After releasing two brand new songs (‘Big Mouth’ & ‘Disparate Youth’) over the past couple months, Sanitgold has revealed the artwork for her forthcoming second album Master of My Make-Believe – due out May 1st.

Shot by photographer Jason Schmidt, the cover depicts Santi as three different characters: as warriors in “Bond-girl, gold” bodysuits, an army officer (painted by artist Kehinde Wiley) and a mafia Don, which she describes as “some sort of ruler in my own reality”.

After the jump watch a behind the scenes video of the photoshoot where she gives further explanation into the concept behind the albums artwork.

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Erykah Badu has been told by the Malaysian government that she is not permitted to perform in their country as scheduled today after causing offense by using this promotional picture showing her bare shoulders (temporarily) tattooed with the word “Allah” in Arabic.

Rais Yatim, Malaysia’s information minister in a statement to the Associated Press said that the temporary tattoos were “an insult to Islam and a very serious offense” and that the images have “triggered public criticism that could jeopardize national secruity and cause a negative impact to the governments image”. He added that while Badu (who was already in the country when the decision was made) is banned from performing, she is permitted to stay in the country as a tourist.

The photograph in question attracted attention after Malaysia’s most widely read English-language daily, The Star, published it on Monday. The publication has since apologised to Muslims who may have been offended stating it was an “oversight” on their behalf. The Home Ministry subsequently summoned the papers editor to explain the publication of the image.

An alternative version of the image, without the “offensive” tattoos was also used to promo the show – see that here.

The Grammy Award winner responded to the incident on twitter simply saying “Malaysia!! … I deserve it”.

Your thoughts?

(via AP)

After a few successful months of buzz at the tail end of last year, New York’s Azealia Banks is readying the release of a new EP as well that all important debut album. Speaking exclusively to Nylon, Banks revealed the title and release date of her much hyped upcoming long player – announcing that it will be titled Broke With Expensive Taste and is to be expected this September via her new label Universal Music. Read hightlights from the interview below…

Nylon: Tell us about your album.

Azealia Banks: It’s gonna be amazing

Nylon: Tell us something we don’t know about your album!

Azealia Banks: Aw, thank you. Okay, it’s called Broke With Expensive Taste and it’s coming out in September. The theme is a young girl trying to find it, you know?

Nylon: Find what?

Azealia Banks: Success! Herself! Her path! The young girl trying to make it! That girl who’s at the end of her childhood trying to get a job and make some money, you know? She needs to get what she can get! She needs to go out there and show people she knows how to work for it.

Read the full interview here.

After this weeks 13-minute collaboration with the Gorillaz, GQ Magazine were fortunate enough to sit down with elusive numen we know as André 3000 for an exclusive interview. Among other things, they discuss new OutKast material, his solo project plans, misconceptions, and his fears about other peoples expectations…

GQ: [When can we] expect to hear the album we’ve all be waiting on?

André 3000: It depends on which album you’re talking about.

GQ: A new ‘Kast album!

André 3000: There’s been a lot of talk on the Internet about an OutKast album and I have to say that as of now, there are no plans for another OutKast album. There’s a lot of music on the horizon. I’ve been living off the excitement of new artists. I’ve been privileged to have these new artists kind of reach out and grab back and say, “Hey, Andre, we want you on this song.” So I’ve been taking those calls and for the last two years, I’ve been doing collaborations. So these new artists have kind of been keeping me alive. I’ve just really been feeding off of that and this year I think I’m planning to do a solo project. I don’t know when it will come out, but hopefully it’ll come out this year. As far as OutKast, I really don’t know if or when that will happen.

GQ: What’s the new solo album going to be like?

André 3000: The only thing I can really say is I’m going to get back to having fun because that’s what it was all about when I started this in high school—with OutKast—those were like high school dreams. I’m 36 now, so I have grown-man dreams. This album will just be me being myself as normal.

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A U.S heavy line-up has been announced for this years Wireless Festival which will take place in Hyde Park on July 6th, 7th & 8th.

The concerts will undoubtedly have it’s fair share of UK acts too, but as of yet organisers have seemingly focused heavily on big export names. As Drake & Rihanna headline (7th & 8th respectively), others like A$AP Rocky, Nicki Minaj, J.Cole & UK stars Jessie J and Labrinth along with presumably tons more will also take to the stage. A headline act for the first date (6th) is yet to be unveiled.

For for information and tickets visit wirelessfestival.co.uk.

After a successful and much enviable U.S tour Jay-Z & Kanye West, collectively known as The Throne have announced they will be bringing their show to Europe. 12 dates have been announced so far but with tickets due on sale this Friday (24th February), it won’t be a surprise if more are added. Only 1 date in London? Jog on.

Full dates after the jump…

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According to Miss Info, Rihanna’s new single ‘Birthday Cake’ will feature a guest appearance from none other than her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. As you’ll remember Brown was convicted of assaulting the ‘We Found Love’ star back in 2009, after an violent incident on Grammy night. This year marked Chris’ return / reacceptance to the industries biggest night where he performed twice and walked away with the “Best R&B Album” award (an irony unto itself).

Speaking of it’s remix producers Da Internz told MTV that “the feature [on the remix] is gonna shock the world” – I must say I’m less shocked than I am disappointed. It takes a lot to genuinely shock people in 2012, in fact, I reckon most people saw this coming (eventually) – however, that doesn’t take away from the point that maybe it shouldn’t happen. Relationships like most aspects of ones personal life can be complicated and in many cases not understandable to outsiders. And while it’s not right to judge, it’s near impossible to not criticize this reunion.

If true, not only is this sending an utterly deplorable message to young men and women, but it’s also a slap in the face to all those who have encouraged and supported Rihanna through it all, while many were seemingly (and stupidly) blaming her for what happened. During Brown’s Grammy appearance hundreds of young girls from around the world took to twitter to proclaim nonsensical statements like “I’d let Chris Brown beat me any day” and “Chris can beat me, call me boo” (read this for more shocking absurdities) – what a way to reinforce a message.

I don’t often entertain the idea of artists being ‘role models’ and in actual fact it’s Rihanna’s ‘don’t give a f*ck’ attitude that is most appealing to me (very few artists in Pop have been afforded the freedom she plays with) but at the same time – she should feel some sense of responsibility here. If not to her fans, than at least to herself.

Controversy and gimmicks sells. Rihanna’s built a career on it. And while I hope morality wins here, I can already see this going down a storm. We’ll see how it plays out. All I do know is though, I never saw Ike remixing a Tina Turner song.