Category Archives: Video

Kid Cudi departs G.O.O.D. Music for his own label Wicked Awesome Records

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In just over two weeks Kid Cudi’s third solo record Indicud will hit stores. It will be his first release on his very own label Wicked Awesome Records. Like Kanye West before him with G.O.O.D. Music, Cudder has imagined his own label with hopes to discover and ignite new creative talent in the world of music and beyond. His friend and frequent collaborator King Chip (aka Chip Tha Ripper) is his first Wicked Awesome inductee. To focus on his label, Cudi has stepped away from G.O.O.D. amicably. He broke to Power 106 LA earlier in the week and explained it like this: “Me and Kanye were actually talking on the phone the other day, and there’s been things I wanted to talk to him about. About me wanting to start my own direction, and he got because he’s trying to start his own new path, and trying new things as an artist. And he was just like ‘Man, I feel you. It’s cool.’ This is just from a business standpoint. There’s no beef with anyone on the label. It’s all love.”

So it’s not like he left on bad terms and won’t ever be collaborating with the Kanye and the G.O.O.D. Music crew ever again. It’s just that he’s going in a new direction professionally and creatively and wants to focus solely on building and nurturing his own label. You can watch Cudi announce the news on the radio in a clip embedded after the break; and you can hear the entire radio session at DatNewCudi’s SoundCloud.

In other news, Kid Cudi has started a new Tumblr where he’s posting brief, looping clips of his recent performances and interactions with passionate fans. He calls it CUDIVHS.com. Continue reading Kid Cudi departs G.O.O.D. Music for his own label Wicked Awesome Records →

April Fools! 2013 Edition

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Here we are again: April Fools Day. Only this time around it’s 2013 and no one is safe. We start, as is tradition, with Google’s masterful pranks. It’s all after the break…or is it. Continue reading April Fools! 2013 Edition →

Kid Cudi’s ‘Indicud’ album cover and tracklist displayed [Update: iTunes preorder up, new single out, JKL performance]

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With less than a month left to go, the album cover and tracklist for Kid Cudi’s third solo record (fourth overall) has been revealed for all to see. The album art, like Cudder’s past few music videos, features a baroque-inspired frame. “The album art represents me. A ball of flames in a rose gold frame,” the rapper tweeted.

Indicud features a total of 18 tracks including singles “Just What I Am,” “King Wizard,” and “Immortal.” And for long-time fans of the once Lonely Stoner, a special track titled “Solo Dolo Part II” featuring rising rapper Kendrick Lamar will increase anticipation for the album’s release tenfold. Other featured artists include Cudi’s close friend King Chip (the artist formally known as Chip Tha Ripper is featured on two tracks), Father John Misty, Too $hort, Haim, RZA, A$AP Rocky, and Michael Bolton. Jump after the break to see the full tracklisting.

Currently Indicud is up for preorder at Amazon and at Kid Cudi’s official online store. His store sells digital and physical copies of the album, as well as the vinyl. On April 23 the hype becomes real.

Update (4/1): Today Indicud popped up on iTunes and is now available for preorder at that popular destination for music. Once you get there, you’ll notice that a previously unheard song “Girls” (Featuring Too $hort) is available for download. That’s the fourth single off the album–preview it at iTunes. Also, after the break I’ve posted Cudder’s first live televised performance of “Immortal” on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Continue reading Kid Cudi’s ‘Indicud’ album cover and tracklist displayed [Update: iTunes preorder up, new single out, JKL performance] →

Hideo Kojima reveals ‘Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’

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Do you remember at the 2012 Video Game Awards when an intriguing trailer by the name of “The Phantom Pain” from Moby Dick Studios premiered to much fanfare? Well it turns out that the mysterious title is actually the next installment in the Metal Gear franchise from Konami. At the Game Developers Conference this week, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima of Kojima Productions revealed Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain with a brand new nearly six-minute trailer that includes cinematic cutscenes and a more extensive look at Snake’s next adventure. Previously Kojima announced another MSG game in development called Ground Zeroes but according to a recent tweet GZ will serve as a prequel to TFP with a potential to ship on the same disc as TFP:

“Ground Zeroes” is a prologue of “MGSV”. 9 years after that event will be “The Phantom Pain”. MGSV is constructed w/ prologue and main game “TPP”. The game play demo I presented today is the opening of “TPP” which is tutorial that starts from crawling.

MGSV takes advantage of Kojima’s new FOX Engine and the game is confirmed to hit the current generation of platforms including Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. No word if the game will make the leap to next-gen consoles such as the PS4 and the next Xbox.

Now, there are reports that Snake will not be voiced by David Hayter, the voice actor who has played the franchise’s protagonist since the beginning in all English-language versions of the MGS titles. In an interview with GameTrailers, Kojima explained it like this: “What we’re trying to accomplish is [to] recreate the Metal Gear series. It’s a new type of Metal Gear game and we wanted to have this reflected in the voice actor as well.” But for fans this pill is surely hard to swallow. David Hayter is Snake, just as Steve Downes is Master Chief in Halo.

There’s no release date in sight yet, but feast your eyes on the next Metal Gear Solid. Like all things Kojima, it’s candy for the eyes.

TV reminder: ‘Game of Thrones’ returns Sunday night at 9PM on HBO [Update: record ratings]

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The battle for the Iron Throne resumes this Sunday night at 9PM on HBO. The network’s hugely successful and popular fantasy series Game of Thrones returns for its highly anticipated third season promises more surprises and more dragons; just look at the season’s key art above for proof of the latter. Or rewatch the season’s two brilliant trailers if you need to be reminded of the stakes at hand in the upcoming batch of episodes. After the break you’ll find a couple of recap clips that will catch you up on everything Thrones seasons 1 & 2. Directly below you can browse a gallery of 12 too-cool-for-school posters that each feature gritty close-up shots of the series’ main characters including the bastard Jon Snow, the conniving Cersei Lannister, the terrible Joffrey Baratheon, the Kingslayer Jaime Lannister, and everyone’s favorite Imp Tyrion Lannister.

Update (4/1): Last night’s season 3 premiere episode of Game of Thrones ranked as the series’ most watched installment to date. A record-breaking 4.4 million viewers tuned into “Valar Dohaeris,” up 13% from the 3.9 million who watched the season 2 opener last year. That tally is also up 4% from the season 2 finale which attracted 4.2 million sets of eyeballs; that ep was the previous record holder. In total, across three airings on HBO last night, 6.7 million took in the premiere.

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Continue reading TV reminder: ‘Game of Thrones’ returns Sunday night at 9PM on HBO [Update: record ratings] →

TV reminder: ‘Hannibal’ premieres April 4 at 10PM on NBC

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If you were intrigued by the platter of trailers that premiered in February promoting NBC’s upcoming serial killer thriller Hannibal, let this serve as a friendly reminder: the televised adaptation prequel to the classic 1991 horror film Silence of the Lambs premieres next week on Thursday, April 4 at 10PM. Hannibal comes from the visionary producer behind Pushing Daisies Bryan Fuller and stars Hugh Dancy as gifted criminal profiler Will Graham, Laurence Fishburne as Agent Jack Crawford, Caroline Dhavernas as Dr. Alana Bloom, and Mads Mikkelsen plays the infamous serial killer who eats his prey Dr. Hannibal Lector. Click after the break to watch two new trailers plus get an inside first look at the show with commentary from the cast, Fuller, and pilot director David Slade. Continue reading TV reminder: ‘Hannibal’ premieres April 4 at 10PM on NBC →

Movie trailer round-up: ‘The Wolverine’, ‘Kick-Ass 2’, ‘World War Z’ & ‘Pain & Gain’

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Ever since this totally awesome motion poster for The Wolverine came out fans have been waiting on pins and needles for a full blown trailer. This week it finally arrived. Hugh Jackman is back as one of the X-Men’s most formidable members in a standalone installment directed by James Mangold. Here’s the official synopsis:

Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern-day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world, he will face a host of unexpected and deadly opponents in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality.

The Wolverine hits theatres July 26. After the break catch the international trailer that plays out quite differently than what you see here.

Jump after the break for more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘The Wolverine’, ‘Kick-Ass 2’, ‘World War Z’ & ‘Pain & Gain’ →

Justin Timberlake’s ’20/20 Experience’ is out now; watch the “Mirrors” music video [Update: Big sales]

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Justin Timberlake’s ten track The 20/20 Experience is out now. It’s available for digital download at iTunes for $10.99, but if you consider yourself a true JT fan you will make the trip to Target to purchase the deluxe physical version that includes two bonus tracks ($13.99). Oh and by the way, the standard version, the deluxe version, and the vinyl all feature different artwork. (And there’s more where this came from; Timberlake has confirmed that a 10-track sequel album is in the works to complete the “20/20” listening experience.)

Accompanying the grand total of 13 new tracks and the previously release music video for the Jay-Z assisted “Suit & Tie” is a new music video for the album’s second single “Mirrors.” The song is arguably the best cut off the release, and its music video does it the ultimate justice by telling a touching and engaging about an elderly couple exploring their long and journeyed relationship. The clip opens with a dedication to JT’s grandparents William and Sadie; his grandfather passed away last year after making it 63 years with his now-widowed wife. The Floria Sigismondi-directed music video does a fine job at interpreting the song’s lyrics:

Cause I don’t wanna lose you now/I’m lookin’ right at the other half of me/The vacancy that sat in my heart/Is a space that now you hold…And now it’s clear as this promise/That we’re making two reflections into one/Cause it’s like you’re my mirror/My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me.

That’s the hook and the actors who are portraying JT’s grandparents put on a believable performance as we watch their relationship blossom by a jukebox and a pool table. The video takes some twists and turns but by the end you should come to a realization of what it was all about: finding your soulmate and having the power to let go when the time comes (at least that is my interpretation). Intriguingly JT lets the story play out and is absent for the majority of the clip; he doesn’t turn up until the 5:45 mark when he catches the ring released by “his grandmother” (she’s letting go of her departed husband of so many years) to continue to legacy of love. He’s trapped in a fun house of mirrors and dances his way out of it in a fashion only JT can maneuver. A great song matched with a compelling music video; can’t really ask for more than that these days.

So how’s the album overall? For that I will guide you to SpeakSonic’s album review that covers the bases; spoiler alert: it garners a rave review.

Update (3/29): In its first week of sales, The 20/20 Experience quickly shot to #1 on the Billboard 200 selling 968,000 copies. This makes JT’s latest effort the best-selling album of the year so far outpacing Mumford & Sons’ Babel which has sold 658,000 to date. 20/20 also performed well in digital sales in week one with 452,000 downloads making it the third-largest debut indigital ever only behind Lady Gaga’s Born This Way (662,000 in 2011) and Taylor Swift’s Red (465,000 in 2012). JT’s third solo album is also his most successful debut, sales wise. His previous releases FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006) and Justified (2002) sold 684,000 and 439,000 copies, respectively, in their first week on the market.

TV reminder: ‘Revolution’ returns Monday at 10PM on NBC

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After an excruciatingly long four month hiatus, NBC’s Revolution returns on Monday night, March 25. Things will pick up right where they left off: our group of rebels have finally reclaimed long-lost Danny and they are forced to face Monroe’s evil empire that managed to harness some power thanks to the powerful amplifier Rachel built for him under duress.

At the winter TCAs, series executive producer Eric Kripke promised that the second half of the show’s debut season will be “bigger, better, more exciting and [with] more revelations–at the same time maintaining the format.” He added, “Giving [Monroe] power was more about making him an unstoppable force. We start to deliver on the promise of the title. The revolution begins.”

In a more recent interview with EW, Kripke opened up more about what to expect in the final ten episodes of the season. If you thought the first season featured some high-octane, action-packed sequences, things are about to get turned up to a whole other level. “It’s so big,” says Kripke. “It’s action on a level that I’ve truly never seen on network television before. This show is about the characters and it’s about the emotion, and we really keep it grounded, but man, we really blow some s–t up, too.”

In addition to more action, there more also be more revelations. In early April (on the 8th, to be exact), viewers will finally be privy to how the lights went out. “[Rachel] basically just sits there and tells the entire story. That’s it. Literally, she lays it out. It’s absolutely fun,” says Elizabeth Mitchell, Rachel’s portrayer. We’ll also learn more about Rachel and Miles’ past, Aaron will eventually have to face the wife he left behind, and relationship between Neville and his son Jason will be tested.

And now, some goodies. First, flip through a gallery of stills from Monday night’s new episode “The Stand” right here. Next, jump after the break to watch a couple promos highlighting the upcoming episodes, one of which will really pump you up ‘cuz it plays Fall Out Boy’s bangin’ new single “Light ‘Em Up” (how appropriate, yes?). And then there’s a very special clip embedded after the break–you can watch THE FIRST EIGHT MINUTES of the new episode, right here, right now. Continue reading TV reminder: ‘Revolution’ returns Monday at 10PM on NBC →

Movie trailer round-up: ‘Despicable Me 2’, ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’, ‘Riddick’

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Here we have trailer numero dos for Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me 2. In it the minions are as entertaining as ever, and we get a better sense of what Steve Carrell’s Gru is up to this time around. The all-star voice cast lineup also includes Kristen Wiig, Al Pacino, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Steve Coogan, and Ken Jeong. The animated flick is set to open July 3. After the break, catch a time-lapse clip of the “Despicablimp” getting made and pushed out across the nation.

Also after the break, watch more trailers! Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘Despicable Me 2’, ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’, ‘Riddick’ →

Twitter turns 7

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On Thursday, March 21 Twitter reached its seventh year in existence. To celebrate the occasion the company released a short video highlighting some of the most memorable moments shared across the world via the social platform. Did you know that Twitter currently has well over 200 million active users creating over 400 million Tweets each day? And it’s only getting more popular by the second. From company founder Jack Dorsey’s first tweet to the explosion of tweets made by people from all around the planet, Twitter has proven to be a resourceful and entertaining destination for breaking news, laughs, and everything in between.

[Via Twitter]

Capcom is working on a remastered version of ‘DuckTales’, get ready to sing-along

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Remember DuckTales, the classic and addicting NES platformer that released way back in 1989 and let players take control of Scrooge McDuck to collect gold and rare treasures from all around the world? The game’s original developer Capcom is joining with Disney and WayForward Technologies to produce a “remastered” version of the title to be released this summer for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Wii U eShop. Though Scrooge and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie are leaving the 8-bit world for today’s advanced graphics, the game’s animation style will still retain a 2D-like design and the original voice cast from the cartoon series that actually inspired the game is back to reprise their memorable roles. The game will feature the same levels from the original, with a few new surprises and challenged sprinkled in to keep things fresh.

Watch the reveal trailer for DuckTales Remasterd in the clip hanging above and sing-along to the unforgettable theme song from the ABC animated series that ran from 1987-1990.