Ever since Tupac Shakur was killed in 1996, the rumours surrounding the legitiacy of his death have become almost as legendary as his status within the Hip-Hop community.
Whatever the case, it’s safe to say we won’t ever see rapper again the flesh.
However, in what can only be hailed as epic embrace of the digital age, the Hip-Hop icon was revived last night during Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg‘s headlining Coachella set last night. Appearing in hologram form, ‘Pac performed ‘Hail Mary’ and ‘2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted’ – alongside Snoop.
The ‘Barbz’ were in mourning last night when their Queen- Pop gem Nicki Minaj– deleted her Twitter account.
In response to a provocative ‘Retweet’ campaign launched by fan site ‘Nicki Daily‘ (who she blocked for posting leaked snippets of her new album three weeks ago, Minaj shocked fans by pulling her official page after tweeting ‘It’s only so much a person can take‘.
Say what you want, but there’s no denying Rihanna is one of the most beautiful women in Pop music today.
The sun-kissed Barbadian beauty recently tweeted a series of salacious shots sun-bathing in a denim bikini and hamming it up on a tour bus for all of the world to ogle.
Pop Princess Britney Spears will be breaking a sweat in her upcoming ‘Twister Dance’ game set to be released this fall.
The 30 year old singer even recorded a brand new auto-tuned remix of ‘Till The World Ends’ for the Hasbro dance game. Of the endorsement Spears told E! News: “As soon as I saw the new Twister Dance game, I knew I wanted to be involved. I think kids will love rocking the spots and dancing to the music as much as my boys and I do. It’s a lot of fun!”
It’s a word girl groups of the past, present, and future are well-versed in. Indeed, for many, it’s been the very catalyst for their public imploding (see: Danity Kane), while for others it’s been the exact ingredient for their heightened success (see: Destiny’s Child).
Yet, few narratives can match the length, depth, or span of time covered by the drama surrounding The Supremes.
Formed in the 1950’s with original members Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard, the ladies “story” would go on to become one of the industry’s most controversial.
Characterised by unity, dissent, favouritism, divaism, and death, not to mention an assembly line of members, old feelings were brought to the surface when the surviving members of the original line-up attempted to reform in 2000.
The fall-out played out publicly two episodes of ABC’s 20/20. Check out Mary Wilson and Diana Ross duke it out below…
In the heat of her hype, it’s easy to forget how successful Nicki Minaj has been thus far.
Selling more copies of her debut album in one year than rival Lil Kim sold of hers in fifteen, Minaj’s feats now have her going toe to toe with the likes of Beyonce, Rihanna, Mariah Carey & Janet Jackson.
Peep proud parents Jay Z and Beyonce, out about in NYC today.
Sans their daughter Blue Ivy, the pair were spotted at the Knicks vs Miami Heat game nights after supporting ROC star Rita Ora at the ‘Cartier Party’, but weeks before Knowles is set to return to the stage for the first time since giving birth.
Rob Fusari, to any familiar with his work, is nothing short of a Pop demigod.
Responsible for Destiny’s Child‘s ‘Bootylicious‘, Fusari is perhaps best known for creating 2008’s ‘The Fame‘, for and alongside New York native Lady GaGa.
Cited as the man behind her ascent, Rob’s relationship with the maestra soon fizzled following a lawsuit launched by the writer in 2010. A lawsuit, which claimed he had been cut out of GaGa’s lucrative recording contract once his services were no longer required.
Now, in an unforeseen turn of events, he has launched a scathing attack on the star- by way of Twitter.
Today, From The Vault journeys back to 2004, with the hit single ‘Rich Girl’ from dynamo duo Gwen Stefani and Eve.
The ragga-tinged cut served as the second offering from Stefani’s stellar solo debut ‘Love.Angel.Music.Baby’ and was released during the last quarter of 2004. Produced by Hip-Hop heavyweight Dr. Dre, ‘Rich was a global monster hit reaching the Top 10 of numerous countries and earning the duo yet another Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Grammy nod.
Indeed, the track serves as the 2nd of their collective efforts; with the first being E.V.E’s 2001 smash ‘Let Me Blow Your Mind’ – which featured Stefani on the hook and was also helmed by Dre. It would be this cut that would nab the coveted Grammy.
What’s so interesting about the ‘Love.Angel.Music.Baby’ album’s single-run (or the LP, as a whole for that matter) is how all the songs boast a genuine ‘Gwen-Factor’ while remaining worlds apart from each other. Whether Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, New Wave, the mother of two possesses a unique musical character that enables her to touch upon every musical style without ever sounding contrived or desperate.
The tune’s David LaChapelle directed video is an elaborate high fashion pirate-themed affair complete with ships, anchors and cannon fires. It goes without saying, our two ladies look incredible in it.
From the over-the-top fashion and the ‘different’ sound, to the big-budget glossy videos and intricate stage showings, we firmly believe Gwen Stefani had laid down the groundwork for the Fergies, GaGas, Perrys and to some extent Minajs of the world; injecting the reality that “crazy” is cool and outrageous can be fun. It is a shame, then, that the said artists and their counterparts -when quizzed about their influences- namedrop many a retro legends, often forgetting the Orange County Girl.
Here’s hoping both Gwen and Eve hurry up and hit us with some new material soon.
