This Sunday brings with it the 2017 BET Awards and producers are bringing out even more superstars to mark the occasion.

Mary J. Blige leads the latest wave of names on the performer bill.

The newest bill adds reunited R&B outfit Xscape, Maxwell, SZA, A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Gucci Mane, Swae Lee, Khalid, El DeBarge and Kamasi Washington.

The group join previously announced performers Bruno Mars, Tamar Braxton, Trey Songz, Future, Migos.

Additional names recently confirmed to rock the house include Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Post Malone, Roman Gianarthur, and Lifetime Achievement recipients New Edition.

Comedienne Leslie Jones will host the BET Awards live from the Microsoft Theater on June 25th. Beyonce and Bruno Mars lead the nominations.

Your thoughts?

SZA‘s ‘CTRL’ is expected to welcome modest opening week sales in the United States this week.

Supported by the single ‘Drew Barrymore’, the soulful set made its way to retailers on June 9th 2017 and received a score of 86/100 on Metacritic .

Its projected opening week number?

Via Hits Daily Double:

1. (*) Katy Perry (Capitol) 180-195k SPS, 160-175k albums
2. Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Interscope) 64-69k, 14-16k
3. (*) Lady Antebellum (Capitol Nashville) 55-60k, 47-52k
4. (*) SZA (TDE/RCA) 48-53k, 19-22k
5. Ed Sheeran (Asylum) 42-46k, 12-14k
6. Drake (YMCMB/Republic) 39-43k, 1-2k
7. Post Malone (Republic) 28-31k, 1-2k
8. Bruno Mars (Atlantic) 28-31k, 9-11k
9. Halsey (Astralwerks) 25-28k, 10-12k
10. (*) Rise Against (Virgin) 23-26k, 22-25k
11. Chris Stapleton (Mercury Nashville) 23-26k, 19-22k
12. Migos (Quality Control) 22-25k, 1-2k
13. Bryson Tiller (Trapsoul/RCA) 21-24k, 1-2k
14. Moana (Walt Disney) 21-24k, 10-12k
15. Harry Styles (Columbia) 21-24k, 10-12k
16. Khalid (Right Hand Music/RCA) 21-24k, 1-2k
17. (*) Lindsey Buckingham-Christine McVie (Atlantic) 20-23k, 19-22k
18. Future (FREEBANDZ/Epic) 20-23k, 1-2k
19. Beatles (Capitol) 19-22k, 16-18k
20. Chainsmokers (Disruptor/Columbia) 19-22k, 3-4k

Sales Plus Streams are set to place the project at #4 with numbers north of 48,000 units.

What do you make of these numbers?

It’s that time of year again!

The BET Awards 2017 are set to air live from the Microsoft Theater at L.A Live on Sunday June 25th.

As always, all eyes are on who’ll be up for nominations at Urban entertainment’s biggest calendar night.

Well, wonder no more. For, the nominees list has been revealed. Beyonce – whose ‘Lemonade’ album was named the top-telling US LP of 2016 – leads with a seismic seven. Her Super Bowl comrade Bruno Mars earned several honors too.

What are you waiting for? The full list awaits below…

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
BEYONCÉ
KEHLANI
MARY J. BLIGE
RIHANNA
SOLANGE

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
BRUNO MARS
CHRIS BROWN
THE WEEKND
TREY SONGZ
USHER

Best Group
2 CHAINZ & LIL WAYNE
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
FAT JOE & REMY MA
MIGOS
RAE SREMMURD

Best Collaboration
BEYONCÉ FT. KENDRICK LAMAR – FREEDOM
CHANCE THE RAPPER FT. 2 CHAINZ & LIL WAYNE – NO PROBLEM
CHRIS BROWN FT. GUCCI MANE & USHER – PARTY
DJ KHALED FT. BEYONCÉ & JAY Z – SHINING
MIGOS FT. LIL UZI VERT – BAD AND BOUJEE
RAE SREMMURD FT. GUCCI MANE – BLACK BEATLES

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
BIG SEAN
CHANCE THE RAPPER
DRAKE
FUTURE
J. COLE
KENDRICK LAMAR

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
CARDI B
MISSY ELLIOTT
NICKI MINAJ
REMY MA
YOUNG M.A.

Video of the Year
BEYONCÉ – SORRY
BIG SEAN – BOUNCE BACK
BRUNO MARS – 24K MAGIC
MIGOS FT. LIL UZI VERT – BAD AND BOUJEE
SOLANGE – CRANES IN THE SKY

Video Director of the Year
BENNY BOOM – KEHLANI “CRZY”
BRUNO MARS & JONATHAN LIA – BRUNO MARS “THAT’S WHAT I LIKE”
DIRECTOR X – ZAYN MALIK “LIKE I WOULD”
HYPE WILLIAMS – TYGA “GUCCI SNAKES FT. DESIIGNER”
KAHLIL JOSEPH & BEYONCÉ KNOWLES-CARTER – BEYONCÉ “SORRY”

Best New Artist
21 SAVAGE
CARDI B
CHANCE THE RAPPER
KHALID
YOUNG M.A.

Album of the Year
24K MAGIC – BRUNO MARS
4 YOUR EYEZ ONLY – J. COLE
A SEAT AT THE TABLE – SOLANGE
COLORING BOOK – CHANCE THE RAPPER
LEMONADE – BEYONCÉ

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
CECE WINANS – NEVER HAVE TO BE ALONE
FANTASIA FT. TYE TRIBBETT – I MADE IT
KIRK FRANKLIN FT. SARAH REEVES, TASHA COBBS & TAMELA MANN – MY WORLD NEEDS YOU
LECRAE – CAN’T STOP ME NOW (DESTINATION)
TAMELA MANN – GOD PROVIDES

Best Actress
GABRIELLE UNION
ISSA RAE
JANELLE MONÁE
TARAJI P. HENSON
VIOLA DAVIS

Best Actor
BRYSHERE Y. GRAY
DENZEL WASHINGTON
DONALD GLOVER
MAHERSHALA ALI
OMARI HARDWICK

YoungStars Award
ACE HUNTER
CALEB MCLAUGHLIN
JADEN SMITH
MARSAI MARTIN
YARA SHAHIDI

Best Movie
FENCES
GET OUT
HIDDEN FIGURES
MOONLIGHT
THE BIRTH OF A NATION

Sportswoman of the Year Award
GABBY DOUGLAS
SERENA WILLIAMS
SIMONE BILES
SKYLAR DIGGINS
VENUS WILLIAMS

Sportsman of the Year Award
CAM NEWTON
LEBRON JAMES
ODELL BECKHAM JR.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK
STEPHEN CURRY

Centric Award
FANTASIA – SLEEPING WITH THE ONE I LOVE
KEHLANI – DISTRACTION
MARY J. BLIGE – THICK OF IT
SOLANGE – CRANES IN THE SKY
SYD – ALL ABOUT ME
YUNA – CRUSH FT. USHER

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
BEYONCÉ – SORRY
BRUNO MARS – 24K MAGIC
DRAKE – FAKE LOVE
MIGOS FT. LIL UZI VERT – BAD AND BOUJEE
RAE SREMMURD FT. GUCCI MANE – BLACK BEATLES
THE WEEKND FT. DAFT PUNK – STARBOY

Best International Act: Europe
BOOBA (France)
MHD (France)
CRAIG DAVID (UK)
EMELI SANDÉ (UK)
GIGGS (UK)
SKEPTA (UK)
STORMZY (UK)
WILEY (UK)

Best International Act: Africa
AKA (South Africa)
BABES WODUMO (South Africa)
DAVIDO (Nigeria)
NASTY C (South Africa)
STONEBWOY (Ghana)
TEKNO (Nigeria)
WIZKID (Nigeria)
MR EAZI (Nigeria)

Your thoughts?

Calvin Harris has been heating up the airwaves with an array of new music. Yet, until now, little had been divulged about an attached album.

All that changed moments ago when Scottish hitmaker formally announced new LP ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1’ (due June 30th).

Aptly titled, the project houses previously heard collaborations with Frank Ocean and Migos (‘Slide’) and the Ariana Grande, Pharrell, and Young Thug cut (‘Heatstroke’). Both of which boast similar funk-driven sound.

Per the LP’s announcement video, it’s been confirmed that other major names will feature on the set including Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Kehlani, Future, and John Legend.

Check out the clip and full list below…

ALBUM COMING JUNE 30 pic.twitter.com/zHJpBRdpqq

— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) May 9, 2017

• Frank Ocean
• Travis Scott
• Kehlani
• Future
• Pharrell
• Katy Perry
• Big Sean
• John Legend
• Khalid
• Migos
• Schoolboy Q
• Ariana Grande
• Young Thug
• D.R.A.M
• Nicki Minaj
• Lil Yachty
• Jessie Reyez
• PARTYNEXTDOOR
• Snoop Dogg

**************

An eclectic list.

What’s more, a few names on it are in need of the size of hit Calvin is accustomed to producing. So the months ahead should be quite interesting.

Your thoughts?

Katy Perry‘s beloved fanbase, affectionately called #KatyCats, have been clawing at the singer’s wig since she announced her new single, ‘Bon Appetit’ (due April 28), will feature chart-topping rappers Migos (not Ariana Grande as previous rumors suggested).

The Atlantan trio, best known for their #1 smash, ‘Bad & Boujee,’ found themselves on the bad side of some of their fans after they slammed singer/rapper iLoveMakonnen for coming out of the closet (click here to read more on that).  While the incident is nearly 3 months old, fans of the ‘Chained to the Rhythm’ singer have not forgotten – a feat evidenced by the host of fiery tweets aimed at her before the tune’s unveiling.

See the latest inside:

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Much ado has been made of Nicki Minaj and Eminem‘s epic collaboration ‘Roman’s Revenge’, most especially the not-so-subtle jabs Minaj appeared to be taking at a certain Lil’ Kim.

However, in a recent interview with DJ Khalid (spotted over at our girl Necole Bitchie), Minaj denied the song was directed at pint-sized Kim. In fact, she denied it was directed at anybody (in-particular).

Find out what she had to say after the jump…

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