The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) did a new interview with Vanity Fair, ahead of his upcoming HBO show, The Idol, premiering at Cannes this week. However, the series, which Tesfaye stars in, has encountered some controversy along the way.

A few months ago, Rolling Stone came out with an article that alleged it had gone “wildly, disgustingly off the rails.” Sources also claimed that there were tons of rewrites and reshoots from showrunner Sam Levinson (Euphoria) that turned it into “twisted torture porn.”

“It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show, and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better,” one source claimed.

Just a few hours after the piece gained traction, Tesfaye pushed back on social media, using a clip from The Idol where his character calls the publication irrelevant. During his Coachella appearance at Metro Boomin’s set, he skipped over the Rolling Stone lyric of “Heartless.” Now, he’s continuing to make his thoughts clear.

“I thought the article was ridiculous,” Tesfaye said in the Vanity Fair interview. “I wanted to give a ridiculous response to it.”

“I actually really loved working with Amy [Seimetz],” he added, touching upon a claim about tensions with Seimetz, who departed the show during the early production process, “and I’m sure she’s reading all this being like, ‘Why am I being thrown into this?’”

Tesfaye’s The Idol is set to begin airing on Max starting June 4.

source https://uproxx.com/music/the-weeknd-rolling-stone-the-idol-article-ridiculous/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-weeknd-slammed-ridiculous-rolling.html

The Memphis Grizzlies aren’t currently in the NBA Playoffs this postseason, but Ja Morant is still one of the league’s most talked-about players at the moment: Over the weekend, he appeared to flash a gun on Instagram Live, and of course, this comes not long after a similar incident in March that ultimately led to a suspension from the team and time spent in a counseling program. This new video could lead to another suspension for Morant, but while the situation progresses, the memes are flowing.

One tweet that gained traction (with 3.5 million views since it was posted on May 14) reads, “ja morant every month,” and it features a photo of young GloRilla (a Memphis native, by the way) smiling as she proudly holds a large gun. GloRilla shared the post yesterday and added, “I was a menace in high school I’m so embarrassed [crying laughing emojis].”

While GloRilla didn’t address the Morant situation directly, other rappers have. Snoop Dogg, for example, came through with a gallery of memes comedically addressing things like Morant’s agent’s reaction to the video. Fat Joe also came through with a more serious take on the situation, encouraging Morant to reconsider his actions and the people he chooses to associate with.

source https://uproxx.com/music/glorilla-gun-photo-ja-morant/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/glorilla-is-so-embarrassed-by-old-gun.html

Post Malone has seemingly been gearing up for a new album, given that he released the single “Chemical” in April. Now, he’s made an announcement: His next album is called Austin and it’s set to drop on July 28.

Malone shared the news in an informal Instagram video shared yesterday (May 15), also noting that a new song called “Mourning” is coming out this week. Of the album, he said, “It’s been some of the funnest music, some of the most challenging and rewarding music, for me at least. You know, trying to really push myself and really do some cool stuff. I played guitar on every song on the record and it was a really, really fun experience, and I’m super, super excited to share it with you.”

Watch the video above and find a transcript of it below.

“Hey guys, what’s going on? It’s Posty. I wanted to say that I love you guys so very f*ckin’ much. I’m here on tour in Europe right now, and I wanted to tell you guys that I have an album coming out this summer, on July 28th. It’s called Austin, like my name. That is my name. It’s been some of the funnest music, some of the most challenging and rewarding music, for me at least. You know, trying to really push myself and really do some cool stuff. I played guitar on every song on the record and it was a really, really fun experience, and I’m super, super excited to share it with you.

‘Chemical’ is out and that song is on the record, and then on Friday, I have another song called ‘Mourning,’ with a ‘u’… like that. But I’m super excited to get that out for you guys. We just shot a music video in Scotland; it’s absolutely stunning up there. There’s a big-ass ice cube in it, which I thought was pretty badass.

But I’m super excited for you guys to hear it and I love you guys so very much. You know, I hope you guys just keep f*ckin’ being amazing and keep spreading love and just keep being yourself and I f*ckin’ love y’all, man. Have a great f*ckin’ night, have a great f*ckin’ week, and hug your fam, and just keep spreading love. Love you guys!”

source https://uproxx.com/music/post-malone-austin-album-mourning/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/post-malone-has-new-album-austin-coming.html

This weekend, 88rising is bringing its Head In The Clouds Festival to New York for the first time, headlined by Indonesian singer Niki and Indonesian rapper Rich Brian. The Festival is set to take place this weekend, May 20 and 21 at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. You can check out the set times below. The doors open at 2 pm, while the headlining sets will go on around 10 pm.

88rising continues to make its mark on the pop culture landscape as the first label dedicated to primarily marketing Asian artists such as Hong Kong rapper Jackson Wang, Thai rapper Milli, and South Korean singer-songwriter BIBI. 2022 marked the first year that the Head In The Clouds Festival began to put on overseas events, with one in Jakarta and another in Manila.

As 88rising founder/CEO Sean Miyashiro told UPROXX, “I never really think of us as a label, I think of us as a collective of artists. The label is just a function of putting out music. But before that, we are a collective of artists that want to put out good stuff. It’s about us all coming together, too. And that’s why Head In The Clouds Forever is so dope because that’s just a live, living, and breathing interpretation of what this company wants to be.”

source https://uproxx.com/music/head-in-the-clouds-festival-new-york-set-times-2023/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/here-are-head-in-clouds-festival-new.html

Offset celebrated Cardi B on Mother’s Day with a sweet message on Instagram — and, true to the couple’s fondness for PDA, he also included a racy photo from Cardi’s last pregnancy photoshoot. “Happy Mother’s Day my beautiful wife,” he wrote. “Such a great mother you went against everything for our babies and still was able to balance it all out! I love you 4ever and 4L.”

Meanwhile, the photo carousel started with the nude pregnancy pic, then included a selfie from Cardi in her underwear, pictures of the couple’s kids, Kulture and Wave, and a cute video of Kulture rubbing Cardi’s baby belly before Wave’s arrival.

Cardi and Offset have earned a reputation as one of the entertainment business’ most affectionate couples. Their love for PDA is unrivaled, and it seems that every holiday or special occasion gives them another opportunity to make posts showing off their love — and a lot of skin. For Offset’s birthday last year, he posted a photo of Cardi twerking on him in front of a waterfall, while at the Grammys this year, they put on a red-carpet display that would make anyone blush.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

source https://uproxx.com/music/offset-cardi-b-mothers-day-nude-photo/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/offset-celebrated-cardi-b-on-mothers.html

Last week, macabre singer The Weeknd announced his intention to “kill” The Weeknd persona in favor of performing under his real name, Abel Tesfaye. “I’m going through a cathartic path right now,” he said. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”

Over the weekend — you know, the one on the calendar — he took steps to further that plan on social media. Fans on Twitter noticed that he’d adjusted his handle on the platform; while he can still be found at @TheWeeknd (for now), the name above that reads Abel Tesfaye.

The change is just in time for Abel’s television acting debut in The Idol, which premieres on HBO in just a few weeks. The show has proven to be controversial for behind-the-scenes reports of production difficulties and sexualized, violent content, but Tesfaye hopes to silence his critics when it releases. It’ll also feature brand-new music from the evolving artist, who says that his next album as The Weeknd will be his last.

source https://uproxx.com/music/the-weeknd-changed-twitter-real-name-abel-tesfaye/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/it-looks-like-abel-tesfaye-really-is.html

Beyoncé didn’t need Mother’s Day to make her mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson, feel special. Knowles-Lawson can turn on “Savage Remix” any day and hear her daughter assert, “And my mama was a savage, n****, got this sh*t from Tina.”

But Beyoncé was performing to a sold-out Baudoin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday, May 14, for her recently launched Renaissance World Tour, so why not uplift her mama (and all moms) even more on Mother’s Day?

“Happy Mother’s Day to all of the beautiful mothers,” Beyoncé said to the crowd in a fan-captured video posted by a Renaissance World Tour Twitter account.

The all-time-most Grammy winner posted to Instagram a projected photo of Knowles-Lawson above the Renaissance World Tour stage and a video of Knowles-Lawson having the time of her life backstage, dancing along to Beyoncé’s iconic line about her from “Savage.”

“Happy Muva’s Day,” Beyoncé captioned her Instagram post. “I love you so much Mama and I’m so grateful for all you do for me.”

Knowles-Lawson appeared to enjoy her Mother’s Day, as she also posted from Belgium. Her Instagram post is a video of her view from the floor of Baudoin Stadium, dancing as Beyoncé started performing “Love On Top.”

“This audience is the best yet !!! Love them !!! [red heart emoji],” she captioned it.

The Renaissance World Tour will next appear at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, UK. See all of the dates here.

source https://uproxx.com/music/beyonce-mothers-day-tina-knowles-lawson/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/beyonce-shared-savage-mothers-day.html

American Idol has had some major moments this season, from Katy Perry going viral for delivering good news to Ed Sheeran and Alanis Morissette guesting to King Charles III And Queen Camilla popping up on an episode. They had another big show last night (May 14), which featured a performance from The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey.

On yesterday’s episode, Bailey delivered a performance of the iconic “Part Of Your World.” She wasn’t live in studio, but instead, Bailey took the stage at Disneyland in the dark, surrounded by blue, bioluminescent-looking lights for a gorgeous-looking pre-taped performance. It’s easy to see why people cried at her audition.

Bailey took to Twitter to share the video and offer some insight about what the performance was like, writing, “first time singing part of your world live since filming [crying emoji] [wave emoji] thank you @AmericanIdol for giving me the chance to do so on stage at disneyland ..singing vocals in freezing cold weather at 3am while park is closed is no joke but we did it! only 11 more days until you all can watch the film !”

Watch Bailey’s American Idol performance above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

source https://uproxx.com/music/halle-bailey-american-idol-part-of-your-world-little-mermaid/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/halle-bailey-delivered-stunning.html

Yesterday (May 14) was Mother’s Day, and late last night, Janelle Monáe shined a light on her mom, specifically on her reaction to the NSFW “Lipstick Lover” video that has taken over the internet in recent days.

In a video shot the day before the “Lipstick Lover” video release, Monáe is on a video call with their mother, showing her the clip. After it ended, her mother reacted, “Oh-ho… that’s cool. Only thing, though: Are you gonna be able to show that nude booty all the time on the… like, on the YouTube?” Monáe responded, “Yeah, they said we could!”

Monáe then asked if her mom had any last-minute thoughts on the video before its release, and she responded, “Well, would be nice if you had a man’s butt up there.” She added, “It’s a nice song. If people don’t get hysterical about the booty so bad, if they just listen to the lyrics of the song, it gonna go triple.” Monáe asked what she meant by “triple” and after trying to find the right words, their mother said, “Triple golden.”

Wrapping up the convo, Monáe asked if her mom enjoyed the video and she replied, “Yeah. I just was hoping that big booty go away for a second.”

It’s a delightful video, so check it out above.

The Age Of Pleasure is out 6/9 via Wondaland Arts Society/Atlantic Records. Find more information here.

Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

source https://uproxx.com/music/janelle-monae-lipstick-lover-video-mom-reaction-butt/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/janelle-monaes-moms-first-question.html

Monaleo quickly rose through the ranks in the rap scene thanks to the success of her single, “Beating Down Yo Block.” The Houston-based musician maintained her rising star status with follow-up songs like “We Not Humping.” Quickly after, the musician hit the road with fellow southern entertainer Flo Milli for her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Tour.

Now, Monaleo is ready to deliver her debut album, Where The Flowers Don’t Die, to fans. Slated to drop on May 26, the project will feature tracks “Ridgemont Baby,” “Ass Kickin,” and “Beating Down Your Block.” Although the recording artist is on strict physical restrictions as Monaleo is ready to give birth to her first child with her partner and fellow rapper Stunna 4 Vegas, that didn’t stop her from penning a touching message about the album on social media.

Uploading the record’s official album cover, Monaleo captioned the post, “My first ever body of work. Wow. I worked tirelessly to put this project together before my due date. This project is the embodiment of resilience, tenacity, and strength. I fought through physical challenges, hormone imbalances, and prenatal depression for the sake of producing good art. I’m so proud of myself for preserving and seeing this through to the end.”

The musician continued, “I’m currently on bed rest, but I can’t wait to see y’all. The most important goal for me with this project right now is for it to reach who it needs to and touch the listeners the way it touched me, curating it. Open your ears and your hearts and prepare for a roller coaster of emotions.”

Closing the post, Monaleo wrote, “This is real and raw. Thank y’all for the continued support. Thank you to my entire team, family, and friends for being with me every step of the way. I hope y’all enjoy .”

Where The Flowers Don’t Die is out 5/26 via Stomp Down. Find more information here.

source https://uproxx.com/music/monaleo-new-album-where-the-flowers-dont-die-release-date/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/monaleo-will-display-her-resilience-and.html