lowefactor » Music

Must Watch: Azealia Banks’ “Van Vogue” Music Video

Jared Michael Lowe — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:44:50 +0000

As certified mermaid stans, it would be blasphemy for us not to post on rapper/ vocalist Azealia Banks latest visual for her new single “Van Vogue” right? We aren’t blasphemous.

Banks dons her signature mermaid tresses and chic pantsuits while giving some water play action in the video directed by Rankin and premiered exclusively for The Hunger TV. We strongly suggest you watch and get your life!

“Van Vogue” is the second release off of Banks’ 1991 EP.

Do You Love It: Aaliyah Ft. Drake “Enough Said”

Jared Michael Lowe — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:28:56 +0000

In a year where deceased artists are making a strong comeback, i.e. Tupac’s Hologram at Coachella 2012, rapper Drake has remixed and added a verse on an unreleased Aaliyah song. Entitled “Enough Said”, the song features Aaliyah, who passed away in 2001 from a plane crash, singing over a new beat by Noah “40″ Shebib. Drake is also in talks to release an entire Aaliyah album, although the deceased singers’ favorite collaborators Timbaland and Missy Elliot haven’t signed on to work on the project.

What do you think of “Enough Said” by Aaliyah and Drake?

Image via Global Hip Hop Battles

Drake, Rihanna Lead With the 2012 MTV Video Music Award Nominations

Brittny Pierre — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:02:44 +0000

It’s that time of year where MTV pays attention to the M in their name. The nominations for MTV Video Music Awards were released this morning; Drake and Rihanna are ahead with 5 nominations each. Both are up for Video of the Year which means Rihanna has two chances to win for the biggest honor of the night, she’s nominated for both “We Found Love” and “Take Care” with Drake. This year has a lot of new comers getting recognized, Carly Rae Jepsen, Fun., One Direction, Gotye, Childish Gambino and Frank Ocean all got their first noms this year whereas Lady Gaga was no where to be found.

The show will air on September 6^th and will feature performances by Alicia Keys and One Direction. As time leads up to the big night there will be more performers to be announced.

Since we have no Gaga we have to rely on her lessers in the most ridiculous get up, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry. Maybe we’re showing our age but when did MTV start having the category Best Video with a Message? Either way we can’t wait for the fashion and the most outlandish and talked about moments of the night!

Full List of The Nominees:

Video of the Year

Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”

Gotye, “Somebody That I Used To Know”

Rihanna, “We Found Love”

Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”

M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Best New Artist

Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”

Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”

Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”

One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”

The Wanted, “Glad You Came”

Best Hip-Hop Video

Childish Gambino, “Heartbeat”

Drake feat. Lil Wayne, “HYFR”

Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz, “Mercy”

Watch the Throne, “Paris”

Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz, “Beez in the Trap”

Best Male Video

Justin Bieber, “Boyfriend”

Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”

Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”

Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”

Usher, “Climax”

Best Female Video

Rihanna, “We Found Love”

Katy Perry, “Part of Me”

Beyoncé, “Love on Top”

Nicki Minaj, “Starships”

Selena Gomez & The Scene, “Love You Like a Love Song”

Best Pop Video

One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”

Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”

Rihanna, “We Found Love”

Justin Bieber, “Boyfriend”

Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, “Payphone”

Best Rock Video

Coldplay, “Paradise”

The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”

Linkin Park, “BURN IT DOWN”

Jack White, “Sixteen Saltines”

Imagine Dragons, “It’s Time”

Best Electronic Dance Music Video

Duck Sauce, “Big Bad Wolf”

Calvin Harris, “Feel So Close”

Skrillex, “First of the Year (Equinox)”

Martin Solveig, “The Night Out”

Avicii, “Le7els”

Best Video With a Message

Demi Lovato, “Skyscraper”

Rise Against, “Ballad of Hollis Brown”

Kelly Clarkson, “Dark Side”

Gym Class Heroes, “The Fighter”

K’Naan feat. Nelly Furtado, “Is Anybody Out There?”

Lil Wayne, “How to Love”

Best Art Direction

Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”

Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”

Lana Del Rey, “Born to Die”

Regina Spektor, “All the Rowboats”

Of Monsters & Men, “Little Talks”

Best Choreography

Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”

Rihanna, “Where Have You Been”

Beyoncé, “Countdown”

Avicii, “Le7els”

Jennifer Lopez f/Pitbull, “Dance Again”

Best Cinematography

M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Adele, “Someone Like You”

Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”

Coldplay feat. Rihanna, “Princess of China”

Lana Del Rey, “Born to Die”

Best Direction

M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Duck Sauce, “Big Bad Wolf”

Coldplay feat. Rihanna, “Princess of China”

Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”

Watch the Throne, “Otis”

Best Editing

Beyoncé, “Countdown”

A$AP Rocky, “Goldie”

Gotye, “Somebody That I Used to Know”

Watch the Throne, “Paris”

Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz, “Mercy”

Best Visual Effects

Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”

Rihanna, “Where Have You Been”

David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, “Turn Me On”

Linkin Park, “BURN IT DOWN”

Image via Lava Lizard

First Listen: No Doubt’s “Settle Down”

Jared Michael Lowe — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:49:57 +0000

After nearly 12 years and countless rumors of the group re-teaming to do another album, No Doubt has finally released their new single, “Settle Down”. The track, produced by Diplo, is classic No Doubt picking up right where 2001’s Rocksteady left off, a punchy Latin – Caribbean sound. The band’s latest album, Push Shove will be out Sept. 25.

It’s probably safe to say that this maybe the new song of summer (sorry Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”) Take a listen and let us know what you think!

Downloadable: Azealia Banks ‘Fantasea’

Jared Michael Lowe — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:08:38 +0000

Lately, Azealia Banks has been on her grind. Aside from performing at exclusive dinner parties for Karl Lagerfeld, the rapper/ vocalist released her EP 1991 over a month ago. Now she brings another delight, her 19 track mixtape, Fantasea. Trust, you’ll enjoy!

Azealia Banks: Fantasea Mixtape // ZIP

Album Review: Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange

Brittny Pierre — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:16:28 +0000

Yesterday, we streamed Odd Future’s lead vocalist, Frank Ocean Channel Orange album. We now review one of the most talked about albums to release this year, perhaps this decade. Ocean, who blew us away with his first mixtape, Nostalgia/Ultra, brings us an album that’s sure to deliver.

Released a week earlier (the album will still release nationwide on July 17^th) and an hour before his national television debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon via iTunes, there was much speculation behind Ocean’s recent admitting to having a same sex relationship with another man. In which the album solidifies it (there are many “hims” and “boys” in the lyrics. Channel Orange is more than an album; it’s a musical motion picture for your aural pleasure in the same vein of an offbeat Wes Anderson dramedy.

The first full-length song off the album starts with Frank’s previous leaked cult hit, “Thinkin Bout You”. It’s a bit different from the demo that was released last year; Frank added an incredible string arrangement which seems more somber now post his “coming out” letter last week. His back and forth of wanting this feeling to last forever and holding himself back, is something he knows too well when it comes to his first love, an unrequited one. “Sweet Life”, co-produced by Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, is funky with keyboard melodies that recall Stevie Wonder in his Fulfillingness First Finale days. “The best song wasn’t the single” Frank opens the song about even though the world is “going ape shit crazy” you can find sweetness in everything between “live and die” and the privileged life that many live in this country. We’ll be brave and say that Frank just maybe our generation of Stevie Wonder, with his sing song, poetic lyrics. “Pyramids”, the first (damn near 10 minutes) single is the tune that keeps on giving. Throughout the song, you experience about 3-4 different songs in one with the same storyline, a woman who has lost her way. “Unrequited love to me, it’s nothing but a one-man cult and cyanide in my Styrofoam cup” croons Frank on the crescendo of the album, “Bad Religion”. Frank brings us to church with a collective thought: “why that one person couldn’t love us the way we loved them”. Bring out the Kleenex for this one, its hits a chord for the blackest of hearts.

Although, Frank Ocean is close to solidifying his place in pop culture, this album will no doubt land him there. Channel Orange is easily one of the most thought provoking albums of the year with captivating lyrics, raw emotions. This is one channel you don’t want to turn off.

Rating: A

Downloadable: Theophilus London – Rose Island Vol. 1

Jared Michael Lowe — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 16:54:41 +0000

Rapper, Theophilus London has released a brand new mixtape entitled Rose Island Vol. The 17 track compilation features collaborations with some big names (and #factor faves) including: A$AP Rocky, Big Boi, Mark Ronson and even Sade. Stream the mixtape below as well as download it!

Download: Theophilus London – Rose Island Vol. 1 (Mixtape)

Frank Ocean Performs on Jimmy Fallon + Stream His Debut ‘Channel Orange’

Jared Michael Lowe — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:08:47 +0000

Odd Future lead vocalist, Frank Ocean, made his television debut last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon performing his track “Bad Religion” off his Channel Orange album. Ocean has been in the press recently revealing his “love” for another guy some time ago. At the stroke of midnight this morning, July 10, you could download the highly anticipated debut studio album featuring singles such as “Pyramids” and “Sweet Life”. You can stream the entire album, consisting of 17 tracks on Ocean’s Tumblr or purchase (which we highly advise for you to do) his album on iTunes.

Watch the video of his performance and check out the stream below!

The Carters vs. Kimye and Other Highlights from the 2012 BET Awards

Jared Michael Lowe — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 21:19:14 +0000

Last night, July 1^st was date night for the The Carters (Beyonce and Jay-Z) and Kimye (Kanye West and Kim Kardashian) as the pair enjoyed the over 3 hour 2012 BET Awards show. Samuel L. Jackson hosted the 12th annual award show Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, which brought out some industry players including Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, Chris Brown, Usher and even a few surprise performances from D’Angelo and Whitney Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston.

Aside from The Carters and Kimye, check out the rest of the highlights after the cut!

D’Angelo’s Back

In keeping with the trend of R&B singer comebacks (think El Debarge from the 2010 awards), D’Angelo provided this year’s comeback singing – well, might we add – his hit “How Does It Feel (Untitled)” before lunging into a funk set. It’s good to see him back after a 12 year hiatus performing on television, but really the prison jumpsuit though?

Soulja Boy Crying

The Whitney Houston tribute portion in the show was nonetheless moving. A lot of people shed tears including Beyonce which was strange. It was like seeing your parents naked or something. But, Soulja Boy took the cake for the most tears shed by a celebrity. Seriously dude, we’re all for emotional outcries but it’s not a good look when you have several face tats and dirty nails to ball like a baby on national television.

Whitney Houston Tribute

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house during the Whitney Houston tribute. But it wasn’t necessarily a somber occasion. Brandy and Chaka Khan brought much life to the tribute singing Whitney’s hits while Monica and Whitney’s mother Cissy Houston left no dry eyes in the house performing moving renditions of “I Love the Lord” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

Jay-Z Kanyed Kanye

It’s not often Kanye is upstaged, but leave it to Jay-Z to do it. Jay Kanye’d Kanye, saying “I’mma let you finish” to him when winning the Video of the Year award last night. Somewhere Taylor Swift’s wish upon a star came true.

Nicki Minaj’s Performs…Well

Let’s rejoice! Nicki Minaj finally puts on a great performance. Not to say that the others were bad, just lackluster. She even got to work in a booty wiggle or two while she performed her hit, “Beez in the Trap”.

Images via Zimbio / Video via Viacom

Video: Lana Del Rey | National Anthem

Brittny Pierre — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:36:14 +0000

“Happy Birthday, Mr. President” Lana Del Rey seductively sings an ode to Marilyn Monroe’s infamous’ birthday performance for President J.F.K. in a very patriotic video for her new single “National Anthem”. This is perfect timing since America’s birthday is fast approaching. In the video, Lana puts a bit of a twist on the fabled JFK story, she plays Jackie Kennedy to Harlem rapper ASAP Rocky’s John F. Kennedy (and they have interracial children). The video, directed by Anthony Mandler, is beautifully shot and looks like it used ‘Rise’ filter from Instagram with clothing straight out of a Tommy Hilfiger video.

Check it above and hope you love!