NEWS
Backstreet Boys in Las Vegas in September 2019.
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for iHeartMediaThe Backstreet Boys are putting a halt on their holiday music plans.
The boy band announced on social media Friday (Sept. 10) that their upcoming holiday album is postponed and their forthcoming holiday-themed Las Vegas residency is canceled because of COVID-19-related restrictions.
"With the current state of the world still limiting our travel and causing small things in these processes to take much longer, we have decided to wait until 2022 to release our Christmas album and subsequently will be canceling our limited Las Vegas run of Christmas shows," the Backstreet Boys wrote on Twitter.
The pop quintet -- comprising Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson -- was scheduled for a residency in November and December at Las Vegas' Zappos Theater inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The A Very Backstreet Christmas Party dates were to be the group's "first-ever holiday shows, filled with classic holiday favorites, new originals and their biggest hits," the act's website states.
Ticket refunds for the Las Vegas residency will be issued automatically at the point of purchase.
The 12-show run was set to arrive three years after the band's record-shattering Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life residency at the Zappos Theater. The group's residency grossed $34.4 million from the total 62 shows they performed at the legendary Vegas venue in 2017 and 2018, according to Billboard Boxscore.
In their message to fans, the Backstreet Boys said they've "been hard at work" on their upcoming holiday album for the past six months. "We are so excited and proud of what we have and the way it's all coming together. We feel that this is one of our best creations yet and that this creation deserves the best possible scenario and set up for success."
The boy band concluded, "While we are disappointed, we know this is for the best and we absolutely cannot wait to share the magic of this album with all of you when the time is right!"
See the Backstreet Boys' full statement below.
NEWS
There is no question that Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out made a serious impact and continues to hold weight. The project showed that hip hop is not limited by age and proved that a long-awaited return can still land in a major way regardless of the time away.
If you need a reminder, the Virginia duo’s fourth studio album debuted comfortably within the top five of the Hot 200. It secured the number four position and moved an impressive 118,000 units in its first week.
On top of that, it picked up a win at this year’s Grammys, earning Best Rap Performance for “Chains & Whips.” The album also received four additional nominations, including Best Music Video, Rap Album, and Album of the Year.
It is hard to believe the project will officially hit its one year mark this summer on July 11. Even so, Pusha T is making it clear that both supporters and critics should not be overlooking it anytime soon.
While performing at Coachella yesterday, King Push told the crowd that LGSEO still sits at the top, regardless of genre.
He said, “‘Let God Sort Em Out’ is still the album of the motherfckin year. Whole new year, still album of the year,” per Kurrco. “Album of the motherfcking year until we drop again. We don't care who dropping. It don't matter.”
That is a strong statement for obvious reasons, especially considering the recent claims surrounding Push himself.
Over the same weekend, hip hop social media lit up after several alleged reference tracks connected to Quentin Miller and Push began circulating. Three tracks surfaced in total, but one that drew the most attention was an alleged record titled “Real Gon’ Come.” It is said to come from the DAYTONA era, around 2017 to 2018.
The situation gained traction because fans remember the past tension between Drake and Pusha T before Drake’s clash with Kendrick Lamar. During that feud, Pusha accused Drake of using ghostwriters on tracks like “Infrared,” which appears on DAYTONA. On that song, he raps, “The bigger question is how the Russians did it /
It was written like Nas, but it came from Quentin.”
Reactions have been mixed. Some people argue it is not a major issue since Miller’s alleged contributions were limited to hooks. Others point out that the songs were never officially released, so they see no real problem. Meanwhile, critics view it as clear hypocrisy on Pusha T’s part, a perspective that DJ Akademiks has also supported.
