Music

R. Kelly made his first appearance in a Brooklyn court on Thursday as his case moves ahead to trial.  The disgraced R&B singer faces numerous charges, including sex crimes, kidnapping and more.

According to Page Six, Kelly, birth name Robert Sylvester Kelly, appeared in person before a New York judge, who set his trial date for August 18.  The singer’s initial date was the 9th, but Judge Ann Donnelly allowed the extension in order for Kelly to review his case materials with his new legal team.  As previously reported, two of Kelly’s top lawyers withdrew from the case last month.

Also during the preliminary hearing, Kelly’s defense asked for him to be released on bail, a request that was denied by Judge Donnelly.

Kelly faces state and federal charges for sex trafficking, racketeering, coercion and other charges related to the alleged abuse and exploitation of six women over the course of 25 years.  He maintains his innocence and He could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Kelly also faces a separate indictment in Chicago for allegations regarding child pornography.  That particular trial is slated to start in September.

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Carly Pearce’s career accolades keep stacking up. Her current single, “Next Girl,” has officially earned RIAA Gold certification, signifying sales of over 500,000 units.

The song is climbing the charts, edging inside country radio’s top 20 as of the first week of July. Carly celebrated her newest accomplishment with a brand-new commemorative plaque, posing for a photo with Big Machine Label Group President Scott Borchetta and GM Clay Hunnicutt.

“I don’t know how to keep saying thank you enough for everything that is happening in my world, that I dreamt of since I was a little girl listening to country music with my grandparents!” the singer commented. “I’m so grateful for all of the fans coming along the journey with me and can’t wait to see you out on the road.”

Meanwhile, Carly’s also shared a live version of “Next Girl,” shining a light on her upbeat breakup anthem’s more introspective side.

Carly’s headed out on tour with Lady A at the end of this month, and she’ll get a chance to see fans at another upcoming big moment, too: On August 3, the singer will officially be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Dolly Parton surprised Carly with an invite to join the Opry last month.

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We’ve got our first look at the Jonas Brothers’ upcoming NBC special Olympic Dreams Featuring Jonas Brothers, which pits Joe, Kevin and Nick against each other in various Olympic sports, including gymnastics, track and field and BMX racing.

In the trailer, we see the guys talking trash, with Joe telling Nick and Kevin, “I’m gonna destroy you both.”

The brothers will get help training for their sports from Olympians like medal-winning gymnasts Laurie Hernandez and Nastia Liukin, Olympic hurdler Sydney McLaughlin, track and field gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross, and BMX silver medalist Alise Wiloughby.  Terry Crews and the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen will be the commentators.

“Competing in Olympic-level events, we’ve always dreamt of this. We’re doing everything we can in the short amount of time to become professional athletes,” says Joe.

“You’re going to see us in a way you’ve never seen us before,” Nick adds. “Even if you’re not a fan, you’re gonna see us in a way you’ve never seen us before. And if you’re really not a fan, like, you hate us, you’re gonna love this show because we make complete fools of ourselves!”

While taping the special, Nick Jonas cracked his rib during the BMX portion of the competition when he fell off the bike and hit the ground hard.

Olympic Dreams Featuring Jonas Brothers airs July 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

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Olivia Rodrigo has just given her idol Taylor Swift another songwriting credit on one of her songs, according to Rolling Stone.

Olivia has reportedly added Taylor, 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.”

The 18-year-old previously told Rolling Stone that the yelling on the bridge of the song was inspired by the Lover track.

“Deja Vu” is the second single off Olivia’s debut album, SOUR. It’s also the second track off the album that gives Taylor some credit. As previously reported, a song on the album called “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back” is credited to both Taylor and Antonoff because it interpolates Taylor’s song “New Year’s Day,” off her 2017 album, Reputation.

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Saweetie is setting the record straight when it comes to her past work with producer Dr. Luke, who was accused of sexual assault and emotional abuse by musician Kesha. 

The 28-year-old rapper, born Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, has received criticism for working with the controversial producer on her hits “Tap In” and “Best Friend,” with Doja Cat.

Saweetie tells Vulture that, although the singles were respectively released in 2020 and 2021, she recorded them years before she was made aware of the allegations against Dr Luke. 

“When I was put in the position to work with him, it was a bundle deal,” she explained. “I had those songs for over two years. So what do you think? Do I compromise my artistry, do I keep them in the vault, or do I release them?”

With everything she knows now, would Saweetie work with Dr. Luke again?

“What do you think?” Saweetie responded to the interviewer, who pressed back, “I’m asking you.”

“I’m asking you back,” Saweetie replied. “I think you have a good sense of my character by now. Hopefully, we keep ourselves out of any controversial situation in the future.”

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Zac Brown Band dig into two very different classic country tropes in their new double single release, simultaneously dropping “Out in the Middle” and “Old Love Song.”

“Out in the Middle” is an upbeat ode to the rural life, while “Old Love Song” name-checks timeless love ballads by the likes of Al Green, Keith Whitley and Randy Travis in an attempt to sum up an all-time great romance.

“This is all the songs you fell in love to. It was like a puzzle trying to put together all the song titles we really love,” frontman Zac Brown explains of writing “Old Love Song.” “I grew up listening to oldies — songs a lot older than I was. And this song has that feel to it.”

True to ZBB’s genre-bending ways, “Old Love Song” mixes in tracks from all musical styles, and “Out in the Middle” taps into the band’s well-documented Southern rock flair.

“It’s a tip of the hat to the people who live out in the middle of nowhere and they’re happy being there. People that live in the city often make fun of country people until they come out and experience it for themselves,” Zac points out. “Then they really get into it. There’s a reason that you stay out there.”

Still, the band’s two newest songs fit more seamlessly into the mainstream country genre than much of their recent output, especially in comparison to ZBB albums like The Owl and Zac’s solo effort, The Controversy.

That could be thanks in part to their co-writers. Zac wrote “Out in the Middle” and “Old Love Song” with country stalwart Luke Combs, as well as Ben Simonetti and Jonathan Singleton, both of whom also had a hand in penning ZBB’s current single, “Same Boat.”

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Post Malone‘s new single “Motley Crew” features a member from perhaps the motliest crew. Or, should we say, motliest Crüe.

Drummer Tommy Lee stars in the video for the song, which premiered Friday. The clip finds Posty hitting a NASCAR racetrack with Lee and many other friends as they party and race around the course. You can watch it streaming now on YouTube.

Prior to “Motley Crew,” Malone released a song called “Tommy Lee” with hip-hop artist Tyla Yaweh. He also collaborated with Lee on a remix of the track.

Meanwhile, the band Mötley Crüe is gearing up to launch their long-awaited reunion tour next summer. The outing was originally scheduled for 2020 before getting postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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hree months after DMX‘s untimely passing, a cause of death has been revealed. 

The pioneering rapper died of a heart attack caused by cocaine use, which in turn decreased blood circulation to his brain, a source from the Westchester County medical examiner’s office told Vulture.

“His death literally happened immediately because the brain was dead,” the source noted. “So obviously, there were a number of days where he was on ventilatory support and so forth in the hospital.. However, he was diagnosed brain-dead early on… He never woke up from [a] coma.”

Previously it had been reported that the rapper suffered a heart attack, though specifics were inconsistent. 

DMX, born Earl Simmons, died on April 9 at age 50. Prior to his passing, his attorney, Murray Richman, confirmed to WABC-TV that the hip-hop icon had been hospitalized in White Plains, New York in “grave condition.”  X was placed on life support and never recovered.

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Billie Eilish dropped her dark and moody new single “NDA” Friday, the fifth song off of her highly anticipated album Happier Than Ever.

Eilish, 19, doesn’t mince words about her thoughts regarding her diminishing privacy and, in the accompanying music video, uses chaotic imagery of cars racing up and down a roadway to symbolize her distress.

“NDA” is the Grammy winner’s way of venting about the negative aspects of fame and how it makes her wish she could “disappear.”

The gloomy song opens with Eilish reliving one of the most troubling moments of her life, where she dealt with a “stalker walkin’ up and down the street.”

“Did you think I’d show up in a limousine?/ No, had to save my money for security/ Got a stalker walkin’ up and down the street/ Says he’s Satan and he’d like to meet,” Eilish expresses in her opening lines, setting the overall tone for her vulnerable and unsettling single.

Other secrets Eilish divulges are how she “bought a secret house when I was 17” that she hasn’t partied in, which leads to her revealing she once invited over a “pretty boy” but made him sign an NDA before he left.

The young singer also admits she hates going outside and that she dreams of “switching to “a new career/ somewhere in Kaua’i where I can disappear.”  

The eerie music video, which Eilish says was filmed in one take, features her walking along a dark highway as numerous cars speed past and circle erratically around her.  In addition, a growing crowd of people walk behind her but vanish as soon as she turns around.

The music video ends with an exhausted Eilish knowingly staring into the camera.

Happier Than Ever is due out July 30, which is available for pre-save.

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