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Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Dethrones Adele for Biggest Album Sales Week in Streaming Era

Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Dethrones Adele for Biggest Album Sales Week in Streaming Era

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has officially dethroned Adele’s 25 for the biggest opening week for an album in the streaming era, as Swift’s latest record has surged to over 3.5 million album units this week so far.

Source: HollywoodReporter

According to Billboard, which cites data from Luminate, The Life of a Showgirl has sold an astounding 3.2 million copies alone, with an extra 300,000 units coming from streaming of the album. The combined 3.5 million is the biggest opening since Luminate began electronically documenting music sales back in 1991. Adele currently holds the record for most individual sales (not including streams) with over 3.3 million when 25 debuted in 2015, though Swift still has another day of potential sales figures that could put her over the top.

Swift’s strong numbers shirk one of her more polarizing release weeks in years, with The Life of a Showgirl garnering mixed critical reviews. Swifties clearly haven’t cared, as the album quickly set records for most streamed album in a day for 2025, and they’ve clearly been more than willing to shell out extra for the several dozen different physical variants of the album Swift has dropped so far that have helped boost those strong album sales numbers.

Swift herself doesn’t seem to mind the criticism either, telling Zane Lowe in an interview this week that “I welcome the chaos.

“The rule of show business is if it’s the first week of my album release and you are saying either my name or my album title, you’re helping,” Swift said.

These are strong figures even for Swift, who is one of the only artists left who could reliably sell a million units in a week in a streaming era that has significantly brought album sales down. Last year’s The Tortured Poets Department opened with over 2.6 million units, while Midnights opened with about 1.5 million units. Swift is dominating both the album charts and the box office, with her theatrical Album Release Party making a combined 50.1 million domestically and oversees.

Final first-week numbers will be revealed this weekend. The No. 1 is locked, and the question now becomes how much of the Hot 100 Swift will have to herself next week. Both Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department dominated the entire top-10 on that chart, and Life of a Showgirl will likely do the same.

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A$AP Rocky Praised For Going ‘Toe-To-Toe’ With Denzel Washington

A$AP Rocky has been praised by Spike Lee for how he acted opposite Denzel Washington.

A$AP Rocky has been praised by Spike Lee for how he acted opposite Denzel Washington.

Source: HipHopDX

In his first significant acting role, Rocky plays the son of Washington’s character in Lee’s newest movie Highest 2 Lowest.

Speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Lee said: “Yeah, don’t sleep on A$AP. In this film, Denzel and A$AP go toe-to-toe. What’s interesting is, even before I got involved with this film, I always thought that A$AP looked like he could be Denzel’s son. There’s a big resemblance. So when you see it on the screen, it adds an element of father and son.”

He reiterated: “Don’t sleep on A$AP. I’ve done five films with Denzel, and a lot of times when he’s in a scene with somebody, they just get overwhelmed. He’s one of the greatest living actors today, but A$AP wasn’t having that. Toe-to-toe, I mean, they were going at it.”

Rocky previously revealed the type of music Washington likes to listen to while on set.

He said: “Denzel would pull up to the movie set playing Pooh Shiesty and Moneybagg Yo, swear to God. Can’t make this up.”

Rocky added: “He likes to listen to Memphis rappers, but modern Memphis rappers. Then he started quoting NLE Choppa. I’m like, ‘You know NLE Choppa?!’ He like, ‘I don’t do drive-bys now, walk ’em down.’ I’m like, ‘Yo, Denzel, chill!’ It was crazy, he’s really tapped in, man.”

Highest 2 Lowest is billed as a “reinterpretation” of Akira Kurosawa’s classic 1963 film High and Low.

The Japanese crime film was based on the Ed McBain novel King’s Ransom, which tells the story of a businessman’s ruin following a ransom payment to kidnappers.

Spike also said to Deadline: “In Kurosawa’s film, Toshiro Mifune is a shoemaker. In our film Denzel Washington is a music mogul with his own label and his reputation as the best ears in the business. So, this is the fifth film with the dynamic duo.”

Rocky has previously acted in Hip Hop influenced comedy-drama Dope and is also set to be seen in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

He has also made numerous cameos as himself in films such as Zoolander 2 and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

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Top 10 Remix Chart for February 2025

EnjoyTheBEATZ.com Top 10 Charts

EnjoyTheBEATZ.com Top 10 Remix Chart (based on sales)
February 2025

Excludes free remixes.

10. Johnnie Taylor – Disco Lady remix
9. Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther remix
8. Kendrick Lamar – Squabble Up remix
7. Blur – Song 2 remix
6. Dom Dolla – Girl$ remix
5. Naughty Boy feat Sam Smith – La La La remix
4. Jack Harlow feat Ludacris – First Class remix
3. Taylor Swift feat Post Malone – Fortnight 2.0 remix
2. Puff Daddy feat Faith Evans, 112 – I’ll Be Missing You remix

1. Shannon – Give Me Tonight remix

shannon - give me tonight remix

 

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Kendrick Lamar Breaks Enormous Tour Record On First Night

Kendrick Lamar Breaks Enormous Tour Record On First Night

Kendrick Lamar and SZA‘s Grand National tour is already proving to be a huge commercial success as the duo break records.

Source: HipHopDX

The tour’s first night saw Kendrick break Eminem‘s previous record of highest-grossing rap concert.

According to Touring Data, the opening night in Minneapolis grossed over $9.1 million from more than 47,000 fans at an average price of $192.70.

This means that Kendrick can now boast that he has the single highest grossing Hip Hop concert of all time, surpassing Eminem’s record from when he played in Melbourne, Australia in 2019.

It is also the first rap concert to break the $9 million barrier.

The concert in Minneapolis was also the most attended gig for both Kendrick and SZA outside of festival performances.

The opening night of the Grand National tour was also notable for some remarks Kendrick appeared to aim at his nemesis, Drake.

Making overt reference to Drizzy’s controversial lawsuit against Universal Music Group which accuses the record giant of defamation over the release and promotion of “Not Like Us,” Kendrick mocked the 6 God for taking their beef to the courtroom.

 

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How Top Dawg Entertainment Became The Current Most Powerful Label In Hip-Hop

How Top Dawg Entertainment Became The Current Most Powerful Label In Hip-Hop

Independent record labels have been the lifeblood of hip-hop over the last five decades, and no other rap label is currently pushing the line like Top Dawg Entertainment.

Source: XXLMag

Established in 2004 by California native Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, the imprint started with humble beginnings but quickly found its footing in the Los Angeles rap scene. Throughout the aughts, TDE signed rising talent like Jay Rock (2005), Kendrick Lamar (2005), Ab-Soul (2007) and ScHoolboy Q (2009). Each of the rappers’ debut albums saw modest success, but in 2012, the label scored its first top 10 Billboard 200 album when Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city debuted at No. 2. Then, in 2013, the label stepped into the R&B realm by scooping up then little-known R&B star SZA.

The label’s eye for talent has turned into a track record for success. In total, TDE has put out seven No .1 albums and a total of 17 top-20 projects. While Kendrick Lamar parted ways with the label in 2022, he turned into an international superstar under the tutelage of TDE and still has a close bond with his former labelmates and the executive team.

More recently, TDE’s successes have been playing out on major stages. K-Dot recently won five Grammy Awards and performed a record-breaking set at the 2025 Super Bowl with SZA in February. And there’s the whole matter of vanquishing hip-hop’s golden child, Drake, in 2024.

This past February, former XXL Freshman Doechii, who signed to TDE in 2022, won Best Rap Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Her star continues to rise, as she also earned Outstanding New Artist at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, recently performed alongside Ms. Lauryn Hill and was honored as the Billboard Woman of the Year for 2025.

SZA has become a force to be reckoned with. Her triple-platinum sophomore album, SOS, debuted at No. 1 in 2022. The album recently tied Michael Jackson’s Thriller as the longest-running top 10 album by a Black artist in the history of the Billboard 200 chart.

She also costars alongside KeKe Palmer in the new film One of Them Days, which opened at No. 1 at the box office this year, raking in over 11 million in its opening week. SZA and Kendrick will also be embarking on the Grand National Tour later this year.

 

Read More: How TDE Became the Current Most Powerful Label in Hip-Hop | https://www.xxlmag.com/top-dawg-entertainment-most-powerful-label-hip-hop/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

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Slick Rick, Freeway & More Connect At Inaugural Hip Hope Ball To Raise Cancer Awareness

Slick Rick, Freeway & More Connect At Inaugural Hip Hope Ball To Raise Cancer Awareness

The Health, Hope and Hip Hop Foundation made history this February, hosting its first-ever “Hip Hope Ball: A Celebration to Ignite Change” on the final day of Black History Month.

Source: AllHipHop

The star-studded event brought together Hip-Hop legends and healthcare advocates with a unified mission: raising awareness about multiple myeloma and other cancers in the Black community.

Founded by Oya Gilbert, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in December 2017 after experiencing symptoms for two years, the foundation has become a powerful voice for awareness. Gilbert’s journey from diagnosis to advocacy has positioned him uniquely to leverage Hip-Hop culture for critical health education.

Gilbert’s impact has not just been as a health advocate but also as a MC. Under the moniker Grand G, Gilbert laid groundwork that would influence some of Hip-Hop’s most significant architects, creating a ripple effect throughout the culture that many stars unknowingly benefit from today.

“He made it possible for all of us to believe and to dream,” Young Guru, ROC Nation’s acclaimed engineer and producer, said speaking directly to Gilbert during an emotional moment at the gala. “Whatever you need, I’m there for you. You know why? Because you influenced my life and put me on a path that would lead me to something great.”

In a revealing personal anecdote, Young Guru shared how Gilbert, known then by his rap moniker Grand G, had been an early inspiration.

“When I was 15 years old, I saw somebody that looked like me on the cover of an album,” Young Guru explained, referencing a compilation called Project X. The future Grammy winner recalled begging to visit the studio with Gilbert and his colleagues, an experience that would eventually shape his legendary career.

The evening’s performances elevated the celebration to another level.

Read more at: https://allhiphop.com/news/slick-rick-freeway-more-connect-at-inaugural-hip-hope-ball-to-raise-cancer-awareness/

 

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Kendrick Lamar Becomes First Rapper To Have 3 Albums In Billboard Top 10 Simultaneously

Kendrick Lamar Becomes First Rapper To Have 3 Albums In Billboard Top 10 Simultaneously

Kendrick Lamar has reached yet another milestone following his Super Bowl performance: he has become the first rap act ever to have three albums in the top 10 of the Billboard album chart at the same time.

Source: HipHopDX

On the Billboard 200 chart dated February 22 (which reflects sales during the week ending February 13), the outlet reported on Sunday (February 16), K.Dot’s latest, GNX, will return to the number one slot. His 2017 release DAMN will be at number nine, while 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city will be at 10.

Lamar is the first living male artist to have a trio of albums in the chart’s top 10 since Herb Alpert in 1966. The most recent artist to hit the mark was, unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift, who actually had five simultaneous albums in the top 10 in 2023. In the immediate aftermath of Prince‘s 2016 death, he had three albums in the top 10, and then five the following week.

In this most recent charting week, Kendrick’s GNX moved 236,000 equivalent album units, while DAMN moved 39,000 and good kid did 37,000.

The rapper’s post-Super Bowl wins continued when “Not Like Us” received the Saturday Night Live treatment thanks to Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer.

During the sketch comedy show’s 50th anniversary special this past weekend, Ferrell and Gasteyer reprised their classic roles as music teachers Marty and Bobbi Culp to cover a host of modern hits.

Read more: https://hiphopdx.com/news/kendrick-lamar-first-rapper-3-albums-billboard-top-10-simultaneously

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Anderson .Paak Brings Out Dr. Dre & Sheila E. At Star-Studded L.A. FireAid Concert

Anderson .Paak Brings Out Dr. Dre & Sheila E. At Star-Studded L.A. FireAid Concert

Anderson .Paak brought out some big names in Dr. Dre and Sheila E. at a show in Los Angeles in aid of victims of the city’s recent wildfires.

Source: HipHopDX

The Kia Forum played host on Thursday night (January 30) to FireAid, a star-studded benefit concert that saw performances from some of the biggest names in music including Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lil Baby and Joni Mitchell.

The surviving members of Nirvana also reunited on stage, with a number of female singers including Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, St. Vincent and Violet Grohl standing in for the late Kurt Cobain.

Anderson .Paak was one of the first performers of the night and after an introduction from Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, he dove into a typically high-energy four-song set.

Sheila E., a noted singer and percussionist who performed with Prince and has previously collaborated with .Paak, joined the Oxnard native for “Put Me Thru” and “Come Down.”

.Paak then delivered one of the night’s biggest surprises by welcoming Dr. Dre to the stage perform renditions of “Still D.R.E.” and “California Love.”

 

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A post shared by Sheila E. (@sheilaedrummer)

Dre also said a few words to the hometown crowd: “I want to say this is a magical moment for me. I got so much love for you guys and this summer will be the mark of 40 years that I’ve been in this business.

“And I appreciate all the love that you guys have been giving me, and the reason that we’re here, I appreciate all the first responders and firemen that put their lives on the line and I appreciate all that love. It’s all about love for me tonight.”

While the wildfires have now largely subsided with help from some recent rainfall, devastating damage has been left behind.

Billions of dollars in estimated damages have been caused by the blazes, which burned throughout January and killed at least 29 people, while also causing tens of thousands of people to lose their homes.

A number of local rappers have been doing their part to help with the relief efforts, most notably The Game and Snoop Dogg.

 

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Mac Miller’s Posthumous Album “Balloonerism” Drops To Rave Reviews

Mac Miller’s Posthumous Album “Balloonerism” Drops To Rave Reviews

Mac Miller’s second posthumous album, Balloonerism, has arrived alongside a short film more than six years after the rapper’s untimely passing.

Source: AllHipHop

Recorded between 2013 and 2014, the 14-track project, released Friday (January 16), follows 2020’s Circles.

SZA, who features on “DJ’s Chord Organ,” took to social media shortly after Balloonerism dropped to pay tribute to Mac Miller.

“I love my friend I miss my friend,” she wrote. “Grateful he saw something in me before most and treated me w love from day 1 . Wish he could see how right ab everything he truly was . Please go stream Balloonerism RIGHT NOW.”

The album dropped alongside an animated short film directed by Samuel Jerome Mason. The film was screened at selected cinemas before the project’s release and is also available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Mac Miller’s estate announced Balloonerism last November. They note the album is, a “project that was of great importance to Malcolm – to the extent that he commissioned artwork for it and discussions concerning when it should be released were had regularly, though ultimately ‘GO:OD AM’ [2015] and subsequent albums ended up taking precedence.”

They continued: “We believe the project showcases both the breadth of his musical talents and fearlessness as an artist. Given that unofficial versions of the album have circulated online for years and that releasing ‘Balloonerism’ was something that Malcolm frequently expressed being important to him, we felt it most appropriate to present an official version of the project to the world.”

Balloonerism is already receiving rave reviews on social media and began trending No.1 on X (Twitter) shortly after it dropped. Stream the album below and check out some of the reactions at the end of the page.

Listen below:

 

 

 

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Lil Wayne Reveals He Spoke To Kendrick Lamar, Addresses Rumored Super Bowl Appearance

Lil Wayne Reveals He Spoke To Kendrick Lamar, Addresses Rumored Super Bowl Appearance

Lil Wayne is opening up about a recent conversation with Kendrick Lamar about the upcoming 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show and his reaction to K. Dot referencing him on “wacced out murals.”

Source: AllHipHop

During a new interview with Skip Bayless aired Monday evening (December 16), the New Orleans native revealed he shared some words of encouragement with Lamar and said the pair are “cool.”

While Lil Wayne admitted he isn’t over it yet, he has embraced the decision and moved on.

“I wanna get to the point where I’m undeniable,” Wayne explained. “I want them to walk in there and have 10 other choices and whoever’s in charge says ‘No, you have to go with him.’”

Lil Wayne also revealed he hadn’t heard Kendrick Lamar’s “wacced out murals.”

The Young Money founder previously reacted to the track hours after Lamar’s GNX dropped.

“Man wtf I do?!” he tweeted. “Let this giant sleep. I beg u all. No one really wants destruction, not even me but I shall destroy if disturbed. On me. Love.”

On the track, Dot raps, “I used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud/Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down.”

“I think he’s a fan, like I’m a fan of his music,” Wayne stated, adding, “He saw with everybody else. He saw how much it meant to me, I think that’s all he means.”

He also said Lamar never “let me down,” acknowledging it wasn’t the Compton MC’s decision.

Wayne continued: “There was no explanation that was needed for that. I think I understand. His hard work is the reason why he made it there, and obviously that part about letting me down is me just being upset and disappointed about not getting the spot.”

Nonetheless, Lil Wayne says he and Lamar have spoken about the Super Bowl, adding, “I wished him all the best and told him he better kill it.”

While there were rumors of a surprise appearance at the Halftime Show, Lil Wayne squashed any speculation. “I’m not gonna even be in the country,” he said.

Read more: https://allhiphop.com/news/lil-wayne-kendrick-lamar-spoke-rumored-super-bowl-appearance/