by Andrew Sacher

R&B singer Dawn Richard was formerly a member the mid-2000s Bad Boy Records-signed all-female group Danity Kane, after which she joined Diddy Dirty Money and then began a solo career in 2011 which led to 2012's Armor On, one of the most overlooked but great EPs of last year. The EP harnessed dark multi-layered production that pulled from Afro-centric polyrhythms, minimal late night sensuality, and radio appeal, and showed Dawn growing as an increasingly versatile singer. If you haven't yet, you can watch the video for EP track, "Bombs," below.

Dawn followed that EP last month (December) with the Whiteout EP and is now set to release a full length, GoldenHeart on January 15. Dawn just revealed snippets from the new album and you can stream those and check out the tracklist below. That's the cover art above. The album features production from Druski (who worked on Armor On), Fisticuffs (who worked with Miguel on his great Kaleidoscope Dream), and Denote. You can pre-order it now.

Dawn has a few dates scheduled (and is promising more) including one in NYC two days after the album release, January 17 at SOB's with Bridget Kelly and Aaron Camper. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

A list of all dates, snippets and tracklist from the new album, and the video for "Bombs," below...

Continue reading "Dawn Richard releasing full length, playing shows (dates, video, album snippets)"

by BBG

Vado performing with Dipset at Best Buy (more by Brook Bobbins)

Cam'ron protege Vado will headline Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 1st as part of a night of "rising stars of hip hop and R&B" that will also include appearances from Bridget Kelly, Cyhi the Prince, and Leeia Music. Tickets are on sale.

Vado, who recently signed with Interscope, is preparing to release a collaborative LP with Cam'ron entitled Gunz & Butta due on April 19th. Check out the new video for "Girls Cry" below, with a snippet of "Hey Muma" (shot at Don Hill's) directly following.

Cyhi the Prince, who is signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint, recently made an appearance at SXSW along with the rest of the G.O.O.D. crew (John Legend, Common, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, Big Sean, and Mr. Hudson). Cyhi the Prince recently dropped a verse on an A-Trak song, "Ray Ban Vision (Remix)", which is streamable below. Reminder, both A-Trak & Pusha T (of Clipse) play Terminal 5 on 4/30. Tickets are still available.

Vado recently performed with Cam'ron's group Dipset at their reunion show in NYC. Look for a new Dipset EP on July 4th entitled Independence Day. Dipset member Jim Jones's new LP Capo is out now. Check out the new and twitter-heavy Jim Jones video for "Everybody Jones" along with a few others below.

Continue reading "Vado's a 'rising star', playing MHOW, releasing LP w/ Cam'ron"

by BBG

"Yankee Stadium was #EPIC last night. Performances by JayZ,Drake,Kanye West,Eminem,G-Unit,Dr.Dre,Nicki Minaj,B.O.B & Eminem all on one stage!" -ThisIsChi_JEG

"Apparently a Coldplay concert broke out in the middle of Jay-Z's Yankee Stadium set last night. Can safely say no one saw that coming." -BarthDoesThings

"I've been trying to find a word to explain the Jay-Z/Eminem Yankee Stadium show.. I got it.. WOW!!!!!" -DJCK_BROOKLYN

Jay-Z & Chris Martin on stage @ Yankee Stadium

Jay-Z and Eminem tore down Yankee Stadium last night (9/13), the first of TWO shows that the pair of MCs will play in the Bronx. And there were guests... Kanye was present. Chris Martin of Coldplay dropped in. Beyonce had her say. Dr Dre was there. 50 Cent too. Not to mention Drake, Nicky Minaj, D12, B.O.B, Swizz Beatz, Lloyd Banks, and many others.

"The concert lasted well past midnight, and a few thousand in the crowd started to make their way to the exits while Jay-Z was still rapping to beat the after-concert rush. But most stayed behind, sensing what Jay-Z told them. ''This is historic: They ain't never gonna be another night like tonight.''

Well, maybe one more night -- the pair has another show at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday." [NY Times]

After the show, Jigga, Mrs Hova, and guests headed down to the 40/40 Club for a nightcap.

The madness continues tonight (9/14) at Yankee Stadium. A bunch of videos and both setlists (with guests listed) from last night, below...

Continue reading "Jay-Z & Eminem & lots of special guests played Yankee Stadium (night 1 videos & setlists)"

photos by V. Marc Fort (American-Statesman critic & Norushi Minx bassist)

When Jay-Z wasn't showing the Texans how his crew does it in Brooklyn, he spoke from the heart during his between song banter. "I know it sounds cliche, but don't let any haters block your dream," Hova said earnestly during one of the final breaks. Another one of the show's more intimate moments came when he brought up vocalist Bridget Kelly for two songs. After her inspired assist on "Empire State of Mind," Jigga Man smiled his biggest smile of the evening and said, "Damn...she put something extra on it for Texas...she put some extra bar-b-que sauce on it for Texas!" - V. Marc Fort

N.E.R.D. opened the show at the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas in Austin on Tuesday (11/10). The full setlist and more pictures below. A couple of weeks earlier Jay-Z did "Empire State of Mind" (the new 'New York, New York'?) with Alicia Keys at Yankees Stadium to kick off Game 2 of the World Series. That video is below too.

Jay-Z returns to Austin for another show on November 22nd (November 22nd was moved to November 10th). It's one of four more shows he has this month. Then in February of 2010 he'll get on the road again with a NYC-area show announced for March 6th at the Izod Center in NJ. Tickets for that show go on Citi Cardmember Presale on Tuesday, 11/17 @ 10am. That's followed by an "Internet Presale" two days later which is followed by general sale two days after that (Sat, 11/21 @ 10am). All dates, with the other stuff, below...

Continue reading "Jay-Z - 2010 Tour Dates (Izod Center) ++ pics & the setlist from the Austin show @ the Frank Erwin Center"