Billy Johnson, Jr.

Billy Johnson, Jr., a former senior editor for Yahoo Music for 18 years, has been covering hip-hop, R&B and pop music since 1991 and has interviewed the likes of Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Quincy Jones, Kanye West, Eminem and Mary J. Blige. His work has additionally been featured in Vibe, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, The Source, Upscale and more. Billy has appeared as a music expert on CNN.com, Tavis Smiley, E!, The Insider, BET, VH-1, ABC, FOX, AXS-TV, TV Guide, NPR, KNX, KFI, WCAP, WBZ, among others. Billy is based in Los Angeles with his wife and their set of boy-and-girl twins.

[billyjohnsonjr]

I had an opportunity to speak to Rapzilla reporter David Daniels on the topic of Can Christian Hip-Hop Impact Mainstream Culture.

Click here to check out the conversation.

[billyjohnsonjr]

‪Just taped a year-end roundtable for @TheInsider with @iamdebbiem and @DJLisaFoxx. Stay tuned for air date. Thanks #TheInsider! Good times.‬ (at CBS Studio Center)

[billyjohnsonjr]

Don't blink -- Me commenting on Kanye West being hospitalized and having to cancel the remaining dates of his #SaintPabloTour. Thanks #CBSThisMorning "Kanye West has an incredibly full plate. Aside from music, he has clothing lines. He's a parent. He's a husband, and he's married to Kim Kardashian. If he was just focusing on one of those areas it could still cause for exhaustion." (link in bio) (at CBS Studio Center)

[billyjohnsonjr]

More than two years after the release of YG’s song and video for “Meet the Flockers” that gives a play-by-play on how to commit a home burglary, members of the Chinese community are protesting. The song includes the lyric, “Find a Chinese neighborhood, they don’t believe in bank accounts.”

BBC Trending interviewed me for their coverage. Check out the radio news feature here. I come in around mark 4:22.

[billyjohnsonjr]

I was featured on Los Angeles’ Fox 11 Wednesday night discussing YG’s controversial song and video for “Meet the Flockers” music video that offers a play-by-play on how to burglarize a home. Even though the music video is more than one year old, it recently prompted a protest by an Asian community group in Philadelphia. The song includes the lyric, “Find a Chinese neighborhood / Because they don’t believe in bank accounts.”

Watch the clip

[billyjohnsonjr]

Catch me on the debut episode of this season's #RichAndAcquitted on #ReelzChannel. I'm among the talking heads discussing #MichaelJackson's child abuse allegations and the impact the controversy had on his career.

Watch it online here: http://billyjohnsonjrpresents.com/richandacquitted-michael…/

[billyjohnsonjr]

I’m programming a few music-themed panels for the Long Beach Indie International Film, Media & Music festival taking place this week. To make this even cooler, Long Beach entertainment publication The Edge profiled me in a great article that gives an overview of my career and discusses the panels on social media, indie labels, and parents monitoring their children’s music. 

[billyjohnsonjr]

I call in to ‪#‎MiddaysWithMichelle‬ to talk to Michelle Dawn Mooney about Summer songs from soundtracks, tours, and album. Fun time.

Interview airs TODAY at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET.

Listen here: http://www.middayswithmichelle.com/

Michelle Dawn Mooney, thanks for having be back on your show. Fun times.

[billyjohnsonjr]

I had an incredible time moderating the Building Your Brand Through Effective Social Media Marketing panel at #urbannetworkdigitalconference. (at Crowne Plaza San Diego - Mission Valley)

[billyjohnsonjr]

Special thanks to Sheryl Northrop for featuring me in her awesome #IceCreamSocial series. I had an opportunity to discuss my social media practices. I think I’m an addict. 

READ HERE

[billyjohnsonjr]

I had the opportunity to speak about #Prince’s upcoming tribute concerts in the works. 

[billyjohnsonjr]

I discuss the impact of the late iconic artist #Prince on the day of his passing. WATCH VIDEO. 

[billyjohnsonjr]

View this post on Instagram

I appreared on #TheInsider to discuss speculation surrounding Beyoncé and Jay Z's relationship following the release of Beyoncé's #Lemonade album.

[billyjohnsonjr]

I was expecting to talk about Prince for 40 minutes. So you can imagine my surprise when the gracious host @michelledawnmooney instead spent the majority of the time speaking to me about my 25 years as a music journalist and some of the projects I'm working on. I'm telling you, these blessings are truly amazing. 🙏🏾 (link in bio.) #middayswithmichelledawnmooney Thank you @tmapublicity for the opportunity.

[billyjohnsonjr]

Thanks @cbsthismorning for featuring me in @beyonce #lemonade piece. Also, thank you Ms. @gayleking and @vladduthierscbs for setting up the package. Thanks @cbsthismorning for featuring me in your segment on @Beyonce's #Lemonade album. http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/beyonce-shows-business-savvy-in-lemonade-rollout/ (at CBS Studio Center)

[billyjohnsonjr]

Watch my panel: QA engineer and multimedia journalist talk tech jobs. #stem @JackandJillInc

[billyjohnsonjr]

#RIPMauriceWhite WATCH: http://news.yahoo.com/video/earth-wind-fire-founder-maurice-123708600.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma @cbsthismorning #cbs hey @gayleking