{"id":2243001,"date":"2026-01-20T22:46:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T22:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2243001"},"modified":"2026-01-20T22:46:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T22:46:32","slug":"destin-conrad-dc-the-don-naika-gena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/destin-conrad-dc-the-don-naika-gena\/","title":{"rendered":"Destin Conrad, DC the Don, Na\u00efka\u00a0&#038;\u00a0GENA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe big story this weekend was A$AP Rocky\u2019s comeback. After eight tumultuous years, several legal scuffles and three children with Rihanna, Lord Flacko finally unveiled his fourth studio album, <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/lists\/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-all-tracks-ranked-best-songs\/\">Don\u2019t Be Dumb<\/a><\/em>, on Friday (Jan. 16). Featuring immersive, genre-blending production from Ging (fka Frank Dukes) and Kelvin Krash, Rocky\u2019s latest LP also includes collaborations with Doechii, Westside Gunn, Sauce Walka and Tyler, the Creator across its 17-song tracklist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIn addition to a lavish album release party in midtown Manhattan \u2014 guests included RiRi, album collaborator Jon Batiste and The Kid LAROI \u2014 Rocky celebrated the LP\u2019s arrival with performances on <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/music-news\/asap-rocky-snl-debut-danny-elfman-dont-be-dumb-songs-1236157338\/\">Saturday Night Live<\/a><\/em> and Amazon Music\u2019s new <em>Songline<\/em> series.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWhile Rocky reveled in his new music, Bad Bunny shared the<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/music-news\/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-trailer-1236156372\/\"> latest teaser <\/a>for his forthcoming Super Bowl LX halftime show performance. Filmed in his home country of Puerto Rico, Benito\u2019s new trailer finds him walking onto a set adorned with a Flamboyant tree, pressing play on his <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/charts\/hot-100\/\">Hot 100<\/a> top 10 smash \u201cBaile Inolvidable.\u201d \u201cThe world will dance,\u201d promised the trailer\u2019s closing message.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tInstead of sharing new music or teasing live performance, some artists opted for a secret third thing this weekend. Nicki Minaj, for example, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/music-news\/nicki-minaj-don-lemon-minnesota-ice-protest-coverage-1236157557\/\">chose to lambast<\/a> journalist Don Lemon with derogatory language on Sunday (Jan. 18). According to <em>TMZ<\/em>, Minaj started blasting Lemon after his\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/donlemonofficial.bsky.social\/post\/3mcq4j4jsqk27\">livestream from Cities Church<\/a>\u00a0in St. Paul, Minn., where demonstrators interrupted a service to protest the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. \u201cDon \u2018c\u2014k suckin\u2019 Lemon is disgusting,\u201d she wrote in an all-caps X post alongside an image of Chucky from<em> Child\u2019s Play<\/em>. \u201cI want that thug in jail! He would never do that to any other religion. Lock him up!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIn response, Lemon quipped, \u201cI\u2019m not surprised Nicki Minaj does not understand journalism and is weighing in on matters that are above her capacity. However, the more appropriate image for her post is a \u2018Pick Me\u2019 Doll.\u201d Later in his interview with <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/01\/19\/don-lemon-tells-nicki-minaj-sit-down\/\" target=\"_blank\">TMZ<\/a><\/em>, he added that Minaj is a \u201chomophobic, bigoted ignorant woman\u201d who should \u201csit the f\u2014k down\u201d and \u201cgrow some brains.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWith Fresh Picks,\u00a0<em>Billboard<\/em>\u00a0aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&amp;B and hip-hop \u2014 from Destin Conrad\u2019s latest exploration of his <em>wHIMSY <\/em>world to Na\u00efka\u2019s konpa-inflected kiss-off. Be sure to check out this week\u2019s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Fresh Picks: New In Hip-Hop\/R&amp;B - Master Playlist\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/2Ib6oSAcj3NYpmJF2ZPd2D?si=QuzpTTe0SWGhX7GzdlJbcw&amp;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ubpass.co\/billboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/2HpFicp.png\" alt=\"Billboard VIP Pass\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto\"\/><br \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"pmc-gallery-vertical\">\n<div class=\"c-gallery-vertical-loader u-gallery-app-shell-loader\">\n<ul class=\"pmc-fallback-list-items lrv-a-unstyle-list lrv-u-margin-t-2\">\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Freshest Find: Destin Conrad feat. Terrace Martin, \u201cNothing Is Real\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tFresh off his first career Grammy nomination \u2014 best progressive R&amp;B album for <em>Love on Digital<\/em>, which <em>Billboard<\/em> named the best R&amp;B album of 2025 \u2014 Destin Conrad is doubling down on his penchant for jazz. With <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DxMIUDtEohA\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cNothing Is Real,\u201d<\/a> the Tampa Native returns to the world of wHIMSY, the jazz project he dropped late last year, alongside Terrace Martin. Between Martin\u2019s sax and Conrad\u2019s ethereal vocals, the pair deliver a gorgeous rumination on the ephemeral nature of true love and passion. \u201cYour perception and what you think is real\/ Well, I don\u2019t ever know how to feel\/ When nothing is real, real,\u201d they gently coo in the chorus. \u2014 <em>KYLE DENIS<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Lexa Gates, \u201cYou\u2019re Better Off\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tSometimes it\u2019s better to go your separate ways. Lexa Gates returned with her autobiographical<em> I Am <\/em>album on Friday (Jan. 16), and the best of her versatile repertoire was on display with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ExHsQijXapk\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cYou\u2019re Better Off.\u201d <\/a>The Queens native spells out the turbulent love she had for a romantic interest, which drove her so crazy at times, Gates realizes it\u2019s best she cut the relationship off cold turkey and move forward. The 24-year-old combines her piercing lo-fi raps with singing on the chorus, which feels like the standout track is Lexa Gates featuring Lexa Gates.\u00a0\u2014 <em>MICHAEL SAPONARA<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Girlfriend, \u201cSideways\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HmBCGCr7P0I\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cSideways\u201d<\/a>\u00a0captures the vulnerable early stage of love, where closeness feels intoxicating but trust is still being negotiated. Written by\u00a0Girlfriend\u00a0alongside Kenneth Paige, Greg Edwards and Nathan Butts, the song reflects that moment when feelings are\u00a0deep,\u00a0but certainty\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0fully settled. Girlfriend sings about craving real commitment,\u00a0time, attention and emotional presence,\u00a0while also recognizing how easy it is to speak impulsively when emotions are high. \u2014 <em>CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>GENA, \u201cLead It Up\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tI\u2019m not sure if there\u2019s an album I\u2019m anticipating more than this collab joint from Liv.e and Karriem Riggins. Feb. 27 can\u2019t come soon enough because they\u2019re three for three on the singles. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zzt0i14v3k4\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cLead It Up\u201d<\/a> is just so soulful, and I especially like how Liv.e is mimicking guitar riffs with her voice like\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JetsLBlJvGI\">that one scene<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<em>Nice Dreams<\/em>\u00a0where impersonator extraordinaire Michael Winslow does Jimi\u2019s \u201cPurple Haze.\u201d \u2014 <em>A.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>DC THE DON, \u201cLie2Me\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIt\u2019s a new era for DC THE DON as the Milwaukee artist has officially signed to Republic Records. To celebrate this new chapter, he\u2019s shared <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mO7OpaLrpqs\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cLie2Me,\u201d<\/a> his first offering under a major-label partnership. Built around a sample of electronic duo ear\u2019s 2025 single \u201cReal Life,\u201d DC\u2019s new joint honors the allure of a mystery woman whose story you can\u2019t quite pin down. \u201cI, I, I, I like the way you lie to me\/ I, I, I, I\u2019ll let you keep your privacy,\u201d he sings in the chorus of the LouieOTK-produced track, which blends elements of pop-rock, dance and hip-hop. \u2014 <em>K.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Na\u00efka, \u201cOne Track Mind\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNa\u00efka dropped off a final offering ahead of her<em> ECLESIA<\/em> album arriving next month with the unapologetic <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/PhxPYdBRgYs\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cOne Track Mind\u201d<\/a> last week. The 27-year-old singer taps into her kompa roots and brings the island vibes while reversing a heartbreak, and leaving an egotistical lover in the dust, as Na\u00efka realizes she deserves better. She pays homage to her mother\u2019s Haitian heritage by speaking Creole on the outro, while \u201cOne Track Mind\u201d ups the ante for Na\u00efka heading into her long-awaited debut album.\u00a0\u2014 <em>M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Rozzzqween, \u201cMLK\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tJust in time for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Rozzzqween delivered a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/track\/0n0gZu9UIjWPbkRiI6VxWI?si=f0e47f6c75ad497a\" target=\"_blank\">powerful affirmation anthem<\/a> rooted in self-belief, Black pride, and the courage to dream boldly. Self-penned\u00a0and produced by Samuel Bean, the Birmingham singer uses Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s legacy as both inspiration and framework, drawing from the spirit of his \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d speech to tell a deeply personal, modern story. \u201cI\u2019ve got dreams like Martin Luther\u201d\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just a reference;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a declaration that ambition, hope and vision are acts of resistance in a world that often underestimates Black\u00a0people, especially Black\u00a0women.\u00a0\u2014 <em>C.C.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Wiz Khalifa feat. RMR &amp; Max B, \u201cBack Against the Wall\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWiz and Max B seem like a match made in heaven, so it\u2019s cool to see the Wave get on a track with a younger artist that he\u2019s influenced.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BDraRhiHd2k\" target=\"_blank\">This song<\/a>\u00a0in particular is a bit different from the rest of the tape, which leans more towards trap production, with \u201cBack Against the Wall\u201d sounding more like it could be featured on <em>Kush &amp; Orange Juice<\/em>. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BD48pySPt_U\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cI Put That S\u2014t On\u201d<\/a> is another standout track that I could certainly see being used on social media when folks put that s\u2014t on. \u2014 <em>ANGEL DIAZ<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Saint Harison, \u201cBad\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tFor his second single from his forthcoming project, U.K. signer-songwriter Saint Harison is tackling all things \u201cBad.\u201d Written alongside Grammy-winning songwriting-producer duo NovaWav, \u201cBad\u201d delivers more disarmingly honest lyricism, coupled with Saint\u2019s tender, melismatic vocal performance. With a reliance on repetition that recalls the histrionic heartbreak of Keyshia Cole\u2019s classic \u201cI Should Have Cheated,\u201d Saint spends \u201cBad\u201d listing all the ways he should\u2019ve acted up in his dysfunctional relationship instead of taking the chaos on the chin. \u201cShoulda been all of the things that you said\/ Shoulda played your ass when I still had the chance\/ Shoulda made you regret that we ever met,\u201d he proclaims in the chorus of the lush, Rissi-produced midtempo. \u2014 <em>K.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.billboard.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The big story this weekend was A$AP Rocky\u2019s comeback. After eight tumultuous years, several legal scuffles and three children with Rihanna, Lord Flacko finally unveiled his fourth studio album, Don\u2019t Be Dumb, on Friday (Jan. 16). Featuring immersive, genre-blending production from Ging (fka Frank Dukes) and Kelvin Krash, Rocky\u2019s latest LP also includes collaborations with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2243002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[342750,309524,310971,21800],"class_list":["post-2243001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-fresh-picks","tag-genre-hiphop","tag-genre-rb","tag-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Destin-Conrad-DC-the-Don-Naika-GENA.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2243001"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2243003,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243001\/revisions\/2243003"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2243002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2243001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2243001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2243001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}