Category: News

On Monday, November 16th Shawn Mendes announced on his social media that he and Justin Bieber collaborated on a new song, titled “Monster,” which will be released this Friday, November 20th.

The announcement included a video of the single’s info and release date with clips of night-time outdoor scenes and was captioned “#MONSTER friday nov 20th @justinbieber. Next single from #WONDER.” 

#MONSTER friday nov 20th @justinbieber. Next single from #WONDER https://t.co/TjpYEFOrFS pic.twitter.com/pucTz74D71

— Shawn Mendes (@ShawnMendes) November 16, 2020

This announcement and collaboration doesn’t come as a huge surprise to fans, as the two artists were spotted in the studio together in August. “Monster” will appear on Mendes’ upcoming album, Wonder. The album is set to be released on December 4rd.

In September, Mendes announced the new album, its tracklist, and its first single “Wonder,” which was released October 2nd.  

In the announcement about his new album, Mendes posted a handwritten note. The first part of the note read “I’ve missed you all so much! I know it’s been a really scary year for everyone so I’m sending buckets of love to all of you x I wrote an album. It’s called Wonder. it really feels like a piece of me has been written down on paper and recorded into song. I tried to be as real and as honest as I’ve ever been. It’s a world and a journey and a dream and an album I’ve been wanting to make for a really long time.”

🖤 https://t.co/CVS6JQS3XY pic.twitter.com/SijU8cSTQe

— Shawn Mendes (@ShawnMendes) September 30, 2020

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On Monday, November 16th, Barack Obama posted on his Instagram unveiling a playlist to accompany his memoir “A Promised Land,” which is to be released on November 17th.

The playlist includes 20 songs which Obama described as playing an important role throughout his presidency. Aretha Franklin, the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, and more are included on the playlist. 

In his Instagram post, Obama said, “Music has always played an important role throughout my life––and that was especially true during my presidency. While reviewing my notes ahead of debates, I’d listen to Jay-Z’s ‘My 1st Song’ or Frank Sinatra’s ‘Luck Be a Lady.’

Throughout our time in the White House, Michelle and I invited artists like Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan to conduct afternoon workshops with young people before performing an evening show in the East Room. And there were all sorts of performances I’ll always remember — like Beyoncé performing ‘At Last’ for our first dance at our inauguration or Paul McCarthy serenading Michelle in the East Room with, ‘Michelle.’

So in honor of my book, A Promised Land, coming out tomorrow, I thought I’d put together a playlist with some of those songs. Hope you enjoy it.”

Music has always played an important role in my life—and that was especially true during my presidency. In honor of my book hitting shelves tomorrow, I put together this playlist featuring some memorable songs from my administration. Hope you enjoy it. pic.twitter.com/xWiNQiZzN0

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 16, 2020

This isn’t the first time Obama has shared songs that are meaningful to him in a certain part of his life. Back in August, the former president released his “2020 Summer Playlist.” In December 2019, he posted his favorite music of 2019. 

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Megan Thee Stallion will be releasing her first studio album this Friday, November 20th! 

The ‘Savage’ singer announced on Instagram earlier last week, November 12th, that her new album will be dropping on November 20th and will be called Good News. 

In the post, Stallion expresses her feelings as;

“Hotties, I first want to say thank you for riding with me, growing with me, and staying down with me since my first mixtape Rich Ratchet”.

Stallion also does not forget to explain how she came up with the name of her album;

“Through this rough ass year we’ve all been having I felt like we could all use a lil bit of good news. So with that being said MY OFFICIAL ALBUM ‘GOOD NEWS’ IS DROPPING NOVEMBER 20TH PRE ORDER WILL BE AVAILABLE TONIGHT.”

Hot Girl Meg pretty much never stayed out of the headlines for the past couple of months now. Starting with the blitz caused by the release of her mega-hit “WAP” with Cardi B, Stallion won a number of awards, including “BET Artist of the Year” and most recently, she was crowned “GQ’s Rapper of the Year”. 

RAPPER OF THE YEAR IN THIS YEAR’S @GQMagazine 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/F5mR5bRHnf

— HOT GIRL MEG (@theestallion) November 16, 2020

The most controversial and ground-breaking moment of her year was none of them though. Couple of months back Megan was involved in a gun-fight altercation with rapper Tory Lanez, that ensued with all sorts of legal and headlines drama. 

Speaking to GQ’s December/January 2021 Issue, Stallion said that Lanez allegedly tried to pay her and her friend off after shooting her in the foot, claims which Tory Lanez have recently denied. Whatever the outcome will be of the Tory Lanez drama, it is no question that Megan’s had an astonishing 2020. 

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Public Enemy released a new animated video for “Public Enemy Number Won” which features Beastie Boys’ Ad-Rock and Mike D, and Run DMC. Archival performance footage and posters are also included in the video.

“Public Enemy Number Won” appears on Public Enemy’s 15th album What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?, which was released in September and marks the group’s return to Def Jam Recordings. 

In a statement, Chuck D said “The song is an homage to ‘Public Enemy No. 1’ and that moment in time. The Beastie Boys and Run-DMC were playing it all the time and Rick Rubin kept coming at us to sign with Def Jam. So it’s my way of bringing it all back together again.”

Chuck D also spoke about the new album, What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? with SPIN recently, saying “I think the new album had to at least speak to the immediacy and the speed of the time and the attention span of the moment. And one thing we know that the tension is the uncertainty about realistic futures and the United States of America with this goon [President Trump] at the top.”

This video follows another animated video for “Grid” which was released last month and featured Cypress Hill and George Clinton.

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On Thursday, November 12th, Billie Eilish released a new song called “Therefore I Am” and an accompanying music video. Eilish directed the video herself.

It shows her running through a deserted Glendale mall, where she had spent much of her early teenage years. Throughout the video, the teenage superstar dashes from store to store, rides an elevator, and swipes pretzels and donuts from empty shops along the way. 

Eilish sings “I don’t want press to put your name next to mine/ We’re on different lines so I/ Wanna be nice enough/ They don’t call my bluff/ ‘Cause I hate to find/ Articles, articles, articles/ I’d rather you remain unremarkable/ Got a lot of interviews, interviews, interviews.”

She continues, “Did you have fun?/ I really couldn’t care less/ And you can give ’em my best/ But just know/ I’m not your friend/ Or anything, damn.”

A few days ago, Eilish teased the song on her Instagram. She posted the cover art for the single and captioned the post with “NEW SINGLE ‘Therefore I Am’ OUT THURSDAY 11/12 AT 10AM PT. I’M SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE.” The song was co-written and produced by her brother Finneas. 

Eilish will premiere the song at the American Music Awards on November 22nd. In addition to Billie Eilish’s performance, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, and more are expected to make appearances. 

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The Weeknd is reportedly set to perform in the Super Bowl LV halftime show, according to a statement he made on his Twitter account.

The superstar also announced the exciting news on his Instagram, at approximately 11:50 am Eastern time, Thursday, November 12th.

performing on the iconic stage. see you 02/07/21 @pepsi #pepsihalftime #SBLV pic.twitter.com/oYlQyvKRwh

— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 12, 2020

Speaking of the news, The Weeknd said: “We all grow up watching the world’s biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position. I’m humbled, honored, and ecstatic to be the center of that infamous stage this year,”

The Weeknd made headlines recently with joining Maluma on the Latino’s track Hawaii for a remix, putting the track high on the charts and proving he’s unique voice is just as good with a reggaeton beat as it is with r&b and pop.

The pair also almost immediately released the video for the remixed track the day the song was released.

The Weeknd’s 2020 was as good as it could have been too. Having dropped After Hours right at the beginning of quarantine, the superstar enjoyed high chart positions for his album and is set to top this year off with what will probably be the most unique Super Bowl Half-time performance we will ever see.

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2 Chainz is back with a new studio album this Friday. So Help Me God, which has been teased by the ATL rapper for months now, will be dropping on November 13th. 

2 Chainz released the first single of So Help Me God,  “Money Maker” featuring Lil Wayne in August. The hit single became an instant summer hit, peaked at #7 at Billboard.

The track was an ode to HBCU’s all over the country, and especially Alabama State University, where 2 Chainz had a 2 year basketball career. The single was immediately followed by a music video following the overall critical acclaim. 

Most recently, the second single for So Help Me God, “Quarantine Thick” featuring Mulatto was released. The single was also followed by a music video, starring 2 Chainz and Mulatto. The single and the video serves the purpose of celebrating “thick” women and shows the pride in the extra pounds of weight basically everyone put on during the quarantine caused by Covid-19. 

2 Chainz has also promised to preview 5 songs from the highly expected new album prior to Friday. The singer surprised fans by saying that he will drop 5 songs during an in-game play of NBA 2K21 on Thursday. 

Pre Save #SoHelpMeGod Now. Friday 11/13https://t.co/FEqR0pZoI1 pic.twitter.com/VKNdu6qKHE

— Tity Boi (2 Chainz) (@2chainz) November 9, 2020

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On Tuesday, November 10th, Phoebe Bridgers announced a new EP called Copycat Killer which will be released on November 20th digitally, and November 27th physically.

The EP will include new versions of four songs from her most recent album Punisher. “Kyoto,” “Savior Complex,” “Chinese Satellite,” and “Punisher” are the four songs that will be featured on the new EP. The EP will be released via Dead Oceans, and a vinyl version will be available exclusively through Rough Trade.

☠️ announcing @phoebe_bridgers’ new EP ‘Copycat Killer’ featuring orchestral arrangements of 4 tracks from ‘Punisher’ ☠️ out 11/27 physically & 11/20 digitally

vinyl copies available exclusively from @roughtrade 🕳 https://t.co/Ull4ztgdrp pic.twitter.com/Mvf1JhXIGl

— Dead Oceans (@DeadOceans) November 10, 2020

Grammy Award-winning arranger and string player, Rob Moose, collaborated with Bridgers on the EP. Moose has worked with Bon Iver, John Legend, Alabama Shakes, Taylor Swift, and many more in the past. Along with the announcement of the album, Bridgers released the Copycat Killer version of “Kyoto” off of the EP and an accompanying video.

In her most recent Instagram post, Bridgers announced the new EP, captioning it “@mooserob and I made an EP of songs from Punisher with just strings and vocals. Our version of Kyoto that Rob says should be played at my funeral is out today, the whole thing is out digitally November 20th, and physically November 27th at @roughtrade. Art by my love @olofgrind.”

Copycat Killer EP Tracklist:

1. Kyoto
2. Savior Complex
3. Chinese Satellite
4. Punisher

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Last month the Arctic Monkeys announced a new Live At The Royal Albert Hall album which is to be released December 4th on Domino Records.

All proceeds from the live album will be donated to War Child U.K., a charity which aims to protect and support children affected by war. The band released a 39-second trailer for the upcoming release.

In a statement, the band said, “On June 7, 2018, we played a very special show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. All the proceeds from that memorable night were donated to War Child U.K. in support of the vital work they do protecting, educating, and rehabilitating children who have experienced the trauma of conflict and the horror of war.

“The situation that was bad in 2018 is now desperate and those children and their families need our help more than ever. To enable War Child U.K. to reduce their funding deficit and continue their valuable work, we are happy to be able to release a live album, recorded that evening at the Royal Albert Hall. All proceeds will go directly to the charity. We thank all our fans in advance for their support of this release and in turn for their support of War Child U.K.”

The live album will be released on a limited edition double clear vinyl with a poster. It will also be available on a standard double black LP, and CD. 

Preorder the album on Arctic Monkeys’ website here. 

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On Wednesday, November 3rd, Arcade Fire performed a new song titled “Generation A” on Stephen Colbert’s election night special. The song serves as a post-election 2020 anthem from the rock band.

Colbert introduced the band and described the song saying it is “inspired by the current climate of the country with a hopeful message to the youths.”

“Generation A” seems to be just that. Arcade Fire opened the song by having a kid walk into the studio, and yell into the microphone “This is Generation A! And we’re not gonna wait!” 

The lead singer of the rock band, Win Butler, sings “Say wait until tomorrow/ ‘Cause today is always strange/ Say wait until you’re older and you will understand/ They say the generation’s coming/ I don’t think they understand that I am not a patient man.” All members of the band join in for the catchy chorus, shouting, “I can’t wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait/Too little too late!”

If “Generation A” gets a studio version, it will be the first new release by Arcade Fire since their 2017 album Everything Now. In 2019 though, they did cover “Baby Mine” for Disney’s live-action version of Dumbo.

Butler shared a bit about an upcoming album for the band back in April, saying that writing and making music for the band has increased during the COVID-19 quarantine, but the timeline for the album was described as “eventually, not soon.”