Rihanna has been busy over the last few years running her Fenty Beauty empire, marketing Savage x Fenty, and parenting her two baby boys. However, the fans won’t be satisfied until she drops a new album. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the “Diamonds” singer has dropped updates along the way to hold fans over.
 

In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight at the FENTY x PUMA Creeper launch in London, RiRi spoke about where she’s at in terms of the album’s creation process. She smoothly swerved a direct question about her sons, Riot and RZA, potentially being on the project, saying, “It’s up to them.” Then, she revealed she already “got stuff that I feel like I could make hits out of.”

While expanding on that sentiment, she shared that her and ASAP Rocky have been in the studio a lot together. “Me and Rocky are really trying to figure out who’s gonna use what because it’s so good,” she said.

The Navy has been begging Rihanna for new music for the past few years, as her last album was 2016’s ANTI. The 6x RIAA Platinum project boasted features from SZA and Drake, with the latter appearing on the monstrous hit “Work.” The “Umbrella” singer has been sporadically dropping off hints and updates about the next album, reportedly titled R9, ever since. In 2018, she spoke with Rolling Stone about how the LP will be a dancehall album. “Jamaican producers and songwriters have submitted ‘500 records’ for new album that’s been more than a year in the making,” the piece read. More recently, Rih seemed to have a slight change of direction, as she told Nadeska Alexis prior to her 2023 SuperBowl Halftime Show performance that fans should expect something else. Rihanna explained that she was experimenting with new music and open to exploring new sounds. While comparing some of the unreleased music to old clothes, Ri said later in an interview with British Vogue, “[It’s] almost like trying to dress like you used to dress. It’s like, ‘Ew, no. I would never wear those again.’ Your taste changes, your vibe changes.” While we hold onto the hope we have left for a new album, revisit ANTI below.

Kanye West is now a suspect in a battery case after retaliating against a man for grabbing his wife, Bianca Censori. According to TMZ, Ye punched a man after he claimed the man “battered and sexually assaulted” Censori on Tuesday (April 16) at Los Angeles’ Chateau Marmont Hotel.
 

Law enforcement has notified the outlet that they have begun investigating West for his actions. Ye’s team released a statement regarding the altercation. They claimed that the man violated Censori’s personal space. West’s team doubled down on the claim that Censori was sexually assaulted.

“Bianca was physically assaulted,” the statement reads. “The assailant didn’t merely collide [with] her. He put his hands under her dress, directly on her body, he grabbed her waist, he spun her around, and then he blew her kisses. She was battered and sexually assaulted.” 

This isn’t the first case of battery involving Kanye West. Ye was named as a suspect in a 2023 battery case after grabbing a woman’s phone. The unnamed woman recorded the Graduation musician without his permission. Ye snapped, snatched her phone, and tossed it into the street, per TMZ. The case was filed shortly after Ventura County Sheriff’s Department authorities were given footage of the incident. Footage of the clip went viral on social media, showing the entire exchange. West can be seen yelling at a male photographer, snapping pictures of him. The Vultures rapper is then seen approaching a woman’s car, pressing her about filming him on her phone. After growing frustrated with her, West is seen in the video grabbing her phone. “You didn’t have to run up on me like that,” he said to her. “If I say stop, stop with your cameras!” However, the alleged victim argued that she has the right to film him since he’s a “celebrity.” However, TMZ reported in March 2023 that the woman chose not to press charges on the artist. The outlet stated that the phone only suffered minor damages to its $30 case. As a result, the woman will not pursue any further legal processes.

Missy Elliott offered Cardi B a bit of advice regarding her sophomore album, spurring the rapper to take whatever creative leaps necessary in growing as an artist.

The Virginia native shared her veteran wisdom with the Bronx-bred hitmaker while responding to a social media user’s criticism of Cardi’s plan. The “Bodak Yellow” emcee expressed that she has wanted to try new sounds and approaches on her forthcoming album.
 

“Your second album is not the time to be experimenting,” the user wrote in response to the Invasion of Privacy creator’s post on X preparing her fans for an album, which she said may be a departure from what they were likely anticipating.

“Maybe the third album but definitely not the second.. just give people what they need. She still needs to win people back,” they added, in reference to the 31-year-old.

Shortly after, Missy Elliott responded by quoting the post with a take of her own, in which she drew from her own experience of dodging the sophomore slump. Since then, she has been celebrated as one of the more innovative minds in Hip-Hop history. “Absolutely yes it’s the time to experiment,” the Supa Dupa Fly rapper wrote. “Take it from someone who experimented and many others which allowed them to NOT be BOXED in to one sound and style… I can name tons who each of their albums sounded nothing like the one before.”

Elliott’s words struck a chord within Cardi, who responded by voicing her reticence in testing her boundaries as an artist, but says she’s ultimately catering to what moves her and reflects where she’s currently at in life. “Yeup!!! I’m a little nervous… but I don’t care!” she wrote in a subsequent post following Missy’s. “I’m liking doing things that my ears want to listen to and reflecting the moods I been in. It feels good.” See Cardi B and Missy Elliott’s X posts below.

Yeup!!! I’m a little nervous… but I don’t care! I’m liking doing things that my ears want to listen to and reflecting the moods I been in. It feels good https://t.co/biXOySSnac

— Cardi B (@iamcardib) April 6, 2024

Beyoncé reigns supreme on the charts for the second consecutive week. According to Billboard, the Houston musician’s latest offering, COWBOY CARTER, spends another week on top after debuting at No. 1 on the 200 chart.
 

The album earned 125,500 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending April 11, adding to first-week sales that brought the global music icon her highest streaming week ever. Remaining in the No. 1 spot for a second week gives COWBOY CARTER the most weeks at No. 1 for any Beyoncé album since her self-titled release in 2013.

COWBOY CARTER features Dolly Parton, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer, Tanner Adell, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Miley Cyrus, Willie Nelson, and Linda Martell.

“I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop. This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!,” wrote the Grammy Award-winning performer of the work. Remaining at No. 1, Queen Bey outlasted a surprise album from J. Cole titled Might Delete Later. The unannounced project boasts features from Ari Lennox, Bas, Central Cee, Young Dro, Gucci Mane, Cam’ron, Daylyt, and Ab-Soul.

The project also featured “7-Minute Drill,” a response to Kendrick Lamar after the Compton rapper targeted J. Cole and Drake on the song “Like That.” Since its release, the Dreamville rhymer apologized for the diss track and had it removed from streaming services. “I was conflicted because, I know my heart and I know how I feel about my peers, these two n**gas that I’m blessed to even stand beside in this game and let alone chase their greatness. I felt conflicted because I know I don’t really feel no way. But the world want to see blood,” he said. “I moved in a way that, spiritually, I feel bad,” detailed the 39-year-old. Take a listen to Might Delete Later below.

Fresh off his surprise Coachella performance during Tyler, The Creator‘s set, Childish Gambino has announced his final two albums: Atavista and the soundtrack to Bando Stone & the New World.

During a late-night livestream on Sunday (April 14), Gambino revealed, “We’re releasing Atavista, but after that, there’s the final Childish Gambino album — a soundtrack for the fans.” While live, he previewed the original soundtrack for Bando Stone & the New World, which he confirmed will be his final album as Childish Gambino.

Prior to the livestream, he tweeted, “GILGA Radio tonight @ 11 pm pst. live streamed on Instagram @donaldglover.” A fan questioned, “Music??” to which Gambino responded, “of course. It’s a rollout dummy.”

“I’m actually in the studio. I’ve been bringing people in, like secret people, working on little things. I’ve been just making it for fun right now. But soon something will happen. I promise,” he teased backstage at the 2023 Golden Globes. By December, he was telling TMZ the album was coming “soon.”

However, he’s been hinting at retiring his Childish Gambino moniker since 2017. He explained to Huff Post that he didn’t feel his music career was necessary anymore, noting, “There’s nothing worse than like a third sequel, like a third movie, and we’re like, ‘again?’ […] Like I feel like there’s gotta be a reason to do things, and I always had a reason to be punk. Being punk just always felt really good to me, and we always looked at Atlanta as a punk show, and I feel like the direction I would go with Childish Gambino wouldn’t be punk anymore. As much as ‘Redbone’ is a punk song because it’s a gospel song that’s on the radio, I’m like there’s only so far you can go before you just are the radio.” The forthcoming LPs would be the rapper’s first solo projects since 2020’s 3.15.20. Last year, he released a joint EP with Ni’jah and KIRBY for Swarm, the thriller miniseries he co-created that is currently streaming on Prime Video. Gambino will continue to pursue other endeavors under his real name, Donald Glover.

Vanessa Williams is returning to her music roots with the announcement of her new single, “Legs (Keep Dancing)” from her new album — her first in 15 years.
 

The LP will be distributed under her own record label, Mellian Music, a joint venture with Mod Squad, LLC, GoDigiPath, LLC, and ADA Worldwide.

“What a joy it is to be making new music behind the [mic] again with old friends,”  said the 61-year-old in a statement. “There’s a certain comfort in creating new works in the studio while reminiscing about how so many years in this business have brought successes, excitement, and lasting memories. Always moving forward is what drives me. Every challenge is exciting. And more new music to share with my fans is the fuel that lights my fire.”

“A true multi-hyphenate and savvy businesswoman, there’s not much Vanessa can’t do,” added Cat Kreidich, President, ADA Worldwide.

Mod Squad CEO, Tony Prendatt, described Williams’ new album as one that “surrounds Vanessa’s vocal gifts and performances with stellar acoustic and electronic performances by real musicians, real writers, real producers,” calling it a “real music album.” He also noted that it will be an album that “will touch on all of Vanessa’s experiences in the pop, R&B, latin, jazz, and dance genres.” “Legs (Keep Dancing)” is slated for release on April 26. The full album will arrive later this year.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Vanessa Williams (@vanessawilliamsofficial)

Of the new album, songwriter Kipper Jones says, “You can call it a comeback, a full circle moment, or just plain serendipity, but I call it a blessing to be creating more history with the iconic force of nature that is Vanessa Williams. If past is indeed prologue, we’re about to give ‘em hell again!” Jones and Williams’ working relationship dates back to her 1988 debut album, The Right Stuff. Williams is currently prepping to star as Miranda Priestly in London’s West End production of The Devil Wears Prada. Preview performances start this summer before its official opening night on October 24.

Ashanti has not only confirmed that she is pregnant, but she and Nelly are also engaged.
 

In a sponsored post by Proov—an at-home fertility testing company in which they co-own—the singer is seen getting ready for a show backstage. Her mom/manager, Tina Douglas, enters and asks how much more time is needed. To which she replies, “Imma need about nine months.” The response had her mother’s jaw on the floor.
 

Ashanti, 43, captioned the video, “Baby baby baby baby….” It was an adorably fitting reference to her 2002 classic of the same name.

Of the news of her upcoming nuptials and baby, she tells ESSENCE, “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation. Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”

Under previous throwback posts from earlier this month, some criticized Ashanti, accusing her of “pulling a Halle [Bailey]” meaning that she was hiding her obvious pregnancy.

However, others rushed to Ashanti’s defense. One commented, “I’m crying laughing cause if she is actually pregnant I love the petty! Cause I’d post every picture in my phone except what y’all looking for.” Another replied, “Y’all need to stop pressuring people to do something they clearly do not want to do. If y’all already know, who cares if she confirms it or not?”

After a source reportedly close to Nelly and Ashanti confirmed the pregnancy to US Weekly back in December, her mom unintentionally cosigned the report months later. During a panel discussion this past March, one host extended her well wishes to the couple through Douglas. She quickly corrected them by stating, “There’s been no announcement, it hasn’t come out yet, so, you know, until I hear it from Ashanti and Nelly…” This would be Ashanti’s first child with her longtime love. The pair reunited a decade after their first on-off, nearly 10-year romance. Nelly has two children—a 29-year-old daughter, Chanelle and a 24-year-old son, Cornell Haynes III—from a previous relationship. He adopted his niece and nephew, Shawn and Sydney Thomas, after his sister, Jackie Donahue, died of leukemia in 2005.