Alessia Cara’s catchy record ‘Here’ is not only the Canadian singer’s smash #1 single, but it is also one of the best records released last year, a song that speaks to a different crowd than most Top 40 hits, but yet is surprisingly relatable to many. One person that can relate to ‘Here’ is Logic, Cara’s Def Jam labelmate and a rapper who hasn’t been afraid to admit that he likes to stay home and kick it instead of poppin’ bottles in the club. So it’s only right that Logic hopped on ‘Here’ for an awesome Def Jam remix of the hit record, and it totally works!
Listen to Alessia Cara and Logic’s ‘Here’ remix below and check out our photos of Alessia’s recent Chicago performance here (no pun intended).
Yesterday rapper Daye Jack celebrated Black History Month with the release of his music video, for his powerful Black Lives Matter inspired record, ‘Hands Up’. Joined by Run The Jewel’s Killer Mike, the visuals for Jack’s record (which was originally released months ago) are as powerful and moving as the track itself. The music video is directed by David Gallardo and incorporates real footage and images from the new era of the civil rights movement in America. Already this is an early pick for one of our favorite videos of the new year.
Watch Daye Jack’s video for ‘Hands Up’ below and download the record now on iTunes.
It’s about time that Republican politicians and candidates stick to a select (almost non-existent) number of conservative musicians when making selections for their rally music. Whether it’s Bruce Springsteen shutting down republications for playing his patriot hits, or whether it’s the Dropkick Murphys telling Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker “we literally hate you”, time and time again Republicans look silly for using music from (often liberal) big name musicians without their permission. This time it is Donald Trump under fire, as the Republican candidate for President used a couple of Adele records (‘Rolling in the Deep’ and ‘Skyfall’), and now Adele is speaking out.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, a spokesperson for the ‘Here’ single released an official statement noting “Adele has not given permission for her music to be used” by Trump, or for any political campaign. So while Adele isn’t going to be joining the stage with Vampire Weekend and Bernie Sanders any time soon, she definitely hasn’t endorsed Donald Trump. And trust us, she definitely doesn’t need his free publicity either.
It hasn’t been long since Canadian rapper Jazz Cartier blessed fans with his acclaimed 2014 project, Marauding In Paradise. Lucky for those same fans though, the rapper’s forthcoming album isn’t long away, as Cartier shared the tracklist for his next LP today. Produced entirely by Lantz, and with an expected release in February, Cartier’s next project will feature his previously released tracks ‘Opera’, ‘Tales’ and ‘Stick & Move’, as well 13 additional records. If his new tracks and last project are a good indication of what to expect from this album, this certainly won’t be an album to sleep on, and it just may be one of the better projects of the year.
Last night singer Alessia Cara performed for a sold-out crowd at The Metro in Chicago. Despite canceling her tour performance the night below, as well as a couple radio appearances earlier in the day, Alessia fought off the loss of her voice and was able to still give a memorable performance. Still hitting all the notes that the ‘Here’ singer hits throughout her recordings, you could hardly tell that Cara lost her voice less than 24-hours before.
Opening the night for the Windy City crowd was rapper Leaf. One of the most entertaining female rapper/singers out there, Leaf kept the crowd entertained and definitely set the mood for the rest of the night. The new emerging queen of New York, Leaf is certainly an artist to watch in 2016.
Next up was singer Craig Stickland, a member of Alessia’s band but a man with a sound of his own. With his guitar in hand, and the screams of the crowd guiding him on, the highlight of Stickland’s set came when the sold-out crowdspontaneously brought out their cell phone lights to set the mood for one of Stickland’s slower records, a first on this tour Stickland told the crowd.
Following Stickland and Leaf was singer Kevin Garrett, a critical favorite when it comes to emerging artists in the new year. An indie pop musician out of Pittsburg, PA, Garrett performed a few tracks from his acclaimed 2015 EP, Mellow Drama, which was released in April of last year. Garrett’s electronic sounds and soothing vocals foreshadow Garrett’s eventual takeover of his share of the indie pop world.
After three great opening performances, the crowd could not wait for Alessia’s headlining set. You could tell that the standing room crowd was at the edge of their seat, so to speak of course, anxious about Alessia’s appearance for the night. The crowd was well aware that Cara was forced to cancel the night before, so when she finally hit the stage, Chicago felt more than lucky. And throughout the show, you could not have guessed that Cara’s beautiful voice wasn’t at it’s absolute best. Even at 90%, 95%, wherever she was last night, Cara’s vocals carried through The Metro like no other artist could. Throughout the night she performed some of her best records, off her 2014 Four Pink Walls EP and her debut album, Know-It-All, where the North American tour gets its name. Highlights of her set included her softer ballads, her energetic performance of ‘Seventeen’, and of course her performance of her #1 hit single, ‘Here’.
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
Check out our photos from Alessia Cara’s Know-It-All tour below.
It took just one single for Zayn Malik to seperate his sound from that of his former group, One Direction. While the rest of his former band are just now figuring out what’s next, Malik, now simply under the name “ZAYN”, has a head start on his solo career. His new record and visuals ‘PILLOWTALK’ are not only something that 1D would never get a green light from the label to put out, but it’s a great and seductive first record, and a window into what we can expect for Zayn’s new sound.
And not only is the record itself hot, but the music video to go with it is steamy as well. Directed by Bouha Kazmi, Zayn co-stars in the video across from rumored girlfriend, model Gigi Hadid. While the kiss the two share will definitely keep people talking, it’s the music itself that makes this track special.
J. Cole’s “Forest Hills Drive” Tour was easily one of our favorite tours, if not our favorite tour, of 2014. With opening performances from Dreamville, Jeremih, YG and Big Sean, and an amazing headlining set from J. Cole himself, the lineup was stacked top to bottom. And while live albums before were normally reserved for huge rock tours, J. Cole again decided to not play by the normal rules of music, and we couldn’t be more thankful.
Performing his entire 2014 Forest Hills Drive LP, including a little bonus during the ‘Intermission’ track, J. Cole’s new live album will make you feel like you were right there in the audience. And if you missed Cole’s acclaimed tour, don’t worry, because you can get your butt to Tennessee this summer and catch Cole’s headlining performance at Bonnaroo, which will surely be one of the most talked about performances from the 4-day festival.
Download Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NChere and check out our photos from the “Forest Hills Drive” Tour below!
If you’re a huge Coldplay fan but can’t afford a ticket to the Super Bowl this year, don’t worry because a the half-time show won’t be the only stadium that Coldplay is performing at year. Minutes ago, the group announced a set of stadium dates, bringing their “A Head Full of Dreams” tour to the United States. Kicking off their U.S. Dates on July 16 in New York, Chris Martin and company will hit a number of stadiums throughout the country until closing the U.S. tour in the Bay on September 3rd. General tickets go on sale February 5th, with a January 29th pre-sale for Citi card holders. You can get more info at Coldplay.com.
Check out the tour dates for Coldplay’s upcoming stadium tour below!
Kanye West is really on a whole different level with his new album, now renamed WAVES. Although Mr. West is known as one of the “less shy” artists in the music world (for lack of better words), he often stays away from rap beef, no matter who calls him out. He will lash out on Jimmy Kimmel or Nike, but he almost never goes in on rappers. Being an artist as big as Kanye, rappers left and right will release diss tracks and throw shots on Twitter, but time and time again, Kanye avoids it all.
Not today however… After Wiz Khalifa took to social media to critique Kanye’s use of the title WAVES, saying essentially that it is a rip off of Harlem, NY rapper Max B (who popularized the term “wavy”), Kanye has responded to his ex-girlfriend’s husband, Wiz Khalifa.
Calling out Wiz Khalifa for ripping of Kid Cudi, having a corny first single in ‘Black & Yellow’, told him a stripped trapped him (Amber Rose), reminded him that no one has listened to a Wiz Khalifa album all the way through, and even told Wiz he wouldn’t have a kid if not for him, Kanye went all out on Wiz, in a way he has never done to a rapper before! Although he did compliment Wiz’s style…
Check out Kanye’s 17 friendly reminders to Wiz Khalifa below!
According to sources, Rihanna’s forthcoming album ANTI is dropping any moment now, this week even, according to Billboard. Whether it not it comes in the next few days, fans could not be more excited for RiRi’s next full length efforts. And today we have the albums new single, where Rihanna again recruits the talents of the 6 God himself, Drake.
Titled ‘Work’, this one definitely have a tropical club vibe and with Rihanna and Drake teaming up, it definitely works (no pun intended)! If the rest of ANTI is anything like this one, then the LP will definitely be worth all the hype and anticipation.
