Just in case you’re running out of songs to serenade your fair lady with, why not try an acoustic version of your favourite club anthem? That’s exactly what YouTube’s PublicPrank did but instead of a lady love, he sang sweet nothings to random people on the boardwalk. Listen as he does acoustic versions of Lil’ Jon’s “Get Low,” Akon’s “Smack That” and even Lonely Island’s “I Just Had Sex.”
You’ve probably heard a lot about K-Pop lately, what with Psy’s “Gangnam Style” going viral, inspiring legions of fans to adopt the horse-riding move as their modern day Macarena.
K-Pop is an energetic mashup of dance, electronic, pop and hip hop, that originated in South Korea and is quickly spreading across THE WORLD with the help of social networking sites. K-Pop’s The Wonder Girls was one of the first girl groups to introduce us to the genre (thanks Wonder Girls!!) back in 2009. With their new single “Like Money,” featuring Akon, we’re falling in love all over again. We had a chance to ask band member Lim a couple questions.
Here’s what you need to know about The Wonder Girls:
They had a Korean meal with Akon: Bandmate Lim says the ladies were pretty eager to collaborate with Akon on “Like Money.” While some artists who work together hardly get a chance to meet, Akon made a trip to Korea and spent time with the ladies. ”We had a great experience working with Akon!” Lim says. “He actually came to Korea, we spent some time there too. We had Korean meal together and performed at a music festival. He is a fun person to be around!”
Watch “Like Money” featuring Akon here:
The Wonder Girls basically introduced us to K-Pop: The Wonder Girls became the first K-Pop artists to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 2009. They joined the Jonas Brothers on their tour and made the rounds on television programs, including an appearance on So You Think You Can Dance.
The band is like a family: The ladies became really tight, especially after they moved the US and spent more quality time together. Lim says one huge difference between touring the US and Korea is that they’re given more of an opportunity to meet fans in North America. In Korea they don’t often do one on one sessions with fans and it’s slightly more formal. “In Korea, we would bow when we meet our fans, but in the States we just say hi and they give us a hug!” she says.
We’re not done! Here are five other K-Pop artists you should know about Read more…
Akon initially signed Lady Gaga to his KonLive project at Interscope, and he was very involved with her career. However, he told MTV News that he is very hands off now.
“So the way it works is, Gaga’s on Kon Live/Streamline, which is Vincent Herbert, and it’s distributed through Interscope,” he explained to MTV News. “And the first two albums, we were fully involved in everything creative when it comes to Gaga, and then, as she grows, she becomes more in tune with herself [and] what she wants to do.
“Now she has full control over her project, period,” he continued. “Everything you see of Gaga now is all from her brain … and our job is just to make sure whatever she’s thinking we can make into reality. So I guess more so with the approval processes and everything like that, we still do what we do, but creatively, 100 percent, it’s all Gaga, and Vince does all the day-to-day stuff relating to Gaga.”
Akon has also said many times that Gaga has made him so much money, he can easily retire.
Perez Hilton is reporting that legendary hook-man Akon is suing his former management, American Talent Agency, for “taking money from promoters [and] forging documentation to confirm unauthorized shows.”
Mr. Lonely fired ATA back in September of last year for “failure to pay earned performance fees and booking unapproved appearances and performances,” yet Akon claims they still receive exploitations from his revenue.
At this time, ATA has been instructed to “immediately stop providing any further booking services on Akon’s behalf or exploiting Akon’s name, picture or likeness for commercial purposes.”
ATA also owes Akon $750,000+ in “performance fees for live shows Akon already performed.”
The strangest, saddest most pathetic tidbit from this story is probably how the agency continues to “falsely advertise itself as Akon’s booking agent on the ATA website.”
When Akon sang “I wanna f**k you”, I don’t think this is what they meant by getting f**ked.
Attention all Jersey Shore fans, get those fists pumping. On July 20, MTV and Universal Republic Records are going to release the Jersey Shore Soundtrack, reports MTV News.
The soundtrack will consist of a collection of songs inspired by the hit series.
The first single off of the album is “I Like It,” which is a collaboration between Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull. The club-ready single will be available on iTunes, May 5.
The album features other artists including: Lil Jon, LMFAO, Taio Cruz and Akon.
“MTV is excited to join forces with Universal Republic Records to bring the Jersey Shore Soundtrack to the show’s fans,” Amy Doyle, executive vice president of music and talent programming strategy, MTV brands, said. “From the clubs to the gym, there is going to be a lot of fist pumping and booty shaking going on this summer, and that’s just at my house.”
A deluxe edition of the soundtrack will also be available, which will include a bonus second CD, packed with music inspired by the first season of the “Shore.”
But don’t worry, the fist pumping doesn’t end there.
Fans still have the second season of the show to look forward to. The show will follow Snooki, the Situation, JWoww, DJ Pauly D and the gang down to Miami’s South Beach before returning to their house in Seaside Heights.
The second season will be premiering on Thursday, July 29 at 10 p.m. on MTV.
Four bystanders were injured at the Maharaja Organization in Sri Lanka, Colombo yesterday when a group of protesters against Akon’s concert grew violent, reports perezhilton.com.
The group of protesters was hurling rocks at the building of Akon’s upcoming concert sponsor. Religious locals in Sri Lanka have taken offense to Akon’s “Sexy Chick” video, which features scantily-clad women dancing at a pool party in front of a statue of Buddha.
Almost 200 protesters showed up outside the sponsor’s office, holding posters that said, “Stop Akon’s Show” and then became violent by smashing windows and damaging parked cars outside the office.
After only one show, Akon has quit his gig hosting a radio show at a London radio station, reports Perez Hilton. He was supposed to host a two-hour slot every Saturday, but following the February 13 premiere, a previous host took over.
“Due to Akon’s commitments, including working on a brand new album, we won’t be broadcasting a regular show on 95.8 Capital FM for the time being,” said a spokesperson for the station. “Our conversations about future shows are ongoing as we explore other opportunities that may work for both of us.”
Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones used the Grammys to recruit more stars to their project of remaking “We are the World,” reports E! News. Bono and Lady Gaga are the latest to sign on. They will join Usher, Jason Mraz, Akon, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, Enrique Iglesias and Toni Braxton at the recording Monday in Los Angeles. There may be up to 100 singers.
When will people learn that they need to be careful what they post on Twitter. Last night after partying with Akon and Chris Brown in a Miami club, Bow Wow posted the following to Twitter – “Face numb im whippin the lambo. Tispy as f*k. Just left @livmiami.” This was then followed by “Im f**ked up!!! Ohhhh damn. Y i drive the lambo. Chris might have to drive after next spot.”
The mastermind behind Sexy Chick and countless other hits, David Guetta is DJ royalty. And you would think with all his success he would have an ego. Truth is – not really! A very approachable guy and we are grateful to have been able to sit down with him.
In life (and in the hip-hop industry especially), there’s an unwritten code: as you approach the veteran years of your career, you’re expected to lose a step in your game.
Twista did not get that memo.
In fact, with 18 years of experience in the business so far, the Chicago hip-hop legend doesn’t see a career decline anytime soon. Nope, on the contrary. He says that some of his best work is yet to come.
Think about that for a moment.
This is coming from the guy who’s had two of his past six studio albums go platinum and crack the top ten list on the U.S. Billboard top 200, collaborations with some of the music industry’s finest talent including Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, T.I, and Akon, and not to mention, this is also the former Guinness World Record holder for the fastest rapper in the world.
Last year, Akon threw a fan off the stage during a performance in New York. The singer appeared in court on Wednesday (December 17) in Fishkill, New York and pleaded guilty for the incident according to E! Online.
Akon had originally pleaded not guilty to the charges filed after he tossed a 15 year-old off the stage in June of 2007. The incident was caught on tape by fans.
The singer reached a deal to plead guilty to second-degree harassment. He was fined $350 and ordered to serve 65 hours of community service. Akon will have to reappear in the Fishkill court if he is arrested during the next 12 moths.
“We are pleased that the case has been resolved,” said a statement released by Akon’s attorney, Andrea Zellan, “and Akon looks forward to putting this unfortunate incident behind him”.
Nelly is trying to form a supergroup with Akon T-Pain and Pharell. The rapper told MTV News, “Me, Akon, T-Pain and Pharrell are talking about doing a project,” he said this past Friday. “We got a host of things we’re trying to do — possibly put together this new 2009 [Bell Biv DeVoe] type of thing.”
And Nelly isn’t worried about their busy schedules getting in the way of collaborating, “I don’t think you try to put things together with people you don’t think you can accomplish [them] with,” said Nely. “With ‘Kon, with Pain and Pharrell, I know it’s more about the music than anything. It’s about leaving something. I think we’re all OK as far as the money thing goes. I don’t think anybody is hurting. You wanna do things you can be remembered by. Make a mark. I think that’s something that’s foremost on all our minds.”
Akon has been ordered to stand trial on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree harassment stemming from his actions at a June 2007 concert in New York state, reports E!
The rapper allegedly pushed a teenage fan offstage which resulted in a separate fan suffering a concussion.
Akon has been ordered to return to Fishkill Justice Court by Fishkill Town Justice Harold Epstein on Dec. 1 for the start of the jury trial.
He faces a maximum of one year and 15 days behind bars if convicted. However, the Dutchess Country District Attorney’s office and Akon’s attorney may settle outside of court before the jury trial, according to a statement released by Akon’s lawyer, Andrea Zellan.
“”We are pleased that Judge Epstein adjourned the case to a date certain for either a trial or a negotiated resolution,” the statement read. “Akon looks forward to putting this incident behind him, and in the meantime, he will continue to meet every requirement set forth by the court.”
Lady GaGa, an up-and-coming pop artist hailing from New York’s East Side, is a woman who is not afraid to use forceful language when defending her favourite artists.
“Gwen is fucking brilliant. Anyone who says Gwen isn’t brilliant is a dumbass,” said the 22-year-old pop culture enthusiast, referring, of course, to onetime No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani.
Lady GaGa (who got her name from the Queen song “Radio GaGa”) has been involved in the music scene and pop culture since her early teen days. She was playing New York night clubs at 14 and penning songs for the likes of the Pussycat Dolls and New Kids on the Block by her early 20s.
Through relentless self-promotion, Lady GaGa was eventually signed as an artist to Interscope Records. She landed on the top 40 charts this summer with her song “Just Dance” and collaborated with Akon for her upcoming album “The Fame,” due in stores on Sept. 16.
Lady GaGa said that working her way up though the music industry helped her to grow as an artist, and she believes that hard is the key to making music a profession.
“I don’t really feel like reality TV gives you a career,” Lady GaGa told andPOP, referring to shows like American Idol that set out to launch the career of unknowns. “I did it the way I believe you have to.”
Aside from her electro-pop, dance-pop, and rock infused music, Lady GaGa is also known for her racy live shows, which have been described as a form of shock art. Here’s an example: during performances, Lady GaGa will strip down to a pair of her personally-designed and manufactured hot pants and bikini top, light cans of hairspray on fire, and strike a pose below a disco ball to the orchestral sounds of “A Clockwork Orange” – bearing no resemblance to a typical pop-tart concert.
“I’ve always done my shows this way, I never changed it,” said Lady GaGa. “I like to be provocative. I want my live shows to be important because it’s different.”
Her energetic live show caught the attention of celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who invited Lady GaGa to perform at his Four of July Spectacular party in Las Vegas. The artist agreed to play the show after a dinner with Perez.
“I am such a celebrity-obsessed person, so in some ways Perez and I are very similar,” said Lady GaGa.
Not only is Lady GaGa obsessed with pop culture, she defends pop music and major labels in a way that many other artists avoid.
“I think for whatever reason, society views the big label as evil, or a big factory. People don’t learn about how the label is nothing except for artist that work for it. Artists like Timberland – they are totally brilliant, crazy, and artistic. The whole myth that pop albums do no make good albums is totally neglected by the impact that they have on the world.”
“The Fame” will feature the electric music and theatrics that Lady GaGa is known for, but she also hopes show others what they can do with music.
“I hope to inspire some kind of change in music and to bring back pop. I want it to be important; I want people to be inspired,” she said. “If not, then I did a shitty job.”
According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, rapper Akon is facing misdemeanour charges for endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment connected to a summer performance in Fishkill, NY, on June 3.
During his performance, the rapper allegedly shoved a 15 year old boy off of the stage, and into the crowd.
It began as an unidentified object was thrown at the rapper, reportedly just missing his shoulder. The rapper then demanded that the other audience members point out the person who threw the item. Once the boy had been pointed out, Akon instructed security to bring the boy up to the stage, where the rapper proceeded to pick the boy up over his shoulder and propel him into the crowd. He then continued with the concert.
The boy, whose name has not yet been released, reportedly did not seek medical attention for any injuries sustained from the event.
In response to the allegations made by the boy and his mother, a legal representative, Benjamin Brafman, made this statement:
“Given the information that we have reviewed to date, it does not appear to us that Akon was involved in any criminal conduct whatsoever,” Brafman said in the statement. “We are prepared to fully cooperate with any law enforcement agency that may be investigating this incident. We are confident that after a thorough investigation it will be apparent that no criminal prosecution of Akon is warranted.”
R&B star AKON has apologized in song to GWEN STEFANI for his raunchy dance with an underage girl at a Trinidad concert in April.
The Smack That singer hit controversy when he dirty danced with a 14-year-old Danah Alleyne at the gig, prompting the Caribbean country’s Prime Minister to order a formal investigation into the incident.
Akon and Stefani were touring together at the time, and the dance cost the tour the sponsorship of communications firm Verizon.
In a new song, which has leaked online although its title is unknown, Akon asks for “the blame to be put on me” and says about Stefani, “Sorry for the hand she was dealt/For the embarrassment she felt.”
In the track, Akon also says about Alleyne, “Daddy should have never let her out that young/How was I supposed to know she was underage in a 21-and-over club?.”
(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.
R&B singer AKON has apologized to teenage fan Danah Alleyne following their raunchy dance at a Trinidad concert last month, insisting he had no idea how young she was.
The Smack That singer hit controversy when he performed a sexy sequence with 14-year-old Alleyne at a gig on April, prompting the Caribbean country’s Prime Minister to order a formal investigation into the incident.
Earlier this week communications firm Verizon dropped their sponsorship of his tour with Gwen Stefani following the furore.
In a statement released last night, Akon says, “I want to sincerely apologize for the embarrassment and any pain I’ve caused to the young woman who joined me onstage, her family and the Trinidad community for the events at my concert.
“It was never my intention to embarrass or take advantage of my fans in any way, especially those under the age of 18. That is why we tried to make sure that the club did not admit anyone under 18 in the audience. Somehow, that standard was not met.”
(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.
The Prime Minister of Trinidad, PATRICK MANNING, has demanded a formal investigation into a raunchy dance routine between R&B singer AKON and a 14-year-old girl.
The Lonely star sparked controversy after getting steamy on the dancefloor with the teenager at Trinidad’s Club Zen on April 12.
The Caribbean nation’s Prime Minister Manning is demanding an investigation into the matter, reports AllHipHop.com.
He says, “I have taken very careful notice of this matter and the owner of Zen owes it to the public to take responsibility. I will be interfacing with Zen because that kind of thing should never be allowed to happen in this country.”
(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.
Pop singer GWEN STEFANI had to be persuaded to record a duet with hip-hop superstar AKON because she didn’t know who he was.
Stefani was asked to collaborate with the SMACK THAT singer on her new single THE SWEET ESCAPE, but was initially reluctant to do so as she had never heard his music.
She says, “What was I thinking? He is awesome but I’d just had the baby and was all over the place. I’d been sent his CD and the head of my label kept telling me I just had to work with this guy.
“I didn’t want to go through the pain of trying to work with someone I didn’t know.”
However, Stefani is now an Akon fan.
She adds, “I’d totally work with him again and now we’re going on tour together.”
(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.
