If you’re anything like us, we see an interesting headline during our daily scroll—pause to read it—but then keep scrolling without reading the actual story. So at the end of each week, we’re rounding up all the buzziest, news-worthy headlines you might have missed. Think of it like the “saved” feature on Instagram but for news instead of aesthetically pleasing photos. Steve Lacy’s first iPhone is being displayed at the Smithsonian, Beyoncé’s Club Renaissance is coming to LA, and Central Cee’s new single samples Passenger—this is what you missed.

#1

Beyoncé’s Club Renaissance is Coming to Los Angeles for Two Nights 
Beyoncé blessed us with the album that is Renaissance this past summer, and as we’re all channeling our “I’m That Girl” energy during the day, Queen Bey seems to want us to get riled up in the night, too, as she announced Club Renaissance is coming to Los Angeles this weekend. The event held by Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment and presented by Amazon Music is called “Renaissance in Spatial Audio” and will take place on December 17th and 18th at an undisclosed location in LA. Queen Bey invites fans to a high-fidelity listening session of sorts in a belated celebration of her album’s release. The surprise announcement was alluded to during Paris Fashion Week when she threw a party with A-list musicians and stars like Tyler, the Creator, Doja Cat, Halsey, and Naomi Campbell. The Parisian fest was invite-only, but this time around, she’s opened the event to the public. Tickets were immediately sold out, evidence of the enthusiasm from fans, and for those of us who couldn’t get tickets, we can hold out hope for the rumored Renaissance tour in 2023.

#2

Steve Lacy’s Cracked iPhone Is Being Showcased at the Smithsonian
Singer, songwriter, and producer Steve Lacy adds an unsuspecting accolade to his list of 2022 memorable milestones. His infamous iPhone—notably mentioned in his TEDxTeen talk from 2017—has been added to an exhibit at the Smithsonian. Said iPhone was used by Lacy as early as 2012 to produce much of his music while growing up in Compton, utilizing the GarageBand app and an app called iRig for his guitar. He went on to produce Ego Death, the third studio album by the group The Internet, which was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the Grammy Awards in 2016. The smashed and shattered iPhone is being showcased for an exhibition called Entertainment Nation, which “explores how, for more than 150 years, entertainment has provided a forum for important national conversations about who we are, and who we want to be.” It sits alongside 200-something other iconic objects that are tied to Cyndi Lauper, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and more. Since Lacy’s DIY iPhone production days, he’s produced for the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and YG. His most recent album, Bad Habit, is also self-produced and made waves this year by taking over the Billboard charts. Taking to Instagram to express gratitude for the recognition, Lacy wrote, “my whole family came out to celebrate the opening day with me. so so so grateful. so much love.” As a fan of Lacy’s from The Internet days, it’s deeply heartwarming to see him get his flowers this year. His trajectory is proof that you can achieve your dreams with the bare minimum if you remain resourceful, driven, and willing.

#3

Central Cee Releases Single “LET GO” Sampling Passenger’s “Let Her Go”
Earlier this year, UK rapper Central Cee rose to fame across the pond taking over North America (and beyond) with the single “Doja”. The snippet posted by Cench himself on TikTok before the song’s release led to virality that shows no signs of slowing down. He’s infamously not homophobic and he became the first UK drill artist to collaborate with Lyrical Lemonade for the “Doja” music video which won him the Video Of The Year award at the 2022 MOBOs. If you’ve been following Cench longer than his “Doja” come-up then you’ll know that he’s regarded as a talented lyricist and marketing genius alike. Building on his TikTok success, he used his LA Leakers freestyle to quite literally bridge the gap between his home and the city he was in by mentioning popular UK slang and explaining its US counterpart. After teasing snippets on socials the last two weeks, he’s released his new single “LET GO” which samples the instantly recognizable Passenger song “Let Her Go” from 2012. Take note of how he utilizes samples, “Doja” sampled Eve’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” from 2001 and his LA Leakers freestyle was over a sample of 50 Cent’s “Window Shopper” from 2005. Now, adding Passenger to the list, he gave it the Central Cee treatment changing to beat to be more in line with his UK drill style and flipping the lyrics to be tongue-in-cheek catchy. Keeping the original “only know you love her when you let her go” lyrics from the folk-pop tune, he adds “you said that pussy’s mine, so why’d you let it go? / Haha, you’re such a ho”. Don’t judge the song by those lyrics alone, he laments about a relationship he’s lost venting feelings of sadness and regret while reminiscing on times they had. “LET GO” also comes with a music video shot at Alexandra Palace in London and it’s the first release since his surprise EP, No More Leaks, in October.

#4

Jack Harlow and Dua Lipa Are Reportedly Dating
Dua Lipa and Jack Harlow have more in common than being Grammy-nominated artists—they are certified heartthrobs. So it only makes sense that following Jack Harlow’s Come Home the Kids Miss You album, turning heads with a song called “Dua Lipa” in which he shares “I’m tryna do more with her than do a feature”, that life imitates lyrics and the two are allegedly dating. Seven months after the album’s release, they finally had a chance to hit it off at Variety’s Hitmakers Brunch, which is truly a great start to a couple’s come-up story. According to a Page Six “source”, Jack Harlow has always had his eye on Dua Lipa—understandable—making us believe that his mention of her on his album was not just for rhyming purposes. Maybe he believes in manifestation? Though rumors of romance can sometimes be an art of misdirection, the receipts are adding up. Following the Hitmakers Brunch, he reportedly flew to New York to see her performance at the Jingle Ball, and the two were seen having lunch together in the Meatpacking District a day later, though entering and leaving separately. Check on your Harlow-loving and Lipa-crushing friends this week as hopes for a Cinderella Story romance with either are dampened by this news. Also, hoping Harlow will share some tips on how to “sing things into existence”. If nothing else, maybe there is a “Dua Lipa” remix on the horizon with the namesake herself.

#5

Gunna Released From Jail After Taking Alford Plea in YSL RICO Case
In May earlier this year, Young Thug, Gunna, and 26 members of the YSL collective were arrested in a 56-count RICO case alleging that the two notable rappers and their associates are part of a “criminal street gang”. Since then, they’ve been denied bond multiple times and have been incarcerated awaiting a trial that’s scheduled to start jury selection on Wednesday, January 4th, 2023. Gunna will no longer be a part of the trial as news broke this week on December 14th that he had taken an Alford plea deal and was released from jail soon after. What is an Alford plea? It’s a deal that allows a defendant to plead guilty if it’s in their best interest while maintaining their innocence. Gunna pleaded guilty to a charge of racketeering conspiracy and the corresponding five-year sentence was commuted to time served (he’d been in jail for seven months at the time of his release) and 500 hours of community service. Gunna released a statement through his lawyer that while the plea serves as a public acknowledgment of his “association with YSL” his involvement is purely musical. He continued that he has not made any statements, been interviewed, or agreed to cooperate with the prosecution and testify against any other parties in the case. The deal itself has a term that he must take the stand if summoned to court and called to testify although he has the option of pleading the Fifth. The indictment that led to Thug and Gunna’s arrest cited lyrics and social media posts as evidence of the collective’s criminal activity which prompted an outcry from many members of the music community about the use of rap lyrics in court. 300 Entertainment co-founder, Kevin Liles, and Atlantic Records COO, Julie Greenwald co-wrote The Petition to Protect Black Art document which asks federal and state legislators to adopt bills that limit the use of rap lyrics as evidence in a court of law. There’s also the proposed New York law known as “Rap Music on Trial” (Senate Bill S7527) which asks for similar limitations and has been publicly supported by Jay-Z and other notable artists.