Talib Kweli Tells His Favorite Kanye West Tour Stories at Noisemakers NYC

The ongoing Q & A series know as Noisemakers hosted by Hot97 's Peter Rosenberg and featuring Talib Kweli took place at 92Y in Tribeca NYC Wednesday, October 21.

via XXL

Stories about the two groups he has been involved with—Reflection Eternal with Hi-Tek and Black Star with Mos Def—also surfaced. He called “Respiration” “probably one of my favorite records I’ve ever done,” named Mos as one of his closest friends (“our mothers hang out,” he said), and spoke on working with J. Dilla and the influence that Slum Village had on his style. Other topics that came up during the hour-and-a-half talk included his days with Rawkus Records, his early experiences with Common and Kanye West.

Read more of the article here:
XXL

See PHOTOS from the event:
Wire Image

Alicia Keys Guest Lectures And Performs For NYU Students

The Alicia Keys Element of Freedom: The Lecture and Performance Series was held at NYU's Skirball Center Wednesday, October 21.

via Billboard

At the top of the evening, (Alicia) Keys sat with MTV host Sway Calloway for an interview segment, during which she shared her discoveries while recording her fourth studio album.

"When I first started going to the studio, it was like I didn't know what to do. All I knew was doing it till the point of exhaustion -- submersing myself till the point of possibly drowning," Keys said. "But, for the first time in my recording career, I feel I finally found the key, and that is to allow yourself to be free. With this album I found such a balance and I took things in that inspire me, which can come from anywhere. It just helped me enjoy the process first and foremost."

Read more of the article and also the New York Magazine story here:
Billboard - Alicia Keys Debuts New Single For NYU Students
New York Magazine - Alicia Keys Has a Teaching Moment at NYU

(video courtesy of mariejoelleparent)

Wyclef Uses Branding, Partnerships and Music For Charitable Organization

Wyclef Jean unveiled a new charitable partnership with clothing and footwear company Timberland today (Sept. 24) during an Advertising Week Q&A session conducted by Billboard editorial director Bill Werde at the Times Center in New York.

For every pair of Timberland boots sold, $2 will be donated to Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation, which will help aid reforestation in that country. "I really think that we're going to sell a whole lot of boots and I really think we're going plant a whole lot of trees in Haiti," Jean said during the afternoon session.

Jean touched on a number of other topics during the Q&A, including his next planned releases, upcoming deals with other mega-brands and the work he's doing to help Haitian students through his foundation.

A day earlier, the artist attended the Clinton Global Initiative in New York -- spearheaded by former President Bill Clinton -- to discuss college scholarships for Haitian students in need.

Additionally, Jean will be the new face of Western Union for the next 16 months. The partnership launches Nov. 2 at an event in Times Square. Tomorrow (Sept. 25), he will join Avril Lavigne and Brad Paisley for a commercial shoot for upcoming T-Mobile television spots. "A deal like T-Mobile brings the brand of Wyclef Jean and makes it relevant," Jean said.

Despite his busy schedule with branding opportunities and charity work, Jean is releasing a mix tape on Nov. 12, and he premiered two tracks at the panel. One of the tracks, "Suicide Love," features Eve, who joined Jean onstage at Billboard's Amp'D Up Advertising Week kickoff event on Monday (Sept. 21) at the Nokia Theater, which Jean headlined. Jean will release a self-titled album in March.

Photos from the press conference/Q&A:
Getty Images

Article:
billboard.biz