Music Matters Daily: Kendrick Lamar and Nas to Headline One MusicFest
Plus Jessie J joins concept album Finding Neverland.
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Nas and Kendrick Lamar to Headline ONE Musicfest - Kendrick Lamar is headed to ATL and he’s bringing God's Son Nas along for the ride. The two rap heavyweights are going down to headline Atlanta's ONE Musicfest for its five-year anniversary on Sept. 13. Expected to be one of the most anticipated hip hop concerts of the year, a massive crowd 15,000 fans are expected to pack out the Amphitheater at Lakewood. Also slated to perform this year are Jhené Aiko, Method Man and Redman, Isaiah Rashad and Bilal.(Photos from left: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson /Landov, Harsha Gopal, PacificCoastNews.com)
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Jessie J Adds to Star-Studded 'Neverland' Concept Album - Jessie J will lend her vocals to the Finding Neverland concept album, a project accompanying the Broadway musical of the same name. The “Bang Bang” singer will be featured on a track called “Stronger” produced by legendary producer Harvey Weinstein, who has dedicated the song to the people of Boston. More expected features on the LP include Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift.(Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images)
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Luke James Reveals Album Cover and Tracklisting - Luke James often shares a lot via his Instagram, so it was only right that he drop the artwork and track listing for his upcoming self-titled album the same way. The Louisiana-born singer revealed the cover art –– an image of his face –– that draws from pop-art and vignette-like portraits. The deluxe version of the album includes a Wolf James version of his “Options” single and his recent cover of the Sam Smith's chart-topping “Stay With Me.”(Photo: Nars Records)
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Stalley Drops New Single Featuring Ty Dolla $ign - Stalley keeps dropping heat for the fans as he gears up for his debut studio album, Ohio. The "Jackin' Chevys" rapper just released a new single with Ty Dolla $ign called "Always Into Something." The record has a real smooth Cali feel to it to warm up Stalley's grungy flow. The MMG rapper announced his new album will hit stores on Oct. 28.(Photo: MMG)
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Back to School With Luke James - Grammy-nominated singer Luke James is joining dates for the return of the BET College Tour. The popular event, which has been a staple for promoting higher education within the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) network, is back in effect on Sept. 5, hitting campuses like Clark Atlanta, Lincoln University and Prairie View A&M.(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
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Big Sean's Big Shoe Deal - Big Sean isn't just holding his own as a lyricist, he’s steadily entering the sneaker and fashion world, one release at a time. His newest collab with Adidas Originals proves he knows how to pick 'em — colors that is. Much different from his sold out all black Pro Model II’s that he dropped last year, his remix to the '80s classic Metro Attitude Hi is not only brighter, but equipped with the lyrics to his song “First Chain” written into the shoe. The footwear hits shelves Sept. 13.(Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)
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Elijah Blake Drops Two More Free PT II Songs - No stranger to providing conscious content, Elijah Blake has dropped another mind trip in anticipation of his upcoming EP, Drift, dropping in September. Elijah has already released the visuals for the lyrically heavy "6/Fallen," which gave us insight into his troubled childhood, and now Free PT II, his new mini-EP, which features two new songs. A slowed and groovy Frank Ocean-esque "Morning After" tells a poignant story about the side effects of a drunken night, while "Aqua Static" shows off what he does with an uptempo track.(Photo: Roc Nation)
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Tiara Thomas Drops New Single, 'One Night' - Singer and songwriter Tiara Thomas is inching closer to releasing her long-awaited debut, The Bad Influence. Thomas dropped an uptempo new single, "One Night," on Tuesday, sending the message that all girls aren’t looking for monetary gain, but simply one night of, umm, "fun." The song delivers a hard beat under Thomas’s smooth vocals and hot 16 that she spits.(Photo: Division 1/Interscope Records)
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Luke James Hits Up S.O.B.'s for Album Debut - Luke James is giving his fans a lot of "Options" to see him perform this fall. The “Dancing in the Dark” singer's first stop is the venerable S.O.B.’s in New York City on Sept. 23. He will perform songs from his long-awaited self-titled album, which drops the same day.(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
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BIG K.R.I.T Talks Social Responsibility - Some artists choose to be silent on major social issues, but Memphis rapper Big K.R.I.T has decided to answer the call. In a recent interview at the BMI R&B/Hip Hop Awards, the “Mt. Olympus” rapper spoke openly about the responsibility that musicians have to their fans to speak on issues that often get amplified because of them. “When it comes to music, we’re like the news now when it comes to a lot of youth,” he said. “So yes I feel like I have to uphold [that]…as well as praying for people and spreading my positive energy.” Spreading thoughts like these, we're sure his upcoming album, Cadillactica, won’t disappoint. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)
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Lecrae Takes the Stage in a New Way - Lecrae can add yet another line to his ongoing list of accomplishments. This year, the Grammy Award-winning Christian rapper can add host to his name as he will take the stage as a co-host with MercyMe's Bart Millard at the 45th Annual GMA Dove Awards. The gospel award show is going down Oct. 7 at the Allen Arena in Nashville. Lecrae has been nominated for 10 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and is the winner of four. (Photo: Angela Weiss/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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Mack Wilds Drops Video for 'Don’t Turn Me Down' - Mack Wild released the visuals to the Rico Love-produced “Don’t Turn Me Down” on Monday (Aug. 25), the latest single off his Grammy-nominated album, New York: A Love Story. He showed his intimate side as he and his leading lady struggled with taking their relationship to the next level. As Mack’s high-pitched serenade sets the mood, his shirtless scenes amped the sensuality of the video.(Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for BET)
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Jessie J Releases 'Bang Bang' Video With Help From Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande - After a stellar VMA performance and recently announcing the Oct. 14 release date of her forthcoming album, Sweet Talker, British songstress Jessie J and her girls Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj dropped the video for their hit single “Bang Bang.” The dance party features all three ladies and their sexiness as Ari and Jessie and Nicki flirt with the camera for their solo scenes and reunite towards the end for a colorful outro.(Photos from Left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, Jason Merritt/Getty Images for MTV, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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K. Michelle Comes for Tamar Braxton's Hairline - Break out the claws because K. Michelle is in yet another catfight. This time she’s battling Tamar Braxton, coming at the fellow R&B singer for her receding hairline. Michelle took to social media to blast Braxton, who revealed her lack of hair on her temple area on a recent episode of Braxton Family Values. Braxton responded, tweeting an image from the 2013 BET Awards, adding the note that pregnancy caused her hair to fall out. (Photos from Left: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images, Ethan Miller/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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Joey BadA$’s Debut Album Is Almost Complete - Joey BadA$’s highly anticipated debut album, B4DA$ is almost 90 percent done, according to the Brooklyn MC. BadA$ teamed up with a slew of high-profile producers including Statik Selektah. The “Flute” rapper promised to deliver a lyrically stimulating album as opposed to “mediocre, turn up music.” No word when the album will be released.(Photo: Scott Legato/Getty Images)