It’s not often an Asian pop star crosses-over into the English market, but that’s exactly what Jin Kanishi is attempting with his new single “Test Drive” featuring Jason Derulo. A superstar in Japan [and former member of boy band KAT-TUN], Jin has hit #1 in the U.S. on the iTunes Dance Album Chart with “Test Drive” and was recently cast alongside Keanu Reeves in the Hollywood film 47 Ronin.

However, “Test Drive” is very much a cookie-cutter track that leans heavily on its Jason Derulo feature as a selling point – with Jin adding little else to its appeal. The track does great at replicating the urban-dance sound that is so favoured at the moment, but if Jin has real hopes of forging a music career outside of Japan, he needs to start bringing something inspired to the table.

This is not it.

It was barely a year ago that Timomatic was laid-up with a back injury, slowing the momentum from his stint on So You Think You Can Dance and interrupting a budding career as a professional dancer.

However, it would prove a rare blessing in disguise.

The injury forced the 24 year-old to refocus attention on his true passion – music – and has seen his dream career serendipitously unfurl with opportunity after accolade over the past six months.

An appearance on Australia’s Got Talent lead to a recording contract with Sony Music, then came the release of his platinum-certified debut single “Set It Off”, and the signing of a worldwide publishing agreement with music goliath EMI.

And as if that were not enough, Timomatic was recently granted the pleasure of spending 2 minutes with Rhyme & Reason – where we asked him a bunch of questions that have absolutely nothing to do with anything.

Check it out:

How do you start your day?
Usually I like to start my day listening to some inspiring and motivating music then hit the gym.

If you were to open a restaurant, what would it be called and what cuisine would you serve?
I would call it Tim’s Chicken. It would be a restaurant specialising in the many different delicious flavours of chicken.

How do you want to be remembered?
Wow, deep question [laughing]. I want to be remembered as a person who gave more than he got, a person who inspired others to pursue their dreams, and a person who lived passionately.

If you were limited to a vocabulary of five words for the rest of your life, which five words would you choose to keep in your lexicon?
Fresh, Thanks, Yes, No, and Incredible.

What is your biggest regret?
That I didn’t chase my dream sooner.

If you could relive any moment from your life thus far, what would it be?
Hearing my song on the radio for the first time… that was epic for me.

If you were allowed to listen to just three albums for the rest of your life, which three albums would you choose?
Off The Wall by Michael Jackson, Confessions by Usher, Year of the Gentlemen by Ne-Yo.

What was your first job?
Cleaner at a Chinese restaurant in Darwin.

What city would you love to adopt as your second home?
The Gold Coast.

When was the last time you were left speechless?
Watching the movie The Help. Powerful movie.

If you could banish one food from the face of the Earth, what would it be?
Mushrooms. They gotta go.

If you could banish one item of clothing from the face of the Earth, what would it be?
I would banish those Crocs shoes for sure.

Timomatic’s debut single “Set It Off” is available on iTunes here.

Canadian rapper J Star has pulled Rosa Acosta, Hoopz and DJ Whoo Kid to host his new mixtape The Plane Is My Home: What Did You Expect?, which also features production from fellow Canuck Boi-1da and guest verses from the likes of Trae Tha Truth and Vado.

“I chose the name for my mixtape because everyone has an expectation of a project even before they hear it, even artwork draws a certain expectation. With the range I’ve collected there is music for everyone on this effort. The only thing I ask is that you pick out what you want and put it on replay,” say J Star.

You can check out The Plane Is My Home: What Did You Expect? by downloading it HERE.

As The Roots prepare to release their thirteenth album Undun next week, ?uestlove and crew have prefaced its release with four visual teasers that set-up the story of the album.

“‘Undun’ is the story of a kid who is a criminal, but wasn’t born a criminal. He’s not the nouveau exotic primitive “bug-eyed” gunrunner… he’s actually thoughtful and neither victim nor hero. Just some kid who begins to order his world in a way that makes most sense to him at a given moment… Atthe end of the day… isn’t that what we all do?“ – The Roots

Watch the four superbly shot video teasers after the jump:

The rain paused and the clouds parted as guests enjoyed gourmet nibblies, vodka shots and performances by Havana Brown and Sneaky Sound System – which was made only more spectacular by the gorgeous Sydney Harbour backdrop.

Browse the Take40 Stars of Summer Party gallery below:

Last week, Timomatic unveiled his debut single “Set It Off” and its accompanying music video – and now the singer/dancer extraordinaire offers us some behind-the-scenes insights from the video shoot. 

“The director asked if I could freestyle dance the entire song in one take,” explains Timomatic of the concept behind the “Set It Off” clip, before detailing his relationship with dance and the long road to his current deal with Sony Music.

Watch as Timomatic freestyles his way through the clip below:

Kanye West will perform two sideshows during his Australian visit next year as part of the Big Day Out 2012 festival. The all ages sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne also bill yet-to-be-announced “special guests”.

See below for sideshow dates and venues. Pre-sale tickets are available from 2nd December at 9am from Ticketmaster [pre-sale password = MYBIGDAYOUT]. General admission tickets go on sale 6th December at 9am.

Friday 27th January – Sydney Entertainment Centre
Tuesday 31st January – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne

The 2011 ARIA Awards were presented last night in a star studded ceremony held at Allphones Arena in Sydney Olympic Park before a capacity audience comprised of members of industry heavy weights and music fans.

The event kicked off with a “hair raising” performance by West Australian MC, DRAPHT and included stunning performances by GOTYE and KIMBRA, BOY & BEAR, ART vs SCIENCE, GURRUMUL with MISSY HIGGINS, CUT COPY, THE LIVING END and GUY SEBASTIAN, as well as a surprise appearance by DELTA GOODREM who performed a moving tribute to those artists who have passed away over the ARIA AWARDS’ 25 year history.

It was a special night for ARIA HALL OF FAME recipients, KYLIE MINOGUE and THE WIGGLES, both of whom shared the night with their family and friends. PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD inducted our international pop princess, KYLIE MINOGUE, while Killing Time star, DAVID WENHAM took on the induction duties for THE WIGGLES. It was a double celebration for THE WIGGLES who also took out BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM, their tenth, for Ukulele Baby!

Sydney quintet, BOY & BEAR, capped off a busy year by winning five ARIA AWARDS for their critically acclaimed, self-produced, debut album, Moonfire. The band, who has already won accolades like Rolling Stone’s Artist to Watch of 2010 and triple j’s Unearthed Artist of the Year, won BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – SINGLE, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – ALBUM, BEST GROUP and the coveted ALBUM OF THE YEAR for 2011.

Capping off an extraordinary year, GOTYE has taken out the much coveted ARIA AWARDS in the categories of SINGLE OF THE YEAR, BEST POP RELEASE and BEST MALE ARTIST adding to the three Awards (PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, BEST VIDEO and ENGINEER OF THE YEAR) already bestowed at the ARIA Awards Nominations Event in early October, all for the hit single, Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra).

New Zealand born, KIMBRA, who rose to fame in 2011 for her work with GOTYE, has taken out her first solo ARIA AWARD as BEST FEMALE ARTIST for her debut album, Cameo Lover.

Singer/songwriter KASEY CHAMBERS has proven that she is Australia’s official Queen of Country Music taking out her ninth BEST COUNTRY ALBUM Award for her 5th solo album, Little Bird.

In an ARIA AWARDS first, the legendary BILLY THORPE has posthumously won an ARIA AWARD for his final masterpiece, Tangier. Collecting the ARIA AWARD on the night were Billy’s wife, Lynn, and daughters Lauren and Rusty.

Two-time ARIA AWARD winners, THE AUDREYS, collected their third BEST BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM, for their third album, Sometimes the Stars.

Sydney three-piece, ART VS SCIENCE, who in 2008 were named triple j’s Unearthed Artist of the Year, tonight added their first ARIA AWARD to their mantles for their debut album, The Experiment, taking out the Award for BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE.

West Australian MC, DRAPHT, whose album The Life of Riley debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Album Chart, has taken out his first ARIA AWARD for BEST URBAN ALBUM.

Three time ARIA Award winners, THE LIVING END, added two more pointy trophies to their collection taking out the hotly contested BEST ROCK ALBUM Award for their 6th long player, The End is Just the Beginning Repeating. The hard-rocking threesome also took out the inaugural ARIA Public Voted Award, presented by HP and Intel, in the category of MOST POPULAR AUSTRALIAN LIVE ARTIST.

Radio and TV funny men, and all round nice guys, HAMISH & ANDY have won their second BEST COMEDY RELEASE ARIA Award, this time for their Celebrating 50 Glorious Years Album.

Sydney hard rock outfit, FRONT END LOADER, won their first ARIA Award today taking out the BEST HARD ROCK/HEAVY METAL ALBUM AWARD and Melbourne dance outfit, CUT COPY, also took out their first Award for BEST DANCE RELEASE.

Taking out the Awards for HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM of 2011 was ALTIYAN CHILDS for his self titled debut album and four-time ARIA No. 1 Chart Award and ARIA Award winner, GUY SEBASTIAN took out the HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE Award for Who’s That Girl?

Last year’s BEST ROCK ALBUM winner, BIRDS OF TOKYO, took out the Award for MOST POPULAR AUSTRALIAN ARTIST, and (almost) honorary Australian, P!NK, took the honours as MOST POPULAR INTERNATIONAL ARTIST as voted by the Australian public.

See the full list of 2011 ARIA Award winners after the jump:

Album of the Year

Boy & Bear – Moonfire

(Island Australia/Universal Music Australia)

Single of the Year

Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)

(Samples ‘n’ Seconds Records/Eleven: A Music Company)

Best Male Artist

Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)

(Samples ‘n’ Seconds Records/Eleven: A Music Company)

Best Female Artist

Kimbra – Cameo Lover

(Warner Music Australia)

Best Group

Boy & Bear – Moonfire

(Island Australia/Universal Music Australia)

Breakthrough Artist – Album

Boy & Bear – Moonfire

(Island Australia/Universal Music Australia)

Breakthrough Artist – Single

Boy & Bear – Feeding Line

(Island Australia/Universal Music Australia)

Best Independent Release

Art vs Science – The Experiment

(Green/MGM Distribution)

Best Adult Alternative Album

Boy & Bear – Moonfire

(Island Australia/Universal Music Australia)

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Billy Thorpe – Billy Thorpe’s Tangier

(Sony Music Entertainment Australia)

Best Blues & Roots Album

The Audreys – Sometimes the Stars

(ABC Music)

Best Children’s Album

The Wiggles – Ukulele Baby!

(ABC Music)

Best Comedy Release

Hamish & Andy – Celebrating 50 Glorious Years

(Roadshow Music)

Best Country Album

Kasey Chambers – Little Bird

(Liberation Music)

Best Dance Release

Cut Copy – Zonoscope

(Modular Recordings)

Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album

Front End Loader – Ritardando

(Weeping Anus Records/MGM Distribution)

Best Pop Release

Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)

(Samples ‘n’ Seconds Records/Eleven: A Music Company)

Best Rock Album

The Living End – The Ending Is Just the Beginning Repeating

(Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)

Best Urban Album

Drapht – The Life of Riley

(The Ayems/Sony Music Entertainment Australia)

Highest Selling Album

Altiyan Childs – Altiyan Childs

(Sony Music Entertainment Australia)

Highest Selling Single

Guy Sebastian – Who’s that Girl (feat. Eve)

(Sony Music Entertainment Australia)

Best Classical Album

Sally Whitwell – Mad Rush: Piano Music of Philip Glass

(ABC Classics)

Best Jazz Album

Elixir featuring Katie Noonan – First Seed Ripening

(ABC Music)

Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album

Chris Lilley – Angry Boys – Official Soundtrack Album

(ABC Music)

Best World Music Album

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – Rrakala

(Skinnyfish Music/MGM Distribution)

Best Music DVD

AC/DC – AC/DC – Live at River Plate

(Albert Productions)

Best Cover Art

Alter – Cut Copy, Zonoscope

(Modular Recordings)

Best Video

Natasha Pincus for Starkraving Productions – Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)

(Samples ‘n’ Seconds Records/Eleven: A Music Company)

Engineer of the Year

Francois Tetaz – Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)

(Samples ‘n’ Seconds Records/Eleven: A Music Company)

Producer of the Year

Wally De Backer – Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)

Samples ‘n’ Seconds Records/Eleven: A Music Company)

2011 PUBLIC VOTED ARIA AWARD WINNERS

Most Popular Australian Artist

Birds of Tokyo

(EMI Music Australia)

Most Popular International Artist

P!nk

(La Face/Sony Music Australia)

Most Popular Australian Live Artist

The Living End

(Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)

This is the moment Timomatic has been toiling towards for years now. Beginning his journey on So You Think You Can Dance, Timo parlayed the momentum from the talent show in to a lead role in Fame The Musical, before popping-and-locking his way back on to television as a finalist on Australia’s Got Talent 2011.

Now signed to Sony Music, the dancer/singer is finally set to realise his dream with the release of his debut single “Set It Off” – set for release this Friday. Check out the official music video for “Set It Off” below:

An oceanfront mansion in Bronte played host to Nike’s recent Housewarming Party where the sportswear brand previewed its Winter12 collection and celebrated the iconic Air Force 1 sneaker – which will clock its 30^th anniversary next year.

Tacos, burgers and beers were ferried around to guests – which included NBA baller Patty Mills, footy star Jarryd Hayne and Sydney FC’s marquee player Brett Emerton – while artful product displays fuelled conversation and DJ Nino Brown weaved the night’s soundtrack.

A mammoth pair of sculpted legs, sporting equally huge AF1s, dwarfed party-goers in the courtyard and an oversized Nike shoebox played display table to a colourful showcase of the classic sneaker. Then there were the comically large AF1s guests were invited to slip on for an awesome photo opp…

Nike sure have made an art out of the media preview. Check out photos from the night after the jump:

Awa is a Maori musician bringing the indigenous sounds of Maori show bands, Poly funk and urban Pacific music into the future with his smooth blend of R&B, soul and hip hop flavours.

His Manuka honey-sweet vocals were first heard with his group Nesian Mystik, the six-strong collective that emerged from the Smokefree Pacifica Beats competition and went on to storm the New Zealand pop charts. Now, Awa is taking the bold step of introducing himself as a solo artist, with two box-fresh releases set to drop in 2011.

First up is Native Intel, a bilingual EP that explores Awa’s deepening relationship with Te Reo Maori, set to a 21st century backdrop of R&B, hip hop and funk. Native Intel will be followed by Awa’s debut album, which sees him join forces with a who’s who of Aotearoa talent.

Stream or download Awa’s latest track “Midnight” [Surreal Remix] below:

Perth duo Jupiter ENT – who have toured with everyone from Akon to Eve – today release their debut mixtape Brown’s The New Black. Download the project here and check back next week for our interview with the boys from Jupiter ENT.

PUMA have dropped a new collection of cool kicks with a limited edition tattoo artist collection on their classic Suede edition. The PUMA Ink On Suede collection features three styles created by Italian tattoo artists – Davide De Stefano, Heinz and Rino Valente - who were given free range to design what they wished.

Davide draws from a black and gold world. The graphic sockliner motif carries through to the lining and laces, which feature a gold foil application. Heinz’s take is an ivory Suede with a black pop Formstrip and graphic laces and lining. The sockliners feature his namesake against multi-colored skulls and dragons, floral motifs and spray paint effects. And Rino mashes up symbols, skulls, and foliage effects. His Suede is grey with graphic laces and brown laces, complemented by a graphic lining and fully coloured sockliner.

Browse these limited edition kicks after the jump:

We are giving YOU and 3 friends the chance to catch ALOE BLACC, MARVIN PRIEST and RUBY ROSE live at THE NEW MOTION PARTY powered by HYUNDAI ACCENT. With the promise of some additional, mysterious highlights and an exclusive venue still to be announced, THE NEW MOTION PARTY will be a guaranteed gig-to remember for the launch of the Hyundai Accent.

To win your way in and take three of your mates to a new style of party, email your name and postal address to comps@rhymeandreason.com.au by midday 25th October 2011 [Sydney residents only].

Read more about THE NEW MOTION PARTY powered by HYUNDAI ACCENT after the jump:

A fresh addition to Australia’s party scene, THE NEW MOTION PARTY is celebrating all things cool and cutting edge with headlining performances from Aloe Blacc in acoustic mode, and the charismatic Marvin Priest.

Created especially for those with an eye for style and an appetite for inspiration, THE NEW MOTION PARTY powered by HYUNDAI ACCENT is an invite-only event on October 27 and a whole new way to party. Two of this year’s most exciting new music stars, Aloe Blacc and Marvin Priest will be bringing their own brand of super smooth, high stylin’ tunes to the night, followed by a DJ set from Ruby Rose.

Aloe Blacc draws uniquely on strains of hip hop, jazz, soul and rhythm and blues. His album ‘Good Things’ has made an impression on the Australian music charts, peaking at #4 on Australian iTunes. The first single from the album, ‘I Need A Dollar’ has achieved huge radio airplay and platinum sales worldwide. The catchy track reached #7 on the Take 40 Chart, #11 on the ARIA Singles Chart and #6 on the national airplay charts. The second single ‘Loving You Is Killing Me’ is at radio now, whilst the video for the track featuring the adorable Baby Boogaloo has had more than 1 million views on youtube alone.

The London-born, Australian-based performer Marvin Priest is undoubtedly one of the breakthrough artists of 2011, a world-class exponent of an intoxicating mashup of club, pop and r’n’b styles. His double platinum anthem “Own This Club” has taken the country by storm, hitting #3 on the Take 40 chart, and on his latest gold single ‘Take Me Away’, has partnered with international superstar Wynter Gordon. Both tracks will feature on his debut album Beats & Blips out November 25. This live performance will be one of his first on Australian soil and he’s promised party guests a “euphoric club experience”!

Australia’s go-to R&B hit maker discusses signing with U.S. rap behemoth Cash Money Records, cultivating Australia as an urban music hot-spot, his partnership with Ministry of Sound, and the politics behind the music. Interview by Dominic Di Francesco.

You’ve been spending quite a bit of time in the US over the past few years. What have you been up to over there?

At first I was writing and producing for other artists, mainly for Jay Sean, and then during that process I got interest as an artist to sign over there. We had a few different labels bidding for me and ended up doing a deal with Cash Money. However, at this time I think I’m going to try and get the whole NuFirm set-up [in Australia] and go back over there and try to sell off the whole thing as a label. There’s a lot of interest at the moment, so it’s a good time. So rather than just doing the artist thing I might try to do the label thing.

Your contract with Cash Money is an artist deal?

It’s me as an artist, but Cash Money are signing everyone right now. It’s still the same two people running the show – that’s Slim and Baby – that are signing off on everything. So it’s hard at this point in time. Even Jay’s finding it hard. I don’t think they expected to be as big as they are now and, for me, they don’t have the infrastructure to cater for all the artists. If you’ve only got one big artist, then that’s fair enough. But when you’ve got Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga, and you’ve got only two people signing off on all the deals… it’s kind of hard. It’s like a jungle over there at Cash Money.

So the artists are fighting for the attention of their own label…

Exactly. So the artists do mixtapes and stuff like that [to create their own momentum], but I want to take a different route because the mixtape circuit is crazy. I was like, well, let me just go back home and get a label set-up and focus my attention and energy towards building that.

Have you had much interaction with Baby and Slim at Cash Money?

Yeah, of course. Slim and Baby, they both love what I do and I’m tight with a few of the other guys like Corey Gunz and Jay Sean, obviously, who is one of my closest friends. So we’re right in there in the family, it’s not just some affiliation.

I obviously take my music seriously and at this point in time, the move that I’m making – focusing on Australia and the talent that we’ve got here – is the best move. Then we can start a movement from here and take it international. My main aim is to make Australia one of the key places for artists to come for production and songwriting.

What insights have you taken away from your experiences in the US that you are trying to implement with NuFirm?

Not many people have that luxury to write with a lot of the guys over in the States, the top-liners, the guys that are making the hits. So I’ve been fortunate and blessed enough to surround myself with them. It’s worked in my favour spending half the year there and the other half here. I’m able to go over there and listen to what’s going on then come back here and create stuff without the pressure of being a producer trying to make it over there.

The joint venture that I have right now with Ministry of Sound is perfect because we can release whenever we want. With Elen Levon, I just signed her and recorded “Naughty” in April, so we were able to push her out straight away.

You’ve done the major label and independent thing – and now you’ve partnered with Ministry of Sound. How did your situation with Ministry of Sound come about and what prompted you to take that route?

When I was with Sony/Roadshow, there were a lot of problems during that era. The powers that be, the people that made the decision, weren’t really fans of urban music – as you also found out – and we tried our best to try and cater to the fans. But people were under too much pressure to make the bosses happy and they weren’t able to take risks. So back then I was making music that I was dumbing down. All the stuff that I thought was dope, that I thought was on par with the US, just got locked away. I could never release that stuff over here because the people who were calling the shots wanted to play it safe.

Ministry of Sound are the leaders in dance music in Australia and across the world, and music has come to a point where dance, R&B and hip-hop have all combined. So as I was progressing with the music and that change in climate, Tim McGee, the head of Ministry of Sound in Australia, was into the idea of joining forces with R&B and hip-hop and he had wanted to do that for a while. So when we crossed paths I showed him everything we were doing and he was like, “Let’s do it!”

It’s cool because we’re like the first official R&B/hip-hop label out here that’s properly funded, has distribution, marketing… everything that we need. So it’s really exciting times, especially for us. You’ve been around for a while and I’ve been around for a while and we’ve always looked towards this time. Back then I was just the kid trying to do stuff and I kept approaching people like, someone should do this properly – a properly funded label – but no one was willing enough, no one was brave enough. And we all had that syndrome of, ‘Oh, it’s too hard’. So I decided I’d take it in my stride and try to make it happen. And thank God that it has come around now.

So you’re perfectly happy with the music you’re now making under Ministry of Sound? You don’t feel as though there is any compromise?

Man, I love all sorts of music – R&B, hip-hop, pop, dance – that’s the thing. A lot of the purists out there, musicians and stuff, I could school them on a lot of music. When I was 15 years-old I used to listen to Tchaikovsky going to sleep. This is something people don’t understand or don’t realise about me because I make “Freak Tonight” and “Party Up” and what not. But I really am the sound of music. My fan base is so broad and they’ve just come around to liking the fact that I do a lot of different styles. So I make the commercial records, the pop records I love and would want to listen to myself, then I put it out into the mainstream. But then I also make a whole bunch of mixtape records that I’ll give out for free to fans that really, really want it – so they can hear all my R&B and hip-hop stuff.

Tell me about your latest single, “Party Up”. How do you feel about the reception to the song?

I feel like it’s been good. For me, it’s not about having a #1 record. I focus on making good music that the people like. I’ve seen so many artists have so much more than me [with regards to] the deals that they get. But I haven’t needed a job since about 2004. I’ve learnt how to make money off music. I just love putting out records and I love the response “Party Up” has been getting. I feel like I’m always going to be the guy who makes these street anthems. One day, if it crosses over, thank God. But my thing is making music I like, putting it out and if the people love it – great!

Is an album currently in the works?

I want to do things a bit different. I’m aiming to do 10 singles. Unless you’re Lady GaGa or Chris Brown and flash your penis on the Internet, it’s hard to sell an album nowadays [laughing]. Because of the fact that I have the freedom to do different things within this company and infrastructure, I’m going to take advantage of that and do 10 ten singles. Let’s just do the best that we can and hopefully, for Ministry and the ones funding it, that will equal the same amount in sales as putting out an album. But they’re used to that anyway [in dance music], they’ve been doing that for years and now the industry has come around to that. While everyone else is firing people, [Ministry] is hiring more staff because they’ve learnt to live off that [structure].

Prior to signing teen sensation Elen Levon [click here to read our interview with Elen], you were developing another promising Sydney artist by the name of Miracle. However, the momentum around that project seems to have faded in recent months, despite Miracle securing a deal with Sony Music. What happened?

I don’t know if you know, but Jay Dee Springbett, the Senior Director of A&R at Sony passed away [Ed's Note: 36 year-old Springbett was found dead in his Sydney apartment this July]. In the last three months of his life he was basically trying to sabotage what I was trying to do because he wanted to sign me and sign [NuFirm]. He was kind of messing around and stuff, doing his A&R thing and I was like, ‘Nah,don’t worry about it.’ Then I signed the Ministry of Sound deal and during that time he kind of got in Miracle’s ear and was like, “Hey, you should sign with me. Don’t sign with Iz.” So he got in there and basically convinced Miracle to sign directly to Sony. There was no straight-forward reason why Miracle should do that, but he decided he was going to. Obviously, he didn’t expect Jay Dee to die in between time.

So back in April, Miracle asked to sign directly with Sony – and get off NuFirm – and I agreed because you have to want to leave or do something wrong by me in order for me to let you go. And Mircale hadn’t done anything wrong, he just wanted to leave, so I let him go. But between then and now, Sony’s been taking their time with their paperwork and all that, and the poor dude isn’t able to do anything until that paperwork [is finalised]. But it was his own decision. I don’t like starting careers off and then seeing them go this way. It’s happened a few times before and it’s not a fulfilling thing.

Watch Israel’s “Party Up” music video below:

Rhyme & Reason Magazine and Warner Music Australia are giving 3 lucky readers the chance to win an autographed copy of Jason Derulo‘s new album Future History. For your chance to win, simply email your name and postal address to comps@rhymeandreason.com.au by the 21st October 2011.

Jason is heading back to Australia and will be entertaining his fans with a special one off in-store appearance and performance at Westfield Parramatta on Sunday October 16. He will be performing five of his chart-smashing hits and then conduct a signing where fans will have the chance for Jason to sign their very own copy of his brand new studio album “Future History”, which features the hits “Don’t Wanna Go Home” and “It Girl”.

As part of Derulo’s Australian promo tour he will also be performing on X-Factor on the 18th of October and Sunrise on the 19th of October.

Future History is in stores now.

“There’s no play time,” says Elen Levon of life since releasing her debut single “Naughty”. “You wake up in the morning and you’re on, it’s go time, there’s no time to breathe,” she notes of her relentless recording, performing and promotional duties.

The ambitious 17 year-old is juggling a budding music career with her high school studies – torn between the two but insistent on conquering both. “It’s hard to be devoted to both because you can’t give half-half to either,” laments the Sydneysider. “You’ve really got to be devoted to school, especially in Year 12, and it’s not that fun when you really want to be on stage. I want to give my all to being an artist, but education is so important.

“It’s been hard to adjust to this new lifestyle, and I guess I will at some point, but I’m not used to it yet.” In a move to better manage the balancing act between school and music, Levon this month left her friends at Reddam House School in Bondi to begin home schooling.

Chaperoned by her mother [“My mum’s very supportive of everything I do”], the pint-sized performer is determined to make the most of her career momentum despite the inherent strains of its lifestyle. “I’m definitely still having fun with it and staying focused and ambitious,” reassures the teen.

Fueling that ambition is the fact Levon is on the precipice of realising a dream she has been inadvertently preparing for since a toddler – to be a superstar. “I’ve been training since I was about 3 years old, going to ballet classes and things, so I guess I’ve always been working towards this.”

Landing a management deal at age 13 and signing a recording contract with dance powerhouse Ministry of Sound [via singer/songwriter/producer Israel Cruz’s NuFirm label], the songbird this week debuted at #5 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart with “Naughty”.

“It’s not really about being raunchy or crazy,” insists Elen of her electro-pop lead single, quashing any innuendo its title may lend itself to. “It’s more about expressing yourself – being that fun girl or fun guy. It’s about letting go of your inhibitions, not caring what other people think. I call it a care-free song.”

“Naughty” – while definitely carefree and catchy – wildly understates Levon’s talents. A trained pianist, budding songwriter and powerful vocalist, there is more to this teenager than the choreographed moves and autotuned vocals of her first impression. “I definitely write. I love writing,” shares the songbird. “And I started playing piano when I was about 6 or 7 years-old. I did all the grades. I haven’t input a lot of that into my music yet, but I definitely will when I get the chance.

“At the moment [my sound is] R&B/Pop, but progressively it will change into all different styles, as I really do love all genres of music. I definitely just want to make timeless music and I think timeless music consists of all genres.”

According to Israel Cruz, who signed Elen to his NuFirm imprint earlier this year, the youngster is a natural in the recording studio. Learning of the up-start through her management team, Cruz recalls their first encounter with excitement. “I wrote a record and asked [Elen's manager] if she can come in to sing the hook. He said she’ll be there in 30 minutes. She arrived in 30 minutes and 30 minutes later the hook was done – and she got it perfect, ad-libs and all, in 30 minutes,” remembers Cruz, who has written and produced hit records for the likes of Jessica Mauboy and Jay Sean.

“I told her manager, ‘Shit bro, you’ve got something really, really special here – and for her to be just 17 is amazing.’  There are alot of 17 year-old girls that look pretty, that can sing and can move, but when I press record will they get nervous? Will they understand timing? That’s what I look for.”

In addition to working with Israel, who crafted “Naughty”, Elen has also hit the studio with James Ash of the Rogue Traders, Brian McFadden, Robert Conley, and has writing sessions scheduled with Kylie Minogue collaborator Luciana next month. “I’d love to work with Tinie Tempah,” she adds, noting an appreciation for Hip-Hop. “I love a lot of MCs.”

Interview by Dominic Di Francesco.

Watch Elen Levon’s “Naughty” music video below:

With his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story due for release on September 30, J. Cole has been in beast mode of late, unveiling the music video for his latest single “Can’t Get Enough” [featuring Trey Songz] and his long-awaited collaboration with boss Jay-Z on “Mr. Nice Watch”.

Check out “Mr. Nice Watch” below – which Cole also produced – along with the “Can’t Get Enough” video, which was shot in Barbados and features a cameo from Bajan beauty and fellow Roc Nation artist Rihanna.

Cole World: The Sideline Story is in-stores 30th September and features guest appearances from Jay-Z, Trey Songz, Drake and Missy Elliott.

Bay Area upstart Bobby Brackins yesterday released his latest mixtape Pimp Hand Strong along with a music video for the cut “Lesbian”.

“My goal is to pleasantly surprise my fans and gain the attention of a brand new audience with provocative music complimented by videos that can and will be respected,” says Brackins.

Pimp Hand Strong features guests including Houston’s Paul Wall, Dev, VH1’s Playboy Ray J, TY$, Tinashe, Mann to KonLive’s Ya Boy.

Download Pimp Hand Strong here and watch the video for “Lesbian” below:

We’ve been waiting for this day since 1989:

The NIKE MAG is no longer the “greatest shoe never made.” The mythical shoe that originally captured the imagination of audiences in Back to the Future II is being released – and they’re here to help create a future without Parkinson’s disease.

1500 pairs of the 2011 NIKE MAG are being auctioned on eBay with all net proceeds going directly to The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Each day for the duration of the ten-day auction, one hundred and fifty pairs of the 2011 NIKE MAG shoes will be made available via eBay’s Fashion Vault. The auction will end September 18. Thanks to a previous 50 million dollar match given to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, all donations will be matched, effectively doubling the contributions from the auction.

The original NIKE MAG was worn by the Back to the Future character Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, in the year 2015. It came alive, lit up and formed to Marty’s foot. The 2011 NIKE MAG shoe was designed to be a precise replica of the original from Back to the Future II. The aesthetic is an exact match, down to the contours of the upper, the glowing LED panel and the electroluminescent NIKE in the strap. The 2011 NIKE MAG illuminates with the pinch of the “ear” of the high top, glowing for five hours per charge.

Head here to bid on a pair of these very limited edition sneakers. Winning bids are already topping the $9,000 mark!

Melbourne Hip-Hop artist Phrase speaks with Dominic Di Francesco about finding his singing voice, working with Jimmy Barnes and releasing his third studio album Babylon:

The new album is Babylon. What’s the significance of that title?
Babylon, obviously, it’s an ancient city and it’s always kind of been associated with extreme beauty and a land of luxury – I guess a bit of a utopia. So I’ve kind of used it in the sense that, for me, it’s a better place that I’m trying to get to and I’m still kind of struggling to find my way to that place.

Are you one step closer to it with the release of this album?
I don’t know [laughing]. Musically, I definitely feel like I’ve made something that I’m really happy with and something that I feel like is totally mine. I’m starting to find my feet stylistically. In terms of everything else, I guess it’s more a general thing that everybody goes through – just the day-to-day search of ‘What the fuck am I doing here? Am I on the right track?’

As you said, stylistically, this album is a lot more ecclectic than your past work. How did your approach to recording differ this time around?
A lot of people have been like, “Whoa, it’s so different!” and I admit that next to Clockwork it sounds worlds apart. The last song I did on Clockwork, “Spaceship”, took a pretty similar approach – I had written everything and then we recorded it with a band and tracked it that way. That was exciting to me and something new. I was like, “Fuck, this is really cool!” After I finished touring I started to write new songs for the record, I was playing around on the guitar and I’d made some drums at home, and I got my wife Jade [MacRae] to play some keys on it and was like, “Fuck, this sounds fine, this is going to be cool.” A few weeks later I was looking for records to sample and not really finding much. I was like, “Fuck, why don’t I just write the rest of it? That way I’m going to be able to do exactly what I want.” It kind of just felt like a natural progression and then I guess it just evolved into what it is now.

So is it fair to say there’s alot more of you in this album than in previous albums?
Totally – more than ever before, which is what I feel good about. Not in any way am I talking badly or regretting what I’ve done in the past, but I certainly feel like in the past it was more a case of producers guiding the ship and me just having a lot to do with writing the raps and steering the songs via what I was doing lyrically. This time I sort of got to steer the whole thing, which is good. It’s been fun for me and I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I guess it was more challenging and I feel like I’ve been learning more shit.

I was surprised to hear you singing at points throughout the album. Is singing something you’ve been wanting to explore and introduce to your music?
[Laughing] Nah! To be honest, I fucking hate singing around my wife Jade ’cause she’s a great singer – I can’t have her in the room when I’m doing vocal takes when it comes to singing. She was out of the house when I wrote the chorus for “Never Enough”, she wasn’t around, so I started feeling comfortable and just sketched it down. I did three layers and dummied it up with different effects – and she came home and was like, “Oh, that sounds really great.” And I was like, “Yeah, of course, but I’ll get somebody else to sing it. It’s just a guide vocal.” And then I sent it to the dude that I worked on the record with, Tony, and he was like, “Man, why would you get anyone else to re-sing it? It sounds fine.” So there’s a couple of songs where that happened and all along the way I’ve been saying, “Are you sure you’re not just fucking with me and telling me it sounds alright? I don’t want to put this out there and have people ridicule me” [laughing]. I guess I’ve just got to trust that Jade wouldn’t let me put something out where I was singing totally out of fuckin’ key. To be honest, I’m not going to go out there and try to be a lead vocalist, singing-wise, at my shows. I’ve got Davey Lane and the band who’s helping me out there. I definitely enjoyed doing it and it was fun, but it’s not like I’m going to go and put out a record next week where I’m not rapping and it’s all singing.

So you haven’t been getting any vocal coaching from Jade?
It’s annoying ‘cause she would be able to really point me in the right direction, but I just get so pent up when she’s around. I think it’s just because I’m embarrassed – I don’t want my woman to think that I’m shit at something [laughing]. So I’d rather not have her around when I’m doing it.

Jimmmy Barnes appears on the song “Velvet Glove”. How did the two of you come to collaborate and what was it like recording with an Aussie music icon?
I’ve been friends with his daughter Mahalia for quite some time and when I was recording the record I was staying at her house. I had the song demoed for probably six months and Jade had a guide vocal on the chorus. I knew I didn’t want it to be a chick [singing the chorus] and that it had to be a ballsy male singer. My manager was like, “Do you reckon you can get Barnsey?” And I was like, “Aw, I don’t know whether that’s the right way to go…” Then I thought about it and was like, fuck it, the dude’s an animal and an icon. Anyway, I said to Mahalia, “Do you think your dad would sing on this song if I sent it to him?” And she was like, “I don’t know! Fuckin’ send him the song and ask him yourself.” So I sent it through and he loved it. He came to the studio a few weeks later and recorded it – and he was pretty quick, dude! He was in and out, did two takes and totally smashed it.

Your wife sings the chorus on “The Book”, although she is credited as Jane Doe instead of Jade MacRae. Why the alias?
There’s no real huge reason behind her not having her name on there, just that, musically, I guess she’s doing stuff pretty different now to what Jade MacRae is associated with. So we kind of put that on there ’cause Jane Doe is the unknown, untagged dead body kind of thing.

On “The Book” you poke fun at the social networing phenomenon. Do you think we’re raising a generation of narcissists with the popularity of Facebook and other similar platforms?
It’s so funny, dude. I’m sitting here checking my notifications as we’re talking [laughing]. Fuck, I don’t know. It is a weird, weird world that we’re living in now and my friend’s little kid, who’s two years-old, just amazes me – she knows what Facebook is, she knows how to operate an iPhone and all that sort of stuff. I don’t know… I guess there’s a slight kind of comical slant on that song but, then again, there’s this underlying seriousness that I do believe for a lot of people it gets to a point where the life that they’ve created on the internet is easier and better. So I kind of think it’s fucked up and weird and wanted to write a song to document this point in time where things are really starting to change with the internet and all that kind of stuff.

In the lead up to the release of Babylon you made the entire album available to stream via an online widget. It was a daring strategy. Was that your idea?
Yeah, all that kind of stuff has come from my end. If anything, I feel that it’s a show of honesty. I think sometimes people get it twisted and think, “Oh, they’ve got a record label, or their song’s on the radio… so they must be fuckin’ rich” – and you and I both know that it’s nothing like that. More than ever before artists are really struggling and most are barely making any money. So I feel like there’s a sense of honesty behind saying, “Look, here it is. Suss it out. It’s there, you can listen to the whole thing. If you like it, buy it, if not… cool, whatever.” I feel comfortable in doing it. I think you’ve got to give a little to get a little.

That’s fair enough. You’re not trying to trick people into buying an album with a catchy single or anything…
Exactly! I can stand nothing worse than when there’s a massive song and you go and think – fuck, the record’s going to be amazing – and then once you get it and go home there’s that and maybe two other songs that are the only good things on there. At least this way you get to check it out first.

Babylon is in stores now. See Phrase live across Australia on these dates:

Wed 05 Oct – VIC – The Karova Lounge, Ballarat – BUY TICKETS
Thu 06 Oct – VIC – Kay St, Traralgon – BUY TICKETS
Fri 07 Oct – SA – Rocket Bar, Adelaide – BUY TICKETS
Thur 13 Oct – ACT – Transit Bar, Canberra – BUY TICKETS
Fri 14 Oct – NSW – Level One,Newcastle Leagues Club – BUY TICKETS
Sat 15 Oct – QLD – Sprung Festival, Brisbane – BUY TICKETS
Sat 15 Oct – NSW – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – BUY TICKETS
Fri 21 – VIC – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne – BUY TICKETS
Sat 29 Oct – TAS – Republic Bar, Hobart – BUY TICKETS
Thurs 17 Nov – QLD – The Zoo, Brisbane – BUY TICKETS
Fri 18 Nov – QLD – The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay – FREE ENTRY!
Sat 19 Nov – QLD – The Cooly, Gold Coast – BUY TICKETS
Wed 23 Nov – WA – BLVD, Joondaloop – BUY TICKETS
Thur 24 Nov – WA – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury – BUY TICKETS
Fri 25 Nov – WA – Amplfier, Perth – BUY TICKETS
Sat 26 Nov – WA – Players Bar, Mandurah – BUY TICKETS
Sun 27 Nov – WA – Newport, Fremantle – BUY TICKETS

Tickets are available now!

Ministy of Sound and Rhyme & Reason Magazine are giving away 25 double passes to the media-only Nufirm Music showcase this Wednesday night in Sydney.

Performing on the night will be Israel Cruz and his new signing, 17 year-old songstress Elen Levon, who is preparing to release her debut single “Naughty” next month [watch the behind-the-scenes footage from her "Naughty" video shoot after the jump].

For your chance to score a double pass, email your name to comps@rhymeandreason.com.au before midday 30th August. You must be +18 years-old to enter and available to travel to Sydney on the 31st August.

Professional street skateboarder Stevie Williams has gone from a dirty ghetto kid to building a leading skate board brand, DGK, with the motto “from nothing to something.” That very foundation has served as the kick off to a multi-facet brand empire Williams is developing, he’s far from done and ambitious to obtain the best. The world renown skateboarder, has created a brand strong enough to foster collaborations with G-Shock, New Era, Venture Trucks, Gold Wheels, 9Five Eyewear and prepping for his next venture.

“I don’t really pump and promote the words Dirty Ghetto Kids but I do promote DGK. Like the message is not so much about Dirty Ghetto Kids being that I’m now grown and I have kids of my own. I’m not out there promoting a message of staying dirty and ghetto. It’s more of a message encouraging you to “take adversity head on” it’s challenging and above all defy adversity. It’s more of an inspirational company than derogatory.”

No stranger to business ventures, the Philly-native got his first endorsement deal in 2004 as the first professional skateboarder to be sponsored by Reebok. With building size billboards placed directly in the middle of New York Times Square and a short two years later, an enterprising Williams went from being the token black skater used as a marketing tool to owner of his own clothing and accessories line, DGK which made its first million that year. That same year he opened a skate shop, L&K limited in Oceanside, California with Nick Lockman. In 2008 he opened the skate shop Sk8tique in Atlanta, Georgia. That same year he was featured on a Topps playing card. Just this year Williams expanded the vision of DGK by incorporating beauty imagery, granting vixen Vanessa Veasley the first to be captured on the back of his brand skateboard.

The Life Style Executive even collects fans via the gaming industry in the eight pas editions of Tony Hawk’s computer and video game series. In terms of broadcast coverage Williams has appeared on the BET show “The Game” and featured in several videos including Oscar Winning group, Three 6 Mafia “Side 2 Side.”

Recently the 30 year-old shredder inked a deal with Supra Footwear to release three color waves of a signature Stevie Williams shoe, set for release in Fall 2012 accompanied by a nationwide tour. Although G-Shock often collaborates with other companies, skate brands aren’t as typical. The DGK Casio G-Shock GX56DGK is a stand along purple watch branded as the Stevie Williams Edition. “Without even realizing my gift for identifying trends and setting new one’s, these companies find value in my opinion which continuously affords me to serve as Brand Ambassadors for the best of them,” says Williams. G-Shock recently shot and produced a brand new commercial featuring Williams – see below:

Williams also recently released his new 9Five Eyewear collection – see below:

He also opened his own private skate complex and showroom in Atlanta, under Phipps Plaza Mall, the upscale mall in the state of Georgia, rightfully named Da Playground. “Da Playground basically glorifies everything that we stand for from the show room to the skateboarding to the graffiti to the people that hang out, to the website. It’s about something that’s gone move us all forward and not take us back because we really don’t deal with takers too much. It’s all about giving back, you gotta give back. It’s like one of those teams of like, it’s like a brotherhood. With us it’s not so much about skateboarding. It’s our synergy the things that we relate to, where we come from, the jokes we have, what we stand for and we are a unit outside of everybody else. That’s why we keep it so tight,” says Williams.

Even more recent, he signed to internationally acclaimed manager, Chaka Zula known for making great strides with Rapper/Actor Ludacris. “My choice of being in business with Stevie Williams is simple. Having been in this game for years and being associated with iconic cultural brands and people. I feel that the people I choose to work with should also be that. Stevie has his culture in a headlock he breathes his lifestyle everyday in watching his passion when he skates or speaks on taking the skate lifestyle further it’s contagious. I want to help him setup a great system for the skate culture that will come after him. Watch his moves u will be amazed,” says Chaka Zula.From Footwear to eyewear, the gaming industry to signature watches, vixens and a renewed vision, Stevie Williams is the new Life Style poster child with a master plan.

Forget Salvador Dali. It doesn’t get any more surreal than hearing Q-Tip pumped throughout the majestic caverns of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Last night, the 137 year-old building played host to the Foot Locker Art Prize exhibit with a soiree celebrating the artworks of the sneaker art competition’s 25 finalists – with Brisbane artist Kalin Thompson crowned victor and presented with a $50,001 novelty cheque [in the home of the Archibald Prize, mind you].

Congratulations to Kalin, all the finalists, Foot Locker, DEC Communications and all other parties involved with the Foot Locker Art Prize for what was a great night and an amazing display of sneaker art.

Read the official press release after the jump – while Rhyme & Reason will post bonus coverage of the event early next week:

A Brisbane artist and resident has taken out the coveted Foot Locker Art Prize, picking up both the major prize ($50,001), People’s Choice ($1,500) and a pair of customised shoes inspired by his artwork last night at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Kalin Thompson, 24, was awarded the prizes at an Exhibition of the 25 finalists on Thursday night in the home of the Archibald Prize – which was trumped by one dollar back in April this year with the launch of the Foot Locker Art Prize and consequently shook up the Art world.

Labelled a ‘masterpiece’ by judges, Kalin’s ‘Forbidden Fruit’ acrylic painted entry featured the Nike Air Force 1 – one of eight shoe templates that were available to entrants, also including Converse, Puma and adidas – and was created in 420 hours and features 190 shoes and 60 shoeboxes.

His artwork can be viewed here.

On winning both the major cash prize of $50,001 and the People’s Choice, Kalin said; “I am absolutely blown away! It’s amazing to be recognised for something I love to do! Thank you to my family, girlfriend and all my friends for supporting me.

“I entered the Foot Locker Art Prize to show the world what I could do, and I can’t explain how much it means to not only receive this amazing cash prize, have my artwork exhibited in one of Australia’s most prestigious galleries but have my sneaker artwork recognised as a legitimate form of art by some of the industry’s most respected professionals.”

UK artist and Art Prize judge, Dave White, said of the winning artwork;

“When I first saw it, it really was outstanding. It really did shine. The level of detail immediately screamed out to me, but more importantly it really demonstrated an incredible skill set and it also showed a wonderful use of colour. But then the more you looked at this piece as a work of art, it really did start to unveil itself as something that had a really nice narrative behind it. And the more you got into it, you saw this really chaotic camouflage and you really started to appreciate the incredible level of detail.

“I think if Nike decided to release that it would stand up as a design on its own, but the more I looked at the depth of the piece, the more I saw the story behind it, it was quite a clever concept. It really was about embracing this competition fully, about using sneakers as a piece of art and as a platform to create something very original.”

The Foot Locker Art Prize: The World’s Richest Colouring Competition was open for three months and attracted over 6,000 entries which were narrowed down to 20 Australian and five New Zealand finalists.

Jason Absolom from Tasmania was awarded the winner of the 13 and Under category – see his artwork here.

Harvey Daines from New South Wales was crowned winner of the 18 and Under category – see his artwork here.

Having already penned hits for the likes of Justin Bieber ["That Should Be Me"] and Britney Spears ["Kill The Lights"], singer/songer Luke James is now preparing for his turn in the spotlight. Signed to a recording contract with Mercury/Def Jam [via super-producer Danjahandz's NARS imprint], James is the most genuine of talents with a growing fan base that includes Beyonce –  who selected him for a feature role in her “Run The World (Girls)” music video.

“This isn’t a fad for me,” declares James. “I’m willing to go wherever with this because music is everything to me. This is my world and how I see it. My music speaks for me in a way that’s relatable and truthful.”

“Honest is the best word to describe Luke,” adds Danja, who began working with James nearly four years ago. “Every message in his songs is sincere. And Luke’s voice is another obvious factor. Putting all of that together, he possesses a universal connection that touches everyone. He’s an undeniable force. It’s all about the voice,” continues Danja. “And that’s what he’s captured on every record. Production doesn’t matter. No matter how sparse or grand I make it, he takes control and makes it about him.”

Luke James is due to premiere his debut single “I Want You” soon – but in the meantime check out this acapella snippet of the song and note Luke’s arresting falsetto. Watch the video after the jump:

Theophilus London’s debut LP Timez Are Weird These Days hits stores today.

To mark the occasion, we are posting our favourite video from the Brooklyn emcee – “Last Name London” – where Theophilus gets nostalgic and borrows the aesthetics from Michael Jackson’s classic “Jam” music video. Check it out, Theophilus has hops!

And don’t forget Mr. London will be supporting OutKast’s Big Boi on his Australian tour this August/September. Click here to win yourself a double-pass to one of their shows.

Watch the “Last Name London” music video after the jump:

OutKast’s Big Boi is touring Australia this August/September with his full live band – and support act Theophilus London – and we are giving away a double-pass to each of his Aussie performances thanks to the good folk over at Niche Productions!

For you chance to win a double-pass to the Big Boi Australian Tour 2011, simply email your name and postal address to comps@rhymeandreason.com.au before 18th August 2011. Winners will be drawn and notified via email on the 19th August 2011.

To avoid disappointment, you can purchase tickets to the Big Boi Australian Tour 2011 now. See below for tour dates and ticket info:

Friday 26 August – The Tivoli, Brisbane [www.ticketek.com.au]
Saturday 27 August – Enmore Theatre, Sydney [www.ticketek.com.au]
Friday 2 September – The Palace, Melbourne [www.ticketek.com.au]
Saturday 3 September – Metro City, Perth [www.moshtix.com.au]

As one half of Grammy winning duo Outkast, he has sold more than 25 million albums and directed the world’s attention to Southern Rap over a decade before anyone had heard of Lil Wayne. His debut solo album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty was without doubt one of the biggest releases of 2010, culminating in numerous accolades including triple j album of the week and finding its place in many ‘best of 2010’ lists just a few months ago. Brief promotional performances in Australia last year had people salivating for more and now, Niche Productions can confirm that Big Boi is back! And he’s bringing his full live band and AV/Show with him!

As a headline performer at numerous festivals across the globe last year, Big Boi aka Antwan Andre Patton wins the crowd over with a high energy set featuring belters from his solo album including pop crossover ‘Follow Us,’ the street banger ‘General Patton’ and of course, one of the breakthrough singles of 2010 ‘Shutterbugg’ as well as incorporating classic Outkast material such as ‘I Like The Way You Move,’ ‘Rosa Parks’ and ‘So Fresh So Clean’ with the accompanying music videos blasted on screens. Add to that the extra oomph of bass, guitar, horns and of course DJ and hype man and you have one of the world’s most fun and electric live shows.

After 2006’s Outkast album and film Idlewild, Big Boi kept busy working on Sir Lucious Leftfoot… in between projects with the Atlanta Ballet Company and nurturing up and coming talent Janelle Monae, whose debut solo album was another crossover hit of 2010, proving he is as much the creative chameleon as his partner in rhyme, Andre 3000.

Accolades for Big Boi’s Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son Of Chico Dusty:

• triple j Album of the Week
• #77 ‘Shutterbugg’ – triple j Hottest 100
• Top 40 ARIA Chart album
• #3 Debut on Billboard 200 Chart
• #4 Best Albums of 2010 – Pitchfork
• #14 Best Songs of 2010 ‘Shutterbugg’ – Rolling Stone
• #21 Best Albums of 2010 – Rolling Stone

Joining Big Boi will be Brooklyn, NYC artist Theophilus London for his debut tour of the country. With his debut EP Lovers Holiday recently released by Warner, London has already gathered a swag of fans and praise for his three mixtapes The Lovers, This Charming Mixtape and Jam! and is considered by many as a style icon both musically and in fashion. He has already collaborated with Mark Ronson for a Gucci promotion and separately with The Daptones for his cover of Calypso Blues (made popular by Nat King Cole) as well as referencing Elvis Costello on the cover for his Charming mixtape. His style on Lovers Holiday effortlessly traverses Chillwave, Hip-Hop, RnB, Electro, Slo Mo House, Boogie and Soul and a recent appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman has him poised in the eyes of many to take over once his full length album ‘Timez Are Weird These Days’ drops in July.

With a career spanning nearly two decades and still innovating Rap, Soul and Hip-Hop, Big Boi is a pioneer who is cherished across a number of genres. Do not miss ‘General Patton’ and his superb live band together with Theophilus London as they touch down across Australia and New Zealand in August and September 2011.

Foot Locker have just announced the 25 finalists of the Foot Locker Art Prize: World’s Richest Colouring Competition after a gruelling judging process which saw 6,000 entries whittled down to 25. And now it’s your turn to cast your votes and help decide the winner of that massive $50,0001 prize – which sneakily trumps The Archibald Prize by just one dollar.

Below are a few of our favourite designs from the 25 finalists. You can head over to www.footlockerartprize.com to preview the full gallery and submit your votes.

Lil Wayne has released his new mixtape Sorry 4 The Wait as a goodwill gesture to fans anticipating his delayed The Carter IV album – which was originally due in March but is now tentatively scheduled for an August release.

Sorry 4 The Wait is available as a free download [get it here] and features guest appearances from the likes of Lil B and Gudda Gudda as Weezy reinterprets popular tracks including the Big Sean x Chris Brown hit “My Last”.

During a research trip to China back in 2008 Shane Kohatsu, Nike’s Innovation Lead for Basketball, noticed local basketballers were wearing everything from running shoes to hiking boots on the court. The game in China is predominantly played outside in hot, humid conditions and the courts are made of unforgiving asphalt, so naturally, they were picking their footwear to deal with their environments. In some cases the running shoe’s breathability helped in the stifling conditions and for others the strength of their hiking shoes meant their footwear would last on the blacktop.

Shane, and his colleagues in Nike’s Innovation Kitchen, thought they could help these athletes by combining the best of those two worlds. Their solution was to take three materials and fuse them together into one material, to create a shoe that was off the charts in strength, yet allowed for a precise placement of mesh for breathability.

Hyperfuse was soon adopted by other sport categories at Nike. Ben Shaffer, the innovation lead of Nike Sportswear was drawn to the way the technology absorbed color and the beauty of the depth of the multiple layers. He applied it to some of Nike’s most revered styles like the Air Max 90 and the Air Force One.

Check out the animated story of Shane and Ben’s journey below:

This is an event not to be missed! Ryan Leslie will be hosting an exclusive production workshop in Sydney next weekend at the UNSW Rex Vowels Theatre – providing attendees with an introduction to the R&B and Hip-Hop industry, basic melodic, rhythmic and harmonic concepts and approaches to song writing and structure.

Most exciting, however, is that the workshop will include a live demonstration of Ryan Leslie creating a new track from scratch, along with an exclusive Q&A session.

Only 250 tickets are available to the workshop, so be sure to visit www.doubledentertainment.com.au now to secure your spot and avoid disappointment. Check the details below:

Date: Sunday 17th July 2011
Time: Doors open 11am, Workshop 12pm to 3pm.
Location: UNSW Rex Vowels Theatre
Price: $90 (inclusive of booking fee)

Record labels have long been searching for a solution to combat the proliferation of illegal music downloads that has forced its once mighty industry to its knees. But how do you combat such a widespread practice on a platform as sprawling and lawless as the Internet? Queensland based company Guvera believe they have found a solution. Their approach does not involve policing illegal downloads, but rather finding a way to offer free downloads to consumers while ensuring royalties are still paid to recording artists/labels.

How is this possible? Well, Guvera employs an advertising-based model where corporations sponsor free music downloads, paying the royalties owed to artists/labels in exchange for displaying targeted advertising to Guvera users. And with licensing deals in place with the likes of Universal Music Group and EMI, Guvera is already offering a wide selection of popular music for download – from Lady GaGa to Kanye West – at absolutely no cost to consumers.

It sounds like a perfect solution to the music industry’s financial woes, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

The advertising-sponsored download structure works well in theory, but it may prove to have inherent limitations down the line. For starters, it is difficult to imagine advertising-supply meeting consumer-demand to the point where a platform like Guvera can take a substantial bite out of the illegal downloads market. While far from an expert on the matter of music royalties, it can be assumed advertisers are paying close to $1 for every song downloaded on Guvera, meaning they are forking out almost $1 to display their advertising message to a single user – and that is without the promise of action – which makes for an expensive advertising campaign.

Guvera has secured a number of notable advertisers in these early stages [including Domino's and Contiki] while public awareness of their site remains relatively modest, but will they be able to attract the advertising dollars needed to fund millions of monthly downloads when their traffic spikes? More to the point, are there that many advertisers willing to pay $1 to reach one potential customer? It’s a big ask.

There is no doubt the emergence of Guvera is a step in the right direction for the music industry, but will it prove a solution to illegal music downloads? What are your thoughts? Perhaps you have a better idea on how to curb online music piracy. Or maybe you believe music should be free regardless of whether the artists get paid. Let us know.

It’s rare to come across a project from a virtual unknown that can be played from start-to-finish. Bullets & Broads by Ema-The-Kid is one such project.

While we don’t know much about Ema-The-Kid, we do know the youngster is a Harlem transplant currently living and studying music in London. As for Bullets & Broads, much of it is produced by London native Origimoz, with additional production supplied by Cookin’ Soul, Selasse and Wookie Fresh.

Great weekend cruising music. Listen after the jump:

Yesterday, EMI Music Australia moved into their plush new digs at Surry Hills from their old haunt of 24-years across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Cremorne.

The record label has also adopted the creative spirit of their new surrounds, launching the EMI Art Project – an art installation occupying their two large Flinders Street-facing windows.

“The idea is that we are giving back to the creative community, and more broadly that music sits hand in hand with art; it’s an exploration of both forms,” said a representative from EMI. “The windows are open to all kinds of art, design and fashion – and the idea is for a real mixture of styles and influences … and that eventually people will go out of their way to come and check out the display works as they are unveiled at street level and via our blog. The first two pieces couldn’t be more of a juxtaposition: An Archibald portrait entry and a 3D street art installation.”

Check out photos of the new EMI offices after the jump:

The planking craze that took Australia by storm earlier this year has finally reached the U.S.

Music stars including Chris Brown, Big Sean and Joe Budden, along with basketballers Dwight Howard [above] and Gilbert Arenas, have taken to the planking phenomenon with fervor – sharing their creative and competitive efforts via Twitter.

In fact, Howard and Arenas are engaged in a planking war that has seen them perform the stunt atop limousines, toll booths, grand pianos, barbecue grills, restaurant signage and more.

See photos of the stars getting their plank-on after the jump:

Chris Brown

Gilbert Arenas

Gilbert Arenas & Dwight Howard

Big Sean

Dwight Howard

Joe Budden

Gilbert Arenas

Dwight Howard

Sony Music’s Senior Director of A&R and former Australian Idol judge Jay Dee Springbett was found dead in a Woolloomooloo hotel room yesterday afternoon after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was just 36 years-old.

NSW Police indicate the death was not suspicious. No further details are available at this time.

“I’m completely sidelined by the news of Jay Dee Springbett’s death,” tweeted former Australian Idol host Andrew Gunsberg. “My deepest thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.”

During his time at Sony Music, Springbett oversaw the careers of chart-topping artists including Jessica Mauboy and Rogue Traders.

Life appears to be imitating art as Justin Timberlake today secured an ownership stake in MySpace.

Timberlake, who played a social media tycoon in the film The Social Network, is part-owner of advertising network Specific Media – which has purchased MySpace from News Corp. for the bargain basement price of $35 million.

News Corp. purchased the social network in 2005 for $580 million only to suffer flailing traffic and revenue that forced a culling of more than 47% of MySpace staff in January.

Timberlake and Specific Media hope to reinstate the site as a social media mecca.

“There’s a need for a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff and just connect. MySpace has the potential to be that place. Art is inspired by people and vice versa, so there’s a natural social component to entertainment,” said Timberlake in a statement released earlier today.

David Guetta inflicts involuntary dance spasms on an entire town in the music video for “Where Them Girls At”.

The Frenchman sets-up his DJ equipment on a rooftop and pumps ominous bubbles from his sub-woofers down to the streets below. Curious onlookers are thrown into fits of dance as they burst the bubbles, unknowingly surrendering themselves to the whim of Guetta – who summons them all to his rooftop party.

Very sneaky, Mr. Guetta. Very sneaky.

“Where Them Girls At” also features a blonde-bob-sporting Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida, all of which you can witness after the jump:

Absolut Vodka present the Distilled documentary series with Cee-Lo Green as their premiere subject.

This sharp, short doco does well to paint a picture of Cee-Lo as an artist – revealing the ambition he has drawn from personal tragedy and exploring the diverse musical palette that has allowed him to forge such a distinct career within the entertainment industry. Fellow Goodie Mobb member Big Gipp and Busta Rhymes also weigh-in on the legacy this portly crooner has built thus far.

Watch Part 1 of the Cee-Lo Distilled documentary after the jump. The second and final part of this doco is scheduled to debut online early next month.

This September will see the release of Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label – a book detailing the storied history of the Hip-Hop powerhouse from the perspective of the scrolling list of artists and executives associated with the label.

The book is written by Def Jam’s founding publicist Bill Adler and includes recollections, anecdotes and photographs from its first 25-years in operation, with a preface from co-founders Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons, and interviews with everyone from Jay-Z to LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Ludacris and Rihanna.

In 1984, Def Jam introduced a new kind of music and lifestyle–hip-hop–through aspiring record producer and punk-rocker Rick Rubin and party promoter/artist manager Russell Simmons. It has become the sound of young America, akin to Motown in the sixties. This is the first book to see the label whole: through an oral history woven from interviews (some exclusive) with its founders and artists such as LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Ja Rule, Rihanna, Ashanti, and Kanye West, as well as through rare memorabilia from personal archives of the label’s movers and shakers: behind-the-scenes photos, flyers, advertisements, movie posters, album cover art, magazine covers, and press clips from around the world.

Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label is not currently scheduled for an Australian release.

DJ Khaled brings out the usual suspects for his latest single “I’m On One” and films its visuals, as usual, in his adopted hometown of Miami. What is unusual about “I’m On One” is that the video is partially shot in Drake’s actual, unfinished Miami Beach condo.

“People have seen the Miami life, people have seen the bottles popped and the cars that we drive,” explained Drake from his sprawling balcony during a break in filming the video. So in an effort to “dig a bit deeper”, the Canadian artist collaborated with director Gil Green to present a more personal perspective for the “I’m On One” clip.

“I’m 24-years-old and this is the first place I’ve owned. I brought y’all inside my real home, unfinished, stuff still messed up, the tiles not even set,” said Drake. “Even for stars there’s vulnerable moments, but at the end of the day we’re on one, this is it, this is what we dreamed about.”

Watch DJ Khaled, Drake and crew in the “I’m On One” music video after the jump:

British songstress Estelle posts-up at a picturesque Malibu mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean in her music video for “Break My Heart”.

Taking advantage of her serene surrounds, the talented 31-year-old gets reflective and contemplates the fate of a new romance, while co-star Rick Ross wanders about the grounds in a questionable silk shirt, blowing smoke through his nostrils. As he does.

“Me collaborating with Estelle was just a matter of time, me being a huge fan of hers, me really loving her style of music, her level of class,” Ross said of his collaboration with the London lass. “I love making music with real genuine songbirds and that’s exactly what she is.”

“Break My Heart” is the lead single from Estelle’s forthcoming album All Of Me, due in stores this September via Warner Music.

Watch Estelle and Rick Ross in the official Australian premiere of their “Break My Heart” music video after the jump:

The Game featuring Chris Brown – “Pot of Gold”
Game and Chris Brown tag-team on the new single “Pot of Gold” from the California rapper’s The R.E.D. Album – due in stores August – as Game anticipates his retirement, rapping: “Give Interscope two more albums then I’m done for good.”

David Guetta featuring Taio Cruz & Ludacris – “Little Bad Girl”
The French DJ continues mashing electro and urban on this intercontinental banger, inviting Taio Cruz to lend some London swag while Ludacris adds his southern fried flavour – all three finding common ground as they sing the praises of little bad girls everywhere.

D Banga – “Famous”
Unsigned Brooklyn rhymer D Banga samples Jazmine Sullivan on his mixtape cut “Famous”, introducing his no-nonsense lyrics to audiences over an inspirational beat.

“Party Up” is the first release from Israel under his new deal with Ministry of Sound Australia. Due for release on 8th July, the Melbourne raised singer/songwriter/producer tonight debuted the “Party Up” music video – produced by Silo Collective, whose recent work includes clips for DJ Havana Brown and Marvin Priest.

Interestingly, Israel wrote and produced another track titled “Party Up” for unsigned Sydney artist Candice Rose last year, while producing yet another “Party Up” track for Kash Boys back in 2008.

Watch Israel in his “Party Up” music video after the jump:

We know Sir Mix-A-Lot likes big butts, but where does he stand on Snuggie vs. Shamwow? Is he more afraid of STDs or PMS? These either-or questions form the premise of a new Facebook game called Mix-N-Match with Sir Mix-A-Lot, where players take a hilarious trip through Mix-A-Lot’s head and pose similar questions to Facebook friends in a quest to win prizes.

Mix-N-Match with Sir Mix-A-Lot launched on Facebook yesterday and offers prizes including a ride with Mix-A-Lot in his Lamborghini or personalised video greetings from Mix. Definitely a fun time-waster. Play Mix-N-Match with Sir Mix-A-Lot here.

As the founder of No Limit Records, Percy Miller – professionally known as Master P – sold in excess of 75 million records during the ’90s and amassed a personal worth estimated at $350 million. However, in recently filed court documents pertaining to a child support matter, the New Orleans entrepreneur has listed his monthly earnings at just $1,387.

Ex-wife Sonya Miller is contesting the mogul’s modest salary claims after Master P was ordered to pay just $274 in monthly child support for each of their four minor children. According to TMZ, the Department of Child Support Services is now investigating the matter in an attempt to establish P’s true worth.

No Limit Records, which once counted the likes of Snoop Dogg and Mystikal amongst its stable of artists, was relaunched earlier this year by Master P’s son – and Dancing With The Stars contestant – Romeo Miller.

Miami rapper Rick Ross has made an odd statement with his latest facial tattoo – inking the logo of vintage eyewear brand Cazal on his upper-left cheek.

Cazal was founded by Italian designer Cari Zalloni in 1975 and popularised during the ’80s and ’90s by hip-hop identities including DMC of RUN-DMC. Ross is said to be an avid collector of their vintage shades, characterised by 24k tri-layered gold plating.

Perhaps Rick Ross and Cazal have some sort of marketing arrangement in place – which would be only slightly more bizarre than Ross commissioning the facial artwork out of pure adoration for the brand.

In any case, this is not the first time Ross has adopted a literal approach to branding. The rapper also sports the logo of his Maybach Music Group company on his upper-left cheek.

Described as a “garage stomper with rockabilly guitar twists”, the lead single from Phrase’s upcoming Babylon album is another evolutionary step in the career of the Melbourne-based musician. Debuted on Triple J last night, “Apart” features You Am I’s Davey Lane on the hook as Phrase further explores his rock tendencies with a louder, more brash delivery of his rhymes.

“To me, ‘Babylon’ means a place of beauty and getting to a better point in life. That’s what the record represents,” offers Phrase of his upcoming album, which will include an eclectic cast of guests spanning Jimmy Barnes to Sparkadia’s Alex Burnett.

“Apart” is available digitally today. Babylon is due in stores on August 12.

Bad Meets Evil – better known as the raucous rhyme tandem of Eminem & Royce Da 5’9 – have joined forces with Converse to release a limited Bad Meets Evil edition of the iconic Chuck Taylor sneaker.

“I think that this is dope because Chuck Taylors are such an iconic sneaker,” commented Eminem on the black-and-white shoes sporting his Shady Records logo. “I couldn’t afford Chucks when I was a kid. I was a little white trashy and didn’t have much money growing up, so I always wanted a pair and now I have my own pair.”

“I had a lot of pairs, I loved Chucks,” chimed-in Royce. “I used to hoop in these. Certain amount of the proceeds are going to charity, we’re excited about that. This is great, man. This is a good thing to be a part of. I’m wearing mines out.”

Limited to 100 pairs, the Bad Meets Evil x Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers went on sale in the Boston and New York Converse stores over the weekend. Watch video of Bad Meets Evil discussing their sneaker and new album, Hell: The Sequel, after the jump:

Forbes Magazine has released its annual Highest-Paid Musicians List with U2 landing atop the pile with a whopping $195 million in earnings between May 2010 and May 2011. “Our numbers encompass all pretax income earned before subtracting agent and manager fees,” reports Forbes, who note touring as the largest source of income for the recording artists listed.

The urban music set is well represented on the list, with the Black Eyed Peas coming in at #7 with a $61 million haul; Usher’s lucrative OMG Tour helped him collect $46 million and land at #12; Jay-Z snuck in at #17 with $37 million, barely out-earning wife Beyonce [who did not tour or release music during the period surveyed], who accumulated $35 million and shares the #18 slot with hip-hop mogul Diddy. Meanwhile, Rihanna rounds-out the Highest-Paid Musicians List having collected $1 million per concert over the past 12 months to rake-in a total of $29 million and secure the #25 spot.

See below for the full Highest-Paid Musicians List:

1. U2 ($195 million)
2. Bon Jovi ($125 million)
3. Elton John ($100 million)
4. Lady Gaga ($90 million)
5. Michael Buble ($70 million)
6. Paul McCartney ($67 million)
7. Black Eyed Peas ($61 million)
8. Eagles ($60 million)
9. Justin Bieber ($53 million)
10. Dave Matthews Band ($51 million)
11. Toby Keith ($50 million)
12. Usher ($46 million)
13. Taylor Swift $45 million)
14. Katy Perry ($44 million)
15. Brad Paisley ($40 million)
16. Tom Petty & the Heartbreaks ($38 million)
17. Jay-Z ($38 million)
18. AC/DC ($35 million)
18. Sean “Diddy” Combs ($35 million)
18. Beyonce ($35 million)
18. Tim McGraw ($35 million)
18. Muse ($35 million)
23. Rascal Flatts ($34 million)
24. Kenny Chesney ($30 million)
25. Rihanna ($29 million)

Frank Ocean takes us on a trip [of the chemical variety] in his music video for “Novacane” – the lead single from the commercial release of his Nostalgia, Ultra album. 

“Novacane” is directed by Aussie Nabil Elderkin – who also directed “Grenade” for Bruno Mars – and unfolds with Frank Ocean sitting alone in a room as drug-induced visions of transparent panda bears, geishas and threesomes begin infiltrating his space.

Watch Frank Ocean in the “”Novacane” video after the jump – but perhaps not from work, just in case your boss frowns upon staff watching transparent chesticles during work hours:

Ryan Leslie will embark on his first Australian tour next month with shows confirmed for Sydney and Melbourne. The tour will follow the July 4th release of Les Is More – his third album and first independent project since parting ways with Universal Motown.

Although anticipated as Leslie’s first time performing live in Australia, the tour will be his second visit to our shores this year – having made the trip in February to support Aussie model girlfriend Nicole Trunfio during her LÓreal Melbourne Fashion Festival duties.

See below for Ryan Leslie’s Australian tour dates and ticketing information:

Fri 15 July | Melbourne, Billboard The Venue, VIC | Buy Tickets
Sat 16 July | Sydney, Sydney Town Hall, NSW | Buy Tickets

Dexter Isaac, a convicted felon currently serving a life sentence in a New York detention centre, has confessed to his involvement in the November 1994 shooting of the late Tupac Shakur.

In a letter to AllHipHop, Isaac alleges he was hired by music industry executive James ‘Jimmy Henchmen’ Rosemond to execute the attack on Shakur, in which the rapper was shot five times at a Manhattan recording studio. Rosemond is the manager of rapper Game, singer Sean Kingston and boxer-turned-actor Mike Tyson.

“James Rosemond hired me to rob 2Pac Shakur at the Quad Studio,” reads Isaac’s letter. “He gave me $2,500, plus all the jewelry I took, except for one ring, which he wanted for himself. I still have as proof the chain that we took that night in the robbery.”

Isaac makes his damning confession and allegations almost 17 years after the incident, claiming: “I would like to clear up a few things, because the statute of limitations is over, and no one can be charged, and I’m just plain tired of listening to [Rosemond's] lies.”

The “lies” to which Isaac refers relate to a statement released by Rosemond in May – when Rosemond was due to turn himself in to authorities on federal cocaine distribution charges – naming Isaac as a government informant. “I would like to clear the record on that statement,” Isaac notes in his letter. “I have never been a rat for anybody and I do not have any deal nor was I made promises by any government agency for information on Mr. Rosemond.”

Isaac, a convicted murderer, also claims to be making these revelations in hopes of bringing closure to the families of both Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. “Now I’m not going to talk about my friend Biggie’s death or 2Pac’s death, but I would like to give their mothers some closure. I want to apologize to [Tupac's] family and for the mistake I did for that sucker [Rosemond]. I am trying to clean it up to give their mothers some closure. It’s about time that some one did, and I will do so at a different time.”

In his letter, Isaac also implicates hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in the shooting incident with the following vague statement: “Jimmy, you and Puffy like to come off all innocent-like, but as the saying goes: You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of them all of the time. Are you going to flip on Puffy when the feds get you?”

Tupac Skakur was murdered in a drive-by shooting less than 2 years after the New York incident at Quad Studio.

Lil Wayne – “Dear Anne [Stan Part 2]“
Lil Wayne records a sequel to Eminem’s stalker track “Stan” – only this time it is Wayne writing to his biggest fan, Anne. Swizz Beatz supplies trickling piano keys as Weezy attempts to re-imagine the most thoughtfully conceived song in hip-hop history. It’s a big ask and, in my opnion, Weezy falls way short with “Dear Anne” – which is perhaps why the song has been scrapped from his upcoming Tha Carter IV project.

Ludacris featuring Lil Wayne and Trey Songz – “Sex Faces”
Ludacris, Wayne and Trey Songz come together to remake the classic Scarface track “Sex Faces” [featuring Tela and Devin The Dude] for the Rap-A-Lot Records 25th Anniversary compilation album. Luda and Wayne rewrite Scarface and Tela’s verses while Trey gives Devin’s rustic hook the silky smooth treatment.

N.O.R.E. featuring Lil Wayne and Pharrell – “Finito”
It’s been 13 years since N.O.R.E. and The Neptunes first broke ground with “Superthug” in 1998 – and here they reunite [with the addition of Weezy] for “Finito” off N.O.R.E.’s upcoming solo album. “Seems like the cyber thieves struck again,” reads the message N.O.R.E.’s team sent through with the track. “Due to an unmastered unfinished version of this prematurely leaking, N.O.R.E. decided to let loose the mastered radio edit. This put a monkey wrench in our plan but S.U.P.E.R.T.H.U.G. is on its way!”

Wiz Khalifa comes of age on his third studio album, Rolling Papers, and unleashes his songwriting mastery with arguably the most consistent hip-hop album of 2011. Khalifa impresses with unexpected melodies that overflow hooks and leak through verses in a way that reminds of another wiry, ink-stained stoner who oozes personality through mellowed, melodic rhymes. That artist being Snoop Dogg. Both Wiz and Snoop wander freely between hip-hop and pop without compromise or censorship, and although they suffer from occasionally anaemic wordplay, both subsidise their lyrical deficiencies with an abundance of swagger. Rolling Papers is to Wiz Khalifa what Doggystyle was to Snoop Dogg – a career-defining album that deserves to be played from start-to-finish.

The Good: Melody is the star of Rolling Papers. Whether over the platinum pop productions of Stargate or the moody underground beats of E. Dan, the half-sung raps of Wiz Khalifa always take centerstage, stringing listeners on from one song to the next. The anthemic “Black & Yellow” and radio staple “Roll Up” are but the tip of the Rolling Papers iceberg. However, as a reference to Khalifa’s songwriting prowess, there is no going past the acoustic guitar-driven “Fly Solo” – where the 23 year-old croons the most infectious of hooks while celebrating his independence.

[Honourable Mentions: "Hopes & Dreams" / "The Race" / "No Sleep" / "Get Your Shit"].

The Bad: “They say all I rap about is bitches and champagne / You would too if every night you seen the same thing,” raps Khalifa on the album opener “When I’m Gone”. Bitches and champagne are recurring themes throughout Rolling Papers, although always visited in context, adding to his story as a young, famous and wealthy musician grappling with the excesses of his new found success. However, the real issue for Wiz is his wordplay. Where Jay-Z will layer lyrics with cryptic double or triple entendres, Wiz Khalifa is completely transparent in his rhymes – to the point of explaining slang to his listeners: “Don’t fuck up my paper, meaning my cheese / Or the ones I use to roll up my trees / Fuck it, you know what I mean” [The Race].

[Dishonourable Mention: "On My Level" feat. Too $hort].

Rolling Papers is in stores now.

The New Boyz made their mark as skinny-jeans-wearing ambassadors of the jerkin’ movement back in 2009 and spend their sophomore album, Too Cool To Care, proving themselves more than the fad they helped usher into mainstream consciousness. Too Cool To Care is the polished, no-expense-spared antithesis to 2009′s do-it-yourself Skinny Jeanz And A Mic. Where Skinny Jeanz was recorded in a bedroom studio on a zero-dollar budget, Too Cool has Legacy and Ben J working with platinum hit-makers like The Cataracs [Far East Movement] and Kane Beatz [Nicki Minaj]. The result is an easily digestible – albeit not so original – album of carefully groomed hip-pop tunes destined for radio.

The Good: Dr Dre’s right-hand-man DJ Khalil dishes out a monster beat on “Tough Kids” – the opening track from Too Cool To Care – with rock-inspired guitars and relentless drums. The vicious production is met by equally vicious verses from the New Boyz, insisting you leave any preconceptions about these teen sensations at the door. Meanwhile, a cracking hook from Britney Spears collaborator [and Dr. Luke signee] Sabi lends buckets of appeal to what is already a promising first impression. However, the pinnacle of Too Cool To Care comes courtesy of  “I Don’t Care”. This addictive cut samples the A-Track remix of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs hit “Heads Will Roll” and showcases a marked lyrical improvement from Legacy and Ben J as they hold their own alongside Kanye protege Big Sean.

[Honourable Mention: "Back Seat" feat. The Cataracs & Dev].

The Bad: The New Boyz manage to escape the jerkin’ pigeon hole on Too Cool To Care and display definite signs of growth, yet their music remains noticeably devoid of substance. Too Cool is plagued with shallow and juvenile rhetoric – no more conspicuous than on the Chris Brown-assisted “Better With The Lights Off” where the duo muse: “Every guy wanna know how it is to clap off the lights and turn Khloe to Kim.” On a separate note, Too Cool includes their 2009 breakout hit “You’re A Jerk” – along with the previously released “Tie Me Down” [featuring Ray-J] – as unwarranted footnotes to the Skinny Jeanz era the New Boyz are trying so hard to transcend. Weird.

[Dishonourable Mentions: "Meet My Mom" / "Porn Star"].

Too Cool To Care is in stores now.

]]> http://www.rhymeandreason.com.au/blog/2011/06/14/review-new-boyz-too-cool-to-care/feed/ 0 http://www.rhymeandreason.com.au/blog/2011/06/11/video-usher-pays-tribute-to-nba-benchwarmers/ http://www.rhymeandreason.com.au/blog/2011/06/11/video-usher-pays-tribute-to-nba-benchwarmers/#comments Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:43:38 +0000 admin http://www.rhymeandreason.com.au/?p=2231

Usher joined comedian Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night to perform a special song dedicated to the lesser-celebrated participants of the NBA Finals Series – the benchwarmers.

“All eyes have been on the big stars, the guys with the endorsement deals, the guys with the shoes with their names on them… But what about the players that don’t actually play? This is the sort of thing that keeps me awake at night,” joked Kimmel as he introduced the music video for their hilarious collaboration that is “Benchwarmers”.

“You never play a single minute / The game is on and you’re not in it / In high school you were the best / Now you sit down on the bench and rest,” sings Usher in the clip as a video montage of the NBA’s finest substitutes plays in the background. “To all of my benchwarmers out there, me and Jim thank you so much for your support. For all of the motivation you give to the real players, all of your unique handshakes and chest-bumps, we thank you.”

Watch Usher and Jimmy Kimmel in the music video for “Benchwarmers” after the jump:

Cee-Lo – “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care”
Cee-Lo continues to prove himself a portly package of surprises with this cover of the Buddy Holly tune “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care”. The track has been recorded for Rave On Buddy Holly – a compilation album due out later this month that pairs modern recording artists with classic Buddy Holly songs. Also contributing to the cover album are the likes of Paul McCartney, Fiona Apple and Florence + The Machine.

Drake – “Marvin’s Room”
Drizzy Drake has announced his sophomore album Take Care will hit stores on 24th October with its as-yet-untitled lead single dropping in July. To tide us over, the Canadian dishes out a freebie titled “Marvin’s Room” [produced by Noah '40' Shebib] that he refers to as “another piece of the story”.

J Star featuring JDiggz – “Good Morning”
The second Canadian to make today’s Music Dump is up-start rapper J Star with “Good Morning”. The track is taken from Star’s upcoming mixtape The Plane Is My Home: What Did You Expect? - hosted by DJ Whoo Kid and featuring production from Drake collaborator Boi-1da.

Flo Rida was arrested for driving-under-the-influence after police noticed his $1.7 million Bugatti swerving in its lane in the Miami Beach area at 3:30am this morning, according to TMZ. The 31 year-old rapper was pulled over by police and asked to do a walk-the-line test, to which Flo responded: “Officer I can’t do this. I don’t feel I can walk a straight line. I had a few drinks. Let’s try another test.”

A subsequent breath test indicated the rapper’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit [.185], while a police computer check revealed Flo had been driving with a suspended license. His license was suspended back in May due to an unpaid traffic fine.

“I can make it home,” the Miami native apparently told the police officers as a crowd began to gather. TMZ also reports bystanders were, “trying to get officers to let [Flo Rida] go. Some individuals were offering to drive [Flo] home.”

Flo Rida was taken to a nearby police station and officially booked for DUI before posting $2,000 bond.

Nike will be unveiling its Hyperfuse product line this July as part of their Fall 11 Nike Sportswear collection. Hyperfuse is a durable composite material composed of three layers; one for stability, one for breath-ability and the third for durability – all fused together using heat and pressure to create a level of precision unattainable via traditional cut-and-sew methods. At heart, the benefit of Hyperfuse is it allows for a more lightweight yet sturdier shoe – while it has also opened up new design prospects with regards to colours and finishes.

Hyperfuse was first used last year in the Nike Hyperfuse basketball shoe and has now been incorporated into their wider footwear range [Air Force One, Air Max One, Dunk Hi and Air Max 90] for the Fall 11 collection. Hyperfuse will also debut in apparel with a remix of the classic Windrunner jacket.

Check out some preview photos of the Nike Hyperfuse line after the jump. Product will begin arriving in stores locally from July:

You have to admire Lupe Fiasco’s sense of conviction. The Chicago emcee made an appearance on CBS News show What’s Trending this week and labelled U.S. President Barack Obama the “biggest terrorist”.

“In my fight against terrorism, to me, the biggest terrorist is Obama, in the United States of America,” said Fiasco when questioned about the political overtones in his latest single “Words I Never Said”. “For me, I’m trying to fight the terrorism that’s actually causing the other forms of terrorism. The root causes of the terrorism is the stuff that the U.S. government allows to happen and the foreign policies that we have in place in different countries that inspire people to become terrorists. And it’s easy for us because it’s really just some oil, which we can really get on our own.”

The 29 year-old rapper also took the opportunity to explain the reason he will not be voting in the 2012 U.S. presidential election: “First of all, I’m a real big believer that if I’m gonna vouch for someone, then I’m gonna stand behind everything that they do. If I’m going to say I stand behind this person, and write on a piece of paper that says, ‘Hey, I stand by this person,’ then I have to take responsibility for everything that he does. ‘Cause that’s just how I am as a human being. So politicians aren’t gonna do that because I don’t want you to bomb some village in the middle of nowhere.”

When presented with the hypothetical that every American chooses not to vote, Lupe responded: “Let’s try it out and see what happens.”

Watch the full interview with Lupe Fiasco on What’s Trending below:

Los Angeles art collective Syndrome bring the rhymes of Bad Meets Evil to life in the “Fast Lane” music video, animating the already graphic lyrics of Eminem and Royce Da 5’9.

It’s a dangerous concept, especially considering the shock-and-awe lines Eminem peppers throughout the song, like: “And I hope that I don’t sound too heinous when I say this / Nicki Minaj, but I wanna stick my penis in your anus.” And yet, somehow, Em, Royce and Syndrome manage to keep the clip relatively [PG].

Watch the “Fast Lane” music video – including a cameo from Royce’s Slaughter House comrades – after the jump:

Shady Records artist Yelawolf assumes the role of a “hillbilly in Beverly Hills” in the music video for his latest single “Daddy’s Lambo”. 

The Alabama rapper befriends a well-to-do girl from the Los Angeles Hills in the clip, trashing her mansion during a night of wild partying before jacking her dad’s lamborghini and taking it to a chop shop for some unauthorised modifications – where a slimmed-down Paul Wall makes a cameo as the chop shop owner.

Watch Yelawolf in the “Daddy’s Lambo” music video after the jump and check out our recent chat with him here:

“I knew from the moment he grabbed his guitar and sang that first note that with the proper nurturing, that kid had it,” says Pharrell Williams of his 17 year-old protege Cris Cab, before continuing, “He is merely warming up. This kid is just getting started.”. The Miami teen has piqued the interest of online music aficionados over the past few months with acoustic re-interpretations of chart hits including Wiz Khalifa’s “Black & Yellow” and Kanye West’s “All Of The Lights”.

Today, Cris Cab debuts his first official release, Foreword – an eight-track EP for free download. The guitar-strumming Cab melds Hip-Hop, Reggae and Classic Rock throughout the very mellow Foreword, sounding like a younger, hipper, more soulful version of Jack Johnson [sorry, Jack!].

Download Foreword and jump on the bandwagon now – or you’ll find yourself running behind it later.

Never has a Beyonce song been so anticipated by Hip-Hop heads. Not only does “Party” sample the seminal Slick Rick track “La Di Da Di”, but it also plays host to a guest verse from OutKast’s ever-elusive Andre 3000.

Producers Kanye West and Consequence channel the old school on “Party”, taking it back to nineteen-eighty-something with thick synths and shallow percussion, and just a touch of new school slang as West raps: “You a bad girl, your friends bad too / You got the swag sauce, you’re drippin’ swagu.”

Meanwhile, a frisky Beyonce escapes her inhibitions and “presents” herself on the chorus, singing in dense 80′s harmony: “So in love, I’ll give it all away / Just don’t tell nobody tomorrow / So tonight I’ll do it every way / Speakers knockin’ til the morning light / ‘Cause we like to party.”

But it’s Andre 3000 we came to hear on “Party”. As the only guest feature on Beyonce’s album, Three Stacks does not disappoint, delivering his trademark simpatico flow and pondering his own career over an all-too-brief sixteen bars: “Kiddo say he looks up to me, this just makes me feel old / Never thought that we could become someone else’s hero / Man, we were just in the food court eating our gyro.”

Skylar Grey has written some of the biggest hits of the past year – from Eminem & Rihanna’s “Love The Way You Lie” to Diddy-Dirty Money’s “Coming Home”, Dr. Dre’s “I Need A Doctor”, Lupe Fiasco’s “Words I Never Said” and T.I. & Christina Aguilera’s “Castle Walls”.

Now the 25 year-old singer/songwriter is preparing for the release of her own album, Invinsible, via Interscope Records later this year – and the Alex Da Kid produced “Dance Without You” is our first taste of Skylar Grey as a solo artist [although the Wisconsin native released an album under the name Holly Brook via Linkin Park's Machine Shop imprint in 2006].

“Dance Without You” is intended as a teaser to Grey’s first official single which is due out later this month.

Who would have picked Drake and Lil Wayne as FIFA fanatics? Well, the Young Money cohorts made an appearance in the FIFA 12 teaser video debuted by EA Sports at the Electronic Entertainment Expo [E3] in Los Angeles yesterday.

“I truly love the game of soccer and I live my passion for it through FIFA. I often play a game before I go to the studio, just to stimulate the mind,” reveals Drake in the promotional video. “This game, it actually takes skill and technique,” adds Wayne.

Drake and Weezy appear alongside professional footballers including Wayne Rooney [Manchester United] and Kaka [Real Madrid] in the FIFA 12 teaser video. Watch the clip after the jump:

Aussie artist Damien Fernandez – who recently inked a deal with Hed Kandi and Ministry of Sound UK for the worldwide release of “Dying” – returns with a fresh new track titled “Somebody Like You” from his upcoming Dirty Sex and Misery mixtape.

The Adelaide based musician/songwriter/producer/singer croons about his relationship woes over a driving house beat and bouncy piano chords on “Somebody Like You”, although he evokes little sympathy with lines like: “That’s when she call me in the night and say she lonely / I know better, she only call me when she horny.”

Fernandez has indicated his Dirty Sex and Money mixtape will be made available as a free download – featuring remixes, original music and snippets from his debut album – although an official release date is yet to be confirmed.

Following his successful directorial debut with “Yonkers”, Tyler returns to the director’s chair for the second music video from his recently released Goblin album.

“She” features Tyler and his Odd Future brethren Frank Ocean in a twisted tale where Tyler – an ominous stalker type – is infatuated with Ocean’s girlfriend and breaks into her bedroom as she sleeps, sniffing her panties and scrawling a luring message on her mirror.

Frank Ocean also pulls double-duty in the clip, donning a ridiculous wig and moustache to play the father of his love interest. Twisted.

Watch the creepy music video for “She” after the jump:

Eminem is up to his old tricks again. Just as he did with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in the noughties, Slim Shady takes aim at Pop’s reigning princess Lady GaGa on “A Kiss” – the latest song to leak from the upcoming Bad Meets Evil EP.

“Tell Lady Gaga she can quit her job at the post office / She’s still a male lady,” raps Eminem on the Bangladesh-produced “A Kiss”, renewing transgender rumours that plagued GaGa earlier in her career. Katy Perry also rates a [considerably more favourable] mention in the song as Em fawns over the recently married singer, asking listeners to inform Perry that he is now dating.

Eminem and Royce Da 5’9′s collaborative Bad Meets Evil EP, Hell: The Sequel, is scheduled for release on June 17th.

Months after an unfinished version of his ghoulish “Monster” music video first hit the internet, Kanye West finally debuts the clip in all its intended morbidness.

Not for the feint-hearted, “Monster” plays like a Dolce & Gabbana commercial cast with model zombies and decapitated corpses – equal parts stylish and shocking. From West laying in bed with two expired females to a schizophrenic Nicki Minaj torturing her own alter-ego, the “Monster” music video is difficult viewing, although very well executed [no pun intended].

Watch Kanye West, Rick Ross, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj get gory in the horror-chic “Monster” video after the jump:

Bryan ‘Birdman’ Williams is wagering $2 million on the Miami Heat trumping the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals Series. As co-founder of Cash Money Records – home to Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj – Birdman has an estimated net worth of $100 million. The Heat and Mavericks are currently tied at one-game-a-piece in the best-of-seven series.

This is not the first time Birdman has bet seven-figures on a sporting contest. In February, the rapper backed the Green Bay Packers over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Superbowl XLV to the tune of $1 million. The Packers were victorious and Birdman used his winnings to purchase a 2011 Maybach 62S Drop-Top Landaulet. Watch video of Birdman taking delivery of the luxury vehicle after the jump.

And back in May 2010, the entrepreneur bet a whopping $4 million on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his bout against Sugar Shane Mosley. Both Mayweather and Birdman walked away winners on the night. Stunt!

Chris Rock stole the show and coined a catchphrase with his appearance on the song “Blame Game” off Kanye West’s critically acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album. His raunchy comedic rant toward the end of the track gave birth to the phrase “Yeezy Taught You Well” – which has now been immortalised on t-shirts by Los Angeles design team The Cooler Collective.

Jay-Z was spotted sporting the tee during a recent outing in Paris with wife Beyonce, no doubt cementing Rock’s prose as a pop culture reference for years to come.

The Yeezy Taught You Well tee is available from The Cooler for $USD21 in black/white or red/yellow.

Bad Meets Evil featuring Bruno Mars – “Lighters”
Eminem and Royce Da 5’9 tap Bruno Mars for what is a surprisingly fluffy offering from their Hell: The Sequel EP. The Detroit duo get reflective and slightly sentimental on “Lighters” as they remind us of how far they have come – with Royce even managing to take a swipe at T-Pain: “I remember when T-Pain ain’t wanna work with me / [Now] my car starts itself, parks itself and auto-tunes.”

Tech N9ne featuring Lil Wayne & T-Pain – “Fuck Food”
The much talked-about collaboration between Tech N9ne and Lil Wayne finally surfaces as Tech’s All 6′s & 7′s album springs a leak. T-Pain makes it a menage trois [pause], commanding the chorus while Tech and Wayne trade sex stories over choir strains and frenetic percussion.

Asher Roth featuring Akon – “Last Man Standing”
Asher Roth is joined by label mate Akon on the rousing “Last Man Standing” as fuzzy guitars, tumbling drums and bouncing piano chords provide a fitting soundbed for Roth’s impressive wordplay. Although unconfirmed, “Last Man Standing” is most likely taken from the Pennsylvania native’s forthcoming sophomore album.

It is the largest urban clubbing brand in the southern hemisphere, playing host to tens-of-thousands of party-goers in over 20 venues across the country and spawning a music compilation series accounting for almost 500,000 in CD sales.

RNB Superclub is arguably the greatest commercial exploitation – and we use that term with affection – of R&B Australia has ever witnessed.

In anticipation of Superclub’s 10th anniversary and the recent release of its RNB Superclub Volume 11 album, Rhyme & Reason speaks with brand manager John Senakis about the inception, challenges and processes behind operating Australia’s premium urban clubbing brand.

Tell us about the origins of RNB Superclub…
It started off in 2001. It was probably the year that a lot of R&B artists started breaking into mainstream music in Australia. R&B music itself started moving [beyond] the realms of backstreet bars, backstreet lanes and that sort of things. An event was opened at Fox Studios Sydney called RNB Superclub in November of 2001 and, at that time, I think that was the first domain created for a commercial R&B following rather than hardcore Hip-Hop or underground R&B. Through its success it started to spread to other locations like Crown Casino in Melbourne, then to the Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide and it sort of became this virus known as RNB Superclub. I think at the time we ended up being through about 15 venues or so – and also spread over to New Zealand, which was terrific. Up until today, it just continues to be as strong as it ever was. It has a database of about 50,000 [patrons] nationally and is delivering the highest standard in commercial DJs and artists throughout all the clubs. And the clubs became a forum for a lot of other opportunities, like the CD series, which I believe started in 2002 and was basically like bringing the club home.

The club promotions field is very competitive. How do you get along with the other urban promoters?
To be honest, we don’t. Well, it’s not that we don’t get on with them, I suppose we’re just fortunate because we’re a world unto ourselves. They run other events, they do what they want – which is all good for us – but we sort of lead our own race and we’re not too concerned about what really goes on out there. Our following is very strong and the clubs are pretty much packed every week. CD sales are going through the roof with each release, so… We know of a lot of promoters and there’s been opportunity to work with other people in the past, which we’ve done, but generally Superclub itself is strong enough to stand-up without too much other involvement.

Are you looking to move beyond club events into obvious ancillary ventures like tour promotions?
We’ve already been involved with a few tour promotions. We’ve got a really good relationship with most of the big promoters, so when a lot of events are touring we’ve got first offer of possible sideshows or after parties. We’re just looking at a couple of pretty major tours at the moment. It’s all about bringing our model of success together and having different products we can offer to the same target market – whether it be through club nights, CDs, tours – we’re also launching merchandise very soon.

Over the past decade you’ve witnessed the emergence of online social media and the dissipation of street print media. How has that affected your approach to marketing events?
It hasn’t really made much of an impact for us because we’ve sort of been right onto that from day one. Not only that, but with our database we have full details of all our members, so it’s pretty easy to follow them through whichever medium they choose to be contacted on. Our Facebook pages are pretty strong. Furthermore, with the release of CDs like Volume 11, the patrons are also being targeted via TV which is terrific because that’s something that a lot of other club promoters really can’t do – it’s another avenue that is just too expensive to try and reach.

What is the most challenging part of managing the RNB Superclub brand?
Just keeping it alive, keeping it fresh, keeping it moving, keeping it ahead of what’s going on out there and always having something new.

Take me through the process of putting together the Superclub compilation albums…
First of all, we decide who the mixers are for the CD. Once that’s done, it’s handed over to the [DJs] to start supplying track listings – then there’s the process of going backwards and forwards with the label, Sony Music, who we’ve been very fortunate to have a very good relationship with. [Sony] then goes and sources all the track clearances for what the guys have recommended. That’s a bit of a process, going back-and-forth over time until the right tracks have been put together. Once that’s done, the guys are in the studio mixing. From there it gets divided up into different aspects through Sony, where it goes out to printing, publicity gets set-up, etc. On our end, that’s where CD tours start to get initiated throughout the country. We’ve got the team in here that then begins to set that up nationally. At the moment, I believe we’re touring the product through about 20 venues. And that’s generally it.

As mentioned, Volume 11 has been released via Sony Music. However, earlier editions in the RNB Superclub series were released through Warner Music. What prompted the label switch?
Warner, in the day, were great and we’re very thankful to them. Warner were instrumental right at the start, supporting the product, believing our business model moving forward was positive and actually wanting to be a part of that. The joint venture we had up until 2009 was fantastic. They were the ones who shared the vision we had in the product and believed there was a gap in the market. At that point in time, while there were other R&B compilations, there weren’t really any compilations that were themed around club nights. They shared that vision with us and we delivered about thirteen CDs through them – which was terrific. Our latest launch is our sixteenth CD.

From your perspective, how different is the urban scene today from when RNB Superclub launched a decade ago?
Look, it’s very different now. But from day one we’ve taken a different direction and this has been the key to success for Superclub – delivering very commercial R&B and not trying to get typecast into specific [sub]genres. We’ve always gone down that track and it’s been very easy for us. I suppose the success also continues right now because, as you know, a lot of R&B is now being mixed by leading House producers and alike. The boundaries have sort of gotten a bit washed of late, but that’s worked very well for us because we’ve always been very commercial with what we’ve done – the target market has always been a very commercial, clean, young target market. So the trend of artists blending R&B and House, that has worked perfectly for us. Our target market has already been there and, if anything, a lot of them have already crossed over.

RNB Superclub Volume 11 is out now through Sony Music – featuring new music from Usher, Pitbull, Chris Brown, T-Pain, Nicki Minaj, Taio Cruz, B.o.B, Swedish House Mafia + more…

Sean Kingston is expected to fully recover following a jet ski accident on Sunday in which the 21 year-old suffered a fractured wrist, broken jaw and water in his lungs. Insiders say the singer should be healed within six weeks.

One of his rescuers, Carmen Rivera, told WSVN-TV that an unconscious Kingston was in danger of drowning immediately after the crash. “They were calling us over, telling us, ‘He’s drowning, he’s drowning’. We jumped in the water to help him keep his head above water.” Rivera’s husband Jonathan added; “I pushed him up, and he was vomiting what seemed like water, and then there was some blood coming out.”

It is reported that Kingston bought the Sea Doo jet ski only days prior to the accident. A report released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission indicates alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Eminem and Royce Da 5’9 have liberated snippets of every track from their forthcoming Bad Meets Evil EP, Hell: The Sequel, due in stores June 17th.

The EP is driven largely by the hard, menacing sounds expected from the Detroit duo, although these short previews also reveal a possible radio smash in the form of their piano-laced Bruno Mars collaboration “Lighters”.

Meanwhile, Eminem has praised hip-hop upstarts Odd Future in an interview with MTV, likening the collective’s shock-and-awe lyrics to his own early catalogue: “I think that from the stuff that I’ve heard — I haven’t heard a lot from them, I still have to go check out everything that they’re doing — but I’ve heard enough to know that it feels like they’re pushing boundaries and buttons, and that’s definitely one of the things that I’m familiar with, especially when I first came out. I love it. I love the fact that they’re doing that. And the dudes can rhyme.”

The entire Wu-Tang Clan, with the exception of RZA [admittedly, a rather critical exception], are confirmed to be touring Australia in August 2011.

Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, GZA, U-God, Masta Killa, DJ Allah Mathematics, DJ Street Life and the son of the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Young Dirty, will all make the trip Down Under for shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

The Wu-Tang Clan will be supported by Phaze One [M-Phazes & Emilio Rojas] in Sydney and Melbourne, while Vents will open [no pun intended] their Perth show. Tour dates are as follows:

Fri 5 Aug | Sydney, Enmore Theatre, NSW
Sat 6 Aug | Melbourne, Festival Hall, VIC
Sun 7 Aug | Perth, Metro City, WA

Beyonce once again kicks her man to the curb on “Best Thing I Never Had”, the latest single from her fourth solo album 4.

Mrs. Carter calls on the most prolific songwriter of the ’90s – Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds - to pen her latest and greatest shot at a chart-topper following lukewarm receptions to both “Who Run The World (Girls)” and “1+1″.

Produced by Symbolyc One, who also crafted “Power” for Kanye West, “Best Thing I Never Had” has Beyonce belting out [not-so-eloquent] lyrics of female empowerment as only she can do: “When I think of the time that I almost loved you / You showed your ass and I saw the real you / Thank God you blew it / I thank God I dodged a bullet.”

You might have one here, Bey.

On a bit of a tangent; did you know there is a stretch of highway running through Indianapolis named The Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds Highway? Boss!

Jay-Z has penned an essay for Rolling Stone to celebrate the announcement of the magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. The 41 year-old rapper offers his perspective on what makes a song ‘classic’ and explains the feeling of striking sonic gold in the recording studio.

“When I’m writing a song that I know is going to work, it’s a feeling of euphoria. It’s how a basketball player must feel when he starts hitting every shot, when you’re in that zone,” discloses the Brooklyn-born artist. “As soon as you start, you get that magic feeling, an extra feeling. Songs like that come out in five minutes; if I work on them more than, say, 20 minutes, they’re probably not going to work.”

Jigga himself scores four mentions on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, including his Beyonce collaboration “Crazy In Love” [#118], “99 Problems” [#172], ”Umbrella” with Rihanna [#412]  and “Big Pimpin” [#467].

“When a phrase gets stuck in your head like a great melody and becomes part of everyday culture, that’s when it can become something great,” explains the rapper. “When your music signifies a time in the culture or continues on in everyday life, like “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud” or “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Or when something like “Bling Bling” even makes it into the dictionary. Then you know you’ve done your job.“

Read Jay-Z’s essay in full and browse the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list here.

Jonas Gregory Bevacqua, co-founder of streetwear label LRG [Lifted Research Group], was found dead in Los Angeles yesterday. Bevacqua was just 33 years-old.

The cause of death is yet to be confirmed, although insiders suggest the entrepreneur passed away in his sleep. Bevacqua is survived by his fiance, son, seven siblings and parents.

Bevacqua founded LRG with business partner Robert Wright in 1999 and cultivated the streetwear label into a multi-million dollar lifestyle brand – with 2006 sales reported at $150 million.

LRG have just released the following statement addressing the tragic news:

To our extended LRG family,

Yesterday, we lost an icon. Jonas Bevacqua was a true pioneer in the fashion industry. As co-founder of LRG, Jonas was a creative visionary, loved by those around him. Jonas was a friend, partner, father, mentor and a very caring person who inspired so many of us who were fortunate enough to be around him.

Jonas is survived by his dedicated family, including his fiancé, son, seven siblings and his mother and father, whom he loved and respected above all. We ask that everyone keep his family in their hearts and prayers and respect their privacy in this time of incredible grief.

Jonas lives on in every member of his LRG Family. Jonas’ amazing love for the brotherhood of the LRG Family is shared by all. Through our love and respect for Jonas and each other, we will become closer, stronger, and we will persevere in his honor. Jonas was a mentor to an astonishing group of creative individuals at LRG who will carry his vision for many years to come.

Jonas was a star who burned brightly in the sky and who is gone far too soon. There is a hole in our hearts that will never be filled. He will always be loved and missed by his friends, family, and all those he inspired. He is in a better place and will be watching over us always.

Rest In Peace Brother – you will be missed greatly, but never forgotten.

With love and respect,

The Entire LRG Family

Robert Wright Charlie Moothart

Co-Founder, CEO Co-Founder, CFO

Rihanna takes us all the way to Jamaica in her “Man Down” music video, where she shoots a guy who physically abuses her after denying his advances in a gritty nightclub.

“I’ve always wanted to do a video [in Jamaica],” said the pop princess while strutting the streets of rural beach town Portland. “‘Man Down’ is just a song we can’t do anywhere else. It needs to be authentic. You can’t get any realer than Jamaica.”

The 23 year-old Bajan beauty rafts across a pristine river, tours the town on bicycle and hits the club in a flashback to events leading-up to the moment she pulls the trigger. “It was amazing. It was intense. But we did it,” said Rihanna of the gruelling 24-hour video shoot.

Watch Rihanna in the “Man Down” music video after the jump:

Lil Wayne swaps the raunchy innuendo of “Lollipop” for heartfelt sentiment on the latest single from his forthcoming Tha Carter IV album. The croaky-voiced emcee serenades his girl over acoustic guitar strums on “How To Love”, giving listeners a peek at the softer side of an artist who once rapped: “If she don’t give head, she’s a nimrod.”

“When I listen to it I get goose bumps,” Wayne gloated of the song in a recent interview with MTV. “And I feel like the song is gonna take me somewhere that I’ve never been musically.”

Wayne also revealed that his experimentation with melody and emotion on “How To Love” is a bid to establish himself as more than just a rapper: “I am a musician, and a few years back, I noticed that I wasn’t just a rapper. And I noticed that I didn’t want to do this just to rap. I do want to go down as one of the greatest rappers of all time, but I also want to go down as one of the greatest musicians of all time,” aspires the 28 year-old.

“When you think about it, Tupac is just known as a great rapper; Biggie is just known as a great rapper, Jay-Z — just known as a great rapper. I want to be known as that rapper that turned it all the way up and became the face of the music.”

The prolific rapper sees “How To Love” as his first step towards achieving that lofty goal. “You know that if you come to a Lil Wayne show two years from now, you already know that ‘I’m gonna get rap — some of the best rap — I’m gonna get some guitar, I’m gonna get some singin’, I’m gonna get some dancin’, I’m gonna get some old-school music, and I’m goin’ to a show tonight.’ And I think that’s where this song is directing me to.”

Sean Kingston was critically injured on Sunday evening when the jet ski he was riding crashed into a bridge near Miami’s exclusive Palm Island. Kingston and an unidentified female passenger were rescued from the water and rushed to nearby Jackson Memorial Hospital.

According to TMZ, “Kingston’s injuries are so severe, he is being treated in the trauma ward.” A representative of Kingston confirmed the news, stating: “Sean Kingston was in an accident today. No further details are available at the moment. He and his family thank everyone for the well-wishes.”

The cause of the accident is yet to be determined.

Partners-in-rhyme Eminem & Royce Da 5’9 take one step closer to the June 17th release of their Bad Meets Evil EP - Hell: The Sequel – with a preview of the music video for its lead single “Fast Lane”.

The clip is directed by Los Angeles art collective Syndrome, who have previously helmed videos for Aussie Kaz James as well as Lupe Fiasco, T-Pain and Alicia Keys. The innovative visuals interweave film and animation which, at one point, has Em and Royce travelling down the “Fast Lane” in a cartoon automobile.

The 9-track Hell: The Sequel EP will see Eminem and fellow Detroit native Royce joined by guests Bruno Mars, Slaughterhouse and comedian Mike Epps, while production is handled by Eminem, Havoc, Bangladesh, Mr. Porter and others.

Watch the preview of the  ”Fast Lane” music video after the jump:

The long-delayed release of Dr Dre’s elusive Detox album has even those close to the super-producer speculating reasons for his procrastination. Snoop Dogg came out this week and suggested his one-time mentor may be in a creative slump due to the company he keeps in the recording studio. “I’mma say this and I don’t know if it’s gonna ruffle any feathers. I just think the wrong people is in the environment,” Snoop told UK radio personality Tim Westwood.

During the interview, the Doggfather goes on to suggest Dre should recruit his services to “mastermind” the album project. “When he made records that were hit records in the past: D.O.C., Snoop Dogg, RBX, Kurupt… it’s like it’s pieces that’s not there that need to be there. And I’ll say D.O.C. and Snoop Dogg is the backbone. When you take those two out of the equation it’s not gonna work. You need to put them two back into the situation and let us mastermind and head the project like we did ‘Chronic’ and ’2001′. That’s what’s missing.”

“It’s a formula,” continued Snoop. “When we made records in the past it was an environment, an atmosphere. It was always girls. It was always parties. It was always the right atmosphere to create that kind of album that sounds like the albums that you’ve heard in the past. If there’s not that atmosphere you can’t create that kind of album. So that’s what’s happening right now. The songs don’t match the atmosphere and the atmosphere don’t match the songs.”

More than a lack of atmosphere, Snoop also identified the immense pressure of expectation surrounding Detox as a key factor in Dre’s hesitancy to finalise the album. “What we’re accustomed to hearing from Dr. Dre is the brand new, next best everything and from right now people not getting that. He knows that. So he’s a perfectionist and until he gets that he’s not gonna release it cause he doesn’t want the scrutiny of people saying ‘I waited this long for that?’ It’s like, when I wait this long I better get that and that.”

Lady GaGa has revealed that her lavish 2009 The Monster Ball tour rendered her bankrupt to the tune of $3 million.

“I put everything in the show, and I actually went bankrupt after the first extension of The Monster Ball,” the pop star told the Financial Times of her elaborate stage production. “And it was funny because I didn’t know! And I remember I called everybody and said, ‘Why is everyone saying I have no money? This is ridiculous, I have five number one singles’ – and they said, ‘Well, you’re $3 million in debt’.”

It turns out her Monster Ball tour mate Kid Cudi was far from exaggerating when he remarked to Complex Magazine last year: “She spent all her money on her shows, so I probably made more off her tour than she did.”

However, after shifting +1 million copies of Born This Way last week and securing a Google Chrome endorsement deal, there is little doubt Lady GaGa is well and truly back in the black.

David Dalls will be in Australia next month to celebrate the recent release of his free album - The Rose Tint - with parties in Sydney [17th June] & Melbourne [23rd June]! Full event details + flyer after the jump:

Kiwi Hip Hop artist David Dallas has released his new album “The Rose Tint” for free download. The album features the singles “Til Tomorrow”, “Sideline” featuring Che Fu and the current single “Caught In A Daze” featuring American MC Freddie Gibbs.

David, now based in New York, recently inked a deal with U.S Hip Hop tastemaker label Duck Down Music. Since relocating to the U.S last year he has been impressing stateside audiences and industry folk alike. He recently won an MTV U.S online poll, with American audiences crowning him their MTV Iggy Artist Of The Week. His music video for the song “Big Time” has been added to MTV across the U.S – a huge break for any new artist.

His talent has also been recognized on some of the worlds most influential Hip Hop sites including Nah Right, 2dopeboyz, XXL, The Source and 50 Cent’s own This Is 50 amongst others. His video for “Big Time” got a shout out from Kanye West on his personal blog. With a simultaneous release date across the globe for “The Rose Tint” David Dallas is set to fly the New Zealand flag high as he continues to collaborate and compete with some of the biggest names in American hip-hop.

“The Rose Tint” is the follow-up to David Dallas’ 2010 Tui award-winning debut album Something Awesome and features production from Fire & Ice, Dan “Exile” Mawby, Nick “41” Maclaren and P Money.

Check out these exclusive album release parties featuring special guests…

Black Eyed Peas front-man will.i.am is working on the follow-up to his underwhelming 2007 solo album Songs About Girls, according to fellow BEP band mate Fergie.

“I believe Will is coming out with a solo album,” the songstress told Hollyscoop. “I’ve heard it. It’s called ’Black Einstein’ and it’s amazing. I’ve been waiting for him to come out with this for so long because I want it. He won’t give it to me. I want it for the gym. He’s so amazing – just such a genius lyricist and I’m really excited for his project.”

Fans must wait for the Peas to complete their world tour - kicking off in June - before will.i.am unleashes his musical genius on Black Einstein.

Meanwhile, Fergie suggests no one holds their breath in anticipation of the follow-up to her multi-platinum The Dutchess album. The 36 year-old is planning a hiatus from music when the Black Eyed Peas complete their tour commitments. “I am so excited to take a break. The guys know that I’ve been waiting and it’s time.”

Havana Brown chats with Rhyme & Reason Magazine about her Gold certified single “We Run The Night”, meeting legendary Hip-Hop producer Dr. Dre, her stint as a teen actor on Neighbours, girls flashing their boobies during her DJ sets + much more…

Watch the Havana Brown x Rhyme & Reason Magazine interview below:

T-Pain unleashed the music video for “Best Love Song” earlier today, pitting himself against Chris Brown in a ’battle of the bands’ as the two superstars compete for the affections of one girl.

Pain and Brown take to the stage with a band of their very own clones, who rock-out on guitars and drums, before the battle escalates to a one-on-one guitar showdown between the two R&B singers – only to have their love interest leave with another dude. A dude with a mullet, nonetheless. Ouch.

Watch T-Pain and Chris Brown in “Best Love Song” after the jump:

Odd Future really are breaking all the rules. While some savvy recording artists have begun filming music videos for album cuts, Frank Ocean has just dropped a music video for an album off-cut.

The minimalist, piano-driven “Acura Integurl” – which was culled from Ocean’s Nostalgia, Ultra album – has now been given the video treatment. On his blog, Ocean refers to the Dave Wilson-directed clip as a “decent excuse to drive a nsx through mountains,” while the song itself has Frank trying to convince his girlfriend that he’s “not just in it for the ride.”

Perhaps ”Acura Integurl” is destined for inclusion on the commercial release of Nostalgia, Ultra.

Watch the “Acura Integurl” music video after the jump:

Sean Combs is up to his old tricks again. Following a week spent on bed rest “almost dying underneath the covers with a fever”, the hip-hop mogul is celebrating his return to health with a temporary name change: “I’m not dead, I’m alive! So I decided that I’m gonna change my name for a week, in honor of my comeback.

“I’ve gone as Puff, Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy, King Combs and for a week - this week only - you can call me by my new name: Swag,” announced Combs via YouTube earlier this week. The 41 year-old even launched a Twitter account for the alter-ego @iamswag that has already accumulated over 15,000 followers.

Lil B - the rapper responsible for popularising the term “swag” - has voiced his approval of the name change, telling XXL Magazine: “Diddy is my family and we finna get in the studio! I’mma have the first feature from Swag.”

Watch Diddy announce the birth of his Swag moniker after the jump:

Musiq Soulchild releases his sixth studio album MusiqInTheMagiq later this week [Friday 27th May] and R&R is celebrating as we always do… with a bundle of giveaways! 

For your chance to win a copy of the very smooth MusiqInTheMagiq album, simply email comps@rhymeandreason.com.au and let us know the word missing from the song lyrics below – as taken from Musiq’s lead single “Anything” [feat. Swizz Beatz]: 

“Music please / Let me clear my throat / Slippers and a _____ while we on that boat”.

Entries close at 11:59PM Friday 27th May.

Musiq Soulchid ‘MusiqInTheMagiq’ - in stores Friday 27th May.

Frustrated with sitting idle on Def Jam’s roster, Frank Ocean took matters into his own hands with the free online release of his Nostalgia, Ultra album earlier this year. The project earned the 23 year-old singer/songwriter widespread critical acclaim and has seemingly forced his record label into action.

According to Rap-Up,  Def Jam have now scheduled Nostalgia, Ultra for a commercial release this July – which will be preceded by the digital release of “Novacane” to iTunes later this month. An official track list for the commercial release is yet to be confirmed.

Beyond Nostalgia, Ultra, the Odd Future singer has hit the studio hard in 2011, penning melodies for the likes of Beyonce, Swizz Beatz and Nas, who told MTV: “[Frank Ocean's] new, he’s fresh. He doesn’t sound fly-by-night. The moment you hear it — I hear what he’s sayin’, and I relate. He got me as soon as I heard it.”

Download Frank Ocean’s Nostalgia, Ultra album here.

Beyonce vogues in a daring outfit on the cover of her upcoming album 4, wearing little more than a fur scarf to cover her topless torso. The album art signals an edgier direction for the 29 year-old since parting ways with her father’s management firm and assuming full control over her career.

“We all have special numbers in our lives, and 4 is that for me,” the singer explains of the significance behind the album title. “It’s the day I was born. My mother’s birthday, and a lot of my friends’ birthdays, are on the fourth; April 4 is my wedding date.”

The R&B superstar premiered the music video for “Run The World (Girls)” – the lead single from 4 - earlier today. The epic visual sees Beyonce domesticate lions and hyenas whilst leading an army of females across the Mojave Desert in an intricately choreographed rebellion.

Watch the “Run The World (Girls)” music video after the jump:

Alicia Keys will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of her landmark debut album, Songs In A Minor, this June by dropping Deluxe and Collector’s Editions of the album that include A Minor era bonus tracks, demos, live performances and more.

Originally released in June 2001, Songs In A Minor sold more than 11 million albums worldwide and earned Keys her first five Grammy Awards including Best New Artist, Song of the Year for “Fallin,” and Best R&B Album.

The two disc Deluxe Edition will include the original Songs In A Minor in its entirety in addition to a second disc featuring two previously unreleased recordings: the original funky blues demo for “If I Was Your Woman” and an early version of “Typewriter,” recorded in Alicia’s Harlem apartment in 1997. The second disc also features hard-to-find rarities from the era including “A Woman’s Worth” (Remix) featuring Nas, “Juiciest” (Mixtape version), “Fallin’” (“Ali” Soundtrack Version) and “Butterflyz” (The Drumline Mix).

The Collector’s Edition of Songs In A Minor includes an exclusive bonus DVD premiering a revelatory Songs In A Minor documentary offering an up-close account behind the making of the album. Family, friends and close collaborators share their perspectives on the struggles and triumphs encountered in the making of Alicia’s first record.

Also included in the Collector’s Edition of Songs In A Minor are a track-by-track commentary by Alicia Keys, an essay by Quincy Jones, rare period photos and more. A limited run 10th Anniversary 2-disc 180g Vinyl Edition of Songs In A Minor, with original cover art, will also be available, making the first time the album has ever been struck in vinyl.

Watch the Songs In A Minor 10th Anniversary promotional video below:

Yesterday, Foot Locker launched its Wikipedia-styled website Sneakerpedia, described as “the greatest sneaker archiving project”.

The site invites users to add fundamental details [brand/colour/colourway/year/type/materials] to sneaker profiles, along with photos, history and personal ‘sneaker stories’, in cultivating the most definitive kicks archive on the Internet. Sneakerpedia also allows users to identify themselves with a sneaker through ‘Own It’ and ‘Love It’ buttons.

“You, as the user, will be responsible for the community globally. It’s for us, by us,” explains New York media personality and sneaker-fiend Bobbito Garcia.

Watch the Sneakerpedia promotional video after the jump: