MTV Music News
LUPE DEBUTS AT NUMBER ONE!
Lupe Fiasco has done the unthinkable! Despite numerous false starts and issues with getting a release date for his Lasers LP, the project has debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The disc moved an impressive 204-thousand units in its first seven days. The feat marks Lupe’s first album to open at number one. Somewhere Kanye West is clapping!
· Do you think the big first week sales will reconcile his complaints with Atlantic Records?
JANET SIGNS FILM PRODUCTION DEAL
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Janet Jackson has landed a production deal with Lionsgate. The icon will now have the opportunity to develop and produce her own films through the independent studio. Jackson is looking forward to creating “diverse material.” In related news, she is currently on tour for her Number Ones outing – which wraps on April 24th in Las Vegas.
· Janet starred in three Lionsgate films, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?, its sequel and For Colored Girls.
CHRIS BROWN RESPONDS TO NUDE PICTURES
Last week, a nude picture that appeared to be Chris Brown surfaced. In the image, Breezy stands in front of a mirror taking the full frontal shot. Well, the singer recently confirmed that it is, in fact, him in the picture! Breezy said during a recent interview, “It was an out-the-shower shot” and added that he is “comfortable with [his] body.” He joked that the image was intended for an unnamed female. In related news, fans can grab his upcoming F.A.M.E. LP on Tuesday.
DRAKE AVOIDS ARREST IN JAMAICA
Drake recently served as a special guest for Movado during a concert in Montego Bay, Jamaica and nearly got arrested! The rap star slipped up and said what’s considered a curse word there: “blood clot.” Apparently, the venue has a strict policy against using expletive words during performances. Luckily, Drizzy was only given a warning by the police. According to XXLMag.com, Snoop Dogg and Ja Rule faced profanity charges for using foul language on stage back in 2001.
NAS PREPS NEW ALBUM BEFORE LOST TAPES LP
For everyone waiting to hear Nas’ much-hyped album, Lost Tapes 2, you’ll have to wait a little longer. The rapper has announced that he plans to release a different album before Lost Tapes 2 comes out. The Queensbridge rapper did not specify when the untitled disc will be available. We’ll keep you posted.
KELLY PRICE READIES NEW ALBUM
SingersRoom.com has learned Kelly Price is looking to unleash a self-titled album this spring. The singer, who has already released two singles, “Tired” and “Not My Daddy,” is looking to drop her sixth studio project on May 3rd.
· Fans can expect the R&B songbird to perform at the year’s Essence Music Festival during July Fourth weekend.
RIHANNA BUYS A NEW HOUSE
When you got it like Rihanna has it… it makes sense to purchase a 12-bedroom mansion, right? Well, the pop singer has recently bought the multi-million dollar pad that she is calling her first “real” home. Before splurging, Ri Ri explained in Vogue magazine, “I looked steady for two years, and it is way above the price I was looking for, but I loved it.” She spilled that the living room boasts a gun chandelier and added that except for one room that serves as a tribute to Bob Marley, most of the décor is all-white. Must be nice.
RAPHAEL SAADIQ KICKS OFF US TOUR IN DALLAS
On Tuesday, Raphael Saadiq kicked off his U-S tour. The trek will further support the GRAMMY Award-winning singer’s fifth studio album, Stone Rollin’, which will be released on May 10th. Raphael will hit major cities including Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles before the outing wraps in New York City on the same day his album drops. Visit Ticketmaster.com for more.
· Saadiq is set to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 21st.
U-S Tour Dates:
March 15th – Dallas, Texas
March 16th-18th – Austin, Texas
March 19th – New Orleans, Louisiana
March 20th – Houston, Texas
March 22nd – Los Angeles, California
April 11th – Portland, Oregon
April 12th – Vancouver, Canada
April 13th – Seattle, Washington
April 15th – San Francisco, California
April 16th – Indio, California
May 10th – New York, New York
MICHAEL JACKSON STATUE TO BE UNVIELED IN ENGLAND
According to ESPN.com, British Premiere League soccer team Fulham will unveil a statue of Michael Jackson outside Craven Cottage, the home stadium for the Fulham Football Club. The late singer was friends with team chairman Mohamed Al Fayed. Jackson, who died in June 2009, visited Craven Cottage in 1999 as a guest of Al Fayed and watched Fulham beat Wigan 2-0. Al Fayed commissioned the statue shortly after Jackson’s death and had planned to place it outside Harrods in London, but the Fulham chairman subsequently sold the landmark department store and was forced to change his plans. Now the Jackson monument, depicting the singer in one of his iconic poses, will be unveiled outside the stadium on April 3rd.
