G.O.O.D. Music favorite 2 Chainz has released the official video for his Weeknd-assisted single, “Like Me.”

Turning his usually bright and positive vibes to darker tones, the official clip for “Like Me” finds 2 Chainz and The Weeknd performing on an empty street in the middle of the night. A beautiful girl or two are seen wondering the streets, but otherwise the clip is focused on making the most interested edit possible out of a handful of performance shots. To the Editor’s credit, he does a heck of a job, but a performance is a performance clip regardless of what after effects you add to the mix. You can view the video below.

2 Chainz label debut, Based On A T.R.U. Story is available now. Continue reading ’2 Chainz Releases “Like Me” Video’

While the rest of the world is preoccupied with who can create the silliest “Harlem Shake” video, Diplo has been in the studio crafting the first official remix to Psy‘s “Gangnam Style.”

Yes, the song that swept YouTube in 2012 and reached over 1 billion views has finally been given the remix treatment (in the third month of 2013). To sweeten the pot, Diplo recruits 2 Chainz and Tyga to lay down a pair of verses on top of his redux, but it’s hard to tell if that will be enough to make people care about the song once more. You can stream the official “Gangnam Style” remix below. Continue reading ‘Stream Diplo’s Remix of “Gangnam Style” Featuring 2 Chainz & Tyga’

After about a year of heightened anticipation, Rakim Mayers – better known as A$AP Rocky – has unveiled his debut album, Long.Live.A$AP. Released on January 15 by A$AP Worldwide, Polo Grounds Music, and RCA Records, the album has made a rather big splash in the urban world and has earned the artist a multi-million dollar record deal, the likes of which have not been seen since 50 Cent began his successful career about a decade ago.

Quickly rising through the cracks of the underground rap world, A$AP Rocky’s debut album has earned him a seat the top at the top of the charts. Long.Live.A$AP features two promoted singles – “Goldie,“ which is the lead single off the album, and “Fuckin’ Problems,” which features guest appearances from rappers Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar. The two tracks are quite different from each other in terms of style, energy, flow, and lyrical content, but are both very well produced. In fact, the entire album is well structured with heavy emphasis on production value. A$AP’s beats are unique to that of many other rappers, which is perhaps why many have flocked to his music; it’s a new sound.

Unfortunately, guest artists and featured producers aside, A$AP Rocky’s material is perhaps the weakest aspect of the album. A$AP offers next to no lyrical inventiveness, nor is there any actual substance to his lines. He spends most of his verses re-hashing well-worn hip-hop tropes – bragging about his high-fashion tastes, his glamorous life, and supposed street cred, the latter a frequent source of controversy.

Continue reading ‘Review: A$AP Rocky’s ‘Long.Live.A$AP’’

Recently Grammy-nominated artist 2 Chainz took his stage show to the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live last night for a rowdy rendition of his latest single, “I’m Different.” The appearance came on the heels of news that 2 Chainz’s debut album, Based On A TRU Story was certified Gold by the RIAA. You can view the performance below.

OurStage is actively helping independent artists appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Click here to learn more.

If you enjoy 2 Chainz, be sure to check out OS artist Fat Trel!

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Right on the heels of 2 Chainz and Juicy J’s 8-bit adventures comes another retro video game that features a digitized major musician. In Skrillex Quest, the dubstep superstar gets the Legend of Zelda treatment. When a speck of dust invades an old game cartridge and threatens to unravel the entire virtual world, Skrillex’s tunic-clad avatar must destroy the game’s glitches and save the virtual princess. His music is prominently featured, which is fitting, as game creator Jason Oda notes that Skrillex’s tunes sometimes sound “like a broken video game.” Oda has previously made games for Atreyu, Breaking Benjamin, and Chemical Brothers as well. Who could be next to hop on the online retro video game bandwagon? It might be a longshot, but we’d love to see Escape From The Rihanna Plane. That one might be impossible to beat, though.

If you dig Skrillex, check out OurStage artist DJ Tranzed.

More like this:

• 2 Chainz and Juicy J Star in Online Video Games
• Electropolis: It’s All About The Production – Skrillex, Rusko, and Deadmau5

Originally living in shamanic clans on the world of Draenor, 2 Chainz and Juicy J were forced to abandon their peaceful culture after the demon lord Kil’jaeden of the Burning Legion vengefully corrupted…oh, sorry. We’re getting word that 2 Chainz and Juicy J are actually featured in their own video games. Our mistake.

Continue reading ’2 Chainz And Juicy J Star In Online Video Games’

Forget cats, hot air balloons, or whatever other random images the makers of motivational posters think get their point across. 2 Chainz should be their go–to man from now on. In the introductory episode of MTV’s “This Is How I Made It,” the Georgia emcee dishes out the inspirational story of his early life and rise to fame like a bling–laden Tony Robbins. Despite being a prodigious basketball player who was courted by numerous Division I schools, 2 Chainz’ chances of playing college ball dissolved after he was locked up for a month during high school.

Continue reading ’2 Chainz Gets Motivational On First “This Is How I Made It” Episode’

The MTV Video Music Awards were held last week in Los Angeles where some of hip-hop’s biggest names turned up to celebrate the year in videos. The annual event would not be complete without mind-blowing performances, some big surprises, big-named no-shows, and OMG moments.

First off, the VMA’s is becoming quite the spot to flaunt an unexpected baby bump, and this year’s debut came from Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose, who told Sway they already knew the sex of their little bundle of joy.

Calvin Harris was the house DJ for the night, and he seems to have a strict affinity for—himself, spinning only his songs all evening. Continue reading ‘Hip-Hop Hits MTV VMA’s’

Everyone wants to be a star. Especially rappers. While many brag about their ability to court members of the opposite sex, the wide breadth of their earthly possessions, their height of their stacks, and most importantly, swag, it all really boils down to status. Which, in turn, is attention. The higher one’s prestige, the greater their worth and the more eyeballs and ears they will attract.

Fortunately in hip-hop there is also a deep tradition of collaboration. Posse cuts are always dope. And a rapper without their beatmaker would just be a solo street accapellist. Spitting bars out in public, especially with a hardened affect while talking about violence and an ostentatious lifestyle, would not be a good look on anybody. Except maybe on this guy.

And you’re not him.

Which brings us to the topic of today’s piece, the feature rapper. When would the motivation to stand out ever be stronger then on someone else’s track? A game changing guest verse (or a couple hundred of them, in some rapper’s cases) has been enough in the past to launch careers much in the way a Top 40 charting single would. So here are some of our picks for the best feature rappers in the game right now. Please note that this list is objectively correct; we came to these rappers after a series of rigorous tests that followed the scientific method. Lab coats were worn while this list was put together.

Continue reading ‘Five Of The Best Feature Rappers In The Game’

The Good

Avril Lavigne engaged to Chad Kroeger from Nickelback

So you probably heard that Avril Lavigne is engaged to Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger. The two have been secretly dating for six months, and announced their engagement on the cover of Hello! Canada this week. To quote Lavigne, “What the hell? It’s like Pink marrying Scott Stapp, or Tom Cruise marrying Katie Holmes.” In any case, we can at least enjoy this priceless video one approving fan created for the happy couple.

Rihanna still in love with Chris Brown

Rihanna fessed to Oprah that considers Chris Brown the love of her life, and that the two have “maintained a very close friendship” since her restraining order was lifted. Naturally, not everyone reacted positively to that revelation. We think it was pretty brave of her to be that honest knowing the backlash that was in store. Kudos to you, RiRi.

The Bad

Avril Lavigne engaged to Chad Kroeger from Nickelback

Seriously, is this a prank? Where’s Ashton?

Lady Gaga reveals her little monsters in home video

This week Lady Gaga showed her fans some home videos in which she cuddles with her godson, Zachary (whose pop is Elton John), rehearses for a performance of “You and I,” and dances around her living room flashing her breasts to her sister. We know which snippet you’ll be looking for.

The Ugly

Pussy Riot sentenced to jail

Pussy Riot, the Russia punk trio arrested for performing an anti-Putin song and dance number in a church, were sentenced to two years in prison, despite countless musicians throwing their support behind the band. Many expressed their disappointment in the verdict, including Patrick Carney from The Black Keys, who tweeted, “We will never being playing a show in Russia as long as they imprison innocent musicians for speaking their minds peacefully.” Boom.

Avril Lavigne engaged to Chad Kroeger from Nickelback

Why?

Miscellany

• See Beyoncé’s new House of Dereon campaign
• Jay-Z to score Annie remake starring Willow Smith
• 2 Chainz tops Billboard
• Justin Bieber cameo scheduled for The Simpsons
• Watch making of Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake”
• New Kids On The Block and The Wanted perform “Glad You Came”
• Pizza Hut, Home Depot deny stealing Black Keys music
• Mariah Carey returns with “Triumphant”
• Green Day release own version of Angry Birds
• Nas says goodbye to Kelis in new video teaser for “Bye Baby”
• One Direction’s Zayn Malik reinstates Twitter account