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Afroman’s Catalog Rises Over 500% Following Legal Victory

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Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip.

This week: Afroman turns a headline-capturing legal victory into newfound streaming popularity, while Nothing But Thieves gets a huge look from an Amazon Prime superhero show and 3OH!3 benefits from an animated dance challenge.

Afroman Turns Legal Victory into Streaming Triumphs, Led by “Lemon Pound Cake”

“Because I Got High” rapper Afroman found himself back in the zeitgeist after winning a jury verdict last week (Mar. 18). The jurors sided with the Cali rapper in a lawsuit filed by seven Ohio cops, who claimed the MC defamed them by releasing music videos mocking them after a failed, guns-drawn raid on his home in 2022. Naturally, the quirky lawsuit caught the public’s attention, as did Afroman’s testimony that the music videos fell with his First Amendment rights — a hot-button topic across the States right now. As a result, the rapper’s catalog exploded over 500% in streaming activity in the week following the jury’s decision, according to Luminate.

During the week of his the four-day period leading up to his trial (Mar. 13-16), Afroman’s discography earned 1.12 million official on-demand U.S. streams and just over 100 U.S. digital downloads. In the four-day period following the verdict (Mar. 20-23), those figures jumped 511% to 6.8 million official streams, and 2,113% to over 2,500 paid digital downloads. The buzziest track is “Lemon Pound Cake,” in which Afroman jeers at one deputy for apparently eyeing a cake on his counter. That song jumped 9,353% to 2.12 million official on-demand U.S. streams following the verdict (Mar. 20-23), and leapt a whopping 126,300% to over 1,200 U.S. digital downloads.

The streaming love isn’t exclusive to Afroman’s raid-related joints. His signature hit, the Grammy-nominated “High,” earned over 600,000 official on-demand U.S. streams on the Friday following the verdict (Mar. 20), up 133%.

Lemon Pound Cake, the album that compiles Afroman’s police disses, has already hit No. 8 on Billboard‘s Comedy Albums chart (dated Mar. 28), and bigger gains could very well be in store. — KYLE DENIS


‘Invincible’ Season Premiere Revives Decade-Old Nothing But Thieves Single

English alt-rock band Nothing But Thieves has never totally crossed over on the Billboard charts, but it’s been a fixture on various rock charts for a decade now, since the release of its 2015 self-titled debut album. That set generated multiple hits on the Rock & Alternative Songs chart, and also led to a Billboard Hot 100 hit in 2024 when country superstar Morgan Wallen put his spin on the Nothing But Thieves deep cut “Graveyard Whistling.” But now, it’s one of the less-known singles on the debut that’s getting its moment in the spotlight: “If I Die Tonight.”

The power ballad, which never reached a Billboard airplay, sales or streaming chart during its initial mid-2010s release, got its biggest look yet this month with its inclusion in the latest season of Amazon Prime’s hit animated superhero series Invincible. In the season four premiere, “If I Die Tonight” plays over an opening montage showing the fallout from the previous season’s finale — and plays for over three minutes, giving viewers plenty of opportunity to make it one of the most Shazamed songs in the country the past week.

Plenty of those viewers went on to check out the song on DSPs, as well. After totaling under 17,000 streams during the first four days of the previous tracking week (Mar. 13-16), that number was up to 345,000 for the same period this week (Mar. 20-23) — a gain of 1,942%, according to early data provided by Luminate. It could lead to a big moment for Nothing But Thieves, and to even bigger musical moments on Invincible, now that it’s been confirmed as one of the more valuable shows for synch placements in 2026. – AU


Animation-Inspired Dance Trend Revives 3OH!3’s “Richman”

On Feb. 4, user @/hymnuslop shared an original animation featuring two My Little Pony-inspired characters dancing to Denver electro-pop duo 3OH!3’s “Richman,” setting into motion a streaming resurgence for the 18-year-old deep cut. The clip finds one character lip-syncing in the foreground while the other dances in the background — and the trend has now transferred to real people. 

User @/janabananathings was the human to kick the trend into high gear with her March 2 post, which has since garnered nearly four million views and over 540,000 likes. The accompanying sound, which originates from user @/hymnuslop’s clip, boasts over 52,000 TikTok posts. The official 3OH!3 TikTok account got in on the fun, sharing several clips of the EDM duo performing the song throughout the years. 

The week user @/janabananathings shared her video (Feb. 27-Mar. 5), “Richman” logged 429,000 official on-demand U.S. streams, up 193% from the week prior. The following week (Mar. 6-12), which accounts for a full week of the trend truly taking off, that figure leapt a further 133% to a little over one million official on-demand U.S. streams. Continuing its ascent, “Richman” jumped another 44% to 1.44 million official streams the next week (March 13-19). 

Over the past four weeks, “Richman” has exploded over 1,800% in streaming activity, bringing 3OH!3 back into the center of the pop conversation — with a song that was never even an official single. — K.D.


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Fat Joe Accuser Drops Accusation of Sex With Underage Girls & RICO Claims in Updated Lawsuit

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A former hypeman who sued Fat Joe over shocking underage sex allegations — accusations the star has called part of an extortion scheme — has quietly dropped all reference to such allegations in a new version of his lawsuit.

Terrance “T.A.” Dixon sued Fat Joe (Joseph Cartagena) last year over sweeping allegations of wrongdoing, including sex trafficking, fraud, racketeering and, most seriously, that he had “personally witnessed” him engage in “sexual relations” with two girls aged 15 and 16.

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But in an amended complaint filed in court Thursday (March 26), Dixon’s allegations no longer contain those claims of underage sex, and it also removes previous allegations made under the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law. Dixon’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, did not immediately return a request for comment on why those accusations had been dropped.

The move is significant, and not just because it means Fat Joe is no longer facing hideous accusations that would constitute a crime if true. The rapper has long said such claims were part of a scheme by Dixon to extort him into a settlement; in his own separate lawsuit filed months before Dixon’s case, the rapper said the hypeman had been threatening to sue him over “grotesque” false claims, including “unspeakable acts such as pedophilia,” if he was not paid out.

The new version of Dixon’s lawsuit still includes serious accusations, including that Fat Joe violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Act by coercing Dixon to work for him and to take part in non-consensual sexual encounters. But other claims are more of a business nature, centering on allegations that Dixon was not properly paid wages and not properly credited as a co-writer on certain songs.

In a statement to Billboard, Fat Joe’s lawyer Jordan Siev reiterated that the accusations against his client were “nothing more than an elaborate shakedown to extract money from him.”

“Their decision to now voluntarily amend Mr. Dixon’s complaint — removing all allegations involving transporting of minors, statutory rape and RICO — and recast this matter primarily as a financial dispute about royalties and wages allegedly owed only reinforces that the allegations were baseless and that Mr. Cartagena is the one being targeted,” Siev said.

Meanwhile, Joe’s lawsuit against Dixon is moving ahead. In a ruling earlier this month, a federal judge refused to dismiss the rapper’s claims that the hypeman and Blackburn legally defamed him by publicly airing their allegations, allowing those claims to go ahead toward a trial. Dixon and Blackburn are currently attempting to appeal the ruling.


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TWICE’s Nayeon Just Shared Her Favorite Vivaia Shoes in the Brand’s Latest Spring Campaign: Shop Her Picks Here

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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

TWICE’s Nayeon is well known for many things, including her music, but her personal style is severely underrated.

The K-pop star’s looks are often a mix of feminine and comfortable pieces, often pulling inspo from Y2K aesthetics. The “ABCD” singer favors bright colors, playful textures and silhouettes that flatter her frame. In short, we trust her taste, and clearly so does Vivaia, an eco-friendly footwear brand founded in 2020. The retailer tapped the K-pop act to star in its spring 2026 collection titled Feel the Comfort.

The girl group member modeled some of her favorite styles, which consisted mostly of Mary Jane-meets-ballet-flat styles and whimsical sneakers in various colors with feminine and edgy touches. In specific, Nayeon wore the brand’s Square-Toe Jogger Sneakerina retailing for $159, the Square-Toe Hybrid Mesh Mary Janes retailing for $149, the Square-Toe Margot™ Mary Jane 3.0 retailing for $139 and the Mesh Floral Square-Toe Mary Janes for $149. You can shop her picks below and on Vivaia’s website.

Where to buy TWICE's Nayeon's shoe picks from Vivaia's spring 2026 campaign.

Square-Toe Jogger Sneakerina

$159

Buy Now at Vivaia

Think of this like a mix between a sneaker and a ballet flat. The style is affixed with silky ribbon lace-up closures.


Where to buy TWICE's Nayeon's shoe picks from Vivaia's spring 2026 campaign.

Square-Toe Hybrid Mesh Mary Janes

$149

Buy Now at Vivaia

This style is another ballet flat but with lace-up detailing. It also comes with charms that you can attach and alternative laces.


When asked, “What does comfort mean to you?” Nayeon responded in a statement saying, “When I am being my true self.” One of our favorite styles is the Square-Toe Hybrid Mesh Mary Janes in a tan hue with red accents. The shoe features all-round mesh paneling, making them breathable, along with dainty lace-up closures and a playful bubble sole. This style also comes with interchangeable red laces, which Nayeon chose for the campaign, along with floral charms in matching hues that can be attached to your laces to change things up. Sizing is available from 5 through 9.

Another great option is the Mesh Floral Square-Toe Mary Janes that feature see-through mesh throughout and floral accents. Fun fact: The mesh uppers are made with recycled plastic bottles. The shoe has gold clasps to adjust the fit and square toes that Vivaia seems to incorporate in a bunch of its shoe creations. Again, this silhouette is see-through, but you can wear socks with them, which could be a fun stylistic choice if you don a fun print or color.

Where to buy TWICE's Nayeon's shoe picks from Vivaia's spring 2026 campaign.

Square-Toe Margot™ Mary Jane 3.0

$139

Buy Now at Vivaia

These are breathable square-toed ballet flats with straps. The straps are equipped with edgy buckles and grommets.


Where to buy TWICE's Nayeon's shoe picks from Vivaia's spring 2026 campaign.

Mesh Floral Square-Toe Mary Janes

$149

Buy Now at Vivaia

This was said to be one of Nayeon’s favorite styles. These ballet flats feature mesh paneling with floral adornments.


All of Vivaia’s footwear focuses on on-trend silhouettes with an emphasis on comfort. The brand’s mission of comfort meets style came from a singular question: “Why can’t heels, and all women’s shoes, have a sneaker-like comfort?” Each of its shoes is equipped with padded insoles to provide ultimate comfort. The retailer even has wide-foot-friendly designs, creating a more inclusive range for people to shop.

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BTS Invites You Behind the Scenes of Their Massive ‘Return’ in Documentary Sneak Peek

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As of the release of ARIRANG, BTS has finally returned. And in an upcoming Netflix documentary, the band is showing ARMY everything it took to get here.

In a sneak peek for the streamer’s BTS: The Return posted Wednesday (March 25), cameras follow RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook behind the scenes of their cover shoot for ARIRANG. In the final artwork, the septet poses in two rows wearing suits, looking stoically ahead. But the documentary footage shows how much work the seemingly simple shot took, with a team of producers, stylists and creatives milling about around the Bangtan Boys.

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The teaser also shows each of the members sitting down for solo talking-head interviews showcasing their individual personalities. It previews some of the questions asked — Do you feel that you’re trying something completely new? What changed the most for you as an artist? Are you returning with something familiar? — but holds off on showing any of their answers.

“They’re back!” a description of the doc reads. “BTS gathers in LA to record their album ‘Arirang’ in this documentary offering unprecedented access to the band as they enter a new era.”

The sneak peek comes just two days ahead of the Friday (March 27) premiere BTS: The Return on Netflix. The project will drop exactly one week after the release of ARIRANG, which features 14 tracks — including single “Swim” — and marks the band’s first full-length since 2020’s Billboard 200-topper Be.

The group is currently in the midst of promoting ARIRANG with a series of performances that’ll build to a global tour in April. After hosting a huge comeback concert in Seoul, BTS descended on New York City for a Spotify showcase followed by performances at the Guggenheim for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Watch the sneak peek for BTS’ upcoming Netflix doc above.


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