Kid Cudi was one of the headlining acts for MTV’s Ulalume Music Festival, which was shot last week and aired on Halloween.
Cud performed his new single “Pursuit of Happiness”, as well as his hit “Day ‘n’ Nite”. Check it out after the jump.
Rihanna continues to underwhelm with “Wait Your Turn (The Wait Is Ova)”, the second single from her upcoming fourth album Rated R. The song was produced by Chase ‘N’ Status who have reportedly worked on a big chunk of the new album.
The initial leaked clip of this song made it sound like it was going to be a certified smash, but now that I have the full version I can’t help but feel “meh”. It’s got some nice dubstep undertones mixed with a commercial urban sound, and I do like the way Rihanna uses her vocals in an interesting way by often changing her tone and using a heavy Bajan accent.
It’s still a disappointment though, and if you go and listen to some of Chase ‘N’ Status’ solo tracks you can see how “The Wait Is Ova” has been put through the radio machine and watered down. Kelis actually experimented with dubstep a while back on a song with the Crookers called “No Security” which is far superior to this in every single way.
This is just another “Russian Roulette”. It’s decent, but far from amazing. When you think about it Good Girl Gone Bad was the only hot album RiRi ever had, and now I’m starting to think that it was just a total fluke because she’s quickly becoming more and more irrelevant to me with every underwhelming track she releases.
The plastic fantastic Lil’ Kim has done a new promotional photoshoot with photographer Andrew Southam. The Queen Bee is currently busy touring around the world, partying it up, and working on her fifth album with Akon, Polow Da Don, and Timbaland.
We also have some new pics from Teyana Taylor’s official photoshoot for her new lip gloss line Dope Lips, which will be instores next year.
The 18-year-old has also been getting more involved in songwriting, and is currently penning tracks for Usher, Chris Brown, Brandy, Timbaland, and Blackstreet.
Speaking of Chris Brown, Tey-Tay recently revealed that the pair have started up their own rock band called Ugly with Breezy’s brother. Sounds interesting!
Here is the official artwork for The Game’s fourth studio album The R.E.D. Album, which will be instores December 8.
The album will feature (but is not limited to) production and appearances from Polow Da Don, Cool & Dre, Timbaland, Pharrell, Akon, Diddy, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, and Beanie Sigel.
I love the cover! Shame about the music…
Polow Da Don has given me some new hope though by revealing some exciting details about the album during an interview with MTV.
“The Game record is a hip-hop classic,” Polow promised. “It’s called ‘Would I Be Wrong?’ featuring Akon. It’s talking about coming from the ‘hood. [The song's perspective is] I work all my life trying to get out the ‘hood, then when I get to a point where I could get out of the ‘hood, the ‘hood keeps calling me number one. Then the ‘hood is hating on me for trying to get out of the ‘hood. So what am I supposed to be doing at this point? Did I risk my life every day to stay in the ‘hood, or am I supposed to make a better life for my family? That’s kinda what the song is about.
“His verse is crazy,” the producer added about Game. “It’s going through the whole 50 Cent beef, when he first went to the studio with [Dr.] Dre, he’s a painting a picture with his verses. With his new album, he’s already considered one of the best rappers, and he’s rapping like he’s angry [that] people don’t consider him one of the best rappers. He’s spitting. He’s painting the pictures every song.”
Game needs some more real records like this. I don’t wanna hear about how much money he has. He hasn’t made a bad album yet so I still have hope that this could end up being good, despite those two garbage singles he dropped this week.
Britney Spears was snapped Friday night taking her boys out to dinner in Calabasas, California.
It looks like she’s trying to spend some quality time with her kids before they all head off to Australia on November 6 for the final leg of her “Circus” world tour.
She looks so beautiful here. You can tell that she loves being a mother and it’s her number one priority.
Femcee Trina was snapped this week in Houston at the “Jazzy Girls Lace Wig Studio” where she was picking up a new weave.
You can catch Trina in the new Flo-Rida music video for his single “Touch Me” by clicking here.
Kelly Rowland was snapped this week relaxing in Miami.
The former Destiny’s Child star is currently working on her third solo album with Rico Love, who recently revealed that he’ll be penning the majority of the album. She’s also reportedly close to finalising a new record deal with EMI, though nothing has been publicly confirmed yet.
I wonder what her new album will be like?
Last of all was the one and only Lil’ Kim Queen Bee, who was snapped performing in Switzerland whilst on a mini European tour.
The 34-year-old is currently working on her new album with Polow Da Don, Akon & Konvict Music, and Timbaland.
She looks great and I’m glad that she polishing her performance skills because I want her to come back in a major way with her new album.
Here’s some new video footage of LeToya and Ludacris filming the video for their new hit single “Regret” which will premiere on BET next week.
They look so cute together and the video looks like it’s going to be great. LeToya was actin’ really sassy and she looks flawless. I think her and Luda should get together in real life.
Despite all the adversity “Regret” is becoming more popular by the day, leaping back into the Hot 100 this week at #91, whilst holding steady on the R&B charts and climbing up to #4 on the urban airplay chart.
In the meantime you can catch ya girl on the Mo’Nique show on November 6.
I’m so glad to see that despite everything LeToya is doing so well. She really deserves all her success and more.
According to new reports the talented Knowles sister Solange has parted ways with her label Interscope/Geffen records.
The story was originally reported by BV Buzz back in April, but was vehemently denied by Mathew Knowles who accused the website of creating “false statements”, followed by Solange herself who took to Twitter to verbally ridicule the columnist who wrote the story.
BV Buzz also revealed that “there was a lot of behind the scenes begging and pleading to have the story killed and removed”.
The label then ended their relationship with Solange a month after the original story ran.
“They just waited for the buzz to die down and quietly ended their relationship with her,” a source close to the label revealed.
Interscope originally signed a one-off deal with Music World Entertainment to release Solange’s sophomore album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams, but when the album failed to sell any more than 150k they decided not to continue their relationship with the singer.
Solange is now working on her third studio album which she described as “experimental”. Papa Knowles on the other hand is trying to find his daughter a new deal, with BV Buzz also reporting back in April that Mathew sabotaged a deal between Kelly Rowland and Epic Records in order to try and get Solange signed to the label instead.
Now that the story has broken, Solange is on her Twitter pretending that she left Interscope on her own terms. SMH. Check out her statement below.
Although it’s been a wonderful journey & experience at Interscope Records, after truly recognizing what’s important to ME as an artist, I decided it was time for me to continue my path on a more independent platform. I’m excited about continuing to dive in, experiment and creating music and art with no boundaries, fears or expectations.
So the Shady Bunch have gotten caught lying again. What a surprise.
All shadiness aside, I am eager to hear Solange’s third album because I thought her last one was excellent. I’m sure Papa Knowles will work something out for her, I mean he even got her on Oprah for God’s sakes.
Due to the current turmoil going on in the Sugababes, the band have been forced to push back their new album Sweet 7 to February 22nd 2010.
They will however release a third single before then, which will be the Fernando Garibay produced “Wear My Kiss”. You can take a listen to the version of the song with former member Keisha Buchanan by clicking here.
The album is believed to be have been pushed back because of the absence of current member Amelle Berrebah, who is currently in hiding at a private health clinic where she’s suffering from ‘exhaustion’.
Another factor for the pushback could be the inexperience of new member Jade Ewen, who recently admitted in an interview that she didn’t know how many hits the Sugababes have had and that she’s currently struggling to learn all their back catalogue.
In other news, Keisha Buchanan has announced that she’s working on a solo album which she describes as “fierce”.
Isn’t it about time that these chicks threw the towel in? I would consider supporting them again if they changed their name and presented themselves as a whole new group.
Alicia Keys was snapped stomping the pavement as she filmed her new music video “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart”. The clip is being directed by Syndrome and is the second single from AK’s new album The Element of Freedom, which drops December 15.
She is so beautiful and talented! I’m loving the song to, I’ve had it on constant repeat since it leaked. I think it could even go #1.
Check below the cut for six more pics from the set of the video.
“Bleeding Love” hitmaker Ryan Tedder brings all of One Republic along for the ride on “Lost Then Found”, a new cut from Leona Lewis’ upcoming sophomore album Echo.
This is just another boring unimaginative pop ballad that Tedder probably churned out in his studio in five minutes flat. It seems like Leona’s label are leaving the singers more daring tracks like “Perfect Stranger” on the cutting room floor in exchange for a slew of radio-ready Bleeding Love knock-offs.
As far as Echo goes I seem to have a love/hate relationship with it. Some of the leaked song I love (Stone Hearts, Perfect Strangers), and others I despise (Happy, Lost Then Found). She’s an incredibly talented woman, but if Le-Lew wants to evolve as an artist she’s going to have to step it up just like her idols Whitney & Mariah had to do in the past, because if she continues on this path she’ll just end up turning into the poor mans version of the two legendary divas.
Wale’s debut album Attention: Defecit has now leaked online in it’s entirety over a week before it’s scheduled release of November 10. If you’re still undecided as to whether you should buy it or not peep this track “Beautiful Bliss” which features R&B songstress Melanie Fiona and rapper J. Cole, and was produced by both Mark Ronson and DJ Lantern.
Whoever decided that Melanie Fiona and Wale should collaborate together is a genius because this is a song of epic proportions. Wale rides the upbeat soulful production with ease, showing off his impeccable flow and lyricism. Melanie is like the cherry on top with her powerful pipes sweeping in every so often to belt out the hook.
Make sure you pick up Attention: Deficit on November 10. From what I’ve heard it’s easily shaping up to be in the top 3 best albums of the year across ALL genres.
Here’s the video for Shakira’s “Did It Again”, which was recently scrapped as her second US single and will now only be released for the international market, whilst the Timbaland/Lil’ Wayne “Give It Up To Me” will be released in the States.
I really like how Shakira used a lot of contemporary dance to express her sexuality and the struggle between herself and her man. It was different to what you normally see in these video’s which is what I love about Shakira, she’s always trying something new. I hope it’s another hit for her.
