Tag: streaming

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SZA Ties Whitney Houston’s Record With SOS Album

SZA has taken 2023 by storm with her commercially and critically successful album SOS. The album has topped the Billboard 200 chart for seven weeks, which makes it the first  R&B album to spend its first seven weeks at No. 1 since Whitney Houston’s Whitney in 1987. The album earned 111,000 album-equivalent units this past week.

SZA Continues To Break Records

Since SOS’ release in December, the album has generated 1.4 billion streams and an equivalent of 1.1 million sales. It is the first album to stay seven weeks on top of the Billboard 200 since Taylor Swifts Folklore in 2020, which has a total of eight non-consecutive weeks. The album is also the first to have its first seven weeks at the top of the chart following Adele’s 25 in 2016. On the album’s release date, it sold a total of 308,000 units. In its first week, the album garnered 404.58 million on-demand official streams, breaking the record for the biggest streaming week ever for an R&B album and becoming the second biggest streaming week for an album by a female artist. Metacritic named it the fifth-best album of 2022. “SZA is still herself, but with a twist… SZA 2.0, who amplifies her sexuality and inner gangster,” FMHipHop writes.

SOS contains 23, pen-game strong songs with features from Don Toliver, Pheobe Bridgers, Travis Scott and an Ol’ Dirty Bastard sample. It follows the singer’s incomparable 2016 album CTRL

“I think this album was partially inspired by love lost, but mostly inspired by my departure from attempting to be a nice girl,” she said in a Rolling Stone interview. “I’ve tried to be a nice girl for so long and it’s just not who I am, inherently.”

SZA will be kicking off the sold-out SOS tour on February 21 in Columbus, OH with stops in Chicago, Washington D.C., two nights at the Madison Square Garden and Seattle. The Grammy-nominated Omar Apollo will be joining SZA as the opener for the duration of the tour.

Written By: Roy Lott

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Trending

50 Cent Reaches One Billion Streams

50 Cent
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 02: Travis Scott and 50 Cent perform at Wayne & Cynthia Boich's Art Basel Party on December 02, 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)

CenttCen5050 Cent has reached another milestone.  His infamous hit song, “In Da Club” has hit 1 billion streams!  A big round of applause for the Southside Jamaica Queens rapper turned business tycoon.  “In Da Club” came out in 2001 and can still be heard to this very day.  The “Candy Shop” rapper made a timeless record.  One place you can always enjoy this song, is of course, in the club!

One Billion Streams

“In Da Club” can be enjoyed by people of all ages.  Children will hear the song and instantly know the lyrics while senior citizens can still get their groove on.  This is the first song of 50 Cent’s long discography to reach 1 billion streams and I’m sure it won’t be the last.  His songs “Candy Shop”, “Just A Lil Bit”, “P.I.M.P.”, and “Many Men” all have the potential to reach 1 billion streams as well.  During the halftime show of Super Bowl LVI, out of all his songs, the New York rapper chose to perform “In Da Club”.  And of course, So-Fi stadium erupted in cheers.  Just so happens, this performance landed him an Emmy Award.

Along with Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, and Eminem, 50 was awarded the Creative Arts Emmy Award.  The Emmys awarded the halftime performance for Outstanding Variety Special.  This makes him one more step closer to claiming an “EGOT”.  “EGOT” stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, & Tony.  Only a few people have won all four awards, making it a rare feat.  50 Cent won a Grammy in 2010 for best rap performance by a duo or group with “Crack A Bottle” featuring Eminem and Dr.Dre.

Now, that 50 Cent has an Emmy, he can work on the Oscar & Tony.  Maybe, he can win an Oscar like his buddy Eminem did.  He secured his Oscar in 2003 for Best Original Song with “Lose Yourself” for the 8 Mile movie.  But, 50 could probably win an actor through acting as he is no stranger to being in front of the camera.  Now, for a Tony award, 50 might have to hit the Broadway stage.  I don’t doubt that he would be a natural at it.

Written by: Brandon Simmons

 

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FM Cinema Trending

“End of the Road” Hits Netflix With Mixed Reviews

End of the Road Netflix
End of the Road-Netlix film

Queen Latifah and Ludacris have joined together as co-stars in the new movie “End of the Road”. The movie received mixed reviews ever since it was released on Netflix. Some believe that the “End of the Road” came up short.

“End of the Road” Plot

Brenda (Queen Latifah) is a mother of two who must uproot her family after her husband passes away. Her brother Reggie (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) accompanies the family on the trip to their new home. During the trip, the family experiences several life changing encounters. The top at the list is becoming witnesses to a deal gone bad. After, an unknown killer terrorizes the family.

Scene from End of the Road
“End of the Road” movie scene, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges as Reggie, Shaun Dixon as Cam, Mychala Lee as Kelly, Queen Latifah as Brenda/ credit- Netflix

Why The Movie Fell Short?

“End of the Road” was set to be another hit on Netflix but the movie didn’t live up to its potential.

End of the Road movie scene
Characters from “End of the Road” in movie scene/ credit- Netflix

The movie started of with a compelling story. The death of the father created emotional turmoil that the audience could relate to. This pulled the audience in but from that point on many things in the movie either didn’t make sense or was pointless.

“End of the Road” Tries To Potray Racism In The 21st Century

Racism constantly appeared in “End of the Road”. Racism is still very real today but when it appeared in the movie, it seemed unrealistic and forced. The first unfortunate encounter involved a group of young racist adults. The group chased down Brenda and her family after the daughter Kelly (Mychala Lee) brushed them off during an exchange at a gas station.

End of the Road movie scene
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges as Reggie, Queen Latifah as Brenda/ credit- Variety/Netflix

The encounter came to a conclusion after the racist group blocked the road. The road blockage was badly applied and if someone actually feared for their life, they would have simply went around the roadblock. The racist men made Brenda apologize to them.

The writers tried to use racism to create real world danger but they fell short. It was an unrealistic outlook on the racism of today.

The Conclusion

“End of The Road” started with a lot of potential but the movie failed along the way and ending of the movie is not worth mentioning. The writers filled the plot with tons of clichés, making it easy to predict what was going to happen next. The actors worked with what they were by the writers. The movie did not impress at all.

Xavier “Writer X” Griffin | Facebook @WriterX93 |Twitter @WRITER_X_713| Instagram xaviegriffin81

 

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FM News FM Tech Trending

Soulja Boy Team’s Up With Limewire to Start an NFT Empire

soulja boy
image via Getty/Prince Williams

Limewire is known as a lost piece of the mid-2000s pop culture. But all that may change soon with the help of Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy is patterning with Limewire 12 years after its forced shutdown. Following a lengthy legal battle with the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and several music labels, Limewire is making its comeback.

Soulja Boy’s New Bag

Back in March,Limewire first announced their plans of a relaunch. The shift to a music-based NFT (non-fungible tokens) shop is a controversial and surprising choice. Even more surprising than that, is the choice of partnership. Rapper turned businessman Soulja Boy has stepped up as the face of Limewire rebrand. The ‘Kiss me Thru the Phone’ artist is meant to help develop a center to “explore, collect and trade” NFTs. A commercial was released last week featuring Soulja Boy promoting the revamped platform.

With his iconic 2007 song ‘Crank Dat (Soulja Boy’) as the soundtrack, the ad starts with two young students leaving school to come home and download music. Certainly a familiar scene for many. The commercial subsequently flashes forward to the present year 2022 with the two same middle schoolers all grown up. The duo relives their childhood memories by logging into Limewires NFT center.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Soulja Boy (Big Draco) (@souljaboy)

 

When looking closely at early internet culture, Soulja Boy is actually a great fit for Limewire. His early hits like ‘Crank Dat’ and Pretty Boy Swag’ saw huge amounts of downloads on the site during its original run. Along with Soulja’s recent pivot to business ventures like gaming hardware and tech, he may be just the right fit for Limewire after all.

The New Classic

Limewire in its heyday was the main contender against big record companies seeking profit from their music. With people across the globe downloading songs for free, the site quickly got into hot water with several labels specifically Artista Records. Although Creator of Limewire Mark Gorton lost his 2006 lawsuit, that didn’t stop Austrian businessmen Julian and Paul Zehetmayr from obtaining the naming rights and continuing Limewires infamous legacy.

In the modern version of Limewire, the focus will be on purchasing music and owning original content. This content includes album covers, music videos, and the tracks. Truly a big change from Limewires original business model. This is likely due to the completely different state of the modern music industry. It’s no longer a process or a hassle to have access to free music. Back in 2008 you needed Limewire to make your own free playlist. In the year 2022, there are countless apps with the same function without all the bugs and viruses. Aside from Soulja Boy, celebs like Brandy And Travis Barker are putting their support behind the project.

You can follow Limewire on Twitter to see day-by-day updates on their rebrand.

Also, Follow FM Hip Hop on Instagram and Facebook

Dreema Carrington|IG: @dr3amgirl79 | Twitter: @notdreema

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FM Spotlight

Boomlumbus Shows Off His Lyrical Chops In Latest Single ‘Buss Back’

A rising artist born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, Brian Lumbus AKA Boomlumbus taps into grit and realness and shows that he can drop bangers at any time.

With football as his first passion, Boomlumbus is already wired to have that go getter and competitive nature, making him the perfect contender to step into this musical ring. His father went to prison and subsequently causing him to lose football scholarships. Although music wasn’t his first love, this led to him taking music more seriously.

He used his personal pain and struggles and put it into his music; showing true artistry. Stepping back from the music scene for a while to enjoy fatherhood, Boomlumbus is back with his latest single.  ‘Buss Back’ is just an introduction to what he can do. It is as authentic as you can get from Cleveland, regardless of your mood, you know when you hear this song it’s definitely going to have your head nodding.

This song exhibits his flow, which compliments the beat so well. The provocative nature of this song cultivates feelings out of you that make you want to tell your friends.

While evolving his music catalog , Boomlumbus has flourished in other creative lanes. He is a personal trainer, fitness enthusiast, and influencer.

Having been viewed more than 2k times on YouTube and a large social media following, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of his city and others see what Boomlumbus is putting out. He is one who pushes his music by expressing himself and showing off the lifestyle he lives right now.

Check out the visuals for ‘Buss Back’ below and download the latest single available on all streaming platforms.

Writer|Kacee Marie|Instagram|Website

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New Music Trending

Aaliyah’s “One in A Million” Now Streaming

For the first time, “One in A Million” by Aaliyah is available on streaming platforms. Sources say that the song was unavailable for quite some time due to disputes between the singer’s estate and former record label. But that has recently changed, and fans now have accessibility to one of Aaliyah’s hottest releases.

Both Missy Elliott and Timbaland were on board as producers of the “One in A Million” track. According to an article on Songfacts.com, Missy Elliot once stated that she and Timbaland were only requested to work on one single, but it became an entire album with eight tracks. Indeed, Aaliyah had something special, and those who worked with her recognized her spark. According to The World News, producer Jeffery “J Dub” Walker once had this to say about the budding superstar, “She would have been the queen of the world right now!” And even posthumously, she remains an inspiration to many.

Success was in the stars

Many would agree that Aaliyah was born for this. Aaliyah was a singer and performer from a young age. In fact, according to a biographical sketch, she sang with Gladys Knight in Las Vegas at the age of 11. Her first album was released in 1994. She was only 14 years old. Two years later, in 1996, the “One in a Million” Album went public. The album was a hit nationally and internationally. According to Aaliyah.com/biography, “The album was multi-platinum” By the age of 22, she was well on her way to doing even greater things.

Aaliyah oozed talent

She was not just a phenomenal singer but also a promising actor. Aaliyah landed roles in quite a few major motion picture releases, including Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned. In her biography, it is said that she had secured roles for The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions and Honey. These are just a few. Aaliyah had other promising projects on the horizon as well.

Gone too soon

But on August 25, 2011, the world mourned her passing. The mark she left was indescribable. But the contributions of her artistry, performance and music are timeless. Without a doubt, the legacy and treasures she leaves speak volumes of her inexhaustible passion and talents, which are never to be forgotten.

“One in a Million” is now streaming on Spotify. 

Written by Renae Richardson

Check out our article done in memory of Aaliyah’s life and legacy.

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New Music Updates

New Music to Stream and Start the Week

New Music to Stream and Start the Week

3 artists are here for you with fresh music to stream and get through Monday on the right note.  

With everyone off to their jobs after the weekend, Gucci Mane, GoldLink and Metro Marrs have put their new albums in work too. Here is a little insight into the projects, so you don’t get lost in new music flows to stream.

  • Gucci Mane – Ice Daddy

New Music to Stream and Start the Week

(Justifiably) self-proclaimed Atlanta Trap God, Gucci Mane, has released his new 15th studio album ‘Ice Daddy.’ Seventeen Gucci-Mane-style trap bangers feature Lil Baby, Lil Uzi, and more.

Back in 2020, Gucci’s wife Keyshia has given him an “Ice Daddy” chain as a Christmas present. One can only guess if that was a hint of an upcoming album or its inspiration.

Listen on:

Apple Music/Spotify

  • GoldLink – HARAM!

 

New Music to Stream and Start the Week

Muted phone voice, lo-fi vibes and aggressive percussions and exclamations (“F*** Sheck Wes!”) fulfill the new GoldLink project. If anyone ever made a trap album out of lo-fi hip-hop beats for study and relaxation, GoldLink would be that person.

The release features Rick the Kid, NLE Choppa and more.

Listen on:

Spotify/Apple Music

  • Metro Marrs – Popular Loner

New Music to Stream and Start the WeekIf lo-fi is not entirely fitting your day and you’re looking for something cloudier, the new Metro Marrs project is what you’re looking for. Metro raps about drinking Arizona, feeling lonely, and hopefully already connected to Yung Lean to record something together.  

The release has 10 songs and no features. Perfect for an “unfixable sad” Monday.

Listen on:

Spotify/Apple Music

 

Be sure to check our article about Gucci Mane and Pooh Sheisty’s new music video.

Nikita Serdiuk | IG @nikitasrdk

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FM News

Hamilton Goes Off Stage: Now Available on Disney+!

Disney Plus has had a praise of reviews since its launch on November 12, 2019. The on-demand streaming service distributes a variety of both older films, modern films, and television series associated with Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. As Disney+ surpasses over 50 million subscribers, the business alone produced a revenue of over $4 billion dollars from just this past year. 

Moreover, there has been nothing but outstanding reviews on the entirety of the cast, production, scenery, costumes, and of course the heavy hip-hop influences that helped to differentiate this musical. Hamilton: An American Musical, simply known as Hamilton is a certified Broadway musical written by the multi-talented Lin-Manuel Miranda, a Puerto Rican-American composer, actor, rapper, singer, lyricist, producer, and playwright born and raised in New York City. This musical creatively tells the life story of the first U.S. treasury secretary, Alexander Hamilton, in a way that exudes the cultural influences of hip-hop, R&B, pop, freestyle battles, and even “slang” throughout the script. The story takes place in the 1700’s and fundamentally covers the life of Alexander Hamilton and his journey in becoming a founding father. The musical solely flips the traditional story of Hamilton and makes it more zestful with the heavy cultural influences of hip-hop and the several cues of humor which helped to modernize this performance.

 

Furthermore, this three-hour play steps outside of the traditional playwright box and uses a very diverse team of actors ranging from African-Americans to Latinos. With the casting of Hamilton, it reverses the stereotypical casting criteria as a majority of the characters and all of the Founding Fathers were intentionally casted by non-white actors. The production first premiered Off-Broadway on January 20, 2015 at the Public Theater in NYC. Due to all of the praise it has received, Hamilton moved onto a bigger and better Broadway stage on August 6, 2015. As a cast and individually, this musical has won 27 awards including 11 Tony awards with one being the “Best New Musical”. The average ticket price to see Hamilton live on Broadway ranges between $300-$850. 

Viewers are completely ecstatic now about being able to watch the musical in the comfort of their homes with just a simple subscription. Stream Hamilton now available on Disney Plus!

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Updates

#CherryJuice: Kanye says, “Goodbye” to CDs and Hello to Streaming

#CherryJuice: Kanye says, "Goodbye" to CDs and Hello to Streaming

Kanye says “Bye Bye” to CDs

#CherryJuice: Kanye says, "Goodbye" to CDs and Hello to Streaming

Continue reading “#CherryJuice: Kanye says, “Goodbye” to CDs and Hello to Streaming”