Author: Rap Hooks

Ken Carson has announced his new album xperiment, due July 3 via Opium/Interscope Records, alongside the release of a short film teasing the project.

The announcement comes off a milestone week for the Atlanta-born rapper. At Summer Smash in Chicago on Wednesday, Carson joined Playboi Carti on stage during Carti’s festival-closing headlining set, where the pair performed their unreleased track “Cover My Ears.”

He has also been announced as a headliner for ComplexCon 2026 on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Los Angeles, as part of Opium’s takeover of the festival’s 10th anniversary celebration.

xperiment follows More Chaos, Carson’s 2025 Billboard 200 No. 1 album — the first time Carson had a top 10 entry on the chart, debuting at No. 1 with 59,500 equivalent album units, replacing label boss Playboi Carti at the summit. The album followed A Great Chaos (No. 11, 2023) and X (No. 115, 2022).

The momentum around More Chaos was amplified by “Off the Meter,” a surprise bonus track released on launch night that marked the first official collaboration between Carson, Carti and Destroy Lonely.

Last month, Carson delivered what many described as a career-defining performance at Rolling Loud Orlando 2026, closing out the Under Armour Stage with his first-ever Sunday night headlining set at the festival. The set previewed music from xperiment alongside tracks from More Chaos and A Great Chaos, with surprise appearances from Lil Tecca, Destroy Lonely, Young Thug and Playboi Carti.

Beyond the stage, Carson has built a cultural footprint through sold-out touring — including an 80-date Chaos World Tour and sold-out WTF headline run across Europe and the UK — and fashion collaborations with Affliction, SKIMS x Cactus Plant Flea Market and Jesse Jo Stark’s Deadly Doll line. He will continue his summer run with European festival appearances at Roskilde in Denmark, Splash! in Germany, Openair Frauenfeld in Switzerland, Clout Festival in Poland and Frequency Festival in Austria.

The family of Tay Keith, the chart-topping hip-hop producer who passed away Thursday (June 18) at age 29, has released a statement following his death.

“It is with profound sadness that we confirm the passing of BryTavious ‘Tay Keith’ Chambers,” Keith’s family wrote in a statement sent to Billboard on Friday.

Keith was found unresponsive in his Nashville apartment during a welfare check by Metro Nashville Police on Thursday. His cause of death has not been reported.

With 11 top 10 hits and four No. 1 s on the Hot 100, including Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode” and Drake’s “First Person Shooter,” Keith additionally holds this decade’s record for most No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with six. Born in Memphis but working out of Nashville, the prolific producer also expanded into country music as the founder of Drumatized, a label and creative hub serving both hip-hop and country artists.

“BryTavious was a visionary producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and cultural force whose work helped define the sound of a generation. From Memphis to the global stage, he shaped countless hit records and left a lasting mark on music and culture. He was deeply committed to creating opportunities for others through his company, Drumatized, supporting emerging songwriters, producers, and artists,” his family said.

Of his accomplishments, they added, “A proud graduate and honorary professor of Middle Tennessee State University, BryTavious remained an active alumnus, mentor, and advocate for young creatives. He was also a passionate supporter of mental health awareness and cancer-related causes in honor of his late mother.”

“Above all, BryTavious was a beloved son, brother, uncle, family member, and friend,” the statement noted. “While the world knew him as Tay Keith, his family knew him as BryTavious — a source of love, strength, laughter, and guidance. We take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through the music he created, the opportunities he provided, and the lives he touched.”

Keith’s family said memorial arrangements will be shared at a later date, and that they “respectfully ask for privacy and continued prayers for his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Bootsy Collins has welcomed roots-soul singer-songwriter Davie as the first artist signed to Bootzilla Records, the funk legend’s newly launched label.

“Davie, welcome to Bootzilla Records,” Collins said in a statement. “You know you got a burning tent revival going on deep down in your soul, and all I can say is Church.”

He added, “As the first signing to Bootzilla Records, Davie is helping lead the front line of what this label is here to bring to the people. He brings real soul, grit, and that feel-good fire that makes folks stop, listen, and believe every word he’s singing. We’re looking forward to rolling this thing out with him, letting his soul, fire, and truth touch the world the way only he can.”

Bootzilla Records is distributed through Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. The label “is built around artists Collins discovers organically, artists whose music is deeply rooted in tradition while connecting with audiences everywhere,” according to a press release.

“Bootsy is a legend,” Davie said in a statement. “He’s built a sound that’s unmistakably his own: funky, effortless, timeless, and full of personality. What inspires me most is how his music can be deeply rooted in Black musical traditions while still connecting with people everywhere. That’s something I aspire to as an artist.”

Davie made his label debut with “Soul,” released Friday (June 19).

“Juneteenth is a day to celebrate together freedom for all, and Black music has always been the soundtrack of our cultural expression,” Davie said. “The song draws from a rich history of blues, soul, and funk, which have been the soundtrack to joyful moments and celebrations worldwide. So, I wanted to join the celebration by lending my voice.”

Stream Davie’s new song “Soul” below.

Kylie Minogue is ready to play ball. Aussie rules football, that is.

Kylie is, as previously announced, the headline entertainer for the 2026 Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sept. 26. On the day, she’ll become the first Aussie artist to headline the code’s showpiece event since 2021.

Although late September seems a lifetime away, Kylie has been working on her ball skills ahead of game day. Kylie has shared some behind-the-scenes footage of what appears to be a promo for the “Granny,” the endearing expression Aussie rules fans extend to the AFL’s championship match.

In the social post, Kylie, wearing an elegant white dress and matching heels, poses with an Aussie rules ball at the center circle of the MCG.

Kylie can be seen passing the ball to an unseen member of the crew. In one of the many unusual rules that underpin the national game (it’s all in the name — “Aussie rules”), the ball can’t be thrown. It must be kicked or distributed by a controlled punch. Born in Victoria, the home of Aussie rules, Kylie knows how to get it done.  

“Brushing up on my AFL skills cuz 100 days today,” she captions the video. “Footy, I’m home.”

Aussie rules football has never looked so glamorous.

Born and raised in Melbourne, the former Olympic city, Minogue is one of Australia’s most decorated recording artists, with a particularly loyal following in Australia and the United Kingdom. She boasts 11 No. 1 albums on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, and became the first female artist to score a U.K. No. 1 single across four consecutive decades when she topped the survey last Christmas with “XMAS.” She also set a U.K. record as the first female artist to achieve a No. 1 album in five consecutive decades.

In Australia, she has bagged nine ARIA No. 1 albums and is the country’s highest-selling female artist, with more than 80 million albums sold worldwide. Her trophy collection includes two Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards and induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Her career, the love, the hate, the illness and remarkable comebacks, all of it was traced for the three-part Netflix documentary, Kylie, which premiered May 20 and immediately became the No. 1 show on the streaming platform in Australia.

Adam Tiran is the new general manager of Warner Music Group’s Africori, one of Africa’s leading digital music distribution, rights management and label services companies.

With Tiran at the helm, Africori plans to accelerate its investment in local talent, enhance its comprehensive suite of artist services, and deepen its footprint across East, West, and Southern Africa, reads a statement from Warner Music Group.

Based in Johannesburg, Tiran reports to Simon Robson, president, EMEA, Recorded Music, WMG. His appointment, announced Friday, June 19, follows Yoel Kenan’s recent decision to step down as CEO, a separate corporate statement confirms.   

A British-South African music executive, label owner, and DJ, Tiran is a 13-year stalwart at Africori, which was founded in Jo’burg and touts itself as “one of the biggest independent songbooks in Africa.”

Previously, he served as director of operations and international lead, duties through which he navigated the company’s expansion across key regional markets and managed its strategic integration with WMG, which fully acquired Africori last year.

During his time at the company, Tiran has championed and elevated such acts as Master KG, Focalistic, Kelvin Momo, Makhadzi, MaWhoo, Oscar Mbo and many more.

“I’m proud and energized to step into this role at such a transformative moment for African music,” Tiran comments in a statement. “Having been part of Africori’s journey for over a decade, my focus remains rooted in our foundational vision: empowering independent African artists to build sustainable global careers.  We’ll continue to amplify our artists’ voices on the world stage while fiercely respecting and investing in the local cultures that birth them.”

Adds Robson: “Adam’s deep understanding of the African music landscape, coupled with his proven track record in artist development, makes him the natural choice to lead Africori into its next chapter.  As African music continues to captivate global audiences, Adam’s vision and operational expertise will ensure our artists receive the world-class support, distribution, and visibility they deserve.”

The outgoing Kenan founded Africori and led the label for the past 14 years. “He celebrated countless hits across the continent and provided the platform to display Africa’s world-leading creativity,” reads a statement from WMG, and “elevated the label to become a key player in Warner Music’s global network and helped launch WM Africa’s Francophone JV with WM France.”

WMG first invested in Africori in 2020 in a deal that opened up the African continent to Warner Music by giving it access to Africori’s A&R network and first option on international licenses for all new signings, while the major music company’s independent label services division ADA distributed and promoted Africori’s acts internationally through the company’s global network. WMG later acquired a majority stake in Africori in 2022, leading to its full acquisition in 2025.