Fans have been waiting a good, long while for ASAP Rocky’s new album, but in the meantime, his acting career has been flourishing. He stars in two movies this year alongside screen veterans: Highest 2 Lowest, Spike Lee’s Kurosawa remake also starring Denzel Washington, and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You with Platonic star Rose Byrne.
In a new interview with Elle magazine, Rocky calls working on the latter movie “an anxiety attack,” but fortunately for him, he has the perfect therapist: Jay-Z.
“That whole f*cking film is an anxiety attack,” he jokes, before admitting that he puts “therapists in the same box as psychic readings.” He explains, “I look at it like, Yo, if you don’t share the same experiences, what’s the point of me telling a stranger my business for an hour straight, for them to just say, ‘Okay, well, how did that make you feel?’”
He does, however, make one exception: “I think Jay-Z is a Black therapist,” he said. “A lot of people come to him with their problems.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Rocky talks about friction within the ASAP Mob, his relationship with Rihanna, and of course, that long-delayed album, Don’t Be Dumb. He says of the latter, “I don’t want to primarily blame it on my case, but life was lifeing. We don’t plan on having children, but when it happens, you gotta adjust and move with it. I gotta be present for my family, because that’s first.”
The couple is also well aware of their shared reputation for putting off their long-awaited releases. “She’s like, ‘Yo, I ain’t gonna lie,’” he says. “‘Your fans might want to kick your ass as much as my fans wanna kick my ass. What saves me is that I’m pregnant most of the time.’”
Dua Lipa released her debut single 10 years ago. Her list of achievements in the decade since “New Love” is staggering: three multi-platinum albums. Five top-10 hits in the US; 16 in the UK. Twelve songs with over one billion streams on Spotify, including five with over two billion. One of the most-watched music videos on YouTube ever. Grammys. Brit Awards. A book club. A viral recipe. Until proven otherwise, it seems there’s nothing Dua Lipa can’t do — including putting on a fantastic live show.
I caught the final night of Dua Lipa’s four-night residency of the Radical Optimism Tour at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. It was the platonic ideal of a large-venue concert and a showcase for everything she does well.
The 21-song set/dance party kicked off with Dua Lipa emerging from crashing waves playing on a crystal-clear video screen behind her. Over the next two electrifying hours, she showed off her powerhouse (and underrated) vocals while floating 20 feet in the air (“Anything For Love”); kept the choreography interesting with a Bob Fosse-style routine (“Whatcha Doing”); and commanded the constant attention of the sold-out crowd.
Dua bounced from pop (sweaty set highlight “Physical”) to disco (Barbie favorite “Dance The Night Away”) to a house-inspired rave (a hyped-up “Electricity”). During “Love Again,” she was surrounded by a literal ring of fire. Hotter than hell, indeed.
The setlist was a well-proportioned showcase of radio/streaming hits that had the security guards in front of me singing along, and non-single cuts from Radical Optimism. The album wasn’t as inescapable a hit as Future Nostalgia — to be fair, few albums released in the 2020s are — but songs like “Houdini” and “These Walls” sound as big as “Levitating” when performed live. Maybe the emotionally complex “Happy For You” won’t make the cut for the next tour, but I hope it sticks around.
A viral highlight during every stop of the Radical Optimism Tour is which song from a local artist Dua will cover. OutKast’s “Hey Ya” in Atlanta, The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” in Liverpool, etc. The New York City shows got “No One” by Alicia Keys, “One Way Or Another” by Blondie, “Le Freak” by Chic, and during the final night, “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” by Lenny Kravitz… with special guest Lenny Kravitz. (I incorrectly predicted Billy Joel.) It’s not easy to out-cool Zoë Kravitz’s dad, but Dua found a way.
Madison Phipps
One of the reasons why Dua belongs in the upper echelon of modern-day artists is the refreshing lack of drama surrounding her. There’s no household controversies or toxic fan base or lore that you need to know to “understand” her songs. She’s a professionally perfect pop star: a strong singer, dancer, and live performer who has exceptional chemistry with her fans, as she proved during an endearing mid-show meet-and-greet. What more could you possibly want from a concert? (If the answer is “pyro and confetti,” there was that, too.)
Before the end of the show, Dua thoughtfully reflected on her decade-long journey. She mentioned that her first New York City show was in 2016 at Mercury Lounge, a standing-room-only venue with a capacity of 250 people. Now she’s selling out arenas. There’s a reason that decade-ago promise turned into impossibly impressive success — and it’s there for everyone to see on the Radical Optimism Tour.
You can check out photos from the show below.
Madison PhippsMadison PhippsMadison PhippsMadison Phipps
Danny Brown is nearly two years removed from his last album, Quaranta, so it’s a perfect time for him to release a follow-up. His next album, announced today alongside the release of its lead single, will be called Stardust. It’s due on November 7, just about two years to the day from its predecessor, and will be accompanied by a 21-night tour, his first since 2024. The album’s loaded with collaborators and producers from the hyperpop scene, including Femtanyl, Frost Children, Jane Remover, Ta Ukraika, Underscores, and more. The first single, “Starburst,” shows off Danny’s latest look with a frenetic video watching the rapper working out in a glass chamber. You can check it out above, and see the tracklist and tour dates for Stardust below.
Danny Brown Stardust Tracklist
01. “Book Of Daniel” Feat. Quadeca
02. “Starburst”
03. “Copycats” Feat. underscores
04. “1999” Feat. JOHNNASCU
05. “Flowers” Feat. 8485
06. “Lift You Up”
07. “Green Light” Feat. Frost Children
08. “What You See” Feat. Quadeca
09. “Baby” Feat. Underscores
10. “Whatever The Case” Feat. IssBrokie
11. “1L0v3myL1f3!” Feat. Femtanyl
12. “RIGHT FROM WRONG” Feat. Nnamdi
13. “The End” Feat. Ta Ukrainka & Zheani
14. “All4U” Feat. Jane Remover
Danny Brown 2025 Tour Dates
11/10 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live *
11/12 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel *
11/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Globe Iron *
11/15 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave *
11/16 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre *
11/18 – Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Theater *
11/20 – Denver, CO @ The Ogden *
11/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex – Rockwell *
11/24 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades *
11/25 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom *
11/26 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether *
11/28 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory Santa Ana *
11/29 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park *
12/02 – Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee *
12/05 – Austin, TX @ Emos *
12/06 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall *
12/07 – Dallas, TX @ Granada *
12/09 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade *
12/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Nevermore Music Hall *
12/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts *
12/14 – New York, NY @ Warsaw *
* with underscores & Femtanyl
Stardust is out 11/7 via Warp. You can find more info here.
It’s a new era for Ratboys, as the band just signed a fresh label deal with New West Records. They’ve also just returned with their first new music since their 2023 album The Window: Today (September 23), they released “Light Night Mountains All That,” a new single.
“My original idea was to write an ultra-high energy folk song, in the style of The Dodos’ Visiter, with somewhat spooky, mysterious, and pastoral lyrics — like what Chris Otepka of The Heligoats might conjure up on a mushroom trip. This song really took shape during our initial writing session up at the Driftless Cabin in Wisconsin last March; the guys and I nearly went insane fleshing out the arrangement and its odd timings together. I wrote the lyrics during that original demoing trip, centered around the idea of a fantastic, rural vision-quest where the days and nights blend together and nothing is quite as it seems.”
The song arrives alongside a video directed by the group’s Marcus Nuccio and filmed at a farm in Illinois. Steiner says, “We used a bunch of DV cameras to convene with some benevolent rock and roll ghosts we met along the way.”
Watch the “Light Night Mountains All That” video above. The band also announced a North American tour for 2026 (tickets go on sale on September 26 at 10 a.m. ET), so find those dates below.
Ratboys’ 2026 Tour Dates
02/25/2026 — Detroit, MI @ El Club
02/26/2026 — Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace ~
02/27/2026 — Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB ~
02/28/2026 — Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair ~
03/03/2026 — Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church ~
03/05/2026 — Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw ~
03/06/2026 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ~
03/07/2026 — Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry ~
03/08/2026 — Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall ~
03/10/2026 — Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle ~
03/11/2026 — Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West ~
03/12/2026 — Nashville, TN @ The Basement East ~
03/13/2026 — Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar ~
03/14/2026 — Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium
03/24/2026 — St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway *
03/25/2026 — Kansas City, MO @ recordBar *
03/26/2026 — Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge *
03/27/2026 — Dallas, TX @ Club Dada *
03/28/2026 — Austin, TX @ Mohawk *
03/30/2026 — Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *
03/31/2026 — Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar *
04/01/2026 — San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar *
04/03/2026 — Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom *
04/04/2026 — San Francisco, CA @ August Hall *
04/06/2026 — Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret *
04/07/2026 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
04/08/2026 — Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater *
04/10/2026 — Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club *
04/11/2026 — Salt Lake City, UT/2026 — The Urban Lounge *
04/13/2026 — Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *
04/15/2026 — Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room *
04/16/2026 — Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line *
04/17/2026 — Madison, WI @ Atwood Music Hall *
04/18/2026 — Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre +
In a period that was just a few days over exactly one year, Sabrina Carpenter released two albums: Short N’ Sweet in 2024 and Man’s Best Friend a few weeks ago. Carpenter has done a lot of writing over the past 12-plus months, but she’s still at it.
In a new interview with Vogue Italia, Carpenter said:
“I feel like I’m doing a lot of introspective thinking right now. I really want to do things intentionally and things that bring me life and give life and give those around me life. […] I’m doing a lot of writing right now, which you wouldn’t probably expect after two albums, two years in a row.”
The piece notes that this writing is specifically journaling, so it’s not clear if any of these words are intended for new music or if they are purely for Carpenter’s personal and private satisfaction.
Carpenter continued, “My magic writing place is my bedroom, or it’s outside. […] Although I get many bug bites… Once I get enough bug bites, I go walking and I’m just refreshing.”
After releasing five albums and garnering critical acclaim, St. Louis rock/emo band Foxing might just be done for good: The group just announced they’re going on an indefinite hiatus.
The news came yesterday (September 22) via a post on the band’s Patreon (as archived by a Reddit user). The message reads in full:
“After 14 years as a band and 12 years of consistent touring, we’ve decided to take a hiatus from playing shows, writing or doing anything as Foxing.
It feels really scary to say that. This band has been completely inseparable from us as people for our entire adult lives up to this point. It is so much of our identity and our sense of self worth in the world. But it has become clear to us that in our pursuit of our dreams and making the most honest and genuine art we can, our relationship with music, each other, and our sense of self without the band has eroded. We have decided to prioritize these things and need to step away from the band to do so.
These shows in Chicago and St. Louis will be our last for the foreseeable future. Know that if you ever saw us at a show or listened to our records, you were getting the most from us that we could possibly give in that moment. We will come back if/when we feel that we have more to give.
Terrace Martin, the Grammy-nominated American jazz man best known for fusing disparate musical styles, has teamed up with The House of Suntory to help them debut their latest expression, Toki Black.
The brand-new riff on Suntory’s flagship Toki expression, Toki Black, marks the first new expression from the brand in a decade and was crafted with Hakushu Peated malt and Hakushu grain, giving it a faintly smoky, meatier flavor profile than its predecessor. By partnering with Terrace Martin, who has previously collaborated with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Stevie Wonder, The House of Suntory sought a globally renowned artist well-known for blending musical styles to celebrate a whisky that combines old and new whisky styles.
As part of the partnership, Martin was tasked with curating a bespoke vinyl release with new music that saw him teaming up for the first time with Japanese jazz artist Ryota Nozaki, known as Jazztronik, and an all-Japanese studio team. For Martin, the experience was the first time the language barrier kept him from communicating vocally with his fellow musicians, and so instead he let the music do the talking.
For inspiration in creating the record, Martin threw out all preconceived notions and let the whisky be his guide. “One of the experiences that really stood out was when we opened up that bottle, as we all started to taste the whisky, each one of us started playing our interpretation of each of the flavors that we tasted,” he explained in an exclusive interview about the partnership. Instantly inspired to capture what he perceived as rich, natural earth tones in the whisky, Martin began tinkering with notes in E-flat as Jazztronik and the other musicians fleshed out the record around the structure he established.
Suntory Global Spirits
“This project was more than just making music—it was about capturing a moment that can’t be repeated,” Martin mused. “When I learned about the inspiration behind Toki Black, it immediately resonated. Ryota and I set out to blend spontaneity with intention, tradition with experimentation, and create a record that lives in the spirit of now—just like the whisky that inspired it.”
Suntory Global Spirits
For the liquid itself, a limited-time offering from a reportedly limited stock of whisky, Toki Black highlights the addition of Hakushu Peated Whisky and Hakushu Grain Whisky in the blend, serving as a sort of 102-course into Japanese whisky that builds on its introductory classic, Toki Blended Japanese Whisky.
Both the limited release vinyl and the brand-new Toki Black expression are available now, and after getting a sneak preview of the liquid, it’s time for a full review. Let’s dive right in!
For this new Toki Black expression, the brand’s first limited expression, welcomes Hakushu Peated malt and Hakushu Grain into the blend to put a smoky spin on the Japanese classic. The liquid is then brought to proof and bottled at 43% ABV.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, the peated element in this whisky comes across only faintly. At the same time, richer, sweet notes of butterscotch, white flowers, baked apples, oregano, and honeysuckle take center stage, forming a familiar, if more mature, base.
Palate: On the palate is where the smoky elements in this blend assert themselves more forcefully, taking hold toward the back of the palate, while delicate sweet notes of butterscotch and candied lemon slices balance more nuanced notes of clove, fresh cinnamon bark, lavender, and gently toasted rosemary. It has a light, medium-bodied texture that pleasantly coats the tongue before transitioning to the finish.
Finish: The finish is succinct and gently peppery with the sweet note of butterscotch buoyed by fainter accents of sandalwood, fresh ginger, and lingering peat smoke.
Bottom Line:
While Toki’s flagship expression is a staple across the globe as, perhaps, the perfect entry-level whisky, Toki Black marks a significant step forward with a more complex flavor profile that retains the shape of Toki’s iconic and approachable core. While it’s being billed as a limited-time offering (though we’re in a camp with Terrace Martin who says he “definitely” wants this collaboration to continue), whisky fans the world over will likely force The House of Suntory’s hand. This is an incredibly flavorful Japanese whisky that offers endless options for mixed drinks, but can capably shine on its own, all at an impressively affordable price.
The Japanese philosophy of Ichigo Ichie represents the idea that each moment is unique and unrepeatable. Though the first new expression from the Toki brand is undoubtedly unique, here’s hoping that there’s more in store for the future.
Tyler, The Creator is wrapping up the overseas leg of his Chromakopia tour, but once he does so, it sounds like he may not be hitting the road again for a good, long while. While performing in the Philippines, Tyler hinted at a hiatus that could end up being permanent.
“I’m excited to go home and think about if I’ll ever really tour again, because I’m fucking not 20 no more,” he told the crowd in Quezon City. “I can’t lie to y’all. I’m at that part of my life where, man, I’ve done enough. Let me go take a very, very, very, very long break.”
Tyler, The Creator says he’s considering taking a long break during his final night in the Philippines on the CHROMAKOPIA World Tour
“I’m excited to go home and think about if I’ll ever really tour again… I’m at that part of my life where, man, I’ve done enough. Let me go… pic.twitter.com/NWmgV2SYLd
While “enough” might be a judgment call, Tyler has certainly done plenty in the past eight years, elevating his craft with Flower Boy and surpassing expectations with each subsequent release. His latest album, Don’t Tap The Glass, came out just nine months after its predecessor, Chromakopia; prior to both, T collected a pair of Best Rap Album Grammys, turned his Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival into one of the best music festivals in the world, and put his stamp on the fashion and design industries in the process.
As for the future, he’s officially kicking off his formal acting career under his real name, Tyler Okonma, with the Timothy Chalamet vehicle Marty Supreme later this year. So, even if he has finished the musical wunderkind segment of his career, you can bet you’ll be seeing a lot more of Tyler in the future.
Rising country star Bailey Zimmerman has a whole bunch of tour dates coming up in 2026. He’s adding to that, too, but in a different, more football-oriented way. (The football connection is a natural one given that Zimmerman and Luke Combs’ “Backup Plan” is ESPN’s 2025 college football season anthem.)
Today (September 22), Zimmerman announced a run of tailgate pop-up activations on college campuses. The Different Night Same Rodeo College Tailgate Experiences are tied to Zimmerman’s tour dates and there’s a lot to love about them. The events will feature exclusive custom merch, like free school-color bandanas, koozies, hats, and T-shirts with on-site customization. There will also be a temporary tattoo parlor and a Silverado photo moment, featuring a Different Night Same Rodeo-branded Chevy Silverado.
The takeovers actually already started this past weekend, with Zimmerman heading to Clemson University as the football team was taking on Syracuse. To get a feel for what it was like, and was future activations will be like, there’s a video here.
The following activations are coming up soon:
University of Georgia – Athens, GA – Alabama vs. Georgia – September 27, 2025
Texas Christian University – Fort Worth, TX – Colorado vs. TCU – October 4, 2025
University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN – Arkansas vs. Tennessee – October 11, 2025
October 18, 2025 – To Be Announced
Check out Zimmerman’s 2026 tour dates, including upcoming tailgate pop-ups, below.
Bailey Zimmerman’s 2026 Tour Dates
02/19/2026 — Estero, FL @ Hertz Arena
02/21/2026 — Athens, GA @ Atkins Ford Arena* | POP UP: University of Georgia @ Alabama vs. Georgia
02/26/2026 — Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena* | POP UP: Clemson University @ Syracuse vs. Clemson
02/27/2026 — Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center* | POP UP: University of Tennessee @ Arkansas vs. Tennessee
02/28/2026 — Pikeville, KY @ Appalachian Wireless Arena
03/05/2026 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
03/12/2026 — Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
03/13/2026 — Moline, IL @ Vibrant Arena
03/14/2026 — Evansville, IN @ Ford Center
03/27/2026 — Orange Beach, AL @ The Wharf Amphitheater
04/02/2026 — Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena* | POP UP: Texas Christian University @ Colorado vs. TCU
04/03/2026 — Baton Rouge, LA @ Raising Cane’s River Center
04/04/2026 — Corpus Christi, TX @ Hilliard Center Arena
04/09/2026 — Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
04/10/2026 — Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
04/11/2026 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Petersen Events Center
04/16/2026 — Toledo, OH @ The Huntington Center
04/17/2026 — Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center
04/18/2026 — Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
04/30/2026 — Huntsville, AL @ Von Braun Center Propst Arena
05/01/2026 — Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater
06/04/2026 — Airway Heights, WA @ Northern Quest Amphitheater
06/05/2026 — Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
06/06/2026 — Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater
06/10/2026 — Abbotsford, BC @ Abbotsford Centre
06/11/2026 — Kelowna, AB @ Prospera Place
06/13/2026 — Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place
06/18/2026 — Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
06/19/2026 — London, ON @ Canada Life Place
06/20/2026 — Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
* Different Night Same Rodeo College Tailgate Experience date
Check out Zimmerman’s Sound Check episode below:
Different Night Same Rodeo is out now via Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville. Find more information here.
Fortnite goes hard when it comes to getting the music world involved in their goings-on. This year, they’ve teamed up with stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, and Gorillaz. Now, we can add Daft Punk to the list.
It was announced today (September 22) that the defunct electronic duo will be honored with the “Daft Punk Experience” in Fortnite A press release calls it “the biggest musical experience in Fortnite‘s history.”
The experience is set to have a grand opening on September 27 at 2 p.m. ET, preceded by the pre-event lobby opening at 1:30 p.m. ET. It’s described as “a fully interactive playground that includes multiple rooms with different ways to experience Daft Punk’s music,” including 31 songs from the group’s discography. The festivities kick off with a supercut from Daft Punk’s Alive tour and the Alive 2007 album.
It’s further described:
“Remix Daft Punk’s previously released music and create mashups of Daft Punk’s songs within Fortnite at Dream Chamber Studios, blast hordes of robots with a soundwave laser in the Robot Rock Arena, make a LEGO® music video at Around the World, or hit the Daft Club to dance ’til dawn. You’ll also find furniture from longtime Daft Punk collaborators Hervet Manufacturier throughout the experience.”
The Fortnite Shop will also have a new Daft Punk bundle available starting September 25 at 8 p.m. ET. Accessories include “the signature GM08 helmet, outfit, and accessories (both in Fortnite and LEGO styles); TB3 helmet, outfit, and accessories (both in Fortnite and LEGO styles); along with instruments and a “Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers)” Jam Track.”
On top of all that, there will also be an afterparty and details about that will be revealed later.
Check out images of the virtual venue and what will be available in the Shop below.
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