Culture

NSG Releases 'Sounds of the Diaspora 2'

East London's NSG return with the sequel to January's 'Sounds of the Diaspora' — a 9-track follow-up that pulls Afroswing, Afrobeats, UK rap, and dance rhythms into the same room. Kenyan rapper Toxic Lyrikali features on his first international project.

Culture

Channel Tres Releases "Pop Pop" Ahead of Sophomore Album 'Enigma'

Channel Tres's second single of 2026 doubles down on the low-slung house template — co-written and co-produced with Nick Sylvester, "Pop Pop" lands as the next preview of his sophomore album 'Enigma' and a North American headlining tour.

Culture

Rob Base, Rapper Behind "It Takes Two," Dies at 59

The Harlem rapper born Robert Ginyard died on May 22, 2026, after a private battle with cancer. "It Takes Two," his 1988 duo with DJ E-Z Rock, is one of the founding records of hip-hop crossover — a Lyn Collins flip that has been sampled, covered, and stadium-played for 38 years.

Culture

Vince Staples Releases 'White Flag' Single and Video Ahead of June 5 Album 'Cry Baby'

Vince Staples released "White Flag," the second single and music video from his upcoming seventh studio album Cry Baby, dropping June 5 via Loma Vista. The video closes with Staples shooting an American flag he has painted white.

Technology

Spotify and Universal Music Sign Licensing Deal for AI-Generated Covers and Remixes

Spotify and UMG announced a landmark licensing agreement letting Premium subscribers create AI covers and remixes of opted-in UMG artists' songs — the first major-label AI framework inside a mainstream streaming service.

Technology

Spotify Launches Reserved, Holding Two Pre-Sale Concert Tickets for Premium Superfans

Spotify's new Reserved program holds two concert tickets per artist superfan in a roughly 24-hour pre-sale window. Launching summer 2026 in the U.S. with Live Nation, gated to Premium subscribers 18+.

Culture

Post Malone, Meghan Trainor and Zayn Cancel 2026 Tour Dates Amid Slow Ticket Sales

A wave of 2026 tour cancellations has the music industry naming a new problem: "blue dot fever." Post Malone, Meghan Trainor, Zayn and others are calling off dates as ticket prices outrun demand.

Culture

Johnny Drille Releases Sophomore Album "Before the Morning Light" on May 15

Johnny Drille's first solo album in five years pulls Angélique Kidjo, Tiwa Savage, Fireboy DML and Ayra Starr into a record that bends Afropop toward the balladeer's soul.

Culture

The All-American Rejects Release Independent Album "Sandbox" on May 26

The All-American Rejects' first album in 14 years is also their first without a label — released alongside a tour built to bypass Ticketmaster entirely. The distribution is the statement.

Culture

Drake Releases 18-Track Album 'Iceman' Alongside 'Habibti' and 'Maid of Honour'

Drake released three albums at once on May 15 — Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour, 43 songs in total. Iceman runs 18 tracks with features from Future, Molly Santana, and 21 Savage. Stream it on Apple Music and Spotify.

Culture

50 Cent and Eminem Reunite Courtside at Pistons-Cavaliers Game 5 on May 13

Eminem and 50 Cent's courtside reunion in Detroit was their first joint NBA appearance since the 2005 Finals — two Detroit hip-hop exports rebuilding a public friendship that has rarely surfaced in the streaming era.

Culture

Kevin Morby Releases Aaron Dessner-Produced 'Little Wide Open' on May 15

Kevin Morby's eighth album 'Little Wide Open' drops May 15 on Dead Oceans. Aaron Dessner produced the 13-track record at Long Pond Studio with Justin Vernon, Lucinda Williams, Amelia Meath, and more.