She made headlines for her Super Bowl stunt and controversial comments, but she’s turning the spotlight back on her art by designing a limited edition label for Beck’s Beer. Of course, being a female rapper today; one must pick up the major endorsement now and again. When the Danja-produced ‘Bad Girls’ arrived on the internet, the video and track coupled together caused a huge stir in the and sparked off the lengthy campaign of  the comeback of MIA. More details about her album have surfaced and she’s made sure we’ve got the bait.

Coming off her successful commercial release of /\/\/\Y/\ and the mixtape Vicki Leekx,she has ventured on to do more visual art. When an opportunity with Beck’s Beer called for her to design a limited edition label, it provided the creative space for her yin-yang stamp inspired by India. In this SPIN interview, she chatted about the concepts of her designs, the ”Bad Girls” video and what her plans are for the next album, Matangi. She told Complex magazine about design the beer bottle ‘Things have their way. I was in India at the time doing artwork anyway, and somebody sent it to me, and it kind of fit with the theme of what I was making. And so I said yes because I felt like it was perfect.I’m not too much of a beer drinker, but when I was at art school, Beck’s always sponsored shows and stuff like that. I remember it being like a beer haze, not for me, but for most of my friends.’.

Not to forget, that MIA was added to the list that Inerscope Records swooped up in their A&R department along with Madonna, Azealia Banks and Iggy Azalea with a heavy price tag as well. Her departure from indie label (and current home of Adele) XL Record surfaced significant changes to the direction of the rapper’s career. Of course the opportunity to record and perform live with Madonna and Nicki Minaj for the MDNA project as well  having a bad ass video for ‘Bad Girls’ – where all the small changes MIA needed for a her global presence. Without a doubt female casualties in the female rap front has been high, with arguably the most successful female rapper, Nicki Minaj taking a more pop infused route with her music MIA has taken the door open for the alternative crossover.

‘Bad Girls’ didn’t perform too badly in the UK, however the outstanding video had supported its presence within the press. MIA talked about shooting the video and how she felt it was reflective of the Arab uprising. ‘It’s just drawing on everything I said on the /\/\/\Y/\ album, and Vicki Leekx was an extension or a part to the whole /\/\/\Y/\ thing. I feel like I put out two albums, which is hard to do. Subject matters that I was talking about hadn’t happened yet at the time that I made it, it took a year for things to happen — for the Arab Spring to happen, for Wikileaks, all these things, it was all in my mind.’ – It’s nice to see a rapper talk about raw issues, of course I adore the victory rap that is produced today and played on radio; but I think this is what is going to make Matangi a very special body of work.

MIA spoke about her new album to MTV and said ‘I’ve been working on the songs by myself for awhile, and towards the end I got Switch to sort of bring it together and contribute new songs for it as well, but also just help me pull mine together so it’s a bit more like… well, it’s just nice to get another opinion. But I’m trying to work with tons of people, I don’t really wanna say any names because I haven’t actually chosen what songs are going on it yet.’.

Could we have our first political album on our hands?

Not many pop icons can join the likes of Barack Obama on the list of the world’s most influential people, according to Time Magazine. Of course, turn on the radio anywhere in the world and you’re most likely to Adele who picked up six Grammys earlier this year.  It’s no lie that Adele has triumphed in the music business with only two records to her name; she’s achieved what most artists achieve in a life time. That said, let’s to forget the very rule that defines gravity; what ever goes up, must come down.

I’m not going to sit here and re-tell the Cinderella like story which everyone is familiar with. Adele hails her two power ballad indie records which soundtrack almost everyone’s life in this moment in time. MTV recently said that the songstress drew close to single-handedly provide the music industry with its first album sales increase since 2004. There is no doubt that Adele has ample supply of talent, and with only three official singles lifted off the record, 21 still managed to break records and allow the icon to continue her rein at number one. This coupled with the good reception from music critics made the formula for success. Adele isn’t your average pop star – and when she first revealed to us (with her début effort 19), it became a little difficult to imagine how they would market her.

One area where I credit Adele is her writing skill. Her albums have taken a majority creative direction from herself, and therefore proved themselves to be relatable to the millions who went on the purchase the album.  And there you have it, the first major problem – everyone has bought an Adele album so who else is there left to discover it? Billboard magazine sourced an average, that during the peak of 21 one hundred thousand people are buying the album every week, in contrast commentators had said that the number is only going to grow because, believe it or not, there are people who still have not bought the album and may have heard of this woman but never actually seen her perform.

Could this pose another threat? That fact that Adele kept her live touring to bare minimum was no coincidence. Keeping touring appearances low this drove album sales up – it was if people couldn’t get enough. The only time outside her CD, people where getting to know Adele as a human was the very rare interview with profiled media outlets. When she co-signed with Columbia Records in the US, video interview allocation was only given to CNN until after the MTV VMAs had taken place. Its also been cited that Adele isn’t the most composed or media trained individual out there (of course, to the British we understand her typical whit, and we do adore someone who seems like they live around the block), however to people who may be being exposed to Adele for the first time. That experience can cause some sort of hostility. Both Adele’s personality and her presentation of her music are so far from each other, it almost collides when they are together in the same room.

I feel that press has created the ‘Adele-Factor’, and this merely means if you didn’t like her or ‘Rolling the in the deep’, you where uncool or uncultured. That foundation based with the blush of celebrity stalkers from the likes of Rihanna to Madonna – of course everyone liked her on the base that someone else liked her, confused? (if you’re following me). For what ever reason we fell in love with Adele, we are about the run out of that love we have to her when we paid £10.99 for her album. In essence Adele has set the bar too high for her own good. She’s out grown herself and could put her in a very risky place.

She was rumoured to do the soundtrack to the Bond film, which is bound to leak at the point during this year -with the whole world’s ears readying to listen to it and share their ‘shared’ opinion. In the industry, its all about your second album and it sure gives an artist the test – whether they’ve got a future or not. Katy Perry, and arguably Nicki Minaj both sealed their music with strong bodies of work they presented to us with their second LPs, but they left rooms for further growth and occasionally a change in direction.  Adele has driven herself into a dead-end road, now being co-signed to Columbia Record – I would expect nothing less than what the label did to Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child and other notable female acts. The Christmas Album. It’s easy to record, and often can be done in small space of time with little budget – and perfectly for Adele it will fit in with her career hiatus she’s taking to gain writing material for her arguably third record, if not forth studio album.

I anticipate with further singles from her album, like ‘Rumour has it’ being lifted in the US will likely keep its momentum up, ultimately resulting in her joining the diamond club perhaps moving beyond it. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the project unfolds and whether 21 will be issued with a re-release with new content, or the a Christmas record or the much anticipated next studio album. Of course time will only tell, and we’ll see how far this apple will fall from the tree.

@MoQazalbash

She is indeed the only girl in the world! Rihanna has sold more that 10 million records in the UK. The S&M singer, who recently won the Best International Female Artist at The Brit Awards, achieved the milestone after surpassing 10 million sales of her albums since her first release, Music of The Sun, back in 2005. RiRi’s current LP Loud is said to have sold over a million copies already in the UK, despite only being released last November  – giving the 23-year old her fastest-selling album to date. With this being the last album on the Def Jam label everyone is turning to Roc Nation to see what madness is going to be unleashed with Rihanna

The Rude Boy hitmaker also became the only female artist to achieve a No.1 single in five consecutive years, as well as her 2007 hit Umbrella holding the top spot for the longest amount of time over the last ten years.

Nicki Minaj has talked about how she can’t trust that all her Twitter followers are true supporters. At times I do wonder about Nicki Minaj, with this only being a début project, has the fame got to her and made her very insecure and paranoid? She told sources: “All of those people who follow me on Twitter? They aren’t my friends. Some of them are fans, but many of them are people who hate my guts and are just waiting for me to tweet something that they can put on their blogs. Yes that may be true, but surely Nicki Minaj knew that twitter was a door wide open to spin? “It’s easy to see 2 million followers and think, ‘Look at all these people who love me!’ But not all of them love me. Whether I’m smiling or not, I know that people are always waiting for me to slip up.”- I don’t know about you, but Nicki Minaj 4 LIFE!!!

Things got hot and heavy on the set of Nelly’s “Gone” video co-starring Kelly Rowland. The collaborators hooked up in Cancun, Mexico, earlier this month to shoot the follow-up to their 2002 smash “Dilemma” with director Marc Klasfeld. In new images from the set, a shirtless Nelly and glowing Kelly are seen flirting by the pool and cuddling on the sandy shores at night. Nelly posts up at the poolside bar while Kelly reclines on a lounge chair in additional scenes.

“It’s kinda like an extension of the story,” Nelly told us of their latest duet, “and still playfully having fun with it like we did with the first one.” See more pics from the sizzling shoot before the video premieres early next month.

Legendary female rap star Lil Kim has spoken about how Jay-Z and his label, Roc Nation, have reached out to her in the past and attempted to sign her. – EW! Please please don’t! Kim said that she and Jay are really good friends and that Mr. Beyoncé understands that she is just trying to do her thing, independently, at the moment. Lil Kim was released from her five album deal with Atlantic Records, and since has operated under Queen Bee Entertainment. But if Lil Kim wants a huge release, she needs a proper label behind her“I did get offers from representatives from Roc Nation and I did get phone calls from representatives from Roc Nation. A couple representatives from Def Jam had also reached out to me.

Melody Thornton shows fans how to be a rock star in the firstepisode of her “MeloDIY” (Do It Yourself) web series, where she flaunts her dress-making skills. The former Pussycat Doll reveals her secret to applying rhinestones and gems to her customized dress, using a baby syringe filled with glue to add her own flair to an American Apparel onesie. A new mid-tempo tune from the singer can be heard in the background, touting burning synthesizers and a powerful chorus. Listen up as Melody offers her fashion tips.

Beyoncé has sparked controversy for darkening her face in a photoshoot for French fashion magazine, L’Officiel’s 90th anniversary issue. The Single Ladies hitmaker donned African-style clothing and black face make-up  magazine’s snaps, paying tribute to African musician, Fela Kuti – bad call I guess! Although many people defending the photos arguing it showed the African influence on this season’s fashion many have turned against Beyoncé “I’m not quite sure as to why she would agree to do a photoshoot that associates her with one of the most deeply rooted racist images in American history.”. Beyoncé’s management are yet to comment on the issue.

After performing at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, Rihanna raised a toast during her 23rd birthday party on Sunday night at a private home in Beverly Hills. The Bajan songstress mingled with guests including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Cee Lo Green, Snoop Dogg, Zac Efron, and Christina Milian, chowing down on Sprinkles red velvetcupcakes and playing Nintendo Wii in a cutout dress with purple fringe.

M.I.A. and Amber Rose turned the streets of London into a catwalk while attending the Ashish show during London Fashion Week. The blonde Brit stood out in black boots paired with an electric blue pantsuit and olive green trenchcoat, while Kanye’s ex-girlfriend showed off her curves in a body-constricting dress, later throwing on a fur coat to brave the cold. Yeezy taught her well.