Jay-Z’s protegé J. Cole put the soul back in music on his new track “Grew Up Fast”. Jermaine released the song as a celebration for hitting two-million followers on Twitter. The soulful offering was produced by Canei Finch and samples former Temptation David Ruffin’s 1969 record “The Double Cross.” Listen to the audio below:
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In her latest feature inside of Vogue magazine, Nicki Minaj decided to go blue. Literally, her entire skin is painted blue. She is also wearing a pink wig. In the issue, Minaj talks about fighting for females, her career goals outside of music, fashion/style and much more. Minaj’s sophomore album, entitled Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded will be out this spring 2012. Below are some excerpts:
On fighting for females.
“I’m fightin’ for the girls that never thought they could win.”
On her career goals outside of music.
“A huge part of me wanted to be a lawyer! I would do a really good job as a prosecutor,” she alleges.
On her fashion/style, which dates back to her high school days in Queens.
“I was dressing in Tommy Hilfiger baggy shirts and Boss jeans, but then I met a person who dressed like a tiny lady—pantsuits, heels, lots of makeup. I thought she was larger than life. She once did my makeup—I had never seen myself made up before. I didn’t want to wash it off; I felt like I had one day to live this fantasy of being a glamour girl.”
Source: Vogue
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Rapper T.I. and his Grammy Award winning wife Tiny were spotted arriving at Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., over this past weekend. Clifford and Tameka were in the Nation’s Capital for T.I.’s appearance at Love DC nightclub. T.I. was rocking a pair of Nike Air Max Barkley “Black/Safety Orange” sneakers. This model features a black/purple/safety orange colorway and is the same body as the Nike Air Max2 CB ’94 with a Hyperfuse update. “Stylish detailing comes in the form of numbered heel tabs, large air bubbles for cushioning and vented pieces along the upper that allow for a textured look,” said Hypebeast. The Air Max Barkley is currently available at Nike Store for $130. Tiny was wearing a pair of $220 women’s Ugg Adirondack 2 boots. T.I.’s bodyguard was carrying a limited edition studded MCM Visetos backpack.
T.I. & Tiny pictures via Sandra Rose
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This past Sunday (February 20), Cash Money CEO Birdman and YMCMB rapper Tyga both had a party at Club Liv in Miami. It was Birdman’s birthday and Tyga album release party. Celebrities such as Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Gucci Mane and Mack Maine were there, poppin bottles with Birdman and Tyga. Lil Wayne got behind the DJ booth and started spinning on the 1′s and 2′s. Tyga also shot the visual to his single “Faded,” while in Miami. Tyga’s new album Careless World: Rise of the Last King is now in stores and online. Peep the pictures below:
Pictures via UrbanPartyLife
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Jay-Z and Kanye West aka The Throne are taking their talents Overseas. Hova and Yeezy recently announced the 2nd leg of their “Watch The Throne” tour. The tour kicks off in the UK at London’s famous O2 Arena. Hova and Yeezy will also be hitting Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Belgium, Germany and Ireland. UK fans can buy tickets here. Peep the dates below:
May 2012
Sunday 20th – O2 Arena, London
Thursday 24th – Zurich Hellenstadion, Switzerland
Saturday 26th – Herning Arena, Denmark
Monday 28th – Oslo Telenor Arena, Norway
Tuesday 29th – Stockholm The Globe, Sweden
June 2012
Friday 1st – Paris Bercy, France
Saturday 2nd – Paris Bercy, France
Sunday 3rd – Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium
Tuesday 5th – Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany
Friday 8th – Dublin O2 Arena, Ireland
Monday 11th – Manchester, UK – MEN Arena
Wednesday 13th – Birmingham, UK – LG Arena
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Media personality and business mogul La La Vazquez-Anthony was spotted at last night’s New York Knicks vs. New Jersey Nets game at Madison Square Garden in NYC. La La was there to support her husband Carmelo Anthony of the Knicks. La La was dress down in her street wear. She was wearing a $1,695 Yigal Azrouel Lambskin Jacket with Elbow Vents, camo pants and Air Jordan Spiz’ike ”Knicks” sneakers. Even when she’s dress-down, she is still styling on them hoes. Below La La was photo’d with Beyoncé. The final score was 100-92, in favor of the Nets.
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Tonight Monday (February 20), music mogul Jay-Z, his beautiful wife Beyoncé and Spike Lee are currently sitting court side at the world’s famous Madison Square Garden arena in New York City, watching the New York Knicks vs. New Jersey Nets game. The couple is there to show love and support to Jay’s team (Net), while director Spike Lee is rooting for his Knicks. As of 9pm, it is halftime. Stay tuned to YDBR for more updates about the Knicks vs. Nets.
UPDATE: The game is now over. The final score was 100-92, in favor of the Nets.
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Earlier today Monday (February 20), international music artist and fashion designer Kanye West was spotted sitting front row at the Mark Fast show during the 2012 London Fashion Week . Yeezy was styling on them lames in a denim Balmain jacket layered over a mint green Acne Galway knit sweater from the Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, faded jeans, and a pair of his new Nike Air Yeezy sneakers. He was laughing it up with TV personality Zara Martin as models walked the catwalk. The end of last year West moved to London so that he could focus more on his fashion career. During Paris Fashion Week on March 6, West will take a second shot at designing his new womenswear collection. Peep the pictures below:
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Wale was spotted rocking a pair of Air Jordan 5 “Tokyo 23″ sneakers. “This special collaboration consists of a suede yellow upper, the Jordan 5’s signature 3M metallic tongue and clear accents such as the sole and netting, and Jordan Brand’s signature cement print in black and yellow. The sidewall of the Air Jordan 5 Tokyo 23 has a unique “23” symbol – a highlight of the Shibuya Ward of Japan,” Hypebeast. Wale paired his sneakers with some camo pants and an OG BBC Icecream varsity jacket. This jacket features a fabric body, a ribbed collar, cuffs and hem, with leather sleeves.
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This Harlemite was introduced to the world over this past summer 2011, with his dope singles “Peso” and “Purple Swag”. Together, the singles are nearing a combined eight million views. Before this 24-year-old rapper released his debut mixtape, entitled LiveLoveA$AP, he had already secured a $3 million distribution deal with RCA/Pologrounds. Rocky’s sound was heavily influenced by the South (Houston). He is working on his debut solo album, an A$AP Mob compilation album and a collabo album with Schoolboy Q. Last week, Rocky hit the road with Drake and Kendrick Lamar as part of the “Club Paradise” tour.
One of the biggest topics in the music industry, that people CAN’T get enough of is homophobia in Hip-Hop. In a recent interview with Spinner, A$AP Rocky spoke about homophobia in Hip-Hop. Below are some excerpts:
“I don’t give a f— about your business,” ASAP Rocky tells Spinner. “Man, if you’re gay we can be friends. If you’re straight, we can be friends. I’m not gay, I don’t plan on being gay, I don’t condone it and I’m not sayin’ I’m against it. I really don’t give a f— and I don’t think anyone should care about what another man’s preference is… unless he’s interested, if you know what I’m sayin’.”
“Who gives a f—?” he continues. “I like women. I love women. I’m not going to not be your friend because you like men. As long as you’re a great person and, aside from that, y’know, you don’t bother me and make me uncomfortable, then let’s be friends, dude.
“It doesn’t matter. You don’t see people for being gay. People need to leave gay people the f— alone. Like, who cares? If you still care about s— like that you need to just hang yourself like the rest of them KKK motherf—ers. For real. Who gives a f—?“
What bothers ASAP Rocky most is that he figures things like homophobia are bad for his music.
“I’m not saying that hip-hop needs gay rappers or anything,” he says, “but they need to stop being so close-minded because that will just cause the genre to fail. Look at pop. Pop doesn’t discriminate against people. Look at Lady Gaga, y’know what I mean? Who the f— makes the rules for hip-hop? Who the f— dictates who’s cool and who’s not? F— you.”
ASAP Rocky figures there are better reasons to hate someone than who a person chooses to have sex with, and he feels hip-hoppers should be more accepting.
“[Hate a person] because they’re a thief or a bad person,” he says. “Don’t hate ‘em for what they choose to do, because they make decisions on their own time what they choose to do. I don’t care and it’s like f—ed up that hip-hop is so retarded. They don’t want to accept nothing.”
Source: Spinner
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