MUSIC NEWS: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016
KANYE - EZRIN
Kanye West is firing back at veteran Canadian music producer Bob Ezrin after he published a scathing takedown of the rapper's career.
The Juno winner, and co-producer of Pink Floyd's classic ``The Wall,'' wrote an extensive blog post about the outspoken performer, saying that he doesn't think West's music will stand the test of time.
Ezrin says West's lyrics get a lot of hype but don't stand up against the work of others like N.W.A. or Kendrick Lamar on addressing social issues.
He pointed to Jay-Z, Tupac Shakur and even M.C. Hammer as other rappers more likely to have a bigger lasting impact.
West responded to Ezrin on Twitter, questioning whether anyone has heard of the 66-year-old producer, who has also worked with Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel and Lou Reed.
He also offered to give Ezrin's children free West-branded fashion accessories to ``make up for the embarrassment'' he caused his family.
(The Canadian Press)
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CELINE DION
Canadian Celine Dion honoured her late husband Rene Angelil last night when she returned to the stage in Las Vegas.
Angelil died from cancer on January 14th at age 73. The first few minutes of Dion's show at Caesars Palace were devoted to Angelil, starting with a video tribute to his life. Dion was visibly moved when she told the crowd that her late husband accompanies her on stage every night and would always be with her. The ``love tribute'' tribute that preceded the performance will be repeated before each of Dion's shows in Las Vegas over the next three weeks.
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MADONNA
Pop star Madonna has made surprise visits to Manila shelters for orphans and street children, taking selfies with kids a day before the start of her two-night ``Rebel Heart'' concert stint in the Philippine capital. Pictures on her Instagram account show her carrying a baby in one arm while holding hands with a girl guiding her on a tour of the orphanage. Madonna plays Manila's Mall of Asia Arena today and tomorrow.
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HALEY WILLIAMS MARRIES
It was a celebrity wedding, all right.
But the trappings for the nuptials for Hayley Williams were more pop and punk than Hollywood. The Paramore singer wore a Vera Wang gown _ paired with a pair of Doc Marten boots for her hitching to Chad Gilbert, the guitarist for New Found Glory. As for the wedding cake: it was crafted from 100 doughnuts _ and the reception was held at Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. A statement from Atlantic Records says the wedding took place Saturday _ and the couple was surrounded by family, friends and fellow musicians.
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T.I. TEAMING UP WITH JAY-Z
T.I. and Jay-Z are teaming up on a couple of fronts. The Atlanta-based rapper says he will have Jay-Z's label drop his upcoming album, ``Dime Trap.'' It will be T.I.'s 10th release. And T.I. says he's become a part-owner of Tidal, the music streaming service Jay-Z, his wife Beyonce and others are helping to front. T.I. talked about his deals with Jay-Z during a private, pop-up concert in Atlanta. The show was streamed on Tidal.
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JUSTIN MOORE
Justin Moore says don't get him wrong _ he doesn't believe fellow country singer Craig Strickland was being reckless when he went duck hunting in severe weather over the Christmas holidays in Oklahoma _ and was found dead. But Moore says he doubts that would never happen to him _ because he never takes chances. Moore says he probably misses out on some good hunting because he doesn't have a particularly adventurous nature. Moore says he was always ``overly cautious'' to begin with _ and that he has only gotten more careful now that he has children.
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MADONNA - PHILIPPINES
She hasn't yet sang a tune or busted a move on stage. But Madonna has already made her stay in the Philippines a successful one for the locals. The pop star showed up at shelters for orphans and street children. The singer took selfies with kids and took a tour of the orphanage _ and sat on a mat with kids who are at the shelter. This apparently wasn't one of those kinds of things to get attention, either. A shelter official says Madonna only gave them a one-hour heads up that she'd be visiting.
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MAGIC SHOP STUDIO
Earlier this year, we lost David Bowie. Now it appears New York City will soon be losing a recording studio that was one of his favourites to work in. The Magic Shop is shutting down, after 28 years in the music business. The New York Times reports the studio will be shuttered because of a dispute with the landlord. Aside from Bowie, Norah Jones, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and Woody Guthrie laid down tracks at the Magic Shop. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters had teamed up with the owner to buy the studio. But the co-op board of the building that houses it rejected the bid.
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(The Associated Press)