Chris Brown - Fortune Album Review

The problem with Chris Brown - and we all know that there is a problem with Chris Brown - is not simply that we know he has a penchant for violence and was sentenced for assaulting his former girlfriend, Rihanna. What's 'almost' worse, is that he continues, with staggering belligerence, to forge himself the kind of persona, as a recording artist that requires the music-buying public to accept the notion that women were put on this planet to admire him and act as his servile orgasm monkeys.

The more naïve amongst us might have expected some degree of humility from Chris Brown's latest album, 'Fortune.' Maybe just an incey-wincey little apology? Some sign of regret or remorse? Just a few minor lyrical nods that might suggest some kind of personality shift? That way, disappointment lies, of course, because Chris Brown's lyrical content is every bit as self-aggrandising and stomach-churning-ly arrogant as ever. In fact, unless you were hoping to see last night's dinner again, I would heartily recommend skipping over '2012,' the track in which Chris Brown forgot to turn the microphone off whilst he explains, in horrifying detail, exactly what he'd like to do to some poor girl in the bedroom. "I'll get a pillow for your knees," he offers, generously, fooling the world's lobotomised women that entering a bedroom with Chris Brown is, in any way a good idea. Take my advice, ladies, there's only one place for that pillow, and it's not under your knees.

In some ways, you need to feel a little bit sorry for Chris Brown; he's obviously not the brightest spark in the box and on 'Bassline,' he demonstrates why. "Girls like my bassline," he repeats, endlessly throughout the track. A robot voice joins in - one of his robot mates wanting to get a leg-up in the industry from a collaboration, no doubt. They've got it all wrong though. Girls don't like you for your basslines, Chris. They like you for the muscle-definition on your stomach and that sh*t-eating grin of yours. They tell you that they like your basslines because they want you to think that they are interested in your production techniques. Don't be fooled, Chris!

The sympathy that you may feel for Mr. Brown will soon die out though, as you realise that listening to 'Fortune' is the equivalent to listening to a teenage boy telling his schoolmates what he got up to with the girl in the year below, last night and, most likely, lying about it. Elsewhere, Brown displays grotesque levels of the kind of cocksure attitude that makes him such a terribly unappealing character. "Don't judge me" he croons, on 'Don't Judge Me.' But don't worry, he totally understands that you simply can't bear the thought of someone else getting their manicured digits on his six-pack! He understands that! And he won't judge you either! That's mighty big of you, Mr. Brown. I'll remember that next time I'm thinking of punching a girl in the face.

Further displays of his deeply spiritual connection to the female race are evident on 'Stuck on Stupid,' where he reveals the lengths that he would go to for the one he loves by singing "if you told me to go rock climbing, to prove my love. I'd die trying." Really? Rock climbing? Not, I dunno. jumping out of a plane? Crossing the ocean? Walking over hot coals? Has the world of R&B simply run out of clichés for this one, Chris? Because, seriously, they give you a harness when you go rock climbing. It's highly unlikely that you would die.

Brown manages to come up with one track out of thirteen, on this thankfully-short album that is actually agreeable. It's the last track on the album and it's an auto-tuned Euro dance monster. It's called 'Don't Wake Me Up.'



   Tweet

JoJo's Comeback

"To be honest, I feel like, for a long time, I was afraid of being me," says Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, the 21-year-old pop singer-songwriter who's spent a quarter of her life trying to release her third album. During the process of trying to follow up her 2006 effort "The High Road," problems with her label persisted, and became public. A new full-length, "Jumping Trains," was completed, and scrapped. And then, two weeks ago, she released one of the year's most unexpectedly riveting singles.

"To be honest, I feel like, for a long time, I was afraid of being me," says Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, the 21-year-old pop singer-songwriter who's spent a quarter of her life trying to release her third album. During the process of trying to follow up her 2006 effort "The High Road," problems with her label persisted, and became public. A new full-length, "Jumping Trains," was completed, and scrapped. And then, two weeks ago, she released one of the year's most unexpectedly riveting singles.



"Demonstrate" combines an airy, minimalist approach to R&B with a yearning sexuality that re-contextualizes the Massachusetts-bred singer for pop fans who only know her through "Leave (Get Out)," a catchy breakup single she released at the age of 14. "Baby, there's a lot of freaky shit running in my mind/That I can't say/But I know I can demonstrate," JoJo sings, her voice slithering over the imploding beat.

"Demonstrate" was produced by Noah "40" Shebib, the white-hot studio whiz out of Toronto best known for concocting Drake's introspective sound, as well as being overly particular about his collaborators. The singer tells Billboard.com that "Demonstrate" will serve as the lead single to her new album, and that the rest of the full-length will follow in its striking sonic path.

JoJo: Scrapped Album 'Didn't Feel Like Me'

Although "Demonstrate" hasn't hit iTunes yet and isn't burning up any Billboard charts, the track has gotten positive feedback from online tastemakers. Popdust described the song as a "sexy, moody, weirdo masterpiece," while Idolator writes, "This sounds exactly like a song someone like Kelly Rowland might release, and surprisingly, JoJo totally pulls it off." Meanwhile, in the days following the release of "Demonstrate," JoJo garnered 9,000 new Twitter followers and a 15% increase in traffic to her VEVO channel.

It's a distinct possibility that JoJo's ongoing rebirth as an R&B outsider never gains traction, but her best-case scenario is following the career trajectory of someone like Swedish pop star Robyn, whose slow transformation into an electro-pop darling culminated with her acclaimed "Body Talk" series in 2010. Both artists released sugary radio hits as teenagers ("Leave (Get Out)" and "Show Me Love," respectively), and then essentially disappeared for years while renovating their sounds and accruing hipster cred. Can JoJo use her time out of the spotlight as a springboard to a hip reintroduction? And will her fans accept JoJo 2.0?      

"I felt like people wouldn't really respond to it," JoJo tells Billboard.com of her new, R&B-inflected persona. "And I love pop music -- I don't want that to be mistaken. But I wanted to do something with a little bit of a twist. And I just feel like right now, the climate is perfect for me to be myself, you know what I mean? Artists like Frank Ocean and Drake have really kind of inspired me to be more comfortable, to be who I am."

JoJo's third album has been in a limbo to end all limbos after originally being announced in 2007. Since then, the project's title shifted from "All I Want Is Everything" to "Jumping Trains"; dozens of tracks leaked in various states of completion; and JoJo took to Twitter to let fans know that Blackground Records, her longtime label affiliated with Interscope, was holding the project hostage. "Curious 2know the status of my album? tweet BlackgroundMG. They control the $ & album date," JoJo wrote in May.

"I've definitely learned patience with this process," JoJo says carefully. "I'm excited for material to come out, but I don't have anxiety over it any longer, you know what I'm saying? I know that, I trust that, I hope that when it's time for it to come out, it will be the right time."





 "Disaster," another breakup song with a Kelly Clarkson vibe, was released in August 2011 and given a proper music video last November. Months before that, however, JoJo tossed out a remix of Drake's single "Marvin's Room" in June, swapping out the rapper's vocals for her own and turning his somber ode to drunk-dialing into an equally spare, profanity-laced kiss-off. The remix ignited the blogosphere and has since garnered over 30 million clicks on YouTube, compared to 7.8 million views of her official "Disaster" video. "With the response that I got from 'Marvin's Room,' it kind of gave me the okay to venture more into the territory that I wanted to go already," she says.

Nearly a year later, JoJo was in Toronto, working with the man who conjured the "Marvin's Room" beat. "I told my team I would love to work with 40 -- just throwing it out there… not really thinking what would happen," JoJo admits. But the producer responded to the singer-songwriter's style, and the pair recorded "a couple of songs" together in April, according to the singer. "The way that he produces is different [from other producers]. It pushed me," says JoJo.

The singer was so taken with the sound of "Demonstrate" and her other work with Shebib that she decided to officially throw out the "Jumping Trains" material she had previously recorded. Therefore, "Disaster," which has sold 160,000 downloads according to Nielsen SoundScan, will not appear on JoJo's third album. Her label and management team were more understanding about scrapping the older material than she had expected. "After that session [with Shebib], I think the consensus was, 'This is what we've been looking for anyway,'" she says. "'Disaster' and 'Demonstrate' are from very different places and fit on different albums. So, in moving in a new direction, I just thought it would be the right call to start fresh."

JoJo says that she and "40" plan to reconvene in the studio soon, and that she's worked with producers like Da Internz and Kadis & Sean on new material since the spring session. A music video for "Demonstrate" will be filmed in two weeks before it makes it to iTunes on Aug. 28, but JoJo remains committed to staying in the studio and creating what she refers to as an "atmosphere" for her long-awaited new album. There's still no release date, and JoJo certainly isn't anxious to rush something out.

"I'm only 21, and I really believe that everything does happen as it is supposed to, whether we realize it or not," she says. "I think I've gotten stronger. I think I've grown as a singer. I've learned a lot as a songwriter. And there are things I had to go through personally and business-wise to get me to this point where I am right now, creatively. And I just feel more ready than ever."

Tweet

Drake Promises "Great Aaliyah News" Coming Soon

In a recent interview with radio personality Tim Westwood, Drizzy hinted at something big stirring up.

Drake touched on having "special things" related to Aaliyah coming up when speaking to Tim Westwood. "I have some great Aaliyah news coming soon," Drake told Westwood. "Just some special things. Just gave you that, just a little. Because I said, I'm with Westwood, so I can't not... But great things, great things for music, period." (The Juice)

This has already led to speculation of Drake getting involved in a posthumous Aaliyah project.

A reliable source with inside knowledge of the situation told HipHopDX that the Young Money rapper, who has a tattoo of the songstress on his back, will sit at the helm for her new LP. Details surrounding the album are scarce, but in March, producer Jeffrey "J. Dub" Walker said that an unreleased song titled "Steady Ground" will appear on the project. Aaliyah's brother, Rashad Haughton, later said that no such album was in the works. (HHDX)

Last year, Drizzy got a tattoo of the late singer placed on his back.

Drake may have the flimsiest hand in Hip-Hop, yet the rapper keeps a firm grip as he flexes in this new gym shot. The Young Money superstar has been working up a sweat as he prepares to take his 'Club Paradise' tour on the road, sharing his progress with fans on picture platform, Instagram. Kudos on the svelte physique, but those tattoo's (Aaliyah one included). No. (That Grape Juice)

No stranger to showing affection toward her, the rapper penned an open letter in Aaliyah's honor two years ago.

"I've never lost a parent, a friend, or a lover but I will never forget this day for the rest of my life. I remember getting the news that you had passed and it connected with my heart like a clean shot from Muhammad Ali. I was crushed. Not only was I one of your biggest fans but I was truly in love with you. I loved the way you carried yourself, the way you dressed, the confidence with which you addressed passion and relationships in your music. I said to myself that even if we never met, I wanted a woman in my life just like you. I am pained that we will never get to connect now that music ended up being my career path. But you should know, we all listen to you everyday and we remain inspired and moved by all that you've given the world. I hope I make the right life choices so I can end up in heaven where I know you rest your head. I'll continue to make music in your honor until the day we finally meet. Dinner's on me!" (Rap Radar)

R. Kelly Brushes Off Trey Songz Beef For The Good Of R&B

Get More: Music News

Beef is a natural part of the hip-hop game, but according to R. Kelly it should be left to the rappers, and R&B singers should remain focused on the music.

During a memorable appearance on "RapFix Live," The-Dream declared that there wasn't enough "winning" in R&B these days, and R. Kelly, the self-proclaimed Pied Piper of R&B, couldn't agree more.

According to Kells, singers should leave the beefing to rappers and get back to doing what they do best: making music. R. Kelly, who has more than a dozen studio albums in his catalog, has some advice for the new generation of R&B singers, and most of it revolves around staying out of trouble and remaining focused on the music.

"I feel there's a lot of talented guys out there when it comes to R&B, and what I urge guys out there to do, that's coming up under me, [aiming for] longevity, is to stay away from beef," R. Kelly told MTV News. "Stay away from beef, stay true and respectful to music and to the ones that inspired you to do what you do."

A few of the recent R&B beefs that might have been fresh on Kelly's mind: Chris Brown's scathing exchange of words with Brian McKnight, The-Dream and the Weeknd trading jabs on Twitter and, of course, his own beef with Trey Songz. There has been bad blood between the two singers for some time now, but it seems like Kells is ready to move on as he named Trey Songz among a list of artists he listens to regularly (in addition to Jay-Z, Drake, Beyoncé and Kanye West).

The 27-year-old singer took issue with R. Kelly when he remixed his classic single "Trapped in the Closet" from the POV of the man hiding in the closet, and R. Kelly responded by debuting part two of the song and revealing that the man in the closet was gay. Since then, they've traded insults back and forth, with Trey Songz continuing to call out R. Kelly in interviews for using Auto-Tune and not being original, but that's now a thing of the past.

"I think that's going to be the key to having longevity and it's also going to be the key to keeping R&B alive," Kelly said of avoiding conflict between singers. "You don't want R&B singers to get into beef. Leave that to the rappers, let them do that — R&B, be classy. That's for the ladies and having babies and having fun."

Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Bow Wow A Deadbeat Dad?

Rapper Bow Wow has been publicly outed as a deadbeat dad on Twitter by the sister of his child’s mother. You see, Bow Wow had a daughter last year with his girlfriend at the time, a woman named Joie. During her pregnancy, Bow Wow broke up with her and was spotted out with his ex-girlfriend, Angela Simmons, at the same time as Joie’s baby shower. Joie took to Twitter to allege that the baby was planned, and she had no idea why Bow Wow had turned on her.

Once little Shai was born, Bow Wow began posting photos of her on Twitter, and the public thought that he had a change of heart and was being a good dad to his daughter.

 Not so, according to Joie’s sister. She accuses Bow Wow of only seeing his daughter three times – mind you, Shai is about a year and a half now. She also alleges that Bow Wow posts photos of Shai that Joie sends him, in an attempt to fool the public into thinking that he is actually spending time with his daughter. Check out her tweets below:

  Bow Wow has not responded on Twitter, and neither has his mother Teresa. Hasn’t Bow Wow heard Nas’”Daughters”? If this is true, he needs to step up asap, and be a father to that precious little girl.

Lupe Fiasco and the hip-hop rebel’s emotional breakdown

It’s not everyday that rap artists have a public emotional breakdown, so fans and the media should pay close attention when they do. One of the most memorable displays of emotion from a hip-hop artist came just last week when Lupe Fiasco struggled to get through an interview on MTV’s “RapFx Live,” with host Sway Calloway. 

After watching the 2006 video clip of himself that brought Lupe to tears and listening to him speak about his hard-knock-life upbringing in Chicago, I was left thinking that this emotional moment offered a powerful glimpse into the makings of a modern hip-hop rebel.

The interview makes it clear that Lupe’s desire to find an escape route out of his childhood neighborhood never resulted in detachment or indifference. His pain goes deep and is rooted in years of loss. He has lost friends to gun violence and prison bars — and likely the alienation that stardom brings. As he is unexpectedly overcome by grief over the “ghosts” of his past, he gives us a glimpse into how much he cares, why he often seems angry and why he is who he is — a rebel amongst a pack of pop-culture conformists.

“Chicago’s the murder capital,” Lupe tearfully said. “The dudes in that video are in prison, a couple of fed cases, and then there’s ghosts. You see people that . . . that ain’t there.”

His moment of transparency gives his fans, particularly other young men, greater permission to lose themselves in emotion — to cry, to be at a loss for words, to mourn and to be angry.

While Lupe is a product of a city that is no stranger to black nationalism and politicized thought, I’ve always wondered how he came to stand out amongst his rap peers. How did he come to posses so much consciousness and commitment to rebellion amidst all of the chaos that he grew up witnessing? What led rap mogul Jay-Z to label him a “breath of fresh air” when he was still so new within the industry? How did he escape the reality that took the lives of so many of his friends? And what clues can his life give us into the resilience of young black men?

Lupe credits his parents for not only his success but also his survival. There was a balance between the urban despair he witnessed firsthand and the values instilled in him by his mother and father. His parents’ insistence that he use the talents and skills at his disposal to “get out” of the ghetto ensured that he never romanticized poverty and glorified violence.

While Lupe grew up seeing prostitutes on the corner, he was also immersed in a literary household that prided the ideology of great minds like Malcolm X. It had to take great courage to pick up his skateboard and keep kicking and pushing as he passed a sea of unfulfilled dreams. Oftentimes, that courage comes from adults that help you envision a life greater than their own. It’s not surprising that Lupe’s lyrics reflect a commitment to “generational parenting” - a desire to instill the same fearlessness in others that was passed on to him.

During last week’s interview, there was a clear difference between the young-faced Lupe that eagerly gave a MTV crew a walking tour of his West Side neighborhood and the 30-year-old version that lost his composure while speaking of the sense of helplessness he feels when it comes to saving black youth from poverty and early death.

The former had not yet experienced all the good and bad that comes with fame and fortune, which is displayed by the simplicity of his 24-year-old self, a simplicity that appears comfortable in and proud of his humble beginnings. The latter, on the other hand, knows international success intimately and appears to be searching for a quiet place within his own identity. The distance between the two reveals a man that has undoubtedly evolved.

But as much as he’s changed, there’s so much about him that has remained the same. He remains just as complex and multifaceted today as he was when his album “Food & Liquor” was first released. His Islamic faith remains prominent in his artistic branding, and his refusal to “dumb it down” still challenge commercial hip-hop to do and be better. Calling President Obama a “baby killer,” as he recently did on Philly’s Power 99, might be shocking to some, but it’s still a continuation of his “American Terrorist” critique.

While many of us may be turned off by Lupe’s personalized attacks on Obama, it’s important to know that it comes from a place of pain as much as it does anger. We’ve all become so desensitized to violence that we often forget that a parent has lost a son or daughter — a community has lost a potential change agent. We sound off the alarming numbers of black men in prison, forgetting that a child is now forced to grow up fatherless. Lupe’s breakdown suggests that he makes these connections often and wants to help others do the same.

At a time when too many Americans are obsessed with what society defines as “the [newest] cool” thing, there remains a small remnant of vanguards who are rebellious enough to pursue honesty over and above popularity. Count Lupe among them.

Kanye, Drake, Nicki Minaj Duke It Out For Best Hip-Hop VMA Kanye and Jay-Z, YMCMB or Childish Gambino: Who will own bragging rights in the competitive category?

It'll be hard to pick a favorite in the Best Hip-Hop Video category at the 2012 Video Music Awards, it just depends on what you like.

If you're into over-the-top bar mitzvahs with your bubby and Lil Weezy, then Drake's "HYFR" is for you. Or if you prefer a good-old-fashioned Paris party, then clearly you're more of a Watch the Throne type. Whatever your preference, between Nicki Minaj's "Beez in the Trap," Kanye West's "Mercy," The Throne's "Paris," Drake's "HYFR" and Childish Gambino's "Heartbeat," there's something for every rap fan.

Voting is open now but to find out who'll win, you'll have to wait until Thursday, September 6, at 8 p.m. ET, when the 29th annual MTV VMAs kick off live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The soulful Alicia Keys and VMA newcomers One Direction are set to perform, and the full list of VMA nominees is online now!

Drake, who leads all nominees with five nods really did the unexpected with Director X for his "HYFR" video. Instead of going to the club like every other rapper, Drizzy took his party to the synagogue, where he professed his Jewish faith alongside his real familia and his Cash Money fam, Birdman and Lil Wayne.

Kanye West and Jay-Z took their show on the road and filmed a live video for their inescapable jam "Paris," but the Throne's concert-clip had a kaleidoscopic effect. The pair of rap kings combined live footage with stunning visual effects to give their catchy tune a twist.

Yeezy took a different approach when he linked with his G.O.O.D. Music pals, Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz, for their "Mercy" video. The stunning black-and-white visual features well-choreographed interactions between the (better than) G.O.O.D. MCs, and while 'Ye might not be front and center throughout the whole clip, Swag King Cole makes sure his presence is felt.

Childish Gambino's "Heartbeat" is the dark horse of the category, only because the actor-turned-rapper is up against such established rap acts. It may be an uphill battle for Donald Glover, but the underground spitter has already won over tons of fans with his open and emotional clip for his fist-pumping breakup ode.

Last year it was Nicki Minaj who won the VMA for Best Hip-Hop Video for "Super Bass," and if rap's reigning queen and her legion of Barbz have anything to say about it, Roman very well be reclaiming her crown this year. In Nick's "Beez in the Trap," the YMCMB superstar recruits 2 Chainz and hits the strip-club to shake her money-maker. Sounds like a winner to us, but ultimately it's up to you, the fans.

Beginning today (July 31), viewers can vote for general VMA categories, including Video of the Year, Best New Artist and more, by visiting VMA.MTV.com or m.mtv.com on their mobile phone. In addition, Best New Artist is available for voting via all wireless carrier subscribers by texting BNA to 22444 or by visiting MTV's official Facebook page.

The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Head to VMA.MTV.com now through August 24 to vote for your favorites, or text BNA to 22444 to vote for Best New Artist all the way through the show!

Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday Tour with Lil Wayne & Birdman!

Nicki Minaj rocks the stage during her Pink Friday Tour concert held at the James L. Knight Center on Tuesday (July 24) in Miami, Fla.

The 29-year-old entertainer was joined on stage by a shirtless Lil Wayne, Birdman, and DJ Khaled for a special performance of “Take It To The Head,” “Pop That,” and “YU Mad.”

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Nicki Minaj

“S/o to my YMCMB family for coming out!!,” Nicki wrote on her Twitter account. “Lil Wayne / @LilTunechi @BIRDMAN5STAR @mackmaine @djkhaled Florida u were amazing tonight!!”

Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga Offer Support To Olympic Athletes

If there’s one thing better than winning a gold medal at the Olympics it’s having Justin Bieber tweet his congratulations to you afterward. Bieber and Lady Gaga have both been offering their support and appreciation to numerous American athletes competing in the 2012 London games.
.

The U.S. gymnastic teams – Jordyn Wieber, Gabrielle Douglas, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and McKayla Marone – took home the gold in the team competition earlier this week and have been professed Bieber fans. Which means it was probably a highlight of their Olympic experience when Bieber tweeted, “CONGRATS to @McKaylaMaroney @jordyn_wieber @kyla_ross96 @Aly_Raisman @gabrielledoug on your GOLD MEDAL. #BeliebersWinGOLD #Proud…” Bieber added to Wieber, who has said she’s a big fan in interviews, “u support me i support u. congrats. and @ryanseacrest told me about u too. #DREAMBIG.”
.

So, basically, if you want to make friends with Bieber you’re gonna need to score an Olympic gold medal. Although you may wonder why Bieber, a Canadian, is offering such support to the American teams. The pop star later tweeted, “now time for Canada to win some. #TeamCanada #Olympics.”
.

Lady Gaga is also apparently a fan of the women’s gymnastic team. Mother Monster tweeted, “Woohoo! Gold for the ladies! just want to squeeze them! So much talent and beauty. Did u seem all holding hands? There’s no ‘I’ in team.” Marone responded, “Thanks for watching @ladygaga!! This team loves you & your music!! I also heard you were a gymnast?? ;)” Gaga, to her credit, actually seemed starstruck by this response and noted that she was only a gymnast “for like a week.” The singer added, “@mckaylamaroney tweeted at me! Why didnt anybody tell me!!! DEAD. You were brilliant give all the girls a kiss for me!”
.

The women’s gymnasts aren’t the only athletes receiving celebrity support. Bieber also tweeted at American swimmer Missy Franklin, who told reporters she has tickets to his upcoming tour. Bieber tweeted, “heard @FranklinMissy is a fan of mine. now im a fan of hers too. CONGRATS on winning GOLD! #muchlove.”
.

We want to know: Are there any athletes at the Olympics who aren’t fans of Bieber? Apparently he’s the unofficial mascot of the American team this year.
.

For more from Justin Bieber head to his Myspace Radio channel here.

Did Michael Madsen Enjoy Punching Justin Bieber? The 'Kill Bill' actor details the graphic 'As Long As You Love Me' scene for MTV News.

Of all the images that make up the video for Justin Bieber's "As Long As You Love Me," none are as memorable as the moment that Michael Madsen lands his first punch on the singer.

Madsen's overprotective-father character may have enjoyed leaving Bieber bloody for wanting to date his daughter, but in real life, the actor said he didn't take any pleasure in the one-two punch.

"I didn't exactly enjoy slapping him around," he told MTV News on Thursday, one day after the video premiered. "Had he been a prick, had he been a brat, you know, I might have had fun with that. But he was actually, he was the opposite.

Get More: Music News

If fans are wondering if Bieber was nervous to take a beating for the Anthony Mandler-directed clip, Madsen explained that Bieber was more concerned about having it look real than scared to take the hit.

"He was very respectful, very respectful and decent to me," he said. "I think he wanted it to be well-done. I don't think he was blowing it off. I think that I've been around enough to know I can tell if somebody isn't really doing their job or taking what they do seriously. And I could tell from early on in the morning that he was. He wanted it to be right. He wanted it to be specific and had a good car, a '68 Charger. That's a pretty bitching car, you know? I saw that damn thing parked in front of the house and I went 'Wow, I hope that's mine.' But they put me in a Rolls Royce; not too bad at all."

So, given that Bieber and Madsen trade physical barbs and verbal ones, does the actor think Bieber has a future in Hollywood? "He had good eye contact. He was focused. He didn't have a double. I think he should leave the acting up to me," he laughed. "He can sing though. See I can't do that. It goes both ways. He can sing his head off and he's damn good at it, and I couldn't get close to that. He does his thing, and I do mine."

Chris Brown Comments About Frank Ocean's Sexuality

Earlier this month, Frank Ocean revealed he was gay, and most of the reactions from fellow singers and fans have been positive. Leave it to Chris Brown to stir up some controversy.

While leaving a nightclub in Cannes over the weekend, Brown is reported to have commented on a question relating to Ocean, saying simply: "man, no homo."

Then Brown tried to clear things up on Twitter, insisting he wasn't trying to offend Ocean. He wrote,  "My Opinion on the whole Frank Ocean subject is ......... Love who u wanna love. It's ur decision. People stop searching for BS."

Brown has a history of making homophobic comments. In 2010 he posted angry tweets about rapper RAZ, calling him a "D*ck in da a*s lil boy," "homothug" and a user of a "buttplug." This was in response to RAZ commenting on Brown's behavior with ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

After sending a few more homophobia-related tweets, Brown did wind up apologizing to gay fans and insisted that he wasn't homophobic.

Maybe Brown should simply stop voicing his opinion on Twitter.

Lil Wayne - Lil Wayne Skate Park Ready To Launch

Rap superstar Lil Wayne will head home to his native New Orleans, Louisiana later this month to officially open a new skateboarding park.

Havoc Explains How Jay-Z & Prodigy's Beef Affected Him

Havoc continues his conversation about his beef with Prodigy.

Jay-Z and Prodigy famously beefed back in the early 2000s, resulting in several barbs being tossed at one another on records and at concerts. Havoc recently spoke with AHH about how the beef affected him, stating that he had to "pick up that slack" while P handled his business and that it was a beef that "should have never even taken place."

"The impact to me was that I just had to step my game up. I was like, if someone’s going to be slacking, then I gotta pick up that slack. I saw the difference, but at the time, I didn’t want to belive it. I was like, people kept saying it," said Havoc. "From all angles, everyone was coming down on P. But I was holding him down like, nah, son is still good. Whatever, whatever. But I felt like I had to step my game up, because that’s a beef that should have never even taken place. Always in my eyes, I always felt like that. But for the greater good, I said if that’s what you want to do, then do it. But I’m into more forming alliances than to be out here starting beef with people."

Havoc, who is also a noted producer in addition to being an emcee, said that Prodigy's beef had a trickledown effect on his career. He says that it's more about money than it is honor, and that being in a group forces him to take the brunt of his partner's decisions.

"Yeah, somewhat in that aspect, because I produce. It's about money," he said. "Whatever one person does in the group reflects on me. Now, if I’m walking through somebody’s hood who this dude done dissed, they lookin’ at me like I’m him. Dudes wanna score points off of that, so that always put me in the line of fire. I never complain about that."

Dr. Dre & Kendrick Lamar Cover XXL Magazine's 15th Anniversary Issue

Dr. Dre says Kendrick Lamar has "the potential to do some really incredible great things."

Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar have joined forces to appear on the cover of XXL magazine's 15th anniversary issue.

According to the publication, the story sees K. Dot discussing his upcoming album good kid, m.A.A.d city, his family's violent tendencies and more, while Dre bigs up his abilities and brands him the future of rap.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but I believe that [Kendrick] has the potential to do some really incredible great things–things that are gonna make the veterans raise their eyebrows," said Dre.

 

 

  

Tweet

Drake To Reportedly Executive Produce Aaliyah's Next Album, Features Her On New Single

Exclusive: Drake will reportedly debut his new single at OVO Festival 2012.

Drake is reportedly set to executive produce Aaliyah’s upcoming posthumous album. He is also slated to feature the late singer on his new single.

A reliable source with inside knowledge of the situation told HipHopDX that the Young Money rapper, who has a tattoo of the songstress on his back, will sit at the helm for her new LP. Details surrounding the album are scarce, but in March, producer Jeffrey “J. Dub” Walker said that an unreleased song titled “Steady Ground” will appear on the project. Aaliyah’s brother, Rashad Haughton, later said that no such album was in the works.

In late March, Drake hinted to Tim Westwood that he had some “special things” related to Aaliyah in motion. “I have some great Aaliyah news coming soon,” he said. “Just some special things. Just gave you that, just a little. Because I said, I’m with Westwood, so I can’t not. But great things, great things for music, period.”

Additionally, Drake, who sampled Aaliyah’s “At Your Best (You Are Love)” for his track “Unforgettable,” is reportedly set to feature her vocals on his upcoming single. He is set to debut the song at the OVO Festival, taking place this Sunday (August 5^th) at Toronto, Canada’s Molson Amphitheatre.

HipHopDX will keep you updated as more information comes to light.

   Tweet

Big Sean Says KeY Wane, Young Chop To Produce On Sophomore Album

Big Sean says that Key Wane, Young Chop will have tracks featured on his upcoming release.

 With G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summer coming this September and both Kanye West and Pusha T preparing their respective releases to follow, it looks like fans have a bevy of new tunes to anticipate. Now, in a recent interview with Complex, G.O.O.D.'s Detroit rep Big Sean discusses his sophomore LP. Although he kept tight-lipped about possible features or a tentative release date for the effort, he said that he's preparing to release its first single shortly.

"We just got the first single. I’m not going to tell you who’s all on it. Dope ass artists on it, though, for sure." he teased. "It’s great. It’s something that connects. When I was playing it for Common, he was losing his mind. J. Cole was blown away. It really is elevating, taking it to a different level. I don’t even want to hype it up or talk too much like, 'Yeah, my album is the shit!' I just can’t wait for everyone to hear what I’ve been doing, what I’ve been cooking up. We’re figuring it all out. I don’t know the title of the album. I know it’s coming out this year."

Big Sean also discussed a few of the producers that will grace his project, including frequent collaborator No I.D. and Young Chop. He added that he's been working extensively with KeY Wane, who most recently produced Meek Mill's single "Amen."

"The person who is playing one of the biggest roles is my new producer I signed myself, KeY Wane," he revealed. "He also did the 'Amen' track for Meek Mill. He got stuff with ‘Ye coming. He produced my first single that’s about to come out of my album. KeY Wane is definitely an instrumental part. He kind of has like a vintage sound with a new spin on it, so I’m excited to have him on the album. Of course, No I.D. is playing a big ass role in it with his beats, his input. That’s the main thing I get from No I.D. It’s not always just production, it’s his input a lot of times and that’s a true producer. That’s the difference between a beat-maker and a producer. Young Chop is definitely on the album. Shout out to Young Chop from Chi-Town, bringing that new sound. We’re just young guys with that new sound."

  Tweet

Rick Ross "God Forgives, I Don't" First Week Sales Projections

Rick Ross eyes a No. 1 debut for his latest album.

The first-week sales projection has been revealed for Rick Ross' fifth studio album God Forgives, I Don't, released yesterday via Def Jam.

According to HDD (via HHNM), Ricky Rozay's latest offering is slated to sell between 200,000 and 220,000 copies in its first week. The sales puts the album on track for a No. 1 debut. The project features the singles "3 Kings" featuring Dr. Dre and Jay-Z, as well as "Touch'N You" featuring Usher, "Hold Me Back" and "So Sophisticated" featuring Meek Mill.

Ross' last album, 2010's Teflon Don, bowed at No. 2 on the charts with 176,300 copies sold. It marked his first album that failed to enter at the top of the chart.

 Tweet

Eminem Has Started Working On New LP, Praises 50 Cent & Slaughterhouse

 During a recent interview, Eminem announced that he has started working on a new album. He also discussed 50 Cent's business skills and Slaughterhouse's lyrical techniques.

As the head of Shady Records, Eminem has had to do more than just rap. His work has allowed him to include himself in one of the year's most anticipated projects, Slaughterhouse's Shady Records debut, welcome to: Our House, due August 28. This won't be the first time Em sees himself working extensively with other emcees behind the scenes. One of his most successful endeavors in that regard lies with 50 Cent. Recently, Slim spoke on 50, Slaughter and how he's managed to begin working on his new solo album while trying to balance it all.

“I actually started my album," he told Channel 955 in Detroit. "But I haven’t fully went in yet because I’ve been finishing up this Slaughterhouse record. I've kind of been really hands-on with this album for the past year. This has kinda been a pet project for me. I've kind of been executive producing, producing, co-producing, mixing—very hands-on with it and just really involved. We’re actually finishing up today. We’re handing the album in today."\

Eminem did not offer an estimated release date for his project. He noted that he has "fun" listening to what emcees on his Shady roster do, adding that he's enjoyed the technical work he's heard from Slaughter and Yelawolf.

However, he also had time to look back at his work with 50 Cent.

“Ever since we started making music with Fif, it was always like a mutual respect thing and we became friends outside of the music," Shady shared. "50 is very big on the business aspects of his career. I would consider him a smart businessman. Not saying that I’m not, but I don’t get into as much of the technical aspect in the business sense. I have no idea what’s going on—ever. I don’t even know where I’m at right now.”

 Tweet

Lil Wayne Says He's Putting Rap On The Backburner For Skateboarding

Lil Wayne also speaks about how he got bored with Rap.

Lil Wayne is taking his love of skateboarding one step further. During an interview with DJ Drama, Weezy explained that he's putting Rap on the backburner so that he can entertain his love of skating, justifying his decision by stating that his fans "deserve some peace from me."

“I picked up the skateboard and I thought it would be a hobby, but it’s a lifestyle. You have to be fully committed. In order to be fully committed, you have to live that lifestyle. What these young kids say right now, you have to be about that life. I guess I’m about that life," he said. “It’s kinda of putting rap on the backburner, that’s all. Rap is a taking backseat to skating. That’s alright. But I kind of feel I deserve that. … I think fans deserve some peace from me."

But before he dials down his output, the Young Money rapper plans on releasing his Dedication 4 mixtape, for which he's rapped over beats including "I Don't Like," "Ca$hin Out" and "Burn." For Wayne, his relative quietude in the game stemmed from his boredom with Rap.

"I just felt like it was time. I got bored," he said of recording Dedication 4. "Yeah, I mean, being me, I always feel like I ain’t done nothing yet, so I’m always looking for the next thing to do. But other than that, it does get pretty boring when it comes to the rapping and stuff. I’ve done so much of it, I’ve been doing it since I was eight. I’m going to be 30 in September, and I’m still rapping. So I kind of feel like I’m getting  old." 

Tweet