A cursory glance at the year-to-date urban radio chart reaffirms an age-old music industry adage: Sex sells. You can see the Top 10 at the bottom of this post, but first let’s talk about a few of the chart’s recurring themes. Sex Sells: Miguel’s “Sure Thing” occupies the top spot with 86,785 spins, followed closely [...]
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Approaching Oblivion
How many times has this happened to you: You’re driving home from work. A song comes on. Drums. Guitar strums. A wimpy voice: “Say, oh, got this feeling that you can’t fight…” You’ve heard this same song three times in 30 minutes, and it bores you to tears. Unlike the imaginary audience the station’s program [...]
The Power of Jeggings
Last week, the music world laughed up a hiccup as Lil Wayne pranced around the VMA stage in nut-suffocating, Le Tigre-inspired jeggings. While that performance affirmed that Wayne is no fashion guru, his chart performance a week later reminded us that he’s very good at something else-selling records, tons of ‘em. His latest, Tha Carter IV, [...]
Facebook Music Cometh
No one’s willing to confirm anything, but all indications point to the same scoop: Facebook is planning to launch a new music service this fall. Here’s what we know so far. CNBC’s John Fortt broke the news Kanye West-style – in ALL CAPS: “YES INDEED NEXT MONTH IS GOING TO BE A BIG ONE FOR MUSIC [...]
Eminem’s Huge Payday
Every day, Rocks Off is reminded that we should have taken rapping a bit more seriously in our younger days. Today’s friendly reminder comes in the way of a report saying that Eminem cashed a $3 million check for two nights of work at the UK’s V Fest. Em’s scenario isn’t typical, though. Concert fees run the [...]
Google x Motorola
Google stunned the tech world last week when it tied the knot with Motorola for $12.5 billion. But it’s the music business that should be raising its brows at the union. Like any typical suitor, Google weighed Motorola’s considerably large assets in its decision to get in bed with the mobile giant. On one side of this [...]
Watch the Leaks
The kingdom is safe. The throne has been watched. In an age where albums spring leaks like baby diapers, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne arrived on the appointed date without even as much as a drip. For the first time in over a decade, we witnessed a major label release with no leaks. [...]
The History Of Hashtag Rap
Every rapper brands himself as an original, but few merit that distinction. The ones that do rarely profit from their innovation. When it comes to emceeing, those who favor intricate rhyme schemes will scoff at a technique known as “hashtag rap.” G.O.O.D. Music rapper Big Sean is credited with pioneering the style. But I’m not [...]
The N-Word Conundrum
“You’re talking to the wrong white man, my friend. My people were the white man’s nigger when yours were still painting their faces and chasing zebras.” [...]
Is Blog Love Overvalued?
It’s funny watching new artists stumble over themselves trying to score coverage on popular blogs. Take the fast rising L.A. crew Odd Future, for example. Group captain Tyler, The Creator is almost as famous for his musical ingenuity as he is for his feud with revered rap blogs Nah Right and 2 Dope Boyz. After [...]
Eminem FTW
Eminem quietly scored a major victory in a case involving download royalties this week. The U.S. Supreme Court threw out an appeal filed by Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music empire, against Eminem’s former production company F.B.T. Productions. Eminem is signed to Interscope Records via Aftermath Entertainment, which is distributed by UMG. Universal [...]
Professor Trill
“Don’t you think this is a bit much?” Bun B inquires in his baritone voice. It’s 71 degrees in Houston and a throng of journalists is jostling for position inside Rice University‘s Duncan Hall, all waiting to pick the brain of Distinguished Lecturer Bernard Freeman, known to most as Bun B. He was expecting two or three journalists (including [...]
