Days after an unreleased version of Metro Boomin‘s “Trance” surfaced, revealing that Drake was once on the song, the producer provided an explanation for why the 6 God was not on the final cut.
“Really, it was a song I had did with Travis [Scott] and [Young] Thug originally for my album,” Metro said during his appearance on DJ Drama’s Streetz Is Watchin Radio. “I was in the studio with Drake one time because we were gonna do some stuff for my album. He just wanted to hear some songs from my album, and then he heard that one.”
According to the producer, Drake insisted on recording some bars to the song despite being told that he was “set on how it was.” “He had hit me and was just like, ‘Let me see if there’s anything you could add to it,'” Metro recalled. “He was like, ‘If you don’t like it, then whatever.'”
The producer eventually stuck to his guns and released the song without Drake’s verse. “He did some stuff, a couple parts was cool but, like, I just felt, like, just even with, like, Slime verse and Trav verse and the outro, it wasn’t just no room,” Metro explained. “It wasn’t nothing personal … I just ended up using the original and I guess the other one just leaked or something.”
Heroes & Villains dropped last month and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Also featured on the star-studded album are Takeoff, A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage, The Weeknd, Future, Chris Brown and more.
Cordae and Anderson .Paak are reuniting for a song that’s produced by J. Cole, per XXL. “Two Tens” is slated to drop on January 25. The artwork, released Thursday, features two Black girls with Afros lying down on a multicolored rug in the grass.
The announcement of the new song comes days after Cordae celebrated the one-year anniversary of his sophomore album, From A Birds Eye View.
“I put a lot of heart and soul into this project! Took a lot of artistic risks and I seen a lot of growth in myself as a songwriter/lyricist,” the rapper tweeted. “This jaint gonna age like fine wine.”
“Two Tens” will mark the second collaboration for Cordae and .Paak, who previously teamed up on 2019’s “RNP.”
(NEW YORK) — Over the last two months, following lengthy periods of detention in Russia, Americans Brittney Griner, Sarah Krivanek and Taylor Dudley were all allowed to return home — but Alabama native David Barnes continues to be held by Russian authorities.
Now, after more than a year of incarceration in Russia, Barnes’ trial resumed this week before a judge in Moscow.
Barnes, a 65-year-old father who was living in The Woodlands, Texas, prior to his arrest during a trip to Russia, appeared in district court on Thursday for the beginning of testimony.
Barnes is being tried on allegations by Russian authorities that he abused his two sons in suburban Houston, even though law enforcement in Texas previously investigated Barnes following similar accusations from his ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva, and did not find cause to file charges.
With his hands cuffed, Barnes was seen being escorted up a courthouse staircase in jeans and a long sleeve shirt at 1:00 p.m. local time before the hearing began.
When asked by an ABC News reporter if he had anything that he wanted to say, Barnes said, “I love my boys.”
The hearing lasted for more than four hours. Koptyaeva, who is wanted in the U.S. on a felony interference with child custody charge, was questioned on the stand.
Koptyaeva’s mother also provided testimony, but details from inside the courtroom are scarce due to restrictions in Russia on public access to trials involving minors.
“It is a civil matter. It should not be a criminal case,” Barnes told ABC News. He was also asked whether he is currently having any health issues, but said he is not.
Two additional people are expected to be called to the stand to testify during the next hearing. Since the trial is not occurring on consecutive days, Barnes is not due back in court until February 22.
A U.S. State Department official told ABC News that they are aware of media reporting about the resumption of Barnes’ trial this week, adding, “We have requested permission for another consular visit and are awaiting a response from Russian authorities.”
“Generally, the Russia[n] Federation does not abide by its obligations to provide timely notification of the detention of U.S. citizens in Russia,” the State Department official said. “Additionally, Russian authorities also do not regularly inform the U.S. Embassy of the trials, sentencing, or movement of U.S. citizens detained in Russia.”
Griner was released from a Mordovia penal colony in December 2022 through a highly-publicized prisoner exchange. Krivanek’s detention ended the same day while Dudley was transported across the border to Poland last week as part of his release.
“There are still no charges in Montgomery County related to David Barnes,” Kelly Blackburn of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office told ABC News in November.
Texas authorities did file a felony charge of interference with child custody against Koptyaeva, a native of Russia, after she allegedly took the children out of the United States on March 26, 2019, in violation of a court judgment.
Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, considers the children to have been missing since that date, and Barnes’ family says he has not seen his children since.
In late 2021, following a Texas judge’s 2020 decision to designate Barnes as the sole managing conservator of his children, Barnes traveled to Russia in the hope of being granted similar custody or visitation rights in Russian family court, according to Barnes’ family. But he was detained just over a month after arriving in Moscow.
Koptyaeva continues to say that the children suffered abuse from Barnes, writing in part in a September 2022 email to ABC News, “We were running away just to protect the boys. Do you really think that a person would take two kids and go into [the] unknown, without [a] job, without any source of income, into nothing just to hurt someone?”
Barnes’ trial began in November following a series of delays that, according to his family, were caused by issues associated with transporting him to the courthouse. The trial, which is not occurring on consecutive days, was previously slated to continue on Dec. 15, but was adjourned until January after court representatives reported that there were absences involving trial participants.
“My hope is that they can actually get him transported to the courthouse and there’s no confusion again as to when the trial is scheduled to begin,” Carol Barnes, David’s older sister, said in an email to ABC News on Tuesday. “My real hope is that they dismiss the case, but we know that’s not going to happen.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said in December that representatives from the agency have visited Barnes in custody five times since his arrest.
“Our last visit to Mr. Barnes in detention was on December 13, 2022,” the State Department spokesperson told ABC News. “U.S. Embassy representatives attempted to attend his trial on December 15, but were denied entry.”
Barnes maintains his innocence, writing to his family in December that he is hoping that he can be part of another prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia, but adding, “I still want a shot at the trial … but who knows how long the trial could last.”
ABC News’ Tanya Stukalova and Anastasia Bagaeva contributed to this report.
Måneskin‘s new album, Rush!, arrives Friday, and the Italian rockers apparently celebrated with a wedding.
Last week, the “Supermodel” outfit teased a collaboration with Spotify with a video of guitarist Thomas Raggi shredding the famed classical composition “Wedding March.” Now, Spotify has shared a photo of the band members in wedding attire along with the caption, “Just Married in a RUSH!”
Måneskin retweeted the photo, which features vocalist Damiano David kissing Raggi and bassist Victoria De Angelis kissing drummer Ethan Torchio, while writing, “Yes, we do” alongside a wedding chapel emoji.
So, did the Måneskin members actually marry each other? ABC Audio has reached out to a rep for clarification.
Rush! is Måneskin’s first album following their 2021 breakout. It includes the singles “Supermodel,” “The Loneliest” and the Tom Morello collaboration “Gossip.”
Ed Sheeran has released an emotional freestyle dedicated to his late friend Jamal Edwards.
Ed’s F64 segment was released via SBTV, a music media company Edwards founded over a decade ago to highlight British artists.
“Last year we lost our leader and founder Jamal Edwards, MBE. It has been the hardest thing in the world to process as he was the driving force behind so much and such a bright light in all of our lives here at team SB,” the company wrote when releasing Ed’s video. The company noted Edwards and Ed shared “a long lasting brotherhood.”
In his tribute song, Sheeran sings about how Edwards’ death deeply affected him, but also revealed how his life has changed for the better since they met.
“If you saw me more than drunk/ You always hated what it does/ Before Lyra I just stopped/ I haven’t even wanted one,” Ed raps of his first daughter, whom he welcomed in August 2020. Speaking of his family, he laments how Edwards “left the world before you met Jupiter,” his second daughter, who was born in July.
“Wish you’d have known you would be her godfather/ You would’ve loved loving my little girls,” he adds.
Ed makes it clear he’s still grieving Edwards a year after his unexpected passing, but vows to keep his legacy alive.
Edwards, a British music entrepreneur, died last year at age 31. He is credited with launching Ed’s career after featuring him on an acoustic A64 session on his SBTV channel in February 2010. The two had remained extremely close friends.
Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer David Crosby passed away Thursday, according to a statement issued by his wife to Variety. He was 81.
“It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away,” read the statement. “Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music.” It continues, “Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.”
Born in Los Angeles in 1941, Crosby launched his career as a member of the Byrds, joining the band in 1964 and appearing on their first five albums. In 1968, along with Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of the Hollies, he formed Crosby, Stills & Nash, which released their self-titled debut in 1969. The group went on to win the Grammy for Best New Artist that year. They were later joined by Neil Young and performed their second-ever gig together at Woodstock. Their first album as a foursome, 1970’s Déjà Vu, went to number one.
In addition, Crosby & Nash released four albums together and Crosby had a prolific solo career, releasing his first solo album, If I Could Remember My Name, in 1971. In 1996 he also formed the group CPR, aka Crosby, Pevar & Raymond, with guitarist Jeff Pevar and pianist James Raymond. Raymond was his son, whom he gave up for adoption in 1962 and reunited with as an adult.
As a songwriter, Crosby wrote or co-wrote such songs as CSN’s “Wooden Ships,” “Guinevere” and “Longtime Gone,” as well as CSNY’s “Almost Cut My Hair” and “Déjà Vu.” He also wrote the Byrds tracks “Lady Friend” and “Everybody’s Been Burned.”
Crosby, a longtime outspoken political activist, was a 10-time Grammy nominee with one win. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 with the Byrds and in 1997 with CSN. A documentary about his life, David Crosby: Remember My Name, produced by Cameron Crowe, was released in 2019.
The rocker had a history of drug and health problems over the years, although he was also a longtime advocate for cannabis and even launched his own cannabis brand, Mighty Croz. In 1994 he received a liver transplant following a long battle with hepatitis C, although it caused some controversy because people questioned how someone with a known history of drug and alcohol problems was able to get a new kidney. In 2022, he revealed that he suffered from tendonitis that was preventing him from playing guitar.
Crosby was the father of four children: Raymond with Celia Crawford Ferguson; daughter Erika with Jackie Guthrie; daughter Donovan with former girlfriend Debbie Donovan; and son Django with wife Jan Dance. In addition, Melissa Etheridge revealed in 2000 that Crosby was the sperm donor for the two children she had with ex-partner Julie Cypher: son Beckett, who died of an overdose in 2020, and daughter Bailey.
Music fans have been drawing a lot of comparisons between Miley Cyrus’ latest single, “Flowers,” and the ultimate female empowerment anthem “I Will Survive.” Gloria Gaynor, who made the latter track a hit, is all for it.
“I’m in Nashville working on new music and just heard, ‘Flowers,’ for the first time,@MileyCyrus… ,” Gaynor shared on Instagram. “Your new song carries the torch of empowerment and encourages everyone to find strength in themselves to persevere and thrive. Well done Miley!”
Miley’s new song has her singing about getting over a breakup and realizing she’ll be just fine, actually better, on her own. It’s already a huge hit for Miley, debuting at #3 on the Spotify charts and eventually getting to #1, her first single to lead the platform’s Daily Top Songs Global chart.
Starz announced on Thursday that it has renewed its time-spanning romantic drama Outlander for an eighth and final season.
“For nearly a decade, Outlander has won the hearts of audiences worldwide and we’re pleased to bring Claire and Jamie’s epic love story to a proper conclusion,” said Starz Original Programming President Kathryn Busby of the characters played by Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, respectively.
Busby continues, “But before we close this chapter, there is plenty of their passionate story to tell.”
In the same announcement, Starz reveals it has greenlighted the prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood, a 10-episode series that will “center on the lives and relationship of Jamie Fraser’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie.”
The “love story … will explore what lengths a person will go to find love in a time when love is considered a luxury, and when marriages are made strategically, often for political or financial gain,” the network explains.
Showrunner and executive producer Matthew B. Roberts noted of the new show, “With Jamie and Claire, and now Brian and Ellen, there is still so much more to come in the Outlander universe, and we cannot wait to continue sharing these stories with our dedicated fans.”
Both shows are inspired by author Diana Gabaldon‘s best-selling books, which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide.
As reported, New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced charges Thursday in relation to the Rust shooting case.
Alec Baldwin and set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter; first assistant director David Halls had already agreed to plead no contest for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
“If any one of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls — had done their job, [cinematographer] Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple,” Reeb said in a statement.
Baldwin insists Halls told him the gun was “cold,” or safe to handle.
An attorney for Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on set, and one for Halls, to whom Gutierrez-Reed allegedly handed Baldwin’s Colt .45-style revolver from which the fatal shot discharged, have responded.
In an interview with ABC News, Halls’ lawyer Lisa Torraco said, “Mr. Halls and I are disappointed that [Carmack-Altwies] decided to bring a charge at all. We believe that criminally he should have been completely exonerated,” adding they are “happy with the resolution that she did propose.”
She continued, “When confronted with a potential felony, hearing up to 6 1/2 years in prison, or confronted with a petty misdemeanor, which was six months unsupervised probation, sometimes it gets to be the weighing of which choice is … the lesser evils.”
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney Jason Bowles insists she was not called inside the church to inspect the weapons before they were brought out.
“Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident,” Bowles said. “But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter.” He also said “these charges are the result of a very flawed investigation” and that the “full truth” will lead to his client being “exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury.”
Taylor Swift and a new HBO show have led to increased streams for The 1975 and Depeche Mode.
Billboard reports that Matty Healy and company’s song “The City,” a single off their 2013 self-titled debut album, jumped by 276 percent in U.S. streams after Swift covered the track during a surprise appearance at The 1975’s concert in London last week. Her brief set also included the live debut of her hit single “Anti-Hero.”
Meanwhile, the 1987 Depeche Mode single “Never Let Me Down Again” saw a bump of over 220 percent in U.S. streams following its placement in the premiere of HBO’s The Last of Us, which aired Sunday.
In addition to seeing increasing streaming numbers, The 1975 has been touring in support of the group’s 2022 album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language. Depeche Mode, meanwhile, is prepping a new album called Memento Mori, their first following the 2022 death of member Andy Fletcher.
