Nov 25, 2010
Rihanna Makes Noise on Charts with No. 1 Single, First-Week Album Sales
That Rihanna reign just won’t let up. The pop siren has lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving after scoring her career best on the charts this week.
The red-haired singer swoops in at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 207,000 copies sold of her fifth album Loud, earning her a career best in first-week sales and her fifth top 10 bow.
Meanwhile, RiRi claims her ninth No. 1 single with “Only Girl (In the World),” a feat that puts her in prestigious territory. With the accomplishment, the Bajan crooner becomes the only artist since 2000 to have as many chart-topping singles, besting Usher who has scored eight No. 1s since the start of the decade. Not only that, but “Only Girl” becomes her fourth No. 1 single this year, making her the first female and first overall artist since Usher to nab as many No. 1 tracks in a year, according to Billboard.
She celebrated by sharing her excitement on Twitter. “Only Girl is no. 1!!! HOLY FUCK!!! And thx to u guys, I’ve had the biggest first week of all my albums so far! #whosloud ???? We are bitches,” she wrote. “Congrats to RihannaNavy! We breakin our OWN records!!! 9 no.1′s baby…We got the #CenturyOnLockWho’s badder than yall??”
After holding down the top spot two weeks ago, her second single “What’s My Name?” drops 7-8 on the Hot 100, while the Drake-assisted collaboration earns Airplay Gainer for the fourth consecutive week.
Keeping Rihanna company on the Billboard 200 is Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who bows
Review Roundup: Nicki Minaj – ‘Pink Friday’
USA Today: Her long-anticipated debut, Pink Friday, has two missions: Cement Minaj’s stardom and, perhaps, wedge the door open a little wider for more female rappers. Friday gets it about half right. There’s enough pop ear candy to ensure that she’ll stick around, but she’s probably got more work to do to win over doubtful hip-hop heads. 3 out of 4
Entertainment Weekly: Oddly enough, the accented voices and self-assured rhymes that propelled Nicki to stardom are hardly what make this a solid album. It’s those moments when the eccentric wigs are off and aliases put away that the best songs are revealed. B+
Rolling Stone: Friday is surprisingly pop—there’s nothing as weird or striking as her “Monster” cameo. Instead, Minaj aims for a Rihanna-style crossover approach, singing R&B choruses over electro floss and toning down her nasty side. 3.5 out of 5
SPIN: As an MC showcase, though, the album falls short, with no verses as memorable as those she dropped for Robin Thicke, Usher, Trey Songz, Ludacris, or Mariah Carey. But this self-styled Harajuku Barbie certainly can compete with the big boys, and she doesn’t let anyone forget it. 7 out of 10
Los Angeles Times: Even though her roots are elsewhere, Minaj sounds better on the Pink Friday tracks that are more squarely in the club R&B vein, which she almost always spikes with enough rap to remind anyone that she isn’t another Beyoncé or even Sasha Fierce, not by any stretch. 3 out of 4
The New York Times: More frustrating are the emotionally fraught numbers here, which are plenty: Pink Friday has more in common with a Mary J. Blige album than any hip-hop record. The mode is most convincing on the truly sad “Dear Old Nicki” and the album opener, “I’m the Best,” on which she says, “I’m fighting for the girls that never thought they could win.”
Associated Press: While Minaj’s proven she can jump on someone’s song—or idea—and get the job done, on her own songs, she struggles to make something to call her own. Pink Friday is a 13-track set that is full of songs that either showcases Minaj’s cockiness or her vulnerability. You’ll listen to the songs and wonder: Do you have anything else to rap about?
The Washington Post: Pink Friday is full of songs just like that, and to anyone who heard its early, hardcore-heavy leaks, these softer, usually romantic tracks may feel like compromises, meant to reassure mainstream listeners that Minaj is a semi-proper girl with, you know, feelings, not just a piranha with a gymnastic flow.
New Music Premiere: Fefe Dobson feat. Pusha T – ‘Stuttering (Remix)’
Pusha T gets caught in a lie by Fefe Dobson on the remix to “Stuttering,” the second single from the Canadian singer’s sophomore album Joy, in stores November 30. “You sound guilty ’cause you’re stuttering,” sings FeFe, to which the Clipse rapper replies, “Lie just to spare ya/ Life ain’t prepare ya/ Now you wanna leave, man I double dog dare ya.” The relationship drama unfolds on the rock-tinged J.R. Rotem production, co-penned by Fefe and Claude Kelly. first listen below!
Fefe Dobson f/ Pusha T – “Stuttering (Remix)”
New Music: Brandy, Ray J, & Willie Norwood – ‘Talk to Me’
It’s a family affair for the Norwoods on their first commercial collaboration as a family. On the ’80s-tinged ballad, Brandy, Ray J, and their gospel singer pops Willie Norwood Sr. take turns crooning uplifting lyrics over silky instrumentation. “I remember times we had/ Just the two of us, you know it takes me back,” sings Willie to Brandy, who responds, “Now that, daddy you’ve shown me what a man is supposed to be/ I couldn’t make it without you, daddy.” In the spirit of Thanksgiving, get together with the Norwoods below.
Brandy, Ray J, and Willie Norwood – “Talk to Me”
The Outlawz Drop "Warning Shots" Aimed At Funkmaster Flex
Hip-Hop group The Outlawz have dropped a scathing diss record aimed at Funkmaster Flex, after the popular New York radio host made controversial remarks about late rapper Tupac Shakur.
The new song, titled, "Warning Shots", is a 3:52 second record against Funk
"F**k n**gas sucking Tupac's d**k. I don't suck Tupac's d**k. Make some noise is you miss f**king Biggie Smalls!"
Funkmaster
"Let me be the first one to say not only do I respect his music, I respect what he put down," Funkmaster Flex said. "I respect the records he made, the records he sold, his positive energy in the beginning, the great records he made and I know how passionate he was about his music."
Flex further stated that although he respected Tupac Shakur's legacy, he still felt that Pac brought a negative energy to Hip-Hop while he was alive.
Funkmaster Flex's clarification obviously wasn't good enough for The Outlawz, who label Funkmaster Flex a "mutt," "p**sy" and a "queer" accusing the DJ of pay-for-play.
"What he was saying on stage that night that was stirring up more of that negative energy," E.D.I. recently told XXL Magazine. "So I don't know what he was trying to accomplish by doing that. I really feel like he was just playin' to the crowd...because you can't say you don't like his negative energy when that's all you doing is stirring it back up."
The song ends with a clip of Tupac dissing Funkmaster Flex.
Willow Smith Says Tupac Is Her Favorite Rapper
Funkmaster Flex may not be the biggest fan of Tupac Shakur, but the 10-year-old Willow Smith is a fan of the deceased rapper.
Willow Smith became a fan of
During an interview with Nnette on Madd Hatta's morning show, on 97.9 The Box in Houston, Willow Smith detailed her love for Tupac, as well as other musicians.
“He was my mom’s his best friend," said Willow, who added that she was fan of Miley Cyrus, Lady
Willow also described meeting Roc Nation CEO Jay-Z for the first time.
“It was really fun," Willow said. "He was really welcoming, and he was funny, supporting and I just felt welcomed.”
Nicki Minaj Launch Her Own Line of Lipstick
Rap star Nicki Minaj has inked a deal with MAC Cosmetics to launch her own line of lipstick called "Pink Friday." The 25-year-old rapper, who just released her debut album Pink Friday, will release her own limited-run on Black Friday (November 26th). Afterwards, the lipstick will only be on sale for three other days: December 3rd, December 10th and December 17th. "MAC's Pink Nouveau was my favorite lipstick for years, but it's all about Pink Friday," Nicki Minaj said in a statement.
'Ugly Betty' Actor Cut Off His Mother's Head With Samurai Sword
"Ugly Betty" and "Step Up 3-D" actor Michael Brea has been accused of murdering his own mother by slicing her head with a 3-foot long samurai sword, TMZ reported. The 31-year-old actor was taken into custody in Brooklyn on Tuesday morning, November 23.
According to the police, Michael cut off the head of his 55-year-old mother Yannick Brea while babbling about religion and repentance in their Brooklyn, New York home. When cops arrived at the scene at around 2:20 A.M., Brea reportedly clutched a bible. Police described the scenes as "extremely bloody."
After using taser to subdue Michael, cops took him to a nearby hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. The site mentioned that Michael will be turned to NYPD once his psychiatric evaluation, which was conducted with a police escort, is complete.
Of the murder, a neighbor shared to WPIX 11, "I hear the brother chasing her (his mother) through the house and he's just saying a bunch of (Bible) passages like, 'Repent, Repent, Repent'. I heard him chasing her through the house and I hear a loud scream and so I have my father call the cops, call 911."
Furthermore, 52-year-old Clinton Clare who lived in the apartment below the Brea family said, as quoted by Daily Mail, "I could hear her groaning inside... She was still alive, but they wouldn't go in." Another neighbor who lived in the apartment above, Vernal Bent, added, "I heard a 'Help me!' shriek. Police kept knocking on the door. Knocking and knocking... All of us kept saying, 'Open the door'."
Neighbors said that it took almost an hour for police to break into the room despite reportedly getting permission from the landlords to break the door down. "They just kept saying protocol this and protocol that. Now a woman's dead who should be alive if only the police would have listened," Gregory Clare, whose father owns the building, said. "It would have made a big difference. I think Miss Brea would still be here."
Meanwhile, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly stated that officers had handled the situation properly. "When they're in a barricade situation, responding patrol officers, if possible, wait for emergency service officers to come," said the commissioner.
Nov 24, 2010
Biography On Jay-Z To Be Released Next Year
Penguin Group to release Jay-Z biography written by Forbes' Zack O'Malley Greenburg next year.
Only days after the release of Jay-Z and writer Dream Hampton’s Decoded publishing company Penguin Group has announced that they will be releasing a biography of their own on the famed rapper.XXLMag reports that the biography, which will be titled Empire State Of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner To Corner Office, will be released early next year.
Empire State Of Mind will include interviews from Damon Dash, Fred “Fab 5 Freddy” Brathwaite, Questlove, and more; the book was written by Forbes magazine’s Zack O’Malley Greenburg.
It is unclear how much input Jay-Z had in the book, if any. Consisting of a little over 200 pages Empire State Of Mind will chronicle everything from Jay-Z’s days at Marcy Projects to his current success as a businessman and Hip Hop mogul.
Empire State Of Mind is scheduled to be released on March 17, 2011.
Mos Def To Do Storytelling Appearances For Tolerance, Respect & Unity
The emcee and spoken word artist returns to his craft next month with performances devoted to improving cultural communications.
Mos Def will join four other oral storytellers in 10-minute segments. The tour will stop in New Orleans, New York City, Chicago, Denver and Seattle. The tour will begin next month.
This year, the Black Star emcee appeared on albums from Reflection Eternal and Curren$y, in addition to working with Kanye West.
Rick Ross To Perform At MTV African Music Awards in Nigeria
The Boss crosses the ocean to next month's Lagos, Nigeria awards ceremony, reportedly being his first trip.
The event will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, and marks Rick Ross' reported first trip to the continent of Africa.
The full nominations and performances are available at MTV Base's website.
This summer, Rick Ross released Teflon Don on Def Jam Records.
Nick Cannon Talks Going Broke At 19, Says Will Smith Tried To Help Him
Actor, comedian, and husband to Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon is speaking on the lessons he's learned on money management.
The new radio host and media company owner says he earned over a million dollars at a young age and went broke before the age of 19.
He tells the Wall Street Journal,
“I became a millionaire and went broke all before the age of 19. I spent it right away and did a lot of frivolous, unintelligent things with the money. I bought jewelry and Range Rovers… instead of buying property I was leasing the most expensive property, and then you turn around and you owe the government 44% of what you made and you don't understand that, even when people you tell that.”According to Cannon, one of his friends and mentors, Will Smith, tried to warn him about the dangers of frivolous spending but he opted not to listen.
“One of those who was a mentor to me at that young age and opened a lot of doors was Will Smith. I remember when I was going to buy the Range Rover he said, ‘Man, don't go buy that, you don't need that.'
“He was someone who made $1 million and lost it at a young age, so you got to pay attention to the people who came before you.”He also offers advice to fans who might find themselves in a similar situation,
“I would encourage people who do get a little bit of money to save it and invest it and hold on to it. And make sure you pay your taxes.”
Video: Black Eyed Peas – ‘The Time (Dirty Bit)’
The Black Eyed Peas get digitized on the dance floor in the Rich Lee-directed video for “The Time (Dirty Bit),” the first single from their new album The Beginning, due next week. Will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap, and Taboo rock to the beat, while their 8-bit characters come to life. Join the pixelated party below.
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