Thursday, February 17, 2011
Nicki Minaj stops collaborating
Nicki Minaj will only consider collaborating with Britney Spears.
The 26-year-old rapper - who has starred on tracks by Kanye West, Rihanna and Drake and Sean Kingston - has vowed to stop guesting on other people's songs while she firmly establishes herself among the music industry.
She told website Hip Hollywood: "I'm done with collabs. No more collabs for the next two years. Although - Britney's a snatch like me and she's cute. Yes. We might do something."
The Trinidad-born star has also recently picked out her collaboration with Barbadian singer Rihanna - entitled 'Fly', from her debut album 'Pink Friday' - as one of her favourites because of the strong message it sends.
Nicki added: "I wanted to work with Rihanna for a long time. I'm very proud of her accomplishments; especially since she was born on an island like me.
"This song is a female empowerment song. But then again, it's not specific to just women. It speaks about flying, soaring high in the face of every single solitary adversity that comes your way."
Source
Kanye West to Join Rihanna at Halftime of NBA All-Star Game
Last week, Rihanna was announced as the halftime performer for the 60th NBA All-Star Game, but according to sports blog Deadspin, Kanye West is also scheduled to give a "surprise" performance during the show.
An unnamed tipster let it spill that Kanye will join Rihanna on stage to deliver his single 'All of the Lights.' The track, which appears on his latest album, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' features vocals from 11 singers, including Elton John, Alicia Keys, Fergie and John Legend. In addition to sharing the stage with Kanye, Rihanna will also perform the singles 'Only Girl (In The World)' and 'What's My Name?' from her recent album 'Loud.'
Lenny Kravitz will be on hand to perform his new single 'Come On Get It' during player introductions, while Melanie Fiona will sing Canada's National Anthem before the game. Keri Hilson, Cee Lo Green and Cali Swag District are also among the scheduled performers at the 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities.
The NBA All-Star Game tips off on Sunday (Feb. 20) in Los Angeles at 5PM PST.
Source
Kanye West, Mary J Blige for Essence Fest
Kanye West and Mary J Blige are to headline the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, it has been announced.
The AP reports that Blige and West will be among more than 20 artists who will perform during the three-day event in July.
The expanded lineup includes 'Bottoms Up' singer Trey Songz, Boyz II Men, Macy Gray and American Idol's third season winner Fantasia Barrino.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic are scheduled to make a rare stage appearance as well.
The festival will also highlight several local New Orleans musicians such as Irma Thomas, the Charmaine Neville Band and Rebirth Brass Band.
The annual concert series has been held each summer since 1995 as a celebration of African-American culture and is sponsored by Essence magazine.
The 2011 Essence Music Festival is to be held from July 1 to July 3 at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Source
“S&M” becomes Rihanna’s 18th Top 10 hit in the US
Rihanna’s “S&M” vaults into Billboard’s Hot 100′s top 10 (33-8) as the chart’s Digital Gainer for a second consecutive week, rocketing 20-7 on Digital Songs (145,000, up 93%). The song concurrently charges 57-37 on Radio Songs (30 million, up 33%).
“S&M” is Rihanna’s 18th top 10 hit in the United States! She’s just behind (females only) Madonna (37), Mariah Carey (27), Janet Jackson (23) and Whitney Houston (23).
List of Rihanna’s top 10 entries in the US:
* Pon De Replay (#2);
* SOS (#1);
* Unfaithful (#6);
* Break It Off (#9);
* Umbrella (#1);
* Hate That I Love You (#7);
* Don’t Stop The Music (#3);
* Take A Bow (#1);
* Disturbia (#1);
* Live Your Life (#1);
* Run This Town (#2);
* Russian Roulette (#9);
* Hard (#8);
* Rude Boy (#1);
* Love The Way You Lie (#1);
* Only Girl (#1);
* What’s My Name (#1);
* S&M (#8).
Source
Florence Welch has revealed the new Florence and the Machine album is inspired by light and the “intensity” of heaven and hell
Florence and the Machine’s next album is inspired by the “intensity” of heaven and hell.
Singer Florence Welch admits the first music she fell in love with were the hymns she sung at school, and though she is not a religious person, she is fascinated by the themes they explore.
She said: "I went to Catholic school, and the first songs I remember liking were hymns. I find it's nice to mix the mundane and the magical, the irrelevant with the huge themes. Sex, love, death, marriage, guilt — mix that with seeing a huge sky or going for a walk or turning the page of a book. Living is dealing with the everyday and the notion that you're going to die.
"I don't think of myself as religious, but on the next album I'm moving toward the intensity and passion of heaven and hell, revelation and retribution, that kind of battle. The first album was more about flesh. This is about light."
The 24-year-old ‘Dog Days are Over’ hitmaker is nominated for a Grammy award this year for Best New Artist alongside Drake, Justin Bieber, Mumford & Sons, and Esperanza Spelding and Florence admits she is astonished to be in the running.
She added in an interview with USA Today newspaper: “I feel relatively unknown in America, so I can't quite believe it. It's such an iconic award. Drake is a good friend, and that's what's important. There's no competition. When you take away the glamour and have a chat about your families, you find out you're going through the same situations. He's a real sweetheart. If he wins, I'd be over the moon."
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