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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 12/16/2012 Two key additions hit the charts in one of 2012's
final weeks. In his latest publicity wave, Game's Jesus Piece garnered a
Top 5 debut, selling over 85,000 units. Meanwhile, veteran lyricist Big
Boi delivered his second solo album in three years with Vicious Lies
And Dangerous Rumors, debuting at #33.
Kendrick Lamar confirmed the gold plaque of good kid, m.A.A.d city in eight weeks on the charts. This is the first gold-album for Top Dawg Entertainment and Black Hippy. Game's fifth solo album, Jesus Piece, marked the lowest chart debut in the rapper's decade-long career. At #5, the Geffen Records release reunited Game with longtime collaborator Kanye West on the title track. One of the album's singles, "Celebration," united Wiz Khalifa, Tyga and Lil Wayne over a sample of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's classic "1st Of Tha Month." Incidentally, Game brought all five members of BTNH together for the "Celebration" remix. On the Best Buy version of Jesus Piece, Game included "Blood Of Christ," a diss record prominently aimed at Tony Yayo and Shyne. OutKast's Big Boi released his second Def Jam solo album in Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors. The release failed to enter the Top 30, debuting at #33. Following the Funk-infused Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son Of Chico Dusty, this effort features an array of out-of-genre acts, including Little Dragon, Phantogram and Wavves. V.L.A.D.R. sold less than half of the first-week units scanned in 2010. Interestingly, Dungeon Family brethren Cee-Lo of Goodie Mob out-sold Big Boi with his Holiday album, which has been at retail for over seven weeks. Big Boi's current single "In The A" features Ludacris and T.I., which is co-produced by longtime Dungeon Family affiliate C-Bone. Props to HipHopDX.com (12.20.12) |
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NE-YO FEELS THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT, GIVES THOUSANDS OF TOYS TO CHILDREN Ne-Yo’s
album, R.E.D., stands for Realizing Every Dream and he’s making that
happen for thousands of foster children across the country. The
three-time Grammy Award winner just wrapped up his Giving Tour which
helps bring the holidays to kids who might otherwise not have one.
In partnership with his nonprofit, The Compound Foundation, which aims to empower and inspire youth in foster care, Ne-Yo visited five cities (his hometown of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Newark, NJ) to give toys to children. “I feel that circumstance -- where and how you grow up -- should have nothing to do with where you go in life. As a foster kid, as a group home kid, you’re kind of counted out before you get the opportunity to prove your worth. I don’t feel like that’s right,” he explained to MTV Act. The singer, songwriter and actor will be a performer at MTV's Club NYE 2013 special airing on December 31 at 11/10 c. He also told Act that he hasn’t made a resolution for 2013 yet. “I like to wait till the last minute, so I don’t cut off any fun I could possibly have until the New Year comes. So I’ll probably wait till the last 10 or 20 minutes of 2012 to make my New Year’s resolution,” he said. When asked who he’d like to work with next year he admitted he wasn’t picky. For him it’s all about quality not quantity. “I’m about making music that’s going to mean something. My ideal is always to make something classic, something timeless, something that’s going to outlive me,” he said. With all the good he’s done in his life and the fact that he’s sold over 10 million records worldwide, we have a feeling his legacy will live on forever and ever, ever. Props to MTV.com (12.20.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAC MILLER TO STAR IN SIX-PART MTV2 REALITY SERIES Mac Miller is headed to Hollywood. Not unlike a real-life version of HBO's "Entourage," MTV2 has begun production on reality series that follows the emerging music superstar as he and his friends -- the Most Dope crew -- leave their hometown of Pittsburgh, Penn., for the first time and embark on an adventure in Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. The six-part series, which will debut in the first quarter of 2013, also chronicles the production of Miller's highly anticipated new album, "Watching Movies With the Sound Off." "Yes, I have a show on MTV2," says Miller (nee Malcolm McCormick). "It's very cool. Being an independent artist, I think it's important to find different ways to bring attention to what you are doing. With 'Watching Movies' coming out, I just want to do whatever I can to make sure everybody hears that." And though the series will serve as a tool to help expand Miller's fanbase and boost sales of his next release, Paul Ricci, svp of programming and development for MTV2, says that an expansion beyond the initial six episodes is not out of the question. "Too early to tell, but I definitely wouldn't rule it out," Ricci says. "Mac embodies so many of the passion points of the MTV2 audience -- he's successful, talented, and incredibly savvy as an entrepreneur, but he's also an authentic, funny, relatable guy. He connects with his fans on such a deep level, but he also has a likability that will translate to a broader audience." Props to Billboard.com (12.20.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 12/9/2012 The key addition to the charts this past week was courtesy of Wiz Khalifa. The DXnext alum and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania emcee's O.N.F.I.C. was within striking distance of a #1, but fell just shy of Taylor Swift for a #2 debut. This matches Wiz's first release with Atlantic Records, last year's Rolling Papers, which sold over 50,000 more units than the sophomore. Last week's Wu-Block also remained on the charts, along with the likes of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Alicia Keys, Machine Gun Kelly and Ne-Yo. The leader of the Taylor Gang released his second solo album with Atlantic (following a string of independent projects). O.N.I.F.C. (Only Nigga In First Class) was led by a six-month single in "Work Hard, Play Hard" followed by "Remember You." The Rostrum Records flagship artist maintained personnel on his Rolling Papers follow-up, working with I.D. Labs, Jim Jonsin and Stargate on production. The album, selling approximately 141,000 first-week units, featured wife Amber Rose, along with appearances by Wiz's usual cast of Rap veterans, this time including Juicy J, Cam'ron, Pharrell and 2 Chainz. The Wu-Block project, led by Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch, sold another 4,000 units in its second week at retail. The Staten Island and Yonkers delegates brought in members of their crews on various songs from the project. Notably absent from the Wu is RZA, both as a vocalist and producer, as well as U-God, while Erykah Badu appears on the Termanology-produced "Drivin' Around." Other producers of note include Erick Sermon and Red Spyda. #2. Wiz Khalifa - O.N.F.I.C. - 141,000 (141,000) #6. Alicia Keys - Girl On Fire - 77,000 (237,000) Props to HipHopDX.com (12.13.12) |
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KANYE WEST REPRESENTS FOR HIP HOP AT SANDY BENEFIT CONCERT Kanye West was the only artist representing for hip-hop at Wednesday's (Dec. 12) 12-12-12 Sandy Benefit concert. With only a pair of MPC samplers behind him, 'Ye bounced around the MSG stage donning a Pyrex Religion hood sweatshirt, leather kilt and leather leggings -- a familiar fit for those who attended his and Jay-Z's "Watch the Throne" tour. Many were hesitant towards his performance. Which of Kanye's own songs are even appropriate for such an event. Plus, let's not forget what happened the last time Kanye was invited to a televised benefit event. But this time, Kanye let his passion speak through his music, with the sound resonating through the stadium louder than most of the grey-haired bands on the bill. While some groups only got five minutes of airtime, Kanye performed a tight 12-track set, kicking off with his latest "Cruel Summer" hit, "Clique." Patrons in the priciest seats didn't show near the amount of enthusiasm they shared with The Who a few minutes earlier, but that didn't stop Kanye from blazing through a medley of hits, including "Jesus Walks," "Gold Digger," All of the Lights," and more. Before closing the show with "Stronger," 'Ye went on a small emotional rant, which he's also done during his "Watch the Throne" trek. "I got a question for yall tonight, how many people came here with the one they love or their loved ones? Kanye said. "I want you to do me a favor... if you love somebody love tonight hold on real tight. If you love somebody tonight, hold on real tight, real, real, real tight. Is there a heart in the house tonight? Stand up, Stand up. Let me know that you understand." The latter part of Ye's emo freestyle is inspired by The Dells' "A Heart Is A House of Love," originally featured in the film, "The Five Heartbeats." It wouldn't be a Kanye West performance without emotion. Props to Billboard.com (12.13.12) |
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DR. DRE'S BEATS ELECTRONICS COMPANIES SEEK TAX REFUGE IN IRELAND Super producer Dr. Dre is reportedly trying to hang onto as much of that hard earned cash as possible by seeking tax shelter in Ireland. Recently named the highest paid musician of 2012, Dre has based three of his companies out of Ireland in order to help reduce tax liability. The Irish Examiner reports that the three companies are located in Clonakilty, County Cork, with an overseeing company called O'Mahony Donnelly, which allows him to take advantage of the tax breaks of Ireland's low corporate rate. The "Forgot About Dre" hitmaker has apparently not forgotten that there are ways to get around U.S. tax policies, and he's not the only one. The founder of the Irish firm, Mr. O'Mahony said that a lot of companies are seeking refuge in Ireland. "The low corporate tax rate is a big factor in attracting companies to set up in Ireland, but there are many other reasons. Ireland is the only country in the Eurozone with English as a primary language and we are still known to have a great workforce, top quality of life and business environment," O'Mahony said. The Irish-based Beats Electronics Holding Ltd. owns Beats Electronics Services Ltd. and Beats Electronics International Ltd., but the overall parent company is still based in California. Ever since the producer started his Beats by Dre headphones line, the company has expanded rapidly. 'O'Mahony said that his firm has established a niche with multinational companies like Dr. Dre's Beats by Dre line. Props to MTV.com (12.13.12) |
EXCLUSIVE: CHUCK D. DISCUSSES BEING INDUCTED INTO ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME An artist is only eligible to be nominated to the Rock
& Roll Hall of Fame, 25 years after the release of their debut
single or album.
In Public Enemy’s case, the group’s first full-length release was 1987′s Yo! Bum Rush The Show. The following year, Public Enemy released its groundbreaking album It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. “Public Enemy’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is totally a team effort,” Chuck D. told AllHipHop.com, during a stop on the Hip-Hop Gods Tour. “A group is what we’ve been these past 25 years, 84 countries, 85 tours. We are the sum of great individuals who have followed Hip-Hop’s elemental blueprint of collective necessary to be considered comparable to stand up to the many great musics, genres artists before and alongside,” Chuck D. said. “We are seriously thankful and share this achievement with our Hip-Hop and rap music idiom.” Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons spoke want the importance of Public Enemy being nominated into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Simmons was the CEO of Def Jam during the time Public Enemy released several critical albums, including Fear of a Black Planet and Apocalypse ’91…The Enemy Strikes Black. “Favorite,most inspiring band ever,” Russell Simmons told AllHipHop.com. “I quote Chuck daily,” which the mogul did today (December 11) on Twitter. Public Enemy follows artists like Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Afrika Bambaataa, The Beastie Boys and Run-DMC, who are already members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony honoring the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 will be held in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre. The event will take place on April 18. Props to Rap-Up.com (12.12.12) |
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'WIZ KHALIFA DAY' DECLARED IN PITTSBURGH Wiz
Khalifa received a hero’s welcome when he returned home to Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh City Council honored the “Black and Yellow” rapper for
promoting the city through his music and officially declared December
12, 2012 as “Wiz Khalifa Day.” With his pregnant fiancée Amber Rose,
mother, and grandfather by his side, Wiz accepted the honor.
“Thank you guys. I really appreciate it. It means a lot to me,” said a humbled Wiz. “Even when I moved around when I was younger, everywhere I went, I told people I was from Pittsburgh. To come so far and to represent and to have everybody be proud of me and happy that I’m doing so well, I don’t even feel like I’m doing the greatest. I could do better and better. But with your guys’ support, I think I could be the best ever.” His proud mother and grandfather also received proclamations from the city. The Taylor Gang leader later took to Twitter to thank everyone and deliver a message. “First of all i wanna thank my grandfather Jibril Abdul-Hafith for bein an amazing person and the awesome things he does for the community,” tweeted Wiz, whose new album O.N.I.F.C. debuts at No. 2 this week. “I also wanna thank the city of Pittsburgh for making 12-12 ‘Wiz Khalifa Day’ in the burgh. Get stoned :-)” Props to Rap-Up.com (12.12.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RICK ROSS TAKING MMG TO ATLANTIC RECORDS IN 'BIGGEST MOVE OF THE YEAR' After canceling his remaining MMG tour dates, Rick Ross has one more announcement about his Maybach Music Group empire. In an interview with Miami’s 99 Jamz, the Bawse dropped two big pieces of news. First he revealed that his Maybach Music Group will merge with Atlantic Records and Rozay also announced his sixth solo album will be released in summer 2013. Despite his beef with new Senior VP of A&R at Atlantic Records, Young Jeezy, the MMG honcho seems confident in this move. Jeezy was signed on as Senior VP of A&R back in August. MMG, currently consisting of Wale, Meek Mill, Stalley, Gunplay and Omarion, was previously signed under Warner Brothers Records. Although the Bawse didn’t elaborate on details of the move he claimed that Warner and Atlantic have a “beautiful relationship.” “I’m excited for this year we got coming up man. This is really huge. MMG we just merged with Atlantic Records. It’s the biggest move of the year. We gonna leave it right there,” he revealed during the interview. “I’m signed as a solo artist to Def Jam. And Meek Mill, Wale, we all MMG at the end of the day,” he added. The Grammy-nominated rapper added that he plans to release the title of his sixth album on New Year's Day (Jan.1). Props to MTV.com (12.12.12) |
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NOTORIOUS B.I.G AUTOPSY: LAPD APOLOGIZES TO FAMILY Police detectives apologized to the family of Notorious B.I.G. for failing to warn them about the planned release of his autopsy report more than 15 years after he died in a drive-by shooting, the Los Angeles Police Department said Saturday.
The detectives had intended to notify the rapper's family, but the report was released prematurely "due to an administrative error," the department said in a statement. "Our detectives personally spoke with the Wallace family (Friday) night, and apologized for not notifying them prior to the release," said Capt. Billy Hayes, who heads LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, which is investigating the killing. "Obviously this has been a challenging case for us to solve. We hope that witnesses or other people with information will come forward and give us the clues we need to solve this case." Los Angeles County's Chief Coroner Investigator Craig Harvey said a security hold placed on the report's release was lifted last week. The 23-page report revealed the rapper, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was hit by four bullets after leaving a music industry event in March 1997, but one that hit his heart, left lung and colon caused his death. The attorney for the rapper's family complained Friday that he was not given any notice that the report would be released and criticized police for not closing one of Los Angeles' highest-profile unsolved murders. Both Los Angeles police and the FBI investigated Wallace's killing, which came just months after another rap superstar, Tupac Shakur, was gunned down in Las Vegas. The FBI looked into whether any Los Angeles police officers were involved in Wallace's shooting. Props to TheBoomBox.com (12.10.12) |
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KATT WILLIAMS HITS FAN WITH MIC FOR TAPING SHOW If you thought Katt Williams would lay low after getting arrested for smacking a Target employee last week, think again. On Monday (November 10) a video clip of the embattled comedian hitting a fan upside the head with a microphone for taping his November 30 stand-up routine in Seattle, Washington. TMZ published the dark and grainy, 46-second long camera phone clip, which shows Katt walking through the audience and swinging his microphone striking the fan. After the impact caused a loud booming sound, audience members gasp and then applauded when the comedian took the stage and continued with his jokes. "Excuse me mic check," Katt said as the crowd erupted. "Record me… and see what happens to you. Let me see your light recording me and see what happens," he continued. "Go home and get your raggedy pistol and bring it back, I already got mine." The victim, Carlos Casto-Lino, didn’t retaliate in the video, but will have his day in court. Casto-Lino is suing both Katt and the owner of the Paramount Theatre where the show took place for $250,000. The victim who suffered a concussion claims that Williams "had publicly demonstrated signs of mental instability" and should not have been allowed to perform according to Courthouse News Service. He is also claiming that though the venue’s security witnessed the attack, none of them intervened. "Williams positioned himself in the fourth row of seats, directly behind Castro. Then, without warning to Castro, Williams struck the back of his head with his microphone. One witness described the assault as a 'baseball swing,'" the complaint reads. "After assaulting Castro, Williams returned to the stage and directed comments at Castro, telling Castro that he should go home and get a gun and that Williams also had a gun and would be waiting for him upon his return." Props to MTV.com (12.10.12) |
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BEYONCE PARTNERS WTIH PEPSI FOR $50 MILLION DEAL Beyoncé is reteaming with Pepsi for a multi-faceted branding deal that will coincide with her performance during the Super Bowl 2013 Halftime Show, of which Pepsi is a presenting sponsor. The news of the Pepsi pact was first reported by The New York Times. The singer's branding deal with Pepsi is estimated at $50 million. Beyoncé, who has been featured in ads for Pepsi since 2002, will appear in a new commercial to debut during the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 and appear on limited-edition cans bearing her likeness starting in March. Pepsi, in turn, will sponsor a variety of unspecified creative projects for Beyonce as well as help promote the singer's upcoming fifth studio album. New music could arrive as early as Game Day, as producer The-Dream told Billboard last week that Beyonce will "definitely" have a single ready as part of her performance. "Pepsi embraces creativity and understands that artists evolve," Bey' said in a statement via The New York Times. "As a businesswoman, this allows me to work with a lifestyle brand with no compromise and without sacrificing my creativity." As Billboard detailed in an April 30 cover story, Pepsi and its lifelong competitor Coca-Cola are the two most powerful brands in music based on their sponsorship efforts around musicians, tours and TV programs like "The X Factor" and "American Idol." Pepsi and Coke spent $330 million and $240 million, respectively, on programs involving entertainment and sports, which Pepsi has been fusing more in recent months with campaigns starring One Direction and The New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees as well as an NFL Anthems campaign featuring Kelly Clarkson, Lenny Kravitz, Kid Rock, Aerosmith and Ice Cube. Props to Billboard.com (12.10.12) |
HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 12/2/2012
In addition to a new #1 on the R&B/Pop side of
things, two veteran releases hit the Top 200, as well as another
re-packaging of an earlier 2012 album, for the second straight week.
Alicia Keys' fifth album, Girl On Fire, sold over 150,000 units in its first week. This is Keys' first release since J Records, where she was the flagship artist, merged into RCA. In addition to a Nicki Minaj featured appearance, Keys collaborated with husband Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre on this effort. The long-discussed Wu-Tang Clan & D-Block collaboration, by way of Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch sold nearly 9,000 first-week copies. The eOne release featured the three active members of D-Block/The LOX, as well as seven original Wu members. Krizz Kaliko's second release of 2012 and first EP slipped into the Top 200. Neh'Mind is the latest in a series of digital EPs from Strange Music's roster. Finally, following Nicki Minaj's recent re-packaging of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (as The Re-Up), Epic Records' Future re-released Pluto (as Pluto 3D). This pulled the album containing "Same Damn Time" from the bottom of the charts last week at #191 to #63, and increasing weekly sales by over 6,000 units. Alicia Keys' Girl On Fire took the #1 amidst a crowd of musical ladies including Taylor Swift, Rihanna and P!nk. The New Yorker's latest album features the self-titled hit single as well as the recently-released "Brand New Me." Now with RCA Records, this is Alicia's lowest-selling first week of her career. 2009's The Element Of Freedom sold over 275,000 more copies in its first days at retail. A platinum mainstay, the new label regime behind the the talented vocalist/piano player will be challenged to follow suit in the coming months. Props to HipHopDX.com (12.05.12) |
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KENDRICK LAMAR, AZEALIA BANKS & FRANK OCEAN MAKE TIME'S TOP ALBUMS OF 2012 It’s that time of the year again when critics start sharing their favorites from the past 12 months. TIME has compiled a list of their top 10 everything including albums and songs. Kendrick Lamar’s debut good kid, m.A.A.d city comes in at No. 2, with the magazine proclaiming the 25-year-old as “the most promising artist in hip-hop,” while Frank Ocean’s channel ORANGE and Azealia Banks’ 1991 EP also make the cut. The top songs chart is more surprising. Nicki Minaj’s “Roman in Moscow” didn’t make her album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, but it did receive recognition from critics. “This gloriously deranged throwaway encapsulates what’s great about the rapper,” writes TIME. However, it was Usher who took it to the “Climax” as TIME‘s top song of 2012. See the full lists below and weigh in with your thoughts. Top 10 Albums of 2012 1. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel… 2. Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city 3. Frank Ocean, channel ORANGE 4. Dirty Projectors, Swing Lo Magellan 5. Getatchew Mekuria & the Ex & Friends, Y’Anbessaw Tezeta 6. Swans, The Seer 7. Various Artists, Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1967–74 8. The Mountain Goats, Transcendental Youth 9. Azealia Banks, 1991 EP 10. Killer Mike, R.A.P. Music Props to Rap-Up.com (12.05.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BIG SEAN GIVES BACK TO DETROIT YOUTH VIA SEAN ANDERSON FOUNDATION With Detroit on his back, Big Sean announced the launch of his non-profit Sean Anderson Foundation during a headlining performance in his beloved city this past weekend. He announced the good news right before he brought out surprise special guests Kanye West, Pusha T, Common, J. Cole, and more. Growing up in the Motor City, the 24-year-old rapper honed his skills at young age while attending the Waldorf School, which played an integral part of who he is today. With the success he’s achieved thus far, Big Sean felt a responsibility to give back to his city that made him. “I want to use my awareness to improve the situations in our school systems in particular," he said in a statement. "Many schools in Detroit have been closing or are in danger of closing. My school played an integral part of making me the man I am today and without that education and extra care, I don't know where I would be today. So, I just want to help support the well being of young people in anyway that I can." The Sean Anderson Foundation’s mission is to assist Detroit school-aged youth in health, safety, education, and well being. His mother, Myra Anderson, will serve as president of the organization. The G.O.O.D. Music rapper graces the double cover of XXL’s December/January issue, which also features Chris Brown. In the interview, Big Sean talks about his success, how he still remains grounded, and the release of his upcoming sophomore album, Hall of Fame: Memoirs of a Detroit Player, set for an early 2013 release. Props to MTV.com (12.05.12) |
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GAME LAUNCHES NEW LABEL, ROLEX RECORDS Game isn't just working on a new album, he's also planning his own record label. In a recent interview with Billboard, the West Coast hit-maker revealed that he's launched a new label with old friend and former colleague Stat Quo called Rolex Records. "We've been up and running for about 30 days. We're gonna do it big though," Game said. The "Celebration" rapper said he and Stat Quo had kept in touch ever since their days together at Aftermath. "He was signed to Aftermath with me in the beginning. Now we're business partners, which is cool because he was a good friend of mine and he's just as equally music smart, so we'll see how it goes," he said. With his Interscope contract up following the release of Jesus Piece on Dec. 11, Game plans to release his own music through Rolex Records going forward. Besides himself, however, no plans to sign other artists are yet in the works. "We're in the baby stages," Game said. In the past, Game had teased the possibility of signing with Cash Money. Props to BET.com (12.04.12) |
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FRANK OCEAN SETS INTERNET ABLAZE WITH RUMORS OF NEW MODEL BOYFRIEND A photo posted on Sunday night (Dec. 2) by Frank Ocean to his Instagram feed shows the R&B singer-songwriter embraced from behind by another man with long, brown hair. The man, identified by multiple news outlets as a male model from France named Willy Cartier, is rumored to be Ocean's current boyfriend. Cartier has reappeared in Ocean's Twitter feed recently, with the singer even going so far as to tease a possible marriage on the horizon: "Marry em, make em American," Ocean tweeted on Sunday morning. But the new photo of Cartier and Ocean is a little different from the others: Rather than a candid snapshot, it looks to be taken from a movie screen -- leading many fans to believe that Cartier has been cast in the next music video from Ocean's acclaimed debut album, "Channel Orange." Responding to the torrent of fan comments that accompanied the photo, Ocean wrote, "Lol y'all are crazy. Remember, everyone goes to the grave. Let me live." Ocean revealed in a Tumblr post written last July that he had fallen in love with another man -- a courageous act for an artist working within an infamously homophobic industry. Instead of backfiring, however, the deeply personal revelation elicited a tidal wave of support -- and rocketed Ocean's career to the next level. Meanwhile, Tyler the Creator, the eccentric leader of the Odd Future hip-hop collective where Ocean got his start, pays homage to his protege in a short interview given to GQ for their 2012 Men of the Year series. In it, he admits that Ocean's sudden mainstream success -- Ocean has penned songs for Beyoncé and Justin Bieber and collaborated with Kanye West and Jay-Z -- has managed to eclipse his own. Props to Billboard.com (12.04.12) |
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RAP-UP TV: T.I. SALUTES MEEK MILL, COLLABORATIONS WITH R.KELLY There is no shortage of star power on T.I.’s album Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head. In addition to André 3000, Pink, and Lil Wayne, the King holds court with Meek Mill and R. Kelly on his eighth LP, due December 18. Tip and Meek go way back. Before Rick Ross signed him to Maybach Music and he cut off his dreads, T.I. took the Philly rapper under his wing and showed him the ropes. “He was around to observe a lot and he took it and he used it to his advantage, which is extremely commendable,” says Tip, who briefly signed Meek to Grand Hustle. They ended up recording “G Season” for Trouble Man. “‘G Season’ is basically just two cats who are cut from a different cloth, separating themselves from the suckers,” T.I. tells Rap-Up TV. On “Can You Learn,” Tip and R. Kelly kick game to the ladies from a different perspective. “This record sounds to me like what you would expect to hear if Tupac collaborated with Nate Dogg,” he says of the DJ Monte-produced track, which was inspired by his own leading lady. “I really feel the connection between the music and the listener, especially if the listener is a lady or a gentleman who has had a lady who stuck by him through all of the ups and downs, the peaks and valleys that life has to offer. She’s proven herself to be a rider.” Props to Rap-Up.com (12.04.12) |
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In just a few short months Kendrick Lamar has gone from underground rap hero to hip-hop’s golden child. That’s right K-Dot’s critically acclaimed debut good kid, m.A.A.d city is now a certified gold LP.“label hit me and told me #GKMC already certified gold,” TDE CEO Top Dawg wrote on Twitter on Friday. “Thanks 2 y’all ....#TDE #HiiiPoWer.” The gold certification doesn’t mean that the LP has hit the 500,000 copy threshold just yet, but rather that enough copies of the album has been shipped to retail outlets. good kid doesn’t show up in the RIAA’s gold and platinum searchable database either, but the pending plaque is an inevitability. Kendrick's debut landed at #2 on the Billboard 200 selling over 240,000 units the week after his October 22 release date. Aside from being a commercial success GKMC was praised by fans as critics alike as one of the most creative albums of the year and is a strong contender for hip-hop album of the year. Before releasing his album through Top Dawg Entertainment on Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label, Lamar had a vote of confidence that most rookie rappers don’t get. “He said, ‘You know what you’re ready. Ain’t no need to develop you or being over your shoulders. You’re already ready’,” Kendrick told MTV News in October of a conversation that he and Dre had a week after he signed. Props to MTV.com (12.03.12) |
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RAPPER BIG SEAN DISCUSSES PLANS FOR NEW NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
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JUSTIN BIEBER AND DRAKE SHARE THE STAGE IN TORONTO It was a triumphant homecoming for Justin Bieber when he returned to his native Canada during his “Believe” world tour. The teen idol surprised his fans by bringing out fellow Canadian Drake to perform their collaboration “Right Here” at Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) in Toronto on Saturday night. “There’s very few people I met in the world that are as talented and as incredible as this young man right here,” said Drizzy as he stood alongside his younger peer. “I wanna thank you for giving me a childhood dream, which is my first opportunity to perform at the SkyDome, so thank you my man. You got your favorite two Canadian boys, you got Drizzy Drake and Justin Bieber, please believe it.” The two shared a hug before Drizzy continued with “The Motto” as Justin yelled out, “YOLO!” “A night i will never forget. #TORONTO i love u. #HOME #CANADA thank u,” tweeted the pop superstar. Props to Rap-Up.com (12.03.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN AND BIG SEAN COVER XXL Chris Brown and Big Sean are front and center on twin covers of the new issue of XXL. The controversial pop star and prince of the G.O.O.D. Music empire are promising "No more apologies" and "Living the good life" in their respective cover lines. In the Brown story, which he wrote himself, the 23-year-old says he's done some growing up in recent years. "I haven't been as mature and thought out in the past, so, me growing now, it’s showing my progression," he said. "I used to use my Twitter account to vent, but now I mostly use it for marketing and promotions. Even if the media asks me something, if it's cool then it's, 'What’s up?' But if it’s anything that's too negative, I don’t care to respond." The comments are interesting in light of the fact that Brown recently deleted his Twitter account after leveling a series of particularly harsh and vulgar insults at a female comedian who criticized him. In Big Sean's story, the sophomore rapper from Detroit explains how his hometown shaped him into the artist that he is. "I took all my experiences from Detroit and incorporated them into who I am today. From partying to inspiration to sharing times about being broke to love to the dope boys, paper chasers. I would see all the players rocking furs and gators. I’ve seen people get killed. I’ve seen people spend crazy money. I’ve seen poor people. I give every aspect of the city in my music. They need somebody to tell that story," he says. Check out both stories when the December/January issue of XXL hits stands Dec. 4. Props to BET.com (11.30.12) |
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50 CENT SAYS FRENCH MONTANA WAN INVOLVED IN DJ KHALED BEEF Back in 2009 50 Cent took his beef with DJ Khaled to a new level when he debuted the viral clip "A Psychic Told Me," which included footage of Khaled's home and even his mother, as a threat. Now, in the midst of his heated back-and-forth exchanges with French Montana, Fif is saying that it was French Montana who actually provided him with the footage back then, before he was tight with Khaled and Rick Ross. "Frenchie, they got me the tape," Fif said when he appeared on Power 106's Big Boy's Neighborhood in Los Angeles on Friday morning (November 30). "They got me the tape of his mother's house, where his moms work at, the other cribs, the studios, stuff like that." Though there could be some truth to that since Montana previously made money with his "Cocaine City" DVD series,, interviewing other artists (including 50) and adding his own freestyles, it's unclear whether 50 is pulling punches simply because he can. The two have traded recent jabs over the state of their careers, and the G-Unit CEO isn't letting up. "He's a guy that they put a record with two or three other guys that already established themselves in order to sell you something," he said. "You only gotta get away with listening to him for a whole 30 seconds, 40 seconds and then his verse is off and it goes to somebody that really worked to get there. French seems to be taking it all in stride so far, responding today by writing on Twitter, #Dunkeykong should send @Eminem & @adamlevine flowers for TRYINN to save his career come catch this fade monkey," referring to Fif's new single "My Life." Props to MTV.com (11.30.12) |
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MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS: 'SAME LOVE' MET WITH SURPRISING SUPPORT Macklemore isn't afraid to tell you he was scared when he saw some of the destinations for his upcoming tour. Idaho. Montana. Texas. None of those places in the Heartland seemed like they'd be receptive to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' left-leaning, socially conscious message. A hostile reception seemed more likely - especially for the lightning-rod song "Same Love," which offers support for the gay community. To the 29-year-old rapper's surprise, he found the crowds singing the chorus right back at him. "Those were three places where people probably sang the loudest and it gives me some hope in the power of music and what music can do," said the MC, whose given name is Ben Haggerty. "To hear people's testimonials about 'Same Love' changing the way that they feel about gay people or the language that they use in their everyday life, making them consider changing that language, or changing their hateful perspective on another group of people, it's exciting to see that music has that capability. It just affirms what you already believe, but to see it on a tangible level in these cities has been one of the greatest gifts of my career." It's a time of plenty for the Seattle alternative hip-hop duo, which released its debut studio album, "The Heist," to great acclaim last month. Haggerty and his producing and business partner Lewis sold more than 78,000 copies of the record the first week of release. That's a staggering sum for an independent release, putting the album at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart. Haggerty said they expected to sell somewhere between 28,000 and 33,000 copies. "It's a validation, absolutely," Haggerty said in a phone interview. "It's definitely a reward. But at the end of the day it is a number and you try not to let your happiness be contingent upon a number. What it equates to is the fact people are resonating with the music, that the fans are supporting our album, that people wanted to be part of our record and not just download illegally, but financially get behind it and say, 'We believe in it.' And that is the biggest reward out of all of it." Props to TheBoomBox.com (11.30.12) |
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DR.DRE TOPS FORBES' 2012 HIGHEST-PAID MUSICIANS LIST Dr. Dre has finished a 12-month period of robust headphone sales and resurrecting Tupac Shakur in hologram form as Forbes' highest-paid musician of the year. The hip-hop mogul reportedly earned an estimated $110 million during a scoring period that ran from May 2011 to May 2012. Along with catalog sales and payment for performances like his headlining set with Snoop Dogg at the Coachella fest, Dre hauled in $100 million pre-tax when HTC bought a 51 percent stake in his Beats headphone company last year, according to Forbes. Dr. Dre takes the annual money crown from U2, who topped last year's list with $195 million earned, thanks to their record-shattering 360 tour. This year, the veteran rockers slip to No. 4, with $78 million hauled in over the 12-month period. The Top 5 of this year's list is rounded out by Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters, who grossed $88 million this year due largely to his epic The Wall tour; Elton John, whose rigorous touring schedule helped him collect $80 million; and U.K. boy band Take That, whose reunion trek contributed to a $69 million sum. Other notable on the 2012 Forbes list include Justin Bieber, whose music and merchandise sales totaled $55 million to help him become the youngest artist on the list; Lady Gaga, who slips to No. 13 on this year's list with $52 million earned after clocking in at No. 4 with $90 million last year; and Beyonce, who, with $40 million accrued, out-earned her husband Jay-Z ($38 million) at No. 18. Dr. Dre's No. 1 ranking comes one month after he was named Forbes' hip-hop cash king in September. Diddy, Jay-Z and Kanye West were the only other hip-hop figures to make this year's overall list. Props to Billboard.com (11.29.12) |
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TIME MAGAZINE SEARCHES FOR 2012'S PERSON OF THE YEAR
The annual search for Time's Person of the Year has commenced, and while the magazine's editors are the ones who decide who will nab the title, readers can still chime in with their votes. The list of the top contenders currently contains a few controversial characters like Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Time states that Morsi "and his party's electoral victory this summer heralded a new moment for the Arab world's most populous nation, so long kept underfoot by the Western-backed authoritarian regime of Hosni Mubarak. Democratically elected, Morsi and his Islamist allies are now changing the landscape of Middle Eastern politics." North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, the heir to the late Kim Jong Il, places second on the list. Malala Yousafzai, the inspirational young Pakistani woman who pushed through cultural barriers and danger both before and after being shot in the head, is fittingly in third place. But not every name on the list brings such heavy matters to the table. Among the contenders are: -- Gabby Douglas: The gymnast wowed us all during the London Olympics this summer with her two gold medal wins and becoming the first African-American gymnast to win the Olympic all-around title. -- Rapper Jay-Z, who helped bring the Nets basketball team back to New York City, held his own musical festival and was "one of the highest-profile surrogates for President Obama's re-election campaign." The president, who's also on this year's list and was named 2008's Person of the Year, is currently ahead of the rapper by 41,458 votes. -- Can you believe Psy, the man behind "Gangnam Style," has received more votes than Hov himself? The Korean rapper scored more than 820 million views on YouTube thanks to his catchy single and currently has nearly 54,500 votes on the Time site. Props to BET.com (11.29.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EMINEM AND 50 CENT CONSIDER RECORDING JOINT EP Over the past decade 50 Cent and Eminem have had their fair share of collaborations, beginning with 03's "Patiently Waiting" and leading up to the brand new Street King Immortal single "My Life"--but would these two ever consider recording a joint project? MTV News caught up with Fif and Eminem in Detroit last month where they filmed the video for "My Life," and when we questioned them about the possibility of a joint album, Watch the Throne was thrown out by Em's manager Paul Rosenberg, who was standing off camera. "He said Watch the Throne," 50 responded to Rosenberg, laughing at the immediate assertion. Eminem, who was caught off guard by the exchange wouldn't offer up a comment, but 50 didn't let it go, adding, "An EP maybe." After recording Watch the Throne with Kanye West, Jay-Z admitted that the two of them bumped heads in the studio sometimes, but it seems like 50 Cent wouldn't put up much of a fight against Eminem. "I can't accept constructive criticism from someone if I'm not sure what their intentions are," Fif explained. "But when someone's been in my corner my entire musical career — I'll say this, Dre's done wonderful things for me in my career, but the idea of working with 50 Cent came from Eminem." For his part, Eminem is happy to offer up a helpful opinion or two. "I feel like I always wanna be there, just to executive produce or oversee things, but Fif knows what he's doing so I don't really gotta tell him much," Em said. "At this point in his career, he's done enough [so now] he just brings me the record and I kinda always wanna give my opinion." Props to MTV.com (11.29.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 11/25/2012 After a handful of veterans cracked last week's chart, this week sees a crop of newer artists holding it down on the Top 200. While it may seem hard to believe that Rihanna is yet to score a number one album, she accomplished just that with Unapologetic, her seventh album in seven consecutive years. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj's re-release of her sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up, failed to match her expectations and missing the Top 25. The LP debuted at No. 26 on the charts, perhaps a confirmation of her concerns that the sales would reflect the album not being offered in certain retail outlets. Finally, R&B singers had a strong week on the chart. Keyshia Cole's latest album Woman To Woman had a healthy debut at No. 10 with 96,000 sold, while Ne-Yo and The Weeknd kept on strong with R.E.D. and Trilogy, respectively holding ground at No. 31 and 32. It's taken Rihanna seven consecutive years of dropping albums annually, but she finally managed to crown the charts with her latest offering Unapologetic. Featuring guest appearances from Future, Eminem and David Guetta, the LP tops the chart with 238,000 copies sold, bolstered by a performance slot on Saturday Night Live and her number one single "Diamonds." The numbers are solid for the Bajan crooner, whose last album Talk That Talk sold 198,000 copies in its first week and was later certified platinum. Nicki Minaj seemed to have it all figured out with the re-release of her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up. That is, until she made an appearance on a New York City radio show explaining that the LP wasn't going to do well on account of certain retail giants neglecting the project. Consequently, the album, which features eight new tracks, bumped up from No. 95 to 26 on the chart, selling only 36,000 copies in its first week. The repackage also features guest appearances from Cassie, Ciara and Lil Wayne. Props to HipHopDX.com (11.28.12) |
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RIHANNA EARNS FIRST NO.1 ALBUM ON BILLBOARD CHART One week after Rihanna scored her 12th No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with "Diamonds," the diva earns her very first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. Her "Unapologetic" album opens atop the Billboard 200, selling 238,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan. The SRP/Def Jam set is her seventh studio release in a little over seven years, and follows six earlier top 10 efforts. Rather infamously, until this week, the diva held the distinction of having the most No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 without having claimed a No. 1 album. "Unapologetic," released on Monday, Nov. 19, also gives Rihanna her best sales week yet for an album. (The SoundScan tracking week ends at the close of business every Sunday.) The new album's arrival surpasses her previous best frame, racked when 2010's "Loud" launched at No. 3 with 207,000. Rihanna's first release, "Music of the Sun," debuted and peaked at No. 10 in 2005, followed by "A Girl Like Me" (No. 5, 2006), "Good Girl Gone Bad" (No. 2, 2007), "Rated R" (No. 4, 2009), "Loud" (No. 3, 2010) and "Talk That Talk" (No. 3, 2011). She has additionally charted with two remix albums "Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes" (No. 106, 2009) and "Rated R: Remixed" (No. 158, 2010). It's not unprecedented for an artist to score six top 10 albums without having had a No. 1. More than 25 acts have lodged six top 10s -- without a No. 1. They range from Sting (10 top 10s, zero No. 1s) and Sheryl Crow (eight top 10s) to Brad Paisley (seven top 10s) and Rush (12 top 10s). Props to Billboard.com (11.28.12) |
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LENNY KRAVITZ TO PLAY MARVIN GAYE IN BIOPIC It's official: Lenny Kravitz will play Marvin Gaye in a big screen biopic about the legendary singer's life. Deadline.com reports that celebrated British rock documentarian Julien Temple will direct the fictionalized film, called Sexual Healing, and that the rights to use Gaye's music in the film have been cleared. Sexual Healing will focus on the making of Gaye's Midnight Love album, during which Gaye was battling drug addiction and was considered a has-been by the public. Rumor has it that the long-awaited project was previously held up because Gaye's three children and Motown executive Berry Gordy were concerned with how Gaye (and Gordy) would be portrayed in the film. Presumably, those hurdles have been crossed. Kravitz, who recently wrapped production on Lee Daniels' The Butler, isn't the only actor to have been in the running to play Marvin Gaye. Jesse L. Martin was once attached to a biopic to be directed by F. Gary Gray, while Terrence Howard and Will Smith were reportedly both under consideration for Temple's project before the honor went to Kravitz. Shooting is said to commence soon in Belgium. Props to BET.com (11.28.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN DELETES TWITTER
AFTER DISTASTEFUL REMARKS TOWARDS FEMALE COMEDIAN After engaging last night in a vulgar back-and-forth with a female comedian on Twitter, Chris Brown has deleted his Twitter account entirely. The controversy-courting pop star fled the social network after hurling a series of extremely graphic and off-color sexual insults at Houston-based comedian Jenny Johnson, who started the exchange with her own shot at Breezy's character. Sunday afternoon, Brown took to Twitter complaining about how he believes he's aged. "I look old as f---! I'm only 23," he wrote. Johnson, who follows Brown and has made something of a habit of criticizing him ever since his 2009 conviction for aggravated assault against Rihanna, took the momentary display of vulnerability as an opportunity to hit him with a verbal gut punch. "I know! Being a worthless piece of s--t can really age a person," she wrote. Brown, who has never been known for his self control, took the bait, leveling a stunning rejoinder at the comedian. "Take them teeth out when u Sucking my d--- HOE," he wrote. Johnson, whom Rolling Stone has called one of "The 25 Funniest People on Twitter," took issue not with the content of Brown's remark, but with his misuse of a homophone. "It's 'H-' not 'HOE' you ignorant f--k," she tweeted. The exchange didn't stop there. Breezy continued the quarrel by doubling down on indecent imagery. "I should fart while ur giving me top," he wrote. To which Johnson replied: "Your mom must be so proud of you." (continued...) Props to BET.com (11.26.12) |
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GAME TALKS POSSIBLE COLLABORATIVE ALBUM WITH CHRIS BROWN Game and Chris Brown have linked up for several collaborations including "Pot of Gold" and the recent "Celebration," also featuring Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and Tyga. But the pair could have a long-form project on the way. During an interview with CBS Local, the Compton, California rapper said that he has a lot of respect for Breezy and that a collaborative album could be in the cards. "Do you know what the thing about that is? I've gotten that question more than 'How are your kids?' these days," he said. "Chris Brown, he is, to me, Bobby Brown in Hip Hop these days. It's almost the same, man. He's just the bad boy of R&B. He's also like a little brother to me. Anytime I call him, anything I need done is going to get done ASAP. Anybody else calls, you know your'e going to need $200,000 to get Chris Brown on a record. But we make good music." As for a joint LP, Chuck Taylor says he isn't against linking up with Brown for a Best of Both Worlds-type project. But regardless of how it takes shape, Game explains that he'll always have his back. "Who knows what the future holds, but I'm not opposed to doing anything like that. I have a lot of respect and a lot of love for his craft and what he does. That's my little brother. I'ma hold him down throughout the duration of my life. As long as I'm here, Chris Brown is going to be OK." Props to HipHopDX.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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LIL WAYNE AMUSED BY HIS SKATEBOARDING HATERS Lil Wayne plans to completely put rap on the back burner and spend more time skateboarding, in the very near future. And while Weezy’s foray into the world of boarding left some fans scratching their heads, the Dedication 4 rapper is positive about following his passion. He's received his fair share of hate, from groups like the "F--k Weezy Campaign," but he's not sweating it. “My day job would probably be a sports analyst and I would skate all night instead of being in the studio all night,” Wayne told Sway Calloway during his "MTV First" premiere of "No Worries," adding that he just “wants to be vital in the [skate] world” but skate enthusiasts probably would rather the rapper stick to what he knows. “I never been sonned or nothing like that because I did the eight months on the island, so you know sonning me is going to be a little difficult,” Tunechi laughed, referencing his time on Rikers Island. Still, he does have a little bit of hate coming his way from his native New Orleans. “There is this skater crew called- I don’t know why I’m giving them love, but it’s called the ‘FWC.’ It’s called the ‘F--k Weezy Campaign’ and it’s a whole bunch of skaters that’s just like, 'we don’t like the fact that Wayne skates period.' Like 'stick to doing what you do, don’t join our world, we don’t want you here,' that type of thing. The Young Money rapper recognizes that some people only see him as a cash cow for the industry- referencing his skate park in New Orleans. Although his haters from the campaign aren’t quiet about their contempt for Wayne skating, they still use his skate park. “I guess to them I’m only good for spending my money opening skate parks for them to come rip up. I have no problem with it. I probably skate better than all of them,” he added. Props to MTV.com (11.26.12) |
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RIHANNA'S 'DIAMONDS' TOPS HOT 100, LUMINEERS LEAP TO TOP 10 As previously reported, Rihanna's "Diamonds" rises 2-1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song replaces Maroon 5's "One More Night" (1-2) atop the list after a nine-week reign. With her 12th Hot 100 topper, Rihanna ascends higher into rarefied historical chart air, as she ties Madonna and the Supremes for the fourth-most leaders in the ranking's 54-year history. Only the Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (18) and Michael Jackson (13) have sent more titles to the top. "Diamonds" darts to the penthouse courtesy of gains on all three of the Hot 100's component charts. It becomes Rihanna's record-extending 12th No. 1 on Digital Songs, where it climbs 3-1 with a 19% increase to 171,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan (and passes 1 million downloads sold to date). The song logs a second week atop On-Demand Songs (1.05 million on-demand streams, according to Nielsen BDS), good for top Streaming Gainer honors on the Hot 100, and pushes 4-2 on Radio Songs with 115 million all-format audience impressions (up 17%), according to BDS. "Diamonds" (atop R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for a seventh week) wins a fairly close race to No. 1 on the Hot 100, toppling "Night" by approximately 2,000 chart points. "Diamonds" gains by a robust 17% in overall points, while "Night" deflates by less than 1%. After its nine-week reign, tying it with Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" for the year's longest Hot 100 command, "Night" drops to No. 2 despite logging a seventh week atop Radio Songs. The cut passes three titles that each spent six weeks at No. 1 on Radio Songs this year (Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain," fun.'s "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monae, and Maroon 5's own "Payphone," featuring Wiz Khalifa) to nab the list's longest rule since (guess who ...) Rihanna led for 12 weeks (Dec. 5, 2011-Feb. 18, 2012) with "We Found Love," featuring Calvin Harris. "Night" maintains its No. 1 perch on Radio Songs with 139 million in audience (down 2%). It holds at No. 4 on On-Demand Songs (822,000, down 9%) and slides 5-7 on Digital Songs (119,000, down 5%). Props to Billboard.com (11.21.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 11/18/12 It was a week of transition on the charts, as several indie releases left the Top 200 for some new albums in stores. Canadian crooner The Weeknd scored a Top 5 debut with his first retail effort, Trilogy. At #4, the compilation from the 22 year-old's free releases features Drake and Juicy J, and adds to the new wave of talent at Universal Republic Records. Travis Barker & Yelawolf's Psycho White EP slipped in the Top 50. This five-song effort is Yela's third Interscope Records release in as many years. Lastly, the final of three releases between Buckshot & 9th Wonder squeezed into the Top 200 rankings in The Solution. The series of Brooklyn-Raleigh collaborative albums date back seven years to Chemistry. Strangely, 9th was on two November 13 albums, the second being his final release in a separate series with Murs, The Final Adventure. After appearing on singles by Drake ("Crew Love") and Wiz Khalifa ("Remember You"), The Weeknd officially broke through this month as a commercial artist. Via XO/Universal Republic, the Ontario native's Trilogy traced his free project roots and convinced over 85,000 that it was worth the purchase. The remastered versions were accompanied by three new songs. In 2005, when Buckshot & 9th Wonder began working together, Little Brother only had one studio album in stores. Buckshot had previously only released one solo album, over five years prior. Throughout the last seven years, the pair forged a relationship that shaped the personnel and sound of both Duck Down Records, as well as the Justus League. In the years since, 9th and Khrysis have become go-to producers at the veteran indie label, including spearheading projects by Skyzoo and The Away Team. The Solution, following 2008's The Formula, marks the final themed album in the series. Guests include Jamla Records' Rapsody, as well as Dyme-A-Duzin. This is Duck Down's third charting album in two months, following Sky's A Dream Deferred and Sean Price's Mic Tyson, which left the Top 200, following two weeks of ranking. Props to HipHopDX.com (11.21.12) |
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FRANK OCEAN GQ INTERVIEW: SINGER DISCUSSES COMING OUT LETTER, BISEXUALITY Frank Ocean will grace the pages of GQ's "Men of the Year" issue, and the where the Odd Future affiliated singer discusses penning a song for Quentin Tarantin's new film, working on his new album, and the reason he decided to go publicly address his sexuality. "Some people said, 'He's saying he fell in love with a guy for hype.' As if that's the best hype you can get in hip-hop or black music," Ocean tells GQ. "I knew that if I was going to say what I said, it had to be in concert with one of the most brilliant pieces of art that has come out in my generation." Although he states that he had "fears" about coming out, he didn't let them stop him from making his decision. "In black music, we've got so many leaps and bounds to make with acceptance and tolerance in regard to that issue. It reflects something just ingrained, you know. When I was growing up, there was nobody in my family -- not even my mother-who I could look to and be like, 'I know you've never said anything homophobic.' So, you know, you worry about people in the business who you've heard talk that way." When asked whether he considers himself gay or bisexual, Ocean says only that "life is dynamic," and that he's not "trying to sell you sex" with his music, "I'll respectfully say that life is dynamic and comes along with dynamic experiences, and the same sentiment that I have towards genres of music, I have towards a lot of labels and boxes and shit. I'm in this business to be creative -- I'll even diminish it and say to be a content provider. One of the pieces of content that I'm for fuck sure not giving is porn videos. I'm not a centerfold. I'm not trying to sell you sex. People should pay attention to that in the letter: I didn't need to label it for it to have impact." Props to TheBoomBox.com (11.21.12) |
CHART JUICE: BIG SEAN'S 'GUAP' EARNS TOP DEBUT ON R&B/HIP HOP SONGS Big Sean takes Hot Shot Debut honors on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs this week as his "Guap" single earns the chart's highest debut, bowing at No. 31. The tune is the lead track from his upcoming album "Hall of Fame: Memoirs of a Detroit Player," which is due out Dec. 18. "Guap" starts at its high rank thanks to strong sales, as it rises 40-17 on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs with 22,000 sold (up 133%) according to Nielsen SoundScan. Up in the top 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the entire top nine slots are all stationary, led by Rihanna's "Diamonds" at No. 1 for a fifth straight week. She's followed by "Clique" from Kanye West, Jay-Z and Big Sean; Miguel's "Adorn," Alicia Keys' "Girl On Fire" (featuring Nicki Minaj) and Kendrick Lamar's "Swimming Pools (Drank)" at Nos. 2-5, respectively. Over on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Meek Mill rings the No. 1 bell as his "Dreams & Nightmares" starts with 165,000 copies sold. Unofficially, however, the rapper has visited the summit twice before as a featured artist on "Maybach Music Group Presents: Self Made Vol. 1" (two weeks at No. 1 in 2011) and "Self Made 2" (No. 1 debut on July 14, 2012). Mill's presence has also been felt on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs where his "Believe It," featuring Rick Ross, debuts at No. 38 this week, marking his 14th charting title in less than two years. Following Kendrick Lamar's impressive 241,000 unit opening last week with "Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City," Mill's 165,000 start marks the first time two albums have debuted back-to-back with more than 150,000 copies on the chart in almost a year. Drake's "Take Care" bowed with 631,000 copies on Dec. 3 chart, 2011 followed directly by Rihanna's "Talk That Talk" with 198,000 on Dec. 10. Elsewhere in the top 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Tech N9ne bows at No. 5 with "Boiling Point" (13,000) securing the artist his ninth top 10 set. A couple steps below him is Sean Price, who lands at No. 9 with "Mic Tyson" (7,000) garnering the rapper his best sales week ever and highest charting set. Props to Billboard.com (11.08.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: BILLIONAIRE OFFERS BOXER FLOYD MAYWEATHER AND RAPPER 50 CENT $5 MILLION TO FIGHT IN THE RING While it still remains to be seen if rapper 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are friends or not, a group of investors that includes a billionaire, are offering the pair $5 million to settle their differences. Billionaire Alki David and partner Damon Feldman of Celebrity Boxing offerings the pair $5 million for a three-round celebrity boxing match. 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have been embroiled in a war of words and tweets over the past month, after a falling out, apparently over business. The issue appears to be over a proposed boxing venture the pair were supposed to do together called The Money Team Promotions. But shortly after Floyd Mayweather Jr. was released from prison in August, 50 claimed prison had “changed” Mayweather. He then announced he was creating a new promotion company with Floyd’s rival, Manny Pacquaio, which was confirmed by Pacquaio’s business manager Michael Koncz. More recently, on November 1, 50 Cent announced he was done with The Money Team Promotions. Their war of words escalated over the weekend, when the pair traded shots via Twitter. According to David, the show would air on FilmOn.com and BattleCam.com, two ventures that David owns or is an investor in. To make things safe, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and 50 Cent would fight three 2-minute rounds in head-gear, along with big celebrity boxing gloves. The proposed fight will happen in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 14, if either of the two men accept the offer. Both 50 Cent in Floyd Mayweather Jr. have been silent on their Twitter accounts over the past several days. Props to AllHipHop.com (11.08.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RIHANNA, JUSTIN BEIBER & BRUNO MARS ROCK THE RUNWAY AT VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW The world’s hottest pop stars collided with the world’s hottest supermodels at the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Bruno Mars provided the soundtrack to the sexy affair, which was taped last night at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York. RiRi ripped the runway in a stunning black gown and pearl necklace to perform her hit single “Diamonds,” getting hands on with the supermodels including Doutzen Kroes. She changed into a sheer pink number for her new song “Phresh Out the Runway,” produced by David Guetta. Dressed in all white, the Biebs had grown women going wild as he performed “Beauty and a Beat” and an acoustic version of “As Long As You Love Me,” but he couldn’t stop ogling at the scantily-clad models from behind. Bruno Mars charmed the ladies with his good looks and latest hits “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Young Girls,” which he performed with his band. Everyone took the stage for the grand finale, which featured a $2.5 million Floral Fantasy bra worn by Alessandra Ambrosio. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will air December 4 at 10 p.m. on CBS. Props to Rap-Up.com (11.08.12) |
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MARY J. BLIGE HELPS RAISE $23 MILLION FOR HURRICAN SANDY RELIEF Mary J. Blige was among a list of powerhouse celebrities that lent their influence to the recent Hurricane Sandy telethon. Raising almost $23 million, Blige (a native New Yorker), Christina Aguilera and Tina Fey were just a few stars that made the East Coast victims of the storm a social priority. The American Red Cross is thankful and optimistic about the telethon's outcome, and clear about where the money is going. "We are incredibly grateful and humbled by this outpouring support for those who are suffering as a result of Superstorm Sandy," said Peggy Dyer, chief marketing officer of the American Red Cross. "Our preliminary results of nearly $23 million raised are an extraordinary example of how American people pull together in times of disaster. Their generous donations will go directly to those in need and we urge the public to continue to give." Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey also has been very vocal in garnering more celebrity support, using his Twitter account to reach out to the Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber and Bruce Springsteen. Funds donated to the Red Cross will go toward immediate emergency needs such as shelter, food and health services. The organization also helps feed emergency workers, communication dilemmas from people trying to reach family members near the disaster area and provides blood to victims. "We're spreading a PSA right now to text 'REDCROSS' to 90999," Vinny Guadagnino, star of Jersey Shore, told MTV News last week. "You can donate like $10, and I think if a lot of people do that it will make impacts." Props to BET.com (11.06.12) |
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RIHANNA 'UNAPOLOGETIC' TRACK LIST: CHRIS BROWN, EMINEM FEATURED Two weeks before the release of her seventh studio album, in seven years, Rihanna revealed the track list to "Unapologetic." Early this morning (Tues. Nov. 6), Rih Rih tweeted an instagram photo of a handwritten track list of the album. The 15-song full-length features her R&B Songs No. 1, "Diamonds," and guest appearances by Eminem, Future, Mikky Ekko, and her ex-beau Chris Brown. Rihanna and Breezy's "Unapologetic" collabo, "Nobodies Business," arrives months after the release their much-discussed February remixes to "Birthday Cake" and "Turn Up the Music." Two limited edition deluxe box sets of the full-length -- Diamonds Box and Diamonds Executive Platinum Box -- are available now for pre-sale on RihannaNow.com. The box sets feature exclusive images and accessories of the singer. In celebration of "Unapologetic," Rih Rih will also embark on her 777 Tour on Nov. 14 on which she will perform seven shows in seven days in seven countries. Props to Billboard.com (11.06.12) |
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LIL WAYNE LOSES $2.2 MILLION TO QUINCY JONES III IN LAWSUIT Lil Wayne didn't take his deposition too seriously (and we thank him for the entertainment) but the $2 million he has to cough up after losing his lawsuit against Quincy Jones III will probably sober him up...just a little. According to TMZ, Wayne was ordered to pay Jones $2.2 million based on the countersuit which stated that the rapper blocked the release of his film, "The Carter," therefore infringing on its profits. The lawsuit made unintentional headlines last month when video of the Young Money boss' apathetic and dismissive behavior toward his lawyer during a videotaped deposition leaked online. The tapes, released by TMZ last month, inspired thousands of posts on social media referencing Wayne's "hilarious" deposition. The judge overseeing the lawsuit at the time was not at all entertained by the videos, however, and admonished the Young Money CEO for his display of "unreasonable conduct in the deposition" and "irresponsible behavior." The rapper, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., originally sued Jones over what he called the director's "scandalous portrayal" of him in "The Carter," a 2009 documentary about the multiplatinum artist's life. Wayne also sued over the alleged unauthorized use of his music for the film. In addition to his legal troubles, Weezy has been recovering from a health scare last month that required an emergency landing of the MC's private jet in Texas. Early reports that Wayne had suffered multiple seizures were put to rest when the rapper's reps released a statement that he had been successfully treated for a "severe migraine and dehydration." Wayne later took to Twitter to announce that he was "good" and thanked everyone for their prayers. He is reportedly still recovering at his mother's home in Louisiana. Props to MTV.com (11.06.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ "MY TRUTH" FIRST EPISODE STREAM YMCMB starlet Nicki Minaj recently sat down with British talk show host Alan Carr while touring in the UK. During the Interview, Nicki spoke on her upcoming re-release of his sophomore LP Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up, due out this November 19. She explained that the project is more akin to an EP release given the eight new songs she record for it, and revealed that she plans to film the music video for her next single off the LP in London. "It kind of is [a new album] because some people put out an EP with eight songs, and [Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up has] eight brand new songs," she said. "I'm going to drop my first single for it tomorrow or the next day...this is a 'Chatty Man' bloody exclusive! I have to say for the single, I'm actually going to shoot the video in London." Nicki also discussed her upcoming three-episode reality series for E! Network, titled "Nicki Minaj: My Truth." She explained that the show is going to be a very honest portrayal of her life, highlighting both the good and the bad moments in her career. "You'll see the real shit - it's time. I can't have people thinking it's just this Barbie thing," she said. "We can joke here [on stage], but back there [back stage], I have to be on phones with people and it's important they take me serious[ly] and they know that I mean business. I did have reservations about certain scenes, I was like, 'Oh, no! I look crazy,' but you know what, you're going to see the good and the bad." Props to HipHopDX.com (11.05.12) |
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A$AP ROCKY DECLARES HE IS EVOLVING SOCIETY ON HOMOSEXUALITY A$AP Rocky is proclaiming himself a fashion icon and inspiration for society's progressing understanding of homosexuality. In a recent interview with Hard Knock TV, he shared how many people saw his sense of style as a sign of being gay. However, he explained that his relentless fashion statements have impacted numerous urban communities and shifted their views of homosexuality. "We made it cool — I kicked down the door for kids that's my age, older and younger, to be able to wear Jeremy Scott sneakers, rips in their jeans and not feel gay," the rapper said. "That's what the society of the urban community tries to portray. If you do certain things like snug fashion, high-end fashion, other things that's out really in the criteria of the small state of mind of the urban community, you're 'gay.' Weird is 'gay' where they come from. But they're slowly learning because of a guy named A$AP Rocky." The self-dubbed hero admits that he used to be homophobic, but has matured to a more progressive view himself. The Harlem hip hop artist no longer judges others on their sexual orientation or skin color. He hopes that his views are a role model for others, as he continues to defend his fashion sense as not being "gay." "That s--t ain't gay. That's just different. That s--t ain't gay. I'm a heterosexual man. I never been gay a day of my life. I used to be homophobic, but as I got older, I realized that wasn't the way to do things. I don't discriminate against anybody for their sexual preference, for their skin color... That's immature. Not only that, not only do I know the difference between that, but I'm wise enough to know that that's just stupid and wrong, and I'm just trying to spread that to everybody. Yo, you don't have to worry about what he's doing. If he's gay, that's his business. Props to BET.com (11.05.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CHRIS BROWN, CHARITY WORK: SINGER SET TO GET BACK TO TEENSE Chris Brown wants to give back in a big way. According to HollywoodLife.com, Chris is planning on handing out financial grants to programs that will educate teens about the importance of the arts in low income areas. On Monday, he's launching the Symphonic Love Foundation, with his own money funding the project. A source told Hollywood Life: "Chris wanted to focus on supporting arts programs because art has been such an integral part of his life. It's been a way for him to express who he is ever since he was a young child. He's been quietly painting for years and sees it as a positive outlet for low income children." The foundation has reportedly been in works for three years. On his site that launches on Monday, there will be a place for young people to show off their artwork and creativity. Chris will also support education programs on domestic abuse and dating violence, as well as HIV/AIDS programs. "Chris has been extremely generous with both his finances and time with his foundation," the source continued. "He really wanted to find an effective way to help children and teens. This will be one of the most active foundations established by anyone in his generation. He will be actively engaging with young people and his fans with it." Brown seemed to confirm the news on his Twitter, linking to the article. Props to TheBoomBox.com (11.05.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 10/28/2012 This was perhaps the biggest week on the charts of 2012. At the top, Taylor Swift went platinum in less than seven days with Red. Only the Country/Pop starlet could steal Kendrick Lamar's thunder, as the Compton, California's first major label album, good kid, m.A.A.d. city sold nearly 250,000 units and grabbed the Black Hippy member a coveted #2. Further down the charts, the latest Wu-Tang Clan off-shoot, a soundtrack to RZA's new film, made a Top 40 grab with appearances by Clan members, Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa alongside Kool G Rap, Pharoahe Monch and M.O.P. Independent Hip Hop went strong, as Psychopathic Records released a new solo project from Above The Law's Cold 187um (a/k/a Big Hutch) after a tumultuous year, scoring him benchmark solo success. Doomtree's P.O.S. landed a Top 50 in his third Rhymesayers Entertainment solo record, all while battling a kidney condition that pulled the Punk/Poetry-inspired emcee from touring. Jedi Mind Tricks' Vinnie Paz reached the Top 100 with his sophomore solo album, God Of The Serengeti. Paz linked with production from DJ Premier and The Beatnuts on his latest outing. Lastly, another former Ruthless Records artist (albeit from another era), Stevie Stone rang the Top 200 for the second time this year with his Momentum release on Strange Music. Props to HipHopDX.com (10.31.12) |
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LIL WAYNE SCOLDED IN COURT AFTER NO SHOW APPEARANCE Lil Wayne is recovering from his recent health scare, but he has a new set of problems on his hands. The YMCMB rapper was reprimanded following his absence during a court appearance when video from a previous deposition took center stage in court. The judge overseeing his lawsuit against Quincy Jones III scolded the Young Money boss for his behavior in video depositions. Wayne's lawyer informed the judge that the deposition tapes will be played for the jury in his client's absence. The tapes show the "A Milli" MC brushing off questions from attorney Pete Ross with taunts and repeatedly defiant answers to questions. In the video, Wayne tells his lawyer, "Pete Ross, that's a stupid ass question," after the counselor asks the rapper to verify that he'd given an interview with Katie Couric. When Ross asks if he remembered his 2010 stint on Rikers Island, Wayne glibly replies, "I don't know." With each question, Wayne grows visibly more irritated with Ross, ultimately issuing a vague threat by the end of the video. The tapes, released by TMZ last month, inspired thousands of responses on Twitter to Wayne's "hilarious" deposition. The judge was not laughing, however, saying the Young Money CEO is shown displaying "unreasonable conduct in the deposition" and "irresponsible behavior." The rapper, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., is suing Jones over what he called the director's "scandalous portrayal" of him in "The Carter," a 2009 documentary about the multiplatinum spitter's life. Wayne is also suing over the alleged unauthorized use of his music for the film. Props to MTV.com (10.31.12) |
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SEAN PAUL -- A DAY IN THE LIFE For an international superstar, Sean Paul is unbelievably humble. There are artists with inflated egos in the music industry, some who are far less accomplished than the Grammy Award-winning dancehall star. So if anyone has the right to act out in don-like fashion, it's this multi-platinum-selling performer. However, Sean doesn't. He carries himself almost as if he's still the newcomer who climbed the charts a decade ago. On Sept. 13, just a week before the release of his fifth studio album, Tomahawk Technique, The BoomBox finds Sean at the Mondrian hotel, tucked behind a row of green arches on Crosby St., in the SoHo area of Manhattan. It's 12:45PM, and Sean has descended to the lobby area of the dimly lit establishment. Wearing black Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses -- which he wore the entire day -- his eyes are hidden. This could make the man mysterious rather than approachable. But his smirk and light laughter early on suggest otherwise. He's open from the very beginning. "I don't really have a routine," he says, walking out the back door of the hotel to hop in a van taking him to his taping of BET's "106 & Park." "I get up this morning. I eat something. Light breakfast. Fruits, some chips, coffee. But no routine." He remains easy-going about his life, which could explain why many Americans haven't heard from him in a while -- three years to be exact -- since releasing his 2009 LP, Imperial Blaze. However, he isn't pressured by the fast pace of the music industry, where artists seem to drop new tracks or free mixtapes often. "When you don't hear an album from me right now, I'm still doing tours,: Sean shares. "I have done 100 countries all over the earth. So my thing is not so cookie cutter as people put together music nowadays. I do take time." Props to TheBoomBox.com (10.31.12) |
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We are halfway through the Fall, and it's looking like the 4th quarter in music is shaping up to be a big one. While we thought we were going to wait forever for T.I. to release Trouble Man, he's locked in a release date of December 18th. A week earlier, Lil Wayne will drop I Am Not a Human Being II, originally slated for November. Future is dropping a whole bunch of albums and mixtapes, working hard til the end of the year. He'll be re-releasing Pluto reloaded as Pluto 3D on November 27th. While there's no firm date yet for a new L.O.X. album, just know that one is coming. The executive producers are locked in too and they'll be none other than DJ Khaled and Swizz Beatz. October 30 The Black Opera - Libretto Craig G - Ramblings Of An Angry Old Man Meek Mill - Dreams & Nightmares MHz Legacy - Megacy Journalist 103 (The Left) Reporting Live Sean Price - Mic Tyson 3:33 - In the Middle Of Infinity Tech N9ne - Boiling Point Oh No - Disrupted Ads Cashis - The Art Of Dying Props to HipHopDX.com (10.30.12) |
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EMINEM ANNOUNCES 8TH ALBUM ON DETROIT-INSPIRED BASEBALL CAP
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RAPPERS REACT TO HURRICANE SANDY AND PICTURES OF DESTRUCTION As Hurricane Sandy made contact with land yesterday, power across the East Coast shut down leaving more than 6.5 million people without power, 16 dead in the United States and 65 dead in the Caribbean. With a path of destruction from South Carolina to Maine, some are calling this one of the biggest hurricanes ever to hit the United States. New York City is struggling to recover from the damage as an explosion at the Con Ed Plant, at East 14th and FDR in New York City cut power to most of New York City. (Explosion at 3:06 ) Early reports estimate that the East Coast alone has suffered an estimated 20 billion dollars of damage not to mention the closing the New York Stock Exchange for the first time since 1985. New York Metro Transit Authority spokesman Kevin Ortiz said, “The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night. Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on our entire transportation system, in every borough and county of the region.” Haiti has already accounted for 51 deaths thus far, as the storm hit on Sunday, but it is still early and the count is expected to unfortunately increase as rubble and debris are removed. BSM (Brick Squad Monopoly) rapper Haitian Fresh Tweeted his thoughts for his native country, ”#pray for Haiti and everyone on east coast #sandy” “In new york having a storm party. Watching movies. Sandy please say bye!!!” Roc Nation artist Rita Ora Tweeted. “I HATE SANDY.” “F**k #Sandy F**k a leak it’s #MeekWeek Pre-Order #DreamsAndNightmares NOW https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dreams-nightmares-deluxe-version/id564834273 … …” Meek Mill Tweeted with his album releasing today. “and i know them “Sandy” pics gotta be fake … please somebody tell me those are fake,” Taylor Gang producer Cardo Tweeted. Legendary West Coast Rapper Ice-T tracked the whole storm from his New York City apartment. Rapper Sean Price made a humorous video of him reporting live from the belly of Hurricane Props to AllHipHop.com (10.30.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 10/21/2012 Seattle, Washington's Macklemore & Ryan Lewis success last week continued. The DXnext certified duo just missed a sophomore week in the Top 10, coming in at #11 with The Heist. Machine Gun Kelly also held strong in the second week at retail with his own full-length debut on the Bad Boy imprint, Lace Up. Jay-Z's recent Live From Brooklyn souvenir album from his Barclay Center shows also crossed the 15,000 unit mark, as one of Roc Nation's less-publicized releases. K'Naan hit the charts for a second time in 2012 with Country, God Or The Girl. The A&M Records release from the Somali-Canadian emcee/singer expanded his More Beautiful Than Silence EP from January on this fourth studio effort. Appearances by Nas and Nelly Furtado are found both places. The Heist, the latest self-released album from emcee Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis sold another 18,000 records. Macklemore, approaching 30, has a career dating back to the late '90s within the Seattle underground. His latest self-released effort is approaching six-figures in sales, and features appearances from Black Hippy's Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q over Ryan's production. Machine Gun Kelly continues strong into week two. The Cleveland, Ohio retail spoke in-depth about his lyrical ability and label with HipHopDX last week. A leader within the "wild boy" movement, MGK's full-length debut hit the 65,000 mark. There are appearances from DMX, Waka Flocka Flame and more on Lace Up. Props to HipHopDX.com (10.24.12) |
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SNOOP LION ON 'REINCARNATION' RELEASE, POSITIVITY AND 'POCKET LIKE IT'S HOT' Snoop Lion will share his Jamaican journey in February, the rapper-turned-reggae star told Billboard.com on Tuesday. The documentary film "Reincarnation" will come first with a theatrical release, with the album of the same -- recorded in Jamaica with Diplo's Major Lazer -- perhaps two weeks after. "If i just drop this music, it leaves room for questioning," Lion, formerly Snoop Dogg, explained. "You wouldn't understand the whole journey or the transformation. When i allow you to see the movie, to go on the journey with me, to see exactly why I'm the lion, why the music changed -- [you'll] have a full understanding." Though his sound has changed, it won't be the first time the hip-hop world's heard him trade raps for singing. "People respect me, so musically I can do whatever I like," he said. "When i took on a song that I had called 'Sexual Eruption," it was a song where there was singing, 90% of the song, and it was one of my biggest records. One thing about me and the people, they appreciate my voice, no matter what it's doing. If it's singing, rapping, talking, they appreciate the voice and the time that I put into giving them something creative from me." "Reincarnation" will come with a positive message, one Lion said he couldn't have shared through hip-hop. "I came out in hip-hop, gangsta rapper, West Coast, that is who I am, that is what I will always been in hip-hop," he said on a call with journalists. "That's why the transformation into reggae fits the mode better because to me reggae is about love and peace and unity and struggle." Props to Billboard.com (10.24.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ TO PERFORM AT AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS Nicki Minaj has been confirmed to perform at the American Music Awards, shortly after she secured the most nominations for the show, along with Rihanna. While vying for four potential awards, the pop rapper will hit the stage to her fans' delight, joining Taylor Swift and Linkin Park in the performer lineup. The Young Money rapper is having a fantastic year with her Pink Friday fragrance expanding internationally and other major endorsement deals. She is also currently very busy taping the upcoming season of American Idol and touring in the U.K. Her latest single with Cassie, "The Boys," continues to climb the charts and position her as a music force. While she and Rihanna lead in nominations, Taylor Swift is also up for favorite female country artist and Linkin Park for alternative artist. The 40th annual American Music Awards will broadcast live from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on ABC, November 18. Props to BET.com (10.24.12) |
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KENDRICK LAMAR: THE STORY BEHIND ' GOOD KID, M.A.A.D CITY' It's a Tuesday evening in early October and Kendrick Lamar just dozed off in the back of a black mini coach. He's got a black Top Dawg Entertainment hooded sweatshirt pulled low over his eyes as the inexplicable in-car entertainment, a live recording of the Blue Man Group, dances across a screen at the front of the cab. Midtown Manhattan is gridlock. In the rearview is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where Lamar just marked his first network TV appearance, taping a performance of his single "Swimming Pools (Drank)" for "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." Ahead is a meet-and-greet at the Soho Apple Store, where he'll participate in an onstage Q&A with AllHipHop.com founder Chuck Creekmur and do another performance of "Swimming Pools" to promote pre--orders of his highly anticipated TDE/Aftermath/Interscope debut, "good kid, m.A.A.d city," which went live the night before and immediately shot the project to the top of iTunes' hip-hop/rap chart. In between: van chatter, the Blue Man Group or a few minutes to steal a few Z's. Can you blame him for choosing door No. 3? With the album's release just weeks away, Lamar is in the middle of a relentless run that began in earnest with the first of a 30-date self-titled tour, sponsored by BET Music Matters and TDE, in early September. Last night, he was in Baton Rouge, La., picking up a sold-out spot date at Varsity Theatre that was tacked onto the New Orleans stop of the Music Matters tour the previous night. Before New Orleans, Lamar was in Atlanta taping a rack of segments for the BET Hip-Hop Awards, including a performance of "Swimming Pools" and "The Recipe" (the Dr. Dre-assisted single that will appear on the deluxe edition of "good kid, m.A.A.d city"), presenting the I Am Hip-Hop Award to legendary MC Rakim; appearing in the West Coast cipher alongside the likes of E-40, DJ Quik, Kurupt and Snoop Lion; and collecting an award for lyricist of the year. Props to Billboard.com (10.23.12) |
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JAY-Z AND BEYONCE CAN'T TRADEMARK BLUE IVY'S NAME Most of us never heard the name Blue Ivy until Jay-Z and Beyoncé welcomed their daughter into the world, but the celebrity power couple were unable to obtain a trademark for the beautiful moniker. The Carters were unable to trademark their baby's name after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office sent a suspended letter to the couple for pending trademarks on their bundle of joy's name, The Boston Herald reports. Instead, Boston-based wedding-planning company Blue Ivy is allowed to operate under the name, which it has been doing since 2009. Veronica Alexandra, the 32-year-old owner of Blue Ivy, said she holds no ill will against Beyoncé or the star rapper, saying that she "highly respects" the "Crazy in Love" singer. "I can't be frustrated with something I think is going to bring me to produce and define my brand even more, which is financially exciting in itself and intellectually exciting as well," she told the paper. "It's like they caused me to create more opportunity for myself." Since she was born on January 7, Blue Ivy has taken the world by song. Her proud papa has rapped about her on songs like "Glory" and Rick Ross' "3 Kings," while her mom has posted adorable baby pics on her Tumblr site. In fact, Blue has become so popular that President Barack Obama doled out advice for Hov, so he can properly raise his little one. "I made sure that Jay-Z was helping Beyoncé out [with the baby], and not leaving it all with Beyoncé and the mother-in-law," the POTUS said during a radio interview last week. Props to MTV.com (10.23.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DIGITAL MUSIC SERVICE RDIO PROVIDES ON-DEMAND ACCESS TO MILLIONS OF SONGS There is a digital music service that is making it easy to discover, listen to and share music. The new service, Rdio (pronounced Ar-dee-o) has millions of songs with on-demand access and a slogan that reads, "Human powered music discovery." Listeners can search for and play any song in a database of more than 18 million tracks and have a community with friends and music-industry insiders. Promoted as a "music discovery" service that is "for the people, by the people," Rdio allows listeners to discover new music from friends, critics, deejays and/or artists. Listeners can also explore playlists like the ones created by HipHopDX and enjoy them without any ads. Rdio is presently available on all devices, from phones to computers. Rdio also boasts that one can sync and listen to music even when not connected to the Internet. Props to HipHopDX.com (10.23.12) |
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BOX OFFICE: PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 TOPS, ALEX CROSS DISAPPOINTS There were plenty of scares but no surprises at the box office this weekend. Paranormal Activity 4 took the crown as the top-grossing film with $30.2 million in ticket sales and plans for the fifth installment of the popular found footage franchise are already underway. Ben Affleck's Oscar shoo-in Argo came in second with $16.6 million and continues to ride the wave of fantastic critical reception and great word-of-mouth. It was followed by Hotel Transylvania and Taken 2, which officially crossed the $100 million mark in domestic ticket sales. Alex Cross, the detective thriller starring Tyler Perry as we've never seen him before, rounded out the top five with $11.8 million. It was a disappointing, but not dismal take for the widely-publicized film and hasn't slowed chatter of a sequel. On the art house circuit, Ava DuVernay's Middle of Nowhere continues to thrive, expanding to fourteen cities and grossing a healthy $7,000 per screen in some cities. Next week, Halle Berry's epic time traveling thriller Cloud Atlas, in which she plays an Asian man among other bizarre characters, competes with Halloween-ready Silent Hill. Props to BET.com (10.22.12) |
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MAC MILLER RECOUNTS HIS RISE ON 'THIS IS HOW I MADE IT' Mac Miller's Blue Slide Park album landed at number one on the charts last year, becoming the first indie album to chart that high in more than 15 years, and on episode 2 of MTV's This Is How I Made It," Mac breaks down his rise to success. "If I had three people anticipating a video, I would be like 'So, who's ready for this video? You guys ready?' " Mac Miller reveals in a preview of the upcoming episode. " 'I'm about to drop it any minute now!' And it's like three people. And most people would be like, 'Ok, man, I hate myself. I have three fans. I suck.' But to me, it was like, 'Up! You guys ready?!' " Despite starting off with just three fans, Mac Millions built his loyal fanbase organically and saw the fruits of his labor pay off when his first album became the first indie debut LP to hit #1 since 1995's Dogg Foodby Tha Dogg Pound. "I thought the ticket to making it was being signed to a record label, you know?" Mac said. "There was just no kinda way that was going to happen. I couldn't figure out how to do it. That's when I took to like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to try and build a following. So, I always just wanted to flood the Internet with material and content and character and personality. I wanted people to know who I was to know what I was about — kind of let people into my life a little bit." In the episode, Mac reveals one of the first rhymes he ever spit: "First name Mac, last name Miller/ From Pittsburgh, so I rep them Steelers." "You kind of pretend you're bigger than you are," Mac explained. "It sounds weird, but you want to make it seem like you were established." Props to MTV.com (10.22.12) |
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OBAMA CALLS JAY-Z & BEYONCE 'GOOD PEOPLE' DISCUSSES FRIENDSHIP It's no secret who Jay-Z and Beyonce are voting for -- hip hop's power couple has made it extremely clear that they support President Obama -- but how close is the relationship between the two families? Apparently, they actually are friends outside of the media spotlight, which is just about as endearing as celebrity friendships get. In a recent interview with Cleveland radio station Z107.9, President Obama addressed his friendship with the Watch the Throne MC and his wife, calling them "good people," and revealing that Michelle and Beyonce are "good friends." Even as Obama plays up his connection with Jay and Bey, Jay-Z raps about their friendship himself in a line off "On to the Next One" from The Blueprint 3. "MJ on the summer jam, Obama on the text/ Ya'll should be afraid of what I'm gonna do next" Hov brags. According to Obama though, the two discuss very normal things, and primarily discuss their families. "We talk about the same things I talk about with all my friends. I made sure that Jay-Z was helping Beyonce out [with the baby], and not leaving it all with Beyonce and the mother-in-law." Props to TheBoomBox.com (10.22.12) |
NICKI MINAJ VS. MARIAH CAREY: 'IDOL' PRODUCER DENIES STAGING BEEF When video footage of Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey battling it out first surfaced, fans assumed that it was simply a ploy to boost the show's rating, but "American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe says that couldn't be further from the truth. TMZ caught up with Lythgoe this week, where he had this to say: "I have no idea why I would be doing it [for ratings] five months before the show went out," he said of the now-infamous on-set battle, caught on tape, in which Minaj can be seen going hard at Carey. "So they've got to realize I would only do anything for ratings a month before the show went out. They've got my timing wrong." That, of course, begs the question of whether the two women have gotten beyond their beef and made up, since there have been no reports of subsequent dust-ups following the initial fight. "They were amicable that afternoon," Lythgoe said. "And I think before anybody makes any judgments they should see the show." In the wake of the video leak, Carey's husband, Nick Cannon, has chalked the fight up to "theatrics," while "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest said he thought it just went "too far." There's no word yet on any structural changes to the "Idol" brand this year, but when asked what he thought of the new twist added to rival reality singing show "The Voice" this year in the form of a "steal," Lythgoe said he'd not seen the show, so he doesn't know. "A good friend of mine said how much fun it was," he said. Props to MTV.com (10.19.12) |
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HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY SNOOPS LION: LOOKING BACK AT AN UNUSUAL YEAR The rapper born Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. may have changed his name from Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion, but his birthday (October 20) remains the same. And while there’s no way of predicting what Snoop, who has done everything from movie and television acting to hosting WWE wrestling to coaching pop warner football teams, will do next, here’s a look back at the unusual yet remarkable year he’s had. For starters, the Long Beach native dazzled thousands during his set for the final night at Coachella when he performed with the late great Tupac via hologram. It was the most talked about performance of the year as Snoop performed with a very realistic hologram of Tupac live on stage for their timeless collabo, “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.” Next, he celebrated his favorite holiday, 4/20, by stepping out of his musical comfort zone to record the stoner-approved country song, “Roll Me Up,” with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson. To call anything Snoop does surprising at this point would be futile, but his crooning on the track was nothing if not shocking. Uncle Snoop followed that up with a guest turn on America’s longest-running and most popular game show, “The Price Is Right,” for their Celebrity Charity Week. On the show, the Doggfather assisted host Drew Carey as he solicited contestants’ uneducated guesses on items ranging from toasters to all-inclusive vacation packages. Audiences were even treated to impromptu freestyles during the show. In a symbolic passing of the torch move, Snoop filmed a movie, "Mac and Devin Go to High School," with Wiz Khalifa, his “nephew” and understudy in marijuana appreciation 101. The comedy film stars the two rapper as they relive their high school days as two total opposites, a scholar and a pothead that cross paths resulting in a hilarious journey. Additionally, he released an impressive soundtrack for the flick. Props to MTV.com (10.19.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CAN BEYONCE TOP MADONNA'S SUPER BOWL RECORD? Now that Beyoncé has been officially announced as the performer at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 3, can she top Madonna's record for most-watched U.S. telecast of all time? The Material Girl's performance during this year's Super Bowl reached more than 116 million viewers, according to Nielsen, and was watched by more viewers than the game itself. But advertising and branding executives think Beyoncé has appeal wider enough-not to mention a buzzy post-Blue Ivy narrative-to draw an even bigger crowd. "She's one of the biggest stars in the world, music or otherwise. She's an incredible performer and is great with brands," Live Nation Network president Russell Wallach says. "The Super Bowl is an incredible marketing platform for any artist, and this puts her in front of the biggest worldwide television audience." Although ad time bookending the halftime show during the second and third quarters is already sold out, according to executives who spoke with Billboard, there's still potential for advertisers associated with Beyoncé to synch their spots based on their ad buys. Salesforce.com, for example, was able to secure a spot featuring Will.i.am just before the Black Eyed Peas' performance in 2010, while M&M's bought ad time right before Madonna's halftime show featuring LMFAO, whose "Sexy and I Know It" was in the candy ad. With Pepsi sponsoring the halftime show this year, it's possible the brand will tap Beyoncé, a previous pitchwoman, to make an encore appearance in an ad. Thirty-second spots for the 2013 telecast, which will air on CBS, are expected to match and potentially exceed the rates of $3.7 million to $3.8 million advertisers paid last year. Props to Billboard.com (10.19.12) |
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DRAKE GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL Drake has an important new commendation to add to his awards shelf: A high school diploma. After years in the limelight as a rapper and actor, the 25-year-old star went back to the drawing board this summer to complete the coursework necessary to graduate from high school. On Twitter last night, Drake said it was mission accomplished. "97% on my final exam. 88% in the course. One of the greatest feelings in my entire life. As of tonight I have graduated high school!" he wrote. "Thank you to my teacher Kim Janzen for spending the last 5 months working tirelessly with me!! OVO SOUND." Drake, who has been on a break from touring the past few months, first revealed that he was pursuing his diploma in an interview in August. The YMCMB rapper acted on the popular Canadian teen series Degrassi: The Next Generation from the age of 15 to 22 and never finished high school. Props to BET.com (10.18.12) |
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WYCLEF JEAN ADDRESSES YELE HAITI FINANCIAL SCANDALS Wyclef Jean was the talk of Twitter on Wednesday (October 17) because he decided to post a photo of himself wearing only briefs while posing on a Ducati, but Clef has had some more serious issues to deal with in the past few weeks. His Yele Haiti foundation was closed in September, but he maintains that the benefits of his work will silence the critics. According to The New York Times, Yele Haiti went out of business last month, leaving behind considerable debt and a few unfinished projects. The Times reports that auditors zeroed in on $3 million of the organization's expenses from 2005 to 2009, concluding that $256,580 was used for illegal benefits and improper transactions like private air transportation and chauffeur services. Wyclef, who recently released his memoir, "Purpose: An Immigrant's Story," has been taking all of the criticism in stride. "When you start an organization, there are gonna be mistakes, but the mistakes were never us banking money in our pockets to get rich on behalf of our people," he told MTV News in late September, in the midst of Yele Haiti's downward spiral. "When those kind of mistakes are made within governance, you bring in new accountants, new governance, and that's what we did." "The legacy of Yele Haiti and why people trust in Yele Haiti is because it's not something I created when the earthquake came," he continued. "This is something I created in 2005. Always remember this: If you decide that you're not just gonna be musician, you're not gonna just be a rapper, you're gonna stand up for something and be in the forefront of it, you're gonna get challenged constantly." Clef explained that he felt the need to step up and help out his country when its people were most in need, even if the negative seems to be taking front and center right now. "When history tells its tale to define the truth ... one thing about history, as history goes it will protect me," he said. "So there's one thing that you might feel now, but 70 years from now, a hundred years from now, when you're not around, facts come out. So history will always be on my side because the truth eventually ends up coming out." Props to MTV.com (10.18.12) |
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CASKEY TALKS BIRDMAN SIGNING HIM, ORLANDO HIP HOP AND BEING AFRAID OF RAP Less than six months ago, Caskey was off the radar but a phone call from Cash Money mogul Birdman changed everything. The 20-year-old Orlando native is now in the position to make his city known for more than overpriced mouse ears. He has since signed with Young Money/Cash Money Records and building buzz around his latest mixtape project, No Complaints. As the industry clamors to know more about the MC, Caskey is confident in who he is: a heavy metal fan who fell in love with rap courtesy of Nas. Hip-hop has become increasingly accepting of fresh faces and new perspectives, placing Caskey front and center in the ever-changing rotation of "up and comers to watch." He's not feeling the pressure though. With his production team, The Avengerz, by his side, the "Words" creator keeps a crew around him that inspires greatness. He's currently prepping his YMCMB debut LP -- the title he can't release just yet but he promises it will be "alien-esque." For Caskey, outdoing Disney should be a small feat. Read on as the rising lyricist tells the story of Birdman signing him, reveals his choice to be a "trap rapper or underground nerd rapper," explains how his late father impacts his lyrics and why heavy metal was his lane way before rap. You're actually a huge heavy metal fan right? How did you get introduced to rap? I was always into more metal music. I like that kinda stuff. I'm big on instrumentation but my older sister's like, a thug, so she was always bumping N.W.A. and Three 6 Mafia and shit [laughs]. My first introduction wasn't a great introduction. I thought the music was bad and shit because I was like in third and fourth grade listening to "Fuck the Police" and shit. I wasn't a little bad ass kid. It was traumatizing. Yeah [laughs]. But as I got older she also put me on to a lot of good hip-hop too. She put me on to dead prez, Nas and Eminem. Once I started discovering that, that's when my interest in the game grew. But she was always a big Tupac, Biggie fan. She knew everything. Props to TheBoomBox.com (10.18.12) |
TYGA AND GIRLFRIEND BLAC CHYNA WELCOME A BABY BOY Tyga and his girlfriend Blac Chyna are celebrating the birth of their first child, King Cairo Stevenson, who was delivered on Tuesday (October 16). The 22-year-old rapper (born Michael Ray Nguyen-Stevenson) tweetedout a photo of him cradling the newborn in his arms to his followers with the simple caption: "Most Amazing feeling ever #Blessed #2Kings @KingCairo." Chyna tweeted that she carried the bundle of joy for 40 weeks and that he weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce: "Welcome King Cairo Stevenson 7lbs 1 oz ....... #blessed !!!!" The baby news comes on the heels of reports that the "Rack City" MC was engaged to the video vixen, who fans insist is the splitting image of labelmate Nicki Minaj. Tyga reportedly refuted those rumors with the simple tweet: "Rich & havin the time of my life." Fellow YMCMB rapper Drake seemed to co-sign Tyga's choice in women when he made mention of Blac Chyna in his song "Miss Me" with the lyrics: "Call up King of Diamonds/ And tell Chyna it be worth the flight." Tyga hit the road last month for MTV Jams' Closer to My Dreams Tour, with guests appearances from Iggy Azalea, Kirko Bangz and Sterling Simms. Props to MTV.com (10.17.12) |
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BEVERLY BOND HONORED AT ASCAP 4TH ANNUAL WOMEN BEHIND THE MUSIC SERIES
Beyond the flashing lights and glitz of the famous artists and parties that are all a part of the music industry, rarely do people see the trailblazers, especially women, who make the power moves behind the scenes. Knowing these ladies are equally as important, ASCAP held their 4th Annual Women Behind the Music series in New York Tuesday evening (Oct. 16). The event, held at Tenjune in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, honored a few special movers and shakers. The honorees included Black Girls Rock! Inc., founder and DJ Beverly Bond; Jessica Rivera, senior vice president of Universal Music Publishing; and Nicole Wyskoarko, Island Def Jam's vice president of business and legal affairs. Bond recently celebrated the seventh year of her annual Black Girls Rock! awards show, which was taped last weekend and will air next month on BET. Alicia Keys, Ciara, Missy Elliott and Keyshia Cole all performed. Bond reminisced on the event's humble beginnings, when it wasn't so star-studded. "When I started the award show, it was started at the Powerhouse bookstore in Brooklyn, [N.Y.], honoring DJ Jazzy Joyce and MC Lyte," Bond told The BoomBox. "Everyone left that room saying this is historic. I knew it was something that needed to grow, needed to be expanded. I started it because it was necessary." Bond's goal is to recognize leaders and game-changers, who go above and beyond. "I think it's important that people honor those within their circles, within their industries, within their culture, within their communities to help inspire others to follow in their footsteps," she shared. Props to TheBoomBox.com (10.17.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 10/14/2012 One of the year's biggest commercial surprises is officially Seattle, Washington's Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. The pair's The Heist, a self-released album, earned a #2 debut on the charts. Moreover, the latest in a series of EP and LP releases dating back a decade was within striking distance of the top of the charts, losing only to Mumford & Sons. Also in the Top 5 was Machine Gun Kelly with his own full-length debut on the Bad Boy imprint, Lace Up. Macklemore achieved a feat that veteran star Xzibit could now. The comeback album from the longtime Likwit Crew and Dr. Dre affiliate debuted at #140, with high-profile guests including the aforementioned. The third new edition came courtesy of a Best Buy exclusive release of XXL magazine, which included two CDs of music from Hip Hop stars. This is the latest in a series of albums the veteran publication has released since 2005. Last week's news-maker DJ Drama, fell 60 spots with Quality Street Music. Meanwhile, Skyzoo, Kutt Calhoun and Z-Ro, who all delivered Top 200 albums, left the rankings after just one week each. The Heist notably out-sold Bad Boy Records sensation Machine Gun Kelly and Lace Up by over 25,000 records. Macklemore, approaching 30, has a career dating back to the late '90s within the Seattle underground. His latest self-released effort sold an astounding 78,000 copies, and features appearances from Black Hippy's Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q over Ryan's production. Props to AllHipHop.com (10.17.12) |
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BEYONCE SET FOR SUPER BOWL HALFTIME Update: Beyoncé confirms Super Bowl XLVII participation with a gorgeous photo of herself with the event's date in eye black, via her official site. All the single ladies will be watching the upcoming Super Bowl along with football lovers. That's because Beyoncé is the halftime show performer. A source familiar with Super Bowl XLVII told The Associated Press the Grammy-winning diva will take the stage at the halftime show on Feb. 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because that person wasn't authorized to publicly reveal the information. The official announcement is expected Wednesday, the source said. Beyoncé, whose pop and R&B hits include "Crazy in Love," "Irreplaceable" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," has won 16 Grammy Awards. The 31-year-old sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 in her hometown of Houston when the New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers. Madonna performed at halftime at this year's Super Bowl in February with guests CeeLo Green, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and M.I.A. The New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in a thrilling rematch of the contest four years earlier. Her performance was seen by 114 million people, a higher average than the game itself, which was seen by an estimated 111.3 million people, according to the Nielsen Co. If Beyonce's performance at the Pepsi NFL Halftime Show features collaborations, it could likely include husband-rapper Jay-Z and her Destiny Child's bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Props to Billboard.com (10.16.12) |
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KID CUDI APPEARING IN ROMANTIC COMEDY 'TWO NIGHT STAND' Kid Cudi got his big breakout role in HBO's "How To Make It in America" but now it's time for him to branch out into the world of romantic comedies. He's set to appear in "Two Night Stand." The Max Nichols-directed flick tells the story of two characters, played by Analeigh Tipton and Miles Teller, who meet online and hook up for a one-night stand, but a snow storm forces them to spend more time than they had originally planned. Cudders will play boyfriend to Tipton's roommate, who is played by Jessica Szohr ("Gossip Girl"), according to The Hollywood Reporter. Cudi also recently wrapped up "Goodbye World" with Adrian Grenier and starred in Kanye West's "Cruel Summer" film. Cud's music fans have no need to worry. In June, he took to Twitter to announce his third official full-length solo studio album Indicud. "My new album is entitled indicud, it will be my version of The Chronic 2001, some songs i'll produce, others i'll feat &/or play songwriter," he wrote. With his last release, WZRD, the G.O.O.D. Music star linked with producer Dot da Genius and went in a different direction, experimenting with an edgier, more rock sound. WZRD was released in February and debuted at #3 on the Billboard chart without much of a push from the label. "I think it definitely proves a point, that there was a method to my madness, that the kids are out there and they want the music. It's just like a that's-what-I-f---ing thought-type of thing," Cudi told MTV News. "Not just to the label or whatever — I'm not going to say the label had no faith in the project — just kind of to the naysayers and people that didn't really believe in it." Props to MTV.com (10.16.12) |
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JAY-Z GETS DOWN WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA IN NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN Jay-Z is officially campaigning on behalf of President Barack Obama, in a new advertising campaign. The rapper offers up his opinion on President Obama in the “Power of Our Voice” campaign and what he represents to millions of Americans around the country. “When the president got in office initially, what he represented to a nation of kids was hope,” Jay-Z said. “The hope of people all across the country who would look and see themselves, and know the possibilities.” The “Power of Our Voice” advertisement also features Jay-Z expanding on the importance of voting. “For so long, there was this voice that was silenced out there as far as exercising your right to vote,” the mogul said. “I think it was a voice that was silent because people had lost hope. They didn’t believe that their voice mattered or counted.” The “Power of Our Voice” spot also features clips of Jay-Z’s Made in America festival performance, which included a special message from the POTUS. “Jay-Z didn’t come from power or privilege,” President Barack Obama said of Jay-Z during the clip. “He got a head because he worked hard, learned from his mistakes and just plain refused to quit. That’s the promise of this country and all of us have the obligation to keep that promise alive.” The 1:49 spot debuted on Barack Obama’s official YouTube channel yesterday (October 15). Props to AllHipHop.com (10.16.12) |
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ASCAP TO HONOR TAMEKA "TINY" HARRIS FOR 20 YEARS SONGWRITING CONTRIBUTION The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will honor rapper T.I.’s wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, at the close of its 4th Annual ASCAP Presents… Women Behind the Music series. The ASCAP series – designed to encourage and recognize women in the music community – will highlight not only women songwriters and artists, but women working in all facets of the business, including managers, attorneys, label executives and music publishers. The Atlanta event, to be held on October 18 at Vanquish nightclub, is the final stop in this year’s series, following New York on October 16 and Los Angeles on October 17. “We created the Women Behind the Music series to recognize the immense contributions that women make across all areas of the music business,” said ASCAP Vice President of Membership, Rhythm & Soul, Nicole George. “Each woman we have honored since our inaugural event three years ago is a legend in her own right, and I’m thrilled to continue this amazing series with another round of outstanding and deserving honorees.” Other Atlanta honorees include B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates attorney, Bernie Lawrence-Watkins, and songwriter/recording artist, Crystal Nicole. Each will be presented with a special memento in recognition of their contributions to music. Harris is a former member of the successful ’90s girl group, Xscape ,where she sang lead on numerous hits. As a songwriter, Harris (formerly Cottle) is best known for her contributions to the monster hit record, “No Scrubs” by TLC, co-written with Xscape group member, Kandi Burruss. Harris has also worked with T.I., Bow Wow, Lil’ Kim, and her daughter’s group, the OMG Girlz, and she currently stars on the popular VH1 show, “T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle.” Props to AllHipHop.com (10.15.12) |
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SWISHAHOUSE ARCHIVED AT RICE UNIVERSITY:
SLIM THUG, PAUL WALL PROUD TO MAKE HISTORY Hip-hop was officially put on notice by Houston recording label Swishahouse back in 2005, when its biggest triumvirate, Mike Jones, Paul Wall and Slim Thug, exploded onto the Billboard charts with the seminal hit, “Still Tippin’,” which was originally released on the imprint’s compilation album, The Day Hell Broke Loose 2. Now Swishahouse, one of the pioneers of H-Town’s signature "chopped and screwed" sound, is the first hip-hop label to have its materials archived by Rice University's Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning (CERCL), part of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. The memorabilia, which includes music from the early days of Swishahouse, vintage pictures and posters, will chronicle the origin and achievements of the label for past, present and future scholarly hip-hop aficionados. “We are delighted to be able to initiate this effort with the materials brought to us by Swishahouse," Anthony Pinn, the Professor of Humanities and Religious Studies that created and taught a course at Rice on religion and hip-hop culture with rap legend Bun B, said in a statement. "You can’t think about hip-hop without giving attention to the brothers (G Dash and Michael “5000” Watts) who’ve made this happen (through Swishahouse).” And while Swishahouse’s biggest artists like Thugga and The People’s Champ have moved on to other musical endeavors, they still appreciate their prodigious origins with the pioneering North Houston-based label. “I feel like I am the SwishaHouse,” Slim Thug told RapFix. “I was there from the beginning and a big part of their success. Even after I left, I been back and forth at Rice working on this for a while and I'm proud that something I'm a part of is making history and being archived at a university like Rice. It’s something my kids can look up and see. So I want to thank them for recognizing us and I'm honored to be a part of this.” Props to MTV.com (10.15.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
YOUNG JEEZY TALKS BET AWARDS RICK ROSS SQUABBLE, GUCCI MANE DISS Young Jeezy has addressed the backstage incident at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in a new interview. In his first comments on the awards show squabble between his and Rick Ross' crews, he told Power 106 FM's Big Boy that it's been "back and forth, two, three years, about nothing." "In the hallway, we walking out… me and [Ross] had never really seen each other, you know, face to face… He spoke, I spoke, that was basically it," Jeezy explained, adding that the beef hasn't been squashed. "If it was to be handled, it should've been handled there. We gon' get past it and keep moving." Though violence broke out between the two crews, Jeezy said he wasn't touched -- and that he's not interested in "WWF B.S." to get attention. "This rap game is just WWF, everybody wants points off somebody else," he said. "I got my respect in the streets, I got real respect, I'm not an actor. "I ain't worried about no nother grown man. I'ma continue to make records, continue to make hits, continue to be what I am, legendary. Do they have that on Wikipedia?" he said, laughing. And on Gucci Mane's recent verbal attack, Jeezy also had strong words. "Everybody know that boy retarded, man. Nobody taking him seriously man. He got an ice cream cone on his face," he said. "It's crazy because they'll call you and want you on songs, and when you don't get on songs, this is what happens." And while Ross rhymes about the backstage incident on his current mixtape, "The Black Bar Mitzvah," don't expect an answer track. "I'm not into dissin'," Jeezy said. "I have no interest in it. As men, I don't want to have to worry about you tomorrow." Instead, he'll be focusing on his new material: single "Get Right" landed this week. Props to Billboard.com (10.15.12) |
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CHART JUICE: MIGUEL'S 'DREAM' COMES TRUE AT NO. 1 on R&B/HIPHOP ALBUMS CHART After Miguel maxed-out at No. 9 with his debut album "All I Want Is You" last year, his sophomore release "Kaleidoscope Dream" debuts in the No. 1 spot on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums this week with 71,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The grand opening is partly due to the success of lead single "Adorn" which spent four weeks at No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Also new to the list this week is DJ Drama's "Quality Street Music" (No. 3; 24,000). It marks his fourth top 10 release and matches his previous best chart position reached by 2007's "Gangsta Grillz: The Album." Altogether, tracks from the current set were downloaded over 65,000 times this week, led by the Wiz Khalifa, Planet VI, and B.o.B -assisted "Pledge of Allegiance" which notched 17,000 downloads. As for the rest of the top five this week, the "Cruel Summer" compilation holds at No. 2 (28,000; down 49%), Lupe Fiasco's "Food & Liquor II" shifts down three slots to No. 4 (21,000; down 76%) and 2 Chainz's "Based on a T.R.U. Story" slips two rungs to No. 5 (14,000; down 5%). Just outside the top five, Faith Evans' star-studded "R&B Divas" album launched at No. 6 with 9,000. It's the companion album to the TV series of the same name and features fellow singers Monifah, KeKe Wyatt, Fantasia, Kelly Price and more. Over on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, things are shaken up this week with the revamp of how the tally is compiled. (It now blends airplay, digital sales and streaming data -- like the Billboard Hot 100.) In turn, Rihanna's "Diamonds" zips to the top of the chart, marking the diva's second chart-topper. She previously reached No. 1 with "Take a Bow" in 2008 and also notched top five hits with "Umbrella," "Live Your Life" (T.I. featuring Rihanna), "Run This Town" (with Jay-Z and Kanye West), "Rude Boy," "Love the Way You Lie" (Eminem featuring Rihanna), "What's My Name?" and "Birthday Cake." Props to Billboard.com (10.12.12) |
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NELLY RESPONDS TO RAID, SAYS HE DIDN'T BRING CONTRABAND ON BUS Last night, police raided Nelly's tour bus at a checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas, discovering heroin, marijuana and a loaded gun. According to TMZ, cops pulled the bus over and performed a search. During the inspection, they discovered 36 small bags of heroin totaling .64 ounces, over 10 pounds of marijuana in a large green duffle bag and a loaded .45 pistol. Seven people were on Nelly's bus at the time, including the rapper, and were all detained during the inspection. One of the passengers named Brian Keith Jones admitted that the contraband was his. Nelly and the others were released. This is the same checkpoint where celebrities including Fiona Apple, Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson have been pinched for drugs over the past few years. UPDATE: Nelly has denied any involvement with the bust on his bus last night. In a statement to TMZ, he says that it all lies in the hands of the sole individual who brought the contraband on the bus. "It is my understanding a member of my staff made an unfortunate decision to bring unlawful materials onto our tour bus that resulted in his arrest this morning," said Nelly. “Neither I nor anyone else on the tour bus was aware of his decision to bring these on board. Law enforcement officials did not press charges against anyone other than that individual.” Props to HipHopDX.com (10.12.12) |
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BOBBI KRISTINA CONFIRMS ENGAGEMENT TO NICK GORDON Whitney Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, confirms that she is engaged to Nick Gordon, her "adopted" brother. The 19-year-old broke the news to her shocked-looking family in a sneak preview of their upcoming Lifetime reality show, The Houstons: On Our Own. Bobbi Kristina and Gordon have been raised like brother and sister since Houston informally adopted him when he was just 12 years old. The pair, who have "always been close," according to a source for Us Weekly, have been rumored to be living as a couple since Houston passed away in February. They were involved in a nasty car accident last month, allegedly following a fight. Bobbi K was spotted rocking a huge diamond ring this past spring, prompting rumors that she and Gordon were engaged. Through a rep, the couple vehemently denied the rumors, until the release of the clip, which shows Bobbi nervously telling her family, "we're engaged!" Bobbi Kristina's father, Bobby Brown, tied the knot himself this past June when he married his manager, Alicia Etheridge, in Hawaii. Bobbi Kristina was not present at the nuptials, and is said to be estranged from her father. The drama continued when Etheridge suffered a seizure reportedly brought on by diabetes in September, and was treated at a Florida hospital. Props to BET.com (10.12.12) |
| RIHANNA ANNOUNCES 'UNAPOLOGETIC' ALBUM, DEBUTS COVER ART:PHOTO Rihanna goes topless once again, this time on the cover of her upcoming "Unapologetic" album, which drops November 19. The singer announced her seventh studio release on Twitter Thursday (October 11), posting the album cover and later announcing the title and release date. She originally tweeted, "Find the #albumtitle in #allBLACKeverything on the #cover" and posted a photo with the hashtag #SideEffects, but deleted those tweets and later announced the official album title. "My new album 'Unapologetic' will be released on November 19 worldwide," she wrote before retweeting dozens of fan reactions to the artwork and title. "Side Effects," along with the words in white -- "Diamonds," "Love," "Chalice," "Fearless," and more -- may be the titles of Rih's new songs, but a track list hasn't been officially announced yet. Her first single, "Diamonds," was already released last month and hit No. 1 on the revamped R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart this week. It also jumps 29-23 on Pop Songs and dips 16-18 but retains its bullet on the Billboard Hot 100. Covered in words like "Victory," "Fun" and "Faith," Rihanna stands topless on her new album cover, showing off her new chest tattoo and staring straight ahead, the word "Love" scrawled in white lettering across her face. Rihanna has released her last albums in three straight Novembers -- "Rated R" in 2009, "Loud" in 2010 and "Talk That Talk" last year -- so it was expected that this debut would drop in November as well. Props to Billboard.com (10.11.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ "PINK FRIDAY ROMAN RELOADED: THE RE-UP" COVER ART Nicki Minaj isn't letting go of her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Last night on the red carpet at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, the Harajuku Barbie told E! (via Rap-Up) that she plans to repackage and re-release the LP as Pink Friday Roman Reloaded: The Re-Up. The album is slated for release in November, and will feature additional new songs. The Young Money rapstress also revealed that her new single from the project will drop next week. "I'm releasing my album in November. It's called Pink Friday Roman Reloaded: The Re-Up and I'm putting lots of new songs on there," she said. "I'm actually going to drop my new single next week. So Barbz, you are going to spaz, you are going to love it, you are going to go crazy." Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded released in April 2012, debuting atop the Billboard Hot 100 with 253,000 copies sold. Props to HipHopDX.com (10.11.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ODB LIVES ON: TWO UPCOMING FILMS REFLECT ON THE LATE WU-TANG CLAN WILD BOY A successful rap career turned acting career has not slowed founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan down. RZA is currently promoting The Man with the Iron Fists, while collaborating on two films about his late group member, Ol’ Dirty Bastard (ODB). The first project, Dirt: One Word Could Change the World, is a coming of age story chronicling the life of ODB from a young boy to the beginning of the Wu-Tang Era. With heavy collaboration from the family and RZA, the collaboration paints a vivid picture as to who the eccentric rapper was. In a recent interview with The Playlist, RZA discussed his role with the ODB projects: “… anything about his life, I want to help out with any capacity. His mother told me I should come in and help.” RZA continued, “Me and [ODB] ran through this city, man, cutting school, stealin’ pretzels from the hot dog stand, being vagabonds, sleeping on the trains, drinking ’40s on the back of the A Train, rapping, getting chased by the police.” The second film, Dirty White Boy, looks at the later part of ODB’s life through the eyes of his manager, Jarred Weisfeld. ODB’s character is slated to be played by Michael Kenneth Williams, (Omar from HBO’s “The Wire”) in the biopic. In keeping true to his production roots, RZA may add to the score of this film. “Maybe for that one, I’ll score it, they told me they need someone to music supervise,” he said. Props to AllHipHop.com (10.11.12) |
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RIHANNA AND CHRIS BROWN GET OPRAH'S BLESSING Chris Brown and Rihanna have been rekindling their friendship over the past year, and in the past week they've made the decision to be open and their relationship. That was accompanied by news that Brown and his girlfriend Karrueche Tran have split, and even Oprah had something to say about the news. "Is she back with him? I don't know if that's true," Winfrey told "Extra" while she walked a red carpet in Houston, Texas, on Friday. "I think that if she is prepared to deal with that and is prepared to help him help himself then so be it. I have no judgment about it," Oprah said of Rihanna who first broke up with Brown after he attacked her in February 2009. "That's why I can sit there and have such a great time with her because I do all my interviews with no judgment whatsoever. If that's how you choose to lead your life, that's really OK." During the "Next Chapter" sit-down, Rihanna revealed to Winfrey that she had been working on her friendship with Brown. "We built a trust again and that's it. We love each other and we probably always will, and that's not anything that we're going to try to change. It's not something you can shut off," she said in the candid interview. Though Brown had moved on to a relationship with Tran, he clearly is not over the "We Found Love" singer. "Is there such thing as loving two people?" Brown asked in his new viral video. "I don't know if it's possible, but I feel like that." Props to MTV.com (10.09.12) |
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SOSAN FIROOZ, FIRST FEMALE RAPPER IN AFGHANISTAN BREAKING ALL THE RULES KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - "Listen to my story! Listen to my pain and suffering!" Afghanistan's first female rapper Sosan Firooz pleads into her microphone. With her first rap song, the outspoken 23-year-old singer is making history in her homeland where society frowns on women who take the stage. She is already shunned by some of her relatives. But for Firooz, the best way to express herself is through rap, a musical genre that is just starting to generate a following in Afghanistan. She sings about repression of women, her hopes for a peaceful Afghanistan and the misery she says she experienced as a small child living in neighboring Iran. Her family fled there during the Afghan civil war of the 1990s and the hardline Taliban regime's rise to power in 1996. During her five-year stay there, she said the Iranians looked with disdain on Afghan refugees. "I remember while we were in Iran, we were called 'dirty Afghans' and told to go to the back of the line at the bakery," Firooz, who also spent time as a refugee in Pakistan and returned to Afghanistan with her family seven years ago, told The Associated Press in an interview. Her song's message to Afghans: Stay in your homeland. Those who leave, she sings, will only get jobs washing dishes or working at a car wash. "They will miss their homeland," she raps in a staccato style, part rap and part hip-hop. "They will want to kiss the dust of their homeland." "What is the result of Afghans being refugees in Iran and Pakistan?" she raps in Dari, one of Afghanistan's two main languages. "Half of them are addicts and the other half are terrorists!" Props to TheBoomBox.com (10.09.12) |
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FALL 2012 ALBUM RELEASE SCHEDULE As the weather gets colder, music’s hottest artists are gearing up to release new albums. We’ve compiled our annual list of fall’s most-anticipated releases from newcomers like Kendrick Lamar and French Montana to veterans like Brandy and T.I., who are planning big year-end comebacks. Will R&B crooner Ne-Yo keep the winter fires burning with his R.E.D. album and will the highly-anticipated Dreams and Nightmares from Maybach Music Group’s spitter Meek Mill live up to the great expectations? There’s also a slew of divas expected to drop albums including Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, and even the late great Whitney Houston. Here is a rundown of what ear candy will keep your iPod bumping well into the new year. As always, these dates are subject to change. October 9 Machine Gun Kelly – Lace Up MellowHype – Numbers Xzibit – Napalm Mateo – Suite 823 October 11 Jay-Z – Live in Brooklyn October 15 Leona Lewis – Glassheart (U.K. only) ... Props to Rap-Up.com (10.09.12) |
NICKI MINAJ LAUGHS OFF MARIAH CAREY'S ACCUSATIONS ON TWITTER The conflict between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj doesn't seem to be dying down anytime soon. Carey opened up about the "American Idol" confrontation in a chat with Barbara Walters, and Minaj decided to respond the good old fashioned way: on Twitter. "The struggle to be a victim is real in these streets. Lmaooooooooooo. The struggle to not have the kid on the show is real in these streets. Lmaooooooooo," she wrote, poking fun at Carey's claims that Minaj is "unpredictable." "Hey yAll. Lets just say nicki said smthn about a gun. ppl will believe it cuz she's a black rapper. Lmao. I'll then hit up Barbara n milk it," she wrote, addressing Carey's claim that Minaj threatened to shoot her. (Producer Nigel Lythgoe has denied that Minaj threatened Carey in any way in a statement to TMZ.) "Ironically no camera or mic heard the gun comment tho," she continued, citing the original piece of tape that featured their fight. "Lol @ the struggle. Not even the producers believed u. Say no to violence barbz. #struggleface. I don't call tmz n Barbara Walters cuz I stand on my own two feet. Never needed an army. God is good. Insecurity is as cruel as the grave. I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge we've had since simon. Awww, poor u. Keep them lies cmn. Tried to keep quiet but let's go!!!!" Carey had mentioned in her interview with Walters that there was a meeting held where the hashed out the incident. "I thought we resolved it yesterday but I see u want ur pity party to continue," Nicki wrote. Minaj also re-tweeted messages from her fans, who are clearly taking her side over Mariah's. "As if you would need a gun anyway. like. they actin like you was fightin an escaped t rex," @kingsleyyy tweeted. "Wwwaaaaiiittt was she tryna get nicki fired so she'd be the only female on the panel by claiming nic would shoot her? CRY," @Katy_Barb chimed in. Props to MTV.com (10.05.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN HINTS AT RIHANNA ROMANCE IN CONFESSIONAL VIDEO: WATCH
Who is the real Chris Brown? Perhaps he's a man with just too much love to hold inside one single human heart. Such is the sentiment Breezy expresses in a new video, posted on his Twitter page early on Friday (Oct. 5), that suggests that the R&B star simply cannot decide between his (now ex-)girlfriend Karrueche Tran and his former flame, Rihanna. "Y'all don't get the real Chris Brown, so I like to just be honest. I'm stressed out!" Brown tells the camera in between poetic shots of the singer sitting on the floor and wiping his brow after another tough day. Then, from the backseat of a moving car, he reflects on his love triangle currently making headlines without ever mentioning either female by name. "When you share history with somebody, then you tend to fall in love with somebody else, it's kind of difficult," he declares. Brown continues, "Is there such thing as loving two people? I don't know if that's possible, but for me, I feel like that… and I'm not trying to hurt either/or." The confessional comes a little over 24 hours after Brown and Rihanna were spotted together at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for Jay-Z's concert on Wednesday night. Hours later, Brown announced to several news outlets that he had decided to break up with Tran in order to "be single" and focus on his career. "I love Karrueche very much but I don't want to see her hurt over my friendship with Rihanna," he said. Soon after Brown's video was posted, both ladies responded on Twitter. "Wtf is going on? All I'm saying is.. You don't mess with people's genuine feelings. You just don't!" Tran wrote. Meanwhile, Rihanna posted, "Ain't nobody bidness….. But mine and my baby!" Props to Billboard.com (10.05.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
POWER FORWARD: BLACK THOUGHT DROPS BARS, TAPS STARS FOR GIRLS IN NEED Join Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter of The Roots is joining forces with Okayplayer and AllHipHop.com to raise funds for girls in need in the Newark, New Jersey region. Co-founder of the GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF) and lead MC of Philadelphia’s Grammy Award-winning band, Black Thought will invite New Jersey policymakers and citizens to the Newark Museum on October 6 for a fundraiser and charity concert entitled Power Forward. The GrassROOTS fundraiser will include performances from Black Thought of the Grammy Award-winning group, The Roots, along with Malene Younglao, Maya Azucena, Nneka Best, and his bandmates. Hip-Hop journalist and personality Amanda Seales will serve as host for Power Forward, which planners say will bring together business professionals, Essex County city officials, activists, philanthropists, and residents of Newark, East Orange and Orange for a lively night of music and advocacy. Black Thought will also bring a few of his hometown head honchos with him, as Philadelphia Mayor Nutter is confirmed to be in attendance. Says Black Thought, “I now live in Jersey, and I am relying local hip-hop artists, community members, leaders, and friends in New Jersey to come together and show that they care about what happens to our women and girls.” In 2011, GCF adopted Georgia King Village (GKV) in Newark as a community of strategic priority, and has been partnering with organizations and individuals to provide health and educational resources to its residents. “Research shows that 47% of children are overweight or obese in Newark compared to the national average of 36%,” says Janice Johnson Dias, Ph.D. Sociologist, Co-founder and President of GCF. “Because of these alarming numbers, GCF founders felt compelled to galvanize and motivate residents to do something about their health.” Props to AllHipHop.com (10.05.12) |
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THE WEEKND PROMISES FANS HE WILL 'NOT DISAPPOINT' IN OPEN LETTER As he prepares for the release of his major-label debut Trilogy next month, The Weeknd takes a moment to connect with his fans. In an open letter, the Canadian singer thanks them for their unwavering support and explains the concept behind the viral video for “Rolling Stone,” which was done to “show you how I felt and where I stand.” The black-and-white clip represents his transition into the spotlight. “The camera lights symbolize the crossover, and when they begin to flash I look away from the underground,” explains the 22-year-old. “Even though I don’t want to, it is a step that I feel I must take to evolve as an artist.” Although he has signed a deal with Universal Republic, he assures his supporters that he won’t compromise his artistic integrity. “You will continue to get what you fell in love with, and I will continue to give you what you ask for,” he says. “Thank you again for your patience and loyalty, I will not disappoint.” Read the letter here. Props to Rap-Up.com (10.04.12) |
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HIP HOP GROUPS PULIC ENEMY, N.W.A. NOMINATED FOR 2013 ROCK HALL OF FAME Groundbreaking Hip-Hop acts Public Enemy and N.W.A. are the latest groups to be nominated for possible induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2013. Public Enemy and N.W.A. are among the 13 groups to be nominated for the 28th annual induction ceremony, which will take place next year in Los Angeles. In addition to Public Enemy and N.W.A., groups like Heart, Albert King, Kraftwerk, Deep Purple, The Marvelettes, and The Meters are also up for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. “The definition of ‘rock and roll’ means different things to different people, but as broad as the classifications may be, they all share a common love of the music,” said Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “This year we again proudly put forth a fantastic array of groups and artists that span the entire genre that is ‘rock and roll’.” In order in order to be nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, each act or artist must have released their first single, or album at least 25 years ago. Public Enemy’s first release was Yo! Bum Rush the Show, while N.W.A.’s first album was N.W.A. and the Posse, two groundbreaking albums that were released in 1987. The inductees will ultimately be determined by an international voting body, made up of music historians, executives and other professionals related to the field. The 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on Thursday, April 18, 2013. Props to AllHipHop.com (10.04.12) |
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ARETHA FRANKLIN BIOPIC IS BACK ON When it comes to the highly discussed biopic on Aretha Franklin’s life, no Hollywood producer or director has been more vocal or quotable on the project than the Queen of Soul herself. After announcing the movie’s hiatus a few months back, the 70-year old music legend has confirmed updates on how her story will shape up on the silver screen. In a Glamour.com article, Franklin says that director Taylor Hackford is now attached to the project and the Ray director is crafting the best vision of her life story. “Oh, yeah. I’m in superb hands with Taylor Hackford. We are fine-tuning the treatment now. The treatment has four acts. He has finished all four,” Franklin told Glamour. “We’re now reworking some of it where it needs work: ‘A little more drama, tell me something else, what else happened here? We need a little more of this, a little more of that.’” Along with her personal casting choices, Franklin says the Oscar nominated director is weighing in on which actors would be best for the project as well. The two initially had different ideas on who should play her dad, the Reverend C.L. Franklin. “He [Taylor] mentioned Denzel [Washington] first, and I was thinking of Billy Dee [Williams]. That’s who I was thinking of,” says Franklin. “And he mentioned Denzel, and I said ‘Hmm...’ And when I thought about Malcolm X, and what he did with that, I said, ‘Yes! He could do it. He could handle it. If he put a little more weight on and glasses, he could handle it.’” But finally, as for who will ultimately fill the regal starring role of the Queen of Soul, Franklin says she and Hackford have whittled their selections down to a trio of actresses. Props to BET.com (10.04.12) |
HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 9/30/2012 Lupe Fiasco's fourth album, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 scored a Top 5 debut this week. The Atlantic Records star's latest album moved over 80,000 first-week units amidst a lot of controversy regarding retirement rumors, provocative song titles and concepts, sample permission, and more than one Twitter dispute with a Hip Hop peer. Murs & Fashawn's first collaborative album also debuted on the charts. This is Fash's second retail release while Murs has previously earned success through Felt, a series of collaborative albums with Slug of Atmosphere and a rotating producer, in addition to work with 9th Wonder and Living Legends. Kreayshawn's Somethin' 'Bout Kreay fell from the Top 200 in her second week at retail, as her friend and collaborator 2 Chainz crossed the 300,000 mark with his solo debut, Based On A T.R.U. Story. Lupe Fiasco did not follow his #1 debut as was the case last year with Lasers. Instead, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1 was a creative return to form in some critics' eyes, and delivered Lu a respectable Top 5 debut. With appearances from Bilal and Poo-Bear, the album also uses new producers, namely Game's longtime crew 1500 Or Nothin'. Early Lupe affiliate Soundtrakk also returns to the fold with "Strange Fruition." The album is a critical bounceback and one of Atlantic's flagship releases of 2012. Lu has promised a part-two to follow. Props to HipHopDx.com (10.03.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ TO MARIAH CAREY: "I'M GONNA KNOCK YOU OUT"
Can't say we didn't see this coming. Round one of the highly anticipated celebrity grudge match between American Idol judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey got underway during Tuesday's audition in North Carolina. In a video obtained by TMZ, the rap queen came out swinging with a verbal barrage filled with stern warnings for the pop legend. "Get this s--- in self control, get in control, get in control," Minaj barked at Carey as fellow judge Keith Urban sat between them. "Don't lose your head. Don't lose your head. Don't tell me I'm a gangster." Despite the best efforts of fourth A.I. judge Randy Jackson to play peacemaker, Minaj continued. "So every time you patronize me, I'ma take it back, and if you've got a f----- problem handle it," Minaj warned as the pop diva continued to talk back. "I told them [producers] I'm not f----- putting up with her highness over there. Figure it the f--- out. Figure it out." The blow up seemed to stem from growing tension between the first-year judges as they evaluate talent for the upcoming season. According to sources that spoke to TMZ, the Young Money star even threatened to get physical with Mimi. "I'm gonna knock you out," is what Nicki reportedly said to Carey before the video starts. What's clear at the end of the clip is that the Queens rapper had reached her boiling point. "I'm not going to sit here every f----- minute to have you come down here and harass me every minute, every day." It was reported that Idol producers called off auditions for the day to let cooler heads prevail. While many have speculated that the tenacious divas were signed to multi-million dollar deals, in part, to add some tension to the judge's panel, this first clash may have been too real for TV, and has some Fox execs worried about the beef going into the start of the season in January. Props to BET.com (10.03.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MACHINE GUN KELLY, RYAN LESLIE SET FOR 'RAPFIX LIVE' Machine Gun Kelly and Ryan Leslie are set for this week's episode of "RapFix Live." MGK is all about his fans, and to prove it, the self-proclaimed wild boy elected not to appear on the cover of his debut album, Lace Up. Instead, Kells filled the cover with photos of fans who have MGK's Lace Up tattoos on their bodies. We're sure the fiery Bad Boy artist will break it all down when he hits "RapFix Live" on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. "The album cover is all Lace Up tattoos; it's a mosaic of it. It's just the brand, it's just Lace Up. Nothing with my face; it's all of the fans," MGK told MTV News at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards taping Saturday. "I think there's, like, 300 tattoos on there." The electric MGK is clearly fired up for the release. "On the album, I'm bringing social awareness to what's goin' on in my community and my city and my life," he said. "For my fans, it's a beautiful moment." Kells isn't the only spitter who will touch down on the "RapFix" couch Wednesday: Singer Ryan Leslie will also stop by. Though he has dabbled in rap, the singer/songwriter is taking the full leap into the world of hip-hop with his new Les Is More LP, due October 22. The album's first single "Beautiful Lie," features R.Les' frequent collaborator Fabolous. In addition to our star guests, "RapFix" fans can also look forward to the latest hip-hop news and hottest interviews in hip-hop. Props to MTV.com (10.03.12) |
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BIG SEAN AND BRUNO MARS ANNOUNCE SOPHOMORE ALBUM DETAILS This winter will see the return of two of last year's breakout artists — Big Sean and Bruno Mars. In recent days, both upstarts have announced details of their sophomore albums, both due later this year. Grammy-nominated doo-wop crooner Bruno Mars has been in the studio "recording and writing whatever I want," he revealed in a recent interview with Billboard. The fruits of that liberated labor, a new LP titled Unorthodox Jukebox, will hit stores on December 11. “This album represents my freedom,” he said. The follow-up to 2010's Doo-Wops and Hooligans will feature production by Mark Ronson, Diplo, Jeff Bhasker and Mars' own group, The Smeezingtons, who also serve as executive producers. Big Sean, meanwhile, has finally revealed the title for his own album number two after teasing the project in interviews for months. At a concert in Montreal last week, Sean revealed that the album will be called Hall of Fame: Memoirs of a Detroit Player. “I decided to call my second album Hall of Fame: Memoirs of a Detroit Player 'cause we all strive to be the best," he told the crowd. "If you don’t do it to be the best, I don’t know why the f--k you do it. Hall of Fame is coming out for ya’ll this winter.” In a recent interview with Complex, Sean said the still-gestating project was getting positive feedback from his peers. "When I was playing it for Common, he was losing his mind. J. Cole was blown away," he said. "It really is elevating, taking it to a different level. I don’t even want to hype it up or talk too much like, 'Yeah, my album is the s--t!' I just can’t wait for everyone to hear what I’ve been doing, what I’ve been cooking up." A hard release date for the album hasn't yet been confirmed. Props to BET.com (10.02.12) |
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BOW WOW NAMED NEW HOST OF '106 & PARK' Bow Wow is coming home to “106 & Park.” Following the departure of Terrence and Rocsi last week, the 25-year-old rapper-actor has been named one of the new hosts of BET’s “106 & Park.” He made his debut today alongside three other co-hosts, putting an end to the speculation. Nicknamed “Mr. 106 & Park,” Bow Wow has the most appearances in the show’s 12-year show history and has guest hosted several times. After a nationwide search, BET selected Ms. Mykie, 23; Paigion, 24; and Shorty Da Prince, 23 as his co-hosts. Ms. Mykie, hailing from Houston, TX, Paigon, and Shorty Da Prince, both from Detroit, competed against thousands of hopefuls to earn their spot. They will join Bow Wow five nights a week from BET’s studios in New York City. “I am very excited to take on this new journey in my career with BET. I’m all about branding myself and not just in music, but in TV and movies,” said Bow Wow, who is readying his Cash Money debut Underrated. “Everyone always wants to compare me to the Fresh Prince, well now they can call me the Fresh Prince of 106 & Park. Get ready for a whole new world.” During his first day on the job, Bow Wow interviewed Keke Palmer and bonded with his co-hosts. “It’s official. We ain’t goin’ nowhere,” he said. “We gonna represent hip-hop, the culture, fashion, lifestyle.” Props to Rap-Up.com (10.02.12) |
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RITA ORA: A DAY IN THE LIFE Every time Rita Ora smiles, an angel gets its wings. The blonde songstress' captivating countenance doesn't really cause such a heavenly act to take place, but a look in her direction when she's beaming feels like that -- or anything as far-fetched -- is actually possible. Just like the movie that phrase comes from -- "It's a Wonderful Life" -- Rita is living a blessed existence. The 21-year-old Pristina, Kosovo native welcomes The BoomBox into her world for our A Day in the Life series. While Rita kept the talking to a minimum throughout the six hours to preserve her voice for an "MTV Unplugged" performance in New York City, she did get to touch on some poignant moments, all while showing off her delighted grin. Montana Studios is where we find Rita first. It's 10:30AM on a sunny day in midtown Manhattan's West Side. She's rehearsing for her "MTV Unplugged" set with a full band behind her -- two guitarists, a keyboardist and drummer. The singer, whose debut LP, Ora, has been released overseas, is moving through some of the tracks on the effort. She's composed and in control while directing the musicians on each song's arrangement -- "Shine Ya Light" "Roc the Life" and "How We Do (Party)" to name a few. Props to TheBoomBox.com (10.02.12) |
SCUFFLE BACKSTAGE AT BET HIP-HOP AWARDS Atlanta police officers broke up an altercation Saturday evening between two groups at the seventh annual BET Hip-Hop Awards, but no arrests were made. Police spokesman Carlos Campos said officers responded to the scuffle at around 7:30 p.m. in the backstage area of the awards show, held at a downtown civic center. Campos said there were no injuries or shots fired. Police have not released the identities of those involved in the scuffle. According to tweets from Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex, there was "pushing and shoving" between the camps belonging to Young Jeezy and Rick Ross. Later, Flex said that shots were fired in a parking lot and that a gunman was arrested.Those claims could not be confirmed. The altercation took place around the same time as a tribute performance to hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty, who committed suicide last month. BET officials told The Associated Press that the awards show was not interrupted. Kanye West, who received the most nominations with 17, didn't attend the event. The show will air on BET on Oct. 9. Rapper LL Cool J paid homage in remarks to Lighty, who he says helped shape his career and many others in hip-hop. After Cool J spoke, rappers Q-Tip, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott and 50 Cent took the stage to perform. The show was highlighted by several freestyle sessions that included rapper T.I., B.o.B., Snoop Dogg, E-40 and Cassidy. Others who performed included Rick Ross, P. Diddy, 2 Chainz and Future. Rapper T.I. presented legendary rapper Rakim with the "I Am Hip-Hop Icon" honor. 2 Chainz won the People's Choice award, and Kendrick Lamar came away with Lyricist of the Year award. Props to Billboard.com (10.01.12) |
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G.O.O.D MUSIC PREPPING CRUEL SUMMER SEQUEL, CRUEL WINTER? Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music are still riding the wave of their Cruel Summer album, but there might be another compilation album coming our way. When MTV News talked to Q-Tip on the red carpet of the BET Hip-Hop Awards Saturday, Yeezy's right-hand man dropped two words: Cruel Winter. Though the "Vivrant Thing" MC didn't say that there would be aCruel Winter LP outright, all signs seem to point a follow-up to G.O.O.D.'s Cruel Summer compilation. After struggling to explain why he didn't appear on CS, Tip, who was flanked by his G.O.O.D. cohort Pusha T, just spilled the beans. "I know, I know, I'm sorry about that but I have to let the cat out of the bag. Kanye's probably gonna get...," the former A Tribe Called Quest frontman said before stopping mid-sentence to call over Pusha T to help him with the big news. "If there's a Cruel Summer then there's got to be a Cruel Winter right?" Q-Tip said, alluding that the G.O.O.D. crew will be following up with another album soon. "That's all I'm saying." The G.O.O.D. crew, which includes the likes of 'Ye, Q-Tip, Big Sean, Common, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, John Legend and Cyhi the Prynce,released Cruel Summer on September 18. It debuted at #2 on theBillboard albums chart the following week after selling more than 205,000 units. The album featured contributions from 2 Chainz, Jay-Z, R. Kelly, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, the-Dream and Ma$e. Props to MTV.com (10.01.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JAPAN WINS DMC DJ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012 The 29th DMC World DJ Finals took place at London’s HMV Forum last night (28 September) where 30 DJ’s competed for the ultimate DJ accolade; DMC World Champion 2012. The competition is one of the biggest mixing DJ competitions, which brings together the finest DJ’s from across the globe. DJ Izo from Japan took home the prestigious title of 2012 DMC World DJ Champion. He battled against other finalists such as DJ Precision (USA) DJ Vekked (Canada) DJ Ritchie Ruftone (UK) and DJ Skills (France.) It was clear Izo was a crowd favorite as the audience cheered loudly when Izo’s name was announced as the new World DJ Champion. Izo received a one of a kind custom gold plated Rane Sixty Two mixer, which was provided by DMC World DJ Championship sponsors Rane and Serato. The Japanese DJ is a familiar face at the DMC’s; he came in second place at last year’s competition and has competed in previous years. Other performances on the night included a DJ set by previous DMC winner DJ Fly, and a performance by UK rap artist, Jehst. At the end of the finals, founder of the DMC Championships Tony Prince announced that the competition will celebrate its 30th year in 2013 by hosting the DMC World Finals in Paris, France and confirmed the competition will be launching an online ‘golden mic’ MC contest. Top 3 winners of DMC World DJ Championship 2012 1st Place: DJ Izo (Japan) 2nd Place: DJ Precision (USA) 3rd Place: DJ Ritchie Ruftone (UK) Props to AllHipHop.com (10.01.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: DMC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS KICK OFF TODAY IN LONDON; ORGANIZER SALLY MCLINTOCK SPEAKS ON COMPETITION Today (September 27) the world will witness some of the most creative minds in turntablism, at the 28th annual DMC World DJ Championships, which are taking place in London. The competition is one of the largest DJ tournaments of all time and features DJ’s from over 30 countries. Contestants over the years have not only won over fans with their turntable wizardry, but their skills have also put them on stage with artists such as Madonna, Beastie Boys and Busta Rhymes. Previous winners of the competition have included DJ Cash Money, Roc Raider and Kanye West’s DJ, A-Trak. The DMC World DJ Championships have come a long way since its humble beginnings, which was founded by Tony Prince. The first DMC World Championships took place in the early 80′s at a London nightclub. “It started out as the first remix service in the industry and still to this day provides the DJ world with a monthly membership of the latest remixes/megamixes/two trackers and promos,” organizer Sally McLintock told AllHipHop.com. “The competition itself began when we started to host annual DJ Conventions in 1984 which included Mixing Competitions and then it naturally progressed into the DMC World Championships. We have always been at the forefront of the music industry and as well as establishing the longest running world DJ competition we were the hub of the club world market and created the biggest selling music magazine, Mixmag which DMC owned for 15 years with monthly sales of over 150,000.” Props to AllHipHop.com (09.27.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ 'STILL CONSIDERING' REALITY SHOW An "American Idol" judging gig, a new perfume, an upcoming fashion line and an album re-release of "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" -- one would think Nicki Minaj has enough on her plate. But the multi-talented MC hinted that she may let more cameras into her life in an interview with Perez Hilton. "That I'm going to keep a secret for now," she said in the Monday sit-down, asked if she was working on another show in addition to "Idol." Asked if she would be ready for a reality-type show, Minaj said, "I am still considering" the idea. "I will say that I find the more people see, is the more they understand, and then it's the more they like you," she said. "When you pull them in your world, they see you as a real person. I'm not running away from it anymore." Perez, however, reported that such a series is already filming, and will air on E!, the home of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Minaj is sure to be on TV in January, when she'll join new judges Mariah Carey and Keith Urban next to Randy Jackson on the 12th season of "Idol." Auditions for the reality competition began earlier this month. Props to Billboard.com (09.27.12) |
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MACHINE GUN KELLY SAYS HIS STYLE & SKIN COLOR HINDERED HIS CAREER The October 9 release date for Machine Gun Kelly's debut LP Lace Up is fast approaching, and fans are gearing up for the Cleveland emcee's new music. Now, in a recent interview with DJ Semtex, MGK speaks on his position in the game and how he feels he's managed his career. MGK admitted that one of the main reasons he feels under appreciated as a lyricist is due to his skin color and off-kilter sense of style. He said that on top of that, he knows that some of his antics have ostracized him from the majority of the commercial Hip Hop community despite his talent. Regardless, however, he says he's happy with the way he's managed his career thus far and has been maturing as an artist and businessman. "I haven't spoken on [skin] color in so long, but...I honestly feel like right now, my biggest hindrance in why you don't hear things like, 'MGK is lyrically hot'…[is] the white thing, mixed with the fact that I don't dress like the normal Hip Hop person," he said. "Right now, I just don't feel like I fit in. I feel like I'm in the class, [but] I'm just the person in the corner. I definitely put myself in that corner by being so…strongly opinionated, like, 'Oh, I don't believe in press, I don't want to do press' - I definitely put myself in that corner sometimes, where I don't blame people for not wanting to be friends with me." He continued, "I definitely have matured a lot, especially with the album coming out, it kind of gave me hope in life. I think I shunned a lot of people, but I also think that I kept what I had exclusive, meaning that I didn't ho myself out. I'm proud of how I've done my career, but I'm definitely going to change up a little bit." Props to HipHopDX.com (09.27.12) |
EXCLUSIVE: KANYE'S LAWYER SAYS SEX TAPE "STOLEN"; DEMANDS TAKE DOWN OF IMAGES A law firm representing rapper Kanye West has issued a takedown notice, surrounding controversial images stemming from a sex tape being shopped to various media outlets, from an anonymous source. A lawyer for Kanye West issued the demand today (September 23), claiming the sex tape in question was “stolen” from Kanye’s computer. “Be advised that the Screen Shot, as well as the Tape from which the Screen Shot was taken, were illegally obtained and believed to have been stolen from Mr. West’s computer,” Kanye’s lawyer Lisa M. Buckley of Pryor Cashman said in a legal document sent to AllHipHop.com. “Your posting, advertising, marketing, displaying and otherwise disseminating the stolen Screen Shot and/or other materials on the Tape constitute actionable violations of Mr. West’s rights of privacy and publicity,” Buckley said. Buckley warned a variety of media outlets against posting the images from the Kanye sex tape, or there could be serious legal percussions. “We hereby demand that you: (1) immediately cease and desist from posting, advertising, marketing, displaying and disseminating the illegally obtained Screen Shot of Mr. West,” the notice reads. Kanye West’s lawyer is also seeking information on who is shopping the tape to various media outlets, since the tape is in high demand. Sex.com has already offered $1 million to the anonymous person. Vivid Video’s honcho Steve Hirsch , who released Kim Kardashian’s original sex tape with Ray J., said that Kanye’s could be the most valuable sex tape ever sold on the market. Props to AllHipHop.com (09.24.12) |
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LIL KIM, NICKI MINAJ RECONCILIATION WOULD BENEFIT WOMEN, MISSY SAYS
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LUPE FIASCO ON PENDING RETIREMENT: "I'M BASICALLY DONE" Lupe Fiasco has been flirting with the idea of retirement from the rap game for some time now. With the release of his fourth studio album coming tomorrow, the independent-minded rapper revisited the issue in a recent interview with Australia's Music Feeds TV. According to Lupe, he's contractually obligated to produce two more albums after Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1. One of those will be Pt. 2 and the other will be a different record currently titled Skulls. Lupe says both projects are already nearly done. "Contractually, I still have to do another record if the label picks it up. But even after this part one and part two [of Food & Liquor 2] I'm basically kind of done, because that album [Skulls] is even almost finished," he said. Once the music he's currently working on is finished, Lupe said he would cease making hip hop for commercial purposes, only returning to the mic if he felt artistically moved. Instead, he said he would focus more on his various other music projects, including his electronic DJ act SNDCLSH and punk band Japanese Cartoon. "I don't even know if Lupe Fiasco is gonna exist after Skulls, I might even just do a name change or something like that," Lupe teased. "If I feel like making a rap album, then I'll make it." Props to BET.com (09.24.12) |
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WEEKLY CHART NOTES: LIL WAYNE TIES ELVIS PRESLEY'S HOT 100 RECORD Lil Wayne enjoys a feat previously fit for only a King. As he debuts as a guest (with 2 Chainz) on Juicy J's "Bandz a Make Her Dance," the Billboard Hot 100's top debut at No. 71, the rapper ties Elvis Presley for the most Hot 100 appearances - 108 - among men. The pair trails only the "Glee" cast's 204 visits for the most among all acts since the chart launched the week of Aug. 4, 1958. (Read on for more about the Fox TV troupe.) Among solo males, Lil Wayne and Presley rank above James Brown, who's third with 91 Hot 100 hits. Ray Charles places fourth with 74 entries, followed by Elton John (67). Presley's Hot 100 span encompasses the chart's 1958 inception through 2003 (45 years and two months), when "Rubberneckin' " peaked at No. 94. Lil Wayne has matched Presley's total over 13 years, two months and three weeks, having first appeared the week of July 10, 1999. Two caveats, however, to Lil Wayne having equaled the iconic King of Rock & Roll's achievement: Presley's career, and some of his signature hits, like "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog," predated the Hot 100's inception. As Presley placed 31 titles on pre-Hot 100 Billboard airplay/sales/jukebox charts, according to Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles" reference book, he likely would've sent approximately that many more songs onto the Hot 100 had it existed when he arrived. Presley was also billed as the lead artist on all 108 of his chart hits, while Weezy has been the lead on 42 of his, showing as a featured act on his other 66. Not that Lil Wayne hasn't enjoyed laudable Hot 100 accolades. He's notched two No. 1s: 2008's "Lollipop" and 2009's "Down," on which he assisted Jay Sean. Fifty-seven of his Hot 100 entries have reached the top 40 and 17, the top 10 (compared to Presley's 80 and 25, respectively). Props to Billboard.com (09.21.12) |
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KANYE WEST SEX TAPE BEING SHOPPED; RAPPER REPORTEDLY IN 'TEARS' Rapper Kanye West could be “thrust” into the spotlight with his latest release – a new 20-minute sex tape featuring the rapper that is being shopped around. RadarOnline.com reports that a source is shopping the raunchy tape to various media outlets. The representative for Radar stated that they had seen the sex tape in full and confirmed it was indeed Kanye West. The 20-minute tape was reportedly shot in a hotel room, with an unidentified female, who resembles Kanye’s current girlfriend, Kim Kardashian. At the beginning of the video, the woman clearly states she is 18-years old. She claims that she is married, and she’s there to have intercourse with Kanye because she and her husband “don’t have sex anymore.” A source said that Kanye West is terrified of the tape being leaked and that he was doing anything to keep the tape private. “If this were to hit the market it would be worth a fortune, there would definitely be a lot of people wanting to see this!” The sex tape far outweighs the nude pictures that were circulating of Kanye West several years ago. In June, Kanye “accidentally” tweeted racy photos of himself and a porn star named Amia Miley, from a hotel bedroom. The tape could also be a serious “blow” to the rapper’s career. “Kanye was practically in tears when he heard the tape was being shopped.” Props to AllHipHop.com (09.21.12) |
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AMISSY ELLIOTT REMINISCES ABOUT AALIYAH'S SENSE OF HUMOR Few people got the chance to work as closely with Aaliyah as Missy Elliott did, and Missy remembers nothing but laughter during her friendship with the late singer."Aaliyah, she was like a comedian. She always wanted to laugh," Missy reminisced when she appeared on "RapFix Live" on Wednesday. Missy remembered her and her production partner Timbaland being nervous when they first worked with Baby Girl on her 1996 album One in a Million. At the time, Aaliyah was riding high off of her 1994 debut Age Ain't Nothing But a Number and Missy and Timbaland were just starting out. "We were nervous when we first worked with her because nobody knew who we was," Missy said remembering that she feared Aaliyah would be a diva. "She came in and was so warming; she made us immediately feel like family." These days, Aaliyah's name is marred in a bit of controversy, surrounding a reported posthumous album. Drake, who is a huge Aaliyah fan, is said to be heavily involved in the LP and even appears on the first single, "Enough Said," a song that Missy hasn't been able to bring herself to hear. Drizzy's involvement has seemed to anger some who feel that since the YMCMB rapper never knew Aaliyah, he shouldn't be heavily involved. Missy says she has never been contacted to contribute to the supposed LP, but when the subject came up on "RapFix," she chose to deflect. "I don't even want to talk about that because I'm being asked a lot," she said sincerely. "It's very sensitive, but because she represented positive energy. She was positive. I don't ever want to bring controversy around her name." Instead Elliott, chose to remark on the light that her friend brought to her life, describing her as loving, family-oriented and "always happy." Props to MTV.com (09.21.12) |
DAVID BANNER'S 2M1 MOVEMENT RAISES OVER $500K; RAPPER BEGINS DONATING FUNDS Mississippi rapper David Banner continues to push forward his 2M1 Movement (2 Million 1 Purpose), a charitable cause aimed at raising money to give back to local communities around the United States. According to David Banner, his 2M1 Movement has raised over $500,000 to date, since the project was launched in May with his album Sex, Drugs and Video Games. According to Banner, he has already donated money to the Chicago-based organization, Kids Off The Block, in addition to the Central Mississippi Boys and Girls Club, to help keep urban youth off the streets. “Making sure that I reached back into the communities that needed it most, I wanted to be apart of the change that is needed to help guide and bring up our youth,” David Banner told AllHipHop.com in a statement released today (September 20). David Banner created the movement to harness the power of his fans and consumers, to help influence young listeners of the genre of Hip-Hop in a positive manner. “I realize that although I am a work in progress, kids look up to people like me and others in the public eye. I want to help inspire and move others,” David Banner said. In related news, David Banner is in the studio working on music with Lil Wayne, Ludacris and Ne-Yo, as well as preparing for roles in two major motion pictures, “7500″ and “They Die By Dawn.” For more information on the 2M1 Movement, or to learn how to donate, visit www.DavidBanner.com. Props to AllHipHop.com (09.20.12) |
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WILL.I.AM CREATING AN AMERICAN IDOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECH NERDS
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A HISTORY OF JAY-Z AND PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RELATIONSHIP Jay-Z and President Obama have been steadily building their relationship over the past few years (with Jay throwing him a $4 million fundraiser this week) take a look at how it's all developed. They both have the best kind of American story: rising up from difficult backgrounds to the very top of their respective games, marrying strong, successful women and serving as inspirations to a generation of youth. But on paper, the, dare we call it bromance, between President Obama and Jay-Z is one of the most unlikely political alliances in presidential history. Other presidents have palled around with everyone from Elvis to Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Michael Jackson and Bono, but there has never been a commander-in-chief who has openly embraced a hip-hop star the way Obama has. The latest example came on Tuesday night in New York when Jay andBeyoncé hosted a $40,000-a-head fundraiser? at the rapper's 40/40 Club that put $4 million in Obama's coffers. Here's a look at the two men's mutual admiration society: April 17, 2008: Candidate Obama referenced Jay's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" by, yes, pretending to brush some dirt off his shoulder in response to the mudslinging attacks from the-rival Hillary Clinton. When Obama spokesperson Tommy Vietor was asked afterwards if the Senator was purposely referring to Jay's song, he confirmed that Obama, "has some Jay-Z on his iPod." November 2008: On the campaign trail in Virginia for Obama, Jay made an impassioned plea for young people to vote. "I can't tell you who to vote for. All I can do is tell you to vote on November 4, the most important election that will happen probably in your lifetime," he said. "Rosa Parks sat so that Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so that Obama could run. Obama's running so that we all can fly ... I can't wait until November 5 and I'm going to say: 'Hello, Brother President'." It was one of several rallies Jay headlined, in which he also recruited pals Mary J. Blige, Diddy and wife Beyoncé. Props to MTV.com (09.20.12) |
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RIHANNA, TALOR SWIFT TOP MTV EUROPEAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATIONS Rihanna leads the nominations list for this year's MTV European Music Awards with six, just one more than Taylor Swift who has five. The EMAs, scheduled to be held in Frankfurt, Germany Nov. 11. also sees Justin Bieber and Katy Perry notching up four nominations apiece while Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Lana Del Rey and newcomers Carly Rae Jepsen and fun., pick up three nominations each. Rihanna and Swift will both compete for the best female and best pop titles, and will also vie against other well-known trend-setters in the brand new best look category. The fresh nod aims to highlight the most "unique and eye-catching personal styles" emanating from the music world. Rihanna is also up for best song and best video for "We Found Love" and will try to win the evening's biggest fans nod. Swift secured nominations for best live and best world stage awards. After his wins last year for best male and best pop, Bieber could repeat the feat this year in the same categories while he also landed nominations for best world stage and biggest fans. Two-time EMA host Perry will battle for best female, best pop, best video for "Wide Awake" and biggest fans. Also, reflecting a resurgence in electronic music, MTV is reintroducing the best electronic category to honor the biggest names in that genre. Props to Billboard.com (09.17.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ'S 'AMERICAN IDOL' GIG RAISES THE BAR Wiz Khalifa is seeing the big picture. Nicki Minaj has been confirmed as the latest judge on "American Idol" and the Pittsburgh rapper thinks it's a victory for Nicki, in addition to being a move that could potentially open doors for other rappers to get prime-time looks."Sky's the limit," Wiz Khalifa told MTV News on Saturday night when we asked for his reaction to the all-but-confirmed buzz. "I could end up judging 'America's Got Talent,' and I smoke pot, freely." Wiz, who was rocking New York City as a part of the Heineken Red Star Access Tour, laughed at the thought that he might have a shot at being a celebrity judge. But he was clearly impressed by Nicki's latest endeavor. "That's crazy because I heard a lot of the rumors and stuff like that, but for that to be reality that's insane, man," the Taylor Gang captain said. "I don't think anybody could ever imagine or see that going that way. Not in any negative purpose, but it's like, 'Wow.' " On Sunday (September 16), it all became official when "Idol" confirmed that Minaj would join judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and everyone's favorite "dawg," Randy Jackson, on the upcoming 12th season of the top-rated talent showcase. The new "Idol" crew is wasting no time. Nicki will start by helping to hand-pick talent in her hometown. "New York auditions today & tomorrow! See ya there barbz!!!!!!!!! #AmericanIdol :p," the Pink FridayMC tweeted earlier Sunday. As Wiz said, capping off his reaction to Nicki's new gig, "It's big." Props to MTV.com (09.17.12) |
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USHER CONFESSES TO OPRAH ABOUT DIVORCE, CUSTODY BATTLE AND BREAKDOWN After years of trying to get Usher to open up, the R&B superstar finally gave in and invited Oprah to his house in Atlanta for a sit-down interview. He spoke candidly about everything from his custody battle to his divorce from Tameka Foster to why he walked off stage in Berlin (“I felt like I would never perform again”) to being a father to his two sons, Usher Raymond V and Naviyd. During their lengthy conversation, he also admitted to having a relationship with one of his ex-wife’s bridesmaids after the marriage had ended. Plus, his mother and former manager Jonetta Patton explained why she did not support her son’s marriage and how she felt about being fired. “I’ve been sad for eight years,” she said, referring to his relationship with Foster. Read highlights from the no-holds-barred interview and watch it in its entirety below. On winning primary custody of his two sons: “This judge based her verdict off of the facts.” On his lavish wedding to Tameka Foster: “It’s pretty hard to walk away from a high-ticket marriage. I’m still mad kickin’ myself in the ass behind that one. I always felt like maybe we weren’t ready and maybe this wasn’t the time or the way to do it. Part of that played into the demise of it. I wanted to give her the wedding that she wanted, but I wasn’t quite ready.” On why he decided to proceed with the marriage: “I really wanted to do things right or at least the perception of what right may be. I impregnated this woman, we were in a relationship, we were in love, so I felt like this is the right way to do things. … I don’t know if I had the best point of reference. My father wasn’t there, so I didn’t want to be like him.” Props to Rap-Up.com (09.17.12) |
BET HIP HIP AWARDS NOMINEES 2012: KANYE WEST, 2 CHAINZ & DRAKE LEAD The nominations for the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards have finally been announced, with Kanye West leading the nominees with a grand total of 17 nominations. Comedian Mike Epps, who has been tapped to host, announced the nominees on BET's "106 & Park" earlier today, with help from nominated artists A$AP Rocky, Ca$h Out, DJ Envy and DJ Drama. Following Kanye's impressive 17 nominations, which include surprising categories like Video Director of the Year, Producer of the Year, MVP of the Year, Hustler of the Year and Made-You-Look Award, is 2 Chainz with 13 nominations and Drake with 11. In addition to the various presentations, six cyphers will once again be included in the event, though the lineups have not yet been announced. "This year as there's a vibrant, young energy in music that our BET Hip Hop Awards show is poised to capture both in dynamic cyphers and thrilling on-stage performances. The excitement will be coming to you at the speed of light!" said respected BET executive Stephen G. Hill. "On another note, you can expect an all-star tribute to our friend Chris Lighty from those artists who loved him and worked with him ... when it came to Chris, it was "love" and "work" in that order. This show, from front to back, is going to be special." Props to TheBoomBox.com (09.14.12) |
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50 CENT PARTNERS WITH MAYWEATHER'S RIVAL MANNY PACQUIAO
After hearing that 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather’s longtime friendship recently hit a bit of a rough patch, many were left puzzled especially because the two appeared to be in a good space just last month. Well rumor has it that it’s Fif’s latest business venture with Mayweather’s rival that has caused the tiff and if true, only expect things to get way uglier. According to the BoxingScene, after a failed attempt with Money Mayweather, Fifty and Manny Pacquiao are joining forces to create a boxing promotional company. This is odd because Fif just announced the formation of TMT Promotions (50 Cent and Mayweather’s boxing promotion company ) this past July, but there is talk that the company has already closed shop. "50 Cent and I have been talking now for maybe the last two months," Pacquiao's advisor Michael Koncz told BoxingScene. "They approached us with the idea to form a promotional company. Initially it was going to be 50 Cent, Manny and Floyd. But right now I don't think Floyd is going to be a part of it." It was clear something had to be brewing when 50 recently went on “the Rickey Smiley Morning Show” explaining that things have been “different” between him and Floyd since the boxer's jail release. "[The issues between us] really comes from…everybody around him is waiting on the next time he feels generous," Fif said, "And I have a lot [of money] so I don't wait for nobody. I'll go do what I gotta do. I don't have to sit around and wait for the next time he feels like giving somebody something." Props to MTV.com (09.14.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DMX DISAPPROVES OF DRAKE'S AALIYAH COLLABORATION DMX’s distaste for Drake is no secret. The outspoken rapper has called out the Canadian star before, but he’s not finished. During an interview with Sway on MTV’s “RapFix Live,” X once again ridiculed Drizzy’s music. “He has talent, but it’s kinda redundant, it’s kinda the same all the time to me personally. It’s an annoying sound,” barked the New York veteran, who compared Drake’s sound to a washing machine. He also criticized the Young Money MC’s participation in the posthumous Aaliyah album. “I’m kinda feelin’ some kinda a way about the fact that you been commissioned, that you been blessed, you’ve been given the opportunity to do the Aaliyah album yet you don’t include anybody that she worked with personally,” said X, who had a close relationship with the late singer. Blackground Records called upon Drake and his production partner Noah “40” Shebib to executive produce the album, which has come under fire from fans. Aaliyah’s longtime friend and collaborator Missy Elliott won’t be involved in the project, according to her manager Mona Scott-Young. “How do you disregard what this woman did? What this beautiful angel did and say, ‘Oh OK, I’m gonna take it for myself because I’m hot right now and I’m feelin’ myself,’” said DMX. “How do you just go there with it? Your balls ain’t that big, son.” Props to Rap-Up.com (09.14.12) |
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Streetz afternoon DJ, DLO just wrapped his tour with Kay and even performed on MuchMusic's New Music Live. | |
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TUPAC SHAKUR, STILL A CULTURAL FORCE 16 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH It's been 16 years since Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996, at the age of 25, and this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival only reinforced the fact that the West Coast rapper has become a mythical figure--not solely for hip-hop diehards, but in the history of popular culture. Pac's hologram, appearing alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg to perform in the California desert, was alarming to some fans and a welcome sight to others, but whatever your stance, it's clear that Pac has left more than a lasting impression. Tupac's 1996 shooting and death was the final act in a life often overshadowed by drama and controversy. On September 7, 1996, after attending a Mike Tyson heavyweight championship fight in Las Vegas (and then getting into a fight himself afterwards), the rap star was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting. It wasn't the first time the enigmatic street poet came under fire. On November 30, 1994, Shakur was shot five times and, like a mythical urban superhero, checked himself out of the hospital against the doctor's orders, living to tell his tales through rap. Through his music, storied acting career and overall public persona, Tupac Shakur had proved resilient, so his fans held hope that he would survive the 1996 attack that left him hospitalized for six days. But this time would be different. On Friday September 13, 1996, Tupac Amaru Shakur died due to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. Authorities have yet to find his killer. Props to MTV.com (09.13.12) |
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THE THRONE LEADS NOMINATIONS AT THE HIP HOP AWARDS Kanye West and Jay-Z, aka The Throne, made a big impact at the BET Awards in July, winning awards for Best Group and Video of the Year. And in light of the nominations for this October's Hip Hop Awards — revealed tonight on 106 & Park — the duo aren't ready to relinquish their kingdom quite yet. Jay-Z and Kanye collectively stacked up an incredible 19 nominations. In the wake of their blockbuster album, Watch the Throne, featuring the hits "Otis" and "Paris," they received five nods together as The Throne for Best Live Performer, CD of the Year, Best Club Banger, Impact Track and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. Jay-Z, who dropped a few coveted guest verses and also expanded his business empire with the Brooklyn Nets, Roc Nation and others, received three individual nods for MVP of the Year, Hustler of the Year and Lyricist of the Year. Kanye, meanwhile, stacked up a whopping 11 awards, for Best Hip Hop Video, Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo), Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, Video Director of the Year, Producer of the Year, MVP of the Year, Best Club Banger, Hustler of the Year, Impact Track and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. Yeezy has kept hip hop abuzz for the entire year with the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music compilation Cruel Summer. The album, which will showcase the impressive talent on Kanye's label — from John Legend to Big Sean to Pusha T and beyond — doesn't drop until later this month, but it's already produced a handful of hit singles, most notably "Mercy," which is up for five awards in various categories. Props to BET.com (09.13.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: BRANDY CHAMPIONS FRANK OCEAN, CALLS DAWN RICHARD THE 'FUTURE' The countdown is on to Brandy’s sixth album Two Eleven. After dropping two singles and releasing the tracklisting, the R&B diva is ready to make her much-anticipated return on October 16. In Part 2 of our exclusive interview, Brandy opens up about working with Frank Ocean before he was a superstar. “I could see it then,” recalls the 33-year-old, who collaborated with the acclaimed singer-songwriter on “Scared of Beautiful.” “I’m just really proud that we are blessed by his talent.” Another singer who’s earned her respect is Dawn Richard. “Dawn’s the future,” says Brandy, who has already spoken with the former Dirty Money member about a duet. “I just want her to get the credit that she deserves.” While her joint tour with Monica never materialized, she is looking forward to launching her own tour in the near future. Plus, find out happened to her collaboration with Drake and which song she wants as her next single. How did the record with Frank Ocean, “Scared of Beautiful,” come together? Well, he had the song for a while and when I heard it, it really just spoke to me. Sometimes you get to a point in your life where you’re scared to be great, you’re scared to be beautiful, you’re scared to be the best version of you and you talk to yourself and you try to get yourself back on track. I just remember feeling like that at a point in my life. I know there are so many people out there that go through that dark time and I felt like it could speak to a lot of people. He’s such a brilliant writer. He’s a poet and I love that about Frank Ocean. For him to write such a beautiful song and me get a chance to sing on it was a plus for me, such a blessing. So glad the world knows about him. Props to Rap-Up.com (09.13.12) |
HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 9/9/2012 A new independent Hip Hop album cracked the Top 3 of the charts this week. Houston, Texas Christian Hip Hop star Lecrae defied Gravity with his sixth solo album. The Reach Records release was within 25,000 units sold of the #1 spot. Gravity scanned more than 72,000 units in its first week, making this release the best first-week indie outing in Hip Hop thus far in 2012. Rihanna's 2011 album, Talk That Talk is at the million mark, after the Def Jam Pop star's MTV Video Music Awards performance, giving her release a spike to #60. Slaughterhouse, the chart darlings of last week, fell 21 spots (from #2 to #23) with their first major label album (and second overall), welcome to: Our House. Following last year's #15 debut of Rehab: The Overdose, Lecrae outdid himself with Gravity. The Reach Records star took assistance from Big K.R.I.T., DJ Khalil and Novel on his sixth album. With four singles - most recently "Mayday," the extensive marketing for Gravity is a benchmark for Lecrae, his label and Christian Hip Hop. Earlier this year, Lecrae released his mixtape, Church Clothes, with Don Cannon, following a South By Southwest performance. Shady Records lyricist collective Slaughterhouse fell 21 places in their second week at retail. welcome to: Our House fell 21 places, as the quartet of Joe Budden, Crooked I, Royce Da 5'9 and Joell Ortiz did some performances, including in Ortiz' hometown of Brooklyn, New York last week. Crooked I expressed his frustrations with corporate radio last week, an element that may have hindered the acclaimed artists' group sales. Props to HipHopDX.com (09.12.12) |
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THE WEEKND FINALLY SIGNED A RECORD DEAL TO RELEASE TRILOGY The Weeknd has finally signed a new record deal and he will release his first studio-backed project this fall, packaging his three popular mixtapes as the Trilogy. He's built a fiercely dedicated fanbase with the release of his acclaimed mixtapes over the past year, most notably 2011 fire starterHouse of Balloons. Abel Tesfaye, the 22-year-old R&B prodigy, has been highly championed by hometown hero Drake, while remaining fairly mysterious and avoiding interviews, but that might change with his new deal. Tesfaye and his formerly independent XO collective have formed a new partnership with Republic that will be cemented with the November 13 release of Trilogy.That includes all three of his popular mixtapes — House of Balloons,Thursday and Echoes of Silence — mixed and mastered, with the addition of previously unreleased songs. He first announced plans to reissue the mixtapes late last year, tweeting to fans on Christmas, "I can't wait to re-release The Trilogy as a package, re-mastered for you to collect with bonus features...#2012." "Wicked Games" is set to be the first Trilogy single available on iTunes, ahead of the project's release date. Back in May, during the Houston stop on his Club Paradise Tour, Drake told MTV News that he and the Weeknd, with their respective OVO and XO crews, were working out a potential deal. "As far as on paper, it's all being worked out, but that's not really what counts anyway. What counts to me is the fact that the affiliation is so known, and that's all I really care about," he said, adding, "I want to continue being involved in his career and vice versa and keep making music together, because you take songs like 'Crew Love' and 'The Zone,' that's what people wait all night to hear," he said. No word yet on whether Drake had any input in the Weeknd's new deal with Republic. Props to MTV.com (09.12.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAC MILLER EYES GOTYE COLLABORATION 'PINK SLIME' TO FEATURE STYLES P, CURREN$Y Though 20-year-old Pittsburgh MC Mac Miller came up under Wiz Khalifa's wing, attending the same Taylor Allderdice High School, and collaborating with various members of Wiz's Taylor Gang, he eschewed guest features on his 2011 debut LP, Blue Slide Park, an ode to his childhood haunt. Having since moved out to California, where he's forged friendships with Los Angeles peers signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and the Odd Future collective, Mac has revealed that his forthcoming albums will be decidedly more collaborative. His EP with Pharrell Williams, Pink Slime, which he intends to release by the end of the year, is already 11 songs deep, and may feature surprising appearances by everyone from Styles P to Aussie indie pop singer Gotye. "We got Curren$y on there. Pharrell obviously is on there, Styles P is on there, which is dope," Mac told The BoomBox, on the red carpet at the BMI Urban Music Awards on Friday (Sept 7). "We might get Gotye on there. I met him in Japan and he was a great guy. So he might get on the record." Mac went on to describe Pink Slime's "festival" sound, which can be heard on leaked singles "Onaroll" and "Glow," both of which feature a deeper-voiced, vastly more mature MC than the happy-go-lucky (almost entirely) tattoo-free teen who gained exposure with his 2010 mixtape K.I.D.S. "[Pharrell] dubbed it festival music," Mac revealed. "He wants me to have music that I can rock and people go nuts, and just lose their minds, 'cause I feel like there's so many different kinds of music. Especially with me, I like to dabble in a lot of different things. Props to TheBoomBox.com (09.12.12) |
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AMERICA MARKS 11TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPT 11 Today, the nation marks the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed close to 3,000 people in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. It will forever be remembered as the day that changed the world. Some will relive the unimaginable grief they felt after losing loved ones to the tragedy, while others will attend memorial events or participate in service activities. But no matter how it’s spent, the events of that fateful day will forever be etched in the minds of most Americans for decades to come. President Obama and the White House staff Tuesday observed a moment of silence in honor of those who died. Over the weekend Obama had proclaimed Tuesday as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, used his weekly address to honor those who lost their lives and the first responders who fought valiantly to save them. “On that clear September morning, as America watched the towers fall, and the Pentagon burn and the wreckage smoldering in a Pennsylvania field, we were filled with questions,” he said. “Where had the attacks come from, and how would America respond? Would they fundamentally weaken the country we love? Would they change who we are?” The president said that together Americans have answered those questions, which has brought out the best in people and made the nation stronger. “Instead of turning on each other, we’ve resisted the temptation to give in to mistrust and suspicion. I have always said that America is at war with al Qaeda and its affiliates and we will never be at war with Islam or any other religion. We are the United States of America. Our freedom and diversity make us unique, and they will always be central to who we are as a nation,” he said. Props to BET.com (09.11.12) |
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PRESIDENT OBAMA ADDRESSES NICKI MINAJ'S ROMNEY RAP Nicki Minaj sparked debate with her politically-minded verse on the remix to “Mercy.” Now President Obama himself is speaking out about the Young Money rapper’s bars backing Mitt Romney. “I’m a Republican, voting for Mitt Romney/ You lazy bitches is fu**in’ up the economy,” rhymes Nicki on the cut off Lil Wayne’s Dedication 4 mixtape. While some interpreted it as an endorsement of the Republican candidate, Obama viewed it as her playing a character. “I’m not sure that’s actually what happened,” he said during an interview with Power 95.3’s “Obie and Lil Shawn Morning Show.” “I think she had a song on there, a little rap that said that, but she likes to play different characters, so I don’t know what’s going on there.” Nicki thanked the President for getting her. “Ha! Thank you for understanding my creative humor & sarcasm Mr. President, the smart ones always do… *sends love & support* @BarackObama,” she tweeted. She was also flattered that he would take the time to react to the rap. “Awesome! Now I can tell my grandchildren that the 1st black President of the United States took the time to address a Nicki Minaj question.” While his daughters Sasha and Malia don’t listen to Nicki’s music, the First Couple does have hip-hop on their playlists. “We have a nice hip-hop collection on our iPods,” said Obama. Props to Rap-Up.com (09.11.12) |
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DRAKE ADDS JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE COLLABORATION TO HIS WISHLIST Drake has collaborated with many rap greats including Jay-Z, and he's publicly pined for a Sade feature, but there's one more artist that Drizzy is dying to work with: Justin Timberlake. Following his win for Best Hip Hop Video with "HYRF" at last weeks's MTV Video Music Awards, Drake told reporters via Buzzfeed that he'd love to do a song with Justin Timberlake at some point in his career. "I would love to do a collaboration with Justin Timberlake, and [Noah "40" Shebib]...he produced with Sade, and I would love to do a song with Sade," the Toronto rapper said. Drake has already admitted that he sought out a Sade feature on his recent album but was unable to make it happen, so maybe he'll have better luck with JT. The YMCMB rapper recently revealed that he's working on the upcoming Aaliyah album along with producer 40. “Enough Said” the first single released from the project 11 years after her death, included a feature from Drake. "To get 13, 14 new Aaliyah songs, everybody should be excited. It's not about me. It's not about 40. It's about her and her fans and us just getting the opportunity to give you something that we feel is great," Drake said, explaining the album. "And the people around her, everybody from her family to her old management and label, were like, 'If there's anyone out that can do it right now, it's [you] and 40.' And that was an honor and we're going to pull in some classic people, anybody who used to work with Aaliyah that was essential in her career we definitely hope to have them involved. So it's great. You get a new Aaliyah album this year on top of everything." Props to MTV.com (09.11.12) |
AHH STRAY NEWS: LIL WAYNE SUES QDII, YING YANG TWINGS, MGK ARTWORK The legal battle between Lil Wayne and Quincy Jones III over the documentary “The Carter.” Lil Wayne and QD3 initially agreed to work on the movie together, but the rapper pulled out over unflattering scenes that he objected to being left in the film. According to TMZ.com, Lil Wayne claims that QD3 is using his music in “The Carter” documentary without the proper permission. According to the lawsuit, the film utilizes hits from his album Tha Carter III which included hits like “Lollipop,” “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy,” “A Milli” and others. Lil Wayne seeks an unspecified amount of damages. Atlanta rap duo Ying Yang Twins are hard at work promoting their newest single “Fist Pump Jump Jump!” The track and the group will be featured in an upcoming episode of The Bad Girls Club. The rappers, who are known for songs like “Salt Shaker” “Wait (The Whisper Song)” and others, will appear on episode number 911, titled “Hate-Lanta.” According to representatives for The Ying Yang Twins, the group’s appearance will take place on the October 1st airing of the reality show. Machine Gun Kelly has released the artwork for his Bad Boy/Interscope debut, Lace Up. The album features a collage of MGK fans who have supported his “Lace Up” movement by getting the slogan tattooed on them. As for the album, Lace Up features guest appearances by Waka Flocka Flame, Bun B., Young Jeezy, Tech N9ne, Twista and others. Check out the track listing and artwork for Lace Up below. Lace Up is due in stores on October 9. Props to AllHipHop.com (09.10.12) |
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MARIAH CAREY HONORED AT BMI URBAN AWARDS Mariah Carey hit another high note in her illustrious career when she was honored as a BMI Icon at the BMI Urban Awards at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Friday night. The multi-octave diva, sporting curly hair and a cutout black dress, arrived fashionably late with her husband Nick Cannon and manager Randy Jackson in tow, smiling for photos and doing a few interviews. Following congratulatory messages from Diddy, Pharrell, L.A. Reid, and Sidney Poitier, Jermaine Dupri kicked off the tribute by mixing some of the hits he produced for Mariah. Joe belted out “We Belong Together,” gospel star Karen Clark-Sheard soared with “Anytime You Need a Friend,” Eric Benét dueted on “One Sweet Day,” and Fantasia tore the house down with a soulful version of “Hero.” With Nick by her side, a gracious Mariah accepted the honor. “I’m just humbled and thankful and grateful,” said Mimi. “Thank you for blessing me with this moment.” Nas opened the show with a four-song medley including “Daughters” and “Bye Baby,” and Future had the crowd singing along to his ubiquitous hit “Same Damn Time.” Drake and Lil Wayne shared Songwriter of the Year honors, while Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” took home Song of the Year. Pop Wansel (Nicki Minaj, Elle Varner) was presented with Producer of the Year. Props to Rap-Up.com (09.10.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JAY-Z WANTS BLUE IVY TO BE MORAL AND RESPECTFUL Jay-Z is well aware that his daughter Blue Ivy will have a much different childhood than he did, and he likes it that way. Hov may have grown up on the mean streets of Brooklyn, where he had to harden up pretty quickly and learn to survive, but he doesn't see the same future for his baby girl, Blue Ivy. Since her birth at the top of 2012, she's already donned couture most adults swoon over and hung out with the likes of celebrity A-listers — including her superstar parents. On top of that, she's already a world traveler (she was just in the South of France with her parents for her mom, Beyonce's, birthday) and Jay notes in an interview with The New York Times Style Magazine that he wonders what her privileged life will teach her about the hard-knock one lurking just outside of it. "I actually thought about that more before she was born. Once she got here I've been in shock until maybe last week?" he said of his baby girl, before recalling his own tough childhood and how Blue Ivy's won't be anything like it. "We would fight each other. My brother would beat me up," he says in the interview about his youth spent in the projects. "I was going to have to fight, I was going to have to go through some things, and they were preparing me." But Ivy "doesn't have to be tough. She has to love herself, she has to know who she is, she has to be respectful and be a moral person," he added. As for the status of the Carter-Knowles family, Jay simply had this update, "Oh, my family's amazing." Earlier this year, Hova opened up about the effect fatherhood has had on his music in an interview with MTV News, sharing that since Blue's birth, the songs aren't flowing out of him the way he thought they would. Props to Rap-Up.com (09.10.12) |
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| 2012 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS | |
| Video Of The Year: Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris "We Found Love" Best New Artist: One Direction "What Makes You Beautiful Best Female Video: Nicki Minaj "Starships" Best Hip Hip Video: Drake ft. Lil Wayne "HYFR" Best Male Video: Chris Brown "Turn Up The Music Best Pop Video: One Direction "What Makes You Beautiful Best Rock Video: Coldplay "Paradise" Best Video With A Message: Demi Lovato "Skyscraper" |
Best Electronic Dance Music Video: Calvin Harris "Feel So Close" Most Share-Worthy Video: One Direction "What Makes You Beautiful Best Art Direction: Katy Perry "Wide Awake" Best Choreography: Chris Brown "Turn Up The Music" Best Cinematography: M.I.A "Bad Girls" Best Editing: Beyonce "Countdown" Best Visual Effects: Skrilled "First Of the Year (Equinox)" Best Direction: M.I.A "Bad Girls" |
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MTV VMAS 2012: RIHANNA, ONE DIRECTION FIND LOVE & MOONMEN The most shocking aspect of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards? That would be the lack of shocking moments at the show, held for the first time at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Chocked with stars, including Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Drake, Lil Wayne, Green Day, Wiz Khalifa and others, the Kevin Hart-hosted affair ran largely by the book, with a mix of goofy gags, performances and a smattering of awards ( One Direction, notably, won three). The night opened and closed with Rihanna, who kicked off the festivities with a thumping split performance of "Cockiness" featuring A$AP Rocky, and her megahit, "We Found Love." At the end of the night, her gritty clip for "Love" snagged Video of the Year honors. "I love you guys, this is awesome," she gushed. Host Kevin Hart entered with a dud of a joke, accompanied with a security detail comprised of little people. "I told MTV I wanted a little security. They took it literally." He called out previous host Russell Brand and the Drake-Chris Brown during his spit-fire opening monologue. "MTV is the place for mistakes." The first award given during the telecast, Best Pop Video, went to One Direction for "What Makes You Beautiful." Presenter Katy Perry accidentally broke off the Moonman's flag when handing it to the guys, but quickly made up for it by giving the guys a peck. "Katy, thanks for the kiss. We've grown up watching this show. To be here is incredible." They later performed new single "One Thing" and later still solidified their status as the hottest new group in pop by winning Best New Artist. During the pre-show, "Beautiful" also won Most Share-Worthy Video. Live sets came from P!nk, who performed "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)," currently No. 11 on the Hot 100, and Frank Ocean, with an affecting take on his emotional "Thinkin Bout You." Green Day represented the rock with a run-though of "Let Yourself Go," off "Uno!" 2 Chainz sang "Yuck!" Props to Billboard.com (09.07.12) |
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BET PARTNERS WITH JAY-Z, WILL SMITH FOR NEW ANGELA DAVIS DOCUMENTARY Four decades after her arrest sparked a nation wide liberation movement, Angela Davis is still bringing together people for a cause. BET Networks, along with Jay-Z's Roc Nation and Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment, are jointly supporting a new documentary film about the renowned activist. Free Angela & All Political Prisoners, directed by renowned documentarian Shola Lynch, will premiere at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival and marks the 40th anniversary of Davis' acquittal on charges of conspiracy, kidnapping and murder. Free Angela is "a look at a specific period in time, Angela's journey and her role in the civil rights movement," says Charlie Jordan Brookins, Senior Vice President of Original Programming for BET Networks. After a chance encounter with Lynch at a women's leadership conference last year, Brookins "immediately said, 'what can we do to help this film?'" Brookins brought Davis back into the spotlight by making her an honoree at last year's Black Girls Rock, and hopes the documentary will give audiences a deeper understanding of what the iconic activist stands for. "People think they know Angela Davis," Brookins says. "They know the name, they've seen the afro on a t-shirt, but this is a chance for them to really know her story." With BET providing funding and distribution for Lynch's seminal film, coupled with Jay-Z and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith for promotional support, Davis's message of activism will reach a whole new generation. Props to BET.com (09.07.12) |
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WIZ KHALIFA ON BECOMING A DAD: 'I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD' Wiz Khalifa was on a natural high after confirming that he and fiancée Amber Rose are expecting their first child. While presenting with Ke$ha at the VMAs, the Taylor Gang rapper revealed that Amber is due in six months. “I’m feeling on top of the world right now,” a beaming Wiz told “E! News” on the red carpet. “There’s nobody who could do anything better than me.” Amber is certain that Wiz will make a great father. “He’s amazing with me. He babies me all the time and he’s just a wonderful person,” she gushed. “He’s just a grown man. He smells like a man, he acts like a man, he just does manly things. He’s amazing. He’s gonna be an awesome dad.” They are waiting until after the baby is born before tying the knot. “She told me she doesn’t want to be sick. She wants the baby to be at the wedding,” said Wiz. “She wants to enjoy it that day, so it’s all about what she wants.” Props to Rap-Up.com (09.07.12) |
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CHRIS LIGHTY'S FUNERAL DRAWS HIP HOP ROYALTY LL Cool J and Sean "Diddy" Combs were among the stars who packed a standing-room-only funeral chapel Wednesday to pay their respects to music-industry mogul Chris Lighty. Mourners at the Manhattan funeral home also included Missy Elliott, Q-Tip, Russell Simmons, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent and Grandmaster Flash. The 44-year-old Lighty was found dead in his Bronx apartment last week with a gunshot wound to the head. The medical examiner ruled it a suicide. "Whatever the pressure was that made him take his life had to be tremendous pressure," Grandmaster Flash said outside the chapel. "I just wish that Chris would have reached out and said, `Flash, I need some help, man.' ... He didn't reach out. It's really sad." Mourners filed past the flower-bedecked coffin where Lighty was laid out in a dark suit. A slideshow depicting his life appeared on a screen. By the time the service started, the chapel had become as crowded as a hot nightspot, with security guards only letting people in if someone else left. Lighty had been a part of the hip-hop scene for decades, working with pioneers like LL Cool J before starting his own management company, Violator. But he was in the midst of a divorce and had been having recent financial and personal troubles. He was raised by his mother in the Bronx as one of six children. He ran with a group called The Violators, the inspiration for the name of his management company, according to the company website. He was a player in the hip-hop game since he was a child disc jockey. He rose through the ranks at Rush Management - Simmons' first company - before eventually founding Violator Management in the late 1990s. Props to Billboard.com (09.06.12) |
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DR.DRE TOPS FORBES' HIP HOP CASH KINGS Dr. Dre might've received the best business advice of his life when Interscope Records chief Jimmy Iovine told him to sell speakers instead of sneakers. That was six years ago, and now Dre is sitting at the top of Forbes' Hip Hop Cash Kings list, above fellow millionaires Diddy, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. In 2008, the West Coast rapper-producer teamed up with Iovine and a few other partners to launch Beats by Dr. Dre, which now sells more than half the country's premium headphones ($100 and up). Last year, handset maker HTC paid $300 million for a 51 percent stake in the company, giving Dre $100 million in pretax earnings. This year the rapper pulled in $110 million pretax, despite the fact that his Detox album still hasn't been released. Diddy came in at second on the Forbes list at $45 million due to his share in Ciroc vodka, and Jay-Z came in third with $38 million due to his various business ventures, including The Brooklyn Nets and his stake in Carol's Daughter. Just as impressively, Lil Wayne, Drake, Birdman, Tyga and Nicki Minaj came in together at almost $100 million. Nicki was also the only woman to make the Cash Kings list. Props to BET.com (09.06.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MC LYTE'S FOUNDATION OFFERING $100K HIP HOP SCHOLARSHIP TO ONE STUDENT Rap star MC Lyte and her charity Hip Hop Sisters Foundation recently announced a new $100,000 Hip-Hop scholarship that will be offered to one student to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The advisory board of Hip Hop Sisters, which includes Russell Simmons, President Lynn Richardson, Melanie Fiona, Salt, will be on hand to announce the “First Wave” scholarship tomorrow (September 6) from Rush Communications, Simmons’ New York headquarters. The Hip Hop Sisters board will be joined by UW-Madison’s VP and Chief Diversity Officer, Damon Williams during the press conference at Simmons’ office. “For years I’ve dreamed of having the ability to help our community and now finally the day has arrived,” MC Lyte told AllHipHop.com. “HHSF is about changing lives and truly encouraging several generations that have been and are influenced by Hip-Hop culture. It is my life’s mission to see those who believe, actually see their dreams come to fruition. Helping the younger generation see their strengths and potential is what my goals are for this foundation. This scholarship partnership with UW-Madison is just the beginning for what HHSF has in store.” The scholarship will allow one lucky recipient to receive an all-expense paid trip to college, with the goal of earning a Bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison. “This partnership signals an opportunity to help young people influenced by hip hop culture think of education as an achievable goal rather than a phantom wish reserved only for the lucky,” Russell Simmons added. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is October 1. The winner will be announced at this year’s Soul Train Music Awards. Props to AllHipHop.com (09.06.12) |
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LUDACRIS RAISES $30K FOR CHARITY DURING LUDADAY CELEBRITY BASKETBALL GAME Last week, in a viral video from the London set of the new movie, "Fast & Furious 6," Ludacris promised that his 7th annual LudaDay Weekend, which spanned from August 30 to September 3 would be bigger and better than all of its previous years in existence—and it was. During halftime of the main event, the Celebrity Basketball Game, Luda thanked all of those involved with the weekend of events and made one significant announcement about funds raised. “First of all I want to thank everybody for buying tickets to this game,” Luda said before a capacity crowd at Morehouse’s Forbes Arena. “We raised over $30,000 for Ludacris foundations and that goes right back in the hood and goes back to the city of Atlanta that’s been supporting me since day one.” For those keeping score, last year LudaDay netted $10,000 for his selected charities that include the Frank Ski Kids Foundation, Inc., Keshia Knight Pulliam’s Kamp Kizzy, Antoine “Big Boi” Patton’s Big Kidz Foundation, Josh Powell’s 21 Reasons Foundation, Get Schooled.org, Do Something, Ryan Cameron Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta, so that’s three times bigger and better. But the real icing on the cake, besides a new custom watch gifted to the Grammy-winning MC from event sponsor Hublot, was when Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell took center court and officially declared September 2nd "LUDA DAY" in the ATL. Luda kept things focused on his charities while being presented with his “LudaDay” proclamation, but took to Twitter to express his real feelings: “BREAKING NEWS! THE CITY OF ATLANTA JUST MADE SEPT 2ND OFFICIALLY "LUDA DAY"! THAT IS THE BEST BDAY PRESENT I'VE EVER RECEIVED.” Props to MTV.com (09.05.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: TWISTA PLANS TO COMBAT CHICAGO VIOLENCE WITH NEW YOUTH CENTER The violence in Chicago has been making national news as of late, with an exorbitant amount of people getting shot and killed on their streets everyday. Just last week, 19 people were shot over the weekend and according to the Chicago Tribune, gun violence has soared over 60 percent compared to the same time last year. Rapper Twista was born and raised in Chicago, and he believes that gang violence is at the epicenter of the rise in homicides. “The gangs, I hate to say it, but they’re taking it back to the whole vibe of getting into it with each other,” said Twista. “Gangs are going against gangs.” Twista is on a crusade to save the streets that he grew up in, and believes that creating more youth centers will help give the kids something to do and help “steer them the right way.” To lend a hand in the efforts, Twista plans on opening up his own youth center in the heart of Chi-town. “We’re trying to do something positive in the city of Chicago, especially now with all of the killings going on, and everybody running wild the way they’re doing. “I remember growing up in the ‘hood, and there were a lot of people that would have probably been out there doing something bad if they had not have been at a YMCA or some type of club,” Twista recalled. Props to AllHipHop.com (09.05.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 9/2/2012 An assortment of new albums took to the Top 200 charts this week. Most notably, Slaughterhouse scored a #2 debut with their first major label album, welcome to: Our House. The release, which just broke 50,000 first week units sold, was less than 20,000 behind #1, Country singer TobyMac. Also hitting the charts was Beanie Sigel and Ruffhouse Records' comeback effort, This Time. Swollen Members' front-man Madchild's Dope Sick found a spot on the charts, as did Strange Music's newest act, CES Cru with their digital release, 13. Veteran singer Dwele's Greater Than One also debuted in Top 40, with an album that features frequent collaborator Black Milk. Now on Shady/Interscope Records, the super-group of Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9, Crooked I and Joell Ortiz (as Slaughterhouse) sold approximately 52,000 units of welcome to: Our House. The album follows up the group's 2009 debut on eOne Entertainment, which was before Eminem signed the quartet. Our House features Em, along with Swizz Beatz, Cee-Lo Green and Busta Rhymes. The album boasts production from No I.D., AraabMuzik and the aforementioned Eminem. Vancouver, British Columbia veteran emcee Madchild sold just under 3,000 first-week units with Dope Sick. The full-length follow-up to last year's M.A.D.E. (Misguided Angel Destroys Everything) features contributions from fellow '90s underground Hip Hop alumni DJ Revolution, Phil Da Agony and Dilated Peoples. Bandmates Rob The Viking and Prevail also worked on M.C.'s album about coming clean chemically and mentally. Props to HipHopDX.com (09.05.12) |
'GREEN MILE' ACTOR MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN DIES AT 54 Green Mile actor Michael Clarke Duncan died on Monday (September 3) at the age of 54 from complications after suffering a heart attack in July. Duncan's publicist, Joy Fehily, released a statement from Clarke's fiancée, reality star Omarosa Manigault, confirming that the 54-year-old actor died in an L.A.-area hospital, according to the Wrap. The "Green Mile" actor's death came after nearly two months of treatment in the wake of his cardiac arrest earlier this summer. News of Duncan's death broke on Labor Day afternoon, and "RIP Michael Clarke Duncan" and "Green Mile" instantly became Twitter trending topics as numerous fans expressed their sadness upon learning the news. The Chicago-born actor is perhaps best-known for his portrayal of gentle giant/ mystic healer John Coffey in 1999's "The Green Mile," a critically praised performance for which he received an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. After his breakout role, Duncan parlayed his popularity into a string of memorable roles in films like "Sin City," "Planet of the Apes," "Armageddon, "The Whole Nine Yards" and "Talladega Nights: the Ballad of Ricky Bobby." When MTV News caught up with him a few years ago, the actor expressed interest in making "Sin City 2" — if it ever got off the ground. "I'd love to come back as Manute," he said in 2009. Working with Robert Rodriquez was really cool. He's the type of director that goes around playing his guitar all day, he doesn't holler, he doesn't fuss, he doesn't fight. He's a real mellow director." More recently, Duncan voiced the character of Kilowog in 2011's "Green Lantern." Props to MTV.com (09.04.12) |
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NAS, LAURYN HILL, WU-TANG ROCK THE BELLS 2012 AND REMEMBER CHRIS LIGHTY Although Rock the Bells 2012 shared the same weekend schedule (Sept 1-2) as Jay-Z’s Budweiser-sponsored Made in America Festival, a massive crowd of staunch hip-hop lovers still flocked to the PNC Arts Center in New Jersey. Boasting a line-up of some of hip-hop’s most revered artists such as Nas, Big Daddy Kane and Ice Cube the two-day festival managed to attract concert goers mostly in their 20’s. This proves the longevity of the genre. “What did Biggie say?” RZA, the mastermind behind Wu-Tang quizzed the audience on the festival’s opening night, after an impressive set on the main-stage with Wu-Block. “Remember Rappin’ Dukes, duh-ha duh-ha, you never thought that hip-hop would take it this far,” he stretched one arm out to the crowd to briefly chat about hip-hop’s progression. “Yo! We came from the streets of poverty, now you see us on stages and stadiums,” he went on to say, “I’m about to take hip-hop to one more chamber, I’m going to take it to the silver screen.” RZA couldn’t resist plugging in his directorial debut "The Man with The Iron Fists" due out November 2. Expect more future films from your favorite hip-hop artists; Ice Cube who simultaneously performed on the 36 Chambers stage donned in all black and rocking an Afro announced the NWA biopic film he has in the works. Just a few hours before Wu-Block, Salt-N-Pepa took the main-stage; their performance was impressive yet preachy, the legendary duo made sure to declare their love for God and encourage everyone to attend church. Jersey natives Naughty by Nature performed on the 36 Chambers stage curated by RZA while 2 Chainz, Jadakiss and Future were other artists who performed on the main stage. Props to MTV.com (09.04.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSY SINGS TO SCOOTER BRAUN'S LABEL, WILL APPEAR AT MTV VMAS Psy, the Korean pop star and U.S. viral video sensation, uploaded a short clip on his official YouTube channel Monday showing music exec Scooter Braun and himself sharing a drink and making a big announcement: Sources have confirmed to Billboard that Psy has signed to Braun's Schoolboy Records, part of Universal Republic. "We've been hanging out in California for four days," Braun, Justin Bieber's manager, says in the clip. "And we've come to an agreement to make some history together. [To] be the first Korean artist to break a big record in the United States." To mark the international moment the two take a large gulp of native Korean alcohol soju with Braun toasting, "To Psy, to Korea, to breaking down barriers, to the future." Psy is best known around the world for his viral music video sensation "Gangnam Style" which this past summer has received nearly 100 million views -- though the work was never intended for American audiences. That future looks bright as Psy will have a major platform to up his American awareness at this week at the MTV Video Music Awards. In the same report that announced Psy's signing, it was also confirmed that he will make an appearance on the VMA stage this Thursday. The announcement comes as an official attempt to break "Gangnam Style," a track sung almost entirely in Korean that went viral from its hilarious music video, in America. Psy's Korean comeback track was not only a huge hit in his home country (it tied for the most weeks at No. 1 on the K-Pop Hot 100) but on the worldwide social media scene (he is the No. 1 artist on the Social 50 chart). "Gangnam Style" has slowly but surely gained digital downloads and radio play making a debut on the upcoming Hot 100 chart likely. Props to Billboard.com (09.04.12) |
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A LOOK BACK AT CHRIS LIGHTY'S ROAD TO SUCCESS Chris Lighty had a long and successful career in the music industry and he will be severely missed by many members of the hip-hop community. The manager to heavyweights including LL Cool J, 50 Cent, Diddy, Missy Elliott and R&B diva Mariah Carey was found dead in his Bronx, New York, home on Thursday morning (August 30) following an apparent suicide. While his death comes as a shock to the music community at large, Lighty will surely be remembered for his triumphant life story. Lighty, who hailed from the Bronx River Housing Projects, brokered some of the biggest deals music has ever seen but humbly got his start in the 1980s carrying record crates for legendary DJ Red Alert. He made a name for himself and rose through hip-hop's ranks, learning the business under Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen at Rush Management and on the road with the Jungle Brothers and Boogie Down Productions. Lighty went on to manage A Tribe Called Quest, and his name was often dropped in raps by other Native Tongues affiliates. "What's Chris Lighty if he wasn't such a baby," Q-Tip rapped on A Tribe Called Quest's 1991 track "What?" Baby Chris, as he was affectionately called, even tried his skills on the mic, dropping a verse on Black Sheep's 1991 album cut "Pass the 40." But Lighty shined brightest in the boardroom. Lighty would go on to form Violator Management, where he oversaw the careers of some of the biggest stars in music. With a roster that has always boasted A-1 talent, Violator dropped their first compilation album,Violator: The Album, in 1999 and its sequel in 2001. Props to MTV.com (08.31.12) |
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RANDY JACKSON OUT AS 'AMERICAN IDOL' JUDGE: REPORT Randy Jackson's exit from the "American Idol" judges' table has been long rumored and now TMZ is calling it fact. Citing sources, the website says that Jackson, the only "Idol" cast member other than host Ryan Seacrest to have an on-air role since season one, will transition to a mentor role in season 12. Jackson was expected to remain with the Fox show that's been home to him for more than a decade in part because he co-manages new judge Mariah Carey. Reps for Jackson and the show have yet to respond to The Hollywood Reporter's request for comment. Elsewhere on the judging front, THR hears Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban have yet to sign their Idol deals but are both expected to early next week. As previously reported here, the show is also pursuing Enrique Iglesias for a fourth spot. TMZ sources indicate the Minaj deal is "99% done" despite a reported beef between the rapper and Carey. The gossip site says Carey "doesn't want her at the table ... a fact producers LOVE because they think the conflict and tension will be good for the show." It has also been confirmed that Nick Jonas is under consideration to become a judge. Earlier this month the youngest Jonas brother tweeted, "The rumors are true... I am being considered to be a judge on American Idol, and it would be a dream come true if it happens." Props to Billboard.com (08.31.12) |
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FLO RIDA URGING FANS TO VOTE IN UPCOMING ELECTION Selling digital copies of hit after hit is one thing Flo Rida has been able to do better than other rappers. But it’s an election year and moving units isn’t the only stat Flo is worried about. Inspired by Diddy and Jay-Z, he wants to do his part and make sure voter turnout amongst young Americans is high enough to make them heard. During a listening party of his latest album, Wild Ones, hosted by Arjan Writes of ArjanWrites.com, the Florida native talked with MTV Act about his plans to rally Miami youth. “You always want to have a choice. If [eligible voters] are not aware of it, you’re going to lose that chance to speak your mind. I’ve decided that me and my team, I’m trying to rally some things to get involved in the voting process,” he explained. “Being inspired by what Diddy and Jay-Z did, I want to start [get out the vote efforts] down in Miami and get things going because it's definitely important." Back during the 2000 election, Diddy aimed to make voting trendy with his Vote Or Die campaign. And before Rock The Vote was Rock The Vote, it was Rap The Vote in 1992 with backing in the rap game from Jay-Z to Public Enemy. Head over to MTV Act for Flo Rida’s full interview. And remember that you have the power to decide the outcome of the 2012 Election. Register to vote with MTV Power of 12’s super easy registration tool! Props to MTV.com (08.31.12) |
CHRIS LIGHTY, HIP HOP IMPRESARIO, FOUND DEAD Chris Lighty, the savvy entrepreneur who founded Violator Management and one of the key executives in hip-hop history, has died. The news was confirmed to Billboard today by a source at Primary Violator Management. Circumstances of his death were unconfirmed at press time, but New York Daily News said it was an apparent suicide. Violator was a pioneering management/marketing/record label/multi-media entertainment conglomerate. The powerhouse merger between that company and Larry Mestel's Primary Wave Talent Management firm took place last September; at the time of his death, Lighty was chief operating officer of Primary Violator. The roster of artists handled by Violator following the merger includes Mariah Carey, Soulja Boy, 50 Cent, L.L. Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Sean "Diddy" Combs. Among the artists that Primary Wave brought to powerhouse merger were Cee Lo Green, Ginuwine, Goodie Mob and Eric Benét. "R.I.P my manager Chris Lighty, I know you're in a better place," Soulja Boy tweeted. "This sh-t got me so fu--ed up big bro we just talked on the phone 2 days ago." Diggy Simmons, another of Lighty's artists, also expressed his heartbreak on Twitter. "Still in shock," he wrote. "More than just my manager but my family. Love you and gonna miss you Chris. R.I.P" Violator first came to prominence in the late 1990s, under the direction of Lighty and former co-owner/president Mona Scott-Young. The company's roster at the time boasted Missy Elliiott, Fat Joe, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and L. Cool J. In addition to providing management and marketing expertise, Violator released two compilation albums: 1999's Violator: The Album and 2001's Violator: the Album, V2.0. The albums respectively spun off two R&B/hip-hop top 10 hits: "Vivrant Thing" featuring Q-Tip and "What It Is" featuring Busta Rhymes and Kelis. Props to Billboard.com (08.30.12) |
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FRANK OCEAN KICKING OFF 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' SEASON WITH PERFORMANCE Frank Ocean is set to perform at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards but the Odd Future crooner also has a lot more in store for September, including a new gig which finds him opening the 38th season of "Saturday Night Live." Ocean will appear on the September 15 opener alongside "Family Guy" mad genius and "Ted" director Seth MacFarlane, who will host the season premiere. The pair will set up a red-hot string of season 38 bangers, which will be followed by "Premium Rush" star Joseph Gordon-Levitt taking the help for the September 22 show with Mumford & Sons. The other combo revealed so far is James Bond "Skyfall" star Daniel Craig and British psychedelic flame-throwers Muse, who will team up for the October 6 show. While Gordon-Levitt will be making a return engagement, Craig and MacFarlane will be making their "SNL" hosting debuts in a season that will be marked by lots of change, including the departure of such key players as Kristen Wiig? and Andy Samberg?, as well as player Abby Elliott. At press time it was unclear if Jason Sudeikis will be back or which new cast members have been brought in to replace the former stars. Sudeikis, 36, who is on the fence about his "SNL" gig at a time when he has been tapped to play Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on the show, recently said that after nine years on the weekend sketch staple he's wondering if his tenure is nearing its end. With roles in "The Campaign" and an upcoming road comedy with Jennifer Aniston called "We're The Millers," the versatile actor recently told the Los Angeles Times that, well, he'd like to see other gigs. "I'd like the opportunity to use creative muscles that ... haven't been asked of me for the first nine years that I've worked there," Sudeikis said. "It could be some sort of title change. The least of the concerns is anything financial. I'm not buying a boat because of writing skits. It's more having a desire to give more to a place I really believe in. To stay just for the juice of being in the public eye — of being Mitt Romney — is not enough." Props to MTV.com (08.30.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FUTURA 2000 ON HENNESSY COLLABORATION, HIP HOP PROGRESSION, SNOOP LION Popping bottles is all the rage in hip-hop circles, but Hennessy chose to interrupt that treatise of excess to start a new trend: tagging bottles. After deciding to move the focal point from cash to cachet was made, there was only one graffiti artist the world’s number one selling cognac brand considered in bringing that idea to life: Futura 2000. As one of the most famous artists to ever spray a can of Krylon, Futura brought his infectious energy and signature atom design to 360,000 limited-edition V.S. bottles (200,000 reserved for the U.S.) to celebrate street art. As part of the 10-city tour to connect with fans, the artist born Lenny McGurr dropped by the Spec’s Megastore in Houston to tag bottles of Henny for everyone willing to shell out $34 and stand on line. "It’s a great opportunity obviously, I would think, for any artist to get to collaborate with a huge brand like Hennessy,” Futura told RapFix. “I’ve actually been involved with a lot of commercial projects over the last decade. I have my store in Japan which, unfortunately, I had to shut down recently. But I’ve been coming back, doing more visual painting and I’m very happy.” Futura is happy and he’s productive, bringing his visceral street art to mediums to such brands as Supreme, A Bathing Ape and others. And while his aerosol art has moved from illegal street art to the sophisticated embrace of the commercial world, the internationally renowned graf artist who used to create alongside Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat is well aware of his status as the Futura of the funk for all things hip-hop. Props to MTV.com (08.30.12) |
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IN HOUSE WITH BEANIE SIGEL: MC TALKS 'THIS TIME' ALBUM, JAIL SENTENCE AND HIS RAP 'BROTHERS' For a man with an impending jail sentence looming over his head, Beanie Sigel is in a halcyon state. A smile is plastered on his face while describing some of the tracks featured on his sixth studio album, This Time, out Aug. 28. While his eyes are covered by a set of black sunglasses, he can't hide his attitude, which is a rather positive one under the circumstances. "Pay your taxes -- simple and plain," he says of the lesson he's taken from tax evasion, a charge that he plead guilty to and will serve a 24-month sentence for beginning Sept. 12. "And learn. This brother that my mother have that I don't know, his name is Sam [laughs]. I didn't know my grandmother had a son named Sam. So I guess I got to pay Uncle Sam his money." The rapper, born Dwight Grant, dodged the government and will do the time for his crime, but before that, his new LP is the focal point. Eleven tracks comprise the effort, featuring collaborations with Akon and producer Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie ("That's All I Know"), State Property ("The Reunion"), Junior Reid ("Bang Bang Youth") and beatmaker Alex "Don Cheegro" Chiger ("Kush Dreaming"), among others. "I'm growing as a person and as I'm growing, my music is going to be different," Sigel states of the album's direction. "I think This Time was a perfect title because there's a change." One song that moves This Time's dynamic in a different direction is "Kush Dreaming." The jazz-flavored, trance-inducing cut could very well find an R&B singer crooning over the beat, but Beans delivers confident verses, adding in a few notable names in the process. "I got it locked like the dreads hang from Wale/ You play with fire you get burnt, that's what my mom say/ Says she wants some hard bottoms like your prom date/ Push your wig back, that's what my nine say/ Girls rule the world, shit, that's what Beyon-say/ Where your destiny lies, that's Beyonce... Compared to Beans you wack, that's what Nas say," he rhymes. Props to TheBoomBox.com (08.29.12) |
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KIM KARDASHIAN COMPARES RISE OF RAP MUSIC REALITY TV Can we thank Kanye West for this? In a new interview with V magazine, Kim Kardashian addresses the criticism she's faced over the years, during which she compares the rise of reality TV to the rise of rap music. Over the course of her career, Kim Kardashian has faced criticism for her rise to fame, which was accelerated by the release of a sex tape in 2007. No matter what prompted her celebrity status, Kim has quickly become the face of the Kardashian family and a brand unto herself. And despite keeping up with not only her family, but also herself, Kim has received harsh words from Hollywood heavyweights including Jonah Hill,Jon Hamm and Daniel Craig. "It's always funny to me when people say that I'm famous for being famous," Kim told V. "I think it's fascinating, because it's still entertainment, you know? It's fun to see the progression of that idea. I don't take offense to it at all. I'm not naïve to the fact that I'm not a singer or an actress or anything like that. I've never claimed to be anything that I'm not. I think [reality] is still a new form of entertainment that was kind of an unexpected thing." From there, Kim compares the sentiments currently surrounding reality TV to that of the early days of rap music. Kanye West's lady lovecontinued, "When rap music first came out, people were like, 'We don't understand this, what is this, it's just a fad.' But rap music is definitely here to stay, and I think reality shows have proven they are as well. But when something is newer, people don't really understand it." "You can see that soap operas aren't on the air as much anymore. I think reality shows are taking over that genre, but I think the draw to our show is that we are relatable," she further explained. "I think it's just a new world with social media. The interaction I have with my fans and the access is so much fun to me. I love that connection." Props to MTV.com (08.29.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 8/26/2012 There is a fresh #1 on the charts this week, and it's not a rapper. Trey Songz' Chapter V man-handled the charts for the singer's first #1. DJ Khaled also scored a career best with his second major label release since officially joining the YMCMB fold through Universal Records. Lastly, MF DOOM's latest collaborative effort, this time with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania artist Jneiro Jarel. Key To The Kuffs sold over 3,000 first-week units, making this the masked villain's second consecutive Top 200 debut, following 2009's Born Like This. Earlier this week, the former K.M.D. front-man was in headlines again for a show impostor. Singer Trey Songz snagged the #1 spot in the latest change of command. The Atlantic Records veteran sold over 130,000 first-week units on his fifth album. The effort features Hip Hop elite including T.I., Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Meek Mill. This is Songz' first album to contain a parental advisory warning, with clean versions also available. The album out-sold Based On A T.R.U. Story by over 85,000 units. Miami, Florida-based deejay/radio personality and producer DJ Khaled had a benchmark debut week for his sixth studio album, Kiss The Ring. Khaled's second album in as many years sold over 40,000 units. Now a Cash Money/Universal Records artist, the former indie titan topped We The Best Forever, which debuted at #5, although the 2011 album sold approximately 13,000 more units in its first week at retail. Kiss The Ring features Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., J. Cole, Scarface and many of Khaled's frequent collaborators. Props to HipHopDX.com (08.29.12) |
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RIHANNA, FRANK OCEAN PERFORMING AT 2012 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards just got an extra dose of star power with Rihanna and Frank Ocean now set to perform. Joining a performer line-up that already includes the VMA debut of One Direction, Taylor Swift,? Green Day? and Pink?, five-time VMA nominee Rihanna will bring the heat at the September 6 show. Rihanna is tied with Drake for the night's most nominations, including two bids for Video of the Year. Add in the VMA performance debut of talked-about Odd Future croonerFrank Ocean and you have one of the most dynamic duos in the game. Among the new presenters also confirmed for the show are the Wanted, Andy Samberg, Rashida Jones, 2 Chainz and Ke$ha. They'll join a previously announced list that includes Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller and the "Fierce Five," the U.S. Women's Olympics Gymnastics Team that won the team gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. The show, airing live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles and hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, will also feature a performance from Alicia Keys. Don't forget to check out "One Direction: My First Time" ?on August 30 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. The show will chronicle the British boy band's debut at the big show, following them as they prepare for the night as fellow performers Green Day, Pink and Taylor Swift recall their own first times taking the VMA stage with never-before-heard tales. Props to MTV.com (08.28.12) |
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SNOOP DOGG: HIP HOP IS MORE ACCEPTING OF HOMOSEXUALS Since Frank Ocean's revelation about his sexuality last month, many have wondered if hip hop's history of harboring homophobic attitudes may be at its end. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Snoop Dogg, one of the genre's living icons, said he believes rappers and rap fans have in fact become more accepting. "People are learning how to live and get along more, and accept people for who they are and not bash them or hurt them because they’re different," he said. When Ocean revealed that he had previously been in love with another man, public reaction was mixed, but a noteworthy majority of comments in the media and from other artists seemed to embrace the news and Ocean's courage in sharing it. "When I was growing up, you could never do that and announce that," Snoop said. "There would be so much scrutiny and hate and negativity, and no one would step (forward) to support you because that’s what we were brainwashed and trained to know." Snoop, who has previously used homophobic content in his music, joins other rap stars including 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes in changing his tune. Props to BET.com (08.28.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SLAUGHTERHOUSE SHARE FIVE MEMORABLE The men of Slaughterhouse -- Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I and Royce da 5'9" -- are beyond proving their rap skills to doubt-filled keyboard gangsters. In fact, when asked directly about feeling the need to set new standards with their latest mixtape, On the House, Budden offers an emphatic "No." 'WELCOME TO: OUR HOUSE' MOMENTS -- EXCLUSIVE "Hell no," he tells The Boombox. "Not for me anyway. I've been saying this whole time that the fans lucked out as far as the timing went. We've been on the road doing two tours: American and European. We hadn't rapped in a while. It was a lot of stories and we had a lot to say by the time we got in the studio." Fresh off the recent release of the DJ Drama-assisted tape, which serves as a preface to their Interscope debut Welcome to: Our House, Slaughterhouse says that while it was a great decision to put music out before the official LP, it wasn't mandatory. "I didn't feel like it was necessary, I just like to rap," says Crooked I with a laugh. "This is just what we do, you know? It's a blessing. We like to get in the studio. We like to see how the fans trip off the new music. Feeding the streets is always necessary, no matter what. We might drop a mixtape right after the album." Although the four draw inspiration from each other, there's no going head-to-head within the crew. "I wouldn't say it's a competition but we do play off each other though. Definitely," Ortiz admits. Individuality is important to the four men. It's evident on everything from mixtapes to full-length albums. Props to TheBoomBox.com (08.28.12) |
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SENATOR BEYONCE RANKS ON FORBES MOST POWERFUL WOMEN LIST Is it any surprise that Beyonce has earned herself a spot on Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women list? While the top 10 women on the list are world leaders and business women (including First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton), somewhere in the top 15 is Lady Gaga, who ranks as the highest pop star on the list. She and the other celebrities scattered on it all made the cut, thanks to their influence not only as pop icons but as forces of change. While Oprah Winfrey sits higher than Gaga at #11, the Mother Monster earned her #14 spot through her work with her own Born This WayFoundation as well as serving as the face of a number of other causes including the MAC AIDS Foundation. Next up is Beyoncé who lands at #32. She just partnered with the U.N. to serve as the soundtrack for World Humanitarian Day earlier this month, and much like Gaga, in addition to her undeniable influence over music and fashion, she has also teamed up with a number of other good causes, including working with the Obama Administration on the "Get Moving" campaign. Jennifer Lopez isn't far behind at #38, thanks to her work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America as well as her own fund, Lopez Family Foundation, which helps women and children across the globe. Other celebrities who landed on the list include Shakira (#40), Ellen DeGeneres (#48), Angelina Jolie (#66), Gisele Bundchen (# 83), "Modern Family" actress Sofia Vergara (#75) and "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling (#78). Props to MTV.com (08.24.12) |
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24 HOURS OF PEACE: NEWWARK, NEW JERSEY MERGES HIPHOP AND COMMUNITY TO TAKE BACK ITS STREETZ In just one 24-hour period in 2011, 12 people were gunned down in Newark, New Jersey, leaving four dead and eight wounded, including a young boy. Before and since then, the city’s leaders – including representatives from the Hip-Hop community – have rallied together to find solutions to end “Brick City’s” senseless acts of violence. Again this year, Newark City Councilman, educator, and activist Ras Baraka and co-hosts will spearhead the outdoor “24 Hours of Peace, Occupy Clinton Avenue” event, today (August 24) from 6PM until 6PM on Saturday. “We’re trying to promote peace and community togetherness…We need to do it in a dramatic force to dramatize how serious this issue is for us,” said Councilman Ras Baraka in August 2011, with just days leading up to the First Annual 24 Hours of Peace Rally. Organizers hope to use the arts – music, spoken word, dance, poetry, and film to promote their “Time Out” message and serve as a model to other cities that are facing rising violence. For 24 hours, Newark hopes to curb its neighborhood warfare in a symbolic gesture of unity, bringing together parents, children, artists, business owners, faith based, and community based organizations for a block party-style gathering. Leaning on their influence and power to convey messages to young people, the longtime Hip-Hop community in Newark is getting involved, too. In a community that has spawned artists such as Redman, Rah Digga, Hakim Green and Channel Live, Naughty By Nature, Lords of the Underground, and many more, event planners said Hip-Hop has always served as a collective voice for the people. Props to AllHipHop.com (08.24.12) |
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LL COOL J'S BURGLAR COULD GET LIFE IN PRISON The man who broke into LL Cool J's home earlier this week, provoking a serious beat down from the rapper and actor, may now face up to life in prison in addition to his broken nose and jaw. TMZ reports that the burglar, 56-year-old Jonathan Kirby, has officially been charged with first-degree burglary with a person present. But that's not the worst of his problems. Since Kirby has a prior wrap sheet, the LA District Attorney's office has decided to charge him as a 3rd strike offender. That means he could face between 38 years and life in prison. Kirby broke into LL's Los Angeles mansion in the small hours of Wednesday morning, tripping the alarm system and causing the "Mama Said Knock You Out" rapper to come downstairs and see what the commotion was about. After getting into a physical confrontation with Kirby, LL subdued him until the LAPD showed up and placed him under arrest. Though he now faces charges from the DA, LL himself did not press charges against the burglar, who is said to be a transient with mental health issues. Props to BET.com (08.24.12) |
SENATOR WANTS LIL WAYNE APOLOGY AFTER NEW YORK COMMENTS In today's edition of 'things that got completely blown out of proportion': a New York senator is picking on Lil Wayne for being frank about his feelings about New York City. "Flat out: I don't like New York," Weezy told MTV News when we caught up with in Las Vegas as he introduced his new line of sneakers with SUPRA. State Sen. Malcolm Smith was up in arms following that comment, and he announced he would be holding a press conference in Times Square on Wednesday (August 22). "New York City is the birthplace of the Hip Hop music movement," Smith said in a statement issued from his office to MTV News on Wednesday. "Millions of New Yorkers listen to his music every day. His comments outraged his local fans and residents. The group today will be demanding an apology of the hip hop star. Lil Wayne has had misfortune in New York with recent gun charges and a jail sentence." The misfortune that Smith referred to dates back to 2007, when Wayne was arrested for gun possession after a show at New York's Beacon Theatre. Wayne was eventually convicted on gun charges and served eight months on Riker's Island before he was released in November 2010. Weezy's comments about New York came after we asked what it was like to perform with Nicki Minaj during her August 14 Roseland Ballroom show, a free concert she staged for fans after she and Tunechi cancelled her scheduled Hot 97 Summer Jam performance in June. "Last week was awesome," Lil Wayne said. "I believe everything happens for a reason and then you make the most of that reason. I think we made the most of it last week." Props to MTV.com (08.23.12) |
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2 CHAINZ TOPS CHARTS WITH 'T.R.U. STORY'
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GABRIELLE UNION WRITES ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Gabrielle Union has been an loud advocate for breast cancer awareness and early screening, especially since she lost a close friend due to the disease. Because of a lack of proper health care and knowledge, Kristen Martinez was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasized breast cancer when she was 32 years old and died five years later, but not before doing all she could to teach others how to be proactive about their own health. "Today, her memory is the driving force behind my commitment to increase awareness about breast cancer, especially among young women and women of color," Union writes on the Huffington Post. She shares the scary facts that more than 11,000 out of the 250,000 that get diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the U.S. are under the age of 40. In addition, Black women of color have the highest incidence of breast cancer with the lowest survival rates. "Too many women don't get breast exams or follow up on abnormalities, usually because they can't afford it or they are afraid of what they'll learn. We have to make it easier for women of all ages to get the breast care they need." To help with this mission, Union and Planned Parenthood announced the organization's expansion of services for more breast exams, education and specialized services that will provide affordable care for young and low-income women. The Affordable Care Act, which went into effect August 1, also removes co-pays and deductibles from the equation when a woman goes in for breast exams and mammograms. Props to BET.com (08.23.12) |
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KANYE WEST IN TALKS TO JOIN AMERICAN IDOL? The competition on American Idol has become less about the contestants on the show chasing their dreams to become crowned the next big thing in music and more about the celebrities racing for a seat on the judging panel. Each passing day seems to generate a new star’s name in the running, but with Kanye West being the latest in the string of names to join Mariah Carey and possibly Nicki Minaj, the competition might be over. TMZ is reporting that producers for the show are interested in adding ‘Ye to the cast, but sources say “He’s on the fence.” He’s not sure if Idol is the right move, which is ironic considering Yeezy has become notorious for his raw criticism at award shows. Sources also revealed that money is an issue and that A.I. would have to "at least match Mariah's salary" which is reportedly $18 million a year. The show is undergoing a lot of changes in its 12th season. Veteran judge Randy Jackson will be switched to a mentor and there is now talk about adding a fourth judge to round out the panel. At the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe also said a panel change could happen each season. So there is still hope for the other candidates who include, but are certainly not limited to Pharrell Williams, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers. Props to BET.com (08.22.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ UNVEILS 'PINK FRIDAY' PERFUME BOTTLE It seems like Nicki Minaj is close to inking a deal as the final judge for the upcoming season of "American Idol" with reports that her spot on the hit show is “100 percent confirmed." So when the Pink Friday singer announced last night on Twitter that she would have a big announcement this morning for her barbz, we assumed a confirmation of her new gig was imminent. Turns out, the big announcement was the reveal of the bottle design and title of her highly anticipated debut fragrance, “Pink Friday." The perfume, named of course after the superstar’s debut album, has a bottle that is as provocative and out of this world as Miss Minaj herself. Complete with her signature baby pink wig, the bottle looks like a futuristic, golden version of Minaj with an ample bust and a gold “Nicki Minaj” necklace. The fragrance, which she tweeted smells “like angels playing," will be released in late September at Macy’s retailers and with fan tweets like the below, there's no doubt that it will be sold out and that every girl’s dresser will have a mini-Minaj on top. Via Nicki's retweets: @NICKIMINAJ does it come out worldwide at the same time?! How much longer must I wait? Jesus. @NICKIMINAJ most creative perfume bottle i have EVER seen. omg its PERFECT !!!! @NICKIMINAJ Breathing has become a struggle and im pretty sure an asthma attack is about to pop off!!! its PERFECT! As for "Idol," the wait continues to see who will really take the third spot on the hit show’s judge panel next to Randy and Mariah Carey: Nicki? Diddy? Katy? And the list goes on…. Stay up to date on MTV News' "American Idol" page. Props to MTV.com (08.22.12) |
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BOW WOW'S TWITTER HACKED BY WANNABE RAPPER WITH BIG DEMANDS Bow Wow's Twitter account has been hacked by a wannabe rapper with heavy, and confused, demands, including an order that Bow Wow's followers download his own music! Well, that's one way to expand your fan base. The hacker took control of Bow Wow's, real name Shad Gregory Moss, account last night (Aug. 21), and proceeded to bombard Moss' 2.3 million followers with over a dozen messages, continuing into this morning. "N----a i got Bow twitter on smash follow me... Im the haaacker this n---a got B---HES in his DM's. Bow u want pg back i want 10k," the hacker wrote. Is that $10,000 he wants? 10K Twitter followers? "All you lil fans that's mad so be it. I want followers. Pick up my new mixtape 'the street code vol1 n---a got 2 mill followers ima promote," he ordered. The hacker went on to expose the private content of Bow Wow's direct messages, tweeting, "Yoooo dis n---a got every bad b---h in da game hittn em. S--t not fair son! At all. Readn his dms." In addition to lusting after Moss' female fans, the hacker became offended when his force-fed mixtape was met with harsh reviews. "People hate too much for me just dissing my mixtape. I'm 19 trying my hardest. I will tweet until I'm heard," he wrote to the rapper's "mean" and "childish" fans. The hacker went on to reveal that he had received direct messages from Bow Wow's label, Universal Republic, prompting him to confess that he's a huge fan of the rapper whose account he hacked. You know, in hopes that that might smooth things over! "Boww0w I know you might be upset with me I'm a big fan of yours. I just want to be heard and make indiana proud. Pleeeeease help me man," he begged. At this time, Bow Wow's account remains under the control of the hacker. Props to TheBoomBox.com (08.22.12) |
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT MOVING TO NASHVILLE This year's Grammy Awards nominations will come with a Southern accent. The Recording Academy is moving its annual live nominations concert special to Music City. The show will air Dec. 5 live on CBS from Bridgestone Arena. This is the fifth time The Recording Academy has held "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live," but the first outside Los Angeles. "There's probably no city more renowned as a music center in America and probably the world than Nashville, Tenn.," said Neil Portnow, president/CEO of The Recording Academy. "We have had a great experience with the city of Nashville as an organization." Portnow said he likes his staff to examine how the Grammys are presented from time to time. That's what led to The Recording Academy's nominations out of a hotel ballroom and onto the concert stage, and taking a year in Nashville seemed like a logical next step. "It made sense to me that we also review the location and the venues and just the whole flavor of it," he said. The Recording Academy will reveal nominees in several categories for the 55th annual Grammy Awards, to be held Feb. 10 in Los Angeles, during the hourlong special that will feature a handful of performances by former Grammy winners and nominees. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean called the event "a perfect fit" in a Tuesday news release, and Portnow acknowledged Nashville's vigorous efforts to lure such a marquee event to the city helped land the show. Props to Billboard.com (08.21.12) |
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RYAN LOCHTE AND MC EIHT FIGHT TRADEMARK BATTLE OVER 'JEAH'
U.S. Olympic darling Ryan Lochte has found himself in a strange battle with Compton rapper MC Eiht, who gained some fame with his 1994 album We Come Strapped and 2001's Tha8t'z Gangsta, over the phrase "Jeah." Lochte was trying to trademark the term as his own but MC Eiht is claiming that he was the first one to use it. TMZ reports that Eiht is insulted by the infringement of a term he created in 1988. Eiht tells the news service, "Why try and trademark something his ass didn’t even create? I am mad that he isn’t giving me proper recognition for taking my saying. He is just disrespectful." Lochte's manager tells a different tale to TMZ. "Ryan has been using JEAH for years," and "This is the first I have heard of this claim by MC Eiht." No word on whether Lochte is an MC Eiht fan but earlier he shared that he listened to Lil' Wayne before swimming. "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta's" K. Michelle, a friend of Lochte, revealed his penchant for Weezy. K. Michelle says that Lochte's passion for hip-hop runs deep and he works harder than anyone she knows. "His favorite rapper is Lil Wayne," she told RapFix. "Before he swims he listens to Wayne; he loves Lil Wayne." Although she claims they're "just friends," the reality star added, "["He's] someone that I can honestly say I look up to a lot... And when I thought about it and I saw his dedication and to saw him win medals like it's nothing...that’s my homie. I'm proud." Props to MTV.com (08.21.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CHRIS BROWN & DRAKE SUED AGAIN OVER NIGHTCLUB BRAWL Chris Brown and Drake's infamous nightclub bottle-throwing scuffle stands to cost the two artists more than either of them could have imagined. The Associated Press reports that Roman Julien, a model, was injured during the bottle-tossing battle between Brown and Drake. Julien has named both artists and the owners of the New York City nightclub where the fight took place on Monday (August 20). The lawsuit claims that Julien, who was sitting at a nearby table when the beverage-based melee commenced, suffered a severed tendon in his right hand. Julien also alleges lacerations from broken glass, cosmetic deformity and mental distress as a result of the fight. The suit provides that Brown of has a "hot temper" and starting the fight with Drake, a claim supported by Chris Brown's history of storming off from the set of "Good Morning America" after being questioned about his 2009 assault of Rihanna. The operators of the club Greenhouse and its basement lounge, W.i.P., are also named in the suit. Julien is a model with Re:Quest Model Management. Last week, both Drake and Brown were on the receiving end of a $16 million suit from Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. for their part in the incident. Props to HipHopDX.com (08.21.12) |
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KATHERINE JACKSON RETURNS, BUT KIDS LEFT 'ANGRY AND HURT' BY ORDEAL Katherine Jackson is back home, reuniting with Michael Jackson's children after a judge temporarily took away her guardianship because of her days-long absence from them. Paris Jackson tweeted early Thursday morning: "grandma's here! (hash)thankyougod." Katherine Jackson's son Marlon also posted a note on Twitter saying his mother had returned, adding she looked and sound great. On Wednesday, judge removed her as guardian temporarily and named her grandson Tito Joe "TJ" Jackson as temporary caretaker of the late legend's three minor children amid a bitter family dispute over Michael Jackson's estate. Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff issued the ruling because she was in Arizona and hadn't spoken with the children in several days. TJ Jackson now has the ability to control the hilltop home where the children live and to take on other supervision duties. Katherine Jackson told ABC News that the court ruling was "based on a bunch of lies." "I am devastated that while I've been away, that my children, my grandchildren, have been taken away from me, and I'm coming home to see about that, also," she said reading from a prepared statement. She denied the suggestion made in court and in court filings to support TJ Jackson's appointment that she was being held against her will. "I am here today to let everybody know that I am fine and I am here with my children, and my children would never do a thing to me like that, holding me against my will," she said while her children Randy, Janet and Rebbie were seated next to her. "It's very stupid for people to think that." But on Thursday, Michael Jackson's son Prince posted a photo of what he said was a group text message involving Rebbie and Janet in which he demanded to contact with his grandmother and Janet allegedly responded: "Please don't let them." Props to Billboard.com (07.26.12) |
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KANYE WEST DESIGNING A WEDDING RING FOR KIM KARDASHIAN After only a few short weeks, Radar Online reports that Kanye West recently asked a private jeweler to design a one-of-a-kind wedding ring for his reality star girlfriend Kim Kardashian. West reportedly wants to use some of the jewelry from his late mother Dr. Donda West's personal collection in the customized ring. "Kanye picked out some of Donda's most expensive pieces, including some diamond earrings and a ruby ring," a source close to Kanye said. Kanye is very open about how much his mother meant to him, and how deeply her passing affected him, so the fact that he wants to use some of her jewelry to design a ring for Kim is a big indicator of how he feels about her. "Donda was such an important person in Kanye's life, he thought the world of her and was devastated when she died. So, he kept all her jewelry as keepsakes -- a lot of the pieces were items he bought over the years after he made it as a hip-hop star. "And now, Kanye has found a woman he respects and loves just as much as his mom, so he wants to share her jewelry collection with Kim" the alleged insider reveals. Kim is still in the middle of divorce proceedings from her whirlwind marriage to NBA basketball player Kris Humphries, which lasted a mere 72 days, so Kanye may have to wait a while to actually propose. The situation has some of West's friends worried that if the couple break up, Kim will keep the ring and he will lose the jewelry that means so much to him. "His friends think it's a terrible idea and are advising him not to give Kim the ring. Because it's a gift, it would be difficult for Kanye to ask for it back if they ever split up," the source shared. In addition, his friends don't think the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star has the appropriate image to wear the jewelry well. Props to TheBoomBox.com (07.26.12) |
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SWIZZ BEATZ ADDRESSES MEGAUPLOAD.COM LEGAL SITUATION Swizz Beatz has commented on the legal situation involving Megaupload.com, a company that listed the superproducer as CEO before it was shut down for piracy in January. Last week, the government revealed that they were officially looking into Swizz Beatz and his role as CEO of the company, as they attempt to bring a trial against Megaupload.com in the United States. Several top executives at Megaupload.com were arrested on January 19, on charges of copyright infringement and racketeering. Federal prosecutors claim Megaupload.com generated over $175 million in illegal proceeds from copyrighted works, costing the entertainment industry over $500 million in lost revenue. “I’m a fan of music. I’m a fan of people that work hard. I would never be a part of anything that’s taking from an artist when I fight so hard to give so much to the artists,” Swizz Beatz said in an interview with AlLindstrom.com. “I was giving the artists 90% of they s**t. Sometimes when something is so powerful and people can’t control it that type of attack happens,” Swizz Beatz reasoned. “You see that happen with multiple things in life. Things that are so powerful, they get shut down unexplainably.” Swizz Beatz, born Kaseem Dean, may have a point. Just last week, Megaupload.com’s billionaire founder, Kim DotCom, claimed that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden personally ordered the company’s shutdown. Kim DotCom claimed that Vice President Biden met with the head of the Motion Picture Association of America over the issue of piracy. “I do know from a credible source that it was Joe Biden, the best friend of former Senator and Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) boss Chris Dodd, who ordered his former lawyer and now State Attorney Neil MacBride to take Mega down,” Kim DotCom told TorrentFreak.com in a separate interview. Props to AllHipHop.com (07.26.12) |
NAS BOWS AT NO.1 WITH 'LIFE IS GOOD' Hip-hop veteran Nas achieves his sixth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, as "Life Is Good" bows with 149,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That surpasses initial forecasts for the set by industry prognosticators, which had pegged it to begin with around 125,000. Nas previously hit the top with "It Was Written" (1996), the collaboration set "The Firm" (1997; with Foxy Brown, AZ and Nature), "I Am" (1999), "Hip-Hop Is Dead" (2007) and "Untitled" (2008). The latter -- Nas' last solo studio release -- arrived with 187,000. More recently, his 2010 "Distant Relatives" collabo effort with Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley started at No. 5 with 57,000. On the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Nas also debuts at No. 1, securing him his ninth topper on the tally. Among rap acts, only Jay-Z has earned more leaders on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, with 12. Last week's No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, Zac Brown Band's "Uncaged," falls to No. 2 with 78,000 (down 67%). The new "Kidz Bop 22" collection starts at No. 3 with 64,000 -- marking the 15th top 10 for the long-running series. The latest entry in the franchise offers up kid-friendly covers of such Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles as the Wanted's "Glad You Came," Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" and Nicki Minaj's "Starships." The last regular "Kidz Bop" title, "Kidz Bop 21," bowed at No. 2 earlier this year with 59,000. A No. 1 set still eludes the "Kidz" -- as the line has launched a total of four No. 2-peaking albums. In its second week, Frank Ocean's "Channel Orange" slips two spots down to No. 4 with 54,000 (down 59%) after becoming widely available to all retailers last week. (That number does not include sales from Amazon MP3, as it sold the title for $2.99 last week. Per Billboard policy, that is below the minimum price of $3.49 required for sales to count towards chart placement during an album's first four weeks of release.) Props to Billboard.com (07.25.12) |
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DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT FIGHT BETWEEN PARIS, JANET AND JACKSON FAMILY
Details have started to emerge involving a heated argument between the Jackson family. On Monday (July 23), a fight broke out at Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson's, home in Calabasas, California. Multiple family members were involved, including MJ's daughter Paris Jackson and his sister Janet Jackson. Sources tell TMZ that Randy, Jermaine and Janet Jackson entered the home uninvited and then tried to coerce Michael's children, Paris, Prince and Blanket, into coming with them to Arizona where their grandmother Katherine has been staying. Sources say that Paris resisted the intervention and apparently things got violent. Allegedly, Janet slapped Paris and yelled, "You're a spoiled little bitch!" to which Paris responded with a slap and told Janet, "This is our house. Not the Jackson family house. Get the f--k out!" TMZ shares that Trent Jackson, Tito Jackson's son who is reportedly trying to get temporary guardianship of Michael's kids put Randy in a headlock and punched Jermaine in the mouth. MTV reported that police were called to the scene but no arrests were made. As the future of Michael's estate remains in the balance, the Jacksons have been inundated with drama. Earlier in the week, Katherine was presumed missing but then later found to be in Arizona. According to AP and a statement released by Jermaine Jackson on Sunday, Katherine is staying with her daughter Rebbie in Arizona, while doctors have ordered her to stay away from computers and phones in order to de-stress. Props to MTV.com (07.25.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
O.J. SIMPSON STORY HEADED TO THE BIG SCREEN O.J. Simpson may still be in jail, but his reps will soon be chronicling his life on film. The New York Daily News is reporting that Simpson promoter Norman Pardo has put together a 90-minute film on the football legend, called The Unpromotable. The movie is comprised of over 70 hours of Simpson footage featuring him on the town and on the road from 2001 until his incarceration in 2008. The focus of The Unpromotable is how Simpson struggled to revamp his image after he was acquitted of murdering ex-wife Nicole Brown in 1994. The documentary-style film also spotlights Simpson’s ladies man image. Pardo, who received death threats when he took The Naked Gun star on as client, says that women still continued to flock to Simpson, who Pardo calls, “the hardest man in America to promote.” “It’s O.J. Simpson gone wild. It’s him with girls all over him in clubs,” Pardo told the New York Daily News. “It doesn’t show him in a great light but in both lights. I do show what it’s like to work with him.” These days, that includes cheering up his client. Pardo describes Simpson as currently being “really depressed” as he serves a 33-year sentence in Nevada after being found guilty of kidnapping, robbery and using a deadly weapon in 2008. Interested audiences will have to wait until at least next year to see The Unpromotable. Because of the polarizing racial undertones the former star running back's film will evoke, Simpson has instructed Pardo not to release it until after the 2012 race for president and possible reelection of Barack Obama. The Juice didn’t want an “issue with race” to hamper the election. Props to BET.com (07.25.12) |
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MARIAH CAREY SET TO JUDGE ON 'AMERICAN IDOL' Well, the rumors were true. Jennifer Lopez is out and Mariah Carey is in, as a new judge on "American Idol." Pretty soon, reality singing shows are going to run out of divas. One of the biggest dominos fell on Monday (July 23) when Mariah Carey announced that she will indeed be sitting behind the table on "Idol" next season. Following the news last week that the singer was in final negotiations? to replace Jennifer Lopez? on the show, Carey called in to the Television Critics Association summer press tour gathering for Fox shows and confirmed the news announced just moments earlier by Fox President Kevin Reilly. According to TV Guide, Carey dialed in and told Reilly, "I am so excited to be joining 'Idol.' I can't wait to get started." The whirlwind hiring of Carey stood in stark contrast to the prolonged search for replacement judges two years ago, when rumors swirled for months before Lopez and fellow departed judge, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, signed on for season 10. Excitement about the fresh blood on "Idol" helped keep the ship steady in season 10, but this year's season 11 suffered the steepest ratings drop in the show's history, with ratings down 23 percent. "It's the biggest recording artist than any of these [singing competition] shows have ever had," Reilly told critics, according to Entertainment Weekly. "It's an artist many of these contestants have tried to emulate. [The deal] only concluded only hours ago. Not being the only game in town we need to keep things fresh." Reilly told the gathered press that Carey's manager and frequent studio companion, sole remaining original "Idol" judge Randy Jackson, was "very instrumental" in brining the star to the show. While it was not confirmed what role Jackson will play on the re-re-booted panel? — there have been suggestions that he might move from judge to mentor? — Reilly said that after suggestions that Lopez might be lured back, he could confirm with 100 percent certainty that she will not return. Props to MTV.com (07.24.12) |
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50 CENT STARTS BOXING PROMOTION COMPANY 50 Cent has turned to boxing, a sport he has been linked to for some time via his friendship with undefeated welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr., for his latest business venture. The rapper and mogul has founded a new boxing promotions company called TMT Promotions, Sports Illustrated reports. TMT is an acronym for "The Money Team," a loose collective of friends and associates of Mayweather. The company is licensed in New York and also plans to work out of Nevada. For its first clients, TMT is reportedly courting former featherweight title holder Yuri Gamboa and super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell. Plans for 50 to get involved in the boxing business have apparently been in the works for some time. In April, Mayweather teased the new business arrangement during a press conference for his fight with Miguel Cotto. "I think he’s going to be involved on the promotion side," Mayweather said. "We may even put him out there, let him fight on Pay-Per-View one time. So we don’t really know what the future holds, but he is getting involved with boxing." Props to BET.com (07.24.12) |
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FLO RIDA HAS WORKOUT DVD IN WORKS Flo Rida took the stage amidst a sea of screaming fans at Sunday's Teen Choice Awards where he performed a medley of his current Hot 100 hits, "Whistle" (No. 7) and "Wild Ones" (No. 13). Flo's hooks had people grooving in their chairs and even inspired Taylor Swift to jump up and demonstrate some far-from-country dance moves. Prior to the awards, Billboard caught up with Flo on the red carpet to discuss the latest in his world. On his new album "Wild Ones," which dropped on July 3, Flo says his fans have been incredibly supportive. "I have to pinch myself because it's so surreal," he proclaimed. Flo spoke about the album being inspired by his travels around the world and cited Michael Jackson as a big influence on his career. "I'm definitely inspired by that and all the fans. I want to give them a party." As far as what fans can expect in the coming year, the rapper confirmed the rumors of a possible Flo Rida workout DVD, saying that it could come out as early as the end of the year. "I'm definitely going to do that. I have quite a workout regimen. I've always been about fitness and my fans can definitely appreciate that." Will the workout be something people can do at home? "It will definitely be flexible," said Flo, who is preparing to hit the road for his upcoming tour. Flo also touched on recent statements regarding his desire to team up with Beyonce. While he hasn't had any conversations with the singer yet, he definitely thinks it would be a "hot collaboration." He also admitted that he'd love to work with OutKast at some point. Props to Billboard.com (07.24.12) |
SNOOP DOGG BECOMES SNOOP LION, RELEASES REGGAE SONG 'LA LA LA' On Friday (July 20), Snoop Dogg unleashed his alter-ego, Snoop Lion, in effort to introduce his upcoming album, "Reincarnated." "La La La," the album's first single, is not a typical Snoop track though. It's reggae. As odd as that may sound at first, the Major Lazer produced track calls into mind legendary reggae artists and sounds genuine. With the help from rising singer, Jovi Rockwell, Snoop Lion sings over the slow-burning, tropical-flavored production. Snoop's vocals are shockingly smooth much like his rhymes of yore. The chill vibes are also present in the accompanying video. Watch it below. Snoop Lion seems dedicated to the cause. He's created a Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr and has reached out to celebrities through Twitter -- such as the Kardashians, Martha Stewart and Rihanna -- to send them "postive vibes" and links to "La La La." Though some fans may be surprised to hear of Snoop's name change and genre exploration, it's not the artist's first time doing either. In 1998, the artist born Calvin Broadus, Jr., dropped "Doggy" from his monkier, Snoop Doggy Dogg. As far as beding genres, Snoop sung on the country ode to weed,"Roll Me Up," alongside Willie Nelson back in April. Props to Billboard.com (07.23.12) |
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BOX OFFICE: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES TO THE TOP, DESPITE COLORADO SHOOTINGS
The most highly-anticipated weekend at the summer box office turned into tragedy early Friday morning when a lone gunman dressed in riot gear opened fire on an audience for The Dark Knight Rises in an Aurora, Colorado theater. Out of respect for the victims of this senseless tragedy, Warner Bros. cancelled the Paris premiere of the film (scheduled to occur on Saturday) and is withholding the release of box office numbers for the film until Monday. Stars Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway returned to the U.S. on Sunday morning, and it is not known when promotional activities will resume for the mega-blockbuster film. Still, insiders and analysts expect the film will have taken upwards of $160 million in ticket sales and easily clear the number one spot. If the high numbers hold, The Dark Knight Rises will have also beaten the opening of 2008's The Dark Knight, becoming the biggest debut ever for a non-3D film. While it's not yet known how much The Dark Knight Rises has been affected by the events in Aurora, several other titles at the box office — in particular family films such as Ice Age 4: Continental Drift — registered lower numbers, presumably because families with small children were thinking twice before going to the movies. In addition, several movie trailers featuring gun violence have been pulled from rotation this weekend, most notably Gangster Squad, the upcoming crime drama whose trailer contains a scene in which a gang of criminals shoot through the screen in a movie theater. Since most studios have followed Warner Bros. example and are refraining from releasing their numbers, an official tally of the weekend won't be available until Tuesday. Props to BET.com (07.23.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USHER'S STEPSON PASSES AWAY: UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENED Usher's 11-year-old stepson Kile Glover passed away this weekend after being taken off life support. Glover was pronounced dead over a week ago after being involved in a jet-ski accident, and he sadly died of heart failure on Saturday.Glover, the son of Usher's ex-wife, Tameka Foster, was reportedly taken off life support Saturday morning and died a short time later. Given the seriousness of his injury, which resulted from blunt trauma to the head after Glover was hit by a jet-ski while floating in an inner tube on Atlanta's Lake Lanier, MTV News spoke to a neurologist about the prospects for victims of such major brain injuries. "There is no one that has been declared brain dead that has survived to being functional," said neurologist Dr. Brent Masel, national director of the Brain Injury Association of America and medical director of the Transitional Learning Center of Galveston, Texas several days before Glover was pronounced dead. "They will not get better." Masel, who was not treating Glover and had no first-hand knowledge of the case, explained that the prognosis in such cases is so grim because of the make-up of the brain. "When someone is declared brain dead, it's not that their brain is not functioning at all," he said. "There are two components to the brain, the cerebrum, which is the thinking part and the brain stem, which narrows and becomes the spinal cord." The stem is the automatic part, which controls respiration and heart rate and someone can technically live without a functioning cerebrum, which is not unusual in such injuries. "The thinking part of the brain is no longer functioning and all the patient has functioning is the brain stem," he said. "Very often what happens when you're deciding if someone is brain dead, you take them off the respirator and they're not even breathing and the only thing going is their heart, which will stop functioning if you're not breathing." Props to MTV.com (07.23.12) |
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A FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM BIG WILL I would like to let all the STREETZ-FM listeners know that I have officially left the station to pursue personnel projects which include the production of an upcoming music project. The experience on STREETZ-FM as morning show co-host with Miss Melissa and working with the staff was incredible. I hope you continue to support all my friends at STREETZ. Thanks for Everything Winnipeg, Big Will | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 DEAN IN 'DARK KNIGHT' MOVIE THEATER SHOOTING, HIP HOP COMMUNITY SENDS PRAYERS Fans lined up to catch the midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" across the country last night, but a tragic incident took the lives of at least 12 people when a gunman opened fire in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Members of the hip-hop community have continued to send out their prayers to families affected by the shooting. Police have identified the 24-year-old man in custody who allegedly opened fire? at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 and injuring more than 38. According to ABC News, the man's name is James Holmes and he has been identified as a local resident. At press time law enforcement officials had entered Holmes' apartment using a fire engine ladder in a search for additional evidence. Along with police detectives, the FBI was on the scene at the apartment complex, which is five miles from the site of the shooting at the Century Aurora 16 theater. No explosives were found in the apartment during what was described as the "protective sweep," but there were reportedly "items of interest" removed. Suspect Holmes was taken into custody by police in the parking lot of the theater and a San Diego woman identifying herself as his mother said she woke up unaware of the news about the shooting and had not been contacted by authorities. But when she heard about the incident she immediately expressed concern that her son may have been involved. "You have the right person," she told ABC News. "I need to call the police ... I need to fly out to Colorado." Witnesses said the shooter kicked his way through an emergency exit near the front of the theater about 20 minutes into the midnight screening of the final film in the "Dark Knight" trilogy wearing what appeared to be a bullet-proof vest and a gas mask as he opened fire with a shotgun and an AK-47-style automatic weapon. Police said they also found two handguns at the scene. Little is known about the alleged suspect at press time or his possible motives, but witnesses said that in addition to randomly shooting into the audience, he threw a canister into the theater that released some sort of gas, with some victims reported to have suffered from shrapnel-type wounds. Props to MTV.com (07.20.12) |
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SKRILLEX HITS NO.1 ON SOCIAL 50 CHART
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SOULJA BOY TWEETS ABOUT "FATHER SON" ALBUM WITH 50 CENT It’s a known fact that Soulja Boy and 50 Cent are good friends. Well, the pair might be taking their friendship into the studio soon by way of a full album together. Soulja Boy hinted at the possible collaborative project in a recent tweet. “Father Son album coming,” Soulja tweeted. Such a joint album wouldn’t mark the only collaboration the two have going on. Just last week, Soulja Boy told XXL about 50 helping him remake the 1992 cult-classic film, Juice, which starred Tupac Shakur as the twisted, gun-happy character Bishop. “With the ‘Juice’ movie… 50 Cent, that’s my big bro,” Soulja said. “He got a movie deal that gave him millions to come up with content. Me and him are going over the Juice movie now. That’s still coming.” Fifty’s deal that Soulja Boy is referring to stems from 2010, when the G-Unit general’s Cheetah Vision film company landed $200 million in funding, although Soulja didn’t delve into ’Fif’s exact involvement with remaking Juice. Meanwhile, Soulja Boy will be making his acting debut in Officer Down, a film which includes notable actors such as James Wood, David Boreanaz and Stephen Dorff and is scheduled for release later this year. “It is a $40 million movie,” Soulja told XXL on the phone from Tinsletown. “It stars actors from movies such as Blade, Brooklyn’s Finest, they’re in the movie. I’m playing this character named ‘Rudy.’ It’s crazy. When I was in the movie, I was [playing] a multi-millionaire drug runner [that] had $20 and $30 million at the time. It was emotion in the movie. Once it comes out and people see me acting on the big screen, they’ll get to see a whole other side of Soulja Boy.” Tell em!—Jakinder Singh Props to XXLMag.com (07.20.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 7/15/2012 Although he was over 100,000 units shy of Zac Brown Band, Frank Ocean delivered a powerful shot to the charts with Channel Orange. The Def Jam release garnered a #2 debut, selling over 130,000 digital copies in its first week available. As Frank debuted at retail, Aesop Rock made a gallant return. The former Weathermen/Def Jukie's first solo album with Rhymesayers Entertainment scored a Top 20 appearance. The lyrical emcee sold an impressive 14,000 copies independently, met with some critical praise. Meanwhile, after a strong surge in last week's numbers, B.o.B.'s sophomore Strange Clouds fell 61 places the following week, now at #87. Frank Ocean has dominated the Pop/Hip Hop news cycle for nearly all of July. The Odd Future affiliate released a letter on July 4 explaining his sexuality and confirming past experiences with men. Less than a week following, Ocean's retail debut Channel Orange was released to free stream, and then made purchasable digitally. Now with a #2 debut, the Def Jam album led all releases, save for Zac Brown's. Channel Orange features appearances by Outkast's Andre 3000 and Odd Future's Earl Sweatshirt, along with production work by Pharrell Williams. The release was largely self-produced by Ocean and James Ho (a/k/a Malay). As A$AP Rocky has become the talk of Hip Hop in the last year, Aesop Rock reclaimed his space in Hip Hop. Now a Rhymesayer, the Long Island, New York native released his sixth solo album, Skelethon last week. Aesop's first solo release since 2007's None Shall Pass, this effort was largely made alone, with one vocal guest and self-production. During his hiatus from solo material, Aesop released his group project, Hail Mary Mallon's Are You Gonna Eat That? last year, along with Felt's third album, Felt 3: A Tribute To Rosie Perez, further expanded his production chops. This release not only marks Aesop's highest charting position of his career in the Top 200, but also the most first-week units recorded by Nielsen, edging out None Shall Pass. Skelethon was also made for free stream earlier this week. Props to HipHopDX.com (07.18.12) |
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MICHAEL JACKSON WILL FAKE? SINGER'S FAMILY QUESTIONING DOCUMENT'S AUTHENTICITY IN SCATHING NEW LETTER In a scathing five-page letter, Michael Jackson's family has accused the executors of his estate, John Branca and John McClain, of forging his will and have called for their immediate resignation. In the letter, obtained by Celebuzz.com, the late King of Pop's siblings, Janet, Rebbie, Tito, Randy and Jermaine Jackson write, ''At the time we couldn't possibly fathom what is so obvious to us now: that the Will, without question, it's Fake, Flawed and Fraudulent." The letter continues, ''Since the passing of Michael, our beloved brother, you have failed to perform your duties as executors of his estate, but what you have not failed at is taking advantage of a grieving mother, father and a grieving family." MJ's siblings go on to state that they have proof that their brother never signed the document in question. ''The Will that you presented did not have our brother's signature on it, nor did it have a signature page attached to it. When asked about the missing signature page, John Branca replied, 'it was on its way, and you were having just a little problem finding it.' Amongst many other inconsistencies in the Will, there is also a conflict around Michael's location on the day he supposedly signed the Will, July 7, 2002. We have evidence that undoubtedly supports and proves that Michael was absolutely not in Los Angeles, California, on the date of his signature reflected in the Will at-hand.'' ''Our brother told us, in no uncertain terms and without hesitation in the months prior to his death, that he despised both of you and that he did not want either of you to have anything to do with his life or estate for that matter," the Jackson siblings claim. The accused have since released a statement in response to the letter, painting Jackson's siblings as sore losers due to their exclusion from the will. "We are saddened that false and defamatory accusations grounded in stale Internet conspiracy theories are now being made by certain members of Michael's family whom he chose to leave out of his will," Branca and John McClain said. Props to TheBoomBox.com (07.18.12) |
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RIHANNA DESIGNING FASHION COLLECTION FOR UK BRAND For every person who has ever wished for Rihanna’s one of a kind flair—they can almost buy it. RiRi has long been known as the only girl in the world who can rock things the way she does, and she is now offering up a piece of that ubiquitous look to the retail world. River Island Style Insider has just announced her exclusive collection for the Spring of 2012. Rihanna added a statement to their release, “I’ve been wanting to design my own collection for some time. River Island is the perfect partner for me to collaborate with and working with a British, family run business also really appealed to me. I find London really inspiring and River Island loves to have fun with clothes. I’m looking forward to working with them and creating something really special.” “Special” sounds like it will be an understatement. Rihanna has reinvented herself repeatedly throughout her increasingly successful career, and just like her music she has been come edgier, harder and ALWAYS distinct. With two fragrances and her first film role in a blockbuster behind her, and now her first full blown retail collection and new album in the works, it seems Ri has no limits when it comes to creative outlets, OR working her butt off. Props to MTV.com (07.18.12) |
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50 BEYONCE PRAISES MICHELLE OBAMA IN CAMPAIGN VIDEO
In case you were unaware, Beyoncé happens to be a huge fan of Michelle Obama, and this week she shows us just how much she's into the First Lady. Bey has never been shy about her admiration for Mrs. Obama. In April, she dedicated a note to the first lady via her website, heavy with praise, and this week, Bey delivered the message aloud, in a new video that supports supports President Obama's re-election campaign. "I wrote a letter to the first lady because I wanted her to know that I'm very grateful for everything she's done for our country and also for women around the world," Beyoncé says as she introduces the clip. During the brief video, the camera cuts from the singer as she begins to read the note, and a set of photos showing Mrs. Obama hard at work and hanging with her family begins to play. "Michelle is the ultimate example of a truly strong African-American," Beyoncé reads as the photos scroll by. "She is a caring mother, she's a loving wife, while at the same time she is the first lady!" When Beyoncé originally posted the handwritten note on her site in April, the FLOTUS respond via Twitter, writing, "Thank you for the beautiful letter and for being a role model who kids everywhere can look up to." Beyoncé cemented her relationship with Michelle Obama last year, when she teamed up with the first lady to help promote the "Let's Move!" campaign, which targeted childhood obesity. According to Obama, Bey reworked her single "Get Me Bodied" into "Move Your Body," without even being asked, and she was happy to film an accompanying video for the song. When Beyoncé made her return to the stage over Memorial Day weekend with a series of concerts at Revel Resorts — her first since baby Blue Ivy was born — the first lady made a trip to Atlantic City along with her two daughters to catch the show and later praised Beyoncé for her performance. During a May interview with People, the first lady expressed just how much she liked the singer. "If I had some gi Props to MTV.com (07.17.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GEORGE LUCAS ON 'RED TAILS' IMPACT; VIOLA DAVIS ADDED TO NEW FILM It took 20 years for him to make, he spent $58 million dollars of his own money to complete it and it grossed $50 million dollars at the box office. In the end, George Lucas says his Tuskegee Airmen drama Red Tails shook up how Hollywood views films created by and starring African-American actors. “We didn’t get to a point when they said, ‘Oh, let’s just do Black movies,” Lucas told the New York Post. “But every time you poke ‘em, it makes an effect.” The Star Wars director says the film had the biggest impact on moviegoing audiences. “It had an affect on a lot of kids and adults. Now it’s the one thing that everyone comes up to me and says ‘thank you’ for — I’m proud of that.” Viola Davis should take pride in her latest film role. The Oscar-nominated actress has just been added to the cast of The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, one of the most highly anticipated and unique productions of the year. The two-film premise within a movie looks at a troubled marriage from both the husband's and the wife’s perspectives. Davis portrays a supporting role. There’s no word yet on the specific character she plays. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby is currently shooting in New York. Props to BET.com (07.17.12) |
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ROSTRUM RECORDS ISSUES STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF MAC MILLER IN $10 MILLION LORD FINESSE DISPUTE Days after he was accused of stealing a sample to help catapult his career, Mac Miller’s label reps have come forward with comments regarding the $10 million suit filed against him in a New York federal court by Lord Finesse. The suit, filed against Mac Miller, Rostrum Records, and DatPiff.com, alleges “copyright infringement, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, interference, deceptive trade practices, and a number of related state law claims,” for Mac Miller’s sampling of Lord Finesse’s 1995 track, “Hip 2 The Game”. The track was sampled on Mac Miller’s “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza” song from his popular K.I.D.S. mixtape. The following is an official statement Rostrum Records on behalf of Mac Miller: “There have been a lot of misstatements online and in the press, so we thought it’d be best to make some brief comments. First and foremost, we stand by Mac Miller in this situation and we will fight the case together with him. “Mac never pretended that the “Hip 2 Da Game” beat was his, despite what’s being said in the suit. Lord Finesse was given credit on both the video and the mixtape from the very beginning. We’ve never distributed “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza” for sale on iTunes and have consistently policed digital retailers and other sites to make sure that no pirates were ever illegally selling the song. “Lord Finesse has known about “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza” for a long time and never objected to the use. For some reason, he has very recently changed his mind. We look forward to resolving this issue soon, and we appreciate all of the support that we have been receiving from the entire music community.” Props to AllHipHop.com (07.16.12) |
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50 CENT DEFENDS FRANK OCEAN, SEXUALITY AGAINST CRITICS Plenty of celebrities have come out in full support of Frank Ocean after his recent sexual declaration, and you can count 50 Cent as one of them. 50 Cent may be all tough guy on the outside, but the G-Unit CEO falls far from the thug stereotype. Many expected a visceral hip-hop reaction to Frank Ocean's revelation that his first love was a man, but a vast array of the genre's artists have come out in support of the Odd Future singer. "Anyone that has an issue with Frank Ocean is an idiot," 50 Cent told MTV UK. "I think Frank Ocean is a talented artist, I think he's created material that made me know his name, that impressed me, with things he said on a song like 'Novacane.' " For Fif, Ocean's efforts in the studio are way more important than his goings-on in the bedroom, and because Frank has delivered exemplary performances on record, his romantic revelation is a non-issue for the Get Rich or Die Tryin' MC. "It could be revolutionary or it could be a tragedy," he said before noting the timing of Frank's announcement and his Channel Orangealbum release. "You can call it brave or you can call it marketing, because it was intentional; it wasn't an accident." 50 compared Ocean's situation to late R&B icon Luther Vandross or Intro singer Kenny Greene. Vandross was rumored to be gay, though such reports were never confirmed. Greene however, admitted in a 2001 interview that he was bisexual shortly before he died from complications caused by AIDS. "There are artists before who have made these choices just not having made the choice to expose it to the general public before an actual release of music," 50 said. Still, 50 remarked on the changing times, alluding that sexual preference just isn't as taboo anymore — at least it isn't for him. "Obama is for same-sex marriage," 50 pointed out. "If the president is saying that, then who am I to go the other way?" Props to MTV.com (07.16.12) |
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MAGIC JOHNSON TO PRODUCE 'SOUL TRAIN' MUSICAL Will stage theatergoers be treated to love, peace and soul on the Great White Way? They will if Magic Johnson gets his way. The entrepreneur’s latest business venture is producing a Broadway musical about Don Cornelius and the groundbreaking television show Soul Train. Johnson and his business partners bought the rights to Soul Train, which ran from 1971 to 2006, last year for several million dollars. The plans are to construct a musical storyline around the dynamic and memorable soul dance music. The Soul Train musical would be similar to Broadway shows like Green Day’s American Idiot and Mamma Mia, which highlighted the music of ABBA. While insiders first speculated there could be rights issues over the use of music by various artists featured in the show’s episodes, including that of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and many others, people close to the project were confident that wouldn’t be a problem. The shocking and sudden suicide death of Cornelius in February sparked a renewed interest in the Soul Train brand. In addition to the musical, talks of a film or TV show have reportedly been discussed. Cornelius, a former radio host, started Soul Train in Chicago with only $400 dollars and grew it into a multimillion-dollar franchise, which went on to change the face of Black music, its artists and how African-American culture was perceived around the world. No word yet on when the Soul Train musical will hit the stage. Props to BET.com (07.16.12) |
JENNIFER LOPEZ QUITS 'AMERICAN IDOL,' MARIAH CAREY IN 'SERIOUS TALKS' TO JUDGE Jennifer Lopez is leaving “American Idol.” After two seasons on the hit show, the singer-actress has decided to call it quits. “I honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do, that I put on hold because I love ‘Idol’ so much,” the 42-year-old superstar told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS FM radio show. “I could do ‘Idol’ for the rest of my life, but that would be giving up a bunch of other things. We had an amazing run.” Lopez, who will kick off her North American tour with Enrique Iglesias on Saturday, wants to get back to focusing on movies, music, and her family. “I have my movies and my music and my this and my that,” she continued. “It all kind of worked together for a while, but then it gets more complicated. As the kids are getting a little bigger, it started feeling like it was a lot. Something has to give. And that’s, I think, where I am right now.” Fellow judge Steven Tyler also announced his departure from the Fox singing competition on Thursday, and there is speculation that veteran Randy Jackson will be leaving after 11 seasons. J.Lo’s fellow diva Mariah Carey is in negotiations to take a seat at the judges’ table. “She’s in play,” sources tell PEOPLE. “They are in serious talks.” Props to Rap-Up.com (07.13.12) |
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WILL SMITH DEVELOPING TV DRAMA SERIES, DIRECTING BIBLICAL EPIC FILM
Will Smith is ready to step out of the spotlight and behind the camera for a pair of upcoming projects. The A-list actor, who scored a hit with Men in Black 3 earlier this year, is developing a drama series called Epidemic with Hollywood scribe J. Michael Straczynski, whose credits include the hit cable series Babylon 5 and the big-budget films Thor, Underworld Awakening and Changeling. On the big-screen front, Smith is also set to make his directorial debut with The Redemption of Cain, a Biblical epic about warring brothers Cain and Abel. Deadline.com reports that Smith will likely also star in the film, which is being produced by his own Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures. The Fresh Prince already has an illustrious producing resume, including producing credits on most of his films as well as the sitcom All of Us, which he co-created with his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. Through his production company, Overbrook Entertainment, Smith has also produced smaller films like The Secret Life of Bees, Lakeview Terrace and The Karate Kid, which launched the career of his son, Jaden Smith. Props to BET.com (07.13.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LORD FINESSE NOT BACKING DOWN ON MAC MILLER LAWSUIT Mac Miller reached out to Lord Finesse in an attempt to squash the $10 million lawsuit that the rapper veteran is targeting him with, over a mixtape sample, but to no avail. "I just talked to Lord Finesse. He's still suing me," Mac tweeted on Wednesday night, after news of the lawsuit had already made the rounds. As expected, a big chunk of Miller's two million-plus Twitter followers have been up in arms about Finesse's suit, but the 20-year-old urged them to be civil. "To my fans, don't be disrespectful. Finesse is a legend. If you have a problem with his actions, be intelligent about it and be respectful," he wrote on the social-networking site. "Wow .. Mac. We spoke trying to resolve the situation. Next thing you back on Twitter.. wow ... " Finesse responded with a tweet of his own. Finesse is looking for payback for Mac's "Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza," a mixtape single on which Miller rhymed over the instrumental from the rapper/producer's 1995 single "Hip 2 da Game." The jacked track was included on Mac's 2010 breakout tape K.I.D.S. (Kickin' Incredibly Dope Sh--) and was never sold, a common practice for up-and-coming rappers. Still, Finesse is alleging copyright infringement, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, interference, deceptive trade practices and a host of other claims related to copyright law. "This is a case about a teenage rapper — Mac Miller — copying the music from a song written, produced and performed by Lord Finesse, a hip hop legend, changing the title and then distributing it under his own name in order to launch his music career," the complaint received by Courthouse News Service states. Props to MTV.com (07.13.12) |
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TARGET WON'T CARRY FRANK OCEAN'S 'CHANNEL ORANGE' Target will not be carrying Frank Ocean's debut studio album, "Channel Orange," in response to the label's decision to sell it ahead of its scheduled release date via iTunes -- not due to Ocean's sexuality -- according to statements from the company and Ocean's manager. iTunes is the sole digital seller of the album until July 17. Ocean admitted in a recent Tumblr post that he had a past romantic relationship with a man. In a tweet early Tuesday, Ocean's manager, Christian Clancy, implied that the admission influenced Target's decision not to carry the album, although he quickly deleted the Tweet and has since recanted. "Target has refused to carry Frank's album because of iTunes exclusive," Clancy's initial Tweet on the matter read. "Interesting since they also donate to non-equal rights organizations." Target was at the center of a controversy last year in which it cancelled a $10 million television campaign for Lady Gaga's Born This Way album, reportedly due to differences over the company's support for political candidates opposed to gay rights. In response, Target issued a statement to Billboard.biz that reads: "The claims made about Target's decision to not carry the Frank Ocean album are absolutely false. Target supports inclusivity and diversity in every aspect of our business. Our assortment decisions are based on a number of factors, including guest demand. "Target has a longstanding tradition of supporting music and artistry that reflects the diverse landscape of American culture. Our history of partnering with diverse artists includes recent partnerships with a variety of musicians, such as Ricky Martin, B.o.B., and Gloria Estefan." Props to Billboard.com (07.12.12) |
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JAY-Z'S '99 PROBLEMS' INSPIRE 19-PAGE LEGAL ANALYSIS Jay-Z is always a topic of discussion among hip hop heads, but the rap superstar and business mogul recently inspired discourse in a more scholarly realm when a law professor published a 19-page law review article on Jay's 2004 hit "99 Problems." The article, titled "Jay-Z's 99 Problems, Verse 2: A Close Reading With Fourth Amendment Guidance for Cops and Perps," is by Caleb Mason of Southwestern Law School and was published in the Saint Louis University Law Journal. In it, Mason examines Hov's famous second verse of the song, in which he tells the story of a Black man in possession of illegal drugs who has been pulled over by a police officer guilty of racial profiling. "In one compact, teachable verse (Verse 2), the song forces us to think about traffic stops, vehicle searches, drug smuggling, probable cause, and racial profiling, and it beautifully tees up my favorite pedagogical heuristic: life lessons for cops and robbers," he says in the article. Mason goes on to discuss the truth and falsehoods of the law as discussed in the back-and-forth between the perp and the police officer on "99 Problems." In particular, he refutes the line in the song that suggests a locked trunk and glove compartment cannot be searched without a warrant. "If this essay serves no other purpose, I hope it serves to debunk, for any readers who persist in believing it, the myth that locking your trunk will keep the cops from searching it," Mason writes. "Based on the number of my students who arrived at law school believing that if you lock your trunk and glove compartment, the police will need a warrant to search them, I surmise that it’s even more widespread among the lay public. But it’s completely, 100 percent wrong." Props to BET.com (07.12.12) |
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BOB MARLEY INSPIRED SCIENTIST TO NAME BLOOD-SUCLING PARASITE IN HIS HONOR A tiny blood-sucking parasite that infests fish on Caribbean coral reefs has been named after Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley. Arkansas State University marine biologist Paul Sikkel discovered the parasite off the U.S. Virgin Islands a decade ago but it was only recently unveiled as "Gnathia marleyi" as an homage to the singer. Sikkel says he dubbed the tiny crustacean due to his "respect and admiration" for Marley, who died in 1981. The National Science Foundation says the creature is a new species within the family of gnathiids, parasites commonly found on coral reefs that are ecologically similar to blood-sucking ticks on land. It infests some fish that inhabit reefs of the shallow eastern Caribbean. Celebrities such as comedian Stephen Colbert and singer Beyonce have had insects named after them. "Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL." Props to TheBoomBox.com (07.12.12) |
MAC MILLER FACING $10 MILLION LAWSUIT OVER LORD FINESSE SAMPLE Back in 2010 few predicted that in less than two years Mac Miller would grow to become one of music’s biggest independent acts, touring the world and even scoring a #1 album, but it happened. There wasn’t much to go on back then, just Miller’s K.I.D.S. (Kickin’ Incredibly Dope Sh--) mixtape and a stand-out retread of Lord Finesse's 1995 single "Hip 2 Da Game," which appeared on the tape. Now the Diggin’ in the Crates rapper/producer is looking for his just due by filing a $10 million lawsuit against Miller. Courthouse News Service broke the news on Monday. "This is a case about a teenage rapper — Mac Miller — copying the music from a song written, produced and performed by Lord Finesse, a hip hop legend, changing the title and then distributing it under his own name in order to launch his music career," the complaint received by CNS states Sample clearance issues have plagued hip-hop artists since Biz Markie's 1991 track "Alone Again," a song included on his I Need a Haircut retail LP, resulted in a landmark case brought by Gilbert O'Sullivan, whose "Alone Again (Naturally)" was sampled in the song. But the case of Miller and Lord Finesse is different. Miller's "Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza," though widely popular on the Internet, was distributed at no charge as part of his free Internet mixtape K.I.D.S. (Kickin' Incredibly Dope Sh--). It's a practice that has helped propel the careers of many of today's top rap stars, including 50 Cent, Drake and Lil Wayne. "In 2010, Mac Miller recorded himself rapping over Finesse's music and renamed the song 'Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza' ('The Kool Aid Song')," the complaint reads. On Tuesday Mac took to Twitter to set the record straight. "1. I made that record and video as nothing more than an 18 year old kid who wanted to rhyme and pay homage, no other intentions," he tweeted. "2. Finesse and I spoke on the phone for an hour after he heard the record and cleared the air. We even planned to work on music together." Props to MTV.com (07.11.12) |
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SPIKE LEE TO DIRECT MICHAEL JACKSON DOCUMENTARY
With last month marking the third anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death, Spike Lee is aiming to celebrate the singer’s true legacy: his music. The director is combing through footage to helm a documentary focusing on Jackson’s Bad album. And once the project is completed, it sounds like it’s going to be a special goldmine for all King of Pop fans. "We have footage in this documentary that no one's ever seen, stuff that Michael shot himself, behind-the-scenes stuff," Lee told the Associated Press. "We had complete access to the vaults of Michael Jackson. ... He wrote 60 demos for the Bad record. Only 11 made it. So we got to hear a lot of that stuff, too, so it was just a great experience." Lee’s currently untitled documentary is timed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Jackson’s Bad, which was the follow-up to the history-making Thriller. The Bad album will be re-released on September 18 and will include a DVD and bonus material. In addition to showcasing his music, Lee’s film also aims to show the personal side of the iconic legend and promises a lot of footage that highlights Jackson’s “funny, great sense of humor.” The Red Hook Summer director also interviewed several music artists including Kanye West, Mariah Carey, L.A. Reid and Sheryl Crow, who was a background singer for Jackson during his Bad tour. "We really divided it into two things: Artists today who were influenced by Michael, and then people who worked side by side — musicians, songwriters, technicians, engineers, people at the label, who were all committed to Michael,'" he says. Lee’s documentary is due to hit theaters later this year, but so far no release date has been announced. Props to BET.com (07.11.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RUNCHRIS BROWN'S 'FORTUNE' CLAIMS NO.1 SPOT Fortune is shining down on Chris Brown. After his double wins at this month’s BET Awards, the R&B superstar finds himself back on top of the charts with his fifth album. Fortune enters at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts with 134,000 copies sold in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Propelled by the singles “Turn Up the Music” and “Till I Die,” the album marks Brown’s second No. 1 debut following 2011’s Grammy-winning F.A.M.E. (270,000). In addition to his success in the U.S., Fortune reigns on top of the charts in the U.K. and the Netherlands. Brown also scores career bests in Ireland and France at No. 4, Japan at No. 5, Canada at No. 6, Switzerland at No. 10, and Germany at No. 13. Elsewhere on the Billboard charts, Flo Rida comes in at No. 14 with his hit-filled album Wild Ones. The project, which boasts the smash singles “Good Feeling,” “Wild Ones,” and “Whistle,” moves 31,000 units in its opening week. Props to Rap-Up.com (07.11.12) |
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TAMEKA FOSTER BREAKS SILENCE ON SON'S CONDITION It's been a tragic weekend for Usher and his ex Tameka Foster. Now the singer's estranged wife is speaking out about her 11-year-old son Kyle Grover's grave condition after being hit by a speeding jet ski on Saturday. "He's bad," Foster tells RadarOnline.com. “Kyle, You are strong.. You'll be saved I know it," the mother of five wrote on her Facebook page. "I love you my baby. I need all #Prayers for my son! thanks you everybody!” TMZ reported on Sunday that Kyle was pronounced brain dead by doctors at the Atlanta hospital he was airlifted to immediately following the accident on Georgia's Lake Lanier. The as-yet-unnamed 38-year-old man operating the jet ski appears to be cooperating with local authorities, who are investigating the incident. Despite their ongoing divorce and custody battle over their sons Usher V and Naviyd, Usher has been by Tameka's side during the ordeal, even chartering her a jet so she could rush to Kyle's bedside. Usher developed a tight relationship with his three stepchildren during his relationship with Foster and remains close with them today. While there seems to be no chance Raymond will make a recovery, it is not known what decision Foster and her family will make in regards to keeping him on life support. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Props to BET.com (07.09.12) |
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NEW DESTINY'S CHILD ALBUM DUE THIS YEAR Destiny's Child back? Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams have been focused on their solo careers over the past few years, but fans will be lucky to catch some previously unheard material from the trio later this year. Almost a decade after their last full-length studio effort, Destiny Fulfilled, Mathew Knowles — DC's longtime ringleader — has revealed that previously unreleased material from the group will appear on two compilation releases via his Music World Entertainment label partnership with Sony. "We still have our joint venture with Sony, and in November, we're putting out two Destiny's Child catalog records with new material," Knowles told The Huffington Post when asked about his label's upcoming plans. Beyond the new tunes, the group's back-in-the-day manager also spoke about the possibility of a DC3 reunion tour, emphasizing that a trek wouldn't occur until the second release drops and if it fits in with each of the stars' respective solo careers. "It takes a year of planning to do these tours, but first it starts with the artist wanting to do it. And I think the ladies are still working happily in their solo careers," he explained, adding, "And I hope in the next five years that there is a reunion tour. I think it would be incredible." What would be harder than getting Beyoncé, Kelly and Michelle to simultaneously devote time to a Destiny's Child tour? Well, according to Mathew, that wouldn't be the biggest challenge. "The hardest thing would be choosing which songs they're going to do, because we would want to mix it up with solo hits and Destiny's Child hits. We would have to throw away some #1's from off the set list," Knowles said. Props to MTV.com (07.09.12) |
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BEYONCE SUPPORTS FRANK OCEAN, PRAISES CROONER FOR OPENING UP ABOUT HIS SEXUALITY Since opening up about his sexuality, Frank Ocean has earned praise from numerous music luminaries, and now Beyonce has added her voice to the chorus of those supporting the R&B singer. On her website, Beyonce posted a black-and-white photo of the rising crooner, who revealed earlier this week that his first love was a man. Atop the image, Beyonce added something of a tribute poem, acknowledging the bold step that Ocean -- an associate of the controversial and purportedly homophobic Odd Future crew -- made by addressing rumors regarding his sexuality. "Be fearless / Be honest / Be generous / Be brave / Be poetic / Be open / Be free / Be yourself / Be in love / Be happy / Be inspiration," she wrote. This isn't the first time the superstar has big-upped the LGBT community, and in an interview last year with Pridesource.com, she dished on what she admires about gay fans. "If anyone is brave and true to themselves, it's my gay fans," she said. "The amount of confidence and fearlessness it takes to do what maybe is not what your parents expect you to do or what society may think is different -- to be brave and be different and to be yourself -- is just so beautiful.... Not worrying about satisfying or becoming what other people think you're supposed to be, that's like the ultimate dream." Props to TheBoomBox.com (07.09.12) |
HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 7/1/2012 Hip Hop returned to the Top 10 last week, courtesy of Rick Ross' second Maybach Music Group compilation in as many years. The Warner Bros. Records-backed Self Made, Volume 2 sold just under 100,000 first-week units, scoring the revamped collective of Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Stalley and Omarion a #4. Thirty-thousand units behind, at #5, R. Kelly's Write Me Back was another debut this week. The veteran Chicago R&B singer did not include rappers on this RCA Records project, a follow-up to 2010's Love Letter. Rick Ross' collective added two new artists to the fold from 2011's Self Made, Volume 1. After Pill left the group reportedly due to a contract with Warner, Ohio's Stalley and former B2K singer Omarion were added to the MMG collective. Gunplay, who like Ross, is a Def Jam Records artist, was also prominently featured. Guests on the second outing include Kendrick Lamar, French Montana, Wiz Khalifa and Bun B. Volume 2 nearly doubled the approximately 59,000 copies Self Made Volume 1 scanned last May. One of the most successful debut Rap artists of 2012, Dungeon Family affiliate Future and his album Pluto saw a strong rankings bump in the last week. The Epic Records release climbed 26 spots, backed by mainstream single "Same Damn Time." The album features Drake, T.I. and Three 6 Mafia's Juicy J. #4. Maybach Music Group Presents... - Self Made, Volume 2 - 98,000 (98,000) #34. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - 10,000 (557,000) #44. Waka Flocka Flame - Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family - 8,600 (56,000) Props to HipHopDX.com (07.05.12) |
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SLAUGHTERHOUSE THANKS EMINEM FOR MIXING 'WELCOME TO: OUR HOUSE'
Slaughterhouse has been putting the finishing touches on their second LP Welcome to: Our House, which finally has a confirmed release date of August 28. Their Shady Records boss, Eminem, has helped them to mix the entire project, and Royce da 5'9", Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I give him special thanks for that. "It's finally here. We dealt with a couple of pushbacks, we dealt with being creative the whole way through, putting new music out there. Now, we're here," Joe Budden told MTV News on Sunday evening on the BET Awards red carpet in Los Angeles. "August 28, we're going to make it do what it do. Hopefully, the fans are just as excited about the release as we are, and we can't wait." The group officially formed in late 2008, and the following year, they independently released their self-titled debut. Because each of the four members was a noted soloist with separate deals and obligations to deal with, they recorded their first album together in less than a week. The result was a critically acclaimed, rap fan's lyrical dream. Each track was packed with intricate flows and an accelerated word play. The fact that SH has had more time to work on Welcome to: Our House is very encouraging for the group. The album's first single, "Hammer Dance," is an aggressive street tune, while the Cee Lo Green-assisted "My Life" is a rags-to-riches track that should earn the rap quad some much-deserved radio play. "There are records where those core Slaughterhouse fans will get their 'Ohs and ahs,' like, 'OK, the pen is pushing,' " Joell Ortiz told us during a May set visit to the group's "My Life" video. "It's themed, but we take you on a ride through this album. Y'all gonna enjoy it." Now, a few months later on the BET red carpet, and Ortiz is even more excited. "We really got busy this time around, man. The first album, we had six days to do it, this time around we're with a major label, Shady Records," he said. "Shout to Eminem: He mixed the entire record. This album is going to be incredible." Props to MTV.com (07.05.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ANDRE 3000 TO COVER BEATLES AND MUDDY WATERS HITS ON FORTHCOMING JIMI HENDRIX BIOPIC Outkast member Andre 3000 is set to cover the hits of some of music’s most legendary artists, as he records and films for the upcoming Jimi Hendrix biopic. According to CNN, All By My Side, in production for the past four months and set in London in the late ’60s, will include Andre 3000 remakes from The Beatles (“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and more), along with Blues legend Muddy Waters (“Mannish Boy”), Elmore James, and others. Filmgoers will not hear original songs, however, from Hendrix’s hugely popular but short-lived career. The guitarist who passed away at age 27 left a bevy of music, but his estate has refused to license his hits for the upcoming film or virtually any other requests in recent years. Experience Hendrix LLC, overseer of the Hendrix estate, spoke out last month regarding the movie. According to Hendrix’s sister Janie who also runs the company, Hendrix’s estate “has made it known many times in the past that no such film, were it to include original music or copyrights created by Jimi Hendrix, can be undertaken without its full participation.” Despite the lack of original music, watchers are already lauding Andre 3000′s embrace of the legendary guitarist’s likeness and mannerisms. “Andre has been Jimi for four months now,” says Sean McKittrick, co-producer of the film that is currently shooting in Dublin, Ireland. “He speaks and walks like Jimi. He dropped a ton of weight. The transformation has been amazing.” Adds McKittrick, it was “easier…to recreate 1967 London.” The film is set to show at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2013, with the release to follow, along with a possible full soundtrack of Andre 3000 covers. Props to AllHipHop.com (07.05.12) |
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FRANK OCEAN OPENS UP ABOUT SEXUALITY Early this morning (July 4), Frank Ocean took to his Tumblr to post a personal statement in which he opens up about his sexuality. In the piece, which he intended to "fill the thank you's section" in the credits of his upcoming album, "Channel Orange," Ocean shares details of falling in love with a man. "4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Every day almost, and on the day we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless," Ocean writes. Ocean continues to share more of the relationship, closing with, "I feel like a free man. If I listen closely... I can hear the sky falling too." Odd Future's Tyler, the Creator took to Twitter to congratulate Ocean for his bravery, "Fucking Finally Sus Boy @frank_ocean Hahahaha, You Still Aint Got No Bitches Hahaha My Nigga Dawg." "My Big Brother Finally Fucking Did That. Proud Of That Nigga Cause I KNow That Shit Is Difficult Or Whatever," he tweeted. Ocean's admirable statement comes two days after rumors of bisexuality spread like wildfire over the 'net. After listening to his debut album, "Channel Orange," a BBC1 Xtra's Max writer posted a review of the album in which she says that by Ocean using terms as "him" instead of "her" it suggests he's bi-sexual. "BASEDGOD WAS RIGHT. we're all a bunch of golden million dollar babies. my hope is that the babies born these days will inherit less of hte bullshit than we did. anyhow, what I'm about to post is for anyone who cares to read. it was intended to fill the thank you's section in my album credits, but with all the rumors going around.. i figured it'd be good to clarify.." Ocean wrote, before sharing details of his same-sex relationship. Props to Billboard.com (07.04.12) |
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PITBULL MAY TAKE HIS RAP SKILLS TO ALASKA FOR WALMART MARKETING DEAL Miami rapper Pitbull might soon be chilling out in Alaska. In a marketing deal, Walmart will send Pitbull, aka Armando Christian Perez, to the store that gets the most "likes" on its Facebook page. Right now, the leading candidate is Kodiak, Alaska. And there might be a reason. A writer for The Boston Phoenix newspaper thought it'd be funny to send Pitbull to the most remote Walmart possible, and is encouraging people to "like" the Walmart in Kodiak. It seems to be working. The Kodiak Walmart had more than 35,000 "likes" Monday, more than five times the town's population. Kodiak has a significant lead in the contest to land Pitbull, but actual numbers weren't immediately available, Walmart spokeswoman Sarah Spencer said. She says other Walmart shoppers have until July 16 to like their local stores and pull ahead of Kodiak. "I know Pitbull is hoping his Miami Walmart shoppers start liking their Facebook page," she said. That would require some heavy lifting, with one Miami location sitting tight with 45 "likes" Monday. "He's definitely coming to Kodiak if Kodiak wins," she said. It would be the rapper's first visit to Alaska. Pitbull, who is touring Europe, seems to be taking the contest in good nature. "Wherever the fans want to have a party, I will be there," he said in an emailed statement sent Monday from Austria. Kodiak Island is about 225 miles southwest of Anchorage. It's home to the nation's largest Coast Guard base, and the island is known for its Kodiak brown bear population. Props to TheBoomBox.com (07.04.12) |
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RIHANNA MOURNS LATE GRANDMOTHER ON TWITTER Following the death of her grandmother this weekend, music superstar Rihanna has pulled out of the Rock in Rio concert and is heading to her native Barbados to attend funeral services. Rih Rih tweeted, “Coming home to squeeze ya mama,” before boarding a private jet this morning [July 3]. Rihanna's grandmother, Clara "Dolly" Braithwaite, died of cancer over the weekend, causing the Barbadian pop star to break into a tribute to the life of her "Gran Gran" on Twitter. A reportedly heart-broken Rih Rih stumbled through a performance in Sweden on Saturday before opening up about the loss on Sunday night. "Goodbye #grangranDOLLY get your beauty rest until I see you," she tweeted. She followed up by posting several photos of her grandmother. A show of support later came from Rihanna's ex, Chris Brown, who said Dolly was like a grandmother to him as well. "Praying for family and the lost loved one. She was like my grandmother. Love you GRAN GRAN! RIP," he tweeted. Brown's mother, Joyce Hawkins, also offered her condolences. "Angel may God be with you and your family in your time of sorrow. Love you angel," she wrote. RiRi expressed her appreciation for the sentiment in a response. "Thank you! Love u mama," she wrote. Rihanna had recently spent time visiting with her grandmother in the hospital. Last month, she posted pictures of herself with her ailing gran gran. "My heart smiled and cried all at once," she wrote at the time. Props to BET.com (07.04.12) |
BET AWARDS RECAP: JAY-Z JOKES ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT, WHITNEY HOUSTON TRIBUTED There were plenty of memorable moments at the 2012 BET Awards, ranging from Jay-Z poking fun at Kanye West about Taylor Swift-gate, and Whitney Houston receiving a moving tribute at the close of the show. More details on the biggest moments of the night, after the jump. Kanye West and Jay-Z are known for being selective with their award show appearances--they both skipped the 2012 Grammys despite multiple nominations and wins--but The Throne showed up at the BET Awards on Sunday night (July 1) where they took the stage together to accept the trophy for Best Group. West had just wrapped a ferocious performance with his G.O.O.D. Music crew, which found him spitting acapella and touching on everything from Whitney Houston to the Miami Heat winning the NBA Finals. He returned to the stage to accept honors, reminding the audience that he has a reputation for saying the wrong thing on stage. He teased that Jay usually keeps him in line ("I wish Jay-Z was here to say something politically correct for me") and cue Hov's entrance to applause from the crowd as he joined 'Ye to give thanks. The Throne even triumphed over Beyoncé for Video of the Year honors and Jay had some jokes to throw around during his acceptance speech. After receiving honors for the Maybach-torching, Spike Jonze-directed "Otis" clip from their 2011 album Watch the Throne, the stage was set for a callback to West's most infamous awards-show moment. "Excuse me, Kanye, I'mma let you continue, but ... " Jay joked to Kanye while passing the microphone. Eruptive crowd laughter ensued as Jay referenced West's microphone snatch from Taylor Swift to defend Beyoncé at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Beyoncé's reaction this time was one of uproarious laughter and clapping. "I'm trying to defend your girl!" Kanye joked back. When the win was announced, Jay threw a few fake punches at Beyoncé in a playful show of affection and competition between hip-hop's royal couple. In contrast, he tapped Kanye's current love, Kim Kardashian, on the shoulder on his way to the stage when she went in for a hug. Props to MTV.com (07.03.12) |
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SUPREME COURT LET'S CBS OFF THE HOOK FOR
JANET JACKSON'S 'WARDROBE MALFUNCTION It’s been a busy week for the justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court, which issued a landmark decision on President Barack Obama’s controversial health-care law yesterday [June 28], is now finally putting an end to the legal battle between CBS and the Federal Communications Commission over Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl. As reported by the Associated Press, the Supreme Court has ruled today [June 29] to let CBS off the hook for the government’s $550,000 indecency fine. According to the appeals court, in just a month after the scandal the FCC changed their policy of excusing fleeting instances of indecent words and images. Judges called the charges against CBS "arbitrary and capricious" due to the lack of awareness of the change on the agency’s part. Although CBS was able to dodge the fine this time, Chief Justice John Roberts made it clear that "Any future wardrobe malfunctions will not be protected on the ground relied on by the court below." The infamous scandal took place during the Super Bowl’s halftime show when Justin Timberlake ripped off a piece of Janet Jackson’s top revealing her bare breast. The show which had approximately 90 million viewers, caused a furious backlash not only for the network, but also to the National Football League. Following “Nipplegate,” the league opted for less risqué performers during the intermission gigs. That was until this year when a never-aging Madonna teamed up with rappers Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and pop group LMFAO to bring the halftime show back to its former glory. However, M.I.A. caused a stir when she flipped the bird to viewers. The network has also taken precautions to make sure another instance like this doesn’t happen by running the show on a delay. According to the Los Angeles Times, CBS released a statement saying it was "gratified to finally put this episode behind us" and was thankful that "at every major turn of this process, the lower courts have sided with us." Props to BET.com (07.03.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DRAKE MAKES A DATE AS 'STRAPPING' MAMMOTH IN 'ICE AGE 4' Drake is familiar with playing characters outside of his music career, having acted as Jimmy Brooks in "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Now he's taking on his first role in an animated film, "Ice Age: Continental Drift," also noted as "Ice Age 4," which hits theaters July 13. The Toronto native stars as a mammoth named Ethan. "He's a young, strapping, handsome jock," Drake reveals. "He's really good at turtle football. He's very popular. He catches the eye of Peaches." Peaches, voiced by actress Keke Palmer, is a "spunky mammoth" who has her sights set on Ethan. "She's very animated," Keke says of Peaches. "She's excited for life. She's 16, and she's just ready to get out there and experience new things. She's just discovering boys and she's just ready to be her own person." The YMCMB MC looks back on his voice-over work for the role as a "cool learning experience. "I get to be this over-the-top mammoth in 'Ice Age,' and a lot of capturing these characters is going as far as you can," he shares. "Because you have to realize that [the viewers are] not going to see your face. They're not going to see you look awkward and screaming. And if you have to do things that are a little over-the-top, all they're going to do is hear it. "So that's something to really digest when you first step in this studio," Drake continues. "'OK, I have to go above and beyond what I think is normal. And what I think is good, and I've gotta give it a little extra.'" Witness Drake's character Ethan ask Peaches, played by Keke Palmer, on a date in an exclusive clip from the movie below. Props to TheBoomBox.com (07.03.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: JIMMY HENCHMAN LAWYERS VEHEMENTLY DENY INVOLVEMENT IN TUPAC SHOOTING Lawyers for James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond have issued a statement vehemently denying his involvement in the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur. Recent reports have circulated since an article was published in The Village Voice on June 14. The article, written by Henchman’s nemesis Chuck Philips, claimed that Rosemond admitted shooting the rap star at Quad Studios, during one of nine meetings with the government. According to a statement by James Rosemond’s defense attorney Gerald Shargel, Rosemond has never admitted to being involved in the shooting and vehemently denies the charges levied against him. “During a 2011 interview Jimmy Rosemond was asked by prosecutors whether he participated in the robbery/shooting of Tupac Shakur. He categorically denied any participation,” a rep for Gerald Shargel told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “He has never admitted to involvement in that event,” read the statement, which said Shargel and an associate were at the interview. “There never was an admission to the assault,” the rep said. James Rosemond’s publicist questioned the accuracy of Chuck Philips’ reporting in The Village Voice. “Jimmy Rosemond had absolutely nothing to do with it. All of this stems from the Village Voice-Chuck Philips article but where are the copies of his ‘so-called’ confession?” Rosemond’s publicist Sibrena Stowe de Fernandez told AllHipHop.com. “There are none because its false information and why are we paying attention to a reporter who is trying to rebuild his career off of the Jimmy’s name? Philips has sent me and Jimmy hate mail. He [Philips] obviously has a vendetta against Jimmy since he [Chuck Philips] was let go, fired or whatever from L.A. Times Props to AllHipHop.com (06.29.12) |
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MARY J. BLIGE SAYS BURGER KING COMMERCIAL WAS A CHILDHOOD DREAM, 'CRUSHED' BY FINAL EDIT Mary J. Blige was at the center of controversy in April when her Burger King commercial debuted. The R&B singer stayed fairly quiet despite the Internet world bashing her for singing a jingle about the fast food chain's crispy chicken snack wraps. Now she's giving details on how she truly felt about the clip and how the backlash has affected her. The "Mr. Wrong" songstress chatted with Angie Martinez about the commercial, explaining that it "broke my heart" to see the final edit and read all of the ridicule. "I wanted to crawl under the bed," she said of the video, which she found while surfing the 'net for her remix to Fat Joe's "Another Round." "It was a mistake... It was sold to us that I would be shot in an iconic way. I was looking for someone to have mercy, but no one had mercy. It was a learning experience. It hurt my feelings. It crushed me for like two days." She was able to identify "fair-weather" friends who were "popping junk" upon the commercial's release. But she understood where all of the criticism came from and offered a heartfelt apology. "I want to apologize to everyone that was offended or thought that I would do something so disrespectful to our culture," Blige revealed. "I would never do anything like that purposely. I thought I was doing something right, so forgive me." Her decision to take part in the Burger King ad was based on a childhood dream. "At the end of the day, it's something I always wanted to do and dreamed about and that's why I did it," she shared. Props to TheBoomBox.com (06.29.12) |
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RIHANNA ASSAULT PHOTO: COPS SUSPECTED OF LEAKING IMAGES WILL NOT FACE CHARGES Meek Mill is focused on steering clear of all drama and though his name has come up in some pretty serious reports, the Philadelphia MC is focusing all of his energy on the positive. After news broke of the June 14 New York City brawl between Drake's and Chris Brown's entourages, Meek's name swirled in reports. From the start, the Maybach Music MC insisted that he had nothing to do with the incident that left a number of people injured. When he appeared on "RapFix Live" on Wednesday (June 27), Meek continued to steer clear of the controversy. "I don't really be having those controversies like that, man. It's just that the more hotter you get, they start talkin'," Mill said. Meek seemed to be taken aback by the amount of negative press he's been receiving. In the weeks leading up to the infamous melee, many blog sites reported that Chris Brown, Drake and the Philadelphia MC were sending subliminal tweets to one another in a beef over Brown's ex-girlfriend Rihanna. When all three ended up in the same club on June 14, a brawl definitely broke out, but the cause still remains unknown. It is widely speculated that the fight began over Rihanna, whom Drake and Meek had both been romantically linked to. The brawl has made headlines all over the world and the "I'ma Boss" spitter has noticed his name being dropped in media outlets that normally wouldn't cover him. "People fight in the club every week, I just be there. The name's gettin' a little bigger, I guess they startin' to mention me now," he said, distancing himself from any of the drama. "I've never been mentioned on none of those blogs or none of those shows or whatever, but things must be goin' well over there." As far as his rumored Twitter beef with Brown, Meek warns fans not to believe everything they read. "Twitter don't count in real life, I tweet anything," he said. "I try not disrespect nobody on Twitter, no artists or anybody, period." Props to TheBoomBox.com (06.29.12) |
OMG GIRLZ, SWIZZ BEATZ, WAKA FLOCKA FLAME TO PERFORM AT BET AWARDS LIVE RED CARPET PRE-SHOW The star power on the red carpet leading up to the 2012 BET Awards will be second only to the show itself. The Live! Red! Ready! pre-show hosted by 106 & Park's Terrence J, Rocsi and Big Tigger will air live from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday will get our engines going for the main event. MGK featuring French Montana, OMG Girlz, Slaughterhouse, Swizz Beatz with A$AP Rocky, Future, Elle Varner and Waka Flocka Flame will perform. At 8 p.m., focus will shift to inside the Shrine Auditorium, where host Samuel L. Jackson will take the reigns as host of the 2012 BET Awards. The "Too Big to Miss" event will feature many of the biggest names in entertainment, including LaLa Anthony, Cissy Houston, Nicki Minaj, Think Like a Man co-stars Taraji P. Henson, Meagan Good and Kevin Hart, gospel chanteusses Yolanda Adams, Amber Bullock, Y'Anna Crawley and Jessica Reedy, Django Unchained star Jamie Foxx along with his director Quentin Tarantino, Alex Cross star Tyler Perry and hip hop megastars Chris Brown, Rock Ross, 2 Chainz and many others. The party doesn't stop when the curtain drops, it moves to the live post-show hosted by Big Tigger and Wendy Raquel Robinson. Props to BET.com (06.28.12) |
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R.KELLY FALLS ILL DUE TO PAST SURGERY, CANCELS ALL PRESS APPEARANCES
R. Kelly has been forced to cancel a promotional trip to New York City, his publicist reports, as he took ill this morning while traveling from Chicago. The "Pied Piper of R&B" had been slated to appear on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" and NBC's "Today," but he's apparently wrestling with throat issues brought on by the emergency surgery he underwent last year. "While on his way to New York this morning to celebrate the publication of his long-awaited memoir SoulaCoaster, multi-platinum R&B superstar R. Kelly was taken ill and had to return to Chicago for medical treatment," reads an official statement. "Initial indications are that he is suffering from complications from surgery he had last year to treat an abscess on his vocal cords." His rep adds that it's "unclear how long Kelly may be sidelined." The "Trapped in the Closet" creator underwent surgery in July 2010, after being rushed to Chicago's Northwestern Memorial hospital. In a message to fans the following month, he shouted out all the "prayer warriors" in his corner. "The doctor said the surgery went well," Kelly added of his hospital visit last year. "I know it may not look like it, but it did. I want y'all to continue to pray for me. Be strong out there, I will be back. I know it's a lot of negativity out there, please don't believe the hype. God is good all the time." In addition to his upcoming memoir, R. Kelly is also promoting his 11th studio album, Write Me Back, which debuted this week. Props to TheBoomBox.com (06.28.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MEEK MILL REACHED TO CHRIS BROWN AFTER DRAKE FIGHT Meek Mill is focused on steering clear of all drama and though his name has come up in some pretty serious reports, the Philadelphia MC is focusing all of his energy on the positive. After news broke of the June 14 New York City brawl between Drake's and Chris Brown's entourages, Meek's name swirled in reports. From the start, the Maybach Music MC insisted that he had nothing to do with the incident that left a number of people injured. When he appeared on "RapFix Live" on Wednesday (June 27), Meek continued to steer clear of the controversy. "I don't really be having those controversies like that, man. It's just that the more hotter you get, they start talkin'," Mill said. Meek seemed to be taken aback by the amount of negative press he's been receiving. In the weeks leading up to the infamous melee, many blog sites reported that Chris Brown, Drake and the Philadelphia MC were sending subliminal tweets to one another in a beef over Brown's ex-girlfriend Rihanna. When all three ended up in the same club on June 14, a brawl definitely broke out, but the cause still remains unknown. It is widely speculated that the fight began over Rihanna, whom Drake and Meek had both been romantically linked to. The brawl has made headlines all over the world and the "I'ma Boss" spitter has noticed his name being dropped in media outlets that normally wouldn't cover him. "People fight in the club every week, I just be there. The name's gettin' a little bigger, I guess they startin' to mention me now," he said, distancing himself from any of the drama. "I've never been mentioned on none of those blogs or none of those shows or whatever, but things must be goin' well over there." As far as his rumored Twitter beef with Brown, Meek warns fans not to believe everything they read. "Twitter don't count in real life, I tweet anything," he said. "I try not disrespect nobody on Twitter, no artists or anybody, period." Props to MTV.com (06.28.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN, DRAKE OFFERED $1 MILLION TO FIGHT IN BOXING RING Out of all the things emerging from the Chris Brown and Drake club brawl, this has to be the most amusing. The two musicians have been offered $1 million to take their frustrations to the ring. That’s right, both Drizzy and Breezy have been offered a milli to duke it out in a public rematch at the Los Angeles Staple Center. Although it’s almost guaranteed that this will never happen, Celebrity Boxing will be waiting if the two superstars ever decide to let off some steam. “We have promoted 55 Celebrity Fights and this would be the most interesting of all,” Damon Feldman of Celebrity Boxing says. We have to agree. The fight would potentially be held at L.A.’s Staples Center on August 25th and aside from pure enjoyment this potential match would be for a good cause, as all the proceeds would be donated to a charity. If the entertainers did go forward with this boxing match who do you think would win? Well according to 50 Cent, Chris Brown would definitely take the W. “I guess it’s ’cause of all the physical things with dancin’ and movin’,” Fif told San Francisco radio station KMEL recently. “He be slippin’ and movin’. I don’t see Drake doing that. Chris be havin’ his shirt off. He got one of them MMA fighter looks. Like he might have did karate when he was a kid. He kickin’, doin’ splits and stuff. This could really get interesting.” Props to MTV.com (06.27.12) |
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JIMMY HENCHMAN ADMITTED INVOLVEMENT IN 1994 TUPAC SHOOTING MIL After years of denying allegations that he was responsible for the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur that detonated a long and deadly bi-coastal feud, Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond reportedly reversed himself, admitting involvement in the shooting while in custody for federal drug trafficking charges. The admission has come to light via a transcript of the drug trial that was obtained by the Village Voice. In it, prosecutors say Rosemond previously admitted to them that he was involved in the Tupac shooting in an effort to negotiate reduced sentencing. Rosemond's confession was not to be used against him in the trial, but became a topic of discussion when his defense lawyer attempted to paint him as a victim of a smear campaign. After he emphatically denounced a 2008 article in the Los Angeles Times that implicated Henchman in the shooting as "utterly false," the prosecutor approached the bench with an objection. "If [Rosemond's attorney] is going to argue that this was a fabricated article, it's the government's position that we can put in the defendant's own admission about that particular shooting," the prosecutor said. "In saying it is not true, when in fact it is true, the government should be able to rebut that argument that he's making, [and introduce] that the defendant actually admitted to this 1994 shooting." Last year, Dexter Isaac, a former friend of Rosemond who was serving an unrelated sentence, came forward to admit that he was the one hired by the hip hop mogul to rob Tupac at gunpoint. Isaac said Rosemond paid him $2,500 for the incident, which ended with Tupac shot five times. As the statute of limitations on a robbery in New York expired 11 years ago, it would have been impossible for Rosemond or Isaac to be charged with Shakur's assault. Rosemond is currently awaiting sentencing after having been found guilty in the drug trial. Last weekend, he was formally indicted for a separate charge that he ordered the fatal shooting of 50 Cent associate Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher in 2009. Props to BET.com (06.27.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 6/23/2012 For the first time in several months, there were no Hip Hop/Rap albums debuting in the Top 200. In fact, no releases even showed up in the Top 25, another rarity in this year's Waka Flocka Flame's latest studio album led all Rap releases for a second consecutive week. Los Angeles, California DXnext emcee Kid Ink continued to move independent units digitally, staying high in the pack. B.o.B.'s sophomore project received a nice boost with its latest single, climbing 17 spots and even passing his collaborator and peer Drake, with his own second studio album. At just under 50,000 overall units, Waka Flocka Flame weathered the storm to lead Rap albums sales for a second consecutive week in his sophomore studio album, Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family. This is Waka's third Warner Bros. Records release, following last year's Ferrari Boyz project with early mentor Gucci Mane, and it's his second Top 10 album. Backed by the eventually-Drake-featuring single from 2011, "Round Of Applause," the album features Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj and the late Brick Squad member Slim Dunkin. Producer/emcee Kid Ink may be the latest DIY Hip Hop success stories. The tattooed sensation's Up & Away crossed the 25,000 mark this past week, a powerful feat for Tha Alumni imprint. The 26 year-old did also work with Jahlil Beats and Cardiak on the 13-track effort backed by singles "Time Of Your Life" and "Lost In The Sauce." #26. Waka Flocka Flame - Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family - 14,000 (47,000) #27. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - 13,000 (547,000) #49. B.o.B. - Strange Clouds - 8,500 (164,000) Props to HipHopDX.com (06.27.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN, DRAKE BRAWL AFTERMATH: TONY PARKER SUING FOR $20 MIL
Four victims have already offered up their stories from the night of the infamous Chris Brown vs. Drake brawl, and now there's one more: Tony Parker. The NBA player is hitting the shuttered New York City club W.i.P.. with a hefty lawsuit, claiming that he almost lost an eye. San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker claims in a $20 million lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court earlier this week that the club's owners are responsible for the "corneal laceration of the left eye and other injuries," according to the New York Post. A spokesperson for the club told MTV News on Friday (June 22) that they were unable to comment on the suit because they have not yet been served with any papers. In addition, the club, whose owner, Jonathan Cantor, was arrested on unrelated charges? tied to two outstanding warrants, continues to be closed on a temporary basis. Parker's suit claims that W.i.P.'s owners should have known better than to let the two romantic rivals for Rihanna's affection into the club at the same time. Lawyer David Jaroslawicz added that the extent of Parker's injuries are not yet known, but that eye injuries "certainly don't improve your outside shot." The NBA star and one of the key members of the championship team is slated to play for his native France in this summer's Olympics. Neither musician is named in the lawsuit, but it does mention them as being the catalyst for the fight. "The defendants were reckless, careless and negligent in permitting Drake's entourage and Brown's entourage to be in the club at the same time despite known tension between the two," the suit reads. "She been known, like Helen of Troy, to cause trouble," Jaroslawicz said of Rihanna. According to the suit, Parker wasn't sitting with either party, but has said he was with "my friend Chris Brown" when the troubles started and claimed that he and his friends took some blows before "they started throwing bottles everywhere." Props to MTV.com (06.22.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RIHANNA TO STAR IN NEW DREAMWORKS ANIMATION FILM Singer-actress Rihanna and "Big Bang Theory" star Jim Parsons will play the lead voices in "Happy Smekday!," a DreamWorks Animation adaptation of the award-winning book "The True Meaning of Smekday" by Adam Rex. This will be the voice acting debut for Rihanna, who made her live-action film debut in this summer's "Battleship." Parsons, a two-time Emmy winner for "Big Bang," has done voicework for a handful of shows, including "iCarly" and "Family Guy." In "Smekday!," a friendly alien race invades Earth and uses it as a hideout from their mortal enemy. When one lowly alien accidentally notifies the enemies of his whereabouts, he is forced to go on the run with a teenage girl, embarking on a comical road trip across a postapocalyptic America and learning what it really means to be human. Tim Johnson, who co-directed DWA's "Antz" and "Over the Hedge," is sitting solo in the helmer's chair for "Smekday!," which the studio hopes to release during the fourth quarter of 2014. Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember ("Get Smart") are writing the screenplay, and Chris Jenkins ("Rio") and Suzanne Buirgy ("Kung Fu Panda 2") are producing. DWA head of development Gregg Taylor is overseeing the project. Props to Billboard.com (06.21.12) |
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KANYE WEST'S G.O.O.D MUSIC ALBUM GETS AUGUST RELEASE DATE We finally have a date. Although things are always subject to change when it comes to album releases, as of now, the G.O.O.D. Music LP Cruel Summer is scheduled to drop on August 7. Pusha T confirmed the date last night during an interview on NYC's HOT 97 radio station. "August 7th. G.O.O.D. Music compilation coming August 7th," Pusha told Flex. Thus far, Kanye's label has released the track "Mercy" the video for which dropped the first week of June. In May West spent some time at the Cannes Film Festival in France where he premiered his "Cruel Summer" short film, bearing the same name as his G.O.O.D. Music LP. As we inch closer to the album's release, all eyes are on West and co. to see what they roll out, as 'Ye is known for his fanfare. To premiere "Cruel Summer," he had the film projected onto seven video screens inside a tented pyramid on the Mediterranean Sea, after having a formal red carpet for the event. The 30-minute film stars Kid Cudi as a car thief who falls in love with a blind Arabian princess. Kanye is scheduled to play two shows at the Revel entertainment center in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 6 and 7. Thus far, it's been billed as a solo performance, but with the album right around the corner, we wouldn't be surprised if he brought a few guests along. Props to MTV.com (06.21.12) |
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NAS CO-SIGNS AZEALIA BANKS AND MEEK MILL Hip hop isn't dead. In fact, it's alive, well and thriving according to hip hop legend Nas, who eulogized the genre on his 2006 album Hip Hop Is Dead. According to veteran MC, some of the credit for the revival can be given to young artists like Harlem's Azealia Banks and Philly's Meek Mill. "I f--k with that '212,'" Nas told The Rap Up about Azealia Banks' first single. "She has incredible star power, you can see it already. I think we need that. To come across the total package in this game, you need more than just a hot 16 and not everybody is blessed with the total package. She has it." The Queens MC also says that he's watching out for the fast rising Maybach Music star. "I got my eyes on him [Meek Mill]. He's the next one to take this s--t over. I'm rooting for him," said Nas. "There are no more street orators in the game, who are fresh off the block and can tell us currently what's going on. So you gotta appreciate him. We have to support Meek Mill's movement because he's talking about real life and if we don't support that, then what are we doin'?" Nas recently joined Meek in the studio to work on the up-and-coming rappers' debut album, Dreams & Nightmares. "It's amazing," Nas said of the album. "I say out of everybody that's new I listen to him and I feel like he's doing what we need. I'm dying to just kill it on his album." He also went on to share his affinity for Maybach Music Group head Rick Ross, whom Nas also collaborated with for his own Life Is Good album. "I respect Ross' business acumen and I respect his music," Nas shared. Nas' Life Is Good is due in stores July 17. Props to BET.com (06.21.12) |
JAY-Z, RIHANNA, ELTON JOHN TO PERFORM AT LONDON OLYMPIC ARTS FESTIVAL Musical stars, including Jay-Z, Rihanna, David Guetta and Elton John, films from the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Mike Leigh and art from Yoko Ono and others will all be part of the London 2012 Festival, a cultural celebration across Britain tied to the Summer Olympics that kicks off on Thursday. The festival, which runs through Sept. 9, includes 12,000 events and performances across the country in celebration of the Summer and Paralympic Games. Organizers say there will be 10 million tickets for free and paid-for events in such fields as film, music, theater, fashion, dance and art. The festival's web site describes it as "the biggest festival the U.K. has ever seen." With a budget of around £55 million ($86 million), the celebration is seen as a chance to showcase Britain's cultural heritage and put the country in the Olympic spirit. The festival is the finale of the so-called Cultural Olympiad that was started in 2008 to inspire creativity in all forms, especially among young people. According to organizers, 18 million people have taken part so far. Ruth Mackenzie, director of the London 2012 Festival in a statement called the event "a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience to match the once-in-a-lifetime visit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the U.K." One of the most star-studded events of the London 2012 Festival will be a BBC Radio 1 show that the station says will be its "biggest-ever free live music event." The lineup for the June 23 and 24 extravaganza that will feature six stages in the Hackney Marshes area of East London includes Jay-Z, Rihanna, Flo Rida, David Guetta, Jessie J, Lana del Rey, Leona Lewis, Tinie Tempah, Plan B, Florence and the Machine, Dappy, Jack White and more. The music event is part of BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 that it has organized in partnership with London 2012 Festival and the Hackney Council. Around 100,000 people are expected at the music gathering. Props to Billboard.com (06.20.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ MAY BE HEADING TO THE WHITE HOUSE
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 6/17/2012 Three new Hip Hop projects debuted on the charts this week. Waka Flocka Flame's second studio album maintained his Top 10 debut status. Meanwhile, Strange Music's latest convert, Stevie Stone scored a Top 100 debut after two years of touring with Tech N9ne and a previous tenure on Ruthless Records. Lastly, Los Angeles, California DXnext emcee Kid Ink released his independent debut digitally, and earned himself a highly-respectable Top 20 debut. Less than two years since his debut album Flockaveli released, scoring a #6 debut, Brick Squad's Waka Flocka Flame returned with Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family. This is Waka's third Warner Bros. Records release, following last year's Ferrari Boyz project with early mentor Gucci Mane, and it's his second Top 10 album. Backed by the eventually-Drake-featuring single from 2011, "Round Of Applause," the album features Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj and the late Brick Squad member Slim Dunkin. The project sold approximately 33,000 first-week units. One of the year's bigger comebacks has been Columbia, Missouri's Stevie Stone. In 2009, Stone released sophomore album The New Kid Comin on Ruthless Records, the onetime power-house home to N.W.A., Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Above The Law. The label run by Eazy E's widow Tomica Wright-Woods and Stone failed to reach the Top 200, despite some assistance from several artists, including Tech N9ne. Three years later, Stone is signed to Tech's label, and went as far as releasing his third album as "Tech N9ne Presents..." The results appear to have given Stone his first Top 200 appearance, at #73. Rollin' Stone features Yelawolf, Kutt Calhoun and former Ruthless label-mate Hopsin. The album sold over 6,000 first-week units. #10. Waka Flocka Flame - Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family - 33,000 (33,000) #20. Kid Ink - Up & Away - 20,000 (20,000) #29. Big K.R.I.T. - Live From The Underground - 12,000 (53,000) Props to HipHopDX.com (06.20.12) |
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REV. AL SHARPTON SET TO BE HONORED AT 2012 BET AWARDS; RELEASES STATEMENT CALLING RODNEY KING A "SYMBOL OF CIVIL RIGHTS" Reverend Al Sharpton will be honored with the Humanitarian Award during this year’s BET Awards, which is being hosted by Samuel L. Jackson and will air live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on July 1. The longtime political activist will join a list of previous honorees that include Magic Johnson, John Legend, Quincy Jones, Denzel Washington, Muhammad Ali, Wycelf Jean and others. According to THR, Sharpton was specifically selected for “his work as the founder and president of the National Action Network, a nonprofit civil rights organization based out of Harlem, as well as his radio talk show (Keepin’ It Real) and his national cable television show (Politics Nation on MSNBC).” In addition, following yesterday’s (June 17) troubling news that Rodney King was found dead at his home on Father’s Day at age 47, Sharpton has gone on record in a statement to call King a “symbol of Civil Rights.” He stated that King made the country “focus on the presence of profiling and police misconduct.” He later praised King for spreading peace in the years following his vicious beating nearly 20 years ago by the LAPD that ultimately set off the infamous L.A. Riots. ”Through all that he had gone through, with his beating and his personal demons, he was never one to not call for reconciliation and for people to overcome and forgive,” Sharpton proclaimed. The 2012 BET Awards will air live from the Shrine Auditorium on July 1. Props to AllHipHop.com (06.19.12) |
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ARTIST OF THE DAY: IGGY AZALEA Iggy Azalea, a buzzed-about 22-year-old rapper who has transplanted from Australia, is poised to set 2012 ablaze with the upcoming reissue of her breakthrough mixtape, Ignorant Art, and a forthcoming debut album on T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint, entitled The New Classic. After attracting industry and Internet attention with the poppy, rapidfire raunch of early singles like "P---y" and "My World," Azalea was signed by storied record executive and Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine in January 2012. Two months later, she restructured her deal and joined-up with ATL legend T.I. and his Grand Hustle imprint for guidance and executive producing on her debut album. She's taking her time crafting a debut that she hopes will be worthy of such a lofty title. "It's finding the production and finding something cohesive that's right for the direction of the album," she told MTV News back in March. "You just never know when you're gonna have that magic." Expectations are high. Through fan voting, Azalea was the first female ever to be named to XXL's vaunted Freshmen Class list, and it furthered some beef with fellow up-and-comer Azealia Banks. "[Banks] wasn't the only one who felt funny about it," she said. "It was a trending topic people felt so funny about it." For now, though, it's all about getting Ignorant Art out to a new audience and completing The New Classic with T.I., which is tentatively scheduled to drop later this summer. Props to MTV.com (06.19.12) |
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LIL WAYNE EXPLAINS WHY HE PULLED NICKI MINAJ FROM SUMMER JAM Lil Wayne has explained why he decided to pull Nicki Minaj from performing at Hot 97's Summer Jam concert earlier this month. Lil Wayne broke his silence about the incident over the weekend, telling MTV News on Saturday that he honored Nicki Minaj's feelings of being disrespected by pulling her from the show after the Young Money queen was insulted by one of the New York radio station's DJs. He said Minaj was disrespected not just as an artist, but as a woman. "That's a female; first and foremost Nicki Minaj is a female. I don't know what anyone else believes, but I believe females deserve the ultimate respect at all times no matter, when or where or how," the multiplatinum rapper told MTV. Minaj backed out of the closing performance of the June 3 concert after Hot 97 personality Peter Rosenberg insulted her song "Starships" in front of the crowd. The comments prompted Weezy to pull all YMCMB artists' Summer Jam performances, which also included DJ Khaled's. (Young Money MC Tyga had already taken the stage before the decision.) "Young Money ain't doing summer jam," Weezy tweeted at the time, while Minaj responded to it by writing on her own Twitter account, "I go above and beyond for my fans. But won't ever go against Wayne's word. What he says, goes." Minaj explained her side of the decision in a phone interview with Hot 97 veteran Funkmaster Flex on June 4. "Like I told you, Flex, this was not about 2,000 people that [Rosenberg] was talking to. This was streaming to the world. That stream was posted on my website," the rapper said. "Everybody is grown enough to keep their opinions to their self. When you disrespect Nicki Minaj, you're disrespecting my fans." Props to Billboard.com (06.19.12) |
WILL.I.AM'S NEW SOLO ALBUM IS 'JUST AS SPECIAL' AS 'THE E.N.D' Will.i.am's upcoming solo album, "#willpower," is "finished four times over," and the Black Eyed Peas leader likens it to some of the best work he's done with the band. "(2009's) 'The E.N.D.,' right now, is the work that I'm most proud of, and this is just as special as 'The E.N.D.'," will.i.am tells Billboard.com about "#willpower," which is due out this fall. " '#willpower' has been a journey, and I'm proud of the journey to get all the songs I have right now and the work I did to get all the songs for this record." Will.i.am Proclaims 'This Is Love' on New Single: Listen will.i.am estimates that he worked on 200-300 songs, of which about a dozen will appear on the final album. And, he adds, that probably won't include recent singles such as "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)" with Mick Jagger and Jennifer Lopez and "Check It Out" with Nicki Minaj and Cheryl Cole. "I just always want to put out songs. They don't necessarily have to be part of an album," he explains. "Those are just songs to let people know along the way what I'm working on. That's me having an audio, musical conversation with the public." So what will be on "#willpower?" "There's classical shit, like just me and a guitar and an orchestra or me with just an orchestra and a kid's choir," he says. "There's some ghetto, ugly, dirty stuff. And then there's dance stuff, global world stuff and, like, avant garde, left-of-center, for-art's-sake music that has nothing to do with getting played on the radio. I'm just art-ing out. It's pretty diverse." Guests on the album, he adds, will include Justin Bieber, LMFAO, Ne-Yo and Nicole Scherzinger, among others. Meanwhile, will.i.am was thrilled to work with Dutch dance music diva Eva Simons on his new single, "This is Love," a mix of melodic pop and EDM whose "Hell yeah!" refrain he recorded during a New Year's Eve show this year in Las Vegas. "Eva Simons is, hands down, the princess of dance music," says will.i.am, who filmed a video for the song in London. "She was doing it way before everyone was doing it, and she produces her own self. She picks her own effects. She records herself. We have conversations like, 'So what compressors do you use?' She sings wonderfully, she writes wonderfully, she's sexy. She is the real thing. It's exactly what dance music is about. That's why I'm so happy and honored to be working with her." Props to Billboard.com (06.18.12) |
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ICE-T DISCUSSES 'THE ART OF RAP,'
FEMALE RAPPERS AND HIS ROLE AS 'BLACK TARANTINO' Twenty five years ago, Ice-T made his entrance into the rap game with his debut album, Rhyme Pays. Since then, he's ventured into an acting career that spans two decades, including his role in the film "New Jack City," his recurring role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and his current reality show, "Ice Loves Coco," he stars in with his wife Coco. After years of being in front of the camera, it was natural for Ice-T to switch gears and get behind the camera. He kicks off his directorial career with his film, "Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap," a project that allowed him to delve deeper into the skill and craft of rap music. The topic is one the rapper-turned-actor felt had been lacking from the conversation of hip-hop recently. His quest to chronicle this conversation began two years ago, when he went through his cell phone and tracked down some of the best figures in the genre including Doug E. Fresh, Nas and Kanye West. The result: over 300 hours of footage, which would be edited down to a two-hour Sundance-featured documentary released in theaters nationally. Ice-T sat down with The BoomBox to speak on why he created "The Art of Rap," the reason why only two female rappers are featured and his role as the "black Tarantino." What do you mean exactly by the term "the art of rap" and exploring what that means for this film? Of course I got the idea from the "Art of War," the book. I just looked at rap and hip-hop as it is in culture in today and said people don't really respect it like it's an art form. And it truly is. Anyone that's ever tried to rhyme or wrote a rhyme or wrote a song, knows it's not easy. And I said, "Let's do a film and not base it on what they usual base rap interviews on, which is how much money you got, who you' re sleeping with, let me see your watch." But I said, "Let's talk about the craft." And everyone I interviewed says, "No one ever asks us those questions." Like I came out of an interview just now. This guy wanted to know drama. It's like, what about the work? I feel like, if you look up "art" in the dictionary, it's anything that requires skill to do. Hip-hop is a skill based culture; you know, to be a great graffiti artist, to be a great break dancer, to be a great DJ, so and it's born by kids in New York, and it's competitive to make you get better. And it's a great art form and a great culture and I wanted it to be respected. Props to TheBoomBox.com (06.18.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CHRIS BROWN'S PUBLIC BEEFS, BEFORE DRAKE: A HISTORY Ever-controversial, Chris Brown seems unable to avoid beefing with other artists for too long. Last week he and his crew were involved in a dust-up with Drake's entourage at the now-shuttered W.I.P. nightclub in Manhattan, and although Brown has been cooperating with the police in an effort to resolve the situation, you can't help but wonder if it would've escalated to the level that it did, had Brown not tweeted a photo of his injury along with a brief rant, only to delete it later. Most of Chris Brown's recent beefs have originated on Twitter, with the singer either responding to jabs, or sending out underhanded insults of his own. Take a look back at a few incidents after the jump. Opponent: Raz B Date: December 2010 Shots Fired: This one started when Raz tweeted his wonder at how someone like Brown could disrespect a woman like Rihanna. Brown then referred to Raz as Peter Pan and made offensive homosexual remarks towards him. Money Quote: "I'm not homophobic! He's just disrespectful…I was minding my damn business and Peter Pan decides to pop off!!!" Opponent: Frank Ocean/Odd Future Date: June 2011 Shots Fired: Brown tweeted his faux-love of Frank Ocean, saying he "reminds me of a young James Fauntleroy or Kevin Cossum." Ocean then referred to Brown's abusive history by comparing him to notorious woman-hitter Ike Turner. This sent Brown off the rails. Money Quote: “[It] was a compliment you b---h ass n---a. Everybody claim to be the devil till they meet him,” tweeted Brown. “[F]--k odd future! Make sure y'all smalltime n----s stick yo chess out when u speak to me." Props to MTV.com (06.18.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN & DRAKE BRAWL AT NYC CLUB: REPORTS The camps tied to Chris Brown, Drake and Meek Mill made a scene at a downtown NYC nightclub early Thursday, allegedly throwing bottles and blows over an argument about Rihanna. The brawl went down at SoHo club W.I.P. between 4-5 a.m. and left five people injured, police confirmed. Brown tweeted several messages after the fight, including a photo that appears to show a gash on his chin. "Ni**as throwing bottles! Y'all ni**az weak!" he wrote in posts that have since been taken down. According to GlobalGrind.com, a fight broke out after Brown sent Drake a bottle, which the Canadian rapper apparently saw as a provocation. He reportedly began arguing with the singer about his ex-girlfriend Rihanna and then "punched Chris Brown in the face, and hit him in the mouth with a bottle before he could retaliate from the punch." However, Drake has denied involvement in the fight, explaining he was actually heading to the exits during the tussle. "Drake did not participate in any wrongdoing of any kind last night at W.I.P. He was on his way out of the club when the altercation began," a rep told TMZ. "[Drake] did not engage in any activity which resulted in injury to person or damage to property." One of Brown's deleted tweets asked, "How u party with rich n---- that hate? Lol.... Throwing bottles like girls?#shameonya!" Witnesses told the New York Post that "all hell broke loose" at the club and Global Grind has published an image purportedly showing the aftermath after the venue was cleared of partiers. Rapper Meek Mill, a friend of Drake's, who was at the club at the time and was reportedly involved in the fight, later wrote on Twitter, "It wasn't me… (shaggy voice) lol." Props to Billboard.com (06.14.12) |
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USHER, 2 CHAINZ, BIG SEAN TO PERFORM AT BET AWARDS 2012 The biggest night in music just got bigger now that Grammy Award-winning Usher and two of hip hop's newest stars, 2 Chainz and Big Sean, have been added to the list of performers who will touch the stage at the BET Awards 2012. Usher returns to the stage for the first time since 2010 when he performed his love ballad "There Goes My Baby" off the Raymond vs. Raymond album. Backed by a full orchestra, Usher dazzled the audience then and is prepared to deliver a repeat performance now. Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz, one of the hottest new acts out, will perform for the first time at the BET Awards this year. The "Spend It" rapper will join Kanye West protégé Big Sean. Although he's a still a fresh face in the game, Sean is no stranger to the BET Awards stage after performing last year with Chris Brown. The 24-year-old Detroit MC is nominated for three BET Awards this year — Best New Artist, Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Best Collaboration for his song "Marvin & Chardonnay" with Kanye West and Roscoe Dash. Usher, 2 Chainz and Big Sean will join Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown, who were the first two names to sign up for duty on the big night. The BET Awards 2012 will air Sunday, July 1 on BET and Centric. Props to BET.com (06.14.12) |
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ICE T PREMIERES 'ART OF RAP' DOCUMENTARY IN NEW YORK Ice T premiered his anticipated documentary "Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap" at Lincoln Center, in New York City on Wednesday night, hosting guests like Fabolous, Busta Rhymes, DJ Khaled and MTV New correspondent, Sway Calloway. Ice introduced the film by giving some background on his vision, explaining the importance of the 'craft' of hip-hop and telling the crowd, "Sorry if I'm talking too much, this is like the most exciting night of my life." Ice continued celebrating his directorial debut with an afterparty at Highline Ballroom, with performances from Rakim, Chuck D. More about the film after the jump. By Lathleen Ade-Brown "Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap" directed by Ice-T is an informative concoction of impromptu freestyles and intimate stories told by some of the most influential and skilled MCs in rap music. “If your favorite rapper isn’t in it, your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper is,” Ice T explained, when he first screened his directorial debut in front of a packed Lower East Side theater in Manhattan at the end of May. The purpose of the almost two-hour documentary is not only to give viewers a thorough understanding of the art of rap, but also to address some of the problems that continue to contaminate the culture. Ice-T, who simultaneously narrates the documentary while interviewing some of the masters of the art form, asked the begging question: Why isn’t rap respected like other genres of music? Queensbridge rapper Nas candidly weighed in, because rap is a “threat.” Props to MTV.com (06.14.12) |
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BLACK MUSIC MONTH 2012:
10 RISING RAPPERS INCLUDING LEE MAZIN, CA$H OUT & MORE Black Music Month is upon us and to celebrate, The BoomBox is highlighting one of the most influential genres of music: hip-hop. Derived from the ghettos of Bronx, N.Y., hip-hop has grown into much more than the pioneers ever could have imagined. From project hallways and cramped closet studios to gated communities and lucrative endorsement deals, MCs have defined a lifestyle strictly through the power of words. On their way to the top, rappers showcase lyrics describing pain, passion, success and perseverance, which can ultimately turn into chart-topping hits and playlist favorites of fans around the globe. The BoomBox has been keeping a close eye on 10 rising rappers who are climbing their way up the music industry ladder as they continue to drop lyrical gems. They've been making a name for themselves in their respective regions and now it's time to give them the props they deserve. Here's a few fresh faces that are sure to be familiar in the months to come. In 2009, Atlanta-bred rapper Ca$h Out was facing a decade behind bars, and it appeared that any attempt at pursuing a music career was futile. Once the rapper was exonerated of gun charges, he took close heed of the advice of a juror, who was sure to emphasize the importance of Ca$h's second chance to do things the right way. That bit of encouragement pushed the rhymer to hit the ground running and he finally saw some of his hard work come to fruition with his grand slam of a breakout hit, "Cashin' Out," off of his debut album It's My Time. Seemingly out of nowhere, San Francisco has a national hit on urban radio and 24-year-old LoveRance can take complete credit for the Bay's resurgence onto the Billboard charts. With the success of his first official single, "Up," featuring 50 Cent, he's earned countless fans and a contract with Interscope Records. Currently, LoveRance's sole priority is "bringing sex back to rap," continuing the momentum with his debut album, Freak of the Industry. Props to TheBoomBox.com (06.12.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USHER TALKS PLAYING SUGAR RAY LEONARD, OSCAR POTENTIAL Three months after teasing news of his being cast to play boxing champ Sugar Ray Leonard, Usher now confirms his role and talks of Oscar potential. Talking to the U.K.'s Independent, the R&B giant discussed what attracted him to starring in the film Hands of Stone, which mostly centers on Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán (Gael Garcia Bernal). "It was proper casting. I was selected. They approached me to do it. And all I had to [do] was consider it." The fearlessness Usher is preparing to show in the ring apparently rubbed off on his self-confidence as an actor as he expressed no intimidation in acting opposite two screen heavyweights — Bernal and Robert De Niro…even hinting at a shot at Hollywood’s top honor. When asked if he had apprehensions about acting with De Niro, he said, "Not at all. There's a respect for both parties. I've seen Oscar winners come out of left field." Apparently referring to himself, Usher explained his ambitions for the gold statue, saying, "I'm just saying Jennifer Hudson. I'm not even saying...is it OK to assume that an actor who doesn't have as much skill can't out-act an actor who is well-decorated? And what I'm saying is…it's the type of script that will allow all of us to shine." Whether Usher’s performance is worthy of the award remains to be seen. Hands of Stone is slated for release in 2013. Props to BET.com (06.12.12) |
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GRAMMY ADDS THREE CATEGORIES, INCLUDING BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM After last year's controversial decision to slash over 30 categories from the 2012 Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy announced today that it would add three more, including the reinstatement of the Best Latin Jazz Album award. The two other categories are new and include Best Urban Contemporary Album, honoring R&B albums that include elements of pop and rock, and Best Classical Compendium, which will recognize albums involving a mixture of classical subgenres. The addition of an award for Best Urban Contemporary Album could reflect the evolving landscape of urban music. As a new generation of R&B artists has increasingly embraced electronic and dance pop music, a divide within the genre has become more pronounced. With the new category, for example, Chris Brown may be nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album, while Tank could get a nod for Best R&B Album. In the cuts last year that reduced the total number of categories from 109 to 78, R&B as a genre lost four out of eight awards as several were consolidated. For Best Latin Jazz Album, the Recording Academy's decision to reinstate the category follows an unsuccessful class action lawsuit on its behalf that was filed last year. In a statement to the Associated Press, Academy president Neil Portnow said the new changes reflected an objectively "good musical decision" and were not influenced by politics. BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music. Props to BET.com (06.11.12) |
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50 CENT TALKS WITH OPRAH; DISCUSSES PHILOSOPHY ON DEATH In a sit down that many people never expected, 50 Cent and Oprah have connected for an introspective interview on a number of issues on her new show Oprah’s Next Chapter, on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In the converstaion, the two have dialogue about rap culture, being a father, spirituality, 50′s life growing up, love, and even 50′s philosophy on death. Despite his many violent run-ins with the streets, including being shot and having grown up in an environment of where his mother was murdered, 50 does not fear death and has found a way to come to terms with death itself. “I’m not afraid of dying, I’ve accepted that I’m not in control. You know and I know that when the time comes, when you have that type of situation take place, or happens to you, and you dont have an answer, you go to the concept of your higher power. And they say there is a plan for you, and if you believe in it – I used to have a issues with the plan. When you getting ready to take off [on a plane],” 50 Cent said crossing himself as he traced the sign of the cross in the air. “I only do it one time. I don’t – either pray or worry, dont do both. If you gonna sit there and say a prayer and then worry, then how does God feel about you? He knows you sitting there worrying.” While the two had a nice conversation at 50′s grandmother’s house, in the past, the pair did not get along. 50 even named his dog after Oprah and it was widely believed that Oprah did not like rappers. Rappers Ice Cube, Ludacris, 50 Cent and others chastised Oprah for supposedly turning a cold shoulder to Hip-Hop. But many were mistaken as Oprah has fondness for several Hip-Hop songs. Props to AllHipHop.com (06.11.12) |
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KIM KARDASHIAN GIFTS KANYE WEST $750K BIRTHDAY LAMBORGHINI What do you get for the rap star who has everything? Shopping for Kanye West can’t be easy, but Kim Kardashian proved that money ain’t a thing today after she copped Yeezy a super rare Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 for his 35th birthday. Lamborghini mercy indeed-- the whip goes for $750,000. Hopefully TMZ didn't ruin the surprise when they published pics of the rare black two-door sports car. According to the site, Kardashian couldn't bring the gift to 'Ye because he's in Ireland with Jay-Z for another stop on the European leg of their Watch the Throne Tour, so Kim took a video of the car in L.A. so she could show him. "Kimye" began dating earlier this spring and have since become prime targets for the paparazzi, who have snapped the lovebirds on both coasts. The pair were also spotted at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where Yeezy premiered his "Cruel Summer" film. Last week, TMZ reported that both Kanye and Kim put their Los Angeles-area homes up for sale, fueling rumors that the two are planning to move in together. On Wednesday, 'Ye and his G.O.O.D. Music comrades dropped the video for their "Mercy" single, which they spot in an art-deco inspired parking garage. Now that the Louis Vuitton Don has a new toy to rap about, we wonder if a remix is on the horizon. Props to MTV.com (06.11.12) |
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RIHANNA WAS SUPRISED AT 'NEGATIVE ATTENTION' FROM CHIRS BROWN COLLABORATION The racy new photos from Rihanna's Esquire U.K. cover feature have gotten plenty of attention, but inside the magazine the singer opens up about her recent collaborations with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, after a bit of pressure from the reporter. In a lengthy back and forth, Rihanna grows progressively more annoyed when asked about recording two tracks with her ex Chris Brown, given their history, including a 2009 assault. "Some love it, some hate it, some love it but still hate that we did it. But the response in the end has been incredible," she tells Esquire, but soon tries to steer the conversation away from the topic and toward her meal. When asked again about the collaborations — remixes to the songs "Birthday Cake" and "Turn Up the Music" — Rihanna says it was "definitely" controversial: "The whole thing caught me a little off-guard to be honest ... especially the amount of ... negative attention. Because it never occurred to me how this was going to be a problem. It really didn't." She later insists, "I thought people were gonna be surprised that we finally did a record together, but I didn't see how people could think it was a bad thing. In my mind, it was just music." RiRi then notes she was surprised that because they recorded songs together, people jumped to the conclusion she and Brown were dating again. "OK. In a completely professional environment. And on a complete professional note. I mean, if I went back to him [as a girlfriend], then that's a whole different discussion," she said. "And if I ever do, then that's something that y'all have to talk to me about when — if — that ever happens. Until then, look at it for what it is. "I think a lot of people jumped to an assumption that was incorrect, and they ended up looking stupid. Because of a song. How stupid. If I was together with every collaborator I worked with ... f--- my life." In the end, Rihanna once again reiterated Props to MTV.com (06.07.12) |
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IGGY AZALEA BREAKS SILENCE ON AZEALIA BANKS BEEF Iggy Azalea and Azealia Banks' beef has roots. During an interview with Brooklyn Martino, the Grand Hustle rapstress explained the origins of her issues with the Harlem, New York spitter, stating that it all began at the CMJ Music Festival last year when Banks popped off about her on Twitter. "It actually started at CMJ Music Festival back in September when she went on Twitter and said, 'I’m next level, I had a song about being a Barbie before Nicki Minaj had a song about being a Barbie. Here’s the link to my song. And fuck Iggy Azalea, I had a song called 'Pussy' before she ever did. Here’s a link to my song. It’s better.” The issues didn't end there. Azalea says that she responded with a one-two punch tweet, but said that they didn't have beef. Banks took it to the next level when Azalea appeared on the cover of XXL's Freshman issue, picking apart her lyrics and accusing her of being racist due to her "runaway slave master" line. "And then I wrote on Twitter, the best thing you can be is humble, because it's not about who did it first; it's about who did it better And then she wrote back to me and said, 'Beef!' I was like, not really girl. Not really. It's not that deep. Sot hen after that, she wrote on Twitter, 'Fuck white girls. They are privileged and shouldn't be allowed to rap, because rap is black culture' and all this other crap. Then, it was like, what does ignorant art even mean anyway? Music is not art. Music is culture. That doesn't even make any sense. Then, it was quiet until I got on the cover of XXL and it became me being racist." Props to HipHopDX.com (06.07.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VANS WARPED TOUR: THE "BRINGITBACKTOUR" STAGE INFUSES HIP-HOP INTO THE SKATER-LIFESTYLE The 41-city Vans Warped Tour is in full swing from June 16 through August 5, and the country’s independent Hip-Hop scene has a larger presence than ever at the national festival. During the tour, AllHipHop.com has joined with Someone Clothing and other major sponsors to present the “BringItBackTour” stage powered by GoalZero, featuring music performances, B-Boy showcases, live art, DJ exhibitions, and local talent search with ReverbNation. This year’s “BringItBackTour” stage headliners include The Chicarones and Ceschi Ramos, with select appearances from legends such as Kanetic Source (of Ozomatli), Aceyalone, Opio (of Hieroglyphics), and OneBeLo (of Binary Star), and other highly respected artists such as Rah Digga, Double-0 (of Kidz In The Hall) with Yonas (of UNI), LuckyIam, Bleubird, Verble, Dox Black, Dante LaSalle, Parable, Prime Element, and more. According to Tyler “Fritzo” Stark, founder and CEO of the “BringItBackTour,” “The more we work together the stronger we become as a community. ‘BringItBackTour’ has been developed by artist, for artist. The goal is to teach others how important sharing resources and building bridges across the country is, as well as opening up new avenues for artists across the board. ” Planners have designed the “BringItBackTour” stage to pull together prime circles of artisans, musicians, educators, and activists for the cause of inspiring our youth and peers with a multitude of positive creative outlets. Props to AllHipHop.com (06.07.12) |
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USHER, 'DANCE CENTRAL 3': SINGER SAYS CHOREOGRAPHY IN VIDEO GAME WILL HELP MEN Usher thinks gamers will be fallin' in love with his dance moves. The 33-year-old R&B star took to the stage Monday at Microsoft's Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference to unveil his role in "Dance Central 3," the upcoming third installment of the popular choreography game developed by Harmonix for Xbox 360's camera-based Kinect system. "After looking at the first game, I was like, 'Man, they didn't really get the moves right, so I was able to 100 percent give them accuracy through choreography from videos, as well as from my live performance," Usher said backstage after he performed "Scream" at the industry trade show. Usher's songs "Scream" and "OMG" featuring will.i.am are in the upcoming game. He acknowledged that working on "Dance Central 3" was a new experience since he was only familiar with older titles. "At some point, I had to put them down because my thumbs were black and blue," Usher said. "I still have the callouses built up. You see this little black mark right here? That's from hours and hours of 'Tecmo Bowl' and 'Mike Tyson's Punch-Out.'" Other tunes set to be featured in the third edition of the franchise include 50 Cent's "In Da Club," Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," Van McCoy's "The Hustle" and Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How to Dougie." Usher joked that "Dance Central 3," which will be available this fall, will give male players with some swagger. "How many guys don't know how to move?" he said. "One sure way to make yourself completely unattractive is to not know how to move at a party. ...Get 'Dance Central 3,' learn a few moves, and throw it into your repertoire." Props to TheBoombox.com (06.06.12) |
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MIGUEL TELLS OTHER ARTISTS TO STAY OUT OF HIS LANE Miguel has a stern warning for the competition: Stay out of his lane or he will “f**k you up.” The R&B crooner is taking a tough stance when it comes to his music and those who try to imitate his style. The 25-year-old is currently in the studio working on the follow-up to his 2010 debut All I Want Is You. “It’s definitely a progressive album,” he told Mina SayWhat on Philadelphia radio station Power 99. “I would describe it as being progressive in the sense that I’m taking a lot of my more alternative influences and incorporating them.” Over the past few months he released his trilogy of Art Dealer Chic micro EPs to give fans a taste of his new direction. “‘Adorn’ is a great segway because it’s very soulful, but still has some alternative elements,” he said. “I think that’s what makes it really cool. It’s a very honest representation of where I’m at, but it’s just a segway.” But those who attempt to adopt his sound should take caution. “I’m just gonna say, ‘Don’t nobody out there step into my fu**in’ lane. Stay where you’re at,’” he warned. “I’m a competitive person and what I’m saying is I’m solidifying my lane and don’t fu**ing come over here ’cause I will f**k you up.” He explained himself further. “I want everyone to express themselves in a unique way. I’m saying that in an aggressive way ’cause that’s how I really feel, but what I mean by that is find your own thing to do and create your own lane.” Don’t expect many features on his sophomore album. “I’m a man who wants to stand on his own two feet. I don’t need a fu**ing co-sign. I don’t need that shit,” he said, while adding, “I can’t tell you who I may feature on this next album, but I guarantee you that it will be unexpected.” Props to Rap-up.com (06.06.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: (RED), RED HOT TEAMING FOR '(RED) HOT + FELA' COMPILATION (RED) and the Red Hot Organization are teaming up for the first time on (RED) Hot + Fela, a tribute compilation to Fela Kuti tentatively due this fall, a follow-up to 2002's Red Hot + Riot. The first single, a cover of Kuti's "Lady," features Angelique Kidjo, tUnE-yArDs, Akua Naru and Ahmir Questlove Thompson and is out Friday. The (RED)/Red Hot team-up is a logical one, and not just because the non-profits share a key word. Not only do both organizations raise money for AIDS-related causes -- (RED) partners and events support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, while Red Hot donates the proceeds of its albums to a variety of AIDS-related organizations and pro-social groups -- but they share a few artistic synergies. (RED) co-founder Bono, for example, was one of the artists featured on the very first Red Hot compilation, Red Hot + Blue, via U2's cover of Cole Porter's "Night and Day." And (RED)'s current CEO Deborah Dugan was an executive vice president at EMI/Capitol Records when the first volumes of the Red Hot compilations were released. Even (RED) marketing partner Converse helped bring things full circle by playing host to the recording sessions for "Lady" via its Rubber Tracks studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Paul Heck, a longtime producer for Red Hot, called the (RED) collaboration a "no-brainer" and an ideal opportunity to revisit the cultural legacy of Fela Kuti. "If you had told me [in 2002] that there would be a Broadway show about his life I would have laughed because it seemed so improbable. But time moves on, things change and amazing things sometimes happen. I was interested in revisiting the Fela catalog to address this new moment in time, with some amazing new artists making amazing music in totally new ways," he says. '"Lady' was an important song to make the connection between the goals we're reaching in terms of stopping mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015." Props to Billboard.Biz.com (06.06.12) |
ICE-T: 'THE ART OF RAP' WILL BE MORE THAN JUST A MOVIE As he prepares for the June 15 theatrical opening of his documentary "Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap," Ice-T promises that the campaign "won't end with this film." "We've got a DVD. We have a television show. We have a soundtrack album," the rapper told Billboard.com before a suburban Detroit screening of the film, which was attended by fellow MCs Chuck D of Public Enemy (who Ice-T had joined on stage the previous night at the Movement Electronic Music Festival), D-12's Denaun Porter and Trick Trick. "I've got 52 (MCs) in this movie, and I have at least an hour to an hour and a half of in-depth interviews. I've got, like, two hours with KRS-One. So the film will just be the first embodiment of 'The Art of Rap,' but I don't want to promote our secondary plans and take away from the film. I want people to see it on the big screen, hear it with the big speakers and take that ride." Ice-T spent two years working on "Something From Nothing," chatting with the likes of Afrika Bambaataa, Run-DMC, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kanye West, Grandmaster Melle Mel and scores of others about the actual crafts of rapping, rhyming, composing and sound generation. "In my 25 years of rapping, no one ever asked me how I did it," explained Ice-T, who licensed more than 400 songs for the film and commissioned Smooth Hustla to compose the original track "109 MCs." "People would always be more concerned with the beefs, the cars, the girls, the celebrity side of it, but not how it's done. To me that meant people thought you just s*** it out. There's no creative process. There's nothing to it... But some of these cats, it's like very intricate wordplay, and they have their own ways to do it. I tried to get people who spoke on all the different styles of rap -- the underground battle rappers or the conscious rappers. There's lots of different styles." Props to Billboard.com (06.05.12) |
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WHITNEY HOUSTON MEMOIR: SINGER'S MOTHER, CISSY,
SIGNS PUBLISHING DEAL WITH HARPERCOLLINS Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy, has signed a deal with HarperCollins to release a book about her late daughter, Contact Music reports. Due out next February -- the one-year anniversary of the singer's death -- the memoir will offer what the elder Houston calls "a deeper understanding" into the troubled diva's "true story." "When I lost my daughter... the world lost one of the most beautiful voices and an extraordinarily beautiful and charitable woman," Cissy said in a statement. "In sharing our story in this book, I hope to give her fans something to treasure, the way we all treasured Whitney." As a representative for the publisher told the Washington Post, Cissy will go "behind the headlines" and offer a candid look at Whitney's life and career. "She will tell the unabridged and unbelievable story of her daughter's life as well as her own, addressing Whitney's brightest and darkest moments while helping fans around the world understand the complexities of this extraordinary star who died much too soon," the rep said. Cissy already published a book, How Sweet the Sound, in 1998, and earlier this year, reports surfaced that she was shopping a Whitney tell-all to publishers. "She [Houston] said, 'There are so many lies out there and I want to dispel all of those lies,'" Cissy told publishing execs, according to a New York Times source. Props to TheBoomBox.com (06.05.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DC COMICS ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR GAY GREEN LANTERN Break out the rainbow flags! The Green Lantern is gay, DC Comics announced today. The company's reprisal of the original Green Lantern (known as Alan Scott in his non-Lantern form), who first appeared in the 1940s, will be re-introduced to comic fans as a gay man in the pages of the upcoming comic Earth 2. This is the latest in a string of drastic changes DC has made to its superhero squad — including Superman and Batman — in the past year. And it's certainly one of the most controversial. Conservative group One Million Moms wasted no time putting out a statement in opposition to DC's decision: "Why do adult gay men need comic superheroes as role models? They don’t but do want to indoctrinate impressionable young minds by placing these gay characters on pedestals in a positive light." Meanwhile, GLAAD was quick to respond with their own statement. The organization tells TMZ: "The idea that a comic book character will make young people gay is as outlandish as saying it will give them a green power ring and the ability to fly. Even more outlandish is the idea that there are 'one million moms' who believe this hate group's anti-gay nonsense. From Christian churches to sports fields, to now even fictional comic book worlds, our culture overwhelmingly supports gay and lesbian Americans and that's what anti-gay groups like this are working against." Earth 2 scribe James Robinson spoke to USA Today about the decision. "He's going to be the leader of the team, this dynamic hero, he'll do anything to save people, the bravest man on the planet. Why not just make him gay as well?" he explained. "What I really want to do with this character is make the fact that he's gay to be a part of who he is and not to be the one identifying aspect of him ... and have his humor and his bravery be as much or more a part of him as his sexuality." Props to BET.com (06.05.12) |
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MTV MOVIE AWARDS UPS THE MUSIC WITH MARTIN SOLVEIG, BLACK KEYS Even the MTV Movie Awards will be influenced by electronic dance music this year, as Martin Solveig join the list of musicians that will be performing at the event. The "Hello" hitmaker will be house DJ for the evening, remixing themes from iconic films, including "Star Wars," "Jaws" and "Pulp Fiction." Although the rest of the lineup ranges from indie to hip-hop, MTV plans to highlight EDM at the Movie Awards this year. "Music has always been core to the awards, but this year, we wanted to expand its presence to serve as the primary connector that drives the entire show," Amy Doyle, head of music and talent strategy at MTV, said in a statement to Reuters. "Having a house DJ ... will add an exciting new layer to the show and is a continuation of our full embrace of the EDM movement." The Black Keys were also added to the show's roster Tuesday (May 29), and the Ohio duo will be performing "Gold on the Ceiling," the second single from 2011's "El Camino." They join fun. and Wiz Khalifa for a night that's beginning to look like just as much music as movie. British comedian Russell Brand will host the event, which airs on MTV this Sunday (June 3) at 9 p.m. Kid Cudi ("Project X"), LMFAO ("21 Jump Street"), and The Chemical Brothers ("Hanna") are all nominated for Best Music, a category which MTV says "honors the song with enough melody magic to set the ton of an entire scene." College and Electric Youth ("Drive") and Figurine ("Like Crazy") are also up for the award. Lupe Fiasco, Trey Songz and the Foo Fighters performed at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards, hosted by Jason Sudeikis. Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Eminem, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Rihanna and Amy Winehouse have all performed in recent years. Props to MTV.com (05.30.12) |
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NEW HIP HOP COLLEGE COMEDY AIMED TOWARDS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN “Fail,” an online urban comedy show for youth, will premiere its second season exclusively on AllHipHop.com in a partnership with Hip-Hop legend Christopher “Play” Martin of Kid-N-Play, and acclaimed producers, Vanessa Baden and James Bland. The college-themed “Fail” will begin this Thursday, May 31 on AllHipHop.com, and continue on every Thursday thereafter. “We at AllHipHop are pleased to present the “Fail” show to our audience. Hip-Hop, as a culture, is ever expanding and limitless. This is another facet to that culture on another platform,” said Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur, co-founder of AllHipHop.com. The show is geared towards an under-served demographic in Hip-Hop – students in middle, high school, and early college. “Fail” is a comedy about a group of co-eds who are on the verge of academic probation as a result of the random misadventures they embark on after class. A press statement about the web series says, “The series focuses on six students who in an attempt to improve their grades form a study group and end up spending more time in each other’s social circles than in their books, proving that college is about finding yourself and your friends for life.” “Fail,” contrary to the title, is meant to inspire youth to stay in school, a notion that attracted Christopher “Play” Martin. “I’m very excited to be a part of something so new, and I truly thank AllHipHop.com for the opportunity to do something so groundbreaking in the digital age of Hip-Hop entertainment,” said Martin. “But I’m more humbled to be in a position in life to support and present the talents involved with this series the way others before me believed in Kid, Play, Martin, Tisha, AJ, and Full Force.” Martin is also known for starring in the hit movie franchise, “House Party,” to which Meek Mill offered a nod to in his song of the same name. Props to AllHipHop.com (05.30.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 5/27/2012 For the second consecutive week, a fully-produced album by El-P debuted on the Top 200. Following El's musical half of R.A.P. Music by Killer Mike the previous week, the Brooklyn, New York native's third vocal album, Cancer 4 Cure as a soloist nearly scored a Top 50. Also this week, as Strange Music's Krizz Kaliko is the most recent label project, Kickin' & Screamin', to appear on the charts, last month's Paranormal effort from Michigan emcee Prozak made an encore with a strong sales boost. In a career that spans nearly 20 years, producer/emcee El-P garnered his highest charting position to date with Cancer 4 Cure. The Company Flow co-founder has also produced full albums for Cannibal Ox and earlier this month, Killer Mike, but the #61 position for his Fat Possum Records release is a benchmark, topping I'll Sleep When You're Dead's #78 spot from 2007. C4C, a self-produced LP, features Danny Brown, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire and Mike, among others. The independent solo effort, and El's first since his Def Jux label went on hiatus, was backed by the single "The Full Retard." In its second week in stores R.A.P. Music fell 59 spots to #136. R.A.P. Music is already one of the releases getting "album of the year" talk from fans, as 2012 approaches its midpoint. The Williams Street release, an Adult Swim subsidiary, dropped Mike's sixth album. Fellow Southern Rap veterans T.I. and Bun B appear on the album, along with scratching from longtime Eyedea musical partner, DJ Abilities. Earlier this month, Mike spoke in-depth with HipHopDX about the chemistry he's found with El. #20. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - 18,000 (493,000) #30. B.o.B. - Strange Clouds - 13,000 (130,000) #39. Drake - Take Care - 9,400 (1,753,000) #61. El-P - Cancer 4 Cure - 6,500 (6,600) Props to HipHopDX.com (05.30.12) |
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MAC MILLER ALIGNS WITH CANCER-STRICKEN YOUTH At the open of his 2010 track "The Spins," Mac Miller urges kids to follow their dreams, but the Pittsburgh MC does more than just give sound advice. Recently the Blue Slide Park rapper and his producer E. Dan linked up with aspiring MC Bobby Stewart, a.k.a. Yung Ka, to show him the ropes around the studio. Stewart, who is suffering from a form of cancer called T-cell lymphoma, first met Miller at Mac's December 2011 homecoming concert in Pittsburgh after the rapper presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a check for $50,000. "It's cool what I did, but the story here is him; the story is that there's a kid that's battling one of the gruesomest, toughest diseases in the world, yet he's courageous enough to talk about it in his music," Mac told MTV News when we caught up with him at the Bamboozle Music Festival in New Jersey on May 18. "This is someone who really talks about his sh-- in his music, like all the stages of cancer, to the point where it's uncomfortable for some to listen to because it's that much real, it's too real, it's that painful." Miller served as a mentor for the 18-year-old rapper, but he didn't want to muddle the moment by guest-rapping on Ka's personal track. "I just wanted to do what I could do to mentor him and help him put a song together and give him what I know," he said. "I didn't want to step in on the song because to be real, he did a whole song about cancer, and then what am I gonna come in with on the third verse?" The song hasn't been released yet, but last week Pittsburgh's WTAE Action News paid a visit to ID Labs, the studio where Mac, E. Dan and Ka recorded the track, and caught up with the up-and-coming MC. "To be with Mac is a blessing," Ka said. "His lyrics are amazing. Hip-hop is my passion. To be able to be with Mac Miller ... he is a Pittsburgh legend. Wiz Khalifa shout-out." Props to MTV.com (05.29.12) |
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MICHELLE OBAMA PRAISES BEYONCE ON ‘GMA’
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CHRIS BROWN, MEEK MILL AND DRAKE FIGHT OVER RIHANNA, SINGER REMOVES MMG SIGNEE FROM SONG Chris Brown, Meek Mill and Drake have something in common other than commanding the stage; they've all dated Rihanna. As a result of their shared interest in the "Where Have You Been" songstress, the three men let their emotions get the best of them recently in a heated Twitter exchange. Meek set the tone in a subliminal tweet he posted last week (May 26), which centered on Brown removing him from his song "Don't Judge Me." The Fortune creator apparently heard word that Rihanna and the Maybach Music Group signee were seeing one another despite his denial regarding rumors they dated. "You took me off your song cause she let me watch da throne #dreamsandnightmares," Meek tweeted, though he later deleted the comment. Brown took notice of the remark and joined in on the conversation, never directly responding to Meek but reportedly referring to his Dreamchasers 2 mixtape and Rihanna as well. "She's a dream chaser! There are alot of dreamers so she'll be running forever!" he wrote. The "Amen" creator didn't stop with the subliminal posts, letting Brown know that Rihanna may have once been his lover but he didn't lay claim to her. "Dese chicks belong 2 da game....not u! Never get confused and think that's all u!" Meek responded. Drake, who has publicly acknowledged his feelings for Rihanna in his lyrics and with public displays of affection, jumped in to Meek's defense, writing on Twitter, "Oh that's your ho? That's our ho too. Lol. We get gyal eeeeaasy." Props to TheBoomBox.com (05.29.12) |
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TEYANA TAYLOR OFFICIALLY ON KANYE WEST'S G.O.O.D MUSIC ROSTER Despite having a close working relationship with Kanye West for some time now, Harlem rapper/singer and actress Teyana Taylor has just now been confirmed as an official member of 'Ye's all-star team at G.O.O.D. Music. The 21-year-old singer-songwriter and actress, who worked with West on his fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, will reveal details about her first G.O.O.D. Music LP and forthcoming singles in the next few weeks. In April she debuted a new mixtape, The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor, which pays tribute to Lauryn Hill and her other early influences, including Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson. Taylor got her start in the industry when she was signed to Pharrell William's Star Trak record label at the age of 15, and some fans might remember her over-the-top episode of MTV's "My Super Sweet 16." Her debut album, 2008's From a Planet Called Harlem, featured the breakout single "Google Me," and Taylor has since earned plenty of co-writing credits on recent songs like Nicki Minaj's "Right By My Side," which appeared on Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Taylor worked closely with West on MBDTF's "Hell of a Life," "Runaway," "Dark Fantasy" and the collaboration track "Christmas in Harlem," which also featured G.O.O.D. Music's CyHi the Prynce. Her recent onscreen endeavors include roles in 2010's "Stomp the Yard 2" and Tyler Perry's 2011 film "Madea's Big Happy Family." Last summer, the 21-year-old also grabbed attention with her remix of Drake's hit single "Marvin's Room." "Her Room" found Taylor sampling lyrics from Lauryn Hill's "X Factor," as she came to terms with a cheating ex. The G.O.O.D. news just keeps coming from Kanye West's camp. Last month the super producer/rapper signed veteran Q-Tip to his Def Jam imprint. Props to MTV.com (05.15.12) |
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JAY-Z VOICES SUPPORT FOR GAY MARRIAGE Jay-Z is speaking out in support of gay marriage. Following President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage last week, the Roc Nation mogul has weighed in on the hot topic. “I’ve always thought it as something that’s still holding the country back,” the rapper told CNN during a press conference for his “Made in America” festival in Philadelphia. “What people do in their own homes is their business. You can choose to love whoever you love. It’s no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple.” He responded to critics who claim it will cost Obama votes in the upcoming election. “I think it’s the right thing to do, so whether it costs him votes or not… Again, it’s not about votes, it’s about people,” he explained. “I think it’s the right thing to do as a human being.” When it comes to his music, Mr. Carter doesn’t have any immediate plans to head back into the studio following the birth of his daughter Blue Ivy Carter. “I thought that I would after my daughter was born. I thought I would be more inspired with all the new feelings and everything that I’d have to write about, but it really happened the other way,” he told MTV News. “I just really wanna hang out with her. I just wanna enjoy those moments for a bit and I’m sure that feeling of music will come back to me.” Jay-Z will join Kanye West on the European leg of the “Watch the Throne” tour, which kicks off May 18 in London. Props to Rap-Up.com (05.15.12) |
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J-COLE TALKS KENDRICK LAMAR COLLABO LP, TWITTER HIATUS Could Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole be the new Jay-Z and Kanye West? After months of rumors and whispers, it looks like a joint album between the talented up-and-comers is going to be a reality. In a recent radio interview, J. Cole confirmed that the two MCs are in the studio recording together. “I just started working with Kendrick the other day,” Cole revealed in an interview with Bootleg Kev of Las Vegas radio station Hot 97.5. "We got it in, finally, again. [There’s going to be an] album, man.” The idea of a collaborative album between K-Dot and J-Dot seemingly came about after the two BET Music Matters artists recorded “HiiiPower,” a standout cut from Kendrick’s acclaimed 2011 LP Section.80 that Cole produced. “We actually worked, bouncing ideas, which was great,” Cole said. “The vibe was so good that it was like, man, [the album is] absolutely gonna happen. We got maybe four or five [songs] together." J. Cole also spoke about his recent Twitter hiatus, saying that he’s focused on making new music, not being a trending topic. “I’m not on Twitter no more, I’m not doing it and I’m not going to," he said. "I’m sitting and on watching all these artists who I respect — some of them are big artists — on Twitter fighting for attention. Every tweet is like, I’m looking for attention. Retweet me! It comes from this place of fear, like I don’t want people to forget about me. But really your body of work speaks for you, so it’s doing work even when you’re not knowing it. But because people ain’t talking about you on Twitter or your mixtape ain't trending, you feel a certain kind of way. But when it's my time, I'm gonna load up all my clips and I'm gonna empty 'em out." To hear the rest of the interview, in which J. Cole also discusses his new album, his recording process and performing with Drake, check out BootlegKev.com. Props to BET.com (05.15.12) |
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BEYONCE SPEND FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WITH BLUE IVY, TINA KNOWLES A few weeks ago Beyonce used her newly relaunched website to pen a heartfelt note to First Lady Michelle Obama, and for Mother's Day Bey couldn't pass up the chance to dedicate a handwritten piece to her favorite woman, Tina Knowles. Bey will be spending her first mother's day with her mom, plus new daughter Blue Ivy and more than likely her sister Solange. “Everything I am is because of you!” the note reads. “You are the first voice that ever sang to me. At every turn you push me to be better. You teach me to be true to myself and the ones I love. When I look into your eyes, I am sooo proud. Now that I’m a mother, I truly realize all the sacrifices you made for us. My love for you goes beyond what I can say. Happy Happy Mamas Day. Love, Beyonce. *Note: King B can’t help but write all of her “B” in capital letters. Last week Tina Knowles told US Weekly that the gang would be hanging together to celebrate the occasion. "[We're] all going to be together," Knowles said. "We're excited because it's Beyonce's first Mother's Day. I'm hoping to cook! I want to cook. My traditional soul food and maybe gumbo. That's my favorite dish!" Props to MTV.com (05.14.12) |
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JAY-Z TO CURATE, HEADLINE PHILADELPHIA MUSIC FESTIVAL Before he toasts his hometown's new basketball team with a concert at the new Brooklyn Nets arena in September, Jay-Z will take a trip down the turnpike on Labor Day weekend to headline and curate his own two-day festival in Philadelphia, with proceeds benefiting the United Way. The rapper will star in the Budweiser Made in America music festival, which will invade Philadelphia's Fairmount Park on Sept. 1 and 2. Jay-Z and Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter are expected to officially announce the festival at a press conference on Monday morning. "This Labor Day, we will not only make history but we're benefiting a great organization," says Jay-Z in a statement. "'Budweiser Made in America' will encompass every genre of music, creating and showcasing the only genre that matters, 'great music.' Budweiser and Live Nation are going to produce an amazing two days of performances, and it's great to partner with United Way again to support all of the positive work they do in the community." The festival is being produced by Live Nation, with tickets going on sale on May 23. No other performers have been revealed yet, although a press release promises "acts ranging from rock, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and dance." Later in September -- Sept. 28, to be exact -- Jay-Z will perform at the Barclays Arena in Brooklyn to celebrate the borough's new basketball franchise, which he partially owns. Last month, the Brooklyn Nets revealed their new team logo, which was personally designed by the rapper. The Budweiser Made in America festival would offer a nice book-end to Philadelphia's hip-hop-centric summer festivals, with the Roots Picnic fest taking place on the first weekend of June for the fifth straight year on June 2-3. Props to Billboard.com (05.14.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WHITNEY HOUSTON FAMILY TO STAR IN 'THE HOUSTON FAMILY CHRONICLES' REALITY SHOW A reality show featuring Whitney Houston's relatives, including daughter Bobbi Kristina and mother Cissy, is in the works. Houston representative Kristen Foster confirmed the Lifetime show, "The Houston Family Chronicles," on Friday. It will focus on Pat Houston, sister-in-law and manager of the late singer. Pat Houston is also helping care for Whitney Houston's only child, 19-year-old Bobbi Kristina. The show promises to feature Bobbi Kristina and Cissy, as well as Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick, gospel singer CeCe Winans and other members of the Houston family. Whitney Houston drowned in a bathtub in February at age 48 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Authorities said her death was complicated by cocaine use and heart disease. Pat Houston, Whitney Houston's brother Gary and Bobbi Kristina spoke about Houston's death in an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Winfrey's OWN network in March. Cissy Houston, also a singer, put out her first new music in over a decade on iTunes this week. Cissy, Gary and Bobbi Kristina are expected to appear Saturday in Newark, N.J., at a gospel tribute to the late superstar as part of the annual McDonald's Gospelfest concert. "Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL." Props to TheBoombox.com (05.14.12) |
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JIMI HENDRIX'S ANDRE 3000 BIOPIC A GO, WITHOUT ESTATE'S OK It's official: John Ridley will direct a bio-film about the late Jimi Hendrix, who'll be played on screen by the musician Andre Benjamin, better known as OutKast's Andre 3000. Ridley also has written the original screenplay for the project, titled "All Is By My Side." Haley Atwell and Imogen Poots will appear in co-starring roles. Darko Entertainment, Subotica Entertaiment and Matador Pictures will produce the film, which Darko is financing. Producing are Darko's Sean McKittrick and Jeff Culotta, Danny Bramson, Subotica's Tristan Orphen Lynch and Matador's Nigel Thomas. Ridley and Tedd Hamm will serve as exec producers on the project, scheduled to begin production on location in Ireland later this month. In announcing "Side," the producers said it will be based on actual interviews with Hendrix as well as archival materials. However on Thursday (May 10), Experience Hendrix, LLC issued a statement on the prospective film that indicated it would not include the musician's classic recordings. "Various media outlets have recently published accounts that indicate a feature length Jimi Hendrix biographical film is nearing production," reads the statement. "Experience Hendrix, LLC, the family-owned company entrusted with safeguarding the legacy of Jimi Hendrix and administrator of the Jimi Hendrix music and publishing catalog has made it known many times in the past that no such film, were it to include original music or copyrights created by Jimi Hendrix, can be undertaken without its full participation." Props to Billboard.com (05.11.12) |
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SERENA WILLIAMS MAKE HER RAP DEBUT WITH NEW SONG It's too bad Serena Williams didn't make her rap debut during that short-lived Common and Drake beef, because the timing would've been delightful. A new rap song has surfaced from the tennis star, which she apparently recorded at B Major Music Group's Florida recording studio last year.According to TMZ, the studio is owned by Williams' good friend, Baltimore Ravens player Bryant McKinnie. A sample of what you're in for: "I ball hard no tennis racket/I can't see these haters through my Gucci glasses/I make hits like batting practice--they be like Serena, is you really rapping?" Our question exactly. Serena has nothing prolific to offer on her track, and we assume that she was simply doing this for fun, in which case...go on girl. When Common and Drake tossed words at each other on a few diss tracks back in January, there was plenty of speculation that some of the bad blood was over Common's ex-girlfriend and Drake's 'close friend' Serena Williams. Common denied that was the root of the beef, and the two rappers ended their feud with smiles, like it had never happened at all. Props to MTV.com (05.11.12) |
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BIG SEAN TO SERVE AS PRINCIPAL OF DAY FOR DETROIT SCHOOL Detroit rapper Big Sean will return to his hometown to serve as principal of the day at Lincoln High School. This Monday (May 14), Big Sean will serve as principal at Lincoln High as a reward for the students, who increased their attendance by 8.56% as part of the “Get Schooled” campaign. “Showing up to school, all day, every day, is one of the most important things students can do to reach their educational goals and to go on to success later in life,” said Big Sean. “I am so proud of my hometown of Detroit for tackling attendance issues head on and I am so excited to celebrate the achievements of the students who worked so hard throughout the attendance challenge.” The “Get Schooled” program is a partnership between United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Chevrolet and Viacom. The “Get Schooled” campaign, which ran from February 13 – April 27, was created with the goal of boosting the attendance at 17 Metro Detroit high schools. During his time as principal at Lincoln High School, Big Sean will visit classes and co-teach. He will also attend an assembly with students, which will be hosted by Shade 45/MTV personality Sway Calloway and Coco of FM 98 WJLB. The assembly will feature a number of inspirational guests, including Kevin Liles, the former President of Def Jam/ Warner Music Group and senior advisor to the “Get Schooled” campaign. Log on to AllHipHop.com on Monday for exclusive photos of the event. Props to AllHipHop.com (05.11.12) |
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EMINEM PUTS UPCOMING FILM ON HOLD The first rap album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart returns to the top 20 this week. Fans waiting on Eminem's return to the silver screen will have to wait a little longer. The star has had to put his upcoming boxing film, Southpaw, on hold again after being denied for a grant from the state of Michigan and previously being dropped by Filmworks, reports Hip Hop DX. The drama, which stars Em as a left-handed welterweight boxer who becomes a champion before undergoing a tragedy, and later becomes determined to make a comeback, was scheduled to begin production earlier this year. However, it has been delayed, reps claim, because Em wanted to work on music. "He's focusing on his music right now, so while he's doing that, while he's in that space, he wanted to put this on hold for the time being," said Dennis Dennehy, executive vice president of marketing and publicity at Interscope Records. "What I'm told is when the film does get made, the plan is that the bulk of it will be shot in Michigan. That was always the understanding." Em did apply for $8.9 million in Michigan film incentives but his application was withdrawn over a reported "talent issue." Props to BET.com (05.10.12) |
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ANDRE 3000 ARIVES IN IRELAND TO FILM JIMI HENDRIX BIOPIC Where in the world is André 3000? The reclusive rapper, born Andre Benjamin, was spotted in Dublin, Ireland, where he is getting ready to shoot the Jimi Hendrix biopic All Is by My Side. He didn’t seem too happy to see photographers, covering his face with his jacket and a copy of The Irish Times newspaper as he strolled the streets with a bodyguard. According to the Irish Film and Television Network, the movie is currently in pre-production and the shoot will last six weeks. The film, which stars the OutKast member, will explore the rock legend’s early career, including his time spent in England in 1966 and 1967 while working on his classic debut Are You Experienced. John Ridley (Three Kings) will write and direct. While there are no current plans for a new OutKast album, 3000 is working on a solo project. “I’m going to get back to having fun,” he told GQ. Props to Rap-Up.com (05.10.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CHRIS BROWN DENIES RAPPING ABOUT RIHANNA ON NEW FREESTYLE Kanye West had a few bombs to drop on his single “Way Too Cold,” but Chris Brown thought there was a little more left to be said over the beat, so today he released two new freestyles, over “Way Too Cold” and the instrumentals for G.O.O.D. Music’s “Mercy.” The freestyles find Chris Brown spitting some unpleasant lines about his ex, which, of course, prompted rumors that he was talking about Rihanna, followed by a response from Brown on Twitter.The lines in question: "Don't f--k with my old bitch it's like a bad fur/ Every industry n---- done had her/ Shook the tree like a pumpkin just to smash her/ Bitch is breaking codes, but I'm the password." Naturally, some listeners jumped to the conclusion that Brown was referring to Rihanna (and some sites reported that they have even unfollowed each other). Seems to us like pleading the fifth here and moving on would’ve been a reasonable course of action, but instead Brown took to Twitter, responding to the gossip. @chrisbrown "Assumptions! I didn't say any names so if u took offense to it then its something you feel guilty about." It was all good just a week ago...when Rih wished him happy birthday via Twitter. That, plus their fairly recently collaborations on "Cake (remix)" and "Turn Up The Music (remix)." What could've gone wrong since then? Props to MTV.com (05.10.12) |
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BEASTIE BOYS' 'LICENSED TO Ill' RETURNS TO TOP 20 ON BILLBOARD 200 The first rap album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart returns to the top 20 this week. Following the death of Beastie Boy Adam "MCA" Yauch on May 4, the band's 1986 album "Licensed to Ill" reenters the tally at No. 18 with 19,000 sold according to Nielsen SoundScan (up 802%). The blockbuster set reached the top on March 7, 1987 and spent seven straight weeks at No. 1. Beastie Boys' catalog of albums and songs saw a surge in sales in the tracking week that ended on May 6 (reflecting only two full days of sales after Yauch's passing). Collectively, the trio's albums sold 55,000 last week -- up 1,235% from 4,000 the week previous. Beastie Boys also come back to the Billboard 200 with "Solid Gold Hits" (No. 51 with 8,000; up 806%), "Paul's Boutique" (No. 56 with 8,000; up 4,287%), "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two" (No. 107 with 4,000; up 1,150%), "Ill Communication" (No. 109 with 4,000; up 2,799%), "Check Your Head" (No. 124 with 4,000; up 2,727%) and "Beastie Boys Anthology: The Sounds of Science" (No. 141 with 3,000; up 3,303%). In terms of digital songs, Beastie Boys sold a combined 151,000 downloads this past week -- up from 14,000 the week previous (a gain of 949%). Its best seller was the Billboard Hot 100 No. 48 single "Brass Monkey," with 15,000 (up 807%). The Boys' next largest was "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!) with 14,000 (up 304%). "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" was third (14,000; up 1,087%), followed by "Sabotage" (14,000; up 885%), "Intergalactic" (12,000; up 953%), "Paul Revere" (11,000; up 1,114%) and "So What'cha Want" (11,000; up 1,621%). Those titles all debut on the two-and-a-half year old Rap Digital Songs chart at Nos. 32, 35, 36, 39, 45, 48 and 50, respectively. Props to Billboard.com (05.09.12) |
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RIHANNA IV PHOTO: SINGER SHOWS OFF BANDAGED ARM COVERING NEEDLE As reported by AOL Music, after being hospitalized and put on health watch in 2011, Rihanna has sparked speculation that she has faced yet another medical scare. The singer tweeted a photo of her arm hooked up to an IV on Tuesday (May 8), following a long night of partying with her fellow celebs at The Met Gala in New York (May 7). When one of her Twitter followers asked Rihanna why she was being so quiet on her normally very active Twitter page, Ri responded with a photo of her arm -- and signature claws -- attached to an intravenous tube. The photo comes just days after RiRi revealed she was feeling sick before and after her performance on "Saturday Night Live." See the image after the jump! Ri posted a very similar image after she was hospitalized in Sweden during a bout with the flu late last year. That episode was followed by orders from her doctors to cut way back on her hard partying ways. A month later, Ri was put on health watch following a backstage meltdown. Of course, we have tons of evidence that she's no longer adhering to the doctors' orders -- if she ever did. Most recently a certain well-documented strip club adventure comes to mind! Do you think the IV -- commonly used to combat dehydration -- is a sign that Ri was out too late partying? Props to TheBoomBox.com (05.09.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 5/6/12 All three of last week's Rap-related debuts in the Top 200 were gone a week later. This past week, B.o.B.'s sophomore album surpassed early sales predictions and scored a Top 5 slot. Atlantic Records label-mate Santigold just barely snagged a Top 20 with her own sophomore, following a subtle name-change from three years ago. An otherwise docile week maintained the status quo for the most part, otherwise. Following the gold-certified success of 2010's debut album, The Adventures Of Bobby Ray, Decatur, Georgia's B.o.B. made a strong first-week showing for his latest effort. Strange Clouds, which has been garnering mixed reviews in the media, mixes between Pop and Hip Hop, with appearances from Taylor Swift and Chris Brown, as well as T.I. and Playboy Tre. The effort moved offer 75,000 first-week units, scoring a #5 on the charts. Electronic/Hip Hop vocalist Santigold followed up her 2008 acclaimed self-title debut. The Atlantic Records sensation scored her best performing chart position to date, following '08's Top 100 debut with a Top 20 showing in Master Of My Make Believe. The new effort features production with Q-Tip, following three years of feature work, including with Jay-Z, Beastie Boys and Lonely Island. #5. B.o.B. - Strange Clouds - 76,000 (76,000) #17. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - 21,000 (436,000) #20. Santigold - Master Of My Make Believe - 18,000 (18,000) #31. Drake - Take Care - 12,000 (1,723,000) Props to HiphopDX.com (05.09.12) |
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ANDRE 3000 CAST AS JIMI HENDRIX IN BIOPIC Fans have been disappointed by the lack of musical projects from Andre 3000 recently, but the Outkast rapper is all clear now, since we've learned that he's been up to something way bigger. Three Stacks is set to star as Jimi Hendrix in an upcoming film. According to a report from the Irish Film and Television Network published on Monday (May 7), the Outkast rapper has been tapped to play the legendary ax man in a biopic titled "All Is by My Side." Set during Hendrix's time in England between 1966 and 1967, the film follows the icon as he began work on his debut, Are You Experienced, an album widely regarded by critics to feature some of the greatest guitar music ever created. The feature film will be written and directed by John Ridley, whose previous work includes the screenplays for "Red Tails" and "U-Turn," as well as story credit on David O. Russell's "Three Kings." Although he's more well-known for his contributions to music as part of the Grammy-winning hip-hop duo, Benjamin (a.k.a. Andre 3000) has had roles in several movies, including "Semi-Pro," "Idlewild" and "Four Brothers," and appeared on the FX TV series "The Shield." "Considering his just-passable acting in 'Idlewild,' the jury's still out on whether Andre can carry a movie on his own," offered MTV News senior writer Gil Kaufman. "But given his virtual retirement from music since that movie's release — 'Semi-Pro' was a small step in the right direction — and word that he's been taking acting lessons, the Hendrix movie could do for him what 'Dreamgirls' did for Jennifer Hudson. Props to MTV.com (05.08.12) |
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DRAKE + TYRA BANKS REPORTEDLY DATING Uh oh! It looks like a cougar is on the prowl. Gossip blogs are in a tizzy over photos that have surfaced of Drake and Tyra Banks on their Disneyland date in California. DrizzyDrake.org posted pics of the 38-year-old model and the 25-year-old rapper hanging out at Mickey Mouse land. However, the lovely couple failed at trying to stay incognito. Drake wore a fake mustache and baseball cap while riding on the rollercoaster with Tyra, but it didn’t work. Who does that anyway? Later, Tyra and Drizzy stop by Yogurtland, where they laugh and flirted with one another. Tyra was looking casual and fabulous (as usual) in her T-shirt, denim jeans and short puffy coat. Drake wore a T-shirt, royal blue-colored Adidas jacket and denim jeans. Tyra has been going through a rough patch in her dating life lately. After splitting up with her longtime beau John Utendahl last fall, the ‘America’s Next Top Model’ creator found herself in a long-distance relationship in January with a Balinese businessman. We can only guess that her liaison with him ended a couple of months ago. Meanwhile, Drake has been quite busy in the dating department. The ‘Y.O.L.O.’ rapper has been linked with a number of females, including Dollicia Bryan and Rita Ora. Props to PopCrush.com (05.08.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MET GALA 2012: BEYONCE, RIHANNA, KANYE WEST, ALICIA KEYS, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, M.I.A, AZEALIA BANKS Beyoncé was fashionably late to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala in New York on Monday. Reporters and photographers awaited the arrival of the pop superstar, who stunned in a sheer Givenchy gown with purple feathered train. Rihanna slipped into a stretchy black Tom Ford dress with Repossi jewelry. “I love coming to the Met Ball. It’s a fun event,” said the “Where Have You Been” singer. “You get dressed up, have some nice dinner, and have some entertainment.” RiRi is working on a clothing line of her own. “Designing is definitely in the near future for me and we’re working on it as we speak,” she shared. “I can’t really say yet. It’ll be fun and it’ll definitely be things that I love and that are inspired by my personal style.” Justin Timberlake, who arrived with fiancée Jessica Biel, sang Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” on the red carpet. Kanye West was handsome in a tux, Solange was beaming in a yellow Rachel Roy dress, Bruno Mars looked dapper in Prada, Azealia Banks arrived on the arm of designer Alexander Wang, M.I.A. rocked long hair and Stella McCartney, and Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz color coordinated in black and white. Props to Rap-Up.com (05.08.12) |
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AZEALIA BANKS LASHES OUT AT LIL'KIM OVER FAILED COLLABORATION "Beastie Boys" rapper MCA -- real name Adam Yauch -- has died. T.I. and Iggy Azalea are not the only ones on the receiving end of Azealia Banks’ wrath. The Harlem firecracker had some words for her idol Lil’ Kim after a collaboration went south. Last month, Banks expressed her admiration for the Queen Bee and hinted that they were working on a record together. But the relationship quickly turned sour. “It really sucks when someone you respect and admire is trying to act brand new when all u did was reach out and try to work,” tweeted Banks, prompting Kim’s camp to issue a statement. “It honestly seems that someone from Azealia’s team would rather have her fans buy into manufactured drama instead of buying music,” said Kim’s publicist C.J. Carter. “Kim knows nothing of any beef, and furthermore has had nothing but nice things to say about her. We don’t know what this is and will not address this any further. It seems that this is another sad attempt by someone trying to use my client for publicity. We wish her nothing but the best.” Banks returned to Twitter to address the situation. “Okay so true tea is that Lil Kim got mad that I wrote a verse for her on a record I wanted her on,” she said. “Everyone knows Lil Kim doesn’t write her own raps and I saw this as a faster more efficient way of getting the track done.” But Kim was not interested in her verse. “She then had her assistant write me some long ass offensive email about how Lil Kim writes her own raps and doesn’t need anyone’s help,” said the “212” rapper. Kim’s loyal fans took to Twitter to defend their icon. “Lol teamlilkim does have some weak disses tho. Lol team minaj has newer, more updated insults. #cyberbullies,” wrote Banks. Props to Rap-Up.com (05.07.12) |
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JUSTIN BIEBER JOINS FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. IN THE RING AT VEGAS FIGHT Heavyweight pop star Justin Bieber shared a bit of his swag with super welterweight boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. in vegas last night (May 5). Biebs, along with rapper 50 Cent and WWE wrestler Triple H, had the honor of escorting Mayweather into the ring before the boxer's highly anticipated fight with Miguel Cotton at Las Vegas' MGM Grand arena. The 18-year-old chart-topper, who carried two of Mayweather's championship belts into the arena before the fight, was also the first to congratulate the 35-year-old boxer after he defeated Cotto. According to reports, Bieber joined Mayweather in the dressing room before the event and sat just feet away from trainer Roger Mayweather and the rest of Mayweather's self-proclaimed "Money Team" during the fight. Lil Wayne, who was also in attendance, joined the superstar celebration in the ring after the unanimous decision was made. Earlier in the day, Bieber shared his support of the Michigan fighter and revealed his excitement about the match on twitter, saying: "cinco de mayo.... #MayweatherCotto yeah @FloydMayweather today is a BIG day." Mayweather kept the bromance going when he tweeted back: '@justinbieber keep up the great work and thanks for the support #TheMoneyTeam. Enjoy the fight." After the fight, Bieber responded: "@FloydMayweather Hard Work & Dedication . congrats champ. glad i could be a part of it." Props to Billboard.com (05.07.12) |
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CEELO GREEN TALKS THE VOICE, TEASES JUDGES SUPERGROUP The judges' table at a reality competition show can be a bit like a revolving door, but Cee Lo Green says he's sticking with NBC's The Voice. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Cee Lo said he plans to keep enjoying the ride while it lasts. "I would like to be here as long as it's fresh and new and exciting and fun for me," he said, acknowledging that artists have tended to come and go on similar shows in the past. "I would like to think that we were irreplaceable, you know what I'm saying? But the truth of the matter is, we're still working-class artists and artists can be very fickle," he said. The Voice has been a hit for NBC and is frequently one of the network's top-rated shows. In addition to Cee Lo, other judges include Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton. Since joining the show, the star hosts have made a habit of collaborating off-camera — Aguilera appears on the hit Maroon 5 single "Moves Like Jagger" and has reportedly recorded a track with Cee Lo as well. Green said he also has a duet in mind with the show's country star Shelton. "And I have a song for Blake Shelton that I gave to him. And I'd like to do it alongside him. I'd like for it to be a duet," he said. The "Forget You" singer even teased the possibility of a supergroup consisting of the four of them. "Why not, man? Why not? Everybody's talented. Everybody's available and highly enthusiastic," Cee Lo said. "I think everybody would be up for it, man, because it's a great idea." Props to BET.com (05.07.12) |
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'BEASTIE BOYS' MCA DEAD AT 47 "Beastie Boys" rapper MCA -- real name Adam Yauch -- has died. In 2009, MCA announced he was being treated for a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node (below). He has since undergone surgery and radiation therapy. So far, it's not clear if the death is related to the rapper's battle with cancer. Russell Simmons' website GlobalGrind.com first reported the death. We have spoken to people independently connected to the rapper who also say he is dead. MCA co-founded Beastie Boys in 1979 with Mike D, and Ad Rock ... and went on to churn out some of the most iconic albums in hip-hop ... including License to Ill, Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication. The group has won multiple Grammys and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. |
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| The Beastie Boys haven't performed live since summer 2009 -- and during one of their last ever performances at Bonnaroo that June, MCA appeared noticeably less energetic than his group mates. MCA recently became a vegan at the recommendation of his Tibetan doctors. The Beastie Boys' most recent music video was released last year for the song "Make Some Noise" -- and it stars a laundry list of A-listers, including Rashida Jones, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Amy Poehler, Steve Buscemi, Kirsten Dunst, Zach Galifianakis, Orlando Bloom, Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and Jack Black. Props to TMZ.com (05.04.12) | |
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STREETZ @ THE NATIONAL SCREEN INSTITUTE Streetz would like to congratulate the nine Aboriginal young adults beginning of their 2012 NSI New Voices training through the National Screen Institute. Please welcome this year’s participants: • Cheyenne Bruneau • Rodney Contois • Honey Courchene • Dakota Eischen • Jesse Frechette • Deanna Mace • Dennis Seenie • Adam Wildeman • Stanley Wood |
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BREAKING NEWS: RICK ROSS SIGNS OMARION TO MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP After weeks of speculation, Maybach Music Group (MMG) head Rick Ross announced today (May 2) that he has signed former B2K singer and actor, Omarion, to his growing label roster. The announcement of the Omarion addition was made at an invitation-only press conference at New York City’s Eventi Hotel. Label representatives, press, and industry tastemakers were on-hand to welcome the new artist to the roster that includes Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Masspike Miles, Teedra Moses, and others. MMG is distributed through Warner Bros. Records. Lyor Cohen, North American Chairman and CEO for Warner Music Group, spoke at the event about Rick Ross’ growing roster, saying, “He’s not satisfied. There’s no stopping him. The possibilities that Rick and Maybach Music bring is unprecedented. “He reminded me, he’s got the biggest office in the world, and that’s the streets. I don’t know anybody that can stop this guy,” Cohen said of Rick Ross. Rick Ross gave an impromptu press conference interview with Rap Radar’s Elliott Wilson, and producer Swizz Beatz spoke about his friendship with Ross and how he helped him get his deal with Reebok. Omarion has been spotted with rapper Ma$e in the studio in recent weeks, prompting speculation that the two were working on new material and possibly new deals. Ma$e recently appeared on Wale’s “Slight Work” remix with Diddy and French Montana, fueling talk that he would make a return to music, perhaps under MMG. Props to AllHipHop.com (05.04.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PEPSI LAUNCHES NEW MICHAEL JACKSON CAMPAIGN PepsiCo Inc. is resurrecting Michael Jackson to try to pump life into its flagship cola, three years after the singer's death and more than a quarter century after the pop icon's landmark sponsorship deal to become the voice of the brand, according to The Wall Street Journal. Following an agreement with Mr. Jackson's estate, the beverage and snack giant said Thursday that it will roll out a billion Pepsi cans with a silhouette of Jackson as part of its newly launched "Live For Now" global marketing campaign. The can (pictured above) pairs Pepsi's new logo with an illustration of Jackson from his iconic 1984 "The Chase" Pepsi commercial. Pepsi sampled the same TV spot earlier this year for its "X Factor" campaign, with footage of stars set to Outasight's "Tonight Is the Night" and the tagline "Who's Next?" PepsiCo and Jackson's estate declined to disclose the financial terms of the latest deal. Mr. Jackson signed onto a Pepsi sponsorship deal in 1984 for a then-record $5 million. The new campaign -- which also pairs the cola company with stars like Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry -- is part of PepsiCo's pledge to ramp up spending on its flagship cola, which has been losing ground behind archrival Coca-Cola Co. Pepsi is also prepping a 25th-anniversary campaign in mid-May commemorating the release of Michael Jackson's "Bad." It will include a series of remixes from superstar DJs, with Skrillex, Diplo and A-Trak rumored to be working on the project. The exclusive tracks are set to be accessed through a special Pepsi-can promotion where fans can scan a code with their phone to hear a song. Props to Billboard.com (05.04.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN UNVEILS GALLERY ARTWORK AND NEW TOY LINE Singer, dancer, and artist? Chris Brown has been taking time away from his various music video sets and recording studios to attend a very different kind of studio lately-an art studio. Adding to his already expansive resume, Breezy has been dabbling in the art world since 2011 with his F.A.M.E. album cover- and last night the Grammy Award winner had his first ever gallery exhibit with the legendary artist Ron English. The duo even worked on a piece live during the showing at the Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles. But that’s not all the 22-year-old was unveiling. In addition to presenting his new art work, he announced the launch of a new toy collection. They stopped by the TAG store in Hollywood before the opening to sign some of their newly released pieces from their collection called “Dum English,” and the kids loved it. From Jay-Z and his coffee book to Kanye West and his sneakers, these days’ heavy hitting music industry folk are experimenting with their creativity in more and more unconventional ways. With Brown’s fourth studio album Fortune due out this summer, we don’t see him slowing down with his music any time soon. That being the case, we can’t wait to see what else Breezy’s artistic experimentation will create. Props to MTV.com (05.04.12) |
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BIRDMAN TO PUT CASH MONEY ARTISTS ON THE BIG SCREEN WITH 'RICH GANG' FILM For Birdman and his Young Money/Cash Money crew, the charts are not the only thing to conquer. Up next: Hollywood. In an interview with XXL, the YMCMB leader (and Billboard Power 100 player) talked up the launch later this year of his Cash Money Films project, which will serve as his creative outlet on the silver screen. With a few much-rumored projects in the works (including one with Omar Epps), he did confirm that he's looking to put the whole YMCMB roster - which features Drake, Nicki Minaj, Mystikal, Busta Rhymes, Limp Bizkit, and Lil Wayne, among others - into one film, with Weezy as the star. The movie is set to be titled "Rich Gang." "We start shooting that in the fall," Birdman said. "That's the whole team. The Rich Gang movie is about the team. Everybody is going to be the star of it, but Wayne will be the center of it. It's about the team, everybody that's on the label." It's unclear if that means that each artist will adopt some type of persona as part of a scripted film or if the project will be more of a documentary of the label, but it seems like Birdman is leaving that part of the process open-ended, at least for now. "I would like them for just be themselves," Birdman continued. "I'm not gonna tell no ni**a to go to acting school. Just be yourself. We're excited as a brand about it. We got a few of them lined up and we gonna shoot them." The CEO spoke to XXL while at the book launch for Wahida Clark's latest, titled "Payback Ain't Enough," which is out on the Cash Money Content book publishing division, and stated his desire to get her involved in his budding movie enterprise as well. Props to Billboard.com (05.02.12) |
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THE RZA DONATES KEYBOARD FROM 36 CHAMBERS TO STATEN ISLAND MUSIC EXHIBIT Wu-Tang Clan producer The RZA is contributing rare memorabilia to the upcoming interactive music exhibit “Island Sounds: A 500 Year Music Mash-Up.” The exhibit will take place at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden on Staten Island. The RZA has donated the keyboard he used to create Wu-Tang Clan’s historic album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Additionally, the exhibit is set to feature never-before-seen photos and memorabilia from one of RZA’s pilgrimages to the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, China. “We are excited and pleased to present this unique exhibit as a tribute to the countless artists who have played a role in Staten Island’s rich and varied musical history,” said Snug Harbor President and CEO Lynn Kelly. “The exhibit memorializes the contributions of these artists and defines the part they played and continue to play in our diversified culture. I urge everyone with an interest in music, pop culture and the history of Staten Island to come and enjoy the hundreds of unique pieces of memorabilia that make up the Island Sounds exhibition.” Other rare and historic items from several Staten Island artists will also be on display for the exhibit, including Force MDs’ trademark apparel, personal photos and awards and an autographed LP of Born This Way by Lady Gaga. Snug Harbor will also showcase Gaga’s biopic “Mary The Night” and will hold displays on Eamon, Omin Child and Christina Aguilera, in addition to numerous displays of rare photos and gold/platinum albums from Staten Island musicians. Props to AllHipHop.com (05.02.12) |
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RIHANNA NOT UP FOR 'FAST AND FURIOUS 6' ROLE Sure, Rihanna is currently getting her action star on in “Battleship,” which opens May 18 stateside, but according to a new rumor she may hit the big screen again in another splashy big screen blockbuster. Sources tell The Sun that she has signed on to play a sexy bad girl in the next “Fast and The Furious” flick. That source reportedly shared that "Rihanna impressed with her acting debut in 'Battleship.’ Writers think she'll be perfect for the role. Her character has plenty of bite and doesn't take any prisoners -- just like her in real life." The source adds that the singer is counting on the casting "could lead to bigger action roles." There’s just one problem. Her rep was quick to shoot down rumors about the appearance in the action flick. Her rep tells MTV News, “As far as I’m aware this is not true.” Well, if fans want to see Rihanna kicking alien butt all they need do is buy a ticket to “Battleship,” which also stars Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard and Brooklyn Decker. Though it seems Rihanna isn’t completely counting out more roles in Hollywood. She will open up more about her acting career during “MTV First: Battleship." Props to MTV.com (05.02.12) |
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TWO DECADES AFTER LA RIOTS, ICE CUBE REFLECTS ON THE POWER OF MUSIC Los Angeles erupted into chaos on April 29, 1992, when the four LAPD officers accused of beating Rodney King were acquitted. It was dubbed the L.A. riots, as thousands of people took to the streets in protest. There was looting, arson and widespread violence. The indelible imagery has lived on through archived footage, art and, of course, music. Albums like Dr. Dre's The Chronic and Ice Cube's The Predator were strongly influenced by the racial tension and social powder-keg conditions that preceded the riots and the aggressions and flared tempers in the aftermath. In many ways, West Coast hip-hop music in the early 1990s helped those outside of L.A. gain perspective on the ongoing power struggle between the black youth and the LAPD officers who police the inner-city neighborhoods. "People have music in their heart. Music ain't about the charts; it's about how you feel about a certain song," Ice Cube told MTV news on Saturday night after KDAY's annual Krush Groove concert. "I know people who have music, and music changed their life just by hearing a song. It could be an old song, it could be a song that people thought were thrown away and you could hear it and it could inspire you." Cube dropped The Predator in November 1992, several months after the L.A. riots. On "We Had to Tear This Mother----a Up," Cube expertly painted a lyrical picture of the six-day upheaval. "Not guilty, the filthy devils tried to kill me/ When the news get to the 'hood then n---as will be/ Hotter than cayenne pepper, cuss, bust/ Kickin' up dust is a must," he rapped to open the now-classic track. Props to MTV.com (05.01.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PEPSI TEAMS WITH NICKI MINAJ, PREPS MICHAEL JACKSON PROJECT WITH SKRILLEX, DIPLO Pepsi has unveiled a new multiyear global marketing campaign, complete with a new tagline -- "Live for Now" -- and commercials featuring the biggest names in music. First up in the campaign is Nicki Minaj, whose 2010 single "Moment for Life" acts as soundtrack for the ad, out May 7. It's a deal that will make Minaj a worldwide spokeswoman and also give her enough fodder to fuel two songs' worth of material on her sophomore album, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. "Nicki has momentum. She's a maverick," Frank Cooper, PepsiCo chief marketing officer of global consumer engagement, told Billboard in this week's cover story. "She represents the kind of artist who's in the moment, making things happen on her own terms." As first reported by Ad Age, Pepsi is also prepping a campaign in mid-May around the 25th-anniversary of Michael Jackson's "Bad." Billboard has learned the program will include a series of remixes from superstar DJs -- Skrillex, Diplo and A-Trak are among the names mentioned to be connected with the project. The exclusive tracks are set to be accessed through a special Pepsi-can promotion where fans can scan a code with their phone to hear a song. Jackson, of course, famously struck a ground-breaking, multifaceted endorsement/sponsorship deal with Pepsi in 1983, and was also infamously burned by an accidental fire during a 1984 commercial shoot. Pepsi's chief rival, Coca-Cola, recently announced the launch of "Move to the Beat," one of the brand's largest ad campaigns to date, created to support its sponsorship of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Find out more about the revived "Cola Wars" in the latest issue of Billboard and read an excerpt on Billboard.biz. Props to Billboard.com (05.01.12) |
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QUEEN LATIFAH HEADLINES HER FIRST LGBT FESTIVAL Pioneering rapper/actress Queen Latifah will host her first ever headlining LGBT performance this month in Long Beach, California. Queen Latifah has been tapped to headline the Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival, making it the first time the internationally known rapper has officially performed at such an event, anywhere in the world. “From Hip-Hop to R&B, Pop to standards, Queen Latifah is the voice of our generation and her concert here will be phenomenal,” said Long Beach Pride Festival co-President Pat Crosby. “For her to make her worldwide Pride debut here in Long Beach is a tremendous testament to the popularity of our celebration and the strength of our community.” The Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival weekend will include numerous workshops, panels and performances. LGBT friendly artists like MC Ongina, Evelyn “Champagne” King, MC Carlease, and The Village People will also perform during the event. Queen Latifah will perform at the concert during the 29th annual Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival on Saturday, May 19 at 8:30 p.m. For More Information click here. Props to AllHipHop.com (05.01.12) |
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B.o.B TALKS 'STRANGE CLOUDS' ALBUM & SPONSORSHIP DEALS For his sophomore album, "Strange Clouds," B.o.B hopes to take his corporate connections sky high. Following the success of his 2010 gold-certified debut, "B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray," the Decatur, Ga., native looked for ways to boost his image, striking deals with Target and Coca-Cola in addition to a pre-existing Adidas sponsorship and an appearance in an Electronic Arts Sports videogame. The singer/songwriter, who cracked both pop and R&B markets with the singles "Nothin' on You" and "Airplanes" (peaking at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100), wanted to expand his business portfolio with his second album and use those ties to introduce his music to a wider audience. "I definitely see the benefit behind building a brand for whatever venture you catapult yourself into," B.o.B says. "But for me, the driving force has always been the music-it's just a way to get my music heard by more people and [potentially] more fans." With "Strange Clouds," arriving May 1 on Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic, the 23-year-old signed a deal with Target to promote the album through TV and online campaigns. His conversations with the big-box chain date back to "The Adventures of Bobby Ray," but the partnership was solidified after he played them several cuts from his new project. TV spots and online ads begin April 29, and culminate with a New York event on the album's release date. Target will also sell an exclusive version of the set with five bonus tracks. Props to Billboard.com (04.30.12) |
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PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOUTS OUT YOUNG JEEZY AT WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER The list of celebrity names at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner (hosted by Jimmy Kimmel) on Saturday night (April 28) read like an awards show afterparty, but the rapper who got a shout out during President Obama's speech wasn't even in attendance. During his humorous minutes on the mic, Obama made his taste for Young Jeezy's music known by admitting he sings the Snowman's songs to his wife. “In my first term I sang Al Green. In my second term, I’m going with Young Jeezy,” President Obama joked, addressing his wife Michelle Obama, when he added, “I sing that to her sometimes.” Jeezy was pleased to hear that President Obama was a fan, replying to the POTUS on Twitter. “Shout out to @BarackObama,” he wrote, “You know they love the snowman in the white house.” We wonder if Obama became a devoted fan after Jeezy released the track "My President" to celebrate his campaign back in 2008. During an interview with The Atlantic last month President Obama was asked to pick a favorite between Jay-Z and Kanye West, and Hov was the easier winner. "Jay-Z." After confirming that his favorite Throne MC is Hov, the ever-diplomatic Obama threw in a few nice comments about 'Ye. "Although I like Kanye. He's a Chicago guy. Smart. He's very talented," the president said. The interviewer didn't let the subject drop without mentioning that President Obama once referred to Kanye as a "jackass" when he interrupted Taylor Swift's VMA speech, but Obama didn't shy away from the comment. "He is a jackass," Obama replied, with a perfectly even voice. "But he's talented." Props to MTV.com (04.30.12) |
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BEYONCE CALLS SURROGACY RUMORS CRAZY Beyoncé is no stranger to the gossip mill and tabloid pages. The internationally known pop superstar has been apart of her fair share of rumors, but the most upsetting tale she’s been involved in of late was last year’s talk that she and husband Jay-Z hired someone to carry their baby girl, Blue Ivy Carter, through birth. “That was crazy. It wasn’t hurtful, it was just crazy,” Beyoncé told PEOPLE magazine, which voted her the World’s Most Beautiful Woman of 2012. “[I thought] ‘Where did they come up with this?” The speculation hit the fan after a now famous interview Bey did with an Australian talk show where her stomach seemed to fold up. Tabloids and blogs immediately ran with a story that the Grammy Award winning songstrees was wearing a prosthetic bump. Such talk seriously upset the singer’s mother Tina Knowles. “I thought it was very unfair and very cruel that someone would think that someone would be that diabolical to keep up a charade like that for nine months,” she said. ”As a mother it was painful for me to hear the crazy rumors. And I even had people ask me, which was so ridiculous.” “It was a fabric that folded — does fabric not fold? Oh my gosh, so stupid,” Mama Knowles added. In the face of the wild rumors Beyoncé gave birth to Blue Ivy in January and she has enjoyed the support of her loyal fans throughout her pregnancy and beyond. Tina Knowles thanked those fans. “There was so much love and well wishes from all over the world — it made it easier to deal with the stupid rumors.” Props to BET.com (04.30.12) |
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TUPAC'S VIRTUAL COACHELLA APPEARANCE SPURS HUGE SALES BUMP News of the late Tupac Shakur's virtual appearance on the first Sunday (April 15) of the annual Coachella Festival has spurred a re-entry for his "Greatest Hits" album on the Billboard 200 chart and a jump on the Social 50 for his onstage duet partner, Snoop Dogg. Tupac's 1998 album "Greatest Hits" returns to the Billboard 200 for the first time since 2000, as it jumps back in at No. 129 with 4,000 copies sold according to Nielsen SoundScan (a gain of 571% over the previous week). The MC's other albums also saw gains, including "All Eyez On Me" (2,000; up 95%) and "Me Against the World" (1,000; up 53%). The late rapper's songs got a boost too. His biggest seller of the week was "Hail Mary" -- the song his projection opened with at Coachella. The song moved 13,000 downloads last week for a 1,530% sales increase. His second biggest seller was his No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit "California Love" (featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman), shifting 11,000 downloads (119% increase). His third best-seller was the second Tupac song that was performed at Coachella -- "2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted" (with Snoop). It sold 9,000 (up 881%). Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg makes waves on the Social 50 tally as he rises 29-20 on the chart after a video of their duet performance was viewed more than 3.4 million times during the tracking week. Tupac, however, doesn't appear on the Social 50 as the popular clips was loaded to Snoop's official YouTube channel, not Tupac's, hence the growth for Tha Doggfather. Props to Billboard.com (04.27.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RIHANNA AND JAY-Z HEADLINING 2012 OLYMPICS FESTIVAL BBC's Radio 1 has confirmed that Rihanna and Jay-Z will indeed be the two headlining acts in the expanding music lineup tied to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The two are set to hit the stage during the BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend 2012, which will take place before the Games, from June 23 through the 24. Jay will hit the stage the first night of the festival (June 23) with Rihanna performing the following night (June 24). Other acts set to perform include Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Professor Green, Plan B, Flo Rida and Will.i.am. The event which is located at the Hackney Marshes in London will see a mix of more than 100 artists both UK and internationally based. “There will be absolutely something for everyone: from Beethoven to Jay-Z, from Shakespeare to Mike Leigh,” said the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt at a recent news conference. Rihanna has also recently been prepping for another performance, the filming of her upcoming "Where Have You Been" video. Not known for having great dance skills, the singer has teamed with choreographer Hi-Hat to help keep her in her comfort zone while still showing off moves we've never seen her do. Props to MTV.com (04.27.12) |
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WHITNEY HOUSTON, CISSY HOUSTON BOOK: MOTHER WRITING TELL-ALL ABOUT DAUGHTER Less than three months after the tragic death of her daughter Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston is set to pen a tell-all book about her famous child. While the plans may appear to be a way for the late legend's mom to profit off Whitney's death, the book will apparently serve as Cissy's opportunity to clear the air and address many rumors surrounding her daughter's troubled final years. The New York Times reports that Cissy met with publishers at the St. Regis Hotel in New York this week to shop the book, entitled "The Whitney I Knew," which she said will describe her daughter's high highs and low lows. "It's going to be the bad, it's going to be the good," she told one publisher. Attendees of the meeting reported the bidding for the book deal could easily reach a whopping seven figures, but Cissy seemed to be more motivated by her desire to tell her daughter's true story than to profit from her posthumous publicity. "She [Houston] said, 'There are so many lies out there and I want to dispel all of those lies,'" a publishing executive in the meeting told the Times. But Cissy's account will inevitably be biased, as suggested by the book's title. Two publishers also noted that the 78-year-old seemed reluctant to address Whitney's death and drug habit. Cissy published her own memoir, "How Sweet the Sound," in 1998, and will use an as-yet-unnamed ghostwriter for the book. "The Whitney I Knew" is expected to be released in July. Props to TheBoombox.com (04.27.12) |
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LIL WAYNE COVERS CCS SKATE MAGAZINE Lil Wayne has teamed with skateboarding product retailer CCS and is featured on the cover of the May catalog. The rapper is featured on the cover of CCS with skateboarding veterans like Torey Pudwill, Theotis Beasley, Shane O’Neill and Paul Rodriguez. The catalog/issue also features an interview with Lil Wayne, who is building his own skate park in New Orleans, as part of a new partnership with Mountain Dew. “It’s so cool just to be allowed to be in their circle, let alone skate with them,” Lil Wayne said. “Just to be allowed to kick it with these guys is cool cause they them dudes—Torey Pudwill, Theotis, Paul Rodriguez, Shane O’Neill…if I can skate with these dudes I can skate with anybody.” The skaters involved in the shoot were equally enthused to work with Lil Wayne, who impressed them with his enthusiasm and work ethic. “Wayne has taught me what work ethic is and he’s taught me to continuously search for perfection,” says pro skater Paul Rodriguez said. “That’s just a small part of what I’ve learned from listening to his music and being around him.” The interview with Lil Wayne was also a landmark feature for CCS, which has been selling skateboarding equipment and lifestyle-related apparel for over 27-years. “You can tell he (Lil Wayne) is truly hooked on skating, hardly putting his board down the entire shoot and then skating well into the night after we wrapped,” added CCS Brand Director Seamus Deegan. “He’s clearly down for skating and that’s what we’ve always been about at CCS.” .... Props to AllHipHop.com (04.26.12) |
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LMFAO HAVE A MOVIE 'UP OUR SLEEVES' Nobody's shouting "Lights! Camera! Action!" just yet, but a movie is clearly on the future agenda for the party rockin' members of LMFAO. "Oh yeah, we've got some stuff up our sleeves now," the group's Sky Blu told Billboard during a conference call to promote the duo's upcoming Sorry For Party Rocking Tour of North America. "We can't give it all away, but (a movie) is something we've definitely been thinking about and putting out in the universe for a minute." His uncle and musical partner Redfoo concurred that "an LMFAO movie is very exciting" but worried that it "might be too much for the world. You might have to do some sit-ups and stuff (because) you might be laughing... You might have to stretch your stomach muscles." He added that LMFAO's cinematic goal would be to "change movies" with a level of interactivity that's usually not part of the theater experience. "You know how the etiquette is in movie theaters, 'Be quiet!' We might say, 'Everybody, right now tweet something!'... during the movie. That might break the lines of the movie... break the seventh wall. Or, 'Take a picture of what's on the screen right now and tweet it out!' What if we did that in the movie? So we've got to really think about it before we do that stuff -- but that's what we're doing. We're thinking about that stuff. We've always got our pads and jotting down ideas." Redfoo said he and Sky Blue are also "working on new ideas" for LMFAO's third album, but the main focus at present is the tour, which kicks off May 22 in Columbus, Ohio, and will be the duo's first headlining run of arenas. Redfoo says fans can expect "what you would expect from an LMFAO show -- a lot of shufflin', a lot of what's in the videos, bringing the videos to life and just some crazy energy." He's also encouraging those coming to the shows to dress for the occasion -- and he doesn't mean to the nines. "Put on your favorite party rock gear, LMFAO gear," Redfoo counseled. "Get your lenseless glasses and have a good time -- kind of like Halloween but it's party rock, LMFAO." Props to Billboard.com (04.26.12) |
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TLC PLOTS REUNION TOUR, NEW ALBUM TLC is reuniting on the 10-year anniversary of Left Eye’s death. Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas plan to bring back their third member for the group’s first tour in nearly a decade. The massive U.S. trek is set to kick off later this year, a rep for the Grammy-winning R&B trio tells TMZ. So far, five major cities have been booked with more in the works. The duo plans to incorporate the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes into the performance like Dr. Dre did with Tupac Shakur at Coachella, projecting her image on a big screen and working her vocals into the live performances. Left Eye was killed 10 years ago today in a fatal car accident in Honduras. “The word anniversary means a celebration. For us her death will never be a celebration, it’s still something that hurts,” said T-Boz, while Chilli added, “Lisa is our sister. You never get over losing a family member. We love her and we miss her and that isn’t ever going to change.” To commemorate the 20th anniversary of TLC, the surviving members are working with VH1 on a made-for-TV movie series inspired by their story as well as a new album. “We’ll have new music right after the movie drops,” Chilli told Essence. “We have everybody that was there with us from the beginning on board.” Props to Rap-Up.com (04.26.12) |
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DRAKE CLUB PARADISE TOUR DETAILS... Drake is currently overseas preparing to perform his final Club Paradise show in the U.K. Wednesday (April 25). Once he wraps his set, the Toronto native has exactly 12 days until the second leg of his U.S. tour begins, where buzzing rappers like J. Cole, 2 Chainz, French Montana, Waka Flocka Flame and Meek Mill join the bill. Drake spoke to The BoomBox via conference call about the new show and the surprises he has in store for fans, which includes an "ever-evolving" stage that changes with each act and performing a new song with 2 Chainz. Before speaking on the upcoming tour dates, the Take Care MC took a moment to reflect on the performances he's accomplished to-date. "Club Paradise has been something that I've crafted, it's like a meeting place for fans of the music that I've put out to really see the songs come alive," Drake shares. "We started with a college run with two very exciting artists, A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar, and Chase N. Cashe from L.A., who opened up first. That was the best tour I had been on. We came over to Europe and we did U.K. and a Scandinavian run, which was essentially bringing that same college show minus A$AP and Kendrick because their buzz is growing so big that they had other obligations like Coachella. I partnered up with Labryinth, who is an incredible artist, Tinie Tempah and Rita Ora and they would alternate as far as opening acts," he continues. "Tomorrow is my last show in [U.K.] and I would definitely say it has been as successful, if not more successful, than the first run just as far as solidifying a brand." .... Props to TheBoombox.com (04.25.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WIZ KHALIFA TALKS WEDDING PLANS, BEEF WITH WAKA FLOCKA FLAME Wiz Khalifa stopped by “The Angie Martinez Show” to promote his new single “Work Hard Play Hard” on Tuesday. He discussed plans for his “far out” wedding to Amber Rose, whether his fiancée smokes weed, rumored beef with Waka Flocka Flame, and collaborations with Pharrell and Cam’ron on his upcoming album O.N.I.F.C., due August 28. On his wedding: “It’s gonna be as traditional as possible, but I like that word far out too. It’s gonna be a far out wedding. We can’t do it too normal. There’ll be like a giraffe or something.” On his rumored beef with Waka Flocka Flame: “I don’t say anything directly to anybody. I could go out and say I never intentionally sent any ill will his way. I don’t believe in rap beefing. I don’t believe in the competitiveness of rapping against each other. I would never entertain anything. He don’t really seem like he into it too much either. … I get so much that one day it might just come out, but not yet though. It would happen if I went completely insane and just forgot about everything that I’ve worked for and trying to achieve. When my bank account get low and I’m not smoking as much…” On his collaborations on O.N.I.F.C.: “I got production from Pharrell on there, I got a verse from Pharrell too. I got Cam’ron on the album. Curren$y of course, my brother.” On what Amber Rose thinks of his weed habit: “She’s like, ‘Get it away.’ She doesn’t hate it, but she will not do it. She’ll roll it, she loves how it smells… She just doesn’t want to get high ’cause she don’t want to feel that.” Props to Rap-Up.com (04.25.12) |
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BEYONCE KNOWLES CROWNED PEOPLE'S MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN Since the release of her last album 4, Beyonce has achieved a few career milestones, not to mention a personal high with the birth of her first child Blue Ivy Carter. With all things considered, the superstar mom has been named People's World's Most Beautiful Woman. "I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," Beyoncé told the magazine. "I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth." Beyoncé continues to gush about her baby girl, saying, "She's just the cutest thing," adding that she makes up songs to sing just to Blue Ivy. When asked which of her parents the baby looks more like, B responded, "She looks like Blue. She's her own person." While Beyoncé is focused on her "love" of changing diapers these days, she is prepping to get back to work. But she seems to feel her greatest achievement is baby Blue. "The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy," she explained. "The word 'love' means something completely different now." Beyoncé is slated to perform in Atlantic City over Memorial Day weekendand is rumored to be working on new music for a follow-up to 2011's 4. This is the ninth time the pop singer has made the issue, which hits newsstands Friday. The list also includes Angelina Jolie; Jennifer Lawrence; Adele; newly pregnant Megan Fox; "Snow White and the Huntsman" villain Charlize Theron; "Mirror Mirror's" Snow White, Lily Collins; "Mad Men" vixen Christina Hendricks; Michelle Williams and Kate Middleton. Guys who made the cut in the Most Beautiful issue include the Sexiest Man Alive himself Bradley Cooper, David Beckham, Blake Shelton and Ashton Kutcher. In 2011, "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez was crowned People's Most Beautiful Woman. Props to MTV.com (04.25.12) |
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LIL'KIM SETS 'RETURN OF THE QUEEN' TOUR DATES Lil’ Kim has announced her Return of the Queen tour, kicking off on May 11 in Austin, Texas. The 11-stop tour is taking Kim from locations like Pensacola, Fl. to New York and Philadelphia. Shows are also scheduled to hit the Midwest in Markham, Ill. and Milwaukee, Wis. before hitting Ohio on June 1 and wrapping up in West Hollywood on June 13 at Key Club. Kim dropped her last album in 2005, and she says that contractual issues are to blame for the delays. She recently told Sucker Free that signed up to do "Dancing With the Stars," while striking up a deal with Trackmasters, which ended up not working out. During the lawsuit with Trackmasters, Kim was not allowed to put out any music unless it was a free project. “The wait and the long time was because when I came from prison in 2006 or 2007 I was just unhappy with my label,” Kim began, during her sit down with Sucker Free. “I wanted to get off and I didn’t get released, I wasn’t dropping—I had to pay them. At the end of the day, that takes time; for two years I fought and fought and fought and finally there was a break.” “During those two years I did my Hollywood thing, doing reality shows, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and all that good stuff,” she continued. “But in between me ‘Dancing with the Stars’ I struck up another deal with Trackmasters and it didnt work out. That took another year or two. And contractually, by the courts, I could not record any music—I wasn’t supposed to put any music out. Technically Black Friday was a mixtape, so I was able to get away with that but they could’ve come after me if I would’ve put out an album." Props to MTV.com (04.24.12) |
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MAC MILLER COMES BACK TO 'RAPFIX LIVE' Mac Miller makes his return to "RapFix Live" on Wednesday. After landing the #1 album in the country last November with his debut LP Blue Slide Park, Mac has been moving at an accelerated pace. He concluded his 80-date, sold-out BSP tour in December and immediately hit the lab to cook up his Macadelic mixtape, which he dropped as a free Internet download in March. "It's like the story of someone who is growing up, trying to figure out who he is and trying to figure out what he's supposed to do in the world and how he's gonna change it," Mac told Mixtape Daily of Macadelic. "I think it's a great piece because it's a great part of my career, it's a great time right now and I feel like I been making mixtapes for five years, so this one is very special to me." The tape features contributions from Cam'ron, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne on the soul-bearing "The Question." "This song is a real meaningful song to me, man, and I wanted to make sure I got Wayne on something that was heartfelt," he said of "The Question." "I got him on a record that I was saying something and not just talkin' sh--, so this record right here really kinda deals with a question that I've been goin' through in my own head." Mac is currently out on tour in support of Macadelic, but that didn't stop him from announcing his next run: the with Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Chevy Woods. "It means everything, Mac's my little homey. It's good for his fans; it's good for everybody who've been wanting to see us do what we do together," Wiz told MTV News of the joint summer tour last week while on the set for Maroon 5's "Payphones" video in L.A. Props to MTV.com (04.24.12) |
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JENNIFER HUDSON TAKES THE STAND IN FAMILY MURDER TRIAL Jennifer Hudson has taken the stand in Chicago for the trial of William Balfour, the man accused of murdering her mother, brother and nephew. Balfour has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in the October 2008 killings, which prosecutors believe were prompted by jealousy over his estranged wife, Julia Hudson, Jennifer's sister, dating someone else. An emotional Hudson had to relive the painful events of 2008 as she testified that she warned her sister, Julia, not to marry Balfour. “I would tell Julia over and over again not to marry William,” Hudson said. “None of us, myself, my mother, or my brother, we did not like how he treated her and I didn’t like how he treated my nephew.” The Academy Award-winning actress — who, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, wore no makeup to court and wept frequently on the stand — went on to describe her relationship with her mother, Darnell Donerson. She told jurors they were so close, they slept in the same bed until she was 16 and spoke every day after she moved out. She identified a photo of Donerson by saying, "That's my mommy." A lapse in their daily communication was the first signal for Hudson that something was wrong when she woke up on the day her family members were murdered. Hudson, who was in Tampa, Florida, with her fiance, David Otunga, recalled: “I noticed that — I’m looking to see the text from my mom and it wasn’t any,” she said. “I kept sitting there wondering, like that’s strange. That was the first thing I said, ‘My mom didn’t text me.’” Hudson claimed she made another attempt at reaching her mom, to no avail. “Maybe she’s busy, I don’t know. I knew she would get back to me, you know, so I remember falling back to sleep. And when I woke up, that’s when I got the news." Props to BET.com (04.24.12) |
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MATH AWARENESS MONTH: 10 ARTISTS FROM BEYONCE TO DE LA SOUL PLAY THE NUMBERS GAME IN LYRICS Artists have been known to play number games within their lyrics from time to time. Only some singers are able to carry metaphorical word problems but rappers love to implement math in a bar or two. Some are simple enough to grasp while others make listeners pull out the notepad and calculator. A clever play on words and the right flow can make any equation sound like a hip-hop quotable. April is Mathematics Awareness Month and in honor of that, The BoomBox takes a look at some mathematical operations used in music over the years, including fractions and geometry. That includes entire songs as well as sharp couplets dedicated to the subject. Sharpen your pencils. "Yo, it's one universal law but two sides to every story/ Three strikes and you be in for life, mandatory/ Four MC's murdered in the last four years/ I ain't tryin' to be the fifth one, the millenium is here/ Yo, it's 6 million ways to die, from the seven deadly thrills/ Eight-year-olds gettin' found with 9 mills/ It's 10PM, where your seeds at? What's the deal..." Mos Def (currently known as Yassin Bey) paid homage to numbers with his song "Mathematics" from the Black on Both Sides LP. In classic Mos fashion, he effortlessly tackles social ills while remaining faithful to the theme of the track. This verse isn't as much an equation as it is a slick countdown from one to 10, describing the pitfalls of hood life and avoiding the trappings of rap fame. "My baby is a 10/ We dressing to the nine/ He pick me up, we eight/ Make me feel so lucky seven/ He kiss me in his six/ We be making love in five/ Still the one I do this four/ I'm trying to make us three/ From that two/ He still the one..." As the only R&B song on our list, Beyonce's "Countdown" holds its own amongst the most savvy rap lyrics devoted to numbers. The Houston rocket breaks down the formula to her loving relationship while counting backwards from 10 to one. The hook is brilliant as she plays on the homophonic characteristic of certain numbers ("He picked me up, we eight [ate]") as well as that quick nod to Miss Blue Ivy at the end ("I'm trying to make us three/ From that two"). Props to TheBoombox.com (04.23.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CHART JUICE: USHER'S 'CLIMAX' REACHES R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS PEAK Usher notches his 12th No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, as "Climax" steps 2-1 with 31 million audience impressions (up 8%), according to Nielsen BDS. The song is Usher's first single from his forthcoming seventh studio album, "Looking for Myself," due June 12. "Climax" extends Usher's lead for the most No. 1s on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs during the Nielsen Music era (since December 1992). Among all acts in that span, Drake, Jay-Z and R. Kelly rank second with nine leaders each. Following label restructuring, "Climax" marks Usher's first charted title and first No. 1 as an RCA-credited artist after a two-decade association with LaFace. At No. 2, Rihanna's sexually-charged "Birthday Cake," featuring Chris Brown, continues its ascent, rising 3-2 with a sweet 10% increase to 28 million in audience. Beyoncé's "Love on Top" falls 1-3 after seven weeks on top. Of her six No. 1s, she has led longer only with "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (12 weeks) and "Irreplaceable" (nine). Drake's former No. 1 "The Motto," featuring Lil Wayne, remains at No. 4, while LoveRance's "UP!" bullets again at No. 5. Kirko Bangz's "Drank in My Cup" rises 7-6 with a 9% audience gain to 22 million. The track swaps spots with Brown's "Strip," featuring Kevin K-MAC McCall (6-7). Brown finds himself back-to-back in the top 10, as "Another Round," on which he assists rapper Fat Joe, remains at No. 8 and is blessed with a 15% gain to 21 million. Travis Porter celebrates its first R&B/Hip-Hop Songs top 10, as "Ayy Ladies" becomes the chart's Greatest Gainer/Airplay with a 12-9 boost (19 million, up 20%). Since 2010, the group has charted five songs, with "Make It Rain" marking its previous highest-peaking entry (No. 15). Featured artist Tyga notches his third top 10. Props to Billboard.com (04.23.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ RETIRING FROM THE RAP GAME? First Twitter, now hip-hop. Is female superstar Nicki Minaj throwing in the towel on her two year plus rap career? A week back Nicki shocked her millions of fans when she shut down her Twitter account and now just a few weeks following the release of her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded the New York bred MC is talking about leaving the game altogether. "People aren't even giving the kid props for taking it back to the essence ... this is my fourth mixtape really," Nicki told radio host Tim Westwood referring to her recent album. "You know what I'm saying. The kid did like that so she could feed her fans. But really, now the kid is thinking maybe she should leave the game." Clearly frustrated by the response to Roman Reloaded, Nicki's latest threat is sure to startle her fans. Nicki Minaj plugged the plug on her Twitter account earlier this week, sending fans reeling and the Barbz are still waiting patiently for her return. The YMCMB star has been in London for the past few days promoting her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and during interviews, the questions inevitably turned to her absence from Twitter. On the Graham Norton Show (via Rap-Up) she sort of explained why she temporarily abandoned her Barbz. “A voice in my head told me to delete my Twitter and that’s what I did,” she said. “I had 11 million followers and I hope they will wait for me.” In case you’re one of Nicki’s Barbz, suffering from withdrawal, it’s pretty much guaranteed that Nicki will return. Twitter allows you to deactivate your account for 30 days before removing it completely, and even then, they consult with celebs before nixing the account. It seems highly unlikely that Nicki would let those 11 million followers go. When asked if she will return to the social networking site, Nicki tried to play coy, saying, "I don’t know yet, I’m thinking about it. I miss my Barbz, please bear with me." Props to MTV.com (04.23.12) |
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ZIGGY MARLEY: "WE ARE HUMBLED BY THE LOVE GIVEN TO OUR FATHER" Who isn't a fan of Bob Marley? He is one of the most universally loved musicians to have ever lived. Songs like "Get Up, Stand Up," "Judge Not" and "No Woman No Cry" helped make his message of "one love" a global phenomenon. Now, fans will get a fresh look at the life of Robert Nesta Marley in the long-awaited documentary Marley, which is in theaters today. Directed by Kevin Macdonald, who was behind The Last King of Scotland, which won Forest Whitaker his overdue Oscar, the film tells the story you don’t know of Bob Marley. With the blessing from the Marley family and Ziggy Marley as co-executive producer, Marley is arguably one of the best music documentaries in the history of cinema. Just returning from touring in Australia, BET.com nabbed a one-on-one with Ziggy Marley, the eldest son of Bob Marley who has carried on his father’s legacy for over thirty years. The four-time Grammy winner and fearless activist discussed the new film, needed progress in the African-American community and his love for — how can we say this? — herbal plants! There was talk of Jonathan Demme and Martin Scorsese directing Marley. What made you and the family feel like Kevin Macdonald was the best choice? We were in a situation where we needed to make sure this decision would be the right decision. So I met with Kevin and he has a history of doing great documentaries. The reason why we thought he was a good choice was who he was as a person and then his credentials were good. Finally, he understood what the mission was — to create something definitive. And he wasn’t a fanatic of Bob; he wasn't Bob-crazy, so he could do it from a good perspective. He wasn't too close to it so that was good. When we saw the first cut, it sealed that Kevin was going to be the right person. Props to BET.com (04.20.12) |
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LIL WAYNE, DRAKE, NICKI MINAJ NOMINATED FOR BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARD Nominations for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards have been announced, and while Adele is currently leading the pack, Lil Wayne, Drake, Rihanna and Big Sean have all received nods as well. Wayne is nominated for Top Artist, in addition to Top Male Artist and Top Rap Album with Tha Carter IV. According to Billboard, Adele is leading in categories including Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist. Her breakthrough hit, "Rolling in the Deep," is a contender in seven different categories. Adele has plenty of female companionship, as Rihanna and Lady Gaga are also finalists in a number of categories, with 13 for RiRi and 10 for Lady Gaga. Lil Wayne is also up for 10 categories, while party rockers LMFAOare finalists in 17. The awards are based on Billboard's chart rankings, and combine data from album sales and downloads, track downloads, radio airplay and touring in addition to streaming and social interactions with fans on Facebook, Twitter, Vevo, YouTube, Spotify and other popular online music services. The show will take place at Las Vegas' MGM Grand and be broadcast live on ABC on May 20. Among the leading categories: Top Artist: Adele, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry, Rihanna. Top New Artist: Bad Meets Evil, Big Sean, Foster the People, Scotty McCreery and Wiz Khalifa. Top Male Artist: Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Drake, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars. Top Female Artist: Adele, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and Rihanna. Top Duo/Group: Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Lady Antebellum, LMFAO and Maroon 5. Top Billboard 200 Album: Adele 21, Michael BubléChristmas, Drake Take Care, Lady Gaga Born This Way and Lil Wayne Tha Carter IV. Top Pop Album: Adele 19, Adele 21, Michael Bublé Christmas, Lady Gaga Born This Way and Justin Bieber Under the Mistletoe. Top R&B Album: Beyoncé 4, Mary J. Blige My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1), Chris Brown F.A.M.E., Jennifer Hudson I Remember Me and Rihanna Talk That Talk. Top Rap Album: Bad Meets Evil Hell: The Sequel, Drake Take Care, Jay-Z & Kanye West Watch the Throne, Lil Wayne Tha Carter IVand LMFAO Sorry for Party Rocking. Props to MTV.com (04.20.12) |
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JOHN LEGEND DEFENDS KANYE WEST AGAINST OBAMA'S 'JACKASS' COMMENT John Legend linked up with Ludacris to perform their collaboration “Tonight (Best I Ever Had)” off the Think Like a Man soundtrack on Thursday’s “106 & Park.” Backstage, the Grammy-winning crooner spoke about the G.O.O.D. Music album, 2 Chainz’ affiliation with his label, and his upcoming album. He also defended his friend and boss Kanye West against remarks President Obama made about him being a “jackass.” On the G.O.O.D. Music album: “The camp is growing. Every week there’s like a new person added, but I believe Q-Tip just signed on and we got a great crew of people. I was the first one in that crew, so I’m honored to be a founding member. I’ve done a few hooks for the album and everybody’s putting in verses.” On 2 Chainz’ affiliation with G.O.O.D. Music: “He’s already part of the crew ’cause he’s been on at least one song and I think he’s gonna be on some more.” On the possibility of a Best of Both Worlds-type album with Rick Ross: “If we compiled all the joints we did together, it would almost be a Best of Both Worlds album. I think something about his voice and my voice, they’re both very rich in their tone, and we both like that kinda music that’s hard, but it’s still really luxurious and lush at the same time.” His response to President Obama calling Kanye a “jackass”: “Kanye is my friend and he’s never treated me like a jackass. He’s one of the most talented artists we know in this generation and I feel very fortunate to be able to work with him.” John Legend is close to completing his new album, due in September. “It should be done in the next month or two,” he said. Props to Rap-Up.com (04.20.12) |
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RIHANNA, RAPHAEL SAADIQ LAND ON TIME'S MOST INFLUENTIAL LIST Time magazine has released their yearly roundup of the 100 most impactful people of the past 12 months, and this year's 100 Most Influential People in the World list includes everyone from Hollywood stars, singers to athletes and entertainers. Rihanna and Raphael Saadiq earned spots on the list in addition to entertainers like Louis C.K. and prominent figures like Hillary Clinton. The list rounds up the 100 Most Influential People who "inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world," according to Time. In addition to getting a slot on the list, the honorees also get a blurb written about them by an admiring celebrity. Athletes including Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin made the cut, as well as politicians President Obama, Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Rihanna made the list, with fashion designer Stella McCartney writing, "She's one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today, but she does it in her own stride." And Raphael Saadiq received some rave reviews from Elton John, who said he was 'blown away' by the release of Saadiq 's album The Way I See It. Entertainers on the list include comedians Louis C.K. and Chelsea Handler, as well as "Saturday Night Live" star Kristen Wiig. "Her first screenplay — insightful, brave, groundbreaking and also hilarious," Judd Apatow noted about her work on the Oscar-nominated "Bridesmaids." He added that her work as a funny lady was never a comment on gender, writing, "She never thought she was making a statement about women in comedy." Other A-listers recognized by the magazine include actresses Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Tilda Swinton and Claire Danes and super-producer Harvey Weinstein. Props to MTV.com (04.19.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BIG SEAN TALKS NEW ALBUM, TYGA COLLABORATION & LOVE FOR FUR During his visit to Cali, Big Sean sat down with Power 106’s Mando Fresko to speak about the G.O.O.D. Music single “Mercy,” his sophomore album, relationship status (he’s taken, ladies), and love for fur. “I just feel like this album is about progression,” the Detroit MC said of the follow-up to his 2011 debut Finally Famous. “I feel like everything I do I progress. Kanye said, ‘I want you to be better than me and better than Jay. I want you to be the best ’cause you the younger generation. We passing our secrets on to you.’ If you don’t take it to a new height and new levels, then what the fuck are we doing this for? That’s the point, to evolve.” The album, due in late summer/early fall, will include a new collaboration with Tyga. “That’s gonna be a fresh one for the radio. That’s just gonna kill ‘em.” He also shared details about his favorite song called “One Man Can Change the World,” which was inspired by his most dedicated fan. “When you got the mic, you gotta make sure you say something for these people, especially for these ones who look up to you, or your moment in time will just be wasted.” Plus, find out his thoughts on animal rights organization PETA, who recently had some words for his boss. “I’m a Detroit player, so I rock leather, fur,” said Sean. “I respect that movement, but damn I love that fur.” Props to Rap-Up.com (04.19.12) |
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PRODIGY SAYS MOBB DEEP 'MILKED' TWITTER CONTROVERSY The plot thickens. Mobb Deep's Twittergate controversy is still unfolding. During a recent interview on New York radio station Hot 97, MB's Prodigy denied having any beef with band mate Havoc despite the inflammatory messages that were posted to the latter's Twitter page. In fact, Prodigy claims the iconic Queensbridge duo used the controversy to their benefit. "Is this the biggest publicity stunt of all time?" host Peter Rosenberg asked. "Because it feels like a publicity stunt." "When me and Hav got down to the bottom of it, we kept kind of quiet. We didn't get on Twitter right away like, 'Yo it's bogus,'" Prodigy said, referring to the fact that the group didn't comment on the controversy for almost a full day. "Me and Havoc's businessmen," he continued. "We stepped back and was like, 'Alright, how can we use this to our advantage?' We were like, 'Alright, we got a record about to drop.'" Rosenberg responded, "So you're acknowledging that once it became big, you said, 'We might as well milk it for what it's worth.'" "Basically," Prodigy said. "We kept quiet on purpose." P also backed up Hav's story that he lost his phone and his Twitter account was hacked, a claim many in the media have doubted. "That wasn't Hav," Prodigy said of the tweets. Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds said that sources close to the group told them that Havoc was indeed behind the tweets, but Prodigy stood firm. "I would watch them sources you're talkin' to," responded Prodigy, smiling. "Me and Hav are business as usual." The tweets in question accused Prodigy of engaging in homosexual relations during his three-year prison bid for weapons possession, which ended March 2011. "There's no truth to that," Prodigy said. "You think I was in jail doing that?" Props to BET.com (04.19.12) |
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TUPAC'S HOLOGRAM MIGHT BE HEADING OUT ON TOUR Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's closing set at Coachella this past Sunday night went above and beyond expectations. In addition to guest appearances from Eminem and 50 Cent, deceased West Coast rapper Tupac Shakur appeared on stage in the form of a hologram to perform. Now, it seems that Tupac might be headed out on the road. According to a Wall Street Journal interview with Ed Ulbrich of Digital Domain Media Group Inc., the visual-effects house responsible for making the rapper's image (as well as the virtual versions of Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), there are plans to take the 2-D image on tour. (Although 'Pac's ghostly figure has been widely reported as a hologram, Ulbrich told the Journal that its technical description is a 2-D image and not a hologram, which is 3-D.) Moving forward with discussions of a tour are representatives for Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg who, according to a source close to the project, will be meeting to discuss the logistics involved in scheduling a string of performances with the virtual Tupac. The report cites one option would be to tour in stadiums and involve other hip-hop stars like Eminem, 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa. Another option is a limited tour that would only feature Dre, Snoop Dogg and the virtual Tupac in smaller arenas. "We worked with Dr. Dre on this, and it was Dre's vision to bring this back to life," Nick Smith — president of AV Concepts, the San Diego company that projected and staged the image — exclusively told MTV News on Monday (April 16). "It was his idea from the very beginning and we worked with him and his camp to utilize the technology to make it come to life. ... You can take their likenesses and voice and ... take people that haven't done concerts before or perform music they haven't sung and digitally re-create it." Props to MTV.com (04.17.12) |
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SLAUGHTERHOUSE DISCUSSES SHADY RECORDS DEBUT, EMINEM & PRODUCERS As Slaughterhouse's Shady Records debut approaches, the four emcees in the group have been revealing new information about what fans can expect from the project. Recently, during an interview with Fuse, the group that has called itself the Four Headed Monster spoke on what fans can expect from lyrics to production. When asked about compromising lyrics for commercial records, Joell Ortiz was quick to note that they are signed to Shady Records. "That's the beauty of being signed to Shady Records because our CEO is Eminem," Joell noted. "You guys are familiar with how lyrical he is, right? [laughing] We're not compromising our pen to put any of our records in any direction now. There's bigger production and a lot more time. We did our first album with E1 in six days. The album's gonna be larger because we had a lot more time to work with. Now, our resources are open because we're on a label." Those resources allowed for a variety of producers to come on board, as Ortiz mentioned. Joe Budden went on to explain what those producers did, saying they made the album even better by coming in to produce and not simply sending tracks over to the crew. "So many different talented people came in," Budden added. "It wasn't just people sending us tracks. It was producers looking to produce. Alchemist came in. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, No I.D. and we sat down with quite a few people and picked their brain just so we could get on the same page. I think that's why the music turned out as great as it did, in my opinion. That's my opinion. Hopefully you guys feel the same." According to Budden, the album won't be finished until it's in stores, but he added that he's excited for fans to hear the record in its entirety, calling it "impeccable." Props to HipHopDX.com (04.17.12) |
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IGGY AZALEA TALKS RYE RYE COLLABORATIONS, T.I'S LESSONS & HER 'TAYLOR SWIFT MOMENT' Iggy Azalea hasn't gotten used to being famous yet. Over the last six months, the Aussie rapper has gone from Internet star to having all of hip-hop's ears turned in her direction. Cutting her teeth in Atlanta before heading to L.A., Azalea , born Amethyst Amelia Kelly, fell in love with rap at age 11, after hearing Tupac's song "Baby Don't Cry." Three years later, she started rapping and moved to the states before she was 21. Like many up-and-coming rhymers, Azalea started posting her music on YouTube, and amassed a solid fan following. Among the tracks that garnered her the most hits was the sexually explicit, bass heavy track "Pu$$y." Out the gate, Azalea's aggressive flow, with a hint of a southern accent, is the last thing one would expect from a platinum blonde white girl from down under. But maybe that's why she's so appealing. Although hip-hop has no race requirements, there's no denying that the number of successful white rappers are few and far between. In the last year alone, a handful of white female rappers have emerged, namely Kreayshawn, her sidekick V-Nasty, K-Flay and Azalea herself, who are bending rules when it comes to what rappers can both look and sound like. By the end of 2011, Azalea's digital buzz landed her in the middle of a bidding war between Def Jam and Interscope Records. In the end, the latter label won her over, while T.I. also signed her to his Grand Hustle imprint. Yet being in the bright glare of the media also turned her into a target. After becoming the first woman to adorn XXL's coveted 2012 Freshman Class cover, Azalea was called out by fellow rap newcomer Azealia Banks, who pegged her as a racist. Banks opened the floodgates to a tidal wave of criticism which, at its peak, found Grand Hustle's newest star clarifying, then apologizing for using the term "runaway slave master" on the track, "D.R.U.G.S." Props to TheBoomBox.com (04.17.12) |
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COACHELLA 2012: TUPAC HOLOGRAM JOINS DR.DRE, SNOOP DOGG, EMINEM, 50 CENT The first weekend of Coachella closed with a mega celebration of old school meets new school hip-hop as Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg hit the main stage together, with an unprecedented guest list. In addition to appearances from 50 Cent, Eminem, Wiz Khalifa and Kendrick Lamar, a Tupac Shakur hologram was live on stage. (Not the rumored Nate Dogg hologram we'd previously heard about). Amid plenty of billowing smoke and a lively visual backdrop, the living legends performed a myriad of their combined hits, kicking things off with “The Next Episode,” and following up with tracks like “Gin and Juice,” "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" and “Deep Cover." "Snoop performed several of his solo numbers like “I Wanna Rock” and “Drop It Like It’s Hot” as well as his rendition of House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” He resurrected the classic cut, “Ain’t No Fun,” which was complemented with a flashing montage of deceased singer Nate Dogg playing in the background. Kurupt and Warren G came onstage for the number too, making it a true Dogg Pound reunion. “Me and my n---- Snoop Dogg have been together for 20 years!” Dre proclaimed at one point as Snoop started smoking onstage, clearly in high spirits. A slew of guests joined the heavyweight pair including Wiz Khalifa who performed “Young, Wild & Free” and newcomer Kendrick Lamar who spit “The Recipe.” 50 Cent brought East Coast flavor into the mix with a surprise appearance, performing crowd favorites like “What Up Gangsta,” “In Da Club,” and “P.I.M.P.” Eminem brought out perhaps the biggest crowd reaction, accompanying Dre on “I Need A Doctor,” “Forgot About Dre” and at Dre’s prodding, “Till I Collapse.” Props to MTV.com (04.16.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NICKI MINAJ DELETES HER TWITTER ACCOUNT There were cries across the Roman Empire on Sunday when Nicki Minaj deleted her Twitter page. The “Starships” rapper had amassed a large following on the social networking site with 11 million followers. It’s unclear exactly why she decided to disable her account, but it may have to do with a recent influx of negativity on her timeline. She was also unhappy when one fansite prematurely posted snippets of her album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Moments before she shut down the page, she tweeted, “Like seriously, its but so much a person can take. Good fucking bye.” There were early signs of trouble. The day before, she wrote, “And that’s exactly why I’m paying the barbz DUST right now! And deleting my twitter. Smdh – don’t cry 4 me argentina.” She added, “On 2nd thought I’ll just follow a new set of barbz. The ones I follow r very mean and ratchet.*side eyes them*” Minutes after she deleted the account, the topic #NickiComeBack started to trend, while fans expressed their sadness and anger over her disappearance. Her right hand man Scaff Beezy tweeted, “Shit just got real.” 1Nicki is not the first celebrity who has abandoned Twitter. Keyshia Cole recently deleted her account, while others like Chris Brown, Cassie, and Kid Cudi have deleted their pages only to return later. Props to Rap-Up.com (04.16.12) |
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DJ SKEE: INSIDE THE DJ BOOTH DJ Skee was a high school student when he realized he'd have to create a lane for himself in hip-hop. He was no one's rap star, but he loved the culture. It was a single elective course that started him in the right direction. "I took a class on audio engineering and recording," Skee tells The BoomBox. "It combined the love I had for music with the knowledge needed to know I could actually do stuff with it outside of being an artist." Once the class ended, Skee felt inspired enough to pool his resources, invest in his first set of turntables and practice incessantly. His new plan left no room for the four sports he was involved in and turntablism ousted baseball, soccer, basketball and football. After grasping some new techniques on the tables, Skee grew confident enough to compile mixtapes for his classmates. Once the demand doubled, the L.A.-based DJ expanded to moving units beyond the schoolyard, placing his tapes in actual stores. Before he could get too comfortable with the mixtape grind, he diversified, hustling his way onto an overnight shift on a local radio station -- all before getting his diploma. More than a decade later, Skee has mastered the platforms he dabbled in as a fledgling DJ. He now heads a Saturday afternoon mix, Sunday afternoon countdown and a weekend evening slot on Sirius XM's Hip Hop Nation channel. Skee also breaks tracks weekly on his HD2 New Music show for L.A.'s KIIS FM. In addition to radio, he still hosts mixtapes and he's also gone digital with his own company Skee.TV, which specializes in production marketing and content distribution. Props to TheBoomBox.com (04.16.12) |
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LIL WAYNE INKS FOUR-ALBUM DEAL WITH CASH MONEY Lil Wayne has become synonymous with the Young Money/Cash Money phenomenon that has swept up names such as Drake, Nicki Minaj, Mystikal and Busta Rhymes, and the rapper isn't going anywhere soon. Weezy just signed a 4-album deal with Cash Money records, he announced in an interview on new MTV show "Hip Hop POV." The label, which he has been signed to since he was eleven years old, is reaping the sales of Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded which debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 last week, and is set to gear up for Wayne's first album since last year's The Carter IV, titled I Am Not A Human Being II. "Contract-wise, I only get paid for 12 songs. Maybe on a Carter album, you probably only gonna get 12 songs, maybe a bonus 13," Weezy said during the interview. "But on this I Am Not a Human Being thing, I really don't care... you're probably gonna get 16 on there." Wayne also announced that he's working on an album of "love songs" - but in the Wayne style, not the typical crooners one might imagine. The album will be titled Devol - "loved" spelled backward - and was borne out of his preoccupations while serving eight months in prison in 2010. With those two projects in the works - Birdman told Billboard in January that I Am Not A Human Being II is slated to drop "before summer," though a release date has still not been set - as well as collaborative albums with both Birdman and Juelz Santana on the agenda, Weezy may hit his four album mark sooner rather than later. Just don't expect the Young Money CEO to be jumping ship on the label any time soon. Props to Billboard.com (04.13.12) |
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SOURCE CLOSE TO MOBB DEEP SAYS THEY WILL NEVER RELEASE ANOTHER ALBUM Following Havoc's alleged Twitter rant against Prodigy and subsequent denial of its authenticity, a source close to Mobb Deep has revealed that Prodigy and Havoc will not release another album. According to XXLMag.com, the source, who works closely with the Queens, New York duo, says that the pair has been on dicey terms since Prodigy's release from prison late last year. Supposedly, 50 Cent offered P a solo deal on account of Hav's problems with alcohol abuse. "While he was up there, 50 Cent came to visit a couple times,” the source said. “And 50 had came to him and said, ‘Listen, man, when you come home, I wanna sign you as a solo artist. I’m gonna give you a $500,000 advance check, but I’m not fuckin’ with Havoc because Havoc has been dealin’ with alcohol issues for years. Since you’ve been in jail, he’s checked in to rehab a few times.” After P got out of jail, Havoc said he had been confronting his alcohol problems and was ready to start working again. But he still struggled with his drinking issue. The source cites one instance where he spent $20,000 at a casino, but didn't remember the next day. "He forgot because he has these little blackout moments when he’s drunk—that he spent all the money gamblin’. He accused Prodigy’s manager [of] stealin’ the money out of his account. So he knocks on Prodigy’s door, he smacks Prodigy across the face, Prodigy wrestles him down, beats him up a little bit. After, he remembers that he was gamblin’, so he comes back to Prodigy and apologizes and all that. But at this point, Prodigy is already tellin’ me and my other friend, ‘Yo, this is the last Mobb Deep tour. When I get back to New York, I’m gonna disappear. I’m not fuckin’ with H no more.’" Props to HipHopDX.com (04.13.12) |
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PRESIDENT OBAMA THINKS KANYE WEST IS 'TALENTED,' STILL 'A JACKASS' Remember when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV VMAs, prompting President Obama to call him a "jackass?" Well, Obama isn't quite ready to retract that statement. In an interview with The Atlantic, the president was asked to choose between Jay-Z and Kanye West, and he didn't have a very difficult time coughing up his answer, which was, "Jay-Z." After confirming that his favorite Throne MC is Hov, the ever-diplomatic Obama threw in a few nice comments about 'Ye. "Although I like Kanye. He's a Chicago guy. Smart. He's very talented," the president said. The interviewer didn't let the subject drop without mentioning that President Obama once referred to Kanye as a "jackass" when he interrupted Taylor Swift's VMA speech, but Obama didn't shy away from the comment. "He is a jackass," Obama replied, with a perfectly even voice. "But he's talented." Even without the whole VMA fiasco, it's clear the Obamas have a very close relationship with Jay-Z and his wife, Beyoncé. Jay has been outwardly supportive of President Obama's campaign from the beginning, and B recently joined a group of celebrities who designed personal swag for Obama's re-election campaign. This week, Beyoncé even penned a heartfelt letter to Michelle Obama, thanking her for being a great role model. "I am proud to have my daughter grow up in a world where she has people like you to look up to," she wrote. The two have previously collaborated on the first lady's Let's Move! Campaign, which targeted obesity in children. Beyoncé reworked her hit single "Singles Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" into "Move Your Body," encouraging kids to get fit. Props to MTV.com (04.13.12) |
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LALLAPALOOZA 2012: WALE, FRANK OCEAN, THE WEEKND & J.COLE ADDED UPDATE: Wale, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, J. Cole, Santigold, Aloe Blacc and Childish Gambino are among the hip-hop and R&B performers who will head to Lollapalooza this year adn take the stage. CHICAGO (AP) - The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys and English indie darlings Florence and the Machine will headline this year's three-day Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, Jane's Addiction lead singer and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell announced Wednesday. "Every year it's kind of a nail biter putting a lineup together," Farrell said in an interview. "There were moments when I looked at it and I was beside myself. I didn't know what to do." But with the final list also including acts such as Black Sabbath, Jack White and Sigur Ros, "that lineup is just going to be so exciting and it's so diverse. I think it works so well," Farrell said. The festival in Chicago's sprawling Grant Park begins Aug. 3. The schedule of more than 120 bands features Lollapalooza's signature mix of mainstream headliners and indie bands. The global factor is strong with acts from across Europe, Chile, Australia and Malaysia. It also reflects American music hubs like Austin, Nashville and Portland, spanning genres from rock to pop, hip hop and rap to electronic dance. Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, The Afghan Whigs, The Shins and former "American Idol" contestant Haley Reinhart are on the bill. The full lineup is available on Lollapalooza's website. Props to TheBoombox.com (04.12.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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LIL WAYNE RENEWS DEAL WITH CASH MONEY READIES 'I AM NOT A HUMAN BEING II' Lil Wayne is YMCMB for life. The New Orleans rapper has resigned to his label of 15 years and is readying his next project, I Am Not a Human Being II. The follow-up to 2010’s I Am Not a Human Being is due later this year. “The I Am Not a Human Being projects is more me just being creatively free,” Weezy told Amanda Seales during an interview on “MTV’s Hip Hop POV.” “I just say what I wanna on the I Am Not a Human Being II. Contract-wise, I only get paid for 12 songs. Maybe on a Carter album, you probably only gonna get 12 songs, maybe a bonus 13. But on this I Am Not a Human Being thing, I really don’t care—’cause thank God I’m wealthy enough to not—you’re probably gonna get about 16 on there.” As previously reported, he is also working on the Devol album (“Loved” spelled backwards), consisting of his version of love songs that he wrote in prison. “For some reason when I was locked up, all I could think about was women the whole time,” he said. “I was also thinking about a woman like truck that trick. All these emotions came out on this Devol project that I was doing, so we’re gonna pick some of the songs off the Devol project and hopefully people like them.” The loyal MC just re-inked with Cash Money Records. “I just resigned with Cash Money,” he announced. “I just resigned another four-album deal, so my next four albums is coming out with Cash Money.” Props to Rap-Up.com (04.12.12) |
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GEORGE ZIMMERMAN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER FOR DEATH OF TRAYVON MARTIN A full 45 days after the shooting of Trayvon Martin in a gated community in Florida, the man who killed him is being charged with second-degree murder by a special prosecutor appointed by the governor of Florida. George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot the teenager, has been taken into custody, although his location was not disclosed for his safety. Trayvon's parents were relieved by the news. "We just wanted an arrest and we got it," said Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton at a news conference after the charges had been publicly announced. "Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus." Though the arrest offers some solace to the family, Rev. Al Sharpton made clear the family was seeking justice and not revenge. “There is no victory here. They’ve lost their son. This is not about gloating. This is about pursuing justice. This is not a night for celebration. It is a night that never should have happened.” Special prosecutor Angela Corey spoke with Trayvon's parents earlier in the day to let them know of her decision to charge Zimmerman. “It is the search of justice for Trayvon that has brought us to this moment,” she said. “We did not come to this decision lightly. It is Trayvon's family who are the constitutional victims." The severity of the charge is likely to ease the growing national outcry that has grown dramatically in the last few weeks for the arrest of Zimmerman. Zimmerman has maintained he was acting in self-defense, asserting that Trayvon Martin had assaulted him. That led to nationwide discussion of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which allows people to shoot in self-defense if they feel their lives have been threatened. Props to BET.com (04.12.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ'S 'ROMAN RELOADED' DEBUTS AT NO.1 ON BILLBOARD 200 Nicki Minaj scores her second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" debuts atop the list with 253,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's a slightly better-than-expected sales figure, as industry sources had suggested last week that the album was on course for a launch somewhere in the 215,000 to 235,000 range. It follows her debut studio set, "Pink Friday," which climbed to No. 1 on the Feb. 19, 2011 chart, just as her "Super Bass" single was taking off. "Pink Friday" bowed at No. 2 on the chart dated Dec. 11, 2010 with 375,000 sold according to Nielsen SoundScan. (Its big debut was fueled by Christmas shopping as the album bowed during Thanksgiving week.) "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" is not a reissue of the original "Pink Friday" album -- despite its confusing title. It's an all-new release, led by its official first single "Starships." The track has already sailed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album that "Roman Reloaded" replaces, Madonna's "MDNA," falls to No. 8 with 48,000 (down 86.7%) It debuted at No. 1 last week with 359,000. Its steep drop is the largest second-week percentage decline for a No. 1-debuting album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. It surpasses the record set by Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," when it fell 84.27% in its second week on the chart dated June 18, 2011. "Born This Way" bowed the previous frame at No. 1 with 1.11 million, and then sold 174,000 in its second week at the top of the chart. Props to Billboard.com (04.11.12) |
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LEGENDARY RAPPER Q-TIP SIGNS TO KANYE WEST'S G.O.O.D. MUSIC Legendary rapper Q-Tip has inked a deal with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint and will release his fourth solo album titled The Last Zulu. Kanye and Q-Tip already have a working relationship, as Q-Tip produced tracks on West’s last album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Watch the Throne with Jay-Z. The deal also reunites Q-Tip with former Jive CEO Barry Weiss, who oversaw the label’s release of classic Tribe Called Quest albums like People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders and others. In March of 2011, Barry Weiss took over as head of Island/Def Jam, which distributes Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint. “I’m excited to be a part of the great iconic Def Jam label,” Q-Tip said in a statement. “I’m humbled to be a part of such a storied history. To reconnect with Barry Weiss is a great thing. As far as G.O.O.D. Music, I’m excited to solidify my working relationship with Kanye, and I look forward to all the opportunities that lie ahead in our partnership. I will do my best to present the most cutting edge music I can.” According to Q-Tip, he is currently in the recording studio working on material for The Last Zulu, which has no release date as of press time. “I am thrilled to be working with Q-Tip once again,” said Barry Weiss. “He is a respected voice in the music community as shown by his acclaimed solo albums and countless contributions to the work of other artists. His creativity continues to surpass all boundaries of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and jazz. We welcome Q-Tip to the G.O.O.D. Music / Island Def Jam family.” Props to AllHipHop.com (04.11.12) |
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RICK ROSS CANCELS TWO SHOWS FOR POSSIBLE ONGOING HEALTH ISSUES Monday, the Houston Press reported Rick Ross missed a performance scheduled for April 7 at Houston’s Bayou Music Center. According to Marco Torres of the Press, it was announced that Ross would not perform after suffering a seizure in his hotel room. While some remained skeptical, Torres reported that a trusted, yet unidentified source claimed the seizure reports were “very true.” Additionally, HipHip-N-More, WENN.com and other sources are reporting that Ross missed his “Easter Fest Rozay” show in Guyana due to what his management team was calling “a medical emergency.” In a statement released to Hits and Jams Entertainment—the promotion company handling the Guyana show—Ross’ management team stated, “Once [Ross] is cleared by doctors they are willing to work on an alternative date for the Guyana show.” Similar incidents occurred in October of 2011 when Ross suffered from a seizure on a plane traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Miami-bred rapper suffered another seizure the next day prior to a scheduled show in Memphis, Tennessee. Ross would resurface shortly thereafter boasting a clean bill of health and attributing both seizures to sleep deprivation. Ross was wrapping up a tour through Europe, and the rapper was presumably en route to Houston before the latest health issue. He and his team released a vlog of their exploits, which can be seen below. Props to HipHopDX.com (04.11.12) |
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HAVOC DENIES ANTI-PRODIGY TWEETS As you probably guessed, the Mobb Deep Twitter scandal is only deepening. Last night, April 9, after a series of messages dissing Prodigy appeared on the Twitter page of his bandmate, Havoc, the latter released a statement denying the tweets were his. But many doubted the veracity of Hav's story, and now new leaked audio backs up these critics' claims. It all started yesterday morning, as reported here, when the Twitter page of Havoc, one half of the legendary Queensbridge duo, was inundated by several messages insulting P. The tweets — posted to @TheRealHavoc, which has since been taken down — claimed that Havoc had smacked Prodigy, challenged P to a fight and accused him of engaging in homosexual relations during his three-year prison bid, among other things. Later that night, via Rap Radar, Hav released a statement denying he wrote the tweets: “Just getting back into NY after my Easter weekend with family and friends in Jersey. I left my phone at a gas station yesterday evening while on my way to Jersey after a glorious Knick’s game. To all Mobb Deep fans: it’s business as usual! It’s Mobb Deep all day!!! My twitter account @THEREALHAVOC will be down until further notice. The only other real account is @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP. Ignore the rest. One!” The statement quickly became a top trending topic on Twitter, with many saying that Hav's story seemed unlikely. Furthermore, according to screenshots of the tweets in question, they were sent from the Web, not a phone. Then, earlier this morning, Power 105 FM's The Breakfast Club morning show aired a recording of a phone call, apparently made by Havoc, that seems to prove he was indeed behind the anti-Prodigy tweets: ... Props to BET.com (04.10.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BOBBI KRISTINA WANTS WHITNEY HOUSTON ROLE IN BIOPIC With many celebrities expressing their interests in the lead role for a Whitney Houston biopic, Bobbi Kristina has finally given her opinion on who should play the iconic singer. Although Rihanna, Meagan Good, and J-Hud are all trying to claim the role, Houston’s 19-year-old daughter feels she would be the perfect person to play her mother, according to TMZ. A source for TMZ reports that Bobbi thinks she should indeed take on the role of the superstar. She told them no one knew her [Whitney] better. Then she reportedly added if that Eazy-E’s son could play his father in a movie, she could play her mother. Last month, during a 90-minute special aired that aired on OWN, the 19-year-old told Oprah, "I have to carry on the legacy. We're gonna do the singing thing, some acting, some dancing. It's a lot of pressure, but she prepared me for it." She explained that despite growing up with a superstar parent, she still saw Whitney simply as her mother. "I just saw her as mom. The first time I saw her as a worldwide icon was when we went on tour. And the funeral. ... She made an impact not only on a few people. She made an impact on the world. That's when it hit me." Whitney Houston was buried in Newark, New Jersey back in February but there has been some recent outcry about the burial costs. Taxpayers in the city of Newark are upset about having to pay the added costs for Newark police security that maintained public safety and barriers between fans and the proceedings. Newark has incurred $187,000 in costs for police overtime due to nearly 200 police officers being stationed at the New Baptist Church, which housed the funeral. Props to MTV.com (04.10.12) |
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FACEBOOK PURCHASES INSTAGRAM FOR $1 BILLION IN CASH AND SHARES It has been confirmed that Facebook co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has purchased popular photography app, Instagram, for $1 billion in cash and shares. The Instagram acquisition is one of the largest in Facebook history, and according to Zuckerberg, the company does not plan on doing many more of these transactions, if any. Zuckerberg, who made the purchase announcement on his Facebook blog this morning, does not plan on making any changes to Instagram as of yet. “We believe these are different experiences that complement each other. But in order to do this well, we need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram’s strengths and features rather than just trying to integrate everything into Facebook,” wrote Zuckerberg. “That’s why we’re committed to building and growing Instagram independently. Millions of people around the world love the Instagram app and the brand associated with it, and our goal is to help spread this app and brand to even more people,” he added. Zuckerberg also stated that the 30 million Instagram users on Android and iOS would still be able to post their photos on other social networks besides Facebook. here are currently a plethora of Hip-Hop artists on Instagram, including Rick Ross (RichForever), Tyler the Creator (tylerthecreator), Cam’Ron (Mr_CamRon), Big K.R.I.T. (YoungKrizzle) Fabolous (MyFabolousLife),Snoop Dogg (SnoopDogg), and many others. According to Facebook’s press release, the transaction will be completed later this quarter. Props to AllHipHop.com (04.10.12) |
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BEYONCE LAUNCHES PERSONAL TUMBLR, SENDS FIRST TWEET Beyonce launched her revamped website Beyonce.com today, complete with her own Tumblr account. Dedicated to her fans, the very personal page showcases a myriad of personal photos and insider moments from the superstar’s life and travels, including snapshots cuddling with husband Jay-Z, vacationing with sister Solange Knowles and goofing off with nephew Juelz. A rare glimpse into a usually private personality, there’s even a video in which a visibly pregnant Beyonce walks by a Blue Ivy tree and references how fitting it is (Her daughter Blue Ivy was born earlier this year. Bee writes on the page, “this is my life, today, over the years-through my eyes. My family, my travels, my love. This is where I share with you, This will continue to grow as I do." The “Love On Top” singer also took to social media and sent her very first tweet earlier today, “Hey World, It's B! I'm so excited to invite you to my new beyonce.com - we've been working hard, and it's finally ready for you XO." Yesterday marked Beyonce and husband Jay-Z’s fourth wedding anniversary, although their relationship spans at least a decade. Fans remember the pair heating up the small screen in their music video for “Bonnie & Clyde” in 2002 as well as Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love” in 2003. They officially tied the knot in a private ceremy in NYC on April 4, 2008. Jay visited jeweler to the stars, Jacob The Jeweler, yesterday to mark the occasion in NYC. Props to MTV.com (04.05.12) |
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RIHANNA COVERS ELLE MAGAZINE'S 'WOMEN IN MUSIC' ISSUE Before she went back to black, a blonde Rihanna posed for the cover of Elle magazine’s “Women in Music” issue, on newsstands April 17. The Barbadian beauty modeled designer duds including a yellow lambskin jacket and skirt by Versace, white Dior skirt, Jean Paul Gaultier bra, and strapless Emporio Armani dress in the photos by Tom Munro. In the interview, she opened up about finding love, starting a family, and the backlash over her reconciliation with Chris Brown. On her breakup with Chris Brown: “It gave me guns. I was like, well, fuck. They know more about me than I want them to know. It’s embarrassing. But that was my opening. That was my liberation, my moment of bring it. […] Now you know that, so you can say what you want about it. I don’t have anything to hide.” On the backlash over their reunion: “The bottom line is that everyone thinks differently. It’s very hard for me to accept, but I get it. People end up wasting their time on the blogs or whatever, ranting away, and that’s all right. Because tomorrow I’m still going to be the same person. I’m still going to do what I want to do.” On having kids: “It could be tomorrow. It could be 20 years from now. I just feel like when the time is right, God will send me a little angel. But first, of course, I have to find a man. I mean, there’s a very important missing piece to the puzzle here!” On finding Mr. Right: “I feel like it’s hard for everybody! I don’t think it has anything to do with being famous. There’s just a major drought out there. […] But I just need to find the person who balances me out, because then things like my schedule won’t matter. I’ve done it before, so I know I can do it again.” Props to Rap-Up.com (04.05.12) |
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50 CENT JOINS NEW FILM 'THE TOMB' WITH SYLVESTER STALLONE AND ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER 50 Cent has just signed on to star in director Mikael Hafstrom’s upcoming action film team-up alongside Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger called The Tomb. As reported by Variety, The Tomb finds Stallone playing “an expert on structural security who is framed and put in a high-security prison of his own design. He must put his skills to the test to find out who put him there.” The cast of The Tomb also includes Jim Caviezel and Amy Ryan, as well as Vincent D’Onofrio and Vinnie Jones who previously starred in the direct-to-video film Fire With Fire with 50 Cent. There is currently no word on the role that 50 Cent will play in the film. The Tomb will not be 50′s first “all-star” team-up, as he previously co-starred in the 2008 film Righteous Kill alongside Academy Award-winners, Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. 50 Cent, who is repped by CAA and attorney Aron Baumel, has an upcoming slate of features that includes: Fire With Fire with Bruce Willis,Vengeance with Danny Trejo, Freelancers with Robert De Niro and The Frozen Ground with Nicolas Cage, all of which are set for release later this year. The rapper turned thespian will also be appearing on an upcoming episode of the SyFy reality series “Dream Machines,” where he will have a custom, futuristic spaceship-inspired Formula One race car created by Parker Brothers Concepts. The episode airs on April 10 on SyFy. Props to AllHipHop.com (04.05.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ DISCUSSES RETURNING TO HER RAP ROOTS Nicki Minaj has come under fire from critics and listeners alike for her recent transformation into a more pop-oriented rap artist than a lyrically-minded emcee. Now, in an interview with Sway Calloway, the YMCMB starlet addressed her critics and discussed what she feels is her return to rhyming. According to Minaj, she feels that the majority of listeners have pegged her as a one dimensional artist focused solely on dominating the pop world. She says that while she's faced these criticisms from the beginning of her career, her ascent to mainstream Hip Hop further typified her as a pop artist. "I think I went from being a caricature in peoples' eyes to becoming someone with a lot of layers," she explained. "You just got to realize that I'm never going to be one dimensional, and even my core fans I think at one time thought I was one dimensional when I was doing the mixtapes. However, even on the mixtapes, I was singing and I was doing songs like…'Can Anybody Hear Me'...where I was singing and I was talking about being a female rapper and trying to get signed and what we go through…I was telling those stories on my mixtapes. I feel when the mainstream got a hold of Nicki Minaj, they turned her into a girl that wears wigs and has funny voices. Then we had to get past that, and I then had to reel it in and say, 'Actually, I'm a business woman.'" Nicki also added that at this point in her career, she feels that she has enough clout in the industry to focus on the brand of Hip Hop that she wants to make. She pointed to her recently released sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded as evidence that she's returned to rhyming, saying the album's guest features from Cam'ron, 2 Chainz and Nas are signs that she has her Hip Hop peers' respect. Props to HipHopDX.com (04.04.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JAY-Z AND BEYONCE CELEBRATE 4th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Jay-Z and Beyonce celebrate their 4th anniversary of marriage on April 4, but the powerful couple's relationship stretches back at least a decade. Both are notoriously tight-lipped about their personal life, but as the reigning king and queen of hip-hop, it's difficult for fans not to be just a little curious. To ring in the occasion Beyonce will launch a new Tumblr account giving a peek at her personal life. In the meantime take a look back at some of their most public relationship moments from 2002 to 2012. 2002 – On Jay’s seventh album The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse, the single “03 Bonnie & Clyde” featured vocals from the former Destiny’s Child lead singer. With her group on hiatus, Beyoncé’s inclusion on the song not only marked her turn has a force to be reckoned with but also fueled the rumors that Jay and Bey were an item. 2003 – With Beyoncé prepping to release her solo album debut – which to date has sold 11 Million copies worldwide – the lead single “Dangerously In Love” launched Beyoncé to superstar levels but it was also Jay-Z’s inclusion on the rap portion of the song that had people continually speculating if the song was an exact depiction of their romance or just happenstance. 2004 – At a party for departing Def Jam boss Lyor Cohen, Jay-Z got caught up in the moment apparently and announced his plans to marry Beyoncé. “You've been one of the best friends I could have had apart from this woman beside me (Beyoncé), who I love and who I will marry very soon,” said the rapper in a touching moment. 2005 – Still resistant to discuss their relationship in the media, the two stars were paparazzi targets and several photos of their vacations and outings surfaced on tabloids and gossip blogs everywhere. Remaining unusually tight-lipped, they never looked less than happy to be together in the flicks... Props to MTV.com (04.04.12) |
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TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET: 10 CASTMEMBERS FOR R.KELLY'S SOAP OPERA Last month, the Independent Film Channel (IFC) announced that it will air the third installment of R. Kelly's addictive, R&B-laced soap opera "Trapped in the Closet." Made up of three-minute chapters, the "Ignition" singer released the first batch of videos, Chapters 1-12, in 2005. The first five chapters of the project originally appeared as tracks on the crooner's TP.3 Reloaded, with "Chapter 1" serving as the album's lead single. With fans enamored by the many twists and love triangles, part two -- known as Chapters 13-22 -- soon followed in 2007. Kelly, whose last album was 2010's lusty Love Letter, has reportedly penned 32 more chapters for the third part of the series. Not only does R. Kelly narrate the entire "hip-hopera" though his singing, with actors poignantly lip synching over his iconic R&B crooning, the three-time Grammy winner stars as the protagonist Sylvester, who discovers a web of deceit and adultery following a one-night stand that leaves him hiding -- you guessed it -- trapped in a closet. For those not familiar with the synopsis, in short: Sylvester is cheating on wife Gwendolyn with her friend Cathy, who finds out her husband and pastor Rufus is sleeping with a man, Chuck. Gwendolyn, in the meantime, is sleeping with James, a cop married to Bridget, who might be pregnant with little Big Man's baby. He accidentally shoots Twan, Gwen's brother, who finds out he is the father of Tina's baby, but Tina is hot for Roxanne. Other characters like mob boss Joey and nosy neighbors Rosie and Randolph also help move the plot along. While the first two parts of "Trapped in the Closet" feature a cast of relatively unknown actors, The BoomBox decided to up the stakes for part three. We choose several familiar faces from the R&B and hip-hop community -- some with acting ties, others who have collaborated musically with R. Kelly. Here's the cast we'd like to see play this motley group of characters. Props to TheBoomBox.com (04.04.12) |
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RIHANNA WOULD BE HONORED TO PLAY WHITNEY HOUSTON IN BIOPIC Rihanna has shrugged off rumors that she is in the running to play the role of Whitney Houston in a forthcoming biopic, but the singer says she would be honored to be cast should the movie go into production. Other names thrown out for the role have included Jennifer Hudson, Vivica A. Fox and Meagan Good. "That would be something that I would have to give my entire life to do because I would want to really pull it off,” Rihanna said. “That's a huge, huge role and whoever does it has to do a good job." The pop singer says that she has always considered Houston to be an inspiration to her, “I met her at a Clive Davis party. I love her. She's one of my big music icons, and I have always looked up to her.” Rihanna also revealed that Whitney gave her reason to jump into this business, "My first song that I remember falling in love with was a Whitney Houston song – “I Will Always Love You.” All of her music actually was always played in my house, with Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. It was really inspiring and it made me develop a passion for music, so really she's partly responsible for me being here in this industry." Props to MTV.com (04.03.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ WANTED LAURYN HILL ON 'ROMAN RELOADED' Nicki Minaj collaborated with everyone from Nas to Beenie Man on her star-studded album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, but there was one elusive artist she was unable to land. The “Starships” hitmaker revealed that she wanted Lauryn Hill on “Champion,” the hip-hop-heavy cut off her sophomore set featuring Nas, Drake, and Young Jeezy. “I wanted to get her on ‘Champion’,” she told Funkmaster Flex. “That would have been crazy, right? She was my fave.” While the two have yet to meet, Nicki has nothing but respect for the Fugees frontwoman. “Lauryn to me was the goddess,” she continued. “I’d love to meet her. I’m pretty sure she’s heard me talk about her a billion times.” She also gave props to other female lyricists including Remy Ma. “Remy at one time brought back this energy that was almost palpable,” she said of the incarcerated MC. “When the ‘Ante Up’ verse came out, if you ain’t know her, you knew her then.” Foxy Brown was another one of her influences. “She was one of my faves. I had connected with her a lot just because she’s Trini and I’m Trini, and I always thought if I meet her, she would understand me. Foxy Brown was my friend in my head.” In addition, she shouted out MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Left Eye, Missy Elliott, and Da Brat during the interview. Props to Rap-Up.com (04.03.12) |
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PRODUCER DEEZLE TEAMS WITH CELEBS TO FIGHT "CONFLICT MINERALS" A number of celebrities and rap artists are participating in new campaign to raise awareness about “Conflict Minerals” from the Congo region in Africa. Over 5 million people have been killed or displaced in just the past decade alone in the Congo, which has infamously been exploited for hundreds of years. The Hope for Congo Campaign hopes to bring the same visibility to “Conflict Minerals” that “Conflict Diamonds”has around the world. Three-time Grammy Award winning producer Darius “Deezle” Harris is on board for the campaign. Deezle, who has worked with artists like Lil’ Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, DMX, said he identified with the campaign, due to his upbringing in new Orleans. “There’s a place called Congo Square in New Orleans (my hometown). This place was the only place in America that slaves were allowed to have and play their drums on Sunday’s,” Deezle explained. “I feel a kindred connection with the Congo. I also have a friend whose parents died there in the conflict about ten years ago. I understand the need for peace first hand.” The minerals The Hope for Congo Campaign want to call attention to are tin, tungsten and tantalum. Other celebrities involved in include Robin Wright, writers of “30 Rock,” and Joel & Benji Madden and others. Props to AllHipHop.com (04.03.12) |
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JUNO AWARDS: FEIST, MICHAEL BUBLE WIN BIG IN CANADA Christmas album by Michael Bublé took home Album of the Year; Hedley broke its Susan Lucci losing streak; Martin Solveig & Dragonette's "Hello" beat Deadmau5 for Dance Recording; Feist was named Artist of the Year; Canadian's beloved Blue Rodeo were inducted into the Hall of Fame; and The Sheepdogs, which this time last year were an unknown indie band, equaled Feist with most wins. These were the standouts of 41st annual Juno Awards. The majority of the 41 categories were handed out at a private gala dinner Saturday night; the remaining seven at this evening's live television broadcast, from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, ON, before a paid audience of more than 12,000. Hosting the TV show was Canadian icon William Shatner who came out with quips about show openers Nickelback's pyro ("If the drummer survived, what's the point?"); how tight he is with "Deadmow" and attending Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair ("I went for the music. I stayed for the wheatgrass smoothies"). The "Star Trek" legend -- who won a Grammy back in 1978 for his spoken word version of Elton John's "Rocket Man" -- wasn't nominated for a Juno for his fourth studio album, Seeking Major Tom, but he did talk through a Canadian song medley as part of his opening. With a guitar strapped on but remained unstrummed, the 81-year-old talked his way through snippets of Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild," Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69," BTO's "Takin' Care of Business," Rush's "Tom Sawyer" and Trooper's "Raise A Little Hell." The night also included pre-taped comedic sketches featuring Shatner and Nickelback and one with Hedley. Props to Billboard.com (04.02.12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NICKI MINAJ HOPES HER SUCCESS WILL INSPIRE FANS Nicki Minaj's fans have watched the Young Money rapper's career skyrocket over the past year, and with her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded set to debut in 24 hours, things are only looking better. As Nicki continues to catapult herself into a global superstar, she hopes that her success will inspire fans to dream bigger. Since she first jumped onto the scene, Nicki has encouraged her dedicated fanbase to live out their wildest dreams. MTV News caught up with the Young Money superstar right after she performed to open the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in February. We asked her what it meant to be ranked in the top five of our annual Hottest MCs in the Game list. "If there's one thing I want people to take away from it, it's just that little girls can aspire to be anything, and that's all I want people to see," Nicki said between deep breaths, still winded from her energetic All-Star performance. "Whether you follow Nicki Minaj's blueprint or not, just don't be afraid to experiment and don't allow people to knock your hustle just 'cause it ain't something that you're used to seeing." From her theatrical flow to her outlandish fashion sense, Nicki Minaj has definitely given fans things that they've never seen before. Who can forget when she gave both Jay-Z and Kanye West a lyrical run for their rap money on 2010's "Monster," or Nicki's anime-inspired VMA outfit? In theory, Nicki's rap success should open the doors for more female MCs to be signed and fill hip-hop's gaping feminine void. Since the Harajuku Barbie's rise to prominence, women rappers like Kreayshawn, Iggy Azalea and Azealia Banks have all made notable strides. "That's what I like," Nicki said about her number-four placement on the Hottest MCs list. "I like that I'm there because it gives little girls in Southside Jamaica, Queens, or South Africa or Brazil a moment to say, 'Oh wait, I can be a female rapper!' Yes, you really can." Props to MTV.com (04.02.12) |
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RAPPERS FLO RIDA, MGK REP AT WRESTLEMANIA 28 Rappers Flo Rida and Machine Gun Kelly made high-profile appearances during tonight’s WWE Wrestlemania 28 event in Miami, Florida. Not only was Flo Rida worked into the storyline during the PPV, he was the featured performer at 10:00 PM. His songs “Wild Ones” (feat. Sia) and “Good Feeling” were also the official themes for Wrestlemania 28. Flo had a minor confrontation backstage, a few matches before his bare-chested performance. Flo’s track “Wild Ones” was The Rock’s theme song, while his opponent, John Cena, walked in to Machine Gun Kelly’s track “Invincible” for the main match. Machine Gun Kelly hit the “Grandest Stage of Them All” for a performance, which saw him introduced by music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. “This is about to be the biggest 1 minute and 30 seconds of my career so far,” MGK tweeted before he performed. “I’m thinking of all you guys right now. Be proud. Lace Up!” Wrestlemania 28 set a new attendance record at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami, where over 78,373 fans showed up to witness The Rock defeat John Cena. Additionally, over 1.2 million people watched Wrestlemania 28 via pay-per-view. Other celebrities that attended Wrestlemania 28 included Andy Garcia, Mike Tyson and others. Props to AllHipHop.com (04.02.12) |
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RIHANNA TOPS SOCIAL 50 CHART, ENDING ADEL'S 11 WEEK REIGN Thanks no doubt to her unrelentingly active online audience, Rihanna once again tops Billboard's Social 50 chart. She reaches No. 1 for the first time since July 30, 2011, dethroning Adele, who had sat atop the chart for 11 straight weeks. Adele slips to No. 2 this week. The Social 50 chart ranks the most popular artists on YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, using a formula that blends weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with weekly artist page views and weekly song plays. There's no real mystery as to why Rihanna continues to soar in online popularity. She has two singles in the top 10 of the On-Demand Songs chart: "Take Care" (Drake featuring Rihanna) at No. 6 and her own "We Found Love" (featuring Calvin Harris) at No. 10. Combined, the two songs collected well over 950,000 listens last week online. As the bulk of these listens are happening on streaming services that feature extensive social integration -- such as the use of Facebook's open graph -- they contribute greatly towards sustaining conversation and become a strong driver of online social activity. Other social buzz continues to surround Rihanna as she promotes her role in the upcoming action film "Battleship," with a behind-the-scenes YouTube video published to Facebook on March 23. It has earned over 23,000 views and more than 21,000 likes on Facebook. "Battleship" (due May 18) marks the acting debut for the 24-year old singer and also features an all-star cast including Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgard and Brooklyn Decker. The buzz around her movie debut helps contribute to a 30% growth in Twitter fan acquisition over last week, which resulted in 417,323 new followers. Props to Billboard.com (03.30.12) |
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FREEWAY RICK ROSS RESPONDS TO LOSING COURT BATTLE TO RAPPER RICK ROSS Although it's pretty difficult to imagine how rapper Rick Ross's name wasn't at the very least partially inspired by the infamous drug kingpin "Freeway" Rick Ross, that fact wasn't enough for a Los Angeles judge to consider a suit against the Def Jam rapper over the rights to his name. "Freeway" Rick (The Real Rick Ross) showed up in court today to hear the ruling on the second lawsuit he's filed against the rapper, Jay-Z, Def Jam Records, Universal Music Group and others, for trademark violations, unfair competition and misappropriation of his publicity rights and, for the second time, his case has been thrown out of court, reports TMZ. As previously reported, in November 2010 a federal judge in L.A. threw out the first $10 million lawsuit Freeway Rick Ross filed against the rap star, born William Roberts, and his label because they determined that "Freeway" Ross didn't have enough evidence of secondary usage by the Miami rapper. After the defeat, "Freeway" Ross regrouped with new legal representation from California-based law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP in the hopes that they'd give him a better shot at taking down the music goliaths. However, the results were similar, with this judge ruling that Ross didn't have a case because he filed outside of the two year statute of limitations. "I should've filed a lawsuit while I was still in prison," "Freeway" Ricky explains to BET.com. "There's a law that technically if the person publishes the name again, republishes the name, that's another violation. So we argued that every time he put out a new album that's a republication of the name, or every time he does a different magazine article that's a republication because that's in a different magazine, that's a new republication… She [the judge] said that she wasn't certain that that's how the republication law read. She said that ours was a single publication and once he started using the name, the first time it ever played on the radio in suburban Miami was the date that she used." Props to BET.com (03.30.12) |
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BIRDMAN WANTS TO SIGN RICK ROSS AND GAME Birdman has always had a keen eye for talent, most notable when looking back at the signing of Lil Wayne in the summer of 1991 when he was only 9-years-old. Now, with the immense amount of success that Birdman and Cash Money Records have achieved, Stunna has his eyes on bigger talents: Rick Ross and Game. In an interview with Complex Magazine Birdman was asked what artists he would like to sign to Cash Money. "Wow. There’s a lot of acts I’d like to work. I got a lot of respect for Rozay and what he accomplishing with his brand and his team” Birdman told Complex, adding “DJ Khaled. I like Jeezy. I like Game. In time, I’ll be working with some of them.” When asked if he would consider signing Rick Ross to his label after he is finished completing his fifth and final album for Def Jam, Birdman responded by saying “if the time ever came, we gonna G up and make it happen. Right now he signed to Def Jam, but when the time do come, I’m gonna be right there waiting.” I got nothing but love and respect for Rozay,” Birdman continued, “I watched him do it and he did it from nothing. He’s still grounded and that’s what I love about him. He’s got a solid team. They’ve got some great music over there.” Baby had similar comments to make about possibly signing Game to Cash Money, “I know that I told Game, if the time come I would love to sign Game. I think he’s a very talented artist. But right now he’s signed with Interscope, maybe he’s got another album. But when time comes, I’m gonna be there for him too.” It’s no wonder Birdman would want to sign Rozay to Cash Money. Back in February our panel of experts named Rick Ross the Hottest MC In The Game. Props to MTV.com (03.30.12) |
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DRAKE TALKS NEXT ALBUM, RITA ORA AND GETTING 'PUNK'D' Drake made the media rounds during his visit to the U.K. this week for his sold-out “Club Paradise” concerts at London’s O2 Arena. The Young Money star, whose video for “Take Care” with Rihanna is set to debut this week, chatted with KISS FM about working with Jamie xx on the follow-up to Take Care, writing a song for his “little brother” Justin Bieber, and the gift Rita Ora gave him. He also shared his scary experience being “Punk’d” by his friend CJ and Ashton Kutcher. “I thought I was gonna die,” Drizzy told Tim Westwood. On why he’s able to appeal to men as well as women: “There’s some people who aren’t comfortable in their own skin so they kinda lash out at other people who are. I think for the majority of men, there’s a mutual respect when you see another dude who’s doing his thing, who’s getting girls, who’s doing a great job at getting money, and he’s doing it all by being himself.” On his next album: “I’m sort of at that place where I’m collecting beats. I recently did some work with 2 Chainz. I really want [Jamie xx] to have a big presence on this next album. [Noah "40" Shebib] is back home working on an incredible project. I can’t wait to get back there and work with him.” On Rita Ora: “One of the greatest gifts I ever received in my whole life—I wear it every day—is this ring right here. They tried to talk about this ring the other day and say I got married to somebody, which I didn’t. Rita actually gave me this ring. We’re dear friends. ‘R.I.P.’ is a song that I originally wrote for Rihanna. Rihanna actually didn’t take the song. I think it was for [Loud] and Rita expressed interest in it and anything I can do for Rita, I will do.” Props to Rap-Up.com (03.29.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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IN HOUSE WITH KIRKO BANGZ: HOUSTON MC 'ANNOYED' BY UGLY WOMEN, SEES 'ROLE MODEL' IN DERRICK ROSE Kirko Bangz adores women. Yet, it's the ugly ones that irk him. The Houston rhymer explains exactly why members of the attractively-challenged opposite sex irritate his existence, but he'll get to that in a minute. At the moment, he's shielding his eyes from bright office lights with the brim of his New York Giants fitted cap. Kirko, 22, had a late night out at a strip club shaking hands with music industry professionals and spending dollars. In his line of work, that's where both business and pleasure are conducted. Since releasing his twangy lean-inspired track "Drank In My Cup" last year, Kirko has been busy telling his come-up story around the country. Subsequently, he's allowed fans, critics and DJs, among others, to match the song with the man who crafted lyrics celebrating the art of "hitting it and quitting it." After 31 weeks on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the tattooed rhymer's work is paying off. Last week, he earned his first top 10 with the song. As a former Prairie View A&M University student with hoop dreams, a drive to succeed has been at the core of every project he's put forth. He's got five mixtapes under his belt since 2009 -- three in the Procrastination Kills series, Progression and Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa -- and this year will finally see his debut LP on Warner Bros. Records come to fruition. Read on as Kirko Bangz takes The BoomBox inside his head, where he reveals his pet peeve with ugly women, why he finds a role model in Chicago Bulls basketball player Derrick Rose, the stunt he pulled while sipping lean before a show and why representing Houston the right way has earned him respect from his community. Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.29.12) |
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RIHANNA ON ASHTON KUTCHER RUMORS: 'IM SINGLE' Last week rumors began to fly about a relationship between Rihanna and Ashton Kutcher, when the 24-year-old star was reportedly spotted leaving Kutcher's Los Angeles home in the wee morning hours. Well, during a press conference in London for her upcoming movie "Battleship," one bold reporter actually questioned Rihanna about the rumor (to the pop star's dismay). After meandering around about Ri's fans and their love for her, she eventually got to her point: Would she get any visits from Kutcher while out promoting the film? The singer's response? Well, she wasn't amused. "Wow, how disappointing was that question," she said in a video posted on the website. "I'm happy and I'm single, if that's what you're really asking." While in London, the singer took some time to visit her pal Drake, who was in town performing at the O2 arena earlier this week. The singer was spotted riding the Tube to the show on Tuesday night. Wearing her hair blond and shaggy, she was decked out in thigh-high boots, a leather jacket and a flame-embossed T-shirt over barely there denim shorts. The only way she disguised herself was with a pair of sunglasses. "There's so much traffic. It's approximately an hour and a half to the O2 every time. ... I hate waking up early and I'm always late, so the tube is like 10 minutes," she told interviewer Jonathan Ross recently about her love for public transportation. Post-show she and Drake headed to Low nightclub to hang out with pals. Props to MTV.com (03.29.12) |
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MAC MILLER CALLS LIL WAYNE'S 'MACADELIC' FEATURE 'PERFECT' Miller dropped his new mixtape Macadelic last Friday, treating fans to features from Kendrick Lamar, Sir Michael Rocks, Casey Veggies, Juicy J and Cam'ron and even Lil Wayne. Weezy appears on the introspective single "The Question," and the Pittsburgh MC tells MTV News that, "This is one of my favorite records that I've ever done." It wasn't the quality of songs that stood out — Mac's fans have come to expect the best from the Pittsburgh MC — instead it was Macadelic's features that stood out to many. With a guest list that includes Kendrick Lamar, Sir Michael Rocks, Casey Veggies, Juicy J and Cam'ron, it was Weezy's multiplatinum name that made folks do a double-take. Mac Miller hasn't been around very long, but his ever-growing catalog has a lot of noteworthy tunes. The gold-selling "Donald Trump" is a crowd-pleaser at shows, as is his jump-up-and-down party-starter "Knock, Knock." But Mac's recent Lil Wayne collaboration "The Question" already ranks right up there for him. Getting Weezy on your mixtape is a no-brainer for any MC with enough clout to pull it off, but Miller didn't want to get the Young Money boss on just any old track. To him, "The Question" was special. "This song is a real meaningful song to me, man, and I wanted to make sure I got Wayne on something that was heartfelt," he said. "I got him on a record that I was saying something and not just talkin' sh--, so this record right here really kinda deals with a question that I've been goin' through in my own head." Props to MTV.com (03.28.12) |
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JAMES FANCO, 'SPRING BREAKERS' MOVIE: ACTOR PLAYS FORMER MTV REALITY STAR & RAPPER RIFF RAFF James Franco plays a rapper in Harmony Korine's new film "Spring Breakers." However, the shoes he fills isn't that of a chart-topping MC; it's a former MTV reality TV star and Soulja Boy affiliate named Riff Raff. Known for his start on MTV reality show "From G's to Gents," starring rapper Fonzworth Bentley, Riff Raff told Fuse that the esteemed actor is officially playing him in the movie, which apparently also stars singer Selena Gomez, actress Vanessa Hudgens and southern rhymer Gucci Mane -- a photo from the set can be viewed below. Riff Raff revealed that Korine actually contacted him to play a drug dealer in "Spring Breakers," but because he was out of the country, the Stacks on Deck Music Group signee had to pass on the offer. According to Riff Raff, Korine said, "'Yeah, man, I want you to be in this movie, but we only got a certain timeframe' or whatever," he disclosed. "'I wanted you in this movie with James Franco and Selena Gomez and Gucci Mane... But we're already behind!'" The "127 Hours" actor was originally set to play a different character. "James Franco was in the movie, but I was supposed to be in there also," the rapper said. "Now James Franco is playing me." To fully embrace Riff Raff's persona, he sent Franco items that would assist in his character study. "I sent him a few things," Riff Raff revealed. "But all you gotta do [to see how I dress] is search through my videos. I got a pretty distinct style, with the braids, the jewelry." Though he wasn't available to fill the role, Riff Raff feels "privileged" James Franco is bringing his life to the big screen. He even went so far as to compare the experience to Denzel Washington's career. Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.28.12) |
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THE HUNGER GAMES CAST FACE RACIST COMMENTS OVER BLACK ACTORS Along with praise and raking in $155 million during its opening weekend, the cast of The Hunger Games is also facing an unexpected slew of racism over the production's cast choices. Several fans have taken to Twitter to express their disgust over the fact that characters Rue and Thresh are played by Black actors. Despite being described as having "dark brown skin" in Suzanne Collins' young adult novel-turned-movie, ignorant fans have been completely taken aback by Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi playing the two roles. "Why is Rue a little black girl? #sticktothebookdude," one fan wrote on Twitter while another asked, "Why does Rue have to be black not gonna lie kinda ruined the movie." Not even Lenny Kravitz could escape the attack. The singer plays Cinna (whose skin color is not described in the book), a stylist for the televised games that pit children from twelve different districts against each other in a fight to the death. The sole survivor of The Hunger Games not only brings glory to his or her district, but also food and supplies to a starving community. "Cinna and Rue weren't supposed to be black," one tweeted before adding, "Why did the producer make all the good characters black?" "Awkward moment when Rue is some black girl and not the innocent blonde girl you picture," said another user. One person even went so far as to use the "N" word to describe 13-year-old Stenberg tweeting, “Sense when has Rue been a n----r.” Props to BET.com (03.28.12) |
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WHITNEY HOUSTON HONORED WITH FLASH MOB TRIBUTE Whitney Houston's official cause of death was revealed last week, concluding that the singer died of accidental drowning, with complications stemming from heart disease and drug use. And although she was buried in her hometown Newark, New Jersey in February, fans are still paying tribute to the late star. Die hard Whitney fans took to the streets in San Francisco this past weekend to put some of their best dance moves on display, during a flash mob. On Friday evening, participants suddenly stormed The Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, dancing to the tune of Houston's hit "I Want to Dance With Somebody." The L.A. County coroner has revealed that accidental drowning was the official cause of Houston's death, adding that cocaine use and heart disease were also contributing factors. According to the report, traces of cocaine were found in Houston's system at the time of death along with Xanax, Flexeril, marijuana and Benadryl, which officials said played no role in her death. No cocaine was found in the singer's room when she died, but coroner spokesman Craig Harvey noted that cocaine metabolites were found in her system, leading them to conclude that Houston was a chronic user of the drug. A number of prescription pills were recovered in the Beverly Hills hotel room, but officials from the coroner's office said there wasn't an unusual amount of medication. Houston, who died at age 48, was laid to rest in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, during an invite-only funeral service at the New Hope Baptist Church on February 18. Props to MTV.com (03.27.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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YELAWOLF SPEAKS ON RUPTURED SPLEEN, SAYS IT "PUT MY LIFE IN CHECK" Earlier this month, Yelawolf was rushed to the hospital in Madison, Wisconsin after rupturing his spleen, which put him in the ICU unit for several days. Breaking his silence on the incident, Yela spoke with Rhymes & Reasons Magazine about his life-threatening injury, explaining how he knew it was serious from the jump. "It started in Los Angeles when I jumped out of some rafters. I jumped out, stage-dived, and landed on someone’s head and come to find a month later that I broke their nose. But at least I landed on someone’s face, I guess," he said. "I might have ruptured my spleen then, and then in Madison, Wisconsin, I jumped into the crowd and I think I hit my back right on the button and it popped and I had internal bleeding and it ruptured my spleen." Catfish Billy headed to the hospital after his show. He was placed in the Intensive Care Unit for several days, and was forced to sign papers that removed fault from doctors if he passed away during surgery. Yela thanks his girlfriend, singer Fefe Dobson, for nursing him back to health, and says that it put his "life in check." "I knew something was wrong immediately. The pain was crazy and I was rushed to the hospital. Spent a couple days in the ICU and then a couple more days in the hospital. It was serious. I signed some serious paperwork over to the team of surgeons and shit. But I recovered without having my spleen removed. I had to cut my tour off though," he continued. "I’d say these last 2 weeks have been pretty surreal, sitting in ICU with those fuckin' plugs hooked up to my body, and signing papers that say 'If you die, we're not responsible.' It put my life in check." Props to HipHopDX.com (03.27.12) |
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ROMEO AND CYMPHONIQUE HOST GOLDEN EGG EVENT TO GIVE AWAY SCHOLARSHIP Romeo And Cymphonique Miller have teamed with College League Apparel to present the annual Golden Eggs of Success Easter themed event next month in Jackson, Mississippi. The siblings are taking part in The Golden Eggs of Success campaign, which aims to reach over 1 million inner-city residents The goal of The Golden Eggs campaign is to encourage teens to make college a priority in their lives. During the event, there will be a fashion show, a “Golden” Easter egg hunt for cash prizes and more importantly, scholarships. The activities are being sponsored by The City of Jackson’s Department of Parks and Recreation, radio station WJMI and College League Apparel. “It’s hard to believe that something like t-shirts could be such a powerful source to change lives in our communities,” said College League Apparel VP of marketing, Kenisha Cross. “Our College Boyys and College Girlls brands truly sell themselves with tools like education and knowledge which is missing in this clothing market,” Cross added. “We represent the next generation of fashion!” The Golden Eggs of Success event will take place on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. at Battlefield Park located at 953 Porter Street. For more information, go to www.collegeleagueapparel.com Props to AllHipHop.com (03.27.12) |
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DRAKE TALKS THANK ME LATER FOLLOW UP Drizzy Drake held court in his hometown of Toronto over the weekend as he and his crew, October's Very Own, hosted the "OVO Fest," their own self-produced concert that featured the likes of Jay-Z and Eminem as guest performers. But before the show, the Young Money MC took time out to speak to RapFix and open up about the direction he's hoping the take his sophomore set. Drake said he felt that he had so much to say on his debut, Thank Me Later, that at times he was actually rapping too much. Here, T.Dot's favorite son talks about what he plans to do different on the next one. "What I was is just for the records to be enjoyed with out it being too complex," Drake explained. "I think rapping for 32 bars sometimes you lose a partial audience. The audience that sometimes wants to hear a great hook and feel good. Your lyrics, as long as their said clearly, they'll learn them. I take a lot of pride in my verse and I think on my last album and I think that I had so much to say that I felt like I had to rap for 32 bars on every single song. But this next album I'm going to challenge myself to put 32-bar thoughts into 16 bars, which is gonna be harder. "Much like I did like on "The Resistance," I wanna do more songs like that," he added. "They're shorter and radio can play them; not that their radio records. But I wanna switch my format up a bit, just to challenge myself and try something new. Cause this album has to be better than So Far Gone and Thank Me Later put together." Props to MTV.com (03.22.12) |
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GAME TALKS 50 CENT BEEF ON 'BEHIND THE MUSIC' EPISODE Game and 50 Cent's rap beef, which began in 2005, still "haunts" Game's career. On VH1's "Behind the Music: Game," premiering tonight (March 22) at 9 p.m. ET, the rapper goes into depth of how the rivalry unraveled after 50 Cent claimed to have written his songs. "50 didn't write my songs, that's just his ego rising above the team aspect of what Aftermath was all about," Game says. "I could easily say, 'Yo, I wrote this song on "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" it was a team effort." Game continues to explain how his anger towards 50 Cent and G-Unit turned into a movement. ""300 Bars," when I wrote that I was angry I wanted G-Unit to die as a brand, a record label, a group... There was a bar that said 'you sell records but a G-G-G you not.' And all it was, was a metaphor. I didn't know what I created. Next thing I know fans started yelling G-G-G U NOT! [They] started making T-shirts and the movement it got bigger than me." Check out a sneak peek at tonight's 'Behind the Music' episode, starring Game. Earlier in the month, Game told Billboard.com that he's already working on new music. He's currently working on his fifth studio album, "FIVE: Fear Is Victory's Evolution," and is set to release his mixtape, "California Republic," by the end of the month. While in the studio, Game continues to promote his recent album, "R.E.D. Album." Yesterday (March 21), Game debuted his video for the Kendrick Lamar assisted, "The City," on RollingStone.com. Props to Billboard.com (03.22.12) |
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MEAGAN GOOD LANDS LEAD IN NBC DRAMA PILOT NOTORIOUS After 20-plus years of starring in countless quality film and television projects, Meagan Good is finally getting the small screen close-up that her career deserves. Deadline is reporting that the 30-year-old actress has been cast as the star of the new NBC drama pilot Notorious. In the tradition of the glamorous nighttime soaps like Dynasty and Dallas, which ruled the TV airwaves in the '80s, Good will play a detective named Joanna Locasto. In the Notorious pilot, Joanna returns to the rich yet troubled family where she grew up as the housekeeper’s daughter and goes undercover to help solve the murder of a daughter in the family — her close friend from childhood. It’s been a very busy time for Good. She’s currently completing a season-long arc portraying the character Kali on the hit Showtime series Californication and she will soon be seen on the big screen as Mya in the much-anticipated Think Like a Man, which also stars Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union and Michael Ealy. And after years of critics crying foul about the lack of Black actors starring on network TV, the casting of this season’s drama pilots promises to add plenty of color to the prime-time lineup across the dial. While NBC has Good in Notorious, Cuba Gooding Jr. will star in FOX’s Guilty and Andre Braugher is the lead in ABC’s Last Resort. The CW has Amber Stevens starring in Joey Dakota and Jessica Lucas will headline Cult. And starting in April on ABC, Kerry Washington stars in the midseason drama series Scandal, created by show-creator titan Shonda Rhimes. After decades of watching Black actors star in sitcoms, it would be great to see all of these strong drama pilots make it to series in the new television season. Props to BET.com (03.22.12) |
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HTC'S BEATS BY DRE IN MOG ACQUISITION TALKS Upscale headphone maker Beats by Dr. Dre is in talks to buy subscription music service MOG, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday. Beats' owner, Taiwanese cellphone maker HTC, is looking to create a music offering that combines its mobile devices, Beats' headphones and MOG's all-you-can-listen streaming plan, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity. News of the possible acquisition was earlier reported by Business Insider. MOG Chief Executive David Hyman declined to comment. HTC dismissed earlier reports as rumor and speculation. Last August, HTC announced it was paying $300 million for a 51 percent stake in Beats Electronics LLC, a company headed by rapper and producer Dr. Dre and recording executive Jimmy Iovine. The maker of handsets that work on Google Inc.'s Android platform has been struggling with intense competition from Samsung Electronics Co. and iPhone maker Apple Inc. HTC said its profit fell 26 percent in the final quarter of last year. MOG has also struggled to gain subscribers in the face of established music subscription service Rhapsody and Sweden's Spotify. MOG's paying subscribers are estimated to be in the tens of thousands compared to more than a million for Rhapsody in the U.S. and 3 million for Spotify worldwide. Each service offers unlimited music streaming on portable devices for $10 per month and a range of free trial offers to get customers hooked. Props to Billboard.com (03.21.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ COVERS 'COMPLEX,' TALKS 2012 GOALS This year alone, Nicki Minaj has already covered several magazines (including New York, Vibe and Allure) and her latest front page feature is for Complex's April/May issue which features a bloodied Justin Bieber on the flipside. Complex unveiled their feature with Minaj on Tuesday (after rolling out Justin Bieber's story from their April/May double cover on Monday). As to be expected, the 29-year-old rapper is done up in eye-catching colors, sporting a white wig with shades of purple, white and pink lipstick and some added graphics just to push it over the top. The feature backtracks on her astronomical year, which included a Super Bowl performance, a Grammys performance, an OPI nail polish line and a MAC cosmetics deal and looks forward to a coming year that will include a fragrance line, a fashion line and a world tour. "If I wasn't doing it, I wouldn't believe it's possible," Minaj told the magazine about her success. "I happen to be a pessimist, and maybe that's a good thing because I don't stop to smell the roses — which is not a good personal thing. I don't stop and enjoy those moments. I'm just [snaps fingers] on to the next. Always on to the next and never in the moment." Despite her catalog of achievements, the Queens rapper says that she's laser-focused on achieving that much more, especially with her sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which is due out on April 3. "Doing the Super Bowl with Madonna doesn't really change Nicki Minaj's personal goals," she says. "My goal right now is still to put out Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, sell 5 million copies eventually, and tour every country in the world." Props to MTV.com (03.21.12) |
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FORMER WIVES OF WILL SMITH, R.KELLY AND PRINCE STAR IN VH1'S "HOLLYWOOD EXESThe former wives of rapper/actor Will Smith and R&B singer R. Kelly will star in a new VH1 reality series “Hollywood Exes.” Will Smith’s former wife Sheree Fletcher was married to the famous rapper/actor for two years. She will be joined by cast member Andrea Kelly, who was married to R&B singer R. Kelly for 12 years. Other high-profile wives have been tapped to star in the “Hollywood Exes,” which is the working title for the show. Nicole Murphy, Eddie Murphy’s former wife of 13 years has been confirmed as a cast member, in addition to Jessica Canseco, who was married to Jose Canseco for 4 years. Rounding out the cast of former is Mayte Garcia, who was married to iconic singer Prince for three years. “Hollywood Exes” will center around the ladies’ post-divorced lifestyles, as well as the struggles they encounter with having husbands who cast long dark shadows over the women’s careers. Unlike some of VH1′s other reality shows, the five women featured on “Hollywood Exes” have been friends for years. “These extraordinarily strong women adjusted to and endured a lot while their ex-spouses won fame and fortune defining pop culture for that moment,” said Jeff Olde, Executive Vice President, Original Programming & Production, VH1. “Now these women must re-invent themselves again, stepping out of the long shadows cast by their famous husbands and supporting each other as they define the next stage of their lives – this time on their own terms.” Hollywood Exes” will premiere on VH1 in the summer of 2012, with 10 one-hour episodes. Props to AllHipHop.com (03.21.12) |
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DRAKE ADMITS TO SHARING GIRLS WITH LIL WAYNE IN GQ VERSE Drake is featured on the cover of GQ's April issue, all suited up, and inside the Young Money rapper opens up about his life in the fast lane (it ain't easy being "25 sitting on 25 mil"), but behind-the-scenes Drizzy also kicked a new, revealing verse for the men's mag. "A Little Favour" finds the Toronto native spitting about the excess of women and wealth that inevitably comes with his career, yet he admits that thanks to a small industry, he's shared some of the same women with his boss Lil Wayne. "Diamonds hang around my neck, the crib is all finished/No love for these bitches I said this year it’s all business/ It is a shame that a couple of ‘em are off limits/ No offense to my n---a, It’s just the industry’s small, we all lust for the same women," he spits, going on to admit that he and Wayne have shared some of the same women. "You know the ones we saw before we came in it, I know we aint tripping. I know I got a couple things that Lil Wayne dipped in, ain't ashamed to admit it." In his GQ cover story, Drake was just as candid, explaining that his relationships with the fairer sex have changed drastically since he became a household name. "When I was in my mom's housein my mom's house, I had nowhere to go, no real obligations. My girlfriend at the time, if she was mad at me, my day was all f---ed up," he said. "I didn't have anything else. And that made for some of the best music, I think, to date. Records where I felt small. That feeling is hard to capture when you're sitting out here in a space like this" he says. These days, he's probably lost count of the number of he's slept with. "I'm trying to find the same feelings that I had for women when I had very little going on,” he admits, “which is tough.” Props to MTV.com (03.20.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PITBULL CLAIMS FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTION AGAINST LINDSAY LOHAN Thanks to a lawsuit from Lindsay Lohan, Pitbull has found himself the latest high-profile defender of First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. The Miami rapper has cited constitutional law in his official response to a suit from the sometime actress, who claims a line from a Pitbull song that mentions her name in an unflattering manner has caused her "tremendous emotional distress." The line in question comes from Pitbull's 2011 smash "Give Me Everything." "So, I'm tiptoein', to keep flowin', I got it locked up, like Lindsay Lohan," he rhymed. Defending his right to use Lindsay's name on the track, Pitbull's lawyers say the free speech rights of the First Amendment have historically protected such usage, and that Lohan's case should be thrown out, lest the civil liberties of other artists become endangered. "Sustaining Ms. Lohan's allegations would lead to absurd results: the use of a celebrity's name in any work of art — such as a song, poem or painting — would trigger liability," argues the defendant's court papers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Indeed, if Ms. Lohan is allowed to proceed with her claim, every recording artist could be gagged and prevented from expressing his or her thoughts in songs, including the other recording artists who have referred to Ms. Lohan in their songs but whom she has not sued." Pitbull's lawyers even cite other artists who have similarly used Lohan's name in songs, including Eminem, who in 2009 rapped: "Hello Lindsay you're looking a little thin, hun'; How about a ride to rehab?" Linday's lawsuit, filed last year, alleges the infringement of her publicity rights and claims the song was damaging to her standing as "an actress of good repute." Props to BET.com (03.20.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ PREPS PEPSI DEAL, CONSOLIDATES REPRESENTATION FROM CAA TO BLUEPRINT It's a busy time to be in the business of Nicki Minaj. As the rapper preps her sophomore album "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" (April 3), news of a major endorsement deal and a consolidation of her touring and business representation has also started to surface. Forbes reported Monday afternoon (March 19) that Minaj has signed a seven-figure endorsement deal with Pepsi expected to include an international commercial and a gig as the face of a new natural soda called "Pop" in fourth quarter. The international commercial was filmed last month in Argentina, where footage leaked on YouTube, and could make its official debut as early as late April, a source tells Billboard. A Pepsi spokeswoman declined comment. Additionally, Billboard has learned that Minaj consolidated all booking, branding and other representation with her management company The Blueprint Group, having previously tapped Creative Artists Agency's Mark Cheatham for touring. The shift was finalized in early March, according to two sources familiar with the deal. Spokespeople for CAA and Minaj were unable to comment. The Pepsi pact marks Minaj's biggest brand relationship to date, following a recent partnership with Mattel to auction a one-of-a-kind Nicki Minaj Barbie doll in December. Bidding for the doll started at $1,000 and closed at $15,000, according to the Charity Buzz page that hosted the doll's bids. Other recent branding deals include MAC's Viva Glam, OPI nail polish and Onch Movement jewelry The Pepsi-Minaj deal was brokered by the Glu Agency's Derek Jackson, a former manager of hip-hop producer Scott Storch who also helped engineer the "DEWeezy" campaign from Mountain Dew and Minaj's Young Money labelmate Lil Wayne. Props to Billboard.com (03.20.12) |
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M.I.A. PICKS FIGHT WITH ANDERSON COOPER Now that the controversy around her Super Bowl appearance is dying down, British rapper M.I.A. is stirring up another one. This time, she's taking aim at Anderson Cooper. It all started Wednesday night, when M.I.A. tweeted about a new documentary on Britain's Channel 4, Sri Lanka's Killing Fields. The feisty MC, whose parents are from the Southeast Asian country, encouraged her fans to watch the film about the Tamil Tigers, a controversial rebel alliance with which her father was said to be associated. And then, things got ugly: "someone should make @AndersonCooper watch it / film it and show the world what happens when respected journos get it wrong," she tweeted, later adding, "@AndersonCooper called me a terrorist for speaking out, and expressed support for the SLgov when this was happening." "What are you talking about?" Cooper tweeted back immediately. "You are mistaken. I never called you a terrorist. I don't even know who you are other than the lady who sang at superbowl…By the way, I defended your finger pointing at the superbowl, so check your facts. I've no idea what youre tweeting about." "YOU CALLED ME A LADY TAMIL TIGER when I talked about Tamil civilians dying, and u printed a retraction," the Sri Lankan beauty fired back. "In 2009 u linked to a articl that was written about me with false info. there was a rebuttal on ur 360 site…2 months later 1ce every tamil had been silenced including me, the SLGOV carried out the killing of 40, 000 civilians." Props to BET.com (03.19.12) |
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DRAKE FILES OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO "MARVIN'S ROOM" LAWSUIT According to an exclusive story by The Hollywood Reporter, a woman claiming to be Drake's ex-girlfriend and the inspiration for "Marvin's Room" is suing the YMCMB rapper for co-writing royalties on the song. Ericka Lee, who is credited in the liner notes of "Marvin's Room" as a vocalist under the name "Syren Lyric Muse," believes she is entitled to a larger share of the song's royalties. Lee filed her initial claim in July of 2011, and was met by a counterclaim from Cash Money/Universal Records roughly six weeks later. According to Lee's suit, she believes her "contribution is highly significant to the overall work." "Drake allegedly agreed to work with Lee on 'Marvin's Room' and split the proceeds," writes Eriq Gardner of The Hollywood Reporter. "Lee says she was asked to record the song's 'hook' as well as the opening monologue that would serve as the thematic framework for a song about Drake's yearning for an ex-girlfriend and how his fame interfered with his love life." Lee also claims she was offered a $50,000 payment along with 4-5% of the song's royalties after threatening Drake with legal action prior to filing her lawsuit. "Marvin's Room" peaked at the number 21 spot on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 singles chart. Props to HipHopDX.com (03.19.12) |
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NAS TALKS CHINGY 'POP-FLUFF' PERIOD OF HIP-HOP & WINEHOUSE 'DUET' It's been years since Nas and former manager Steve Stoute formally worked together, but when the two reunited on-stage at a keynote Q&A at South by Southwest Friday it was as if little time had passed. Stoute, a former exec VP at Interscope who now runs advertising agency Translation, chided his one-time management client about the early 2000s when Nas was competing with ringtone rap - a period that would ultimately inspire him to proclaim "Hip Hop Is Dead" on his 2006 album. (Stoute also set off much controversy with an editorial criticizing the Grammys in 2011.) "You have to hear about guys like Chingy. People like it and radio's playing it - how do you deal with that?" Stoute said. "I have to be totally honest," Nas said. "I didn't feel anything about Chingy or anybody else's success during that time. Tell you the truth, it kind of gave me some time off. Time off to not have to keep coming and coming and coming. It just balances things - you can't have everything… It is messed up for that real stuff when the pop-fluff stuff is everywhere; that does damage to things. But when you have faith in the artists that you love, you know they gonna pull through and bring something to the table." Stoute had similar reasons for exiting the music business at the age of 29 to start a new career in advertising. "You couldn't know what was good and what was garbage, and I can assume you were going through that as an artist," he said to Nas. "When artists who are not as talented or executives who are not as talented are getting big deals and all these things, they're bragging about it. And I'm saying, 'but why them?' Is it because it's new? It's the same thing like a Ponzi scheme. At some point it runs out and somebody's gonna get caught with the bag. And I didn't wanna be around when that took place." Props to Billboard.com (03.19.12) |
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RIHANNA, CHRIS BROWN: SINGER SAYS EX IS THE 'HOTTEST,' DOESN'T WANT A 'DIVIDE' Rihanna is finally explaining why she chose to reunite with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown on the remix to 'Birthday Cake,' a song featured on her sixth studio album, 'Talk That Talk.' The 24-year-old Barbados native spoke with Ryan Seacrest about the collaboration, which was the first track the pair recorded since the infamous domestic violence assault that occurred in 2009. Subsequently, the blonde-haired singer went in the booth to lay down vocals for the remix to Brown's 'Turn Up the Music.' "The first song that came about was 'Birthday Cake,'" she revealed. "I mean we ended up recording them at the same time and executing them together, but I reached out to him about doing 'Birthday Cake' because that's the only person that really, it made sense to do the record." While critics were perplexed over the union, the 'Where Have You Been' chanteuse disclosed that Chris Brown is the "hottest R&B artist" at the moment. "Just as a musician despite everything else that was going to be the person," Rihanna shared. "You know I thought about rappers, and I've done that so many times, and the hottest R&B artist out right now is Chris Brown. So I wanted him on the track, and then in turn he was like 'Why don't you do the remix to my track?' and it was a trade off." As a result, the Def Jam signee felt that both projects were a way for their respective fans to celebrate as a team rather than pick sides. "We did two records," she continued. "One for my fans. One for his fans, and that way our fans can come together. There shouldn't be a divide. You know? It's music, and it's innocent." 'Birthday Cake' was co-produced by The-Dream and Da Internz. Read The BoomBox's exclusive interview with The-Dream here, where he speaks about his work on the song and why he chose to support Rihanna collaborating with Chris Brown. Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.16.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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T.I CONFIRMS B.O.B - TAYLOR SWIFT COLLABORATION When Rap-Up.com spoke with B.o.B last month, he remained tight-lipped about his collaboration with Taylor Swift. But during an interview at SXSW, his Grand Hustle boss T.I. confirmed the existence of the rumored record, which is set to appear on B.o.B's sophomore album Strange Clouds. When asked by Fuse about the song, B.o.B reiterated his stance. "I can neither confirm nor deny such allegations," he said. But Tip put the rumors to rest once and for all. "I can. I heard it," he laughed, adding, "Taylor's extended Hustle Gang. She a part of the crew. She just ain't got her dog tags yet." B.o.B connected with the country sweetheart after performing with her in Dallas. "She came to Atlanta and she hit up Grand Hustle," he said. "I wasn't there. Tip was there and I eventually linked with her in Dallas and the rest is history." T.I. also talked about the newest Hustle Gang members including Chip and Iggy Azalea. "She probably one of the dopest female rappers to come around in a long time," he said of the Australian femcee. "I think she gon' break ground and make history." Strange Clouds drops May 1 and Tip is aiming to release Trouble Man between June and August. "Look forward to those summertime anthems that we've grown to love about T.I." Props to Rap-Up.com (03.15.12) |
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BENNY MEDINA: WHY JENNIFER LOPEZ CAN'T HAVE A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP Seems like everybody is trying to figure out what in the world Jennifer Lopez is doing in a full-blown relationship with a 24-year-old club dancer just months after ending her marriage to Marc Anthony. First, Anthony suggested his ex-wife see a psychiatrist to figure out why she can't be alone, and now Lopez's close pal and manager Benny Medina is weighing in on her love life. In the April issue of Vogue, Medina offers his thoughts on J.Lo's tendency to jump from one relationship to another: "The thing that I always sort of wished is that she would give herself time to just naturally meet someone, instead of having obsessive guys pursue her," Medina says about Jennifer's "serial monogamy." "The ease with which that obsession becomes a relationship I think sometimes works against her ability to have a real meaningful relationship. And she never half does anything. When she commits to anything in her work, her life, or her relationships, she is in it." Medina, who is godfather to Lopez's twins, recounts a conversation he had with his pal about her cougar-bait boyfriend Casper Smart. "She's not oblivious to her own reality right now, as in, 'Damn, I'm 42 with a 24-year-old. Why?' We talked about it yesterday," he explains. "She was just like, 'It's not even the age, Benny. It's actually that I just came out of a relationship where I felt like I was kind of not getting what I needed. And I'm open! So somebody who steps in right now and is actually touching me in a way — it's very fertile ground!'" Props to BET.com (03.16.12) |
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DRAKE SUITS UP FOR GQ AND TALKS FATHER, FAME AND FEELINGS Drake traded his patterned sweaters and OVO gear for a slim-fitting suit on the cover of GQ’s first-ever Style Bible. The men’s magazine visited the dapper rapper at his new bachelor pad in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley. As Sixteen Candles played on the projector overlooking the waterfalls in his lush backyard, Drizzy charmed the female journalist while sipping chilled wine spritzer. He opened up about his relationship with his father, how fame has improved his life, and thinking beyond the bedroom. On his relationship with his father: “Me and my dad are friends. We’re cool. I’ll never be disappointed again, because I don’t expect anything anymore from him. I just let him exist, and that’s how we get along. We laugh. We have drinks together. But I spent too many nights looking by the window, seeing if the car was going to pull up. And the car never came.” On the state of hip-hop: “Rap now is just being young and fly and having your shit together. The mood of rap has changed.” On pre- and post-Internet fame: “Some of my favorite rappers, some of my heroes—DJ Screw, Aaliyah—there might be like 200 pictures of them because there was no Internet. Whereas with us, it’s like every moment is documented.” On how his life has changed: “I’m trying to find the same feelings that I had for women when I had very little going on, which is tough. When I was in my mom’s house, I had nowhere to go, no real obligations. My girlfriend at the time, if she was mad at me, my day was all fucked-up. I didn’t have anything else. And that made for some of the best music, I think, to date. Records where I felt small. That feeling is hard to capture when you’re sitting out here in a space like this. It’s really difficult for me to find something that makes me feel small.” Props to Rap-Up.com (03.15.12) |
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SNOOP DOGG INVESTS IN LAFL WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM The start of its inaugural season is less than two months away and the newly-formed Lady Arena Football League (LAFL) already has a celebrity supporter in rapper Snoop Dogg. WENN reports that the West Coast rap veteran has become a part owner of the Los Angeles Rideretts by buying shares in the team. Tryouts for the Rideretts were held last Saturday (March 10) in Carson, California. The LAFL is an 8-on-8 full contact football league that incorporates female athletes who will play in lingerie-style uniforms. According to the leagues’ website, players will compete under the same bylaws and rules of the National Arena Football League. In addition to the Rideretts, LAFL teams include the Lady Houston Panthers, New Orleans Lady Dollz, Kansas City Tease, and St. Louis Sting. More teams are “coming soon” from Oakland, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, the website states. Snoop Dogg’s part owner status with the Rideretts marks his latest venture into the world of sports. The entertainer’s Snoop Youth Football League has become a nationwide success with its focus on providing inner-city kids with a chance to participate in youth football, while promoting the importance of academics and the value of teamwork, good sportsmanship, discipline, and self-respect. The youth league, founded by Snoop Dogg, holds its “Snooper Bowl” championship every year on the eve of the Super Bowl. Props to AllHipHop.com (03.15.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ FILMS 'STARSHIPS' VIDEO IN HAWAII Nicki Minaj dropped her new dance single "Starships" in mid February, and now the Young Money star is on location in Hawaii filming the video for her Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded single. On Wednesday morning, pictures from the set of "Starships" leaked, showing the Queens rapper all dolled up in a pink bikini with matching heels and green-blue tinted hair. Nicki announced her arrival in Hawaii, with this tweet: "The kids @ the airport were like: waikikiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!! I bust out laughin," she wrote. The multi-faceted MC engaged her followers and of course let off an obligatory Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded tweet, once again reminding fans of her sophomore album's April 3 release date, though we're sure a good portion of her 10 million plus followers already have the date marked on their calendars. The three photos that made their way onto the Internet only show Nicki, some production hands and a few female models, but it's the male eye candy that has the female Weezy the most excited. "Can't wait 2get on set," she wrote. "Dem male modelz iz poppinton #starshipsvideo." The top 5 Hottest MC finalist dropped her RedOne-produced single on Valentine's Day, and while the pop track doesn't show off much of Nicki's lyrical prowess, it has clearly resonated with music fans — it is currently sitting at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. During an interview after her 2012 NBA All-Star Game performance in February, Nicki told MTV News that though she began as a rap artist, she is completely comfortable with her hold on popular music these days. "I guess I am pop culture just because what I'm doing seems to be popular. Props to MTV.com (03.15.12) |
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MYSTIKAL SAYS LIL WAYNE & BABY SAVED HIS LIFE, TALKS PRISON EXPERIENCE After spending six years in prison, Mystikal finds himself rhyming alongside Lil Wayne as part of YMCMB. During a recent interview with Hip Hop Nation, Mystikal spoke about what it means for him to be a part of such a popular label after being locked up for so long. Mystical shared that it has been "humbling" and added that Weezy, Baby and company saved his life. "My head is still spinning right now," he shared of the transition he's experienced from going to prison to returning as part of YMCMB. "It's humbling. It's really humbling to be looking from the six years [in prison], looking up at everything. That's at the bottom of the barrel. The only thing worse than being in prison is probably death itself. So to do that for six years and then to come home and be on top with the top record label in the world? It's humbling." Mystikal also shared that he is thus more mindful about his subject matter when rhyming. He then expressed how fortunate he feels to be in his current situation. "That was nothing but God that allowed this situation to unfold like this," he shared. "After the debacle and everything that happened, God still showed up at the end." Moving on, he added that Lil Wayne and Baby saved his life. "They didn't save my career; they saved my life," he noted. Props to HipHopDX.com (03.14.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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KID CUDI ON 'WZRD' ALBUM SALES: 'IT DEFINITELY PROVES A POINT' Kid Cudi's new WZRD album with Dot Da Genius was born out of the duo's spontaneous desire to craft a passion project, and even though the Cleveland-born, rapper-turned-rocker recently spit some pretty harsh words at his label for not supporting the album, he's still more than confident in the project. The project's impressive first-week sales didn't hurt too much either. "I think it definitely proves a point, that there was a method to my madness," Cudi tells MTV News. To call Kid Cudi's WZRD's a passion project would be an understatement of downright sorcerous proportions. From the moment he and producer/bandmate Dot da Genius conceived the idea of making a rock record — which recently inspired a spate of irate tweets accusing his label of failing to support said record — Cudi hasn't exactly been shy about expressing his feelings about the band, its self-titled album or the success they've had in spite of pretty much everything. "We were recording the last Man on the Moon album at Cudi's house, and we just finished 'Trapped in my Mind,' which is the last song on the album," Dot explained to MTV News last week. "Cudi wanted to implement guitar. So we got a guitar in the building, he picked it up, started playing and fell in love immediately. And, like a week later, I went back to his house and he was like, 'Yo, we got to do this.' " "I was like, 'Let's start a band,' " Cudi laughed. " 'It's going to be called WZRD and it's going to be awesome and it's going to sell 70,000-plus records its first week, with no promo.' " And, yes, that last jab is pretty telling. Because though Cudi backtracked a bit on his previous assessments of Universal Republic's promotional efforts for WZRD, he's still clearly enjoying proving everyone wrong. And those first-week sales figures (and #3 debut, the highest of any new album last week) are only adding to that enjoyment. Props to MTV.com (03.14.12) |
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ASHANTI TALKS 'BRAVEHEART,' OWNING HER OWN LABEL ON '106 & PARK' Ashanti walked on set of “106 & Park” to premiere the futuristic video for “The Woman You Love” on Tuesday. Looking like a “fine ass golden nugget” (Terrence’s words), the golden goddess officially announced her fifth album title Braveheart and spoke about the pros and cons of launching her own label, Written Entertainment. “It was really important to me to just become an owner,” said the R&B singer. “It was really scary and really nerve-racking going into it businesswise, but it was the best business move I could have ever made. I own my masters and the percentages are completely different, so I’m very excited about that.” Her fifth album Braveheart is due this spring. “It speaks volumes. It’s just about being brave,” she explained. “There’s a whole metaphor that I have for it, but I want to wait until I come back to talk about it.” She remained tight-lipped about guest collaborations, only saying that one’s a male and one’s a female. However, The Boombox reports that R. Kelly and Keyshia Cole are among the featured guests. Despite her new label situation, she still surrounds herself with the same team including her momager Tina Douglas. “In this business it is crucial ’cause you can’t trust anyone,” said Ashanti. “Everyone is a shark, everyone looks at you as a commodity as opposed to a human being with feelings. But with your family, they have your best interest at heart. They want to see you win regardless.” Props to Rap-Up.com (03.14.12) |
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DEAF HISTORY MONTH 2012: FOXY BROWN SUFFERS LOSS, BOUNCES BACK Wild antics and bold lyrics are synonymous with Foxy Brown but one aspect of her life that has slipped in and out of headlines is the rapper's past hearing struggles. The Brooklyn native, born Inga Marchand, experienced the sensory loss for a full year back in 2005. The day after she posed for a XXL cover shoot with Jay-Z, LeBron James and Kanye West, Foxy revealed that she'd lost all hearing in both ears. Rather than expose her ailment, she went on to self-medicate for four months before disclosing her handicap to the masses. Granted she had ear surgery the following year and made a complete recovery, but for 12 months, the 'Ill Na Na' creator had to rely on those around her in the studio to tap her shoulder to the rhythm. She had gone deaf but that didn't stop her from working as if she could hear every snare, strum and cadence. In honor of Deaf History Month -- March 13 to April 15 -- The BoomBox highlights the work of the MC who was once deaf. While we showcase noteworthy tracks from her own catalog, there are past collaborations as well. The rhymer faced trials and tribulations after enduring hearing loss, yet, in her own words, she was able to remain positive with support from her fans: "Through the rise and the fall, I love y'all." Sixteen-year-old Inga Marchand had just slain the mic at a New York City talent show and caught the attention of the production team, The Trackmasters, who were working on LL Cool J's sixth studio album, 'Mr. Smith,' in 1995. The rugged voice and demeanor of the teenager coupled with her bloodthirsty delivery made the producers add her to the remix of the brutish cut, 'I Shot Ya.' Once the video dropped, everyone was shocked at the fact that it was indeed a very young lady anchoring the song between some hardcore verses. Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.13.12) |
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JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST'S 'OTIS' MAYBACH SELLS FOR $60K The most memorable moment in Jay-Z and Kanye West's 2011 video for "Otis" found the two rap stars taking a chainsaw to a $350,000 Maybach, and even without doors the car was still a hot ticket at a recent auction. The hacked up Maybach recently sold for $60,000 at Phillips de Pury & Company's New York Contemporary Art Evening Auction. The gaudy chop-shop display wasn't for naught as the proceeds of the sale will go to Save the Children, an organization that fights battles on behalf of children around the world. "Jay-Z and Kanye West are towering figures in contemporary culture. They have greatly contributed to the artificial barriers between art, music, fashion and cinema to come down," Simon de Pury, chairman of Phillips de Pury and Company, said in a press release. "Their video for 'Otis' became an instant classic. The Maybach they have transformed for it has the starring role." DUB magazine president and co-founder Myles Kovacs estimated that the custom job cost the Throne around $150,000, but by removing the vehicle's doors, cutting off the roof and switching the bumper and grill, Hov and Yeezy dramatically lowered the value of the car. "The thing is, the value of that car is nothing now, you couldn't drive it on the street," he said in an August 2011 MTV News interview. "It would start malfunctioning big time." If you think of the "Otis" Maybach as a piece of art rather than a fully functioning car, then the $60,000 auction fetch makes more sense. If you consider where the money will be donated, then it's a huge win. "The funds raised from auctioning off the 'Otis' car are greatly needed to help sustain families [in East Africa] over the next several months," Save the Children President and CEO Carolyn Miles said in the press release. "We are grateful to Jay-Z and Kanye West for offering up pop culture history to do good for children in Africa." Props to MTV.com (03.13.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN'S GIRLFRIEND AFRAID OF RIHANNA'S FANS The crazy love triangle between Chris Brown, his current flame Karrueche Tran, and his ex-girlfriend Rihanna is starting to get quite messy. According to TMZ, Tran has beefed up on security after some of Rihanna’s crazed fans have threatened to kill her. A source close to the aspiring model told TMZ that Rih Rih’s fans (known as the Navy) have been sending disturbing messages like, “I hope Rihanna beat the dog s*** outa yo a**!" ... "Watch yo back" ... and "I will kill you.” In fear of her safety, Karrueche, who has been dating Brown since 2010, now travels with a member of Breezy’s security team when she heads out in public. Stuff started to hit fan between the trio within the last two months when it was widely speculated that Brown and his former love Rihanna were on speaking terms after their tumultuous break in 2009. Gossip rags began to spin rumors of Karrueche and Rihanna getting into physical confrontations over the Grammy Award-winning singer, but none of that could be confirmed. However, when Breezy and Rih Rih did make their reunion official last month by recording two new songs together (Brown blessed the remix to Rih’s “Birthday Cake,” while the pop diva returned the favor on CB’s “Turn Up the Music), it seemed to spark a social media feud between the ladies. Last week, Rihanna stirred the pot when she seemingly dissed Karrueche by posting a Twitter pic of a bag of rice cakes wearing sunglasses ... with the caption, “Ima a make u my b****.” The joke was seen as a racially insensitive insult aimed at Karrueche, who is Vietnamese. Throughout the whole ordeal, Brown has reportedly told his current love not to worry about his rekindled friendship with his old flame. Props to BET.com (03.13.12) |
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SXSW 2012, LIL WAYNE, 50 CENT, BLACK HIPPY: BEST HIP-HOP EVENTS PREVIEW As the music portion of SXSW threatens to rear its crowded "it was better before Kanye" head again next week, The BoomBox has collected a selection of our favorite hip-hop events to ease your troubled mind while attending the event in Austin, Texas. Of the many major label surprise events, perhaps the most unexpected is the Shady 2.0 SXSW Showcase, which features BoomBox favorites Big K.R.I.T., Schoolboy Q, Action Bronson -- remember we told you? -- Don Trip, STS, Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf, alongside 50 Cent, who's performing his 2003 classic 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'' in its entirety for the first time. While there is no word as to whether label boss Eminem will be making an appearance, the event takes place at the Austin Music Hall -- 208 Nueces St. -- on Friday (March 16). Equally high profile, Lil Wayne will be performing at the DEWeezy event -- a campaign launch of a collaboration that "celebrates individuality, passion and self-expression" -- on March 15, also at the Austin Music Hall, with doors opening at 6:30PM. B.o.B., T.I., Wale, Meek Mill, Stalley and Curren$y will be rocking the Warner Sound event at La Zona Rosa -- 612 W. 4th St. at Rio Grande St. -- later that night, which begins at 8:30PM, with an opening set by DJ Drama. Earlier in the week, NYC venue S.O.B.s will be throwing their 30th Anniversary Concert at the Belmont -- 305 W. 6th St. -- on March 14, with Mystikal, Miguel, Slaughterhouse, Machine Gun Kelly, 2 Chainz and more. Doors are at 7:30PM. Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.12.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BRITAIN'S ROYAL FAMILY NOT FEELING KANYE WEST'S G.O.O.D MUSIC Kanye West has been living in London for the past few months working on his fashion line and music projects, and his presence may have miffed the royal family. Kanye has reportedly been renting out the top floor at The London Lanesborough Hotel, next door to Buckingham Palace, where he invited the G.O.O.D. Music team to stay with him to finish up their upcoming album. According to Big Sean, their stay at the posh London hotel upset the royal family who happened to be staying in the room underneath Ye and crew. "Every room was a studio,” Sean told The Sun. The royal family below were complaining like, 'We got all this loud-ass rap music above us and weed smoke.'" The G.O.O.D. Music guys have been hard at work on their upcoming compilation album which Big Sean predicts should be out this spring. "We're gonna do the G.O.O.D. Music album first; we been working on that," Big Sean said. "So, me, Kanye, Cudi, CyHi, John Legend, Common, Pusha T, everybody on G.O.O.D., Mr Hudson: We're all working on a new project; it's almost done." Earlier in the week, Kanye got the party going at his Paris Fashion Week show, where he revealed his second women’s collection. Guests like Diddy, Common, Alicia Keys, Cassie, Swizz Beatz, Big Sean and Kim Kardashian were all spotted at the runway show alongside fashion royalty such as Vogue's Anna Wintour and Anna Dello Russo. At the after party, Azaelia Banks, Common, Waka Flocka Flame, Mos Def, Big Sean and A-trak hit the runway for a show of their own and gave a performance for party guests. A go-kart track was even set up around the runway for some added fun. Props to MTV.com (03.12.12) |
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WHITNEY HOUSTON'S DAUGHTER OPENS UP TO OPRAH: "I'VE ACCEPTED IT" In her first interview since Whitney Houston's death, daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown said she's "doing as good as I possibly can" and recalled the tender last moments she shared with her superstar mother before her sudden death last month. "She's always with me," said the 19-year-old, Houston's only child and sole heir. "Her spirit is strong, it's a strong spirit. I feel her pass through me all the time." Brown made the comments in a Sunday interview with Oprah Winfrey on Winfrey's network, OWN, that also featured Pat Houston, the singer's manager and sister-in-law, and Gary Houston, the brother of Whitney Houston. Brown credited her family and God for helping her cope since her mother's death on Feb. 11 at the age of 48. "It comes in waves. One moment I can be happy and laughing, but then it comes over me. It's my mom," she said. Houston, who had struggled with drugs and alcohol in the past but according to family had been apparently clean, was found in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on the eve of the Grammys. She was to attend a pre-Grammy party the night she died. Brown said the night before her mother's death, she asked Houston to spend the night with her. Props to Billboard.com (03.12.12) |
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BIGGIE WEEK: THE UNSOLVED MURDER OF THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G FIFTEEN YEARS LATER Today (March 9), The Notorious B.I.G. is being remembered by family, friends, fans, and music listeners worldwide, as this marks the 15th anniversary of the date the Brooklyn rapper life’s was ended at the young age of 24. Christopher Wallace was shot with a rare ammunition in the early morning hours of March 9, 1997, after leaving a Vibe Magazine party at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, while celebrating the Soul Train Music Awards. Rumors and speculation have circulated the rapper’s homicide from day one. Caught in the crossfire of an apparent East Coast vs. West Coast feud, The Notorious B.I.G. left the world with a vault of records that have become known in nearly every crevice of the world, selling over 17 million albums in the United States alone. His iconic stature supersedes any other Hip-Hop artist, aside from his former friend and West Coast rival rapper Tupac Shakur, whose death occurred merely six months before his own. Fifteen years later after the gunfire has ceased, the FBI has released documents regarding the murder; however, the police have still yet to make any arrests or find anyone guilty. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) opened up a homicide case after the Wallace murder and are said to have thwarted the murder investigation when findings showed that LAPD officers were directly linked to Notorious B.I.G. nemesis and Death Row Records head Suge Knight. Numerous documentaries elude to Suge Knight playing a role in arranging the murder of Biggie in retaliation for Shakur’s murder, but the most concrete evidence about what happened can be found in recent FBI documents that show how Wallace was shot and killed with a very rare form of ammunition, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. Props to AllHipHop.com (03.09.12) |
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RIHANNA TO SUPPORT INVISIBLE CHILDREN CAMPAIGN Support for Invisible Children's "Stop Kony" campaign against child trafficking has gone viral over the last few days, and it's not just your Facebook friends who have been moved. Rihanna was reportedly so compelled by the movement that she plans to partner with the Invisible Children organization to help spread the word in a new video. The "Stop Kony" campaign took off in response to a 30-minute YouTube documentary created by Invisible Children that exposes a Ugandan warlord named Joseph Kony, who recruits children as soldiers and prostitutes. According to TMZ, Rihanna saw the video and reached out to Invisible Children to help raise awareness. The two parties are said to be mulling another video to be produced with a quick turnaround. Since the documentary was released, Rih Rih has already taken it upon herself to spread the message on Twitter, posting about the subject several times. "#KONY2012 Spread the word!!!," she wrote, later adding "PLEASE go to http://www.Invisiblechildren.com Even if its 10 minutes... Trust me, you NEED to know about this! #1LOVE." Props to BET.com (03.09.12) |
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K'NAAN TO MITT ROMNEY: IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE POOR, 'DON'T USE THEIR SONGS' We never figured Mitt Romney for a hip-hop connoisseur -- despite the fact that he likely has an "other other benz" -- but we were still surprised by his incredibly idiotic decision to use K'naan's 'Wavin' Flag' as a campaign anthem, Spinner reports. The Somali-Canadian rapper penned the track about the strife in his native Mogadishu, a subject that isn't exactly relevant to the Republican presidential candidate's message. In January, Romney used the track to celebrate his victory in the Florida primary, leading K'naan to tweet, "Yo @mittromney I am K'naan Warsame and I do not endorse this message." As with all things related to politics, the story quickly blew up and K'naan found himself in the middle of a minor controversy. "All I did was I wrote the tweet. Yeah, it was crazy," he tells Spinner. "It did hit a lot of people like it hit me, the [inappropriateness] of that." The timing of the brouhaha was pretty spectacular, given Romney's next -- and much bigger -- controversy. "It was like the amazing orchestration of life that he went on TV the next day and said 'I'm not concerned with the very poor,'" the soft-spoken rapper says with a chuckle. "Don't use their songs, then." Despite his anger, K'naan decided to let the frenzy die out. "[We weren't] trying to make a bigger deal about it than it really was," he says. "I'm not like a capitalist on problems. I wouldn't feel good about pushing anything further. I just felt like I was getting the bad end of the bargain in a way because fans were writing me like crazy, crazy messages on Twitter, like I was [supporting him]. It was not a nice thing to do." K'naan's next album, 'Country, God or the Girl' is due out in May and features guest spots from Bono, Nas, Keith Richards and Nelly Furtado. Check back on Spinner soon for a long interview and exclusive photos with him! Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.09.12) |
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LIL KIM GETS IN 'KANYE WEST MODE,' DISHES ON DRAKE AND 50 CENT One year after her first appearance, Lil’ Kim returned to MTV’s “RapFix Live” for a lengthy conversation with Sway Calloway. Whereas last time the talk centered around her mixtape Black Friday and rival Nicki Minaj, she didn’t mention the Young Money rapper once during the interview. Instead, an upbeat Kim revealed her new direction (“I’m in my Kanye West mode”), hinted at a collaboration with a mystery rapper on her upcoming album, and opened up about her friendship with 50 Cent (“That’s my boy”). And despite her history with Drake, she admitted that she still enjoys his music. “I like Drake as an artist. I don’t like him as a person,” said the Queen Bee, who also shared memories of Biggie, Whitney Houston, and Aaliyah. On her new direction: “Creatively as an artist, I think I’m in my Kanye West mode. You do whatever you want to do and don’t give a sh— what nobody has to say about it and it’s all about taking chances.” Read and watch highlights from the interview below. On whether she’s talking about Maino on her new single “If You Love Me”: “I might be. It’s definitely a true story. Somebody had allegedly made a record to me. There’s a lot in my personal life as far as relationships that people don’t know.” On her secret collaboration: “I have a song with another celebrity person that I know the world and my fans are gonna love. I don’t want to say it until we officially announce that that’s the official video. Everybody loves him. He has an ill fan base. … It’s vintage Kim mixed with the new Kim.” Props to Rap-Up.com (03.08.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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REDONE TALKS J.LO, HIS NEW ARTISTS & DANCE MUSIC'S RISE Perhaps no producer has had as much impact on the electronic dance music scene's invasion of the airwaves as RedOne. The Moroccan-born musician is behind hits including Jennifer Lopez's "On the Floor," Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and most recently, Nicki Minaj's "Starships," songs that have dominated YouTube as well: the J. Lo track was the video site's most popular song of 2011 and is its second most-played ever. It now stands at over 500 million views. Along with "Bad Romance," which runs close behind at over 450 million views, RedOne has YouTube's No. 2 and 4 all-time music videos, respectively. (Justin Bieber's "Baby" stands at No. 1 with over 700 million views.) "Half a billion views, it's crazy," RedOne told Billboard.com. "To me, it's an incredible blessing, because that explains to me that the world loved the song, the video and the artist. The vision that we believed in happened." While his work with stars ranging from Gaga to Minaj to Pitbull continues, he's also focusing on his own label, 2101 Records, a partnership with Universal. The roster now includes DJ Havana Brown, rock act 7Lions and pop singer Porcelain Black. "In a new artist, I always look for an identity," he said. "They have to know who they are. I believe in the 360 -- the touring side of it, the recording side of it and even TV and everything. So for an artist to excite me, it's got to be the full package." And he's made time in his busy schedule to give back, launching his 2101 Foundation last year with a focus on the arts, music and education for young people. Props to Billboard.com (03.08.12) |
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INSIDE 9TH WONDER'S 'SOUL SAMPLING' CLASS AT DUKE UNIVERSITY 9th Wonder is well-known as a member of Little Brother, as a super producer and now a he’s also a professor of the class “Sampling Soul” at Duke University. Back in January it was originally announced that 9th would teach alongside Professor Mark Anthony Neal in his African American Studies Class at Duke. The course focuses on African American music that has played a major role in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The class has been receiving many rave reviews and gaining a lot of press. CBS recently covered a segment of the class itself, capturing reactions of students and Mr. Neal himself. "9th Wonder for instance, isn't just functioning as someone who is demonstrating things, he's actually teaching also,” Neal says. “So they get the benefit of two very different people, coming at information from two very different perspectives with this common goal of expanding their minds of their view of the world. 9th himself even spoke of some of things he believes are important that he touched upon in the class. "Some of the topics we covered in the Sampling Soul Class are the affects of Marvin Gaye, James Brown, the affects of geography, the exploration of hip hop from a cultural sense,” he says. The class however, isn't only lecture based, some of the students even receive hands on experience when they receive the opportunity to make a beat in front of their peers with 9th. "There was so much I didn't know… This course has definitely been an eye opener for me," says student David Wang. When asked what he wanted his students to get out of the class, 9th responded by saying "We're not only talking music in this class, we're talking about life." Props to MTV.com (03.08.12) |
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JAY-Z'S SXSW CONCERT WILL BE LIVESTREAMED Jay-Z dropped into Austin, Texas for SXSW last year just in time to help Kanye West bring down the house during the G.O.O.D. Music showcase. Now Hov is set to return to the festival in a special concert that will be live-streamed nationally. The "Amex Sync Show Presenting Jay-Z" was announced on Tuesday (March 6). Rumors have been circulating that Jay might be cooking up a big event at the fest with Eminem, but nothing has been announced about Em's involvement. Last year's G.O.O.D. event was such a smashing success — featuring John Legend, Mos Def, Pusha T, Big Sean, Kid Cudi and more — that it wouldn't be a surprise if Jay and Eminem were working on something huge for this year's increasingly popular music and film festival. Jay's 2012 appearance will mark his first solo concert at SXSW. Jay-Z's SXSW performance will be live-streamed on YouTube.com on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. A special rebroadcast will be available on-demand from Tuesday, March 13, to Monday, March 19, on YouTube, Twitter and Xbox LIVE. mtvU's Woodie Awards also take place during the Austin, Texas, festival, including a day-long fest of our own Thursday, March 15, that will feature performances from Childish Gambino, Fun., A$AP Rocky, Kimbra and Chiddy Bang. Jay and Kanye lead this year's nominees, which also include the Black Keys, Skrillex, Mac Miller, Frank Ocean, J. Cole and many more. Props to MTV.com (03.07.12) |
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RUSH LIMBAUGH, SANDRA FLUKE: TALK SHOW HOST BLAMES RAP FOR 'PROSTITUTE' REMARKS As Rush Limbaugh's sponsors continue to run for the hills, threatening his advertising-driven income, which has been valued at over $50 million per year, the conservative talk show host has attempted to justify his controversial remarks about Georgetown student Sandra Fluke, blaming hip-hop for "the culture deteriorating." Last week, Limbaugh called Fluke a "slut" and a "prostitute," for attempting to testify at a House committee on contraception, arguing that women who ask the public to help pay for their birth control should post sex tapes online "so we can all watch." When criticized for his statements, Limbaugh denied culpability, claiming he was merely parlaying in popular culture's terms. The precedent for Limbaugh's "rapper defense" was set in 2007, by fellow radio personality Don Imus, during the "nappy headed h--s" scandal. However, Limbaugh has taken the tactic a step further, blaming rap music directly for his transgression. "In fighting them on this issue, I became like them," Limbaugh intoned. "Against my own instincts, against my own knowledge, against everything I know to be right and wrong, I descended to their level." The right wing pundit continued with his defense. "This is all part of the culture deteriorating, because fewer and fewer people and fewer and fewer businesses and fewer and fewer institutions actually have a moral core, or they're not willing to stand up for their moral core. And you talk about the double standard, one of the greatest illustrations of it is that rappers can practically say anything they want about women, and it's called art. And they win awards for it." Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.07.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 3/4/12 This was the most exciting week to date on the charts this year for the Hip Hop community. There were four new additions, fresh off of last week's two, including a Top 3 debut by Kid Cudi's third album, a collaborative release with Dot Da Genius, as WZRD. Also appearing are Brooklyn veteran Maino, Oakland Hip Hop pioneer Too Short, and the first album from Ja Rule in seven-and-a-half years. Cudi and Dot's WZRD sold over 66,000 units. The self-produced Universal Motown Records project featuring Empire Of The Sun and Desire landed at #2. Last week, Cudi criticized his label for reportedly under-shipping CD copies, limiting the release's potential. This is Cudi's third overall album, and a first release for Dot Da Genius. Two longtime New York rappers released projects after lengthy hiatuses yesterday. Maino's first album in nearly three years found the Brooklyn rapper after leaving his major label Atlantic Records deal. Now the E1/Hustle Hard artist scored a Top 100 debut for his sophomore album. Day After Tomorrow featured T.I. and Meek Mill, along with a Best Buy exclusive version boasting appearances by Lloyd Banks and Clinton Sparks' production. Maino's sales over doubled those of former Murder Inc./Def Jam star Ja Rule. Now incarcerated, the Queens, New Yorker's first album since 2004's R.U.L.E. cleared 3,000 units. A sequel to his 2001 Pain Is Love album, Ja's follow-up was largely produced by longtime collaborator 7 Aurelius. This is Rule's first album away from Def Jam, released by Mpire and distributed by Universal Fontana. Props to HipHopDX.com (03.07.12) |
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MICHAEL JACKSON SONGS STOLEN: TWO HACKERS CHARGED IN SONY MUSIC THEFT Two men have been charged in Britain with hacking into Sony Music's computers and stealing music, the company and British police said Monday. A person familiar with the situation said the hackers had obtained unreleased Michael Jackson tracks. Sony Music Entertainment spokeswoman Liz Young said the company noticed a breach of its systems in May, "and immediately took steps to secure the site and notify authorities. As a result, the two suspects were arrested." She said no customer data were compromised in the attack on the company's internal music-sharing system. Sony would not confirm how much music was stolen or what artists were involved. But a person familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said Monday that the suspects were Jackson fans and had taken his music, including unreleased material. The year after the King of Pop's 2009 death, Sony signed a 7-year deal with his estate, worth up to $250 million, to sell his unreleased recordings. Britain's Serious Organized Crime Agency said two suspects were arrested in May and charged in September with computer misuse and copyright offenses. James Marks, 26, and James McCormick, 25, appeared at Leicester Crown Court in central England on Friday and pleaded not guilty. They were freed on bail and are due to stand trial in January. The case is not believed to be linked to Anonymous or Lulz Security - loose-knit hackers' collectives, broadly sympathetic to the WikiLeaks' secret-spilling site - who have targeted government and corporate websites around the world. Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.06.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RIHANNA ADDRESSES RELATIONSHIP STATUS IN NEW INTERVIEW Rihanna dishes on dating and how being single really, well, sucks. In an interview with Brit radio personality Jonathan Ross, the fiercely independent singer revealed that being a single girl has it's down sides. "I'm not looking, [but] I would not tell you that [being single] is something to enjoy. Single life is just so overrated. It sucks. You always want to be single when you're in a relationship, but it's no bueno," she tells Ross. "I think that I have such incredible experiences that, you don't want to live your life and meet someone; you want to share your life with someone. That's what I'm missing right now," the "Talk That Talk" singer laments. For the rude boys out there, Rih Rih's list of things that she's looking for in a man? "I'd love to date someone cool, fun ... funny." Rihanna has been keeping busy, musically, at least; with two of her exes. She recently shot the video for "Take Care," her sexy collaboration with Drake. Video director Yoann Lemoine noted how cozy the duo looked on set, "They seemed to be super close and that's what I wanted for the video...They fit together pretty well so it was just easy." Rihanna also hooked up with her famous former boyfriend Chris Brown last month, for two separate remixes, "Birthday Cake" and "Turn Up The Music." Props to MTV.com (03.06.12) |
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OPRAH WINFREY TO INTERVIEW BOBBI KRISTINA BROWN AND HOUSTON FAMILY Oprah Winfrey may have retired from her daytime TV show, but when it comes to captivating audiences with timely, sought after interviews she’s not missing a beat. The TV titan announced she will be doing the first interview with Bobbi Kristina, the late Whitney Houston’s daughter, just one month after the untimely death of the pop star. The interview will air on the OWN network show Oprah’s Next Chapter. According to an OWN news release, Bobbi Kristina will share "personal memories of her mom and how she would like the iconic superstar to be remembered.” Oprah will also speak with Whitney‘s sister-in-law/manager, Patricia Houston and her brother Gary Houston, who will address the rumors and speculation surrounding Houston’s death. Oprah attended Houston's home going service in Newark, New Jersey on February 18 and featured the singer multiple times on The Oprah Winfrey Show, including a candid 2009 interview in which Houston discussed struggles during her career. Oprah’s sit down with Houston’s family will air on OWN Sunday, March 11 at 9 p.m. Props to BET.com (03.06.12) |
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MICHAEL JACKSON SONG FILES STOLEN BY HACKERS, SONY CONFIRMS Hackers have stolen more than 50,000 music files from Sony Music, including Michael Jackson's entire back catalog and a large number of unreleased songs from the late King of Pop. According to British newspaper The Sunday Times, the theft took place in April last year when hackers attacked Sony's PlayStation Network and stole the personal data of 77 million registered users. The simultaneous copying of over 50,000 music files was discovered by Sony several weeks later, says the Sunday Times, but has only now come to light. An exact breakdown of artists and repertoire included among the 50,000 illegally downloaded songs is not known, but it is said to contain Jackson's entire back catalog, including previously unheard duets with Black Eyed Peas Will.i.am and the late Queen singer Freddie Mercury. Sony today confirmed the report to the BBC. In March 2010, Sony paid the Jackson estate a $200 million guaranteed contract (potentially rising to $250 million) in return for 10 projects over seven years. Included in the terms of the deal was unreleased material from "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad" studio sessions, as well as the right to exploit Jackson's catalog in video games, amusement park rides, television adverts and memorabilia. The deal took place nine months after Jackson died, aged 50, from a drugs overdose. The Sunday Times quotes a well-placed source as saying, "Everything Sony purchased from the Michael Jackson estate was compromised." According to the Sunday Times, the theft of Jackson's catalog was discovered in the weeks following the initial attack on Sony's PlayStation Network through routine monitoring of social networking sites, Jackson fan sites and hacking forums. Props to Billboard.com (03.05.12) |
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NICK CANNON SUFFERING FROM 'LUPUS-LIKE' DISEASE In mid-February Nick Cannon announced that he was giving up his gig as morning show host on 92.3 due to ongoing health issues. Cannon’s health troubles first began over the winter holidays, when he was hospitalized for mild kidney failure, but he eventually returned to the office on a strict diet. Now, Cannon tells People magazine that he’s suffering from an autoimmune disease bearing similarities to Lupus. Cannon told People that his kidney issues and subsequent blood clots stemmed from an “autoimmune disease that [doctors] found in my system,” although he didn’t specify what the disease was. "It's a lot of stuff," he added. "But it's all in order now. They kind of say [my] autoimmune [disease] is ... like a Lupus type of thing, but no one else in my family has it." "The blood clot thing was probably the scariest because ... I've known people who have passed away from that," he says. "I'm just trying to make sure I put my health first." "I always considered myself as someone who was in great shape, but I was doing too much [to my body] so my immune system got confused and just started attacking my kidneys," Cannon told MTV News in mid-January, pledging to focus on a healthier lifestyle. "You look at my Twitter picture and I look like I'm in shape, but I was putting the wrong stuff into my body, speeding all the time, not sleeping and eating properly. It's all about taking time and really caring about yourself and how you fuel yourself." Props to MTV.com (03.05.12) |
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ICE CUBE GIVES UPDATE ON "LAST FRIDAY"; TALKS FUTURE DIRECTORIAL PROJECTS Back in November, rumors stated that Ice Cube would be writing, producing, and possibly directing the final installment in the Friday franchise, tentatively titled Last Friday, and that the first film’s co-star, Chis Tucker, would be returning. In an interview with Collider, Ice Cube, who is doing press rounds for his role in the upcoming comedy 21 Jump Street, offered a significant update on the highly-anticpiated sequel, including the revelation that he has already begun writing the film. “There’s a lot of movement. I’m writing the script right now, so we worked out a deal with New Line. The ball is rolling. We invited everybody back and we’ll have a fun movie.” When asked if Chris Tucker, who famously portrayed the character Smokey in the first Friday almost 15 years ago, would be returning, Cube responded with “I hope so.” Tucker, who has not starred in a film since Rush Hour 3, is currently filming David O. Russell’s The Silver Lining’s Playbook, marking his first return to the silver screen since 2007. The film is set for theatrical release this November and also stars Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper. Having directed the ESPN 30 For 30 documentary “Straight Outta L.A.” last year, it was only natural for Collider to ask Cube if he had plans for any future directorial projects outside of Last Friday. “Yeah it’s always in the works,” he answered. “I gotta find pet projects, things that I’m really into. If not, I’ll just produce. If I find something that I just know I have to do, then I’ll direct.” Ice Cube can next be seen in the comedy 21 Jump Street which hits theaters on March 21. Props to AllHipHop.com (03.05.12) |
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WIZ KHALIFA AND AMBER ROSE ENGAGED It was only a matter of time. Lovebirds Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose, who have been gushing over one another since they hooked up in late 2010, announced their engagement today (March 1) via Twitter. "She said yes!!!" Wiz tweeted sometime around 11 a.m., with a link to an Instagram photo of Amber Rose's hand adorned with pink stiletto nails and a very conspicuous addition — a diamond ring. Rose tweeted the photo as well with the message, "He has made me the Happiest Woman in the World!!!" Since confirming their relationship in January 2011, Amber and Wiz have been going strong, showing their love at any and every opportunity. So much so that fans didn't blink at rumors late last year claiming the couple had eloped after photos of Amber in a white dress and Wiz in a black suit circulated the Internet. After all, the couple is already bonded for life through their matching tattoos. As previously reported, Rose tweeted a photo of a tattoo of the name "Cam" in cursive on her index finger, which matched a tatt Wiz (whose real name is Cameron Thomaz) had on his thumb which reads "Amb." Before Wiz, Rose was involved in a relationship with superstar rapper Kanye West, whom she says mistreated her and cheated on her with reality television star Kim Kardashian. Although West has since made a public apology for the mistreatment — he apologized and dedicated a song to her at a Watch the Throne tour stop in Philadelphia — he has yet to make any public statement on Amber Rose's impending nuptials. Props to BET.com (03.02.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DON HENLEY CALLS FRANK OCEAN 'HOTEL CALIFORNIA' USE 'ILLEGAL' Although it's been a year since Frank Ocean released his popular album Nostalgia, Ultra for free via his Tumblr account, his song "American Wedding" has recently attracted some negative attention. The track reworks the Eagles' 1977 hit single "Hotel California" and this week Ocean revealed that the band's founding member Don Henley has taken issue with that. The 24-year-old singer revealed the news earlier this week, and now Henley's camp has responded with their own statement. Henley's spokesperson Larry Solters reached out to MTV News to clarify the matter. "Frank Ocean did not merely 'sample' a portion of the Eagles' 'Hotel California'; he took the whole master track, plus the song's existing melody, and replaced the lyrics with his own," he said in a written statement. "This is not creative, let alone 'intimidating.' It's illegal." Ocean's "American Wedding" is a standout from his free 2011 album Nostalgia, Ultra. Over the original Eagles track, Frank sings of a whirlwind romance that ends in heartbreak, employing some of the same harmonies that exist on the original record. During his live concerts, Ocean sings the song with graphics from the popular "Guitar Hero" video game playing in the background. It is one of the highlights of his live show, but according to the 24-year-old, he will face legal action if he continues to perform the song. Solters says that isn't the case — yet. "For the record, Don Henley has not threatened or instituted any legal action against Frank Ocean, although the Eagles are now considering whether they should," he wrote. Props to MTV.com (03.02.12) |
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MUSIQ SOULCHILD PENNING BOOK ABOUT 'LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS' Though he'll surely record a follow-up to last year's "MusiqInTheMagiq" album, Musiq Soulchild is "in writer-producer mode" right now. And in author mode, too. The Philadelphia neo-soul artist tells Billboard.com he has a book "in its early, embryonic development stage," although he hopes to publish it "by summer -- definitely before the fall." And the subject comes from some of his favorite topics to sing and write about. "It's going to be about love and relationships, and love and music," Musiq explains. "Basically it's just a man with an opinion ranting about love and relationships and how my music is affected by them and how my music impacts other people's relationships. I know my core audience and people who are interested in my music will be interested in it, and hopefully people who never even heard of me and wouldn't even be interested in the music I make will at least be interested in my thoughts and opinions on how we as people relate to each other in terms of romantic love and relationships. I just really hope people will enjoy it." While the book is in motion, Musiq is also hunkering down with other artists, including Bow Wow, Chrisette Michele and "a few other people who are still in the development phase." "I think at the moment I enjoy being a writer and producer just a little bit more than being a performer," he says. "I want to take a step back a little bit as an artist. I do enjoy performing, I do enjoying singing -- all of that, and I'm not gonna stop doing it. But I think it takes away from being creative, and being a writer-producer you can constantly be creative." Props to Billboard.com (03.02.12) |
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THE HIP HOP SWITCH: RADIO & INDUSTRY EXPERTS DISCUSS SHIFT ON THE AIRWAVES There's no denying that music is changing. In the past, genres sat in separate boxes, but these days, musical boundaries are nonexistent. Never before has the word "crossover" been more popular or more prevalent in radio formats. While hip-hop and R&B have been known to share top billings on the charts, as of late, dance and pop-centric songs from R&B crooners and rappers have taken the reigns in the fight for supremacy. Of course Chris Brown, Usher, Drake and Nicki Minaj have all re-shaped the stereotypical meaning of urban music by tip-toeing over to the pop side of things. However, they still manage to have their feet firmly planted with their core audience. Yet the question is whether or not said moves are detrimental. In the midst of this adjustment, urban radio stations have welcomed the change with open arms. Turn on New York City's Hot 97 radio station -- a place that prides itself on being the source for "blazin' hip-hop and R&B" -- and hearing a dance-friendly tune, even if mixed in by DJs, is more the norm rather than the exception. For many radio stations, allowing songs into their format that would have previously been shunned is a sign of the times. "It's a generation shift," Reggie Rouse, program director of Atlanta's urban radio station V103, tells The BoomBox. Rouse, who has been in radio for over two decades has worked in several large markets like New York City and Washington D.C., and has seen a change in the kind of music urban listeners will tolerate. Props to TheBoomBox.com (03.01.12) |
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BEYONCE TO APPEAR IN RYAN MURPHY FILM 'ONE HIT WONDERS?' Beyoncé gave birth to her daughter Blue Ivy carter in January and it seems like the famous mom is already back on her grind. Earlier this month we reported that Beyonce is already beginning to prep two new albums and now she's apparently in talks to appear in Ryan Murphy's upcoming film "One Hit Wonders." The film would be a musical comedy that could potentially star B's pal Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz and "Saturday Night Live" star Andy Samberg. The film would follow Paltrow, Witherspoon and Diaz as pop stars who hit it big in the '90s as — you guessed it — one-hit wonders. In order to gain back some of the pop-star recognition they once had, the ladies join forces and form a supergroup. Samberg and his Lonely Island team would be involved in coming up with the movie's songs. Beyoncé's role is still unknown. The "Glee" creator would direct and co-write the screenplay with his frequent collaborators, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. He's expected to begin work on it after his big-screen adaptation of the play "The Normal Heart." Deadline reports that the film's idea came after Paltrow, Witherspoon and Diaz dined with Murphy at New York hotspot Soho House and they all wanted to work on a fun project together. The pitch to Sony Pictures chief Amy Pascal was reportedly scooped up in 10 minutes. Deals are currently being worked out. MTV News' email to Murphy's rep had not been returned by press time. Regardless of how this film shakes out, Beyoncé is reportedly already thinking about her music career again. Producer Ryan Tedder shared that the singer is prepping several follow-up albums to 2011's 4. Props to MTV.com (03.01.12) |
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IGGY AZALEA EXPLAINS WHY SHE SIGNED WITH INTERSCOPE Good*Fella Media recently caught up with Australian emcee Iggy Azalea to talk about her sudden rise to fame in the United States. During the interview, the 2012 XXL Freshman discussed her record deal with Interscope Records and her past history at the house of Jimmy Iovine. According to Iggy, she chose to sign with Interscope given her history working behind the scenes at the label as a songwriter. She said that while she was hesitant to sign a deal with the same company that manages her career, she feels that her two years of experience at the imprint makes Interscope more like a family than a label. "I thought it was the best route for me, so that's why I ended up signing [with Interscope]," she explained. "It didn't have to do with my management being Interscope. If anything, it made me question [signing the deal] more because having management and [my] label be the same company can get tricky...to me, Interscope is kind of like a family and I know so many people at the label so well. I think when you're making a commitment that's that big and...for that length of time...you really want to know the people and I didn't feel so hesitant to work with them because I felt like I had such a long relationship with them prior to that...I've had an outside relationship with that label for a long time, almost two years." Props to HipHopDX.com (03.01.12) |
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CASTING BEGINS FOR TUPAC MUSICAL "HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME" Casting has officially begun for a musical based on the life and times of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur. Casting will begin for “Holler If Ya Hear Me” on March 4 in New York. According to a posting on industry trade Playbill.com, “Holler If Ya Hear Me” is being directed by Kenny Leon and is described as an “American musical inspired by and featuring the music of Tupac Shakur.” Kenny Leon is a critically acclaimed Broadway director, who has won three Tony Awards. His last hit was in November, in the form of the 90-minute Martin Luther King Jr. inspired play “The Mountaintop,” which starred Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett. “Seeking African American Male and Female rappers ages 18 – 35,” said the post from MelCap Casting. “Additionally seeking one Caucasian actor ages 20 – 25 with a strong facility for rap and terrific guitar skills. Strong legit singing voices a plus for all, but not required.” Although a release date for the play was not available, workshops for actors selected to star in “Holler If Ya Hear Me” will run from April 23 until May 11. The casting will take place at Pearl Studios, which is located at 500 8th Ave, 4th floor. Theater experience is not required to star in “Holler If Ya Hear Me,” which has been approved by Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur. Kenny Leon discussed the play with Tupac Shakur, during an interview with PBS in November of 2011. “A long time ago, maybe eight or nine years ago, I’ve been talking about that with Tupac’s mother, Afeni, and so we’ve become fans of each other and she sort of entrusted me with her son’s music” Leon said. “The idea was always to make a musical inspired by his music and not to do an autobiographical approach to his life or anything like that. And because I always thought that Tupac was a prophet and I thought if everybody could hear his words and hear his stories, they would see what I see.” Props to AllHipHop.com (02.29.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BIZARRE ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE FROM D12 Bizarre, rap's brazenly shirtless big man long before Rick Ross came around, has announced that he's officially separated from D12, the Eminem-backed crew of hip hop hooligans that rose to fame in the early 2000s. The Detroit native, born Rufus Arthur Johnson, confirmed the news in an interview with HipHopDX. "I'm not in D12 no more," he said. "We just had creative differences and decided to go our separate ways — well I decided to go my separate way.... It’s a personal decision on my part. I think I’ve just grown as an artist and it’s time for me to branch off on my brand." Bizarre, who has released three solo albums since 2005 and the cult-classic EP Attack of the Weirdos in 1997, said he's started his own collective called the Weirdo Movement. "The Weirdo Movement, it’s consisting of me, my group FaygosandConey from Detroit, this guy named Fury, and my Asian brother from Seattle, Sonny Bonoho," Bizarre explained. "It’s just encouraging people that it’s alright to be weird, it’s alright to be different and speak your mind and dress and look however the f**k you wanna look. It’s a weirdo movement, it’s time for that. Hip hop is changing anyway, it’s getting more and more outrageous how they looking. And I been doing this sh*t for years." The offbeat emcee also shared his thoughts on the latest troupe of troublemakers to shake up the genre, Odd Future. Props to BET.com (02.29.12) |
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CEE LO GREEN TO RELEASE HIS MEMOIRS IN 2013 After conquering Hip Hop, R&B, television and the Super Bowl, there isn't much that Cee Lo Green hasn't accomplished. But now, word is that the Goodie Mob/Gnarls Barkley alum is planning to pen his memoirs. According to a recent report from Billboard, Green and co-author, Rolling Stone writer David Wild, will release the ATLien's memoirs this 2013. The as-of-yet untitled autobiography, which was picked up by Grand Central Publishing, will also feature contributions about Cee Lo's life from his Goodie Mob partner Big Gipp. "He dresses in sequined capes, performs with the Muppets and Madonna, and does 360° flips with a grand piano at his fingertips. Imagine all that outrageously unique and creative talent channeled into a book," said Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Paperbacks at Grand Central Publishing Beth de Guzman. In a press release regarding the book deal, Cee Lo stated, "FORGET YOU? After reading my book, there will be no doubt that I am meant to be. You will enter into the supernatural, the surreal, and extraordinary. As CeeLo Green, a.k.a. 'everybody's brother,' I will make you a believer. I talk about art imitating life; YOU discover CRAZY." Props to HipHopDX.com (02.29.12) |
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BIG SEAN TO HAVE KANYE WEST AND WIZ KHALIFA ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM Now that Big Sean has found fame in the rap game, he's focused on taking his sound to "another level." In a radio interview with Bootleg Kev, the G.O.O.D. Music rapper revealed some of the featured guests and producers he has worked with on the follow up to his impressive debut album, Finally Famous. With the recording process underway, Sean has picked up beats from beatsmiths Kanye West, No I.D., and KeY Wane. He's also got songs featuring verses from Yeezy and Wiz Khalifa. "Yeah, there's going to be some Kanye production," Sean revealed. "We had a couple of Kanye productions for the first one but they didn't make the cut. One got sample clearance, couldn't get the sample cleared in time, and the other one we just didn't think it fit the album. Yeah, we got a lot of stuff on deck." Much like his breakout single "My Last" featuring Chris Brown, Big Sean promises he has another inspirational cut that should appeal to the masses. "No I.D., we've got a song that's going to change the world," he promised. "It's very inspiring. The inspiration, when you're inspired, when you get inspired, that's the best thing to do, through your music. I could tell you it's an inspirational record that's going to change the world. One verse, I rap from a perspective and the other, I rap from a crazy perspective. It's a concept record, it's crazy." And for those thinking that his newfound fame may alter his sound negatively, the witty wordsmith assures his fan base will appreciate the growth in his music. Props to BET.com (02.28.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: B.O.B COLLABORATES WITH TAYLOR SWIFT ON NEW ALBUM B.o.B has a big surprise in store on his upcoming album. The hip-hop superstar has landed America's sweetheart Taylor Swift for a super-sized collaboration. Rap-Up.com has learned that the two have joined forces on a Dr. Luke-produced record set to appear on B.o.B's sophomore album Strange Clouds, due May 1. When pressed for details, the Atlanta MC remained tight-lipped. "I can't discredit nor confirm the rumor," he coyly responded, adding, "Once it's began, it's begun and it will take its course." B.o.B first met the country crooner when she invited him to perform "Airplanes" with her last fall. "She actually got my number from Hayley [Williams of Paramore] and she hit me up and was like, 'Hey Bob, I know this is kind of random, but it's Taylor Swift,'" he said. "So I'm like, 'What?' 'Yeah, I'm coming out to Atlanta and I hear you're gonna be in Atlanta and I wanna bring you out.'" While he reluctantly had to turn down the initial offer due a previously booked gig, they ended up rescheduling for a later date in Dallas. "We did it and it was great. She's got die-hard fans. And she's really connected to her audience. So to be able to come out and feel that excitement and know that her fans appreciate my music as well was definitely surprising." Since sharing the stage at Cowboys Stadium, the two have struck up a friendship. "She's America's sweetheart, a real genuine person," he shared. Swift, who brought out Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, T.I., and Usher at other shows during her "Speak Now" tour, knows her hip-hop. "She's up on her game," said Bobby Ray. "She knows what to listen to. She's got good taste in hip-hop music." Props to Rap-Up.com (02.28.12) |
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BIRDMAN EXPLAINS SIGNING LIMP BIZKIT TO CASH MONEY Cash Money turned heads last week when the label signed late 90s-early 2000s Rock-Rap band Limp Bizkit. Now, label head Birdman explains what spurred the surprising move. "Fred [Durst] reached out, bruh," Birdman said in an interview with XXLmag.com. "It was weird how it happened. He was like, 'Stunna, what's good?' I was like, 'What's poppin, 5?' [Fred said] 'I wanna join the team.' Whoa! For real? He didn't have to say it twice. I was already a fan of him. When the opportunity came, we really was supposed to announce it at the Grammys. Wayne was going to announce it at the Grammys, but he did it when he felt like it." Birdman added that the group's first single features Lil Wayne and will come out next week. "He's a visionary, he a great artist," Birdman said of Durst. "Also, I want him to be a part of our staff and take over the rock department and bring us over more talent because that's what he does. I think with having Limp he brings a lot." Before releasing Gold Cobra last year to mixed reviews, Limp Bizkit's last album was 2005's The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1). Props to HipHopDX.com (02.28.12) |
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KANYE WEST AND JAY-Z AUCTIONING OFF MAYBACH FROM "OTIS" VIDEO FOR CHARITY As of this past weekend, fans, passer-bys, and anyone interested in purchasing a piece of Hip-Hop history can view the infamous Maybach used in Jay-Z and Kanye West’s music video for “Otis” off of their Platinum-certified album Watch the Throne. The “customized” 2004 Maybach 57, which is currently up for auction and estimated at a value between $100,000 and $150,000, is residing at 450 Park Avenue in New York City until Wednesday, March 7. The auction will take place on the following evening of March 8. Auction host and chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company, Simon de Pury said, “Jay-Z and Kanye West are towering figures in contemporary culture. They have greatly contributed to the artificial barriers between art, music, fashion and cinema to come down. Their video for ‘Otis’ became an instant classic. The Maybach they have transformed for it has the starring role.” A good portion of proceeds from the auction will go to Save the Children which is “the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need around the world.Save the Children has helped 2.5 million children and families in the Horn of Africa through feeding, water trucking, healthcare and education.” Those interested in seeing the car can stop by the Maybach’s current residence from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday thru Saturday and from noon until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Props to AllHipHop.com (02.27.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DIDDY CELEBRATES OSCAR WIN FOR 'UNDEFEATED' DOCUMENTARTY Everything Sean “Diddy” Combs touches turns to gold. The music mogul scored another victory when Undefeated, the documentary he executive produced, won at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. “Holy shit!!!!” tweeted Diddy after the football film picked up the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at Sunday’s show. “God is the greatest!!!! Thank you! #undefeated !!!! I am buggin.” The film’s directors T.J. Martin and Dan Lindsay, along with producers Rich Middlemas, Glen Zipper, Ed Cunningham, and Seth Gordon, went on stage to accept the award and later posed backstage with their jubilant executive producer. “Dreams do come true!!!!! #undefeated !!!! Let’s go!!!” added Diddy, who received an outpouring of support from his peers and Twitter followers. The Bad Boy CEO got involved with the movie after meeting with Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. “When I was coming up and I went to high school, it was my dream to be a football player, and I broke my leg in the last day of camp,” Diddy told “ET.” “The movie really moved me in a personal way, but it could touch people in so many other ways.” He celebrated the win by partying into the early morning at the Vanity Fair and Weinstein Company Oscar after-parties. Props to Rap-Up.com (02.27.12) |
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PITBULL, CHRIS BROWN, NICKI MINAJ ROCK NBA ALL-STAR GAME: VIDEOS Pitbull called on some super-friends while Nicki Minaj unveiled a new hit at the NBA All-Star Game, which took place in Orlando on Sunday night (Feb. 26). Pit brought out Ne-Yo, Nayer and unannounced performer Chris Brown during the halftime show, while the female rap star played her latest Hot 100 hit, "Starships," during the player introductions. After running through a medley of songs like "Krazy" and "Rain Over Me," an all-black-clad Pitbull brought out "International Love" collaborator Chris Brown, who also presented a truncated version of his latest hit, "Turn Up The Music," and some spirited dance moves. Soon, Ne-Yo and his fedora appeared on a platform to croon the new hook of "Give Me Everything," and Nayer was also on hand, because, hey, why not? Before long, Orlando was a block party, and Pitbull, surrounded by sultry backup dancers, was the master of ceremonies. Before tip-off, Nicki Minaj gave an elaborate performance of her uptempo new hit, "Starships," which debuted at No. 9 last week on the Hot 100. After introducing the NBA East All-Stars (who lost the defense-free game 152-149 to the Western team), Minaj returned swapped wigs and turned on the sass for her past smash, "Super Bass." In earlier events at NBA All-Star Weekend, J. Cole, Common and Ne-Yo competed in the Celebrity All-Star Game on Friday night, while Flo Rida and Will.i.am performed during the Saturday Night events in Orlando. At the NBA All-Star Pregame Concert on Sunday night, Lil Wayne made a surprise appearance onstage following performances by Gym Class Heroes and J. Cole. Props to Billboard.com (02.27.12) |
| BLACK HISTORY MONTH: MOVING TOGETHER WITH PEACE AND LOVE | |
| A Black History Lesson: Sat, Feb. 11 @ 11 AM - Jamaican Cultural Centre (1098 Winnipeg Ave.) A Black Historical Re-enactment: Fri, Feb. 17 @ 7 PM - Underground railroad safe house (1100 Fife St.) | tix $5 Job Fair hosted by Afro-Caribbean Association of Manitoba: Fri, Feb. 18 @ 10 AM - Elmwood High School (505 Chalmers Ave.) A Cultural Awareness Workshop: Tues, Feb. 21 @ 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM - Viscount Gort Hotel (1670 Portage Ave.) tix $60 for adults & $30 for youth under 25 and seniors 55 and over A Community Awards Banquet: Sat, Feb. 25 @ 6:30 PM - Jamaican Cultural Centre (1098 Winnipeg Ave.) |
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CHRIS BROWN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR PHONE JACKING If it's not one thing it's another. Last week, a woman claimed that Chris Brown made a pass at her by making light of domestic violence, now another woman is saying the R&B singer called her a b***h and ran off with her phone after she snapped a photo of the singer outside a Miami Beach nightclub. A rep for local police told TMZ that 24-year-old Christal Spann filed a police report on Sunday [February 19] against Brown. She claims that Breezy snatched her iPhone out of her hands and told her, "B***h, you're not gonna put that on the Internet" before driving off with it. Although no warrants have been issued, Brown risks being sent to jail for a parole violation if he is arrested. Chris has yet to make a statement on the accusations. Last week, however, he publicly dismissed accusations that he flirted with a woman by joking that he promised not to hit her. "That is absurd and absolutely not true," Brown said in a statement. "I did not say that nor would I joke about that." In related news, Chris teamed up with Rihanna for remixes of her single "Birthday Cake" and his high-energy cut "Turn Up the Music." The musical collaborations are the first significant hookup between the two Grammy winners since Breezy was featured on the remix to Rih Rih's breakout smash "Umbrella" in 2007, two years before Brown was convicted of assaulting Rihanna during an altercation on Grammy weekend. With the new material, the couple has made it very clear that they have put their past issues behind them. Props to BET.com (02.24.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NICKI MINAJ ADDRESSES SELLING OUT BY MAKING POP SONGS Nicki Minaj created a stir with the release of her past few records, most recently confusing her Hip Hop fan base with the pop-friendly "Starships. " During an interview with Hot 97's Funkmaster Flex, the Young Money rapstress explained that she hopes people know that she's smart enough to calculate each move. "I would hope that people know at this point that I'm smart enough to know what I'm doing all the time. But I guess they still kind of waiver. I always intended on putting out something urban after 'Starships,' because I knew 'Starships' was a monster. I didn't feel the pressure. To be honest, I feel really, really good. I feel that Hip Hop cares enough that they have something to say. I remember when I was hoping that someone had something to say about me on the radio, or cared enough." Nicki, who also premiered her Lil Wayne-assisted cut "Roman Reloaded," said that the pop songs have more reach than her urban songs and that she's not going to apologize for making music for the masses. "Maybe it would be a problem if I couldn't deliver records like 'Roman Reloaded,' but I can. I write my own lyrics. Once again, I write my own lyrics. So it's never a problem. Whatever I feel, I can write, I can create it. So I'm good. I think people sometimes get blown away by the magnitude of the pop stuff, because the pop stuff, it reaches everywhere and then I feel like my Hip Hop fans or Hip Hop culture starts getting a little bit afraid that I'm going to leave. But this is who I am. I'm not going to change - I'm just adding on to my brand. And if you don't understand that, then it's probably why you don't travel and you don't see the world and I probably can't even have a conversation with you anymore." Props to HipHopDX.com (02.24.12) |
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WHITNEY HOUSTON BIOPIC: MEAGAN GOOD WAS SET TO PLAY LEGEND As reported by AOL Music, actress Meagan Good has just revealed that she was in talks with Whitney Houston to star as the fallen singer in a biopic on the icon's life. As The BoomBox suggested in our Biopics We Wish Would Happen & Stars We'd Want to Star in Them feature last year, Good would make a great Whitney onscreen. "That's my personal dream role," she once admitted. The 30-year-old actress had a meeting set up this month to discuss the project ... before Whitney's unexpected death (Feb. 11). "We were fairly in the beginning stages. We were supposed to meet today actually," Good told E! News on Feb. 20. Since Meagan is not a singer, she and Houston had agreed that the actress would lip sync over Whitney's original vocals for the movie's performance scenes. "I don't think we've ever had a singer in history that I remember that could sing like her. Plus, when people see someone's life story they want to hear that person's voice because they connect with it, in their spirit and their soul. So you would have to use her voice." Good explained. Emotional about the lost legend, Meagan teared up as she remembered Whitney. "For anybody spending time around Whitney, she's so much fun. She's got just like a sassy attitude and is very funny and funky. She's definitely a fun person to be around." As for the fate of the biopic, Good said it's too soon to think about the future of the film in light of the recent tragedy. Props to TheBoombox.com (02.24.12) |
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EXPERT WEIGHS IN ON RIHANNA, CHRIS BROWN SONG Rihanna's new collaborations with Chris Brown--"Birthday Cake (remix)" and Turn Up the Music (remix)"--have been well-received by some fans while others are still outraged that the singer has teamed up with her ex to make music. There have been plenty of reactions on Twitter, but one MTV News tapped a domestic violence expert to weigh in on the new collaborations. In the years since that assault, Rihanna has been open about her abusive relationship with the R&B singer, saying, "I don't want to be the big domestic-violence spokesperson, because that doesn't define who I am. But if I can help young women in any way, and that being one of the things they need help with, then I'll do that." Since that late 2009 interview with MTV News, Rihanna certainly hasn't backed down in her career, releasing chart-topping singles, winning awards, going on tour and using videos and Twitter to show the world just how fierce she can be. After the release of the "Birthday Cake" and "Turn Up the Music" remixes, Rita Smith, the executive director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, talked to MTV News about what the collaborations mean. "I guess I'm not particularly surprised given the rumors that had gone on around this, and it's also not surprising because many victims get back with their abusers, even after an assault. They love them, they think they change, and abusers are particularly good at convincing you they've changed," she said. "I don't know what their relationship is at this point, but I'm not surprised that she's staying connected. Props to MTV.com (02.23.12) |
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TYRESE, MARTIN LUTHER KING: SINGER CHANNELS LEADER IN 'A DREAMER'S DREAM' A few years ago, singer-actor Tyrese Gibson was in the running to portray Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the Lee Daniels-directed movie 'Selma.' When the film was shut down in the pre-production stages, Tyrese threw himself into research on the late civil rights icon, determined to produce an MLK project of his own. "Over the past four years, I've traveled to eight states, I've stood at every podium Dr. King has stood at," Gibson tells The BoomBox. "I met his family, his best friends; I met with people who were literally on the balcony when he was assassinated," he added of his research. Four years later, the entertainer has teamed up with fellow singer Jill Scott and actor Blair Underwood for an audio-visual short that investigates what Dr. King might have to say about the state of black America today. Would the leader be proud of our nation's progress when it comes to race relations? What about the state of our schools and prisons? These are some of the questions explored in Tyrese's 'A Dreamer's Dream.' Gibson plays Dr. King, Jill Scott voices his wife Coretta Scott King and Blair Underwood appears as himself, interviewing King in the current age of Obama. "The question is always, 'If Dr. King were still here, what would he have to say about today's world?' I covered some of those thoughts that I think Dr. King would share today," Tyrese explains. Props to TheBoomBox.com (02.23.12) |
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HEAVY D REMEMBERED IN 'BE INSPIRED' DOCUMENTARY The story of late rap pioneer Heavy D will be chronicled in a documentary airing Sunday on Centric TV. "Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D" will feature interviews with the Jamaican-born rapper's family and artists such as Will Smith, Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah, according to Centric TV, the 24-hour channel that is part of the BET Network. Heavy D, whose given name was Dwight Myers, is considered one of the most influential rap artists of the late 1980s and early 1990s, both as the front man for his group, Heavy D and The Boyz, and as a solo artist. He died last November at age 44, from a blood clot in his lung. Centric said the documentary includes footage from Heavy D's last televised performance, at the BET Hip-Hop Awards last October. In addition to building his own successful music career, Myers was a big part of the careers of other black artists. Queen Latifah discusses in the documentary being mentored by Myers. Myers also was a record label executive who hired Sean "Diddy" Combs as an intern, and was producer to other rappers, such as Jay-Z. Myers' talents went beyond the studio to the theater and television. He appeared in "The Tracy Morgan Show", "Law and Order", "Boston Public" and other shows. He most recently played a courthouse guard in "Tower Heist." Props to Billboard.com (02.23.12) |
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DIDDY GIVES ARTISTS A VOICE WITH REVOLT MUSIC NETWORK Sean “Diddy” Combs is taking television into his own hands. The music mogul has officially announced REVOLT, a music-oriented cable channel set to launch next year. REVOLT is billed as the first network to combine music and social media in real time for the video-centric generation. It will be distributed by Comcast as part of its initiative to add more minority-owned networks. “I’m honored by the opportunity to be part of this effort to bring diverse programming to the masses,” stated Diddy. “Marked by this partnership with Comcast, my hope is that this new network will spark a revolution in entertainment and encourage other media and communications companies to bring REVOLT to their audiences.” The REVOLT platform will produce dynamic music content and serve as a destination for music fans and artists under the leadership of Combs. “REVOLT TV is bringing that revolution that television needs,” explained Diddy in a YouTube video. “I grew up watching BET and MTV and HBO and NBC and I had a dream that one day I would get a chance, an opportunity to show my perspective coming from a musical standpoint.” Diddy wants to give artists more creative freedom. “I take a lot of pride in having experience and credibility, the authenticity, and the relationships to make REVOLT TV the #1 name in home for music on television,” he said. “I’m gonna give the artist this channel. It’s your channel to do what you wanna do, how you wanna do it.” Props to Rap-Up.com (02.22.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WWE STAR CM PUNK INVITES CHRIS BROWN TO A BRAWL It's an interesting time for Chris Brown. With several career highs, which include a Grammy win and performance at the show earlier this month, come several personal lows, including feuds with two other celebrities. On Tuesday, Brown took to Twitter to address some comments made by WWE wrestler CM Punk in a video he released on TMZ, which itself came in response to an ongoing Twitter feud the guys have been having. "I'm a lifelong proud, drug-free, straight-edge individual, so Chris and I come from two completely different worlds," Punk said in the video, referring to a previous tweet Brown had posted accusing Punk of taking steroids. "I don't have a manager, I don't have a bodyguard, I don't have an assistant, I have no need for a PR team what to tweet or when to delete tweets, and I don't hit women. Period. In my world women are to be revered and respected and I firmly believe that in this life there are consequences and repercussions for people's actions, and I don't think Chris has paid for what he's done. Picking up trash on the side of a highway does not make amends for repeatedly striking a woman in her face and sending her to hospital. Props to MTV.com (02.22.12) |
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SHAQ HOSTS, FLO RIDA ROCKS HALL OF GAME AWARDS Pro athletes, kid actors, and chart-topping music artists gathered for Cartoon Network’s second annual Hall of Game Awards, a festive event hosted by Shaquille O’Neal and featuring a performance by Flo Rida, named the winner of Amped Up Anthem for “Good Feeling.” Throwing shirts to the kids in the red-carpet bleachers before making a flying entrance on stage on a zip line, Shaq said he signed on to host “because my kids wanted me to do it." He named Julius “Dr. J” Erving as the athlete who most inspired him, but said his parents were his biggest role models. Not a father but uncle to “tons of nieces and nephews,” basketball fan Flo Rida was eager to meet Shaq and participate in an event “that’s all about kids, to put a smile on their faces and do something positive, to be a part of something to uplift and bring joy.” Now getting ready to record with Pitbull and go out on a Canadian tour, he’s jazzed about the video for his latest single, “Wild Ones,” in which he skydived for the first time. “It was one of the best feelings in the world. I don’t know if I’d do it again,” he confided. “I had a safe landing, that’s all I cared about.” Michael Boley, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz of the New York Giants added the Sickest Showdown Award to their Super Bowl win, while Cruz also nabbed Dancing Machine for his moves on the field. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, winner of the In It to Win It Award, credited his family for keeping him grounded and said that he dreamed of playing baseball since he was four. “I stuck with it and it worked for me. I’m pretty blessed,” he said. Presenter Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens was excited to meet Icon Award winner David Beckham and vowed to return “and bring my kids. “I’ve got to pick up my game because I want to win one of these,” he said. Props to BET.com (02.22.12) |
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RICK ROSS TOPS MTV NEWS' 'HOTTEST MCS IN THE GAME' LIST Rick Ross is having the best week ever. After Timbaland hailed him the “reincarnated B.I.G.,” MTV News has ranked the Teflon Don #1 on its seventh annual “Hottest MCs in the Game” list. “His impact is irrefutable: Even without a solo album, he maintained a healthy and consistent buzz throughout the year, notching a #1 rap album with his Self Made compilation,” explained MTV News’ Hip-Hop Brain Trust, who selected the lyricists based on a combination of rhyme skill, flow, buzz, commercial success, business ventures, web presence, and cultural influence. Drake takes the runner-up spot and Kanye West finishes third. Other rappers making the cut include Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, and Nicki Minaj, who is the sole female on the list for a second year in a row. The Bawse’s Maybach Music Group signees Wale and Meek Mill also earn spots in the top 10. One of the most noticeable omissions is J. Cole, who is fresh off his Grammy nomination and the success of his debut Cole World and hit singles “Work Out” and “Can’t Get Enough.” Does Rozay deserve the top spot? See who else made the list and sound off below. 1. Rick Ross 2. Drake 3. Kanye West 4. Nicki Minaj 5. Lil Wayne 6. Jay-Z 7. Meek Mill 8. Big Sean 9. Wiz Khalifa 10. Wale Props to Rap-Up.com (02.21.12) |
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NAACP IMAGE AWARDS HONOR VIOLA DAVIS, JENNIFER HUDSON, BET TALENT The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards was an evening of recognition, celebration and tribute, honoring achievements in movies, television, music and literature while remembering those we’ve lost, singling out Whitney Houston in a moving musical rendition of “I Love the Lord” from Yolanda Adams, backed by a choir. As many expected, The Help took Outstanding Motion Picture as well as wins for actresses Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. “It’s important for me to tell this story because I felt that maids hadn’t been humanized before. I feel like my mother’s and my grandmother’s lives have been acknowledged,” said Davis. “I love the fact that these women went on a journey, and became extraordinary heroes.” Stunning in a décolletage-baring tangerine Herve LeRoux gown, she talked about the “roller coaster” she’s been on lately, wishing she could get more sleep. “My mantra is ‘February 27.’ That’s when I get back to being truly who I am as an actor and a mother and a wife. Everything that’s happened this season I enjoy, I embrace fully, but I understand what’s real.” The Help’s three awards were matched by Jumping the Broom, whose stars Laz Alonso and Mike Epps won, as did director Salim Akil (also a winner for co-writing The Game). Props to BET.com (02.21.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN AND RIHANNA BACK TOGETHER (AGAIN) Chris Brown and Rihanna sent fans into a tizzy yesterday by reuniting for not just one, but two remixes, Rihanna's "Birthday Cake" and Chris' "Turn Up The Music." The once-flames shared their tracks via Twitter and quickly became a US trending topic. Rihanna tweeted about the bouncy "Turn Up The Music", "@chrisbrown Turn up the music remix #RihannaNavy #Teambreezyenjoy!!! vimeo.com/mechanicaldumm…" which Chris ReTweeted. The joint hashtags of #RihannaNavy and #TeamBreezy seems especially significant, bringing all of their fans together. News of this new remix for "Turn Up The Music" is a bit of a surprise as there has been much prior speculation as to whether the former paramours would work together on the "Birthday Cake Remix". The furor began last week, when the production duo Da Internz told MTV News that their upcoming remix of Rihanna's "Birthday Cake" would feature a super-secret cameo that would "shock the world." Nearly three years after Chris assaulted Rihanna, rumors have abounded that the controversial couple was making more than just sweet music together. Many sources have cited that despite Chris' longtime relationship with girlfriend Karrueche, he and Rihanna had been secretly seeing each other. "Rihanna loves to live dangerously," said one source "And talking to and hooking up with Chris is all part of that." Chris shared this sentiment today on Twitter which seems to speak to the importance of the union, "The pub and excitement of this industry /society is only a surface! Really want us as a human race to unite! Bigger than music!" Props to MTV.com (02.21.12) |
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NICK CANNON LEAVES RADIO SHOW AFTER HEALTH SCARE Nick Cannon was back in his office in mid-January, after suffering from mild kidney failure over the holidays but on Friday (February 17) the entertainer announced that he would give up his gig as a morning show host on 92.3 Now because of more health issues. Cannon revealed that doctors found blod clots in his lungs and advised him to cut back on his workload. "Under doctor's orders, I have been asked to put my health first and cut back on some of my professional commitments in order to allow my body to get the rest that it needs to keep up with the demands of my multi-tasking schedule," he said in a statement. "It has been an absolute pleasure working with CBS Radio and the 92.3 NOW morning show team and I would like to thank them for their unwavering support," he said, adding that while he will no longer host his daily show, he will still host his weekly countdown show. "I will continue to host my syndicated 'Cannon's Countdown' weekend show and look forward to contributing to 92.3 NOW whenever possible. Even Superman has to sleep." On Friday morning, he took to Twitter as he prepped to say goodbye to his morning show. "A bitter sweet morning. I have to stop my radio show. Doctors orders," he tweeted. "The Doctors found blood clots in my lungs and said if I don't slow down and stop working so hard then it's a wrap!" Cannon had been hospitalized over the holidays for kidney failure but seemed to be doing better. In an interview with MTV News weeks after the incident, he shared what was believed to have contributed to the hospitalization. Props to MTV.com (02.17.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JANET JACKSON FLIRTS WITH JOINING 'X-FACTOR' Just one week after The Hollywood Reporter broke news that Whitney Houston was under consideration for a judge's seat on the show, reports have surfaced that another pop icon is throwing her hat in the ring. After an awkward interaction with Anderson Cooper on Thursday, in which Jackson tiptoed around the subject, sources tell THR the singer has expressed interest in joining the show. "Oh my God," the 45-year-old said on-air with a laugh. "No, I'm not a judge on The X Factor." "You're not currently a judge on The X Factor," responded Cooper. "No, I am not," said Jackson. "But that's all I really think I should say." Any talks are currently in the preliminary stages, as Simon Cowell holds meetings this week with potential candidates to fill the shoes of ousted judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones. Another source tells THR that pop bad girl Pink is high on Cowell's wish list. The singer, whose real name is Alicia Moore, has credibility, Grammy awards and sass, plus "she can take on Simon." Cowell also has acknowledged an interest in "I Kissed a Girl" singer Katy Perry, telling Extra, "I worked with Katy once. I think she would be fun because she is hard - in a good way - and she's feisty." "She would be great," he continued. "In terms of experience, success … brilliant." Props to Billboard.com (02.17.12) |
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RIHANNA 'BIRTHDAY CAKE': CHRIS BROWN TO APPEAR ON NEW SONG, ATTENDS HER PARTY Rihanna and Chris Brown are reuniting for the Bajan beauty's 'Talk That Talk' track 'Birthday Cake,' co-produced by Da Internz, and the news is sure to upset one-sided fans, Brown's girlfriend Karrueche Tran and critics. Earlier this week, the producers of the song hinted to MTV News that "the feature on [the remix] is gonna shock the world." Now, MissInfo.tv reports that Chris Brown is indeed on thenew version of 'Birthday Cake' and is even in the accompanying video, which was revealed to her by two unnamed sources. The 'Fortune' creator supplied two verses for the song: one where he's singing and another where he's rapping in the spirit of his Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne-assisted hit 'Look at Me Now.' Earlier this week, the two attended the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, where they both performed. The event was the first time Brown and Rihanna made an appearance at the prestigious ceremony following the highly publicized 2009 domestic violence assault, which resulted in the latter being beaten by the 'Turn Up the Music' crooner. Reports surfaced that Brown also showed up at Rihanna's early birthday party -- she celebrates her actual born day on Feb. 20 -- at the Hearst mansion in Beverly Hills. The 22-year-old singer arrived with Rihanna, 23, according to MissInfo.tv. He stayed throughout the night and apparently, the two were more than platonic. Props to TheBoomBox.com (02.17.12) |
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NBA ALL-STAR GAME: PITBULL, NICKI MINAJ, MARY J. BLIGE PERFORMING The NBA All-Star Game has long been a music star-studded affair, and this year, Nicki Minaj, Pitbull, Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo and Will.i.am will be among the artists heading to Orlando for the big game. The showdown between basketball all-star teams will air on Feb. 26 on TNT. Pitbull and Ne-Yo will team up for the All-Star Game halftime show to perform their former Hot 100 chart-topper, "Give Me Everything." Rihanna rocked the halftime show at last year's NBA All-Star Game, bringing out Drake and Kanye West during her performance, and more "special guest performers" are promised for this year as well. Meanwhile, Minaj will perform a medley of her singles, including her brand new cut "Starships" and her smash hit "Super Bass," during the All-Star Game introductions. Blige has been tapped to perform the U.S. national anthem prior to the game, with pop group Neverest delivering the Canadian anthem. On Saturday, Feb. 25, Will.i.am and Flo Rida will perform during the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events, which include the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest. The Black Eyed Pea will play his solo single "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)," while Flo Rida will perform his pop hit "Good Feeling." Gym Class Heroes and J. Cole are among the artists performing at the NBA All-Star Pregame Show, it was announced on Wednesday (Feb. 15). Will the impressive musical lineup later this month be enough to keep Magic star Dwight Howard in Orlando? Time will tell. Props to Billboard.com (02.16.12) |
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LIL WAYNE CLEARS UP ENGAGEMENT RUMORS Relax ya'll, Lil Wanye did not put a ring on it. On Tuesday (February 14) three little words on Weezy’s Twitter account set off rumors that he popped the question to his girlfriend Dhea--“She said yes!” Wayne wrote--but there is no engagement to celebrate just yet. Even though Wayne isn't a very frequent tweeter, the feedback got to him quickly, because on Wednesday (February 15) morning, he followed up with a new message to clarify things. "Ohhhhhhh now I see why! I meant 'she said yes' to being my valentine!!!" he wrote. "Hahahahahahaha! Y'all krazy!" Wayne and Dhea were first spotted out and about in Miami last May, and Complex magazine dug up some information on the rapper's leading lady, reporting that she is originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, and previously worked at Suede Restaurant & Lounge in her hometown. Over the past year, Dhea has accompanied Lil Wayne as he's skipped across cities and continents during his I Am Still Music Tour. MTV News joined Wayne, Birdman, Ronald "Slim" Williams and the Cash Money team in New Orleans over the Thanksgiving holiday while they handed out turkeys, and Dhea was right by his side. In December they were snapped sitting courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game, and when Wayne headed to South Africa to perform, another tweet hinted that she was there as well. "In S. Africa w/ my homies, makin $, sk8'n, performing my azz off, & I get 2 make luv 2 the most beautiful woman! Mylifemylifemylifemylife. YOLO," Wayne wrote. Props to MTV.com (02.16.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ DISCUSSES RAISING HIV/AIDS AWARNESS Much like fellow rapper MC Lyte, Nicki Minaj has taken up the fight against HIV/AIDS. The humanitarian effort is through the Young Money emcee's partnership with M.A.C. Cosmetics. Minaj serves as the spokeswoman for the M.A.C. AIDS Fund VIVA GLAM campaign. On Wednesday (February 15), she joined fellow spokesperson Ricky Martin to explain the importance of the campaign on "Good Morning America." "I had an uncle that passed away from AIDS," revealed Nicki. "He actually was living in Trinidad. It's dually important because it's my family [and] it's my country. And so when M.A.C. reached out, we spoke a lot about going to the Caribbean islands, raising awareness there, and of course we want to do everything everywhere we can." "It's important for people from the islands to understand: it's not something that should only be discussed in America," added Nicki. "This is something that's killing a lot of - especially - black women." "I don't want people to think that this is a gay disease...or an 'in the 80s' disease," she explained. "This is something that's killing everyone, no matter your preference, your religion, your race." Props to HipHopDX.com (02.16.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 2/12/12 With the Grammy Awards performance on Sunday night and digital music sales available, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj saw chart support of their 2010 albums. West, who did not attend the awards, won four trophies, three of which were for his acclaimed last solo album. Minaj did not win, but performed during the awards. The lone 2012 Rap release on the charts remained Yo Gotti's major label debut, Live From The Kitchen (#145). As forecast last week, Lil Wayne is on the verge of potentially scoring more multi-platinum honors with his latest work. 2011's Tha Carter IV, which features the likes of Nas, Tech N9ne and Andre 3000, is less than 3,000 units away from reaching this feat. HipHopDX's 2010 Album Of The Year, Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy climbed over 81 spots to re-enter the charts. Winner of the Grammy Award for "Best Rap Album," containing "Best Rap Song" and "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" in "All Of The Lights" over doubled its previous week sales. The Def Jam Records release features appearances by Watch The Throne collaborator Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon, among others. #8. Drake - Take Care - 32,000 (1,438,000) #21. Young Jeezy - TM 103: Hustler's Ambition - 22,000 (441,000) #25. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne - 18,000 (1,316,000) #29. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV - 16,000 (1,997,000) Props to HipHopDx.com (02.15.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CHRISTINA MILIAN TALKS YOUNG MONEY SIGNING, NEW ALBUM Lil Wayne welcomed Christina Milian to the Young Money family at a lavish pre-Grammy celebration over the weekend. The newest Young Money member is now speaking out about her freshly-inked deal and plans for her next album. “I’m going to be… Young Money!” the 30-year-old singer told Carson Daly on 97.1 AMP Radio. “Yeah, I’ve signed with Young Money. It was pretty awesome. This weekend we had a big party, a big YMCMB party, and Drake was performing and we were all up on the stage and Wayne got up there and he announced it himself. And so I was kind of surprised and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is awesome!’” Milian is currently recording her fourth album, her first since 2006’s So Amazin’. “We’re just getting started on it,” she said. “I’ve already halfway gotten there and when my mom and I went to Wayne and we played him some of the music, off the second song, he was like, ‘I love it. Let’s do this deal.’ I have some music that’s already going to be on it and the second half I’m working with them now.” Weezy saw more than a pretty face in the “Dip It Low” hitmaker. “When they did a little background check, they saw even the songwriting, all that kind of stuff adds on top of, alright, she’s an actress, she’s a pretty face, she can actually sing, but not to mention she’s a songwriter. I thought that was cool that they even saw that.” You can expect appearances from her new crew on the album. “They all get on each other’s records, so all I have to do is be home with everybody and we’ll just do lots of features.” Props to Rap-Up.com (02.15.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: VH1 'BEHIND THE MUSIC' SEASON STARS PITBULL, T-PAIN, BRANDY, NAS, AKON & GAME VH1's "Behind the Music" documentary series is returning with an even more provoking season. This new season, "Behind the Music," is R&B/Hip-Hop heavy, featuring artists Pitbull, Game, T-Pain, Brandy, Akon and Nas. VH1 aims to touch on the influence R&B/Hip-Hop has had on the "millennial generation." All of the artists mentioned continue to impact our culture and charts. Brandy, Akon, and Nas, all separately, are currently in the studio, lacing new albums. With yet another Hot 100 hit, "5 O'Clock," in his back pocket, T-Pain is launching his own charity, "If I Could Change the World," and hosting a benefit concert to celebrate. Pitbull and Game continue to climb the charts with their Billboard 200 top 10 albums, "The R.E.D. Album" and "Planet Pit." "Behind the Music" premieres on Thursday, March 15 (9 pm EST), with Miami's own. Pitbull, born Armando Christian Perez, opens up about the root of his nickname and dealing with his father's death. "I learned a lot from his death, I learned that it's not what you have -- what you obtain, all the material bullshit in life. It's all about what you leave behind," Pitbull says on "Behind the Music." Pit contines to discuss meeting Irv Gotti and the influence he had on his career. "Irv Gotti pulls me to the side and Irv Gotti's like, 'Are you the one causing all this, this raucous, this commotion up here?' You know me, I'm about 17," Pitbull says. "'Yeah.' He goes, 'Hey, you write music?' I said, 'Naw, I just freestyle,' he's like, 'Yeah that shit is great but it don't make no money.' Ding ding ding, ding, ding, ding, ding -- I started writing since that day forward. That's basically when it all started developing." Props to Billboard.com (02.15.12) |
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WHITNEY HOUSTON FEW PILLS RECOVERED AT DEATH SCENE Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... multiple medicine bottles were found in the Beverly Hills hotel room where Whitney Houston died ... but we're told there were NOT a lot of pills at the scene. Among the pills ... ibuprofen (painkiller), Xanax (anti-depressant), Midol (for menstrual cramps), amoxicillin (for treating bacterial infections) ... and more. We're told the amoxicillin was prescribed recently because Whitney had been suffering from a sore throat. We're told some of the pills were old ... some issued in 2011 ... but some of the bottles were from 2012. We're told the bottles that were recovered at the scene did not contain a lot of pills. Sources tell us ... some of the prescriptions were filled at the infamous Mickey Fine pharmacy in Beverly Hills ... where Michael Jackson had numerous prescriptions filled for Demerol and other drugs. Law enforcement sources tell us ... it's possible Whitney suffered a heart attack caused by an adverse reaction to her medication, but it is simply too early to make an official call on the cause of death. We're told the L.A. Coroner's Office has removed the hold on Whitey's body ... which means her family can now have Whitney transported back to Atlanta, where the singer will be laid to rest. Props to TMZ.com (02.13.12) |
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2012 GRAMMYS: HIP-HOP AWARD WINNERS LIST Hip-Hop had an interesting night at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Kanye West was one of the big winners, taking home three awards just in the pre-telecast, including Best Rap Album for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The Throne won Best Rap Performance for "Otis" from Watch the Throne, and yet neither of them showed up to accept their awards. Nicki Minaj and J. Cole were contenders in the coveted Best New Artist slot, but they both lost to indie darling Bon Iver. Check out the full list of hip-hop winners from the 2012 Grammys. Best Rap Performance. WINNER: "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West "Look At Me Now" - Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes "The Show Goes On" - Lupe Fiasco "Moment 4 Life" - Nicki Minaj & Drake "Black And Yellow" - Wiz Khalifa Best R&B Album WINNER: F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown Second Chance - El DeBarge Love Letter - R. Kelly Pieces Of Me - Ledisi Kelly - Kelly Price Props to MTV.com (02.13.12) |
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WILL.I.AM AIMS TO "TRANS4M" LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD Rapper/singer/producer T-Pain has announced a new foundation in his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. T-Pain has launched the “If I Could Change the World” foundation, which will host a benefit concert in partnership with Florida State University’s Headliner Artists Series. Artists like Chris Brown, DJ Khaled, Ace Hood, Young Cash and others will perform during the “Come To The Crib 2″ benefit concert. The concert is the second installment of a benefit series that T-Pain launched in 2007. “I can’t wait to hit the stage for ‘Come to the Crib 2,’” said T-Pain. “Our fans and their support made it possible for us to build a new entertainment room for the kids at the Walker Ford Center and I hope this year will be even bigger.” T-Pain’s “If I Could Change the World” foundation has partnered with Change Worlds, a non-profit which asks users to submit videos, and then selects an initiative to back, to make a difference. “Hopefully my foundation inspires today’s youth to get involved with our communities, which is why I wanted to give my fans the control to choose this year’s charity. So go to www.changeworlds.org to help us select this year’s initiative.” The “Come to the Crib 2″ benefit concert takes place at the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center on March 31. Tickets go on sale February 10, 2012. Props to AllHipHop.com (02.13.12) |
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2012 GRAMMY, BEST RAP ALBUM: 'WATCH THE THRONE VS. YOUNG MONEY The hip-hop community has had plenty of issues with the Recording Academy but rap artists still hold plenty of weight at the annual awards show. Eminem dominated in 2011, and this time around 2012 Kanye West racked up 7 Grammy nominations. Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne are also in the running, but Yeezy's seven nods take the cake. Two of West's nominations come in the hotly contested Best Rap Album category; one for his solo My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and the other for his and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne tag-team LP. Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV, Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday and Lupe Fiasco's Lasers round out the category, and while the odds are clearly in the Louis Vuitton Don's favor, he isn't exactly a lock. If record sales are any indication, it will be tough to ignore the first-week sales of Wayne's Carter IV. The approximate 960,000 units Weezy sold in his first week didn't earn him a platinum plaque right out of the gate, but it stood as one of the biggest hip-hop stories of 2011. CIV has since been certified double platinum by the RIAA, and though some critics panned it, high-powered singles like "6 Foot 7 Foot," "She Will" and "John" helped cement Wayne's ninth solo album as a fan-favorite. Just like her Young Money boss, Nicki Minaj reigned throughout the year thanks to Pink Friday. Released at the end of 2010 and anchored by the infectious and inescapable bonus track "Super Bass," Nicki's debut LP helped her to penetrate the pop space while still keeping a foot firmly planted in the streets with her "Did It On 'Em" single. Props to MTV.com (02.09.12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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J.COLE SPEAKS ON GRAMMY NOMINATION, SAYS HE HAD ONCE LOST HOPE IN BEING NOMINATED As a first time Grammy Awards nominee one would expect rapper J. Cole to be brimming with excitement, but during an interview with the Associated Press J. Cole explained that while he is grateful to be nominated he’s more concerned with continuing on to the next move. The rapper will join the likes of Bon Iver, The Band Perry, Nicki Minaj, and Skrillex as a nominee for Best New Artist at the Grammy’s. “I feel blessed of course, first and foremost, but I’m already back to work. I’m already on to the next one. I’m grateful for everything that happened, but I’m not satisfied,” Cole explained. “There’s still accomplishments that keep happening from the work that I put in last year and the last two, three years. The single goes platinum, the album goes gold, Grammy nomination but those are just reminders of the work that I did. But that’s in the past. I’m already on to what’s the next move. That’s my mind state.” Cole went on to explain that he was quite intent on releasing his album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, before the Grammy deadline. “Around the time of ‘Work Out’ or whatever when I was like ‘Yo, this is the single. Come on. Let’s go, we gotta move,’” said Cole. “And everybody at the label knew we had to move just like I knew but I was like ‘This is the one. Let’s go.’ It was because I was telling my management and telling the label ‘I have to beat the Grammy deadline. I gotta do it.’ Like if I don’t put my album out before the Grammy deadline which I knew, if you look at the date my album came out like two days before the Grammy deadline, and that’s cause I knew I got a shot.” Props to HipHopDX.com (02.09.12) |
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T-PAIN LAUNCHES NEW FOUNDATION; PLANS ALL STAR CONCERT IN FLORIDA STATE Rapper/singer/producer T-Pain has announced a new foundation in his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. T-Pain has launched the “If I Could Change the World” foundation, which will host a benefit concert in partnership with Florida State University’s Headliner Artists Series. Artists like Chris Brown, DJ Khaled, Ace Hood, Young Cash and others will perform during the “Come To The Crib 2″ benefit concert. The concert is the second installment of a benefit series that T-Pain launched in 2007. “I can’t wait to hit the stage for ‘Come to the Crib 2,’” said T-Pain. “Our fans and their support made it possible for us to build a new entertainment room for the kids at the Walker Ford Center and I hope this year will be even bigger.” T-Pain’s “If I Could Change the World” foundation has partnered with Change Worlds, a non-profit which asks users to submit videos, and then selects an initiative to back, to make a difference. “Hopefully my foundation inspires today’s youth to get involved with our communities, which is why I wanted to give my fans the control to choose this year’s charity. So go to www.changeworlds.org to help us select this year’s initiative.” The “Come to the Crib 2″ benefit concert takes place at the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center on March 31. Tickets go on sale February 10, 2012. Props to AllHipHop.com (02.09.12) |
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2012 JUNO AWARD NOMINEES This year Ottawa, Canada's Capital region, will host the 2012 Juno Awards as well as the Juno Week events and festivities between March 26 - April 1st. Presented annually, these awards are to acknowledge Canadian artist's talents and achievements in all aspects of their music. As apart of the awards ceremony, new members will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame. The nominees in the 41 categories were unveiled by The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the highest prolific music awards in Toronto on Tuesday morning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Juno Fan Choice Award: Arcade Fire | Avril Lavigne | City and Colour | Deadmau5 | Drake | Ginette Reno Headly | Justin Bieber | Michael Bublé | Nickelback Album Of The Year: Avril Lavigne | Drake | Justin Bieber | Michael Bublé | Nickelback Artist Of The Year: City and Colour | Deadmau5 | Drake | Feist | Michael Bublé Rap Recording Of The Year: Classified | D-Sisive | Drake | Kardinal Offishall | Swollen Members R&B/Soul Recording Of The Year: JRDN | Jully Black | Karl Wolf | Melanie Fiona | Robin Thicke Props to JunoAwards.ca (02.08.12) |
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TIMBALAND, MISSY ELLIOT RELEASING ALBUMS IN JUNE Timbaland and Missy Elliott dominated airwaves (and music videos) in the 90s with their genius collaborations, and this year the two friends and Virginia natives will be back at it again, with new projects on the way. "Me and Missy are both coming with our albums at the same time, and it will be in June," Timbo told MTV News from his Miami home last week. It's been three years since Timbaland released Shock Value II and seven years since Missy dropped The Cookbook. If all goes according to plan, fans won't have to wait much longer. "Right now, we're preparing to get both our videos, our first singles, shot kinda at the same time," Tim said. "We want to do it as a movement and spontaneously." Last June, Missy revealed to People magazine she had been diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder Graves' disease. Initially, it was speculated that Missy's health was the cause of the huge gap in her discography, though Elliott later issued a statement dismissing that notion. The "Get Ur Freak On" rapper has been putting in plenty of work behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer for Keyshia Cole, Monica and Jazmine Sullivan. She even hooked up with Timbo on Demi Lovato's "All Night Long" from the pop singer's 2011 Unbroken album. Missy is also a guest vocalist on J. Cole's next single, "Nobody's Perfect," and is expected to appear in the song's upcoming video. Props to MTV.com (02.08.12) |
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LIL WAYNE, GRAMMY AWARDS 2012: RAPPER CONFIRMED FOR DANCE SEGMENT Grammy show producer Ken Ehrlich had considered putting dancing/electronica music into the ceremony in the past, but could never quite figure out how to incorporate the high-energy club feel in front of a sometimes staid audience. He thinks he's figured it out this year. For the first time, the Grammy show will put the spotlight on the genre with a segment featuring Grammy nominees Deadmau5, the Foo Fighters, Chris Brown, David Guetta and Lil Wayne, all performing in a tent space amid 1,000 fans. "We decided to go all out this year," Ehrlich said of the performance taking place outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where Sunday's ceremony will be held. "All we're going to try and do next week is to try and put the home audience in the middle of it. ... It is more than just sitting there and watching it." Dance music did not receive its own category until 2003 with the best dance recording/dance field, and the music had not been featured with its own segment in the show. "I don't know that I figured out a way to do it that felt right until now," Ehrlich said in an interview Monday. "My feeling about dance is it's such an immersive experience for the participant, that to put it on stage ... where the audience is not a part of it ... I don't know, honestly, until we came up with the idea of doing it this way, I don't know if it ever would have worked." Props to TheBoomBox.com (02.08.12) |
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CHRIS BROWN ADDED TO GRAMMYS LINEUP Chris Brown will perform at this year's Grammy Awards, the event where his career almost ended three years ago. Brown admitted to assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna at a pre-Grammy party in 2009 and is serving five years of probation for the felony attack. A source told The Associated Press on Monday that Brown will hit the stage at Sunday's show. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because Brown's performance has not been officially announced. After the attack, Brown's reputation plummeted, but he has since bounced back, releasing multiple mixtapes and the multi-hit album, "F.A.M.E." The CD is nominated for three Grammys, including best R&B album. Rihanna also will perform at the show. She's nominated for four awards, including the top prize -- album of the year -- for her platinum effort "Loud." Brown and Rihanna were supposed to perform at the 2009 Grammys, but that changed after Brown attacked the pop singer in the early morning hours before the awards show. Since then, Brown has not attended the Grammys, although he was nominated for three awards last year. A judge eased a restraining order last February after an attorney for Rihanna said she didn't object to removing the stay-away provisions. The former order required Brown to stay 50 yards away from 23-year-old Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music industry event. Brown, 22, has been nominated for Grammys in five of the last six years, though he has never picked up the top prize in music. His song "Look at Me Now," which features Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, is nominated for best rap song and best rap performance. Props to Billboard.com (02.07.12) |
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FIRST EVER AUTHORIZED DOCUMENTARY ON BOB MARLEY TO PREMIERE THIS MONTH The family of Bob Marley has announced the first ever authorized documentary on the singer will be in theaters this April. Magnolia Pictures has teamed with VH1 to obtain the United States rights to Academy award-winning director Kevin McDonald’s documentary “Marley.” “Marley” is being executive produced by Island Records’ founder Chris Blackwell, as well as Bob Marley’s son Ziggy Marley. The documentary will make its world premiere at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February, and will premiere in North America, at SXSW this March. “This documentary is the ultimate revelation of my father’s life,” Executive Producer Ziggy Marley told AllHipHop.com in a statement today (February 6), on what would have been his father’s 67th birthday. “The family is proud to be able to have the world finally experience this emotional journey,” Ziggy Marley said. “Marley” is the first official autobiography to tell the definitive life of Bob Marley, who was a musician, political activist and father. The documentary is comprised of rare footage, archival photos and interviews with family, friends and bandmates. Marley, who was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, is a best selling artist around the world. Props to AllHipHop.com (02.07.12) |
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JAY-Z COMES TO THE AID OF STRUGGLING ROCAWEAR COMPANY VIA NEW AD CAMPAIGN Jay-Z’s hold on music may be secure, but the Rocawear clothing brand the rap mogul aligned with over the years is on shaky ground. Rocawear is faltering so much so that Jay-Z is taking the bull by the horns and leading the effort to put the brand back on top with its first-ever television commercial. The Anthony Mandler-directed black and white clips, titled From “Marcy to Madison Square,” will chronicle Jay-Z’s rise from selling CDs from his car in the Marcy Projects of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn to headlining Madison Square Garden with Kanye West on the “Watch The Throne” tour in November 2011. The Rocawear commercial arrives amid troubling times for the apparel line, which experienced a global sales dip of $500 million. As a result, “Roc Apparel Group LLC laid off 28 of its 56 employees at its Manhattan headquarters,” Women’s Wear Daily reported. Speaking with the publication, Iconix Brand Group president and chief executive officer Neil Cole revealed that things are looking up for Rocawear, despite a “rocky winter.” Iconix bought Rocawear for $204 million in 2007. This winter has been especially hard for Rocawear. In November, the company came under scrutiny for allegedly selling “Occupy All Streets” T-shirts without giving any of the profits to the Occupy Wall Street movement which inspired the clothing. In addition, rumors swirled that Jay-Z was about to leave Rocawear. As it stands now, sales of Rocawear’s men’s clothing account for just over 15 percent of their overall intake. Props to AllHipHop.com (02.07.12) |
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GRAMMY AWARDS 2012: DRAKE PRESENTING AT 54TH ANNUAL CEREMONY Drake may not be up for a Grammy Award as a solo artist this year but he's in the running for some assists on a few lovely ladies LPs. While he was likely to attend based off a nomination Nicki Minaj received for Best Rap Performance for his collaboration on 'Moment 4 Life' and one Rihanna scored for Album of the Year Award for her 'Loud' album -- he shows up on 'What's My Name?' -- he's been confirmed to present at the prestigious ceremony as well. The official Grammy Awards Twitter account posted a message revealing the news Tuesday (Jan. 31). "Happy to announce that @Drake will be presenting at the 54th GRAMMY Awards Feb. 12th on @CBS! #GRAMMYs," a representative for the account tweeted. Besides his work with Nicki and RiRi, the 25-year-old Toronto rap star is also nominated for an award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for DJ Khaled's 'I'm on One' featuring Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. His lyrics on Rihanna's 'What's My Name?' are also up for an award in the same category. He may also score some shine if Minaj's 'Pink Friday' album wins in the Best Rap Album category. Drizzy has made headlines recently for his war of words with fellow rapper Common, who he took jabs at on Rick Ross' 'Rich Forever' mixtape track 'Stay Schemin',' in response to his earlier remarks. He has expressed disappointment in the veteran entertainer's decision to call him out for showcasing his lyrical talents in much the same way the Chi-town MC did on the come-up. The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from Los Angeles' Staples Center, Feb. 12 at 8PM ET on CBS. See the full list of nominees in all genres here. Props to TheBoomBox.com (02.02.12) |
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K'NAAN ANGRY WITH MITT ROMNEY'S USE OF 'WAVING FLAG' If you've ever listened closely to K'naan's music, you'll note that the Somalia-born rapper paints pictures of the harsh reality of his upbringing in a war-torn country, so it's no wonder then that he's taken issue with Mitt Romney using his single "Waving Flag," as part of his campaign. Without permission, Romney has played the song during some events on his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and K'Naan has now publicly condemned this. "I have not been asked for permission by Mitt Romney's campaign for the use of my song," the Somalian/Canadian rapper said in a statement to MTV News. "If I had been asked, I would certainly not have granted it. I would happily grant the Obama campaign use of my song without prejudice." "Waving Flag" became an international sensation back in 2010 when it was played at that year's World Cup. With assists from will.i.am and David Guetta, the soaring tune camouflages a song about poverty and oppression in a heart-stirring call to arms to let your banner fly. This is far from the first time a politician has used a song without an artist's permission — actually, this isn't even the first incident this week. According to TMZ, Survivor filed a lawsuit Monday against Newt Gingrich for using their song "Eye of the Tiger" at his events. During the 2008 presidential election, Jackson Browne sued John McCain for his use of "Running on Empty," and John Mellencamp asked McCain to stop scoring his campaign stops with "Our Country." Props to MTV.com (02.02.12) |
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EXCLUSIVE: HANDWRITTEN, $9 MILLION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST EM Legendary producer/host Don Cornelius was found dead early this morning and his Los Angeles home. According to reports, Don Cornelius allegedly took his life from a self-inflicted gunshot. In recent years, the 75-year-old was in failing health and according to various sources, he suffered from dementia. Don Cornelius helped revolutionize black music when he created televisions longest running dance show, “Soul Train.” She's not exactly asking for a jar of only brown M&Ms like Van Halen once did, but Nicki Minaj's recently released tour rider does contain a pretty thorough list of diva demands. The 'Super Bass' songstress isn't shy about asking what she wants for herself and entourage -- from a specific kind of apple juice to the right kind of candles to set the mood backstage! The proudly curvacious hip-hop star fills almost half of the rider with requests for food -- like a deli tray, dried cranberries, salad and Wishbone Light Italian dressing! But Nicki isn't just requesting healthy meals. Minaj also requires Belgian waffles and three buckets of spicy fried chicken be served to her backstage. Yum! When it comes to setting the vibe pre-show, Nicki's rider asks for two dozen pink or white roses and three large Baked Goods scented candles. The musician also stresses that she needs two space heaters and a cool mist humidifier. Props to AllHipHop.com (02.02.12) |
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DRAKE AND RIHANNA HEADLINING UK'S WIRELESS FESTIVAL Did Drake get his London Calling? As of Tuesday morning (January 31), the Young Money rapper is a confirmed headliner at this summer’s Barclaycard Wireless Festival in London’s Hyde Park. He's set to take the stage on Saturday, July 7, just one day before his co-headliner Rihanna picks things up on Sunday, July. Other stars slated to perform at the annual festival include Wiz Khalifa, Jessie J, Calvin Harris, Professor Green, and Example. Drake and Rihanna are now good friends and collaborators--on Rihanna's "What's My Name" and Drake's "Take Care"--after having a brief fling. Plenty of rumors made their rounds on the Internet, before the Toronto native finally opened up about their romance in an October interview with Elle magazine saying, "I guess I thought it was more. That was the first girl with any fame that paid me any mind. You spend days reading about this person in magazines. All of a sudden you have this number-one song and you’re at some birthday party and there she is. And you’re just some naive kid from Toronto staying in some sh--ty-ass hotel who got invited to this party on a whim. That’s just how it happened.” Tickets for the festival go on sale on Friday, February 3rd at 10am. Visit www.wirelessfestival.co.uk for more information and to purchase tickets online. Props to MTV.com (02.01.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ 'STUPID HOE' VIDEO BANNED FROM BET Don’t expect to see Nicki Minaj’s video on BET. Her latest clip for “Stupid Hoe” has been banned from the network. TMZ spoke with a rep for BET who confirmed that they would not be airing the video, but did not specify why. Other sources at the company tell TMZ that the ban was placed because the video was too explicit for TV. The Hype Williams-directed clip, which features risqué lyrics and images, has received over 20 million views on VEVO since its premiere on January 20. Nicki debuted the video online to avoid being censored. “Can’t premiere on a network b/c its important that my art is not tampered with, or compromised prior to you viewing it for the 1st time,” she explained. The Young Money rap diva is not the first artist to be banned from BET. Ciara’s “Ride” video was deemed too steamy for television and Game’s “Red Nation” was blacklisted for gang affiliation. Props to Rap-Up.com (02.01.12) |
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BREAKING NEWS: DON CORNELIUS COMMITS SUICIDE Legendary producer/host Don Cornelius was found dead early this morning and his Los Angeles home. According to reports, Don Cornelius allegedly took his life from a self-inflicted gunshot. In recent years, the 75-year-old was in failing health and according to various sources, he suffered from dementia. Don Cornelius helped revolutionize black music when he created televisions longest running dance show, “Soul Train.” The show aired from 1971 – 1993, with Don Cornelius plan host during those years. Don Cornelius’ association with Hip-Hop music was fleeting throughout the years. Although a number of Hip-Hop groups appeared on “Soul Train,” Don Cornelius was admittedly not a fan of the genre. “[Cornelius] ultimately decided that there was a duty to show the culture as authentically as possible,” according to the “Soul Train” website. “Soon after, the Soul Train Awards developed and while there were unfortunate occurrences at different shows, there was an overall appreciation for the award ceremony recognizing Hip-Hop’s contribution to American culture.” A variety of rappers have named checked “Soul Train” in their songs, from Eric B & Rakim, to De La Soul. Legendary rapper Kurtis Blow was the first Hip-Hop artist to appear on “Soul Train”, in 1980. More details will be released as they become available. Props to AllHipHop.com (02.01.12) |
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RAP-UP'S 10 MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2012 In 2011, music fans witnessed the reign of Nicki Minaj, the rule of hip-hop kings Jay-Z and Kanye West, and the rise of rap’s wildest crew, Odd Future. With 11 months to go in the new year, Rap-Up.com shines a spotlight on this year’s most anticipated hip-hop and R&B releases. Chris Brown is ready to reignite the clubs with Fortune, T.I. is cooking up more Trouble on his first album since prison, Nicki Minaj is unleashing her feisty alter ego Roman Zolanski on her sophomore set, and Kanye West has everyone on the edge of their seat waiting for the G.O.O.D. Music album. From the return of veterans Nas, 50 Cent, and Missy Elliott to the great expectations of freshman Frank Ocean, here are 10 albums that are bound to make noise this year. Chris Brown has been blacklisted by some, hated by many, and criticized by others, but at the end of the day, there’s no denying his talent. While he’s nominated three times at this year’s Grammys, the R&B crooner is gearing up for his fifth album, Fortune. The project has already spawned the scintillating single “Strip” featuring Kevin McCall and the dance floor-ready follow-up “Turn Up the Music.” With a collaboration with Nas and possible assists from Wiz Khalifa and will.i.am, Fortune is shaping up to be another winner for Breezy. From joining America’s sweetheart Taylor Swift on stage to landing a VH1 reality show (“T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle”) once he ended a prison bid last year, there’s always something to look forward to when it comes to T.I. This year, he’ll deliver his eighth studio album Trouble Man, which comes 11 years after his debut, I’m Serious. Fans got a taste of what’s to come with his recent mixtape F*ck Da City Up, featuring collaborations with Dr. Dre, Young Jeezy, Pusha T, and B.o.B. Details remain scarce on who will join the guest list for Trouble Man, but count on a cameo from Trey Songz, who cut a “club anthem” with Tip and Rico Love. Props to Rap-Up.com (01.31.12) |
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DRAKE WON'T RESPOND TO COMMON DISS Drake is tired of being a pawn in Common's promotional scheme, or at least that's what it sounds like he's saying. In an interview with Nah Right Drizzy shared that he wasn't going to respond to Common with a diss track, noting that Common was likely engaging him in the rap battle to promote his latest album The Dreamer/The Believer. “No. Because despite how it’s been worded by him that situation is not a ‘hip hop moment’ or a ‘battle for the sake of musical integrity’…it’s a ploy for attention around the release of an album,” he said. “More than anything it was just disappointing cause what kid isn’t a fan of what Common has done for our genre. A guy who made such an incredible career for himself based off expressing genuine feelings about life and love is now targeting me for sharing my story.” Instead Drake says he's on to bigger and better things, his Club Paradise tour being the next thing. “I have begun working on new music already and I’ll be recording during the whole college tour with 40," he said. "Making better music and building myself as a business is all that’s on my mind. Hopefully some acting as well.” Drake will be accompanied on the tour by opening acts Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky, two of the most promising up-and-coming MCs to break through in 2011. The tour comes as promotion for his sophomore album Take Care which debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 631,000 copies in it's first week. Props to BET.com (01.31.12) |
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GQ NAMES CHRIS BROWN WORLD'S WORST-DRESSED MAN Look at him now. Well, maybe not. That is if you ask British GQ, who just named singer Chris Brown as the "Worst-Dressed Man" in the world. Yes, the whole entire world. The pub writes, "For someone who seems to have so much disposable income—he boasts on one track about spending "15 grand on a phone" and charged over $500 for meet-and-greets on his last tour—Brown seems utterly adverse to investing in tailoring, combining the worst excesses of XXL sizing with a penchant for deeply unflattering costumes." XXL? Costumes? Ouch! Maybe something about Chris' Tappahannock, Virginia sartorial swag just doesn't translate across the pond? The same list dubbed hometown superstar Tinie Tempah as Best-Dressed. GQ writes, "Finally, while we don't like to blow our own trumpet too much, we should point out that, for the moment, the man who heads our list of the ten best-dressed international men calls this country home. Can it be a coincidence?" Chris will have a chance to prove GQ wrong (or maybe right) on the red carpet at the upcoming NAACP Image Awards. The singer nabbed a nomination for Outstanding Male Artist and Outstanding Album for FAME. The winners will be announced live February 17 on NBC. Props to MTV.com (01.31.12) |
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IGGY AZALEA SIGNS WITH INTERSCOPE, DUBBED 'THE NEXT TUPAC' Iggy Azalea has finally come to a decision. The 21-year-old femme rapper has officially inked a record deal with Interscope under the guidance of chairman Jimmy Iovine, who has dubbed her “The Next Tupac.” Previously, Iggy was in talks with Def Jam about a possible contract. However, due to her concerns, she was reluctant to sign on the dotted line. Jimmy Iovine has alleviated her concerns, zeroing in on what the young artist is seeking and Interscope has made plans for Iggy to release her first album The New Classic in June. Now, the question on everyone’s mind is: Does Iggy have what it takes to be compared to one of the most controversial artists of all time? "He's crazy,” Azalea told Billboard, of Iovine. “He's like, 'You're the next Tupac!' I'm like you're absolutely insane. But I love it!" Azalea kicked up a storm with the release of her mixtape Ignorant Art, which caused a few labels to take notice, but she was careful in making her decision. "It took me a long time [to decide] because I went around to every label,” she explained. “I was like, 'Okay I want to meet your A&R, president, vice president, and marketing [team]. Who would do my marketing?' I wanted to know who'd be working on my project and I wanted to meet them." "It's a family and it's a long-term commitment," Iggy continued. "People aren't just asking you to sign for one album. They're asking you to sign for like three or four, sometimes five. That's like a marriage." Props to MTV.com (01.30.12) |
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BEYONCE TO BE IMMORTALIZED WITH HOUSTON MONUMENT? While there's little danger of the world forgetting Beyonce -- the rare pop star famous enough to inspire her own college course -- Armdeonce Ventures isn't taking any chances. As My Fox Houston reports, the company is looking to build a monument to the singer in her Texas hometown, and if all goes according to plan, the grand unveiling could come in September -- just in time for Bey's 31st birthday. "We've gotten support from the city of Houston, from the mayor," said Marcus Mitchell, who along with partner Steve White is spearheading the effort. "We're waiting for a very nice letter from the mayor right now." The plan calls for a "massive hall" and "mini museum" -- complete with video and memorabilia -- devoted to Beyonce and her former group, Destiny's Child. Despite Mitchell's claims about Mayor Annise Parker's support, spokesperson Janice Evans took to Twitter yesterday (Jan. 27) to deny any official involvement. "Fox is wrong. The City of Houston is not behind, working with or having anything to do with an effort to build a monument honoring Beyonce," Evans tweeted, adding that Houston does "heart Beyonce and her music." Mayor Parker might want to consider hopping on board. Various Houstonians interviewed by Fox seemed down with the proposal, and proceeds would reportedly benefit Beyonce's Survivor charity, Music for America, and the Grammy Cares foundation. Props to TheBoomBox.com (01.30.12) |
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FRENCH MONTANA SAYS HE'S THE FIRST BAD BOY ARTIST TO OWN HIS PUBLISHING French Montana vetted a bidding war over the past few months, only to end up signing with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records. But according to French, he inked the deal on his own terms, making him the first artist in the history of Bad Boy to own his publishing. Speaking with Real Talk NY, he revealed that Puff did him right by allowing him to own the rights to his tracks. “I think I’m the first person - and I ain’t tell this to nobody - I’m the first person in the whole history of Bad Boy not to sign my publishing to Bad Boy or Puff,” he said. “Everything I asked for, Puff kept his word. In my eyes, he a real nigga for that. So far, so good. I have no complaints.” While he wouldn’t comment on other artists who have been burned by Puff in the past, French said that it’s a matter of getting good lawyers who can interpret the contracts. “I feel like a person, as a man, should never judge somebody on his situation with other people. You should always judge a person based on their situation with you. The situation you got with each other is the only way you can judge a man,” he continued. “I find it kind of weird. How can someone jerk you and give you the paperwork for your lawyer to see… It’s not like they’re tricking you. It’s not like words get up in the middle of the night and change on the contract. You just gotta get good lawyers. Of course, Puff is going to have the best lawyers.” Props to HipHopDX.com (01.30.12) |
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CHART JUICE: DRAKE STANDS 'PROUD' ATOP R&B/HIPHOP SONGS Drake's Nicki Minaj-assisted "Make Me Proud," one of seven singles from his current No. 1 album on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, "Take Care," creeps up to the coveted No. 1 position on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (2-1). "Make Me Proud" becomes Drake's eighth No. 1 on the survey in just two and a half years and marks his second topper as a lead artist. He first reigned as a lead act for seven weeks with his chart debut "Best I Ever Had," from his EP "So Far Gone," in 2009. Adding more ribbons to her shelf, Minaj celebrates her second No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Her first, "Moment for Life," peaked at the top spot for five weeks beginning last February. With the addition of 1.4 million audience impressions from KMEL San Francisco, the station which provided the song's greatest increase, "Make Me Proud" bumps Wale's "Lotus Flower Bomb," featuring Miguel, to No. 2 after five straight weeks at No. 1. In all, "Make Me Proud" registered 33 million in audience (up 6%) in the chart's tracking period, according to Nielsen BDS. Beyoncé's "Party" (featuring Andre 3000), which reached No. 2 in November, advances 4-3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, swapping places with Big Sean's booty-shaking "Dance (A$$)," featuring Minaj (3-4). Jay-Z and Kanye West also play the switch-up game, this time with Rick Ross, as Jay and 'Ye's former No. 1 "Ni**as in Paris" moves 6-5 (despite its audience drop of 6%). "You the Boss," Ricky Rozay's ego-stroking mantra featuring Nicki Minaj (in her third top 10 appearance this week), stumbles from its No. 5 peak to No. 6. Props to Billboard.com (01.27.12) |
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'RED TAIL' DEFEATS ODDS TO MAKE #2 BOX OFFICE DEBUT Everyone involved in the creation of "Red Tails" will tell you that it was no easy feat to get the movie into theaters, but now that struggle is being rewarded. The film debuted at #2 in the box offices and Ne-Yo believes that all of the hard work paid off. "I feel like we definitely did what we set out to do, which was make sure these incredible men, the Tuskegee Airmen, got the recognition that they deserved for the incredible things that they did for this country," Ne-Yo told MTV News of the George Lucas-produced film on Wednesday. "And [we] proved to Hollywood that an ensemble cast of black faces can put asses in the seats, basically," he laughed. "So I feel like we served our purpose." "Red Tails" tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American fighter pilots who battled deep-rooted racism, while fighting in World War II. Both Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. star in the flick, while Ne-Yo, Method Man and Tristan Wilds have supporting roles. The historical piece hit theaters January 20, the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day and opened second behind "Underworld: Awakening." Not bad for the singer/songwriter, who was also named senior vice president of A&R at Motown Records. Considering the movie wasn't especially well-received by critics, "Red Tails" did well in its first weekend, surpassing initial expectations. Lucas appeared on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" earlier this month and claimed that major studios showed no interest in the film when he went to pitch it. Props to MTV.com (01.27.12) |
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CEE LO PERFORMING WITH MADONNA AT SUPER BOWL XLVI? Nicki Minaj has dropped plenty of hints that she will be performing with Madonna during Super Bowl (see her video for "Stupid Hoe") and now Cee Lo is rumored to be joining Madge onstage as well during the anticipated half time show. According to sources, the singer has asked "The Voice" judge to perform with her at the February 5 show. "The Insider" reports that he's been flying to New York to rehearse with the pop icon. The sources add that he will contribute his signature flair to some of her classic tunes. The pairing would make sense given that the new season of "The Voice" premieres right after the Super Bowl next month. Reps for both performers did not respond to MTV News' request for comment by press time. MTV News caught up with the Queen of Pop at her "W.E." premiere earlier this week in New York, and the singer only had one tease about the Super Bowl gig. "I am not saying 'Yes,' and I am not saying 'No,' " she replied when asked whether Minaj and M.I.A. would take the stage with her. She added, "Pom poms. That's all I can tell you." When the singer takes the halftime stage next month, her performance will be "imagined" by Cirque du Soleil and Madonna's longtime choreographer and creative director Jamie King. According to reports, the set list for the show will include new single "Give Me All Your Luvin" as well as the Madonna classics "Ray of Light," "Vogue" and "Music." Props to MTV.com (01.27.12) |
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PAKISTAN LOOKS TO BAN HIP HOP WITHIN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION Yesterday (January 24), Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly adopted five resolutions of the public’s interest, including a ban on objectionable music concerts at public and private educational institutions, a ban that includes Hip-Hop music. After amending the original draft with the addition of word ‘objectionable’ before ‘music concerts,’ the House passed the resolution with a majority vote. While other issues included stopping the waste of money obtained on loans from international financial institutions, curbing population growth, and passport issuance, Hip-Hop fans in Pakistan will face scrutiny for listening to the music oft deemed in poor taste and values. Last year, the United States tried to use Hip-Hop as a form of diplomacy, as it brought the FEW Collective, a group from Chicago, to Islamabad, where they danced, rapped, and recited poetry to a Westernized, educated elite audience of young Pakistanis. Things didn’t go as planned, however, as the Chicago group was detained by Pakistani authorities for a brief period of time, due to one member unknowingly taking photos of “sensitive installations” in the city of Rawalpindi, a garrison city home to the powerful army’s headquarters. The performances were part of a long standing tradition of diplomacy through music via the State Department. In the late 1950′s, jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Brubeck toured Pakistan as part of the program, but Hip-Hop has had little breakthrough over the years as traditionalists oppose the new form of expression. Props to AllHipHop.com (01.26.12) |
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WILL SMITH AND JADA PINKETT-SMITH DEVELOPING DJ TALENT SHOW He’s got American Idol and X-Factor, so it’s only right that Simon Cowell would take a stab at putting a spin on the popular reality competition shows by trying to get DJs in the mix. The famously cantankerous media mogul is in negotiations with Hollywood power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith to produce a talent search show to find the world’s next star DJ. According to the Hollywoord Reporter, Cowell’s SYCO Entertainment is partnering with the Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television to launch the still untitled show on international and domestic platforms. "DJ’s are the new rock stars, it feels like the right time to make this show,” Cowell said in a statement announcing the news. A pro at executive producing reality talent shows, Cowell’s resume includes The X Factor, America's Got Talent, American Inventor, Celebrity Duets Pop Idol and American Idol. And judging from the tweet he sent on Wednesday, Cowell is pretty thrilled by this next opportunity. "Excited to announce new DJ show. I will NOT be judging this show. Excited to be workin with @jadapsmith. Stay tuned!” he wrote on Twitter. There was no word on whether Will or Jada would have an on-screen role in the project, but with their backgrounds in music (Will the rapper and Jada the rocker) the soundscape of the show should be wide-ranging. Props to BET.com (01.26.12) |
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RIHANNA TO LAUNCH FASHION TV SHOW Rihanna has tackled the worlds of music and movies. Now the fashionista is foraying into television with her own “Project Runway”-inspired series. The “We Found Love” singer will executive produce and appear in an original show for Sky Living HD in the U.K. Known worldwide for her bold style, the pop star will search Britain for the next generation of undiscovered designers, with Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts serving as host. “I’ve always had a great love of fashion,” said Rihanna. “It’s a constant source of inspiration in my life, and is a big reason why I’ve grown into the person and artist I am today. “I have been very fortunate to work with some truly amazing designers and stylists throughout my career, and they have been instrumental in making sure my creative vision reaches the stage. I am excited to follow the journey of our aspiring contestants and see how their individuality influences their efforts during the course of the show.” Over the course of 10 weeks, the contestants will be challenged by Rihanna and Roberts to create outfits for musicians and celebrities. For the final task, designers will have the opportunity to dress Rihanna for her Wireless performance in Hyde Park in July. The untitled competition series will debut this summer. If you think you have what it takes to be part of the show, you can apply online. Props to Rap-Up.com (01.26.12) |
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DIDDY TO LAUNCH MUSIC-THEMED CABLE NETWORK Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is planning another attack on the world of television in his next venture — the launch of a music-themed cable network reportedly called Revolt. According to Broadcasting & Cable, Diddy is in works to introduce the urban arts station by year's end. Sources say that Diddy's station comes as a response to an open call from Comcast, which has made a commitment to the FCC to help launch minority-owned networks. Although Comcast reps would not confirm that Diddy's proposal had been approved, a Time Warner Cable spokesperson has confirmed that the subscription TV operator has had discussions regarding Revolt and Diddy. However, nothing has been confirmed. As far as his other ventures go, Diddy recently spoke with DJ Whoo Kid about the endurance of his Bad Boy music label,saying that in recent years Bad Boy has been the victim of a smear campaign. Diddy described the music industry as a dog-eat-dog world and pointed out that, all things considered, Bad Boy has outlasted the competition. "Over the last couple of years, there’s been a strong propaganda movement that’s been brewing in the negative sense against Bad Boy, against what it is to sign to the Bad Boy label, if it’s a detriment to your career,” he said. “Just hate. Just regular hate and also a lot of people not understanding how this industry works.” "This is a hard industry. This is not for kids. This is not for the weak. If you are weak, you will get eaten alive in this industry. This industry has a life expectancy of like two years," he said. Props to BET.com (01.25.12) |
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RAPPERS WEIGH IN ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS As President Obama gave his third State of the Union address last night (January 24) and opened the last year of his term, it was clear that several overarching themes are priorities for his Administration in 2012, including the economy, tax legislation, and the development of more jobs. “We can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules,” Obama said. “What’s at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them.” In addition to addressing the country’s economic issues, Obama said he hopes to boost manufacturing, develop new energy sources, and train workers in order to boost the economy. He also called for the development of America’s bridges, roadways, and other infrastructure with financing saved as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come to a close. “With @BarackObama giving his State of the Union Address 2nite, it’s officially time 2 BARACK THE VOTE! http://barackthevote.com,” Bun B Tweeted. Questlove of the legendary Roots crew chimed in on the State of the Union address by joking with his Twitter followers and tweeting videos that indirectly related to statements made by Obama: “#SOTU #POTUS for those banks who break the law on wall street i will no longer bail you out. matter of fact i will http://youtu.be/1VRZq3J0uz4,” Questlove said as he Tweeted the link to KRS-One’s “Sound the Police.” Props to AllHipHop.com (01.25.12) |
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NICKI MINAJ FILMING A MINI MOVIE As Nicki Minaj prepares to release her sophomore album, 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,' she's also putting on her acting hat. The Trinidad-born, Queens-bred MC revealed the news to her Twitter followers Tuesday morning (Jan. 24) that she would be starring in a new film. A loyal supporter asked the 29-year-old rap star what she had planned for the day, to which the head Barb replied, "Shooting a mini movie ;) ----> RT @JizzesOnLessors: @NICKIMINAJ Yaaay! U're UP! Whats on the agenda today?" The 'Stupid H--' creator kept fairly mum about details regarding the project, only stating that she was shooting for something or someone with the initials "RH." Could it be the title of her next music video? Or is it the name of a director? Minaj fans will have to stay tuned in the coming weeks to find out just what she has in store. 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded' will be released in April. The project was previously set for a Feb. 14 release. Last week, the Young Money rhymer debuted visuals for the buzz track 'Stupid H--.' Props to TheBoomBox.com (01.25.12) |
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NAACP IMAGE AWARDS 2012: ADELE, CHRIS BROWN NOMINATED As Spinner.com reports, last year, 2011, will forever be known as the time that everybody went friggin' nuts for Adele. The singer has spent a record 16 weeks at the top of the charts, tying the record for the 'Titanic' soundtrack -- her heart will go on, and on, and on, and on -- adding to a long list of accolades far to lengthy to name right now. Most recently, Adele's tearjerker, 'Someone Like You,' off her sophomore album, '21,' has been nominated for for Outstanding Song at the NAACP Image Awards, where artists like Beyonce, Chris Brown, Cee Lo Green, Anthony Hamilton, Wynter Gordon Common and Lupe Fiasco, among others, are nominated. But we'll say that again, Adele has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award, according to Billboard. It's no secret that 'Someone Like You' is an undeniable, transcendent force of nature, able to pry the tears from even the most stoic pair of eyeballs -- as evidenced by a spot-on parody given on 'SNL.' Even so, that doesn't change the fact that Adele is unquestionably white and nominated for an award meant to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. The award has honored white folk in the past -- Eminem and Justin Timberlake to name a couple. But, yeah, that song is so, so good. Aside from Adele's nomination this year, RollingStone.com gives a rundown of the other nominees, including Jennifer Hudson, Diggy Simmons, Bruno Mars and Mary J. Blige. The NAACP Image Awards will be broadcast on NBC on Feb. 17 at 8PM EST. Props to TheBoomBox.com (01.23.12) |
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MEGAUPLOAD.COM UPDATE: LAWYER SAYS SWIZZ BEATZ IS NOTE COMPANY CEO Contrary to recent news reports, Swizz Beatz is not the CEO of controversial file-sharing website, Megaupload.com. Ira Rothken, an attorney for Megaupload.com, made the revelation to RollingStone.com as he explained that, to his knowledge, Beatz “was never involved in any meaningful way” with Megaupload.com, but was in talks to helm the website. “He was negotiating to become the CEO, but it was never official,” Rothken said. The lawyer’s comments counter previous reports that listed Beatz as a silent, executive partner for Megaupload.com, which was shut down Thursday (January 19) after massive copyright infringement and racketeering charges were brought against the company and its top executives. Four of the seven defendants named in the case were arrested in New Zealand. Other charges leveled at the Megaupload.com include money laundering and racketeering. The website stands accused of being complicit in costing copyright holders more than $500 million in damages, while raking in more than $175 million in illegal proceeds. In protest of the Megaupload.com shut down, a number of major websites have been shut down by Internet hackers. Among those targeted were websites for the Department of Justice, the MPAA, Universal Music, and the RIAA. The FBI’s website, www.fbi.gov, is reportedly the next site on the list for Anonymous, a “hacktivist” group in Sweden that claimed responsibility for shutting down the Department of Justice website. Megaupload.com is currently trying to get back online as it fights charges and works to recover from the situation. Props to AllHipHop.com (01.23.12) |
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BEYONCE WRITES A FAREWELL MESSAGE TO ETTA JAMES Beyonce has been busy tending to baby Blue Ivy Carter but the singer made time to post a note on her website today, saying farewell to legendary blues singer Etta James who died on Friday (January 20) at the age of 73. The two songstresses have a bit of history, thanks to Beyonce's portrayal of James in the 2008 film "Cadillac Records." "This is a huge loss. Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen," Beyoncé wrote on her blog. "Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed." Photos: The life and career of Etta James. B famously portrayed the blond jazz singer in the 2008 biopic "Cadillac Records." Her version of "At Last" from the film's soundtrack would later win a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance. Beyoncé's version of James' iconic ballad once-again made headlines when she performed the track at President Obama's inaugural ball in 2009. The performance was initially met with some criticism from the always-outspoken James, but she later came around. Props to MTV.com (01.23.12) |
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PRESIDENT OBAMA STOPS SOPA PIRACY BILL President Obama has taken a stance against SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), a bill that would allow the justice department to force Internet providers and search engines to block all sites accused of copyright infringement. For now, it appears that President Obama has stalled the controversial legislation. Read the details according to Forbes.com “The growing anti-SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) support that has swept through the gaming and Internet community found a very big ally today. With websites like Reddit and Wikipedia and gaming organizations like Major League Gaming prepared for a blackout on January 18th – the same day that the House Judiciary Committee hearing on HR 3261was scheduled in Washington, D.C. – President Barack Obama has stepped in and said he would not support the bill. SOPA has been delayed, for now. The House has agreed to revisit the issue next month, but they now know the White House will veto any bill that’s not more narrowly focused. Much to the chagrin of Hollywood, the Entertainment Software Association (which has been a backer of the bill from early on), and Internet domain company GoDaddy.com (which lost many accounts as a result of its support for the bill); SOPA has been shelved. The Motion Picture Association of America, one of the bill’s largest sponsors, is expected to regroup. Props to AllHipHop.com (01.20.12) |
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RIAA, UNIVERSAL MUSIC, DOJ SITES HACKED AFTER MEGAUPLOAD BUST Apparently in retaliation for U.S. prosecutors shutting down the controversial Megaupload file-sharing site and arresting its leaders, hacktivists Anonymous claimed credit for disabling the websites of the Department of Justice, the RIAA, Universal Music Group and others on Thursday. "We are having website problems, but we're not sure what it's from," a DOJ spokesperson told CNN. "It was in retaliation for Megaupload, as was the concurrent attack on Justice.org," Anonymous operative Barrett Brown reportedly told British website RT on Thursday afternoon.' "One thing is certain: EXPECT US! #Megaupload" read one tweet from AnonOps. An hour later, another tweet from the account read: "Tango down! http://universalmusic.com & http://www.justice.gov// #Megaupload" Anonops also took credit for knocking offline the sites of the RIAA and the Motion Picture Association of America Thursday. Anonymous also brought the recent SOPA battle over online piracy into the equation, which a tweet referencing Wednesday's "SOPA blackout" that saw Wikipedia and many other sites shutting down to protest the SOPA and PIPA bills in Congress: "Let's just say, for #SOPA supporters their #SOPAblackout is today. #Anonymous." Universal Music has been engaged in a legal battle with the site for months, stepping up the fight last month after a video hit the web that featured Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, will.i.am, Alicia Keys and others apparently endorsing the site. Beatz's status as the site's CEO was widely reported on Thursday. Props to Billboard.com (01.20.12) |
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ICE-T EXPLAINS APPROACH TO DIRECTING "ART OF RAP" DOCUMENTARY Last year, actor Michael Rapaport struck it big at the Sundance Film Festival with his acclaimed documentary about A Tribe Called Quest titled Beat, Rhymes and Life. Now, another one of Hip Hop's great, Ice-T, is poised to take over Sundance with his own documentary Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap. The California O.G. recently spoke to Billboard about the film and how he approached making his debut project. He explained that he focused solely on the the art of rap as opposed to the outside aspect that have become synonymous with Hip Hop culture. He also added that he wanted to make sure that the film wouldn't only resonate with Hip Hop heads. "I was looking at the terrain of hip-hop and where it's going, it's kinda gotten pop - a lot of the kids don't even know where it started, and I said, 'I wanna go and document the craft - not the money, not the cars, not the girls, the craft,'" he explained. "I've been doing interview abouts for 20 years and no one's asked how we do it. They talk about the music, but they don't go, 'How do you write a rhyme?'...I came up with about 15 questions and interviewed 54 rappers...it's not a movie just for rap fans; it's a movie for anyone that's curious about the art. It's not for rap haters, though. If you don't like it and you go to the movie, you'll hate it even worse. Props to HipHopDX.com (01.20.12) |
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RIHANNA IS PERFORMING AT THE GRAMMYS WITH COLDPLAY Rihanna is currently enjoying some down time after wrapping up dates on her "Loud" world tour, but the singer will hit the stage again next month when she joins Coldplay for a performance at the Grammys. Rihanna will join Chris Martin and crew for a duet of the band's single "Princess of China," which appeared on their recent album Mylo Xyloto. Rihanna, nominated for four Grammys this year, broke the news on Twitter, writing, "My friends @ColdPlay and I will be sharing the stage for a performance at this years Annual Grammy Awards!" A short time later she added, "WE reached 2BILLION views on @youtube !!! THANK U!!! I'm in a great mood, and I got some GREAT NEWS!!! PRINCESS OF CHINA #GRAMMYS2012." The show, which will be hosted by rapper LL Cool J, will also feature a performance by rock icon Paul McCartney, who will join a lineup that already includes Grammy nominees Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Marks, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift and Jason Aldean. At the time Xyloto was released, Coldplay singer Chris Martin explained that the decision to invite another voice into the studio was made because of the unusual story arc of the band's Grammy-nominated album. "Her bit on our record is my favorite bit. ... When the song came out, it sort of asked for her to be on it. And I think at this point, we have nothing to lose, and so we've been trying some new things and trying to break down the perceived boundaries between different types of music," Martin told MTV News. Props to MTV.com (01.19.12) |
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RIHANNA, CHRIS BROWN: SECRETLY HOOKING UP? It has been almost three years since Chris Brown infamously assaulted Rihanna on the eve of the 2009 Grammy Awards. While you may have thought that there is no way Ri would ever go back to be in the arms that beat her, new reports suggest that the former couple have been secretly rekindling their romance for quite some time now! Despite the relationship's violent ending, Us Weekly sources have alleged that Rihanna, 23, and Brown, 22, have secretly been hooking up for nearly a year. Apparently the pair "meet up very casually" to see one another and Rihanna "comes to see him anytime she's in L.A." Another alleged insider claimed, "They can't get enough of each other. I don't see it ending well," while yet another source noted, "Rihanna loves to live dangerously, and talking to and hooking up with Chris is all part of that." Breezy is reportedly not doing any interviews in 2012 following his violent outburst in response to questions relating to Rihanna on 'GMA' last year. However, a rep for Brown did speak on his behalf about the matter. "He and Rihanna are just friends," the rep insisted, adding, "He's not cheating." Chris has been dating aspiring model Karrueche Tran. He even reportedly got her face inked on his arm in a new tattoo. Props to TheBoombox.com (01.19.12) |
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MEGAUPLOAD ATTORNEY SPEAKS ON UNIVERSAL LAWSUIT The strange battle rages on between Megaworld and Universal Music Group. After releasing a celebrity-crammed video for its "MegaUpload Song" last Friday - which shows Kanye West, Will.I.Am, Jamie Foxx, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and more lauding the service - cyberlocker giant Megaworld (owner of MegaUpload, Megavideo, Megalive and more) has been tangled in a legal battle with Universal Music Group, which it has accused of abusing the DMCA takedown process to have the clip wiped from the Internet. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate, which traffics as one of the most visited cloud storage sites on the Internet, appears to be ahead in its latest effort to combat UMG - at least at the moment. After filing a lawsuit on Monday, as well as a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the corporation yesterday, on Thursday a judge gave Universal 24 hours to explain its takedown initiatives. According to filed court documents, MegaUpload claims that Universal is stifling its right to free speech and has "chosen to sabotage MegaUpload's promotional campaign, effectively censoring our ability to convey our message with our own original content, including that a significant number of today's top recording artists actively support our services." The site has come under fire for serving as a medium for the proliferation of illegal content, facing several lawsuits over copyright infringement and most recently settling a copyright suit with porn studio Perfect 10 for copyright violations. Props to Billboard.com (01.19.12) |
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2012 GRAMMYS: LL COOL J IS THE FIRST HOST SINCE 2005 The Grammys surprised us when they didn't give Kanye West a nod for Album of the Year, but turns out The Recording Academy also has some more tricks up their sleeves for the 2012 awards show. On Wednesday (January 18) LL Cool J, who has previously hosted the Grammy nominations concert, was announced as the official host of the February 12 broadcast. "I'm thrilled to be part of Music's Biggest Night," LL said in a statement, according to People.com. He's hosted the nominations concert every year since 2008. "I will always have fond memories of my first Grammys Awards and to now be hosting the Grammy show, in the company of so many other incredible artists, is a dream come true." This marks the first time someone has hosted the show since 2005 when Queen Latifah was on hand as the night's emcee. The news of his hosting gig comes one week after it was announced that a slew of eclectic performers were added to the night's bill. Nicki Minaj, Foo Fighters and Taylor Swift join Kelly Clarkson, Jason Aldean and Bruno Mars as some of the lucky nominees who will also take the stage at the show. Earlier this month it had been rumored that six-time nominee Adele might take the stage at the big show. It would mark her first public performance since her vocal surgery in November. More performers, presenters and special segments will be announced in the coming weeks. The show airs live from Los Angeles on CBS next month. Props to MTV.com (01.18.12) |
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JAY-Z, WILL.I.AM AMONG MUSIC STARS ON OBAMA CAMPAIGN WISH LIST President Obama's 2008 campaign earned plenty of help from the music world -- and now it appears he's asking for its aid again as he gears up for this year's re-election campaign. A list of potential celebrity endorsers given to campaign donors leaked to Nashville newspaper the Tennessean last week. Among the 194 names: will.i.am and Black Eyed Peas bandmate Fergie, Arcade Fire, India.Arie, Sara Bareilles, Jay-Z, Counting Crows, Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Adam Levine, Ricky Martin and Chris Cornell, as well as Hollywood and political heavyweights ranging from George Clooney to Emanuel Rahm. Several artists listed have distanced themselves from the campaign, with Lady Antebellum's publicist telling Entertainment Weekly, "The members of Lady Antebellum did not submit their name for inclusion on the surrogate list for Obama's campaign… The band has never commented on their political affiliations nor do they plan to in the future." The Band Perry also announced that they hadn't made an endorsement. "This was a wish list of people and groups who may be asked to participate in a campaign event," campaign spokesperson Addie Whisenant told the Tennessean. "Not everyone on this list has been contact or agreed to help the campaign." However, several artists have, with Al Green and India.Arie set to perform on Thursday at a fundraiser at the Apollo Theater in New York City. In the 2008 campaign, stars including John Legend and Common joined will.i.am in a viral music video, "Yes We Can," based on an Obama speech. It now stands at 23 million views. Props to Billboard.com (01.18.12) |
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HIP HOP ALBUM SALES: THE WEEK ENDING 1/15/2012 Two new Hip Hop releases debuted on the charts this past week. One was from an artist who has succeeded in the independent/underground grind for over a year. The other is the epitome of underground success right now, and achieving commercial recognition through digital-only release. Both works feature an array of high-profile artists, and are driving conversation online. Veteran Memphis, Tennessee emcee Yo Gotti's major label debut Live From The Kitchen nearly cracked the Top 10, with a #12 debut. The Polo Grounds/RCA Records release finds Gotti after a tenure a decade ago with TVT Records. His new release includes contributions from Big K.R.I.T., Wiz Khalifa and one of the artists who he helped premier at a mainstream level, Nicki Minaj. Gotti sold over 15,000 first-week units in a quiet January. Black Hippy emcee Schoolboy Q's second digital release Habits & Contradictions released Saturday, January 14. With only two days at retail the Top Dawg Entertainment release scanned nearly 4,000 units to crack the Top 100 - without any marketing or advertising. This is the second time Q has done this, after last year's Setbacks accomplished a similar a feat almost a year to the day from January 14. Habits & Contradictions features involvement from The Alchemist, ASAP Rocky and Curren$y, in addition to appearances from Black Hippy cohorts Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar. Props to HipHopDX.com (01.18.12) |
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FUNK LEGEND JIMMY CASTOR PASSES AWAY AT 64 Legendary saxaphone player Jimmmy Castor passed away over the weekend (January 16th) of unknown causes. Fans were alerted that the funk and disco player, oft sampled throughout hip-hop’s history, passed via a family member’s Twitter page. Eric B. and Rakim, the Ultramagnetic MCs, N.W.A., Kanye West, Mos Def, Kool Moe Dee and 2 Live Crew are groups widely recognized for having sampled the late great artist. “Bboys in heaven are jammin. The creator of their national anthem has joined them. RIP Jimmy Castor. Essential Hip Hop Ingredient. Peace.,” Questlove of the Roots told his fans via Twitter. From Jamirquoi, to the Spice Girls, to Pharrell, Castor’s music is ever present in a wide variety of modern music, not only in the form of sampling, but in the actual composition of music. “Oh man. RIP jimmy castor been in my bubble all day. #legend,”Just Blaze Tweeted. “Another Legend passes away! R.I.P. Jimmy Castor…Hip Hop owes him a lot to the culture…Troglodyte, BerthaButtBoogie, It’s Just Begun,” DJ Premier Tweeted. Songs like “It’s Just Begun” and “Troglodyte (Cave Man),” reached critical and commercial success as the latter was RIAA Certified Gold. Details regarding the funeral proceedings have not yet been disclosed. Props to AllHipHop.com (01.17.12) |
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LIL KIM LOVES 'THE MOTTO,' STILL FIRES SHOTS AT DRAKE Lil Kim seemed to temporarily forget her longstanding feud with Nicki Minaj, Drake and Young Money during an appearance at Club Imax in Tampa, FL over the weekend. After performing "Lighters Up" and "Magic Stick," the beleaguered rapper gave a gaggle of fans an impromptu karaoke performance of Drake's club anthem "The Motto." She shimmied about to the bouncy track, clearly in high spirits. "That was a hot ass motherf---ing joint! I can't even front on that motherf---ing bitch ass n----!" she proclaimed at one point. Even beef takes a respite to a hot song. For those keeping track at home, the Queen Bee has been throwing disses towards Nicki Minaj and the YM cadre for some time now, most often accusing Nicki of not paying homage to her and stealing her persona. Recently Nicki was accused of swagger-jacking Kim's style in Willow Smith's "Fireball" video. Then Kim took shots at the Young Money squad over a remix of Uncle Murda’s “Warning,” spitting a line at each member of the crew who appears on Birdman's single “Y. U. Mad" (Wayne, Nicki, Birdman). Props to MTV.com (01.17.12) |
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BEYONCE SKIN COLOR: ACCUSED OF LIGHTENING FACE IN PHOTOS Looking lighter than usual in photos being used to promote her latest album, last year's '4,' Beyonce has raised concerns that she is trying to play down her natural skin color. While pregnant women are sometimes anemic, and anemia can leave sufferers looking pale, the controversial new photos were taken before the 30-year-old pop superstar was with child, the Daily Mail reports. In the shots, Beyonce sports blonde locks, red lipstick and a crocheted, barely-there outfit while reclining on a leopard-print couch. Her complexion is rather fair, but as experts told U.K. newspaper the Sun, it could be the result of studio lighting. Or it could be something more sinister. In 2008, the cosmetics company L'Oreal was accused of lightening Bey's skin tone in advertisements, and last year, after the 'Love on Top' creator was spotted on the street looking particularly white, writer Yasmin Alibhai-Brown charged Beyonce -- the daughter of a black father and mixed-race mother -- with "betraying all black and Asian women." In a letter to the Daily Mail, Alibhai-Brown wrote, "Too many black and Asian children grow up understanding the sad truth that to have dark skin is to be somehow inferior." Beyonce has not commented on the controversy, perhaps because the only color on her mind these days is Blue Ivy -- the name of the daughter she and husband Jay-Z welcomed earlier this month. Props to TheBoomBox.com (01.17.12) |
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RARE FLY NAMED AFTER BEYONCE IN AUSTRALIA Beyonce has already made music history, but this week the superstar pop singer joined the odd company of Sting and Frank Zappa when an animal was named after her. According to the Daily Telegraph, researchers in Australia have named a rare horsefly after the former Destiny’s Child frontwoman. The Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae fly was first discovered in Australian state Queensland in 1981, the same year as Beyonce’s birth. The most striking feature is an unusual gold patch on its’ behind. Bryan Lessard, Australia’s science agency CSIRO, said the latter trait made the insect the “all-time diva of flies.” "It was the unique dense golden hairs on the fly's abdomen that led me to name this fly in honor of the performer Beyoncé,” Lessard said, “as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy – the naming of species.” The report also says that the name complies with rules set by the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature, which allows for species to receive names honoring people. The Hyla stingi frog was named after British rock star Sting, while the Pachygnatha zappa spider was named after composer/singer Frank Zappa. Beyonce made news earlier this week for the birth of her and Jay-Z’s first child, Blue Ivy Carter. With Blue’s vocals being credited on Jay’s new record “Glory,” she became the youngest person to debut on the Billboard charts. Props to MTV.com (01.16.12) |
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DRAKE, COMMON HOLD HANDS, SIP ON SAME STRAW IN PARODY VIDEO Fans of both Drake Common have been paying close attention to the lyrical war that has erupted between the two. The Chi-town rapper, who dropped his ninth studio album, 'The Dreamer, The Believer,' last month, recently had the last word -- until the Toronto MC serves a new verse -- with his remix to Rick Ross' track 'Stay Schemin.' Now, the team over at Ego Trip deliver a hilarious set of visuals that imagines a world where the two rhymers are best buds. While the public still doesn't really know the cause of their verbal beef -- some say it stems from tennis star Serena Williams, who was romantically linked to both men -- the video serves as an imaginary truce for the two, with hand-holding and straw-sipping included. In the clip, which is a quick 42 seconds, the 'Sweet' creator holds a snowglobe with the phrase "I heart Canada" inside, a nod to Drizzy's homeland. The 'Take Care' performer is then pictured with Common holding hands while dancing, embracing a set of puppies, sipping a can of Canada Dry ginger ale from the same straw, kayaking on a river and riding a horse. Every activity -- even watching a movie while eating a carton of ice cream -- showcases the duo together, looking joyful with a smile plastered on their faces. There's a very skilled Photoshop expert to thank for that. In a fitting end to the video, both rappers' current album titles are used to put a final stamp on their new "friendship": "Dream. Believe. Take Care." Props to TheBoombox.com (01.16.12) |
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BEATS BY DR DRE SEVERING TIES WITH MONSTER CABLE; PLAN FOR FUTURE The rapidly-growing headphone market just got some big news at the 2012 International CES Tradeshow over the weekend. Beats By Dre co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine will no longer be working with Monster Cable Products on future endeavors and product lines. Iovine recently spoke on the separation of the two very successful companies to Billboard.biz: “We had a few business things that you have when you work with a guy for five years. But we’ve grown so fast we have to be nimble, to control our own destiny. It was always structured that way.” In case you haven’t noticed, in the past few years, headphones have become just the tip of the iceberg for the Beats By Dre brand. The technology can be found in select Hewlett-Packard PC’s and laptops, Chrysler’s 300 S Sedan, the soon to be released 2012 Dodge Charger, and on HTC smartphones. HTC, actually own a 51 percent majority stake in the company after their $300 million investment in Beats last summer. It is notable that Monster reportedly had nothing to do with the deals struck between Beats and Chrysler, HP, or HTC, and that, according to Iovine, ”Beats will act as its own manufacturer going forward,” which is big news in itself. Iovine added, ”We are purely on a mission to fix audio for every record company for every artist around the world. We have to turn this thing around and we’re starting to. Props to AllHipHop.com (01.16.12) |
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BIG WILL AND LIL' JESS GO VIRAL! What started out as harmless poke at silly Facebook pictures has blossomed into an overnight sensation on the world wide web. Newly inducted internet memes Big Will and Jessica Streetz of Streetz 104.7 FM in Winnipeg, MB are constantly coming up with new comedic additions to their Facebooks and Twitters. Recently, the two took the web by storm with their rendition of "Dumb Girl Poses" on Facebook. Garnering over 25,000 shares on tumblr in less than 24 hours, the pair's picture caught fire on the internet yesterday acquiring over 1,500 "Likes" and Shares on Facebook in 7 hours. From there, popular viral sites reddit.com, 9GAG.com and Twitter sowballed the picture to it's now 1,000,000+ views across the web! } The two have even had an anonymous Youtube video made out of it! Be sure to keep the internet wildfire running with a Tweet to: @JessStreetz and @bigwillstreetz - hashtag #dumbgirlposes. "I didn't even think this was that funny. Thought for sure it would be a hatefest. It's been all love and I'm happy people are able to laugh at themselves and draw joy from our shenanigans. I'm glad people are smart enough to realize we're making fun of the poses and not the girls themselves. I have so many nieces and cousins who are guilty of making the same silly face in the mirror for their profiles. Some will laugh, some will cry, hopefully all reflect." - Big Will Props to 9GAG | Reddit | Funny Junk | Tumblr | Youtube (01.13.12) |
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SNOOP DOGG LAUNCHES NEW CIGAR BRAND Snoop Dogg is launching his own tobacco cigar line called, Executive Branch. "Throughout my career I have been lucky enough to travel the world and try all different types of tobacco products. During my travels throughout South America and the Caribbean, I was fortunate to encounter this tobacco company, Executive Branch and was so impressed by their commitment to quality [far superior than all others], I knew I had to bring them to the States for all my fans to enjoy," Snoop Dogg says in a press release. "Throughout 2012, we plan on releasing new styles and flavors, in which I will be working with their team to make sure all products are up to Snoop Dogg standards." The first product to be released from Executive Branch will be the Executive Branch Cigarillos. They will be sold for "$0.99 a pouch, with two cigars per pouch." The cigarillos are manufactured by Dufort Holdins SA and distributed by Good Times USA. Snoop will unveil his cigar brand, made with "premium tobacco from the Dominican Republic," at this year's Coachella Festival where he will headlining along side Dr. Dre Props to Billboard.com (01.13.12) |
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LIL WAYNE RELEASING 'GONE TILL NOVEMBER' MEMOIR Well, it was only a matter of time before this happened. This month Lil Wayne rolled out his first clothing line Trukfit, and before the year ends the New Orleans native will release his first memoir, “Gone Till November.” The book will give fans an in-depth look at the eight months Weezy spent behind bars at New York’s Rikers Island complex for a gun possession charge. The memoir is scheduled to hit bookstores in November, which will mark two years since Weezy became a free man. According to AP, it will share Wayne’s “internal monologue,” transcribed from the journal entries he wrote while incarcerated. “Gone Till November” will be released via Grand Central Publishing, under the umbrella of Hachette Book Group. Wayne was released from Rikers Island on November 4, 2010 after serving eight months of a year-long sentence for attempted gun possession. The rapper and his crew were leaving his first headlining performance in NYC back in July 2007 when policed pulled over his tour bus. The NYPD searched the bus after reporting a strong odor of marijuana, and they eventually confiscated drugs and a gun registered in Wayne’s manager’s name. After his release Wayne dropped his anticipated album Tha Carter IV< which went on to sell more than 850, 000 copies in its first week, going platinum shortly afterwards. Props to MTV.com (01.13.12) |
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PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS: EMINEM AND RIHANNA WIN The 2012 People's Choice Awards aired on Wednesday night (January 11) and while Katy Perry and Johnny Depp were big winners, Eminem, Rihanna and Kanye West didn't do so badly either. Slim Shady picked up an award for Favorite Hip-Hop Artist, while Rihanna won for Favorite R&B Artist, and Kanye West shared some of the love for his feature on Katy Perry's "E.T." the people's favorite song of the year. When the original announcements were made Beyonce was nominated in five different categories, while B.o.B., Nicki Minaj, Pitbull and Jay-Z were competing with Eminem for favorite Hip Hop Artist. Chris Brown and Ne-Yo were Rihanna’s competition for Favorite R&B Artist. Other big winners included Lady Gaga, who nabbed Favorite Album of the Year and Bruno Mars, the Favorite Male Artist. The annual awards show handed out prizes voted on by more than 230 million people. "The Big Bang Theory" actress Kaley Cuoco hosted the show, and in between costume changes and witty banter, she managed to emcee a night that combined pop culture's love for TV, movies and music. Airing live from Los Angeles, the show was chock-full of funny moments, as well as frequent references to funny folks like Neil Patrick Harris and Betty White, who even got a kiss from Don Cheadle. Props to MTV.com (01.12.12) |
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TAYLOR SWIFT, NICKI MINAJ, BRUNO MARS TO PERFORM AT GRAMMY AWARDS Taylor Swift, Foo Fighters, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson have been announced as the initial round of performers at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, which will air on Feb. 12 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Mars and Foo Fighters each have six nominations and are both vying for the Album of the Year prize, for "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" and "Wasting Light," respectively. Meanwhile, Swift and Minaj -- who were honored as Billboard's Woman of the Year and Rising Star of the Year in 2011 -- are up for three awards and four awards, respectively; Swift took home the Album of the Year trophy in 2010 for her sophomore album, "Fearless," while Minaj will try to capture the Best New Artist trophy this year. Aldean and Clarkson are listed as joint performers and will presumably play their hit single "Don't You Wanna Stay," which is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Aldean and Minaj will make their debuts on the Grammy stage. Kanye West led all artists with seven nods when the nominations were announced on Nov. 30, while Adele was right behind the rapper with six nominations. The British crooner's best-selling second album, "21," will compete against "Doo-Wops & Hooligans," "Wasting Light," Rihanna's "Loud" and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" for Album of the Year. The Grammy Awards will air live on CBS at 8 p.m. EST on Feb. 12. Props to Billboard.com (01.12.12) |
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WILL SMITH GOES 3D FOR 'MEN IN BLACK 3' Sony has revealed details about the upcoming “Men in Black 3″ movie, which is the latest installment of the hit franchise starring Will Smith. The new “MIB3″ will be in 3-D, according to Sony, making it one of four Sony films to utilize the technology from this year. Earlier this week, Will Smith, director Barry Sonnenfeld and Sony worldwide CEO Howard Stringer appeared at the CES 2012 convention, where they debuted a new trailer for the movie. In addition to Will Smith (“Agent J”), “MIB3″ features Tommy Lee Jones reprising his role as “Agent K,” while Josh Brolin plays a young “Agent K.” Nicole Scherzinger, Alice Eve and Emma Thompson have starring roles. The new installment centers around Agent J and Agent K traveling back in time to 1969, to fight an evil alien. According to stats released by Sony, the 3-D industry is becoming quite profitable with films burning a total of $6 billion worldwide. In addition to Barry Sonnenfeld directing, Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment is serving as a executive producer of “MIB3″. “MIB3″ is due in theaters on Memorial Day. Props to AllHipHop.com (01.12.12) |
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A TIMELINE OF DRAKE, COMMON BEEF: 'SWEET' TO 'STAY SCHEMIN' Over the past 72 hours, the tension that’s been building between Drake and Common since December finally peaked, thanks to Common’s retaliatory lines on “Stay Schemin (Remix).” Leaving his target’s verse on Rick Ross’ original song intact, Common delivers his blow, boldly calling Drake out by name, leaving no more room for “subliminal shots.” The gauntlet has officially been thrown and now Drake makes the decision to let it all rest, or dive in headfirst. For Common--who quieted Ice Cube's talk of him being a “soft” rapper in 1996 on “The Bitch In Yoo”--the battle is just a natural part of the game. “It’s just about MCing and once you step in there, you’re in the ring baby," Common says. “Especially if you’re gonna say ‘I’m the champion.’” Check out the timeline of Common and Drake’s beef. “Sweet” was the third single from Common’s ninth album The Dreamer/The Believer and a few lines on the track immediately jumped out ("Singing all around me man, la la la/You ain’t mutha----ing Frank Sinatra"), prompting questions and rumors about whether he was specifically calling Drake "soft" on the track. During a December show in Las Vegas, Drake reportedly responded to Common’s verses and his interviews, saying, "I might sing, but I ain't no bitch. If Common got something to say, say it to my face." Props to MTV.com (01.11.12) |
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50 CENT SPEAKS ON HEADPHONE MARKET, FRUSTRATION WITH INTERSCOPE During a recent stop at the Consumer Electronics Show, 50 Cent spoke about his line of headphones, as well as his frustration with Interscope Records. G-Unit's General spoke with SpikeTV about why he decided to get into the business of headphones and why he had to vent about his frustrations with his label. When asked about why he got into the business world of headphones, 50 explained that it has been a natural progression for him. He added that his involvement with music, his "passion" for it, has made him more aware of what it takes to create great quality of sound. "It's an extension to my passion for music," he explained. "I spend more time in the studio actually mixing material, making sure that the sound quality is right than the actual creating the idea. The song writing process for me is faster than actually finishing the song, mixing it." 50 was also asked if he felt his headset was superior to Dr. Dre's very popular Beats by Dre headphone line. He acknowledged that 50's line is "huge" but added that his line contains the best "wireless" headset. "I think it's the best sounding wireless headset," he noted. His interview also included a portion about his frustration with his label. As we reported, 50 Cent has complained about his label and his upcoming projects a few times in the past. While he apologized to the label most recently, he still noted that "it's been discouraging" for him. Props to HipHopDX.com (01.11.12) |
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TECH N9NE THANKS TROOPS, PERFORMS WITH BROKEN RIBS Tech N9ne revealed in an interview with TheBoombox, the Kansas City, Mo., MC recently embarked on a U.S.O. tour to perform for American soldiers overseas, performing six shows in eight days in Bahrain and Kuwait. In a new statement, Tech discussed the trip, relating his overwhelming gratitude for the warm welcome he received from the troops, and his appreciation for the men and women of the armed forces. "What affected me the most about my visit to the Middle East was how amazingly pleasant and humble those who are serving our country were, even while under some of the [roughest] and most secluded living conditions imaginable," he explained. "They showed my crew and I the most love imaginable for coming and giving them a piece of the USA, and that's exactly what we did. I told them every night that I would go into the middle of a war zone to show my appreciation for their bravery." While the trip was an overwhelmingly positive experience, Tech suffered a slight mishap when he fell while boarding an Apache helicopter in Kuwait, suffering two broken ribs. In typical fashion, despite doctor's orders, the Strange Music MC continued to perform. "While at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, I accidentally suffered two broken ribs trying to climb into an Apache helicopter," Tech revealed. "Afterward, even against the suggestions of the military doctors, I performed the entire hour-and-a-half of my last three shows under a lot of pain. I guess that was my way of saying that nothing could've stopped me from rocking the mic for those same troops that are so far away from their loved ones, suffering a pain all of their own. Nothing!" Tech N9ne's 13th studio album, 'Welcome to Strangeland,' is in stores now. Props to TheBoomBox.com (01.11.12) |
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COACHELLE 2012: RADIOHEAD, DR.DRE, BLACK KEYS AND PUNK REUNIONS TOP LINEUP The 2012 Coachella lineup has arrived. The SoCal festival's eagerly awaited lineup was posted to its Facebook page on Monday, where it met with a flurry of comments from fans and haters alike. There's plenty to discuss: the festival, which expands to a second weekend this year, will featuring headlining performances from ascendent rockers the Black Keys, headlining alumni Radiohead and a collaborative performance by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (assuming he's available after today's marijuana possession arrest). The hip-hop headliners marks the festival's third year in a row with MCs at the top of the bill, following performances by Jay-Z and Kanye West in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Coachella is known for its reunions, and this year's festival will coax a number of acts out of hiding: it will feature an appearance by Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum, marking the first Southland appearance of the previously hermetic indie musician's current tour, as well as punk icons Refused and At the Drive-In, which announced its reformation on Twitter earlier on Monday. '90s alt-rockers Mazzy Star, who surprised fans with new recordings late last year, will perform on the festival's first day -- as will the resurgent Jarvis Cocker-led British act Pulp. Props to Billboard.com (01.10.12) |
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JAY-Z ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH DURACELL POWERMAT As if fatherhood wasn’t exhilarating enough, Jay-Z welcomed more good news today. The hip-hop mogul is joining forces with Duracell Powermat as an investor and spokesman. Powermat, a joint venture between Procter & Gamble’s Duracell brand and Powermat Technologies, announced today that the iconic rapper has signed a multi-year global agreement with the company as an investment partner. He will also be the face and voice of the Duracell Powermat JV. “I believe in the future of wireless energy and I believe that Duracell Powermat is to bring on the revolution,” said Mr. Carter. “I’m partnering with Duracell Powermat because they’re providing the solutions for the future.” The company is betting that Jay-Z’s influence on the technology-savvy generation will help energize its wireless charging products. Stassi Anastassov, President Duracell, P&G, added, “The Duracell Powermat joint venture merges Procter & Gamble’s core expertise in consumer understanding, brand-building and go-to-market capability with Powermat’s technological innovation and ability to create a best-in-class wireless charging experience. When we thought about bringing together representatives from best-in-class categories, Jay-Z was the natural choice to be the new face and voice of Duracell Powermat.” Props to Rap-Up.com (01.10.12) |
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SNOOP DOGG ARRESTED FOR WEED POSSESSION IN TEXAS Rap albums, game show appearances, and marijuana charges—just another day in the life of Snoop Dogg. The Los Angeles MC has been an unabashed marijuana enthusiast for as long as most hip-hop fans can remember, so it doesn’t come as a huge surprise that he was arrested this weekend on possession charges TMZ reports that a drug-sniffing dog uncovered a stash of greenery in a waste basket on Snoop’s tour bus at a border patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas. The standard inspection only turned up less than a half-ounce of weed, but they report that the state has a zero tolerance policy for the substance, despite different rules in other parts of the country. Snoop’s arrest comes less than a year after he rallied against police officers for arresting country music legend Willie Nelson on marijuana charges in the same city. “They better leave Willie the f--- alone. Realistically, sometimes you need to back up off us. Certain people have a certain type of respect for your elders. Willie Nelson is our elder,” Snoop snapped. “He’s somebody who’s been through many decades of music, hard times and living good, and life going up and down. I want to know who was the officer that said, “Willie Nelson, you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.” You dumb mother-----!” To kick off the year, Snoop appeared on " The Price Is Right," where he raised over $72,000 for his Snoop Football League for inner-city kids. Last month, he and Wiz Khalifa released the collaborative album Mac And Devin Go To High School, which is a soundtrack for their upcoming film of the same title. Props to MTV.com (01.10.12) |
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BLUE IVY CARTER: JAY-Z'S BABY NAME IS ALSO HIS FAVORITE COLOUR Welcome to the world little Ms. Blue Ivy Carter. Only a day old and there is already so much fuss over you and your most beautiful name. If you ask us at MTV’s RapFix, we think your parents Beyoncé and Jay-Z couldn’t have picked a better name for you, their first born. Fans were sure your dad would christen you Brooklyn Carter, after he said he would on his 2007 American Gangster, but he was just using poetic license, paying homage to his hometown. We like Blue Ivy much better. Actually, we think that your name has more than just a nice ring to it. If you take a look back at Papa Hov’s history, he has had quite the fascination with the color blue and it doesn't seem too far fetched to mention that "Ivy" could represent IV (your parent's lucky number 4). We know you may be too young to understand, but don’t fret Baby Carter, RapFix will break it all down. Many call it Jay-Z’s greatest album, but no matter where you stand in the Reasonable Doubt vs. The Blueprint debate, most hip-hop fans can agree that Hov’s 2001 album is a classic. More than just a simple boast of his rap prowess, Jay carried the theme to task. From the blue-tinted album art to the two volumes that followed (The Blueprint 2 in 2002 and The Blueprint 3 in 2009), Jigga’s career has become synonymous with the color. ”My favorite hue is Jay-Z Blue” Props to MTV.com (01.09.12) |
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KELLY ROWLAND TO BE HONORED AT 2012 BLACK WOMEN IN MUSIC EVENT Grammy Award nominee Kelly Rowland and music industry veteran Sylvia Rhone will be feted during Grammy week at the third annual Essence Black Women in Music event. Featuring an exclusive performance by Rowland and special guest Eve, the Feb. 8 invitation-only event in Los Angeles will also include guest DJ MC Lyte - the first female solo rapper nominated for a Grammy. Rowland, who first rose to fame as a founding member of history-making girl group Destiny's Child, |