The Beat

Daft Punk explain their helmets

2013-05-22T14:09:00.002+01:00

French house duo Daft Punk have spoken about their decision to wear robotic helmets. The 'Get Lucky' duo have sported the headwear since the '90s and are very rarely caught on camera without their signature helmets. However, they have insisted that the costume is not a gimmick, but stems from their own desire for "sci-fi glam". "We're interested in the line between fiction and reality, creating these fictional personas that exist in real life," Thomas Bangalter told Rolling Stone. "Kraftwerk and Ziggy Stardust and Kiss; people thought the helmets were marketing or something, but for us it was sci-fi glam." Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo added: "We're not performers, we're not models – it would not be enjoyable for humanity to see our features, but the robots are exciting to people."

Cody Simpson's Surfers Paradise

2013-05-22T11:09:00.000+01:00

Teen hottie Cody Simpson has revealed details of his anticipated new album, Surfers Paradise, which follows the Australian-born pop star’s 2012 debut, Paradise. The new disc will be released on 16 July. “Surfers Paradise is basically the most famous area on the Gold Coast of Australia, where I am from,” explains Simpson. “I think this album really represents that piece of me, my lifestyle, and where I come from. When making my first album ‘Paradise’ it was sort of a journey to find myself as a young adult & artist. With 'Surfers Paradise' the entire process felt more natural and comfortable, like being back home. I wanted to share that feeling with my fans.” The CD is heralded by the buoyant new single, “Pretty Brown Eyes” which has been hailed by Billboard as a “happy-go-lucky...summer anthem.” In other news, Cody recently announced the release of his first book, entitled Welcome To Paradise: My Journey. Featuring never-before-seen photos and exclusive details about Cody’s incredible life on and off stage, the official autobiography will be published by HarperCollins on 24 October.

Hanging with Snoop Dog in Durban

2013-05-17T16:31:00.001+01:00

Hip hop star and rapper Snoop Dogg, now known as Snoop Lion, had the local and international media eating out of his palms at the MTV All Star press conference. Snoop is performing tomorrow evening (Saturday night) as part of the MTV All Stars concert in Durban. Snoop said "I am happy to be back in the mother land where music started with drumming." Asked if he would like to record with a local artist, he said it would be great. Someone even mentioned he should sometime soon change his name again from Snoop Lion to Snoop Springbok, upon which he laughed and said, "it's not impossible."

Macklemore talks about his gay anthem 'Same Love'

2013-05-16T09:37:00.001+01:00

Macklemore

Rapper Macklemore has opened up about a gay anthem he penned for his latest album The Heist, reports Digital Spy. The rapper's track 'Same Love' hears him openly speak about his support for gay marriage and equality, marking a breakthrough in mainstream hip-hop music. The track was inspired by his gay uncles and gay godfather and is an issue that is personal to him. "I was really nervous to play it for them," Macklemore told The New Review in a rare interview for this weekend's The Independent On Sunday. "It's obviously a very personal song, and I didn't want to cross any boundaries in terms of their privacy. But we actually ended up taking a picture of them and using it as the cover art for the single. "I wanted the art to reflect how personal the song was, and they are a big reason why I'm so passionate about the issue. "Talking about his decision to approach the subject, he continued: "I'm always trying to push the margins. I wanna be an artist that writes songs that are different; I don't wanna write the same song that everyone else is writing. "I wanna challenge myself, I wanna challenge society, and I wanna be the best version of myself, and the way I can do that is by expressing and talking about concepts that no-one else will, that people are afraid to address. "I wanna be able to talk about those openly and honestly and figure myself out and help those who listen to the records figure them out."

Drake leads BET Awards with 12 nominations

2013-05-15T12:42:00.000+01:00

Rapper Drake

Rapper Drake has been nominated for 12 prizes at the 2013 BET Awards. The rapper appears on four of the entries up for 'Best Collaboration' and has also been given the nod in categories including 'Best Male Hip-Hop Artist' and 'Video of the Year'. Drake's Problems collaborators 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar also feature heavily on the list, with eight nominations each. A$AP Rocky has 5 nominations; while Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Miguel face off with 4 nominations each in the categories of Best Collaboration, Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award and Video of the Year. In what is sure to be a showdown of epic proportions, this year’s Video of the Year Award has a phenomenal line-up of 10 nominees including Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky, Miguel and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, all vying to get their hands on the sought-after trophy. BET's President of Music Programming and Specials Stephen G Hill said: "This year's line-up of nominees and performers is reflective of the variety of fantastic talent that's rocking the world right now." The first performer of the event is Chris Brown while the closing will be done by R. Kelly. The BET Awards will air LIVE on the BET channel, TopTV, on Sunday 30 June at 21:00.

Kings Of Chaos: Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge joins rock greats for one of the biggest concerts of 2013

2013-05-15T11:28:00.000+01:00

Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge

Rock supergroup Kings of Chaos is set to electrify South Africa when they bring their unmatched energy and sound to the country on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 June at the GrandWest Grand Arena, and on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June at the Sun City Superbowl. It was announced today, that Vocalist Sebastian Bach formally of Skid Row, who was originally included in the South African line-up, will be replaced by Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge on the South African tour. Originally formed in 2012 as Matt Sorum’s Rock n Roll All Stars, the group’s name was recently changed to Kings of Chaos. While the band has a core group of members such as Matt Sorum, Gilby Clarke and Duff McKagan, all originally from Guns n Roses, and Joe Elliott from Def Leppard, they are regularly joined by guest musicians from other rock bands. Eight original musicians from bands such as Guns n Roses, Def Leppard, Velvet Revolver, The Cult, Deep Purple, Collective Soul and now Alter Bridge, will perform together as Kings of Chaos in South Africa, with renowned guitarist Slash performing with the group for the very first time.

Daft Punk's new CD Debuts On iTunes

2013-05-14T10:02:00.002+01:00

The wait is over! One week before its official release in the U.S. , French house duo Daft Punk have unveiled their highly-anticipated Random Access Memories album on iTunes. The epic record can be heard in full on Daft Punk's artist page on iTunes, which means that, if you're still hoping for a productive work day, well, there's always tomorrow. Random Access Memories kicks off with the starry, sumptuous "Give Life Back To Music" and concludes with the rushing, rattling "Contact," and in between, there's more than 60 minutes of conscious-expanding, disco-tinged dance, including cameos from Giorgio Moroder (on the standout "Giorgio by Moroder,") Pharrell Williams (on first single "Get Lucky" and "Lose Yourself To Dance,") the legendary Nile Rodgers, Paul Williams (or "Rainbow Connection" fame) and Animal Collective member Panda Bear.

The 10 worst bands of the 90s

2013-05-13T11:49:00.000+01:00

As 2013 storms to its halfway mark, Rolling Stone Magazine asked their readers to vote for the 10 worst bands of the 90s. A difficult task, one might think, but the results were gob smacking interesting and even left us dumbstruck!

10. Dave Matthews Band

Although Dave and his buddies still continue to make zillions of dollars with CD sales and ticket sales for concerts, some fans felt that the band lost their way after the Nineties. A 2005 article from the Onion with the headline "Dave Matthews Not That Into Himself Anymore" captured this nicely. "Me and my band are still okay, but I feel like I've grown out of us," Matthews was quoted. "Back when I was in the college charts, we were about all I listened to, but I guess I'm at the point in my life where my music just doesn't speak to me."

9. Ace Of Base

The Swedish foursome had a hot brunette, a hot blonde and two anonymous dudes nobody cared about. Almost nobody in America and South Africa knew their names (and they couldn't pronounce them if they did), but for a good year or two they were huge. "All That She Wants," "The Sign" and "Beautiful Life" were everywhere. But as the decade ended, their musical career also came to a screeching halt. So, did they saw the sign? We doubt it.

8. Spin Doctors

In the early part of the 90s (1992/1993) every teen were listening to Spin Doctors as their songs Two Princes and Little Miss Can't Be Wrong stormed up the chart. Their CD Pocket Full Of Kryptonite was selling fast, but alas, it all started spinning out of control with the release of their second CD and the song Cleopatra's Cat. Although the band is now a regular on the nineties nostalgia circuit, The Beat is still surprised that they made the list. Weird.

7. Bush

Confession time, I'm a HUGE fan of Gavin Rossdale and his band Bush and were quite surprised that this band made the top 10 list. They contributed to the grunge era with brilliant songs like Glycerine and Comedown, but after their split in the mid-90s, people forgot about them, and even when their reformed in 2010, nobody actually cared.

6. Hootie And Blowfish

I saw this band live in South Africa way back in the 90s - weird show, with the band even trying to stop a fight that broke out in the crowd. But yes, they made us sing along to Let Her Cry, Only Wanna Be With You, and Hold My Hand. Everybody liked them. But their follow up releases sucked big time and the hoot died out.

5. Nirvana

Now this is a MAJOR SHOCKER! People actually considering Nirvana as a bad band? Geez! But again, those who voted weren't probably around when Nirvana crazed gripped the music scene. I just think people who voted for the legendary (YES! LEGENDARY!!) Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana were wrong. Nirvana don't belong on this list, or what is a secret conspiracy from faded 90s acts who stuffed the voting lines?

4. Hanson

Damn. They should have been at number 1. The long-haired teenyboppers had the world Mmmbopping to their music accompanied childish innocent fun music video which parent probably felt were good for their young children. Boring! They irritated the hell out of me, and even made an appearance on Oprah - why? Yes, they should have been at the number 1 spot for most hated band of the 90s.

3. Limp Bizkit

Fred Durst was this angry white guy from America who hated everything and everyone and he sang about it in his band's nu-metal rap songs, but all good things come to an end, and so it was for Limp Bizkit as well. They came, they kicked ass, and vanished. People got tired of angry white guys rapping on metal about how they hate the world.

2. Nickelback

This is another surprise to see on the list, and even that it's number 2! Chad Kroeger and the boys shot to fame with their rock ballad How You Remind Me and we just loved Chad's hoarse voice, but then, all the singles featured the hoarse voice and some people got quite pissed off by it. Nevertheless, the band released, and continue to release, great rock music, so I don't understand why it's on the list. It's hard not to feel a little bad for Nickelback. Sure, they aren't the greatest band in the world, but people act like they make Nazi folk music or something. But alas, everyone is entitled to a vote and unfortunately for Nickelback, they made the number 2 spot.

1. Creed

Scott Stapp and his band had fans eating out of their hands with songs like With Arms Wide Open, My Sacrifice, One Last Breath and Higher, but soon fans became tired of them, and even sued the band after a famously bad show in Chicago in 2003. The band reformed in 2009 for a reunion tour, but their fans have moved on. Sales were so horrendous in Birmingham that tickets were lowered to 75 cents. Eish! Sorry boys...you just don't make the cut in this poll.

Beyoncé Knowles pregnant again?

2013-05-13T10:41:00.001+01:00

Speculation is growing that Beyoncé Knowles is pregnant again, reports music.com. The music superstar is currently on the road with her spectacular Mrs Carter World Tour. Photographs have emerged on blogs of the singer showing what seems to be a baby bump while on stage recently. Sources have also told the New York Post that the 31-year-old star is expecting her second child with husband Jay-Z and carefully tried to disguise her growing curves at the Met Gala in New York City last week. The singer stepped out to the red carpet event in a Givenchy gown with a high waist and belt detail that would have hidden her stomach area. Beyoncé gave birth to her daughter Blue Ivy in January 2012 and has made no secret of her desire to add to her brood with Jay-Z. Just last week, she revealed in an interview with Good Morning America she admitted that she wanted Blue to have some 'company' from a sibling. 'I would like more children. I think my daughter needs some company. I definitely love being a big sister. At some point, when it's supposed to happen,' she smiled. The star also spoke about juggling her work commitments with family life since becoming a mom. Beyoncé is determined that Blue should have a 'normal' childhood. 'I am very protective. I just want to make sure that she can have a healthy, safe, normal life. In the back of my mind, she's my priority,' she added. 'And life is completely different now. So I feel really, really just lucky that I can still do what I love, and now have a way bigger meaning. And that's to be her mother." A representative for Beyoncé has not commented on the pregnancy rumours.

Jay-Z to tour South Africa?

2013-05-09T18:23:00.001+01:00

Rumourville is in overdrive that Mr Jay-Z might be touring South Africa later this year? This is good news, right? Absolutely, should it be true. But wouldn't it be awesome if Jay and Justin Timberlake tour the country together? Justin is taking his long awaited The 20/20 Experience on the road later this year, and he is going to Australasia, which usually means that the artist will perform in South Africa, as the country is so close to Australasia. As soon as THE BEAT knows more, we will update the info.

REVIEW! Bon Jovi rocks Cape Town Stadium

2013-05-08T09:04:00.003+01:00

Jon Bon Jovi in action (CREDIT: BIG CONCERTS/FB)

40 000 people packed Cape Town stadium last night to see their rock heroes Bon Jovi live for the first time since 1995. It was an epic show. Kicking off Mark Haze and Elvis Blue warmed up the crowd and by the time the lights dimmed in the packed stadium, a little mayhem erupted as Bon Jovi stepped on the huge stage and the band ripped into their new songs and their classic hits. Bed of Roses, You Give Love A Bad Name, Bad Medicine, Living On A Prayer were greeted by screams and sing-alongs - something that took lead singer Jon Bon Jovi by surprise. He commented the whole time that he can't believe they waited so long to return to South Africa - yes Jon, it was a long wait, but worth every minute of your 2 and a half hour show. What The Beat liked the most was some of the cover versions worked into the set, like Status Quo's Rockin All Over The World. It was an epic show with great sound, great effects and an Bo Jovi crazy crowd. The band will perform at the FNB Stadium on Johannesburg on Saturday 11 May. (PS: To the lady who commented she hated the show, because Jon's teeth were to white - seriously? Get a life B*TCH!)

WIN! Snoop Dogg tickets for Durban...

2013-05-07T13:25:00.001+01:00

Snoop Lion (aka Snoop Dogg) Credit: MTV Africa

The Beat have 5 double tickets to the major MTV Africa All Stars featuring Snoop Lion and 10 of Africa’s finest to give away, courtesy of MTV Africa! Celebrating the growing power and appeal of African contemporary music, and to make sure the global spotlight is focused firmly on Durban, home to some of South Africa’s biggest stars, MTV Base and KwaZulu-Natal have joined forces to create the MTV Africa All Stars KwaZulu-Natal with Snoop Lion – a stunning, 5-hour open air concert at Moses Mabhida Stadium, People’s Park Durban on 18 May. Entertainment icon and multi-platinum artist Snoop Lion, aka Snoop Dogg, will headline the concert, alongside South Africa’s Zakes Bantwini and Professor, 2Face and Flavour from Nigeria, Congo’s Fally Ipupa and a host of other contemporary greats from all over the continent. Snoop, the legendary rapper, singer-songwriter, producer, actor and reality star turned reggae artist, will perform a stunning set featuring tracks from his greatest hip hop hits interspersed with his new, “Reincarnated” reggae-flavoured repertoire. Tickets to the event are only R40, but The Beat and MTV Africa are giving 5 double tickets away. Just EMAIL your details (name, surname, age, contact information) with the name of ONE of the performers before Thursday 16 May. Put in the subject line, MTV AFRICA. Hurry up and enter! Names will be drawn randomly. Tickets are for entry only and does not include accommodation, transport. For more details on MTV Africa All Stars KwaZulu-Natal with Snoop Lion, including additional performers, go to www.mtvbase.com, like MTV Base on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MTVBaseVerified, or follow MTV Base on Twitter @MTVBaseAfrica, using the hashtag #AfricaAllStars.

Lauryn Hill goes to jail for 3 months

2013-05-07T07:05:00.002+01:00

Lauryn Hill

American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actress Lauryn Hill was sentenced to three months in prison after failing to pay taxes on $1.8 million in earnings between 2005 and 2007, reports The Associated Press. In addition to her three month sentence, she'll have an additional three months of home confinement. During her sentencing, Hill told the judge that she always planned to pay the taxes, but was unable to when she dropped out of the music business. Earlier Monday, Lauryn reportedly paid more than $970,000 for taxes owed. Hill previously said that she didn't file her tax returns from 2005 to 2007 to protect her family from threats she was receiving at the time. She pleaded guilty last June and currently faces the maximum of one year for each count of tax evasion, but her attorney is hoping for probation.

See the 19th Annual MTN South African Music Awards on TV, online and/or mobile and tablets

2013-05-07T06:55:00.000+01:00

Music fans unable to lay their hands on tickets to the hottest music event in town, the 19th Annual MTN South African Music Awards (MTN SAMA 19) at Sun City on 10-11 May 2013, will be able to catch all the drama as it unfolds live across multiple TV shows, online and on mobile or tablet devices with a newly launched app – making it the most connected awards ceremony ever. SABC1, the official broadcaster partner of MTN SAMA 19 has announced a comprehensive broadcast schedule: Kicking off on Friday night, the much loved and popular Live Amp music show will cover all the action from the Friday night awards show – which focuses on the technical categories along with the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. The main awards coverage on Saturday kicks off at 6.30pm where RGB will be bring all the fashion highs and lows form the Y’ello carpet. Phat Joe and Pearl Thusi will catch up with all the trendy, fashionable and fabulous people in their glamorous outfits arriving for the live show before the official live broadcast.

Toya Delazy

And then the main awards ceremony will be live on SABC1 from 20:30 with live performances from artists like The Muffinz, Donald, Toya Delazy and more to be unveiled on the night. Due to the slight change in the broadcast schedule from 20:00 to 20:30, voting in the popular Record of the Year category (RoY) will now close at 22:00 and the winner announced live towards the end of the show at 23:30. But these awards are about watching live on more than one device. The Y’ello carpet, the awards ceremony and Amstel Green Room will all be streamed live. The two awards evenings (10-11 May) will also be streamed live and in real time on mobile (www.mtnsamatv.mobi) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/samusicawards). Fans will be able to watch interviews with their favourite artists LIVE on the Y’ello Carpet on their mobile phones and online. MTN SAMA 19 recently acquired a very unique App; in fact it is the first App in Africa for a music awards show enabling even more access to the awards. This free App works on Apple and Android devices and can be downloaded from their respective App markets. This App integrates all information regarding the MTN SAMAs, i.e. MTN SAMA TV, Twitter, Facebook, live streaming, live gallery and much more delivered via push notifications. Furthermore, clips will be packaged and uploaded as Video on Demand content post the awards on May 11, so if you do not catch the LIVE streams you can still watch all the action on the mobisite (www.mtnsamatv.mobi) and on the official MTN SAMA You Tube Channel (www.youtube.com/samusicawards).

CHEESE OF THE DAY! I'm Too Smurfy

2013-05-06T13:15:00.000+01:00

Right Said Fred

LOL! What is the music world coming to these days? Back in the day, bold headed duo Right Said Fred has a massive global hit with their song I'm Too Sexy. Now, the duo are updating the song for Golbal Smurf Day on 22 June, and it's called I'm Too Smurfy! This apparently coicide with the release of The Smurfs 2. Richard and Fred of 'Right Said Fred' commented, 'We are avid Smurf fans and really knocked out to be involved with this fantastic project. Keep Smurfin'!' Seriously, you've got to be kidding me...

You are LATE Mr Bieber! Again!

2013-05-06T12:57:00.000+01:00

Justin "very late" Bieber

With Justin Bieber fans literally counting down the hours to see their idol live for the first time in South Africa, news surfaced in Dubai that the singer arrived on stage over two hours late for his Dubai concert on 4 May. The 'Beauty And A Beat' singer angered fans and parents by failing to appear on time at the Sevens Stadium as part of his 'Believe World Tour'. The waiting audience began to boo the star as organisers told the crowd between 20:00 and 22:00 that Bieber "was on his way", al Arabiya reports. Many parents have since complained about their children being kept awake until the early hours since Sunday is a school day in Dubai. Rachael Quborsi told Sky News that her 11-year-old daughter only returned home from the concert at 12.45am. "I think it is disgusting that he can be over two hours late and he keeps on doing it. Who do these popstars think they are?" she said. Bieber's late arrival comes after he kept fans waiting two hours at the O2 Arena on March 4 during his disastrous week in London. Let's hope Beliebers won't wait that long for him for his shows here...

HOT CD! OneRepublic - Native

2013-05-02T15:38:00.001+01:00

OneRepublic release their third studio album Native. Lead single "If I Lose Myself" is the first single from the much anticipated group and their first since 2009's "Waking Up." "We're stoked to actually have this thing come out because we haven't put out an album in three years now and frankly I don't really want to do that again. I think the world's changed, musically and that's like the worst thing you can do as an artist today is to just disappear for three years. To just go away." Since forming in 2002, OneRepublic has released two studio albums. Their 2007 debut, "Dreaming Out Loud," reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and the followup, 2009's "Waking Up," which topped out at No. 21. While "Waking Up" sold about half as much as "Dreaming" (562,000 to 1.1 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan), the sophomore set enjoyed a long shelf life and produced four sturdy singles.

Lady Gaga NOT engaged...yet

2013-05-02T10:27:00.000+01:00

Lady Gaga & lover boy Taylor Kinney

Lady Gaga's boyfriend Taylor Kinney is surprised by the news the couple will marry, reports music-news.com. The 27-year-old pop star and her actor beau started officially dating in September 2011. The couple have been cohabitating in Chicago while Gaga recovers from hip surgery and Taylor films his TV series Chicago Fire. It has been rumoured for quite some time the pair are preparing to walk down the aisle. Taylor dismisses the hearsay. 'It''s news to me!' he told Extra. 'You probably know more about it than I do.' There have been several reports that Gaga is keen to move pursue an acting career. If she ever wants to guest star on Chicago Fire, Taylor confirms she will be welcome. 'Yeah, we could do that. She''d have like fire breathing breasts,' he laughed. The singer, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, cancelled the rest of her Born This Way Ball tour in February to recover from hip surgery. She has been wheelchair bound during recovery and Taylor has done his part to nurse her back to health. 'She''s great, she''s doing well,' Taylor confirmed. The couple met on the set of Gaga''s music video for You and I in late July 2011. Apart from a brief split in May 2012, they have been together ever since.

Kris Kross singer dies at age of 34

2013-05-02T10:16:00.001+01:00

Kris Kross

It's yet another sad day in music as it came to light that Kris Kross star Chris Kelly has died at the age of 34. Kelly formed one half of the 1990s kid rap duo, who are best known for their hit song 'Jump'. He was found unresponsive on Wednesday evening (May 1) inside his Atlanta home, the Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed to Billboard. He was pronounced dead at Atlanta Medical Centre at around 20:00. A cause of death has not been established and no further details have been released. Kelly - who rapped under the name Mac Daddy - featured in Kris Kross alongside Chris 'Daddy Mac' Smith. 'Jump', from the 1992 album Totally Krossed Out, spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and reached number two in the UK singles chart. Watch the video for the song, JUMP, HERE!

SA radio station 5FM nominated for the Worldwide Radio Summit Awards in Hollywood

2013-05-01T10:00:00.003+01:00

The number five is unquestionably South African radio station 5FM’s lucky number. The station has been nominated for an outstanding five Worldwide Radio Summit Awards. The prestigious awards and summit takes place from the 2 – 4 of May at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. The Worldwide Radio Summit is an essential event for anyone who has vested interests in radio; from breaking acts, record labels, publishers, station managers and talent agents across all platforms. Radio of course is also the worlds most powerful and influential platform to reach fans, sell music and influence local, national and global market places! 5FM is nominated by readers of the industry leader website, AllAccess.com the world’s largest online, news, music and information resource for radio worldwide. Members of the AllAccess.com community recognised 5FM as the music and entertainment authority, nominating the station in five categories out of a total of nine categories in the international section. Gareth Cliff, nominated for the Best International Radio Personality said “This is awesome for myself and for the station and I am absolutely thrilled. South Africa has the best listeners and they are so diverse and without them tuning in day after day, this nomination would not be possible. For this I thank them”.

Rihanna & Katy Perry going on an 'African safari'

2013-04-29T14:58:00.002+01:00

Katy Perry and Rihanna

It seems singer-songwriter Katy Perry and pop star Rihanna have buried their differences and now the two are reportedly planning a holiday to Africa. "Katy and Rihanna have both done the Hawaii and Cabo-type trips to Mexico before, so this time they're thinking something a bit different, like a safari in Africa," thesun.co.uk quoted a source as saying. "They want to go to a place where they can have amazing experiences," added the source. Now we wonder if this so-called safari get-away will hapopen when Rihanna tours South Africa later this year...

Performers for the MTN SAMA's 2013 announced

2013-04-29T12:12:00.001+01:00

Lira

Lira, Dr Thomas Chauke, Zozo, Sangre Superbeat, Toya Delazy, ChianoSky, Reason, Proverb, Desmond and the Tutus, The Muffinz and Vetkuk & Mahoota are some of the performances announced for the 19th Annual MTN South African Music Awards (MTN SAMA 19). The awards are taking place at the Sun City Superbowl on Saturday, 11 May 2013 and will air on SABC1 as well. The revealed line up makes up only half of the live performances on the awards night with a number of surprise collaborations and appearances to be revealed only on the night. Although the producers are keeping tight lipped about both the number and identity of these artists; they have revealed that there will be a whopping 120 individual performers on Saturday night.

Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald!

2013-04-25T13:28:00.001+01:00

Ella's Google doodle

Today, 25 April, would have been the 96th birthday of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald. Known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", this pioneering American jazz vocalist was known for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. Over the course of her 59-year recording career, she sold 40 million copies of her 70-plus albums, won 13 Grammy Awards and was awarded the National Medal of Arts by Ronald Reagan and the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H. W. Bush. Google celebrated her birthday today with a special doodle. Happy Birthday, Ella!

DVD! Die Heuwels Fantasties – Live op Paul Cluver

2013-04-25T09:14:00.001+01:00

Die Heuwels Fantasties

Surrounded by wine lands and sunshine, local rockers Die Heuwels Fantasties delivers a dazzling performance directly to their fans’ living rooms. The performance was filmed at the Bloekombos Amphitheatre on the Paul Cluver estate in the magical Elgin Valley. “We have wanted to perform there for a while and when the opportunity presented itself after the release of our third album, Alles Wat Mal Is, we jumped at the chance to record it. The wonderful thing about this DVD is that it covers tracks from across our whole discography all rolled into one. It was wonderful and the weather was great. We’d like to thank everyone that made this possible,” says Pierre Greeff, lead singer of Die Heuwels Fantasties. This DVD is definitely a must-have for each collection. Die Heuwels Fantasies will take old and young on a trip to a wonderful place where anything is possible. Bonus material includes Verraadplaas, Buitenste Ruim, Modus Operandi, Heel te Mal, Beloofde Land, Rofstoeigreep, and Die Volkslied.Get the DVD from 10 May!

CD REVIEW! Lil Wayne - I Am Not A Human Being II

2013-04-25T08:18:00.000+01:00

Rapper Lil Wayne's 10th studio album, I Am Not A Human Being II, is not quite what we expected. It's safe to say that the CD has the distinction of being the rapper’s most focused album yet, although it seems he didn't put that much effort into the CD. I Am Not A Human Being II descends into nonsensical party rap — which isn’t bad in and of itself, but it’s the way it’s delivered by Wayne and his comrades (including 2 Chainz, Soulja Boy, and Drake): lethargic, bored, and uninspired. Effort. Just a little. This album has less than little. Lil Wayne is an aficionado of pussy-eating and doing lots of drugs, usually at the same time. That’s all you’ll learn from listening to I Am Not a Human Being Part II. Although there are several standout tracks on the album, it's not as cohesive as his previous work. Each track is vastly different from the next, like snapshots of planets Wayne visited as he soared through outer space during the recording process. Like space travel, it can be disorienting at times.