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Junk Mail: Foo Fighters 'Sonic Highways' Doesn't Live Up To Hype Of Documentary [ALBUM REVIEW]
Welcome to Junk Mail, where a few Music Times staffers email back-and-forth about each week's biggest release throughout the work day. This week, Carolyn Menyes, Kyle Dowling and Caitlin Carter chat about Foo Fighters' new album Sonic Highways. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments section, and check back next week for more. -
YouTube Reaches Agreement with Indie Labels For New Streaming Service [WATCH]
YouTube has officially launched its long-awaited music streaming service, which has been rumored for more than a year now. They also ended their months-long dispute and signed a licensing deal with independent record companies. The deal was closed with Merlin, an organization that represents thousands of small labels worldwide, which cleared them to set up their beta version of the service and compete in the marketplace with the likes of Spotify and Pandora. The company had already reached agreements with the three major labels (Sony, Universal, and Warner), the New York Times reports. The specifics of the deal were not disclosed. -
Aretha Franklin Threatens To Sue Author Of Unauthorized Biography 'Respect' Over Statements About Her Sexual Promiscuity
Aretha Franklin is threatening to sue her former ghostwriter David Ritz over his new unauthorized biography about her called Respect. The book makes claims that she was sexually promiscuous while working the 1950s gospel circuit as a young teen. According to sources for Page Six, Franklin is "enormously upset by the book," which was just released by Little, Brown and Company. -
Steve Aoki To Start Producing Deep House Music Under New Name
Steve Aoki is known for his big club anthems and throwing cake on his fans, but it appears he will be trying out a new style in an upcoming project. He revealed to MixMag that he has started working on deep house tracks, though he won't be releasing them under his own name. -
Sam Smith Explains Why He Made His Sexuality Public For 'Out' Magazine: "My Aim Is To Tell People How Good It's Been For Me"
Sam Smith was named the breakout of the year by Out magazine. He spoke about his experience coming out and the reasons behind why he made his sexuality public. "My aim is to tell people how good it's been for me so that, hopefully, gay men or parents with gay children can look at my story and think, 'Wow, that's how it should be. That's what we can work towards.' That's been my whole motive — to not make it a talking point," Smith told them. "My music should be a talking point. My voice should be a talking point." -
Henry “Big Bank Hank” Jackson Of Sugarhill Gang Dies At 57
Sugarhill Gang founding member Henry "Big Bank Hank" Jackson died today (Nov. 11) at the age of 57. The New York rapper suffered kidney complications due to cancer, which he had been battling for some time, according to Fox News. Jackson formed the Sugarhill hang with Master Gee and Wonder Mic and recorded the hit 1979 song "Rapper's Delight," which is largely regarded as the first rap record and sold several million copies worldwide, establishing rap as the mainstream genre it is today. -
Rihanna Channels Scandal's Olivia Pope During White House Tour Before Concert For Valor Performance [PHOTOS]
Rihanna will be performing tonight on HBO's Concert For Valor, which is being held on the National Mall in Washington D.C. in honor of Veterans Day. She decided to make the most of her trip to the nation's capital and took a VIP tour of The White House. During her visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, she posed in the Briefing Room and the West Wing and even did some Scandal role-play, channeling Olivia Pope at a payphone outside the White House gates. -
"Detroit Vs. Everybody": Eminem, Big Sean, Danny Brown, Royce Da 5'9", Trick Trick, Dej Loaf Rep The Motor City On New 'Shady XV' Track [LISTEN]
Eminem brought together the most notable rappers from his hometown for the final track, "Detroit Vs. Everybody" on his label Shady Records' upcoming two-disc ShadyXV compilation. Repping the Motor City, singer Dej Loaf takes on the hook while Royce Da 5'9", Big Sean, Danny Brown, and Eminem take on verses with "the godfather Trick Trick" closing the track down. The only non-Detroit artist associated with the track is Massachusetts producer Statik Selektah. -
Eminem Says He'll "Punch Lana Del Rey Right In The Face Twice Like Ray Rice" In New 'Shady CXVPHER' [WATCH]
In support of his upcoming double-disc Shady XV album, Eminem released the Shady CXVPHER which features rappers from across the country including Crooked I from Long Beach, California; Joe Budden from Jersey City, New Jersey; Yelawolf from Gasden, Alabama; Joell Ortiz from Brooklyn, New York; Royce Da 5'9" from Detroit, Michigan; and of course Eminem repping the Motor City as well. Slim proved himself the rap god once again during his seven-minute freestyle, and the line that has everyone talking is one in which he threatens to punch Lana Del Rey in the face. He also makes reference to Ray Rice, the NFL player currently suspended after footage emerged of him assaulting his fiancée. -
The Hood Internet's "Backseat Shakeoff": A Mash Up Of Kendrick Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle" And Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" [LISTEN]
Well, this was inevitable. After a mutual admiration fest from Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar over their songs "Shake It Off" and "Backstreet Freestyle" respectively, mash-up masterminds The Hood Internet combined the two tracks for the perfectly Internet-worthy "Backseat Shakeoff." -
Justin Bieber Ordered To Pay More Than $80K For Egging Neighbor's Home
It has come time for Justin Bieber to pay the piper - or rather his neighbor. According to Billboard, the pop star was ordered by the Los Angeles Superior Court to complete five days of community service, attend 12 anger management sessions and pay $80,900 to repair damage to his neighbor's Calabasas home, which he got in trouble for egging earlier this year and was charged with one count of misdemeanor vandalism. -
Tyler, The Creator Says He And Odd Future Collaborator Earl Sweatshirt "Aren't As Close" Anymore
In a new cover story for The FADER, Tyler, The Creator admitted that he and Odd Future collaborator Earl Sweatshirt aren't as close as they used to be. Although they were once, as the story describes, the group's "tightest duo" with a "sibling-like dynamic on and off record," their relationship has changed. -
Chance The Rapper Receives Chicago’s ‘Outstanding Youth of the Year’ Award For His Efforts To End Gun Violence
Chance the Rapper was presented with his hometown of Chicago's "Outstanding Youth of the Year Award" by Mayor Rahm Emanuel yesterday. The rapper took to Instagram to call the honor "the most important award I will ever win." -
David Bowie Shares "Sue" B-Side "Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" Ahead Of 'Nothing Has Changed' Release [LISTEN]
David Bowie is set to drop his career-spanning compilation titled Nothing Has Changed later this month. As part of the project, he will also release a new two-song single, which includes the previously unveiled "Sue (Or In A Season of Crime)" as well as the B-side "Tis a Pity She Was A Whore," which premiered this morning on BBC Radio 6 from DJ Shaun Keaveny. -
Britney Spears Confirms She's Dating New Boyfriend Charlie Ebersol
Britney Spears is officially off the market once more. The "Perfume" singer confirmed the news that she was indeed dating Charlie Ebersol during Britney Day in Las Vegas yesterday, where she was given the keys to the city. "Yes, there is a special someone," she told Extra, "It's very new." -
Eminem Honors Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre At The Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards [WATCH]
Eminem made an unannounced appearance last night (Nov. 5) at the Wall Street Journal's Innovator Awards held at New York City's Museum of Modern Art. His longtime collaborator and mentor Dr. Dre and his Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine were being honored at the awards ceremony. -
Kendrick Lamar New Album Update: Peter Rosenberg Says Sophomore Album Is "Phenomenal" [WATCH]
Probably the most highly anticipated album in recent memory, Kendrick Lamar's follow-up to the critically acclaimed good kid m.A.A.d city has everyone buzzing and hungry for any information or piece of the effort they can get their hands on. One lucky man, Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg, was given a short private preview of some of K. Dot's new material, which will presumably be featured on the LP. He described the four songs he heard as "not anything like what you've heard from Kendrick before." -
Foo Fighters Announce 20th Anniversary Independence Day Show With Joan Jett, LL Cool J, And More In D.C.
Foo Fighters are throwing a 20th anniversary celebration bash this Independence Day. To mark the milestone, the band will perform a concert in the nation's capital along with some special guests. The show takes place at the RFK Stadium and will feature sets from Buddy Guy, Gary Glark Jr., Heart, Joan Jett, LL Cool J, Trouble Funk, and Trombone Shorty. -
Lollapalooza Coming To Berlin In September 2015 At Tempelhof Airport
Lollapalooza is headed to Berlin, Germany in 2015, Billboard reports. Spread across two days, the festival will be held at the historically protected Tempelhof Airport in the heart of Berlin on September 12-13. Germany joins Chile, Brazil, and Argentina as the fourth international location for the festival, which began in Chicago and expanded from its home base over the last half decade. -
Kelly Rowland Gives Birth To Baby Boy Titan Jewell Weatherspoon
Kelly Rowland has given birth to a baby boy with newlywed husband Tim Weatherspoon. The former Destiny's Child member welcomed son Titan Jewell Weatherspoon into the world on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. PT, weighing in at 7.5 pounds. -
Madonna And Chance The Rapper Working Together? Both Artists Post Photos To Instagram
It appears that Chance the Rapper is the latest artist to join Madonna's upcoming follow-up to 2012's MDNA. Throughout the process of recording the album, Madge has been posting photos of her collaborators to Instagram, including Nicki Minaj, Diplo, and Natalia Kills. Now Chance has joined that list. What's more, Madonna gave the Chicago MC an electric Razor Scooter. -
Kendrick Lamar Freestyle Raps Over Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" [LISTEN]
Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift's mutual admiration has been well documented this year. First the "Shake It Off" songstress danced awkwardly at the 2014 Grammy's to Kendrick Lamar's "m.A.A.d city"/ "Radioactive" mash-up performance with Imagine Dragons, then she told Rolling Stone in her cover story that Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle" is her preferred method of relieving stress. -
Harry Styles Says Gender Is "Not That Important" To Him In A Relationship, Reignites Bisexual Rumors [WATCH]
Harry Styles, being the teen heartthrob that he is, often has his sexuality and his relationships scrutinized by the media and even his fans. He's dated the likes of Cara Delevigne, Taylor Swift, and Kendall Jenner, but in a new interview with On Demand Entertainment, the One Direction singer playfully confirms that gender isn't a deciding factor in his romantic endeavors. -
Mary J. Blige Drops New Song “When You’re Gone” Off Upcoming Album 'The London Sessions' [LISTEN]
Mary J. Blige has shared a new track off her forthcoming album The London Sessions, and it's different from her past releases. Titled "When You're Gone," the track features her soulful pipes backed by an acoustic and orchestral arrangement. Grammy-winning songwriter Eg White (Adele, Florence and the Machine) penned the song, and it was his first time working with Blige now that she's exploring British music and experimental sounds. -
Kendrick Lamar Gives Update On Sophomore Album, Addresses Drake Feud, "King Kunta" Expectations, Dating, Fame, And More In Breakfast Club Interview [WATCH]
Kendrick Lamar has been making the rounds on the press circuit following the announcement that he'll be performing on Saturday Night Live and stopped by Power 105.1's Breakfast Club this morning to chat about his latest single "i" and where he stands with the follow-up to his critically acclaimed, instant-classic debut good kid m.A.A.d. city. He clarified that he does not yet have a title or release date for the album but said the album is "almost there." -
U2 To Perform Weeklong Residency on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon has announced that U2 will be taking on a weeklong residency at The Tonight Show starting Monday, Nov.17. This appears to be a recent trend on late night shows, considering those very same days, Metallica will be performing a weeklong residency on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson and just last month Foo Fighters ran through a weeklong residency on Late Show With Daivd Lettterman. Luckily for U2 and Fallon, the Metallica performances won't overlap as Ferguson's show has a different timeslot. -
Father John Misty Announces New Album 'I Love You, Honeybear,' Debuts Lead Single "Bored In The USA" On 'Letterman' [WATCH, TRACKLIST, TOUR DATES]
Former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman has announced his second Father John Misty album, I Love You, Honeybear. The follow-up to 2012's Fear Fun, the effort is due out Feb. 10 via Sub Pop. Tillman performed a cut from the album, "Bored in the USA," along with a 22-piece string orchestra section last night on The Late Show With David Letterman, his second appearance on the show. -
'Frozen' Hit "Let It Go" Gets Movember Parody Called "Let It Grow" [WATCH]
The Frozen soundtrack has been almost inescapable over the past year. It charted week after week, with the single "Let It Go" peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Now the single is getting yet another parody treatment to support the Movemeber Foundation, "committed to changing the face of men's health." -
The Districts Announce Debut Album 'A Flourish And A Spoil,' Premiere Lead Single "4th and Roebling" [LISTEN]
Pennsylvania rockers The Districts have announced the release of their debut album on Fat Possum Records. Titled A Flourish And A Spoil, the effort is due out February 10 and features production from John Congleton (St. Vincent, The Walkmen, Angel Olsen). The record will serve as the follow-up to the band's self-titled debut EP, which they released in January. In support of the upcoming album, the band has shared the lead single "4th and Roebling." -
Jay Rock Drops Video For "Parental Advisory" Off Upcoming Sophomore Album [WATCH]
Jay Rock is prepping for his time in the TDE release spotlight. Today he put out the video for "Parental Advisory," the first single, which he debuted last month, off his forthcoming album. The video features the Watts (L.A.) rapper in front of a house while his crew works out in the front lawn. It also cuts to footage that takes viewers on a tour of the city including spots like Watts Towers and Nickerson Gardens. The treatment alternates between color and black and white.
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