NEWS
The Weeknd debuted a new music video for his song, "Popular," with Madonna and Playboi Carti during Fortnite Festival. It capped off the singer's takeover of Season 1 of the event. Fans playing the game were able to watch the video in a new dedicated viewing area in Jam Stage.
The video played on repeat from February 15 at 7:00 PM, ET through February 18 at 7:00 PM, ET. As of Sunday afternoon, it's not available in an official capacity anywhere else.
The Weeknd previously discussed the making of the song during an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “I’m proud of it. I’m definitely proud of it," he said, last year. "Me and Carti had this… I mean, we’ve jammed out before. We’ve had a different version of this song prior. So I’ve had these vocals for a while and I’ve kind of just worked around it, and then kind of kept it in the tuck. But now it felt like it was time. It was time. And it felt right and it felt cohesive with this album that I’m working on right now. Or that I just actually finished. The Idol soundtrack, yeah. And so I’ve been producing the song for a while. And then Madonna, Madge. She’s the ultimate co-sign for this song, for this album, and for this TV show. And you’ll hear more of her in the show as well, too. She is the ultimate pop star.”
The Weeknd is far from the first artist to appear on Fortnite. Over the years, Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, and many more have worked with the game in various capacities. Be on the lookout for further updates on The Weeknd on HotNewHipHop.
Harlem rapper Max B was freed from prison on Sunday after spending 16 years behind bars for his involvement in a failed armed robbery that led to a man’s death.
The artist, whose real name is Charley Wingate, gained fame for his mixtapes and for coining the term “wavy” before his 2007 arrest on manslaughter and armed robbery charges.
Earlier this year, he revealed in a phone interview from prison that he would be released on November 9.
“I’m feeling righteous, man,” Max told the Joe Budden Podcast. “I’m doing all right. This is almost over. Wavy Baby coming home real soon.”
In 2009, Max B was handed a 75-year prison sentence after being accused of aiding a robbery in New Jersey that ended in murder, despite not being present in the state at the time.
His conviction was overturned in 2016 after a new legal team argued that his original lawyer had a conflict of interest. The sentence was later reduced to 20 years.
French Montana, who collaborated with Max B on their 2009 mixtape Coke Wave, was among those to celebrate his release on Sunday.
“Can’t make this up! My brother really came home on my bday!” Montana shared on social media.
Even while incarcerated, Max B continued to release music, often recording vocals over the phone, according to Rolling Stone.
He appeared on Kanye West’s 2016 album The Life of Pablo on the track “Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission.”
Earlier this year, he was featured on Wiz Khalifa’s Kush + Orange Juice 2 with the song “Max B Interlude.”
Following his release, Max B hinted at more music to come in a social media post: “It’s time to open the flood gates. See yall in a few.”
