of the world's biggest artists hit the stage live, and refused to let a year-old rap battle — and all the drama it spawned — stop them from doing so. As far as they're concerned, the 'they' of 'they not like us' are Hip-Hop 'culture vultures' and OVO specifically, not the whole city. That's not to say that there weren't some straight-up Drake haters in the building, with one concert goer being spotted in his own custom 'Real Canadiens Hate Drake' shirt during both concert nights. There were also plenty of Toronto attention seekers going out of their way to rub Dot's victory in Drizzy's face, busting out the most trash crip walks I've ever seen. The majority, however, attended out of sincere interest and fandom, not to spite the $ome $exy $ongs 4 U artist. Drake did, however, have more than a few loyalists show up on his behalf, with one group, The 6 Takeover, attempting to organize a party outside the venue, bumping Drake classics while handing out free pizza and hoodies. As you may have heard, things didn't quite work out, as venue security immediately broke up anything resembling a mob forming both nights. Still, the few who showed up before the rebellion was shut down proudly rocked their OVO and Drake merch while lambasting their fellow Toronto natives for 'crossing' the man who put the city on. These loyalists have a sports team mentality when it comes to Drake. You root for the home team, period. I don't care how sh*tty the season was, you don't switch up the first year they don't bring home a chip. And you damn sure don't pay to see their biggest rival host an All-Star game in your city. And to this I say, fair! However, I think the disconnect happens when you expect an entire culture (or city) to abide by this expectation, especially one year removed from the peak of their rivalry. This isn't a LeBron James situation where Drake has every right to feel betrayed due to their personal relationship. And yes, while hearing Rogers Centre go off to 'Not Like Us' might feel personal, it was also an undeniable hit, meaning it will get the hit-treatment when performed live. Now, as for the fans in the crowd begging for an encore? Tough break, kid. At no point did I feel uncomfortable or out of sorts in my Compton garb. In fact, hospitality was on ten my entire trip. Even those who spoke in passionate defense of Mr. Graham did so with an undercurrent of respect. One question I can't answer, however, is how exactly Drake will be received when he finally makes his way out west again. Los Angeles is a far more unpredictable environment, so it's trickier to assess. It's also important to distinguish Compton from Los Angeles (proper), two different cities that will likely react to Drake's presence differently. As for Toronto, however, the beef simply isn't as serious to the average resident as it seems on the 'net, and that might just be the biggest takeaway from Dot's time in the city. More from Clipse, Pharrell Preview Kendrick Lamar's Highly Anticipated "Chains & Whips" Verse Drake Accompanying Morgan Wallen At Houston Show Yields Big Internet Reaction Lil Wayne's Son Claims Rapper Ghostwrote "Most" Of Drake's Music: "On God" Best of 10 Rap Albums Snubbed Of The Grammys' Album Of The Year Award 21 Black Entertainers Who Are Almost EGOT Winners 11 Black-Owned Games To Play At The Next Function Or Kick Back
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lizzo drops new mixtape featuring Doja Cat and SZA
Lizzo has released the SZA and Doja Cat-featuring mixtape, My Face Hurts From Smiling. After her recent freestyle, Yitty on Yo Tittys, the About Damn Time hitmaker is back with 13 fresh tracks, which offer a "no-holds-barred reintroduction that sets the tone for summer and solidifies Lizzo's place in hip-hop." The witty star opens with Crashout, with a defiant message for her haters: 'They just mad 'cause I got motion like a roller coaster." Lizzo has pulled in her pals for the project, too, with rap sensation Doja spitting on Still Can't Fuh, while SZA dazzles on IRL. Lizzo and SZA previously teamed up on a remix of Lizzo's song Special in 2023, and had been teasing clips from the studio working on something for the mixtape. SZA captioned one post on her Instagram Story: "Working on a guest star for bookie Lizzo's new mixtape [heart emoji]." In a 2023 interview with UPROXX, SZA said of their friendship: 'Me and Lizzo, we've been friends since, like, 2013, but it was very organic and very random. One day we were on the same tour, and I was like, 'We're about to drive out to Lake Michigan, do you want to come?' And she was like, 'Yeah, let's go.' And then we just got drunk and hung out, and we kept doing that, and then our lives and careers progressed, and we kept talking and hanging out. The other day, I went over to her house. My tummy was hurting because I ate too much, and she gave me a muumuu, and we just laid in the yard and did nothing, and I was like, 'Yeah, this is what the f*** friendship is about.'' In March, the Grammy winner confirmed she had completed work on her new album Love in Real Life. Meanwhile, Lizzo recently expressed her fury over criticism of her new music - insisting negative reviews of her song Still Bad, which was her first single from Love in Real Life, are "lazy". My Face Hurts From Smiling is out now on all streaming platforms now. My Face Hurts From Smiling – Tracklist: Crashout Yitty on Yo Tittys (Freestyle) Just 4 Fun Gotcho Bitch Still Can't Fuh (feat. Doja Cat) New Mistakes Bend It Ova Left Right Droppin' On It Summa Shit IRL (feat. SZA) Cut Em Off Ditto
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ask Billboard: Here Are the Nos. 1 & 2 Reasons That the Hot 100 Has Been Historic This Month
Submit questions about Billboard charts, as well as general music musings, to . Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the United States. More from Billboard Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' Adds Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 Inside Bouyon: How a Fusion of Local Folk Music & Digitized Instruments Gave Way to Dominica's Fast-Spreading Homegrown Genre Lorde Performs New Album 'Virgin' in Full at Surprise Glastonbury 2025 Show Or, reach out on Bluesky. Let's open the latest mailbag. Hi Gary, I noticed that for the last four weeks, all songs in the Billboard Hot 100's top 10 have reached either No. 1 or No. 2. The leaders: Alex Warren's 'Ordinary'; Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild'; Morgan Wallen's 'What I Want,' featuring Tate McRae; Kendrick Lamar and SZA's 'Luther'; Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)'; Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' 'Die With a Smile'; and Teddy Swims' 'Lose Control.' Plus, the runners-up: Wallen's 'Just in Case' and 'I'm the Problem'; Benson Boone's 'Beautiful Things'; and Drake's 'Nokia.' Is this the first time this has happened? Kind regards, John Buergo-Rodriguez Hi John, The Hot 100 the past four weeks, on the charts dated June 7, 14, 21 and 28, has been good for songs in the top 10, given their lofty peak positions. It's less optimal for fans of upward movement in the region, as it reflects that beyond the top two, every other song is past its high point. The relative inaction ties into Jason Lipshutz's recent analysis of how numerous songs are linking long stays in the Hot 100's upper reaches, crowding out rising songs that could take their place. The Hot 100's top 10 steadiness also aligns with the relative drought of artists earning their first No. 1s so far this year. Still, history! The four latest Hot 100s mark the first in the chart's nearly 67-year archives in which every song in the top 10 ranked or had already peaked at Nos. 1 or 2. Notably, one prior week featured 10 No. 1- or No. 2-peaking Hot 100 hits in the top 10 — but at the time, three of them had yet to reach such heights. On the March 27, 2021-dated chart, Cardi B's 'Up' was No. 1, above four former leaders — 'Drivers License' by Olivia Rodrigo; 'What's Next' by Drake; 'Blinding Lights' by The Weeknd; and 'Mood' by 24kGoldn, featuring iann dior — as well as two prior No. 2 hits: Ariana Grande's '34+35,' featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion, and Drake's 'Wants and Needs,' featuring Lil Baby. Meanwhile, three songs were on their way up: Silk Sonic's 'Leave the Door Open,' The Weeknd and Ariana Grande's 'Save Your Tears,' both to No. 1, and Dua Lipa's 'Levitating,' to No. 2. Generally, when songs are spending relatively less time in the Hot 100's top 10, more opportunity exists for other hits to enter, increasing the chances that they'll peak anywhere between Nos. 1 and 10, not just the top two. Hi Gary, I read the recent 'Ask Billboard' about songs on the Hot 100 that had a quirkiness regarding their titles and chart placement. How about one more: Paul Hardcastle's '19.' I know that this single did not peak at No. 19, but at 15. Was it ever at No. 19, on the Hot 100 or elsewhere? Thanks, Walter BrockmannSouthampton, N.Y. Hi Walter, It did — it ranked at No. 19 on the Hot 100 dated Aug. 3, 1985, following two weeks at its No. 15 best. The next week, it also placed at No. 19 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It reached No. 8 on the latter list, as well as No. 1 on Dance Club Songs (where it was never No. 19). How about 19 other coincidences? First up, Garbage's '#1 Crush' was No. 1 on Alternative Airplay, throughout all of the first month of 1997. Face to Face's '10-9-8' hit No. 7 on Dance Club Songs in 1984. Stevie Nicks' 'Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White Winged Dove)' dropped to No. 18 on the Hot 100 for a week in 1982. Not No. 17, but on the edge of it. Similar to Paul Hardcastle, Steely Dan took 'Hey Nineteen' to No. 10 on the Hot 100 and No. 11 on Adult Contemporary. For a week in 1981 on the latter list, though, at ranked at … hey: 19! 21 Savage has one No. 21-peaking hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, as featured on Central Cee's 'GBP,' earlier this year. Thirty Seconds to Mars' first two charted titles each reached No. 30 on Pop Airplay. (No data available on where they peaked on the planet next further out after Earth.) Before it spun to No. 2 on Alternative Airplay in 1997, Smashing Pumpkins' 'Thirty-Three' debuted at No. 33. 38 Special's 'You Keep Runnin' Away' reached No. 38 on the Hot 100 in 1982. Fans of UB40 and American Top 40 will appreciate that UB40 ranked at No. 40 on the Hot 100 for a week in 1991. Sum 41 has notched two hits on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, and both peaked at No. 41: 'Out for Blood,' in 2019, and 'Landmines,' in 2024. 50 Cent has charted one No. 50 hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 'We Up,' featuring Kendrick Lamar, in 2013. For a week in 1975, Paul Simon's '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' ranked at No. 50 on the Hot 100. Nelson Riddle's 'Route 66 Theme' got its kicks at No. 66 on the Hot 100 for a week in 1962. In August 2015, Mac Miller's '100 Grandkids' claimed one week on the Hot 100, at No. 100. That November, The Game's '100,' featuring Drake, wrapped its run on the Hot 100 at No. 100. For two weeks in 1999, vocal group 112's Room 112 ranked at No. 112 on the Billboard 200. Blink-182 albums have spent five weeks at No. 182 on the Billboard 200. Oh, and April Wine's 'Just Between You and Me' hit No. 21 on the Hot 100 dated April 25, 1981. Plus, the peak dates for Taylor Swift's 'August' (Aug. 8, 2020), The Tempos' 'See You in September' (Sept. 7, 1959), Blue October's 'Hate Me' (Oct. 7, 2006) and Bad Bunny's 'Mr. October' (Oct. 28, 2023). Perhaps even more fittingly, *NSYNC's 'It's Gonna Be Me' debuted on the chart dated May 6, 2000. As for one more example from this year, Travis Scott's '4×4' didn't peak at No. 4 on any chart. However, taking a quick trip to the Poland Songs chart, '4×4' equaled a No. 16 peak there. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
