Author: Rap Hooks

Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik are reportedly set to reunite in an upcoming Netflix documentary series.

The U.S. road trip-style docuseries will follow the former One Direction bandmates as they reflect on their personal lives, careers and the sudden death of fellow member Liam Payne, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The series, directed by Nicola Marsh, is slated to debut on Netflix in 2026 and is being produced by Campfire Studios, the production company behind Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, SmartLess: On the Road, and America’s Sweethearts: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Marsh is known for her work on the Demi Lovato documentary Child Star, Song Exploder, and Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story.

Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Toxicology reports confirmed the 31-year-old had high levels of alcohol and several other substances in his system at the time of his death.

Following Payne’s passing, all former One Direction members — including Harry Styles and Niall Horan — shared tributes on social media.

“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the group said in a joint Instagram statement. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”

Neither Styles nor Horan are expected to appear in the Netflix series, according to THR.

Killer Mike has apologized to Steph Curry and the NBA star’s wife, Ayesha Curry, following his comments reacting to a TikTok video ridiculing Ayesha.

The Atlanta rapper broadcast his apology during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay on Wednesday (Oct. 1), chalking it up to his words being “misconstrued” and saying that he was high at the time.

“Steph Curry, Ayesha Curry — boy, my wife done cussed me out,” Mike admitted. “My oldest daughter called me. My youngest daughter called me. … Homeboys that have played in the NBA called me.”

Killer Mike continued: “And I realized that maybe I shouldn’t smoke and get on Instagram. So let me say this, ’cause I appreciate you checking it; it shows you have a tremendous amount of respect for me. Mrs. Ayesha Curry and her husband Steph, I apologize for my statement being misconstrued.”

Mike’s comment stemmed from his reaction to content creator BooWoodz’s skit teasing Ayesha Curry, poking at her alleged thirst for attention to take the spotlight from her Hall-of-Fame hubby.

“She wants to be GloRilla or some sh–,” BooWoodz said in the clip posted in September. “Like we get it, bro. Just drop an an album or some sh–. Stop embarrassing this man, bro. This sh–‘s getting pathetic.”

Killer Mike had a laugh at the video and hopped into the comments, writing: “My n—a said she wanna go be Glo!!!” he wrote. “Man Steph doesn’t deserve the embarrassment frfr. God Bless him.”

Steph Curry got wind of Mike’s comments and he replied, defending his wife. “Naaaa not you Mike,” the Golden State Warriors superstar wrote, checking the rhymer. “I’m cool [staying] silent and letting these other clowns have [their] moment! And you’re the worst of them [BooWoodz]. But you’re better than that [Killer Mike]. Stay in your lane and let God keep blessing me like he is. We r good over here.”

Mike clearly realized he was in the wrong and continued to repeatedly apologize, as Shannon Sharpe ribbed him throughout the interview.

 “I was just stoned up, trying to make a joke,” the Run the Jewels rapper offered up as an excuse. “It wasn’t my damn business, like my wife said. So, I’m sorry, y’all.”

Watch the clip of Killer Mike’s apology below.

David Kaefer, the Spotify executive in charge of the company’s music and audio businesses, will leave the company at the end of October. The announcement was made on Wednesday (Oct. 1) through both an internal memo and a LinkedIn post by Kaefer.

Named to Billboard‘s 2025 Power Players list, Kaefer spent seven years at Spotify, most recently as global head of music and audiobook business. In that role, he led the company’s music licensing and partnerships and its growing audiobook business that launched in 2022. According to Kaefer’s LinkedIn post, after leaving Spotify, he plans to be an advisor and invest in tech, media and sustainability. 

Charlie Hellman, currently Spotify’s vp/global head of music product, will succeed Kaefer as senior vp and global head of music. Hellman joined Spotify in 2011 and helped build some of the company’s first recommendation and social features. 

Separately, on Tuesday (Sept. 30), Spotify CEO Daniel Ek announced he would step down on Jan. 1, 2026, to be replaced by two co-CEOs: co-president/chief business officer Alex Norström and co-president/chief product and technology officer Gustav Söderström. The pair will report to Ek, who will transition to the role of executive chairman. They are expected to be named to the company’s board of directors.

Below, you can read the internal memo obtained by Billboard that was written by Norström about Kaefer’s departure.

Team,

I would like to take a moment to share some thoughts on the future of our Music team and its leadership.

It has been a pleasure to work with and learn from David Kaefer, particularly in his leadership of key music functions, including Editorial, Partnerships, and GTM, as well as his extensive experience navigating innovative industry deals. On a personal note, I’ve always valued his strategic saviness and unique blend of toughness and humor. From the moment that he shared his plans for a new, ideally West Coast-based adventure a few months ago, I’ve felt a deep sense of gratitude for his incredible run. David will remain with us until October 24th.

This brings me to our new head of Music vertical, Charlie Hellman. Charlie’s fifteen-year journey here is legendary; in addition to hiring and serving as a mentor to more successful Spotifers than I can count, he drove the creation of the US R&D team, Spotify for Artists, and so many of our music experiences from our very first radio feature to our expansion into music video. As we enter our next era of scale, we are centralizing all music functions under his leadership. Charlie’s proven ability to think strategically, advocate for both artists and Spotify’s role in growing Music, and collaborate effectively across the company and our industry make him the ideal leader for the Music organization of tomorrow.

Finally, this is about all of you. Music is and always will be the beating heart of Spotify. We are still in the early chapters of our story, and we’re setting our sights higher than ever. Our success rests on your work to deliver for artists, songwriters, and fans. Charlie joined when we were celebrating a then massive one million subscribers, and I can’t wait for the day when you’re telling a new hire that you remember when we hit our first billion.

Best,

Alex

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2025 is shaping up to be a big year for concerts, from Kendrick Lamar and SZA setting off on their first-ever stadium tour, to AC/DC rocking out across the USA on their Power Up tour, to Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball tour. If you’re itching for live music next year, there may be no place hotter than Las Vegas.

Some of music’s biggest stars, including the Backstreet Boys, who continue to extended their residency with seven new dates, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, the Eagles and Maroon 5 are taking over Sin City in 2025. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of country, pop, R&B, hip-hop, alternative or other genres, Vegas has enough live entertainment for all kinds of music lovers to enjoy. And what better excuse to travel to Vegas than to see your favorite musician?

Because there are so many music tours, festivals and Las Vegas residencies on the roster for this year, keeping track of when and where to see your favorite artists live can be a bit overwhelming. To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of current Las Vegas residencies, where they’ll be taking place and, of course, where to buy tickets.

Keep scrolling to see a roundup of Las Vegas residencies to check out throughout 2025.

October 2025:

November 2025:

December 2025:

Following the news that Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show, a core member of Donald Trump’s administration has warned that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be present at the game.

In a Wednesday (Oct. 1) appearance on “The Benny Show,” Corey Lewandowski — the president’s 2016 and 2024 campaign manager who now advises the Department of Homeland Security — was asked whether ICE will be on the ground at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, come Feb. 8, 2026.

“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally,” was Lewandowski’s response. “Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you.”

“Know that is a very real situation under this administration, which is contrary to how it used to be,” he continued.

The remarks come just three days after it was announced that Benito would be performing at the Big Game next year, six years after he made his debut on the Super Bowl stage during Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s headlining show. The news was particularly attention-grabbing as the rapper had previously decided not to perform in the United States while on tour due to concerns that immigration officers might target his audiences — something he referenced at the time of the announcement.

“I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I’ll do just one date in the United States,” Bad Bunny wrote on X on Sunday (Sept. 28).

As for Lewandowski’s personal opinions about Roc Nation’s pick for the 2026 showcase, the conservative consultant isn’t a fan. “It’s so shameful they’ve decided to pick somebody who seems to hate America so much to represent them at the Halftime Show,” he said on “The Benny Show.”

“We should be trying to be inclusive, not exclusive,” Lewandowski added. “There are plenty of great bands and entertainment people who could be playing at that show that would be bringing people together and not separating them.”

It’s unclear where Lewandowski may have gotten the notion that Bad Bunny — who is from Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the U.S. — hates America. Even as he was explaining his reasons for not taking his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour through the so-called Land of the Free in 2025-26, Benito specified in a September interview with I-D, “There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate.”

“I’ve performed there many times,” he continued at the time. “All of [the shows] have been successful. All of them have been magnificent. I’ve enjoyed connecting with Latinos who have been living in the U.S. … But there was the issue of, like, f–king ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”

Doja Cat released her Vie album last week, and she played a round of F—k, Marry, Kill when it comes to her albums as part of her Interview magazine feature on Wednesday (Oct. 1).

“F—k, Marry, Kill: Vie, Scarlet, and Planet Her,” Interview Mag‘s Ary Russell asked Doja.

The Grammy-winning artist ended up swapping Scarlet out for her 2018 project Amala before answering. “That’s not fair. You should have put Amala in there instead of Scarlet,” she replied. “Kill Amala. F—k Vie. Marry Planet Her.”

It seems she’s favoring her 2021 album, as Planet Her was filled with hits like “Kiss Me More,” “Need to Know,” “Woman” and “Get Into It.”

“Kiss Me More” features an assist from SZA and went on to notch both artists their first Grammy win in the best pop duo/group performance category, while “Woman and “Get Into It” cracked the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10.

“I wanted to kind of go outside of what I understood [or] what I knew as pop aesthetic or rap aesthetic. I wanted to quite literally travel outside of the planet,” Doja told MTV news of PH. “When it comes to the videos and choice of words and melodies and combinations musically, I wanted it to feel different. I wanted it to feel otherworldly.”

Vie serves as Doja’s fifth studio album and the LP arrived on Friday (Sept. 29) and the 15-track album features a lone reunion with SZA on “Take Me Dancing.”

“It’s fabulous to just be able to enjoy it with other people,” she said to Interview about the project finally being out. “Because I can be in my house on the couch listening to it, but it’s nothing like hearing other people be like, ‘Oh my god, I love that part.’ Or them knowing the lyrics even is so invigorating. I love when people know already. It’s amazing to hear people rap it back to me or sing it back to me.”

Doja will be hitting the road in support of the album for her Tour Ma Vie World Tour, which kicks off with legs in Australia and Asia in November before heading to South America in 2026.