Lil Wayne teams up with R&B/pop singer Bruno Mars in a track called “Mirror”. The song is a bonus track included on the deluxe version of the rapper’s latest album “Tha Carter IV”. This thing came out of nowhere! If you didn’t have enough reasons to buy this album, now you do. “Mirror” is an absolute smash, in my opinion. And if Lil Wayne is smart, he’ll release this as a single ASAP. Bruno is a pretty hot thing in the music industry and everybody just loves the guy. Featuring him on a track is a guarantee that radios will eat this up.
Lil Wayne featuring Bruno Mars – Mirror – New Song
Demi Lovato delivered a spectacular performance of her single “Skyscraper” on America’s Got Talent earlier this week. The track is the lead single from the pop singer’s upcoming third album called “Unbroken”, which is due out on September 20th. The song managed to top the iTunes Singles Chart and enter the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 recently. It’s such an emotional song, and with the vocals that Demi has, she can afford to show off and make the song even more beautiful during live performances. Dare I say it, she’s the best performer from the whole Hollywood Records roster.
Demi Lovato – Skyscraper – Performance Video
Chris Brown showed off some acrobatic moves while performing during the 2011 MTV VMAs at Nokia Theatre LA Live in Los Angeles this past Sunday. The 22-year old R&B singer started off the dance medley with “Yeah 3x” and ended with “Beautiful People”. He did all this while he soared in the air with two of his backup dancers. It was a spectacular performance and I wasn’t at all surprised when he got a standing ovation, including ones from Kanye West and Justin Bieber. Chris later took to his Twitter, saying “Thx to all my fans who showed support tonight! Had a blast! Congrats to all the winners!!!! Be safe tonight! Love you!”
Chris Brown – Dance Medley – Performance Video
Lil Wayne’s album “Tha Carter IV” is out today! The recording process of the album has been a long journey and I hope it’s worth all the wait. The rapper was supposed to put it out immediately after the third installment of the “Tha Carter” series, which was released in the summer of 2008. However, he didn’t want a new album so soon, especially after “Tha Carter III”, which he had in high regard. After releasing two records, “Rebirth” and “I Am Not a Human Being”, Lil Wayne found himself going to jail, spending 2010 in prison. When he got out, he was finally ready to work on “Tha Carter IV”. Check out the track list below.
1. Intro
2. Blunt Blowin’
3. MegaMan
4. 6 Foot 7 Foot (Feat. Cory Gunz)
5. Nightmares Of The Bottom
6. She Will (Feat. Drake)
7. How To Hate (Feat. T-Pain)
8. Interlude (Feat. Tech N9ne & Andre 3000 (hidden feature))
9. John (Feat. Rick Ross)
10. Abortion
11. So Special (Feat. John Legend)
12. How To Love
13. President Carter
14. It’s Good (Feat. Drake & Jadakiss)
15. Outro (Feat. Bun B, Nas, Shyne & Busta Rhymes)
Leona Lewis has recently premiered the music video for her new single “Collide”. The pop singer is seen belting out her song with soaring diva vocals from the sandy shore of a Malibu beach, moving along with the uplifting beat while seated in a convertible and enjoying a fireworks display at night. I’m not that crazy about this video. Leona looks beautiful in it and it’s obvious that the camera loves her but it’s just too boring. And considering what the song’s lyrics are about, the whole concept is just so wrong. I honestly don’t expect this to help her single any.
Leona Lewis – Collide – New Video
Skylar Grey played her first UK show ever this past Monday when the singer hit the stage at East London’s XOYO to present herself as the mastermind behind the amazing choruses in the hits “Coming Home”, “Words I Never Said”, “I Need a Doctor” and “Love the Way You Lie”. Immediately after doing that medley, Skylar did her solo efforts and sang her singles “Dance Without You” and “invisible”. I have a ton of respect to Skylar with her talents as a vocalist and songwriter. She was just born to do this. I feel a little worried though with “Invisible” being her first single. The song is beautiful but risky and maybe just a little unfriendly for radio.
Skylar Grey – Medley – Performance Video
Skylar Grey – Invisible – Performance Video
Skylar Grey – Dance Without You – Performance Video
Avicii has taken the lead and premiered the music video for “Fade into Darkness” before Leona Lewis releases her “Collide” video. If you don’t know the story, the Swedish DJ produced a club instrumental named “Penguin”, which Leona allegedly used a sample of for her new single without Avicii’s permission. They had a legal dispute but settled in the end. Now, Leona’s single cover for “Collide” features Avicii’s name, so that must have been one of the terms they agreed upon. Anyway, Avicii has now premiered the video for his original version of “Penguin”, now renamed “Fade into Darkness” for the vocal edit, that features Danish singer Andreas Moe. There’s almost no difference between Avicii and Leona’s version other than him adding more club bass beats and of course the lyrics. As for the visual, I don’t quite get the plot. Someone please explain it to me.
Avicii – Fade into Darkness – New Video
Natalia Kills celebrated the US release of her debut album “Perfectionist” last week with an intimate acoustic performance atop the roof of the Atlas Hotel in New York City. The British singer/songwriter sang her heart out! Natalia slays everyone with her songs “Free”, her new US singler, “Wonderland”, my favorite in her whole album”, and “Love is a Suicide”. She wore an elegant outfit for the occasion and I think she delivered one of her best live shows to date. I loved the theatrics too! Grab her album now, and catch her on her current US club tour and on select dates of Katy Perry’s current California Dreams tour.
Natalia Kills – Free – Performance Video
Natalia Kills – Wonderland – Performance Video
Natalia Kills – Love is a Suicide – Performance Video
If you feel like it’s been years since Taio Cruz released any new music, you’re in luck. After slaying the charts worldwide with the undying “Dynamite”, the British R&B singer is about to kick off a new era. His third studio album called “Troublemaker” will hit stores later this year. The record will be preceded by the first single, also called “Troublemaker”, which should hit radio and iTunes pretty soon. I’m thinking that it may be for early September. The music video for the song was reportedly shot earlier this summer so we may end up seeing a double release. Taio also recently revealed the official artwork for the single. Check it out.
Smirnoff Vodka is working with Madonna on a new promotion that could very well choose a new backup dancer for the Queen of Pop’s upcoming tour. The promotion, called the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, will try to get 10 million people in 50 countries to swap nightlife stories on their Facebook page. Some winners will be chosen to attend one of 50 parts on November 12 where Madonna herself will be in attendance. The singer will be on the lookout for some pretty awesome dancers who will compete for her attention and later participate in a dance off. The winner could very well be chosen to become a dancer on her next tour. So who has some interesting nightlife stories to share?
Lady Gaga stopped by the MTV offices in Times Square yesterday to announce her big surprise regarding the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. I had initially thought that the princess of pop was going to be the host of this year’s show, with there still not being one announced. It wasn’t what the singer announced but her news was still a doozey. Lady Gaga has been confirmed to kick off the show, which will air live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on August 28. How the rest of the show can live up to an epic opening number by Lady Gaga, I don’t know.
The lawsuit involving David LaChapelle claiming Rihanna ripped off his work for her “S&M” video has survived its first test and is moving forward. A New York federal judge found the themes in her video non-copyright material while the “angles, poses, and lighting” in David’s photos are completely protected. The judge also heard evidence that the storyboards used for the R&B singer’s video actually contained some of David’s photos. With legal matters not looking to be in her favor, Rihanna has decided to get a new lawyer. She fired her legal team from New York’s Pryor Cashman and replaced them with Paul Kilmer from Holland & Knight. It doesn’t look like it’s going to go much further though as talks of a settlement is hot.
Jessie J has a new song out called “Domino”. The upbeat track, which was produced by Dr. Luke, is a song that wasn’t included in the 23-year old British pop singer’s debut album “Who You Are”. It makes me wonder if this a bonus track or a new song or just something that didn’t make the cut. If it’s the last one, I’ll never understand the reason because I really think it’s a great song. It has a catchy tune and a refreshing vibe. And with lyrics that go “Rock my world into the sunlight. Make this dream the best I’ve ever known. Dirty dancing in the moonlight. Take me down like I’m a domino. Every second is a highlight. When we touch don’t ever let me go” how can you not think of it as fun?
Jessie J – Domino – New Song
Lady Gaga has recently premiered the official music video for her latest single “You and I”. The Robert “Mutt” Lange-produced ballad becomes the fourth single from the princess of pop’s highly successful album “Born This Way”. The 25-year old singer took to her Twitter just as the video debuted, saying “You will never find what you are looking for in love, if you don’t love yourself.” Check it out! It is a visual extravaganza! While I don’t quite get the concept of it, it’s an enjoyable watch. I loved the presence of Lady Gaga’s male alter ego in the video too.
Lady Gaga – You and I – New Video
Although it’s not definite yet, I’m encouraged to find out that Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh recently revealed in an interview that the British pop band will in fact reunite in 2012 for a new 10-year anniversary tour. Kimberley said “I’d like to do more acting, but, to be honest, being in the band has surpassed everything I ever dreamed of doing with my life. The girls will have been together for ten years next year and that’s definitely going to be celebrated with a tour. I can’t say any more until next year – but I’m really looking forward to it.” If that isn’t salivating information, I don’t know what is.
J Cole has finally premiered the music video for his single “Work Out”. The track is the official lead single from the Roc Nation rapper’s debut album “Cole World: The Sideline Story”, which is set to hit US stores on September 27. The video was shot in Los Angeles back in June but it seems that the Germany-born artist didn’t like the first edit because he went to re-shoot some scenes in New York City. The video is pretty cool. It sees J Cole on a basketball court playing a game when he spots a fine lady, they flirt and they bond and they have a great night at a club. It’s nothing groundbreaking but it served its purpose well enough.
J Cole – Work Out – New Video
Wiz Khalifa has recently premiered the music video for his song “No Sleep”. The track serves as the official fourth single from the rapper’s major label debut album “Rolling Papers”. Now I just want him to confirm a date for radio release in the US and kick off a TV promo. They should have given this the single treatment months ago when it went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released as a digital-only single. But whatever, we have it now. As for the recently premiered video, it sees Wiz waking up and reminiscing the crazy night he had, which was full of partying with his friend and girlfriend Amber Rose.
Wiz Khalifa – No Sleep – New Video
Mel B, former band mate of Victoria Beckham in Spice Girls, will give birth to her future child in the same salon where her girlfriend brought the world Seven Harper Beckham in July.
The former Spice Girls band component said she reserved the same salon where Victoria Beckham gave birth a month ago at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, announces Female First. In an interview with the British magazine Hello!, Mel B – who will give birth in a few days – has revealed the fact that she wrote an invitation to Victoria to the party in honor of her future child, but she could not make it.
Later, she mentioned that she’ll give birth in the same salon as the new mother. “The funniest thing is that I will give birth in the same room at Cedars-Sinai in which Victoria has brought to the world Harper,” said the British artist.
Mel B married Stephen Belafonte and has two children from previous relationships: Phoenix Chi (12), and Angel Iris (4).
Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” is an official hit. The track has been moving up on the Billboard Hot 100 chart weeks after its initial release and has become the highest charting Hot 100 rap hit by a solo female rapper ever since Missy Elliott’s “Work It”, which reached the #2 spot back in 2002. “Super Bass” is also only one of eight rap singles by a solo female artist to reach the top 10 in the chart’s 53-year history. Cash Money co-founder Ronald Williams isn’t surprised by the success of Nicki and the track, saying “Nicki isn’t like any other female rapper. We knew she had the goods when Lil Wayne signed her. She’s not a female rapper — she’s a pop star who happens to rap.” Congratulations!
Cee-Lo Green recently premiered the music video for his latest song “Cry Baby”. If you’ve already seen the video and are wondering where the hip hop singer is, he’s really not there. Cee-Lo even joked about his absence from the video on his Twitter, saying “I had no idea they shot a video for cry baby. I hear it’s cool though.” Jaleel White, who’s best known for his role as Steve Urkel in “Family Matters”, actually takes on the role of Cee-Lo and gets his groove on with a group of ladies in the video. Cee-Lo was right – it is pretty cool.
Cee-Lo Green – Cry Baby – New Video
X Factor-formed boy band One Direction have chosen the track “What Makes You Beautiful” as their official debut single. The song was produced by Savan Kotecha, and written by Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub, who worked with Britney Spears on her hit “Baby One More Time”. I like this song. It’s catchy and has a huge potential to be a hit in the UK. I’m so glad that One Direction decided to go for a pop/rock sound. I think it suits them well and it will be something refreshing in nowadays’ music scene. “What Makes You Beautiful” is set to be released on September 12th.
One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful – New Song
Pia Toscano recently premiered the music video for her debut single “This Time”. The American Idol album looks absolutely graceful and slightly angelic in the clip for the Ester Dean-written track. I love Pia and I love the song to death but the clip could’ve been something better. Nevertheless, all the beauty shots and pretty landscapes really go well with the song’s vibe. The performance shots in the city I could have done without. It just doesn’t fit with the rest of the video. I can forgive Pia and her camp though. The singer is very busy with the American Idol tour so I actually take my hat off to her for finding some time off to work on the video.
Pia Toscano – This Time – New Video
