Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Jay-Z 'Big Pimpin' Lawsuit: Rapper Loses First Legal Round
Looks like Jay-Z may have taken 'Big Pimpin' a bit too far.Back in May, a California federal judge ruled that the plaintiff in a copyright lawsuit over Jay's 2000 club hit 'Big Pimpin' had legal standing to pursue a lawsuit, and now it appears that the case will be going to trial.
According to Yo Raps, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder has ruled that a jury must decide whether Jay profited from his live performance of the Timbaland-produced single, which samples 'Khosara, Khosara,' a song recorded for 1957 Egyptian film 'Fata Ahlami.'
"There is no record evidence that Jay-Z used 'Big Pimpin'' in his advertisements for a particular concert or concert series, or that 'Big Pimpin'' was performed at every concert," Judge Snyder stated in her December 9th ruling.
"It is a question of fact whether Jay-Z's concert revenues should be considered direct or indirect ... it is up to a jury to decide. Accordingly, the court finds that there is a triable issue whether Jay-Z's concert revenues constitute direct profits from his infringing live performances 'Big Pimpin'' for purposes of the Copyright Act."
Plies Found Civilly Liable in 2006 Shooting, Owes $200,000
Five years after a shooting at a Gainesville, Fla. Plies performance left five concertgoers injured, a verdict has finally been reached in the $10 million civil suit against the 'Shawty' rapper.Following seven days of testimony, the jury deliberated for eight hours and found Plies, born Algernod Lanier Washington, and his brother, Ronell Levatte, civilly liable for the 2006 club shooting, awarding the victims just under $200,000, according to GTN News.
While Plies was "stuck on the other side of town," and did not show up to hear the verdict, his lawyers revealed that they had attempted to settle the case out of court for four times the amount the plaintiffs were ultimately awarded, and plan to file motions in hopes of an appeal.
"It was a long trial, and as I said, we'll take up our post-trial motions, and we'll deal with it," Plies' lawyer said after the verdict was announced. "It's a shame that it had to go through this length, because Plies attempted every which way to resolve this case without going to trial. It would have been much more favorable for these plaintiffs."
On the night of the shooting, Levatte, also known as Big Gates, reportedly fired shots into the air at Gainesville's 283 West nightclub, after his brother's mic was cut off.
Though the case was initially dismissed in July, 2010, because Plies did not fire the gun, the plaintiffs redirected their suit, charging that Plies profited from their injuries, using the shooting to bolster his credibility. Plies was charged with misdemeanor possession of a concealed weapon, and received probation, after testifying that he had no hand in the shooting, while Levatte served three years in prison.
Jay-Z, Beyonce Pregnancy Diet: Rapper Adopts Wife's Habits
Sources say Jay-Z is eating like a pregnant woman these days! The hip-hop mogul has adopted the same diet as his pregnant wife Beyonce in an attempt to be the healthiest "hands-on" dad possible for future little Jayonce.Jay, who recently turned 42, is allegedly supporting his Queen B, 30, by suffering through a strict diet with her. So what does the diet regime entail? Hopefully not the ketchup smothered bananas, Oreo biscuits and gherkins we've been hearing so much about!
A source told Us Weekly that the expectant parents are maintaining a "partially vegan diet," adding, "Jay's trying to be disciplined, and he needs the energy to support her." Support her in her effort to not pack on too many pregnancy pounds, that is. "I've been really conscious [about food]," Bey told '20/20.' "I've been trying my best not to lose control!"
In addition to their streamlined diet, Hov and the former Destiny's Child frontwoman are making sure to get in their exercise too. They were reportedly "dancing up a storm" at Hollywood's Spare Room club earlier this week. "They were loved up and sweet together [and] partied until 4AM!" an eye-witness reported.
The next night, Hov and B partied once again at a 'Watch the Throne' concert after party.
Young Jeezy: Beyonce Put Him On to Jill Scott for 'TM103'
Seven years ago, seemingly out of nowhere, rapper Young Jeezy appeared with a fresh perspective on "trap rap," adding depth and definition to the sub-genre, which had already been publicized by fellow Atlanta native T.I. His presence in the hip hop industry was instantlyembraced as car trunks below the Mason-Dixon line boomed his very first DJ Drama-assisted tape 'Tha Streets Iz Watchin.' It wasn't long before the rest of the nation caught on to the new heat banging out of the South, ironically coming from someone who called himself the Snowman. The rap star has always been relentless with his street-authentic storytelling, and seven years since he first appeared on the scene, his lyrics still remain raw.
Currently, his third installment of the 'Thug Motivation' series, 'TM103,' has been met with a number of setbacks within the past two years. People had begun to doubt that Jeezy could still deliver thumping tracks that spoke to the despair of those without hope. Others doubted that his label home, Def Jam, even believed that he was still capable of earning accolades with his newest offering. With the release of this fourth LP, slated for a Dec. 20 release, he's prepared to prove how, simultaneously, things have changed yet remained the same. The BoomBox spoke with Jeezy about his goal to be the black Ralph Lauren, maturing in his career and how Beyonce helped him rediscover Jill Scott.
At the Atlanta listening session for the album, you started the playback with this quote: "I don't believe in excuses. I don't believe in making excuses." Just in saying that, a certain level of confidence is necessary. How did you get to that point amid the pressure to drop 'TM103'?
I've always had that in me, since I jumped off the porch, and one thing I was taught was that you will do what you say you're gonna do. What's understood ain't gotta be said. I can't ask anyone to understand the thing that was going on in regards to the album, whether it was political or whatever, but my job and my whole goal was to get it done and give the people an amazing album and that was it. Anything between was on me, and I just felt like, "Whatever." If muhf---ers was mad and felt a way, I'll take that and endure that because I said I would do the album and get it done. So I felt whatever excuses I could've made wouldn't even have made sense. I felt like if you set out to do something and you do it and get it right, then it's done. Everything else, I just gotta take.
Your beginnings with 'Trap or Die,' then the whole Snowman campaign, 'TM101' and even your membership in Boyz in the Hood, all of that was years ago. How would you say you've matured on 'TM103'?
I just think that I'm a lot more comfortable making records than I was in the beginning. In the beginning I just had tunnel vision because that's all I knew and all I saw everyday, all day, so with that being said, throughout the years, I'd been around the world a few times and met different people. I'd been in different settings and it was like, "You know what? I want everybody to feel me." I definitely want the streets and the hood to feel me but I feel like I owe the world more than that. I feel like I'm a special person when it comes to communicating the struggle and the pain and the stress of my people. I can explain that to my people all day but it would be better if I could explain it to the world, 'cause now the world is my trap. It ain't about just East Point or Decatur or the SWATS or Bankhead or Georgia. It's the whole world and I feel like, I can't short us or myself but just being one-track [minded], I gotta give everybody our struggle.
Who would you say you've taken cues from during your growth process?
Of course you know I listen to a lot of Tupac. A lot of the things he was saying while he was going through his struggle and when I listened to it when I was younger. I never got that a lot of the things he was saying was true, until I started going through them myself. So I could relate to a lot of that. Old UGK, 8 Ball & MJG music because that's what they were going through at the time. And with my music, there are a lot of younger cats growing up on me, that will grow up and be in their situations and say, "Damn, Jeezy wasn't lying. This s--- is really real. N----s really think and feel certain ways. I'm glad I got something to listen to to get me through that." Sometimes you don't have the people around you to give you that advice because nobody really knows. Once you get to a certain point in life, you leave a lot of muhf---ers behind that can't give you advice 'cause they ain't even there yet mentally.
You mentioned younger cats growing up on your music. At some point, they may want to start rapping, what's the biggest mistake you see young, up and coming artists make?
I think the biggest mistake is trying to be something you're not because everything's always gonna surface. A lot of these cats screw up. They listen to gangsta music and think that they can go out and do all this crazy s---. Even if you look at my little brother, Boosie, he's in a situation and it's real... And Boosie's a real guy so you gotta look at Boosie and say, "Are you really willing to do that? Are you really willing to be a T.I. and go 'sit down' and miss out on your family for two, three years at a time? Are you really ready to be in a box like Boosie?" 'Cause that s--- is real. And I commend cats like Boosie for being stand-up guys and going in there, but you coming out and talking all this gangsta s---, are you really ready to go through that?
You honestly seem like you've grown a lot even outside of your rap career, which as you stated, clearly comes from being exposed to different people and different situations. At the listening session, you prefaced the Ne-Yo-assisted 'Leave You Alone' with a story about you and this businesswoman. You said she liked you but was afraid of your street-certified past, like, "This dude is crazy!"
You know what? In a sense I really am, but I've been dealing with so much through the years. You can't be the same way forever and if you're a true leader, you can't lead your people by being ignorant. You have to learn how to grow and become better to help anyone else become better themselves because you know, are you gonna keep telling a muhf---er to stand over a stove? [chuckles] Or you gonna tell 'em that they can be better individuals? At this point, the game is so different I don't want to use the power of my voice to stress bulls--- all the time.
What are some new business ventures you're pursuing?
I'm really into my clothing line right now. We're the number one urban brand in America. I'm trying to be the black Ralph Lauren. Trust me on that [laughs]. So it's like I've really been in that CTE world definitely. Shouts out to Gangsta Gibbs -- Freddie Gibbs -- out of Gary, Ind. He's a big deal but that's pretty much it at this point. I've been focused on the album getting everything done and I also have some acting coming up so I'm just getting ready for that.
Andre 3000's verse for 'I Do' leaked a while back. Why did you decide to hold onto it as opposed to scrapping it for another verse with a different artist?
I always wanted to do a record with Dre, and I felt like Dre's verse was crazy on the
record. It did have me a little upset because I wanted it to be an event for everybody. At the same time, it was out of my control and I just felt like, I knew I had the Jay-Z verse and I knew it was a good song, but I knew it needed to be the right timing. So I just held it, hoping that the hackers wouldn't get it and I was glad they didn't get the hook. You know, I was kind of glad people weren't like, "Aaah. The Dre verse is old." By the way, a Dre verse can never get old [laughs]. I don't give a fuck if he spit that shit in '91. I felt like aligning myself with legends like that would only make me legendary. I'm the first person in the world to have a record with Jay-Z and Andre 3000. How 'bout that [laughs]?
I could easily see that track being someone's wedding song.
I could see a lot of people making it their wedding song. I felt like it's my wedding song because I actually absolutely, positively feel like I'm married to the game. I'm married to the streets, but even when I hear it on the radio, I'm like, "Damn, OK. The ladies like it. But do they really know what I'm talking about?" [laughs] I'm talking 'bout the streets and how much I love the streets and how much I ain't never gonna leave them.
Lody has done quite a bit of in-house production since you've met earlier this year. We hear he's all over TM103 as well. He truly seems like one of those talents that just needed the right machine behind him.
My man Carbon 15 had Lil' Lody come through to the studio to play me two beats that he had made for me but I saw more than the beats in Lody. I saw someone who just really needed some guidance 'cause he was young and he was wild and he just really wanted to win. One thing about Lody, he just brings that energy because he's a kid that just watched everybody grow up in the game and he just want his shot. He drove up from Memphis and he came for one night and I never let him go back home after that.
Me and him, we just went in and started making records. We knocked out most of the album and the mixtape in maybe a month and a couple days. Then we went on the road and knocked out 'The Real Is Back 2'. Lody's just a good kid man and he's very talented. He's quick, and people don't understand he's making that s--- on a laptop in three minutes. You can tell Lody, "I want a beat like this," and he'll go in there with his headphones on and come back with a beat in three minutes. I almost have to tell him sometimes to go back in there and think about it again, but then when he plays it for me, I'm like, "Aight, f--- it. Cool. Let's do it [laughs]."
Whose idea was it to include Jill Scott on the album?
I reached out to Jill and sent her the record. She said it was cool. Then I kinda told her where I wanted to go and she said, "You know what, Jeezy? Give me a week or two and I'ma send you something back." She sent me 'Trap Back,' and I listened to it. I loved it. I hit her back and said, "This is it." But we had some problems with the dude who did the track so I went and took the vocals to J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and had them re-do the tracks and revamp the whole song. I put my verses on it, and sent it back to her. She loved it.
I haven't let my mother hear the song yet, but I'm quite sure when she hears it, she'll come to tears because a lot of that s--- she remembers but she probably don't think I remember 'cause I was so young. But my mother is my strength at times, 'cause things were so hard on her and it made me go harder. I felt like I was trapped and had no way out and I just had to find my way through the maze and I felt like, I did it for us. I couldn't see my mother struggle anymore so I had to do everything in my power to take it there. That record means a lot to me.
I told Jill I was a big fan. I knew about Jill Scott, but... one day I was chilling in Vegas with Beyonce and all them, and we were just chilling by the pool. She was playing all these songs and I was like, "Who the fuck is that?" and she was like, "You don't know 'bout Jill Scott?" I'm like, "Yeah..." But [Beyonce] was playing all these records I'd never heard. I just became a bigger fan and I felt I just had to do something with her. I actually did a record with Maxwell too. Didn't make the album but it's a dope record so I'ma definitely use it later. But the record with Jill Scott was so crazy because it felt like I was back in my teenage years and I was looking at myself like, "Damn. Look how far you came and you was trappin...'' I'm hoping that can be anyone else's inspiration because a lot of times muhf---ers think they stuck and can't get out.
Best Videos of 2011 -- Hip-Hop and R&B
The best videos of 2011 all have one thing in common: they're visual eye candy. With Beyonce snagging African dancers for 'Run the World (Girls),' Lil Wayne taking a cue from a blockbuster hit for '6 Foot 7 Foot' and Frank Ocean's hallucinogenic clip for 'Novacane,' there was no time to be bored while watching. As The BoomBox gets ready to ring in the new year, we revisit our favorite music videos from the past 12 months. Find out which singers made the cut, what rhymers landed on the countdown more than once and who slid into the No. 1 spot.
20. 'Gucci, Gucci,' Kreayshawn
Oakland rapper Kreayshawn was flying under the radar until the release of the music video for 'Gucci, Gucci' became a viral hit and landed her a record deal. With her hipster-chic fashion choices and a chorus of "Gucci Gucci, Louis Louis, Fendi Fendi, Prada. Basic b----es wear that s--- so I don't even bother," the petite MC showed us she's more interested in stepping out from the pack than being a follower.
19. 'Red Nation,' Game Feat. Lil Wayne
Game has never been shy about showing his loyalty for his blood gang, but the release of the single 'Red Nation' was a little too much to handle for the folks over at BET. The "post-apocalyptic" video for the lead single off his 'The R.E.D. Album' was banned from that network due to its heavy glorification of gang affiliation, but still managed to garner over 11 million views on YouTube. As a result of the hoopla, Game scored a Billboard chart-topping LP.
18. 'Headlines,' Drake
As fans continued to wait patiently for his 'Take Care' release, Drake chose the lead single 'Headlines' to answer the skeptics, quiet the haters and address his supporters. Although not a typical single choice, Drizzy put his emotions on full display on the track, produced by longtime collaborators Boi-1da and Noah "40" Shebib. Null of any members of his Young Money family, the music video is a toast to his accomplishments, features a fancy dinner spread and showcases his fondness for sweaters.
17. 'Cry Baby,' Cee-Lo
Cee-Lo Green struck a chord with TV fans by casting Jaleel White -- who played the lovable nerd Steve Urkel on the '90s show 'Family Matters' -- in the lead role for his 'Cry Baby' video. White imitates Green's vocals about a man feeling guilty for leaving his girlfriend. As the fifth release off his album 'The Lady Killer,' the song wasn't a commercial hit but the jovial visuals full of dance sequences are sure to put you in a good mood.
16. 'Nasty,' Nas
Over the years, this Queens MC has had several aliases but his "Nasty Nas" mantra will always hold a special place in his legacy. 'Nasty,' the first single off his forthcoming 10th solo album, is a throwback to the Nas of yesteryear, as he flows with the same candor and exuberance that put him on the map more than 20 years ago. The music video is an ode to his Queensbridge roots, featuring the rapper returning to his old neighborhood.
15. 'Yonkers,' Tyler, the Creator
When you watch Tyler, the Creator, you can pretty much expect him to do something outside of the box. The Odd Future frontman gets extra gory in the visuals for the first single from his 'Goblin' debut. The black-and-white video might make you a little queasy since it has everything from Tyler eating a cockroach to throwing up blood. You never know what the L.A. native has up his sleeve, and for that, we salute him.
14. 'Motivation,' Kelly Rowland Feat. Lil Wayne
Kelly Rowland turned the sex factor all the way up for her 'Motivation' video, moving so far away from her more wholesome Destiny's Child days. The singer dropped the seductive single -- the first off her 'Here I Am' LP -- in April, and the barely-there wardrobe she rocked surely motivated fans to push the Jim Jonson and Rico Love-produced track right to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hip-Hop/R&B charts.
13. 'Novacane,' Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean's career is moving fast, and he may just be getting numb to all the recognition, as proved in his first official visual. Odd Future's resident crooner has proven to be prolific both behind the scenes and in front of the mic, with the release of the lauded track 'Novacane.' With over 2 million views on YouTube, the music video's intrigue lies within its simplicity, featuring Ocean sitting in a hotel room, reminiscing over past sexual conquests while rubbing his face with a gooey substance.
12. 'Lost Ones,' J. Cole
Even before he had a record deal, J. Cole's artistry was on point. The North Carolina rapper shot the video for 'Lost Ones' three years ago, but the track landed on his debut LP, 'Cole World: The Sideline Story,' released in September. The emotional concept finds the Roc Nation rapper contemplating marrying his girlfriend after getting her pregnant. According to Cole, who self-produced the track, the music was influenced by musician Alex Gordon.
11. 'Run the World (Girls),' Beyonce
Girls "run the world," but Beyonce runs the music game. For as long she's been in the industry, she's always made sure to salute independent women. 'Run the World (Girls),' the lead single from her '4' album, samples Major Lazer's 'Pon de Floor,' birthing a trippy, almost futuristic sound, complimented by the dance heavy video in which Bey acts as the "ruler." The video's shining moment comes in the intricate footwork inspired by African dancers she found.
10. 'Sure Thing,' Miguel
For any artist, their first No. 1 single is a milestone, and it's safe to say that Miguel is as proud of 'Sure Thing' as we are. Off his 'All I Want Is You' debut, the song is a neo-soul-esque love letter full of tantalizing analogies. The crooner tapped Hype Williams to direct the music video, only heightening its appeal. Aside from topping Billboard's Hop-Hop/R&B charts, 'Sure Thing' has garnered over 14 million views on YouTube.
9. 'Far Away,' Marsha Ambrosious
Marsha Ambrosius courageously tackled bullying, suicide and prejudice in the video for her single 'Far Away,' the second release off her 'Late Nights and Early Mornings' debut. In the clip, an African American homosexual couple celebrates their love but things turn tragic when one lover commits suicide. The concept was personal for Ambrosius, whose close friend tried taking his life after facing opposition to his sexuality. The visual earned the singer a 2011 BET Awards nomination in the Video of the Year category.
8. 'Dance (A$$)' Remix, Big Sean Feat. Nicki
Nicki Minaj built a career off of making funny faces, but it's her backside that grabbed all of the attention in the remix video to Big Sean's 'Dance (A$$)' video. In the video for the song, off Sean's 'Finally Famous' debut, the Detroit native's performance is noteworthy, but Minaj's extra tight pants and incessant butt shots brought the "ass" concept to life. With over 8 million views on YouTube since it's release in early November, its safe to say that Young Money rhymer's assets are the reason for its success.
7. 'Look at Me Now,' Chris Brown Feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne
Chris Brown had something to prove with the second single off his 'F.A.M.E.' album. Instead of harping on the bad press that was feared to ruin his career, he made a statement with 'Look At Me Now.' Featuring Busta Rhymes and Lil Waynel, Breezy called on producers Diplo and Afrojack to construct the Dirty South-inspired sound. The music video was an ode to old school rap, with Chris tapping into his inner-Fresh Prince by way of his colorful wardrobe.
6. 'The Show Goes On,' Lupe Fiasco
As the lead single off his 'Lasers' album, 'The Show Goes On' was a fitting description of the state of Lupe Fiasco's career. The music video shows the Chicago MC's touring life, while the lyrics, "I don't switch up I just laugh, put my kicks on they desk/ Unaffected by their threats," revealed the strained relationship with his record label. Hopefully the No. 1 debut of 'Lasers' helped to smooth things over.
5. 'S&M,' Rihanna
You can't record a song called 'S&M' and not expect the music video to push the sexual envelope. For the fifth single off her 'Loud' album, the Bajan beauty walked celeb-blogger Perez Hilton on a leash, threw on a pink latex bondage outfit and put together a visual commentary on the prying media. The tattooed singer was later sued by director David LaChapelle for allegedly stealing some of his shots, but settled the suit for an undisclosed amount.
4. 'Super Bass,' Nicki Minaj
In the world of Nicki Minaj, glow-in-the-dark neon lipstick, pink wigs and a throbbing bassline happen to all be the ingredients for a good music video. For 'Super Bass,' the pop-friendly seventh single off her 'Pink Friday' debut, Sanaa Hamri directs Minaj as she serves up eye candy for the camera. She not only achieved her goal in thrusting around and showing off her goods while rapping of a crush on her mind but threw in a lap dance for good measure.
3. 'All of the Lights,' Kanye West Feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi
Kanye West took the concept of his 'All of the Lights' single seriously when he put together the video for the fourth single off his 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' release. Using just about any and every neon light source imaginable, the Hype Williams-helmed clip was so luminescent that it was targeted for causing epileptic seizures. West later added a warning to the video, which has received over 25 million views on YouTube.
2. 'Otis,' Jay-Z & Kanye West
Only Jay-Z and Kanye could destroy a $400,000 car in a music video and make it look cool. When the rap duo released 'Otis,' the second single off their 'Watch the Throne' collaboration, they blended the perfect cocktail of old and new. The single, produced by Yeezy, samples Otis Redding's 'Try A Little Tenderness,' and everything about it was unconventional from the Riccardo Tisci-designed album cover to the Spike Jonze-directed video.
1. '6 Foot 7 Foot,' Lil Wayne Feat. Cory Gunz
Weezy re-entered the game after exiting prison ready to annihilate the competition with the first single off 'Tha Carter IV' LP. He teamed with 'A Milli' producer Bangladesh and added a ferocious flow by Cory Gunz to the bill. The only thing better than the '6 Foot 7 Foot' track is its music video. Directed by Hype Williams, the visual feast was inspired by the film 'Inception,' and brings to life many of the lyrics mentioned in the track.
Oakland rapper Kreayshawn was flying under the radar until the release of the music video for 'Gucci, Gucci' became a viral hit and landed her a record deal. With her hipster-chic fashion choices and a chorus of "Gucci Gucci, Louis Louis, Fendi Fendi, Prada. Basic b----es wear that s--- so I don't even bother," the petite MC showed us she's more interested in stepping out from the pack than being a follower.
Game has never been shy about showing his loyalty for his blood gang, but the release of the single 'Red Nation' was a little too much to handle for the folks over at BET. The "post-apocalyptic" video for the lead single off his 'The R.E.D. Album' was banned from that network due to its heavy glorification of gang affiliation, but still managed to garner over 11 million views on YouTube. As a result of the hoopla, Game scored a Billboard chart-topping LP.
As fans continued to wait patiently for his 'Take Care' release, Drake chose the lead single 'Headlines' to answer the skeptics, quiet the haters and address his supporters. Although not a typical single choice, Drizzy put his emotions on full display on the track, produced by longtime collaborators Boi-1da and Noah "40" Shebib. Null of any members of his Young Money family, the music video is a toast to his accomplishments, features a fancy dinner spread and showcases his fondness for sweaters.
Cee-Lo Green struck a chord with TV fans by casting Jaleel White -- who played the lovable nerd Steve Urkel on the '90s show 'Family Matters' -- in the lead role for his 'Cry Baby' video. White imitates Green's vocals about a man feeling guilty for leaving his girlfriend. As the fifth release off his album 'The Lady Killer,' the song wasn't a commercial hit but the jovial visuals full of dance sequences are sure to put you in a good mood.
Over the years, this Queens MC has had several aliases but his "Nasty Nas" mantra will always hold a special place in his legacy. 'Nasty,' the first single off his forthcoming 10th solo album, is a throwback to the Nas of yesteryear, as he flows with the same candor and exuberance that put him on the map more than 20 years ago. The music video is an ode to his Queensbridge roots, featuring the rapper returning to his old neighborhood.
When you watch Tyler, the Creator, you can pretty much expect him to do something outside of the box. The Odd Future frontman gets extra gory in the visuals for the first single from his 'Goblin' debut. The black-and-white video might make you a little queasy since it has everything from Tyler eating a cockroach to throwing up blood. You never know what the L.A. native has up his sleeve, and for that, we salute him.
Kelly Rowland turned the sex factor all the way up for her 'Motivation' video, moving so far away from her more wholesome Destiny's Child days. The singer dropped the seductive single -- the first off her 'Here I Am' LP -- in April, and the barely-there wardrobe she rocked surely motivated fans to push the Jim Jonson and Rico Love-produced track right to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hip-Hop/R&B charts.
Frank Ocean's career is moving fast, and he may just be getting numb to all the recognition, as proved in his first official visual. Odd Future's resident crooner has proven to be prolific both behind the scenes and in front of the mic, with the release of the lauded track 'Novacane.' With over 2 million views on YouTube, the music video's intrigue lies within its simplicity, featuring Ocean sitting in a hotel room, reminiscing over past sexual conquests while rubbing his face with a gooey substance.
Even before he had a record deal, J. Cole's artistry was on point. The North Carolina rapper shot the video for 'Lost Ones' three years ago, but the track landed on his debut LP, 'Cole World: The Sideline Story,' released in September. The emotional concept finds the Roc Nation rapper contemplating marrying his girlfriend after getting her pregnant. According to Cole, who self-produced the track, the music was influenced by musician Alex Gordon.
Girls "run the world," but Beyonce runs the music game. For as long she's been in the industry, she's always made sure to salute independent women. 'Run the World (Girls),' the lead single from her '4' album, samples Major Lazer's 'Pon de Floor,' birthing a trippy, almost futuristic sound, complimented by the dance heavy video in which Bey acts as the "ruler." The video's shining moment comes in the intricate footwork inspired by African dancers she found.
For any artist, their first No. 1 single is a milestone, and it's safe to say that Miguel is as proud of 'Sure Thing' as we are. Off his 'All I Want Is You' debut, the song is a neo-soul-esque love letter full of tantalizing analogies. The crooner tapped Hype Williams to direct the music video, only heightening its appeal. Aside from topping Billboard's Hop-Hop/R&B charts, 'Sure Thing' has garnered over 14 million views on YouTube.
Marsha Ambrosius courageously tackled bullying, suicide and prejudice in the video for her single 'Far Away,' the second release off her 'Late Nights and Early Mornings' debut. In the clip, an African American homosexual couple celebrates their love but things turn tragic when one lover commits suicide. The concept was personal for Ambrosius, whose close friend tried taking his life after facing opposition to his sexuality. The visual earned the singer a 2011 BET Awards nomination in the Video of the Year category.
Nicki Minaj built a career off of making funny faces, but it's her backside that grabbed all of the attention in the remix video to Big Sean's 'Dance (A$$)' video. In the video for the song, off Sean's 'Finally Famous' debut, the Detroit native's performance is noteworthy, but Minaj's extra tight pants and incessant butt shots brought the "ass" concept to life. With over 8 million views on YouTube since it's release in early November, its safe to say that Young Money rhymer's assets are the reason for its success.
Chris Brown had something to prove with the second single off his 'F.A.M.E.' album. Instead of harping on the bad press that was feared to ruin his career, he made a statement with 'Look At Me Now.' Featuring Busta Rhymes and Lil Waynel, Breezy called on producers Diplo and Afrojack to construct the Dirty South-inspired sound. The music video was an ode to old school rap, with Chris tapping into his inner-Fresh Prince by way of his colorful wardrobe.
As the lead single off his 'Lasers' album, 'The Show Goes On' was a fitting description of the state of Lupe Fiasco's career. The music video shows the Chicago MC's touring life, while the lyrics, "I don't switch up I just laugh, put my kicks on they desk/ Unaffected by their threats," revealed the strained relationship with his record label. Hopefully the No. 1 debut of 'Lasers' helped to smooth things over.
You can't record a song called 'S&M' and not expect the music video to push the sexual envelope. For the fifth single off her 'Loud' album, the Bajan beauty walked celeb-blogger Perez Hilton on a leash, threw on a pink latex bondage outfit and put together a visual commentary on the prying media. The tattooed singer was later sued by director David LaChapelle for allegedly stealing some of his shots, but settled the suit for an undisclosed amount.
In the world of Nicki Minaj, glow-in-the-dark neon lipstick, pink wigs and a throbbing bassline happen to all be the ingredients for a good music video. For 'Super Bass,' the pop-friendly seventh single off her 'Pink Friday' debut, Sanaa Hamri directs Minaj as she serves up eye candy for the camera. She not only achieved her goal in thrusting around and showing off her goods while rapping of a crush on her mind but threw in a lap dance for good measure.
Kanye West took the concept of his 'All of the Lights' single seriously when he put together the video for the fourth single off his 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' release. Using just about any and every neon light source imaginable, the Hype Williams-helmed clip was so luminescent that it was targeted for causing epileptic seizures. West later added a warning to the video, which has received over 25 million views on YouTube.
Only Jay-Z and Kanye could destroy a $400,000 car in a music video and make it look cool. When the rap duo released 'Otis,' the second single off their 'Watch the Throne' collaboration, they blended the perfect cocktail of old and new. The single, produced by Yeezy, samples Otis Redding's 'Try A Little Tenderness,' and everything about it was unconventional from the Riccardo Tisci-designed album cover to the Spike Jonze-directed video.
Weezy re-entered the game after exiting prison ready to annihilate the competition with the first single off 'Tha Carter IV' LP. He teamed with 'A Milli' producer Bangladesh and added a ferocious flow by Cory Gunz to the bill. The only thing better than the '6 Foot 7 Foot' track is its music video. Directed by Hype Williams, the visual feast was inspired by the film 'Inception,' and brings to life many of the lyrics mentioned in the track.
Madonna, 50 Cent: New Interscope Labelmates Feud
Madonna finally has a new platform from which to stage her highly-anticipated musical comeback. The pop icon has signed a lucrative record deal with Universal Music Group's Interscope, but one of her new labelmates is not exactly rushing to welcome Madge aboard. Rapper 50 Cent has publicly voiced his anger with Madonna over an alleged song title stealing incident.The beef all started after the rapper found out that Madonna is apparently working on a new track entitled 'Girls Gone Wild.' Problem is, 50 is also currently recording a single with that same name. Coincidence? Fiddy thinks not, and he took to his Twitter page to let everyone know about the label snub.
These people are gonna make kill one of them. Now madonna's single is called GIRLS GONE WILD. This is some bull sh*t #SK
Madge is no stranger to drama when it comes to record labels. Her split with label of 25 years, Warner Music Group, in 2007 wasn't exactly on the friendliest of terms. Madonna then signed with Live Nation for a $100 million "360 deal," which covers touring and merchandise. Madonna will release her highly-anticipated new album, her first since 2008's 'Hard Candy,' under her new three-album deal with Interscope.
R. Kelly Cruise: Singer Will Launch Ship Event in 2012
R. Kelly is unpredictable. After years of hiding in closets, proclaiming his eternal innocence and believing that he can actually fly, the ground-breaking R&B singer reveals his most unexpected career move yet. So bust out those bejeweled sunglasses because it's time to slow-jam with the singer on a big ass boat. Concerts Cruise in Association with Bling1 Entertainment have announced a five-night romantic cruise throughout the Caribbean seas featuring the one and only 'Soulacoaster' himself.
Aptly titled the Love Letter Cruise, you can now have the chance to see the R&B crooner live in concert in the middle of the ocean. But ask yourself: What else will I do on the boat ride of my life? Well, you can partake in several wonderful classes designed to get you relaxed and ready for a champagne-popping evening of music.
Work off those vacation pounds with an exclusive step class, sign up for '12 Play' basketball or let the ocean winds take you along as you sip a pina colada on the deck of the venerable Carnival Destiny. Unfortunately -- or very fortunately, depending on who you are -- watersports are not included.
R. Kelly's cruise leaves port in Miami on Oct. 1, 2012, and makes stops in Grand Turk and several locations in the Bahamas so don't miss the event. It may be the world's greatest cruise yet
Flo Rida Avoids Jail Time After Bugatti-Related DUI Arrest
Looks like Flo Rida has skated 'Right Round' his DUI charge, striking a deal with prosecutors that will put him in a classroom rather than the jailhouse, after his Bugatti-related DUI arrest in June.According to TMZ, Flo Rida, born Tramar Dillard, will be allowed to take part in a first-time offenders program instead of serving jail time for his DUI. The rapper was pulled over in Miami, swerving behind the wheel of his $1.7 million red-and-black 2008 Bugatti with a blood alcohol level of .185, more than twice the legal limit.
The Florida native will be taking participating in Back on Track, a program which includes substance abuse classes, counseling, community service, mandatory drug testing and requires that he keep an ignition interlock device on his car.
If Flo fulfills the necessary requirements, his DUI charge will be knocked down to reckless driving, despite the fact that he had also been driving with a suspended license.
Watch Taio Cruz's 'Hangover' Feat. Flo Rida
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Video: Ryan Leslie – ‘Beautiful Lie’
Ryan Leslie lives like a rock star in the cinematic video for “Beautiful Lie,” the second in a series of 10 videos from his Les Is More visual album. The Harvard grad wakes up in a 5-star hotel next to Sports Illustrated model Kenza Fourati and drives through Paris in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing in the black-and-white visuals. The good life awaits.
Rihanna, Mary J. Blige Debut in Top 5 on Albums Chart
Rihanna and Mary J. Blige storm the albums chart this week. The ladies had shoppers rushing to scoop up their latest releases, putting them in the top 5.
The Barbados pop star’s sixth album Talk That Talk enters at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 197,000 copies sold in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It marks her sixth top 10 debut and second biggest week since LOUD opened with 207,000 last November.
Seventeen years after releasing her breakthrough My Life, Mary J. Blige proves she’s still a force to be reckoned with. My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act I), the sequel to the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul’s 1994 album, lands at No. 5 with 156,000.
Michael Buble’s Christmas album slightly edges out Nickelback for the top spot (227,000), while Drake’s sophomore LP Take Care falls 1-4, selling 173,000 copies in its second week (down 73%).
Elsewhere, Yelawolf’s Shady Records debut Radioactive creeps in at No. 27 (41,000) and the soundtrack to Michael Jackson’s Cirque du Soleil show, Immortal, arrives at No. 24 (43,000).
Monica Talks Marriage, Pregnancy Rumors, & ‘New Life’ on ‘Wendy Williams’
Monica was back in the spotlight on “The Wendy Williams Show.” The R&B diva chatted with the talk show host about her personal and professional life including what attracted her to her husband, L.A. Laker Shannon Brown, her friendship with Ciara, Tiny, and Khloe Kardashian, her desire to get pregnant again (“We would love to be and we practice regularly”), her charity work, and her album New Life, due in February.
Video: Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey – ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’
With 25 days left until Christmas, Justin Bieber unwraps the video for “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” his remake of Mariah Carey’s classic Christmas song. The teen idol and pop diva shut down Macy’s for one magical night in the Sanaa Hamri-directed clip. The Biebs goes on a shopping spree with his friends, while a sexy Mariah rides in Santa’s sleigh with her puppy Jill E. Beans. The “SuperFestive!” version of their duet appears on Bieber’s holiday album Under the Mistletoe.
T.I. Talks ‘Trouble Man’ and ‘Booty Tag’ on ‘Late Night’ [Video]
T.I. was all smiles as he took a seat on the couch on Wednesday’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” The King of the South discussed the origins of his name, his novel Power & Beauty, his upcoming album Trouble Man (“I figured I’ma make music about something I know about”), and his VH1 series “T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle.”
He previewed a clip from the show, where he reprimands his kids for playing “booty tag.” “You basically smack somebody on the ass and they it,” he explained to Fallon. “I told them that’s absolutely unacceptable, however, me and my wife love to play. We play all the time.”
Laugh it up with Tip on “Late Night.”
Willow Smith Announces Album Release Date
2012 is Willow Smith’s year. The 11-year-old superstar has set a spring release date for her much-anticipated debut.
During her appearance on “106 & Park,” Willow announced that her album will arrive on April 3, 2012. The oft-delayed project, due on Roc Nation, has spawned the singles “Whip My Hair,” “21st Century Girl,” and “Fireball” featuring Nicki Minaj.
A video for the latter will debut next week on “106 & Park.” Check out some on-set photos from the shoot and watch her announcement below.
Video: Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – ‘What I Be On’
Girls, girls, girls. Trey Songz is swimming in women in the video for “What I Be On,” the Fabolous-assisted single off his Inevitable EP, available now. The R&B playboy serves up plenty of eye candy for the ladies and fellas in the slick visuals, directed by Tremaine Neverson and Clifton Bell. Watch as he packs a party bus full of chicks and wakes up in his Miami crib surrounded by women. Just another day in the life of Trigga.
Rihanna: Blonde Hair Style for 'You Da One' Video -- Photo
FRihanna's no stranger to experimenting with her edgy look -- and that includes trying out extreme styles and colors with her ever-changing hair. RiRi's sported everything from long and sleek strands earlier in her career, to a punky Mohawk, to the more recent red ringlets.But fans should get ready to see Rihanna in a whole new, lighter light, with the release of photos from the 'We Found Love' singer's new video for 'You Da One.' Dressed in an outfit and makeup reminiscent of the '70s cult classic 'A Clockwork Orange,' Ri finishes her theatrical look with a blonde, choppy bob wig.
Of course, this isn't the first time Rihanna's gone for golden locks. Just recently, the Barbadian beauty sported a closely-cropped blonde style for her Armani Jeans' ad campaign. We guess Ri must have been digging the unexpected hair hue -- hence the flaxen wig in her new vid.
What do you think: Is Ri best as a blonde or do you prefer her with darker locks?
Common Explains Delay of 'The Dreamer, The Believer' LP
Common ninth studio album, 'The Dreamer, The Believer,' was set to debut right around the Thanksgiving Holiday, however, the project has experienced a delay, with the forthcoming release coming almost a month later. The latest single, 'Sweet' -- a follow-up to the Nas-assisted 'Ghetto Dreams' -- off the Chi-town MC's LP, is already in rotation, and he wants to give fans a little more time to digest the content.
"We wanted to get more of the material out there, to keep the buzz elevating, let people know more of what the album is about," Common tells The BoomBox. "We've been getting the feedback, like whether it's on my Twitter page or whatever, where people say, 'We just heard four songs, I know I'm getting the album.' For me, I want to create an album not just a single."
The 39-year-old entertainer, who released his first book 'One Day It'll All Make Sense' in September, crafts tracks that aren't just for the here and now, but for the future as well. "I didn't want to create just something that was gonna be made for this day," he expresses. "I like creating music that's timeless. We of course want the album to impact right now, to [evoke] this spirit of 'I wanna go buy this album.'"
Teaming once again with producer No I.D., whom he first worked with on his 'Can I Borrow a Dollar' debut, the rapper is confident that he has put together a solid project. "I feel it's definitely one of my favorite albums that I've done," Common states. "I really went in there with a love and desire to make incredible hip-hop music that can just come from my heart and my soul, and what I know hip-hop to be. Also, to able to cross generations and allow the music to hit the demographics that hip-hop music can hit, you do that by making incredible songs. We have a great album on our hands."
'The Dreamer, The Believer' hits stores Dec. 20.
Stevie Wonder: 'Dancing With the Stars' Finds Him Competing
Stevie Wonder is a wildly talented man, and has accomplished things that most of us could only dream of doing, his handicap notwithstanding. However, it shocked us when Wonder announced on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' that he intends to compete on 'Dancing With the Stars.'Apparently, the singer's lifelong impairment is not at all an obstacle in his quest to boogie down on live television. In fact, the only obstacle he faces is his waistline. When Ellen asked him, "Is there any truth to the rumor? Are you thinking about doing 'Dancing With the Stars'?" he responded, "I'm losing weight. When I get to where I feel like I'm gonna look good enough for what I wanna do, I'll do that."
DeGeneres went on to say that the lauded crooner and songwriter didn't really need to lose weight to get on the show. But Wonder -- who considered joining the show in 2008 -- retorted, "I'll look good in the beginning and I'll look even better in the end."
If this all happens, the 'Superstition' singer will be the first blind celebrity to appear on 'Dancing,' though he wouldn't be the first contestant with a disability: deaf actress Marlee Matlin competed in 2008, and amputee Heather Mills, Paul McCartney's ex-wife, performed in 2007. Both finished in seventh place.
Grammy Nominations 2012: Bruno Mars 'Feels Incredible'
More than a year after its release, Bruno Mars' 2010 debut LP 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans' is continuing to rack up accolades, earning six Grammy nominations during the announcement ceremony held in Los Angeles Wednesday night (Nov. 30).With his latest nominations, Mars ties for second place alongside Adele and Foo Fighters, who also garnered six nods a piece. "It feels incredible," he tells The BoomBox. "We locked ourselves in a [Los Angeles] studio not too far from here and worked on this album."
Of all of the categories in which he was nominated, winning awards for the album's second single would mean the most. "Especially 'Grenade,' of all the songs we've been fortunate to be a part of this year, we're definitely most proud of that one," he shares.
He's expecting to win, he admits jokingly, but above all else, he's pleased with the recognition. "This awards stuff is hard for me because Adele is incredible, Kanye West is incredible, so the fact that this album got recognized in the same category as them, I guess that's the craziest part," Mars divulges.
'Doo-Wops & Hooligans' has sold over 4 million copies to date, and has spawned the hits 'Just the Way You Are,' 'Grenade' and 'The Lazy Song.' Last year, Mars took home the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance award for 'Just the Way You Are' at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air on CBS Feb. 12, 2012 at 8PM EST.
Grammy Nominations 2012: Kanye, Nicki, Bruno Earn Nods
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will kick off 2012 with a musical bang and the nominees for music's biggest night have been announced.
On Wednesday night (Nov. 30) in Los Angeles, an all-star set of performances were put on display at the Nokia Theatre to celebrate the rap stars, R&B songstresses and soul crooners, among others, that earned nods in their respective categories. To be eligible for nomination, an artist's work must have been released between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011.
The night began with Record of the Year, which was presented by 'Super Bass' rapper Nicki Minaj. Bruno Mars' 'Grenade' earned a nod in the category, a song that debuted off his first LP, 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans.' The crooner sees competition from Adele for 'Rolling in the Deep,' Bon Iver for his track 'Holecene,' Mumford & Sons with 'The Cave' and Katy Perry's 'Firework.'
In the Song of the Year category, announced by actress Taraji P. Henson, Mars scored another nomination for 'Grenade,' but he goes head to head with animated lyricist Kanye West for 'All of the Lights,' his smash with Rihanna and Kid Cudi. Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons and Adele round out the category.
A hat-wearing Mars, after bringing in two acknowledgements for 'Grenade,' stepped out to unveil which entertainers landed the coveted Best New Artist spot. In one of the biggest surprises of the evening, two rappers landed here: J. Cole and Nicki Minaj. The former for his work on 'Cole World: The Sideline Story,' while the latter was recognized for her debut LP 'Pink Friday.' The two face off against The Band Perry, Scrillex and Bon Iver.
For the last category revealed on television that night, Katy Perry let loose with Album of the Year. Bruno Mars brought in his fourth nomination for a Grammy award with 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans.' Rihanna's fifth album, 'Loud,' was also named as a contender while Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way,' Foo Fighters' 'Wasting Light' and Adele's '21' are the rest of the competitors.
Check some of the 2012 Grammy Award Nominees below. The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air live from the Staples Center at 8PM EST on Feb. 12, 2012. For a full list of nominees, visit grammy.com.
Record Of The Year
'Grenade,' Bruno Mars
'Rolling in the Deep,' Adele
'Holocene,' Bon Iver
The Cave, ' Mumford & Sons
'Firework,' Katy Perry
Song Of The Year
'All of the Lights,' Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi
'Grenade,' Bruno Mars
The Cave,' Mumford & Sons
'Holence,' Bon Iver
'Rolling in the Deep,' Adele
Best New Artist
Nicki Minaj
J. Cole
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
Skrillex
Album Of The Year
'Loud,' Rihanna
'Doo-Wops & Hooligans,' Bruno Mars
'21,' Adele
'Wasting Light,' Foo Fighters
'Born This Way,' Lady Gaga
Best R&B Performance
'Far Away,' Marsha Ambrosius
'Pieces of Me,' Ledisi
'Not My Daddy,' Kelly Price
'Is This Love,' Corinne Bailey Rae
'You Are,' Charlie Wilson
Best Traditional R&B Performance
'Sometimes I Cry,' Eric Benet
'Fool for You,' Cee Lo feat. Melanie Fiona
'Radio Message,' R. Kelly
'Good Man,' Raphael Saadiq
'Surrender,' Betty Wright feat. the Roots
Best R&B Song
'Far Away,' Marsha Ambrosius
'Fool for You,' Cee Lo feat. Melanie Fiona
'Not My Daddy,' Kelly Price feat. Stokely
''Pieces of Me,' Ledisi
'You Are,' Charlie Wilson
Best R&B Album
'F.A.M.E.' Chirs Brown
'Second Chance,' El DeBarge
'Love Letter,' R. Kelly
'Pieces of Me,' Ledisi
'Kelly,' Kelly Price
Best Rap Performance
'Look at Me Now,' Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne
'Otis,' Jay-Z & Kanye West
'The Show Goes On,' Lupe Fiasco
'Moment 4 Life,' Nicki Minaj feat. Drake
'Black and Yellow,' Wiz Khalifa
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
'Party,' Beyonce feat. Andre 3000
'I'm on One,' DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
'I Need a Doctor,' Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Sklyar Grey
'What's My Name?' Rihanna feat. Drake
'Motivation,' Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne
'All of the Lights,' Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi
Best Rap Song
'All of the Lights,' Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi
'Black and Yellow,' Wiz Khalifa
'I Need a Doctor,' Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Sklyar Grey
'Look at Me Now,' Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne
'Otis,' Jay-Z & Kanye West
'The Show Goes On,' Lupe Fiasco
Best Rap Album
'Watch the Throne,' Jay-Z & Kanye West
'Tha Carter IV,' Lil Wayne
'Lasers,' Lupe Fiasco
'Pink Friday,' Nicki Minaj
'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' Kanye West
Best Reggae Album
'Harlem-Kingston Express Live!' Monty Alexander
'Reggae Knights,' Israel Vibration
'Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life,' Stephen Marley
'Wild And Free,' Ziggy Marley
'Summer In Kingston,' Shaggy
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
The Smeezingtons
Danger Mouse
Paul Epworth
Ryan Tedder
Butch Vig
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