2016 continues to be a big year for Drake. The Toronto native led nominees for the 2016 American Music Awards with 13 nods, breaking the record for most AMAs nominations in a single year — surpassing Michael Jackson’s 11 nominations in 1984. It is worth pointing out that Drizzy’s never won an AMA before. This year, however, Drake is up for artist of the year (along with Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Twenty One Pilots, Carrie Underwood, and The Weeknd), favorite male artist, favorite album, favorite rap artist, favorite rap song and favorite R&B song, among other awards. He is followed by Rihanna, who received seven nominations, and Adele and Justin Bieber, who are running for five prizes each. You can view the full list of nominees here.

The AMAs will be broadcast live on ABC from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on November 20 at 8 pm ET.

Posted by David miller (via hypebeast)

Today the world lost one of it’s greatest humans. Marques Lewis aka DJ Risk One was one of the most talented, intelligent, caring, giving, loving & strong people I’ve ever met. We first met at a pool party at Kevin Scott’s house. As the night went on people began throwing each other in the pool and at one point I tossed Risk in. It was the summer of 2008 and a new technology had recently came out called the iPhone. Marques had purchased this new technology and at this point he had been dry for quite some time and had put his iPhone in his bathing suit pocket. Oh shit, right? Nope, not with Marques. In a split second Marques managed to pull his phone out of his pocket and throw it over five feet of stone patio to a small patch of grass where it landed completely unscathed.

Marques excelled in everything he did and he did a lot. He was a top notch DJ playing up and down the California coast as well as holding down big time residencies in Las Vegas and his sets were amazing. I always looked forward to hearing him play. I knew anytime I listened to a Risk One set or mixtape I was gonna hear something new and incredibly dope that I’d never heard before. Two of my favorite mixes of his were Robot Ears Mixtape Volume 4 and his Super 7 Mix. I definitely recommend checking them out.

Starting in the mid 2000’s being in the DJ game required investing in graphic design and photography to build a brand. You needed press photos for flyers, you needed the flyers themselves, you needed an EPK and of course you needed a logo. Instead of finding a firm to handle his creative work, Marques handled his own work and eventually created R. One Creative which became sought out by many of the top DJs and entertainment venues in the U.S. To this day Risk One’s slogan, “a little bit better than dope” is one of my favorite slogan’s of all time for ANY brand.

While I admired Marques for his hard work, dedication and creative talents, I admired him tenfold as philanthropist and friend. Marques never got “too big” for his friends. If I had a gig in San Francisco and Marques was off work, he was there. I know he had mad work to do on music and design but it never kept him from supporting his friends or those in need. Marques rode 545 miles from SF to LA annually for AIDS LIFECYCLE and in the process raised thousands of dollars for research to try to find a cure for AIDS. Giving up a week of his year annually to help others says volumes about Marques’ character. And it wasn’t merely a week. Countless hours of training and fundraising were also necessary for him to complete the annual ride.

And then in 2015 this great man admired by so many, this man who gave of himself to help find a cure for others afflicted with disease, Marques Lewis, was diagnosed with a rare form bladder cancer. And Marques fought and fought and he fought hard. Progress was made but every time things were looking up an unexpected setback would be suffered. I think I speak for all of Marques’ friends and family when I say if there was anyone who we thought could beat this it was Marques. Tragically that was not the case.

Marques Lewis was one of the coolest guys I knew and he didn’t even have to try. His sense of fashion and style was top notch, his taste in music was impeccable and his creative vision…let’s just say he could see 10 miles further down the road than the rest of us.

Marques you weren’t one of the good ones, you were one of the great ones and I know that you will be mourned and missed by the thousands whose lives you’ve touched. In all of the years I knew you there was only one thing I ever thought you were wrong about. You were a lot better than dope. Heaven just got a lot more dope today. Rest in peace friend.

Posted by Digital Dave

Orange, California, October 19th 2016 – Orbit Concepts releases their newest product, the JetPack Slim, the latest from their popular JetPack DJ backpack series. Since 2011, Orbit Concept’s JetPack DJ bag line has been appreciated worldwide for its innovative design, unprecedented functionality, and commitment to quality. The JetPack Slim will continue this tradition, but in a more compact and sleek design.

The launch of the JetPack Slim will be celebrated in conjunction with Orbit Concepts’ 5 year anniversary. To mark this occasion, Orbit Concepts has decided to temporarily offer a limited supply of the JetPack Slim at a promotional price of $99.99, the very same introductory discount that was offered for the original JetPack bag, released 5 years ago. The JetPack Slim will be available starting Tuesday, October 25th 2016 only at www.OrbitConcepts.com.

With the new JetPack Slim, Orbit Concepts is proud to announce that the world’s best DJ backpack finally meets a compact day bag design! This bold new style is perfect for a DJ’s needs, but is still suitable for everyday use. Trim with a sleek aesthetic, the Slim utilizes JetPack’s core organizational approach, and some of the same features that made previous JetPacks so popular.

TRAVEL TESTED, TSA APPROVED

The Slim’s ambition is to be the most compact bag that’s still meant for all daily essentials. Enjoy familiar JetPack core features such as the elevated headphone compartment, and built-in vinyl sleeves, along with a full complement of functional pockets and pouches. The Slim also features rock solid construction with water resistant ballistic nylon and tear resistant ripstop interior.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN A DJ BAG

The Slim’s ambition is to be the most compact bag that’s still meant for all daily essentials. Enjoy familiar JetPack core features such as the elevated headphone compartment, and built-in vinyl sleeves, along with a full complement of functional pockets and pouches. The Slim also features rock solid construction with water resistant ballistic nylon and tear resistant ripstop interior.

The JetPack Slim is perfect fit for DJs who want a DJ bag without all of the bulk, and a gig bag that they can also use everyday. The JetPack Slim doesn’t sacrifice fashion for function, it’ll look great for any occasion. Orbit Concepts is excited about this new release, and hopes the JetPack Slim is just the bag many DJs have been looking for.

Orbit Concepts is committed to providing quality products for DJs and music enthusiasts. For more information please contact the following:

Ton “DJ Alpha” Choi
ton@orbitconcepts.com

Get connected with us on our social media outlets!

Twitter @JetPackBags
Instagram @JetPackBags
Facebook.com/JetPackBags

Posted by Dennis Blaze.

Bobby Shmurda was officially sentenced to seven years in prison in Manhattan Supreme Court this morning (Oct. 19). The sentence comes five weeks after accepting a deal to plead guilty to 4th-degree conspiracy to criminally possess a weapon and 2nd-degree criminal weapons possession, which concurrently carry a seven-year sentence. Shmurda, born Ackquille Pollard, appeared alone at the court hearing this morning, separate from his co-defendants Chad “Rowdy Rebel” Marshall and Nicholas McCoy.

With his sentencing today and time served, Shmurda could be released around this time in 2021. As part of accepting the plea deal, he waived his right to appeal.

“I was forced to take this sentence, I did not want to take this sentence,” Shmurda told the court. “I was forced by my attorney to take this plea.”

On Sept. 9, days before jury selection for his trial was scheduled to begin and almost two years since the arrest, Shmurda accepted the prosecution’s “global plea deal,” which reduced his, Rowdy’s and McCoy’s maximum possible sentences from 15 years. A further five years of post-release supervision is also part of the deal.

But in court today, Shmurda appeared upset, at one point saying, “They lied to me” as Judge Abraham Clott denied a request for adjournment. The rapper’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, had asked for a delay on official sentencing, citing that Shmurda had not been interviewed prior to sentencing because on the scheduled date the jail was on lockdown, and also citing comments made to the media recently of which he had only recently become aware.

After the hearing, the 22-year-old’s mother, Leslie Pollard, said she was disappointed, but not surprised, by the judge’s actions. “You don’t have any rights in that courtroom,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s disappointing.”

Shmurda and Spiro have long condemned the case against the rising rapper, who was held on $2 million bond that prevented his record label, Epic Records, from being able to bail him out. Speaking with Complex after accepting the plea deal, which came as a surprise after so many delays and hearings, Shmurda again pointed the finger at the court system.

“If we made bail, I would’ve beat the case,” he said. “We look guilty in these orange jump suits. If you put Al Sharpton in a orange jumpsuit and accuse him of having a gun, he’s going to be found guilty. They just look at our skin color, and look at where we’re from. I didn’t get caught with anything on me and the cops lied, saying they seen me with a gun in my hand. I explained the whole situation to Epic and they were behind me all the way. We had big-money lawyers and they still couldn’t do nothing because of the judge, who looked at us like black thugs.”

He also explained why he accepted the deal at all. “I did it for Rowdy. They offered me five [years] and offered Rowdy 12,” the “Hot Boy” MC said, explaining the terms of the prosecution’s global plea deal, which was contingent on all three (Rowdy, Shmurda and McCoy) accepting the same offer. “They said the only way they’ll give him seven is if I took seven, too. So, you know, I had to take one for the dawgs.”

Addressing those complaints made in the media, Spiro said they were fair and in line with his long-held concerns about the case’s location being moved from Brooklyn to Manhattan; about what he saw as an excessively high bail; and that Shmurda, as part of a wider conspiracy arrest, had been over-charged. Many of the original charges against Shmurda were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

“My client is clearly frustrated,” Spiro told the court, and said about the comments in the media, “I can’t fault him for those. I understand why my client is frustrated.”

Ms. Pollard said afterwards that she had not been told about the plea offer beforehand, and was in Miami when she found out that her son had taken a deal. “It was a whole setup,” she said, noting that her son had wanted to go to trial. “The judge doesn’t know my son. He doesn’t care.”

Spiro declined to comment following the hearing.

The court appearance officially brings to an end the long-running legal battle that has enveloped the young Brooklyn rapper since his Dec. 17, 2014 arrest at Manhattan’s Quad Studios alongside a dozen others. Shmurda, Rowdy Rebel and others said to be in a gang called GS9 were hit with a wide-ranging indictment that included weapons, drugs and assault charges, which rose to murder and attempted murder for several defendants.

Posted by Dan Rys (via Billboard)

Drake’s “One Dance” is officially Spotify’s most streamed song ever.

The streaming service announced the news on Tuesday (Oct. 18), with the Views track clocking in more than 882 million plays at time of publishing.

With the announcement, Drake steals the crowning honor from Major Lazer’s MØ and DJ Snake-featuring “Lean On,” which had been named Spotify’s most played song last year 526 million streams across the planet. Currently, “Lean On,” has more than 875 million plays.

“One Dance” was Drake’s first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping track and includes features from WizKid and Kyla. Interesting, Views premiered as an exclusive to Spotify’s competition Apple Music and iTunes for two weeks before becoming available widely.

Still on top.@Drake's #OneDance is now the most streamed track on Spotify with over 880 million streams: https://t.co/W77dsca1xK #Views pic.twitter.com/tvk5yAATV3

— Spotify (@Spotify) October 18, 2016

Posted by Colin Sutz

Global nightlife franchise Pacha Group has been sold for €350 million. The news was confirmed by Diario de Ibiza, who spoke to founder Ricardo Urgell in a recent interview.

Back in September, Pacha Group was rumored to be on sale for €500 million, reportedly due to a shifting landscape in Ibiza nightlife and mounting tensions between Pacha and the Matutes family, who are responsible for several clubs and resorts in Ibiza, including Ushuaïa and Hard Rock Hotel.

While the news has yet to be officially issued by the nightlife conglomerate, the deal appears to be finalized, at least according to Urgell’s comments. “It hurts a lot to sell Pacha in such a sweet moment,” he told Diario de Ibiza.

The deal will include all of Pacha’s properties, such as its iconic, eponymous venues in Sydney, Macau, London, Tel-Aviv, as well as Ibiza resorts like Destino and Lio. Further details on the transaction, including the buyer of Pacha, have yet to be revealed.

The news arrives on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that Pacha Group will open 25 new hotels and spa resorts in an effort to appeal to a “new young generation” between 38 and 45 years of age.

Posted by Michael Sundius (via Dancing Astronaut)

While Mad Decent Block Party has evolved into a hugely successful multi-city festival franchise since it’s Philadelphia establishment in 2008, several of Diplo‘s spinoff parties have encountered significant setbacks. The tragic death of 24-year old Kaylyn Rose Sommer cast a shadow upon the legacy of Mad Decent Boat Party in November 2015. Now, it seems that Mad Decent Beach Party will not be able to form one. Yesterday, Mad Decent announced the would-be festival’s cancelation, posting the following message to their website:

“The CID Presents team and Mad Decent crew are both committed to providing fans with stellar experiences, and after thorough consideration, we have realized we are not able to host the weekend in the exact style we are accustomed. Therefore, unfortunately we have decided to cancel this event. Our sincerest apologies to each person this decision impacts.

Fans who purchased all-inclusive packages will be refunded in full, including related airfare expenses, and will receive direct communication from CID Presents in the coming days.”

Presidents’ Day weekend would have marked the festival’s inaugural installation. Mad Decent Beach Party, which was intended to be held in Riviera Maya, Mexico, planned to host an impressive lineup, including Diplo, Dillon Francis, Zeds Dead,and more. Mad Decent has not provided further details as to the circumstances surrounding why they “are not able to host the weekend in the exact style we are accustomed” to, but have promised full refunds to customers, including airfare expenses.

Posted by Will McCarthy (via Dancing Astronaut)

As you know Club Killers has been putting up weekly curated playlists and recently asked for my input on what essential disco joints should be in any DJ’s crate. I started DJing in the mid 90’s and at the time disco was still a pretty big deal at weddings, corporate events and even open format bars and clubs. While disco has since gone by the wayside at most bars and clubs, it still can be useful at private events as well as the recent resurgence in disco themed parties. I’ve definitely dropped some disco jams at Vince Masi’s “Down & Derby” roller skating parties in Pittsburgh, which have become a national phenomenon.

I also recently played at a “Lending Hearts” disco themed charity event called “Bell Bottoms & Bright Lights” at the Andy Warhol Museum dropping four hours of solid disco to a mostly under 40 crowd. So put on your bell bottoms and roller skates and get ready to shake your booty to this custom curated list of disco gold.

1. Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees (This disco smash from Saturday Night Fever is most likely the most well known and most requested record in the genre.)

2. September – Earth, Wind & Fire (One of the best songs of all time & one of my personal favorites to play for dance floors of almost any age. Genre bending song that’s considered disco, funk, soul & R&B. Amazing record and that horn section. Play it.)

3. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry (While not technically disco, most laymen and even many DJs associate this huge funk rock hit with disco and consider it part of the genre. As such the crowd favorite deserves to be on the list.)

4. Le Freak – Chic (Any disco list needs to have a Chic song on it and while Le Freak may not be their best record or my favorite, it has definitely stood the test of time and is arguably in 2016 their most recognizable track. Fun fact: The record was written by Nile Rogers on New Years Eve 1977 after he was denied admission to Studio 54.)

5. We Are Family – Sister Sledge (If there’s a disco record you could play even out of context at most any event and still pack a dance floor this would be it. Written by Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards of Chic this song has been putting ladies on dance floors since 1979.)

6. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor (Straight girl power anthem right here, in fact the OG girl power anthem. Nuff said.)

7. Boogie Shoes – K.C. & The Sunshine Band (Such a recognizable horn riff. This song should always be dropped, never mixed into. If you ever see him thank Trick Daddy for people under 40 recognizing it as he sampled it in his crossover hit “Take It To The House.”)

8. YMCA – The Village People (I know. I know. I don’t ever want to hear the record again either but there’s no denying that it doesn’t get anymore disco than this 1979 hit.)

9. Disco Inferno – The Trammps (Burn baby, burn. One of the most popular uptempo 4 on the floor disco records, the vibe that represents the true origins & essence of the genre. If you are playing a disco set this song definitely belongs in it.)

10. Funkytwon – Lipps Inc. (Extremely recognizable crowd favorite right here. Held The record of reaching number one on the charts in the most countries, it reached the top spot in 28 nations, a record which it held for over twenty five years.)

11. Bad Girls – Donna Summer (Disco was the first era of ladies anthems Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls” is an essential one. The record has since been massively sampled. Where do you think R. Kelly got the idea of “Toot Toot” & “Beep Beep” from?)

12. That’s The Way I Like It – K.C. & The Sunshine Band (This was the “Back That Azz Up” / “You Can Do It” of disco, I kid you not. The song suffered from reduced radio airplay due to it’s sexual overtones, but those same sexual overtones only increased it’s play in the clubs.)

13. Brick House – Commodores (Classified as disco funk, another staple of the genre & guaranteed floor filler right here. In 21 years of DJing this is by far the disco song I’ve gotten the most requests for over the years.)

14. Hot Stuff – Donna Summer (Nick named the “Queen of Disco” quite possibly no one had more bonafide disco hits than Donna Summer and this is one of her biggest, winning a Grammy & being named #104 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs Of All TIme.”)

15. Shake Your Booty – K.C. & The Sunshine Band (Originally a B-side to “Boogie Shoes,” “Shake Your Booty” was eventually featured in “Saturday Night Fever,” went number one in several countries and since has been featured on countless TV shows and commercials including “The Simpsons” & “Full House.”)

16. You Should Be Dancing – Bee Gees (The name says it all. When you think of disco you think of the Bee Gees and this “Saturday Night Fever” banger has stood the test of time and has even experienced an additional resurgence with young crowds thanks to Gru & the Minions.)

17. Celebration – Kool & The Gang (Technically “post disco” but definitely an essential jam at any disco party unless you’re dealing with legit disco heads. This songs gets a bad rap, primarily due to it being over played throughout the 80’s & early 90’s, but it truly is a great song by one of the best bands of the 70’s & 80’s. Why does everyone always sing the “woo-hoo” early though?)

18. Get Down Tonight – K.C. & The Sunshine Band (Next time a chaperone at a dance tells you the music you’re playing is too sexual ask them what the hell they think K.C. and the Sunshine Band was singing about? Another well know classic guaranteed to get booties out of their seats and onto the floor.”

19. Shake Your Groove Thing – Peaches & Herb (Another song very representative of true disco and thanks to it’s use in movies and commercials this jam is known to younger generations as well.)

20. December, 1963 – Frankie Valli (Thanks to it’s resurgence on Top 40 radio from it’s 1993 remix and the fact it’s a damn good song, party goers of most any age will recognize & will sing & dance to this timeless Franki Valli jam.)

Posted by Digital Dave

Huge shout out to the team over @ Trap Nation for posting our trap remix of Kungs vs Cookin On 3 Burner international hit. As of Oct 6th (Thursday night) it has 890,000 plays in only 4 days!!! If you haven’t picked it up please log in & grab that. If you’re not a member, this one is available for free download here

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Posted by Alex

Heater alert! (Produced by Play N Skillz)

The anticipated collaboration between Lil Jon, Yandel and Becky G called “Take It Off” is finally here and the world must be ready for it!
The song arrives a few months after his recentbuzz single “Make Them Bounce!” and a collaboration on Borgeous’ upcoming album “13”, called “Savage”.
“Take It Off” is a catchy and infectious electronic pop piece which was written by Jonathan H. Smith, Juan Salinas and Oscar Salinas. The single was released along its official Spanglish version on digital retailers and streaming services on July 22nd via Sony Music Entertainment.
It’s confirmed as the first proper single taken from Lil Jon’s second solo album, due out later this year or early 2017 as follow-up to 2010’s “Crunk Rock“.

Posted by Dennis Blaze

The Atlantic Records artist announced that a new single, entitled “24K Magic” (pronounced “twenty-four karat magic”) will drop Oct. 7.

“Excited to announce 24K Magic, out this Friday!!” he said on Instagram. “You can call it my first single, but I call it the invitation to the party.”

“24K Magic” will be the first song released off his forthcoming third studio album, his first since 2012’s Unorthodox Jukebox, which yielded the hits “Locked Out of Heaven,” “When I Was Your Man” and “Treasure.”

Since that release, Mars has sung on Mark Ronson’s 2014 hit “Uptown Funk,” written “All I Ask” with Adele, performed at two Super Bowls and debuted the ballad “Rest of My Life” on the season-two finale of The CW’s Jane the Virgin. Skrillex has mentioned that he’s an upcoming collaborator on new material.

No album release date or title has been announced. Still, of the album, Mars reassured his fans on Twitter, “You think I’ve been playin this whole time? You don’t think I’m masterminding the return?”

Posted by Ashley Lee (via Billboard)

Pete Griffin peacemaker? Stranger things have happened. The Family Guy patriarch got in the middle of a spat he shouldn’t have on Sunday night’s (Oct. 2) episode when he somehow ended up as a witness to Jay Z and Solange Knowles’ infamous 2014 elevator tussle. “I’ve seen what happens when people hold in their aggression for too long. Don’t forget I was in that elevator with Jay Z,” Griffin tells wife Lois about that memorable ride.

In a shot made to look like security cam footage, Griffin is indeed a witness to the scuffle, in which he makes a series of dad jokes as Solange unloads on her brother-in-law, scolding the singer for kicking the rapper because her shoes are muddy and he’s wearing a white suit.

Check out the clip:

Posted by David Miller