T-Pain is years into his music career, but it seems he’s still not used to fans’ reaction to his fame and stardom. In an interview with GQ, he says he began experiencing fanfare “a little bit before that, kind of the ‘I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper)’ era” but that it made him ask questions like, “What’s the big deal?” and “Why do you think I’m important?”
His reaction has remained the same over the years. “Even still to this day. I’m a person like you. If we’re both in the same airport, on the same flight, there’s nothing special about what I’m doing. It’s not a big deal that you get to see me,” he says.
“It’s become a thing that people know about me. They know how I feel about pictures and videos and stuff like that. I installed in everybody like, Chill the f*** out,” T-Pain continues. “We’re all doing this together. I’m only as important as you make me. I get it, and I appreciate it, but we’re all supposed to be chilling together. I just get to be on the other side of the camera more than most people.”
While he notices “the appreciation is there and the love is there,” T-Pain says that “trying to make me more important than anyone else that’s also waiting on their flight…just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Blxst has new music on the way, and this time, it’s not an EP. He announced Thursday that he’s readying for the release of his debut album, which will be titled I’ll Always Come Find You.
The announcement came via an Instagram post featuring a teaser that sees him in a Buick Grand National with a “Birdie” license plate, taking a late-night drive through the city and eventually stopping at a chauffeur car service garage called Evgle & Son. He ends the video saying, “If you’re ever lost, I’ll always come find you,” and revealing the release date: July 19.
“This is the most confident I’ve ever felt in my music. What I had to overcome while making this album changed my entire creative process, and the fans deserve to see the growth from that,” Blxst said in a press release. “I would be doing a disservice to not reach the heights I dreamed of reaching when I first started as an artist. No better time than now.”
To kick off the album, Blxst has released the Anderson .Paak-featuring single, “Dance with the Devil,” and its video.
“I’ve been a fan of Anderson .Paak since his Malibu album. His approach as an artist and tone of voice inspired me while coming into my own artistry,” Blxst said. “Full circle moment, he organically reached out to me summer 2023 to collaborate with him and the group Free Nationals. I took it as an opportunity to shoot for the stars and asked for him to be a part of my debut album as well.”
“This song is a perfect blend of two artists from California and is sonically undeniable from first listen,” he added. He said the song’s about “the tug-of-war with temptation in love and relationships.”
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden on Friday addressed his poor performance in Thursday’s presidential debate, just hours after he faltered on stage in his matchup against former President Donald Trump.
A senior campaign aide told ABC News that the president is “absolutely” not considering dropping out of the race after stumbling with answers and is committed to a second debate. During the rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, a more energetic-appearing Biden acknowledged that he’s not a young man, but contended that his morals and history prove that he’s still fit for the job.
“Folks, I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but … I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong, and I know how to do this job,” he told the roaring crowd. “I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up.”
The crowd constantly shouted “Four more years,” during the event which also included remarks from first lady Jill Biden
Biden spent much of the rally pointing out what he called Trump’s false claims during the debate about the economy, immigration and crime.
“I spent 90 minutes on stage debating a guy with the morals of an alley cat,” Biden said repeating a zinger from the debate. “I think he set a new record for the number of lies told at a debate.”
Biden dug in further bringing up Trump’s conviction in a New York criminal court and pending criminal and civil trials.
“Donald Trump isn’t just a convicted felon. Donald Trump is a one-man crime wave,” the president said.
Biden also reiterated that Trump helped to end abortion rights for women across the country and contended that the former president and “MAGA Republicans” would push forward a national abortion ban.
“I made it clear last night you reelect me and Kamala [Harris] we will make Roe v. Wade the law of the land,” he said.
Jill Biden, who wore a dress with the word “vote” written all over it, also defended his performance.
“What you saw last night on the debate stage was Joe Biden, a president with integrity and character who told the truth,” she said. “And Donald Trump told lie after lie after lie.”
Biden told reporters immediately after the debate that he had a sore throat and didn’t have concerns about his performance.
“It’s hard to debate a liar,” he said.
When the president and first lady landed in Raleigh early Friday morning they were greeted at the tarmac by prominent North Carolina Democrats, including State Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, and about 250 supporters.
Biden spent time speaking with the supporters and took photos with them before he left the airport.
Following the Raleigh rally, the president was headed to New York City to deliver remarks at the grand opening ceremony of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, the first LGBTQIA+ visitor center within the National Park system.
Biden will end his day with a closed-door campaign reception in New York.
ABC News’ MaryAlice Parks contributed to this report.
Dopamine was released two weeks ago, and coincidentally, Normani is experiencing a sense of joy as a result.
“I have gratitude. Like I said, I’m still processing my feelings but more than anything, I’m so glad the weight is lifted,” she said during an appearance on the Zach Sang Show, when explaining how she feels post her album’s release. “I feel like I can be present. I feel like I can live as opposed to feeling like I’m surviving and trying to fight to keep my head above water. That gets exhausting, so I’m in a much better place.”
After experiencing delays due to various reasons, including her parents’ cancer diagnoses, Normani already has a goal to ensure that recording her sophomore effort is “much more enjoyable.”
“I can’t wait, especially knowing what I know now,” she said.
Megan Thee Stallion delves into MEGAN the person on her brand-new album, released under Hot Girl Productions. The project boasts 18 tracks, including previously-released songs “Cobra,” “BOA” and “Hiss,” and featuresVictoria Monét, Big K.R.I.T., Kyle Richh and partner of her Hot Girl Summer Tour, GloRilla.
Meg also teamed with UGK on a song titled “Paper Together,” featuring a posthumous verse from one of her favorite rappers: Pimp C. Additionally, Yuki Chiba, who Meg worked with in Tokyo earlier this year, appears on the album in a track titled “Mamushi.”
MEGAN, now available on digital services, comes after the extension of her Hot Girl Summer Tour, which sees Meg’s return to Atlanta and Charlotte, as well as an appearance at Lollapalooza. She also announced a few dates in Europe and the U.K. in July.
According to Taraji P. Henson, who saw Meg perform in LA, the concert is “amazing.” “That was my first time seeing her perform live on her stage, headlining. She’s amazing,” Henson told People. “She has been able to withstand all of the adversity and rise above it. She’s incredible. I love you, Megan, and I’m so proud of you. That’s my baby girl, by the way.”
“I’m like auntie, you know? I’m a girl’s girl. Anything women are doing, I’m there,” she continued. “I’m the cheerleader. I’m the loudest one in the front cheering them on, and that’s what you should be as an elder.”
She added, “Be here for these babies! You know, it’s hard enough out here for women, and what I’m not gonna be is another obstacle for another woman. So, I’m a champion. I’m a team player. I’m a girl’s girl. Go Meg. Go Meg. I got you. I love you.”
Guests at the Old Town Pour House watch a debate between President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee former President Donald Trump on June 27, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — After President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off during the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, swing state voters were quick to weigh in on the candidates’ performances.
Dan Olszewski — a self-proclaimed socially liberal and fiscally conservative Republican entrepreneur from Wisconsin — said he was the kind of voter who helped secure a victory for Biden in his home state during the 2020 election.
Olszewski said he supported Nikki Haley in the GOP primary this election cycle and won’t support Trump after Jan. 6, however, he reached out to ABC News Thursday night to vent over Biden’s debate performance.
“This is an unmitigated disaster for Biden. Shockingly bad,” he wrote.
Olszewski said the debate didn’t change how he plans to vote, but he doesn’t think Biden has done himself any favors.
“Doesn’t change my perspective since inept is better than evil but not sure how it can help any undecided go toward Biden,” he told ABC News.
In the swing state of North Carolina, voters were sharply divided on the candidates’ debate performances.
At a watch party organized by the Biden campaign, some voters were adamant that Biden had a strong debate performance, while others expressed reservations to ABC News.
“It’s obvious he’s old. He’s over 80 and that’s obvious throughout the debate. However, he’s had several amazing moments,” said Garrett Warner.
When asked by ABC News which moments particularly stuck out to Warner, he said, “I can’t remember any in specific, but there were several moments where Donald Trump said an outrageous thing.”
At a GOP watch party in North Carolina, River Collins told ABC News that Trump won the debate: “You see how articulate he is. He’s very disciplined. President Biden is all over the place. He’s losing his words. He’s saying the wrong words. He’s confused.”
Shannon Flemming, a Biden supporter, told ABC News, “I can tell he’s being very careful with how he speaks and some people might interpret that as being feeble, but we have to remember he has a speech impediment, and therefore, take that into consideration.”
Speaking with ABC News’ White House correspondent MaryAlice Parks, a former Nikki Haley caucus leader in Iowa, who said she once laughed out loud at the idea of voting for Trump, thought Biden’s performance was a “disaster,” quipping, “I mean wow.”
Thaila Flores from New Hampshire walked away from watching the debate disappointed and confused, telling ABC News, “The RNC and DNC are to blame for this.”
“All they are doing is arguing over who was the worst president. Biden can’t process his thoughts and Trump has not answered a question,” Flores said.
With less than a five-month countdown to Election Day, and recent projections from 538 placing the candidates at a near-tie among polled voters, the presidential debates are poised to be make-or-break events for Biden or Trump.
The CNN debate marked the first of two debates in the general election season. The second will be hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10.
