In today’s awesome collaboration news, Robyn will debut a brand-new version of “Dancing On My Own” when she performs with Deadmau5 at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. Deadmau5, the evening’s in-house DJ, is also set to collaborate with Travie McCoy and Jason Derülo to rework some of their current hits. Other scheduled performers include Eminem, Usher, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, B.o.B, and Florence + The Machine. The MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 PM Eastern Time.
Over the weekend, the New York Times declared 23 year-old rapper Aubrey Drake Graham the “new face of hip-hop“. From fans to music heavy-hitters like Jay-Z, Kanye West, Diddy and Lil’ Wayne, there is quite a bit of anticipation for the mixtape wunderkind’s upcoming album, Thank Me Later, leaving many to wonder if the artist’s debut can meet expectations to break a million album units in sales in its first week. While we wait for the official release of the albumtomorrow, it comes as no surprise that New York based record producer Chi Duly (known for his work with Nappy Roots) has released October’s Very Cold, a mixtape that blends the alternative rock style of Coldplay with the thoughtful and pensive lyrics of Drake. Not surprisingly, these tracks mesh well together – Mick Boogie and Terry Urban’s 2008 mixtape, Viva La Hova, combined Coldplay and Jay-Z. Among our favorites on October’s Very Cold: “Everlost”, “Troubles Over”, “Forever La Vida” and “Money to Fix”.
Tomorrow, Drake will be in New York City at South Street Seaport at 6pm to kick off Paper Magazine’s free Ray-Ban and Havaianas-sponsored Summer concert series with Hanson and Ninjasonik.
This week, Jay-Z released the artwork and track listing for his eleventh solo album, The Blueprint 3. Kanye West produced most tracks on the album, which features collaborations with Pharell (on the N.E.R.D.-produced track “So Ambitious”), Kid Cudi, Drake, and Alicia Keys. The buzzworthy contribution by MGMT comes in the form of “Venus vs. Mars”, which they produced.
The Blueprint 3 will be released on September 11, 2009 by Atlantic Records. View the full track list after the jump, and click here to see photos by Oliver Correa from Jay-Z’s recent headlining performance at All Points West.
“If you have a complaint,” Lykke Li addressed the crowd after singing “Complaint Department”, “then you haven’t had enough to drink, so go get a drink and let’s do it like we do in Europe!” Lykke Li was her usual charismatic self on Sunday during her set at All Points West. If you’ve heard her music, you already know about her unique voice, but only in her live performances can you see the primal quality she brings to her movements.
Listen to Drake‘s take on Lykke Li’s “Little Bit” from his mixtape, So Far Gone, below:
