"Accelerando" comes from pop provocateur's first album in six years

Grimes performs with Cobrah at the Gobi Tent during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2026 in Indio, California.

Grimes is back. Today, Claire Boucher revealed “Accelerando,” the first single from her upcoming album Psy Opera after teasing the record with a trailer Thursday. Psy Opera marks her first full-length work in six years.

“From the AI debate to immoral wars to a bad ex to looksmaxers [sic] to the importance of religion, Psy Opera will cover everything Grimes witnessed as a woman of history during her hiatus from pop music,” Grimes said in a statement (via Pitchfork). The pop star first revealed plans for Psy Opera this spring to Interview, but no release date has been announced yet.

A complete track list hasn’t been unveiled either, but Grimes’ conversation with Interview mentioned Psy Opera titles “The Light Ages” and “Eve Is Online,” the latter which was featured in the album teaser trailer. The trailer finds Grimes retelling the Gospel of John in the New Testament with AI embellishments: “On the first day, God created the large language model,” Grimes deadpans.

“Accelerando” recalls bits of Grimes’ last full-length Miss Anthropocene and was co-produced by Vadakin and Grimes. The title may or may not be a reference to the sci-fi short story collection of the same name by Charles Stross; some of the stories concern superintelligence and the purported theory of the technological singularity, so we wouldn’t put it past her.

Grimes’ fifth album Miss Anthropocene was released in 2020. “I totally quit music a couple of years ago,” she told Interview in April. “Everything I’d been going through with the public and my personal life and having kids, I was like, ‘I’m just going to be a stay-at-home mom. Screw this.'” This involves the dissolution from her partner Elon Musk, whom she met in 2018, had three children with, and split from in 2022. She has denounced him for bringing her son X Æ A-Xii to the White House and used Twitter to attempt to contact him for help involving a “medical crisis” concerning one of their children.

In 2023, as the generative-AI boom first began, Boucher gave her consent to artists who wanted to use her voice in AI music. She said she would split royalties 50/50 “on any successful AI generated song that uses my voice … I have no label and no legal bindings.”

More recently, she’s kept busy producing songs for Adéla, collaborating with Sevdaliza, and featuring on songs created by ex-boyfriend Anyma. According to Interview, Grimes is also reportedly worked on a documentary on machine consciousness called First Contact.

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo on Aug. 20, 2003 in New York City.

Pharrell Williams is pushing to dismiss the lawsuit from his Neptunes partner Chad Hugo, arguing that after three years and three versions of the complaint, Hugo still hasn’t clearly identified a copyright claim that belongs in federal court.

In a new filing obtained by Rolling Stone, Williams and his lawyers say Hugo named no specific songs in his original complaint, identifying only the album No One Ever Really Dies. An amended complaint later listed eight songs that were not on that album, but Hugo dropped all eight from a second amended complaint filed last month. The latest version of the lawsuit identifies only EarthGang’s “U Gotta,” but it doesn’t say whether Hugo is claiming rights in the musical composition, the sound recording, or both, the filing argues.

“The [second amended complaint] is so vague and ambiguous with respect to the copyrights placed at issue that defendants cannot reasonably prepare a response,” the new motion argues. “As incomprehensible as it is, it appears that Hugo has no idea which compositions or sound recordings he supposedly authored — even though he claims to have been there, right by defendants’ side, the whole time.”

Williams is asking the court to dismiss the entire lawsuit, arguing that without a viable federal copyright claim, Hugo’s state-law claims for breach of fiduciary duty and an incomplete accounting should also be dismissed, leaving him to pursue those claims separately in state court if he chooses. The eight songs Hugo previously identified and later dropped were Rosalía’s “Motomami” and “La Combi Versace”; “Cash In Cash Out”; “Love Is Not Written”; “Pure”; “Real One,” featuring Latto; and “Lost and Found” and “Freestyle,” both featuring Tyler, the Creator.

Hugo’s lawyer did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment on Wednesday. The court has not yet ruled on the dismissal motion or set a possible hearing.

In the lawsuit, Hugo says he and Pharrell co-founded the Neptunes and the musical group N.E.R.D., and made them into the “most influential musical forces of their generation, whose innovative, genre-blending sound helped shape modern hip-hop, R&B, and pop music.” Hugo says he contributed to the groups’ output as a writer, producer, arranger, and performer.v

“Although Defendant Williams often received greater public visibility, plaintiff’s contributions as a founding creative partner, co-writer, producer, and co-founder of both The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. were indispensable to the commercial value, goodwill, and brand recognition associated with these ventures,” his second amended complaint states.

The latest complaint still identifies the album No One Ever Really Dies, alleging that Hugo is owed damages that could exceed $1 million from that project alone. It notes that the album debuted at Number 10 on the Billboard charts and has generated millions of streams.

Yesterday, Hello! Canada published an interview and exclusive photoshoot with Canadian pop star Keshia Chanté, in which the singer revealed she is seven months pregnant. What overshadowed that news, however, is the fact that the 38 year-old artist refused to say who the father was, only confirming that he was also involved in music.

Short of giving us a name, Chanté said the person was ''super creative and just constantly doing things that I’m inspired by,” adding that she would “love to see my son have his mannerisms and his swag.”

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Naturally, the internet went into a frenzy, with many speculating that Drake, Chanté's one-time boyfriend, was the mystery genitor.

Quickly, representatives for the eternal playboy shut those rumours down, telling E! News ''It's false.'' Reps for Chanté have yet to comment.

Chanté was previously engaged to former NHL goaltender Ray Emery, but called it off in 2017, after claiming he had threatened and assaulted her with a weapon. Emery died less than a year later, after accidently drowning in Hamilton.

Drake, who has also previously dated celebs like SZA, Rihanna and Serena Williams. This isn't the first time Drake has to publicly deny fatherhood of a child. Famously, he was reluctant to acknowledge he was the father of his 8 year-old son Adonis, whom he shares with former French porn actress Sophie Brussaux. In 2017, reps for Drake told TMZ: “This woman has a very questionable background. She has admitted to having multiple relationships. We understand she may have problems getting into the United States. She’s one of many women claiming he got them pregnant. If it is in fact Drake’s child, which he does not believe, he would do the right thing by the child.”After paternity tests, it was concluded that Adonis was in fact the Toronto rapper's son, and Drake seems to enjoy his life as a single father.

It's been a while since we had a new, unhinged update from everyone's favourite uncancelleable entertainer, Azealia Banks. After years of criticizing Israel, to the point where her comments have their own section on her Wikipedia page (which is a fascinating read), the 212 rapper has moved to Tel Aviv.

"If you would have told me years ago id end up moving to Tel Aviv and liking it, I would have said youre crazy 🤪🇮🇱," she shared on X on Tuesday, October 6. She has also said she is working on new music with Israeli producer Yinon Yahel and has found the country’s music scene unusually welcoming.

In 2018, Banks performed in Tel Aviv and subsequently said she would never return to Israel after describing experiences she characterized as racist. She even told her followers that her Israeli fans would have to travel to see her because she would not be coming back.

In 2025, Banks returned to Tel Aviv and performed while wearing an Israeli flag and Star of David necklace. Around the same period, she became an outspoken supporter of Israel and identified herself as a Zionist, while attacking the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement as antisemitic. She also argued against the idea of a Palestinian state and said Palestinian territory should instead be part of Israel.

Then, in March 2026, amid the war involving Israel and Iran, Banks publicly turned on Israel again, writing that she hoped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dead and declaring, "F*** ISRAEL." She criticized Israel's actions and said she no longer supported the country.Azealia Banks is scheduled to perform her first concert in her new hometown tomorrow, October 8, at at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater.

Olivia Rodrigo attends the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March in Los Angeles

Olivia Rodrigo originally planned to hit the stage at her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival in August in an iconic floor-length, flowing white gown. The singer-songwriter had purchased the exact vintage Gunne Sax maxi dress Meg White wore on the cover of the White Stripes’ 2003 album Elephant, released the same year she was born. But the heat had other plans.

Looking at the forecast for Great Park in Irvine, California, Rodrigo realized it was “too fucking hot,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “Maybe if I do Daisy Chain in the winter, I can wear it.”

Julien’s Auctions estimated the dress, which Tracee Mae Miller pulled from her closet for the shoot, to be worth between $4,000 and $6,000. When it went to auction, it sold for $25,600, an “exorbitant amount of money” per Rodrigo. But according to the listing, it did at least come with a copy of Elephant on CD.

Regardless, the White Stripes and Rodrigo are aligned in other ways. While the band fronted by Jack White couldn’t have been included on the all-woman festival inspired by Lilith Fair, Rodrigo stands proudly alongside White and other artists who aren’t shying away from using their platform to speak politics.

“When Lilith Fair was happening 30 years ago, women in America had more rights, had more autonomy over their bodies,” Rodrigo said. “I’ve always felt really protective of my young fans, and when I play a show and I look out into the audience and see young girls with their friends or their moms or their families, I feel such a kinship with them. And if I could be a small part in making the world a safer and better place for them to grow up and live, that’s what I want.”

Rodrigo “one hundred percent” saw Daisy Chain Fields as political. The event, which she organized over the course of a year-and-a-half and jokes felt more like a wedding, donated net earnings in the amount of $10 million to nonprofits benefiting women and girls, including National Domestic Workers Alliance, Planned Parenthood, National Institute for Reproductive Health, and more. Melinda French Gates later matched the donation, bringing the total revenue raised to $20 million.

“Daisy Chain is a real example to me of how it actually is a real power that you can use for good,” Rodrigo said. “I can call Karen O and ask her if she wants to be a part of this festival. I can try and rally all these troops together to raise $20 million for these causes that I really care about.” She also sees the festival as a celebration of joy. “I think the two things can exist at the same time, they kind of have to.”

She added, “I think young people have lost hope in our leaders and lost hope in each other. I really wanted to galvanize people and be evidence of what can happen when you come together and are part of something and contribute.”

The Backstreet Boys are adding even more dates to their Toronto residency.

The group announced two additional Rogers Centre concerts on February 26 and 27, expanding their Into The Millennium – HOMECOMING: Live in Canada residency to eight officially announced dates. The new shows come just two days after the band added February 14 and 21 to the original four-date run.

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The Backstreet Boys cited “overwhelming demand” for the latest additions. The Toronto residency now runs February 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27, with all eight concerts, their only shows in North America, taking place at Rogers Centre.

The shows are built around Millennium, the group’s 1999 blockbuster, with the concert production featuring hits including “I Want It That Way” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”.

General public tickets for the newly added shows are scheduled to go on sale Friday, October 9 at 10 a.m. ET.

Toronto will also host the Backstreet Boys YYZ Terminal, a temporary fan experience inspired by the airport imagery on the Millennium album cover, with official merchandise, photo opportunities and fan events planned throughout the residency.