ALICE IN CHAINS

Alice in Chains

Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr (who was replaced in 1993 by Mike Inez).

Although widely associated with grunge music, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and acoustic elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released four studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations, and two DVDs. The band is known for its distinct vocal style which often included the harmonized vocals of Staley and Cantrell.

Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with other Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. The band was one of the most successful music acts of the 1990s, selling over 35 million albums worldwide, and over 14 million in the US alone. In 1992 the band released their album Dirt which was critically acclaimed and has been certified quadruple platinum. The band also achieved two No.1 Billboard 200 albums (Jar of Flies and Alice in Chains), 14 top ten songs on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and eight Grammy Award nominations.

Although never officially disbanding, Alice in Chains was plagued by extended inactivity from 1996 onwards due to Staley's substance abuse, which resulted in his death in 2002. The band reunited in 2005 with new lead vocalist William DuVall, and released their fourth studio album, Black Gives Way to Blue, in 2009. The album was a success, being certified gold by the RIAA in 2010. Alice in Chains is currently working on a new studio album, which is due for release sometime in late 2012 or early 2013.

Origin: Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Genres: Alternative metal, grunge, alternative rock, hard rock, heavy metal

Years active: 1987–2002, 2005–present

Labels: Columbia, Virgin/EMI

Associated acts: Alice N' Chains, Class of '99, Comes with the Fall, Mad Season, Black Label Society, Spys4Darwin, Alice Mudgarden

Members:Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, Mike Inez, William DuVall

Past members: Layne Staley, Mike Starr

Pictures:

Song: Concert:

Concert: 

Alice In Chains - (HD)(Live Facelift)(Seattle 1991)

Album:

Alice In Chains - Dirt (Full Album) 1992

Interview:

BURNING SPEAR

Burning Spear

Winston Rodney, OD (born 1 March 1945), also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.

Birth name: Winston Godfrey Rodney

Born: 1 March 1945 (age 67)

Genres: Reggae

Years active: 1969–present

Labels: Studio One, Island, EMI, Heartbeat, Slash/Warner Bros.

Pictures:

Song:

Concert:

Burning Spear Live In Peru (full concert)

Album:

Burning Spear Studio One Coxone (full album)

Interview:

GRIMES

Grimes

Claire Boucher (born March 17, 1988), better known by her stage name Grimes, is a Canadian artist, musician, and music video director. A native of Vancouver, Grimes began recording experimental music while attending McGill University in Montreal, where she became involved with the underground electronic and industrial music scene.

In 2010 she released her debut album, Geidi Primes through Arbutus Records, followed by Halfaxa (2010). In late 2011, she announced that she had signed with 4AD Records, who partnered with Arbutus to release her third album, Visions (2012). Visions met critical acclaim and was hailed by the The New York Times as "one of the most impressive albums of the year so far".

Grimes' music has been noted by critics and journalists for its atypical combination of vocal elements, as well as a wide array of influences, ranging from industrial and electronic to pop, hip hop, R&B, noise rock and even medieval music.

Birth name: Claire Boucher

Born: March 17, 1988. Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaVancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Genres: Dream pop, experimental, synthpop, Dark Wave, industrial, dark ambient

Occupations: Singer-songwriter, visual artist, music video director

Instruments: Vocals, keyboards, synthesizer

Years active: 2009–present

Labels: Arbutus, 4AD

Picture:

Song:

Concert:

Grimes live

Album: 

Grimes - Visions 

Interview:

AZEALIA BANKS

Azealia Banks

Azealia Amanda Banks, formerly known under the pseudonym Miss Bank$ (born May 31, 1991), is an American rapper, singer and lyricist from Harlem, New York signed to Interscope/Polydor. She rose in notability in 2011 when she topped NME's "Cool List" for the year. On December 5, 2011, the BBC announced that Banks had been nominated for the Sound of 2012, where she ultimately finished third. Her debut single, "212" featuring Lazy Jay, was released on December 6, 2011.

Also known as: Miss Bank$, B.A.N.K.S

Born: May 31, 1991.

Origin: Harlem, New York, United States

Genres: Funky house, hip house, Hip hop, electronica

Occupations: Rapper, singer, lyricist

Years active: 2009–present

Labels: XL, Interscope, Polydor

Associated acts: Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Angel Haze, Lana Del Rey, Zebra Katz

Picture:

Song:

Interview:

DRAKE

Drake

Aubrey Drake Graham (born October 24, 1986), who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor from Toronto, Ontario. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation, but also began to rise to stardom with the release of multiple mixtapes that began to generate hype for his future career as a rapper, the most successful of these being So Far Gone which led to the release of an EP that would lead to Drake's career breakthrough.

In June 2009, Drake signed a recording contract with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. Drake rose to stardom with the release of the EP So Far Gone (2009), which spawned the smash single "Best I Ever Had" and moderate hit "Successful". After the success of So Far Gone, Drake prepared to release his first studio album, Thank Me Later. The album was released on June 15, 2010, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album has since gone platinum and has spawned the successful singles "Over" and "Find Your Love". His second studio album titled Take Care was released on November 15, 2011 and topped the charts in the U.S. and Canada and produced multiple smash singles, including "Headlines", "Take Care", "Make Me Proud", and "The Motto", the latter of which is also credited for popularizing the widely used acronym YOLO. Other than his musical career, Drake is a songwriter for other artists in the industry such as Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx, and continues to pursue his acting career with his latest appearance being in the No. 1 box office hit Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012).

Drake has sold over 5 million albums worldwide, with his latest release Take Care being the most successful. Drake's achievements range from 3 Juno Awards to 3 BET Awards. Drake also claims many significant Billboard records. He currently has more number-one singles, twelve, on Billboard's Rap Songs chart than any other artist, and is, other than 50 Cent, the only artist to simultaneously occupy the chart's top three positions. He also currently has more number-one singles, ten, on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart than any other rapper, recently passing Jay-Z in August 2012. Drake's latest global tour, Club Paradise is the most successful hip-hop tour of 2012, grossing over 42 million worldwide.

Drake was tied with Rihanna for the most nominees at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. He was ranked No. 2 on MTV's Hottest MCs In The Game VII list in 2012.

Birth name: Aubrey Drake Graham

Also known as: Drizzy

Born: October 24, 1986. Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Genres: Hip hop, R&B, pop

Occupations: Rapper, singer, songwriter, actor

Years active: 2001–present

Labels: Cash Money, Young Money, Universal Republic

Associated acts: Young Money, The Weeknd, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Trey Songz, Rihanna, Jamie Foxx, Rick Ross, Birdman, J. Cole, DJ Felli Fel, DJ Khaled, Bun B, Young Jeezy, Mack Maine, Wale, Eminem, 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, French Montana, Game, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, The-Dream, T.I., Justin Bieber

Pictures:

Song:

Album:

Drake - Take Care 

Interview: