Image Credit: David LeeAuto-Tune-loving singer T-Pain is donning a new (top) hat: Feature film actor. He plays the convenience store cashier who sells the winning ticket in new comedy Lottery Ticket, which also stars Bow Wow and Ice Cube.
With Lottery Ticket opening today, we asked T-Pain to name five artists whose music he’s digging. Read his list after the jump and hit the comments let us know what you think of his taste in tunes. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: C Flanigan/FilmMagic; Kevin Knight/Retna Ltd; Scott Legato/FilmMagicThe Justin Bieber-Kanye West team-up that began with a Twitter conversation this week has become a reality. Take it from the Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon, who flew to NYC yesterday at West’s invitation to add a verse to West’s remix of Bieber’s “Runaway Love.” “This is definitely taking place,” Raekwon tells the Music Mix. “It’s a historical moment for hip-hop.”
Raekwon and West have been meaning to work together for years. But the Staten Island rapper was as surprised as anyone to see his name come up in West’s tweets with Bieber last weekend. “Justin being a young cat, he probably wasn’t even really there when I was doing my thing [in the '90s],” he says. “But he recognizes the Wu-Tang legacy.” Indeed, Bieber wasn’t even born until four months after the Wu-Tang Clan’s classic debut dropped.
The Staten Island rapper arrived at the historic Electric Lady Studios yesterday to find West hard at work on assorted projects with a handful of other stars. “He had Mos Def there, just chilling on the side. Akon was there. Charlie Wilson, the legendary soul singer. Everybody was running through this studio. Kanye is running around doing him. We’re having drinks, we’re vibing, great music is being made. It felt good to be there, man.” Bieber, sadly, was not present. “I’ll get a chance to see shorty sooner or later,” Raekwon laughs. “We’ll discuss it over a glass of water or something.” READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Icon/SMI/Retna LtdIt seems as if Travis Barker‘s oft-delayed solo album is actually on its way. The Blink 182 drummer — who has survived and recovered from a plane crash that killed four others and been featured on other artist’s hit singles since we last reported on the progress of his as-yet-untitled effort back in 2008 — is set to finally release it this October. XXL reports that the album boasts some heavyweight assistance from artists like Eminem, Lil Wayne, Drake, T.I, Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, Lupe Fiasco, and Rick Ross.
Some may be surprised that the drummer of a pop-rock band is being backed by rappers. But Barker, who won’t be singing or rapping on the album, has been a fan of and contributed to many of his collaborator’s songs and albums in the past. Here, he plays drums on a track for Wale’s 2009 Attention Deficit album. He also handled the percussion in The Game’s “Dope Boys.” And celebrating Famous Star and Straps tenth anniversary last year, he played behind Snoop and Pharrell. He’s no poser. I expect quality music come October. READ FULL STORY »
Looking for some major shake-ups on the music charts? Sorry to disappoint, but Eminem‘s “Love the Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna leads the Hot 100 singles chart yet again. “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz holds steady at No. 2.
Katy Perry‘s “California Gurls” moves up a spot to No. 3, while her “Teenage Dream” leaps from No. 9 to. No 5. Perry is the tenth solo female in the Hot 100′s 52-year history to place two titles in the top five as a lead artist at the same time.
“I Like It” by Enrique Iglesias rises a place to No. 4. Mike Posner’s “Cooler Than Me” rises one a rung to No. 6. Usher‘s “DJ Got Us Falling in Love” does the same and lands at No. 7. Taylor Swift’s “Mine” drops five spots to No. 8.
B.o.B‘s “Airplanes” drops from No. 6 to No. 9. and Jason Derulo’s “Ridin’ Solo” rounds out the top 10, holding at No. 10.
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Death threats come with the territory’ in bid for Haitian presidency
MGMT play New York’s Radio City Music Hall: on the scene
Conan O’Brien releasing two records. On vinyl. Featuring Frankenstein and rockabilly. Naturally.
Gap Band founder and bassist Robert Wilson dies at age 53
Erykah Badu gets probation for charges related to naked ‘Window Seat video’
Katy Perry crashes prom in Australia, sings along to ‘California Gurls’
Image Credit: Patrick Ecclesine/FoxHey, Glee, you want to use somebody‘s back catalogue? Go ahead with your Madonnas and Britneys and Coldplays, but Kings of Leon refuse to be your soundtrack plaything.
The Tennessee rockers recently told England’s NME that they said no gracias to FOX’s singing juggernaut, having never watched the show (though “apparently everybody loves it,” says bassist Jared Folowill).
“We could have sold out so much more. We turn stuff down constantly,” frontman Caleb Followill added. “We had some people call us up wanting to know if we’d allow ‘Use Somebody’ to appear in the trailer for their next movie, and we turned them down. Next day, they called back and tried to put us through to the star of the movie—I won’t name names, but he’s an incredibly famous actor—to let him try and convince us to agree to do it.
“I was like, ‘Man, don’t even waste your energy’.”
You tell ‘em, dudes! Eff the establishment! Except, of course, Gossip Girl—which KoL permitted to use three tracks from their most recent album, Only by the Night, in a 2008 episode:“Sex on Fire,” “Closer,” and … “Use Somebody.”
Integrity-induced amnesia—it happens, boys. But you know we love you. XOXO, Music Mix
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Death threats come with the territory’ in bid for Haitian presidency
MGMT play New York’s Radio City Music Hall: on the scene
Conan O’Brien releasing two records. On vinyl. Featuring Frankenstein and rockabilly. Naturally.
Gap Band founder and bassist Robert Wilson dies at age 53
Erykah Badu gets probation for charges related to naked ‘Window Seat video’
Katy Perry crashes prom in Australia, sings along to ‘California Gurls’
Image Credit: Frederic Dupoux/Getty ImagesWyclef Jean says he has received death threats since announcing his plan to run for the presidency in Haiti on Aug. 9. “We know this situation we’ve embarked on, death threats come with the territory. But beyond that it’s not about all those negative information [sic],” Jean told the BBC.
The musician now has armed guards protecting him in his childhood town while he waits to see if the Haitian government will approve his candidacy tomorrow. One potential hitch: Jean reportedly hasn’t lived in Haiti for five consecutive years, as required by Haitian law for presidential hopefuls. He also doesn’t have the unanimous support of his peers. Jean’s Fugees bandmate, Pras, has publicly stated that he doesn’t support the campaign, while actor Sean Penn has criticized Jean for being a “non presence” in Haiti since January’s devastating earthquake.
What do you all think? Should Jean step down as a candidate in light of these obstacles? Or should he keep up his campaign?
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Wale proves he will not lose with a stellar NYC show
Gap Band founder and bassist Robert Wilson dies at age 53
Erykah Badu gets probation for charges related to naked ‘Window Seat video’
Katy Perry crashes prom in Australia, sings along to ‘California Gurls’
Just as anticipation for his impending TBS talk show is beginning to ramp up, Conan O’Brien will release two records on independent label Third Man. And They Call Me Mad? will be released digitally and as a 7-inch vinyl record, the A side featuring O’Brien’s spoken word take on the story of Frankenstein, and the B side an interview with Third Man Records’ founder, Jack White. It’s available for pre-order at Third Man’s website, and will ship Aug. 24.
O’Brien recorded the album, Conan O’Brien Live at Third Man, with The Legally Prohibited Band on June 10, 2010, at Third Man Records in Nashville. Featuring rock and rockabilly, with White and 7 Nation Army playing on the song “20 Flight Rock,” the 12-inch vinyl is already available at the Third Man website.
Both recordings will reportedly be available on iTunes “early next week.”
Image Credit: Karl Walter/Getty ImagesLast night, an assortment of New York’s cool kids and dweebs piled into Radio City Music Hall to see Brooklyn-based band MGMT go to work.
But before leading men Andrew Wells VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser took the stage, former Wesleyan University schoolmate Francis Starlite opened with his ’80′s pop/funk collective Francis and the Lights. Often dancing into the dark crevices of the stage—arms flailing and legs twirling in ways that’d make James Brown smile—Starlite left the audience in awe. The band’s 30-minute set of pensive jams like “Strawberries,” “Darling, It’s Alright,” and “For Days” more than warmed the stage for MGMT.
The frail twentysomethings of MGMT hit the stage just after 9—bed-headed VanWyngarden in a tee shirt and skinny jeans, Goldwasser with an untucked shirt and blazer, as if he was interviewing for a managerial position at 7-Eleven afterward. Sprayed by primary-colored lights, they started with “Pieces of What” and transitioned to “Brian Eno,” their ode to the famed English producer. They strangely followed with one of their biggest hits, 2008’s synth pop winner “Electric Feel.” Usually such a smash would be reserved for the conclusion. But as I’d learn, they had no intention of saving the best for last.
“We’re glad to be in NYC, our hometown,” said VanWyngarden before launching in to their surfy “Flash Delirium.” Psychedelic images of overlapping eyeballs and geometric figures projected on the stage while fans waved their neon glow sticks to the beat.
Next up was the first track off of their latest album, Congratulations: “It’s Working.” Then they performed another big hit, the bouncing “Time to Pretend.” About an hour in, fans had spent the entire time on their feet. But that soon changed when they broke into “Siberian Breaks.” The audience used the lengthy song to rest. Butts fell to chairs, as did heads to palms. MGMT’s music teeters towards soft rock at times, and with wind chimes twinkling ever so lightly, they’d slowed the show down to a snail’s pace.
Life was revived when “Kids” and its throbbing synths dropped. But it fizzled quickly as the group attempted to end the show with “Congratulations.” They left after, but screaming for more, the fans didn’t move for the exits. Instead, they screamed for more.
What followed was a lengthy, obnoxious encore filled with ear-busting guitar solos and murky album cuts like “Something Missing.” Really, they could’ve done without it. Many became dejected, like they regretted their encore request. It was a dreadful ending for what was great show overall. Understanding that VanWyngarden and Goldwasser were excited to play Radio City, maybe they should’ve let the fans leave a bit earlier.
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Wale proves he will not lose with a stellar NYC show
Gap Band founder and bassist Robert Wilson dies at age 53
Erykah Badu gets probation for charges related to naked ‘Window Seat video’
Katy Perry crashes prom in Australia, sings along to ‘California Gurls’
Image Credit: Karin CattReturning to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart is Eminem‘s Recovery, selling 133,000 copies. Not since Susan Boyle’s I Dreamed a Dream claimed six straight beginning last December has anyone spent as many weeks in the top spot.
To date, Recovery has sold 2.1 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Behind Lady Antebellum, who’ve sold 2.5 million units of their Need You Now, Em is the only artist to cross the double-platinum line this year.
Last week’s chart-topper, Arcade Fire‘s The Suburbs, falls to No. 2 with 52,000 albums sold. Disney Channel’s Camp Rock 2: the Final Jam debuts at No. 3, selling 41,000 copies. The second-highest entry comes from Black Label Society, whose Order of the Black comes in at No. 4, selling 33,000 copies. Blake Shelton’s second EP of the year, All About Tonight, comes in at No. 6 with 33,000 units moved.
The final debut in the top 10 comes from Mike Posner, with his debut effort 31 Minutes to Takeoff, flying low at No. 8 with 29,000. Sparked by the hit single “Cooler Than Me,” many expected higher sales. Justin Bieber‘s My World 2.0 climbs up two spots to No. 5, selling 33,000 albums.
Rick Ross’ Teflon Don falls two spots to No. 7, moving 30,000 sets. Kidz Bop 18 set rises up two places to No. 9 with 28,000 copies to their credit. And Avenged Sevenfold’s Nightmare rounds out the Top 10, falling seven places to No. 10 and selling 27,000 copies.
Are you surprised by Eminem’s success? Let us know.
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Wale proves he will not lose with a stellar NYC show
Gap Band founder and bassist Robert Wilson dies at age 53
Erykah Badu gets probation for charges related to naked ‘Window Seat video’
Katy Perry crashes prom in Australia, sings along to ‘California Gurls’
