Category: News

On Friday, January 22nd, Halsey announced that her Manic World Tour has been officially canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The tour was originally scheduled for June 2020 but then postponed to summer 2021 due to COVID-19. The Manic Tour was to be in support of the 26-year-old alternative artist’s 2020 album Manic.

Halsey made the announcement on her Twitter with a picture of the official statement, and the caption “Safety is the priority. I wish things were different. I love you. Dreaming of seeing your faces again. @halseyteamhelp can answer specific questions.”

In the statement to fans, Halsey said “Despite our absolute best efforts, there is no guarantee I’ll be able to tour the currently scheduled dates. I miss seeing all of you in the crowd every night more than anything, but I need to prioritize your health and safety. That being said, the Manic tour is now officially canceled. As much as we wanted to hold out hope that this tour could eventually happen, our priority is now getting your ticket money back to you immediately.”

Safety is the priority. I wish things were different. I love you. Dreaming of seeing your faces again. @halseyteamhelp can answer specific questions. pic.twitter.com/SA44izGQ9L

— h (@halsey) January 22, 2021

Halsey stressed the importance of issuing refunds to fans who had bought tickets to the shows now that the Manic Tour has been canceled. Halsey was able to play some European dates of the tour before the shutdown due to COVID-19. 

After the initial announcement of the tour cancellation, Halsey tweeted “Believe me, I am gutted.” This tweet is believed to be in reaction to the Manic Tour’s cancellation. In March 2020.

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This week we saw album, EP, and single releases from a variety of musical genres, a couple of follow-up albums from previous releases, and highly anticipated music from young artists. 

The alternative R&B musical project by Mike Milosh, Rhye, released a new album Home today. The Canadian producer’s new album is a follow-up to his 2019 record Spirit. Home was written over the past year and recorded in multiple studios, including Milosh’s own home studio. You can expect the tracks on the record to feel warm, and inviting, with funk, and classical music influences. 

Maggie Lindemann, the 22-year-old singer-songwriter, released her Paranoia EP today. The pop star most well known for her single “Pretty Girl” from 2016, is breaking into the pop-punk scene with her first EP. The EP is to include 8 tracks, including recently released singles “Knife Under My Pillow,” “Loner,” and “Scissorhands.”

Brooklyn rapper, Kota the Friend released Lyrics to GO, Vol. 2 on Monday, January 18th. The mixtape includes 10 tracks and is only 15 minutes long but Kota is still able to pack a lot into that short time. Vivid wordplay and a mix between jazz and R&B instrumentals can be found on the tracks.  Lyrics to GO, Vol. 2 is a follow up to the rapper’s 2020 album Everything. 

Lil Skies, the 22-year-old Pennsylvania rapper, singer, and songwriter released his second studio album Unbothered today featuring Wiz Khalifa, and Lil Durk. The album includes 14 tracks, including previously released singles “OK,” and “Havin’ My Way.” Lil Skies has told fans that Unbothered takes a new and different direction than his previous music as he has grown artistically. 

Billie Eilish and Rosalia released their highly anticipated collaboration song “Lo Vas a Olvidar (You Will Forget Her),” yesterday. The song is to be a part of Euphoria’s “Part II: Jules” soundtrack. March of 2019 was the first time we received confirmation that the collab between the two artists would be happening when Rosalia tweeted a picture of her with Eilish and the caption “can’t wait to finish our song.”

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For everybody waiting on Certified Lover Boy we got a sad update from Drizzy himself & it looks like the album isn’t dropping this month.

Drake had recently suffered a knee injury that lead to him having surgery in 2020 and Drake stated that his energy has been dedicated to recovery and rehab.

Drake via his IG story.
CLB will not be dropping this month. pic.twitter.com/tvk7Sb8IO1

— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) January 20, 2021

He did give us some hope that the album will come soon stating that he’s “looking forward to sharing it with you all in 2021.” This is a promising sign for all those who have been waiting for him to drop an album since the pandemic began.

Drake began this album cycle when he dropped “Laugh Now, Cry Later” with Lil Durk. The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Fans have been patiently waiting since the release of the single and hopes were high that we would get CLB in late 2020 or early 2021.

It looks like we will have to wait a little bit longer than expected as Drake recovers. That doesn’t mean Drizzy isn’t working hard though while he’s rehabbing. He recently shared photos of him in the studio working on new music.

While we don’t know an expected release date it’s safe to say Certified Lover Boy will get released in 2021.

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On Tuesday, January 19th, Foo Fighters released a music video for their song “Waiting On A War.” The video is directed by Paola Kudacki and shows teens in a happy setting, having fun with one another, and then the same teens in a more desolate, and sad setting. Foo Fighters, while performing their song, end up acting as a backdrop to a revolution, where the teens try to make a better life for themselves. 

When discussing the song, Dave Grohl, the lead singer for Foo Fighters, said “Waiting On A War” is about a conversation he had with his 11-year-old daughter.

He said “Last fall, as I was driving my daughter to school, she turned to me and asked, ​‘Daddy, is there going to be a war?’ My heart sank as I realized that she was now living under the same dark cloud that I had felt 40 years ago. Every day waiting for the sky to fall. Is there more to this than that? Is there more to this than just waiting on a war? Because I need more. We all do. This song was written for my daughter, Harper, who deserves a future, just as every child does.”

“Waiting On A War” is the latest single off of Foo Fighters album Medicine at Midnight, which is to be released on February 5th. To learn more about the upcoming album and to pre-order it, check out the Foo Fighters website here. 

Foo Fighters are also scheduled to perform at Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday, January 20th. 

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On Monday, January 18th, Weezer announced a new album OK Human that will be released later this month, on January 29th. “All My Favorite Songs” the first track on the album will be released this Thursday, January 21st at 12 am EST. 

The band made the announcement on their Twitter. The post included the album’s tracklist and cover art and included the caption “Hold on to your hard drives. OK Human, the new album, arrives 1/29 “All My Favorite Songs” the first song from the album will be out this Thursday, 1/21 at 12 am ET. Limited vinyl will be available for pre-order on http://weezerwebstore.com then too.”

Hold on to your hard drives 💾 OK Human, the new album, arrives 1/29

"All My Favorite Songs” the first song from the album will be out this Thursday, 1/21 at 12am ET.

Limited vinyl will be available for pre-order on https://t.co/7LaRP9HTTb then too pic.twitter.com/V7eCr5FUi3

— weezer (@Weezer) January 18, 2021

As the band stated in their announcement, a limited vinyl release of OK Human will be available for pre-order starting this Thursday as well. For more information regarding the album and to pre-order the limited vinyl, visit Weezer’s website here. 

In addition to the OK Human announcement, Weezer tweeted shortly after saying “p.s. Van Weezer is still coming out on May 7th.” Van Weezer was previously announced and then postponed due to COVID-19. The album is dedicated to Eddie Van Halen and is now available for pre-order on Weezer’s website. 

The tracklist for Weezer’s OK Human is below.

1. “All My Favorite Songs”
2. “Aloo Gobi”
3. “Grapes of Wrath”
4. “Numbers”
5. “Playing My Piano”
6. “Mirror Image”
7. “Screens”
8. “Bird With a Broken Wing”
9. “Dead Roses”
10. “Everything Happens for a Reason”
11. “Here Comes the Rain”
12. “La Brea Tar Pits”

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Following months of subtle jabs and back and forths, the two legends of the rap game have squashed their rumored feud.

On Thursday, January 14th, Snoop commented on a fan’s Instagram post about the two rappers, asking “What changed?”

Seems like all is good from Snoop now💪🤝 pic.twitter.com/oRyHz29d3j

— Mainly Eminem (@MainlyEminem) January 12, 2021

Snoop replied to the post, as he usually does, saying “Nothing we good”, bringing an end to the speculations and killing the beef for now.

The timing of the post is also important, considering that Dr Dre, an important figure in both artists’ lives, suffered from a brain aneurysm last week and is still in the ICU.

Dr. Dre helped discover and bring both Em and Snoop to fame, and his current health situation seems to bring his friends closer now more than ever.

What Happened Before?

The whole feud started when in late July, on an episode of The Breakfast Club, Snoop explained with full detail why he wouldn’t put Em on his “Top 10 Rappers of All Time List”.

This was followed by a subtle diss from Eminem on his “Zeus” track, from his surprise release album “Music To Get Murdered By – Side B”:

“And, as far as squashing beef, I’m used to people knocking me/But, just not in my camp/And diplomatic as I’m tryna be/Last thing I need is Snoop dogging me/Man, Dogg, you was like a (Yeah) damn God to me/Nah, not really (Haha)/I had ‘dog’ backwards/But I’m starting to think, all these people takin’ shots at me/Shit, it’s no wonder.”

Em followed up his lines with an explanation early January, stating that he took offence to Snoop’s words about him.

Snoop, however, decided to boil the fire more by dropping a concise comment to an Eminem Instagram fan account post about Em’s explanation for the “Zeus” diss:

“Pray I don’t answer that soft ass shit”

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Cardi has always been honest with her fans, ever since she first rose to fame. Just the other week, while she was promoting her new Facebook Messenger series, “Cardi Tries”, she took to Twitter to answer fans’ questions and held nothing back about the experience.

Most recently, however, the superstar was busy answering her fans on Twitter about how much her music videos cost her to make, and also gave insight about how her career and relationship with her husband, Offset, flourished. 

Bardi started off by explaining how the video for her first hit, Bodak Yellow, cost her only $15k: I was in Dubai and I said…I gotta fly picture (videographer) out here …BOOM BOOM BANG ! Ya know the rest.

Fun fact : Bodak yellow music video cost me 15 thousand dollars .I was in Dubai and I said ….I gotta fly picture (videographer) out here …BOOM BOOM BANG ! Ya know the rest .

— iamcardib (@iamcardib) January 13, 2021

Then she went on explaining the shocking checks and balances for her follow-up hits’ videos. Suggesting Money cost $400k, Please Me $900k, while her most recent hit, WAP, cost her a whopping $1 million!

Naaaa honey ….Money cost 400K ,Please me Cost 900K ,Wap Cost a M ! https://t.co/7M2hFezoe9

— iamcardib (@iamcardib) January 13, 2021

While a millie for WAP could seem unsound to many, the investment turned out to be fruitful. The visual featured cameos from Mulatto, Kylie Jenner, Rubi Rose, and more. Eventually, the video broke the record for the biggest 24-hour debut for an all-female collaboration on YouTube as well as setting the record for the site’s biggest United States debut.

She then went on to explain how her future husband Offset made her go over-budget in the Lick video, and then gave insight as to how the power-couple romance begun. 

“Set was about to pull up and I barely knew him so I was so shy and when he kissed me on camera my heart sinked.” 

Ugh it was very 😑.We shot the video at a casino in a Holiday Inn in Jersey and I was embarrassed cause it look so low budget and Set was about to pull up and I barely knew him so I was so shy and when he kissed me on camera my heart sinked😍Every1 was like 😵😵😮😮 https://t.co/mHsVghmT2m

— iamcardib (@iamcardib) January 13, 2021

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On Tuesday, January 12th, members of Limp Bizkit, 311, The Used, Mastodon, Filter, Veruca Salt, Slaves on Dope, and In Flames released a cover of Jane’s Addiction’s “Mountain Song.” The supergroup calls themselves The Kings of Quarantine, which is a collaboration between Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher, and Slaves on Dope members Jason Rockman and Kevin Jardine.

The three musicians come together and bring a group of their friends to cover classic songs. For “Mountain Song” the group consisted of Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit, P-Nut of 311, Bert McCracken of The Used, Richard Patrick of Filter, Louise Post of Veruca Salt, and Tanner Wayne of In Flames. 

The members of the group performed the cover socially distanced, while still maintaining a highly energetic, and fun show. The cover was released on Bandcamp to raise awareness for Roadie Relief. The Roadie Relief fund aims to help and raise awareness for workers in the touring industry whose jobs may have been affected by the pandemic. All proceeds from the purchase of the song on Bandcamp will go towards the Roadie Relief fund. 

Find The Kings of Quarantine’s cover of “Mountain Song” on Bandcamp here.

This isn’t the first performance by The Kings of Quarantine. Back in October, the supergroup covered Faith No More’s “We Care a Lot.” Members of Korn, Anthrax, Run DMC, Filter, Men Without Hats, Refused, Quicksand, Brutal Truth, Czarface, and Our Lady Peace came together to collaborate on this cover.

Watch The Kings of Quarantine cover Faith No More’s “We Care a Lot” here. 

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On Tuesday, January 12th, Billie Eilish announced that she will be releasing a new photo book with hundreds of pictures from her life. In addition to the photo book, Eilish also included that an audiobook will also be released, which will include stories from her personal life.

The book and audiobook are to be released on May 11 via Grand Central Publishing in the U.S., and Wren and Rook in the UK. 

She announced the book’s release on her social media. On Instagram, she posted a picture of the book’s cover, which includes half of a photo of Billie as a child, and captioned the post saying “I made a photo book of my life from childhood up until now and recorded an audiobook companion with stories to go with some of the photos. out 5/11, you can pre-order it now 🤗 billieeilish.com/book.”

“Billie Eilish” – The photo book by Billie
Get the book and the audiobook companion (narrated by Billie) on 5/11.
Pre-order now https://t.co/PAYxvTW64A pic.twitter.com/MM95UUVI8Y

— billie eilish (@billieeilish) January 12, 2021

On Billie’s website, they describe the book saying “Legendary recording artist Billie Eilish shares an intimate inside look at her life and career—both on and off the stage—in this stunning, photo-filled book.” Additionally “Now in her first book — a stunning visual narrative journey through her life — Billie is ready to share more with her devoted audience for the first time, including hundreds of never-before-seen photos.” 

Regarding the audiobook, Eilish’s website says “Including never-before-told stories and recollections from her personal life and career, from the early years to her breakout success and including memories shared by her parents, this is an audiobook like no other – providing a truly intimate window into her journey, in Billie’s own words.”

For more information regarding the book, audiobook, and to preorder, check out Billie Eilish’s website here. 

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Old Town Road, a modern classic hit, and one of the most original genre crossovers in music history, is still making headlines.

Two years since its ground-breaking release, the Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus collab is still breaking records.

According to Billboard, the remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus has become the highest certified song ever by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), reaching 14-times platinum status in the U.S., and moving 14 million in equivalent song units.

Lil Nas X’s #OldTownRoad sets a new RIAA record https://t.co/0TnALMW0ba

— billboard (@billboard) January 10, 2021

Lil Nas celebrated his proud moment online, in his own fashion, posting a photoshopped meme of himself in Nancy Pelosi’s office, using a photo taken during the Capitol siege on Wednesday, with the caption: “OLD TOWN ROAD IS OFFICIALLY 14 TIMES PLATINUM! MOST PLATINUMS FOR ANY SONG EVER! LETS GOOO!”

Country music legend Billy Ray Cyrus also tweeted about the milestone writing, “Incredible. I’m speechless. #OTR is now 14x platinum and the most certified song in music history.”

The viral song displaces “All of Me” by John Legend and “Despacito” by Daddy Yankee, Luis Fonsi, and Justin Bieber, which are both certified 13-times Platinum.

OLD TOWN ROAD IS OFFICIALLY 14 TIMES PLATINUM! MOST PLATINUMS FOR ANY SONG EVER! LETS GOOO! pic.twitter.com/JsqUdIapfQ

— nope (@LilNasX) January 9, 2021

Lil Nas X is keeping busy nowadays as well. The 21-year-old rap star recently gave an update on what he’s got in works:

“My album as a whole. The singles and the music videos that are going to be around them,” he said. “The moments I’m going to create with each one of them. Some features that I’m working on with other artists. I’m just excited about the entire process and even releasing music again.”