Posts Tagged ‘Collaboration’

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

If there’s one thing Kelly Rowland’s good at, it’s collaboration. And that’s a good thing! Some of her best material has been created in the presence of other like-minded dope dealers (not that kind of dope, people). Most recently with Lil Wayne on the sexy R&B tinged track, Motivation. And who could forget, oh you know, Destiny’s Child. Oh! Oh! And Nelly. I mean, hello.

Rumored to be the second single from her much anticipated third studio album, Here I Am, Kelly’s Lay It On Me leaked onto the web recently. Featuring Big Sean and produced by Hit-Boy, Lay It On Me comes noddin’ through the speakers with the vibe of a sexy summer romance.

Yup, crushin’ on this song big time!

Kelly’s upcoming Here I Am album is slated for a July 26th release date.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

We’ve heard lots from Travie McCoy in the past year, but the rest of the Gym Class Heroes conglomerate remained silent, until now. The boys are back with a vengeance and ready to tear up the road this summer with new music, including the recently released single for Stereo Hearts, featuring Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine. Truthfully, I feel this will be a radio smash of the summer, for it’s catchy as hell, and the combination of meaningful lyrics and rhythm make for instant fun. It’s a lot more poppy than what Gym Class fans are used to, but not in a bad way. A song with a perfect recipe containing just the right amount of tart and hip hop without being overdone.

Good meaning, good music, good vibrations all around.

Can’t wait to hear the rest of The Papercut Chronicles II.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Talia Coles has just released her new, sultry music video for Never See You Again after residing on Billboard’s Top 25 Dance/Club Play for 9 straight weeks! The video is an expression of Talia’s relatable lyrics which articulate the notion of facing temptation while being in a monogamous relationship, “everything was picture perfect ’til you moved the frame, and now because of you it’s barely hanging. Boy in a flash it’s like you start to replace him, that photograph is fading.”

The infectious track was produced by Teetimus, and the original version features a memorable 8 bar verse from Couture Music artist KO Stiggity. Never See You Again is the follow-up to Talia’s energetic pop/reggae dance phenomenon Nikki Wine and also features an explosive remix from the legendary production team of Razor N Guido.

Check out the fresh video for Never See You Again below.

And check out my interview with Ms. Coles here.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Danger Mouse has teamed up with a few amazing musicians on a new single called Two Against One, creating a match made in heaven. With the help of Italian composer Daniele Luppi, Danger Mouse enlisted Norah Jones and Jack White to provide the vocals for the tune.

The track has that slow, dragging feeling that some will adore and others will dislike. I hear it as a perfect example of experimental artists that are never afraid to try anything new. This track is free on iTunes this week, so be sure to go grab a copy.

Although it’s short, it’s got enough swag to satisfy your craving.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Who we do love just as much as our girl Beyonce? Kelly Rowland, of course. Her new single Motivation (featuring Lil Wayne) is downright sexy. I’m totally digging the style and really hope this single takes off. Her vocals are completely on point, and she seems to really have found her comfort zone.

Currently, the song is performing well on iTunes.

Check out a recent interview & the new music video, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Ok, let’s cut the crap, shall we? I think S&M is a gross song. There! I said it. I love Britney to death and even though I’ve referred to Rihanna as a “red headed floozie” (joke, for dancing with my man, Drake) in the past, I like her, too. The simple truth, however, is that this song is kinda nasty. I mean, do I really need to know that Rihanna likes the smell of sex? Negative! It’s tries too hard to be sexy, thus making it not sexy at all. But hey, maybe it’s just me.

On the flipside, Keenan Cahill has really brought the song to life.

Keep doin’ you, Keenan. And hey, not everybody can say that Britney is a fan of their work like you can, buddy! (Britney showed her love of the song yesterday when she posted the video on her Facebook fan page.)

Love it!

Get ready for one helluva laugh!

[You can also catch Keenan in Sara Bareilles' latest video here.]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Katy Perry recently dropped the music video to her new single E.T., featuring Kanye West and all I gots to say is I prefer quirky fun Katy over creepy Katy. The clip was directed by Floria Sigismondi (yes, she directed Christina Aguilera’s eccentric Fighter vid) and it certainly shows. Katy is painted into an alienhumanoiddeerbot that’s been beamed down from galaxy weird. Kanye basically just floats in the video and acts cooler than thou rhyming about probes and designer alien gear. Ya know, the usual.

On a more positive note, I found a cover of the track that I instantly fell in love with…

Watch my favorite E.T. cover by Alyssa Bernal + the official music video for the track following.

Are you feelin’ weird, creepy Katy?

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Besides the fact that he uses the word “faggot”, this is pretty decent.

I mean, it doesn’t make you more macho to use that word, Dre. That’s so ten years ago, homefry. Actually it just makes you seem douchey Mcdoucheface. Eh, who am I kidding? I kinda like the word. Honestly, it packs a punch. Yeah, I know…I got issues. Lol. (No, in all seriousness though — I am so over rappers using this word!)

PS: I would never want to offend Dre, that man is huge. Beastly huge!

Ok, I’m shutting up now. Watch the Allan Hughes-directed vid below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

When I first watched Kanye’s just-release vid for All Of The Lights, I was slightly confused. I also thought I might have a seizure. But that’s besides the point. Basically, I was a little lost with regards to the black and white portion of the video at the beginning with the little girl and had no clue what the dealy-o was. But thanks to a little research I now know the inspiration behind the clip and it’s more than just flashing lights.

According to NY Daily News: Hype Williams directed the five-minute strobe lit video that pays homage to French director Gaspar Noe’s drug-fuelled psychedelic melodrama “Enter the Void,” in which West sings about a father who abuses his daughter’s mother and ends up in the slammer.

Rihanna also recently performed the track during the NBA All-Star game half time show, live at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.

Watch the official music vid + the above-mentioned live performance below.

[Related Post: Kanye Creates Pop Masterpiece]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

If Jessie J’s charisma and powerhouse vocals could be sculpted into car form, the result would definitely be a hot pink Cadillac. That, or an 18 wheeler. That’s the kind of force that’s steering Jessie J into superstardom.

Jessie J is a blossoming British pop star, who has already lit the music world on fire in many ways. She has written hit tracks for Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, and Chris Brown. Hell, she even co-wrote Miley Cyrus’ feel good smash Party In The U.S.A. — yes, as if it’s not already obvious, the girl know’s a thing or two about constructing a hit record.

But that’s besides the point…

Jessie J is clearly not in the music business for the money money, cha-ching cha-ching. One viewing of her live performance of her empowering ballad Who You Are (see video below), or scanning over the lyrics to Price Tag and anyone with half a brain can feel the genuine sincerity, truth, and compassion behind the packaging.

In a world where Auto-Tune is as common as pimple breakouts on the youth who predominantly absorb such music, Jessie J doesn’t require any of the manufactured bullshit or the musical photoshop to give the world of pop a much-needed facelift.

Tears.

Chills.

No smoke.

No mirrors.

Jessie J’s talent is exploding at the seams.

Watch Jessie J in the following videos below: Who You Are, Live from Times Square + the video premiere of her new single Price Tag featuring B.o.B + a live performance of the same diddy following.

[Jessie J's debut album, Who You Are, is due out on March 28.]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

If the rumors are correct, it looks as if Beyonce’s next album may be headed down uncharted territory. A little dosage of indie electro explosives to be exact. Rumor has it that BK has been working with Brooklyn power duo Sleigh Bells, whose 2010 debut was one of the year’s most acclaimed indie albums.

Sleigh Bells spilled the beans via their Twitter in a post that has since been deleted, stating: “yeah damn beyonce on it was intense track may not get finished (?) but we finished the rum off at least.” Soon after, producer Diplo stated he had in fact been working with Beyonce in a message posted to his blog: “Me and Switch was in [the] studio in NYC tryin’ to make tracks with Derek and Beyonce last week after we played [Beyonce's] team [the Sleigh Bells] album. Dunno if we gonna manage to finish, but [it] was good times.”

Diplo, Switch and Sleigh Bells have shared creative juices in the past, all producing songs on MIA’s last record. We can only imagine that MIA, who has openly proclaimed her support of Beyonce in the past, would be all about their collaboration with Beyonce. In 2007, she stated in an interview: “In our lifetime, Beyonce will be a classic, like how people talk about Aretha Franklin.”

(We second that and cannot wait for the album!)

[Sidenote: Jay-Z has also noted his respect of indie rock in an interview w/ Rolling Stone last year, saying it's more rebellious than hip-hop.]

Not familiar with Sleigh Bells? Dive in below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Watch an interview (gettin’ a lil’ down & dirty) via Chelsea Lately below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Back in September, The Script released their 2nd studio album Science & Faith. And although only two singles have been released thus far, a brand new remixed track recently surfaced online of the band entitled Walk Away.

The new version of Walk Away features rapper B.o.B and throws the usual sound that The Script delivers into a hip hop rock blender. We all know B.o.B can take a track to a new level when he dives headfirst into a collaboration and this go around is no different.

Listen below.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Another banger is in the works for Far East Movement, the pumped-up project hailing from the clubs and streets of Los Angeles. They’re pretty dope. Check the band below performing their latest single, Rocketeer, with FrankMusik, live on Jimmy Kimmel.

[Related Post: Gettin' Slizzard W/ Mike Posner & Far East Movement]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

LeAnn Rimes recently joined the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles at their annual Christmas event titled Comfort & Joy, dedicating the show to the memory of troubled gay teens who committed suicide after being bullied this past year.

Rimes, who entered the stage holding a single red rose quickly became emotional as she began to dedicate her final song of the evening to the tragic loss of teens who had been tormented for being gay.

“It’s been an incredible year, but also a very tragic year for a lot of young gay men and women who have been taking their own lives because they can’t be themselves,” Rimes said to the audience.

When she started to tear up, an audience member yelled: “We love you!”

“It’s really sad when people can’t be themselves,” she finished before singing The Rose with the group.

Watch the touching performance below.