After the announcement of his participation at Wireless this year fans have been waiting on bated breathe to see whether or not Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd was going to play a solo show in the city or not. Thankfully prayers have been answered as the Toronto hailing enigma has just confirmed his debut show at Wiltons Music Hall on June 7th.

Tickets go on sale May 28th at 9am. See you there…?

Pop-culture superstar Maya Arulpragasam, otherwise known as M.I.A has signed a management deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company. The British singer, who’s new album Matangi is due out later this year joins an impressive list of artists signed to the agency including Rihanna, Santigold, J. Cole, Wale, Mark Ronson, Shakira, Willow Smith, Melanie Fiona, Jay Electronica and Rita Ora.

M.I.A recently announced recruiting Missy Elliott, Azealia Banks and Rye Rye for the official remix of her single ‘Bad Girls’. Expect that soon.

After a string of successful tour dates in Europe earlier this year, D’Angelo sits down with GQ Magazine for his first interview in years. The Grammy award winning singer discusses a whole range of topics including the effects his infamous ‘Untitled’ video had on his life/career, a weird encounter with Madonna at a party and the powerful (sometimes evil) effects music can have on people. The interview also includes a shocking story from D’Angelo’s ex-wife Angie Stone…

The feature also includes new photos of D’Angelo (above) – check them out after the jump.

D’Angelo on the “forces” in music

“There’s forces that are going on that I don’t think a lot of motherf-ckers that make music today are aware of,” he says. “It’s deep. I’ve felt it. I’ve felt other forces puling at me.” He stubs out his cigarette and leans toward me, taking my hand. “This is a very powerful medium that we are involved in,” he says gravely.” “I learned at an early age that what we were doing in the choir was just as important as the preacher. It was a ministry in itself. We could stir the pot, you know? The stage is our pulpit, and you can use all of the energy and that music and the lights and the colors and the sound. But you know, you’ve got to be careful.”

Paul Hunter (Director of Untitled) on the video being misunderstood

“Most people think the ‘Untitled’ video was about sex, but my direction was completely opposite of that. It was about his grandmother’s cooking. Think of your grandmother’s greens, how it smelled in the kitchen. What did the yams and the fried chicken taste like? That’s what I want you to express.” The video may have looked like foreplay, but it was actually about family, Hunter insists-about intimacy.
Later when I tell D’Angelo this, he says, “It’s so true: We talked about the Holy Ghost and the church before that take. The veil is the nudity and the sexuality. But what they’re really getting is the spirit.”

D’Angelo on the effects of the ‘Untitled’ video

One time I got mad when a female threw money at me onstage, and that made me feel like f-cked-up, and I threw the money back at her. I was like, ‘I’m not a stripper.’ On the last day of the eight-month tour, Questlove says D’Angelo told him, “Yo, man, I cannot wait until this f-cking tour is over. I’m going to go in the woods, drink some hooch, grow a beard, and get fat.” Questlove thought he was joking. “I was like, ‘You’re a funny guy.’ And then it started to happen.That’s how much he wanted to distance himself.

Ex-wife Angie Stone recalls a shocking story

Stone remembers an event in Manhatten in September 1996 that was billed as Giorgio Armani’s tribute to D’Angelo. Stone-thirteen years older than D-was three months pregnant with their son. They headed to the event together in a limo, but as they neared the venue where D was going to perform, it suddenly pulled over. He was asked to get into another car, where he would be escorted by Vivica Fox,” Stone says, her voice breaking slightly. The lissome Fox had just appeared with Will Smith in the blockbuster Independence Day. “It was a Hollywood moment. They wanted a trophy girl. I had to walk in behind them to flashing cameras. It started the wheels turning of what was yet to come.

D’Angelo’s encounter with Madonna

When Madonna turned 39, she asked him to sing “Happy Birthday” at her party. One press report had her sitting on his lap and French-kissing him. In fact, two sources say that ultimately D rebuffed her advances at another gathering not long after. At that event, the sources say, Madonna walked over and told a woman sitting next to D, “I think you’re in my seat.” The woman got up. Madonna sat down and told him, “I’d like to know what you’re thinking.” To which D replied, “I’m thinking you’re rude.

(via NB)

Finally the Michael Jackson estate is doing something right. After a string of terrible posthumous albums, the legal team looking after Michael Jackson’s legacy (and thus their bank balances) is finally releasing something that will have fans genuinely excited and something that respectfully honours MJ’s name.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Jackson’s classic Bad album, which spawned five consecutive #1 singles, the estate is releasing his legendary concert at Wembley Stadium in full on DVD. Not only that but they’ll also be including some unreleased private studio sessions and a re-mastered edition of the LP.

Dope.

Course, for every step forward, they take 10 back. MJ’s image was recently licensed to Pepsi – the company who Jackson teamed up with in the 80′s for a series of historic deals/commercials. MJ’s “dancing image” will be used on “a billion cans”. Sigh.

After announcing the release date for her forthcoming 1991 EP, Azealia Banks has now set July 4th as the day her mixtape titled Fantastic will drop. The news was confirmed via her twitter. These two projects will be precursors for Banks’ debut album Broke With Expensive Taste – which is currently schedule for a September release.

She’s going in with those releases…

5-time Grammy Award winner, regarded by the world as the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer has passed, aged just 63. According to TMZ the singer died this morning after a battle with cancer. They also report she was in Florida at the time of her death.

Summer rose to fame in the 1970′s with legendary hit songs like ‘Last Dance’, ‘Bad Girls’ and ‘Hot Stuff’. She ushered in a new dawn with her own brand of sensual and at times erotic Disco – establishing herself as one of the pioneers of the genre.

Our condolences go out to her friends and family…

Pharrell Williams is launching a new label named I Am Other. To set things off he’s just released a highly over the top promo video promoting the ‘new’ venture. Hopefully this will usher in a new round of exciting music from Skate Boy P / The Neptunes. If Buddy’s last single with Kendrick Lemar was anything to go by – that’s exactly what might be happening.

We’ll see…

Teyana Taylor hasn’t had the easiest journey in the music industry. She released her debut single ‘Google Me’ back in 2008 when she signed a record contract with The Neptunes’ label Star Trak. She released a mixtape called From a Planet Called Harlem also, but after that… Nothing.

In January 2012 Taylor announced her split from Star Trak/Interscope and released a new mixtape The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor shortly after. Now it’s been confirmed that she’s signed with Kanye’s ever growing, very impressive imprint G.O.O.D Music – a strong look for an artist who has clearly been bounced around for far too long.

Teyana has always been an artist I’ve kept a close eye on. In 2008 it was clear she had something fresh but after years of silence, I wondered if when she did finally release anything new – whether it’d sound dated or not. The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor answered such concerns – her latest tape was almost jam packed with strong, contemporary sounding R&B – not at all ‘Google Me’-ish (a song that worked back in ’08, but would fall on deaf ears in 2012). And now with the news that she’s teaming up with West and his crew – I’m definitely excited to hear what comes next.

When she’s not going after other (female) emcees, Azealia Banks likes to make and release music and despite numerous delays, she’s finally about ready to put out her long promised 1991 EP. The 4-track project will be released on May 29th (June 12th physically) and will feature her singles ’212′, ‘Liquorice’, ‘Van Vogue’ and title track ’1991′. The EP will then be followed by a new mixtape project entitled Fantastic (from which ‘Jumanji’ is taken off). Peep the artwork for her upcoming release above..

Arguably two of the best (and exciting) young emcees in Hip Hop today have announced a joint album. Speaking to Bootleg Kev, J. Cole confirmed that he and Kendrick Lemar have already penned “four or five songs” for an album saying “I just started working with Kendrick the other day. We got it in finally, again… We actually worked, bouncing ideas, which was great. The vibe was so good that it’s absolutely gonna happen”.

Without doubt – this will be dope.

It’s been a while since I got excited about a Lupe Fiasco record. It’s no secret his output after The Cool has been a little off – even at his own admission. But it seems the tide is about to change because he’s just announced the release of Food & Liquor 2, the sequel to his critically acclaimed (now classic) debut album. Moreover, the project will be a double LP with a first single due later this month.

If this album is a fraction as good as Food & Liqour – I will be a happy man.

According to IFTN (via 2dbz) Grammy award winning rapper André 3000 will play the legendary Jimi Hendrix in a new planned biopic.

The film which will reportedly begin production in Ireland later this month will be set between 1966 & 1967 – the year Hendrix was discovered by Linda Keith (former girlfriend of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards) and introduced to manager Chas Chandler who took Hendrix to London to record his debut album Are You Experienced.

Directed by John Ridley (writer of ‘Three Kings’, ‘U-Turn’) the film has been tentitavely titled ‘All Is By My Side’ – no release date has been announced.
]]> http://pinboardblog.com/2012/05/news-andre-3000-to-play-jimi-hendrix-in-biopic/feed/ 0 http://pinboardblog.com/2012/05/news-adam-yauch-of-beastie-boys-dies-aged-47-band-issues-official-statement/ http://pinboardblog.com/2012/05/news-adam-yauch-of-beastie-boys-dies-aged-47-band-issues-official-statement/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 23:23:09 +0000 Speeakz http://pinboardblog.com/?p=57784

Very sad news out of New York as it has emerged founding member of the legendary Hip Hop group Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch aka MCA has lost his battle to cancer. Yauch battled the disease for 3 years but succumb to it yesterday – he was 47 years old.

As an integral part of the the Beaste Boys, Adam helped launch Hip Hop into the mainstream consciousnesses with albums such as Licensed to Ill, Paul’s Boutique and Ill Communication – his legacy is unforgettable.

Read the official statement issued by his band members after the jump…

Adam Yauch | 1964-2012

It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam “MCA” Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself to play bass in high school, forming a band for his 17th birthday party that would later become known the world over as Beastie Boys.

With fellow members Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums–including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band’s 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill–win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.

In addition to his hand in creating such historic Beastie Boys albums as Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and more, Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which was attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985′s Live Aid. The Tibetan Freedom Concert series would continue to stage some of the most significant benefit shows in the world for nearly a decade following in New York City, Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, Taipei and other cities.

In the wake of September 11, 2001, Milarepa organized New Yorkers Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, with net proceeds disbursed to the New York Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–each chosen for their efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims least likely to receive help from other sources.

Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including “So Whatcha Want,” “Intergalactic,” “Body Movin” and “Ch-Check It Out.” Under his own name, Yauch directed last year’s Fight For Your Right Revisited, an extended video for “Make Some Noise” from Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, starring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride and Seth Rogen as the 1986 Beastie Boys, making their way through a half hour of cameo-studded misadventures before squaring off against Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Beastie Boys of the future.

Yauch’s passion and talent for filmmaking led to his founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 released his directorial film debut, the basketball documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot and has since become a major force in independent video distribution, amassing a catalogue of such acclaimed titles as Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy, Oren Moverman’s The Messenger, Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop, Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze’s Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait Of Maurice Sendak, and many more.

Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch.
]]> http://pinboardblog.com/2012/05/news-adam-yauch-of-beastie-boys-dies-aged-47-band-issues-official-statement/feed/ 2 http://pinboardblog.com/2012/05/news-the-xx-announce-london-european-tour-dates-2012/ http://pinboardblog.com/2012/05/news-the-xx-announce-london-european-tour-dates-2012/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 15:12:09 +0000 Speeakz http://pinboardblog.com/?p=57672

Fans of cult band The xx will be happy to know they’ve just announced a string of dates across Europe, including 3 shows London. The group will stop off in France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Norway and Belgium ahead of the release of their much anticipated, much needed sophomore album (title/date yet to be announced).

To give fans an equal chance of attending the special shows, tickets will be allocated via a lottery system – fans can sign up here.

Full dates after the jump…

The xx:

05-14 London, England – Electrowerkz
05-15 London, England – Chats Palace
05-18 London, England – Battersea Arts Centre
05-29 Bordeaux, France – Le Rocher De Palmer
05-30 Toulouse, France – Le Phare
05-31 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound
06-08 Turin, Italy – Traffic Festival
06-09 Porto, Portugal – Primavera Sound
06-15 Aarhus, Denmark – Northside Festival
06-16 Hultsfred, Sweden – Hultsfred Festival
06-22 Scheessel, Germany – Hurricane Festival
06-23 Neuhausen, Germany – Southside Festival
06-27 Haervic, Norway – Hove Festival
06-29 Arras, France – Main Square Festival
06-30 Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
07-07 Gdynia, Poland – Heineken Open’er Festival
07-14 Joensuu, Finland – Ilosaarirock Festival
08-09 Sibinek, Croatia – Terraneo Festival
08-10 Budapest, Hungary – Sziget Festival
08-11 St Pere, France – La Route du Rock
08-18 St Polten, Austria – FM4 Frequency Festival
08-19 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands – Lowlands Festival
08-31 Laois, Ireland – Electric Picnic
09-07 Isle of White, England – Bestival

Finally, someone with the cojones to speak the truth about the current trend in mind-numbing strobe light ‘urban’ music…

In an interview with NME, Drake candidly expresses his opinion on what he calls “David Guetta, Pitbull music” saying: “For me, the David Guetta stuff just doesn’t work. I don’t really wanna go there. There’s other artists, that’s their sound. They feel in order to thrive internationally that they gotta do straightforward, four to the floor, David Guetta, Pitbull music”.

The ‘Take Care’ rapper went on to express the way he prefers to work, saying: “I’d rather go to somebody like Jamie xx and tell him “Look, I really wanna turn the club upside down, but i wanna do it with integrity, with soul”. As we reported last month Drizzy has already expressed his desire for Jamie xx (who produced the title track on his latest album) to have a “bigger presence” on his next LP.

Music is subjective and it’s catered to everyone – but I appreciate Drake’s honesty here. Artists who feel they must mute their talents by releasing basic four on the floor productions to achieve success internationally, aren’t really artists at all. If they were they’d challenge their own talent and push for it to evolve naturally in a way that not only caters to their fanbase but also attracts new audiences.

(via FACT)