With each passing day, it seems like my admiration for Rihanna seems to extend a bit further. While many panned her latest album, Rated R, I've been reveling in it...rolling around in the dark and emotional tones...much like our dear Riri rolls around in the mud. Say what?


Earlier this afternoon, Rihanna debuted the video for her latest single, Hard. It's a street-stomping, "I'm'a cut you" kind of track that is nowhere near short of heavy hits and insinuating lyrics. With a brand spankin' new video to give your best salute to, Rihanna steps up her sexy and marches to the beat of her own drums.

Watch now!

I love it. Everything about it. If the military is anything like this, then I;m enlisting now.

More importantly, have you jumped on my Rihanna contest? You can see her live in NYC this Saturday, for FREE, courtesy of this beast, by entering here. We're so hard.

mp3: Rihanna - Russian Roulette (Max Methods Remix)

Oy, I struggled with how to phrase this Rihanna contest. So rather than try to explain, I'll simply ask you to jump below the image, some of my words, the video, and then get to entering. Sound good? Ok...go!


First and foremost, our beloved "Riri" debuted a 30 second sneak peek of her upcoming video for Hard, featuring Young Jeezy. The track is definitely an album highlight off her latest offering, Rated R.

Catch the preview below, then be on the lookout for the video's official debut tomorrow at 4pm EST on VH1.

Now on to the good stuff. Rihanna is performing in New York City this Saturday, December 19. I, along with a few great blogger buddies, will be in attendance. Seeing as how I've got an extra ticket, I figured, why not make a rad little boy or girl's holiday wishes come true and bring them along for the show! So that's the catch...you'll be hanging out with us, but I promise, we're super fun!

Here's how to enter. And no, its not through twitter this time...shocker!

Whoever leaves me the most hilarious comment on this post, incorporating ANY Rihanna song title, will win the ticket! Discretion is obviously up to this Beast...creativity and puns are always a plus. (Please include your email address, so I can easily contact the winner.)

Contest will be open until noon this Friday, December 18. New York City residents need only apply, although, if in the tri-state area and feel you have the means to travel, dive on in!

For questions regarding this contest, please send word here.

mp3: Rihanna - Umbrella (Vandalism Remix)

Between numerous television appearances, promotional performances in support of latest album Rated R, and filming the video for her next single, Rihanna found time to announce a string of dates in various UK arenas beginning in May 2010.


The mini tour, as promoted by Live-Nation, will hit eight venues across the UK, with tickets going on sale this Friday, December 11. Dates below.

May 07 - Birmingham LG Arena
May 08 - Liverpool Echo Arena
May 10 - London O2 Arena
May 13 - Sheffield Arena
May 14 - Nottingam Arena
May 16 - Manchester Evening News Arena
May 17 - Newcastle Arena
May 19 - Glasgow SECC

Rihanna recently made mention of a "daring" and "somewhat of a spectacle" world tour, while on the set of the video for her next single, Hard. The tour is slated to begin in spring 2010, although no dates have thus been confirmed.

mp3: Rihanna (featuring Evan Roberts and Jeezy) - Hard (Starkiller Remix)

MySpace, together with 10 of the hottest acts in music, recently launched a new web series, entitled Get Real Close. With half the artists coming forth to chat favorite tracks and influential pieces of work, the latest installment features Florence + The Machine.


When placed on camera and asked to wax poetic about her favorite songs, Florence jumps through a few of her most cherished tunes, and even sings along to a handfulthat make her geuinely thrilled to hear being played. Watch below as she swoons and croons to En Vogue's Don't Let Go.

Flo's entire playlist is as follows.

1. En Vogue - Don't Let Go
2. The Walkmen - The Rat
3. Lil Wayne - A Milli
4. Beyonce - Crazy In Love
5. Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness
6. Spiritualized - Hold On
7. Dusty Springfield - Spooky
8. Eva Cassidy - Wade in the Water
9. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me
10. Velvet Underground - Heroin

mp3: Sugababes - Rabbit Heart (Florence and The Machine Cover)
mp3: En Vogue - Don't Let Go

Once in a very blue moon, I'll catch Saturday Night Live when it airs in it's 12:35am time slot. This past weekend, Blake Lively hosted the extremely hit or miss affair, with musical guest Rihanna. Naturally, funnyman, Andy Samberg, corraled the Barbadian beauty's vocoder-ed voice for a digital short entitled Shy Ronnie.


The skit sees Rihanna in the role of "tutelage via autotune", complete with hypeman/sidekick, Shy Ronnie, played by the aforementioned Samberg.

Watch the hilarity now!

This brings the major LOLs for this "I needed a good belly laugh" beast.

What's your favorite part? I'm still stuck on the echoy delicious "Speak up!", although the whole piece is infinitely funny!

mp3: Rihanna (featuring Andy Samberg) - Shy Ronnie

Much has been made about the iconically dark and thematically moody images surrounding Rihanna's latest visual (and aural) campaign supporting the release of latest album, Rated R. Enlisting the talented hand of British artist, Simon Henwood, the Barbadian bombshell exposes her raw side.


Painter, filmmaker and set designer, Simon Henwood, brings his catalogue of experience to bear in a unique role. With quotes from famous hip hop star Kayne West that says, “If Yoda was an artist he’d be Simon Henwood,” it’s no wonder why the visual vanguard is creating his own success this year.

Coming off the ever successful ingenious art direction for the Kayne West brand, Henwood has set himself on a launch pad of continued global success by being enlisted by Rihanna as “creative director” for the songstress’ global imaging for her 4th studio album.

"Simon Henwood is a creative inspiration on this project," boasts Rihanna.

The artist has tackled the logo, album, video, and TV spots - and is now working on the upcoming world tour, including: stage design, costumes and background visuals. In addition, acclaimed art publisher, Rizzoli, will release a photo book documenting Henwood’s work for the pop star in 2010.

mp3: Rihanna - Te Amo (Reggaeton Remix)

In a hip-hopped up nutshell, November has belonged to Kid Sister. With her debut album, Ultraviolet, finally seeing a proper release, along with appearances in Texas, Chicago and London (for Annie Mac's famed Koko night, no less!), Kid Sis, aka Melisa Young, packed a punch AND the dance floor at Webster Hall to a teeming crowd of kids eager to hear her joints and jams.


Starting off with the "it gets better with each listen" first single, Right Hand Hi, Kid Sister took the stage, as introduced by big brother, Josh Young, one half the talented duo of Flosstradamus.

It's evident that the female Young takes great pride in her musical roots, paying homage to the musical style and dance of early 90s street r&b. From feigning double dutch jumping with a telephone cord, to bringing the booty bouncing bass of album cuts Big N Bad and Switch Board, Kid Sister played up her pro nailed power by interacting with fans, even having back up dancers toss additional purple tinged glow sticks out for wanting hands.


Kid Sister took us on a journey through nearly every album track, including crowd pleasers Control and Pro Nails. Big bro Josh took the Cee-Lo vocals on the cut, Daydreaming, with the only bummer being the omittance of track, You Ain't Really Down, a cover of Status 4's bumper, and a Beaston fave.

Kid Sister hits Los Angeles next before rounding out her year back in the Midwest. Dates here.




Kid Sister's Ultraviolet is out now. Read my review here, then by all means, go cop it here.

mp3: Kid Sister - Control (LA Riots Remix)
mp3: Kid Sister - Right Hand Hi (Kill the Noise Remix)

With the close of this fair decade fast approaching, many a music media outlet are exporting their "best of" lists, whether it be restricted to song, artist, album or the like. NME just released their best 100 Tracks of the Decade, and you may be surprised to find what songs they've selected through this centennial compilation.


If you read the post title thoroughly, then you'll know we spoiled the result for you. We're kind of ornery like that.

The entire list is a fairly comprehensive mix of early 00's tracks mixed with songs that have just been released up until a few short months ago. There are many a UK band (see: Klaxons, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, etc...), as well as a mash of international acts (see: The Knife, Kylie Minogue, Kelis, etc...).

But it's the Beyonce who takes the top prize as the music magazine's Best of the Decade, with her Jay-Z featuring smash, Crazy In Love. Head here to read the accompanying article and watch the street stomping video that makes us want to move!

mp3: Beyonce (featuring Jay-Z) - Crazy In Love
mp3: Beyonce - Video Phone (Say Wut Remix)

Back in March of this year, I got swept off my feet by The-Dream produced girl quarter of Electrik Red. Having heard singles Drink in My Cup and W.F.Y. prior, a new song was shaping up to secure my solid backing of their efforts. Result? Mission accomplished!


With the release of Friend Lover as the next single, and subsequent video, it was inevitable that the girls would be repetitiously loved and listened to here in Beastonia. With a producer like Dream backing them, it's hard to discount their efforts. Truth be told? Their album, How To Be a Lady: Volume 1, might even end up on some "year end best of" lists 'round here. Just sayin'...

Watch the video, grab the track, and reminisce/love it with me!

I love everything about this song. The jiggity hits, the beat, the harmonies. At the 1:45 mark when they start counting/singing the "rules" of being a friend lover, I lose my ish. Each and every time.

mp3: Electrik Red - Friend Lover

We thought it might be a bit of time before remixes of tracks from Kid Sister's debut album, Ultraviolet, started hitting teh internetz. I mean, it was just released this Tuesday, but hey, you can't keep a good man down. And that man? Let's welcome back Redlight! (insert applause here)


We did a proper Beaston-style review of the album on Monday (view it here), and one of the many rad tracks we praised was the summery and fun jam, Life On TV. With an early 90s street r-and-b influence pulsing throughout the song, it's hard not to love!

So in getting this remix from the rad Redlight, we half expected a disco bouncer much like his take on Beyonce's Control, which we still get weak for. Instead, dudeman opts for some hardhitting beats, even more chopped and screwed glitches than the original, and you know what? It all works. Really well.

Hat tip.

mp3: Kid Sister - Life On TV (Redlight Remix)

BONUS! Go snag more Redlight remixes here, from his 5 Track EP. He'll also be releasing original songs in the next month or so. We're ok with all of that!

Last month, we were able to catch the ridiculously talented Theophilus London over at Santos, for the Hype Machine/Baeblegum CMJ Party. Who knew so much radness could be exerted at 4pm in the afternoon! We've got the chills reminiscing on his effortlessly cool performance, along with being introduced to new tunes.


Along with his new trio'd troupe, Chauffeur, which also hosts Mark Ronson and Sam Sparro, London is in the midst of tidying up the finishing touches on his debut album.

After the success of his This Charming Mixtape, Theophilus found many a fan of his eclectic blend of soulful singing and rapping. I, for one, have yet to tire of any of the songs from it, most notably Grey X Sage and Humdrum Town. And now with Green Label Sound properly releasing the latter, featuring Jesse Boykins III, we can relish in the hi-q that is the below.

Coming soon: Theophilus' remix of Ellie Goulding's Under The Sheets. Word!

mp3: Theophilus London (featuring Jesse Boykins III) - Humdrum Town

I fell hard and fast for Alicia Keys' new single, Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart. With it's passionate lyrics and pounding beat, there wasn't a chance I cold escape the power being thrown at me via this offering.


And now with a sneak peek at the video below, along with an official remix featuring the silky vocals of Avery Storm, we have even more reason to keep the song in heavy rotation for quite some time.

Check out the superhumanly healing Keys in action now.

That leather studded jacket? I both want and need it. Let's make that happen, ok?

Alicia Keys' The Element of Freedom is out December 15 via J Records.

mp3: Alicia Keys (featuring Avery Storm) - Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart (Remix)

For just over a week, there was a continual "ugh, damn it, is this video ever going to come out when it was supposed to" stigma surrounding the visually anticipated premiere of Beyonce and Lady Gaga's collaboration on the Bey track, Video Phone.


Finally, after the much maligned delays, the Hype Williams directed jawn debuted earlier this evening, precisely at midnight. Pairing the two chart topping femmes, a flurry of spastic dance moves, colorful (and at times, seemingly Nerf-inspired) weaponry, and some camera-headed muscle men, Bey and Ga come together to form a starkly artistic and cinematically opulent output.

Were there enough breast grabs for ya? How about the "Beyonce as a pin up girl" looks? It's all a bit of a hot mess, and you know what? I think I really like it. Work!

mp3: Beyonce (featuring Pitbull) - Video Phone (Remix)

You may have noticed a lot of poppier music coming out of Camp Beaston lately. And you know what, we're going to continue on with it, seeing as how the fall of 2009 seems to be driven by the ladies who are redefining the genre with new albums, tightly produced videos and, well, then there's Britney.


But for now, we've got another majorly theatrical and super emotional video from the queen of r&b, urban radio pop: Rihanna. We were knocked off our rockers when we first heard single Russian Roulette, a dark and brooding downtempo ballad. You know we totally swooned when we heard these remixes too, but with the release of the video, we are now accepting our need to give her just praise.


Drama! Gunshots! Messy hair that looks like mine on a good day!

We're in love. Epic week coming to a close before the most radical weekend ever kicks off. Happy Friday the 13th indeed!

mp3: Rihanna vs Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem - Russian Roulette Forever (Mashup)

In what may be considered a modern day homage to Christopher Walken's infamous "I need more cowbell" catchphrase, I like to imagine that before Swiss sir, Dominik von Werdt, completed his fixes of Rihanna's Russian Roulette, that someone demanded "I need more glocks popping!" Huh?


Russian Roulette, on it's own original feet, is definitely a grower; a slow paced ballad that has all the passion and power to remain on top of the charts for a bit of time. But as stems sprouted forth, the remixes we've been "ear-ing" have quickly eclipsed the tender trepidation of the single, and transformed the song from introspective to "in the club" worthy.

Enter DVW. We're big ol' fans of his work here in Beastonia, and every time an email comes in from him, we get super excited for that first play of what's in store.

Officially, Rihanna's track doesn't come out until next week, but our boy couldn't wait to unleash his unofficial remixes; one, a hearty remix with the aforementioned gunshot gusto providing a backing beat, and a second, with added dub and tons of club.

That said, do we need more glocks popping? Yes. Yes, we do.

mp3: Rihanna - Russian Roulette (DVW Remix)
mp3: Rihanna - Russian Roulette (DVW Club Dub)

If you're a dear friend of the Beast, then you'll be well aware of my undying affection for all things Robin Thicke. He's my steaming cup of hot white chocolate, and his sensually driven songs are enough to make any listener weak in the knees.


Thick released the album, Something Else, in September of last year...and ever the workman, has a new release scheduled to land on December 15. The aptly titled, Sex Therapy, promises to showcase the crooner's silky falsettos with a mix of urbanized beats and bravados.

The title track has been floating around for some time, but it was the outpouring of soul and style heard on the song, Shakin it For Daddy, that immediately perked up thine ears. Featuring the inimitably in-your-face vocalse of Nicki Minaj, the tune flows from minimalistically modern to hardcore hip-hop in a matter of seconds.

Also give a listen to Meiplé (pronounced Me I Play), which wrangles Jay-Z for some licks on this light and breezy flirter.

mp3: Robin Thicke (featuring Nicki Minaj) - Shakin it For Daddy
mp3: Robin Thicke (featuring Jay-Z) - Meiplé

I needed a bit of new tuneage to get me through the waning hours of this long work day, and like a beacon of badassery, we've been hit with a dose of dub love.


First up, it's confession time. I do love Whitney Houston's "it wasn't my comeback single, but it's getting all the attention it deserves" song, Million Dollar Bill. Penned by friend, Alicia Keys, the song is suited in range and style for a woman who's "been through it all".

And yes, while we do dig it in original form, we truly get down when we throw on Vin Sol's edit.

Think of it this way. If you were listening to the song in a washing machine with a sketchy tickety tock snare beat laced throughout, it could only get worse, right? WRONG! Vin does exactly that and amps up the cred factor to this already Beaston-approved tune.

Give it a spin [cycle] and let us know what you think!

mp3: Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill (Vin Sol Dub Love Edit)

Lately, I've been on this kick of listening to absolutely gorgeous songs on repeat for extended periods of time...especially when in the throes of a busy workday. It calms the nerves and lowers the stress level. And so goes the tale of my reaffirmed love of Alicia Keys.


With new album, The Element of Freedom, due out December 15, Keys is set to hold a constant spot in the Beaston rotation if her first two singles are any indication of what's to be expected from the full release.

Doesn't Mean Anything, a late summer output that mixes Keys' soulful vocals with a driving beat, was an immediate attractor of my attention. However, new single, Try Sleeping With Broken Heart, which debuted two weeks ago, is exactly THAT song I need in my life to keep me grounded.

In recent interviews, Keys mentioned that many of the songs on the forthcoming release focus largely on huge drums, and Try Sleeping... follows very much in that formula, while continuing to impress with emotionally minded lyrics and a seamlessly perfect arrangement.

Safe to say this will be one of my most listened to songs of the year. Yes, even the Beast pulls away from thumping electropop remixes from time to time, in order to give the utmost credit where due.

mp3: Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart
mp3: Alicia Keys (featuring Lore'l) - Doesn't Mean Anything (Remix)