Latest news with #DefJam
Black America Web
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Escape Room & New Love: Teyana Taylor Unpacks New Chapter Of Her Career & Relationship With Aaron Pierre
Teyana Taylor's interview with Hot 97 has offered fans a deep dive into her life, career, and new album in a candid conversation. The highly anticipated album, Escape Room , is set to drop soon, and in her recent appearance, she shared intimate details about her new relationship and a surprising health setback. Source: Bruce Glikas / Getty In Teyana Taylor's interview with Hot 97's Nessa, the artist opened up about her decision to return from a brief retirement, revealing the new inspiration that brought her back to the music world. She shared the meaning behind her album title, Escape Room , which she says reflects her journey of navigating various challenges in her life. The interview also covered her new single, 'Bed of Roses,' and the steamy visual that features actor Aaron Pierre. Teyana gushed about her new love, sharing how safe, loved, and understood Aaron makes her feel and revealing where their relationship stands today. 'What me and Aaron have… is very healthy and very and it's very gentle. It's very soft and it's very sweet and it's very warm, and it's one of the best feelings I've ever had,' she stated. 'And most importantly, it's so safe.' We care about your data. See our privacy policy. Teyana also made a point to address recently ending her marriage and noted that it was important for her to make sure the narrative didn't unjustly paint her ex as a villain. The artist reflected on the hardest and most personal songs on her upcoming project, and she revealed that the album's powerful opening monologue in her song 'Long Time,' which covers heartbreak beyond just romantic relationships, is narrated by none other than Taraji P. Henson. She also spoke about how she uses narration to carry emotion throughout the album and what moved her to tears while making the project Beyond her album, Teyana Taylor's interview also touched upon her work as a creative director and her upcoming film One Battle After Another with Leonardo DiCaprio, which is set to be released on September 26. In addition to her career pivots, return to Def Jam, and co-parenting, she also shared that she has been attending culinary school. However, despite all her professional endeavors, Teyana has recently faced an unforeseen personal setback that will require her to take a break. As BOSSIP reported, the singer took to Instagram on Wednesday, August 6, to reveal that doctors discovered a growth on her vocal cords, which requires her to undergo emergency surgery. 'I've been quietly dealing with some vocal challenges for a while now. And after a lot of back and forth with my doctors, I've been told I need vocal surgery immediately,' she wrote on her Instagram Story. 'They found a noncancerous growth on one of my cords that's been messing with my voice and causing real discomfort. Thankfully, we caught it & it's treatable—but it does mean I need to pause and give myself time to fully heal.' This health scare is particularly devastating for Teyana, who expressed that it 'breaks my heart' to step back from her upcoming engagements, which included an appearance on Michelle Obama's podcast. She also shared her frustration because she had 'poured so much of myself into this next chapter.' Luckily for fans, Teyana confirmed that her album, Escape Room, and its accompanying short film are still set to release on August 22 as planned. Teyana framed the situation as a personal 'escape room' that she didn't ask for, but one she has to navigate with patience and faith. She ended her post on a hopeful note, telling fans, 'Thank you for rocking with me through it all… For the grace, the love, and the space to heal. I can't wait to be on the other side of this—stronger, softer, and singing again.' The post Escape Room & New Love: Teyana Taylor Unpacks New Chapter Of Her Career & Relationship With Aaron Pierre appeared first on Bossip. SEE ALSO Escape Room & New Love: Teyana Taylor Unpacks New Chapter Of Her Career & Relationship With Aaron Pierre was originally published on
Irish Examiner
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Culture That Made Me: Cork DJ Shane Johnson picks his touchstones
Born in 1970, Shane Johnson grew up in Bishopstown, Co Cork. In 1988, he started DJing with Greg Dowling. As Fish Go Deep, the duo also began releasing music. Their residency sets at Sir Henry's nightclub in Cork in the 1990s have attained legendary status. The bi-weekly podcast of their long-running radio show has clocked more than 5 million listens. He will perform with Martin Roche (Get Down Edits) at Cork's Lee Rowing Club, Saturday, August 9, as part of a series of club nights that will also include Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip (Fri, Aug 8) See: Johnson also plays Eden in Ibiza on Sept 5. The Jesus and Mary Chain I loved Psychocandy by the Jesus and Mary Chain. I was drawn to the sheer antisocial aspects of it. You're a teenager, what are you gonna do? Play music that sounds like barbed wire. The album was tremendously exciting. Listening back with the ears I have now, underneath all the distortion, I can hear stuff like Phil Spector. There are actual pop songs in there, but they're buried beneath this obnoxious sound, which appealed to me. Dexys Midnight Runners Searching for the Young Soul Rebels by Dexys Midnight Runners was such a different record to what came out of UK pop music on its release in 1980. I started listening to it a few years later. The references were back to black music. The band had a look and an attitude that grabbed me. On the album's first song, Kevin Rowland runs through a list of Irish writers, including Oscar Wilde, Sean O'Casey, George Bernard Shaw. That sunk in subconsciously – you didn't hear too many Irish references in British pop music around that time. Def Jam Recordings My dad was into jazz. He had a great hi-fi system in the front room. I love jazz now, but as a teenager, it was an annoyance, not what I wanted to hear. The first genre music I picked up on was hip hop. I got into the Def Jam stuff, coming out of New York – Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Eric B. & Rakim. Public Enemy's first album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, was a different sound. The lyrics are political and anti-establishment, which appeals to teenagers. It was eye-opening – Chuck D was giving you the news from the streets as opposed to the TV. Sir Henry's Sir Henrys, South Main Street, Cork. The first time I was in Sir Henry's was my brother's 21st birthday around 1984. It was a fancy dress party. I was massively underage, but I got in because I was in disguise. It was my first experience of the lights, the music, all these people smiling and dancing. I've held that memory as a DJ. When you're looking down on this heaving mass of people, everyone having the night of their lives, you feed into those experiences and memories yourself as a DJ. Sometimes you can get complacent as a DJ. You must catch yourself when it's great, keeping in mind it's not always as good as this. Since leaving Henry's, Greg and myself have had plenty of good nights elsewhere, but it's hard match nights we had there. Mike Pickering Mike Pickering, from the Haçienda in Manchester, was the first DJ Greg Dowling and myself brought over to Sir Henry's. He was massively influential. Greg and myself had been trying to figure out the mechanics of DJing. To see someone more experienced, on another level in terms of his selection and the way he put music together, up close was inspiring. Joe Claussell In the late 1990s, we brought Joe Claussell over to Sir Henry's. He was a big DJ in New York. He had a way to frame songs – he'd play a song you wouldn't think is a song for the dance floor, but the context he played it, with the song he played before and after it, turned it into a song that made sense on the dance floor. That was eye opening – the epitome of a great club DJ is taking a song, making it their own, using context all the time. Tokyo Olympics Around 1983, I got a ticket for my favourite band at the time – Human League at Cork's City Hall, but they cancelled the gig. There was a storm. Their gear hadn't arrived by ferry. I was inconsolable. My older sister, Gina, took pity on me. She brought me down to the Regional Tech, where a Dublin band, Tokyo Olympics, were playing. I've a memory of the wise arse on the door saying to my sister, 'Do you want a family ticket, love?' I bought a box of 10 Major [cigarettes] for the occasion. My older brother, Billy, was at the gig. He was bumming fags off me for the night. I remember the band being great. They made one album, Radio. I relistened to it recently. It holds up well. The Smiths The Smiths in 1985. (Photo by) In 1984, I went to see The Smiths at the Savoy. One of my siblings brought me along. That was amazing – to see the fervour of the crowd, Morrissey on stage in his pomp, flowers everywhere, sticking out his back pocket. Just being overwhelmed by the experience, the noise, the slight edge of danger, not sure what's gonna happen. That's what gives live music and clubbing the real edge. Art Farmer I've been to tons of memorable gigs at the Cork Jazz Festival. On a Sunday night, for after-hours, where you'd get musicians still hanging around playing little sessions in the Metropole Hotel, my dad always slipped me in with a friend or two to catch impromptu gigs there. One year stands out. I was with a good friend, Joe Corcoran, who's since died. We sat in one of the small rooms, to see Art Farmer. He played flugelhorn and trumpet. He would have been almost 70. He played the most sublime set. The Second Woman Eileen Walsh in The Second Woman at Cork Opera House. Picture: Jed Niezgoda. I saw The Second Woman in Cork Midsummer Festival with Eileen Walsh playing the same scene repeatedly – with different actors, a hundred actors – for 24 hours. It's a seven-minute scene. It changes depending on what the other actor brings, their attitude, and how she reacts. My wife and I went up to Maureen's for a pint after an hour and a half of it. Having discussed it, we got into it again for a couple of hours. Then left in the early hours of the morning and came back the next morning to see how things were going. It was a fabulous experience. It shows what you can do with theatre. Geoff Dyer Geoff Dyer is such a funny writer. His interests resonate – the way he talks about men and their obsessions. There's nobody like him. He's invented an entire category for himself – it's not memoir, biography nor travel. It's bits of all these things. He's an amazing eye. His recall is phenomenal. His latest book, Homework, a memoir of his early years, is painted so vividly. It's a beautiful book to immerse yourself in. I enjoy his writing so much. Scarecrow Scarecrow is a movie from the 1970s featuring Gene Hackman and Al Pacino. People in the know say it's a great unsung movie, directed by Jerry Schatzberg. Both actors are the best versions of themselves. Sometimes Pacino can be too big, but he was contained in it. Hackman is always brilliant. They play two interesting characters. It's great.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Clipse Have Surprising Reaction To Justin Bieber Seemingly Shading Their New Album
Justin Bieber shook up the internet when he posted an Instagram story dissing Clipse after both acts released their new albums on the same day. The Virginia duo recently reacted to the supposed shade. 'I don't know if you clicking something, don't know if you reading it or not,' Malice said during their appearance on Big Boy's Neighborhood. 'I mean, people can be very specific if they want to be, but what does it mean to me? Nothing. We doing what we doing out here. The fans love it, you bringing the music back. Real hip-hop.' The 52-year-old resolved that he would give Bieber the 'benefit of the doubt.' Pusha T added that the Canadian singer likely didn't fully look at the post and was more focused on it being 'favorable' toward his album. 'We've all done it,' he said. Ultimately, the Let God Sort Em Out rappers were more focused on people's approval of their latest LP in comparison to a blockbuster release from the pop superstar. 'This is street hip-hop,' he stated. 'Look how far streethip-hop has [come]. Like look at what it's being measured up against.' Watch below. The 31-year-old surprised the world when he announced his new album SWAG would come out two weeks ago (Friday, July 11). Many people theorized that Def Jam was looking to overshadow their former artists' highly anticipated reunion album, and the assumed tension grew in fans' eyes when the 'Daisies' singer shared a particular Instagram story. Kerwin Frost tagged him in a post praising his new effort, writing, 'Justice is served @lilbieber emptied the clip. THIS IS THE ONLY ALBUM THAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW. This album is way better then the @clipse. @clipse is for bitter grown men who collect kaws dolls and shop at kith and union.' Biebs reposted the story, and many people did not recognize that it was a repost, causing more discourse on the internet. Nonetheless, Clipse are riding a wave of positivity as Let God Sort Em Out debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and sold 118,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. Bieber's SWAG debuted at No. 2 and sold 163,000 units. Listen to both albums below. More from What Are Clipse's First-Week Sales Projections For Their New LP 'Let God Sort Em Out'? Clipse Release "Culturally Inappropriate" Video For "Chains & Whips" Feat. Kendrick Lamar Did Justin Bieber Diss Clipse's New Album On Instagram? Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Justin Bieber to release long-awaited new album amid erratic behavior, marriage woe rumors: report
Wake up, Beliebers! Justin Bieber is reportedly getting ready to release new music. Def Jam Recordings record label will drop the pop star's long-awaited seventh studio album on Friday, according to the Hollywood Reporter. TMZ reported the same, claiming that the album's name is 'Swag.' Bieber's reps have not yet responded to Page Six's request for comment. Reps for Def Jam were also not immediately available. However, the singer seemed to confirm the news by reposting The Kid Laroi's Instagram Story, which read, 'if you don't listen to this album when it drops we can't be friends. sorry I don't make the rules.' Bieber wrote atop the post, which included an image of what looked like the album cover, 'LOVE YOU BROski.' The Grammy winner also uploaded a picture and video of what appeared to be the album's tracklist. He went on to share new family photos featuring his wife, Hailey Bieber, and their 10-month-old son, Jack, which seem to be affiliated with the project. On Thursday, billboards featuring a black-and-white picture of a shirtless Justin — from the aforementioned photo shoot — along with the word 'Swag' started to pop up in different cities, including Los Angeles and Iceland. Hailey took to her own Instagram account Thursday to re-share a billboard pic and support her husband — while slamming rumored trouble in their marriage. 'Is it finally clocking to you f–king losers?' she wrote atop the Instagram Stories slide, adding 'WTHELLY' by Rob49 to the background. Justin spent some time in Iceland in April to put the finishing touches on the project, THR reported, with a source telling the outlet that he was really able to 'vibe out' during 'jam sessions' with a number of collaborators. Gunna, Sexyy Red and Cash Cobain are reportedly among those featured on the album. The Biebers have been battling divorce rumors for close to a year, with many sources claiming that Justin's recent erratic behavior is to blame. However, both he and the model, 28, have repeatedly shut down speculation of trouble in paradise. And while the musician has shown himself smoking marijuana, his reps have denied that he is on drugs. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Did Justin Bieber Diss Clipse's New Album On Instagram?
Justin Bieber shocked the world this past weekend by releasing his new album Swag on the same day Clipse shared their highly anticipated Let God Sort Em Out, leading many to theorize Def Jam did this intentionally to overshadow their former signees. The 31-year-old inadvertently fanned those flames by sharing a slanderous Instagram story this week. Kerwin Frost tagged Bieber in an Instagram story praising his new LP and putting down the Virginia rappers' latest effort. 'Justice is served,' Frost wrote with a cross emoji replacing the letter T. '@lilbieber emptied the clip. THIS IS THE ONLY ALBUM THAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW. This album is way better then the @clipse. @clipse is for bitter grown men who collect kaws dolls and shop at kith and union.' The London, Ontario, Canada artist reposted Frost's post to his Instagram story; however, he did so in a way where it is not initially visible that someone else wrote the post unless they wait to see Kerwin Frost's name pop up. Frost reposted Bieber's reposted and added 'Birds of a feather crash out together,' with a purple heart emoji, feather emoji, and hug emoji. Nonetheless, it is unclear whether Bieber shared this to acknowledge the love for Swag or because he agrees with the thoughts about the legendary duo. Regardless, it stirred up many feelings online. 'This what happens when you got goofy ni**as telling you your soul black,' one X user wrote, referring to one of Druski's interludes on Swag. 'Yukon a good song but wtf is this. Come [on Biebs],' another fan wrote. Pusha T hasn't shied away from addressing his issues with anyone while rolling out Let God Sort Em Out, so it is possible fans will hear something about this moving forward. Until then, they can check out the two vastly different albums. Clipse tapped Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Stove God Cooks, and more for their lyrical exhibition. Bieber, on the other hand, featured Gunna, Sexyy Red, and Cash Cobain on his surprise R&B release. More from What Are Clipse's First-Week Sales Projections For Their New LP 'Let God Sort Em Out'? Clipse Release "Culturally Inappropriate" Video For "Chains & Whips" Feat. Kendrick Lamar Pusha T Pulls No Punches With His Review Of Drake's New Song, "What Did I Miss?" Solve the daily Crossword
