Rising alternative R&B-pop artist Omar Apollo strives to make the kind of timeless albums that inspired him: Minnie Riperton’s Perfect Angel, Whitney Houston’s self-titled project, Nirvana’s Nevermind, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and, of course, Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill.

“That album did so much for me,” he says of the lattermost. “There’s an interlude on the album that you can tell [the inspiration].”

He’s speaking of his highly anticipated full-length debut, IVORY, out Friday (April 8) on Warner. On the project, the Hobart, Ind. native — who has since relocated to Los Angeles — skips across melodies and moods, showing off his stunning range and poignant songwriting chops. And even gifting fans a Mexican ballad sung in Spanish (“[My parents] had been telling me I need to sing like that more so I was excited for them to hear it,” he says). 

Ahead of the album’s release, the 24-year-old spoke with Billboard about how he got his start in music, scrapping his debut’s first draft and why he’s thought about its release “every single day.”

Foundation

Prior to picking up a guitar for the first time as a 12-year-old, Apollo grew up in the Midwest listening to “old, romantic songs from the ’50s” by Mexican artists like Pedro Infante and Juan Gabriel while cleaning with his family on Sunday mornings. By 2017, without much training or guidance, he put his first song on Spotify, thanks to a $30 loan from a friend for the upload fee. Apollo’s parents thought pursuing music as a career was “a terrible idea,” and he admits that he had no idea what was to come. As for his friend, multimedia artist Matthew Brown, Apollo never got around to paying him back, though he says they now work together often.

Discovery

Apollo started playing shows in his hometown and Chicago for free: “Any time anybody was having an event, I’d pack up the car with my friends, a drum set and a 10-watt amp that was not loud, and we’d just play.” As demand grew, he tweeted about needing a manager, to which Dylan Shanks — then a student at New York University — eagerly replied. He suggested flying Apollo out to perform at a university event, after which Shanks made his formal pitch. By 2019, Apollo had signed a global deal with AWAL, and by early 2020, he was “talking to a bunch of labels” before signing with Warner Records that April and releasing his label debut mixtape, Apolonio, in October. “They were hitting us back super quick,” he says of the Warner team. “They were always available — and still are. That’s the thing: I wanted to be around people who were just as hungry as I was.”

Future

As Apollo finished recording what he thought would be his debut full-length, he decided to scrap it. ­“[Warner Records] wasn’t too happy about that,” he says with a laugh, “but they understood … and were so happy afterward.” By early last November, Apollo handed in a new project, IVORY, now due April 8. “It’s all I think about every single day,” he says of the nearing release date. Compared with past projects, Apollo believes that this rollout is “way more rationalized,” adding how he has enjoyed being more involved and intentional with the creative direction and timing — which is why he’s already eager to make his next album. “I always find myself going back to old albums, and I’m just like, ‘This really stood the test of time,’ and I want to do that. I can’t control that, but as long as it feels like that for me, I’m cool.”

A version of this story originally appeared in the March 26, 2022, issue of Billboard.

Machine Gun Kelly blasts from No. 89 to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated April 9), reigning as the top musical act in the U.S. for a second total week, thanks to the opening-week success of his new LP, Mainstream Sellout.

The album launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 93,000 equivalent album units earned, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data. It marks his second leader, after Tickets to My Downfall in October 2020 (when he first topped the Artist 100).

Machine Gun Kelly concurrently places four songs on the latest Billboard Hot 100: “Make Up Sex,” with blackbear, debuts at No. 59; “Maybe,” with Bring Me the Horizon, hits a new high at No. 68; “Emo Girl,” with Willow, re-enters at No. 84; and “Ay!,” with Lil Wayne, returns at No. 88. The set also sparks 14 entries on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.

Coming in just behind Machine Gun Kelly, Ed Sheeran rises 4-2 on the Artist 100, as his new collaboration with J Balvin, “Sigue,” debuts at No. 89 on the Hot 100. Sheeran scores five total entries on the chart this week: “Bad Habits” (No. 11), “Shivers” (No. 13), “Bam Bam” (Camila Cabello featuring Sheeran; No. 34), “Peru” with Fireboy DML (No. 53), and now “Sigue.” Only Lil Durk places more songs on the Hot 100 this week, with six. Rounding out the Artist 100’s top 5, Lil Durk falls 2-3, Doja Cat drops 3-4 and The Weeknd holds at No. 5.

Further down the Artist 100, Michael Bublé makes a splash this week as he re-enters at No. 12 as his new album Higher debuts at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 (13,000 units) and Foo Fighters return at No. 14 following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, led by the band’s Greatest Hits, which vaults 147-18 on the Billboard 200 (22,000 units, up 179%).

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

Tory Lanez was reportedly handcuffed and put in custody during a court hearing Tuesday after a judge ruled that the rapper violated court orders in the criminal case over his alleged 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.

Judge David Herriford ruled that certain social media posts from Lanez had breached court orders that required him to avoid any contact with Stallion as the case proceeds, according to TMZ and Rolling Stone.

As a result of the violation, the judge increased bail from $250,000 to a reported $350,000 and ordered Lanez into custody until he pays up. A trial date is set for September 24.

Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, stands accused of one count of assault with a firearm and another gun possession charge over the July 2020 incident, in which he allegedly shot Stallion during an argument after a pool party in the Hollywood Hills.

Lanez wasn’t charged with the shooting in October 2020, following months of growing publicity around the case. Stallion initially told police officers that she cut her foot stepping on broken glass, but days later revealed that she had suffered a gunshot wound. After media outlets reported that Lanez had fired the gun, Megan directly accused him in an August 2020 Instagram video.

Lanez pleaded not guilty in November 2020. In a December 2021 hearing, a Los Angeles judge allowed the case to move forward to a trial. During that hearing, a police detective testified that Stallion had told him that Lanez yelled “Dance, bitch!” as he opened fire around her feet, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Reps for both Lanez and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday. A spokesman for Megan Thee Stallion declined to comment.

Vanessa Hudgens stopped by The Kelly Clarkson Show on Tuesday (April 5) to reminisce about High School Musical and reveal how Kelly Clarkson helped inspire her career in entertainment.

“I grew up doing theater and, like, this has always been a passion of mine. And you were on American Idol and you won, and I was like, ‘That’s it! I’m going on American Idol,’” she told the wide-eyed host.

“And then that next week I got an audition for High School Musical and booked it. So then I was like, ‘Never mind,’” the actress quipped before adding, “But I was like, ‘I’m doing it.’ And you were the catalyst.”

After calling Hudgens one of her few “must-watch” actresses, Clarkson then asked her guest how much she remembered about her earliest days playing Gabriella Montez, considering the first movie in the original High School Musical trilogy premiered over 16 years ago.

“I remember all the auditions, definitely,” Hudgens replied. “‘Cause there were a lot of them…I mean, there were like three, but, like, I remember them distinctly.”

“You know, the same thing with Idol!” Clarkson then jumped in. “People don’t know that but there were many auditions before you even got to the TV part.”

Hudgens went on to look back on her connections with the rest of the Wildcat crew, saying, “I remember meeting Zac [Efron] for the first time; I remember meeting Lucas [Grabeel] for the first time. Me and Ashley [Tisdale] had already met ’cause we did a commercial together like a month prior. But it’s wild, the time just keeps flying…I’m like, ‘I’ve got decades under my belt now.’”

Since her days as a Wildcat, the Disney Channel alum has made a name for herself as the star of Netflix’s The Princess Switch film series as well as appearances is many a movie and TV musical, including 2016’s Grease: Live, 2019’s Rent: Live and 2021’s Tick, Tick…Boom!. Most recently, she served as a co-host for The Oscars Red Carpet Show ahead of the 94th Annual Academy Awards.

Watch Hudgens’ interview with Clarkson below.

Spring has sprung! If you’re feeling a little under the weather (or not) due to the seasons changing, we’ve hand-picked the freshest songs to keep you feeling motivated as you rest up. From ASTN and Caleb Steph’s romantic reflections to 42 Dugg and YSB Tril’s rap bangers, we’ve got a range of sounds covered — per usual.

Share the wealth with our Spotify playlist, linked below.

Caleb Steph, “Baby Girl”

Virginia artist Caleb Steph has dropped the sexual new “Baby Girl” just in time for summer. Produced by Melo Zed, the mellow song finds him lusting over his lover and trying to win her over, acting as the perfect soundtrack to a budding summer romance.

Frsh Waters, “Icarus”

Frsh Waters is back with his latest single, “Icarus.” Pulled from Frsh’s vault, the introspective boom-bap song finds the Chicago rapper reflecting on the past and present. “Never phased by minimum wage/ I was in cages now I’m on stage,” he raps.

ASTN, “You’re Almost There”

On “You’re Almost There,” ASTN is coming to terms with the end of his relationship. “You and I called it love then started to/ Realize it’d be so much smarter to/ Give it up but it’s so much harder/ When you’re almost there,” he sings for the song’s chorus.” The light-hearted song appears on his recent EP of the same name.

redveil & Sam Truth, “better”

redveil has dropped another single from his upcoming album, learn 2 swim. This time around, the Maryland artist links with Virginia artist Sam Truth for “better,” a song about keeping the faith knowing better days are ahead.

Vince Staples, “Rose Street”

Following his Mustard-assisted single “Magic,” Vince Staples returns with the second single from his upcoming album, Ramona Park Broke My Heart. Titled “Rose Street,” the Long Beach artist interpolats Mýa and Jay-Z’s 2000 hit “Best Of Me, (Part 2)” as he raps about being “married to the money” and “only bringing flowers to the homies’ graves.”

YSB Tril feat. YungLiv, “Loose Screws”

Sitting midway through his latest project, Starstruck 2, YSB Tril’s “Loose Screws” is a refreshingly whimsical moment on the North Carolina rapper’s eight-track offering. For just under two minutes, Tril confidently ping-pongs across the replay-worthy beat, begging the question: why couldn’t “Loose Screws” have been just a little longer?

Mychelle feat. ENNY, “Forbidden Fruit” 

London-born songstress Mychelle wants what she shouldn’t have. On “Forbidden Fruit,” the newcomer laments over a love that’s no good, singing “I hate that I’m drawn to you/ With no logic or no good reason,” over top a bouncy, neo soul-tinged beat. She’s joined on the intoxicating track by fellow U.K. artist ENNY, who delivers a smooth verse, perfectly complimenting Mychelle’s rasp-filled melodies.

EST Gee & 42 Dugg, “Everybody Shooters Too”

CMG signees EST Gee and 42 Dugg join forces yet again on the menacing “Everybody Shooters Too.” In line with the track’s hair-raising lyrics, the Enrgy Beats-made instrumental exudes chaos through clashing keys and active hi-hats, as Gee and Dugg coolly spit hard-hitting verses.

A$AP Ant & A$AP Rocky, “The God Hour”

A$AP members Ant and Rocky lean into the mob’s beloved early sound on “The God Hour.” The East Coast duo artfully glide across the string-infused beat, fully equipped with forceful 808s and chopped and screwed vocals.

Flores, “Exito”

Flores’ latest single, “Exito” evokes calm contemplation, the singer centering her distinct vocal tone, synths and the sound of dripping water. As the theatrical track progresses, the Mexican-American vocalist builds layers upon layers of harmonies, in line with the building production surrounding her melodies. “Don’t need oxygen, we’re breathing fine,” she repeats over the sounds of sirens and echoing guitar.

Vera Farmiga is conjuring up some serious hardcore spirit. The 48-year-old actress, best known for her recurring role in the supernatural The Conjuring horror film series, sent out a heavy metal message of support to Ukraine by covering Iron Maiden‘s “The Trooper” in a video posted to her Instagram account on Sunday (April 3).

Singing at a show arranged by Woodstock, New York music school Rock Academy, Farmiga — whose parents are Ukrainian — began her performance by shouting what sounds like “Slava Ukraini!” The phrase is a Ukrainian battle cry meaning “Glory to Ukraine” that also indicates support for the country as they continue defending their territory from Russia’s invasion, which began in February.

As the Bates Motel alumna and her band — which includes Scott Ian from Anthrax playing guitar — rage onstage, a young audience member waves a large Ukrainian flag. An article by Metal Hammer identified that Farmiga’s husband Renn Hawkey, who plays keyboard in the band Deadsy, is also backing her up in the video.

“Sometimes @RockAcademyOfficial lets the adults ROCK too,” she captioned her post. “And sometimes, if you’re really lucky… you get to rock out with @scottianthrax.”

Music has maintained an essential role in the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom over the past few months. Citizens like violinist Vera Lytovchenko and 7-year-old “Let It Go” singer Amellia Anisovych made headlines for performing songs while sheltering, and President Zelensky himself appeared virtually at the 2022 Grammys to ask viewers for support.

“Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos,” he told the award show’s audience. “They sing to the wounded. In hospitals.”

The lyrics to “The Trooper,” which was released in 1983, are eerily relevant to the situation in 2022, with Iron Maiden painting a detailed picture of wartime violence and mentioning Russia specifically. “We hurdle bodies that lay on the ground,” Farmiga sings in the video. “And the Russians fire another round/We get so near, yet so far away/We won’t live to fight another day.”

Watch Vera Farmiga’s performance of Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper” below.

During a recent interview for Hoda Kotb’s Making Space With Hoda Kotb podcast, Thomas Rhett said that his eldest daughter, 6-year-old Willa Gray, is beginning to ask “intense” questions about her adoption story. In 2017, the country singer and his wife, Lauren Akins, announced they had adopted Willa Gray from Uganda.

Adoption is a commonality between the country star and Kotb, as both are parents to adopted children. The singer-songwriter and his wife Lauren are also parents to daughters Ada James, Lennon Love and Lillie Carolina. Kotb has two adopted daughters — Hope Catherine and Haley Joy.

Thomas Rhett noted that Willa Gray “has questions all the time” about her adoption story.

“I think when you become a parent, you’re like, ‘Well, I’m a dad, I have all the answers.’ Or, ‘I’m a mom, I have all the answers,’” he told Kotb.”And adoption is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and I don’t think at the beginning of it you go, ‘Oh, in six years I’m gonna have to start answering some really intense questions.’”

“You go, ‘Well, what age is the right age?’ Because the world is moving so fast that it’s like, to have a conversation with a 6-year-old like that, maybe I’m too old school to think that way, but I’m like, ‘Maybe we need to wait ’til she’s 10,’” he said. “She asks questions all the time, like, she talks to Lauren, like, ‘When can we go see my friends in Uganda?’ And then Ada James will be like, ‘Well, when can I go see our friends in Uganda?’ And Willa Gray will be like, ‘Well, they’re not your friends, they’re my friends.’ I love the innocence that they have. They haven’t been jaded by the world. They don’t see things like adults see things. [I think] ‘How can I keep this innocence alive for as long as possible?’”

Thomas Rhett released his latest album, Where We Started — which features not only a duet with Katy Perry on the title track, but also the excellent track “Death Row” (featuring Russell Dickerson and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard) — and a song inspired by Thomas Rhett’s daughters, titled “Mama’s Front Door,” on April 1.

Listen to the country star and Kotb’s chat below: