Posts tagged with "YG"

All You Need To Know K-POP

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By: Conan Zhang, Elle Grant × Kai Yeo

Korean pop music, known as K-Pop is becoming a global force. With forceful sounds, charismatic performances, and colorful concepts, it is a maximalist’s dream perception of music. The fans are dedicated, if not overwhelming in their dedication to their favorite artists. Recently, the political successes of K-pop fans are making just as many headlines: fans crashed Donald Trump’s Tulsa rally and have been at the forefront of vocalizing issues related to Black Lives Matter. Who are the artists that inspire such loyalty and such action? Read into 360’s introduction to some of the twenty-first century mainstays below.

Seo Taiji And Boys

Debuted in 1992, Seo Taiji and Boys were and influential 3-member band and are known as the first “boy group” in K-pop industry consisting of Seo Taiji himself, alongside fellow members Yang Hyun Suk and Lee Juno. Their debut single, “Nan Arayo (I Know),” was an instantly catchy hit that topped the charts for a record-breaking, seventeen consecutive weeks and propelled the group to pop mega-stardom.

In April 2017 it was announced that Seo Taiji was assembling a group of modern K-Pop acts to cover songs from his past to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his debut with Seo Taiji and Boys. The first act announced for the project was BTS, with other acts including Urban Zakapa and Younha. The first single from this project, a cover of “Come Back Home” (from Seo Taiji and Boys IV) recorded by BTS, was released with a music video on July 5, 2017.

In case you’re new to K-pop, it might be helpful to add that BTS was also invited by Seo Taiji to perform their rendition of Come Back Home and other acts at their 25th anniversary concert.

PSY

Heard of Gangnam Style? Born Park Jae-sang on December 31 1977, he is better known as the artist PSY. He is a South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. PSY is famous in Korea for his funny videos and stage performances. After releasing Gangnam Style on 15 July 2012, the video crossed over 2 billion views in less than two years (so many that it broke YouTube). This song can also arguably be named the first breakout Korean hit to become popular in the West. The song’s refrain was entered into The Yale Book of Quotations as one of the most famous quotations of 2012.

Since his international success, PSY has gone on to found his own record company P NATION and currently mentoring other artists.

Big Bang

No introduction needed, Big Bang is a South Korean boy band under YG Entertainment. The group consists of four members: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, and Daesung; They are named as “Kings of K-pop,” Bigbang have greatly helped spread the Korean Wave internationally. A fifth member, Seungri, left the group and the industry in disgrace following an the Burning Sun sex scandal, of which he was an organizer, a moment that blighted K-pop’s reputation at home.

Eighteen of Big Bang’s singles have been number one hits in South Korea and have remained atop the Melon charts for a record 51 weeks. The group has sold over 150 million records globally, which rank them among the best-selling boy bands in the world. Forbes Korea ranked them as one of the most powerful celebrities in South Korea from 2009 to 2016 (placing 2nd in 2009, 2012 and 2014, and they were the first Korean artists to be included on the Forbes Celebrity 100 and 30 Under 30 list of most influential musicians in the world (2017).

Currently with 4 members discharged from military service, fans are eagerly waiting to see what happens next.

Lee Chae-rin, better known by her stage name CL, rose to fame as girl group 2NE1’s leader in 2009, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. As a solo artist, CL made her debut with “The Baddest Female” in 2013 and has continued to pursue her own career following the group’s hiatus in 2015. The release “Hello Bitches” (2015) led CL to become the first female Korean solo artist to place onto the Billboard Hot 100, and the third Korean artist to do so overall.

In November 2016, YG announced the disbandment of 2NE1 after nearly two years of hiatus, and CL subsequently remained under the label. Shortly after leaving YG in December 2019, she released her solo EP project In the Name of Love (2019), consisting of six tracks written during the three years since her previous single “Lifted.” Her debut studio album, Alpha, was released in October 2021.

BTS

BTS, an abbreviation for Bangtan Boys, was formed in 2010 while the group debuted in 2013. The team is made up of seven members including Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The members co-write and co-produce almost every song that they perform, marking a shift in the K-Pop industry to including artists in the songs they sing and promote.

Originally intended to be a Korean hip-hop group, they are now producing music in a wide range of genres. Their songs often focused on personal and social hot topics, mentioning mental health, troubles of school-age teenagers.

Having sold over 20 million albums on the Gaon Music Chart, BTS is now the best-selling artist in South Korean history and holds the best-selling album in South Korea with the work Map of the Soul: 7. The group’s numerous accolades include six American Music Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, 24 Golden Disc Awards, and nominations for a Grammy Award and a Brit Award. They are undoubtedly the current Kinds of K-Pop and have broken through to Western popularity unlike any other artist.

BLACKPINK

Blackpink is a girl group formed by YG Entertainment, featuring four team members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. In August 2016, they debuted with their single album Square One, which is features the extremely popular songs “Whistle” and “Boombayah.”

Blackpink is ranked as the highest-charting female Korean act on the Billboard Hot 100 and they broke a huge number of online records since they released “Kill This Love” (2019) and “How You Like That” (2020), each become the most-viewed music video within the first 24 hours of release. Though this record was eventually broken by BTS, it is nonetheless just one of many examples proving the quartet’s impact on society.

Lee Ji-eun is well known as IU. She is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. The name IU is a combination of the letters ‘I’ and ‘you’ which means “you and I become one through music.” She debuted as a singer when she was fifteen with her first mini album Lost and Found (2008). Her work “Good Day” won her five consecutive weeks at the top position of South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart. In the year of 2019, “Good Day” was ranked number one on Billboard’s “100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s” list.

NCT

NCT are a K-pop group created by SM Entertainment. NCT stands for Neo Culture Technology, and the idea is that they’re a group of infinite members who are constantly shifting into different sub-units in different cities around the world. Currently consisting of 5 sub-units – NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, NCT 2018, WayV.

Currently, NCT is made up of 21 members – we know, it’s a handful! The members are: Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Kun, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, Lucas, Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, Jisung, Xiao Jun, Yang Yang, and Hendery.

After debuting in 2016, they have won 7 awards from 19 nominations and are continuing their stardom today. Pionerring the “noise music” trend and have so far been the only ones that do it well – “Simon Says.” Find out more information about them through their show NCT Life streaming on YouTube for free.

TWICE

Like many of today’s K-pop acts, Twice originated from a reality competition show. The 2015 series Sixteen involved that many JYP entertainment “trainees” – the term used for aspiring idols-in-training, preparing for a potential debut. After a series of challenges and fighting for a place in the final lineup, the remaining nine formed a new ensemble, also known as Twice.

After the announcement of the label’s new girl group, founder and CEO of JYP explained that Twice refers to the act of making an impact “once through the ears and once through the eyes.” As so, the group’s fame has been propelled by hit after hit of vibrant sound through bright and colorful music videos. Their unique sound can be heard especially in “TT” and “Cheer Up.”

More on K-pop

These men and women are just of a few forcing open the door to K-Pop in the west after being mainstays in South Korean and Asian popular culture for years. This list features artists from the first to third generation of K-Pop stars, known as the generations to push international boundaries of popularity. In this new decade of the twenty-first century, K-Pop is more popular than ever. Stars of the fourth generation, coinciding with the Gen Z age group, are achieving international successes early on in their forebearers above could only dream of just years ago. A great deal of this success is owed to the listed artists, who have collectively decades breaking barriers and sharing music. New groups like ITZY, TXT, Ateez and Enhypen are achieving new heights, learning from the elders while paving the way for the future.

Will Claye – Wee Hours Music Video

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Fresh off participating in this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, hip-hop artist and Olympic medalist Will Claye releases the stunning visual for his single, “Wee Hours,” out now via Red Bull Records. Written by Claye, “Wee Hours” was produced by Grammy-winning songwriter and producer DJ Khalil, best known for his work with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and more.

The strength of “Wee Hours” lies in Claye‘s introspective and poignant lyrics, which he delivers with a West Coast-influenced flair. The cinematic music video companion echoes this, drawing inspiration from his own experiences. “I wanted to speak for people whose voices have been suppressed,” says Claye. “I want to inspire my people and show them that even through all the horrific things we have gone through as a people, we can make it through and rise above it all.”

Adorned in his Olympic medals amidst a field of sunflowers, the visual cuts back and forth between Claye and a younger version of himself. Set in the orange-hued glow of his family’s home, the video shows young Will as he goes through the motions of his day. The video soon takes a darker tone, as Will steps outside and witnesses a police officer chase a Black man onto his yard. As the officer moves to pull out his gun, the man is saved by three guardian angels driving by, as the video closes with the powerful message of “our angels are always watching over us.”

The release of “Wee Hours” follows the debut of Elevate, the documentary from Red Bull. The short film follows Claye as he trains for the Olympics and records new music, working to make his mark on the world. As his moment in the spotlight parallels a cultural boiling point surrounding racial injustice, Claye seeks to use his voice to inspire his community’s youth, serving as a positive role model for the next generation. Watch HERE.

About Will Claye

Three-time Olympic medalist Will Claye started his path as a world-class athlete. By way of track and field, he was able to move into starting his brand ELEVATE, music and philanthropy. Will’s brand grew largely at the London Games in 2012, where he earned a bronze medal in the long jump and a silver medal in the triple jump to become the first man since 1936 and the first American since 1904 to obtain medals in both events. The Phoenix, AZ native of Sierra Leone-descent solidified himself as the #3 triple jumper of all time in 2019 and at the same time released an EP, WEST SIDE STORY, and single “TMS.”

The catalyst for Will’s music career came from artist YG inviting him to the studio and the pair creating IDGAF, what is now known as a classic West Coast record. From there, Will began to create his own lane and his own sound, taking inspiration from Bob Marley, Andre 3000, Snoop Dogg, DJ Quick, Pharrell, Jay Z, Nipsey Hussle, Kendrick Lamar, and Nate Dogg. With a wide array of influences, Will has created a sound that is eclectic and diverse, based on how he is feeling and what is going on in life. He is a rare combination of talent and genuine humility, recognizing that he can use his status as an artist and professional athlete to help others.

BLXST × BINO RIDEAUX — SIXTAPE 2

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On Friday, rising LA hip-hop artists Blxst and Bino Rideaux teamed up for the release of their collaborative project, Sixtape 2. Out now via Red Bull Records, the project serves as the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 release of Sixtape, which helped to catapult both artists’ careers and establish them as two of the West Coast’s most exciting new acts. You can stream Sixtape 2 HERE.

Spanning across twelve tracks, including the hit single “Movie,” Sixtape 2 showcases the palpable chemistry between the South Central artists, flexing their smooth, stylistic lyricism and penchant for catchy hooks. Serving as songwriters on the project, in addition to Blxst producing several of the tracks, Sixtape 2 allows both artists to highlight their individual talents while maintaining an effortless sense of collaboration, making for one of the must-listen projects of the summer.

The release of Sixtape 2 is also accompanied by the music video for the single “One Of Them Ones,” which finds both artists at a late-night casino. Featuring a motivational opening narration by DJ Drama, the visual features XXL Freshman class member Blxst and Def Jam signee Bino as they celebrate their rise to success, surrounded by their crew as they gamble and commemorate how far they’ve come. You can watch the music video HERE.

Sixtape 2 is out now, full tracklist is below and is available to stream on all platforms HERE.

Sixtape 2 Tracklist

1. Pop Out

2. Movie

3. Might Do Well

4. Program

5. One Of Them Ones

6. Accountable

7. Hate How Much

8. She Perfect

9. What Is It

10. Stressful

11. Time Will Only Tell

12. Beginning To The Ending

About Blxst

Blxst began his solo music career in Los Angeles in 2015, rapping, singing, writing and producing. From self-editing his videos and artwork to mixing and mastering his sound, he’s been on an unstoppable run, gaining notoriety for his productions and collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, YG, Eric Bellinger, Mustard, G Perico, Mozzy and Kalan.FrFr.

Last year saw the release of his highly anticipated debut EP, No Love Lost, an expansive and emotive collection of music inspired by past relationships and his hometown of Los Angeles. Paired with a four-part cinematic series of videos to bring the project’s overarching narrative to life, its quintessential West Coast vibe received acclaim from fans, press and tastemakers, cited by Pigeons & Planes as “one of the best projects of 2020.” Following this up with his first release of 2021, the two-track project Just For Clarity featuring Drakeo the Ruler and Russ, Blxst has solidified his position as the next must-watch musician out of LA. Receiving praise from Billboard, BET, Complex, Pitchfork and more, in 2021, Blxst was announced as a XXL Freshman Class member and an Amazon Breakthrough artist. This fall also sees Blxst headline his first ever North American tour, which sold out in less than an hour.

About Bino Rideaux

With a one-two punch of laidback flows and hypnotic melodies, Bino Rideaux has quietly shaped the next era of West Coast hip-hop. Growing up in South Central, he crafted his 2015 independent project, Life Is Like A Movie, out of a D.I.Y. studio in his grandmother’s house. Gaining traction around L.A., he co-founded Out The Blue Records and dropped music at a prolific pace. Penned in the wake of his homie KP’s death, “100 Days 100 Nights” caught the attention of the late Nipsey Hussle. He featured on Nipsey’s tracks “Clarity” and “The Field” before they teamed up on the 2017 joint project No Pressure.

As his profile rose, Bino linked with Blxst on Sixtape in 2019 before unleashing his full-length debut, Outside, which boasted appearances by heavyweights such as Ty Dolla $ign, Fredo Bang, Mozzy, and BlueBucksClan. In addition to praise from Complex, LA Weekly, VICE and more, UPROXX named it one of the “100 Best Albums of 2020.” Signing to Def Jam in partnership with Out The Blue, he only perfected his signature style on the likes of “Pride 2 The Side” and “BET” before igniting 2021 with the entrancing guitar-laden trip of “Incredible” [feat. Drakeo The Ruler]. Pegged as one of Rolling Stone’s “Breakthrough 25,” Billboard championed him among “6 LA Rappers to Watch in 2021” and went on to describe him as “the brightest star to emerge from that orbit.” Meanwhile, KAZI christened him “one of the West Coast’s most exciting new talents.”

MAROON 5 ACHIEVES 15TH #1 AT HOT AC

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MAROON 5 ACHIEVES 15TH #1 AT HOT AC EXTENDING THEIR RECORD FOR MOST #1s BY ANY ARTIST ALL-TIME

NEW ALBUM JORDI NOW CERTIFIED GOLD BY THE RIAA

UPCOMING 2021 HEADLINE TOUR ACROSS NORTH AMERICA LAUNCHES AUGUST 10^th

Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum band Maroon 5 have made history once again. The group’s latest smash Beautiful Mistakes (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) has captured #1 at Hot AC, marking their 15th career #1 and extending their record for “most #1 entries by any artist at the format.” It also notably stands out as three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s first #1 at Hot AC. It is available on the band’s seventh full length album, JORDI, which also recently picked up a Gold Certification from the RIAA.

Beyond collecting millions of streams, JORDI has earned critical acclaim. Variety cited its “bangers and much-needed good vibes,” and Atwood Magazine attested, “Many of the ingredients that make ‘Beautiful Mistakes’ the enjoyable single that it is are included on much of the rest of JORDI.”

Additionally, the band just shared the music video for their new single Lost, which was directed by GRAMMY® Award winner and recent collaborator Sophie Muller, and also stars Adam Levine’s wife supermodel Behati Prinsloo. The track is set to impact radio on July 12.

The summer of Maroon 5 has only just begun. The band will embark on a full-scale North American Headline Tour in August following the postponement of their tour in 2020 (dates listed below). Tickets are on sale now. Canvasing the country for eight weeks, and produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on August 10 in Auburn, WA at White River Amphitheatre and stops at legendary venues such as Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL on August 30 and Fenway Park in Boston, MA on September 12. Additionally, the group will play its biggest hometown headline show ever at the new Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on October 2 before the tour ends on October 8 at Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA. blackbear will support on all dates. As part of their upcoming 2021 tour, Maroon 5 is set to be one of the headliners at the iHeart Music Festival in Las Vegas and the Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta this September. Sophie Muller will also be serving as the tour’s creative director.

On their new album release, Maroon 5 welcomed GRAMMY® Award-nominated songwriter and producer J Kash as executive producer. Additionally, a bevy of legendary guests and high-profile friends join Maroon 5. The first release off the album, Beautiful Mistakes features Megan Thee Stallion. blackbear joins the band on Echo, while the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Nicks teams up with the group for Remedy.

Next up, Academy® Award winner H.E.R. guests on Convince Me Otherwise, and the late Juice WRLD makes a posthumous appearance on Can’t Leave You Alone. The album also includes the band’s triple platinum hit Memories and a Memories remix featuring late legend Nipsey Hussle and superstar rapper YG. Up-and-coming Zimbabwean artist Bantu is also featured on One Light. The album is available in Standard and Deluxe configurations. The physical Deluxe is available exclusively at Target and includes Button (feat. Anuel AA, Tainy) and Jason Derulo’s Lifestyle (feat. Adam Levine). The Target version also boasts a limited-edition cover and poster. All deluxe formats (physical and digital) also include the original version of Memories. Check out the full tracklisting below.

To date, the universally renowned Los Angeles band have achieved three GRAMMY® Awards, over 75 million in album sales, 400 million singles worldwide and earned gold and platinum certifications in more than 35 countries. Maroon 5’s last studio album, Red Pill Blues featured the global hit single Girls Like You, ft. Cardi B which reached #1 at Top 40, #1 at Adult Pop, #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks. The track accumulated over 1.2 billion Spotify streams and over 3 billion YouTube/VEVO views; notably becoming the most-watched video on VEVO in 2018. The band’s last #1 pop single Memories has also surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams and amassed over 725 million YouTube views. Maroon 5 has over 52 million monthly Spotify listeners, and have toured in 30+ countries selling over 6,750,000 tickets worldwide.

TOUR DATES

8/10 Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre

8/12 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre

8/14 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater

8/16 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion

8/18 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

8/19 Milwaukee, WI American Family Insurance Amphitheater

8/21 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center

8/23 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre

8/25 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake

8/26 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center

8/28 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center

8/30 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field

9/1 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Amphitheater

9/2 Toronto, Ontario Budweiser Stage

9/4 Camden, NJ BB&T Pavilion

9/5 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium

9/7 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live

9/8 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion

9/10 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center

9/12 Boston, MA Fenway Park

9/13 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center

9/15 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

9/23 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

9/24 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

9/27 Del Valle, TX Germania Insurance Amphitheater

9/28 The Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

10/1 Phoenix, AZ Ak-Chin Pavilion

10/2 Los Angeles, CA Banc of California Stadium

10/5 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

10/7 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre

10/8 Concord, CA Concord Pavilion

H.E.R. – Back Of My Mind

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We’re halfway through 2021, and H.E.R. (who is halfway to EGOT status), has not let her foot off the gas! Today, the Grammy and Academy Award winner releases her highly-anticipated full-length album, Back of My Mind, via MBK Entertainment/RCA Records. Click here to listen.

Clocking in at 21 tracks, Back of My Mind includes a star-studded lineup of guest features by Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign, Cordae, Lil Baby, Thundercat, Yung Bleu, DJ Khaled, Bryson Tiller, and YG. Producers Hit-Boy, KAYTRANADA, Cardiak, Rodney Jerkins, DJ Camper, and more provide lush and repeat-worthy productions, leaving adequate space for the four-time Grammy Award winner’s pristine vocals (and guitar shredding skills) to shine throughout. R&B at its core, Back of My Mind showcases H.E.R.’s unique versatility as a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

“This collection of songs comes from feelings and thoughts that I’ve had in the back of mind,” says H.E.R. “That’s where I live sometimes. Some things I talk about in my music and other things I may have been afraid to say or admit. I’m finding freedom in being truthful with expression.”

H.E.R. kicked off 2021 in the most stellar of ways by winning two Grammy Awards – Song of the Year for “I Can’t Breathe” and Best R&B Song for her contribution to Robert Glasper’s “Better Than I Imagined,” plus an Academy Award for her powerful song “Fight For You” from the Warner Bros. Pictures’ film Judas and the Black Messiah. Her recent show-stopping performance with Chris Stapleton on the CMT Music Awards was proceeded by equally impressive performances on the Billboard Music Awards with DJ Khaled and The Migos, iHeartRadio Music Awards’ Elton John Tribute, Oscars: Into The Spotlight special, Super Bowl LV, and more.

Currently gracing the cover of Variety, H.E.R. is starring in her own special episode of Amazon’s Prime Day Show, featuring music from the new album. On June 21, iHeartMedia will host the iHeartRadio Album Release Party with H.E.R. featuring an exclusive performance and an intimate conversation with Angie Martinez. The event will stream on the FOXSOUL YouTube channel and FOXSOUL.tv., and broadcast across iHeartMedia’s R&B, Rhythm and select Hip Hop radio stations at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

The dynamic performer will return to NYC’s Rockefeller Center on June 25 for her second Today Show summer concert, followed by performances at the BET Awards on June 27, and her first-ever concert with the LA Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl on August 13 & 14.

Listen to Back Of My Mind and stay tuned for more exciting news from H.E.R.

Back Of My Mind track list:

01 We Made It

02 Back of My Mind feat. Ty Dolla $ign

03 Trauma feat. Cordae

04 Damage

05 Find A Way feat. Lil Baby

06 Bloody Waters feat. Thundercat

07 Closer To Me

08 Come Through feat. Chris Brown

09 My Own

10 Lucky

11 Cheat Code

12 Mean It

13 Paradise feat. Yung Bleu

14 Process

15 Hold On

16 Don’t

17 Exhausted

18 Hard To Love

19 For Anyone

20 I Can Have It All feat. DJ Khaled & Bryson Tiller

21 Slide feat. YG

Connect with H.E.R.:

Weedmaps x Triller – Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr.

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Today, Weedmaps, the largest technology company in the legal cannabis economy, was announced as an official sponsor of the highly anticipated Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. fight presented by the viral entertainment platform Triller. Hosted by Mario Lopez, the highly anticipated return of Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. headlines the four-hour live event that will air globally on November 28^th at 8:00pm ET, with the three-hour main card beginning at 9:00pm ET on Pay-Per-View.

As the official sponsor, Weedmaps and Area 52 branding will be displayed throughout the event including in the ring, on the screen, during the live broadcast, and in the locker room and press room. Weedmaps will also release an exclusive piece of content narrated by Nas, celebrated rapper and entrepreneur, that takes viewers through powerful events in the nation’s history, celebrating those who stood up to fight for change in systemic racism, cannabis legalization and more.

“Weedmaps is ecstatic to be the official sponsor of Mike Tyson’s highly anticipated return to the ring,” said Juanjo Feijoo, Chief Marketing Officer at Weedmaps. “We recognize this is a huge moment for the broader industry and through this sponsorship, we’re hoping to introduce a new audience to Weedmaps as well as bring attention to some of the important conversations happening around cannabis today. This is just one of many steps we are proactively taking to break down stigmas, promote social equity, and encourage all to join us in the fight for change.”

Founded in 2008, Weedmaps connects consumers to retailers and brands, and advocates for accessible cannabis for all patients and adults. With cannabis legalization moving forward in many states and being widely recognized on the national stage, this first-of-a-kind sponsorship opportunity for Weedmaps is groundbreaking for the cannabis industry.

“By partnering with companies like Weedmaps, Triller helps fight the stigma surrounding the cannabis industry. A night that will go down in history as an iconic moment of athletes, musicians and cultural icons coming together should be sponsored by those who align with our core mission and we look forward to seeing everyone at TysonOnTriller.com,” said Bobby Sarnevesht, Executive Chairman of Triller.

“It feels great to return to the ring after 15 years and I’m thrilled that Weedmaps is the title sponsor of this remarkable moment in my career,” said former professional boxer Mike Tyson. “I’m a proud advocate for cannabis legalization so this partnership with Weedmaps is particularly close to my heart. This is a significant moment for the cannabis industry, and I am committed to doing my part to fight for change.”

The PPV fight card includes Tyson vs. Jones Jr., Jake Paul vs. Nate Robinson, Badou Jack vs. Blake McKernan, and Viddal Riley vs. Rashad Coulter. The memorable night will also include multi-song performances by DaBaby, Lil Wayne, French Montana, Wiz Khalifa and YG. The fight can be ordered on Pay-Per-View through cable and satellite providers and is also available on PPV streaming at www.TysonOnTriller.com. The event is $49.99.

Save Our Stages

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By: Gabrielle Archuleta

With Covid-19 making an impact on businesses, the live music industry has been among those hit the hardest. The loss in revenue is estimated to be $8.9 billion, along with the comedy and performing arts entertainment. More than 90% of independent venues are at risk of being permanently shut down. The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is working hard to get emergency relief funds out to these venues in dire need. With the help of YouTube, NIVA and Save Our Stages created a virtual concert to help raise money, which will benefit these independent venues. The list of venues is on their website. Artists from around the country have joined together in an effort to raise awareness and save the stages they once performed in.

These venues have supported many big artists and have even launched careers for many. Not only are the artists feeling the impact, but the employees behind the scenes are as well. From the sound to the stage crew, many of them are left without a job and fear what will come next. Fans are left with tickets to be refunded and the uncertainty of future shows to come. This leaves the music industry shaken when it comes to the revenue that concerts bring. Concerts generate more money than streaming music on popular platforms such as Spotify, Apple music and Pandora. Popular artists such as Drake have made $23.7 million in one year from streaming, yet his last tour, Summer Sixteen featuring Future, grossed $85 million. Save our stages is the saving platform for artists, fans and lovers of music to support the venues we know and love and keep the live music alive.

Kicking off their first ever virtual event, an exclusive trailer narrated by Neil Young released footage featuring various iconic artists performing in these at-risk venues and some of the earliest known footage of Neil Young performing at the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, CT. This 3-day virtual event lasted from October 16th-18th. Day one started out with Alec Benjamin performing at Hotel Café in Los Angeles, CA. There was no audience, just the performers. Some talked of past show experiences and selling out venues. Following him was Billie Eilish’s brother, Finneas who is breaking out on his own, releasing his first single called Can’t Wait To Be Dead. Other artists for day one included, Sebastian Yatra, Dizzy Fae, Macklemore, YG, and Dillon Francis. Marshmellow and Demi Lovato hit the stage at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA. They performed their hit single together It’s Okay Not To Be Okay, as well as talked about their experiences in independent venues they’ve played in and seen other artists play in. Macklemore performed in Seattle, WA singing hits that included Ten Thousand Hours, Glorious, Good Old Days and a few others during his thirty-minute set. While G-Eazy took pieces of his hits and performed over a dozen songs in his set at The Independent in San Francisco, CA.

Day two kicked off with an even bigger list of performers. Sixteen artists each in their own independent venue to perform in. Jason Mraz was the first up, singing the best of his songs from I’m Yours to I Won’t Give Up out of the Belly Up Tavern in San Diego, CA. Rise Against brought the rock style back to the stage singing six of their hits from the Metro in Chicago,IL. Miley Cyrus played at the Whiskey-Go-Go in Los Angeles, CA wearing all black Rockstar attire. Though she had a short playlist, it was filled with fun energy. Also playing out of Los Angles from Troubadour, the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl talks about his first experience at the Toubadour and meeting Bret Michaels for the first time. They start out with Skin and Bones continue with My Hero, These Days, Times Like These and end it with everyone’s favorite Everlong. The Roots performed a longer set list that lasted a little over an hour at the Apollo Theater in New York, NY. Wrapping up day two was Major Lazor performing out of Gramps in Miami, FL. He had a setlist similar to length of The Roots lasting a little over an hour and promoting Save Our Stages throughout his set. To many of these artists, the venues that are at stake are not only where they got their start in the music world but also where they discovered music. Demi Lovato mentions one of her first concerts was at an independent venue where she had seen Paramore.

The final day came with some big names. Little Big Town plays at the Exit/In in Nashville, TN. They talk about their first show and replayed one of their classic songs, Boondocks as an encore. The last song is a fan favorite, Girl Crush. Dave Matthews performs solo at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville, VA. His setlist includes a new song that is played for the first-time live called the Ocean and the Butterfly. The Lumineers wrap up this event, taking it back home to Colorado at the Boulder Theatre in Boulder, CO. Reminiscing on the songs they’ve played in small independent venues and how great songs such as Ophelia came from those experiences and performing them.

Save our stages is not just important to the artists, but to the fans and music lovers all over the nation. There are over 2,000 venues that have joined the National Independent Venue Association to help save theses venues and keep not only the jobs that come with it but the live music experience we love and miss. Though this virtual event is over, the fight is not. Save our venues has raised over $1,000,000 and has a set goal of $5,000,000. The funds will be administered by the Giving Back Fund, a non-profit organization. The money will go to the venues in dire need and in fear of being shut down. With the help of all the artists who participated along with Youtube, NIVA and every person who donated, we can only hope that enough money is raised to save these venues.

BLXST RELEASES NEW EP

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By Armon Hayes

In celebration, BLXST held a properly social distanced and invite-only listening forum last night in Santa Monica. During the friend & family event, the artist and producer shared his highly anticipated release, No Love Lost, out now! The EP, from the West Coast rapper-singer-songwriter under Red Bull Records, is an expansive and emotive collection of music inspired by past relationships and his hometown, LA. The EP is filled with instrumentation that fills the track with raw emotion—a vibe reminiscent of the legendary Nate Dog, and is accompanied by a four-part cinematic series of videos to bring the project’s overarching narrative to life.

No Love Lost’s quintessential West Coast vibe will be perfect to cruise to for a long time to come.

Imagine your windows rolled down, the sun shining while your speakers are on blast. Blxst’s sound fits right in—fluid musicality slides through the pocket between R&B and Hip-Hop seamlessly, complimented with just the right amount of swagger.

The EP has an edgy attitude and slick soul lyrics that will appeal to all ears and generations. Starting with the release of his latest single, “Overrated,” Blxst speaks on love’s risk and the expectations that we and society place on relationships unexpectedly not living up to our idealized expectations. “Hurt,” on the other hand, is a mirror of life experiences, and specifically the processes of overcoming obstacles and what we learn from said trials.

Blxst is a multi-hyphenated, multi-threat talent. He initially earned notoriety for his production work and collaborations with artists like Kendrick Lamar, YG, Mozzy, G Perico, Eric Bellinger, Bino Rideaux, and more. His recent singles, including “My Emotions” and “Slip & Slide (feat. 1takejay)”, garnered praise from DJ Akademiks, Bibi Bourelly, TIDAL’s Elliott Wilson, and more

Bio
No Love Lost Trailer
“Overrated” Video

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Pia Mia – Hot

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Fresh off the TikTok resurgence of her smash hit “Do It Again,” which spawned more than 5 million videos created and 500 million views on TikTok, in addition to inspiring a dance challenge between Jimmy Fallon and Jennifer Lopez on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, platinum- certified recording artist and actress Pia Mia drops a brand new single entitled “Hot” today.

On the track, handclaps skate through skittering keys as the verses bounce into a steamy, slick, and sexy hook. Teetering back and forth between turn-of-the-century R&B and rapid-fire future pop, Pia Mia turns up the summer temperature as she urges, “You better make it real hot!” Be on the lookout for an equally seductive music video—set to premiere soon.

This past May, Pia Mia offered fans a preview of forthcoming music under her newly signed label deal with Electric Feel Entertainment and Republic Records with the release of “Princess”– read more here via Billboard. Upon arrival, “Princess” earned early tastemaker praise, with PAPER claiming, “the star has returned with the bombastic, R&B-influenced pop track…”Princess is a fun and frisky club anthem.” Idolator declared it “An empowering banger…It’s catchy, upbeat and just a little outrageous,” while Atwood Magazine claimed, “her latest single “Princess” serves as a testament to her ability to create real party jams — with a deeper lyrical layer underneath.” The Honey Pot put it best by serving up “5 Reasons Why You Should Stan Pia Mia.” Since it’s release, “Princess” has amassed over 3 million global streams and counting.

What’s more, Pia Mia has also released the first few chapters of her first fictional book, The Princess Diaries: Sand, Glitter, Silicone on Wattpad – the global entertainment company and world’s leading social storytelling platform. Pia Mia takes readers through the life of a young pop star named Princess as she navigates life, love, family, and fame. Each week, Pia Mia uploads a new chapter for the community, sharing stories from her heart, flashes of her life and her deepest fantasies.

At just 23 years old, Pia Mia has cemented herself as a formidable star with a hand in multiple corners of entertainment. A critically acclaimed recording artist with hits like “Do It Again” which recently saw a resurgence on TikTok, and “Bitter Love” under her belt, Pia Mia is approaching 1 Billion streams worldwide; and has collaborated with everyone from Chris Brown and Tyga to YG. She made her acting debut in 2019’s award-winning feature film After, based on Anna Todd’s wildly popular YA book series. On the fashion front, Pia Mia’s unique sense of style has landed her in publications such as Vogue, Paper Magazine and Nylon; and has made her an enviable partner for such brands as Guess, Bebe and Macy’s Material Girl, the latter for which she was handpicked by Madonna to serve as the clothing line’s first-ever fashion director.

Follow Pia Mia: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

YG – 4Hunnid

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YG supports LA Black-owned businesses with new 4Hunnid merch drop. 4Hunnid is working with LISC Los Angeles to distribute grants and offer technical assistance and other resources to Black-owned businesses in South LA impacted by COVID 19 and recent events. Proceeds from the recent Black-owned business drop will be donated to this partnership.

4Hunnid is a streetwear brand created by rapper YG with a ‘Black Owned Business Collection’ line depicting imagery against racial inequality, products can be purchased HERE. Committed to helping his roots, Compton native YG stated “I’m an artist who comes from the streets and represents the streets so it’s important for me to support my community and give back to South LA”.

Follow YG: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Follow 4Hunnid: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter