Music

R. Kelly’s Honorary ‘Key To The City’ In Baton Rouge Has Reportedly Been Revoked Following His Conviction

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Earlier this week, R. Kelly was officially convicted of sex crimes after years of accusations. Multiple people came forward to testify against the disgraced R&B singer in court and Kelly was found guilty of racketeering and eight violations of an anti-sex trafficking law. Immediately following the guilty verdict, Kelly is now apparently an unwelcome face in certain parts of Louisiana.

After being found guilty of sex crimes, R. Kelly’s honorary “key to the city” in Baton Rouge has been revoked, according to a recent report from TMZ. Apparently, the same official who granted the singer the honor back in 2013, Baton Rouge Metro Council member Denise Marcelle, is rescinding the key and “regrets” even awarding R. Kelly with it in the first place. Though there had allegations against the singer when he was given the key, Marcelle told TMZ she didn’t do much research about the case and only knew he had been acquitted in 2008.

The Baton Rouge “key to the city” is actually a $250 plaque. Per TMZ’s report, the plaque won’t be physically taken from the singer’s possession, but all of its honor will be stripped. Of course, it’s not likely that R. Kelly will even be able to travel to Baton Rouge any time soon, seeing as he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and could even be sentenced to life in prison.

Skylar Grey Recruits Eminem, Polo G, And Mozzy For The Victorious ‘Last One Standing’

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After a couple of weeks worth of speculation, the music world has finally received the anticipated collaboration between Skylar Grey, Eminem, Polo G, and Mozzy. “Last One Standing” is a victorious track that finds the four artists celebrating their ability to overcome life’s obstacles. It was teased for multiple weeks with some believing that it would be Eminem’s return to music and even a sign that he had a new album on the way. However, that’s not the case as the new song finds Grey in the driver seat with the three rappers providing support for her message. The track will also appear on the upcoming soundtrack for Venom: Let There Be Carnage, a film that debuts in theaters on Friday, October 1.

Anticipation behind the track first began when Mozzy’s manager teased a collaboration with Eminem. Later on, in a pair of now-deleted tweets, Polo G informed his fans to stay tuned for something arriving on October 1. Skylar Grey tied it all together with a tease of her own on Twitter. “This month has been hellish,” she wrote. “But I see the light at the end… can’t wait for October 1st… mark your calendar.” Luckily for their fans, “Last One Standing” arrived a couple of days early.

While “Last One Standing” marks Grey’s first collaboration with Mozzy and Polo G, the track appears on the lengthy list of songs she and Eminem have done together. It includes “Black Magic,” “C’mon Let Me Ride,” “Kill For You,” “Asshole,” “Leaving Heaven,” and more.

You can press play on “Last One Standing” in the video above.

Megan Thee Stallion And Maluma Join Forces For The Vibrant ‘Crazy Family’ With Rock Mafia

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Megan Thee Stallion has given the world a few guest verses in recent months, and the latest finds the Houston native joining up with Spanish singer Maluma and Rock Mafia for the vibrant track “Crazy Family.” The song will appear in the upcoming film The Addams Family 2, which arrives in theaters on October 1 and features Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Kroll, Javon Walton, Snoop Dogg, Bette Midler, and more.

“Crazy Family” comes after Megan joined Lil Nas X for “Dolla Sign Slime,” which the latter said he hoped would also include an appearance from Drake. Prior to that, Megan went international with BTS thanks to a remix of the band’s hit song “Butter.” She has also shined on the solo side of things with songs like “Thot Sh*t” and freestyles that include “Out Of Town” and “Tuned In.”

As for what’s next, fans can catch Megan at Post Malone‘s curated festival, Posty Fest, during the weekend of October 30-31. She will also join Dua Lipa for a trio of shows during the singer’s Future Nostalgia Tour in 2022.

You can listen to “Crazy Family” in the video above.

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

Beyonce Praises Balmain’s Creative Director During The Brand’s Spring/Summer 2022 Fashion Show In Paris

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On Wednesday, folks in the fashion industry gathered to watch Balmin’s spring/summer 2022 show in Paris. The showcase was also used to celebrate the tenth anniversary of creative director Olivier Rousteing’s time with the Parisian house. Beyonce narrated the night’s opening walk with a lengthy speech that showed love and appreciation to Rousteing while reflecting on the early days of their relationship.

“[You] brought a new mindset to help persuade fashion to finally begin to reflect the real true beauty of today’s streets, the beauty that you and your team see a daily on the diverse impressive boulevards and avenues of your beloved Paris,” Beyonce said in her message. “And from day one, you did the right thing. You knew from the start that actions speak so much louder than words. So you’ve taken a stand, made the commitments and followed through at every step of the way.”

“Does anyone have any idea how many times I’ve worn a special Olivier x Balmain creation? There have been so many events and so many beautiful moments,” she added. “You helped me make my musical statement. You helped me amplify my message, your designs have made me feel powerful. Thank you.” She concluded, “Balmain is your amazing tool for both beauty and change. Your outlook, your convictions and your talent have affected and moved all of us. I’m so proud to call you friend. Happy anniversary. We’re all looking forward to the next ten years.”

You can listen to Beyonce’s message in the video above.

Dolly Parton Says She’s ‘Honored’ And ‘Flattered’ That Lil Nas X Covered ‘Jolene’

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Lil Nas X likes to mix genres. Country, hip-hop, and pop have all intermingled in his hit songs. So his recent cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” shouldn’t come as a surprise. He delivered the cover of Parton’s 1973 song during an appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge last week, where he also performed “That’s What I Want,” “Dead Right Now,” and “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” off his new album, Montero.

After finally getting a chance to watch the performance, Parton had nothing but praise. “I was so excited when someone told me that Lil Nas X had done my song #Jolene,” she wrote. ” I had to find it and listen to it immediately…and it’s really good. Of course, I love him anyway. I was surprised and I’m honored and flattered. I hope he does good for both of us. Thank you @LilNasX.”

Lil Nas caught wind of her comments and had a short yet excited reaction to it, writing, simply, “HOLY SH*T.” What’s more, Lil Nas currently has three songs simultaneously in the top 10 on the Billboard singles chart: “Industry Baby” at No. 2, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” at No. 9, and “That’s What I Want” at No. 10.

People Lost Their Minds After Dolly Parton Responded To A Tweet From The ‘Ted Lasso’ Account

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It’s been a bit of a bumpy season for Ted Lasso. The feel-good (but not that good) show about an upbeat (but anguished) soccer coach amassed a ton of Emmys, including star/co-creator Jason Sudeikis. But the new season, which is still rolling out, has been hotly contested, and there’s been talk of a backlash, then a backlash to the backlash, then a backlash to the backlash to backlash, etc. But there’s one person who seems very pro-Ted Lasso: Dolly Parton.

It all started when a fan, dealing with the headache that is air travel, tried to overcome his frustrations by asking, “what would @TedLasso do?” The show’s Twitter account — which sometimes trades in motivational sloganeering — responded by asking a similar question of a real-life public figure.

“That’s funny, when it comes to small talk I often ask myself what would Dolly Parton do?” the account posted. “Start with the 9 to 5 and end with God Only Knows.”

The post didn’t tag the legendary country singer-songwriter and actress. But she found it anyway and responded.

You’re too sweet, @TedLasso!” Parton wrote, adding, “I heard you left some @AFCRichmond tickets at will call under my name?” (That’s a reference to the team Lasso coaches.)

Twitter can be a hellscape of fury and paranoia, but sometimes you get a beloved musician trading jokes with a fictitious character. And people ate it up.

Some imagined Parton going on Ted Lasso.

Which she apparently watches.

And it came on the same day Parton gushed about Lil Nas X covering one of her most cherished songs, “Jolene.”

To sum up: Twitter — sometimes it’s good.

Eminem Surprised The First Ten Customers At His Newly-Opened Restaurant By Personally Serving Them

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Today was the grand opening of Eminem’s new restaurant Mom’s Spaghetti. The eatery is, of course, inspired by a popular line from the rapper’s Oscar-winning track “Lose Yourself.” “His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy,” he raps on the track. “There’s vomit on his sweater already, mom’s spaghetti.” He turned the line into a promotional event for his 2017 album, Revival, and launched a pop-up dedicated to Detroit hospital workers last year. With Mom’s Spaghetti now open for business, the rapper made a special appearance there to ring in opening day.

The first ten people that showed up at Mom’s Spaghetti were greeted by Eminem himself, who was manning the order window of the restaurant, which is located on Woodward Avenue according to the Detroit Free Press. He handed out meals, placed orders, and took selfies with those who wanted to capture the moment. Eminem and his crew eventually departed the restaurant in pair of SUVs that were momentarily chased by a large group of fans.

This comes as Eminem is preparing to deliver new music. He’s reportedly set to release an untitled song that features Mozzy, Polo G, and Skylar Grey on Friday, October 1. The single is also slated to appear on the soundtrack for Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage, which also arrives on Friday.

Coi Leray Says Lil Durk Stopped Her From Quitting Music: ‘This Man Right Here Believed In Me’

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Over the last year, Coi Leray has become one of music’s newest stars. The New Jersey rapper went big with her viral hit “No More Parties,” which received a remix from Lil Durk. She’s also done collaborations with Pooh Shiesty and others. Despite her popularity, Leray has been criticized for a number of things, from her music to her physical appearance. There was a point where it became too much for her to handle. She even almost called it quits. However, one of her past collaborators changed her mind.

In a post on her Instagram Story, Leray revealed that Lil Durk stopped her from quitting music. “Almost gave up one day and he told me don’t ever stop,” she wrote next to a picture of herself and the Chicago rapper. “Most artist show love from a distance on some weird sh*t, but this man right here believed in me, believe[d] in ‘No More Parties’ and been behind me ever since. He know a star when he see one, and I just wanna thank you for all your support. OTF FOREVER.”

The rapper recently dropped her latest single, “Twinnem,” which was the follow-up to her confident single, “Okay Yeah,” released last month.

Pooh Shiesty is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Ashnikko Continues To Unfold Her Sound On Two New Tracks — ‘Panic Attacks In Paradise’ And ‘Maggots’

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Ashnikko made our rising pop stars list at the beginning of this year, and her fierce, darkly funny sound has continued to unfold throughout 2021. Kicking off with her Demidevil project in January, she’s been busy doing things like starring in her “Slumber Party” video with Princess Nokia and collaborating with Lady Gaga on the Dawn Of Chromatica remix album for a new version of “Plastic Doll.”

Now, she’s back with two brand new singles, and both “Panic Attacks In Paradise” and “Maggots” build on her sound in unexpected ways. Check out her thoughts on writing both singles below.

“‘Panic Attacks In Paradise’ and ‘Maggots’ were both written when I was in a very low place,” she said. “‘PAIP’ is a commentary on how much I was annoying myself at the time. I was healthy and my career was going great. I was in a metaphorical “paradise.” But alas my brain chemistry had other plans. I was an insufferable mess, so obsessed with my own hurt. I was leading it around with me like a rabid dog, letting it bite anyone I came into contact with. Where ‘PAIP’ is soft and forlorn, ‘Maggots’ is pure rage. I’m casting a protective shield of electricity around myself and daring anyone to try to cross it. I’d rather be a raging b*tch than let people take advantage of my kindness. I will take every parasite burrowing its way into my flesh and flatten it under my boots.”

Listen to the softer “Panic Attacks In Paradise” above and the rageful “Maggots” below.

Future And Lil Durk Flex All Over The FaZe Kaysan-Produced ‘Made A Way’

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FaZe Clan has built a reputation as a haven for some of the coolest personalities in e-sports, with ties to basketball through LeBron’s son FaZe Bronny and plenty of hype in the ever-growing gaming community. FaZe has always made it clear that their scope stretches well beyond just e-sports or video games, though, with a focus on becoming one of the biggest lifestyle brands in the space.

And that’s not the only space the brand is intent on conquering, as they made clear this week with the announcement of their first musician and gamer, FaZe Kaysan. Check out his introduction video below:

Not content to simply roll out this artist with a walkthrough detailing how cool his every day life is, the company also shared a new song that was co-produced by Kaysan and Wondagurl. And while plenty of hip-hop artists thrive off the collaboration ecosystem, Kaysan is coming out of the gate strong with a pair of rappers on his debut single that plenty of fledgling artists would be thrilled to have co-signs from — Future and Lil Durk. On the production side, Wondagurl was also thrilled to be involved and praised Kaysan’s enthusiasm.

“It was a lot of fun connecting with Kaysan on this project,” WondaGurl said of the track. “He has a great vibe and is super enthusiastic, two things that are really important to me when I’m working with new artists. Kaysan has a vision for himself and is driven to succeed and make his mark.”