Music

Doja Cat‘s “Kiss Me More” collaboration with SZA is a certified summer smash, but in a new interview with Missy Elliott, the 25-year-old opened up about balancing her authentic self and her exploding popularity.

Speaking to the “Lose Control” rapper for Interview magazine, Doja reflected on her start in music and how her rising star status presented new challenges. Noting she used to spend her time on social media “making beats” and “yelling at and roasting people,” the artist admits that’s no longer a healthy way to spend her time.

“I love going in on people, but I stopped because with a big platform, you don’t want to hurt anybody,” Doja told Elliott. “You have power and you’re looked at a certain way, and if you go in on people and s***, it doesn’t help you or them, and they can tear you down more than you can tear them down.”

Missy noted that being an artist has changed in the era of social media, saying, “When I was coming up we didn’t have social media, so we could turn off the artistry when we finished our interviews and went home. Now you have to be in artist mode at all times.”

Concerning her craft, Doja said she wants to improve her rapping. “When it comes to rap I could be better. I think everybody feels that way with their own art, in all kinds of ways,” she mused. “I see all these incredibly talented rappers around me, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m doing pop, but I should focus on my pen now more than ever.'”

Doja also revealed she wants to “talk about my life more” in her music, which Missy supported.

“That’s growth,” Missy praised. 

Planet Her, Doja’s third album, is out now.

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BTS’ “Butter” remix featuring Megan Thee Stallion is dropping this Friday.

The good news comes after Megan was involved in a complicated legal battle in order to get the song released. Billboard reports a Texas judge ruled in Megan’s favor and extended a temporary restraining order against her record label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, allowing her to release new music.

“Y’all don’t even understand how excited I am,” Megan tweeted following the news. BTS shared their excitement over the announcement as well, writing, “Yes, ‘Butter’ is back!”

The “WAP” rapper has been in a long battle with her record label and distributor, 300 Entertainment, over releasing new music. The label and distributor were trying to block the release of the “Butter” remix.

Megan is seeking a new contract. The next hearing on her restraining order is set for September 10.

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All That Remains has announced a vinyl reissue of the band’s 2006 album The Fall of Ideals in honor of its 15th anniversary.

The record is set to arrive November 12, and will be available in a variety of different color variants, available for pre-order now via AllThatRemainsOnline.com.

The Fall of Ideals, All That Remains’ third album, was produced by Killswitch Engage‘s Adam “Adam D” Dutkiewicz. The record saw the group continue to shift from their early death metal sound to more of a metalcore style.

“We’re so thankful to everyone who has kept this disc in their hearts for the past 15 years,” says frontman Phil Labonte. “We are proud to celebrate the reissue and can’t wait to tell you about all the other cool things we have in store.”

Those “cool things” also include an upcoming documentary about the making of The Fall of Ideals, as well as an anniversary tour. Full details will be announced at a later date.

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Reba McEntire has clarified her past comments where she said she tested positive for COVID-19, saying a recent antibody test found she was infected with something else.

“I did say that I had COVID but when I got tested my antibodies, it came up that I had not had COVID,” Reba recently told Talk Shop Live, noting the antibodies in her system were from the vaccine. “I had all the symptoms.”

“I did get tested… and it said that I had it,” Reba went on, “but then the nurse that came and tested me for my antibodies said that I probably had the RSV virus.”

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, shares similar symptoms of COVID-19.  It is the most common cause of bronchitis and pneumonia, reports the CDC.

Reba says she is now “doing great” before turning her thoughts to others during the pandemic.

“I’m praying for everybody who’s contacted it — family members, friends, I’m sure praying for all of you,” she said.  “Whatever I had, it sure wasn’t fun.  Takes the energy plum out of you.”

Earlier this month, the three-time Grammy winner told fans in a TikTok livestream she and boyfriend, actor Rex Linn, contracted COVID-19 despite being vaccinated.

“It’s not fun to get this. I did get it. Rex and I got it and it’s not fun,” she expressed and begged fans to be vigilant, according to People. “We were both vaccinated and we still got it, so stay safe, stay home and be protected the best you can.”

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One of R. Kelly‘s live-in girlfriends has leveled even more allegations against the disgraced singer.

In Federal District Court in Brooklyn, NY on Tuesday, The New York Times reports that the witness, only identified as Jane Doe, claims that the 54-year-old singer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, was the puppet master behind the everything she and another live-in girlfriend said during a 2019 interview with Gayle King.

Kelly’s accuser alleged that Kelly would use cues while on set, like coughing, in order to make sure that two women corroborated his denials. She also claims they were prohibited from watching the Surviving R. Kelly docuseries. 

Additionally, the witness said she was once forced to be intimate with a man nicknamed “Nephew” as the singer watched. 

Kelly is currently on trial on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, coercion and other charges related to the alleged abuse and exploitation of six women — three of whom were underage at the time — over the course of 25 years. More women are scheduled to testify during the trial.

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Apparently, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross aren’t the only rockers contributing to Halsey‘s new album.

The “Without Me” star’s upcoming record, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, which was produced by the Nine Inch Nails duo, reportedly features the one-and-only Dave Grohl.

According to Stereogum, which obtained the If I Can’t Have Love credits, the Foo Fighters frontman returns to his Nirvana role to play drums on a song called “honey.”

Halsey, it seems, is a fan of Grohl, having tweeted in 2018, “Dave Grohl watched some of my set last night and I almost threw up mid song I was so nervous. I love u!!!!!”

Other If I Can’t Have Love guests, Stereogum reports, include ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham on the track “Darling,” and Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio on the cut “You asked for this.”

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is due out this Friday, August 27. It’s accompanied by an IMAX film, premiering Wednesday.

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Luke Combs tells a timeless story of heartbreak, loneliness and finally, new love in the music video for his current single, “Cold As You.” The clip follows a guy who’s recently been dumped as he sits at a diner counter, dejectedly sipping on a drink and nursing his heartache.

Over the course of the video, the situation improves: He finds a jukebox, first of all, and gets dancing to a country song to help ease the pain — likely Willie Nelson’s “Whiskey River,” if the video’s story line is following the lyrics of the song. Though his ex returns and makes a bid to rekindle their romance, Luke ultimately turns her down, opting instead to get to know somebody new that he meets at the bar.

And although there’s plenty at the surface to pique viewers’ interest, longtime fans will notice some extra layers of fun in the video, in which Luke subtly incorporated references to previous music videos and singles, as well as special moments from his career to date.

For example, you might recognize a young boy and girl sharing a milkshake in one of the diner booths in the background: The same actors that play young versions of the country superstar and his wife Nicole in the music video for his 2020 single, “Lovin’ on You.”

“My team and I are always keeping the fans in mind with everything we do and the fact that we were able to implement so many ‘Easter eggs,’ including characters from my past music videos, was really cool,” Luke comments.

“Cold as You” is currently inside country radio’s top twenty. If it goes to number one, it’ll be Luke’s 12th consecutive song to do so, following his latest chart-topper, “Forever After All.”

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Everyone already calls him Ye.  Now, Kanye West has filed paperwork to have his name legally changed to Ye. 

ABC News obtained an copy of the rapper’s petition, which he filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday. It asks the court to sign off on changing his legal name from Kanye Omari West to simply Ye. 

The “Stronger” rapper has been going by the moniker for years, even telling fans in a 2018 tweet that he is “the being formally [sic] known as Kanye West. I am YE.”

It’s unknown when the court will rule on Kanye’s petition.  A request for comment from Kanye and his attorney, Ekwan Rhow, has gone unanswered as of Wednesday morning.

The name change request comes days before Ye’s third listening event for his upcoming album, DONDA, which is set for Thursday night at Chicago’s Soldier Field. His two previous listening events were held at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 23 and August 5. The album, which is named after his late mother, Donda West, will be his 11th studio album and his follow-up to 2019’s Jesus Is King.

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When Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u” came out back in May, the comparisons to Paramore’s 2007 hit “Misery Business” came with it. Now, Olivia has added two members of the band as co-writers on the track.

Paramore’s publishers, Warner Chappell Music, posted about “good 4 u” and its chart success on their Instagram Story, revealing Hayley Williams and ex-guitarist Joshua Farro’s writing credits.

Hayley shared the post, writing, “Our publisher is wildin rn.”

According to Variety, it’s not yet clear when the co-writing credits were added, but they weren’t included when the song was initially released.

This isn’t the first time Olivia has added songwriting credits retroactively. She added Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent as co-writers on her track “Deja Vu,” because the song apparently borrows its bridge from Taylor’s “Cruel Summer.” She also added Taylor and Jack to her song “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back,” because it interpolates Taylor’s song “New Year’s Day.”

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