Archive: August 2010 (91-100 of 141)

Aug 11 2010 06:23 PM ET

Kanye West debuts new Beyoncé-assisted track 'See Me Now'

kanye_west_see_me_nowImage Credit: KanyeUniversecity.com/blogThis afternoon (August 11) Kanye West premiered “See Me Now,” featuring R&B queen Beyoncé and Charlie Wilson of Gap Band fame, on Angie Martinez‘s WQHT Hot 97 radio show.
West came to the station to  drop off the joyous track. He opens the cut with trademark braggadocio and comic flare rapping, “I’mma need you to kill all the hypocrisy / This is an aristocracy / I’m Socrates, but my skin more chocolatey.” You can check it out on his blog. Actually, the first verse is the one he debuted two weeks ago while standing on top of a table at Facebook’s headquarters.
Beyoncé pops in to sing the hook and give a heavenly shout out to West’s mother, Donda, who passed three years ago. “I know one thing / My momma would be proud / And you see me looking up / Because I know she’s looking down.” Kanye revealed that he and Beyoncé stayed up into the wee hours of this morning to finish “See Me Now.” It wouldn’t be fair to judge this unmastered or unmixed version. But with it’s bouncing drums and light synths, it’s very promising. If this is a sign of things to come from his upcoming as-yet-untitled album, we should prepare ourselves for something epic.

Speaking of the album, one that’s been clouded with mystery, West slyly let a few cats out of the bag. “They keep on telling me not to say that it’s November 16,” West said of it’s release date, before laughing about his tight-lipped Def Jam label. He also revealed that among others, legendary hip-hop producers Pete Rock and the RZA have assisted on the project. In addition, rap empress Nicki Minaj and G.O.O.D. music label mate Kid Cudi will be featured on it.  And this Friday West plans to release the remix to his rebellious first single, “Power.”

What do you think of “See Me Now”? Does it make you excited for his November release? Let us know.

Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Lady Gaga’s ‘occasional’ drug use questioned by Boy George
Katy Perry hooks up with high school dreamboat in ‘Teenage Dream’: Watch here
Kanye West’s lone Twitter follow bails, says no thanks to media attention
Rihanna ties Gaga, Beyonce, Mariah for no. 1 pop radio hits
James Brown and Funkadelic guitarist Phelps ‘Catfish’ Collins dies at age 66

Pras not supporting Wyclef in Haiti election
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and more pulled from MTV.com
Soundgarden wraps up Lollapalooza

Aug 11 2010 02:40 PM ET

M.I.A.'s flossy, glossy new video for 'XXXO': Watch it here

mia-videoWarning, slaughter junkies: No redheaded innocents were harmed in the making of this video. In fact, even the swans look like they’ll go home with a nice gift bag.

In her latest clip, M.I.A. spares the children and plunges us instead into a Bollywood fantasia that also looks not unlike those super-groovy blacklight posters from Spencer’s Gifts that you saved up your allowance for.

Are there elegant swans, and red red roses, and sparkly fractal hearts, and slinky leopards? There are. Is M.I.A.’s atypically sex-kitteny vibe here—what’s up, Glamour Shots— a meta commentary on the song’s empty-love-in-a-digital-age lyrics? I don’t know!

Watch it after the jump, readers, and you tell me: READ FULL STORY »

Aug 11 2010 01:22 PM ET

Lady Gaga's 'occasional' drug use questioned by Boy George

george_gagaImage Credit: PR Photos; Kevin Mazur/WireImage.comEighties pop icon Boy George has a few questions after reading Lady Gaga‘s Vanity Fair September cover story. In it, she reveals several things, most shockingly that she sometimes uses cocaine. “I won’t lie; it’s occasional,” she says.” And when I say occasional, I mean maybe a couple of times a year.”

In his latest Paper Magazine blog, the former Culture Club star questioned Gaga’s remarks. A former drug addict himself, George wants to know what “occasional” means and why the extravagant talent is confessing such a thing.

“If Lady Gaga were about to be exposed as a drug user I would understand her recent confession to Vanity Fair that she is an ‘occasional’ coke sniffer,” he says in his blog. “But why offer up this information on a whim? Could it be that her use of coke is not so ‘occasional’? As a recovering addict who knows how dangerous ‘occasional’ use is, I can think of no reason for Gaga to reveal this to her young audience.” George went on to say that his mother might have the answer as to why the chart-topping starlet let the ugly cat out of the bag.

“My mum had the best take on this,” he says. “[She said,] ‘She’s reached the stage where she feels untouchable, you all get there—you did, son.’ I can’t argue with that!”

George also added: “One has to wonder how much of a grip Gaga has on things. Up until now she has seemed almost annoyingly professional and focused and this seems out of character! Isn’t saying your an ‘occasional’ drug taker a bit like saying you’re bisexual? That usually means you’re raving!”

What do you think: Should Gaga have kept that info to herself? Is it Boy’s prerogative to question her? Let us know.

Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Katy Perry hooks up with high school dreamboat in ‘Teenage Dream’: Watch here
Kanye West’s lone Twitter follow bails, says no thanks to media attention
Rihanna ties Gaga, Beyonce, Mariah for no. 1 pop radio hits
James Brown and Funkadelic guitarist Phelps ‘Catfish’ Collins dies at age 66

Pras not supporting Wyclef in Haiti election
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and more pulled from MTV.com
Soundgarden wraps up Lollapalooza

Aug 11 2010 12:19 PM ET

Arcade Fire top Billboard 200 albums chart

arcade-fireImage Credit: Eric KayneArcade Fire‘s latest album takes the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week. The Montreal-based indie-rock collective’s critically lauded new album The Suburbs sold 156,000 copies. Coming in second is Eminem’s Recovery with 152,000 albums moved. Last week’s No. 1, Avenged Sevenfold‘s Nightmare, drops to No. 3, with 45,000 units.

U.G.K. rhymer Bun B released his latest solo LP last week: Trill O.G. debuts at No. 4 with 41,000 copies sold. Selling 39,000 copies, Rick Ross’ Teflon Don drops two places to No. 5, while Lady Gaga’s The Remix is the next-biggest premiere, taking No. 6 with 39,000. Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0, meanwhile, steps back three rungs to No. 7 with 37,000 albums sold.

Drake‘s Thank Me Later drops three spots as well to No. 8, moving 31,000 copies. Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now drops two positions to No. 9 with 29,000 copies purchased. Buckcherry’s All Night Long is the final top 10 record to make its debut this week, rounding out the top 10 with 28,000 copies sold.

Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Katy Perry hooks up with high school dreamboat in ‘Teenage Dream’: Watch here
Kanye West’s lone Twitter follow bails, says no thanks to media attention
Rihanna ties Gaga, Beyonce, Mariah for no. 1 pop radio hits
James Brown and Funkadelic guitarist Phelps ‘Catfish’ Collins dies at age 66

Pras not supporting Wyclef in Haiti election
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and more pulled from MTV.com
Soundgarden wraps up Lollapalooza

Aug 11 2010 11:32 AM ET

Katy Perry debuts dark new single 'Circle the Drain,' aimed at a (possibly famous) pill-popping ex-boyfriend

Katy-PerryImage Credit: Janet Mayer/PR PhotosA day after her video for “Teenage Dream” debuted, Katy Perry has unveiled another track from her sophomore album that’s now available on iTunes—but unlike the sugar-coated reverie of “California Gurls” and the passionate foreplay of “Teenage Dream,” “Circle the Drain” is a decidedly more angry tune.

In it, she sings: “You could’ve been the greatest/But you’d rather get wasted” and “Wanna be your lover, not your f—in’ mother.”

Rumors are swirling that the song is an anti-love letter to Perry’s former flame, Gym Class Heroes frontman turned solo star Travie McCoy, whom she dated before meeting her current fiance, Russell Brand. The singer went on to tell Billboard that “Circle the Drain” is her ‘You Oughta Know,’ Alanis Morissette moment.”

What do you think of the single? Is it fair for Perry to call out McCoy in such an, um, public way? And how does the song hold up to “Gurls” and “Teenage Dream”?

Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Katy Perry hooks up with high school dreamboat in ‘Teenage Dream’: Watch here
Kanye West’s lone Twitter follow bails, says no thanks to media attention
Rihanna ties Gaga, Beyonce, Mariah for no. 1 pop radio hits
James Brown and Funkadelic guitarist Phelps ‘Catfish’ Collins dies at age 66

Pras not supporting Wyclef in Haiti election
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and more pulled from MTV.com
Soundgarden wraps up Lollapalooza

Aug 11 2010 09:21 AM ET

Slayer...sorry, SLAAAAYEERRRRGHHH! rocks 'Fallon'

Filed under: Music, TV and tagged: , ,

Last night had to be the first time Jimmy Fallon ever heard an entire Slayer song. That is, if he didn’t run backstage and hide behind ?uestlove after the introduction. (Okay, testosterone posturing aside, much love to Jimmy for having, as he says, “one of the most legendary metal bands of all time” on his show). In New York for two Tri-State-area stops on the American Carnage Tour, which also features Testament and Megadeth (tonight in upstate Glen Falls, N.Y. and tomorrow at New Jersey’s Izod Center), Slayer performed “Hate Worldwide,” one of the scorchers from their latest record, World Painted Blood.
READ FULL STORY »

Aug 10 2010 12:59 PM ET

Katy Perry hooks up with high school dreamboat in 'Teenage Dream': Watch here

katy-perry-videoCruising down the highway in a convertible with her welterweight hunk, Katy Perry‘s “Teenage Dream” video kicks off in true California cool fashion. With friends they stop off at the beach, stripping down to their bathing suits. There isn’t much true action here. It’s more like a chilled out video diary, chronicling an amazing day, and culminating in a passionate one-on-one romp with her man. Visually, the clip was wonderfully shot with a graying effect that dulls down what otherwise would’ve been the cliche sunny day in L.A. video we see all the time. Check out the video after the jump.

READ FULL STORY »

Aug 10 2010 12:39 PM ET

Kanye West's lone Twitter follow bails, says no thanks to media attention

kanye-westImage Credit: Eric Ryan/Getty ImagesThe Flashing Lights of fame are not for him. When 19-year-old Steven Holmes found out that mega-star rhymer Kanye West was following him on Twitter after asking the extravagant rapper how he cleans his row of diamond teeth, the Nottingham, England native was ecstatic.

“Holy s***, bro,” Holmes tweeted West on July 31. “Thanks for following!” It was even more special because he, a regular college kid, was the only person West picked to follow. Kanye comedically replied to Holmes’ appreciation writing, “You are the chosen one dun dun dun dun.”

But inundated with requests for interviews and constantly probed by jealous peers on Twitter, Holmes’ fun times in the spotlight quickly fizzled. After expressing his displeasure with his 15 minutes in an interview with the Coventry Telegraph, Holmes tweeted, “I won’t be speaking to any more press/journalists.”

Now, about a week since that tweet, it appears that his wild ride on the fame train has come to an end. West, apparently responding to Holmes’ wishes, is no longer following him. No recent dialogue to Holmes appears to exist on West’s page. But seemingly responding to a sincere apology West tweeted him this morning, Holmes replied to West saying, “No problem mate. It was just surreal that’s all. Sorry I haven’t checked my twitter out for a while. Cheers.”

Who do you think West will follow next? Would you be able or even want the attention and fame that comes along with being followed by a star? Let us know.

Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
James Brown and Funkadelic guitarist Phelps ‘Catfish’ Collins dies at age 66
Pras not supporting Wyclef in Haiti election
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and more pulled from MTV.com
Soundgarden wraps up Lollapalooza

Aug 10 2010 12:35 PM ET

'Glee' star Mark Salling announces debut album and premieres new song: Listen to it here!

Filed under: Music, News, TV and tagged: , , ,

Glee star Mark Salling, aka Puck, has announced that his debut album, Pipe Dreams, will drop on Oct. 12. But Salling also premiered a new song, “Higher Power,” on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show this morning. Listen to it HERE. Salling, probably best known on Glee for his covers of “Sweet Caroline” and “Good Vibrations,” had previously released a YouTube music video tribute to his time on the Fox series. Watch below for Salling’s album announcement.

What do you think of “Higher Power” Music Mix-ers? Is it gonna be a hit? Or should Salling stick to his day job?

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

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Rihanna ties Gaga, Beyonce, Mariah for no. 1 pop hits
Weezer names its new album after Hurley from ‘Lost’ and — shocker! — Doc Jensen has a theory
Pras not supporting Wyclef in Haiti election
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and more pulled from MTV.com

Aug 10 2010 12:23 PM ET

Rihanna ties Gaga, Beyonce, Mariah for no. 1 pop radio hits

rihanna-rain-dont-let-upImage Credit: RD/Erik Kabik/Retna ltdAs MTV reports today, Good Girl Gone Bad Rihanna has gone good enough to qualify for a pretty rarefied status: With Eminem duet “Love the Way You Lie,” the Barbadian songstress has now officially had six #1 songs on the Pop Songs radio airplay chart.

Other artists with a Radio Divas Sixer membership in their wallet alongside the black AmEx and Sam’s Club card include Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce. (The latter two actually achieved it together with their “Telephone” collab earlier this year, though technicalities aside, Mimi is far and away the winner, having earned six no. 1 songs on the Hot 100 before the creation of the Pop Songs chart in 1993, and six after.)

Members of the next-tier-down posse include Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, and Pink, all with five no. 1′s.

What do you think, Mixers—should Mariah just own this radio rodeo, fair and square? Has Rihanna earned her spot in the club? And who, if anyone, will be next?

Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Weezer names its new album after Hurley from ‘Lost’ and — shocker! — Doc Jensen has a theory
Pras not supporting Wyclef in Haiti election
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and more pulled from MTV.com
Lady Gaga Kicks Off Lollapalooza: On the Scene

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP