Latest news with #Fortnite
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fortnite top gamer's 8 most loved weapons - and 8 he hates
Fortnite has amassed a number of different weapons since it came onto the scene in 2017 but pro-streamer SypherPK says some are much better than others Pro-streamer SypherPK knows what he's talking about when it comes to Fortnite. He has created hundreds of videos on the subject for his Youtube channel where he has 10.5m subscribers. And he has a further 2.22m on his More SypherPK You Tube channel for those who "just can't get enough" of him. So when it comes to which weapons are worth the effort - and those best to ditch - he is the person in the know. He has now pulled together a list of his favourite eight weapons which have been in the game over the eight years of the game since its launch in 2017. And while some might be controversial he has set out exactly why he loves - or hates - each one. He says: "Fortnite has a lot of different weapons. Some of them people love and some of them people hate so today I put together a list of the eight most loved weapons and the eight most hated." Most hated 1: Crossbow He explained: "To start with hated weapon number one, the crossbow. This was added early in Chapter 1 and people were pretty excited for an alternate way to kind of snipe people but it was terrible. "It was part of a Valentine's Day update and the blue and purple one only did 75 and 79 damage. But that wasn't even the worst part. "Hitting a shot with this crossbow was nearly impossible. It had a different bullet travel compared to the sniper rifle so nobody was used to it and it only did one structure damage meaning you could not break any builds using this crossbow. "You also had to pull the bow back every single time you shot which was awkward and made it very very slow and clunky." 2: Lever-action shotgun "The thing about this weapon is it replaced the pump so when you remove the pump shotgun and replace it with a weapon that is as weak as the lever action people are going to hate it just a little bit extra. "The damage drop off on this gun is insane. It's only ever useful in super close quarter and honestly it doesn't do that much damage. "Sure it shoots pretty fast but when this was added to the game there was no zero build so all the fights were like box fights and build fights and the fact that it shot faster didn't really help it too much. It doesn't really have an identity." 3: The typhoon blade While this one looks "very cool" with its quality animations he says once people start swinging at you with the typhoon blade and they're really close to you their character is jumping all over the place making it impossible for you to hit a shot. He added: "There were so many deaths that happened where I have somebody one shot they pull out the typhoon blade start spamming it and I just can't land a shot." 4: Charge SMG He says this one is a "no-brainer". He explains: "The whole point of an SMG is it's supposed to be quick you're supposed to be able to shoot people fast, reload fast. "This thing required you to charge the gun before using it, making it the worst SMG Fortnite ever added. let alone maybe the worst weapon Fortnite ever added." 5: Kinetic Boomerang He said following on from the Kinetic Hammer which "was insane" and its successor the kinetic blade gamers were expecting "something crazy". "Maybe the ability to teleport to where the boomerang was thrown, maybe the ability to pull people towards you, maybe a ton of damage. This thing had none of that. "You threw the boomerang. It tracks players, did only 60 damage of throwing. It was clunky, it took too long - 99% of the time this thing was not practical to use - and I'm sure it's the weapon that has the least amount of total eliminations all time on Fortnite." 6: Every DMR According to the gamer every DMR is bad. He says: "I would rather have a sniper or any assault rifle than a DMR. Sure if you hit a couple head shot with this thing it was going to do some damage and yeah maybe the one from Chapter 5 which you could put a bunch of attachments on was somewhat useful because of the attachments but at the end of the day like what are we doing here? "This thing is not a sniper or an assault rifle. It doesn't do the job of either one. It is just mediocre and average." 7: Paper bomb kunai He says this was "so bad" with 35 damage 35 explosive. he adds: "This thing was so bad. It was slow, nobody got a kill with it." 8: All the makeshift weapons The expert says in his view "all the makeshift weapons were bad". "Chapter 2 Season 6 Primal makeshift weapons obviously weren't meant to be used because you had to find parts and upgrade them but having to fight in the early game with a makeshift submachine gun or a makeshift rifle or God forbid like the makeshift pistol this was horrible. "Nobody wanted that. Worst weapons, worst stats, inaccurate no first person accuracy. The only thing they were good for is doing a challenge video where you try to win with only the makeshift weapons." Most loved 1: Guided missile launcher This "very loved" weapon from Chapter hasn't been seen for very long time. But the gamer says the guided missile launcher was "insane". He says: "It was extremely unique. You got to control a rocket that shot out of the guide missile launcher leaving your character behind but then you could track and find your opponents, sending the rocket straight into them. "It was kind of powerful because back then people didn't really know how to build so it was easy to land the rocket on them every single time. But that's not where the weapon really shined because you could actually use this guided rocket and Rocket Ride your teammates or even yourself with the guided missile launcher creating some insane moments and awesome clips. "The rocket itself also did 100 damage so getting hit with this thing was pretty serious." 2: Purple tack He says this is OG classic weapon that did "an insane amount of damage" He added: "If you weren't good with landing your pump shots you were going to go for the tactical shotgun. In Chapter 1 you were either a pump shotgun player or a tactical shotgun player. "The tactical shotgun could keep up with the pump and in terms of damage, sure you didn't have the one pump capabilities, but it did a lot of damage and it was something that you could pick up over the pump. 3: Mythic havoc shotgun "People sometimes complain when a weapon is too overpowered - this was one instance where a very overpowered weapon was actually loved. The ability to hit 250 headshot damage kind of reminded us of the OG Chapter 1 pumps that used to also hit for 250 headshot damage so we kind of felt like it was the OG pump but reskinned in a new way. "It was the first shotgun that could also one pump players who were in zero build because, of course in zero build you have the 50 overshield and that's what made it very, very powerful because even if you missed the head shot and you just hit them in the body you were hitting them for like 116 damage which is a little ridiculous but that didn't stop people from loving it." 4: Stark Industries rifle "This thing was amazing for getting surge for tagging people across the map. It was super accurate and it was one of our first weapons that had two different modes. "If you aim downsight, you were going to shoot slow hard-hitting shots if you hip fired with it it was going to shoot a lot faster making it kind of like a AR SMG combo. It was the best assault rifle during Chapter 2 Season 4." 5: Gold scar The gamer described this weapon as classic which was "a beast" when it was first added with a 97 headshot damage. It is back with the return of Fortnite OG where he says it is still one of the "best assault rifles in Fortnite." He adds: "It still does a ton of damage especially with the old head shot multiplier which is where the scar thrived and what we have have in current Fortnite OG. 6: Mammoth pistol He says this weapon was "an instant classic" as people loved it as soon as it was added. "It literally saved an entire season of Fortnite," he claims. "Chapter 4 season 3 was an absolute disaster and this one weapon managed to save it. "Insane damage, very accurate, fun to use." He added: "We have a Mythic version of it and it goes crazy too. Everyone loves this gun." 7: Spider-Man web shooters The gamer tells viewers: "I know this isn't really a weapon but I had to include it because like this thing was perfect. You were swinging around as Spider-Man better than actual Spider-Man games. You feel like you were playing a completely different game. "Fortnite really showed us that they were different. It had 80 charges so you could use it the entire match and it was actually balanced, like sure swinging a Spider-Man was a little powerful but if you got shot while you were swinging you would fall and take fall damage so they actually managed to make it a very, very unique item." 8: Infinity Gauntlet He says this weapon was "iconic" adding: "We got to turn into Thanos and drop a 30 bomb on the defaults." He said they knew it would be special saying: "200 Shield, 500 health. You get to fly around and jump as Thanos. You would regen your health on kills, making you a walking boss. "This is back when everybody sucked so when you turned to Thanos you were getting 10, 15, 20, 30 kills very easily. One of the most fun I've ever had playing in a video game."
Gizmodo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Lego's June Releases Tremble Before Galactus
And Galactus probably trembles before the arrival of Lego 'Bluey', to be honest. Summer is well and truly upon us, and what better way to beat the heat than to be inside building Lego based on the movies you could be out in that heat going to watch? After last month's Star Wars bonanza, in June Lego's opening up to a whole host of other franchises to get in on the fun with new sets, including the very first Fantastic Four Lego set, a return to Fortnite, and yes… the arrival of the world's most famous Australian dog. Lego Bluey is arguably going to be the big drop of the month, but it is one among many highlights in a bumper month for Lego. The aforementioned Fantastic Four: First Steps set finally brings Marvel's first family to the physical world of Lego, the Jurassic World line is all in on Rebirth ahead of its arrival in cinemas, and Lego Simpsons makes a triumphant return. But that's not all, there's plenty to tempt your wallet this month—and yes, even a little more Star Wars, too. Check out the lowdown on the biggest Lego releases of June 2025 below! Lego Book Nooks This month Lego is launching a new line of designs featuring a series of foldout display pieces that can also serve as themed book nooks in your shelf space. So far the company is sticking to novel-themed ideas, like the debut Sherlock Holmes set and a Lord of the Rings encounter between Gandalf and the Balrog (albeit inspired by its rendition in the Peter Jackson films), but who's to say where the line goes from here? Lego Bluey Sets The kids cartoon sensation is now ready to bring Australian dominion to the world of Lego too, with a series of sets explicitly aimed at young builders in both the Duplo series and Lego's 4+ sets (although the young-at-heart adult Bluey fans will no doubt find some enjoyment with the latter, too). Whether you want something small with Bluey and her friends, or the whole Heeler household in one set, there's plenty for everyone. Lego City The City Tower Lego City is usually only in io9's proverbial wheelhouse when it comes to the line's myriad space exploration sets, but this new tower display is a celebration of all sorts of aspects of Lego City—space included! There's a rocket launch, a train, mirrored police and fire stations, a construction crane, and even a skate ramp for good measure. It's a peculiar mashup, but a fun way to make a Lego City set that reflects much of the line's mainstays. ($210, available here) Lego Star Wars Sets Star Wars got all the fun last month, but that doesn't mean there's nothing from the galaxy far, far away coming in June. It is a smorgasbord of smaller sets though, from a Plo Koon microfighter, a Darth Maul mini-mech, and an Ahsoka-inspired battle pack that gives you a squad of Night Troopers to add to your legions. Lego Jurassic World Rebirth Sets Rebirth is the name of the game this month in the land of Jurassic World, with a whole host of sets inspired by the new movie. The time is now for your Jonathan Bailey minifigure! But honestly, the star of the show might be the smallest set on offer: the adorable Dolores, a baby Aquilops. Lego Art: The Fauna Collection Tiger The Lego Art series expands with an original artpiece, recreating a dazzling tiger head surrounded by florals, which can be customized or even enhanced with flowers from the Lego botanicals range. ($65, available here) Lego Marvel Sets The first Fantastic Four: First Steps set (and first Fantastic Four set outright!) might be the draw here, despite Mr. Fantastic's distressing legs, but it's not the only Marvel set we're getting this month, as Iron Spider swings into the Marvel bust line. Lego Minecraft Sets After a brief bout of Minecraft Movie mania, Lego's back to the regular gaming-inspired sets for the survival crafter, with a variety of builds. The standout, however, is a wonderfully pixelated buildable Creeper—who is not only about as articulated as a Creeper can get, but even can have TNT hidden in its head for an explosive easter egg. Lego Icons The Simpsons Krusty Burger Lego returns to The Simpsons for the first time in a decade with another iconic Springfield locale in the form of Krusty Burger. Alongside most of the Simpsons family in Homer, Bart, and Lisa (complete with an appropriate clown-car variant of the family car from Homer's tenure in Clown College), there's a host of Simpsons stalwarts, including Sideshow Bob, a new Krusty farmer inspired by the season 20 episode 'Coming to Homerica', and, of course, the squeaky-voiced teen. ($210, available here) Lego Fortnite Sets Lego's ongoing digital-physical collaboration with Fortnite continues with a series of sets inspired by the Fortnite Lego Odyssey mode, including a giant-sized Klombo beast. Lego Disney Sets There's only one bit of Stitch-adjacent fever from Lego this month to tie-into the new movie in the form of a buildable Angel, Stitch's cutesy companion from the mid-aughts TV show, but the standout is a huge buildable (and customizable) Dalmatian pup from 101 Dalmatians. Check the price tag before attempting to buy 101 of them, though. Lego Ideas Pixar Luxo Jr. Disney-adjacent, but actually from Lego's crowdsourced Ideas series, this adorable replica of the iconic Pixar mascot from the studio's very first short even includes the iconic Pixar ball too, packed with hidden references to a litany of animated classics—plus, you can even pose Luxo Jr. balancing on it for good measure. ($70, available here)
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When is the replay system coming to Valorant?
Image via Riot Games. The wait is finally over as we are getting the long awaited feature in Valorant, yes, the replay system. Since day one, no other feature has been anticipated by the fans this much. And this was quite obvious, keeping in mind the competitiveness of this 5v5 shooter. On June 2, 2025, Valorant will complete its 5-year anniversary, which is huge for any multiplayer live-service title. We have seen how other titles have fallen apart to sustain in this genre, forget being popular. But this Riot Games shooter has been holding firm since its release in 2020. Replay system is finally coming to Valorant On the occasion of Valorant's 5-year anniversary, the developers of this game have shared a special video on Twitter, sharing their upcoming plans regarding the game. They have stated that the game is going to be upgraded to the Unreal Engine 5. However, the main highlight of the video is the announcement of the replay system. As per the developers, the replay system is coming with the patch 11.06 in September on PCs. However, console players have to wait earlier as their platform will be treated with this feature later this year. As shown on the announcement video, the interface of the replay system is going to be pretty feature packed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Players will be able to analyse their recently played game via the replay system round by round. Not only that, players will get each player's perspective including the enemy team. Besides this, there will be a free moving observer cam. Just like any other replay system, it will have speed controls as well, from 0.1x to 8.0x. Replay system has always been a highly wanted feature. There is no need for an explanation on how competitive Valorant is. Each step and each second counts in this game. And to sustain amidst the competitiveness, players need to analyse every moment of their gameplay. So, it's actually one of the biggest Valorant news in recent times. Read More: Fortnite vs Valorant: Which game should you be playing right now?
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billboard's 21 Under 21: See Who Made the 2025 List
Billboard's annual 21 Under 21 list snapshots the next generation of rising artists — but in 2025, the inescapable teen superstar has become increasingly rare. Ten years ago, this list was stocked full of acts who were already household names: Lorde, Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony and 5 Seconds of Summer. In 2021, Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish were both on the list. This year, however, such future stars are still ascending to ubiquity. More from Billboard Are Teen Pop Stars a Thing of the Past? Why Jessie Murph Believes the Best Is Yet To Come With 'Unexpected' Forthcoming Debut Album How 'Fortnite' Led to 18-Year-Old d4vd Quietly Dominating Alternative Music 'There's not a centralization of key platforms where people are finding artists,' says Mike Weiss, vp of music/head of A&R at UnitedMasters. 'Everything is more niche. To become a superstar, it takes time to build from community to community and expand that base.' That process is typically 'a lot longer now,' says Tyler Brown, co-founder of indie label Heatwave Records, relative to the peak years when he worked at Syco Entertainment on The X Factor. In previous decades, stars were minted by the TV shows and radio stations that served as the central source of music discovery. Major labels had the marketing resources and relationships to inundate these formats, sending listeners scrambling to cough up cash for records or CDs or downloads. Today's fans are spread across a range of streaming services and social media platforms, each with its own priorities and approach to music. In this fractured environment, 'there's no button to push' to blitz everyone simultaneously, says Jonathan Daniel, co-founder of Crush Music, which manages Miley Cyrus and Lorde, among others. 'It's so much less of a monoculture.' As a result, this year's 21 Under 21 leans lighter on pop than in previous years, with a handful of talent rooted in country music — plus, the first dancehall act to make it onto the list. —Elias LeightNames Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, YoonchaeAges 20, 19, 22, 19, 22, 17Label HYBE x GeffenPublisher HYBE x GeffenManagement HYBE x Geffen Last year, when KATSEYE gave its first live performance at Los Angeles' Arena for the annual K-pop festival KCON, the group's Megan remembers it as 'chaotic but so much fun.' It was the first test of the members' bond, with the girl group now saying strong communication is the key to navigating music industry madness. 'We had to learn to be there for each other,' Sophia says. 'We're able to just come up to one another, good or bad, and say, 'Hey, I feel this way.' ' The HYBE x Geffen act will showcase that growth this spring with its second EP, Beautiful Chaos, which follows 2024's SIS (Soft Is Strong) that spawned the Mainstream Top 40 hit 'Touch.' As Manon teases: 'This next era is really authentic to who we are.' What are you most proud of when you look back at this past year? Lara The MAMA Awards. That was our first time doing a big dance break as a group with dancers; there were cheerleaders and a full-on production. Every time I look back on that, I'm like, 'Oh, my God. We did that.' What has been the key to success in your first year as a group? Sophia The biggest thing that we really learned together is communication. We care so deeply about each other, and this is something that we're all so passionate about — this isn't just our job. We're so lucky to do something that we all grew up obsessed with. We've learned that it's something we can connect through and that we have to be honest with each other all the time. At the end of the day, it's the six of us against the world. Megan We really found our flow with each other and how each of us works in different scenarios. When we do performances [now], we're like, 'OK, Megan needs to prepare in the corner, Yoonchae needs her own time, Sophia needs to warm up,' and then we all come together. So thanks to that communication, we all know each other so well and so deeply. What can you share about what inspired your upcoming EP? Manon I always say this, but I feel like [fan army] the EYEKONS and [us] are the same people. We think the same; what they like, we like, and what we like, they like. Sophia We are always on Weverse; we're lurking through Instagram and Twitter. We literally see everything that the fans post and hear them, so hopefully, they'll like what we're coming out with. What's the best advice you would give aspiring young musicians? Yoonchae To believe in yourself and do whatever you want. Daniela It's important to not let others decide your 20Label Columbia RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Disruptor Management In April, Murph made her Coachella debut — and it's one of her proudest moments from the past year. 'Seeing the show and production and everything at that level was such a pinch-me moment,' she says. During the set, she welcomed collaborators Polo G (last year's 'Heartbroken' with Diplo) and Koe Wetzel ('High Road,' which was also released in 2024 and scored Murph her highest-charting Billboard Hot 100 hit at No. 22) onstage, spotlighting how she walks the line of hip-hop and country. 'There are so many outside influences and opinions both online and in real life, it can become really hard to not get distracted or confused,' Murph says. 'I've noticed I'm always the most successful when I follow my gut and do what feels right in my soul.'Age 20Label Darkroom Records/Interscope RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Mogul Vision Alternative artist d4vd has released a steady stream of singles since the arrival of his 2023 debut EP, Petals to Thorns, priming fans for his anticipated debut full-length. In late April, after he performed at Coachella for the first time, Withered finally arrived, featuring Kali Uchis on single 'Crashing.' Reflecting on his timeline, the artist says he's most proud of his output: 'I released a handful of amazing singles and synchs back-to-back while maintaining consistent high quality with each record… There's no formula because the internet is changing every day, so I just make great music and promote it in ways that feel natural and true to me.'Age 18Label Jton Music/Columbia RecordsPublisher BuVisionManagement Jton Music In the last year, Nigerian singer-songwriter Madi says she has 'been able to connect with more people through my music, perform on bigger stages and really step into my sound.' She performed in Uganda and Algeria last fall and this January released her debut studio album, I Am the Blueprint. Its standout track, 'Feeling Alright,' reached No. 15 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs list, becoming her highest-charting entry. In April, she won songwriter of the year at The Headies, which annually celebrate accomplishments across the Nigerian music industry. 'Seeing my hard work pay off and knowing that my music resonates with people means everything to me,' she says. 'Staying true to who I am and pushing through the doubts has been key.'Age 19Label BuVision/Columbia RecordsPublisher Kobalt MusicManagement Mixed Management + Dallas Sessoms Lately, Ian's whirlwind success has made him feel more like Jim Carrey's character in The Truman Show than the former college rugby star he was while attending Clemson University less than two years ago. 'Putting yourself out there consistently is difficult,' says the artist born Ian Smith. 'You're beating a dead horse sometimes.' After emerging with his debut project, Valedictorian, last summer, the hip-hop rookie scored his first Hot 100 hit, 'Hate Me' (with Lil Yachty), while his viral 'Magic Johnson' — his ode to the Los Angeles Lakers great — topped the Bubbling Under Hot 100. With his 2024 debut full-length, Goodbye Horses, starting at No. 86 on the Billboard 200, the 19-year-old is only warming up, with his eyes set on more wins: 'I feel like the bar is in heaven.' What has been your key to success? Talking to my mom and dad and sister. That is numero uno. You meet so many people in the music industry, and unless you're coming into it with a whole squadron of your boys from day one who will stick by you at every moment of your career, it's easy to get in your head about the people that you're meeting and who you want to keep around. There's no stress in that regard with family ever. What's your best advice for aspiring young artists? I need a lot of advice at this point in my career, so it's difficult to confidently give out any good pointers to anyone looking to do what I'm doing. I will say: You are absolutely not the only person who doesn't know what you're doing — unless you do, in which case, shout out, keep it up. That's great. But nobody knows what the fuck is going on at any point in time. As long as you love making music and that's your purpose, I don't think you run into much difficulty. How do you deal with criticism at your age? You have to be able to recognize the difference between constructive criticism and something that's just coming from a place of hatred. Sometimes, the person commenting is just trying to attack your character because, for whatever reason, they don't feel comfortable enough with themself. What was it like working with Chief Keef and Lil Yachty this early in your career? Incredible, mind-blowing, sensational. I listened to both of them so much in middle and high school. They just ran my world. It was crazy to think about being in the back seat of the car, looking out the window, picturing myself as the one who made the Chief Keef or Lil Yachty song that I was listening to. Then, being able to step in and not just work with them but enjoy working with them, interact with them and see how they might act in real life was 20Label Interscope RecordsPublisher Universal Music Publishing GroupManagement Pamela Cornejo Música mexicana star Cornejo's Coachella debut in April follows a string of major achievements for the 20-year-old star. They include performing at the 2024 Houston Rodeo where he sang in front of 70,000 people, which he says is a milestone he's most proud of. But it's not his only one: Last August, the singer-songwriter scored his first No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart with Mirada, his third full-length. The set led to two legs of his Mirada tour, the second of which began in April. He credits his success to 'staying humble, grounded and knowing you have a team that truly has only the best intentions for you.'Age 20Label Artist Partner GroupPublisher Artist Partner GroupManagement Venice Management After making her Hot 100 debut in 2024 with the flirty pop-rap track 'Tell Ur Girlfriend,' Philadelphia artist Bankz has spent the past year building on that success. She released her debut album, After 7, in May 2024; signed an Under Armour deal in December; and kicked off 2025 with her latest single, 'Baddie Decisions.' While she has maintained her momentum, Bankz is equally focused on prioritizing her mental health. 'It's very hard to work on something at a high level constantly and not feel overwhelmed sometimes,' she says. 'I think when you challenge yourself in ways you haven't before, there's no way of anticipating an outcome. But consistency and resilience have made me great.'Age 19Label Lone Star/Santa AnnaPublisher Kobalt PublishingManagement 7s Management Country artist Blankenship achieved a major milestone when his broken-hearted single 'Maxed Out' — from his 2024 EP, Younger Years — was certified gold. 'Just the feeling of knowing that all those people listened to that song and connected to it like they did was insane and meant the world,' he says. The Livingston, Tenn., singer-songwriter is currently on the festival circuit, as well as supporting such acts on tour as Wyatt Flores and Whiskey Myers. As his career takes off, he cautions fellow young artists of one thing: 'Don't let other people make the decisions you want to make.'Age 18Label Street Mob RecordsPublisher Street Mob PublishingManagement Luis Lopez Pacas had an unlikely assist early in his career from none other than Drake. Last October, the Mexican-born singer teamed with the superstar and Fuerza Regida for 'Modo Capone' after Drake DM'd Pacas on Instagram. The song hit No. 11 on Hot Latin Songs. Four months later, Pacas and Drake reteamed on 'Meet Your Padre' from the latter's joint album with PartyNextDoor. The song arrived in February, peaking at Nos. 63 and 103 on the Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200, respectively. In between his collaborations, Pacas (born Cristian Humberto Ávila Vega) released his debut album, Que Sigan Llegando Las Pacas, fueled by the raw emotion of corridos tumbados and urban sierreño. The 15-song set peaked at No. 6 on Top Regional Mexican Albums and No. 7 on Top Latin Albums. As he continues to forge his path in música mexicana — having already been co-signed by Peso Pluma, Junior H and Tito Double P — Pacas says he's already working on his next project, called Cristian, which he produced and promises will be 'a more personal album.' What does it signify to have two collaborations with Drake so early in your career? More than anything, I respect him. We all know how many years of a career he's had, and the fact that he's collaborating with me, even though I'm only two years into my career, is truly something incredible. I met him in person, but we keep in touch through Instagram — we say hello from time to time. Drake's professionalism and his years of a career are evident. What's the biggest challenge for a young artist in today's industry? Being young, I sometimes feel like my age is a great advantage. I feel like many of the people who listen to my music are my age, and I also feel like many people can relate. What has been your key to success? The natural way I've pursued my career and the fact that I always do it with my heart. I feel that to be famous, you have to be on another level. We're known, but not yet famous. What's your advice for aspiring young artists? To let themselves be guided by their emotions. Never let other people make them think differently, because the world can be changed with great 17Label RECORDS Nashville/ColumbiaPublisher Universal Music Publishing GroupManagement Starstruck Entertainment Myers' career has surged over the past year: In January, he made his Hot 100 debut with 'Ends of the Earth' at No. 94, and he also released his debut album, The Select (which fuses his blues, country and rock influences), which he followed with a tour. 'I've been headlining the biggest rooms of my career so far on The Select Tour, and I'm just so grateful,' he says. 'The connection people have had with my music is the driving force that [allows] me the opportunity of living out my dreams. The response has been nothing short of life-changing.'Age 19Label Warner RecordsPublisher Self-publishedManagement The System With two hits on the Hot 100, fast-rising radio traction and frequent appearances on daily streaming charts, the 19-year-old Lower East Side native born Shane Boose is enjoying a meteoric rise thanks to his singles 'Back to Friends' and 'Undressed.' The former peaked at No. 55 while the latter reached No. 83; both songs riff on alt-rock hallmarks from a generation ago that have been absent from the mainstream for years. 'My favorite band of all time is Radiohead,' Sombr says, 'and I'm a big fan of Jeff Buckley, Phoebe Bridgers, The 1975. I listen to a ton of alternative music — it's my genre.' Despite Sombr's breakthrough, his career has been years in the making; after his 2022 single 'Caroline' went viral, Warner Records signed him in 2023. 'I'm a really hard worker,' he says. 'I like to think that, if you really put in the hours and manifest what you want, it will happen.'Age 19Label High IQ/EMPIREPublisher EMPIREManagement Jentry Salvatore 310babii emerged at the forefront of the West Coast's next wave of hip-hop stars with his 2024 breakthrough single — and Hot 100 debut hit — 'Soak City (Do It),' but now his chief concern is transitioning from high school graduate to full-time artist. 'I'm most proud of not dropping out of school and being able to graduate with my class on time last year,' he says. All the while, he was learning outside of the classroom, too: 'The biggest challenge for a young artist in today's music industry is becoming educated on the ins and outs to different contracts and agreements to artist development and more,' he says. 'It's not about getting hot for a moment but having your business in order and maintaining a career.'Age 18Label Music Soup/Darkroom RecordsPublisher WWP PublishingManagement Pretty Sweet Management After breaking through with 'Arkansas Diamond,' Wyatt released his debut EP, Til the Sun Goes Down, last November, which he wrote, produced and recorded in his childhood home. He followed with a pair of collaborations with fellow rising country act Bayker Blankenship on 'Sunday Supper' and 'Jailbreak.' This year, the high school senior is balancing academics with live shows on his headlining Til the Sun Goes Down tour and, in June, will open for Zach Bryan at BST Hyde Park in London. What has been the key to your success so far? Love and support from every which way brought me here. I have supportive fans, but as soon as [I] come back home, I have a supportive family as well. Is it hard to balance home life with touring and recording? It has been a little bit harder for sure, but I always do my best to manage. I'm still in high school, so I have my prom coming up pretty soon and I'm playing that as well. You're working on new music. How has your music evolved? [I've] got more singles coming, but I'm going to try to put out a bigger piece of work. My previous EP was me recording in my kitchen just playing all my stuff. I want to experiment with this [next] EP, to put a lot more production into my work. What advice do you have for other artists wanting to build a career like yours? Just make sure it's really what you want to do and that you're willing to make those sacrifices for 19Label UnitedMastersPublishers Sony Music Publishing Chile/Sony ATV Latin Music PublishingManagement Luis Arce Last year was historic for Chilean newcomer FloyyMenor (born Alan Felipe Galleguillos). The then-18-year-old topped Hot Latin Songs with Cris MJ with their viral hit, 'Gata Only,' becoming the first Chilean artists to reach No. 1 on the chart since 1991. The song ruled the tally for 14 consecutive weeks, finished at No. 1 on the year-end Hot Latin Songs chart and won the Global 200 Latin song of the year at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards and top Latin song at the Billboard Music Awards. 'There are several challenges that one faces being so young, such as having to mature quickly,' FloyyMenor says. 'You also have to learn how to navigate this industry and learn about contracts and legal terms… The key to success for me has always been believing in myself, being clear about my vision and not letting it go.'Age 20Label Warner RecordsPublisher SonyManagement Hallwood Media Bond specializes in arresting, lyrically blunt dream-pop, a sound that helped her track 'Summer Song' become a viral hit last year and yielded a deal with Warner Records in February. The New York native says that 'finding a sound I like — and being stubborn about it' has been the key to her breakthrough, 'even if it takes some time and pisses people off.' After releasing the single 'Simple Girl' earlier this year, Bond is finishing up her debut album and will launch a U.S. headlining tour on June 1 — but is still making time for necessary detours. 'I went to the desert this year with my sister Olivia and my producer Jules [Apollinaire], and we spent two days working on an intro to a song that's not even coming out,' she says. 'I think it's important to let yourself spend time on even the littlest things.'Names Mila de la Garza, Lucia de la Garza, Eloise Wong, Bela SalazarAges 14, 18, 17, 20Label Epitaph RecordsPublisher Warner Chappell MusicManagement Fly South Music Group Punk rockers The Linda Lindas celebrated the October release of sophomore album No Obligation with their first headlining tour. 'It's exciting for us to see how many people have been showing up and singing along,' Mila de la Garza says. 'We've come such a long way from our first show at the Hi Hat six years ago, so we are all proud of our growth.' No Obligation included the band's first album feature (with 'Weird Al' Yankovic), while in late 2023, the group appeared on Paramore's remix album, Re: This Is Why, covering 'The News.' 'When you become well known or established for a certain thing at such a young age,' Lucia de la Garza says, 'it doesn't make it the easiest to grow as an artist. We've had so much fun finding ourselves and our artistry outside of our one viral moment.'Age 19Label Motion Music/Atlantic RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Open Door Management, Minerva Florida rapper Tyler has been working tirelessly since releasing his 2023 debut project, My Vision, which debuted at No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. The following year, the results paid off, with his mixtape Mr. Skii boasting features from BossMan Dlow, Kodak Black and Veeze. 'I'm most proud of how my music has improved and how I have tried new and different flows that I haven't used before,' says Tyler, who spent most of last year touring with Atlantic Records labelmate A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. 'I am way better and more versatile than I was before… The more you practice, the better you get.'Age 19Label IIIXL/SoundCloudPublisher Baby Genius PublishingManagement Lailabug Productions When Laila! performed her viral TikTok songs on YouTube channel On the Radar last summer, fans were finally able to put a face to her name — and her career took off from there. 'Like That' reached No. 3 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, while 'Not My Problem' hit No. 25 on Hot R&B Songs; a later remix featured 14 artists. She celebrated her streak with a 10-city North American tour and plans to hit Europe this summer. 'I'm really proud of myself,' she says about touring right after graduating high school. 'I didn't know that it would unfold this way. I thought I was going to have to get a regular job after high school.' What are you most proud of so far? I'm most proud of making my grandma proud of me and seeing her reactions to everything I'm doing, and my family. I feel like that's my biggest accomplishment, seeing how happy my family is. What's the biggest lesson you've learned? I've learned to take everything in and be in the moment. This is only the beginning, and these things are only going to happen once, you know? What has been the key to your success? [Social media is] probably one of the most important aspects because that's where I got my start by posting stuff on TikTok while I was still in high school, not knowing if anyone was going to see it or care about it. That's the main way I interact with my listeners and put new stuff out there. But I feel like this tour has given me the opportunity to make that social media interaction a real-life interaction, where I get to really talk to people and meet them and sign merch and take pictures and just have fun. It's really exciting to have that crossover because performing is becoming one of the most important things that I do, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, HyeinAges 21, 20, 20, 19, 17Label ADORPublisher HYBE/Sony Music PublishingManagement ADOR While NewJeans has made more headlines in recent months due to its legal battle with label home HYBE — and announced a break in activity in March — the past year demonstrated the continued fan enthusiasm for the K-pop quintet through chart impact. Second EP Get Up, which topped the Billboard 200 in 2023, earned an additional 227,000 equivalent album units last year, according to Luminate, and landed at No. 3 on the 2024 year-end World Albums chart and No. 50 on Top Album Sales. NewJeans' two single releases in 2024, 'How Sweet' and 'Supernatural,' earned 51.6 million and 41.2 million official on-demand U.S. streams, respectively, for the year. Plus, HYBE reports that the physical versions of both singles sold over 1 million copies globally, marking the group's fourth and fifth consecutive physical releases to reach the 19Label N/APublisher N/AManagement N/A Ascendant Jamaican dancehall star Najeeriii has fine-tuned his style and sound since exploding onto the scene with 2023's 'Paddle Boat.' Book of Bob, his debut studio album, will arrive later this year, and the Portmore-based artist has used a steady stream of singles and collaborations — like 2024's RajahWild-assisted 'Life a Di Party' and '1Rifle' — to set the scene. Even so, he says that the biggest challenge for a young artist today is 'to be taken seriously.' But having already established himself as one of the genre's most promising voices, Najeeriii maintains that 'patience' is his best key to success: 'Learn your abilities,' he says, 'and utilize your strengths and weaknesses.'Age 15Label Prosper Entertainment/Warner RecordsPublisher Warner Chappell MusicManagement Prosper Entertainment The 15-year-old country artist already has an impressive credit as co-writer of Quavo and Lana Del Rey's pop-country-trap hit, 'Tough,' and has now turned to his own career with the March release of his debut EP, First Dance, for which he co-wrote all seven songs. After performing at Stagecoach in April, Batson will join Lainey Wilson's Whirlwind tour in the fall. Through it all, he says the biggest challenge has been 'knowing if you are surrounding yourself with the right people, especially at a young age. That's why I love having my family so close to me during this process as we've made decisions together.' This story appears in the May 17, 2025, issue of Billboard. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Street Fighter skins likely returning to Fortnite after 3 years
Image via Epic Games Fortnite players have reason to rejoice as one of the battle royale's most iconic collaborations may be making a comeback. According to well-known Fortnite leakers, the Street Fighter skins - last seen nearly three years ago, are likely returning to the game's Item Shop soon. And leading the excitement is none other than Chun-Li. Updated assets for Street Fighter characters like Ryu, Cammy, Guile, and Chun-Li were reportedly spotted in the recent Fortnite v35.20 update. This move strongly suggests that Epic Games is preparing for their re-release, though no official announcement has been made yet. The news has sent shockwaves across the community, where Chun-Li holds near-legendary status - not just as a tribute to Capcom's iconic fighting series but also due to the character's popularity among players who enjoy pairing her with in-game emotes. Fans divided over Chun-Li's return Though several Street Fighter characters have appeared in Fortnite, it's Chun-Li who dominates fan conversations. Since her original debut in the game, the skin has gained a near-mythical reputation, often praised for its design, animation compatibility, and rarity. Chun-Li's absence for nearly three years turned her into one of the most elusive cosmetics in Fortnite. With Chapter 6 Season 3 scheduled to launch on June 7, many fans believe her return could coincide with the new seasonal update. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Todos os idosos deveriam ter um desse no banheiro! Veja só! Evite quedas e escorregões Saiba Mais Undo Reactions to the leaks have been mixed - some excited, others skeptical. One user humorously declared, 'FINALLY. I CAN REST,' while another commented on Ken's outdated graphics: 'Ken's hair still looking like it was rendered in 2004 and I love it.' Others expressed disappointment, hoping for different collaborations. 'Give us Naruto instead,' one fan tweeted in response to the leak. Nonetheless, the buzz surrounding Chun-Li's possible return continues to grow, with many already preparing their V-Bucks. Chun-Li's return might just be the beginning. The leaks also point to the comeback of several other rare skins including Ferrari, Gamora, Star-Lord, and Rick and Morty. The Ferrari skins, for instance, haven't been seen for over 1,300 days, making them even rarer than Chun-Li's outfit. These asset updates suggest Epic Games is planning a broader wave of legacy skin revivals. However, players are advised to take the news with a pinch of salt until official confirmation is provided by the developers. With Season 3 fast approaching and excitement peaking, players are urged to keep an eye on the Item Shop and their V-Bucks stocked. If the leaks are accurate, Chun-Li and her fellow fighters could be landing in Fortnite very soon - turning the battlefield into a pixelated arcade all over again.
