While Lizzo lines up a September children’s book about a girl bonding with a flute and steps into the Sister Rosetta Tharpe role for a biopic she is co-producing with Forest Whitaker, she has also dropped her first 2026 release. ‘Don’t Make Me Love U’ arrives with its music video already out, coming after the 2023 album Special and the lawsuit that followed from former staff citing sexual harassment and a difficult work environment. In 2025, she released ‘Love in Real Life’ and ‘Still Down Bad’, setting up the still-unscheduled Love in Real Life album.
The video brings Lizzo face-to-face with the version of herself from the Cuz I Love You era. Tension builds as present-day Lizzo, with blonde hair, stares down her past self. The meeting acts as a bridge between eras, placing past and present in the same frame so the song carries the weight of time without losing its message of embracing the past to move forward. Its emotional core and Lizzo’s ability to explore her authenticity through music are exactly what we’d expect from this release.
This single shows Lizzo treating her career as one continuous project that stretches across formats. The music keeps moving forward as the film and book sides expand, building toward whatever comes next on the announced album. The combination is a natural extension of how she has always worked, keeping listeners tuned in across every lane she occupies.
As a defining presence in hip-hop whose selective live dates always create buzz, Jay-Z has lined up two Yankee Stadium appearances this July focused on key albums from his catalog. The back-to-back shows fall on July 10 for Reasonable Doubt and July 11 for The Blueprint. Roc Nation confirmed the details shortly after mentioning his planned Reasonable Doubt set for the 2026 Roots Picnic.
His activity on stage has been measured lately, with contributions to the Super Bowl LIX halftime performance that received an Emmy nomination and a guest appearance during the 2025 Cowboy Carter tour in Paris standing out. He also performed at Tom Brady’s 2024 Hall of Fame induction and took part in the 2023 Grammys. That pace follows his last solo tour in 2017 and the co-headlining OTR II dates with Beyoncé in 2018. These elements highlight how Jay-Z spaces out full performances while maintaining impact through targeted appearances.
The Yankee Stadium run will center on the distinct approaches found across those two projects, letting the audience experience the interplay of his flows and the beats that marked those periods firsthand. Given the gaps in his touring history, the opportunity to hear this material presented in full at a major hometown venue feels significant for the genre. It ties into broader interest in full-album live sets and positions the nights as highlights for fans invested in hip-hop’s foundational artists. With the shows still ahead, they represent a chance to engage directly with the roots of Jay-Z’s enduring influence this summer.
Jack Harlow dropped his fourth album, Monica, this past weekend, and it’s a surprising change from what fans might expect. Harlow, who started out as a viral hip-hop artist and later became a pop-rap star, was known for his polished beats and confident lyrics. But on Monica, which he recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, he leaves that style behind. The nine songs swap out the usual swagger for softer, live instruments and lyrics that feel more honest.
The change is clear right from the first track, ‘Trade Places.’ The upbeat, catchy beats from songs like “First Class” are gone. Instead, Harlow sings over live drums and jazz-inspired sounds that feel more thoughtful. ‘Lonesome‘ explores what it costs to put yourself first instead of relationships, and ‘My Winter’ uses the seasons to show feelings of restlessness, with Ravyn Lenae’s vocals adding emotion. The highlight is ‘Against The Grain,‘ where Harlow talks about the pressure of keeping up appearances, ending with a real conversation between his parents that grounds the album.
When ‘Say Hello’ wraps up the album with Robert Glasper on piano, it’s obvious that Harlow is working through adulthood, loss, and personal growth in a way he hasn’t before. Longtime fans will probably see this as a positive step forward.
Brooklyn-born artist D’Chrome Foster is making waves in hip-hop and R&B with his new single ‘Rain’ set for release in 2026. Born Serge R. Thony, he got his start in New York’s battle scene, trading verses at The Pyramid’s “End of the Weak” nights on the Lower East Side. That raw energy now mixes with acting skills he picked up at Esper Studios and during his MFA at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. He’s appeared off-Broadway in shows like Ethel Sings, In Bed with Roy Cohn, and Kansas City Swing, earning praise from The New York Times, which called him “young, cocky and ready to take over the world.” You can still hear the influence of Harry Belafonte and Michael Jackson in the way he delivers every line.
On ‘Rain,’ Foster glides effortlessly between silky melodies and crisp, rhythmic flows. The track weaves R&B’s inviting warmth, pop’s glossy sheen, and hip-hop’s swagger into a groove that feels authentic and lived-in. Like his previous single ‘Pack Yo Bagz,’ it drives forward with momentum, but this time Foster adds emotional clarity that makes every hook linger. Playful yet sincere, the song offers a jolt of energy with a crisp flow and an air of authentic 90’s hip hop charisma. Foster’s stage experience shows in how he handles the mic, making ‘Rain’ feel like a powerful mini-performance. Mixing classic soul style with modern confidence, he gives the song a unique feel while still tipping his hat to artists like Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, and Kanye West. With each new release, he gets better at balancing openness and control, showing he’s one of the most promising new voices out there.
Jairic, the renegade Detroit-born, Cannes-based musician, producer, and storyteller, has carved out a singular lane in experimental hip-hop with raw, self-produced tracks that fuse lyrical intensity, cinematic production, and genre-defying energy drawn from Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Detroit’s underground, classic funk, 60s rock, and film scores. His latest EP, n=40, released December 5, 2025, and led by the explosive focus single ‘Yolo 2 Yoga’, has already earned strong support from Wonderland Magazine, NOTION, CLASH Magazine, EARMILK, and NPR Music, while pushing his total streams toward 2 million. Known for high-impact exclusive performances at Château Les Alouettes in Cannes, Villa Balbiano on Lake Como, and a featured live appearance at the Paris premiere of the short film Azur, Jairic crafts fully independent releases paired with cinematic visuals that marry modern luxury and underground grit.
In this exclusive interview, Jairic dives deep into the making of n=40, the personal war it channels, and what’s next for his unrelenting creative vision.
You grew up in a musical family in Detroit. Can you share an early memory that made you want to make your own music? Every family party meant live music at some point. Someone would grab a guitar, someone else would sing, and the whole room would shift. I remember the energy — people smiling, laughing, leaning in. Music wasn’t background noise. It was the center of gravity. I saw how it brought people together, and I knew early on I wanted to create that kind of feeling myself.
How did moving from Detroit’s underground scene to living in Cannes change your music and the way you think about it? When you step outside your comfort zone, you grow. Detroit gave me grit. Europe gave me space. Living in Cannes, traveling, performing overseas — it gave me a level of freedom I hadn’t felt before. Freedom to experiment, to take risks, to be fully myself without overthinking it. That shift shows up in the music.
You’ve mentioned Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, classic funk, 60s rock, and film scores as influences. How do you choose which parts of those styles to use in your songs?
I produce from experience first — love, loss, joy, pain, observation. Life drives the music. The artists and genres mentioned gave me an education in how to translate emotion into sound. But the foundation is always real life.
Which music or artists have inspired you most over the past year while you were working on n=40?
Honestly? My family. My kids. Watching them learn the world, take risks, fall down, get back up. That perspective changes everything. It makes you want to be sharper. Better. More present.
n=40 seems like your most focused project so far. What did you want this EP to say that you hadn’t shared in your earlier work? Let’s f***ing go.
That’s really the energy. n=40 is mid-war, not midlife. It’s about not slowing down. Not fading out. It’s controlled aggression. Discipline. Belief. It’s the sound of someone who refuses to coast.
‘Yolo 2 Yoga’ stands out as the bold centerpiece of the EP. What personal experiences or realizations inspired the lyrics and that powerful energy? I was wild in my younger years. About eleven years ago, I got really sick — nearly died. It was one of the hardest things my wife and family ever went through.
But there was growth in it.
I took that extreme low and turned it into fuel. It slingshotted me. Now I operate with enthusiasm, gratitude, and drive. “Yolo 2 Yoga” is that transformation — chaos refined into clarity.
The visuals for the n=40singles, especially the ‘Yolo 2 Yoga’ video directed by Vansh Luthra, are strikingly cinematic – can you take us behind the scenes on the locations, the concept of visiting past versions of yourself, and what it was like performing in those settings? Working with Vansh was a masterclass. He had a clear vision, and we locked in on it together. I wasn’t emotional on set — I was focused because I wanted to do the record justice.
Performing on the beach in southern France was surreal. Hundreds of beachgoers watching, taking selfies, sharing energy. It was raw and cinematic at the same time — which is exactly what the song is.
Krono is remixing one of your tracks soon. How did you start working together, and what made you want to add an EDM style to your music? Krono is super dope. We connected through management. I’ve always genuinely loved EDM — I’ve been to some incredible shows across the world with a close friend of mine, and that energy is unmatched.
Their remix took the record somewhere unexpected. It unlocked a different emotional layer in the song. It’s not just louder — it’s deeper in a different way. I’m excited for people to hear that version.
You’ve called n=40 “mid-war” instead of midlife. What personal or creative struggles does this project deal with, and how does it feel to share that intensity with everyone? You have to keep fighting. Keep believing in yourself. Keep showing up for your people. That’s the war.
It’s not always loud. Sometimes it’s internal. Discipline. Faith. Persistence. Relentless enthusiasm for what you’re building.
I’m humbled to share that intensity. The reception so far has meant a lot.
As you look ahead to the rest of 2026, what can fans look forward to? Will there be new music, more videos, live shows, or anything else you’re planning?
Everything.
A full-length album titled L’Americain drops this year. We’re filming heavily — cinematic visuals, global locations. There’s another n=40 remix coming with a major EDM artist. And we’re planning a European tour.
J. Cole just added more shows to The Fall-Off World Tour after fans snapped up tickets so fast that multiple markets sold out in minutes. The North Carolina rapper’s latest album The Fall-Off, widely discussed as a potential final Album, has turned this tour into a high-stakes event, with supporters treating every date like it could be the last time they’ll hear Cole unpack his life over beats in a live setting. A GRAMMY winner with a decade-plus run of platinum albums and sharply observed bars, Cole has built one of hip-hop’s most loyal audiences, the kind that lines up early and moves fast when tickets drop.
The rush hit during the February 17 pre-sale, wiping out inventory in several cities before the February 20 general on-sale even began. Social media quickly filled with fans venting about missing out on the original 50-date routing. Responding directly to the demand, Cole’s team has slotted additional concerts in Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston, Toronto, Brooklyn, Chicago, and Dallas, giving more people a shot at experiencing the live intensity that has defined his shows for years.
Still set to launch July 11 in Charlotte, NC, the tour will hit major North American stops including Miami and Los Angeles before heading overseas to Europe, Africa, and Australia. These new dates underline the pull Cole still has in the genre, ensuring more fans can catch what feels like a pivotal moment in his career.
Across her R&B discography, Janet Jackson has consistently reshaped the genre’s possibilities. Control (1986) delivered assertive new jack swing production and a run of chart-topping singles that announced her as a standalone force, topping the Billboard 200 and R&B albums charts. Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) followed with hard-edged rhythms and socially conscious themes, spawning seven commercial singles that dominated pop and R&B airplay alike. Subsequent albums janet. (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997) explored deeper emotional and sensual layers, contributing to her five Grammy wins and lasting impact on contemporary R&B.
Now she’s added Japan to her 2026 calendar with four confirmed dates: June 9, 13, 14, and 17. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, who turns 60 in May, is simultaneously celebrating the 40th anniversary of Control and the GRAMMY Hall of Fame honor for Rhythm Nation.
The shows build on momentum from her blockbuster 2025 Resorts World Las Vegas residency and teases of bigger plans ahead, keeping her live presence as vital as ever.
Jairic released the music video for ‘Still AF Gospel’ today, the powerful final track on his n=40 EP from December 2025. The Detroit native, now living in Cannes, started out producing for local rappers before going full independent, writing, producing, and performing everything himself. He pulls from Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Detroit’s underground, classic funk, 60s rock, and film scores, building a sound that’s earned nearly 2 million streams. Recent shows at Château Les Alouettes in Cannes, Villa Balbiano on Lake Como, and the Paris premiere of short film Azur highlight his live pull, while n=40 got strong looks from Wonderland Magazine, NOTION, CLASH Magazine, EARMILK, and NPR Music plays.
‘Still AF Gospel’ hits with tight lyricism over aggressive, thrashing production and a delivery that doesn’t let up. Directed by Vansh Luthra, the video puts Jairic in a preppy outfit, moving from upstart and bratty energy to heavier adult party scenes and moments of reflection through classic cinematic metaphors through the use of mirrors and reflections, all driven by a performance that feels straight out of a sermon. The EP as a whole sharpens his approach, locking in off-kilter drums against thick bass and layered samples that keep the momentum tight without losing focus, making it his most controlled and rewarding project yet.
This release lines Jairic up with the bold independence of A$AP Rocky, Eminem, and Kanye West.
Jairic shared: “‘Still AF Gospel’ is a love letter to my children — a reminder to learn relentlessly, love deeply, and never lose the edge this world requires. It’s where my father instincts meet the principles I live by. These codes are my faith. Protect absolutely. Reflect honestly. Strike only when necessary. This is gospel — still as f**.”*
J. Cole has shared the tracklist for The Fall-Off, framing it as his eighth and final studio album. The North Carolina rapper posted the details on Instagram February 4, laying out a 24-track double-disc project split into “Disc 29” and “Disc 39.” After two decades of building from mixtapes to platinum releases, Cole is positioning this as a full-circle moment, returning to the thematic core of his 2007 debut The Come Up while reflecting on life at two pivotal ages.
The discs trace returns to his Fayetteville roots: titles like “Two Six” (nodding to the local area code), “Bombs in the Ville”, “The Villest”, and “Whole Wide World Is the Ville” all center the city that shaped him. The back cover shows a wall covered in posters of teenage idols including 50 Cent, Eminem, Canibus, Beanie Sigel, Ghostface Killah, and more, visualizing the influences he grew up studying. Ibrahim Hamad and T-Minus serve as executive producers, with no features confirmed yet.
Cole accompanied the reveal with a detailed note explaining the structure as a bookend to his career, contrasting the hungry 19-year-old who left for New York with the man he’s become at 39 and 40. The project promises introspection on love, craft, and home across the two ages, closing out an era defined by sharp storytelling and self-production.
Ari Lennox is back on the road with a full North American run supporting her third album, Vacancy. The R&B singer-songwriter has mapped out more than 30 dates, starting April 12 in Seattle and running through key markets like Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Oakland, and beyond. This marks her most extensive headline trek yet and her first since the 2023 tour behind age/sex/location, which hit major U.S. venues and solidified her live reputation.
Vacancy dropped last month, entirely produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, two veterans who helped shape the album’s blend of classic soul structures and contemporary edge. The record picks up where her previous work left off sharp lyricism over warm, detailed arrangements, while pushing her vocal range into new territory. Coming off a two-year break from touring, Lennox seems primed to translate that studio polish into stage presence.
The routing leans heavy on urban centers with strong R&B audiences, giving fans across the continent a chance to hear the new material live for the first time. After the introspective run of age/sex/location shows, this cycle should feel like a reset bigger rooms, fresh songs, and the kind of setlist depth that only a third album allows. Passes are moving now for what looks like her most ambitious live chapter to date.
04-12 Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater 04-15 Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre Oakland 04-16 San Francisco, CA – The Masonic 04-18 Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live Sacramento 04-19 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan 04-21 Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre 04-23 Inglewood, CA – YouTube Theater 04-24 San Diego, CA – SOMA 04-26 Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium 04-28 Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 04-30 Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater 05-02 Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center 05-03 New Orleans, LA – Fillmore New Orleans 05-05 Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre 05-07 Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater 05-08 Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts 05-10 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium 05-13 Chesterfield, MO – The Factory 05-15 Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live 05-16 Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre 05-17 Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre Detroit 05-20 Toronto, Ontario – Massey Hall 05-22 Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre 05-23 Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway 05-24 Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia 05-27 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount 05-30 National Harbor, MD – The Theater at MGM National Harbor 06-02 Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome 06-03 Raleigh, NC – The Ritz 06-05 Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center 06-06 Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
![Jairic Talks “Mid-War, Not Midlife” Mindset and Refusing to Slow Down on n=40 [Interview]](https://8oh8.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/0L9A0944-e1763629588650-768x849.jpg "Jairic Talks “Mid-War, Not Midlife” Mindset and Refusing to Slow Down on n=40 [Interview]")
