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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Cher, John Legend Lend Voices to Outrage Over Trayvon Martin's Death

by Billboard Staff | March 22, 2012 10:00 EDT

The Feb. 26 fatal shooting of unarmed Florida teen Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch captain has sparked a nationwide outrage, due in part because the alleged shooter has not been charged or detained. As of Thursday morning, an online petition on Change.org started by Martin's parents is fast approaching 1 million signatures, among them a number of music's biggest stars who have also been vocal on social media.

"We must not forget Trayvon Martin! This beautiful young man was murdered in FLA. & his killer was set free without even a drug test! SHAME!" wrote Cher on Twitter. Other musicians like Wyclef Jean, Flea, Jill Scott, Monica, Janelle Monae, Joel Madden, Big Boi, Chuck D, Questlove of The Roots and John Legend have all spoken out. Russell Simmons' Global Grind website has covered the uproar extensively.

"Murder is illegal. If you get caught you go to prison," wrote Legend on March 18. "This is egregious because the guy is comfortably sitting at home."

Monae has posted several tweets with links to the petition throughout the last week, writing on Sunday that, "I'm gonna keep sending this out until justice is served. Racial profiling on our people has got to end."

Keyshia Cole wrote, "He had no right to take this young man's life."

The 17-year-old Martin was shot and killed Feb. 26 in a gated community in Sanford, a suburb of Orlando. The neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, said he shot the teen in self-defense because the youth attacked him. Police said that Martin was walking to a family friend's house holding a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea.

On Wednesday, demonstrators gathered at New York City's Union Square to call for Zimmerman's arrest. The victim's parents were on hand to address supporters at the event, dubbed the Million Hoodie March in reference to the sweatshirt Martin was wearing at the time of his death.

"My son did not deserve to die," Martin's dad Tracy Martin said. Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, told the crowd: "My heart is in pain, but to see the support of all of you really makes a difference."

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J. Cole Enlists Melanie Fiona For Upcoming Album

by Erika Ramirez, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 4:25 EDT

Expect to hear more from J. Cole and Melanie Fiona in the near future as they join forces for Cole's upcoming sophomore album.

Melanie Fiona Used 'MF Life' Delay To Bring In Nas, Drake, J. Cole

Aside from their collaboration, "This Time," off her sophomore album, "The MF Life," (March 20), Fiona told The Juice that the two recently got in the studio in L.A. to lace a song for Cole's next project.

"I did a track for him which will probably be on his new album... His song [has] a real positive message," Melanie Fiona revealed. "It's about a competition he was having with young girls and boys about keeping your head up and staying positive. I actually haven't heard a final version of it yet."

Fiona couldn't pass up on collaborating, yet again, with fellow Roc Nation labelmate, especially on a track that showcases one of Cole's strong points. Enlightening lyricism. "It felt good that he had reached out to me to be on a record like that, you know? I think that says a lot about how he sees me as an artist and that's cool. That's exactly how I want to be represented," Fiona told The Juice.

J. Cole Already Prepping New Album: 'Be Back in Nine Months'

J. Cole has been working on a new album for some time now. In October 2011, he told Billboard that he's "already tracking the second album." "I've got the foundation of songs that I'm gonna put on it already, so it's just a matter of taking these songs to the next level," Cole said.

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Four-Play: Tyga, Wale, Ryan Leslie & B.o.B

by Khalila Douze, N.Y. | March 21, 2012 3:45 EDT

Tyga goes for the gold, Wale revisits his youth, Ryan Leslie lives lavishly in M.I.A., and B.o.B plays globetrotter. Check out four virals that deserve extra playtime starring Tyga, Wale, Ryan Leslie, and B.o.B.

Tyga's gold-themed video exemplifies the West Coast rapper's affinity for females and fortune. "Faded" also features fellow YMCMB rapper, Lil Wayne.

Oh to be young again. Wale taps into the nostalgia of his high school days in "Sabotage." "Sabotage," featuring Lloyd, documents the troubles of the rapper's fictional relationship.

The lavish life of Ryan Leslie depicted in his Miami-based video for "5 Minute Freshen up" is packed with everything of luxury.

From the heart of Paris to the streets of Buenos Aires, the Atlanta rapper stunts his international swag in "So Good."

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White Stripes Reunion? 'Only If We Were Bankrupt,' Says Jack White

by RJ Cubarrubia, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 5:45 EDT

Detroit rocker Jack White has revealed that he will only reform the White Stripes if they were to hit bankruptcy.

Speaking to NME, White called a reunion "a really sad thing" if it were to happen. Despite the White Stripes success, and his former marriage to only bandmate Meg White, Jack White expressed a severe reluctance and unwillingness to reunite the band.

"I would probably say absolutely not. Absolutely no chance. I couldn't see any reason to ever do that," said White. "I'm not the kind of person that would retire from baseball and come out of retirement the next year."

Jack White To Release First Solo Album, 'Blunderbuss,' in April

"If we were forced to change our mind about that, I can only imagine the reason being if we went bankrupt or really needed the cash, which would be a really sad thing," he continued. "I would probably be issuing an apology along with the announcement of the show dates."

Jack White is set to release his debut solo album "Blunderbluss" on April 24 via Third Man Records and will kick off a US tour on May 15 in Nashville, Tenn.

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Fun. Still No. 1 on Hot 100, Flo Rida Enters Top 10

by Gary Trust, N.Y. | March 21, 2012 3:50 EDT

Fun.'s "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monae, spends a third week atop the Billboard Hot 100, while Flo Rida jumps into the chart's top 10 with the assistance of pop singer/songwriter Sia.
"Young" logs a fifth week at No. 1 on the Digital Songs chart with 349,000 downloads sold (up 8%), according to Nielsen SoundScan. With the sum, the song passes 2 million in digital sales since its release.

Fun.: The Billboard Cover Story

On Radio Songs, "Young" bounds 19-14 with 65 million audience impressions (up 40%), according to Nielsen BDS, granting the song the Hot 100's top Airplay Gainer award for a third consecutive week.
As announced last week, streaming data now carries a greater weight on the Hot 100 with the addition of the newly-launched On-Demand Songs chart. Streaming figures continue to help keep "Young" at the Hot 100's summit, as the song, which crowns On-Demand Songs for a second week, drew 1.1 million on-demand streams in the chart's tracking week, according to BDS.

Hot 100 March Madness Round 3: Vote Now!

Flo Rida, meanwhile, boasts the Hot 100's lone new top 10 title, as "Wild Ones," featuring Sia, surges 12-9. The track gains on all three Hot 100 chart components: Digital Songs (No. 6; 158,000, up 5%), Radio Songs (35-29; 39 million, up 17%) and On-Demand Songs (18-11; 429,000, up 22%).
"Wild" marks the Sunshine State rapper's seventh Hot 100 top 10 (all in lead roles). The song follows his No. 3-peaking "Good Feeling." Both cuts preview Flo Rida's forthcoming fourth album, "Only One Rida (Part 2)." The Australian-born Sia (last name: Furler) scores her first Hot 100 top 10. (She made mainstream inroads as far back as 2005 when her haunting track "Breathe Me" accompanied the closing scenes of the last episode of HBO's "Six Feet Under.")

Sia Explodes on Hot 100, While Stepping Back From Fame

Below "Young," the same songs as last week populate the Hot 100's top five.
Kelly Clarkson's former three-week No. 1 "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" holds at No. 2. The song bullets at No. 2 on Radio Songs (118 million, up 1%) while dipping 3-5 on Digital Songs (162,000, down 2%). It ranks at No. 8 on On-Demand Songs with 462,000 streams (up 5%).
The Wanted's "Glad You Came" advances 4-3 on the Hot 100, courtesy of a No. 2 rank on Digital Songs (183,000, down 4%) and a 13-7 jump on Radio Songs (73 million, up 13%). The boy band's debut single rumbles 7-4 on On-Demand Songs (570,000, up 21%).
Adele's former two-week No. 1 "Set Fire to the Rain" descends 3-4 on the Hot 100 and Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," featuring Kimbra, bullets at No. 5 for a second week. The collaboration, which tops Alternative Songs for a fifth week, climbs 5-4 on Digital Songs (166,000, up 8%) and 45-36 on Radio Songs (36 million, up 21%). "Somebody" remains at No. 2 on On-Demand Songs (778,000).

Nicki Minaj's "Starships" rebounds 9-6 on the Hot 100, returning to its peak position to date and showing gains in all Hot 100 measurement fields. The song rises 4-3 on Digital Songs (172,000, up 6%), 31-21 on Radio Songs (41 million, up 12%) and 13-10 on On-Demand Songs (440,000, up 19%).

The advance of "Starships" pushes back David Guetta's "Turn Me On," featuring Minaj, 6-7 on the Hot 100, along with Drake's "Take Care," featuring Rihanna (7-8).

Below Flo Rida's "Wild," Katy Perry's "Part of Me" rounds out the top 10, holding at No. 10 for a second week. It's the first time that it hasn't fallen since it debuted at No. 1 four weeks ago. "Part" breaks into the Radio Songs top 10 (11-6; 74 million, up 13%) and elevates 41-34 on On-Demand Songs (260,000, up 31%). The song drops 7-10 on Digital Songs (114,000, down 8%) but could yet rebound on the Hot 100; it opened atop the Hot 100 due to strong initial sales but strong airplay gains are now offsetting its sales erosion. Next week's release of Perry's "Teenage Dream: the Complete Confection" should additionally enhance the song's profile and future chart potential.

Check billboard.com tomorrow (March 22), when all rankings, including the Hot 100 and On-Demand Songs in their entirety and Digital Songs and Radio Songs, will be refreshed, as they are each Thursday.

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Waka Flocka Flame: A Day in the Life

by Erika Ramirez, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 2:00 EDT

On any other day, Waka Flocka Flame would wake up at 12 p.m., hit up a few of his favorite food spots in ATL then head over to Rich Beatz's recording studio to continue working on his sophomore studio album, "Triple F Life: Friends, Fans and Family." But on Wednesday morning (March 21), Waka Flocka walked into the Warner Bros. Records offices in NYC close to 11 a.m. to start a hectic promotional run. First up? A listening session with The Source.

Waka ran through five to six tracks, enough to let those in the room know that he has a few hits in the bag. "Triple F Life" (June 12) is laced with bombastic rap and includes guest appearances by Flo Rida, Tyga, Slim Thug, Ludacris, Alley Boy, Trey Songz, Drake Bun B and more.

After chatting with The Source, Waka spent the day visiting various media outlets (Paper, XXL, VIBE, Complex, and more), arm wrestling, hiding away in cubicles and more. Oh, don't worry! We took snapshots of it all for we had the chance to come along for the ride. Check it out (above and below).

Waka Flocka Flame: A Day in the Life in Photos

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Game Talks 50 Cent Beef on 'Behind The Music' Episode

by Erika Ramirez, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 10:35 EDT

Game and 50 Cent's rap beef, which began in 2005, still "haunts" Game's career.

On VH1's "Behind the Music: Game," premiering tonight (March 22) at 9 p.m. ET, the rapper goes into depth of how the rivalry unraveled after 50 Cent claimed to have written his songs.

"50 didn't write my songs, that's just his ego rising above the team aspect of what Aftermath was all about," Game says. "I could easily say, 'Yo, I wrote this song on "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" it was a team effort."

Game continues to explain how his anger towards 50 Cent and G-Unit turned into a movement. ""300 Bars," when I wrote that I was angry I wanted G-Unit to die as a brand, a record label, a group... There was a bar that said 'you sell records but a G-G-G you not.' And all it was, was a metaphor. I didn't know what I created. Next thing I know fans started yelling G-G-G U NOT! [They] started making T-shirts and the movement it got bigger than me."

Check out a sneak peek at tonight's 'Behind the Music' episode, starring Game.

Earlier in the month, Game told Billboard.com that he's already working on new music. He's currently working on his fifth studio album, "FIVE: Fear Is Victory's Evolution," and is set to release his mixtape, "California Republic," by the end of the month. While in the studio, Game continues to promote his recent album, "R.E.D. Album." Yesterday (March 21), Game debuted his video for the Kendrick Lamar assisted, "The City," on RollingStone.com.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Tuesday, March 27, 2012