It is agreed, there will be an album Lil Wayne/Drake. This is probably one of the most exciting things in my life because we are going to get the music in another sphere.
“We have always worked on it, it’s always in the studio. We often talk about making this album, this joint project.” Weezy told Sway of MTV News.
The skipper of Young Money is so happy with the songs recorded during his studio sessions with Drake for ‘The Carter 4’ that it planned to spend more time with him to advance it. He will have to play it tight for all of its obligations:
“The ‘T-Wayne’ (album together with T-Pain) is underway. I’m also working on the album ‘Like Father Like Son’ with Stunna.”
Drake, in anyway, is patient: “He’s a very friendly, it does not interfere with my plans. He said “I’ve been waiting for you and it’s time for our album together’.”
Of course, Sway has attempted to extract information on a possible release date. The response of Lil Wayne will delight more than one “Probably at the end of the year.”
2011 Grammy Awards nominations were announced. Rihanna is nominated for 4 Grammy Awards. Rihanna already won 3 awards: one for “Umbrella” and two for “Run this Town”.
Here are the categories that Rihanna is nominated in:
♥ Best Dance Recording: Only Girl (In The World) ♥ Record Of The Year: Love The Way You Lie ♥ Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: Love The Way You Lie ♥ Best Short Form Music Music Video – Love The Way You Lie
Eminem Leads 53rd GRAMMY Nominations
Eminem leads the race with ten nominations including Record of The Year, Song of The Year and Best Rap for his global smash ‘Love The Way You Lie’ with Rihanna, while his comeback album ‘Recovery’ is up for Album of The Year. Bruno Mars is the next on the nominations tally with seven nods. Cee LoGreen‘s ever-popular ‘Fuck You’ is up for three major Grammy’s including Record of The Year, Song of The Year and Best Urban/Alternative.
Lady Gaga and Katy Perry are up against each other in four major categories – Album of The Year, Best Pop Album, Best Female Pop and Best Pop Collaboration.
Gaga’s ‘Fame Monster’ will challenge Katy’s ‘Teenage Dream’ in the album categories while their singles “Bad Romance” and “Teenage Dream” face off for the Best Female Pop song. Elsewhere, Gaga and Beyoncé’s almighty “Telephone” is up against Katy and Snoop Dogg’s “California Gurls” in the Best Pop Collaboration category.
In the R&B categories, Fantasia has been nominated for three including Best Female R&B, Best R&B song and Best R&B album – where she’s up against Monica‘s ‘Still Standing’.
Beyoncé hasn’t dropped any new music in 2010 but she’s still being nominated for her ‘I Am… Yours’ live disc, which saw her performance of “Halo” qualify for the Best Female Pop category.
♥RECORD of THE YEAR:
“Nothing on You” by B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars “Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem feat. Rihanna “Fuck You” by Cee Lo Green “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum
♥ALBUM of THE YEAR:
‘The Fame Monster’ by Lady Gaga ‘Teenage Dream‘ by Katy Perry ‘Recovery’ by Eminem ‘The Suburbs’ by Arcade Fire ‘Need You Now’ by Lady Antebellum
♥SONG of THE YEAR:
“Fuck You” by Cee Lo Green “Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem feat. Rihanna “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert “Beg Steal or Borrow” by Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs
♥BEST NEW ARTIST:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence & The Machine
Mumford & Sons
Esperanza Spalding
♥BEST FEMALE POP:
“Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry “Halo (Live)” by Beyoncé “King of Anything” by Sara Bareilles “Chasing Pirates” by Norah Jones
♥BEST MALE POP:
“This Is It” by Michael Jackson “Whataya Want From Me” by Adam Lambert “Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Buble “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars “Half of My Heart” by John Mayer
♥BEST POP COLLABORATION:
“Telephone” by Lady Gaga& Beyonce “California Gurls” by Katy Perry &Snoop Dogg “Airplanes Part II” by B.o.B, Eminem &Hayley Williams “If It Wasn’t For Bad” by Elton John & Leon Russell “Imagine” by Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck and Oumou Sangare
♥BEST POP ALBUM:
‘The Fame Monster’ by Lady Gaga ‘Teenage Dream’ by Katy Perry ‘My World 2.0’ by Justin Bieber ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ by Susan Boyle ‘Battle Studies’ by John Mayer
♥BEST DANCE RECORDING:
‘Dancing On My Own’ by Robyn ‘Dance In The Dark’ by Lady Gaga ‘Rocket’ by Goldfrapp ‘In For The Kill’ by La Roux ‘Only Girl (In The World)’ by Rihanna
♥BEST FEMALE R&B:
‘Everything to Me’ by Monica ‘Bittersweet’ by Fantasia ‘Tired’ by Kelly Price ‘Holding You Down (Going In Circles)’ by Jazmine Sullivan ‘Gone Already’ by Faith Evans
♥BEST MALE R&B:
‘There Goes My Baby’ by Usher
‘We’re Still Friends’ by Musiq Soulchild ‘Why Would You Stay’ by Kem ‘Finding My Way Back’ by Jaheim ‘Second Chance’ by El DeBarge
♥BEST R&B BY DUO/GROUP:
‘Soldier of Love’ by Sade ‘Shine’ by John Legend and The Roots ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ by Ronald Isley and Aretha Franklin ‘Love’ by Chuck Brown, Jill Scott and Marcus Miller ‘Take My Time’ by Chris Brown and Tank
♥BEST R&B SONG:
“Bittersweet” by Fantasia “Finding My Way Back” by Jaheim “Second Chance” by El DeBarge “Shine” by John Legend and The Roots
“Why Would You Stay” by Kem
♥BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM:
The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae Raymond V Raymond by Usher Transition by Ryan Leslie Untitled by R Kelly Graffiti by Chris Brown
♥BEST R&B ALBUM:
‘Still Standin’g by Monica ‘Back to Me‘ by Fantasia ‘Wake Up!‘ by John Legend & The Roots ‘Another Round’ by Jaheim ‘The Love & War Masterpeace’ by Raheem DeVaughn
Tune In: The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 13, 2011. The nominees compilation album will be in stores January 28, 2011.
Soulja Boy is crediting a recent session with Kanye West for expanding his mind as a musician.
Last month, Soulja Boy visited New York City for media rounds and to shoot a cover for XXL magazine.
During his time there, Soulja worked with both 50 Cent and Kanye West.
While his work with 50 was released as a video, “Mean Mug”, Soulja Boy’s music with Kanye West has yet to be heard.
He revealed that Kid Cudi joined them, and they completed several verses for an undisclosed amount of tracks.
Working with Kanye, and hearing an advanced copy of ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’, helped Soulja Boy to different creative possibilities he can attempt with his own music.
“We got in the studio: me, Kanye and Kid Cudi. That was dope,” Soulja Boy told AllHipHop.com. “He played some dope beats and we worked around a couple of samples and got a couple verses in. I listened to the finished product that Kanye is on, and that really opened my mind. I don’t even want to say as a rapper, but as a musician. It really opens your mind to different sounds and drum kicks.”
With the music still in the vaults, and Kanye’s album tracklist confirmed, the next logical question is whether Kanye and Soulja’s work will be showcased in an upcoming G.O.O.D. Friday drop.
Kanye’s celebrated series runs until January, and has already featured artists ranging from Charlie Wilson and Keri Hilson, to Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj.
“We’ll have to see,” Soulja said with the laugh of someone caught red-handed. “There’s been some leaking going on. Kanye was kind of mad about that. Wait for those Fridays…”
Soulja Boy’s third solo album, ‘The DeAndre Way’, is set to be released on November 30.
Chrisette Michele is not happy with a certain Miami reppin’ rapper she’s done some collabos with named Rick Ross. What did he do to upset her you ask? Welllll, Wednesday night at the Soul Train Awards he threw a hissy fit and stormed out because he lost “Best Hip Hop Song” went to Eminem.
Michelle was so put off by Ross’ exit that she felt the need to “denounce” him, and hip-hop in general, on her blog:
If this is the way hip hop is then I denounce it. This is not about ego. This is about what I can bring to the world. My life is for the people. I live to give.
It’s my desire to bring life and freedom light and love everywhere I go. Upward mobility in the brown skinned community. Who stands off at an award show because they don’t win? An award is winning at being as “stuck in a category” as possible. Congratulations to all the trophy holders who won at being the most like every one else.
I could have sworn hip hop was on the come up. But apparently rapping is about venting, bashing, chauvinistic pigging, and EGO. Not cool. Don’t LET me start rapping. They say…I’m ecclectic. I’m underrated. I’m different. Well If I win an award it’s because I paved a way. Every award I’ve won was new in it’s category. You know why? Because I’m amazing at being my damn self.
Grammy – best alternative R&B song Centric award – Soul Approved Etc Have u even heard of those categories? Nope. But guess what? You ain’t never seen another me. And u never will. No ego here. Why? Because it’s none needed. My award is waking up every morning and CAKING off of what I believe in by the grace of God.
Maybe I’ll call my 4th album “winners : just like every body else” maybe not. I pray with every song I sing Im singing from the bottom of my heart. If all we want is an award for telling our truths, then we really have no true reason. This isn’t a competition. This is a stage for self expression and I’m grateful for the opportunity to live on it. I’d sing even if nobody sang along.
-from the bottom of my disappointed heart. Hip Hop… Man up. I wanted to be supportive but I can’t understand you. I believed in you… But apparently you’re so high you can’t even see what the world needs
Is all hip hop like that? Absolutely not! But some of it certainly is. Let me spit a few bars. I’m not that kinda hip hop. I rep hip hop too. But not that kinda ego trippin foolery.
Chrisette Michele – the girl on that Aston Martin Music record…
Spread love.
Check out their track below…
LISTEN: Rick Ross ft. Drake & Chrisette Michele – “Aston Martin Music”
Kanye West has officially canceled his scheduled performance on NBC’s “The Today Show” shortly after his interview with Matt Lauer.
He tweeted the following…
“I’m not performing on the Today Show for obvious reasons.” “I’m so happy the world got to see just a small piece of ‘the set up.’…I blatantly said I’m not performing on a tweet and to everyone around me and the next day they still announced a performance….Do you guys see what I’m saying now?”
It wasn’t a surprise that West backed out of the performance after airing his concerns with Lauer’s interviewing techniques.
“I don’t hate Matt Lauer,” he added on Twitter today. “We don’t promote hate. That’s the whole point!!! I promote love and truth!…All positive energy … all smiles. Much love to Matt and the whole Today Show. I accept ya’ll future apology in advance LOL!”
In related news:
Kanye West Tweets His Frustration Over Matt Lauer ‘Today Show’ Interview
Kanye West is fighting mad, but this time it’s over “how they did [him] at the Today Show,” he chose his Twitter account to fight back.West sat down for an interview with Matt Lauer to, as he tweeted last night,“express how I was empathetic to Bush because I labeled him a racist and years later I got labeled as a racist.” But things didn’t quite go as West would have liked.
Kanye was referring to the flak he received after the talked-about-to-death 2009 MTV VMAs Taylor Swift interruption—something, according to West, the Today Show decided to dredge up visually while he was speaking. (His full interview has yet to air on the morning program.)
“While I was trying to give the interview they started playing the ‘MTV’ under me with audio!!!!!!!” Kanye tweeted. He then added, “I don’t mess with Matt Lauer or the Today Show … and that’s a very nice way for me to put it!”
West’s rants spanned through a further series of tweets, which found him alluding to the fact that Matt Lauer attempted to stage the G.O.O.D. Friday MC’s reactions to the questions. “He played clips of Bush and asked me to look at his face while I was trying to talk to him,” he wrote.
Here’s more:
“HE TRIED TO FORCE MY ANSWERS. IT WAS VERY BRUTAL AND I CAME THERE WITH ONLY POSITIVE INTENT… I feel very alone very used very tortured very forced very misunderstood very hollow very very misused… I don’t trust anyone but myself! Everyone has an agenda. I don’t do press anymore. I can’t be everything to everybody anymore… I can’t be everybody’s hero and villain savior and sinner Christian and anti Christ!… I can’t take anymore advice!!! I create, I’m creative, I have a good heart, everyone will see and understand one day.”
In the end, he capped things by cryptically tweeting, “Everything sounds like noise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYTHING SOUNDS LIKE NOISE!!!!!!! I don’t trust anyone!”
Here’s a small portion of Kanye’s Today Show sitdown, which was aired when Lauer spoke to George Bush.
We’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out when Yeezy’s full Today Show interview runs. And when it does, if things went down as West says, one thing’s for sure—it might be someone else other than Kanye, for a change, who’s under scrutiny.
“Yo I really wonder if Matt Lauer thought that shit was cool to play the ‘MTV’ clip while I was speaking about Bush?” West tweeted toward the end of his rant. “This is rock and roll life my people… you can’t stop the truth you can’t stop the music and I have to be strong or ‘they’ win!!!!”
Check out the video below…
Source: OTRM & idolator
“I saw a bit of the interview. He was really upset when they played back the video of him snatching Taylor Swift’s award in the middle of him trying to answer the question Matt Lauer asked about the whole incident.”
As I stand here, trying to do the “Moon Walk” from all the excitement I’m about to share with you all, I want to warn you in advance, it will also get you pumped up and ready for the holidays.
Sony has officially announced this afternoon, that the much anticipated, long-awaited, newly completed recordings from the King of Pop‘s 11th studio album entitled ‘MICHAEL’ (his first since 2001 offering ‘Invincible’) will be released on December 14 by Epic Records in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson. Later on today, an exclusive teaser for the project will appear on www.michaeljackson.com; on Monday, November 8th the world premiere of “Breaking News,” a full track from the album, will stream on the site for one week only.
Sony announced in a press release posted online yesterday…
“The creative process never stopped for the King of Pop who was always planning for his next album; unbeknownst to many fans around the world Michael Jackson was writing and recording songs continuously everywhere from a friend’s home in New Jersey to studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with a small group of handpicked collaborators. Now, through the unique stories that will be told about the songs that comprise ‘MICHAEL’, fans will get mind-blowing insight into how this artist worked and a chance to hear the songs he most recently created along with tracks that Michael had a desire to bring to fruition.
“Breaking News,” a never heard before song by Michael that appears on the new album was recorded in New Jersey in 2007 and recently brought to completion. Fans can begin pre-ordering the album on www.michaeljackson.com in the next 24 hours.
The attached image of the album cover of ‘MICHAEL’ was created by painter Kadir Nelson in 2009. In the oil painting, Kadir – who is known for story telling through his art – takes us on a journey through some key moments and important people in Michael Jackson’s life.
Stay tuned for the worldwide launch of the official first single from ‘MICHAEL’ later this month.
A frustrated Ne-Yo has hit out at internet hackers, after learning that his fourth studio album ‘Libra Scale’ has leaked more than 3 weeks before its Stateside or international release.
His comments after the jump…
Speaking on Twitter moments ago, the singer/songwriter, 31, said:
Salutations all. I’m in japan and my album officially came out today out here. Today is a day that I SHOULD be very happy, but it has been brought to my attention that my album was hacked and leaked in the U.S. roughly a month before it’s U.S. release.
Initially this angered me. It’s stealing plain n’ simple. But then I started thinking. Why do I make music….? To sell records, make money, or is it because I love it, love how it touches people, how it helps people? The honest answer is both…
However, my love for music and it’s effect on people, outweighs my desire to simply sell records, or get that number one debut spot.
In a time where people buy their status and falsify their success, can those things really be that important to me? The answer is no.
So with that said, I’ve come to this place of mental peace. No longer stressing people that steal the music, how it’ll effect my sales. The bottom line is, I worked hard on this project. The music, the concept, the whole lot is for the people, respect or not.
So if you as a fan give a damn about me, buy the album when it comes out. If you don’t care, go get it off the internet. Your choice.
Ether way, the music, the concept, the whole lot, served it’s purpose. It gave the people something quality to vibe to. I’m not solely in the business of selling records. I’m in the business of making art. That’s what an artist does, period.
So with that twit fam and haters alike, I bid you farewell for now, and leave you with this….
I’LL BE DAMNED IF YOU HACKER FUCKS GET MY NEXT ALBUM BEFORE IT’S TIME!!! FUCK YOU ALL!!!! Have a nice day.
The Grammy-winning pop singer has parted ways with manager Marc Jordan and is now being managed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Management
So with the worldwide promotion of her upcoming album ‘Loud’ becoming a success, Rihanna has been making some serious future decisions in regards to her career.
According to The Associated Press, It looks like Riri is back in the arms (Beyoncé‘s place) or should we say under the wings of the one and only Jay-Z. And why? Because she has decided to join Willow Smith and others under Roc Nation management!
Rihanna is now under Jay-Z’s umbrella
Rihanna told The Associated Press in a statement Wednesday (Oct.20) that she’s “so excited to take this next step in my career.”
The 22-year-old is also launching a new company called, Rihanna Entertainment. She says it will “merge all of her businesses, including music, film, fragrance fashion and book ventures.”
Jay-Z signed Rihanna to Def Jam in 2005. The two won a Grammy in 2008 for the hit song “Umbrella.” Earlier this year, the pair picked up two Grammys for the rap song “Run This Town,” which also featured Kanye West.
Talking about the first time he met Rihanna, Jay-Z say he signed her only hours after seeing her audition:
“We signed her that night — 3 in the morning was when that contract got signed. We wouldn’t let her leave the office. From meeting her at 4 [p.m.] in the office till 3 in the morning, I was absolutely certain. That doesn’t happen too often.”
Rihanna however remembers the meeting a little bit differently saying she was super nervous:
“When we first got there, I was shaking. I had never met a celebrity, and to have to audition for one and meet him at the same time … I was hysterical. But the minute I went in the office, it was totally different. He was so welcoming; the environment was so warm and friendly. The jitters just went away immediately.”
So Jay-Z has always had a hand in Rihanna’s career and he rhymed on her biggest hit “Umbrella.” So it looks like the Roc fam is sticking together beyond Def Jam.
She’s released four albums and plans to release her fifth CD, “Loud,” on Nov. 16.
Prior to Bruno Mars performing on Saturday Night Live, he sat down with ELLE Magazine and got into depth about his new album, what he thought about Kanye West‘s SNL Performance, and what his future plans are.
Check it out after the jump…
If you don’t recognize Bruno Mars, then just turn on the radio. He’s the R&B mastermind writer/producer behind practically every ounce of DJ-fuel: Cee Lo’s snappy Motown kiss-off “Fuck You,” B.O.B’s sultry single “Nothing On You” and Travie McCoy’s catchy ode to capitalism, “Billionaire.” On Tuesday, the 24 year-old Hawaii native released his solo debut, ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans,’ anchored by the melodic “Just The Way You Are.” And this weekend, he’ll provide the soundtrack to Saturday Night Live.
ELLE: Even though you were behind some of the biggest songs of the summer, was going solo always your goal? Bruno Mars: I got signed at a young age, and, it’s not like the movies—you don’t get signed and all of a sudden hit songs falling into your lap, so I had to learn and see the way things were behind the scenes. Luckily, I got a chance to sell one of my records. That helped pay rent, so I figured that I’d just start producing for other acts and then hopefully, one day labels would hear me sing these demos and take a chance.
ELLE: You famously wrote Cee Lo’s “Fuck You.” How did you two meet? BM: We’re label mates, and I knew that he was working on his album so I just kept putting it in everyone’s ear, like, “Yo, I need to work with him. It’d be a dream come true.” We hooked up at the studio, we started working, we did a couple of records together. We did a record on Travis McCoy’s album called “Dr. Feel Good,” which he’s singing on; he’s on my album, “The Other Side,” so it’s only natural. We all got to the studio and came up with one of our favorite songs.
ELLE: Were you worried “Fuck You” wouldn’t get airplay because of the lyrics? BM: You know sometimes, you just gotta do things that feel right. And Cee Lo’s the type of artist who’ll say whatever the hell he wants to say.
ELLE: What are you going after sound-wise on your solo album? BM: I’ve been a songwriter and a producer for a while now and I’m always hopping around from different genre to genre, and I’m hoping “Nothin’ On You,” “Billionaire,” and “Just The Way You Are,” were a warning to people that I might not just stick to one sound. So on [Doo-Wops & Hooligans], I was just really trying to be open. I would just sit down in the studio, pick up a guitar, and write a song, whether it called for a reggae beat or whether it was a ballad. It was kind of a free fall. Let me just do what I want; let me get this out of my system. And I’m already thinking about my second album.
ELLE: You must be excited to perform on SNL this weekend. BM: Geeze. The first time you’ll see me singing “Just The Way You Are” on TV is on that show, live.
ELLE: Will you try to weasel your way into a skit? BM: I don’t know how those things work. I’d love to, but I’m fine with just performing.
ELLE: And you’re following the Kanye performance from last week. Did you see it? BM: Yeah, wasn’t that incredible? That was my idea! I was gonna wear a red suit and have ballerinas dancing to “Just The Way You Are.”
ELLE: You better talk to your stylist, ASAP.
BM: No, I’m just kidding. He was amazing though, definitely, he definitely woke me up. Now you’re making me nervous. What the hell is going on? This is supposed to be a nice, sweet interview.
ELLE: Oh no, didn’t they tell you we just try freak you out here at ELLE?
BM: Right, like, “This is your first big moment. Good luck following Kanye.”
Plus check out Bruno Mars performs “Grenade” in this extended session of Billboard’s Tastemakers series LIVE at Mophonics Studios NY.
After hearing their new promo single “White Knuckle Ride,” it’s like Jamiroquai never left! Jamiroquai is one of the first bands that really peaked my interest in dance music. While I think it was “Virtual Insanity” that first grabbed my attention (and subsequently helped break Jamiroquai into the mainstream) there are so many classics from the band’s six album catalog that it’s hard to choose a favorite. In addition to the band’s breakout hit, songs like “Cosmic Girl,” “Deeper Underground,” “Canned Heat,” “Little L,” “You Give Me Something” continue to pop up on my playlist from time to time and everytime one does I hope for a comeback. Well… Looks like I’ll be getting my wish next month when Jamiroquai releases their 7th studio album, ‘Rock Dust Light Star’ on November 1st.
“White Knuckle Ride,” the band’s first single since 2006’s “Runaway,” is a slice of musical heaven and a sign of good things to come from the new album. Written by band members Jay Kay and Matt Johnson the song marks the groups first single signed to Mercury Records. To be released as a “taster” on a limited edition vinyl, “White Knuckle Ride” is backed by remixes from Seamus Haji, Monarchy and Penguin Prison so it’s looking like this record will be prime club play material. ‘Rock Dust Light Star,’ Jamiroquai‘s seventh studio album and the bands’ first in 5 years is the sort of comeback I was hoping for.
“At a time when many acts are producing electronic, disco influenced tracks, with “Rock Dust Light Star, Jamiroquai have moved on from the sound they helped popularize and reverted to a more organic, live sound.”
Interesting. I’m not going to lie…“White Knuckle Ride” kind of sounds like another Jamiroquai song to me. Perhaps I need to go back and listen to the old catalog again, but I don’t think this is a bad thing in the slightest. Perhaps the re-jiggering was done under the hood, and not audible? Perhaps I just haven’t listened to it enough. Regardless of whether or not the new sound is actually new, Jamiroquai is back and I’m beyond thrilled with the result.
According to frontman Jay Kay, “Everything on the record is live. It’s a real band record. The last, album – fantastic – but the whole thing became a little sterile. This time we’ve captured the flow of our live performances.”
Maybe that’s the problem! I need to see Jamiroquai live! While it doesn’t appear to have a U.S. release date just yet, here’s hoping. The first official first album single “Blue Skies” will be released in November 1st, the same day as the album release and is described by the band as “pure class” and “an epic, blissful, sun-kissed Californian mid tempo song with lush string arrangements and perhaps Kay’s most emotive vocal to date.” Can’t wait!
Check out the video for “White Knuckle Ride” below…