Uncle L is also one of this year’s nominees; his The FORCE single “Murdergram Deux” with Eminem is nominated for a Best Hip-Hop award, which is a great example of being an ally and giving back on Eminem’s part (do today’s MTV viewers even know who LL COOL J is?). The two hip-hop elders are competing with a field that also includes Doechii (who should win), Drake, GloRilla, Kendrick Lamar, and Travis Scott, with Em also being nominated as a soloist for “Somebody Save Me” featuring Jelly Roll.
This year’s nominees for the big award, Video Of The Year, include Ariana Grande’s “Brighter Days Ahead,” Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars’s “Die With a Smile,” Rosé & Bruno Mars’s “Apt.,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” and The Weeknd & Playboi Carti’s “Timeless.”
The show itself will air on Sunday, September 7 at 8 PM ET on CBS, MTV, and Paramount Plus. Fan voting is open through September 5 at 6 PM ET at vote.mtv.com.
Genre-spanning experimenter Ashnikko thrilled with her 2023 debut album Weedkiller, and now she’s charging back with more: Today (August 14), Ashnikko announced Smoochies, a new album.
She also just unveiled the punchy electro-pop single “Trinkets.” Ashnikko says of the song, “My little princess boys love being trinkets, hanging off my bag, looking up at me with smiles on their faces, swinging as I walk.” She also says of the album:
“Smoochies feels like Demidevil‘s older sister. It’s sexy, playful, and feminine, while toeing the line of grotesque and absurd. I feel like purse sediment so much of the time — like a mess of crumbs and gum in receipts and lipgloss that I’ve forgotten about — so the album feels like that too. This is the first where I’ve written very autobiographically, but at the core of it all is personal autonomy and joyful whimsy.”
Watch the “Trinkets” video above. Below, find the Smoochies’ cover art and tracklist, aslong with Ashnikko’s upcoming tour dates.
02/11/2026 — Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy
02/14/2026 — Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
02/17/2026 — Dublin, UK @ 3Olympia
02/20/2026 — London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
Smoochies is out 10/17 via Warner Records. Find more information here.
In a few months, Netflix will be graced by Train Dreams, a new film adaptation of Denis Johnson’s award-winning 2011 novella. It stars Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins Jr., Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy, and the musical side of things is similarly stacked. The National’sBryce Dessner composed the score, and he teamed up with Nick Cave (not Nic Cage) for the movie’s title track, which plays over the end credits.
The song will be featured on the movie’s soundtrack, which is set for a digital release on November 7 and a vinyl release on November 14. The movie itself is set to hit select theaters on November 7 before making its Netflix debut on November 21.
In a statement, director Clint Bentley spoke at length about Cave’s song, starting:
“When we started thinking about making a song for the film, Nick felt like the perfect artist to do it. It turns out that Train Dreams is one of his all-time favorite books, but he initially feared there wouldn’t be time to do something because he was getting ready to go on tour. Then he watched the film and was inspired to write something and the whole thing came together really quickly.
I knew he would craft something beautiful and resonant, but the film has such a delicate tone at the end, one that was really hard to get right, and I didn’t want a song that would push the audience in another direction emotionally. But Nick and I were very much on the same page from the outset. He read some early lyrics to me that he was working on and I was just really a bit overwhelmed with the whole situation — I’ve been a fan of his for such a long time and there I was, not only having a really lovely conversation with him about life and art, but he was also reading lyrics to me that he was writing for a film I made. It was a really special moment.
He’s a very rare artist and one I admire immensely. There’s no one thing that defines a Nick Cave song — sonically, lyrically, or otherwise — he’s got songs about everything, all the varieties of our experience here. There’s a deep poeticism alongside rock and roll. And that just felt like the perfect fit for a film like this that’s telling the story of this person who lived a beautiful resonant life, even if it did include heartache and pain.”
He also discussed hearing the song for the first time, saying, “I was blown away. It surpassed anything I felt like it might be. It took all the feelings that I was trying to communicate at the end of the movie and expanded them into another place. I was so struck by how the song builds to the end when other voices start to drift in, as if on the wind. His lyrics are so evocative and there’s a deep mystery to the song, especially when thinking about Grainier’s story. Every time I listen to it, I’m more moved by it.”
Of Dessner’s score, he added, “Bryce is such an open and generous artist. This is our second film together and with Train Dreams, there was a lot of back and forth throughout the edit as he sent over different ideas and threads he was working on based on the footage and the script. It really helped shape the rhythm and the feeling of the film and lifted it to a whole new place. His music is transcendent.”
“Train Dreams is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier (Edgerton), whose life unfolds during an era of unprecedented change in early 20th-century America. Orphaned at a young age, Robert grows into adulthood among the towering forests of the Pacific Northwest, where he helps expand the nation’s railroad empire alongside men as unforgettable as the landscapes they inhabit. After a tender courtship, he marries Gladys (Jones) and they build a home together, though his work often takes him far from her and their young daughter. When his life takes an unexpected turn, Robert finds beauty, brutality, and newfound meaning for the forests and trees he has felled.”
Praise be, my prayers have been answered. A few days ago, Cardi B announced the release date for her next Am I The Drama? single, “Imaginary Playerz,” and the ’90s hip-hop head within me was enthused. Today, Cardi posted a teaser clip of the single’s upcoming music video, and it looks like my inner throwback rap fan — and those of my generation — might just be more than satisfied on Friday.
Obviously, with a title like that, rap fans of a certain age were hoping Cardi’s latest would pay homage to the 1997 Jay-Z track, bringing the Bronx bomber back to her gritty New York roots. After all, Cardi sounds great on trap music like “Outside” and innovative odes to Latin culture such as “I Like It,” but for those of us who value bars over everything, it’s the one place we always wanted her to focus more of her efforts.
Well, the teaser clip suggests that at the very least, “Imaginary Players” does borrow the same sample from Jay’s original (René & Angela’s 1982 hit “Imaginary Playmates”), so that’s one wishlist item checked off. Here’s hoping for a display of the tongue twisting lyrical talents we’ve always known Cardi has to put one of the most tired complaints about her music to rest.
“Imaginary Playerz” is out at midnight. Am I The Drama? is out on 9/19 via Atlantic. You can find more info here.
Do you remember when Pharrell dropped a surprise album called Black Yacht Rock last year? You know how the cover read “VIRGINIA” in bold across the top, instead of “Pharrell” or “Pharrell Williams” or even “Skateboard P?”
Well, it turns out, that was not only intentional, but it was also a preview of the innovative producer’s newest initiative. VIRGINIA will be the name he releases future projects under (think Kevin Parker and Tame Impala, or Jack Antonoff and Bleachers, or MF DOOM and Viktor Vaughn), as well as the new for his new line of merch.
So, Black Yacht Rock is technically not a Pharrell album, but a VIRGINIA album. Got it? No? That’s okay, it’ll sink in.
In addition to the announcement, VIRGINIA has shared his (their?) first line of exclusive merch, which includes surfboards, swimwear, and other beach-inspired items — think beach balls, pails, foam footballs, beach umbrellas, coolers, kites, and even film cameras. All are emblazoned with the VIRGINIA logo.
But wait, there’s more! The VIRGINIA takeover even extends to Pharrell’s longstanding partnership with Adidas, including a colorful take on the Adistar Cushion, Adistar Jellyfish.
Pharrell’s explanation for all this, according to a press release, is: “Virginia is where I’m from, but it’s also who I am creatively. It’s my space to dream, and a way to connect with people who are dreaming too.” Look, if it means a Black Yacht Rock Vol. 2, I’m all for it. Also, drop them Jellyfishes with some blue on ’em, my man. You can have my money.
Blackyachtrock.com
You can find the merch, music, and an early plug for the Adistar Jellyfish at Blackyachtrock.com.
For the past few years, Inglewood rapper D Smoke has been one of the standard-bearers for indie drive and hustle in hip-hop. With his new radio freestyle on Justin Credible’s Power 106 show, he also proves himself to be one of the most efficient indie artists out, announcing a new album and tour, as well as a partnership with Snoop Dogg’s revived Death Row Records, all in the space of three minutes.
After rapping in both English and Spanish over UGK’s “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” beat, Smoke revealed the title of his upcoming third album, Wake Up Supa, and pulled out a Death Row chain from under his hoodie, revealing that it would be released under the auspices of the legendary Los Angeles-based label.
The announcement represents a full-circle moment for Supa Good Smoke, as Snoop Dogg has figured heavily into his story from its beginnings, via his role as a judge on Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow. Smoke used the winnings from the show’s first season to complete his Grammy-nominated debut album, Black Habits, and has maintained close connections with the West Coast rap godfather ever since.
Although his last album, War & Wonders, was released over three years ago, Smoke hasn’t strayed too far from the spotlight; he’s maintained a regular role on the Paramount Plus drama Mayor Of Kingstown since 2023.
You can watch D Smoke’s Power 106 freestyle above.
If you missed the one-weekend-only engagement of Eminem’s <em>Stans documentary in theaters, have no fear. Stans is already on its way to streaming. You’ll be able to watch the 102-minute glimpse into the world of the Detroit rapper’s fandom at home, starting August 26th via Paramount+. The streaming app also provides access to original programming, catalogs from CBS, MTV, and Nickelodeon, and access to live events like the VMAs for $7.99/month with ads or $12.99/month without ads, after a one-week free trial. You can find more info here.
Stans is named after Eminem’s 2000 single “Stan,” from his third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP. Built around an interpolation of British singer Dido’s 1998 song “Thank You” from the Sliding Doors soundtrack, “Stan” tells the story of the titular, disturbed superfan from a first-person perspective in the format of a series of letters to Eminem. Over the course of three verses, Stan becomes increasingly unhinged by a lack of return correspondence from his hero, culminating in a murder-suicide at the end of the third verse. In a fourth verse, Eminem writes from his own perspective, as he finally gets to Stan’s letters and realizes he’s too late to curb the effects of the fan’s one-sided obsession.
The song, which reached No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100, became one of Eminem’s signature songs. More importantly, it gave us a term for the phenomenon of people engaging in parasocial relationships with celebrities after Nas turned the song’s title into an insult during his battle with Jay-Z. In his 2001 diss track “Ether,” Nas told Jay, “You a fan, a phony, a fake, a pussy, a Stan,” officially marking the first use of the character to describe a real-life person with a delusional fixation on an entertainer.
Since then, online “Stans” — including those of Eminem himself — have engaged in wars of words with each other over which of their favorite stars are the best and bullying campaigns against critics who they perceive to have attacked their favs. Some celebrities even give these fan clubs fanciful nicknames, like Nicki Minaj’s Barbz or Beyoncé BeyHive, while the phenomenon has jumped to include musicians beyond hip-hop, like Swifties, Arianators, and Little Monsters. They’ve certainly helped ruin music journalism as a profession, but hey … at least they got a movie out of it.
In April, Goose released a new album, Everything Must Go. Typically, that would mean we wouldn’t get new music from them in at least a little while. Well, they’re back: Today (August 14), the band surprise-released another new album, Chain Yer Dragon.
The band’s Rick Mitarotonda says of the project in a statement, “There’s a world-building component that feels like the driving force of this record. Many of these character-driven songs come from a time and place where we were finding our voice musically, and it’s been so gratifying to not only revisit it through the lens of who and where we are now, but to expand on it. These songs have been on a journey, and it feels right for them to finally have a home now.”
Peter Anspach adds, “Chain Yer Dragon is certainly its own world. One that has existed for a while, but has grown along the way. I think Everything Must Go was in many ways a broader statement album for the band after three wild years. It kind of symbolized that roller coaster, with many different themes and moments that were born in that pressure cooker.”
The band celebrated/preceded the release in a big way: Last night, they went on The Tonight Show to perform “Madalena.” Check that out above and find the Chain Yer Dragon cover art and tracklist below, along with Goose’s upcoming tour dates.
Goose’s Chain Yer Dragon Album Cover Artwork
No Coincidence Records
Goose’s Chain Yer Dragon Tracklist
1. “Hot Love & The Lazy Poet”
2. “Madalena”
3. “Royal”
4. “Turbulence & The Night Rays”
5. “Echoes Of A Rose”
6. “Mr. Action”
7. “…..”
8. “Dr. Darkness”
9. “Empress Of Organos”
10. “Jed Stone”
11. “Rockdale”
12. “Factory Fiction”
Goose’s 2025 Tour Dates
08/14-16/2025 — Park City, UT @ Park City Song Summit *
08/28/2025 — Iowa City, IA @ University of Iowa’s Fall Welcome Concert
08/31/2025 — George, WA @ The Gorge Amphitheatre ^
09/12/2025 — Fredericton, NB @ Harvest Music Festival *
09/14/2025 — Burlington, VT @ Waterfront Park
09/17/2025 — Madison, WI @ Kohl Center †
09/19/2025 — Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
09/20/2025 — Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
09/23/2025 — Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace
09/24/2025 — Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace
09/26/2025 — Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre #
09/27/2025 — Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion #
09/30/2025 — Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live!
10/02/2025 — Richmond, VA @ Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
10/03/2025 — Richmond, VA @ Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
10/04/2025 — Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at the Mann
10/05/2025 — Las Vegas, NV @ RISE *
10/30/2025-11/2/2025 — Live Oak, FL @ Suwannee Hulaween *
12/12/2025 — Providence, RI @ Goosemas 2025 @ Amica Mutual Pavilion
12/13/2025 — Providence, RI @ Goosemas 2025 @ Amica Mutual Pavilion
05/07-09/2026 — San José del Cabo, Mexico @ Viva El Gonzo
* festival appearance
^ supporting Dave Matthews Band
† with Mt. Joy
# with Penelope Road
Chain Yer Dragon is out now via No Coincidence Records. Find more information here.
Blackpink are currently preparing to take over London’s iconic Wembley Stadium this coming weekend. Before that, though, Lisa had to give her solo career some love: Last night (August 13), Lisa shared a new short film for “Dream,” a highlight from her album Alter Ego.
The evocative video co-stars Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, and in it, the two navigate their bittersweet romantic past.
Lisa previously said of launching a solo career, “At first, I was scared and nervous because I never really come out here to do my own stuff. And now I’m having fun. When [my singles] came out, the reaction from the fans, it’s healing me. It’s like, ‘Oh, my God. Yeah — I did a great job!’”
Watch the “Dream” video above and check out Blackpink’s upcoming tour dates below.
Blackpink’s 2025 And 2026 Tour Dates: Deadline World Tour
08/15/2025 — London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
08/16/2025 — London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
10/18/2025 — Kaohsiung, Taiwan @ Kaohsiung National Stadium
10/19/2025 — Kaohsiung, Taiwan @ Kaohsiung National Stadium
10/24/2025 — Bangkok, Thailand @ Rajmangala National Stadium
10/25/2025 — Bangkok, Thailand @ Rajmangala National Stadium
10/26/2025 — Bangkok, Thailand @ Rajmangala National Stadium
11/01/2025 — Jakarta, Indonesia @ Gelora Bung Karno Stadium
11/02/2025 — Jakarta, Indonesia @ Gelora Bung Karno Stadium
11/22/2025 — Bocaue, Philippines @ Philippine Arena
11/23/2025 — Bocaue, Philippines @ Philippine Arena
11/29/2025 — Singapore @ National Stadium
11/30/2025 — Singapore @ National Stadium
01/16/2026 — Tokyo, Japan @ Tokyo Dome
01/17/2026 — Tokyo, Japan @ Tokyo Dome
01/18/2026 — Tokyo, Japan @ Tokyo Dome
01/24/2026 — Hong Kong @ Kai Tak Stadium
01/25/2026 — Hong Kong @ Kai Tak Stadium
Alter Ego is out now via LLOUD Co./RCA Records. Find more information here.
Sabrina Carpenter has been a Swiftie for years: Here she is in 2012 tweeting, “I Love everything about Taylor Swift. #Swifty.” It was surely a thrill, then, for her to perform with Swift on The Eras Tour. Now, they’re taking another massive collaborative step together: Swift just announced her next album, The Life Of A Showgirl, and the only credited feature on the tracklist comes from Carpenter, on the album-closing title track.
Sharing the tracklist on her Instagram Story, Carpenter wrote, “i know someone who’s freaking out and it’s me.”
On the New Heights podcast, Swift explained that the 12 songs that are currently on the tracklist are it, saying (as Variety notes), “With Tortured Poets Department, I was like, ‘Here’s a data dump of everything I thought, felt, experienced in two or three years. Here’s 31 songs.’ This is 12. There’s not a 13th, there’s not other ones coming. This is the record I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time. […] I tend to write lots and lots of music, so it’s a temptation to release lots of music. But oftentimes, I wanted to do an album that was so focused on quality and on the theme and everything fitting together like a perfect puzzle that these 12 songs for my 12th album, I feel like we achieved that and I’m really happy about that.”
Check out the The Life Of A Showgirl cover art and tracklist below.
Taylor Swift’s The Life Of A Showgirl Album Cover Artwork
Republic
Taylor Swift’s The Life Of A Showgirl Tracklist
1. “The Fate Of Ophelia”
2. “Elizabeth Taylor”
3. “Opalite”
4. “Father Figure”
5. “Eldest Daughter”
6. “Ruin The Friendship”
7. “Actually Romantic”
8. “Wi$h Li$t”
9. “Wood”
10. “Cancelled!”
11. “Honey”
12. “The Life Of A Showgirl” Feat. Sabrina Carpenter
The Life Of A Showgirl is out 10/3 via Republic. Find more information here.
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IMAGINARY PLAYERZ song + video out at MIDNIGHT 
