Rocking a stylish black suit, white shirt and jaunty black beret, Stevie Wonder strode onstage to the first in a series of standing ovations during Saturday evening’s (Dec. 18) House Full of Toys benefit concert in Los Angeles. In addition to marking its 23rd anniversary, the holiday event also celebrated its return after a three-year break owing to Wonder’s successful kidney transplant in 2019 followed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Standing alongside music director Rickey Minor, the 71-year-old Wonder stood before a packed Microsoft Theater, acknowledging, “Thank you all for being here. A lot has happened in the world, my world and your own worlds. But the blessing is that we are all here to give to those less fortunate.” Concert-goers were asked to bring an unwrapped toy or “unwrapped gift of joy,” which were placed in bins outside the theater on behalf of Wonder’s nonprofit We Are You Foundation.

Wonder then briefly reminisced about his mother, her crying over his blindness and his feeling as a youngster that “maybe God has something else for me.” Also recalling his career start at Motown, he told a laughing audience that [founder] Berry Gordy told him then that “we’ve got to work on that voice — but the harmonica playing is good.”

And with that, the icon spent the next two-and-a-half hours delving into his deep catalog of hits. As one audience member said as he walked out of the theater, “This was definitely not a disappointment … it was amazing.”

Among the evening’s highlights were these memorable takeaways:

Like father, like daughters: To the audience’s surprise and delight, Wonder brought his two youngest children onstage — daughters Zaiah and Nia Morris (“She’s 7 going on 27,” prefaced the artist of Nia) — to sing “What Christmas Means to Me.” Dressed in identical long black and white dresses, the two naturals didn’t miss a beat or a note as they took mics in hand to sing at the top of their voices. As the show wound down at 11:30 p.m., the pair returned to join Wonder’s four background vocalists in dancing to the concert’s last song “Superstition.”

Remembering Jacqueline Avant: The evening’s most emotional moment occurred soon thereafter. After ripping through roof-raising audience singalongs to “Master Blaster (Jammin’),” “Higher Ground” and “Don’t You Worry Bout a Thing,” Wonder began tickling out the intro to “My Cherie Amour” on the piano. “I’m going to play, you’ll sing — and you better know the words to my song or we’ll break up,” teased the singer-songwriter. Halfway through the song, he paused to recount how he wrote the song at 15 years old while attending the Michigan School for the Blind. “I think about the many people who liked this song including two very special people who were young and in love, Clarence Avant and the love of his life, who was killed,” said a faltering Wonder as tears streamed down his face. “It breaks my heart to know that happened to Jacqueline. As I think about their 54 years married, I dedicate this song to Jacqueline and anyone who loses their life to violence. Guns and more guns aren’t the solution — quit bulls—-ing.”

‘Anything’ for Stevie: “She can sing,” Wonder said while introducing Ledisi as the evening’s first guest performer. She warmed up the audience with a slow, jazzy rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Then she segued into “Anything for You,” which earned the singer-songwriter her first Grammy Award for best traditional R&B performance earlier this year after 14 nominations. Proving Grammy voters and Wonder right, Ledisi mesmerized the audience with her powerful, four-octave vocal range as she exquisitely spiced her full-bodied voice with sultry scats and soaring, sustained notes.

Near the show’s end, another performer hit the stage. Coaxed by Wonder who accompanied him on piano, Johnny Gill fired up a stoked audience with an arousing performance one of his signature ballads, “My, My, My,” that he dedicated to “all the ladies in the house.” Afterwards, Gill exhorted the crowd to salute Wonder, noting, “The higher power put Steve Wonder here to be a messenger and leader. We should celebrate him. So get up on your feet and give him the respect he deserves.” Acknowledging the audience’s latest in a string of standing ovations throughout the evening, Wonder said, “I live to love you … all of my life.”

New take on a classical favorite: You haven’t heard “Ave Maria” until you’re treated to the Wonder-ized version. Noting he’d promised to sing the song “even though my throat’s a little broke,” the singer turned in a valiant performance punctuated by his uniquely soulful harmonica — later co-signed resoundingly by a cheering audience.

Adele’s 30 holds firm at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for a fourth consecutive, and total, week. It’s the first album with four weeks in a row at No. 1 since March. 30 earned 183,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Dec. 16 (down 6%) according to MRC Data.

The last album with four straight weeks at No. 1 was Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album, which spent all 10 of its weeks at No. 1 from its debut frame, between the charts dated Jan. 23 and March 27. The last album by a woman with four weeks in a row at No. 1 was Taylor Swift’s Folklore, which spent its first six weeks atop the list (of its total of eight nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1) beginning in August 2020.

30 is the fourth album released in 2021 to spend at least four weeks at No. 1 in total. Previously, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (five weeks), Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour (five) and Wallen’s Dangerous (10) all clocked at least four weeks in the lead.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Dec. 25, 2021-dated chart (where 30 spends a fourth week at No. 1) will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Dec. 21. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of 30’s 183,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Dec. 16, album sales comprise 146,500 (down 2%), SEA units comprise 35,000 (down 19%; equaling 47.3 million on-demand streams of the set’s track) and TEA units comprise less than 1,500 units (down 15%).

30 logs the biggest fourth week for any album in over three years, since Drake’s No. 1 Scorpion earned 184,000 in its fourth frame (chart dated Aug. 4, 2018).

Juice WRLD’s second posthumous album, Fighting Demons, debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 119,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 110,000 units (equaling 155.49 million on-demand streams of the set’s songs), TEA units comprise 5,000 and album sales comprise 4,000. Fighting Demons is Juice WRLD’s fifth chart entry, and all five have reached the top five. He previously hit No. 1 with both his first posthumous release, Legends Never Die (which debuted at No. 1 on the July 25, 2020-dated chart and spent two weeks at No. 1), and with Death Race for Love (debuted at No. 1 on the March 23, 2019, chart, and spent two weeks at No. 1).

Four former No. 1s are next up on the Billboard 200. Swift’s second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor’s Version), dips 2-3 in its fifth week on the list, and fifth frame in the top 10 (68,000). It has now spent more weeks in the top 10 than Swift’s first re-recorded project, Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which has notched four nonconsecutive weeks in the top 10 (between April and October).

Michael Bublé’s Christmas is steady at No. 4 with 64,000 equivalent album units earned (up 7%), Rodrigo’s Sour is stationary at No. 5 with 60,000 units (though up 18%, thanks to a surge in vinyl LP sales) and Wallen’s Dangerous holds at No. 6 with 45,000 (down 6%).

Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas rises 8-7 with nearly 45,000 equivalent album units earned (up 11%). Vince Guaraldi Trio’s soundtrack to the animated TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas hits a new peak, climbing 9-8 with 44,500 units (up 15%); it beats its previous chart high, set just a week ago, when it reached No. 9.

Drake’s former No. 1 Certified Lover Boy falls 7-9 with 44,000 units (down 5%) and Polo G’s chart-topping Hall of Fame falls 3-10 with 43,000 (down 45%), following its run back up the chart a week ago following a deluxe reissue.

Snoop Dogg is “praying for peace in hip-hop” following the stabbing death of rapper Drakeo the Ruler at a Los Angeles music festival on Saturday (Dec. 18).

Snoop, who was scheduled to perform at Saturday’s Once Upon a Time in LA at the Banc of California and Exposition Park, took to social media the following day to share his perspective on the tragic evening and offer his condolences to the late rapper’s loved ones.

“I’m saddened by the events that took place last night at the Once Upon a Time in LA festival,” Snoop began his post on Instagram. “My condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Drakeo the Ruler. “I’m not with anything negative and as one of the many performers, I was there to spread positive vibes only to my city of LA.”

The hip-hop icon added, “Last night I was in my dressing room when I was informed about the incident and chose to immediately leave the festival grounds. My prayers go out to everyone affected by tragedy. Please take care, love one another and stay safe ya’ll. IM PRAYING FOR PEACE IN HIP HOP.”

Once Upon a Time in LA organizers confirmed in an Instagram post on Saturday that the event had been shuttered early without providing an explanation. In addition to Snoop Dogg, the concert was also scheduled to feature performances by 50 Cent, Ice Cube, YG and The Game.

Drakeo, a rising 28-year-old South Central rapper, died after being stabbed multiple times at the festival, a representative for the artist confirmed to Billboard. With the potential to create a long-lasting legacy that cemented his own place in the West Coast’s lineage of rap greats, Drakeo had already released five musical projects since 2020. His most recent was a 17-track mixtape, titled The Truth Hurts, featuring Drake on the chilled-out song “Talk to Me.”

Many other hip-hop artists mourned Drakeo’s death on social media, including Drake, Saweetie and Juicy J. See their tributes here, and read Snoop Dogg’s post below.

Will 2022 be the year BTS finally wins a Brit Award? The K-pop superstars were nominated on Saturday (Dec. 18) for international group. They were nominated in the same category last year, but lost, in an upset, to American sister trio HAIM.

Or might Silk Sonic win for international group? The duo, comprising Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, would be the second collaboration of solo artists to win in the category. The Carters, consisting of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, won three years ago.

We’ll find out on Feb. 8 when the Brit Awards are presented at The 02 in London.

Here are seven more burning questions prompted by this year’s Brit Awards nominations.

1. Will Adele tie Robbie Williams as the artist with the most Brit Awards (13) in the show’s history?

The British songstress will if she wins in all four categories in which she is nominated. Adele is currently tied with Coldplay for second place on the all-time leaderboard, with nine wins each.

2. A couple more Adele questions: Will the vocal powerhouse win her third award for Mastercard album of the year?

She’s nominated for her global blockbuster 30. She won for 21 (2012) and 25 (2016). Should she win again, she would tie Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay as the only three-time winners in the category’s history.

Will Adele win her third award for song of the year with Mastercard (formerly known as British single)? She’s nominated for her warm piano ballad “Easy on Me.” She won with “Skyfall” (2013) and “Hello” (2016). Should she win again, she’ll tie Williams as the solo artist with the most wins in the category (three). Take That leads all artists with five wins in the category.

3. Will Elton John win his first Brit Award in a competition in 31 years?

John is nominated for song of the year with Mastercard for “Cold Heart (Pnau Mix),” his hit collab with Dua Lipa. This would be the iconic singer’s first win in a competitive category since he took best British male in 1991. It would be his first win ever in this category; Lipa’s second. She won three years ago for “One Kiss,” a collab with Calvin Harris. A second win would make Lipa only the second female artist (following Adele) to win twice in the category’s history. Lipa would also be the first artist to win twice as part of a collaboration.

4. Will Ed Sheeran or Dave become the first male solo artist to win Mastercard album of the year more than once?

Sheeran, who won seven years ago for x, is nominated for =. Dave, who won two years ago for Psychodrama, is nominated for We’re All Alone in This Together. Should Dave win, he’d set a second record — the first artist of color to win in the category more than once.

5. Will Little Mix, which last year became the first all-female group to win group (formerly British group), win again this year?

They would be the first group (of any gender) to win two years running since Arctic Monkeys in 2007-08.

6. Will Coldplay win group for a record-extending fifth time?

The veteran band won in the category in 2001, 2003, 2012 and 2016.

7. Will Griff win best new artist, one year after winning the rising star award (formerly the critic’s choice award)?

She would be just the third artist in the show’s history to win in both categories. Sam Smith took rising star in 2014 and best new artist the following year. Rag’n’Bone Man won both awards in 2017.

The hip-hop community is mourning the death of rapper Drakeo the Ruler, who died after being stabbed multiple times at a Los Angeles music festival on Saturday night (Dec. 18).

Artists like Drake, Saweetie, Juicy J, Snoop Dogg and many others took to social media on Sunday to pay their respects to the 28-year-old L.A. native. Drakeo, whose real name was Darrell Caldwell, passed away after being attacked during the the Once Upon a Time in LA concert at Banc of California and Exposition Park.

“Nah man this s— isn’t right for real wtf are we doing,” Drake wrote on his Instagram Story after learning about the tragic news. “Always picked my spirit up with your energy RIP Drakeo.”

With the potential to create a long-lasting legacy that cemented his own place in the West Coast’s lineage of rap greats, Drakeo had already released five musical projects since 2020. His most recent was a 17-track mixtape, titled The Truth Hurts, featuring Drake on the chilled-out song “Talk to Me.”

Snoop Dogg, one of the scheduled performs at Once Upon a Time in LA, shared a heartfelt message about Drakeo’s death on Instagram.

“My condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Drakeo the Rule,” Snoop wrote. “I’m not with anything negative and as one of the many performers, I was there to spread positive vibes only to my city of LA. Last night I was in my dressing room when I was informed about the incident and chose to immediately leave the festival grounds. My prayers go out to everyone affected by tragedy. Please take care, love one another and stay safe ya’ll. IM PRAYING FOR PEACE IN HIP HOP.”

Saweetie also paid tribute to the late rapper, tweeting, “Man Drakeo was always hella cool & respectful. Prayers up for his family RIP The Ruler.”

Long Beach rapper-producer Joey Fatts shared an emotional reaction to Drakeo’s death on social media. “Drakeo was killed while working. Was there for a performance,” Fatts tweeted. “All these get out the streets tweets/leave your city tweets. Shut the f— up. No reason why a knife should be able to be snuck into a music festival. Especially since the Travis Scott shit. Rip Drakeo hope his fam sue.”

Drakeo’s The Truth Hurts was his first release since last year’s Thank You For Using GTL and followed his release in November after a 34-month stint in jail on a controversial murder charge. His past collaborations have ranged from going toe-to-toe with 03 Cali staples Greedo and OhGeesy to vibing with Seattle upstart Lil Mosey to telling stories about life in L.A. with his late friend and Stinc Team member, Ketchy the Great.

“Whether it’s through my music or off of it, I find different ways to get my point across without being preachy,” Drakeo told Billboard in March. “Whether it’s being funny or just saying it in a line on a song, I want to find the best ways to explain to people what’s going on, so it’s properly understood.”

See more tributes to Drakeo the Ruler below.

Man Drakeo was always hella cool & respectful 😢🙏🏽 Prayers up for his family RIP The Ruler 💔

— ICY SEASON ❄️ (@Saweetie) December 19, 2021

R.I.P. Drakeo the ruler prayers up for the family 🙏🏿 🙏🏿🙏🏿

— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) December 19, 2021

Drakeo was killed while working. Was there for a performance. All these get out the streets tweets/leave your city tweets. Shut the fuck up. No reason why a knife should be able to be snuck into a music festival. Especially since the Travis Scott shit. Rip Drakeo hope his fam sue

— JOEY FATTS (@JoeyFatts) December 19, 2021

RIP DRAKEO

— kennybeats (@kennybeats) December 19, 2021

RIP DRAKEO 🙏🏾

— JPEGMAFIA (@jpegmafia) December 19, 2021

RIP Drakeo man 🙁

— GUAPDAD4000.eth (@guapdad4000) December 19, 2021

RIP Drakeo man

— CASH GOD (@CashMoneyAp) December 19, 2021

damn rip drakeo man

— weef (@wifisfuneral) December 19, 2021

RIP Drakeo

— RUSS (@russdiemon) December 19, 2021

Internationally known DJ David Guetta has made a home for himself in the Persian Gulf.

The French DJ is a resident of the United Arab Emirates, where he has performed multiple times — the latest being on the helipad at the landmark Burj Al Arab hotel, and was one of the first artists invited to perform in Saudi Arabia when the kingdom opened its doors to tourists and began allowing concerts and entertainment. Guetta is performing in Saudi Arabia again on Sunday (Dec. 19).

Guetta performed in Saudi Arabia’s Formula-E in 2018 and then a year later at the MDLBeast music festival in the capital of Riyadh. Marketed as the region’s biggest music event, the festival has drawn backlash for whitewashing Saudi Arabia’s image. Celebrities and influencers came under scrutiny for promoting a country widely accused of human rights abuses. Guetta is making his second appearance at the festival on Sunday.

Speaking to The Associated Press ahead of his Saudi gig, Guetta defended his participation.

“I don’t play for politicians, I play for people, and you know if I’m not able to, if I would need to be playing only in countries where I’m totally agreeing with the leaders,” he said from the Louvre Abu Dhabi where he was recording a set for a New Year’s Eve show that will be streaming on the night.

If he were restricted to certain countries for political reasons, Guetta added, “I would probably stay home.”

MDLBeast Soundstorm’s first edition featured performances by J Balvin, Steve Aoki and Guetta among others, while the 2021 edition has the likes of Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Guetta, and DJ Snake on the ticket. In 2019, Instagram and TikTok were afloat with pictures of celebrities, models, and influencers posing in different parts of Saudi Arabia.

The posts attracted controversy and human rights groups scrutinized celebrities for marketing the country without speaking about its human rights’ record. Some celebrities later said they were paid to post about the event. Reports circulating on social media at the time claimed that some influencers and artists were paid high fees for the visits.

“I’m not saying what I’m saying because I was getting paid, I’m getting paid in any country, you know I can make money in Saudi, in America, in Europe, in Latin America,” Guetta said.

“I want to be able to play for the people wherever I go. But then, should I not go to China maybe? Should I not go to America because sometime(s), you know, I don’t always agree with certain wars that are happening?”

The music festival was one of the first events in Saudi Arabia where men and women were allowed to dance and mingle openly in public.

It was one of the most visible signs of change under crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2018. King Salman granted his son and heir, the crown prince, a free hand to usher in dramatic moves that have reshaped the country.

Allowing women to drive, bringing in musical concerts, opening movie theaters, easing restrictions on gender segregation, and reigning in the powers of the religious police have all been signature reforms of the young prince.

Because of the changes, “I was happy to be part of this,” Guetta said. “Of course there’s more things to be done to improve the country but I think they are opening and really going to the right direction.”

For example, he added, “Four years ago women couldn’t drive, and now they can come to a David Guetta concert and dance, you know it’s a huge evolution.”

Guetta says that people shouldn’t have to wait for a country to have a perfect record before wanting to show support.

“My position is, ok, if young people want me to be there, I want to be there for them,” he said.

With the sunlight dancing through the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the cascading light and shadows creating an ethereal vibe on the waters around the museum, Guetta recorded his New Year’s Eve DJ-set on Wednesday, to no audience.

The show was recorded on a floating stage in the water of the Louvre Abu Dhabi and will be streamed on Guetta’s social media platforms at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The show features more than 500 light fixtures and will include 20-meter-high flames (about 65 feet) that will shoot up into the sky.

Guetta said he made Arabic-inspired music especially for the event, including Arabic percussion and vocals.

“The site is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen,” he said.