Tag Archives: Album

Rihanna Says Next Album Will Be ‘More Energetic’

Singer wants to combine the ‘grime’ of Rated R with more up-tempo pop for her next effort. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by MTV Korea Rihanna Photo: MTV News Rihanna has had a difficult past 12 months in the aftermath of her assault by Chris Brown . But the “Hard” superstar has endured, by being both outspoken about her experience in hopes of helping others and by channeling her experience into Rated R, her most rounded effort to date. She told MTV News last year that she “vented” on the project . Don’t expect her next album to be as dark as Rated R, though. Rihanna said the follow-up, which has no timetable set yet, will be less intense. ” Rated R, I love the sound of it, in terms of the bass,” Rihanna explained. “I really like the bottom, the grime of it. But if I were to combine that with more energetic, up-tempo pop records, then I think that will be a happy marriage. And that’s where we’ll probably go next.” Rated R was inspired mostly by Rihanna’s ordeal in the wake of her and Brown’s breakup. The singer was the subject of media headlines worldwide. She kept away from the spotlight after a brief reunion with Brown following their altercation. But when Rihanna returned, she had an album that chronicled her months away from the glare. “This album is an expression of all those feelings that I went through in the last eight months, just different emotions,” she said shortly after Rated R ‘s release. “All of it isn’t angry, all of it isn’t dark and sad, ’cause I didn’t go through that the whole time. That was part of it. It was really a roller coaster, and you get that when you’re listening to the album.” Related Artists Rihanna

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Rihanna Says Next Album Will Be ‘More Energetic’

Drake Says Thank Me Later Influenced By Nas, Andre 3000

‘I went back and really studied Nas and Andre 3000 and then came back with this album,’ rapper said about his debut album. By Jayson Rodriguez Drake Photo: Tyrone Kerr/ FilmMagic Drake has plenty of people onboard to give him advice on the process of recording his major-label debut album, Thank Me Later. There’s Lil Wayne, of course, his lyrical mentor. And Kanye West, who the Toronto MC said has been his biggest musical influence . Jay-Z, in interviews, has even gone on record relaying some tips to the upstart rapper. According to Drake, though, the former “Degrassi” actor sought out the audio work of Nas and OutKast’s Andre 3000 to help inspire the work on his project. “I went back and I really studied Nas,” Drake explained in a video recorded over the weekend and posted online on Monday (February 22) . “Nas was somebody that I used to listen to his raps and never understood how he did it. I always wanted to understand how he painted those pictures and his [rhyming] bar structure. I went back and really studied Nas and Andre 3000 and then came back with this album.” Thank Me Later is due later this year on Young Money/Universal Records. In the spring, the rapper will kick off a headlining, eco-friendly tour to promote the album. The album will be Drake’s first solo project since 2009’s So Far Gone, the dark mixtape that featured the breakout hit “Best I Ever Had.” While the Young Money cohort has been mum about his plans for the follow-up, he did reveal his debut would be more upbeat in comparison to his mixtape. “It’s gonna be bigger, it’s gonna sound happier,” he said. “More victorious, ’cause that’s where I’m at in my life.” Related Artists Drake Nas

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Drake Says Thank Me Later Influenced By Nas, Andre 3000

Jay-Z: President Obama Was Playing The Blueprint When I Called Him

‘I’ve been invited to the White House a couple of times,’ Hov tells the BBC. By Jayson Rodriguez Jay-Z Photo: Gareth Cattermole/ Getty Images Jay-Z has dropped Barack Obama’s name in his rhymes, and Obama referenced Jay’s lyrics when he dusted his shoulder off during a campaign appearance before he ascended to the White House. But it turns out the pair have more than just a passing appreciation for rhetorical flourishes. In an interview with Jonathan Ross airing on the BBC Friday (February 19), Jay-Z revealed that the president has invited the rapper to the White House a number of times since Obama’s inauguration. “I’ve been invited to the White House a couple of times,” Hov told Ross , although he said he hasn’t taken up the president on the offer just yet. “Hopefully we’ll keep him in for eight years, so I’ll have time to get there.” The Brooklyn MC was an avid supporter of Obama during the presidential campaign and referenced him in a series of lyrics, most notably for Young Jeezy’s hit “My President.” “Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther could walk/ Martin Luther walked so Barack Obama could run/ Barack Obama ran so all the children could fly,” he raps on the track. “So I’mma spread my wings/ You could meet me in the sky.” “It’s just the progression. … You sat, you walked, you ran, you ran to fly,” Jay told MTV News about his Obama rhyme last year on the eve of the inauguration. “You know, just the progression and how far we’ve come as a nation. It feels good to say that, ’cause I never had that type of feeling to say ‘as a nation,’ like I was part of the American dream. And I believe a lot of people didn’t feel like a part of the American process for so long.” Although Obama has professed a love for an eclectic playlist of music that includes Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan, he also said he is a fan of Jay-Z. Jay-Z confirmed Obama’s admiration when he told Ross the president was playing one of the rapper’s albums when answered a phone call from Hov. “Barack loves hip-hop,” Jay said. “When I called him he was playing [The] Blueprint in the gym.” Related Artists Jay-Z

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Jay-Z: President Obama Was Playing The Blueprint When I Called Him

Drake: Next Kanye West Album Will Be ‘One Of The Best Of Last 10 Years’

‘Kanye West shaped a lot of what I do, as far as music goes,’ the young MC says of working with the superstar producer/rapper. By Jayson Rodriguez Drake in GQ magazine Photo: Paola Kudacki/GQ Drake is hard at work on his forthcoming major-label debut and has tallied some time in the studio with Kanye West , so far, among others. The So Far Gone rapper revealed to GQ that he’d spent some time in Hawaii recently with West working on his album as well as the Chicago superstar’s next effort. The Lil Wayne prot

Lady Gaga Rules Brit Awards

Lady Gaga won three awards, rocked a Marie-Antoinette-on-steroids wig and paid tribute to the late Alexander McQueen at the Brit Awards in London on Tuesday. All in a night’s work. “Thank you to Lee McQueen,” she said, using the celebrity fashion icon’s real name, prior to a rendition of “Poker Face,” “Telephone” and “Dance in the Dark.” “I was really excited to win the first two awards,” she added . “They mean even more to me because I worked so hard on this album ( The Fame ) for so long.” In addition to being named Best Breakthrough Act at the awards gala, Lady Gaga also left the building having been named Best International Female. Lady Gaga in a look only Lady Gaga can pull off. She topped Rihanna, Norah Jones, Shakira and Taylor Swift for that. No doubt Matthew Williams was quite proud of his girlfriend’s performance there. Follow this link for THG’s recent retrospective at the best of Lady Gaga fashion , then jump for a list of winners from the 2010 Brit Awards last night: International Album: The Fame, Lady Gaga International Male Solo Artist: Jay-Z International Female Solo Artist: Lady Gaga International Breakthrough Act: Lady Gaga British Male Solo Artist: Dizzee Rascal British Female Solo Artist: Lily Allen British Breakthrough Act: JLS British Group: Kasabian British Album: Lungs, Florence & the Machine British Single: “Beat Again,” JLS Brit Awards Performance of Last 30 Years: Spice Girls, “Wannabe”/”Who Do You Think You Are,” 1997 Brits Album of the Last 30 Years: (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? British Producer: Paul Epworth Critics’ Choice: Ellie Goulding Outstanding Contribution to Music: Robbie Williams

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Lady Gaga Rules Brit Awards

Embedded Tour Stop with Amazing Baby

Amazing Baby steps out of Brooklyn's dark bars and into the California sunshine for an acoustic performance of “Headdress” off their album “Rewild.” At every Tour Stop, we follow road-weary musicians as they break free from the confines of buses, hotel rooms and stages. Come along with us on the band's day off. Current Music Presents: Embedded puts you on the ground and behind the scenes with unrivaled access to your favorite musicians. We've traveled the world, going beyond performances to bring you the most intimate and unfiltered moments in artists' lives. When others stop the cameras, we capture the real story of today's top musicians. Watch more at http://current.com/tourstop and http://current.com/embedded . added by: jsoskin

Sade Returns After A Decade With Soldier Of Love

Is she poised for a Maxwell-style career resurgence? By Steven Roberts with Jem Aswad Sade Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage Sade will release her sixth album, Soldier of Love, on Tuesday. It’s been 10 years since her last LP, Lovers Rock, and while this outing is not drastically different from her work in the past, that’s by no means a bad thing

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Sade Returns After A Decade With Soldier Of Love

Taylor Swift Backlash Redux: Fans And Foes Fight It Out

Yes, you’re still debating about Swift, the Grammys and the debate itself.

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Taylor Swift Backlash Redux: Fans And Foes Fight It Out

MGMT Say ‘Honest’ New Album Congratulations Due In April

‘Maybe after you hear it, you’ll be saying, ‘Congratulations,’ ‘ Andrew Van Wyngarden jokes. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Sway Calloway MGMT Photo: MTV News MGMT didn’t end up winning the Best New Artist Grammy at Sunday’s (January 31) show (curse you, Zac Brown Band!), but plenty of people were offering them up Congratulations nonetheless ..

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MGMT Say ‘Honest’ New Album Congratulations Due In April

Taylor Swift Fans Rally In The Great Backlash Debate

Fearless fans put the haters on the defensive. By Jem Aswad Taylor Swift Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images The Taylor Swift haters may have been out in force after MTV News published our “Why You Shouldn’t Hate On Taylor Swift” article in response to what appears to be a budding backlash against the singer, but her fans rallied to her side on Wednesday (February 3). That’s not to say there weren’t negative comments in our article on the original round of comments, but the haters were on the defensive.

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Taylor Swift Fans Rally In The Great Backlash Debate