entertainment blog
Howard Grimes, Memphis Soul Drummer, Dies at 80
Howard Grimes, the drummer best known for his work in the rhythm section of the Hi Records house band, died Saturday (February 12) of kidney failure at Saint Francis Hospital in Memphis, NPR reports. He was 80. Nicknamed “The Bulldog” for his heavy foot on the kit by Hi Records founder Willie Mitchell, Grimes tracked classic records with Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, and more as a member of the Hi Rhythm section in the 1970s. Born in Memphis in 1941, Grimes grew up in north Memphis, where his mom put him onto Duke Ellington and Cannonball Adderley. His inspiration for becoming a drummer initially came through the television; at first, a biopic of big band drummer Gene Krupa (played by Sal Mineo) and later, a performance by Cozy Cole with Louis Armstrong, the first ti...
Sebastian Yatra Places Fifth ‘Dharma’ Single Atop Latin Airplay Chart Thanks to ‘Tacones Rojos’
Sebastian Yatra captures his 10th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, as “Tacones Rojos” lifts 4-1 on the Feb. 19-dated survey. The song steps into the summit in its 13th week with a 23% improvement in audience impressions, to 9.37 million, earned in the week ending Feb. 13, according to MRC Data, to become the greatest gainer of the week. At radio, the three stations giving the song the most audience in the tracking week were New York’s WPAT (885,000 impressions), followed by Washington, D.C.’s WLZL (100,700) and WDCN (26,200). “Tacones Rojos” is Yatra’s fifth No. 1 — among a collection of 10 leaders — from his latest Dharma album to take over Latin Airplay (the set remains in the top five on Latin Pop Albums after its debut at No. 2 on the previous chart week dated Feb. 12). H...
What Was the Best ‘Verzuz’ Battle of All Time? Vote!
If there’s one thing that has gotten hip-hop and R&B fans through the pandemic, it’s been Verzuz. What started as a friendly face-off on Instagram Live between Swizz Beatz and Timbaland has steadily grown into a cultural phenomenon over the last two years, as Verzuz has brought together rivals and contemporaries of all kinds to put their discographies on the line and battle it out for bragging rights — from T-Pain vs. Lil Jon and Ryan Tedder vs. Benny Blanco to Nelly vs. Ludacris and Ashanti vs. Keyshia Cole. So with Season 3 kicking off Tuesday (Feb. 15) with a battle between Anthony Hamilton and Musiq Soulchild, Billboard wants to know: Which Verzuz battle do you consider to be the all-time greatest? Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Are yo...
Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation Gifts $20K to Animal Shelters
Miranda Lambert is spreading the love this week in honor of Valentine’s Day. The “If I Was a Cowboy” singer’s MuttNation Foundation is helping out 20 pet rescue shelters across the country, in states including California, Maine, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and more. The foundation will give a $1,000 grant to each shelter. MuttNation also launched an interactive “Mutt Match” quiz to help match people who want to help pets who have a harder time getting adopted, including larger dogs, special-needs dogs and senior dogs. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Lambert began volunteering at animal shelters when she was a teenager and has five rescue dogs, along with numerous cats, rabbits and horses. “Shelter pets – especially the ones that are hardest to get adopted – and the peo...
BTS to Perform Three Shows in Korea for Live & Online Crowds
BTS returns to the stage this March. The pop stars will perform three shows in Seoul on March 10, 12 and 13 at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in front of a live audience. The BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul shows will also be streamed online for fans unable to attend the concerts in-person at the nearly 70,000-capacity venue. The March 10 and 13 dates will be streamed live online, while the March 12 performance will be broadcast in cinemas across the world for live viewing events. Explore Explore BTS See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The latest dates will mark the group’s first concert to a live audience in Korea in roughly two and a half years. The last time they appeared in-person in Korea was for the BTS World Tour ‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ ...
Whethan Previews Electronic-Rock Crossover Ahead of Upcoming Album
Whethan‘s next era is going to be unlike anything fans have heard previously. “The next project is going to be a totally different side of me you haven’t heard before,” he recently tweeted. “Way different from Fantasy or Life of a Wallflower.” The “Savage” producer then let the music do the talking, posting a new preview showcasing an unreleased electronic-rock crossover. A dexterous drum fill queues in heavy rock power chords with fluttering, 8-bit style synths leading the melody. Though the clip is brief, it does tell us one thing: Whethan certainly hasn’t lost his experimental spirit. It’s been roughly a year-and-a-half since the release of Fantasy and while Whethan has been very quiet during that time, he recen...
Sonic Bloom to Celebrate 15th Annual Festival With Tipper, Detox Unit, Yheti, More
Colorado’s beloved summer festival Sonic Bloom is back and has revealed the lineup for its 15th annual event. Slated for June 16-19, the three-day Rocky Mountain electronic and jam festival will boast a Saturday night takeover performance by trip-hop producer Tipper, as well as performances by Lettuce, Lab Group, Detox Unit, Yheti, Of The Trees, Shlump and more. After having to cancel the event’s 2020 and 2021 renditions due to the impact of COVID-19, organizers are set to revive its long-running history within the Colorado community. The fest, nestled in Spanish Peaks Country at Hummingbird Ranch, boasts a scenery of mountains and a creek. Recommended Articles In addition to the music, Sonic Bloom continues to echo its diverse and forward-thinking ethos throughout it...
Watch the Trailer for “Heart Failure,” the First-Ever EDM Musical
In some kind of raunchy, techno-fueled twist on West Side Story, the first-ever EDM musical is primed for the silver screen. “We were bored, angry, horny students watching the best years of our lives slip away, so we were just like, f**k it, let’s make a musical,” said Will Wightman, who wrote and directed Heart Failure, an upcoming short film produced by award-winning independent video production company Cool Bean. According to a press release shared with EDM.com, Heart Failure, which features an original soundtrack comprising electronic dance music, is the first of its kind. The film follows Frank, whose rollicking, hysterical one-night stand with Lizzie leads to a complex relationship and eventual breakup. Heart Failure/Kickstarter Recommended Articles Heart Failure&nbs...
Lollapalooza Founder Perry Farrell Says He’s Producing House Music
Perry Farrell, the fabled Lollapalooza founder and Jane’s Addiction frontman, has revealed he’s been busy working on house music. In an interview with L.A. Downtown News, Farrell talked about his new “Heaven After Dark” project, which is set to debut this week in downtown Los Angeles. Dubbed an “audio sensory journey,” the monthly series is said to incorporate musicians, dancers, comedians and street performers, as well as DJs playing acid house music. When asked about any current endeavors as an artist, Farrell said he’s been producing house music as well as a score for an orchestra. “Me, personally, I’m working on music for an orchestra,” Farrell said. “I’m working on music for Porno for Pyros, working on music for Jane’s ...
Kanye West Asks Fans To Not Harm Pete Davidson, Sends Kim Kardashian A Truck Full of Flowers
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Steph Chambers / Getty For the past few days, Kanye West has been escalating his war of words on Pete Davidson due to his relationship with Kim Kardashian. And while Ye fans might be willing to ride on Pete if they see him lacking (the man supposedly has security due to Ye’s threats), Yeezy took to Instagram to shut off the green light. Yesterday (Feb. 14), Ye took to social media to post a message he got from Kardashian (hilariously dubbed “Kim Other Phone”) in which she said he’s “creating a dangerous and scary environment” for Davidson and if someone was to harm the SNL comedian it would be on Kanye’s hands. Asking his fans to fall back from such actions per his “Wife”‘s request, Ye said he would handle “Skete” personally if he’s to ever get a fa...
Tyrese Gibson’s Mother Passes Away Due To COVID-19
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Maury Phillips Archive / Getty Tyrese Gibson and his family are dealing with heartbreak, as the actor shared the sad news that his mother passed away after battling COVID-19 & pneumonia. The Fast and The Furious actor and singer who had been delivering updates to his fans on his mother’s condition through social media, broke the news of the passing of Priscilla Murray on Monday (February 14th). “On behalf of my family and everyone who ever spent anytime praying for my mother[.] This is the saddest moment of my life………. My sweet Valentine just passed away…..,” Gibson wrote in the caption to a heartrending post he made on Instagram which captured him weeping as he held her hand in the hospital. “May the lord Jesus Christ and his angels open the doors of...
The Answer: Allen Iverson Stars In Reebok “Life Is Not A Spectator Sport” Campaign
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: REEBOK / Reebok Reebok is keeping it classic to start off 2022. The brand has launched a new Life is Not a Spectator Sport campaign starring Allen Iverson. The new Spring/Summer 2022 campaign marks an exciting rebirth for the sports and lifestyle brand. Originally debuting “Because Life is Not a Spectator Sport “ in 1984, Reebok is returning to its roots and once again rallying around the timely premise to reintroduce as the brand platform nearly 40 years later. In this next chapter, Reebok empowers individuals to participate in whatever moves them—whether it be fashion, sport, music, art, or activism. Source: REEBOK / Reebok The campaign kicks off with a visually stunning hero film featuring a range of inspirational, creative, and determined talent...
