On Oct. 31, Billboard China‘s SPOTLIGHT Artist Book Issue 02 officially dropped, featuring XIAOJUN, a member of the boy group WayV, on the cover with his debut solo EP, Hey, Somebody. Spanning four themed visual chapters, the issue blends personal musical expression with high aesthetic appeal and fits within Billboard China‘s global, premium special-edition lineup.

SPOTLIGHT special issue is Billboard China‘s print and digital publication project, launched this April for the Chinese music market. The debut issue features SM Entertainment‘s trainee group SMTR25, with content distributed globally through Billboard China‘s international network — earning rave reviews and igniting buzz worldwide. XIAOJUN’s takeover of the cover for issue 02 proves his growing influence at home and abroad, while cementing SPOTLIGHT — on the back of its debut issue’s positive market response — as a launchpad that keeps delivering premium content, discovering standout musicians, and building a global showcase platform.

On Oct. 26, XIAOJUN released his debut solo EP, Hey, Somebody, officially stepping out as a solo artist and kicking off an exciting new chapter in his career. The five-track EP features the title song “Hey, Somebody” in both Chinese and English, alongside “Wave, Sky High” and “To Us.” Known for his instantly recognizable vocals and deeply expressive delivery, XIAOJUN offers listeners a warm, healing escape through his music. He was also involved in writing and composing several tracks, demonstrating not just his vocal chops but his artistry as a songwriter — giving both fans and industry insiders a glimpse of his creative potential.

The photo spread of this issue is rich in artistic tension, breaking down the musical persona XIAOJUN presents in Hey, Somebody into four visual states: Silent Green for inner calm, True Blue for self-discovery, Burning Red for fiery passion onstage, and Dialogue White for sincere connection with fans. The full narrative arc peels back his many layers as an artist, giving fans a visual feast packed with genuine emotional resonance.

XIAOJUN’s appearance on Billboard China‘s SPOTLIGHT Artist Book Issue 02 combines the musical essence of Hey, Somebody with a four-color visual narrative, elevating him from an auditory experience to a three-dimensional artistic icon. This also showcases the vast potential of this young artist — who possesses both vocal prowess and creative talent — on the international stage.

Going forward, Billboard China will keep scouting global talent and spotlighting standout artists from around the world, chasing cutting-edge trends, and blending music culture with fashion aesthetics to deliver bold, premium content with a global attitude.

Chris Brown and Usher are bringing the R&B Tour to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a record-breaking five nights, but the mini-residency got off to a rocky start with their first show on Thursday night (Nov. 5).

Per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the concert started over two hours late. Brown and Usher never hit the stage together and their sets were cut short as the show was pressed against the midnight curfew. T.I. and Young Dro were the lone special guests for the night.

Breezy attempted to calm the storm and defend himself from the backlash. “Internet [cap],” Brown wrote on his IG Story early Friday (Nov. 6). “Don’t fall for it.”

When Usher made it on stage, he told fans, “Welcome to my show,” which only enflamed rumors of a rift with CB.

“After this tour Chris need to stay far away from Usher. Dead ass,” one fan wrote on X. “Throw that my ‘big bro’ shit in the 🚮.”

Another added: “They need to go ahead and wrap this tour up.”

There will be four more shows to get back on track in Atlanta for Usher and Brown. The duo’s next chance comes on Friday (Nov. 6), which will be followed by shows on Sunday (Nov. 8), Tuesday (Nov. 10) and Wednesday (Nov. 11) before the trek heads to Los Angeles.

The co-headlining tour has been a cash cow thus far, as the run was the highest-grossing and best-selling trek of September. According to Billboard Boxscore, the R&B Tour grossed $77.4 million and sold 423,000 tickets across 10 shows in the month.

Billboard has reached out to Live Nation and reps for Chris Brown and Usher.

Baby’s back.  

Two weeks after his big reveal, Lil Baby goes and drops Fresh, the followup to WHAM which arrived at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 following its release in February 2025. 

The Atlanta native packs it in with 17 Fresh tracks. Just two of those feature guest appearances: “All My Partnas” with Future, Young Thug and 4PF running mate Rylo Rodriguez, plus “In Your Head,” on which Rodriguez gives an assist.

Sadly, there’s no Sabrina Carpenter collaboration — something the rapper recently admitted he was open to. “I’m still in that box a little bit, but I’m more open to stepping out of the box,” he told The New York Times’ Popcast last month. “The box is bigger. As I step out a little bit, the box gets bigger.”

He added: “Even a Sabrina Carpenter — just say, for instance, in my head, I don’t have a song on my hard drive to send to her. But if we sit there and create something, or she sends me something, I feel like I could make it work.”

The hip-hop star got the wheels moving on his new project in July with “Dead Fresh,” a Pharrell-produced number that cracked the Billboard Hot 100’s top 20, peaking at No. 18. Pharrell premiered “Dead Fresh” during Louis Vuitton’s Spring-Summer 2027 Men’s Show the previous month, in June.

Lil Baby has amassed a ridiculous 160 titles on the Billboard Hot 100, including 13 top 10 appearances, and a further nine titles on the Billboard 200 chart, with four No. 1s. Baby closed out the year 2025 with The Leaks, a mixtape that debuted and peaked at No. 17 on the all-genres albums tally. The Leaks proved to be a late bloomer, as it lifted 25-1 in its second week on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart, for his fifth consecutive leader.

Fresh is Baby’s fifth studio album. “S/o To Everyone Who Played A Role In Bringing This Album To Life,” he writes on his Instagram.

Stream Fresh below.

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to New Music Friday’s most essential releases each week — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.

Last week, we featured Dominic Fike, Mariah Carey and Queens of the Stone Age.

This week, Lil Baby is back with his anticipated fifth album; JENNIE drops a new single for the animated Netflix film STEPS; Dove Cameron releases her long-awaited debut album; and Boys Noize returns with his first solo studio album in five years.… plus much more.

Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Lil Baby, Fresh

After scoring his third consecutive Billboard 200 No. 1 album with WHAM last year, Lil Baby is gunning for his fourth with Fresh. The new set arrives with a title inspired by his recent hit single “Dead Fresh,” an infectious, Pharrell-produced joint that soared to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped Rhythmic Airplay. Stacked with guest appearances by frequent collaborators Future, Young Thug and Rylo Rodriguez, Fresh finds Baby delivering 17 new songs that reassert his position as one of the most gifted mainstream MCs to blow up this decade. — KYLE DENIS

JENNIE, “Someone To Hold”

The inviting disco-colored intro of “Someone To Hold” neither sounds like a typical song for JENNIE nor a Disney princess — and that’s what makes it magic. The colorful pop song shows a new side of JENNIE’s artistry that leans more playful and vibrant than anything on her solo debut full-length, while also matching the fresh take of the movie it’s from — as the upcoming musical comedy Steps reimagines Cinderella from the perspective of the stepsisters. — L.H.

Dove Cameron, Final Girl

Despite launching her career over a decade ago in Disney TV and film franchises — also lending her voice to both — Final Girl is Dove Cameron’s debut full-length. At long last. The dramatic and soaring album delivers a range of tempos and emotions, from softer songs like pop ballad “Silver Screen Baby” and the raw “Immortalized” to uptempo dance-pop single “When In Rome” and the haunting and heavy “Skin On Bone.” It’s an album that was well worth the wait, and offers so much possibility and intrigue as to what sounds and styles Cameron will want to explore next. — L.H.

Kings Of Leon, “Rose”

Veteran rock band Kings Of Leon has released its 10th album, O My Beloved — and the first the band has ever self-produced. That decision paid off, as the gorgeous album marries thoughtful and melodic production with deeply personal storytelling about the member’s families and upbringings. Described in a press release as a “love letter” to the road that brought the band to this point, it feels just as much a love letter to the fans who have walked that road with them for more than two decades. — L.H.

XG, “Depends”

Since debuting in 2022, Japanese girl group XG have kept busy — especially this year. Since releasing its first full-length in January, titled THE CORE – 核, the group has embarked on its second world tour and has now, amidst that outing, released more new music with “Depends.” The electro-pop track showcases the members vocal strengths, from hard-hitting raps to syrupy, soaring high notes — all of which are united with groovy, metallic production and making for a high-energy addition to its set. — L.H.

Rex Orange County, “Elvis (featuring Brendan Yates)”

British alternative artist Rex Orange County is back with his sixth album, Dream Fatigue, with featured artists including Mustafa, Daniel Ceasar and Turnstile lead singer Brendan Yates (on “Elvis”). There’s a dark beauty to the song, on which Rex sings of lover-boy nerves: “I’m not so calm, I shake my legs like I’m Elvis/ I wanna be your only friend ’cause I’m selfish/ I wanna stay here forever like it’s Vegas/ There’s no one else I wanna share this hotel with.” Yates joins for a final verse before he and Rex harmonize on an outro that lingers long after the last note. — L.H.

Slayyyter, “Hey Boyyy”

In just one month, on Dec. 4, Slayyyter will unveil the counterpart to this year’s acclaimed WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA album. Aptly titled wor$t man in america, the new album will contrast the perspectives she shared and ideas she explored on its predecessor. Frenetic new single “Hey Boyyy” delivers on Slayyyter’s signature sound thought is a bit softer in its lyrics, striking a balance only she can between a chaotic nature with good intentions. “I can’t stop blushing/ I’m too old to feel, more than nothing, she sings ahead of the chorus in which she admits, “Hey, boy, I got a funny little secret/ I get so nervous when you talk to me.” Not even ascendant superstars are immune. — L.H.

Boys Noize, 7LLVSION

After nearly two decades as an underground hero, it feels like the world finally caught up to Boys Noize. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross tapped him to remix their 2024 score for Challengers, then brought him on to co-produce much of their 2025 Tron: Ares soundtrack, finding clear connective tissue between their own industrial rock and the industrial electronic of the Boys Noize catalog. The Iraqi-German producer born Alex Ridha then lived out a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy, effectively becoming a member of Nine Inch Nails while opening for and playing with the band on its Peel It Back run before releasing the collaborative Nine Inch Noize album and playing a pair of Coachella shows that some called among the best in the festival’s history. On top of all that, he and Skrillex activated their longstanding side project Dog Blood last month with a headlining set at Portola, where they teased new music.

And now the producer returns to himself with 7LLVSION, his first solo studio album in five years. An all-killer-no-filler 12-song collection, the album is ferocious and unrelenting, drawing on EBM, punk, new wave and industrial to build music that’s hard as hell (“Illusion,” “Hyytup”) and often deliciously unhinged (“1+1+1”). Collaborators arrive from across the globe — Brazilian funkeiro Adame DJ, post-Soviet electro-punk collective Locked Club, Argentine rapper TAICHU, German duo Brutalismus 3000 — but Ridha never loses the thread. 7LLVSION is the work of a producer who spent years in other people’s worlds, then came home with something to say. — KATIE BAIN

Jack Harlow, Sweet Action II

After taking a blue-eyed-soul detour earlier this year with his Monica album, Jack Harlow is going back to his roots with Sweet Action II, the official sequent to his breakthrough 2020 Sweet Action EP. While that older project housed the career-catapulting “Whats Poppin,” Sweet Action II leans on the ’90s for its exploration of romance, hence Babyface’s appearance on standout track “Too Soon.” — K.D.

JENNIE strides on out with her latest solo cut “Someone to Hold,” which appears on the soundtrack for the forthcoming Netflix animated film, Steps.

The BLACKPINK star shares in full her new song, written and produced by Justin Tranter. “Someone to Hold” is light on its feet, a melodic neo-disco production with strings, slapping bass, and layers of JENNIE vocals.

On it, she sings: “After, after everything that we’ve been through / The ins and outs, the upside downs and good times too / You’re still the shooting star that’s in my skies / You’re still the only one I want in every life.”

Tranter, who wrote and produced three more original songs for the film’s official soundtrack, has described “Someone to Hold” as “pure danceable joy inspired by vintage organic dance pop.”

Directed by Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, Steps sends the tale of Cinderella in a different direction. According to a statement, Cinderella’s “evil” stepsisters Lilith (Ali Wong) steals the magic wand belonging to the Fairy Godmother (Bette Midler) and hijacks the Royal Ball with Margot (Stephanie Hsu). Enter Priscilla (Nikki Glaser), a “villainous schemer who swoops in and snatches the throne.” With Priscilla in charge, consider the party over. And the happily-ever-after ending ruined.

Realizing her terrible move, Lilith must join forces with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) in an epic quest, with battles royale and friendships forged along the way.

“We love how Jennie’s bright and spirited ‘Someone To Hold’ represents Lilith, Cinderella, and Margot’s sisterhood, giving audiences a shot of energy and positivity straight to the heart,” Tzue and Ripa comment in a statement.

Steps is produced by Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, Kim Lessing, with Poehler and Lessing producing for Paper Kite Productions.

The companion soundtrack arrives Nov. 20, the same day as Steps rolls out on Netflix. JENNIE is coming off her biggest hit as a solo artist with her guest work on Tame Impala’s “Dracula” remix, which went to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart and enjoyed a scary Halloween streaming boost.

Pre-save Steps here and stream “Someone to Hold” below.

Justin Timberlake has countless hits on his résumé, 39 Billboard Hot 100 entries as a solo artist and 13 more as a part of *NSYNC.

JT sat down with Complex on Thursday (Nov. 5) to reminisce on his decorated catalog and rank the best songs of his career, and he ultimately went with “What Goes Around…/… Comes Around,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2007 and landed on Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds album.

“I would put this at No. 1 or No. 2,” he said. “It’s the first song I wrote for FutureSex/LoveSounds. Maybe I should dispel a rumor at this point, which has gone around forever, which it’s not a personal story of mine; it’s actually a personal story from a friend.”

Timberlake continued: “He was going through it and telling me what had happened. I said, ‘Do you mind if I write about this?’ And I quote, my friend said, ‘Yeah, torch that bi—. What goes around comes around.’ I was like, ‘I have to go. Thank you, I have to go.’”

It has long been rumored that “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around” was inspired by his close friend Juan “Trace” Ayala’s fractured relationship with The Girl Next Door actress Elisha Cuthbert.

“I just went in and again, this song was written in damn near 20 minutes,” JT added. “It was just flowing. The interlude that goes with it and then you put the video with it,” he said, referencing the Scarlett Johansson-starring clip. “We shot a 10-minute video we shot for it. This just hit on all cylinders for me.”

Timberlake gave “What Goes Around” the nod over “Mirrors,” “My Love,” “SexyBack” and “Cry Me a River” to round out his personal top five.

Elsewhere in the interview, Timberlake opened up about how Ye told him that “SexyBack” inspired him to make “Stronger,” which saw West bring in Timbaland to get the drums correct on his Graduation smash.

“You could probably find it, Kanye came to one of the shows on the FutureSex/LoveShow Tour. I had him come up and we did ‘Stronger’ together,” JT recalled. “He showed up and was suited up like I was. It was a moment. I remember talking a lot about that song.”

As for the future, Timberlake revealed that he worked on a few songs with Don Toliver after popping out at the “Can’t Say” rapper’s Miami tour stop in August. Toliver sampled JT’s “Rock Your Body” on his OCTANE standout “BODY.”

“I was like, ‘Don’t you have a studio on the road?’ He was like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘Cool, take a shower. Let’s work.’ We stayed at the arena for a couple hours. We did a few ideas,” he teased.

Watch Justin Timberlake’s full appearance on Complex‘s Re-Rank below.

The Blue Wave that swept through Texas this week also has some Dragon Ball Z energy.

Nathan Johnson, a veteran litigator and Texas state senator, was elected this week as attorney general of the Lone Star State, assuming the role in January 2027.

Johnson lists swimming, reading “boring books,” and making peanut butter as his guilty pleasures, but his interest in the popular anime television series Dragon Ball Z became an early career move.

“If you grew up watching Dragon Ball Z, you might know me better than you think: I composed the musical scores for 67 episodes and five movies, and had a great time doing it,” he writes on his Facebook page.

Those “wall to wall” scores were cut in the 2000s and include Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest, Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might, Dragon Ball Z: Broly — Second Coming, Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn and Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon.

“It was a lot of fun,” Johnson recounts in a video posted in June. “I had a one-year-old at the time, and I remember him sitting on my knee and stuff blowing up. He was like ‘oh, daddy, Goku,’” he continued, identifying the show’s lead character.

“He just thought it was super cool. Even then it just gave me street cred with my kids’ friends and it gave me a creative outlet and a cultural connection that very few people had the opportunity to have.”

Created by Akira Toriyama and produced by Toei Animation, Dragon Ball Z is a sci-fi fantasy that follows the adventures of Goku, an alien warrior. The anime premiered in 1989 in Japan and was syndicated in the United States on Cartoon Network from 1998 until 2008. Its celebrity fans include Kendrick Lamar, Steve Aoki, Bad Bunny, Big Sean and Anuel AA.

The multihyphenate Johnson holds a B.S. in physics from the University of Arizona and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and took office in 2019. Since then, he has authored at least 433 bills and more than 130 into law.

Johnson won the Texas attorney general election on Wednesday, Nov. 3 as the Democrats routed the Republicans in the midterms, seizing control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. On the way to an historic victory, the Dems flipped seven Senate seats, nearly 30 House districts, five governorships and up to 12 state legislative chambers.

This week, Bob Dylan is knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door — well, arguably the closest earthly thing to it — with the folk-rock icon meeting Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Wednesday (Nov. 4).

The Catholic headquarters revealed that the two figures had linked up by sharing a photo on Instagram of them shaking hands. With the pope smiling warmly in his usual traditional white robes, Dylan wears a hooded black zip-up underneath a jacket and looks at the Bishop of Rome intently.

“Pope Leo XIV met with American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in a private audience on Wednesday, November 4,” the caption simply reads.

Other snaps from the meetup show the two men in conversation while sitting together at a table and posing together in front of a piece of artwork. Another photo features them standing and talking as Dylan leans against an umbrella.

According to Vatican News, their meeting was “brief, consisting of greetings and a few lighthearted exchanges.” The pope also apparently gifted Dylan a rosary, while the musician returned the favor by giving him a copy of his Chronicles: Volume One memoir.

Pope Leo XIV ascended to the religious institution’s top job in May last year following the death of Pope Francis, becoming the first American-born cardinal to do so. He recently made headlines — and history — by voting via mail-in ballot in the United States midterm elections, which ended with Democrats reclaiming power over both the House of Representatives and Senate.

His meeting with Dylan comes one day ahead of the 10-time Grammy winner’s planned performance at the Palazzo dello Sport, the latest stop on his Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour. He’s charted 81 entries on the Billboard 200 over the course of his career, topping the tally five times.

The political prognosticators warned of an incoming “blue wave.” As it turned out, the wave was more like a “blue tsunami” as the Democrats swept back into control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

It was a long night for the Republicans, as the Senate slipped out of their grasp with the Democrats flipping Texas, Maine, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, and both Carolinas. Two dozen House seats flipped for the team in blue.

For the Democrats and their supporters around the globe, it was a night of celebration. And one that assures Donald Trump completes the final two years of his presidency as a “lame duck.”

Many artists and actors joined the party, posting thoughts and outright joy on the historic Dems victory. A return from power after years in the political wilderness. And, for the Conservatives, a demoralizing defeat.

Mandy Moore kept a close eye on the count, proof of which can be seen in here multiple posts on Instagram Stories. “Texas, this keeps getting better and better…” she writes. In another post, Moore acknowledges the work of Stacey Abrams, the politician, lawyer, and voting rights activist, who she described as as “a hero” who “opened the door for tonight.”

Henry Winkler is in his happy place. The veteran actor, who played the Fonz in “Happy Days,” responded to a post on X from social media Joanne Carducci, who put it out there: “Checking in — how are you all feeling right now?!!!” Winkler wrote, “Dreams do come true.”

Earlier, the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Willie Nelson, Tinashe, and Bruce Springsteen urged their fellow Americans to get out and vote.

Adéla, like so many Europeans, was invested. Particularly so when, on the eve of Election Day, the White House TikTok shared a pro-Trump video using her hit song “Nicole Kidman” as the soundbed. The Slovak hit back with her own TikTok, pointing out to Trump and his supporters that the administration’s choice of song was “obviously so f—ing wrong, on so many levels. Because I stand for about zero of the things that that party stands for, and that person stands for.” Adéla couldn’t vote, but she suggested to those who can, do. Her “Go Vote” message was punctuated with a blue heart.

Springsteen did. “Our vote is our voice,” he reminded election officials. “And it’s up to you to ensure that our voice is heard. Olivia Rodrigo did her part for Amy Acton’s governor race in Ohio, when she wore a shirt in the state’s capital Columbus on her Unraveled Tour last Wednesday Thursday (Oct. 29) that read “Dr. Amy Acton for Governor.” On the big day, Rodrigo posted a “vote” montage on her socials. When the votes were counted, the Democratic physician defeated her Republican rival, the billionaire tech mogul and brief DOGE department co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy who ran with a controversial attack ad.

Hollywood rejoiced, with actors Alyssa Milano, Molly Ringwald, John Leguizamo, and talk-show kings Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert among the stars who got in on the action with social posts. The Jimmy Kimmel Live host used his opening monologue to poke fun at Trump, JD Vance and the inner MAGA circle. “It seems to be after all the talk about Nicki Minaj’s ass, Jon Husted’s ass, the only ass on Trump’s mind tonight is the one that just got handed to him,” he quipped.