The Men Who Hold all the Power

Remember the days when remixes consisted of than just some extra bars? Well, Kanye West, Jay-Z, John Legend and Swizz Beatz are brining that back! Ow!!!! The beat is switched up, there's a lot of creativity and clearly, Kanye is looking to make history. This sounds like two records in one. Enjoy.
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz - Power (Remix) by uristocrat

Drake ft. Lil Wayne: Miss Me

Gee golly, u can spot an Anthony Mandler directed video a mile away. The darkness, the creepy images, the allusion to possession the cinematography. Oh dear AND Drake does the "devil horn" hand thingy. Yikes! Conspiracy theorists, that was your permission to go in. His facial expressions are also priceless as is the "hair-ography" that the dancer was clearly trained in. Weezy also makes an appearance as an omnipresent Wizard of Oz type. I am so entertained. For real.

Rihanna's Boo Defends Her

Matt Kemp felt the need to defend why he's not doing so well in his baseball career this season and according to him, it's got NOTHING to do with girlfriend Rihanna. Some folks have theorized it’s the L.A. lifestyle and RiRi, who have impacted Kemp’s baseball career for the worse. “My girl has nothing to do with what I do on the baseball field,” Kemp says. “If anything she helps. She makes me happy, and as stressed as I am coming home sometimes, it’s nice to have someone there who just wants to support you.”
Oh yes...that sex therapy. We hear you Matty, we hear you.

Mariah Carey Resurfaces

After a few months in hiding, apparently because she was scared to show off her heavily rumoured "pregnancy weight gain", Mariah Carey was spotted in Sao Paulo, Brazil, yesterday. She's apparently there to perform at a nearby city this weekend. I don't see a baby bump, just someone who's put on weight.
In other MC news, Mariah and Def Jam confirm that her new Christmas album will be released on Nov 2, 2010. It will have 6 new tracks, including a remixed version of her classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You."

Baby Compares Lil Wayne to MJ

I know some MJ fans are gonna be upset about this. But Baby, the CEO of Cash Money, recently compared Lil Wayne to The King of Pop. Baby asserted that, “When Wayne comes home he lifts everybody's spirits, he lifts everybody's value, he lifts the brand, he lifts everything. Wayne is gonna be the biggest artist in music, not just in Hip-Hop; in music. It's some Michael Jackson sh!t right here going on right before our eyes...He's a beast; he went back to that raw rapping.”
Baby also gave his two centy on Lil Wayne not winning the title of hottest emcee in the game from MTV. According to the CEO, Lil Wayne deserved to win that title since he is the only rapper who makes more money than Hov. When asked whether he was starting a beef with Jigga, Baby immediately clarified: “No, no, [beef]. Nothing personal, they just asked me my opinion and that was my opinion. I think we do the most and make the most, so if you don't like it, that's on you. I can't see past Wayne, so I can't see Jay-Z."

Fashion Forward or Fashion Fail: Kelis Edition

Kelis is no stranger to our "Fashion Forward or Fail" posts, with good reason, apparently. She hit the stage in St. Tropez this week rocking a very sparkly outfit. From her all-silver wig to the jump suit with blazer and platforms...we gotta ask, is this fashion forward or fail?
p.s. Somewhere in middle America some housewife is missing her Christmas tinsel.

Lauryn Hill Appears on the Charts

I had to do my *Happy Dance* (word to my Creative Director of Operations) when I saw the news! Ms. Lauryn Hill is back on the Billboard Charts for the first time in over a decade! This week, her song “Repercussions” debuted at number 94 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The last time Lauryn appeared on the charts was in 1999 with “Turn Your Lights Down Low”.
In other Lauryn news, she was recently spotted sporting the do in the photo above. Slowly but surely, we're seeing more of Ms. Hill!

The Roots & John Legend ft. Melanie Fiona: Wake Up Everybody

Wakey, wakey! Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ hit serves as the lead single for The Roots and John Legend’s collaborative album. And for the video, Common and the lovely Canadian gyal Melanie Fiona appear. Love the beginning of the video, which explains that they're payin tribute to the legends of the past, and the legends of the future. Nicely put as the video fuses images from the present and the past. Positive message, positive video...i can dig it.

Wyclef Goes into Hiding

Apparently Wyclef Jean has gone into "hiding". He claims to have received death threats telling him to get out of the country, which has caused him to 'hide' with his family in a secret location in Haiti. Odd. Usually politicians go into hiding AFTER a coup d'etat, NOT before they're elected.
It's still uncertain if Wycelf meets eligibility requirements to run for the Haitian presidency. His eligibility was under question after claims that he has not lived in Haiti for five consecutive years before the election, a mandate in the nation's Constitution. But a lawyer for the artist says he's been paying taxes in Haiti for the last 5 years, and also owns a tv station there, which should make him qualify. The decisions were supposed to be made yesterday, but have now been extended till Friday. More than thirty people have filed to run for presidency, including Wyclef's uncle, and many of them are under review.

Ciara Poses Up

Ciara's "Basic Instinct" album is set to drop in October and she's hitting the promo circuit early with some new images. The only thing I will say about these images is they make me wanna hit the gym till I puke. LoL. Lookin sexxy as usual. Are you excited for CiCi's new project?

Trey Songz ft. Nicki Minaj: Bottoms Up

Just one day after we showed up the preview, the full-length video for Trey Songz's "Bottom Out" ft. Nicki Minaj has been released. Anthony Mandler directed this piece and I dunno about you, but it sure does remind me of Usher's "Lil Freak", which was also directed by Anthony Mandler. You know, the warehouse, the seductive girls, the darkness. Oh and I'm not feeling the Anthony Mandler cinematography that makes people look possessed in their videos. Just saying. Or maybe that's how you're supposed to get the drunk effect? I dunno.
p.s. I REALLY thought he wasn't going to take off his clothes...but he did
p.p.s. I love Nicki's verse. That is all.

Erykah Badu Pays for her Nakedness

Remember Erykah Badu's controversial video for the song "Window Seat"? The one where she stripped naked while walking in the same place that Kennedy was shot in 1963? Well, now she's paying for it with a $500 fine and six months probation.
Police in April cited her for disorderly conduct after a witness made a sworn complaint. A number of children were among the tourists and other random passers-by seen on the video. Dallas city spokesman Frank Librio says Badu paid the fine Friday.

Jay-Z Is Top Cash King

Forbes has released its annual hip-hop cash king list. Jay-Z tops the pile, as Forbes estimates that he grossed $63 million last year. Rounding out the top five are Dr.Dre ($17 million), Lil Wayne ($20 million), Akon ($21 million) and Diddy ($30 million).
According to Forbes, Jay-Z's income level places him in the 35% tax bracket, which means he'll pay Uncle Sam about $22 million this year--a sum greater than the total earnings of any other rap star besides second-ranked Diddy. "Jay-Z is in a league of his own right now," says Ryan Schinman, chief of Platinum Rye, the country's largest buyer of music and talent for corporations. "There are very few artists of any genre, not just hip-hop, who've created such brands for themselves."
By the way, if you're curious, Drake landed at number 11 and is the highest-earning newcomer on the list. He banked $9 million over the past 12 months, thanks to a new record deal, an advertising pact with Sprite and an agreement with Virgin America that plasters his likeness onto the sides of airplanes.

Chippy D's Dad Won't Talk To Her

Montana Fishburne, who is the daughter of actor Laurence Fishburne, recently decided to embark on a porn career. She's received quite a bit of attention for her decision especially considering that she's 18 and the daughter of a well-known actor. The only person not giving her any attention is her father. TMZ reports that Montana told media yesterday that she spoke to her father for the first time since all the porn hoopla.
According to Montana, her dad said, "I'm not going to speak with you 'till you turn your life around." Laurence was referring to his daughter joining the ranks of Vivid Entertainment as a porn star. Montana says Laurence added, "You embarrassed me." And that he had this parting shot: "You used your last name. No one uses their real name in porn."
Do you think this is a bad move? Should Laurence have tried to stage an intervention? Or would you have done the same?

Blondes Have More Fun

It looks like Cassie has traded in her half-baldie for a chin length blond bob. She was out having fun with her girls Khloe Kardashian, Malika Haqq and friends this weekend at Juliet nightclub where she debuted her new 'do. Cassie always seems to be reinventing herself. I'm not mad at her at all.

Trey Songz's "Bottoms Up" Tease

Trey Songz gets his sleek and sexy on in his video preview for "Bottoms Up". Looks like there's some burlesque looking dancers and a lot of darkness and a well-dressed Trey. Looking forward to seeing Nicki Minaj in the finished product. Her verse is one of the best things about the song.

Foxy Brown Indicted For Violating Order of Protection

We told you that last month Foxy was arrested for an argument with her neighbour who had an order of protection against Foxy from a 2007 confrontation. Following the arrest she entered a non-guilty plea and then went back to court to ask for an order of protection to be granted for her against her neighbour. The judge instead simply extended the order of protection that the neighbour had.
Well now, Foxy Brown has been indicted on charges of violating that order of protection. Prosecutors say Brown violated the order in July by screaming at neighbor Arlene Raymond before bending over, baring her buttocks at Raymond and showing her underwear while shouting an obscenity. The indictment announced Friday charges Fox with criminal contempt in the second degree. She could face up to one year in jail.
Damn, Foxy. Come on.

Jay-Z and Friends...

I dunno about ya'll but I think these photos of Jay-Z hanging with Chris Martin of Cold Play and his wife Gwyneth Paltrow are adorable! The three buddies hung out in the Hampsons, sans Beyonce, at a beach party. Who would've thought hip-hop would take it this far. Love, love, love this man!

P.Reign: In My Hood

Tronto rapper P.Reign (who by the way is featured in the latest issue of CreamWorld magazine, on newsstands now at Chapters/Indigo and HDS newsstands) drops his visual for the single "In My Hood." P.Reign channels Sincere (word to Nas in "Belly") in the opening scene of the video, which is directed by SharpShooter. Nice to see a positive jam come out of Toronto with a nicely-directed video.
p.s. Watch for Toronto's hip-hop golden child Drake as he makes his cameo.

Tiny & T.I. Take New York

Newlyweds T.I. and Tiny hit NYC this weekend for several events. T.I. looks to be right back in the swing of things with his fashion game, sporting a nice cardigan at one event and stylish hat at another. Tiny also looked very cute. I love these two together. *salutes*. haha...what? Just trying to be like T.I.
P.S. One tiny complaint, are those the same jeans T.I.? Well...I guess everyone has that one favourite pair.