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Guilty Simpson’s Sets “Detroit’s Son” Release on September 11

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Guilty Simpson may have worked with hip-hop production luminaries from as far afield as California, New York and the UK, but his roots are forever in his hometown of Detroit.

It was fellow Detroit native J Dilla who gave Guilty his debut, on “Strapped” from Jaylib’s Champion Sound (2003), and “As Serious as Your Life,” a Four Tet remix. At Dilla’s request, Guilty joined the Stones Throw fold, releasing his debut solo album Ode To The Ghetto in 2008, which established him as one of Stones Throw’s flagship artists.

Two years later, Guilty returned with producer Madlib for OJ Simpson (Stones Throw, 2010), which Pitchfork heralded as “cohesive, focused, and flat-out fun… one of the best hip-hop records of the year.”

After a collaboration with the late Sean Price and producer Black Milk as Random Axe, and another with producer Apollo Brown, Guilty’s next appearance on Stones Throw was shorter but no less pivotal – a guest verse on “Fitta Happier” by Geoff Barrow’s hip-hop production super-group Quakers. Time spent with Quakers co-founder Katalyst in Australia yielded an artistic chemistry between the MC and producer, and led directly to Guilty’s third album for Stones Throw.

Detroit’s Son distils the essence of what made Ode To The Ghetto an underground classic. With the subject of life in the Motor City placed front and center, Guilty’s uncompromising rhymes fit seamlessly with Katalyst’s hard-hitting beats. The raps are every bit as gritty as on Ode or OJ, but there’s also a little light relief on tracks such as “Smoking,” probably about as close as Guilty will get to a summer anthem.

This is the Detroit MC on his best form, rapping over beats perfectly tailored to his rough baritone. Guilty Simpson has always been skillful at combining hardcore rap with thought-provoking observations about the world around him, and it’s this talent that comes to the fore on Detroit’s Son.

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Insomniac founder’s response to drug-related deaths at raves

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Rave culture and shows have been in the news recently, and again, for all the wrong reasons, with overdoes happening at an alarming rate. Following the death of two teenage girls at HARD Summer Music Festival in drug-related complications, Insomniac founder Pasquale Rotella, whose Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is one of the largest EDM events in the world, wrote a response for the culture to step back and see what the real problem is.

yI’ve been incredibly saddened by yet another loss of life that’s been attributed to our culture, and I have spent the last week reflecting on how the story has played out in the media. First and foremost, my heart goes out to the friends and family of those two young women.

We don’t condone or tolerate drug use, but the problem here isn’t raves or dance music, or even festivals in general. The health impact of drug abuse in our country extends far beyond what happens at our events.

I lost five friends to drug overdoses at a young age, none of which occurred at dance music festivals; most of them weren’t even fans of the genre. No one wrote about them.

Dance culture has survived for decades and has never been more popular. Banning these events at facilities where we are able to provide first-rate medical care and emergency services is not the answer. I hope that policymakers and the media do not turn their backs on a cultural movement that is thriving and brings so much happiness to a generation that, quite frankly, needs an environment where they can feel loved and accepted. Most just want healthy interaction with their peers. I know that if I didn’t have access to this community growing up, my life would have taken a much different turn.

I see nothing but great opportunity within large gatherings—the opportunity to promote health, happiness, individuality, and human connection.

If we’re trying to create a safe and secure environment for these passionate fans, sending them back into the unregulated underground isn’t a step in the right direction.

We all need to do our part in creating a national dialogue that educates our youth and encourages them to be accountable for their choices—especially when it comes to drugs.

SiriusXM Launches New Music Channels

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SiriusXM announced today that it has launched four new music channels that will further expand the range and depth of the company’s industry leading line-up of commercial-free music channels.

The new channels will feature expertly-curated music in the Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop/R&B genres.

The introduction of these innovative new channels is consistent with SiriusXM’s track record of developing unique formats not heard on traditional broadcast radio, such as The Coffee House, Lithium, Chill, Pop2k, Y2Kountry and Faction.

“Our lineup of commercial-free music channels continues to evolve to meet the changing tastes of our growing subscriber base and to satisfy the next generation of core subscribers,” said Steve Blatter, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Music Programming, SiriusXM. “Building on our success at delivering an unmatched curated listening experience, several of the new channels feature music and artists from a period when many of our subscribers first connected with this music. These new and innovative radio formats make our broad range of music channels stronger than ever.”

Velvet (channel 13): Today’s top contemporary pop vocalists showcasing artists like Adele, Beyoncé, Sam Smith, Idina Menzel, John Legend and Adam Lambert. Velvet will launch with special guest DJ sessions with Idina Menzel, Josh Groban and Adam Lambert.

FLY (channel 47): Hip-Hop and R&B from the ’90s and 2000s featuring artists like Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child, Outkast, Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy and Missy Elliot. Fly will launch with a special guest DJ sessions hosted by R. Kelly, Warren G. and Nelly.

Turbo (channel 314): Hard Rock music from the ’90s and 2000s featuring artists such as Linkin Park, Korn, Papa Roach, Godsmack and System Of A Down.

Poptropolis (channel 300): Pop hits from the ’80s through 2000s featuring artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, George Michael, Alanis Morissette, Pink and Kelly Clarkson.

Additionally, SiriusXM will launch Limited Edition, channel 18, on August 13—which will be the home for SiriusXM’s exclusive, limited-run channels. SiriusXM’s Road Trip Radio, the limited-run channel featuring summer driving tunes—a mix of music from all genres and eras—will be available on SiriusXM’s Limited Edition beginning August 13.

The channels, available on satellite will also be available through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com.

Metallica Is Going To Get Their Own Pinball Machine

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Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games, announced today the re- introduction of their previously sold out Metallica Monsters Premium pinball machine. The highly popular Metallica title honors one of the world’s foremost rock bands. Metallica’s notoriously fast tempos and aggressive musicianship set the tone for an exciting pinball player experience.

Players bang their heads and their flippers to 12 classic Metallica hits including “Master of Puppets,” “One” and “Fade to Black.” Other action-packed game features include an electric chair, snake, grave marker and unparalleled magnetic action. “The longevity of the Metallica title has strengthened our commitment to produce high-energy music titles,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.

Metallica Premium features exclusive game art and a one-of-a-kind collectible Sparky toy designed by world-renowned pop culture artist “Dirty” Donny Gillies. Donny is a well-known freelance artist who creates paintings, album covers, show posters, concert posters, vinyl toys and skateboards. “Since working with Stern to create one of a kind Metallica pinball art, I have become an even bigger fan of what Stern is doing to grow pinball,” said artist Donny Gilles a dedicated pinball enthusiast.

Metallica’s Premium Model will have a $7,595 MSRP and are available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.

Stephen Colbert, Salma Hayek And Hugh Jackman Announced As Hosts For 2015 Global Citizen Festival

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Global Citizen has announced that Stephen Colbert, CHIME FOR CHANGE co-founder Salma Hayek Pinault, Deborra-Lee and Hugh Jackman, Kerry Washington and Olivia Wilde will appear as the lead hosts of the 2015 Global Citizen Festival, presented by Gucci and CHIME FOR CHANGE. The free-ticketed concert, headlined by Pearl JamBeyonce, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, will take place on the Great Lawn of New York’s Central Park on September 26, 2015.

As the lead hosts of the Festival, Stephen Colbert, Salma Hayek Pinault, Deborra-Lee and Hugh Jackman, Kerry Washington andOlivia Wilde will encourage fans and friends to get involved with the Global Citizen movement and help end extreme poverty by 2030. Each host is committed to encouraging actions on GlobalCitizen.org, where fans can participate in the latest Action Journey and enter the draw to win a pair of tickets to the Festival.

Since the headliner announcement of the 2015 Global Citizen Festival in early July, nearly half a million actions have been taken on behalf of the world’s poor. Today’s official host announcement coincides with the next Action Journey release, where global citizens will champion the importance of improving universal access to education, especially for girls and women. Global citizens will be asked to send a voice message to Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, encouraging her to attend the 2015 Global Citizen Festival and make a commitment to universal education. Hugh Evans, CEO of The Global Poverty Project, will be meeting with the Prime Minister next week where he will personally deliver these messages.

MSNBC returns as a media partner of the Global Citizen Festival for the second year. Willie Geist, Janet Mock, Thomas Robertsand Alex Wagner will host the simulcast of the full concert from 4-10 p.m. ET on MSNBC and MSNBC.com live from Central Park. The YouTube livestream will be hosted by AsapSCIENCE and Matthew Santoro on youtube.com/globalcitizen, presented by T-Mobile.Tamron Hall will host NBC’s one-hour television special of the event, produced by director and screenwriter Richard Curtis, to air onSunday, September 27. A one-hour special of the Festival will also air on BBC One in the UK on Monday, September 28 and will be distributed globally through BBC Worldwide. The Festival will be produced by Emmy Award-winning producer, Ken Ehrlich (Grammy Awards). An audio feed of the concert will also be simulcast live on the “Global Citizen Radio” digital station on iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s industry-leading digital radio service, making this the fourth year that iHeartMedia has partnered with Global Citizen in support of the Festival. Audio from the Festival will also be digitally streamed on innovative music and entertainment platform, Tidal.com. The Festival will be produced by Emmy Award-winning producer, Ken Ehrlich (Grammy Awards).

Said Stephen Colbert, “I am honored and thrilled to join Global Citizen in urging world leaders to commit to ending extreme poverty. Finally, all that U.N. traffic will have a purpose!”

“We can’t wait to stand with these awesome artists, co-hosts, and thousands of global citizens in Central Park this September as we call on our leaders to end the injustice that is extreme poverty,” said Deborra-Lee and Hugh Jackman. “The Global Citizen movement is proof that when we come together and raise our voices, our leaders pay attention.”

Kerry Washington said, “I am very excited to be a part of the Global Citizen Festival and to join in this movement calling for an end to extreme poverty so that our future generations can live in a more just and equal world.”

“Over the last four years the Global Citizen Festival has achieved real and meaningful impact for those in need around the world. I’m excited to join everyone again this year to show what we can achieve when our energy is focused in the right place,” said Olivia Wilde.

“We are so grateful for the support of these world-class artists and activists,” said Hugh Evans, CEO, The Global Poverty Project. “Ending extreme poverty is a long-term commitment for global citizens around the world. With the help of these individuals to inspire and motivate our movement brings us a step closer to realizing the Global Goals.”

Said YouTube star Matt Santoro, “I’m incredibly excited to be hosting this year’s festival. The Global Citizen project is something I am very passionate about, and it is the perfect way to involve my audience in a movement that is making a difference worldwide!”

“We are honored to be a part of Global Citizen,” said AsapSCIENCE. “It is important that we embrace our global community and urge world leaders to fight poverty, embrace equality and create a more sustainable world for everyone. We can’t wait to be surrounded by people who share this common goal and have worked hard to create a positive change in the world!”

In July, Global Citizen announced a new partnership with Gucci and the CHIME FOR CHANGE campaign to build a community of people who want to learn about and take action on the biggest challenges faced by girls and women. CHIME FOR CHANGE was founded by Gucci in 2013 to raise funds and awareness for girls and women’s equality.  Led by co-founders Beyonce Knowles-Carterand Salma Hayek Pinault, the campaign has joined forces with Global Citizen to promote education, health and justice for girls and women around the world.

“As a global citizen and co-founder of CHIME FOR CHANGE, I am honored to co-host the 2015 Global Citizen Festival,” said Salma Hayek Pinault.  “Empowering girls and women is a key step toward ending extreme poverty, and I am proud to be a part of this historic moment where we will raise our voices together to create real change for girls and women around the world.”

In coordination with Global Citizen, CHIME FOR CHANGE and Salma Hayek Pinault are encouraging supporters to “CHIME for Education” through a recently launched Crowdrise campaign that supports girls’ and women’s education efforts around the world. By donating to CHIME for Education, fans will be entered to win two VIP tickets to this year’s Global Citizen Festival. To find out more information and support the campaign, visit https://www.crowdrise.com/CHIME.

Presenting partner Gucci and CHIME FOR CHANGE join proud core partners of the Festival: Citi, Unilever, YouTube, TIDAL, Google, iHeartRadio, Clear Channel Outdoor, MSNBC, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, H&M, and T- Mobile. Supporting partners are BBC Worldwide, Universal Music Group Distribution, Pratt Foundation, Waislitz Foundation, The Huffington Post, Milk Studios, RYOT and Riot House.

Citi has been a proud partner of the Global Citizen Festival since inception four years ago, and Citi credit cardmembers enjoy exclusive access to VIP offers and ticket pricing.

People everywhere are invited to sign-up, take actions, and enter the prize draws for free tickets. In total, 48,000 free tickets to the Festival will be given out to Global Citizens. Once fans complete an Action Journey on globalcitizenfestival.com, they can enter to win free tickets. Ticket draws will occur throughout the summer and fans will be notified via Global Citizen when they have been selected.

For more information about the artists, schedules, and event, please visit www.globalcitizenfestival.com and follow @GlblCtzn Twitter,Facebook and Instagram using #GlobalCitizen.

Selling Out? Modern musicians were ALWAYS selling products

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I always have to laugh when people talk about musicians, authenticity and selling out, the act of artists promoting products through advertisements or product placements and endorsements. It was always like this. Check out these vintage ads for proof.

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Video: Teenage Michael Stipe As Rocky Horror’s Frank-N-Furter

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Among one of the coolest pre-rock star videos I’ve ever seen is this one – it’s from a St. Louis news broadcast from the late 1970s about the fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the city’s Varsity Theater.

At around the 1:25 mark, you’ll see future R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, in his best Frank-N-Furter drag, giving his enthusiastic impressions of the film.