The 1975 frontman Matty Healy has offered an apology to Ice Spice.

During an episode of The Adam Friedland Show podcast, Healy and the hosts joked about the rising rapper’s ethnicity and mocked various different accents. 

According to the New Zealand publication Coup De Main, Healy made his apology onstage during The 1975’s show in Auckland Friday.

“It’s not because I’m annoyed that me joking got misconstrued, it’s ’cause I don’t want Ice Spice to think I’m a d***,” Healy told the crowd. “I love you, Ice Spice, I’m so sorry.”

Healy added that he can sometimes be a “joker” or “trickster,” but he doesn’t want what he says to be “misconstrued as mean.”

“I am genuinely sorry if I upset [Ice Spice],” he said.

After the podcast first dropped, fellow English musician Yungblud seemingly responded to Healy’s comments by tweeting, “Love listening to three privileged white dudes sit around and objectify a young black female artist who’s blowing up.” Healy then responded to that with a video in which he spoke in an exaggerated version of Yungblud’s accent with the word “emo” superimposed over his face.

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KRS-One is launching a series of community-based programs in honor of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Listed on his new website Birthplaceofhiphop.nyc, the programs, which include pop-up exhibits, a masterclass in hip-hop and a logo design contest, will simultaneously highlight and celebrate both the history of hip-hop and its current expressions.

All events will take place at the Community Center at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. aka “the birthplace of hip-hop,” where DJ Kool Herc hosted his Back To School Jam and perfected his techniques, and “b-boys,” “b-girls” graffiti writers, emcees and DJs came together and formed the genre. The programs will kick off August 11, on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

“The 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop is a global movement that speaks to the grit, voice, and power of how it came to be in the first place – we used our voices when they tried to silence us. We used our creativity when they tried to stifle us,” KRS-One said in a statement. “We created the culture because we wanted to stand out and stand up for our artistry. Hip Hop is the people’s movement. I am excited to showcase this to the world in the space where it all began at 1520 Sedgwick in the Community Center. It feels right to be here, where it all began.”

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Lil Durk is inspired by Jay-Z, but it turns he’s a motivation to Hov, as well.

In his cover story for XXL, he shared some of the reasons he looks up to Jay, noting, “Look what he did. Résumé speak for itself. He used to be in this position.”

“He used to be the underdog,” Durk continued. “The streets used to take him under. And he bossed up, nah’m sayin’? You ain’t see him post pictures every day tryna fit in.”

Durk says when he ran into Jay at Michael Rubin’s party last year Hov shared a few memorable words with him.

“He like, ‘Man, you motivate me.’ Man, f*** me up. I forgot my reply to him, ’cause it was on a walk-by,” says Durk. “The reply ain’t make no damn sense ’cause it shocked me. I’m like, ‘What the f***?’ Damn, that’s hard.”

He says those words from Hov are “just motivation,” noting, “It was for a reason I was standing right there when he walked past at the time.” He hopes to put his team and family on and “just build an empire outside of music” like Hov did with Roc-A-Fella.

Until then, Durk is working on The Voice 2.0, which reflects his growth in different aspects of his life. 

“That’s what the 2.0 stand for, just be on another level. Just not only music-wise, like the things around me like I told you, growing from the friends around me, management. Sitting with the mayor. We doin’ big charity things. Neighborhood Heroes, the foundation I got,” he says. 

Durk also discusses starting therapy, getting his GED and whether fans will ever get the No Auto Durk project with Metro Boomin or a Future collab album.

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Here’s the latest music to drop in the culture.

Vic Mensa ft. Chance the Rapper & G-Eazy, “Swish” — The song came from a LA writing camp in which Vic and Chance worked on a bunch of music. Vic then added G-Eazy, “who is one of my best friends in the industry.”

Swizz Beatz, Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2. — Produced by Swizz, the project features Nas, Jadakiss, Fivio Foreign, Lil Wayne and Lil Durk.

The Weeknd ft. Future, “Double Fantasy” — Produced by Mike Dean and Metro Boomin, the track, from the HBO series The Idol, arrives with a music video.

E-40, “Front Row 40” — In the song, E-40 boasts about his front-row presence at sports games, providing evidence of him in courtside seats in the music video.

Snoop Dogg & Buju Banton, “High Life” — The stars previewed the track on Instagram Live, where Snoop said the collab was a dream come true.

NLE Choppa, “Lock In” — Choppa takes London in the video; the song appears on the deluxe edition of Cottonwood 2.

Latto, “Put It On Da Floor” — The follow-up to “Lottery” mentions Coi Leray, who has since called Latto out for allegedly body-shaming her on the track.

NBA YoungBoy, Don’t Try This At Home — “I’ma talk crazy on there, but I’m letting you know though, don’t try this at home,” Youngboy told Rap Radar of the album.

Lloyd Banks, The Course of the Inevitable 3: Pieces of My Pain — The album’s release comes with a visual for “Invisible.”

Armani White, “Silver Tooth” — The song gives a taste of Armani’s new music before the May 5 release of his debut EP, Road to CASABLANCO.

Jidenna ft. Oman Gianarthur & Bueno, “Front End” — The track is the third single from his Me You & God album, dropping May 5.

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Morgan Evans has released his new EP, Life Upside Down.

The five-song set features a live and studio version of his current single, “Over For You,” the reflective “On My Own Again” and two never-before-heard upbeat tracks: “Hey Little Mama” and “All Right Here.”

“After the heaviness of ‘Over For You’ and ‘On My Own Again,’ the two new tunes out today, ‘Hey Little Mama’ and ‘All Right Here,’ are, quite possibly, the two most joyful sounding records I’ve ever made,” Morgan shares.

“They’re about finding light in the dark and finding gratitude in the little things, which as we all know are actually the big things!” he adds. “This EP is a collection of songs that could only have come from this time in my life, and I’m stoked for you to hear it.”

Here’s the Life Upside Down EP track listing:

“Over For You”
“On My Own Again”
“Hey Little Mama”
“All Right Here”
“Over For You (Live in Melbourne)”

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Metallica‘s new album, 72 Seasons, has debuted at #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart.

The record is the metal legends’ fourth chart-topper across the pond, following 1991’s Black Album, 1996’s Load and 2008’s Death Magnetic.

“Number 1 in the U.K.? Spectacular!” Metallica tells Official Charts. “We’re grateful. Thank you, U.K. — we can’t wait to see you!”

In the U.S., Metallica currently has a streak of six-straight #1 albums on the Billboard 200, from the Black Album to 2016’s Hardwired…to Self-Destruct.

Metallica’s world M72 tour in support of 72 Seasons stops in the U.K. in June for the 2023 Download Festival. The outing comes to the U.S. in August.

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H.E.R. has flaunted her singing, songwriting, music producing and acting skills, but now she’s ready to add her sauce as one of the producers of a new Broadway musical.

The singer has joined the Broadway producing team of Here Lies Love, about Imelda Marcos‘ rise to power as the first lady of the Philippines, and her ultimate decline following the Philippine People Power Revolution.

“Filipinos are a global people. We come in all colors and build bridges across cultures,” H.E.R. said in a statement. “I am beyond excited to produce my first Broadway musical and forge a unique and meaningful partnership with Here Lies Love.”

Previews of Here Lies Love begin June 17, with the official opening July 20. 

Jose Llana will portray Imelda’s husband, Ferdinand Marcos, the 10th president of the Philippines, while Conrad Ricamora has been cast as former Filipino senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino. Lea Salonga will guest for a five-week period, with additional casting coming soon. 

The musical was developed and directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers. It will feature choreography by Olivier Award nominee Annie-B Parson on a stage that will be transformed into a dance club.

Tickets are available now.

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