September 5, 2011

Drake Compares Rick Ross' Next LP To B.I.G., Snoop

Drake and Rick Ross play up each other's upcoming albums.
By Rob Markman

Rick Ross
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

LOS ANGELES — Trying to determine something as subjective as what constitutes a hip-hop classic is an impossible task, but there are a few albums that are widely recognized crown-holders. Among them are the Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, and it is in this same regard that Drake holds Rick Ross' upcoming fifth album.

"This guy right here," Drake said motioning to Ross as the two sat at Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV release party Sunday, "That God Forgives I Don't; the only way I can describe it is like Doggystyle or Ready to Die or Clipse Lord Willin' or any of the albums that I collected and held on to as a kid — whether it was cassette or CD."

Drake's measure may not be an objective one, but it isn't farfetched, considering that many have credited Ross with improving as an artist with each album he puts out. As of now, the album is still being recorded and only a select few have been able to hear it.

DJ Khaled also sang Rozay's praises when MTV News interviewed him back in July. "God Forgives I Don't is a classic-in-the-making. Let me tell you something right now: This album is so crazy from the beginning of what I've been in the studio hearing already," he said. "I can't give you too much because I'm going to let him do that, because that's his project, but I could tell you right now it's classic and he is talking that talk."

The Bawse isn't the only one with an album dropping soon. On October 24, Drake plans to release his sophomore LP, but the Bawse has already gotten a sneak peek. "I feel extremely grateful to hear a bulk of Take Care. Just to hear this man's tone of voice and the sh-- that he's saying is just so visual," Ross said. "And if you're a true Drake fan — if you love his first album, this one right here, this sh-- is uncut."

Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani Halle Berry

September 4, 2011

Star Snapshots

Madonna strikes a pose in Venice! Plus, see more of your favorite celebs on the scene!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/star-snapshots/1-b-75638

Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville

September 4, 2011

I Saw The Sign-ing

Last night I attended an in-store book signing event hosted by Marilyn Manson and his new BFF Shia LaBeouf here in Hollywood, CA where the pair were meeting fans who purchased their book Born Villain. As unlikely a pairing as they may seem, MM and Shia looked like the best of buds and honestly were [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/VflkKdfFhac/

Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel Ashanti Ashlee Simpson

September 4, 2011

'Tribe Called Quest' Documentary Heads To DVD In October

FROM RAP FIX: Clap your hands because RapFix has learned that ?Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest? is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on October 8, with special bonus features and deleted scenes. The Michael Rapaport-directed rap documentary follows the rise and fall of the luminary hip-hop quartet A Tribe Called [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/02/tribe-called-quest-documentary-heads-to-dvd-in-october/

Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin Ashley Tisdale Asia Argento

September 4, 2011

Adam Lambert's 'Whole Lotta Love': The Story Behind The Cover

Glam rocker tackled the legendary 1970 Led Zeppelin song for 'American Idol' rock night.
By Gil Kaufman

Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox

Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."

That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.

The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.

For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.

Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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