Ice Spice Releases Central Cee Collaboration “Did It First”

It’s first things first for Ice Spice.

The 24-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-nominated rapper has joined voices with Central Cee to release their first collaboration “Did It First,” which was released on Thursday, July 11.

Ice Spice“If he’s cheatin’, I’m doin’ him worse (Like)/ No Uno, I hit the reverse (Grrah)/ I ain’t trippin’, the grip in my purse (Grrah)/ I don’t care, ’cause he did it first (Like)/ If he’s cheatin’, I’m doin’ him worse (Yeah)/ I ain’t trippin’—/ I ain’t trippin’, the grip in my purse (Like)/ I don’t care, ’cause he did it first,” she raps on the chorus.

The song will be featured on Ice Spice’s highly anticipated debut album Y2K!, which will be released on July 26 via 10K Projects and Capitol Records.

“Did It First” is the fourth single after her Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit “Think U The Shit (Fart),” the Sean Paul-sampling “Gimme a Light” and her latest offering “Phat Butt.”

Y2K! comes a year and a half after her debut EP Like..?, which reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and featured her hit singles “Munch (Feelin’ U)” and “Princess Diana” (which later got a Hot 100 No. 4 remix with Nicki Minaj).

Meanwhile, Cench has hit the Hot 100 two more times this year, with J. Cole’s “H.Y.B.” (also featuring Bas) (No. 35) and his and Lil Baby‘s “BAND4BAND” (No. 18). He also recently collaborated with Afropop star Asake on “Wave.”

Kehlani to Release Fourth Studio Album, “Crash,” in Late June

Kehlani is crashing the party…

The 29-year-old part-Mexican American singer-songwriter and R&B superstar has revealed plans to release her fourth studio album, Crash, on June 21.

KehlaniLess than 24 hours after the Grammy-nominated artist teased the LP’s title with a bevy of crash-related tweets, they also revealed the incredibly intricate album artwork on social media, which features them sitting atop a demolished red car while their legs are covered in a metallic, almost mermaid tail-like apparatus.

Kehlani (real name Kehlani Ashley Parrish) dropped “After Hours” as the first single from Crash in April, and the record — which samples Cordel “Scatta” Burrell’s “Coolie Dance Riddim” and was produced by Khris Riddick-Tynes and Alex Goldblatt.

It reached No. 14 on Rhythmic Airplay and No. 40 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Kehlani released the “After Hours” music video last week, which was set in Las Vegas. She teased a 30-second snippet of her upcoming single “Next 2 U” last week. “when y’all want it,” Kehlani wrote on Instagram and X.

Crash comes two years after her third album, Blue Water Road, which reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and No. 8 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

Prior to Blue Water Road, Kehlani dropped their Billboard 200 No. 2 sophomore album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t in 2020 — which is their highest charting album to date — and their debut album SweetSexySavage in 2017. She’s also previously dropped three mixtapes: Cloud 19 (2014), You Should Be Here (2015) and While We Wait (2019).

Bruno Mars’ Silk Sonic Announce 13-Show Las Vegas Residency, “An Evening with Silk Sonic”

Bruno Mars is headed to Sin City…

The 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and Anderson .Paak‘s dynamic duo Silk Sonic has announced plans to set down roots for a 13-show run in Las Vegas as part of An Evening With Silk Sonic.

Silk Sonic Las Vegas Residency

Silk Sonic will be performing on the Las Vegas Strip beginning on February 25 at Dolby Live.

“Its happening! The sexiest party of the year! Them Silk Sonic Boyz are performing Live in Las Vegas!” Mars tweeted.

The run currently includes 13 dates at the 5,200-seat theater at the Park MGM, and the Live Nation presale kicked off at 1:00 pm ET today; the general public on-sale begins at 1:00 pm ET on Friday (Jan. 21).

The shows are subject to the venue’s Health Check standards to reduce exposure to COVID-19, which requires masks be worn by all attendees and which could also require proof of full vaccination, proof of a negative COVID-19 test before entering the event or a rapid on-site COVID test.

“THE TERMS ARE LOCKED AND VEGAS MIGHT NOT EVER BE THE SAME JACK!! YOU’RE INVITED TO THE HOTTEST SHOW IN SIN CITY!” .Paak added about the first substantial run of gigs in support of the pair’s debut album, An Evening with Silk Sonic.

The collection debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on the list dated November 27, and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 after the lead single, “Leave the Door Open,” topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for eight weeks between April and July 2021.

So far, the announced dates are: February 25, 26, March 2, 4, 5, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26, 31 and April 2.

Amazon Prime Video Releases Trailer for Kid Cudi Documentary “A Man Named Scott”

Kid Cudi’s life story is headed your way…

The 37-year-old part-Mexican American rapper, singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and actor, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, will be the subject of Amazon Prime Video’s new documentary A Man Named Scott.

Kid Cudi

The documentary comes 13 years after Kid Cudi’s debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi catapulted him into the hip-hop scene in 2008.

Helmed by director Robert Alexander, who has previously directed episodes of LeBron JamesHBO talk series The Shop, the film will cover Kid Cudi’s decade-plus tenure in the spotlight as both a “musical star and cultural hero.”

Amazon Prime Video will release the documentary globally on November 5.

The documentary will explore the creative choices that went into Kid Cudi’s records, including those outside the Man on the Moon trilogy, along with the personal struggles that affected his life throughout the process. The trailer features clips and dialogue from Kid Cudi about his philosophy as an artist, from fans about his music’s impact on their lives, and thoughts from his closest collaborators about Kid Cudi’s artistry.

Kid Cudi is most celebrated for his Man on the Moon album trilogy, which includes songs about topics like depression, anxiety and loneliness.

Before Man on the Moon: The End of Day‘s 2009 release, those subjects were treated as taboo in the hip-hop world, with the exception of influential records like frequent collaborator Kanye West‘s 808s and Heartbreakswhich came a year prior.

The documentary comes almost a year after Kid Cudi released his last full-length project, Man on the Moon III: The Chosenin December 2020 to close out the trilogy, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 144,000 album-equivalent units, and at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Kehlani Releases Teaser For Upcoming Third Album “Blue Water Road”

Kehlani is taking it to the Road

The 26-year-old part-Mexican American Grammy-nominated singer is set to release her next album, Blue Water Road, this winter.

Kehlani

Kehlani took to Twitter to share the minute-long trailer soundtracked by dramatic orchestral music, which shows Kehlani “coming out of the rubble of It Was Good Until It Wasnt and into the light, on to the road,” as she described it. The singer, who has an injured leg in the video, hobbles down the titular road and befriends a dragonfly that succumbs to a larger, unknown power.

The R&B singer released her second studio album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t on May 8, 2020. The project reached No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and BillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

One fan on Twitter noticed the continuity in the imagery from IWGUIW, which depicted on its cover art the “Toxic” singer escaping the chaos on one side of a brick wall only to find out the other side doesn’t promise an easier life, to Blue Water Road. “WAIT THIS MAKES SENSE!!! So your leg was hurt from the It was Good Until It Wasn’t Cover!” Twitter user @_serialov3r wrote.

The Grammy-nominated singer shared the theory with the bullseye emoji to commend the fan for nailing it.

Kid Cudi Earns Third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart with “Man on the Moon III: The Chosen” 

Kid Cudi has another smash on his hands…

The 36-year-old part-Mexican American rapper/singer has earned his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart as Man on the Moon III: The Chosen debuts at the top of the chart dated December 26.

Kid Cudi

The set, released through Republic Records on December 11, earned 144,000 equivalent album units in the week ending December 17, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

Prior to the Man on the Moon III landing, Kid Cudi previously reigned with the set’s previous installment, 2010’s Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager and 2013’s Indicud, both of which debuted in the top slot and reigned for one week.

Beyond the two leaders, Kid Cudi’s three other projects all reached the top five: 2009’s Man on the Moon: The End of Day (No. 5), 2014’s Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon (No. 2) and Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’ (No. 5, 2017).

In addition, the act Kids See Ghosts, a duo comprising Kid Cudi and Kanye West, also claimed a No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with their eponymous LP in 2018.

Man on the Moon III: The Chosen likewise debuts at No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart and at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200, behind Taylor Swift’s Evermore.

As Man on the Moon III arrives, 18 of its tracks dot the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, led by the top 10 arrivals “Tequila Shots” (No. 7) and “She Knows This” (No. 9). The pair produce Kid Cudi’s third and fourth top 10s, following his 2009 breakthrough “Day and Night” (No. 5) and this year’s “The Scotts,” billed to The Scotts, Travis Scott, and Kid Cudi, which debuted at No. 1 in May and held for one week.

Here’s a full rundown of where all 18 Man on the Moon III cuts show on the ranking:

No. 7, “Tequila Shots”
No. 9, “She Knows This”
No. 12, “Show Out,” with Skepta and Pop Smoke
No. 16, “Another Day”
No. 21, “Mr. Solo Dolo III”
No. 22, “Dive”
No. 24, “Heaven on Earth”
No. 27, “Sad People”
No. 28, “Damaged”
No. 32, “Beautiful Trip”
No. 33, “The Void”
No. 35, “Rockstar Knights,” with Trippie Redd
No. 37, “Sept. 16”
No. 39, “Elsie’s Baby Boy (Flashback)”
No. 40, “Lovin’ Me,” featuring Phoebe Bridgers
No. 44, “The Pale Moonlight”
No. 47, “4 Da Kidz”
No. 50, “Lord I Know”

With 18 simultaneous placements, Kid Cudi becomes the fifth artist to post at least that many entries on the chart in a single week. His company includes Drake, who has claimed 10 separate weeks with 18-plus entries, Lil Uzi Vert and The Weeknd, each with two such weeks, and Lil Wayne and Pop Smoke, who have managed the feat once apiece.

Kehlani Earns Third Straight No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums Chart with “It Was Good Until It Wasn’t”

Make that three in a row for Kehlani

The 25-year-old part-Mexican American singer-songwriter has captured her third straight No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart as It Was Good Until It Wasn’t debuts at the summit on the list dated May 23. 

Kehlani

The album arrives with 83,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending May 17, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data, the highest one-week total of her career.

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, released on Tsunami Mob/Atlantic/AG, follows a pair of previous chart-toppers: SweetSexySavage in 2017 and last year’s While We Wait, which both ruled for one week. 

Kehlani’s debut effort, You Should Be Here, debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Top R&B Albums chart in 2015.

“I’m grateful, I can’t believe it,” Kehlani tells Billboard. “Imma [sic] celebrate by laying in bed and getting some much needed rest with my daughter.” 

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t marks her first album since the birth of her daughter, Adeya, in March 2019.

Beyond its R&B victory, It Was Good Until It Wasn’tconcurrently opens at No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Accompanying Kehlani’s Goodstart, nine of the album’s tracks debut on Hot R&B Songs, led by a No. 4 entrance for “Can I,” featuring Tory Lanez. The tune marks Kehlani’s highest debut on the chart and ties for her best peak with “Nights Like This,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign.

Here’s a full rundown of Kehlani’s new collection on Hot R&B Songs:

Rank, Title, Additional Artists (if any)
No. 4, “Can I,” featuring Tory Lanez
No. 9, “Change Your Life,” featuring Jhene Aiko
No. 14, “Water”
No. 15, “Bad News”
No. 18, “Hate The Club,” featuring Masego
No. 21, “Serial Lover”
No. 22, “Can You Blame Me” featuring Lucky Daye
No. 24, “Open (Passionate)”
No. 25, “Grieving,” featuring James Blake

Activity surrounding Kehlani’s It Was Good Until It Wasn’thelps the singer-songwriter jump 40-3 on Billboard’s Artist 100 chart. The leap secures her first week in the top 10, after narrowly missing out (No. 11) upon SweetSexySavage‘s chart arrival in February 2017.

Mariah Carey Replaces Herself at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums Chart

Mariah Carey is making history…

The 48-year-old Half-Venezuelan American singer has become the first artist to replace herself at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart since its inception in 2012.

Mariah Carey

The diva’s Merry Christmas leaps 4-1 on the ranking dated December 8 and deposes her own LP, Caution, which slips 1-8 in its second week.

Merry Christmas, released in 1994, earned 24,000 equivalent album units in the week ending November 29, according to Nielsen Music, while Caution netted 14,000 units sold.

As MerryChristmas ascends, Carey collects her third leader on the chart, following Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse, a one-week champ in 2014 and Caution.

In addition to its Top R&B Albums coronation, Merry Christmas also rallies 24-9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and 50-19 on the Billboard 200.

Nearly 25 years after its debut, Merry Christmas consistently remains one of the top performing holiday albums each year, with its success largely traceable to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” virtually a modern standard in the holiday catalog.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” also makes its annual return to several Billboard charts, including a 29-14 surge on the Billboard Hot 100 and a 30-8 roar on Streaming Songs. The tune also inaugurates this year’s first edition of the seasonal Holiday 100 chart in a familiar spot — No. 1 — for its 31st week overall.

Miguel’s “War and Leisure” Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart

Miguel is back at the top of the album charts…

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American R&B singer-songwriter has earned his second No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart (dated December. 23) as War and Leisure begins with 40,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending December 7, according to Nielsen Music.

Miguel

Miguel previously reigned with the one-week leader Kaleidoscope Dream in 2012.

Meanwhile, two of the album’s tracks make headway on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: lead single “Sky Walker” (featuring Travis Scott) zooms 23-16, while “Come Through and Chill” (featuring J. Cole and Salaam Remi) debuts at No. 44.

The latter entry brings the singer to 20 charted hits since his debut, “All I Want Is You” started at No. 98 in July 2010.

Mars Earns First No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart

Here’s something Bruno Mars will surely like

The 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer has earned his first chart-topper on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as “That’s What I Like” steps 2-1 in its 14th week on the chart dated April 1.

Bruno Mars

The single bests his previous peak on the chart with “24K Magic,” which reached No. 3 on the multi-metric chart, which blends streaming, sales and airplay data, back in December.

“That’s What I Like” is the second single from Mars’ latest album 24K Magic, which debuted at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Dec. 10), and spends an eighth week atop the list in the current chart frame.

It’s the singer’s first full-length release to sonically qualify for the tally, in turn making its tracks eligible for the R&B genre charts.

The latest single takes Airplay Gainer honors, rising 17 percent in audience across all monitored stations nationwide to 87 million impressions in the week ending March 19, according to Nielsen Music. The biggest contributor of airplay points came from pop station WHTZ (Z100) New York (2.7 million impressions).

Meanwhile, over on the Rhythmic Songs airplay chart, the tune hops 7-5 (up 17 percent in spins), reaching a new peak.

Streaming plays a big role in the song’s trip to No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, providing 44 percent of its chart points, from 26.9 million clicks logged in the U.S. in the week ending March 16. Of its total, 35 percent of plays came from YouTube, where the song’s official music video has amassed over 88 million global views since coming out on March 1. The growing streams, boosted in part by the video, keep the track at No. 1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart for a third straight week.

Sales wise, the track sold 78,000 downloads in the most recent tracking week, concurrently spending a fifth consecutive week at No. 1 on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart, despite an 18 percent dip in sales.

Elsewhere, “That’s What I Like” rises 3-2 on the Billboard Hot 100 – a new peak for the track.