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. PSA Beyoncé is back, The Weeknd found another way to continue his After Hours era, and the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Prologue EP is released—this is what you missed.

#1

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Has Officially Arrived
As midnight approached and Beyoncé’s seventh studio album drop loomed closer I set my OOO reply for the following morning. I figured a simple, “sorry I can’t, Beyoncé dropped”, would suffice. Per Variety, the full act i RENAISSANCE was leaked 36 hours before its release. But the Beyhive would never dare disrespect Beyoncé by supporting or promoting leaks and even suggested fans report the accounts taking part in piracy. What is a queen without her loyal hive? According to Chart Data, RENAISSANCE “has reached #1 on Apple Music in 100 countries, becoming the first album by a female artist to reach this milestone.” Not that setting records is anything new for B, remember her 28 Grammys? I also have to say my condolences to the Birkin which was swiftly taken off the podium of being the luxury bag by Beyoncé in the album’s final song “Summer Renaissance”. If you haven’t heard it yourself (what else were you doing today?) it was a swift two-bar death, “This Telfar bag imported/ Birkins, them shits in storage”. Ouch. There is much to celebrate among the disco-heavy collection of 16 bangers, so alas I will leave you to your dance parties.

#2

‘The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare’ Coming To 2 U.S. Theme Parks
Do you ever look at someone and wonder what is going on inside their head? You don’t have to with The Weeknd because Universal Studios is doing it for you. They’re even making a club, a hotel, and a station out of their findings—dubbing it “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare”. Just as we thought nothing else could be pulled from the singer’s 2020 album, we’re proven wrong, much like The Weeknd’s past partners when they thought he couldn’t pull anything else from their relationships into his songs. The difference is that we only have to experience the scares and cries caused by the toxic lover for one night. The experience taps into the dark visuals of After Hours, says the creators at Universal Studios, and will unravel what is essentially the “fever dream hellscape about surviving L.A.” at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orland Resort. Even though I don’t consider myself a Halloween person, I can still appreciate the extents that the creators seem to be taking to bring this musical, visual, and psychological experience to life. Soundtracks from the 2020 album like “After Hours,” “In Your Eyes,” “Heartless,” and “Save Your Tears,” are said to be reworked, and fans are promised genuine After-Hours-esque scares from “slashers, bandaged maniacs, and gruesome toad-like creatures that you’ve never seen before.” As if that wasn’t enough, there will also be an “articulated, lifelike figure of The Weeknd’s body that will twitch as guests walk by.” Ever wanted to star in a music video, particularly one inside The Weeknd’s dark and twisted fantasy? This is your chance; do it before you run out of time.

#3

Young Bombs Teams Up With Audrey Mika For Dance-Floor Anthem “Kinda Funny”
LA-based electronic duo, Young Bombs, tapped YouTube sensation, Audrey Mika, for their high-energy summer anthem “Kinda Funny”. This latest pop-doused single arrives on the heels of their single “U Up?” with Stondon Massey. “Kinda Funny” is the perfect fusion of deep house sounds with a modern pop twist—cascading production and all. Lyrically, Young Bombs teamed up with the songwriters Deza (Elio, Zara Larsson) and Rollo (Charli XCX, Noah Cyrus) who perfectly capture the complexities of moving on from someone and the wide range of emotions that follow. It’s the sonic equivalent of going on a high-energy rollercoaster. 

#4

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ EP Released Ft. Tems’ “No Woman, No Cry”
After the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever teaser trailer was unveiled at San Diego Comin-Con, Marvel revealed another surprise. A three-song EP, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Prologue featuring Tems’ cover of the Bob Marley and the Wailers classic “No Woman, No Cry” written by Vincent-Ford was released. Our girl Tems is also featured on the song “Moves” from Beyoncé’s new album. It’s not the first listen to Tems’ reggae sung cover for many, if you were listening closely the track was debuted first in the trailer for the new Black Panther movie. Following Tems’ track is Amaarae’s “A Body, A Coffin” and Santa Fe Klan’s “Soy”. The Oscar-winning musician who was responsible for the score on 2018’s Black Panther movie, Ludwig Göransson, shared a statement with the director Ryan Coogler detailing the Prologue EP as the “first aura glimpse of the film”. “The sound world for the film began with extended trips to Mexico and Nigeria,” the two said. “We spent our days working with traditional musicians who educated us about the cultural, social, and historical contexts of their music. We built a catalogue of instrumental and vocal recordings with them that explored both traditional and non-traditional uses of their musical material. During the nights on these trips, we had recording sessions with contemporary artists who were akin to the characters and thematic material explored in the film.” The film will officially hit theatres on November 11th.

#5

BLACKPINK Drops ‘Ready For Love’ Music Video with PUBG Mobile
We have a rare BLACKPINK sighting this week as the music video for the track “Ready For Love” dropped, and this one, on a battle royale island. Collaborating with PUBG Mobile, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa transformed into their virtual counterparts for the music video, and they lived, laughed, and loved in their serendipitous in-game worlds. From sunbathing on top of a ginormous war helmet to riding a motorcycle to escape the city, BLACKPINK is giving us the ultimate post-apocalyptic bucket list and the pessimistic-futurist in me is saying that I should save this just in case I can check it off one day in the future. Back to the point, though, fans of the international pop stars may find the tunes familiar as the chorus of the song was teased back in 2020 in the BLACKPINK Light Up The Sky movie. This is also not the first time a video game has collaborated with artists, as we’ve seen Fornite do it with Travis Scott and Ariana Grande, and League of Legends with K/DA, but that doesn’t make BLACKPINK’s music video any less iconic. The lovesick girls also worked with PUBG on their virtual in-game concert, which they dubbed “The Virtual” and it happened last weekend. Things are seriously ramping up for the quartet. The music video is said to be the beginning of a long-anticipated roll-out of their new album in August that will be followed by what BLACKPINK’s management calls “the largest world tour in the history of a K-pop girl group” by the end of the year.