Just last week, Jessie J announced that “Wild” would serve as the first single off her upcoming sophomore album. Now she teases with an acoustic performance of the song, which features Big Sean and Dizzee Rascal.
“If I go hard let me tell you that it’s worth it/ Play the right cards, I ain’t afraid to work it,” sings the big-voiced Brit. “I just can’t believe that this is my life and my fantasy, we’re running wild.” Continue reading
Beyoncé gives the Beyhive an inside look behind the scenes of her Mrs. Carter World Tour in eight short clips and explains the reason why she had to cancel her first show in Antwerp, Belgium. There was so much speculation after E! News reported that multiple sources confirmed the international star was with child once more, but from her own mouth, the force behind the cancellation was tonsillitis and exhaustion and although, Beyoncé’s doctors recommended that she hold off from performing the second night in Antwerp, she mustered up the will to get on stage & give a great show! The footage also shows her band, dancers, lead choreographer Frank Gatson and the first performance of “Grown Woman.” Watch the short clips below:
World Tour is Coming
The Queen B is about to sting! Beyoncé’s new song “Grown Woman” just leaked in full length! Produced by Timbaland and co-written by The-Dream. Beyoncé included a snippet of the track in her most recent Pepsi campaign and she’s also performed the anthem live several times on the Mrs. Carter World Tour. No official word has been released as of yet on whether the track will make the final sequence of her upcoming fifth album, but I really hope it does! LOVE the African and tribal reference she incorporated for the instrumental. Listen below: Continue reading
It’s been 20 years since Janet Jackson released her fifth album janet. On the anniversary, she looks back on the iconic project and shares her plans for the future.
The pop icon, who secretly wed Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana last year, reminisced on her 1993 album, which sold 7 million copies and spawned six Billboard Hot 100 singles.
“I can’t believe it is already 20 years!” the 47-year-old singer told Billboard. “I always write my music based on what is going on in my life at the time. I wanted to allow people in… I want my fans to really know me. The janet. album was sexual and I was beginning to really discover that side of me.”
Despite a five-year absence from music, Janet is back in the studio working on her first album since 2008’s Discipline. She is still in the early stages and is in no rush to release it.
“I am working on a new project now. We are creating the concept and initial thoughts on the music,” she said. “I am excited about the direction we are taking. I don’t want to rush it… I don’t want to put a time constraint on the creative process.” Continue reading
Candice Glover joined Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, and Jordin Sparks by becoming the newest “American Idol.” Only hours after the confetti fell from the “Idol” stage, the South Carolina singer had already announced her debut album.
The 23-year-old excursions coordinator from St. Helena Island beat out country singer Kree Harrison in Thursday’s finale and performed a duet with her idol Jennifer Hudson.
Glover, who cites Jazmine Sullivan and Christina Aguilera as inspirations, auditioned three times before winning. She was still soaking in the surreal moment.
“I don’t remember [Ryan Seacrest] saying my name,” Glover told The AP. “I do remember confetti getting in my mouth.”
The vocal powerhouse has signed a record deal with 19 Recordings/Interscope Records and will release her full-length debut Music Speaks on July 16th. The album is available for pre-order on iTunes featuring her coronation song “I Am Beautiful.”
Glover will hit the road with her fellow “Idol” contestants on the “American Idol” summer tour, kicking off June 29 in St. Louis. She is also set to visit “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and “Live! With Kelly & Michael” during her press tour. Watch the live result below: Continue reading
Last month, when The-Dream previewed a handful of tracks off his upcoming IV Play album, one that caught plenty of folks’ attention was “Fire,” a sultry track that featured vocals from a breathy Beyoncé.
Well, on Tuesday (May 14), a snippet of another collaboration between the two — a slithering, snake-charmer sex-jam called “Turnt” — began making the rounds … and this one manages to raise the temperature even more.
Over a slowly simmering beat, Beyoncé takes on the advances of a would-be lover and proclaims “People think I’m crazy, but I love you ’cause you’re crazy too.” As slinky keyboards slowly unfurl, The-Dream shows up to boast about his prowess — he’s the reason all of these cute girls got babies, just in case you were wondering — and the track carnally clicks along. Turn the lights down low. Take your time with it. We definitely need a cold shower after listening to this one.
But is the song — which reportedly also features 2 Chainz, though he isn’t heard on the preview — legit? Well, according to a spokesperson for The-Dream, the answer is yes.
After plenty of delays (and a name change,) IV Play is finally set to hit stores on May 28. “Turnt” is on there, and there could be plenty more collabos between The-Dream and Beyoncé coming soon. Earlier this year, the man known as Terius Nash told MTV News that he and Bey are working on making “music that feels good” for her upcoming album.
“If you seen [Beyoncé's HBO doc, "Life is but a Dream,"], which was great, we had been talking about doing something that showcases who she is and what she wants because we see those figures that are so out of the stratosphere,” he said. “She’s just shooting to be regular and OK and not trying to appease everybody … “You have to appease yourself and your soul for doing it.”
Listen to the snippet here:
Continue reading
After dropping a remix to “Looks Good With Trouble” with Kendrick Lamar, Solange has another big announcement. The singer has launched her own label, Saint Records.
“Super stoked to announce I’ve started my own label, SAINT RECORDS, where I’ll be releasing my music & other projects distributed through SONY!” tweeted the 26-year-old singer.
Her next album is due on the label. “It is through SAINT RECORDS that I will be releasing my full length album, and also future music projects that I’m excited about sharing!”
The new deal gives her complete creative freedom. “Through Saint Records I will have 100% creative/artistic control & continue to passionately pursue my footing in this new musical movement,” explained Solange, who is managed by Roc Nation. Continue reading
Kendrick Lamar blesses Solange with a verse on the remix to “Looks Good With Trouble,” a cut off her EP True. K-Dot adds his velvety flow over the vibey Dev Hynes production, rapping lyrics from Common’s “The Light” (“ticka-ta, ticka-ta, ticka-ticka-tick-a”). The song is now available on iTunes.
Solange is featured on comedic rap trio The Lonely Island’s upcoming project The Wack Album and will perform at the Made in America Festival in Philadelphia this August. Listen below… Continue reading
Taking on an Aaliyah song is a daunting task. But Sevyn Streeter showed that she was more than ready for the challenge. The 26-year-old singer-songwriter, who is signed to Chris Brown’s CBE/Atlantic Records, performed an acoustic cover of Aaliyah’s 2003 hit “Come Over” for The Warner Sound.
She was inspired after taking a trip to Aaliyah’s high school in Detroit. After her visit, she penned an open letter to the late singer.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to say THANK YOU & I LOVE YOU because you taught me it’s sexy to be cool and it’s cool to just be you!” wrote Sevyn.
Watch her pay tribute to her idol with her rousing rendition. Continue reading
After dropping his new single, “Cole Summer,” on Tuesday night, J. Cole quickly followed up with a new 6-track EP.
The sequel to February’s 5-track “Truly Yours” EP, “Truly Yours 2,” available for free, features Young Jeezy, 2 Chainz and Bas helping out the 28-year-old rapper. Jake One and Canei Finch also contributed production on the set.
The EP features varied sounds, from chill summer jams such as “Kenny Lofton” that harken back to old-school vibes, to dark club anthems such as “Chris Tucker.”
Known for his way of name-dropping in tracks, Cole even caught the attention of former “Sister, Sister” actress Tia Mowry, who’s mentioned with her sister in the track “Cole Summer” in a not-so-PG way. The actress innocently tweeted, “So I’m hearing J Cole mentioned the sis and I in a song? Send me the link? I’m curious..” to which the rapper responded, “”Noooo @tiamowry Don’t do itttttttt.”
The MC’s sophomore album, “Born Sinner,” originally slated for January 28, comes out June 25 via Roc Nation and Universal. Cole has also been in the studio with TLC, helping with their upcoming release. Continue reading
Hosted by DJ Drama and DJ MLK, rapper T.I. releases the first mixtape from Hustle Gang entitled, G.D.O.D. (Get Dough or Die). The 21 tracks feature the Grand Hustle crew including Tip, B.o.B, Travi$ Scott, Trae Tha Truth, Iggy Azalea, Chip, Young Dro, and Kris Stephens, plus collaborations with French Montana, Juicy J, Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Mystikal.
Tip stated, “The mixtape is just a prelude to what you will see in the near future.” The Hustle Gang album will reportedly drop in October. Get the free mixape below: Continue reading
Last November, Rihanna shepherded 250 people to seven cities in seven days to promote her seventh album Unapologetic; dubbed the “777 Tour” the expansive, grueling experience was captured on camera for the Rihanna 777 documentary.
The special aired on Fox and offers a behind the scenes look at the global trek – including interviews with crew and band members, fans and Rihanna herself, along with clips from each performance.
Kicking off in Mexico City before stopping in Toronto, then Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, London and finally New York, the “777 Tour” wasn’t all extravagant globetrotting of course: Many journalists complained about not having access to Rihanna, essentially seeing the same show during each stop and not getting enough sleep. About halfway through a minor mutiny occurred aboard the plane, which included a streaking Australian radio DJ (and, yes, it’s in the documentary).
Despite such complaints, Unapologetic debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 album charts, with first single “Diamonds” becoming her 12th Number One the day after the tour ended. Watch the documentary below… Continue reading
