Fugees member Lauryn Hill returned to our headlines yesterday with the release of a brand new, albeit rushed track. Today she returns to our front page, but sadly the news is not as good for Ms. Hill.

Hill appeared in court yesterday to face charges stemming from a $900,000 tax debt she owed to the US Government. As a result of her offenses, Hill was sentenced to serve three months prison time starting in July.

Hill plead guilty to the charges last year, but had taken care of the outstanding debt prior to appearing in court. Nathan Hochman, Hill’s attorney, told Reuters that his client actually paid off her debt through a loan leveraged against two pieces of real estate. He said, “Ms Hill has not only now fully paid prior to sentencing her taxes, which are part of her criminal restitution, but she has additionally fully paid her federal and state personal taxes for the entire period under examination through 2009.”

Hochman asked for mercy because of Hill’s charity work and 6 kids, but the judge said no.

Hill was present during the hearing, and delivered a statement to the judge in which she compared her situation to slavery, stating “I was put into a system I didn’t know the nature of. … I’m a child of former slaves. I got into an economic paradigm and had that imposed on me.”

Oh man, #FreeTicketFriday is about to get W-I-L-D.

Pop sensation Justin Timberlake announced yesterday afternoon that he plans to embark on The 20/20 Experience World Tour beginning on October 31 of this year. The tour, which will follow JT’s string of dates with Jay-Z in the United States, will take the star to a plethora of country over the course of multiple months. Only a handful of dates have been announced thus far, but you can view the full list of confirmation below.

Tickets are set to go on sale beginning May 13 at 10 AM while his fan club, The Tennessee Kids, will have access to pre-sale luxury on May 7th. The 20/20 Experience Part 2 will hit stores September 30. Continue reading ‘Justin Timberlake Announce ‘The 20/20 Experience’ World Tour’

Up and coming pop rock outfit Walk Off The Earth have released a stream of their Madonna cover, “Material Girl.”

Known for creating unique acoustic interpretations of mainstream hits, Walk Off The Earth have struck gold once again with “Material Girl.” It’s a refreshingly light-hearted take on the 1980s original, with acoustic guitars and a tiny xylophone providing most the accompaniment. You can stream the cover and its accompanying video below.

If you like what you hear and you haven’t picked up their album R.E.V.O. yet, then you can do so by heading on over to iTunes. Be sure to “like” the band on Facebook to stay up to speed on all their upcoming events and activities.

Just when you thought the Monday afternoon slump would win, Queens Of The Stone Age arise from the woodwork to debut their latest single, “I Appear Missing.”

Taken from QOTSA’s forthcoming June release, “I Appear Missing” is the second album cut to find its way online. The track is as rockin’ as the band has ever sounded, but the true gem of this story is the accompanying video. With artwork courtesy of Boneface and animation from Liam Brazier, the video features a mummified man being coerced by a bloodied raven in a post-apocalyptic setting. Click below to enjoy the video.

Like Clockwork arrives June 4. Continue reading ‘Queens Of The Stone Age Debut “I Appear Missing”’

Mariah Carey is gearing up to make a return to music, and this morning her latest single found its way online.

Hitting the net following a series of all-too-brief teasers, “#Beautiful” is Mariah Carey 101. An infectious pop melody met with abundant percussion serves as the background for Carey’s heart-melting falsetto. Miguel makes a guest appearance on the track, but it’s hard to imagine most thinking his contribution is all that memorable. Click here to stream “#Beautiful.”

A new album from Mariah Carey is expected this Summer, but no release date or title has been revealed at this point.

Just a week after dropping the audio for “Bounce,” Iggy Azalea has quickly turned around and released the official music video.

“Bounce” takes fans and newcomers to Azalea’s sound to India for a bright and vibrant clip. Viewers follow Iggy as she adds a fresh twist to classic dance rituals and partakes in a few local festivities. It’s catch and memorable, so click below and enjoy the video.

Iggy Azalea will release The New Classic this Summer. Are you ready?

Rihanna has released a second teaser for her forthcoming 777 Tour documentary.

Though it was surrounded by a plague of angry critics and bored fans, Rihanna’s 777 Tour was a successful promotional effort in the Fall of 2012. The pop start took 150 journalists and over 100 fans around the world for 7 shows in 7 cities in 7 days. The latest teaser showcases all of this, with a bit more focus on Riri’s time on the plane. It’s nothing we haven’t seen until now, but it certainly makes things look more interesting than previous reports would lead you to believe.

777 Tour airs May 6. Continue reading ‘Rihanna Releases Second ’777 Tour’ Teaser’

Pennsylvania pop punk act The Wonder Years have released a lyric video for their new song “The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves.”

Taken from their forthcoming album The Greatest Generation, “The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves” is the third song to be released by The Wonder Years in 2013. The song tackles the struggles of chasing one’s dreams, and the assortment of people you meet along the way. It’s another deeply emotional jam for the band, and early signs are that fans love it all the same. You can experience “The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves” at the end of this post.

The Greatest Generation hits stores May 14 through Hopeless Records. Continue reading ‘The Wonder Years Premiere “The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves”’

What happens when Birdman, Future, Mack Maine and Nicki Minaj come together their hip hop powers combine to create a group the world will now know as the Rich Gang. That right, the Rich Gang.

Last night, the members of Rich Gang released a music video for their breakout single “Tapout.” It’s hard to claim a supergroup’s single is their debut hit, but in this case that is technically correct. The Hannah Lux Davis directed video features celebrity cameos, reverse use of the date rape drug, and (of course) an out of this world mansion party to help set the scene. Watch “Tapout” at the end of this post.

No word yet on when Rich Gang will release an album or mixtape, but we’ll keep an eye out for update. Until then, comment below and let us know your thoughts on “Tapout.” Continue reading ‘Birdman, Future, Mack Maine and Nicki Minaj Release “Tapout” Video’

Fugees member Lauryn Hill has been relatively quiet on the new music front in recent years. Hill has never truly left the studio, but her output to the public has been slim to non-existent for the better part of the last decade. We still love her though, and last night a new track from Ms. Hill found its way online.

“Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)” is a rushed final product that was admittedly released to please pre-existing agreements, but it’s not far from being a great entry into Hill’s catalog. The song has a spastic beat that knocks you off your feet from the start. Hill rides its intriguing structure with staccato precision and passionate lyricism. Further vocal mixes would have made a better final product, but for what it is there is not much one can complain about. You can stream the song below.

In a note to fans, Lauryn Hill described the song’s release, writing:

“Hello All:

Here is a link to a piece that I was ‘required’ to release immediately, by virtue of the impending legal deadline. I love being able to reach people directly, but in an ideal scenario, I would not have to rush the release of new music… but the message is still there. In light of Wednesday’s tragic loss (of former label mate Chris Kelly), I am even more pressed to YELL this to a multitude that may not understand the cost of allowing today’s unhealthy paradigms to remain unchecked!

- MLH”