John Legend

Rick Ross Is Rap's Opulent King

Sade at US Airways Center, 9-2-11

Maria Vassett​Sade and John Legend U.S. Airways Center Friday, September 2, 2011 REVIEW BY DAN GIBSON Sade (the woman, not the band) doesn't seem like she has to work very hard live. If there's ever an audience willing to plunk down $149 for the good seats, load up on $25 glossy programs, poster ... More >>

Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music Label Signs Deal With Def Jam

​Kanye West's label G.O.O.D. Music has signed a "longterm worldwide label agreement" with Island Def Jam, according to MTV News.G.O.O.D. Music is now officially a subsidiary of Def Jam. Many future G.O.O.D. Music releases will see release under Def Jam's name, including Big Sean's F ... More >>

Seven Suggested Songs For the Morning Commute

Kholood EidThe morning commute can be a zen experience with the right playlist.​The morning commute can be a drag. A lack of sleep, caffeine or motivation can take its toll on a person. Luckily, there's music to at least help make the trip to work/school more bearable. Up on the Sun threw togethe ... More >>

American Idol's David Hernandez Comes Home to the Valley for a Motown-Themed Casino Show

Kholood EidThe morning commute can be a zen experience with the right playlist.​The morning commute can be a drag. A lack of sleep, caffeine or motivation can take its toll on a person. Luckily, there's music to at least help make the trip to work/school more bearable. Up on the Sun threw togethe ... More >>

David Hernandez of 'American Idol' Talks 'Motown Memories' at Talking Stick Resort

David Hernandez​This week's issue of Phoenix New Times features a preview of Motown Memories, a revue show currently playing at Scottsdale's Talking Stick Resort that features American Idol alum and Valley native David Hernandez. Check out more from the interview with Hernandez, plus videos from t ... More >>

Sharon Osbourne Admits to Taking Lying Too Far

​The Osbournes may have taken their tricks and shenanigans a little too far. Sharon Osbourne admits to once faking the death of her husband Ozzy's mother so that he could get out of playing a tour in Japan, according to Spinner.Ozzy was to drunk to board the plane that was going to take him to Jap ... More >>

Lil' Kim Beheads Nicki Minaj on New Mixtape Cover

​Nicki Minaj is dead to Lil' Kim, according to Idolator.When will these chicks stop ripping each other off? Nicki Minaj's whole character is partially modeled after and influenced by Lil' Kim. If Lil' Kim can't be the bad chick on the block then someone had to replace her, and Nicki Minaj came alo ... More >>

John Legend at ASU Gammage Last Night

​John LegendFebruary 8, 2011ASU Gammage AuditoriumJohn Only needed his voice and a piano to make a huge impression at Gammage auditorium last night.Legend's show, sponsored by Arizona State University's undergraduate student government and the black/African coalition, was held in celebration of Bl ... More >>

15 Good Songs You Might've Missed in 2010

Peter Storch​I listened to more than 3,000 songs in 2010, so I was asked to come up with a list of the best of the year. But you've probably heard "Swim" by Surfer Blood and "Boyfriend" by Best Coast and "Helicopter" by Deerhunter and "Hustle and Cuss" by the Dead Weather, so I came up with a ... More >>

Locals Only: The Best Albums and EPs From Valley Bands in 2010

Peter Storch​I listened to more than 3,000 songs in 2010, so I was asked to come up with a list of the best of the year. But you've probably heard "Swim" by Surfer Blood and "Boyfriend" by Best Coast and "Helicopter" by Deerhunter and "Hustle and Cuss" by the Dead Weather, so I came up with a ... More >>

Girl Talk: All Day

​Artist: Girl Talk Title: All Day Release date: November 15 Label: Illegal Art Whether sample-happy mash-up act Girl Talk is "good" or "not good" and whether you "like" or "dislike" Girl Talk are completely irrelevant to any discussion regarding Girl Talk. The only things I care about when it ... More >>

Odds 'n' Sods: Helmet, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Charlatans, Small Black, and more

​It's amazing how much music is released in a year. I've listened to nearly 270 records in their entirety this year, yet I still have a huge stack of unlistened CDs on my desk, several unlistened digital downloads in my iTunes, and a lengthy list of high-profile stuff I never got a chance to h ... More >>

OFF!: First Four EPs

​Artist: OFF! Title: First Four EPs Release date: November 23 Label: Vice Records In 2010, few things seem more ridiculous than a punk supergroup anchored by two guys who made their most indelible marks on American punk rock nearly 30 years ago. But, damn, OFF! pulled off an unlikely feat, ma ... More >>

Matt & Kim: Sidewalks

​Artist: Matt & KimTitle: SidewalksRelease date: November 2Label: FaderI suppose I should mention up front that I didn't like Tears for Fears in 1985 and I still don't 25 years later, even in a nostalgic sense. So it stands to reason that I have little use for Matt & Kim in 2010.It's not t ... More >>

Elvis Costello: National Ransom

​Artist: Elvis Costello Title: National Ransom Release date: November 2 Label: Hear Music I really wish it weren't the case, but I'd have to file the new record by Elvis Costello under "For Completists Only" (of which I'm sure there many when it comes to Elvis Costello fans). If you heard hi ... More >>

The 88: The 88

​Artist: The 88Title: The 88 Release date: September 28 Label: Rocket ScienceWhat do you do if you're a band like The 88? You're top-flight songwriters and musicians, you get your songs placed in all kinds of big-name TV shows and high-profile TV commercials, you tour the country opening ... More >>

Warpaint: The Fool

​Artist: Warpaint Title: The Fool Release date: October 25 Label: Rough Trade The musical path taken by L.A. foursome Warpaint is well trodden -- but this kind of ultra-moody, sort of experimental, Joy Division-indebted music is usually plied by men. But Warpaint is a quartet of women, and in ... More >>

Screaming Females: Castle Talk

​Artist: Screaming Females Title: Castle Talk Release date: September 14 Label: Don Giovanni Back in the day, I'd hate to miss a good show (I'm still not happy that my parents wouldn't let me drive to Kalamazoo one Monday night to see Scratch Acid and Big Black play, ditto the time I couldn't ... More >>

Kings of Leon: Come Around Sundown

​Artist: Kings of LeonTitle: Come Around SundownRelease date: October 19Label: RCAI think it's funny that people are getting all bent out of shape over the supposed "selling out" of Kings of Leon, saying their new record sucks worse than that sucky one that sold a bajillion copies a few years ago. ... More >>

Kanye West: Still the Busiest Mofo in America

​Kanye West has been in music news nearly every day for the past week. You'd think this guy was taking over the world or something.'Ye has been releasing a new track every week on his Twitter (@kanyewest) and has named the weekly occasion G.O.O.D. Fridays. Collaborations have included Chris Brown, ... More >>

Waiting For Superman: Davis Guggenheim Ignores Too Many Inconvenient Truths

​Kanye West has been in music news nearly every day for the past week. You'd think this guy was taking over the world or something.'Ye has been releasing a new track every week on his Twitter (@kanyewest) and has named the weekly occasion G.O.O.D. Fridays. Collaborations have included Chris Brown, ... More >>

Grinderman: Grinderman 2

​Artist: GrindermanTitle: Grinderman 2Release date: September 14Label: Anti-Most of the indie rock I've heard this year (well over 200 records and counting, with 11 weeks to go in this series) is really pretty toothless. Even the harder-rocking stuff, with its big drums or wall-of-sound guitars or ... More >>

John Legend Fights for Better Education with Teach For America

​John Legend is the latest artist taking the initiative to make a difference in education by joining Teach For America's National Board of Directors.He is looking forward to giving children more opportunities to learn and improving education in America.Legend is no stranger to taking action for ch ... More >>

John Legend and the Roots: Wake Up!

​The joyous craziness that was September 14 has, regretfully, passed us by. Worry not, however, as the albums that were released just a week ago will live forever so as long they are still being listened to somewhere.September 21, then, has a tough act to follow, but that's not to say that it does ... More >>

YouTube Begins Live Streaming Trial

​YouTube has announced it's in a testing period for live streaming, according to TechCrunch.Today and tomorrow only, YouTube will partner with a group of companies to make a live broadcast schedule. Unfortunately the feature will be removed from the site once the trial is over, so be sure not to m ... More >>

John Legend and The Roots Perform at the Miss Universe Pageant?

As Idolator points out, John Legend and The Roots are typically known for their socially conscious music. So it was a bit surprising to hear that Legend performed the music for the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. The performance featured the skinny girls in heels performing choreography that was more li ... More >>

Azúl Phoenix

As Idolator points out, John Legend and The Roots are typically known for their socially conscious music. So it was a bit surprising to hear that Legend performed the music for the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. The performance featured the skinny girls in heels performing choreography that was more li ... More >>

Azúl Phoenix

As Idolator points out, John Legend and The Roots are typically known for their socially conscious music. So it was a bit surprising to hear that Legend performed the music for the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. The performance featured the skinny girls in heels performing choreography that was more li ... More >>

Azúl Phoenix

As Idolator points out, John Legend and The Roots are typically known for their socially conscious music. So it was a bit surprising to hear that Legend performed the music for the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. The performance featured the skinny girls in heels performing choreography that was more li ... More >>

The Roots: How I Got Over

​There may not be a track released the rest of the year that has an ounce of the substance and effortless polish of "Dear God 2.0" off of How I got Over -- the long-awaited new album from The Roots.The song employs a genius guest vocal from Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Monsters of Folk fame ... More >>

Jason DeRulo Breathes New Life Into One Relationship and, Just Maybe, R&B

​There may not be a track released the rest of the year that has an ounce of the substance and effortless polish of "Dear God 2.0" off of How I got Over -- the long-awaited new album from The Roots.The song employs a genius guest vocal from Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Monsters of Folk fame ... More >>

More Than 50 Grammy Winners Perform in the Same Room on the Same Night. Who Wins?

Jen RogersThe Phoenix Chorale tearing up Seattle.​If you believe that record sales equal musical relevance, then you may think that classical music -- which accounted for less than 3 percent of all record sales in 2009 -- needs to be locked up in some museum archive along with the dinosaur bones. ... More >>

Whisperlights: Trent Reznor’s Chair Is Not as Comfortable as You Might Imagine

Jen RogersThe Phoenix Chorale tearing up Seattle.​If you believe that record sales equal musical relevance, then you may think that classical music -- which accounted for less than 3 percent of all record sales in 2009 -- needs to be locked up in some museum archive along with the dinosaur bones. ... More >>

Jason DeRulo Breathes New Life Into One Relationship and, Just Maybe, R&B

Jen RogersThe Phoenix Chorale tearing up Seattle.​If you believe that record sales equal musical relevance, then you may think that classical music -- which accounted for less than 3 percent of all record sales in 2009 -- needs to be locked up in some museum archive along with the dinosaur bones. ... More >>

Nayo Jones: You Asked For It

​Nayo Jones My Name Is Nayo Soul (PowerMove Records) Grade: C Critics have been commenting on the death of R&B for a few years now, to the point it's almost universally accepted that the genre is artistically bankrupt, with few if any quality acts still practicing the time-honored craft of m ... More >>

New Late Night TV Battles a Boon For Music Lovers

The Late Show, Tonight Show and Late Night all have impressive music acts this next weekFirst, let me just get it out there: I watch a bunch of TV. I love it, and though I know it deadens my intellectual abilities, I'm not quitting. So, take it from a junkie, late night TV -- with the recent additio ... More >>

Austin City Limits Jumps on Festival Bandwagon, Announces Lineup

Austin City Limits: recycling this year's festival headliners so you don't have to The lineup for the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival has been announced and it is teeming with top-notch talent. The Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band round out the top slots of Outside Lands Lollapa ... More >>

Guest DJ Week on The Blaze: We're Loving It

Around the New Times office we're really loving The Blaze's Guest DJ week (which I participated in yesterday). ASU's student radio station does this once a year, pulling in people like Murph from So Much Silence, Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World and, right now, our man Steve Chilton.But, seriously guys ... More >>

2009 NBA All-Star Game: Defense (For a Change), Jumpshots, and Forced Drama

Kobe and Shaq are once again BFF. Awwww. The only thing the sports media love more than a good feud is a half-assed gesture to end it under meaningless circumstances. So it was that Kobe and Shaq were forced to awkwardly hoist a trophy together at the 2009 NBA All-Star game, just as they did ... More >>

All-Star Schedule

Kobe and Shaq are once again BFF. Awwww. The only thing the sports media love more than a good feud is a half-assed gesture to end it under meaningless circumstances. So it was that Kobe and Shaq were forced to awkwardly hoist a trophy together at the 2009 NBA All-Star game, just as they did ... More >>

Russell Simmons Calls Bill O'Reilly Out

Hip-hop legend Russell Simmons is calling FOX News personality Bill O'Reilly out.Simmons, the new Editor-In-Chief of Globalgrind.com, recently wrote a blog on the site asking O'Reilly to bring his criticisms of hip-hop directly to the hip-hop community and do a guest blog on the site."For far too lo ... More >>

R&B Is “Rap & Bullshit”

Hip-hop legend Russell Simmons is calling FOX News personality Bill O'Reilly out.Simmons, the new Editor-In-Chief of Globalgrind.com, recently wrote a blog on the site asking O'Reilly to bring his criticisms of hip-hop directly to the hip-hop community and do a guest blog on the site."For far too lo ... More >>

Q-Tip, Of Montreal, Rise Against, And Lil Rob Are Just Some Of What's Selling At Zia Records In Phoenix

By Benjamin Leatherman Since the global retail industry has decided in it's great wisdom that the day after Halloween is the official starting point for the annual Christmas season, we feel it's our duty to inform the public of the following: You've only got 43 shopping days left to track down gi ... More >>

Soul Men Pays Fitting Tribute to Bernie Mac

By Benjamin Leatherman Since the global retail industry has decided in it's great wisdom that the day after Halloween is the official starting point for the annual Christmas season, we feel it's our duty to inform the public of the following: You've only got 43 shopping days left to track down gi ... More >>

Mariah Carey, Death Cab for Cutie, and a few other buzzworthy CDs from 2008’s first half

By Benjamin Leatherman Since the global retail industry has decided in it's great wisdom that the day after Halloween is the official starting point for the annual Christmas season, we feel it's our duty to inform the public of the following: You've only got 43 shopping days left to track down gi ... More >>

Top 10 selling CDs at Circles, 800 North Central Avenue

Chart-busters for the week

Aloe Blacc

Shine Through
(Stones Throw)