Pop Shots - Acts of Royalty

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Justin Timberlake earning MTV’s highest honor, to Grimes becoming the queen of the trolls, to Russell Simmons royally screwing up, and since it’s Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Justin Timberlake has been announced as the next recipient of MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, which will be presented on August 25th at this year’s VMAs. The honor comes just two years after Timberlake’s ex, Britney Spears, took home the award. All the other members of N’SYNC will be at the show to see JT accept the honor, although they’ll be working as seat fillers.

* Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Eminem all premiered new songs this past week. In a related story, my time machine works! We’re in the past!


* Missy Elliott will perform at KCON 2013, a Los Angeles k-pop convention that will include artist meet and greets, panels, and a concert. The rumor is Missy will debut a collaboration with “Crayon” rapper G-Dragon at the event. Afterwards, someone should let Missy know that just because she eats Korean barbecue it doesn’t mean she’s actually Korean. Unless it does, in which case I’m going to start checking a whole new box on applications.

* Canadian electronic music artist Grimes was invited to perform on a special edition of Boiler Room, which took place at musician Richie Hawtin’s house in Ibiza. Rather than do what was expected of her, Grimes trolled the entire party. Not only did she not have a DJ set up, and only played music off of her iPod, her set list included Vengaboys, Taylor Swift, and Daddy Yankee, and she even “spun” Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Despite playing Vegaboys, there is no word on if Grimes’ transportation to the show involved The Vengabus.


* Because sometimes bad ideas have enough money backing them to come to fruition, Michelle Obama has joined forces with the Partnership for a Healthier America, and Hip-Hop Public Health, to release Songs for a Healthier America, a compilation of songs intended to promote a healthy lifestyle. Songs for a Healthier America will feature a handful of big name appearances, so if you’ve ever wanted to hear Matisyahu, Ariana Grande, and Travis Barker, team up for a song about eating right, this is the best day of your life. Also, what the heck is wrong with you?

* In a much better pairing of hip-hop and social concern, Goodie Mob has teamed up with Janelle Monae for a pro-individuality song that’s downright anthemic. Cee Lo kicks lines like, “I’d rather die than to not be distinguished,” and, “VIP stands for Very Insecure People,” and the majority of the video takes place in a grade school. To put it simply, it’s awesome.


* In a story that will have you taking a second look before throwing your garbage out, Julia Adamson, the former assistant of British producer Martin Hannett, found a collection of rare tapes featuring Joy Division, New Order, Psychedelic Furs, and Durutti Column in a dumpster. In a related story, K-Fed says he still only finds the occasional meal there.

* Russell Simmons was forced to apologize last week after showing what was poor taste even by internet standards. The mogul launched his new All Def Digital YouTube channel, and did so with a clip titled “Harriet Tubman Sex Tape.” The clip featured Tubman having sex with a white slave master as someone filmed it so she could bribe her boss. Somewhere, the folks in charge at WorldStarHipHop were thinking, “He should really leave that kind of stuff to us.”

* Finally, in sad news, Blue Oyster Cult guitarist Allen Lanier lost his battle with lung disease this past Wednesday. He was 67, but we’re pretty sure he didn’t fear the reaper.


And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.