Video: Bei Maejor – ‘The Truth’

Bei Maejor speaks “The Truth” in his latest video, where he recalls a one-night stand with his friend’s girl, who wakes up and wants to have his baby. “The boy that you think is yours may not be your son,” he sings. The song will appear on the 24-year-old singer’s Upscale EP, available next month.

Drake and Rihanna to Headline London’s Wireless Festival

Drake and Rihanna have shared a friendship, hit singles, and now they’re splitting top billing at this summer’s Barclaycard Wireless Festival in the U.K.

The Young Money rapper has been announced as the second headliner for this year’s festival to be held at London’s Hyde Park. He will close out the second day of festivities on Saturday, July 7. Wiz Khalifa is among the acts scheduled to play earlier in the day. Before the big gig, Drizzy will bring his “Club Paradise” tour to Europe starting in late March.

Meanwhile, his “What’s My Name?” collaborator Rihanna will close out the final day on July 8, in what’s being billed as her sole U.K. concert this year. Her fellow Roc Nation affiliate J. Cole and British pop sensation Jessie J are also on Sunday’s lineup.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 3, at 10 a.m.

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 – Fortune
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.


T.I. – Trouble Man
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.


Missy Elliott – Block Party
It’s been seven years since Missy Elliott released her last album The Cookbook, but she’s finally ready to return. The trailblazing femcee, who revealed a battle with Graves’ disease in 2011, is crafting her seventh effort, tentatively titled Block Party. Expect production from Timbaland and more funky and tripped-out beats reminiscent of her previous efforts Under Construction and Miss E… So Addictive. Though a release date has yet to be announced, early listeners including Ciara, Keri Hilson, and Busta Rhymes have praised the new material. Missy popped up on the remix to Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” and the rapper’s cameo in J. Cole’s “Nobody’s Perfect” video may just put her back where she belongs.


G.O.O.D. Music – TBD
Back in October, Kanye West sent Twitter into a frenzy when he revealed that his G.O.O.D. Music family would be dropping an album in the spring. While there was little else to go on except the under-140-character message, that was all Yeezy’s followers needed to start the countdown. Big Sean, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Pusha T, and Common are likely to appear on the compilation, but the boss has kept mum on details. R&B songbird Marsha Ambrosius recently revealed that not only did she travel to London to record with West, but so did Frank Ocean and Mannie Fresh. Hit-Boy and Mr Hudson are also stepping in to take the project from G.O.O.D. to great.


Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
The Trinidad-born, Queens-bred MC unveiled a surprising twist when she dropped the title of her sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, last year. Not only would it be landing on Valentine’s Day, it would also feature her alter ego Roman Zolanski in a starring role. Like many hip-hop releases, the due date has since changed to April 3, but that hasn’t stopped the Best New Artist nominee from working around the clock after she delivered the buzz track “Roman in Moscow.” She recently debuted the Hype Williams-directed visuals for “Stupid Hoe,” and will perform a new song at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. Get ready for Roman’s invasion.


Frank Ocean – TBD
Frank Ocean has not let down listeners since he catapulted to fame last year. The 24-year-old singer-songwriter, who has written for Beyoncé and been called upon by Kanye West and Jay-Z to Watch the Throne, is this generation’s Al Green. The lyrics he pens are heartfelt, more than memorable, and work in most any setting. How’s that for versatility? As an Odd Future affiliate, he possesses the same bold qualities as his Golf Wang brethren, but without the foolery and antics of leader Tyler, the Creator. Critics hailed his stellar debut, Nostalgia, Ultra, and the New Orleans native is wasting no time readying the much-anticipated follow-up. He showcased new material including the Mary J. Blige-sampled “Super Rich Kids” during his brief solo tour last year, and is crafting more “sonic goodies.” Expect Ocean to make big waves this year.


50 Cent – TBD
The G-Unit rapper has been involved in a public battle with Interscope Records, taking to Twitter to bash his label home for providing lackluster support of his new music and even blaming them for leaking his single “Girls Go Wild” featuring Jeremih. He’s since apologized for the outbursts and is moving forward with plans to release his fifth album and possibly another one right after it. To get the buzz building, Fif dropped The Big 10 mixtape in December, an effort full of street-centric tracks reminiscent of his early career. The videos have been watched by millions, reasserting his status as a hip-hop powerhouse. One record that may make the album is the DJ Felli Fel-produced “Lighters” featuring Chris Brown. “It’s probably going to be the biggest record I’ve ever done,” teased the Los Angeles DJ.


Nas – TBD
Eighteen years after a rapper from Queens by the name of Nasty Nas made his debut, he stills remains one of the most respected lyricists in the game. Now 38 years old, Nas is set to deliver his 10th album on Def Jam this year. Anxious fans have been waiting since 2008 for fresh solo material, the last being his untitled album. A four-year wait may be discouraging, but Nas has kept his name relevant by collaborating with Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Common, and Mary J. Blige. God’s son returned to his roots in the video for “Nasty,” which was shot in the Queensbridge projects where he grew up. The Salaam Remi production reminded listeners of the realness of his rhymes, set over a classic boom-bap beat. If it’s any indication of what’s in store, hip-hop heads will not be disappointed.


Brandy – TBD
A Grammy winner with five albums under her belt, it was only a matter of time before veteran vocalist Brandy found her way into a new record deal. Her sixth album, due this May on RCA/Chameleon Records, promises classic R&B with a contemporary twist. She has parted ways with longtime collaborator Rodney Jerkins, who helmed 2008’s Human, and called on today’s top hitmakers including Rico Love, Hit-Boy, Frank Ocean, Chris Brown, Bangladesh, and Tha Bizness. “I wanted to take this opportunity to really try to bring R&B back,” said one of her collaborators Sean Garrett. Kicking off the project is the Rico Love-produced “It All Belongs to Me,” a duet with Monica, which arrives 14 years after “The Boy Is Mine” topped the charts. That plus an assist from Drake may be just what Brandy needs to reclaim her glory days.


Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don’t
Miami rap kingpin Rick Ross never leaves his fans without music for long. After releasing his fourth album, Teflon Don, in 2010, he dropped a collaborative LP, Self Made, Vol. 1, with his Maybach Music Group signees Wale and Meek Mill. Then there were countless remixes and joint tracks with some of hip-hop’s elite players like Lil Wayne and Drake, and finally the announcement that he was indeed debuting a fifth project, God Forgives, I Don’t. Initially scheduled for release in December, he pushed the album to this year, but not before showing off the Nicki-Minaj assisted “You the Boss” and the Just Blaze-produced “I Love My Bitches.” His new mixtape Rich Forever, which has spawned the Drake-assisted “Stay Schemin’,” dropped at the top of the year featuring everyone from Nas to Kelly Rowland. After a recent studio session in Miami with the legendary Dr. Dre, you can bet on 2012 being the year of the Bawse.

Rihanna, Marilyn Monroe: Singer Spends $160,000 on Icon's Portrait

As reported by AOL Music, it's no surprise Rihanna idolizes Marilyn Monroe. Like the Hollywood starlet, Ri is well known for her sexy image. Now, the Bajan babe has taken her admiration of the late icon to a whole new level buy spending big bucks on a crystal encrusted portrait of the movie star.

Rihanna has added to her growing art collection after shelling out a staggering $160,000 for a portrait of Ms. Monroe made of 65,000 Swarovski crystals. Now that's a lot of bling! Not only did Ri purchase the piece, but she actually commissioned its creation from British artist Claire Milner.

The custom artwork took four months to complete and weighs a whopping 182 pounds. Good luck hanging that up on your wall, RiRi! Milner described the work for her celeb commissioner to Britain's The Sun. "A 100 percent Swarovski crystal portrait is very luxurious -- people stand and stare because it constantly changes color, sending rainbows round the room."

The artist continued, "I tried to show the glitter of the public life and then the sadness in Marilyn's eyes." We wouldn't be surprised if the paparazzi-plagued Rihanna somehow felt connected to Marylin in that respect as well.

Milner also admitted that having one of the world's biggest pop stars as a boss had its challenges. "Because of who Rihanna is, everything had to be done through her interior decorators. But they told me afterward that she loved it," she revealed.

The 23-year-old singer has reportedly spent a fortune decorating her Los Angeles home, which features a gun-shaped chandelier and a "reggae room" featuring a tribute painting to another one of her idols -- Bob Marley.

will.i.am Draws ‘#willpower’ from Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, & Busta Rhymes

will.i.am is adding some star power to his upcoming album. The Black Eyed Peas frontman has enlisted Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Nicole Scherzinger, Busta Rhymes, Shakira, and more for #willpower.

The fourth solo project from the platinum hitmaker is due later this year. “#willpower is just a reminder to myself of staying consistent with the dream—keeping the dream alive,” will told Capital FM.

“It was all a dream when I was 15 years old—20 years later I managed to take the dream from an idea to physicality. So #willpower is uplifiting songs, encouragement for those that need it.”

In addition to Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger on the first single “T.H.E (The Hardest Ever),” will has populated the project with superstar guests. “I have a song with Alicia Keys—me, Alicia, and Swedish House Mafia,” he shared. “I have a song with The Beats, which is pretty grand. Me and Shakira have been trying to finish the stuff we started, and me and Britney is really crazy.”

But that’s not all. “So we got a song with me, LMFAO, and Eva Simons. A song with me and Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz. I got a whole other bunch of collaborations.”

He has also recorded a “classical” record with Nicole Scherzinger. “I made this song with Nicole Scherzinger that you would never expect,” he explained. “This classic piece of music that I did with Nicole, it’s beautiful. That girl sings like I’ve never heard anybody sing like that in pop culture. She is thebomb.com/isthatnicole?”

Last year, the Black Eyed Peas announced that they would be taking a hiatus. In addition to readying his star-studded album, will has been in the studio with Chris Brown and Justin Bieber.

Super Bowl 2012: Timbaland Produces Tribute Song to Rob Gronkowski

Superstar producer Timbaland is prepping for Super Bowl XLVI the best way he knows how: by producing a song. The Virginia beatmaker has joined forces with rapper Brasco to create a song dedicated to New England Patriots player Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski.

Gronkowski, a tight end for the lauded football team, was made the subject of the song, which also features an accompanying video, due to his record-breaking season. The clip shows highlights from the football player's 2011 season, including touchdowns and his role in receiving.

Timbaland teamed with Wizz Dumb was also an executive producer of the song, which featured the rapper Brasco alongside Timbaland.

"Let's toast to the life, let's reach for the stars/ Celebrate hard, 'cause the game is ours," Brasco raps on the track.

Super Bowl XLVI finds the New York Giants and New England Patriots competing for the big win. Gronkowski will face off against the Giants Feb. 5 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Listen to Rob Gronkowski's Tribute Song Produced by Timbaland

 

Heidi Klum, Seal Divorce: How the Couple Broke the News to Their Kids

Heidi Klum and Seal shocked friends and fans alike with the announcement of their divorce this month. Besides having the seemingly picture-perfect marriage, the model and singer had also spent the past few years growing their brood of four children: Daughter Leni, 7, sons Henry, 6 and Johan, 5, and baby daughter Lou, 2. It's those children who Seal and Heidi are putting first and foremost as the move forward with their split, and in a new interview with Access Hollywood, Seal has revealed how he and Heidi explained the split to their four young kids.

The singer said he and his now-ex-wife spoke to their children in general terms, "just explaining to them that things will be different, you know, without going into too much detail." Just as quickly, the singer added, "But a lot of things won't change."

He insisted that the couple going their separate ways "won't change the amount of time" that they spend with their little ones. "In actual fact, it may even improve the amount of time that we spend with them ... quality time" the 'Soul 2' creator claimed optimistically.

Still, a source told Us Weekly that the celeb couple's gorgeous kids "are upset" by the news, or what they can understand of it. Allegedly, Heidi and Seal's busy schedules put a major stress on their co-parenting efforts, and thus the marriage. "It's hard to make a marriage work when one parent is with the kids most of the time. They always took turns and it led to separate lives."

But above all, the parents have vowed to always put their kids first as they embark on their separate paths. "The main thing is to make sure that they feel that they're loved, make sure that they understand that their parents love each other, make sure that they understand if there are any changes, it is absolutely nothing to do with them," Seal explained.

Cory Gunz Arrest: Carrying a Loaded Gun Was a 'Big Mistake'

Twenty-four-year-old MC Cory Gunz was arrested Saturday (Jan. 28) for carrying a loaded firearm. He has since been released -- his father, rapper Peter Gunz posted the $30,000 bail on Monday (Jan. 30) -- and is speaking out about the ordeal.

"This was a big mistake on my part," Cory Gunz told The New York Daily News. "I didn't have any intentions of harming anyone or committing a criminal activity. So many young people look up to me and I need to fight though this."

The newspaper reports that the Young Money entertainer, who appeared in Lil Wayne's '6 Foot 7 Foot' video last year, was apprehended at 2:30PM in Soundview, a neighborhood in the Bronx, N.Y. Peter Gunz claims that his son was approached by plainsclothes police officers when he exited a cab. Cory thought he was being robbed as a result of how the cops "ran up on him." They searched a knapsack he was carrying, which contained an unregistered Taurus .9mm handgun.

"It's been really hard, really stressful," Cory Gunz said. "When the smoke finally clears people will understand what was going on."

The younger rap star and his father recently embarked on a campaign called "Gunz Against Guns," where they visited schools in the Bronx area and spoke to kids about the dangers of the deadly weapons.

Watch Lil Wayne's '6 Foot 7 Foot' Video Feat. Cory Gunz

Nicki Minaj, David Guetta Release 'Turn Me On' Video -- Watch

Hot on the heels of the pair of teasers they recently leaked, Nicki Minaj and David Guetta have released a visual for their chart-topping dance single 'Turn Me On.'

Taking cues from 'Frankenstein,' the Sanji-directed video features a mechanized Minaj in a black top hat and pink locks, looking half Elvira, half Elizabethan, trailing an axe and escaping on horseback, whilst being antagonized by nude mannequins.

Her re-animator Guetta, however, appears to suffer a different fate, as he is surrounded by plastic women, enveloped in some kind of chainmail, and never seen again.

'Turn Me On' appears on Guetta's fifth studio album, 'Nothing But the Beat,' which was released last year. Nicki's sophomore LP, 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,' is scheduled to hit shelves April 3.
                                       
                                       Watch Nicki Minaj and David Guetta's 'Turn Me On'

Future 'Magic' Video: T.I., Magic City and Body-Painted Women Included

Last year, Future had brought new life to 'Tony Montana,' only his version wasn't a gangster flick but rather a rap song paying homage to the famed Cuban drug lord. Now in 2012, the ATL resident is serving up the visuals to his latest track, 'Magic' featuring T.I.

Directed by Decatur Dan, the video finds Future and Tip visiting Atlanta's lauded strip club Magic City. The duo are posted up on the roof of the gentlemen's club as the clip gets underway.

T.I. was tapped for the project because of his professional relationship with Future. "Me and T.I. are cool," Future tells The BoomBox. "['Magic'] was the hottest record out when he was released from jail."

Voluptuous women covered in body paint, tricked out rides and fire spinners show up as the rhyming twosome spit their respective verses. While being side-by-side next to beautiful women may have been enough for Future to focus on while he shot the rooftop scene, the rapper actually had a bit of a hard time when filming.

"I was having a good time all day and had been drinking so by night time when we shot the scene on the roof, I was pretty dizzy and didn't really want to be up there," Future shares.

Future will debut his first LP, 'Pluto,' later this year. In the meantime, rap fans can check out his new mixtape, 'Astronaut Status,' featuring 21 songs with assists from Young Jeezy, Ludacris and Gucci Mane.

 Watch Future's 'Magic' Video Feat. T.I

 

 

Video: Busta Rhymes f/ Chris Brown – ‘Why Stop Now’

As Busta Rhymes readies his Cash Money debut, he has dropped off a highly animated visual for his new motormouth single, 'Why Stop Now' featuring Chris Brown.

Hooking up with longtime collaborator Hype Williams, Busta flips his "lyrical acrobatics" in a variety of costumes, while a shirtless Breezy dances with a wall in the dark video.

"I mean, I knew he was gonna do his thing, 'cause he always does, but I didn't think that he would be doing the s--- that he's doing at this dynamic. He's losing his f---in' mind right now," Busta said of Brown's theatrics. "I can't do that s--- that he do. All of that acrobatic, bouncing and flipping all over the f---in' walls. I ain't doin't that s---! I do that s--- with my lyrics."

Busta's 'E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event) 2: End Of The World' will be released exclusively via the newly launched Google Music platform.

Watch Busta Rhymes' 'Why Stop Now' Feat. Chris Brown

D'Angelo Cancels Amsterdam Concert After Falling Off Stage

Eager fans awaiting D'Angelo's return to the stage were given a sign of hope last week when he emerged in Stockholm, performing for the first time for an audience in over a decade. Now, news comes that the veteran R&B crooner's latest show, set to occur today (Jan. 30) in Amsterdam, was canceled due to an unexpected accident he experienced.

D'Angelo, born Michael Eugene Archer, was scheduled to perform at Paradiso in Amsterdam Monday. However, the 37-year-old 'Brown Sugar' creator fell off the stage before he even had a chance to grab hold of the mic. A concertgoer shared the exclusive news with The BoomBox.

"The doors were supposed to open at 7[PM]," the source tells The BoomBox. "There were a couple hundred people waiting in line. They opened the doors to the venue at about [7:20PM] and a few guys from the venue -- bouncers I guess -- came outside and informed the crowd that D'Angelo had fallen from the stage last night, and will not be performing tonight."

The insider reveals that D'Angelo will be rescheduling the concert for Thursday night (Feb. 2).

"Most people were a bit down and disheartened. But after 10-[plus] years waiting, another few days is nothing," the source states.

The Paradiso show is just one of the sets included in D'Angelo's D-Tour, which reportedly concludes Feb. 3. Below are the dates.

Feb. 2: Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
Feb. 3 - 4: London, UK Brixton Academy
Feb. 6: Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene
Feb. 7: Zurich, Switzerland Palais Xtra
Feb. 9: Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
Feb. 10: Stockholm, Sweden Filadelphia Church

Watch D'Angelo's 'Brown Sugar' Video

Flo Rida to Perform 'Good Feeling' on 'Jimmy Fallon's Super Bowl Special'

Sunday night (Feb. 5), after the Giants and Patriots have battled it out at Super Bowl XLVI, one team will be entitled to some pretty hardcore celebrating. Should the winning squad want to hear Flo Rida's 'Good Feeling' -- as good a victory anthem as any -- all they'll have to do is tune into 'Jimmy Fallon's Super Bowl Special,' where the Florida singer and rapper will perform the song live with the Roots.

The BoomBox has exclusively learned that Flo Rida has signed on for the NBC broadcast, which will feature comedians Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg. Fallon's special will follow the big game, the season premiere of 'The Voice' and the late local news.

The 'Late Night' post-game extravaganza will cap several days of Super Bowl-related shows, as Fallon and house band the Roots head to Indianapolis later this week for a run of episodes, beginning Feb. 1.

On Wednesday (Feb. 1), comedian Tracy Morgan and Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will join Fallon at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, while New Orleans Saints slinger Drew Brees and rapper Nas are among the guests slated to stop by on Thursday (Feb. 2). On Friday (Feb. 3), Snoop Dogg and Shaquille O'Neal pop in for a visit.

Watch Flo Rida in David Guetta's 'Where Them Girls At' Featuring Nicki Minaj

Snoop Dogg, Bob Sinclar 'Wild Thing' Remake Drops -- Listen

Hip-hop fans familiar with Tone Loc will remember his lauded track 'Wild Thing,' which he released in 1988 and subsequently landed at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Twenty four years later, Snoop Dogg and house music producer and DJ Bob Sinclar have remade the classic song with a similar approach.

On the effort, Sinclar delivers an uptempo dance beat that fits perfectly in the club. The West Coast MC commences the song with a mellow rap replete with flirtatious sentiments geared toward a woman who's caught his eye.

"Working all week, 9-to-5 for my money/ So when the weekend ocmes i go get live with the honeys/ Rollin' down the street, I saw this girl and she was pumpin'/ I winked my eye, she got in my ride, went to the club it was jumpin'," he rhymes.

The 'Doggystyle' creator proceeds to bring the chick back to his hotel room and do the "wild thing." But this lady isn't the only one the rap vet canoodles with. After hitting the mall, he gets up close and personal with yet another, and then a third.

Listen to Snoop Dogg & Bob Sinclair's 'Wild Thing'