Saul Williams has been cast as Tupac for the Broadway musical, Holler If You Hear Me, based around the late rappers life. The musical is set to open this summer.
The Roots will release their new album, ....And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, in May.
The estate of the late Gil Scott-Heron will release an album of unreleased material from the poet and pioneer on Record Store Day called, Nothing New.
Speaking to NME, Damon Albarn has mentioned that he and former Britpop rival and foe, Noel Gallagher have discussed making music together. Albarn discussed the idea about the two working together and said, "I can imagine that being a very distinct possibility at some point in the future. But, as yet we haven't really talked about it, although....OK we have a little bit. We're talking. It's not anything to get excited about yet. I mean, he's doing his thing. He's finishing a new record. I've got my record coming out, but the principle of us making music together is something…you know, it would be fair to say, we have discussed it at least once."
The Black Keys also revealed to NME that they have experimented with sampling for their forthcoming, Danger Mouse produced LP, Turn Blue. The duo sampled Italian composer Nico Fidenco.
Iconic New York City music venue, Roseland, closed last night with it's final show from Lady Gaga. The venue, which opened in 1919 as a ballroom, then became a skating rink and then reopened as a music venue played to every type of music known to man. We had the opportunity to see artists like Radiohead, Bjork, Atoms for Peace, Bloc Party, Four Tet, Flying Lotus, Them Crooked Vultures, Danzig, and many others there over the years. It will be missed. Thanks for the memories.
Drummer Klip Scurlock has left The Flaming Lips. The band have not commented on his departure or noted his replacement. He has been with the band since 2002.