Eminem Struggled to Perform Sober

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

Eminem struggled to perform sober after quitting drugs and alcohol.

The 41-year-old rapper - who was hospitalized after a suspected methadone overdose in 2007 - sought the help of a rehab counselor in April 2008 and admitted his heavy drinking and substance abuse left him confused about how to "connect" with an audience.

"I was so trapped in my own head. I think that back then it was so big in my head, it was like, 'f**k man' let me take this and drink this and get through it as opposed to going out there and actually being able to see the people and connect with the crowd and have fun with it," he said, speaking to Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1.

However, the "Berzerk" star eventually adapted to his sober state and was able to perform to audiences that he could "actually see."

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Billie Joe Armstrong Was a ‘Functioning Alcoholic’

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Editorials, Rock,

Billie Joe Armstrong was a "functioning alcoholic" before he entered rehab.

The Green Day singer's drinking and reliance on prescription drugs had got out of hand before he was finally admitted to rehab last September and he admits to frequently being intoxicated on stage.

"I played onstage loaded a lot. I'd have anywhere from two to six beers and a couple of shots before I went onstage, then go and play the gig and drink for the rest of the evening on the bus. Fall asleep, wake up the next day, feel like s**t, do soundcheck. It was over and over again. In that way, I was a functioning alcoholic. I've been trying to get sober since 1997, right around Nimrod. But I didn't want to be in any programs. Sometimes, being a drunk, you think you can take on the whole world by yourself," he told Rolling Stone.

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Adele Starts Preparing For Comeback

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Performances, Rumors, Pop,

Adele has reportedly started "basic vocal training" in preparation for her comeback.

The "Someone Like You" singer underwent surgery on her vocal cords for a benign polyp earlier this year, forcing her to cancel a string of concerts in America and England, but she is now on the road to recovery and expected to start singing live again in 2012.

"She has time off in her schedule for much of the first quarter of 2012. Depending on how her voice builds back up, she might go to this medical vocal academy in Seoul. It sounds extreme, but she wouldn't be the first artist to go there after removing polyps," a source said.

As part of her continuing recovery, the singer will have a quiet Christmas at home with her mother, and is cutting back on alcohol and partying. "She's not going out raving or drinking. It's going to be really quiet," the source added.

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Adele Breaks US Records

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Industry News, Pop,

British songstress Adele's 21 has become the biggest selling digital album of all time in the US.

The "Rolling in the Deep" hitmaker took the title from Eminem's Recovery record by selling 1.017 million digital copies of her LP in the country compared to the rapper's 1.005 million sales of his seventh studio album. Keith Caulfield, Billboard's associate director of charts/retail, said the 23-year-old British singer is "not just a digital phenomenon. She appeals to older consumers, who will still buy full albums, and to younger people who may just buy a single track."

According to figures from Nielsen SoundScan, digital sales make up more than 30 per cent of the purchases of 21, which was released in the US in February.

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Rihanna Joins Eminem for E3 Expo Concert

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Collaborations, Performances, Videos, Hip-Hop & Rap,

Activision helped kick off this year’s E3 Expo with an event that pleased both gaming and music fans.

Last night at the Staples Center, a list of musical performers - including Usher, Will.i.am, Jane’s Addiction, N.E.R.D. and Chris Cornell - helped get the crowd pumped up during the video game preview.

In the clip above, you can see Eminem joined by surprise guest Rihanna for their new song “Love the Way You Lie.” The track is featured on the rapper’s new album, Recovery, which is due out next week.

Read More | Just Jared

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