Tuned In: Lady Gaga Raps, Kind Of

(Bauer Griffin)Quit snarking on Lady Gaga's body and focus on what's important: Her new rap song! Also in music news, Ke$ha's dropped the details on her new album, Kanye West is still extremely confident, Fiona Apple's hair looks awesome in her new mugshot, and more.

Lady Gaga has been baiting controversy like it's her job for the past several weeks, from attaching raccoon tails to her designer burqas to getting her rear end inked before a posh NYC party crowd. Unfortunately, she finally landed the headlines she desired for all the wrong reasons this week, as the Daily Mail kicked off a shameful series of articles about the singer's supposedly expanding body. To which I say: Zzzzz. And ugh.

The body-related headlines are particularly annoying in light of the hilarious gem Gaga offered up this week, a track titled "Cake Like Gaga." The song, a collaboration with producer DJ White Shadow, is Gaga's first stab at speaking in a punchy monotone rap and it's just about what you'd expect from someone with zero street cred and even less flow. Gaga brags about her Twitter followers and her preferred mode of transportation in what has to be a tongue-in-cheek effort meant for giggles.

Don't worry, fans: This is not what Gaga has planned for ARTPOP. She's not that stoned.

Ke$ha fans will have to wait until December 4 for Warrior, the singer's sophomore album, but she's dropping her new single "Die Young" next week. Oh, and there's cover art, and she's not wearing any pants.

In a rare interview, Kanye West opens up about the creative process behind the new G.O.O.D. Music compliation Cruel Summer: "This isn't the beginning of the conversation, this isn't the end of the conversation. It's our offering as a collective of a sonic snapshot of what's happening right now, 2012."

Also: He still has crazy diamond teeth.

The brilliant Amanda Palmer has no use for your big record labels: Her self-released album with the Grand Theft Orchestra, Theater is Evil, debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. Huzzah! It's worth noting that Palmer has been rather generous with the free downloads. Karma works in magnificent ways.

Fiona Apple is way too small for this shirt. (via PCN)

My girl Fiona Apple was reportedly arrested for possession of hashish in Sierra Blanca, Texas, the same town where Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, and actor Armie Hammer were arrested on drug charges.

In other words, musicians really need to start avoiding Sierra Blanca, one of the most miserable towns on I-10. It's literally toxic.

H&M's new spokesmodel Lana Del Rey hosted a private performance at The Wooly in downtown NYC, drawing the likes of Prabal Gurung, Christian Siriano, Maggie Betts, and Robyn Lawley, the new face of Ralph Lauren. Check out the pictures here.

Persecuted punk activists Pussy Riot will receive the LennonOno Grant for Peace on Friday in New York City.

Pyotr Verzilov, husband of imprisoned Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokinnikova, their four-year-old daughter Gera, and the group's legal defense team will be on hand to accept the grant from Yoko Ono, who will also present grants to four other activists next month in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Three women were sentenced to two year prison sentences after they were convicted of "hooliganism" stemming from a performance art piece staged in a Russian Orthodox Church. Other members of the group have fled Russia to avoid arrest.

Congratulations to Wild Belle, who have just signed to Columbia Records! Elliot and Natalie Bergman, a Chicago brother-sister duo, will open for Tennis in October. This winter, they'll play Europe with Alabama Shakes and Michael Kiwanuka.

Fifty bucks says Natalie lands a fashion campaign within the next year. Check out their new video for "It's Too Late" below.

Related Articles: