Day in Pop Report for 11/24/2014
Tiny Doo (real name Brandon Duncan) is being implicated for the content of his latest mixtape, No Safety, under the charge that the violent lyrics on the release "willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang." According to the Los Angeles Times, Duncan is a "documented gang member" affiliated with the gang in the Lincoln Park area of San Diego. In 2008, Duncan (whose alleged gang moniker is "TD") was charged with pimping and pandering, although those charges were ultimately dropped. "We're not just talking about an album of anything, of love songs," Deputy District Atty. Anthony Campagna told the judge in open court, citing the album's cover image of a loaded revolver. "It's no different than Snoop Dogg or Tupac," retorted the rapper's lawyer, Brian Watkins. "It's telling the story of street life� If we are trying to criminalize artistic expression, what's next, Brian De Palma and Al Pacino? Every drug gangster loves Scarface. Does it encourage violence?" Read more here.
Obviously, this is not the first time Morrissey canceled a show, but it's probably the first to be canceled because of unruly fans. As Consequence of Sound points out, there is now a video of the encounter, in which you see Moz at the 8:40 mark tell the crowd he'd like to tell them something. Before he gets a chance to, fans start yelling and you hear Morrissey say, "Is that funny? That wasn't very nice. I'm not going to say it now." He then launches into "Staircase at the University," but by its end, Moz has disappeared. His band stands around waiting and looking around for a few seconds before walking off themselves. A band member comes out a few minutes later to say they are looking for the person who was "spewing those insults." Later, a representative announce that Morrissey has left the venue because he felt unsafe to a round of boos from the crowd. Moz did not return to the stage. Read more and watch video here.
"We had a situation but we had it very good compared to most people," Kessler said, recalling how the band got trapped in traffic after leaving their Columbus, N.Y., show. "Everyone had a sense of optimism, but by the next morning we just moved a very, very small amount and we were basically stuck on a road-I should say much better than other people." At first, the guitarist assumed the van was stopped for customs at the Canadian border. "After we played a show Monday night in Columbus, we boarded the bus and were hopeful we'd cross the border at some point in the middle of the night," Kessler said. "I kept thinking they let us through the border. Typically when you're going into Canada, they ask you to descend from the bus and they check your papers and so forth. I kept feeling the bus stop intermittently and thought, 'Oh, they're letting us go through this time.' "It wasn't until early next morning that I realized, 'No, we're very much stuck in snow.' I think I had a sense of optimism when our driver told me, 'Just a few miles ahead of us is Buffalo and they don't really have any snow yet.' At that point, they had no snow at all. It came a little later." One of the reasons the band was in a better position than most trapped nearby was that their bus was fully loaded with supplies. Read more here.
It's actually a tribute to her mom, Tina Knowles, who divorced Bey's father in 2011. The track-one of two new ones off the deluxe edition of Bey's self-titled album, out Nov. 24-has Bey talking about her mom smiling through the tears and trying to be the beautiful wife, before taking that ring off. "So tired of the lies and trying and fighting and crying / You took that ring off / Ooh, now the fun begins," Bey sings. Later Bey makes it clear her mom is sexy (we agree, did you see those photos from Solange's wedding?), ready to mingle and she's proud of her. "Always know you've got a daughter / Who's oh so proud you took the high road," she sings before later throwing in a little reference to her song, "Love On Top" about what it's like to have someone in your life who loves you. Read more here.
Harry Styles takes you ice skating on your virtual date, while Louis Tomlinson is all about that beach, perfect for those of us currently experiencing cold weather. In all, you get a date with all five members of 1D, so take your pick-maybe you want to go to a carnival with Liam, or dinner with Zayn. Maybe your ideal time with Niall is spent with a night in by the fire. It's all possible, thanks to the magic of YouTube. The video is the second taken from Four, the band's newest album, following lead single "Steal My Girl"-which was a much more pompous affair, featuring tons of extras and even Danny DeVito. Watch the video here.
Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Big & Rich and Brett Eldredge are the latest country acts to be tapped for the event with more acts to be announced in the coming weeks. The evening before college football fans watch to see which team will win the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship, they'll get a night of country music. The CMT Ultimate Kickoff Party will air live on CMT on Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. ET. The 90-minute concert special will be broadcast from the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Read more here.
The brooding and moody clip features Wale rapping the song on an idyllic hillside overlooking the city, interspersed with slice of life vignettes where everyday people are seen reciting the lyrics in situations ranging from getting a haircut to lover's quarrel. There's also a spoken word break taken from a vintage episode of Seinfeld, further cementing Wale's long-running connection to comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The Nas compilation album that will feature "The Followers" was originally set for a September 2014 release, but has been pushed back to an as yet undisclosed drop date next year. Watch the video here.
The new clip is for "F**k That," one of only two tracks on Recess written and produced by Skrillex alone. The video, directed by Nabil, finds a dude training intensely to fight in some underground fight club deal (for love, duh) and winds up in a car chase that gets interrupted by some sort of Tusken Raiders. Oh, and what's that at the end? Looks like Wu-Tang Clan's $5 million album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, right? That's because it totally is. Seriously. If you are unfamiliar with Nabil's work, he also directed Frank Ocean's "Swim God," Kanye West's "Mercy," alt-J's "Hunger of the Pine," Bon Iver's "Holocene," and Lana Del Rey's "Ultraviolence"-plus, dozens of other memorable clips from huge artists. This is his first time directing for Skrillex, though. Watch the video here.
Slated to appear are previously announced acts Staples, Kris Kristofferson, Joan Baez, Sheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams, as well as new lineup additions Conor Oberst and Alison Krauss. Harris sang on multiple songs on Oberst's classic I'm Wide Awake It's Morning. Don Was and Buddy Miller will be on hand as directors for the performance, and the concert will be taped for a television or video release at a later date. Read more here.
"I felt connected to her in terms of the darkness and the searching for something other than the hell she was living in," Blige told Billboard. "I know that's what she was searching for. Because that's what you're searching for when you're doing drugs and alcohol-you're trying to get out of that hell that's in your head." The topic of Winehouse came up when Blige was asked about some British soul singers who influenced her as she recorded her new album, The London Sessions. "I would tell so many people, 'I need to talk to her, I need to get to her,'" Blige continued. "Especially when my life turned around and I chose life. I wanted to somehow get to her, to tell her, 'It's OK to choose life.' " Read more here.
It's quite different from the confessional track "The Heart Wants What It Wants" that was released previously, instead a more upbeat confection. The track, produced by the production duo Rock Mafia, catches Gomez's voice in high production value, pitching her up and hacking at the vocals for effect. Gomez also released a remix of the track "My Dilemma," titled "My Dilemma 2.0," that speeds up the dilemma, delivering a 3:02 solution. Listen to the track here.
The indie group and the Moroccan rapper aim for Weeknd vibes with their late-night scorned song about a woman who cheated on her man. The NeighboUrhood approaches the song's hooks with a glazed-over falsetto, while Montana steps in with a quick-fire verse. "30 for the whole, 15 for the half / You could break it down come and see me with a bag," he raps. "Shawty fell in love with a young rich n***a / Blunt full of smoke and a cup full of liquor / Say what I mean not mean what I said baby/ Silk sheets I be slippin' off the bed baby." Read more here.
Yes, Directioners, they're just like us! You may even be able to see Harry Styles doing his grocery shopping or Niall Horan pumping his gas. Like Harry says, they're like crabs. They come out once and awhile, not that they walk sideways. This is a comment he would come to regret. "Maybe next time you tell this story, say you're a panda bear or something," Ellen suggested. "It's adorable." "The thing about a disguise," Styles said, "is it's far too embarrassing if someone catches you wearing a disguise. It's not worth wearing the disguise, it's like, 'Is that you? Why are you wearing a mustache?'" Also, Styles spoke about the rumor that he sent 1,989 roses to Taylor Swift after the success of her album. "I know about the rumor, I don't know about the roses," he said. "It may have been someone else and I'm taking credit for that." Watch the clip of the guys on Ellen, where they do talk about Zayn's flu and his upcoming nuptials, here.
This has apparently led more than one person to question whether or not she has a belly button, as explained in her new Lucky magazine cover story. But instead of addressing that question head-on, Swift wants to keep fans guessing. When confronted about peoples' apparent sleep loss over whether or not her belly button is an innie, outie, pierced, tattooed or even nonexistent, Swift said she doesn't mind at all. "I want that to be a mystery," she told Lucky. "As far as anyone knows based on my public appearances, they haven't seen evidence of a belly button. It could be pierced. They have no idea. If I'm going to get some sort of massive tattoo, it's going to be right next to my belly button because no one's ever going to see that." here.
Mark Ronson, gearing up for new album Uptown Special and shortly after premiering new single "Uptown Funk" with Bruno Mars on vocals, took to 30 Rock Saturday night (Nov. 22) to take us back to a time when roller rinks ruled supreme for two performances engaging for audiences old and now. "Uptown Funk," the project's first single, shimmers with its decades-old disco funk, and much like the song's video that was released earlier this week, the tune's live debut was an appropriate period piece. A horn section, backing band and backup singers flanked Mars and Ronson, who added electric guitar, with neon and twinkling lights surrounding them from side to side and above the stage. Would have been a snug fit on SNL in its first season, let alone its 40th. Mars and his four-man crew pulled off their share of in-sync dance moves while crooning the track, creating an infectious, raucous party atmosphere. If the second song is any indication, Uptown Special will be more of the same slice of music history. Host Cameron Diaz introduced Ronson and Mars again� but wait, is that Mystikal? IT IS! MYSTIKAL IS ON YOUR TELEVISION. The rapper joined the band for a rollicking number called "Feel Right," Mars relegated to a backup role as he strutted and danced about the stage, setting Twitter ablaze with cries for its savior. Ronson's appearance on SNL preceded the release of his new album Uptown Special, due out in 2015. Little else is known about the record, though Kevin Parker of Tame Impala purportedly also collaborated with Ronson for it in addition to Mars. Read more and watch here.
Her partner, though invisible, is a pretty accomplished dancer, lifting, twirling and dipping Deschanel throughout the over two and a half minute clip. We totally get why she'd want him to stay awhile. M. Ward decides to sit this one out, only showing up to play his own invisible guitar. She & Him will release their covers album, Classics, featuring songs by Elvis Costello, Van Morrison and Frank Sinatra, on Dec. 2. Watch the video here.
In the clip off RTJ2, directed by Trevor Kane, the two rappers get into a bit of trouble, speeding through the streets, getting high and trying to save cats who get stuck in trees. Oh, they also stop for a quick bite where they ignore a guy having a heart attack right next to them. Look for a cameo from the Black Lips' Cole Alexander who gets wheeled out on a gurney. By the looks of it, Law and Order may be giving Alexander a call real soon to play dead body No. 1. Watch the video here.
This being Snoop Dogg, however, it was only a matter of time until weed entered into his collaboration. Not only did Snoop Dogg also design a pair of Rastafari socks that will be bundled with his painting-inspired ones and a pair of gin and juice ones, he's credited marijuana as the thing that gives him "vision and more thought process." In a new interview with PAPER, Snoop talks about how weed inspires his artwork. "It gives me more vision, more thought process," he said. "I'm intense and I'm focused on what I'm doing, whether it's the color scheme or adding some sprinkles or even just a pattern." Read more here.
A few years ago, I was at a bar and being introduced to a semi-famous actress, by a mutual friend. The woman and I had noticed each other in the neighborhood before, and this seemed to be the moment we were to finally exchange words. She was sitting in a booth, as the mutual friend and I approached. She offered her hand to me, after greeting our friend. In a perfect moment that lasted 4 seconds, and an eternity, I extended my hand and knocked the entire table of drinks onto her, and the floor. Glasses smashed, the music stopped. She looked back at me, her face a mixture of disgust and disbelief. Others in the bar shook their heads, tsk'ing in variation. "You make me make moves.." Read: Might even move all these drinks to the ground "I break through, to get to you.." Read: I am not against sacrificing a pint glass to make a good impression Eventually the music came back on, and I never saw her in another film again. Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and watch the video right here!
Share this article 
Click here to read today's full Day in Rock report tell a friend about this article
...end |
On the Blue: New Horizons Cruise Day 1: Marbin Gets the Fun Started
Hot In The City: Prog Band Tu-Ner Coming to Phoenix
Sites and Sounds: Daytona Beach Ready to Rumble with Welcome to Rockville
Ross Valory - All of the Above
Dance Gavin Dance Part Ways With Frontman Tilian Pearson
Prong Rock Rush Classic 'Working Man' In New Video
Nothing More Premiere Video For 'House On Sand' featuring I Prevail's Eric Vanlerberghe
Emo Orchestra With Escape the Fate Spring Tour Kicks Off This Week
Ronnie Wood Rocks Faces Classic With The Black Crowes In Los Angeles
Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever Anniversary Celebrated By In The Studio
Singled Out: Rizz & The Believerz's Don't Stop Trying
