Robin Thicke has been moonlighting in acting on BET’s “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” but he hasn’t abandoned music. The R&B crooner is readying a new single called “Blurred Lines” featuring T.I. and Pharrell.
The song will be released to iTunes on March 26, while a trailer for the video will debut before “Real Husbands” on Tuesday, March 19.
Thicke has been working on his sixth album, the follow-up to 2011’s Love After War. He recently celebrated his 36th birthday with parties in New York and Los Angeles.
The King of the South headed west to shoot the video for “Memories Back Then” in L.A. last week. Rap-Up TV was on set with T.I., Kendrick Lamar, B.o.B, and Hustle Gang singer-songwriter Kris Stephens as they filmed scenes downtown, by the beach, and in the hills with director Phillyflyboy.
Kendrick pulled up to the 6th Street Bridge for the first shot of the day. “It’s a great feeling to have T.I.’s support,” he told Rap-Up TV. “I’ve been listening to him since day one. I consider him amongst the elite still to this day, along with Jay-Z and Nas and people I looked up to coming up. For him to actually acknowledge my talents is a great feeling.”
B.o.B linked up with his Hustle Gang boss Tip at the Santa Monica Pier for their sunny scenes. “It’s just something about a beach and a coastline that really makes you reflect,” he said.
The song, which was recorded for Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head, originally sampled Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.” “I rocked out as soon as I heard it. It felt relevant, it felt urgent,” said Tip. “However, I was not able to work out a clearance… I didn’t want to waste the opportunity because it was such a great performance and meaningful message from myself and B.o.B and Kendrick.”
While the track didn’t make Trouble Man, it may appear on B.o.B’s next album or the upcoming Hustle Gang compilation.
T.I. is not done promoting Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head, but he’s already nearing completion on the sequel, Trouble Man: He Who Wears the Crown.
“The record is 60 to 70 percent done already,” said Tip on set of the video for “Memories Back Then” featuring Kendrick Lamar, B.o.B, and Kris Stephens. “I’ma do about five to six more records just to put the ribbon on top and we’ll be ready to rock.”
Before he drops the album, he plans to shoot a video for Trouble Man’s next single “Hello” with CeeLo Green followed by “Guns and Roses” and “Hallelujah.”
Also in the works is the first-ever Hustle Gang compilation, for which “Memories” may be the first single. “We have so many records for the Hustle Gang project,” Tip told Rap-Up TV.
You can expect to hear contributions from the whole gang including B.o.B, Iggy Azalea, Trae Tha Truth, Young Dro, and Travi$ Scott.
T.I. took over L.A. while shooting the video for “Memories Back Then” on Wednesday. The Trouble Man outtake, which leaked last year, previously sampled Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” and features Kendrick Lamar and Hustle Gang’s own B.o.B and singer-songwriter Kris Stephens.
Director Phillyflyboy filmed the crew throughout different locations around the city. Kendrick Lamar pulled up to the scene in his own car while shooting downtown on the 6th Street Bridge.
T.I. and B.o.B soaked up the sun beachside at the Santa Monica Pier, and Kendrick met up with them later in the evening in the Hollywood Hills for the last shot of the day.
T.I. brings the action in the short film for “Addresses,” a cut off his latest album Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head. Shots ring out in the intense trailer, which features guns, strippers, and a tough Tip, who is on a deadly mission. Watch the drama unfold in the Clifton Bell-directed clip.
Trinidad James is the man with the Midas touch. The rap sensation, who signed a $2 million deal with Def Jam last year, paves the streets of Atlanta gold in the flashy video for his remix to “All Gold Everything.”
He reps for Atlanta alongside fellow ATLiens T.I., Young Jeezy, and 2 Chainz, with cameos from B.o.B and DJ Drama. Everything the rappers touch turns to gold including dominoes, jewelry, bikes, and cars.
T.I. is feeling the need for speed. Days before the Daytona 500, the King of the South got behind the wheel of a NASCAR race car with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. After watching an instructional video and training with the pros, he put on his racing suit and helmet and hit the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“I’m about to do something that I always wanted to do, drive fast and not get a ticket,” said Tip, who hit speeds of up to 150 mph.
“It takes real nerves of steel. I respect what ya’ll do,” said the Atlanta rapper, who pondered a return visit.
Trinidad James strikes gold once again with the remix to “All Gold Everything.” The rap sensation, who scored a $2 million deal with Def Jam, takes us behind the scenes as he shoots the video in Atlanta with “three of the best artists ever out of the south”—T.I., Young Jeezy, and 2 Chainz.
The fellas light up the trap at night with gold cars, grills, bikes, and chains, bringing out the ‘hood as they swarm the streets.
Trinidad’s mixtape Don’t Be S.A.F.E. will be available in physical format on February 19.
