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Fergie Joins Black Eyed Peas For Final Farewell

@coltondaniel — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:45:10 +0000

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The fantastic foursome of Will.I.Am, Fergie, Taboo and apl.de.ap – otherwise known as the Black Eyed Peas, came together for a final farewell at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday.

Hosted by Queen Latifah, the concert also featured performances from Cee-Lo Green, Jason DeRulo, Flo Rida, T-Pain and Sean Kingston – all respectable fans of the Peas.

Will.i.am reflected on the earlier days of the Californian group. “I remember when we got 30 dollars to play a Cal State Northridge party. And it feels so good that this many years later we’re here and we thank you guys from the bottom of our hearts for helping us pursue our dreams.”

He also had some advice for up-and-coming musicians:

“Whatever it is you wanna do in life, if somebody tells you no, don’t listen to them. Pursue your dreams, surround yourself with good friends,” he preached. “Black Eyed Peas is a family, we are friends, and we helped each other get here—and you guys are an extension of that friendship. We are here in this stadium today representing family and love, a day before Thanksgiving, and we thank you guys for the love.”

He is in the midst of prepping his much-hyped solo album “#willpower” that is set for release next year. Fergie, the 36-year-old songstress, wants to focus on starting a family with her husband, actor Josh Duhamal. While apl.de.ap is planning on going home to the Philippines and Taboo will get to spend more time with his family. It’s the end of an era, my friends.

Despite their hiatus, the group insists they are not breaking up. ”We always have two cycles of records and then we take a break. And then two cycles of records and then a break. When we take breaks you know, we work on side projects and get our personal stuff in order then come back and make beautiful music. We think beautiful music,” he recently told Ellen DeGeneres.

Will you miss BEP? Let us know.

Flo Rida’s Hotel Raided

Natalia Buia — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:01:51 +0000

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Over the weekend when the rapper was performing down under in Townsville, Australia, his hotel room was raided after police got tipped that the room was smelling of “burnt cannabis”.

Flo Rida’s personal assistant, Dakari Dalawn Phillips was shortly taken into custody by the Northern Region Drug Squad and locked up for 14 hours.

The Herald Sun reports when cops came to bust the hotel party, they found a joint with 1 gram of weed, three grinders, a taser, a sealed bag with 16 grams of “leafy green material” and a few more weed related items. The most surprising of all: a Viagra tablet. No reports on whether it was for Flo Rida or one of his crew members.

Because Philips had no previous criminal records, he was let off with a $1,800 but missed his plane ride out of Townsville with Flo Rida and the rest of the pop-smokin’ crew. Here’s hoping they left the maid a really hefty tip.

Flo Rida Busted For DUI

Christian Allaire — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:36:07 +0000

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Flo Rida has been busted for a DUI, reports TMZ.

While the rapper was cruising around in his red and black 2008 Bugatti, which is valued at around $1.7 million, police noticed the car was swerving and pulled him over near Miami Beach.

At around 3:30 a.m., police then detected the smell of alcohol on the ‘Low’ singer and made him take a sobriety test. His blood alcohol level was .185, which is more than twice the legal limit.

What’s even more annoying is a large crowd had gathered around the car, begging officers to let the rapper go and offering to drive him home. Boy, those are dedicated fans.

Flo Rida apparently said to the cop: “Officer I can’t do this. I don’t feel I can’t walk a straight line. I had a few drinks. Let’s try another test.”

He was then arrested on suspicion of DUI and taken to a nearby station, where he is currently being booked.

“Let’s try another test” gets me every time. I mean, how stupid can you be. And why would you risk damaging your $1.7 million car by swerving all over the road? Are you insane? He deserves to be behind bars!

DJ Space Cowboy, Ready To Raise North American Party Levels

Jeremy Singer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:09:43 +0000

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With the touch of a button, Nicolas Dresti delivers a shot of adrenaline to the sea of 30 thousand fans. Their screams are met with his quick rhythmic jumping and head bobbing to the beat on-stage. He’s not the main event, heck he’s not even a co-headliner, but he’s still the man orchestrating one of the hottest concerts on the planet – all from a laptop. This may be Lady Gaga’s party, but DJ Space Cowboy is the event’s power source – the battery that keeps the beat alive.

He’s now on top of the world.

On that night Dresti was the European energizer bunny, but now he’s recharging his own batteries at his hotel. It’s hard to believe that he is the key to Lady Gaga’s live performance successes. The man in the neatly-cut dark-suit and sparkling rhinestone skinny-tie seems sophisticated and quiet – the complete opposite of what a Gaga concert is notorious for.

But it’s true. Look at Dresti and his alter ego DJ Space Cowboy like you would Clark Kent and Superman – they’re both the same person, yet totally different at the same time. Put Clark Kent into a phone booth and he’ll become Superman. Well, put Dresti in front of an audio mixer and laptop, and he’ll suddenly transform into the backbone – or backbeat, if you will – as DJ Space Cowboy, Gaga’s DJ and head maestro responsible for explosive energy in any crowd.

His new album Digital Rockstar dropped earlier this week, and it’s one of the rare chances to really hear Superman-like energy harnessed into one CD.

“Raising the energy bar is one my main jobs as a DJ,” Dresti tells andPOP in the martini bar of Toronto’s Pantages Hotel.

Understand though, that he will do it any way possible. This is a man whose sole belief and line of work is to find the party factor in all depths of music. That’s basically the narrowed down version of his job.

“I prefer to do it with the Pop, Rock, Hip/Hop approach, but basically anything to get that killer reaction from an audience. Nothing beats spinning a song, and seeing a crowd go nuts. Nothing.”

Released by Cherrytree Records, the fourth studio project marks Dresti’s first album output with an American record label – a personal milestone for the Paris-born Disc Jockey. On that note, Dresti recalls how much the American DJ scene has evolved over the last few years. “There wasn’t much house music,” says Dresti in a refreshing British accent. “That was the big difference between here and back home.”

Before he got here, Dresti was busy amping up crowds in London’s underground club scene. There, he was a U.K. DJ extraordinaire – the protégé of British DJ legend Fatboy Slim.

But listing his accomplishments is of little interest to him. “Home is home. I was always musically inclined.”

He’s the kind of guy who refuses to mention that his passion led to a handful of singles, which flooded the charts in both the U.K. and the U.S. It was following the remix of Fergie’s Glamorous, which took the No. 2 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Airplay Chart in 2007, that Dresti released Digital Rock (2007) – his third and most valuable released album to-date.

“I was just trying to show the whole aspect of being a DJ and a rock-star at the same time,” explains Dresti about the term Digital Rock.

“Then, when I combined it with technology, guitars and synthesizers, it just all turned into this Digital Rock age which was a pretty important stage in my life.”

The album is the reason why he was presented with a signing deal to U.S. label Cherrytree Records – an Interscope Records imprint, which focuses on new artists – and the ergo-step to eventually meeting an up-and-coming artist from New York, who was also signed with the label, by the name of Lady Gaga.

“The label said I should meet with this girl, listen to her songs,” says Dresti.

He even recalls their first conversation.

“We actually spoke on New Years Eve. I was in London and she was in Los Angeles, and we just began talking about all our experiences

“We got along so well right away.”

You could say the two were speaking the same language, with conversation topics including sequins, disco balls, Prince, David Bowie and body paint. The U.K. man then flew to L.A. to help Gaga record the single Starstruck – which featured Flo Rida – on her debut album The Fame (2008).

“After we got to know each other better, she invited me to come on tour with her,” says Dresti.

And so he began mastering the sound beds for Gaga’s Fame Ball Tour, which kicked off last March. At that point, Dresti had already had years of experience fueling parties to know the true meaning of peak energy.

Or so he thought.

While working with Gaga, the DJ – who had previously worked and remixed with a variety of iconic artists from The Darkness to Sir Paul McCartney – witnessed energy being set to a new level.

“A unique thing about her,” begins Dresti, “is that whether you’re playing in a stairwell or a stadium, it always has to be the same energy. There’s no excuse, she’ll do whatever it takes. She’ll come to me five minutes before we go on stage and tell me she wants to switch this song in the set, and cut that verse out, and add this in…

“It’s enough to make you go crazy, but in a good way. She always sets the standards high.”

As the audiences grew bigger for each passing show, Dresti came to realize that he was on the most colossal tour of the year. Cities were being booked for two-a-night performances due to the high demand for tickets. The DJ found that with the rising popularity of the tour, so did his pressure to get more creative behind the laptop.

“I definitely had to sit down and start putting together some new sounds,” recalls Dresti. “For example, she (Gaga) would ask me for a song to dance to for two minutes on stage to represent something sad. So I would then try to incorporate other instruments like an organ or violin to find the right sound. Stuff like that.”

And when time would allow it while on the tour bus, Dresti would work on his own passion project, Digital Rockstar. He says it’s taken around a year to complete, and he can’t wait for it to hit the shelves. Shining brightly are songs like I Came 2 Party featuring Cinema Bizarre, Falling Down featuring Chelsea Korka from The Paradisco Girls and then a remixed version featuring LMFAO.

Simply put, it’s dance meets rock, meets party like a digital rockstar.

“Definitely a lot of work,” he says after a deep breath, smirking as he looks back on the experience. “I’m glad that’s finally all put together; looking forward to the reception.

“But then again, I’m also so glad that I got those artists to help me out.”

He seems a bit tired; maybe from the performance in Vegas the night before, or the North American solo tour that he’s been doing since the end of July. Luckily he now has a month break before the real fun begins.

There might not be a more perfect situation for his post-release promo-trip: LMFAO’s Party Rock Tour – 31 shows squeezed into a month and a half on the road from November 5 until December 20. A bunch of artists jumping up and down on stage, singing about partying, drinking and having a good time. It’s Dresti’s utopia.

“That truly, is going to be really exciting,” says the DJ who will be joined by the Far East Movement, Shwayze and the Paradiso Girls. “I love those guys and their work. A lot of DJs opt to play stuff by David Geutta or Black Eye Peas’ I Got A Feeling. It’s pretty big right now, but I like spinning with LMFAO a lot.”

Ideally he would love to work with David Bowie or even Kings of Leon, but as he gets up, he readjusts his rhinestone tie and parts with some insight. “I don’t always believe in going with the No. 1 charted song. That’s too easy. Sometimes in order to get a crazy reaction, you’ve got to dig deep and pull off something unique. You’ve got to find a song that not everyone would really expect, but then show them the party factor.”

Flo Rida, Oasis To Play iTunes Live Festival

Eva Lam — Mon, 25 May 2009 15:45:58 +0000

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The initial wave of performers has been announced for the third annual iTunes Live: London Festival, which will run throughout July at the Roundhouse in north London.

Flo Rida, Oasis, Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini and the Saturdays are among the confirmed acts, with more artists expected to be announced shortly.

In total, 62 bands will play over 32 consecutive nights starting July 1.

The event is free to attend, with tickets being given away to contest winners via www.ituneslive.co.uk and the iTunes Live profile page on Facebook. Becoming a fan of the Facebook profile will also give you access to video highlights, live audio broadcasts and the latest lineup announcements.

As with past iTunes Live events, each performance will be recorded and available to download via iTunes stores worldwide.

Joelle’s Top Five: Songs To Bring In The Summer

Joelle Tomlinson — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:48:06 +0000

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5. Summer Lovin’ – Grease

Call me nostalgic, but admit that this upbeat shoe-tapper from the epic movie is irreplaceable. I’ve yet to meet a person that doesn’t know the chorus from this song, let along the funky dance actions to accompany the lyrics. This throw-back is guaranteed to get some hips twisting and some put you in the mood to throw on those tight leather pants that used to fit so perfectly.

4. Summer Breeze – Jason Mraz

This representation of Mraz’s remarkable voice is better than Xanax on a particularly tough day. It’s laid back lyrics and acoustic guitar combine to weave a relaxing melody that anyone can enjoy. When it’s time to lay out in the sun with accompanying music, “Summer Breeze” is a quintessential fit.

3. Don’t Trust Me – 3OH!3

Okay, I’ll admit that this seems completely irrelevant to the whole summer thing. Yet, the first time I heard this catchy alternative tune, I happened to be driving down a teeming street in the throes of road rage. As song as I heard “Don’t Trust Me” come on the radio, all anger dissipated, the window rolled down, and the head started bobbing to maximum volume. What better way to introduce summer?

2. All Summer Long – Kid Rock

I wasn’t sure whether to love or hate this song at first. It was disconcerting to witness my mom cranking up the radio and singing along to Kid Rock’s country approach. Apparently it’s one of those “good old glory days” tunes. Yet, in the end Kid Rock’s swampy riffs, distinctive guitar solo and gospel choirs won over my better judgement.

1. Right Round – Flo Rida

Summer means a lot of different things for different people. You recognize that giddy feeling you get when you think about the warmest months of the year, and exactly how you’re going to spend them? Whether it’s going home, spending time at the lake, vacationing, or (heaven forbid) working, this song acts as that metaphorical pep talk before the big game. Summer requires preparation, and in order to be amped, head-bobbing, foot-tapping, and relentless dancing is in order. “Right Round” by Flo Rida is a catchy, upbeat tune that is becoming popular at a perfect time of the year.

andPOP Interviews Flo Rida

andPOP Staff — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:00:25 +0000

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Discovering new talent is often a daunting task; however, when the formula is complete, all parts, synergetic, the sky is the limit. With a noted machine behind him, coupled with his distinct originality, Flo Rida has captured the attention of many while simultaneously making a significant impact early in the game.

Flo Rida has already garnered more accolades than most artists see in their entire career. Months before his Poe Boy/Atlantic Records debut, “MAIL ON SUNDAY,” was even released a couple months ago, his explosive first single, “Low,” shot to the top of nearly every chart—Top 40 radio, Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and Hot RingMasters chart, Soundscan’s Digital Song chart, iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, MySpace, MTV’s TRL, BET’s 106 & Park.

andPOP spoke with Flo Rida during a recent trip to Toronto.