Say hello to Iggy Azalea, we’ve been following this Australian femcee for a handful of months now. The Aussie’s time is now as she was named Grand Hustle’s first lady. Whilst making the promo rounds with her boss T.I. she has addressed many things including her one-sided rival with Azealia Banks, another favored femcee of ours.

All that foolishness aside, Azalea’s debut single is set to drop on March 15. The Bei Maejor-produced single will be titled “Murder Business” and is lifted from her debut LP entitled The New Classic, due for a summer release. Cannot say we’re not looking forward to what Azalea brings to the table. Her Ignorant Art EP was pretty damn solid and she is set on sticking to rapping. Heck, she even wants to work with Missy Elliott! The hypothesis of their chemistry is unknown but we would love to hear magic. Listen to “Drop that” a track off of her Ignorant Art EP below.

Brandy’s sequel collaboration with Monica (Listen Here) is what is keeping Brandy in the headlines right now but in a few months we’ll be hearing that sixth studio album. The R&B songstress announced the title of her album as…

TWO ELEVEN

‘Two Eleven’ signifies her birthday as well as the passing of Whitney Houston, whom she deeply admired. Brandy has her sights set on June for the album’s release. The album will include production from Rico Love, Sean Garrett, Bangladesh and even Frank Ocean.

It will be interesting to see how this album comes to form.

About two years ago when we first posted on Rita Ora we had no idea that in 2012 she would still be… oh wait, about a week ago Jay-Z accompanied the Roc Nation signee to z100 to premiere “Party & Bullshit” (“How We Do (Party))” for radio format) in the US, not to be confused with the work of Notorious B.I.G. You see, Ora has been lighting up the UK charts with her feature on DJ Fresh‘s “Hot Right Now.” Still, at that time, there was no decision on when Ora would cross the pond.

A week later, some paparazzi photos of Ora with boss, Jay-Z and the premiere of a brand new single “R.I.P.,” featuring Tinie Tempah, and we’re still wondering why so sudden, why? Rihanna, yes we will take it there. We have no doubt that Jay-Z is upset with Rihanna for her decisions last week to release music with Chris Brown. So is Jay-Z truly confident in Ora, is he prepping Ora as backup in case Rihanna misses a step in the eye of the public or is Ora an eventual replacement due to career decisions made by both parties?

Be that as it may, let’s speak a little about Rita Ora. We find her to have a likeable personality, eye-catching blonde hair and true talent. But like the title of her song, we think these recent premieres are bullshit. This girl is talented and can have her own sonic identity. This new Drake-penned (Listen to Drake’s… HERE) and Chase & Status-produced sounds so forced. We can go on but a reason why the females who are at the top of the Pop world are where they are is because they debuted with their own sound. We like Ora but the fact that Jay-Z is suddenly pushing her with such mediocre material makes it seem like a motive of ulterior purposes.

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/38181965" params="auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&color=000000" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

The femcee from Harlem, New York has garnered some major attention within recent months; being embraced by some of fashion’s elite. Azealia Banks’ path is looking very paved at the moment. She recently announced the title and estimate release date of her debut sophomore LP to be…

“It’s called “Broke With Expensive Taste” and it’s coming out in September,” the 20-year-old newcomer told Nylon. “The theme is a young girl trying to find it.”

She elaborated on the concept. “That girl who’s at the end of her childhood trying to get a job and make some money,” she explained. “She needs to get what she can get! She needs to go out there and show people she knows how to work for it.”

Very cool title and based on what she brings to the table thus far, we expect a very solid album to match. Take a listen to two of her tracks below from the Universal Music signee.

If you’re holding your breath for a new Outkast album you might want to let go. Andre 3000 of Outkast spoke with GQ magazine recently about feeding off of the “excitement” of today’s new artists as well as a solo project but when it came to the possibility of a new Outkast album, he said:

“As far as OutKast, I really don’t know if or when that will happen.”

Last time any word was brought up about a new Outkast album it was always after Big Boi and Andre 3000 released solo projects. Big Boi already released his and is planning another and Andre 3000 has not even started on his first. It’s time to push the hopes for that aside and focus onto something else. Also, listen to the recent release of Gorillaz‘s “Do Ya Thing”, featuring Andre 3000 and John Murphy, as part of Converse’s ‘Three Artists. One Song.’ campaign.

With the Grammy Awards airing tomorrow it just will not be the same as many years Houston and Clive Davis was involved with the ceremony. Our prayers go out to the family of the incredible Ms. Houston.

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.