Pop Bites: Lady Gaga, M.I.A., Rihanna and more
Rihanna, left, and Eminem have joined forces for a three-city stadium tour this summer that includes a stop at the Rose Bowl. It’s uncertain whether the two will take turns playing hype-man for each other as they run through their respective hits (a la Justin Timberlake and Jay Z) or just share the stage during a few joint collaborations. Em can use the tour to push last year’s “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” and Rihanna might preview new material (hopefully inspired by her European gallivanting with Drake). Whatever happens on stage, this tour’s limited run puts it high among the summer’s hottest tickets. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Dishing what’s sweet, and sour, from the week in music.
By Gerrick D. Kennedy
Wu-Tang Clan returned with the lead single from its first album in seven years. “Keep Watch” is a sturdy comeback from hip-hop’s greatest posse with its gritty ‘90s throwback production and a bouncy hook. Sadly, the collective doesn’t have it all the way together since the new album, “A Better Tomorrow,” is reportedly being held up because of Raekwon, who continues to be MIA. His response on joining the album that marks the 20th anniversary of the Staten Island collective? “Keep dreaming,” he tweeted. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)
Lady Gaga invited a “vomit artist” to spew colored liquid all over her -- twice -- during a recent show at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. The spectacle was sponsored by Doritos, which made fans jump through all types of silly hoops to get a ticket to the hourlong show (I kept my dignity and watched the train wreck online). Understandably, the move upset eating-disorder victims everywhere (though Gaga has been open about her battles with body image). Sadly, the performance probably didn’t change anyone’s mind about “Artpop,” and I’m still bummed the video to her fabulously nasty R. Kelly joint “Do What U Want” has yet to see the light of day. Really sounds like it’s time for Gaga to go back to the drawing board. (Jay Janner / Associated Press)
Chris Brown was booted out of a Malibu rehab facility and carted off to jail, where he will remain until a probation hearing on April 23. By no means am I reveling in Brown’s detention, unlike his many detractors. Talent aside, Brown needs to make a serious change if he wants to win over a long-skeptical public. A bit of time in jail will boost his chances of a real comeback -- if he can keep his nose clean. (Pool / Getty Images)
The Recording Industry Assn. of America released its report on sales and revenue for 2013. Sales were at about $7 billion last year, which certainly put a smile on the faces of label executives on both coasts. As healthy as last year’s return was, the tally has remained almost the same since 2009. But anything is better than that epic plummet in sales during the first chunk of the new millennium. (Rob Hoffman / Invision for Parkwood Entertainm)
The NFL now wants $16.6 million from M.I.A. as a result of her infamous middle-finger gesture during a performance alongside Madonna and Nicki Minaj at 2012’s Super Bowl. The brief bird-flip has resulted in a messy legal tussle between the politically charged Sri Lankan rapper and the NFL, with M.I.A. remaining defiant. The league has reportedly pursued a $1.5-million fine and a public apology from her ever since the incident (she also mouthed that she didn’t give a ... during the performance), claiming she was in breach of contract and had tarnished the league’s image. Now they want the fine plus $15.1 million in restitution based on the value of the exposure she gleaned from the airtime. More boneheaded than the NFL going after M.I.A. for an obscene amount of money? Her assertion that the gesture was a spiritual one. Remember when Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” drew the NFL’s ire during Super Bowl halftime show back in 2004? Her career is still wishing we’ll forget. (Kevin Mazur / WireImage)
