Thank Me Later, the first
official studio album by the anointed one Drake was released on June 15,
2010, and surrounded by all the hype behind this kid, all the weight of
the "Rap Game" on his shoulders, Drake delivers a good album. Now is it
a classic, no, but this young man has put out quality material that is
smooth and likeable. With lead singles "Over" and "Find Your Love", the
album was off to a good start. Then with the release of underground
songs like "Light Up", featuring Jay-Z and "Up all Night", featuring
Nikki Minaj, the album showed us two sides to this multitalented artist.
Now what is a rap album without a few party tracks, and the party track
to listen for on this album is called "Fancy", featuring T.I. and Swizz
Beatz. There is a good mix of R&B style songs and slow tempo rap
songs, that blend well to make this album very good. Overall for his
first major release I think Drake will be OK, I'm not saying he is Hip
Hop's savior but I'm saying he has earned a chance to release that
classic album which is expected of him.
09-23-2009 J.Biz A new Michael Jackson single and album are due out
to go along with the Sony Picture's "This Is It" film premiering world
wide October 28.
The "This Is It" single will be released
October 12 as per Sony Music Entertainment. The song will have back-up
vocals sung by Michael's brothers, the Jackson's. The previously
unreleased song will be part of a double disc album of the same name.
The album is due out October 26.
According to
michaeljackson.com "This Is It" will have classic material on the first
disc, in the order it appears in the movie and two versions of the new
song. Then disc two has previously unreleased mixes of past hits and a
poem in spoken word called 'Planet Earth'.
R.Kelly Setting the Record Straight
08-18-2009 J.Biz It has been a while since we have heard from the "King of R&B" R.Kelly, especially after the trial. Miss Info
interviewed Kells after a listening session at his home and talked
about his new album "Untitled" in stores October 13th and his new tour
"Ladies Make Some Noise Tour". Besides that Pied Piper had some other
things to get off his chest. Here are some excerpts:
Why His Album Is Titled “Untitled”
“I’ve been choosing the titles for my albums for 20 years, this time
it’ll be untitled so that the fans can just call it what you want. Pick
your favorite songs….”
Whether He Would Respond to Trey Songz
If you’re a true king, you don’t get into challenges…you get to a
status in life where you don’t ever have to throw another punch. What
is an elephant supposed to do when an ant or a fly lands on you? Those
guys have some growing up to do…I would have answered [that diss] 20
years ago…but not now.”
About the making of his album
I did my homework on this album…for three months straight, I threw a
party at my house every weekend. I can’t go to the clubs anymore
because as soon as I walk in, I’m on youtube. But I love to party…so I
brought the party home…like 200 girls come over, and there’s some guys
too, like 4 or 5 (Lol!) but no pictures, so we can all be ourselves.
Then I’d play the music and see how they would react…if they didn’t
feel it, I’d go back downstairs and rework it…”
Why the full length mirror located in the studio:
“I’m not gonna lie, the mirror is all ego.” Kelly said, “I gotta look
in the mirror and see Kells, not Rob the Momma’s boy…if I come down
here and I don’t look right, I’ll go up and change. I gotta see myself
swagged out when I’m making music…Takes confidence.”
Why He Doesn’t Write Down His Songs
“because, honestly, I don’t really spell so good.”
Here is also the video to R.Kelly's new single featuring Kerry Hilson called "Number 1."
Ghostface to Make All R&B Album
06-04-2009 J.Biz The Ghostface Killah of the rap group Wu Tang Clan explained to Hip Hop Connection why his next album, possibly his last on label Def Jam will be all R&B.
“[Everybody] don’t sell crack no more, man. I don’t sell crack, yo. I
ain’t movin’ no bricks or none of that other shit. I ain’t shoot nobody
in like…since the early 90’s, man. How long you gonna be 40 years old
and actin’ like you still sellin’ cracks and you on the block and you
doin’ this and you doin’ that when times is more serious, man. We in a
fuckin’ recession, B! Ain’t nobody gettin’ no money, man!”
“We gotta stop lyin’ to ourselves and lyin’ to the fans. And the fans gotta stop bein’ so dumb and ignorant, and know it’s time
to talk about grown-man situations. Shit that happen in the real life,
inside your household, your love life, your personal life, that’s just
like, ‘Damn, it’s hard for a nigga to get some money!’ It might be so
hard to get some money that your girl might wanna leave you someday
because you ain’t get no money like you like you used to be getting’
money! Those are real situations, so I think it should start goin’ back
to songs that mean shit. All that other shit outside is just gonna keep
us dumb, deaf and blind, yo, and we ain’t never gonna get nowhere.”
Based on the current state of Hip Hop and the financial market I think Iron Man is right!
Mos Def New Album News
06-03-2009 J.Biz For the first time since 2006's "True Magic" Rapper/Actor Mos Def will be releasing a new joint called "The Ecstatic". Dropping on August 24 it will have many guest appearances. Features include Taib Kweli, Mos' Black Star Partner, on the song 'History' and London rapper MC is at his side on 'Auditorium'. *Ok I screwed up The Ecstatic was released today on June 9, 2009.* Here is the track list from "The Ecstatic": 'Supermagic'
'Twilite Speedball'
'Auditorium w/The Ruler' (featuring Slick Rick)
'Wahid'
'Priority'
'Quiet Dog'
'Life In Marvellous Times'
'The Embassy'
'No Hay Nada Mas'
'Pistola'
'Pretty Dancer'
'Workers Camp'
'Revelations'
'Roses' (featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow)
'History' (feat. Talib Kweli)
'Casa Bey'
The Music Biz Has Relapsed
05-27-2009 J.Biz The music biz received a shot in the arm this past week as Eminem's Relapse debuted at number one on the Billboard charts moving 608,000 units in his first week. That number represent the best first week sale of a record all year. Relapse is his fifth overall number one album as Slim Shady is the number one sales Hip Hop leader in the Nielsen SoundScan era (2001-Present) currently with 34 million.
Last week's number one, Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown comes in second this week moving 166,000 copies. That brings their 10 day total to 381,000. Number three was Kenny Chesney's Greatest Hits II selling 89,000. This is his eighth top ten album. Impressive being his album is only available in CD form.
Backout 2 by Method Man and Red Man came in at number four with little promotion selling 63,000. This edition comes about 10 years after the first installment but what fans really want is a sequal to 2001's How High. Closing out the top 5 was Dane Cook with his latest ISolated INcident with 61,000. The comedian's last effort Rough Around The Edges: Live From Madison Square Garden went gold. Overall record sales remain down and so far there is a 13% lag to last years pace.
Bette Midler and 50 Cent ?
BRAD BARKET/GETTY IMAGES
05-14-2009 J.Biz Talk about an odd couple. Bette Midler has stated that she and rapper 50 Cent will collaborate on Jazz songs together. Midler described the union as a "little Jewish lady and the great big rapper".
She also said: "He's such a doll. I love him. He's gorgeous. I was hoping we'd sing songs from the Depression,
but he's so young that I don't think he knows any of them. I'm going to
have to check things out and see what he feels like singing."
Hard to think of a man with a song called "Magic Stick" has many blues. Also even though 50 sings on many of his songs an hooks I can't see him singing blues. Maybe this is just the kick his career could use to become relevant again musically.
Free Album From Coldplay
05-01-2009 J.Biz Coldplay has decided to give out free CD's to its fans at live shows this year during its 'Viva La Vida' Tour throughout the U.S. and U.K. The CD will be packed full of nine live songs and titled 'LeftRightLeftRightLeft'. The tracks will also be available for free download on May 15 at the bands website Coldplay.com. The band's front man Chris Martin stated, "It's a way of saying thank you. It's a tough economy and people are paying a lot of money for tickets." The tour starts in September but here is the track list of 'LeftRightLeftRightLeft':
'Glass Of Water'
'42'
'Clocks'
'Strawberry Swing'
'The Hardest Part/Postcards From Far Away'
'Viva La Vida'
'Death Will Never Conquer'
'Fix You'
'Death And All His Friends'
Rock the Bells 2009
04-09-2009 J.Biz
The Rock the Bells tour will start on June 27 and has many confirmed acts to make a Hip Hop head O.D. It will be hosted by KRS-One, Supernatural, Pete Rock and Murs and span 10 cities in North America.
Acts to perform include Nas, Common, Big Boi, Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley, The Roots and the Rza. Reflection Eternal which includes Talib Kweli and Hi Tek will perform together again after both going solo for a bit. The original members of House of Pain will reunite with all the original members such as La Coka Nostra.
Prince Will Perform on Leno for Multiple Nights
03-11-2009 J.Biz The other worldly Prince aka the man with the purple house has announced he will do a multi-night stint on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The singer is set to perform on March 25- 27 to promote his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND'. He will be the first musical act to perform on consecutive dates on the Tonight Show. I guess Prince did not want to be upstaged by U2, who performed for 5 straight shows on The Late Show with David Letterman. Anyhow Prince will perform one last time for Jay on March 28, one day prior to his last show as part of a going away present. Maybe Prince will reveal his special pancake recipe for us flunkies.
03-02-2009 J.Biz U2 announces they will release a second album this November to accompany their just released "No Line on the Horizon," in stores today. They advise the next album will be more meditative an be a companion to "No Line..."
Last Friday U2 did a surprise performance on the roof of the BBC Broadcasting House. Traffic was stopped for 20 minutes as they played.
The band will do a week stint on Late Night with David Letterman starting tonight. Letterman just doesn't do things like this so expectations are high.
01-07-2009 J.Biz Hey nostalgia fans vinyl is making a comeback. Although iTunes and mp3's are doing a number on CD's, vinyl is holding its own. Don't call it a comeback but the sales of vinyl albums were to the tune of 1.88 million, an 89% increase over 2007 according to The Nielson Company. Nielson Soundscan reports more vinyl albums were sold in 2008 than any other year since 1991. I guess TV is going digital in Febuary but music is going analog.
Big Beyonce News
10-23-2008 J.Biz The upcoming Beyonce album titled ?I Am? Sasha
Fierce? is dropping soon and is an introduction to her alter ego. I
guess sorta like Slim Shady and Eminem or Damien and DMX. It will be a
dual disc effort. There's a Beyonce disc and a Sasha disc. The deluxe
edition will have the extra tracks, " That's Why You're Beautiful,"
"Smash Into You," "Scared And Lonely," "Ego," and "Hello." A Spanish
language of the album is...>>>click here for more
Nude Listening Party For Kanye
10-16-2008 J.Biz Tuesday night at an L.A. art gallery Kanye West had a listening party for his upcoming album 808's and Heartbreaks.
Aside from the song "Love Lockdown" it appears the love of the
Auto-Tune extends through the entire disc, including a gem called
"Heartless" where West sings about pain and heartbreak. There is no
rapping or samples on 808 as reported by billboard.com, just electronic
beats and drums, with a little string action.
On hand were 40
nude models in wigs who changed poses as songs progressed. These models
on brightly multi-colored lit walls was a scheme designed by Vanessa
Beecroft to entertain about 700 invited guest. At the end of the album
West took a mic standing besides some of the models and stated "These
are pieces of real life that I"m putting out for people to judge" and
"It's from my heart. I don"t give a fuck if someone rates it "hot" or
"not." I'm here to bring positivity that cannot be judged. It's like
judging a grandmother's love, and someone says "Your grandmother gets
two and a half mics." Or, "Your grandmother didn't sell a million the
first week."" It is obvious this is a very personal group of songs in
which Kanye wears his heart on his sleeve.
808's and Heartbreaks
features Mos Def, and a song called "Cold as Winter" written as a
response to the death of West's mother as a result of cosmettic
surgery. The album has been pushed up to November 25th, and if this
joint doesn't satisfy you, there is another Kanye album dropping in
June.
Kanye vs. 50 Cent Vol. 2
Kanye West (left) was victorious in the record sales war last September 11 over 50 Cent (right).
09-20-2008 by J.Biz We all remember how the big bad bully was plumetted to the ground last year as Kanye West's album "Graduation" easily outsold 50 Cents "Curtis". Over the years 50 Cent's popularity and record quality have arguably been going down, but he believes he will be the victor this year as both release new discs, this time a week apart to see who has the biggest musical impact in terms of sales.
First out will be 50's "Before I Self Destruct" on Dec.9 from Interscope, and West's "808's and Heartbreak" will drop on Dec.16 from Def Jam. Kanye has a single available now on iTunes titled "Love Lockdown" and is doing well. Kanye wrote in his blog "I'm very excited about everything...I guarantee this will be 50's favorite album of mine. This will be gangster's album of the year", and 50 recently made fun of Kanye's recently mentioned single at a concert in Albany N.Y. So seems the gloves are on again. Gorilla vs. Bear. Who shall become victorious by animality!
Travis Barker Injured in Plane Crash
09-20-2008 by J.Biz In a plane crash which killed 4 people, Travis Barker and DJ AM were critically injured according to the AP. The Learjet the two were in traveling from a T-Mobile event crashed in Columbia, South Carolina while leaving the runway. Barker and AM the two survivors of six are being hospitalized for burns.
G-Unit's T.O.S
07-08-2008 [Dot]Fuzz The long awaited G-unit LP "Terminate On Sight", was very much worth the wait. From start to finish the whole album was great. It includes the hit single "Straight Outta Southside" and many other soon to be "party Bangers" but one song that you probably won't hear on the radio because of its profanity is "Kitty Kat". Well all in all I definitely give this album a 9/10 good job guys. To bad for Young Buck, he's only on 3 tracks.
Shaq Disses Kobe Via Freestyle
06-24-2008 Shaq Diesel rips the likes of Kobe Bryant' Patrick Ewing and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a freestyle he performed on Sunday at a NYC club. Shaquille O'Neal claims Kobe can't win a ring without him and blames him for his divorse. He makes fun of Ewing not having any championship rings, and claims he is better than Kareem. The Bryant and Ewing remarks I can stomach, but better than Kareem? Kareem has Six rings to his four, as well as countless NBA records including all time best scorer. Anyway see what you think.
Day 26 Tops The Billboard Charts ( April 1st) From "Making The Band" the R&B group Day 26 tops the Billboard 200 with an estimated 190,000 units sold according to Nielsen SoundScan. Last weeks chart topper Danity Kane falls to number 4 this week with their album titled "Welcome To The Dollhouse", sandwiching Panic at the Disco's "Pretty Odd", and Counting Crows "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" at numbers two and three respectedly. Rounding out the top five is "Now 27"-J.Biz
