N.E.R.D.

Yesterday, Stereogum leaked a spazzy new pop track called “My Drive Thru” that’s part of the centennial promo campaign for the timeless hipster sneaker brand Converse. The artists behind the tune are something of an unlikely collaboration: In one corner, you have Julian Casablancas, singer of the Strokes and semi-forgotten it-boy of 2001. In the other, Santogold, the sassy, genre-bending Brooklyn singer who all the cool kids are calling ‘the new M.I.A.’ And rounding out the trio—all star producer and one-half of the beat-making duo the Neptunes, Pharrell Williams, who's lent his talents to everyone from Justin Timberlake to Gwen Stefani to Madonna.  read more »

CONCERTS:

Kanye West, Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D. Can we say power tour?! Catch their Manhattan date May 13 at Madison Square Garden. [On Sale: Saturday, Feb. 23 at noon]

Call him dad rock, but Billy Joel’s July 16 show, which was to be the last concert ever at Shea Stadium, was the fastest sell out in Shea’s history, with 50,000 tickets disappearing in just 48 minutes. In fact that was enough to prompt Mr. Joel to add a second concert two days later, which is now being billed as Shea’s official musical close out. (Sorry ‘bout that early birds!) [On Sale: Saturday, Feb. 23 at 9 a.m.]  read more »