BET Cyphers and Winners.
TRACK OF THE YEAR
“Ni**as in Paris” – The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) Produced by Kanye West, Hit-Boy and Mike Dean
CRISCO KIDD BLOCK PARTY
LOS ANGELES – ALBUQUERQUE – HOUSTON
Posts Tagged ‘ Snoop Dogg ’
The Good News With OH-JEZUZ
MUSIC
Here we go with new music from Missy and Timbaland, what y’all think.
Here is some new music from J COLE!
Looks like the beef is still cooking for Diggy and J Cole. Check diggy diss cole again!
Fashion
For all the ballers out there! , Check these new Christian Louboutins out! They only 995.00
Peep these new adidas ft snoop dog….I mean Snoop Lion.
Snoop Ready to Launch Executive Branch Cigars -x- Brandy to Record with Drake -x- Lil Wayne Releasing Book -x- MTV News
SNOOP DOGG TO LAUNCH CIGAR BRAND
Snoop Dogg has recently announced on his official website plans to launch his own cigar line. The rapper’s brand, which is described to have tobacco made with the “highest quality,” is called Executive Branch and will be released during this year’s Coachella Music Festival. In addition, the cigars will be sold for just 99-cents a pack with two in each package.
The tobacco was imported from the Dominican Republic.
BRANDY TO RECORD DUET WITH DRAKE?
According to TrueExclusives.com, Brandy hinted at wanting to work with Drake on the follow-up to 2008’s Human. She said of the Young Money rapper, “I love Drake. I think Drake is just so phenomenal. I love his music. I’m always wishing that I can just sing one of Drake’s melodies.” The singer says that Drizzy might pen a song for the project, which is slated to arrive this May. The news comes just as Brandy confirmed that she has collaborated again with Monica.
The disc will include collaborations with Frank Ocean, Bangladesh and Chris Brown.
BEYONCE, JAY-Z DONATE BABY GIFTS TO CHARITY
Ever since Blue Ivy Carter was born, Beyonce and Jay-Z have been heavily scrutinized by the media for allegedly being given special treatment inside New York City’s Lenox Hill hospital. However, the couple recently did a good deed by donating expensive gifts to charity. A source told the Daily Star newspaper, “Oprah Winfrey gave a huge trunk of children’s books and others like P. Diddy, Kanye West, Rihanna and Mariah Carey have all been sending luxurious baby treats.” The source adds, “They’ve already got the most precious gift – their new baby daughter – so they want to help out other parents who haven’t been as fortunate.”
MELANIE FIONA RELEASES NEW SONG FROM MF LIFE
According to Rap-Up.com, Melanie Fiona has unleashed a new Motown-inspired song called “Wrong Side of a Love Song.” The track will reportedly appear on the singer’s her sophomore album, The MF Life, which is scheduled to arrive on May 8th.
DRAKE UPSET BY “DRAKE” FOREHEAD TATTOO
Do you remember that female fan who decided to get the word “Drake” tattooed across her forehead? Well according to XXLMag.com, Drake has sent one of his bodyguards to see the Los Angeles tattoo artist named Kevin Campbell, who was responsible for the ink. Campbell announced on Twitter that Drake’s security went inside the shop to speak to him while Drizzy remained outside in the vehicle. He wrote, “[Drake] really made himself more like a sweet bitch with that move!” As previously reported, Drizzy said during recent interviews that Campbell was a real “a**hole” for tattooing that on her forehead and should lose his job.
KELLY ROWLAND TO TRIBUTE MARIAH AT BET HONORS
According to BET.com, Kelly Rowland has signed on to serve as one of the performers who will pay tribute to Mariah Carey during this year’s BET Honors. The singer is expected to perform some of Carey’s hit songs during the fifth annual show. As previously reported, BET Honors will premiere during Black History Month, on Monday, February 13th at 9 PM.
Do you think Kelly can hit Mariah’s high notes?
LIL WAYNE RELEASING PRISON MEMOIR
The Associated Press reports Lil Wayne has decided to author his first book. The rap mogul has teamed with Grand Central Publishing to put out Gone Til November, which is chronicles Weezy’s stint at Rikers Island and includes some of the open letters he sent to his fans. The rapper’s literary effort is slated to arrive in bookstores on November 28th.
The rapper completed eight months behind barsafter being found guilty for weapons possessions.
JENNIFER HUDSON, NE-YO ISSUE SINGLE FROM THINK LIKE A MAN
To get people more excited about the upcoming film, Think Like a Man, the official title track with Jennifer Hudson, Rick Ross and Ne-Yo has been released. While the release date for the soundtrack is yet to be announced, you can expect the big-screen adaptation of Steve Harvey’s book to star Chris Brown, Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, Meagan Good and more. Look for it in theaters on March 9th.
Fan Tatts DRAKE On Her Forehead -x- Wayne’s Tour Grosses $47 Million -x- Snoop Smokes With Fan On Stage -x- Mystikal Signs With Cash Money -x- Odd Future & Wu-Tang Announced For Paid Dues -x- MTV Music News
WOMAN GETS DRAKE’S NAME TATTOOED TO HER HEAD
In Drake’s song “Free Spirit” with Rick Ross, he says on the hook: “Tat my name on you so I know it’s real.” According to MTV.com, a fan has done just that and showed her devotion to Drizzy by getting a tattoo of the rapper’s name on her forehead. Kevin Campbell, the tattoo artist responsible for the ink, told Vibe magazine that the young lady wasn’t drunk and “really psyched and was pretty adamant about putting it on her forehead.” He adds, “She acted as if she had planned it out for a while; though I’m not really sure how much extended coherent thought could actually go into getting such a stupid tattoo on your forehead.”
AND…
DRAKE ANNOUNCES CLUB PARADISE TOUR
According to his official website, Drake has released the dates for his upcoming Club Paradise tour, which will travel to cities in the U-S and Europe. The highly anticipated trek will begin next year on February 14th in Miami and wraps on March 11th in San Diego only to begin in Dublin, Ireland on March 24th. Be sure to pick up his latest Take Care LP – here’s the full U-S stops:
The tickets for the European dates will be available December 16th onwards on Live Nation.
2012 The Club Paradise Tour North American Dates:
2/14/2012 – Miami, FL Bank United Center
2/15/2012 – Gainesville, FL Stephen C. O’Connell Center
2/17/2012 – Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
2/18/2012 – Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
2/21/2012 – Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena
2/22/2012 – Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
2/24/2012 – Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center
2/25/2012 – New Orleans, LA UNO Lakefront Arena
2/27/2012 – Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
2/28/2012 – Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
3/01/2012 – Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
3/02/2012 – Arlington, TX College Park Center
3/04/2012 – Tuscon, AZ Tucson Arena
3/05/2012 – Los Angeles, CA Galen Center
3/08/2012 – Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
3/10/2012 – San Jose, CA Event Center
3/11/2012 – San Diego, CA Viejas Arena
T.I. TO DROP NEW MIXTAPE
In case you missed it, T.I. has announced that he will release a mixtape on New Year’s Day. The rapper wrote on Twitter, “Breaking News! Its official…I’m puttin out a mixtape midnight Jan.1 2012 called #F**kdacityup. Wanna be the 1st thing yall hear next year,” he wrote. “When da ball drop…We drop!!!! Out with da old, in with da TRUE!!!! A-town….Weeee Baaaaaack!!!!!” In related Tip news, the rap star’s upcoming eighth album Troubleman is due next year.
NEW ACTS ADDED TO VH1 DIVAS
We’ve just learned Anita Baker, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson and Ledisi have just been added to the list of performers for this year’s VH1 Divas. In addition, Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Nas, Common and La La Anthony are all expected to present at the ceremony, which is paying tribute to great cities of soul including Chicago, Detroit, London, Memphis and Philadelphia. Taking place inside New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom, be sure to tune in when VH1 Divas airs Monday, December 19th at 9 PM/8c on VH1.
The headlining “divas” were announced earlier and includes Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Florence + The Machine, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J. and Jill Scott. Previously announced performers include: Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Boyz II Men, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius and Travie McCoy.
ALICIA KEYS SAYS HER ALBUM IS ALMOST DONE
If you’ve followed Alicia Keys on Twitter recently you’d know that she’s currently recording her fifth studio album. Wanna know how many tracks she’s competed so far? During a recent interview on GMA, the singer said of the upcoming disc, “I think we got a couple more months and we’re ready to fly,” she said. “You deserve the best and I want to give you the best, so when you hear this music you’re blown away, like you’re filled.” The follow-up to 2009’s Element Of Freedom is slated to arrive early next year.
SNOOP DOGG SHARES BLUNT IN CONCERT?
According to TMZ, Snoop Dogg gave one fan the experience of a lifetime during a concert in Atlanta this past weekend. The rapper lit a massive “blunt-type object” and passed in to an unidentified concert-goer who joined in on the fun. In related news, the soundtrack to Snoop’s stoner-comedy with Wiz Khalifa, Mac and Devin Go to High School, is out in stores now!
BET TO HONOR MARIAH CAREY
According to BET.com, Mariah Carey’s contribution to music is scheduled to be celebrated during the fourth annual BET Honors Award Ceremony. The diva is being recognized with the Entertainer award for her tremendous impact to black music and the culture. She reportedly joined previous recipients Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx. We’ll keep you posted with more details for the BET Honors 2012.
MYSTIKAL REACTS TO SINGING TO YOUNG MONEY
In a press release, Mystikal issued a statement about his recently deal with Cash Money Records. Similar to Busta Rhymes, the rapper is excited about the new partnership. He stated, “It has been a truly long time since I have felt like a rapper and with this signing, and partnership, Birdman and Slim have given me my life as a rapper back. I am ready to go. I am going to put my red Superman drawers, cape and boots on and go! This is a huge moment for me and I am truly excited to be with Cash Money Records.” Lead by his first single, “Original” featuring Lil Wayne, Mystikal’s next album is expected for a spring 2012 release.
FANTASIA WELCOMES BABY BOY!
According Vibe, Fantasia has reportedly delivery a healthy baby boy at a North Carolina hospital on Tuesday morning. The bundle of joy marks her first child together with her and partner Antwaun Cook, who was allegedly married when they first started dating. The singer has told People.com, “I feel so blessed that my son Dallas Xavier was born healthy, and is a wonderful new addition to our family,” she said. “I thank all my fans for their well wishes and continued support.” The bundle of joy weighed at 7 lbs., 9 oz. and 21 inches long. Dallas marks her first child together with her and partner Antwaun Cook, who was allegedly married when they first started dating.
The baby join big sister Zion Quari Barrino, 10.
MICHAEL JACKSON AUCTION
According to JuliensAuctions.com, personal items from the L-A home where Michael Jackson died in are being auctioned off. The items up for auction include messages from his children, a carved dining table and a Victorian grand piano and more. Other items include an ornate bedroom mirror, on which the late singer wrote: “Train perfection March, April full out May,” in the build up to his planned London comeback gigs, and a shower bench on which Jackson drew a series of stick figures. Contrary to rumors, the bed in which the singer died in will not be included in the sale.
The auction begins Saturday. For more information go to http://www.juliensauctions.com/.
JANELLE MONAE READIES TWO NEW ALBUMS
According to SingersRoom.com, Janelle Monae has big plans for the New Year. Fans can expect the singer to release two new albums which she revealed has “84.799 percent of the writing is done.” As for when the “Tightrope” entertainer will drop the projects, Monae stated, “I will release them according to my soul clock; so I reserve the right to change that. But I will try to stick to the scheduled release dates, which I know but can’t say.” We’ll keep you posted.
FLO RIDA IS BACK ON TRACK AFTER DUI
TMZ is reporting that Flo Rida got off lightly from prosecutors for his DUI case. The rapper was busted in Miami Beach back in June on suspicion of DUI, according to Police his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. Flo Rida’s attorney got the judge to send Flo to a first-time offenders program instead of jail. The program, called Back on Track, requires for Flo Rida to complete substance abuse classes, counseling, community service and drug testing. If Flo completes all of the requirements, prosecutors will know the DUI charge down to the lesser charge of reckless driving.
ODD FUTURE, WU-TANG READY PAID DUES FEST
According to HipHopDX.com, Wu-Tang Clan and Odd Future have just been announced as performers for the 7th annual Paid Dues Festival. Taking place on April 7, 2012, concert-goers can expect to see over 20 acts for the event which will be held at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California. If you want to attend, passed for the show go on sale to the general public on Saturday, December 17th at 10 AM.
JAY-Z REACTS TO J COLE GRAMMY NOMINATION
Following the news that J.Cole was nominated for Best New Artist for the 2012 GRAMMY Awards, his boss, Jay-Z, told MTV News how he feels about it. Hova said of his Roc Nation artist, “I think it’s great for him, because I’m sure it’s a dream of his. We grew up seeing Michael Jackson, and I’m sure he grew up seeing whatever moment stuck in his mind, so I know it’s great for him to do that,” he said. “I think he’s already won Best New Artist, to me. His journey is what I’m really excited about.” Be sure to pick up the rap rookie’s debut today.
CELEBRATE NEW YEARS WITH CHRIS BROWN!
2011 has been a big year for Chris Brown. So it makes sense that the crooner is looking to have one last bash before the year is completed. He is scheduled to host New Year’s Eve celebration at PURE Nightclub at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. If you’d like to attend, tickets are priced at $150 each – visit his official website to learn more.
LIL WAYNE’S TOUR GROSSES 47-MILLION
According to his official website, Lil Wayne’s I Am Still Music tour has reportedly become one of the most successful tours of 2011. The trek, which stretch along North America, Africa and Australia, has grossed 47-million dollars. His manager, Cortez Bryant, said in a statement, “The tour exceeded our own expectations. The amount of tickets he sold in both primary and secondary markets across the country was phenomenal and we are now focusing on the expansion of his global success.” The outing was designed to further support his latest album, Tha Carter IV, which is out now.
WALE TEAMS UP WITH THE WIZARDS FOR NBA EVENT
Wale will perform a free show in Washington D.C. on Saturday. The Maryland native is helping the Washington Wizards kick off their 2012 season with Fan Fest, on Saturday night. The event will feature face painters, balloon artists, magicians and much more. Free popcorn and soda will be provided to all courtesy of the Washington Wizards and the event will include autographed items for fans. The first five-thousand fans in attendance will receive a souvenir credential. Fan Fest takes place on Saturday night at 6 PM Eastern and is free and open to the public.
Wale attended Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Wale released the following statement: “I am an avid sports fan who is very passionate about our DC teams and to be officially involved with the Wizards is a blessing. I am overjoyed that our team is returning to the court and can’t wait to see them compete this season. Fan Fest will be a great opportunity to get our fans excited about this team and this season. I am confident that Ted Leonsis, myself and the entire Wizards organization can create something special for this event that will set that tone for more great things to come this year.” #TeamAmbition
T.I.’s New Family Hustle & Overcoming His Drug Addiction -x- Usher’s Custody Battle -x- Preview Robin Thicke’s Love After Work -x- Lil Wayne & Eminem Prep New Tour -x- Music News
T.I. SAYS EMINEM HELPED WIRH HIS DRUG ADDICTION
According to Billboard.com, T.I. credits Eminem with helping him overcome his drug addiction. The rapper failed to admit his drug of choice but did reveal that his addiction began after he received medication for oral surgery. Tip stated, “I haven’t had a chance to speak to Em since I’ve been home,” He said. “I heard that while I was down, he was trying to get in contact with me, but I don’t know if the dots just didn’t connect. [Eminem] overcoming his own adversities, winning the battle against his own demons and continuing to break the mold and re-set the standard of what it means to be the most successful hip-hop artist in the game … I salute that to no end.”
AND…
SNEAK PEEK OF T.I.’S FAMILY REALITY SHOW
We’re all waiting patiently for T.I. to premiere his upcoming VH1 reality series, T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle. In the lengthy teaser for the show, Tip returns home from his prison stint, balances being a dad to six kids and treats his wife to a romantic dinner. T.I. stated, “I got a million and one reasons to be out doing what I do professionally, but the most important thing to me in the world is family. I can’t make one single mistake. Family is priority number one.” Be sure to catch the series premiere on December 5th at 9 PM ET on VH1.
NEXT WATCH THE THRONE SINGLE ANNOUNCED
HipHop-N-More.com reports the next single off Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne LP will be The Neptunes-produced cut, “Gotta Have It.” Fans can expect the follow-up to “N***as In Paris” to officially impact radio December 6th. The rap duo is currently on their massive Watch The Throne tour. Here’s the remaining tour stops:
12-01 Chicago, IL – United Center
12-05 Houston, TX – Toyota Center
12-06 Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
12-09 Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
12-10 San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion
12-12 Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
12-18 Vancouver, British Columbia – Rogers Arena
CHECK OUT ALBUM SNIPPETS FOR SNOOP, WIZ KHALIFA LP
Before Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa release the upcoming soundtrack to their stoner comedy Mac and Devin Go to High School, fans can stream lengthy snippets from the project. The disc, which includes collaborations from Juicy J, Mike Posner and Bruno Mars, will be available on December 13th and can be pre-ordered now via iTunes. Head over to Rap-Up.com to check out the 90-second previews or GET ALL 21 MINUTES BELOW!
· There is no release date for the actual film, Mac and Devin Go to High School.
LIL WAYNE, EMINEM PREP JOINT TOUR
According to his official Facebook page, Lil Wayne has announced that he plans to tour with Eminem after he wraps his I Am Still Music outing. Wayne has not revealed any dates for the highly anticipated trek with Slim Shady, but the duo is scheduled to touch down in Fiji, Australia and South Africa. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available.
· Are you excited for the tour? Would you travel overseas to see them perform?
DIDDY’S SON ACCEPTED INTO UCLA
According to RapRadar.com, Diddy is proud to announce that his eldest son, Justin Combs, has reportedly accepted a full scholarship to play football for UCLA. The mogul expressed his joy in the following statement, “As a parent, today is one of the proudest moments of my life. This is everything a father could want for his son, for him to excel at what he loves to do and is truly passionate about. Justin is a shining example of what hard work, determination and a strong mentality can achieve. I am honored to call him my son and am happy that he is fulfilling his dream.”
USHER AND EX WIFE FIGHT OVER CUSTODY
Things between Usher and his ex-wife, Tameka Raymond, are not looking good. The mother of his two kids claims the crooner has failed to follow his legal obligations, when it comes to sharing joint custody of their sons. TMZ reports Tameka has filed documents requesting that a judge no longer allow Usher to have joint physical custody. In addition, she is seeking more money for child suppor,t since there’s allegedly been a “substantial change in [Usher's] income” since they got divorced. We’ll keep you posted.
MARY J BLIGE TALKS BEYONCE DUET
During an interview with Billboard.com, Mary J. Blige spoke about her first time collaborating with Beyonce for her latest album, My Life II … The Journey Continues (Act I). On a record called “Love A Woman,” MJB explained how the duet came together. Since the track was originally recorded for Beyonce’s recent album, Mary explained, “She had her A&R people play the record for us. I’m sitting in the back thinking, ‘Is she really going to give me this record? That’s crazy! It’s amazing,’” Blige recalled. “I asked her A&R person and he said, ‘Yes, she wants you to have the record, but she wants to stay on it with you.’ I loved that idea and I’m thankful. I thank Beyoncé for the record.” Be sure to pick up My Life II … The Journey Continues (Act I), available in stores now.
ROBIN THICKE’S ALBUM SNIPPETS ARE AVAILABLE
Before Robin Thicke drops his highly anticipated album, Love After War, fans can now check out snippets from the fifth studio effort. The disc only has one guest feature, from Lil Wayne, and the 15-track project can be previewed via his official website or by clicking the image above. In addition, Love After War lands on December 6th.
· Robin dedicates “Lovely Lady” to his wife Paula Patton.
DAY26 LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE REALITY SHOW
In case you were wondering what’s going on with Day26 these days, the R&B group are rebuilding and working on new material. This after they parted ways with their former member, Que. In their new online series, you can watch Willie, Brian, Mike, and Robert start to record their upcoming album, titled A New Day, which will be released early next year. Head over to their official website to catch up on the band.
· The group is still signed with Atlantic Records, but they are no longer attached to Diddy’s Bad Boy imprint.
BIEBER NOT PERFORMING LIVE AT ROCKEFELLER!
Justin Bieber was rumored to be performing live at the Rockefeller Center lighting ceremony, but CBSLocal.com reports it will be a pre-taped performance. The ceremony is set on the same night President Barack Obama will be in town and the NYC Department of Transportation has issued gridlock and detour warnings.
Erick Sermon Still In Hospital -x- Take Care In Stores Now -x- J-Lo’s New Man -x- Common Issues LP Tracklist -x- Dr Dre Taking Break… AGAIN -x- Music News
ERICK SERMON STILL HOSPITALIZED AFTER HEART ATTACK
Erick Sermon is recovering at a Long Island hospital after suffering a heart attack over the weekend. AllHipHop.com reports that the rap legend’s extremely high blood pressure played a part in the sudden attack. He is expected to make a full recovery and will be released later this week.
GO PICK UP DRAKE’S TAKE CARE!
Today, fans can finally purchase Drake’s much anticipated album, Take Care. Anyone who bought the physical copy and checked out the credits probably noticed right away that Drizzy didn’t go after numerous big name producers and the majority of the production credits were done by Noah “40” Shebib. Be sure to pick up Take Care today.
· Other producers who contributed to the album include T-Minus & Boi-1da and Just Blaze.
AND…
DRAKE FRUSTRATED WITH GRAMMYS?
Drake is a bit frustrated with the GRAMMY committee. The Young Money rapper, who is only on his second album, says he doesn’t believe he’ll ever win a GRAMMY. In a recent interview with HipHopBlog.com, Drizzy stated, “I’ve always been fascinated with the GRAMMYs, so I don’t mean disrespect when I say this, but I’ve kind of given up on them.” He continues to say, “If I ever get one, or when I get one, I’ll be ecstatic; because that’s a recurring dream I’ve had since I was a kid.”
· Do you think Drake will ever win?
LUDACRIS CONFIRMS FAST 6 FILM COMING
In addition to working on his upcoming album, Ludacris revealed that he’ll soon reprise his character in the Fast & Furious franchise for the sixth installment of the series. During a recent radio interview, the rapper stated, “You need to get Fast 5 on DVD and I just heard they green lit Fast 6 man, there’s gonna be a Fast 6. All the Fast & Furious fans out there, I’m letting you know Fast 6 has been green lit so it’s going down.” It’s unknown when the next Fast & Furious film will hit the big screen, but we’ll keep you posted.
JENNIFER LOPEZ HAS NEW BOO?
It looks like Jennifer Lopez is officially moving on as she’s been romantically linked to her backup dancer, Casper Smart. TMZ reports the 42-year-old singer was initially only flirting with the 24-year-old, but they have gotten “touchy-feely” during dance rehearsals in front of the other dancers. Her rep has yet to confirm or deny if Casper is her new beau.
DETAILS ON WIZ & SNOOP’S MOVIE, SOUNDTRACK & TOUR
Wanna know what to expect of Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa’s upcoming movie? In the film, Mac & Dev Go To High School, Wiz portrays “Devin Overstreet,” who is a valedictorian hopeful struggling to pen his graduation speech and realizes that his focus on school has left him with no real life experiences. Snoop portrays “Mac Johnson,” a 15-year senior looking to finally graduate high school. In the span of three weeks, “‘Mac’ must cram four years of high school academics, while Devin must cram four years of teenage experience.” Billboard.com reports there’s no release date for the flick, but the official soundtrack will be available on December 13th.
· Here are the dates for Wiz and Snoop’s High School Tour:
Dec. 5 – New York, N.Y. (Terminal 5)
Dec. 6 – Philadelphia, Pa. (Electric Factory)
Dec. 7 – Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
Dec. 10 – Atlanta, Ga. (Tabernacle)
Dec. 12 – San Francisco, Calif. (The Warfield Theatre)
Dec. 13 – Los Angeles, Calif. (The Wiltern)
JAY-Z’S OCCUPY ALL STREETS TEES STILL AVAILABLE
Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z is always one step ahead with everything he puts his hands on. This past weekend, there were reports that his Rocawear line of t-shirts Occupy All Streets were taken out of stores due to heavy controversy surrounding the line of t-shirts. However, according to RapRadar.com, the shirts weren’t available because they were sold-out. Apparently the shirts were selling fast.
B.O.B RECORDS WITH ANDRE 3000
According to HipHop-N-More.com, B.o.B revealed that he scored a collaboration with Andre 3000. While little is known about the record, the Atlanta rapper stated, “I feel like it’s a good chance for people to see the differences between me and Dre.” He added, “For me, it’s like a pass the torch moment, like passing the baton off. Now I gotta take it around the track. But man, it’s a really dope song, I’m excited about it.” Bobby Ray promised that the cut is one of the singles off his upcoming album, Strange Clouds. Expect his sophomore LP to drop early 2012.
· The song Bob and 3 Stacks created actually samples Drake’s “Fancy.”
COMMON ISSUES TRACKLIST FOR NEW LP
While Common puts the finishing touches on his first album in three years, The Dreamer/The Believer, fans can check out the official tracklist for his ninth studio effort. Be sure to pick it up on December 20th.
1. “The Dreamer” feat. Maya Angelou
2. “Ghetto Dreams” feat. Nas
3. “Blue Sky”
4. “Sweet”
5. “Gold”
6. “Lovin’ I Lost”
7. “Raw (How You Like It)”
8. “Cloth”
9. “Celebrate”
10. “Windows”
11. “The Believer” feat. John Legend
12. “Pop’s Belief”
DR DRE TO TAKE A BREAK?
During an interview with The Fader, Dr Dre revealed some surprising news about wanting to take a break from music. While he isn’t necessarily retiring, the hitmaker announced, “I’m gonna just wrap it up for a minute because I’ve been working on music for 27 years now and the longest I’ve ever been out of the studio in 27 years has been two weeks.” He will reportedly complete two projects, one with Kendrick Lamar, before he takes a brief hiatus. Dre is looking forward to “enjoying some time with the family” and promises that he’s “never gonna stop [making] music.” It’s unknown what this means for his oft-delayed Detox LP.
BIG SEAN TALKS FINALLY FAMOUS TOUR
Big Sean has had an incredible 2011, but one of the biggest accomplishments so far has been headlining his Finally Famous tour. Visit his official website to score passes now. Here are the remaining dates:
Nov. 16 – Pullman, WA
Nov. 17 – Seattle, WA
Nov. 18 – Portland, WA
Nov. 20 – Eugene, OR
Nov. 22 – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 23 – Santa Ana, CA
Nov. 25 – Los Angeles, CA
DMX SAYS HEAVY D INSPIRED HIM
According to ThisIs50.com, Heavy D’s passing took a toll of DMX, who reportedly credits the late rapper for influencing his career. X recalled Waterbed Hev as the “first celebrity that I ever seen in my life. He’s from Mount Vernon (New York). The first person from Westchester County to make it big.” X added, “Before it was all these people from Brooklyn and The Bronx getting on. So, now it was somebody I could relate to. He gave me hope that it could be done.” As previously reported, Heavy D was only 44 years old when he passed away last week.
NICOLE SCHERZINGER’S DEBUT ALBUM DELAYED AGAIN
According to ThatGrapeJuice.net, Nicole Scherzinger’s debut album, Killer Love, has been delayed again and will not see a U-S release until next year. The effort has been pushed back countless times but was released in the U-K earlier this year. The album was supposed to come out to on December 15th, but will now arrive sometime in 2012. In the meantime, you can see Scherzinger as a judge on The X Factor on FOX.
GAGA AND GIBSON SPLIT
After a long and fruitful creative partnership, Lady Gaga has broken ties with creative director Laurieann Gibson. On Monday, MTV News confirmed the split, which came after reports that the two women had a serious falling out. Gibson has been part of Gaga’s inner circle since well before the singer became an international superstar, beginning with the choreography for the 2008 “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” video and continuing through the soon-to-be famous steps in clips for “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Love Game,” “Paparazzi” and “Bad Romance.” The pair was closely associated throughout Gaga’s rise to fame, with Gibson providing the choreography and artistic input on such landmark videos as “Telephone,” “Alejandro” and “Born This Way.” Gibson also co-directed the Gaga videos for “Judas” and “Yoü and I” but the women reportedly clashed on the set of the former, with Gibson expressing discomfort with the religious imagery in the clip.
· Lady Gaga took to Twitter to promote her performance on the U-K version of The X Factor over the weekend, writing: “I performed ‘Marry The Night’ last night on X Factor. So fun! Please Watch here: bit.ly/uM5wSx ThankYou UK Monsters for all your love!”
Soul Train Nominees Are In -x- T.I. & B.O.B. Joint Album? -x- Luda & Gucci “Shake N Fries” -x- MTV Music News
CHRIS BROWN, BEYONCÉ AND KANYE WEST LEAD SOUL TRAIN NOMINEES
Chris Brown, Beyoncé and Kanye West lead the pack with five Soul Train Award nominations each. Kelly Rowland and Adele are up for three. Brown is up for Best Male R&B/Soul Artist against Trey Songz, Cee Lo Green, R. Kelly, Eric Benet and Miguel, as well as for Album of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year for “Look at Me Now.” Kanye West and Jay-Z are also up for Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year for “Otis,” while Kanye is in the running for Song of the Year for “All of the Lights” as well. Plus, Kanye is up for Album of the Year for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and for his collaboration with Jay-Z on Watch The Throne. The show tapes November 17th in Atlanta and airs on BET on November 27th. Cedric “The Entertainer” has been tapped to host, and Jill Scott, Mindless Behavior, Robin Thicke, Lloyd, Miguel, Melanie Fiona and Keith Sweat will all perform on the big show.
Soul Train Awards nominations:
Album of the Year
Passion Pain & Pleasure – Trey Songz
21 – Adele
F.A.M.E. – Chris Brown
Light of the Sun – Jill Scott
4 – Beyoncé
Watch the Throne – Jay Z/Kanye West
Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
“Moment for Life” – Nicki Minaj
“All of the Lights” – Kanye West
“Look at Me Now” – Chris Brown featuring Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne
“Out of My Head” – Lupe Fiasco
“Otis” – Jay Z/Kanye West
Best Female R&B/Soul Artist
Kelly Rowland
Beyoncé
Marsha Ambrosius
Jennifer Hudson
Jill Scott
Mary J. Blige
Best Male R&B/Soul Artist
Trey Songz
Chris Brown
Cee Lo Green
R. Kelly
Eric Benet
Miguel
Song of the Year
“So In Love” – Jill Scott featuring Anthony Hamilton
“Motivation” – Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne
“Sure Thing” – Miguel
“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
“She Ain’t You” – Chris Brown
“All of the Lights” – Kanye West
Record of the Year (The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award)
“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
“Far Away” – Marsha Ambrosius
“Best Thing I Never Had” – Beyoncé
“Good Man” – Raphael Saddiq
“Hold My Hand” (duet with Akon) – Michael Jackson
Best Dance Performance
“Motivation” – Kelly Rowland
“Only Girl in the World”/”What’s My Name” – Rihanna
“Run the World (Girls)” – Beyoncé
“She Ain’t You” – Chris Brown
“Walking” – Mary Mary
“Pretty Girl Rock” – Keri Hilson
Best New Artist
Bruno Mars
Marsha Ambrosius
Miguel
Frank Ocean
Centric Award
Ledisi
Raphael Saddiq
Bilal
Anthony David
Aloe Blacc
Best Gospel Performance
“I Smile” – Kirk Franklin
“Walking” – Mary Mary
“Heaven Hear My Heart” – Trin-I-Tee 5:7
“I Believe” – James Fortune featuring Shawn McLemore
“More” – Cece Winans
EMINEM’S SOUTHPAW GETS UP OFF THE MAT
Eminem has been circling the gritty boxing drama Southpaw for more than a year now. After Dreamworks shelved the project back in August, it seemed that the film may have been down for the count. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony has picked up the flick, which would be Marshall Mathers’s first major movie role since his acclaimed debut in the semi-autobiographical 2002 drama 8 Mile. The movie is expected to start production early next year and will be directed by Antoine Fuqua, who famously directed Denzel Washington’s Oscar-winning performance in Training Day.
SNOOP DOGG AND WIZ KHALIFIA SHOOT VIDEO FOR FIRST SINGLE OFF STONER COMEDY SOUNDTRACK
Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa shot their video for “Young, Wild & Free” on Wednesday night. The track is the first single off the duo’s upcoming stoner comedy, Mac & Devin Go to High School. The rappers took over a drive-in movie theater outside of L-A to film the clip. Wiz spoke to MTV News at the shoot saying, “This is a family affair man. Everybody that you see was all involved with the project. We all got love for each other, and you know, we just keeping it moving, right?” Mac & Devin Go to High School comes out in February.
T.I. AND B.o.B TEAMING UP FOR JOINT ALBUM?
Are T.I. and B.o.B. teaming up for a joint album? MTV News spoke with Tip recently, who said he’s been working with Bobby Ray, “We been goin’ in. We’re actually flirting with the idea of doin’ an album together called The Man and the Martian.” T.I. says the music they’ve been cranking out so far is “coming out real good.” We’ll be sure to keep you posted.
LUDACRIS AND GUCCI MANE GET “SNAKE N FRIES”
Ludacris hooks up with Gucci Mane on his new song “Shake N Fries.” The tune will be featured on Luda’s upcoming mixtape, 1.21 Gigawatts: Back to the First Time, set to arrive on November 15th.
BRUNO MARS TO PREMIERE NEW VIDEO ON WEDNESDAY
Bruno Mars will debut his video for “It Will Rain” on MTV next week. The song, which is featured on the soundtrack for Breaking Dawn Part 1, will premiere on Wednesday at 7:54 PM Eastern. The video features a never-before-seen clip from the film, which hits theaters November 18th. Immediately following the video’s premiere, MTV.com will air a live stream featuring MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway’s exclusive interview with Mars, plus Twilight music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, who will discuss everything about Breaking Dawn.
· The Breaking Dawn soundtrack will arrive on November 8th. It also features music from the likes of Theophilus London, the Joy Formidable, Iron & Wine and Christina Perri.
T.I. Denied Legal Counsel -x- Swizz “Sexting” Another Woman -x- Gaga, Usher & U2 Performing for Clinton -x- Ice-T’s New VH1 Doc -x- MTV Music News
T.I. DENIED LEGAL COUNSEL IN PRISON
According to TMZ, T.I. just might have to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison – especially since he has not been allowed to contact his lawyer. The rapper’s lawyer told TMZ that The Federal Bureau of Prisons stated in letter that Tip is “not entitled to legal counsel.” Why? Well, apparently prison officials are still in the process of reviewing what led to him being re-incarcerated. As previously reported, the troubled emcee was released from prison and sent to halfway house only to be locked up again after he was caught conducting business with his manager while en route to the halfway house.
JAY-Z TO HOST CARNIVAL IN NYC
Jay-Z has announced that at the end of the month, he’ll host a lavish carnival-themed benefit for his Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. The New York Daily News reports that the event will help raise funds for people needing financial assistance to attain higher education. Taking place on September 29th, tickets can be purchased for a thousand dollars each via SCFCarnival.com.
· The benefit is being held at Pier 54 in New York City.
KANYE TO DROP WOMEN’S LINE AT PARIS FASHION WEEK
We previously reported that Kanye West was looking to release his first clothing line dedicated specifically for women. The mogul was initially looking to launch his line during New York Fashion Week, but HarpersBazaar.com reports Yeezy will debut his S/S 2012 collection at 9.30 PM on October 1st, during Paris Fashion Week.
· West recently interned at Fendi and launched a collection of scarves.
SWIZZ BEATZ CAUGHT SEXTING ANOTHER WOMAN?
Are things going bad between Swizz Beatz and his second wife, Alicia Keys? Several gossip sites are reporting that the hitmaker allegedly sent a naked picture of himself to a woman named Christina Elizabeth. Since Elizabeth recently lost her cell phone, Bossip.com reports their conversation has surfaced on the Internet. Swizz is yet to confirm or deny sending the pictures. We’ll keep you posted.
YOU CAN CHECK THE WHOLE CONVO HERE!
WIZ KHALIFA AND AMBER ROSE NOT MARRIED
There were rumors going around that Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose secretly got hitched in Las Vegas last week. However, Billboard.com has learned that the pair has not exchanged vows. A source confirmed that they “were simply celebrating Wiz’s birthday with close family and friends in Vegas.” The pair has been dating for nearly a year now.
SUBMIT SONGS FOR MARIAH’S NEW ALBUM
Now that she’s gotten the hang of raising her twins, Mariah Carey is looking to begin recording her 14th studio album. Interestingly enough, the diva is allowing newer artists and up and coming writers to contribute to her next project. According to MusicXRay.com, an A&R agency that is representing Carey said in a statement, “Mariah Carey is working on her new studio album. Her label is looking for songwriters and producers that have impeccable talent to collaborate with.” To learn more about how you can get involved, SUBMIT YOUR MUSIC HERE!
DRAKE ENJOYED JOJO’S “MARVIN’S ROOM” REMIX
During an interview with Paper magazine, Drake gave his honest opinions of JoJo’s remix to “Marvin’s Room.” Drizzy admired the singer for “taking the time to write really potent new lyrics.” He added, “It was really shocking, I think, for her audience since throughout her career she’s been kind of stereotyped as this teen pop star and then she comes out with this different kind of substance.” Drake went on to say, “It’s very rare that people take your song and do it over like that.”
ICE-T TALKS NEW VH1 DOCUMENTARY
On Monday night, we got the chance to speak to Ice-T before the premiere of the Vh1 documentary Planet Rock: The Story of Hip-Hop and the Crack Generation. The film, which includes interviews with Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill’s B-Real, and the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Raekwon, follows the crack epidemic and shows rappers who traded the crack game and for the rap game. Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation premieres on Vh1 on Sunday at 10 PM Eastern.
· Ice-T is the film’s narrator and executive producer.
· The premiere was held at the Paley Center for Media in New York City.
PITBULL, DEMI LOVATO WIN ALMA AWARDS
Pitbull and Demi Lovato were among the winners at the 2011 ALMA Awards on Saturday night. The show honors Latino artists for their work in movies, TV and music. Lovato won for Favorite Comedy Actress, TV for Sonny With a Chance, while Pitbull won for Male Musical Artist. Jessica Alba and Antonio Banderas were also among the winners at the show, which will air on Friday at 8 PM Eastern on NBC.
· The 2011 Alma Awards were hosted by Eva Longoria and George Lopez and featured performances from Lovato, Pitbull and Gloria Estefan.
LADY GAGA, USHER & MORE FOR BILL CLINTON PARTY
Lady Gaga, Usher and Bono and The Edge from U2 are set to perform at party for former president Bill Clinton next month. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the event will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the William J. Clinton Foundation and takes place at the famed Hollywood Bowl on October 15th.
· The William J. Clinton Foundation has raised more than 10-billion dollars for HIV/AIDS treatment, economic empowerment, food aid and global health initiatives.
AND…
LADY GAGA AND EMINEM WIN EMMYS
Lady Gaga and Eminem each quietly won an award at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday night. HBO took home an award for the Lady Gaga Monster Ball concert special and the Chrysler 200 commercial starring Eminem also took home a trophy. The commercial, titled Born of Fire, features the Detroit-born rapper driving through his hometown while his track, “Lose Yourself,” plays in the background. The Creative Arts Emmy show will air on the ReelzChannel on Saturday. The primetime Emmys will take place Sunday in Los Angeles.
CHRISTINA’S SEAT ON THE VOICE IS SAFE
According to various reports, Christina Aguilera’s position as a vocal coach on The Voice is secure, dismissing earlier reports that she would be fired after the completion of next season’s singing competition. A rumor about Aguilera’s proposed firing erupted after X17 Online reported that producers were unhappy working with her and planned to replace her in third season of the show. An NBC executive cleared the air saying, “There is absolutely no truth to the rumor.” Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee-Lo Green and Blake Shelton will all be back when The Voice returns on Sunday, February 5th, after the Super Bowl.
AMY WINEHOUSE WOULD HAVE BEEN 28 TODAY
Today would have been Amy Winehouse’s 28th birthday. The embattled singer passed away on July 23rd at her home in London, and while the official cause of death is yet to be announced, it’s been ruled out that it was the result of an illegal substance, and her father Mitch revealed that he believes she died from a seizure suffered while going through detox. In honor of her birthday, her final song, a duet with Tony Bennett of the classic “Body & Soul,” will be released today. Download it on iTunes.
Snoop & Game Pass The Torch to Kendrick Lamar -x- Diggy & More Ready Scream Tour 2011 -x- Trey Songz Remixes “She Will” -x- VMA Facts
WEST COAST GREATS PASS THE TORCH TO KENDRICK LAMAR
(AllHipHop News) After performing his hit song “Michael Jordan,” Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar was given the ultimate co-sign from the best of the best from the West Coast Hip-Hop community.
Snoop Dogg came out to perform his hit song, “Snoop Dogg” accompanied by Kurupt and Game.
“Aye n***a, you going bodyguard hard right now. Look I’m sitting up there with Dr. Dre up top,” Snoop said as he pointed to Dr. Dre in the crowd “and we watching Game pass the torch to you and you great at what you do man, not good at what you do, you great at what you do. I’ma say this, you got the torch my n***ga.”
Shortly afterwards, an emotional Kendrick Lamar was surrounded and embraced by the TDE family, Game, Snoop and Kurupt.
Game took the mic to explain to the fans the importance of Kendrick Lamar’s ascendance in the rap game.
Silencing the crowd’s cheer, Game took the microphone and had this to say.
“For yall mothaf**kas who aint here and for all you that got your camera phones that don’t understand, yall need to realize this is the motha f**kin ni**a,” Game shouted out to the crowd. “This is the motha f**kin west coast, and the torch has been passed! Aint no hate in Dr. Dre’s blood, he passed the torch to Snoop, Snoop passed it to Game, Pac restin in peace, so is Eazy, Jay Rock doin his damn this, Glasses, Nipsey. I hate when people say the West aint poppin. I told you it was coming.”
But it wasn’t just West Coast artists in the building that night, in video clips you can see Mos Def and Talib Kweli enjoying the festivities with the whole TDE family on the West coast.
Having released his newest album Section.80 earlier this summer to critical acclaim, Kendrick Lamar is embarking on a nation wide tour that will feature spot dates at New York’s S.O.B.’s on August 31st, The Loft in Atlanta August 27th, live with Wiz Khalifa and Chevy Woods on September 3rd in Eugene, Oregon and a date at Seattle’s Bumbershoot 2011 festival, that will also feature Big Boi and Wiz Khalifa September 3rd-6th.
TREY SONGZ REMIXES LIL WAYNE’S “SHE WILL”
Trey Songz flexes his lyrical ability on the revamped version of Lil Wayne’s newest single, “She Will.” Lately, the crooner has recorded rap verses on unofficial remixes to songs like Kreayshawn’s “Gucci Gucci” and Drake’s “Headlines.” In related news, Trey is currently working on his upcoming fifth studio album, titled Chapter 5. Head over to Rap-Up.com to preview the song now!
GAME LEAKS BONUS TRACK OFF R.E.D ALBUM
According to his official fansite, Game recently unleashed a bonus track called “Basic Bitch,” which is off his long-awaited R.E.D. Album. Be sure to get your copy when the follow-up to 2008’s LAX arrives tomorrow (8/23).
DIGGY, MINDLESS BEHAVIOR READY SCREAM TOUR
We’ve just learned which artists will be a part of the newest series of the Scream Tour. The annual outing, which started over a decade ago, has pumped the careers of acts like Bow Wow, Chris Brown, Trey Songz and others. This year, the trek is being dubbed Scream Tour: The Next Generation (NXG) and it will include Mindless Behavior, Diggy and The New Boyz as well as new acts like Jacob Latimore, Hamilton Park and The OMG Girlz. The 20-city tour begins on September 30th in Augusta, Georgia and wraps on November 20th in Richmond, Virginia.
· General tickets go on sale for select markets on August 27th.
· Tour information will be available at ScreamTour.com or Ticketmaster.com.
JANET JACKSON TO PERFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA
For the first time ever, Janet Jackson is scheduled to perform in South Africa during her Up Close And Personal World Tour. The singer has never performed in Johannesburg before and is looking forward to showcasing new and old songs. According to her official fansite, pre-sale tickets and VIP packages are on sale now. Visit JanetJackson.com/Tour to see when the icon will perform stateside in a city near you.
LADY GAGA LOVES BEYONCE
Lady Gaga and Beyonce may be running against one another at the MTV Video Music Awards this year, but the singers are actually old friends, having collaborated on Gaga’s VMA-winning “Telephone” in 2010. Gaga explained exactly why the two get along.
“She is such a beautiful person. And, I gotta tell you, I just adore her. And I had kinda lost faith a little bit in meeting artists in the business, and then I met Beyonce.”
Gaga and Beyonce are both up for the Best Female Video Moon man. Mother Monster is also up for Best Video with a Message, Best Choreography and Best Art Direction. Meanwhile, Beyonce is also up for Best Direction, Best Choreography and Best Cinematography. See who wins when the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards air live on Sunday at 9 PM Eastern.
WILL.I.AM CALLS JUSTIN BIEBER THE NEXT MICHAEL JACKSON
Justin Bieber recently logged studio time with Black Eyed Peas frontman and producer will.i.am. Will told MTV News U-K that Bieber could be “like Michael Jackson.” “Will.i.am was one of the last producers to work with the “King of Pop” before his death.
TROUBLE WITH THE AMY WINEHOUSE FOUNDATION
Mitch Winehouse’s dream to establish a charity called the Amy Winehouse Foundation to honor his late daughter has hit a potential snag. Mitch told the BBC that someone actually registered the name before he could, and that he’s constantly receiving donations for the charity, but doesn’t “know what to do with them.” Winehouse says that the foundation plans to “help all children – not just rehabilitation, not just substance abuse. It’s to help all children in need.”
PITBULL, JESSIE J TO PERFORM AT THE 2011 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS
MTV.com has just announced that Pitbull has joined the official line up of performers at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. The rapper, who will showcase “Give Me Everything” alongside Ne-Yo, joins previously confirmed acts including Adele, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Young The Giant. In addition, Jessie J will serve as the night’s house artist. Viewers can expect presenters to include Nicki Minaj, Taylor Lautner, Drake, Joe Jonas, Jared Leto, Kevin Hart, JB Smoove of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jonah Hill, Rick Ross, Selena Gomez, Seth Rogen, Kim Kardashian and Odd Future. Be sure to tune in to the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards when they air live from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 28th at 9 PM (Live Eastern/Tape delayed Pacific).
· The news comes just weeks after we learned that Katy Perry leads the pack with an impressive nine nominations, including Best Female Video and Video of the Year for “Firework.”
· Additional performers, presenters and a host will be revealed at a later date.
· Fans can vote for specific categories like Best New Artist at VMA.MTV.com today.
· Fans can also vote for Best New Artist by texting BNA to 66333 on your wireless phone.
VMA FACTS
The Video Music Awards have been held in New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami.
The 2004 VMA show in Miami marked the first time in the 21-year history of the awards show that the VMAs were not held in New York City or in Los Angeles.
Madonna has performed at seven VMAs, four of which she has opened. This makes her the only artist to perform at the VMAs in the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s.
Before U2’s live set in 2001, the Metropolitan Opera House lost power and delayed their performance.
Afeni Shakur (Tupac Shakur’s mother) and Voletta Wallace (Notorious B.I.G.’s mother) met for the first time at the Video Music Awards in 1999, when the two co-presented the award for Best Rap Video.
The First Time Snoop Got High… -x- Beyonce Goes Gold -x- 2Pac Goes Diamond -x- MTV Music News
BEYONCE GOES GOLD WITH 4
Beyonce is in a league of her own. After four weeks on the chart, her latest album, 4, has achieved gold status. The disc claims the number four spot on the Billboard 200 chart and has sold over 550-thousnad copies so far. She recently told Reuters that her project “was a labor of love. It was not about singles.” Be sure to grab your copy today!
· Beyonce has won 16 GRAMMY Awards.
THE ROOTS WORKING ON THEIR 13TH ALBUM
Questlove announced on his Twitter page that The Roots have already begun working on a new studio album titled Undone. The follow-up to last year’s Wake Up! marks the legendary band’s thirteenth effort. Head over to the drummer’s account to watch a live studio session of the band at work.
· Wake Up! Was a joint project with John Legend. The LP debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart and sold 63-thousand copies in its first week.
JEEZY’S SINGLE FEATURES JAY-Z, DRAKE, ANDRE 3000
According to a press release issued by Def Jam, Young Jeezy’s upcoming album, Thug Motivation 103, will include two versions of a song called “I Do.” On one side, Jay-Z and Drake contribute guest vocals while Andre 3000 is featured on the other version. In addition, the first official single off TM103 is “Shake Life,” which will be released on Monday. Be sure to look out for the rapper’s long-awaited project when it lands on September 20th.
· Visit Jeezy’s official website for a list of dates for his upcoming tour.
KELLY ROWLAND EXCITED FOR CHRIS BROWN TOUR
While promoting her latest album, Here I Am, Kelly Rowland couldn’t believe that we knew about her upcoming tour with Chris Brown. Before she could tell us about the outing, we revealed that Breezy beat her to it and tweeted about the trek. Details surrounding the tour are yet to be released, but Brown wrote, “Me and Kelly Rowland along with other incredible artists are going on tour!!!! I’ll let u know who else is on later! Lol.”
· Here I Am is in stores now.
DJ KHALED LANDS IN TOP FIVE ON BILLBOARD 200
DJ Khaled is probably out celebrating the solid debut of his latest album, We The Best Forever. Led by his smash single, “I’m On One,” the disc opened at the number five spot on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 53-thousand units in seven days. The project includes guest spots from Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Drake and B.o.B.
· This is Khaled’s first major label debut via Cash Money/Universal Motown Records.
NAS GIVES BACK TO UNICEF ORGANIZATION
AllHipHop.com reports Nas is taking part in the “Month of Giving” along with other artists to help support children in Africa. He joins late Beatles member George Harrison and wife Olivia Harrison to give back to the UNICEF organization.
· UNICEF is immediately releasing one-million dollars for the relief effort to benefit more than two-million children who are malnourished and are at risk from death.
· 50 Cent recently tweeted that he wants to feed one-billion people in Africa.
MIGUEL ISSUES “QUICKIE” VIDEO
Miguel has just issued the visual for his new single, “Quickie.” The singer told Rap-Up.com that he handled everything from coming up with the treatment to casting the numerous models in the black-and-white video. Look for the racy clip via the singer’s official website now.
· Be sure to pick up his debut album, All I Want Is You, in stores and online now.
NICKI MINAJ DISSES LIL KIM IN JAMAICA
During her performance at the Reggae Sumfest 2011, Nicki Minaj took her first jab at Lil Kim when she spoke to the crowd in Montego Bay. The fem-cee, who has pretty much ignored Queen B’s diss records, stated, “Every time there’s a bad chick you gotta hate her/ Make some noise if you gotta ugly busted broke down hater right now tonight/ Make some noise if they mad they stuff ain’t as good as yours/ You’re lucky they told me I can’t curse.” You can look for the video online now.
TYLER, THE CREATOR’S GOBLIN ALMOST AT 100K
Tyler, The Creator’s debut album, Goblin, is nearing to the 100-thousand copies sold mark. The Odd Future leader has managed to sell over 94-thousand units since releasing his first studio effort back in May. In related news, he’s up for Best New Artist and Video Of The Year for “Yonkers” at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.
SNOOP REMEMBERS WHEN HE FIRST GOT HIGH
During an interview with Esquire.com, Snoop Dogg recalls the first time he ever smoked weed. The infamous smoker stated, “I got high off marijuana was in the seventies, with one of my uncles.” After one of his uncles offered to smoke a marijuana cigarette, he stated, “‘Yeah.’ He put it on the roach clip for me and lit it up, and I hit that motherf**ker. I was about eight or nine years old.” Visit the site to read the full interview now.
TUPAC’S GREATEST HITS GOES DIAMOND
We’ve just learned Tupac’s Greatest Hits album has officially reached Diamond status on the Billboard charts. The two-disc collection, which was released back in 1998, has reportedly sold over ten-million copies. This marks the late rapper’s first and only album to achieve this feat.
· The news comes a few weeks after Pac’s mother hosted and celebrated the anniversary of what would have been his 40th birthday.
RIHANNA STARS IN BATTLESHIP TRAILER
A lengthy trailer for Rihanna’s film debut, Battleship, has surfaced online. The singer stars alongside Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgard and Taylor Kitsch in the action flick, which hits theaters on May 18th, 2012.
AND…
RIHANNA’S A ROLE MODEL ON THE COVER OF GLAMOUR
Rihanna recently told Glamour magazine that she thinks being a role model for fans takes the fun out of her superstar lifestyle. The “S&M” singer will appear on the cover of Glamour’s September issue, which will include her full interview. The issue hits newsstands August 9th.
EVE FINALLY SELLS HER HOLLYWOOD HOME
According to the Los Angeles Times, Eve has finally sold her home in Hollywood for 1.3-million dollars. The rapper took quite a hit after purchasing the house for over 1.7-million back in 2005. She initially tried to sell her residence for 2.2-million. In related news, the rapper is reportedly in the studio working on her first album since 2002’s Eve-Olution.
BRANDY AND RAY J DROP FAMILY ALBUM
In case you didn’t know, Brandy and Ray J recently released their first joint album together, titled Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. On the disc, fans will be able to check out a collection of duets, which includes their parents. Brandy recently told SingersRoom.com, “My family has always been involved in my career. Family is truly everything. This project is the beginning of many more family ventures.” Look for the project in stores and online now!
AMY WINEHOUSE SALES FIGURES
Amy Winehouse’s 2006 album Back To Black sold over 37-thousand copies this week and 36-thousand of them were digital downloads. Her debut album, Frank, sold over 76-hundred copies and over seven-thousand were digital downloads. Over 95 percent of all Winehouse’s album sold in the wake of her death were downloaded digitally, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
PITBULL MAKES PEOPLE’S “SONGS OF SUMMER” LIST
Pitbull’s summer smasher “Give Me Everything” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer, is featured on People magazine’s annual “Songs of Summer” list. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold over two-million copies. See the full story in the August 8th issue of People.
· Other songs on People’s “Songs of Summer” list include Britney Spears’ “I Wanna Go,” Lady Gaga’s “The Edge of Glory,” Beyonce’s “Best Thing I Never Had” and Lil Wayne’s “How to Love.”
JORDAN SPARKS IN TIMES SQUARE
Jordan Sparks will perform in Times Square in New York City today (7/28). The Vh1 Save The Music ambassador will take to the stage at 11:30 AM Eastern between 42nd and 43rd street in the heart of Times Square for the Energizer Now That’s Positivenergy Campaign to benefit Vh1’s Save The Music.
· If you can’t make it to the performance, “Like” the Energizer Bunny page on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/qo1zvw. From now until August 12th, every “Like” will trigger a one dollar donation from Energizer to Vh1’s Save The Music.
CRISCO KIDD ON TWITTER
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