The hugely talented Russell W. Howard dropped his new mixtape yesterday, with features from Jon Connor, Nipsey Hussle, Freddie Gibbs and more!
Beautiful Distraction is available on HotNewHipHop and Datpiff FREE for download, and the instrumental tracks to his mixtape will also be released for download soon.
With production credits for Hip Hop titans like Jay-Z, DMX and Lupe Fiasco, Russell is a rare talent who bridges the gap between producer and rapper, spitting rhymes as deftly as he crafts his beats.
Currently, Russell is touring the U.S. with iTunes Top 10 artists (and a Blastro favorite) Aziatix.
For more information on Russell W. Howard and a list of tour dates, check out his official website.
Jay-Z and Kanye West are bringing their 'Watch the Throne' tour to Europe.
The two rappers are transporting their huge stage spectacular over from North America - where they completed a sold out 35-date tour - in May, to play dates in England, France, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and Germany, among others.
The pair are also coming to Europe fresh from winning a Best Rap Performance Grammy for their track, 'Otis,' earlier this month.
Jay-Z recently hinted he and Kanye could start work on a follow up to their self-titled debut, to be released as early as next year.
He said: "We - I say 'we' because I'm in Throne mode - we're in a great place creatively. You might see a Jay, then Kanye and a Throne album next year. We really found our zone."
The rappers have been working together for over ten years, with Kanye getting his big break producing Jay's track 'Izzo (H.O.V.A.),' which went on to be one of the latter's biggest hits.
They have continued to appear on each other's tracks ever since.
Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday at 9am.
Watch the Throne European tour dates 2012:
May 20 - O2 Arena, London
May 24 - Zurich Hellenstadion, Switzerland
May 26 - Herning Arena, Denmark
May 28 - Oslo Telenor Arena, Norway
May 29 - Stockholm The Globe, Sweden
June 1 - Paris Bercy, France
June2 - Paris Bercy, France
June3 - Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium
June 5 - Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany
June 8 - Dublin O2 Arena, Ireland
June11 - Manchester Arena, Manchester
June 13 - Birmingham LG Arena, Birmingham
Kelly Rowland can never be without her Bible when she is on tour.
The 'Down For Whatever' hitmaker doesn't have many backstage demands when she performs around the world, but she is always sure to have the religious text with her wherever she is.
She said: "The only thing I asked for is Fiji Water. When I'm on tour the only thing I can't be without is my Bible."
The 30-year-old singer likes to keep fit both on tour and when she is at home in Los Angeles, and most of the time she manages to refrain from consuming calorific treats despite having the odd "cheat day."
She added: "I like to feel good about myself and know what I'm putting in my body. It's not about putting on pound, it's about being healthy.
"Food isn't meant to make you feel lethargic. It's about nutrition, but you do have your cheat days. I love sugar and I love fried food but I try and leave it alone most of the time. I also love a nice glass of red wine."
JLS won't collaborate with Rihanna until they find the perfect song.
The British boy band have been in talks with the 'We Found Love' beauty about working on a single together and although both parties are keen, JLS say they don't want to waste anyone's time until they get the right tune.
Marvin Humes exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Right now our dream collaboration would be Rihanna. Obviously we've worked with some amazing people, Dev and Tinie Tempah - which was amazing. But the one person we all want to work with at the moment is Rihanna. "
Oritse Williams added: "There's been rumors about us and Rihanna for a while and we both really want to work together but it's just a matter of finding the right song. On both sides we really want to do it but if we do this collaboration we want it to be spectacular so until we find that song we can't do anything but watch this space."
Ortise also revealed the band have spent time in America recently, writing songs for their fourth album.
He said: "We've been over and back to the states quite a bit, we wrote a lot of our fourth album over there. People think we go over there to try and break the American market but we've also used it as a chance to work with some producers that we don't have access to over here. International fans are important to us but it was great to work with some of our musical inspirations and we loved it."
JLS teamed up with MasterCard for its exclusive Priceless Duets competition, which supports its 14th year of partnership with The BRIT Awards.
For your chance to win a Priceless Duet go to www.somethingforthefans.co.uk. JLS's competition is now closed, but there's a 'Priceless Duet' with BRIT award winner Jessie J still up for grabs.
Dappy thinks he would be "boring" if he hadn't taken drugs.
The 'Rockstar' singer insists he has cleaned up his act now for the sake of his sons Gino, three, and 14-month-old Milo - his kids with girlfriend Kaye Vassell - but is glad he has had the experiences he has.
He said: "I was never doing drugs to Amy Winehouse's extent but I could've really gone downhill. I could've easily stayed on drugs because I've got the money.
"Of course I'm not [still taking drugs]. I'm fresh and I'm clean. I've got two kids. But if I had none of that past, I'd find myself boring. What would I have to rap about?"
Dappy also insisted he is now faithful to Kaye because he didn't like the "stress" of trying to win her back following his dalliances with other women.
The N-Dubz star told Now magazine: "I've made mistakes. I've cheated. All it does is make you look like a weak person, like you're desperate to get more women because you need more attention. If I just gave myself to everyone, I'd lose my mystique - you can't be available to f**k every Tom, Dick and Harry.
"I knew if I kept on going with these one-night flings, Kaye would leave me. It's so much stress to get her back, all for a cheap thrill. I haven't cheated for a whole year now."
Beyonce is reportedly planning to start work on two new albums.
The 'Love on Top' singer only gave birth to her first daughter Blue Ivy Carter last month but is already said to be thinking about her music career and planning the follow up to '4,' released last year.
Producer Ryan Tedder - who co-wrote Beyonce's hit 'Halo' - told Theboombox.com: "The conversations about her next album literally just started and there are two projects happening.
"All I can say is you kind of feed her the best that you have and she's this phenomenal filter and she takes it all in."
OneRepublic frontman Ryan added the 30-year-old singer is being as forward thinking as ever, and planning what will sound good next year.
He added: "She's not interested in 2012, she's interested in what's going to sound good for 2013."
One of the projects could prospectively be the soundtrack to Clint Eastwood's planned remake of 1954 film 'A Star Is Born,' about a young starlet helped by an ageing movie star, in which Beyonce is lined up for the female lead role.
Dubstep producer Skrillex has urged "bedroom geniuses" to "take over the world."
The producer won two Grammy awards on Sunday - Dance/Electronica Album for his second record 'Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,' and Dance Recording for its title track - and shared another with producer Benny Benassi for his remix of the track 'Cinema,' and sees it as a positive sign for bedroom musicians everywhere.
After picking up his awards he tweeted: "Forgot to shout out so many people...I could have spent an hour shouting all my dogs...but BIG shout to @BennyBenassi and @garygo Congrats!! (sic)
"If I can win grammys then that means all you yet to be seen bedroom geniuses will one day TAKEOVER THE WORLD (sic)."
The awards saw another huge dance music artist, deadmau5, pay something of a tribute to Skrillex, wearing a T-shirt which had the producer's phone number on it, with the words "u mad bro?" written underneath.
He tweeted: "Congrats to skrillex for the best remix grammy :) can't say I'm not proud. But skrillex, doesn't mean you're safe from getting the ultimate mau5 trolling (sic)."
Skrillex replied: "Haha @deadmau5 just wore my phone number on his f*kin shirt on tv gotta retire this phone (sic)."
Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48.
The 'My Love is Your Love' hitmaker was pronounced dead by paramedics at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at 3.55pm yesterday after she was unresponsive to attempts at reviving her.
A reason for her death has not yet been given, and her body was identified by family and friends, TMZ.com reports.
Whitney was staying at the hotel ahead of a planned performance at record executive Clive Davies' pre-Grammy party - which took place last night - and she was seen partying and drinking with friends on Friday night.
Hours after her death her 18-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina - whom she had with ex-husband Bobby Brown - tried to see her mother's body but was denied access by police.
She screamed and cursed in a bid to get access but eventually left without her request being fulfilled.
Whitney's cousin Dionne Warwick turned up some hours later and she was also denied access.
Meanwhile a teary Bobby took to the stage for a planned concert in Mississippi with his group New Edition.
At the end of one song, he looked up at the sky, where he blew a kiss and shouted: "I love you, Whitney."
Whitney and Brown were married from 1992 to 2007, and the pair were known for a volatile relationship that included periods of heavy drug use.
However, speaking about their marriage in 2009, Whitney admitted she had strong feelings for him.
She said: "I loved him so much. He was my drug. I didn't do anything without him."
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