Did You Know That Janet Jackson Is A Billionaire? Well, She Is!

May 23rd, 2013 // Leave a Comment

Twenty years after dropping janet, and 27 years after releasing her breakout album, Janet Jackson is officially a billionaire, according to Variety. The youngest Jackson sibling has reached a milestone that even her brother Michael never achieved during his lifetime. Her massive worth can be broken down thusly: $458 million from touring, $304 million from her film work, $260 million from album sales and over $81 million from sponsorships. More »

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Can’t Hold Us” Remixed By Major Lazer: Listen & Grab A Free Download

May 23rd, 2013 // 1 Comment
Diplo On Daft Punk
daft punk diplo beef
The DJ clarifies his thoughts on Random Access Memories. Read More »
"Thrift Shop" x "No Scrubs"
macklemore ryan lewis tlc
Hear the TLC-Macklemore mashup. Read More »
Free The Universe
major lazer free the universe
Check out our review of Major Lazer's latest album. Read More »
Mad Decent Dates
mad decent block party
Check out the dates & lineup for this summer's Block Party. Read More »

Diplo took a break from posting about Daft Punk‘s Random Access Memories to put together a Major Lazer remix of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis‘ “Can’t Hold Us.” Macklemore’s rapping takes a backseat here, with Ray Dalton‘s vocal melody now the centerpiece. Underneath the vocals you’ve got Major Lazer’s trademark squiggly synths and drum machine claps. While it’s not as revelatory as that “Thrift Shop”/”No Scrubs” mashup, it’s still a solid dance reinterpretation.

Head below for a stream and a free download. More »

Dan Black & Kelis’ “Hearts” Video: Watch The Ingenious Time-Lapse Clip

May 23rd, 2013 // Leave a Comment
Dan Black "Hearts" Kelis
Back To Black

Dan Black has been away for a minute — the London-by-way-of-Paris electropop crooner made a major splash a few years back with tracks like “Symphonies” and a plum spot opening for Robyn and Kelis on their All Hearts tour — but he’s spent the last few years holed up in Paris working on his sophomore LP.

Now, the fruits of that labor surface in the form of a lush, sparkling collaboration between Black and his former tourmate Kelis, a single titled “Hearts.” More »

Eminem To Play Three European Shows With Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator & More In August

May 23rd, 2013 // Leave a Comment

It’s beginning: Eminem news is starting to trickle in a bit more frequently, as hip-hop fans await an announcement about his forthcoming eighth LP. For now, all we know is that the album probably has a Chris Rock cameo. But this summer, we may get a taste of new music from Em – it’s just a question of whether he’ll unveil it before a string of European dates in August, or wait to roll out the songs live.

The rapper is headlining Belgium’s Pukkelpop Festival in mid-August, and he just announced that immediately after he’ll do three shows in Europe. And he’s bringing along some young guns: Kendrick Lamar, Earlwolf (Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt) and Yelawolf, among others. Man, can you imagine the overload of alter egos if Em and Tyler take the stage together? Head below to see the dates and lineups. More »

Kendrick Lamar Joins Quadron On “Better Off”: Hear The Sultry Track

May 23rd, 2013 // Leave a Comment

It’s looking to be a big year for Danish duo Quadron. Singer Coco O. appeared on the Great Gatsby soundtrack and Tyler, the Creator‘s Wolf, while producer Robin Hannibal recently saw success as a member of smooth R&B project Rhye. But now the two are focused on Quadron and looking to capitalize on their respective momentum for their forthcoming album Avalanceh. And for that record’s first salvo they’ve dropped “Better Off,” featuring Kendrick Lamar.

Coco recently stopped by our New York office and told us initially K-Dot  approached them to be on his album. But after hearing some Quadron demos, he was hooked, and agreed to do a verse on one of their songs. The result is the album’s only feature, and “Better Off” is a laid-back groove with some velvety vocals and horns underpinning Lamar’s whispered verse. Head below to hear the sultry collaboration.  More »

Watch Loreen’s “We Got The Power” Video, Directed By Loreen

May 23rd, 2013 // 1 Comment
Loreen We Got The Power Video
#thatpower

Call it the millionth reason Loreen is the Swedish chanteuse to beat: Her new single “We Got the Power” is blisteringly great, penned by Ester Dean (all of your favorite Rihanna songs) and produced by Patrik Berger (Robyn‘s “Dancing On My Own,” Icona Pop‘s “I Love It” and Charli XCX‘s “You’re the One,” among others).

But a song that sounds like a lost Pat Benatar classic blasted into space isn’t good enough for Loreen — she had to go and direct the video herself. She directed it herself! And it’s great: Elegant in its simplicity and lovingly rendered, trading a real narrative for a lot of nicely evocative shots.  More »

Birdman Discusses Signing Paris Hilton To Cash Money Records

May 23rd, 2013 // Leave a Comment

The stars might be blind, but Birdman isn’t — to Paris Hilton‘s raw talent! (It took me an hour to come up with that opening line.)

The rapper-turned-Cash Money Records co-founder opened up to The Los Angeles Times about signing the vocally gifted chanteuse: “Controversy and all of that, it works for your benefit,” he said. “[Her Cash Money deal] being so talked about shows the strength of her popularity. I’m very excited. I’m very appreciative that she’s part of the team. She’s very talented, and a beautiful young woman.” More »

Beyonce Posts New Picture Of Blue Ivy Carter

May 23rd, 2013 // Leave a Comment

Blue Ivy Carter is a grown woman! Yes, the adorable tot is assuming directorial duties, if the new picture Beyonce posted to her Tumblr last night is anything to go by. Who run the world? Blue Ivy, and literally nobody else, because Blue Ivy is more powerful than her mind can even comprehend.

Showing the 45-year-old toddler seated in a white chair monogrammed with “BIC,” sporting a pink tee (hopefully House of Dereon, hand-woven by LaTavia Roberson) and a white tutu, the photo doesn’t give us much new information about what Blue Ivy is up to. Is she working on a new album? Directing her latest music video? Launching a fragrance line? Sabotaging Kelly Rowland‘s career? Rendering your faves irrelevant? Probably all of the above, honestly.  More »

The Saturdays’ “Gentleman” Video: The Girls Get Sexy As Housewives

May 23rd, 2013 // Leave a Comment
The Saturdays "Gentleman" Video
So 1995!

The Saturdays‘ weird-amazing new single “Gentleman” isn’t necessarily my very favorite effort from the British girl group — although it is one of their most interesting tracks to date — but the just-premiered video is a nice complement to the song, as much as it looks like a Desperate Housewives promo from a few years back. (There was one that used Jennifer Lopez‘s “Mile In My Shoes” that this echoes for me. Hopefully I’m not the only person in the world who remembers that. Right, guys? Right.)

Following the girls in sexy ensembles as they garden, hang up laundry, and generally get domestic, the concept fits the song effectively. A gentleman needs a lady, okay?  More »

Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift Lead 2013 Teen Choice Awards Nominations

May 23rd, 2013 // 1 Comment

Hey, it’s the Teen Choice Awards — you know, the annual ceremony where extraordinary achievements in politics, science and literature are recognized! Ha, no it’s not. It’s an awards show with a category called “Choice Smile.” Sorry, haters.

Anyway, the nominations are out, and it’s pretty much the usual suspects — in the music categories, Taylor Swift takes the lead with three nods (for Choice Female Artist, Choice Female Country Artist and Choice Smile), while Justin Bieber has two (Choice Male Artist and Choice Male Hottie, obvi).

More »