Elvis Costello, the Roots, Chris Rock Lead Carnegie Hall Prince Tribute

Elvis Costello performs with Maya Rudolph of Princess during the rehearsals for 'The Music of Prince' tribute concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

If Thursday night's all-star tribute to Prince – including appearances by D'Angelo, Elvis Costello, the Blind Boys of Alabama and ex-SNL star Maya Rudolph – had a theme, it was that the Minneapolis pop genius' best work could withstand just about any kind of treatment and stand up tall. The latest of Carnegie Hall's annual music-education benefits for underprivileged youth – this one, a sellout, raised over $100,000 – featured a few heavy hitters but also a lot of curveballs, befitting an artist who has played hard to get as often as he has played the accessible hit-maker.

At least some of those curves had to have come from Questlove, the Roots' drummer and musical director for the show. The Roots provided unwavering support for most of the acts, accompanied on guitar by Wendy Melvoin of the Revolution, the band that backed Prince on Purple Rain. In many cases the performers took chances on well-known songs. Or not-so-well-known, as was the case with Costello, who near the end sang an unreleased Prince song called "Moonbeam Levels" (known to many bootleg collectors as "A Better Place to Die"). Which of these two ultra-music-geeks onstage decided on that one – Costello, the man who once wrote a listener's guide to a 24-hour cycle, or Questlove, with his complete collection of Soul Train episodes? Either way, the song scored big, as did much of the night.

100 Greatest Artists: Prince (written by Questlove)

There were low spots – sometimes a tribute show is just a tribute show, especially when it involves Citizen Cope, who did a desultory busker's version of "Pop Life" with Alice Smith. Bhi Bhiman's "When Doves Cry" was similarly monochromatic – gutsy, if boring. It was a nice idea to have a kids' choir do "Raspberry Beret," accompanying Booker T. Jones on organ, but it was too scattered to catch heat. Devotchka's "Mountains" (a minor hit from 1986's Parade, and Prince at his psychedelic-poppiest) had a faultless arrangement – the violin, tuba and trumpet were apt touches – but Nick Urata's strained vocals were a distraction.

Most of the time, though, the show cooked. The Waterboys' Mike Scott and Steve Wickham opened with "Purple Rain," which seemed strange given that song's showstopper status, but Scott sang it straight and true, and violinist Wickham took the iconic solo, a rousing switch-up that prompted the first of the evening's many standing ovations.

Melvoin was hardly the only old Prince hand onstage at Carnegie. Eric Leeds, the saxophonist from Prince's Sign 'o' the Times and Lovesexy bands, soloed on "Ten" (by Madhouse, his old Prince-sponsored jazz-funk unit), and sat in for much of the rest. St. Paul Peterson and Susannah Melvoin of the Family, a mid-Eighties Prince act, joined for "High Fashion/Mutiny," off 1985's The Family – another cult favorite that the knowledgeable crowd ate up. Susannah (Wendy's twin sister, who dated Prince for many years) strutted around the stage in a white pantsuit, looking like she was having the time of her life.

Some of the song-artist pairings were obvious: Of course the Blind Boys of Alabama were going to do "The Cross," from Sign 'o' the Times. (And of course Fred Armisen was going to sit in on drums for that one – he used to play indie rock, and "The Cross" is Prince's most Velvet Underground-like song.) Of course D'Angelo would close the show with the celebratory  "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" (also from Sign), because he's a great showman and it's a great show song.

And of course Talib Kweli, a politically minded rapper, would do "Annie Christian" (from 1981's Controversy), because it's near-spoken-word about social issues. He got good mileage from extending the bit about "She killed John Lennon" by throwing in other, more recent senseless gun-violence victims ("She shot Gabrielle Giffords"), building to a shout: "Everybody say gun control!"

But much of the music took risks. Bettye Lavette did "Kiss" as a sly, skeletal blues. Sandra Bernhard made "Little Red Corvette" into a semi-monologue, throwing off the crowd's attempts to sing along by following her own rhythms: in true Bernhard style, you didn't know whether it was supposed to be funny or not, but all of it worked, and it brought down the house. (She dedicated it to many Prince women: Sheila E, Vanity, Apollonia, and of course Wendy, who took a small bow, and Lisa Coleman.) Kat Edmondson, a cabaret-jazz singer from Austin, rendered "The Beautiful Ones" as a very slow piano ballad, and nailed it – the last verse was pin-drop quiet, and wrenching.

R&B crooner Bilal, though, went the furthest out, on what may still be the furthest-out song Prince has written: "Sister," a 93-second ode to brotherly-sisterly love from 1980's Dirty Mind. Bilal ran through the song through an iPod playlist's worth of styles, from dramatic art-rock to slow blues and then, finally, back to the frenetic original new wave arrangement. It was a tour de force that many in the audience were talking about after the lights went up.

There was a lot of comedy on stage at Carnegie, but it wasn't simple relief. Chris Rock did the spoken outro from "If I Was Your Girlfriend" as a comic monologue, embellishing it: "Would you laugh and laugh?" – that's from the original song. "Like you heard some shit from Chris Rock?" – that wasn't. And when PrinceSS – Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum's Prince tribute act – came out for "Darling Nikki," dressed a la the man himself (the heavily pregnant Rudolph in trench coat and kerchief, Gretchen looking like Jill Jones in the "1999" video), they even climaxed it with the backward vocals that end side one of Purple Rain. When they finished, Wendy whispered something to them. "Good job" would have been appropriate – for them, and for most of the night.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Electronics Review Center

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Elvis Costello, the Roots, Chris Rock Lead Carnegie Hall Prince Tribute

Elvis Costello performs with Maya Rudolph of Princess during the rehearsals for 'The Music of Prince' tribute concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

If Thursday night's all-star tribute to Prince – including appearances by D'Angelo, Elvis Costello, the Blind Boys of Alabama and ex-SNL star Maya Rudolph – had a theme, it was that the Minneapolis pop genius' best work could withstand just about any kind of treatment and stand up tall. The latest of Carnegie Hall's annual music-education benefits for underprivileged youth – this one, a sellout, raised over $100,000 – featured a few heavy hitters but also a lot of curveballs, befitting an artist who has played hard to get as often as he has played the accessible hit-maker.

At least some of those curves had to have come from Questlove, the Roots' drummer and musical director for the show. The Roots provided unwavering support for most of the acts, accompanied on guitar by Wendy Melvoin of the Revolution, the band that backed Prince on Purple Rain. In many cases the performers took chances on well-known songs. Or not-so-well-known, as was the case with Costello, who near the end sang an unreleased Prince song called "Moonbeam Levels" (known to many bootleg collectors as "A Better Place to Die"). Which of these two ultra-music-geeks onstage decided on that one – Costello, the man who once wrote a listener's guide to a 24-hour cycle, or Questlove, with his complete collection of Soul Train episodes? Either way, the song scored big, as did much of the night.

100 Greatest Artists: Prince (written by Questlove)

There were low spots – sometimes a tribute show is just a tribute show, especially when it involves Citizen Cope, who did a desultory busker's version of "Pop Life" with Alice Smith. Bhi Bhiman's "When Doves Cry" was similarly monochromatic – gutsy, if boring. It was a nice idea to have a kids' choir do "Raspberry Beret," accompanying Booker T. Jones on organ, but it was too scattered to catch heat. Devotchka's "Mountains" (a minor hit from 1986's Parade, and Prince at his psychedelic-poppiest) had a faultless arrangement – the violin, tuba and trumpet were apt touches – but Nick Urata's strained vocals were a distraction.

Most of the time, though, the show cooked. The Waterboys' Mike Scott and Steve Wickham opened with "Purple Rain," which seemed strange given that song's showstopper status, but Scott sang it straight and true, and violinist Wickham took the iconic solo, a rousing switch-up that prompted the first of the evening's many standing ovations.

Melvoin was hardly the only old Prince hand onstage at Carnegie. Eric Leeds, the saxophonist from Prince's Sign 'o' the Times and Lovesexy bands, soloed on "Ten" (by Madhouse, his old Prince-sponsored jazz-funk unit), and sat in for much of the rest. St. Paul Peterson and Susannah Melvoin of the Family, a mid-Eighties Prince act, joined for "High Fashion/Mutiny," off 1985's The Family – another cult favorite that the knowledgeable crowd ate up. Susannah (Wendy's twin sister, who dated Prince for many years) strutted around the stage in a white pantsuit, looking like she was having the time of her life.

Some of the song-artist pairings were obvious: Of course the Blind Boys of Alabama were going to do "The Cross," from Sign 'o' the Times. (And of course Fred Armisen was going to sit in on drums for that one – he used to play indie rock, and "The Cross" is Prince's most Velvet Underground-like song.) Of course D'Angelo would close the show with the celebratory  "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" (also from Sign), because he's a great showman and it's a great show song.

And of course Talib Kweli, a politically minded rapper, would do "Annie Christian" (from 1981's Controversy), because it's near-spoken-word about social issues. He got good mileage from extending the bit about "She killed John Lennon" by throwing in other, more recent senseless gun-violence victims ("She shot Gabrielle Giffords"), building to a shout: "Everybody say gun control!"

But much of the music took risks. Bettye Lavette did "Kiss" as a sly, skeletal blues. Sandra Bernhard made "Little Red Corvette" into a semi-monologue, throwing off the crowd's attempts to sing along by following her own rhythms: in true Bernhard style, you didn't know whether it was supposed to be funny or not, but all of it worked, and it brought down the house. (She dedicated it to many Prince women: Sheila E, Vanity, Apollonia, and of course Wendy, who took a small bow, and Lisa Coleman.) Kat Edmondson, a cabaret-jazz singer from Austin, rendered "The Beautiful Ones" as a very slow piano ballad, and nailed it – the last verse was pin-drop quiet, and wrenching.

R&B crooner Bilal, though, went the furthest out, on what may still be the furthest-out song Prince has written: "Sister," a 93-second ode to brotherly-sisterly love from 1980's Dirty Mind. Bilal ran through the song through an iPod playlist's worth of styles, from dramatic art-rock to slow blues and then, finally, back to the frenetic original new wave arrangement. It was a tour de force that many in the audience were talking about after the lights went up.

There was a lot of comedy on stage at Carnegie, but it wasn't simple relief. Chris Rock did the spoken outro from "If I Was Your Girlfriend" as a comic monologue, embellishing it: "Would you laugh and laugh?" – that's from the original song. "Like you heard some shit from Chris Rock?" – that wasn't. And when PrinceSS – Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum's Prince tribute act – came out for "Darling Nikki," dressed a la the man himself (the heavily pregnant Rudolph in trench coat and kerchief, Gretchen looking like Jill Jones in the "1999" video), they even climaxed it with the backward vocals that end side one of Purple Rain. When they finished, Wendy whispered something to them. "Good job" would have been appropriate – for them, and for most of the night.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Electronics Review Center

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Chris Brown Blows Up at Parking Valet Over $10 Service Charge

MEHDI TAAMALLAH/AFP/Getty Images

Chris Brown cursed at and threatened a valet after a charity event in Studio City, California, a new video from TMZ shows.

In the clip, which you can watch below, the R&B singer can be heard saying, "Give me my keys, fuck 10 dollars," to a valet in front of PINZ bowling alley. Brown reportedly refused to pay because he was at the event for a short amount of time and didn't think the fee was fair.

Rihanna on Chris Brown: 'We Know Exactly What We Have Now'

Brown then proceeds to tell the valet, "Give me my keys! We're gonna turn this spot up, I promise you," before someone from his entourage hands the man $10. Brown then snatches his keys and storms off towards his car.

The incident marks another entry in Brown's ongoing list of confrontations and outbursts, and the latest to happen in a parking lot. Just a few months ago, the singer got into a scuffle with Frank Ocean, allegedly over a parking space, at a West Hollywood recording studio.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Read more »

Chris Brown Blows Up at Parking Valet Over $10 Service Charge

MEHDI TAAMALLAH/AFP/Getty Images

Chris Brown cursed at and threatened a valet after a charity event in Studio City, California, a new video from TMZ shows.

In the clip, which you can watch below, the R&B singer can be heard saying, "Give me my keys, fuck 10 dollars," to a valet in front of PINZ bowling alley. Brown reportedly refused to pay because he was at the event for a short amount of time and didn't think the fee was fair.

Rihanna on Chris Brown: 'We Know Exactly What We Have Now'

Brown then proceeds to tell the valet, "Give me my keys! We're gonna turn this spot up, I promise you," before someone from his entourage hands the man $10. Brown then snatches his keys and storms off towards his car.

The incident marks another entry in Brown's ongoing list of confrontations and outbursts, and the latest to happen in a parking lot. Just a few months ago, the singer got into a scuffle with Frank Ocean, allegedly over a parking space, at a West Hollywood recording studio.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »

Chris Brown Blows Up at Parking Valet Over $10 Service Charge

MEHDI TAAMALLAH/AFP/Getty Images

Chris Brown cursed at and threatened a valet after a charity event in Studio City, California, a new video from TMZ shows.

In the clip, which you can watch below, the R&B singer can be heard saying, "Give me my keys, fuck 10 dollars," to a valet in front of PINZ bowling alley. Brown reportedly refused to pay because he was at the event for a short amount of time and didn't think the fee was fair.

Rihanna on Chris Brown: 'We Know Exactly What We Have Now'

Brown then proceeds to tell the valet, "Give me my keys! We're gonna turn this spot up, I promise you," before someone from his entourage hands the man $10. Brown then snatches his keys and storms off towards his car.

The incident marks another entry in Brown's ongoing list of confrontations and outbursts, and the latest to happen in a parking lot. Just a few months ago, the singer got into a scuffle with Frank Ocean, allegedly over a parking space, at a West Hollywood recording studio.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Electronics Review Center

Read more »

Elvis Costello, the Roots, Chris Rock Lead Carnegie Hall Prince Tribute

Elvis Costello performs with Maya Rudolph of Princess during the rehearsals for 'The Music of Prince' tribute concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

If Thursday night's all-star tribute to Prince – including appearances by D'Angelo, Elvis Costello, the Blind Boys of Alabama and ex-SNL star Maya Rudolph – had a theme, it was that the Minneapolis pop genius' best work could withstand just about any kind of treatment and stand up tall. The latest of Carnegie Hall's annual music-education benefits for underprivileged youth – this one, a sellout, raised over $100,000 – featured a few heavy hitters but also a lot of curveballs, befitting an artist who has played hard to get as often as he has played the accessible hit-maker.

At least some of those curves had to have come from Questlove, the Roots' drummer and musical director for the show. The Roots provided unwavering support for most of the acts, accompanied on guitar by Wendy Melvoin of the Revolution, the band that backed Prince on Purple Rain. In many cases the performers took chances on well-known songs. Or not-so-well-known, as was the case with Costello, who near the end sang an unreleased Prince song called "Moonbeam Levels" (known to many bootleg collectors as "A Better Place to Die"). Which of these two ultra-music-geeks onstage decided on that one – Costello, the man who once wrote a listener's guide to a 24-hour cycle, or Questlove, with his complete collection of Soul Train episodes? Either way, the song scored big, as did much of the night.

100 Greatest Artists: Prince (written by Questlove)

There were low spots – sometimes a tribute show is just a tribute show, especially when it involves Citizen Cope, who did a desultory busker's version of "Pop Life" with Alice Smith. Bhi Bhiman's "When Doves Cry" was similarly monochromatic – gutsy, if boring. It was a nice idea to have a kids' choir do "Raspberry Beret," accompanying Booker T. Jones on organ, but it was too scattered to catch heat. Devotchka's "Mountains" (a minor hit from 1986's Parade, and Prince at his psychedelic-poppiest) had a faultless arrangement – the violin, tuba and trumpet were apt touches – but Nick Urata's strained vocals were a distraction.

Most of the time, though, the show cooked. The Waterboys' Mike Scott and Steve Wickham opened with "Purple Rain," which seemed strange given that song's showstopper status, but Scott sang it straight and true, and violinist Wickham took the iconic solo, a rousing switch-up that prompted the first of the evening's many standing ovations.

Melvoin was hardly the only old Prince hand onstage at Carnegie. Eric Leeds, the saxophonist from Prince's Sign 'o' the Times and Lovesexy bands, soloed on "Ten" (by Madhouse, his old Prince-sponsored jazz-funk unit), and sat in for much of the rest. St. Paul Peterson and Susannah Melvoin of the Family, a mid-Eighties Prince act, joined for "High Fashion/Mutiny," off 1985's The Family – another cult favorite that the knowledgeable crowd ate up. Susannah (Wendy's twin sister, who dated Prince for many years) strutted around the stage in a white pantsuit, looking like she was having the time of her life.

Some of the song-artist pairings were obvious: Of course the Blind Boys of Alabama were going to do "The Cross," from Sign 'o' the Times. (And of course Fred Armisen was going to sit in on drums for that one – he used to play indie rock, and "The Cross" is Prince's most Velvet Underground-like song.) Of course D'Angelo would close the show with the celebratory  "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" (also from Sign), because he's a great showman and it's a great show song.

And of course Talib Kweli, a politically minded rapper, would do "Annie Christian" (from 1981's Controversy), because it's near-spoken-word about social issues. He got good mileage from extending the bit about "She killed John Lennon" by throwing in other, more recent senseless gun-violence victims ("She shot Gabrielle Giffords"), building to a shout: "Everybody say gun control!"

But much of the music took risks. Bettye Lavette did "Kiss" as a sly, skeletal blues. Sandra Bernhard made "Little Red Corvette" into a semi-monologue, throwing off the crowd's attempts to sing along by following her own rhythms: in true Bernhard style, you didn't know whether it was supposed to be funny or not, but all of it worked, and it brought down the house. (She dedicated it to many Prince women: Sheila E, Vanity, Apollonia, and of course Wendy, who took a small bow, and Lisa Coleman.) Kat Edmondson, a cabaret-jazz singer from Austin, rendered "The Beautiful Ones" as a very slow piano ballad, and nailed it – the last verse was pin-drop quiet, and wrenching.

R&B crooner Bilal, though, went the furthest out, on what may still be the furthest-out song Prince has written: "Sister," a 93-second ode to brotherly-sisterly love from 1980's Dirty Mind. Bilal ran through the song through an iPod playlist's worth of styles, from dramatic art-rock to slow blues and then, finally, back to the frenetic original new wave arrangement. It was a tour de force that many in the audience were talking about after the lights went up.

There was a lot of comedy on stage at Carnegie, but it wasn't simple relief. Chris Rock did the spoken outro from "If I Was Your Girlfriend" as a comic monologue, embellishing it: "Would you laugh and laugh?" – that's from the original song. "Like you heard some shit from Chris Rock?" – that wasn't. And when PrinceSS – Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum's Prince tribute act – came out for "Darling Nikki," dressed a la the man himself (the heavily pregnant Rudolph in trench coat and kerchief, Gretchen looking like Jill Jones in the "1999" video), they even climaxed it with the backward vocals that end side one of Purple Rain. When they finished, Wendy whispered something to them. "Good job" would have been appropriate – for them, and for most of the night.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

Elvis Costello, the Roots, Chris Rock Lead Carnegie Hall Prince Tribute

Elvis Costello performs with Maya Rudolph of Princess during the rehearsals for 'The Music of Prince' tribute concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

If Thursday night's all-star tribute to Prince – including appearances by D'Angelo, Elvis Costello, the Blind Boys of Alabama and ex-SNL star Maya Rudolph – had a theme, it was that the Minneapolis pop genius' best work could withstand just about any kind of treatment and stand up tall. The latest of Carnegie Hall's annual music-education benefits for underprivileged youth – this one, a sellout, raised over $100,000 – featured a few heavy hitters but also a lot of curveballs, befitting an artist who has played hard to get as often as he has played the accessible hit-maker.

At least some of those curves had to have come from Questlove, the Roots' drummer and musical director for the show. The Roots provided unwavering support for most of the acts, accompanied on guitar by Wendy Melvoin of the Revolution, the band that backed Prince on Purple Rain. In many cases the performers took chances on well-known songs. Or not-so-well-known, as was the case with Costello, who near the end sang an unreleased Prince song called "Moonbeam Levels" (known to many bootleg collectors as "A Better Place to Die"). Which of these two ultra-music-geeks onstage decided on that one – Costello, the man who once wrote a listener's guide to a 24-hour cycle, or Questlove, with his complete collection of Soul Train episodes? Either way, the song scored big, as did much of the night.

100 Greatest Artists: Prince (written by Questlove)

There were low spots – sometimes a tribute show is just a tribute show, especially when it involves Citizen Cope, who did a desultory busker's version of "Pop Life" with Alice Smith. Bhi Bhiman's "When Doves Cry" was similarly monochromatic – gutsy, if boring. It was a nice idea to have a kids' choir do "Raspberry Beret," accompanying Booker T. Jones on organ, but it was too scattered to catch heat. Devotchka's "Mountains" (a minor hit from 1986's Parade, and Prince at his psychedelic-poppiest) had a faultless arrangement – the violin, tuba and trumpet were apt touches – but Nick Urata's strained vocals were a distraction.

Most of the time, though, the show cooked. The Waterboys' Mike Scott and Steve Wickham opened with "Purple Rain," which seemed strange given that song's showstopper status, but Scott sang it straight and true, and violinist Wickham took the iconic solo, a rousing switch-up that prompted the first of the evening's many standing ovations.

Melvoin was hardly the only old Prince hand onstage at Carnegie. Eric Leeds, the saxophonist from Prince's Sign 'o' the Times and Lovesexy bands, soloed on "Ten" (by Madhouse, his old Prince-sponsored jazz-funk unit), and sat in for much of the rest. St. Paul Peterson and Susannah Melvoin of the Family, a mid-Eighties Prince act, joined for "High Fashion/Mutiny," off 1985's The Family – another cult favorite that the knowledgeable crowd ate up. Susannah (Wendy's twin sister, who dated Prince for many years) strutted around the stage in a white pantsuit, looking like she was having the time of her life.

Some of the song-artist pairings were obvious: Of course the Blind Boys of Alabama were going to do "The Cross," from Sign 'o' the Times. (And of course Fred Armisen was going to sit in on drums for that one – he used to play indie rock, and "The Cross" is Prince's most Velvet Underground-like song.) Of course D'Angelo would close the show with the celebratory  "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" (also from Sign), because he's a great showman and it's a great show song.

And of course Talib Kweli, a politically minded rapper, would do "Annie Christian" (from 1981's Controversy), because it's near-spoken-word about social issues. He got good mileage from extending the bit about "She killed John Lennon" by throwing in other, more recent senseless gun-violence victims ("She shot Gabrielle Giffords"), building to a shout: "Everybody say gun control!"

But much of the music took risks. Bettye Lavette did "Kiss" as a sly, skeletal blues. Sandra Bernhard made "Little Red Corvette" into a semi-monologue, throwing off the crowd's attempts to sing along by following her own rhythms: in true Bernhard style, you didn't know whether it was supposed to be funny or not, but all of it worked, and it brought down the house. (She dedicated it to many Prince women: Sheila E, Vanity, Apollonia, and of course Wendy, who took a small bow, and Lisa Coleman.) Kat Edmondson, a cabaret-jazz singer from Austin, rendered "The Beautiful Ones" as a very slow piano ballad, and nailed it – the last verse was pin-drop quiet, and wrenching.

R&B crooner Bilal, though, went the furthest out, on what may still be the furthest-out song Prince has written: "Sister," a 93-second ode to brotherly-sisterly love from 1980's Dirty Mind. Bilal ran through the song through an iPod playlist's worth of styles, from dramatic art-rock to slow blues and then, finally, back to the frenetic original new wave arrangement. It was a tour de force that many in the audience were talking about after the lights went up.

There was a lot of comedy on stage at Carnegie, but it wasn't simple relief. Chris Rock did the spoken outro from "If I Was Your Girlfriend" as a comic monologue, embellishing it: "Would you laugh and laugh?" – that's from the original song. "Like you heard some shit from Chris Rock?" – that wasn't. And when PrinceSS – Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum's Prince tribute act – came out for "Darling Nikki," dressed a la the man himself (the heavily pregnant Rudolph in trench coat and kerchief, Gretchen looking like Jill Jones in the "1999" video), they even climaxed it with the backward vocals that end side one of Purple Rain. When they finished, Wendy whispered something to them. "Good job" would have been appropriate – for them, and for most of the night.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »

Frank Ocean 'Desirous of Prosecution' Over Chris Brown Fight

Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella; Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Frank Ocean wants charges filed against Chris Brown after they scrapped outside a Los Angeles recording studio, Reuters reports. Ocean has claimed he was "jumped by chris and a couple guys" Sunday night outside Westlake Studio in West Hollywood after exchanging words over a parking spot.

50 Best Albums of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange'

Police are investigating the the incident, and have cited witnesses who say that Brown punched Ocean during a brawl that involved four other men from their entourages. Although no charges have been filed yet, Ocean "is desirous of prosecution in this incident," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

That could spell trouble for Brown, 23, who is serving five years probation for the 2009 assault of Rihanna. New charges against him would put the R&B singer at risk of having his probation revoked. 

Ocean said on Twitter that the scrap resulted in a cut finger, writing, "now I can't play w two hands at the grammys," where he's up for six awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Brown, who's also up for a Grammy February 10th, hasn't commented.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »

Frank Ocean 'Desirous of Prosecution' Over Chris Brown Fight

Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella; Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Frank Ocean wants charges filed against Chris Brown after they scrapped outside a Los Angeles recording studio, Reuters reports. Ocean has claimed he was "jumped by chris and a couple guys" Sunday night outside Westlake Studio in West Hollywood after exchanging words over a parking spot.

50 Best Albums of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange'

Police are investigating the the incident, and have cited witnesses who say that Brown punched Ocean during a brawl that involved four other men from their entourages. Although no charges have been filed yet, Ocean "is desirous of prosecution in this incident," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

That could spell trouble for Brown, 23, who is serving five years probation for the 2009 assault of Rihanna. New charges against him would put the R&B singer at risk of having his probation revoked. 

Ocean said on Twitter that the scrap resulted in a cut finger, writing, "now I can't play w two hands at the grammys," where he's up for six awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Brown, who's also up for a Grammy February 10th, hasn't commented.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

Rihanna on Chris Brown: 'We Know Exactly What We Have Now'

Rihanna in Century City, California.

Rihanna has opened up like never before about getting back together with her ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, and what it means for her public image. "I decided it was more important for me to be happy," she tells contributing editor Josh Eells in the new issue of Rolling Stone, out Friday, January 31st. "I wasn't going to let anybody's opinion get in the way of that. Even if it's a mistake, it's my mistake. After being tormented for so many years, being angry and dark, I'd rather just live my truth and take the backlash. I can handle it."

On the Cover: Rihanna's Crazy in Love

The couple's public reconciliation comes less than four years since Brown assaulted Rihanna the night before the 2009 Grammy Awards. Brown plead guilty to assault and performed community service, but he remains on probation. "When you add up the pieces from the outside, it's not the cutest puzzle in the world," Rihanna says. "You see us walking somewhere, driving somewhere, in the studio, in the club, and you think you know. But it's different now. We don't have those types of arguments anymore. We talk about shit. We value each other. We know exactly what we have now, and we don't want to lose that."

And Rihanna says that if Brown were ever to display a hint of his past behavior towards her, she is ready to walk. "He doesn't have the luxury of fucking up again," she says. "That's just not an option. I can't say that nothing else will ever go wrong. But I'm pretty solid in the knowing that he's disgusted by that. And I wouldn't have gone this far if I ever thought that was a possibility."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Rihanna on Chris Brown: 'We Know Exactly What We Have Now'

Rihanna in Century City, California.

Rihanna has opened up like never before about getting back together with her ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, and what it means for her public image. "I decided it was more important for me to be happy," she tells contributing editor Josh Eells in the new issue of Rolling Stone, out Friday, January 31st. "I wasn't going to let anybody's opinion get in the way of that. Even if it's a mistake, it's my mistake. After being tormented for so many years, being angry and dark, I'd rather just live my truth and take the backlash. I can handle it."

On the Cover: Rihanna's Crazy in Love

The couple's public reconciliation comes less than four years since Brown assaulted Rihanna the night before the 2009 Grammy Awards. Brown plead guilty to assault and performed community service, but he remains on probation. "When you add up the pieces from the outside, it's not the cutest puzzle in the world," Rihanna says. "You see us walking somewhere, driving somewhere, in the studio, in the club, and you think you know. But it's different now. We don't have those types of arguments anymore. We talk about shit. We value each other. We know exactly what we have now, and we don't want to lose that."

And Rihanna says that if Brown were ever to display a hint of his past behavior towards her, she is ready to walk. "He doesn't have the luxury of fucking up again," she says. "That's just not an option. I can't say that nothing else will ever go wrong. But I'm pretty solid in the knowing that he's disgusted by that. And I wouldn't have gone this far if I ever thought that was a possibility."

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Cornershop Featuring Sinead O'Connor and Chris Constantinou on 'Posing as an Angel' – Premiere

On November 27th, the veteran British rockers Cornershop will drop "Posing as an Angel" on Ample Play Records. The peppy, horn-laced single with chilly undertones features guest vocal work from Sinéad O'Connor and former Adam Ant bassist Chris Constantinou.

"I knew Chris Constantinou through Damaged Good Records. When he sent me his and Sinead's vocals, they had an air of winter and whiskey about them," Cornershop frontman Tjinder Singh tells Rolling Stone of the track, which you can pre-order now. "I added some whiskers, northern brass and a little pomp and ceremony. I'm used to spending long hours in local Irish bars in North London and I imagined the warmth and friendliness of a late night lock-in with snow falling outside."

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Diddy, Missy Elliott, Rihanna and More React to Chris Lighty's Death

After the pioneering hip-hop manager Chris Lighty was found dead today of an apparent suicide, stars took to Twitter to share their grief, from Diddy and Rihanna to Questlove and Pete Wentz. Below is a sampling of their reactions:

In shock.

— iamdiddy (@iamdiddy) August 30, 2012

R.I.P. Chris Lighty. He Was A Dear Friend Of Mine And I Still Can't Believe It.

— iamdiddy (@iamdiddy) August 30, 2012

ChrisLighty U taught me 2 B Fearless! U help build So many Artist Careers! This is such a sad time 4 all the lives utouched.

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 31, 2012

Love & heartfelt prayers go out to Chris Lighty's family & all of us whose lives he touched. Words cannot express the sadness we share today

— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) August 31, 2012

R I P to the kindest guy Chris Lighty. Thank you for being a manager to Diggy & a part of our family.. You are loved & will be missed

— Rev Run (@RevRunWisdom) August 30, 2012

Rest peacefully Chris Lighty, my prayers go out to family and loved ones! Dear God please have mercy

— Rihanna (@rihanna) August 30, 2012

RIP Chris Lighty. Today, we lost a hip-hop hero and one of its greatest architects... bit.ly/SWcK8Y

— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 30, 2012

I Would Be Nothing Without YOU!!! My Kids Appreciate YOU God Bless Chris Lighty

— FAT JOE (@fatjoe) August 30, 2012

Hard one to grab Yo damn.... My most humble prayers to the family of Chris Lighty!

— Ghostface Killah (@GhostfaceKillah) August 30, 2012

Rest in peace Chris Lighty. Your words and your vision are constant inspiration to me. Forever.

— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) August 30, 2012

Man, I'm really sorry about Chris Lighty. Such a nice guy to me & my band. May God rest his soul. Peace to his family.

— Questo of The Roots (@questlove) August 30, 2012

RIP chris lighty.

— Pete Wentz(@petewentz) August 30, 2012

Chris Lighty - my prayers are with you and your family. Rest In Peace.

— Fred Durst (@freddurst) August 30, 2012

Such sad news about Chris Lighty. He was an amazing partner in my fragrance LightHouse Beauty & friend. You will be missed!

— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) August 30, 2012

R I P Chris Lighty SMH to the mongrels that have made the BLACKmusic industry a depressing game to drag such good cats into a pit of bullsht

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) August 30, 2012

Chris Lighty was everything to me in my Flipmode years. So busy rescuing others sorry we couldn't rescue you. You will be missed brother...

— Rah Digga (@therealrahdigga) August 30, 2012

Rest in Peace @clighty this is terrible news!!

— PUSHA T (@PUSHA_T) August 30, 2012

rest in peace Chris Lighty. thank you for everything

— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) August 30, 2012

R.I.P 2 My Manager CHRIS LIGHTY

— Yo Gotti (@YoGottiKOM) August 30, 2012

I'm devastated right now. I can't believe my big brother Chris Lighty is gone... He was a pioneer, a mentor, and a great friend RIP

— Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) August 30, 2012

My God.....my god...Chris Lighty.....Rest in Peace brother....#Legend

— 9th Wonder (@9thWonderMusic) August 30, 2012

Back in '04, Jive wanted to sign LB and we took a meeting with Chris Lighty.Dude was no frills and I truly respected his honesty. #RIP

— Phonte (@phontigallo) August 30, 2012

wow.no words.RIP Chris Lighty.

— DJ DRAMA (@DJDRAMA) August 30, 2012

RIP Chris Lighty --- A very Sad day in Hip Hop and Life itself --- my brother is gone.

— DJ Whoo Kid (@DJWhooKid) August 30, 2012

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Death of Chris Lighty Ruled a Suicide

Chris Lighty attends the Artist Managers From A - Z Event.

New York City medical examiners have officially ruled the death of Chris Lighty a suicide, the Daily News reports. The influential hip-hop manager died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on Thursday at the age of 44. 

Lighty was found dead in the back yard of his Bronx home, where he had reportedly been arguing with his estranged wife, Veronica Lighty. Veronica Lighty told the Daily News that her husband, who had made millions in endorsement deals for artists including 50 Cent, LL Cool J and Missy Elliot, was suffering from financial stress. Sources said he owed more than $300,000 to the IRS in unpaid state and federal taxes.

"He was in a lot of pain and he possibly had some financial difficulties," said family friend Norman Downes.

Lighty, whose clients included hip-hop and pop megastars like Busta Rhymes, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Mariah Carey, has been the subject of wide-ranging tributes among his music-industry peers in the days following his death.

"RIP Chris Lighty," Russell Simmons tweeted. "Today, we lost a hip-hop hero and one of its greatest architects..."

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Diddy, Missy Elliott, Rihanna and More React to Chris Lighty's Death

After the pioneering hip-hop manager Chris Lighty was found dead today of an apparent suicide, stars took to Twitter to share their grief, from Diddy and Rihanna to Questlove and Pete Wentz. Below is a sampling of their reactions:

In shock.

— iamdiddy (@iamdiddy) August 30, 2012

R.I.P. Chris Lighty. He Was A Dear Friend Of Mine And I Still Can't Believe It.

— iamdiddy (@iamdiddy) August 30, 2012

ChrisLighty U taught me 2 B Fearless! U help build So many Artist Careers! This is such a sad time 4 all the lives utouched.

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 31, 2012

Love & heartfelt prayers go out to Chris Lighty's family & all of us whose lives he touched. Words cannot express the sadness we share today

— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) August 31, 2012

R I P to the kindest guy Chris Lighty. Thank you for being a manager to Diggy & a part of our family.. You are loved & will be missed

— Rev Run (@RevRunWisdom) August 30, 2012

Rest peacefully Chris Lighty, my prayers go out to family and loved ones! Dear God please have mercy

— Rihanna (@rihanna) August 30, 2012

RIP Chris Lighty. Today, we lost a hip-hop hero and one of its greatest architects... bit.ly/SWcK8Y

— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 30, 2012

I Would Be Nothing Without YOU!!! My Kids Appreciate YOU God Bless Chris Lighty

— FAT JOE (@fatjoe) August 30, 2012

Hard one to grab Yo damn.... My most humble prayers to the family of Chris Lighty!

— Ghostface Killah (@GhostfaceKillah) August 30, 2012

Rest in peace Chris Lighty. Your words and your vision are constant inspiration to me. Forever.

— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) August 30, 2012

Man, I'm really sorry about Chris Lighty. Such a nice guy to me & my band. May God rest his soul. Peace to his family.

— Questo of The Roots (@questlove) August 30, 2012

RIP chris lighty.

— Pete Wentz(@petewentz) August 30, 2012

Chris Lighty - my prayers are with you and your family. Rest In Peace.

— Fred Durst (@freddurst) August 30, 2012

Such sad news about Chris Lighty. He was an amazing partner in my fragrance LightHouse Beauty & friend. You will be missed!

— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) August 30, 2012

R I P Chris Lighty SMH to the mongrels that have made the BLACKmusic industry a depressing game to drag such good cats into a pit of bullsht

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) August 30, 2012

Chris Lighty was everything to me in my Flipmode years. So busy rescuing others sorry we couldn't rescue you. You will be missed brother...

— Rah Digga (@therealrahdigga) August 30, 2012

Rest in Peace @clighty this is terrible news!!

— PUSHA T (@PUSHA_T) August 30, 2012

rest in peace Chris Lighty. thank you for everything

— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) August 30, 2012

R.I.P 2 My Manager CHRIS LIGHTY

— Yo Gotti (@YoGottiKOM) August 30, 2012

I'm devastated right now. I can't believe my big brother Chris Lighty is gone... He was a pioneer, a mentor, and a great friend RIP

— Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) August 30, 2012

My God.....my god...Chris Lighty.....Rest in Peace brother....#Legend

— 9th Wonder (@9thWonderMusic) August 30, 2012

Back in '04, Jive wanted to sign LB and we took a meeting with Chris Lighty.Dude was no frills and I truly respected his honesty. #RIP

— Phonte (@phontigallo) August 30, 2012

wow.no words.RIP Chris Lighty.

— DJ DRAMA (@DJDRAMA) August 30, 2012

RIP Chris Lighty --- A very Sad day in Hip Hop and Life itself --- my brother is gone.

— DJ Whoo Kid (@DJWhooKid) August 30, 2012

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The National and Chris Cornell Open for Obama at Iowa Rally

The National warm up the crowd before President Barack Obama's arrival at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa.Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post

The National and Chris Cornell kicked off a campaign rally for President Barack Obama on Saturday afternoon outside Des Moines, the Times-Delphic reports. A crowd of 10,000 people had gathered for the free outdoor event at Urbandale's Living History Farms, where the president was due to speak.

In a tweet announcing their appearance earlier in the week, the National declared themselves "Proud to support @BarackObama again in 2012." Now veterans on the Obama campaign trail, the band had played at a Cincinnati rally for the candidate in 2008 as well as at a speech the President gave in Madison, Wisconsin, before the 2010 mid-term election. Their five-song set at the Iowa event ended with "Mr. November," a hit whose title had appeared on a t-shirt that the band sold to benefit the Obama campaign in 2008.

After a few speeches, Chris Cornell took the stage with a set that mixed Audioslave and Temple of the Dog songs with a number of apt covers, including "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" and "Imagine."

The Des Moines rally was Obama's second appearance in the swing state in one week, followed shortly by a third event in Sioux City later the same evening.

"I think that we have a lot of support from a lot of industries and that includes music," a spokesperson for the campaign told the Times-Delphic. "This event in itself shows how much the President cares about Iowa and the bands are just a part of it."

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Death of Chris Lighty Ruled a Suicide

Chris Lighty attends the Artist Managers From A - Z Event.

New York City medical examiners have officially ruled the death of Chris Lighty a suicide, the Daily News reports. The influential hip-hop manager died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on Thursday at the age of 44. 

Lighty was found dead in the back yard of his Bronx home, where he had reportedly been arguing with his estranged wife, Veronica Lighty. Veronica Lighty told the Daily News that her husband, who had made millions in endorsement deals for artists including 50 Cent, LL Cool J and Missy Elliot, was suffering from financial stress. Sources said he owed more than $300,000 to the IRS in unpaid state and federal taxes.

"He was in a lot of pain and he possibly had some financial difficulties," said family friend Norman Downes.

Lighty, whose clients included hip-hop and pop megastars like Busta Rhymes, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Mariah Carey, has been the subject of wide-ranging tributes among his music-industry peers in the days following his death.

"RIP Chris Lighty," Russell Simmons tweeted. "Today, we lost a hip-hop hero and one of its greatest architects..."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Hip-Hop Manager Chris Lighty Dead at 44

Chris Lighty, the influential hip-hop executive who managed stars including A Tribe Called Quest and 50 Cent, was found dead on Thursday morning at his home in the Bronx, New York. Police sources told the Daily News that Lighty apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head during an argument with his ex-wife Veronica, whom he divorced last year. Lighty was 44.

Though not a household name, almost all roads in New York hip-hop lead to Lighty, a connector in an industry that relies on connections. He helped make a megastar of 50 Cent, brokering the rapper's multi-million dollar deal with Vitamin Water, and handled high-profile performers including Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Sean "Diddy" Combs and more. In the advertising world, he knocked down doors previously unopened to hip-hop artists, striking lucrative deals for LL Cool J with the Gap and Missy Elliot with Sprite.

Lighty helped build hip-hop from the ground up: carrying the crates for DJ Red Alert in the Eighties, touring with Boogie Down Productions and sharpening his business skills under the tutelage of Lyor Cohen and Russell Simmons. He joined Simmons' Rush Artist Management in 1989 before leaving the following year to launch his own firm, Violator, with Mona Scott.

While Lighty set up shop in midtown Manhattan, the Bronx never left him. As Dan Charnas details in his book The Big Payback, Lighty found himself in a tense situation when Suge Knight wouldn't let Nate Dogg appear in Warren G's video for "Regulate." After almost getting jumped by Knight days earlier, the much smaller Lighty went over to the Death Row offices and left with a handshake. Nate Dogg was on set 30 minutes later.

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of a hip-hop hero," said Russell Simmons in a statement reacting to Lighty's sudden passing. "Chris Lighty has been a dear friend of mine since he was a kid. Was a brilliant partner in business and I was so proud of all that he had accomplished. He is an amazing example of how a passionate kid from the street can go to the most even-keeled, smart, thoughtful manager in the business and a generous philanthropist.  He was loved by everyone who knew him, including me. He will be missed greatly by all of us."

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The National and Chris Cornell Open for Obama at Iowa Rally

The National warm up the crowd before President Barack Obama's arrival at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa.Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post

The National and Chris Cornell kicked off a campaign rally for President Barack Obama on Saturday afternoon outside Des Moines, the Times-Delphic reports. A crowd of 10,000 people had gathered for the free outdoor event at Urbandale's Living History Farms, where the president was due to speak.

In a tweet announcing their appearance earlier in the week, the National declared themselves "Proud to support @BarackObama again in 2012." Now veterans on the Obama campaign trail, the band had played at a Cincinnati rally for the candidate in 2008 as well as at a speech the President gave in Madison, Wisconsin, before the 2010 mid-term election. Their five-song set at the Iowa event ended with "Mr. November," a hit whose title had appeared on a t-shirt that the band sold to benefit the Obama campaign in 2008.

After a few speeches, Chris Cornell took the stage with a set that mixed Audioslave and Temple of the Dog songs with a number of apt covers, including "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" and "Imagine."

The Des Moines rally was Obama's second appearance in the swing state in one week, followed shortly by a third event in Sioux City later the same evening.

"I think that we have a lot of support from a lot of industries and that includes music," a spokesperson for the campaign told the Times-Delphic. "This event in itself shows how much the President cares about Iowa and the bands are just a part of it."

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Drake and Chris Brown Sued Again Over Nightclub Brawl

Debra L Rothenberg/Getty Images; Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Chris Brown and Drake face another lawsuit stemming from their June 14th brawl at a New York club, this time from a model who says he received a severed tendon in his right hand, The Associated Press reports. Romain Julien was sitting at a nearby table at Greenhouse in Manhattan when Brown, Drake and their entourages began throwing glasses and bottles at each other, resulting in cuts, cosmetic deformity and mental distress, Julien claimed in a complaint filed Monday in New York Supreme Court. 

His suit accuses Brown of having incited the incident, describing the singer as having a "hot temper." Julien included W.i.P., the owners of Greenhouse, for allegedly creating a public nuisance not providing adequate security and serving liquor to patrons already intoxicated. 

Neither Drake nor Brown's camps have responded to the suit. Greenhouse and W.i.P. said they would "respond appropriately" after looking over the legal filing. 

Last week, Greenhouse and W.i.P. filed their own suit against Brown and Drake, seeking $16 million over the brawl. Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the company that owns the trademark to Greenhouse, claimed that the brawl led to bad press, which ruined a $4 million licensing deal. The suit called the behavior of the two musicians "beyond the bounds of reason" and added that the two "should have foreseen that their notoriety and celebrity would ensure that their acts had far-reaching and devastating effects." 

NBA star Tony Parker has also sued Greenhouse and W.i.P. Parker, a bystander who claims he suffered a "corneal laceration of the left eye and other injuries," doesn't include Drake or Brown in his filing, which holds the club responsible: "The defendants were reckless, careless and negligent in permitting Drake's entourage and Brown's entourage to be in the club at the same time despite known tension between the two."

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