Celebrity daily

Trey Songz Talks 'Chapter V' Collaborations & 'Hail Mary' Single: Watch

2012-08-21T13:08:00.002-07:00

While today marks the release of Trey Songz' "Chapter V" (Aug. 21), the singer's fifth studio album has already made an impact on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts. "Chapter V" has delivered three hits as of today: "Dive In," "Heart Attack," and 2 Reasons," featuring T.I. As he preps his fourth single, "Hail Mary," "Heart Attack" becomes Songz' eighth top 5 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Wonder Woman (Trey Songz song) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

"On this album I have more collaborations that I've ever had," Trey Songz tells Billboard.com. "I've always believed that an album should be so much of whom that artist is for their fans. But this time, five albums in, I've never had a featured driven album. I wouldn't even call it feature driven but its more features that I've ever had."

Trey Songz continued to talk about his Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy assisted single, "Hail Mary," which coincidentally was the last track to make the cut. "I was in the studio and the album was supposed to be turned in already and I was just in there doing extra songs for mixtape records, etc. And the record was so crazy I said, 'Let me call Wayne, see if he like it. Maybe he can use it for his project.'" he said. "He put a verse on it. He said he loved it. It was crazy. He sent me the verse back. I started to like the record a little more. And I said, 'Let me call my homie Jeezy and see if he like it.' He got on it and the record turned out to be great. We actually held the album up probably a week and a half for that record."

Hip-Hop Rumors: Nicki Minaj Blasts Rude Fans On Twitter, Tells Them To “Eat Sh*t And Die”

2012-08-21T12:38:00.005-07:00

Nicki Minaj was recently forced to cancel a few shows in Dublin, the UK, and Ireland due to strained vocal cords, and a few of her International fans were upset and barraged her Twitter with complaints. Nicki was not trying to hear any of them and put them in their place quick. Check out Nicki’s Twitter rant below:

I will NOT let you people make me feel horrible for a f*cking HEALTH issue! That’s what got me

in this mess! I shldve listened 2 the doctor!

I am so thankful to my true fans who understand WHY I couldn’t play #VFestival & WHY I can’t play Dublin. Absolutely gutted However, if u have anything negative to say to me, please #EatSh*tAndDie – I am human. I was in jeopardy of losing my voice entirely and needing surgery on my vocal chord. If u can’t understand that, your mother’s a WHORE!!!!

I will NOT let you people make me feel horrible for a f*cking HEALTH issue! That’s what got me in this mess! I shldve listened 2 the doctor! Like people are hitting me telling me I shldve mimed. No! Then you woulda made a f*cking STORY out of that too! #killyaf*ckingself

My beloved United Kingdom, u know how much I f*cking love u! Ireland, I truly appreciate you. Barbz, thnku for the well wishes. All you do is rip people apart and when they’re dead & gone u won’t lose a wink of sleep. #goF*ckYourselves

Why must artists rant over Twitter when they are unhappy with something? Are you guys turned off by this kind of behavior?

Side note – Nicki tweeted that she had a surprise for her fans. Could it be the rumored announcement that she has landed a coveted judge position on “American Idol”?

Kanye West ‘blown away’ by Kim Kardashian

2012-08-20T23:05:00.004-07:00

Kanye West was reportedly “blindsided” by his girlfriend Kim Kardashian’s recent revelation.

The rapper and the reality TV star began dating publicly in April.

According to the US edition of OK! magazine, Kim is not happy with the way her fans online are reacting to her relationship with Kanye.

“Kim has Google alerts on her cellphone, laptop and iPad; if the number of alerts goes down, she starts to panic,” a source told the publication.

“[Kanye] was pretty blown away when she told him that Internet searches for her name are down since she began dating him, and that she wasn’t happy.

“Kanye’s crazy about Kim and he’s in this thing for love. Part of him always knew Kim liked the publicity, but he was really blindsided when she told him she wasn’t happy.”

Kanye’s friends are reportedly worried about how his relationship with Kim will impact his life.

“His pals are telling him to walk away,” the source revealed. “They say he’s making a fool out of himself and she’s treating him like an accessory. His friends are worried it’s undermining any credibility he’s got with his R&B fans by being a complete doormat.”

Kim is currently embroiled in a bitter divorce with Kris Humphries after she ended their 72-day marriage last year.

Nicki Minaj to Join the Judges Table on "American Idol"

2012-08-20T19:33:00.001-07:00

Next Season's "American Idol" may be the highest rated in the show's history. Not only has "Idol" casted legendary singer Mariah Carey as a judge, reports are now saying that top-selling female emcee Nicki Minaj is on board as well.

The colorful rapper is set to join the panel of judges according to a source. "I'm not sure the deal is completely done yet, but yes, she is definitely doing it," the source told Us Weekly. "A few more things to sign off on but it is happening."

Another source told the magazine that Minaj is "100% confirmed to judge 'American Idol.'" For now, Minaj and the Fox network are keeping mum about the rumor.

Carey was once rumored and has denied reports of her joining the show, but she confirmed her new role as a judge in July. "As a singer, songwriter and producer, it's going to be fun and rewarding to help find new talent and give back with American Idol," the singer said in a statement. "I can't wait to channel my creative energy as a part of this show which is a massive global phenomenon."

Other names rumored to sit at the judges' table are Pharell Williams, Nick Jonas, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Adam Lambert, Pink, and even Miley Cyrus. "What you've got to realize is you've got to create a panel that gels," "American Idol"producer Nigel Lythgoe told E! News. "A panel that makes sense together. It's not just about three individuals."

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler announced their departure in June. Randy Jackson stands as the only remaining original "Idol" judge. In the upcoming season, Jackson will take on a mentoring role for the contestants.

Minaj , 29, is currently readying her world tour beginning October 21 in Nottingham, England. Her latest album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, debuted at No. 1 in April 2012 and produced two Top 10 singles, "Starships" and "Pound the Alarm."

Out of Minaj's 105 different personalities, who do you think would be a better judge? Martha? Roman?

prelaunchX Invitation

2012-08-16T19:26:00.001-07:00

prelaunchX Invitation: You're invited to join prelaunchX

Lincoln3Dot Recording Artist

2012-08-12T21:18:00.003-07:00

Lincoln3Dot . . .

Recording Artist

Lincoln Steve Richardson was born July 14, 1987 in Jamaica Kingston 7 (Augustown) At age 7 he would entertain family members with songs he made about his father and his many girl friends.

Info@Lincoln3Dot.com

Lincoln Steve Richardson was born July 14, 1987 in Jamaica Kingston 7 (Augustown) At age 7 he would entertain family members with songs he made about his father and his many girl friends. His parents were separated. His mother had been living in England and he was staying in Jamaica with his father. A few years later Lincolns father got married to Karen (Sasha) Chin a very talented recording VP label artist. Music was always around him. At age 14 Lincolns father migrated to America leaving behind Lincoln and his sister. Lincoln was forced to mature early, raising his sister 2 years his junior.

With the absence of both his parents Lincoln quickly became a product of his environment. Turning to drugs and guns. His mother return to Jamaica and then migrated to Brooklyn New York taking along Lincoln.

Lincoln was always a bright and intelligent person so being on the honor roll was nothing strange for him. But it wasn't too long before the problems of a broken home caught up to him. He became a high school drop out after attending school for a few years and worked dead end jobs. His life had no direction.

On February 5, 2009 Lincoln and friends was driving home from a party. Steven "di Genius" Dark Again riddim came on and they started freestyle. Lincoln notice that one of the guys was not only VERY good, but he was also a dancer and was bragging that he makes instrumentals as well. So being jealous and naturally competitive, Lincoln sought to improve his craft. He went home and work on his lyrics and when it came time for a rematch Lincoln DESTROYED his friend lyrically. With this ego boost Lincoln realized that this might be something to pursue.

Lincoln started recording songs on his lap top over popular instrumentals. By the summer of 2009 he had a few songs circulating facebook, myspace, youtube and other popular social networks. Lincoln got recognize by a few top artist and has been working eversince.

Kourtney Kardashian Shows Off First Photos of Baby Penelope

2012-08-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

Aw!

Kourtney Kardashian's darling baby girl Penelope Scotland Disick may have taken a while to make her public debut, but like all good, utterly adorable things, she was definitely worth the wait.

And like any good Kardashian, the cutie pie tot knows how to make an entrance, and did so by claiming her first cover, debuting today on Us Weekly. (Proud big bro Mason happily posed with his adorable sis and beaming mom!)

Baby gear alert! Find out what Kourtney packed in her hospital bag

"Nothing could prepare me for how hard I fell in love with her," the new mom gushed to the mag.

Kourtney and Scott Disick welcomed baby Penelope exactly a month ago, on July 8, in Los Angeles. Since

then, the babe has been keeping an inordinately low profile, just like her 33-year-old mama, leaving it to papa Scott and her big brother to be spotted around town.

Still, an adorable mug like this couldn't be kept under wraps for long. Thanks for sharing it!

(Originally published on Aug. 8, 2012 at 3:29 a.m. PT)

E-Tailor Startups Challenge Amazon in $200 Billion Market

2012-08-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

Venture firms such as New Enterprise Associates and Accel Partners are stepping up investment in e- commerce as shoppers increasingly turn to niche websites for custom-made clothes at prices that undercut department stores.

The two firms, along with Lightspeed Venture Partners and Battery Ventures, helped online retail funding more than double last year to $328.7 million, according to the National Venture Capital Association.

Custom clothing startups J. Hilburn Inc., American Giant and Bonobos Inc. are racing to gain share in a U.S. e-commerce market that Forrester Research Inc. estimates will reach $327 billion in 2016, up from $202 billion last year. They’ve won customers and venture backers by cutting stores from the supply chain to ship straight to consumers from the factory, charging lower prices than department stores and eking out higher margins than Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), the biggest Web retailer.

“J. Hilburn will sell shirts that are made out of the same fabric mill in Italy that a Zegna would sell at Neiman Marcus for $300,” said Brian O’Malley, a partner at Battery Ventures, an investor in the startup, which has raised a total of about $12 million. “They can sell that same shirt totally custom-made for the customer for less, and do that still with healthy margins because there are a lot less middlemen along the way who need to get paid.”

Part of the appeal is offering an experience that consumers can’t get from a traditional online retailer, said Harry Weller, a partner at New Enterprise Associates, which invests in other e-commerce startups.

Addressing Inefficiency

“They’re tackling a behavior,” Weller said. “If you can address an inefficiency in consumer behavior as opposed to just pricing, you can make more. Take the fact that men don’t like buying clothes -- if you can make it easy for them, they’ll pay a decent price.”

J. Hilburn keeps expenses in check by making items to order, eliminating costs associated with running warehouses and stores and avoiding the need to discount obsolete merchandise, said Hil Davis, co-founder and chief executive officer. A typical garment from most retailers is marked up three times as it works its way through the supply chain from the factory to the store, he said.

A men’s dress shirt costs J. Hilburn about $35 for fabric and another $22 for manufacturing. That $57 shirt sells for around $125 -- about $200 less than a shirt by Ermenegildo Zegna Group sourced from the same Italian mill, Davis said. Zegna shirts cost $325 to $435 on Neiman Marcus Group Inc.’s website.

Gross Margin

Its prices give J. Hilburn a 54 percent gross margin. Amazon’s gross margin (AMZN) was 22 percent in 2011, while Macy’s Inc. (M), operator of its namesake and Bloomingdale’s stores, logged a 40 percent margin in its most recent fiscal year.

“It was obvious that you could slice a ton of fat out of the retail supply chain,” Davis said.

Stacey Keller, an Amazon spokeswoman, declined to comment. Zegna didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The business model is luring investment from some traditional department stores. Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) in April helped lead a $16.4 million investment round in Bonobos, an online menswear company, in an effort to improve Internet sales.

“Online is the fastest-growing part of our business,” Colin Johnson, a spokesman for Seattle-based Nordstrom, said in an interview. “Bonobos is a company that’s rapidly growing and really in step with how men want to shop. We’re really excited to learn from them.”

Student Project

Bonobos began in 2007 as a research project for Brian Spaly and Andy Dunn, then students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. After getting hand-tailored pants during a trip to Colombia for a friend’s wedding, the roommates saw an unmet market niche: pants nipped in at the waist to give a slim fit to men with an athletic build.

After selling some samples to Stanford classmates, they debuted the Bonobos website. The startup raised more than $38 million from investors, including Accel and Lightspeed, to help expand its wares beyond pants to shirts and custom suiting.

Bonobos is the largest U.S. clothing brand started online. Designers at J. Hilburn, the largest U.S. custom-shirt maker, and American Giant, which sells casual menswear online, work directly with manufacturers on the fit, fabric and sewing quality of their garments. They win factory contracts for small batches because, by placing orders throughout the year, they offer manufacturers a cushion against seasonal revenue swings from larger fashion clients that usually order in bulk four times annually.

Honeymoon Idea

Davis, a former retail analyst for hedge fund Citadel LLC, hatched a plan for the company during his honeymoon in the Virgin Islands. He teamed up with Veeral Rathod, a former investment banker at Credit Suisse First Boston, to start the Dallas-based online retailer in 2007. The pair shared a love of luxury shirts and an aversion to shopping.

“Who’s going to justify going to buy a shirt for $250 ready-to-wear when they can buy a custom-made shirt with the same fabric for $109?” Davis said. “That’s the big bet we’re making.”

While J. Hilburn expects sales to more than double this year from $17 million in 2011, its success depends on a small group of devoted customers, compared with Amazon, which boasts more than 100 million users who generated sales of $48.1 billion last year.

Amazon and Macy’s have broad appeal with customers seeking one-stop shopping for a wide variety of items and loyalty rewards programs such as Amazon Prime that help build repeat business.

Boutique Websites

New Enterprise Associates, a venture firm with offices in Menlo Park, California, and Chevy Chase, Maryland, has invested $18.7 million in boutique e-commerce websites, according to NVCA. Its investments include accessory vendor BeachMint and flash-sale operator Gilt Groupe Inc., which plans to hold an initial public offering in 2013, according to Jennifer Miller, a Gilt spokeswoman.

American Giant in February began selling sweatshirts online, shipping directly to shoppers from the factory. Like Bonobos, the San Francisco-based startup promises men a tailored fit --in this instance by offering a refined spin on the hoodie.

Selling online helped American Giant trim enough costs from its supply chain to afford something many other retailers can’t: manufacturing in the U.S. All its garments are cut and sewn in Brisbane, California.

Small-batch clothiers have drawn venture backing “because consumers are excited about shopping and finding things in new ways,” said Josh Goldman, a partner at Norwest Venture Partners, which has invested in the vintage-style clothing website ModCloth Inc. “It used to be about search -- that was Amazon,” he said. “Now it’s about curation.”

American Giant raised $5 million from angel investors in an investment round led by Donald Kendall, former CEO of PepsiCo Inc. The company expects sales to triple next year, though it declines to give specific numbers.

“Everyone’s focused on these businesses that have sticky products that people like and come back to buy,” said O’Malley of Battery Ventures. “There’s a lot of momentum in this market.”

Chart Juice: Jennifer Lopez's Greatest Hits Debuts in Top 10

2012-08-03T13:55:00.004-07:00

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Kohl's Senior Executive Vice President Don Brennan, singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, and singer Marc Anthony pose at the Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony announcemnt to Launch Two Exclusive Lifestyle Brands at Kohl's Department Stores at The London Hotel on November 18, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Cover of The Reel Me (CD & DVD)

Cover of Ja Rule

Cover of Usher

Cover of Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez debuts her first greatest hits package, "Dance Again…The Hits," at No. 6 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 20 on the Billboard 200 with 14,000 sold according to Nielsen SoundScan. On the former list, it's the highest new entry this week, where Nas' "Life Is Good" holds at No. 1 for a second week, selling 45,000 (down 70%).

Though Lopez has focused more on dance/pop and Latin music in recent years, nine of "Dance Again's" 13 tracks were hits on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, including "If You Had My Love" (No. 6), "I'm Real" and "Ain't It Funny" (both No. 2, and both featuring Ja Rule). "Dance Again" also doubles as a contract-fulfilment record, as Lopez owed her former label, Epic, a hits album after she salsa-danced over to Island Records in 2010.

"Dance Again" gives Lopez her seventh straight top 10 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. She previously hit No. 1 with 2001's "J.Lo" and the 2002 remix set "J to tha L-O!" Over on the Billboard 200, the No. 20 entry is the diva's lowest-charting regular release. All of her previous albums -- except for a EP/DVD package titled "The Reel Me" (No. 69) -- have reached the top 12.

As for the rest of the top 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Frank Ocean's "Channel Orange" is steady at No. 2 (33,000; down 40%) while the "Maybach Music Group Presents: Self Made 2" compilation rises 5-3 after Amazon MP3 discounted it for 99-cents one day last week (18,000; up 3%). Chris Brown's "Fortune" falls one slot to No. 4 (18,000; down 32%) and Usher's "Looking 4 Myself" dips one to No. 5 (16,000; down 31%).

MIGUEL'S 'ADORN' ASCENDS: Miguel's "Adorn" gets the Greatest Gainer/Airplay award on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as the single surges uptown 31-19 due to a 35% increase in audience impressions according to Nielsen BDS.

It's the first single from his upcoming second album, "Kaleidoscope Dream," due Oct. 2 on RCA. "Adorn" was released digitally on Aug. 1 on a three-song EP ("Kaleidoscope Dream: Water Preview") while another three-song preview set will follow before the full album drops in October.

Among the radio stations helping push "Adorn's" gain this week are WJMH Greensboro, N.C. (up 3.1 million), WEDR Miami (up 3.2 million) and WVAZ Chicago (up 2.8 million).

At the top of R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, "Mercy" (by Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz) holds for a fifth nonconsecutive week at No. 1. Meanwhile, 2 Chainz's own "No Lie" rises 3-2 and Usher's "Lemme See" slips 2-3.

Another Usher track, the former No. 1 "Climax," holds steady at No. 4, as does "Bag of Money" by Wale (featuring Rick Ross, Meek Mill & T-Pain) at No. 5.

Ne-Yo Blasts Critcs For Saying He Went Pop

2012-08-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

Since releasing hits like”Closer” and “Beautiful Monster”, Ne-Yo has constantly been criticized for abandoning R&B for that pop life. Ne-Yo has had enough of the drama and is finally speaking out. The “Lazy Love” crooner went on the Angie Martinez radio show and let some critics have it.

When asked how he felt about critics calling him a pop artist and asking how he could proclaim how alive R&B is when he is no longer making R&B music anymore, Ne-Yo responded by saying, “I normally don’t do this. I’ve officially declared myself above the B.S. in regard to bloggers and people that say silly stuff on blogs. I need to get at some people directly.”

The singer-songwriter went on to express that his sound has evolved over the years, but he still knows where home is and that would be R&B music. “Somebody said something along the lines of, ‘How can you say that R&B is still alive when you’ve crossed over into this pop world?’” Ne-Yo began. “And that kind of upset me because what ya’ll don’t understand is that it was R&B that gave me the platform to even be able to do a song like ‘Let Me Love You,’ to do a song like ‘Closer,’ a song like ‘Beautiful Monster.’”

Drake: 'Surface R&B doesn’t work any more'

2012-08-03T13:32:00.001-07:00

Kanye West isn’t the only rapper who can boast about graduation.

In a new interview with Canadian magazine Now, Drake revealed what his summer calendar will look like once he’s done throwing his hometown of Toronto a new music festival, OVO Fest.

“I’m actually spending my summer graduating high school,” he said, hopefully while one-strapping his Jansport backpack and frantically rustling through his Trapper Keeper. (Music Mix sat alone at the cafeteria.)

“I only have one credit left,” Drake added. “I’m really excited about that.”

EW Daily Poll: — Vote now!

And we are too! After all, we all basically went to high school with him for so many years.

But Drizzy isn’t waiting until he gets his diploma to apply his critical skills. The “HYFR” star also offered his opinions on the current state of his genre. “Surface R&B doesn’t work any more,” he told Now. “The whole heartthrob thing, songs about unrealistic love and tearing your shirt off every show — that’s not really where it’s at any more. It’s becoming harder for those guys to sell records, and harder for them to succeed.”

Continued Drake, “The more you can tap into people’s minds — ‘I think that stuff and I’ve just never been able to say it, and this guy just said it for me’ — that’s the brand of music that’s winning right now, and that’s a great thing. It just makes for better music to listen to.”

He didn’t name names in the piece, but the popularity of artists like Frank Ocean and the Weeknd are certainly proof-positive of Drake’s theories (as are the declining sales of, say, Usher.)

Readers, do you agree with Drake? Or do you think he needs to get re-educated?

Whitney Houston exhibit to open in Los Angeles

2012-08-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

FILE – In this undated file image provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment, singer-actresses Jordin Sparks, left, and Whitney Houston are shown in a scene from the upcoming film “Sparkle.” The song, “Celebrate,” a duet with Jordin Sparks from Houston’s last movie debuted Monday on Ryan Seacrest’s website and will be available on iTunes June 5. The film opens in theaters on August 17. — AP Photo

LOS ANGELES: An exhibit in honor of late pop icon Whitney Houston will open in Los Angeles next month, half a year after her lifeless body was discovered in a hotel bathtub.

The exhibit, titled “Whitney!” and organized in conjunction with the singer’s family, will open at the GrammyMuseum on August 15.

“Whitney! will provide an in-depth look at all aspects of Houston’s creative life,” the museum, located in downtown Los Angeles, said in a statement.

Items to be displayed include rare photos and footage of the Grammy-winning star, stage costumes, albums and career scrapbooks from her early career, as well as concert posters, tour books and fan memorabilia.

The museum has also asked artists and musicians who worked with Houston or were influenced by her to share their thoughts on the pop diva. These will be shown in the form of short films.

Houston was found dead on February 11 in a luxury Beverly Hills hotel bathtub on the eve of the music industry’s annual Grammy Awards show. Coroners concluded she died by accidental drowning, with cocaine use and heart disease as contributing factors. She was 48.

Houston sold more than 170 million records during a near three-decade career, but in later years fought a long and public battle against substance abuse while trying to keep her performing talent alive.

In 1992, she starred alongside Kevin Costner in the movie “The Bodyguard”for which she sang “I will always love you.”The exhibit is due to run through February 2013.

Jersey Boys movie begins casting for a January 2013 start

2012-08-03T11:28:00.002-07:00

Chris Brown has made no secret that, like his idol Michael Jackson, he wants to be known for his stellar dance moves in addition to his smooth R&B vocals. So, it’s no surprise that the crooner is following supporting roles in Think Like A Man and The Takers with a starring role in the upcoming dance film, Battle of the Year.

Chris Brown (Photo credit: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer)

The Screen Gems film, directed by Benson Lee (Planet B-Boy), follows “an all-star American b-boy crew training to compete in France at the Battle of the Year (BOTY) International Championships. After a decade of defeat, the crew and their coach (LOST‘s sexy resident bad boy Josh Holloway), must go up against the best and greatest b-boys in the world: the Koreans, the Russians, and the French who have dominated the original American dance form for the last 10 years.”

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Recording artists Pitbull (L) and Chris Brown perform at halftime during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on February 26, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Like most break-dancing films, get ready for some teen angst, unhealthy competition, sick rivalries, and, of course, dope head stands. Watch the extended trailer below for Battle of the Year, set to hit theaters January 25, 2013. Will you be watching?

Jersey Boys movie begins casting for a January 2013 start

2012-08-03T11:14:00.003-07:00

Director Jon Favreau’s “Jersey Boys”, based on the stage musical of the same name, has begun casting.

The flick, penned by “Gladiator” scribe John Logan, will shoot January 2013 in New York and New Jersey.

Producers are currently out to fill the key roles:

Cover of Frankie Valli

FRANKIE VALLI
20-29 yrs old. 5 ft 8 or under, Italian-American. A small, tenacious, scrappy kid from a tough neighborhood with an unusually high, clear falsetto, Frankie is desperate to join the group that becomes the Four Seasons. Talented, hardworking and determined to succeed, the group takes off once he joins. He is fiercely loyal, but his strong moral compass starts to stray during his years on tour with the popular group. ABILITY TO SING TENOR PART AND STRONG FALSETTO UP TO A TREBLE G A PLUS. LEAD.

English: Ryan Molloy, following his performance as Frankie Valli from the musical Jersey Boys, at West End Live 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

BOB GAUDIO
20-29 yrs old. 5 ft 10 or taller. Already a chart-topping songwriter by age 18, boyish, fresh-faced Bob becomes the keyboardist and fourth singer in the Four Seasons. Something of a boy genius, he is smart and savvy beyond his years. His experience in the music industry helps launch the group and his original songs are key to their success. Gaudio isnt from the old neighborhood like the rest of the guys. KEYBOARD SKILLS AND ABILITY TO SING TENOR/BARITENOR PART IN TIGHT HARMONY A PLUS. LEAD

Actor and film director Jon Favreau promoting the film "Iron Man" in Mexico City. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

TOMMY DEVITO
25-35 yrs old, Italian-American. A handsome, charismatic, smooth-talking operator with a quick temper and a chip on his shoulder, Tommy is the lead guitarist and founder of the Four Seasons. A born hustler from a tough neighborhood and the essence of Jersey cool, Tommy acts as a big brother to the younger Frankie. He is always involved in a scheme, some not strictly legal, and when his gambling debt eventually catches up to him, its up to Frankie to bail him out. GUITAR SKILLS AND ABILITY TO SING TENOR/BARITONE PART IN TIGHT HARMONY A PLUS. LEAD.

NICK MASSI
25-35 yrs old, Italian-American. A steady, sturdy, lumbering man of few words with a police record and a strong musical talent, Nick is the bass player for the Four Seasons. Though he never quite gets the groups choreography, he is a genius at arranging their tight harmonies. A some-time construction worker, he is in many ways ill-suited to life in the spotlight and is the first to leave the group. BASS GUITAR SKILLS AND ABILITY TO SING BASS/BARITONE PART IN TIGHT HARMONY A PLUS. LEAD

“Jersey Boys”, produced by Favreau and Graham King, is the story of the popular group the Four Seasons, tracing their rise from small time crimes on the streets of Newark, through the height of their popularity, all the way to the turmoil caused when one of their own got too close to the mob.

Jay-Z to serve as exec producer for 'NBA 2K13' game

2012-08-03T11:07:00.004-07:00

ps3_2k13_cover_JLin_213 (Photo credit: Automotive Rhythms)

ATLANTA (AP) — Jay-Z is taking another step into the pro basketball realm: The Grammy-winning rapper and minority owner of the Brooklyn Nets will serve as the executive producer for the coming "NBA 2K13" video game.

2K Sports announced the partnership with Jay-Z on Tuesday. The rapper, who designed the Nets new logo and color scheme, selected 24 songs for the soundtrack, and offered input for the game's interactive in-game menus and other visual presentations.

Jay-Z said in a statement that his involvement was a "unique opportunity" to collaborate and help produce "NBA 2K13," the latest installment of the best-selling basketball video game franchise. Last year's game sold more than 5 million copies.

"This has been a unique opportunity to collaborate with 2K Sports and be a part of one of the best sports video games in history," Jay-Z said. "NBA 2K13 will be the next evolution in sports and basketball culture, and I'm ready to usher in the new era of the franchise."

Jay Z (Photo credit: NRK P3)

Some of the songs featured on the game's soundtrack are Jay-Z's "Public Service Announcement," Kanye West's "Amazing," Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," Roy Ayers' "We Live in Brooklyn, Baby," U2's "Shove It," Nas' "The World is Yours" and an instrumental version of Meek Mill's "Ima Boss." Other music acts featured are Too Short, Eric B. and Rakim, The Hours, Phoenix, Puff Daddy and the Family, Daft Punk, Santigold, The Dirty Projectors, Justice and Mobb Deep.

"He's been unbelievably involved," said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing at Take-Two's 2K Sports. "We've had hour-long sessions and his input has been super valuable. He put together an amazing job creating the soundtrack, and was very integral in the creative visual process of the game. He's a true artist."

The game, which will feature Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin on the front cover, is expected to go on sale Oct. 2.


English: Kanye West at the Vanity Fair kickoff part for the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Photographer's blog post about this event and photo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 20: Recording artists Jay-Z and Beyonce watch the New York Knicks play the New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 2012 in New York City. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

2012-08-03T09:46:00.002-07:00

Write text here...

'Hunger Games' Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson Look Forward To 'Catching Fire'

2012-08-03T08:59:00.001-07:00

If you haven't read "The Hunger Games" yet, this interview with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson about the next few films in the series might contain a SPOILER or two...and that's your own darn fault for being slow and recalcitrant. Because now that the two stars are happily chatting about the moments they're most looking forward to filming from books number two and three, we kinda can't keep pretending that it's a big mystery whether or not Peeta survives the first book, and whether or not Josh will be returning for "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay." Because he does, and he is. Okay? Okay. Sorry we're not sorry. (Don't worry, there are still plenty of big reveals to come when the full trilogy hits the big screen.)

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Meanwhile, Jennifer Lawrence didn't hesitate when asked which part of "Catching Fire" she was most excited to shoot:

"We get married!" she grinned—right before she and Josh exchanged meaningful looks, made an inexplicable squawking noise and pointed to their respective ring fingers. Mystery solved: Jen went on to explain that she's been teasing Josh with the eventuality of their cinematic nuptials ever since they first started shooting "The Hunger Games."

All in all, it sounds like both the stars of "The Hunger Games" are psyched to reprise their roles all the way through to the series stunner of a conclusion—and Jennifer, who's a fan of the books, threw in a good word for the probability of "Mockingjay" being split into two separate films.

"It's always hard, every time you convert a novel into movies, because you have to cut so much out," she explained. "[So] in a weird way it's kind of a relief, because you get to keep everything in there."

And speaking of "Hunger Games" fandom, an inquisitive Twitterer finally asked—via Josh Horowitz—the actress playing Katniss the most important of all important questions: Team Peeta or Team Gale?

According to Jennifer, it's a tough choice: "I'm a big flip-flopper, I'm a very fickle person," she admitted. Or at least, she is when she's on her own. BUT: "When Josh is sitting next to me, I'm all the way Team Peeta!"

Jay-Z Will Executive Produce 'NBA 2K13': How Does He Compare With Other Rappers And Their Videogame Careers?

2012-08-03T08:29:00.001-07:00

Jay-Z Partners With 2K Sports As Executive Producer for 'NBA 2K13' [PHOTOS]

When Jay-Z stepped down as president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings in 2007, he explained to reporters, "It's time for me to take on new challenges."

He may have meant he was hoping to start a family, which he eventually did this year when his wife Beyonce gave birth to their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Or maybe it was to search for a new musical direction, like the supergroup album he finally made last year with Kanye West, "Watch The Throne." But now Jay-Z has added another line to his resume — on top of owning clothing lines, record labels and sports teams, the 42-year-old rapper and media mogul is officially entering the videogame industry as an executive producer for "NBA 2K13," the game's publisher announced in a press release this week.

"This has been a unique opportunity to collaborate with 2K Sports and be a part of one of the best sports video games in history," Jay-Z said in 2K Sports' official statement. "'NBA 2K13 will be the next evolution in sports and basketball culture, and I'm ready to usher in the new era of the franchise."

Jason Argent, vice president of marketing, said 2K Sports aims to make sports videogames far more culturally and artistically relevant. As an enormously successful musician and part-owner of the Brooklyn Nets, Jay-Z seemed like a natural fit for the company's expanding brand identity.

"We aren't content with just being the best, and we will continue to grow the NBA 2K franchise into one of today's premier entertainment experiences," Argent added. "Jay-Z's role in NBA 2K13 represents a unique fusion of basketball, music, art, and entertainment, and illustrates the evolution of NBA 2K into something much bigger than simply the best basketball video game series ever made."

The press release promises that Jay-Z's presence "will permeate the experience" of the game, "from the overall look and feel ... to the hand-picked soundtrack, interactive in-game menus and more." But while Jay-Z has been credited with curating the game's soundtrack and contributing some of his own music to it, what exactly "executive producer" means is otherwise unclear.

Speaking to the videogame website Kotaku, Argent assured readers that Jay-Z was not simply placed atop a finished product as a figurehead. "I don't want to get too into detail right now, because we've got a lot of stuff coming down the road," he said. "But when we got into this, we really wanted everyone's expertise to lead us, so the things Jay-Z is an expert at are what we weighed the most."

"We're looking on it as NBA 2K, but through the eyes of Jay-Z," Argent added. Sadly, that doesn't mean that gamers will be able to play as Hov himself in "NBA 2K13"; Argent explained that "didn't feel authentic to the game of basketball." Nor is the rapper involved with the design of the actual gameplay. Rather, Argent stated, "We chose each other as partners on this to add to the presentation side of things."

While Jay-Z joining the production of an AAA videogame title is indeed novel, rappers partnering with game development is not entirely unprecedented. Oftentimes, the musicians lend their image to what is essentially a rebranding of traditional gameplay mechanics. Def Jam itself partnered with EA Sports in 2003 to produce "Def Jam Vendetta," for example, which was essentially a wrestling game that starred the music label's stars (though not Jay-Z himself, curiously) instead of WWE stars. Two sequels," Def Jam Vendetta: Fight for NY" and "Def Jam: Icon," were released during Jay-Z's tenure as president of the titular music group.

Talib Kweli voiced the protagonist of the 2006 adventure game "Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure." And fellow New York rapper 50 Cent has starred in two shooters — "50 Cent: Bullet Proof" and "50 Cent: Blood on the Sand" — that cast the musician as the star of his own Rambo-esque exploits throughout New York City and later Iraq. Critics, when playing the games, were generally confused.

Other popular artists such as Beck and Trent Reznor have begun lending their music and image to various videogame projects as well. If musicians of this stature are so openly interested in games, more involved collaborations such as Jay-Z's may well become the standard in the coming years.

2 Chainz Brings His T.R.U. Story To The 40/40 Club

2012-08-03T08:17:00.001-07:00

Last night at the 40/40 Club, during the listening session for 2 Chainz's debut Based On A T.R.U. Story (Def Jam), it became apparent that the Atlanta MC grew up watching What's Happening?—he kept insisting that he could feel someone recording his album in the crowd a la Rerun's run-in with the Doobie Brothers. As a result he said he wouldn't play the entire album for the assembled; he played enough of it to give the fiends in the crowd a breeze, but not enough to catch a real vibe.

Chainz packed the house with "a lot of black card holders," as he put it. DJ Enuff, Ebro and Angie Martinez repped for Hot 97. Def Jam was heavy with their fairly newly appointed president Joie Manda, as well as Universal Republic/ Island Def Jam chairman Barry Weiss. Even Memphis Bleek (!!!), sporting his trademark white tee and Yankee fitted, stepped off the back of a milk carton to be there.

All the screens in the glamorized sports bar played 2 Chainz videos with the sound off while staff handed out 2 Chainz fans with a graphic of his album cover. Behind the bar, the bartenders doled out free Ciroc while cocktail waitresses carried trays of 40/40 Club patron Jay-Z's new cognac, D'Ussé.

After two hours of DJ SNS spinning MMG, YMCMB and G.O.O.D. (a lot initials in today's rap) a waft of weed filled the sports bar; Tity Boi and his entourage had arrived. Chainz, wearing some tie-dyed spandexish shirt with splashes of animal print that everyone immediately commented on, wasted no time getting on the mic to introduce the songs to NYC. "I know the songs aren't familiar... yet," he explained. "But you might as well start getting used to them." Here's what was played.

"Yuck!" (feat. Lil Wayne)
This one might be better after a few listens. It's definitely not wack; it just should pack a bigger punch as an intro. Also, up until this point 2 Chainz has been a "feature rapper"—it may have been wiser to start the album off on a solo note to show he can stand on his own.

"Crack"
Crack! Self-explanatory. Good beat for head-bussing and drink spilling.

"Dope Peddler"
2 Chainz pays homage to his journey from selling dope to making dope music. This song's hook wins, and the beat is slick. Chainz said he holds "Dope Peddler" in high regard because he was trapping since high school, and at times he felt he'd never leave that life. That explanation made the celebratory vibe of the song all the more tangible.

"Birthday Song" (feat. Kanye West)
Chainz said that he and Yeezy had just shot a video for this Sonny Digital-produced ode to birthday wishes and the thick, voluptuous girls who make them come true. Tity Boi more than holds his own with Yeezy, which is a lot more than a lot of more "lyrical" rappers can do.

"I'm Different"
Southern shit-talking at it's finest, with braggadocio-stuffed wordplay that may have seemed far-fetched last summer, but that's all too true in 2012. When he raps "100K for a feature," you actually kinda sorta believe that that's what he's receiving for guest verses now. Just for good measure, he outlines a few other minor reasons why he's different, including his car, the caliber of women he attracts now and his thought patterns that help him think outside the trap.

"Extremely Blessed" (feat. The-Dream)
This journey through 2 Chainz's great life is a smooth R&B joint with The-Dream offering up laid-back, effortless vocals. It could've come off as sappy, but you get a feeling Chainz is genuinely grateful to be where he is. (Plus, Southern humility is always refreshing in New York.)

"I Luv Dem Strippers"
Pretty straightforward ode to fast girls who shake body parts for money. Being from ATL I'm sure he felt he had to speak on such a big part of his city's culture. Nicky Minaj has a guest verse on the song, conjuring the Bonnie-and-Clyde chemistry they tapped into for "Beez In The Trap."

Busta Rhymes Says "Year Of The Dragon" Will Be Free, Reveals Guest Features

2012-08-03T08:12:00.001-07:00

Busta Rhymes stopped by BET’s 106 & Park to talk about his upcoming album Year Of The Dragon. Contrary to popular belief that this project is his YMCMB debut, Busta said that the LP would be released for free via Google Play in August.

"The Year of the Dragon album, just so everybody know, is not my Cash Money debut, my YMCMB debut. This is my Google album and this is going to be given to everybody for free. And the reason why we decided to give it to everybody for free is because number one, Google Play is where the album is going to be available. So when it drops, we drop it in the second week of August, you’re going to get a date in the next couple of days, it’s important that you go there to get it because that’s the only place where it’s going to be for free."

After this announcement, he gave some details on the guest appearances for Year Of The Dragon. Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Trey Songz, Robin Thicke, Gucci Mane, Reek Da Villian, J-Doe, Anthony Hamilton and Maino are all set to appear.

YMCMB Rapper Tyga and his Stripper Girlfriend Blac Chyna Expecting a New Baby

2012-08-03T07:57:00.001-07:00

It looks like Tyga may be a daddy in the next couple of months, as photos showcasing a clearly pregnant Blac Chyna hit the web.

It’s hard to say we didn’t see this one coming. Earlier in the year rumors began to fly that Tyg’as stripper girlfriend Blac Chyna was pregnant with the rapper’s child, and with new photos hitting the web over the weekend showing Blac Chyna with a baby bump, it looks as though the rumors may be true after all.

Chyna was known quite well for working at what many consider to be the hottest strip club in Miami, King Of Diamonds. Of course with a baby on the way, and a rising star baby daddy, we can’t imagine she will be getting back to the strip club any time soon.

Tyga is 22 years old, and just released his Young Money Cash Money debut album earlier this year dubbed, “Careless World: Rise of the Last King.” The rapper is set to release his “Well Done 3″ mixtape and “Fan of a Fan 2″ collaboration album with Chris Brown.

Nicki Minaj And Tyga Gear Up For International Tour

2012-08-03T07:48:00.001-07:00

Get More: Music News

We may not see a YMCMB Tour for a while, but Nicki Minaj is moving one step closer to unifying her Young Money brethren on the road. Though each member of the crew has their own obligations, Nicki is going to partner with her YM running mate Tyga on the road and it’s something that she’s very proud of.

"We're finishing up the summer tour with 2 Chainz in America and then we're doin' the overseas tour with Tyga," Nicki told MTV News when we visited the set of Waka Flocka Flame's "Let's Go" video in Atlanta. "I'm very, very excited about that. This is the first time I get to tour with somebody from Young Money, since I branched out on my own."

Nicki has earned a ton of accolades since her days on the road with Weezy. Not only has she earned platinum plaques for her debut album, Pink Friday, and its follow-up, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, Nicki has impacted the culture with her fashion and business moves as well. When MTV News' Hip-Hop Brain Trust debated the list for Hottest MCs in the Game VII, Minaj came in at #4, besting her mentor Wayne who clocked in at #5. "I deserve it though, I put in work," Nicki told us in February after the list was revealed.

With all that she has accomplished, Nicki takes pride in how far she has come. "We all were rappin' with Wayne and doin' our little one-minute and two-minute freestyles, so we're real proud of what we got so far," she said.

No Lie? Drake Confronts Young Money Unpaid Royalty Reports

2012-08-03T07:45:00.001-07:00

Young Money rapper Drake is letting the world know he has no plans of hanging up his YMCMB jacket and apparently dismissed reports of him still being owed unpaid royalties.

Drizzy hopped onto his Twitter to seemingly shut down the gossip and declare his loyalty to Young Money.

"Despite what your daily dose of bullsh*t may lead you to believe. I am forever about this Young Money team.," he tweeted August 2nd. (Drake's Twitter)

Last month, reports landed online of music executive James "Jas" Prince taking legal action against Drake's management.

The music exec who discovered Drake says that the rap star's management company has been cheating him out of big bucks -- and that Drake is being ripped off to the tune of millions as well. In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, James "Jas" Prince says that he discovered Drake on MySpace back in 2007 and introduced him to Lil Wayne and the bad-boy rapper's managers -- only to get cut out of the deal. They later agreed to give Prince a share of Drake's earnings, but he has yet to see a penny of that money, the suit says. More shocking, though, the suit claims the managers also have failed to pay Drake any of his royalties from his hit records. "He hasn't been paid, and we haven't been paid," said Prince's lawyer, James McMillan. A rep for the managers, Aspire Music Group, Laurant Management and Three Kings, did not return a call for comment. A rep for Drake did not return a call for comment. (New York Post)

Earlier this year, Cash Money Records got sued over unpaid royalties.

Music giant EMI says Cash Money Records, the label that is home to rappers like Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj, owes nearly half a million dollars in royalty payments from a settlement agreement. In November 2009, EMI filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Cash Money in federal court in Manhattan. The licensing dispute resulted in a settlement agreement where Cash Money said it would pay royalties for the EMI songs Cash Money's artists sampled on their own albums. But EMI says it had to sue again because Cash Money stopped making its quarterly royalty payments. (Courthouse News Service)

Prior to Drizzy dismissing the rumor, reports claimed he had royalty issues and got removed from Young Money last year.

Now, this is a good one. There are rumors that Drake was unceremoniously kicked out of Young Money after he had a major argument with both Baby and Lil Wayne. Apparently, Drake was owed money for past royalties and felt the need to get more credit for his contributions to YM. From what I understand, there is no truth to this rumor. Actually, somebody hit me up to tell me it wasn't true. That's not to say there aren't similar rumors. That's to say this one isn't on the money. (All Hip Hop)

Chris Brown - Fortune Album Review

2012-08-02T22:36:00.001-07:00

The problem with Chris Brown - and we all know that there is a problem with Chris Brown - is not simply that we know he has a penchant for violence and was sentenced for assaulting his former girlfriend, Rihanna. What's 'almost' worse, is that he continues, with staggering belligerence, to forge himself the kind of persona, as a recording artist that requires the music-buying public to accept the notion that women were put on this planet to admire him and act as his servile orgasm monkeys.

The more naïve amongst us might have expected some degree of humility from Chris Brown's latest album, 'Fortune.' Maybe just an incey-wincey little apology? Some sign of regret or remorse? Just a few minor lyrical nods that might suggest some kind of personality shift? That way, disappointment lies, of course, because Chris Brown's lyrical content is every bit as self-aggrandising and stomach-churning-ly arrogant as ever. In fact, unless you were hoping to see last night's dinner again, I would heartily recommend skipping over '2012,' the track in which Chris Brown forgot to turn the microphone off whilst he explains, in horrifying detail, exactly what he'd like to do to some poor girl in the bedroom. "I'll get a pillow for your knees," he offers, generously, fooling the world's lobotomised women that entering a bedroom with Chris Brown is, in any way a good idea. Take my advice, ladies, there's only one place for that pillow, and it's not under your knees.

In some ways, you need to feel a little bit sorry for Chris Brown; he's obviously not the brightest spark in the box and on 'Bassline,' he demonstrates why. "Girls like my bassline," he repeats, endlessly throughout the track. A robot voice joins in - one of his robot mates wanting to get a leg-up in the industry from a collaboration, no doubt. They've got it all wrong though. Girls don't like you for your basslines, Chris. They like you for the muscle-definition on your stomach and that sh*t-eating grin of yours. They tell you that they like your basslines because they want you to think that they are interested in your production techniques. Don't be fooled, Chris!

The sympathy that you may feel for Mr. Brown will soon die out though, as you realise that listening to 'Fortune' is the equivalent to listening to a teenage boy telling his schoolmates what he got up to with the girl in the year below, last night and, most likely, lying about it. Elsewhere, Brown displays grotesque levels of the kind of cocksure attitude that makes him such a terribly unappealing character. "Don't judge me" he croons, on 'Don't Judge Me.' But don't worry, he totally understands that you simply can't bear the thought of someone else getting their manicured digits on his six-pack! He understands that! And he won't judge you either! That's mighty big of you, Mr. Brown. I'll remember that next time I'm thinking of punching a girl in the face.

Further displays of his deeply spiritual connection to the female race are evident on 'Stuck on Stupid,' where he reveals the lengths that he would go to for the one he loves by singing "if you told me to go rock climbing, to prove my love. I'd die trying." Really? Rock climbing? Not, I dunno. jumping out of a plane? Crossing the ocean? Walking over hot coals? Has the world of R&B simply run out of clichés for this one, Chris? Because, seriously, they give you a harness when you go rock climbing. It's highly unlikely that you would die.

Brown manages to come up with one track out of thirteen, on this thankfully-short album that is actually agreeable. It's the last track on the album and it's an auto-tuned Euro dance monster. It's called 'Don't Wake Me Up.'

JoJo's Comeback

2012-08-02T15:36:00.003-07:00

"To be honest, I feel like, for a long time, I was afraid of being me," says Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, the 21-year-old pop singer-songwriter who's spent a quarter of her life trying to release her third album. During the process of trying to follow up her 2006 effort "The High Road," problems with her label persisted, and became public. A new full-length, "Jumping Trains," was completed, and scrapped. And then, two weeks ago, she released one of the year's most unexpectedly riveting singles.

"Demonstrate" combines an airy, minimalist approach to R&B with a yearning sexuality that re-contextualizes the Massachusetts-bred singer for pop fans who only know her through "Leave (Get Out)," a catchy breakup single she released at the age of 14. "Baby, there's a lot of freaky shit running in my mind/That I can't say/But I know I can demonstrate," JoJo sings, her voice slithering over the imploding beat.

"Demonstrate" was produced by Noah "40" Shebib, the white-hot studio whiz out of Toronto best known for concocting Drake's introspective sound, as well as being overly particular about his collaborators. The singer tells Billboard.com that "Demonstrate" will serve as the lead single to her new album, and that the rest of the full-length will follow in its striking sonic path.

JoJo: Scrapped Album 'Didn't Feel Like Me'

Although "Demonstrate" hasn't hit iTunes yet and isn't burning up any Billboard charts, the track has gotten positive feedback from online tastemakers. Popdust described the song as a "sexy, moody, weirdo masterpiece," while Idolator writes, "This sounds exactly like a song someone like Kelly Rowland might release, and surprisingly, JoJo totally pulls it off." Meanwhile, in the days following the release of "Demonstrate," JoJo garnered 9,000 new Twitter followers and a 15% increase in traffic to her VEVO channel.

It's a distinct possibility that JoJo's ongoing rebirth as an R&B outsider never gains traction, but her best-case scenario is following the career trajectory of someone like Swedish pop star Robyn, whose slow transformation into an electro-pop darling culminated with her acclaimed "Body Talk" series in 2010. Both artists released sugary radio hits as teenagers ("Leave (Get Out)" and "Show Me Love," respectively), and then essentially disappeared for years while renovating their sounds and accruing hipster cred. Can JoJo use her time out of the spotlight as a springboard to a hip reintroduction? And will her fans accept JoJo 2.0?

"I felt like people wouldn't really respond to it," JoJo tells Billboard.com of her new, R&B-inflected persona. "And I love pop music -- I don't want that to be mistaken. But I wanted to do something with a little bit of a twist. And I just feel like right now, the climate is perfect for me to be myself, you know what I mean? Artists like Frank Ocean and Drake have really kind of inspired me to be more comfortable, to be who I am."

JoJo's third album has been in a limbo to end all limbos after originally being announced in 2007. Since then, the project's title shifted from "All I Want Is Everything" to "Jumping Trains"; dozens of tracks leaked in various states of completion; and JoJo took to Twitter to let fans know that Blackground Records, her longtime label affiliated with Interscope, was holding the project hostage. "Curious 2know the status of my album? tweet BlackgroundMG. They control the $ & album date," JoJo wrote in May.

"I've definitely learned patience with this process," JoJo says carefully. "I'm excited for material to come out, but I don't have anxiety over it any longer, you know what I'm saying? I know that, I trust that, I hope that when it's time for it to come out, it will be the right time."

"Disaster," another breakup song with a Kelly Clarkson vibe, was released in August 2011 and given a proper music video last November. Months before that, however, JoJo tossed out a remix of Drake's single "Marvin's Room" in June, swapping out the rapper's vocals for her own and turning his somber ode to drunk-dialing into an equally spare, profanity-laced kiss-off. The remix ignited the blogosphere and has since garnered over 30 million clicks on YouTube, compared to 7.8 million views of her official "Disaster" video. "With the response that I got from 'Marvin's Room,' it kind of gave me the okay to venture more into the territory that I wanted to go already," she says.

Nearly a year later, JoJo was in Toronto, working with the man who conjured the "Marvin's Room" beat. "I told my team I would love to work with 40 -- just throwing it out there… not really thinking what would happen," JoJo admits. But the producer responded to the singer-songwriter's style, and the pair recorded "a couple of songs" together in April, according to the singer. "The way that he produces is different [from other producers]. It pushed me," says JoJo.

The singer was so taken with the sound of "Demonstrate" and her other work with Shebib that she decided to officially throw out the "Jumping Trains" material she had previously recorded. Therefore, "Disaster," which has sold 160,000 downloads according to Nielsen SoundScan, will not appear on JoJo's third album. Her label and management team were more understanding about scrapping the older material than she had expected. "After that session [with Shebib], I think the consensus was, 'This is what we've been looking for anyway,'" she says. "'Disaster' and 'Demonstrate' are from very different places and fit on different albums. So, in moving in a new direction, I just thought it would be the right call to start fresh."

JoJo says that she and "40" plan to reconvene in the studio soon, and that she's worked with producers like Da Internz and Kadis & Sean on new material since the spring session. A music video for "Demonstrate" will be filmed in two weeks before it makes it to iTunes on Aug. 28, but JoJo remains committed to staying in the studio and creating what she refers to as an "atmosphere" for her long-awaited new album. There's still no release date, and JoJo certainly isn't anxious to rush something out.

"I'm only 21, and I really believe that everything does happen as it is supposed to, whether we realize it or not," she says. "I think I've gotten stronger. I think I've grown as a singer. I've learned a lot as a songwriter. And there are things I had to go through personally and business-wise to get me to this point where I am right now, creatively. And I just feel more ready than ever."

Celebrity daily

Trey Songz Talks 'Chapter V' Collaborations & 'Hail Mary' Single: Watch

Related articles

Hip-Hop Rumors: Nicki Minaj Blasts Rude Fans On Twitter, Tells Them To “Eat Sh*t And Die”

Related articles

Kanye West ‘blown away’ by Kim Kardashian

Related articles

Nicki Minaj to Join the Judges Table on "American Idol"

Related articles

prelaunchX Invitation

Lincoln3Dot Recording Artist

Lincoln3Dot . . .

Recording Artist

Kourtney Kardashian Shows Off First Photos of Baby Penelope

Related articles

E-Tailor Startups Challenge Amazon in $200 Billion Market

Addressing Inefficiency

Gross Margin

Student Project

Honeymoon Idea

Boutique Websites

Related articles

Chart Juice: Jennifer Lopez's Greatest Hits Debuts in Top 10

Related articles

Ne-Yo Blasts Critcs For Saying He Went Pop

Related articles

Drake: 'Surface R&B doesn’t work any more'

Related articles

Whitney Houston exhibit to open in Los Angeles

Related articles

Jersey Boys movie begins casting for a January 2013 start

Jersey Boys movie begins casting for a January 2013 start

Jay-Z to serve as exec producer for 'NBA 2K13' game

Related articles

'Hunger Games' Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson Look Forward To 'Catching Fire'

Jay-Z Will Executive Produce 'NBA 2K13': How Does He Compare With Other Rappers And Their Videogame Careers?

Jay-Z Partners With 2K Sports As Executive Producer for 'NBA 2K13' [PHOTOS]

2 Chainz Brings His T.R.U. Story To The 40/40 Club

Busta Rhymes Says "Year Of The Dragon" Will Be Free, Reveals Guest Features

YMCMB Rapper Tyga and his Stripper Girlfriend Blac Chyna Expecting a New Baby

Nicki Minaj And Tyga Gear Up For International Tour

No Lie? Drake Confronts Young Money Unpaid Royalty Reports

Chris Brown - Fortune Album Review

JoJo's Comeback