Eminem, Lil Wayne And Keith Richards: GQ Gods Of Rock

Recently 39-year-old Eminem with fellow rapper Lil Wayne and The Rolling Stones lead guitarist Keith Richards are dubbed ‘Gods of Rock’ on the cover of the November Music Issue of US GQ magazine.

Photographed by Mark Seliger, the trio are featured in the magazine’s ‘Survivors’ issue, that profiles 43 other great musicians that have conquered obstacles during their career and managed to come out better than ever. Other acts starring in the issue include queen of neo-soul Erykah Badu, rocker Iggy Pop, Blondie lead vocalist Debbie Harry and The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers.

Eminem opens up to the magazine about his 2005 stint in rehab.

“Every addict in rehab feels like everyone’s staring at them. With me? Everyone was staring at me. I could never be comfortable. There were people there that treated me normal. Then there were a bunch of fucking idiots who aren’t even concentrating on their own sobriety because they’re so worried about mine. They’re stealing my hats, my books — it was chaos. Everything was drama in there. And at the time, I didn’t really want to get clean. Everybody else wanted me to. And anyone will tell you: If you’re not ready, nothing is going to change you. Love, nothing”, Eminem explains to GQ.

 

Drake Unveils Golden ‘Take Care’ Album Cover

Following his platinum-selling and critically acclaimed 2010 debut album ‘Thank Me Later’, Canadian rapper Drake will be hoping for the same success with his follow-up offering ‘Take Care’, set to be released on his 25th birthday, October 24.

The 24-year-old Young Money prodigy has just unveiled the cover art for the album expected to be the released in three versions — the standard edition, Birthday Edition, and Take Care OG Ron C Edition. The artwork features the blinged-up ‘Headlines’ rapper dressed in black and dining in a gilded setting, with a gold goblet, candlestick and of course his signature OVO (October’s Very Own) owl seen on the table in front of him.

Artists such as Stevie Wonder, J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and The Weeknd are all expected to feature on the album.

 

Swizz Beatz Dapper for Paper Magazine

He’s best known as the mastermind record producer behind big names such as DMX, Beyonce and TI. Now as he prepares to release his third studio album ‘Haute Living’, following disappointing sales for his last solo offering ‘One Man Band Man’, rapper Swizz Beatz looks dapper in a Tom Ford suit on the cover of Paper magazine’s summer music issue.

Swizz promise that the album is going to be a star-studded affair, with guests including Bono, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne.

“I thought that it was time people know who my friends are and who I’m affiliated with”, the 32-year-old tells Paper.

Swizz who is married to R&B singer Alicia Keys tells the arts and style magazine the following on their marriage:

“Being married to a public figure made people take a second look at me….I know who my fans are and I know who her fans are that come up to me. I’m cool about it, I’m happy to have some of her fans coming to say what’s up.”

Shot by lensman Dan Monick, a topless Swizz Beatz dons Versace pants and shows-off his bodyart.

Swizz is wearing an Armani jacket.

 

Nicki Minaj FINALLY tops Billboard Albums

New kid on the block Nicki Minaj has finally topped the US Billboard Albums Chart, 11 weeks after her maiden album Pink Friday was released. This is yet another huge accomplishment for the First Lady of Young Money Entertainment and further secure her the throne of the queen of Hip Hop – of our time anywhere.

According to Billboard this is a very rare and unusual sighting, since an artist will only score a #1 spot on the albums chart only after debuting there. This past year only Lil Wayne’s “I Am Not A Human Being” managed to accomplish the same feat out of the 30 albums that scored a #1.

“We finally did it! PINK FRIDAY is the #1 Album in the United States of America”, Minaj tweeted after finding out she was #1.

Before Pink Friday went to #1 on the chart on its 11th week, the last album that took such a long time to climb to the top spot was Ray Charles’ “Genius Loves Company” in 2005 on its 25th week. This was mainly attributed to the album winning a grammy for album of the year.

Much like Charles’ album, Pink Friday’s rise to the top is also being attributed to sustainable promotional impact by Minaj’s “Saturday Night Live” stint on January 30.

Pink Friday, which has spent its entire chart span within the top 10 of the chart, also this week crosses the 1 million total sales mark since it was released.

Pink Friday made a strong debut at #2 on the Billboard 200 charts back in November late last year, selling 375,000 copies, refused a peak on top by Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”. This made Minaj the first female MC to boast such a huge opening week, since Lauryn Hill’s 1998 offering “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” sold 423,000 copies.

Minaj is arguably the best female hip hop act we have seen in recent years. Minaj is the quintessence of the evolution of Hip Hop, which has become more glossy over the years.

One might go as far as to say she is the Lauryn Hill of the new decade. Sure Hill was more artsy and modest in appearance, but the comparison is there. The two ladies have managed to hold their own in a male dominated industry.