Is there anything that Queen Bey can’t do? Whether it’s sparking online debates or shattering Grammy records, Beyoncé has more than proven herself worthy of all her accolades. So it’s no surprise that when Billboard released its “The 75 Best R&B Artists of All Time” list, Beyoncé ranked high among her peers. Landing at No. 4 on the list, the Renaissance singer follows behind icons like Michael Jackson (No. 3), Aretha Franklin (No. 2), and Stevie Wonder (No. 1). The late, legendary, singer and diva, Whitney Houston, rounded out the group at No.5. The criteria for ranking included “vocal prowess, body of work, career longevity, industry achievements, game-changing influence, and enduring generational/cultural impact.” “Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century also happens to be one of the Best R&B Artists of All Time. In fact, it’s her dedication to her R&B foundation that has helped her become one of music’s most innovative, impactful, and impressive artists,” the outlet wrote. “The 35-time Grammy-winning Houstonian first hit the Billboard charts as the lead vocalist of Destiny’s Child, the girl group in which she honed her now-signature staccato rap-singing, a vocal approach that can be heard in virtually every contemporary R&B song today.” Beyoncé has been named the #4 ‘Best R&B Singer of All-Time’ by Billboard staff. pic.twitter.com/bFcg8myACW — Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) June 19, 2025 Other notable artists included in the list include: James Brown (No.6), Prince (No.7), Mariah Carey (No.8), R.Kelly (No.9), and Marvin Gaye (No.10). Last December, Billboard crowned Queen Bey as the greatest pop star of the 21st century. The publication said she’s “the century’s biggest pop star based on her full 25 years of influence, evolution, and impact.” “The reasons why Beyoncé captured the top spot on our list were beyond numerous. Ranging from her 25 years of timeless albums and singles to her incalculable industry impact and influence on other artists, to her peerless raw talents as a singer and performer.” Billboard said. “Few artists this period can match her in any of the most critical basic categories of pop stardom. Commercial success, performance abilities, critical acclaim and accolades, industry influence, iconic cultural moments – and absolutely no one can equal her in all of them,” Billboard continued.

Pusha T is speaking his truth about why he and Kanye West don’t see eye-to-eye anymore. During an interview with Ebro Darden for Apple Music, he spoke about how their once-close relationship deteriorated.  “I feel like me and Ye, we don’t gel,” Pusha told  Darden at around the 45-minute mark. “Where I am right now in my life, I’m not with anybody who ain’t on my team — especially when I’ve been on your team.” Pusha also shared that West would collaborate with artists he saw as enemies, which accelerated the end of their partnership.  “He champions and stands next to anybody and everybody who don’t f**k with me,” Pusha explained.“And I don’t get that. I don’t understand that.” He also was not feeling how West spoke about the music they both created. “Why would you ever say anything negative about the music we created when you know it slaps?” the former GOOD Music president said. This continues Pusha T’s current trend of speaking candidly about West. In a previous interview with GQ, he said he lost respect for Ye as an artist and as a man. “We made some great sh*t, bro,” Pusha said. “He’s a genius. But that’s why me and him don’t get along, because he sees through my fakeness with him. He knows I don’t think he’s a man. He’s shown me the weakest sides of him, and he knows how I think of weak people.” On July 11, Clipse will release their highly anticipated sophomore project, Let God Sort Em Out. So far, the dynamic duo had released “Ace of Trumpets” and “So Be It” to critical acclaim.

Nicki Minaj set social media ablaze Tuesday after airing grievances against Jay-Z, and Megan Thee Stallion. Her posts drew immediate attention, with the rapper accusing Jay-Z of owing her $200 million while also criticizing Megan’s legal issues and suggesting Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez was part of a larger industry problem. In a pointed reference to Cardi B’s underwhelming single “Outside,” Minaj’s commentary seemed both strategic and personal, fueling a new wave of speculation across fan circles. Amid the digital uproar, Minaj turned to X (formerly Twitter) to ask her fans where she should take her livestream content next: Twitch or Kick? That question quickly reached Adin Ross, a leading creator on Kick, who jumped into the conversation with a direct—and business-minded—offer. He warned that Twitch’s strict guidelines might limit Minaj’s ability to speak freely, especially on hot-button topics involving Jay-Z or Megan. Kick, on the other hand, would welcome her voice without restrictions. Minaj’s next move could shake up streaming To make the proposition even more enticing, Ross offered Minaj equity in the platform—signaling just how serious he is about bringing her into the fold. Known for his ties to Drake and Stake, Ross has carved out a space in the streaming world that aligns closely with unfiltered entertainment and hip-hop culture. With Minaj already finding success on StationHead through raw, unscripted audio sessions, the move to a visual platform like Kick feels like a natural next step. Whether Minaj accepts the offer remains to be seen. But her decision could carry major implications for the future of creator-led streaming. If she opts for Kick, it could challenge Twitch’s dominance and reshape how artists connect with fans in real time.

Clipse believe that Tyler, the Creator, is their biggest fan. Speaking with Ebro Darden about merch in support of their highly anticipated album, Let God Sort Em Out, in the Complex Shop, they revealed that Tyler holds the top spot as their biggest fan. “As a fan of the discography, Tyler is the number one Clipster,” Pusha T said. “He can tell me things about albums and the time periods and everything, from production to raps, when it comes to Clipse albums.” Tyler and the rest of Clipse nation can rejoice on July 11 when the album drops, which is solely produced by Pharrell Williams. .@tylerthecreator is the number 1 Clipster. We’re a close second. Don’t miss the livestream on Thursday, July 10 at 8pm PT / 11pm ET on Apple Music. https://t.co/KoxiFMSZhQ pic.twitter.com/Z6ZOafIsKr — Apple Music (@AppleMusic) July 8, 2025 Speaking on Popcast,  the dynamic duo shared their thoughts on the absence of Chad Hugo, co-founder of the iconic production duo the Neptunes. “Absolutely miss Chad. As far as you know, being on the album,” No Malice said. “But I’ll see Chad in the airport, in the street, at Buffalo Wild Wings, you know, in VA. Whatever they got going on, just hope for the best for that […] Whenever we see each other, it’s always still love. Always.” “For me, no, you know, no. Everybody knows my favorite album is  Hell Hath No Fury Pharrell did that alone. That’s it […] Chad’s my guy. I love Chad. Pharrell’s my guy, love Chad, too. We’re brothers, we came up together,” Pusha explained. “But, you know, when you say missing in the music, there is no missing in the music when it comes to the Clipse. And if it’s just P, it don’t matter—we find what we find.” In April 2024, Williams and Hugo were involved in a legal dispute over the group’s name, which HO797 previously reported.

A$AP Rocky may have a new album on the way, but right now, his main focus appears to be family. As he and Rihanna prepare to welcome their third child, a new report from PEOPLE highlights just how locked in the Harlem rapper is when it comes to parenting and supporting his partner. A source allegedly close to the couple shared that the bond between Rocky and Rihanna has only strengthened since becoming parents. The two already share sons RZA Athelston and Riot Rose, and reportedly always planned to have their children close in age so they could grow up with a strong sibling connection. “Rihanna and Rocky couldn’t be more thrilled to be growing their family again with baby number three,” the source said. “They’ve really embraced this chapter and their bond has only deepened since becoming parents.” Rocky is described as deeply involved and attentive—taking on everything from bedtime routines to household duties so Rihanna can get the rest she needs. “He’s so hands on with RZA and Riot,” the insider added. “He’ll run her baths, massage her feet, and take care of things around the house so she doesn’t have to lift a finger.” Beyond the physical support, he’s also been a consistent source of emotional comfort. “He always makes her laugh, he keeps things light and full of love.” While the two artists are clearly thriving in their personal lives, fans online are still keeping one eye on Rocky’s long-delayed album DON’T BE DUMB. With no official release date in sight—and Rihanna’s return to music still up in the air—some listeners are starting to grow restless. But from the looks of it, A$AP Rocky is putting fatherhood first, even if that means making fans wait a little longer.

Bangladesh is the architect of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest songs. Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, and making his name in Atlanta, Bangladesh emerged as a formidable force in music production, crafting signature sounds that became the blueprint for chart-topping hits for artists like He has produced chart-topping hits for Beyoncé, Ludacris, Lil Wayne, and many more. His innovative but minimalist production style has not only defined eras but also cemented his legacy as a true architect of modern urban music. HOT97 spoke to Bangladesh about his legendary career, his latest music project, and the launch of his clothing line. HOT97:How was it growing up in Des Moines, Iowa? Bangladesh: Growing up, I knew of two guys who made rap music. One was close to my family, and the other was older than me. His name was Corey D, and he made it on Rap City, and that was a big deal back then. But there wasn’t a rap scene because it wasn’t any outlets there. There wasn’t much going on as far as like culture, so we pulled from the West Coast and East Coast popping. We listened to E-40, Bone Thugs In Harmony, and anyone who was poppin at that time. HOT97: I read that you were discovered as a producer when you were a barber. Bangladesh: I had been cutting hair since I was 12, so by the time I was 15, I was making money doing it. In my senior year in high school, I was working in a barber I started saving up. Once I graduated from high school, I moved to Atlanta with my auntie, and she had a beautician license and her own shop. I saved my money up and bought myself an MPC 2000, and I just started making beats. HOT97: How did you come up with the name “Bangladesh?” Bangladesh: Bangladesh was a word that we used a couple of used. We used to use that word to describe cool stuff like “Oh, that’s Bangladesh. I named my company Bangladesh Records because I wanted to always be a record executive. I was working on a project with some of the artists that I had, and I started to do ad-libs on the songs, and I would say Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Bangladesh, a whole bunch of times, and I sampled it like my own voice. I started putting it in front of beats, and it became a producer tag. HOT97: Eventually, you relocated to Atlanta, where the rap scene was just about to take off in a major way. How was it to see so many artists become stars? Bangladesh: Rico Wade, who was 1/3 of organized noise, his sister went to school with me. All I wanted to do was move to Atlanta and be in the Dungeon Family, so imagine you going to high school with the leader’s sister. I just started meeting people at the school I went to, and my best friend is a cousin of Lil Fate, who is Ludacris’ right-hand man and his hype man even today. But back then, everybody was just rapping and had rap dreams. So knowing each other, and everybody being like-minded, we just came together, and it just organically happened for real. HOT97: Your work with Ludacris helped to launch him into superstardom. When did you first connect with Luda? Bangladesh: Me and Ludacris already knew each other. I was among a group of people that was doing music. So I think Chris was probably the last person that knew what I was doing, because he would come through, he would get his, you know, he had an afro, he would just get lineups. I took him to my car one day, and I played him, like four beats I had on a tape. The whole time, he was listening and looking through the front window. He never looked at me, never said a word. I could see him  thinking, like, ‘Man, this, this dude got it like this?’  ‘Where did he come from?’ From there, we started working on “You’s a Ho*”, which is one of my first beats. That was the beat tape I played him, and “What’s Your Fantasy” was the last song we recorded. HOT97: You also created “Diva” for Beyoncé. How was that creative process? Bangladesh: I had “A Milli” with Lil Wayne, and when you have a smash out, everybody is open to whatever you’re doing. Everybody wants to work with you. It was just the perfect time to work on her project, coming off that a Millie song. I was working with Sean Garrett, who wrote “Diva”, um, so I had the beat already, but I didn’t take the beat seriously. It was a duplicate of “A Milli,” and I never tried to not remake things, and that was a mixtape track that I was working on with my artist. I was playing a beat in the studio one day, and my peers were going crazy. I kind of downplayed it, but  I started looking at it different. When I got with Sean Garrett, he was always a fan of “A Milli.” He said, “If I had ‘A Milli, I would have killed it. When I was working on Beyoncé, I just pulled that beat out. She was the only top-tier female artist who could do a song like “Diva.” I already had the beat, and they put her voice on there. All we had to do was finish the job. HOT97: After all your success in music, you have entered the fashion world. What led you to this way? Bangladesh: I’ve always been into fashion. I guess it’s in the blood. All my peers always get ideas of what to wear for me. Ever since I was in elementary and middle school, I have always come back from Christmas break and dress like me. They would tell their parents to get them the shirts and the pants like mine.  I always knew that’s kind of how

Raekwon is back with The Emperor’s New Clothes, a solo release that brings legends and new voices together under one roof. Dropping via Mass Appeal, the album blends the grit of golden-era hip-hop with sharp, contemporary energy. After a seven-year solo break, the Wu-Tang veteran delivers a project that feels both reflective and fully in the now. The features are nothing short of historic. Longtime Wu-Tang partners—Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Inspectah Deck—bring their signature edge, while Nas makes a standout appearance that deepens the album’s roots. Griselda’s Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn round out the lineup, injecting a raw, modern sound that complements Raekwon’s polished delivery. Fans have waited since The Wild in 2017 for a solo drop, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The project weaves cinematic storytelling, street wisdom, and layered production into one of Raekwon’s most complete bodies of work. Raekwon hints at Wu-Tang reunion and solo heat Speaking on Instagram Live, Raekwon addressed the status of a potential Wu-Tang Clan album, pointing to the hurdles that come with reuniting such a sprawling crew. “We’re all doing great things in our lives, and getting everyone in the same room is no easy feat. But don’t misconstrue our desire; we definitely want to create together,” he said. He added, “With so many different minds at play, it can be a challenge to agree on a direction. Yet, we are still very much in the game—don’t count us out.” The message was clear: collaboration remains possible, even if the process isn’t simple. And the door to a new chapter for Wu-Tang isn’t closed. Raekwon also hinted at something special arriving August 1, on the anniversary of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…. “I promise you, this next record is going to blow your minds. Trust me,” he said, adding more intrigue to what’s already been a busy year. Even without that announcement landing just yet, Raekwon is front and center in Mass Appeal’s “Legend Has It…” series. The label has already rolled out a new release from Slick Rick and teased upcoming projects with Nas and DJ Premier, Mobb Deep, Ghostface Killah, and De La Soul. A posthumous album from Big L is also on the horizon. The “Legend Has It…” series honors the artists who built hip-hop from the ground up—and who still have plenty more to say. With The Emperor’s New Clothes, Raekwon proves once again that timeless lyricism and sharp instincts can coexist. It’s not just a return—it’s a reminder of how far the culture’s come, and where it’s still headed.

Wale recently revealed how challenging it is to remain relevant in the rap game. During an interview with Cam Newton on his “Funky Friday” podcast, he spoke about how he’s maintained his relevancy..  “It’s hard, man,” Wale said. “I mean, there are so many things that throw you off. I lost a lot of friends in the streets or just otherwise, but jumping in the industry, being here for about 16 years… The amount of friends that I lost… It’s not a normal life to live,” he continued. He went on to describe the modern music  industry as “not the brightest place to be.” “You could be the greatest rapper of all time, but everybody could be like, ‘Oh I don’t like you, you’re not good,” he explained. “So that can just throw you off … The longevity is no joke, man. And the game done change, it keep changing.” He argued that another aspect beyond the changing nature of the industry, and the arrival of new artists, is how tough it can be to have your art noticed with everything going on. “There’s so much stuff going on right now,” he said. “So much distractions and so much… Everybody is bloodthirsty right now in hip-hop,” he said. “So it’s like, how many people’s attention can you get, you know what I’m saying? How do you enter the zeitgeist? How do you enter the mainstream, the algorithm? It’s busy. It’s tough, it’s a tough game.” Wale also shared that he’s not interested in chasing the latest trends, and supports “evergreen music,” and used JAY-Z’s Reasonable Doubt as an example of great art. “I had to grow up a little bit before I understood how great Reasonable Doubt was,” he said. “I didn’t understand how good it was in middle school. When I got older, I was like, ‘Oh snap.’ Everything he’s saying, I didn’t get. That’s why I got to try to make the music evergreen, because it’ll catch up eventually.”

During Beyoncé’s recent show in Houston, the Grammy Award-winning artist encountered a frightening moment when her flying car prop tilted in mid-air. The horrifying moment had been caught on camera by fans and later circulated online. In the clip, as Beyoncé makes her way through the crowd while performing her hit track, “16 Carriages,” aboard her flying car — which has become a popular segment throughout the show — things take a dark turn. It appears that one of the rigs holding up the vehicle had broken, which resulted in the car tilting in the air. Beyoncé can be heard shouting, “Stop!” before adding, “Bring me down.”Luckily, the singer was able to be brought down safely to continue the rest of her show. Beyoncé was safely lowered after her flying car unexpectedly tilted mid-air at the Cowboy Carter tour in Houston while performing ‘16 CARRIAGES.’ pic.twitter.com/FOgl9DIfFR — Pop Base (@PopBase) June 29, 2025 In other news, on a happier note, Billboard has ranked Beyoncé as the fourth most influential R&B artist of all time. The Renaissance singer follows behind icons like Michael Jackson (No. 3), Aretha Franklin (No. 2), and Stevie Wonder (No. 1). The late, legendary, singer and diva, Whitney Houston, rounded out the group at No.5. The criteria for ranking included “vocal prowess, body of work, career longevity, industry achievements, game-changing influence, and enduring generational/cultural impact.” “Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century also happens to be one of the Best R&B Artists of All Time. In fact, it’s her dedication to her R&B foundation that has helped her become one of music’s most innovative, impactful, and impressive artists,” the outlet wrote. “The 35-time Grammy-winning Houstonian first hit the Billboard charts as the lead vocalist of Destiny’s Child, the girl group in which she honed her now-signature staccato rap-singing, a vocal approach that can be heard in virtually every contemporary R&B song today.” Other notable artists included in the list are: James Brown (No. 6), Prince (No. 7), Mariah Carey (No. 8), R. Kelly (No. 9), and Marvin Gaye (No. 10). Last December, Billboard crowned Queen Bey as the greatest pop star of the 21st century. The publication said she’s “the century’s biggest pop star based on her full 25 years of influence, evolution, and impact.”

Kendrick Lamar’s explosive collaboration with SZA, “Luther,” has crossed the one billion stream threshold on Spotify, hitting the mark faster than any of his previous records. Dropped in November, the track took just seven months to reach the milestone—outpacing the eight-month climb of his viral hit “Not Like Us.” It’s the eleventh time Lamar has joined Spotify’s billion-stream club, a space he already occupies with chart heavyweights like “HUMBLE.,” “Money Trees,” and “All the Stars.” The speed of “Luther’s” ascent underscores Lamar’s unmatched momentum in today’s rap landscape. Beyond its streaming success, “Luther” has dominated the Billboard Hot 100, holding the top slot for 13 straight weeks and leading the hip-hop chart for a staggering 25. The track has become a cultural mainstay, cementing its presence across radio, social media, and live stages alike. Lamar’s BET wins and tour cement his reign Lamar’s recent sweep at the BET Awards added to the victory lap. Returning to his hometown of Los Angeles, he walked away with five wins, including Album of the Year and Best Collaboration—sharing two of the honors with creative partner Dave Free. “I haven’t been here in a long time, but my heart has always been with BET,” he told the crowd. “I’ve made sure they represent our culture authentically, placing me in the heart of the music that resonates with people.” He added, “To my folks in the building and my LA natives in the back, I see you. God first and foremost, to my company pgLang, SZA in the crowd—we’re currently on tour, so don’t miss our show. We’re going to keep this momentum going, and I truly appreciate all of you.” The duo is currently mid-run on their Grand National Tour, closing out North American stops before taking their stage show to stadiums across Europe. The run has drawn massive crowds and critical praise, reinforcing both artists’ cultural and commercial dominance.