Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Jay-Z Releases Lyrics To "Holy Grail" & "Heaven"
In just over a week since he announced his twelfth album
with less than three weeks notice, Jay-Z's Twitter hash-tag of
"#NewRules" has certainly been proven true. Confirmed last Sunday during
the NBA Finals halftime, Jay's Magna Carta Holy Grail album,
exclusively available to one million Samsung users, will not be
certified platinum or charted upon release, according to a report last week.
In a calculated roll-out that recently included Magna Carta Holy Grail's 13-song tracklist revealed over the weekend, Jay-Z has now posted the lyrics the Justin Timberlake-assisted title track, via his Google Play app. According to HotNewHipHop.com, the app is available to Samsung users in the online marketplace. The song "Holy Grail" was not included in the tracklist preview this weekend. It may or may not included on the album.
Earlier this year, Jay and Justin made "Suit & Tie," a #1 single from Timberlake's 20/20 Experience album. In September of this year, the RCA Records star is planning a sequel release from the studio sessions.
An edited post of the "Holy Grail" lyrics is included below:
In a calculated roll-out that recently included Magna Carta Holy Grail's 13-song tracklist revealed over the weekend, Jay-Z has now posted the lyrics the Justin Timberlake-assisted title track, via his Google Play app. According to HotNewHipHop.com, the app is available to Samsung users in the online marketplace. The song "Holy Grail" was not included in the tracklist preview this weekend. It may or may not included on the album.
Earlier this year, Jay and Justin made "Suit & Tie," a #1 single from Timberlake's 20/20 Experience album. In September of this year, the RCA Records star is planning a sequel release from the studio sessions.
An edited post of the "Holy Grail" lyrics is included below:
The Yeezus Sessions
See The Article Here
We talk to seven men who helped create Kanye's polarizing thunderbolt of an album, including Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, producer Hudson Mohawke, and more.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Kevin Durant to Jay-Z -- "You're My New Agent ... Now Go Make Me Millions"
Jay-Z is putting Jerry McGuire to shame -- because his budding sports
agency just signed three-time NBA all-star Kevin Durant. The OKC Thunder
superstar just posted an Instagram of he and Jay signing docs that make
him Roc Nation Sport's newest client. Durant is the latest in a growing
list of HUGE athletes jumping ship to Jay's new venture ... like NY
Yankee Robinson Cano, NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr., and NY Jet
Geno Smith Durant is Jigga's first NBA star. FYI -- Durant is currently
in the middle of a massive 5-year, $89 million contract with the
Thunder. His move to Roc Nation has more to do with landing big money
deals off the court.
Chris Brown Accused Of Assaulting Woman At Orange County Club
Chris Brown has undergone a court-ordered year of domestic violence counseling and 50 hours community service
following his 2009 attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna following the
Grammy Awards. The sentence, which also includes an ongoing five years
of probation, may not have rehabilitated the Sony Records star, as new
allegations emerge.
TMZ.com reports that following Brown's headlining performance at Power 105 Powerhouse on Saturday (June 21), he was involved in an altercation with a female at Anaheim, California's Heat Ultra Lounge. Deanna Gines told the celebrity news site that Brown "shoved her to the ground." Gines, asserting that the shove was the deliberate, filed a police report against the multi-platinum star.
The Anaheim Police Department did confirm to TMZ that a report was made, but did not confirm the victim's name.
Gines also claims that based on her injuries sustained in the fall, she may require surgery—due to torn ligaments in her knee. She provided a picture to TMZ of herself in crutches.
Chris Brown's rep, Nicole Perna, responded to TMZ with, "I'm unaware of the incident, as is Chris' lawyer and his entire team. He was in a great mood after Powerhouse." She added, "None of this makes sense."
If convicted of any crime, especially assault—which he was charged with in 2009, Chris Brown could face years in jail. Earlier this month, Brown dodged jail-time when his probation officer did not give him a violation for his January brawl with Odd Future's Frank Ocean.
TMZ.com reports that following Brown's headlining performance at Power 105 Powerhouse on Saturday (June 21), he was involved in an altercation with a female at Anaheim, California's Heat Ultra Lounge. Deanna Gines told the celebrity news site that Brown "shoved her to the ground." Gines, asserting that the shove was the deliberate, filed a police report against the multi-platinum star.
The Anaheim Police Department did confirm to TMZ that a report was made, but did not confirm the victim's name.
Gines also claims that based on her injuries sustained in the fall, she may require surgery—due to torn ligaments in her knee. She provided a picture to TMZ of herself in crutches.
Chris Brown's rep, Nicole Perna, responded to TMZ with, "I'm unaware of the incident, as is Chris' lawyer and his entire team. He was in a great mood after Powerhouse." She added, "None of this makes sense."
If convicted of any crime, especially assault—which he was charged with in 2009, Chris Brown could face years in jail. Earlier this month, Brown dodged jail-time when his probation officer did not give him a violation for his January brawl with Odd Future's Frank Ocean.
Lil Reese Arrested, Charged With Auto Theft
For Glory Boyz Entertainment, the Chicago, it has been a busy year legally. The Illinois-based label, whose roster includes Chief Keef, Lil Durk and Lil Reese, has had over six arrests in the last month. Following Chief Keef's third arrest in four weeks last Monday, it has been announced that Lil Reese was back in police custody over the weekend.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that yesterday (June 23), Reese (a/k/a Tavares Taylor) was in bond court with charges of stealing a BMW 750Li automobile. Court records indicated that the Def Jam Records-backed rapper failed to provide ownership documentation on the luxury vehicle when stopped in Chicago, Illinois on April 13.
Previously, Reese was arrested after video released of him beating a woman. The video was later confirmed to be from 2012, an incident that Reese has publicly apologized for.
Reese and Keef's affiliate, Lil Durk, was released from a brief weapons sentencing, last week. At present, there is a Florida bench warrant for Keef after the Interscope Records-backed rapper failed to appear in court. Similar to Reese, Keef is charged with driving a Ferrari that was said to be reported stolen. A representative from the rapper's camp later said he was "not worried."
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Jay-Z – Magna Carta Holy Grail (Tracklist)
Mr. Carter set up a viral hip-hop scavenger hunt earlier today in Brooklyn to unveil the tracklist to his forthcoming album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, which will be available on July 4 for the first 1 million downloaders of the #NewRules Android App (available July 24 on Google Play). No features or production credits so far but here’s a peek at the track titles.
1. Picasso Baby
2. Heaven
3. Versus
4. Tom Ford
5. Beach Is Better
6. FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt
7. Oceans
8. F.U.T.W.
9. Part II (On The Run)
10. BBC
11. La Familia
12. Jay-Z Blue
13. Nickles & Dimes
14. Holy Grail (Bonus Track)
15. Open Letter (Bonus Track)
Friday, June 21, 2013
Jay-Z To Repurpose Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Jay-Z will be using lyrics from Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit,"
according to Courtney Love. In a recent interview, Love shared that she
has allowed Jay-Z to use the lyrics and that they are "friends."
"I'm letting Jay-Z use lyrics - Francis [Kurt Cobain's daughter] would freak [if she knew this.] Jay-Z's huge and we're friends," she told the Huffington Post. "I mean we're not besties or anything," she clarified.
According to Love, Jay used the lyrics without asking first but later tied up loose ends on the business side of things.
"They [used it] without asking, which is kind of nervy but the business side has been taken care of so it's fine."
Courtney Love has covered Jay-Z's "99 Problems" in the past. The song was played live by Love and a fan's video of the performance can be viewed below, with Love using Jay's rhymes while playing the guitar on stage.
Jay-Z has rhymed about Kurt Cobain in the past. On "Most Kings," Jay said, “It’s best for those to not overdose on being famous. Most kings get driven so insane that they try to hit the same vein that Kurt Cobain did.” In his book, Decoded, Jay explained how he felt Cobain influenced the rhyme.
Kurt Cobain OD’d on heroin before committing suicide, but he also OD’d on fame. Cobain was like Basquiat: They both wanted to be famous, and were brilliant enough to make it happen. But then what? Drug addicts kill themselves trying to get that feeling they got from their first high, looking for an experience they’ll never get again. In his suicide note, Cobain asked himself, “Why don’t you just enjoy it?” and then answered, “I don’t know!” It’s amazing how much of a mindfuck success can be.
Jay also spoke about why he's always been a fan of Kurt Cobain in a separate interview for Spin.
"First we got to go back to before Grunge and why Grunge happened. 'Hair bands' dominated the airwaves and Rock became more about looks than about actual substance and what it stood for—the rebellious spirit of youth....That's why 'Teen Spirit' rang so loud because it was right on point with how everyone felt, you know what I'm saying? It was weird because Hip Hop was becoming this force, then Grunge music stopped it for one second, ya know? Those 'hair bands' were too easy for us to take out; when Kurt Cobain came with that statement it was like, 'We got to wait awhile.'"
"I have always been a person who was curious about the music and when those forces come on the scene, they are inescapable. Can't take your eyes off them, can't stop listening to them. [Cobain] was one of those figures. I knew we had to wait for a second before we became that dominant force in music."
Love has owned Nirvana's catalog since the 1994 passing of Kurt Cobain. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," featured on Nirvana's 1991 album Nevermind, eventually went platinum. It became one of the most recognized Grunge songs of the era,
The song at hand could possibly land on Jay-Z's highly anticipated album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, set to drop in July. The album has made headlines for what Jay-Z has called #newrules. The album will be available to one million Samsung users for free before it is released to the rest of the buying public.
"I'm letting Jay-Z use lyrics - Francis [Kurt Cobain's daughter] would freak [if she knew this.] Jay-Z's huge and we're friends," she told the Huffington Post. "I mean we're not besties or anything," she clarified.
According to Love, Jay used the lyrics without asking first but later tied up loose ends on the business side of things.
"They [used it] without asking, which is kind of nervy but the business side has been taken care of so it's fine."
Courtney Love has covered Jay-Z's "99 Problems" in the past. The song was played live by Love and a fan's video of the performance can be viewed below, with Love using Jay's rhymes while playing the guitar on stage.
Jay-Z has rhymed about Kurt Cobain in the past. On "Most Kings," Jay said, “It’s best for those to not overdose on being famous. Most kings get driven so insane that they try to hit the same vein that Kurt Cobain did.” In his book, Decoded, Jay explained how he felt Cobain influenced the rhyme.
Kurt Cobain OD’d on heroin before committing suicide, but he also OD’d on fame. Cobain was like Basquiat: They both wanted to be famous, and were brilliant enough to make it happen. But then what? Drug addicts kill themselves trying to get that feeling they got from their first high, looking for an experience they’ll never get again. In his suicide note, Cobain asked himself, “Why don’t you just enjoy it?” and then answered, “I don’t know!” It’s amazing how much of a mindfuck success can be.
Jay also spoke about why he's always been a fan of Kurt Cobain in a separate interview for Spin.
"First we got to go back to before Grunge and why Grunge happened. 'Hair bands' dominated the airwaves and Rock became more about looks than about actual substance and what it stood for—the rebellious spirit of youth....That's why 'Teen Spirit' rang so loud because it was right on point with how everyone felt, you know what I'm saying? It was weird because Hip Hop was becoming this force, then Grunge music stopped it for one second, ya know? Those 'hair bands' were too easy for us to take out; when Kurt Cobain came with that statement it was like, 'We got to wait awhile.'"
"I have always been a person who was curious about the music and when those forces come on the scene, they are inescapable. Can't take your eyes off them, can't stop listening to them. [Cobain] was one of those figures. I knew we had to wait for a second before we became that dominant force in music."
Love has owned Nirvana's catalog since the 1994 passing of Kurt Cobain. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," featured on Nirvana's 1991 album Nevermind, eventually went platinum. It became one of the most recognized Grunge songs of the era,
The song at hand could possibly land on Jay-Z's highly anticipated album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, set to drop in July. The album has made headlines for what Jay-Z has called #newrules. The album will be available to one million Samsung users for free before it is released to the rest of the buying public.
A$AP Rocky Elaborates On Instrumental Project, Provides Album Title
Harlem, New York emcee A$AP Rocky worked with the likes of Hit-Boy, Clams Casino and Dangermouse on his studio debut, Long.Live.A$AP. In a new interview however, Rocky revealed that he has plans to produce more music. The RCA/Polo Grounds Records sensation
“I am working on an instrumental album right now. I am doing all my own beats. It’s going to be interesting to see how people react [to] my production now," A$AP Rocky told the Bay Area's Neesa in a new video. "I am going to put it out—not even gonna announce it. Just drop it."
With that promise, fans will not know a release date. Long.Live.A$AP is currently on the Top 200 of the charts.
Other emcees currently moving into production include Mac Miller and Tyler, The Creator.
(April 12)
UPDATE: Over two months later, A$AP Rocky has provided some additional information on his Instrumental album.
"I think people are gonna be intrigued by it, 'cause it's actually good," the Harlem emcee told MTV Rap Fix. "I wouldn't do nothin' that I didn't feel confident or comfortable about. I think people are gonna like this shit."
He described his productions as "druggy" and "ambient." The RCA/Polo Grounds sensation further provided MTV with an album title: Beauty & The Beast: Slowed Down Sessions, Chapter 1.
He explained that the call back to the Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve fairy tale title. "Everything is real classic, beautiful music, and then like boom-bap, Wu-Tang [Clan-style music] mixed in."
“I am working on an instrumental album right now. I am doing all my own beats. It’s going to be interesting to see how people react [to] my production now," A$AP Rocky told the Bay Area's Neesa in a new video. "I am going to put it out—not even gonna announce it. Just drop it."
With that promise, fans will not know a release date. Long.Live.A$AP is currently on the Top 200 of the charts.
Other emcees currently moving into production include Mac Miller and Tyler, The Creator.
(April 12)
UPDATE: Over two months later, A$AP Rocky has provided some additional information on his Instrumental album.
"I think people are gonna be intrigued by it, 'cause it's actually good," the Harlem emcee told MTV Rap Fix. "I wouldn't do nothin' that I didn't feel confident or comfortable about. I think people are gonna like this shit."
He described his productions as "druggy" and "ambient." The RCA/Polo Grounds sensation further provided MTV with an album title: Beauty & The Beast: Slowed Down Sessions, Chapter 1.
He explained that the call back to the Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve fairy tale title. "Everything is real classic, beautiful music, and then like boom-bap, Wu-Tang [Clan-style music] mixed in."
Kanye West & Kim Kardashian's Daughter's Name Reportedly Revealed
TMZ.com is reporting that the first child of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's name is North West. Although the couple is not married, the celebrity news and gossip site reports that the couple's daughter, who will turn one week old in the next day, has taken her father's last name according to a birth certificate seen at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Lil Snupe Reportedly Dead, Turk Confirms
Earlier this year, Meek Mill expanded his Dream Chasers imprint by signing Jonesboro, Louisiana talent Lil Snupe, just moments after hearing the teenager's demo.
"He was spittin' so much pain," Meek later told MTV of what attracted him to Snupe's style. "He's from the south with a flow like an East Coast guy," Meek explained. "Like with that Bounce flow, all over the place, he really can spit, and he was talking that talk that I can really relate to. I seen potential in him."
Tragic news has now emerged that in the last 12 hours Lil Snupe has been murdered. Global Grind has reported that Snupe's manager, Leem, has confirmed the death on Twitter and Instagram this morning (June 20). The photo is of Leem with his buzzing client.
The call I got this morning is un real RIP 2 my Lil nigga lilsnupe Y~Y~ http://t.co/3A7mNRmx66
— Leem7st (@leem7st) June 20, 2013 New Orleans' emcee Turk, formerly a multi-platinum artist at Cash Money Records with Hot Boys, also reported Snupe's death:
FUCKED UP!!!!! JUST TALKED TO LIL HOMIE #THUGGNPEACE @LILSNUPE
— Young Turk (@TurkMrYNT) June 20, 2013
Prior to Leem and Turk's messages, Meek asked to hear from Snupe on Twitter:
tell lil snupe hit me up right now!!!
"He was spittin' so much pain," Meek later told MTV of what attracted him to Snupe's style. "He's from the south with a flow like an East Coast guy," Meek explained. "Like with that Bounce flow, all over the place, he really can spit, and he was talking that talk that I can really relate to. I seen potential in him."
Tragic news has now emerged that in the last 12 hours Lil Snupe has been murdered. Global Grind has reported that Snupe's manager, Leem, has confirmed the death on Twitter and Instagram this morning (June 20). The photo is of Leem with his buzzing client.
The call I got this morning is un real RIP 2 my Lil nigga lilsnupe Y~Y~ http://t.co/3A7mNRmx66
— Leem7st (@leem7st) June 20, 2013 New Orleans' emcee Turk, formerly a multi-platinum artist at Cash Money Records with Hot Boys, also reported Snupe's death:
FUCKED UP!!!!! JUST TALKED TO LIL HOMIE #THUGGNPEACE @LILSNUPE
— Young Turk (@TurkMrYNT) June 20, 2013
Prior to Leem and Turk's messages, Meek asked to hear from Snupe on Twitter:
tell lil snupe hit me up right now!!!
Kanye West's "Yeezus" Leads J. Cole's "Born Sinner" In First Week Sales Projections
J. Cole may not like first week sales reports but they are in regarding this much-discussed week in Hip Hop. Billboard has released a new report featuring projections for this week, placing Kanye West at the top of the list.
According to the report, Kanye West's Yeezus will lead the way with 360,000-380,000 copies sold. As expected by many who projected earlier this month, J. Cole's Born Sinner follows with 150,000-200,000. Mac Miller trails with his latest offering, Watching Movies with the Sound Off, coming in third with approximately 100,000 copies sold.
J. Cole recently said he was not fond of first week sales reports
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Mike Dean Details Kanye West's Production "Evolution"
Mike Dean's role in the studio with Kanye West may be becoming more pronounced, but the mixer-producer has worked with West on each of his albums, as well as the Watch The Throne project with Jay-Z. In an interview with Huffpost Live, Dean explained how working with West has evolved from 2004's The College Dropout to Yeezus, which is slated to be released tomorrow (June 18).
”[West] is more the producer that oversees everybody now," Dean says during the interview. "He gets teams of producers to work under him. When I first started working with him, I mixed two, three songs on his first record at my house in Texas. I'd say, 'Ah, I could help you on this track.' He'd say, 'I make beats. That's what I do.' That was 10 years ago, I guess. Now he lets everybody put input in and he sorts through it. We’ll have eight producers putting parts on one song and then we’ll just pick through it, pick what’s good."
With so many producers working on one song, Dean says the process becomes layered. "Usually one person will start something and eight other people will add parts," Dean says to interviewer Ricky Camilleri. "Sometimes it'll end up [that] the person that started doesn't have anything on the final song, but they're still producing."
Dean, who performed with West during his Governors Ball 2013 set in New York June 9, has an extensive Rap mixing and production resume. He started working with Scarface, The Geto Boys and other Rap-A-Lot Records artists in the early 1990s and helped develop the "gumbo funk" production style that included the use of live instruments.
Trained to be a bassoonist, Dean says that his work on Yeezus also signals his own development as a producer. "It's just an evolution, I guess, of learning how to make records," Dean says. "We're kind of pulling back to more minimal now. We're trying to. It's hard not to make an epic record if you can."
”[West] is more the producer that oversees everybody now," Dean says during the interview. "He gets teams of producers to work under him. When I first started working with him, I mixed two, three songs on his first record at my house in Texas. I'd say, 'Ah, I could help you on this track.' He'd say, 'I make beats. That's what I do.' That was 10 years ago, I guess. Now he lets everybody put input in and he sorts through it. We’ll have eight producers putting parts on one song and then we’ll just pick through it, pick what’s good."
With so many producers working on one song, Dean says the process becomes layered. "Usually one person will start something and eight other people will add parts," Dean says to interviewer Ricky Camilleri. "Sometimes it'll end up [that] the person that started doesn't have anything on the final song, but they're still producing."
Dean, who performed with West during his Governors Ball 2013 set in New York June 9, has an extensive Rap mixing and production resume. He started working with Scarface, The Geto Boys and other Rap-A-Lot Records artists in the early 1990s and helped develop the "gumbo funk" production style that included the use of live instruments.
Trained to be a bassoonist, Dean says that his work on Yeezus also signals his own development as a producer. "It's just an evolution, I guess, of learning how to make records," Dean says. "We're kind of pulling back to more minimal now. We're trying to. It's hard not to make an epic record if you can."
Yeezus Review
Kanye West went magnanimous for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’s promotional push. He created the “G.O.O.D. Friday” campaign and delivered free songs to the fawning masses each week leading up to its November 2010 release. There were fantastic tales of a glorious gathering of Hip Hop luminaries crafting the potential classic in an exclusive Hawaiian hideaway floating all over the internet and a 35-minute short film to accompany the second single, “Runaway.” The George Condo cover art was banned from certain retail stores, something West reportedly intended. It was a crafty, stadium-sized media blitz to accompany the album’s stadium-sized sound. For Yeezus, Yeezy ended up minimalistic. Outside of another memorable Saturday Night Live performance then beaming the confrontational “New Slaves” video on the side of buildings around the world in the same weekend and that grainy clip of Ye’, Executive Producer Rick Rubin and Mike Dean recording “I Am A God” posted to KanyeWest.com last week, the buildup was minor in comparison, albeit haphazardly. There’s still no huge radio single. The album apparently doesn’t even include artwork—just a clear jewel case with a piece of red tape on the right side. Intentional or otherwise, it’s a stripped down campaign mirroring the album’s stripped down sound. Yeezus is audacious, ornery and miles outside of what’s expected from Kanye West, and often what’s conventionally accepted in Hip Hop.
Opener “On Sight” is not only the exact opposite of an album highlight, but may also be the crudest track Ye’s yet to release. “Black Timbs all on your couch again / Black dick all in your spouse again / And I know she like chocolate men / She got more niggas off than Cochran,” he kicks over little more than a skeletal cascade of electronic blips and zips. “For my theme song / My leather black jeans on / My ‘By any means’ on / Pardon I’m getting my scream on,” he charges on “Black Skinhead,” a rumbling force that sounds more fitting on a Marilyn Manson release than something synonymous with the makeup of Kanye’s collection. Both teem with passion and aggression, plastering Yeezus with a psuedo 808s & Heartbreak aesthetic—call it 808s & Anger.
It’s likely too soon for the populace to cosign Kanye’s “The only rapper compared to Michael [Jackson]” bar on “I Am A God,” but it was initally too soon when Jay-Z brazenly alluded to being better than the Notorious B.I.G. on The Blueprint’s “Hola Hovito” in 2001 (“And if I ain’t better than Big / I’m the closest one”). In the end, the masses sided with Hov. Some statements are too uncomfortably cocky to digest without time and consideration. But West’s “I feel my confidence + someone’s low self-esteem = my arrogance” quote from his motivational booklet, Thank You And You’re Welcome given away for free during his 2008 Glow In The Dark tour comes to mind when gawking at the super-sized super ego he sports like his Yeezy Red October signature sneaker. Everything about this song bluntly broadcasts a bold, possibly off-putting level of self-importance but from a position common in works like Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist as well 5 Percenter ideology and Scientology. (Yeezy’s neither. Yeezy “just talked to Jesus / He said ‘What up, Yeezus’”). So lines like “I know He the Most High / But I am a close high” would ring pretentious if the track wasn’t so lowkey empowering, falling inline with a strain of enlightenment creeping back into the ethos. Snoop Dogg went Snoop Lion in 2012. People build billion dollar businesses in their bedrooms. Hov just persuaded Samsung to buy a million copies of an album before it dropped, give it away for free, then announced it during the NBA Finals—essentially going platinum before being available. Mankind is making godly leaps at the speed of a right click, even though comments sections World Wide Web wide seem to indicate otherwise. “I Am A God” is awesomely on-point—gratuitous screaming and all.
Solid swaths of social commentary align nearly every Kanye West release. Here the Civil Rights references return only now much more inflammatory, pushing the margins to the brink of breach. Which may explain the album’s brevity. At 40 minutes and six seconds, Yeezus is by far his shortest LP (Graduation follows at 51:12 minutes). Gone are the scenic bridges and angelic choirs littered lushly throughout his previous work. This one’s an exercise in minimalism—right down to the minute. That’s fortunate. Anger overkill rarely equals replay value. Precisely when the rage is about to spill into repellent, quintessential Kanye returns. The album’s second half is sonically similar to most anything found on Graduation through My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
It’s interesting to hear Yeezy deride wealthy private prison owners and their Hampton spouses on “New Slaves” then describe how the club is so packed that he “might ride around on [his] bodyguard back like Prince in the club” five tracks later on “Send It Up” (featuring King Louie). He follows that awesome Dave “Chappelle Show” allusion with “She said ‘Can you get my friends in the club?’ / I said ‘Can you get my Benz in the club?’ / If not / Treat your friends like my Benz / Park they ass outside til the evening end / When I go raw I like to leave it in…Yeezus just rose again.” At the Yeezus release party in Los Angeles, California last week, bold orange tape was wrapped around each of the name brand logos on the liquor bottles as if to say that no corporation gets free promotion from Kanye West. Then he kicks enough name brands to question his commitment to a message of counter-consumerism. But Yeezy’s the best since Tupac at etching his disparities in ALL CAPS, unabashedly reveling in confliction.
What makes West’s sixth solo album compelling despite its gaggle of haunting shrieks and leftist production is that Kanye manages to remain as entertaining as ever. From mic to plug, the album is supremely Tweetable—loaded with enough incredible quips to start a T-shirt line. “When a real nigga hold you down / You’re supposed to drown,” may be the realest relationship lyric yet heard in 2013 (“Bound 2”). And for such a disconnected first spin, Yeezus becomes increasingly addictive with each additional listen, an indicator of high replay value potential. This captivating level of contextual and sonic tension places the project in art-piece territory, representing a jagged installation added to West's almost all classic solo catalog. A slurred hook from Chief Keef perfectly accentuates “Hold My Liquor’s” (featuring Justin Vernon) sublime depiction of a drunken excursion to an ex-girlfriend’s home in search of reconciliation, for example. “I’m In It”—with its made for club fornication commentary, Reggae inspiration and hilarious “I be speaking Swag-Hili” musings quickly embeds itself Indian-style into the eardrum. And if there’s one song that must be heard immediately, it’s “Blood On The Leaves.” Interpolating elements of Nina Simone’s segregation era ballad, “Strange Fruit” with the bombastic horns from C-Murder’s “Down For My Niggas,” Ye’s emotional exhale on a relationship gone wrong and side chicks trying to purposely get pregnant works in every setting: The gym, the car, the club, the crib. Bravo.
Where does an artist move creatively after nine years of trailblazing trendsetting? Kanye West has been at the forefront of Hip Hop and Pop Culture since his 2004 entrance with A College Dropout. His sound, his style and his wardrobe have continuously been repurposed by scores of ball-ticklers throughout his career. Compound that with a high profile relationship with a reality show princess and a perceived knack for dancing in his self-described douchebaggery, and this album has all the trappings of a polarizing offering. Music is especially turnt up these days, so as he bumrushes impeccably on the aforementioned “New Slaves,” Kanye's decided to “tear shit down,“ removing the glossy trimmings, flexing a sense of addition by subtraction. It's easy to love this album and it's easy to hate it. Landing anywhere in between is difficult. Attempts to label this traditional Hip Hop or otherwise are futile—but society is tagged with enough labels already. Yeezus—like Yeezy—is jarring, uncomfortable, uncompromising and courageous—all the things that initially made Hip Hop great.
HOLY GRAIL! Jay-Z Goes On A Twitter Rant About #NewRules (DETAILS)
Yeezus is coming tomorrow, and Jesus is coming shortly after, because Jay-Z just went on a mini Twitter rant.
Jay-Z made headlines last night when he appeared in a Samsung commercial promoting the arrival of his new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, which will give the first one million copies to Samsung Galaxy users for free on July 4.
Over the years, we've learned that Jay-Z doesn't follow any rules, instead he creates #newrules.
Read more: http://globalgrind.com/music/jay-z-twitter-rant-newrules-details#ixzz2Wausw8RP
Jay-Z made headlines last night when he appeared in a Samsung commercial promoting the arrival of his new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, which will give the first one million copies to Samsung Galaxy users for free on July 4.
Over the years, we've learned that Jay-Z doesn't follow any rules, instead he creates #newrules.
Read more: http://globalgrind.com/music/jay-z-twitter-rant-newrules-details#ixzz2Wausw8RP
Samsung Will Give Away 1 Million Copies of Jay-Z's "Magna Carta Holy Grail"
Who got the juice? Samsung apparently.
Jay-Z will be releasing his 12th solo album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, on July 4. With a dream team of producers--Timbaland, Pharrell, Rick Rubin and Swizz Beatz--the album will be "released first to Samsung Galaxy users who download a customized mobile app. Only the first million downloaders gain access to the album for free on July 4. The album will then be released to the general public three days later."
And according to the Wall Street Journal, Samsung "paid $5 apiece for the albums" and it remains unclear whether Nielsen SoundScan will include Samsung’s purchases in its album sales.
For the mathematically inclined: That's $5 million upfront for Jay-Z ... FOR AN ALBUM THAT HASN'T EVEN SOLD YET.
Regardless, this is a smart move on Samsung's part. As the company continues to compete with Apple, its partnership with Jay-Z on the release of Magna Carta adds a certain cool to the company's brand. Real recognize real.
Yeezus
Kanye West's sixth solo album, Yeezus, finally hit the streets today. Or, the e-streets. The 10-track album, featuring production by Daft Punk, Rick Rubin, and guest appearances from Chief Keef, King L, and Kid Cudi, among others, leaked five days before its official release date of June 18.
It adheres to no boundaries. West was not looking for a radio hit (hence the lack of singles leading up to the release), and the jarring, electro-influenced production is about as far away from anything that could be described as "easy listening" as possible. But while there's plenty of new sounds, it's filled with familiar personality. Plenty of the emotions that Kanye fans have come to expect: arrogance, self-righteousness, anger, vulnerability, fear.
We got our hands on Yeezus and made 10 quick reactions to the 10 track project. Yeezy Season is in full effect.
Peep the full tracklist below:
It adheres to no boundaries. West was not looking for a radio hit (hence the lack of singles leading up to the release), and the jarring, electro-influenced production is about as far away from anything that could be described as "easy listening" as possible. But while there's plenty of new sounds, it's filled with familiar personality. Plenty of the emotions that Kanye fans have come to expect: arrogance, self-righteousness, anger, vulnerability, fear.
We got our hands on Yeezus and made 10 quick reactions to the 10 track project. Yeezy Season is in full effect.
Peep the full tracklist below:
1. "On Sight" (Produced by Daft Punk) [Malik Yusef, Rhymefest]
2. "Black Skinhead" (Produced by Daft Punk) [CyHi The Prynce, Lupe Fiasco, Malik Yusef]
3. "I Am A God" (Featuring God) (Produced by Daft Punk) [Hudson Mohawke, Justin Vernon, Malik Yusef, Rhymefest]
4. "New Slaves" (Featuring Frank Ocean) (Malik Yusef, Rhymefest)
5. "Hold My Liquor" (Feat. Chief Keef & Justin Vernon) [Alejandro Ghersi, Malik Yusef, Rhymefest]
6. "I’m In It" (Feat. Travis Scott) [Justin Vernon, Malik Yusef]
7. "Blood On" The Leaves [Hudson Mohawke, Tony Williams]
8. "Guilt Trip" (Feat. Kid Cudi) (Produced by S1)
9. "Send It Up" (Feat. King L) [Alejandro Ghersi, Daft Punk, Gesaffelstein]
10. "Bound 2" (Feat. Charlie Wilson) [John Legend]
Friday, June 14, 2013
Surveillance Video Released Of 2 Chainz At Gunpoint
Def Jam Records star 2 Chainz was the victim of a robbery yesterday afternoon (June 9) in Northern California. According to TMZ.com,
the Atlanta, Georgia native formerly known as Tity Boi was with an
entourage of 14 people yesterday at approximately 4:30pm in the vicinity
of San Francisco, California.
While information is releasing, sources with the San Francisco Police Department told TMZ that they responded to the sound of gunfire. While 2 Chainz reportedly gave the assailant(s) his wallet, the Based On A T.R.U. Story album-maker opted not to provide authorities with additional information about the robbery and shooting. Reports at present indicate that nobody was injured.
UPDATE: A member of 2 Chainz's entourage was robbed, but the rapper himself was not robbed yesterday (June 9) in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Police Department, as per Radio.com. “He was not the victim of a robbery,” San Francisco police said of 2 Chainz in a phone interview with Radio.com. “He was there, but he wasn’t the victim.”
The police said that one member of 2 Chainz's crew reportedly fell to the ground after a shot was fired and the group scattered. The member who fell was then approached by the suspect, “who robbed him of an unknown item and fled the scene,” according to the police. The police also said 2 Chainz's crew is "being very uncooperative" in the investigation and that a suspect has not been located.
(June 10)
UPDATE #2: 2 Chainz was indeed robbed at gunpoint yesterday (June 9), according to the San Francisco Police Department, as per Radio.com. Police Spokesman Dennis Toomer told Radio.com that investigators informed him today (June 10) that 2 Chainz was in fact robbed, as was initially reported. Toomer said that 2 Chainz was robbed of his wallet and a cell phone.
Radio.com reported earlier today that a member of 2 Chainz's entourage was robbed, but that 2 Chainz himself was not robbed.
While information is releasing, sources with the San Francisco Police Department told TMZ that they responded to the sound of gunfire. While 2 Chainz reportedly gave the assailant(s) his wallet, the Based On A T.R.U. Story album-maker opted not to provide authorities with additional information about the robbery and shooting. Reports at present indicate that nobody was injured.
UPDATE: A member of 2 Chainz's entourage was robbed, but the rapper himself was not robbed yesterday (June 9) in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Police Department, as per Radio.com. “He was not the victim of a robbery,” San Francisco police said of 2 Chainz in a phone interview with Radio.com. “He was there, but he wasn’t the victim.”
The police said that one member of 2 Chainz's crew reportedly fell to the ground after a shot was fired and the group scattered. The member who fell was then approached by the suspect, “who robbed him of an unknown item and fled the scene,” according to the police. The police also said 2 Chainz's crew is "being very uncooperative" in the investigation and that a suspect has not been located.
(June 10)
UPDATE #2: 2 Chainz was indeed robbed at gunpoint yesterday (June 9), according to the San Francisco Police Department, as per Radio.com. Police Spokesman Dennis Toomer told Radio.com that investigators informed him today (June 10) that 2 Chainz was in fact robbed, as was initially reported. Toomer said that 2 Chainz was robbed of his wallet and a cell phone.
Radio.com reported earlier today that a member of 2 Chainz's entourage was robbed, but that 2 Chainz himself was not robbed.
Kanye West Criticizes YouTube, Calls The Site's Player "Ugly"
During what was an impromptu Yeezus listening session held in Switzerland this week, G.O.O.D. Music artist Kanye West was a man of many words as he shared his thoughts on everything from producing to the video-sharing Website that is YouTube.
The “New Slaves” rapper made quite the comparison during his speech as he commented on the similarities between sampling/producing and the way in which noted Pittsburgh artist Andy Warhol created his art.
“What I want people to understand about sampling and producing is that it’s really similar to—and I know this is obvious what I’m going to say, because I’m a black guy so I’m gonna name the ‘most obvious artist in the world’—Warhol, but it’s very similar to the way Warhol would appropriate a Campbell’s Soup can is the way I would sonically appropriate a Ray Charles sample or a Michael Jackson sample,” said Kanye, according to HotNewHipHop.com.
Kanye’s Warhol mention doesn’t serve as the first time the rapper has gone on to reference a popular artist. At the top of the year, the Windy City spitter compared himself to the late Jean-Michel Basquiat and even Picasso during a performance in Paris.
The Yeezus crafter further commented on art as he criticized YouTube for the sites lack of aesthetic appeal. He also gave listeners a little insight into his past background as an art student.
“[I hate YouTube because] the player is so ugly, and it’s presented in such a terrible manner,” Kanye revealed. “I want everything I do to be presented in an art context, as this is a form of sonic art. I was an artist originally, I have been in art school since I was 5 years old. I got scholarships to three art schools, Art Institute of Chicago, Saint Xavier, and the American Academy of Art, where I ended up going—and I dropped out because I had an assignment where I was supposed to do an ink painting or something, and I would take two weeks to do it, and when I looked at my work, I just felt that I would never be one of the great visual artists of the world.”
Kanye West’s listening session in Switzerland comes just days before the June 18 release of his sixth studio album, Yeezus.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Joey Bada$$ "Summer Knights" Mixtape Release Date & Cover Art
Today, Pro Era's Joey Bada$$ announced his next project. The Brooklyn, New York emcee is working on an EP called Summer Knights. The title takes its name from the Chuck Strangers-produced song from Joey's 2012 mixtape, 1999. The tape would later receive Mixtape Of The Year honors from HipHopDX.
The project will release on June 12. Previously, Bada$$ referred to the project as a "mixtape," which is presumably a free effort.
but fuck it, eye'll just make this announcement. My "Summer Knights Ep" drops June 12th. good day
— oG $wank. (@joeyBADASS_) May 22, 2013
Summer Knights EP was initially thought to be a Pro Era group project from Joey's May 10 tweet, though in today's tweet, Bada$$ referred to it as his own.
ok so the word is.... a brand new PRO ERA mixtape next month... "Summer Knights EP"
— oG $wank. (@joeyBADASS_) May 10, 2013
This summer, Bada$$ will appear on Statik Selektah's Extended Play album.
(May 22)
UPDATE: Joey Bada$$ has now added that Summer Knights will be a long-format project, not an EP. The Brooklyn, New York emcee confirmed today on Twitter:
summr knights will no longer be an EP.... full-length
DJ Drama Announces Upcoming Release of Lil Wayne's "Dedication 5"
DJ Drama announced via Twitter today that the new Drama/Lil Wayne collaboration tape Dedication 5 is on the way, although he gave us no indication that it would be out anytime in the immediate future
This comes right on the heels of the rapper's latest cover of "Bugatti," which goes (spoiler alert!) "I woke up in a new punani." So Wayne is basically on his Weird Al Waynkovic shit at this point.
2 Chainz Reportedly Robbed At Gunpoint In San Francisco, Shots Fired
Def Jam Records star 2 Chainz was the victim of a robbery yesterday afternoon (June 9) in Northern California. According to TMZ.com,
the Atlanta, Georgia native formerly known as Tity Boi was with an
entourage of 14 people yesterday at approximately 4:30pm in the vicinity
of San Francisco, California.
While information is releasing, sources with the San Francisco Police Department told TMZ that they responded to the sound of gunfire. While 2 Chainz reportedly gave the assailant(s) his wallet, the Based On A T.R.U. Story album-maker opted not to provide authorities with additional information about the robbery and shooting. Reports at present indicate that nobody was injured.
2 Chainz has not released a statement on the incident. He was in the Bay Area for a Summer Jam concert. The Playaz Circle member did retweet a fan, who mentioned the shooting on Twitter:
RT @supa_fresh_sikh: Nigga didn't you just get shot? RT @2chainz: Bay Area,, summer jam too TurntUP ... tmi.me/Yg0TZ
— Tity Boi (2 Chainz) (@2chainz) June 10, 2013 A Georgia-centered news source, Everything Georgia, initially tweeted that the incident actually took place across the bridge in Oakland, California. The Twitter account with nearly 100,000 followers also claimed the robbery/shooting took place at a marijuana dispensary:
BREAKING: @2chainz has been robbed and shot at twice in Oakland for the Oakland Summer Jam. #TheBay
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) June 10, 2013 2 Chainz was reportedly buying weed cookies from a medical marijuana dispensary when he was robbed in San Francisco.
While information is releasing, sources with the San Francisco Police Department told TMZ that they responded to the sound of gunfire. While 2 Chainz reportedly gave the assailant(s) his wallet, the Based On A T.R.U. Story album-maker opted not to provide authorities with additional information about the robbery and shooting. Reports at present indicate that nobody was injured.
2 Chainz has not released a statement on the incident. He was in the Bay Area for a Summer Jam concert. The Playaz Circle member did retweet a fan, who mentioned the shooting on Twitter:
RT @supa_fresh_sikh: Nigga didn't you just get shot? RT @2chainz: Bay Area,, summer jam too TurntUP ... tmi.me/Yg0TZ
— Tity Boi (2 Chainz) (@2chainz) June 10, 2013 A Georgia-centered news source, Everything Georgia, initially tweeted that the incident actually took place across the bridge in Oakland, California. The Twitter account with nearly 100,000 followers also claimed the robbery/shooting took place at a marijuana dispensary:
BREAKING: @2chainz has been robbed and shot at twice in Oakland for the Oakland Summer Jam. #TheBay
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) June 10, 2013 2 Chainz was reportedly buying weed cookies from a medical marijuana dispensary when he was robbed in San Francisco.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Has Vine Become More Popular Than Instagram?
Vine, the video sharing app beloved by teenagers, has become the medium of choice when it comes to sharing content on Twitter. Sorry Instagram. Topsy is reporting that Vine has surpassed Instagram in its total daily shares on Twitter, and just days after the app was made available on Android.
"While Instagram's numbers have been fairly flat over the past month, Vine has continued grow—and there's a good chance that opening the app up to another large segment of the market had an impact on that," The Verge reports.
It should be noted that Vine is owned by Twitter and its integration into the microblogging platform is much more compliant than Instragram's. Remember when Twitter removed the easy share feature of Instagram photos on timelines? We're pretty sure that has a lot to do with it.
"While Instagram's numbers have been fairly flat over the past month, Vine has continued grow—and there's a good chance that opening the app up to another large segment of the market had an impact on that," The Verge reports.
It should be noted that Vine is owned by Twitter and its integration into the microblogging platform is much more compliant than Instragram's. Remember when Twitter removed the easy share feature of Instagram photos on timelines? We're pretty sure that has a lot to do with it.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar’s “Forbidden Fruit” Leaks: Listen
J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar’s “Forbidden Fruit” Leaks: Listen
Click Here To Listen To This Track From Cole And K. Dot
Click Here To Listen To This Track From Cole And K. Dot
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
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