Tag Archives: Album

Game’s R.E.D. Album Due June 15

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

MC reveals title of two songs, including Justin Timberlake collaboration: ‘Ain’t No Doubt About It.’ By Shaheem Reid The Game Photo: Moses Robinson/ WireImage What is like for superproducer Pharrell Williams to work alongside Dr. Dre on the Game ‘s forthcoming R.E.D. Album ? “Humbling, man.” Williams, who is co-executive producer of the LP, talked about his excitement in a statement released Tuesday (April 13). Game announced that The R.E.D. Album will be released on June 15 and Pharrell can’t wait for the universe to listen. “Game is good, kid … and I’m excited for the world to hear the many facets of his character,” the producer said. “What’s even crazier is that as a fan, I cannot believe I am actually producing songs on the same album as Dr.Dre.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Donnis Premieres ‘Gone’ Video Featuring Just Blaze And Estelle

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Kidz in the Hall’s Double-O is also in the clip, which Donnis says is ‘not the traditional hip-hop video.’ By Jayson Rodriguez Donnis on the set of his video for “Gone” Photo: Jayson Rodriguez It’s not quite freshman hazing, but when upstart MC Donnis is joined at a party by the likes of Just Blaze , Estelle and Kidz in the Hall ‘s Double-O for his debut video for “Gone,” things get out of hand fast. The trio livened things up so much that a groggy Donnis wakes up in the clip (presumably the next morning) and tries to remember what happened the night before through a series of “Memento”-like flashbacks. “The video is basically a party gone backwards,” the rapper explained on the set of the BBGun-directed project . “People haven’t seen that in a long time. It has a lot of twists to it. It’s not the traditional hip-hop video. We tried to do things a traditional hip-hop video wouldn’t do. The club [scene] is a little bit in the vein of hip-hop, but the house party is very different from what you usually see.” In the opening scenes of the video, Donnis is seen picking up his tie from the previous night and reaching for his sunglasses, which are damaged. As he’s walking across the bedroom floor, flashes of last night’s proceedings appear onscreen: a female friend writing her phone number on his hand, the rapper bumping into a club-goer and Donnis’ face through a peephole as he’s knocking on an apartment door. As the music cues and he attempts to catch a cab back home, a clock pops up onscreen running backward, and Donnis begins reaching for the previous night’s memories. The bump caused his glasses to break. The girl’s apartment he just left was in the cab with him and another female the night before, who were, uh, just as friendly with each other as they were with him. The video is a montage of different club scenes that help to explain Donnis’ night before the end of the clip, when Just Blaze does his best Dame Dash impersonation by pouring champagne everywhere and then Estelle opens the door to welcome the rapper to her house party. The track “Gone,” released by A-Trak’s Fool’s Gold Records, was produced by Needlz and appears on Donnis’ mixtape, last year’s Diary of an ATL Brave, and also on his upcoming mixtape Fashionably Late. Donnis is featured in the April issue of XXL as a part of the Freshmen 10 class and is working on his Atlantic Records debut, Past Visions of the Future. What do you think about Donnis’ “Gone” video? Do you agree with him that it’s not a traditional hip-hop video? Let us know in the comments!

See the original post:
Donnis Premieres ‘Gone’ Video Featuring Just Blaze And Estelle

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

E-40 Says Two New Independent Albums ‘Complement Each Other’

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I had a whole bunch of songs,’ MC says of the decision to record two CDs, in Mixtape Daily. By Shaheem Reid E-40 Photo: SicWidIt Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables Independent Albums : Revenue Retrievin’: Day Shift and Revenue Retrievin’: Night Shift Headliner : E-40 Key Cameos : “Can’t Stop the Boss” (featuring Too $hort, Snoop Dogg and Jazze Pha), “Power Up” (featuring San Quinn and Keak Da Sneak), “Whip It Up” (featuring Gucci Mane and YV), “Outta Control” (featuring Dem Hoodstarz and Mistah F.A.B.) Essential Info : About the only one in the game who can sign the independent-minded rap legend E-40 is his son, producer Droop-E. 40 kept the scrilla all in the fam by inking a deal with Droop’s Heavy on the Grind Entertainment, which is distributed through EMI. 40 also made two LPs while paying for the studio time of one. The Bay Area Ambassador was originally supposed to put out one album at the end of 2009 but decided it wasn’t financially sound to drop it during the fourth quarter. “At first I had a whole bunch of songs,” 40 explained. “I was just gonna do Revenue Retrievin’. Then I was like, ‘I’mma go ahead and do two of these.’ I didn’t want to come out in the fourth quarter, because it was just co-op pricing and positioning [in record stores]. All that stuff is double and triple as far as to buy into programs with retailers and have your stuff on the shelf. Because you competing with Christmas songs and all type of stuff during that time — it just doesn’t add up. It seems like when you do come out in the fourth quarter sometimes, once that fourth quarter is over, the album is over.” Since he had a delay in his album release, 40 kept recording and came up with an extra body of work. “I ain’t new to this two-CD thing,” he added. “I did a double CD, The Element of Surprise, in 1998. That album went gold. That double CD was all contained into one package. This one is different because it’s two separate CDs with two separate bar codes and they both complement each other: the Day Shift and the Night Shift. I took them [album cover photos] with the same poses, different locations. I did different poses with different outfits on. The Day Shift songs are things that would unfold during the daytime. Night Shift is what would unfold during the nighttime. So, that’s how I put that whole thing together. I did both all on one album budget. We got a whole lot of team players.” 40 is not stopping there; he said he’s looking to release another LP possibly by year’s end. Other Heat This Week

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Could Lady Gaga Win ‘Celebrity Apprentice’? Donald Trump Thinks So

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I’ll tell you, she’s fantastic,’ Trump says of Gaga. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga Photo: Ian Gavan/ Getty Images On this season of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” ’80s pop icon Cyndi Lauper is battling it out for business supremacy against Sharon Osbourne, Bret Michaels and other stars. A few years down the road, when Trump is still pitting celebs against one another to test their business savvy, the tycoon is hoping Lady Gaga will fill Lauper’s shoes. “I’m a big fan of Lady Gaga,” Trump told MTV News about the prospect of the pop star competing on his show. “We went to her opening [show] in New York [City at Radio City Music Hall] , and I’ll tell you, she’s fantastic. She’s really great.” Does Gaga have the chops to win the show and prove she’s the ultimate celebrity apprentice? “She would win,” Trump asserted. “Absolutely!” Speaking of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” Trump also weighed in on former contestant Jesse James’ current marital strife , saying there’s no way he can repair his relationship with Sandra Bullock. “Well, he self-destructed. Jesse really self-destructed,” Trump said. “He was on ‘The Apprentice,’ and he did a really good job. He’s a tough guy. He’s very sullen, but he’s tough. But he really did self-destruct, and I can’t imagine after what he’s been with and what he’s done that he gets Sandra back.” Do you think Lady Gaga could win “The Celebrity Apprentice”? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Lady Gaga

Go here to read the rest:
Could Lady Gaga Win ‘Celebrity Apprentice’? Donald Trump Thinks So

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

30 Seconds To Mars Battle It Out In ‘This Is War’ Video

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘The song is really about conflict … we’ve certainly had our fair share of it,’ Jared Leto tells MTV News. By James Montgomery 30 Seconds To Mars’ Jared Leto Photo: EMI At this point, Jared Leto is getting pretty used to conflict. He and his 30 Seconds to Mars bandmates battled their way through the making of their This Is War album, and they basically willed the first single, the epic “Kings and Queens,” onto the rock radio charts. So when it came time to shoot a video for the second single — the equally soaring title track from the album — well, they pretty much knew the direction they wanted to head. Photos From 30 Seconds To Mars’ ‘This Is War’ Video “The song is really about conflict, and the album really is about it too: the inevitability of conflict, the blessing of conflict and what we can all learn from it. We’ve certainly had our fair share of it,” Leto told MTV News on Friday (April 9). “So for the ‘This Is War’ video, we wanted to explore another side of it. So we decided to portray soldiers in conflict.” And so, in the video, Leto and company donned U.S. Army fatigues — and body armor — picked up standard-issue M4 rifles and piled into an armored Humvee. Working with director Edouard Salier, they’ve created a short film that looks at conflict through the eyes of the men and women who live it every day. And, much like everything involving 30 Seconds to Mars, they went all in. “We worked with one of my oldest friends, who served in the Special Forces and has been in Iraq several times. He was our consultant. It was incredible to take a look into his world and his life, the knowledge and expertise he’s gained,” Leto said. “A lot of people are going to interpret this piece in a lot of different ways, and hopefully it will start some debates and some conversations. “The video made us realize that underneath the uniforms, these men and women out there in conflict are just like you and I. When we put them on, I looked at my brother, looked at [guitarist] Tomo [Milicevic], and they looked like soldiers,” he continued. “You start to walk like a soldier, feel like a soldier, when you’re wearing body armor and carrying a working M4 … it’s an impactful experience. It was definitely provocative for us. It made us think, and that’s the point of the whole thing.” Leto wouldn’t divulge too much about the concept of the video, only saying that the video contains “a surprise” and features plenty of visual effects. The band shot the video outside of Los Angeles, days after wrapping their first-ever European arena tour, just before they headed down to Las Vegas to begin rehearsals for the U.S. leg of their Into the Wild jaunt. And while it was exhausting, Leto said that was just part of the whole experience. And, by now, they’re used to battling a bit. “As is the case with everything involving this band, it was more exciting than exhausting, to be honest. In a way, it feels like the beginning again,” he said. “When we were making this album, we took advantage of the opportunity to rediscover ourselves. So it’s really a celebration. We’re just excited to continue on this journey.” Are you looking forward to the “This Is War” video? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Photos From 30 Seconds To Mars’ ‘This Is War’ Video Related Artists 30 Seconds To Mars

View original post here:
30 Seconds To Mars Battle It Out In ‘This Is War’ Video

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

50 Cent Looking For New G-Unit Recruits, Including Robert Pattinson?

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘ ‘Twilight’ ain’t no joke,’ the MC tells Mixtape Daily. By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Susan Younis 50 Cent Photo: MTV News The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive It’s been a while since we had Curtis Jackson around these parts in Mixtape Daily. Our fellow Queens native has been on the road for a while, making movies and touring overseas. While hollering at our colleagues at MTV UK, Fif revealed that he wants his Black Magic album to drop before summer is over — oh, and the title has nothing to do with witchcraft. “I don’t believe in voodoo,” he said. “But it’ll be very addictive. The first time you’ll hear it, you’ll remember the songs that’s on there. It’s designed for fun — for listening pleasure. “I’m not in a hurry,” he added about the recording process and release date. “I kind of planned on releasing Black Magic … I gave myself a goal to try and put it out by the end of the summer, so I’ll work that hard on the actual project. If I don’t feel it’s ready by the end of the summer, I’ll just jeep it.” Fif is also going on tour this summer, but said members of his current G-Unit family, including Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, most likely won’t make the trek. “It’s interesting because they probably won’t be coming with me. In the U.S., Banks has momentum with the first single off his new album, ‘Beamer, Benz or Bentley.’ So he’ll be out [on his own tour] with H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger For More 2). While he’s doing that, it probably wouldn’t make sense for Yayo to come with me because his record is almost done now — he should use that time to complete his record and release it shortly after. But I’ll be running around.” No Banks or Yayo, but Fif says he will not be alone — he’s recruiting new members to his camp now. “You’ll see new faces, because I’m looking for new artists now. I’ll sign new artists and take them with me and kinda groom them. I don’t specifically say, ‘I want this kind of artist’ — I look for talent that inspires me, that complements what I do with their own thing. Some of the stuff you can’t teach a person; they gotta have it.” While 50 didn’t name any specific prospects, but did say he wouldn’t mind adding movie heartthrob Robert Pattinson to the Unit’s fold. The star of the “Twilight” franchise (50 said he’s seen “New Moon”) has dabbled in singing in addition to his acting. “Robert Pattinson. He has a big enough following to be the frontline,” 50 laughed. ” ‘Twilight’ ain’t no joke.” What rapper or singer would you like to see join 50 Cent’s G-Unit? Let us know in the comments below! For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Videos Mixtape Daily: Drake, L.E.P. Bogus Boys

Read this article:
50 Cent Looking For New G-Unit Recruits, Including Robert Pattinson?

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Drake Says ‘Over’ Video ‘Takes The Song To Another Place’

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It offers up a whole different look for the song,’ MC says of the clip. By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway Drake Photo: MTV News According to Drake, his video for “Over” should be out very soon and the clip shows a choice he had to make in real life. “It captures … it takes the song to another place,” he told MTV News in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, during the opening night of his Away From Home Tour . “It offers up a whole different look for the song. The song — to a lot of people — is ignorant, it’s club. This video is what I was really thinking about. The song is like a bad dream — but it’s not a bad dream, it’s not a terrible dream. It’s a little evil. The video really reflects that. It’s a struggle between the purities of my past life and what this new life has to offer. Even in the video, you see me looking back and forth between the two and deciding. At the end of the video I don’t necessarily make a decision, but when you get the album, you’ll see what choice I make.” “Over” is early in the Thank Me Later track list, and is part of a story that’s told through the album. “Initially it was a warm-up record,” he added of “Over.” “I love the song. I love the message in the song. It’s funny, because ‘Over’ is the fourth song on the album and it’s the turning point in the album. It’s like, you get three songs of me sort of trying to paint the picture of what the last year has been like for me — trying to fill you in, almost let you into my world as much as I can. ‘Over’ is that moment where you’re almost worried on the album. ‘Is this kid about to … ? What’s happening? Is he changing?’ I wanted that to come out first. I wanted people to be a little nervous. This whole journey could have changed me drastically. Fortunately I’m able to step out of my shoes and reflect on it and give you some great music. ‘Over’ is a great alter-ego moment. It’s the dark side of things and I really wanted that to come out first.” Thank Me Later is in stores June 15. Are you looking forward to the premiere of Drake’s video for “Over”? Let us know in the comments below! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Drake

Read the original post:
Drake Says ‘Over’ Video ‘Takes The Song To Another Place’

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Nicki Minaj Pulls Out Of Rihanna/ Ke$ha Tour

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I’ve decided 2 use that time 4 the completion of my album,’ Minaj tweets. By James Dinh Nicki Minaj Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images Just days after it was announced that Nicki Minaj would be joining Ke$ha as an opening act for Rihanna ‘s Last Girl on Earth Tour this summer, the Young Money rapper has decided to not participate, according to a tweet she posted on Wednesday (April 7). Late Tuesday, Minaj took to Twitter to hint at the news. “*sighs* how … how do i say this … hope the barbz [her fans] will understand … hate letting them down. *sighs again while in deep thought*,” she wrote. And on Wednesday afternoon, the rapper dropped the news . “Barbz I’m sorry 2 say I will not be going out on RiRi’s tour. I’ve decided 2 use that time 4 the completion of my album. Hope u understand,” she tweeted. At press time, reps for Minaj and Rihanna had not responded to MTV News’ requests for comment. Minaj’s decision to focus on her debut album comes at a bit of a surprise, since she told MTV News in February that she wasn’t in a rush to release the album because she felt people need to get used to seeing a female rapper again. “With the album, just like with my mixtape, I never like to rush it,” she said. “With the album, I think it’s more important that people get accustomed to seeing a female rapper again. Before I drop an album, people need to come out and see. People don’t even know what a female rapper does.” However, fans can certainly see Minaj in the video for her single “Massive Attack.” A clip for the video, which features Amber Rose and producer Sean Garrett was released last week. While Minaj’s name is still on the tour announcement on Rihanna’s official site , it appears likely that the tour will proceed with a new opening act. Related Artists Nicki Minaj Rihanna Ke$ha

Continued here:
Nicki Minaj Pulls Out Of Rihanna/ Ke$ha Tour

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Gaga For Gomez

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Selena Gomez has been jet-setting around the world promoting everything from her TV series, to her album and most recently, her clothing line. The Wizards of Waverly Place star, who just launched a range based on her hit Disney show, was looking absolutely adorable in a funky printed skirt and ruffled top while in London. If we were Miley Cyrus , we would be watching our back!

See the original post here:
Gaga For Gomez

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Whitney Houston Postpones European Shows Due To Illness

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

An upper respiratory infection has forced Houston to reschedule concerts in Paris, Manchester and Glasgow. By Jocelyn Vena Whitney Houston performs in Saitama, Japan (file) Photo: Jun Sato/ WireImage Whitney Houston has postponed a handful of dates on her European tour because she is reportedly suffering from an upper respiratory infection and has been advised by her doctors not to perform. According to the Web site for the Manchester, England, venue where Houston was scheduled to perform on Thursday, Friday, she has postponed those shows until June 16 and 17. The 46-year-old singer also rescheduled Sunday’s concert in Glasgow, Scotland, for May 1. On Tuesday, Houston was forced to sit out her show in Paris. “Doctors visited Whitney late last night in Paris and confirmed that she was suffering from an upper respiratory infection,” says a statement on the Manchester Evening News Arena’s site . “Upon medical advice Whitney has been advised that she cannot perform to allow her time to recover. “Only last month Whitney had said how excited she was to be performing again in the U.K. after her 11-year absence and was looking forward to performing new songs as well as crowd favorites,” the statement continues. In February, after some fans and critics said Houston was out of breath and had trouble hitting notes during her concerts in Australia, her rep denied that she was having health trouble. “Whitney is in great health and having a terrific time on her tour and with her fans,” the publicist told E! Online . Houston staged a comeback late last summer and released her first album of new material in seven years, I Look To You. The singer explained that the album addresses many of the things she has been through. “All the triumphs and the ups and downs and stuff, it’s all incorporated on the album, and hopefully not only does it inspire me, but inspires a whole lot of other people,” she told MTV News before the album’s release. “That makes it real,” she said of singing about personal struggles. “The changes that we go through, the transitions that we go through, the tests that we go through, being a mother, becoming a single mother — it all had its ups and its downs, but for the most part, I kept my faith and I kept my head up and I took my time.” Related Artists Whitney Houston

See the original post here:
Whitney Houston Postpones European Shows Due To Illness

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,