In what has become known as an annual Cavalcade of Urban Music Stars, Drake presented Toronto the fifth annual OVO Festival at Molson Amphitheatre this weekend, timed together with Caribana (Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival). Once again, Toronto’s Homeboy did not disappoint, unveiling a surprise list of Performers including Lauryn Hill, J. Cole, Tinashe, DJ Khaled, Trey Songz, 50 Cent & G-Unit and of course the biggest Jawdropper of all, Usher! And we were among the first to confirm with our eyes that Usher was in fact here, rushing in and out of his Yorkville Hotel earlier today with his Entourage. Outkast returned to the stage to headline the first night of the Festival Sunday.
Drake zipped through 40 songs from his three-album Discography, and even brought his proud Mom, Sandi Graham, on-stage at one point. He confirmed his plan to proceed work on his next Album in Toronto after touring with Lil Wayne.
Although he v. much was focused on work today, which left several Fans waiting outside his Residence hoping for a little acknowledgment frustrated, the multi-talented Magnate delivered his best foot forward leaving OVO Festival Goers completely satiated!
Others in town including NBA Star Kevin Durant, Justin Bieber‘s Manager Scooter Braun and several more came out to support the Show tonight.
The most giving of all Performers to Fans had to be Usher who surprised just about everyone waiting outside his Hotel, taking a Photo with anyone who asked. Believe me, this is an absolute rarity for the Megastar as I have counted multiple failed attempts to get that coveted Photo with him. But this time I succeeded! His is now prepping the release of his eight Studio Disc, Everything You Can Imagine!
See our Snap:
See some Video of Usher greeting lucky Fans below:
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
23-year-old Australian Model/Rapper Iggy Azalea (Amethyst Amelia Kelly) made her long-awaited Toronto debut tonight at Danforth Music Hall in the City’s Greektown District. The blonde beauty originally was to perform at The Hoxton last Fall before that Show was cancelled ultimately.
With recent Personnel changes, Azalea now is signed to the Def Jam Music Group and just released her new Disc, The New Classic last Tuesday. Before an at-capacity crowd she played some of her more familiar tracks like new Single Fancy and Work, which had the crowd cheering in her Encore.
Afterward, she met with a group of Contest Winners before quietly heading-out to Dinner in Yorkville for some Italian with Hometown Hero Drake and his Entourage. Unfortunately, she declined greeting some eager Fans, claiming she had to head to Detroit next in the wee hours of the morning, leaving them disappointed. Above this, she had also cancelled a slew of Interviews with Local Media earlier in the day which has some speculating about some personal issues.
We managed to catch one Snap of Azalea boarding her Tour Bus after her late night Dinner below:
Check-out Azalea‘s Video for Fancy below:
The New Classic is now in stores via Universal Music Canada. DOWNLOAD here.
Only you, Queen B! Beyoncé just about shocked all of us by dropping her fifth Studio Disc only a few minutes before midnight. The Disc, which admittedly fell off our radars after Promo Single Grown Woman surfaced earlier this year, is a self-titled Disc and is described by the Entertainment Magnate as “a visual Album”, which she feels enables her to “speak directly to her Fans”.
Beyoncé features 14 new Tracks and 17 – yes 17 – Music Videos, including one for Grown Woman even though it doesn’t surface as an actual Album Track.
On the Disc are Collaborations with the likes of Frank Ocean, Toronto’s Drake and her Husband, Jay-Z. It even features a Collaboration with Daughter Blue Ivy.
Official Artwork:
Preview Snippets of Beyoncé and purchase it right here.
Also, for those of you in Toronto attending her The Mrs. Carter Show at Air Canada Centre next Monday, December 16, 2013, remember that she is partnering with Goodwill to give Fans a chance to get free upgrades on their seats into her #Beyhive!
All you have to do is bring a donation with you: old clothes, toys and small household items between 7:00 – 8:00 PM to get a qualifying sticker. Follow @GOODWILLTECNO for more!
(Photo credit: Sony Music/Mr. Will Wong)
Nominations were announced tonight in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live for the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards, rung-in with a Concert from several potential Nominees.
Leading the way was Hip-Hop Impresario and Multimedia Mogul Jay-Z with an impressive nine nominations, while four Artists tie in second spot with seven nominations apiece – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake and Kendrick Lamar. Toronto’s Drake has us well-represented, nabbing a total five nominations.
Missing surprisingly in the category of Best New Artist is New Zealand Teen Sensation Lorde, whom howmever is recognized in some of the more major categories. After several comparisons between Sara Bareilles’ Brave and Katy Perry‘s Roar, many eyes will be on the Best Pop Solo Performance category as both are pitted against one another for Pop Music Glory.
See Perry‘s Toronto-recorded performance Roar acoustically at the Nominations Concert:
Nominees are as follows in some of the Evening’s most-watched categories:
Best New Artist
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
Album Of The Year
The Blessed Unrest — Sara Bareilles
Random Access Memories — Daft Punk
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City — Kendrick Lamar
The Heist — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red — Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Just Give Me A Reason — Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
Locked Out Of Heaven — Bruno Mars
Roar — Katy Perry
Royals — Lorde
Same Love — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert
Record Of The Year
Get Lucky — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Radioactive — Imagine Dragons
Royals — Lorde
Locked Out Of Heaven — Bruno Mars
Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams
View a complete list of Nominees here.
The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards air Sunday, January 26, 2014 on CBS at 8:00 PM EST.
(Photo credit: Universal Music)
I am beyond obsessed. Brody Ryan works at a Starbucks in the Los Angeles area. After noticing a Customer, Model Piper Kennedy who frequented his Store, he one day got her number and in an odd way of seducing her, he sent her a Video Message of him touching his face sensually as Drake‘s latest Single Hold On, We’re Going Home, plays in the background.
After Kennedy‘s Friend, DJ Ben Roc got his hands on the polarizingly-sensual message, he decided to post it to his Instagram account and from there, the Video has gone on to become a Viral Sensation with Parodies accumulating by the minute!
See what the Internet is freaking-out about below:
So odd. I can’t stop staring. Hypnotic!
All involved are getting an amazing amount of Publicity out of this – whether they want it or not – and the Hashtag #STARBUCKSDRAKEHAND has been spawned out of this brilliance, now trending the World by storm! Even expect a dramtic spike in Album and Singles sales for Drake, big-time.
Ryan, who is an aspiring Singer/Producer/Model/Photographer already is getting booked for Interviews, embracing the sudden wave of Fame. Follow him on Twitter!
Basically, this needs to be turned into a Movie.
(Photo/video credit: Brody Ryan)
OMG. I can imagine the reaction of the Audience yesterday at Drake‘s OVO Festival at Molson Amphitheatre when Surprise Guests came out on stage! The now-Duo performed a few of their biggest Hits including No Scrubs and Waterfalls, which recently saw a resurgence in that it is prominently featured in the Trailer for upcoming Comedy, We’re The Millers.
On the verge of a Comeback, TLC recently released their new Single Crooked Smile, a Collaboration with Rapper J Cole, the latter who along with Kanye West, Ma$e, Lil Mama, Miguel, Lil Wayne and Diddy also were featured at the Festival yesterday. Although their performance appeared mimed, it still is amazing seeing the Duo on-stage once again.
Watch TLC perform Waterfalls at the OVO Festival:
Check-out Crooked Smile below:
(Photo/video credit: Spencer Clements/Sony Music)
Canadian Music was front and center at the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards, the annual Spectacle held at the Station’s Queen Street Headquarters and among tonight’s top Winners were Canadian Rappers Drake and Classified, in addition to Pop-Rock Outfit, Mariana’s Trench. Hosted by Korean Pop Sensation PSY, Fans did not walk away disappointed as he danced and sang his way to the hearts of Canadians, with two high-energy performances of his Singles Gangnam Style and Gentleman respectively.
After being spotted arriving in Toronto at his Condo by Fans just after 8:00 PM tonight, Drake scooted over to MuchMusic right away to pick-up his Awards for both Director of the Year and Hip-Hop Video of the Year with his recent Single, Started from the Bottom.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia-born Classified took home Video of the Year and MuchFact Video of the Year with Inner Ninja, his Collaboration with David Myles. In total, he has earned five MMVAs in his Career.
Likewise, Mariana’s Trench who performed tonight in Dress Shirts and Underwear, also notched their fifth MMVA, winning Pop Video of the Year with Desperate Measures and Your Fave Video with Stutter.
After making their way to Toronto for the Awards Show, Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift all were rewarded tonight. Swift was awarded Your Fave International Artist or Group by Fans, saying in her Speech “Thank you to MuchMusic for playing Videos”, a statement which many might dispute about the Station. This is Swift‘s first MMVA.
Lavigne won International Video of the Year by a Canadian with Here’s To Never Growing Up. Several are reporting that the Singer may be pregnant, fueled further by lots of purple smoke being blown during her Performance tonight and a heavy focus on Close-Up Shots. Lovato who performed tonight with fine vocals, won International Video of the Year – Artist with Heart Attack. She is expected to fly out for a taping of The X Factor tomorrow.
For a complete list of Winners, click here.
Missed the MMVAs? Watch them here.
See my Snaps of some of the Stars around town this weekend here!
(Photo credit: Steve Haining and Sandra Elford)
The Nominees are in! The 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards are just a month away and all Contenders were confirmed earlier today. Leading the Pack this year with six nominations is Mariana’s Trench including coveted Video of the Year (Desperate Measures) and Pop Video of the Year (Stutter).
Not to be outdone, Toronto’s v. own Drake tallies in second with five nominations including Hip Hop Video of the Year and Video of the Year with his recent Single, Started from the Bottom.
Up for International Artist of the Year is a competitive field which includes: P!nk, One Direction, Taylor Swift and recently-announced Performers Demi Lovato and PSY.
Click here for a full list of Nominees!
The 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards air Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 9:00 PM EST on Fuse and MuchMusic.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Collective Concerts and Mr. Will Wong want to give Toronto Readers a chance to win Passes to see Mercury Prize-winning, BRIT Award-nominated Act The xx. After gaining widespread exposure recently in these parts producing for Drake, getting sampled by Rihanna and even remixing for Adele, this Electronic-Indie Pop Trio now are touring in support of their Club-inspired latest Disc, Coexist.
The xx will be touring with Supporting Act Grizzly Bear in Toronto on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at TD Echo Beach and we’re taking Readers to the Show for free!
To enter, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before May 1, 2013. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/thexx @MRWILLW wants me to #win Passes to see #THExx live in #Toronto on 6/6/13! #concert #giveaway
Good luck!
Watch The xx perform their Single Angels at CBC‘s Studio Q below:
(Photo credit: XL Recordings | Video credit: CBC)
Nominees for the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards were announced at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and Kanye West, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons and fun. each tie for the lead with six nods apiece in what looks to be a wide-open year.
Pop Lovers fear not as some of the year’s biggest hits were recognized at tonight’s Nominations Concert, hosted by Taylor Swift and LL Cool J, including: Gotye‘s Somebody That I Used to Know being up for Record of the Year and our v. own Carly Rae Jepsen‘s Call Me Maybe being up for Song of the Year and Best Solo Pop Performance. In addition, Toronto was well-represented with Drake being up for three Awards including Best Rap Album for Take Care and Best Rap Song for The Motto and Best Rap Performance for HYFR. Meanwhile, Melanie Fiona is up for Best Traditional R&B Performance for Wrong Side of a Love Song.
Swift is nominated for Record of the Year with her smash Hit We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and also Safe & Sound (w/The Civil Wars) in the Best Country/Duo Performance category. While fellow Nashville Native Kelly Clarkson also received major recognition, garnering nods for Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) in the important Song of the Year, Record of the Year categories, while her Disc Stronger earned nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Best New Artist Nominees fun. are up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Song of the Year and Record of the Year with We Are Young (ft. Janelle Monáe), while they also are in-contention for Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year with Some Nights.
For a complete list of Nominees, click here.
The 55th annual GRAMMY Awards will be held February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles at Staples Center.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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