New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The multi-platinum superstar Coi Leray reups her chart-dominating smash “Players” with a verse courtesy of legendary rapper Busta Rhymes out now via Uptown Records/ Republic Records/ Universal Music.
Busta blesses the track with a head-spinning display of his signature lyrical virtuosity. His turbulent rhymes only bolster the track’s bounce as Coi’s instantly irresistible hook remains undeniably unshakable. From the moment you hear Busta Rhymes say “Coi Leray” on the intro, you know that this remix is an epic merging HipHop royalty of the past and present generations. Together, they lock into a dynamic volley on their very first collaboration together.
It arrives on the heels of the “Players (David Guetta Remix).” Right out of the gate, HotNewHipHop praised, “Guetta’s remix of the record falls in line with his signature strain of club EDM…Coi continues to make a strong case for her staying power.”
Continuing its dominance, this week “Players” was announced as #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs Chart, after it vaulted to #1 on the Rhythmic Radio Chart for the second consecutive week, and climbed into the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, capturing #12. She also continues to make headlines across the culture. Recently, she closed out Spotiify’s first-ever runway show. PAPER covered the event stating, “Leray proves herself a beacon of authenticity to new generations without ever skipping out on the opportunity for good glam.” She also left Rolling Loud California in awe with a standout performance in addition to presenting SZA with the “Woman of the Year” Award at Billboard Women In Music. Not to mention, she teamed up with Big Boss Vette for the “Pretty Girls Walk (Remix)” and featured and co-starred in the video for “Upnow” with DD Osama. Plus, she delivered a showstopping performance of her runaway smash “Players” on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!
It just sets the stage for more from Coi as she gets ready to drop more music.
Thus far, Coi has amassed a staggering 6 billion streams and counting with 300 million on “Players.” The latter inspired 2.75 million TikTok creates with 10 billion-plus views. Not to mention, she toppled the BillboardEmerging Artists Chart at #1, while it soared to #1 on TikTok and IG Reels. It spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard Rap Song Sales Chart and three weeks at #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales Chart.
The original song features a sample of “The Message”by Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five. Coi Leray rips through one bold and braggadocious bar after another, exuding confidence and charisma. It pops off with the instantly unshakable hook as she proves, “‘Cause girls is players too.” Upon release, it received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, E! News, Essence, XXL and more. It simultaneously jumped to the top of numerous popular playlists on streaming platforms including #OnRepeat on Apple Music and Feelin Myself on Spotify. Additionally, “Players” has entered the charts. On Shazam, it dominated at #1 in New York City, Top 20 United States, and Top 200 Global Songs.
Coi Leray consistently asserts herself as an elite rapper, dynamite vocalist, massive personality, and boundary-breaking superstar without comparison or rival. Born in Boston, raised in New Jersey and based in Los Angeles, the multiplatinum force of nature has captivated without compromise. Projecting her attitude just as loudly as her voice, she has served up a string of anthems from her debut album TRENDSETTER, including the gold-certified “Big Purr (Prrrd)” [feat. Pooh Shiesty], double-platinum “No More Parties,” the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit “Blick Blick” [with Nicki Minaj], and the viral “TWINNEM.” Now to kick off 2023, she earned a new Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 with her highest charting single to date “Players” taking over social media with popular remixes such as “Players (DJ Smallz 732 Jersey Club Remix)” and “Players (DJ Saige Remix).” Together they set TikTok on fire with a staggering 10 billion views and nearly 3 million video creates as the success simultaneously translated to streaming platforms. Between generating billions of streams and views, she has infiltrated every corner of culture, appearing on XXL’s coveted Freshman Class cover, performing on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, starring as the face of the SKIMS “Cozy Collection” by Kim Kardashian West, and guesting on Slime Language 2, which bowed at #1 on the Billboard 200. Coi Leray’s reach continues to expand thanks to collaborations with everyone from Calvin Harris to K Pop’s TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Beyond a slew of magazine covers and nominations at the American Music Awards, BET Awards, and iHeartRadioMusic Awards, to name a few, she has incited critical acclaim from New York Times and Billboard to E! Online and more. As a powerhouse performer in her own right, she has shined at Rolling Loud, Lollapalooza Festival, Governors Ball and more. Still, she keeps pushing forward. The crown belongs to Coi as she unveils her anxiously awaited 2023 full-length album and much more to come.
Tickets for the album launch concert go on sale this Friday, December 16th at 10am.
Martin Hayes & The Common Ground Ensemble are set to return to the National Concert Hall for a special performance on Sunday, March 26th, 2023, to mark the release of their debut album Peggy’s Dream.
Tickets for the album launch concert go on sale this Friday, December 16th at 10am.
Martin Hayes is a key figure in the world of Irish traditional music and regarded as one of its most significant talents.
With the Common Ground Ensemble, the celebrated fiddle player has created an ensemble with its roots in traditional Irish music, that possesses a wealth of talent spanning trad Irish music, improvisation, arrangement, jazz, avant-garde and cutting edge contemporary classical.
The Common Ground Ensemble comprises Cormac McCarthy (piano, ‘Cottage Evolution’), Kate Ellis (cello, Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble), Kyle Sanna (guitar, a collaborator with Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile) and Brian Donnellan (bouzouki / harmonium / concertina, and, like Hayes, an alumnus of The Tulla Céilí Band).
Martin Hayes.
Hailing from Co. Clare, Hayes started playing the fiddle at the age of seven, and won his first of six All-Ireland Fiddle Competitions at 13.
The musician spoke to Hot Press about his love for Irish traditional music and the importance of constant reinvention in 2021, in the wake of the release of his memoir, Shared Notes.
“Every generation gets an opportunity to go, ‘Okay, let’s go right back to the start again and start all over,’” Hayes said at the time. “That’s an important part of any tradition. No tradition can exist as some kind of living artefact – it’s got to actually speak to now. When you hear it, it’s got to touch you, and reach you. It’s got to stay alive, and stay connected to its time, to its place, and to its people.
“So the challenge that arises in all of that, is how to genuinely keep what’s real, true and meaningful – and not lose that thread as you navigate these journeys into the future with the music.”
Olivia Kaiser attended Ultra Music Festival and modeled a unique Shein bodysuit. Pic credit: MTV
The Challenge: Ride or Dies brought fans a group of impressive new rookies, including the duo of Horacio Gutierrez and Olivia Kaiser.
Throughout the season, they survived test after test, enduring eliminations to remain in the game and ultimately reaching the final.
However, things took a turn for the worse when Olivia had a slingshot backfire, causing a golf ball to hit her directly in the face, resulting in an ambulance trip to the hospital.
With Olivia’s brutal injury– her face was broken in multiple places, she and Horacio were out of the final and their chance to conquer The Challenge as rookies.
Olivia appears to have healed nicely from her injuries, which could indicate she’s ready to face MTV’s competition series for another season.
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During the offseason, the former Love Island USA 3 winner recently shared a sizzling set of photos featuring Shein as she wore a unique colorful printed bodysuit at the Ultra Music Festival.
Olivia Kaiser models for Shein partnership at Ultra Music Festival
Taking to her official Instagram, Olivia slayed with a series of colorful images as she rocked the unique Shein bodysuit. The former Challenge rookie had quite the look, with long braided extensions that appeared red as she stood in wild settings complete with neon lights and the Shein name.
Olivia presented multiple images from different areas, with the first several showing sideways poses as she held a serious gaze and pressed her hands against a lit-up purple wall with Shein written in bright white letters.
In an additional shot, Olivia holds just one hand against a wall as she stares intently at the camera. Her jaw-dropping outfit includes a pair of black low-tops and shades atop her head.
Various accessories include dangling hoop earrings and rings visible on her fingers. In another image, she’s standing outside a 360-degree camera booth with a bright smile.
A video clip is the final part of Olivia’s carousel post, as she stands inside the 360-degree camera booth and gives an all-around perspective of herself having fun in the stunning Shein bodysuit from all angles.
She didn’t reveal the specific bodysuit but directed her fans and followers toward their site to get a special discount using her code.
“Better come up here and get you one of these…. it’s @sheinofficial babyyyy💜 #SHEINxUltra Use ITSOLIVIA for 15% off your order on @shein_us! @ultra#SHEINpartner P.s. if you ever lose me I’ll be at the DJ booth mixing it up🤪,” she wrote in her playful caption.
Ultra is taking place in Miami, Florida, this weekend. Some of the major performers listed for the massive lineup at the festival include David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, M.I.A., and Marshmello.
It’s unknown how much Olivia makes for her Shein partnership, but based on presenting a code with her name, she likely earns considerable commissions from any orders using that code.
Challenge stars react to Olivia’s Shein modeling at Ultra
Olivia’s sizzling Shein post from the Ultra Music Festival had collected over 12,000 likes and 180-plus comments, some of which were from fellow stars of The Challenge.
“STOP IT RIGHT NOW😍,” her Ride or Dies castmate Tommy Bracco wrote.
“You at Ultra??” MTV OG Nehemiah Clark asked.
“Wear this your first elimination on 39,” wrote The Godfather Mark Long.
Challenge stars react to Olivia’s Shein photos. Pic credit: @oliviaannkaiser/Instagram
As of this writing, it’s unknown if Olivia is part of the next season of The Challenge. However, Monsters and Critics recently reported that Season 39 availability calls were going out. There’s also The Challenge: USA 2, which could include MTV stars from The CHallenge alongside CBS reality TV stars.
Olivia’s both CBS and MTV, so she would easily qualify as a cast member, and fans would love to see her return for another chance to win it all early in her Challenge career!
The Challenge: World Championship episodes arrive Wednesdays on Paramount Plus.
Kasabian wowed the crowds with a surprising Daft Punk-infused set at this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust concert. The Leicester band had promised some surprises ahead of the performance, but even then people may not have expected this. The performance at …
Former Temple resident and country music star Eric Paslay will headline an April 1 music festival that will feature at least six bands and a massive cornhole tournament.
“This is going to happen — it’s not an April fool’s joke,” laughed Lisle Meeker, a member of the Temple Breakfast Lions Club, the organization spearheading the festival.
At least six bands are expected to participate in a concert to raise money for Texas Lions Camp, a program near and dear to Paslay’s heart. In fact, the fundraiser was his idea.
“As a child with type 1 diabetes, Eric attended the Kerrville camp,” Meeker said. “Now, he wants to give back by raising money for some construction projects there.”
Paslay will headline the 10-hour festival, but there will be other popular bands performing as well. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult.
“We have a great lineup,” said Roney Castro, marketing and events chair for the Breakfast Lions Club. “Holly Tucker will be there, so will Jay White & The Blues Commanders, Tylor Bigley, The Backroads Band and Jean-Pierre & The Zydeco Angels.”
Tucker, who hails from Lorena, gained fame as a finalist on Season 4 of the The Voice, a television talent show primarily for singers. The Backroads Band is a Salado-based country act, The Blues Commanders have a strong ZZ Top feel, and Bigley is predominantly Texas red-dirt country.
Jean-Pierre & The Zydeco Angels started in 1965 in Houston playing around French Town, Houston’s pocket of French Creole communities. The band became very popular and eventually moved to Louisiana to perform in the heart of Zydeco country.
“We’re going to have more than great music,” Meeker said earlier today. “At least 20 food trucks will be at the festival, and maybe more.”
“I’m hoping we get about 40,” Castro said. “We will have all kinds of vendors and a Kids Zone with inflatables.”
In addition to food, beer, wine, margaritas and other “adult beverages” will be available.
Born in Abilene and raised in Temple, Eric Paslay has always loved music, but his original intent was to become a pediatric endocrinologist.
As a child, he was a patient of Dr. Stephen Ponder, a Temple physician and a member of the Breakfast Lions Club.
“Eric was diagnosed with diabetes around age 10,” Ponder said. “I was his diabetes doctor at Scott & White. I also was the medical director at Texas Lions Camp, and I encouraged him to attend.”
Not only did Paslay go to camp, he was named Best Camper during his session.
“He actually wrote a song for a talent show we had there,” Ponder said. “He later told me it was at Texas Lions Camp where he realized he could be a songwriter.”
“Eric became friends with a young camp counselor — Cody Schrank — and they co-wrote the camp song,” Ponder said. “Eric said it was only the second song he had ever written.”
Meeker said the seeds for the April concert were planted about seven years ago.
“I picked up Eric at the airport in San Antonio,” he said. “He wanted to visit the camp, so we went. That particular session was a diabetes camp for children. We were in a recreation hall, and camp staff brought in the kids. Eric talked with them, and they related to him because he, too, had diabetes. He even lifted his shirt and showed them his insulin pump.”
“Eric told the kids: ‘Don’t let being a diabetic stop you from doing what you want in life,’” Meeker said. “Then he got out his guitar and played a few songs.”
Later that night, as they were returning to the San Antonio airport, Eric said he really wanted to do something to give back to Texas Lions Camp. After tossing the idea around, the decision was made to throw a fundraiser in Temple.
“We tried to come up with some dates but there were conflicts, and before we could get anything set COVID came along,” Meeker said. “We texted and talked, and decided that 2023 would finally be the year.”
The timing for the fundraiser is perfect for the Texas Lions Camp. Recent storms have heavily damaged several buildings and bunkhouses at the camp, and money raised at the music festival will be donated to the rebuilding effort.
The camp also plans to expand and actually serve as three camps in one location, Meeker said. “That way they can serve more children every summer.”
Meeker said that each band at the Temple concert will play at least an hour.
“In between we will have guests talking about how important the Lions Camp is for Texas families,” he said. “Temple people really don’t take full advantage of it, and that’s a shame. The camp is free, and we will even provide transportation to and from the camp if that service is needed.”
Castor said there will be at least 24 VIP tables right in front of the stage.
“A VIP table will seat eight people and will cost $500 per table,” he said. “Right now, we’re planning on 24 tables, but we will add more if needed.”
“It’s going to be a great show,” Castor added. “We have some tremendous bands and we tried to include multiple genres.”
“We plan on making this an annual event — we’re already looking at a bluegrass festival for 2024.”
Lollapalooza is an alternative music festival taking place this weekend in São Paulo.
Folks, we all know that at festivals like Lolla, artists are always abusive when making their demands, which often makes me laugh, so I brought you some of the demands that were made at LollaPalooza Brasil 2023 .
Let’s start with the most sensible one. The singer, who delivered everything on the festival stage yesterday, Billie Eilish, was a little afraid that Brazilian food would not please her, so she asked that her dressing room have a chef specializing in vegan food.
The American singer Lil Nas X, on the other hand, demanded that in his dressing room they had not one, not two, but 4 exclusive professionals to take care of his clothes. I understand the concern about the look, but did I need 4?
Okay, finally, the most absurd one, in my opinion. To perform at the festival, Canadian singer Drake demanded that the furniture in his dressing room be in light colors and that there be a television where he could watch American basketball games.
But now I want to hear from you, if you were one of the artists that will perform at Lolla, what demands would you make?
… Amphitheatre for Friday, May 12. Tickets are $79.50-$179.50 … ;Raising Sand," a 2007 album that won its own Grammy … biggest, best music festivals for 2023
More big concerts:23 concerts to see … 18, at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $37.50.
Jackson Browne …
HOT SPRINGS — The 19th annual Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival has come and gone on possibly the busiest weekend of the year for Hot Springs.
Taking place March 17-19, the event was just another draw to the city as the annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, spring breaks and mountain bike racing on the Northwoods Trails all coincided to fill the streets of Hot Springs.
Event organizers at Low Key Arts say that while the festival was a success, they are considering the possibility of moving it to another date next year. To ensure festivalgoers get to enjoy the springtime weather at Cedar Glades Park and to not compete with the parade, the group is looking to push it back a few weeks.
“This arrangement has almost just become tradition,” said Sonny Kay, executive director at Low Key Arts. “That VOV and the parade kind of go hand-in-hand. It worked when VOV was in town.”
Since relocating from their old building on Arbor Street, Low Key Arts has held the three-day event in Cedar Glades Park for the past three years. This leaves them at the mercy of the unpredictable Arkansas weather and puts them a little farther out of town.
The music festival is billed as a stop for bands on their way to the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
On top of days worth of independent music, the festival also boasts art, vendors, food and workshops.
“I would say arguably that the parade and VOV are two of the most iconic things in Hot Springs on the calendar,” Kay said. “And for one to effectively compete with the other, or ineffectively as the case may be, seems unnecessary. So, the time might be coming for a change in that equation.”
Living Hour, a Winnipeg-based band, takes the stage on Saturday, March 18, as seen from the sound and video booth. – Photo by Lance Brownfield of The Sentinel-Record.
Local band Cosmic Cream kicks off Saturday’s performances at the 19th annual Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival at Cedar Glades Park. – Photo by Lance Brownfield of The Sentinel-Record.