Hi, hello, yes it is our first post for the new year. What else can we say…

What better way to start off the year, a month late, than with Madonna. The reigning matriarch of Pop has returned with a new era nearly four years since Hard Candy. The icon will release her twelfth studio album entitled MDNA on March 26. With over a month to go before the release of the album the era is already promising to be a good one.

The first blitz of the MDNA era occurs this Sunday. Madonna will give 12 minutes of her self to put on the “greatest (half-time)show” at Super Bowl XLVI. But before that happens the first single and video from the album have premiered.

“Give Me All Your Luvin’” is the first single to be lifted from MDNA and features M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj. The “hoity-toity” Madge has labeled all music out today as having a homogenized quality. She is not lying but at the same time “Give Me All Your Luvin’” isn’t the most original. The Martin Solveig-produced track sounds awfully similar to The Go-Go’s 1980 hit, “We Got The Beat.” The addition of Nicki Minaj is unnecessary and M.I.A. does not look so comfortable. However, Nicki Minaj never looked better wearing a black wig.  The single is definitely a grower and hopefully is just a warm-up to what will be a great album.

Now, as for the video, it’s cute, it’s camp and comes off as a thank you to the NFL for the halftime gig. The video opens with the true but cheesy lines, “Fans can make you famous, a contract can make you rich, the press can make you a superstar, but only luv can make you a player.” Madonna’s energy through out the video is quite mute compared to what we’re used to. Coming out the gates, it will give cause some to say oh, age is catching up with her… Anyway, the video is aight and the best bit about it is when she walks on the wall as she is held by the footballers.

Not one without controversy, Madonna has already gotten off to a hot start. Track number one, “Girls Gone Wild,” is being targeted by by Joe Francis for the song’s title being exact to his franchise…

iTunes has unveiled the official track list to MDNA and it seems promising:

1. Girls Gone Wild
2. Gang Bang
3. I’m Addicted
4. Some Girls
5. I Don’t Give A
6. Turn Up the Radio
7. Give Me All Your Luvin’ feat. M.I.A. & Nicki Minaj
8. B’day Song
9. Superstar
10. I’m a Sinner
11. Masterpiece
12. Falling Free
13. Love Spent
14. I Fucked Up
15. Beautiful Killer **Not “Beautiful Stranger” from Austin Powers…**

There will also be three additional (bonus)tracks for the Deluxe Edition. What else, hmmmm, oh there will be an announcement in the near future for Madonna’s next world tour. Madge’s promo game is tight this go round. Listen to the megamix which includes the unreleased “Girls Gone Wild” and “Turn Up the Radio” below.

If there is one artist who is a testament to the fact that albums still do sell, it’s Adele. With many believing the death of the album is in the near future, Adele fights that opinion. To this day Adele has sold more than 12 million copies of her sophomore album, 21, worldwide. This is without desperate marketing strategies or silly gimmicks. In just two months from now the album will be a year old and it is predicted the album will have sold 13 million by that time. Adele is one of the few to bring raw musical talent to the top of the charts. We raise a glass to you, Adele, Grammys 2012 look out!

Pink Friday: ROMAN RELOADED will be released on Valentines Day, 2012. Heeeee’s baaaacccckkkkk. [SOURCE]

Interesting, what the title suggests is Minaj is still on that hit single run but while try to be a bit more Hip-Hop with the Roman… We imagine it will be another entertaining album.

Rihanna just made things 90% official by posting an album of photos on her official Facebook page confirming Talk That Talk‘s track list. Confirming that the songs are not in the final order as well as a track or two being changed, viewers now have an idea of the direction of the album. It seems to be the favored and usual direction of ballads and energetic uptempos. Rihanna confirmed “Answer” will not make the track list as well as “Saxon” being titled “Red Lipstick.” “Saxon” also happens to be the name of a Chase & Status Dubstep instrumental (listen after…) Rihanna also confirmed that the album will have only one feature, claiming “we got the best!!!!!” We have a feeling this album may have a surprise hit or two.

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When “We Found Love” was initially released, some were underwhelmed and some fancied it. It was the first time a Rihanna single did not rush to the top of the iTunes chart. Fast forward and the official music video was released. The video did something magical and turned every listener who questioned the song into certified lovers of it. Just this past weekend it was a shock to see the crowd’s reaction, in the club, when the song started playing.

“We Found Love” bumped Adele’s “Someone Like You” from the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 to take its place. Rihanna is now in good company as she passes Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder, both of whom had 10 #1′s. Rihanna now follows Whitney Houston (11), the Supremes (12), Madonna (12), Michael Jackson (13), Mariah Carey (18) and the Beatles (20). Now let’s see if Talk That Talk, her sixth album, will go #1 on the Billboard 200 in its first week. Speaking #1, Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto tops the 200 this week with about 447,000 copies sold. If you haven’t, check out the addictive “We Found Love” after…

Rihanna, about to release her sixth studio album in six years… and the information is starting to pour in. The news came last weekend that the first single from the project is produced by DJ Calvin Harris. Then came along a tweet “Sometimes it feels like we find love in the most hopeless place” followed by the confirmed title of “We Found Love.”

Just yesterday, a release date of October 11 was announced for the single only to be pushed up three weeks to this Thursday, September 21. Overexposure comes to mind with these continuous brand new releases from Rihanna but the lady switches it up each time. On top of that, over on her Facebook page she is doing the “Unlock” promo idea that was used two years ago during her Rated R era.

Another year, another Rihanna studio LP. Yeap, Rihanna’s LOUD era is not even a year old but the Bajan is moving forward with a brand new album/era. Originally, there was to be a LOUD re-release but just the other day Rihanna confirmed the new album’s existence and confirmed its release for this Fall, yesterday.

Of course with a new album from Rihanna, there’s a look to match. Rih is taking a step in a more natural direction but most importantly is what will the music sound like? The Pop chameleon has tackled a great deal of genres from Reggae, Dancehall, Pop, Dance, Dubstep, R&B, etc… Well news (unconfirmed) has surfaced that Calvin Harris is behind the new album’s lead single. [SOURCE]

The single is described as a “total club banger.” If the this is indeed true and we’re going to make a judgement call then Rihanna is either going to give us another uptempo club album or give us another mix: not changing her direction too much this go around.

There’s no slowing down for Rihanna as her albums are finally starting to sell as much as her singles. Also, look out for Rihanna to appear on Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto on the track “Princess Of China.”

So in the last year or so Florence + The Machine shot upwards with their debut album, Lungs. Fans have been awaiting the return of The Machine whilst casual listeners awaited fiery red head Florence Welch’s return. Late last month, Florence + The Machine premiered “What The Water Gave Me” as a buzz single for their then yet-to-be-titled follow-up to Lungs.

Today, the album cover, album title and track list all make their way into the light. The sophomore effort of Florence + The Machine is titled Ceremonials (to be released on October 31) and will contain 12 tracks.

Along with that is the release of another track from Ceremonials entitled “Shake It Off.” Where “What The Water Gave Me” left us underwhelmed with its depressing mood, “Shake It Off” has that shout-from-the-top-of-a-mountain chanting that made them popular in the first place. Take a listen below and view the track list after…

1. Only If for Night
2. Shake It Out
3. What The Water Gave Me
4. Never Let Me Go
5. Breaking Down
6. Lover to Lover
7. No Light No Light
8. Seven Devils
9. Heartline
10. Spectrum
11. All This and Heaven Too
12. Leave My Body

In this week’s Billboard Hot 100, Adele makes a return to #1 with her second US single, “Someone Like You,” jumping atop the charts. After a nearly-as-stunning rendition, at the VMA’s, as her Brits performance the single travels from #19 to #1. It also moved from #11-#1 on Digital Songs and #42-#19 on Radio Songs.

The blessings continue to pour on Adele’s sophomore era as the album is still selling strong worldwide. Grammys 2012 will surely be a great night for the Brit.

Mistuhh Carter bka Lil Wayne proved once again that he is quite popular in HipHop. His latest LP, Tha Carter IV, tops the Billboard 200 this week. Back in 2008 Lil Wayne debuted with 1.01 million copies of The Carter III. This time IV debuted with 964,000 copies. Great news for the rapper.

Weezy now has the second highest album opening for the year, thus far. Lady GaGa stands in his way when looking at plain facts but if one wants to debate, there is a valid argument. Lil Wayne accomplished this feat by selling his album regularly, no gimmicks. Lady GaGa sold a great deal of her albums off a $0.99 deal with Amazon.

When the official tracklist was made available for Jay-Z’s and Kanye West’s collaborative project, Watch The Throne, only features from Mr. Hudson, Frank Ocean and Beyoncé were shown. That’s changed now that DDotOmen.com has revealed the album’s credits for each song.

In addition to those three artists: Seal, La Roux’s Ely Jackson, Charlie Wilson, Pete Rock, KiD CuDi and a slew of other talented individuals make up make up the vocal roster of the highly-anticipated LP. Read on for the Deluxe track list as well as the production credits.

DELUXE EDITION TRACKLIST
1. No Church In The Wild feat. Frank Ocean (Prod. 88-Keys & Kanye West, Add. produciton by Mike Dean)
2. Lift Off feat. Beyoncé (Prod. By Kanye West, Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker, Q-Tip & Don Jazzy) (Add Vocals. By Seal, Mr Hudson, Don Jazzy, Bankulli and Ricardo Louis)
3. Niggas In Paris (Produced by Hit-Boy)
4. Otis feat. Otis Redding (Produced by Kanye West)
5. Gotta Have It (Produced by The Neptunes)
6. New Day (Produced by The RZA)
7. That’s My Bitch (Produced by Q-Tip & Kanye West)
8. Who Gon Stop Me (Produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph & Kanye West)
9. Murder To Excellence (Produced by Swizz Beatz & S1)
10. Welcome To The Jungle (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
11. Made In America feat. Frank Ocean (Produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph) [previously Sweet Baby Jesus]
12. Why I Love You feat. Mr Hudson (Produced by Mike Dean & Kanye West)
13. Illest Motherfucker Alive (Produced by Southside & Kanye West)
14. H•A•M (Produced by Lex Luger and Kanye West)
15. Primetime (Produced by No I.D.)
16. The Joy feat. Curtis Mayfield

PRODUCTION CREDITS

“No Church In the Wild” feat. Frank Ocean
(K. West, S. Carter, C. Njapa, M. Dean, F. Ocean, G. Wright, J. Loudermilk, P. Manzanera. J. Brown, J. Roach)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Papa George Music (BMI)/EMI Blackwood Music (BMI)/Bug Music|Heavens Research (BMI)/Blue Mountain Music Ltd. o/b/o Catherine’s Peak Music (BMI)/Universal Songs of PolyGram International, Inc./Universal Cedarwood Publishing (BMI)/Universal Music-MGB Songs (ASCAP)/Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)/Intersong-USA (ASCAP)
Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978 and 88-Keys for Keys Open Doors, LLC

“Lift Off” feat. Beyoncé
(K. West, S. Carter, J. Bhasker, M. Dean, S. Samuel)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc./Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Way Above Music (BMI)|Sony ATV Songs LLC (BMI)/Papa George Music (BMI)/SPZ Music Inc. (BMI)
Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978, Jeff Bhasker, and Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Additional Production by Q Tip and Don Jazzy
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Barford Estate, Sydney, AU
Additional programming by LMFAO, Anthony Kilhoffer and Hit-Boy for Very Good Beats
Mixed by Noah Goldstein, Mike Dean, LMFAO and Anthony Kilhoffer at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Additional vocals: Seal, Mr Hudson, Don Jazzy, Bankulli and Ricardo Louis
Beyoncé appears courtesy of Columbia Records
Seal appears courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Dean, Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel]

“Niggas in Paris”
(K. West, S. Carter, C. Hollis, M. Dean, W. A. Donaldson)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Hit-Boy Music/U Can’t Teach Bein the shhh/Songs of Universal (BMI)/Papa George Music (BMI)/Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI)
Produced by Hit-Boy for Hit-Boy Music Inc./Very Good Beats and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Co-Produced by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Additional Production by Anthony Kilhoffer
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Le Meurice, Paris, France
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions and Anthony Kilhoffer at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Chauncey Hollis, Mike Dean, W. A. Donaldson]

“Otis” feat. Otis Redding
(K. West, S. Carter, H. Woods, J. Campbell, R. Connelly, K. Robinson, R. Hammond, J. Brown, J. Roach)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/EMI Robbins Catalog Inc. (ASCAP)/BMG Gold Songs/Hot Buttermilk Music, Inc. (ASCAP)/BMG Platinum Songs/First Priority Music (BMI)/Tufamerica Inc. d/b/a Swing Beat Songs (BMI)/Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)/Intersong-USA, Inc. (ASCAP)
Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Mixed by Anthony Kilhoffer at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Harry Woods, Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Kirk Robinson, Roy Hammond, James Brown, Joseph Roach]

“Gotta Have It”
(K. West, S. Carter, P. Williams, J. Brown, J. Roach, F. Wesley, T. Pinckney)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc./Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/More Water From Nazareth Publishing, Inc./EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP)/Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)/Intersong-USA, Inc. (ASCAP)/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Music Inc./Donna Dijon Music Publications/Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI)
Produced by The Neptunes
Co-Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Tribeca Grand Hotel, NYC and (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Mixed by Noah Goldstein and Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Additional vocals: Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi appears courtesy of Universal Motown Records
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Pharrell Williams, James Brown, Joseph Roach, Tony Pinckney, Fred Wesley]

“New Day”
(K. West, S. Carter, R. Diggs, M. Dean, L. Bricusse, A. Newley)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Ramecca Music|Universal Music-Careers Publishing (BMI)/Papa George Music (BMI)/Richmond Organization o/b/o Musical Comedy Productions (BMI)
Produced by The RZA, Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978 and Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Additional production by Ken Lewis
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Le Meurice, Paris, France and Tribeca Grand, NYC
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Additional creative input: DJ Magnum
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Robert Diggs, Mike Dean, Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley]

“That’s My Bitch”
(K. West, S. Carter, K. Fareed, J. Vernon, J. Brown, B. Byrd, R. Lenhoff, J. Lordan)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Universal Music-Z Tunes (ASCAP)/April Base Publishing|Chrysalis Music (ASCAP)/Crited Music, Inc. (BMI). All rights administed by Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI)/Regent Music Corp. (BMI)
Produced by Q-Tip and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Additional Production by Jeff Bhasker
Recorded by Andrew Dawson, Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions and Anthony Kilhoffer at Avex Recording Studio, Honolulu, HI
Assisted by Gaylord Holomalia and Christian Mochizuki
Mixed by Q-Tip and Blair Wells at MSR Studios, NYC
Assistant Engineer: Chris Soper
Additional vocals: Ely Jackson, Connie Mitchell and Justin Vernon
Justin Vernon appears courtesy of Jagjaguwar Records
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Kamaal Fareed, Justin Vernon, James Brown, Bobby Byrd, Ronald Lenhoff, Jeremiah Lordan]

“Who Gon’ Stop Me”
(K. West, S. Carter, S. Joseph, M. Dean, J. Kierkegaard)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Sham Joseph Publishing Designee (BMI)/Papa George Music (BMI)/Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. (PRS)
Produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Additional Production by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Additional vocals: Mr Hudson
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Shama E. Joseph, Mike Dean, Joshua Kierkegaard]

“Murder to Excellence”
(K. West, S. Carter, K. Dean, L. Griffin Jr., S. Mescudi, Q. Jones, H. Mason Jr., J. Rosenbaum, C. Semenya, B. Summers, M. Modorcea, G. Modorcea)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc./Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Swizz Beats|Universal Tunes, a division of Songs of Universal (SESAC)/Vohndee’s Soul Music Publishing (ASCAP)/Papa George Music (BMI)/ Elsie’s Baby Boy|Kobalt Songs Music Publishing (ASCAP)/Universal Music Corp. o/b/o Warner Olive Music LLC (ASCAP)/Songs of Universal, Inc. o/b/o Warner-Barham Music LLC (BMI)/Imagem Sounds (ASCAP)
Produced by Swizz Beatz and S1 for Soul Kontrollaz Productions/Very Good Beats
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Real World Studios, Wiltshire, UK
Assisted by Mat Arnold
Mixed by Anthony Kilhoffer at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Additional vocals: Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi appears courtesy of Universal Motown Records
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Kasseem Dean, Larry D. Griffin Jr., Scott Mescudi, Quincy Jones, Harvey Mason Jr. Joel Rosenbaum, Caiphus Semenya, Bill Summers, Mihaela Modorcea, Gabriela Modorcea]

“Welcome to the Jungle”
(K. West, S. Carter, K. Dean, M. Dean)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Swizz Beats|Universal Tunes, a division of Songs of Universal (SESAC)/Papa George Music (BMI)
Produced by Swizz Beatz for Swizz Beatz Productions
Co-Produced by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Additional production by Ken Lewis
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Tribeca Grand Hotel, NYC and (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Additional vocals: Swizz Beatz, Acapella Soul
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean]

“Made in America” feat. Frank Ocean
(K. West, S. Carter, S. Joseph, F. Ocean)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Sham Joseph Publishing Designee (BMI)/Bug Music|Heavens Research (BMI)
Produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph
Additional Production by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions and Anthony Kilhoffer at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Violin: Laura Escudé
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Shama E. Joseph, Frank Ocean]

“Why I Love You” feat. Mr Hudson
(K. West, S. Carter, M. Dean, P. Cerboneschi, H. Blanc-Francard, T. Camillo, M. Sawyer)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc./Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Papa George Music (BMI)/EMI Unart Catalog Inc. (BMI)/Kama Sutra Music, Inc. (BMI)/Because Editions o/b/o itself, Headbangers Publishing, Motor Bass and Love Supreme
Produced by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Real World Studios, Wiltshire, UK and Barford Estate, Sydney, AU
Assisted by Mat Arnold
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions and Anthony Kilhoffer at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Cello: Chris “Hitchcock” Chorney
Cello arranged by Mike Dean
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Philippe Cerboneschi, Hubert Blanc-Francard, Tony Camillo, Mary Sawyer]

“Illest Motherfucker Alive”
(K. West, S. Carter, M. Dean, J. Luellen, S. Mescudi)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc./Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Papa George Music (BMI)/Southside Publishing Designee|Songs of Mizay (BMI)/Elsie’s Baby Boy|Kobalt Songs Music Publishing (ASCAP)
Produced by Southside for Mizay Entertainment, Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978 and Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Real World Studios, Wiltshire, UK
Assisted by Mat Arnold
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Cello: Chris “Hitchcock” Chorney
Cello arranged by Mike Dean
Additional vocals: Kid Cudi, Bankulli and Aude Cardona
Kid Cudi appears courtesy of Universal Motown Records
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Joshua “Southside” Luellen, Scott Mescudi]

“H•A•M”
(K. West, S. Carter, L. Lewis, M. Dean)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc./Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Kimani/Mizay Entertainment, Inc./Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)/Copyright Control
Produced by Lexus “Lex Luger” Lewis for Mizay Entertainment, Inc.
Co-Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Additional Production by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at Real World Studios, Wiltshire, UK and (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Assisted by Mat Arnold
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Cello: Christopher “Hitchcock” Chorney
Cello arranged by Mike Dean
Additional vocals by Aude Cardona and Jacob Lewis Smith
Creative Direction: Riccardo Tisci
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Lexus Arnel Lewis, Michael Dean]

“Primetime”
(K. West, S. Carter, E. Wilson, R. Simmons, L. Smith, M. Reid)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Let The Story Begin Music Publishing/Chrysalis Songs (ASCAP)/Universal Music Publishing (ASCAP)/Songs of Universal Inc. (BMI)
Produced by NO ID for Rich Daily Since ‘71
Recorded by Noah Goldstein at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions at (The Mercer) Hotel, New York
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Ernest Wilson, Russell Simmons, Lawrence Smith, Maureen. Reid]

“The Joy” feat. Curtis Mayfield
(K. West, S. Carter, C. Mayfield, P. Phillips, S. Mescudi, J. Cameron, J. Zachary)
Please Gimme My Publishing|EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)/EMI April Music, Inc.|Carter Boys Music (ASCAP)/Soul Brother #1 (ASCAP)/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)/Universal Music-Careers (BMI)/The Numero Group (BMI)
Produced by Pete Rock for Soul Brother #1 Productions and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Additional Production by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions and Jeff Bhasker
Recorded by Anthony Kilhoffer at Avex Recording Studio, Honolulu, HI
Assisted by Gaylord Holomalia and Christian Mochizuki
Mixed by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Keyboards, Bass: Mike Dean
Additional vocals: Kid Cudi, Charlie Wilson and Pete Rock
Kid Cudi appears courtesy of Universal Motown Records
[NFP: Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Curtis Mayfield, Peter Phillips, Scott Mescudi, John Cameron, John Zachary]

Despite there being no hit single from Beyoncé’s 4, that did not stop the album from going to the top of the charts on this week’s Bilboard 200. That’s right Beyoncé’s fourth studio debuted at #1. This makes Beyoncé the third act in music to have her first four studio albums to debut atop, following Britney Spears and DMX.

Now, from afar and in the records book, this looks all too pretty but that’s the best part about it. This is the lowest opening sales numbers of Beyoncé’s career, thus far, with the album shifting 310,000 copies. Also, she can thank the lack of any real competition from Big Sean, Selena Gomez, David Cook, Limp Bizkit, etc… this week. But Bey’s tem were most likely well aware of who would be releasing on June 28 and that’s why they stuck with the release date.

But otherwise, congrats to one of this generation’s leading female performers for another feat.

Finally, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne project is set for lift off very soon. The official album art has been unveiled. Givenchy Creative Director, Riccardo Tisci, who designed the single art for “H.A.M.” has designed the gold metallic album cover, pretty nice, isn’t it?

Ryan Seacrest claims new music from the project will surface around July 11. This will most likely be the single, “Lift Off,” featuring Bruno Mars and Beyoncé with an album release date of “mid-August.” With such a flamboyant album cover we hope the the music is as over-the-top good.

It seems the fourth time is the charm as Jill Scott earns her first #1 album debut on the Billboard 200 chart. The album titled The Light Of the Sun sits atop selling 135,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. Scott leads the pack ahead of Bon Iver whose self-titled second album shifted about 104,000 whilst the #3 spot goes to next year’s “Album Of the Year” 21 by Adele. Adele shifted another 101,000. A huge congratulations goes out to Scott for being another to top the charts with music of substance.

In Billboart Hot 100 news, the MVA (Most Valuable Artist) within the past year has to be Katy Perry. Perry just scored her fifth consecutive #1 from her Teenage Dream album for “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).” The single sold a decent 226,000 copies. What a feat Perry has pulled off with this album. In the #2 spot is the Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera “Moves Like Jagger” which shifted 213,000 copies. Still not too hot about that song. In the #3 spot is our drug, LMFAO‘s “Party Rock Anthem” featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock which sold 212,000 copies.

Retraction: Apologies, we have delivered you incorrect information. Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” was not the #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. The #1 single this week is Pitbull‘s “Give Me Everything” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer. “L.F.N (T.G.I.F.)” is actually the #4 single on the charts whilst Adam Levine‘s & Christina Aguilera‘s “Moves Like Jagger” debuted at #8. LMFAO‘s “Party Rock Anthem” is still #3 on the charts. The #2 spot goes to Adele‘s “Rolling In the Deep.”

Santigold sat down with Billboard to speak on her forthcoming sophomore album. In the one-on-one Santi spoke about the sound of the album:

“I wanted it to feel dynamic and powerful,” says the 34-year-old singer (real name: Santi White). “I still have the songs that sound very electronic and clubby, but I have a couple ballads on this one — my own type of ballads, where they just sound big, like the way some old Kate Bush or Peter Gabriel songs were…on this one song, we did a whole section that has a bottle used as the percussion, so there’s layers upon layers of Greg Kurstin playing a bottle and literally filling it with different layers of water, and stacking each note. Mixed with a marimba and taiko drums!”

Santi also spoke about her new experiences recording whislt being under a label:

“By December of 2010, I thought I was finished. I was like, ‘I’m done!’” she says. “I never really had the experience of labels and stuff, because last time I made the record and then got a deal… I didn’t have to deal with people talking about singles and stuff before I was even done the creative process. That was new, and annoying. So for the last six months I’ve been trying to tie up loose ends and do a couple more songs.”

Bring on this new album.

It’s about three weeks until the release of Beyoncé’s 4 along with her Glastonbury headlining gig. After a not so great start with “Run The World (Girls),” the album is looking up.

Famous songwriter, Diane Warren, has apparently penned the “career song” for Beyoncé. The humble Warren surprisingly boasts about the track entitled “I Was Here,” calling it “the best thing I’ve ever written.” The song’s producer was recently revealed as Ryan Tedder. “Halo” was a standout on the I Am… album so we’re expecting something greater than mediocre.

The highly anticipated “Party” featuring Andre 3000 is stated as sampling Slick Rick‘s and Doug E. Fresh‘s “La Di Da Di.” Beyoncé has a thing this go round for sampling singers of decades past as track nine, “Countdown,” supposedly samples Boyz II Men’s “Uhh Ahh.”

Not to worry, Beyoncé is in tune with the younger talents as the material submitted by Frank Ocean and Ester Dean will make the album. The Deluxe Edition’s tracks have been revealed, check them out after…

Deluxe Edition Track List
01. Lay Up Under Me 04:13
02. Schoolin’ Life 04:52
03. Dance For You 06:15
04. Run The World (Girls) – (Kaskade Club Remix) 05:03
05. Run The World (Girls) – (RedTop Club Remix) 06:03
06. Run The World (Girls) – (Jochen Simms Club Remix) 06:1

The hype leading up the album was something of the 90′s, the promotional campaign was ideal enough keep up with the short attention span folk of this decade and now, Lady GaGa’s Born This Way is 1 of 17 albums to go platimum in its first week of being released. Born This Way debuted with 1,108,000, copies, the highest sales week since 2005. This also makes Lady GaGa the fifth woman to sell a million copies in a week. Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Norah Jones and Taylor Swift precede GaGa.

Selling a million plus albums in these times is a huge accomplishment but GaGa & Co. are very hip to how people react to the purchasing of music these days. In joining with Amazon.com a promo deal was created where Born This Way was sold for $0.99. If it wasn’t for that then that one million mark would have been missed.

Another sign of music times was 60% of the first week sales of the album were digital. GaGa sold a record breaking 662,000 digital copies of the album. Say what you want about Lady GaGa but she really is the only Pop artist to generate the buzz of an 80′s rockstar, since Britney Spears.

At this moment, on the official Facebook page of Beyoncé, the official track list of 4 is being revealed, track by track, every hour. Thus far, two tracks have been revealed: “Run The World (Girls)” and “I Was Here.” The track list is being revealed in descending order with “Run…” being track number 12. So we can assume that the standard edition of the album will only have 12 tracks. Didn’t she record 60+ songs for this era?

Check back periodically for tracks

UPDATE: The full track lsit is available. The titles aren’t that great but I’m sure the music will be really good. We’re especially anticipating this Andre 3000 collab.

01. 1+1
02. I Care
03. I Miss You
04. Best Thing I Never Had
05. Party (Feat. Andre 3000)
06. Rather Die Young
07. Start Over
08. Love On Top
09. Countdown
10. End Of Time
11. I Was Here
12. Run The World (Girls)

Our very own Bahamian native, Alex C., who now goes by the name of Alex242 did her first public presentation. The Interscope artist performed her set in front of a crowd at Best Buy.

Yall see the screen? “Alex 242″ its my official stage name – yall kno i gotta rep my country!!!! [SOURCE]

Some great exposure for our native. Let’s see what else is to come.

Last night was the season finale of Saturday Night Live. The episode featured SNL fave, Justin Timberlake, and musical guest Lady GaGa. The promotional blitz for the Born This Way era is just massive, with GaGa hitting every bit of mainstream promo that could be booked.

GaGa took to the SNL stage to give three solid performances consisting of “The Edge of Glory,” “Judas” and “Born This Way.” GaGa also took part in two sketches; one with just Justin Timberlake and another with Adam Samberg and J.T. They weren’t as corny as expected.

Well the #1 Pop star/#1 most powerful celebrity, GaGa, is the face of the #1 #2 most powerful company, Google. Her ad for Google Chrome recently premiered. Also, make sure tune into ABC at 8pm EST for the Billboard Music Awards where GaGa will tribute Beyoncé. Watch vids after…

Running off the buzz from the mainstream video premiere of “Run The World (Girls),” Beyoncé & Co. use the opportunity to unveil 4‘s album cover.

Not sure what to make of it but we notice the vintage tint used on the photo, as used by many hipsters. Four will arrive in stores on June 24 internationally and June 28 in the US.