Beyonce Premieres New Video "Formation" in Honor of Black History Month

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Beyoncé released a surprise music video, "Formation" today with enough shades of racial discussion to fill up a professor's lecture notes. The video shows shots of B on top of sinking New Orleans roofs representing the Hurricane Katrina aftermath and in all different make ups of stereotyped black women. The lyrics shoot with the fiery attitude that is Queen B - "I slay" is just one repeated lyric that weighs so heavy it crushes any haters hanging under her stilettos. B seems to sing about owning her black self from her features to history, even if the media mocks the stereotype. What your interpretation of the video and song is up to you: I dare say, pretty sure that's her point.

Download Beyonce's new single Formation on Tidal for free by clicking here.

Photos: Jack & Jack Take Over Anaheim's House of Blues

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Jack & Jack performing at House of Blues in Anaheim, CA on February 5th, 2016 (Gibson Dintersmith/Roman's Rap-Up).

Hip hop music sensations Jack Johnson and Jack Gilinsky (known as Jack & Jack) started their sold out U.S tour this week, and made a stop in Anaheim Friday night at the House of Blues. Check out photos from the show below: 

DJ Khaled to Premiere New Future Album on "We The Best" Radio on Friday

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Future performs at Los Angeles' 92.3 "Real Show" in November, 2015 (Gibson Dintersmith/Roman's Rap-Up).

DJ Khaled took to the Snapchat world again, announcing that he will be premiering Future’s new album on Apple Music this Friday. Future’s new album will be on Khaled’s We The Best radio station on Apple Music as Khaled’s first premiere on the service. In Khaled’s Snapchat videos, he sat in the studio with Future himself, listening to the new songs as a sneak peek of the album. The radio station will be premiering 8pm EST. Future dropping a new album in the We The Best premiere? Major key. 

Coldplay Announces U.S. Stadium Tour

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(Live Nation)

On the heels of their big Super Bowl performance in February, Coldplay announced Thursday morning they'd be embarking on a 7-date U.S. stadium tour, with stops in Boston, New York, Chicago and more. This is the band's first tour since their "Mylo Xyloto Tour" in 2011/12.

Tickets go on sale on Ticketmaster on Friday, February 5th. See the full dates below: 

Saturday, July 16                    NEW YORK, NY MetLife Stadium

Saturday, July 23                    CHICAGO, IL Soldier Field

Saturday, July 30                    FOXBOROUGH, MA Gillette Stadium

Saturday, August 6                 PHILADELPHIA, PA Lincoln Financial Field

Saturday, August 20               LOS ANGELES, CA Rose Bowl

Saturday, August 27               DALLAS, TX AT&T Stadium

Saturday, September 3          SAN FRANCISCO, CA Levi's Stadium

 

Album Review: Rihanna's 8th Studio Release "Anti" Provides Refreshing Sound for Fans

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Anti album art (Roc Nation).

Rihanna dropped her new album Anti Wednesday evening after a prolonged silence from the music industry since her last album, Unapologetic, was released in 2012. Four years later, Rihanna puts on a strong returning front with her bad-ass feminine persona. Her single off of the album, “Work,” includes rap star Drake. The single has blown up on the charts due to fans’ long awaited anticipation of the album. Anti was originally supposed to be released last November, but the date was evidently pushed into the new year with an undecided exact release date. However, fans should be as satisfied as Adele’s fans were over her final release of 25. Her new music brings the same hardcore taste of the Rihanna we love with some new styles that create a twist to the updated Rihanna 2016. 

One can hear the reggae beat that resonates with her personal identity. “Consideration” includes a lot of dropped beats that create a reggae-esque tone complimentary to day dreamy vibe. It includes a very different sound than “Work” with Drake or “Desperado,” a potential hit to look out for on the album. While “Consideration” seems light and fun, “Desperado” includes a more intense sound that fans are used to hearing and loving from albums such as Rated R. The background sounds are interestingly eerie; her lyrics are enticing; it is everything that fans love about her. In addition, we get the sassy, sexual side of Rihanna in “Yeah, I Said It.” It’s more of a quiet, mellow beat that contrasts the strength of the words in her lyrics. All sides of her artistic identity appear in Anti; however, the new beats are what pushes this album into the 2016 music industry. It stays true to the artist that her fans have grown with through the twenty-first century while still giving something new to an industry forever in need of new creative ability. The Anti era is here. 

Listen to Anti on Tidal.

Rihanna embarks on her “Anti World Tour” featuring Travis Scott, Big Sean and more this February. Get your tickets here.