UK artist, FKA Twigs debut album “LP 1” will be released on August 12.  On Monday, she released the video for the first single “Two Weeks” and it is phenomenal. If for no other reason than it’s use of minimalism.

We’re talking one scene, the camera pans down, taking about half of the song to fully unveil Queen Twigs basking in Egyptian splendor with the many FKA Twigs dancers at her feet. Unconsciously being forced to slow down to watch this happen, with the lush music and vocals, gives the video a cinematic touch.

FKA Twigs is an artist who continues to express her individuality by intentionally coloring at the edge of and mostly, beyond the outlines of current trends; living the artist’s way.

Unique, these days.

Last night, during the final show of a three-night run at Revel’s Ovation Hall in Atlantic City, Kanye West stopped a song, auto-tune still ringing in the mic, and asked the audience Can we make some noise for my baby momma? And just like that, the world found out that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are having a baby.

For the doubtful, it was this video clip that cemented it.

The jokes are flying fast and furious, but all I’ll say is congratulations to the both of them.

Kanye is happy with her and I never got into bashing Kim Kardashian. For what? She’s talentless? Yeah. So stop watching her show. I don’t. Her marriage lasted 72 days? You take that personal? She slept with eight guys, that we know of, best believe some of you have numbers well above that range, difference is, you don’t live your life in public.

Also, she’s just not a mean spirited person.

If Kim was falling out of clubs, drunk off her ass, and just a foul mouthed, out of control diva, it would take her down ten pegs; but until then, let that chick live. As if I need to give her the go ahead.

Again, congrats.

Oh yeah, pictures from Kanye’s Atlantic City show are on Normal. Looks like he went all out.

In this week’s video address, Barack and Michelle Obama sent a special message for the holidays. Last year’s theme was “Shine, Give, Share.” This year it’s “Joy to All.” As they describe: it’s the joy of giving service to others; the joy of sharing blessings with one another;  and, the joy of mixing it up with friends and families over the next two weeks.

The Republican side of the house and senate could demonstrate that Joy for All spirit by agreeing to legislation that will prevent us from sliding off the fiscal cliff.

Skipping politics: Michelle looks great.

Here she reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to kids at the Children’s National Medical Center. You’ll see, Bo loves the camera.

So he got a spinoff show.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

This picture of Trinidad James’ teeth is circulating the web. The focus is on the one tooth in the middle and the one missing.
Just one — of both.

On Thursday in New York, Trinidad James stopped at Power 105 to speak with The Breakfast Club. He explained the situation.

“First of all, I just had the bad grill in the beginning (like from birth.) And actually we did a show in Athens at UGA and turnt up… tooth came out. In a couple of weeks I’m going to get my joint turnt up.” You know, fixed.

So in a month, he’ll be in a dentist’s chair.

Why didn’t he fix them before the gold fronts?

I don’t think he expected to blow up this fast.

This growing spotlight was a Hail Mary that caught on. Trinidad James’ short story: he was working and making music; got frustrated; got arrested and decided jail shouldn’t be a part of his future. He went back to music with better focus and a better plan. The result (ironically) Don’t Be Safe. “All Gold Everything” was the last song on the tape and only made it because, “I needed a hood song.”

Which is a point to make, if you hate “All Gold Everything,” lyrically, it’s the most simplistic song on the tape. Listen to “Givin No F*cks”. He can put together sentences.

In the end, it’s all about the music.

Even as major labels are lining up to sign him, he’s in no rush and plans to stay the path and treat Don’t Be Safe like an album. A remix to “All Gold Everything” and 3 – 4 videos are in the works.

All of that and even Jerome was discussed.

Good interview.

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled on Trinidad James “All Gold Everything” video, grabbed the mixtape, watched the behind the scenes Gold Chronicles series. You see where this is going? Dude grabbed my attention. Despite that, honestly, I still don’t know much about him on a personal level, like what his story is. But his music is entertaining and the over the top outfits and fashion sense is making him into a bit of a character — a key ingredient for success.

Last night, Trinidad James performed at Santos Party House in New York City. The place was packed from the stage to the front door.

Check that crowd reaction, crazy when you consider all that exists, for most, is the video.

Speaking of which, if you don’t have the “Don’t Be Safe” mixtape, get it now. Through his Molly sweats, musically (and especially when you hear him talk in the Gold Chronicles) I get the sense that there is more to him than cheetah print and a gold grill sneer.

- picture via @djlaser

In 2010, Ryan Leslie lost a laptop which had unreleased music on it. As an artist, producer and songwriter it meant a lot of money and creations, swept away in the wind; so Ryan Leslie posted a video on YouTube offering $20,000 for the return of his laptop.

Nobody came forward, so he pumped the offer to $1 million. Surprise, someone said, “I’ll take that"and he got his laptop back. Ryan Leslie didn’t pay the reward though, he said he couldn’t recover the music from the hard drive.

The man, Armin Augstein took Ryan Leslie to court and on Thursday, Nov. 30 a jury returned the judgement: Ryan Leslie has to pay the $1 million that he said he would.

On Friday, at a Long Island University homecoming show, Ryan Leslie made his feelings public about the verdict. He almost shed a tear when he mentioned the front page of the NY Post.

Which led to him lighting it on fire.

Why offer a million dollars?

Two things here.

In court, Ryan Leslie’s lawyers parsed words, saying he literally meant “getting his music back,” not just the laptop. So considering he couldn’t recover it, Ryan Leslie felt the initial $1 million should be up for negotiation. How could anyone promise he’d get his music back? All they could, and what Armin Augstein did, is give him the laptop that he lost.

And why did Ryan Leslie ever increase the offer to a million? If he really intended on paying someone the reward, bump it to $100,000; not an amount that would break his pockets.

A YouTube video, seriously?

That said, I don’t know how a judge considers a YouTube video to be a contractually bound promise to the public. I mean, really, it’s YouTube; cats skateboard there. #jokes.

The reward is still out there

Yes, it’s true. He’s still making promises.

In the video, Ryan Leslie says..

“That million dollar reward is still out there for anybody that can return all of my compositions to me. That’s why I never took the video off of YouTube. I never got anything back.”

Ryan Leslie will not be cutting any more checks. He knows, recoverable or not, the music would have been on the laptop he has.

That’s how he got himself into trouble, it sounds good to say it.