T.I.

Music News You Can Use: Sad Goodbyes for T.I., Grunge Rock and Hip Hop Collide

Friday, March 27th, 2009

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Tippin’ hats to Tip … In response to T.I.’s prison sentence of one year and and a day, some of Hip Hop’s famous have sent warm-hearted goodbyes, saying that the down south rapper will be missed. “From I’m Serious to Paper Trail, T.I. (and T.I.P. for that matter) has shown incredible growth as an artist, businessman and a friend,” Bun B said in a statement to MTV News. T.I. is serving time in Atlanta for felony weapons charges that occured on the eve of the BET Hip Hop Awards.

Pete Wentz, move out of the way … The original guylined punk rocker is back — Billie Joe Armstrong and the rest of Green Day are returning with their eighth studio release 21st Century Breakdown, slated to drop on Friday, May 15. The long-awaited album will be their first full-length since 2004’s American Idiot, and is produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage). The first single, “Know Your Enemy,” hits digital vendors in April.

Grunge and P.O.S. can

mix … The buzz around rapper P.O.S. gets even louder as the versatile DJ/producer released a video covering Pearl Jam’s famous track “Why Go?” featuring his talent on the mic, some keys, and the tables. The dude knocks the use of autotune and uses his true blue vocals in the pretty stellar rendition. Check it out here:

America loses some soul this week … New Orleans bluesman Eddie Bo (79) and Motown’s Funk Brothers drummer Uriel Jones (74) died this week, two significant losses in the African American music community. Bo, whose death was confirmed by his booking agent Friday, suffered a “sudden massive heart attack,” while Jones relapsed from complications of a recent heart attack also, according to his sister-in-law. Eddie Bo was known mostly for his New Orleansesque hit single “Check Mr. Popeye,” while Uriel Jones was best known for his psychedelic touches on the Temptations’ “Cloud Nine,” and “I Can’t Get Next To You.”

Lil Wayne: King of the BET Hip Hop Awards Show

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

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The BET Hip Hop Awards on Saturday could have been called Mr. Weezy’s Hip Hop Awards because the rapper Lil Wayne stole the evening. Nominated for 12 awards, Lil Wayne picked up Lyricist of the Year, MVP of the Year and People’s Champ, with the help of his hits, “A Milli,” “Lollipop,” “Got Money” and his recent single “Mrs. Officer.”

“These awards have been wonderful, especially when they call my name,” Wayne told MTV News. “That’s the best part about them. Twelve nominations—I think the only categories I’m not in are the female categories.”

Although the numerous awards may make his accomplishments seem easy, Lil Wayne beat out T-Pain (who he collaborated with on “Got Money”, DJ Khaled, T.I., Kanye West and Jay-Z for MVP.

And Weezy F. Baby, the rapper from the 17th Ward in New Orleans, announced he is expecting another son in “a couple of days” during his Lyricist of the Year award acceptance. Quite the family man, MTV reported that he dedicated the MVP award to his daughter.

According to all accounts, the show was full of surprises like T-Pain replacing comedian Katt Williams as host. And there were numerous performances by hip hop greats like T.I., Ludacris, Nas and Young Jeezy. The women also got into the mix. In an old school tribute, female rap icons, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, the Lady of Rage and Salt-N-Pepa, whose 1993 classic “Whatta Man” song was dedicated to presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The show was pre-recorded last Saturday at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center but will air this Thursday, October 23 on BET. So, check out the show to find out the other big winners.

If you don’t know the song, “Lollipop,” what’s below is for you!

watch?v=740d8sTpM7U

VMAs 2008: A “Resurrected” Britney, Electric Kanye Return

Monday, September 8th, 2008

MTV’s done it again. Or should we say (oops) Britney did it again? Redeeming herself from last year’s embarrassing opening act, pop veteran Spears shocked this year’s MTV Video Music Awards as the stunning singer swept all three of her nominated categories, including Video of the Year.

Beyond Spears’ shocking cleanup, the VMAs lived up to its hype with hot performances throughout the show, including a showstopper from Kanye West.

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