will.i.am

Music News You Can Use: Musicians for Charity, and Stuff

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

JT lies about taking a break, but for a good cause… Although Justin Timberlake said that he won’t be working on his solo music for a while, Mr. SexyBack has posted a new song on his MySpace, titled “Follow My Lead,” which will benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children. The download includes interviews and a live performance of the song. It also features new artist Esmee Denters, who is signed to Timberlake’s label, Tennman Records. Pretty hot track!

Rihanna’s following the lead… For charity, that is. The glam singer is featured in a new commercial for Gucci’s upcoming Tattoo Heart Christmas Collection, where 25% of all sales will go to UNICEF. It is a very strange ad indeed, and the songstress looks a bit smug and lonely if you ask me. Chris Brown, where you at? You be the judge, check it here.

Is Coldplay “Lost?”… They are swimming around Internet rumors saying the longtime quartet has broken up. The news was posted by NME early Wednesday, but was taken down after a few hours. Though it might be a false alarm, lead singer Chris Martin might have been the one who set it off.

Blink 182, remember them?… Of course we do. According to former member Mark Hoppus, it seems like a couple of serious events have brought the trio back to talking terms, all after a bitter breakup in 2005. A refresher: Blink’s producer Jerry Finn died in August, while drummer Travis Barker survived a deadly plane crash in September. Suffice to say, another comical music video would be awesome to see.

First MySpace, now YouTube?… Music and the Internet is collaborating once again via YouTube Live for a streamed event that will feature artists like Will.i.am, Akon, Katy Perry, and Joe Satriani. The event will be held in front of your computer screen on Saturday November 22, at 5 p.m. PST and 8 p.m. EST. Really, who’s going to spend a Saturday night in front of their computer? (Ahem…)

The Obama-rama Tour’s Adventure of Video Tagging in the Swing States

Friday, October 31st, 2008

photo by Obama-rama Tour

photo of video tag in Arizona by Obama-rama Tour.

Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy has inspired a legion of supporters from the artistic community. From the infamous Will.I.Am “Yes We Can” video to the heavyweights like Wyclef Jean performing in Denver for the DNC to the ubiquitous Shepherd Fairey posters, those with creative bones have rallied behind the Illinois senator and created art inspired by the politician. Artists and fans have used the internet, YouTube videos, or other viral content to spread the word of Barack, pushing stories up the hotlist at Digg and helping articles spread like a California wildfire on Facebook.

But with around 90% of all Facebook users in the United States (roughly 20 of 22 million as of January 2008) on a site that has averaged 250,000 new members a day since the start of 2007 falling into the under 30 and college-educated demo, are all of these stunning endorsements simply preaching to the young, liberal-minded choir?

When we heard about Jared Lovejoy and Lisa Chacón’s “Video Tagging” Obama-rama tour around western battleground states like Nevada and Colorado, we were immediately intrigued by the premise. Get a powerful projector, get in a van, and drive around playing all of this content on the sides of buildings to make sure people are getting a chance to see all that’s out there. Lovejoy’s project was almost like bringing a Twitter feed to life.

“What we love about what we’re doing is that it takes the sense of connection to an ‘idea’ that you have when you watch an MCYogi video on YouTube at home, and extends it to the streets so that it becomes a shared experience with others as well,” Lovejoy said. (more…)

Mic Check: Music in Politics, a Panel Discussion

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008


(Left to right: General Jeff, Gigio, Laura Ferreiro, Jody Armour, Maria Armoudian, Josh Kun)

If it isn’t politics alone that’s mobilizing the masses, it’s music and politics. From Public Enemy’s early days of urging us to “fight the power,” to Kanye West’s candid blurb about Bush not caring about black people, there is no doubt that politics has found its place among musicians.

Or, have musicians found their place in politics?

This was the topic Tuesday at a panel discussion, “Mic Check: Music in Politics,” hosted by the Annenberg Latino Student Association. The impressive lineup, including USC professor Josh Kun with guests General Jeff (who’s not new to P+P) and NME Senior Reporter Laura Ferreiro, discussed the change of political music over time, and how corporate influence, artists’ greed, and consumers have suppressed powerful messages in music.

(more…)

Keeping hope alive… for 10,000 years!

Thursday, February 14th, 2008

We’re so late with this but it’s still funny: the “john.he.is” McCain-inspired parody of the viral-crazy Obama tribute made by will.i.am. Boo-ha!