Music

Billionaire Bill Ackman’s hedge fund has offered to buy Universal Music Group (UMG) in a deal that values the world’s biggest music company at around €55bn (£48bn). Pershing Square, the New-York based hedge fund, has offered to buy the business, which is home to artists including Taylor Swift and Elton John, in a cash and stock deal. Ackman said in a statement that while the company, which is led by the British-born Sir Lucian Grainge, had done “an excellent job nurturing and continuing to bui

On Friday (Apr.2), Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, held his second show in Los Angeles at the SoFi Stadium. With two sold-out shows now under his belt, it appears West’s attempt at a comeback is becoming a reality. Unlike the first show, Friday’s concert featured a few special guests, including Lauryn Hill, Travis Scott, CeeLo Green, and even his eldest daughter, North West.  The crowd erupted with cheer when Hill appeared on stage, as she and West gave an electrifying performance

Before The Fall Off World Tour, rapper J Cole will play professional basketball again after signing with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association, according to sources cited by ESPN. J. Cole previously revealed plans to return to basketball on Cam’Ron’s Talk With Flee Podcast. J. Cole has signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Nanjing Monkey Kings 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/j6M9aUhKPU — Kurrco (@Kurrco) April 2, 2026 The new announcement mark

Charlotte rapper DaBaby is bringing hip-hop back to his home turf this summer with 50 Cent as one of the headliners at the Be More Grateful Festival.  It will pick up where J. Cole’s Dreamville festival left off with a major event set for the Charlotte area. The Grammy-nominated artist revealed the festival while preparing to launch his Be More Grateful Tour across the United States. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIRK (@dababy) The festival will take place June 13 at Rout

Music mogul Jaÿ-Z says he has grown uneasy about rap battles in modern hip-hop, citing the fallout from the high-profile feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. In a recent interview with GQ, the Roc Nation founder reflected on the role competitive rivalries play in today’s music culture. The billionaire artist acknowledged that lyrical battles have long fueled creativity in hip-hop. However, he said the digital age has intensified the hostility surrounding them. “We love the excitement and I l

6lack is back with his new anticipated album Love Is The New Gangsta. 6lack announced the project will arrive on May 22. Alongside the announcement, the Atlanta artist also released the first single, “Bird Flu.” The album follows 2023’s Since I Have a Lover, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album. That project featured appearances from Don Toliver, Wale, India Shawn, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. “Yasss! Counting down and looking forward to creating journal prompts to it..

To commemorate the anniversaries of his seminal albums Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint, Jay-Z will be throwing two concerts at New York City’s Yankee Stadium in July. One day after the 25-time Grammy winner was named headliner of this year’s Roots Picnic, on Wednesday (March 18) Roc Nation announced that he will be holding concerts at Yankee Stadium for Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint on July 10 and 11, respectively. The first show will seemingly celebrate thirty years of RD, while the se

The Pussycat Dolls, the US pop group, has announced they will reunite as a trio for a new single and world tour. Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt released a new track titled ‘Club Song’ and confirmed they will embark on a series of live shows beginning in June. The reunion comes six years after a previously planned comeback and the release of the track ‘React’. It was however halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a legal dispute within the group. In an interview with BB

Kanye West’s 2020s have been turbulent, marked by public controversies and intense scrutiny. Yet a devoted segment of fans still hopes for a return of “the old Ye.” Whether measured by musical innovation or cultural influence, audiences are eager for a narrative of redemption. The rapid sellout of his Los Angeles concert made that demand undeniable. Specifically, Ticketmaster reported more than a million fans vying for tickets to the April 3 show. This prompted the addition of a second perform

Since The Kanan Tape in 2015, following his 2014 studio album Animal Ambition, 50 Cent has largely stayed out of the music spotlight. Yet recent activity on social media and ongoing rap rivalries suggest he may be preparing a return. On Friday, March 13, the G-Unit mogul released an untitled track on Instagram—a reworked version of his 2012 song “Business Mind” featuring Earl Hayes from his 5 (Murder By Numbers) mixtape. Alongside the clip, he hinted at a possible album titled The Algorithm: “Mu

Moliy is catching heat from dancehall legends—and standing firm on her no. At Jamaica’s Island Music Conference, Shaggy told journalist Anthony Miller that both he and Sean Paul had recorded their own songs on the “Shake It To The Max (Fly)” riddim, only to be blocked when it came time to clear them. He claimed Sean “was fighting over and over to try to get clearance” and that his own cut also got shut down, arguing that refusing those versions “hurt the industry” because Jamaican riddim cultur

Dr. Dre has reached a financial milestone that reflects both his musical legacy and years of business ventures beyond the studio. In its latest ranking of the world’s wealthiest individuals, released March 10, Forbes placed the producer and entrepreneur among its billionaires for the first time. The magazine estimates his fortune at roughly $1 billion, positioning him at No. 3,332 globally. The achievement places Dre among a small group of musicians whose wealth has crossed that threshold. With

North West, the eldest daughter of Kanye West, has begun sharing more glimpses of her own musical experiments. During a recent livestream from a recording studio, she played an unreleased track that immediately caught the attention of fans online. The beat drew from a recognizable source: a sample of Kanye West’s song “Coldest Winter.” The original track appeared on 808s & Heartbreak, West’s 2008 album known for its stark emotional tone and minimalist production. Written in the wake of his moth

Charleston rapper Trim has kicked off a whole discourse by getting onstage and crowning herself “the princess of rap” and “the princess of Charleston” during a recent hometown show. The 19‑year‑old, who’s been building buzz with TikTok‑friendly tracks like “Guapo” and a “Boat” remix featuring fellow viral names Buna B and YK Niece. She then doubled down online afterwards with posts like “It’s impossible to take this tiara from me” and “Everyday I wake up with a throne on my head.” Clips reshare

Cardi B is finally on a full‑scale arena run of her own with the Little Miss Drama Tour, supporting her second album Am I the Drama?. The North American trek kicked off 11 February 2026 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California, and is scheduled to hit more than 30 cities before wrapping in Atlanta this spring. Along the way she’s playing major stops like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Washington, D.C. and New York’s Madison Square Garden, marking her first proper headlining arena

Ari Lennox is revisiting the period surrounding her departure from Dreamville with a clearer sense of perspective. In a recent interview, the singer spoke candidly about the frustration she felt at the time and the way it spilled into public view. Looking back, she said the tension was less about personal conflict and more about miscommunication during the rollout of her single “Smoke.” With distance from the moment, Lennox now says she regrets how she expressed those concerns. She was especia

hakira’s 2026 output has turned into a steady stream of singles that extend the emotional breakup narrative she leaned into on Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran while pushing into darker, more cinematic pop. Recent tracks like “She Wolves Don’t Cry” and “Fearless Fire” have arrived with high‑concept visuals that blend Latin pop, alternative R&B and rock textures, presenting her as a “she‑wolf” figure who’s bruised but unbroken. YouTube descriptions for videos like “Fearless Fire” describe them as celebr

Jennifer Lopez is back in uptempo mode with “Save Me Tonight,” a new dance single made with David Guetta that’s arriving just as she ramps up her Las Vegas residency. Rolling Stone reports that Lopez first teased the track at the World Pride Music Festival last summer and on her Up All: Live 202 tour, framing it as an anthemic, “vibrant, danceable” song designed for big‑room performances. The single is her first major release since last year’s Kiss of the Spider Woman soundtrack and follows a 2

Bruno Mars is about to see his name etched into the fabric of Las Vegas. Park Avenue will soon be renamed in his honor, becoming Bruno Mars Drive after county officials approved the measure. MGM Resorts International confirmed the decision, signaling how deeply the Grammy winner’s legacy runs along the Strip. Born Peter Gene Hernandez, Mars has reshaped modern Vegas residency culture. His extended runs have delivered sold-out crowds and blockbuster grosses, redefining what a headlining act can

For nearly two years, Drake has hinted at an album called ICEMAN. There have been teases, scattered references, and carefully framed social media posts, but still no release date. Each new rumor briefly resets the clock. A report circulating online this week suggested a March 6 arrival, yet without confirmation from Drake or his representatives, it carries little weight. Part of the intrigue lies in how deliberately he communicates. In a recent post, Drake shared a collage that included a shir

An 8-year-old girl from Maryland is celebrating a historic Grammy win, and she's doing it during Black History Month.  Aura V and her dad, recording artist Fyütch, won a Grammy Award for Best Children's Music Album earlier this month for their father-daughter duo project "Harmony." With the win, Aura V is now believed to be the youngest Grammy winner in history at just 8 years old, surpassing Beyoncé and Jay-Z's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, who won in 2021 when she was just 9 years old. "We did

Rihanna has not announced a new album, but a recently posted vlog has stirred familiar speculation. The video, styled as a day-in-the-life montage, shows her moving between meetings, reviewing instrumentals, and briefly stepping into a recording booth. She does not reference any upcoming project, yet the sight of her in that setting was enough to prompt conversation. In one scene, she appears to jot down notes; in another, she sways to music playing through studio speakers. For fans who have w

Gorillaz release their ninth studio album The Mountain today, a 15‑track project shaped in part by recording sessions across several Indian cities. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett worked on the record in Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Rishikesh and Varanasi after fans pushed them to bring the band’s creative process to India, turning those trips into a key part of the album’s sound and story. Albarn even scattered some of his late father’s ashes in the Ganga at Varanasi during the making of the reco

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced its nominees for the 2026 induction class. The list includes 17 artists that span pop, rock, and hip-hop. Lauryn Hill and the Wu-Tang Clan appear on the ballot for the first time. Notably, Hill joins as one of the only hip-hop acts nominated this year. Their inclusion continues a gradual shift toward recognizing rap’s long-standing influence on popular music. Hill’s nomination centers on her 1998 solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, a re