Chris Brown Threatens Retirement After Less Than An Hour in Jail

Chris Brown is having a difficult year and as he's done in the past, has taken to Twitter to voice his gripes. On Tuesday he tweeted, "Don't worry mainstream America.After this X album, it'll probably be my last album." That wasn't his only message

D'Angelo Cancels Concerts Due To 'Medical Emergency'

(Radio.com) D'Angelo has cancelled three shows due to a "medical emergency" including a show at the House of Blues in Chicago scheduled for tonight (August 7).

This is the singer's second set of cancellations on this tour. Last week, he cancelled stops in New York and Maryland due to illness. A statement from the Chicago show's promoters, Live Nation said D'Angelo "expresses his sincere regret due to this unfortunate circumstance."

A publicist for the singer did not give details of the emergency, only revealing, "It's serious, but he should be OK," according to The Chicago Tribune.

D'Angelo has also cancelled two other upcoming shows including a stop in Minneapolis originally scheduled for last night (August 6) and another in San Diego on August 10.

As of now, the "Brown Sugar" singer is still scheduled to play Outside Lands in San Francisco this Friday. more on this story

Kanye, TLC, Diddy, ASAP Rocky Join Drake At OVO Festival

(Radio.com) Not much usually goes down on a Monday night, unless you're in Toronto at Drake's 2013 OVO Fest. Then, apparently, everything goes down with a long list of special guests.

Even though Frank Ocean was unable to attend Drake's gigantic VIP party due to a torn vocal cord, the Canadian singer, rapper and labelhead pulled out all the stops and brought out Kanye West, Diddy, TLC, ASAP Rocky, Ma$e, The Weeknd, Big Sean, Lil Wayne, French Montana, J. Cole at the event last night. That's a whole lot of previously unannounced crew love right there.

Fans can watch video of Drake and fellow Canadian crooner The Weeknd performing their song "Crew Love", and you can watch another labelhead, Diddy, in a performance of "Feels So Good" and "Mo Money Mo Problems" with Ma$e for the first time in years here.

Katy Perry Teases New Album With Funeral Clip

(Radio.com) Katy Perry is pulling out all the stops on promoting her forthcoming album Prism. Days after she released a 30-second teaser in which she lit her infamous blue wig on fire, she drops another one. This time, however it's a bit more morbid as it takes place at a funeral with many in mourning.

As two distressed girls in Katy Perry-styled purple wigs scream and cry into their hands, Perry is showed as being amused. As she lowers her sunglasses and laughs, we can't help but wonder what exactly is she being so smug about?

As church bells and an organ are heard in the background her familiar hashtag #ROAR in tiger print is shown as the clip comes to a close.

While we're not too sure exactly what this all means, we're fairly certain Perry's new album will have a more somber tone and less fireworks display. Watch it here.

George Duke (Zappa, Miles Davis, Michael Jackson) Dead at 67

(Radio.com) Legendary Grammy-winning jazz keyboardist George Duke died yesterday (August 5) at age 67. According to the New York Daily News, Duke was at St. John's Hospital in Los Angeles at the time of his passing.

Making his name in the late '60s making music with French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, Duke would become famous for his musical dexterity, fusing jazz, funk, R&B, soul and rock while working with a wide range of artists including Frank Zappa, Miles Davis, Michael Jackson and Stanley Clarke. Over a 40-plus-year career both as a musician and producer, Duke's influence on modern music is palpable.

"The outpouring of love and support that we have received from my father's friends, fans and the entire music community has been overwhelming," said his son Rashid Duke in a press release, with stars including Justin Timberlake, Amir "Questlove" Thompson and Erykah Badu expressing their condolences on Twitter. "Thank you all for your concern, prayers and support."

"We are all devastated by the sad news of George's passing," said Mark Wexler, General Manager of the Concord-Telarc Label Group, for whom Duke recorded. "He was a great man, a legendary, one-of-a-kind artist; and our hearts go out to his family. George will be missed by all." more on this story

Cookie Monster Covers Icona Pop's 'I Love It'

(Radio.com) The folks at Sesame Street are no strangers to covering current popular songs with their troupe of Muppets, from "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen to "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.

Now, Cookie Monster is back on YouTube with his latest cover: This time it is "Me Want It (But Me Wait)," a spoof of Icona Pop's hit track, "I Love It."

Cookie brings a positive message about self-control to the children watching by holding off on devouring his trademark chocolate chip cookies.

Icona Pop, meanwhile, will release their debut album, This Is…Icona Pop, Sept. 24. Check out the cover version here.

PJ Harvey, Civil Wars, Polyphonic Spree Lead This Week's New Releases

(Radio.com) Radio.com's Dan Weiss runs down the week's new full-length music releases, and this week new releases from PJ Harvey, The Civil Wars and The Polyphonic Spree are highlighted.

RELEASE OF THE WEEK: PJ Harvey – "Shaker Aamer": Not an album, but the most important piece of music you'll hear, internalize, and hopefully reblog this week. For all the disillusioned indie-rockers who think the Knife's sprawling new album plays political dress-up with disjointed slogans or that Nas' revolutionary Untitled album was an embarrassment, PJ Harvey brushes off the last thirteen years of her least direct music to do a protest song right. The lyrics leave no wiggle room for a 1,400-word thinkpiece, they simply detail the facts and horrors of Guantanamo detainee Aamer, like the necessity of depriving one's body of food to protest being deprived of water, being force-fed and detained for over a decade, having his pad taken away so he can't become too familiar with his own thoughts — all without ever being charged of a crime. In his voice at the end, Harvey pleads, "don't forget…don't forget." And that's where the second part of her genius comes in: she imbued this reporting with her best chord progression in years, a glassy, catchy sideways moan of a riff ensuring people will more than get an album's worth of plays this week and likely a great deal after Aamer's released as well. It's so good and simple it could give you hope that every artist is just saving their best rations for a meaningful cause.

The Civil Wars – The Civil Wars (Columbia): In case the oeuvre-depleting "Safe and Sound" wasn't enough evidence, Taylor Swift's been hanging with the wrong crowd. If you thought John Mayer was bad, how about Nashville's answer to Evanescence? Won't any emo kids blush when they realized they're checking out the full-band equivalent of Sting and Alison Krauss' "You Will Be My Ain True Love"? Because emo kids are for whom Joy Wiliams and John Paul White want to make country cool. Not that they don't make passes at others in the room; the attractive fuzz-banjo sizzle of "I Had Me a Girl" should diddle Black Keys and Bon Iver fans at once. "The One That Got Away" is pretty good acoustic Paramore, "From This Valley" is a real uptempo one, but they're rarely so focused on turning a phrase and by the end the melodrama is like Vaseline so thick you can't see (or hear) what's inside it. These oversingers are overfeelers and underwriters above all else.

The Polyphonic Spree – Yes, It's True (Good): Boy is it easier to hear these guys with ten years removed from their stupid gimmick. Sorry, not the colorful robes, but their willing idiocy—"Follow the day and reach for the sun!" went their previous best song—that made them look more like a "cult" than any sartorial aesthetic. But in the same ten years, the Flaming Lips have grown to Radiohead size and darkened along with it. That left a void in the high-voiced psychedelic mold that Tim DeLaughter can finally fill, the "Blurred Lines" to Wayne Coyne's "Suit & Tie" if you will. Yes, It's True is almost certainly DeLaughter's best album, opening with a swagger ripped wholesale from the Dandy Warhols on "Section 33 (You Don't Know Me)" and replacing that sun bull with something believers can actually use, "there's always more to you than there are of them," over some well-deployed "Tomorrow Never Knows" backward flute-and-seagulls. The next track forefronts booming drums, distorted fanfare and circular air-synth. If that Tame Impala album last year taught all the acid casualties to focus, these types might actually reach the sun sooner than they think. See what other new releases are out this week.

Fergie Goes Flapper In New Party Song Video

(Radio.com) Back in April, it was revealed that Fergie would have a new song on Jay Z-helmed The Great Gatsby soundtrack. In the song, titled "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)," Fergie goes back to the Roaring Twenties with a Big Band vibe. That same feeling is carried out through the song's video, released yesterday (Aug. 6).

Though (a pregnant) Fergie is dressed as a flapper throughout, her collaboration with Q-Tip and GoonRock doesn't take listeners all the way back in time, thanks to some thumping EDM beats.

As the beat picks up, Fergie transforms from retro flapper to modern-day diva, surrounded by men in black tuxedos and bow ties.

While she's getting made-up for her performance, some obvious product placement is displayed: her own Wet n Wild line of nail polish. I could have sworn Essie was the flapper girl's nail polish brand of choice.

Fergie still has not released any new solo material since 2006′s The Duchess, save for one-offs and collaborations a la "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)." more on this story

Train's Pat Monahan Talks Ashley Monroe and Going Country

(Radio.com) Pat Monahan doesn't want to go home. While Train's Mermaids of Alcatraz Tour with The Script, Gavin DeGraw and Ashley Monroe will come to a close Aug. 14, Monahan checked in from the road with Radio.com to discuss "the funnest tour we've ever had," what to expect from Train's next album, the possibility of a country-leaning solo album, and his approach to songwriting.

Radio.com: Tell us about your Mermaids of Alcatraz Tour. Have fans really been dressing up as mermaids every night?: Pat Monahan: It's really fun. Our greatest gift is that families like what we do. Kids don't have to drag their parents and parents don't have to drag their kids. They all want to come. We try to make it an old school family event. What would people do if they were going to the Grateful Dead or The Rocky Horror Picture Show? We called the tour the Mermaids of Alcatraz Tour to give it a little edge and include guys. Hundreds of people are dressing up every night and it's so fun. They come up onstage for "Mermaid" and the winners get upgrades of their concert tickets. I love seeing that because some of these kids are way back on the grass and then they get to be way up front.

Radio.com: How do you select which fans make it on stage during your performance of "Mermaid?": Pat Monahan: We actually have one guy who we hired to be the judge of it. He has a booth, it's the mermaid booth. You sign up; he'll take pictures of you. Most of these events there's an obvious winner; there's a family that's really decked out. The other day there was a guy with a convict outfit on with stripes. It looked like he just escaped Alcatraz and then he had his wife and daughters all dressed as mermaids. It was pretty great. He was the obvious winner. Some people come with tails that they can't even walk in so their boyfriends or husbands have to carry them. Or they get wheeled in on a radio flyer wagon, we saw that the first night, that was crazy.

Radio.com: Your single "Bruises" with Ashley Monroe is doing well on AC radio right now. Can you tell us the story behind the song and how you teamed up with Ashley? Pat Monahan: Ashley's been a friend of mine for a long time. I met her when she was 19. The guy that used to run Columbia Records introduced her to me because she wanted to write with me. When I met her I realized that I was the lucky one to be in the room with her. She's a great writer. She has written a lot of hit songs in Nashville for a lot of other artists. Now she has a new album out now called Like A Rose, which I think is going to be a favorite record if you get it. I wrote the song in New York. It was just real easy. I run into people I went to high school with and realize how much older we are, and how much more we've been through and a lot of it isn't all that fun and it makes us more beautiful if you can see it that way. That song was really easy to write because it is a very true story and Ashley was the perfect girl to sing on it.

Radio.com: You seem to fit in well with the country community. Do you have any other country collaborations in the works?: Pat Monahan: I think maybe a smarter thing for me to do would be to write in Nashville, which I plan on doing for myself and other people. If and when I create a solo album, somewhere down the line, or a solo project, maybe it would be more country leaning. I think at this point we have to stick to who we are. I've seen a lot of people try to make that switch and it hasn't gone well. The Nashville community, you can't slip something by them. They know if you're for real or not. I think I write that way naturally but I wouldn't want them to think I'm trying to sneak into their community without a formal invitation.

Radio.com: So in a few years we may hear a country-tinged solo album? Pat Monahan: Maybe. There's always something country on every Train record. "Bruises" is country leaning I think on some level. A song called "Feels Good At First," which I think may be the best song on the record for some people, that's country leaning. There's always going to be something but to make a full-blown country record might be a little while. more on this story

T.I. Wants To 'Cast A Wider Net' With New Album

(Radio.com) T.I. is back in a big way. The rapper followed the release of his eighth studio album, Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head, last December with an appearance on Robin Thicke's summer smash "Blurred Lines" and a spot on Lil Wayne's America's Most Wanted Festival 2013 summer tour.

During a break on the tour, T.I. spoke with Hartford's Hot 93.7 (a Radio.com station) about his upcoming full-length, Trouble Man II: He Who Wears the Crown, due for release this December, and how he wants to make the sequel release his inclusive album to date.

"I'm going to try to make sure that it's as grounded as it was the last time, I just want to make it a little broader," the rapper revealed when asked about the sound of the upcoming collection. "I just want to cast a wide net this time.

"I don't want to classify a type or a genre," T.I. clarified when asked if he'd be venturing into pop territory on the album. "I want to broaden the scope of people who would be able to relate to the music. But I do not want to sacrifice or compromise any of the integrity of the music." more on this story

Drake Releases New Song 'Hold On We're Going Home'

(Radio.com) It's Drake day and everybody's celebrating. After coming out Monday night with a cadre of VIP guests at his very own 2013 OVO Fest, Drake releases yet another song, the smooth "Hold On We're Going Home."

This is the the 6th or so song Drake has released in the last month, including "Started From The Bottom," "Girls Love Beyoncé," "All Me" "Jodeci Freestyle" featuring J. Cole.

Plus "Versace" Migos, "The Motion" featuring Sampha, and "Over Here" with PartyNextDoor. You can check out a stream of "Hold On We're Going Home" here.

Extra Breaks Lindsay Lohan News To Oprah

(Extra) Lindsay Lohan's obviously taking Oprah's advice to heart. Winfrey advised Lohan that a trip to Europe was a bad idea littered with temptation, leading Lindsay to cancel her plans. And Extra's AJ Calloway was first to break the news to Oprah at the premiere of "The Butler" in New York.

AJ saying, "There are reports that Lindsay was supposed to travel out of the U.S. today, but didn't because of your influence." Oprah, "Did she decide not to?...Whoa…I am hearing this first from you…I did not know that."

Oprah went on to explain that during her interview with Linds she had warned her about traveling to Europe, "At the end of that interview I said, if I were you, I would reconsider…I said if you're serious, you will stay her…And she stayed!"

AJ telling Oprah Lindsay is in New York. Oprah, ecstatic, "That's Amazing!" more on this story

Fat Joe Reflects On His Independence and Big Name Collaborations

(Radio.com) Fat Joe's two-plus decade music career has had its shares of ups and downs, but the rapper believes he's grown from all his experiences. Releasing music independently, and collaborating with some of the biggest names in the game, it's easy to believe Joe when he says he's still happy making music.

"I come from nothing– I come from welfare, absolutely nothing– so when I got in the industry I expected a mentor to tell me 'Joe, don't do this, don't do that…' Nobody ever mentored me so I had to go through my bumps and bruises myself," Fat Joe recalled when he spoke with the Hot Morning Crew. "Now when I'm in the stuidio and I catch some young cat coming in the game that I think has potential, I sit down with him and provide him that information– they're [record labels] not your friends, stay focused, save your money, keep your relationships… you can get easily wrapped up. The lifespan of an artist is maybe 2 to 3 years, if that. 90% of the guys are one-hit wonders. They're thinking they're hot, they're in this illusion of 'we love you' records, and they won't pick up your phone call when it's over. With me, I defied the odds… I've been up, down, up, down… I wasn't supposed to be here this long so I've seen everything."

When Joe speaks bluntly about the music industry, it's easy to assume he's coming from somewhere bitter, but that's not the case– he genuinely happy outside the label system, doing his own thing, and collaborating with some of the top artists in music. His most recent collabo was "Love Me Long Time" with Future, but that's just one of many recent features for the prolific Latino rapper.

"I wrote this hook with Future," Joe said of their hit song. "Macho always gets mad at me, because we go and work with an artist and I start telling them my ideas, and he's like 'Yo man, we came to this guy so he could do the song– why are you telling him what the song is??' I know what I want."

"What I'm lucky about is, the young guys– these guys could be on top of the Earth– Future called me and said 'Yo, I'm in Miami, come to the studio, let's do a hit," he continued. "Same thing with Kanye West– I wasn't bothering Kanye, the last person I'd think picking up the phone was Kanye West. He calls me up and said 'Yo Joe, it's time, let's make a hit together.' Not being arrogant or nothing, they say 'This guy makes hits, I want one in the chamber with him' and they get a Fat Joe joint." more on this story

Singled Out: Lisa Matassa's I Won't Ask

Today country music star Lisa Matassa tells us about her brand new single "I Won't Ask" which she released late last month. Here is the story:

The inspiration for the song "I Won't Ask" came from a night out in Nashville last summer. A group of us were hanging out at Robert's on Broadway and I noticed this young couple at the bar. At first they seemed really into each other and very much an item but it wasn't long before they started arguing and the girl walked away.

Throughout the night these two would go back and forth hugging one minute and walking away from each other a few moments later. I remember thinking to myself these two must be relatively new in their relationship because they kept playing this "cat and mouse" game.

We left Robert's around midnight to head back to our hotel and I never saw the couple again. Normally inspiration for a song comes from a melody for me, but at around 2:30 in the morning I woke up out of a sound sleep with lyrics popping into my head. And like every songwriter I know, I started writing down these lyrics. I had the verses, the chorus and the bridge all coming at me at once. I wrote them all down and went back to sleep.

The next morning I met up with my guitarist Colin Smith and asked him to look at the lyrics and see if he could come up with a melody. Shortly thereafter, he came up with the chorus melody and we played around with it until we got back to New York. We met up with Tony Bruno at his house/studio in Woodstock and showed him our idea and by the end of the day, the three of us had written and recorded "I Won't Ask".

We just finished filming the video for "I Won't Ask" in Austin, Texas and I can't wait to see the vision for the song come to fruition.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!

Wait there is more!