New Music: Justin Timberlake – ‘TKO’

Following “Take Back the Night,” Justin Timberlake readies another round with “TKO,” the second single off The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2. After teasing with Instagram videos throughout the day, he debuts the 7-minute song, produced by Timbaland.

“Perfect hit to the dome/ This ain’t the girl I used to know, no, not anymore/ TKO,” sings JT.

The follow-up to the best-selling album of 2013 arrives Sept. 30 featuring appearances from Drake (“Cabaret”) and Jay Z (“Murder”).

“The songs that I released in March just reminded me of summertime a little bit more and the songs that are coming out this month felt a little darker so they made me feel like the fall/winter collection,” Timberlake told Ryan Seacrest.

He is expected to debut some of the new tracks at this weekend’s iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas.

Did JT deliver another knock-out? Stream “TKO” below and purchase it on iTunes.

via Rap-Up.com http://www.rap-up.com/2013/09/19/new-music-justin-timberlake-tko/

New Music: Mary J. Blige – ‘This Christmas’

Christmas comes early. It’s only September, but Mary J. Blige spreads some holiday cheer with her soulful cover of Donny Hathaway’s classic “This Christmas,” the first release from her Christmas album A Mary Christmas.

If you pre-order the album on iTunes, you can download the song now.

The seasonal set, executive produced by David Foster, arrives Oct. 15 featuring remakes of classic holiday tunes, plus collaborations with Barbra Streisand, Jessie J, The Clark Sisters, and Marc Anthony.

Unwrap MJB’s early Christmas gift below.

via Rap-Up.com http://www.rap-up.com/2013/09/19/new-music-mary-j-blige-this-christmas/

Tupac Biopic Headed to the Big Screen

Seventeen years after his death, the legendary Tupac Shakur will be resurrected on the big screen in a new biopic.

Morgan Creek Productions and Emmett Furla Films are in final negotiations to partner on the film entitled Tupac, it was announced today.

Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, has signed on as executive producer. Tupac will be produced by James G. Robinson, David Robinson, and LT Hutton along with Randall Emmett and George Furla.

The film, which is reportedly budgeted at $45 million, centers around the life of the hip-hop icon, who was shot and killed in Las Vegas in 1996 at the age of 25.

Production is slated to begin next year in Atlanta. According to Deadline.com, producers have the rights to use Tupac’s musical catalog.

While a biopic has yet to be made, Tupac was previously portrayed on film by Anthony Mackie in Notorious, the 2009 movie about the Notorious B.I.G.

via Rap-Up.com http://www.rap-up.com/2013/09/19/tupac-biopic-headed-to-the-big-screen/

Video: Sabi f/ Tyga – ‘Cali Love’

Sabi heads to the land of sunshine and palm trees in the feel-good video for her single “Cali Love.” The Inglewood native jumps in her Jeep Wrangler and cruises the streets of L.A. with her friend. She soaks up the sun on Venice Beach and meets up with Tyga at a house party at night.

The 25-year-old’s debut EP Cali Love drops next month.

Raise a red cup and party on the west side with Sabi.

[HNHH]

via Rap-Up.com http://www.rap-up.com/2013/09/19/video-sabi-f-tyga-cali-love/

Video: Shanell – ‘Hotel’

Shanell recalls a one-night stand in the steamy video for “Hotel,” a cut off her mixtape Midnight Mimosas . Clothes lay strewn on the floor as the Young Money singer makes out with a mystery man in the sheets.

“Do you remember what happened last night?” she asks.

Head to the bedroom with Shanell in the intimate clip.

via Rap-Up.com http://www.rap-up.com/2013/09/19/video-shanell-hotel/

Justin Timberlake Takes on Las Vegas for ‘Runner Runner’ Premiere

Justin Timberlake hit up Sin City for the premiere of Runner Runner last night. The pop star arrived with his wife Jessica Biel and posed with his co-stars Ben Affleck, Anthony Mackie, and Gemma Arterton. Fans flocked to the casino floor as he made his way through Planet Hollywood.

“I got excited when I first read the script because it reminded me of a type of genre of thriller that you and I probably grew up with,” Timberlake told Ryan Seacrest of the crime drama. “The characters are really intelligent and the movie could go either direction. When I was reading it, it wasn’t clear ‘This is the bad guy and this is the good guy.’ It felt like a nice little twist and also an homage to the thrillers I liked growing up.”

On Thursday, he sat down with Matt Lauer for an interview on “Today,” where he spoke about growing up in the spotlight and the controversy surrounding Miley Cyrus.

“I don’t know that I have a definitive thought in one direction or the other about it,” he said. “I think she’s really smart, and I think she’s really talented. I’m not saying I agree with the presentation, but I also feel like every 10 to 15 years we pick somebody that this is what we’re going to do with them, is we’re going to make them the model of who we want our daughters to be or not be.”

His album The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 drops Sept. 30, while Runner Runner opens in theaters on Oct. 4.

via Rap-Up.com http://www.rap-up.com/2013/09/19/justin-timberlake-takes-on-las-vegas-for-runner-runner-premiere/

LoLa Monroe Parts Ways with Taylor Gang

The Taylor Gang family just got smaller. Wiz Khalifa’s label has cut ties with LoLa Monroe and Cardo.

In a statement to XXL , a Taylor Gang executive announced that the D.C. rapper and hip-hop producer are no longer affiliated with Taylor Gang.

“After years of helping build their careers, we did not feel as if the relationships were mutually beneficial,” said the exec. “We wish LoLa and Cardo the best but hope they move on in their respective directions without affiliating themselves to the Taylor Gang brand or name.”

LoLa had appeared on Wiz’ Taylor Allderdice mixtape and latest album O.N.I.F.C. She also toured with Wiz and other Taylor Gang members on “The 2050 Tour” last year.

Cardo was one of the main producers behind Taylor Allderdice and Wiz’ 2010 mixtape Kush and OJ.

According to label reps, neither Lola nor Cardo was officially signed to Taylor Gang, which is home to Juicy J, Chevy Woods, Tuki Carter, and Berner.

via Rap-Up.com http://www.rap-up.com/2013/09/19/lola-monroe-parts-ways-with-taylor-gang/