SYRE, Jaden Smith’s debut album which was released on November 17, 2017 via the artist’s own MSFTS Music/Roc Nation label through their Interscope Records partnership has reached over 100 million streams on Spotify.
SYRE, which Jaden calls“a love letter to the world,” debuted in the Top 10 on Billboards Rap Chart, Hip Hop / R&B Chart and #23 on the Billboard 200. Along with the album, Smith released visual work to supplement the project with tracks “ICON”, “WATCH ME”, “FALLEN”, “BATMAN” and “GEORGE JEFF” receiving over 90 million collective views to date alone. “ICON” was one of High Snobiety’s Best Tracks of the Week, “FALCON” was featured in TIME’s “5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week” and “U” featured in Pigeons and Planes’ “Best Songs of the Week.”
A follow-up to his mixtapes, The Cool Café and Cool Tapes Vol. 2, SYRE is Smith’s first full-length made available to a wide audience. Rock star Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy recently called Jaden Smith “the future of music” and tapped the eclectic, young rapper to open up for his band on a string of dates during their current Mania tour. Smith was named one of TIME’s Top 30 Influential Teens of 2017 and one of Pandora’s Artists to Watch of 2018.
As 50 Cent once said, “hate it or love it, the underdogs on top.”
The Philadelphia Eagles triumphed over the New England Patriots in February 4th in Minneapolis, Minnesota and took home the Vince Lombardi trophy for the first time in franchise history.
The Eagles dominated the beginning of the season, with sophomore quarterback, Carson Wentz, throwing 33 touchdown passes in the first 12 games, a new single-season record for the Eagles. However, the team suffered a devastating blow in December when Wentz tore his ACL in a match against the Los Angeles Rams in December. His backup, Nick Foles, was able to lead the team to a win in the fourth quarter of the game, but with 3 games left in the season, the team no longer had its superstar and many lost hope.
Despite being the number 1 seed in the NFC, the Eagles were named the underdogs for the Divisional Round, a title in which they embraced. Players took the field wearing dog masks, inspiring fans to do the same. Cries of “Dilly Dilly” echoed through the stadium as the Eagles beat the Falcons 15-10 and went on to destroy the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship.
In the team’s third Super Bowl appearance, the Eagles faced off against the New England Patriots, which meant that Nick Foles, the Eagles backup who had considered retirement after his 2016 release from the Rams, was taking on one of the greatest NFL players of all time, five-time Super Bowl winner, Tom Brady.
No one anticipated an Eagles victory. Well, no one except for the team’s devoted fans.
I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia in southern New Jersey that is only a fifteen minute drive from Lincoln Financial Stadium. I was born into a family of super-fans; I could spell Eagles by the time I was 2-years-old. Throughout my 22 years, I have attended countless Eagles games, most of which ended in my dad’s frustration. Despite the team’s continued poor performance over the years, fans like my dad remained loyal and patient.
My dad, has stuck by the Eagles for all 66 years of his life. At 8-years-old, I attended the Super Bowl in 2005 with my family and watched the Patriots had defeated the Eagles 24-21. Going into Super Bowl LII my dad was cautiously optimistic. I had the privilege of attending the February 4th game with my family. Although the game took place in Minneapolis, over 1,000 miles away from Philadelphia, it looked and sounded as if it were a home game. The stadium was a sea of green. Crowds were chanting “E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!” and singing the Eagles fight song all throughout the game. Sure, we may have a bad rep, but there is a certain camaraderie that comes with being an Eagles fan. The fan base can best be described as a family, a very loud family.
The Eagles were the first on the scoreboard, nabbing a field goal early in the first quarter. The Patriots responded with a field goal of their own, but Philadelphia fired back with a 34-yard pass that resulted in the first touchdown of the game. The lead was maintained for the remainder of the game with the Patriots trailing closely behind. At halftime, the score was 22-12.
Justin Timberlake took the field for his halftime performance that received mixed reviews. The “Filthy” singer danced through the crowd, and transitioned smoothly through his greatest hits. In the days leading up to the game, there were various rumors regarding who would be his guest performer. One controversial speculation hinted that Timberlake was planning to honor the late Minneapolis native, Prince, by using a holographic image of the singer. Prince had expressed during his lifetime that disapproved of holographic tributes to dead celebrities and his family tweeted out that they did not consent to the use of Prince’s image in that manner. Rather than a hologram, Timberlake honored Prince by projecting a video onto a large sheet in a way that was reminiscent to Prince’s 2007 Super Bowl halftime show. The sea of green transformed as the wristbands and finger flashlights given to Super Bowl goers illuminated purple. Following Timberlake’s show, Prince’s family tweeted a thumbs up emoji, signaling their approval.
With the second half underway, the intensity of the game picked up. Players from both teams understood what the victory would mean. For the Patriots, it would mark the continuation of a dynasty. For the Eagles, they would be bringing the win home to a city of devoted fans that have waited decades for the title. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots managed to pull ahead by a single point – 33-32 – with 9 minutes left in the game. Tight End, Zach Ertz, caught a pass at the 6-yard line, took three steps, and dove into the end zone with 2:55 left on the clock. Ertz’s wife, Julie Johnson Ertz, a soccer player on the U.S. Women’s National Team and World Cup champion, was at the game to witness her husband’s game winning play.
I was lucky enough to have met Julie Ertz before the game. She was sitting with a friend in the same section that I was in and had been nice enough to take a photo with me. The pair, who many have been describing as #relationshipgoals, may hold the title for the world’s most athletic couple. With two separate championships under their belts, it is undeniable that they are extremely talented people. Their support for one another has been well documented. A video of Julie’s reaction, as she had been unable to attend the NFC championship due having to play in a game with her own team, to hearing that the Eagles had made the Super Bowl went viral. A subsequent video of Zach tearing up when shown his wife’s reaction surfaced, causing them to be one of America’s favorite duos.
In the final few seconds of the game, Brady, desperate not to lose his MVP status, threw an impressive Hail Mary pass into the end zone but it was knocked down. The crowd erupted as green and white confetti was shot into the air. The Eagles had managed to pull off one of the greatest upsets of all time.
Foles, who threw for three touchdowns and caught another on Sunday, was awarded MVP. He became the first backup quarterback to win MVP since Brady himself had accepted the honor in 2001.
The celebratory parade is scheduled for this Thursday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Singer–songwriter Billy Raffoul releases “You Be Love (Acoustic Version)” today, February 2nd, on Interscope Records. Raffoul was featured on the original version of Avicii’s “You Be Love” from the Avīci EP which was released this past summer. Raffoul makes the track his own with his signature guitar sound and authentic vocal performance in this acoustic version of the track. “You Be Love (Acoustic Version)” is available now via all digital retailers- http://smarturl.it/YouBeLoveAcst.
Watch the stripped down, powerful video shot by Jesse DeFlorio HERE.
“You Be Love (Acoustic Version)” follows the release of Raffoul’s debut single “Driver”, “Dark Four Door” and more recently “Difficult”. Raffoul is currently on tour supporting ZZ Ward where he will perform these songs, among others, from his forthcoming debut album which he is currently working on for Interscope Records.
The 23-year old Raffoul’s signature sound is rough-hewn, low-timbered rock and roll that is powered by his gravelly, soulful voice and deeply felt lyrics. Raffoul released his debut single “Driver” in May of 2017 to rave reviews with NPR stating “Billy Raffoul has stepped into the spotlight with a strong debut single that foreshadows a promising career as a songwriter and singer.” Raffoul spent most of 2017 on the road sharing the stage with Kings of Leon, Mondo Cozmo, Judah & The Lion and NEEDTOBREATHE to name a few.
Below is a list of 2018 Billy Raffoul tour dates supporting ZZ Ward. Tickets on sale now at www.billyraffoul.com/tour.
In the lead up to New York Fashion Week, a-List celebrities gather as rag & bone showcases its SS18 collection in “Why Can’t We Get Along?;” an eclectic visual experiment starring Ansel Elgort and Kate Mara. The film will be premiered February 1st at the Metrograph Theater in New York City.
There has been much anticipation for the launch of the short film, marking CEO Marcus Wainwright’s official move away from the traditional NYFW catwalk, as all clothing worn in the film is from the rag & bone SS18 collection, which is due to hit stores in February 2018.
The new short film, shot in one day, features a mix of talent from the worlds of cinematography, music, choreography, dance, and film. Alongside Elgort and Mara, rag & bone tapped eight members of the American Ballet Theater, three HipLet Ballerinas, YouTube sensation Kandi Reign, and three members of Bulletrun Parkour.
Co-directed by Benjamin Millepied, Aaron Duffy and Bob Partington, alongside the celebrated cinematographer Darius Khondji, with their debut film, rag & bone have set out to pave the way for the future of the fashion industry, demonstrating the next evolution of the fashion show.
The film acts as a visual experiment and a metaphor which illustrates how seeing the world from different perspectives can often be difficult. The glitchy track overlay, produced exclusively for rag & bone by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke extends the uneasy feeling of friction that is paralleled by the movement of the actors and dancers.
“Why Can’t We Get Along” will be released on rag-bone.com on February 6th, 2018, whilst the rigs used to capture it will be exhibited by Special Guest at 107 Norfolk Street, New York, NY on Saturday, February 10.
The spotlight is on Montréal this February at MAGIC. Mmode is bringing the forefront of the Montréal fashion industry with standout brands, galleries and new onsite events for attendees to experience. Enhance your offerings with our newly added international brands, including our spotlight on top Canadian designers in the Montréal Experience at MBCC. Plus, Learn more about the newly-formed partnership with the CFDA-built to match retailers with emerging brands in fashion. The MAGIC fashion show will be held Feb. 12-14.
“…State of the Union message from President Donald Trump and he did take the time to make a shout out to Detroit and to the auto industry.
I think we should talk about it because he did say in his speech that because of him the country was building and expanding auto plants, something that we haven’t seen in decades. That was one of his assertions.
He also said that very soon auto plants were going to be opening all over because of him.
With the President you always have to fact-check what he said. Afterwards he said that this was the biggest audience that had ever heard a State of the Union address and, of course, that wasn’t true but, we have to fact-check this stuff about the auto industry too. It turns out that while he does want to take credit for this there’s some good and there’s some bad.
The good is that it is true that we have had a big boom in the stock market and in personal wealth since he came into office. I don’t how much that can hang on him but it’s going to be that we can buy more cars, probably.
And that people are feeling optimistic and that’s going to be very good for the car makers. And I love it when the car makers are doing well because it means they can invest more in new models and we can get more features. And the whole mobility scene gets better because people are feeling confident and buying new vehicles so, that’s very good news.
As far as the assertion, that we’re now going to have a bunch of new car plants because of him let’s look at that.
In the last 20 years, and this is mostly when he’s not been President, global car makers have actually invested 75 billion dollars in the United States. What we need to understand is that the United States is a very good place to not only to build vehicles but also toexport vehicles that’s because this is a very profitable market, it’s because we have very favorable trade agreements and I hope that doesn’t get messed up with the North American Free Trade Agreement being renegotiated in a way that isn’t advantageous to us. President Trump has said that he’s going to re-negotiate that and that has to be done carefully because that has worked out for us.
We have a new Volvo plant coming soon to South Carolina; a new Mercedes Benz plant in Alabama; we have additions coming to the BMW plant in South Carolina; Toyota and Mazda are going to build a new plant in Alabama; and even Chrysler is going to bring back some of its truck production from Mexico to Michigan, which is good news for the UAW and good news for the Michigan economy.
So, yes, the place is great for building vehicles and I think the Presdient was right to highlight that stuff but, we can’t say that it’s basically because of him. It’s been happening, actually a trend, a long-term trend, long before he even announced he was going to run for Presidentso, let’s put that in some kind of perspective.
The important thing about this truck deal that Chrysler has now in Michigan is that it’s really being done as a hedge against the possibility that trade agreements that made it advantageous to build trucks in Mexico and bring them back to the United States may change. And if that changes then Chrysler needs to be building those trucks in the United States and it’s important for the administration not to mess up trade rules.
Now, I know a lot of you tune in to this show to hear about cars but, part of hearing about cars is also hearing about how they’re built, where they’re built, why they’re exported to where they are, and why they’re imported to where they are and a lot of that has to do with the trade rules. So, we look forward to all of that being negotiated in a way that’s advantegous to us in the United States and I think that that’s going to happen.
I don’t foresee that the North American Free Trade Agreement or some of the other agreements that allow cars and trucks to be built in Canada, United States, and Mexico and parts built in those places that allow them to go across the borders more or less without tariff I don’t foresee that changing. One thing that might happen, that the administration may do,and this is why no one really wants to contradict the President on this and get him upset, is a rethinking of some of the stricter fuel-efficiency rules and that could mean that we could see, soon, a relaxation which the auto makers would like, because they don’t want to bring in electric vehicles more quickly than people actually want to drive them.”
SiriusXM’s“In The Driver’s Seat with Doron Levin”airs every Saturday at 12:00pm ET on SiriusXM Insight channel 121.
Jessica Meuse Named Best Female Artist Finalist In 14th Annual IAMA Awards
Jessica Meuse has been included on the Best Female Artist Finalist List in the 14th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards). Her forthcoming original song, “Novocain,” was entered into the competition and it will be included on her upcoming 2018 full-length album release onWarrior Records. The IAMA will be announcing their top winners on February 7th.
“Being on the list of IAMA Best Female Artists Finalists is an honor and I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this year’s awards,” noted Jessica. “Having my new composition, ‘Novocain,’ on the list is one of the best ways to kick off 2018 and I’m excited to see how things turn out on February 7!”
Additionally, Jessica’s song, “Love Her Better,” has just debuted at #33 onThe Iceman’s Top 40 New Country Music Chartand she just traveled to New York City in support of the Recording Academy MusiCares Gala at Radio City Music Hall.
Jessica Meuse is an American performer from Slapout, Alabama. She has wowed audiences since the age of 10 and plays several instruments (guitar, piano, and classical violin). At 20, Jessica won the statewide artist showcase, Stars of Alabama. A spot on Season 3 of NBC’s The Voice followed, where she made it to the blind auditions, along with being part of Vans Warped Tour. In 2014, Jessica was selected by American Idol’s judges, Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick, Jr., for Season 13 of the TV series where she ended up a Top 4 National Finalist, subsequently touring across the USA and Canada. Currently, Jessica is signed to L.A. Entertainment, Inc.’s management division, LA Group Management, and she dedicates time to raising awareness about Domestic Violence, Cyberbullying, Children’s Cancer Association, and other organizations, while continuing to write, release music, and tour.
L.A. Entertainment, Inc. is a California based entertainment corporation, with businesses including, Warrior Records, whose products are distributed via eOne Distribution, LA Group Management, publishing divisions that administrate a wide range of copyrights, a music supervision firm specializing in motion picture and television soundtracks, and L.A. Entertainment Merchandise, providing merchandise and VIP services to touring artists.
About IAMA:
IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is in its 14th year promoting excellence in Acoustic Music Performance and Artistry. Entrants come from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Germany, USA, and South Africa. Judging is based on excellence in music performance, songwriting/composition/song choice, music production and originality/artistry. IAMA is sponsored by D’Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Access, Aspri Reverb, Sirius XM Radio, Acoustic Café Radio Show, MixButton,GigSalad.com, Kari Estrin Management & Consulting, andSonicbids.com.
IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is in its 14th year promoting excellence in Acoustic Music Performance and Artistry. Entrants come from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Germany, USA, and South Africa. Judging is based on excellence in music performance, songwriting/composition/song choice, music production and originality/artistry. IAMA is sponsored by D’Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Access, Aspri Reverb, Sirius XM Radio, Acoustic Café Radio Show, MixButton,GigSalad.com, Kari Estrin Management & Consulting, andSonicbids.com.
If you watched the Big Game, you probably saw that Squarespace ran its fifth consecutive Super Bowl ad. This time around, we tapped actor Keanu Reeves: action star and motorcycle enthusiast who has been running his motorcycle company through Squarespace since 2015.
The ad, which features Keanu performing a badass motorcycle-surfing stunt in the middle of a desert, encourages viewers to go out and “make it happen.” And yes, he really performed the stunt himself.
“As kind a movie as there was [last] year. Cone quietly asserts himself as a major talent. How heartening to see big topics – like faith, like sexuality – discussed in such warm, considerate terms by two such gifted actresses.” – Richard Lawson, VANITY FAIR
“Princess Cyd is a wonderful movie to live in; it’s full of hope and empathy, as are its two leads. This is a film that believes finding joy in each other is not just what we should do, but what we are naturally inclined to do.” – Emily Yoshida, VULTURE
“Cone’s gift with ensembles puts him in rare company with directors like Jonathan Demme and Jean Renoir.”
–Sheila O’Malley, ROGER EBERT. COM
“Anchored by complicated, smart, funny women, Princess Cyd is a rare delight.”
–Jude Dry, INDIEWIRE
Synopsis:16-year-old Cyd (Jessie Pinnick) decides to take a break from her depressive single father and spend a summer in Chicago with her aunt Miranda (Rebecca Spence), a well-known novelist. Soon after her arrival, Cyd encounters Katie (Malic White), a young barista behind the counter. The two make plans to meet up after Katie’s shift and a new, charged relationship begins. The Chicago landscape expands, and we navigate intimate and fragile moments between Cyd and Katie as they explore their new attraction. Miranda functions as a counterpart to young Cyd’s new explorations of sexuality and love, and as the summer continues they develop a strong relationship founded on a shared openness and healthy criticism of particular personal moments.
Sensitive to the contradictions and confusion of the ever-changing self, Stephen Cone has created a film that reimagines that distinct summer feeling when adolescence creeps in, skin is bared, emotions emerge, and everything begins to feel more complicated.
Director: Stephen Cone Writer: Stephen Cone Cast: Rebecca Spence, Jessie Pinnick, Malic White, James Vincent Meredith, Tyler Ross, Matthew Quattrocki Composer: Heather McIntosh Director of Photography: Zoe White TRT: 96 min. Distributor: Wolfe Releasing
PRINCESS CYD is now available to stream on Netflix
Today marks the premiere of“T’d Up,”the newest song from hip-hop duoRae Sremmurd. Released via Eardruma Records/Interscope Records, and produced by Swae Lee, Metro Boomin and Darrel Jackson pka Boomanati DJ,“T’d Up”will be featured by ESPN in their NBA campaign to promote the hotly anticipated match up between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics on February 11, when LeBron James goes to Kyrie Irving’s house to see if he can tip the scales in the Cavs favor.
“T’d Up” will feature on Rae Sremmurd’s (Mississippi-bred brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi) upcoming third full-length,SR3MM. Made with their longtime producer Mike WiLL Made-It,SR3MMarrives as the follow-up toSremmLife 2—a 2016 album featuring the multi-platinum No. 1 hit “Black Beatles” (ft. Gucci Mane).SremmLife 2drew acclaim from the likes of the New York Times, who noted that “the quieter innovation on this album is how, thanks to the more-meditative production,SremmLife 2is at times a commentary on and an updating of decades of Southern club rap.”
Released in 2015, Rae Sremmurd’s first full-lengthSremmLifedebuted at the top of Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Rap Albums charts, in addition to cracking the Top 5 on the Top 200 Albums chart its first week.SremmLifealso scored Rae Sremmurd five platinum-selling singles, including “No Flex Zone” and “No Type.”
Last August, Rae Sremmurd delivered “Perplexing Pegasus” and its accompanying video. The song was named a Best New Track by Pitchfork, who hailed the duo as “a two-man circus celebrating carefree living to the fullest, back-flipping through verses.”
