Jay-Z ‘Wasn’t Really a Performer’

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Gossip, Performances, Hip-Hop & Rap,

Jay-Z "wasn't really a performer" when he started out.

The rap titan may be one of the most sought after headliners in the world, playing for thousands of fans every night on tour, but when he started out in the early 90s, he wasn't so great live, according to fellow rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy:

"Everyone starts a novice. I remember a number of years back telling a reporter Jay-Z wasn't really a performer, he just recorded songs and the record company released them. But in the last three or four years, Jay-Z has really come into his own live. That gets respect from me. Another guy who's found himself in the last few years is Snoop Dogg. In the early years I thought there was a lot of hype behind these guys. But playing live, you've got to work that s**t."

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Public Enemy Releasing Two Albums This Year

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Upcoming Releases, Hip-Hop & Rap,

Public Enemy are releasing two albums in 2012. The legendary "Bring the Noise" hip-hop group are to planning to put out Most of My Heroes Still Don't Appear on No Stamp in Summer, followed by The Evil Empire of Everything in September.

"They are two concise statements that are connected in the same breath," lead rapper Chuck D told Billboard.com.

The group have also meanwhile been working with the Operation: Skid Row street festival, an event which will benefits the Los Angeles Community Action Network (L.A. CAN) dedicated to helping the city's homeless. Speaking of the why he got involved in the event, Chuck added, "My place in hip-hop is not to be a tycoon, making trillions with a yacht. That's not my place. My place is maybe bringing people together and me being able to identify and illuminate a cause, and we'll make it comfortable for them to be themselves but say what they've really been wanting to say all along, you know, with my protection."

Public Enemy, which also features rapper Flavor Flav, and producers Professor Griff, DJ Lord and The S1W collective - have released 12 albums since 1987, their last being 2007's How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?

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Public Enemy Dropping Their Asking Price

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Hip-Hop & Rap,

Public Enemy have lowered the amount of money they are trying to raise to help fund their next album.

Last year, the hip-hop group - consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and DJ Lord - revealed they had signed a deal with fan investment site SellaBand and had expected their devoted followers to donate $250,000.

However, they have now been forced to slash expectations to $70,000 after the company went bankrupt in February.

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McCartney, The Cure and The Ting Tings on Board for Coachella

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Concerts / Tours, Performances, Alternative, Dance, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, Rock,

And you thought Paul McCartney’s appearance on the Colbert Report was cool.

Just days ago, the former Beatle officially became a part of this year’s Grammy lineup. Now the 66-year-old is scheduled to perform at his first US concert festival ever.

In addition to McCartney, nearly 130 more artists are slated to play at this spring’s Coachella event. Assuming she is able to make it into the country, Amy Winehouse is expected to make her first appearance on this side of the pond in three years. (Her recent Grammys performance was done via satellite.) Meanwhile, the other acts include The Killers, The Cure, Morrissey, Leonard Cohen, Public Enemy, The Tings Tings, My Bloody Valentine, Okkervil River, James Morrison, Lupe Fiasco, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand and Superchunk. (A full list can be found here.)

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