Katy Perry is strutting on to the release of new album ‘Smile’ and this time around she isn’t letting the naysayers steal her happy.
It’s no secret that the Pop star’s last effort, 2017’s ‘Witness,’ underperformed. And it’s been a rocky road back to chart redemption ever since.
While pounding the promotional pavement for her latest LP (due August 28), the pregnant star has made it clear that her priorities have shifted away from the hamster wheel of staying commercially “hot.”
In a new interview with the LA Times, she not only expands on this, she doubles down on it in the most direct way yet.
To say Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion‘s joint hit, ‘WAP,’ made a splash on the Billboard Hot 100 this week would be an understatement of epic proportion.
Since its August 7 debut, the Ayo the Producer-helmed cut – which largely samples Frank Ski‘s 1992 club anthem ‘Whores in the House’ – has been bumping from houses, cars, and maybe even outer space if the out-of-this-world figures attached to its first-week sales performance are any indication.
Making history along the way, look inside to see how the tune – which premiered at #1 on the refreshed Hot 100 – sailed to the top.
‘Midnight Sky,’ the first single from Miley Cyrus‘ forthcoming seventh studio album ‘She is Miley Cyrus,’ is off to a promising start.
After ample teasing, the song and its accompanying, self-directed music video were unveiled Friday (August 14). In the days since, it’s already amassed 24 million views on YouTube and millions of spins on streaming platforms.
Yet, as its commercial performance numbers roll in, it appears streaming isn’t the only avenue the Louis Bell & Andrew Watt-produced bop is winning on.
The tale of ‘Folklore,’Taylor Swift‘s eighth studio album, is playing out just as fans expected it to – at least on the charts.
After bursting onto the Billboard 200 with the highest first-week sales of 2020 two weeks ago (as we reported here), the ‘Cardigan’-led project is holding tight to the tally’s summit for a third stretch.
Much like celebrity figures CeeLo Green, Russell Brand, and others (as we reported here), Carole Baskin wasn’t shy about voicing her displeasure with the content found aboard Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion‘s joint hit, ‘WAP.’
Unlike the other critics, however, Baskin was less concerned with the racy lyrics and costumes in the tune’s not-so-family-friendly music video but was more focused on the digitized big cats (i.e. tigers, leopards, jaguars) featured in it (as we reported here).
And, while aware their presence in the Colin Tilley-directed visual was virtual, Carole – an animal rights activist who specialized in protection of big cats – complained the fact the beasts there at all glamorizes turning them into pets.
Once word of Carole’s criticism reached the desk of Cardi B, she hit back hard. Look inside to see what she said (in case you missed the action):
Today serves as a regal occasion. For, it’s the 62nd birthday of Pop queen Madonna.
In honor of her Madgesty, this week’s From The Vault pick is her year 2000 smash ‘Music.’
Issued as the lead single from her like-titled 8th studio album, the track was written and produced by the superstar alongside frequent collaborator Mirwais.
With 1998’s ‘Ray of Light’ serving as exactly that for the diva (after a rollercoaster number of years professionally), ‘Music’ was tasked with re-affirming the fact that Madonna was unquestionably “back.”
And it delivered in earnest.
Shaking off the early leak of its demo two months prior, the song was officially released in August 2000 and proved an immediate smash.
Having delved into more introspective waters on ‘Ray Of Light,’ ‘Music’ (the song) made clear that it was was turn-up time.
Lyrically lighter than its predecessor, it saw the diva make a bold return to the dance-floor to “boogie-woogie” and demand that listeners followed suit – which they did in their millions.
Storming the charts on a global scale, ‘Music’ hit #1 in the US, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, and many more countries.
Beyond its its pulsating production and infectious lyrics, its seismic success was also powered by its colorful music video (which featured a cameo from Ali-G).
Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, Madonna conceptualized the clip herself and set out to show her take on the stereotypical Hip-Hop videos of the time. Ever one to ignite discussion, her expressed goal was to role reverse – with females enacting characters typically performed by males.
Pregnant at the time of shooting, she’s on record saying: “I had to think of a concept that would incorporate me being almost a voyeur rather than the central force in the video. So I figured if I played this kind of mack-daddy/pimp character, where things just came to me, happened to me and happened around me while I was watching it all happen, I could kill two birds with one stone.”
A firm fixture on the charts, radio and TV channels across the world, ‘Music’ functioned as yet another incredible chapter of success in Madonna’s incomparable narrative.
20 years on (and almost four years into her career), the diva remains a towering force and a blueprint for the modern musical landscape.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are riding high with new single ‘WAP.’
Unleashed on August 7, the track and its steamy video have gone all sorts of viral and have the release poised to top the Billboard Hot 100 with seismic numbers.
And while official word on its chart debut is pending, what is for sure is that ‘WAP’ is already Gold certified.
Megan kicked off the celebrations aboard a private plane, posing with her plaque.
In an unlikely yet striking pairing, comedian Katt Williams has teamed with clothing brand Supreme for a State of the Union meets stand-up themed commercial.
Sporting a colorful wig, the funnyman delivers punchlines but the tone is altogether more serious.
For, he delves into George Floyd and #BlackLivesMatter, the pandemic, and President Donald Trump (who he didn’t hold back).
Head below to check out Williams like never before below…
‘Space Jam’ is heading back to the screens led by NBA legend LeBron James.
With ‘Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler on-board to produce and Don Cheadle also starring, the hotly anticipated follow-up to the 1996 original hits theaters in Summer 2021.
Filming on the flick (which is officially titled ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’) recently wrapped and audio from James’ closing speech to cast and crew has surfaced.
Emotions ran high this weekend, as it brought with it what would have been Nipsey Hussle‘s 35th birthday.
The rapper was shot to death on March 31 2019 outside his Marathon Clothing retail store in Los Angeles, California. A man named Eric Holder has since been arrested and charged with his murder; he is currently awaiting trial.
Beyond leaving behind a legacy of music and activism, the late MC also left behind friends and family – including longtime partner Lauren London.
In his honor, the actress shared an impassioned message to the father of their son Kross.
