During a revealing interview with Billboard for the new issue's cover story, the 'Thrift Shop' hitmaker confessed that he was taking part in street rap battles when he was a youngster to try and gain respect from those already in the game: "This was pre-Internet as a way to get your music out. So I had to do shows, but I was too young. Freestyling on the street or in the park was where I honed the craft."

He went on to unveil his dark past, talking about how he often preferred drugs to school: "It was pre-gentrification of Seattle's Central District. And I wasn't going to class and I was doing a bunch of drugs and drinking. So my parents put me in a predominantly white school in the North End and then I did a program called Running Start, which was like a community college. I never got a chance to climb any kind of social ladder anywhere. I was more into making music-and doing hallucinogenic mushroom voyages."

Discussing his recovery, Macklemore (pictured below with Ryan Lewis) added that while he's clean now he still struggles with 'overindulging': "I tend to be an overindulger in general. Like I've just eaten two bags of chips and I had a shitload of candy from a gas station last night."

"I don't have moderation in my life. I really have to work on it. So with drugs and alcohol, I had no moderation. Smoking weed and drinking hindered my creative process. They were the veil over my eyes. It never really worked for me, in terms of being prolific."

Watch Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's video for 'Can't Hold Us' below:

During an interview with MTV, the star explained that it's not just a rock group as there are more elements to what they do than just the music:

"We've always thought about 30 Seconds To Mars not just as a band but an art project."

"A place where we would make music, we would make books, we would make art in general, short films, documentaries."

The 'Kings and Queens' hitmaker added: "I mean really the music is the glue that binds it all together but its certainly not just about the music, it's about community, it's about a life."

30 Seconds To Mars recently unveiled their extended music video for new single 'Up In The Air', which clocks in at just over 8 minutes long and features a cameo from beauty Dita Von Teese. Their new album, 'Love Lust Faith + Dreams', will be released on May 20.

The song was written about the important fight for marriage equality and acceptance of the gay community in general, but he revealed that it was penned with his gay uncles and gay godfather in mind:

"I was really nervous to play it for them. It's obviously a very personal song, and I didn't want to cross any boundaries in terms of their privacy. But we actually ended up taking a picture of them and using it as the cover art for the single. I wanted the art to reflect how personal the song was, and they are a big reason why I'm so passionate about the issue."

He explained that writing a song about a genuine issue, and especially one that's so close to his heart, is very important to him and he wanted to 'push the margins' with the track's content: "I'm always trying to push the margins. I wanna be an artist that writes songs that are different; I don't wanna write the same song that everyone else is writing."

"I wanna challenge myself, I wanna challenge society, and I wanna be the best version of myself, and the way I can do that is by expressing and talking about concepts that no-one else will, that people are afraid to address. I wanna be able to talk about those openly and honestly and figure myself out and help those who listen to the records figure them out."

Watch the music video for 'Same Love' below:

The US singer said that unheard vocals from the late R&B icon will feature on the track 'They Don't Know'.

Aaliyah died in 2001 aged just 22 after a being involved in a plane crash in the Bahamas.

Brown confirmed the news at a press conference to promote upcoming album 'X', which will be released on July 16.

Other music stars due to feature on the album include Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and Kendrick Lamar.

Speaking about the video for 'They Don't Know', Brown said: "I shot it in the hood. I went to 60th Street and Cedar Block. [I'm] bringing both worlds together and trying to uplift the poverty side of the community and show them where I'm from. I'm from Virginia, but everybody comes from a broken home or being broke - I remember when I was."

Speaking to the Metro newspaper, Colfer admitted that people look up to him as a role model and have taken inspiration from his on-screen persona, and while it's heartwarming to be told how important his role has been to people it can be tough when people ask him for advice:

"When I think about the thousands of letters I've got from kids saying thank you, I feel very honored. But, sometimes, the life of a role model can be a little overwhelming – you kind of become the world’s psychiatrist."

"I try to take it very seriously because there was no one like us to look up to when I was growing up."

He also spoke about his expanding career and confessed that he's enjoyed being an author because it has opened up other possibilities and paths for him that he might need to one day pursue:

"I know I'd be an idiot if I didn’t take every opportunity that’s been given to me now. Glee is going to be over some day and if I don’t start making a path for myself now, there may not be a path to go to when it is over. It’s a mixture of drive and fear – fear is the best motivator."

Watch Colfer win the 2013 People's Choice prize for Favourite Comedic TV Actor below:

The rockers performed a Halloween concert in Maine back in October, which was a benefit for same-sex marriage and they donated all of the profits made to help support it.

Member Jack Antonoff told Rolling Stone that it has been particularly rewarding and even more so after the states that voted on making it possible - namely Maine, Washington, Maryland and Minnesota - passed on the ballot:

"Maine specifically meant a great deal. We went up there and donated all the proceeds from that show to Mainers United, which is the group you can argue is responsible for getting the vote pushed through for marriage equality. So it was a promising election on many fronts."

He added that it feels as though a shift is happening, which is great: "So it just feels like a lot of progress, like everyone is starting to come around."

Antonoff also spoke about the ongoing struggle for the U.S. as a whole to recognise same-sex marriage and explained: "When you were driving down the street you would see Vote Yes on 1 and Vote No on 1 [signs], literally one after another, 'Don't redefine families' or 'Human rights for all.'"

"And you could see firsthand the battle and how serious it is, and it gave us the feeling that yes, we're grateful it passed, but it wasn't like this is done. Obviously, still 70 percent of the States don't have same-sex marriage, so there's still so much further up ahead."

Watch fun. talk about the importance of gay rights and equality here:

In this new clip, the hitmaker can he heard explaining the concept behind the heavy symbolism seen in the final cut and she reveals that her intentions were to represent the free and wild, while capturing the 'togetherness' of her fan base:

"I wanted to come across like a cult, because I always say that me and my fans, me and my family and me and my friends, we're all like a cult. Rabid, wild misfits, and I really wanted that to come across in the video."

She also addressed the sexy nature of the video and added: "I'm the cult leader, obviously. I have a dagger cut out so you can see a bit of my cleavage for your viewing pleasure."

'Die Young' will be released in the UK on November 25 and it is already out in the U.S.

Watch the exclusive behind-the-scenes footage below:

Speaking to The Sun newspaper in Britain, she explained that a lot of her fans are gay or bisexual and often tell her about their experiences so she wanted to express what they go through and support them by writing about "love and acceptance":

"Something I kept hearing about was bullying and sexuality. I have a lot of gay and lesbian fans and they said how my music had helped them deal with bullying, so I wanted to write a record that’s about love and acceptance."

"I wanted to inspire people. It’s a celebration of any sort of quirks or eccentricities."

When asked where she sees herself in ten years, Ke$ha added: "In a tree house in the jungle. I’m thinking about building one at home actually with a zip wire into the pool."

'Warrior' is due to be released on December 4 and you can watch her recently shared music video for 'Die Young' below:

In an interview with The Advocate, the 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)' hitmaker explained that she loves the LGBT community and finds it to be more honest and open, which is something she values greatly:

"They've been the most loyal part of what I do. They've been my most loyal friends, to be honest. I've had a lot of my gay boys around, but my gay girls are my rootstalk."

"They're my honesty in an ocean of bulls**t. I should be gay by the way that I look and the way that I am. I just happen to not be. But it just makes perfect and complete sense."

She also revealed that during her 'club years' she had no "definable sexuality" and added: The kind of world I live in and lived in ... was this sort of very open one. I was like a club kid. I was a little candy raver, and I am the kind of person that sucks the marrow out of the bones of life."

"Those days were really crazy and lots of all-nighters. And with a bunch of other kids that were trying to find themselves and have a good time doing it and get out from under their parents - and there was a lot of ecstasy. And as far as I'm concerned, when you're on ecstasy there is no such thing as definable sexuality. There is just love."

Watch her latest music video below:

Speaking to The Sun, the X Factor winner gave her thoughts on how young people should be given more things to do in an effort to keep them away from life on the street.

She also said that she has had cousins who have been engulfed in gangs. She said:

"Everything boils down to money - there is not enough money for education or community groups. A lot of important groups are being shut down."

She added: "Cousins of mine were in gangs and it just tears families apart. It's hard to come out of once you are in it. I have seen it from the outside, I haven't been in it."