Missy Elliott, The Killers, and Anderson .Paak Lead RiverBeat 2025 in Celebration of Memphis Music

RiverBeat 2025 brings a star-studded lineup to Memphis this May, featuring headliner Missy Elliott alongside The Killers, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Public Enemy, Ludacris, and local legends in the Memphis Rap OGz showcase. The festival promises three days of music, culture, and unforgettable performances on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Memphis’s musical legacy will be on full display at RiverBeat 2025, where Missy Elliott will lead a star studded lineup that honors the city’s role as a crossroads of sound and culture. Set to run May 2-4 on the banks of the Mississippi River, the three-day festival brings together global superstars and local legends, showcasing the city’s enduring impact on music.

Elliott, a hip-hop trailblazer whose hits like “Work It” and “Lose Control” redefined the genre’s possibilities, shares headlining honors with rock powerhouses The Killers and genre-blurring innovators Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals. Public Enemy, Ludacris, and a slate of Memphis rap pioneers round out a roster that blends big names with deep local roots.

While RiverBeat’s programming spans genres, this year’s spotlight firmly shines on hip-hop. Public Enemy, the iconic group behind politically charged anthems like “Fight the Power,” and Ludacris, celebrated for his Southern rap dominance and dynamic wordplay, join the lineup. Adding a distinctly Memphis touch, the Memphis Rap OGz showcase will bring together local legends La Chat, Crunchy Black, Al Kapone, Skinny Pimp, DJ Zirk, Gangsta Pat, and DJ Spanish Fly — trailblazers whose raw, underground sound continues to influence the global hip-hop scene.

“Memphis is a city where music is constantly evolving,” said Jeff Bransford, Festival Producer at Mempho Presents. “RiverBeat isn’t just about bringing big names to the stage; it’s about honoring the artists who have shaped Memphis and celebrating the city’s ongoing contribution to music.”

The festival also delves into Memphis’s roots in blues and gospel, featuring performances that underscore its place in the cultural fabric of American music. Grammy-winning producer Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell will curate the Royal Studios Blues Jam, which includes blues icons Bobby Rush and members of the Burnside family. Meanwhile, the Sunday Gospel Celebration will close the festival with soulful performances by The Wilkins Sisters, The Jubilee Hummingbirds, and Elizabeth King.

Organizers are building on the success of RiverBeat’s 2024 debut with a host of upgrades, including five stages equipped with immersive visuals, cutting-edge sound, and interactive projections. Two newly added entrances — the North Entrance and the Butler Street Entrance — aim to streamline access for festivalgoers while connecting them to downtown Memphis businesses. Returning favorites like the Ferris wheel, nightly fireworks, and an expanded lineup of food vendors ensure an experience that refle cts Memphis’s vibrant culture.

Tickets for RiverBeat 2025 are now on sale. Three-day general admission passes are priced at $199, with VIP packages available for $849, inclusive of fees. Single-day tickets and the full daily lineup will be announced in February. Fans can visit www.RiverBeat.com for more information.

A$AP Rocky Faces Up to 24 Years in Prison as Assault Trial Commences

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, pictured in a Fenty Skin campaign, are navigating legal challenges as Rocky’s assault trial begins in Los Angeles.

Rakim Mayers, better known as rapper A$AP Rocky, rejected a plea deal Tuesday as jury selection began in his long-delayed trial on assault charges stemming from a 2021 confrontation in Hollywood.

The deal would have required Rocky to plead guilty to one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in exchange for six months behind bars, three years of probation, and a suspended seven-year sentence. Instead, the 36-year-old artist, who faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted on two felony assault counts, declined the offer.

Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, has maintained his client’s innocence, claiming the gun in question was a starter pistol used as a prop for security purposes. "The evidence we have that they don’t know about is going to be devastating—devastating," Tacopina said earlier this year, expressing confidence in an acquittal.

The charges stem from a November 2021 incident in which Rocky is accused of firing two shots at Terell Ephron, a former member of the A$AP Mob known as A$AP Relli, during an argument outside a Hollywood hotel. Ephron testified in November 2023 that Rocky allegedly brandished the firearm, threatened to kill him, and later fired at him, striking him in the hands. Surveillance footage reportedly captured Rocky holding a gun, while the sound of gunfire was recorded nearby.

Ephron, who had a falling-out with Rocky over a financial dispute, alleged the rapper had grown “big-headed” from fame and “failed everybody.” Bullet casings presented as evidence were provided to authorities by Ephron, but no matching weapons were found when police searched Rocky’s Los Angeles home in 2022.

The trial marks yet another significant moment in the rapper’s legal history. Fans may recall Rocky’s 2019 arrest in Sweden for assault, which became an international incident after figures like Donald Trump intervened on his behalf. His experiences have cast a shadow over his career, though they’ve done little to diminish his influence as a cultural icon.

Rocky’s rise to prominence as part of the Harlem-based A$AP Mob collective helped redefine East Coast hip-hop. With hits like “Praise the Lord” and his fashion-forward image, Rocky became a leader in bridging streetwear, high fashion, and music. Despite the controversy surrounding his legal battles, his fans remain loyal, eager to see how the trial will unfold.

Rihanna, Rocky’s partner and the mother of their two children, was not present in court Tuesday and is unlikely to attend the proceedings, according to the defense team.

The trial is expected to last about three weeks.

Black Eyed Peas Scrap '3008 The Las Vegas Residency' Due to Unspecified Issues

The Black Eyed Peas, pictured in a promotional image for their now-canceled "3008 The Las Vegas Residency," announced the show’s cancellation due to "current circumstances." The residency was set to debut in February 2025 at PH Live in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

The Black Eyed Peas have canceled their Las Vegas residency, originally set to begin in February 2025 at PH Live in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The announcement was made Sunday via Instagram Stories, where the group cited "current circumstances" as the reason for the cancellation.

In a message to their fans, known as Peabodies, the group wrote, "It is with a heavy heart that, in light of current circumstances, our Las Vegas shows will not be moving forward as planned." They assured ticket holders that full refunds would be issued automatically and encouraged fans to stay tuned for updates on future performances.

The residency, titled "Black Eyed Peas: 3008 The Las Vegas Residency," was set to be a groundbreaking production, featuring 15 dates across February, March, and May 2025. This would have marked the group’s first residency on the Las Vegas Strip, blending their futuristic aesthetic with cutting-edge technology, including the introduction of an artificial intelligence entity named "Vida."

Will.i.am, a founding member of the group, had earlier described the project as "an interactive journey to 3008," inspired by Disney rides and Las Vegas’ iconic shows. “We predicted this in 2009 with The E.N.D. album,” Will.i.am said in a prior statement. “To think that we would have the first AI member of a globally recognized urban pop-hip-hop group … man.”

The residency was expected to feature the current members—Will.i.am, Apl.de.Ap, Taboo, and J. Rey Soul—and further cement the group’s reputation for blending technology with live performances. Fans had eagerly awaited the innovative experience, which was to build on the Peas’ decades-long career of chart-topping hits and genre-blurring artistry.

Despite the cancellation, the Black Eyed Peas promised to reconnect with fans in the future, stating, "We can’t wait to see you again."

This cancellation comes after months of planning and promotion, leaving fans and insiders speculating about what circumstances led to the decision. Representatives for the group have not elaborated further.

The Black Eyed Peas’ residency was announced in September 2024, following a string of successful tours in Europe and North America. Known for hits like "Where Is The Love?" and "I Gotta Feeling," the group has sold over 35 million albums and continues to influence the global music scene.