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Happy Birthday, Kanye West!

Posted 6/8/11 12:33 pm EST by in Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

Chicago’s own Kanye Omari West celebrates his 34th birthday today and in a year’s time, the superstar rapper, producer and budding fashion designer has enjoyed unprecedented success – adding to his already lengthy list of accomplishments.

During the first half of 2010, the album everyone was waiting for – the former Good Ass Job – began taking shape as Kanye holed himself up in the island paradise of Hawaii to begin work on what would eventually morph into his epic fifth studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Enlisting a who’s who list of musicians and fellow performers, Kanye’s already outsized personality and vision began to take fruit in the form of his sweeping and critically acclaimed album. Read More...

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Alex Da Kid Inks Deal With Interscope, Skylar Grey Up First

Posted 6/6/11 4:16 pm EST by in Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

The house built by Jimmy Iovine just got a bit bigger via multi-platinum British producer Alex Da Kid. The Grammy award winning producer has inked a deal with Interscope to launch his KIDinaKORNER imprint. Current hook queen and singer/songwriter Skylar Grey is on tap as the label’s first release. Grey has appeared on some of Alex Da Kid’s recent hits including Lupe Fiasco’s “Words I Never Said,” Diddy & Dirty Money’s “Coming Home” and Dr Dre’s “I Need A Doctor.” Read More...

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Lupe Fiasco, Trey Songz Perform At 2011 MTV Movie Awards

Posted 6/5/11 11:21 pm EST by in Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

They may not be Hollywood stars yet but musical acts Lupe Fiasco and Trey Songz delivered a winning performance at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards tonight (June 5) at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.

At tonight’s award show hosted by comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member Jason Sudeikis, Chicago’s Lupe Fiasco performed alongside Virginia’s own Trey Songz for a duet performance of the rapper’s latest single “Out Of My Head” off of his third studio record Lasers. Read More...

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Did Singer Trey Songz Really Invent Sex?

Posted 6/5/11 4:55 pm EST by in Interviews, Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

Like many other confident R&B singers before him, Virginia native Trey Songz may have overstated his physical prowess with his 2009 single “I Invented Sex” which featured fellow heartthrob Drake off his third studio album Ready. However with the deftness of an attorney in court defending a case, the 26-year old Songz artfully dodged his lofty claims of invention in a playful retort to our own Sway.

MTV News caught up with the handsome crooner while he prepped for a performance taking place tonight at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards at 9PM EST at the Gibson Amphitheatre alongside Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco. After confirming that he and Lupe will be shooting a video for their duet “Out Of My Head” off of Lupe’s third album Lasers, the fan of television show Lost was given the scoop by MTV that he’ll be seated next to the show’s creator J.J. Abrams. Read More...

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Ice-T And Coco Renew Vows, Snoop Dogg Looks On

Posted 6/4/11 1:34 pm EST by in Interviews, Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

It was an event to celebrate one of the biggest players and his two times bride. Yesterday evening rapper and actor Ice-T and his smokin' wife Coco renewed their vows on their 10th wedding anniversary with an intimate ceremony at the exquisite W hotel in Hollywood. The married couple were decked out in all white everything, exchanging vows in front of an audience that included family and friends. Ice-T's son, Lil Ice, rapper Snoop Dogg and Bishop Majic Don Juan were also on hand for the ritual. At one point both Snoop and the Bishop saluted Ice, as one of the most successful pimps to take the entertainment industry by storm. Read More...

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Kanye West Reportedly Developing High-End Fashion Line In Paris

Posted 6/3/11 4:01 pm EST by in Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

Already world famous for his rhymes, production, lavish videos and outsized personality, Chicago son Kanye West – who already has a limited run scarf selection available – is now reportedly dipping his toe into full-on fashion design according to an unnamed source to British paper The Telegraph.

The source said that Kanye is working on his new line in a studio in Paris, where one could speculate the superstar will be studying many of the world renowned fashion designers housed in the famous city. The news may not be a bit of a stretch however, as ‘Ye was quite the fixture in “La Ville-Lumière (The City Of Light)” while attending numerous fashion and catwalk shows over the past few months which perhaps inspired the entertainer to undertake this newest foray. Read More...

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Kanye West Pays Respect To Gil Scott-Heron At Memorial

Posted 6/3/11 12:55 pm EST by in Interviews, Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are


[Photo courtesy of:mfeenz.com]

By Rahman J. Dukes

The music industry bid farewell to the one of its most influential stars, poet of all poets and legendary musician, Gil Scott-Heron who was laid to rest yesterday following an emotional, yet celebratory tribute fit for a king. The funeral services held on Thursday at the Harlem Riverside Church for Heron was packed wall to wall consisting mostly of family and friends as well a number of musicians all remembering the man who coined the phrase "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Read More...

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Jay-Z's 40/40, Not Closed, Renovating Location

Posted 6/2/11 4:54 pm EST by in Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

Jay-Z and his entrepreneurial golden touch continue to shine on even as he shuts down the famous New York location for his high-end sports bar The 40/40 Club – but only temporarily, says the mogul and his business partner in a letter on the club’s website. There have been some reports that said the rap mogul would be closing the club, which have all been debunked.

Yesterday (June 1), Jay-Z and his partner in the 40/40 venture Juan Perez announced in the letter to patrons and supporters of the club that the famous nightspot will undergo a total overhaul and facelift spearheaded by globally recognized designer Jeffrey Beers – who names Disney, Miami’s FontaineBleau hotel and the trendy Sanctuary Nightclub with locations in Morocco and Dubai as clients of his Jeffery Beers International deign firm. Read More...

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T-Pain Vows To Put Auto-Tone On Permanent Lock-Down

Posted 6/2/11 3:17 pm EST by in Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

By Gil Kaufman

It's like Superman without his cape, or Flavor Flav without the giant clock. Run-DMC without their Adidas and Kangols, the SW1's without their berets and military gear or Lil Wayne without his braids.

Some things in hip-hop just don't go. Just don't tell T-Pain, because on Thursday (June 2) the "King of the Ringtone" vowed that he was putting up the Auto-Tune for good and never again using the voice-distorting studio trick that made him a Grammy winning superstar.

"I'm done with Auto-Tune," Teddy Pain said in a statement that surely made Jay-Z smile. "I vow right here, right now, to never use Auto-Tune again. I'm onto something that I think is bigger and better called The T-Pain Effect.” Read More...

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Beyoncé Graces The Cover Of Essence, Still Gets ‘Nervous’ Before Shows

Posted 6/2/11 11:33 am EST by in Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

Considered one of the top beauties of the world, R&B diva Beyoncé Knowles is featured on the cover of the July issue of popular publication Essence magazine, which also features an exclusive interview with the Grammy Award winning entertainer. The cover also features an eye-grabbing quote that reads “The Year That Changed My Life” – which could be in reference to any number of things given the former Destiny’s Child lead vocalist’s growing profile over the years.

With her signature blond tresses pinned up away from her face, Beyoncé flashes a million megawatt smile while stretched out on what appears to be a lush field and blanket. The singer sports a simple but flattering white top and accessorizes her look with elaborate neck jewelry and an unique looking silver ring on her right hand. Beyoncé made the Essence cover previously with a feature story in the magazine’s November 2008 issue while promoting her third solo album I Am... Sasha Fierce. Read More...

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