Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Iggy Azalea, an Australian rapper.
Iggy Azalea from Sydney, Australia (see what I did there) is the first female and non-American rapper to be featured on XXL’s annual Top 10 Freshman cover issue, and for good reason. She is not afraid to rap dirty while still looking pretty, and there is always something refreshing about a girl who bravely takes on a male dominated genre, and isn’t afraid to look like a girl while doing it. Stay tuned for her debut studio album The New Classic which is set to drop in 2013.
Origins: Sydney, Australia
Full name: Amethyst Amelia Kelly
Known for: Iggy Azalea is known for her no nonsense raps, her platinum blonde hair and tough girl attitude
Used in a sentence: From her first mixtape to her debut album, Iggy’s dedicated to bringing something new to hip hop
File next to: Azealia Banks, Missy Eliott, Angel Haze,
Download now: “Work”
Five fun facts:
1. She came to America by herself when she was 16 after telling her parents she was going on holiday with a friend. Later on she told them she wasn’t coming home
2. She was announced as the new face of Levi Jeans in late 2012. She is also signed with Wilhelmina Models
Jason Derulo has just dropped the single, “The Other Side” off his currently untitled third album. Shockingly, the track doesn’t start with reminding us of his name.
It’s almost hard to believe Derulo has been around for three years—he’s been pretty successful and his music is the less aggravating of most top 40 hits. You can’t pretend you didn’t love “In Your Head,” or “Ridin Solo.”
While on On Air With Ryan Seacrest, Derulo told Seacrest that he wanted to make a record that he could “listen to all the time…not just this year, not just next year, but for a long time.”
This is a typical radio song that is bound to do well, but nothing will ever beat “Watcha Say.”
Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Kilo Kish, a rapper who doesn’t like to be called that, from Florida.
Even though Kilo Kish’s music career kind of started out as something to do with friends, nowadays it’s anything but. Her soft poetic vocals, mixed with her galactic beats are making waves, and so are her other art and fashion ventures. Suddenly everyone from Vogue to Complex is paying attention, with Vogue going so far as to name her an “It Girl.” Take a listen to her single “Navy” and you’ll soon understand what all the buzz is about.
Origins: Orlando, Florida but currently resides in Brooklyn, New York
Full name: Lakisha Kimberly Robinson
Known for: She is known for her kick-ass fashion sense, curly hair and overall artistry
Used in a sentence: Kilo Kish is a visual artist, a painter, a vocalist, a songwriter, a model and an actress; talk about multi-tasking
File next to: Kitty Pryde, KoolKatsKlub
Download now: “Navy”
Five fun facts:
1. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in textile design in 2012
2. Lena Dunham is a fan
3. Kilo has dabbled in modeling for Levi’s, Vice, and A.D.I.D.A.S.
Looks like will.i.am’s new album will be heavy with big name collaborators. With artists like Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and now Miley Cyrus, the rapper seems to have roped in some of the hottest stars.
will.i.am released a new single titled “Fall Down” featuring Cyrus Tuesday morning.
The song is undeniably catchy like most of the rapper’s songs. This track isn’t obnoxiously techno heavy or geared towards the club-scene. It’s a perfect radio song, because it’s upbeat enough to be catchy but mellow enough to be a song to chill out too. Will.i.am may have struck gold with this one. This may just be my favourite single off of the rappers upcoming album so far.
Miley (who recently collaborated with Snoop Lion) sounds great too! She tweeted about the single and seems excited about its release.
Whip cream , whip it up. STRIP, unzip it up…. I could be your chip you my dip come & dip it up ????????? #FallDownOniTunes @iamwill
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) April 16, 2013
Will.i.am’s upcoming album #willpower is set to be released Friday, April 19. “Fall Down” is now available on iTunes
LISTEN TO “FALL DOWN” BY WILL.I.AM FEAT. MILEY CYRUS HERE:
Drake has a new song and it’s called “Girls Love Beyoncé” (featuring James Fauntleory who sings “Say My Name” as the hook).
Oh, dammit. Ladies, Drake knows. He knows our secret. He knows that we all love Beyoncé and with that knowledge, he know must carry the heavy burden of knowing all of our complex secrets. Next time we all congregate, we need to make a new secret and this time, we have to keep it on the down low. I’m looking at you, Sasha Fierce.
LISTEN TO “GIRLS LOVE BEYONCE” BY DRAKE FEAT. JAMES FAUNTLEORY BELOW:
This Tyler, the Creator Prank Call video is one for the history books.
With his multiple appearances on MTV’s newly revived reality show Punk’d, it’s no secret that Tyler is a pranking legend. Watch as OFWGKTA member plots out the most elaborate prank call in the history of ANDPOP prank calls.
This isn’t your typically “Is your refrigerator running? Well, you better go catch it” gag. Tyler throws just about everything you would and wouldn’t even think of into this one call—basically, it’s everything and the kitchen sink but he sells it. Watch and try to tell us that you can do better because, let’s face it, you probably can’t.
Tyler, the Creator’s latest album Wolf drops on April 2.
We already bowed down to Queen Bey, but the new song (or two, depending how you look at it) she posted on tumblr has her demanding that we never stop bowing down to her royalty.
Her Royal Highness Beyonce says haters should just stop talking about her lip synching scandal and with their criticisms in general, and just to “Bow Down.”
She follows that up with “I Been On.” Both these songs are very tech-heavy, with tons of repetition and special audio effects. While these tracks will most likley not be on my Beyonce playlist or be one of those “Belt it out in the shower” tunes, they will be good dance beats and tracks I will blast to get pumped for a night out.
Beyonce’s done better, but they could be worse. What do you guys think?
The Black Eyed Peas’s will.i.am collaborates with another pop idol for his next single. This time, he and Justin Bieber bring their musical powers together for “#thatPower” off of his upcoming album #willpower.
will.i.am always finds the most successful pop stars to collaborate with, and the songs always hit high on music charts. From Britney Spears to Fergie, to Nicki Minaj, and now Justin Beiber, Will.I.Am is a master at the successful collab.
Like all will.i.am songs, his new track is catchy, up beat, and sure to take over the club scene.
Will.i.Am’s #willpower is set to be released on April 9.
LISTEN TO THE SONG BELOW:
Rapper k-os drops some wisdom during his sit-down interview with our host Simon Mohos for the first edition of “The Spit.”
His latest effort, the double album BLack on BLonde, defies genre-boundary lines as he mixes rock with hip-hop. It’s a feat that has been tried by many but k-os’ efforts will succeed where others have failed.
The Toronto-bred artist is not only the biggest music lover you could ever find, but also probably the most intelligent man in business. On “The Spit,” the musical mad scientist dishes on the album, shares his thoughts on the pop radio and why California is like sex.
“They don’t know how to see it as its pure form,” says k-os. “It just becomes something to do.”
We’re glad you’re back k-os.
BLack on BLonde is available now!
Snow, Walmart, and Toronto, Drake’s new music video for “Started at the Bottom” is here.
The music video plays obvious homage to his life in Toronto, Ontario and his childhood working long hour jobs and playing soccer. The music video clearly shows that he started from the bottom in Toronto, and made it to partying it up in Hollywood. It’s actually a pretty cute and heartwarming music video despite the portion where two guys talk directly into a girl’s chest… because of course.
Watch “Started from the Bottom” here
Rapper Mr. B got a little creative when he went to the Wendy’s drive-thru with his friends, opting to spew out his order in a lyrical rhyme. What’s even more impressive than the rap is the fact that the woman behind the window managed to get the order straight! They were so impressed with the rap that they gave the four friends their meal for free. You can listen to more of his raps on his channel M.r. B.
To celebrate the release of his new self-titled album, Classified held a mysterious concert for 100 fans in Toronto on Jan. 22. Leading up to the TOP SECRET show, he gave out clues that led to the exclusive performance at The Baitshop in Toronto.
All the social media tips had a military theme to go with his “This Is Classified” campaign and the location was finally revealed the day of the performance. The hour-long show was livestreamed on his website and now ANDPOP has the exclusive footage. His five-song performance was highlighted by his laid-back, onstage presence — I love that he nonchalantly handed lager out to an eager fan offstage.
The Nova Scotian rapper has been an integral part of the Canadian hip hop scene for over 17 years. 2011’s Handshakes and Middle Fingers marked his 14th studio album and his various releases have garnered a combined 18 nominations and 8 wins at the MuchMusic Video Awards, Juno Awards and East Coast Music Awards.
We’re pretty stoked about the new album — don’t forget to listen to “Growing Pains, which is dedicated to his two daughters, if you haven’t had the chance yet. We’ll have more exclusive footage in the coming week!
Watch his performance below
Classified’s new self-titled album is dropping on Tuesday, Jan 22 and we couldn’t be more excited. In a new exclusive video, the Canadian rapper talks about one of his tracks called “Growing Pains,” which he says is lyrically one of the strongest and most personal songs on the album.
The track, which is dedicated to his two young daughters, goes through advice he wishes he had when he was younger.
“I wish sh*t I know now, I knew growing up because I would have done a lot of things different,” the rapper said. “You’re gonna go through heartbreak, you’re gonna go through people being mean, you’re gonna go through being cheated on. There’s just so many things in life that sucks. There are so many points in life that you’re like ‘ah I don’t want my kid to go through this.’”
He continued: “Really I just tried to be honest with her and tell her things I think she’s going to go through and try to prepare her for it.”
The song is one of the most honest tracks on his forthcoming album and thus, one of the most difficult to pen. We love that he really went there and sang on it!
Watch it here
Every once in a while we get a dance craze like “The Hitchhike” or “The Pony,” now rapper PROF is introducing a new move called “The Moron.” What does it entail exactly? Well, it’s an attitude more than anything else but his lyrics help us out a bit:
Shake it like a moron, girl, that’s perfect
So put your right leg in, [Leg in]
And throw your right leg out, [Leg out]
So put your right leg in. [Leg in]
Shake the motherfucker. [Good job]
So put your whole ass in, [Ass in]
And throw that whole ass out, [Ass out]
Put your whole ass in. [Ass in]
Shake the motherfucker. [Good job]
He demonstrates the choreography in the music video, which was released today. While I’m not going crazy over it, the video quickly started trending online, getting major praise from his fan group.
Canadian hip-hop artist Classified is channeling his fighter side with his new video “Inner Ninja.” The video shows Classified suiting up in a ninja outfit, along with mini-Classified ninjas in training. Ultimately, the video is a visual side kick to the inspirational song which talks about the strength within. Something tells me that the various kids in the video might symbolize the strength the artist has had since he was little.
Fellow Canadian songwriter and performer David Myles makes several appearances in the video. The two sit side-by-side which goes along with the video’s theme of togetherness. In the end, the two have inspired the kids to defend themselves and channel their inner ninjas.
After they endlessly teased us with the lyric video and a behind the scenes look, Skylar Gray finally released her slightly NSFW music video for “C’mon Let Me Ride Your Bicycle,” featuring Eminem.
In the video, Skylar is a plaid-wearing flirt at a trailer park, who conspires against the blonde bimbos in her hood.
The track, which takes melodic inspiration from Queen’s “Bicycle Race,” is schexy right from the start. She sings “If you got a sweet tooth/ You can taste my water melons/ If the swing set bores you/ I can show you all my talents.” Then there’s the chorus: “C’mon let me ride your bicycle/ It’s so fantastical on your bicycle/ We can get a little more physical/ Baby after all it’s only natural.”
Watch it here
Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Casey Veggies, a hip-hop artist from Inglewood, California.
This 19-year-old from Inglewood, California who once described Toronto as wavy, and who sites Kanye West and Nas as inspirations, has said he wants to show that young artists can rap about more than just dancing and partying, while still remaining cool. So far, it seems like he’s on the right track, with a new album on the way.
Origins: Inglewood, California
Full name: Casey Jones
Known for: Casey is known for his lyrics and trend-setting ways.
Used in a sentence: His name was partially inspired by the fact that vegetables are good for you, and Casey is definitely good listening.
File next to: Kendrick Lamar, Dom Kennedy
Download now: “Smart Water”
Five fun facts:
1. Before he committed to pursuing a rap career, Casey wanted to be a pro basketball player
2. Casey was one of the original, founding members of OFWGKTA, but left to do his own thing
We were flipping out when we heard that Eminem was featured on Skylar Grey’s new track, “C’Mon Let Me Ride.” But now that they’ve release a trailer for the video, our fangirling is going to a whole new level. Eminem and Skylar are true cuties in the trailer for the video, which according to Skylar Grey is filmed “in some strange little village in Michigan.” The little village turns out to be a place full of trailers.
“Why does everyone think I’m from a f*ckin’ trailer park?” Eminem inquires with a smirk on his face. The teaser also follows a woman who explains that literally her entire family lives within the same radius as her. She’s quite the cutie, so I hope she is also in the video alongside Em and Skylar. I don’t know what the video is about yet, but it will obviously feature these friendly faces.
The video comes out on Dec. 11.
DMX took time out of his busy schedule to spread some holiday merriment and sing “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” while at New York’s Power 105.1. The rapper banged out a beat to go with his unique rendition, which he had memorized.
If this is what his hypothetical Christmas album sounds like, we NEED to hear it.
Watch it here
Krispy Kreme rapper released a spirited holiday music video for his rap “Christmas,” in which he regales Santa with the many things on his wish list.
This year, he wants to touch the arse of a suitable gentlewoman along with a slew of John Cena merchandise (including the watch, lunchbox and pyjamas). I was slightly surprised he went against his namesake Krispy Kreme, opting instead for Betty Crocker fudge brownies.
It’s definitely the best/worst Christmas song you’ll hear this year. And it goes along with some of our Krispy Kreme faves, including “Best Friends,” “The Baddest,” and “Halloween.”
Watch it here
