Welcome to Buzzworthy's "The Week In Pop," where we round up new album releases, talk show musical guests, and TV performances by your favorite pop stars and more (so you don't have to).
This week, T.I. drops his eighth studio album, Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head, blink-182 go completely DIY with the self-release of their dogs eat dogs EP, and Chief Keef makes his full-length debut. Also, The-Dream readies a commercial release of Terius Nash: 1977, the soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" streets, and electronic music label Ultra releases its sixth dance compilation. Meanwhile, television's fall seasons are wrapping up. "The Voice" finale, which features performances by Rihanna and Bruno Mars, announces its winner on Tuesday; One Direction and Pitbull grace "The X Factor" stage on Thursday, when the show determines their winner and closes out its season.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
+ T.I., Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head: Over the last couple of years, T.I.'s made headlines more for prison time than for his music. This week, we're glad the ATL spitter's return to the spotlight is for his new 16-song set. Hear his bittersweet, romantic "Guns And Roses" with Pink, watch the party-vibed "Ball" video, which was filmed in New Orleans and features Lil Wayne rapping and skateboarding, and listen to the ironically-named "Sorry" featuring Andre 3000, in which T.I. expresses that he has no regrets.
+ blink-182, dogs eating dogs: The punk trio is back, and this time it's on their own terms. They released their new EP themselves after splitting up with longtime label home, Universal Music Group. The EP can be downloaded directly from blink-182's website. The five-song EP includes "Boxing Day," a reflective, poignant ballad about being broken up with the day after Christmas, and dude, while that is harsh (it rates up there with being dumped via text), at least we got a great song out of it #brightside.
+ Chief Keef, Finally Rich: In March, Chief Keef emerged as a burgeoning talent with "I Don't Like" featuring Lil Reese (it also appears on his Finally Rich debut). Since then, the Chicago rapper has feuded with Lupe Fiasco, skipped his own video shoot for "Hate Being Sober" (standing up 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa in the process), and made other controversial headlines. Nevertheless, his music speaks to many. To wit: His "Love Sosa" video has garnered more than 20 million YouTube views in just a month.
Check out more new album releases, upcoming TV appearances, and performances after the jump.
+ The-Dream, Terius Nash: 1977: While the singer/songwriter/producer's been hitting the studio with Beyoncé and tracking with Mariah Carey, his own project takes center stage, as he re-releases 1977 commercially tomorrow. The set is titled after his real name and year of birth, and fills the gap while we wait for his long-delayed fourth studio album, Love IV: MMXII. Listen to his contemplative "Tender Tendencies" from the 12-song set.
+ Various Artists, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Though Quentin Tarantino's Western flick doesn't hit theaters until Christmas Day, the eclectic soundtrack streets tomorrow. Check out Rick Ross' "100 Black Coffins," which is featured in the theatrical trailer. James Brown's "The Payback" gets mashed up with 2Pac's "Untouchable" on "Unchained," and John Legend contributes "Who Did That To You?"
+ Various Artists, Ultra 2013: For Ultra Records' sixth installment of its annual series, they've rounded up some of today's biggest EDM hits onto a two-disc set. Songs include Calvin Harris' "Let's Go" with Ne-Yo, deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner's "Channel 42," Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas' "Beat Down" featuring Iggy Azalea, and Lil Jon's "Drink" with LMFAO.
TV APPEARANCES AND PERFORMANCES
Monday, Dec. 17
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- J. Roddy And The Business, T.I.
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- MNDR
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Colbie Caillat
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- 2 Chainz
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Dave Matthews Band
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Cee Lo Green
"The Voice" -- "Top 3 Final Performances," featuring coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton, and advisers Billie Joe Armstrong, Mary J. Blige, Michael Bublé, and Rob Thomas
Tuesday, Dec. 18
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Jermaine Paul
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Alicia Keys
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- LeAnn Rimes
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Ed Sheeran
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Trans-Siberian Orchestra
"Conan" -- Jose James
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Bruno Mars
"The Voice" -- "Finale," featuring performances by Rihanna and Bruno Mars, with coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton, and advisers Billie Joe Armstrong, Mary J. Blige, Michael Bublé, and Rob Thomas
Wednesday, Dec. 19
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Allen Stone
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- the winner of "The Voice"
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Backstreet Boys
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John
"The X Factor" -- "Top 3 Finalists Perform," featuring judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid, and Britney Spears
Thursday, Dec. 20
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Paloma Faith
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Jon Bon Jovi
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Johnny Mathis
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Cee Lo Green
"Conan" -- Ben Gibbard
"The View" -- Bette Midler
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- the winner of "The Voice"
"The X Factor" -- "Finale," featuring performances by One Direction and Pitbull, with judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid, and Britney Spears
"The Ellen Degeneres Show" -- One Direction
"CMA Country Christmas" -- Hosted by Jennifer Nettles, featuring performances by John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, The Band Perry, Colbie Callait and more.
Friday, Dec. 21
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Christina Perri
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Darlene Love
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Chris Mann
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Rod Stewart
Photo credit: Atlantic Records
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