THE LATE SHOW

Nicki Minaj Prompts Stephen Colbert With A Rap Battle And Ends Up Stunned By His Response

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In the wake of the release of her new album Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj is doing plenty of interviews and making the rounds discussing and performing material from the project. That included an appearance on The Late Show alongside host Stephen Colbert. The pair have crossed paths in the past and spawned funny results so it’s no surprise that they’re once again going viral. This time, she tries to queue him into a freestyle and ends up stunned by what he delivers.

In her freestyle, Nicki flirts with Stephen a bit cracking a joke about how she could marry him. But the married host is prepared, delivering a bar right back at her that leaves Nicki’s jaw dropped. In the comments of the video, fans hype up Colbert for his response. “his wife home like ‘yea that’s what I thought’” one of the top comments reads. “This how I need my man. OFF LIMITS,” and “Steven said you know who won’t be on the couch tonight?! ME!” two others read. Check out the hilarious clip from last night’s show below.

Read More: What Is Nicki Minaj’s Best-Selling Album?

Nicki Minaj And Steven Colbert

Given the hype for Pink Friday 2 leading up to the album, it’s no surprise that the record has performed so well commercially. It shot to the very top of the Billboard 200 in its first week. But it didn’t just debut at the top spot, it absolutely lapped the competition. The album debuted with over 200k sales in its first week putting it among the 10 biggest first week sales totals of the year.

14 songs from the album also made their way into the Hot 100 this week. Three of them, including “Everybody” with Lil Uzi Vert and “Needle” with Drake landed inside the top 50. That’s particularly impressive for this time of year when the majority of the top 50 on the chart is occupied by Christmas songs. Nicki also scored her first-ever chart-topper on the Hot Gospel Songs chart. She collaborated with gospel singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard on the track “Blessings” which sits atop the chart this week. What do you think of Stephen Colbert’s response to Nicki Minaj’s freestyle prompt? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: What Was Nicki Minaj’s Debut Single?

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The Best Live Music Performances On TV From The Past Week

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offset don toliver
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The best musical performances from the past week of late-night TV include sets from Offset, Davido, The National, and more. Uproxx has the rundown below so you can catch up or relive your favorites. Here are the best live music performances on TV from the past week.

Offset & Don Toliver:

Fresh from the release of his second solo album, Set It Off, Offset stopped by 30 Rock to deliver a grooving performance of his song “Worth It” alongside Don Toliver on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. With the stage reflecting a summery beach setting in contrast to the actual weather outside, the set was much more appropriate for the upbeat single, which samples Busta Rhymes’ “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See.”

Davido:

Speaking of summery songs, there is perhaps no genre as full of them as Afrobeats. One of that genre’s biggest stars, Davido, also hit the Tonight Show stage for an exuberant performance, playing a medley of his songs “Feel” and “Unavailable,” flanked by a pair of joyous dancers and backed by a lustrous, brassy band.

The National:

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert is known for bringing in not just high-profile talent, but also some of the headiest. The National offered a prime example of this tendency with a moody performance of their song “Space Invader” from Laugh Track.

Alec Benjamin:

Rising star Alec Benjamin dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a soulful performance of “Different Kind Of Beautiful.” The introspective track was complemented by setting the stage as a cozy bedroom, complete with a record player, reading lamp, and even a laptop open to Pro Tools.

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

Here Are The Best Live Music Performances On TV From The Past Week

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ice spice
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Throughout the past week, some of the biggest artists have taken over various television shows to deliver incredible performances. Some of those might have been missed in the day-to-day shuffle, so continue scrolling for a roundup of some of this week’s best.

Ice Spice

Over the weekend, Ice Spice appeared as the musical guest for Saturday Night Live‘s return episode. Not only was Pete Davidson the host, but she was also introduced by none other than her “Karma” collaborator, Taylor Swift. The Bronx rapper went on to perform “In Ha Mood” and her latest single, “Pretty Girl,” with Rema.

Kelly Clarkson

Although Kelly Clarkson has her own show, that doesn’t stop her from popping up on other ones. She dropped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to deliver a mesmerizing “Lighthouse” performance, from her recent album, Chemistry.

Raye

Raye was also among The Tonight Show musical guests this past week, as she had to cancel a concert to take the opportunity. Her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, dropped earlier this year, and she played a mashup of her hit, “Escapism,” and “Worth It.”

Wilco

Over at Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Wilco dropped by to play “Evicted,” bringing the chill, psychedelic vibes to the excited crowd. The track is featured on the band’s new album, Cousin.

Måneskin

Måneskin honored the upcoming deluxe version of their album, Rush!, by also joining Jimmy Kimmel’s musical lineup this past week. They played one of the additions, “Honey (Are U Coming).”

Metric

Moving over to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Metric performed “Just The Once” from their forthcoming Formentera II album.

Lovejoy

Lovejoy’s “Call Me What You Like” rendition aired on The Late Show this past week. While the video wasn’t live, as it was filmed in Poland earlier this year, it still gives new viewers an introduction to the band — as they rock out under blue lighting.

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

Here Are The Musical Guests For ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ This Week

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Boygenius
Matt Grubb

After 148 days, the Writers Guild Of America strike is over. The most immediate apparent change in light of that is this week’s return of late-night TV shows. That also means the return of late-night TV musical performances, so here are the artists taking the stage on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert this week.

Louis Cato — Monday, October 2

Cato, who took over as The Late Show‘s bandleader after Jon Batiste’s departure in 2022, was a natural choice to perform on the show’s first night back. He delivered a rendition of “Reflections,” the title track from his latest album.

Boygenius — Tuesday, October 3

This performance is perfect timing for Boygenius: The trio (Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker) just announced their new EP The Rest and they’re playing at the Hollywood Bowl later this month.

Japanese Breakfast — Wednesday, October 4

Michelle Zauner became a literary star over the past couple years with her successful memoir Crying In H Mart. Her latest Japanese Breakfast album is 2021’s Jubilee, so a song from that feels likely for her Colbert performance.

Thursday, October 5

As of this post, there is currently no musical guest listed for the Thursday episode, per TV Guide.

Friday, October 6

As of this post, the guests for the Friday episode have yet to be announced, per TV Guide.

Little Simz’s Performance Of ‘Heart On Fire’ On ‘Colbert’ Is Chilling Look At Mental Health Struggles

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Little Simz’s latest album, No Thank You, is the hip-hop gift that keeps on giving. After its surprise release late last year, the UK rapper has been tactic yet patient with her promotional efforts. Immediately following the announcement of the project by way of a supporting short film, the musician took to social media to share a poignant message: “Emotion is energy in motion. Honor your truth and feelings. Eradicate fear. Boundaries are important.”

Just days ago, Simz took to the BAFTA stage to perform the latest single off the album, “Heart On Fire.” Now, continuing her live performance run of the single, she stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to do the same. With The Harlem Gospel Choir, The B-String Quartet, and The Late Show band, Simz delivered a chilling rendition of the track.

Differing from her BAFTA set design, Simz focused in on the reclusive nature of the song. Seated in an antique wooden chair and dressed in an elegant draped white gown, Simz raps the song. As the camera pans out, it is revealed Simz is not just staring into the void, she’s been dictating these hard-hitting truths to herself as she’s emotionlessly staring into a framed mirror. After Simz transitions out of her depressive solitude, she walks into the light as she joins The Harlem Gospel Choir and The B-String Quartet center stage.

The opening lyrics — “It’s a setup and you’ll be next to those prior / The devil works hard, but the business works harder / I vowed from now to work smarter” — sting, especially given that the star has been open about her mental health struggles which caused her to cancel her tour last year.

But Simz wants to ensure fans that despite her struggles, she has a few guardian angels, as she raps, “They won’t do it like us, for the people, by us / Why they wanna fight? Our spirit on higher / God made truth of everything I desire / I ain’t need much, as long as I got my baby, he a rider.”

If that wasn’t enough reassurance the chorus drills it home, as Simz raps, “My life is a blessing / But it comes with the stresses / And I can take it all / Just don’t let me down when I’m in the fire.”

Watch Little Simz perform “Heart On Fire” on The Late Show above.

Vic Mensa Performed His Dreamy New Single ‘Strawberry Louis Vuitton’ With Phony Ppl On ‘Colbert’

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Vic Mensa is on the comeback trail after releasing his spacey new single, “Strawberry Louis Vuitton,” with Thundercat and Maeta. On Wednesday night, he dropped by The Late Show to perform a dreamy rendition of the new song. While Thundercat had to sit this one out, Vic found the perfect replacement in Phony Ppl, the groovy R&B band that is starting to really discover its niche backing fellow rappers like Joey Badass and Megan Thee Stallion.

The five-piece band picks up the groove, providing a smooth counterpoint to Vic’s rough-edged but tender come-ons. Maeta, who features on the original, also appears here, providing backing vocals and cutting through with her honeyed ad-libs.

Mensa’s 2023 is off to a hot start. In addition to releasing the well-received “Strawberry Louis Vuitton,” he and fellow Chicagoan Chance The Rapper hosted their Black Star Line Festival in Accra, Ghana last month, bringing their message of unity to Vic’s father’s home country. The festival also afforded Vic the opportunity to provide clean water to 200,000 people in Ghana by building new water boreholes in locations that have historically gone without. Could all this activity mean that a new Vic Mensa album is on the way after six years without one? Let’s hope so!

Watch Vic Mensa perform “Strawberry Louis Vuitton” on The Late Show above.

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

‘Colbert’ Made Perfect Use Of DJ Khaled Clips To Recap Kevin McCarthy’s Drawn-Out Bid To Become Speaker Of The House

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Over the weekend, Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker Of The House. It took four days and 15 votes to get here, but here we are. Now the late-night shows have gotten a hold of the news and run with it on their Monday (January 9) episodes, including The Late Show. Steven Colbert’s staff’s take on the situation made use of some choice DJ Khaled clips.

The brief segment is introduced, “And now, a summary of Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become Speaker Of The House, featuring DJ Khaled.” From there, a Khaled-style instrumental played under news clips about the McCarthy proceedings, and as the various anchors share news of each subsequent vote, a Khaled clips interjects with one of the producer’s classic catchphrases: “Another one.” The video ends with an anchor noting, “The concessions to the right that led to his victory could leave him the weakest Speaker in modern history.” To that, clip Khaled responded, “Congratulations: you played yourself.”

As for what Khaled has been up to lately, he was recently pretty happy after buying Eminem’s Nike Air Jordan 4 “Encore” sneakers. Meanwhile, looking forward, he’s one of the most-nominated hip-hop artists at the upcoming 2023 Grammy Awards.

Check out the Colbert segment above.

Alicia Keys Brought Big Christmas Energy To ‘The Late Show’ With Gorgeous Covers Of Holiday Classics

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Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys is keeping her holiday spirit going. After performing at the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in November, Keys released her first Christmas album, Santa Baby. The songwriter stopped by The Late Show with host Stephen Colbert to share the news of the project with a live performance of the title track.

Sporting a posh white floor-length faux fur and statuesque gold sequined body suit, Keys took the stage to belt out the classic tune. Playing into her signature R&B vocal delivery, Keys still managed to sprinkle in the cabaret stylings of the song’s originator, Eartha Kitt. Keys, a trained pianist, opted out of playing to focus on her vocal performance while house musicians handled the instrumentation.

She also delivered a bonus performance of “Please Come Home For Christmas.”

Before her performance, the musician sat down with Colbert to discuss why she dedicated to the record the album, to which she replied, “It was time.”

The pair also discussed her past collaboration with singer Brandi Carlile. Carlisle recently covered folk icon Joni Mitchell’s Blue album as a tribute to the singer. When asked if there’s an artist’s album she would love to cover, Keys answered, “I feel like if I were to pick one, it would probably have to be Songs In The Key Of Life.”

Keys has, on numerous occasions, expressed her admiration for revered musician Stevie Wonder. Keys continued, “I tell you what, it wouldn’t be easy though. It would not be easy. That would be hard because there’s nobody who can play like Stevie Wonder. Period. End of story. You can try as hard as you can, but you’re not going to get that cord exactly right. But that would be amazing.”

Watch Keys’ performances above and her interview below.

Santa Baby is out now via Alicia Keys Records. Get it here.

Jon Batiste Leaves ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ After Seven Years As Bandleader

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On September 8, 2015, the debut episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert aired. Aside from Colbert himself, a major part of the show’s identity was Jon Batiste and his Stay Human house band. Since early June this year, Batiste has actually been away from the show on a break, so band member Louis Cato has been filling in as leader. Now, that change has been made permanent: On last night’s Late Show, Colbert announced that Batiste is leaving the program after just shy of seven years.

Colbert shared the news last night, saying, “Sharp-eyed viewers may have noticed that Jon hasn’t been here this summer. Well, I have an update: Jon has decided to leave the show.” That got an “aww” from the audience and Colbert continued, “I know, I feel the same way, but it’s for all the best reasons, including to continue sharing his art with the world.”

He added, “We have been so lucky to have a front-row seat to Jon’s incredible talent for the past seven years, and will we miss him here? [Batiste voice] ‘Yeeaah! Yeeaah!’ But we’re happy for you, Jon, and I can’t wait to have you back on as a guest with your next hit record. I love you.”

Colbert went on to reveal that Cato is taking over as bandleader and that the house band is now called The Late Show Band.

Batiste has yet to offer a statement about leaving the show. He’s definitely in the midst of a career high-point, though: Earlier this year, he got five Grammy wins (including Album Of The Year for We Are) off a whopping 11 nominations, and he’ll soon be making his acting debut in a remake of The Color Purple.

Run The Jewels Stage A Rebellious ‘Late Show’ Performance Of ‘A Few Words For The Firing Squad’

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When Run The Jewels dropped their fourth album in June 2020, they closed the album with the rambunctious “A Few Words For The Firing Squad.” It was a bold and fitting choice; the album was released at the height of several uprisings against police brutality, particularly against the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The punishing track stressed their distrust of the system and commitment to fighting back by any means necessary.

It has been a couple of years and a whole heap of new problems has appeared to burden the average American citizen with worries about pox viruses, inflation, and the loss of bodily autonomy, but “A Few Words For The Firing Squad” remains as poignant and timely as ever. El-P and Killer Mike stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to remind viewers that there’s still a fight for justice going on even amidst the slog of daily life during a pandemic.

With a stripped-down that highlighted the lyrics and message in lieu of an elaborate light show, Mike and P rap their verses without a drum track. Only a lone saxophonist accompanies them, growing more urgent and frantic as their rhymes do. You can catch the boys performing the song — and others — on their tour with Rage Against The Machine.

Watch Run The Jewels perform “A Few Words For The Firing Squad” from their fourth album on The Late Show above.