The evolution of music continues with the biggest and brightest.  It all started when Jay Z purchased Swedish tech company Aspiro for $56 million and relaunched it to compete with Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, and other streaming services. TIDAL bills itself as the first music streaming service that combines high-fidelity sound quality, high-definition music videos, and expertly-curated editorial. It will offer artists up to twice the payouts as its rivals.

In an interview with Billboard, Jay Z revealed that he decided to get into the streaming business about a year-and-a-half ago.

“We didn’t like the direction music was going and thought maybe we could get in and strike an honest blow,” he said, “and if, you know, the very least we did was make people wake up and try to improve the free vs. paid system, and promote fair trade, then it would be a win for us anyway.”

A$AP Rocky announced the title of his sophomore album, At.Long.Last.A$AP.

In an upcoming interview with GQ magazine, Flacko stated, “I’m claiming ownership of my legacy!”  “Look at it: At.Long.Last.A$AP.A-L-L-A. Like slang for ‘Allah.’ It’s the return of the god MC. I’m named after Rakim, and I’m finally facing what it means: I was born to do this shit. And I hope I get to do it for a very long time.”

The follow-up to his 2013 debut Long.Live.A$AP is executive produced by Juicy J, Danger Mouse, and the late A$AP Yams, who died earlier this year.

The album was recorded in London at Red Bull Studios and has been finishing up in L.A. with Danger Mouse.

Rihanna gets gutter on her new single “Bitch Better Have My Money” aka “BBHMM,” which has her NAVY in an uproar, and currently sits at #1 on the iTunes charts. The trap track was produced by Kanye West, Travi$ Scott, Deputy, and WondaGurl.

It’s a contrast from the previously released “Four Five Seconds,” with West and Paul McCartney.  Take a listen to the bold track below:

Nicki Minaj brought out rapper, Meek Mill during her latest stint in Paris.  Nicki is currently on her European tour in support of her latest album the “The Pinkprint.” After the show the two were spotted getting cozy taking pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower.

“PARISSS!!!!!!!!!!! U ARE THE FKN TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m obsessed. No one FUX with u!!!!!!! @meekmill thnku for cmn out boo #ThePinkprintTOUR,” tweeted Nicki.

Meek will join Nicki again for the USA leg of her tour. She has also included Tinashe, DeJ Loaf, and Rae Sremmurd, as special guests, the tour  kicks off July 17 in Dallas.

Damon Dash and Kanye West announce their joint acquisition of online street wear retailer KarmaLoop.

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According to TMZ, Royalty, Chris Brown’s daughter and family were picked up in a limo at a Houston hotel and taken to Chris’ tour bus, where Breezy got to spend some time with his little girl.

The “Loyal” singer posted a photo of his adorable daughter on Instagram before quickly deleting it.

Check out some more photos:

Jill Scott  debuts the video for the first offering, off her upcoming CD “You Don’t Know,” directed by Nzingha Stewart. Her fifth album is nearing release, and Ms. Jill is bringing the soul like only she can bring it.  Get into the colorful clip below:

Rihanna’s eighth album is still in the works, but she is planning to release a “timeless” album that will stand the test of time with classic songs.  MTV News caught up with RiRi while  promoting her animated film Home.

“I’ve made a lot of songs that are really, really big songs,” she said. “And I wanted to kind of get back to—not that they weren’t real music, but I just wanted to focus on things that felt real, that felt soulful, that felt forever.”

“I wanted songs that I could perform in 15 years; I wanted an album that I could perform in 15 years,” explained RiRi. “Not any songs that were burnt out. I find that when I get on stage now, I don’t want to perform a lot of my songs. They don’t feel like me. So I want to make songs that are timeless.”

“Empire” continues to set records on FOX. They conquered another feat by debuting at Number 1 on the Billboard 200.

The 18-track compilation takes the top spot with 130,000 units sold in its first week, according to Billboard. It’s the first TV soundtrack to debut at No. 1 since “Glee” in 2010.

Kendrick Lamar’s new CD “How to Pimp A Butterfly,” is definitely a breath of fresh air in the days where music sounds the same and everyone’s babbling the same jibberish.  His CD has already set records on Spotify and the general consensus of he CD is that Lamar definitely stepped it up another notch.

Check out the reviews:

The New York Times: To Pimp a Butterfly is bigger than any minor intra-rapper friction. An album that asks questions as big as this one does, and that will be heard by so many, is a huge taunt to Mr. Lamar’s peers—it’s a dare to ride along, a dare to be different, a dare to be great.

USA Today: Like Kanye West’s monumental Yeezus in 2013, Lamar has made something that feels truly genre-shattering with Butterfly—further cementing his status as not only one of the most innovative rappers, but artists, of the moment. 4/4

Los Angeles Times: Lamar’s third studio album is a realm away from his breakout 2012 albumgood kid, m.A.A.d city, equally rich and way, way further gone.

Entertainment Weekly: Kendrick grabs the Best Rapper Alive title by the balls on Butterfly. It’s always satisfying to see superstars reach so high.

New York Daily News: It’s an album meant to be lived with for a long time, making it one of the few recent hip-hop that’s built to last. 5/5

TIME: Lamar wants nothing less than greatness, and To Pimp a Butterfly is yet another step forward on that path.

Chicago Tribune: What’s lacking, if anything, is the potential bounty of singles yielded by good kid, but To Pimp… is designed more as a one-sit continuous listen than a collection of radio-ready hits. 4/4

ABC News: To Pimp a Butterfly is a sobering work made with love and endless sonic imagination. It is an incredibly important record that at the same time isn’t afraid to offend. Its aims are above its mere music. It’s a brutally honest, necessary work anchored in social awareness.