Latest in music: Beyonce's singles, Berlin rap, Zara Larsson's album
The queen of pop, Beyonce, surprised her fans by releasing two brand new singles after the airing of the Verizon commercial during the Super Bowl celebrations. (Wikipedia Photo)

Beyonce thrilled fans by releasing two unexpected singles, 'Texas Hold 'Em' and '16 Carriage,' following a Super Bowl commercial teaser, along with announcing her upcoming album 'act ii' set to release on March 29



Following the exciting rumors circulating on the internet, the queen of pop, Beyonce, surprised her fans by releasing two brand new singles after the airing of the Verizon commercial during the Super Bowl celebrations. Inspired by the "breaking the internet" sentiment of the ad with the track "My House," Queen B cleverly used this iconic moment to release "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriage" and also announced her new album "act ii," which follows her previously expressed musical project titled "Renaissance," with a bright trailer on social media. The album, whose name she has not yet shared, will be released on March 29.

Rappers meet in Berlin

For those who've been out of touch with Killa Hakan's updates for a while, here's the latest scoop. The internationally acclaimed rapper, based in Germany, has been undergoing treatment for an illness. However, with his health now restored, Killa Hakan is set to dive back into his music endeavors with even greater vigor. Already, he's embarked on some exciting projects, of which I've recently caught wind. Anticipation brews as I await the unveiling of what promises to be significant surprises.

Iconic Turkish rappers Ceza (L) and Killa Hakan meet in Berlin, Germany. (Photo courtesy of Hakan Uç)

During this period, rap maestro Ceza joined Killa in Germany for a monthlong rendezvous. Now, let's ponder: What could two musical giants like Ceza and Killa Hakan be up to in Germany for such an extended period? Naturally, when two musical minds converge for an extended duration, creativity flourishes – there are music-making, composition, interpretation, studio sessions and recording sessions aplenty. In essence, there's dedicated effort poured into their craft.

It's evident that Killa Hakan is making a triumphant return to the music scene, and I, for one, am eagerly awaiting the fruits of their collaboration. These two virtuosos have probably been diligently crafting their projects behind closed doors for some time, poised to unveil them imminently. My intuition leads me to believe that their joint efforts will leave an indelible mark in 2024. With Killa's music engineered to global standards and Ceza's wealth of experience from his illustrious career, the outcome can only be remarkable.

As far as I'm aware, this dynamic duo and their team have kept their projects tightly under wraps – preserving the element of magic surrounding their impending releases. Both Ceza and Killa Hakan boast devoted fan bases who eagerly anticipate their next move. Hopefully, they'll share their collaborative project with us soon, and may it ascend to the summit of the global charts – a fitting accolade for two names that truly deserve recognition.

Zara Larsson has shared her new album "Venus" with her fans. (Photo courtesy of Sony Music)

'Venus' by Zara Larsson

Zara Larsson has shared her new album "Venus" with her fans. The project includes "Can't Tame Her," "On My Love" and the latest single "You Love Who You Love," making it the artist's most dynamic work to date.

With her rising voice, eclectic style and unifying vision, Zara Larsson stands as one of the most important stars of modern pop. This phase, where she elevates her artistry to a higher level in Venus, blends the mythological and the personal while exploring modern love: whether with a partner "You Love Who You Love," through your art "End Of Time," with your family "On My Love" or with yourself "Can't Tame Her." The focal point of the album, "Venus," captures the initial real emotions felt toward someone with waves of '80s sounds and powerful vocals, making it universal yet captivating with its intricate details.

Larsson's embodiment of this dual spirit of strength and vulnerability in Venus boldly adapts the Botticelli tradition to the new age with a striking work of art. Describing her most eclectic album to date in her own words, Larsson says, "The album is a bit all over the place musically, but to be honest, that's exactly me!"