Author: JD
The Ronnie Fieg x BUSCEMI 110MM
Anyone remotely familiar with Fieg and Buscemi’s taste for opulent detailing could guess that the 110MM is far from frugally constructed, no matter how you look at it. Handcrafted in Italy, the sneaker benefits from Italian leather, ornate quilting and a white ripple Margom sole, while the look is completed by Buscemi’s signature padlock hardware in matte black. For those looking to purchase, the release will be nicely rounded out by custom packaging, and two sets of extra laces. With individual pricing set at $695, watch for the Ronnie Fieg x BUSCEMI 110MM “Bred” to hit shelves on February 6, with an online release set for the following day. Head over to the Ronnie Fieg homepage to find out more.
Miami Hill Residence by BDA Architecture
Located on the Gold Coast of Australia, BDA Architecture has designed a magnificent home for a very lucky client. The Brakes Crescent, Miami Hill area made for somewhat of a challenging spot, with the location being significantly sloped, but BDA came through beautifully. The contemporary home, built for a family with children, is virtually surrounded with windows, awarding for breathtaking views at almost any glance. Composed of simple frames, the aforementioned panes of glass, and overlapping walls, the structure may appear to be square or rectangular at the front vantage point, but upon escaping to the rear of the house, you will see an elongated design that comes to a unique point outstretched towards the coast. The interior has of course been decked out with the finest of modern designs, with virtually every aspect being overshadowed however by a spiral staircase that leads to the roof of the home.
Usher Earns 13th No. 1 On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Plus, Ne-Yo leads album debuts, while Nicki Minaj scores her 20th top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Usher tops Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the first time in nearly three years, as “I Don’t Mind,” featuring Juicy J, steps 2-1 to become Usher’s 13th No. 1 on the ranking. Where do 13 No. 1s place Usher among acts with the most Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart-toppers dating to 1958 (when the survey rolled in multiple lists to become the first all-encompassing chart for the genre)? He ties late icons Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson for sixth place. Here’s an updated look at the acts with the most leaders in that span: 20, Aretha Franklin 20, Stevie Wonder 17, James Brown 15, Janet Jackson 14, the Temptations 13, Marvin Gaye 13, Michael Jackson 13, Usher 12, Drake 11, R. Kelly 11, Gladys Knight/the Pips A 5 percent bump to 4.8 million domestic weekly streams helps boost “Mind” to the top, according to Nielsen Music. Among streaming services, Vevo on YouTube views account for 1.5 million clicks, while Spotify chipped in 2.2 million. The track is able to scale the chart despite a 13 percent dip in digital downloads (to 54,000). The climb gives assisting act Juicy J scores his first No. 1 on the chart, besting his previous No. 2 peak as a feature on Mike WiLL Made-It‘s “23,” also featuring Miley Cyrus and Wiz Khalifa, in January 2014. Usher — who remains at No. 41 for a third consecutive week (after reaching No. 38) on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (which ranks the week’s most popular artists across all genres) — had last led Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs with “Climax” for 11 weeks in 2012. The reign tied the 11-week command of “You Make Me Wanna…,” in 1997, for his longest. Ne-Yo’s ‘Non-Fiction’ New at No. 1: Ne-Yo notches his fifth No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, as Non-Fiction enters at the summit with 49,000 sold. (All his No. 1s have started at the top.) It’s his first entrance since R.E.D arrived at No. 1 with 66,000 in November 2012. Meanwhile, the set’s “Time of Our Lives,” with Pitbull (which also appears on Pitbull’s latest set, Globalization), spends a second week atop Rap Digital Songs, rising 27 percent in sales to 83,000, helping lift it 3-1 on Hot Rap Songs. Streaming also saw a gain, rising 19 percent to 3.4 million streams, led by 2.1 million Spotify plays. Non-Fiction enters as the Hot Shot Debut on the Billboard 200, landing at No. 5. Charlie Wilson Returns: With the chart’s second-best-selling bow, R&B vet Charlie Wilson scores a No. 2 debut on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with Forever Charlie (25,000 units). The debut marks Wilson’s fifth top 10 and follows his chart-topping start with Love, Charlie (44,000) in 2013. The singer, affectionately known as Uncle Charlie, continues a steady climb on Adult R&B Songs, where lead single “Goodnight Kisses” steps 12-11 (a new peak). Action surrounding the album and single earns Wilson a spot on the Artist 100, where he debuts at No. 47. Nicki’s 20th Top 10: Nicki Minaj soars 20-9 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, marking her milestone 20th top 10, with “Truffle Butter,” featuring Drake & Lil Wayne. Minaj extends her record for the most top 10s among female rappers over Super Bowl halftime star Missy Elliott, who’s posted 12. The leap also gives Lil Wayne his 41st top 10 and Drake his 39th. Streaming for “Butter,” the chart’s top Streaming Gainer and Digital Gainer, leaps by 791 percent, with Spotify plays reaching 1.7 million, accounting for 90 percent of overall weekly clicks. Digital sales likewise vault (72,000, up 162 percent), as the track bounds 8-2 on Rap Digital Songs. The multiplatform jumps help rocket the track 71-27 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ciara Debuts: Ciara takes the Hot Shot Debut on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, entering at No. 27 with her latest single, “I Bet.” It’s the singer’s 26th hit on the chart and her first in almost two years: “I’m Out,” featuring Minaj, reached No. 13 in 2013. “I Bet” (also new on the Hot 100 at No. 96) is the lead single from Ciara’s upcoming studio album, Jackie.
GRAMMY GRINDING: HIP-HOP, R&B
by Michelle S. Industry Tastemakers Handicap These Competitive Categories It’s just the way the system works; sometimes who gets the Grammy in the end makes no damn sense. There’s little rhyme or reason to the secretive NARAS process year to year, so we polled a group of industry tastemakers— Grammy-winning producer Jermaine Dupri; Dion Summers, VP of Urban Programming for Sirius XM; Randy Spendlove, President, Motion Picture Music at Paramount Pictures; Sha Money XL, EVP of Urban A&R at Epic Records; TV host/producer/CEO of Skee.tv DJ Skee; and Interscope VP of A&R John Ehmann—to get a real musichead take on who might take home the Grammy in five key categories. Best R&B Performance. And the nominees are: Beyoncé “Drunk in Love” Chris Brown/Usher “New Flame” Jennifer Hudson “It’s Your World” Ledisi “Like This” Usher “Good Kisser” JERMAINE DUPRI: Since this is for performance, I think Chris Brown/Usher “New Flame” should win, but this is the Grammys so I believe they’re gonna go with Beyoncé. DION SUMMERS: Should win/Will win: BEYONCÉ. Rare is the song that captures the world of pop-culture (literally) overnight, catapults its already iconic star to new heights of creativity and consumerism, and adds to our mental dictionary at the same damn time. Surfbort. RANDY SPENDLOVE: Beyoncé, “Drunk in Love.” SHA MONEY XL: Beyoncé all day. You can feel the realness of the song. Great vocal performance and conviction with emotion. DJ SKEE: Beyoncé “Drunk in Love” (WILL & SHOULD) JOHN EHMANN: Beyoncé “Drunk in Love” Best R&B Song. And the nominees are: “Drunk in Love” (Beyoncé) “Good Kisser” (Usher) “New Flame” (Chris Brown/Usher) “Options” (Luke James) “The Worst” (Jhené Aiko) JERMAINE DUPRI: This one I give to Beyoncé. DION SUMMERS: Should win: Jhené Aiko. Such a pretty song—and what black girl do you know who didn’t endlessly proclaim “I don’t need you, I don’t need you, I don’t need you…” Will win: “New Flame.” Grammy folk like when their artists collaborate. And it gets no R&Better than Ursh & Breezy! RANDY SPENDLOVE: “The Worst” (Jhené Aiko) SHA MONEY XL: Options, I love this song a lot but Jhené “The Worst” is the winner. DJ SKEE: “Drunk in Love” (Beyoncé) (WILL) “The Worst” (Jhené Aiko) (SHOULD) JOHN EHMANN: Beyoncé “Drunk in Love” Best Rap Performance. And the nominees are: “3005” Childish Gambino “0 to 100/The Catch Up” Drake “Rap God” Eminem “I” Kendrick Lamar “All I Need Is You” Lecrae JERMAINE DUPRI: I give this to Eminem—he did, like, 4 to 5 different flows. DION SUMMERS: Should win: LECRAE. Let the church say Amen! Will win: DRAKE. Blasphemy! RANDY SPENDLOVE: “I,” Kendrick Lamar SHA MONEY XL: Drake. He is the best performance, his conviction was amazing and best phrase of the year. Everyone now going 0 to 100 real quick. DJ SKEE: “Rap God” Eminem (SHOULD) “I” Kendrick Lamar (WILL) JOHN EHMANN: Eminem “Rap God” Best Rap Song. And the nominees are: “Anaconda” (Nicki Minaj) “Bound 2” (Kanye West) “We Dem Boyz” (Wiz Khalifa) “I” (Kendrick Lamar) “0 to 100/The Catch Up” (Drake) JERMAINE DUPRI: This goes to Drake i believe! But once again this is the Grammys and Kanye just might get this. DION SUMMERS: Should win: KENDRICK. Hey…anything to make up for last year. Will win: KANYE WEST. He’ll be there. Performing. And also, “Yeezus” was some of his finest work yet. (even if only me and Kim liked it). RANDY SPENDLOVE: “0 to 100/The Catch Up” (Drake) SHA MONEY XL: Drake. He is the best and this was the second best song of 2014 with Bobby Shmurda as #1 on my list. DJ SKEE: “I” (Kendrick Lamar) (WILL) “0 to 100/The Catch Up” (Drake) (SHOULD) JOHN EHMANN: Kanye West “Bound 2” Best Rap Album. And the nominees are: The New Classic Iggy Azalea Because the Internet Childish Gambino Nobody’s Smiling Common Marshall Mathers LP2 Eminem Oxymoron Schoolboy Q Blacc Hollywood Wiz Khalifa JERMAINE DUPRI: Ima have to give this to Eminem. DION SUMMERS: Should win: CHILDISH GAMBINO or SCHOOLBOY Q. Both took hip-hop in unique directions this year. Will win: EMINEM…but Marshall’s still Marshall. RANDY SPENDLOVE: “Nobody’s Smiling” Common SHA MONEY XL: Schoolboy Q. Well put-together with a great vibe. DJ SKEE: “The New Classic” Iggy Azalea (WILL) “Oxymoron” Schoolboy Q (SHOULD) JOHN EHMANN: Schoolboy Q “Oxymoron”
Science Says Emoji Users Have More and Better Sex
If you’re one of those stubborn people who’s still refusing to adopt emojis this may finally change your mind. Match.com recently did a study of more than 5,600 people from a wide variety of demographics and learned more about emojiuse than we thought there was to know. Emoji users reported to having more sex than their peers who stick to plain text. Women who use any of the kiss emojis also reported being able to achieve an orgasm more easily. If promises of more and better sex have inspired you to finally get down with emojis, the study also gives you a tip. Men most commonly use the kiss and heart eye emojis, but what women really prefer are the smileys. Set yourself apart and go with the more subtle option. Here’s why it works, from The Daily Mail: According to biological anthropologist Dr Helen Fisher, who helped lead the study, emojis are popular simply because they help us communicate more effectively in a medium (texting) in which sentiments can otherwise fall flat. Indeed, around 50per cent of men and women agree that emojis ‘show personality’ and around 35per cent of both sexes say they make ‘expressing feelings’ easier. Just don’t spell your feelings wrong. The study also found that 54per cent of single women and 36per cent of men find misspellings and incorrect grammar to be the biggest text message turn-offs.
Madonna to Premiere Music Video from ‘Rebel Heart’ on Snapchat Discover Today
The “Living for Love” music video is the first to premiere on the app’s Snap Channel. Today, Madonna is set to premiere the first music video from her new album, Rebel Heart, on Snapchat, the picture messaging app that was recently valued at $10 billion. The video accompanies “Living for Love,” the album’s first single, and will be viewable on the app’s “Snap Channel.” The Inside Story of How Madonna Turned Her ‘Rebel Heart’ Leak Into a Global Hit It’s been a rocky album campaign for the pop star, 56, who has endured two devastating album leaks, the second of which happened on Monday and included the 25-track deluxe version. Rebel Heart will go on sale Tuesday, March 10th, after Madonna performs at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 8th, and the Brit Awards on Feb. 25th. The video was directed by the French duo Julien Choquart and Camille Hirigoyen, together known as J.A.C.K., was edited by longtime Madonna collaborator Danny B. Tull, and styled by B. Akerlund — who also works wth Beyonce, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. It was choreographed by Megan Lawson. To state the obvious, it’s a major coup for the three-year-old Snapchat, which boasts an estimated 200 million users. CEO Evan Spiegel made headlines during last year’s Sony hack when a series of uncovered e-mails revealed that he was at work on an in-app music feature, including negotiations with Vevo to bring music video viewing inside Snapchat’s interface. Those talks reported stalled, but the music feature being discussed was likely tied to Discover, which was announced last month. Discover feeds news and entertainment from 12 different companies directly to the user. Participating organizations include Warner Music Group, National Geographic, People magazine, ESPN and Vice, who enlist editors to select stories (which can include photo essays and videos) that are shared and refreshed every 24 hours.
Kanye West ‘All Day’
https://soundcloud.com/anoski/kanye-west-all-day
Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney blast into the top 15 with “FourFiveSeconds,” marking McCartney’s highest-charting single in 28 years
Just outside the top 10, Rihanna, West and McCartney blast 54-15 with “FourFiveSeconds.” Following its first full week of availability, the fab three’s track vaults 19-4 on Digital Songs with a 160 percent increase to 138,000 downloads sold, good for the Hot 100’s top Digital Gainer award. On Radio Songs, the collab bounds in at No. 36 (35 million in audience, up 47 percent). With the song’s official video released Tuesday, streaming should further its fortunes on the Hot 100 released next week. Notably, McCartney (who sings backup and plays guitar on “FourFiveSeconds”) scores his highest-charting Hot 100 hit since 1986, when “Spies Like Us” reached No. 7 that February. (At the time, West was 8 years old. Rihanna would be born two years later.)