NEWS
SNIPES & Puma Team Up To Convert Stores Into Voting Kiosks
Source: Snipes / Snipes In no time in our history has our right to vote been so important thanks to a certain wannabe dictator trying like heck to solidify his power via voter suppression and disinformation campaigns, but luckily some people and corporations are taking matters into their own hands helping people to get out and have their voices heard come November. SNIPES is joining in on the fight for our democracy and has teamed up with Puma to launch their #USEYOURVOICE campaign to encourage customers to register to vote at 95 of their brick and mortar stores. Here is how it works: Customers engage with the in-store #USEYOURVOICE campaign through either a Vengo kiosk or QR code scanning sign that launches to the appropriate state voting site. Four key locations: the three Philadelphia s...
![Irv Gotti Think Jay-Z’s Beef With Tupac Stemmed From “Brooklyn’s Finest” [Video]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/irv-gotti-think-jay-zs-beef-with-tupac-stemmed-from-brooklyns-finest-video-1050x600.jpg)
![Irv Gotti Think Jay-Z’s Beef With Tupac Stemmed From “Brooklyn’s Finest” [Video]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/irv-gotti-think-jay-zs-beef-with-tupac-stemmed-from-brooklyns-finest-video-80x80.jpg)
Irv Gotti Think Jay-Z’s Beef With Tupac Stemmed From “Brooklyn’s Finest” [Video]
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz The podcast game continues to unveil some unknown gems regarding some of the biggest moments in Hip-Hop history. This time we get further context on why two Rap titans were at odds. As spotted on HipHopDX Fat Joe recently linked with his long-time friend and collaborator Irv Gotti. While the two discussed a myriad of topics a certain talk track caught many fans by surprise While talking through his work with Jay-Z the Queens native he admitted that he was originally against the idea of Jigga collaborating with The Notorious B.I.G. on the iconic “Brooklyn’s Finest”. “Me knowing Jay how I know Jay, now I’ll go back to ‘Brooklyn’s Finest,’” he said. “I was dead set against it. I was telling Jay, ‘Don’t do it, don’t do it’ and he was like, ‘Why?’ I ...
House Music Pioneer Jesse Saunders Sees Festivals Going “Back to the Basics” In Life After Pandemic
House music pioneer Jesse Saunders dropped in on Reddit for an Ask Me Anything Q&A, offering up his perspective on the state of the music industry in 2020 and what he sees coming next. Saunders, a Chicago native credited as “the originator of house music,” made history in 1984 with “On & On,” the first house music record ever recorded and pressed on vinyl. Now over three decades into his illustrious career, Saunders has endless wisdom to impart, derived from his propensity to wear many hats as a music and film producer, record company executive, and radio show host. Many fans and professionals alike are wondering how the pandemic will affect the future of music festivals. It was a question on the minds of r/electronicmusic subscribers, and Saunders didn̵...
Avicii Receives Posthumous Nominations at 2020 Billboard Music Awards
Avicii may now only exist in the collective memory of the dance music community, but his legacy and spirit refuse to fade into the mist. The late dance music icon, whose estate posthumously released his third studio album, Tim, has been nominated for two Billboard Music Awards ahead of the show’s 2020 edition. The news arrives after Avicii’s would-be 31st birthday, as well as the conclusion of Suicide Prevention Week. Avicii received nominations in the categories of “Top Dance/Electronic Artist” and “Top Dance/Electronic Album.” Rounding out the list of nominees for the former category are The Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, Illenium, and Marshmello while the latter saw nods for Avicii’s Tim, The Chainsmokers’ World War Joy, ...
Post Malone, Taylor Swift & More: Who Should Win Top Artist at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards? Vote!
The nominations for the 2020 Billboard Music Awards came out today (Sept. 22), and Post Malone led the list with 16, including one for top artist. So who should win in that category? Taylor Swift made history when she dropped her 2020 surprise album Folklore in July, which topped the Billboard 200 for six weeks to tie Whitney Houston‘s record for most cumulative weeks at No. 1 among women. It could be her third time collecting this award, since she won top artist in 2013 and 2015. Billie Eilish, who ties Khalid with 12 nominations, could make history if she wins top new artist and/or top Hot 100 song for “bad guy.” She would became the first female artist to win top new artist since Lorde in 2014 and the first female artist to win top Hot 100...
All Music Industry Initiatives to Help Get Out the Vote This Election Season (Updating)
On Nov. 3, U.S. voters will decide if President Donald Trump gets four more years in office or send Democratic ticket Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House. Ahead of what has been said to be the most important election in at least a generation, non-partisan voter registration organizations including HeadCount and Voto Latino, in partnership with labels and artists, have launched music-driven initiatives that incentivize eligible voters – especially young ones – to get registered and vote. Even labels and digital streaming platforms have rolled out campaigns to encourage both employees and artists to vote this election. And venues across the country will serve as polling sites for early voting and on Election Day. From Spotify’s “Play Your Part” to HeadCount’...
Maria Becerra, Tini & Lola Indigo’s ‘High’ Is Crowned Best Latin Summer Remix of 2020 in Fan Poll
Summer has officially come to an end today (Sept. 22) but we can’t wrap up without figuring out what’s the best Latin summer remix of the year. In a fan poll previously published on Billboard, readers were asked to vote for their favorite summer remix, crowning Maria Becerra, Tini, and Lola Indigo’s empowering “High (Remix).” The eclectic urban pop collab nabbed nearly 40 percent of the votes. Elvis Crespo’s “Imaginarme Sin Ti (Remix)” with Manny Cruz and RKM y Ken-Y came in second, followed by Ozuna, Karol G, and Myke Towers’ “Caramelo (Remix).” “High” showcases all three powerhouses singing about heartbreak and despair. The simple but vibrant music video, directed by Julian Levy, has amassed over 27 million views since its release on Sept. 3rd. Check out the winning remix below, followed...
Alicia Keys Wants You to Shine From the Inside Out With ‘Keys SoulCare’ Brand
In August, Alicia Keys announced that she’ll be dipping her toes in the beauty business by partnering with E.l.f. cosmetics for a lifestyle beauty brand. Now, Keys is giving a peek inside Keys SoulCare. The singer shared a 19-second clip on social media, in which she glows against a bright blue sky while she describes what her new line is about. “SoulCare is paying attention to that part inside of you that you can’t see, that you can feel, and nourishing it, fulfilling it, spoiling it and loving it,” she says. “I’ve been dying to share something really special with you,” Keys captioned the clip. “A place where we can have real conversations about who we are and who we want to be. It’s called @keyssoulcare.” Keys SoulCare’s website revea...
Into It. Over It. to Perform for the First Time in Four Years
Into It. Over It. is back. The project of musician Evan Weiss is back with a new album for the first time in four years. Due to the pandemic, Weiss and company won’t be able to perform these tunes live, but they’re doing something that’s as intimate as it can get in this climate. On Wednesday (Sept. 23), Into It. Over It. will share a special prerecorded live performance shot last month in Chicago in partnership with Chicago film production team Emulsion Labs and local bohemian art space The Red Room. It will be the group’s first performance in four years. The set, which would have been the songs they would have performed on tour, will instead be chopped into four separate mini-sets. SPIN will broadcast the first of those sets on our Instagram. The remaining three sessions will b...
SXSW Announces Digital Event for 2021
The first domino to fall in the coronavirus shutdown was South-by-Southwest. The fest was canceled a few weeks ahead of its mid-March launch date and was a harbinger of things to come. For 2021, however, the festival is going online. The event will feature conference keynotes and sessions, screenings, showcases, networking, and exhibitions and will take place on March 16 – March 20, 2021. More interesting is that SXSW hasn’t ruled out an in-person event next year. In a release, the fest said that it “is working with the City of Austin and public health authorities on plans for a 2021 physical event” and it will provide more updates as they become available. Submissions for the SXSW Film Festival will take place between Oct. 6 – Oct. 28, 2020. However, there’s bad news f...
Patti Smith, Michael Stipe and More Join Forces on ‘People Have the Power’
Patti Smith, Joan Baez, Michael Stipe, Cyndi Lauper, Stella McCartney, Tony Hawk, and Micah Nelson — along with dozens of artists and activists worldwide — recorded a socially distant version of “People Have the Power” to honor the sixth anniversary of non-profit group Pathway to Paris. The organization, co-founded by Smith’s daughter Jesse Paris Smith and cellist Rebecca Foon, is dedicated to offering tangible solutions for combatting global climate change. This version of the 1988 song, written by Smith and late husband/bandmate Fred “Sonic” Smith, features participants from 24 countries, 38 cities and six continents. Check it out below. [embedded content] In a statement on her official Instagram page, Patti Smith said of the video, “This is a gift from @pathway2paris for the autumn...
Bon Iver and Eaux Claires Fest Offer ‘A Visit With Vernon’ as Part of Voting Initiative
A contest to meet Bon Iver singer Justin Vernon has been announced as part of the “For Wisconsin” voting initiative. For each round of the “A Visit With Vernon” contest, two people will be brought to a secret meeting with the frontman to discuss voting — and perhaps hear a song as well. “I try not to judge people,” Vernon said in a statement. “The temperature of our society has us divided. We all want different things, so that makes sense in one way, but in another, I feel we are unduly divided. We ALL need to listen more. And the best way we can communicate with each other on this largest scale is VOTE.” Information on the contest is available here and by viewing the video below. [embedded content] The initiative is part of the Eaux Claires Festival, founded by Vernon and the Na...
