Phoenix at Music Hall of Williamsburg, 4/5/2013 (more by PSquared Photography)

Two days after announcing the existence of the second edition of Jay-Z's of Made in America festival, here comes the initial line-up. Set to go down August 31 - September 1 at Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, look for appearances from Beyonce, Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel (who is collaborating with Kendrick), Solange, The Gaslight Anthem (who just announced two huge NYC shows), Phoenix (who just played MHoW and SNL), Drake, 2Chainz and more.

So far no details on ticketing. Full line-up is below...

Continue reading "Made in America fest initial 2013 line-up: Beyonce, Nine Inch Nails, Phoenix, Kendrick Lamar, Gaslight Anthem + more "

by Andrew Sacher

Back in February, jazz ensemble NEXT Collective released Cover Art, an album with jazz covers of songs by Drake, Bon Iver, Jay-Z & Kanye West, Little Dragon, and others. The Drake cover is of his song "Marvins Room," the most beautiful (and arguably the best) song on 2011's Take Care, and you can stream that cover below (via FADER).

The track is led by guest trumpeter Christian Scott, who plays a wispy version of Drake's vocal melody throughout. Christian also released the Christian aTunde Adjuah album last year, and has played with Atoms for Peace. He'll be in NYC this Saturday (3/30) at Ginny's Supper Club (310 Lenox Ave in Harlem) for early (8 PM) and late (10:30 PM) shows. Tickets for the early and late shows are on sale now.

Song stream below...

Continue reading "jazz trumpeter Christian Scott covered Drake's "Marvins Room" w/ NEXT Collective (listen), playing NYC this weekend"

The Thermals @ LPR, 2011 (more by David Andrako)

The Men @ Saint Vitus, Dec. 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

today in NYC
* Paul Oakenfold @ Pacha
* Aaron Roche @ The Stone
* Questlove @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Rachelle Garniez @ Barbes
* Bleeding Heart @ The Stone
* Kat Edmonson @ City Winery
* Dionne Warwick @ B.B King's
* T.I., Joe Budden @ Best Buy Theater
* No Small Money Brass Band @ Barbes
* Indians, Night Beds @ Mercury Lounge
* Callers, TEEN, Olga Bell @ Union Pool
* MØ, Watch The Duck @ Santos Party House
* Dita Von Teese @ The Gramercy Theatre
* Alpine, I Am Lightyear @ Mercury Lounge
* Janeane Garofalo @ Eastville Comedy Club
* The Thermals, Habibi, Hilly Eye @ 285 Kent
* Tomorrow We Move To Hawaii @ Cake Shop
* Dauwd, Chrome Sparks, Braille @ Glasslands
* Lost Coves, Totem, Niabi @ The Grand Victory
* Lucy Love, Linkoban, Kelow @ Public Assembly
* We Are Scientists @ The 34h & Broadway Gap Store
* The Ugly Club, Long Faces, Hello Radio @ Maxwell's
* Rustie, Shlohmo, Jackmaster, Oneman, D33J @ Output
* Django Django, Night Moves @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Shilpa Ray, Our Mountain, Don't, Ora Iso @ Shea Stadium
* The Men, Nude Beach, Parquet Courts @ Bowery Ballroom
* Enter Shikari, Architects, Heartist, Crossfaith @ Irving Plaza
* Soulive, Luther & Cody Dickinson, Kung Fu @ Brooklyn Bowl
* North Mississippi Allstars Duo, Arum Rae @ The Slipper Room
* Hsu_nami, Ellis Ashbrook, Trebuchet, Viva Mayday @ Paper Box
* Stinking Lizaveta, Marching Teeth, Polygamyst @ Saint Vitus Bar
* Christian Finnegan, Damien Lemon, Sean Donnelly @ The Stand
* Wild Leaves, Sondra Son-Odeon, Trummers @ Pete's Candy Store
* Emanuel and The Fear, Bailey Cooke, The Falls @ Rockwood Music Hall
* 1-800-BAND, Kay Kasperhausen, Michael Des Barres @ The Bowery Electric
* Bad Credit No Credit, Ana Nizi Maza, Popular Culture, Sophia Knapp @ Cameo Gallery
* Praha Depart, Bowmont, Valleys, Man Without Country, Late Guest at the Party @ Pianos
* (U)nity, Blue Mountain Bustdown, Evil Giraffes on Mars, Night of the Living Funk @ Spike Hill
* Nicky Hornby, Ed Park, Shelia Heti, Gabrielle Bell, Amanda Filipacchi, Dawn on Midi @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Andrew W.K. (Speaking), Adam Lowitt (of the Daily Show), Sean Donnelly, Chris Rose, Prince Klassen (DJ Set) @ Legion Bar
* Elvis Costello, Bettye La Vette, Talib Kweli, Booker T. Jones, The Waterboys, Sandra Bernhard, Citizen Cope, D'Angelo, Blind Boys of Alabama @ Carnegie Hall (Prince Tribute Show)

Perhaps unsurprisingly for the week before SXSW, but NYC is bonkers for show options tonight, including the BV-presented Thermals/Habibi/Hilly Eye show at 285 Kent (sold out).

You could also attempt to have your own little SXSW club-hopping experience on the Lower East Side tonight: Australia's Alpine play early at at Mercury Lounge; Montreal's Valleys and Wales' Man Without Country are at Pianos; and Norwegian synthpop band Tomorrow We Move to Hawaii are at Cake Shop. To make it really like SXSW, drink only Sailor Jerry rum and make sure your phone's battery remains below 15%.

SXSW is less than a week away. Follow @BVSXSW on Twitter.

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Ben UFO is revealing "something" from Mount Kimbie's new album on his radio show tonight.

Drake revealed an aggressive new single, "5AM in Toronto," which will presumably appear on his upcoming album, Nothing Was the Same. Stream the track below.

R E A L M A G I C, who we profiled in 2011, is finally releasing his debut album, Deep Breathing, next week (3/12), and you can head below to stream it in its entirety (via Portals)

Blanche Blanche Blanche, who are playing NYC soon, are streaming their new album, Wooden Ball, in its entirety. Listen below.

We nominate Lemmy of Motorhead for president! Unfortunately, Troma already came up with that idea though, as seen in the NSFW trailer for Return to the Class of Nuke 'Em High below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Kendrick Lamar, who is confirmed for SXSW, and will be in NYC for two Roseland shows on 2/26 (tickets available for early and late shows) and Governors Ball in June, made a video for "Poetic Justice" off his excellent album, good kid, m.A.A.d city. The song features Drake and both he and Kendrick star in the video. Watch it below...

Continue reading "watch Kendrick Lamar and Drake's video for "Poetic Justice""

Grimes aboard the SS Coachella 2012 (more by Greg Cristman)

Names like Grimes, Stars, Woods of Ypres (RIP), Crystal Castles, Metric and Leonard Cohen sit side-by-side with names like Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jebsen, Celine Dion and Drake as part of the 2013 nominees for the Juno Awards, Canada's answer to the Grammys.

"Electronic Album of the Year" nominee Grimes is most likely stoked to be named in the company of some of her favorite artists of 2011 (namely, Beiber & Taylor Swift). Her competition in that category is pretty stiff: Purity Ring, TRUST, Crystal Castles and Daphni. Meanwhile, I'm guessing Justin Bieber is stoked to not be mentioned anywhere near his arch enemy Patrick Carney, even though Carney has backed off a bit and is now known as himself again on Twitter.

The 2013 Juno Awards will be given out on April 21. Nominee list below...

Continue reading "Grimes, Justin Beiber, Metric, Leonard Cohen, The Weeknd, Crystal Castles and Drake among the 2013 Juno nominees"

Frank Ocean performing at 2013 Grammys

The 2013 Grammys went down last night (2/10), and here's a quick recap of some of the winners and videos of performances.

The big ones: Gotye took home Record of the Year for "Somebody That I Used To Know" (beating The Black Keys, Kelly Clarkson, fun., Frank Ocean, and Taylor Swift), Mumford & Sons won Album of the Year (beating The Black Keys, fun., Frank Ocean, and Jack White), and fun. took Song of the Year and Best New Artist (totally robbing Miguel's "Adorn" and "Call Me Maybe," and Frank Ocean (!), respectively). Other wins included Skrillex for Best Dance Recording (sorry Al Walser), The Black Keys for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album, Gotye for Best Alternative Music Album (beating Fiona Apple, Bjork, M83, and Tom Waits), Usher's "Climax" for Best R&B Performance, Beyonce's "Love On Top" for Best Traditional R&B Performance, Miguel's "Adorn" for Best R&B Song, Frank Ocean for Best Urban Contemporary Album, Robert Glasper Experiment for Best R&B Album, Jay-Z and Kanye West's "Niggas In Paris" for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and their song, "No Church In The Wild" (feat. Frank Ocean and The-Dream) for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Drake's Take Care for Best Rap Album, Dr. John's Dan Auerbach-produced Locked Down for Best Blues Album, Jimmy Cliff's Tim Armstrong-produced Rebirth for Best Reggae Album, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross' The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo score for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, Bjork's Biophilia for Best Recording Package, The Beach Boys' long-awaited The Smile Sessions for Best Historical Album, Black Keys singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, and Mumford and Sons' "Big Easy Express" for Best Long Form Music Video. There were many other categories too and you can check out the full list of winners HERE.

And of course, during the Awards Ceremony a number of artists gave performances, which you can watch videos of below. You can see Miguel and Wiz Khalifa doing "Adorn," Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z doing "Suit and Tie" and then JT doing "Pusher Love Girl," The Black Keys, Dr. John, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band doing "Lonely Boy," Jack White doing "Freedom At 21" with his all-guy band (he also played "Love Interruption" with his all-girl band but no video of that at the moment), Frank Ocean doing "Forrest Gump" with a thematically appropriate visual backdrop, a big tribute to Levon Helm with Elton John, Mavis Staples, members of Mumford and Sons, Alabama Shakes, and others, and finally, LL Cool J, Chuck D, Z-Trip, Tom Morello, and Travis Barker doing "Whaddup" with a small piece of Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Til Brooklyn."

Continue reading "Frank Ocean, Miguel, Bjork, Mumford, Black Keys, Jack White & more win & perform at Grammys (videos)"

Yob at The Bell House in 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

today in NYC
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Brain Cloud @ Barbes
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Jeff Garlin @ Caroline's
* David Broza @ City Winery
* Yob, Hull, Bezoar @ Saint Vitus
* Ben Howard, Will Mason @ Terminal 5
* Wyatt Cenac, Seth Herzog @ Littlefield
* Frank London's Shekhina Big Band @ The Stone
* Bleeding Rainbow, Daytona, Gracie @ Cake Shop
* Matmos, Horse Lords, Vorhees @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Geri X, Portmanteaux, Oh Halo, Condola Rashad @ Pianos
* Cloud Becomes Your Hand, Bird Names, Images @ Big Snow
* Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains @ Videology
* Reverend Vince Anderson and His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* Margaret Glaspy, Julian Lage, John Putnam @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Grant's Tomb, Glowing Skull Ring, Small Craft Warning @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Chat Logs, Cellular Chaos, Feast of the Epiphany @ The Bowery Electric
* Octo Octa, Leverage Models, Test House, Certain Creatures @ Glasslands
* Brothers NYC, Daddy Long Legs, The Dead Exs, The National Reserve @ Mercury Lounge
* Hannibal Buress, Taylor Ketchum, Kate Hendrick, Michael Che, Mike Denny @ Matchless

James Blake made a video for his great new single, "Retrograde," which appears on his upcoming sophomore album, Overgrown. Watch that video below.

After Justin Timberlake performed at the Grammys last night (with Jay-Z, who also joined him last week in New Orleans and again last night at Justin's post-Grammys Palladium show), he revealed another track off of his upcoming The 20/20 Experience, the 8-minute "Mirrors." You can listen to that song below. The album drops on March 19 via RCA, and as you may have seen on commercials during the Grammys, Target is selling a pre-order of the album with two bonus tracks.

Following his big Grammys win for Rap Album of the Year, Drake (who won for 2011's Take Care) revealed that Take Care's follow up will be called Nothing Was the Same, and is due out this year. He also just made a video for his new Kendrick Lamar-inspired single, "Started From the Bottom," which you can watch below.

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
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Pope Benedict XVI has announced his resignation as pope, the first pope to step down in six centuries. We don't really have an opinion of that news here at BrooklynVegan, BUT we couldn't resist the chance to acknowledge that BrooklynVegan photographer Chris La Putt took this picture:

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

A$AP Rocky at FFF Fest 2012 (more by Tim Griffin)

A$AP Rocky appeared on BET's "106 & Park" earlier this week (12/3) to reveal his new video for his posse cut, "Fuckin' Problem," which features Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and 2 Chainz. On the show, he also revealed the cover art for his new album, Long.Live.A$AP, and announced that it will be out January 15, after much delay. You can watch the "Fuckin' Problem" video and check out the album art below.

As mentioned, Rocky will be touring with Rihanna and playing NYC on May 4 and 5 at Barclays Center (night 1 sold out, night 2 tickets on sale) but if you'd prefer not to see him opening for a huge pop star in a huge arena, you can catch opening for T.I. at Best Buy Theater on December 18. Rocky appears on TI's upcoming album, Trouble Man (which drops the day of the show), on the track, "Wildside," so maybe he'll come out to perform it with Tip at the show. Tickets for that one are still available.

As mentioned, T.I. recently dropped the Andre 3000-featuring track, "Sorry," off Trouble Man. If you missed it, you can stream that below, along with the A$AP Rocky video, cover art, and a list of updated dates.

Continue reading "A$AP Rocky opening for T.I. (dates, new video & LP info)"

Negative Approach earlier this month in Chicago (more by Carmelo Espanola)

Penn Badgley in 'Greetings From Tim Buckley'

We already posted lots of posts today. Here's some more, and some reminders too...

Did you know that Penn Badgley (aka Dan on Gossip Girl) is playing Jeff Buckley in upcoming biopic, Greetings from Tim Buckley? He's even been doing some stealth secret shows in NYC. Watch the trailer below.

Randy Newman is dreaming of... a white president.

As mentioned before, The Killers show at The Paramount is being webcast tonight, which will be directed by legendary German filmmaker Werner Herzog. He also directed a mini Killers documentary, which you can watch below.

Speaking of The Killers, they just announced a tour with Tegan & Sara that will hit Madison Square Garden.

Speaking of MSG, tourmates Aerosmith and Cheap Trick just announced a show there too. Madonna plays there twice in November which is when Neil Young is there too.

Whose new cover art is better: Neil Young's or Titus Andronicus'?

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs has a new video for his single "Your Love" which you can watch below.

You can stream Natural Child's new album, Hard in Heaven, over at Spinner.

Read part 2 of Kelly Pratt's tour diary written on the road with St. Vincent and David Byrne. Part 2.5 also went up today at BV Chicago.

A plethora of heavy music live photographs by Carmelo Espanola also went up today on BV Chicago.

A music monitoring firm has determined that Drake is currently the most pirated musician in the United States. If you live in the UK, it can tell you what artist is the most pirated in your neighborhood.

more stuff below...

Continue reading "Also: Penn Badgley IS Jeff Buckley, Drake most pirated in US, Herzog's Killers doc, MSG shows, Promise Ring cover Adele & more..."

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Run DMC / Pearl Jam / Drake at Made in America Fest 9/3/2012

A Run DMC reunion was one of the many highlights of the second day of the Jay-Z presented Made in America Festival which happened in Philadelphia over Labor Day Weekend. Monday's show also featured Pearl Jam, Drake, X, The Hives and others. Jay-Z joined Pearl Jam during their set for a performance of "99 Problems".

Pictures from day 1 are HERE and more pics from day 2 are below (along with Run DMC's setlist).

Continue reading "Made in America Fest: day 2 in pics (Run DMC, Pearl Jam, X, Santigold, Drake, The Hives, Jill Scott and more)"

Gary Clark Jr. at Coachella 2012 (more by David Andrako)

As mentioned, Philly's Made In America Festival goes down this weekend (9/1 - 9/2) on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Since we last spoke, the lineup was expanded and now includes Drake (who was rumored but not on the initial lineup announcement), Jill Scott, Chris Cornell, The Hives, and Run DMC, who are all playing the second day (9/2), in addition to blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr., who will be on the only performer on the bill playing both days, and others. Day 1 (9/1) will be headlined by festival head Jay-Z, and also includes Skrillex, Passion Pit, D'Angelo, Dirty Projectors, Janelle Monae, and others, and day 2 (9/2) will be headlined by Pearl Jam and also includes Odd Future, X, Santigold, and others. Tickets for the festival are still available.

If you're going to the fest, Philly is only about a two hour drive from NYC and this FAQ should help you find your way over (for directions use the address of Ben Franklin Parkway at Eakins Oval in Philadelphia or the Philadelphia Museum of Art). Once you're there, that FAQ will also help you find your way around, parking tips, and more. There will be a free filtered water service at the festival site, but you can't bring glowsticks (sorry Skrillex fans).

A #MadeInAmerica video for Gary Clark Jr. and the lineup for the festival are below.

Continue reading "Jay-Z's Made In America Festival is this weekend; Gary Clark Jr. playing both nights (full lineup, directions & more)"

Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz, who has been making guest appearances for years and has a few mixtapes to his name as well, is set to release his first official album, Based on a T.R.U. Story, this week (8/14) via Def Jam. The album features guest spots from Kanye West, Drake, Nicki MInaj, Lil Wayne, The-Dream, John Legend, Scarface, and more. You can check out some streams and videos from the album and the cover art and tracklist below.

2 Chainz has some upcoming dates in support of the new album. His only live date in the NYC area is Rock the Bells, which he plays on September 1 at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, but he'll be in NYC on Thursday (8/16) to sign autographs of the new album at J&R Music and Computer World (23 Park Row) at 6 PM. "Purchase the CD beginning 8/14 & receive a wristband to meet 2 Chainz on 8/16. While supplies last."

That same night (8/16), there will also be an official album release party for Based on a T.R.U. Story at Webster Hall for a Girls Night Out party (ladies free all night). No word on whether or not 2 Chainz will actually be showing up, but if he's in NYC for that autograph signing, it seems likely. The flier for this party is below.

UPDATE: Though Webster Hall is still open Thursday night, the 2 Chainz event is cancelled.

A list of all dates, videos, streams, and more below...

Continue reading "2 Chainz releasing LP, touring, doing autograph signing and album release party in NYC (dates & videos)"

Last month the 2012 Polaris Music Prize, which awards a Canadian album of recorded music each year, revealed their long list and this week the short list was revealed. Cadence Weapon, Cold Specks, Drake, Kathleen Edwards, Feist, Fucked Up, Grimes, Handsome Furs, Japandroids, and Yamantaka // Sonic Titan are the 10 artists vying for this year's Prize, which will be announced at a gala on September 24. Who's gonna win?

Drake at Jones Beach - 6/16/12 (via Draii Rynell)

Drake brought his tour with J. Cole, 2 Chainz, Waka Flocka, Meek Mill and French Montana to the NYC area last week for shows at PNC Bank Arts Center (6/12) and Jones Beach (6/16) (and Saratoga, NY show in between - hope you didn't try to get in with your fake ID). The openers on that tour were all in the NYC area earlier this month for Summer Jam, where Drake's Young Money labelmate Nicki Minaj cancelled her headlining performance.

In between the PNC Bank Arts Center and Jones Beach shows, Drake stopped by NYC club W.i.P. at Greenhouse on Wednesday (6/13), where he allegedly got in a fight with Chris Brown over Rihanna, who both singers/rappers have dated. TMZ reports that bottles were thrown, at least 5 people were injured, and the club was left severely damaged. When the NYPD arrived, Chris and Drake had both already left the scene. You may have noticed cover stories the other day on papers like the NY Post. New "victims" are still coming forward (ready to sue).

Meek Mill, who was on tour with Drake, was there too and spoke to XXL about the incident. He said, "Things just happen in the club. I seen girls in there throwing bottles, all types of shit. All types of people. I never seen Chris Brown or Drake throw a bottle and I was there." And when asked if he himself threw a bottle, he responded, "Fuck no."

Game was not there for the fight, but he has collaborated with both Drake and Chris Brown on his 2011 album, The R.E.D. Album, and commented on the fight in an interview with BET:

"That's not a cool beef. They both can stop it now and go about they way, go they separate ways and get they money," he said, adding "If them niggas is rappers, I'm encouraging that shit. But if one of those niggas is an R&B nigga, then y'all need to cut that out. We need some songs to fuck to."

Meanwhile, at Drake's Jones Beach show on Saturday (6/16), he brought out a number of guests including a Dipset reunion, The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Busta Rhymes, and more. Regarding the Dipset reunion, FADER writes, "The evening's biggest surprise was a four-song Dipset reunion, with Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and Cam'ron emerging one track at a time to join forces on "' Really Mean It' and 'Salute.'" Check out videos of Drake and his guests below.

Continue reading "Drake's week in NYC: fight w/ Chris Brown, multiple area shows (w/ guests Dipset, The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky & more)"

The long list for the 2012 Polaris Music Prize, Canada's annual award for a great album, has been revealed. It includes Leonard Cohen, Cold Specks, Drake, Feist, Fucked Up, Grimes, Japandroids, The Weeknd, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, and more. Check out the full list below. Who's your money on?

Continue reading "2012 Polaris Music Prize Long List revealed"

Georgia rapper Future released his official debut album, Pluto, on Epic Records last month, following a series of mixtapes, including 2012's Astronaut Status. Pluto features guest spots from R. Kelly, T.I., Drake, Snoop Dogg, Juicy J, and others. Check out videos of "Tony Montana" [Ft. Drake], "Magic (Remix)" [Ft. T.I.], and "Same Damn Time," below.

Future will be embarking on a two month long tour of the US in support of the album, which kicks off later this month with support from Pusha T. The tour hits NYC on June 4 at Irving Plaza. Tickets go on sale today, Friday (5/11) at 10 AM.

All dates and videos below...

Continue reading "Future announces dates with Pusha T (dates & videos)"

DOWNLOAD: Drake feat. The Weeknd "Crew Love" (Star Slinger's Jersey Refix) (MP3)

UK electronic guru Star Slinger is currently finishing up some dates in Australia and is about to kick off a tour of North America with co-headliners The Hood Internet and their Chicago neighbor Chrissy Murderbot. That tour, dubbed the "Hood Slung" tour, will be in NYC next week for a May 9 show at Irving Plaza and tickets are still available. All dates on tare below.

Star Slinger has yet to release a full LP but stays busy if his Soundcloud page is any indication. Most recently, the UK producer remixed Darque E. Freeker's new single "Blueberry" that features ostentatious Detroit rapper Danny Brown. You can stream that below, along with a just-posted reworking of Drake/Weeknd colaboration "Crew Love" which you can also download at the top of this post.

After the Hood Slung wraps up, Star Slinger will continue touring around North America, concluding with an appearance at Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 4. All Star Slinger tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Star Slinger remixes Drake & Danny Brown, touring with the Hood Internet (dates & MP3)"

by Andrew Sacher

Drake at Tammany Hall in 2010 (more by Brook Bobbins)

Earlier this month, Drake wrapped up a tour with Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky, before the latter two made their way to Austin for SXSW.

That tour didn't hit the NYC area but Drake has since announced another slew of North American dates which include PNC Bank Arts Center on June 12 in Holmdel, NJ and Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on June 16 in Wantagh, NY. Like the Kendrick/A$AP tour, most of the new dates, including both NYC area shows, are with a list of on-their-way-to-being-huge rappers: J. Cole, 2 Chainz (who last played NYC when he sold out SOBs in January), Waka Flocka Flame, Meek Mill, and French Montana. Tickets for the PNC Bank Arts Center show and the Jones Beach show are on sale now.

All dates and the video for "Headlines" below...

Continue reading "Drake anounces more 2012 Tour Dates, shows at PNC Bank ARts Center & Jones Beach (w/ J. Cole, Waka Flocka, more)"

A$AP Rocky at Creators Project in October (more by Ryan Barkan)

A$AP Rocky, who says he never even heard of Aesop Rock until "people started asking him that," is going on a tour in February and March with Drake and Kendrick Lamar. That tour doesn't include any NYC dates but A$AP Rocky will play his own show at Irving Plaza on February 1. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (12/30) at 10 AM.

In October, A$AP Rocky signed a $3 million record deal with Sony/RCA's Polo Grounds Music, and as Pitchfork points out, that's $1 million more than Drake's deal with Young Money was. He then released his LiveLoveA$AP mixtape which you can grab for free (it was one of Heems' favorite albums of 2011). He's now planning a proper release of the album for early 2012. Check out an interview at HipHopDX for more info on that and lots of other stuff.

All dates and another video interview below...

Continue reading "A$AP Rocky adds NYC show to tour; mixtape still free"

XXLMag and Hennessy are teaming up to present Kendrick Lamar at S.O.B.'s TONIGHT (12/19). The show will also a feature of showcase of artists from XXLMag's The Break, "the spot where new MCs get to show and prove their skills." The Break showcase will include Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire (who also plays Highline Ballroom with Action Bronson soon), Emilio Rojas, Phile Ade, and King Mez. Doors open at 8 PM and Hennessy is serving free drinks, You must be 21+ to enter, but you might have to be on list. Kendrick, the venue and XXL don't make that 100% clear. The show flier is below.

In February Kendrick is heading out on tour with Drake, who will meanwhile be in NYC (and on TV) on New Year's Eve (you can try to see it live via that link). As previously mentioned, ASAP Rocky was also chosen for Drake's tour (which was originally supposed to happen in the fall). All of those dates and a video of ASAP talking about Drake, Kendrick, Odd Future and other stuff, below...

Continue reading "Kendrick Lamar in NYC for Hennessy event, going on tour w/ Drake & A$AP Rocky (dates)"

Since we're starting with the lists already, might as well point out this fun one from Chicago's Jim DeRogatis who writes stuff like:

"This is what happens if you cross the insufferably cute Zooey Deschannel with the Natalie Portman of Black Swan," I wrote in my original review. But that sounds way more interesting than the actuality of this bad modern Disney soundtrack.

Continue reading "Jim DeRogatis lists the 'biggest turkeys of 2011'"

A press release reads:

The much buzzed about rapper A$AP Rocky has signed with Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records, it was announced today by Bryan Leach, President of Polo Grounds Music, Inc. and Peter Edge, Chief Executive Officer, RCA Music Group.

"I feel great about the new deal; I believe it was destined and with a label like Polo Grounds & RCA behind me I don't see anything stopping us," says A$AP Rocky. "I wanted go with the right partner that can help get a bigger platform to get me and my A$AP crew's music and movement out. I expect to be in the same league as today's most relevant artists, and there are just some things you can't do on your own. The plan is to not only release great music, culture, and style for myself and A$AP worldwide, but to also be the next major artist/exec in the business and make great business men out of my brothers."...

...A$AP Rocky will perform at Vice magazine's Creators Project on Saturday, October 15 and the Fader Fort showcase during the CMJ Festival on Saturday, October 22. A$AP Rocky has also been tapped to join Drake's "Club Paradise" tour this fall.

Continue reading "ASAP Rocky gets a big record contract, playing Creators Project & Fader Fort, touring w/ Drake"

TV on the Radio advertising Heineken in Aug (more by Ryan Muir)

"MADISON AVENUE claims that the annual Advertising Week in New York is like New York Fashion Week for smart people. The fashionable set counters that Advertising Week is like Fashion Week for ugly people.

As the eighth annual Advertising Week starts, it seems the organizers are smart in at least one way: They have significantly beefed up the agenda for the event -- which begins on Monday and continues through Friday -- with a lineup of compelling subjects and marquee-name speakers." [NY Times]

Today (9/8/11) is Fashion's Night Out which means tons of free events in stores and late night shopping throughout NYC. We've already mentioned events happening with Real Estate, Memoryhouse, Neon Indian, Andrew WK, Beth Ditto, White Rabbits, Best Coast, and members of MGMT/Chairlift/Violens. There are more.

Drake and Foster the People each make appearances that are sure to draw ridiculous crowds. Tanlines, School of Seven Bells, Sun Airway, Estelle, The Roots, Beach Fossils, Justin Townes Earle and many others also appear at stores tonight (James Murphy DOES NOT). You can browse the FNO website to find stuff, or you can instead check out the handy list we compiled by doing that for you, below....

Continue reading "It's Fashion's Night Out - here's a list of free music stuff happening"

DOWNLOAD: The Weeknd - "The Zone" [Feat. Drake] (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Weeknd - "Thursday" (ZIP)

Toronto PBR&B singer The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye), who came out of nowhere this past March with the dubsessed R&B mixtape House of Balloons, released its followup yesterday (8/18), Thursday. He's still wallowing in rumbling beats but this new tape throws in more than a bit of gentle acoustic guitar too. The whole thing was produced by Canadian producers Doc McKinney (Esthero, Santigold) and Illangelo, who both worked on his first mixtape as well. The rumors that he'd be working with Drake were confirmed true on the track "The Zone," which you can grab above. Download the entire tape above as well, or at The Weeknd's website, and stay tuned for his third release, Echoes of Silence, to drop sometime this fall.

Tracklist below...

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