Author: Oliver
Joe Budden, known for his candid opinions on Drake, recently expressed his thoughts on the rapper’s track “Family Matters” during a December 19 episode of The Joe Budden Podcast. Reflecting on the song, Budden praised it for aging well, declaring, “That record ends the rest of y’all. That song, it does the job to the field. It’s aged well. … That record is hard y’all.” He went on to say that Drake should have maintained that same energy during his rap battle with Kendrick Lamar. On the track, Drake rapped lines like, “Good kid, m.A.A.d city van, we’ll pop the…
On Friday, December 20, Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) issued statements addressing their ongoing legal proceedings with Drake. A spokesperson for Spotify clarified that there was no arrangement between UMG and Spotify to offer “Not Like Us” at a 30 percent reduced licensing rate in exchange for Spotify recommending the song to users searching for other artists or tracks. The streaming service denied the allegations made by Drake, calling them “speculative” and “far-fetched.” Known for his outspoken opinions on the music industry, Drake’s latest legal actions have sparked a wider conversation about fraudulent streaming practices. This follows his previous…
GloRilla and Kehlani are embracing the holiday season with their first-ever collaboration, “Xmas Time,” released at midnight on Friday, Dec. 13. The festive track brings both artists together for a heartwarming celebration of family and the Christmas spirit. In the snow-filled visual, Kehlani dons a fur-trimmed leather jacket, delivering a dreamy chorus about cherishing moments with loved ones. GloRilla, dressed in all white, reflects on her childhood Christmases and expresses gratitude to her parents for “birthing a baddie.” The song opens with GloRilla rapping, “It’s that time of the year to get exactly what you wishin’/ It’s time to be…
Tory Lanez Reflects on Megan Thee Stallion Incident in New Song “HANDLING BUSINESS” BY Malcolm Trapp / 12.13.2024 Tory Lanez revisited the events of the July 2020 shooting involving Megan Thee Stallion in his latest release, “HANDLING BUSINESS,” a collaboration with rapper DDG. In the track, Lanez raps, “Shorty, my city talk about me highly, know that these b**ches never can deny me/ Only one thing I regret on that night is jumpin’ up outta the pool with Kylie,” referencing the heated argument that took place after leaving Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood home. Lanez was convicted in 2023 on three felony…
A few weeks after Drake alleged that Spotify offered Universal Music Group (UMG) drastically reduced licensing rates to artificially promote the track “Not Like Us,” the streaming giant has issued a strong denial. On Friday (Dec. 20), Spotify dismissed the accusations as “far-fetched” and “speculative.” In a statement shared with Variety, Spotify clarified, “Spotify has no economic incentive for users to stream ‘Not Like Us’ over any of Drake’s tracks. Only one of Spotify for Artists’ tools, Marquee, was purchased on behalf of the song for €500 (approximately $522) to promote the track in France. Marquee is a visual ad…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a new regulation requiring ticketing agencies, hotels, and vacation rental platforms to disclose all costs upfront, including often-hidden junk fees. This bipartisan rule, known as the Junk Fees Rule, aims to curb deceptive pricing tactics and will take effect around April. Under the new rule, while junk fees won’t be eliminated, their inclusion must be clearly stated at the start of a purchase, rather than added as surprise charges at the end. This applies to live event tickets, hotel bookings, and vacation rentals. The regulation follows extensive public input: after the FTC proposed…
While December opening weekends rarely rival the blockbusters of summer, Sonic 3 has demonstrated that audiences will still turn out for an enticing event film during the holidays. Meanwhile, Mufasa: The Lion King is projected to open with $35 million domestically, a significant drop from the $191 million debut of its 2019 predecessor. Reviews for Mufasa have been lukewarm, which hasn’t helped its momentum. While CinemaScore audiences gave it an A- grade, it’s still a step down from the 2019 Lion King’s A rating. Despite the soft start, Disney is betting on international markets to boost the prequel’s success. The…
SPOILER ALERT: This article contains plot details for Mufasa: The Lion King, arriving in theaters on December 20. Lin-Manuel Miranda has become a master of crafting unforgettable Disney songs. With Grammy wins and Oscar nominations for his work on Moana and Encanto—including hits like “How Far I’ll Go,” “Dos Oruguitas,” and the global sensation “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”—Miranda has now brought his talents to the Barry Jenkins-directed The Lion King prequel, Mufasa. Collaborating with Disney legend Alan Menken for The Little Mermaid soundtrack in 2023, Miranda is perfectly positioned to add new magic to the iconic Lion King musical…
The song “Forbidden Road” by Robbie Williams, featured in the film Better Man and recently shortlisted for Best Original Song at the Oscars, has been disqualified, Variety has learned. Sources report that the song “incorporates material from an existing track that was not written specifically for the film,” making it ineligible for the Academy Award. According to Academy rules, any song submitted for consideration must be entirely “original and written specifically for the motion picture.” “Forbidden Road” is credited to Williams, Freddy Wexler, and Sacha Skarbek, and is also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. However, the…
SZA’s highly anticipated deluxe edition of her Grammy-winning 2022 album SOS, titled Lana, has finally dropped. The album has faced a series of delays and false starts, with fans expecting it to arrive as early as February following the release of the single “Saturn.” Featuring artwork reminiscent of the insect-and-forest themes from her summer tour, Lana is now available, and Variety’s full review will be published this weekend. The deluxe edition includes a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on the track “30 for 30″—SZA also appears on two songs from his recent GNX album. Additionally, the album features production from Lil…