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Lil Nas X And Olivia Rodrigo Are Set To Close Out ‘SNL’s 46th Season This Month

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May 22 will mark the finale of Saturday Night Live‘s 46th season and in the final two weeks, the show’s musical guests will be two of 2021’s most successful, chart-topping young stars. May 15, “Driver’s License” singer Olivia Rodrigo will perform in an episode hosted by The Prom‘s Keegan-Michael Key, while the season finale will feature Ana Taylor-Joy of The Queen’s Gambit and “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” rabble-rouser Lil Nas X.

Incidentally, each of the young music stars’ No. 1 hits have been the subjects of sketches on previous episodes of SNL. In February, guest host Regé-Jean Page and cast regulars Alex Moffat, Beck Bennett, Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson, Mikey Day, and Pete Davidson participated in a tongue-in-cheek analysis of “Driver’s License” from the ironic perspective of the all-male denizens of a pool hall unexpectedly relating to the song’s teenage emotions. Rodrigo called the sketch “the best birthday present ever” in a tweet expressing her approval.

Meanwhile, the conservative establishment-trolling video for “Montero” was lightly lampooned in an early-April sketch that saw Chris Redd stand in as Lil Nas to address the kerfuffle over the video and its tie-in “Satan shoes” from MSCHF. The sketch saw Redd-as-Nas perform a lap dance on “God” to balance out the bad vibes from his similar moves on the devil in the “Montero” video, minus the neck-snapping at the end. Nas’ reply was equally cheeky, as he joked “SNL going to hell.”

In addition, Nas responded to SNL’s announcement, revealing that he’d be performing a new song in addition to “Montero.”

The Weeknd And Ariana Grande Each Get Their Sixth No. 1 Song As ‘Save Your Tears’ Tops The Hot 100

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The Weeknd’s After Hours was released way back in 2019, but the album still has plenty of life in it. Not only that, but it’s still producing No. 1 singles: On the new Billboard Hot 100 chart dated May 8, his new version of “Save Your Tears” featuring Ariana Grande is on top. Last week, the song (then credited to just The Weeknd) ranked at No. 6. This dethrones Polo G, whose “Rapstar” falls to No. 4.

This is the sixth No. 1 song for both artists. For Grande, it comes after “Thank U, Next,” “7 Rings,” “Stuck With U,” “Rain On Me,” and “Positions.” For The Weeknd, it follows “Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” “Starboy,” “Heartless,” and “Blinding Lights.”

This makes After Hours the first album to produce three No. 1 singles since Drake’s Scorpion did it in 2018, and just the seventh album since 2010 with three chart-toppers. Another interesting trivia tidbit is that Grande is now just the second artist with three No. 1 duets, after Paul McCartney; Grande’s “Stuck With U” and “Rain On Me” are collaborations with Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, respectively.

Grande shared her response to the news, tweeting, “thank you so much @billboard @theweeknd and to everybody listening and showing so much love!!!!!! honored and so grateful.”

Quando Rondo Was Reportedly Shot At In Georgia

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Quando Rondo and some associates were reportedly shot at in a Blackshear, Georgia convenience store parking lot, according to TMZ. Rondo appears to be OK, as he has posted on his Instagram Story since the time the shooting reportedly occurred — at around 3:20 a.m. on Sunday, according to law enforcement sources.

Police apparently are not aware of any bullets striking the rapper, who was not at the scene was officers responded. He was supposedly in the parking lot before the shooting occurred, though. Rondo was traveling in a large group and one person was apparently shot in the hand and received treatment for his injury at a local hospital. Rondo has yet to publicly address the alleged incident, although as aforementioned, he has been active on social media since the time it reportedly occurred.

This incident follows the late-2020 death of King Von, which was the result of an altercation between his crew and that of Rondo. It was reported that outside of a club, King Von approached Rondo, who was asleep in a vehicle. That led to a physical brawl, when then escalated to gunfire.

Over the weekend, Rondo performed at The Vibe Event Center in Waycross, Georgia and footage from the event appears to indicate that only a few dozen people were in attendance. Rondo reportedly addressed the audience, “I ain’t gon’ lie: My shows really be deeper than this, but I know a n**** got a lot of sh*t going on, you feel me? But I still appreciate everybody who came out. I’ma rock this b*tch like it’s 10,000 people in here.”

Quando Rondo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Moneybagg Yo Laughs Off Fans’ Critiques That A Recent Concert Was ‘Boring’ On TikTok

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Moneybagg Yo has the No. 1 album in the country, but in the social media-centered, hyperconnected world we live in today, even that lofty accomplishment won’t stop some folks online from nitpicking them at every available opportunity. Unfortunately for those folks, the social media sword cuts both ways, allowing artists to clap back as easily as fans can throw shade. Moneybagg did just this when one fan on TikTok criticized a recent performance of his as “boring.”

“So I went to Moneybagg Yo’s concert,” the fan wrote. “It was boring and dry af. He only stayed for like 15 minutes. I want a refund.” The Memphis rapper caught wind of the criticism and told the fan off, pointing out how he had a full day of concerts and challenged them to find videos from one of his many other performances. “I had 4 other shows dat same day,” he wrote. “Do u think I give af?! Tell em post da others ones.”

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Meanwhile, A Gangsta’s Pain, Moneybagg’s recently released fourth studio album, was his first to reach the top of the Billboard 200 thanks to more emotive songwriting from the 29-year-old, as well as a tracklist that featured appearances from the likes of Future, Lil Durk, Pharrell, Polo G, and more.

Check out Moneybagg Yo’s responses to fans’ criticisms above.

Juice WRLD’s Engineer Says The Rapper Never Bought A Car, But Had Four ATVs

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Juice WRLD may have been one of the most successful rappers of the past half-decade, but according to his engineer Max Lord, he never seemed interested in spending his hard-earned money on the accessories rappers are usually known for splurging on. In a profile of the late rapper for GQ, Lord remembers Juice’s penchant for spending his money instead on PlayStation games and Yu-Gi-Oh cards, revealing that the “Lucid Dreams” rapper never even bought a car.

“All he cared about were his friends and trying to have fun and be in the moment,” Lord shared. “He didn’t care about any of the superfluous stuff or anything but his loved ones, his friends, and making music and having fun. He never had one car, but he has 10 dirt bikes and four ATVs, just so he and his friends can go out and have fun together… He was just a kid.” Juice previously showed his love for dirt bikes and motocross in the video for “Conversations.” It’s also noted that he bought paintball guns for his crew to celebrate his 21st birthday in Chicago just before he died; he never got to use them, as he overdosed during a police search of his plane after landing in Chicago from Los Angeles.

You can read the full profile here.

Erica Banks Joins Fellow Texans Big Jade And Beatking To Celebrate ‘Dem Girlz’ In Their New Video

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The Lone Star State is truly having a moment right now. With Megan Thee Stallion taking a break from her reign at the forefront of pop culture, fans hungry for more of her Texas twang have plenty of options thanks to Big Jade and Erica Banks. The two rappers link up in the video for Jade’s new single “Dem Girlz” featuring Beatking to champion around-the-way girls over a chopped-and-screwed sample of David Banner’s 2003 hit “Like A Pimp.” The celebratory video sees the trio surrounded by lowriders at a car meet, a Houston, Texas staple.

The song will appear on Big Jade’s upcoming debut album, Pressure, set for release soon from Alamo Records. Like its latest single, Pressure will be a showcase of Texas talent, with appearances from DJ Chose, OMB Bloodbath, and Houston legend Slim Thug. Jade’s been promoting the upcoming album through a series of freestyles and music videos for songs like “Gucci Bag” and “No Hook,” but will surely receive even more attention thanks to Erica Banks’ appearance. Banks’ song “Buss It” was recently a viral hit thanks to the TikTok “Buss It Challenge” that saw the song jump from regional banger to the Billboard charts.

Watch the “Dem Girlz” video above.

Erica Banks is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

All The New Albums Coming Out In May 2021

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Keeping track of all the new albums coming out in a given month is a big job, but we’re up for it: Below is a comprehensive list of the major releases you can look forward to in May. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.

Friday, May 7

  • A Certain Ratio — ACR:EPA EP (Mute Corporation)
  • Acid’s Test –Strings Of Souls (Heavy Psych Sounds)
  • Alfie Templeman — Forever Isn’t Long Enough (Chess Club Records)
  • Allblack — TY4FWM (Thank You 4 Fuckin’ With Me) (Crumb Records)
  • Aly & AJ — A Touch Of The Beat Gets You Up On Your Feet Gets You Out And Then Into The Sun (Aly & AJ Music LLC)
  • Angel Olsen — Song Of The Lark And Other Far Memories (Jagjaguwar)
  • Annie Hart — Everything Pale Blue (Orindal Records)
  • Arielle — Analog Girl In A Digital World (self-released)
  • Ashe — Ashlyn (Mom & Pop Music)
  • Bailey Bryan — Fresh Start (300 Entertainment/Warner Music Nashville)
  • Bebe Rexha — Better Mistakes (Warner Records)
  • Best Move — Mirror Image Twins EP (Park The Van)
  • Blue Cactus — Stranger Again (Sleepy Cat Records)
  • Buffet Lunch — The Power Of Rocks (Upset The Rhythm)
  • Century Egg — Little Piece Of Hair EP (Forward Music Group)
  • Charlie Marie — Ramble On (Soundly Music)
  • Chloe Moriondo — Blood Bunny (Elektra Music)
  • Cold Moon — What’s The Rush (Pure Noise Records)
  • The Damn Truth — Now Or Nowhere (Spectra Musique/Sony Music)
  • Daniel Bachman — Axacan (Three Lobed Recordings)
  • Dodie — Build A Problem (The Orchard)
  • Dorothea Paas — Anything Can’t Happen (Telephone Explosion Records)
  • Doss — 4 New Hit Songs EP (LuckyMe)
  • Emma Moore — The Table EP (Pilot Records)
  • Fickle Friends — Weird Years: Season 2 (self-released)
  • Fiver — Fiver With The Atlantic School Of Spontaneous Composition (You’ve Changed Records)
  • Fougére — Still Life (Studio Fougére)
  • Francisco Martin — Beautiful Ramblings Of A Restless Mind EP (19 Recordings)
  • GoGo Penguin — GGP/RMX (Blue Note Records)
  • Graham Costello — Second Lives (Gearbox Records)
  • Grey Mouse — A Moment Of Weakness (Addicted Label)
  • Iceage — Seek Shelter (Mexican Summer)
  • Ilan Bluestone — Impulse (Anjunabeats)
  • India Jordan — “Watch Out!” (Ninja Tune)
  • Jake Manzi — Whatever My Heart Allows (Missing Piece Group)
  • Kali — Circles EP (self-released)
  • Kasai Allstars — Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound (Crammed Discs)
  • Kelsy Karter — Live From Nowhere (BMG)
  • L’Orange & Namir Blade — Imaginary Everything (Mello Music Group)
  • Leftover Salmon — Brand New Good Old Days (Compass Records)
  • Linn Koch-Emmery — Being The Girl (Boys Tears)
  • Lipstick Jodi — More Like Me (Quite Scientific)
  • Lisa Gerrard & Jules Maxwell — Burn (Cleopatra Records)
  • Lucinda Chua — Antidotes 2 EP (4AD)
  • Mandy Barnett — Every Star Above (BMG)
  • Manolo Redondo — The Lost & Found EP (Violette Records)
  • McCormick — Till The Sun Comes Up (self-released)
  • McKinley Dixon — For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her (Spacebomb Records)
  • Mia Joy — Spirit Tamer (Fire Talk)
  • The Mighty Mighty Bosstones — When God Was Great (Hellcat/Epitaph)
  • Mighty Oaks — Mexico (Howl Records)
  • Mina Tindle — The LFO/Blogothèque Sessions EP (37d03d)
  • Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, and Jon Randall — The Marfa Tapes (Vanner Records/RCA Nashville)
  • Model Child — Unscrewed EP (XL)
  • Moneira — Colour Visions (Jivvär)
  • Nancy Wilson — You And Me (Carry On Music)
  • Naomi Banks — Meeting Again EP (Bella Union)
  • Natalie Bergman — Mercy (Third Man Records)
  • Nelson Beer — Orlando EP (PIAS)
  • Night Beats — Outlaw R&B (Fuzz Club Records)
  • Night Heron — Instructions For The Night (Terrorbird)
  • Nous Alpha — A Walk In The Woods (Our Silent Canvas)
  • People Club — Take Me Home EP (Kartel Music Group)
  • Pile — In The Corners Of A Sphere-Filled Room (self-released)
  • The Purrs — We Thought There’d Be More People Here (Hockeytalkter Records)
  • Quintin Copper & Nas Mellow — April Dreams (Diggers Factory)
  • Results Of Adults — Interstellar Peach Delight (Cornelius Chapel Records)
  • Robin McAuley — Standing On The Edge (Frontiers Music)
  • Round Eye — Culture Shock Treatment (Paper + Plastick)
  • Salem — Salem II (Salem/Decent)
  • Sam Valdez — Take Care (B3SCI Records)
  • Sanjay — Initiation EP (Purple Condor Records)
  • Sarah Jarosz — Blue Heron Suite (Rounder Records)
  • Semi Precious — Post-Euphoria (Squareglass)
  • Senso — Drifter94 EP (Inverted Audio)
  • Shaun Ross — Shift (JEX Records)
  • The Skinner Brothers — Iconic EP (Blaggers Records)
  • Sonic Haven — Vagabond (Frontiers Music)
  • Sophia Kennedy — Monsters (City Slang)
  • Sumo Cyco — Initiation (Napalm Records)
  • Ted Russell Kamp — Solitaire (Ted Russell Kamp/PoMo Records)
  • Tommy Emmanuel — Accomplice Series Volume 1 With Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley EP (CGP Sounds)
  • Tommy’s Rocktrip — Beat Up By Rock ‘N Roll (Frontiers Music)
  • Toosii — Thank You For Believing (Quality Control/Motown)
  • Tony Joe White — Smoke from The Chimney (Easy Eye Sound)
  • Travis Tritt — Set In Stone (Big Noise)
  • Weezer — Van Weezer (Atlantic/Crush)
  • Wiki & Nah — Telephonebooth (Wikset Enterprise)
  • Will Stratton — The Changing Wilderness (Bella Union)
  • Van Morrison — Latest Record Project: Volume 1 (Exile/BMG)
  • Voroni — The Last Three Seconds (Small Pond)

Friday, May 14

  • Alaina Castillo — Parallel Universe Part 1 (AWAL)
  • Alan Jackson — Where Have You Gone (EMI Records Nashville)
  • Andy Bell — See My Friends EP (Sonic Cathedral)
  • Babe Rainbow — Changing Colours (Eureka Music)
  • BALA — Maleza (Century Media Records)
  • Benito Gonzalez — Sing To The World (Rainy Days Records)
  • Caliban — Zeitgeister (Century Media Records)
  • Carl Smith And The Natural Gas Company — Burnin’ (Match Box Records)
  • The Chills — Scatterbrain (Fire Records)
  • Cory Williams — Bird Mouth (self-released)
  • Current Joys — Voyager (Secretly Canadian)
  • Damien Jurado — The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania (Maraqopa Records)
  • The Deep Dark Woods — Changing Faces (Six Shooter Records)
  • Denm — Slum Beach Denny (Ineffable Records)
  • Fanclubwallet — Hurt Is Boring EP (AWAL)
  • Holly Macve — Not The Girl (Piccadilly Records)
  • Jesse Terry — When We Wander (Wander Recordings)
  • Johanna Samuels — Excelsior! (Mama Bird Recording Co.)
  • John Andrews & The Yawns — Cookbook (Woodsist)
  • Johnny Flynn & Robert Macfarlane — Lost In The Cedar Wood (Transgressive Records)
  • Jorja Smith — Be Right Back (FAMM)
  • Juliana Hatfield — Blood (American Laundromat Records)
  • Kate Clover — Channel Zero EP (SongVest Records)
  • Leider — A Fog Like Liars Loving (Beacon Sound)
  • Liar Thief Bandit — Deadlights (The Sign Records)
  • Lindsay Ellyn — Queen Of Nothing (Queue Records)
  • Magic Island — So Wrong (Mansions and Millions)
  • Mandrake Handshake — Shake The Hand That Feeds You EP (Nice Swan Records)
  • Matt Berry — The Blue Elephant (Acid Jazz UK)
  • Maxine Funke — Seance (A Colourful Storm)
  • Michael Hearst — Songs For Unconventional Vehicles (Urban Geek)
  • Mob Rich — Why No Why (Republic Records)
  • Myles Kennedy –The Ides Of March (Napalm Records)
  • Natik Awayez — Manbarani (Sublime Frequencies)
  • Never Loved — Over It (Equal Vision Records)
  • Night Heron — Instructions For The Night (Terrorbird)
  • Okey Dokey — Leaky Sealing EP (Park the Van)
  • Old Sea Brigade — Motivational Speaking (Nettwerk)
  • Paul Weller — Fat Pop (Volume 1) (SuperDeluxeEdition)
  • Riley Downing — Start It Over (New West Records)
  • Roan Yellowthorn — Another Life (Blue Élan Records)
  • Rob St John — Surface Tension (Pattern & Process Press)
  • Rodrigo y Gabriela — Jazz EP (Rubyworks/ATO)
  • Ryan Downey — A Ton Of Colours (Dot Dash Recordings)
  • Sara Bug — Sara Bug (EggHunt Records/Clandestine)
  • Sarah Neufeld — Detritus (One Little Independent Records)
  • Sculpture Club — Worth (Funeral Party Records)
  • Shaed — High Dive (Photo Finish Records)
  • Smol Data — Inconvenience Store (Broken Camera Records)
  • Sons Of Kemet — Black To The Future (Impulse! Records)
  • The Steel Woods — All Of Your Stones (Woods Music)
  • St. Vincent — Daddy’s Home (Loma Vista Recordings)
  • Three-Layer Cake — Stove Top (RareNoise)
  • Zuli Jr. — Stop It God. (Nurtured Ideas)

Friday, May 21

  • 299 — The 299 Game (PNKSLM Recordings)
  • Allison Russell — Outside Child (Fantasy Records)
  • Animal Years — This Is Part Two Of An Album Called Animal Years EP (self-released)
  • Ariel Bart — In Between (Ropeadope)
  • Beach Tiger — Yenta (Southern America Records)
  • Billie Marten — Flora Fauna (Piccadilly Records)
  • Blake Shelton — Body Language (Warner Brothers Nashville/Ten Point Productions)
  • Brian Bromberg — A Little Driving Music (Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group)
  • Chai — Wink (Sub Pop)
  • Charles — Let’s Start A Family Tonight (Babe City Records)
  • Claire George — The Land Beyond The Light (Cascine)
  • Cloves — Nightmare On Elmfield (Polydor/Interscope)
  • Dayglow — Harmony House (AWAL)
  • The Devil Wears Prada — ZII EP (Solid State Records)
  • Ducks Ltd. — Get Bleak EP (Carpark Records)
  • Earth Girl Helen Brown Center For Planetary Intelligence Band — Earth EP (Empty Cellar Records)
  • Facs — Present Tense (Trouble in Mind)
  • Fiddlehead — Between The Richness (Run For Cover)
  • Fly Pan Am — Frontera (Constellation)
  • Gary Numan — Intruder (BMG)
  • Gavin Preller — There Is Wonder (Joyful Noise Recordings)
  • Georgia Anne Muldrow — VWETO III (Foreseen Entertainment)
  • Gruff Rhys — Seeking New Gods (Rough Trade)
  • Herman Frank — Two For A Lie (AFM Records)
  • Hippie Death Cult — Circle Of Days (Heavy Psych Sounds)
  • Holiday Ghosts — North Street Air (Gato Gordo Records)
  • Imogen Clark — Bastards EP (MGM/Potts Entertainment.)
  • James Francies — Purest Form (Blue Note Records)
  • JD McPherson — I’m Still Here (Black Mesa Records)
  • Jim McCulloch — When I Mean What I Say (Violette Records)
  • John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band — Leftover Feelings (New West Records)
  • Jon Allen — … Meanwhile (Monologue Records)
  • Lakely — Cold War (Lakely)
  • Lambchop — Showtunes (Merge)
  • Livingmore — Take Me (Nomad Eel Records)
  • Lord Huron — Long Lost (Inertia Music)
  • Lydia Ainsworth — Sparkles & Debris (Zombie Cat Records)
  • Mannequin Pussy — Perfect EP (Epitaph Records)
  • Mara Connor — Decades EP (Ba Da Bing)
  • Marinero — Hella Love (Hardly Art)
  • Mat Kearney — January Flower (Tomorrow Music/Caroline)
  • Mischa Blanos — City Jungle (InFiné)
  • The Mistons — World Of Convenience (self-released)
  • Nick Jaina — Credo (Fluff & Gravy Records)
  • Noomi — Life Aqua EP (self-released)
  • Oliver Wood — Always Smilin’ (Honey Jar Records)
  • Olivia Rodrigo — Sour (Geffen Records)
  • Para One — Machines Of Loving Grace (Animal63)
  • Patrick Droney — State Of The Heart (Warner Records)
  • Patrick Paige II — If I Fail Are We Still Cool? (Fat Possum Records)
  • Pink Chameleons — Peace And Love (Soliti Music)
  • Pixel Grip — Arena (Feeltrip Records)
  • Pop Evil — Versatile (Entertainment One Music)
  • The Reverend Shawn Amos — The Cause Of It All (Continental Record Services)
  • Robert Finley — Sharecropper’s Son (Easy Eye Sound)
  • Roddy Woomble — Lo! Soul (self-released)
  • San Holo — bb u ok? (Bitbird)
  • Sinéad Harnett — Ready Is Always Too Late (Sony Music)
  • Spang Sisters — Spang Sisters (Bathtime Sounds)
  • Starlight Cleaning Co. — Starlight Cleaning Co. (SofaBurn Records)
  • Storefront Church — As We Pass (Sargent House)
  • Sunny Jain — Phoenix Rise (Sinj Records)
  • Swallow The Rat / Clone — Split LP (Headbump Records)
  • Sylph — Silver As It Was Before EP (Mute)
  • Trapper Schoepp — May Day (Grand Phony Records)
  • Trick Or Treat — The Unlocked Songs (Scarlet Records)
  • Tuvaband– Growing Pains & Pleasures (Passion Flames)
  • Twenty One Pilots — Scaled And Icy (Fueled by Ramen/Elektra)
  • Vola — Witness (Mascot Records)
  • Waterparks — Greatest Hits (300 Entertainment)
  • We Were Sharks — New Low (Revival Recordings)
  • Yoo Doo Right — Don’t Think You Can Escape Your Purpose (Mothland)
  • Yung Mal — 1.5 Way Or No Way (Alamo Records)
  • Zoo Wees — Golden Wings EP (Capitol Records)

Friday, May 28

  • 81355 — This Time I’ll Be Of Use (37d03d)
  • Allday — Drinking With My Smoking Friends (Believe Music)
  • André Either — Further Up Island (Telephone Explosion)
  • Aquarian Blood — Bending The Golden Hour (Goner Records)
  • Austin Taft — Skeletons (Triple Edge Records)
  • Bachelor — Doomin’ Sun (Polyvinyl Records)
  • Beth Whitney — Into The Ground (Tone Tree Music)
  • Blackberry Smoke — You Hear Georgia (Thirty Tigers)
  • Black Midi — Cavalcade (Rough Trade)
  • Blood Cultures — Luno (Pack Records)
  • Brianna Perry — Boss Bitch Boulevard (Equity Distribution)
  • Daniel Davies — Spies EP (Sacred Bones Records)
  • Dawn-Song — For Morgan (2144317 Records DK)
  • Dispatch — Break Our Fall (Bomber Records/AWAL)
  • Elder Island — Swimming Static (self-released)
  • Everett Parker — Outbound Travelin’ Crazies (Liberty)
  • Ghastly — Mercurial Passages (20 Buck Spin)
  • Gizelle Smith — Revealing (Jalapeno Records)
  • Gwar — The Disc With No Name EP (P.I.T. Records)
  • Hot Mulligan — I Won’t Reach Out To You EP (Wax Bodega)
  • James Heather — Modulations: EP2 (Ninja Tune)
  • John Errol — Inferno (Flexible Distribution/Terrible Records)
  • KD Lang — Makeover (Nonesuch)
  • Kele Okereke — The Waves Pt. 1 (KOLA Records/!K7)
  • Kezia — Claire EP (Never Seven)
  • Lost Division — Cuts And Scars (Inverse Records)
  • Lou Barlow — Reason To Live (Joyful Noise Recordings)
  • Mark Trecka — Acknowledgment (Whited Sepulchre Records)
  • Masayoshi Fujita — Bird Ambience (Erased Tapes Records)
  • Moby — Reprise (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Mustafa — When Smoke Rises (Regent Park Songs)
  • Nathan Micay — Industry OST (LuckyMe)
  • Of Mice & Men — Bloom EP (SharpTone Records)
  • Penelope Trappes — Penelope Three (Houndstooth)
  • Rider & Rolling Thunder — On The Banks Of The Tennessee EP (Defendu Industries)
  • River Kittens — Soaking Wet (Create Records)
  • Salvador Sobral — BPM (Warner Music International)
  • Shannon McNally — The Waylon Sessions (Compass Records)
  • Strictly Elizabeth — Contemporary Construction (Data Water Records)
  • T-Tops — Staring At A Static Screen (Magnetic Eye Records)
  • Thee More Shallows — Dad Jams (Monotreme Records)
  • Theo Alexander — Sunbathing Through A Glass Screen (Arts & Crafts)
  • Toler Gibson — The Days Before (Rocket Girl Records)
  • UV-TV — Always Something (PaperCup Music)
  • Wombo — Keesh Mountain EP (Fire Talk)
  • Wyldest — Monthly Friend (Hand in Hive)

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

The Weeknd Is Still Boycotting The Grammys Despite Their Recent Changes

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The Weeknd may never be nominated for another Grammy, but not because the quality of his work is about to drop off: After somehow being completely snubbed at the 2021 Grammys, the artist declared that he is boycotting the awards and will no longer submit his music for consideration. The Recording Academy has faced a ton of criticism over the past year-plus, but a few days ago, they announced “significant changes” to their voting process, including the elimination of “secret committees.” While The Weeknd thinks that’s cool, he says he’s still going to stick to his boycott.

In a statement to The New York Times, The Weeknd said, “Even though I won’t be submitting my music, the Grammys’ recent admission of corruption will hopefully be a positive move for the future of this plagued award and give the artist community the respect it deserves with a transparent voting process.”

Interim Recording Academy president/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. also offered a statement, saying the changes come as part of “a year of unprecedented, transformational change,” adding, “This is a new academy, one that is driven to action and that has doubled down on the commitment to meeting the needs of the music community.”

Meanwhile, The Weeknd doesn’t need the Grammys to lock down award nods: A few days ago, he racked up an impressive 16 Billboard Music Awards nominations.

Nas Almost Changed His Verse On ‘Sorry Not Sorry,’ His Collaboration With DJ Khaled And Jay-Z

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This weekend DJ Khaled released his 12th album, Khaled Khaled. It boasted appearances from some of the music world’s biggest names. Two of them are Jay-Z and Nas, who joined forces for the track “Sorry Not Sorry.” Khaled recently shared a behind-the-scenes look at the song’s recording process, and it shows Nas considering changing his verse after hearing Jay-Z’s own.

“Alright, I’m just here tweaking lines and sh*t,” Nas says to Jay-Z over a FaceTime call. “I’m in here, curating, rewriting four bars here and there … oh no no no. I gotta come back [laughs].” He adds, “Yo bro, this is one. The queen at the end, the harmonies, that gave me chills … this is definitely one for the books.” Jay-Z, who was happy with Nas’ thoughts, replied, “Now that feels good. It feels great.”

Despite Nas’ comment, DJ Khaled made sure to clarify that neither verse on the song was altered. And he expressed his happiness with the song. “JAY and NAS on one record has been a lifelong dream! And I’m so glad it happened the way it did!TRUE brotherhood! Amazing energy! And love! God was in the booth, on set, and all over this ALBUM!” he wrote. “By the way no lines were changed it was PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL. I hope this inspires everyone to come together, celebrate each other and to be the LIGHT!”

Khaled Khaled is out now via Epic Records. Get it here.

Moneybagg Yo Earns His First No. 1 Album With ‘A Gangsta’s Pain’

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The year started with Morgan Wallen dominating the album charts, and it took weeks for other acts to take the top spot. Albums from Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift soon took over. Now it’s time for Moneybagg Yo to join august company: The rapper’s fourth album, A Gangsta’s Pain, went No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, making it the first chart-topper of his career.

The album, which boasts a total of 22 songs, tallied a total of 110,000 album units for its first week on the albums chart dated May 8 — a number comprised of 106,000 streaming equivalent album units and 4,000 pure album sales. A Gangsta’s Pain makes for Moneybagg’s fifth album overall and his fourth to enter the top-10 of the Billboard 200. The Memphis native can credit tracks like “Time Today” and “Hard For The Next,” featuring Future, for helping boost the album’s chart position.

Further down the latest Billboard 200, last week’s chart-topping release, Young Thug and YSL Records’ Slime Language 2, clocks in at No. 2. A trio of additional former No. 1s from this year also held on to Top 10 positions, namely Bieber’s Justice, Rod Wave’s Soulfly, and Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which can be found at No. 5, 6, and 9 respectively.

Check out our review of Moneybagg’s A Gangsta’s Pain here.

Young Thug is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.