Chart topping hip hop artist Nicki Minaj has been named “the most influential rap artist of all time” by Jon Caramanica of The New York Times.  As a Young Money Entertainment delight, the twenty nine year Trinidadian born American recording artist landed in the music scene during August 2009.  In the days since, Minaj has turned heads, dropped jaws, and claimed her place at the top of Billboard charts with hit singles like “Super Bass,” “Your Love,”  and several collaborations with the industry’s best, including L’il Wayne, Kanye West, and Drake.

The Times praise of Minaj’s work as a forerunner for female rappers included: “She became a nimble, evocative rapper.  She became an intricate lyricist.  She became a thoughtful singer.  She became a risky performer.  She invented new personae.  More than any other rapper in the mainstream, she pushed hard against expectations, and won.”

The article and acclaim will certainly pave the way for Minaj’s second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, set for release on April 3, 2012.

For more, go here: NY TIMES 

Country musician and all around hottie Jerrod Neimann’s tour bus burned up in flames on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 following a charity performance.  Jerrod and his crew helped raise over $65,000 for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital’s Heart Strings For Hope Beenfit in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Tuesday.

Following the show, singer Lee Brice observed: “Dude, I think your bus is on fire.”   Brice thought right and managed to stop Jerrod, Jerrod’s father, Jerrod’s uncle, and the band from perishing in the smoldering vehicle in the nick of time, just before an explosion occurred.

Jerrod dished to PEOPLE: “I smelled something when I got on the bus but I figured it was that smell a heater makes when it comes on.”   He also posted pictures to Twitter of the fire.   That’s hot…wink…wink…

Kid Rock is all set to perform on May 12, 2012 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the historic Fox Theater in Kid’s hometown of Detroit.  The rocker is lending his star power to hopefully raise a minimum of $1 million to help alleviate the orchestra’s financial hardships through a “Rock The Symphony” event.    Regarding the upcoming show, Kid offered: “As a musician, and of course a Detroiter, I am prod to be supporting this longstanding cultural institution.  And while I know these prices are more than what my fans are used to paying, I am confident that whatever happens when we put the Twisted Brown Trucker Band, an 80 piece orchestra, and ‘Batwitadba’ together, will be well worth the price of admission.”   Tickets to attend the epic collaboration range from $100 to $350 dollars but it’s for a great cause.

Leonard Slatkin, conductor and music director of the group recently commended Kid’s dedication with “What he [Kid] is doing in general for Detroit is nothing short of amazing.  I can think of very few contemporary musicians who believe so wholeheartedly in their city.”

Anything which helps reverse the Devil Without A Cause singer’s bad Karma after being busted for lighting up a stoogie at a Travis Tritt gig   in Michigan just last month…

Miley Cyrus (and other artists) have collaborated for an Amnesty International collaboration of Bob Dylan’s “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” and other songs for a cover album entitled Chimes Of Freedom for Amnesty International.

The album features work by over 80 artists complete with 76 covers of Bob Dylan originals as a salute to the organization’s 50th Anniversary and Life Saving Human Rights Work.  The album includes work by: Adele, Maroon 5, Joan Baez, The Airborne Toxic Event, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Dave Mathews Band, Lenny Kravitz, Cage the Elephant, My Chemical Romance, Ziggy Marley, Kris Kristofferson, Diana Krall, Natasha Bedingfield, Jackson Browne, Darren Criss, Silversun Pickups, Sting, Sugarland, Lucinda Williams, Pete Townshed, K’NAAN,  Evan Rachel Wood, Tom Morello, Joe Perry, Raphael Saddiq, and Seal & Jeff Beck.

The album goes on sale January 24, 2012.

In a drunken moment, Kid Rock lit up a stogie at a Travis Tritt show in Detroit on Friday, January 13,2012.  The venue was within a nonsmoking facility at the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren, Michigan and in a highly intoxicated state, Kid Rock fired up his cigar just 15 minutes into the performance.  Concert attendees were fuming and filed several complaints with the Health Department.

In customary Kid fashion, the 40 year old singer responded to the claims with a giant apology and a one finger salute.  He said “My most sincere apologies to the patrons I may have offended, and a big middle finger in advance to all the haters and attorneys who will somehow try to find an easy paycheck in all this.”  Kid furthered with “I doubt I’m the first one to ever make a bad decision while being intoxicated.”

Time to weigh in: what was in the cigar?  Was it tobacco?  Or was it another kind of grass?