Jay-Z has been confirmed as one of the headline acts of the Isle Of Wight festival.

The “Run This Town” rapper will play the main stage next June.

Other artists confirmed for the three day event include Pink, Blondie, Ortibal and The Strokes.

John Giddings, the event’s promoter said,

“Ever since I heard the first Strokes album, I’ve wanted them for the Isle of Wight. Jay-Z and Pink are two of the best live acts I have ever seen and the Blondie hits speak for themselves. I can’t wait!”

The Isle Of Wight Festival takes place from June 11 to 14 2010 and tickets go on sale on December 4th.

Tags: 2010, december, Entertainment, Hip-Hop, Isle Of Wight, Jay-Z To Headline 2010 Isle Of Wight Festival, Jay-Z To Headline Isle Of Wight Festival, June, Music, Rap, The Strokes

This summer London will host a new youth festival aimed at developing the next generation of talent in East London.

Young London: Into Music will take place in the five Olympic and Paralympic Host Boroughs of Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest between 26th June and 2nd August 2009.

Young London: Into Music is part of the Create09 Festival and is delivered in partnership with Biggafish, Continental Drifts, Music Matrix, Rising Tide and Urban Development.

Over 100 young people between 14 and 25 years old will receive professional mentoring and the chance to work with established artists.

So far artists such as Ms Dynamite (pictured), Bashy, Roachford, Leon Jean Marie, Double S, Ghetts and Akala have been confirmed as performing artists.

Young London: Into Music dates:

• 26 June, Rising Tide present ‘Inner City Lives’ at Ocean, Hackney
• 16 July, Continental Drifts present ‘The Brute Chorus’ at Rough Trade East, Shoreditch
• DTBC Mid July, Music Matrix, Greenwich Shopping Mall
• 23 July, Urban Development present ‘Re: Definition’ at Stratford Circus, Stratford
• 2 August, Biggafish at Underage Festival, Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets

Tags: Akala, August, Bashy, Concert, Create London, Double S, Festival, Ghetts, Hackney, June, Leon Jean Marie, Ms Dynamite, News, Rap Youth Festival, Roachford, Shoreditch, Stratford, Tower Hamlets, Urban Music

Rapper Ludacris is set to his his sixth album ‘Theater of the Mind’ in September. It was initially supposed to hit shelves in June but has been pushed back.

Luda has promised his album will be film-worthy. One track off the album, Lets Stay Together has already been leaked (listen here) but Ludacris expects the first single to be released in the next couple of months.

“Expect the whole album [to be] theatrical,” he says. Though he hasn’t yet chosen a first single, he says that a track should drop by June or July.

Producers on the album include DJ Don Cannon, 9th Wonder and Dre & Vidal.

In related Ludacris news, he has also joined an upcoming Guy Richie movie called ‘RocknRolla’. The rapper will play the part as Roman and will star Thandie Newton and Jermey Piven.

“It’s about how the Russian mob came to Europe and took over … Then there’s another film at the Tribeca Film Festival called ‘Balls Don’t Lie’ with myself and Isaiah Washington about a kid that goes to an orphanage but is very talented in basketball. It’s about how foster kids go in and out of families.”

Source

Tags: Album, Hip-Hop, June, Lets Stay Together, Ludacris, Max Payne Movie, Music, News, September, Thandie Newton, Theatre

This June, make your way to the Midlands, UK for the ultimate celebration of Hip Hop music, art and culture, presenting the BASS Festival.

Throughout Junes, venues across Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Birmingham (UK) will host over 50 events that will form the BASS (British Arts and Street Sounds) Festival.

This years event will bring together over 100 artists from across the UK, Europe, South Africa and the US to celebrate the culture of Hip Hop.

There will be interactive masterclasses, workshops, exhibitions along with live performances.

Ammo Talwar, the driving force behing BASS feels the event will break down the misconceptions that constantly surround hip hop culture.

“The past three years have seen such a phenomenal growth in support and interest for BASS. This year is the most exciting to date, with artists from the UK, the US and even South Africa coming to celebrate The Elements. I love the fact that BASS breaks down preconceptions and allows us to demystify Hip Hop Culture for the masses. It’s not just the music, it’s a way of life that includes art, dance, drama and language.”

The likes of Black Thought of The Roots, Producer Lord Finesse, DJ Spooky, Rapper Ty, UK’s Rodney P and UK graffiti artist Temper will all be attending.

Talwar later added that he’s looking forward to this year’s event

“We’ve been exceptionally lucky with the artists that are taking part this year. We wanted to show the impact and reach of Hip Hop – from the streets of Harlem to the theatres of Birmingham, from the shanty towns of South Africa to the galleries of Nottingham – this festival is going to break new ground, showcase British Art and Street Sounds for what it really is – a unique and exciting mode of expression.”

The full line-up is available on www.bassfestival.co.uk.

Tags: BASS Festival, Black Thought, Celebration, Festival, Hip-Hop, June, Midlands, UK

The Game sporting his mohawk cut. What do you guys think?

Tags: June, LAX, The Game, XXL

Source:  http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003721167 

Usher’s new song “Love In This Club” is the No. 1 song in the country and has made an astonishing leap from #51* to the No. 1 position on Billboard’s “Hot 100 Singles” chart.

It also opens at No. 1 on Hot Digital Songs with 198,000 downloads, the largest first-week sum since Sean Kingston shifted 260,000 in the Aug. 11, 2007, issue.

 This accomplishment marks Usher’s eighth No. 1 single in the United States. Flo Rida’s “Low,” which has been No. 1 on the Hot 100 for 10 weeks, drops to No. 2.

Love In The Club -  http://www.zshare.net/audio/84147369ddac4a/

Tags: audio, Here I Am, June, Laface, Love In The Club, Music, Usher