BRUNO Mars has tied the record for the longest-running number-one song in the 68-year history of Billboard’s hot R&B/hip-hop songs chart.
His single “I Just Might”, from his Billboard 200-topping fourth album “The Romantic”, reached its 31st week at the top spot on the chart dated October 10, matching the mark set by Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther”.
The track accumulated 5,3 million United States streams and 51,9 million airplay audience impressions in its latest tracking week.
Having debuted at number one in January, Mars’ single has dominated the rankings alongside Drake’s “Janice STFU”, with the two tracks holding the top two positions for 18 consecutive weeks.
Mars now stands a few days away from claiming the sole record, though upcoming chart entries from Drake’s deluxe release “HABIBTI” could challenge his reign. — Wires
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R&B singer Freddie Jackson dies
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson, best known for his smooth 1980s hits “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “You Are My Lady”, has died at the age of 70.
His family confirmed in a statement on his official Instagram account that he passed away on October 5, just three days after his birthday, though no cause of death was provided.
Jackson grew up in Harlem singing gospel at White Rock Baptist Church.
He launched his career in New York’s club scene before making a breakthrough with his 1985 platinum-certified debut album, “Rock Me Tonight”, which earned him Grammy nominations for Best New Artiste and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Across his decades-long career, he became a defining voice on urban radio with multi-platinum projects like 1987’s “Just Like the First Time”.
In 2024, Jackson publicly shared his diagnosis with chronic kidney disease — a condition affecting over one in seven American adults — partnering with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness about the illness. — Wires
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Offset says Paris casino confrontation was a skit
Rapper Offset has clarified that a viral video showing him involved in a heated argument at a Paris casino was actually a staged skit to promote his upcoming album, “GMFU”.
Clips published by TMZ showed the artiste arguing over a blackjack table on the Champs-Élysées and referencing bets ranging from US$10 000 to US$20 000 per hand. Speaking exclusively to The Neighborhood Talk, Offset explained that news outlets misconstrued the promotional stunt as a genuine conflict.
The campaign comes ahead of his album release on October 23, following the release of his lead single “Something I Need” and his interactive fan hotline, NEED FM. — Wires
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Eminem partners clothing giant
Eminem is teaming up with NERDS Clothing for an exclusive capsule collection debuting at New York Comic Con, running October 8 to 11 at the Javits Convention Centre. Announced via Instagram, the line features a limited-edition skate deck, a long-sleeve tee, a lightweight bomber jacket and hand-embellished arcade pieces created by New York artist Danny Cortes. Alongside the physical merchandise available at booth #3253, the partnership includes an original fan video game titled “Marshall’s Massacre”, developed by Fan Arcade.
Highlighting the milestone, NERDS Clothing CEO Eric Medina expressed his pride in collaborating with the Shady Records team, adding Eminem to a brand roster that already boasts past partnerships with “Street Fighter”, “Sonic the Hedgehog”, “Astro Boy”, “WWE” and the NBA. — Wires
