Billboard was at Kelly Clarkson’s Las Vegas residency, the Jonas Brothers’ tour opener at Yankee stadium, Quavo’s performance in Atlanta for the Braves game and more during this week’s All Access. Jon Batiste talks about his new album ‘World Music Radio’, working with Jon Bellion, potentially becoming an EGOT and more. J-Hope drops a new album, FIFTY FIFTY brings in Sabrina Carpenter to help give a new twist to one of their biggest songs, Ciara releases her new EP ‘Cici’, Usher latest song “Boyfriend” is here. Nas talks about iconic female rappers in hip-hop and who’s on the rise next?
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MusicTranscript
00:00 We've got some new K-pop, country, and R&B in your Friday Music Guide.
00:04 We sit down with Nas and Jon Batiste and we take you inside this week's hottest live music events.
00:10 It's almost time to get the weekend started.
00:16 I'm Tetris Kelly for Billboard News.
00:18 It's Friday, August 18th, and you know what that means, a fresh Friday Music Guide.
00:23 J-Hope has released a physical Hope edition of his debut album, Jack in the Box, that includes the original tracks,
00:34 instrumentals, and live recordings from his historic set at Lollapalooza.
00:38 [music]
00:47 Cupid has had us all stuck this summer, and now K-pop group 50/50 have added Sabrina Carpenter to a remix.
00:55 [music]
01:02 On to our cover star and Billboard Hip-Hop Hall of Fame inductee Nas.
01:07 I can't believe I'm here. 50 calling it 50 years. I'm just happy to be here to witness it as a fan.
01:14 To be honored, it's like no joke to me. It's like, I'm like, wow, is this real?
01:21 [music]
01:28 I remember it would act like Latifah, Shawtay, and MC Lyte. What does it feel like to be in a male-dominated rap game?
01:36 And how come female rappers are not happening, just you guys?
01:42 [music]
01:46 They held it down strong. It took years, but it's just that time. They're not going to be held back.
01:53 It's their strength, it's their power, it's their talent, it's their beauty, it's everything wrapped in one that's just supposed to dominate right now.
02:02 Coming up is Lotto, Ice Spice.
02:08 [music]
02:13 Coco Jones.
02:15 [music]
02:18 And there's a few others, you know, that I like.
02:21 [music]
02:25 We clearly love Ciara around here. We call her Cece. It's the name of her new EP and she talked to us all about it.
02:33 This is classic me, but elevated. I'm meeting myself where I am right now. It's got a super strong R&B core in this project, which again, that's Cece to me.
02:41 Cece's that turn that lip up, she get a little stank like this, you know.
02:45 It's been a busy week on the live music circuit and Billboard was front row for a ton of shows. Here's Billboard All Access.
02:53 Rock, pop, and a little bit of baseball? Billboard was out and about again this week hitting up some of the hottest events and concerts.
03:01 And we're breaking it all down in this week's Billboard All Access.
03:06 [music]
03:08 We start off with Kelly Clarkson in Las Vegas.
03:11 I hope you're all going to have a good time in the T.A.C.E.
03:13 She performed some of her biggest hits including "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Because of You."
03:18 [music]
03:25 Greta Van Fleet put on an epic performance at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles last Thursday with all the stops including glam costumes, pyrotechnics, and some impressive guitar riffs.
03:36 [music]
03:40 Meanwhile on Sunday night, the Jonas Brothers performed to a huge crowd at Yankee Stadium singing some of their biggest hits.
03:46 Jimmy Fallon even came out at intermission to surprise the audience with a performance of "Mr. Brightside."
03:52 [music]
04:02 Speaking of the Yankees and baseball, Quavo surprised Atlanta Braves fans with a performance of "Who With Me" from the Braves' dugout before the big game on Tuesday night.
04:11 Proven to be a good luck charm, the Braves beat the Yankees 5-0.
04:15 It's all in support of his second album, "Rocket Power," a tribute to the late Migos member, Takeoff.
04:21 The album is out today.
04:23 [music]
04:29 After internet drama with Keke Palmer, Usher came back with new single "Boyfriend" using Keke on the cover and in the music video.
04:36 [music]
04:43 Speaking of new music, Jon Batiste has dropped his new album "World Music Radio" and sat down with Karl Lamar to talk all about it.
04:50 We were just talking ahead of the cameras about your new record, "Drink Water."
04:55 I told you when I first heard it, you know, it felt like a mantra, like you said.
04:59 I was like, "You must have been in an argument."
05:01 You know, the missus was like, "You know, Jon, I don't like how you're doing this."
05:05 Right, right, calm down.
05:06 [music]
05:11 Water is a theme in the album.
05:12 There's many different themes that recur.
05:15 And we didn't even really realize when we were making it, some of the themes were subliminal.
05:20 And, you know, I was working with the great Jon Bellion, Long Island.
05:24 Shout out to Long Island.
05:26 The great Jon Bellion had this thing that he had for his son, just in terms of living life in the world's crazy.
05:33 And just the idea of self-care and being in the world, living your life.
05:39 Sometimes you got to take a pause.
05:41 And relating to that in my life and the things we've been through and all the stuff that we're trying to create in this album is a mantra.
05:48 We got the best version of "Juvenile" when you and Manny pulled up.
05:52 Talk about that experience, that tiny desk, which is, I believe, the highest viewed one in 2023.
05:58 I got to bring out two Grammy-winning artists, Trombone Shorty and my man, Jon Baptiste.
06:04 [Music]
06:11 It's crazy to see what happened with that tiny desk.
06:14 That's history.
06:15 On so many levels, to see that the culture was represented, our culture, New Orleans represented the history of Cash Money.
06:22 It just really made me emotional, just thinking about what that one performance was.
06:28 It's deeper than just a performance.
06:30 It represented so much more.
06:32 I loved being a part of it.
06:34 I know you spoke about it with E-Bro.
06:35 And I know you're not crazy about the awards, but I mean, the reality is you're two steps away from an EGOT.
06:41 Have you processed that?
06:43 Is the competitive driving you, pushing you to attain that?
06:48 I think about it, for sure.
06:51 I think about it just because it's natural for me to want to create in different fields, in different arenas.
06:57 I've already explored different things, whether it's writing a musical for Broadway, Jean-Michel Basquiat musical,
07:04 whether it's creating the several shows that we have in development, television programs and streaming programs,
07:12 all types of different content that is in the works.
07:15 And it's just like, "Hmm, one of these could create that scenario in my life that could achieve that."
07:21 So I think about it, but I don't let it lead to work.
07:26 I just think that the creative process has to be pure.
07:30 The intentions have to be pure.
07:32 I don't feel pressure to make something that's going to achieve a goal of winning those awards.
07:39 That's not how I work. That's not even what makes my best work.
07:42 That's not even the best way for me to do that if I wanted to do that.
07:46 For the full interview, head to Billboard.com.
07:49 That's it for the news. We'll be back next week with our recap of KCON and interviews with Tim McGraw and Erika Jayne.
07:56 But before we let you go, let's add one more song to your Friday Music Guide.
08:01 Old Dominion is letting you know that they can't break up now.
08:04 And they enlisted Megan Marooney.
08:06 This summer is giving so many bops and for more, hit Billboard.com.
08:17 (upbeat music)