Genre-spanning experimenter Ashnikko thrilled with her 2023 debut album Weedkiller, and now she’s charging back with more: Today (August 14), Ashnikko announced Smoochies, a new album. She also just unveiled the punchy electro-pop single “Trinkets.” Ashnikko says of the song, “My little princess boys love being trinkets, hanging off my bag, looking up at me […]
A judge shot down Tory Lanez‘s appeal to enter new alleged evidence in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case yesterday. Judge Rejects Tory Lanez’s Petitions to Enter New Evidence On Tuesday (Aug. 12), the California Court of Appeals rejected two habeas corpus petitions filed by the rap-crooner’s legal team. These petitions included statements from Tory’s […]
Some guitarists chase speed. Eric Clapton turns time into feeling. A single bend carries a whole paragraph of memory. A clean phrase drifts like smoke, then a sudden burst shows teeth. Through blues, pop, acoustic intimacy, and arena sized charge, his voice and guitar keep choosing melody over fuss. Collaborators frame him with piano glow, […]
In a cute video for her latest single, “Romeo,” 2000s sample queen PinkPantheress blurs the lines between speed dating and speed chess at a tournament that could just as easily be a singles mixer. The real-life chess master sits down to face off with a variety of hotties, crushing the competition as she makes eyes […]
Some voices wear a crown without asking. LaVern Baker let rhythm sit tall while melody did the smiling. Her records feel like street corner harmony walking into a bright studio and keeping its neighborhood soul intact. Horns grin, drums step with purpose, and her phrasing turns everyday words into velvet. She can tease, testify, and […]
Hip-hop continues to mount wins in 2025, with some big album releases serving as the score for the year. Things don’t slow down in September, with projects from some of the biggest names in rap scheduled to drop. Cardi B Preps Am I The Drama? Album Following a plethora of delays, Cardi B is finally ready to […]
Some groups sound like they were born at a crossroads. Buffalo Springfield felt like three roads meeting at once. Stephen Stills brought sculpted songcraft and a drummer’s ear for groove. Neil Young brought mystery, noise, and a poet’s magnetism. Richie Furay brought golden tone and a country shimmer that softened hard edges. Under the California […]
Cardi B’s second album, Am I The Drama? is just about a month away from release after over a half-decade of waiting, and now, Cardi’s teasing its next single, “Imaginary Players.” While we still don’t know what the single will sound like, Cardi posted its release date and pre-save link on Instagram, writing in the […]
A piano can be a confessional, a carnival ride, and a rocket launchpad. Few artists have proven that truth like Elton John. From barroom tenderness to arena sized uplift, his catalog maps a lifetime of melody and partnership, especially with lyricist Bernie Taupin. These ten songs capture the range that made him a fixture on […]
Need ItX-Games gold medalist snowboarder Zeb Powell is dead set on bringing hip-hop culture to the mountaintop.Interview: Joey EchevarriaEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2025 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. World-class snowboarder Zeb Powell is just as passionate about hip-hop as he is about the world […]