N*E*R*D spoke had a one-on-one with Blackbook magazine to discuss their fourth studio album, Nothing. In the interview, the members discuss their different approach to the music all while keeping their unique and quirky style:
Williams’ deliberate shift from playboy to politico is felt all over Nothing, which he approached with a new-found sensitivity to global affairs. “We looked at the war, we looked at commerce, we looked at finance, we looked at the environment,” he says. It’s heavy stuff for a band whose inaugural single was called “Lapdance.” But, he adds, smiling, “We also looked at other interesting things, like the new Ferrari. I like a flower as much as I like a Ferrari. If it’s under the sun, why do I have to choose just one?”
For Nothing, 27 initial tracks were whittled down to the dozen or so that appear on the mastered album. The ones that got cut weren’t “magical,” Hugo says. “They were all great songs,” adds Williams, “but we needed something that will make people go, ‘What the fuck was that?’ When you hear this music, you’re gonna bug out.” Given the underwhelming critical reception of N.E.R.D’s last couple offerings, the band had better hope to blow a few minds. [SOURCE]
The guys have been through some changes as of late but it seems that the group remains a threesome. From what we just read it seems that the music will be left-field as usual so don’t expect a Billboard Hot 100 #1 unless it’s a surprise. Listen to 2 new tracks from the album after…
Photographer Blair J. Meadows was inspired by the catastrophic BP oil oil spill. Meadows chose five local models, placed them in swimsuits and set the tone for a dark themed photoshoot. Below is an excerpt of what the photoshoot is all about:
It’s been well over 100 days since the oil started to leak in the Gulf Coast – leaving countless amounts of animals and marine life in jeopardy, and turning “making a living” into trying to survive in a living hell. Predictions were made that the oil can possibly flow to the islands of the Bahamas. Most of us took this threat seriously seeing that we have no means of acting against it. However, in a matter of days we were back to normal: focusing on minor things such as where we go and how we dress. [SOURCE]
The models look great and Meadows & Co. put a lot of effort behind the entire project. It’s great to see our Bahamians putting a little more creativity and thinking a little more outside of the box artistically. View images after…
M.I.A. is the feature story for the June/July issue of Complex magazine as part of the promotion for her forthcoming album, /\/\ /\ Y /\ (MAYA). As with most interviews done by the visual artist, there is always a constant flow of opinions and introspect rolling out of her mouth.
On her admiration for Kanye West, as a person and an artist:
I think Kanye is trying to take it into a new realm and he’s sort of putting the artistry back into it and sort of taking it in that direction.
On her opinon of Jay-Z vs. Nas:
I was having a conversation about Jay-Z and Nas and how it was really crazy how they were having this Nas vs. Jay-Z moment 10 years ago and no one really talks about it now.
Jay became the biggest representation of rap music who’s still alive, started dating Beyoncé—everything was so much bigger and better with Jay-Z. I hope people don’t think that that wins. The fact that Nas didn’t become all this sort of stuff changes people’s perception about the music and the work he achieved in his lifetime. I don’t wanna say Jay-Z sold out, but I just feel like we have to wait another 10 years to see what happens. Jay-Z’s ambition was to become like Frank Sinatra, a household name all over the planet, and own a casino in Vegas and stuff like that. And I think Nas was really sticking to knowledge. I still think the biggest point about hip-hop is in there somewhere, what happens to those two artists. [SOURCE 1] [SOURCE 2]
After reading the entire interview you can’t help but admire her more and more because the thing with her is not about being comfortable, it’s all about awareness. Being uncomfortable is what ticks most people off. Also, sure, Kanye West is as great as she says he is, we always agree on that but there just comes a time when a person should know when to keep their mouth closed. Then again, that would be comfortable. You can read the entire interview HERE and view the gallery after.
Whilst Ciara tells us how much he loves the way she “Rides” it on the music front, she’s taking on job deux as a high fashion model for the pages of Vogue Paris in the June/July issue. The sexy and toned singer was shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott in a somewhat sexual pictorial entitled Coup De Foudre.
Ciara looks very much like a model in these photos but as good as they are we’re still more focused on her music. Take the volume of appeal in those Vogue photos and put it in her music and her album will be just as great as it should be. View the photos after…
Madonna is the main feature in the May 2010 issue of the über alternative Interview Magazine. The pictorial shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott displays Madonna at her best and is hands down her best photoshoot within the last few years. The shoot is provocative, sexy, powerful and every other empowering quality that makes Madonna who she is. Read the cover feature here. View the complete gallery as well as a behind-the-scenes video after…
When we recently saw the image above, loads of things came to mind with one of them being the jokes we could get off it. So in dedication to the image above we present you…
Supermodel Gisele Bündchen is about to be 3 decades old this year and is still going strong in an industry where youth is preferred. Bündchen is a rarity, she is one of the handful of women in one of the industries of glitz and glamor that just gets better with age. In the latest issue of Korean Vogue, Bündchen looks as good or better than any 20-25 year old. Unless the super decides to leave the industry we’ll have at least another 10 years of the Brazilian bombshell. View the gallery after…
Ever since Rihanna knocked boots with LA Dodger’s player Matt Kemp, the public’s fascination with him has just skyrocketed. Only time will tell if this attention will be a blessing or a curse but for now he’s receiving some perks, such as posing for GQ magazine.
On his relationship with Rihanna:
“That’s a good friend of mine,” Kemp says cryptically but politely. “We hang out and have fun.”
On entertainers receiving more attention than athletes in LA:
“I don’t need a bunch of people or a security guard. Singers and actresses are going to get way more recognized than an athlete—unless you’re Kobe Bryant.”
Matt was also interviewed back in March, when the photoshoot took place and was overall very polite and kind about the 4 hour photoshoot:
On taking another similar opportunity:
“Why not?” he asked. “I had fun. They had the music going. It was a cool little crew. The cameraman was supposedly one of the best in the world.”
On his confidence in GQ magazine:
“I can pull anything off. That’s GQ magazine. They know what they’re doing. They make you look good. They can make anyone look good… They have computers, man,” Kemp said. [SOURCE]
Cool guy, he doesn’t seem as pigheaded as most athletes. Check out 3 more photos after…
The incredible and enigmatic Janelle Monáe is the muse for the latest issue of Honey Magazine. The visual and performance artist speaks about everything from her art to her style to love and everything else in between. Read below for a few of the highlights from the editorial.
On the inspiration behind her “Tightrope” video:
The song is about balance. I’m an artist and I think it’s important that we don’t think too high or too low about anything, whether it’s praise or critical advice… It takes place at the Palace of the Doges. I’ve heard great things about this place, Jimi Hendrix [and] Charlie Parker [performed] there. I got the opportunity to go there and really study the vibe. This was a time when dancing was forbidden, so I re-enacted a particular rebellious scene that happened. You will get more narratives of my experience at the Palace of Doges as we continue to finish the visuals. It’s an introduction to what it was like staying at this historical building.
On the sound of The ArchAndroid and whether her music has changed since she began:
I like to think of my music as very trans-formative. If you listen to the album from the beginning to the end, you will be transformed. It’s an album that’s deals with self-realization as well. You start to realize things about yourself you didn’t know. One big emotional picture for the mind.
I wouldn’t say my music has changed significantly. I’ve always been a music lover of great albums: Stevie Wonder’s Music of Mind, Innervisions, to David Bowie. It’s always been in me to pull from these inspirations and to come up with something unique and to pull from myself…
On her signature tuxedo wardrobe:
…I bathe in it, I swim in it, and I could be buried in it. A tux is such a standard uniform, it’s so classy and it’s a lifestyle I enjoy. The tux keeps me balanced. I look at myself as a canvas. I don’t want to cloud myself with too many colors or I’ll go crazy. It’s an experiment I’m doing. I think I want to be in the Guinness Book of World Records.
On how she feels about love:
…I think that love is very beautiful and it’s an energy that I love having. I do date and I do have someone that I love. Someone that understands me very well and encourages me to be the best person and artist I can be. I couldn’t ask for a better android.
On her plans for TheArchAndroid:
We are shooting a video for every song on the album, The ArchAndroid. We are creating a very strong narrative. We have a graphic novel coming out at the time of the release. This is a very special project. I’m very excited about the future and I have no idea what is in store.
