Search Results for: kanye

LOS ANGELES —  The diagnosis on Dr. Jan Adams’ career: inoperable. The plastic surgeon who operated on Kanye West’s mother the day before she died in 2007 has given up his license to practice medicine in California after the state’s Medical Board brought charges against him over two criminal convictions for driving under the influence. In court documents, Adams admits “the truth of each and every allegation,” thereby resolving the board’s allegations against him. “The mission of the Medical Board is pubic protection, and this action reflects the Board’s ongoing commitment to that mission,” Barb Johnston, the Medical Board’s executive… Read more »

Kanye West is  definitely secure with his raps and with himself. On the Grammy stage on Sunday night, he laid the first verse on “Swagga Like Us,” knowing that he had three more acclaimed wordsmiths – Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and T.I. – coming after him on the track, and still felt confident that his rap held up in such strong company. Kanye does exactly what he wants to do, so it’s no surprise that he took the stage in a sparkling jacket that could have come out of Michael Jackson’s closet in 1984. Still, Kanye’s clothes have become a major… Read more »

The Jonas Brothers want to work with Elvis –the  wannabe Elvis, that is. Nick Jonas revealed at yesterday’s American Music Awards that he and his singing siblings think they may have a future in hip-hop. “We think Kanye [West]’s new record sounded really cool, so that’s someone,”  Nick said when asked who they’d like to team up with. But  Nick doesn’t want to rush into things. “Usually it’s cool to get to know somebody as a friend before forming a work relationship with them,” he said. But if Kanye  doesn’t pan out, there’s someone else waiting in the wings. R&B… Read more »

At the American Music Awards on Sunday (November 23), Miley Cyrus, celebrating her 16th birthday, broke character a bit, performing a saucy, seductive version of her new single, “Fly on the Wall”; Mariah Carey delivered a riveting rendition of “I Stay in Love”; and a barely lucid Scott Weiland ironically introduced Pink’s performance of “Sober,” calling her “one of the greatest artists of our time.” Later, Pink even joined Sarah McLachlan for a duet on “Angel.” The New Kids on the Block and Christina Aguilera both performed medleys of their most beloved tunes. Justin Timberlake gave us a lesson on… Read more »

A year after vowing never to perform on the MTV Video Music Awards again, hip-hop star Kanye West will close the show’s 25th annual ceremony in Hollywood on Sunday, joining a lineup that includes Christina Aguilera and the Jonas Brothers, organizers said. The outspoken rapper was upset by his treatment at last year’s show, when his performance was relegated to a small stage in the Las Vegas venue. West also failed to win any prizes, and accused the music cable network of exploiting Britney Spears, who inadvertently stole the show by badly lip-synching and dancing to her new tune. The… Read more »

Not such a rapper’s delight, this. Kanye West, Common, Method Man and Redman, along with their respective Universal Music Group record companies, were sued Thursday by the daughter of late jazz musician Joe Farrell for sampling his music sans permission. Adding further unoriginal insult to copycat injury, each of the rappers used snippets from the same tune, Farrell’s 1974 composition “Upon This Rock.” The lawsuit, filed by scorned offspring Kathleen Firantello, claims West sampled the tune in 2005 on Late Registration’s “Gone,” Common in “Chi-City,” a bonus track on his 2005 album Be, and Method Man and Redman in their… Read more »

Hip-hop star Kanye West has signed a sponsorship deal with Absolut 100 Vodka for his North American tour, which begins April 16 at Seattle’s Key Arena. Absolut will sponsor after-parties in each tour city, a statement said. The tour, which wraps May 30 at Calgary’s Saddledome, will also feature Lupe Fiasco, N*E*R*D and, on most dates, Rihanna. West won four prizes at the Grammy Awards last Sunday, but failed for a third time to take home the coveted album of the year prize thanks to a shock win by jazz veteran Herbie Hancock. Nevertheless, West’s career haul stands at 10… Read more »

Kanye West loves the Grammys. The rapper has never hidden his lust for awards or his pleasure in the shine of a ceremonial spotlight. At the 50th annual Grammys on Sunday night, West, as usual, made his presence felt. Accepting one of his four awards, West went so far as to say: “It feels good to be home here at the Grammys.” West had a leading eight nominations going into the ceremony and took home four: best rap album for “Graduation,” best solo performance for “Stronger,” best rap song for “Good Life” and best rap performance by duo or group… Read more »

Kanye West and Amy Winehouse each have had a rough year. He weathered the death of his mother last month, and she has been battling health issues that forced her to cancel scores of shows. But West and Winehouse may at least get some good news at Thursday’s Grammy nominations, where industry insiders predicted they were likely to garner multiple nods. Grammy-nominated producer Sean Garrett said West was a sure bet. The rapper’s third album, “Graduation,” had the year’s biggest debut, selling nearly 1 million copies in its first week, an amazing feat during the industry’s current struggles. Winehouse, though… Read more »

Donda West, the mother of Kanye West and former chairwoman of Chicago State University’s English department, passed away Saturday from undisclosed causes, according to a spokesman for the family. She was 58. According to multiple sources, West was in Los Angeles and her death may have been the result of complications from a surgical procedure; more specific information was unavailable at press time. Although widely known as the mother of Kanye, Dr. West was a noted scholar and an active college professor for 31 years; she left the profession in 2004 to assist with Kanye’s career, according to her biography… Read more »