With sales of 15 million plus David Guetta’s undoubtedly the world’s most sought after producer. The driving force behind the current swathe of chart topping electro influenced R&B, Guetta’s music has helped a huge array of artists to the top of the charts. With a list of collaborators that includes The Black Eyed Peas, Flo Rida, Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, Akon, Madonna – Guetta’s productions credits read like a who’s who of pop. Guetta’s also a huge star in his own right. One of the planet’s most successful DJ’s, his own records have been some of the most pop records of the last decade with tracks like ‘When Love Takes Over’ and ‘Who’s That Chick?’ just two of his many platinum singles. We caught up with Guetta to talk about his forthcoming album, his next single with Nicki Minaj and why his relationship with Will.i.am is purely platonic.
Your new album is on the way, what can we expect?
Well the album is really far from being finished so I can’t really speak about it yet. The album is due in September. But I have my new record, ‘Where Them Girls At’, hopefully that’ll be number one on Shazam. That’s coming out on the radio on Monday and on iTunes at the end of the month (in the UK – a little before in some other countries). That’s really exciting. Nicki Minaj is one of my favorite artists on the planet right now so that’s really exciting: Flo Rida, of course, we had a number one record before.
The only artist to claim two tracks in our countdown of the year, ‘Monster’ is another highlight from KanYe West’s staggering ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’. On this track Yeezy enlists the help of some of hip hop’s most powerful illuminate, with Jay-Z, Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj all contributing verses. Surprisingly Bon Iver also lends his vocal to the track; the unlikely pair became friends after West was introduced to the folk troubadour’s track ‘Woods’ by Ed Banger boss Pedro Winter. Despite the plethora of talent on display, the tracks finest moment belongs to Nicki Minaj. The fast rising female rapper’s schizophrenic bars completely steal the show; giving us enough reason to see past her lacklustre debut album ‘Pink Friday’ - let’s just hope KanYe is free to produce her follow up LP.
After West’s infamous stage invasion at the VMA’s, where he interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech, there was only one way KanYe could win back his credibility. Despite inspiring one of the most amusing blogs of the year, West simply had to deliver the goods in order to put the episode behind him. Thankfully his fifth album stands up as one of the strongest of 2010, topping polls from such tastemakers as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Spin, Stereogum and MTV. The video for the track is set to debut on Christmas day and certainly looks likely to live up to the ‘Monster’ title. Check out the ghoul filled preview above.
Nicki Minaj claims her first solo number one in the Shazam New Release Chart USA after guest starring on just about every big urban hit of the last 6 months.
TW
Artist
Title
Release Date
1
Nicki Minaj
Right Through Me
24 September 2010
2
Willow Smith
Whip My Hair
21 September 2010
3
KanYe West Feat. Rick Ro$$ & Jay-Z & Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj
Gyptian’s ‘Hold You’ is perhaps the most unexpected cross over hit of 2010. Following in the steps of Wayne Wonder’s ‘No Letting Go’, ‘Hold You’ is a genuine reggae anthem that’s been naturally gaining momentum over the past year. It’s probably one of the most potent sleeper hits of the year and has even started to register on the mainstream charts; peaking at number 77 in the Billboard Hot 100. The track has the ultimate seal of urban approval: a remix featuring Nicki Minaj, an artist who seems to have thrust her way on to almost every successful R&B Hip Hop song of the last eight months.
Gyptian’s commercial success has not come over night. Much like Wayne Wonder, Shaggy or even Shabba Ranks, Gyptian worked for years on Jamaica’s competitive dee jay scene before coming to the attention of American radio – notching up local hits and two relatively successful roots reggae albums.
Much like in the US, ‘Hold You’ has been bubbling under in Britain for some time gaining almost constant rotation on specialist urban shows and BBC 1Xtra. The track now looks to be getting a huge shove into the charts thanks to certified hit makers of Ministry Of Sound. With a full British release penned in for next month, Gyptian is sure to be shimming up the UK charts at a rate of knots.
While there’s no denying being the offspring of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith has given her a slight lift over other performers her age, Willow Smith is proving to be fully deserving of the praise she’s receiving. It appears young Willow is following in her parent’s footsteps with aplomb. After making her acting debut in ‘I Am Legend’ back in 2007, Willow appeared in a number of onscreen roles before announcing she would be embarking on a recording career. While the road of actors turned singers is littered with unfortunate causalities – as anyone who’s braved a listen of Steve Seagal’s recorded output would attest – it seems Willow has inherited her Father’s versatility to turn her hand to both worlds successfully.
‘Whip My Hair’ is an all out R&B swagger anthem that could easily have come from Rihanna or Nicki Minaj – in fact Minaj appears on a blog friendly remix of the track. With a cheeky nod to Devo’s ‘Whip It’, ‘Whip My Hair’ may prove to be one of the most surprising tracks of the year. It’s certainly made an impression on Hip-Hop’s biggest star Jay-Z - who has signed Smith to his label, Roc-Nation. The track is currently streaming from her website: head here to check it out.
Whatever you think about KanYe West, there’s no denying his ability to surprise.
A year after KanYe’s super ego pushed him into an ill advised stage invasion during Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards – an act that prompted Barack Obama to call him a “Jackass” – KanYe was back at the scene of the crime. However, rather than berating Taylor Swift as he had the year before, he was exchanging sickly sweet tributes with the country singer: the pick of which came from Swift who spouted this gem whilst performing an emotional ballad. “Thirty-two and still growing up now, who you are is not what you did, you’re still an innocent. Everyone of us has messed up too, I hope you remember today is never too late to be brand new.” An act which prompted KanYe to apologise to the public once again for last year’s indiscretions.
If you find West’s new found humility surprising you should check up the lineup of talent on his new single, ‘Monster’. The record features the talents of Hip Hop heavy weights Rick Ro$$, Jay-Z and hottest ticket in town, Nicki Minaj. Nothing out of the ordinary there you may think, until you see that the record also features the talents of Justin Vernon – A.K.A bearded folk warbler Bon Iver. Apparently KanYe sought out the talents of Bon Iver after hearing his breakthrough track ‘Woods’. This resulted in Bon Iver packing up his bags, flying to KanYe’s studio in Miami to lay down some tracks in between enjoying herbal cigarettes with hip hop’s glitterati – which must be the absolute antithesis of the usual day in the life of a respected folk minstrel.
‘Monster’ is potentially KanYe’s most exciting single yet. What’s most surprising is Nicki Minaj’s mind blowingly dexterous verse that mixes the ragga style growl of Lady Saw with the cutesy baby voice of Marilyn Monroe to create one of the most original vocal styles the hip hop world has heard in years.
‘Monster’ will be included in KanYe’s forthcoming album ‘Dark And Twisted Fantasy’ due for release November 16th
Bottoms Up’ is the lead single taken from Trey Songz’ forthcoming album, ‘Passion, Pain & Pleasure’. It’s a slick slice of R&B that is dedicated to one of America’s favourite pastimes: drinking. An anthem made for clubs, ‘Bottoms Up’ is sure to receive raucous responses for those experiencing it on a bleary eyed night out. With lines such as, “bottoms up bottoms up, throw your hands up, tell security we bout to tear this club up,” the song may not be hugely original but is sure to fire Trey Songz straight into the affections of binge drinkers the world over.
The track is boosted by a scene stealing cameo from Nicki Minaj, who is slowly establishing herself as one of the key female players in hip-hop. In a head spinning verse Minaj shows her mind bogglingly fast flow, single headedly taking the catchy club track up a few levels. It’s a verse that shows why her forthcoming debut, ‘Pink Friday’, is shaping up to be one of the year’s most hotly anticipated albums.
This week Nicki Minaj – who came number two in our ‘Sound Of 2010′ poll – is number one in the US New Release Chart, with her latest single ‘Your Love’.
To check the full chart click read more (You may have to turn ‘Mobile Theme’ off to view this chart correctly in Shazam’s apps). Read more…
‘Little Freak’ is the third taster to surface from Usher’s forthcoming album, ‘Raymond Vs. Raymond’. Recent singles ‘Papers’ and ‘Hey Daddy’ both had a more risqué flavour than any of Usher’s previous work, signalling a slight change of direction for the R&B singer on his latest work. Carrying on with this trend Usher has recruited Nicki Minaj to co-star on his latest single – probably the most outrageous female rapper of the moment. Produced by über beat-smith Polow Da Don; ‘Little Freak’ has a distinct Atlanta flavour thanks to a heavy half step, cheeky Stevie Wonder sample and a speaker rattling bottom end. The highlight of the track comes in the shape of Minaj’s rapid fire verse which perfectly displays why UK Hip Hop legend Tim Westwood has been bombarding Twitter with messages such as, “Minaj has got the buzz right now!”
