Pop Bites: Mariah, Drake, Nicki and more
SWEET. Over the weekend, Beyoncé and Jay Z’s libidinous R&B groove “Drunk in Love” received a set of delicious remixes: Kanye West and T.I. added razor sharp verses to respective mixes; alt-R&B crooner the Weeknd unleashed a woozy cover that dialed up the raunch; and electronic DJ-producer Diplo turned the ode to married sex into a sweaty house jam. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Dishing what’s sweet, and sour, from the week in music.
By Gerrick D. Kennedy
BITTERSWEET. Drake called out Macklemore in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, saying the Seattle rapper’s apology texts for winning over Kendrick Lamar at the Grammys were “wack as ...” Drake then criticized the magazine for bumping him off the cover in favor of late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. He quickly apologized. (Owen Sweeney / Invision / Associated Press)
SOUR. Mariah Carey’s new single, “You’re Mine (Eternal),” showed the singer attempting a throwback to tour de force smash “We Belong Together.” The fluffy piano ballad was sweet enough, but Carey then issued a syrupy remix with R&B heartthrob Trey Songz and a pair of videos powered by wind-blown hair and blinding glitter flurries. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)
SWEET. The long-gestating biopic of Tupac Shakur finally has a director. John Singleton has signed on to rewrite, direct and produce the film about the slain rapper-actor. Singleton has masterfully explored the complexities of urban America in poignant films such as “Boyz N the Hood,” “Higher Learning” and “Poetic Justice,” one of Shakur’s best roles, so we have high hopes for his newest project. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
BITTERSWEET. Nicki Minaj continues to remind critics and fans that despite her recent pop trolling, she’s still a gritty rapper. Her new single, “Lookin Ass N¿,” is a raw lyrical assault complete with heavy usage of the N-word. In a controversy over the latter and the single’s cover art, which features a 1964 Ebony magazine photo of Malcolm X looking out a window while clutching an M-1 rifle, she issued a Minaj-style apology/retort on Instagram: “This is a conversation. Not a single.” (Brad Barket / Invision / Associated Press)
SOUR. After years of delays, stalled singles and shifting release dates, Ashanti’s finally issuing her fifth album, “BraveHeart,” in March. A fresh cover doesn’t cover up the expired set of club stompers and ballads that lack the sass and inspiration of her earlier work. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
