Beyoncé and Jay Z Announce Their On The Run Summer Tour

The King of hip hop has joined forces with the Queen of pop as husband and wife Jay Z and Beyoncé will embark on their hugely anticipated summer tour of America this year. 

The pair are are set to play in thirteen cities across the US starting in Miami on June 25th, performing in places such as Philadelphia, Dallas, Toronto and Chicago before concluding in San Francisco on 5th of August. 

With a total of nine collaborative songs such as 'Drunk in Love' and the infamous 'Crazy in Love', the pair are pictured with balaclavas for the promotional photo, said to be reminiscent of their first collab, '03 Bonnie & Clyde'.

Bonnie and Clyde, keepin' it real. 

Named after their single 'Part II (On the Run)', exclusive tickets for the tour will be available to  Beyoncé's Beyhive fans tomorrow morning and general sale will begin on Friday. More dates are predicted to be added at a later time. 

Will you be buying tour tickets? 

Katy Perry Pranks the Public in New Video 'Birthday'

Katy Perry loves to embrace a theme and I fell in love with her toe-tapping single Birthday when I first listened to Prism. In her hilarious video released yesterday, she takes on a number of disguises and performs at an array of parties while members of the public look on in bewilderment.

As one of the hottest pop stars out there, Katy Perry could have easily donned a cute dress and sexily blown out some candles. But come on fellas, what's more attractive than a funny girl?

Taking on the role of the world's worst party planners, she becomes 5 characters.

Meet Goldee. The song 'Lady is a Tramp' is pretty much about her. Saggy in all the wrong places, she goes to an old person's home to reek havoc.

Ever had a rubbish MC at your party? I'm pretty sure Yosef  is worse. She kinda looks like Lionel Richie here. 

 Kriss the clown couldn't be worse at entertaining kids if she tried. Stealing children's presents and causing a car crash, the parents are far from impressed.

Everyone loves an animal entertainer, but Ace is unable to control the poor things, let them run wild around the children.

Princess Mandee is by far my favourite. The worst face painter in the world, she smears what looks like mud on poor unsuspecting girls at a small birthday party. 

My favourite part came when Perry apologised to the girls for being rubbish at her job, but taking off her wig and mask, the kids forgot as they screamed in joy when they realised it was Katy Perry. TOO.CUTE.

8 Minutes of fun and frolics, I loved Birthday. Check it out below. 

Nicki Minaj says 'Hell No' to Pop in New Album Pink Print

Her first mixtapes put her on the map as an established female rapper back in 2007 and taking the leap into mainstream three years later naturally meant a progression into pop. Donning the bubblegum wigs, bright lipstick and wacky personas, she produced two Pink Friday albums, leaving her natural roots behind. Despite the success of hits such Starships and Super bass, Minaj is now keen to leave her pop days behind and ditch her alter egos. 

natural hair, more natural look

Speaking to MTV during an interview for new movie The Other Woman, she explained her reasoning behind the drastic change. "I went so far to the other side that there's only one place to go from there.You can either continue doing costumes or you can just say, 'Hey guess what? This will shock them even more. Doing nothing will shock them even more.'"

Her Pink Friday days screamed mainstream.

She was asked about new album Pink Print,saying: 

 "The tracks on [my next album] are back to my hip-hop roots. And I don't think it's something that I'm necessarily trying to do. As soon as I started working on my new album, that's just the songs that I've been writing,"

When asked whether tracks similar to the style of Starships would feature on the album, she exclaimed "Hell no". 

Arriving at the MTV Movie Awards recently, she donned a sophisticated and understated Alexander McQueen gown, which marked the beginning of her natural look and was looked upon with much admiration on social media. 

Minaj at the MTV Movie Awards

For those of you who can't wait for her new era, listen to Lookin' Ass Nigga (below), Chi-raq and Danny Glover. 

Welcome back Nicki! 

Wu-Tang Clan Rapper Andre Johnson Cuts Off Penis in Bizarre Suicide Attempt

Andre Johnson, a supposed member of famous hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan was discovered on Wednesday after he reportedly severed his own penis before jumping from an apartment building in Los Angeles. 

Despite the atrocity, Johnson miraculously survived and is being treated at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, with his penis being (luckily) retrieved. More famously known by his rapper name Christ Bearer, Johnson is currently a member of group Northstar and was reported to have been at the apartment in which he and his band mates live when he suddenly decided to hack off his extremities.

The Wu-Tang Clan denying knowing Johnson

 Immediately after the weird act, he proceeded to jump from the second storey flat in an apparent suicide attempt. According to a TMZ insider, there were "no hard drugs that could cause him to do such a thing" inside the apartment at the time. Hmm. 

To add more weirdness, a representative of the Wu-Tang Clan denied the group having any associaton with Johnson, with a pretty heartless statement: 

"He is not of any affiliation to Wu-Tang Clan or any of its subsidiaries. No one here has ever seen or heard of this fool until now."

Johnson posted his new single 'Oooh' just hours before his act of self-harm. If that isn't publicity I don't know what is.. 

 

Album Review: Paolo Nutini's Caustic Love

I can't tell you how sorely I have missed Mr Paulo Nutini. His rough, untameable and thoroughly enchanting voice lends so much tone to his music and the Scottish Italian singer had a lot to offer with his third album Caustic Love.

The album begins with first single Scream (Funk My Life Up)  a track crammed full of the optimism that occupied These Streets' New Shoes and Sunny Side Up's Pencil Full of Lead. Soul creeps into the album through second song Let Me Down Easy. The comic entrance to Bus Talk establishes it as a wonderful one and a half minute reprieve before the epically melancholic One Day. 

I love Nutini's ability to create a song that isn't necessarily fast in pace, but has enough buoyancy to float the listener just below cloud nine, as Numpty demonstrates. If you haven't been charmed already, Better Man is sure to make you fall in love.

 
Keeping the soulful blues elements of his second album, but advancing them with vocal-heavy tracks, Iron Sky talks about the politics, society and religion that try and control us as an unnamed man urges us to break free.

The live feel to the slow and slick Diana adds extra charm before the tempo is re-established in Fashion. Cherry Blossom was by far my favourite track, as reminiscent of Coldplay, it combined soft rock, indie and blues to create six minutes of bliss.

Bewitching from the outset, the album will definitely live up to Nutini fans' expectations. A chill-out album to say the least, stick this on in the car and enjoy.

I give this album: ★★★★

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Review: Foxes Debut Album is Truly 'Glorious'

For pint size pop prodigy Louise Rose Allen more commonly known as Foxes, her debut album Glorious has been highly anticipated and rightly so. 

For those who have never heard of her, listen up: The Southampton songstress originally collaborated with Zedd for the chart topping hit Clarity which managed to win the coveted Grammy for Best Dance Recording this year. Making her own breakthrough with singles Youth, Beauty Queen and most recently Let Go for Tonight all of which appear on Glorious, they have received more than 10 million plays on Youtube alone. 

Beginning the album with the eerie and dub-heavy Talking to Ghosts, it progresses to soulful pop delight Holding Onto Heaven, a song with charming lullaby-esque undertones. "Don't be afraid to lead the way" Allen confidently sings in the ethereal White Coats before she slows the tempo right down in piano ballad Night Glo. 

Marina and the Diamonds fans will sink their teeth into Night Owls Early Birds, a song about letting the juvenescence be foolish. With a flawless lead in and a real indie pop feel, this track is one of the strongest in the collection. The epic Glorious is well-deserved as the title of the album, a song that urges the listener not to give up on what you want. Echo and Shaking Heads all convey that youthful are simply savouring their lives. 

Foxes really is an artist who can carry a song with her voice and few notes on the piano. Count the Saints incorporates that talent with subtle steel drums to produce a heart-wrenching song that will have you hitting repeat. Rusty and raw track Home brings the listener back down to the ground and the dark and twinkly In Her Arms combines infectious glockenspiel-esque sounds with dominant drums and impossibly soft vocals. 

The tonal variety to album is truly glorious. With a delicious range in tempos, Foxes' silky vocals often juxtapose the bass-heavy foundations of all 16 tracks. If none of that convinces you, just look at her cute face. 

I give this album ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Glorious will be released on 9th May

BANKS Brings Dark and Mystifying Charm in New Video 'Brain'

I've always loved the ethereal charm newcomer BANKS brings to her music, and I was really excited to see the release of her new single Brain after the success of Waiting Game and This is What it Feels Like. With '90s dance influences intertwining with her silky easy-listening lyrics, BANKS has bags of promise. 

Providing us with the perfect chill out tune, the video to accompany Brain is shot in black and white and begins with the singer wearing a veil, inset into a circle which appears to be creating ripples. 

arty or what.

Rapid kaleidoscopic elements and mirrors are added to create stunning visuals, complimenting her haunting and engrossing vocals that will have you toe-tapping and hitting the repeat button in no time. 

"help me, help meee"

"I can see you struggling,boy don't hurt your brain"

The American beauty is currently touring the UK and will be playing at numerous festivals this summer, including Coachella, Lovebox and Longitude. 


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Watch the video below: 

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Album Review: Pharrell Celebrates Womankind in 'G I R L'

With Get Lucky, Blurred Lines and newest single Happy owning the number one spot, it really does seem that everything Pharrell Williams touches turns to gold. It is unsurprising that his second solo album since In My Mind back in 2006 has been so highly anticipated.

What was more staggering is Williams' attempt to re-place himself, leaving behind the lusty perversions of Blurred Lines to write an album filled with celebratory tracks about women. G I R L commences elegantly,consumed with stringed instruments before switching to synth with a pinch of  '70s groove in Marilyn Monroe.

Keeping it smooth and suave in Brand New, Pharrell joins forces with Justin Timberlake to create a toe-tappingly soulful and Jackson 5-esque tune that keeps you smiling.Funk begins to take over throughout the sultry songs Hunger and Gush. The ever-addictive Happy nestles itself in the middle of the album before Miley Cyrus makes a fleeting appearance in Come Get It Bae and French dance duo Daft Punk combine orchestral elements with smooth synthesizer snippets in Gust of Wind, a song that glorifies the feeling of falling in love.

Lost Queen diverts the listeners' journey through G I R L as it adopts remote African qualities with strong harmonious backing vocals and prominent drums. Williams challenges female stereotypes as he sings "I don't have a problem with multi-tasking, taking care of you is my number one passion". Half way through, the song fades to the faint and calming sound of crashing waves before the tempo is slowed and an R'n'B tone is adopted.

The album reaches it's peak in Know Who You Are, a track which combines reggae tones with soulful funk as Alicia Keys provides the perfect accompaniment. Finishing the album with It Girl's subtly sexy lyrics, Williams' softly sings "you my inspiration" as he sets the bar for an understated feminism that has been desperately needed in chart music of late.

I give the album: ★★★★

One Direction Grab a Kebab and Hit on Old Ladies in New Music Video Midnight Memories

Cementing their fun-loving image, boy band One Direction are seen frolicking in the streets of London in their new music video Midnight Memories. 

After a whirlwind year of touring, the group are on a short break while preparing for their gargantuan stadium world tour, Where We Are. Taking some time off they managed to show the world they aren't tired yet. 

Beginning the video at a seemingly dull house party, the group leave to make their own rave. 

Wolverine is that you? 

Singing "now im at the age when I know what I need" they enter a kebab shop where Niall the Neanderthal  grabs some of that doner with his teeth, Harry gets down and dirty serving the customers and Liam consumes too much chilli sauce. 

After Harry and Louis get familiar with the local OAPs, the gang grab themselves some motorised scooters. Don't ruin your quiffs lads. 

After stealing a police boat (naughty) they storm the Thames lip syncing their little hearts out.

and my personal favourite.. 

not so hot now is he ladies?

If we learn anything from this video it's that 1D pride themselves in a party that contains re-constituted meat, fire extinguishers and motorised scooters.