Archive for the ‘Jay-Z’ Category

Jay-Z, Muse Lead Coachella Lineup

January 19, 2010

Jay-Z, Muse, Gorillaz, Thom Yorke, Vampire Weekend, Coheed and Cambria, Passion Pit, De La Soul and She & Him are just a handful of names that will play the 11th annual Coachella Music Festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA Friday, April 16 – Sunday, April 18.

The Coachella 2010 lineup features more than 130 acts, and tickets go on sale Friday, January 22 at 10 a.m.

Check out the full line-up of artists here.

Jay-Z Releases Artsy "On To The Next One" Video

January 5, 2010

Jay-Z released an artsy, all black-and-white video for latest single “On To The Next One” at midnight on New Year’s Eve, citing that it would be the “first video of the decade.”

What do you think of Hova’s “art”?

Beyonce and Jay-Z Take Each Other’s Names

December 23, 2009

We couldn’t be happier to report that Beyonce and Jay-Z have decided to take on each other’s last names, following their marriage last April!

The duo will now officially go by Shawn Knowles-Carter and Beyonce Knowles-Carter.

“They want to keep Knowles because Bey’s parents didn’t have any sons and they’re keen to keep the name going strong,” says a source close to the pair.

Respect!!

Sex and the City 2 Trailer: "You Haven’t Seen Anything Yet"

December 23, 2009

The first trailer for Sex and the City 2 has debuted with color and fashion and a world of promise, but it doesn’t tell us much about the forthcoming flick, which will hit theatres on May 28.

In it, narrator Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) says: “It’s been two years, and in two years, amazing things can happen.”

The trailer then shows snippets of a wedding (Stanford Blatch/Anthony Marantino?), the four girls on a Meditteranean vacation (this explains their filming in Morocco last month), and more of the same designer clothes, sick apartments, and brunch sessions we’ve seen for a decade.

It’s all fun and frills, but where’s the plot??

We weren’t huge fans of the first Sex and the City film, but at least there was action!

In 2, it appears Samantha (Kim Cattrall) has moved back to the city (no surprise there), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is happily still with Steve, and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is still channeling Susie Homemaker, as she bakes cupcakes with her daughter. All while Alicia Keys/Jay-Z‘s “Empire State of Mind” happily whistles in the background.

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Parker tells us, closing out the trailer.

That’s for sure!

I SPY NY: Rihanna, Hugh Jackman and More

December 22, 2009

I spy in NY…

Rihanna performing in a blizzard with Jay-Z for a special Rockfeller Plaza New Year’s Eve taping with Carson Daly Saturday (top photo), Hugh Jackman having a snowball fight with his kids Sunday (middle photo), Mark Ronson spinning at Webster Hall Friday night (bottom photo), Ed Westwick tearing it up at Armani Exchange Thursday, David Archuleta rocking Christmas songs on the Today Show Monday, Gym Class Heroes Travis McCoy performing his first solo show with Matisyahu at Music Hall of Williamsburg during the 2009 Festival of Light Saturday, and Janet Jackson hanging out at Alicia Keys private party Thursday.

[Mark Ronson photo by Marjana Jaidi]

Jay-Z Makes Surprise Appearance at Alicia Keys’ World AIDS Day Concert

December 2, 2009

We can officially cross it off our bucket list.

Poison Ivy got to watch Alicia Keys perform “Empire State of Mind” live with surprise guest Jay-Z Tuesday night at the American Express-sponsored, YouTube-streamed World AIDS Day concert at Nokia Theatre!

Keys broke it down on the piano for a solid hour before Hova showed up – rocking old hits (“Fallin,” “You Don’t Know My Name,”) newer songs (“No One,” “Superwoman,”) and brand new tunes off her forthcoming record The Element of Freedom.

“14 million children are sleeping with a broken heart cause they’ve been orphaned by AIDS,” Keys said, before playing newest single “Sleeping With a Broken Heart.”

Poison Ivy had a chance to go backstage and congratulate Keys following her amazing performance, and also hear her pledge her alliegance to the Worlds AIDS Day organization.

We’re not even going to try and explain the pandemonium that ensued when Jay-Z jumped onstage and joined Keys for their brilliant, beyond-triumphant ode to New York, “Empire State of Mind.” Just take a look at the video below and see for yourself!

P.S. Bob Dylan truly put it best: “There’s nothing about that girl I don’t like.”

[Photo by Michael Loccisano/WireImage for American Express]

Adam Lambert Kisses a Boy at American Music Awards

November 23, 2009


It wasn’t the best performance of the night (that spot is reserved Lady GaGa‘s glass-shattering rendition of “Bad Romance” and “Speechless,”) but it will certainly be the most talked about!

Adam Lambert hit the stage at the American Music Awards Sunday night for an energetic, borderline sex-show version of latest single “For Your Entertainment” that included shoving a male dancer’s face into his crotch, dragging a female dancer around the stage by her shoe, and making out with a male keyboard player.

“Female performers have been doing this for years — pushing the envelope about sexuality — and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out,” Lambert later said, perhaps referencing Madonna and Britney Spears‘ liplock back in 2003.

“We’re in 2009 — it’s time to take risks, be a little more brave, time to open people’s eyes and if it offends them, then maybe I’m not for them,” he adds. “My goal was not to piss people off, it was to promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom.”

We totally agree with Lambert about the double-standard, but he should also keep in mind that those performances are generally reserved for MTV! (ABC seemed to take note of this, editing certain thrusts out of their West coast broadcast.)

With the exception of GaGa and Lamby, most of the night’s performances were a snooze – Daughtry strummed through the motions during “Life After You,” Janet Jackson‘s lipsync-ed her way through her opening montage, and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed “Empire State of Mind” for the 548823th time.

Shakira was decent – performing new single “Give It Up To Me” with the help of a step team, and Whitney Houston‘s first live TV performance in five years (“I Didn’t Know My Own Strength”) was fine…

Scooping up notable awards were Jay-Z for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Male (“Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t,” the emcee laughed, during his acceptance speech), Michael Jackson (two awards, accepted by brother Jermaine), and Taylor Swift‘s three trophies via London satellite, including Artist of the Year.

I SPY NY: Bob Dylan, Diddy and More

November 22, 2009

I spy in NY…

Bob Dylan storming the United Palace Theatre Tuesday for a three-night stand (top photo), Diddy celebrating the big 4-0 at the Plaza Hotel with guests Jay-Z, Bono and Kim Kardashian (middle photo), Brad Walsh and Christian Siriano hanging out at Jesus Luz‘ table at Hotel Rivington Thursday night (bottom photo), Ed Westwick triple-fisting drinks with girlfriend Jessica Szohr and New Moon star Ashley Greene following the premiere at New York’s Cabin around three a.m. Thursday, Mark Ronson DJing a Chabad benefit at New York’s 1oak Thursday, and Q-Tip checking out Grandmaster Flash‘s set at Santos Party House Friday.

T.I. Wins Two BET Awards from Prison

October 12, 2009

Rapper T.I. won two BET Hip-Hop Awards on Saturday night: best collaboration with Rihanna for “Live Your Life,” and album of the year for “Paper Trail.”

The rapper was unable to collect his awards because of a federal weapons conviction that will keep him in prison until March 26, 2010, but fiance Tameka Cottle accepted the awards and read a letter from T.I. to the audience.

“Although I’m not there with you all, I’m there in spirit,” Cottle said. “My road to redemption is almost over.”

Meanwhile, DJ AM posthumously won “DJ of the Year,” Jay-Z earned “MVP of the Year,” Drake won “Rookie of the Year” and Ice Cube landed the “I Am Hip-Hop” Award.

The BET Hip-Hop Awards will air on Oct. 27.

Jay-Z Rocks Hits at Secret NYC Show

September 10, 2009

With less than 24 hours notice, Jay-Z stormed New York’s Blender Theater Wednesday night to play a secret MySpace show to some 600 lucky fans!

And Poison Ivy felt especially lucky – we were placed right in the front row!

“You all ready for that Blueprint 3?” Jay asked, though most fans probably heard the album when it leaked online last week.

“I just figured that’s the best way to silence all the critics: just keep hitting with joints like this,” Jay said, before diving into “Venus vs. Mars,” a Timberland-produced track off the new record.

Jay played tons of hits over the hour and a half-long set, including “99 Problems,” “Big Pimpin,” “Can I Get A…,” and “I Know,” of which we’ve posted a clip below!

Thanks for the memories, Jay!!

[Photo by Jeanine Onischuck]