• Murder Leading Cause of Death Among Rappers: New Study Examines Genres and Fatalities

    A new study conducted by a professor at the University of Sydney has found that murder is the leading cause of death among rap artists. Dianna Theadora Kenny looked at the deaths of 13,000 artists from all genres, finding that murder accounted for about 50 percent of the deaths among hip-hop performers. The study was released yesterday, March 25, on the 18th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Life After Death,' Vibe noted.

  • Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) Says The Beastie Boys Are Officially Over, Talks Losing Adam Yauch

    Adam Horovitz, aka Ad-Rock, recently sat down with 'GQ' to talk about his career as of late. The MC will appear in Noah Baumbach's 'While We're Young,' out March 27, alongside Ben Stiller. Horovitz revealed that his rap trio, the Beastie Boys, is officially over. The news comes as little surprise since the group ceased operations following the death of founding member Adam Yauch in 2012.

  • Willie Nelson to Release Own Marijuana Brand That's 'Reflective of His Passion' for Cannabis

    In perhaps the least surprising news of the day, Willie Nelson has shared his plans to launch his own brand of marijuana. Aptly titled Willie's Reserve, the new venture will capture the musician's lifelong passion of the cannabis and hemp culture. Michael Bowman, a pot lobbyist who will function as the brand's representative, spoke to 'The Daily Beast' recently about the announcement. "He wants it to be something that's reflective of his passion," Bowman said about the brand.

  • Beatport Launches Streaming App: SFX-Owned Marketplace Attempts to Fill Electronic Music Void

    SFX-owned electronic music marketplace Beatport has officially launched its new streaming app today, March 26, after months of speculation. The app allows users to peruse the service's vast music library and stream any song on it for free in its entirety. The move is an attempt to try and fill the void in the streaming marketplace for electronic music where Spotify, Pandora, Deezer and others have been slow to upgrade their own libraries.

  • 'The Fast and The Furious': Ranking The 7 Soundtracks...Featuring Ludacris, Pitbull, Iggy Azalea and Plenty More

    Last week featured the release of the soundtrack for 'Furious 7,' the final installment in the 'Fast and Furious' film franchise. Your correspondent admits that he wasn't a huge fan of the first edition when it debuted during 2001. He's since warmed up to the series as the films have started to feature more and more absurd stunts, and more and more Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The final film, which premieres in theaters next week, looks to be a proper, adrenaline-fueled final chapter and a fitting tribute to Paul Walker. One thing that hasn't necessarily gotten better as the films have progressed: The soundtrack albums. Music Times ranks the seven film companion albums from worst rides to best.

  • Passion Pit "Lifted Up (1985)" Music Video: 'Kindred' Band Frontman Michael Angelakos Trapped in Mosh Pit [WATCH]

    Passion Pit have unveiled the music video for their single "Lifted Up (1985)." Taken from their upcoming artist album 'Kindred,' the video puts band frontman Michael Angelakos in the middle of a raving mosh pit that starts with seizing strobe lights and calms somewhat visually to rave with lasers, glow sticks and light-up mouth guards. Angelakos gets pushed and bumped around a lot during the video, but never breaks stride. He even gets himself a light-up mouth guard and, in a seemingly unscripted moment, has it knocked out by wild partygoers and reacts with a wry smile. He ends in a crowd more fitting of a Passion Pit show with more beards and less neon who jump around in a more orderly fashion before he is lifted up above the riff-raff. Watch the video below via Passion Pit.

  • Kendrick Lamar 'King Kunta' Video Filmed At Compton Swap Meet, Behind-The-Scenes Footage Surfaces Online [WATCH]

    Kendrick Lamar's much-hyped To Pimp A Butterfly track "King Kunta" will reportedly be his next radio single. Now it appears a video is on the way as well. Footage has surfaced online of Lamar and a large crowd gathered at the Compton Swap Meet for a video shoot. Lamar is shown performing on top of the building and in the parking lot as a mob of fans dance around to the g-funk anthem.

  • Rihanna 'B*tch Better Have My Money' Review: New "R8" Single Has Intensity, Lacks Hook [LISTEN]

    Oh, Rihanna. Yesterday (March 25), the "FourFiveSeconds" singer surprised her fans by announcing that she would officially be releasing her new "R8" single the very next day. After teasing the track on a new app Dubsmash, "B*tch Better Have My Money" has finally been unveiled in full, and it's an intense stomper and the polar opposite of her Kanye West/Paul McCartney team up.

  • Run the Jewels "Close Your Eyes" Music Video: Killer Mike, El-P Tackle Police Brutality [WATCH]

    Run the Jewels have shared the music video for the powerful 'Run the Jewels 2' track "Close Your Eyes." The video is just as evocative, if not so, as the song that takes a strong stance against the current injustices facing society, like police brutality. Director AG Rojas crafts a simple, no-frills video, yet with an incredibly powerful message as two men -- a young black man played by Keith Stanfield (Jimmie Lee Jackson in 'Selma') and a white police officer played by Shea Whigham (Eli in 'Boardwalk Empire') and -- grapple with each other all day and all night on a deserted street without one side ever gaining an advantage or winning and eventually come to rest right next to each other. Symbolism is rife throughout the video as the two men represent the larger communities they come from and the seemingly never-ending battle between them. Watch the powerful visuals below from Killer Mike and El-P.

  • Harry Styles to Pursue Solo Career, Acting After One Direction Ends?

    Yesterday (March 25), the One Direction fandom was rocked when founding member Zayn Malik announced that he was quitting the "Night Changes" boy band after five years. And now, new rumors are surfacing that he's not the only one with a desire to leave the group... could Harry Styles be eyeing an exit to pursue a career in Hollywood and a solo music stint?
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