Posts Tagged ‘Hip Hop’

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Kudos Kanye, kudos.

After taking a break from the limelight the past eight months, Kanye West returned to the stage on his 33rd birthday (06/08) to reward three Chicago Public Schools for an improvement in behavior, academic grades, and overall attendance.

The Kanye West Foundation’s third annual Stay In School event brought West to Farragut Career Academy, John Marshall Metropolitan, and Percy L. Julian high schools, where the students were delighted to witness a mini-concert from the controversial rapper.

West was joined on stage by fellow Chicago rappers Lupe Fiasco and Common.

Said Common: “We want to congratulate you on the incredible job you’ve done in school. Whatever you do, be the best at it.”

Not long after Common left the stage, Kanye performed Run This Town , Good Life, and two brand new tracks: Power and Touch the Sky (from his upcoming album Good Ass Job).

Check out footage of the event, below.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Releasing art outside of your group doesn’t always mean there’s bad blood. Sometimes those Gym Class Heroes just need to graduate. Yes, I’m writing about Travie McCoy, and his first solo debut, The Lazarus Project. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Travie, experiencing his project on the road, and even providing promotional support through his label, and I can honestly say, his talent is raw. His performances are almost like watching poetry readings on 5 hour energy shots; confusing yet amazing. This New York pop-punk rapper is unique in everything from his style to his lyrics, for he is not afraid of the act of expressing himself. Although catchy, radio smash Billionaire may not be your forte, his art remains cool.

He’s playing melodies and heating up his singing voice with collaborations from Cee-Lo, personal favorites Chester French. The Lazarus Project will let all see another side of Travis, by proving himself to a community that may not always take him seriously. Don’t expect auto-tune, for this is the real deal.

Earlier this year he split with pop mega tart Katy Perry, and released his Forgetting Katy Perry mixtape. Normally you would never see me supporting celebrity gossip in my write-ups, but it’s necessary research for the core of the album. The healing process takes a turn on this project as his somber sad-sack tones finally see the light. Song Don’t Pretend is a hard-hitting healing process: “Open up my chest and you’ll see a cold cavity where my heart used to be”. Although it sounds dreary, this album is upbeat as all hell, turning bad to good.

This may be a different pick for your liking, but I have a feeling you are going to enjoy exploring this album. Travie recently stated in an interview, “If Lazarus were a movie, it’d be A Clockwork Orange”. Although it’s got a hip-hop vibe, rock n’ roll storms in during “Superbad”, a smash with another ravish talent, Limp Bizkit axeman Wes Borland.

A disc compacted with teaming up with a diverse array of studio superstars for a genre-busting, groundbreaking new collection. If you want to experience a great musical performance, catch him on the road this summer with 3OH!3 and Cobra Starship. Turning the scribbled lines between hip-hop and rock into a perfect picture, with no fillers or skippable tracks.

Although Travie may not be rollin in Gym Class, this album proves he’s still a hero.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Nothing but mad love for this song/video!

Eminem is back and stronger than ever. The controversial rapper who struggled for years with an addiction to painkillers and anti-depressants is now clean and spitting rhymes fused with an edge of deep rooted empowerment. Eminem, who nearly lost his life after an accidental methadone overdose, admitted to popping as many as 20 pills a day at the height of his problems.

A perhaps unlikely source, Sir Elton John, helped Eminem throughout his battle with coming clean. John battled drugs and alcohol addictions early on in his career but has been sober since the 1980s. The odd pairing first caused controversy when John made a surprise appearance with Eminem at the 2001 Grammy Awards. Many protested the collaboration citing Eminem’s lyrics at the time as being filled with hatred and homophobia. But that all seems to be a thing of the past, as Eminem’s new single Not Afraid is heightened with a true sense of maturity and a person who has risen from the ash of a dark journey in the theme of the song.

It’s undoubtedly an anthem for anyone who has ever felt afraid to face the demons in their own life.

In an interview with BBC Radio in January, John said: “I’ve been helping Eminem over the last 18 months and he’s doing brilliantly.”

Watch the incredible video (directed by Rich Lee) below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This song sizzles.

A collaboration with Alicia Keys has leaked from Drake’s highly anticipated debut album. The track, properly titled Fireworks, is a melting pot of undeniable chemistry between Drake and Keys, the song merging to a more deeper place.

The song deals with issues of money and fame and the more gritty emotional things that those things can’t seem to conquer, like Drake’s challenging relationship with his father and the challenge he faced when his parents split when he was only 5 years of age.

Says Drake: “It truly is a story. At no point in the album does it fall off and become about some songs I slapped together. It’s all a story from beginning to end. Just like So Far Gone was. It’s that time.”

The song will kick off Drake’s forthcoming album, Thank Me Later.

Check it!

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This past Saturday, I woke up to an invitation to see the New York Yankees play. I said yes, even though I’ve never followed the sport a day in my life. Here’s what I learned about baseball (specifically the New York Yankees) as the day unfolded.

1. Yankee fans are obsessed crazies.

I wore a NY hat to show my support but most people were borderline nuts in their pride. It was awesome!

2. A-Rod has a nice ass BUTT…

I debated saying this because it’s um, you know, gay. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to say it because I think A-Rod is without a doubt a handsome guy, but Saturday, the player who I thought brought the sweet vibe swagger was Ramiro Pena. He just has the presence of someone who carries a big heart. I’m voting for him to be on the next cover of GQ. A-Rod & Derek Jeter have hogged the spotlight way too long.

3. Are you a pitcher or a catcher?

In the game of baseball no label’s less masculine than the other for these boys definitely gave it 110%, no matter the position. And no, that wasn’t meant to sound dirty. You guys are sick!

4. Birds shit on you at games.

Speaking of sick…true story, a pigeon literally decided to flush its toilet on an innocent stranger behind me. Gross but supposedly a sign of good luck and made for a good laugh, so thank you rat of the sky for that lovely gift.

5. Yankees are iconic.

Last but not least, I learned that the Yankees are an iconic team, not because they have broken numerous records but because the game they play helps to unite thousands and thousands of New Yorkers (even those like myself, who are in a separate league, if ya feel me) who might normally want to punch each other in the face. And anything that brings us together, in harmony, I’m all for.

Check out my top three songs (in no specific order) about New York City, below.

001. Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys // Empire State of Mind
This particular performance felt appropriate since it occurred during the World Series.

002. Madonna / I Love New York
Madonna came to New York with nothing but a dream and $35 dollars. If anyone defines the spirit of New York it’s her.

003. Ian Axel / Home
In case you missed it, check out the interview I did with Ian here.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

There’s just something about Drake.

Drake (for whatever reasons) has always held my attention. Perhaps it’s the fact that he’s different in the hip hop world, you know, being a Jewish black boy and all. Yes, his differences make him refreshing but I think it’s more than that–I think underneath I can see his true colors and I’m getting the vibe that he’s a total nerd at heart (and who doesn’t love a hot nerd?). Hell, he even admitted his affection for Taylor Swift earlier this year. Yep, sounds like a boy you could bring home to the rents (don’t let that whole “I’m a rapper” thing fool ya).

All playfulness aside, the dude has charisma, is incredibly talented, and from what I’ve seen in interviews, also incredibly humble. Talent and humility are always sexy in my book.

Drake recently launched the video for his second single Find Your Love co-produced by Kanye West and I must say, it’s fantastic. Directed by Anthony Mandler, the video was filmed in Kingston, Jamaica and stars dancehall artist Movado.

In an interview with MTV News Drake said that he felt the song should have been performed by a woman, stating: “Find Your Love is an extremely vulnerable song. And it’s actually a huge risk. It almost feels like the song should be performed by a woman. I’m just hoping that men really hear the song and they’re honest with themselves. I know a lot of men feel that way.” <--So men can't sing vulnerable songs? Shut up Drake, we all know you're a teddybear on the inside.

Drake went on to tell MTV News: “We went to Kingston, we went to this ‘hood. They call it the ‘gully’ side. It’s bad out there, real bad. They had ‘Young Money’ sprayed on the gates, ‘Drake and Wayne,’ ’cause I came to shoot the video out there. I’m talking about you drive by people’s homes, they had ‘Drake,’ ‘Young Money,’ ‘Drake, Welcome Here,’ ‘Drake We Love You’ — crazy sh–, man. It was so crazy. This dude was like, ‘Original Weezy tha God! You tha boss! Weezy tha God!’ It’s crazy. They love us, ’cause we show love out there.”

The video is epic. Check it!

[Note: For mature audiences, NSFW]

Drake – New Music – More Music Videos

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Girl can saaang!

A lil backstory: Charice was born in the Philippines where she and her little brother were raised solely by their mother, who left their father when Charice was only three years old due to domestic violence. To help support her struggling family, she began to compete in amateur singing contests at the ripe old age of seven. But it wasn’t until years later, in 2007 that Charice would gain worldwide recognition after an avid supporter began to post videos of her live performances onto YouTube where the videos went on to receive millions and millions of hits. And the rest as they say is history.

Vocally she’s been compared with Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. Her self-titled international debut album with Warner Records label is scheduled for a May 11, 2010 release.

Check out the music video for Pyramid ft. Iyaz, below.

Charice – New Music – More Music Videos

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Oh Betty, how we love thee.

“I’m thrilled to hear he’s going to be on the show because he’s the hottest thing since sliced bread, but I certainly enjoy him. I hope we’ll get along well,” White told reporters about her upcoming SNL appearance (with musical guest Jay-Z). “Yes, [I have listened to his music]…I have no idea [if we'll work together]! But I’m game to try anything. This is an adventure!”

Perhaps Betty can bring out her inner Beyonce and do a little diddy with the rapper? Any ideas? Let’s just hope they don’t throw her in a black bikini and make her do the Single Ladies dance. Not that it wouldn’t be awesome but it’s been done way too much. Either way, whatever SNL creates for Betty, I’m sure will be great TV.

Until SNL airs this weekend, you can check out Jay performing Young Forever (at Coachella) with wifey BK, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls is looking to use her talents to give back. Inspired by her aunt, who has Down syndrome, Scherzinger says she wants to open up a music camp for the disabled.

Says Nicole: “I grew up with my aunt who is actually younger than me because my grandmother had her at an older age and she has Down syndrome. She has always had a special place in my heart and is such a wonderful addition to our family. I used to tell my girls in the Pussycat Dolls that I would have my own musical camp or school where I would teach people with special disabilities or Down syndrome.”

Scherzinger hopes her camp will raise awareness of people with Down syndrome. Nicole’s boyfriend, Formula 1 racing champion Lewis Hamilton, has also been inspired by someone in his family as well.

Lewis’ brother Nicolas suffers from Cerebral Palsy and in his autobiography, Lewis wrote: “I only have to think of one person to keep me motivated and put a smile on my face, my brother Nicolas. I often try to imagine myself in Nic’s position. I don’t think I would be anywhere near as strong as him. There’s so much to admire in him. So, whatever I am doing, I say to myself, ‘If you think it’s hard to do this, then think again.’ ”

Lewis has his own charity, the Lewis Hamilton Foundation, which focuses on improving the lives of children and young people in ill health or poverty across the world.

KUDOS!

Take a flashback to Nicole’s Whatever U Like (ft. T.I.), below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I freakin’ love this song.

Airplanes is the 2nd single off B.o.B’s upcoming debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray (due to drop 04.27). The track, which features Hayley Williams of Paramore, is a fresh mesh of hip hop oozing it’s way into pop rock territory. The song isn’t about a girl, rather B.o.B. raps about how life has changed for him as success took over and airplanes became an integral part of this lifestyle. The sick hook (sung by Hayley Williams) dives into the message behind the song as the rapper is reminiscing and daydreaming back to a time when it was all about the music and the simple things in life.

There will also be a part 2 to Airplanes, set to feature Eminem. You can pre-order the album here.

Listen to Airplanes, below.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Since I heard the news of its release, I’ve been outrageously excited about Gorillaz and their new album, Plastic Beach. Call it a guilty pleasure, or a sign of good taste, but I can’t help but love them. Awesome, psychedelic music fronted by quirky cartoon characters…where can you go wrong there?

All the oddly appealing characters of the virtual band were created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, and considering they’re fictitious, it’s impressive what kind of a fanbase they’ve attracted. This makes it clear that there’s something going on behind those imaginative creations; there’s the power of the genre-blending music they represent, the charge in the sweet tunes that are shelled out album after album. The fact that their music is a collaboration of tons of various musicians only adds further to the intrigue and enjoyment of the concept they create.

When I listen to Gorillaz, I’m expecting music that is either delightfully chill-worthy, or an endorphin release trigger with a hypnotic edge that demands dancing. The Gorillaz create beats that sink into you, command you to move with their rippling sonic waves. Plastic Beach meets those expectations, and so much more. Honestly, it’s nothing but a smooth sailing, fancy coloured tripfest. Whether the songs are bending more towards the electro, brit-pop, or rap sides of the ocean of genres that the Gorillaz take inspiration from, they all have an instant hook. While listening to the album, I couldn’t help but keep thinking, “There’s something impressive here”. With songs that feature artists from the legendary Lou Reed to the rhyme-dropping Snoop Dogg, this album definitely has something for anyone who wants to have their senses overwhelmed and their ears dipped in honey.

It’s all dazzle, all the time, and a perfect highway to escapism. Just like the characters live in a world of imagination, their music can also bring us to a similar mind-set. Even the album name, Plastic Beach, helps paint the image of where the music can take us to: a fictitious, paper-thin place that we’d love to escape to, even if the atmosphere is light and superficial; a world where fantasies abound and strangeness seldom differs.

Want a vacation from reality? Be sure to watch the whacky video for Stylo, the first single off the album, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Finally someone who speaks the damn truth!

In a new interview with NME, M.I.A. had some very colorful words to say about the Lady.

Do we still need record labels?

Are they even interested in making money from music anymore? Lady Gaga plugs 15 things in her new video. Dude, she even plugs a burger! That’s probably how they’re making money right now – buying up the burger joint, putting the burger in a music video and making loads of burger money.

Do you think those programmes and the internet have destroyed the mythology around popstars?

I don’t know. Again, there’s Lady Gaga – people say we’re similar, that we both mix all these things in the pot and spit them out differently, but she spits it out exactly the same! None of her music’s reflective of how weird she wants to be or thinks she is. She models herself on Grace Jones and Madonna, but the music sounds like 20-year-old Ibiza music, you know? She’s not progressive, but she’s a good mimic. She sounds more like me than I fucking do! That’s a talent and she’s got a great team behind her, but she’s the industry’s last stab at making itself important – saying, ‘You need our money behind you, the endorsements, the stadiums’ Respect to her, she’s keeping a hundred thousand people in work, but my belief is: Do It Yourself.

How important are image and visuals to your music?

Very. But it’s not like “Haus of Gaga” (laughs). Me blindfolded with naked men feeding me apples and shit.

Would you ever make a record for a Twilight soundtrack?

They asked me. Luckily Jimmy [Iovine, chairmen of M.I.A.’s US label Interscope] had beef with the Twilight people, so he stepped in and told them to fuck off.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Janelle Monae has released the music video to correlate with the ever so catchy catchster vibe on her new single Tightrope. The video features Monae’s unique sense of style, which is cool without trying too hard (which I admire).

Monae, who originally moved to New York to pursue a career on Broadway, soon changed her plans after meeting Big Boi, and returned to music as a platform, something she says has the potential to change the world.

My thoughts exactly.

Check out the just-released Tightrope ft. Big Boi, below.

Janelle Monae – Tightrope ft. Big Boi

Janelle Monae! | MySpace Music Videos

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

When Alicia Keys’ record dropped last year, I brought you the scoop on the record, but to keep it short and sweet–it’s the shiz. Combining r&b, soul, and hip hop pop, the album is more than The Element of Freedom, it’s the element of captivity, attention quickly clenched, held by Alicia’s heartbroken, heart-healed chops and her piano lickin’ fingers.

And her latest single from the album, is probably one of my favorites on the project.

Unthinkable (I’m Ready) pours and mourns nothing but sex appeal in it’s most innocent and beautiful form, vulnerable and unclothed to the ugliness of overproduction, which encompasses most mainstream records.

In other news, Alicia will be appearing on Idol Gives Back, which airs April 21. Carrie Underwood, The Black Eyed Peas and Annie Lennox are also slated to hit the stage.

The charity show has raised more than $140 million for humanitarian efforts.

Funds will go to Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation.

Until then, you can feel the Keys right now, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Laaaid back, wit mah mind on mah money and mah money on mah mind.

Larry King upped his street cred recently as the legendary host took rapper D-O-double G out for a spin in this mustard colored converitble. The only thing missing was some gold teeth.

Snoop Dogg is scheduled to appear on Larry King Live on Friday.

If there’s one photo I thought I’d never see in my life, this may be one of them. It’s pretty funny, almost as funny as the “Attention Fail” video from the infamous Fail Blog, I ran into yesterday. For some reason, this made me laugh til’ I almost cried. So awesome.

Check it!