It’s been a busy few weeks for Jack Harlow. At the end of April, he released his third major label album, Jackman, to critical acclaim. Last week, he launched his charity, The Jack Harlow Foundation, which entails the hitmaker giving back to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Tonight (May 11), he celebrated the premiere of his movie, a remake of White Men Can’t Jump, which marks his acting debut.
In attendance at the White Men Can’t Jump premiere was Harlow’s collaborator and dear friend, Lil Nas X. While on the carpet, Lil Nas X wore a t-shirt featuring an image of Harlow, wearing a t-shirt featuring an image of Lil Nas X.
Lil Nas X attends the premiere of “White Men Can’t Jump” starring Jack Harlow wearing a t-shirt of Jack Harlow wearing a shirt of him at last year’s BET Awards. pic.twitter.com/VFjABIuEmc
This precious fashion statement arrives as a full circle moment after Harlow wore the t-shirt featuring Lil Nas X at the BET Awards after Lil Nas X was not invited to attend.
Harlow is featured on Lil Nas X’s 2021 hit, “Industry Baby,” which is taken from his debut album, Montero. Perhaps we can expect another collab in the near future, as Lil Nas X is gearing up to release his second album.
In the meantime, you can see a clip shared from the White Men Can’t Jump premiere above.
White Men Can’t Jump premieres 5/19 on Hulu.
Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Fans planning to attend Bonnaroo from Thursday, June 15, to Sunday, June 18, can start solidifying their schedules, as the landmark festival released official set times this morning, May 11.
your schedule is here!! check out when & where your favs are playing at #bonnaroo
The schedule is overwhelming at first glance, so we’ll lay out the basic must-knows.
There will be six stages: What Stage, Which Stage, The Other Stage, This Tent, That Tent, and Who Stage. Opening night will be anchored by the likes of Liquid Stranger from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. local time, Zeds Dead (12:45 to 2 a.m.), Big Freedia (1:30 to 2:30 a.m.), and Silent Disco (midnight to 3:30 a.m.). Silent Disco will hold that slot on Friday and Saturday as well.
Friday’s headliner will be Lamar, scheduled to perform on the What Stage from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The What Stage will also host Baby Keem (8:45 to 9:45 p.m.), Portugal The Man (6:45 to 7:45 p.m.), Muna (4:45 to 5:45 p.m.), and AFI (3 to 4 p.m.). The Which Stage will host Rina Sawayama (5:45 to 6:45 p.m.), Three 6 Mafia (7:45 to 8:45 p.m.), and plenty others.
On Saturday, Odesza’s headlining set is scheduled for 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on the What Stage, which will also be home for Lil Nas X (8:45 to 10 p.m.), Rainbow Kitten Surprise (6:45 to 7:45 p.m.), Sheryl Crow (4:45 to 5:45 p.m.), and Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness (3 to 4 p.m.). Korn will take on the This Tent from 12:45 a.m. to 2 a.m., while JID will perform on the That Tent from 1 to 2 a.m.
Sunday will welcome Foo Fighters to the What Stage from 9:30 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. — preceded by Paramore (7:15 to 8:30 p.m.) — while Marcus Mumford (8:15 to 9:15 p.m.) handles the Which Stage. Alesso (8:15 to 9:30 p.m.) can be found on The Other Stage, Jacob Collier (7:45 to 9 p.m.) at the This Tent, Pixies (8:15 to 9:30 p.m.) at the That Tent, and Jana Horn (7:45 to 8:30 p.m.) on the Who Stage.
Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival 2023 will take place in Manchester, Tennessee. Find more information here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Latto has been impressing audiences with her performances at various festivals, including Coachella and Pharrell’s Something In The Water. The latter took place recently in Virginia Beach. During her set, Latto showcased her twerking skills and played some of her biggest hits. She even brought a fan onstage for a lap dance during her remix of YFN Lucci’s “Wet.” The rapper has certainly been heating things up this summer.
Along with her killer live performances, Latto has also recently released a new single called “Put It On Da Floor.” The rapper first performed the song during the first weekend of Coachella. The weekend itself may have been messy, but Latto gave it her all. Her set went off without a hitch. However, she did bring up her beef with Nicki. At the end of her set, Latto took a few shots at the Queen before leaving the stage. “Pussy ho, let a b*tch know,” she said. “We tired of the subtweets this year.” The two had seemingly moved on from their squabble, but it would appear that the rivalry is still very much alive. That doesn’t mean the rapper isn’t getting love elsewhere, though.
Latto has been getting some love on social media from fellow artists. GloRilla, Lil Nas X, and Cardi B have all posted about how much they love the rapper’s latest single. “Put it on da floor gotta condo in my head,” GloRilla tweeted. It certainly is an earworm, as evidenced by the many others who have posted about it. Lil Nas simply posted a screenshot of the single cover on his Instagram stories. Cardi B, however, retweeted a meme about the song. In the original post, the user quoted the song and posted a video where a child dances excitedly in the car.
In addition to releasing music, Latto has also been hosting her own Apple One podcast. The show, named 777 Radio, recently featured Latto having a very candid conversation about plastic surgery. “I’m telling you from someone who’s been there, done it… find peace within your natural state,” the rapper said on the episode. “Because you’re going to find a flaw and another flaw and another flaw and another flaw. Surgery, any of that stuff is not a permanent fix.” It’s a surprisingly honest and refreshing take from someone in the entertainment industry. What do you think about all of the love Latto is getting? Let us know in the comments!
On September 18, 2020, Ava Max released her debut album, Heaven & Hell. Around that time, she celebrated the project’s release with a launch party. The event didn’t take place in some personally meaningful place like her hometown, or in a major city among the big lights. Instead, it happened on Roblox.
Some context: Earlier that year, the COVID-19 pandemic (you might be aware of it) forced the world to essentially shut down. This put the live entertainment industry on pause. Concerts and other in-person events were temporarily no more. Oof!
More context: Roblox, an online game creation platform, launched in 2006 and has grown substantially since then. It was reported in 2022 that Roblox had 57 million daily users (and that half of them were under 12 years old).
So, with both of those things in mind, Ava Max and her team decided to launch Heaven & Hell on Roblox. On September 25, the event began. After a countdown, a pre-recorded video message from Ava Max played, in which she spoke about the event, discussed her new album, and answered some questions. She then sang two songs before the video ended.
It was a neat experiment, as IRL events weren’t super possible at the time. So, Ava Max made the best of the situation and came through with something intriguing and different. Different, but also something of a return to normalcy: While the music industry was on hold, Ava Max pressed forward via the means available to her and delivered as close to a familiar experience as was possible.
It was also just the start.
A few weeks later, Lil Nas X got in on the Roblox fun. On November 14 and 15, the rapper put on quite the show. He opened with a performance of “Old Town Road” before a digital costume change and a rendition of “Rodeo” as bats flew above him. The environment allowed for some fantastical elements not possible in a real-life concert. As the Roblox Wiki describes, the show involved tornadoes, a shift to a futuristic setting, Lil Nas X levitating in front of the moon, and a black hole.
Those were the first two concerts experiences on Roblox, and from there, artists like Elton John, Mariah Carey, aespa, Soccer Mommy, Saweetie, and others hosted their own virtual events. Were they worse than in-person shows? Well, that’s hard to say.
Leaving the house, bringing your physical body to a different environment, and seeing artists in front of your face isn’t something that can be replicated on a phone, computer, or game console. It’s a special experience than can really only be felt that specific way. The thing is, though, that virtual concerts don’t need to be that. In terms of what an in-person show offers, virtual shows can’t do it. They just can’t. In other ways, however, they can present much more.
Stage design for major tours can be incredible, but Lil Nas X isn’t getting functional tornadoes and black holes on a real-life stage. Roblox has long been an open forum for imaginative expression for its users and the same has been true when it comes to virtual concerts. It’s an opportunity for artists to put on a concert in ways they could never pull off otherwise. Give the world’s most talented and creative entertainers a limitless environment and special moments are bound to result.
Furthermore, sometimes, committing a few hours to going downtown, finding parking, getting to the venue, watching a concert, and making your way home is a lot. Nights when that seems overwhelming are the perfect occasion to just open an app on your phone/computer and catch some more convenient live entertainment, to still get the feeling that you’re watching something grand unfold in the moment.
Worth noting is that as novel as this whole thing may seem, a Roblox virtual concert isn’t a completely new idea (and not just because Fortnite did it before them, like with the Marshmello event in February 2019). Roblox events represent what the live entertainment business has long been about: meeting people where they are.
Really, performers have been bringing their shows to the people for a long as it’s been possible: Shortly after the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, circuses started traveling to the western half of the US. People were in their hometowns and most of them presumably didn’t have the means for significant travel (especially for leisure), so the entertainers went to them.
From there, music tours eventually became a major business, and some performers went beyond even just showing up in people’s cities. In the ’90s and ’00s, music lovers young and old spent a lot of time at the then-thriving malls. So, artists like Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne got set up between Claire’s and the food court to get a performance in. That’s where the people were, so that’s where the artists were.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought more popularity to remote-friendly practices like working from home and consuming the majority of entertainment online. Folks were in their rooms and on the internet, so that’s where the artists went.
Again, Roblox isn’t the first video game platform to host a virtual concert: Shout out to Duran Duran for performing a Second Life show in 2006. Roblox was, though, a leader in bringing them to the mainstream at the perfect time. It’s where the people were, and it’s where the artists could be whatever they wanted to be.
In 2023, the live entertainment industry is at the point where concert tours have long been back in full swing. This doesn’t mean virtual events should go back and hide in their hole of obscurity, though. Video games and other online products are as popular as they’ve ever been, and musicians are more open-minded and creatively free than ever before when it comes to self-promotional strategies.
So yes, for most artists, in-person events will return to their spot as the live entertainment priority. There’s no reason why virtual concerts can’t be a piece of the puzzle, though. While they had to fill in as the main feature for a little bit, really, they’re a different side of the same coin, one that offers its own unique value. It’s all just meeting people where they are, and as where they are changes, artists, as they always have, adapt and push the industry in exciting new directions.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
With a full crystalline cat look by Pat McGrath and Dior Men, Lil Nas X appears at The Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The look was crafted by Pat McGrath and Dior Men, with creative direction by Nicola Formichetti in collaboration with Lil Nas X. Hair was by Coree Moreno and nails by Temeka Jackson. Makeup was provided by YSL Beauty.
The first Monday in May is the fashion industry’s biggest night, at least here in the United States. The annual Met Gala gives music’s biggest names to team up with a celebrated fashion house to make a bold statement. So far, several recording artists caused some buzz on the red carpet. For example, David Byrne opted to bike to the event rather than take a luxury car service. There are many looks to gush over, but none like Lil Nas X.
The “Industry Baby” rapper isn’t shy by any means. On several occasions, he’s taken part in racy photo shoots, including his recent Playboy-theme birthday shoot. However, Lil Nas X’s nearly naked 2023 Met Gala red carpet look takes the cake.
Covered in chrome body paint, pearls, and other gems, Lil Nas was a glamorized cross between the Wizard Of Oz’s tin man and X-Men’s Mystique. Sporting bejeweled whiskers, he ade a bold reference to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld, who is being honored at the event.
However, it wouldn’t be Lil Nas X if he didn’t take a moment to troll those around him. When approached by the media correspondents on the carpet, instead of answering questions posed to him. He leaned into the role of a cat, meowing at reporters, which is another nod to the late designer who had a deep love for his Birman cat Choupette.
Lil Nas X might be the music industry’s most beloved internet troll, but he wants to ensure fans know he isn’t a liar. The “Industry Baby” rapper has remained an open book since breaking into the spotlight. From racy photoshoots to poking fun at his sexual orientation and religious beliefs, the entertainer has shared much of himself with the public. However, after he regained his verified blue check on Twitter, fans began to whisper that the star went back on his word to not give into the site’s CEO Elon Musk’s new pay-for-verification policy.
After self-appointing himself, the new CEO of the social media app, Lil Nas X, jumped onto the platform to address the rumors. In a post, Lil Nas X joking vowed to seek vengeance against Musk, writing, “On my soul, I didn’t pay for Twitter Blue. You will feel my wrath, Tesla man!”
on my soul i didn’t pay for twitter blue, u will feel my wrath tesla man!
One fan chimed in to joke about how others promised that should the musician’s verified status be revoked; they would fork up the cash for him to retain his coveted blue check.
Lil Nas X could be telling the truth. Musk had previously confessed to coming out of his pocket to pay for several notable public figures’ Twitter Blue subscriptions after they refused to do so.
Lil Nas X is truly an icon. In the past year, he’s explored his sexuality and in January 2023 came out as “a little bisexual.” He was also briefly the President of Riot Games to promote his track “Star Walkin’”, which was written for the League of Legends World Championships. Oh and he also threw a house party that led to a $1 million lawsuit from his landlord.
Lil Nas X doesn’t have much of a dating history, not when compared to a number of people we typically cover here at HotNewHipHop. However, rumors have recently circulated about a romantic connection between him and fellow musician Pinkpantheress. Pinkpantheress recently bagged her first major chart appearance featuring on Ice Spice’s “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2”. This largely stems from a picture of the pair of them kissing. However, you can always count on Lil Nas X to a top-tier response to such an image.
The picture, posted by multiple accounts on Friday night, shows Pinkpantheress and Lil Nas X sharing a quick kiss. Users also posted other pictures from the night. This of course led to wild speculation across social media and gossip outlets. In fairness, it is very good evidence to link the two of them. They have been seen linking up a few times during 2023 already, going back as far as February. Nas posted a picture of the pair of them on February 28 to Instagram. However, the pair are yet to link up musically.
However, Lil Nas X had the full story, which he explained via his Twitter account. “she had food on her lip ! I was getting it off !” The response has been like 45,000 times since he posted it on Saturday morning. The comments are, of course, a mess. There’s memes, jokes, support, and just a fun little splash of outright homophobia. Neither Lil Nas nor Pinkpantheress has outright confirmed that the pair are dating and Lil Nas’ explanation is pretty convincing. Do you think they make a good couple? If they do confirm their relationship, be sure to check back at HotNewHipHop for all the details.
I think it’s safe to say Jack Harlow is having a great week. The new trailer for White Men Can’t Jump, in which he stars, looks great, and he’s more than a comedic match in the teaser for Dave that came out yesterday. So, even having Beavis & Butt-Head, those icons of the ’90s counter-culture hating on probably can’t bring him down.
In the recently rebooted show, which is now streaming on Paramount +, the two foul-mouthed slackers bestow Harlow with their trademark snark as they watch the video for Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby.” “This video’s, like, really groundbreaking because Jack Harlow’s not in it,” Butt-Head intones, just before Harlow hits the screen for his oft-remarked-upon guest verse. “Euuugh, nevermind.”
In another episode, the duo also regards Audrey Nuna‘s “Comic Sans” video, which Harlow also guests in. “If Jack Harlow was tattooing me,” Butt-Head jokes, “I’d have him tattoo ‘Jack Harlow sucks.’” Well, you know what they say: All publicity is good publicity.
Despite B&B‘s harsh judgment, it looks very much like the world’s going to be getting all the Jack Harlow it can handle. In addition to working on his third album, Jack’s also landed his next movie role alongside Matt Damon and continues to see his music reach new milestones. I wrote this earlier today, but it’s a bad week for Harlow haters.
Watch the first episode of Beavis & Butt-Head above. The show will stream weekly on Paramount +.
Lil Nas X celebrated his 24th birthday last Sunday, April 9, by posting a Playboy-inspired photo featuring him as “Batty Boy,” a Jamaican Patois slur weaponized against gay men. Even someone as confident and empowered as Lil Nas X has to repeatedly defend his sexuality against homophobic trolls. He’s keenly aware of the uphill battle his community faces.
It’s unsurprising, then, that he took a tweet about “Sun Goes Down” hitting No. 1 on the iTunes chart in Saudi Arabia as an opportunity to tweet a supportive message to his LGBTQ+ fans in the country, where queer people are criminalized (as summarized by Human Dignity Trust).
“to my gays [sic] fans from saudi arabia reading this, i hope this song is getting you through whatever you’re going through and i hope someday soon the laws against us change and you can be free in your own home,” Lil Nas X wrote.
to my gays fans from saudi arabia reading this, i hope this song is getting you through whatever you’re going through and i hope someday soon the laws against us change and you can be free in your own home. https://t.co/Cn7j2FMdM3
A song about repressing you’re sexuality out of fears of being attacked and ridiculed for it goes #1 in a country where it’s illegal to be gay…what a world we live inhttps://t.co/dP3gBJ7cWo
— Really Fxcking Tired Viking (@HeathenVikingr) April 12, 2023
“Sun Goes Down” is housed on Montero, Lil Nas X’s debut studio album from September 2021. The track chronicles suicidal ideation (“I don’t want a life / Send me a gun, and I’ll see the sun”) and a struggle to accept himself (“These gay thoughts would always haunt me / I prayed God would take it from me”). The first verse ends with Lil Nas X appreciative of the self-love he has now and recognizing that not everybody gets there: “I’m happy that it all worked out for me / I’ma make my fans so proud of me.”
The “Sun Goes Down” video from May 2021 encouraged viewers to donate to the non-profit What’s In The Mirror and promised Gilead COMPASS Initiative would match donations up to $25,000.
pic.twitter.com/VFjABIuEmc
check out when & where your favs are playing at 
(@HeathenVikingr)