Nicki's Director Addresses Latest Video : News

Billboard exclusively spoke with Jeff Osborne, director of Nicki Minaj's "Only", about the controversy surrounding the lyric video.

Since the clip's premiere last week, Minaj and the director have faced criticism for the videos Nazi imagery.

While Osborne told Myspace on Tuesday that the models and symbols used in the visual "are all representative of Nazism," the director tells Billboard that neither he nor the video are anti-Semitic.

"The reason I'm not apologizing is because neither I nor the video are anti-semitic. I can't be sorry for something I'm being falsely accused of. The video represents Young Money as a generic totalitarian regime, which takes images and symbols from several countries and time periods, one of which is Nazism ​," says Osborne in an exclusive statement.

​"​ As an artist I have two voids to fill. First, meeting the demands of the client and two, creatively applying my own voice where I can. The Young Money team came to me with a set of parameters in which they exactly stated -- something black and white, dark, ominous, with hints of imagery like Sin City or Metalocalypse. ​"


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Sources : Nicki Photo | Nicki Article

Gadgets : Amazon Echo

Amazon has a new product that doesn’t really have any current equivalent form any other tech company – a connected speaker called Echo that’s always-on, listening for commands that its virtual assistant can then respond to with information or by triggering a task.

The cylindrical device has room-filling sound, and seven microphones on top, which use beam-forming tech to pinpoint your voice and ensure it can hear you no matter where you’re speaking to it in a room. It can filter out background noise, including playing music, in order to better understand requests, and it processes voice input via Amazon’s cloud-based web servers, meaning that it can get better at identifying requests and responding to commands over time.

It has a 360-degree-firing speaker, and it works with both Bluetooth from your device, as well as built-in support for playback of music from Amazon Music Library, Prime Music, TuneIn and iHeartRadio. You can also get news and weather information from local radio, NPR, and ESPN via TuneIn, as well as other sources. It’ll answer queries and provide basic info from Wikipedia, give you word definitions, and even convert units on the fly.

Amazon is shipping a dedicated Echo app to go with the speaker, which runs on Fire OS and Android, as well as a web-based app for iOS via Safari, and for control via desktop. You can use this to set up your service, to view and monitor alarms, check reminders and shopping lists you create and generally check info you input via the speaker itself.


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Gear : Watches : Sapphire Wellness Watch

Part activity tracker, part heart rate monitor, part pedometer and part stopwatch, the Wellograph Watch is one of the best looking activity tracking devices on the market because it looks like a well designed digital watch as opposed to a silicon bracelet. The technology at the heart of Wellograph is a Tri-LED Heart Rate Sensor built into a soft spherical surface at the back of the watch designed to get an accurate reading of your heart signals by replicating the action of a doctor taking your pulse with a fingertip. Using stainless, aluminum a sapphire crystal for hardware, along with the Wellograph app, you have access to the time, your steps, heart rate, calories burned, running stats, fitness age and percentile, daily activity and weekly activity. It’s a good looking fitness dashboard that you have access to every time you look down.


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Sources : Sapphire Wellness Watch Photo | Sapphire Wellness Watch Article

Video : Nicki Minaj : Only (Lyric) ft. Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown

Pop starlet Nicki Minaj drops her latest lyric video, taking a sharp left turn from her more sultry moments with a dystopian animation for her latest tune “Only.” Soundtracked by a dark production and with guest spots from Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown, the video sees a caricature of the star strut her stuff with a cohort of broody-looking henchmen in a scene suspiciously reminiscent of the Nazi rallies held in Germany during the ’20s and ’30s.

Check out the controversial video above and decide for yourself if it’s a fair, unoffensive use of the imagery. Afterwards, take a look at Minaj’s latest V and GQ magazine features, alongside her eyebrow-raising (and bottom-shaking) “Anaconda” video.


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Sources : Photo | Only Video | Only Article

Singles : ILOVEMAKONNEN : Tuesday Feat. Drake

Listen To : ILOVEMAKONNEN : Tuesday Feat. Drake

Who Is ILOVEMAKONNEN?
Makonnen Sheran, better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen, is an American hip hop recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia. He rose to prominence in 2014 after having Drake remix his song "Tuesday".

Makonnen was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to Atlanta in 2002 when he was 13 years old. He is of mixed race background, having African American, Indian, Irish, Belgian, German and Chinese heritage. Despite his name being the last name of the last royal family of Ethiopia, he has no Ethiopian connections.[2] His mother was a nail instructor and has worked in the beauty business for over 30 years. He described his childhood as "semi-nice, semi-poverty" During his high school years, Makonnen was inspired by local rappers Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane to try out making music. His early songs were a mix of pop, rock and hip-hop.


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Sources : ILOVEMAKONNEN Photo | Listen To Tuesday | Makonnen Biography

Videos : Big Sean ft. Lil Wayne, Jhene Aiko : Beware (Explicit)

Big Sean goes on a technicolor journey in the music video for "Beware", the lead single from the Detroit-raised rapper's sophomore album "Hall of Fame" (in stores August 27th). The Key Wane-produced chill, but deep track features LIl' Wayne and Jhené Aiko.

Just one word. DOPE. Not your typical hip-hop video, and for this originality I applaud Big Sean. Him, Weezy and Jhené will perform their parts in scenes bearing 'technicolor' effects, against desertic landscapes and color plain backdrops. I'm going to need Big Sean to increase the promotion of "Beware" in the States, though...('Jimmy Kimmel Live' gig occurred only last night). "Beware" has finally cracked the Top 25 on Urban radio in the US, but this slow-climbing pace is frustrating me. This song needs to BLOW already.


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Sources : Big Sean Photo | Beware (Explicit) Video | Big Sean Article

Clubs : USA : NO : New Orleans : The Metropolitan Nightclub

About The Metropolitan Nightclub

Another warehouse dance destination, The Metropolitan Club is the premier "video DJ" dance establishment in the city. The intricate lighting and smoke machines set the mood, as partyers find themselves lost in the endless beats bumping through the surround sound speakers. The music offerings are eclectic with Top 40, Hip Hop, Mash Ups, Rock and Pop in one room with House, Electro, Techno, Dubstep and Breaks in another. Flat screen TVs line the walls, so the dancers can follow the DJ from any spot on the floor. Like most good clubs, table service and valets are available. Unlike most clubs where one finds it hard to muscle through the crowds to get a drink, The Metro features 11 bar stations, rendering this problem moot.

The Metropolitan Nightclub Review By Eboni F. : Metairie, LA

Now this is definitely one of the best night spots I have been to hands down... Despite the cover beign a little steep ($25 Friday, at 1am!) it is definitely one of the hottest spots to see and be seen with an adult clientele (grown & sexy)... just mad I missed Anthony Hamilton.. but was lmao when I saw that the hostess was that chick from America's Next Top Model!!

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Sources : The Metropolitan Nightclub Photo | The Metropolitan Nightclub Information | The Metropolitan Nightclub Review