“We’d been out to a dive bar. He just drank water and I got hammered,” recalled Sheeran. “Then we went to a golf course, and he lay on the floor and put a golf ball in his mouth and told me to hit it out of his mouth. I was like, ‘Fuck, I need to aim this properly,’ and I swung. And you know in films when someone gets punched, and you hear that fake sound, like a slap? But in real life when someone gets punched, you hear that dull thud, a bit sickening? I heard a sound like the last one, and saw his security guard looking at me like…
Sheeran added: “I’d cracked Justin Bieber right in the cheek with a golf club. That was,” he concludes, “one of those ‘What the fuck?’ moments.”
Kendrick Lamar has revealed that he is working on a “very urgent” new album.
The rapper explained that he wants to return to “addressing the problem” the way he did on his 2015 album ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’.
“I think now, how wayward things have gone within the past few months, my focus is ultimately going back to my community and the other communities around the world where they’re doing the groundwork,” Lamar told The New York Times.
“‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ was addressing the problem,” he continued. “I’m in a space now where I’m not addressing the problem anymore. We’re in a time where we exclude one major component out of this whole thing called life: God. Nobody speaks on it because it’s almost in conflict with what’s going on in the world when you talk about politics and government and the system.”
Though he gave no idea as to a potential release date, Lamar did say of the album: “It’s very urgent.”
Footage from Lamar’s New York City gig was made available online in December. The rapper also performed on stage recently with The Weeknd. The pair ran through their ‘Starboy’ collaboration, ‘Sidewalks’, during The Weeknd’s LA show on December 15. Watch footage of the two on stage together here.
The Academy has banned two PricewaterhouseCoopers employees from future Oscars ceremonies after they were deemed responsible for Sunday night’s envelope error.
An embarrassing mix-up on Sunday night saw Warren Beaty and Faye Dunaway, who were announcing the winner, being given the wrong envelope, one containing the winner of the previous category (Emma Stone, Best Actress for La La Land). Halfway through La La Land‘s acceptance speech, it was announced that Moonlight had actually won, sending viewers online into a frenzy.
The Academy’s president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, said yesterday (March 1) that the two PwC accountants who handled the winners’ envelopes during Sunday night’s show, Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz, will never work on Oscars night again.
“They have one job to do. One job to do!” Boone Isaacs told the Associated Press. “Obviously there was a distraction.”
She also praised Beatty for his handling of the situation, saying: “Warren, he took charge there. He took charge of a situation that he did not create.” La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz also earned praise from the Academy present because, she said, he “went from a nominee to a winner to a presenter” in such a short space of time.
Getty
PwC has already issued a statement explaining and apologising for Sunday night’s mistake. It reads: “PwC takes full responsibility for the series of mistakes and breaches of established protocols during last night’s Oscars. PwC partner Brian Cullinan mistakenly handed the back-up envelope for Actress in a Leading Role instead of the envelope for Best Picture to presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. Once the error occurred, protocols for correcting it were not followed through quickly enough by Mr. Cullinan or his partner.”
With a combination of great music, incredibly supportive fan bases, a daily television show dedicated to those fan bases, and the timing of it all happening in the final decade before iTunes and streaming took over, the TRL era provided an optimal setting for record breaking album sales.
Ask any artist who was popular back when Carson Daly was on MTV every afternoon, and they’ll likely tell you the TRL years, which were from 1998 to 2008, were the absolute best time to be an artist with a Top 40 hit.
Diamond status, which indicates an album has sold over 10 million copies, is rarified air, but we found 14 albums from TRL favorites that reached that sales plateau.
Santana – 'Supernatural' (1999)
15x Platinum
With all of the young pop stars that dominated the era, who would have thought a middle aged guitarist would top them all in album sales? Well, when that middle aged guitarist is the legendary Carlos Santana, and you pair him up with Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas, you get a hit so “Smooth” that it leads an album to incredible sales heights.
Supernatural also featured the follow up single “Maria Maria,” with The Product G&B, but only “Smooth” inspired one of the greatest t-shirts ever.
Backstreet Boys – 'Backstreet Boys' (1997)
14x Platinum
BSB’s eponymous debut featured the mega-hits “Quit Playing Games (with My Heart),” “As Long as You Love Me,” “All I Have to Give,” and “I’ll Never Break Your Heart.”
Interestingly, only the 1998 reissue had “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).” This was apparently due to the fact that while BSB was already known internationally, the label felt it would be odd to have a song named “Backstreet’s Back” on their first album released in the US.
This album also marked the start of the Max Martin era of pop music, an era which we are still currently in, 20 years later.
Britney Spears – '…Baby One More Time' (1999)
14x Platinum
Led by arguably one of the 10 greatest pop songs of all-time, …Baby One More Time launched Britney Spears into the spotlight, and inspired a million Britney clones.
Along with the legendary title track, the album featured the hits “Sometimes,” “(You Drive Me) Crazy,” “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart,” and “Born to Make You Happy.”
With over 14 million units sold, …Baby One More Time holds the record as the best selling album by a teenage solo artist.
Backstreet Boys – 'Millennium' (1999)
13x Platinum
Lest anyone think the Backstreet Boys would be a one album wonder, the boy band came back with Millennium, which was led by the genre-defining hit, “I Want It That Way.” Even just reading the title of the song can lead to it being stuck in your head (if you aren’t humming it yet, let me help … you are, my fiiire).
In addition to “I Want It That Way,” the album featured “Larger Than Life,” and “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,” and proved boy bands could have staying power.
Kid Rock – 'Devil Without a Cause' (1998)
11x Platinum
Kid Rock was perhaps the most unexpected, and unlikely, superstar of the TRL era. While current fans know him more as a country musician, in the late ‘90s he was giving listeners an aggressive combination of rap and rock that spoke to a heck of a lot of people.
Led by the monster hit, “Bawitdaba,” Devil Without a Cause also featured the similarly aggressive “Cowboy,” as well as the more slowed down singles “Only God Knows Why,” and “Wasting Time.”
With rumors swirling about his possible candidacy for Senator in Michigan, it’s nice to remember when Kid Rock was a rebel.
Creed – 'Human Clay' (1999)
11x Platinum
Every generation has a band that, when future generations look back on the era, leads to the question, “Why were they so popular?” For the TRL era, that band is Creed.
Creed had generic rock hits like “Higher,” “With Arms Wide Open,” and “What If.” What they also had was perfect timing, because apparently those generic rock hits were exactly what we were looking for back then.
There’s no way we can explain the Creed phenomenon to anyone who wasn’t there to experience it. It happened, and I’m betting quite a few folks still count them as a guilty pleasure.
Eminem – 'The Marshall Mathers LP' (2000)
11x Platinum
Already a star in both the hip-hop and pop worlds, The Marshall Mathers LP launched Eminem to a level of notoriety that turned him into both a household name, and a constant point of contention for anyone who didn’t enjoy, or understand, his work.
The album sold more than 1.76 million copies in its first week – a record at the time for a solo artist – and was led by the singles, “The Real Slim Shady,” “The Way I Am,” and “Stan.”
Eminem’s popularity happening at the same time, and with much of the same fan base, as the pop stars of the era, was an indicator of the varied tastes of a generation that wouldn’t be pigeonholed.
NSYNC – 'No Strings Attached' (2000)
11x Platinum
NSYNC’s second album held quite the distinction until just two years ago. Selling 2.4 million copies in its first week, No Strings Attached held the record for first week album sales until Adele moved 3.38 million copies of 25 in its first week in 2015.
Led by the hits “Bye Bye Bye,” “It’s Gonna Be Me” and “This I Promise You,” No Strings Attached eventually outsold NSYNC’s eponymous debut — a feat that was no easy task considering their debut is also on this list.
Linkin Park – 'Hybrid Theory' (2000)
11x Platinum
While bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit introduced the TRL audience to nu metal, it was Linkin Park who took the genre to new heights, especially sales-wise.
Featuring the monster hits “One Step Closer,” “Crawling” and “In the End,” and buoyed by crossover airplay on rock and pop radio, Hybrid Theory became the best selling nu metal album of all-time.
Even though the album is now 17 years old, it doesn’t sound dated at all, which is a heck of an accomplishment.
Eminem – 'The Eminem Show' (2002)
11x Platinum
Eminem’s follow up to his wildly successful The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show may have actually been a better album, content-wise.
After the token pop oriented lead single, “Without Me,” songs like “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” and “Sing for the Moment,” went deeper on both a personal, and a societal, level than he’d ever gone before.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise The Eminem Show equaled the incredible sales mark of its predecessor.
NSYNC – '*NSYNC' (1998)
10x Platinum
NSYNC’s debut album, aka the moment the non Mickey Mouse Club watching world was introduced to Justin Timberlake, showed everyone that the Backstreet Boys weren’t the only boy band in town.
With hits like, “I Want You Back,” “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You,” and “I Drive Myself Crazy,” NSYNC’s eponymous debut helped set the stage for a debate that still rages to this day – BSB, or NSYNC?
Britney Spears – 'Oops!… I Did It Again' (2000)
10x Platinum
Yes, Britney literally did it again, the “it” in this case being going diamond.
It’s pretty incredible for an artist to have ONE diamond album, but Ms. Spears went back to back, and with singles like the title track, as well as “Lucky,” “Stronger,” and “Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know,” it’s really no surprise she reached this height for a second time.
Nelly – 'Country Grammar' (2000)
10x Platinum
I’m not sure Nelly had any idea that his catchy hooks would turn him into a pop star, but the St. Louis rapper went from local celebrity, to household name, thanks to Country Grammar.
Led by the title track, as well as the singles “Ride wit Me,” and “E.I.,” Nelly’s sing-song choruses were pleasing to pop listeners, while his lyrics, and flow, made him a favorite amongst hip-hop audiences. Combine those fan bases and you have yourself a diamond album.
Usher – 'Confessions' (2004)
10x Platinum
Originally a favorite of R&B audiences, Usher became one of the biggest stars in all of music thanks to Confessions.
Featuring the hit singles “Yeah,” “Burn,” “Confessions Part II,” “My Boo,” and “Caught Up,” the album moved Usher from simply being a genre specific star, to being an all out superstar, and he’s never looked back.
It only took five years for Nintendo to kill the Wii U. A lack of software, 3rd-party support, online services, and graphical prowess kept it from competing with their Sony and Microsoft brethren. But Nintendo does not give up easily, doubling down on multiple concepts that have worked for them over the years, like motion controls and portability, resulting in their new system the Switch. The console can be played via your television or while traveling in your hand or on a table, but what games are you going to play on it when it releases this Friday, March 3? Have no fear, we’re here to tell you the top five games to buy at launch!
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Straight up, if you do not buy Zelda with your Switch you have made a poor decision with your money.
This is the definitive Nintendo franchise to show off the beauty, range, and capability of the Switch. But it’s not your grandpappy’s adventure, as Link is now fighting to survive in a gigantic open world while battling the elements as well as the foes that fill Hyrule. Yep, Princess Zelda is in trouble, Ganon is probably to blame, and your trusty steed will get you too and fro, but this is the first foray in voice acting for the series, adding even more evidence to show that Nintendo is definitely looking to modernize a few of its prized possessions. While we have to wait until this holiday for a proper Mario sequel, this should be the near-permanent cartridge in your switch for the time being.
Snipperclips
It looks like the Switch is primed for some fun multiplayer experiences, given the fact that each controller (known as the Joy Cons) both have buttons and a stick so they double as individual controls. Snipperclips seems to take advantage of that setup the most, with a cooperative puzzle experience packed with charm and style that should make a new Switch owner proud.
Up to four people play as some cute clippable characters that each other can modify in order to solve a puzzle. Need to jump somewhere with a small window? Let your partner cut you down to size so you can fit. Check out the trailer for another fun scenario and definitely pick this up if you have a friend (or foe) who wants to get in on some sweet Switch action on launch day.
1-2-Switch
While a legitimate case could be made for 1-2-Switch to be a free pack-in game ala Wii Sports, it is not. But like that seminal amazing mini-game collection that launched the Wii into a bazillion homes, 1-2-Switch proves how this device is truly different from everything else.The 28 games included show off various Switch features such as HD Rumble, which allows you to feel exactly how many balls are in a box or ice cubes in a glass.
The IR sensor on the end of the left Joy Con allows for insane games like a rapid fire sandwich eating simulator that is sure to entertain a crowd. There isn’t a ton of depth here, but you could do way worse at a party and it should make for getting comfortable with the overall system and features.
Blaster Master Zero
Sit around, children, and listen to the story of Blaster Master. Nearly 30 years ago, this Sunsoft gem made NES owners pretty happy, as the road trip meets Contra gameplay was immensly enjoyable. Fast forward all these years, and nobody has quite made the perfect sequel. Some have tried, all have failed, but Blaster Master Zero looks like it may actually have figured out what makes the original so great. The graphics are sharp, the frame rate appears to be smooth, and all of the classic car and ground combat looks as faithful as ever, even down to the 80’s cutscenes. And there is multiplayer and DLC!
Technically, this is a launch title in Japan and coming to the states less than a week later, but the Switch is a region-free console so you could import it if you couldn’t wait six days!
Shovel Knight
Yacht Games is actually giving a double dose of Shovel Knight on Day One for the Switch, with Specter of Torment and Treasure Trove both releasing on the 3rd. The former is the prequel to the original Shovel Knight, which you can buy standalone, or grab it and every single piece of Shovel Knight content in the Treasure Trove pack. Confusing? Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.
This is the only “old” game on this list, but it’s worth picking up even if you’ve dabbled with it before. While it is a modern title, it harkens back to the greatest Nintendo games of all time like Castlevania, Ninja Gaiden, and Mega Man. Those pixel perfect jumps you mastered on a black and white TV will come in handy in this sometimes brutal but always fun retro platformer. Many have tried paying homage to the 8-bit era but nobody perfected it the way Shovel Knight has.
Peking Duk: trippy name, trippy dudes, trippy songs with trippy videos. Australians Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles burst into the EDM music scene three years ago, and have since had millions of streams on Spotify and a bunch of hits on ARIA, Hype Machina and Shazaam. The tongue-in-cheek grooves, the electro bangers and the dreamy remixes have captured listeners who’ve catapulted their tracks to the top of Hype Machine, Australian Shazaam, ARIA singles & clubs charts and Triple J's Hottest 100. Peking Duk have also performed at SXSW, Coachella, Lollapalooza, Electric Zoo, TomorrowWorld, and Life Is Beautiful.
Currently on their North American "We Are All Animals 2017 Tour," Reuben and Adam talk to Myspace about what their name means, sharing girlfriends and making music. “We're just two Aussie lads that love creating music and dancing to it.”
Hop to the next page to read the full interview.
Hometown:
Reuben: Hometown is Canberra, Australia. It's where Adam and I both grew up, went to school, discovered music and became what we are. Not going to recommend visiting, unless you like skateparks and war memorials.
Homebase: We live in Sydney, Australia! Home of the ibis bin bird and lots of bats... Absolutely stunning.
How did you two meet?
Reuben: Actually we met at the skatepark. I was waiting for my mates to rock up and ended up spending the morning with Adam and his mate whilst my boys slowly woke up and made their way down. I realised Adam had been dating the same girl that I was dating so we had lots of laughs and things to talk about. Before too long we were at the age of going to parties, then our crews eventually connected and we were all hanging out.
Why call yourselves Peking Duk?
Reuben: It's a long story, we used to party a lot and when one of our mates was "peking duk" they were absolutely PEAKING at the party, but in a less conventional way. It's when you are so buzzed from all the beers and spirits that your face can't maintain clarity, so your instinct is to squeeze out a duck face. It was great laughs when someone was peking duk. Anyway we had a song ready to whack on iTunes in 2011 (called "Bingo Trippin") and thought Peking Duk would be a fine name for the first song, and we could change the name for the second song if we needed... It stuck and we still haven't changed it.
Were you in other bands before? What were they like?
Reuben: I was in a bunch of bands and Adam was rapping in hip hop crews... Lots of different styles and genres throughout our years as young musicians. We never really liked dance music til we heard Crookers/Beetroots, so this all happened quite coincidentally!
How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard of you?
Adam: Sweaty, sensual, banging and euphoric.
What influences your music making?
Reuben: Almost anything. Sometimes it will be a movie that makes you feel a certain way. Most recently the TV series Black Mirror had me inspired above and beyond to create new sounds and ideas. Sometimes when something is so visual you here your own melody ideas that you think might suit the tone and textures in the visual mood. Other times we are influenced by music and sounds.. The other day an elevator was squeaking significantly at each floor so we recorded it and created a sample out of it which was a great starting point to create an entirely new track. A lot of melodies and rhythms are inspired by rock and hip hop, we tend to not listen to much dance music.. Style-wise we've always been fans of trying to not sound like anything else, however we can guarantee would not be here if it weren't for Crookers, Bloody Beetroots, Justice and Fake Blood.
Your singles are huge hits, are you working on an album right now?
Adam: Thank you (laughs). Yep! We have an arsenal of songs we've been working on for the last couple of years from around the world... we can't wait to show everyone what we've been cooking.
How did your collaboration with clothing line Kappa come about?
Reuben: About a year ago at the APRA Music Awards in Australia Adam attended wearing a full Kappa tracksuit. I wore a boring old suit like everyone else but it was a great contrast between the two of us. We went on to win APRA's Song of the Year award which no one - especially not ourselves - expected. Following the Australian press surrounding that award we were approached by Kappa asking if we were interested in free Kappa gear, we said "Let's collaborate."
Adam: I had a vintage Kappa banda tracksuit in my closet at my cribbo in Sydney and thought "Fuck that'd be funny if I got that tailored and wore it to the APRA awards." So I did. I woke up the next morning completely hungover at 2 p.m. (yet stoked cos we won two awards!) with the thought on my head that it would be next level if we got a sponsorship deal with Kappa. Crawled over to my phone on my bedside table to see an unread text from our manager that said, "Kappa wanna work with us." So one thing led to another and we designed the tracksuit with them. They are legends. Iconic.
Reuben: It came from a bunch of studio sessions and a growing friendship with her. We met her at SXSW in Austin and then again at Coachella. She was in Australia and we had some ideas for her to sing on, all sounded good so we went months after to Sweden to really nail something special. So happy we did because "Stranger" is our fav song to date.
What were your day jobs before making music for a living? Did they help you make music for the band?
Reuben: We both used to work at McDonalds, and then at cafes for years.. They helped us buy more equipment and support our addiction for making music. Cafes were great for helping us enjoy the company of different faces. Some musicians go straight from the bedroom to a stage of 5000 people, all the while more and more people are wanting to talk to you. Kurt Cobain was severely affected by this and many others are to this day. Lot's of people in turn become more introverted and start hating the company of people they don't know. Our years of cafe jobs were great training for meeting people and learning to enjoy talking to people we don't know.
Do you have a cool story about being on Myspace as a musician?
Reuben: I played in a band called Rubycon for a few years and Myspace was our main platform for uploading music. It was such a fun time as a young musician, to have a platform where anyone in the world could come and listen to your music. The first of many exciting new ways for young musicians to bypass the old monopolised radio system. Peep Rubycon's music on myspace, my fav song was and maybe still is "She Went White"
If you were a hashtag what would you be?
Adam: #clowntown
For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.
