Drake

Many fans credit the success of Drake to his  flow, infectiously melodic vocals, and contagious female attracting swagger.  While these are all very bankable factors for any of today’s MCees, it is likely that Drake should also credit the combo of a good home up brining and his Rock & Roll lineage for helping shape him into the layered artist he is today.   While his MCee and song writing skills show a strong talent all their own that are clearly heard on record by millions, few fans know that his musical roots can also be traced back to the golden age of Rock & Roll by his own blood.  As confirmed by several sources of Bio information, Aubrey “Drake” Graham is the racially mixed son of  a mother described as, a white Jewish educator, and musician Dennis Graham, best known for his work drumming for Jerry Lee Lewis.  In fact, his family’s musical tree also include Uncle, Larry Graham, bass guitar player for Sly and The Family Stone, and Uncle, Mabon Lewis “Teenie” Hodges, guitarist and song writer for Soul star, Al Green.

His musical bloodline was coupled by him being raised primarily by his mother in the up scale Toronto neighborhood of  Forest Hill. Granted the freedom to spread his artistic wings and eventually become an actor, Drake navigated through the biz with a natural easy beyond his years, scoring him the role he is best known for, “Jimmy Brooks” on the Canadian Teen drama, Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Capitalizing on his  TV fame  and his own genetically  given skills, the entertainer that would bloom into one of Hip Hop’s best for a generation, placed himself amongst the greats, earning respect worthy of an industry veteran several years before his debut album.

As many fans at this point know, it was through meticulous use of his personal blog that allowed him independently release his own home made albums, and  capitalize on the phonominon of free hip hop mixtape marketing. This is what would lead him to become a phonominon himself.

He was able to release three indepent mixtapes in four years. The buzz he grew even allowed him to become the first unsigned Canadian rapper to be featured as a ”New Joint” on BET’s 106 & Park. The video was for his 2007 single  “Replacement Girl” Featuring Trey Songz. This all happend while he was still a regular cast member of Degrassi: The Next Generation. After leaving the show, he also continued to make eight guest appearances, all while his fame as a rapper was growing.

Known now from songs like “Best I Ever Had” and, “Successful,” his work is a perfect testament that nothing worth having comes easily, or at least not over night.  Those songs broke him through to the mainstream, and allowed him to sign to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Records.  His final mixtape, “So Far Gone” was even later  rereleased for commercial sale by Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown,  after  2,000 downloads in 2 hours independently.  His monetary value then became ridiculously obvious after songs from the album recieved heavy rotation on major market Pop stations across the country.  What was not as obvious however, was that the success of “So Far Gone” was the culmination of four years of earlier hard work, to be met with the opportunity of working with  Lil Wayne, and the expanding Cash Money/Universal brand.  While he made his name through the influence of the web, he’s far from a microwavable instant artist and should be around for along time.

Only now preparing to release his first official full length debut album, his work continually shows that focusing on craft, and attention to detail, can help boost your odds at becoming successful in a failing music business, while continuing to remain innovative as an artist.

Drake’s first album, Thank Me Later is scheduled for a May 2010 release. Check out the album’s first single, “Over”  HERE

Robin Thicke

We at Clizbeats.com would like to extend  congratulations to our friend Robin Thicke for taking the #1 spot on this week’s Urban Chart provided to us by Allaccess.com.  Below is an excerpt of the chart so that you may view the others gunning for the top spot.

1    THICKE, ROBIN Sex Therapy
2    TIMBALAND Say Something f/Drake
3    SONGZ, TREY Say Aah
4   USHER Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)
5    LUDACRIS How Low
6   MONICA Everything To Me
7   SONGZ, TREY Neighbors Know My Name

8    KEYS, ALICIA Try Sleeping With A Broken…
9    JAY-Z On To The Next One
10    BLIGE, MARY J. I Am

Loyal Clizbeats.comers know that Robin Thicke  became one of our first Clizbeats Featured Artists.  Believing in Robin was good for all of us.  Clizbeats.com provided him coverage at a crucial time in his career, and in return, his success gave our grass roots publication the credibility needed to grow, and interview other music A listers.  The cool thing is, because we met at such a crutial time in his career, Clizbeats was able to get some Robin Thicke history and perspectives that the other media sources missed out on.    Take a listen to our first interview with Robin Thicke before the stardom here. Congratulations on your second number 1 single.  Keep up the great work Robin!

From the moment Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” danced through the radio airwaves, her millions of monsters worldwide have been eagerly and anxiously waiting for the music video debut of the hit single. The wait is finally over Tonight, when E! News exclusively premieres the epic video, which features pop superstar Beyoncé, during the show’s 11:30 PM broadcast.
After the premiere, Gaga will dissect the inspiration behind “Telephone” and explain how she has been able to out-do herself yet again exclusively to Ryan Seacrest. The video will make its online debut at midnight that evening on VEVO.com and LadyGaga.com.

Gritty, erotic and wildly fierce, this nine-minute, visually stunning, cinematic masterpiece is helmed by famed music video director Jonas Akerlund. Rich with Gaga’s unique dance stylings, iconic costume design and unworldly hair and make-up, this is far from your typical music video.

Lady Gaga has said that the video for “Telephone” picks up where “Paparazzi” left off but will surpass its predecessor.  Gaga’s on-screen chemistry with Beyoncé transforms the song from a popular dance floor gem to a raw and explosive piece of art to be reckoned with.

Matt & Craig Moved their operation to the City line area of Philadelphia to meet up with Clizbeats featured artist Justin Bieber during his Philadelphia media tour. Thanks to our friends at Wired 96.5 for letting us stop by and make the connection during JB’s busy schedule..  As always, stay with us at Clizbeats as we continue to keep you a head of the curve on music’s best as they become huge stars.  We are very proud to have Justin as a Clizbeats Featured Artist.

You may remember that we brought you some behind the scenes images of last months artist of the month B.O.B aka Bobby Ray’s video for “Nothin On You.”  Well it is all finished and was recently premiered by MTV.  We’ve linked it up for you to enjoy.

B.O.B. AKA Bobby Ray

“Nothin On You”

Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records

Matisse

New Jive Records Singer/song writer, Matisse is actually not a rookie playing in show biz at all! “Matisse” or, Brit Smith is someone that has been working in entertainment business for as long as she can remember, or even earlier. At six months old she appeared on the hit Soap, One Live To Live. She and her sister Alex were later noticed for their appearance as  teenagers and moved to London to work on ads for John Freda.

It was in London when Brit and Alex spent a lot of time taking a hobbie they had singing R&B and Pop songs with their father around the house to the next level. All through high school the girls worked on their craft writing different Pop/R&B styyle tracks. Eventually the girls were signed to Hometown/Interscope Records by Jimmy Iovine. The girls released their first and only single as the group “Brit & Alex” “Let It Go” in 2008. The song was featured on the soundtrack to Step Up 2: The Streets From WEA/Atlantic Records. Brit & Alex’s debut album was to be released in 2009 with production by Dallas Austin and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, however when “Let It Go” could not break in the UK their relationship with Universal Music and Interscope Records ended.  Being forced to rebound after a crushing blow, the sisters decided to recently go their seperate ways.

While Alex decided to go back to school, Brit Smith was challenged to reinvent herself as an artist or find something new to do for a career. It was at that time when Brit Smith became “Matisse”. She named herself after one of her favorite painters who refused to give up as a struggling artists. Now Matisse is gettubf ready to release her debut after already living a lifetime in the business. She is currently now signed to Jive Records and has the experience as an artist to make the music of a veteran on her first album. Her experience and networking in the business has allowed her to compile a collection of tracks she co wrote with all her ‘A’  list producer friends that stood by her. Tricky and Dallas Austin continue to work with Matisse along with Cash Money/Universal Republic artist/producer, Kevin  Rudolf who produced her debut single, “Better Than Her.”

Matisse is without a doubt one of 2010’s artists to watch. Clizbeats loves her determination and persistance to not  give up on her dream!

Check out Some new music from Matisse

Jive Records Player

Jive Records/JLG

Brit & Alex

“Let It Go”

From Step Up 2: The Streets

Atlantic Records/Hometown/Interscope Records/Universal Music UK/Touchstone Pictures

Justin Bieber Bieber "Never Let You Go" School Boy/RBMG/Island Records/IDJMG

Clizbeats featured artists, mega Pop star Justin Bieber released the second single from his forthcoming second album, My World 2.0 . The song is “Never Let You Go”, and is another great example how he is following in his friend Usher’s foot steps. This is because the song was written and produced by Johnta Austin, Bryan-Michael Cox, both who worked with Usher during the peak of his career. JB is becoming the digital era of the music industry’s biggest teen idol! GO JUSTIN! My World 2.0 is in stores on March 23rd!

Justin Bieber “Never Let You Go”

From My World 2.0

School Boy/RBMG/Island Records/IDJMG

Cypress Hill Rise Up Priority/Capitol Records

CYPRESS HILL returns April 6th with RISE UP (Priority/EMI), an album whose thrilling mix of deep grooves and hard riffs are amplified by guest appearances from Rage Against The Machine/Street Sweeper Social Club guitarist Tom Morello, Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda, System of a Down guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian, singer-songwriter Marc Anthony, rapper Pitbull, Everlast, Young De, Evidence, The Alchemist and comic legends Cheech & Chong.

The album spotlights not one, but two lead singles: the incendiary title cut “Rise Up,” which features Tom Morello (who co-wrote and co-produced the song) and “Armada Latina,” a hip-hop-flavored track spiced with vocals by Marc Anthony and Pitbull and production by Jim Jonsin (Lil Wayne, Beyonce).  

“We spent time in the studio with some of our favorite artists and friends and we’re really proud of how the album turned out,” says Cypress Hill emcee B-Real. “We’re looking forward to taking these songs on the road and playing them for our fans around the world.”

The track listing for RISE UP is as follows:

Track Listing

1.   It Ain’t Nothin’ (feat. Young De)

Produced by B-Real for Audio Hustlaz

2.   Light It Up

Produced by Pete Rock for Chocolate Boy Wonda Productions

3.   Rise Up (feat. Tom Morello)

Produced by: Tom Morello and B-Real for Audio Hustlaz

4.   Get It Anyway

Produced by: Jim Jonsin

5.   Pass The Dutch (feat. Evidence and Alchemist)

Produced by: DjMuggs & DJ Khalil for Soul Assassins

6.   Bang Bang

Produced by: B-Real for Audio Hustlaz

7.   K.U.S.H

Produced by: Sick Jacken and B-Real for Audio Hustlaz

8.   Get ‘Em Up

Produced by: B-Real for Audio Hustlaz

9.   Carry Me Away (feat. Mike Shinoda)

Produced by: Mike Shinoda

10. Trouble Seeker (feat. Daron Malakian)

Produced by: Daron Malakian

11. Day Destroys the Night featuring Everlast
Produced by: DJ Muggs & DJ Khalil for Soul Assassins

12. I Unlimited

Produced by: B-Real for Audio Hustlaz

13. Armed & Dangerous

Produced by: Jake One and B-Real for Audio Hustlaz

14. Shut ‘Em Down (feat. Tom Morello)
Produced by: Tom Morello and B-Real for Audio Hustlaz

15. Armada Latina (feat. Marc Anthony and Pitbull)

Produced by: Jim Jonsin

RISE UP is Cypress Hill’s first new album in six years and the first release being issued through Priority/EMI. Priority Records Creative Chairman Snoop Dogg signed the band to the label. The follow-up to 2004’s Till Death Do Us Part, RISE UP was recorded over the course of the past three years at B-Real’s studio, The Temple, in Los Angeles.

Cypress Hill (emcees B-Real and Sen Dog, DJ Julio G and percussionist Eric Bobo), is one of the most successful and influential hip-hop/rock groups in music history, with more than 18 million worldwide sales, an amazing string of chart-topping hits and an international fanbase whose members number in the millions. They’ve headlined Lollapalooza, been named “Best Rap Group” by Rolling Stone, collaborated with the likes of Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and have had their music licensed for a plethora of TV shows, commercials and films. Cypress Hill was also the first Latino hip hop group to be certified platinum.

www.cypresshill.com

Check out Cypress Hill’s Current Hit

“Armada Latina” Featuring Marc Anthony & Pitbull

From Rise Up

Priority/Capitol Records

Australian singer/song writer Daniel Merrieweather has been building buzz for himself as one of R&B’s hottest new talents since he was a featured guest performer on Mark Ronson version of The Smith’s “Stop Me.” Now, while the Clizbeats office is working hard to debut his interview as one of our latest Clizbeats Featured Artists, Merriweather’s US Stock has taken off.  Within what seems to be a week, his face and music has graced the airwaves of the likes of Late Show With David Letterman, Ellen, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call With Carson Daly, and has recieved regular VH1 video rotation for his current single, “Red.”  We can’t wait to share the interview with you all.  Be on the look out for it.  In The mean time, learn what all the hype is all about, and watch this Clip of him singing “Red” on Jimmy Kimmel Live in case you missed it

Interview coming soon.  Be Excited!

Daniel Merriweather Performing

“Red”

From Jimmy Kimmel Live

ABC

Alido/J/RCA Records.RMG

Chester French and Craig, Matt and David of Clizbeats in South Carolina

Clizbeats.com would like to take a moment to quickly wish our friend D.A. Wallach of Chester French a very  happy and healthy 25th Birthday! Thanks for your continued support of Clizbeats and we are looking forward to hearing more from your band Chester French! For anyone who wants to learn more about Clizbeats featured band, Chester French CLICK HERE for our interview  telling their story! Also check out their cool project with Diddy! D.A. you are truely a “Ciroc” Star! Happy birthday bud!