Bark + Bite

Frank Ocean cancels tour dates abroad. Is he headed to the VMAs instead?

For fans hoping to catch Frank Ocean overseas on the European festival circuit or opening for Coldplay, there's bad news. It ain't happening.

The rising R&B star has pulled out of many of his tour dates overseas without any real explanation other than the letter above, which he gave to organizers of the Way Out West festival in Sweden, according to Billboard.

This abrupt cancellation coincides with the perhaps unexpected news of Frank Ocean's multiple VMAs nominations.

If we were to place bets, our money would be on MTV working with Frank to plot a spectacular VMA performance with a few moonman trophies to go home with too.

A stunning VMAs debut would be exactly what Frank needs to kick his career up to the next level. Hopefully, fans will forgive him for the tradeoff. Nothing hurts like a cancelled concert from your fave.

Frank Ocean covers Sade's "By Your Side"

While on tour in Norway for the Oya Festival, Frank Ocean pulled out this lovely surprise cover of Sade's perfectly melancholic "By Your Side." Get into the groove.

Colin Munroe claws his way back in "Fight of My Life"

You might not remember him, but Colin Munroe was big on MySpace. Back in 2008, his cover of Kanye West's "Flashing Lights" caught on like wildfire on the then-massively popular social network.

And now, in 2012, he still seems to be in goodstanding with Kanye's camp as G.O.O.D. Music's Pusha T has blessed his major-label single "Fight of My Life" with two guest verses.

The introspective "Fight of My Life" finds Munroe examining his own mortality and deciding that even if he's been beaten down at times, he's never out for good.

"Think of my voice, think of my vow / Never let go, never back down / Take a deep breath, take it too far / Make a wish with your eye on the last star," Colin sings. He alternates his dense, dark and robotic verses with his an uplifting, light chorus, full of inspired soul claps taking you to church.

Check out Colin Munroe's new jam below

Top 10 Songs in the US

1 CARLY RAE JEPSEN / CALL ME MAYBE
- This is the official theme song of the Teletubbies.

2 ELLIE GOULDING / LIGHTS
- Adele's younger, skinnier, less depressed British sister has arrived.

3 FLO RIDA / WHISTLE
- Flo Rida is so sneaky. He's pulled off another massive pop tune about oral sex.

4 KATY PERRY / WIDE AWAKE
- This sound likes it came straight from Neverland. In fact, Katy would make a great Tinkerbell.

5 MAROON 5 FEAT WIZ KHALIFA / PAYPHONE
- Wake us up when this is over.

6 GOTYE FEAT KIMBRA / SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW
- Ditto.

7  RIHANNA / WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN
- This is the perfect way to wrap up the TTT era.

8 DAVID GUETTA FEAT SIA / TITANIUM
- This is the best "It Gets Better" track out of all the schlop released last year.

9 PHILLIP PHILLIPS / HOME
- Country song by American Idol singer. Do not care.

10 PINK / BLOW ME (ONE LAST KISS)
- The bitterest bitch in pop music never lets men off easy, does she?

SOURCE: Billboard Hot 100

Ed Sheeran covers Nina Simone's "Be My Husband"

It takes a real man to step into a woman's shoes. Ed Sheeran tries on Nina Simone's heels in this bitter, poignant cover of Nina Simone's "Be My Husband."

"Oh daddy, now, now love me good / Oh, daddy, now, now love me good," Sheeran croons. Yeah, it definitely takes a secure man to take on such a blatantly feminine song. But Ed brings all of the usualness Edness that he brings to all of his work and makes it his own.

Check out Ed Sheeran's Nina Simone cover below

Big Boi teams up with Little Dragon for "Mama Told Me"

Andre 3000 may have gotten the leg up on Big Boi by snagging the hipster collabo of the year when he scored a feature on Frank Ocean's Channel Orange album, but Big Boi can land a hipster track too.

Swedish alt-pop act Little Dragon was performing at the FADER X VITAMIN WATER UNCAPPED SERIES in Austin, Texas (hipster central), when Big Boi came out for a surprise performance. The Outkast rapper announced that the two acts were joining forces for "Mama Told Me," a new track from Little Dragon's new album, which they then performed live in Austin.

What Big Boi and Little Dragon cooked up is a funky slice of pop/soul. Big Boi does what he does best and plays it cool while Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano gloats about her destined stardom. "Mama Told Me" feels deliciously '80s-inspired and there's not a whole lot to dislike about it.

Check out the new collabo below

Cash Cash tribute the King of Pop on their single "Michael Jackson"

Although Michael Jackson is gone, he is most definitely not forgotten.

Cash Cash (Jean Paul Makhlouf – vocals, Alex Makhlouf – keyboards, programming, background vocals and Sam Frisch – guitars, background vocals) is an edgy electro-pop trio with a track record of songs that have appeared on MTV's Jersey Shore. The trio weaves the titles of several Michael Jackson songs into their track and they even include an interview excerpt from the late King of Pop himself.

It's heavy on the dubstep and hard on the electro, but the pop chorus is gold: "Even though the king is gone / The beat goes on and on."

Check out the smashing new tune from Cash Cash below

Brandy gets funky in "Put It Down" video preview

No, we still don't have a premiere date, but whet your appetite for some Brandy with this hot to def preview. Loving the colors and the energy in this one. But the braids whipping around in silhouette were reminiscent of Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" video.