Source: Splash News / Splash News

Ever since Lil Nas X dropped the bomb that is “Old Town Road,” he hasn’t slowed down yet, releasing song after song for our eclectic enjoyment. Just this week, he dropped yet another remix to his country-trap hit with “Old Town Road (Remix)” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, Young Thug, and viral sensation Mason Ramsey.

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Although “Old Town Road” is surely bringing in the bread and butter for the 20-year-old star, another stand-out from his 7 EP is the relationship woes banger “Panini.”

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In less than two minutes, Lil Nas managed to sum up the conflicting feelings that can arise when someone reaches success. Friends can start to change and lovers can switch sides faster than a #1 Billboard rise:

“Ayy, Panini, don’t you be a meanie

Thought you wanted me to go up

Why you tryna keep me teeny?”

Whether securing a new job, going away to college, or simply coming into your own, let’s face it, the come-up can leave certain people who were once rooting for you feeling insecure. The even harsher truth is, we can be that very person looking in from the outside trying to control our jealousy. Meanwhile, Lil Nas is singing to us:

“I thought you want this for my life, for my life

Said you wanted to see me thrive, you lied.”

Who knew the young cowboy would go from a song about horses to the real trials of everyday growth. Bringing such personal stories to his music can only result in better songs from Lil Nas that’ll last beyond a one-hit wonder.

Musically, the song also sounds fresh. Lil Nas doesn’t shy away from the country feels thanks to the whistle that intros the track. Then the emotive synths that ground the song add more feeling to the thumping percussion. Add a somber chorus with a melody lifted from the Nirvana track “In Bloom,” and we’ve got a winner.

Don’t get me wrong, “Old Town Road” will probably be played at cookouts and stadiums for years to come. But with songs like “Panini,” Lil Nas is establishing himself as a true artist who’s not afraid to be vulnerable. His recent coming out should prove that the layers are only going to get pulled back even more as he continues to grow.

If you’re curious as to how “Panini” was crafted, you can watch producers Take A Daytrip talk about their process with Lil Nas in Genius’ “Deconstructed” below.

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Source: Splash / Splash News

Ariana Grande recently graced the cover of Vogue and although she’s definitely the star of the show with a candid interview, one fury canine is also getting some shine.

The twenty-six-year-old spoke with the magazine about some pretty personal topics, including her ended engagement to Pete Davidson, her influences as an artist and the grief she still feels from Mac Miller‘s death:

“By no means was what we had perfect, but, like, fu**. He was the best person ever, and he didn’t deserve the demons he had. I was the glue for such a long time, and I found myself becoming…less and less sticky.”

To compliment her words, Grande graced the cover in an all-Black outfit with an oversized beach hat, and while the “Thank U, Next” singer was definitely serving looks, her dog Toulouse was also giving their all for the camera.

Even Ariana herself acknowledged that her pup was conjuring immaculate radiance.

“Thanks for allowing me to be in the background of Toulouse’s first Vogue cover,” she tweeted out to Vogue.

The Internet was quick to recognize that Toulouse was a natural baddie and deserves just as much star status as his momma.

Someone even started a Twitter account for Toulouse rightly named “ariana grandes dog.”

Their first tweet?

“So … hello twitter this is me the queen of the moment.”

“If it wasn’t for me @ArianaGrande would never appears in that cover,” ariana grandes dog continued. “I mean she could but I make her look good in that dress.”

There’s no doubt the dog is probably feeling himself in real life. Twitter seems to thinks so…

Get it Toulouse!

To read Ariana’s full interview, you can check it out here.,

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Source: Patricia Schlein/WENN.com / WENN

Rapper Turned Reality Star Says She Did Not Attack Witness To Alleged Assault Involving Remy Ma

“Love & Hip Hop: New York” starlet Brittney Taylor has been offered a no-jail plea deal following her arrest last month for allegedly assaulting a witness in her separate assault case against Remy Ma.

Taylor was in Manhattan Criminal Court Monday for a hearing on the assault rap, where cops charged her after she allegedly scratched her alleged victim Dina Khalil and threw a cell phone at her face during an early morning argument.

Prosecutors offered to drop the assault charge in exchange for Taylor pleading guilty to harassment in the second degree, a violation, along with a conditional discharge and order of protection between her and Khalil.

But the Manhattan DA’s office said that Taylor rejected the plea deal and the case is now scheduled to go to trial next month.

Following the hearing, Taylor’s lawyer Sanford Rubenstein told us that they are now mulling the deal, but also would be pushing to have the case thrown out.

He added that Taylor’s assault case doesn’t negate that Remy Ma allegedly pummelled her.

“Nothing in this case changes any of the facts with regard to the allegations of assault by Brittney Taylor against Remy Ma,” Rubenstein said.

Taylor accused Remy Ma of slugging her earlier this summer at a concert at Irving Plaza in NYC, and cops later charged her with assault. Remy Ma is due back in court this week.

Source: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic / Getty

Disney Channel mourns the death of another one of their young stars. On Sunday, it was announced that “Jessie” actor Cameron Boyce died Saturday night in his sleep. According to law enforcement:

“The 20-year-old actor,who starred in several Disney shows including “Descendants,” could not be revived after paramedics rushed to his home. Cameron’s family said he had an ongoing medical condition and died in his sleep the result of a seizure.”

Boyce is most known for his role in the ‘Descendants’ TV series and movies, playing Adam Sandler’s son in ‘Grown Ups’, “Shake it Up,” “Austin & Ally” and “Good Luck Charlie.” Cameron’s family released a statement about their son’s sudden passing, writing:

“He passed away in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated. The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him.”

Fans and family alike have taken to social media to mourn the loss of Cameron.

In honor of the late Cameron Boyce, hit the flip to check out some facts of the star.

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Source: Xavier Collin / Splash News

On Wednesday, it was announced that the lands and the seas will be blessed thanks to Halle Bailey getting cast in The Little Mermaid remake.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Halle — who is one half of the singing sister duo Chloe x Halle — will play the lead role of Ariel, the rebellious mermaid daughter of King Triton who yearns to live on dry land. Halle will join a movie that’s already loading up on star talent, with Melissa McCarthy, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina in talks to star in or lend their voices to the live action and CG parts. Production will start in early 2020 and the director of Mary Poppins Returns, Rob Marshall, will also direct this project.

He said in a statement:

“After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence and substance — plus a glorious singing voice — all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role.”

Chloe x Halle are definitely thrilled with the announcement, writing on their social media platforms, “dreams come true.”

But of course, the haters (and racists) had to pop their heads above water to voice their outrage. Not too soon after Halle was announced as Ariel, a #NotMyAriel hashtag started gaining steam, with folks hoping and wishing for a White Ariel.

One redheaded Twitter user even had the nerve to post lackluster pics of herself by the sea, writing “Ariel is a white redhead. I would be a better choice.”

Um…

GIRL.

Some folks might not realize that Black girls have been OWNING Disney princesses since the beginning of time (well…maybe not the beginning of time but at least since “once upon a time.”)

Hit the flip for some showstopping clips of Black girls taking on Disney characters with grace, talent and melanated brilliance.

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Also On Global Grind:

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Source: Chynna Keys – @madenchynna / Dreamville Festival

FINALLY! J. Cole is back, and this time, he brought the whole Dreamville squad with him.  On Friday, Cole dropped the highly anticipated labe compilation album, Revenge Of The Dreamers III, and judging by the reactions on social media, it’s everything fans wanted…and then some.

Leave it to the North Carolina legend and his artists to deliver a quality body of work full of soulful beats, mind-blowing bars and eloquent vocals that ensures this project will go down in the history books.

Everyone from JID, to Cozz to Bas graced the album and evidently pushed their pens to the limit.

If you haven’t checked out ROTD III yet, you’re missing out on some of the best music of the Summer. Hit the flip to check out the most powerful bars on the album that is sure proof that Dreamville is taking over.

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