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Thursday, August 12, 2010
Drake & Nicki Minaj Added to VMA Lineup
Young Money will take over MTV at this year’s Video Music Awards. Drake and Nicki Minaj have been added to the award show lineup.
MTV announced the first round of performers and presenters for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The 27th annual event will mark the first VMA performance by Drake, who is nominated for two awards including Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video.
His Young Money cohort Nicki Minaj, a first-time nominee for Best New Artist, is set to present, along with Trey Songz, Ne-Yo, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, and Selena Gomez.
The network also confirmed Kanye West’s return to the VMA stage following last year’s show-stealing moment. He will perform material from his fifth album, due November 16.
The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. MTV will announce additional performers, presenters, and a host on a later date.
Bun B Calls On Drake For "Trill O.G." Promo, "It's Always A Good Thing When Me & The Young Boy Get Together"
UGK's Bun B recently talked about his chemistry with Drake and why he hopes to call in the Young Money rap star to help shoot visuals for their Trill O.G. collaboration, "Put It Down."
Bun said he was satisfied that their record was able to live up to the hype.
"Definitely look for some visuals for 'Put It Down' in the future," Bun said in an interview. "As well as 'It's Been a Pleasure.' We're gonna try to put out a visual for as much of Trill O.G. as we can...It's very hard to live up to the hype the people create for things nowadays; luckily, this song did. 'Cause a lot of time, people build something up, and it's almost impossible to match up to that. In this case, it matched up to it. And the fact that the other song, 'It's Been a Pleasure,' is on it, as well, you get two for two. It's always a good thing when me and the young boy get together. It's special music. That's how I feel, and I think that's how Drizzy feels."
The rapper's Trill O.G. debuted within the sales charts this week.
Bun B's Trill O.G. debuted on the chart this week at No. 4. After seven days in stores, the rapper's latest disc, which The Source rated classic (5-mics), has pushed out 40,800 records.
Bun's new album was recently awarded a five-mic classic by The Source magazine.
"For every album labeled a classic, there are dozens of others that people feel deserve the honor. So I realize that people now feel they have to place my album next to others that they feel were more impactful, and argue their case. With social networking being as prevalent as it is in our society, these arguments now take place in a very public arena, which in order to be heard, you often have to be very opinionated and abrasive to stand out. So people, while having no personal hate or malice towards me, will make very loud arguments about The Source's decision, and the loudest ones will probably get the most attention...Having said all this, it is with great honor and admiration that I humbly accept this esteemed declaration from the Source Magazine and it's staff for my album Trill OG, and for those that feel they need to sh*t on me to argue for another artist or album, don't worry. The Trill OGcan take it! UGK for life!"
Recently, Bun defended Drake's R&B talent and called it a gift, not a curse.
"I don't know what they are talking about personally because if you are saying that then that means you are trying to say that people like T.J. Swan, Slick Rick and Biz Markie are not hip-hop. Come on... all of those guys sung on their songs. Singing in hip-hop is nothing new. We've always had people that incorporated singing in their raps. And believe me, if MC's could sing, they wouldn't get singers to sing on their albums."
Listen to Bun B & Drake's "Put It Down" down below:
B.o.B. Defends Charles Hamilton's Mental Health, "He's Not Crazy"
Grand Hustle's B.o.B. has stepped forward to discuss the mental health of fellow rapper Charles Hamilton after his recent stay in a psychiatric facility.
According to B.o.B., all musicians are constantly exploring themselves and music.
"You have to understand... Charles Hamilton is not crazy," says B.o.B of his longtime ally. "He was in a place of extreme possibilities music-wise. He has not veered in on the reality that he wants to create. As with all artists, if we were astronauts we would be on Pluto [laughs]. We dance on the line of insanity. We really do. If you look at some of the greatest artists in history, they were really out there. It's like that movie Inception. If you don't keep something like a totem to keep you remembering who you are, you'll get lost...Charles and I are cool. I talk to him a lot. He's always discovering himself, putting his experiences into his music."
Last October, B.o.B. offered some words of encouragement to the troubled rapper.
"You know, he actually gave some good advice on ['Change Gon' Come]," B.o.B. said about their past collaboration. "He was like, 'How do you change what was written/Don't pull into mind what they mention,' and I would tell him that. I would just tell him to continue to be positive because positivity can override anything -- even the worse sh*t that happened -- even death. You know positivity is positive. You could make positive out of anything. Actually, when you think about the type of inspiration it takes to make a song, he's in a great position. Because as an artist, when everything is going great, then you're just on cruises, and you're on vacation, and you don't want to make a song. You just want to relax. It's always when something bad happens, that's when you're inspired. I definitely wouldn't be surprised to see Charles Hamilton coming out bangin'. [laughs]"
Prior to reportedly being released last week, Hamilton explained his decision to seek medical help in late July.
"Basically my stay here [NY Presbyterian Mental Hospital] is like identical to my stay in the industry. As far as being the new guy in here having to deal with politics & people trying to control you. The critics would have to be the doctors and the rounds [medicine guys]. So you can say this is like an experiment to see if the industry is really like an asylum or if I was the one bugging. Some say the Industry is like High School but it's just like a [mental hospital]."
Recently, the rapper spoke on finding new life and interest in music.
"While all this is going on, I'm on a very serious spiritual journey," Hamilton revealed in an interview. "Everything that is to come, is TBA (to be announced) because, like, what it all boils down to is, if I'm not satisfied with who I look at in the mirror, both as an artist and as a public figure, you're just not gonna see me. So interviews and everything, I love them, this is great, the spotlight is great...this time out, I'm letting everybody know, because I take music and art so serious, there's a chance I'll be scarce just to get music and I feel like I needed to say that now. The projects aren't TBA, it's just how long I'm gonna be in the limelight and this isn't to sound like I'm threatening to leave or trying to stay or anything like that, there's a bigger picture and a lot of artists hit this crossroads -- I'm so dedicated to my art that we'll talk about any project it's just that I need to make sure I'm right, within, first and that goes out to any and every aspiring artist or whatever it is that you do. Make sure you are right, within, before yougo out and say that music or your art form -- this experience is a lot bigger for me than selling some records and performing in front of a crowd."
Check out some recent Charles Hamilton footage down below:
YRB TV: Charles Hamilton (Part 1) from YRB Magazine on Vimeo.
Kanye West Confirms Amber Rose Break-Up, "That Was A One-Off" [Audio]
Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West has confirmed recent speculation that his relationship with girlfriend Amber Rose has finally come to an end.
Speaking with New York radio host Angie Martinez, West opened up about his two-year run with Rose.
"Yeah man, it was an amazing time and it came to an end," West said. "One of the greatest things that she showed me was just to be a nicer person because she was so disconnected from the concept of celebrity when I first met her...A celebrity could be talking to people crazy and everyone's used to it at the label like, 'He's wildin' out. It doesn't matter.' [Amber] be like, 'What?! You just talked to your fans so crazy right now. I'm not even talking to you right now.' ... I grew from that. I think that was the greatest growth that I got from that experience...My goal in life is to really have an amazing woman and have a family, but I think I had to go through these different things to grow...That was a one-off...I'm not trying to dive into anything unless I really, really think that I can marry this person. I look at this person and I say, 'This is how I want my daughter to be.'"
Details on their break-up hit the Internet in early July.
"They are still good friends," a source tells Us. "Kanye is consumed with recording his comeback record in Hawaii and had to shut it all off. When he's in work mode, he can't handle a relationship. He told Amber he needs to devote everything right now to his craft.... I wouldn't say it's over for good [for West and Rose.] It's always off-and-on when it's convenient for these two. He doesn't go out anymore and she loves it, so he lets her."
Rose is currently being linked with reality star Kim Kardashian's ex-boyfriend Reggie Bush.
Football star Reggie Bush reportedly has a new tight end. The Saints running back and ex-flame of Kim Kardashian was spotted getting cozy with Kanye West's former gal pal Amber Rose at AXE Lounge in Southampton over the weekend. "They even took bathroom breaks together," reported PerezHilton.com
Rose recently discussed her admiration for West.
"Honestly, Kanye saved my life, and I don't even think about what I would have been. I just think about what I'm going be,'" she said in an interview. "I don't look at myself as [a celebrity]. I'm just a dope chick from South Philly! I mean, it's crazy when fans come up to me and cry and just want a hug from me.'"
Check out Kanye West's interview with Angie Martinez down below:
Soulja Boy Breaks Lock Into Film Industry, "I Wanna Do A Movie That's My Legacy"
Rapper Soulja Boy Tell Em has announced plans to link with actor/rapper Nick Canon for an upcoming film and reasoned why he wants to make a run at Hollywood.
According to Soulja Boy, his life story is still awaiting a big screen release.
"Me and Nick Cannon have been talking back and forth for, like, the last year about a movie idea," Soulja Boy said in an interview. "I did a movie with him earlier this year with Justin Bieber ['School Gyrls'], and it went straight to Nickelodeon. It was a good movie, but it was mostly for kids. We were talking back and forth, and he wants me to star in a movie that he wrote when he was, like, 17...I want people to know my story. Because a lot of people know Soulja Boy and know my songs, but a lot of people don't know where I'm from or where I came from, how I did it. A lot of people do know, but a movie would paint the picture so much better. I wanna do a movie that's my story, my legacy; what got me here and why I'm still here."
Moving into films, Soulja Boy will face competition from rappers-turned-actors including Ice Cube, 50 Cent and T.I.
The rapper - who made his acting debut in teen drama ATL in 2006 - stars in new crime thriller Takers, which he also executive produced, but doesn't see other rapper-turned-actors such as 50 Cent and Ice Cube as rivals. TI said: "I don't feel any. I don't feel any competition. I don't feel like I'm competing with anyone but myself. If anyone else does feel like that, it must suck to be them. But I don't feel like that."
Earlier this month, Soulja Boy collaborator/friend Bow Wow announced being cast in a new Tyler Perry film.
Bow Wow and Loretta Devine, who are set to appear together in the Warner Bros. comedy, 'Lottery Ticket,' will team up again in Tyler Perry's next film, 'Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family.' Perry will reprise his signature role as Madea Simmons in the film, adapted from his new stage play 'Madea's Happy Family,' which is currently on tour in the U.S. Also added to the film is current 'It' guy and Old Spice commercial pitchman Isaiah Mustafa. Devine and Bow Wow will play mother and son, while Mustafa is cast as the brother-in-law.
As of late, Soulja Boy has been working on a new album called The DeAndre Way.
"Three [beats]," Soulja Boy told radio host Tim Westwood when asked about working with Kanye West on the new album. "They sounding awesome. This album, I'm mostly doing it myself but I got a lot of producers that I'm working with. I'm working with a lot of artists, like even onTwitter. I'll send out blasts like 'Send me beats.' I got a producer called Super Sed in the 'A' that did 'Pronto,' he did 'Pronto' for Snoop Dogg..."
Check out some recent Soulja Boy Tell Em footage down below: