“It was called Hell’s Kitchen for a reason,” Alicia Keys says of her native New York City stomping grounds, adding that it was the “opposite of Disneyland.” The 14-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter/pr​oducer sat before a packed auditorium at NYC’s 92nd St. Y for an intimate discussion as part of 92Y’s “Talks” series. Keys was the first to kickoff the Fall season of discussion subjects. Her interviewer, Jonathan Tisch, is an author, talk show host, Chairman of Loews Hotels, as well as a co-owner of the New York Giants.  

See the photo above? It's a screenshot on the side of a building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in New York City. That is merely one of 66 locations that will be premiering Kanye West's new single "New Slaves" globally. The track with projected visuals of Ye will appear on the various locations all night long. When Kanye returns, he goes hard in the (building) paint. 

This year will mark Drake's 4th annual OVO Fest held in his native Canadian stomping grounds. The two-day event has a tentative lineup announced, as Drake revealed some of the details yesterday (May 15th). While Drizzy is the obvious headliner (he wouldn't have it any other way), other acts were named on the bill that will definitely guarantee some emo fanfare. 

Unfortunately, when you sign up to become a member of Destiny's Child, you sign up to be burdened by a persistent shadow that fans and foes alike will refuse to let you ignore. And not your own shadow, Peter Pan. Nope; it's that of she who shall not be mentioned. And if, on top of that, you (God forbid) try to go solo too, you are asking for quantitative and qualitative comparisons of your careers for years to come.  

Just give the people what they want, Beyonce! And in case you're not clear what that is, it's not new material clipped and teased via a Pepsi commercial (a la "Grown Woman") or even an H&M ad (a la "Standing on the Sun") -- though that last one may have admittedly been more enjoyable due to her lack of clothing. 

While it's no big secret that singer/songwriter Sia helped pen the infectious Rihanna single "Diamonds," yet another track has surfaced that was allegedly intended for Rihanna's Unapologetic. The track is called "Loved Me Back To Life," and has Rih written all over it. 

When most artists decide to allow product placement in their videos, it's usually painfully unsubtle. Calls are made from the newest cellphone on the market, but rarely with anyone on the other line, and the latest headphones lay on tables with nary a DJ to ever pick them up (see: this gal). But leave it to Solange, practically in spite of her own eye-catching self, to have her newest clip "Locked in Closets" presented by Absolut Tune, the vodka brand's new white wine fusion, but not have it become a glorified commercial for the hot commodity. 

It's tough covering Aaliyah's music in any capacity, but a song like "Come Over" is even more difficult. The late songstress put her best chops forward on that single, but Sevyn Streeter was up for the challenge. 

The photo above was taken in 1933 in Harlem, NYC. The man in the photo (the only one looking directly at the camera) is the spitting image of Jay-Z. As he leans back in his too cool blazer, he looks as though he even has the swagger of one Mr. Carter. The black and white photo was found at the Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture at the New York Public Library.