Lady Gaga confirmed she’ll start off her Super Bowl halftime show performance suspended from the roof of Houston’s NRG Stadium. And while it’s a lavish stunt expected from someone of Gaga’s caliber, she admits she didn’t think of it herself.

“My sister was like, ‘I know, let’s suspend you in the air!’” she said, during an interview with Boston’s Mix 104.1 radio show Karson & Kennedy.

Gaga continued, saying her proposed stunt and staging was likely part of the reason the NFL ultimately chose her set for the coveted halftime performance.

“First of all, there’s a lengthy process to go through, meeting with the NFL and sort of applying and discussing what you would do in the first place,” she said. “I think that part of how they decide who is going to come and do the halftime show is based on our ideas and what we want to do. They were really excited about the show we wanted to put on. They’ve been super supportive. They’ve been there every day at the rehearsal space with us and cheering me on while I rehearse. It’s been really great.”

The “Perfect Illusion” singer stayed quiet on further details, refusing to confirm or deny any of the other rumors surrounding the forthcoming event — including its alleged $10 million production price tag and whether or not collaborator Tony Bennett will make an appearance.

“I don’t want to say anything or give anything away specifically about what you will see during the halftime show,” Gaga said, “because I don’t want to ruin the surprise for everyone else, but I will tell you that it’s going to be fantastic and Tony is the best there is, and if he was in it, it would be fantastic!”

A Pennsylvania family is desperately trying to get their relatives back from Syria after they were detained at Philadelphia International Airport and sent back to the Middle East under the new immigration and travel ban instituted by President Donald Trump this weekend.

“I understand he wants to make America safe,” said Sarmad Assali, whose family members were all approved to join her in the United States and had green cards. “We’re all on with this. I definitely want to be in a safe place. But people need us and we need to be there for them.”

On Saturday, just hours after the order was signed, Assali’s family were detained and then turned back from the airport. “Two security guards were waiting for them,” Assali said. “They took them. They said, ‘Are you Syrians?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ They said, ‘Come with us.'”

All of Assali’s family members are Orthodox Christians, and Assali was shocked to find that in America, there was the kind of discrimination that her family had faced in Syria for their Christianity, though here it was for their country of origin.

“America is not America,” Assali said. “Like ISIS now, they ask, ‘Are you Christian? What do you believe?’ And if they are not saying what they believe, they kick you out and they cut your head off. So America, same thing. They ask you are you Muslim? You’ve got to change your religion. Thank you.”

A crowdfunding campaign for the family has been set up, since they sold everything to pay for visas and legal documents, and the family is fighting to be able to return.

Joseph Hohenstein, an attorney for the Assali family, said that they were denied an injunction that would bring them back from Damascus.

“There is a history of the U.S. government acknowledging mistakes and errors after they have removed people and assisted in their return,”  Hohenstein said. “When it hasn’t done its job right, they’re willing to fix it. That’s what we’re asking them to do here.”

“This poor family sold everything and used those funds for this trip and now that’s gone,” said Jonathan Grode, an attorney who is helping on the case. “If they ever make it here they will be coming with not a penny to their names.”
What makes the situation even worse is the fact that Assali’s family even voted for Donald Trump.
​
“Where is your human side to send somebody to a war zone?” she asked of the man who once had her vote and her support.

Taraji P. Henson, Sterling K. Brown, Octavia Spencer, Trevor Noah, Janelle Monae, Issa Rae, Mike Colter and Mykelti Williamson are the first group of talent scheduled to present at the 48th NAACP Image Awards.  The all-star celebration will be hosted by Anthony Anderson and will broadcast LIVE from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium from 9-11pm ET on February 11 on TV One. A 90-minute pre-show will air LIVE from the red carpet from 7:30-9pm ET.
 
In addition, the NAACP “Entertainer of the Year” will be revealed. This special honor is bestowed upon an individual within the entertainment industry who has achieved notable success in multiple projects and mediums.
 
As previously announced, LeBron James will be presented with the NAACP “Jackie Robinson Sports Award,” and Harvard Law professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. will be honored with the NAACP “Chairman’s Award.”
 
Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin are the Executive Producers. Co-Executive Producers are Kimmie H. Kim and Byron Phillips. Tony McCuin is the Director and Robin Reinhardt is the Talent Producer.
 
The NAACP Image Awards celebrate the accomplishment of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners were voted upon by NAACP members and will be announced when the envelopes are opened LIVE on stage during the two-hour star-studded TV One telecast on February 11.
 ​

​Available exclusively in North America and released in conjunction with the band's upcoming Spring co-headline tour with Killswitch Engage - "KillThrax" - thrash metal icon ANTHRAX - Frank Bello/bass, Scott Ian/guitar, Joey Belladonna/vocals, Charlie Benante/drums, Jonathan Donais/guitar - announces the release of the limited edition "For All Kings 7-Inch Box Set" (Megaforce Records).  The set goes on sale March 24, will retail for $79.99, and is an absolutely stunning collector's item for any Anthrax fan.
​
The "For All Kings 7-Inch Box Set" includes a removable lenticular cover and contains 10 7-inch vinyl discs featuring 20 songs - the 11 finished album tracks, two brand new covers (The White Stripes' "Black Math" and the classic Kansas song "Carry On"), six demos from the FAK track listing, and "Vice of the People," a bonus track previously released only in Japan and now making its North American vinyl debut.  The original album cover art sketch by Alex Ross is also part of this package, as well as a download card enabling the holder to access the Box Set's tracklisting for free.

Each 7-inch disc features gorgeous, double-sided four-color artwork designed by Douglas Heusser with additional art by Stephen Thompson, as well as band photos by Jimmy Hubbard.  The tracks are pressed onto different-colored vinyl discs - red, green, blue, maroon, orange, most with a two-color swirl design.

"Doing a box set edition of 'For All Kings' was something that we've always wanted to do," said Benante, who worked closely with Heusser and Thompson on the box set's artwork.  "We wanted to do something special, something that was so much more than the original release, and have it be fun for our audience when they open it up, just be floored by the different colored vinyl, the artwork, everything that's inside.  And we think we've done that."

The complete "For All Kings 7-Inch Box Set" track listing is below as are the dates for "KillThrax."

"For All Kings 7-Inch Box Set" track listing:

Breathing Lightning (album version)
Breathing Lightning (demo)

Monster At The End (album version)
Monster At The End (demo)

Suzerain (album version)
Suzerain (demo)

Black Math  (White Stripes cover)
Carry On  (Kansas cover)

You Gotta Believe  (album version)
For All Kings  (album version)

Evil Twin  (album version)
This Battle Chose Us  (album version)

All Them Thieves  (album version)
Vice of the People (previously unreleased in North America)

Zero Tolerance  (album version)
Zero Tolerance (demo)

Blood Eagle Wings  (album version)
Blood Eagle Wings  (demo)

Defend Avenge  (album version)
Defend Avenge (demo)


"KillThrax" Dates:

MARCH
29   The Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ *
30   LC Pavilion, Columbus, OH **
31   Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL  (Anthrax only)
31   The International, Knoxville, TN  (KsE only)

APRIL
 1    Little River Casino, Manistee, MI  (Anthrax only)
 1    Norva, Norfolk, VA  (KsE only)
 3    The Fillmore, Silver Springs, MD *
 4    The Dome, Wallingford, CT *
 5    Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA **
 7    20 Monroe Live, Grand Rapids, MI *
 8    The Fillmore, Detroit, MI **
 9    Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA *
11   The Ritz, Raleigh, NC **
12   Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA **
13   House of Blues, Orlando, FL *
15   Texas Independence Festival, Austin, TX **
16   Boggus Ford Events Center, Pharr, TX **
17   House of Blues, Houston, TX *
18   House of Blues, Dallas, TX  **
20   The Marquee, Phoenix, AZ *
21   Las Rageous, Las Vegas, NV *
22T   he Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA **
23T   he Fillmore, San Francisco, CA **
25   Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA *
26   Roseland Theatre, Portland, OR **
28   Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO *
29   Sokol Auditorium, Omaha, NE **
30   Midland Theatre, Kansas City, MO *

MAY
 1    The Pageant, St. Louis, MO **
 3    Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON  CANADA **
 5    Paramount Theatre, Huntington, NY **
 6    Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY *
 7    House of Blues, Boston, MA*


* - KsE closes
** Anthrax closes

​Check out Un-Boxing video below

Dr. Luke found out Kesha had texted Lady Gaga alleging he raped another artist, and now he filed legal papers asking a judge to let him add a defamation claim in his legal war with Kesha after he says his team found out she texted Gaga alleging there's another rape victim.

In the papers, Dr. Luke says the text is proof Kesha's on a "malicious campaign to destroy" his reputation and career. BUT the texts he's referring to don't specifically name Dr. Luke but he believes the insinuation is far too clear. #GuiltMuch

Kesha also filed her own legal papers, saying Dr. Luke's got a vendetta against her because he's failed to let her return to work and release new music.

Faith Evans has been talking about The King & I album for quite some time, and she just dropped two tracks that’ll have people reminiscing like Pete Rock and CL Smooth.

If you haven’t heard about the project, all of the tracks will feature verses from the Notorious B.I.G. with Faith’s vocals. There will also be a slew of features on the album as well. What’s also cool about the two tracks that were released is one celebrates the East Coast and the other the West, and Jada Kiss lends some bars to one of the songs titled “NYC.”

“You lucky I don’t run you over in the SUV / And if you feel a kind of way you can SMD / Me Fizzy and the King that’s a special three / As far as money, the less you work the less you see,” spits Kiss, who comes in write after one of Biggie’s verses.

Next is the Snoop Dogg assisted-cut “When We Party,” where Big and the Dogg Father go back and forth, while Ms. Evans contributes her lovely vocals. The song is extremely enjoyable and fits the title perfectly. Plus, it’s always a treat when Snoop gets wordy and spits like an underground MC.

Sampha has released the visuals for his recently debuted song, “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano,” and the video is just as gorgeous as the song.

Simple in its approach, the video features the British singer/songwriter playing the piano in an otherwise bare room, as British model Adwoa Aboah glides around the space, releasing a trail of golden sand from her body as she twirls and moves.

Over bare pianos, Sampha delivers an emotional vocal performance, highlighting the raw honesty fans have come to know and love from the singer.  “You know I left, I flew the nest/ And you know I won’t be long/ And in my chest you know me best/ And you know I’ll be back home,” he sings on the chorus.

Sampha made some memorable appearances leading up to his upcoming release, including a guest spot on Solange’s acclaimed A Seat At the Table on the standout track, “Don’t Touch My Hair.” He also appeared on Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo and dropped two solo tracks of his own, “Timmy’s Prayer” and “Blood On Me.”

The new song is featured on Sampha’s anticipated upcoming album, Process, which is due out on Feb. 3. Watch the video above.

Dave East is back with another video off his most recently released album Kairi Chanel. The Def Jam/Mass Appeal signee released a music video today for his Nas-inspired song and the intro to the tape, “It Was Written”.

“Imagine Nas signed you, hell of a dream/ Somebody pinch me/ Promise nothing they say ever getting to me/ Used to watch House Party, now Kidd and Play listen to me/ This that talk that make the hustlers want to open shop/ This that stash house talk, don’t let ’em know the spot,” East raps.

You can also purchase “It Was Written” and the full mixtape Kairi Chanel via iTunes here.

Since joining forces with Adam Lambert for a series of shows in 2012, the band that ruled rock radio in the 1970s and early ’80s has enjoyed tremendous success, with audiences embracing Lambert as the heir to Freddie Mercury’s onstage legacy.

But there’s one thing they haven’t dared try yet: recording a studio album of all-new Queen songs. And despite their effortless box office success, it might not happen soon, if at all.

“We get asked that question constantly, but we really haven’t had much of a conversation about it internally,” said Lambert, who maintains a solo career between Queen tours. “It’s totally possible. But what is it? I would never re-record a song that Freddie recorded because that would be sacrilege. If I were to record something brand new, would it be called ‘Queen?’ Would we have some supergroup name?”

Lambert said he and founding members Brian May (guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums) have not recorded demos of any new material.

May said the band took its cue from the ho-hum response to a studio album it did with Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers in 2008, “The Cosmos Rocks.”

“The world kind of turned a blind eye to it, and I think we subconsciously absorbed the message that people wanted to hear Queen with Freddie,” May said. “That’s what they expected; they didn’t want to hear anything else. I don’t know if that’s a correct conclusion or not, but that’s kind of the message we got, so I think we turned our attention to live.”

Taylor said recording a new studio album “seems like an obvious thing to do, but really, we don’t plan ahead that much or that far. The band is working beautifully, so we don’t want to stop that until it’s not working beautifully.”

May is more receptive to the idea of a new album now with Lambert on board.

“If the moment came up, if there was a real reason to make a new recording, a new song, if the right song came up, we would go with it in the snap of a finger,” he said. “But at the moment, we’re very happy touring.”

That entails staging an entirely new show from scratch, with a new set list, lighting, video screens – and the way the band interacts with the audience. Mercury’s give-and-take with the crowd, including daring them to match his a cappella vocal acrobatics, and May’s acoustic sing-alongs on “Love of My Life” and “39” became integral and enduring parts of a Queen concert.

When Mercury died in 1991 of complications from AIDS, “Brian and I thought everything was kind of over,” Taylor said. “But Adam Lambert is an extraordinary talent and just fits in perfectly with us.”
​
“It was good when it started, but now I feel like it’s more second- nature,” Lambert said. “I feel like I’ve crawled into these songs and can run around in them now.”

Source: Associated Press

Betty Who is officially ready to take you somewhere new — The Valley, specifically.

After releasing her debut album Take Me When You Go in 2014, the “Somebody Loves You” pop diva returns with a new album and a new tour in 2017.

The Valley will be released on March 24, with pre-orders starting this Friday (Feb. 3). Ahead of her sophomore record’s release, she’ll be dropping a new single called “Some Kinda Wonderful” on Friday as well. She released her latest single, “Human Touch,” in November.

Betty will also be heading out on the road across North America in support of the album with her Party In The Valley Tour beginning on April 12 in New Haven, hitting cities including New York City, Boston, Denver and Vancouver, with special guest VÉRITÉ opening for her on all dates. For tickets, head to her official website.

See the tour dates for the Party In The Valley Tour below.
​
Party In The Valley Tour Dates:
WED 4/12 The Ballroom @ The Outer Space New Haven, CT
FRI 4/14 Webster Hall New York, NY
SAT 4/15 Royale Boston, MA
SUN 4/16 9:30 Club Washington, DC
MON 4/17 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA
WED 4/19 Rex Theater Pittsburgh, PA
THU 4/20 Concord Music Hall Chicago, IL
SAT 4/22 Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
SUN 4/23 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
MON 4/24 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
WED 4/26 Neumos Seattle, WA
THU 4/27 Imperial Vancouver, BC
FRI 4/28 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
SUN 4/30 Harlows Sacramento, CA
TUE 5/2 The Fonda Theater Los Angeles, CA