Jay-Z Splits with Def Jam
We knew Jay-Z was a business, man, but settling a label contract over a coin flip? Now that's serious business. News of the separation between Hova and Def Jam hit the streets Thursday, when Jay spoke to RapRadar.com and confirmed that he would indeed be leaving his label of almost a decade.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsYou Talkin' to Me? A Survey of Songs by Musicians, About Other Musicians
It's nice when musicians sing songs about other musicians. The phenomenon would seem to compound the sense that pop stars are only interested in their own insular world, but instead it somehow makes artists seem more human—it proves that even they are obsessed with other musicians, just like we are. Hearing a pop song by one artist about another artist is sort of like reading someone else's fan mail (or hate mail). In any case, it can be revealing both about the artist giving the tribute and the artist on the receiving end. Here are some good ones.... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayCatching Up With... Lady Sovereign
On New Year's Eve of 2007, Lady Sovereign towered onscreen over a million people in Times Square. The giant billboard image would dwarf anyone, but Louise Harman's five-foot one-inch frame... read more
Found in: Music, FeaturesDef Jam preps 2LP comp for anniversary, Record Store Day
Hip-hop is in a collaborative frenzy right now. Nearly every big-name release has a small horde of featured artists, and producers and emcees are passed around the studios like so many communion chalices. Even so, uniting an entire label's best and brightest is no mean feat, since so many titanic egos would have to play nice to squeeze onto a single album. Def Jam, rap mecca that it is, is artfully sidestepping this problem by releasing a double-vinyl compilation in celebration of the label's 25th anniversary. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsA Survey of Rap Songs About Telecommunications
This Soulja Boy song is very popular right now. It's a horrible song, almost horrible enough to make you think that rap songs about telecommunications are, across the board, a bad idea. Not true! Just to be sure Soulja Boy doesn't ruin it for everyone, here are 10 better hip-hop tracks about the world of telephonic communication: ... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayA Musical Guide to Inauguration Weekend
In less than a week, the new guy finally gets his chance to save our republic. So cue the music! If you're heading into Washington for the festivities, here's a rundown on 10 shows worth catching.... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayColdplay remixes with Jay-Z, schedules Prospekt EP
Coldplay fans almost have to consider themselves spoiled rotten, given the band's announcement of a new EP just months after its latest, Viva La Vida. Chris Martin and crew have finally locked in a release date for said EP, Prospekt's March: Nov. 25. And that's not all: just two weeks prior, on Nov. 10, the band will digitally release a four-track version of its Viva La Vida song "Lost!," including one remix featuring Jay-Z.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsJay-Z's Blueprint 3 to hit stores Dec. 2?
It's turning out to be quite the season for hip-hop lovers. T.I.'s Paper Trail was released Tuesday, Missy Elliott's much-delayed Block Party will (hopefully) finally hit Nov. 11, Kanye West has moved up his new album to "sometime in November," 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct debuts Dec. 9, and now Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 record is rumored to drop Dec. 2. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsThe 10 Best Hip-Hop Songs VH1 Forgot
VH1 just announced the “100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Ever!!!” and the list isn’t terrible. It’s actually pretty good. They have Public Enemy's “Fight The Power” in the right place (# 1), they identified the best Notorious B.I.G. song (“Juicy”) and, apart from the egregious inclusion of Coolio (at #38 with the horrendous “Gangsta’s Paradise”), they don’t have a lot of embarrassing inclusions. But they did forget some amazing tracks. Here, in 10 words or less, we make the case for the 10 best hip-hop songs VH1 forgot. They may not trump “Fight They Power,” but they’re all better than anything... read more
Found in: Blogs, Ctrl-VNew Kanye West, Jay-Z albums to drop in December?
The end of the year just got a whole lot more interesting. Surprising fans and critics alike, word has leaked that Kanye West is allegedly preparing to release his fourth album in December. In fact, a lead single, entitled "Love Lockdown," will supposedly hit iTunes sometime next week (perhaps as early as Monday). ... read more
Found in: Music, News
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