Ekali took a break from moshing in the crowds at EDC Las Vegas to catch up with host Tommie Sunshine. See how a conversation about his music evolution and love for rave culture ended with a new drink called ‘The Ekali.’
Monthly Archives: April 2019
4B: Rumor Has It
4B discusses releasing his hit song ‘Whistle’ on DJ Snake’s label, adjusting to LA lifestyle, and the struggle of staying fit while touring.
Droeloe Looks to Be ‘Revolutionary’
Droeloe caught up with host Tommie Sunshine at EDC Las Vegas to discuss the overwhelming, but inspiring nature of the festival, the inspiration behind their first EP and what they have planned for the second.
In the Mix with Global Dan
The Maryland native discusses his experiences exploring California, the exhausting nature of Rolling Loud, and what he has planned next.
Billie Eilish's Strange Sample
Vampire Weekend is live all night long, Bob Dylan opens up Heaven's Door, and Billie Eilish sampled... really that show!?
Coachella Day 3: Ariana, YG & Katy
If you’re going to be the youngest headliner ever at Coachella, you damn sure better bring it. Ariana Grande did just that last night trying to go down as the best to ever do it. Just look to the hashtags of #AriChella bubbling on social for proof.
Opening her set with “God Is A Woman,” Grande delivered a night of smash hits, featuring platinum-level guests throughout.
Nicki Minaj came out for a double dose, with “Side To Side” and “Bang Bang.” The two dominated the stage, making an impact despite some audio issues.
Grande’s next trick was a big one, persuading the legendary *NSYNC to reunite… for the most part. Sure, Justin Timberlake was wrapping his “Man of the Woods” tour elsewhere, but Grande filled his spot admirably. She’s had plenty of prep time. “All her muthaf**kin life” to be exact.
JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Lance Bass sang “Tearin Up My Heart.” This came on the heels of Grande’s “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored,” which incorporates a sample of the boy band’s “It Makes Me Ill.”
*NSYC wasn’t the only legendary collective to join Grande. Diddy and Mase came to bring the house down with “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” featuring Ariana crooning the chorus.
And if Ariana owned the pop event of the evening, Y.G. brought the hip hop fire.
He showed his own major guest-pull, too, parading out 2 Chainz and Big Sean for “Big Bank.” Elsewhere, Tyga came out for “Taste” as well as the posse track “Bitches Ain’t Shit,” which of course has verses from YG and Nipsey Hussle.
Mid-set, Y.G. honored his fallen friend, who graduated from hood-hero to worldwide-legend.
“I been trying to get to ‘BoaChella’ for muthaf**kin years,” Y.G. Said. “It took me years and years to get to this muthaf**kin stage. Me and my n***a Nipsey Hussle used to talk about doing ‘BoaChella’ my n***a. He [would] call it ‘Coachella.’ But I’mma call it ‘BoaChella.’ We would have conversations about doing this shit. And it’s 2019 and I’m finally doing this shit. Thank you BoaChella for having me up in this muthaf**ka ... We just lost one of our greats, one of our homies. One of our big brothers. A muthaf**kin legend. Black muthaf**kin Jesus. Yeah I said it, Black Muthaf**kin Jesus.”
Y.G. also announced that his new LP is dropping May 3rd. The project was delayed from early April in order to pay proper respect to Nipsey in the aftermath of his March 31 murder.
Other highlights from Day 3 included Bad Bunny bringing out J. Balvin for “I Liked It Like That.” And Zedd was not to be outdone, bringing Katy Perry on stage for “365.” Meanwhile, Khalid was vying to steal the night with help from Normani, Billie Eilish, Halsey, Benny Blanco and Marshmello during his Coachella debut.
Overall, it was another epic event from Coachella Valley. We can’t wait to see what Weekend 2 brings.
Jay-Z Set To Reopen Webster Hall
#TBT came early this week. Yesterday, Tiger Woods topped the golf world once again by winning the Masters, and today Jay-Z announced that he’s headlining a show at Webster Hall. We don’t know about you, but we welcome this type of throwback with open arms.
For those who don’t know, Webster Hall is a popular night spot that rose to hip hop prominence in the early 90s as a core NYC venue to see your favorite MCs. Nas, Black Moon, Rakim, Busta Rhymes and Meek Mill don’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the talent that has graced this stage over the past two decades plus. Despite such a storied history, the Hall was closed down in 2017 for renovations.
This morning, Roc Nation took to social media with a simple video zooming in on the iconic Webster Hall marquee, with the following message: “Jay-Z, Friday April 26, Opening Night.” The video ends with a cover graphic announcing “Jay-Z B-Sides 2.”
The accompanying captions reads: “#JAYZ is opening Webster Hall with ‘B-Sides 2’ on Friday, April 26 for Day 1 fans. AMEX Card Members can get tickets on 4/18 at 10am ET before the public on sale on 4/19 at 11am ET.”
BSE Global, the Bowery Presents and AEG Presents have taken over the reins of Webster Hall and are clearly thrilled to have Hov christening the revamped spot with this initial performance.
“The Bowery Presents formed in 2004 when we booked Sonic Youth at Webster Hall,” John Moore, founder and partner at The Bowery Presents, said in a statement today. “We are thrilled to return to our roots, New York City’s oldest music venue, to begin this storied new chapter for artists and fans alike."
“When we were thinking about who would be the right choice to open this legendary venue, we knew it had to be a world-famous New York City icon,” CEO of BSE Global Brett Yormark, also said in a statement. “No one fits that description better than Jay-Z, who will join an unparalleled list of celebrated performers who have played Webster Hall.”
Yormark has a long relationship with Jay-Z and Roc Nation. His company also operates NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center.
After a historic run with his wife Beyoncé last summer, Jigga is back on his solo grind. Aside from this Webster Hall concert, he’s also been tapped to be a headliner at the upcoming “Woodstock 50.” Jay’s last solo run was in 2017 with his “4:44” tour. Among the other acts set to play Webster Hall after Jay reopens it back up include MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Patti Smith, Dillon Francis, Rosalia and Sharon Van Etten, Chromeo and Pink Sweat$.
BTS Is Making History in 2019!
Something about BTS feels so right in this moment. Like if I were able to travel back to 1999 and they asked me what music was like in the future, I’d be able to tell them that teenagers in 2019 are really into a K-pop boy band with rainbow colored hair and they’d be like “yes, ok, that makes sense.”
It might seem like BTS is everywhere right now and that’s because… they are. The South Korean 7 member boyband dropped their latest EP on Friday – Map of The Soul: Persona contains 7 songs, including big name collabs with Halsey and Ed Sheeran. The Halsey assisted “Boy With Luv” video broke a youtube record over the weekend, hitting 100 million views in under two days – an incredible flex. The guys also became the first K-pop musical guest on Saturday Night Live over the weekend… and didn’t even break a sweat.
Love for BTS has been building for a minute. You might recall that they picked up the Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist – meaning they have a HUGE online fanbase – in 2017 and 2018. The BTS Army, as those fans are known, should get ready to tweet up a storm again this year - the group is once again nominated as Top Social Artist, plus they grab a nomination in the Top Duo/Group category. AGAIN, the first K-pop group to do so.
Check out the clip of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook showing off some sick choreography to go along with their new music on SNL, and listen to their new release, Map of The Soul: Persona on Slacker Radio!
Justin Roberts + Jake Paul Party Patrol
As Justin Roberts celebrates his new song, “Way Too Much,” YouTube superstar Jack Paul fills us in on the future of Team Ten.