Rave News Digest: SZA Joins Simone Biles In Olympics Promo, Burna Boy Breaks New Spotify Record, Dewsbury-Hall + More

SZA joins Simone Biles in handstand competition in Olympics promo, Burna Boy breaks new Spotify record with “Higher,” Chelsea sign Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester for £30m. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.

Grammy-winning singer SZA and gymnastics legend Simone Biles teamed up for a fun and inspiring promo ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The NBC clip, released on July 1, featured the unexpected duo meeting at Biles’ family gym, the World Champions Center in Texas. SZA, a former gymnast herself, revealed she gave up the sport to pursue music. However, a spark of her athletic past ignited during the filming. “This is like my dream to talk to you,” SZA gushed to Biles, “You’re like my wildest dream. I’ve just never seen anything like you. No one has.”

The mutual admiration wasn’t one-sided. Biles, who recently qualified for her third Olympics, seemed curious about SZA’s gymnastics background. Their conversation flowed into a friendly handstand competition, where, surprisingly, SZA emerged victorious. The lighthearted challenge showcased not only SZA’s hidden talents but also the fierce competitive spirit that translates into her successful music career.

Nigerian superstar Burna Boy continues to rewrite the record books. His latest single, “Higher,” has skyrocketed to achieve the biggest streaming debut for a solo song by an African artist in Spotify history. This impressive feat surpasses the previous record, which Burna Boy himself held with his hit “City Boys.”

“Higher” debuted on June 27, rapidly captivating a global audience and amassing millions of streams within its first few days. This record-breaking achievement underscores Burna Boy’s continued reign in the music industry and his pivotal role in bringing African music to the forefront of the international stage. The song aligns with Burna Boy’s philanthropic efforts through Project PROTECT, an initiative he founded to empower communities affected by poverty and violence.

Award-winning songstress Makhadzi is set to rock Limpopo once again with a highly-anticipated “One Woman Show!” The venue for this energetic concert will be the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polkwane, and it will take place on December 21. This announcement comes hot on the heels of Makhadzi’s BET Award win and birthday celebration, where she thrilled fans with the news on social media. The post read, “Let’s meet at PETER MOKABA STADIUM. 21 December. Line-up loading… Humbling myself to see you all buying tickets.”

This one-woman show follows the phenomenal success of Makhadzi’s previous hometown concert in Limpopo. Her energetic performances and captivating stage presence are sure to leave audiences wanting more. Ticket sales are expected to begin soon.