Ready For The 2019 BBMAs?

Posted on by

If the Grammys are music’s BIGGEST night, the Billboard Music Awards might be the most fun night in music, and this year’s awards are shaping up to be bigger than ever!

Cardi B leads the pack with a whopping 21 nominations, but Drake and Post Malone aren’t far behind with 17 each. In a groundbreaking moment, not only are BTS nominated for Top Social Artist in 2019 (they won the award in both 2017 and 2018), they’re also up for Top Duo/Group – the first time a K-pop group has scored a nod in a major category.

But anybody who watches awards shows knows… it’s not really about the awards. It’s about the performances. Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie were just announced as the show openers – they’ll perform their brand new duet, “Me!”. The Jonas brothers are reuniting onstage for their first awards show back together. Madonna is debuting her new song with Maluma, “Medellin”, and Halsey will take the stage both with BTS and solo. Plus we’ll see live performances from Ciara, Dan + Shay, Panic! At The Disco, Khalid, and Icon Award honoree Mariah Carey. Not to mention Kelly Clarkson, who’s performing and hosting again this year.

The 2019 Billboard Music awards air live from Las Vegas Wednesday, May 1st at 8pm on NBC. Check out nominees in the biggest categories in the video above, and listen to a special station in honor of the awards – The Twenty: BBMAs is live now!

Jay-Z Re-Opens Webster Hall

Posted on by

It was a Roc-A-Fella reunion last in New York as Jay-Z officially reopened the historic Big Apple landmark Webster Hall. Hov’s show was no ordinary concert, it was titled “B-Sides 2” where he would perform fan favorite gems that did not officially get released as singles.

A highlight that fans never thought that they’d see was the Jiggaman on stage with former Roc family members Cam’ron and Jim Jones of The Diplomats. Cam’s platinum classic LP Come Home With Me came out on Roc-A-Fella in 2002 and its lauded follow-up Purple Haze dropped on the Roc in 2004. In between, The Diplomats debut Diplomatic Immunity was released on 2002.

When the Dip Set left Roc-A-Fella it was far from an amicable split. The feud is well documented. Cam and Jim both had diss records against Hov and Hov levied barns at them too. The beef however has been dead for years. Jones is even artist on Jay’s Roc Nation now. Water under the bridge and it even looks like a camaraderie was formed as Jay and Cam performed “Welcome To New York City,” a gem that has seemingly been in the tuck for years.

Jay came to Webster Hall wearing a black bandanna tied around his 'fro, a tuxedo and his wife Beyoncé was on his arm. When he brought out Cam and Jim, the Harlem ambassador kept with the dress code of ultra, Black Excellence fly. Nas was another ironic guest. Of course, him and Jay have the biggest feud and reconciliation in hip hop history and have been friends for over ten years now. Still, it was ill to see Nas perform at the same show as Jay and the Diplomats seeing that God’s son had his differences with Jim and Cam as well. It showed that with artists can do to us to grow in hip-hop and unity is always better than division. A sterling show of leadership by action.

As for Jay, him and his band were in tune, running on all cylinders dropping revered that are adored.

Wu-Tang Clan Shine At Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on by

Last night, while NY Giants GM Dave Gettleman was causing anxious commotion among loyal New Yorkers with a highly controversial NFL Draft pick, another team from the Big Apple was delighting thousands. The Wu-Tang Clan held the world premier for their Showtime Docuseries “Of Mics and Men” last night at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan at the TriBeCa Film Festival.

As members of the Clan pulled up to the red carpet, so did Nas. He’s an executive behind the film production.

“Hip Hop is renewing itself right here,” RZA said, flanked by Nas, Cappadonna and Raekwon The Chef. “25 more years to go. We ain’t gonna stop. Bong bong!!”

After the screening, the Wu took it a notch higher with a full-on concert of their greatest hits. The legendary collective are still in full swing celebration of the 25th anniversary of their first classic, Enter The Wu-Tang 36 Chambers.