• Kraftwerk Academic Conference Taking Place at Aston University during 2015; Alas, The Band Isn't Scheduled to Appear

    You know you've made it as a cultural phenomenon when entire weekend conferences are scheduled...not to hear your music necessarily but to discuss your work in a wider academic sense. This is the honor that has befallen Kraftwerk as Aston University in Birmingham (notably in the UK and not in the band's homeland of Germany) has organized the first Industrial Volksmusik for the Twenty-First Century, a two-day event going down in late January.

  • J. Cole Performs Ferguson Protest Song 'Be Free' on 'Late Show with David Letterman'

    J. Cole released his third studio album, "2014 Forest Hills Drive," Tuesday, Dec. 9, and went on the "Late Show with David Letterman" to perform "Be Free," which is not on the album. Cole's commentary on Ferguson and tribute to Michael Brown, he used the stage to make his voice heard on the current issues facing the African-American community. His performance captured the sentimentality of "Be Free," as Cole delivered each word with poise and emotion. A simple performance with little fanfare, Cole stood on stage moving little but still showed his time-tested charisma, while a keyboardist played the simple and moving instrumental in the background, reported "Complex." He even wrote a new verse for the occasion and elicited a positive reaction from Letterman, who invited him back anytime."Be Free" has been the No. 1 trending song, according to "Billboard," since it came out. Cole has been one of the few artists who have been using his status to protest the grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York City, writing a song and going out on the streets and protesting.

  • U.S. Government in Cuba: Reports Indicate We Manipulated Hip-Hop Stars to Subconsciously Foment a Revolution against Raul Castro

    A lot of news has been made recently of probably illegal activity carried out by the United States government at its Guantanamo Bay stronghold. More documents released this week show that the U.S. was involved in other shady operations on the island...these ones using Cuban music stars to help undermine the Cuban government. The information suggests that the United States Agency for International Development hired Rajko Bozic to pick up acts such as Cuban rapper Aldo and Los Aldeanos to foment a revolution among the youth.

  • Columbus Short Admits to Cocaine Use, Causing His Life to Spiral Out of Control Before Being Fired from 'Scandal'

    Columbus Short has had a life-altering year, as he began it starring on "Scandal," one of prime time's top dramas, and is wrapping it up by coming clean about his drug use. Short made headlines for a bar fight as well as alleged domestic violence against his then-wife Tuere Short and quickly found himself fired and divorced. In April, Short confirmed that he would not be returning to "Scandal" for a fourth season and graciously wished his former cast mates the best.On Wednesday, Dec. 10, the actor appeared on "Access Hollywood" to discuss what unraveled him."I was struggling with drugs. I had a lot on my plate, and you know, I was using unhealthy ways to kind of self-medicate and deal with a lot of heavy-duty stuff in my life. I was doing cocaine and drinking a lot, and trying to balance a 16-hour work schedule a day, and a family, and I just lost myself back then."Short also says the suicide of his best friend, Lee Thompson Young, sent him into a downward spiral because he simple did not know how to handle it. He also admits that his friends from the hit ABC show tried their best to cover for and support him ... until his behavior went too far.

  • 'Love & Hip Hop Hollywood' Princess Love Threatened Suicide After Ray J Dumped Her and Was Spotted with Karrueche Tran

    We almost need a flow chart to keep things straight with the cast of VH1's "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood." In the season finale, which aired last week, it looked like Ray J had dumped his girlfriend of two years, Princess Love, in order to reconnect with Teairra Mari. When the reunion shows aired this week, it was clear Ray and Love were back together, but a bit of drama has gone down this week that led him to call 911, thinking she was going to kill herself.According to a report by TMZ, Ray broke up with Love Tuesday night, Dec. 9, and by Wednesday, Dec. 10, photos of him getting cozy with Karrueche Tran had surfaced. Needless to say, that did not sit well with her and Love reportedly threatened to kill herself. Ray called 911 and had authorities come out to the home he was sharing with Love to perform a welfare check. She was not at home when the police arrived and supposedly called Ray to reassure him she was not really going to shoot herself.

  • Croatia Rocks Festival 2015 Lineup: First Phase Announced, Including Rudimental, Clean Bandit and More

    Croatia Rocks will be making its debut this summer on the European vacation hotspot of Croatia. Having just announced its arrival to the Dalmatian coast last month, the festival has unveiled the first set of artists who will be performing next summer over five days, from July 19 to 23. Big-name acts like Rudimental, Clean Bandit, Fatboy Slim and Wilkinson will headline the festival, with plenty more in tow like Karma Kid and Doorly, according to "Mixmag."Joining these five will be live acts Jungle, Kate Tempest, Anushka and Kwabs, while B.Traits, Mak & Pasteman, Monki, Jaymo & Andy George, Friend Within, Lxury, Blonde, Zane Lowe, Shy FX, Waze & Odyssey and others will all handle things behind the DJ booth. You can see the full Phase 1 lineup on the festival website.The festival, which takes place on Zrce Beach on the Island of Pag, is the Croatian outpost of the longstanding Ibiza festival Ibiza Rocks. It throws parties weekly at the Ibiza Rocks hotel in the western enclave of San Antonio that have hosted some of the finest up-and-coming and established U.K acts like Disclosure, Gorgon City, Karma Kid and Fatboy Slim.
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