Ace Hood checked in on the Crisco Kidd Block Party to debut his latest single “Ballin Like A B!tch” aka “Ballin’” aka B.L.A.B. on the New At 9. He talks about signing to Young Money Cash Money, his We The Best fam, his vision for 2012 and the difference between ballin’ and B.L.A.B.
In this CKBP EXCLUSIVE, Ace makes the OFFICIAL announcement of the release date for Body Bag Vol. 2!
Sometimes, when you’re in the middle of a rap feud, it’s just best to keep quiet. And that’s exactly what Drake plans to do when it comes to the one-sided beef that’s brewing between him and Common. Drizzy told NahRight.com, “That situation is not a ‘hip-hop moment’ or a ‘battle for the sake of musical integrity’… it’s a ploy for attention around the release of an album.” As previously reported, the Chicago native has denied that the beef began due to Drake’s rumored fling with Common’s ex-girlfriend, Serena Williams.
AND…
DRAKE, RIHANNA TO HEADLINE FESTIVAL IN LONDON
According to Rap-Up.com, Drake and Rihanna are hooking up again. No, not like that. The entertainers are scheduled to team up at this summer’s Barclaycard Wireless Festival in the U-K. Taking place at London’s Hyde Park, Drizzy is expected to take stage on July 7th while Ri Ri will close the festival on July 8th. If you’re interested, tickets go on sale this Friday (2/3) at 10 AM.
MIA CONFIRMS SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW PERFORMANCE
NME reports that MIA has confirmed she will be performing with Madonna during the Super Bowl halftime show. The rapper told BBC Radio 1 that she will be performing with Madge and Nicki Minaj, which has been speculated for weeks. Minaj and MIA are both featured on Madonna’s new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin.”
RICK ROSS SAYS DR DRE IS “INSPIRATIONAL”
In case you didn’t know, Rick Ross recently logged studio time with DJ Khaled and Dr Dre. While it’s unknown how many tracks Rozay recorded with the Dre, he told MTV News, “It was amazing. We had the opportunity to just first and foremost touch base like bosses. We went out, we had dinner, we just discussed ideas and that led to the studio.” We’re hoping whatever the duo recorded will either end up on Rick’s upcoming album, God Forgives, I Don’t, or the hitmaker’s long-awaited Detox LP.
ROMEO MILLER LANDS NEW ACTING ROLE
Romeo Miller has taken a break from music to expand his acting resume. After recently starring in Jumping The Broom, Master P’s son has reportedly landed a role in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection. The former Dancing With The Stars competitor will star as “Jake” in the upcoming comedy that also features John Amos, Denise Richards and Tom Arnold.
The flick marks Perry’s 14th movie in seven years.
2 CHAINz CONFIRMS SIGNING TO DEF JAM
During an interview with XXLMag.com, 2 Chainz announced that he has signed to Def Jam Recordings. The rapper, who was signed to Ludacris’ Disturbing tha Peace label, stated, “I just took another route as far as running my own company and bossing up. But on the other hand, I’m still working with him. He has an album coming out this year, as well. Matter of fact, we are label mates, now, which is crazy. So, yeah, that’ll be cool. I’m looking forward to that.” In addition, he plans to release two new projects in 2012.
MINDLESS BEHAVIOR PARTNERS WITH K-MART
Mindless Behavior are really starting to make a name for themselves. The R&B boy band have landed a merchandise deal with Kmart. The “Mrs. Right” group said in a statement, “We’re excited to partner with Kmart to bring some new MB swag to fans all across the U-S! We helped design all of the styles and hope all of our Mindless ladies love em!” Fans can expect the band to celebrate the launch by doing in store appearances and autograph signings starting today.
– For a list of cities, visit MindlessBehavior.com.
– They recently received their first NAACP Image Award nomination.
QUESTLOVE PAYS HOMAGE TO DON CORNELIUS
Following the news that Soul Train creator Don Cornelius died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, Questlove paid homage to the 75-year-old icon via OkayPlayer.com. Here’s The Roots’ drummer’s full post:
“Don Cornelius was my first non musical non celeb non blood related hero.
It’s amazing timing that my arrival on earth and his greatest creative manifestation came within 9 months of each other. both symbolizing a new hope for urban America. most won’t get it til now (especially now that he’s gone) but i pray that Don knew of the appreciation he had in all of us born after 1968. You people will have to forgive me…I’m just kinda writing from the heart….sporadic thoughts tears and snot are spilling out and whatnot. I’m certain dream and toure and nelson will do his legacy justice in print….i just felt the need to write something.”
TYRESE SHOOTS VIDEO FOR “NOTHING ON YOU”
According to his official fansite, Tyrese is gearing up to re-release his latest album, Open Invitation. To get fans more hyped about the deluxe version, the crooner has shot a visual to his new single, “Nothing On You,” which includes Chilli from TLC as his love interest. You can expect the clip to premiere on Valentine’s Day.
MOBB DEEP, NIPSEY HUSSLE ADDED TO SMOKEOUT FEST
Looks like the Cypress Hill Smokeout 2012 Festival has attracted an impressive roster of performers. We’ve just learned the full list of acts that are scheduled to perform, which include Mobb Deep, Wiz Khalifa, Curren$Y, Nipsey Hussle and many more. The event takes place on March 3rd at NOS Events Center in Southern California and tickets are available now via TicketFly.com.
Smokeout 2012 Line-up
Sublime with Rome
Korn
Cypress Hill
Thievery Corporation
Wiz Khalifa
Café Tacuba
Wolfgang Gartner
MSTRKRFT
Rusko
Mobb Deep
Low End Theory (Daddy Kev, Nobody, Gaslamp Killer, D-Styles, Nocando)
The Dirty Heads
Curren$Y
Nipsey Hussle
DJ Muggs
Daedelus
Danny Brown
ScHoolBoy Q
Ritmo Machine
Fashawn
PITBULL TO GET HONORED AT BMI AWARDS
AllHipHop.com reports that Pitbull is expected to be honored at the 19th annual BMI Awards. The rapper will be presented with the coveted BMI President Award, which recognizes “Pitbull’s genre bending style of music has allowed him to appeal to numerous fan bases, including Hip-Hop, Urban, Latin, Pop and European.” The ceremony will take place at Encore Wynn Theater in Las Vegas on March 30th.
– Previous recipients include Taylor Swift, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, and Willie Nelson.
DAVID GUETTA UNLEASHES NEW VIDEO WITH NICKI MINAJ!
David Guetta has released his new video for “Turn Me On,” featuring Nicki Minaj. In the clip, Guetta plays a mad scientist creating his very own Nicki Minaj from scrap parts. The clip opens on Guetta putting the final touches on his Minaj doll plans. As the song progresses, we see the plastic doll turn into a very human-looking Nicki Minaj. The video was shot late last year and directed by Sanji, who was previously at the helm of videos for Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Jesse McCartney and more. This is the second collabo for Guetta and Minaj. They also appeared together on his track, “Where Them Girls At.”
BIG NAMES SET TO HONOR McCARTNEY
On February 10th, just two days before the GRAMMYs, a huge group of diverse musicians will gather in L-A to pay tribute to the one and only Paul McCartney as he is honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year. The event will see performances by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Tony Bennett, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, James Taylor, Norah Jones, Katy Perry and more. And of course, Paul will perform as well. Comedian Eddie Izzard will host the show, which recognizes Paul for his artistic achievements and philanthropic work. The event is sold-out and proceeds from it will go towards emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery programs for musicians.
– This is the 22nd years MusiCares honored a Person of the Year. Previous honorees include Elton John, Billy Joel, Bono, Paul Simon, Sting, Phil Collins and James Taylor.
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.
Nicki Minaj recently announced to fans on Twitter that her debut album, Pink Friday, has gone double platinum. The disc has amassed sales over 2.2-million copies since being released. In addition, the fem-cee spilled that the videos to her new singles, “Roman in Moscow” and “Stupid Hoe,” have already been shot and will be released in two weeks. The songs are lifted from her highly anticipated sophomore effort, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which is scheduled for a February 14th release.
Do you think she’ll be able to re-do her success with her next LP?
TREY SONGZ ANNOUNCES ANTICIPATION 2OUR
According to Rap-Up.com, Trey Songz has revealed the dates for his upcoming outing, which is being dubbed the Anticipation 2our. The singer’s trek will begin on February 10th in Louisville, Kentucky and will travel through Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Oakland. While you can purchase passes through TreySongz.com, you can also expect more dates to be announced soon.
In related news, the crooner is working on his upcoming album, Chapter V.
Feb. 10 – Louisville, KY – Palace Theatre
Feb. 11 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre
Feb. 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Nokia Theatre
Feb. 18 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino
Feb. 19 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
B.O.B. ANNOUNCES LAUNCH DATE FOR STRANGE CLOUDS
According to his official Twitter page, B.o.B has announced the launch date for his highly anticipated sophomore release, Strange Clouds. He tweeted that fans can expect his second studio effort to arrive on March 13th. He wrote, “I been havin fun doing mixtapes and gettin back to my Eastside roots…. but I really can’t wait til the album … #StrangeClouds.” In related news, the Grand Hustle artist posted a Ustream studio session with Waka Flocka Flame.
CHRISTINA MILIAN OPENS UP ABOUT DIVORCING THE DREAM
During an interview with Yahoo!, Christina Milian gave new insight as to what caused her to file for divorce from her ex-husband, The Dream. The singer stated, “A lot of men would say, ‘I can’t believe a man would cheat on Christina’ but it happens.” She added, “Beauty has nothing to do with it. I know I’m a really good wife. I know I’m a really good girlfriend. I know we’re supposed to take the blame for certain things but I gotta say I’m pretty good at all that stuff.” As far as what she’s learned from her failed marriage, Milian stated, “Sometimes we are just so carried away with love and we might even mistake some things like lust for love.” In related news, Christina will serve as the digital correspondent for the new season of The Voice.
UPDATE ON USHER’S CUSTODY BATTLE
We previously reported Usher was being accused of not being a good father by his ex-wife, Tameka Raymond. After his ex made a request to alter their joint custody agreement, TMZ reports that the crooner filed a counter suit and claims Tameka’s allegations are false. The former couple will hash out their issues in court on February 27th.
Tameka claimed that Usher failed to get permission to travel with the kids out of state and she wants more child support.
RICK ROSS READIES NEW MIXTAPE
Now that Rick Ross has his health in check, the rapper has completed a new mixtape that will be released this week. Rozay announced that the project, titled Rich Forever, which is hosted by DJ Scream and Shaheem Reid, will be released on Friday, January 6th at 3:05 PM Eastern. The material will help tide fans over until his upcoming fifth album, God Forgives, I Don’t, arrives later this year.
The project is Rick’s follow-up to Ashes to Ashes and The Albert Anastasia EP.
WALE DID SOUL SEARCHING TO MAKE AMBITION
Hands down, one of our favorite albums of 2011 was Wale’s Ambition. During an interview with the Washington Post, the Maybach Music Group rapper said, “I’m about to bring D.C. a gold album in 2012” and hopes to sell over 500-thousand copies by “early April.”
What did you think of his album?
UPCOMING HIP HOP ALBUMS FOR THIS YEAR!
Now that 2012 is underway, we wanted to give hip hop heads a list of upcoming albums that they should keep an eye on. This year, you’ll be able to check out Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and T.I.’s much talked about effort, Trouble Man. Here’s what other projects coming soon:
January 17, 2012
Juvenile – Rejuvenation
January 30, 2012
Kid Cudi x Dot Da Genius – W Z R D
February 14, 2012
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
February 21, 2012
Monica – New Life
February 28, 2012
Ja Rule – Pain Is Love 2
March 13, 2012
B.o.B. – Strange Clouds
March 2012
T.I. – Trouble Man
Chris Brown – Fortune
April 2012
Cam’Ron – Untitled
KEYSHIA COLE WORKING ON NEW ALBUM
Keyshia Cole is gearing up for the release of her fifth studio album, Woman to Woman. While it’s unknown when the disc will be released, the singer recently tweeted, “Just sat in the car and wrote a song, old school style. Used to come up wit good stuff in my car. And I just did again. My team loved it.” We’ll keep you posted.
AND…
KEYSHIA COLE’S MOM PREPS MEMOIR ON DRUIG ADDICTION
According to SingersRoom.com, Keyshia Cole’s mom, Frankie Lons, is reportedly working on a memoir called Best Years I Never Had. Cole’s mother, who has appeared on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, delves into her years battling drug addiction, prostitution and family struggles. The Best Years I Never Had is scheduled to go on sale on January 20th.
MTV News has compiled their list of the Top 10 artists of 2011. Making the cut are people like Adele, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne. What musician do you think has made the biggest impact this year? Would someone like Justin Bieber make your list? Head over to MTVNews.com to see if your top artists of 2011 match theirs’.
RICK ROSS READIES NEW MIXTAPE
Rick Ross recently announced on his Twitter page that he plans to drop a new mixtape. The rapper, who just returned from touring in South Africa, did not give a release date, but fans can expect the project to include original material. The tape will arrive before his delayed album, God Forgives, I Don’t, arrives in 2012.
50 CENT’S HEADPHONE SALES TO PROVIDE MEALS
50 Cent is on a mission to give back to those in need. In addition to releasing his Street King energy drinks to help feed kids in Africa, the rapper has announced that a portion of sales from his SMS Audio headphones will also give meals to the less fortunate. 50 told MTV, “With every purchase there’s a meal being provided through the United Nations World Food Programme,” he said, “And with this actual project, I decided I wanted to do something here in America. So, for every pair of these headsets that are sold domestically and online through SMSAudio.com, 250 meals will be provided by Feeding America, which is our leading charitable organization against hunger.” If you want to get involved, the headphones retail for 299.99 dollars.
According to his official website, Wale has released the dates for the second leg of his Ambition tour. So far, his opening show on December 30th inside Atlantic City’s House of Blues is already sold out. Be sure to get your passes today and pick up his sophomore album, Ambition, which is available everywhere. Here are the dates:
Dec 30: Atlantic City, NJ – House of Blues (Sold Out)
Jan 1: Silver Spring, MD – Fillmore
Jan 6: Ann Arbor, MI – U. Michigan
Jan 7: Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
Jan 7: Columbus, OH – Long Street Live
Jan 8: Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Jan 9: Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
Jan 19: Montreal, Quebec – Time Supper Club
Jan 20: Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Concert Theatre
Jan 21: London, Ontario – London Music Hall
Jan 22: Hamilton, Ontario – The Studio at Hamilton Place
Jan 26: Bridgeport, CT – Webster Bank Arena
Jan 27: Springfield, MA – Mass Mutual Center
Jan 28: Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Jan 31: Wichita, KS – The Cotilion
Feb 1: Omaha, NE – Sokol Hall
Feb 2: Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
Feb 4: Indianapolis, IN (Super Bowl Weekend)
Feb 10: New York, NY – Irving Plaza (w/ Miguel) Lotus Flower Bomb / Valentines Show
Feb 13: West Hollywood, CA – Key Club (w/ Miguel) Lotus Flower Bomb / Valentines Show
Feb 14: Las Vegas, NV – Marquee Nightclub
Feb 15: Reno, NV – The Knitting Factory
Feb 16: Salt Lake City – Depot
Feb 25 + Sun, Feb 26: Orlando, FL (All Star Weekend)
Mar 2 + Sat, Mar 3: Charlotte, NC (CIAA Weekend)
March 6: Nassau, Bahamas – Colonial Island
VH1 DIVAS CELEBRATES SOUL TONIGHT
Here’s a friendly reminder to let everyone know that Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott and more are scheduled to perform during this year’s VH1 Divas. The ceremony 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 Celebrates Soul airs tonight at 9 PM Eastern /8 Central on VH1.
JAY-Z TALKS NUTURING HIS ARTISTS
During an interview with MTV News, Jay-Z spoke about his artists and why it’s important to treat them as if they were his children. He explained, “I think running a label is a bit like having kids. When you know someone needs more help, you help them. When you see that someone can make it on their own … you see Kanye West or J. Cole, you see that sort of talent — you let that talent be. You let that talent find its way.” In related Jay-Z news, the rapper just concluded his Watch The Throne tour with Kanye on Sunday night in Vancouver, British Columbia.
SOULJA BOY RELEASES ARTWORK FOR PROMISE
Soulja Boy is reportedly looking to bring in the New Year with new music. During an interview with TheBoomBox.com, the 21-year-old shared plans for his upcoming fourth album Promise. He explained, “Right now I’m working on my new album to release from Interscope Records. It’ll be in stores at the top of 2012. I want everybody to support.” He said of the disc, “The album is just really showing the growth and maturity of Soulja Boy. It’s going to be dope. It’s going to be lot of great records on it, a lot of dope features, a lot of great production. I want all my fans to check it out.” The launch date for the follow-up to 2010’s The DeAndre Way is unknown, but Soulja has released the artwork for the project, which you can view via his website now.
KATY PERRY TEAMS UP WITH B.o.B. FOR A REMIX
Katy Perry has teamed up with B.o.B. for a remix of her song The One That Got Away.” According to Billboard.com, fans will be able to buy the jazzed-up track next week. The original “The One That Got Away” tune is Perry’s sixth single off her hit album, Teenage Dream.
BRITNEY SPEARS IS ENGAGED!
According to TMZ, Britney Spears engaged to her boyfriend Jason Trawick. Sources claim that he popped the question in Las Vegas and Spears recently posted a cryptic message on Facebook, that seems to point to her being engaged. Apparently, Trawick asked her dad, Jamie Spears, for her hand in marriage. Spears has been married twice before, once to Jason Allen Alexander and once to Kevin Federline. Kevin and she has two children.
Just a few weeks after we reported rumors about a fourth installment of the Friday franchise, Ice Cube recently confirmed to TMZ that the film is a go. In addition, the upcoming flick will include the original cast…and yes, Chris Tucker has agreed to reprise his role as “Smokey.” A rep for Cube Vision Productions said in a statement, “[Ice Cube] is very excited about this and has every intention to make it happen.” No word on when the comedy will hit the big screen, we’ll keep you posted.
RICK ROSS PREPS JAY-Z COLLABORATION
During an interview with MTV Sucker Free’s DJ Envy, Rick Ross shed new light on his upcoming album, God Forgives, I Don’t. Rozay says the project will definitely include guest verses from Jay-Z and stated, “You know, whenever me and the homie come together to collaborate, we gotta make it something special for Hip Hop,” he said. “We always make sure we have fun with it, but this record right here, this is our biggest collaboration ever.” The disc is slated to drop early 2012.
· Ross also addressed his recent health scare and explained, “I’m a grinder, I’m a hustler. That’s the next order of business. You’re so used to moving at 80 miles per hour. I gotta get rest now. Well, I’m supposed to. I try to. That’s what it was. I’m blessed, man. I went in and had my MRI and everything came back straight. It was just a case of me being overly exhausted.”
JAGGED EDGE FACING LAWSUIT FOR MISSING WEDDING
According to TMZ, Jagged Edge was recently accused of failing to show up for a scheduled performance. But not just any showcase, the R&B group missed someone’s wedding! After allegedly being paid 10-thousand dollars for the gig, a man named Victor Diaz tells the site he’s looking to file a lawsuit even though the band says they knew nothing about the ceremony. He claims, “They humiliated me and cost my wife her dream.” A rep for the band stated, “They are very heartbroken and sad that [Victor’s] wedding got destroyed due someone using our name without permission.”
WATCH THE THRONE LYRICS TURNED INTO IFC FILM
Jay-Z and Kanye West are expected to appear in an upcoming movie from IFC Films…well, kinda. The lyrics from their GRAMMY-nominated album, Watch the Throne, have been turned into a three-minute mini-movie. According to PopDust.com, the clip is described as a skit “structured to resemble a conversation between three female twenty-something roommates about partying and general lifestyle discrepancies.” You have to view the short film to fully understand:
MARY J BLIGE WILL WAIT TO SHOOT VIDEO FOR BEYONCE DUET
From the moment we first heard Mary J. Blige’s “Love A Woman” featuring Beyonce, we though this will make an amazing video! While promoting latest album, My Life II: The Journey Continues, the “Mr Wrong” singer said she’d love to shoot the visual but will wait until Jay-Z’s pregnant wife finds time in her busy schedule. The track marks the first time the singers have collaborated together. In related news, fans can now purchase My Life II: The Journey Continues online and in stores now.
· MJB recently performed “Need Someone” on X Factor USA.
PITBULL, CHRIS BROWN ISSUES NEW VIDEO
Before Pitbull released his video for “International Love” he spoke to Rap-Up.com about that the visual represents. The rapper stated, “It’s all about the music being global, the music being the universal language and it goes to show you no matter what language you may speak and or not speak, you speak music.” The Chris Brown-assisted club anthem is lifted from his latest album Planet Pit. You can check out the David Rousseau-directed clip via Pitbull’s official website now.
LL COOL J REACTS TO NOT BEING INDUCTED… YET
After coming on the scene back in 1984, LL Cool J’s contributions to hip hop changed and gave new life to the genre. Put simply, the rapper, who has released thirteen studio albums and two greatest hits compilations, is a living legend. However, he is still waiting to be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. On April 14th, the Beastie Boys will join Guns N Roses and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers in the music museum in Cleveland.
· Do you think LL will eventually make it?
JAY-Z HINTS AT MORE JOINT ALBUMS WITH KANYE WEST
If you can’t stop playing Watch The Throne, we’re happy to report that Jay-Z told MTV News that there might be another joint project with Kanye West. Hova explained, “We — I say ‘we’ because I’m in Throne mode — we’re in a great place creatively. You might see a Jay, then Kanye and a Throne album next year. You know, we’re really in a great place creatively. We really found our zone.” We’ll keep you posted with further updates. In related news, here are the rap moguls remaining stops for their Watch The Throne tour:
12-12 Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
12-18 Vancouver, British Columbia – Rogers Arena
PLIES FACING 10 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT!
According to AllHipHop.com, Plies is currently wrapped up in a 10-million dollar lawsuit stemming from a 2006 shooting inside a nightclub in Gainesville, Florida. In the suit, five victims were injured following a shooting that occurred before Pies was scheduled to perform at the venue. After learning about the hefty lawsuit, his lawyer Robert A. Rush said in a statement, “The plaintiffs’ claims against my client continue to be without merit, we look forward to having this resolved in a court of justice.” We’ll keep you posted.
THE NEXT SINGLE OFF DRAKE’S TAKE CARE WILL BE…
According to HipHop-N-More.com, Drake has announced that his next single off his Take Care LP will be “The Motto.” In addition to shooing a visual for the Lil Wayne-assisted track, the record will officially impact radio on January 10th. Up next, the title track with Rihanna is expected to run as the promo single for the album.
NAS REMEMBERS AMY WINEHOUSE
We all know Nas had a great friendship with the late Amy Winehouse, but the rapper has spilled new details about what he misses most about the soul singer. In a interview posted on Vimeo.com, the rapper said of Amy, “It’s a bittersweet feeling to do something with her now that she’s not here. I’m happy. The sweet part is that fans have new music from her, new because they’ve never heard it. The bitter part is that she’s no longer her to really give it to us and deliver her music and for us to see her smile and hear her voice.” Nas is featured on Winehouse’s latest disc, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, which is available now.
PHARRELL TO HELP SCORE 2012 ACADEMY AWARDS
According to Deadline.com, Pharrell Williams has reportedly agreed to serve as a musical consultant for the 2012 Academy Awards. The Neptunes producer will work alongside Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer for the highly anticipated ceremony. This marks their first time being the musical supervisors for the event which is scheduled to take place on February 26th, 2012 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California.
While Google celebrated the launch of their Google Music platform in Los Angeles on Wednesday (November 16), Busta Rhymes was celebrating his brand new record deal—a joint venture with the popular search engine and the notorious Cash Money Records. Busta has been officially added to the CM roster along with New Orleans rapper, Mystikal, and MTV News caught up with him on Google’s red carpet for details on the lucrative contract. “It’s an unbelievably groundbreaking deal, [there’s] never been a deal done like this before, where the most powerful search engine in the world combines with the most powerful record company in the world,” Busta said.
“It’s just amazing to see that they understood what Busta Rhymes means to the music, what Busta Rhymes means to the culture, what Busta Rhymes means to the embodiment of authentic hip-hop,” he explained, after linking with Google to release the new single “Why Stop Now,” which features Chris Brown.
“I’m very proud to be aligned with Google, I’m extremely proud to be aligned with Cash Money, my management team, Violator, I’ve been aligned with them from day one— twenty years strong,” he continued. “It’s just exemplifying a different dynamic of greatness through this infrastructure and we’re gonna make something happen in a way that’s never happened in music before with this new deal.”
“Why Stop Now,” is the first single from Busta’s upcoming ninth album E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event) 2: End Of The World and it will be released through Google’s new music platform. Mystikal hasn’t released any comments on his new deal, but a source close to the rapper confirms that he has officially signed with Cash Money. -By Nadeska Alexis
RICK ROSS’ ALBUM DELAY CONFIRMED BY LABEL
Billboard.com reports Rick Ross’ upcoming album, God Forgives I Don’t, definitely won’t arrive this December. The postponement was speculated after the disc was removed from the upcoming release section on the Def Jam website, but now, the Senior VP of Marketing at Island Def Jam explained why the disc is being delayed. He stated, “I think we’re all aware of his recent health issue, and based on some of the minor setbacks with that, we weren’t able to confirm certain opportunities, because he physically wasn’t able to deal with certain things at the time. We want this to be his biggest album — we know it’s going to be his biggest album — so we did not want to pressure him into releasing an album based on the sake of a date.” No further details are known at this time.
DRAKE’S ALBUM PROJECTIONS ARE IN!
According to HitsDailyDouble.com, Drake’s sophomore album, Take Care, is on pace to top the Billboard 200 chart. The disc is projected to sell in the neighborhood of 675 to 725-thousand copies during its first week out. If this is the case, it will beat out the sales for Thank Me Later, which moved 447-thousand units. The effort will also become the third highest-selling project this year behind Lady Gaga’s Born This Way and Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV.
LISTEN TO MARY J, BEYONCE DUET!
Finally! After teasing fans with short snippets, Mary J Blige has released the full version of her much-talked about duet with Beyonce. Penned by Sean Garrett, you can listen to “Love A Woman” via TheLavaLizard.com now. The cut is lifted from Mary’s upcoming effort, My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act 1), which arrives in stores this Tuesday, November 21st.
AND…
CHRIS MARTIN WROTE SONG FOR BEYONCE!
In an interview with Maxim, Coldplay singer Chris Martin says Beyonce turned down a song he wrote for her. He says, “Well, I did write a song for Beyonce, but it got rejected by her A&R people.” Martin also wrote a song for Rihanna, a track called “Princess of China,” which appears on Coldplay’s new album, Mylo Xyloto. Chris Martin and his wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, are close friends with Jay-Z, who is married to Bey, so we’re surprised this collaboration never came out!
AND…
BEYONCE ISSUES WEDDING PHOTOS!
We’re still not sure how Beyonce and Jay-Z were able to keep their wedding photos a secret for so long, but fans can finally see a glimpse of Bey’s white wedding gown in a new video. The notoriously private singer just released the visual for her new song, “I Was Here,” which is lifted from her latest album, 4. The clip gives fans a glimpse into the diva’s world and presents a flashback of all of her recent accomplishments. Head to her official website to watch it now!
RIHANNA BEATS OUT BEYONCE ON BILLBOARD
Rihanna has out-performed Beyonce on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The singers were initially tied at having 36-weeks at number one, but Rihanna’s “We Found Love” has given her an advantage and she now holds the record with 37 weeks atop the chart. Even though Fenty has surpassed Bey, it’s important to note that it took Rihanna 11 singles to achieve this feat as compared to Beyonce’s five singles.
· Do you think Rihanna is more talented than Beyonce? Which performer would you spend your last dollar on?
50 CENT FEELS PRESSURE FOR NEXT ALBUM
In the upcoming December-January issue of XXL magazine, 50 Cent explained what caused the delay for his long-awaited fifth album. The rap mogul is taking his time because he feels he needs to “music that reflects what N.W.A made. I have to make music that has the moments that Nas had. I have to make music that has what Biggie offered.” As far as winning fans back, he added, “For me, I’m still up against what I’ve done…I know it’s a difficult task.” He also spilled that if all goes as planned, the follow-up to 2009’s Before I Self Destruct should arrive in January.
BOW WOW DELAYS UNDERRATED TO 2012
Bow Wow has some unfortunate news regarding the launch of his upcoming album, Underrated. According to Rap-Up.com, the rapper’s Cash Money debut has been pushed back from December 6th to an early 2012 release date. The news comes as the emcee recently shot the visual to his new single, “Sweat,” featuring Lil Wayne.
· Speaking of Young Money, there are whispers that Lil Twist and Tyga’s respective projects might get pushed back as well.
MAC MILLER TOPS BILLBOARD CHART
Mac Miller has claimed the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart this week with his debut album, Blue Slide Park. The disc reportedly sold 144-thousand copies during its opening seven days. The rapper has become the first artist in 16 years to debut independently at number one.
· The majority of his sales came from digital copies. He sold over 109k online as compared to 35k in physical units.
ALICIA KEYS GUSHES OVER MOTHERHOOD!
Alicia Keys is all smiles these days over being a mom. In an interview with GlobalGrind.com, Swizz Beatz’s wife revealed what it’s like being a mother to her adorable son, Egypt. Keys stated, “Motherhood is a billion times better than I expected…It’s a really special time, and I feel so honored that I get to help somebody in this world find his wings, and navigate and learn happiness, and be loved. He’s awesome! I’m having a ball!”
· Make sure you catch Alicia’s new musical, Stick Fly, on Broadway starting today.
SNOOP RECORD SONG FOR WEED WARS SHOW
According to the HollywoodReporter.com, Snoop Dogg has written the title track for the upcoming show, Weed Wars. The series highlights into the world of medical marijuana and airs on Thursday, December 1st at 10 PM on the Discovery Channel. Head to the site to hear the song now!
· Nancy Daniels, executive vice president of production and development for Discovery Channel, said in a statement, “Weed Wars fearlessly pulls back the curtain on a once illegal and still controversial world. From the inner workings of the business to Steve’s distinctive leadership style, Weed Wars is a fascinating glimpse into this highly unique setting.”
YELAWOLF LINES UP MIX OF GUEST FEATURES FOR DEBUT
While promoting his Radioactive LP, Yelawolf told us that the guest features on the project will surprise a lot of his fans. Initially we didn’t understand, but we just got a hold of the official tracklist – check out who made contributions below. In addition, be sure to pick up Radioactive on November 21st via Shady Records.
01. Radioactive (Intro)
02. Get Away (feat. Shawty Fatt & Mystikal)
03. Let’s Roll (feat. Kid Rock)
04. Hard White (Up In The Club) (feat. Lil Jon)
05. Growin’ Up In The Gutter (feat. Rittz)
06. Throw It Up (feat. Gangsta Boo & Eminem)
07. Good Girl
08. Made In The U.S.A.
09. Animal (feat. Fefe Dobson)
10. The Hardest Love Song In The World
11. Write Your Name
12. Everything I Love The Most
13. Radio
14. Slumerican Shitizen (feat. Killer Mike)
15. The Last Song
FRANK OCEAN NAMED GQ’S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Frank Ocean has had an incredible 2011. We’ve just learned the Odd Future singer has been named GQ’s Rookie of the Year for the magazine’s annual “Men of the Year” issue. From working with Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Kanye West to delivering the solid debut album Nostalgia, Ultra, we agree that Ocean deserved the recognition. In terms of how he feels about his success, he told the mag, “I got to grab my nuts and point my middle finger up.” Visit his official website to see when Frank will be in a city near you.
RIHANNA STILL ON TOP WITH “WE FOUND LOVE”
Rihanna’s “We Found Love” featuring Calvin Harris holds at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a third straight week. LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” stays at number two and Adele’s “Someone Like You” remains at number three. David Guetta’s “Without You,” featuring Usher, is up two spots to number four, while Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” featuring Christina Aguilera, falls one spot to number five.
· Taylor Swift’s “If This Was a Movie” debuts at number ten.
MIKE POSNER PREPS MIXTAPE
Mike Posner, who scored a hit with “Cooler Than You” off his 2010 debut album 31 Minutes to Take Off, is working on a mixtape. The effort is titled The Layover and will feature hip-hop heavyweights Big Sean, Bun B and Twista. Posner is also working on the follow-up to his debut, which is titled Sky High. It should be out in the spring. In the meantime, The Layover will be released on Sunday.
Mobb Deep are preparing to drop their Black Cocaine this month, followed by their ninth, self-titled album at the top of 2012. Meanwhile, Prodigy and Havoc are looking to expand their horizons with a series of new collaborations, including one with Rick Ross. Prodigy recently told MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway that he has already reached out to Ross for a feature. After wrapping up a three-year prison stint for weapons possession in March, Prodigy said he headed directly to G-Unit’s New York City offices, where he met with 50 Cent – who signed the group to G-Unit in 2005 – to discuss the collaboration. 50 Cent and Rick Ross have a notorious beef, which hit fever pitch in 2009 when Fif launched a full-scale attack against Rozay on his blog, ThisIs50.com. Prodigy didn’t talk specifics about his intended Rick Ross collaborations, but did confirm that fans could expect a Mobb Deep collaboration soon.
· Prodigy on a possible Rick Ross collaboration: “All that is in the works, man. We like Rick Ross. I’mma be honest: We come from an era where longevity and consistency is key, and in the beginning, I ain’t really see that in him. Then while I was locked up, he was dropping more and more music. I was like, ‘Damn, I’m starting to like this dude.’ That’s when I was like, ‘We need to holla at son and do some music with him.'”
TREY SONGZ DROPS TWO NEW TUNES
According to Rap-Up.com, Trey Songz dropped two new songs from his new mixtapes #Lemmeholdatbeat2 and Anticipation II, both out now. The crooner released “Boop” and “Sex Soundz,” which should keep fans happy until Songz releases a new album.
JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST KICK OFF WATCH THE THRONE TOUR!
Jay-Z and Kanye West kicked off their Watch The Throne Tour in Atlanta on Friday. The two-and-a-half hour show features the pair performing together and then doing mini-sets of their individual material. The Watch The Throne Tour rolls into Baltimore tonight and Philadelphia tomorrow.
FUTURE DOESN’T WANT TO BE A ONE-HIT WONDER
Future is super aware of haters thinking that his smash record, “Tony Montana,” will be his first and only hit single. The rapper said being a one-hit wonder is simply not an option. Fans can expect the Future’s debut album, called Pluto, at the top of 2012.
· Future recently finalized a contract with new Epic Records chairman, Antonio “L.A.” Reid.
DRAKE TALKS TAKING CONTROL, DOING IT HIS WAY
Drake has proven time and time again that he’s not going anywhere. And to make sure that his upcoming Take Care effort achieves the same success as his debut, Drizzy told MTV News he’s decided to be more hands-on with promoting, recording and taking control of his career. Fans can expect his sophomore effort to arrive on November 15th.
PHARRELL AND USHER LOVE BIEBER
According to Rap-Up.com, Pharrell has paid Justin Bieber a huge compliment. The Neptunes hit-maker told the young singer that he was impressed with his vocals on his new holiday album, Under the Mistletoe. The two were in the studio working on new music for his next studio album along with Usher, who added that Bieber’s voice is “incredible.” Hear for yourself as Bieber’s Under the Mistletoe album is out now. His next studio album, Believe, is due in early 2012 and is set to feature Drake and Kanye West.
CRISCO KIDD BLOCK PARTY 