Kanye West joins forces again with Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell also known as the supergroup “Child Rebel Soldier (CRS)” for another “G.O.O.D Friday” record.
Download here courtesy of Kanye himself.
Source: killerhiphop.com
Category: Pharrell Williams
Download It!: Tyga ft. Pharrell – “First Time”
Tyga will be dropping his sophomore album, ‘Careless World’ next year. Here is a smooth track off the album titled, “First Time” which is produced and featured by Pharrell.
Listen to the track below…
LISTEN:
DOWNLOAD IT!: Tyga ft. Pharrell – “First Time”
Source: earstyle.net
Album Cover: N.E.R.D. Unveils New Album Cover for ‘Nothing’
N.E.R.D.’s fourth album ‘Nothing’ is finally scheduled to arrive this November, after undergoing some serious reconstructive work and a sharp change in direction. According to Pharrell Williams, the decision to scrap 27 potential songs for the album earlier this year has inspired a completely new body of work.
“We got rid of those tracks and started with nothing, so I was like, that’s what we need to do — we need to call [the album] ‘Nothing,” Pharrell tells The BoomBox. “At the end of the day, how did the world come about? They said it started with the Big Bang, but what was before the Big Bang? What comes before all great ideas? Before you’re inspired … Nothing!”
Although Pharrell has repeatedly described the album’s current line-up of songs as “lifestyle” music, the N.E.R.D. frontman doesn’t actually hold the new content in such light regard. Observations on current events, technology, and the dizzying pace of daily life, were all driving forces in the effort to create an album dedicated to “escapism,” or an alternative reality.
“We’ve had so many things going on, from the technological advancements of the iPod, and the iPad, which are genius,” Pharrell explains, beginning on a positive note. “But at the same time we also have technological failures like the oil spill and it feels a lot like the late 60s and early 70s. While I was too young to understand what we were going through, I’ve looked back at a lot of footage and newsreels from that era. And now we have issues like our dependency on fossil fuels, which has not proven to be a good thing.”
“There are issues and people want to talk about them, but we don’t want to bring people down,” he continued, emphasizing that ‘Nothing’ is intended to uplift the listener. “We want to bring people up, make people happy, we’re tired of people thinking so much, That’s why in the middle of the ‘Hot n Fun’ song, you hear me say, ‘People don’t wanna think anymore, they just wanna feel, they wanna let go,’ for just for a second man. We need some kind of escapism and that’s what the ‘Nothing’ album is about.”
Some of that escapism will appeal uniquely to the female psyche “in the same way that a Sandra Bullock film would,” Pharrell says, but by no means is it intended to be enjoyed only by the fairer sex. “This album is for black, white, gay, straight, tall, skinny, fat, whatever. As long as you have blood in your body, it’s for you. It’s just for you to listen and escape. While a lot of women hear it and they feel sexy, it’s not a sexual album. I’m not saying anything about a girl’s body necessarily. The focus is to liberate women and make them feel free and be happy about music and what music does to them.”
On the new album cover, Pharrell is wearing a combat helmet with red, white, and blue feathers stuck in the side, he shows his profile, facing away from the camera. The band’s rock-rap effort collaborated with Nelly Furtado for their single, “Hot-N-Fun” and follow-up “Party People.”
‘Nothing’ is currently set for a November 2 release.
Listen to their single “Hot-N-Fun” below….
(Audio via THE SCENE SOCIETY)
Source: The Boom-Box/Rap-Up.com
Music News: Newcomer Alja Jackson Writes for Beyoncé’s New Album
Newcomer Alja Jackson has confirmed that she has done some writing for the new Beyoncé album.
“I’m listening to the record I wrote for Beyonce” she says “Oh mane! Sh*t snappin! So Pretty Girl Bad! ‘Bout to have B on dat PGB! She on it!”
More on Alja after the jump….
Alja Jackson is a new, up and coming singer/songwriter/rapper signed to Interscope Records/Geffen Records. She even runs her own label “LEFTFIELD”…
Alja Jackson has been in this music game for more then 5 years now. She is known for going against the norm, using guerilla tactics & strategies with a new sense of style & flair, with her eclectic musical taste.
“When my mother would drive me around in that old Toyota Corolla, all we had was that broken car radio. It was stuck on one station and that only played pop music. I listened to that a lot and then we got home I listened to R&B and hip-hop. That’s the music I knew I wanted to do when I became an artist. I knew I wanted to be an R&B/soul star”.
What she didn’t know is that pop music would make its influence known when she started writing and shaping her sound. Alja moved to NYC to be in the heartbeat of music and to be where she thought she would find fame and fortune. She sang background vocals for iconic artists like Maxi Priest and Sean Paul. She took meetings with labels, knowing that one day she would be a star. But NYC wasn’t the dream for Alja’ Jackson and than she moved to ATL
“I knew that I had to go home because I just wasn’t feeling the vibe. I knew that ATL was the new hotspot for music, so I moved.” Alja’ was motivated but everyone wasn’t digging her sound. “It’s not that they didn’t like my music. They liked my music, but I didn’t have a sound. Every artist needs to know their own voice, their sound, and I didn’t really have one..You have to take a minute to find out who you really are. A lot of artists don’t want to struggle, but that advice opened every door. I started working with all these producers and artists and it changed everything. Then, one day I was in the studio working with the Pussycat Dolls and the next day, I was in an artist meeting with Jimmy Iovine.” Alja’ slouched in the chair, sure that this was just another “we don’t get you and your style” meeting, but “Jesse Jane,” her vibrant alter ego, knew that this was it. “Jesse Jane” was right.
Interscope Records got it and signed her the next day.
As a songwriter Alja has written songs for Diddy-Dirty Money, Trey Songz–“Already taken{Co-wrote it with Ester Dean}”, and Sharaya {Missy Elliott’s new artist}-“What is Love”. And she has worked with many big names in the music industry such as producers Mad Scientist, Ike Dirty, Chuck Cha-Loa, MissyElliott, Timbaland and Pharrell Williams. It’s just been confirmed that the singer will release “I’m the Prettiest Girl”, as the first single off her upcoming debut album. It’s also been confirmed that the single will have an alternate remix that will feature Lil Wayne and Missy. The video is said to be directed by Nicole Ehrlich who also directed Kelis’s video “Acapella”.
You can listen to the single below, with lyrics that go like “I’m Hotter Than Electricity In A Wire”:
Listen:
DOWNLOAD IT: “The Prettiest Girl”
Bio info source: toyaz-world.net
Music News: Pharrell Launches News Web Site for Teens
Between writing and producing hits for the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, designing a successful clothing and shoe line and prepping his own band N.E.R.D.‘s disc for this summer, who has time to watch the news? Pharrell Williams, that’s who.
However, the award-collecting rapper doesn’t have his sights focused on his own news intake. Oh, no: He’s producing something very special for young adults by creating Kidult.com, an online venture inspired by his teenage fans to report on politics, technology, health, fashion, science, business, environmental issues, sports, gaming and entertainment news geared just for them. The site’s staff includes a team of young writers doing interviews with celebs and “cool job” professionals including Justin Bieber, Will.I.Am, Miranda Cosgrove and the head costume designer of American Idol!
But there’s more: Political polls are conducted regularly, and users can even listen to President Obama‘s weekly radio address or learn how to pay off credit card debt (even I need that!).
“Kidult is a reliable news source that speaks directly to teenagers,” says Williams. “It also gives them a chance to get involved and speak to other young people about issues they care about. Kidult is the site I wish I had when I was in high school.”
Visit the site at www.Kidult.com for more information.
Source: OMG!
All On The Cover: Usher Covers Vegas
Usher covers Vegas Magazine and from the looks of it, it seems like he’s back to the way his fans love him.
The magazine quoted him saying, In time I’m going to grow older, but I hope that I can be remembered for being a great father to my sons, a gentleman, and a renaissance man.”
Trying to pin down what Usher has been up to lately could take hours of interviews and a river of ink. At the moment, he’s set to release his sixth studio album, “Monster”, as well as the third fragrance in his collection, VIP. Then there’s his philanthropy work and his eponymous foundation (through which 20 teens will get to direct the first video off Monster). On top of all that, he’s the father of two young sons, one-and-a-half-year-old Usher Raymond V and seven-month-old Naviyd Ely Raymond. (“That’s all I need, a daughter to make me superweak,” he jokes about adding to his brood.) In June, he announced his separation from his wife of two years, Tameka Foster.
With this much going on in his life, it’s no wonder that Usher sequestered himself and his crew in Las Vegas to produce Monster. Usher and his team, including music superstars Pharrell, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, rented out the third floor of the Palms Resort Casino, then made a daily commute to the resort’s in-house recording studio, where everyone from Elton John to Mary J Blige to Axl Rose has laid down tracks. “Vegas is good livin’, a product of positive energy, upward thinking,” Usher says. “Every time we’d go out to a club, there would be motivation there. [Recording in Vegas] allowed me to open my mind and just be creative and think outside the box.”
He even discusses how he plans on being back real lovemaking music for the masses:
“The sex in music, the good sex in music, the lovemaking in music, we’ve begun to depart from it. Right now it’s all about hitting it and quitting it. I think there are a ton of women out there who want to be made love to and want to have that song going that they really want to make love to.”
Check out more photos and a video of the photoshoot below.
Source: Upscaleswagger/Stuff Fly People Like/Roc4Life
“What do you think of his cover shot?”
Music News: Rihanna’s New Album Plus Jamie Foxx Gets Her Angry
New Rihanna album will feature Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z, plus Jamie Foxx Gets Rihanna Angry…
Rihanna is growing up, and she’s invited the big boys to play on her new album.
Among the heavy hitters slated to lend their voices to the new album are, Kanye West, the obvious Justin Timberlake, Soulja Boy, the beautiful Shontelle, Jay-Z, the talented Pharell Williams and many others …
Rihanna made a further statement about her music and the “Good Girl Gone Bad” album which is now behind her.
“I do not intend to give up anything, said the singer. Good Girl Gone Bad did that time in my life. It represented who I was. My next album will be a notch above. I want to continue to grow … I am not stuck. I want to change. “
First, it is important to know that no name has been determined at this time, therefore forget the rumor of the “Dark Angels”, the “Karma”, the “Good Girl Gone Bad” and all that follows. Rihanna has chosen the name of her new album for several weeks but want to keep secret until the last moment to avoid any leaks.
Many artists are working on this album that will certainly be a great board that will get Rihanna a successful comeback worldwide. Among the army of employees, include for example the famous leader of the band OneRepublic, Ryan Tedder, who composed two songs for Rihanna, which he played entirely on a piano. At this stage, we will no longer speak of “planetary tubes”, but songs that should “mark the minds forever,” to cite Def Jam. Words certainly exaggerated but at least the die is cast.
Rihanna never was as much a perfectionist and selective in the choice of songs and their interpretation. Also, it participates actively in the writing of words and the selection of instrumental moods. The album is more rock than the previous one and a bit more pop, while keeping many songs tones and rhythms of R&B, where the singer excels.
It is clear that Rihanna wants to be recognized as being now a mature woman who requires both its own musical style and its own originality. Rihanna loves her image trendsetter and wants now to exploit it to its songs. So this is a true melting pot of musical styles that appear on the new album, which will mark a remarkable 180° turn for Rihanna and the fans, who should not be disappointed with the result.
Namely, several duos should appear on the album. By “several” means two or three. At the moment none have been recorded with the exception of those with singer Chris Brown who have been canceled and will not appear on the album. Needless to say why, as everyone knows (at least, hopefully).
In short, this album promises to be Rihanna’s best album and certainly the best in the league of artists produced by Def Jam.
Plus…
Jamie Foxx Gets Rihanna Angry At Tao In Las Vegas…
JAMIE Foxx is at it again. The actor, who recently ridiculed Miley Cyrus on his radio show, laid into Rihanna during a party at Tao in Las Vegas the other night.
“Jamie took over the microphone and started doing a show. Halfway through, he asked Rihanna to join him onstage,” said sources. She was there with Jay-Z and looked “annoyed” at the request, said our tipster. “Rihanna declined, but Foxx continued to badger her.”
The deejay played “Umbrella” and “that was the last straw” for the Barbados-born beauty. “She got up to leave, and Jamie told the deejay to stop the record,” said our source. Foxx shouted, “You can’t go while your song is playing. Relax.”
Our witness said, “Rihanna stayed and pretended to enjoy herself, but it was so obvious she was fuming. As soon as the song was over, she got the hell out of there.” Rihanna’s rep declined to comment and Foxx’s rep didn’t return calls and e-mails.
Sources – NY Post
Designer Love: Nigo Steps Away from his BAPE Brand
Cult Streetwear Designer Nigo Steps Away from his BAPE Brand…
Are people still spending $150 on graphic hoodies? Wait. Are people still wearing graphic hoodies?
Perhaps it’s the lack of demand for insanely overpriced streetwear that has Nigo — the revered Japanese designer who helped popularize the graphic hoodie through his A Bathing Ape label — backing away from his own business.
WWD reports that the diminutive designer is stepping down as president and director of the brand, though he’ll remain head designer — and will continue his fashion partnership with N.E.R.D. Pharrell Williams, whom he co-owns the Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream brands with.
Nigo, who’s also a DJ and music producer, said he’s decided to give up his management duties in order to concentrate on the creative side…which probably needs a boost right about now.
The designer’s ascension in the fashion world is the stuff of pop culture legend. He launched Bape in 1993 by making between 30 and 50 t-shirts a week, then splitting them between his celebrity friends, including Williams and Kanye West, and the fawning public. The limited-edition pieces became instant collector’s items.
But luxury streetwear companies like Bape and WESC — who’ve been gauging us for years — are going to have to rethink their business models if they want to stay relevant. In this economy, $200 t-shirts don’t fly. And if we keep our heads, they never will again.
Source: hollywoodlife.net
“Your thoughts on Nigo stepping down?”
Music News: Diddy Talks New Album
If you thought Diddy’s smash LP Press Play was high on concept, get ready for his next project. The New York media giant is taking it to that proverbial creative place recognized around the world as “there.” And when he takes it there, he will not be alone. Diddy is part of team on the album he’s titled Last Train to Paris, scheduled for September 22.
“It’s a profound love story, man,” Sean Combs told MTV News Wednesday night via phone from L.A. “It’s about this tumultuous love roller-coaster relationship that occurs. It’s everything from love, pain, sex, God, celebration. It’s a lot of things rolled into one. It’s a conceptual album.”
“One of the things, I wanna give you that’s not out there yet is that it’s not me as a solo artist,” Diddy added. “It’s a group I put together; myself and two girls. Two young ladies, you may know them or you may not. It’s almost like some back-in-the-day Loose Ends-type sh–. We’re going to be telling the story of Last Train to Paris.”
The story of the album starts when Diddy’s character and his female bandmates go on tour overseas, where he meets the woman of his dreams.
“I’m infatuated with her, really blown away,” Diddy said. “We wind up spending the night together. I never get her name. When I wake up, she’s gone. A couple of months go by, and I bump into her again on tour overseas. We get together, and she’s attached to my hip. For three months! She’s on my hip for three months. I tell her to come to New York, Miami, all the places where I get it poppin’, where I really do sh–. You know how men pop sh–, like men do sometimes when they’re trying to make a woman fall in love.”
As the story unfolds, Diddy and his love have a misunderstanding and separate.
“She just breaks out on a n—a,” Combs revealed. “But an absence makes the heart grow fonder. She’s singing to me; I’m performing to her. We’re in two different parts of the world. She’s remembering all the good times, and I’m thinking about if I had another chance, I wouldn’t f— it up. So, I go on tour and I’m in London. I get a tip that she’s in Paris, and it’s 9:45 p.m. or something. It’s one of the foggiest days in London, so I can’t take my plane. I can’t drive, the road is shutdown. The only way I can get there is the last train to Paris, and it leaves in 20 minutes and I’m 15 minutes away. It’s that whole intensity of what happens on the train ride — and will she be there when I get there — is something else you’ll hear.”
The presentation of Last Train to Paris won’t just be for your listening pleasure. Puff Daddy is also going in front of the cameras to include a short film with the CD.
“A movie is going to be shot to it too,” Diddy said. “It’s definitely going be an album you can seamlessly see. Not after the fact. When you get the album on that day, September 22, you will be able to see the whole album on your computer. I go into production of the movie in May.”
“The movie is more of visual presentation. It’s not like I’m playing Prince and sh–,” he added, dismissing the notion that Last Train will be his “Purple Rain.” “You know how, when you on your computer and you’re listening to an album, you have your screen-saver on — instead of screen save, you’ll be able to see the album in motion. And the presentation of the album will be different from the videos. I’m out here in L.A. right now, meeting with directors. I’m looking for somebody who can do it within the budget and do it guerrilla style.”
Diddy laughed when he said that blockbuster guru Steven Spielberg will not be on his list. “Cross him off,” the mogul joked. “I’m looking for the hot film student.”
With a while until the project has to be in stores, Diddy hasn’t confirmed his guest list of people that will get on the mic for him, but production-wise, he has a pretty prestigious core on his side. The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, Rodney Jerkins, the Hitmen, T-Pain, Mario Winans and the Neptunes have all contributed lyrics and beats.
Pharrell Williams also talked to MTV News about the project on Wednesday. “I thought it was sick,” he said of Diddy’s concept. “I think he’s a super-smart guy who knows where things are going. He told me, ‘Yo, just make me sick beats. I want them to dance; I want them to have a good time.’ … I was like, ‘Wow.’ For me, it was like making music for a movie.”
“The album is going to be hard,” he said of the sonic feel. “It ain’t going to be no European dance/trance music. The clubs I’m in, they don’t play that. I’m from a club [called] DC10 in Ibiza. That’s what kind of gave me inspiration for this album and that sh– is funky and soulful and hard. A lot of cats have got on dance music and fused sh– together recently. I think they have a done a great job. I’m showing a different club. The club I’m bringing to the mainstream is at the after-hours club, the underground club.”
Diddy said he currently in the process of trademarking the name of the group that he will be in for the album, as well was figuring out how he is going title the LP. It may be “Diddy as …” or just Diddy. He also said he’ll have a new series coming up on MTV called “Making His Band,” which will be about finding the musicians he wants to tour with.
Source: MTV
Check out Diddy Live In The Studio Vol. 1
JNEL & J. Magazine 