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Rock The Bells 2012 Lineup: Nas, Kid Cudi, Missy Elliot, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony To Headline

Laura Aguirre — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:05:42 +0000

Rock The Bells is taking tips from Coachella and doubling the number of days for the event. It’s also bringing back a couple high-profile reunions from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and the Hit Squad. Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi and Missy Elliot are also on the bill.

The festival will kick off on August 18 in San Bernandino, California. Then Rock The Bells will travel to Mountain View, California for August 25 and 26, and will make its final stop in Holdmdel, New Jersey on September 1 and 2.

Also hitting the stage will be Timbaland, Redman and Method Man, Salt-N-Pepa, Ice Cube, J. Cole, Lupe Fasco, Dipset, Immortal Technique, E-40, Yela Rock and Dom Kennedy.

Overall the bill is quite impressive. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will make a special tribute to Eazy-E by performing “E. 1999 Eternal.” Hey, maybe they’ll even get a hologram. Who knows. Then there’s Ice Cube, who will surely be performing some old school gangster rap and maybe even do his famous sea walk. And then there’s Missy Elliot, who’s been under the radar for quite some time now.

Presale tickets will be available on Friday, May 18th at 1 P.M. Regular tickets go on sale a day later. For more information visit the official Rock The Bells website.

Check out the complete lineup below:

What do you think? Are you excited about this year’s Rock The Bells lineup? Who are you most excited to see?

It’s Official, Britney Spears And Demi Lovato Will Judge ‘X Factor’

Laura Aguirre — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:43:02 +0000

It’s official, Britney Spears has joined the judging panel of The X Factor. After months and months of speculation, Billboard reports that the princess of pop did actually sign that $15 million contract. But Spears isn’t the only Disney star joining the show. Demi Lovato will also be a judge.

The big reveal took place at Fox’s Upfronts presentation in New York on Monday, May 14. Spears expressed her excitement about being on the show and said, “It’s gonna be so much fun and so different from anything I’ve ever done.”

Lovato was also stoked, not only for landing a spot on the judging panel, but because she’s going to standing next to people like Spears, Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid.

Spears and Lovato will be doing more than judging contestants, they’ll also be mentoring a group of performers. Maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll get to see inside some of their houses.

Mariah Carey and Beyonce were also among Cowell’s top choices, as were Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne. It seems like Britney was a pretty good choice though. There’s no doubt that she’s going to attract a lot of viewers. As for Lovato, she’s very popular amongst young women, for being vocal on image issues and her troubled past, so it’s likely that a lot of young people will be tuning in for her.

What do you think of the new judges?

Coachella 2013 Has Been Announced, Tickets Go On Sale This Thursday

Travis Woods — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:07:44 +0000

Well, it’s only been a month since the launch of Coachella 2012, but at this point, the Indio, California-based three-day music festival is now a juggernaut-which explains why festival organizers Goldenvoice have already announced the details of Coachella 2013. Read about the details (and how to score tickets this week) after the jump.

Just like this year, the festival will carry on for two weekends in a row (specifically, Coachella 2013 will take place on April 12^th through the 14^th, and April 19^th through the 21^st). The announcement was made on Coachella’s official website.

But that’s not all—starting this Thursday, May 17^th, at 10 PM Pacific Time, advance passes will go on sale for exactly one week, ending at the exact same time next week. The one week advance purchase sale will be the only opportunity for fans to buy tickets using the Coachella Purchase Plan (a.k.a. Coachella Layaway).

While this may seem a tad early for the festival to begin selling tickets, but hey—in the past several years, Coachella has become a ticket-selling, money-gobbling juggernaut of musical celebration in the desert. What was once a niche festival has now become one of the biggest names in music festival-dom. At least they’re offering us a layaway plan now, right?

What do you think about the Coachella news?

Source: Rolling Stone

News Roundup: Zooey Deschanel Off To Broadway, Eminem’s ‘Southpaw’ Put On Hold, New Kanye West Music Video And More

Laura Aguirre — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:41:55 +0000

This week She & Him singer Zooey Deschanel landed a gig on Broadway. She’ll be playing a major role on Loretta Lynn‘s musical adaptation of Coal Miner’s Daughter. Also, Whitney Houston‘s family got their own reality series on Lifetime. We’ve also got an update on Eminem‘s upcoming movie Southpaw. Catch up on this week’s news below.

Zooey Deschanel Going To Broadway: Zooey Deschanel is going to Broadway. According to Billboard, the singer/actress landed the role of Loretta Lynn on Coal Miner’s Daughter. Lynn decided to take the musical and adapt it to the stage, and has chosen Deschanel to play her.
The Houston Family Chronicles: According to Rolling Stone, the surviving family of Whitney Houston will star in an upcoming Lifetime reality series titled The Houston Family Chronicles. The series will focus on Pat Houston, the sister-in-law and estate manager of the late singer, brother Gary, mother Cissy and daughter Bobbi Kristina. The show will premiere later this year.
Eminem’s Southpaw: Eminem’s boxing movie Southpaw has been put on hold, reports Rolling Stone. It seems that Eminem wants to focus on his music for now. It’s unfortunate news, but as long as he’s working on music, it’s all good.
“Lost In The World”: And just in case you missed it, Kanye West did release a new music video this week. What? He doesn’t have a new record, does he? Don’t panic, he doesn’t. The rapper released a brand new music video for his song “Lost In The World” recently. Check it out below:

Hope you’re all caught up now. Check in next week for another music news roundup, and don’t forget to keep coming back to BeatCrave for more industry news, and details on the latest bands.

What are you excited for?

Concert Picks: The Jezabels, Slam Donahue, Levels…

Lindsey Darden — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:36:44 +0000

We’re so glad that we’ve finally reached the point in the year that we don’t have to question whether or not summer is on its way. Fashions are turning brighter, coinciding with the sky, daylight savings, and warmer temperatures. We’ve even been caught wearing shorts and skirts with open-toed shoes during the evening this week, which signals our favorite time of the season to be caught out and about in the live circuit. Sure, we’ve mad respect for bundled up music fans waiting in the cold for their favorites — but when night offers itself up as a blanket, well… really, how rude would we be to refuse? Whatever your musical flavor, there are no excuses for not getting out of the house this weekend — check out our picks below.

The Jezabels | Friday, May 11 | 8:00 pm | All Ages | $12 | Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA – Map | When eighties power pop rock is done right, it is supposed to give you shivers, shudders, and the best kind of lingering chills. Think a touch of Belinda Carlisle and Bonnie Tyler. The Jezabels will make you wish you were around to have enjoyed the eighties when they were in full swing, will make you remember the bright spots in music that there were, and/or will make you glad to have stumbled upon their sound in the 21st century. It takes real talent to cover so many bases covered in one fell swoop. With Imagine Dragons, Benjamin Francis Leftwich – for more information, call (310) 276-1158.
Slam Donahue | Friday, May 11 | 11:45 pm | 21+ | $5 | Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY – Map | With unassuming pop rock and subtly in your face electronic components, there’s just no way we can’t like this band. Just try to keep us from telling everyone and their mother about them when a show comes around; it will be a futile attempt, at best. Incorporating the best parts of most any present genre with a wealth of energy and a glimmering sheen, there’s nothing but good times on a Friday night with the Brooklyn-based band. With Tiny Victories, Lost Boy?, ITAL – Buy Tickets
The Dirt Daubers | Saturday, May 12 | 7:30 pm | 21+ | $10 | Mercury Lounge, New York, NY – Map | Revivals of different sounds and shades is the style of any era, with new wave, glam and classic rock having gotten the old treatment (among others). Always tried but never mastered, however, is the bluegrass-slash-vaudevillian style that, without the right attention and attempt, runs the risk of being gimmicky, inauthentic, or just short of the target. Not the case of The Dirt Daubers, whose varied approach instrumental- and vocal-wise is engaging as much as it is modern within time period they tip their hats at. With Spirit Family Reunion – Buy Tickets
Anatomy of Habit | Saturday, May 12 | 9:00 pm | 21+ | $8 | Hideout, Chicago, IL – Map | The Chicago-based band’s morose and melancholy sound brings the glittery and uber shiny aspect of most mainstream music to a level more moderate, but really only by a few notches. They are of a very layered alternative rock, post-punk sound, with an overall by-degrees execution of sound progression and the right amount of edge at the right time to peak where needed. Very engaging, involving, and smartly done, perfect for the intimate Chicago venue. With Chord, John Mueller - Buy Tickets
Levels | Sunday, May 13 | 8:00 pm | 21+ | Free | Lot 1 Cafe, Los Angeles, CA – Map | Los Angeles-based garage pop rock trio Levels is a little more orchestral than its overall description lets on. Something we love about bands in general is what they let you discover for themselves. Powerful lyrics coupled with strong vocals and layered effects, in addition with clever working of typical rock instrumentation makes for a fresh sound. A breath of fresh air in whatever form is a godsend in the smoggy city of LA, literally and metaphorically speaking. We’re all for letting Levels be that relief and sense of ease. With Phantastica, Graffiti Monsters, Swilson – for more information, call (213) 481-8400.

Those are our picks and we’re sticking to ‘em. Who’s on your To See List this weekend?

Photo via Facebook

Chris Brown Insults Rihanna In Freestyle Rant, Gets In A Twitter Spat, And Is In General A Classy Guy

Travis Woods — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:16:29 +0000

Proving once again that he’s simply the classiest guy in show business, Chris Brown took time out of his busy schedule trashing green rooms, taking no personal responsibility for domestic assault, and basically taking a leak on any and all forms of good taste in order to drop a some freestyle rhymes on top of a remix of Kanye West’s “Theraflu”—and apparently publicly insulted Rihanna, the woman he viciously assaulted in 2009.

It’s like this—during a “Theraflu” remix called “Way Too Cold,” Brown dropped the following nugget: “Don’t f**k with my old bitch, it’s like a bad fur/An industry n***a done had her.” Apparently, this was a veiled insult towards Rihanna, who, shortly after the song was released, stated on Twitter, “Aw, poor dat #neaux1currrrr.” She then immediately unfollowed Brown, who responded with “Assumptions! I didn’t say any names so if u took offense to it then its something you feel guilty about.” All of which would be like a very public and pop culture version of a kindergarten fight, if it were not for the fact that Brown’s a, you know, violent offender.

But don’t worry, gang—something tells me Brown’s going to make it through this just fine, without ever really learning a lesson or accepting anything close to responsibility or humility. Go, Chris, go.

What do you think of the latest Brown controversy?

Source: Billboard

Beastie Boys Sued Over Sampling

Laura Aguirre — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:24:55 +0000

The Beastie Boys are being sued. On the eve of Adam Yauch‘s unfortunate death, the Beastie Boys were served with allegations from TufAmerica, claiming that the rap group and Universal Music Group sampled songs by go-go and R&B group Trouble Funk.

According to the lawsuit, the Beastie Boys illegally sampled Trouble Funk’s tracks on their debut album Licensed to Ill and their sophomore record Paul’s Boutique. Said tracks include “Say What” and “Drop The Bomb” which can allegedly be heard on “Hold It, Now Hit It,” “The New Style,” “Car Thief,” and “Shadrach.”

It seems that TufAmerica is pushing to take the matter to court to determine the amount of damages that should be paid out, but that’s if they can prove anything. According to the Guardian, Trouble Funk’s songs have been “noted on the website Who Sampled – and on Wikipedia – for some time.”

TufAmerica is claiming that they were not aware of the samples until they conducted a deep analysis of the tracks. They are suing for punitive damages and a permanent order forbidding the Beastie Boys from selling songs that contain their samples. An attorney for the label released the following statement.

I was very sorry to hear of Adam Yauch’s untimely passing, and can assure you that the unfortunate timing of the filing of TufAmerica’s complaint had nothing to do with his health. On behalf of myself and TufAmerica, I offer our condolences to Adam’s family, friends, and fans.

It’s unfortunate that this lawsuit has to happen right after the death of Mr. Yauch. Musicians seem to be unable to die in peace these days. There’s always something causing commotion.

What do you think?

No Doubt To Release New Record In September

Laura Aguirre — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:39:57 +0000

Alright, we can stop holding our breath. No Doubt has finally announced an official release date for their new record. All four band members got together to confirm that their first album in a decade will drop on September 25, 2012. See them make the announcement below.

There’s no title for the album yet, but this will be the first full-length record since 2001′s Rock Steady. No Doubt revealed a number of tracks during their last tour including “Steady Down” and “One More Summer.”

It’s rumored that No Doubt worked with Major Lazer’s Diplo and Switch, as well as Mark ‘Spike’ Stent (producer of Spice Girls album), on the record.

Initially, the album was meant to be out last year. Last September, the band wrote on their website, “Ideally our new record would be coming out this year but it’s just not ready yet. This collection of songs means everything to us and our only priority right now is to make sure it’s the best album we can possibly make. There is still more work for us to do.”

This week, the band made an announcement video and posted it on their YouTube account. The band seems to still have good chemistry, but it’s noticeable that they’ve matured since 2001. The video features a snippet of “Sunday Morning” taken from their 1995 breakthrough album, Tragic Kingdom. Check it out:

Are you excited for the new No Doubt album?

Andre 3000 To Star In Jimi Hendrix Biopic

Travis Woods — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:33:57 +0000

Andre 3000—one half of the now seemingly-defunct progressive hip hop duo OutKast—seems to have found a way to keep himself busy in the vacuum of his band’s hiatus. The eccentric and gifted performer is set to play another oddball musician: Jimi Hendrix.

Andre 3000 has been rumored for years to be considering the role of rock and roll’s most famous and gifted guitarist. And now, the rumors have slid into reported fact, as Andre 3000 has agreed to take on the iconic role.

According to Billboard, the singer is set to star as Jimi Hendrix in All Is By My Side. A rock biopic relatively limited in scope (rather than covering the Hendrix’s entire life from birth in 1942 to his death in 1970), All Is By My Side will focus on Hendrix’s time spent in England recording his seminal first album Are You Experienced? with his band, the aptly titled The Experience.

The film will be act as the directorial debut of John Ridley. All Is By My Side is set to be filmed in Ireland, where preproduction has already begun.

Andre 3000 (a.k.a. Andre Benjamin) has previously given supporting turns in films like Semi-Pro, Be Cool and Four Brothers, as well as taking place in the OutKast movie and album, Idlewild.

What do you think of the Hendrix biopic news?

News Roundup: Wiz Khalifa Busted, Adele Beats Michael, Ed Helms Preps First Bluegrass Album And More

Laura Aguirre — Fri, 04 May 2012 23:40:08 +0000

This week rapper Wiz Khalifa was busted for marijuana possession in North Carolina. Also, Adele‘s 21 outsold Michael Jackson‘s Thriller by 500 copies in the U.K. We also found out that Frances Bean Cobain owns the rights to Kurt Cobain‘s image. Catch up on this week’s news below.

Wiz Khalifa Busted: At Coachella, Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg took a break from performing and went to try some “new weed”, so we’re not all that surprised that the rapper got busted for possession this week. According to Billboard, Wiz Khalifa was caught with marijuana in North Carolina recently. He’s set to appear in court on July 27.
Adele Beats Michael: Adele has officially outsold Michael Jackson. This week, her record 21 surpassed MJ’s Thriller by 500 copies in the U.K.
Kurt Cobain’s Image: This week, The Fix revealed that Frances Bean Cobain owns the rights of her father’s, Kurt Cobain, name, likeliness and appearance since 2010. Courtney Love lost rights when she requested a multi-million-dollar loan from Frances Bean’s trust fund. Until Love pays that loan 19-year-old Frances Bean will remain in control.
Ed Helms Music: If you’re a fan of The Office then you know that Ed Helms, the actor who plays Andy Bernard, is quite the musical fellow. It seems that now, he’ll be heading into the studio, officially. Rolling Stone reported that Helms is prepping his first bluegrass album, which he’ll record with his band Ed Helms & the Lonesome Trio.

Hope you’re all caught up now. Check in next week for another music news roundup, and don’t forget to keep coming back to BeatCrave for more industry news, and details on the latest bands.

What are you excited for?

Beastie Boys Co-Founder Adam Yauch Dies At 47

Laura Aguirre — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:33:03 +0000

Adam Yauch, MCA of the legendary rap group the Beastie Boys, has passed away at the age of 47. Yauch had been battling cancer since 2009, when a tumor was discovered in his salivary gland.

A publicist for Yauch recently released the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch … passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.”

News of Yauch’s death was first reported by Russell Simmons’ website GlobalGrind.com.

The Beastie Boys were the first white group to successfully sing rap songs. Yauch co-founded the group with Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) in 1979. Originally, the trio started off as a hardcore punk band but later transitioned into hip hop.

By 1986, the Beastie Boys successfully crossed over into rap music with their hit No. 1 album “Licensed to Ill,” which featured legendary tracks like “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)” and “Brass Monkey.”

Together, the band released a total of eight studio albums. Their last record was 2011′s “The Hot Sauce Committee Part Two”.

Besides being one third of a successful rap band, Yauch was also a filmmaker and directed many of the Beastie Boys’ music videos under the name Nathanial Hornblower. He built his very own film studio in New York City called Oscilloscope Labs, which distributed indie films like Bellflower, We Need to Talk About Kevin and Exit Through the Gift Shop. Yauch was also an activist who helped organize the Tibetan Freedom Concert to raise money and awareness for Tibetan independence.

Last month, Yauch wasn’t present at the Beastie Boys induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ad-Rock and Mike D gave their speech and read a letter from Yauch that said:

“I’d like to dedicate this to my brothers Adam and Mike. They walked the globe with me. It’s also for anyone who has ever been touched by our band. This induction is as much ours as it is yours.”

Yauch is survived by his wife and daughter. Our condolences go out to them.

Check out the full-length video for “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)” Revisited:

What is your favorite Beastie Boys song?

Concert Picks: Miracles of Modern Science, Roadside Graves, Kick Everything…

Lindsey Darden — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:03:30 +0000

Alright, Cinco de Mayo weekend — gotta love that this year the day itself comes with a built-in day to recover afterwards, also known as Sunday. All that said, we propose a challenge to you in the form of a dare. We at BeatCrave double dog dare you to make this weekend more than about throwing back specially-priced cervesas and margaritas, or wolfing down more chips and salsa than you would any given Sunday on the couch in front of the game of your choosing. Knowing how hard it is to back down once dared, we’ve decided to make the challenge easier by doing what we do every end of the week. A little bit of everything thrown into the mix music-wise, plus warmer evenings and a few pals? We couldn’t make it easier, tequila shots aside. Check out our picks for the weekend below…

Miracles of Modern Science | Friday, May 4 | 7:30 pm | 21+ | $10 | Mercury Lounge, New York, NY – Map | The Brooklyn-based band takes experimentation to a different level, and we mean more than the general definition of “experimental”. While synths and electronic components definitely have their place, there was once such things as something you pluck and bang and layer via harmony, melody, rhythm and timing — and these are what they utilize best. Slightly akin to Mumford & Sons, their latest album, Dog Year, is out now. With Conveyor - Buy Tickets
Nightmare and the Cat | Friday, May 4 | 8:30 pm | 18+ | $8 | The Echo, Los Angeles, CA – Map | If there was an uber catchy band of the moment that we would love to see dominate the general local scene, it would definitely be Nightmare and the Cat. Currently LA-based by way of London, the duo clearly has a flair and a swagger that has us hooked by our inner ear. Unavoidable and inescapable so much that it might has have a warning label, but modern with the right amount of classic to be playful and anchored, their style is not one to underestimate. Prepare to be enthused. With Noah and the Megafauna, The Step Sisters, Samantha Shelton – for more information, call (213) 413-8200.
Roadside Graves | Saturday, May 5 | 8:00 pm | All Ages | $7 | Big Snow, Brooklyn, NY – Map | Roadside Graves goes all out in a very subtle manner – and if you’re asking how that qualifies as going all out, we’ll detail it for you. Mellow start, with punctuating lyrics, layered melodies/harmonies, built up via interludes and all out instrumentals, and generally ending with a long-ish continuous tone, tying it with a bow. Cleverly done, never overdone — if it wasn’t painfully obvious: we adore. With Gunfight, Jeremy Benson, Seapost – for more information, visit the venue’s website here.
Mahogany | Saturday, May 5 | 8:00 pm | 17+ | $10 | Subterranean, Chicago, IL – Map | We have a feeling that Mahogany is more than an experimental musical outfit from the East coast; it is an audible revolution, whether or not it is realized. Established by Andrew Prinz and benefiting from the art of collaboration, the band itself – further fueled by Jaclyn Slimm and Khaya Lou – is the recipient of knowledge, careful execution, and relative science. At the same time, its output is fantastic to sway along with. With Devon Kay & The Solutions, Shaggwell, Finding Valor – Buy Tickets
Kick Everything | Sunday, May 6 | 7:00 pm | All Ages | Free | Origami Vinyl, Los Angeles, CA – Map | Vocally, we’re getting a alternative punk rocker vibe that we can’t help but associate with hard hitting femmes such as Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, and Karen O. The balls-out approach, grungy guitars, low down and dirty essence is always more appealing with layered with I-dunno-what-that-is sound effects and happenstances of the modern rock electronic sort. For more information, call (213) 413-3030.

Those are our picks and we’re sticking to ‘em. Who’s on your To See List this weekend?

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BeatCrave.com - Passionate About Music!

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