After a spasm of bad publicity, finally some good news graced Lana Del Rey. The songstress topped 15 countries’ iTunes charts with her debut album Born to Die, according to Billboard. Yet apparently, even that isn’t enough to convince her to release another LP. Complex reports that Lana told Vogue UK this will be her last release. She says, “I don’t think I’ll write another record. What would it say? Everything I wanted to say, I’ve said already.”

Although the media already seemed to have it in for LDR, things seemed to escalate after a poorly received SNL debut. Interestingly, the show decided to half-parody, half-defend her in a spoof you can watch after the jump.

After the jump…
Lana’s SNL skit…
And much debated performance…

Hilarious SNL skit…do you think it was well-deserved?

Here is her original performance that caused so much backlash:

Also worth checking out her recent Complex cover. What do you think of Lana Del Rey?

Previously:
Lana Del Rey’s Answer to Critics: ‘It Wouldn’t Happen If I Were A Man’
Things I Love: Lana Del Rey’s Dead-Eye-Sexy “Blue Jeans” Video
New Music: Lana Del Rey “Born To Die”
Listen to Lana Del Ray’s Latest Song: Does She Deserve Her Hype?

After all the highs and one particular low in 2011, it’s only right that Rick Ross celebrate his birthday with lots of pomp and circumstance…and famous people…and sparklers! And white satin.
If you weren’t lucky enough to get into Miami’s Club Amnesia to party with Rawse, MMG’s DreFilms put together a slick 6-minute recap of Ross with Styles P, Jadakiss, Wiz Khalifa, Amber Rose, French Montana, Diddy, Sway, my buddy Rahman, Cassie, DJ Khaled and more…
But the highlight was when Dr. Dre gave his new work-bestie a shockingly generous birthday gift: an iced-out Hublot watch!

Which reminded me of another recent token of bromance affection….
Didn’t Floyd Mayweather give 50 Cent that very same watch too?

TWINSIES!
After the jump…

Here’s the watch that Dr. Dre gave Rick Ross at the party….looks like a gorgeous Hublot Big Bang 44mm with a pave diamond face…

And….here’s the photo 50 Cent tweeted after his buddy Floyd Mayweather gave him a watch…just for being him, you know. Kind of looks like a Hublot Big Bang 44mm Gold Pave too, right?

Awkward.
(Is there a run on $50k watches in richguyland?! If so, please sir, may I have one of those sick Masterpiece Key of Time?
But…when are we gonna talk about how 50 feels as Ross and Dre get all buddy buddy? I remember that years ago when Fif first signed to Shady/Aftermath, Dre gave him a very expensive watch too. I think it was Vacheron Constantin? Dr. Dre’s like the Derek Jeter of rap friends.)

Check out DreFilms video recap of Rick Ross’ Birthday Extravaganza:

And a clip of Ross performing at his party:

Related:
New Industry Bromance: Dr. Dre Celebrates Rick Ross’ Birthday In Miami
LOL: Rick Ross makes a mooo-vie at Miami’s King of Diamonds
50 Cent Explains His Business Dealings w/ Eminem & Dr. Dre… but Who is he Bailing out of Jail?
50 Cent Talks to Complex About Working With Dr. Dre, and Speaks on “Marcy Jay” vs. “Oprah Jay”
Gucci Mane x Miss Info, The Appeal Interview (pt. 4 “Jewels”)
Throwback: Miss Info’s “The Bling Report” at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards
Paul Wall’s History of Grillz: Paul counts down his favorite chompers with Mikey Fresh
Soulja Boy’s “remote control” jewelry: Not reinventing the wheel

TMZ has learned from a BET rep that the network has banned Nicki Minaj’s “Stupid H*e” video. The rep wasn’t able to give any details on exactly why BET is refusing to play the video but the lyrics alone may be the reason (though there is the edited version). Visually, I don’t feel like it’s over the top but I can see why the station might not want the 106 & Park going around screaming “Stupid H*e,” especially because it’s Black History Month. For now, we’ll just have to wait for further comment from BET and Nicki.

Related: Nicki Minaj Twerks It In “Stupid Hoe” (New Video)
Nicki Minaj Debuts Her Official First Single, “Stupid Hoe” (New Music)

By the end of this week, M.I.A. will have been on American Idol (premiering Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Lovin’” video with her and Nicki Minaj), and at the halftime show of the Superbowl. How in the world can you possibly even pretend to be some kind of edgy anti-establishment fight-the-power “bad girl” at this point? But M.I.A. is still hanging onto her hipster metrocard, despite her billion-dollar baby, and upcoming hank-williams-jr astroturf status.

And just in time to confuse the Middle Americans who will be tuning in to watch “Madonner” between bites of cheesy bread on Sunday…M.I.A. drops “Bad Girls,” (via Pitchfork) the lead single for her upcoming 4th album. The song is produced by Danja (Timbaland’s “co”-producer) and sounds pretty much like you’d expect. It’s not horrible. It’s just disappointing.

“Bad Girls” sounds like Gwen Stefani adopting another new ethnicity, or Eve giving it another go with whoever Dr. Dre has locked in his basement, or Kreyshawn doing an Old Navy ad. Zzzz. But with all of the new things that M.I.A. has seen/been bought/been fed in the last few years of her interesting journey…I’d think she’d be able to pull up some of that rich girl rage and act out. (Like with that nutty “Born Free” video) We’ll see what happens with Friday’s “Bad Girl” video debut, also by “Born Free” director Romain Gavras. Will there be black humor and apocalyptic violence? Or just multi-culti kitsch and bad Islamic calligraphy fonts. Oh, wait…that’s already on the single art.

Listen to M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls”….after the jump

New Music: M.I.A. “Bad Girls” (produced by Danja, off the upcoming Maya album)

PS: “Bad Girls” is a finished version of a song off M.I.A.’s most recent mixtape, Vicki Leekx. I guess even if the new album doesn’t deliver, a new promo run promises a new season of M.I.A. crazy talk. That’s one of my favorite things. Remember the backhanded Jay-Z comments and the Lady Gaga diss?

PPS: How hamtastic do you think this Superbowl show will be? Madonna is doing “Gimme All Your Luvvin,” “Ray of Light” and “Vogue.” All safe. Where’s her signature advertiser abuse going to come from?!

Related:
Madonna Previews “Give Me All Your Luvin” With Nicki Minaj & M.I.A. (Video)
New Music: M.I.A. “27″ (Amy Winehouse Dedication)
New Mixtape: M.I.A. Vicki Leekx
M.I.A. performs “Born Free” on David Letterman, talks about working w/ Nicki Minaj etc
M.I.A. talks to Angie Martinez: I like both Jay-Z and Nas, but…people respect Nas [even though] he’s not a private-jet yacht kind of guy
New Video: M.I.A. “Born Free” (Not Safe for Work)
What’s Beef: M.I.A. on Lady Gaga “She sounds more like me than I f–king do!”

Shyne told MTV News in what looks like a skype-call…that he felt some regret about how his relationship with Diddy went up in flames after the two former buddies were tried separately for the 1999 shooting at Club New York. He said he also had a dream about Anthony “Wolf” Jones (Diddy’s longtime bodyguard who was killed in 2003 in Atlanta during a dispute with the BMF). So Shyne says he called Diddy recently and reconciled. Not only that, but the man that Shyne waged many a character attack on, is allegedly going to sit down with Shyne in person….in Paris, where he’s living.

“For me, the conversation was a confirmation of what I felt. Son kept it super tall, and that’s what it’s about. When a man says, ‘Listen, as a man, I make mistakes and I own that.’ What could you do?”

Well, peace is always preferable to war, but for anyone who has followed this relationship, this is all kinds of surprising. Especially Shyne’s reveal that Diddy reached out to him in prison, and offered his help. Remember when he said that any conversation with Diddy was “a figment of his imagination”?

Related:
Shyne says convo with Diddy “is a figment of Sean Combs’ imagination” (Update: Shyne’s father speaks)
Shyne Update: According to Belize media outlets, Shyne will be in Belize on Weds, already has music plan
Shyne Update: He will be sent to Belize and will continue fight to get back to US from there

Amber Rose gets her feet wet in the booth with her debut song, “Fame” and boyfriend Wiz Khalifa assists her on the uptempo collab. Does Amber have a chance at a music career? or is she another novelty act like Kim K., Kim Zolciak, etc? Let us know.

New Music: Amber Rose Feat. Wiz Khalifa – “Fame”

via Perez Hilton

MissInfo: Hmm…its not nearly as bad as most folks want to believe it is, lol. In fact, with a Guetta remix or something, it’ll probably blend right into all the other music they play at the gym. Keep it real.

But more importantly….
How does Amber’s “Fame” song compare to accused homewrecker Kim Kardashian’s “Jam (Turn It Up)” song?
Update: Amber Regrets Calling Kim a Homewrecker “It was kind of mean…” *dead*
After the jump

Even as just a snippet this was God awful.

Amber says she regrets bashing Kim, and forgives both her and Kanye. “I’m all about women empowerment.”
lol.

Previously: Amber Rose’s Cover Art for Her First Single, “Fame”

….and the gloves are off! According to Radar, Amber Rose told Star Magazine directly that Kim Kardashian is the reason why she and Kanye split up. It’s been a year and a half since their breakup, but time gives ex-lovers just enough distance to start saying how they really feel, right?

Radar reports that their sister publication (the oft unreliable) Star interviewed Amber Rose. This seems like an odd choice for Amber, but they directly quote her as saying:

“Kim is one of the main reasons why me and Kanye are not together,” Amber exclusively told Star. “She’s a homewrecker!”

“[Kanye and Kim] were both cheating,” Amber, 28, said. “They were both cheating on me and Reggie [Bush] with each other.”

Amber says it was Kim, 31, who instigated the whole affair by calling, texting and sending racy photos of herself to Kanye.
“She was sending pictures, and I was like, ‘Kim, just stop. Don’t be that person,’” but apparently Kim didn’t care enough to respond when Amber emailed her for an explanation.

Amber goes on to “thank” Kim for pushing her into the arms of Wiz Khalifa. (Read after the jump)
But she also returned the favor by having that brief fling with Reggie remember? I have been hearing about the Kanye x Kim connection for years, long before he was spotted more publicly at her birthday cruise in August 2010. So it was amusing to see Amber show up with Reggie at an Espy’s afterparty. I guess it’s all front and center now.

Update: Amber responded via Twitter
“I know there has been a lot of rumors circulating the internet today. After being asked the same questions over and over in every interview for so long i had to be honest and get this off my chest … I don’t lie, i don’t embellish I’m not trying to hurt anyone just setting the record straight. #FAME is a Crazy thing But I’m so thankful I have a AMAZING husband that Loves and supports me to the fullest he’s my Angel and soulmate. Thank u Rosebuds and Rosestuds for understanding me Muva loves y’all so much”

Read more Amber quotes and revisit the tangled romantic web of KIMBEREGGILIFA….
After the jump

More of Amber’s alleged comments in the upcoming issue of Star:

“I thought at least she’d be woman enough to respond to me. She never responded.”

Amber slammed Kim for her cheating ways. “It’s very important that us women stick together and we don’t f**k each other over like that.”

“I want to thank her,” she said about Kim. “Because if she was never a homewrecker, then I never would have met Wiz, and I wouldn’t be as happy as I am now.”

Remember the times….

(umm…four’s a crowd, Milla Jovovich. Get out of there before you become the lettuce on a very awkward sandwich.)

Related:
Amber Responds To Kanye’s Dedication: “He’s Remorseful About Being An Asshole To Me”
Kanye West Dedicates Performance To Amber Rose In Philly (Video)
Amber Rose on Wiz Khalifa, Again: “We WILL Get Married, We ARE Gonna Have Babies…I Would Die For Him”
Kanye West Appears On Kourtney & Kim Take New York
Kanye West & Pusha T on Hot 97’s Funkmaster Flex Show: Taylor Swift, Dip Set, Amber Rose, Kim Kardashian and more…
Reggie Bush Goes Public With His Old Navy, Kim K. Clone, Melissa Molinaro

Though he touched on this yesterday, Common confirmed this morning his The Dreamer, The Believer song “Sweet” is directed at Drake.
Specifically, this chorus:
“Y’all n—as man, you soft m—-f—kers. Yeah my man, m—-f—ker. Then come around my crib. You know where I’m from. Some ho ass n—as. Singing all around me man, la la la! You ain’t m—-f—king Frank Sinatra. Uh, lil’ bitch. Yeah, this the raw right here! This the raw right here n—a. Sweet m—-f—ker! Sweet ass bitch muthafucka!”

Seeing as how Drake channeled Sinatra all over our TVs this past August, it seemed pretty clear that line was about him. So here’s what Common told Sway this morning on Shade45.

Sway: So you’re inviting Drake into battle…
Common: Aye, he opened his mouth and said some things*, so if that’s what he wants. All that sublimal, you might as well say it now….
The verse is about me, but when you hear some of the stuff on the chorus, you can’t help but think about dude, I guess. And that’s what he felt. So yeah. At the end of the day, you fit in that category. He already embraced it, so wear it.

Common: He’s a very successful artist obviously. He’s a very talented artist too, I give credit where it’s due….but any artist can be a target…it’s just about mc-ing, when you step in there, you in the ring, baby. Especially if you say you’re the greatest. I’m on “Sweet” saying I’m the greatest too…

BUTT…..seriously, what else could be BEHIND this beef?
After the jump


(Common talks to Sway and Devi Dev on Shade 45’s morning show)

*When Common mentioned that Drake “said some things”….was he referring to Drake’s comments at the Cali Christmas show?:
“I will never stop doing this for ya’ll. I don’t give a f*ck if you have something to say to me. Say it to my muthaf*ckin’ face. Just cause I sing don’t make me no b-tch.”

Meanwhile, the twitter CSI squads are gathering forensics on an allegedly deleted tweet from Drake…that read: “Platinum. Now That’s SWEET!” Most folks say that tweet is fake.

What’s not fake is Drake’s producer Noah “40″ Shebib’s tweets:

Hmm. There is much irony in this argument. And any argument about Common not being hip hop is absurd. Even more so than a similar Drake argument (which I also think is absurd). Common has no singing voice to speak of.

Maybe all the rap cats and R&B cats could agree on something if they just noticed the 800lbs buttcheeks in the room; )

(Common x Serena Williams. Drake x Serena Williams.)

LOL. I’m surprised by all this because Common is literally one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. So just hearing him matter of fact-ly talk trash is fun. But whether you feel like his motives are right or wrong, or his personal style is softer than Drake’s…you can’t dismiss Common’s battle-tested lyrical skill.

Previously: Common & Dr. Maya Angelou Clear Up Controversy Behind “The Believer”

Pusha T releases a new freestyle over Common’s “Sweet” off The Dreamer, The Believer. Like this freestyle, Push will have listeners wondering who’s the victim of his latest attack. Until then checkout the audio below.

New Music: Pusha T – “Sweet (Freestyle)” (prod. by No I.D.)

“I hear ‘em whisper like a hummingbird sing
Of all the trust issues that 100 birds bring
Now the wolves out hunting for your bling
You out preyin’ on the bitches with the lowest self-esteem
It’s a common running theme.”

via Pusha T

More from Cory Gunz and Trae The Truth after the jump….

New Music: Cory Gunz – “Drug Raps 2″ (No Tags)

Cory Gunz drops the second installment of “Drug Raps,” following the original release three years ago. (Props to OnSMASH)

New Music: Trae The Truth – “Nothin” & “RIP Clip”

Trae recently lost a member of his family. Paying tribute he goes over Drake’s “Look What You’ve Done,” also included is a new release from today titled “Nothin.” (Props to LowKey/UHTN)

While it was a badly kept “secret” and pretty much confirmed here, French Montana is now the new member of Bad Boy Records. Following much speculation of joining the likes of Kanye West at G.O.O.D. Music and Rick Ross at Maybach Music Group, Diddy announced his new signee tonight on BET’s 106 & Park. Meanwhile, French world premiered his video for ”Shot Caller” featuring Charlie Rock, which you can watch above.

French on aligning with Puff:

“I really feel real good that’s why I kept it here in New York. Why would I take my talent to South Beach? When I met with Puff and sat down and really spoke, he told me a couple of things and [he] never lied to me about nothing and always kept his word. It is what it is. It’s New York. I want to bring it back to New York.”

Watch Puff announce French Montana joining Bad Boy after the jump…..

Previously: French Montana Feat. Diddy & Rick Ross – “Shot Caller (Remix)”