Archive: June 2010 (1-10 of 135)

Jun 30 2010 02:39 PM ET

Lil Wayne gets probation on Arizona drugs and weapons charges

by
Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Legal Troubles, Lil Wayne

lil-wayneImage Credit: Jonathan MannionWeezy can breathe a little easier today. The Grammy-winning 27-year-old rapper, currently serving one year at New York’s Rikers on a previous gun charge, has received probation after pleading guilty to a reduced drugs charge on June 18 in Yuma County, Arizona.

The case stems from a January 22, 2008, incident in which officers at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint some 80 miles east of Yuma found an ounce of cocaine, nearly four ounces of marijuana, 41 grams of Ecstasy, and a .40-caliber handgun registered to Wayne on his tour bus (which at the time contained 11 other people), leading to charges felony possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia—for which Wayne may have faced a 36-month prison term, if convicted.

According to a Reuters report, all other charges were dismissed today in exchange for Wayne, born Dwayne Carter, pleading guilty to one count of possession of a dangerous drug. Wayne himself did not make the trip, appearing instead via video hookup from Rikers.

More on Fantasia and from EW.com’s Music Mix:
 Fantasia’s ‘Bittersweet’ video: Best of her career? (Yes!)
Eminem debuts at the top of the Billboard 200 chart
Jennifer Hudson breaks long silence, discusses family’s murder on Behind the Music
Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Never-released Lady Gaga song, “You and I”: Listen here

Jun 30 2010 12:51 PM ET

Fantasia's 'Bittersweet' video: Best of her career? (Yes!)

by
Categories: American Idol, Divas!, Fantasia Barrino, Happy Birthday!, Ladies, R&B, Things That Are Beautiful

I can’t stop watching Fantasia’s new video for “Bittersweet” on repeat loop, and I’m not just saying that because today is her 26th birthday or because she remains my all-time favorite Idol. Indeed, while the clip for this gorgeous, old-soul ballad doesn’t break any new ground in terms of storytelling (Fantasia reminisces about an ex-lover) or visual effects (rich, retro lighting prevails), it finds the American Idol season 3 champ at her stylish, classy best — and that’s no small achievement for an amazing vocalist whose look has occasionally been more “gah!” than gahhh-geous.

“Bittersweet” begins with a swoop of Fantasia’s name across the screen, before transporting us to The Lady Barrino’s dressing-room table, where she gets gussied up for a nightclub appearance, fiddles wistfully with her ostentatious diamond engagement ring, and imagines falling back into the arms of her wayward lover. The fringed lamp and colorful makeup palette are nice touches, as is the light refracting through her bottle of Nuvo (or something like it). ‘Tasia then takes the stage (all ruched curtains and dramatic side-spotlights) to a standing ‘O’ from the audience — well, how else would they greet that legendary voice? — and serves up retro torch-singer glamor in a slinky, strappy, sequined, floor-length gown. Again, you see her man in the audience, and then you don’t. Oh, memory! How you torment our heroine! Later, there’s Fantasia in a red-and-black leopard-print trench that manages to be completely flattering while still maintaining some of the loopy what-is-she-thinking? uniqueness for which she is known. Ten points to the video’s stylist for this particular frock! And 10 more for the dramatic white overcoat and black shades Fantasia is sporting as she gloomily scans an audience of autograph-seekers hoping her man has been running through airports and down sidewalks (preferably in the rain) (her music blaring in his head) (seeking one last chance to make things right) to reach her. Turns out, in fact, that’s precisely what he’s been up to, but he’s too late, and as our gal drives away, she tosses her bling to the sidewalk in a final fit of melancholie. As the song’s final line indicates, “This s*** is bittersweet.” Indeed! READ FULL STORY »

Jun 30 2010 12:05 PM ET

Eminem debuts at the top of the Billboard 200 chart

by
Categories: Charts, Drake, Eminem, Jack Johnson, Miley Cyrus, The Roots

eminemImage Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty ImagesAs we reported yesterday, Eminem‘s Recovery debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling an incredible 741,000 copies in its first week. It’s the biggest first week sales of 2010 and Em’s sixth No. 1 debut. Last week’s No. 1, Drake‘s Thank Me Later, drops to No. 2 with 157,000. This week’s second highest debut is Miley Cyrus’ Can’t Be Tamed. It enters at No. 3 with 102,000 albums sold. Ozzy Osbourne’s Scream sits at No. 4 with 81,000, giving him his seventh top 10 album. The Now 34 compilation falls one slot to No. 5 with 55,000 sets sold. The week’s final top 10 debut is the Roots’ How I Got Over, moving in at No. 6 with 51,000 albums sold.

Former chart-topper, Jack Johnson’s To The Sea sinks two spots to No. 7 with 44,000 albums sold. Selling 43,000 copies, Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0 drops one position to No. 8. Sarah McLachlan’s Laws of Illusion almost falls out of the top 10, going from No. 3 to No. 9 with 38,000 copies sold. And the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack closes out the top 10, falling four slots to No. 10 with 38,000 albums sold.

Surprised Em’s album did so well? Did you buy it? What did you think of it? Let us know.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
REM reissues Fables of the Reconstruction: Exclusive preview!
Jennifer Hudson breaks long silence, discusses family’s murder on Behind the Music
Marina and the Diamonds’ new ‘Oh No!’ video: Divine, effervescent pop art
Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Never-released Lady Gaga song, “You and I”: Listen here

Jun 29 2010 04:49 PM ET

Eminem projected to score year's biggest debut with 'Recovery'

by
Categories: Charts, Eminem, Hip-Hop/Rap

eminemImage Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicEveryone knows Eminem is a big commercial draw, but it’s looking like his new album is even huger than most observers realized. Industry tip sheet Hits Daily Double is projecting that his new Recovery sold a spectacular 753,870 copies in its first week on shelves (h/t Rap Radar). The official week-one tally from Nielsen SoundScan won’t be available ’til tomorrow morning, so that number could change slightly. Assuming Hits is more or less on target, though, Eminem will have scored 2010′s biggest sales week by a very healthy margin.

This may sound familiar: Eminem’s previous effort, Relapse, similarly had the biggest opening week of 2009 at the time of its release. Relapse accomplished that feat with 608,000 copies sold. If Recovery has added an extra 150,000 on top of that — in an industry that has become no more conducive to blockbuster record sales in the past year — that’s simply astonishing. So how did he do it?

For starters, ”Not Afraid” was a smarter choice for Recovery‘s first single than anything used to roll out Relapse. The No. 1 smash’s thoughtful, self-aware tone signaled a brand new phase for Eminem, whether or not the album actually lived up to that impression. Perhaps more importantly, Recovery comes at a time when fans have had an extra year to absorb the fact that Eminem is back. Maybe some casual fans who held off buying Relapse in its first week because they were still getting used to the idea of a sober Marshall Mathers are now more fully on board.

Still, neither of those factors fully accounts for how Recovery could improve so notably on Relapse‘s already remarkable opening number. What do you think is behind this? Did you buy one album but not the other? All theories are welcome in the comments.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
REM reissues Fables of the Reconstruction: Exclusive preview!
Jennifer Hudson breaks long silence, discusses family’s murder on Behind the Music
Marina and the Diamonds’ new ‘Oh No!’ video: Divine, effervescent pop art
Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Never-released Lady Gaga song, “You and I”: Listen here

Jun 29 2010 02:09 PM ET

Bruce Springsteen readies 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' reissue: New details

by
Categories: Bruce Springsteen, Reissues, Things That Are Awesome

springsteenRumors of a deluxe reissue for 1978′s Darkness on the Edge of Town, arguably Bruce Springsteen’s finest hour, have reached legendary status among Springsteen fans since they first surfaced around 2008. Good news: That long-awaited project could be in your hands by this Christmas, if you believe E Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt’s latest interview.

Van Zandt told a British radio station (via Rolling Stone) that the reissue could include as many as 10 previously unheard outtakes from the Darkness sessions, along with remastered versions of the 10 amazing songs from the original album. The prospect of instantly doubling Darkness like that is enough to send any fan into hysterics.

But what to make of Van Zandt’s suggestion that Springsteen might be adding new vocals to some of those 30-year-old outtakes? “We’ll go back and he might finish a lyric on one or two, or finish a harmony on one or two, but we’ll keep them intact pretty much,” he said. The Rolling Stones did something similar for their recent Exile on Main Street reissue. I’m frankly not sure this kind of retroactive tampering makes sense in either case. Consider, by contrast, the Beatles’ mid-’90s Anthology series — the two new/old songs the surviving members doctored up were both excellent, but the most fascinating part of those discs had to be all the unfinished, unpolished, and relatively untouched outtakes.

That said, Van Zandt’s “we’ll keep them intact pretty much” is reassuring. And he’s one of the people most responsible for the raw, direct sound of the original Darkness, so I hope we can trust him to keep any 2010 embellishments in check. Anyway, what do you think of this trend of finishing old outtakes decades later? Are you looking forward to the Darkness reissue as much as I am?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
REM reissues Fables of the Reconstruction: Exclusive preview!
Jennifer Hudson breaks long silence, discusses family’s murder on Behind the Music
Marina and the Diamonds’ new ‘Oh No!’ video: Divine, effervescent pop art
Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Never-released Lady Gaga song, “You and I”: Listen here
Matt Smith performs “Doctor Who” theme tune at Glastonbury

Jun 29 2010 12:59 PM ET

R.E.M. reissues 'Fables of the Reconstruction': Stream an exclusive preview track here!

by
Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Downloads and Streams, Indie Rock, R.E.M.

REM-1985Image Credit: Bob Leafe/Retna Ltd.Having already reissued Murmur and Reckoning, R.E.M. is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Fables of the Reconstruction by releasing a fancy new remastered and expanded edition of the album that brought “Driver 8,” “Life and How to Live It,” and “Can’t Get There From Here” into our lives.

The reissue (due July 13) comes with a bonus disc of demos including Lifes Rich Pageant‘s ”Hyena” and the previously-unreleased “Throw Those Trolls Away” (known as “When I Was Young” to the R.E.M. obsessives out there). And right here, right now, you can stream the demo version of “Can’t Get There From Here,” which is the closest any of us are gonna get to being in that Athens rehearsal studio in 1985. When you’re done geeking out, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. Psyched for this reissue? Hoping they unearth any other unreleased gems during these anniversary digs? As we progress through the R.E.M. catalog, which album re-release are you gonna be first in line for? (Monster: coming fall 2019!)

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Marina and the Diamonds’ new ‘Oh No!’ video: Divine, effervescent pop art
Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Never-released Lady Gaga song, “You and I”: Listen here
Matt Smith performs “Doctor Who” theme tune at Glastonbury
BET: Kanye West’s big comeback performance. How did he do?
BET: Chris Brown finally gets his Michael Jackson tribute

Jun 29 2010 12:45 PM ET

Jennifer Hudson breaks long silence, discusses family's murder on Vh1's 'Behind the Music': 'It was surreal'

by
Categories: Jennifer Hudson, VH1

Jennifer-HudsonImage Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.comIn 2004, the onetime Disney cruise-line employee from Chicago’s Southside sang her way to seventh place on American Idol; less than three years later, she was an Oscar winning, Hollywood-sweeping Dreamgirl. Then, in October of 2008, her mother, brother, and young nephew were brutally murdered by her sister’s estranged husband, and she retreated entirely from the public eye until February 2009, when she emerged to perform a soaring rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XLII.

Through it all, the 28-year-old singer, actress, and mother of 10-month-old David Daniel Otunga Jr. has been understandably reticent to discuss her personal tragedy in the press, but on last night’s Behind the Music: Jennifer Hudson, she addressed it frankly: “It’s all a blur, it was surreal,” she says of the immediate aftermath of the killings. “It was like I was outside of myself … For almost two weeks straight . . . [I was] inside one room with just family and friends coming in and out. I prayed when I’d get up in the morning and prayed before I laid down at night.”

Of the 2009 Grammys, at which she sang the emotional ballad “You Pulled Me Through” nearly a cappella, she says now, “I was definitely thinking of my family when I was singing that song. I could hear my [late] brother in my head, like, ‘Jennifer, you need to kill this, you need to get up and do it.’ I knew he would be disappointed if I didn’t do it justice.”

The birth of her son, she says, helped with her grieving: He “makes me feel like the most special person on earth. I want him to get the same love and the same upbringing my mother gave us.”

Today,” she says, “I feel like I’ve lived about three or four different lives.” She shares happier memories too, of growing up with a loving single mom and a grandmother who encouraged her to join her church’s gospel choir; she laughingly recalls singing in drag clubs and at weddings before finally making the cut at Idol‘s Atlanta auditions. If you missed the show, several clips (as well as various bonus materials) are available at Vh1.

Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Lauryn Hill explains why she put her career on hold — and why she might be coming back — in rare NPR interview
Marina and the Diamonds’ new “Oh No” video
Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Never-released Lady Gaga song, “You and I”: Listen here
Matt Smith performs “Doctor Who” theme tune at Glastonbury

Jun 29 2010 12:07 PM ET

Lauryn Hill explains why she put her career on hold -- and why she might be coming back -- in rare interview

by
Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Lauryn Hill

Lauryn-HillImage Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesWhat happened to Lauryn Hill? It’s a question that’s been asked again and again in the last eight years. Hill has yet to follow up her classic 1998 solo debut and underrated 2002 Unplugged set with a second studio album, and she’s given precious few interviews in that time. So kudos are due to NPR’s Zoe Chace for tracking Hill down after her performance at this month’s Harmony Festival and scoring some rare face time with one of music’s most mysterious geniuses.

Asked by Chace why she hasn’t released anything in nearly a decade, Hill actually gave an answer. “There were a number of different reasons,” she’s quoted as saying. “But partly, the support system that I needed was not necessarily in place. There were things about myself, personal-growth things, that I had to go through in order to feel like it was worth it…Oftentimes, I think people are forced [by the music industry] to make decisions prematurely. And then that sound radiates.” That’s a pretty vague explanation, to be sure. But it’s more than we’ve heard from Hill in some time.

More encouraging yet is Hill’s suggestion that she might be moving back toward a fuller performing career. “I have five children,” she told Chace. ”The youngest is two now, so she’s old enough that I can leave her for a period of time and know she’s going to be OK… And I think it’s just time. I’m starting to get excited again.”

It’s great to hear those words, even if Hill’s long-suffering fans know better than to get too excited just yet. Check out the full NPR piece and let us know if you’re ready for her to come back.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Marina and the Diamonds’ new “Oh No” video
Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Never-released Lady Gaga song, “You and I”: Listen here
Matt Smith performs “Doctor Who” theme tune at Glastonbury

Jun 28 2010 06:30 PM ET

Marina and the Diamonds' new 'Oh No!' video: Divine, effervescent pop art

by
Categories: Buzzworthy, Marina and the Diamonds, Music Videos, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are Beautiful, Things That Are Odd

J’adorable Welsh songstress Marina Lambrini Diamandis, aka the delightful musical act Marina and the Diamonds (she’s EW recommended!), has struck again—this time, with a pop-art–laced ode to fame that serves as her video for the infectious tune, “Oh No!”

I’ve been jamming to this buoyant, anthemic jam since her album dropped a few weeks back, but this highly visual interpretation from the spark-pluggish lady takes it to a new level. It’s like all ’60s-ed out with its mod influences—the fashions are divine—and primary colors. And most of all, just loving all over her general effervescence in the video. Enjoy it here yourself:

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 28 2010 04:49 PM ET

Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York's Madison Square Garden

by
Categories: Jill Scott, Maxwell, R&B, Reviews, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are Sexy, Things We Love

maxwell-jill-scottImage Credit: Daniel Locke/PR Photos (2)On Friday night (June 26) true school R&B came to New York’s famed Madison Square Garden. For the latest stop on his Renaissance Hotel-sponsored tour, smooth crooner Maxwell shared the headlining bill with soul star Jill Scott. There was no opening act, but two main events. In a black shirt, skirt, sequined black tights, and a black heels, Scott kicked things off with hits like “The Way” and “I Love You,” a new track from her forthcoming album The Light of The Sun. “This song’s for the people that have loved someone real hard and f—– it all up,” she described before creeping into the funky mid-tempo cut that apologizes to an ex lover.

Songs like that are the reason Scott’s fans love her as much as they do. She’s a wonderful storyteller; her songs, descriptive and emotional, are simple and relateable, content-wise. When she set up “Cross My Mind,” a mostly spoken-word track about a not-so-good man who was great in the sack, she asked the women in the house, “You guys know what I’m talking about?” They did, screaming their “Yeah, girls” and “Uh huhs.”

Scott’s band—two drummers, a brass section, guitarist, and two keyboardists—was hipper than most, all dressed in black Adidas tracksuits. And only visible as silhouettes were two background dancers, sexily grooving to Scott’s music behind screens. As fast as she can sing about a trifling man, Scott can coo about one that treats her right. In an operatic fashion that would impress Pavarotti, she sang “He Loves Me,” and after showing her range in musical scales, she brushed herself off as if to say, “Yeah, I’m that good.”

The Grammy award-winning veteran has accomplished a lot for a person whose look isn’t that of a typical pop star. She’s not Beyoncé Knowles fit. She’s a curvy, full-figured lady. Her hair doesn’t fall to her shoulders and down her back. In fact, it was blown out in Afro fashion. Scott thanked to crowd for accepting her as she is, saying that music executives would prefer she change. “They want you to be skinny, hungry, and mad all the time,” she said. “I eat.”

Scott closed out strong with a trio a funky jams, starting with “Hate on Me,” then her Go-Go smash “A Long Walk,” and finally the uplifting, yet defiant “Golden.” Her half of the evening was an amazing showing of refined skill, making me wonder why she isn’t even more popular. She’s a complete woman, confident in her own skin and excellent at her chosen craft. There were no apologies and no topic was off limits. As she hinted at earlier, Scott’s a whole ‘lotta woman. And talent, too.

Waiting for Maxwell to hit the stage, I was scared Jill Scott’s impressive opening had blown Maxwell out of the building before he got to his dressing room. That was going to be a rough act to follow.

Find out how he did after the jump.

READ FULL STORY »

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP