Kendrick Lamar becomes first rapper with three albums in Billboard 200 Top 10, Tems becomes first African female artist to have a song reach 1 billion streams on Spotify, Neymar scores first goal since emotional Santos return. 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. Kendrick Lamar becomes first rapper with three albums in Billboard 200 Top 10
Kendrick Lamar becomes the first rapper to simultaneously chart three albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart as GNX returns to No. 1, DAMN. surges to No. 9 and 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city has risen to No. 10. pic.twitter.com/HKvLT4YbdE
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) February 17, 2025
Kendrick Lamar has officially made chart history, becoming the first rapper to have three albums simultaneously in the Billboard 200 top 10. Following his electrifying performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Lamar’s latest album, “GNX,” has surged back to No. 1, moving up from No. 4 with 236,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending February 13. This marks “GNX,” second week at the top spot and its strongest sales week since debuting at No. 1 in December 2024. The album’s success is fueled by 161.01 million on-demand streams, 116,000 album sales, and 3,000 track equivalent album units.
Joining “GNX,” in the top 10 are Lamar’s critically acclaimed albums “DAMN.” and “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” which climbed to Nos. 9 and 10, respectively, from Nos. 29 and 27. “DAMN.” recorded 39,000 equivalent album units, marking its first top 10 appearance since March 2018, while “good kid, m.A.A.d city” earned 37,000 equivalent album units, returning to the top 10 for the first time since November 2012.
2. Tems becomes first African female artist to have a song reach 1 billion streams on Spotify
Tems becomes the first female African artist to have a song earn 1 billion streams on Spotify (“WAIT FOR U”; @temsbaby). pic.twitter.com/Ni92rM8JiD
— chart data (@chartdata) February 16, 2025
Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems has made history as the first African female artist to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify with a single song. The record-breaking achievement comes from her collaboration on Future’s hit track “WAIT FOR U,” which also features Drake. The song, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, quickly became a fan favorite and went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
For Future, this marks his fourth track to cross the billion-stream mark, while Drake adds another song to his impressive list of 21 tracks that have reached this milestone. However, the moment is especially groundbreaking for Tems, whose rapid ascent to international fame continues to set new records for African artists. Her success with “WAIT FOR U” highlights the growing global impact of African music and paves the way for more female African artists to break into the mainstream.
3. Unathi Nkayi performs for the Cuban president at the Havana Book Fair
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South African artist and author Unathi Nkayi had the distinguished honor of performing for Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel at the prestigious Havana Book Fair. As part of the first official South African delegation for literature at the event, Nkayi joined a group of 15 authors representing the country’s literary and cultural heritage. The book fair serves as a global platform for storytelling and artistic exchange, with the South African delegation set to facilitate workshops and discussions. Expressing her gratitude, Nkayi shared her excitement on social media, highlighting the significance of the moment as she performed on the delegation’s arrival day.
The event also celebrated South Africa’s 30 years of democracy, with Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie and Deputy Minister Peace Mabe in attendance. Nkayi emphasized the pride she felt in representing South Africa and contributing to the evolution of storytelling. The delegation’s presence at the fair underscores the growing cultural ties between the two nations. Through her performance, Nkayi continues to highlight the richness of South African artistry on an international stage.
4. Ye And Bianca Censori’s Rep Refute Divorce Rumors Following Grammy Appearance
Rep denies rumours that Kanye West and Bianca Censori are reportedly getting a divorce
The reports come after the rapper’s bizarre social media tirade and the couple’s controversial appearance at the Grammys https://t.co/3Zg67y6Yoc
— NME (@NME) February 14, 2025
Reports suggesting Kanye West and Bianca Censori are headed for divorce have been debunked by their longtime representative, Milo Yiannopoulos. Amid speculation following Censori’s revealing outfit at the 2025 Grammys and West’s recent social media controversies, Yiannopoulos confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the couple remains together in Los Angeles. “Announcements about their private life will come from them directly, not unsourced rumor in the tabloid press,” he stated.
Divorce speculation gained traction after The Daily Mail cited an anonymous source alleging the couple had split and were in talks with attorneys—claims later amplified by the media. The controversy comes amid a chaotic few weeks for West, whose Super Bowl ad featuring a self-shot iPhone clip promoting his diamond-encrusted teeth raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, Censori’s Grammy appearance in a sheer minidress—an apparent nod to West’s Vultures 1 album cover—sparked debate over her role in his public image, with West fiercely defending her fashion choices.
5. Neymar scores first goal since emotional Santos return
CRAQUE! SIMPLESMENTE CRAQUE! 🤩 O Neymar SOBROU na partida contra o Água Santa e saiu como CRAQUE DO JOGO com um gol e uma assistência! Apenas apreciem! 👏 #PaulistãoNaTNT #PaulistãoNaMax pic.twitter.com/mxX8QQj3Hy
— TNT Sports BR (@TNTSportsBR) February 17, 2025
Neymar marked his long-awaited return to Santos with a goal and an assist, leading his boyhood club to a 3-1 victory over Agua Santa. The 33-year-old forward, who rejoined the Brazilian side as a free agent after parting ways with Al-Hilal, had struggled to make an impact in his first three matches. However, on Sunday, he broke his drought in style, winning and converting a penalty following one of his signature dribbles. Neymar also provided a crucial assist, setting up Guilherme for Santos’ third goal and capping off an impressive performance.
Following the match, Neymar expressed his joy on Instagram, posting celebratory photos with the caption: “A very important win… Congrats team!!! Let’s go SANTOS.” The victory signals a turning point for the Brazilian star as he works to regain top form after a difficult spell in Saudi Arabia. Neymar is expected to be in action again on Wednesday when Santos faces EC Noroeste, as he looks to build on his momentum and help his club climb the table.
Featured Image: @ComplexCut/X
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 2024.
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