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Welcome to Chart Brief, Rated R&B’s weekly column tracking the latest movements across R&B charts. Each week, we’ll break down and analyze the R&B artists making waves on the Billboard, radio, and streaming charts. This edition covers the charts dated May 23, 2026. Billboard Charts Adult R&B Airplay Tracks the week’s top Adult R&B hits via 24/7 airplay data from Mediabase and Luminate. No. 1: “More Than A Friend” – Elijah Connor (LW: 3) THE BRIEF: Elijah Connor earns his first No. 1 hit with “More Than A Friend.” The ’90s-inspired jam debuted on the Adult R&B Airplay chart dated…

Rick Ross insists in a recent interview that Drake’s new Iceman album is horrendous and mocks Drizzy’s singing.On Wednesday (May 20), Rozay was a guest on the PBD Podcast. During the sit-down, Ross was asked about Drake and the new LP. The Miami rapper insisted that Aubrey is not on his level and brought up Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group.”When you diss certan people and they can’t deal with it emotionally, they’re embarrassed,” Ross said. “They’re humiliated. That’s when they sue all of these people.”Ross admitted to hearing a few songs off the album and called the project horrendous.…

In this new entry in our ‘Diamonds In The Rough’ category, we would like to introduce you to upcoming artist Antonius and his brand new single titled “Feels Right”. Emerging alternative R&B artist Antonius steps further into his cinematic sonic world with the release of his new single, “Feels Right”, out now. Drawing listeners into a haze of nostalgia, desire, and emotional uncertainty, the track showcases Antonius’ ability to blend intimate storytelling with atmospheric production, continuing to define his distinctive artistic identity. Built upon shimmering 80s-inspired synthesisers, hypnotic arpeggiated textures, and the emotional honesty of 90s R&B, “Feels Right” feels…

When Stephen Curry announced in November 2025 that he was stepping away from a traditional sneaker endorsement deal, the basketball world immediately recognized the move as unprecedented. But what unfolded over the next several months became far more than a sneaker free agency run. It became a season-long cultural narrative that blended basketball history, fashion, storytelling, philanthropy, and purpose. Now, Curry is partnering with Sotheby’s to auction more than 70 pairs of sneakers worn throughout the season — from tunnel walks and pre-game warm-ups to game-worn performances — with all proceeds benefiting Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, the foundation he co-founded…

Drake’s building an institutional-grade financial structure through OVO Sound, Venezia FC, and NOCTA to position himself for complete independence. Drake just proved he’s not just a rapper anymore. He’s a businessman building an empire that could free him from the label system entirely. When he dropped three albums simultaneously on May 15, 2026, ICEMAN, Habibti, and Maid of Honour weren’t just music releases. They were a statement about what’s possible when you control your own financial infrastructure. Behind the scenes, investment firm Applied Real Intelligence provided senior secured loans and convertible note financing to OVO Sound, Drake’s lifestyle brand that’s…

Source: Raymond Hall / GettyCardi B continues to have a monster year, now leading the pack at the BET Awards with six nominations.  The Bronx superstar picked up nominations including Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Album of the Year for AM I DRAMA?. She also earned nomination for the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award.The new category was created to honor influential global figures whose impact on fashion goes beyond music and entertainment.“Fashion presence has had long-standing cultural impact, has significantly influenced style narratives, and continues to elevate fashion as a form of storytelling across music, film, sports, and public file.”Fresh…

Ledisi is bringing her majestic voice to Broadway. The Grammy-winning singer and actress has been cast in the new musical Wanted, set to premiere this fall. The New Orleans native will star as Tallulah Clarke, mother of the sisters Clarke, opposite Solea Pfeiffer (Hadestown, Gatsby: An American Myth) as Mary Clarke and Liisi LaFontaine (West End: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Dreamgirls) as Martha Clarke. Inspired by a true story, Wanted is set in 1893 in Texas and follows twins Mary and Martha Clarke, who are on the run. The sisters, who are Black women who pass for white, straddle a dangerous line between…

Big Daddy Kane has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, but Hip-Hop has a way of checking and correcting offenders. Chris Brown digs in. Words: Chris Brown, Art: Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur Recently, a rap artist appeared on a popular podcast and casually downplayed the legacy of one of the greatest MC’s to ever touch a microphone: Big Daddy Kane. Kane is my favorite MC of all time. I sat with it for a while before deciding to respond, not out of blind loyalty, but because that take reflects a much deeper and more troubling pattern within Hip-Hop culture today.…

Source: Timothy Norris / GettyWiz Khalifa is officially a wanted man in Romania. The government placed him on their list after his conviction for drug possession late last year, and it was announced by national media outlets Digi24 and Mediafax. The conviction stems from Wiz Khalifa’s arrest while performing on stage at the Beach, Please! music festival held on the Eastern European country’s Black Sea coast in July 2024. Police officers noted that in addition to the “homemade cigarette” that the “Young, Wild & Free” artist smoked on stage, he was also found in possession of “over 18 grams of…

Tiffany Haddish’s legal team just got a major win when a judge threw out key evidence from her Georgia DUI case. Tiffany Haddish just caught a legal break in her Georgia DUI case that could shift the entire trajectory of her defense. A Fayette County judge ruled Wednesday that one of the field sobriety tests used against her can’t be presented at trial, along with any statements she made to police during the initial stop. The decision marks a significant win for her legal team as they continue fighting to get the four-year-old misdemeanor case dismissed entirely. The judge found…