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A New Federal Rule Bans Hidden ‘Junk Fees’ For Concert Tickets

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Here’s something everyone can agree on: junk fees stink. And now, thanks to the Federal Trade Commission, they’re illegal. The FTC announced on Tuesday that hidden surprise charges for “live-event ticketing and short-term lodging industries,” which includes concerts and hotels, are prohibited.

According to a press release, The Junk Fees Rule ensures that “pricing information is presented in a timely, transparent, and truthful way to consumers of live-event tickets and short-term lodging, two industries whose pricing practices the Commission has studied in particular.” The proposal was passed 4 to 1, the only holdout being Andrew Ferguson, a Republican who Donald Trump plans to nominate as FTC lead once he takes office in 2025.

“People deserve to know up-front what they’re being asked to pay—without worrying that they’ll later be saddled with mysterious fees that they haven’t budgeted for and can’t avoid,” FTC chair Lina M. Khan said. “The FTC’s rule will put an end to junk fees around live event tickets, hotels, and vacation rentals, saving Americans billions of dollars and millions of hours in wasted time. I urge enforcers to continue cracking down on these unlawful fees and encourage state and federal policymakers to build on this success with legislation that bans unfair and deceptive junk fees across the economy.”

You can find out more here.

Lil Wayne Reveals What He Said To Kendrick Lamar About The 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Lil Wayne was devastated when Kendrick Lamar, and therefore not himself, was chosen to perform the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show. It seemed like maybe there was a bit of beef between the two, and now Wayne has addressed it.

Speaking about his general feelings on the situation on The Skip Bayless Show, Wayne said:

“For whatever reason, I believe that it’s over my head, meaning I don’t know why, period. Personally, the person I am, I straight look at it like, ‘You ain’t there, you ain’t there, you gotta get there.’ […] It is what it is. […] I want to get to the point where I’m undeniable. I want them to walk in there and have ten other choices and whoever’s in charge says, ‘No, you have to go with him.’”

Wayne then talked about his interpretation of Lamar’s lyrics about him on GNX‘s “Wacced Out Murals” (“I used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down”). Wayne also revealed he’s spoken to Lamar about the situation, saying, “He saw how much it meant to me, I think that’s all he means. Obviously, he can’t control that, you know? So he didn’t let me down. It ain’t like he can control it or nothing. And also, I’ve spoken to him and I wished him all the best and told him he better kill it.”

Check out the interview above.

SZA (Finally) Announced The Official Release Date For Her ‘Lana’ Deluxe Album With Help From Ben Stiller

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Earlier in the month, SZA celebrated the second anniversary of her record-breaking sophomore album, SOS. Although fans of the “Saturn” singer continue to enjoy the project, they are clamoring for its deluxe edition Lana.

Last week, SZA teased the album yet again but this time with a rather interesting promotional visual. Today (December 16), SZA officially confirmed Lana’s release date with the help of her latest bestie, Ben Stiller.

“‘Drive’ starring Ben Stiller. Directed by Bradley J. Calder. Deluxe Friday,” wrote SZA on Instagram.

Although fans are apprehensive, according to SZA Lana will is schedule to hit streaming platforms this Friday, December 20. In the teaser clip (viewable here), Ben Stiller lip syncs to SZA’s seemingly forthcoming Lana single “Drive.”

“I been up ’til up midnight / Drivin’ to nowhere / Bumpin’ a slow song / Can’t get my head clear / I been up ’til sunrise / Headed to nowhere / Hopin’ that someone’s missin’ me somewhere,” mouths Stiller.

SZA has a knack for exciting crossover cameos. In the official video for “Kill Bill,” SZA tapped Kill Bill actor Vivica A. Fox for fun appearance. For SZA’s CTRL-era she secured Drew Barrymore as a special guest in the visual for the tracked inspired by the actor.

But for now, everything is all about Lana, which is sure to include a few more celebrity pop-ups.

Sexyy Red Shares A Flirty Response To Owen Wilson Being Left Speechless During Her Rolling Loud Miami 2024 Performance

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Owen Wilson had an epic weekend. On December 14, the Loki actor stormed the stage of Rolling Loud Miami 2024 with headliner Travis Scott.

But when Wilson was not serving as the hype man during Scott’s performance of “Fe!n,” he enjoyed other musicians’ set from the crowd. One of those performances included Sexyy Red. While hip-hop know the “Pound Town” rapper as a provocateur, Wilson was completely unaware. During Sexyy Red’s Rolling Loud Miami 2024 set, Owen Wilson was spotted looking on in utter shock. Well, the now-viral clip captured by a festivalgoer (viewable here), made its way back to Sexyy Red’s desk.

Yesterday (December 15), Sexyy Red took a moment to address leaving Wilson speechless. On X (formerly Twitter), Sexyy reposted the video with the caption: “Dats my baby Owen 😽😽.”

That flirty response was enough to jump start Sexyy’s followers inner matchmaking skills. Others are now eagerly awaiting Wilson’s forthcoming film inspired by the festival. If Sexyy Red twerking was enough to knock him off of his feet, he has a lot of work to do to prepare for his upcoming role.

For true Sexyy Red fans, this isn’t even her most memorable Rolling Loud Miami moment. Back in 2023, Sexyy Red took was escorted onstage by shirtless men on leashes.

Are Burna Boy And Chlöe Dating?

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On Uproxx cover star Chlöe’s sophomore album Trouble In Paradise, she boasted about being temporarily single. According to rumors, the “Boy Bye” singer has lived up to the cocky declaration and could officially be off of the market.

Based on Chlöe’s recent visit to Nigeria, fans believe her new boo is none other than the African Giant himself, Burna Boy. Continue below for more information.

Are Burna Boy And Chlöe Dating?

In footage uploaded online, Chlöe and Burna Boy were spotted out enjoying the best of what Nigeria’s nightlife had to offer. However, upon further inspection of the video (viewable here), the pair teeter the thin line of PDA (public display of affection). At one point, the musicians held hands as they made their way into Club DNA Lagos. While in the venue, Chlöe even locked arms with Burna Boy in their private section.

Although neither have addressed the online speculation, given the massive bouquet arrangement Chlöe lugged at the airport upon her arrival and as she departed the Lagos hot spot supporters believe something is brewing. However, it is hard to ignore the explosive track-for-track diss battle fellow musicians Stefflon Don and Jada Kingdom were in enthralled in at the top of the year over Burna Boy.

Chlöe’s love mittens aren’t clean. Fans attempted to link her to entanglements with Quavo and Tyga.

Could Chlöe and Burna Boy’s rendezvous be a teaser for a collaboration to come? Yes, just think back to the time leading up to her track with Gunna. Or is this the blossoming of 2025’s music “it couple?” This is also a possibility. For now, it is best to air on the side of caution. Burna Boy and Chlöe aren’t officially dating until an undeniable confirmation is released.

Lil Baby Revealed The Release Date Of His New Album, ‘WHAM (Who Hard As Me)’

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It has been a little over two years since Lil Baby’s last album, It’s Only Me. In the meantime, fans could only speculate when he’d drop a follow-up. But now, we know: the wait is almost over. The Atlanta rapper revealed the release date for his long-awaited fourth studio album, WHAM (Who Hard As Me) on social media with an electrifying teaser after promising to step away from posting ’til the album was done. Due on January 3, 2025, the album is expected to include features from fellow Atlantans 21 Savage, Future, and Young Thug (who is free), along with fellow Southerners GloRilla, Rod Wave, and Travis Scott.

Although Lil Baby had a relatively quiet year as he worked on his album, he still managed to be productive, putting out the singles “Band4Band” with Central Cee, “Roll Da Dice” with 4Batz, “5AM,” and “Touchdown.” Despite avoiding the spotlight, though, he did see himself get into some legal hot water. In August, he was arrested by Las Vegas police, who charged him with carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Fortunately for him and his fans, the case was dropped in October, with Clark County prosecutors declining to press charges.

WHAM (Who Hard As Me) is out on 1/3/2025 via Quality Control / Motown.

Snoop Dogg’s Dream Blunt Rotation Is An Eclectic Mix (And So Is Dr. Dre’s)

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Snoop Dogg enjoys smoking weed, so much so that just the idea of him quitting was the foundation of a viral marketing campaign last year. So, of course people want to talk to Snoop about it, and the rapper is always willing to indulge, like he did in a new interview.

In a recent feature with Complex alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop was asked for his “dream blunt rotation,” dead or alive, and he responded, “I really want to smoke with and do a record with Sade. I think we would have a nice time smoking and then going right into a session that Dr. Dre produced.”

(Earlier this year, he said he’d love to smoke with Sade.)

When prompted for more people to fill out the rotation, he said Michael Jordan (not Michael Jackson, since he’s already smoked with him). (MJ was also another recent pick by Snoop in an interview.) His final selection was Muhammad Ali.

Then, it was Dre’s turn, and he answered, “I’m going to go with [Kurt] Cobain. Ella Fitzgerald — I really like this version of her singing ”Round Midnight’ — Thelonious Monk, and George Clinton.”

He also spoke of the time he smoked with Snoop, saying, “I f*cking realized what God looks like. I’m never smoking with this motherf*cker again.”

Check out the full interview here.

Ab-Soul And Vince Staples Grab A Real Soul Burger In Their ‘California Dream’ Video

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Ab-Soul’s new mixtape is called Soul Burger, so it’s fitting that he, Vince Staples, and Kamm Carson linked up at Los Angeles burger joint Love Hour to shoot the video for “California Dream.” Love Hour has become a fixture of LA nightlife; the bar has become one of Koreatown’s hottest event spots, while the food service window sees booming business slanging burgers and fries. The video is simple: the three rappers and their crew post up in the parking lot and rap their verses, which include a reminder from Staples that “I’m in the trenches, but I grew up walkin’ distance from the beach.”

Meanwhile, Soul’s wordplay-packed verse sees him reminiscing about his come-up alongside the TDE family: “Me and D was in the doghouse on top of the VIP / So it’s no coincidence my insignia in TDE.” Kamm Carson closes out the song with an acapella verse, elaborating on the trio’s shared South LA upbringing and nodding to the inspiration behind Soul’s new mixtape. “Age thirteen, used to think murder was make-believe / Role models Crippin’ like DoeBurger and Killa Dee / Play football or you bangin’, you signed to the streets.”

Watch Ab-Soul’s “California Dream” video featuring Vince Staples and Kamm Carson above.

Soul Burger is out now via Top Dawg Entertainment.

Slowthai Was Found Not Guilty Of Rape Charges

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UK rapper Slowthai was found not guilty of raping two women along with co-defendant Alex Blake-Walker, according to The Guardian. Jurors deliberated for 10 hours, ultimately clearing the rapper and Blake-Walker of three joint counts of rape, as well as an additional count of sexual assault for Blake-Walker.

Slowthai had maintained his innocence throughout the case, writing in a statement shortly after the charges were initially brought, “I categorically deny the charges. I am innocent and I am confident my name will be cleared. Until then I will apply my energy to ensure this is concluded swiftly and justly. I ask that my supporters don’t comment about this situation and respect the process and privacy of my family during this time.”

The two women alleged Slowthai and Blake-Walker had assaulted them at a house party in September 2021 after one of the rapper’s shows; the men argued that any sexual activity between them had been consensual. The women reported the incident to police that night; Slowthai’s involvement was revealed in May 2023 when he appeared in court. He pled not guilty a month later.

The rapper was dropped from festival bills after the news broke in May 2023, including Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds — a massive setback after the release of his third album, Ugly, in March last year.

Drake Gives $10,000 To The Winner Of His Look-Alike Contest, ‘Girl Drake’

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You’re not truly famous until a look-alike contest is thrown in your honor. It happened to Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Glen Powell, and over the weekend, it was Drake‘s turn.

A doppelgänger competition for the “Family Matters” rapper took place in the rapper’s hometown of Toronto, Canada on Saturday, with the winner being given $10,000 from Drake himself.

“I can barely type and a whole shock went through my body. But yes this is true and real & I hope the Drake doppelgängers ready LETSSSSSSSS GOOOOOOO,” event organizer Casuals Cakery wrote on Instagram, along with proof of a DM from Drake offering to add “10 bands to the look alike contest. As the main prize.” The bakery replied, “Just give me a min to stop hyperventilating this moment. I can’t believe this is ur account and u know about this. Omg I love you.”

According to Page Six, “Makayla Chambers ultimately took home the grand prize after she showed up to the event with her hair in two pigtails — similar to Drake’s look from earlier this year — along with a fake goatee, an oversized beige sweater and black pants. ‘Girl Drake’ beat out several other participants who dressed up as various versions of the five-time Grammy winner.”

You can see “Girl Drake’s” contest-winning look here.