Listen to a new remixed and remastered live version of Prince’s ‘1999’

New laws that would restrict when prosecutors can cite rap lyrics in criminal proceedings were passed by the Senate of New York State yesterday, just a week after supposedly incriminating lyrics were included in legal papers alongside the prosecution of Young Thug and Gunna. There is now one more stage in the process before these new rules become law in New York State.The proposed new rules are contained in Senate Bill S7527, sometimes dubbed the ‘rap on trial’ bill.

First touted last November, the purpose of this bill is to set a new high bar compelling prosecutors to show “clear and convincing evidence” that a defendant’s rap song, video, or other “creative expression” is “literal, rather than figurative or fictional”.Led by Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) and Jamaal Bailey (D-The Bronx), the bill – called ‘Rap Music On Trial’ and dubbed Senate Bill S7527 – has received support since the idea was raised from Jay-Z, Run The Jewels‘ Killer Mike, Meek Mill and more.The bill will now aim to pass through the New York State Assembly in order to become a law.The passing of the bill comes as YSL rappers Young Thug and Gunna have been charged in Georgia, with a large amount of prosecutors’ case against them being taken from their song lyrics.Both rappers were named in a 28-person grand jury indictment and charged with conspiracy to violate the state of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.The indictment centres around the YSL record label and collective, allegedly formed by Thug – real name Jeffery Lamar Williams – in 2012, which authorities claim is a “criminal street gang”.

Ronnie James Dio on May 16, 2010, rock music lost an iconic figure. The man whose mighty voice lit up the music of Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven And Hell was truly a unique talent: a vocalist of immense power, expression and innate melodic flair, an elegant lyricist, and a storyteller of rich imagination.  There is magic in the words and voice of Ronnie James Dio.

Rosalía has shared an earthy new video for ‘Delirio de Grandeza’ – check it out below.The new video sees Rosalía in a forest chopping wood, building a fire and foraging for plants amongst nature.The visual was directed by Mitch Ryan in Downsville, New York and you an watch it here:Last month (April 18), Rosalía shared details of a world tour.The ‘Motomani World Tour’ will be Rosalía’s first world tour and will see her travel to 15 countries for a 46-date run.The tour begins in July in Almería, Spain at Recinto Ferial de Almeria and will then make stops in Barcelona, Madrid, Mexico City, São Paulo, Santiago, New York, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Amsterdam, London and more before wrapping in Paris at the French capital’s Accor Arena.Tickets for the tour are on sale now. You can buy tickets for the shows here and check out the full range of dates here. Rosalía’s album ‘Motomami’, which dropped on March 18, received a glowing five-star review from NME’s Nick Levine, who described the record and its songs as some of “the most thrilling, forward-thinking and discombobulating music we’re likely to hear all year”.“Rosalía isn’t so much carving out her own lane as building her own ultra-modern, super-bendy sonic motorway.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. It’s Harry’s House and we’re all just living in it.Ahead of his second solo album, out May 20, and following two powerhouse headlining performances at Coachella last month, Harry Styles has announced a string of residency tour dates across the U.S.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday that she tested positive for Covid-19. She is currently doing well and is asymptomatic.

The driver accused of killing Nicki Minaj’s father in a hit-and-run last year has pleaded guilty.

Golden Child have unveiled the dates and venues for their upcoming ‘Meet & Live’ tour of the United States.Today (May 6), US-based production company Studio PAV announced on social media that the boyband would be embarking on a tour of the US this summer, along with a poster of dates and locations Golden Child will be performing.Golden Child will be making stops at a total of 10 cities – San Jose, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia.

Porridge Radio have shared their brand new single ‘End Of Last Year’, which is a love song frontwoman Dana Margolin wrote for the band.The track is taken from the Brighton band’s upcoming third album ‘Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky’ and follows on from singles ‘The Rip’ and ‘Back To The Radio’.Speaking about the song, Margolin said: “‘End Of Last Year’ is a love song for my bandmates and for myself. It’s about not trusting my intuition, not trusting my body to heal itself, not trusting the people closest to me, but it is also an ode to all those people, and to difficult platonic love.“It came out of a particularly painful period of communication breakdown and high pressure that hurt a lot, but ended in reconciliation and understanding.”‘End Of Last Year’ arrives alongside a video directed by Maura Sappilo.

Judge Judy Sheindlin has a new show coming!

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorSearchlight Pictures’ queer romantic comedy “Fire Island” will have its world premiere on June 2 during NewFest’s NewFest Pride series.“We are thrilled to kick off our annual Pride month event with the world premiere of Andrew Ahn’s ‘Fire Island,’” NewFest executive director David Hatkoff said in statement on Thursday morning. “This joyful film captures the sexy, romantic, celebratory energy of the iconic NY gay enclave, and we can’t wait to celebrate with the film’s cast and creative team with a blow-out, prideful event in the heart of NYC.”Set in Fire Island, New York’s popular gay getaway Pines neighborhood and inspired by Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” the film stars Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang as best friends who are determined to have the ultimate summer adventure.

In February, New York State Health officials identified a small number of new Covid cases related to a new, even more infectious subvariant of Omicron BA.2. Dubbed BA.2.12.1, it made up only 3% of all new cases in the state for that month. Figures released today by the CDC indicate that in the past eight weeks BA.2.12.1 has not only outcompeted BA.2 in terms of growth, but it has now become the dominant variant in the region made up of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The CDC data indicates that BA.12.2 now accounts for 58% of new cases in the region. In New York state, its share is much higher.

070 Shake has announced her second studio album, ‘You Can’t Kill Me’ – listen to the lead single ‘Skin And Bones’ below.The New Jersey rapper/singer released her first record, ‘Modus Vivendi’, in early 2020. Featuring the single ‘Guilty Conscience’, it went on to appear in NME‘s 20 best debut albums list of that year.It’s now been confirmed that the second full-length from 070 Shake – real name Danielle Balbuena – will arrive this spring via G.O.O.D.

Covid test positivity in California is up 47.6% in the past week, according to the California State data dashboard. One week ago, the 7-day daily test positivity rate was 2.1%. Today, it sits at 3.1%. That’s quite a jump for a metric that is averaged over seven days to account for daily fluctuations in data reporting and testing.