Billboard Music Awards, Las Vegas 2011

Full list of 2011 Billboard Award Winners:

ARTIST AWARDS:
• Top Artist: Eminem
• Top New Artist: Justin Bieber
• Top Male Artist: Eminem
• Top Female Artist: Rihanna
• Top Duo/Group: Black Eyed Peas
• Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Hot 100 Artist: Katy Perry
• Top Digital Songs Artist: Katy Perry
• Top Radio Songs Artist: Rihanna
• Top Touring Artist: U2
• Top Social Artist: Justin Bieber
• Top Streaming Artist: Justin Bieber
• Top Digital Media Artist: Justin Bieber
• Top Pop Artist: Lady GaGa
• Top R&B Artist: Usher
• Top Rap Artist: Eminem
• Top Country Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Rock Artist: Train
• Top Alternative Artist: Mumford & Sons
• Top Latin Artist: Shakira
• Top Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady GaGa
• Top Christian Artist: Chris Tomlin

ALBUM AWARDS
• Top Billboard 200 Album: Eminem - "Recovery"
• Top Pop Album: Justin Bieber - "My World 2.0"
• Top R&B Album: Usher - "Raymond vs. Raymond"
• Top Rap Album: Eminem - "Recovery"
• Top Country Album: Taylor Swift - "Speak Now"
• Top Rock Album: Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More"
• Top Alternative Album: Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More"
• Top Latin Album: Enrique Iglesias - "Euphoria"
• Top Dance/Electronic/Electronic Album: Lady GaGa - "The Fame"
• Top Christian Album: Skillet - "Awake"

SONG AWARDS
• Top Hot 100 Song: Taio Cruz - "Dynamite"
• Top Digital Song: Taio Cruz - "Dynamite"
• Top Radio Song: Bruno Mars - "Just the Way You Are"
• Top Streaming Song (Audio): Nelly - "Just a Dream"
• Top Streaming Song (Video): Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris - "Baby"
• Top Pop Song: Taio Cruz - "Dynamite"
• Top R&B Song: Usher ft. will.i.am "OMG"
• Top Rap Song: Eminem ft. Rihanna - "Love the Way You Lie"
• Top Country Song: Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"
• Top Rock Song: Train - "Hey, Soul Sister"
• Top Alternative Song: Neon Trees - "Animal"
• Top Latin Song: Shakira ft. Freshleyground - "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)"
• Top Dance/Electronic Song: Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - "Stereo Love"
• Top Christian Song: Chris Tomlin - "Our God"

SPECIAL HONOREES
• Millennium Award: Beyonce Knowles
• Icon Award: Neil Diamond

OTHER AWARDS
• Viral Innovator Award: Cee-Lo Green
• Fan Favorite Award: Justin Bieber
• Heatseeker of the Year: Gentleman Hall


Rapper Eminem also shared the glory with Biebs, picking up the ceremony's biggest honours including awards for Artist of the Year and Rap Album for his smash hit LP, Recovery.
Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Lady GaGa and the UK's very own Taio Cruz and Mumford & Sons also triumphed at the show, winning three gongs each.

Beyoncé took home the coveted Billboard Millennium Award and also performed her new single, Run The World (Girls) with a troupe of female backing dancers.

Other performers included Pitbull and Ne-Yo, Black Eyed Peas and Britney Spears and Rihanna, who opened the show at Sin City's MGM Grand with a sexy rendition of their collaboration, S&M, as they both donned kinky bondage outfits.

All About JAY Z

Jay-Z Biography

Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter, on December 4, 1969, and was raised in the Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, New York. During his school days, he befriended a young Christopher Wallace, who grew up to be known as the Notorious B.I.G.

As a hustler in his rough neighborhood, Jay-Z used his money to finance a career in music and released independent records in the late '80s. His parents were avid record collectors and Jay-Z would sit down at the dining room table as a child writing rhymes while his mother cleaned the house with the music blaring. The more time he spent on the block though, the less time he had for transcribing lyrics. As a result, Jay-Z developed a genius skill that few others could emulate, even now.

 

Why is He famous

Jay-Z has been the most consistent rap artist of the past five years, with platinum release after platinum release. The addictive hooks to his hit songs are some of the most memorable in hip-hop history.

Jay-Z Quote

" Nas is definitely going to bring out the best of me. He's gonna put me at the top of my game. I hope I do the same for him. It's like playing basketball with a guy. It's just verbal sparring -- no one's fighting, it's just records."

Magnetism

If you thought the track "Big Pimpin'" was a fantasy, think again. When you bling bling like the Jiggaman, you can have your pick of the finest honeys out there. "Money Ain't A Thang" and "Money, Cash, Hoes" are two songs that provide you with a glimpse into the life of Shawn Carter. With a net worth into the tens of millions and a gangsta-lean groove that would make Curtis Mayfield proud, Jay-Z is beyond the chase. When you can lace a woman in ice and Prada without even blinking, all you need to do is sit back and choose.

In 2008, rumors flew that he and longtime girlfriend, Beyonce, had tied the knot. The couple has neither confirmed nor denied the rumors. Either way, Beyonce is one nice piece of arm candy.

Success

Jay-Z is this close to being a household name, an amazing accomplishment considering his humble roots in the Marcy Projects of Brooklyn. He can now hold court with Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson in the same week, so formidable is his clout.

However, Jigga has not coasted to the revered position he now holds. He may just be the most industrious rapper of all-time. Since his debut hit the shelves in 1996, Jay-Z has put out seven albums, including an MTV Unplugged release and his recent collaboration with R. Kelly, The Best Of Both Worlds.

He is at the helm of his own successful record label and clothing empire, Roc-A-Fella, along with partner Damon Dash, proving that his genius is as compatible in the world of business as it is in front of a mic. As the title of his hit duet with Mary J. Blige states, "Can't Knock The Hustle."

 

Jay-Z releases vol. 2 hard knock and the blueprint

The true sign that a rap artist has arrived is how ubiquitous he becomes, as others clamor for a rhyme or guest appearance. With two albums under his belt, Jay-Z had become the undisputed leader of the rap pack but he still kept setting the bar high. His soundtrack to the self-directed, produced and written short Streets Is Watching featured the smash "It's Alright."

Mainstream success and more street cred came with the album Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life. It remained atop the Billboard charts for five weeks and cemented the reputation of Jay-Z as a major talent and producer of urban anthems. Each subsequent album has raised the status of the rap and fashion mogul at the head of the Roc-A-Fella empire, with The Blueprint in 2001making the biggest splash with critics and fans to date.

Jay-Z retires?

In 2002, Jay-Z released another debut album, The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse, which sold four million copies, and in '03 Collision Course, a collaborative project involving Linkin Park, came out.

In November of that year, Jay-Z held a concert at Madison Square Garden that he called his "retirement party," and performers included Missy Elliott, Memphis Bleek, Blige, Beyoncé, Twista, Ghostface Killah, Foxy Brown, Pharrell Williams, and R. Kelly.

Jay-Z comes back with kingdom come

In 2006, after a greatest hits album and several concert appearances, Jay-Z returned to music full-time with the comeback album Kingdom Come, which included producers Just Blaze, Pharrell, Kanye West, Dr. Dre and Coldplay's Chris Martin. Jay'Z's 10th album, American Gangster, followed in 2007.

In February '08, Jay-Z made the news when he became the first hip-hop headliner at the Glastonbury Festival. Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame was apparently one of the more outspoken critics of the decision so, in typical "Jay-Z" style, he opened the festival by doing a rendition of Oasis' "Wonderwall."

In April 2008, reports came out that Jay-Z had wed his long-time girlfriend, beauty Beyonce. As of October, they still hadn't denied or confirmed the reports. Then, in August, AM nominated him for their annual Top 49 Men of 2008.

All about EMINEM

Eminem Biography

The man otherwise known as Eminem was christened Marshall Bruce Mathers III, and was born October 17, 1972, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Eminem was raised by his mother, and traveling from one trailer park to another was the only tune Eminem was singing. His single mother would move her son from Kansas City to Warren, Michigan, only to finally settle down in the East Side of Detroit when Eminem was 12.
Eminem's Early Years

Due to a childhood tainted by constant moving around and a broken family, Eminem was, surprisingly, a quiet child, and delved mostly into comics and TV. While a student at Lincoln Junior High School and Osbourne High School, Eminem became interested in '80s rap acts such as 2 Live Crew, L.L. Cool J and NWA, and he began to open up more in the form of rapping and rhyming.

As a white rapper singing predominantly "black" music, Eminem got into many fights while in school. Despite his rhyming talents, Eminem didn't spend much of his time actually studying, and after mastering the art of skipping school, the teenage delinquent dropped out altogether.

He spent his time working several minimum-wage jobs, while concentrating on rapping. After contributing his rapping skills to groups such as Basement Productions and Sole Intent, and establishing a reputation for himself as the only white rapper taking to the Detroit "talent night" microphones, the master rhymer released a solo independent album, Infinite, in 1996.


Why is He famous

He has had five extremely successful albums with huge hit songs like "My Name Is," "The Real Slim Shady," "The Way I Am," "Stan," "Without Me," and "Lose Yourself" (from the box-office hit in which he also starred, 8 Mile). Eminem's violent and derogatory lyrics have made him a star among teenagers and a frequent target of activist groups. He's been off the radar for the last few years, thanks to his battle with a sleeping pill addiction, but released Relapse in 2008. In 2010 he won his 11th Grammy for his album Recovery. Given the ridiculous sales of his past albums, we can only imagine that his next recovery will be from his well-earned fame.

Eminem Quote

" I get offended when people say, 'So, being a white rapper... and growing up white... after being born white...' It's all I ever hear!"

Eminem Stars In 8 Mile

In 2002, Eminem made his acting debut in the movie 8 Mile, which was based loosely on his life. Not only did the film garner a lot of much-deserved praise, the soundtrack for the film was as successful as the movie. The track "Lose Yourself," which was featured prominently in the trailers and movie, won a truckload of awards, including two Grammys (for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song) and the Oscar for Best Music, Original Song.

The Eminem Show was also released in 2002, and spawned hits like "Without Me" and "Cleaning Out My Closet." It earned Eminem two more Grammys, this time for Best Short Form Music Video for "Without Me" and Best Rap Album.

Eminem spent the next couple of years exchanging words with Triumph the Insult Dog at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards and appearing at 2003's VMAs, and collaborating with D12 on their song "My Band."  

Magnetism

Though it makes him sick to his stomach to admit it, Eminem is well aware that a lot of the same teenyboppers that liked 'N Sync and Britney Spears also own his albums (i.e. he has throngs of teenage girls dreaming of him). Though his lyrics and style might turn off some classier women, he still has his pick among the many, many women who adore him. 

Success

Yes, Eminem was robbed at the 2001 Grammys. He should have won Album of the Year (but understand that the Grammy voters are also technicians and producers who appreciate the meticulous and quality studio work of Steely Dan). Still, since then he's earned an Oscar for his work in 8 Mile plus an MTV Movie Award for the same flick.

But Eminem's biggest revenge on any jazzy-rock band (i.e. new enemy Steely Dan) is a look at the Billboard charts. His album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest-selling rap album in history.

In addition, 2002's The Eminem Show and its hit single, "Without Me," garnered Eminem two much-deserved Grammys: one for Best Short Form Music Video for "Without Me" and the other for Best Rap Album. In November of 2002, Eminem proved he could also act, with the lead role in the semi-autobiographical film, 8 Mile.

In 2004, Eminem made headlines yet again, this time for the controversial video for "Just Lose It," the first single off his fourth album, Encore. He came out with Relapse in 2009 after some time away from the spotlight, and won his 11th Grammy in 2011 for his newest album, Recovery.
 
Eminem Releases Recovery

Instead of the expected release of Relapse 2, Eminem came out with his seventh studio album Recovery on June 18, 2010, for which he won a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2011. He also won Best Rap Solo Performance for "Not Afraid," and performed with Rihanna at the 2011 Grammy Awards. They sang their hit single "Love the Way you Lie (Part 2)." He now has a total of 11 Grammys.

The album became Eminem's sixth consecutive number-one album in the U.S. and achieved international commercial success, charting at number one in several other countries. Recovery was also reported by Billboard to be the best-selling album of 2010, making Eminem the first artist in Nielsen SoundScan history to have two year-end best-selling albums.

Biography of Jessie J

About Jessie J

Based on the amount of success and the speed at which it happened, it’s easy to assume that Jessie J has lived a charmed life. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Born Jessica Ellen Cornish, she began performing at a very young age while attending Colin’s Performing Arts School. At 11, she was cast in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End production of Whistle Down The Wind. But it was also the same year that she was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, a diagnosis that was made after she collapsed while racing her father to the car. Though her health problems became a constant source of discomfort in her life (she would suffer a minor stroke at 18), Jessie J refused to give up on her dream, and at 16, began studying at the BRIT School. The following year, she joined the girl group Soul Deep before eventually signing to Gut Records, for whom she would eventually record an album. Unfortunately, the label went bankrupt before releasing the material, and Jessie J was forced to take a different road to the top.

Jessie J Writes Her Way To The Top

Jessie J is that rare breed of pop star who pens her own songs, something she’s been doing since she was 17. But it’s the songs she wrote for others that first caught the attention of the music industry. Armed with a Sony ATV publishing deal, it wasn’t long before Jessie J was writing for some of the world’s biggest pop stars, including Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, and Miley Cyrus, for whom she wrote the juggernaut hit “Party In The U.S.A”.
 
Jessie J Takes Center Stage

Jessie J’s first solo album, Who You Are, was a six-year-in-the-making labor of love, whose scheduled 2011 release had the soulful British songstress on everyone’s “People To Watch” list this year. Jessie J had already built considerable buzz with her songwriting skills and her supporting stints on Chris Brown’s and Cyndi Lauper’s respective tours. Throw in some help from pop music’s newest King Midas, Dr. Luke, and Jessie J was primed for a breakout year. And breakout she did. Since releasing Who You Are in February, Jessie J has become the UK’s most ubiquitous pop star since Lily Allen on the back of her hit singles, the grimy anthem “Do it Like a Dude” and the syrupy “Price Tag,” which soared to No. 1 on the UK charts. She also won the prestigious Critic’s Choice Award and the BBC Sound Award at The 2011 BRIT Awards.

Success

Whenever a pop star bursts onto the scene the way Jessie J has, many are prone to making snap judgements about the legitimacy of said pop star's artistry. But despite what some may think, Jessie J is not a manufactured commodity who just happens to look good on camera. The singer spent years earning her stripes by writing songs for some of the world’s biggest artists, including Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, and Miley Cyrus, for whom she wrote the multi-platinum hit “Party In The U.S.A.” But Jessie J’s tenure behind the scenes has come to an end, and the spotlight now belongs to her. Her debut album Who You Are is in a dogfight with Adele’s 21 in the UK charts, thanks to her two smash singles “Do It Like a Dude” and “Price Tag.” After embarking on a promotional tour of the U.S. for her debut album Who You Are, which was recently released in the States on April 12th, she's appeared as a musical guest on a Zach Galifianakis-hosted Saturday Night Live episode in March, performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed on Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Next up for Jessie J? Anything she sets her mind to. In fact, Jessie's debut album Who You Are has already entered the top five in the U.S. iTunes chart. Quite an achievement for a former behind-the-scenes gal.

Sex Appeal
Jessie J may be the new kid on the block, but she’s already challenging more established pop stars like Rihanna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga for fashion-icon status, thanks to her throwback '60s bob and urban-goth aesthetic. But with her newfound fame comes the inevitable interest in her personal life, something that Jessie J has had trouble accepting. To make matters worse, her love life is particularly tabloid-worthy, thanks to her open bisexuality. Jessie J has made a habit of speaking candidly about her extracurricular activities, saying, “I’ve never hidden the fact that I have dated guys and girls. In interviews, I was ready to talk about it, but the questions were so dumb, like, 'Have you ever kissed a girl and liked it?' I'd be like, 'What kind of question is that?'" It's a perfectly valid one, as far as we’re concerned.

Jessie J Quote

" I’m not going to live my life worrying about what gets put in the papers. I'm probably going to sleep with people that I shouldn't, and I'm going to date people who others disapprove of. But that is how you live life. If people want to kiss and tell about it, then go ahead. I don't like drama, but I have to accept that sort of thing is going to happen."

Why is She famous?

Already a major star in her native UK, Jessie J has set her sights on conquering the U.S. market with her slick and spunky brand of pop music. The 23-year-old “Price Tag” singer, who cut her teeth writing hits for the likes Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Alicia Keys, is poised to become her country’s biggest female pop export since The Spice Girls. The only difference is that instead of five girls who can’t sing, Jessie J is one girl who can.

Relationship Revenge Songs

Eminem -- 'Kim'

Mr. Mathers' on-off partner Kimberley Scott came in for more abuse while married to him than most people reserve for their exes. This eponymous tirade, written and released during their first marriage, was particularly vile. He portrays himself screaming abuse at her, before eventually slitting her throat. Kim is said to have attempted suicide after seeing him perform the song on stage in 2000. They remarried in 2006. What on earth was she thinking?

Justin Timberlake -- 'Cry Me A River'

The boy band star turned r'n'b crotch-thruster documented his relationship with Britney Spears telling her, "You don't have to say what you did/I already know, I found out from him." The video featured Timberlake breaking into her house and filming himself snogging another woman. Well, full marks for imagination at any rate...

Taylor Swift -- 'Dear John'

Taylor Swift always seemed like such a nice girl. But it"s best not to cross her, if the song Dear John from the 20-year-old Country sensation"s latest album is anything to go by.

"Don't you think nineteen's too young To be played by your dark, twisted games when I loved you so?" she asks, and in so doing she adds her name to the long list of artists who have used the medium of song to hit back at a significant other. Such as these...

Carly Simon -- 'You're So Vain'

The original break-up revenge song. Or at least, we think it is. The singer-songwriter still refuses to reveal the subject of her 1972 smash hit, thus enhancing the song's legend. Warren Beattie and Mick Jagger are among the prime suspects, while earlier this year it was revealed that she had whispered the name of label boss David Geffen in a backward message on a recent re-recording of the song. However, she says the song wasn't about him, as she hadn't even met Geffen when the song was written. This one will run and run...

Alanis Morissette -- 'You Oughta Know Jagged Little Pill'

This 1995 hit was a raging, foul-mouthed diatribe at an ex by 'the mess you left when you went away', and all the indications are that it was written about her former lover, comedian Dave Coulier. Alanis herself refuses to say for certain, however. Or reveal if she really did 'go down on you in a theatre'.

The Police -- 'Every Breath You Take'

This deceptively dark number is said to have been Sting's stalker-ish warning to first wife Frances Tomelty, written at the time they were going through a bitter divorce. It vows to watch "every vow you break, every smile you fake." If that's what tantric sex does for you, we want no part of it.

Lily Allen -- 'It's Not Fair'

Never someone you'd imagine to be an easygoing, forgiving ex, Ms Allen took particularly stinging revenge on an unnamed former lover by questioning his abilities in the bedroom. "When we go up to bed, you're just no good," she taunted. Whereas we presume you're simply world class in the sack yourself, right.

Top 10 Richest Rappers of 2011

You really wanna know the richest rappers of 2011??

Here's the list of the top 10 rappers who sing in millions and we follow them loyally:

Jay-Z

It should come as no surprise that the richest rapper is none other than Jay-Z. Like many of his rapping counterparts, Jay-Z has made roughly $63 million this year thanks to his rap career and superb business skills. Jay-Z released his eleventh studio album ‘The Blueprint 3′ in September 2009, producing several hits including ‘Empire State of Mind’ featuring Alicia Keys and ‘Run This Town’ featuring Kanye West and Rihanna. On top of this, Jay-z also co-owns the 40/40 Club and the New Jersey Nets. He also created the Rocawear clothing and is the CEO of Def Jam Recordings. As the husband of Beyonce Knowles and the richest rapper of 2011, Jay-Z seems to be unstoppable.

2. Diddy

There can’t be a top 10 richest rappers countdown without Sean "Diddy" Combs somewhere in the running. Diddy’s business ventures, along with his career as a rapper, have made him the second richest rapper on the planet. Diddy is the owner of Bad Boy Records, the Sean John and Enyce clothing lines, Ciroc vodka, and has recently talked about opening a business school in New York. Diddy also released a single with his new group Diddy-Dirty Money called ‘Hello Good Morning.’ Diddy has made $30 million as of April 2011 and from the looks of things, that sum will keep rising.

 

3. Akon

Singer/rapper Akon has had a very busy year. In 2007, he signed a young woman going by the name of Lady Gaga to his Konvict Muzik label. Fast forward to 2011 and Lady Gaga is now the most successful female artist in the music industry today. In 2010, Akon was also featured on David Guetta’s single ‘Sexy B—-,’ which reached No. 1 on the charts in 6 different nations, and he has a new album in the works which should be released in the near future. With the combined revenue from his record labels and his recording career, Akon has grossed approximately $21 million as of  2011.

 

4. Lil Wayne

The road towards notoriety as one of the top 10 richest rappers is no cakewalk — no one knows this better than rapper Lil Wayne. In  2011, Lil Wayne entered prison at Rikers Island to serve a one year sentence for illegal weapons charges, but prison bars couldn’t stop him from making millions. Lil Wayne’s seventh studio album ‘Rebirth’ was released in February 2010 and debuted at No. 2 on the charts. In addition to his album’s success, his latest single ‘Drop the World’ was certified platinum. As of April 2010, Lil Wayne is also a certified millionaire, making more than $20 million.

 

 

5. Dr. Dre

Although Dr. Dre hasn’t released an album in almost 10 years, he still makes more money than most of us could even fathom. His record label Aftermath Entertainment is home to several rap legends including Eminem, whose 2010 album ‘Recovery’ has already had two No. 1 singles. Dr. Dre has left fans in suspense as to when his next and supposed final record ‘Detox’ will be released, but rumors are circulating that it will be within the next year. Dr. Dre has made about $17 million in 2011.

 

6. Ludacris

Unlike the other rappers appearing on the list thus far, Ludacris has made his millions from working in various artistic fields. Ludacris has had two wildly popular singles off of his newest album ‘Battles of the Sexes.’ ‘Get Low’ and ‘My Chick Bad,’ which features Young Money rapper Nicki Minaj, have both been chart-toppers. Ludacris also spends his "spare time" acting in movies such as ‘Gamer’ with film stars Gerard Butler and Kyra Sedgwick. As of  2011, Ludacris’ bank account boasts around $16 million.

 

7. Snoop Dogg

Coming in at $15 million, Snoop Dogg is number seven on our list of the top 10 richest rappers of 2011. One of the most resilient artists of the past two decades, Snoop released his tenth studio album ‘Malice in Wonderland’ in December of 2011 and has even been involved with television, most recently creating a video tribute to the HBO vampire drama ‘True Blood.’ He is also featured on Katy Perry’s summer hit, ‘California Gurls.’

8. Timbaland

The number eight spot on our countdown belongs to producer/rapper Timbaland. Timbaland released his album ‘Shock Value II’ in December of 2010 and collaborated with one of the front runners in the pop world, Katy Perry, on his hit ‘If We Ever Meet Again.’ He also owns Thomas Crown Studio in Virginia Beach which is frequented by recording artists such as Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliott. Timbaland is doing quite well for himself, making around $14 million this year.

 

9. Pharrell Williams

As one of the most sought after producers in the music industry, it is obvious why Pharrell Williams is one of the top 10 richest rappers of 2011. In the past year, Pharrell has produced records for major artists like Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Kid Cudi and according to Forbes, Pharrell has made approximately $13 million dollars as of  2011. That is pretty impressive considering Pharrell hasn’t recorded an album with his rap group N.E.R.D. since 2008.

 

 

10. Kanye West

Kanye West has been known to speak his mind, which can sometimes get him into trouble (ahem, Taylor Swift’s VMA acceptance speech). However, speaking his mind has also made him roughly $12 million dollars as of 2011. In the summer of 2011, Kanye released his single ‘Power’ and another single entitled ‘See Me Now,’ which features vocals from Beyonce Knowles. So people can keep judging Kanye, but they shouldn’t waste their energy because it only seems to make him richer.

Top Gift Ideas For Music Lovers

The market offers us the chance to choose the best gifts for our friends as well as relatives from and endless array of objects.The cute gadgets as well as informative and colorful books and other items all serve as the best means to show our love and affection to our beloved ones. Birthdays, graduation as well as Valentines day might generate real headaches when we ran out of any gift ideas.Those who have various hobbies might be more easily surprised as you'll know in which domain to search for and which are some of the popular presents that could be both useful and pleasant at the same time.
The top gift ideas for music lovers cover some of the latest technological inventions in the music gadgets as well as concert tickets and also albums and posters. The infinite repertoire of these might also lead you into confusion.Read some more about the role and function of these gifts in order to be prepared for the big shopping tour in the specialized stores.

Headphones

  The latest inventions in technology would provide us with endless ideas to find the perfect gift for music lovers. Headphones both the classic and larger ones as well as the mini in-ear ones are super-popular due to their practical quality. Moreover some might sport them in order to enjoy their music when traveling.

  The newest designs include headphones that are able to control the volume in order to prevent the ears from damages as well as are also able to cancel the surrounding noises. Producers will grant your with a multitude of designs in a parade of colors and sizes.

Headphones like Sennheiser, Bose, Apple 

Music Books

  Some people might not be satisfied with live acts as well as music shows, instead they want to find our more about various bands as well as music styles. In order to find the best gift for them you won't have to go far only to a bookstore that has all the important classic and modern bibliography of the famous bands as well as music genres as jazz, rock and classic music. Those who are about to purchase a similar book should consider the favorite music genres of the celebrated one. You'll find on the shelves biographies of beloved musicians as well as band reviews and autobiographies of band members who had a great influence on the contemporary or past music history. 

T-shirts

  Being on a low budget might not be the best excuse to skip gift shopping. The latest fun and message t-shirts with cute musical themes will prove to be the best and pocket-friendly presents for music lovers. Skim through the variety of t-shirts both in the case of guys and girls. Make sure the celebrated one is keen to sport similar fashion items and make it creative and matching to his/her clothing style. Producers provide you with a wide rage of band t-shirts as well as styles that have funny messages and motto on. Use your imagination and create a personalized t-shirt if you would like to make your gift more personal and stunning.

Ticket Stub Diary

  Those who are eager to immortalize the moment they spent on concert and band tours might consider a ticket stub diary the best present ever. These tiny notebooks will allow you to store all the memorable pieces from tickets, to signatures, photos and even additional trophies you collected during the show. These will reflect an important period of your life especially if you'll read it a through a few years later.

  Concerts indeed offer once in a lifetime experience for music lovers. Those who are fond of these will be certainly overwhelmed by a similar gift. Go for it especially if your friend or relative is an incurable concert- or festival-trotter. Besides the tickets you'll have the chance also to write down some important info about the bands as well as their career and eventual changes or separation.

Music Posters

  Posters are also some of the beloved music gifts that would contribute to the collection of every music lover. These might be larger or smaller still should reflect the favorite band of the celebrated one. Whether you order it from the internet stores or buy it in a specialized store look for these one that would make the desired impression on everyone. Black and white, sepia as well as colorful designs are on the shelves waiting for you to take them and surprise your friends with them. These would serve as perfect decorations for music rooms both for adults and teens. Feel free to look for them and include them among the potential music lover gift ideas.

Classic Rockstars and their influence on Music

Classic rock is a fundamental part of American history. Many of today’s leading bands can trace their styles back to the influence of certain musicians. While every song made available to the world has had an impact on the music industry, there are certain performers who will eternally stand at the forefront of music.

From folk rock to psychedelic rock, there have been many groundbreaking sounds and voices. Here are the top ten most influential classic rock bands in history.

Elvis Presley

While Elvis is not traditionally viewed in the classic rock genre, it is impossible to ignore his influence on the world of Rock-n-Roll. As the first to expose mainstream America to something other than traditional family music, he faced a tremendous amount of opposition from the mainstream.

Despite the extreme racism exhibited during the 1950′s, Elvis never hesitated to give appropriate credit to his inspirations. Mainly African-American performers influenced Elvis’ sound and style. Southern radio disc jockeys originally refused to play Elvis’ singles, because they sounded “too Negro” for white stations to air.

It was not just Elvis’ sound, but also his performance, that drew controversy. The movement of his hips in a suggestive manner sparked an entire decade of debate.

Despite the firestorm of criticism that surrounded Elvis’ reign, his continuing popularity has ensured that Elvis’ crown as the King of Rock and Roll would remain valid for decades, even decades after his death.

The Beatles

As the best selling musical act of all-time, it is hard to deny the influence of the Beatles, not only on the musical culture of America, but also on every aspect of human life. The Beatles included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, and George Harrison.

Their innovative style defined the music of the 1960′s — twice. They began their career in England, and when they came to America, they were already a huge success in the United States. In their early years, they had defined pop music for a new generation.

As the hippy days of the late 1960′s began to take hold of America’s young people, the Beatles redefined their music again, with another new style of music lauded by the masses. Their very loud stance on drug use and war made them a controversial group, but their popularity never wavered. Although the Beatles retained the loyalty and admiration of their late 1960′s audiences until the group broke up, the touring days of the Beatles ended in 1966 when John Lennon proclaimed, “The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ.”

Bob Dylan

Dylan has one of the most easily recognizable voices in the world. Raspy and full of passion, Bob Dylan’s sound is distinctive. His songs are amazing and defined a generation obsessed with the themes of social unrest, an anti-war stance, and encouragement for the civil rights movement.

A traditional folk singer, Dylan’s works transcended all genres and appealed to countless young Americans. His sincere lyrics spoke to many and made it possible to empathize with his many causes.

Jimi Hendrix

As the undisputed master of the electric guitar, Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock foundation. The self-taught guitar player refused to be limited by many of the conventional views of guitar players.

Prior to Jimi Hendrix’s development as a guitar player, the electric guitar was considered to merely be a louder version of the acoustic guitar. Hendrix embraced the uniqueness of the electric guitar and showed his appreciation for it to the rest of the world.

Pink Floyd

Easily considered the greatest band of all time, Pink Floyd’s unique style and showmanship defined psychedelic rock. Their concept albums were thematic masterpieces that appealed to countless audiences. The Dark Side Of The Moon, Animals, and The Wall each still stand out today as great Rock masterpieces.

The Who

Also known for their thematic records, The Who pioneered the idea of rock opera. Most famous for their collaborative efforts with every major musical figure of their time, Tommy The Rock Opera ensured the longevity of the band into the future.

Their success and fame were not limited to their unique approach to concept albums. Their musical skills are still highly regarded in both mainstream circles and in the entertainment industry. Their music is currently being used as the theme song for at least three of the most popular show on TV on the air today.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones have easily maintained their position as one of the longest lasting bands in recording history. Like most popular rock bands of the age, they were an England-based band that was more than happy to take on America.

Their grungy unkempt image became so popular; many artists are still attempting to master it. Their unique sound and high quality lyrics have kept them at the top of the charts for almost 40 years.

Cream

Cream, featuring guitarist Eric Clapton, was one of the most technically advanced music groups of their time. Their instrumental techniques became legendary and paved the way for other bands to focus on developing their instrument techniques, in addition to their lyrics.

The Doors

The Doors have always been one of the most controversial bands that had ever existed. Jim Morrison’s wild behavior set the tone for the countless musical bad boys that would follow in his footsteps.

The poetic lyrics of The Doors, as well as their outrageous behavior, made them a crowd favorite.

Led Zeppelin

The road to heavy metal was paved by Led Zeppelin. Their first album was pivotal in its inclusion of distorted amplification techniques. Over the years, their experimentation included mixing acoustic and electric sounds, with the addition of synthesized melodies. The success of Led Zeppelin helped establish a strong base for the development of metal music.

Few people of their generation or the current generation realize that like Elvis, Led Zeppelin took most of their inspiration from African-American performers. As a lifelong fan of Led Zeppelin, it is was oddly fascinating to listen to some of the not-so-famous African-American rhythm-and-blues performers of the 1930′s, and to be able to hear the Led Zeppelin songs we have loved for years in a whole new way.

Final Thoughts

Clearly, these ten bands had a significant impact on the evolution of Rock-n-Roll music through the generations, but it is more difficult to put them into an ordered list of important groups. Let’s just agree that most of us love all ten bands on this list.

Know Lil Wayne...

Lil wayne is originally named as Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, he was born in the year 1982, at Louisiana, USA, he is an Grammy nominated rapper. Lil wayne began rapping at the block parties when he was a child. His first hip hop contact was Cash Money records.

Lil wayne is known for his freestyle abilities in singing, although he has a talent he wasn’t signed at first with Lil slim, Lil wayne use to record freestyles and haunted cash money offices almost every day.

In the year 1997, lil wayne first debut was released, the record was a great success and earned a huge fans for lil wayne from south and Midwest. His next debut, Guerilla warfare was released in the year 1998, followed by the next release in the year 2003 which Let Em Burn.

In the year 1999, Wayne decided to launch his own career with the new release of “Than Block is Hot”, and than it went on to some releases of three albums after that. In 2004, Lil Wayne was known to be perfected in the trade of singing and earned popularity amongst teenagers during 2004-2006.

Lil Wayne has earned a lot since he first started his debut as a singer in the rappers industry, In spite of much competition in the Industry he earned his caliber and came through in his career.

Lil Wayne being involved in drugs was arrested few times, but his weaknesses don’t come as an hindrance to his singing career where he has performed his best and is well known amongst the younger public.

Lil Wayne is a popular icon amongst many youngsters and so the site http://www.mp3-lil-wayne.com/ is a debut to his singing career and the potentiality in his songs. His personal life is as distorted and not recognized, as much as his singing.

The site www.mp2-lil-wayne.com has got many freestyles videos and much more, the testimonials on the site prove that the site is worth a try for the downloads and when it is free than there is no fear what so ever!

Tattoos and Piercings

Over the last few years, the popularity of tattoos experienced a spike, with piercings no longer effective enough to flaunt one's personality and attitude towards life. For most people, tattoos represent a means to pass some sort of message to the world like “This is my life and my body and I do with it what I like. You can't do nothing!”. Ironically, girls are known to be the favourite customer profile of tattoo marketing strategies with tattoos for girls being extensively designed all the time.

The good question is why the tattoo market seems to overdo it with tattoos for girls? Perhaps one of the reasons is that women are undoubtedly emotional creatures. They are constantly looking for new ways to look attractive and tattoos are the latest craze among the female population. With most women just making do going with the flow, it is no wonder tattoo businesses target girls more with the unlimited number tattoos exclusively. Other than that, It is a common mindset that girls who fancy entering the fashion industry absolutely need to have a few designs on their bodies and it so happens that the female counterparts of the common world follow suit. That suits tattoo businesses just fine.

All right, this is going to hurt girls a bit but fact remains, most girls get tattoos to drive their men, or future men, crazy. With that in mind, the most commonly chosen design out of the tattoos include the traditional red heart with the name of a lover written across it. Classic! Other tattoos include butterflies, ranging vastly in colour and size. Some may even include a whole trail of butterflies spanning over a certain skin area, usually the lower leg section. Roses and other customized flowers such as hibiscus and daisies and stars, a whole galaxy of them even, are also very popular tattoos in the market of today.

The shape of the female body happens to be so vastly diverse in curves and contours that tattoo artists have a whole range of canvas to choose from. Hidden places that are brought into obvious perspective through tattoos for girls usually give the best results. If the tattoo is positioned in the right place, tattoos can be very attractive as well as damn sexy. The most commonly chosen spot by the female population for the positioning of the tattoos include the classic lower back area. This area is not necessarily always displayed but then that is actually the whole point. Glimpses of the tattoos in this sexy spot of the female body is very appealing to the eyes of the beholders. The panty line is also very commonly embellished with tattoos , for instance a trail of starts. Other popular spots that give absolutely awesome results when tattoos are positioned there are the ankle area, one ankle area, along the side of the body and the area expanding from the middle of the back to middle of the waist line.

Pretty innovative, aren't they, girls? Exclusive tattoos are on the rise. With the multiple possible enticing spots along the length of the female, the options from which girls can choose to position the sometimes breath-taking tattoos for girls is diverse to say the least. Tattoos for girls can be easily viewed online on tattoo designs websites. Come on girls! Choose your perfect tattoo now!