Lil Wayne - John (Explicit) ft. Rick Ross

Omarion (Feat. Red Cafe) - Battle

Rick Ross - Maybach Music III

Bobby V - If I Cant Have U

The Game (Feat. Lil Wayne) - Red Nation

Amber Roses Covers The June 2011 Issue Of "KING" Magazine

Amber Rose covers the June 2011 issue of KING Magazine.  See pics and highlights inside plus a "sexy?" video of Antoine Dodson....

Amber Rose covers KING Magazine this month and she talked to Sean A. Malcolm.  We have some pics and interview highlights.

What do you think is the perception of Amber Rose?
I spoke to people, asking why do I constantly get ridiculed. Is it because I was a stripper?
Well that doesn’t help that perception much.
But they said, “No, people don’t care about that, it’s that they think that you’re with all these men, when you’re not.” I’m only taking that from certain people that I spoke to. Maybe it’s that too, or that I’m very comfortable with my body. I can be topless on Miami Beach, that doesn’t make me a whore. That’s an everyday thing on Miami Beach. It’s just such a big deal because I’m in the public eye.
If you’re cognizant of these things, why go from one public relationship into another one with Wiz Khalifa?
Let’s put it like this, I promised myself that I would never in my life ever again deal with a man in the music industry…ever!


But?
I met him to give him a pair of sunglasses from my company. You know, he’s from PA, I’m from PA—I wanted to look out for him. We exchanged numbers over Twitter…
There’s something to be said about Twitter hookups. Continue.
[Laughs] Yeah, but it was strictly business for me to give him the shades. He calls and tells me he’s in LA and can he come and get the shades. I told him I’m about to go to Runyon and work out and I’ll contact him after. He says he has the day off and I told him he could come to Runyon with me because I’m going by myself. It would be cool to have some company. He said, cool.
You guys connected during that workout session, then?
We hung out, we were friends. That’s when I posted that picture [on Twitter] saying, “me and my little brother Wiz.” ‘Cause I was like, “I’m not dealing with no young rapper.”
So when did that relationship turn into incest?
[Laughs] I chilled with him for two weeks. We didn’t kiss or nothing. Then he left for Pittsburgh and when he left I was so lost without him. He has to come back, I just miss him, and I don’t look at him like a little brother.
Why is that?
He’s just so positive. He’s one of those people that in any situation he can always see the brighter side to something. And he always has a smile on his face, he’s never in a bad mood, he’s super talented and smart, he’s a boss. Just being around him I realized he’s not no little boy like I thought he was. He’s a grown man about his business. His music alone, he’s not in the same circle as those other dudes, he’s on some other shit. So when he left we just talked on the phone constantly and that’s when we realized we were really falling for each other. And I was like when this young boy gets back from Pittsburgh; he is definitely getting some…definitely [laughs].

Points awarded for honesty. Does it make sense to ask who made the first move?
[Laughs] Ah shit, it was mutual. It was that energy and that feeling, we really fell for each other really hard really fast.
What’s the difference between this relationship with Wiz and your last with Kanye?
The thing of it is…how can I say this without sounding crazy or mean? I’m sorry.
No need to apologize, the floor is yours.
There’s no comparison in personalities. You know when people say how do you go from Kanye to Wiz Khalifa, that’s a downgrade. But the only question I can ask them is: have you ever dated Kanye? Because I have, and believe me, I did not downgrade at all. Not in any aspect, at all.

Ouch.....you have to read between the lines on that.  Amber did take some nice pics......

KING-MAG TV: AMBER ROSE from Billet Video Studios (DnkonDnks) on Vimeo.

Tank's "Celebration" (Remix) Ft. Chris Brown & Trey Songz

Tank has provided us with a first listen to the "Celebration" (Remix) off his Now Or Never disc and it features Chris Brown & Trey Songz.  Check it out inside. 

Along with the remix, he also released some new publicity pics.

Look for Tank's headlining tour later this summer called "Emergency Tour." And congrats to Tank signing with 'Manny Halley' Imani Entertainment.

Listen to the remix with Chris Brown and Trey Songz here:
tank celebration remix by TheYBF.com

Katharine Hamnett x Selfridges “Project Ocean” Capsule Collection

In conjunction with the launch of its “Project Ocean” campaign, Selfridges has commissioned this collection of special edition T-shirts from designer Katharine Hamnett. During the 1980s, Hamnett’s oversized T-shirts using large, block-letter slogans became a huge hit on the streets and were adopted by several major pop bands of the time, including Wham! To help raise the world’s awareness of the plight of the oceans and highlight the potential consequences of continued over-fishing, the “Project Ocean” shirts designed by Hamnett feature slogans like “STOP AND THINK,” “NO MORE FISH IN THE SEA?” and “SAVE THE WORLD.” Priced at £40 (approximately $65 USD), the T-shirts are available for men, women and children exclusively through Selfridges.

DJ Khaled featuring Lil Wayne, Drake & Rick Ross – I’m On One

After hinting at the song for the past few weeks, DJ Khaled unleashes the second single off his We the Best Forever which offers lyrical contribution by Lil Wayne, Drake and Rick Ross. Entitled “I’m On One,” the gentlemen point out that they are pretty much in tune with their ways. Getting a few things off his chest, a more experienced Drizzy is the definite standout on this one. We the Best Forever drops June 28.

Nike Air Trainer Huarache White/Fresh Water

Nike offers up another solid trainer for Spring 2011. Boasting a familiar colorway, this Air Trainer Huarache receives the white leather treatment with black highlights coming via the strap and midsoles, along with a fresh water neoprene bootie. Priced at $100 USD, these are now available through select Nike stockists throughout the states, including Nice Kicks in Austin, Texas.

wings + horns 2011 Fall/Winter Hi-Cut Sneaker

Roden Gray offers a peek into an upcoming footwear design from Canadian outfit wings + horns. Featuring a clean-cut look, the sneakers are done up in a what looks like a premium suede/leather combo upper, with side-zip detailing, matching leather laces and white midsoles. No price or release date has been set but stay tuned for further details and a closer look once Fall/Winter 2011 approaches.

H&M 2011 Fall/Winter Collection

Retail chain H&M unveils its Fall/Winter 2011 collection. About as solid as any recent lineup we’ve seen from them, the upcoming season will surely be one of their best. Varied in style, the looks pair casual comfort with more sophisticated silhouettes. Standouts include an assortment of outerwear pieces, including two-tone varsity style blazers, biker jackets, parkas and even a solid range of suits. Look for these styles once fall/winter rolls around.

Casio G-Shock GX-56GB “Black Gold”

An upcoming release from Casio G-Shock uses a reliable colorway with a black and gold design. Based on the largest G-Shock ever, the GX-56, the watch includes a mostly black body and face with discrete contrasting gold highlights. Look for this at select retailers as of June.
Source: G-STREET

SNEAK PEEK Of Beyonce's 3 "W" Covers+Kelly Rowland Set For A Fall Album Release

Beyonce is taking over the mag covers in preparation of her upcoming album 4.  She shot triple covers for W magazine's June 2011 issue.  And a sneak peek has hit the net.

Pics and updates on Kelly Rowland's new album, when you read on...
W magazine is Beyonce's follow up to covering the new issue of Billboard magazine, which honors her receiving the Billboard Millenium Award of 2011.
If only she would drop this "Run The World (Girls)" vid....
Her girl Kelly Rowland offered up congrats recently as well.  She told media this week:
"I'm so excited for my sister. Nobody deserves it more than she does. Ever since we were kids, we've worked hard, and she's carried that into her solo career."
And speaking of Kelly....

She's set to release her new album, Here I Am, this fall.  She's set to release the exact date soon.  And she also dished on what inspired the title of this LP:

"I was talking to my product manager," recalls Rowland, who's currently working in Los Angeles. "I said I wanted people to know that this is the record, the sound I¹ve been working toward... that here I am. And she said, that's the title. It just connected with my heart and the music as well. It stands for everything I've gone through and thought about for this record as a woman. It's very strong."

Nice.  Good luck Kells!

Is Will Smith Taking A Step Back...Starring As A Slave?

Kill Bill director Quentin Tarantino is in talks to produce a Western flick that will star Will Smith. But if Will signs on for the film, he'll be playing a slave.  Deets inside....
Quentin Tarantino has been discussing his next project called Django Unchained which will be "(A) western whose lead character is a former slave who is in league with Waltz to save his wife from an evil plantation owner." 
And Quentin, who has always expressed his love of Black culture, wants Will Smith to star in the flick.  But that means Mr. Smith would appearing as a slave.  Would that be a step back for the world's biggest movie star?
Hmmm.....it could be the type of role that causes Will to pull on a set of acting skills we didn't know he had.  And it seems like he would still be a hero in the film so...maybe the storyline could work.
Would you go see it?

Also in Will Smith news, he was forced to relocate the movable mansion we told you about, to a vacant lot earlier this week.  It seems like most SoHo residents were unimpressed with his big trailer and big ego.

TV/MOVIE BONUS: ATTENTION FELLOW FANGBANGERS! "True Blood" just released its Season 4 promo:

Beyonce Discusses Her New Album Called "4" In The June 2011 Issue Of "BILLBOARD" Magazine

Beyonce covers the June 2011 issue of Billboard Magazine where she speaks about the next phase of her career and why she cannot be defined as an artist.  Read the interview inside....

Beyonce, who will be receiving the Millenium Award on May 22nd from Billboard, recently interviewed with the magazine about her next album 4.  She talks about managing herself, where her career is going and how she understands herself as an artist.
Read the interview here:

Whenever you put out a new song, it seems to generate a catchphrase. Is that something you think about?
That's what I always want to do - I'm attracted to songs that will become a dinner conversation! [laughs] With "Single Ladies," clearly I'd just gotten married, and people want to get married every day - then there was the whole Justin Timberlake thing [recreating the video] on "Saturday Night Live," and it was also the year YouTube blew up. With "Irreplaceable," the aggressive lyrics, the acoustic guitar, and the 808 [drum machine] - those things don't typically go together, and it sounded fresh. "Crazy in Love" was another one of those classic
moments in pop culture that none of us expected. I asked Jay to get on the song the night before I had to turn my album in - thank God he did. It still never gets old, no matter how many times I sing it.
The new album is called "4." Aside from this being your fourth solo album, what significance does that number hold?

We all have special numbers in our lives, and 4 is that for me. It's the day I was born. My mother's birthday, and a lot of my friends' birthdays, are on the fourth; April 4 is my wedding date.
How did the creative process begin with the new body of work?
I recorded more than 60 songs: everything I ever wanted to try, I just did it. I started off being inspired by [Afrobeat music pioneer] Fela Kuti. I actually worked with the band from "Fela!" [the hit Broadway musical based on his life] for a couple of days, just to get the feel for the soul and heart of his music; it's so sexy, and has a great groove you get lost in. I loved his drums, all the horns, how everything was on the one. What I learned most from Fela was artistic freedom: he just felt the spirit. I also found a lot of inspiration in '90s R&B, Earth, Wind & Fire, DeBarge, Lionel Richie, Teena Marie... I listened to a lot of Jackson 5 and New Edition, but also Adele, Florence + the Machine, and Prince. Add in my hip-hop influences, and you can hear how broad it is. I also gave myself more freedom to really belt out some songs, and bring soul singing back: I used a lot of the brassiness and grittiness in my voice that people hear in my live performances, but not necessarily on my records.
This is your first record that you've made without your father managing you. What sort of options opened up that may be different than before?
It's not that anything bad happened between us. My family has my support always, and they support me, but when you've been working with the same people for 15 years, it's natural to eventually have your own ideas. I believe that parents prepare their kids for the moment that they're on their own: at this point, I'm taking everything my dad and my mother have taught me, and I'm able to do things my way. We were at a point where we'd learned so much from each other, and now it's exciting for me to do this on my own and hire my own team. I've started managing myself.
Your film career recently took an interesting turn. You've gone from "Dreamgirls" to "Cadillac Records" to "Obsessed," and now you're working with Clint Eastwood on the latest remake of "A Star is Born."

It's a dream come true; I'm still in shock that it's really going to happen. Clint Eastwood is clearly the absolute best, and I'm so honored and humbled. I was in no rush to do another movie unless it was the right film, and I didn't even want to touch "A Star is Born" unless it was with him. I actually learned that this project was in existence, and kind of claimed it. I want to get to work right now!
"A Star is Born" is an appropriate choice, as it follows the rise of a female singer to stardom. What have been your milestones on the way up?
I would say when Destiny's Child worked with Wyclef Jean on "No, No, No Part 2" - we were so young and green and in awe of everything, and couldn't wait to sing for him. And winning our Grammy for "Say My Name" was incredible. I remember hearing the song on the radio for the first time: I felt like "Wow, this sounds like a classic - something that will be around forever." Those melodies and that fast, staccato way of singing created a new style; it inspired a whole movement in R&B. Being part of that was amazing.
After all those achievements, what was it like going solo?
Scary and empowering! Everyone in the group was very nervous, and terrified to do things on our own. We missed each other; it was hard having to make your own decisions and not have someone there to say, "I agree" or "I don't agree." But going through that is a part of life; it was a big first step for me, but one of many first steps I'm sure I'll have. I kind of feel like that now again.
I'm approaching 30, and finally took a break in my life, which I've never had. I took more than a year off: I traveled around, spent time with my husband, woke up in my own bed, ate whatever I wanted, went to museums and Broadway plays, watched documentaries, and just had life experiences. I never get to go to concerts because I'm usually performing, so I saw so many shows - great bands, like Muse and Rage Against the Machine, that also inspired the album. There were a lot of artists I'd never been exposed to: I'm like a sponge and soak everything up, and I learned so much from watching these great performers. Having time to grow as a human being was really inspiring, and gave me a lot to pull from. I'm excited about growing: I can just have fun, and the artistic freedom to do whatever I want. At this point, I really know who I am, and don't feel like I have to put myself in a box. I'm not afraid of taking risks - no one can define me.

EXTRAS:
1.  Today is the 30th anniversary of the day Bob Marley died.  Story.
2.  Beyonce and Nicki Minaj has been added to the GMA concert series.  Story. 

Rihanna Releases "Man Down" Cover Art And Lashes Out On Twitter + RiRi Endorses Vita Coco Water

Rihanna released the cover art to her "Man Down" single today and the picture didn't go over well with one of her Twitter followers.  See what Rihanna said to the "rude" fan inside and find out what drink product Rihanna has decided to endorse....
The "Man Down" cover art looks like it was take during the time RiRi shot the "Only Girl In The World" video, and her red wig didn't sit well with one fan.

The fan asked RiRi why her hair looks "nappy" in the photo.

And Rihanna replied.....

LOL.....classic.


Also in Rihanna news,
Not only is the singer endorsing NIVEA, she has become a spokesperson for Vita CoCo Water saying,

“I love Vita Coco! It’s real coconut water from hand-picked coconuts. It’s delicious and so good for you!”

The Braxtons Get Glam For "Today's Black Woman"

On magazine racks, Toni Braxton and her entire family appear in the June 2011 issue of Today's Black Woman.  See the photos inside...

The Braxton women recently sat for a photoshoot with Today's Black Woman under the direction of photographer Robert Ector and wardrobe stylist Leah Taylor.
Check out the pics:

Toni loves that "ANTM" finger over the eye pose.  And all of the ladies' pics came out well.

Photos via Robert Ector/Hair Styling by Dawn White, Rikya Taylor/Makeup by Alex Lucas, Terrell Mullin and Malika James/Nails by Terrance Terry