Drake Page 6

When Madonna tells you to do something or even when she just makes you do it, you don’t say no to the Queen of Pop.

Madonna has ideas on Drake and he doesn't even know. Credit: Getty Images - Christopher Polk

And, while rapper Drake did not stop the kiss that the Like A Virgin songstress planted on him at Coachella Festival, it certainly looked like something he was not entirely happy with after it had happened.

Continue reading: Madonna Plants An Extremely Unwanted Kiss On Drake

In a quiet week on the US Billboard 200, Kendrick Lamar’s new album To Pimp A Butterfly spends a second week in the Number One spot. The rapper’s third album sold more than double the amount of its nearest rival, the soundtrack to TV drama ‘Empire’, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Shifting 123,000 copies in its second week on sale, including track and streaming equivalent sales figures as well as physical copies, To Pimp A Butterfly is the first album to spend its opening fortnight at the top of the chart since Taylor Swift’s behemoth 1989 at the end of last year. The ‘Empire’ soundtrack was a non-mover in second place, selling 61,000 copies.

Kendrick Lamar spends a second week on top of the US Albums chart

Continue reading: Kendrick Lamar Spends Second Week At The Top Of U.S. Albums Chart

Surprise albums are all the rage, and it’s easy to understand why. They make sense for both fans and artists, and there’s hardly any downside to just throwing your highly anticipated album up for download on a random Saturday night with nothing else going on around the Internet. It practically sells itself at that point.

Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly saw an early release

Take a look at Kendrick Lamar: his new record, To Pimp A Butterfly, wasn’t even technically a surprise, as it was just allegedly “accidentally” released early on iTunes before its release. It still yielded the same results as a complete surprise album would, and it smashed a ton of streaming records like the 9.6 million number that was achieved via Spotify listens. The record-holder before that was, of course, none other than Drake’s surprise mixtape, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. You can see the trend here.

Continue reading: Four Artists Most Likely To Release A Surprise Album This Year

Hip hop sensation Kendrick Lamar has stormed to Number 1 in the US Billboard 200 Albums chart with his third album To Pimp A Butterfly. It clocked up over 363,000 equivalent sales (totalling physical, track and streaming data) despite being released one week earlier than planned, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

To Pimp A Butterfly has the second highest first-week sales of 2015, behind fellow rapper Drake’s recent surprise release If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, which sold 495,000 in its debut week back in February.

Kendrick Lamar is Number 1 in the US Billboard 200 albums

Continue reading: Kendrick Lamar Scores First US Number 1 Album With 'To Pimp A Butterfly'

Rapper Big Sean has claimed his first Billboard chart topper with his new album Dark Sky Paradise. His third album beat Kid Rock’s latest offering First Kiss to the top spot by 27,000 units in the week ending March 1st, according to figures by Nielsen SoundScan.

Dark Sky Paradise moved 173,000 units in its first week on sale, a combination of traditional physical sales and track and streaming equivalents. Both of his previous albums, 2011’s Finally Famous and 2013’s Hall of Fame, both entered at Number 3.

Rapper Big Sean has the U.S. Number 1 selling album this week 

Continue reading: Big Sean Scores First Number 1 With Album 'Dark Sky Paradise'

Las Vegas rockers Imagine Dragons have landed straight in at the top spot on the Billboard 200 with their second album Smoke + Mirrors. The group, responsible for the enormous 2012 hit ‘Radioactive’, sold 195,000 units of their sophomore effort in the first week, compiled from physical, track and streaming equivalent sales according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The record is also currenly top of the charts in Britain, and is only new entry inside the Top Ten this week. Despite the impressive figures, Smoke + Mirrors has got a way to go before it tops the sales for their first album Night Visions, which to date has sold 2.5 million copies and has only left the Billboard 100 for two of its 129 weeks on sale. ‘Radioactive’, by itself, has sold in excess of nine million copies in the U.S. But that album only made as high as Number 2 during its run.

Imagine Dragons secure their first US Number 1 album with 'Smoke + Mirrors'

Continue reading: Imagine Dragons Enter Billboard Chart At The Top

Drake seemingly dropped a new album titled If You're Reading This It's Too Late via Twitter just before midnight on Thursday (February 12). The project clocks in at 17 tracks and features collaboration with Lil Wayne, Travi$ Scott and PartyNextDoor and is available on SoundCloud or on iTunes for $12.99.

Drake has surprise-released a new album title 'If You're Reading This You're Too Late'

The surprise album drop is still something of a shock to fans, though it's clearly no longer an original idea in music. Beyonce shock-released her self-titled fifth album on iTunes in December 2013 with no forewarning or marketing.

Continue reading: Drake Releases New Album 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late'

Canadian rap star Drake surprised the world by releasing his new album unannounced on Thursday. However, it has since been revealed that If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late is a mixtape, rather than a proper studio album.

The reason for the confusion behind the new material is apparently so that Drake can fulfil a contractual obligation and free himself from Cash Money Records, according to XXL. Under copyright, the new record appears as his fourth studio album for Cash Money, thus bringing him to the end of his contract.

Drake's new mixtape was released online on Thursday

Continue reading: Drake's New Album Is Actually A Mixtape

Big Sean has announced that his new album 'Dark Sky Paradise', produced by Sean Anderson and Kanye West, is to be released later this month (February 2015) through G.O.O.D music and Def Jam.

Big Sean is on the way with his third album

The highly anticipated new release features some of the best artists in hip-hop including Kanye West, Chris Brown, Drake, Lil Wayne,  Ty Dolla Sign and E-40, as well as recent Golden Globe winner John Legend and, in the deluxe edition's bonus tracks, pop songstress Ariana Grande and newcomer PARTYNEXTDOOR.

Continue reading: Big Sean Is Joined By Kanye West And John Legend On Upcoming Album 'Dark Sky Paradise'

It's that time of year again as the full line-up announcement for Coachella 2015 arrives following some spectacular headliners: AC/DC, Jack White and Drake will all top the bills at the two-weekend event in April.

Well known for its diverse collection of rock, pop, electronic, hip hop and indie artists from around the world, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is yet again set to arrive at the Empire Polo Club fields in Indio, California. Kicking off with the first event from Friday April 10th - 12th, the festival will repeat the following week from April 17th - 19th.

Continue reading: From Steely Dan To Raekwon And Ghostface Killah: Who's Been Announced For Coachella 2015?

Drake, The Black Keys, Florence And The Machine and Lana Del Rey are among the names confirmed for this year’s Governors Ball, to be held in New York’s Randall's Island from June 5th to 7th. The festival will mark the first time both Florence And The Machine and Lana Del Rey have played in NYC since 2012.

Drake will be heading to Randall's Island on June 5th

DJ DeadMau5, who will be playing his first NYC show since 2011 has also been confirmed, along with Bjork, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, St. Vincent and Weird Al Yankovic.

Continue reading: Drake, Black Keys, Lana Del Rey, Florence And The Machine Among Acts Confirmed For 2015 Governors Ball

In the early hours of Monday morning (Dec 8th) two of the biggest names in hip-hop, Diddy and Drake, reportedly began brawling outside a Miami Beach club after some negative comments were aimed at singer Cassie.

Drake engaged in a physical altercation with Diddy at club LIV in Miami

As Art Basel Miami was coming to an end, both stars attended club LIV to celebrate DJ Khaled's birthday celebrations, and it was initially reported that they engaged in a physical confrontation after Drake said some disparaging comments about Diddy's 28-year-old girlfriend at about 4 a.m.

Continue reading: Drake And Diddy Reportedly Fight Outside Miami Nightclub

Ok, before you read this article, we have to agree on one thing: this is a no Nicki Minaj hate zone. That means that you have to read it with an open mind and hopefully appreciate the  majesty that is Nicki Minaj’s hair, music, makeup... everything, really.

Minaj performed three songs in all: 'Bed Of Lies' with Skylar Grey and a medley of 'Only' and 'All Things Go'. Through the magic of the internet, you can now watch all of those online. Somewhere. Not here because, you know. Copyright is a thing. NME has clips of the whole thing, though. Don’t say we never did anything for you.

Um... excuse you?

Continue reading: Nicki Minaj Rocks SNL Ahead Of "The Pinkprint" Release

Nicki Minaj has apologised via Twitter for any offence the controversial video for her new single ‘Only’ may have caused.

Minaj has been criticised for her latest video, 'Only'

The video dropped over the weekend and features Nicki along with collaborators Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown in animated form. In the clip Nicki is depicted as a military leader, as lyrics from the song flash up on screen.

Continue reading: Nicki Minaj Apologises For Causing Offence With 'Only' Video

She’s been teasing us for a while over this one, but Nicki Minaj has finally dropped the video for her latest single ‘Only’ which also features Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown.

Nicki has just released the video for 'Only'

The military themed, animated offering sees Nicki in charge of a full blown army, complete with soldiers, tanks and fighter planes, Amongst the images, some of the rap’s lyrics also flash up on screen, as Nicki sets the record straight on how she’s never slept with Drake or Chris Brown.

Continue reading: Nicki Minaj Reveals New Animated Video For 'Only' Featuring Drake, Lil Wayne And Chris Brown

Chris Brown has opened about wiping the slate clean with Drake after their highly publicised feud which involved a nightclub brawl back in 2012. Now not only have they made up, but they're working together!

Chris Brown is putting the past behind him

Brown explained to MTV how there was no real 'make up' moment for the pair, it was just a mutually mature decision to put the past behind them. 'We're young, so it's not like [we had] a pow wow over tea or nothing', he revealed. 'It didn't need to be explained. It wasn't no problem.'

Continue reading: Chris Brown Opens Up About Drake Make Up And Admits He's 'Tired Of Holding Grudges'

“Oh my gosh, look at her butt” Nicki Minaj declares on Anaconda in the vein of that gift to humanity that is Sir Mix-a-Lot’s Baby Got Back. And we do. For the four minutes and forty-nine seconds of Anaconda, that’s basically all you can do.

Nicki Minaj is at the top of her game right now.

But the subtle message under all the twerking isn’t lost – the butt and the rest of the body belong solely to Miss Minaj and she calls all the shots. Which is a message we can all get behind, right? Also, she rocks Alexander McQueen and Balmain at various points in the video, which is a fashion choice we can totally get behind.

Continue reading: Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" Video Is The Best Thing Of The Week

The world’s favorite Canadian rapper has announced another album. “Views From The 6”, Drake’s fourth offering so far, will be released under the emerging OVO Sound, Drake’s own label. Although he’s announced the album, according to Rolling Stone recording won’t begin until after his tour with Lil Wayne concludes on September 27th, 2014, and the album itself likely won’t drop until spring of next year. Drake is currently set to perform his sold-out OVO Fest in Toronto, Canada alongside Outkast and mystery guests, beginning August 3rd, after which he’ll move on to his international tour and then the studio.

Drake, pictured here at the JUNO Awards, is up for another award - The Polaris

Though theories abound about the vague title, one popular speculation as told by Billboard.com claims it as a reference to his hometown of Toronto, where the primary area codes are 416 and 647. Friend and fellow OVO Sound musician Jimmy Prime reportedly gave Toronto the nickname of “The 6” due to the codes’ common digit. Coupled with his video for “Started From The Bottom” which depicted him working in Canadian chain Shoppers Drug Mart and rapping in the snow, “Views From The 6” lies naturally within the same vein as his frequent Toronto shoutouts.

Continue reading: Everything You Need To Know About Drake's 'Views From The 6'

Drake has cancelled his appearance at the Wireless Festival at the very last minute due to illness. He was set to perform in both festival venues this weekend (4th-6th July) but announced that he is not well enough to appear. The festival's website made the announcement on Thursday (3rd July).

Drake has pulled out of the Wireless Festival due to illness.

The festival's organisers, Live Nation, are attempting to remedy the loss of Drake by extending the sets of confirmed acts. In addition, those attending the Birmingham venue will be presented with £20 of 'Wireless Credit' when they arrive. The vouchers will be redeemable for food, souvenirs and fun fair rides. Live Nation has also offered refunds but they will only be available before the event and not at the festival itself.

Continue reading: Drake Cancels Wireless Appearance Due To Illness, Kanye West & Rudimental To Extend Sets

It’s almost time for the BET awards and tonight’s show promises some memorable moments. Lionel Richie has been tapped to perform during the annual award show, as well as being this year’s Lifetime Achievement honoree. He joins this year’s lineup, which also includes stars like Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, Nicki Minaj, John Legend and Drake.

Richie is being honored for over four decades of transformational music.

Currently in the fifth decade of his career, Richie’s list of achievements is quite impressive. He has sold over 100 million albums worldwide and won five Grammy awards. His music has changed the face of soul and R&B, but Richie frequently crosses genre lines to experiment with pop, soft rock and even country.

Continue reading: Lionel Richie Crowns The BET Awards 2014 Performers List

Amazon unveiled their new streaming service last week, much to the surprise of music fans everywhere. Given the name Amazon Prime Music, it’s a service that boasts “unlimited, ad-free streaming” featuring a catalog with well over a million songs.

However, in a world ruled by the likes of Spotify and Pandora, is there really enough room for one more streaming service? If there is, it needs to do something that none of the competition is doing, and Amazon Prime Music does nothing of the sort. In fact, what was maybe supposed to scare the competition probably didn’t even make them bat an eye, because Amazon Prime Music doesn’t offer anything that you can’t find in something like Spotify -- but is it trying to take them down in the first place?

Continue reading: Can Amazon Prime Music Be A Spotify Killer?

The XX are a band who have achieved the rare accolade of matching their critical success with a commercial viability after the minimalist electronic strains of 2010’s self-titled record altered the face of popular music forever. Without the prevalence of The XX’s sultry and deeply affecting electro, artists so clearly influenced by their sound would have turned out hugely different than they did today. The likes of James Blake and London Grammar, for instance, would certainly be viewed with wholly different eyes has The XX not impacted so extensively.

Fans can expect a change in direction and mood on the new XX record.

For their upcoming third release, tentatively entitled LP3, the group have decamped from their native London confines to the climes of some fairly unorthodox locations. In-house producer for XL Records Rodaidh McDonald, who previously worked with the band on second album Coexist, has revealed the band has worked on the new record in Texas and there are trips planned to Iceland and France during the coming summer. As the band absorb the sounds of different continents, McDonald has indicated such international influence will greatly affect the direction of the new record. “There are songs which came out of our experiences in New York and Texas that would never have come out in London” he stated, “the colours and the ideas and the moods on some of these songs are just not things you could write in London.”

Continue reading: What Can We Expect From The New XX Album?

Nicki Minaj just gave her critics some more ammo with another (maybe?) Lil Kim tribute. Nipple pasties? What is this, the 1999 VMAs? Well, no. Nicki Minaj rocked the (admittedly really cool) outfit to Hot 97 FM’s Summer Jam 2014 at the Met Life Stadium.

See? It's a good look!

And let’s be clear here – for an outfit that features black and white hip hugging pants, and a shirt seemingly made of chainmail – the look works surprisingly well. This staff writer is definitely into it. And with Miley Cyrus having rocked the look back in 2013 and Miss Minaj giving it a spin now, we’re tempted to declare the comeback of the nipple pasty. You’ll have to consult the fashion blogs on that one though. 

Continue reading: Forget The Nipple Pasties, How Was Nicki Minaj's Set At Summer Jam?

Drake shared his latest track, '0 to 100 / The Catch Up,' on Sunday (June 1st), and also teased fans with a possible album release for spring 2015.

The song, which was dropped on the Canadian rapper's OVO SoundCloud page, hints at a follow-up album from 2013's hit 'Nothing Was The Same' with the following lyrics;

"Listen up boy you're better off eavesdroppin'/ We already got spring 2015 poppin'/ PND dropping, Reps Up P' dropping, Majid Jordan dropping, OB dropping, not to mention me dropping."

Continue reading: Drake Drops Brand New Track '0 To 100 / The Catch Up', And Teases New Album

Drake will be emceeing an award show this coming summer.

The 27 year-old rap star has been announced as the host of the 2014 Espy Awards, a ceremony that celebrates achievements in sport from the past year.

ESPN confirmed on Thursday (April 10th) that Drake will be hosting this year's award-show on July 16th at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Continue reading: Drake Will Be The Host Of The 2014 Espy Awards

If you want a unique festival experience this year, London could be the place for you. Featuring a diverse range of events from the independent ethics of Jabberwocky to the mainstream attitude of Wireless, 2014 is not all about the States.

The UK is home to some incredible, highly respected music festivals such as Isle of Wight Festival, Leeds and Reading Festival and, of course, Glastonbury - but just what do we have in store from the nation's capital? London is unquestionably the UK's most vibrant city and, when it comes to music, there's really no denying that. The rest of the world may have SXSW, Coachella, Ultra and Exit (to name but a very small few), but London has a plethora of unique local events with line-ups and atmospheres that really prove their worth - and we're here to share them with you.

Jabberwocky (August 15th-16th)
All Tomorrow's Parties present this brand new festival for 2014, co-hosted by Pitchfork and Primavera Sound and set to take place at The Excel Centre this August. For its inaugural event, Jabberwocky will see headline acts from Neutral Milk Hotel, James Blake, Darkside and Caribou, not to mention support from Kurt Vile & The Violators, Hookworms and Electric Wizard. Like many of the best festivals, it's not all about the music as Jabberwocky will be hosting some film events and, as the name suggests, there'll be plenty of art to enjoy too. Tickets are priced at £38.50 per day.

Continue reading: Keep Calm And Party On! London's Ten Most Exciting Festivals For 2014

On Tuesday night (April 2nd) Drake shared his latest single 'Draft Day', in which he samples Lauren Hill's 1998 hit 'Doo-Wop (That Thing).'

And it has already garnered huge amounts of interest due to the shout-outs, and disses, which target some of the biggest names in sport, music and Hollywood.

In the opening sequence Drake gives a nod to NFL prospect Johnny Manziel, and future NBA star Andrew Wiggins before heading straight into a verse, addressing his critics.

Continue reading: Drake Admits To Crush On Jennifer Lawrence And Disses Jay Z In New Track 'Draft Day'

Drake has delighted his fans by unexpectedly dropping new track, 'Draft Day,' which apparently refers to next month's NFL draft. The pop-infused rap track keeps ahead of the curve by namechecking other contemporary stars such as Jennifer Lawrence and Chicago MC Chance The Rapper, over a Lauryn Hill sample.

Drake Has Dropped Brand New Track, 'Draft Day.'

The new song follows another new Drake song, 'Days In The East', played for the first time during a gig at Birmingham's NIA last month (March 21), which could indicate that, like Kanye West, Drake has a follow up to his 2013 album scheduled for release this year. Sampling Lauryn Hill's 1998 hit "Doo Wop (That Thing)," the tune opens with a nod to 21-year-old college football star Johnny Manziel.

Continue reading: Drake Drops New Track 'Draft Day' Namedrops Jennifer Lawrence And Samples Lauryn Hill [Listen]

The Rihanna Drake love story seems to have picked up right where it left off back in 2012. Remember when Drake was involved in the nightclub argument with Rihanna’s bad boy ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, in a brawl that was allegedly over the Bajan babe?

Well, the pair have been inseparable for weeks now and have been papped on dates together all over Europe. It seems more than a bit of a coincidence to us that they have so regularly been in the same place at the same time!  Drake once said of Rihanna: “She’s the ultimate fantasy. I mean, think about it. Like ‘Man, that would be good’. We have fun together, she’s cool and s**t. But we’re just friends, she’s my dog for life”.  If that's not a hint, then we don't know what is!

Earlier this week Drake was spotted arriving at Cirque Du Soir with Rihanna

Continue reading: Are Drake And Rihanna The Hottest New(ish) Celebrity Couple?

RIP Shirley Temple: For younger generations, the death of Shirley Temple may not be as heart-rending as for those who grew up with the adorable, depression-era actress and watched her help pull America out of its slump. Temple died peacefully at home aged 85 on the 10th February after a life of reinventing herself and bringing joy to others through her many talents. You may or may not know that Temple was huge in China, but why? Find out here. Shirley Temple: 1928-2014.

Samuel L Jackson Makes Himself Clear: Samuel L Jackson has been involved in what was arguably the biggest foot-in-mouth moment of the year so far. In an interview with KTLA's so-called "entertainment reporter," Sam Rubin, Jackson was asked about his recent Super Bowl commercial...only, the Robocop actor didn't have a Super Bowl commercial, leading to quizzical stares and the immortal quote "what Super Bowl commercial?" as it dawned on the star that Rubin had him confused with fellow black actor, Laurence Fishburne. Read about the fall-out and watch the toe-curling video here.

Continue reading: A Week In News: America's Darling Dies, Samuel L Jackson Feels The Fury, Flappy Bird Meets Its Maker

If Drake’s reaction to his Rolling Stone cover being cut this week was a bit over the top, then the reaction of some twitter users borders on downright insane. Here’s the rundown. After Drake’s cover was pulled without warning by Rolling Stone, to be replaced with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, the Canadian rapper got upset. And like most of his peers, he took to Twitter to pen the following gem: “I'm disgusted with that. RIP to Philip Seymour Hoffman. All respect due. But the press is evil.”

"Evil" wouldn't have been our first choice of word.

The tweet has now been deleted (as has been the one directed at Kanye West), but screenshots of it are still floating around the ether. It certainly wasn’t a classy move on Drake’s part, especially since he continued his rant later, saying:

Continue reading: Twitter Doesn't Like Drake (Today) After Rapper's Philip Seymour Hoffman Remarks

Drake is certainly not acting like a Grammy Award winning artist!

The Canadian rapper took to twitter on Thursday (Feb 13th) to criticize the magazine Rolling Stone for pulling his front cover just before its release, he was replaced by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

He also addressed false quotes the mag claimed the 27 year-old said, which appear to slam fellow rapper Kanye West's 'Yeezus' album.

Continue reading: Drake Slams Rolling Stone For Misquoted 'Yeezus' Comments And Being Replaced By Philip Seymour Hoffman On Cover

Sasheer Zamata will become the first black female to be added to the cast of Saturday Night Live since Maya Rudolph left five year ago when she makes her debut on the 18th January. Sasheer, a 27 year-old comedian, singer and actress, was selected by Lorne Michaels and the SNL team after a lengthy nationwide auditions process.

Kenan Thompson Was Often Drafted In In Drag To Play Black Women.

The popular Saturday night sketch show drew criticism for its lack of a black female cast member and for drafting in Kenan Thompson in drag every time they needed to represent a black woman. However, the show's startling lack of black female talent reached breaking point when Kenan Thompson announced that he'd refuse to play any more women in drag.

Continue reading: New SNL Cast Member Sasheer Zamata Given Warm Celebrity Welcome

Drake will be at the helm when Saturday Night Live returns for its first episode of 2014. The rapper will be facing the twin concerns of presenting and performing when he takes the microphone in January, the show announced last night.

Drake will have the spotlight on him come January

Will he be able to emulate, or even outdo, Justin Timberlake Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Miley Cyrus who have all taken the mantle recently?

Continue reading: Drake To Juggle Presenting And Performing On Saturday Night Live In January

Since she dropped the bomb on Thursday, Beyonce has occupied thousands of terabytes of data transfer with her new album. People are naturally baffled. Yes, we all know Beyonce is pretty much amazing, but even for her, it was an astounding feat. The woman, who opened 2013 by performing at the Inauguration, then went on to do the Super Bowl halftime show to end all halftime shows, went on a 123-show tour, took care of her little girl and still managed to record a 14-track album, film a video for each track and somehow keep the production team behind the entire escapade from breathing a word to anyone.

Can we get a round of applause?

Color us impressed. Since this is Queen Bey, however, people have gotten their heads around the idea by now and music critics are just starting to recover from the shock and express some opinions on the album. Yes, the album is amazing… but is it any good?

Continue reading: Everyone Is Stunned By Beyonce's Surprise Album, Most Of All The Critics [Pictures]

As the minutes were about to take us into Friday, 13 December, music fans across the globe were treated to an unexpected yet highly anticipated surprise. Just before midnight (EST) Beyonce released her all-new, fifth studio album on to iTunes, completely without warning.

Ready or not, Queen Bey is back!

The self-titled release, her first since 2011's 4, became available to download on Thursday night without any prior marketing or anouncements from the star of her PR. The release is more that your traditional album though, as Bey has designated it as a "visual album," with each track coming with it's own video.

Continue reading: Beyonce Releases Self-Titled 'Visual Album' Without Warning On ITunes

Canadian rapper Drake has announced plans for a UK tour to take place in March 2014.

The tour will be in support of his latest No.1 album 'Nothing Was The Same' which features hit tracks such as 'Hold On We're Going Home' and Started From The Bottom'.

The tour will consist of 8 concerts, starting in Manchester's Phones4u Arena on March 11th and will finish in London for 2 dates at the o2 Arena.

Continue reading: Drake Announces UK Tour Dates For 2014

Drake's 'Would You Like A Tour?' was previously postponed for three weeks and now only two shows in another cancellation has occurred.

The Tour kicked off in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Friday (Oct 18th) and the next scheduled show was the follow day in Philadelphia, but the Canadian rapper has been forced to postpone the concert.

The 'Hold On We're Going Home' singer's fans had already started filling the Wells Fargo Center and they show was reportedly cancelled nearly an hour after Drake was expected to hit the stage at 7pm, Philly.com reports.

Continue reading: Drake Cancels Philadelphia Concert From The 'Would You Like A Tour?'

Well this was always going to happen wasn’t it? Kendrick Lemar – or K.Dot as he was previously known – has been slowly swelling his stock until it exploded on the hip hop stock market when Good Kid, M.A.A.D City dropped. There was a notable spike when Section.80 hit, too.

Good Old Kendrick.

Now, riding on a wave of critical acclaim, Lemar feels confident to call out other rappers. He did it on a controversial verse in Control – most notably – and he did it again, less explicitly, at the BET awards. And it was aimed in Drake’s direction, apparently.

Continue reading: Big BET Winner Kendrick Lemar Places Drake In His Crosshairs

It appears as though there’s some tender beef cooking between Future and Drake. The former is apparently suing the Canadian rapper for kicking him off the 39-gig tour they were supposed to perform together, alongside Miguel.

Drake booted Future from the tour because of his disparaging comments about his new album, Never Was The Same. Associate editor Erika Ramirez published a story on Billboard including quotes from Future, which she also posted on her Twitter feed.

“Not only is future’s #honest album interesting, so are his thoughts on Drake’s #NWTS album,” Ramirez wrote. She then went on to quote Future: “‘Drake made an album that is full of hits but it doesn’t grab you. They’re not possessive; they don’t make you feel the way I do’ — Future.”

Continue reading: Is Future Suing Drake For $1.5m After Being Kicked From His Tour?

Kendrick Lamar was always going to walk away from the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards as one of the main talking points. Up for 11 awards and eventually leaving with four wins, not to mention the fact that he played a live medley of some of his most notable tracks from the critically lauded Good Kid, m.a.a.d City, Kendrick was en route to being on the front page of Google News regardless.

Kendrick declares himself "King Kendrick" on the track

Ever since a preview of the cypher clip went viral last month, there were rumours that Kendrick takes on his 'Poetic Justice' collaborator with gusto, and when the rapper performed his verse in full at the BET Hip Hip Awards this turned out to be the case, only Drake wasn't alone in the take down. In his two-minute verse, part of a full-length Top Dawg Entertainment Crew cypher recorded for the show, Kendrick asserts his dominance over the other big rappers of today, declaring himself "King Kendrick" amongst the rest.

Continue reading: Kendrick Lamar Spits Fire At Drake (And Every Other Rapper) In BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher [Listen]

Justin Timberlake scored his second No.1 album of the year on Wednesday (October 9, 2012) when it was announced thatThe 20/20 Experience 2 of 2 sold 350,000 copies in its first week. The first instalment sold 968,000 copies, the biggest opening week sales of the year so far.

It's an incredible feat for the 32-year-old, who returned to music after a five-year hiatus during which he turned in some decent movie performances. The albums charting at No.1 is an achievement in itself, though the volume of sales proves both Timberlake's enduring popularity and the healthy nature of the record business. Second place Drake only managed to shift 148,000 copies, while Lorde's debut Pure Heroine moved 129,000. 

Earlier this year, Timberlake had returned with new single Suit & Tie, featuring rapper Jay-Z. It became a chart-topper and The 20/20 Experience was adored by both critics and fans. 

Continue reading: Is Justin Timberlake The Biggest Pop Star On The Planet?

Rapper Drake has emerged as top of the shop for the third time after his latest album, Nothing Was The Same, rose to the number one place on Billboard's Hot 200 album chart.

In its first week of sales, the new album shifted 658,000 copies according to figures compiled by Nielsen SoundScan, via Billboard. Drake's new record, widely reviewed as engrossing yet safe material, joins the other three albums that have debuted in the top five.

How long can Drake stay at #1?

Continue reading: Drake Is Billboard King With 'Nothing Was The Same' New Album

The Billboard 200 is filled with debut and Drake's 'Nothing Was The Same' leads the pack at the top spot of the album charts.

The Canadian rapper was expected to reach No.1 with the this latest set due to it including huge hits such as 'Hold On We're Going Home' and 'Started From The Bottom'.

The album was released on September 24th and according to Nielsen SoundScan, it has sold 658,000 copies in its first week, earning the second largest sales-week of 2013.

Continue reading: Drake Tops Billboard Album Chart With 'Nothing Was The Same'

Three albums in and Drake has firmly found his place within the rap world. Not only does his latest record, Nothing Was The Same, deliver a self-assured sound and confident lyrics but it also marks a turning point for the rapper as he looks back and muses upon his rise to fame.

Drake Delivers A Solid Third Effort.

The album's lead single 'Started From The Bottom' is the most obvious rags-to-riches tune. Suitably anthemic for radio, the rap delivers some incisive lyrics about fame and fortune and has also had a rather funny music video released alongside.

Continue reading: Drake Releases 'Nothing Was The Same': Another Strong Rap Album For 2013?

Day 2 of the Las Vegas ‘iHeartRadio Music Festival’ kicked off this Saturday (Sept 21st) and the MGM Grand Garden arena witnessed yet another amazing crop of talent perform their best hits to in the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’.

Paul McCartney opened the second day of the music festival

But how did it match up to the festival's stellar opening day?

Continue reading: Day 2 Of Las Vegas' IHeartRadio Music Festival Is Nothing Short Of Eventful

After many teasers in the form of tweets and videos, Justin Timberlake’s new single, TKO, is finally here. This is the second single of Justin’s newest album, or rather, the deluxe edition of The 20/20 Experience, 2 of 2. The album features vocals from Drake and Jay Z, the latter of whom Timberlake recently collaborated with on a summer tour, as well as several tracks on both his 20/20 and Jay Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail.

This is the second release off 20/20 part 2.

The track, released via Timberlake’s youtube channel, is a 7-minute ode to a former flame of Timberlake’s. It’s an impressive, rather upbeat electronic mix of sound and, like all tracks on 2 of 2, it was originally intended to go on the first release, but just didn’t make the cut. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest recently, the singer explained that the sheer bulk of songs made it impossible to fit everything on to the first album, but that he wanted to release all the songs none the less and that was how The 20/20 Experience 2 of 2 came about. The album’s release date – September 30, is fast approaching.

Continue reading: TKO Starts The Countdown To Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience Part 2"

Justin Timberlake is continuing his pursuit to make sure 2013 is his year and ahead of the release of his second album of 2013, the singer, actor and all-around Renaissance man has released the second full track from his upcoming release, 'TKO.' With production and backing vocals from regular collaborator Timbaland, the song has got us looking forward to the completion of the 20/20 Experience series all the more.

Justin will release the second edition of The 20/20 Experience this month.

Clocking in at a lengthy 7 minutes 6 seconds, it continues Justin's recent attempts to make challenging yet rewarding pop songs. The singer had three songs that clocked in at 8 minutes or over on the first 20/20 Experience and a further four clocking in at over 7 minutes, and when it comes to the second instalment of the 20/20 Experience, Justin will be continuing this trend. With only eleven songs stretched out across 74 minutes, the average length of each song in his will be over 6 and a half minutes long.

Continue reading: Justin Timberlake Unveils His Latest Track 'TKO' In Full

Rapper Drake has announced the tracklist and release date for his new album 'Nothing Was The Same.' He tweeted "Mixed and Mastered and on its way to you. September 24th" and added "Would You Like The Tracklist?" before posting a link to his OVO Sound website where the list of tracks was featured.

Drake Has Excited Fans With An Exciting New Announcement.

The Canadian-born rapper's new record will feature 13 songs, including a collaboration, 'Pound Cake,' with fellow rapper Jay Z and a deluxe edition will add two bonus songs. The album includes the already released singles 'Started from the Bottom' and 'Hold On, We're Going Home.'

Continue reading: Drake Unveils New Album 'Nothing Was The Same' Tracklist, Feat. Jay Z

Luke Bryan sure is having one heck of a 'party' as he celebrates holding on to the number one spot on the Billboard album chart for a second week running with the LP Crash My Party. The country star managed to battle off competition from a number of new releases, but he held strong and kept his place atop the album charts for one more week.

Bryan is at No. 1 for a second week

According to Billboard, the Nielsen SoundScan shows that Bryan's album is around 15,000 copies better off than his nearest competitor; John Mayer's Paradise Valley, a debut album in the album chart. It wasn't just Mayer whose latest release Bryan was fighting off either, as new releases; Three Kings by R&B supergroup TGT, Jimmy Buffett's Songs From St. Somewhere and rapper and Odd Future affiliate Earl Sweatshirt's debut album, Doris. Another debut hip-hop release, Trap Lord by A$AP Ferg, also entered the top ten, coming in a nine.

Continue reading: Luke Bryan Keeps His 'Party' Going At No. 1 For Another Week

Kylie Jenner celebrated her 16th birthday the only way a young Kardashian could; extravagantly and gaudily. Barely a moment had passed since her Sweet Sixteenth when the budding socialite decided she was due a new, more grown-up look, and through the power of social media she was able to ship her new look across the internet as soon as her make-over was complete.

Kylie has been compared to her step sisters and Glee babe Naya Rivera with her new look

Looking thoughtful and rocking some off-character curls in her hair, Kylie's Instagram snap was uploaded on Tuesday (20 August) whilst she was visiting the set of her mother's show; Kris. This isn't just a quick make-over either, as Kylie looks pretty darn different in her glamour shot, looking more like someone whose just celebrated their 21st birthday than their 16th. As commenters on the picture have noted, she shares a striking resemblance to her step-sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian Odom.

Continue reading: Kylie Jenner's Post-Birthday Instagram Picture Reveals New, Mature Look [Picture]

Kylie Jenner celebrated her 16th birthday in style this weekend. She threw a star-studded bash at the AT&T Center in Los Angeles on Saturday (17th August). The guest list featured the likes of Jaden and Willow Smith, Naya Rivera, Hailee Steinfield and Tyga; in addition to her elder sisters Kendall Jenner, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian. The 200 strong guest list was almost as large as the monstrous vehicle Jenner's been photographed driving, posting the images on Twitter and Instagram. 

Kylie Jenner at the New York premiere of After Earth.

Drake and Big Sean performed at the event. Jenner even got a birthday kiss (on the cheek -let's not get carried away) from Drake, which she's now covered her Instagram page with pictures of.  That wasn't the only treat in store for Jenner. A video, uploaded by a party-goer, shows Jenner receiving a heavy gold chain from Drake while he performed.

Continue reading: Kylie Jenner's 16th Birthday Party Featured Performances By Big Sean And Drake

Kendrick Lamar turned heads in the hip-hop world this week following the premiere of a new track by Big Sean - Control - featuring the Compton rapper.

It was the instant classic verse from Lamar that caused the stir, with the 26-year-old dubbing himself the "King of New York" and putting himself in the company of some of the game's very best.

"I heard the barbershops spittin' great debates all the time, Bout who's the best MC? Kendrick, Jigga and Nas," he spits.

Continue reading: Hip-Hop's Sleeping Giant Awoken By Kendrick Lamar. What Took You So Long?

No one has ever called out as many people in one verse as Kendrick Lamar did in his contribution to Big Sean's new track, 'Control.' The song isn't even destined for an album but that hasn't made Lamar's fellow rappers, especially the ones name-dropped in his verse, zero in on the L.A rapmeister.

Rap doesn't really strike us as the genre where you want to be dissing your fellow words-men, especially due to all the tough characters with tattoes, grillz and heavy jewellery that could probably be swung like a flail if riled. Lamar doesn't seem to care though, spitting lyrics laden with big names in the industry in what feels like a taunt.

Kendrick Lamar Called Out The Big Names In Rap.

Continue reading: Kendrick Lamar Bigs Himself Up, By Calling Out Other Rappers

Kendrick Lamar has not been in the most subtle of moods of late. He's started to find the trappings of fame and fortune irritating or so his lyrics would suggest.

Kenrick Lamar at the Way Out West Festival in Sweden.

Lamar's rant features of Big Sean's upcoming Hall of Fame album. The 7 minute long track, in which Lamar raps, has not been released owing to sample-clearance issues. This track, 'Control', is highly critical of the attributes of rap culture, including the frivolous lifestyles of other celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan.

Continue reading: Kendrick Lamar Attacks Rap Peers' Out Of 'Control' Luxurious Lifestyles

Kendrick Lamar is rising to the top and won’t let anybody stand in his way, the rapper has made that much clear by calling out a bunch of rappers on his latest track “Control (HOF)”. Actually, name dropped would be a more accurate description, because the list of… um… homeboys includes quite a few big names.

Lamar might have "mad love" for them...

In the new track, which you can listen to via NME, Lamar raps: "I'm usually homeboys with the same nigg*s I'm rhyming with/ But this is hip-hop and them niggas should know what time it is/ And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big KRIT, Wale, Pusha-T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electron', Tyler, Mac Miller/ I got love for you all but I'm trying to murder you n****s".

Continue reading: New Single "Control (HOF)" Sees Kendrick Lamar Calling Out Big Competitors

For the 16,000 fans who attended Drake's OVO Fest show in Toronto, the whole evening was full of perfect "I Was There" moments with appearances from the exalted lords and ladies of R&B and hiphop royalty.

With an acronym that stands for 'October's Very Own' (October referring to Drake's birth month), OVO Festival is an event that has seen success in recent years and looks to get even bigger still. Previous years have seen performances from Stevie Wonder, Snoop Lion, Eminem, Jay Z and Nicki Minaj but the Canadian rapper and organiser outdid himself at OVO Fest 2013.

Drake Put On A Great Show At OVO Fest.

Continue reading: Drake Stuns With Mind-Blowing OVO Fest Line-Up In Toronto