Things we've learned from July's music interviews
Beginning with Fiddy dodging a bullet (for once), here's a summary of things we picked up listening to musicians being grilled by Auntie recently.
1. 50 Cent would rather not talk about declaring himself bankrupt
50 Cent Interview
50 drops in to talk new music, rivalries and getting nervous.
Every situation I come up against, I look at it, and try to decide what the right approach for it is"50 Cent
Rather than buttering him up for a later sucker-punch, goes straight for the jugular - immediately quizzing on having to after he was ordered to pay millions for leaking a sex tape featuring Lavonia Leviston, who had a child with his rap rival, . He promptly gets told to back off by one of Fiddy's associates. "I just got shut down!" Semtex says, but he is offered some insight. "Every situation I come up against, I look at it, and try to decide what the right approach for it is... allow it to work in my favour, as much as possible," 50 Cent says. Which means, in essence, that he won't be out on the street any time soon.
2. Noel Gallagher thinks labels have given up signing working-class bands
After he was on , the ever-opinionated made an appearance on a -hosted debate on ±«Óãtv Four, ? At 26 minutes, he says: ''In theory the internet and YouTube should be helping new bands get off the ground, but it hasn't - it's got worse. The record labels just aren't interested in working-class bands any more."
3. Meek Mill reckons a lot of rappers don't write their own rhymes
Meek Mill - Full Interview with Charlie Sloth
Meek Mill chats to Charlie Sloth in New York for ±«Óãtv Radio 1 & 1Xtra.
Meek Mill write all his s***... A lot of people don't write - it's that bad"Meek Mill
Your boy 's been larging it in New York again, where he managed to scoop an interview with rap big gun, . They talk about , growing up in Philadelphia, new talent, hip hop legends, then at 5:15 Meek suddenly opens up one of the oldest can of worms in the rap game, saying: "I want you to know, Meek Mill write all his s***... A lot of people don't write - it's that bad." But he wouldn't be pushed on who exactly he had in mind.
4. Will Young doesn't like Kanye West very much
±«Óãtv News invited to come up with his favourite five albums, and also name his least favourite. For the latter, he chose all of 's back catalogue, then went on a spectacular rant: "What does he stand for? His arrogance completely over-runs him as a musician. He's so audacious and opulent... I'm not interested in arrogance. It's just a cover. Get rid of the arrogance and show me the frailty. I won't listen to his music." Yowsah!
5. Lars Ulrich is worried that young musicians' days are numbered
Will young musicians become extinct?
Metallica's drummer Lars Ulrich says there's less support for original music these days
There's a danger of younger artists coming close to extinction"Lars Ulrich
Never one to keep hidden his strong opinions on such things as downloading and record labels, drummer was in typically dramatic form on programme in mid-July discussing the rise of streaming and the downturn in the financial fortunes of the music industry. He's concerned, saying: "The saddest thing about all this is that there's a danger of younger artists coming close to extinction."
6. And finally... the guy with the Skepta tattoo got his girlfriend back
Caller Liam got Skepta's name tattooed!
Twin, Yasmin + Fekky chat to caller Liam who got Skepta's name tattooed on his groin...
As soon as Skepta tweeted me, I got a phone call and she was like, 'Fair enough.'"Liam Scott
It was one of the viral stories of the month - 18-year-old Essex lad Liam Scott got the name of his hero, , tattooed on his groin area while on holiday in Magaluf, then quickly got dumped by his girlfriend, Lauren. He his love troubles on Twitter, and Skepta , saying: "How can she finish it over a tattoo?" That seemed to be the end of it - until 's intrepid contacted Liam and found out Lauren had taken him back. "It was thanks to Skepta," Liam said. "As soon as he tweeted me, I got a phone call and she was like, 'Skepta tweeted you - fair enough.'"
