Tag Archives: Music

Swizz Beatz to Perform as Part of Pass The Mic Live! Segment at Spirit of Life Gala

Posted on by
Reply

Swizz Beatz is embracing the spirit of life…

The 45-year-old half-Puerto Rican recording artist, music producer and entrepreneur will perform at next week’s Spirit of Life Gala honoring Lyor Cohen, global head of music at YouTube and Google.

Swizz BeatzThe event will feature a one-time-only edition of DJ Cassidy’s celebrated Pass The Mic Live!, a segment that will showcase more than a dozen hip-hop and R&B artists, including Swizz Beatz.

Others appearing in the showcase include Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Dru Hill, EPMD, Ja Rule, Memphis Bleek and T.I., all of whom have played a part in Cohen’s 40-year legacy spanning Rush Management, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Warner Music Group, 300 Entertainment and beyond.

The sold-out gala is taking place on October 18 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif. It’s a fundraiser for City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses.

DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic series quickly transformed from viral sensation to primetime TV series on BET. Now a live tour, DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! recently sold out Radio City Music Hall in New York with a one-time-only concert featuring 25 icons of hip-hop’s golden era.

“As a 10-year-old deejay and hip-hop kid growing up in New York City, I idolized Lyor Cohen long before he ever knew my name,” DJ Cassidy said in a statement. “Then, as his Def Jam intern in my high school years, a hero became a mentor. I am truly honored to bring Pass The Mic Live’ to City Of Hope and celebrate Lyor’s commitment to making the best health care available to hip-hop fans and performers by uniting a once-in-a-lifetime lineup of iconic artists who have influenced his massive musical legacy and hip-hop’s global influence as a whole.”

City of Hope is celebrating 50 years of partnership with the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) fundraising group. Over this period, industry executives and influencers have raised nearly $150 million to benefit City of Hope’s mission to transform the future of cancer care.

YouTube to Premiere Demi Lovato’s Four-Part Docuseries “Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil” in March

Posted on by
Reply

Demi Lovato is getting personal…

YouTube has given the green light to a four-part documentary series that follows the 28-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress.

Demi Lovato

Entitled Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, the docuseries will premiere on March 23 with the first two episodes. The final two episodes will then air weekly.

The new series will follow Lovato returning to show fans her personal and musical journey over the past three years. Last year, she performed the National Anthem before Super Bowl 54 between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The series will be directed by Michael D. Ratner, who was a director on and exec produced Quibi’s recent &Music series, and produced by Ratner’s OBB Pictures, which produced YouTube’s recent Justin Bieber: Seasons series.

The announcement comes nearly two years after the digital platform and the “Sorry Not Sorry” singer were set to do a follow-up doc to Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated.

That film, which was directed by Hannah Lux Davis, was released in 2017 and has been viewed more than 32M times. It chronicled the recording of her Tell Me You Love Me record and her life and career including her stint on the Disney Channel and her struggles with bipolar disorder and addiction.

The Google-owned service had been in talks to make a follow-up film in 2018 before Lovato overdosed and that project was put on hold. She’s understood to have recently seen the Justin Bieber series and reached back out to YouTube to say she is ready to make another documentary.

“It’s been two years since I came face-to-face with the darkest point in my life, and now I’m ready to share my story with the world. For the first time, you’ll be able to see my chronicle of struggle and ongoing healing from my point of view.  I’m grateful that I was able to take this journey to face my past head-on and finally share it with the world,” said Lovato.

“We are excited to continue sharing Demi’s brave story,” added Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube. “YouTube Originals is committed to telling real stories about the complexities of life and for Demi to use our global platform to open up about this chapter is something we are very proud of.”

“Demi’s willingness to explore the darkest elements of her life is going to leave the audience with a complete understanding of everything she’s been through and ultimately where she is going. Demi stands for empowerment, and this documentary is going to answer the many questions that have been out there – providing a real window into the life of one of the biggest stars in the world, who is simply a human being,” said director and executive producer Ratner.

Gomez’s “Come & Get It” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs Chart

Posted on by
Reply

Selena Gomez has notched another No. 1 on the Billboard charts. This time in record-matching speed…

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress’ has scored her fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs chart with her latest single “Come & Get It.”

Selena Gomez

This week, the tracks vaults 4-1 in just its fifth week on the chart.

“Come & Get It” is the tenth title to leap to the top in only five weeks since Madonna reached No. 1 in four frames with “Music” in 2000.

The song ties Daft Punk‘s “Get Lucky,” featuring Pharrell Williams, for the fastest flight to the summit this year, as well as the quickest coronation in almost 13 years.

Dolce & Gabbana Outfitting Mars for His Upcoming World Tour

Posted on by
1

Bruno Mars will be rockin’ some serious style during his upcoming world tour.

Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana will outfit the 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican crooner for his Moonshine Jungle world tour.

Bruno Mars

Kicking off with a sold out show in Washington D.C. on June 22 and wrapping up in Auckland, New Zealand next March, Mars will tour the globe in a series of exclusively-designed black tuxedos and white button downs by the high-end Italian label better known as Dolce & Gabbana. Midway through each performance, concertgoers will see the Grammy-winning singer in a bright red suit and ocelot-printed shirt.

“Bruno’s style and music are so eclectic that oftentimes we have taken inspiration directly from his work to create looks that were at the same time in line with his very personal taste, as well as with the DNA of Dolce & Gabbana,” the designers said in an official statement. “With time, we have managed to establish with him a relationship of absolute faith in each other and mutual trust, that allows us to create and work together in an atmosphere of complete harmony.”

This isn’t the first time the duo — who have dressed everyone from Kate Moss to Amy Adams on the red carpet — have costumed a major music show.

In 1993 they outfitted Madonna‘s Girlie Show tour, a role they reprised for her 2000 Music tour — the same year they provided Mary J. Blige‘s stadium show costumes

Kylie Minogue‘s Fever tour followed suit in 2002, and Beyonce and Missy Elliott wore glittery wares by the label while performing in Verizon‘s Ladies First concert series in 2004.

Ricky Martin Speaks!

Posted on by
Reply

Ricky Martin is getting the VH1 treatment! The Puerto Rican singing sensation is the subject of the music channel’s latest installment of “Behind the Music.”

In the episode, which airs tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT, the 39-year-old Grammy award winner discusses his music career, including his early days as a member of the Latin pop group, Menudo.

“Menudo was the only possible way for me to make it to the spotlight,” says Martin. “So I auditioned like crazy to become a part of the band… I think I went into a state of shock when I finally got the news. And, next morning, at eight o’clock in the morning, I was up on a plane.”

But that’s not all… Martin opens up about growing up in Puerto Rico; his long-term relationship with TV host Rebecca De Alba; his decision to come out of the closet; and finally, life with his partner Carlos Gonzalez, which has helped give him the strength to lead the fight for equality.

“My partner, my boyfriend is very sexy, very smart, very compassionate, but the most important thing [is] he loves my children. It’s very beautiful. Super cool. I am very happy.”

Click here  for a sneak peek at the must-watch special.