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On Wednesday, the White House announced Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice, Young MC, C+C Music Factory, Bret Michaels, and others for Freedom '90 Freedom 250, a series of National Mall concerts to celebrate the country's semiquincentennial.
The next day "The Real Milli Vanilli" released a statement differentiating themselves from Fab Morvan's "Milli Vanilli," and C+C Music Factory co-founder Robert Clivilles released a statement distancing himself from C+C rapper Freedom Williams, who ranted in a seven-minute toilet video that he'd sooner vote for Hitler than let keyboard warriors tell him what to do. By Friday, almost everyone dropped off the lineup.
Flo Rida is Freedom 250's only act with hits from this century, and the only one who hasn’t yet commented about the controversy one way or another.
We chatted with Kim Petras about Detour and Rare DM about Attention — two bold, independently released electro-pop albums that arrived on Friday.
We also published five new columns for you…
💿 Ugly Beauty
Legendary Cuban-American trumpeter Arturo Sandoval told us about making his new album, Sangú, and joining Karol G at Coachella. And we ran down May's best new jazz.
💿 Breaking The Oath
Atlanta-based Chinese thrash metal band Chariots Overdrive told us about the unconventional path to their rad debut album The End Of Antiquity. And we ran down May's best new metal.
💿 Say What's Real
Young Chicago drill star BabyChiefDoIt, now based in Atlanta, told us about his forthcoming album RAMBO. And we ran down May's best new rap.
💿 Crossing Wires
Montreal dance duo Jump Source told us about their stellar full-length debut Fold. And we ran down May's best new electronic music.
💿 Chained To The Rhythm
We didn't talk to Noah Kahan, but we did examine the folk-rocker's not-that-unlikely everyman stardom and the uncommon emotional complexity of his self-lacerating songs. And we ran down May's best pop.
Stereogum's genre columns are exclusive to paid members of the site, who also get members-only Discord access, playlists, and more.
Olivia Rodrigo, who again lands on our 5 Best Songs Of The Week countdown, addressed the controversy over her babydoll dresses: "It shows how we really normalize pedophilia."
Ian MacKaye and Henry Rollins are helping release a shelved 1977 Cramps album produced by Alex Chilton.
Robert Fripp is still unsure why a hospital orderly shaved his balls.
Linda Perry blasted Green Day for axing her from producing their American Idiot followup: "Billie Joe’s a little pussy."
Nevada City declared it Joanna Newsom Day and she gave a delightful speech before the city council.
Jack Osbourne defended his family’s planned AI Ozzy hologram: "It's not gonna be fucking lame."
When it all clicks.
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Atoms For Peace’s Thom Yorke and Flea reunited onstage and covered Marvin Gaye.
Dave Davies told Billy Corgan that John Wayne Gacy, one of the most infamous serial killers, "was so nice" when they met.
Drake claims nine songs in the top 10 this week, earning Lykke Li her first Hot 100 credit at #1.
A judge ordered Donald Trump’s name off the Kennedy Center and blocked the venue's planned closure.
ear's Rumspringa is Stereogum's Album Of The Week.
Thirty Seconds To Mars are asking fans to scan their eyeballs.
R.I.P. saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins, one of the most important figures in jazz history, and Doug Shaw, a veteran of New York's indie scene and bands including Gang Gang Dance and White Magic.
Phoebe Bridgers appears in the first teaser for Primetime, A24’s To Catch A Predator movie starring Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen.
Our column The Number Ones reviewed BTS' complete nonentity of a chart hit, "Permission To Dance."
She & Him reunited to bring their TikTok hit to Kimmel and announce their first tour in four years.
Peelander-Z members suffered critical injuries after a semi-truck rear ended their tour van.
At Radio 1's Big Weekend, Lola Young performed her new James Blake collaboration for the first time, then joined his set. CMAT gave an awesome performance too, then shared her "deep sadness" over body-shaming comments about it.
Cam’ron settled his lawsuit with J. Cole, and ignored a Verzuz challenge from Jim Jones.
Chief Keef settled his beef with Katy Perry, and dropped a remix with her.
Vini Reilly announced the first new Durutti Column album in 16 years.
Paul Mescal interviewed Paul McCartney, who he’ll be playing in the upcoming Beatles movies. But we will probably not see Aimee Lou Wood interviewing Pattie Boyd: George Harrison’s ex-wife said no one from the biopics reached out to her and that they seem to have “nothing to do with the truth."
Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo (accidentally?) shared 15 random covers from his archives.
Oops, two weeks in a row where I sent this Digest on Saturday. Promise we’ll be back to Friday next time.