Dr. Dre is still embarrassed by his secret musical past by Hardeep Phull

Dr. Dre first took the music world by storm in the '80s as part of the legendary gangster rap group N.W.A. The black-clad, scowling members of the group created a moral panic with their grit…

The best and worst of the 2017 AMAs by Hardeep Phull

The American Music Awards is basically like the Twilight Zone of award ceremonies. Sunday night's show (held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles) depicted the music world as a place wher…

Springsteen's Broadway debut is dissolving the audience to tears by Hardeep Phull

When legendary record producer and talent scout John Hammond signed Bruce Springsteen in 1972, the scraggly Jersey kid was envisioned as a lyrically intricate singer-songwriter, who might be…

Bette Midler and Nona Hendryx first met in a gay bathhouse by Hardeep Phull

Most music fans know Nona Hendryx as a member of Labelle, the trio of divas who scored a No. 1 hit in 1974 with "Lady Marmalade." But the 72-year-old soul sister has worked with everyone fro…

Lady Gaga: People told me my show was 'too gay' by Hardeep Phull

These days, Lady Gaga's "Little Monsters" come in tens of thousands to honor their idol. But back when she was just getting started, doubters thought no one would bother showing up to her sh…

Bruce, we're begging you: Play these for 'Springsteen on Broadway' by Hardeep Phull

Bruce is back, and this time, he's cranking it all the way down. The Boss is embarking on a run of shows at Broadway's intimate Walter Kerr Theatre " the marquee sign went up on Thursday.…

How these hip-hop legends buried their 20-year rift by Hardeep Phull

Last Friday night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, you couldn't turn a corner without bumping into a pillar of hip-hop. Flavor Flav, DJ Kool Herc, Mase, Ice T, Fat Joe and dozens more took t…

Snoop Dogg was afraid that Tupac might attack him by Hardeep Phull

Back in April, Snoop Dogg lovingly referred to Tupac Shakur as his "brother" while inducting the late rapper into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Barclays Center. But as explored in the ne…

The best moments of Ariana Grande's benefit concert by Hardeep Phull

Less than two weeks ago, Ariana Grande’s show in Manchester was disrupted in the most horrific fashion imaginable. 22 fans (many of them children) died when a suicide bomber attacked t…

How this rock star's cross-dressing past helped his Broadway career by Hardeep Phull

On a recent afternoon at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in Midtown Manhattan, Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco is on the verge of collapse. It's not because of any rock 'n' roll-related excess…

Springsteen hasn't done a day's work since his teens by Hardeep Phull

Even though he has spent much of his career writing songs about the working man, Bruce Springsteen will be the first to tell you he hasn't done much in the way of hard work himself. As part …

Lady Gaga's Super Bowl show just reignited her career by Hardeep Phull

At pre-Super Bowl LI press conference, Lady Gaga hinted that her halftime show would be about "inclusion." She got that right. It was hard to imagine anybody not enjoying the 12-minute, stun…

Jake Clemons recalls the time Springsteen screamed at him by Hardeep Phull

How George Michael transformed from pop icon to serious musical artist by Hardeep Phull

When George Michael released his first solo album "Faith" in 1987, his first order of business was to slay the beast of his previous life in Wham! As the first (and title) track of the album…

Cyndi Lauper's mom feared her daughter might go to hell by Hardeep Phull

When it comes to raising money for her True Colors Fund (designed to combat homelessness among LGBTQ youth), Cyndi Lauper has tried recording fans' answering-machines messages, gone on bowli…

Ja Rule and Ashanti took the stage at 'Hamilton' by Hardeep Phull

If Andra Day's trajectory as R&B's newest rising star trails off, she'd certainly be welcome on Broadway. That much was clear Thursday at the Richard Rodgers Theatre " home to "Hamilton,…

Suzanne Vega doesn't miss old New York by Hardeep Phull

For more than 30 years, the sights and sounds of New York City have always dripped into Suzanne Vega's music " most notably with her famous (and frequently covered) song "Tom's Diner," writt…

Daveed Diggs' band warm-up is more intense than 'Hamilton' by Hardeep Phull

When it comes to post-show parties for his trippy, sci-fi-themed hip-hop group Clipping, ex-"Hamilton" star Daveed Diggs enjoys getting his kicks from legal substances. "We get people who ex…

How Lady Gaga's tragic family history inspired her new album by Hardeep Phull

One autumn day, in early November 2013, Lady Gaga rolled up to the SiriusXM Radio studios in New York to give an extended town hall-style interview to promote her new album, "Artpop." In fro…

The one thing Lady Gaga needs to do at the Super Bowl by Hardeep Phull

The next installment in Lady Gaga's planned pop redemption has been locked in. On Thursday night, the New Yorker (whose fifth album, "Joanne," is out Oct. 21) confirmed that she will be head…

Lady Gaga rediscovers her dancefloor diva on new track by Hardeep Phull

Thirty seconds. That's all the time it takes for Lady Gaga to get to the chorus on her new song "Perfect Illusion," (released Thursday night). It's clear that the New Yorker " who hasn't bro…

Springsteen breaks record for longest American gig " again by Hardeep Phull

If you’ve got the time, Bruce has got the tunes. Exactly a week after The Boss played his longest-ever gig on American soil with an astonishing 3 hour, 59 minute performance at MetL…

Who should replace Daveed Diggs in 'Hamilton'? by Hardeep Phull

He got the job done, and now the Tony Award-winning “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs is dropping the mic for good. On the heels of Lin Manuel-Miranda's final curtain-call as the m…

Lin-Manuel Miranda is obsessed with this Brooklyn rap trio by Hardeep Phull

Last month, "Hamilton" star and writer Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted his endorsement of Brooklyn hip-hoppers Flatbush Zombies, saying their debut album, "3001: A Laced Odyssey" (released in Mar…

How 'Born to Run' turned Bruce Springsteen into the Boss by Hardeep Phull

At the start of 1974, Bruce Springsteen's piece of the American dream was running away from him. The 24-year-old rock 'n' roll wannabe from Freehold, NJ, had been signed to...

ICYMI, Hugh Laurie's a comedy genius by Hardeep Phull

House is back on the small screen " and this time, he's ditching the M.D. for the potential title of V.P. British actor Hugh Laurie became a household name in...

Ariana Grande has the chops, but isn't ready to star at MSG by Hardeep Phull

"You need a bad girl to blow your mind" sang Ariana Grande on Friday night, as she brought her "Honeymoon Tour" to Madison Square Garden for the first of two...

Diana Ross shines at Kings Theatre grand reopening by Hardeep Phull

The shirts were buttoned up, the fox pieces were out in force, and the new-carpet smell was overpowering. But for the grand reopening of Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre on Tuesday night,...

The 10 most popular songs from 'Glee' by Hardeep Phull

It's a big week for Gleeks as Friday sees the musical comedy start its sixth season " but the excitement is also tinged with sadness, as this run of episodes...

Clive Davis commemorates icon Whitney Houston in live album by Hardeep Phull

It was supposed to be Whitney Houston's glorious return to New York. But, as it turned out, her 2009 show in Central Park was the start of an extended goodbye....

Jerry Lee Lewis excites the crowd in Times Square by Hardeep Phull

There wasn’t a whole lot of shakin’ going on at B.B. Kings Blues Club and Grill on Friday night, but Jerry Lee Lewis' short and sweet set at the Times...