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The Weeknd Announces 2022 North American Tour

By Nina Corcoran

The Weeknd has announced a 2022 tour in support of his most recent albums, Dawn FM and 2020’s After Hours . The first leg of the trek will see him perform concerts in stadia across the United States and Canada. The tour will feature special guest Doja Cat . According to a press release, there will be more concerts in Mexico, South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East announced soon. Find the dates for the first leg below.

The Weeknd has also partnered with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to launch the XO Humanitarian Fund, Powered by World Food Programme. The fund works toward ending the global hunger crisis. The Weeknd has donated $500,000 to the fund, according to a press release, and plans to contribute an additional $1 from each tour ticket sold. “The goal with this fund is to provide immediate life-saving support to people who are on the brink of starvation,” the Weeknd said in a statement. “I’m so thankful to have WFP as a partner and to further expand our reach to those who need it most.”

Last year, the Weeknd postponed his tour for the third time due to the pandemic . When explaining his reasons for doing so, the Weeknd promised the new version of the tour would be “something bigger and special for you which requires stadiums.”

After announcing the end of his After Hours era with “ Take My Breath ” last summer, the Weeknd revealed Dawn FM just a few days before its arrival last month. Swedish House Mafia remixed “ Sacrifice ” for an “Alternate World” edition of the project, which also included the joint track “ Moth to a Flame ” and Agents of Time’s remix of “Take My Breath.”

The Weeknd has been a busy collaborator in recent months, as well, appearing on new tracks with FKA twigs , Post Malone , and Rosalía , plus a posthumous release from Aaliyah . He unveiled his new immersive television special, The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience , through Prime Video in February

 Revisit “ 5 Takeaways From the Weeknd’s New Album Dawn FM ” over on the Pitch.

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The Weeknd:

07-09 Toronto, Ontario - Rogers Centre 07-14 Philadelphia, PA - Lincoln Financial Field 07-16 New York, NY - Metlife Stadium 07-21 Boston, MA - Gillette Stadium 07-24 Chicago, IL - Soldier Field 07-30 Washington, D.C. - FedExField 08-04 Tampa, FL - Raymond James Stadium 08-06 Miami, FL - Hard Rock Stadium 08-11 Atlanta, GA - Mercedes-Benz Stadium 08-14 Arlington, TX - AT&T Stadium 08-18 Denver, CO - Empower Field at Mile High 08-20 Las Vegas, NV - Allegiant Stadium 08-23 Vancouver, British Columbia - BC Place 08-25 Seattle, WA - Lumen Field 08-27 San Francisco, CA - Levi's Stadium 08-30 Phoenix, AZ - State Farm Stadium 09-02 Los Angeles, CA - SoFi Stadium

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By Matthew Strauss

By Pitchfork

Concert announcement: The Weeknd opens new world tour in Vancouver

The Weeknd announces a world tour in advance of the new album After Hours.

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Article content

The weeknd: the after hours tour.

When : June 11, 8 p.m.

Concert announcement: The Weeknd opens new world tour in Vancouver Back to video

Where : Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena, 800 Griffiths Way

Tickets and info : Feb. 25, 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com

The Weeknd will open his new world tour in Vancouver on June 11 at Rogers Arena.

The After Hours Tour takes its name from the Toronto hitmaker’s upcoming album, After Hours, which drops on March 20. The 57-date tour includes dates in Canada, the US, UK and Europe. Sabrina Claudio and Don Toliver will be the support for the U.S. dates with 88Glam and Sabrina Claudio being the special guests for European dates.

In keeping with his taste for elaborate stage designs, the Weeknd says the tour will showcase a stage with the most LED lights and video for an arena show. The artist, born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, last toured in 2017. The Starboy: Legend of the Fall show was notable for its lively and shimmering light show.

After Hours is the fourth full-length album from the artist, who has elevated his alternative R&B sound to the top of the charts. The single Blinding Lights from the upcoming release became the Weeknd’s fourth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The title track was released on Feb. 18.

For all North American dates, each ticket purchased online comes with a copy of the new album. The Weeknd’s next performance will be Saturday Night Live on March 7.

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The Weeknd’s First Stadium Tour Date Postponed Due to Canada-Wide Phone Network Outage

An all-day outage of the Rogers Wireless phone network has wreaked havoc across all of Canada.

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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UPDATED: Friday’s opening date of the Weeknd ’s “After Hours Til Dawn” stadium tour in his hometown of Toronto was postponed due to a nationwide outage of the Rogers Wireless company, one of Canada’s biggest phone networks, which wreaked havoc on the country for most of the day.

The announcement was made shortly after doors were scheduled to open at the Rogers Centre (formerly the Skydome) — the city’s largest venue, which, in a painfully ironic twist, is named after and sponsored by the affected wireless company. It is a cashless venue and all ticketing, food, beverage and merch sales are tied to the network; the Weeknd’s technologically complex production and venue security presumably relied heavily on it as well.

At around 11 p.m. — the time most large-venue concerts are drawing to a close — Rogers announced service was “ starting to recover. ”

In a message to fans posted on his Instagram story , the Weeknd wrote, “I’m crushed & heartbroken. Been at the venue all day but it’s out of our hands because of the Rogers outrage. Operations and safety are compromised and I tried my absolute best. This one hurts the most, and we will make thjs show happen, but unfortunately not tonight. I know how long you’ve been waiting and how hard a lot of you worked to make it to the show and experience this special moment with me. I can’t wait to see you all.”

Popular on Variety

A statement from tour promoter Live Nation reads: “The Weeknd was onsite and ready to play but due to the nationwide Rogers network outage the show planned for this evening at Rogers Centre will be postponed as the venue’s operations & infrastructure are not possible until full service is back.

 Please hold on to your ticket. Updates on a new date coming soon.”

We regret to announce that The Weeknd tour stop at Rogers Centre has been postponed due to service outages impacting venue operations. A new show date will be shared ASAP and tickets will be honoured. We understand how disappointing this is and apologize for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/Et073wz0WZ — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 8, 2022

The outage, which began at around 4:30 a.m. ET, illuminated just how much modern society has come to rely on cellular coverage: Throughout the country, government and banking systems, parking and countless other businesses were incapable of processing transactions. Restaurants were forced to serve on a cash-only basis; some of the longest lines in downtown Toronto on Friday were for ATM machines. Cafes and any business offering free wifi were packed.

Sources tell Variety that the lateness of the announcement, which came at the time doors were scheduled to open and fans had been waiting outside for hours, was due to the Weeknd’s team trying to find a way to perform the show up until the last possible minute.

Surprisingly, a couple of blocks away from the Rogers Centre, Roger Waters’ concert at the ScotiaBank Arena went ahead as scheduled on Friday night. A large sign outside the venue offered free wi-fi inside the arena, listed a website for assistance with mobile tickets and noted that credit card payments were accepted inside although debit card transactions were not able to be processed; a common situation due to the outage. It seems possible that the reason the concert was able to proceed is that ScotiaBank Arena may not be a Rogers-only venue.

Amid the outage on Friday afternoon, Kye Prigg, Rogers’ senior vice-president of access networks and operations, told CBC’s “ Power & Politics, “We don’t understand how the different levels of redundancy that we build across the network coast to coast have not have not worked.”

While anyone not in Canada might think the postponement was an overreaction, an American equivalent would be a nationwide shutdown of Verizon or T-Mobile service. The level of disruption was a sobering reminder of what would take place in the event of a cyberattack.

In fact, just a month before the outage, Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the country’s government was on “ high alert” for cyberattacks by Russia and other s in the wake of the increasingly hostile international relations caused by the war in Ukraine.

“I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that, in the current geopolitical environment in which we find ourselves, that we are very much on high alert for potential attacks from hostile state actors like Russia,” he said during an appearance at the country’s House of Commons public safety committee. He described those attacks as possibly coming in the form of cyberattacks and ransomware “which look to identify potentially valuable targets to Canadian interests like critical infrastructure but equally, to sub-national targets, different orders of government, different sectors to the economy.”

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The Weeknd tour dates 2024

The Weeknd is currently touring across 1 country and has 2 upcoming concerts.

Their next tour date is at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park, after that they'll be at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Currently touring across

• 🇦🇺 Australia

Upcoming concerts (2) See nearest concert

Accor Stadium

Suncorp Stadium

Past concerts

Estadio Akron

Estadio Bicentenario Municipal de La Florida

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Recent tour reviews

This was such a great show!! I would definitely see him live again.

-great light display/props/theatrics

-he sang music from all his albums which was well appreciated!

-he interacted with the crowd

-he sings AMAZING live

-chill atmosphere

-performers/musicians were smoking weed on stage

-Abel took a longgg time to get on stage, we were there for almost two hours before he did

-crowd was very drunk & rude (not his fault)

-merchandise was very expensive (I payed $40 for a t-shirt)

Report as inappropriate

This review might not be completely objective as Abel has been my favourite singer for a few years now. However, I can definitely admit the Starboy tour date in Paris was the best pop concert I've been to this year. Even though some songs could have been put out of the tracklist, he mostly sang his catchiest songs of his career, no matter the era. He has great, or should I say, tremendous energy as he continuously sang twenty-something songs with no pause in between. He has no trouble reaching high notes live, his voice sounding even more heavenly in real life. That night, he invited Travis Scott on stage who pumped up the crowd more than him, which is a shame and showcases very well his lack of success and recognition in France, yet, in a sold out stadium. Most people actually didn't even know his real name or the lyrics of his songs ! I would recommend any "real fan" who has known him for a while or who likes his last album a lot to go to a Starboy tour date. I promise you, you won't regret it.

The concert was absolutely stunning. A starship was used and the lights were coordinated very well. Abel sang amazingly in person and I loved jumping up and down screaming with other members of the audience while he sang. The concert was truly magical and I enjoyed every second Abel stood on stage.

As for the other singers who appeared on stage, I was very satisfied with their singing as well. They did an amazing job and captured the entire audience. In between Abel's music, the other singers such as Lil Uzi and 6lack played their hits on stage and the whole crowd became even more alive. If I the concert played out any other way, I'm sure I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as this concert.

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The Weeknd Just Announced A Must-See Tour With Doja Cat

I need a “You Right” live duet, please.

This summer, The Weeknd will be embarking on his first tour in nearly four years. He’s doing so to support his two most recent albums, 2020’s After Hours and this year’s Dawn FM . On March 3, the “ Take My Breath ” singer made the exciting announcement by sharing a poster for his After Hours Til Dawn tour on Instagram.

The poster revealed he’ll be performing in stadiums (yes, stadiums!) across North America starting in July. He’ll first kick off his concerts in Canada before heading to the United States, and the best part is Doja Cat will join him as a special guest.

The Weeknd was initially supposed to embark on an arena tour in June of 2020 ; however, due to lockdown restrictions, he was forced to postpone it a year . Then, in February of 2021, he postponed it again to January of 2022. In October, he postponed the tour a third time to this summer. In his Instagram post last fall announcing the postponement, The Weeknd promised fans he would be planning “something bigger” and hinted at stadium shows.

Now, The Weeknd has finally confirmed he’s getting ready to embark on one of his biggest tours yet, and his friend and collaborator Doja Cat will be his special guest. To make sure you don’t miss your chance to see the stars live in concert this summer, here’s everything you need to know about The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour.

When will The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour begin?

The Weeknd will begin his tour in his hometown of Toronto, Canada, on Saturday, July 8. His first show as part of his stadium tour will be at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Which cities will The Weeknd visit on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour ?

The North American leg of The Weeknd’s tour will see him perform in 18 cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and several more.

View on Instagram

According to Billboard , additional dates will be announced sometime in the future for international tour stops on every continent, except Antarctica.

When do tickets go on sale for The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour ?

Tickets for The Weeknd’s tour will go on sale on March 10. Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster.

Who will join The Weeknd on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour ?

Doja Cat, who collaborated with The Weeknd on her 2021 song “You Right,” will be a special guest on his tour.

The Weeknd definitely wasn’t lying when he said he was planning a big surprise. Now, can we get him to perform in Antarctica next? That’d be an even bigger shock.

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The Weeknd returns his tour to Toronto hometown for postponed stadium concert

By David Friend, The Canadian Press

Posted September 22, 2022 10:07 pm.

Last Updated September 22, 2022 10:16 pm.

TORONTO — The Weeknd returned to his Toronto hometown on Thursday to give fans the concert they’d long waited to see.

More than two months after a nationwide Rogers network outage hurt the Canadian pop star’s plans to start his world tour at home, he returned with all the flames and fury he’d taken on the road over the summer.

Against a massive set of a post-apocalyptic city, he performed  a number of his biggest hits, including “Can’t Feel My Face” and “Starboy.”

Then the singer, born Abel Tesfaye, took a moment to tell the crowd that returning home reminded him why he’s in music.

After recalling how he played his first concert ever at Toronto’s Mod Club in 2011, he pointed out that now he’s playing back-to-back nights at the city’s biggest venue, the Rogers Centre, which he called by its old name, the SkyDome.

The Weeknd will return to play a second show on Friday night.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2022.

David Friend, The Canadian Press

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Revealing the weeknd’s exclusive merchandise.

Step into the world of musical brilliance and unmatched style with The Weeknd. Hailing from Canada, he is a sensation, a game-changer, and a masterful creator of sounds that transcend boundaries. With a unique blend of R&B, pop, and electronic music, he has captured the hearts of fans worldwide. Beyond his chart-topping albums and hit songs, the singer offers fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in his world through his epic concerts exclusive merchandise that reflect his artistic vision.

The XO Aesthetic

The distinctive XO theme from the singer’s early albums includes iconic releases like “House of Balloons,” “Thursday,” and “Echoes Of Silence.” XO is more than just music, it’s an aesthetic, a lifestyle, and a journey through the late 2000s party culture with all its shades, both light and dark. The XO collection , including iconic hoodies, shirts, and more, lets fans wear their devotion and connect with the artist’s unique vision. Each piece carries a piece of the albums’ narrative, making it a must-have for those who want to embrace his ethos and style.

Join the XO movement and make a style statement that’s as unique as his music. Dive into our online store to shop for XO merchandise that celebrates the essence of his artistry. From sleek hoodies that exude urban chic to tees that embody the XO vibe, our collection is designed to elevate your fashion game.

Exclusive Merchandise from The Weeknd’s Store

Our store is your gateway to the singer’s artistry. Whether you’re a vinyl enthusiast, a casual fan, or simply looking to own a piece of R&B music history, this is where you want to be. Explore the diverse collection that includes iconic vinyl records, stylish  hoodies , trendy jackets, and much more. Every item is branded with album artwork and the XO logo, a testament to the artist’s unique style and musical genius. The store ensures that you’re not just getting merchandise, you’re getting an authentic piece of the best of hip hop. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own exclusive, limited-edition pieces that showcase your love for the artist like never before.

The After Hours til Dawn Tour

Step into  The Weeknd ‘s world like never before with The After Hours til Dawn Tour. This ongoing seventh concert tour is a musical journey that you don’t want to miss. The tour is a celebration of the fourth and fifth studio albums, “After Hours” and “ Dawn FM .” It’s a chance to experience his chart-topping hits in a live, electrifying setting. The After Hours til Dawn Tour is more than just a concert, you get to connect with the dynamic performances and soulful lyrics all in real time. As he graces the stage, you’ll be immersed in the magic of his music. The tour solidifies the singer’s enduring legacy in the world of R&B music. Get your tickets now and be a part of this unforgettable journey.

Relive the Classics With Our Vinyl Records

Dive into the timeless allure of  music  with his vinyl records, designed especially for music enthusiasts and collectors alike. The allure of vinyl lies in its ability to rekindle nostalgia while offering an immersive experience that’s unmatched. As you spin the XO and After Hours albums on vinyl, you’ll find yourself transported to the heart of his music, enveloped in the rich, warm tones that only vinyl can deliver. It’s not just about listening, it’s about reliving the classics, feeling the music in every crackle and pop, and connecting with the singer’s artistry on a deeper level.

Hoodies, Tees, and More

Turn up your level to match the R&B sensation’s iconic fashion-forward sensibilities with a diverse array of clothing items that go beyond the typical merchandise collection. Explore a wide range from cozy hoodies that keep you warm and stylish to jackets that showcase unique designs inspired by his albums and songs. Slip into   shirts  that stand out in a crowd, all while paying homage to this music sensation. Each piece is carefully crafted to make you not just a fan but a fashion icon in your own right.

Be a Part of the Experience With Our Tour Merch

There’s no better way to commemorate the electrifying experience of a live concert than with   The Weeknd ‘s exclusive tour merchandise. Each item serves as a cherished souvenir, allowing you to carry a piece of the singer’s concert journey with you. From tour shirts that capture the essence of the show to hoodies that keep the memories alive, these items are more than just merch, they’re your ticket to being a part of the man’s musical odyssey. Join the ranks of dedicated fans who proudly wear their tour clothing, celebrating the singer’s music and their shared experiences. Visit our store now and grab the latest collection.

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One of the biggest and most influential artists in pop, The Weeknd has transformed the music landscape.

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When we first encountered the Weeknd at the dawn of the 2010s, we had no way of knowing that he would become one of the biggest and most influential artists in popular music before the end of the decade. In fact, we had no way of knowing that he was a singular “he” – that the Weeknd was not a group, but the alter ego of singer and producer Abel Tesfaye. Even after some of his earliest songs were shared on Drake ’s OVO blog, it would be months before Tesfaye revealed his name and face. That secrecy made his tales of sex, drugs and partying feel all the more unsettling – and riveting. Within just a few years the Weeknd would embrace the spotlight and become the kind of pop star who dates supermodels and performs at the Super Bowl halftime show, all without losing his singular vision.

In contrast to Tesfaye’s performative anonymity, the persona he cultivated as the Weeknd left little to the imagination. Every song on his debut mixtape, House of Balloons , feels like it’s unfolding in the dim-lit back rooms of a nightclub, and every character in them is looking to get high, naked, or both. Throughout, Tesfaye comes across as the devil on your shoulder with the voice of a (fallen) angel. Even the song titled “What You Need” is really about what he wants. It’s as close as the Weeknd comes to classic R&B, and it underscores how, like Prince and R. Kelly before him, Tesfaye deconstructed the genre’s tropes by singing about sex rather than love, often doing so in explicit detail. He also shared his idols’ willingness to incorporate contemporary influences – in his case, moody electronic soundscapes and sampled hooks from post-punk bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and Cocteau Twins. House of Balloons alone would have made 2011 a banner year for the Weeknd—many critics ranked it among the year’s best albums, and it was shortlisted for Canada’s Polaris Music Prize – but before the year was over, he released two more mixtapes, Thursday (which featured a guest verse from Drake himself) and Echoes of Silence .

The three mixtapes were re-released as Trilogy when the Weeknd signed with Republic Records in 2012, and the following year he emerged from the internet ether entirely with his debut studio album Kiss Land . Don’t be fooled by its lovey-dovey title: Kiss Land found Tesfaye building on the world of its predecessors and exploring its darkest corners. (He claimed the album’s mood was inspired by horror filmmakers John Carpenter and David Cronenberg.) The Weeknd continued to inch into the mainstream throughout 2014, collaborating with Beyoncé and Ariana Grande (remixing the former’s “Drunk in Love” and duetting with the latter on “Love Me Harder”), embarking on his first headlining tour, and landing a song on the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, “Earned It” – his first to win a Grammy Award, and his first to crack the top five on Billboard’s Hot 100.

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With his next two singles, the Weeknd would top the Billboard chart twice back-to-back. “The Hills” sounded like a big-budget version of the dark and edgy R&B that Tesfaye first made his name on, climaxing with his confession that “when I’m fucked up, that’s the real me”; “Can’t Feel My Face,” co-written and produced by pop mastermind Max Martin, was a dancefloor smash that drew comparisons to Michael Jackson. It was a one-two punch that set up the Weeknd’s knockout album, Beauty Behind the Madness , and established him as a full-fledged pop star whose early mystique had morphed into charisma. Furthermore, it showed Tesfaye’s willingness to venture beyond the sounds on which he’d made his name. Starboy , which arrived one year later, offered further proof, with sonic splashes of new wave and – on the Daft Punk-featuring title track and “I Feel It Coming” – electronica. Beauty Behind the Madness and Starboy both sold more than three million copies in the United States and won the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.

And then, after six full-lengths in as many years, the Weeknd slowed down. Aside from collaborations with Kendrick Lamar , Travis Scott, Lana Del Rey , and others, Tesfaye’s only new music was the six-track My Dear Melancholy EP. His return in late 2019 with “Blinding Lights” proved the wait had been worth it: The song spent 90 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and more than a year in the top 10, and was later named the chart’s greatest Hot 100 hit of all time. The album that followed, After Hours , presented the most vivid configuration of the Weeknd’s sound yet, going all-in on Starboy ’s forays into new wave and synth-pop.

Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, Tesfaye would have embarked on a well-earned world tour behind the album: Instead, he performed virtual concerts on TikTok, teamed with Spotify to create an artificial intelligence-enhanced listening experience for fans, and headlined the Super Bowl LV halftime show. All the while, he was hard at work on his fifth record, Dawn FM . Doubling down on After Hours ’ nocturnal nostalgia, Dawn FM ’s 80s pop throwbacks go hand in hand with moments only the Weeknd could’ve dreamed up. A concept album about listening to the radio in purgatory, narrated by Jim Carrey? How many other pop stars can call up Quincy Jones – the man who produced Thriller – only to have him unpack his childhood trauma on a spoken-word interlude?

To think that the young bohemian behind House of Balloons would go on to collaborate with everyone from Drake to Daft Punk, and rival them in popularity, still boggles the mind. Even Tesfaye himself must have been surprised – after all, the character he created for himself on his breakthrough mixtapes was a self-destructive hedonist given to losing himself, night after night, in drugs and any woman he could tempt into doing them with him. In his darkest moments, it sounded as if he might not make it to the dawn. Somehow, this villain lived long enough to see himself become pop’s next great antihero, and as the lines between Tesfaye and the Weeknd have continued to blur and redraw themselves, it’s only made for more fascinating music to lose ourselves in. – Jacob Nierenberg

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Every Canadian Artist Who Has Had More Than One No. 1 Hit on the Billboard Hot 100

Since the chart launched in 1959, dozens of canadian songs have climbed to the top spot — but only eight canadian stars have ever hit no. 1 more than once, including drake, justin bieber, the weeknd and paul anka..

• Justin Bieber

Canadians have had their share of No. 1 hits since the Billboard Hot 100 first launched in 1959, but only a select group of Canadian artists have ever done it twice.

Number one on the Billboard Hot 100 is a coveted spot, with artists and their teams battling it out to claim the placement. Teen idol Paul Anka was the first Canadian to hit that height in July of 1959 with "Lonely Boy," (also the title of an influential Canadian documentary about him).

60 Canadian songs have achieved that feat, and eight Canadian artists have done it more than once. Drake has the most No. 1 hits, with 13 to his name so far. But he doesn't have the longest No. 1 streak — that goes to Justin Bieber, whose assist on " Despacito " by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee topped the charts for 16 weeks. Bieber is also the youngest solo artist to notch 100 tracks on the chart .

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Bieber has the second most No. 1 hits, scoring eight in his career, followed by the Weeknd with seven, Bryan Adams and Celine Dion with four each, Nelly Furtado with three, and Paul Anka and Randy Bachman with two each (Bachman had one with The Guess Who and one with Bachman Turner Overdrive).

That list is a reminder that it's not always the most iconic stars who are landing No. 1 placements — Alanis Morissette and Shania Twain, two of the most successful Canadian artists of the '90s, have no No. 1 hits. Neither does Joni Mitchell, though fellow Yorkville folk scene icon Neil Young grabbed one in 1972 with "Heart of Gold," as did the late Gordon Lightfoot in 1974 with "Sundown."

It's also a testament to the strategy of the featured artist: several of Drake and Bieber's No. 1 hits come through their work as featured artists, like Bieber's spot on DJ Khaled's "I'm The One" and Drake's verse on Rihanna's "Work" (the latter song was also written by Canadian PartyNextDoor).

Find the full list of artists with more than one Hot 100 hit below, and find every Canadian artist's No. 1 song in a list at the end of this article.

Every Canadian Artist to Top The Billboard Hot 100 Twice

• Bryan Adams
• Celine Dion
• Nelly Furtado
• Randy Bachman

Looking at how the songs break down over decade, it seems like the 2010s were easily the most successful era for Canadian artists on the Hot 100. That decade had 18 Canadian No. 1s, including Carly Rae Jepsen's incredibly catchy "Call Me Maybe," Shawn Mendes' sultry "Señorita."

But for the most part, those No. 1's came from the same three artists: Drake, The Weeknd and Bieber. The 2020s seem poised to repeat the same pattern, with 13 Canadian No. 1's so far, all by those three.

The '70s, on the other hand, had fewer Canadian No. 1's, but more Canadian No. 1 artists, with eight Canadian acts claiming the top spot. In addition to Lightfoot, Young, Anka and Bachman's bands, Canadian musicians Nick Glider, Terry Jacks and Andy Kim all scored No. 1's in the '70s.

The difference in decades points out how rarefied that top spot has become, harder to achieve without megastar status and a massive fanbase. Canadian Tate McRae nearly became the newest Canadian with a Hot 100 No. 1 with "Greedy," but peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. Hot 100. As the 2020s roll on, Canadian superstars are likely to grab some more hits, but it remains to be seen whether any rising acts are able to join them.

Every Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 by a Canadian artist:

1959 - Paul Anka, "Lonely Boy,"

1960 - Percy Faith, "Theme From A Summer Place"

1964 - Lorne Greene, "Ringo"

1970 - The Guess Who, "American Woman" / "No Sugar Tonight"

1972 - Neil Young, "Heart of Gold"

1974 - Terry Jacks, "Seasons in the Sun"

1974 - Gordon Lightfoot, "Sundown"

1974 - Paul Anka and Odia Coates, "(You're) Having My Baby"

1974 - Andy Kim, "Rock Me Gently"

1974 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"

1978 - Nick Glider, "Hot Child In The City"

1985 - Anne Murray, "You Needed Me"

1985 - Bryan Adams, "Heaven"

1989 - Sheriff, "When I'm With You"

1990 - Alannah Myles, "Black Velvet"

1991 - Bryan Adams, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You"

1993 - Snow, "Informer"

1994 - Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting, "All For Love"

1994 - Céline Dion, "The Power of Love"

1995 - Bryan Adams, "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?"

1996 - Céline Dion, "Because You Loved Me"

1998 - Céline Dion, "My Heart Will Go On,"

1998 - Barenaked Ladies, "One Week"

1998 - R. Kelly and Céline Dion, "I'm Your Angel"

2001 - Nickelback, "How You Remind Me,"

2006 - Daniel Powter, "Bad Day"

2006 - Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland, "Promiscuous"

2007 - Nelly Furtado, "Say It Right"

2007 - Timbaland featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, "Give It To Me"

2007 - Avril Lavigne, "Girlfriend"

2010 - Rihanna featuring Drake, "What's My Name?"

2012 - Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"

2014 - Magic! "Rude"

2015 - The Weeknd, "Can't Feel my Face"

2015 - Justin Bieber, "What Do You Mean?"

2015 - The Weeknd, "The Hills"

2016 - Justin Bieber, "Sorry"

2016 - Justin Bieber, "Love Yourself"

2016 - Rihanna, featuring Drake, "Work"

2016 - Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, "One Dance"

2017 - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, "Starboy"

2017 - DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne, "I'm the One"

2017 - Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, "Despacito"

2018 - Drake, "God's Plan"

2018 - Drake, "Nice for What"

2018 - Drake, "In My Feelings"

2019 - Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, "Senorita"

2019 - The Weeknd, "Heartless"

2020 - The Weeknd, "Blinding Lights"

2020 - Drake, "Toosie Slide"

2020 - Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, "Stuck with U"

2021 - Drake, "What's Next"

2021 - Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon, "Peaches"

2021 - The Weeknd and Ariana Grande, "Save Your Tears"

2021 - The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber, "Stay"

2021 - Drake featuring Future and Young Thug, "Way 2 Sexy"

2022 - Future featuring Drake and Tems, "Wait for U"

2022 - Drake featuring 21 Savage, "Jimmy Cooks"

2023 - The Weeknd featuring Ariana Grande, "Die for You"

2023 - Drake featuring SZA, "Slime You Out"

2023 - Drake featuring J. Cole, "First Person Shooter"

• Tate McRae Goes to No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 With “Greedy” ›
• The Biggest Homegrown Hits On the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Year-End Chart in 2023 ›
• Drake Makes US Chart History...Again ›

Olivia Rodrigo & Daniel Nigro Named ASCAP Pop Music Songwriters of the Year for 2024

Deadmau5 to be inducted into canadian music week hall of fame in 2024, pop montreal 2024 will pay tribute to lhasa de sela with feist, calexico, helena deland and klô pelgag, media beat: the cbc budget continues to expand as ceo catherine tait gets grilled (column), steve albini, legendary engineer/producer of nirvana, pixies albums, dies at 61, charlotte day wilson, testpilot, walk off the earth to headline canadian music week 2024, latest news, luminate data market watch facts & figures: week ending may. 2, 2024, billboard canada fyi bulletin: a walk down memory lane, part 1, can drake recover after his battle with kendrick lamar, drake’s london ovo store dragged into kendrick lamar beef with ‘they not like us’ graffiti, music news digest: shad joins london, on's hall of fame, haidee wins edmonton's music prize, billboard canada fyi, a weekly briefing on what matters in the music industry, macklemore supports college campus protests, rips biden on pro-palestinian song ‘hind’s hall’, tiktok sues to overturn u.s. law forcing sale or national ban: ‘obviously unconstitutional’, nick schofield and softcoresoft join marie davidson and colin stetson on mutek's 2024 lineup, billboard canada presents the country’s first non-performing songwriter award in partnership with socan, obituaries: guitar pioneer duane eddy, electric light orchestra keyboardist richard tandy, montreal musician alex henry foster's 'kimiyo' debuts at no. 12 on billboard canadian albums chart.

Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro attend the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas.

"Calm Down," performed by Rema and featuring Selena Gomez, wins ASCAP Pop Song of the Year.

Olivia Rodrigo and co-writer Daniel Nigro are the 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Songwriters of the Year. It is the second award in the top category for Rodrigo, who first received the honor in 2022.

Chappell Roan , who has a fast-climbing hit with “Good Luck, Babe!,” which she co-wrote with Nigro and Justin Tranter, presented Nigro with his award on Wednesday (May 8) at an invitation-only event in Los Angeles celebrating this year’s ASCAP Pop Music Award winners.

Rodrigo and Nigro have shared two Grammy nods for song of the year (for “Driver’s License” and “Vampire”) and one for best rock song (for “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl”). In less than three and a half years, Rodrigo has amassed 17 top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including three songs – “Driver’s License,” “Good 4 U” and “Vampire” – that entered the chart at No. 1.

“Calm Down,” performed by Rema and featuring Selena Gomez , wins ASCAP Pop Song of the Year. Co-written by Rema, Gomez, Michael “LONDON” Hunter, Amanda “Kiddo AI” Ibanez and Andre Vibez, the song reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 and rode the chart for 57 weeks. “Calm Down” is published by Hook Like Behavior, Kobalt Music Publishing , Livelihood Music Company, SMG Tunes, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group and Warner Chappell Music.

Publisher of the Year goes to Universal Music Publishing Group for songs including “Calm Down,” “Cuff It” (Beyoncé), “Dance the Night” (Dua Lipa), “Barbie World” (Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice with Aqua), “Lavender Haze” (Taylor Swift), “Paint the Town Red” (Doja Cat), “Star Walkin’ (League of Legends Worlds Anthem)” (Lil Nas X) and “Sure Thing” (Miguel).

Other 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Award-winning songwriters include Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff (their holiday evergreen “All I Want for Christmas Is You”), Noah Kahan (“Dial Drunk”), St. Vincent (“Cruel Summer”), Meghan Trainor (“Made You Look”) and Leon Thomas (“Snooze”).

As previously announced, Charli XCX received the ASCAP Global Impact Award. Charli is gearing up for the release of her sixth solo album, BRAT on June 7 and a North American tour with Troye Sivan .

Accepting the award, Charli spoke of “feeling good about the fact that my work is influencing the cultural zeitgeist. If I feel that my work is sparking debates – making some people overwhelmingly happy and others unbelievably annoyed, then I know I’ve done my job properly. While I’m interested in the music, I’m much more interested in the idea of pop stars and public figures in parallel to art and how we can use all the tools at our fingertips to influence the social cultural and creative norms. To me, being a good artist is so much f—ing more than having a good voice or a big song or a good album. It’s about potent identity. … It can’t be tamed by teams. It can’t be squeezed neatly into a little box and it can never ever truly be replicated. Tonight, I’m here to celebrate all the real artists out there. Chappell Roan, you are absolutely one of them. So, thanks everybody.”

The ASCAP Pop Music Awards honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most-performed pop songs of 2023. The winners are determined by data on terrestrial and satellite radio and for programmed and on-demand audio streams, all provided by Luminate Data LLC.

More information on the 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Award winners is available here.

Additional reporting by Kristin Robinson .

This article was originally published by Billboard U.S.

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Concerts to stream besides Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Lady Gaga also has 'Style'

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Did you know you can stream other performances besides Taylor Swift's Eras Tour?

No "Bad Blood" towards the artist, but stop being the "Foolish One" and consider watching some other celebrities, including Lady Gaga's upcoming release. Here's what we know.

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce: Travis Kelce spotted at Kentucky Derby 2024. Will Taylor Swift join?

Lady Gaga to premiere concert special

Lady Gaga recently released her trailer for "Gaga Chromatica Ball," a concert film centered around her previous Chromatica Ball tour, which concluded in September of 2022, according to Warner Bros. It's set to air on HBO and Max at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, and will highlight Gaga's performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

It's not the first film release for the artist either. As previously reported by USA Today, Gaga released her first, “Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden,” in May 2011, after being on her Monster tour from 2009 to 2011.

'Miley Cyrus—Endless Summer Vacation'

Fans can watch "Miley Cyrus—Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)" on Disney+, Hulu or ESPN+, according to IMDb. The film was released in 2023 featuring performances from her eighth album "Endless Summer Vacation," including top hit "Flowers." It also shared exclusive interviews with Cyrus, providing insight into her professional and personal development.

'Maren Morris: Live From New York'

"Maren Morris: Live From New York" is available on Amazon Prime Video. The film, lasting slightly over an hour and released in 2022, highlights Morris' performance at Sony Hall in New York City around the time of her album "Humble Quest."

'Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium'

"Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium" is available on Disney+. The performance was John's last North American show in his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour. The renowned singer has won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards throughout his career, in addition to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and the induction of three albums to the Grammy Hall of Fame, according to the Elton John website.

"Elton John performs at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where in 1975 he performed two sold-out and career-defining concerts that cemented his legend globally. Now, in a full circle and emotional moment, he takes the stage in his final North American show as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, in one of the greatest send-offs in music history," according to the film's description on Disney+.

'The Weeknd: Live at SoFi Stadium'

The film features The Weeknd's "After Hours Til Dark" tour, where they performed a sold-out show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Released in 2023, the hour-and-a-half performance is available on HBO , with songs like "Starboy," "Blinding Lights" and "Can't Feel My Face" in the setlist.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to watch Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, Lady Gaga and other concerts at home

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From Collaborations With The Weeknd to Beyoncé, Belly Chronicles Three Decades of Music

Billboard Arabia sits down with Belly in his L.A. studio for a two-part conversation hosted by Yassin Alsalman, aka Narcy.

By Maha ElNabawi

Maha ElNabawi

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Met Gala Photographers' Stray Kids Ridicule Exposes Need for Greater Cultural Inclusivity in…

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The conversation between Belly and Yassin, who both grew up in the Arab diaspora in Canada, finds a point of departure within the immigrant experience in North America, a plight woven by a tapestry of stories reflecting challenges and triumphs to build a compelling narrative of struggle, resilience and choice. All of which we hear in Belly’s prolific body of work, which kicked off with his first mixtape, Death Before Dishonor: Vol. 1, and the subsequent release of eight additional projects in six years, including his debut studio album , The Revolution (2007).

Belly walks Billboard Arabia through his entrance into hip-hop, teaching himself English through rap and how making music became a therapeutic tool to deal with complex emotions. “When situations happen, I’m not the type of a person that opens up very easily to people,” says Belly, “I think I open up to the pen and the paper.”

Belly’s music isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a sonic voyage that moves through continents, proving the power of the pen can find a home in the hearts of hip hop fans and artists alike. In Part Two of the deep dive with Belly, we learn about his artistic process, and the many ways he “changes his approach” to songwriting, be it in his own work, or when writing for others. “I’ve been blessed to work with a lot of legends,” says Belly. “I’m so enamored by what they do, sometimes I get imposter syndrome… It’s a balance of humility and remembering who f–k you are.”

Belly talks about joining Jay-Z’s legendary label Roc Nation, and the impact he had on his work, particularly his album, Midnight Zone . “Looking up to someone like HOV my whole life, studying his bars… how he layered it with three different meanings,” he says. “He made me explore words and rap way further than I would have if he wasn’t around.”

Collaborating with everyone from Beyoncé to The Weeknd and other “giants,” Belly often reminds himself in moments of doubt that he’s always been “there for a reason.” Despite a hip-hop career spanning almost three decades, Belly feels a pull towards exploring new artistic avenues. “It’s time for me to channel this creativity elsewhere and explore different paths,” he reflects. He’s currently working on what might become his final albums, starting with Mumble Rap 2 and the upcoming release 96 Miles From Bethlehem.

The album is executively produced by Belly, DannyBoyStyles and DaHeala while featuring other Palestinian pop and hip-hop artists including Saint Levant, MC Abdul and ELYANNA. In December, Belly posted, “I’ve got a lot to say…” in relation to the forthcoming album, which emerged in the wake of the war on Gaza.

Belly goes on to mention that “Hip-hop, has always been deep rooted in resistance. It’s rhythmic poetry, and historically, poets and artists in general have changed the course of history more than once.” For Belly, this aspect of impacting change isn’t only limited to albums with strong messaging. He aims to continue engaging Light Sonic Division, the studio he founded, as a “support system for young Palestinian artists with a story to tell.”

The conversation took place in Belly’s L.A. studio, hosted by Yassin Alsalman, better known by his stage name Narcy. He’s released ten albums and EPs, while collaborating with artists like Yasiin Bey, in addition to having his track “Hamdulillah” featured in Mo Amer’s hit Netflix show Mo .

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Kendrick Lamar Alleges Drake Is Hiding a Daughter on Explosive New Diss Track “Meet the Grahams," Drake Denies It (UPDATE)

K. Dot released his new diss track just minutes after Drizzy unleashed "Family Matters," on which Drizzy claims Kendrick assualted his wife.

UPDATED 5/4/24, 2:44 p.m. ET: A source close to Drake denies the rapper is hiding a daughter, an allegation Kendrick Lamar makes on "Meet The Grahams."

On Saturday, TMZ reported that a source told the outlet the claim is nothing but “utter fabrication.” The source added that K. Dot is now losing the battle, as he’s using false information as ammo.

Drake previously denied the claim on his Instagram Stories.

"Hold on can someone find my hidden daughter pls and send her to me ... these guys are in shambles," he wrote after Kendrick's latest diss track was released.

See original story below.

Kendrick Lamar fired off another diss track titled "Meet the Grahams" just minutes after Drake unleashed his explosive response " Family Matters ."

On Friday night, as fans were just consuming the 6 God's fiery "Family Matters," Kendrick rained all over Drake's parade. The song has four verses and in each verse Kendrick speaks directly a member of Drake's family, starting with his son, Adonis, then his mother, his father, his alleged daughter, and finally Drake himself.

Graham, is of course, Drake's last name.

The most shocking member of Drake's family that Kendrick talks to is a daughter that the Toronto megastar is allegedly hiding. Kendrick's wording suggests the girl is at least 11-years-old.

Dear baby girl, I'm sorry that your father not active inside your world He don't commit to much but his music, yeah, that's for sure He a narcissist, misogynist, livin' inside his songs Try destroy families rather than takin' care of his own Should be teachin' you time tables or watchin'  Frozen  with you Or at your eleventh birthday, singin' poems with you Instead, he be in Turks, payin' for sex and poppin' Percs Examples that you don't deserve I wanna tell you that you're loved, you're brave, you're kind You got a gift to change the world, and to change your father's mind 'Cause our children is the future, but he lives inside confusion Money's always been illusion, but that's the life he's used to His father prolly didn't claim him neither History do repeats itself, sometimes it don't need a reason But how I like to say it's not your fault he's hidin' another child Give 'em grace, it's the reason I made  Mr. Morale So our babies like you can cope later Give you some confidence to go through somethin', it's hope later I never wanna hear you chase a man 'cause his fell behavior

Drake, however, was confused about Kendrick's claims and took to IG to say that he has no idea what the Compton rapper is talking about.

"Hold on can someone find my hidden daughter pls and send her to me ... these guys are in shambles," he wrote, adding laughing emojis for good measure.

In any case, listen to Kendrick's response to Drake's "Family Matters" below.

View this video on YouTube

Beyond the daughter revelation, the artwork for "meet the grahams" is noteable. It features the same Maybach gloves Kendrick used on "6:16 In LA," but the photo is more zoomed out and shows two bottles of pills, receipts, and other items that allegedly belong to Drake.

In the songs second verse, Kendrick talks to Drake's parents and attacks Drake's character, calling him a manipulator, a gambling addict, and compares him to Harvey Weinstein:

I'm blamin' you for all his gamblin' addictions Psychopath intuition, the man who like to play victim You raised a horrible fuckin' person, the nerve of you, Dennis Sandra, sit down, what I'm about to say is heavy, now listen Mhm, your son's a sick man with sick thoughts I think niggas like him should die Him and Weinstein should get fucked up in a cell for the rest they life He hates black woman, hypersexualizes them, with kinks of a nympho fetish Grew facial hair 'cause he understand bein' a beard just fit him better He got sex offenders on OVO that he keep on a monthly allowance A child should never be compromised and he keepin' his child around them

He ends that verse suggesting "The Embassy" (a nickname for Drake's house) will get raided soon.

Kendrick ends the song addressing Drake directly:

You got gamblin' problems, drinkin' problems Pill-poppin' and spendin' problems, bad with money, whorehouse Solicitin' women problems, therapy's a lovely start

Before Kendrick stole the show, Drake's "Family Matters" was picking up steam on social media. The 7-minute diss track finds Drake taking aim at Kendrick. He dropped off a music video where a maroon mini-van, a reference to the Dodge van on the cover of Kendrick's 2012 major label debut album, g ood kid, m.A.A.c city , gets destroyed at a junkyard.

The song itself finds Drake dishing out several bars to K.Dot in which he claims that he beat his wife, cheated on her, and his longtime friend Dave Free might be the father to one of his children.

"You the black messiah wifing up a mixed queen/And hit vanilla cream to help out with your self-esteem/On some Bobby shit I wanna know what Whitney need," Drake raps on the diss track. "They hired a crisis management team to clean up the fact that you beat up your queen/The picture you painted ain't what it seems."

Kendrick wasn't the only one who got dissed on the song. Drizzy also fired a round of shots at The Weeknd, Future, Metro Boomin, Rick Ross, and A$AP Rocky.

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Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: the juiciest moments in their beef

Here is everything you need to know about their ongoing feud.

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Once upon a time, Drake and Kendrick Lamar were collaborators: Lamar was an opening act for Drake's Club Paradise Tour in 2012 and Drake appeared on Lamar's song "Poetic Justice" the same year. But things began to sour in 2013, after Lamar rapped on Big Sean's track " Control " and called out Drake and several other rappers by name before adding: "I got love for you all but I'm trying to murder you n---s / trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you n---s."

While Drake didn't officially respond — his 2013 song " The Language " was rumoured to be a diss, but Birdman, the CEO of Drake's then-label,  denied it was targeting Lamar — things between them seemed stable, as Drake praised Lamar at his OVO Festival the following year.

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On March 22, the feud officially started again after Lamar appeared on "Like That," a diss track from Metro Boomin and Future, and declared himself a better rapper than J. Cole and Drake. The fiery verse prompted retaliative tracks from J. Cole, who released — then retracted — " 7 Minute Drill " on Apr. 5 and Drake, who dropped "Push Ups" on Apr. 19.

Lamar responded to "Push Ups" on Apr. 30 with "Euphoria" and dropped another diss track, "6:16 in LA," on May 3. We've broken down some of the key moments from their disses so far, below.

Lamar's loaded 'Like That' references

There are a number of highlights in Lamar's "Like That" feature that take shots at Drake such as, "Motherf--k the big three, n---a, it's just big me" and "'Fore all your dogs gettin' buried/ that's a K with all these nines, he gon' see Pet Sematary" (Drake's most recent album is titled For All the Dogs .) 

But it's when Lamar raps, "Your best work is a light pack/ n---a, Prince outlived Mike Jack," that he draws an interesting comparison between two iconic artists. Drake is a longtime fan of Michael Jackson: he's referenced Jackson in several songs, tied some of his Billboard records , and included a posthumous Jackson feature on his track " Don't Matter to Me ." 

Michael Jackson and Prince famously feuded for decades, so by Lamar comparing himself to Prince and likening Drake to Jackson, he positioned himself not only as Drake's artistic rival, but also a personal one.

Drake hits back with funny bars on 'Push Ups'

On Apr. 19, Drake fired back with "Push Ups," responding to several artists including Rick Ross, the Weeknd and Metro Boomin. However, he saved his funniest lyrical barbs for Lamar:

He mocks Lamar's pop collaborations with Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift : "Maroon 5 need a verse, you better make it witty/ then we need a verse for the Swifties"

He calls out Lamar's alleged shoe size: "How the f--k you big steppin' with a size-seven men's on?"

He hits back at Lamar's comparison to Prince on "Like That": "What's a prince to a king? He a son, n---a"

While referencing The Bodyguard film, he also name-drops Lamar's wife, Whitney Alford: "I be with some bodyguards like Whitney/ top say drop, your little midget ass better f--kin"

Drake baits Lamar on 'Taylor Made Freestyle'

Hours after releasing "Push Ups," Drake dropped another diss track. On "Taylor Made Freestyle," he used AI voices of West Coast hip-hop titans Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur to rap lyrics encouraging Lamar to fight back. Some of the lyrics spotlight Lamar's Compton, Calif., heritage while calling him out: "Kendrick, we need ya, the West Coast saviour/ engraving your name in some hip-hop history."

After receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Shakur's estate, the song was removed from Drake's social media channels.

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Lamar delivers scathing call-outs on 'Euphoria'

The entirety of Lamar's Apr. 30 response track, "Euphoria" was directed at Drake, with Lamar mocking everything from Drake's lack of parenting skills to his fashion sense. While there are numerous cutthroat lines, some of the most memorable moments on the song are:

The much-memed lyric about Drake's affinity for braided hairstyles: "Cutthroat business, you got shit twisted/ What is it? The braids?"

The loud reminder about Drake losing his beef with Pusha T : "Yeah, f--k all that pushin' P, let me see you push a T"

His pointed diss of Drake's faux persona: "I like Drake with the melodies, I don't like Drake when he act tough"

His hint at Drake getting plastic surgery : "Yeah, my first one like my last one, it's a classic, you don't have one/ let your core audience stomach that, then tell 'em where you get your abs from"

His incorporation of Toronto slang while rapping in a Toronto accent and also shouting out a local Chinese restaurant: "I be at New Ho King eatin' fried rice with a dip sauce and a blammy, crodie"

Lamar claps back again with '6:16 in LA'

Drake responded to "Euphoria" by making fun of it on Instagram , but before he had a chance to reply in song, Lamar released a follow-up diss track on May 3. The song's title "6:16 in LA" is a play on Drake's many timestamp diss tracks such as "7am on Bridle Path" and "4PM in Calabasas." Fans have also theorized that the title is also stands for Jun. 16, which is Tupac Shakur's birthday, and Father's Day. 

The track was also co-produced by Jack Antonoff, who is one of Taylor Swift's most frequent collaborators, signaling that Antonoff may not have appreciated Drake namedropping Swift on "Taylor Made Freestyle" or dissing Lamar on "Push Ups" for collaborating with Swift. The result is a 'Taylor-made' diss and the standout moments are below:

Lamar doubles down on his hatred of Drake while claiming he has sources at Drake's label who are giving him information: "Have you ever thought that OVO was working for me? Fake bully I hate bullies/ you must be a terrible person/ everyone inside your team is whispering that you deserve it"

He pokes fun at Drake's single " Toosie Slide ": "Can't Toosie Slide up outta this one"

He hits at Drake for reacting to the diss online: "Your lil memes is losing steam, they figured you out"

The song ends with a nod to Michael Jackson: "Before you figure that you're not alone/ ask what Mike would do?"

Drake releases the shocking 'Family Matters'

Hours after the release of "6:16 in LA," Drake responded with "Family Matters," an explosive diss track with an accompanying music video. In the video, a van similar to the one on the cover of Lamar's album  good kid, m.A.A.d city  is crushed, and the final moments show Drake at New Ho King, the Toronto restaurant Lamar referenced on "Euphoria."

Drake had blistering words for the Weeknd, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Metro Boomin and Future on the song, but he makes numerous shocking allegations about Lamar specifically, including:

• Claiming that Lamar abuses his wife, Whitney Alford, by comparing Lamar to Bobby Brown and Alford to Whitney Houston: "On some Bobby shit, I wanna know what Whitney need"  
• Claiming that Alford is cheating on Lamar with the co-founder of his pgLang label, Dave Free: "I heard that one of 'em little kids might be Dave Free"  
• Doubling down on Lamar being supposedly violent: "They hired a crisis management team to clean up the fact that you beat up your queen/ the picture you painted ain't what it seems"  
• Insinuating that Lamar was the reason for the cease-and-desist letter he received for "Taylor Made Freestyle": "A cease-and-desist is for hoes/ can't listen to lies that come out of your mouth/ you called the Tupac estate/ and begged 'em to sue me and get that shit down"

Lamar immediately responds with the explosive 'Meet the Grahams'

Lamar wasted no time in responding to "Family Matters" and dropped the incendiary "Meet the Grahams" (Drake's legal last name is Graham) only minutes later. The artwork for "6:16 in LA" was a cropped image of a pair of gloves — a sliver of the full cover art for "Meet the Grahams," which is a photo of a shirt, the gloves, prescriptions, receipts and other items that supposedly belong to Drake.

But it's not just the photo that's startling: Lamar uses the song to address each of Drake's family members in a gruesome fashion. The wildest moments are below:

• The song begins with Lamar speaking directly to Drake's son, Adonis Graham, then Lamar explains that he can be a better father figure to him than Drake is: "And you're a good kid that need good leadership/ let me be your mentor since your daddy don't teach you shit"  
• He compares Drake to convicted sex offender, Harvey Weinstein: "Mm-mm, your son's a sick man with sick thoughts, I think n---s like him should die/ him and Weinstein should get f--ked up in a cell for the rest they life"  
• He alleges that Drake has a secret daughter: "Dear babygirl, I'm sorry that your father not active inside your world"  
• Lamar states that Drake has "got gamblin' problems, drinkin' problems, pill-poppin' and spendin' problems"  
• He calls Drake an all-around liar: "'Cause you lied about religious views, you lied about your surgery/ you lied about your accent and your past tense, all is perjury/ you lied about your ghostwriters, you lied about your crew members"

Lamar follows up with 'Not Like Us' the following day

On the evening of May 4, Lamar continued his claims about Drake's personal life on the searing track, "Not Like Us," calling out Drake and several of his OVO signees. The art for the track is an image of Drake's Toronto home, and the shocking lyrics describe:

• The unsavoury rumours surrounding Drake's love life: "Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young/ you better not ever go to cell block one"   
• The criminal history of Baka Not Nice , a rapper signed to OVO who was charged with assaulting a woman in 2015: "And Baka got a weird case, why is he around?  Certified Lover Boy ? Certified pedophiles"  
• A rumour that Drake slept with the girlfriend of his mentor, Lil Wayne, while Wayne served time in prison in 2010: "F--ked on Wayne girl while he was in jail, that's connivin'/ then get his face tatted like a bitch apologizin'"  
• A warning from Lamar telling Drake to stop dissing his rumoured ex,  Serena Williams : "From Alondra down to Central, n---a better not speak on Serena"

Drake counters with 'The Heart Part 6'

Drake released "The Heart Part 6," which is a play on the title of Lamar's heart tracks, such as "The Heart Part 4" and "The Heart Part 5," on May 5. He refutes some of Lamar's previous claims, while doubling down on some of his allegations about Lamar from "Family Matters," as detailed below:

• Drake claims he played Lamar by giving him false information, such as Lamar's claim that Drake has a secret daughter: "We plotted for a week and then we fed you the information/ a daughter that's 11 years old, I bet he takes it/ we thought about giving a fake name or a destination"  
• He denies being a predator: "I never been with no one under age but now I understand why this the angle that you really mess with/ just for clarity, I feel disgusted"  
• He claims again that Lamar abuses his wife and references the time Lamar rapped about people listening to convicted sex trafficker, R. Kelly : "I don't wanna fight with a woman beater, it feeds your nature/ if you still bumping R. Kelly, you can thank the saviour"  
• He defends his supposed friendship with actress Millie Bobby Brown : "Only f--kin' with Whitney's, not Millie Bobby Brown's, I'd never look twice at no teenager"

On the song's outro, Drake raps that Lamar has "ten more records to drop," hinting that more diss tracks from Lamar are on the way.

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Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake Beef Goes Nuclear: What to Know

The two rappers had circled one another for more than a decade, but their attacks turned relentless and very personal in a slew of tracks released over the weekend.

By Joe Coscarelli

The long-building and increasingly testy rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake exploded into full-bore acrimony and unverifiable accusations over the weekend. Both artists rapid-fire released multiple songs littered with attacks regarding race, appropriation, sexual and physical abuse, body image, misogyny, hypocrisy, generational trauma and more.

Most relentless was Lamar, a Pulitzer Prize winner from Compton, Calif., who tends toward the isolated and considered but has now released four verbose and conceptual diss tracks — totaling more than 20 minutes of new music — targeting Drake in the last week, including three since Friday.

Each racked up millions of streams and the three that were made available commercially — “Euphoria,” “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us” — are expected to land near the top of next week’s Billboard singles chart, while seeming to, at least momentarily, shift the public perception of Drake, long a maestro of the online public arena and meme ecosystem .

In between, on Friday night, Drake released his own broadside against Lamar — plus a smattering of other recent challengers — in a teasing Instagram interlude plus a three-part track and elaborate music video titled “Family Matters,” in which he referred to his rival as a fake activist and attempted to expose friction and alleged abuse in Lamar’s romantic relationship.

But that song was followed within half an hour by Lamar’s “Meet the Grahams,” an ominous extended address to the parents and young son of Drake, born Aubrey Graham, in which Lamar refers to his rival rapper as a liar and “pervert” who “should die” in order to make the world safer for women.

Lamar also seemed to assert that Drake had more than a decade ago fathered a secret daughter — echoing the big reveal of his son from Drake’s last headline rap beef — a claim Drake quickly denied on Instagram before hitting back in another song on Sunday. (Neither man has addressed the full array of rapped allegations directly.)

On Tuesday, a security guard was shot and seriously injured outside of Drake’s Toronto home, which appeared on the cover art for Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Authorities said they could not yet speak to a motive in the shooting, but the investigation was ongoing. Representatives for Drake and Lamar did not immediately comment.

How did two of the most famous artists in the world decide to take the gloves off and bring real-life venom into an extended sparring match for rap supremacy? It was weeks, months and years in the making, with a sudden, breakneck escalation into hip-hop infamy. Here’s a breakdown.

Since late March, the much-anticipated head-to-head seemed inevitable. Following years of “will they or won’t they?” lyrical feints, Lamar hit directly on record first this year during a surprise appearance on the song “Like That” by the Atlanta rapper Future and the producer Metro Boomin, both formerly frequent Drake collaborators.

With audible disgust, Lamar invoked the track “First Person Shooter” from last year’s Drake album, “For All the Dogs,” in which a guest verse from J. Cole referred to himself, Drake and Lamar as “the big three” of modern MCs.

Lamar took exception to the grouping, declaring that there was no big three, “just big me.” He also called himself the Prince to Drake’s Michael Jackson — a deeper, more complex artist versus a troubled, pop-oriented hitmaker.

“Like That” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as Future and Metro Boomin released two chart-topping albums — “We Don’t Trust You” and “We Still Don’t Trust You” — that were anchored by a parade of Drake’s past associates, each of whom seemed to share a simmering distaste toward the rapper, who later called the ambush a “20 v. 1” fight.

In early April, J. Cole fought back momentarily , releasing the song “7 Minute Drill,” in which he called Lamar overrated, before backtracking, apologizing and having the song removed from streaming services. But Drake soon picked up the baton, releasing a wide-ranging diss track called “Push Ups” less than a week later that addressed the field, with a special focus on Lamar’s height, shoe size and supposedly disadvantageous business dealings.

Less than a week later, Drake mocked Lamar’s lack of a response on “Taylor Made Freestyle,” a track released only on social media. It featured Drake taunting Lamar for being scared to release music at the same time as Taylor Swift and using A.I. voice filters to mimic Tupac and Snoop Dogg imploring Lamar to battle for the good of the West Coast.

“Since ‘Like That,’ your tone changed a little, you not as enthused,” Drake rapped in an abbreviated third verse, as himself. “How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed.” (“Taylor Made Freestyle” was later removed from the internet at the request of the Tupac Estate.)

But it was a seemingly tossed-off line from the earlier “Push Ups” that included the name of Lamar’s longtime romantic partner — “I be with some bodyguards like Whitney” — that Lamar would later allude to as a red line crossed, making all subject matter fair game in the songs to come. (It was this same alleged faux pas that may have triggered an intensification of Drake’s beef with Pusha T in 2018.)

How We Got Here

Even with Drake-dissing cameos from Future, Ye (formerly Kanye West), Rick Ross, the Weeknd and ASAP Rocky, the main event was always going to be between Drake, 37, and Lamar, 36, who have spent more than a decade subtly antagonizing one another in songs while maintaining an icy frenemy rapport in public.

In 2011, when Drake introduced Lamar to mainstream audiences with a dedicated showcase on his second album, “Take Care,” and an opening slot on the subsequent arena tour, the tone was one of side-eying competition. “He said that he was the same age as myself/and it didn’t help ’cause it made me even more rude and impatient,” Lamar rapped on “Buried Alive Interlude” of his earliest encounter with a more-famous Drake. (On his Instagram on Friday, Drake released a parody of the track, citing Lamar’s jealousy since then.)

The pair went on to appear together on “Poetic Justice,” a single from Lamar’s debut album, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,” in 2012, as well as “___ Problems” by ASAP Rocky the same year.

But their collaborations ceased as Drake became his generation’s premier hitmaker across styles in hip-hop and beyond, while Lamar burrowed deeper into his own psyche on knotty concept albums that brought wide critical acclaim alongside less constant commercial success.

When asked, the two rappers tended to profess admiration for one another’s skill, but seemed to trade subtle digs in verses over the years, always with plausible deniability and in the spirit of competition, leading to something of a hip-hop cold war.

The Week It Went Nuclear

Lamar’s first targeted response, “Euphoria,” was more than six minutes long and released last Tuesday morning. In three sections that raised the temperature as they built, he warned Drake about proceeding and insisted, somewhat facetiously, that things were still friendly. “Know you a master manipulator and habitual liar too,” Lamar rapped. “But don’t tell no lie about me and I won’t tell truths ’bout you.”

He accused the biracial Drake, who was born and raised in Toronto, of imitating Black American heritage and insulting him subliminally. “I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress,” Lamar said. “I hate the way that you sneak diss, if I catch flight, it’s gon’ be direct.” And he called Drake’s standing as a father into question: “Teachin’ him morals, integrity, discipline/listen, man, you don’t know nothin’ ’bout that.”

Days later, Lamar doubled down with an Instagram-only track called “6:16 in LA,” borrowing both Drake’s “Back to Back” diss tactic from his 2015 beef with Meek Mill and a song title structure lifted from what is known as Drake’s time-stamp series of raps. Opting for psychological warfare on a beat produced in part by Jack Antonoff, Swift’s chief collaborator, Lamar hinted that he had a mole in Drake’s operation and was aware of his opponent’s opposition research.

“Fake bully, I hate bullies, you must be a terrible person,” he rapped. “Everyone inside your team is whispering that you deserve it.”

That night, Drake’s “Family Matters” started with its own justification for getting personal — “You mentioned my seed, now deal with his dad/I gotta go bad, I gotta go bad” — before taking on Lamar’s fatherhood and standing as a man in excruciating detail. “They hired a crisis management team to clean up the fact that you beat on your queen,” Drake rapped. “The picture you painted ain’t what it seem/you’re dead.”

Yet in a chess move that seemed to anticipate Drake’s familial line of attack, Lamar’s “Meet the Grahams” was released almost immediately. “This supposed to be a good exhibition within the game,” Lamar said, noting that Drake had erred “the moment you called out my family’s name.” Instead of a rap battle, Lamar concluded after another six minutes of psychological dissection, “this a long life battle with yourself.”

He wasn’t done yet. Dispensing with subtlety, Lamar followed up again less than 24 hours later with “Not Like Us,” a bouncy club record in a Los Angeles style that delighted in more traditional rap beef territory, like juvenile insults, proudly unsubstantiated claims of sexual preferences and threats of violence.

Lamar, however, didn’t leave it at that, throwing one more shot at Drake’s authenticity as a rapper, calling him a greedy and artificial user as a collaborator — “not a colleague,” but a “colonizer.”

On Sunday evening, Drake responded yet again. On “The Heart Part 6,” a title taken from Lamar’s career-spanning series, Drake denied the accusation that he preyed on young women, indicated that he had planted the bad information about his fake daughter and seemed to sigh away the fight as “some good exercise.”

“It’s good to get out, get the pen working,” Drake said in an exhausted outro. “You would be a worthy competitor if I was really a predator.” He added, “You know, at least your fans are getting some raps out of you. I’m happy I could motivate you.”

Joe Coscarelli is a culture reporter with a focus on popular music, and the author of “Rap Capital: An Atlanta Story.” More about Joe Coscarelli

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