What The Hell Just Happened In Music This Week?

Lily Allen's new album pays homage to Yeezus.

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Every week Kanye West makes headlines without even trying. This week, American Psycho author Brett Easton Ellis revealed an upcoming screenplay collaboration with Yeezy. Details about the film are extremely scarce. The only thing confirmed is that they are working together. But we're all basically crafting fanfic about the end product.

In other Yeezus-related news, British pop star Lily Allen announced her new album is named  Sheezus, as a direct homage to West. But she's not the first to use that play-on-words.

Pharrell gave fans a last minute announcement about his upcoming album. (And was confronted about his ageless looks by a journalist this week in the most awkward way ever.) 50 Cent parted ways with Interscope and Drake announced his co-headliner for OVO Fest this summer.

All that and more in What The Hell Just Happened In Music This Week?

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Pharrell Album Announcement

Pharrell announced his album is coming out in two weeks, but isn't doing an over-the-top rollout for the LP.

Date: February 18 + 19

"Pharrell Williams is gearing up for a new album called G I R L. Led by the single 'Happy,' the album is slated to drop March 3rd. The Grammy-winning rapper/producer/singer released a video trailer to accompany the album's announcement, which includes him in all states of emotion in the recording studio. G I R L is Pharrell's second solo album to date and is available for preorder now. His last solo effort, In My Mind, was released in 2006."—Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Brett Easton Ellis and Kanye West Film

Bryan Easton Ellis revealed he's writing a film for Kanye West and credits Yeezus for the connection.

Date: February 18

"Big news: In a new interview with Vice, American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis revealed that he's writing a film for Kanye West and...well, that's all he revealed. Still, though, that's huge! Explain, Ellis:

Can you tell me about the Kanye film collaboration?

You know what, I can't. It's in Kanye-land and that's subject to a whole other timeframe. He came and asked me to write the film. I didn't want to at first. Then I listened to Yeezus. It was early summer last year and I was driving in my car. He'd given me an advance copy and I thought, regardless of whether I'm right for this project, I want to work with whoever made this. So fuck it, I said yes. And that's how it happened. That was seven or eight months ago. We'll see what happens."—Tanya Ghahremani

Outkast Headlining OVO Fest V

Outkast will headline this year's OVO Fest in Toronto, proving the duo will pretty much headline any and every festival that matters this year... Sorry, Bonaroo.

Date: February 18

"The initial lineup for OVO Fest 2014 has been announced. Along with Drake, the reunited OutKast will headline the event. It takes place August 3 and 4 at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre in Toronto. Details about other performers have yet-to-be revealed, but considering last year's guest appearnces—French Montana, Miguel, Diddy & Ma$e, and more, including Kanye West—this year's are sure to be as impressive."—Claire Lobenfeld

50 Cent Leaves Interscope

50 Cent announced his split from Interscope Records and that he'll be going the independent route for his upcoming album.

Date: February 20

"50 Cent has announced his departure from Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records, which ends a successful partnership between the New York rapper and the first major label he signed with in 2002. In the span of 12 years, 50 released four solo albums under Interscope, with both Get Rich or Die Tryin' and The Massacretopping the charts. He also started his own label, G-Unit Records, with Interscope, which anchored his own roster of rappers.

50 Cent has also announced an exclusive distribution deal with Caroline/Capitol/UMG, which is where he'll be releasing his upcoming album Animal Ambition. According to 50, the album will be released June 3. Before then, he plans on releasing a song and video every week starting March 18, which is when Animal Ambition becomes available for preorder."—Edwin Ortiz

Lana Del Rey and Dan Auerbach

Lana Del Rey dismissed three years old shade and linked up with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach for her upcoming album, Ultraviolence.

Date: February 20

"While information on Lana Del Rey's upcoming album has been relatively scarce, it's clear the 27-year-old pop star is focused on completing her much anticipated project soon. Earlier today, Lana posted a photo of her and The Black Key's Dan Auerbach, where the two are sharing a rather odd moment of intimacy. Lana is sitting on Dan's lap, with the two staring into the camera like a couple being photographed for their scrapbook."—Edwin Ortiz

Lily Allen "Sheezus"

Lily Allen named her third album Sheezus as a nod to Kanye West's last album because... We don't even know.

Date: February 21

"Lily Allen has revealed the title of her forthcoming album, and it's one that that will either receive a fist pump or a head shake. The 28-year-old pop star will appear on The Graham Norton Show tonight, where she tells the show's host that her third album will be called Sheezus. Make no mistake, Allen is referencing Kanye West's 2013 album Yeezus with that title. "It's a confident title choice-and a little nod to Kanye West," she tells Graham. Thus far she's released three singles from Sheezus, "Somewhere Only We Know," "Air Balloon," and the controversial "Hard Out Here."'—Edwin Ortiz

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