Kendrick Lamar says he recorded music with Prince when Lamar was at Paisley Park to participate in the live-streamed concert celebrating the release of Prince’s two new albums last year. Though Lamar says he wasn’t able to include the music on his new album To Pimp a Butterfly because he was “pressed for time,” in an interview with…

Cynthia Lennon has died of cancer at age 75 at her home in Spain. Lennon was the wife of John Lennon from 1962 to 1968; John and Cynthia Lennon were the parents of Julian Lennon, who was at his mother’s side in her final days. A representative for Cynthia Lennon made the following statement: “Cynthia…

Joni Mitchell has been hospitalized in Los Angeles, a statement on the singer-songwriter’s website confirms. “Joni was found unconscious in her home this afternoon,” stated the website as of last night. “She regained consciousness on the ambulance ride to an L.A. area hospital. She is currently in intensive care undergoing tests and is awake and…

The Kanye West/Rihanna collaboration “FourFiveSeconds” was already distinctive for returning Paul McCartney to the top ten after 29 years—and now it turns out that it got Wilson Phillips back into the top ten as well. Carnie Wilson has revealed that the trio were specifically approached by Kanye to sing on the song: “When I think of authenticity and I think…

The Current first came on air in January 2005, and just a few months later, the 331 Club opened its doors as a music venue and neighborhood bar in Northeast Minneapolis. On April 3, we paid tribute to the widely-beloved 331 with an hour-long special on our Local Current stream of Minnesota music. I was joined…

The Staves: If I Was The Staves are an ocean and half a country away from being local, and but their newest release If I Was was recorded right in our backyard: in Eau Claire, at Justin Vernon’s April Base studio. “I think this is my favorite place to be to make music,” said one…

Wilco have canceled a May 7 performance in Indianapolis in protest of the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a recently-passed law that has been controversial due to the fact that it permits businesses to refuse customers based on their sexual orientation. “The ‘Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act’ feels like thinly disguised legal discrimination to us,” wrote Wilco…

Performing in an arena like the Target Center can be a tough challenge for an artist to overcome. With all of that empty open space lingering between the stage and the sloping tiers of seats, it can be a downright Herculean task to convey any kind of authentic human emotion to the sea of people…

Prince is being sued by a producer named Jolene Cherry, who claims that Prince’s release of an album he produced for Judith Hill violates a contract that Cherry has with Hill. Meanwhile, Hill has filed her own suit against Cherry, arguing that Hill is “an independent artist, not bound by contract to anyone.” (Rolling Stone) The night before Prince…

2015 marks First Avenue’s 45th year of bringing world-renowned artists to the heart of the Twin Cities. We’re telling the stories of performers who have earned their places on the venue’s legendary Wall of Stars. Past features highlighted Babes in Toyland, Har Mar Superstar, Outkast, and Hüsker Dü. With their 30th anniversary show in the Entry tonight, next up are local…