R&B singer-songwriter Ryan Leslie had always behind the scenes, penning tracks for artists like Cassie (”Me & U”) and Danity Kane (”Ooh Ahh”). But it wasn’t until he released his self-titled debut earlier this year that heads started to pay attention, with singles like “Diamond Girl” and “Addiction” putting a spin on contemporary R&B with their live instrumentation, crafty songwriting and catchy hooks. Not one to rest on his laurels, Leslie is already set to drop his sophomore album, keeping the ball rolling with the forthcoming release of his latest opus Transition. So when BET decided to honor Leslie as one of their “Rising Icons,” the title was more than well deserved, with a career that’s grown from mere songwriting credits to top billing. YRB visited the set of BET’s Rising Icon: Ryan Leslie to talk with the man of the hour, discussing how it feels to be given this honor at this point in his career.
Most artists would kill to have a Kanye co-sign, but for Chi-town native Really Doe, the blessing is more a method to help turn heads than launch a superstar career. Years after K. West spit the rhyme “In the studio with Really Doe, yeah, he next up” on “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” Doe is finally ready to make his official debut as a solo artist, with First Impressions already available in the iTunes store and Best Buys across the country. The album, led by the single “Plastic” featuring none other than Kanye West, introduces the emcee to the world, with songs that focus on the rough-and-tumble streets of the Windy City and an upbringing marked by loss, redemption and, inevitably, success. In our exclusive interview during Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week, Really Doe explains what took so long for the album to drop, why he didn’t try to pimp his Kanye connection, why he’s not a fan of “ankle chokers” (skinny jeans) and more. Hit the jump to watch the second part of our exclusive interview.
First popularized by its collaboration with The Gap, the Product Red campaign helps fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis around the world. Tapping Converse and fashion-conscious rapper Lupe Fiasco, their newest collaboration is the 1HUND(RED) Artist #80 Chuck Taylors. Retailing for $80 @ converse.com, 10 percent of the pricetag will go to the worthy cause.
Queen Latifah isn’t happy. Over the past few years, female rappers have almost entirely vanished, and she isn’t having it. With the recent release of her album Persona, Queen La is going the extra mile to extend her powerful position to up-and-coming female emcees with the launch of a contest to give them an opportunity to open for her on tour.
Concert promoters Live Nation decided to throw a bone to avid show-goers with the recent announcement of the Live Nation Club Passport, a nice little free-pass into any non-sold-out show in select Live Nation clubs. Of course, it isn’t necessarily free, but the Passport comes with the relatively affordable price tag of $49.99, allowing you to waltz into shows for the rest of the year. Though there aren’t any specific shows that you’ll be able to attend with the Passport just yet, keep your eye on their website and head over there to purchase your one-way ticket to any concert of your liking.
If you’re planning on kicking it at home tonight, then here’s a good reason to put those PJs back in the drawer and bust out your evening wear. Brooklyn’s Black Lotus Gallery is throwing a nice little bash to celebrate their newest art exhibit from Lee Iturbe, whose latest collection will be featured in the space from September 17 until the 30th. The party begins at the fresh hour of 6 P.M., lasting for a healthy four hours with tunes provided by DJ Ernie B. And don’t worry about filling your wallet before heading to Brooklyn: the party will provide some liquid delights thanks to event sponsor Charles Shaw (who knew that Three Buck Chuck was so on-the-scene?). Hit the jump to see the full flier for the event.
Jay-Z just broke the record for a solo artist with the most number one albums, edging Elvis out of the top spot with the chart-topping debut of his latest record The Blueprint 3. And to honor the release of Hov’s newest opus, Pharrell Williams and the Billionaire Boys Club are releasing three different BP3-themed t-shirts, with the above pic referencing “So Ambitious,” a track on the disc for which The Neptunes lent their signature touch. The three tees will be available for purchase on their site next week, which gives you just enough time to get your stacks in order for an online shopping spree.
Sports and music have always gone hand in hand, and the creators of NBA 2K10 are more than hip to the relationship between the two. For their newest installment of the NBA 2K franchise (which stands as the best-selling basketball video game series of all time), 2K creators have pulled from all corners of the music game for an eclectic, genre-bending soundtrack, featuring tracks from Kanye West, MGMT, Matisyahu, Ratatat, Metric, Izza Kizza and many more. And to celebrate the release of the soundtrack, 2K is offering up a few free downloads over on their site, with Izza Kizza’s “They’re Everywhere” and Donnie Bravo’s “Run Away” available for your leeching pleasure. Hit the jump to see the tracklist for the soundtrack.
The upcoming blaxploitation spoof Black Dynamite has been gettin’ it in virally as of late, with its ingeniously hilarious “Fight Smack In The Orphanage” (FSITO, for short) series of web clips (see below). Apparently, that wasn’t enough to ready you for the flick’s October 16 release, so Black Firecracker TNT and Ebony Explosion bring your their unhinged response to the FSITO campaign.
