The Boombox Music Blog

Black History Month 2012: 10 New Black Artists -- Emeli Sande + More

Latifah Muhammad — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:50:00 EST

Mike Marsland, WireImage | Michael Beon The evolution of black music is at the forefront of everything we listen to today. Soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop and even country music has flourished throughout the years due to the innovative feats of African American artists. Even as far back as slavery in the early 1860s, recordings of the first negro spirituals were found, and later evolved into what is now known as gospel, R&B and soul music. Legendary figures like Etta James, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Teddy Pendergrass and even Michael Jackson have built the foundation for the rhythm and blues circulating the internet and radio airwaves today. Hip-hop was born in the Bronx in the '70s, and subsequently raised in neighborhoods around the nation. The genre has since spanned the globe and branched out into a full-fledged culture, which now includes elements of deejaying, breakdancing and graffiti writing. Its origins can be traced back to the call-and-response style of African music, but icons like poet Gill Scott-Heron are credited with laying down a blueprint that innovators like Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and Kurtis Blow would follow. LL Cool J, Run DMC, The Sugarhill Gang and notable female MCs like Salt 'N' Pepa, Roxanne Shante and MC Lyte also paved the way for some of today's budding talents. In celebration of Black History Month in February, The BoomBox highlights a select group of artists moving up the music totem pole. Each of these 10 newcomers have talent directly influenced by the history of African American music. For that, we salute them. 10. Yobi This New York songstress is on the come-up, yet you wouldn't know it judging by some of the features she's snagged. Yobi's soulful pipes have been paired with the lyrical stylings of French Montana, Styles P and Maino -- the latter of which birthed the heartfelt track, 'Painful War.' With nearly 75,000 Twitter followers and over 110,000 views of her YouTube videos, Yobi expresses the perils of relationships over eclectic beats, while living comfortably between the worlds of hip-hop and R&B. ...

9. Kid Ink

Los Angeles-born and bred producer-turned-MC Kid Ink is the next big thing to come out of the Left Coast. The 24-year-old is a certified Internet sensation, clocking over 25 million views on YouTube, more than 120,000 followers on Twitter and nearly 230,000 fans on Facebook. With a few mixtapes out, like 2011's 'Daydreamer,' and collaborations with hip-hop's new school including Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and Nipsey Hussle, superstardom is right around the corner.

8. Audra the Rapper

There's a new school of female rappers who are turning heads for being both outspoken and talented, and Audra the Rapper fits that bill. Just like her Twitter page states, this Washington D.C. native is most definitely "reminiscent of the '90s." As the first lady of Rick Ross' Maybach Music imprint, Audra is known to go up against her male counterparts with a ferocious flow. She may be young, but there's nothing about her skillset that's adolescent.

7. Diggs Duke

It's been a long time since an artist has been able to combine jazz, R&B and hip-hop influences so seamlessly, which is why we love Diggs Duke. With a voice similar to John Legend, Duke masterfully adds a level of personality and artistic creativity to topics that would otherwise be unoriginal. For now, he's offering two EP's -'Gravity' and 'Black Gold' -- for less than $5.00 but the quality of the music is priceless.

6. K'La

With over a million views of her 'All Your Love' single -- a remake of Bob Marley's 'Turn Your Lights Down Low' -- songstress K'La is what R&B has been missing. The tattooed Def Jam signee hails from Gary, Ind., and has been gaining notoriety thanks to her 'Coldest Winter Ever' mixtape. The honesty in her music has garnered comparisons to a young Mary J. Blige and she's been known to spit a rap verse or too. Talk about a total package.

5. Kirko Bangz

Representing Houston, Kirko Bangz is one of the most popular young MCs on the 'net. He can harmonize and rap, so it's no surprise that the Drake comparisons are starting to roll in. His single, 'Drank In My Cup,' strengthened his star power and after dropping his most recent mixtape, 'The Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa,' Bangz is not only perfecting his craft but well on his way to etching out his own niche in the hip-hop arena.

4. Mike Jaggerr

Born in New York and raised in Delaware, Mike Jaggerr's industry buzz has been steadily on the rise. The 22-year-old dropped his 'The Eleventh Hour' mixtape last year, and the hip-hop world took notice. A current resident of the thoroughest borough -- aka Brooklyn -- Jaggerr is one wordsmith who stands out for the personal accounts ingrained in his lyrics. Plus, he's a pretty adept producer as well, crafting the beats supporting his rhymes. This year is sure to bring the unsigned MC a label deal as he rides the wave of his new track, the Audra the Rapper-supported 'Sweet Waters.'

3. Bei Maejor

Like any good singer-songwriter eyeing the big leagues, Bei Maejor got his start working behind the scenes. He's penned and produced music for the likes of Monica, Drake and Frank Ocean, among others, but it's his budding solo career that's grabbed our attention. With a style all his own, the Grammy nominee has dropped a few mixtapes, like the 'Upside Down' project, and recently a single called 'Trouble' with a remix featuring Wale, Trey Songz, Nelly and T-Pain. Now he's prepping the release of his debut LP tentatively titled 'Making Up,' due out sometime this year.

2. Azealia Banks

From her vibrant fashion sense to her explicit wordplay, Azealia Banks turns heads. The Harlem native has been putting in work on the underground scene for years and by 2011, her notoriety skyrocketed. While it doesn't hurt that she's publicly dissed Nicki Minaj and White Girl mob rapper Kreayshawn and been touted as the "future of music" by Kanye West, the fact that her music is equal parts clever, unique and unapologetic only sweetens the deal.

1. Emeli Sande

Scotland isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of R&B, so here's hoping Emeli Sande will change your mind. The Scottish singer is both a vocalist and a musician whose voice is reminiscent of music's Motown era. Her debut album, 'Our Version of Events,' will see a release date next week in the U.K. and in spring for the U.S., with the lead single, 'Heaven,' already having chart success overseas. Whether she's belting out ballads like 'Hope' or tapping her toes to 'Next to Me,' there's a good chance that Sande will give Adele a run for her money.

2012 Artists to Watch

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Karina Pasian Says She Can't 'Choose' Chris Brown, Preps 'Trips to Venus'

Latifah Muhammad — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:55:00 EST

Simone Smalls PR, Inc Karina Pasian has never fit the mold of artists in her musical category. At 16, she was introduced to the music scene by way of the heartfelt single '16 at War.' The teenager became the center of a bidding war between Interscope, Bad Boy and Def Jam Records, the latter of which signed her to a contract in 2006. Her vocal talent is not only brawny but it crosses language barriers, and she's able to belt out songs in English, Spanish, Turkish, Italian, French and Arabic. Before she was even legal, the New Yorker made an impact for being unique. While labelmates like Rihanna were singing about heartbreak on 'Take a Bow,' Pasian was tackling single-parent households and the pressures of being a teenager on her first single, penned by none other than The-Dream and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. The next few years would find Pasian doing everything from performing for former President George W. Bush at the White House celebration for Black Music Month in 2007, to snagging a Grammy nomination in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category in 2008. As her popularity hit a lull, the singer severed ties with Def Jam and is retooling her career and readying her sophomore album. Now 20, Pasian has been in the studio with Grammy-winning producers Needlz and Barry Eastmond, first constructing her EP 'Trips to Venus,' and now making new music. The six-track project was initially released last year to commemorate the holiday season, with a cover of Nat King Cole's 'The Christmas Song.' The re-release -- due out on Valentine's Day -- will find the Dominican chanteuse covering another legendary artist: Minnie Riperton. In the midst of promoting the EP, Pasian reveals why she opted to channel Minnie Riperton on the project, what she's learned since her first label deal, why she won't be attending the 54th Annual Grammy Awards this year and the reason why she can't choose between Chris Brown and one lauded soul singer. ...

Watch Karina Pasian's '16 at War'

Where did the title 'Trips to Venus' come from?

I literally just had a list of titles that I was brainstorming and that was one of them. I just thought, all the songs are love-based and Venus has to do with love and beauty and stuff. I don't know where it came from, I just wrote down the title on the list, and that one just stuck out to me.

Of the five original songs on the EP, which means the most to you?

I would say 'Perfectly Different.' It was the first song that I wrote on my own. It felt very personal. I just really related to it a lot. When I wrote it, it was like two years ago. In that process I would just sing songs that [other] people would write. When I was signed to Def Jam I was younger too, so I just wanted to get experience and learn a lot. For me to finally just pour out what I was feeling, and I was actually in a relationship at the time -- and it was actually what I was feeling at the moment -- it meant a lot to me.

What was the inspiration behind covering Nat King Cole's 'The Christmas' song?

I love, love, love, Christmas time. It's what I really look forward to every year. That song is a classic. It's one of my favorite Christmas songs, and I love jazz. I was like, you know what, I'm gong to put my own spin to it and see what comes out, and I loved it!

Tell me about the re-release of 'Trips to Venus' and how will it be different?

Well the re-release should happen Feb. 14. There are going to be probably one or two news songs on there. The version that was out was the holiday edition. [On the re-release] I did [Minnie Riperton's] 'Loving You' for a cover.

You were signed to Def Jam when you first came out. What are some of the biggest lessons that you've learned about working in the music industry?

I guess just always be prepared for everything. Everything can happen in the blink of an eye, just always be prepared for those moments. Especially in the industry everything is so fast moving, you never know what can happen.

When you released '16 at War,' it was opposite of what we were hearing at that time. Where did that maturity come from?

I don't know [laughs]. Just being so young in the industry and seeing things that not every regular teenager experiences and goes through. Even though I was still going to school, I would see what people were going through around me as well. I guess it just shapes who you are and how you see things. I just really wanted people to get a sense that I wasn't just like a cookie cutter teeny bopper. I wanted people to take me seriously.

Was there any fear that the song could've backfired?

I think I've always been really secure. I feel like that will definitely go through in my music, and who I am as a person. There were moments of course where... we really weren't sure what direction to go [with me] being so young. At the same time that was me taking a stance and showing who I am as an artist, and I feel like it was a pretty good introduction.

How did it feel to have your first album, 'First Love,' nominated for a Grammy?

It was amazing! I was actually doing my homework when I found out. It was like, "Oh OK, let me just put my homework away and start celebrating." I really was surprised, I wasn't expecting it. I was just so grateful and happy that they gave that to me.

The category that you were in, Best Contemporary R&B Album, will be removed after this year. Chris Brown, El DeBarge, R. Kelly, Ledisi and Kelly Price are all up for that award this year. Who are you rooting for to win?

Wow. Um, that's pretty tough 'cause I love Chris Brown, I respect him so much as an artist. I think he's amazing but Ledisi is amazing. I don't know. I wouldn't be able to [choose].

Are you going this year?

No, I'm not. I'm going to be working on music, so I can go to it next year!

Watch 'Flashback: Chris Brown'

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2012 Predictions: Beef, Lana Del Rey, Diddy Make Our List

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:35:00 EST

With 2012 in full swing, it's time to look forward to what the new year will bring in the hip-hop and R&B worlds. With game-changers, newsmakers and a host of new albums on the way, the next 12 months will shape up to be a very interesting year in music, which is why we've compiled a list of industry predictions. Far from wishful thinking, The BoomBox relied on hard facts, some lyrical beef and even a celebrity baby to formulate 10 moments we think will occur and grab your attention this year. Whether it be Common and Drake putting an end to their 'Stay Schemin' ways or indie darling-turned-major label fixture Lana Del Rey collaborating with some soulful crooners or rap gods, there's something for any hip-hop and R&B fan to talk about. 10. Hip-Hop's Notorious Players Settle Down Jeff Gross, Getty Images Aside from their day jobs, Lil Wayne and Diddy have something else in common: they love the ladies. Diddy has fathered six children by four different women and Wayne has four offspring by four separate women, but they both appear to be on the brink of monogamy. Weezy met girlfriend, Dhea, last year and has been gushing over her ever since. Meanwhile, the perpetually single Diddy is rumored to be getting up close and very personal with actress Cameron Diaz, even kissing her in public. Here's hoping these guys can finally find true love in 2012. ...

9. The Next Dance Craze & Matching Instructional Video Emerges

Paul Zimmerman, WireImage

Dance has long been an integral component of hip-hop and R&B -- just look at videos from MC Hammer and Mary J. Blige, respectively -- so fusing a dance move and a catchy song are an obvious recipe for success. In 2012, we'd like to see the dougie and the cat daddy crazes replaced by reggae-inspired moves. The man for the job is the king of dutty rock, Sean Paul. The 39-year-old will drop his 'Tomahawk Technique' album later this month, and with its debut there's sure to come some fancy footwork.

8. T.I. Stays Out of Jail

Michael N. Todaro, Getty Images

T.I. finished his latest stint behind bars in September 2011, and it looks like the King of the South is done dabbling in illegal activity. Upon his release, Tip showed the world a new side of himself by way of his VH1 reality show, 'T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle.' The father of six seems happiest with his children, which is a great motivator to prevent spending another second behind bars.

7. Beyonce Earns Some Best Mom Awards

Steve Granitz, WireImage

This month already marked a very special milestone for Beyonce, and the year hasn't even passed 30 days in yet. One week into the new year, the superstar welcomed her baby girl Blue Ivy Carter, into the world. Even though she's a first-time mom, Bey doesn't have to look very far for inspiration. The 30-year-old notes her mother Tina and sister Solange as great parenting examples, and if her dedication to her career is any indication of the devotion she will put into being a mother, she'll do a wonderful job.

6. Kanye West Goes Hard in His DJ Career

John Sciulli, WireImage

Kanye West never does anything mediocre so when it comes to spinning records, he'll likely live up to his hard-working reputation. The Chicago MC debuted his DJ skills under the name Yeezy World Peace in December 2011, at a New Year's Eve party in Las Vegas. Much like his innovation when it comes to music and fashion, this is one artist-turned DJ that we feel will be just as good at dropping beats as he is at spitting rhymes.

5. Amber Rose Teams With Just Blaze

Chris McKay, FilmMagic

Amber Rose has gone from stripper to model to style icon, and now she's tackling a music career. Current girlfriend of Wiz Khalifa, and ex-girlfriend of Kanye West, Rose has long been in the presence of dope MCs. Her new single, 'Fame,' is a dance floor tune coated in pop flavor and serves as the first offering for critics to judge if the Philly native has talent. After landing a judging gig on BET's 'Master of the Mix' DJ reality show, which ended earlier this month, a collaboration with lauded producer and fellow judge Just Blaze may be in the works and just what she needs to be taken seriously.

4. Roman Gets His Revenge

Kevin Winter/DCNYRE2012, Getty Images

Nicki Minaj has teased fans -- known as her legion of "Barbz" -- with the lyrical venom of Roman Zolanski, her nasty, male alter ego. For her sophomore album, 'Pink Friday: Roman's Revenge,' the Queens native will finally give him a chance to shine. His crass, take-no-prisoners demeanor is expected to appear more than any of her other rap personalities on the effort. The follow-up to Minaj's monstrous solo debut is slated for release on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14), but we have a sneaky suspicion that 'Roman's Revenge' will be far from sweet.

3. Andre 3000 Drops a New Album

George Pimentel, WireImage

It's been nearly a decade since Andre 3000 dropped his 'Love Below' album and hip-hop has been patiently awaiting his return ever since. Last year brought a few features by the lauded lyricist including Beyonce's 'Party,' Kesha's 'Sleazy' remix, Young Jeezy's 'I Do' and Drake's 'The Real Her,' however, the second half of OutKast has yet to drop his own music. This year is the perfect time for "Three Stacks" to bless us once again with his musical genius and deliver an album to satiate listeners appetites.

2. Hip-Hop & R&B Wants Lana Del Rey

Andy Sheppard, Redferns

Interscope Record's newest signee Lana Del Rey could become hip-hop and R&B's next go-to collaborator. With pipes reminiscent of Adele and Amy Winehouse, finding her jumping on tracks with the likes of Nas or Jay-Z doesn't seem unfathomable. The self-proclaimed "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" has just enough edge to hold a rap dude's attention -- producer Clams Casino recently remixed her 'Born to Die' track -- and her forthcoming major label debut of the same name may give her enough credibility to live between the lanes of both hip-hop and R&B.

1. Drake & Common End Their Lyrical Beef

Steve Mack, FilmMagic | Jason Merritt, Getty Images

The verbal war between Drake and Common is still in its infancy, but we've already had enough. Common ignited the beef with 'Sweet' off his recently released 'The Dreamer, The Believer' album, forcing Drake to respond on 'Stay Schemin,' a song featured on Rick Ross' 'Rich Forever' mixtape. One month later, a full-grown beef has emerged with the Chi-town MC referring to the Toronto rapper as a "h-- a-- n----" on a remix to 'Stay Schemin.' Even though competition keeps hip-hop interesting, we'd rather these two just squash their differences by releasing a joint track -- Drizzy's sensitive vocals paired with Common's euphoric flow.

Watch Drake's 'Headlines' Video

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The Blueprint: 11 Celebrity Kids Walk Their Parent's Path

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

James Coldrey, WireImage Most people would scoff at the thought of taking over the family business, but when it's show business, the perks seem to outweigh any negative aspects. In the world of music, there are trail blazers that have become a household name because of their determination and dedication to perfecting their sound and building their brand. So it only makes sense that the work ethic they possess would rub off on their offspring. Jay-Z and Beyonce are prime examples of those who possess such qualities. New parents to daughter Blue Ivy, born Jan. 7, the married couple may one day watch their child entertain the masses in much the same way they've done throughout their storied careers. To highlight the prospect of baby Blue grabbing a mic or showing her acting chops in the future, The BoomBox shines a light on a slew of celebrity seeds following in their famous parents' footsteps. ...

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Tamar Braxton: Lady Gaga's Producer Crafting Her Album

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:55:00 EST

Chris McKay, FilmMagic Being the wife of a super-producer, and sister to a multi-Grammy winner might give most new artists cold feet, but Tamar Braxton likes the pressure. The singer, who is the youngest sister of Toni Braxton and wife of Vincent Herbert -- the man behind hits for Lady Gaga, Mindless Behavior and JoJo, among others -- is prepping the release of her sophomore album, due later this year. More than a decade after releasing her self-titled debut in 2000, the budding reality star has teamed with Herbert to create the sound. "My husband has influenced me to be myself, not to be afraid to open up and try new things because at first I was very apprehensive," the 34-year-old tells The BoomBox, during a press event at the SLS Hotel in Hollywood, Calif. Wed. (Jan. 11). Alongside her sisters, husband and mother, Tamar discussed the current season of their successful 'Braxton Family Values' show airing on WEtv. Noticeably absent from the event was Toni, who was experiencing a "flare-up" of lupus, an autoimmune disorder from which she suffers. ...

With all the attention she has garnered from the show, Tamar sees 2012 as the perfect time to drop her new album. "This record for me is everything that I am," she states. "It's opinionated, it's spicy, it's vulnerable at times and I'm just really excited about it. I can't really compare it to anybody's sound. It's not [like] Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry, it's Tamar. It really is fire -- fire and ice."

Working with Herbert pushed the chanteuse, who notes her husband as a perfectionist, to work that much harder. "He expects the very best. It's just like you're having a kid and they're going outside acting crazy," Tamar reveals. "He [Vince] ain't having that."

Null of an album title, the next few months will be very busy for Tamar, who is eyeing a summer release date for the project. She will also begin filming her spin-off show, 'Tamar & Vince,' in March.

'Braxton Family Values' airs Thursday's at 9PM EST.

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Mac Miller, Cobra Starship: 'Middle Finger' Released

Latifah Muhammad — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST

Johnny Nunez, WireImage When you think of hip-hop music, alternative rock band Cobra Starship may be the last people that come to mind, but the chart-topping foursome is very much influenced by the culture. The group linked with indie rapper Mac Miller for the promotional track 'Middle Finger,' which hit the 'net last summer and will be released as an official single next week though it can be bought on iTunes today (Jan. 3). "It's just like a fun song," Cobra Starship lead singer Gabe Saporta tells The BoomBox. "We shot a video for it. It kind of reminds us of the videos we used to make before we had video budgets. It's a really fun video for us." Miller had an impressive 2011, shocking the industry with the No. 1 debut of his 'Blue Side Park' album, which sold 145,000 copies in its first week. A strong online presence and the popularity of his 'Donald Trump' record, which has since gone gold, propelled the once unknown Pittsburgh MC into a whole new lane. ...

"I saw it coming," Saporta says of Miller's success.

Despite having the opportunity to add a more popular rapper to the track, produced by Norwegian production duo Stargate, Saporta chose to go with Miller because he was lesser known.

"We worked on the track with Stargate and they're totally hooked up," he reveals. "They had a big name rapper that they wanted to get on the track. My vibe was like, 'I feel like everyone has used the same big name rappers all the time,' and I just wanted to get someone who was fresh. I was already a Mac Miller fan. I heard 'Let 'Em In,' 'Knock, Knock.' I love [those] song[s], so thats why I wanted him on the record."

'Middle Finger' is currently available for download via iTunes here.

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Lupe Fiasco: 'SNDCLSH' EP Kicks Off His DJ Career -- Exclusive

Latifah Muhammad — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST

Jerritt Clark, Getty Images As the fate of his forthcoming 'Food & Liquor II' album hangs in the balance, Lupe Fiasco is taking on other opportunities, one of them being his new DJ album, 'SNDCLSH,' which will be released later this year. The Chicago rapper has been very vocal about his ongoing battle with his label, Atlantic Records, and in the midst of touring for much of 2011, Fiasco has taken on a new hobby. "I got a couple side projects coming up [like] my DJ album 'SNDCLSH,'" he tells The BoomBox. "Me and my partner [DJ] Sky [Gellatly] put together an all electronic, all dance music album. No rapping, no hip-hop, just all dance music." Fiasco started deejaying a while back and decided to turn his spinning talent into a full-length project. "I got an offer to DJ like a year-and-a-half ago," he reveals. "It was something that I was good at, so it was like I got tired of playing other people's music so it's like, I might as well make my own dance music. It should be good." ...

'SNDCLSH' will be less about adding to his growing pockets and more about giving back to the community, with all proceeds of the album to be donated. "We actually going to be working for other people on this record," he stated.

The album is slated for release sometime this spring. Check out a remix the two recently debuted, featuring DJ Kue. The original track appears on Lupe's 'Lasers' LP.

Listen to DJ Lupe Fiasco & DJ Sky Gellatly's 'Letting Go' Remix Feat. DJ Kue

Watch 'How to Play Paris Tokyo - Lupe Fiasco- Piano Tutorial'

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Mase Sued: Rapper Lawsuit Stems From $35,000 Jewelry Bill

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST

Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic Former Bad Boy rapper-turned-preacher Mase is being sued for not paying a jewelry bill. According to TMZ.com, Aydin and Company, a jeweler located in Atlanta, Ga., has filed suit against the Harlem native for skipping out on a $35,000 bill. The company filed suit in Georgia, claiming that Mase has been delinquent on several bills dating back to 2005. Attempts to settle the legal discrepancy were shot down by Mase, who they accuse of "evading service." The company alleges that he has been dodging them for months, even having his staff turn representatives from the jewelry store away from his house. As a result, Aydin and Company has been forced to hire a process server to file an affidavit in the case. ...

The company seeks full payment of the tab, plus 1.5 percent monthly interest added for each month that the bill went unpaid as well as coverage of attorney fees.

Mase has been battling it out with the company since summer 2011, and responded by filing his own legal paperwork, moving that the suit be dismissed on grounds of bad service. He also maintains to have never actually signed an "alleged contract at issue in case."

As a rapper on Diddy's Bad Boy label imprint, Mase hit the music scene with his 'Harlem World' debut in 1997, but left the industry to follow his religious calling. After a five year hiatus, he returned to the game by way of 2004's 'Welcome Back,' and attempted to sign to 50 Cent's G-Unit records, but the deal was stalled by Diddy's refusal to let the 36-year-old out of his Bad Boy contract.

In October 2009, Diddy officially released Mase from the contract, signing the paperwork live on-air during an interview at Atlanta's V-103 radio station.

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Lupe Fiasco New Album: MC 'Waiting' on Atlantic Records

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

Chelsea Lauren, WireImage Lupe Fiasco ushered in 2012, headlining the Big Bang New Year's Eve party in Hollywood Saturday night (Dec. 31). Fiasco shared the bill with alternative band Cobra Starship and singing-producing duo Rock Mafia, for the event, held at the Highland & Hollywood complex. Hosted by Mario Lopez of 'Extra TV,' the venue was packed full of concert-goers, who purchased tickets to see the live performances and music from seven different DJs. When asked to headline the show, Fiasco made his decision based on one reason. "The money!" he tells The BoomBox. "I don't drink, it's gotta be something to pull me here, it's called money." Taking the stage last, the 29-year-old MC ran through his music catalog with a high-energy set, complimented by a live band. He showcased his rhymes on songs 'The Show Goes On,' 'Out of My Head' and 'Kick Push,' among others. ...

The year 2011 proved to be full of accomplishments for the Chicago rapper, whose third album, 'Lasers,' hit stores in March. Amid controversy stemming from Atlantic Records delaying the project, the LP debuted atop the Billboard charts, selling 200,000 copies in its first week. He plans to begin work on his fourth effort this year.

"The 'Lupe [Fiasco's Food & Liquor II]' album is [coming out] hopefully. It's not on me," he reveals. "It's not done yet. I'm waiting on my record company, ain't nothing changed. Same business, it's on them."

While he waits on his label, Fiasco is gearing up to go back out on the road. "We got a big tour coming up in Australia in April, and we got a couple things sprinkled through the top part of the year," he states. "Nothing real crazy, we're going to wait until the album drops to really go hard."

Watch 'How to Play Paris Tokyo - Lupe Fiasco- Piano Tutorial'

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T.I. 'F--- da City Up' Mixtape Drops With Young Jeezy, Dr. Dre

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

Prince Williams, FilmMagic As promised, T.I. celebrated 2012 by gifting fans with the release of his 'F--- da City Up' mixtape, which dropped New Year's Day at midnight. The self-proclaimed King of the South commissioned a star-studded guest list for the 19-track effort. His first release since getting out of prison, Tip collaborates with the likes of Nelly, Young Jeezy, Too Short and Dr. Dre on the tape -- available for download here -- and spits over beats by super producers, including DJ Toomp, Just Blaze, Mannie Fresh and T-Minus. The 'T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle' reality TV star has wasted no time getting back into the swing of things as a free man, signing on for his reality show, running a clothing line and managing his family life. ...

Even with so much on his plate, 'F--- da City Up' was at the forefront of Tip's mind for 2012. "Between [a New Year's Eve] party and the mixtape, that's all I got going. New year, new money. That's that," he told MTV News.

This time around, the 31-year-old is being more calculated with his post-prison album releases, since last year's 'No Mercy' failed to live up to expectations. In preparation for 'F--- Da City Up,' the Atlanta native posted black-and-white trailers of recording sessions on the 'net in December.

His highly anticipated eighth album, 'Trouble Man,' is expected to hit stores later this year.

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Raekwon: 'Unexpected Victory' Mixtape Debuts New Material

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST

Isaiah Trickey, FilmMagic Raekwon started the new year off on a musical foot, dropping his 'Unexpected Victory' mixtape on New Year's Day. Originally slated for release on Christmas Day, the 17-track mixtape features appearances from Mobb Deep and Busta Rhymes, plus production from the likes of 9th Wonder, Scram Jones and Statik Selektah. In promotion of the project, Rea collaborated with New York-based company Mighty Healthy to release a collection of limited edition shirts bearing his name and the name of the mixtape, all positioned behind a gold microphone. Only 100 shirts were printed and made available to those who purchased a hard copy of 'Unexpected Victory.' ...

The album premiered on DatPiff, and is a precursor to a host of forthcoming projects." I got a lot of things coming up," he said in a HipHopDX.com interview recently. "You got the 20-year Wu anniversary about to jump off. You know we scheming on some things. Going back on the road, doing something legendary again."

2012 will also mark the release of the Wu-Tang Clan member's new album, 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx III,' due out this spring.

Download 'Unexpected Victory' here.

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Beyonce Pregnant: Solange Ends News of Baby Arrival

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

Jim Spellman, WireImage Beyonce fans hoped the '4' creator would pop out Jay-Z's offspring this weekend, however, it looks like the singer hasn't gone into labor just yet. The 'Countdown' performer's sister is setting the record straight about rumors the star gave birth within the last few days. Solange Knowles singled out her big sister in a post via her Twitter page. "Shout out to my sister for being THE cutest pregnant woman ever!" she wrote Sunday (Jan. 1). Apparently, Beyonce is still very much sporting a baby bump and welcomed 2012 without going into labor. The 25-year-old also posted about partying the night away with her brother-in-law Hov. "Shout out to my brother for being in the champagne business! Shout out to my brother for actually pouring the champagne." ...

Even though Bey didn't make a public appearance on New Year's Eve, she still managed to perform on the small screen. The 'Dick Clark New Year's Rockin' Eve' special on ABC aired a pre-taped performance of Beyonce belting out 'I Am Here,' which she also did during the Glastonbury festival in London earlier this year.

Last week, a story emerged claiming that the former Destiny's Child frontwoman had checked into New York City's St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in preparation for delivery. According to reports, the multi-Grammy winner reserved the same hospital suite used by Alicia Keys when she gave birth to her son, Egypt, last October. Staff members were also said to have been put on alert regarding the arrival of a "celebrity VIP."

Other than gushing over the prospect of becoming a mother, Beyonce has kept mum on many of the details surrounding the birth of the baby. Her fellow Destiny's Child group member, Kelly Rowland, let it slip that the 30-year-old was expecting a girl, but she has yet to confirm or deny the sex of the baby.

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Chris Brown, Karrueche Tran Ring in New Year Together

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:35:00 EST

Mindy Small, FilmMagic Chris Brown turned his New Year's Eve hosting gig into date night, bringing his girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, along to PURE nightclub in Las Vegas Saturday night (Dec. 31). Dressed in a black suit, Brown posed for photos with his petite beauty, who rocked a short white dress with red heels. While it was rumored that he was sending out subliminal tweets to his ex-girlfriend Rihanna last week, the R&B crooner appears to be happy with Tran, who he has been dating for several months. ...

Once inside the club, the Virginia native partied with singer Kevin McCall and performed some of his hits including 'Yeah 3X,' 'Beautiful People' and 'Strip,' the first single off his forthcoming 'Fortune' album. He dropped a video for the track early last month.

In 2011, Breezy re-emerged as an R&B force, kicked off by the commercial success of 'F.A.M.E.' Released in May, the album debuted in the No. 1 spot on Billboard's 200 charts, selling 270,000 copies in its first week and spawning hit singles like 'Look at Me Now.'

On New Year's Day, the 22-year-old took to his Twitter page to thank fans for their continued support. "I LOVE Team Breezy unconditionally! he wrote. "Goodbye 2011. Let 2012 bring as much peace positivity and happiness as possible!"

'Fortune' is slated for a March release.

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Kanye West Shows Off DJ Skills in Las Vegas, Welcomes 2012

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:15:00 EST

Noel Vasquez, Getty Images Kanye West is proving that he's serious about his new DJ career. The Chicago MC rang in the New Year with his second DJ gig of 2011, spinning at the opening of 1OAK nightclub at the Mirage in Las Vegas Saturday night (Dec. 31). The producer-rapper -- under the moniker DJ Yeezy World Peace -- played a mixture of classics from the likes of Diana Ross and Michael Jackson alongside some of the biggest hits of the past year. Black Eyed Peas songstress Fergie hosted the bash, which was attended by her husband, actor Josh Duhamel, and West's G.O.O.D. Music protégés Big Sean and Kid Cudi. The 34-year-old first tested out his skills spinning overseas at London's Baron nightclub last week, and announced his new career move via Twitter. ...

"My New Years DJ name is gone be YEEZY WORLD PEACE!" If you book me you have to put YEEZY WORLD PEACE on the E-vite. Or I ain't spinning," he tweeted, borrowing the name change from Los Angeles Lakers player Ron Artest, who now goes by Meta World Peace.

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New Year's Eve 2011: Nicki Minaj, Drake + More Performing

Latifah Muhammad — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST

WireImage | FilmMagic 2011 is on its way out the door and tons of music stars have plans to ring in the new year at soirees all over the country. The competition is stiff in the race for the city with the most star power, but New York City, Las Vegas, Miami and Los Angeles are all boasting an impressive roster of big names. According to Rap-Up.com, heavy hitters like Drake, Nicki Minaj, Lupe Fiasco and Chris Brown, among others, are all booked for appearances at some of the biggest New Year's Eve bashes. Drizzy will take his talents to NBC with a performance on 'New Year's Eve with Carson Daily,' joining The Roots and Cee Lo Green, before heading to Las Vegas for a show the next day. His fellow Young Money family member Tyga is also scheduled to appear in Sin City, toasting the new year at Crown Theater inside the Rio. ...

Vegas will also host Chris Brown at PURE nightclub, B.o.B., whose locked in at LAX inside the Luxor Hotel and John Legend, who will bring in 2012 at Moon inside the Palms. Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am will be at the nearby Wynn Hotel, partying the night away at club Encore and Mary J. Blige is set to kick-off the opening of RPM at the newly remodeled Tropicana hotel.

Over in the Big Apple, Nicki Minaj will perform on 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve With Ryan Seacrest.' The show is full of other big names including Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, plus pre-taped performances from Taio Cruz, Gym Class Heroes, Pitbull and LMFAO. Rumor has it that Beyonce will also show up at the celebration, but most likely that will be a pre-taped set as well with all of this labor news this week. J.Cole and Mac Miller will also party it up in Times Square for MTV'S 'NYE in NYC 2012' celebration.

Miami has also snagged a few notable big names including Rick Ross, who will host a party at Cameo, and Lauryn Hill, who will take the stage at the Shelborne Beach Resort.

Hollywood will flex its celebrity muscle with Lupe Fiasco performing at the Kodak Theatre for the 'Bing Bang New Year's Eve' event hosted by actor Mario Lopez. Partygoers are set to enjoy tunes from Tom Cruise's son Conner, aka DJ C-Squared, who will man the turntables. Additionally, rapper Kreayshawn will keep it "West Coast," headlining a show at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco.

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Best & Worst Christmas Gifts From T. Mills, Kandi + More

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:55:00 EST

Nothing quite compares to the feeling of receiving the perfect holiday gift, except for getting the wrong one. With the holiday season in full swing, and only a few shopping days left until Christmas, the malls will be jammed with last minute shoppers looking to snag the perfect present for someone special. The BoomBox is fully submerged in the holiday spirit, and to celebrate, we caught up with a few hip-hop and R&B stars who express their sentiments on the best, and most importantly, the worst gifts they've ever received. From money to teddy bears and even a Snuggie, some walked away with the nicest and strangest gifts. Ben Hider, Getty Images "My best Christmas gift would have to be a drum set [I got] when I was 14. My parents did a really good job of hiding it from me. I woke up to some drum sticks and a practice pad, and thought that was it, then they opened the garage and I had a full drum set inside! I played pretty much the whole day. I will always remember that Christmas gift. Much love to my mom and dad." -- T. Mills ...

Johnny Nunez, WireImage

"I'm eight years younger than my brother, who [is] deceased, and when I was six and he was 14. I received so many gifts! They were spread out on the floor and the couch, and my brother's gifts only covered one chair. I felt so bad that I gave him this huge teddy bear that I got, and we named it Ted E. Bear together. My brother loved that bear, and I loved that I could share it with him." -- Kandi Burruss, of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' and former member of Xscape

Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic

"The worst Christmas gift I ever got was from a family friend when I was about 13. I was looking to get a bike and they got me a teddy bear when I was way past the age of cuddling! It just didn't really make sense. I tried to make the best of it though, so I gave the teddy bear to a girl. I didn't get the gift I wanted but the bear made itself useful in the end!" -- Sean Paul

David Livingston, Getty Images

"Best gift I ever received? I still say my Sega Genesis! My grandma got me that Sega, and I knew that she didn't have it [money] like that but she saved up. She was the last place I visited that Christmas. It was the last gift I got the whole day, I went crazy! I think it came with Sonic [the Hedgehog], I got like two other games to go with it. I still got it, I'm a hoarder!" -- Lloyd

Tibrina Hobson, FilmMagic

"I'm a southern girl through and through, so my best gift for Christmas was, and still is, having the entire family together under one roof. I'm a bit of a chef in my mind, so when my grandma bought me Paula Dean's cookbook collection [one year] it was the best gift ever! I have been adding large amounts of butter to meals ever since! My favorite recipe is all about "the sweets." Homemade pralines make any Christmas great!" -- Dawn Richard of Diddy-Dirty Money

David Livingston, Getty Images

"A good friend of mine gave me a card with money in it. I opened the card and it was $40 and it said, 'Just a little something. Spend it on whatever you want.' The kicker is that homie owed me $100. I'd been trying to get that loot for months!! I wanted to say, 'This is ain't a gift! This is a down payment. Where's the other 60 bucks?" -- Mateo

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

"My best gift was this Minnie Mouse fake kitchen playhouse made out of wood. I was 5 when I got it, but I still remember how happy I was! My mom and step-dad, at the time, gave [it] to me. I've always been a big Disney fan so that was extra special. I ended up leaving it in the house we used to live in because it was haunted so when we moved out, we left everything in there." -- Kreayshawn

David Livingston, Getty Images

"About five years ago, my mom bought me a pair of black-and-varsity red Jordan XIIs. I had them for a month when I started noticing the side panel peeling off. A few days later the sole started peeling off. I compared them side by side with my friend's pair and it became immediately apparent they were fake. My mother was none the wiser, she was just trying to make me happy, but never buy Jordan's on eBay!" -- Mike Posner

Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic

"The worst gift I ever received was a custom made Gucci Snuggie a fan sent me in 2009. It had the Gucci logo and colors plastered all over it. It was thoughtful 'cause I do like Gucci, but I've never understood the whole Snuggie thing. I couldn't imagine putting one on and sitting around with my boys. I would look ridiculous! Instead I gave it to my cousin so it didn't go to waste. I think he still has it!" -- DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia

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Lloyd: Christmas Album Needs to 'Stand the Test of Time'

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:45:00 EST

Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic Singer Lloyd is getting into the holiday spirit the best way that he knows how: through music. The Atlanta native recently recorded two Christmas songs, 'You & Me (This Christmas)' and 'She's All I Want for Christmas,' the latter of which he performed on 'A Very BET Christmas Special,' which aired on the cable network earlier this month, and showcased in a new video on The BoomBox Wednesday (Dec. 21). Despite putting out a couple of holiday tracks, the 25-year-old isn't yet ready to commit to doing an entire holiday album. "I would like to record a holiday album but I would like to record one that could stand the test of time," he tells The BoomBox. "I feel like the music that I grew up listening to, it's still so good that I think things like that comes with time. Sometimes, those holiday albums could be recorded in two to three months or two to three years before you actually release it as a a collection." ...

Noting some of his favorite Christmas songs as 'Little Drummer Boy,' by the Jackson 5 and James Brown's 'Santa Clause Go Straight to The Ghetto,' Lloyd is content with releasing holiday singles for now. "There's a lot of great albums that came out from [Michael] Buble ['Christmas'] to [Justin] Bieber ['Under the Mistletoe']. I'm happy that I was able to get my first original idea out there. Maybe next year we'll be able to put out a whole album."

'She's All I Want for Christmas' is available for download via iTunes.

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The-Dream: Beyonce Is a 'Maniac' Even During Pregnancy

Latifah Muhammad — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:10:00 EST

Michael Tullberg, Getty Images Beyonce only has a couple months to go before she takes on her biggest job yet -- becoming a mother. Yet even with a growing baby bump, she's still very much in the public eye, promoting her 'Beyonce Live at Roseland' DVD, following her hubby on his Watch the Throne tour and recording new music. Although she has yet to officially announce plans for her fifth album, the 30-year-old songstress is re-teaming with The-Dream, the man responsible for penning hits like her anthemic track 'Single Ladies' and co-writing a handful of songs on her '4' LP. While the effort may not have performed as well as she would have liked -- nearing platinum status with 956,000 copies sold as of this month -- the multi-Grammy winner is already looking towards the future, and having a baby has done little to slow her down. ...

"She's ready to work," Dream tells The BoomBox. "She's crazy! She never stops doing anything. I don't know if [pregnancy] is going to slow her down. She's just incredible with doing things, I don't know how she's going to do it, she's just a maniac... in a good way."

One thing that has changed since she's gotten pregnant is her diet. According to Us Weekly, she has adopted a "partially vegan" diet, of which Jay has also picked up. "Jay's trying to be disciplined, and he needs the energy to support her," a source told the magazine.

The singer is scheduled to give birth this February. This will be the first child for the couple, who tied the knot in 2008.

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Best Videos of 2011 -- Hip-Hop and R&B

Latifah Muhammad — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:35:00 EST

The best videos of 2011 all have one thing in common: they're visual eye candy. With Beyonce snagging African dancers for 'Run the World (Girls),' Lil Wayne taking a cue from a blockbuster hit for '6 Foot 7 Foot' and Frank Ocean's hallucinogenic clip for 'Novacane,' there was no time to be bored while watching. As The BoomBox gets ready to ring in the new year, we revisit our favorite music videos from the past 12 months. Find out which singers made the cut, what rhymers landed on the countdown more than once and who slid into the No. 1 spot. 20. 'Gucci, Gucci,' Kreayshawn Oakland rapper Kreayshawn was flying under the radar until the release of the music video for 'Gucci, Gucci' became a viral hit and landed her a record deal. With her hipster-chic fashion choices and a chorus of "Gucci Gucci, Louis Louis, Fendi Fendi, Prada. Basic b----es wear that s--- so I don't even bother," the petite MC showed us she's more interested in stepping out from the pack than being a follower. ...

19. 'Red Nation,' Game Feat. Lil Wayne

Game has never been shy about showing his loyalty for his blood gang, but the release of the single 'Red Nation' was a little too much to handle for the folks over at BET. The "post-apocalyptic" video for the lead single off his 'The R.E.D. Album' was banned from that network due to its heavy glorification of gang affiliation, but still managed to garner over 11 million views on YouTube. As a result of the hoopla, Game scored a Billboard chart-topping LP.

18. 'Headlines,' Drake

As fans continued to wait patiently for his 'Take Care' release, Drake chose the lead single 'Headlines' to answer the skeptics, quiet the haters and address his supporters. Although not a typical single choice, Drizzy put his emotions on full display on the track, produced by longtime collaborators Boi-1da and Noah "40" Shebib. Null of any members of his Young Money family, the music video is a toast to his accomplishments, features a fancy dinner spread and showcases his fondness for sweaters.

17. 'Cry Baby,' Cee-Lo

Cee-Lo Green struck a chord with TV fans by casting Jaleel White -- who played the lovable nerd Steve Urkel on the '90s show 'Family Matters' -- in the lead role for his 'Cry Baby' video. White imitates Green's vocals about a man feeling guilty for leaving his girlfriend. As the fifth release off his album 'The Lady Killer,' the song wasn't a commercial hit but the jovial visuals full of dance sequences are sure to put you in a good mood.

16. 'Nasty,' Nas

Over the years, this Queens MC has had several aliases but his "Nasty Nas" mantra will always hold a special place in his legacy. 'Nasty,' the first single off his forthcoming 10th solo album, is a throwback to the Nas of yesteryear, as he flows with the same candor and exuberance that put him on the map more than 20 years ago. The music video is an ode to his Queensbridge roots, featuring the rapper returning to his old neighborhood.

15. 'Yonkers,' Tyler, the Creator

When you watch Tyler, the Creator, you can pretty much expect him to do something outside of the box. The Odd Future frontman gets extra gory in the visuals for the first single from his 'Goblin' debut. The black-and-white video might make you a little queasy since it has everything from Tyler eating a cockroach to throwing up blood. You never know what the L.A. native has up his sleeve, and for that, we salute him.

14. 'Motivation,' Kelly Rowland Feat. Lil Wayne

Kelly Rowland turned the sex factor all the way up for her 'Motivation' video, moving so far away from her more wholesome Destiny's Child days. The singer dropped the seductive single -- the first off her 'Here I Am' LP -- in April, and the barely-there wardrobe she rocked surely motivated fans to push the Jim Jonson and Rico Love-produced track right to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hip-Hop/R&B charts.

13. 'Novacane,' Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean's career is moving fast, and he may just be getting numb to all the recognition, as proved in his first official visual. Odd Future's resident crooner has proven to be prolific both behind the scenes and in front of the mic, with the release of the lauded track 'Novacane.' With over 2 million views on YouTube, the music video's intrigue lies within its simplicity, featuring Ocean sitting in a hotel room, reminiscing over past sexual conquests while rubbing his face with a gooey substance.

12. 'Lost Ones,' J. Cole

Even before he had a record deal, J. Cole's artistry was on point. The North Carolina rapper shot the video for 'Lost Ones' three years ago, but the track landed on his debut LP, 'Cole World: The Sideline Story,' released in September. The emotional concept finds the Roc Nation rapper contemplating marrying his girlfriend after getting her pregnant. According to Cole, who self-produced the track, the music was influenced by musician Alex Gordon.

11. 'Run the World (Girls),' Beyonce

Girls "run the world," but Beyonce runs the music game. For as long she's been in the industry, she's always made sure to salute independent women. 'Run the World (Girls),' the lead single from her '4' album, samples Major Lazer's 'Pon de Floor,' birthing a trippy, almost futuristic sound, complimented by the dance heavy video in which Bey acts as the "ruler." The video's shining moment comes in the intricate footwork inspired by African dancers she found.

10. 'Sure Thing,' Miguel

For any artist, their first No. 1 single is a milestone, and it's safe to say that Miguel is as proud of 'Sure Thing' as we are. Off his 'All I Want Is You' debut, the song is a neo-soul-esque love letter full of tantalizing analogies. The crooner tapped Hype Williams to direct the music video, only heightening its appeal. Aside from topping Billboard's Hop-Hop/R&B charts, 'Sure Thing' has garnered over 14 million views on YouTube.

9. 'Far Away,' Marsha Ambrosious

Marsha Ambrosius courageously tackled bullying, suicide and prejudice in the video for her single 'Far Away,' the second release off her 'Late Nights and Early Mornings' debut. In the clip, an African American homosexual couple celebrates their love but things turn tragic when one lover commits suicide. The concept was personal for Ambrosius, whose close friend tried taking his life after facing opposition to his sexuality. The visual earned the singer a 2011 BET Awards nomination in the Video of the Year category.

8. 'Dance (A$$)' Remix, Big Sean Feat. Nicki

Nicki Minaj built a career off of making funny faces, but it's her backside that grabbed all of the attention in the remix video to Big Sean's 'Dance (A$$)' video. In the video for the song, off Sean's 'Finally Famous' debut, the Detroit native's performance is noteworthy, but Minaj's extra tight pants and incessant butt shots brought the "ass" concept to life. With over 8 million views on YouTube since it's release in early November, its safe to say that Young Money rhymer's assets are the reason for its success.

7. 'Look at Me Now,' Chris Brown Feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne

Chris Brown had something to prove with the second single off his 'F.A.M.E.' album. Instead of harping on the bad press that was feared to ruin his career, he made a statement with 'Look At Me Now.' Featuring Busta Rhymes and Lil Waynel, Breezy called on producers Diplo and Afrojack to construct the Dirty South-inspired sound. The music video was an ode to old school rap, with Chris tapping into his inner-Fresh Prince by way of his colorful wardrobe.

6. 'The Show Goes On,' Lupe Fiasco

As the lead single off his 'Lasers' album, 'The Show Goes On' was a fitting description of the state of Lupe Fiasco's career. The music video shows the Chicago MC's touring life, while the lyrics, "I don't switch up I just laugh, put my kicks on they desk/ Unaffected by their threats," revealed the strained relationship with his record label. Hopefully the No. 1 debut of 'Lasers' helped to smooth things over.

5. 'S&M,' Rihanna

You can't record a song called 'S&M' and not expect the music video to push the sexual envelope. For the fifth single off her 'Loud' album, the Bajan beauty walked celeb-blogger Perez Hilton on a leash, threw on a pink latex bondage outfit and put together a visual commentary on the prying media. The tattooed singer was later sued by director David LaChapelle for allegedly stealing some of his shots, but settled the suit for an undisclosed amount.

4. 'Super Bass,' Nicki Minaj

In the world of Nicki Minaj, glow-in-the-dark neon lipstick, pink wigs and a throbbing bassline happen to all be the ingredients for a good music video. For 'Super Bass,' the pop-friendly seventh single off her 'Pink Friday' debut, Sanaa Hamri directs Minaj as she serves up eye candy for the camera. She not only achieved her goal in thrusting around and showing off her goods while rapping of a crush on her mind but threw in a lap dance for good measure.

3. 'All of the Lights,' Kanye West Feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi

Kanye West took the concept of his 'All of the Lights' single seriously when he put together the video for the fourth single off his 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' release. Using just about any and every neon light source imaginable, the Hype Williams-helmed clip was so luminescent that it was targeted for causing epileptic seizures. West later added a warning to the video, which has received over 25 million views on YouTube.

2. 'Otis,' Jay-Z & Kanye West

Only Jay-Z and Kanye could destroy a $400,000 car in a music video and make it look cool. When the rap duo released 'Otis,' the second single off their 'Watch the Throne' collaboration, they blended the perfect cocktail of old and new. The single, produced by Yeezy, samples Otis Redding's 'Try A Little Tenderness,' and everything about it was unconventional from the Riccardo Tisci-designed album cover to the Spike Jonze-directed video.

1. '6 Foot 7 Foot,' Lil Wayne Feat. Cory Gunz

Weezy re-entered the game after exiting prison ready to annihilate the competition with the first single off 'Tha Carter IV' LP. He teamed with 'A Milli' producer Bangladesh and added a ferocious flow by Cory Gunz to the bill. The only thing better than the '6 Foot 7 Foot' track is its music video. Directed by Hype Williams, the visual feast was inspired by the film 'Inception,' and brings to life many of the lyrics mentioned in the track.

Best Songs of 2011

Best Albums of 2011

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Jay-Z and Kanye West Drop 'N----s in Paris' Seven Times in L.A.

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:35:00 EST

Jason Squires, WireImage As expected, Jay-Z and Kanye West hit the Los Angeles stop of their Watch the Throne tour and rocked the Staples Center Sunday night (Dec. 11) for nearly three hours, but it was their unwillingness to stop performing one particular song that got the crowd really hyped. Jay and 'Ye ended their set with their latest single, 'N----s in Paris,' and even after two performances, and shouting out the song's producer Hit-Boy, who was in attendance, they felt the need to go on. Causing a near mini-riot after encouraging the audience to flood the aisles of the venue, the rap duo soaked up the crowd's adoration with one 'N----s in Paris' encore after another. ...

"This ain't never happened in history, n----s ain't never done the song five times!" Kanye said before rolling past round five to round six then seven.

To start the night off, Hov emerged on a riser from the middle of the floor, rocking his signature Yankees cap, while Kanye stood on the main stage in a leather kilt and matching leggings. The hip-hop team opened the show with 'H.A.M.,' dropped a large American flag for 'Otis' and showed photos of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. for 'Made In America,' all the while playing lyrical ping pong with their solo sets.

Jay joined in on Kanye's 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' remix and 'Monster,' but when it was time for him to get up to bat, Brooklyn's finest commanded the attention of the entire audience, including the Chicago MC himself. Running through the likes of 'You Don't Know,' 'New York State of Mind,' '99 Problems' and 'Hard Knock Life,' he was never on stage alone for too long before 'Ye rejoined him, and it was in these moments -- standing shoulder to shoulder with his "big brother" -- that Kanye seemed most excited.

Maybe it's been touring with Jay-Z or the energy of the Los Angeles crowd, but Kanye appeared happier and humbled by the audience's cheers. His only moment of even nearing an emotional outburst was extending the length of his 'Runaway' single by injecting personal stories, but he regained his composer on 'All of the Lights.' "This song was nominated for Song of the Year," he said, referencing his one of seven 2012 Grammy nominations earned from his 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' album.

Amidst the pyrotechnics, elaborate strobe lighting and null of any guest performers or even an opening act, the star power of hip-hop's heavyweights was not lost on the crowd. Even as the clock inched close to midnight, they were ready and willing to be led into another repeat of 'N----s in Paris,' but luckily it ended at seven.

The Watch the Throne tour will remain at the Staples Center through Dec. 13.

Watch 'Kanye and Jay-Z Gut a Maybach -- For a Cause'

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Best Songs of 2011: Hip-Hop and R&B -- Continued

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:45:00 EST

It's hard to believe, but 2011 is almost out the door. This year has been a great one for hip-hop and R&B music, with a host of talented newcomers serving up anthemic songs and taking spots usually held by lauded veterans. However, respected heavy hitters in both genres also reminded us why we shouldn't count them out with the release of tracks that climbed to the top of the charts. In June, The BoomBox showcased 10 tunes that grabbed a hold of listeners' eardrums for the first half of the year. Now, here's a list of the best songs that ruled the latter half. From Jill Scott to Drake, Chris Brown to Meek Mill, their respective tracks ruled airwaves and iPods everywhere. 11. 'So in Love,' Jill Scott Feat. Anthony Hamilton 'So in Love,' a single off Jill Scott's 'The Light of the Sun' LP, had one of the quickest rises on the charts this year, debuting at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, and then peaking at No. 10, making it the highest debut of her career on that chart. The song finds the soul singer boasting about how she loves her man, played by the part of crooner Anthony Hamilton. After a four-year hiatus from recording, the track's heartfelt lyrics and accompanying success reminded fans she hadn't lost her groove. ...

10. 'She Ain't You,' Chris Brown

Chris Brown single-handedly introduced singers SWV to a new school of fans with his 'She Ain't You' single. The track, which borrows from the '90's R&B trio's 'Right Here,' as well as Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature,' quickly climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B charts. The mid-tempo track finds Brown moving on to a new love interest only to find that she's nothing like his last girl.

9. 'I'ma Boss,' Meek Mill

As a star player on Rick Ross' Maybach Music team, Meek Mill is in a lane all his own. 'I'ma Boss' not only proves that he's running things, but it demands that you pay attention. Released on the compilation 'MMG Presents: Self Made Vol. 1,' the song's video has garnered more than 1.8 million views on YouTube and was a summer 2011 staple in clubs and at neighborhood barbecues. Mills rips the Jahlil Beats-produced track, and in case you didn't know, he "runs his city from South Philly back to Uptown."

8. 'Marvin & Chardonnay,' Big Sean Feat. Kanye West and Roscoe Dash

Of the club-friendly tracks on his 'Finally Famous' debut, Big Sean's 'Marvin & Chardonnay' has got to be one of the best. Commissioning the help of Kanye West and Roscoe Dash, Sean speaks on two ingredients for a good night: chardonnay and Marvin Gaye. Although sonically mimicking Waka Flocka Flame's 'No Hands' -- which also features Dash -- the G.O.O.D. Music signee gets brownie points for tapping veteran producer Mike Dean, who is credited for pioneering the "Dirty South" sound.

7. 'Work Out,' J. Cole

All eyes were on J. Cole after his underground buzz earned him a record deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint, but he proved that he works well under pressure. 'Work Out,' the first single off his gold-certified debut album, 'Cole World: The Sideline Story,' started off with mixed reviews, but nearly six months after its release, the record has shown its staying power. Cole's album later topped the Billboard charts, so it looks like his "workout" plan paid off.

6. 'Headlines,' Drake

The anticipation for Drake's sophomore release, 'Take Care,' had about bubbled over when he pacified fans by dropping the album's first single, 'Headlines,' in late July. Coming at a time when hip-hop is known for exuberant lyrics, this track was different with the very first line finding the Toronto rapper admitting that all the adoration bestowed upon him had taken its toll. Although he's publicly stated 'Headlines' isn't the best song on his album, Drizzy chose the candid track because of its informative message.

5. 'Party,' Beyonce Feat. Andre 3000

No one amps up a party quite like Beyonce. One of the praised songs off her '4' album, this one isn't as upbeat as one would expect for a party track, but you can't go wrong with Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick sample. The original version features Andre 3000, who was then replaced by J. Cole in the supporting video, which only gives fans a chance to love the track all over again. Though loyal supporters are split down the middle on which version is best, there's no denying the swag factor here.

4. 'We Found Love,' Rihanna Feat. Calvin Harris

Finding love in a hopeless place may not be ideal, but its definitely possible. Rihanna's first single off her sixth album, 'Talk That Talk,' is a thundering dance track written by Scottish songwriter-producer Calvin Harris. Before the video even dropped, RiRi caused a stir for going topless on the set, angering a Scottish farmer whose property she used to shoot scenes. Equally eyebrow-raising was the Chris Brown look-a-like casted to play her love interest.

3. 'Quickie,' Miguel

After topping the charts for singing about love, with 'All I Want Is You,' Miguel decided to tackle that other "L" word: lust. 'Quickie,' the third offering from his debut LP, finds the singer swapping the foreplay and lovemaking for a speedy sexual encounter. If the steamy lyrics didn't drive his point home, the black-and-white video -- featuring a shirtless Miguel having a ménage à trois with two women -- upped the sexy factor. Not surprisingly, the video has almost 4 million views on YouTube.

2. 'How to Love,' Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne has made a career of stepping outside of hip-hop's boundaries, so it's no surprise that he chose to dust off his pipes for 'How to Love.' Off 'Tha Carter IV,' Weezy mixed Auto-Tuned vocals with an uplifting message about a girl too hurt and heartbroken to recognize true love. Not only was it relatable but the music video played out like a mini-movie, complete with a happy ending.

1. 'N----s in Paris,' Jay-Z and Kanye West

The title 'N----s in Paris' may not be politically correct, but like the song says, "It's provocative." Jay and 'Ye hit it out of the park on this Hit-Boy-produced track, the fourth single off their 'Watch the Throne' album, and yet another reminder as to why they're at the top of the music game -- they played the song up to seven times in a row at their WTT tour stops for receptive audiences. After his R. Kelly collaborative debacle, Hov showed that he has no problem sharing the spotlight, especially with his "little brother" Kanye.

Best Songs of 2011 (So Far)

Best Albums of 2011

Best Videos of 2011

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Tank Says 'Diary of a Mad Man' Is 'Edgy,' Enjoys Single Life

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST

Patrick Hoelck Tank wants his fans to look at him differently. Never one to shy away from candor when it comes to sex and relationships, and on the brink of releasing his fifth album 'Savior,' the singer-songwriter-producer decided to go a alternate route by way of his 'Diary of a Mad Man' mixtape. Released on Nov. 25, the Milwaukee native offers a fresh spin on the break-up-to-make-up songs that put him on the map. Since releasing his 'Force of Nature' debut in 2001, Tank, born Durrell Babbs, has a reputation for making music that you can laugh, cry or even make love to. A multi-Grammy nominee who has written for the likes of Jamie Foxx, Monica and Omarion, cranking out hits is second nature for him. When he announced via his Twitter page that his new mixtape would be released by the Black Friday shopping date, he had only two weeks to make things happen. Gone are his typically remorseful love songs like 'Maybe I Deserve' and 'Please Don't Go,' and in their place stand combative, self-assured and a few in-your-face tracks that find him being more demanding than self-loathing. In an effort to step even further away from what has become the norm in his music, he balanced out the guest list by collaborating with rappers like Slim Thug and Ace Hood, and linked with fellow crooners Kevin McCall and Luke James. The BoomBox gets inside Tank's brain as he divulges what's to expect on 'Diary of a Mad Man,' and why, despite being so in tune with his feminine audience, he still hasn't managed to shake the single life and settle down. ...

What can fans expect from the 'Diary of a Mad Man' mixtape?

They can expect a more edgy, more aggressive side of Tank. I really wanted to just put this out in the atmosphere for people who hadn't seen this side of me and to make it a thing where it wasn't pressure. Where people didn't feel like it was any pressure to go see what [the mixtape] was about; where $9.99 wasn't sitting on the CD case, [or that] we had to sell a certain [number] of records in the first week in order to look good. It wasn't that type of thing; it was "Here's some good music, here's a different way to say it." To my fans, hopefully you'll appreciate it, and for those of you who don't know me, you'll learn something about me. This is my first [mixtape] and I wanted it to be good.

What do you mean by "edgy" and "aggressive"?

Definitely sonically. I got a beat on there that [Rick] Ross will probably get on, and some of the messages are like I'm tellin' a dude [on the song 'Dead Man Walking'], "You coming back trying to get a woman that you used to have that's my woman now? You keep going down this road, you're going to be a dead man walking." You know what I'm saying? As soon as I come on I'm just about to say some things. I don't care if you don't like it. I'm just off the top, just wrong and raunchy [laughs]. People don't really get that from me. When we put out CDs, we give the good love making songs, timeless music and we never get around to this type of thing. I just felt like having fun.

Listen to Tank's 'Dead Man Walking'

Will the "new" Tank trickle over onto your 'Savior' album?

Not a lot; it's going to have brief moments. 'Savior' is definitely very sexy, very geared towards the women. Some mildly aggressive moments, but in those moments of aggression, it's still about the woman.

Can you talk about any of the songs on 'Savior'?

I got a song called 'Beat It Down,' which is one of the edgier moments. You have women that want to cuddle and be close and then you have women that want the mattress to damn near fall off the bed [during sex]! I have a song called 'Don't Give Up,' which is basically telling a woman like "I been taking care of you for the last 45 minutes getting you in the right place, don't get tired now, don't get sleepy now, I still got to get mine [orgasm]." It's real crazy!

You're known for making a lot of love songs. Are you currently in a relationship?

No, no not in a relationship. I need to be free! I need to be able to move around. I'ma tell you the truth, I love being in relationships. I love the comfort of a woman, the security of a woman to be able to hold me down, rub my head after a long day of interviews and photos... I love the idea of that. It's just finding a person that can deal with the other side of what I do, to get into those moments.

So that's been the hold up in finding a woman that can deal with your career?

I have to honestly say, it's a lot to be in a relationship with me, but I give a lot in return.

When you are in a relationship, what kind of boyfriend are you?

I have kids, so there's a priority there. I have the thing that supports everything I do -- which is this music -- so there's my priority there. Sometimes the list gets a little long before it gets to that significant other, so I'm just the guy that's honest about where things are, and if you can roll with it, we can roll.

How many children do you have?

I have four children. Oh yeah, my s--- works [laughs]!

You and Jamie Foxx have been friends for several years, would you ever think of doing a joint album?

Definitely, we've talked about a bunch of ideas but Jamie is a million miles a minute. Between singing and acting at the level that he's doing, it's hard to really settle down and put all these ideas into work. We'll see. We're doing as much as we can together and we'll figure it out.

As an R&B artist do you think the genre is becoming too concerned with crossing over into pop music rather than maintaining its original roots?

I think that R&B is in a great place. I think that R&B has had its moment of change, which everything does if you sit around long enough to watch it change. They still talking about the same things, they still talking about humping and women. They're definitely more vulgar now, they'll talk about titties and ass in a minute! I think we've definitely lost a little bit of the sexy that goes along with it. I also think we've lost the heartfelt moments that artists used to pride themselves in delivering. You have the great R&B album with all the urban crazy stuff and then they'd have a big ballad. That's kind of being lost, and we [R&B artists] have to make sure we stay true to the good things in life.

Watch Tank's 'Please Don't Go'

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'Prince Paul's Adventurous Musical Journey' Debuts

Latifah Muhammad — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:40:00 EST

Donald High No one knows hip-hop quite like Prince Paul. The DJ-producer has worked with the likes of De La Soul, Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick, among others, but even with a resume that reads like a chapter out of a rap history book, the New York native still finds himself losing interest in music. Teaming with the car company Scion A/V, Paul has set out on a national journey to rediscover his love for hip-hop by exploring different genres for his documentary webisode 'Prince Paul's Adventurous Musical Journey,' which premiered on the company's website last month. ...

"I've been working with Scion off and on for the last few years," Paul tells The BoomBox of how the collaboration began. Over the six episodes available on the company's website, the New York native does everything from explore the dance music scene, attend Scion's own Garage Fest in Kansas, to hit up the Coachella music festival. "I was talking to [the people at Scion] about how I was somewhat disenchanted with music in general, and we came up with the idea of trying to be inspired," he shares. "Looking for other types of music to get me motivated. Scion throws a lot of different music events, so I thought it'd be a good opportunity to go around and meet the people behind it."

Paul admitted to being apprehensive about stepping so far out of his music comfort zone, yet among the many lessons learned on the trek, his trip to Kansas left a big impact when he visited the garage music festival in the city of Lawrence. "I didn't know what I was getting into," he explains of his experience. "When I went to Kansas, I had no idea what garage music was, but it was different than what I heard in New York -- it kind of caught me off guard. There's also different sub genres of the music."

Above all else, the Grammy winner hopes that his journey will shine a light on music lovers of various genres. With filming for the show over, he has rediscovered his creative spark, touring with the one-man play 'Negroes on Ice,' for which he wrote the musical score. The play was birthed out of the Ustream show of the same name, which he created with his son DJ P Forreal. The duo has since taken the play all over the country making stops in New York City, Washington D.C. and Boston, before commencing at San Francisco's Southside Theatre next month.

Check out the first six episodes of 'Prince Paul's Adventurous Musical Journey' at scionav.com.

Watch 'Prince Paul's Adventurous Musical Journey'

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Ledisi Grammy Nominations: Singer Says 'It's an Honor'

Latifah Muhammad — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:40:00 EST

Verve Forecast Christmas came early for singer Ledisi, who landed three Grammy nominations for her fifth album 'Pieces of Me.' The New Orleans native was watching the live televised ceremony from home Wednesday night (Nov. 30), when she heard her name announced. "It's an honor! I'm very excited!" she tells The BoomBox. "Especially this year because I feel like I had everything in place -- headlining a tour, great management, great team -- everything. I'm very proud of it all. As an artist everybody [wants to win a Grammy]. I definitely was aspiring to get to a level where I can be able to be nominated and hopefully one day win. We all are." Although she's not picking favorites, getting the Best R&B Song nomination for 'Pieces of Me' was extra special because the song is her favorite track on the album. "Every interview I've had, they've asked, 'What's your favorite song on the album? [And I say 'Pieces of Me'], because it's so personable," states Ledisi, who was nominated in the Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album categories. ...

While on her first headlining tour this year, the singer got a chance to see the effect of her music firsthand, hearing audiences sing along to her lyrics, which sometimes brought her to tears. "To have the title track be acknowledged was huge because it's Ledisi," she shares. "Women [and] men love it. I love seeing men and women singing that song."

Also sharing in her joy is 'Pieces of Me' producer Chuck Harmony, who snagged his second back-to-back nomination in the Best R&B Song category. Having received a nod for Fantasia's 'Bittersweet' last year, Harmony noted that the second time is that much sweeter. "It feels good," he says. "I was telling my friend, last year I was uncertain, the nomination [for 'Bittersweet'] was nice but sometimes you feel like you luck up on something."

With a resume that includes working with Ne-Yo and Mary J. Blige, Harmony has become an expert in making hit records. His well-rounded experience proves the mark of a good R&B song is its substance. "I really feel like its really about the lyrical content of the song and the honesty of the songs," he reveals. "Both songs that I was nominated for were really, really honest songs and really, really honest production."

Up next, Ledisi will head out on the European leg of her Pieces of Me tour.

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air live on CBS Feb. 12, 2012 at 8PM ET.

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Grammy Nominations 2012: Grandmaster Flash Felt 'Cool'

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:50:00 EST

Jason Merritt, Getty Images Hip-hop legend Grandmaster Flash has done a lot over the course of his 20-year career, however performing during the 2012 Grammy nominations concert Wednesday night (Nov. 30) is high on his list of greatest moments. Flash, who appeared alongside LL Cool J, Lupe Fiasco, Common, Melle Mel and Scorpio to perform their 1982 classic 'The Message' at the Grammy event, still marvels at the success of hip-hop music. "When I received the phone call that people of your peers are breaking into this musical pool called the Grammys, you become speechless," he tells The BoomBox. The DJ, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, with the Furious Five for their famed track, describes the excitement he feels when performing the genre he helped put on the mainstream map. "To be in the company of all the people that have gotten Grammys and all of the people who have gotten nominated, and all of people who performed [last night]," he continues, "Just to be able to take this culture that I cultivated and do it on one stage, how cool is that?" ...

Two years after dropping the album, 'The Bridge -- Concept of a Culture,' Flash is getting started on his 12th release. "I'm in the album stage right now," he states. "This probably going to be totally different from what I've done before. There was a time when there was black music, white music, pop music, rock... Now all that's become a blur."

Despite being known for trailblazing the hip-hop game, Flash hopes to infuse different genres of music for the untitled project. "Now I have a chance to integrate all these different types of music, so that's where I'm at right now," the 53-year-old admits. "I'm still early with it but we're trying to get it done by the spring."

Watch Grandmaster Flash, Common, the Furious Five, Lupe Fiasco and LL Cool J Perform 'The Message'

Watch 'DJ Hero Grandmaster Flash Featurette'

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Verse Simmonds Teams With Akon, Lands 'WTT' Song + More

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:55:00 EST

Derek Blanks When singer-songwriter Verse Simmonds wrote the lyrics to Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'Who Gon Stop Me,' he had every intention of making those words ring true. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Virgin Island, as a youngster, Simmonds always wanted to pursue a career in music. In high school, he moved to Florida where he met future producing partner Sham "Sak Pase" Joseph. The two moved to Los Angeles in 2003, formed the songwriting-production team the Jugganauts and began their official descent into the music industry. Simmonds later landed an ill-fated record deal with Interscope Records, thanks to help from super producer Rodney Jerkins, but continued to get his foot in the door behind the scenes. Since then, the Jugganauts have worked with the likes of Jay-Z, Akon and Rihann. But, as Simmonds continues to transform into one of the most sought after writers and producers in the game, he's putting his energy towards solo stardom. His most recent releases, the 'Sextape Chronicles 2' mixtape and the love song 'Boo Thang' featuring Kelly Rowland, have turned the spotlight on his singing talents. The video for the latter has been viewed more than 1.7 million times on VEVO, and with the momentum still going strong, Simmonds is crafting his debut solo album to be released under Akon's KonLive label. It's not easy working on projects for music's heavy-hitters and finding the time to focus on personal efforts, but Simmonds has figured out a way to achieve balance. The BoomBox caught up with him in the middle of shooting four music videos -- over the course of two weeks -- where he broke down why he maintains his hustle, how he's created his lane in the R&B spectrum and the story behind the song he landed on 'Watch the Throne.' ...

As a singer-songwriter was the goal always to be a solo artist?

It's always been the goal for me to be an artist. I just understood that at the time, to be a stronger artist, you have to be able to do a lot on your own. So early on, it was just about me, just kind of like perfecting my craft as a songwriter, as a producer as well as an artist. I understand that, so what sets me apart from so many other artists is the fact that I can write my own music [and] produce my own music as well.

Since your mixtape 'Sextape Chronicles 2' is out, are you now working towards putting together your full-length debut?

I'm doing both. What I wanna do is, I'm going to put out another mixtape at the top of the year then I'm going to go for the actual album come summer of 2012, so by then I'll have everything put together.

Watch Verse Simmonds' 'Boo Thang' Feat. Kelly Rowland

Do you have a title for the new mixtape?

I'm going to put out another 'Sextape Chronicles' [mixtape] and just keep that going. For the album, right now currently, the name is 'Stories of a Bachelor.' What I basically wanted to focus on is kind of bring in a realistic view to relationships, as well as love making and all of that. I want it to be really, really honest. I have a song on the ['Sextape Chronicles 2'] mixtape called 'Love No Glove.' Now it's not something I promote as far as unsafe sex, but that's kind of like how all of us got here. That one thing had to happen at some point, and nobody speaks on it in the kind of manor that I brought it across, but at the same time I also have [a song] on the mixtape, 'Protection,' which is basically the opposite of the 'Love No Glove' record. I just want to speak about things that people aren't really talking about in a smart way that people can relate to.

You shot four videos for songs off the 'Sextape Chronicles 2' mixtape over the last two weeks. Can you give me about some of the concepts?

The name of [one] song is called 'Striptease,' the concept is I'm coming home after a hard day's work, I end up coming home to a beautiful young lady. At the end of it, I think it's only one girl in the room and it ends up being three or four. I'm single so I get to do that [laughs]. I'm shooting another [video for the song] 'I Wanna See You,' and my lead model for this video is Diamond from Crime Mob.

Soulja Boy's girlfriend?

Yeah, Soulja Boy's girlfriend, that's funny to me [laughs]. I think it's going to be really great. This is another kind of imaginative thing -- she thinks that I'm there but I'm really not there. I got the 'Boo Thang' remix [video] with 2 Chainz and Yo Gotti. It's basically gonna be a fly piece. We're focusing on fashion and style for that video, and then [for the video] 'One Last Time,' the concept behind that is again another bedroom scene -- I'm doing a lot of bedroom scenes, you're making me realize that, but it makes sense -- she has to leave and I'm like, One last time before you go."

Watch Verse Simmonds' 'Buy You a Round'

When you do back-to-back videos like that do you use the same director?

I use a lot of up-and-coming directors. I just feel like once you know how to work the camera really well, you can do a video for me. Now I'm branching out into using more, new fresh up-and-coming directors that have new visions and new ways to shoot things because they're hungrier.

How did you end up signing to Akon's KonLive imprint, and how has he influenced your artistry?

It was kind of random to be honest with you because I been knowing Akon since '03. One of my closest friends, Benny D, is his DJ and Akon asked me to come write for him. It kind of snowballed from there. We were talking and he had seen me doing my thing, I had put out my first single 'Buy You a Round' under Interscope at the time. I had got out of my [label] situation and he was just like, "Yo, we're kind of building this whole new regime [at] KonLive, I'd like you to kind of be the face of that and just jump that off." It's something that I feel has definitely helped my career and helped me move in the right direction.

As an artist, the best thing about Akon is that he's humble and he's someone you can go up to and he'll take some time with you and help you perfect it and put you on the game as far as the industry is concerned, what to look out for and what to do and not do.

Aside from your own album, what else are you working on?

We just did the Busta Rhymes and Chris Brown ['Why Stop Now'] single that we produced and co-wrote. I'm really excited about that because [Busta] got his new situation going on.

Speaking of which, what do you think about Busta signing with Cash Money Records?

For somebody like Busta Rhymes, I think it might have been a great move. He's been in the game for so long and he's been able to be somebody people still looked at as a strong force in the game as well as a legend. So for him to find a new home with Cash Money, who is the hottest label right now, I think it could only help him. I think it could only be a blessing to move from there, it's gonna probably give him five more years to just go hard. He'll stop when he wants to stop or he'll never stop. People will always be able to appreciate him because he's created his voice and there will never be [a voice like his] after him.

You also worked on the 'Watch the Throne' album. How did you land a spot on that project?

They had actually reached out to us and wanted us to send some tracks to them and what we did was we locked in for like a week and was going 'Watch the Throne' crazy. Anything that we could do that we thought would fit what we thought 'WTT' would be, we did it. The first record that we actually did was 'Who Gon Stop Me' and it ended up making the album. We ended up going back in again and doing 'Made in America' as well. The 'Who Gon Stop Me' is the one I'm actually featured on vocally, as well as produced the record. God just kind of blessed us with that. It's one of the biggest albums of the year, we're just really happy to be a part of it. The whole concept [of 'Who Gon Stop Me'] was the space I was in at the time. I was like, "Who gon' stop me?" Nothing gon' get in front of us and what we're doing. Let's get it!

Watch 'Jay-Z's Poppin' Champagne'

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Common Explains Delay of 'The Dreamer, The Believer' LP

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

AFP Common ninth studio album, 'The Dreamer, The Believer,' was set to debut right around the Thanksgiving Holiday, however, the project has experienced a delay, with the forthcoming release coming almost a month later. The latest single, 'Sweet' -- a follow-up to the Nas-assisted 'Ghetto Dreams' -- off the Chi-town MC's LP, is already in rotation, and he wants to give fans a little more time to digest the content. "We wanted to get more of the material out there, to keep the buzz elevating, let people know more of what the album is about," Common tells The BoomBox. "We've been getting the feedback, like whether it's on my Twitter page or whatever, where people say, 'We just heard four songs, I know I'm getting the album.' For me, I want to create an album not just a single." ...

The 39-year-old entertainer, who released his first book 'One Day It'll All Make Sense' in September, crafts tracks that aren't just for the here and now, but for the future as well. "I didn't want to create just something that was gonna be made for this day," he expresses. "I like creating music that's timeless. We of course want the album to impact right now, to [evoke] this spirit of 'I wanna go buy this album.'"

Teaming once again with producer No I.D., whom he first worked with on his 'Can I Borrow a Dollar' debut, the rapper is confident that he has put together a solid project. "I feel it's definitely one of my favorite albums that I've done," Common states. "I really went in there with a love and desire to make incredible hip-hop music that can just come from my heart and my soul, and what I know hip-hop to be. Also, to able to cross generations and allow the music to hit the demographics that hip-hop music can hit, you do that by making incredible songs. We have a great album on our hands."

'The Dreamer, The Believer' hits stores Dec. 20.

Watch Common's 'Testify'

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Melanie Fiona: Drake Wrote 'That Girl' for 'The MF Life'

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:50:00 EST

Steve Granitz, WireImage Fresh off snagging two Grammy nominations for her feature on Cee Lo Green's 'Fool For You,' a track off his 'The Lady Killer' LP, Melanie Fiona is still in shock. The singer-songwriter, who's prepping the 2012 release of her sophomore effort, 'The MF Life,' was surprised at her nods in the Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance categories. "It feels unreal because I had no idea!" Fionna tells The BoomBox during the Grammy Nomination concert held in Los Angeles Wednesday night (Nov. 30). The singer met Cee Lo during the 2010 Soul Train Music Awards before collaborating on 'Fool for You.' The track's lyrics she admitted she wrote on her way to the studio session, but it all paid off. "I feel so amazing, just very blessed, very honored to be apart of another amazing collaboration and to be apart of a song as a writer as well, and performer," she shares. ...

Her recent nominations brings her tally to four nods over the last two years, the first two of which were for her debut album, 'The Bridge.' While winning more trophies is an added bonus, the Toronto native is looking to capture interest of fans new and old with 'The MF Life.'

Among the many collaborations on the album, including Nas, B.o.B. and John Legend, Fiona also tapped fellow Canadian Drake for his writing skills on the track 'That Girl.' "He's an amazing songwriter and producer," she admits.

Drake used his ability to speak from an emotional stance while penning the song, which came about while he was crafting his own sophomore LP, 'Take Care.' "In the midst of working on his album, he wrote a song specifically for me and my album," she reveals. "It's amazing because I love that it's written by a guy from a woman's perspective. It's really, really cool. We all know he's great for locking in on emotion, and I'm great for writing and singing about it, so I think it's a really cool concept that I think is really going to empower women. 'That Girl' is a girl who's done some foolish things for love, but never again.

'The MF Life' is slated for a February release.

Watch Artists Speak From the Grammy Awards Red Carpets

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Grammy Nominations 2012: Bruno Mars 'Feels Incredible'

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:45:00 EST

Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic More than a year after its release, Bruno Mars' 2010 debut LP 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans' is continuing to rack up accolades, earning six Grammy nominations during the announcement ceremony held in Los Angeles Wednesday night (Nov. 30). With his latest nominations, Mars ties for second place alongside Adele and Foo Fighters, who also garnered six nods a piece. "It feels incredible," he tells The BoomBox. "We locked ourselves in a [Los Angeles] studio not too far from here and worked on this album." Of all of the categories in which he was nominated, winning awards for the album's second single would mean the most. "Especially 'Grenade,' of all the songs we've been fortunate to be a part of this year, we're definitely most proud of that one," he shares. ...

He's expecting to win, he admits jokingly, but above all else, he's pleased with the recognition. "This awards stuff is hard for me because Adele is incredible, Kanye West is incredible, so the fact that this album got recognized in the same category as them, I guess that's the craziest part," Mars divulges.

'Doo-Wops & Hooligans' has sold over 4 million copies to date, and has spawned the hits 'Just the Way You Are,' 'Grenade' and 'The Lazy Song.' Last year, Mars took home the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance award for 'Just the Way You Are' at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air on CBS Feb. 12, 2012 at 8PM EST.

Watch 'Adele and Kanye West Among Top 2012 Grammy Nominees'

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Robin Thicke: Paula Patton and the Singer Have 'Great Sex'

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:35:00 EST

Jordan Strauss, WireImage Robin Thicke has always made anthems celebrating relationships. For his forthcoming album 'Love After War,' the singer will focus on tracks that convey much of the same message for this new effort but he'll add a bit of a twist. The 34-year-old, who became parent to son Julian last April with his wife, actress Paula Patton, is set to incorporate some of the joys of fatherhood into his new music. "My lady and I have a one-and-a-half year old now," Thicke tells The BoomBox. "Once you see what a woman has to go through to have a baby, you really learn what real compassion and understanding and patience is all about. That's absolutely what inspired the whole album, because I love my wife very much and I'm trying to learn how to do it correctly." ...

Juggling his career being a father and his marriage to Patton is no easy task for Thicke, but he's found a way to keep things fresh. After more than a decade together, the couple looks forward to spending intimate time in between their busy schedules.

"Lots of sex, its the only way to keep everything on par," he explains. "My wife is an actress and a mother and a wife, and I'm a husband, a father and a singer, so we haven't seen each other a lot in the last couple of weeks and we won't see each other until Christmas pretty much so it's very difficult."

In the past, Thicke has used Patton as his muse casting her in his music videos, the latest of which finds the couple getting extra steamy, for the album's title-track, 'Love After War.' In the visuals, Patton dons a blonde wig, but instead of gushing over her lover, the video's premise chronicles a tumultuous love affair, and shows the two fighting up then making up, and then fighting again. "I think the only thing that gives us fire is we have great sex together," Thicke shares. "There is never enough [sex]. When it does happen, it goes on for hours."

Aside from mixing business with pleasure in the video, Thicke also took a very hands-on approach in creating 'Love After War.' He added Lil Wayne to the single 'Pretty Lil Heart,' which marks the album's only guest appearance. "With this new album I felt like I had so much to talk about and so much to say," he said, revealing that he also wrote and produced the entire project.

'Love After War' is due Dec. 6.

Watch 'Robin Thicke Dishes on New Album 'Love After War' at 2011 AMAs'

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Soulja Boy Says New Album, 'Promise,' Shows 'Maturity'

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST

Gregg DeGuire, FilmMagic Soulja Boy is ready for his comeback. One year after the dismal reception of his third album, 'The DeAndre Way,' the 21-year-old wants the public to know that they shouldn't count him out just yet. "Right now I'm working on my new album," he tells The BoomBox. "It's called 'Promise' -- my fourth album to release from Interscope Records. It'll be in stores top of 2012. I want everybody to support." Having become a millionaire at 18, Soulja Boy has changed a lot since his 'Crank That,' days and hopes that his transformation will reflect in his music. "[The album is] just really showing the growth and maturity of Soulja Boy," he reveals. "It's going to be dope. It's going to be lot of great records on it, a lot of dope features, a lot of great production. I want all my fans to check it out." ...

The Atlanta native is also reflecting on the past year, which has included the tragic death of his brother, being arrested for marijuana possession and angering the public with what were deemed as anti-army lyrics. "[I'm] thankful for my family, very thankful for my family," he continues. "I'm very thankful to be in the position that I'm in right now, just to touch so many people and be a role model for all the young people that's trying to come up in this world, and thankful to be alive."

Soulja Boy's most recent release came by way of the mixtape 'Last Crown,' which was available for download in early September.

Watch 'Soulja Boy Disses Actual Soldiers in New Song'

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The-Dream: Big Sean Joins Film, Christina Milian Is His 'Friend'

Latifah Muhammad — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Michael Tullberg, Getty Images When you get a song from Terius "The-Dream" Nash, you can bet it will be honest, unapologetic and maybe even a little controversial. The singer-songwriter made his name penning hits for the likes of Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Rihanna, but over the past few years, he's stepped out from the shadows and become a star in his own right. His three solo albums combined have sold more than a million copies, and while that number may pale in comparison to some of the artists he's worked with, it's a notable feat. However, over the last two years, the outspoken Atlanta native has grabbed more attention for his personal life than for his music. Following his ill-fated marriage to R&B singer Nivea, he hooked up with actress-singer Christina Milian. They initially downplayed their budding relationship, but within a few months of being outed by bloggers, they finally admitted they were an item. They eloped to Las Vegas in 2009, but after the couple welcomed their first child, Violet, what appeared to be a fairytale romance began to unravel. Photos surfaced of Dream frolicking with his assistant in Hawaii, and Milian announced their separation in June of last year. While he maintains that he was never unfaithful, the 34-year-old felt the pressure of the bad press and revealed on his website that he'd contemplated suicide. When the mudslinging finally subsided, they reached an undisclosed divorce settlement and turned their energy towards their respective careers. Around the same time, Dream became an executive vice president at Island Def Jam, and while he still holds that position, he hasn't lost sight of his solo career. In September, he released the free album '1977,' and he's working his fourth studio album, 'The Love IV: Diary of a Mad Man,' due out next year. He's also involved in top-secret projects with just about every big name in the business. The BoomBox caught up with the self-proclaimed "radio killah" to discuss his new projects and get his explanation on why his marriage to Milian fell apart. ...

Watch The-Dream's Video for 'Falsetto'

Why did you release your album '1977' for free?

People are more disconnected to music. It seems like we should be more connected because of the Internet and how fast it is to get records. Now, we don't digest it much, and I believe that certain things take time. Sometimes, when you include the label, every idea seems to be too big. They're basing it on first-week sales and a whole bunch of s--- that I don't really deal with in my life, so I wanted to make sure it's free, so there's no pressure on anyone, other than trying to make people feel great when they listen to music and my new ideas. Because it's always been free for me to do it. I don't really make money off my own albums anyway.

Being that you're on both sides of the music game -- an executive at Def Jam and an artist -- what is your relationship with your label?

They see me as an asset, because I'm able to tell them both sides. I'm able to say, "This artist is disgruntled because of this," and then also, because I am an executive at Def Jam, I'm able to look at it from another side and say, "OK, maybe I need to put '1977' out to show you from an executive capacity how I, as The-Dream, should be worked." There's not only one way to do it, and that's a part of my asset in the company. Everything [at a label] goes out the same way, but everything doesn't work the same way. Not only that, but to understand that the label isn't s--- without the artists, and that's a part of what Def Jam has started to lose, that part of understanding the importance of these people that we have signed, and their dreams.

Was it cathartic to create '1977' when things in your personal life became public and the response was negative?

Not at all, because how I see the world work is that everybody is either going through something positive or negative in their life. I'm able to write from both sides -- and with pure honesty. You almost don't want to be around me, because you're probably going to get in a song some kind of way. That's what my gift is. Whether people hate me or not, I write from a real place. If I don't know it, I don't speak on it. It's elements about my relationships throughout [my music], but not only me. You know how many men come up to me and say, "I'm glad you said that?" I kind of hate that for Christina [Milian], bless her heart, because the next person that hears anything that I do automatically -- because she's the public figure -- assumes that it's about her.

Todd Williamson, WireImage

You're 34, and you've been through two divorces. Are you still optimistic about love?

I'm definitely optimistic. I'm a hopeless romantic, of course. The people in relationships are the reason why relationships don't work; it isn't the idea of it. The idea of it is an idea, which means that it takes a certain type of way of thinking in order to make it work. Personally, for me to grow up [in] a male-dominated home with a guy in it, which was my grandfather, it's probably not good for me to be with a woman that hasn't had a father figure around, because it's just hard to get that respect, period. You can't respect something that you never had.

Has your relationship with Christina Milian changed because time has allowed you to see where you went wrong?

I think we're in a better place, publicly. I'm in a better place, because there's a freedom that comes along with it -- not in a good way, because nobody wants to fail at anything, especially me. But another part that people don't understand is it's different when you have a private life and you get to go through your problems. If there's a problem in a relationship that's in the public eye, and [the public] just found out today, that means that it was probably a problem 180 days ago. You're late. You're not going to find out that day, so unfortunately, when you're in relationship in the public eye, it's just deemed as whatever the last thing [you saw] was. It's like, "Oh, OK, this is the last thing I saw." Yeah, I get what you're saying, but that ain't what it is. But because I'm so dope, I'ma go ahead and take that [blame].

So is it safe to say that you're not really friends behind closed doors?

No, we're friends. We just don't agree at this point. I went through it in my life, and I've lost certain thing that other people at my age haven't lost yet, [like my] mother. Automatically, my feeling about life is going to be [different]. We can argue the point, but the truth is I'm going to feel a certain way because of my mom. I feel a certain way about making sure I appreciate certain things in people because nobody lives forever. If I make it to 35 next year, I would have lived longer than my mom, so these are things that go through my mind constantly, which are things that you may have not started to think about unless you already went through it. It's certain things in my life that I've had to grow an appreciation for really quick. I have a song on my album that says, "I don't care how you feel, because I can pat myself on the back." That's not me patting myself on the back. It's my parent,s because they have instilled in me [things] that make me feel that way. I'm here because of what I've already been through.

Watch The-Dream's Video for 'Rockin' That Thang'

Getting back to the music, do you have a release date for your forthcoming 'Love IV' album?

It's tentatively dated right now for March 20. I can't tell you who's on the album, but I think the difference on this album is that I'm definitely more mature about how I go about things in my writing. It's getting to a point now that's it's automatic for me, but I think people can feel the growth in certain lyrics that I've been penning as of late. It's one '90s-influenced record [on the 'Love IV' album] called 'Rock Your Body.' It's a really good record. I got another record called 'Talk That S---.' It's f---ing dynamite! I was actually going to put it out [early] just to do it, but everybody called me and were like, "You gotta do it properly!" Basically, label talk, when they say you have to do something "properly," is they want to make money off of it.

You also worked with Rihanna on 'Talk That Talk.' Can you tell me about the 'Birthday Cake' track that was released online?

I was just talking to Rihanna about that, because she [originally] made an [just an] interlude. I was like, "Your fans are going to be so mad at you." As soon as I said that, I got back, and I guess she released a piece of it, and they saw how long it is. Man, they tore me up on Twitter! So I hit her on the phone. I was like, "Yo, your fans, they're going crazy on me right now, like I could make you do something." So 'Birthday Cake' is on there. It's going to turn into a whole song because the fans are ganging up on me, and I don't want to be murdered by the Rihanna Navy!

There's another record I did with her called 'Red Lipstick,' and another song called 'Do Your Thing,' which is probably [one of] the more lighter records on there. I was more called in to fill in the blanks. She's just so great at putting her records in. She did a great job utilizing what [songwriter] Ester Dean does, who is like my little sister, for this album. I think she has six or seven records on that album. Dean is locked in to what Rihanna's doing at this particular moment, which is great. I'm at a place where you can call me in as a songwriter, but Ri calls me in as a friend that's going to make an unbiased decision, not just because I'm trying to get on the record. If it doesn't need me on the record, I'm not going to get on the record.

Going into the new year, what else do you have in the works?

I got another album I'm working on called '1984 Persona of Love.' I got this movie that me and Big Sean are going to try to do next summer. [My other album] 'Love IV' should be out before Christmas next year. It's a lot of stuff.

Can you tell me about the Big Sean movie?

Not yet. I will, though. It's too far away. You know people be trying to steal stuff [laughs].

Watch 'Christina Milian Has A Post Birth Body From Heaven'

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Drake: Lady Antebellum Say He's at 'Top' of Collabo List

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:05:00 EST

Kevin Winter/AMA2011, Getty Images Lady Antebellum are arguably one of the top country groups in their genre, but they still have a fondness for hip-hop music and Drake is their top choice. The trio, who hale from Nashville, Tenn., and took home the American Music Award in the Favorite Country Music Band, Duo or Group category, raved about the Young Money MC, who performed his song 'Headlines,' during the show Sunday (Nov. 20) night. "That new Drake album is sick," group member Charles Kelley, tells The BoomBox of 'Take Care.' "It's so good." ...

"[My favorite is] probably ['The Real Her']," he admits. "He does the collaboration with Lil Wayne and Andre 3000. We're from Georgia so we like Atlanta and rap."

After meeting the Toronto native at last year's Grammy awards, and becoming fans of his work, Lady A would love to collaborate with him in the future. "That'd be kinda cool to see what we come up with," Kelley continued. "He's definitely at the top of our list as far as rappers go."

Despite leaking to the Internet one week before its release, Drake's sophomore album is shaping up to be another success for the 25-year-old. Industry estimates place the album at the top of the Billboard album charts, with first week sale projections at 675,000-725,000.

Watch Drake's 'Headlines'

Watch 'Drake Discusses Fame, Family and Toronto'

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Mary J. Blige Plans 'My Life II' Tour, Speaks on Heavy D

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:45:00 EST

Steve Granitz, WireImage With her latest album, 'My Life II: The Journey Continues, Act 1,' on the shelves, Mary J. Blige is ready to get back out on the road. The singer, who wrapped up her national headlining Music Saved My Life tour, featuring Jazmine Sullivan and Miguel, last fall, plans on following a similar tour routine beginning in 2012. "Hopefully we'll do big tours after the album comes out," Blige tells The BoomBox. With over two decades of business experience under her belt, Blige credits her ability to stay true to herself as one of her strongest attributes. "I just be myself," she admits. "I try not to chase and listen to the opinions of people about what I'm supposed to be, I know what I'm supposed to be and that's me." Alongside her music, the 40-year-old has also completed work on the film 'Rock of Ages,' starring Tom Cruise. Details surrounding the film are scarce, but Blige will play the role of Jusstice Charlier and she revealed the film will be released in June. Set in the '80s, 'Rock of Ages' follows the story of two young people chasing their dreams in Los Angeles, and features a string of A-listers including Katherine Zeta-Jones and Alec Baldwin. ...

In the midst of celebrating her career endeavors and performing at the AMAs last night (Nov. 20), the singer was also mourning the loss of rapper and friend Heavy D. The New York native collapsed outside his Beverly Hills apartment earlier this month, and was laid to rest over the weekend.

"Heavy had a huge effect on all of us and he was inspiring and optimistic," she states. Blige grew up in Yonkers, N.Y., only five miles from Heavy's hometown of Mt. Vernon. The two were also labelmates on Andre Harrell's Uptown Records. "He just always gave us great advice," she recalled. "He just always wanted us to do good. He was like a father figure to us and I'm going to miss him." Other celebrity attendees at Heavy's funeral included Sean "Diddy" Combs, Will Smith, Usher and Queen Latifah.

'My Life II: The Journey Continues, Act 1' is out today (Nov. 21).

Watch Mary J. Blige Perform 'Mr. Wrong'

Watch 'Mary J. Blige on Charity Work'

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Rihanna 'Talk That Talk' Album: Experts Weigh In on Her Career

Latifah Muhammad — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:35:00 EST

Getty Images If the music industry is a machine, then Rihanna is a well-educated engineer, finely crafting a career that has taken her from a would-be pop clone to an artist etching out her own lane, controlling her sound, look and persona over the course of six years. Jay-Z once likened her to the Madonna of her generation, and with over 80 million albums and singles sold, more than 50 million fans on Facebook and legions of designers tripping over themselves to dress her, she's well on her way to entering the prestigious club of one-named music legends. In September 2011, while still on tour promoting her 'Loud' album, the 23-year-old began to work on her latest release, due today (Nov. 21), and sixth LP, 'Talk That Talk' -- a sexier and decidedly raunchier project living between both the pop and dance worlds. The album's lead single, 'We Found Love,' written by Scottish singer-songwriter Calvin Harris, is an extraordinary, albeit erratic, thumping dance track that explores a new take on love's hangover. The single not only provided Rihanna with her 11th No. 1 single, but took her in a whole new direction. ...

"She's grown from the type of artist where the label and everybody picks records for her," vocal producer Kuk Harrell tells The BoomBox. Harrell, whose client roster includes Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez, produced all of the vocals for 'Talk That Talk' and first began working with the singer on her 2008 Grammy-winning song 'Umbrella.' The two have since developed a strong relationship making Harrell her go-to person whenever she's ready to record.

"It's a great chemistry because as a vocal producer my main thing is to have [the artist] feel comfortable and to allow them to be them before we even record anything," he states. "They have to feel like they trust me. When she gets in the booth that's a very vulnerable state for her. She's going to make mistakes as we're recording. Her tone is so distinct, she's brilliant as an artist, she knows what's right for her."

Watch Rihanna's 'We Found Love'

Over the past six years, the public has watched her transform from a shy island girl to pop princess to fashion icon, and all before the age of 25. Jay introduced a teenaged Robyn Rihanna Fenty back in 2005, during his tenure as president of Def Jam Records. Her fist single, 'Pon De Replay,' was an ode to her island roots and a safe track that intrigued listeners and left them wondering if the girl from Barbados could really hold her own amidst artists like Beyonce and Alicia Keys.

Null of playing any instruments, and lacking strong vocal range, Rihanna has proven herself as a force for a new generation of music enthusiasts. Yet even before stardom, the tattooed songstress was sure of the kind of artist she wanted to be. "I remember the first time I met Rihanna, she was 17 or 18," says Yesi Ortiz, on-air personality at Los Angeles radio station Power 106. "She had that [young adult] arrogance to her. You could tell she just knew where she wanted to go."

The public continues to be mesmerized by her transformations, both in her music and outward appearance. The start of her evolution came by way of 2007's 'Good Girl Gone Bad,' those Beyonce-esque sandy brown locks were replaced with a jet-black bob and her wardrobe choices got sexier and edgier, all in one swoop. She introduced a new side of herself in a skintight black leotard, fishnets and her trusty "um-ba-rel-la" for the video to the album's lead single, 'Umbrella.'

"The title ['Good Girl Gone Bad'] said it all," adds Ortiz. "She was transitioning. We saw Rihanna to an extent grow up in the entertainment business. I think that's what a lot of her audience gravitated towards." Her bold fashion sense is perhaps the only rival to the success of her music, and has become a story within itself. Instead of following trends she has set them, teaming with stylist Mariel Haenn, who has helped hone in on her feminine-tomboy look.

Listen to Rihanna's 'You Da One'

"Her style is one of the major factors of why she's been so successful," says fashion reporter Nakisha Williams. "When she first came out she looked like every other girl in her category -- she was very sweet and very 'girl next door.' She's less concerned with people liking what she wears and getting people talking. She wants people to 'talk that talk' -- good or bad. Once people stop talking about you, you're off the map. Her attitude is one of her best accessories. Whatever you think about her look, she's always going to ooze the confidence in it. That's the thing with her, you're looking for a production, you're looking for [her fashion] to be part of the act. She knows what she wants to give you -- edgy is the new normal."

As her style continues to offer up a visual interpretation of the change in her sound from album to album, Rihanna has masterfully forged a hit-making dream team of writers and producers. They're all equally important in not only pushing her to the top of the music charts, but making sure she never loses her spot. Commissioning the help of writers like The-Dream, Ester Dean and Ne-Yo, Rihanna has been able to take a driver's seat when it comes to picking and choosing tracks that fit the theme of each album.

She has also forged personal relationships with her collaborators, which has allowed for many of them to get to know the woman behind the music. Despite switching up her sound with each project, artists like The-Dream have tapped into her creative process and brought out more of her personality when crafting records. "Rihanna's the most dangerous one [in the music industry] in a good way," explains Dream. "She's completely honest, and now she's become huge being honest, which means she's going to be here for a long time."

'Talk That Talk' promises to live up to its name, jam-packed with risque singles more about sex and less about love. "Everything since [her 2009 album] 'Rated R' has been 'more abrasive' Rihanna," says Los Angeles Times entertainment writer Gerrick Kennedy. "She's not whining over a relationship -- she's never been that kind of girl. She's not looking to find the man of her dreams -- that's not in the music. She knows what she likes ... if it's whips, if it's chains, whatever it is, she's going to grab it, she's going to get it. If you listen to the album, she's talking about the things that are relevant to her."

Watch 'How to Dress Like Rihanna'

For the past few weeks, the 'You Da One' performer's loyal Twitter followers have been hanging on to her every word, as she released promo pics and tracks from the album one by one. Among the attention grabbers are the title track, which teams her again with Jay-Z, and the sexually charged interlude 'Birthday Cake' -- both make it clear that she's a woman more confident than ever in her sound.

When most artists explain how they've changed with each new album, Rihanna lets the music speak for itself. The jury is still out on whether or not 'Talk That Talk' will surpass first week sales of 'Loud,' but her ability to remain in the public eye is sure to be the driving force in her success.

As she enters the next phase in her career, Rihanna is giving equal time to the non-musical aspects of her brand. Earlier this year, she signed with Roc Nation management, and snagged endorsement deals with Vita Coco coconut Water and Nivea skincare and released her first fragrance, Reb'l Fleur.

While the exact shelf life of an artist can never be pinpointed, Rihanna ensures she never steps too far away from the music, committing to an endless cycle of album releases and tours, only to do it all over again year after year. Exhaustion has gotten the best of her from time to time, most recently causing her to cancel a date on the international leg of her Loud tour, but she's never down for too long.

"[She has] grown to the star we know now because of her passion and drive. She exudes it, lives it, breathes it," says Monee Perry, Sr. Marketing Manager at Roc Nation. "The future opportunities are endless, from starring in movies, business ventures and entertaining the masses. [She] will continue to grow into the iconic status she was destined [for]."

Watch Rihanna Sessions

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Bridget Kelly Says 'It's My Time,' Talks Roc Nation 'Pressure'

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:45:00 EST

Michael N. Todaro, Getty Images With Jay-Z as her boss, and label mates like J. Cole, Willow Smith and Jay Electronica, Bridget Kelly is in good company n the music industry, but it's no wonder that she feels a lot of pressure. The New York City native, who took the stage at the Key Club in Los Angeles Tuesday night (Nov. 8) as the opening act for Goapele, revealed that being on the Roc Nation roster is as exciting as it is daunting. "There's a ton of pressure! My boss is married to the No. 1 chick in the game," Kelly tells The BoomBox. "It's great though because I have a direct line of communication to him, so If I have any questions or doubts, I can just go straight to him, run it by him and get his feedback, which is really great." ...

She went on to divulge about how being on tour with Hov calmed her nerves. "That takes some of the pressure off because I don't feel so detached from the brand that I carry on my shoulders," she admits. "So there's pressure, but I worked through a lot of that being on [the Blueprint 3] tour with him. Now it's about me... It's about my time, it's about coming into my own. "

During her set, which also marked her first performance in L.A., Kelly performed three songs, including 'Thinking About Forever' -- penned by Frank Ocean -- and the first single off her forthcoming untitled debut called 'Seek & Destroy,' written by The-Dream; the latter of which she says was tailored to fit her personality.

"It's kind of an in-your-face record," she explains. "I use the f-word a lot. It's definitely very frank and to the point. essentially what it's about is how as women, we kind of reach a point where we give our all [in a relationship] and right before we're about to take the plunge, we tell the guy 'Listen, I'm here, you've got my attention, so don't f it up!'"

While she has yet to pick a title -- a task which she admits to being bad at -- the songstress projects a spring 2012 release date for the album. For now, fans can download her free EP, 'Every Girl,' which dropped Oct. 19, here.

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10 Best Heavy D Videos

Latifah Muhammad — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:50:00 EST

YouTube.com What would hip-hop be without its "overweight lover?" Jumping into the music game in the late 1980s, Heavy D, born Dwight Arrington Myers, was one of the star players on Andre Harrell's Uptown Records imprint -- he released five albums as the group Heavy D & the Boyz and two solo records on the label. Throughout his career, the Jamaican-born MC released nine albums in total, penned theme songs for 'In Living Color' and 'MADtv' and traded rap for reggae by way of 1998's 'Vibes' album. While his unexpected death Tuesday (Nov. 8) continues to shock those who respected his craft, Heavy D's legacy still lives on. The BoomBox celebrates his storied career with a look back at his top 10 music videos. ...

10. 'No Matter What'

By 2008, Heavy D had taken a break from rapping to get back to his Jamaican roots. He released the reggae album 'Vibes,' and dropped the first single, 'No Matter What,' to marginal fanfare. The video features Heavy showcasing his reggae vocals and professing his devotion to the woman in his life, while dancing behind images of his home country of Jamaica. 'Vibes' earned him a Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category in 2009.

9. 'Candy Rain (Remix)'

R&B quartet Soul 4 Real got the chance of a lifetime when Heavy not only discovered them but produced their debut album and lead single 'Candy Rain.' The crooners' single topped the Billboard Singles charts and Heavy D jumped on the remix, released in 1995. The group never recreated the success of their debut, but got to bask in the light of his success, if only for a short time.

8. 'Don't You Know'

Despite his hip-hop persona, Heavy D's ability to cross over into the R&B lane was most prevalent on 1988's 'Don't You Know.' Released off his debut LP, 'Living Large,' the slow jam was sugary yet masculine as Heavy proclaimed undying love with pen and paper in hand. Instead of rapping, the he poetically recited a letter to his lady love proposing marriage while the Boyz harmonized in the background.

7. 'Big Daddy'

Stepping out on his own two feet, 1997 saw the rapper's Waterbed Hev moniker emerge. Sans the support of the Boyz, Heavy D held his own on the single 'Big Daddy,' but never steered too far away from his "overweight lover" alias. As the tide of hip-hop began to change, his solo career stayed afloat with this track, becoming the only single on the album to make it on the Billboard charts.

6. 'Black Coffee'

Heavy D paid homage to black women with this 1994 ode to the his perfect match. Similar to LL Cool J's famously descriptive 'Round the Way Girl,' Heavy's ideal love interest was a take-no-prisoners type, who's not afraid to have his back in a fight. While most men may have been attracted to the softer side of femininity, Heavy preferred the undiluted coffee, with "no sugar, no cream."

5. 'Is It Good to You'

This 1991 single provided Heavy D and the Boyz the opportunity to break down the art of love making. This second single, released off their third LP, 'Peaceful Journey,' held a quintessential new jack swing beat beneath Heavy's flirtatious flow. Dedicated to "all the lovers in the house," the large rhymer slowed the mood up with the uber-sexual track, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Rap charts.

4. 'Mr. Big Stuff'

The hip-hop group put their spin on Jean Knight's hit 'Mr. Big Stuff,' for their 1987 debut 'Living Large.' The music video finds the group convincing a bar owner to let them perform in front of a skeptical audience of senior citizens. While the single didn't make a huge commercial impact, peaking at No. 60 on the Billboard R&B charts, the album was noted as one of The Source magazine's Top 100 Best Albums Ever.

3. 'Now That We Found Love'

Above all else, Heavy D was hip-hop's lovable teddy bear. He had no qualms about expressing his sentiments when it came to romance. Originally released by the O'Jays, 'Now That We Found Love' was featured on Heavy D and the Boyz' 1991 effort 'Peaceful Journey.' The song became a breakout hit for the group and was featured in Will Smith's 2005 film 'Hitch.' Twenty years after its release, the video has clocked over 2 million views on YouTube.

2. 'Nuttin' But Love'

In 1994, the MC and his group released their fifth and final album together titled 'Nuttin' But Love,' led by the single of the same name. This parting gift became their highest charting release while the Brett Ratner-directed music video featured a then unknown Chris Tucker and a bevy of beautiful models. To this day, Ratner credits the project with sparking Heavy's move from hardcore rap videos to more female-friendly projects.

1. 'Gyrlz, They Love Me'

Heavy D was never shy about holding himself in high esteem. In a sea of slender rappers, he embraced his large frame, and on 1991's 'Gyrlz, They Love Me,' off his 'Big Tyme' album, he chose to boast about getting female attention with the classic chorus: "Gyrlz, they gyrlz, they love me, (cause he's the overweight lover Heavy D)." The single peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Rap charts and No. 9 on the R&B charts.

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20 Best Lyrics From Drake

Latifah Muhammad — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST

Let's face it, Drake has had a pretty good couple of years. He went from playing a paralyzed teenager on 'Degrassi High' to being one of the biggest rappers in the game. With only one album out, and one on the way, he's quickly become the go-to collaborator for everybody from Lil Wayne to Kanye West to Jay-Z. Fans have been patiently awaiting his sophomore release, 'Take Care,' due in exactly four weeks on Nov. 15, but they haven't been deprived of his lyrics; he's featured on other artists' records, covered R&B music and let just about everyone into 'Marvin's Room.'In honor of Toronto's favorite MC, and his forthcoming sophomore effort, sit back and enjoy our countdown of Drake's 20 best lyrics. 20 "Intelligent too, ooh, you my sweetheart/ I've always liked my women book and street smart/ Long as they got a little class like half days/ And the confidence to overlook my past ways." 'Fancy' Tibrina Hobson, FilmMagic Rarely do you find a male artist making an anthem for women, but Drake's 'Fancy' falls squarely into that category. From the one-liners to the inquisitive chorus, this track is entirely club-worthy. Drake already knows that the ladies love him so why not lay down the blueprint of the kind of woman he's looking for. ...

"As soon as it's official/ We'll have to let it go, go, go/ So we don't confirm the fling/ Keep avoiding all the questions/ You can teach me many things/ I'm just scared to learn a lesson."

'Little Bit'

Jeff Vespa, WireImage

Even before finding fame, Drake confidently blurred the lines between hip-hop and R&B on this remix to Swedish artist Lykke Li's track about a secret love. The beat's European influence and carefully placed Auto-Tune turns him from rapper to singer then back again. We're "a little bit in love" with this track.

"F--- that n---- that you love so bad/ I know you still think about the times we had/ I say f--- that n---- that you think you found/ And since you picked up I know he's not around."

'Marvin's Room'

Christie Goodwin, Getty Images

Bad things can happen when you drunk-dial and spill your heart to someone who's clearly over you. This track proves things might not end well. Drake's ingested a little liquid courage to chat up his ex-lover. He may be a hater in his verse, but he's only being the honest rapper we've come to love.

"Man they treat me like a legend, am I really this cold?/ I'm really too young to be feeling this old."

'Over'

Roger Kisby, Getty Images

All eyes were on Drake to see if the first single off his debut album, 'Thank Me Later,' would be worth the wait. So he had no choice but to comment on the speculation. The club appeal of 'Over' is undeniable. In this line, he reveals how success has aged him, but it's "far from over."

"I love Nicki Minaj, I told her I'd admit it/ I hope one day we get married just to say we f---in' did it/ And girl I'm f---ing serious, I'm with it if you with it/ 'Cause your verses turn me on and your pants are mighty fitted."

'Miss Me'

Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic

Deep down, Drake is a hopeless romantic, and his sweet spot is Nicki Minaj. He not only made his love for her known on his first album, 'Thank Me Later,' but also proposed marriage. Sadly, these two will probably stay forever in the friend zone.

"Would've came back for you, I just needed time to do what I had to do/ Caught in the life, I can't let it go/ Whether it's right, I will never know/ But here goes nothing."

'Aston Martin Music'

David Livingston, Getty Images

Drake is no stranger to sacrificing personal relationships for career aspirations, in fact he's been vocal about it, which is showcased here. On this Rick Ross track off 'Teflon Don,' where he goes head-to-head with Chrisette Michele to demonstrate his crooning abilities, the rapper let's his lady know work -- mixed with a bit of pleasure -- comes first.

"N----s want to be friends, how coincidental/ This was supposed to be ya'll year, we ain't get the memo."

'Moment 4 Life'

Scott Legato, FilmMagic

Drake can go from humble to cocky in the blink of an eye. He gladly hyped up his success but the true reign of Young Money is on this track. Complemented by Minaj's whimsy on this song from her debut LP, 'Pink Friday', Drizzy moved away from wishing to have a moment to letting the haters know he's here to stay.

"It's funny how someone else's success brings pain/ When you're no longer involved, that person has it all/ And you stuck standing there/ But I'm gonna need you to say something baby."

'Say Something'

George Pimentel, WireImage

There's nothing more uncomfortable than witnessing your ex doing well when you're still feel bitter. So what happens when that ex is one of the biggest rappers in the game? Drake took this concept and turned it into an entire song. Even though it's Timbaland's track off 'Shock Value II,' Drizzy took the reigns and the super-producer had no problem letting him run the show.

"I mean that thing is poking/ I mean you kinda like that girl that's in the U.S. Open/ I mean I got this hidden agenda that you provoking/ I got bath water that you could soak in."

'In the Morning'

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Drake's not the first rapper to reference Serena Williams' "assets," and he won't be the last. Using the famous tennis player's curves as the blueprint to bring this line to life, we get the feeling that the girl he's rapping about has a great figure.

"Baby you my everything, you all I ever wanted/ We can do it real big, bigger than you ever done it/ You be up on everything, other h--s ain't never on it/ I want this forever, I swear I could spend whatever on it."

'Best I Ever Had'

Raymond Boyd, Michael Ochs

Hip-hop and love songs don't always mix but with these romantic lines, Drizzy put himself on the map. Showing affection for his lady-love made the women swoon and the industry sat up and took notice. Drake deftly shows his sensitive side without being too syrupy.

"I'm doin' classic s--- in all my sessions/ Other n----'s situations they are all depressin'/ That's why I never follow y'all suggestions."

'Uptown'

Michael Stewart, Getty Images

The 25-year-old MC takes after his label boss Lil Wayne with these lines. While he couldn't necessarily foresee just how "classic" his future records would be, like Weezy, Drake isn't shy in boasting or expressing his self-confidence. As for the rappers who seem to be failing in his eyes, he doesn't name-drop but touching on the subject proves he's leading and not following the rap pack.

"When they want you to be like somebody else and you just want to be yourself/ And you do it and get the feeling it's wrong/ It is when all the press articles happening/ And the cameras get to snappin'."

'Try Harder'

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Prior to major labels bidding for him to sign with them, Drake was having trouble keeping his image intact. Here, the rapper reveals how people want him to change his style to fit the mold. It's a good thing he stuck to his guns.

"Tell me can we kick it like Ali Shaheed and Phife Dawg/ People really hate when a backpack rapper get rich and start livin' that life dog."

'Show Me a Good Time'

Dave Kotinsky, Getty Images

Not everyone would characterize Drake as a "backpack" rapper, but in his mind, he's down with the struggle. Putting himself in the same league as Common, Talib Kweli and the ultimate backpack rapper-turned-mainstream mogul Kanye West, Drizzy exposes everyone who hates on his bank balance.

"Yeah, I want it all that's why I strive for it/ Diss me and you'll never hear a reply for it/ Any awards show or party I get fly for it/ I know that it's comin,' I just hope that I'm alive for it."

'Successful'

Mindy Small, FilmMagic

Before he actually made it, the 25-year-old rap star was just like any other aspiring artist putting out mixtapes, hoping to get put on. Teaming with Trey Songz on this tune, he spits about reaching his goals, but the best thing here is the hunger heard in the lyrics. Everybody just wants to be successful.

"Dedicated to my mom and I swear my word is bond/ Everything will be OK and it won't even take that long/ You can see it in my face or even read it on my palm/ Leader of the new school, it's proven and it's known/ I'm sitting in a chair but in the future it's a throne."

'The Calm'

George Pimentel, WireImage

Drake has always been close to his mother, who raised the Young Money signee as a single parent. In past interviews, he credits his mom with inspiring the sensitivity in his lyrics and this track displays them in raw form. Penning this track after a fight with his dear ol' mom, he still wanted to make her proud despite their verbal tiff. We're sure he's made up for any other disagreements since then.

"Yes I make mistakes that I don't ever make excuses for/ Like leavin' girls that love me, and constantly seducing h--s/ I'm losing my thoughts, I said damn where my roof just go?/ Top slipped off like Janet at the Super Bowl."

'Money to Blow'

Jag Gundu, Getty Images

Lil Wayne's right-hand man must have been through some relationship woes because this verse is nothing short of a diary entry. Choosing lust over love is nothing new, but the way Drake throws Janet Jackson's infamous "nip-slip" into the mix on this Birdman joint off 'Priceless' is pretty perfect. Drizzy won't let Miss Jackson live that one down.

"And I'll be right here in my spot, with a little more cash than I already got/ Trippin' off you 'cause you had your shot/ With my skin tan and my hair long and my fans who been so patient/ Me and 40 back to work but we still smell like a vacation."

'I'm on One'

Johnny Nunez, WireImage

Drake is no psychic but predicting that his second album would be just as successful than his first was a pretty safe bet. Teaming with some of the usual suspects, like DJ Khaled -- the song appears on his 'We the Best Forever' album -- and Lil Wayne, Drizzy addresses his long break between releases and thanks fans for their support.

"Please start doin' you, I've been doin' me/ And I'm a staple in my city, you can never ruin me."

'I'm Still Fly'

John M. Heller, Getty Images

No matter where he ends up, Toronto will always be home to Drake. There's no argument that he's the biggest rapper to come out of the Canadian city, but he never forgets his roots. He's Toronto's very own -- and October's while we're at it -- and he's proud to rep his city.

"Dropped the mixtape that s--- sounded like an album/ Who'da thought a country-wide tour would be the outcome/ Labels want my name besides a X like Malcolm/ Everybody got a deal, I did it without one."

'Forever'

Denise Truscello, WireImage

Drake's rise from mixtape rapper to the top of the charts is the stuff that dreams are made of. The 'So Far Gone' mixtape he references on this song -- taken from the 'More Than a Game Soundtrack' -- not only sounded like an album but got him a Grammy nomination. Not bad for a rookie.

"I might be too strung out on compliments, overdosed on confidence/ Started not to give a f--- and stop fearing the consequence/ Drinking every night because we drink to my accomplishments."

'Headlines'

David Becker, WireImage

Compliments aren't always a good thing. Even though he's used to making headlines, too much too soon can be overwhelming. Like Kanye West before him, he explains on this first offering from his sophomore LP that being at the top can be as addictive as it is lonely.

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Crooner Mateo Rocks L.A., Explains 'Warped' 'Say It's So'

Latifah Muhammad — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:55:00 EST

Gilbert Carrasquillo, Getty Images With a handful of mixtapes under his belt, singer Mateo is anxious for fans to hear his forthcoming EP, 'Love & Stadiums 2,' due out by 2011's end. The Cleveland native previewed a few new tracks at The Roxy in Hollywood, Calif. Thursday night (Oct. 20). Headlining for a packed crowd, following a performance by opener Dawn Richard, of Danity Kane fame, Mateo debuted his new single, 'Say It's So,' which features background vocals form Alicia Keys. Although the multi-Grammy winner was not on hand, the crooner vocally held his own, belting out the track behind a live band. "The song is about [when] you go through a break-up and a relationship and you hope that that person is hurting as bad as you are," he tells The BoomBox. "Its kind of warped in a way but it's the truth. You want the person to be hurt just like you and I'm really saying I know this don't sound right, but I hope you're hurt like me. Then I know that you feel something or that our relationship meant something." ...

For the second installment of his 'Love & Stadiums' series, the singer will include music from his previous mixtape on the EP, alongside new songs. "It's similar to the mixtape in terms of how big the record sounds," he reveals. "I think that what we did was take it even further than where we wanted to take it. The whole idea of 'Love & Stadiums' the mixtape, [was] we were trying to define the sound of music through love songs. Also it's really just kind of big sounding drums, music that fills an area or a stadium. I feel like in urban music we don't really have that euphoric scream out music. Sometimes I wish we had some of that big sounding music, like Coldplay."

'Say It's So' is available for download on iTunes.

Listen to Mateo's 'Say It's So'

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Common Opens Up About Role in 'Hell on Wheels' TV Series

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST

Jeff Schear, WireImage November is looking to be a big month for Common. Aside from the release of his ninth studio album, 'The Dreamer, The Believer,' and a spot in the animated film 'Happy Feet 2,' the Chicago native will debut his latest acting role on the AMC series 'Hell on Wheels.' Set in 1865, the Western-themed show features the rapper-turned-actor playing the role of an emancipated slave trying to gain acceptance in post-slavery America. "It's about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad," he tells The BoomBox of the show, which is centered around a former confederate soldier who seeks revenge against the Union soldiers who killed his wife. ...

Although the time period is part of the story line, the racial divide during the late 1800s isn't the basis of the show's theme. "The story is not just based on race, but it definitely has all of the issues we deal with today but its set in the Western [era]," Common shares. "It's dealing with some of the injustices that go on, the greed, how money and the hunger of big business can really walk over other people and racial divides."

Over the years, Common has successfully made his transition into the acting world, appearing in over a dozen films and TV shows since 2003. Like many in hip-hop, he's also found his way into other facets of entertainment, releasing his memoir, 'One Day It'll All Make Sense,' last month. He writes about everything from his career woes to his his on-again off-again relationship with Serena Williams. Letting readers that deep into his personal life was cathartic for the 'Blue Sky' creator, who revealed that both fans and people close to him were surprised by his candor. "People i didn't know [were like], 'Yo, this is incredible! I didn't know you were going to really open up like that and be that honest and that raw with it.'"

"The people that know me most of them are like, 'Reading the book is fun!' They were excited," he continues. "I just had one of my good friends, he's the guy who will tell me like, 'Nah, that's not good,' this is the same guy who called me like, 'This is really a good book.' Some of the best responses I got was one of my good friends who said, 'I felt like I was having a conversation with you. Little do people know some of the things you said sounds like you're philosophizing in the book, but it's really just you.' That was a big plus to me. Don't get me wrong, of course some ex-girlfriends were like, 'Hold up! You aired us out,' but at the end of the day I think everybody involved knows that it was done with respect, with truth and love."

In the past, the 39-year-old has authored children's books and revealed that writing his autobiography has inspired him to write more books, although he has yet to pinpoint a genre of interest.

Common debut in 'Hell on Wheels' kicks off on AMC Nov. 6 at 10PM.

Watch Common's 'Be'

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