Category Archives: Entertainment

Kid Cudi selects MOTM2 album cover [Update: deluxe edition]

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And here it is!  Definitely not as racy and bizarre as Kanye West’s George Condo piece, but it doesn’t have to be.  There’s the signature dark overtone Cudder brings to the table with his music, and in the torn image he’s sitting on a stool in front of a picture of a colorful night sky looking at an empty shot glass.  Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager drops November 9.  Get psyched.

Update: Look after the break for the deluxe edition album cover.  It’s basically the same image except that the picture of the night sky is slightly tweaked.  The deluxe edition packs the CD and a DVD featuring a half-hour documentary by Jason Goldwatch/DECON and three music videos (Erase Me, Soundtrack 2 My Life, Cudderisback).

[Via DatNewCudi, here & here] Continue reading Kid Cudi selects MOTM2 album cover [Update: deluxe edition] →

Kanye West finalizing new album, complaining about “banned” album cover

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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West’s fifth studio album, drops in about one month’s time on November 22.  In anticipation of the album’s release, Kanye is giving fans a peek into his final plans.  He tweeted on Sunday, “Last day to wrap the album… I’m feeling so blessed on this day… finishing my 5th studio album in 6 years! Lining up piano sample replays.”  He then revealed, “Adding the voice samples from the VMA performance to the album version of Runaway also the whole song is 8 minutes long.”  So the single version of “Runaway” (now available on iTunes) is not the final version making it to the album.  Good to hear, since those voice samples rock.  On Twitter he also spilled that the Runaway short film (which is 35 minutes in length) to accompany the new album will premiere simultaneously on MTV, MTV2, BET, MTV.com, BET.com, and VH1.com next Saturday, October 23 at 8PM ET.

So now let’s talk about that “banned” album cover you see sitting above.  It’s a George Condo piece featuring a cartoonish (and nude) Kanye West sprawled out on a bed with a nude, winged, and polka dotted tailed, armless woman-beast on top of him.  On Twitter Kanye screamed, “Yoooo they banned my album cover!!!!!” and continued, “Banned in the USA!!! They don’t want me chilling on the couch with my phoenix!”  He went on to share his excitement about the album cover and the reaction it was getting.  “I know that cover just blew yall minds … I wish yall could see how hard I’m smiling right now!!!”  Then he started to complain about the “ban”.  “In the 70s album covers had actual nudity… It’s so funny that people forget that… Everything has been so commercialized now.”  “In all honesty … I really don’t be thinking about Wal-Mart when I make my music or album covers #Kanyeshrug!”  “I wanna sell albums but not at the expense of my true creativity.”  “So Nirvana can have a naked human being on they cover but I can’t have a PAINTING of a monster with no arms and a polka dot tail and wings.”  But was the album cover acutally banned after all?  The answer, quite simply, is no.

According to the LA Times, the racy cover was not “banned” in the full sense of the word.  An anonomous source close to the matter says that Kanye’s label UMG Island Def Jam “strongly urged [Kanye] to use alternate art” but added that Kanye “was told if he wanted to do it, the label would stand behind him.”  The same source also said that the main issue at hand “was whether or not mass-market retailers such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart would carry an album featuring venomous nudes.”  But in a statement to EW, Wal-Mart denies rejecting the album art.  Said a Wal-Mart spokesperson: “We’re excited about Kanye West’s new album and we look forward to carrying it in our stores on November 22nd.  As always, it’s our standard practice to carry the edited parental advisory version.  We did not reject the cover artwork and it was never presented to us to view.”

So there you have it.  The label did not ban the album cover and giant retailers do not have the intention to boycott it.  This appears to be a classic case of Kanye West stirring up some controversy and igniting the hype for what promises to be a hot commodity come this November.

[Via @kanyewest; EW, here & here; LATimes]

G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West – “Take One for the Team” (Featuring Keri Hilson, Pusha T & CyHi Da Prynce)

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Another Friday means another G.O.O.D. Friday track.  This one features the lovely Keri Hilson along with the newest G.O.O.D. Music label players Pusha T and CyHi Da Prynce.  Preview and download below.

Download: Kanye West – “Take One for the Team” (Featuring Keri Hilson, Pusha T & CyHi Da Prynce)

[audio: Kanye West – Take One for the Team.mp3]

[Via KWBlog]

Single: Ke$ha – “We R Who We R”

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It’s always fun to make fun of Ke$ha.  But when you remove all those layers of glitter, her lazy attitude, and the fact that she can’t sing live, what you get are some really, really catchy radio tunes.  The pop star is ready to impress again with a followup to her debut album Animal with Cannibal.  In an interview with EW she expressed her excitement of working the studio again and shared her passion for creating music for the new generation of youngsters.  “I feel like I’m creating this hopefully very youthful and irreverent movement of the kids, of like adolescence.  I feel like the parents don’t get it, but the kids get it. And they deserve to have more good, positive music.”

The first single off Cannibal is “We R Who We R”, a song Ke$ha reveals to be a topical message for the current crop of kids being bullied in school for being different.  “I wanted to inspire people to be themselves,” she says.  It’s a celebration of any sort of quirks or eccentricities.”  (She even took time to post a thoughtful message promising  bullied teens that “It Gets Better.”)  And as for the nine track album which releases November 22?  “It’s fun as s—!”  Hope she doesn’t mean that too literally.  Go on and take a listen to the new single above–you know it’s going to be stuck in your head once the radio stations get a hold of it, so you might as well prepare early.

[Via EW-MusicMix]

Music video: Rihanna – “Only Girl (In the World)”

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So you know that Stargate-produced headbanger that you can’t stop listening to?  Well know it’s been issued a music video, ready for your viewing pleasure above.  Watch Rihanna belt out her latest single and frolic among flowers in a field in “Only Girl (In the World)“.  Care-free, up-beat RiRi is back.  Her next studio album LOUD! releases November 12.

Single: A-Track – “Ray Ban Vision” (Featuring CyHi Da Prynce)

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I safely assume you know who A-Trak is.  He is a five time DMC World DJ champion, and the youngest (he won the award back in ’97 at the age of 15).  The dude can masterfully create and manipulate beats.  So let’s move on then to the featured artist.  Ever heard of CyHi Da Prynce?  Sure you did!  He recently signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label and was featured on West’s G.O.O.D. Friday track “So Appalled“; he later rapped with other G.O.O.D. artists at the BET Awards.  Today he released a mixtape called Royal Flush.  He’s quickly making his way to the top; being invited to rap over an A-Track beat is no small feat.  “Ray Ban Vision” packs scratched-in synths, atomic kick drums, and some slick rapping from Da Prynce.  Listen to it below, then snag yourself a free copy.

The track will be included on Fool’s Gold Vol. 1, a compilation LP featuring a whole slew of Fool’s Gold label artists ranging from Kid Sister to The Suzan.  Look after the break for the full track listing plus album art and expect its release on October the 23rd.

Download: A-Track – “Ray Ban Vision” (Featuring CyHi Da Prynce)

[audio: A-Trak – Ray Ban Vision (Featuring CyHi Da Prynce).mp3]

[Via HighSnobiety; Fool’s Gold Blog, here & here] Continue reading Single: A-Track — “Ray Ban Vision” (Featuring CyHi Da Prynce) →

Who ordered a G.O.O.D. Music freestyle?

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Cuz here it is, fresh out the oven.  During the 2010 BET Awards this video aired as part of the “Cypher series” and a sponser for Sprite.  It features the Rosewood Crew, a rap ratpack consisting of Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean, CyHi Da Prynce, and Common.  DJ Premiere is scratching the throwback ’90s beat.  It’s crazy good and all for fun.  Watch it above now, download a version for keeps later.

[Via HighSnobiety; NahRight]

Wentworth Miller the next ‘Spartacus’?

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According to EW’s Michael Ausiello, Wentworth Miller–better known as Michael Scofield, star of FOX’s breakout hit Prison Break–has expressed interest in taking over the lead role in Starz’s Spartacus: Blood and Sand.  The original Spartacus Andy Whitfield dropped out of the show shortly after its first season to undergo treatment for early stage Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.  This forced the production team to come with an ultimatum–“close up shop or recast.”  Since this news broke back in late September, the team went ahead with the latter option.  There hasn’t been any official word (or even rumors) about who would take over the demanding role, and apparently Miller has stepped forward offering a bid.  The ex-con (in Break, of course) definitely has the acting chops to pull it off.  The question is whether or not he has the physical appearence to play the part.  A smearing of body tattoos of Jolie Prison isn’t going to hide that face that Miller is not nearly as buff as the intimidating Whitfield; but as Ausiello points out a healthy regimen at the gym could make up for that.

There’s much time left for decisions to be made.  Blood and Sand is tentatively scheduled for a September 2011 air date.  But until then, you can look forward to Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, a six episode prequel series, airing in January 2011.  And for those concerned, Whitfield is reported to have “a very positive outlook.”

[Via EW-AusielloFiles, here & here]

Former ‘Lost’ execs Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz pitching new drama to ABC

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The 2011-12 TV season is shaping up to be a promising must-see TV extravaganza for Lost fans.  In addition to the  J.J. Abrams/Bryan Burk/Josh Appelbaum/Andre Nemec buddy cop show starring Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson (aka Lost‘s John Locke & Benjamin Linus) picked up by NBC, there’s this: Former Lost executive producers and writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are currently developing a “top secret fairy-tale-themed drama series.”  According to Ausiello, the duo are about to pitch the drama to ABC Studios, since they still have an overall deal with the network.  If the show gets picked up (and I have no doubt it will–Kitsis & Horowitz are extremely talented producers with uber-successful Lost to back them up), a special someone is ready to serve as a consultant to the show.  Drumroll, please… It’s Damon Lindelof, co-creator and exec producer of Lost.  Boom, your pants just fell off.  Due to the top-secret nature of the project, Ausiello was only able to sniff out this tidbit of detail: the show will feature a female lead.  Evangeline Lilly, any takers?  OK fine, that would just be silly now wouldn’t it?  Both ears to the ground with this developing story.

[Via EW-AusielloFiles]

It’s official: Andy Richter to join Conan on TBS

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You’ve heard it here first, folks!  OK, maybe you haven’t… Anyway, longtime partner-in-crime Andy Richter will be joining his best bud Conan O’Brien when the new TBS late night show premieres in November.  Richter rose to fame right alongside Conan since the premiere of Late Night with Conan O’Brien way back on September 13, 1993.  After taking time off to star in a handful of movies and failed TV series (Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Andy Barker, P.I.) he came back home when Conan became the host of The Tonight Show.  After the NBC/Leno fiasco resulted in Conan’s departure from NBC, Richter journeyed with Conan on the The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour and hosted the TBS special Team Coco Presents: The Conan Writers Live.  In a statement Richter shared his excitement about the news prompting his return to Conan’s side as show writer and sidekick: “I’m thrilled to be going back to work with Conan, and very excited to start a whole new venture on TBS.  However, I am mostly looking forward to getting out of the house again.”  Conan’s response?  “This decision was made without my authority.  I will get to the bottom of this.”

Conan premieres November 8 at 11PM on TBS.  Look after the break for Conan’s video response.

[Via TeamCoCo] Continue reading It’s official: Andy Richter to join Conan on TBS →

Music video: Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon – “Remains”

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FOX cancels Dollhouse.  Season 2 DVD and Blu-ray sets are announced to include a comic book issue titled “Epitaphs” penned by husband and wife team Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen (of Dr. Horrible fame).  To celebrate the release of season 2 (it’s available for purchase today) Tancharoen shared with her Twitter followers (and Dollhouse fans worldwide) a music video for the song “Remains.”  The track, written by Whedon and Tancharoen, was played in the season one finale.  The beautifully shot video was directed by Anton King and stars Tancharoen, Caitlin Stasey, J.R. Starr, and Fran Kranz (he played Topher in the show).  I miss you Dollhouse, but this was nice.

[Via @MoTancharoen]

La Roux teams up with Kanye West for “In for the Kill” remix

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Awwww yeah.  Eccentric UK electro/synth pop duo La Roux has teamed up with arguably the hottest rapper in the game right now–Kanye West–to create the remix for “In for the Kill.”  Not only does the enhanced beat off the popular single from La Roux’s self-titled debut album have Ye’s fingerprints all over it, Kanye also spits a wondrous verse about halfway through the track.  A music video will accompany the remix soon.  Says La Roux frontwoman Elly Jackson to MTV News about working with Kanye: “He’s a very exciting person to be around.  He’s a special breed of person.  He’s not quite like anyone I’ve ever met before.  He’s very, very, very creative.  He comes up with ideas every five seconds.  We’ve had a very interesting three days.  It’s a very interesting mix of things.”  And as for the upcoming music video?  “[The setting is] very slick but quite seedy.  [You’re] not quite sure what is going on in a lot of it, but it’s got some amazing visuals, some amazing characters.”  You know where to look when it drops.  For now, preview and download the remix below.

Download: La Roux – “In for the Kill” (Remix) (Featuring Kanye West)

[audio: La Roux – In for the Kill (Remix) (Featuring Kanye West).mp3]

[Via RealTalkNY; MTV]