Pop

Blue Ivy Carter And Beyoncé Will Bring Their Mother-Daughter Dynamic To ‘Mufasa: The Lion King,’ A New Trailer Reveals

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Blue Ivy Carter held her own as a dancer on Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, and she must have really enjoyed working with her mom — who wouldn’t when your mom is Beyoncé? — because the two are joining forces again for the Barry Jenkins-directed Mufasa: The Lion King.

The 90-second trailer released on Monday morning, April 29, featuring Beyoncé voicing Nala and 12-year-old Blue Ivy is voicing a brand-new character, Kiara, Nala and Simba’s daughter. According to the YouTube description, the prequel movie centers on Rafiki “to relay the legend of Mufasa” to Kiara, “with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick.” Donald Glover reprises his voiceover role of Simba, and Aaron Pierre voices Mufasa.

“A buddy of mine, Matthew Cherry, made the short film called Hair Love that Blue Ivy did the audio book of,” Jenkins told Entertainment Weekly. “Starting this project and just having that in the ether, I was like, ‘Is it worth a shot? Would Blue Ivy want to do it? Would Beyoncé want to act opposite her daughter? Is it too close to home?’ But once we put the question to them, they both responded with enthusiasm.”

Jenkins added, “What’s crazy is we made the film, and then the Renaissance tour happened, and I think Blue really grew up over the course of that tour. So the Blue Ivy you see in this film, it’s like a time capsule, this very, very, very young stage of her life, and she got to share it with her mom. So, I thought there was some synergy. It could be beautiful.”

Watch the Mufasa: The Lion King trailer above.

Doja Cat Goes NSFW To Explain Why Parents Going To Her Concerts Shouldn’t Bring Their Kids

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Doja Cat frequently raps and sings about explicit topics in her music. At the same time, “Say So” was one of the biggest pop hits of 2020 and is a song that listeners of all ages can get into. So, this could create an issue where a younger fan wanting to see Doja live could be exposed to material their parents would find objectionable and problematic.

It would seem Doja has encountered criticism about this recently or has at least been thinking about the topic: Late last night/early this morning (April 26), she wrote in a trio of tweets, “idk what the f*ck you think this is but i don’t make music for children so leave your kids at home motherf*cker,” “im rapping about c*m why are you bringing your offspring to my show,” and “rappin about eatin dick and pissin on his v-cut, leave your mistake at home*.”

Meanwhile, she recently had a more laissez-faire reaction to the deluxe edition of Scarlet leaking, tweeting, “its definitely messed up cuz i wanted to put it out myself but theres nothing i can do about it!! thats just how its gonna be but at least i can just keep being creative and look forward to the awesome things i have coming up!!”

Normani’s Long-Awaited Debut Album ‘Dopamine’ Has A Release Date At Long Last

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Ever since Fifth Harmony went on hiatus in 2018, fans have been waiting for Normani to drop her debut solo album. She has delivered the top-10 singles “Love Lies” with Khalid and “Dancing With A Stranger”” with Sam Smith, but as of 2024, fans are still waiting for the album.

That’s about to change soon, though. In February, Normani, at long last, announced that her debut album is called Dopamine, and that it is set for a 2024 release. Now, we have more concrete release date info.

Today (April 26), Normani shared “1:59,” a new single featuring Gunna. Alongside that song came confirmation that Dopamine is scheduled for release on June 14.

In a February interview with Who What Wear, Normani said of the album, “For me, this upcoming album is not just about music coming out. It feels like a representation of everything I’ve gone through to get to this moment. I know I needed time, experiences, and space coming out of [Fifth Harmony] in order to become the version of myself I needed to be. Without [all of that], I would not be able to exist within the creative space that I am in now. I would not be able to make the type of music I’m making now.”

Dopamine is out 6/14 via RCA Records. Find more information here.

Normani And Gunna Make Sultry Plans On ‘1:59,’ Normani’s Lead Single From ‘Dopamine’

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Normani has given new meaning to long-awaited. Her fans have been waiting for her debut full-length studio album for five-plus years, and she finally announced Dopamine alongside its cover art in February. By late March, an X (formerly Twitter) user circled back with Normani about the silence since her album announcement, to which Normani replied that she’d address the matter the following day, and she did — announcing the lead single “1:59” featuring Gunna would arrive on April 26.

As promised, “1:59” is here. Plus, Normani finally confirmed that Dopamine will be released on June 14. As it were, the slow-burning R&B banger finds Normani just as tired of waiting around as her fans. “When I get you alone / Boy, what you gon’ do with it?” Normani sings, her vocals as strong as ever. “Don’t talk too much, just do this sh*t.” Gunna’s sings back to her, promising “You gon’ like the things I do.”

The sultry song is Normani’s first release since she collaborated with Sam Smith on the 2019 earworm “Dancing With A Stranger,” which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, Gunna is 10 days removed from announcing One Of Wun as his next album.

While “1:59” is the official lead single from Dopamine, Normani gave a taste of “Candy Paint” in a Bose ad last summer.

Listen to “1:59” above.

Dopamine is out 6/14 via RCA Records. Find more information here.

Machine Gun Kelly Doesn’t ‘Want Any Smoke’ With Taylor Swift’s Fan Base As He Refuses To Diss Her

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People, generally speaking, like Taylor Swift; The fact that her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, just became the first project to accumulate 1 billion Spotify streams in a single week is evidence of that. Pair that with the fact that her Swiftie fan base is a passionate crew and it’s not often that you see people dissing Swift. With that in mind (and also accounting for the fact that he just likes her), Machine Gun Kelly absolutely refused to go after Swift.

This happened on yesterday’s (April 24) episode of Hot Ones Versus, a spin-off of the popular Hot Ones series in which two celebrity guests play a version of truth or dare, in which they have to eat a spicy wing to avoid responding to a potentially difficult question or prompt. MGK was paired up with Trippie Redd, and Redd asked MGK to say three bad things about Swift.

Kelly deadpanned to the camera and declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, you have got to be out of your motherf*cking mind if you think I want any smoke with that fan base. Also, Taylor is a saint and very nice to me, and Travis is my bro.”

Redd jokingly responded, “Kiss her feet while you’re at it,” and MGK replied, “Jesus Christ… I just… bro, she’s very nice! She’s very, very nice.”

Watch the Hot Ones Versus episode above.

Usher’s Teenage Son Stole Usher’s Phone To Finesse Meeting PinkPantheress, And Usher’s Retelling Of The Saga Is Hilarious

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Usher has access to anyone at any time, and his son knows it. Naviyd, 15, did what any teenager would do in his position: Steal your world-famous father’s phone and hit up PinkPantheress.

“So…a week or so ago my son, Naviyd, stole my phone so he could dm his favorite artist @pinkpantheress,” Usher shared on his Instagram Story on Wednesday night, April 24.

The next post is a screenshot of Naviyd’s DM from April 9, reading, “Hello this is Usher’s son Naviyd I’m you true biggest fan please follow me back @_naviyd_ I put him on to masterpieces.” PinkPantheress graciously replied, “hahahahahaa this is wild!”

Next, Usher recounted what happened from his perspective, writing, “Now I just so happened to check my DMs earlier this past week and saw a message exchange from someone with a Powerpuff girl as their profile pic…so I’m like the hell is this.” (PinkPantheress’ Instagram icon is the Powerpuff girl Buttercup.)

Usher continued, “I open it and I’m like oh this boy done DMd this girl from my damn phone..” The following post is another screenshot — this time, showing Usher messaging an apology to PinkPantheress: “I’m so sorry … my son is a super fan.” Again, PinkPantheress was extremely gracious and replied, “don’t apologise! happy to have this interaction. I’d love to host y’all at the next show.”

Usher explained on his subsequent Instagram Story posts that he initially pretended that Naviyd “wasn’t allowed to go” to PinkPantheress’ Capable Of Love Tour “because he did the MOST just to connect with her on my account,” but he let him go to reward Naviyd’s super-fandom, which led to PinkPantheress taking a photo with Naviyd backstage and FaceTiming with Usher.

“PARENTAL TAKEAWAY,” Usher wrote, in conclusion. “This was a great moment for Naviyd … this was him movin on something he was passionate about. Yes… he violated my trust in the process and for that I will never trust him around my phone, but I should have known better. Nonetheless, I appreciate the hustle and him makin’ it happen. From a text, to a concert, to the artist. He masterminded this whole thing and made it happen.”

See all of the posts below.

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When Will The 2024 MTV VMAs Be Held?

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The MTV Video Music Awards have built quite a legacy: This year’s show will mark the event’s 40th anniversary. Speaking of the 2024 VMAs, when is that going down?

When Will The 2024 MTV VMAs Be Held?

MTV announced today (April 24) that this year’s ceremony will take place on September 10 at New York’s UBS Arena.

In a statement (as Deadline reports), Bruce Gillmer — President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+ — said, “We’re excited to bring this year’s VMAs to UBS Arena, one of the country’s newest and most cutting-edge venues. Celebrating one of music’s biggest nights with the incredible, robust New York area fans is something we’ve been looking forward to since the moment last year’s show ended.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also said, “We are excited to welcome back the MTV Video Music Awards to New York State. From its origins at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 to this September’s event at the UBS Arena, the VMAs continue to captivate millions, showcasing the very best in music video artistry. As we prepare to host this 40th anniversary event, let’s embrace the spirit of creativity and innovation that defines our state’s cultural landscape.”

A specific time for the broadcast has not yet been announced. As Deadline notes, though, the ceremony will air “across MTV’s linear and digital platforms in more than 150 countries and territories.”

Spotify Was Surprised That Laying Off 1,500 People Would ‘Disrupt’ Operations As Much As It Has

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In 2023, Spotify turned a ton of their employees into former employees via layoffs that impacted about 2,300 people. The biggest of those cuts was a round of layoffs that was announced in December, which left 1,500 folks without jobs. It turns out that getting rid of that many people had a significant impact on the company’s day-to-day, more so than they expected.

As Business Insider reports, per a transcript, Ek said in an earnings call on April 23, “Although there’s no question that it was the right strategic decision, it did disrupt our day-to-day operations more than we anticipate. It took us some time to find our footing, but more than four months into this transition, I think we’re back on track. I expect to continue improving on our execution throughout the year, getting us to an even better place than we’ve ever been.”

Per Business Insider’s report, Spotify reported a 2024 first-quarter profit of $210 million, compared to a loss of about $241 million in the same period of 2023.

Elsewhere, Ek said, “Next year, our focus may return to top-of-the-funnel user growth, but in the near-term, monetization remains our top priority. Bottom-line, we are really good at pivoting our attention when it makes sense. When I say pivot, I really mean making tweaks that will get us to an even better outcome. And because of our ability to do this, I have no doubt that we will be able to recapture top-of-the-funnel growth over time as it becomes more of a focus area for the team.”

(Insider defines “top of the funnel” as referring to “the marketing activities carried out to create awareness about a brand or product.”)

How To Buy Tickets For Outside Lands Festival 2024

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Coachella is officially over, but all that means is that festival season has just begun. It’s still early in the year and there are plenty of major events yet to come. That includes San Francisco favorite Outside Lands, which hits Golden Gate Park from August 9 to 11. The lineup was announced today (April 23) and it features Tyler The Creator, The Killers, Post Malone (performing a “special country set”), Sturgill Simpson, and more.

If that sounds cool, here’s what to know about getting tickets.

How To Buy Tickets For Outside Lands Festival 2024

Tickets go on sale starting on April 24 at 10 a.m. PT. As for pricing, 3-Day GA tickets are $465 plus fees, 3-Day GA+ tickets go for $715 plus fees, and 3-Day VIP tickets cost $1,075 plus fees. If that sounds like a lot at once, payment plans are available, starting at $99 down for GA, $159 down for GA+, and $199 down for VIP.

Visit the Outside Lands website for more information. The site includes a handy chart that breaks down the perks that come with each tier of ticket, making it easier to choose the right option for you.

Aside from the aforementioned artists, the lineup also features The Postal Service, Grace Jones, Kaytranada, Jungle, Chappell Roan, Tyla, Slowdive, Idris Elba, The Last Dinner Party, Victoria Monét, and others.

Pitbull And T-Pain Will Take Over North America This Summer On Their ‘Party After Dark Tour’

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Pitbull, in case you’re somehow not aware, is Mr. Worldwide (or Mr. Armando Christian Pérez if you’re looking at his driver’s license). Well, in a few months, he’s going to be Mr. United States: Today (April 23), he announced the Party After Dark Tour, on which he’ll be joined by special guest T-Pain.

The trek runs from late August to early October and includes stops in New York, Virginia, California, and some other states. Lil Jon will be there for a couple of dates, too.

Tickets are set to go on sale starting on April 26 at 10 a.m. local time via Live Nation. VIP packages — including things like a backstage tour, VIP lounge, and photo opportunities — are also available and more information can be found here.

Check out the full list of tour dates below.

Pitbull And T-Pain 2024 Tour Dates: Party After Dark Tour

08/21 — Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
08/23 — Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
08/24 — Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium
08/25 — Queens, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
08/29 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
08/30 — Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
08/31 — Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
09/01 — Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
09/04 — Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
09/06 — Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
09/07 — Syracuse, NY @ Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
09/08 — Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPAC
09/12 — Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health At Jones Beach Theater
09/13 — Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
09/14 — Bangor, ME @ Maine Savings Amphitheater
09/15 — Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
09/18 — Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake
09/19 — Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
09/21 — Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
09/22 — St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
09/25 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/27 — Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater*
09/28 — Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
10/03 — Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*
10/04 — Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/05 — Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater

* with Lil Jon