Hip-Hop's New Wiz Kid: Wiz Khalifa Taking Over the Game

Even before he collected the Best New Artist trophy at the BET Awards last night (June 26), Wiz Khalifa had already pretty much cemented his place in the hip hop community.

It must have been a surreal moment for an artist to be named the best “new” artist when he has been steadily in the game for around six years now! His first real single, “Say Yeah”, was released way back in 2007, and he already had two albums under his belt before this year’s Rolling Papers. But the numbers (not to mention a major label studio album) can sometimes make all the difference – Rolling Papers hit Number 1 in both the R&B and Rap charts, and it peaked at Number Two on the overall Billboard 200.

And the fact that Wiz’s first two singles from Rolling Papers, the infectious “Black and Yellow” and the Euro-synthy “Roll Up”, both went platinum no doubt had a big influence on his victory at last night’s awards ceremony. 

Aligning himself with a nearly endless list of other award-winning artists doesn’t hurt either! The Pittsburgh-born Chuck Taylor enthusiast has been featured on a ton of other great tracks with equally gifted artists, such as Cee Lo Green, Far East Movement, Soulja Boy, Wale, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Lil’ Kim, Tinie Tempah, Chiddy Bang, and… well, I could go on all day! Mix that kind of experience with nine mixtape releases, not to mention appearing in no less than 35 music videos, it was only a matter of time before the 23-year-old started collecting some serious hardware and recognition for his contributions to the industry. And how can you not love this guy’s easy-going attitude and contagious grin? He reminds me of Snoop in his prime.

I can’t wait to see what else this kid has in store for the genre. Now that he’s broken out of the background and into the spotlight, the sky’s the limit!

Check out his latest single, “On My Level” ft. Too Short (NSFW!).

Charlie Lapson Designs Accessories Fit for the Stars

He’s hip, he's a jet setter, and he's a wanted man. Charlie Lapson is a designer for the people and finds inspiration in an array of ways that appeal to just about everyone. Even if this is the first time you are hearing his name, I guarantee that it will not be the last.

Lapson is an alum of the New York School of Visual Arts, where he studied fine arts like painting and sculpting, and he was been able to successfully parlay those fine refined skills into fashion design while at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Soon, he started to make a name for himself by creating his own signature line for the New York social and retail scene, having had a hand in the resurrection of Bugle Boy clothing! (Yes, those ARE Bugle Boys he's wearing, thanks for asking!)

These days, Charlie is the mastermind behind his own line of luxurious accessories for men and women such as bags, jewelry, and watches. He even designs super stylish wallets, and I should know, because I have one in my back pocket right now. Lapson’s list of celebrity clientele includes names like Brad Pitt, Felicity Huffman, Halle Berry, Will Smith, Anne Hathaway, and the list goes on. And it's no surprise either, since Charlie’s consistently unique creations are made of the highest quality products, like leathers from Italy and the finest jewels. More than just something to keep your money in or check the time with -- they are works of art!

 

If you are a what’s hot/what’s not kind of person, then it is imperative that you get acquainted with Charlie Lapson -- he’s the “Style Guru” after all!

Planking: A Bizarre Guerilla Stunt Gone Viral

As you guys have probably heard, there is a new phenomenon going viral worldwide; just don’t expect any spontaneous dance sequences that leave bystanders dazed, confused, and yet ready to dance... Nope, it just leaves people dazed and confused!

Just like every other viral outbreak, "planking" started as a plain old quest for easy amusement, and it all began across the big pond in England, around 1997. Eventually traveling to Australia, Asia, other parts of Europe, it inevitably hit the shores of the U.S., where countless numbers of people are trying to top each other by finding the most bizarre places to get photo-ready, lying face down with both arms to their side. Depending on the country, you could be playing the "lying down game", the "on one's belly game", "playing dead", or doing the "face downs". It might sound funny just saying it, but you’ve honestly got to see it to believe it. The game first gained media attention after several doctors and nurses in England were suspended for "planking on the job" in 2009. But, honestly, who could resist? I have never seen people have so much fun while lying still!

As you might expect, the game has reached a certain level of outrageous one-upmanship. Players are planking atop camels, road signs, and railings at great heights. Sadly, there have been some mishaps, but planking can be safe fun if you exercise caution, and I have a feeling that, in a few more years, just about everyone will have planked at least once... with online proof!

Viddy App Allows You To Capture Life On Video

What has more than 450,000 downloads and just keeps growing and growing and growing? No surprises here that the answer is a great new phone app!

With a new way to pull the ‘viddy’ographer out in you, Viddy is a premier social mobile application presenting you with a unique way to create and share video. With the option to utilize multiple movie styles, the short films that you create will give you access to a cinematic aesthetic that you usually only see on the big screen... As you can imagine, it's all the rage here in Hollywood.

Once again, count on Paris Hilton to be at the cutting edge of another great new trend, as she gushed to me about how Viddy is her new favorite app, saying “You can make videos that look really old school... I love it.” But she isn’t the only one getting her film on. Lauren Conrad is a new fan; a friend of Pete Wentz’s actually helped create it; Snoop Dogg is down; and Charlie Sheen has announced that Viddy is winning! Considering the brand did very little to no advertising, they just turned it on and with the help of some very prestigious word-of-mouth, it became a hit!

Taking its rightful place amongst our virtual lives, Viddy is also described as being like Twitter with video updates instead of status updates; seems to me that using a video clip as a status update is a big step in a new and exciting direction. You can even follow other viddyographers in the community and see the world from their artistic point of view. The best part about it is that it costs nada -- you can make the same hot videos as the celebs for FREE!

If you're the type to always have a cell phone on you to capture those once in a lifetime moments, then you should most definitely consider checking out viddy.com, and be amazed at how awesome your videos can look and then share them with the world!

DJ Duo Manufactured Superstars Get The Party Started

I recently had the ultimate trendsetter, Paris Hilton, in the YH Studio, and she told me about her DJ friends Manufactured Superstars. As usual, Paris really knows her stuff.

Brad Roulier (aka B-Rad) and Shawn Sabo (aka DJ Sabotage) hail from Denver, Colorado, and are not only DJs but founders on an online music store called beatport.com, which is a haven for electronic music. In 2005, Brad and Shawn created Manufactured Superstars and began touring and haven’t stopped since, playing clubs and parties all over. Aiming to please and pleasing the party, this duo fulfills their quest in providing a killer dance environment where everyone can just let their freak flags fly and have a good time. But how can you not when the signature costumes are matching NASA suits and an MC dressed as a bear?

The main ingredient of a good DJ is the ability to get the crowd in that carefree dance-your-a**-off state of mind, and from the energy that Manufactured Superstars emits, they more than deliver!

Check out their music video for their first single “Take Me Over” off their untitled fourth-coming album and tell me it doesn’t get you excited; their The Hangover inspired music video says it all!

For more, visit http://www.manufacturedsuperstars.com, and keep an eye out for my chat with Paris!

Il Volo Puts Fresh, Young Spin on Classical Music

Oh, the gift of giving! We let Italy get a taste of the Jersey Shore and they bring us the sweet sounds of Il Volo -- seems like a fair exchange, don't you think?

Honestly, I do not think that I have ever been more impressed with the raw musical talent of a group of young men like this Italian trio. Piero Barone, Ignazio Bocshetto, and Gianluca Ginoble are all under the age of 18, and they are putting a classical spin on the "boy band"! The three got their starts in 2009 as individual contestants in a Italian music competition called "Ti Lascio Una Canzone", which the then 14-year-old Ginoble won. During the contest, the three were selected to perform the opera staple "O Sole Mio" together, which turned out to be a really great idea, because once legendary producer Tony Renis heard the collective of voices, he instantly reacted to their chemistry. Steve Leber, who managed the likes of Aerosmith and AC/DC, actually came out of retirement to support them as well!

Il Volo were the talk of the town last week after their appearance on "American Idol", but I would like to go on the record and point out that Young Hollywood had them first! Yes, even before "AI" got their hands on them, the boys hung out with us at the Royal Suite at the Four Seasons (we needed a grander venue to contain their amazing voices!), and they couldn't have been more charming and personable.

We are hooked. We don’t even know what they are saying, but talent is talent, and it will not be denied. The boys of Il Volo are certainly living up to their name, which means "flight", as they are most definitely taking off and soaring to great heights!

Check it out YH's exclusive interview with Il Volo below:

To further support these guys, go to ilvolomusic.com; but be forewarned that it is a high-trafficked area!

Skylar Grey Steps Into the Spotlight

The late Nate Dogg might have been the King of Hooks, but a new Queen seems to be only just beginning her reign.

Whether you're familiar with her name or not, there's a very good chance that, whenever you turn on the radio, you are hearing her crystal clear pipes coming through your speakers. Skylar Grey is the name (remember it!), and she has been a key player in hit after hit, and, believe it or not, it’s been going on for years!

Growing up in a folk duo with her mother in Wisconsin, music has been a part of Grey’s life for a long time. When she first hit the L.A. music scene, she went by the name Holly Brook. She was signed to Linkin Park’s label, Machine Shop Recordings, and once opportunity began to rise, so did her recognition. You might  remember her from one of the most unforgettable songs of 2006: Fort Minors’s “Where’d You Go”. She's also toured as an opening act for Jamie Cullum, k.d. lang, Daniel Powter, Teddy Geiger, and Duncan Shiek.

After releasing her album Like Blood Like Honey in 2006, Brook took on the new alias by which we know her today: Skylar Grey. Producer Alex da Kid gave Grey a production deal which led to her participation as a contributing writer for Eminem’s chart-topping hit featuring Rihanna, “Love the Way You Lie”, and even received a Grammy Nomination for it. She co-wrote Diddy-Dirty Money’s “Coming Home” hook and “Castle Wall” by T.I. and Christina Aguilera. Grey's distinctive voice (reminiscent of The Cranberries's Dolores O'Riordan) also appears on Lupe Fiasco’s second single “Words I Never Said” from his latest album Lasers. Quite an impressive resume! We all got our first real look at Skylar when she performed live alongside Em and Dre at this year's Grammy Awards, singing the chorus to the smash hit "I Need a Doctor."

Since her arrival on the West Coast, Skylar Grey's contribution to the music we love has been invaluable. I'm psyched to see her finally breaking out on her own, premiering her own music at Lollapalooza this summer and giving mainstream audiences a proper introduction to this soon-to-be superstar!

Check out our interview with Skylar at the Studio, below: