Tag Archives: collab

Album releases: Kid Cudi & Dot Da Genius’ WZRD & Jason Mraz’s live EP out today

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Today is a big day for music fans ’round the world spanning two very different genres. First there’s the long-anticipated release of Kid Cudi’s concept album WZRD, featuring beats by producer Dot Da Genius and guitar riffs by the Rager. The self-titled album can be downloaded digitally at iTunes, or a physical copy can be purchased over at Amazon. Celebrate the release by heading over to Complex and checking out their online cover story that delves deep into the perfect collaboration.

Next up is a taste of what’s to come for fans of the one and only Mr. A-Z. Before dropping his third studio album on April 17, Jason Mraz is releasing a four-track live EP titled Live Is A Four Letter Word and it can be yours today: the digital-only EP is now available on iTunes. The songs were recorded from his performance at Spreckels Theater in San Diego.

Oh happy day.

Watch the Throne tracklist & behind-the-scenes photos

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The Kanye West/Jay-Z collab album is almost upon us, or so we think. Although an official release date has yet to be announced, the rap protege and his apprentice have leaked out the official deluxe tracklist and super-duper behind-the-scenes photos from the making of the album. The album includes 12 tracks and 4 bonus tracks, two of which are the previously outed single “H*A*M” and G.O.O.D. Friday freebie “The Joy”. ‘Ye and Z brought along Frank Ocean for two tracks, and Beyonce, Otis Redding, and fellow G.O.O.D. Music artist Mr Hudson are also featured on the album. Eye the tracklist below:

1. No Church in The Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean)
2. Lift Off (Feat. Beyoncé)
3. Niggas in Paris
4. Otis (Feat. Otis Redding)
5. Gotta Have It
6. New Day
7. Prime Time
8. Who Gon Stop Me
9. Murder to Excellence
10. Welcome to The Jungle
11. Sweet Baby Jesus (Feat. Frank Ocean)
12. Why I Love You (Feat. Mr Hudson)

Bonus
13. Illest Motherfucker Alive
14. H*A*M
15. That’s My Bitch
16. The Joy (Feat. Curtis Mayfield)

Check out the aforementioned photos in the gallery below. Preorder the album here; the rumored drop date remains August 2.

Update: DDotOmen.com has managed to get their hands on full list of production credits for the album. Click here to sneak a peek.

[Via Life+Times]

Kanye West: ‘Watch the Throne’ coming this week?; unreleased track “Eyes Closed” leaks; The Muppets sing “Monster”; and more

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Ever since Kanye West’s magnificent album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy released on November 22, things have been pretty quiet on the West front.  Besides downloading the holiday-themed G.O.O.D. Friday joint “Christmas In Harlem” and watching a leak of the upcoming “Monster” music video hitting the ‘Net, fans have been sitting idly by rocking out to “Dark Fantasy” in anticipation of another major release dubbed Watch the Throne. It’s a collaborative album between rap gods West and his mentor Jay-Z.  Originally ‘Ye billed it as a 5-track EP but after time he admitted enough tracks would be made to consider it a full-length album.  Sweet music to fans’ ears. So what’s all the hub-bub about it spreading around the Internets today?  Well… at a New Years Eve party in Las Vegas West (drunkenly?) announced, “Watch the Throne, coming in one week!”  So what does that mean?  One of two things, in my humble opinion: (1) The album will come out this week (highly unlikely since Ye’s Def Jam record label has not even confirmed its existence); (2) West was referring to a possible lead single called “Watch the Throne” (highly more likely).  I’ve heard whispers that case #2 is the winner, and the album is looking at a March drop.  Whatever the case, though, something is going down soon so be ready.

Update (1/6): Looks like I was right.  Today ‘Ye posted a Twitpic of the elaborately designed lead single artwork and it’s called “H-A-M.”  The track will drop 1/11/11, that’s next Tuesday.

Side note: The New Years Eve party I mentioned earlier… it took place at Las Vegas’ Marquee Nightclub and so many celebrities made an appearance.  Besides ‘Ye and Jay Z, Rihanna, Diddy, 50 Cent, J. Lo and many others enjoyed the night’s festivities. Click here to browse through a gallery of hi-res photos from the party.  And look after the break to watch some videos from it (one includes ‘Ye screaming the “one week” announcement).

Next up is an unreleased track featuring vocals from West and John Legend.  “Eyes Closed” made its rounds today, spreading like wildfire in an unfortunately tagged now tagless version.  Sources say the track was originally intended to be included on Twisted Fantasy but in the end it didn’t make the cut.  Rumor has it that the West-produced beat will be handed off to Snoop Dogg who will use it (with Legend in tact) for his upcoming record Doggumentary Music, due out March 8.  Preview and download the track below.  If the lyrics sound familiar to you that’s because you’ve heard that before in the BET Cypher video and West’s “Dark Fantasy” track.

Download: Kanye West – “Eyes Closed”

[audio: Kanye West – Eyes Closed.mp3]

This news bit is short but sweet.  Over at Amazon you’ll find a preorder page hyping a “G.O.O.D. Friday [Import]” audio CD.  Is West prepping an album to publicize his free G.O.O.D. Friday tracks?  There better be some bonus tracks or slick artwork and packaging or what’s the point?

Two more things.  Today two video cropped out that are West-related must-sees.  The first features classical vocalist Josh Groban belting out Kanye West tweets, and the other is a Muppets mashup of the Twisted Fantasy track “Monster”.  Yes, Piggie Minaj makes an appearance.  Watch the videos after the break. Continue reading Kanye West: ‘Watch the Throne’ coming this week?; unreleased track “Eyes Closed” leaks; The Muppets sing “Monster”; and more →

Kanye West x Jay-Z EP ‘Watch the Throne’ is now a full length album

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Told you the Kanye West news was far from over.  In an interview with MTV, Kanye West revealed that the upcoming collab EP with big brother Jay-Z will in fact be a full length album.  ‘Ye said, “We did like five [songs] so far, and then a few of them kind of were out there, and I put them on my album. Sorry, Jay!”  He’s most definitely talking about G.O.O.D. Friday turned My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy tracks “Monster” (Featuring Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver) and “So Appalled” (Featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & CyHi Da Prynce).  West continued, “But we’ve got some more, and we’re going to the south of France at the end of this month just to record our ideas.”  See Kanye fans?  Fantasy may contain a bunch of songs we’ve already heard, but ‘Ye and Jay-Z have many more tunes up their sleeves.  Looking forward to it.

[Via MTV; EW]

Elton John hints at collaboration with Matthew Morrison

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Earlier this year Glee star Matthew Morrison revealed plans to produce a debut album with Mercury Records.  The album, which he promises will pack lots of “substance” and draw inspiration from Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis, Jr, will be graced with the talented Elton John.  The source of this exciting news?  Elton John himself!  “I’m supposed to be doing something with Matthew Morrison for his album,” he teased.  “[Matthew and I] had a little meeting together, so hopefully that’s going to happen when I get to L.A.”  Morrison will surely bring something interesting to the table in a debut album, but with Elton John’s legendary touch this could potentially turn out to be a real hit.  The album is expected to release before the year runs out.

[Via EW-MusicMix]

Kid Cudi delays album to November 9, teases Dot Da Genius collab

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I don’t want to start counting how many times Kid Cudi’s forthcoming second studio album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, has been delayed.  OK, I think it’s been three times.  And you know what?  For all we know these changes haven’t been delays, per se; everything is labeled rumor until the record label makes the official call.  Although the label didn’t make the call this time around, it is the first time Cudder acknowledged a release date.  He sounded pretty confident about a November 9 release date when he announced it during a performance at the University of Buffalo.  He explained the push to November saying that he’s being working so hard on the songs that he forgot to put much effort into the “other [important] sh-t”, like the album artwork.  He wants to “bring art on all levels…musically and visually with the packaging.”  He promises that another movie poster and DVD footage will be included with the album.  Regular and deluxe versions will be available to purchase.

Cudi continued the conversation with his fans by revealing that another album is in the works.  He will be collaborating with longtime partner Dot Da Genius (Day N Nite) and he plans on releasing it alongside MOTM2 so that we will have “a sh-t ton of Kid Cudi music to listen to” for the foreseeable future.  Right on!  Lastly he says he’s working on mastering “Dose of Dopeness“, a track that he performed for an audience back in 2008.

Look after the break to hear all this news straight outta Kid Cudi’s mouth.

[Via DatNewCudi] Continue reading Kid Cudi delays album to November 9, teases Dot Da Genius collab →