HEADLINES
Lil Wayne: "I Didn't Step on the Flag on Purpose"
Facebook.com/LilWayneLil Wayne is responding to outrage over a behind-the-scenes clip that shows him stepping on the American flag, during the making of his "God Bless Amerika" music video. "I didn't step on the flag on purpose!" Wayne says in a tweet, about a behind-the-scenes clip captured during the film shoot. "It's a scene in a video where the flag drops behind me and after it [drops] it's just there as I perform."
In a Facebook post, Wayne
...Read moreMariah Carey Album Title Confirmed as "The Art of Letting Go"
Facebook.com/MariahCareyWalmart.com seemed to have inadvertently revealed the title of Mariah Carey's new album a few days ago when it listed the disc for sale under the name The Art of Letting Go. Turns out that is indeed the album's title, as confirmed by Mariah's longtime collaborator and producer, Jermaine Dupri.
On Monday, Jermaine tweeted, "Mariah Carey, July 23: The Art of Letting Go. The new album will be available for all the lambs on July 23."
The Art
...Read moreJohn Legend Joining Service Leaders in Washington D.C.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images via ABCJohn Legend is heading to Washington D.C. this week for the 21st annual Conference on Volunteering and Service. He'll join volunteer, national service and civic leaders at an event Thursday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
John is set to perform during America's Sunday Supper, sponsored by Target. The evening will include a conversation on ways communities can come together to ensure better education opportunities for the country's youngsters.
The
...Read moreMario's "Somebody Else" Music Video on the Way
Facebook.com/MarioMario's "Somebody Else" music video is on the way. A behind the scenes clip shows Mario on set, where he welcomes the song's featured guest Nicki Minaj, who shows up for the shoot despite bad weather.
"You made it through the rain and all that?" Mario says, as he presents Nicki with a gift bag -- a token of his appreciation. Not only do the pair work together in front of the camera, but they also give their feedback on the playback.
Mario hasn't shared the details of his "Somebody Else" music video but one Twitter user has
...Read moreJay-Z & Beyonce Celebrate 10th Anniversary of 40/40 Club
Johnny Nunez/WireImageJay-Z and Beyonce held court last night at the 10th anniversary of Jay's 40/40 Club. It's the same club he rapped about on the Black Album's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," throwing in a line in the 2003 song that he was chilling "at the 40/40 Club, ESPN on the screen."
Little had changed Monday night in New York City. Taking a break from her Mrs. World Carter Tour, Beyonce -- wearing a white Roberto Cavalli dress and bone-straight hair -- sat next to her hubby while sipping champagne, laughing with friends and watching the oversized LED screens lighting the luxury sports bar. Instead of being
...Read moreUsher Headlining Festival Alongside Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Erykah Badu & More
Saccenti/RCA RecordsUsher has joined the star-studded lineup for the 4th Annual Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival. The headliners already include Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, The Roots, Erykah Badu and Raphael Saadiq.
The music showcase takes place on August 30 and 31, and tickets are on sale now. The two-day festival features a mix of jazz, blues, pop, soul, rock, Latin and gospel, with various free concerts and events happening around the island.
"The
...Read moreDrake Talks Sex, Criticism and Chris Brown in "GQ" Cover Story
Photo courtesy of Drake via InstagramWhether he's rapping or singing about dating strippers or drunk-dialing an ex, Drake comes off as more of a lover than a fighter. But in the cover story for GQ's July 2013 issues, the rapper says he's been feeling a bit like a boxer in training -- but you probably won't guess why.
Drizzy, who's prepping his new Nothing Was the Same album, says he's been laying off getting laid. He says, "You know the way fighters don't f**k before the fight? Sometimes I feel like I'm so focused on training my body and getting my mind right to create this album that sex isn't one of my main
...Read moreLil Wayne Filmed Walking on American Flag; Expected Fallout Ensues
Facebook.com/LilWayneTwo weeks before Independence Day, Lil Wayne has caused a stir by walking on an American flag while shooting a music video.
In a minute-long clip posted to YouTube, Wayne is seen stepping on the flag while reportedly working on a video for his song "God Bless Amerika." Its lyrics include, "My country ‘tis of thee/sweet land of kill ‘em all and let ‘em die/God bless Amerika/This ole' godless Amerika."
Lil Wayne's Facebook page features a post that directs visitors to the
...Read moreBeyonce Congratulates Kanye & Kim on Their "Beautiful Moment"
IAmBeyonce.comIt's probably too soon to schedule a playdate for Blue Ivy and Baby Kimye, but nevertheless Beyonce has taken to her website with a special message for new parents Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
"CONGRATULATIONS KIM & KANYE, ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT TOGETHER," reads Bey's message, which she posted along with a photo of the couple smiling at each other courtside.
Kanye and Kim's baby girl arrived Saturday morning at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. It's
...Read moreJay-Z Rolls Out the "#Newrules" via Twitter
You've probably heard that "If a tree falls in a forest..." thing, but here's another philosophical thought to ponder: "If 1 Million records gets SOLD and billboard doesnt report it, did it happen?"
It's just one of a handful of messages Jay-Z shared with Twitter users, who've been keeping an eye on his timeline since Sunday night when he announced via a three-minute Samsung commercial that his album, titled Magna Carta Holy Grail, is coming July 4.
Jay's tweet on Monday about already selling one million copies of the album refers to the fact that Magna Carta Holy Grail will be made available for free to the first one million owners of Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S 4 and Galaxy Note II phones who access it via the Magna Carta app. The cost is
...Read moreChris Brown Unites Street Gangs; Dances with Aaliyah
Facebook.com/ChrisBrownChris Brown has made some missteps over the years, getting in fights and reportedly using homophobic slurs. But Chris is putting all that behind him, launching his Unity campaign, which includes a just-released music video for his song "Don't Think They Know" featuring Aaliyah.
The clip opens with a startling statistic, "Every two hours in America today a child dies of a gunshot wound." Then there's a message from Chris, "Unity is what we are afraid of so fear is insanity, [let's] love each other." He signs
...Read moreHas Mariah Carey's Album Title Been Revealed?
Facebook.com/MariahCareyMariah Carey's album titles used to be one word, but in recent years, they've been getting more complex, such as The Emancipation of Mimi and Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. And it appears that the title of her forthcoming album, due July 23, may continue that trend.
A listing for the album on Walmart.com has the title as The Art of Letting Go, but
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Facebook.com/MariahCareyMariah Carey's album titles used to be one word, but in recent years, they've been getting more complex, such as The Emancipation of Mimi and Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. And it appears that the title of her forthcoming album, due July 23, may continue that trend.
A listing for the album on Walmart.com has the title as The Art of Letting Go, but
Estelle's "Love & Happiness" EP Series On the Way
Facebook.com/EstelleEstelle has apparently been busy in the studio, and in addition to her latest song "Call These Boys," she has a special project on the way. It's a new three-part EP series titled Love & Happiness.
Each installment is named for a romantic classic. For instance, volume 1 is titled Love Jones, and it's available for free download from Estelle's website, starting now. Volume 2 is Waiting to Exhale, and volume 3 is How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Both of those are coming soon.
The Love
...Read moreJohn Legend Is "Made to Love"
Photo courtesy of John via InstagramJohn Legend has announced the next single from his upcoming album Love in the Future. The song is titled "Made to Love," and it's set for release on Tuesday.
A music video for the new track is already in the works, and John has taken to Instagram with photos from the set. The behind-the-scenes pics show him dressed simply -- a contrast to the luxury look he sported in the visual for John's previous single, "Who Do We Think We Are." While filming his "Made to Love" video, John wears just a white
...Read moreDrake Announces Would You Like a Tour? World Tour
OctobersVeryOwn.netWould you like a tour? That's the question's Drake's asking -- and answering -- with the announcement of his Would You Like a Tour? world tour, kicking off this fall in support of his upcoming album, Nothing Was the Same.
Drake will hit the road for a total of 41 North American dates beginning September 25 in Portland, OR, and wrapping November 15 in Los Angeles. The outing includes seven Canadian dates as well. Drake will be backed by Miguel on all of the dates, with Future and other TBA guests also performing guest sets.
You can get your
...Read moreDrake Gets Apology from Amanda Bynes
Photo courtesy Drake via InstagramIt appears that Amanda Bynes has had a change of heart about Drake.
The actress tweeted on Friday, "I'm sorry about the tweets I said about @drake I didn't mean what I said. I hope to become friends with him instead of smashing him!"
Bynes had repeatedly called the rapper "ugly" on Twitter recently. And that was after Bynes tweeted in March that she wanted Drake to perform a sexually-violent act on a certain part of her body.
Drake
...Read moreBeyonce Settles $100 Million Lawsuit Over Video Game
Facebook.com/BeyonceBeyonce can finally put the legal drama with video game maker Gate Five LLC behind her. She's reportedly settled a $100 million lawsuit filed by the company, which accused the singer of bailing on a 2010 deal to create a dance game called Starpower: Beyonce.
That's according to the New York Post, which reports that lawyers for Gate Five say that the two parties have "settled amicably." As previously reported, Gate Five accused Bey of backing out of the deal at the last minute after asking for
...Read moreJay-Z Announces New Album, "Magna Carta Holy Grail," Due Out July 4
Facebook.com/Jay-ZJay-Z made a surprise announcement Sunday night during ABC's telecast of the fifth game of the NBA Finals, between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs.
At the end of the second quarter, ABC aired a three-minute Samsung commercial which dropped the news that Jay is releasing a new album, titled Magna Carta Holy Grail, on July 4.
The ad took viewers behind the scenes of Jay's recording sessions with Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz and super-producer Rick Rubin. At one point, he reflects, "The album is about, it's like this duality
...Read moreUsher Battles Usher in New "Looking 4 Myself"-Inspired Digital Film
Facebook.com/SamsungTVImagine a world where there's not just one Usher, but two! It's a reality in a new digital short film inspired by the title track from Usher's Looking 4 Myself album. The new video is the product of a collaboration between Usher, Samsung Smart TV and digital agency Huge.
The action-packed flick begins in a swanky apartment, high above the city, where the "down-to-earth" version of Usher flips through pictures of himself and the woman he loves. The cool part is that Usher doesn't need a conventional remote to go from one photo to the next. Instead, the Samsung Smart TV technology allows
...Read moreKanye West & Kim Kardashian Welcome Baby Girl
Mike Marsland/WireImageBaby "Kimye" is here. E! Online reports that Kim Kardashian gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday morning at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The daddy, of course, is Kim's boyfriend, Kanye West. It's the first child for both stars. A source confirms the arrival to ABC News, adding that Kanye was by Kim's side during the birth.
The baby, whose name has not yet been revealed, has two cousins on the Kardashian
...Read moreKelly Gives It Another Go with Beyonce & Michelle
KellyRowland.comMaybe it's not an official Destiny's Child release, but Kelly Rowland's Talk a Good Game song "You Changed" proves that the trio still has musical chemistry. A full version of the Beyonce and Michelle Williams-assisted song has arrived online, and it features the ladies in familiar form.
"Ladies, y'all wanna do it again?... " Kelly says, before giving her pals Bey and Michelle the opportunity to show off their vocals. Kelly handles the song's first verse though, kicking a bum boyfriend to the curb when he tries to straighten up his act after she's already
...Read moreMichelle Williams Teases New Song; Working on Album
IAmMichelle.comBeyonce and Kelly Rowland aren't the only Destiny's Child stars with new albums on the way. Michelle Williams is also working on something, and in a message on her website, the singer says she can't wait for fans to "experience" her new project.
The first single off Michelle's upcoming set is "If We Had Your Eyes," which will be available June 24. "If you had his eyes, what are some things you would like to see? Think about it. Luv ya :)," writes Michelle.
The singer
...Read moreAlicia Keys Considers a Music Career for Her Son, Egypt
Mario Tama/Getty ImagesAlicia Keys was just four when she appeared on The Cosby Show, and when she was around 14, that's when she linked up with her longtime manager Jeff Robinson. But, quite frankly, when Alicia thinks of her 2-year-old son, Egypt, deciding to break into the music business a decade or so from now, she's kinda freaked out.
She jokingly shrieked at the idea when it was suggested by a reporter for the U.K.'s London Evening Standard.
...Read moreRobin Thicke Reveals the Official Release Date of "Blurred Lines"
RobinThicke.comRobin Thicke's Blurred Lines album finally has an official release date. It's July 30 in the U.S., though fans across the pond may get their hands on the project as early as July 8, according to the U.K.'s Metro.
This is a big week for Robin, who says in a statement that he's "absolutely thrilled" that the title track from Blurred Lines has rocketed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It's the singer's first-ever
...Read moreMC Lyte Introduces the "Hip Hop Sisters"; Kirk Franklin Exec Produces "Gone Gospel"
Photo courtesy of MC Lyte on FacebookR&B Divas has reconnected fans with some of their favorite singers, and a new show called Hip Hop Sisters may do the same for rap fans. The series catches up with MC Lyte, The Lady of Rage, Yo Yo, Smooth, Monie Love and Lil Mama, according to EURWeb.com.
The BET docu-drama follows along as the rappers each work to relaunch their personal music careers and re-establish themselves
...Read moreDid Supposed Rihanna-Ciara Beef Hurt the Future of "Loveeeeeee Song"?
The SourceRihanna's "Loveeeeeee Song" featuring Future is a definite radio hit -- so much so that you might have wondered why there's no visual for the track. If so, then you're not alone -- Future's not sure why he and Rih haven't shot a clip for the Unapologetic single, and he wonders if that has something to do with the supposed beef between Rihanna and his girlfriend, Ciara.
"We never shot a video, we never performed it. I don't know whether it was because of that situation or if just the time hasn't come up," Future says in his June/July 2013 cover story for
...Read moreKelly Price: "I'm Too Fat for Fame"
Facebook.com/KellyPriceFansTalent comes in all shapes and sizes, but Kelly Price says that the entertainment industry tries to put a weight limit on its stars. "Hi, I'm Kelly Price, and I'm too fat for fame -- well, at least that's what they told me and they're still telling me that now," the singer reveals in a video clip, announcing casting calls for her new show Too Fat for Fame.
Kelly, whose dramatic weight loss made headlines a few years ago, says that she still doesn't fit industry standards after dropping several dress sizes. But Kelly wants to change the game. "If you're too fat for fame, I'm looking for
...Read moreJohn Legend Wouldn't Mind Being a "Little More Tortured"
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images via ABCIt's been said that great art is often born out of pain, which is why John Legend says a little more struggle in his life would probably do good for his music. An interviewer for the U.K. newspaper the Guardian compared John to his vocal hero Marvin Gaye, but noted "unlike Gaye, you don't seem tortured," which is when John joked, "I sometimes wish I was a little more tortured. Maybe it would make me even more interesting as an artist."
What's kept John from being tormented
...Read moreAlicia Keys Premieres Her "Tears Always Win" Music Video
Photo Courtesy of A. Keys on TwitterIf you follow Alicia Keys on Twitter, then you've probably seen her blowing kisses in the mirror, all while dressed in a strapless leotard, sky-high headdress and elbow-length gloves. As it turns out, Alicia hasn't joined a chorus line -- at least not in real life.
She does however, take on the role in her new "Tears Always Win" music video. "A day in the life of a girl on the grind!" Alicia
...Read moreAnonymous Decency Crusaders Cover Up Topless Rihanna Billboards in Ireland
Image Courtesy Charlene Lydon via TwitterRihanna has been selling out stadiums across Europe, but not everyone seems to be down with the billboards advertising her concerts. Some anonymous folks in Ireland have been doing their own censorship job on the billboards, apparently because they object to the singer's racy photo.
Britain's Metro reports that the tour billboards depict Ri-Ri in a pose similar to the one the strikes on the cover of her album Unapologetic:
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