Frank Ocean Talks Early Album Release, Making of ‘channel ORANGE’

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Frank Ocean has shied away from interviews, but he called into Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 this week to discuss all things channel ORANGE.  While he didn’t address his coming out letter, the R&B sensation did speak about the project’s early release, renting a house in Beverly Hills to record, playing the album for some of his heroes, and his tour, which kicks off last night in Seattle.

On releasing his album early: “It was actually the plan all along.  I kinda wanted to mirror what Jay and Kanye did with Watch the Throne, preventing the leak by staggering digital and physical dates.  I wanted all the promotional elements to follow the album, with the videos and the tour, and do everything after and let the music speak for itself.”

On his goal with this album: “I wanted to do things that I hadn’t done before structurally with songs.  I wanted to go different places sonically that I haven’t gone before.”

On his recording sessions: Instead of paying $1,600/day to rent a studio, Ocean rented a mansion in Beverly Hills, but only ended up making three songs there—”Lost,” “Pyramids,” and “Analog 2″ featuring Tyler, the Creator.  “I had the housekeeper daily.  It was great, it was awesome,” laughed Frank.

On why he only collaborated with a few people: “It was important for me to do the project with a limited amount of people and I got the opportunity, which I value so greatly, to sit with some of my creative heroes and play them the songs in different stages of completion and get input and get feedback.  I tried to make something that was true to what I heard in my head and true to what I thought the future should be for me music-wise.”

On touring: “I want to give the best show possible when I can and put myself in the position to just do my best.  So if that means a lesser volume of appearances, then so be it.  I’m in it for as long as I’m allowed to be.  It’s not about let’s do a million things right now.  It’s about let’s just do our best to do the best things right now.”

First Pics from Evelyn Lozada and Chad Ochocinco’s Wedding

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A photo from Evelyn Lozada’s wedding to Chad Ochocinco has turned up in Us Magazine.  The couple also sat for a photoshoot for their reality show “Ev and Ocho.”  Ev tweeted the pics and changed her Twitter name to Evelyn Johnson.

Shady Business! D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray Will Resign Due To Illegal Election Campaign Practices???

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District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray faced additional calls to resign, a day after three councilmembers said that he should step aside because of the ongoing federal investigation into his 2010 campaign.

On Tuesday, a public relations consultant, Eugenia Clarke Harris, pleaded guilty to charges that she helped illegally steer more than $650,000 to what the U.S. attorney has described as a “shadow campaign” to boost Gray’s chances to unseat then-Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) in the primary election.

On Wednesday, three councilmembers, Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), David Catania (I-At-Large) and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) called on the mayor to resign.

“Whether Vince knew or not, the legitimacy of the election was called into question by all this illegal money,” Catania said.

Says D.C. Republican Committee Chairman Bob Kabel:

“It’s time for the Mayor to do what’s best for the District and resign. The only way forward is with new leadership for our city. While it is still unclear if the Mayor knew about the shadow campaign during his election, the fact is, the Mayor did not disclose to the public what he did know shortly after the election. This is truly unacceptable.”

Gray told reporters Wednesday during a press conference that he had no plans of resigning. While he did not go into much detail about the allegations of a shadow campaign, the mayor said: “This is not the campaign that we intended to run.”

The Washington Post reported Thursday that Gray he knew the existence of campaign violations in January, when Harris said she met with the mayor in his fifth floor private suite in the John A. Wilson Building.

The disclosure of the meeting marks the first indication that Gray knew of undocumented funds before the federal raids in March at the homes and offices of Harris and business associate Jeffrey E. Thompson, who is believed to have funneled more than $650,000 in unreported funds to a “shadow campaign.”

D.M.V SPOTLIGHT! X-KALIBUR – “I Miss 2Morrow’ f/Ambre Kohl

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If you don’t know by now, you gon learn today!!!  Introducing one of my homie’s and good friend X-Kalibur hailing from the DMV, Prince George’s County area.  I met X-Kal  years ago through my cousin and every since that day we have been musically bonded.  We have collaborated on a number of exclusive tracks that hasn’t even seen the light of day yet.  But we both plan to get back in the studio and formally release an “official” collaboration.  X-Kal has inspired me with his witty lyrical content and throwback 90’s flow reminiscent of some ol’ classic Wu-Tang and Talib Kewli type shit… it’s thought provoking music that needs to be heard.  Not the same thing you hear on every other rapper’s cd.  Get into it X-Kalibur below:

X-Kalibur is an artist and performer native of our nation’s Capital. Growing up in the metropolitan area, a region where the talent is often overlooked- his knowledge and range of music is impressive, visionary and honest. With a combination of poetic and profound lyrics, rhythmic beats and melodic hooks, and finally a distinctive voice that can and will rock any crowd, X-Kalibur definitely belongs at the top of any best underground MC list.

Experience:
You name it, he’s done it. X-Kalibur has performed and acted as host for several clubs, lounges and open-mic nights in some of DC’s most legendary venues: Pure, Liv, Haydee’s, Martini’s, Star Lounge, Republic Gardens and Bohemian Caverns have all been witness to many of X-Kalibur’s explosive performances.

Who do He sound like:
X-Kalibur.

Links:

http://www.reverbnation.com/xkaliburdmv

www.twitter.com/@xkalibur301

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Christina Milian Slams The Dream’s Absentee Parenting

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Last month Christina Milian hinted all was not well between her and ex-husband The Dream regarding Dream’s lack of participation in raising their daughter Violet.

In a candid interview Christina goes into detail about Dream’s absentee parenting…

Christina tells Houston’s 97.9 The Box

“All I care about is my daughter, and when it comes to the case of parenting and having another parent, I really would like her to have a father in her life.”

“I’m not happy at the moment, but I have come to the realization that I have to be 200% mom for her. And it’s not about finances it’s about spending time….”

Another One Bites the Dust!! Beanie Sigel Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Tax Charges

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Beanie Sigel has been sentenced to two years behind bars for not paying $700,000 in federal income taxes.  The 38-year-old rapper, born Dwight Grant, had previously plead guilty to not filing federal tax returns in 2003, 2004, and 2005, reports TMZ.

During his sentencing at U.S District Court in Philadelphia, Jay-Z’s former Roc-A-Fella Records signee told the judge he accepts “total responsibility” for his actions. However, he did complain about family members who allegedly spent his money while he was serving time for drug and gun crimes in 2004 and 2005.

“I haven’t been able to get my career back on track since,” Sigel told the court.

Sigel, whose albums include The Truth, The B. Coming, and The Reason, has until September 12 to report to prison.

Charlamagne Tha God Ambushed (Video)

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Shock jock Charlamagne Tha God got ambushed outside his radio station by five goons.  Video shows Charlamagne, who’s been in a high-profile beef with rival radio personality Funk Master Flex in the past few weeks, getting snuck from behind before Charlamange runs away.