• Gwyneth Paltrow, Jimmy Fallon Perform Broadway Versions of Drake, Nicki Minaj, Big Sean Songs [WATCH]

    Gwyneth Paltrow proved she could sing during her stint on Glee and in the film Country Strong. She got back on the mic during her appearance on The Tonight Show alongside Jimmy Fallon, who was "playing" piano. The two teamed up to perform Broadway versions of popular rap songs, including Drake's "Started From The Bottom," Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" and Big Sean's "I Don't F**k With You." Fallon donned a smoking jacket and Paltrow sported a pink jumpsuit.

  • Stream 20-Year-Old Jay-Z Demos Recorded Before Hova's Debut Album 'Reasonable Doubt' [LISTEN]

    A recently unearthed collection of demos show off Jay-Z's genius prior to his 1996 debut "Reasonable Doubt." The 11 tracks are truly a special gift for any Hova fan since they show off his skills prior to becoming a multi-millionaire. Tracks like "What's in a Name?" and "Pass the Roc" were made by a 25-year-old lyrical mastermind hungry for a life beyond the streets.Mass Appeal discovered the demos, which feature a few guest spots by Sauce Money. What is most upsetting about the collection is that tons of record labels passed on the rapper after hearing the tracks. Wow. Listen to the compilation below."Jay-Z was never really a coke rapper. He was also never really the club rat, the jeweler's best friend or the menacing kingpin," "XXL" wrote about the demo collection. "What he was was a carefully constructed latticework of all those things, borrowing bits and pieces of other archetypes and putting them over the day's most forward production."

  • Action Bronson Freestyles for Funkmaster Flex on Hot 97 Over an Alchemist/Prodigy Beat [LISTEN]

    Action Bronson will release his second studio album, "Mr. Wonderful," in March. The rapper dropped his second single, "Actin Crazy," earlier this month and recently stopped by the Hot 97 studios to promote the effort. Instead of just talking about the album, Bronson showed off his rhyming skills by freestyling over an Alchemist/Prodigy beat titled "Keep It Thoro" for Funkmaster Flex and his crew.Bronson went off for four minutes, HotNewHipHop notes. Here is just a small sample of what the rapper came up with during the session:"I'm just tryna be the next George Foreman / Invent the new grill so Jadakiss can cook the base on it / I might take a s--t in some expensive jeans, I got expensive habits / My kids are mixed like Lenny Kravitz," he raps in the clip below. "It's not me rappin, it's the parrot / And if I punch you in the face, you'll never eat a motherf--kin' sandwich (Body!)."In December, Bronson revealed the official tracklist for "Mr. Wonderful," via Twitter. Check it out below:

  • Common Drops New Verse on Stacy Barthe's 'Live for Today' [LISTEN]

    Fresh off of his Golden Globe win — and as of this morning, Academy Award nomination — for his song "Glory" from the movie "Selma," Chicago rapper Common has dropped a new verse on Stacy Barthe's "Live for Today," which you can check out below. As its title implies, the song is about seizing the day and not waiting around for moments of greatness to come, with Common asking, "I know the world is changing / But I'm still in my mind, where the peace be?" The true highlight of the track, however, is Benny Cassette's excellent production, which is based around a killer bassline and some jazzy electric piano chords.You can check out Stacy Barthe's "Live for Today" featuring Common here, via "Hot New Hip-Hop":

  • The Roots Perform Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars's 'Uptown Funk' as Black Simon & Garfunkel on 'The Tonight Show' [WATCH]

    Black Simon & Garfunkel — aka Questlove and Kirk Douglas of The Roots — stopped by "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" last night, Jan. 14, to turn another contemporary pop tune into a folk ballad, "Billboard" notes. This time around the duo chose the Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars collaboration "Uptown Funk," which is dominating the charts. As always, the boys did not disappoint.The hilarious duo sang pieces of each verse, blending the lyrics to make a mellow tune. "This hit / That ice cold / Michelle Pfeiffer / That white gold," they sing in harmony in the clip below. "I'm too hot (hot damn) / Called a police and a fireman / I'm too hot (hot damn) / Make a dragon wanna retire man / Girls hit your hallelujah (whuoo) / 'Cause Uptown Funk gon' give it to you / Saturday night and we in the spot / Don't believe me just watch."Quest and Douglas then break into their signature "la la la's" before wrapping up the song.

  • Wiz Khalifa, Fall Out Boy Announce Co-Headlining 'Boys Of Zummer' Tour [FULL SCHEDULE]

    How is this for a weird concert: Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa. According to "radio.com," the pop-punk veterans have announced a co-headlining summer tour with the stoner rap superstar, dubbed "Boys of Zummer," with Long Island rapper Hoodie Allen joining as the opener. The tour kicks off June 10 in Camden, New Jersey — what, Philly wouldn't take them? — and finishes Aug. 10 in Los Angeles. Tickets go on sale Jan. 23 through Live Nation.This tour comes in support of Fall Out Boy's upcoming album "American Beauty/American Psycho," which is set for releae Jan. 20. It will be the band's sixth studio album, their first since their 2013 comeback "Save Rock and Roll." As for Khalifa, this tour continues his support for his fifth album "Blacc Hollywood," which was released back in August.You can check out the complete "Boys of Zummer" tour dates here:

  • Lee Brice, Chris Young Announce Co-Headlining Tour Through March [FULL SCHEDULE]

    Country superstars Lee Brice and Chris Young have teamed up for a string of co-headlining dates this winter. According to "Taste of Country," their joint dates kick off Jan. 22 in Syracuse, New York, and finish March 8 in the considerably warmer climate of Honolulu, Hawaii. Country duo The Brothers Osborne will be opening for seven of the nine dates. You can check out the complete list of tour dates below."Lee and I had a blast last year when we were out with Brad [Paisley]," Chris Young said in a press release, via "Taste of Country," "and so we thought it would be great to join up for a co-headlining tour for our fans this winter. I can't wait to kick things off in Syracuse later this month and head west all the way to Hawaii!"This tour comes in support of Lee Brice's most recent album "I Don't Dance," which was released in September. The album was Brice's third overall, his first since 2012's "Hard 2 Love," and spawned the singles "I Don't Dance" and "Drinking Class." Chris Young's most recent album "A.M." — not to be confused with the Wilco or Arctic Monkeys albums of the same name — was released in 2013, and was the singer's fourth studio album.

  • Stevie Wonder Extends 'Songs in the Key of Life' Tour [FULL SCHEDULE]

    Last year, music legend Stevie Wonder set out on a tour to commemorate his classic album "Songs in the Key of Life," but just in case you missed him, Wonder has announced a new string of tour dates for March and April, which you can check out below. According to "radio.com," Wonder's newly announced tour dates kick off March 17 in Denver, and finish up April 12 with a performance at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, with dates in Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Louisville, Minneapolis, Austin, Nashville and Baltimore in between.For each concert on his "Songs in the Key of Life" tour, Wonder will perform all 21 songs from his classic 1976 album, along with other songs from throughout his career — it was not the only great album he made, after all.In other Stevie Wonder news, the 64-year-old singer will be the subject of a special Grammy tribute, which will air on CBS Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. Among the artists slated to perform at the event are Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Ed Sheeran, Janelle Monae, Usher and Willie Nelson.

  • Snoop Dogg's Son Cordell Broadus Doesn't Smoke Marijuana [WATCH]

    Snoop Dogg is basically synonymous with marijuana. He is one of the most famous pot-smokers in the world and is major advocate for marijuana reform. The man smokes weed every day. You'd think that maybe his children would be influenced by his enthusiasm for the plant, but apparently that isn't neccessarily the case. In an episode of his new ESPN series with son Cordell Broadus, Snoop & Son: A Dad's Dream, the highly sought after high school wide receiver says he doesn't touch the stuff.

  • Pharrell Williams's Signature Hat on Display at the Grammy Museum Through March

    Remember that strange hat Pharrell Williams wore to the Grammys last year? Of course you do. The producer/singer auctioned off the famous cap after the ceremony, raising nearly $45,000 for his charity From One Hand to Another. Fast food chain Arby's won the bid and has now lent the hat to the Grammy Museum, which will put it on display until March 15 in an exhibit titled the Grammy Effect, "Billboard" notes.The hat served as a lucky charm for the singer last January. He took home the Best Record of the Year Award for "Get Lucky," Album of the Year for "Random Access Memories" and Best Pop/Duo Performance with Daft Punk for the stellar track. He also performed a medley of tunes with Daft Punk, Niles Rodgers and Stevie Wonder.Pharrell will look to duplicate last year's success at next month's award ceremony. His 2014 solo effort "GIRL" is up for Album of the Year and Best Urban Contemporary Album. The monster lead single "Happy" is nominated for Best Pop Performance and Best Music Video.
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