Steve Baltin
Drake Used to Dream About a Grammy Nomination
Of all of the nominees for this year's Grammy Awards maybe the most surprising was Toronto native Drake, who told the press backstage, "This all started with friends." Sure, the young MC is admittedly one of 2009's biggest success stories with 'Best I Ever Had,' a single off his 'So Far Gone' mixtape, nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song...
Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na Breaks Free on ‘Fish Out of Water’
In the current music biz artists are getting dropped as fast as record sales are falling. One artist though is quite happy to be free of his major label. "I'm just happy to be free, man. I feel like I just got out of jail," an elated Chali 2na tells the BoomBox of being off Interscope, the home for Jurassic 5 for many years...
Raekwon Taps Dr. Dre, Pete Rock for ‘Cuban Linx 2′
When you put on the biggest hip-hop tour of the year you get some perks, like being among the first to hear Raekwon's highly anticipated 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2,' due this year. "He had a lot of music that he came and played in our office and honestly it's amazing," Rock the Bells organizer Chang Weisberg tells The BoomBox...
Tech N9ne Has Strong Words for ‘L.A. Times’ Lip-Syncing Diss
Tech N9ne has become one of hip hop's biggest live acts, a reputation he prides himself on. So the Kansas City rapper did not take kindly to a recent 'L.A. Times' review of the Southern California 'Paid Dues' show, where the writer said, "It appeared that N9ne was lip-syncing...
Nas, Common, The Roots Lead Rock the Bells 2009 Lineup
In what has become a tradition, several of the acts who will be participating in this summer's 'Rock the Bells' tour got together in Southern California for a press conference that turned into a full-scale party. Supernatural got the celebratory aspect off with a ridiculous freestyle listing of every act on this summer's 10-city tour...
Keri Hilson Plans to Keep Family Promise
Keri Hilson's debut album, 'In a Perfect World,' may be about to drop March 24, setting up the breakout songwriter to be a recording star in her own right. But despite having Lil Wayne on the single and a track she co-wrote with Justin Timberlake her family still isn't impressed yet...
Black Eyed Peas Apl.De.Ap Returns to Stage for Peapod
The Black Eyed Peas' annual Peapod has become one of the hottest parties of Grammy week, with previous performances featuring the likes of James Brown, Justin Timberlake, Carlos Santana, Pink, and more. And it's an event, which raises money for various charities, that led to the building of the Peas' Peapod Academy, a music school, in Los Angeles...
Ne-Yo Calls Grammy Nod ‘Recognition of Versatility’
Ne-Yo isn't exaggerating when he says, "I'm definitely in great company," for his Album of the Year Grammy nod. The R&B star is nominated alongside Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Radiohead, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
To Ne-Yo it's a recognition of his versatility. "I...
Q-Tip Plans Election Night Celebration
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has been cautious about his poll lead, warning supporters not to presume anything. But one Barack believer is already planning the victory party. "I am doing a party in New York at a place called Santos where I usually spin at on Fridays, but I'm making it Tuesday," Q-Tip tells the Boombox...
T-Pain Hangs With Michael Jackson, Works on King of Pop’s New Album
Having collaborated with everyone from Ludacris and Ciara to Chris Brown, T-Pain has worked with most of his peers. So who's left for him to work with? No one, he says. "I pretty much did it already. I did two pieces with Michael Jackson, so I'm pretty much done; my list is all checked off...