Will Smith announces new album after two decades, Rema covers Rolling Stone’s Future of Music issue, Neymar’s Brazil return ruined by yet another injury. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
1. Will Smith announces new album after two decades
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Will Smith is making his long-awaited return to the music scene with a brand-new album, Based On A True Story, set to drop on March 28. The Hollywood star and rapper made the announcement via Instagram on March 14, expressing his excitement: “Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all.” The album will feature 14 tracks, including “Barbershop-Day,” which reunites him with his longtime collaborator and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star, DJ Jazzy Jeff. Other guest artists on the project include B. Simone, Teyana Taylor, and his son, Jaden Smith.
Smith’s return to music has already generated buzz among fans and fellow artists. Singer Mario called him a “legend,” while rapper Big Sean responded, “It’s on!!!” Based On A True Story will be Smith’s first album since Lost and Found in 2005, which featured hits like “Party Starter“ and “Mr. Niceguy.“ His previous albums include Born to Reign (2002), Willennium (1999), and Big Willie Style (1997), which cemented his status as a hip-hop icon. Nearly two decades since his last release, Smith’s comeback is set to bring a fresh wave of nostalgia and excitement to the music world.
2. Rema covers Rolling Stone’s Future of Music issue
Rema graces the cover of Rolling Stone’s Future of Music issue.
He becomes the first Black African cover star in the magazine’s history. pic.twitter.com/wsdLh7rqpP
— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 14, 2025
Nigerian music sensation Rema has been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone’s prestigious Future of Music issue, solidifying his status as a global force in the Afrobeats movement. At just 24 years old, Rema has already made history as the youngest Afrobeats artist to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Album, joining the ranks of Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and Tems. In his interview, he reflected on his journey, acknowledging both his struggles and triumphs.
The feature delves into Rema’s groundbreaking impact on Afrobeats, highlighting how his genre-blending sound—infused with elements of hip-hop, rock, and gospel—has helped propel the movement onto the world stage. His record-breaking hit “Calm Down,” which surpassed a billion streams on Spotify, marked a historic milestone. Beyond the music, Rema’s story is one of resilience, overcoming personal tragedy and financial hardships to redefine Afrobeats.
3. Meghan Markle announces the launch of her new podcast about female founders
Meghan Markle announces new podcast, ‘Confessions of a Female Founder.’
First episode April 8. pic.twitter.com/qsaRUDp5ov
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 13, 2025
Meghan Markle has announced the launch of her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, set to debut on April 8. Produced by Lemonada Media, the series will explore her entrepreneurial journey and feature candid conversations with other female founders. Markle expressed excitement about the project, stating that the podcast will offer deep insights into the challenges and triumphs of building a business, drawing from both her own experiences and those of her guests. The podcast follows the release of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and the launch of her lifestyle brand, As Ever.
This marks Markle’s latest venture into media and business after parting ways with Spotify in 2023. Her previous podcast, Archetypes, won the People’s Choice Award for Pop Podcast of 2022 and received a Gracie Award in March 2024 for its contributions to media. Meanwhile, Prince Harry continues his work as chief impact officer at BetterUp and is set to speak at the UpFront Summit on technology-driven global change. The couple recently voiced concerns over Meta’s decision to end its fact-checking system, arguing that it prioritizes profit over public safety.
4. Asake breaks his silence amidst reports of him abandoning his alleged father
Asake shares new freestyle 👀pic.twitter.com/NAuJG7Qva4
— 𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗨𝗠 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗦 📀 (@AlbumTalksHQ) March 14, 2025
Nigerian singer Asake has finally spoken out following reports that he abandoned his alleged father, Fatai Odunsi, who claims to have been battling a stroke since March 2022. The controversy arose after a viral video surfaced online, showing Odunsi alleging that the award-winning artist had cut off contact and ignored his calls despite his deteriorating health. The video sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some criticizing Asake while others urged caution in jumping to conclusions.
In what seemed like a subtle response to the allegations, the “Why Love“ crooner shared a video of himself singing in Yoruba, delivering lyrics that appeared to address the situation. “You can’t satisfy the world. Anything you do, make sure you do it for God… even my father wants to bring me down, but I stand and I am fit, you can’t turn off my light,” he sang. While Asake did not directly address Odunsi’s claims, his message suggested resilience amid the public scrutiny. The singer’s response has only fueled further debate, leaving fans and observers divided over the unfolding drama.
5. Neymar’s Brazil return ruined by yet another injury
🚨🇧🇷 Neymar releases statement after he left the national team due to injury.
“The return seemed so close but unfortunately I won’t be able to return to wearing the heaviest shirt in the world in this moment!”.
“We had long conversations and everyone knows the great desire I… pic.twitter.com/uQXe3nFCoZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 14, 2025
Neymar’s much-anticipated return to the Brazil national team has been put on hold once again after the Santos star suffered a thigh injury, ruling him out of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The 33-year-old forward, who had been named in Dorival Junior’s latest squad, was set to make his first appearance for the Selecao since 2023. However, Brazil’s head coach confirmed that Neymar, along with Danilo and Ederson, is still recovering with his club and will be unable to participate.
With Neymar sidelined, teenage sensation Endrick has been called up as his replacement, while Alex Sandro and Lucas Perri step in for Danilo and Ederson. Neymar’s last outing for Brazil came in September 2023 against Uruguay, where he suffered a devastating ACL injury that kept him out for over a year. His latest setback adds to a growing list of injury woes, raising concerns over his long-term fitness as Brazil continues its World Cup qualification campaign.
Featured Image: Yasmine Kateb for Burger Rock Media
Our Weekday News Digest summarizes five of the hottest news topics worldwide–including celebrity news from Hollywood to Nollywood, the latest trending global headlines from American reports to top African news today, and the best sports stories in 2025.
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