Dua Lipa, The Killers, and Måneskin are set to headline Spain’s Mad Cool Festival this year, as the full lineup was recently finalized. With other prominent acts including Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Jessie Ware, Tyla, Sexyy Red, Janelle Monáe, Bring Me The Horizon, Avril Lavigne, Uproxx cover star Ashnikko, and more, there is truly something for everyone genre-wise.
The festival itself is set to take place in Madrid from July 10 to July 13.
Here’s what to know about getting tickets.
When Do Mad Cool Fest 2024 Tickets Go On Sale?
Since the initial first wave of the lineup was announced in December, tickets for Mad Cool Fest 2024 have already been on sale for a while. Thankfully, there are still passes available. A 4-day General Admission ticket starts at 210€ (about $227). Single-day GA tickets are priced at 89€ (about $96).
Mad Cool also has VIP passes for sale, in case you are looking for an elevated festival experience this summer. For the 4-day VIP ticket, it starts at 482€ (about $522), and a single-day VIP ticket is 187€ (about $202). This will include access to a private area with exclusive stage viewing, access to a bar and catering service, and more perks.
Additional information about Mad Cool 2024, along with buying tickets, can be found on their official website.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
As a music writer, the annual ceremony is mandatory viewing. However, as a Black woman obsessed with Black creative expression, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to overlook its flaws (covert microaggressions, racially charged snubs, and seemingly willful exclusion). Given the Grammys’ checkered past, I shouldn’t have any expectations of the event. But I just can’t abandon hope for the ceremony. Its latest categoric expansion seems to suggest that I’m not delusional for believing that the landscape of the Grammys can change for the better.
Similarly, for most musicians, divestment isn’t an easy fix either. Given the financial opportunities tethered to earning a coveted gramophone, acts are committed to the advancement of the Grammys. In the meantime, what’s the alternative? Platforming, advocating for, and investing in Black-centered ceremonies — because, yes, Black music awards shows still matter.
If not for the continued communal conversation and unapologetic displays of Black joy — such as Sexyy Red’s impromptu performance at the 2023 BET Awards — Black awards shows are also crucial for their historical preservation of Black art. Due to the erasure of Black musicians’ impact and the shrinking media sphere, archiving Black artists’ works has become more important than ever.
BET, Soul Train, and even the Source Awards (because, as André 3000 so eloquently put it: “Da Souf got sum to say”) all have carried the torch of cultural documentation when others, such as the AMAs, Grammys, and VMAs — didn’t deem it vital — or profitable. Here, we take a look at some of the award shows decided for Black entertainment in need of the public’s support.
BET Awards
The BET Awards remain the creme de la creme of Black award shows. Spanning the decades, the BET Network has introduced a variety of ceremonies to honor Black art: the namesake show, the hip-hop-centered ceremony, the BET Walk Of Fame show, the Gospel Awards, and more. Over the years, the BET Awards have served as the place for legacy acts to receive their flowers and, in turn, pass the baton to the next generation — i.e., the 2003 ceremony when Michael Jackson paid homage to James Brown.
Before Beyoncé was the global music icon she has become, the BET Awards called it first (via Mo’Nique). As other programming executives ignored the impact of Luther Vandross, the BET Awards dedicated an entire evening to the late singer. When other ceremonies failed to properly pay tribute to fallen stars, the BET Awards were there — i.e., the 2020 Prince tribute. The BET Awards also give living legends space to honor themselves, such as New Edition’s 2017 or Mary J. Blige’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement performances.
Though they aren’t perfect — no award show is — the BET Awards and all of their installments offer a constant cycle of appreciation.
Black Music Honors
Just as the title of the ceremony suggests, Black Music Honors is unapologetically Black. Firstly, instead of being held in bigger media markets like Los Angeles or New York City, Black Music Honors is hosted in Atlanta, Georgia.
From there, Black Music Honors focuses its attention on the overlooked medium entertainment demographic. The most common criticism for other shows is they tend to sway too hard in one direction (staid classics or unknown newbies) which is why viewership tends to fluctuate. With Freddie Jackson, SWV, Xscape, and Tamia as past honorees, Black Music Honors confirms Generation X and Xennials are viable audiences.
Lastly, the award show is broadcast by the historic networks: Stellar Network and the Martin Luther King III-co-founded Bounce TV, both Black-owned and Black-targeted commercial entertainment networks.
Black Girls Rock!
As one of the newer award ceremonies here on this list, Black Girls Rock! is the embodiment of what it means to focus on intersectional identities. Before the COVID pandemic put an end to its annual ceremony, the show took pride in highlighting Black women’s contributions to the arts, which often go unacknowledged.
Black Girls Rock! gained mainstream attention after former First Lady Michelle Obama attended the show in 2015. Outside of the ceremony’s focus, organizers don’t forget the less publicized details. For several years, the show was hosted in Newark, New Jersey, a majority Black city on a street named after a Black pioneer, Sarah Vaughan.
Given the city’s rich Black music history, it is the perfect place to honor Black musicians. Since its last show in 2019, a new ceremony has not yet been announced. But even in its short tenure, it created a huge ripple in television programming standards.
McDonald’s 365 Black Awards
Let’s be frank: organizing an award show isn’t a cheap undertaking. That’s why corporate sponsorship for events is so important. Believe it or not, McDonald’s is a key financial contributor to Black music programming. When the fast food chain isn’t collaborating with music’s biggest names, such as Cardi B, Saweetie, or Travis Scott, for specialty menus, it is using its ample resources for music-focused events.
The McDonald’s 365 Black Awards was one of the earliest showings of the corporate giant putting its money where the mouth is in terms of equitable opportunities for entertainers of color. Although the ceremony no longer takes place, McDonald’s hasn’t abandoned Black music events; each year, McDonald’s puts on its annual Gospel Fest.
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards is the epitome of “honoring your own.” Given the civil rights causes platformed by its presenter, the Image Awards’ focus is on acts that have injected their activism work with their entertainment career.
Sadly, the support for the show has continued to dwindle, but during its heyday, music stars like Dionne Warwick drew in massive audiences. Yes, before she was the melodic voice sampled in Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red,” Warwick was one of the very first Black pop stars. During the 1988 ceremony, the late Luther Vandross showcased just how influential Warwick’s music has been with a performance of her charitable single “That’s What Friends Are For.” The single highlighted how she’s served as an ally to the LGBTQ community, raising millions for AIDS research with Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight.
Soul Train Awards
The Soul Train Awards has been a staple in Black households for generations. Since its inception as a variety show, Soul Train has kept its finger on the pulse of Black culture. As fresh faces such as Uproxx cover star Chlöe, Coco Jones, and Fridayy burst onto the scene, the Soul Train Awards are there to welcome them into the fraternity of Black musical excellence.
Each year, the ceremony curates a polished tribute to honor acts of the present (T-Pain) and past (Babyface). One of the Soul Train’s standout tributes came in 2010 when Chrisette Michele, Kem, Tamia, El DeBarge, Dionne Farris, Lalah Hathaway, Rachelle Ferrell, Goapele, and Faith Evans honored Anita Baker.
Stellar Awards
It isn’t a coincidence that many of music’s powerhouse vocalists got their start in religious houses of worship. Gospel is the foundation of several other genres, but most notably R&B. As the first and longest-running ceremony for gospel music, The Stellar Awards continuously amplifies how deeply gospel’s roots run.
Other award shows try to spotlight gospel acts, but more often than not, those performances or acceptance speeches are not televised. But when they are, it is magical (i.e., Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, and Tamela Mann’s medley set at the 2017 Grammys).
Other genres pioneered by Black musicians, such as jazz, dance, country, and rock, have whitewashed their history books. Due to the Stellar Awards’ due diligence, the same can not be said of gospel music.
Trumpet Awards
Before Timbaland and Swizz Beatz had the multi-million dollar idea for artists to put their catalogs on display for a walk down memory lane, there was the Trumpet Awards. While Verzuz was intended to ignite a competitive spirit, the Trumpet Awards’ mission was to be commemorative.
Founded by civil rights leader and pioneering broadcasting executive Xernona Clayton, the televised event was a time capsule for acts whose legacies tend to be overlooked. The unapologetic admiration displayed by Steve Harvey during the Verzuz showdown between The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind, and Fire form the essence of a Trumpet Awards ceremony. The Trumpet Awards made sure that the influence of groups such as The O’Jays, The Whispers, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and more was not forgotten.
UNCF Benefit
Although the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) benefit isn’t exactly an award show, it surely veers that way. As it baits viewers in with culture-shifting music performances, the UNCF benefit does what others often conveniently forget to do — hold entertainers socially accountable. Before Cardi B was ranting about public funding crises on Instagram or flexing her love for world history, UNCF demanded that celebrities use their platforms to shine a light on important topics like education. Just look at Megan Thee Stallion’s outreach work as a case study. The Texas Southern University graduate didn’t let her booming rap career derail her pursuit of higher education.
The only path to success for Black children should not be tethered to their ability to sing or dribble a ball. By way of the UNCF benefit, public figures lent their voices to show that pursuing a career in the medical field, sciences, or humanities is just as important. One of UNCF’s most beloved performances was The Color Purple star Fantasia’s tribute to Patti LaBelle in 2009.
VH1 Hip Hop Honors
Long before Hip-Hop 50 programming was on the minds of any television producer, VH1’s Hip Hop Honors was one of the first series to carve out a primetime slot to celebrate rap’s titans. Across the event’s thirteen-year run, it proved to be at the forefront of flower giving, paying homage to Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Missy Elliott, Kennedy Center honoree Queen Latifah, and the original “Queen Bee” Lil Kim long before other larger established ever batted an eye.
Given the cycle in which new rappers rise and fall from fame, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for acts to cement their legacy. Contrarily, hip-hop’s issue with ageism favors newbies’ dismissal of their predecessors. The VH1 Hip Hop Honors put an end to that. For a few hours each year, you’d be taken to school. Rookies were forced to learn where their flows, samples, and fashion sensibilities derived from. Now that Hip-Hop 50 has passed, it’d be a shame if the culture stopped honoring its pioneers.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
It looks like Don Toliver is already working on a follow-up to his 2023 album Love Sick. 2024 figures to be a big year for the Houston rapper; last month, girlfriend Kali Uchis revealed she’s pregnant with couple’s first child, and today, Toliver dropped the video for his new single, “Bandit.” In the rock-inspired clip, Toliver plays the role of a biker in a gang called “Hardstone MC,” riding his chopper through the desert and throwing a grungy house party with a bevy of leather-clad revelers.
The single looks like the prelude to a full album, also possibly titled Hardstone. Shortly after releasing the video, Toliver updated his profile pic on Twitter to the Hardstone MC logo, then posted the single cover with the message “Album Soon.”
While “soon” is a pretty vague descriptor, it does seem to suggest that the album will be out sometime this year, just one year after the release of Love Sick and possibly before or after becoming a father. Of course, the fact that he is about have daddy duties may complicate his projected release schedule, but in all likelihood, he’s already factored those responsibilites into his plan. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.
You can watch the “Bandit” video above.
Don Toliver is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Eminem recently tore into Benzino on his Lyrical Lemonade All Is Yellow cut “Doomsday Pt. 2,” reigniting their decades-old feud. He threw jabs about the Source icon’s appearance, insinuated that he’s gay, and even shaded his daughter Coi Leray. This, of course, prompted Benzino to fire back with a track of his own, “Vulturius.” While Em’s track was undoubtedly tough to follow, many thought Benzino might have come out on top, and he later doubled down with yet another response, “Rap Elvis.”
While listeners remain split as to who won the battle, Joe Budden seems set on who he’s rooting for. During a recent episode of his podcast, he weighed in on Eminem and Benzino’s beef, making it clear he’s on Slim Shady’s side. He had a lot to say about Benzino too, slamming him for doing things that he thinks 50-something-year-old men just shouldn’t do.
“Maybe punching down is back,” he explained, in favor of Eminem’s track. “I’m down with anybody dissing Benzino. Y’all see him coming out the pool on some bodybuilder sh*t with the water glistening off his body trying to be like a seal or some sh*t? Old n***as shouldn’t do that. He do too much sh*t that old n***as shouldn’t do. And I know he tried to bang that transgender. I don’t care what that n***a say. I know he did!” Budden was referring to rumors that Benzino hooked up with trans model Shauna Brooks, which he’s previously denied.
“Now me and Em on the same side — look what you did, Benzino,” Budden continued. “I ain’t never had a problem with Benzino, but Benzino do make being 50 look corny.” What do you think of Benzino’s reignited feud with Eminem? What about Joe Budden’s take on the situation? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Druski is usually one to keep the internet cracking up, but this week, he’s got King Harris deep in his feelings. After seeing a promotional post casting extras for the comedian’s “Standin on Bihness” music video, T.I.’s son was compelled to go Live on Instagram and get a few things off his chest. While he’s not necessarily asserting himself as the first one to ever use the phrase, Harris does want credit for helping it blow up in the mainstream amid a nasty spat with his parents in late 2023.
“It’s time to stand on business. I ain’t create it, but I’m the one that got everybody saying it,” he ranted to viewers earlier this week. “I ain’t create it. I’d be a liar if I said I created it. That s**t’s been on years and years,” Harris further admitted. However, he did point out that athletes and other public figures didn’t use it as frequently until after his family’s viral feud. “When you ask who got the news saying it, who got ESPN saying it, who got football players saying it, who got kids saying it, who got everybody saying it, it’s me.”
Before Druski’s upcoming release helps to popularize “standing on business” even more, Harris simply wants to ensure that he gets credit where credit is due. So far, the internet seems divided on whether the 19-year-old has a point, but he definitely sounds confident in himself.
Druski’s successful run in 2023 looks to be following him into the new year as he films his “Standin On Bihness” video. Back in December, he landed beside names like Ice Spice and Latto on Forbes‘ 30 Under 30 list, and only time will tell what he’s got in store next. Read more about the outlet’s annual prestigious round-up at the link below, and tap back in with HNHH later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Lil Dicky is an artist who has certainly taken a break from releasing music. Although he is mostly known for his comedic tracks that embody a specific concept, he has since pivoted to television. His show Dave was a hit, even if it might never come back. Regardless, Dicky is someone that fans have gravitated towards. Overall, he is a funny guy, and he has gotten co-signs from some pretty massive artists. Having said that, he recently chopped it up with Andrew Schulz, where they spoke on a plethora of topics.
During one portion of the conversation, they discussed none other than Kanye West. As it turns out, Dicky knows Ye very well, and it is all because they played rec-league basketball together. The artist and actor said he used to guard Ye while playing three-on-three full-court basketball. Moreover, Ye used to invite him over to his house and they would listen to music together. Needless to say, they had a bromance going on. Unfortunately, Ye changed his number, as he does every so often. From there, Dicky lost contact with him.
Subsequently, they spoke about how Ye has had an anti-semitic streak as of late. Dicky defended Ye a bit, saying that Kanye knew he was Jewish and always treated him with kindness and respect. Schulz offered some pushback there, especially given everything that Ye has been saying this past year. However, Dicky is confident that Ye will do what is right and that while he oftentimes says the wrong thing, he has no hate in his heart. Only time will tell whether or not Kanye is able to prove Lil Dicky correct on that one.
Let us know what you think of Lil Dicky’s story, in the comments section below. Also, are you hoping for another season of Dave? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming releases.
Nicki Minaj is climbing to new levels of controversy in recent days. It all began when her beef with Megan Thee Stallion erupted over the weekend causing Nicki to tweet near constantly for the entire weekend. Many of these tweets ran incredibly incoherent sometimes even stretching to hundreds of words. That culminated in a diss track called “Big Foot” that she unleashed at the end of the weekend. The track received massive ridicule from fans online for a lack of clever bars and numerous claims that were found to be straight-up lies.
Nicki doubled down on her controversy earlier this week during a Twitter space with Joe Budden. She was discussing Megan Thee Stallion’s shooting incident with Tory Lanez. She claimed that Megan wanted to have her own “Rihanna moment.” The comparison of traumas was just one of the numerous issues fans have with her insensitive statement. Seemingly by complete coincidence, conservative pundit Ben Shapiro found himself weirdly wrapped up in the beef. He made his introduction to rap, a genre he once called not real music, with a feature on Tom MacDonald’s new song. During his verse, he makes lyrical references to Megan’s hit “WAP” and even mentions Nicki by name. And Minaj was clearly listening to what he had to say.
“Wait til they ‘wake up’ & listen to what Ben Shapiro is saying in #Facts The ‘outrage’ on this one will be a tad bit delayed,” Nicki said in a new tweet. As you’d expect the cosigning of a controversial right wing politician didn’t sit well with many. Fan backlash was abundant in the replies.
“The same man who disrespected you and your music for years? The same man who also hates illegal immigrants? You can’t be serious nicki, this man stands against your whole being as a black woman who had to come here illegally as a child,” one fan points out in the top reply to her post. Others took more of a joking route implying that Minaj has fallen pretty far from grace. What do you think of Nicki Minaj’s new tweet endorsing Ben Shapiro’s new song “FACTS?” Let us know in the comment section below.
At the beginning of this year, DDG and Halle Bailey finally announced the arrival of their first child, Halo. The exciting news came after months of rampant pregnancy rumors, which the high-profile did their best to squash. Fans had their suspicions regardless, and were thrilled to learn that they had been correct.
Since introducing their newborn to the world, the couple has been showing off their journey on social media, appearing to have fun with the transition. DDG, for example, recently dubbed himself the “World’s fastest bottle maker super dad” after preparing a bottle for Halo in seconds. Bailey has been open about her recovery, and has even shared some behind-the-scenes photos of her attempts at hiding her baby bump. They also frequently share adorable photos of their newborn, though they’ve chosen to censor his face for privacy.
DDG recently shared a sweet selfie with baby Halo on Twitter, however, telling fans he looks “just like his daddy.” Of course, he didn’t actually unveil Halo’s face, instead swapping it with his own. While some commenters are disappointed as they figured they’d finally be getting a genuine “face reveal,” others aren’t surprised. Earlier this month, after Halo’s birth was confirmed, insiders chatted with US Weekly to reveal why the pair chose to keep him a secret in the first place.
According to them, they were simply aiming to “protect” their then-unborn child, as well as their relationship. “Halle told friends it was to protect their baby and relationship from scrutiny, but it was all very strange to those around them, especially when she has had such a huge year in movies,” the source explained. Bailey later shared that she kept off of social media throughout her pregnancy to keep herself “sane” amid the speculation. What do you think of DDG putting his face on baby Halo’s? Are you waiting on a real face reveal, or do you think they should keep Halo out of the spotlight? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Spain’s popular Mad Cool Festival recently announced their 2024 lineup in full, with Dua Lipa, The Killers, and Måneskin set to headline this year. The fest will be held in Madrid from July 10 to July 13.
Other key acts on the bill include Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Jessie Ware, Tyla, Sexyy Red, Janelle Monáe, Bring Me The Horizon, Avril Lavigne, Uproxx cover star Ashnikko, and many more who were announced with the first wave reveal in December.
Here’s what to know for those hoping to catch their favorite performers in Madrid this summer.
How To Buy Tickets For Mad Cool Fest 2024
Tickets for Mad Cool Fest 2024 are currently on sale through their website. For those looking for a 4-day General Admission pass this year, prices start at 210€ (around $227), and single-day tickets run for 89€ (~$96).
They are also offering options for VIP passes, which include special views from an exclusive VIP area, a bar and catering service, and more exclusive perks. A 4-day VIP ticket starts at 482€ (approx. $522), and single-day options start at 187€ (approx. $202).
More information about Madrid’s Mad Cool Fest can be found on their website.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Juicy J has seemingly taken a side in the beef between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion, although it’s not an overt line in the sand. Still, there are very little other ways to interpret his support on Twitter of the latter’s newest single “HISS,” which is what ignited this outright battle in the first place. However, it wasn’t the song to start this spat, as the two sent subliminal shots at each other long before Queen Barb retaliated with “Big Foot.” You can also argue that this fiery revisit mostly owed itself to Nicki’s response to the “Megan’s Law” bar seemingly referencing her husband’s sex offender status, but that could apply as a general line in a lot of circumstances.
Furthermore, Juicy J didn’t like a tweet shading Nicki Minaj, retweet a disparaging comment, or say anything about the beef specifically. He simply quote-tweeted “Let’s go!” on a promotional video and thankful message from Megan Thee Stallion for fans’ support, encouraging them to keep watching the music video and listening to the track. For those unaware, the Three 6 Mafia legend and the Houston superstar have collaborated often in the past, such as 2019’s “Three Point Stance” with additional support from the City Girls. As such, this respect between collaborators is hardly surprising.
Another example came as recently as last August, when Megan Thee Stallion and Juicy J filmed a TikTok together. Regardless of that bond, he didn’t really ever outwardly diss or suggest any animosity with Nicki Minaj, another MC that he worked with in the past on tracks like 2014’s “Low” with Lil Bibby and Young Thug. With that in mind, we don’t think this endorsement is anti-Roman, but rather just an artist supporting another. Perhaps there’s more behind-the-scenes tea about this that we’re still not privy to.
Meanwhile, “HISS” is on the path to massive success, on pace to cinch Meg’s first solo number one hit. “Big Foot” is doing very well too, though, and once both tracks have been out for a full week, we can really break down the numbers. Do you think Juicy J has the pull to turn the tide? Hit the comments below with your takes and, for more news on him and the latest updates on Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj, stay logged into HNHH.
look just like his daddy 