kanye west

In what seemed like an endless weekend of music on the east coast with All Points West in New York and the Baltimore edition of Virgin Mobile Festival, people made their decisions and ended up in one city or the other. Those that made their way to Baltimore found themselves surrounded by a headliner assault on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday found both Jack Johnson and the Foo Fighters filling the headlining spots with Wilco, Chuck Berry & The Silver Beats, The Offspring, The Swell Season, Bloc Party, Lupe Fiasco, and many more performing on the two main stages. Sunday's headlining spots were taken by Nine Inch Nails and Kanye West, with big names like Bob Dylan, Stone Temple Pilots, Iggy & The Stooges, Lil' Wayne, The Black Keys, She & Him, and more on the main stages. Virgin Mobile Festival also featured a dance stage, highlighted by sets from Underworld, Moby, Ferry Corsten, Armin Van Buuren, Chromeo, and a ton of other make-yo-ass-shake DJ's. A bunch of kind festival-goers were generous enough to tape some of their experiences to share with the world, and we've rounded up some footage for your viewing pleasure.

Check out videos from both Saturday and Sunday after the jump

Dear Mr. West,

Earlier this week, I read your response to the criticism you've been receiving with regards to this year's Bonnaroo, and I'd like to take this opportunity to say: Dude, wtf?

Prior to this incident, I was fairly certain that I couldn't possibly like your persona less. But you've somehow managed to surprise me and even surpass my expectations for your behavior. That's quite an accomplishment!

Please don't misinterpret this as merely a hate letter, however. I do have respect for your work and the different dimensions you've fearlessly added to the hip-hop realm. I really loved The College Dropout, and I own The College Graduate and Graduation. But I must admit that soon after the release of your second album, the mere mention of your name began to leave a sour taste in my mouth. You suddenly exploded in the media, and I was perpetually left wondering why you felt the need to behave like a bratty, self-absorbed 5-year-old douchebag.

Continue reading An Open Letter to Kanye West

Upcoming shows in the Houston area:

Thu May 1
Gov't Mule and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at the Meridan
Show starts at 8; tickets are $25.

Will Hoge, Green River Ordinance, JJ Worthen and Jud Johnson Band at Warehouse Live
Show starts at 8; tickets are $12.

Fri May 2
Widespread Panic at Sam Houston Race Park
Show starts at 8; Tickets are $25 in advance/$35 day of show.

Kanye West, N.E.R.D., Lupe Fiasco, and Rihanna at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Show starts at 7; tickets are $29.50 (your ass in the grass).

Meat Beat Manifesto and Raz Mesinai's Badawi at Warehouse Live
Show starts at 9; tickets are $19.

Tower Of Power at Warehouse Live
Show starts at 11; tickets are $25.

Check out the rest of the weeks events after the jump

Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, The Raconteurs, Wilco and Kanye West are all set to headline the 2008 edition of Perry Farrell's brainchild, Lollapalooza. Also on the bill are Lolla-alumni Gnarls Barkley, the Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, G. Love & Special Sauce, Blues Traveler and Mates of State. Other acts set to appear are Bloc Party, Cat Power, Stephen Malkmus, Girl Talk, Kid Sister, Office, the Cool Kids, Battles, MGMT, Yeasayer, Jamie Lidell and Grizzly Bear (who will be opening up for Radiohead on the second half of their tour).

The full line-up after the jump!

Bonnaroo finally announced their line-up! The 2008 edition of the music and arts festival is set to take place June 12th through the 15th at the same farm we all know and love in Manchester, Tennessee. This year's headliners include Pearl Jam, Metallica, Kanye West, Phil Lesh & Friends and Jack Johnson. Other standout acts are festival veterans My Morning Jacket, The Allman Brothers Band, Umphrey's McGee and Yonder Mountain String Band as well as Bonnaroo virgins Vampire Weekend, Talib Kweli, Willie Nelson and The Raconteurs. The Comedy Tent is also making a return this year with David Cross, Zach Galifinakis and Brian Posehn among others.

Check out the initial line-up

This here is my brand-spanking new segment that I like to call The Video Omelette. Every Thursday I plan to bring you the best YouTube has to offer in music videos. This week I am featuring videos from G. Love and company, Arcade Fire, Mos Def and Kanye West, and Jim James.