Music

Meek Mill dropped his long-awaited fifth studio album, Expensive Pain, on Friday, featuring Lil Baby, Kehlani, Lil Uzi Vert, Moneybagg Yo, Young Thug, Lil Durk, A$AP Ferg, Brent Faiyaz, Giggs and Vory.

The Philly MC also announced a star-studded “Expensive Pain: Meek Mill & Friends” album playback concert on October 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He’ll perform the new project in its entirety alongside several special guests. Tickets for the show are now on sale on his website.

After celebrating his 39th birthday Monday in Miami at a party hosted by Drake, Lil Wayne released his duo mixtape with Rich The Kid, titled Trust Fund Babies, a ten-track project that also features YG. In the video for the single “Feelin’ Like Tunechi,” they’re pursued by police, and Weezy humorously raps while being interrogated about his performance at a Rolling Loud concert in 2019.

H.E.R. is expanding her music repertoire by collaborating with four-time American Music Award-winning country star Kane Brown. They co-wrote “Blessed and Free,” a song about being grateful for the simple things in life. They sing, “Cause as long as my eyes still see/As long as my heart still beats/As long as I’m alive, I’m free.”

Finally, Grammy nominee Wale reunites with J. Cole on their new track, “Poke It Out,” which samples Q-Tip‘s 1999 hit, “Vivrant Thing.” It’s the first single from Wale’s upcoming seventh album, Folarin 2, which will be released October 22. The duo previously recorded “Bad Girls Club” in 2011, and “My Boy” in 2018.

 

 

 

 

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It’s October 1, so that means it’s O.K. to listen to Christmas music, right?  Michael Buble sure hopes so.

The Canadian crooner has released the first single from the 10th Anniversary Super Deluxe Limited Edition Box Set of his smash holiday album Christmas, which is coming out November 12.

The package features a seven-track bonus CD with two newly recorded songs: One of them, a new version of “Let It Snow,” is available now for your digital listening pleasure. Michael recorded the new take on this old favorite at London’s famed Abbey Road Studios with the BBC Big Band Orchestra.

As previously reported, the package also includes a book, a lithograph, a green-vinyl version of the album, a making-of DVD, a Christmas ornament, six sheets of wrapping paper and six Christmas cards.

Christmas, originally released in 2011, and is the best-selling holiday album of the 21st century.

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With three children between them, Ciara and her Super Bowl-winning husband, Russell Wilson, are sharing their experience as parents in a new book.

The couple will publish a children’s picture book titled WHY NOT YOU?, on March 1, 2022.

“We know how important it is to share the gift of reading with kids at an early age,” Ciara and Russell said in a statement. “Through this book, we hope to not only encourage kids worldwide to read but also inspire them to pursue their dreams with a ‘Why Not You’ attitude. We’ve been so grateful to the team at Random House for making this project, a dream of ours, a reality.”

In 2014, the singer and the NFL star launched their Why Not You Foundation to fight “poverty through education, empowering youth to lead with a ‘Why Not You’ attitude.” The foundation supports student access to equal education opportunities, children’s health and food security initiatives. Its mission is to equip today’s youth with the skills and opportunities to become tomorrow’s leaders.

The organization’s latest campaign is raising raise funds for Seattle Therapeutics immunotherapy program, which is developing treatments for children with cancer.

 

 

 

 

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Trivium has released a new song called “The Phalanx,” a track off the band’s upcoming album, In the Court of the Dragon.

“‘The Phalanx’ was like an old muscle car sitting in the driveway with no engine,” says bassist Paolo Gregoletto. “It was a demo from Shogun that had the middle section removed for another song, demoed again on Silence in the Snow but ultimately scrapped, and now it has found its home on the new album.

The seven-minute track, which is available now for digital download, is made even more epic by its accompanying video featuring footage from the Elder Scrolls Online video game. You can watch that streaming now on YouTube.

”The Phalanx” is the third song to be released from In the Court of the Dragon, following “Feast of Fire” and the title track. The whole album’s set to arrive on October 8.

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Want to see a pre-Backstreet Boys Kevin Richardson? Tune in tonight to ABC’s TV special, The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World, to see a young Kevin when he used to work as a cast member at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

Kevin reminisces about his time as a tour guide on the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park backlot tour, an attraction that took visitors behind-the-scenes of a real working film studio. “I would give a 25-minute guided tour of the studio backlot,” Kevin says. “…It was an inspiring, incredible place to come to work every day.”

The special, in celebration of Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary, also features musical performances by Christina Aguilera and the star of Disney’s upcoming live action The Little Mermaid Halle Bailey.

The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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Tyler, the Creator will be the first recipient of the BET Rock the Bells Cultural Influence Award.

Named after LL Cool J’s lifestyle brand, the honor will be presented by the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee at the BET Hip Hop Awards on Tuesday, October 5. This special award recognizes an “innovative, otherworldly artist that has significantly impacted the culture while uplifting their community.’

“I am proud to honor Tyler, the Creator with the first-ever Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award, which celebrates an artist who continues to break down the conventional boundaries of hip hop culture. His fearlessness and creativity speaks to the influence he’ll have on future hip hop generations,” LL said in a statement.

Tyler is also nominated for four BET Hip Hop Awards: Best Live Performer, Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Hip Hop Album of the Year, and Producer of the Year.

The versatile Grammy winner is also a clothing designer, and has hosted his annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival featuring all-star musical performances in Los Angeles since 2012.

As previously reported, Nelly will be honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award for career achievement at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Young Thug, Gunna, Bia, Lil Jon and Baby Keem will be among the stars performing, and Big Daddy Kane will pay special tribute to the late Biz Markie, who passed away July 16 in New York City at the age of 57.

Cardi B, Lil Durk and Megan Thee Stallion lead all artists, with nine nominations each, followed by Drake, with eight nods.

The 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards airs Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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Here’s a roundup of this Friday’s new music releases:

Pentatonix has released their new spin on a classic Stevie Wonder tune. The a cappella group dropped their cover of “I Just Called to Say I Love You” on Friday. The song will appear on the group’s upcoming holiday album, Evergreen, out October 29.

JoJo has released what’s being called a “capsule project” — a 12-song EP titled Trying Not to Think About It. The project is described as an expression of different mental health issues. The singer also unveiled the music video for new single “Anxiety (Burlinda’s Theme).” JoJo says in a statement, “This song is about wanting to break up with your anxiety — talking to it like it’s an abusive relationship. CUZ IT IS. It can keep you small, isolated, unhappy, afraid, unable to perform to the best of your ability and reach your potential.”

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett‘s duets album Love for Sale is out today, and along with the album, they’ve shared a behind-the-scenes video focusing on the making of the album cover. In the clip, set to the song “I Concentrate on You,” we see Tony sketching Gaga for the album artwork and Gaga getting emotional when she sees the finished product.

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Tracy Morgan is back as Tray Barker in the fourth season trailer for TBS’ The Last O.G.

TBS announced that the new season will premiere on Tuesday, October 26, with back-to-back new episodes starting at 10 p.m. ET. The remaining eight episodes will then air Tuesday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET. The fourth season will once again follow Morgan as Tray, a recently released inmate trying to navigate and “adapt to a changing world so he can do some good for the Brooklyn he loves.” The Last O.G. also stars Ryan Gaul, Taylor Mosby, Dante Hoagland, Anna Maria Horsford and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Guest stars include Janet Hubert, Malik Yoba, Wood Harris and Gary Dourdan.

In other news, BET has released a first-look teaser for the second season of Games People Play. The new season, which stars Karrueche Tran and Lauren London, will premiere Tuesday, October 19, at 10 p.m. ET. Based on Angela Burt-Murray‘s popular book Games Divas Play, the series centers on a group of ambitious Los Angeles women and the men in their lives. Game People Play also stars Sarunas J. Jackson, Karen Obilom, Parker McKenna Posey and Jackie Long, among others.

Finally, Tyler Perry is teaming up with producer Jason Blum for a new thriller titled Help, Deadline has learned. Although plot details are being kept under wraps, it was revealed that the forthcoming film will be written and directed by Alan McElroy. Production on Help is expected to begin sometime next year at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

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Lil Wayne celebrated his 39th birthday Monday in Miami with several of his Young Money Entertainment artists, including Drake, who hosted the party. However, one of the biggest stars on the label, Nicki Minaj, was missing — because, Nicki says, she was not invited.

As photos of the big bash were posted on the Internet, Pink Barbie reacted, sarcastically commenting, “I had so much fun” under a group shot from the event.

Label president Mack Maine quickly apologized to the “Motorsport” rapper for the oversight.

“Lawwwdddd,” Mack wrote. “Don’t do it like that Nicketo!!! This s**t was so last minute. We could run it back deaux it wasn’t complete without you.”

Despite not being at the party, Minaj showed love for Wayne, her mentor, who launched her career in 2009 on the We Are Young Money compilation album. She posted a photo of her with Weezy on her Instagram Story and commented, “The 1st pic I took w the man who changed my life. Happy Birthday to my everything,” as captured by Rap-Up.

Nicki celebrated a very special birthday on Thursday: her son, whom she calls Papa Bear, turned one year old.

 

 

 

 

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