Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Travis Scott Announces 2023 North American Tour: Utopia Circus Maximus

Travis Scott has unveiled his plans for a 2023 North American tour, dubbed the Travis Scott Presents Utopia - Circus Maximus Tour. The tour is set to take place this fall, commencing in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 11 and concluding on December 29 in Toronto, Ontario.

The tour dates provided by Scott differ from the ones previously leaked by Live Nation earlier this month. Tickets for the tour are scheduled to go on sale tomorrow at 10 AM local time. Here's a rundown of the major details:

Travis Scott's announcement comes on the heels of his recent performance at Rome’s Circus Maximus concert in August, where he performed several songs from his Utopia album and was joined by Kanye West. The concert generated such intense energy that locals mistook it for an earthquake, sparking discussions about potential concert bans at the historic venue.

Travis Scott Presents Utopia - Circus Maximus Tour marks the rapper's return to headlining tours since the tragic events at the 2021 Astroworld Festival, which led to ten fatalities and numerous injuries. In late July, the Houston Police Department released a comprehensive report on the incident, revealing Scott's understanding of the escalating situation during his performance. He mentioned being told through his earpiece to wrap up the show due to the chaos. However, he fully comprehended the gravity of the circumstances only later.

Before the police report's release, a Harris County grand jury concluded that Scott wouldn't face criminal charges tied to the festival's events. Nevertheless, Scott and Live Nation are currently facing multiple civil lawsuits related to the Astroworld tragedy, some of which have already been settled.


Curiously, Scott's tour schedule doesn't include his hometown, Houston, despite Mayor Sylvester Turner's earlier statements. Turner had suggested Scott's return to the city, though it appears Houston will not host a show on this tour. If Scott eventually performs in Houston, it would mark his first show there since the November 2021 Astroworld Festival incident, which resulted in ten deaths and hundreds of injuries.

The Utopia - Circus Maximus Tour also carries a charitable dimension. Live Nation has stated that $2 from each ticket sold will be donated to Scott's Cactus Jack Foundation. This non-profit organization supports Houston's youth through toy drives, scholarships for HBCU college students and funding for education and creative endeavors.

Scott's latest album, Utopia, has held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart for four consecutive weeks. This achievement marks his third chart-topping album and his first solo release since Astroworld in 2018. Furthermore, Utopia is the first rap album in five years to maintain its No. 1 Billboard 200 position for the initial four weeks, a feat last achieved by Drake's Scorpion.

Travis Scott's Utopia - Circus Maximus Tour Dates:
10-11 Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center
10-13 Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena
10-17 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
10-20 Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
10-22 Denver, CO - Ball Arena
10-25 Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center
10-29 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
10-31 Oakland, CA - Oakland Arena
11-05 Inglewood, CA - SoFi Stadium
11-08 Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena
11-10 Vancouver, British Columbia - Rogers Arena
11-12 Portland, OR - Moda Center
11-15 Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Center
11-18 Tulsa, OK - Bok Center
11-21 Austin, TX - Moody Center
11-25 Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
11-27 Miami, FL - Kaseya Center
12-04 Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
12-06 Baltimore, MD - CFG Bank Arena
12-08 Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena
12-10 Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
12-12 Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
12-15 Chicago, IL - United Center
12-18 Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
12-21 New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden
12-23 Boston, MA - TD Garden
12-26 Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
12-29 Toronto, Ontario - Scotiabank Arena

Rising Star AUGUST 08's Untimely Death at 31 Shakes Music Community

Photo Courtesy Def Jam Records
AUGUST 08, a signer-songwriter known for his work on hits like DJ Khaled’s “I’m The One” and Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” has died at 31, leaving the music world in shock. The cause of death is undisclosed.

88rising, his label, confirmed the tragic news in a statement on Tuesday (August 29), expressing deep sorrow for the loss of Ray Jacobs, aka AUGUST 08.

His sister also paid tribute, reflecting on his purposeful life. “He was able to travel the world, and touch millions of people while fulfilling his soul purpose as a musician,” she wrote.


Born Ray Davon Jacobs on January 2, 1991, in South Los Angeles, his name, AUGUST 08, held personal significance as a nod to his father’s birthday in that month. Despite a challenging upbringing marked by familial struggles, he found solace in music.

Signed to Jhené Aiko’s Allel Sound and Def Jam Recordings, AUGUST 08’s collaborations with prominent artists showcased his unique sound and songwriting.

Def Jam Recordings conveyed their grief: “The entire Def Jam family mourns the tragic loss of Ray ‘August 08’ Jacobs. A brilliant songwriter, an accomplished musician, and a singular artist, August will remain in our memory as a beloved colleague and friend.”


AUGUST 08’s journey in music was characterized by achievements. His debut EP, "FATHER," released in 2018, marked the beginning of his artistry.

Followed by "Happy Endings with an Asterisk" in 2019, featuring collaborations with Goldlink, Duckwrth, Smino, and Wynne, he showcased his versatile musicality.

In August 2022, his debut album, "Seasick," was released under Aiko’s Allel Sound and Def Jam.

Sunday, August 27, 2023

Simone Biles Makes History: Clinches Eighth National All-Around Title at US Gymnastics Championships

Simone Biles, widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, secured her eighth national all-around title with a commanding performance on Sunday at the US Gymnastics Championships.

Biles, 26, also became the oldest woman to claim the championship, outscoring Shilese Jones by a significant 3.9 points. Jones, the 2022 US and world championships all-around silver medalist, finished as the runner-up.

With her eighth victory, Biles surpasses Alfred Jochim's previous record of seven all-around gold medals, which had stood for 90 years since 1933.

"I think it feels really special," Biles shared with NBC, the broadcaster of the championships. "I’ve been doing it for so long, I feel like I don’t think about numbers, I think about my performance. And I think, overall, I hit eight for eight (routines)… I guess it’s a lucky number this year."After an extended hiatus from major competitions, Biles displayed exceptional poise and skill in her routines, emerging as the dominant force throughout the championships. Her performance on Friday and Sunday was nothing short of impressive, culminating in a remarkable floor exercise routine that garnered a score of 15.400.

As she concluded her floor routine to an enthusiastic ovation from the crowd, Biles was embraced by her teammates and coaches. Teammate Jordan Chiles also took the opportunity to acknowledge Biles' extraordinary achievement, waving her arms to the crowd to sustain the applause.

Amidst the celebration, Biles remained coy about her participation in the upcoming Olympics. "I like to keep (my goals) personal just so that I know what I am aiming for," she explained to NBC. "I’m trying to move a little bit differently this year than I have in the past. So I think it’s working so far, so I’m gonna keep it a little bit secretive."

Biles' triumphant return follows a two-year hiatus after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she withdrew from several events due to the mental block known as the "twisties." Remarkably, she executed elements in her routines that no other female gymnast has successfully landed in competition.The victory propels Biles, who has earned 27 U.S. titles and 35 national championship medals overall since her senior debut in 2013, into the World Championships/Pan American Games Selection Camp, scheduled for September 18-21 in Katy, Texas, where rosters for the 2023 FIG Artistic World Championships and 2023 Pan American Games will be finalized.

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