Tag: Hip-Hop/Rap (71-80 of 184)

Jan 22 2009 08:00 PM ET

Bill O'Reilly and Dennis Miller vs. Jeezy and Jay-Z: World's lamest tag-team faceoff?

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Don’t tell me everything is different now that Barack Obama is president. Not as long as Bill O’Reilly is still starting idiotic feuds with rappers for no reason at all. I wouldn’t watch that clown’s show if you paid me, but Eskay over at Nah Right notes that O’Reilly and guest Dennis Miller spent part of last night’s Factor taking aim at Young Jeezy and Jay-Z for the severe crime of…performing a pro-Obama, anti-Bush rap song a couple nights before the inauguration. Scandal! Watch the clip below, and you tell me if you can figure out what exactly Billo and Millo’s complaint was here. The verses in question contained a couple of emphatic profanities, sure — and O’Reilly knows from those — but otherwise those lyrics were fairly tame. They certainly weren’t "hateful" in any meaningful way. Obviously, though, it doesn’t take very much to get O’Reilly throwing around loaded terms like "low-class" and Miller citing condescending statistics about single parenthood rates (???).

At least O’Reilly’s honest some of the time: "I don’t know much about Young Jeezy," he admitted. "It’s possible he’ll appear on the Factor soon." So maybe this segment was all just a ploy to bait Jeezy — or, as erstwhile comedian Miller inexplicably called him, "Emphysema" — to come on the show. I bet Bill could use the extra ratings. Would you watch it, or are you already as tired of this non-controversy as I am?

More on O’Reilly and politics as entertainment:
EW Gallery: The Great Presidential Pop-Culture Debate ’08
Young Jeezy’s The Recession got a B+ review from EW
On the Scene: Nas vs. Fox News Channel
O’Reilly was one of EW’s Entertainers of the Year in 2001

Jan 21 2009 04:58 PM ET

Pazz & Jop '08: TV on the Radio, M.I.A. take top honors

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Tvradiomia_l2008 may already seem like forever ago. Twenty-one days? That’s, like, a decade in Twitter time! But the year in music isn’t truly over ’til the results of the Village Voice‘s Pazz & Jop critics’ poll are out. In developments that should shock absolutely no one, the Voice announced today that TV on the Radio’s Dear Science won the albums race, while critics voted M.I.A.’s "Paper Planes" the top single — both excellent choices. (Yes, technically "Paper Planes" came out in 2007, but the Pineapple Express trailer made it a major ’08 jam, and that’s good enough for P&J rules.)

In terms of sales, 2008 was either Lil Wayne’s or Taylor Swift’s year, depending how you count. But of course sales don’t mean much to many of the music writers who vote in P&J. Weezy, who managed a respectable No. 6 on the albums poll and No. 5 on the singles poll ("A Milli"), might have been undermined by the sheer volume of music heput out last year — he’s listed on no less than 21 ranking singles, all the way down to No. 1645 (Keri Hilson’s "Turnin’ Me On"). No such luck for Taylor Swift, who was relegated to the No. 58 album and No. 49 single.

My own Pazz & Jop ’08 ballot is here; EW’s Rob Brunner, Jason Adams, and Whitney Pastorek all submitted ballots, too. I know I’d probably tweak the order of mine in a few places if I were assembling it again today, but hey, a deadline’s a deadline, and these ballots were due on Christmas Eve. And while the final P&J results may be closed, the endless debate and dissection is only beginning. So what do you think of our individual picks and the overall Pazz & Jop winners? Have at it!

More on the music of 2008:
The Best and Worst Albums of 2008: Leah Greenblatt’s picks
The Best and Worst Albums of 2008: Chris Willman’s picks
The Best Albums of 2008: Stephen King’s picks
2008′s best music quotes

Jan 20 2009 10:29 PM ET

Joaquin Phoenix's rap career: To believe or not to believe?

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By now you’ve probably heard about (if not seen clips of) Joaquin Phoenix’s rap performance in Las Vegas over the weekend. The would-be rapper performed three songs from his upcoming album (said to be produced by Diddy), spitting a series of stilted, robotic rhymes while rocking a beard thick enough to shelter a family of opossum. When Phoenix first announced he was giving up acting for a life in hip-hop, we all thought he was nuts. Then, when videos of him actually rapping first circulated some weeks back, we started to think it had to be a put-on . And now, after this latest performance, coupled with the announcement that Casey Affleck is shooting a documentary about the entire experience, we’re starting to wonder this whole thing is just a rather unfunny Andy Kaufman-esque stunt that will end with the release of an Affleck mockumentary. Phoenix has shown a penchant for messing with people before, like the time he told a reporter on the red carpet that he felt like there was a frog coming out of his head. And why would Affleck make a documentary about Phoenix’s transition to rapping, seeing as he only just announced that he is now a rapper, so there’s little story to document? Here at EW, we’re as puzzled as you are about this whole thing. But if that spectacle on display over the weekend, which at one point included a disheveled Phoenix falling off the stage, is a serious attempt at a new career, then the one-time Oscar nominee has us seriously puzzled.

What do you think, PopWatchers? Can this be real? Do you see any redeeming value in it as a hip-hop performance? Would you be into an Affleck mockumentary about this insanity, should that be what it’s actually about?

More on Joaquin Phoenix:
Joaquin Phoenix’s rap career the subject of debate (and a Casey Affleck-directed documentary)
Joaquin Phoenix wants to be a singer? We’ve got the perfect lead single for him!
Joaquin Phoenix: His most memorable roles

Jan 15 2009 12:30 PM ET

The Grammys are selling -- are you buying?

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Once upon a time, if you built it — and handed out lots of heavy, shiny, engraved statuettes on the dais when you got there — viewers would come. These days, however, traditional awards shows like the Grammys and the Oscars face both a numbing glut of competitors (next up, Gaffers’ Choice!) and the increasingly indifferent response of audiences. That’s why the former have taken it upon themselves to sign up the likes of Rihanna, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Lenny Kravitz, and Lil Wayne for a major Recording Academy campaign via TV, print, radio, and the Internet. Billboard talked to the Academy’s chief marketing officer, who said the campaign cost "in the mutli-millions" and is the most the organization has spent on an ad campaign in its history.

How does it work? According to a Grammy spokeswoman, each featured artist was asked to provide 10-20 songs that influenced them; the subsequent lyrics and song titles are then used in the print andtelevision ads. For Wayne, that means showcasing rappers like Jay-Z and Young Buck; for Yorke, it’s more esoteric choices like cultishly adored singer-songwriter Scott Walker, or chaotic post-punk outfit the Liars. You can check out Stevie Wonder’s ad embedded below; does it make you want to tune in? Or would it take a personal invite and a pan of brownies baked by Rihanna herself to to get you there? What else could the Grammys do to get you to watch?

Jan 14 2009 11:13 PM ET

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees '09: Metallica, Run-D.M.C., and more

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Metallicarundmc_lThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2009 inductees this afternoon, and the lucky five legends are Metallica, Run-D.M.C., Bobby Womack, Jeff Beck, and Little Anthony & the Imperials. Seems like a pretty strong list to me, covering a nice variety of eras and sounds. It’ll be fitting to see Metallica honored after the blockbuster year they’ve just had. And I’m particularly happy to see Run-D.M.C. in there. They’ll become only the second hip-hop artist to enter the Hall, after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 2007. Now, I know that not everyone agrees with me on this, but as far as I’m concerned Run-D.M.C. made as much of an impact on the past 25 years of music as any recent inductees. More, in many cases. So please spare me the kvetching about how rappers don’t belong in a "Rock and Roll" museum. Any canon broad enough to encompass the Everly Brothers, Van Halen, and Miles Davis can make room for Rev Run, D.M.C., and the late Jam-Master Jay, can’t it? But you tell me. What do you think of this year’s slate of honorees?

More on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and this year’s inductees:
EW Gallery: 24 Metallica Career Highs and Lows
Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell is one of EW’s New Music Classics
PopWatch mulled over who got snubbed when the ’09 nominees were revealed
I found some of last year’s inductees a little underwhelming

Jan 13 2009 11:00 PM ET

EW's New Music Roundup: Animal Collective, 'Notorious' soundtrack, MGMT covers, and more

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Animalcollectivemgmt_lWelcome to this year’s first edition of EW’s New Music Roundup,aregular post highlighting the "Download This" track recommendationsfrom the latest crop of music reviews found in Entertainment Weekly.All songs are from albums that are in stores now, and most are readilyavailable via iTunes, eMusic, or similar services. Enjoy — and be sureto share with your fellow readers if you’ve got opinions on any of thefollowing albums or singles…

Animal Collective (pictured, far left), Merriweather Post Pavilion
Genre: Indie Rock
EW Grade: A–
Download This: "Brother Sport"
(Check out Animal Collective online)

Various Artists, Notorious soundtrack
Genre: Rap
EW Grade: B
Download This: "Brooklyn Go Hard"
(Check out the Notorious B.I.G. online)

The Bee Gees, Odessa
Genre: Reissue
EW Grade: A–
Download This: "Edison"
(Check out The Bee Gees online)

The Derek Trucks Band, Already Free
Genre: Rock
EW Grade: B+
Download This: "Maybe This Time"
(Check out The Derek Trucks Band online)

Mstislav Rostropovich, The Complete EMI Recordings
Genre: Classical
EW Grade: A–
Download This: Bach’s "Suite No. 1 in G Major: I. Prelude"
(Check out Mstislav Rostropovich online)

Staff Web Pick of the Week:
Covers of MGMT’s (pictured, above right) "Electric Feel"
First Katy Perry gave the electro-psych number her own smoothed-out spin last fall. Then Solange Knowles started working it into a medley in her concerts. Most recently, Atlantan hip-hop troupe Holly Weerd found a way to take this already-funky song even farther out into space — a feat we once would have thought impossible. Where will it end?!

Jan 13 2009 09:30 PM ET

50 Cent is getting desperate

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Tags: , , , , To Care or Not to Care

Kanye50centwayne_l::Sniff:: Do you guys smell something? Ah, yes, it’s the delicate scent of desperation, wafting from the general direction of 50 Cent’s mansion. Lean in a little closer to some of 50′s most recent interviews and you’ll find that odor billowing at you in great gusts. Case in point: 50 called Eminem’s Sirius XM channel this weekend to promote his repeatedly-delayed upcoming album Before I Self-Destruct – by lobbing some hateful trash at current arch-enemies Kanye West and Lil Wayne. Click here for an NSFW summary of his commentary, if you must. Lovely stuff.

But hey, what other options does this guy have? 50′s last album, 2007′s Curtis, was his worst-selling record to-date. His MTV reality show was quietly canceled. Even the car he was developing with Pontiac is dead! When you pin your entire public image on your vast sales power the way 50 did in 2003-05, blaming the economy doesn’t quite cut it. And as the Roots’ ?uestlove pointed out in a recent message-board entry — he’s the guy posting as "15" — 50 might have maxed out in artistic terms, too. Wrote ?uest: "there is simply NO coming back from the term ‘i’ll kill you.’ its like…what is more gangsta than ‘i’ll kill you!’…it solidifies your status….but unfortunately you raise the bar sohigh that you can start counting down the minutes from there." Put that all together and it’s no wonder he’s trying to get attention however he can.

The shame of it all is, some of the new music that’s leaked from 50′s studio sessions lately hasn’t been half bad. 50 Cent is a legitimate talent who’s made some great music over the years. And he has true star quality when he wants to. I’ve met him twice, and he’s come across as a smart, engaging, witty operator both times. But I guess that’s not the face he wants to show the public, especially not when his commercial future is in doubt. So the question is, after a few years watching him stick to this same holding pattern of beef, drama, and more beef, how much longer will you even be paying attention to 50 Cent’s antics?

More on 50 Cent:
50 showed up in Eminem’s exclusive personal photo album
Talking to 50 on the set of that cancelled reality show
50 performed at Sundance last year
His last album, Curtis, made EW’s Worst Albums of 2007

Jan 8 2009 09:00 PM ET

Lil Wayne's Gatorade ad: Thirsty yet?

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I’m not sure that listening to Lil Wayne muse on the many significances of the letter G makes me want to drink Gatorade. But it does give me hope for Weezy’s 2009. See, I am that rare hater fan with standards who thought Tha Carter III had some tasty lyrical treats, along with a bunch of undercooked dishes that were way beneath Wayne’s spectacular talents. So I consider it a very positive sign that he’s chosen to kick off this year with a round minute containing some clever wordplay and exactly zero Auto-Tuned moans. Maybe all it took was a few sips of a cool sports beverage to remind him about those of us who like it when the (Sometimes) Best Rapper Alive actually raps! And: I also like how this ad spotlights world-class athletes like Muhammad Ali, Derek Jeter, and JabbaWockeeZ from America’s Best Dance Crew. Anyone else appreciating Weezy’s little alphabet lesson?

More on Lil Wayne:
He was one of EW’s 25 Entertainers of the Year for 2008
Tha Carter III made it onto Leah Greenblatt’s 10 Best CDs of 2008
We brainstormed a $44 bargain Lil Wayne Halloween costume
Thinking over Tha Carter III when it hit shelves last June

Dec 11 2008 10:00 PM ET

'I'm Broke and Proud': The time is right for recession rap

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I was flipping through the basic cable channels late one recent night when I stumbled across a song called "I’m Broke and Proud" on a public-access station. Check it out below; it’s a real gem (with some NSFW language). I’d honestly never heard of these rappers before in my life — the song is by an NYC dude named Rugged N Raw, featuring New Jersey’s Hasan Salaam — but their hilariously honest lyrics about the not-so-good life caught me instantly. "There’s not a lot I can make possible," spits Rugged N Raw, "only cheap ideas in the arsenal/I’ll take a chick to the museum/Looks nice, and the admission fee’s optional!" Now that’s some real talk. And the video might be even better, with RNR throwing coupons at the camera instead of cash, while hisfriends struggle to push their car up a hill. If nothing else, this definitively proves that it’s still funny to see rap’s conspicuous-consumption conventions upended, à la the Roots’ classic "What They Do."

Pretty great stuff, no? With skills like this, here’s hoping Rugged N Raw doesn’t have to stay too broke too much longer. After all, it’s been three months since Young Jeezy served fair warning that "It’s the recession/Everybody broke." Isn’t it high time the rest of the music world took notice of what’s happening to the economy?

More on pop culture and the economy:
EW suggested recession-oriented plotlines for Gossip Girl, Entourage, and more
PopWatch asked how the economy had affected your entertainment spending
EW gave Young Jeezy’s The Recession a B+ review
Smallville and other shows are already hurting because of the recession
"How will the recession affect Hollywood?" EW wondered…in 1991

Dec 9 2008 09:18 PM ET

EW's New Music Roundup: Brandy, Maroon 5, Lily Allen, and more

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Welcome to this week’s edition of EW’s New Music Roundup,aregular post highlighting the "Download This" track recommendationsfrom the latest crop of music reviews found in Entertainment Weekly.All songs are from albums that are in stores now, and most are readilyavailable via iTunes, eMusic, or similar services. Enjoy — and be sureto share with your fellow readers if you’ve got opinions on any of thefollowing albums or singles…

Brandy, Human
Genre: R&B
EW Grade: B
Download This: "The Definition"
(Check out Brandy online)

Maroon 5, Call and Response: The Remix Album
Genre: Pop
EW Grade: B+
Download This: "Goodnight Goodnight" (Deerhoof remix)
(Check out Maroon 5 online)

Common, Universal Mind Control
Genre: Hip-Hop
EW Grade: C
Download This: "Make My Day"
(Check out Common online)

Pavement, Brighten the Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition
Genre: Rock
EW Grade: A
Download This: "Harness Your Hopes"
(Check out Pavement online)

Avant, Avant
Genre: R&B
EW Grade: B
Download This: "French Pedicure"
(Check out Avant online)

Staff Web Pick of the Week:
Lily Allen’s "The Fear" video
The Brit wit skewers modern celebrity as only she can in her fun new clip, with some help from a cast of surreally-costumed dancers.
(Watch it below, or click here)

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