News
Drake: Remix With Lil Wayne From Prison
Robin Bacior :: Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 3:30 pm
Somehow, Canadian native Aubrey Drake Graham has managed to go from new-generation Degrassi basketballer “Jimmy,” to suave rap phenomenon, cut sharply to just “Drake.” The man’s been collaborating with all the impressives, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem, and especially with Lil Wayne, who’s taken Drake on somewhat as his protege. Smart move, since his popularity grows exponentially, daily.
His new record, Thank Me Later, was released today, along with a remix from his myriad of jams, this one specifically being, “Lighten Up.” It’s being called the “Rikers Remix,” cutely titled from the fact that Lil Wayne adds a verse via telephone from the Rikers Prison. You maybe be able to cage Lil Wayne, but you’ll never be able to quiet him.
Check out a couple songs and see how you feel about Drake’s new release.
News
Jay-Z: Indie Rock More Rebellious Than Hip-Hop
SXB :: Thursday, June 10th, 2010 7:51 pm
Now I’ve heard everything. Jay-Z in a new interview with Rolling Stone praises indie rock as more “rebellious” than hip-hop.
Apparently someone forgot to tell the indie rock crowd, because they talk constantly about how indie-rock has become toothless, having long lost its claim on danger and rebellion to hip-hop. Is the grass always greener? MORE »
News
“We Were All Witnesses”: The City of Cleveland Says Goodbye to LeBron James
Matt Kiebus :: Friday, May 14th, 2010 2:30 pm
It sucks to be a Cleveland sports fan right now. Not only are you most likely from Ohio, but also the sports franchises you root for routinely torture you. Last night the Cavaliers underachieved for the second straight year, losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals after finishing the regular season with the best record in the NBA. That sucks.
Now the really bad news, this summer LeBron James, the city’s messiah, is a free agent. James has a very difficult decision to make this summer, either stay with the team that drafted you and finish what you started or move to New York City. In the simplest terms where would you like to play basketball? Cleveland, home of the Rock n’ Roll hall of fame, or New York City, home to just about everything. My guess is that the Cuyahoga River might be back in flames come July. MORE »
Lists
Playlist: MGMT’s “Brian Eno” and Other Weird Musical Shout-Outs
Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 11:40 am
On their new album, Congratulations, MGMT pays a rather strange quasi-homage to the mack daddy of ambient music, Brian Eno. The song, aptly titled “Brian Eno,” was described in this way by band member Andrew VanWyngarden:
“It’s kind of a vampire-punk-rock song about finding Brian Eno in like a cathedral in Transylvania. He’s like a dark wizard. We originally asked him to produce the track, but he hadn’t heard of us.”
“Dark wizards” were chiefly characterized by their ability to create pleasant, minimalist music? I have to brush up on my fantasy stories, I guess, because I don’t remember anything that sounded like Another Green World in the Harry Potter movies.
This bizarre tribute got me to thinking about some of the other questionable shout-outs that have been done in song. Here’s a brief list of my favorites. MORE »
News
Jay-Z Sues Boston’s Big Papi Over Night Club
Shannon Hassett :: Friday, April 16th, 2010 12:35 pm
Jay-Z is a better businessman than rapper. There, I said it. In addition to part ownership of the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets, he is the brains behind successful night club chain 40/40, with locations in New York, Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Chicago. David Ortiz enjoys spending time there, as do a slew of other big names in sports and entertainment. Whereas they get drunk and go home, however, Boston’s Big Papi hightails it to Santo Domingo and starts a club of his own — called Forty-Forty, of course — causing Jay to get a little more than miffed. He and one of his business partners are suing Ortiz for $5 million in damages and a name change. The actual 40/40 club is reserved for the elite group of players who have amassed 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season (Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano). With only ten stolen bases in his entire career, it should really not be coming as a shock to anyone that Ortiz got caught.
News
Beyoncé’s Rep Denies Pregnancy Rumors
Amy Laviero :: Friday, March 26th, 2010 2:25 pm
Despite the tsunami of rumors crashing over the internet, Beyoncé’s rep has denied pregnancy rumors to Rolling Stone. Media Take Out reported to have exclusive information on Beyoncé’s rumored pregnancy, claiming a source close to the singer said she is “resting” and expected to “continue working though her pregnancy.” The singer, who is notorious for being particularly mum about personal affairs, has not commented, though her publicist said that the rumors are “untrue.”
News
Jack White/Jay-Z Collaboration Is “Unbelievable-Sounding”
Amy Laviero :: Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 2:30 pm
Although a release date has yet to be been confirmed, Jack White did discuss his recent collaboration with Jay-Z in an interview with the UK’sGQ saying the pair “did a song together a few weeks ago.”
“It was incredible,” says White. “I played him something that I’ve been kicking around for a while and he immediately came out with words for it. It’s unbelievable-sounding.”
The collaboration seems to be the result of the pairs’ public display of affection; last fall, Jay called White a “renaissance man,” prompting White to re-pay the love by describing the rapper as “just incredible.”
Sports
NJ Nets Move to… NJ
Shannon Hassett :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 4:20 pm
While the Meadowlands are technically a part of New Jersey, they mean nothing more than their promise of greater things: professional sporting events or the exit for the George Washington Bridge. Lots of respectable teams play in the state yet call New York their home, and so New Jersey is left with only a basketball team to show for its hospitality, and a shitty one at that. The announcement of the team’s move to Brooklyn definitely got me listening, however, and I was suddenly filled with a loyalty that lacked any justification. It was one of those ‘I’ll make fun of my brother as much as I want, but don’t you even dream about chiming in’ moments, and Jay-Z was now that dick friend. MORE »
Festivals
Bonnaroo: Worth It This Year?
Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 3:20 pm
Bonnaroo is the weirdo of all the big festivals. It’s not really about industry, or after-parties, or what celebrities turn up. You invariably lose your cell phone. Make-up and any/all attempts at being fashionable are sneered at (it’s a hundred-degree sweatfest and no one has showered in days. Face it, you’re not going to look all that great). It’s kind of disgusting. Yes, Bonnaroo is basically about setting up your tent in the mud next to the campsite of a dude named Squirrel and liking it, and I don’t think anyone who’s been would have it any other way.
Bands
Bonnaroo 2010 Lineup Update
Johnny Sanford :: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 12:00 pm
So yesterday, we had just a taste of the lineup for this years Bonnaroo 2010 lineup, but now we have a full course meal. It looks to be a big ticket, and Jay Z has announced his plans to be a headliner for the show. Another surprising addition to the roster is Tenacious D, which is a surprise to me after watching the documentary on The Complete Masterworks II a few days ago. But it’s great to see JB and KG back on top. For a full list of the performers, which is extensive, make the jump. MORE »
News
Dark Night Of The Soul In Distribution Hell, David Lynch Still Terrifying
Braden Rosner :: Monday, November 23rd, 2009 3:05 pm
Dark Night of the Soul is an unbelievable album.
For realsies. Through the combined efforts of Danger Mouse- whose 2004 mashup opus fittingly titled The Grey Album caused EMI to furiously shake its fists over the use of unrequested Beatles’ tracks from The White Album combined with a cappella version of Jay Z’s The Black Album- and alternative folk rock aficionados, Sparklehorse. Plenty more after the jump.
