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Archive for the ‘Hip-Hop’ Category
Lil Wayne is guilty
Posted in Hip-Hop, Lil Wayne on the October 22, 2009
Apparently, it was a very short hearing. Probably not wanting to go against any irrefutable evidence, Lil Wayne just went ahead and pleaded guilty to the possession charges and admitted that he did indeed have a loaded semi-automatic .40 caliber gun on board one of his tour buses two years ago. Apparently, Lil Wayne is facing one years of prison for this one but his sentence will be given in February and he’ll remain free until then. Maybe he’ll decide to confess to some other problems he has with the law, namely charges of drug possession and another of weapon possession. He’s pleaded not guilty to those, but he still has time to change his mind.
Vibe Lives On
Posted in Hip-Hop, Music, R&B on the August 28, 2009
Vibe magazine originally shut down in June when its previous owners couldn’t find any new buyers or a way to get rid of their debt. However, the hip hop and R&B magazine has proven that miracles can happen as it will soon make its comeback. The magazine was purchased this month by a group led by a private equity fund, InterMedia Partners. To bring back the magazine, they’ve chosen Jermain Hall as its editor in chief of Vibe and its website. According to the co-chief executive of the Vibe Lifestyle Network, Vibe’s website would provide info on urban music and entertainment on a “regular, daily, hourly, by-minute basis” while the print magazine would focus on more investigative style
R Kelly Lawsuit
Posted in Hip-Hop, R. Kelly, Record Label on the August 25, 2008
R Kelly may be done with his kiddie porn trial but he is now facing more legal woes. This time, he’s on the lawsuit-filing side. The singer is reportedly mad after a nightclub allegedly used his name and image to promote and event without ever getting his signature on a contract. R Kelly claims two promoters for Sugar nightclub put his name and face on fliers falsely advertising that he was set to host one of their parties. He says he knew nothing about it. Kelly wasn’t asking for any specific amount in the suit but he did say that he’s seeking enough relief to “stop defendants’… disgorgement of ill-gotten gains”. Someone’s been reading the dictionary.
Diddy Puffs Again
Posted in Diddy, Hip-Hop, Remix, Singers on the June 12, 2008
The king of the name change is at it again as he is seemingly not yet satisfied with changing his name for the nth time. Sean John Combs doesn’t have a new name for us though. He has resorted to being old school – or maybe unoriginal is more like it. The man we more recently know as Diddy is bringing Puff Daddy back. On his MySpace page, the entertainment mogul wrote “This is your boy Puff Daddy!!! Yes Puffy Daddy, the King of the Remix is back with O’Neal Mcknight and Jermaine Dupri on the ‘Check Your Coat Remix’!!! Visit my myspace page to listen to it NOW.†On the song, he raps “They call me Puff Daddy…. he’s back. Yeah you heard me right. I said Puff Daddy. I’m about to back on that Puff Daddy shit.â€
Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige are going on tour together!
Posted in Concert, Hip-Hop, JAY-Z, Mary J. Blige, R&B, Rap Music on the February 11, 2008
This should be hot! Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige are going on tour together. The pair of hip hop and R&B icons will be going on a 26-date trek across America. The tour will kick off in Miami on March 22 and will wrap up in May.
Jay-Z released a statement talking about the joint tour and the songs they will be performing. He said “The (songs) we’re playing are the soundtracks to people’s lives. We’ve poured our hearts out many a night in the studio and look forward to going one step further on stage.” I can’t wait for it.
Ciara and Janet Jackson Duet
Posted in Ciara, Duet, Hip-Hop, Hit Song, Janet Jackson, R&B on the February 6, 2008
Doing remakes of very popular songs was the trend of 2007 when many artists from different genres of music put their own twist on Rihanna’s massive hit single ‘Umbrella’. But it looks like it’s not going to be the big thing for music in 2008.
Robyn was the first to make a duet out of a new song when she reworked one of Snoop Dogg’s newest songs into a duet. Mind you, her take on it was hot. Now, Ciara has followed her lead and did a duet version of Janet Jackson’s ‘Feedback’. And much like Robyn and Snoop’s so-called duet, the R&B/hip hop singer’s so-called duet with Janet is the hotness!
Kanye Still Hiding
Posted in Hip-Hop, Kanye West, News, Photography, R&B on the February 6, 2008
Kanye West, the rapper who’s known for his enormous ego just as much as his music, has been keeping a low profile since the passing of his mother. He has taken a major turn away from his massive self-promotion campaign, his feud with 50 Cent and has chosen to just stay quiet. He was recently spotted over in West Hollywood last week and even his style has become low profile. Gone were the signature shades and flamboyant attitude. All that was seen of Kanye was a hoodie covering his face, trying not to catch a lot of unnecessary attention. You better snap out of it soon Kanye! The world needs another ego to fight off John Mayer’s and 50’s! They’re just douche bags anyway.
Badu Fro
Posted in Badu Fro, Grammy Awards, Hip-Hop, LL Cool J, Rapper on the January 23, 2008
Grammy Award winning singer Erykah Badu was spotted as she arrived in the Caribbean on Thursday sporting a big fro. Erykah is being featured along with rapper LL Cool J at ‘Recognize! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture’. It’s the first exhibition at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery to examine the influence of the hip hop music and style on American culture. The exhibit will open of February 8 and run through October 26. That’s a long time to see their mugs on display, no? But I can’t argue with the artists that they chose. I wonder who else in featured.
Leona Lewis is Still on Top
Posted in Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Debut Album, Girls Aloud, Hip-Hop, Jodie Aysha, Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Music Bands, Music Chart, Music People, Music Review, New Single, R&B, Rap Music, Rock, Shayne Ward, Singers, Soulja Boy, Take That, Timbaland on the December 11, 2007
Leona Lewis’ ‘Bleeding Love’ continues to reign over the UK singles’ charts. The list was announced on Sunday and it marks the seventh week that Leona has been on top. The X-Factor winner’s debut CD ‘Spirit’ is also at the top spot of the albums’ chart and it’s been there for the last four weeks.
But ‘Bleeding Love’ is facing some stiff competition this holiday season. The rest of the singles chart, in order, is made up of T2 featuring Jodie Aysha with ‘Heartbroken’, Girls Aloud with ‘Call the Shots’, Timbaland with ‘Apologize’, Take That with ‘Rule the World’, Alicia Keys with ‘No One’, Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse with ‘Valerie’, Mariah Carey with ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’, Shayne Ward with ‘Breathless’ and Soulja Boy with ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy)’.
Chris Brown Still Tops Chart
Posted in Alicia Keys, Celebs, Chris Brown, Hip-Hop, JAY-Z, Pop Music, R&B, Rap Music, Rock, Sean Kingston, Singers, Song, Soulja Boy, Top List on the November 19, 2007
Chris Brown’s Kiss Kiss hit has claimed a third week at the top of the singles chart. The track held off competition from Alicia Keys’ No One, which jumped up a spot to number two on the new chart. I Like His Song Wall to Wall as well. What’s excited me is that I always love it when there are fresh new stars that top the charts rather than having the likes of Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, Jay-Z and Kanye West dominate the charts. It argues well for the music industry to have new stars on the scene like Soulja Boy and Sean Kingston. Timbaland’s Apologize slides to three, while Soulja Boy’s Crank That (Soulja Boy) refuses to slip out of the top five - it holds steady at four. Three week’s at the top is like it has to be great music and people are buying the CDs a lot give the number the thrust to remain on top of the singles chart.
Intoxication - SHAGGY
Posted in Hip-Hop, Music, Music People, Music Review, Performance, Photography, R&B, SHAGGY, Singers, Solo, Song on the November 16, 2007
Shaggy uses “Intoxication” to once again show that while he and his crew can crank out solid pop, they can match it with cuts that genuinely rock the dancehall. The thing is, everyone knows he can do pop. What he needs to do now is just crank out a full disc of bangers. It’s the point proved by his new album’s boastful opening track, “Can’t Hold Me,” and the raunchy rhythm driving the sexy title song. The foundation of the disc is aimed at the airwaves, and a few songs could easily see chart action. Most are collaborations, like the Rik Rok vehicle “Bonafide Girl” (which lifts the guitar part from Desmond Dekker’s “007 Shanty Town”). But best is “Mad Mad World.” With Sizzla’s soulful hook strewn over a Dre-worthy beat and head-nodding rhymes, it’s a fusion of both sides of Shaggy.
Jay-Z Hits No. 1 on Billboards 200
Posted in Billboard's Top Music, Debut Album, Hip-Hop, Hit Song, Music Bands, Music People, R&B, Rap Music, Records Sale, Singers, Song, Top List on the November 15, 2007
Jay-Z scores his 10th No. 1 album on The Billboard 200, as “American Gangster” (Def Jam) debuts on top this week after selling 425,000 copies in the United States. The rapper thus ties Elvis Presley in second place for the most No. 1 albums on the chart; only the Beatles have had more, with 19.
Since 1998, all eight of Jay-Z’s solo studio albums have hit No. 1, in addition to his “Collision Course” project with Linkin Park and his “Unfinished Business” collaboration with R. Kelly.
After bowing at No. 1 last week, the Eagles’ “Long Road Out of Eden” (Eagles Recording Co.) slips to No. 2 with 359,000, a 49% sales decrease. Garth Brooks’ “The Ultimate Hits” (Pearl) debuts at No. 3 after shifting 352,000 units. Brooks’ last studio set, 2001’s “Scarecrow,” debuted at No. 1 with 466,000. His only releases since then have been Wal-Mart exclusives and were thus not eligible to appear on The Billboard 200.
Russell Simmons On Dog Fighting
Posted in Hip-Hop, Music People, Rumor, Russell Simmons, Singers on the November 12, 2007
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has filmed a new public service announcement for the Humane Society, denouncing dog fighting. The Def Jam co-founder-turned-designer and entrepreneur fronts the disturbing new TV ads, which feature a muzzled pet being thrown into a fighting ring. Ha Ha Dog fighting, bull fighting, X@@##!, fighting, Girl fighting, Senate reform fighting, There’s a cat in the doghouse get him out or there’ll be hell to pay fighting, Get off my side of the bed X@@##! fighting, Ouch you bit me your not suppose to use your teeth idiot fighting. Jailhouse fighting got to go. Down with bean bag battles. Crossing the Jordan while fighting off infidels has to stop. I don’t know that’s the fun in seeing a dog fight, someone can get really hurt badly, just feel for those animals, they are put in with injections and are wild they clash and keep biting cause for that period they do not feel the pain. Lost cause coz humans have brains to master animals for their own fun.
50 Cent Is Too Famous to Date
Posted in 50 Cent, Ciara, Hip-Hop, LOVE, Music People, Party, R&B, Rumor, Singers on the November 11, 2007
Rapper 50 Cent blames his bachelor status on his celebrity status - because his fame makes it impossible to date a “normal” person. The hip-hop star has been linked to a string of beauties in the past, and was recently rumored to be dating R&B star Ciara. I think he surely can date a normal person whose not in the entertainment business but the problem would be for the girl he dates. Because she will have to really understand what rumors about his flings are true and which ones to ignore. But there also one thing that I would like to say here, which normal girl whose aspirations are not larger than life and needs down to earth would like to date a celebrity. They all are people who for most part of their celebrity hood life out of the box with a persona that’s not truly reflecting them and the people around them are at times more dangerous than the stars themselves. In a scenario like this I wouldn’t be surprised if a ‘normal’ level headed girl plain and simply ignores men like him.
Akon - Don’t Matter
Posted in Akon, Hip-Hop, Hit Song, Music, Music People, New Single, News, Performance, Photography, R&B, Rap Music, Singers, Solo, Song, Top List on the November 1, 2007
It seems like Akon is inescapable today. His most recent solo hits “Smack That” and “I Wanna Love You” spent multiple weeks simultaneously in the top 10, and Akon has a flashy guest appearance on Gwen Stefani’s current top 10 hit “The Sweet Escape.” Unfortunately, too often Akon’s music utilizes easy gimmicks to gain attention. This moves the song quickly up the chart but doesn’t wear well with listeners. Fortunately, “Don’t Matter” is largely lacking in gimmickry and lingers longer in the brain’s music pleasure centers.
Fortunately, “Don’t Matter,” finding Akon in an even more laidback ballad mood than his makeout tune “I Wanna Love You,” is devoid of gimmicks and annoying hooks. Akon’s pleasing voice, both singing and rapping, is showcased over a laidback groove. Lyrically the words of defiant, committed love in the face of disapproval will strike a chord with many pop fans. Stick with the song all the way through and you’ll be rewarded with a percussive party section at the end that will put a smile on your face and might even make you move.
“Don’t Matter” is likely to help maintain Akon’s string of weeks with 2 singles in the pop top 10. It is nearly assured of joining “The Sweet Escape” making Akon’s sweet tenor continue to seem ubiquitous on pop radio.
Jive Records drops Kelis?
Posted in Hip-Hop, Kelis, Music, Music People, Nas, Records Deal, Rumor, Singers on the November 1, 2007
Kelis has been dropped from her record deal with Jive. The hip-hop star’s career appears to have been in decline for some time, culminating in the lackluster display of latest album Kelis Was Here in 2006. It has now been claimed that the singer, who is married to Nas, has left the label and is now seeking a new home.
Kelis released two albums on Jive–2003’s Tasty and last year’s Kelis Was Here–and is now said to be working on an independent record with Cee-Lo, one half of Gnarls Barkley. Her manager Jeff Rabhan commented: “It was a case of being in the ever-shrinking world of the record industry and finding herself on a label she wasn’t signed to and without a champion.”
“She’s a different kind of artist–very image- and style-driven. It’s either something you get or you don’t,” explained Rabhan, who also said Kelis is considering going into acting.
Kanye leads 50 Cent in CD sales face-off
Posted in 50 Cent, Billboard's Top Music, Celebs, Hip-Hop, Kanye West, MTV, MTV VMA, Music, Music People, Photography, R&B on the September 13, 2007
50 Cent may be getting hip-hop’s equivalent of a gold watch next week. Early reports have Kanye West beating 50 in their much-hyped battle of album sales: West’s “Graduation” is on pace to sell about 575,000 to 700,000 its first week out, while 50 Cent’s “Curtis” is on track to do 550,000, according to Billboard magazine.
As of day one, Kanye had sold 437,000 copies to 50’s 310,000, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Both albums came out Tuesday, and a confident 50 Cent famously announced that he would retire if West outsold him in first-week sales.
“I just don’t view him as competition based on our previous sales histories,” 50 Cent told The Associated Press last month.
But it looks as if 50 underestimated the power of West, and perhaps, overestimated his own appeal.
“I don’t think it’s helped 50 that so many of these pre release singles that have come out have fizzled on the charts right away,” said Jonathan Cohen, Billboard’s senior editor. “There were street date changes. It has just not been a good run-up to this record for him.”
Meanwhile, Cohen says West is having a more “charmed” experience, despite his recent tantrum at the MTV Video Music Awards after going home empty-handed.
“These tantrums he goes on, these outlandish comments he makes, they don’t really hurt him,” said Cohen. “If anything, they’ve got more people interested in what he’s all about.”
Still, don’t finalize those retirement party plans for 50 just yet; there are several days to go before a final tally is determined, and he could catch up and overtake West.
“It is a projection,” Cohen said of the initial sales predictions. “It can very easily deviate.”
And there’s still the potential of a third-party candidate winning the race: country superstar Kenny Chesney, who’s “Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates” also was released on Tuesday, is so far on pace to sell 400,000 to 550,000 copies.
Ludacris Concert Canceled
Posted in Concert, Hip-Hop, Ludacris, Music, Music People, News, Photography, Rap Music, Singers, Tickets Sale on the September 12, 2007
Rapper Ludicrous has been forced to cancel a forthcoming gig in Boston, Massachusetts, because of poor ticket sales. The Stand Up singer - real name Christopher Bridges - was due to play at the Eastern States Exposition on September 30 but the concert has now been pulled due to lack of demand. That is sad to read. I would hope that fans are not doing this out of hate or the media. The man has some good music going on that needs to be heard by all. If he cusses or uses the “N” word take it in stride if it does not pertain to you as a Hip Hop fan. What is this world coming to? I hope you have your say. Love ya! If you were a fan in the past don’t turn your back on Hip Hop or Luda. Where is the LOVE for music? I bet if Britney would show how many would show their faces? Recently even Kelly Clarkson also cancelled her tour because of poor ticket sales and has now announced new dates. Infact people do not want to listen to these singers and the singer cannot swallow this fact.
Britney Glitters, Justin and Rihanna Golden at VMAs
Posted in Britney Spears, Celebs, Hip-Hop, Justin Timberlake, Las Vegas, MTV, MTV VMA, Music, Music Award, Music People, Performance, Photography, R&B, Rihanna, TV Show, Video on the September 10, 2007
Oh Britney. You have given us yet another performance where you lipsynch, and badly, while wearing as little as possible, to a song no one will remember in six months. This is nothing new, and sadly, it’s actually worse than ever. Maybe now is time to embrace the fact that talent is actually a necessity when attempting a singing career. Shocking though it may be, some actually enjoy singers who can, well, sing well. You might look into a career more fitting to your needs; should anyone need an unintelligent, burnt out, baby dropping train wreck, I am sure you will be the first person they call. This was actually the best thing you could have done; you have finally put an end to your career. Thank you MTV. This is even better than when you canceled the Tom Green show. Justin Timberlake shouted upon accepting the inaugural Moon Man trophy for Quadruple Threat of the Year, one of four new hyperbolically titled honors handed out in lieu of standards like Best R&B or Best Hip-Hop Video. Timberlake was also named the VMAs’ Male Artist of the Year.
Stars turn out for Diddy’s White Party
Posted in Celebs, Diddy, Hip-Hop, Music, Music People, News on the September 3, 2007
White was the dress code at a star-saturated party thrown by Sean “Diddy” Combs at his Long Island home, and the dress code was strictly enforced.
The hip-hop mogul’s annual White Party, which he has held in St. Tropez in recent years, featured a white carpet to go along with the white dress code.
“This party is up there with the top three that I’ve thrown,” Combs said. “It’s a party that has legendary status. It’s hard to throw a party that lives up to its legend.”
Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Donna Karan, Ashley Olsen, Star Jones and Tommy Lee were among the guests.
But those who failed to abide by the dress code found themselves told to change, including the wife of Billy Joel, Katie Lee. She had gone to the party dressed in a shade of cream, but that did not win over Combs’ fashion police. Turned away, she opted to go home.
Combs wore white sneakers with silver detailing, a white shirt and pants and a gold medallion.