Labels: Snoop

Labels: Trey Songz

Labels: Lil Wayne

Labels: Brandy

Labels: Will Smith

This is supposed to be Nas' cover for his upcoming album titled Nigger...I just can't imagine this on the shelves.

Is this really necessary? I don't care for censorship and if Nas wants to come out with an album called Monkey-Doodle Butt so be it, I just don't think it is realistic to name an album that and expect it to fly off the shelves.

How do you report on that... it will forever be "the N-word" not "Nigger."

Labels: Nas

Labels: Ciara

Labels: Raz B

"She's brought so much energy to the house," dad Reverend Run tells Us Weekly. "My wife cried the other day when Miley busted out laughing."

"The more you mourn, the more you want to mourn. I would have landed in depression," she tells Us.

"I wanted a girl really bad, and I knew I wasn't going to try again," she says. Justine has two other boys with Run and is the step-mom to a boy and two girls.

"It's heaven," Run tells Us, "to have this baby come into our house at this time, at Christmas." [SOURCE]

Labels: Rev Run

Labels: Bow Wow

John Legend just sneaks up on you and drops videos, this is the video for his newest single "Show Me," from the Once Again album. Which is a great album by the way, if you don't have it, you need it. Very musical!

Love the video, love videos that have meaning...

Labels: John Legend

Labels: I Love New York

Labels: Rihanna

Labels: Chris Stokes, Omarion, Raz B

Labels: Remy Ma

Labels: Ciara

“Music should be about passion,” Holiday told the Los Angeles Daily News. “That’s what I’m striving for, and I think people realize it when you get to that point in your music. I’m a pretty regular dude, and I just want to keep it simple and to the point.”

Labels: J. Holiday

“The accusations that Demario “Raz B” Thorton and Ricardo Thorton have made are vehemently false and hold no merit. I have recently stopped financially supporting both individuals along with assisting them with their criminal and legal matters which leads me to believe they are resentful and looking to benefit financially from this. My family is my first priority and the reason why I have been so supportive of them. In bringing these false claims, they have not only slandered me, they have also put me in a position to ensure that the truth is known and I will take all legal routes to protect myself, my family and my four children," said Chris Stokes, CEO of The Ultimate Group.

"It’s also quite ironic that these statements were made only 2 weeks after they were denied admittance by a venue for an event I hosted in Beverly Hills ," added Stokes.

Labels: Chris Stokes, Raz B

Labels: Chris Stokes, Raz B

Labels: Yung Joc

In a statement announcing his departure, Jay-Z acknowledged the artists and executives he had worked with during his three years as label president, including IDJ chairman/CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid.

He added, "It's time for me to take on new challenges. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy, helping to move the company into a new era of artistic success."

Reid stated, "Jay made it clear to us that he feels the time has come to take on different challenges in his life. While we regret his decision to move on, we certainly respect it ... While he will continue to be one of our signature artists, he will nonetheless be missed in this executive capacity." [SOURCE]

Labels: Jay Z

Labels: Shits and Giggles

Labels: Janet Jackson

Michael Jackson is collecting his chips and releasing a 25th anniversary special edition of the Thiller album with remixes from Will.I.Am to Kanye West, plus Akon and Fergie. The re-release is set to hit shelves February 12th and will feature a look behind the scenes and his breakthrough performance from the 1983 special "Motown: 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever."

The newly expanded version of Thriller premieres five tracks previously unreleased in any form: a new Kanye West remix of "Billie Jean"; a new 2008 version of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" with Akon and will.i.am; will.i.am remixes of "The Girl Is Mine" and "P.Y.T."; and "For All Time," a rare unreleased cut from the original Thriller recording sessions, newly mixed and mastered by Michael Jackson.

Additional bonus material on the Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition includes "Someone In The Dark," "Carousel," and Michael Jackson's original demo recording of "Billie Jean."

Check out the pretty hot remixes...LISTEN HERE

Labels: Kanye West, Michael Jackson, Will.I.Am

Labels: Shits and Giggles

The internet is buzzing that Jay Z and Beyonce secretly married while on his birthday vacay in Paris. The pair were spotted with matching tattoos of the Roman numeral "IV" to mean "forever" on their ring fingers...As you can see before she jet-setted off to the City of Romance to meet her beau, there was no tattoo, however while in Milan promoting Armani's Diamonds we caught a glimpse of it. Jay Z also has the same tattoo on his ring finger...

No confirmations either way, if they did that was pretty slick and well...about damn time!

Labels: Beyonce, Jay Z

Labels: Patti LaBelle

“She’s Beyonce, and I’m (his) new protegee. When we see each other we say hi. We’re not enemies, but we’re not ‘friends’ friends.”

“The label didn’t want me to do this look. But cutting my hair, it made me stand out as an artist. I don’t care who likes it — this is me.”

Labels: Rihanna

Labels: Chrisette Michele

"Fantasia is not pregnant and the Internet rumors are entirely untrue," Barrino's rep confirms to Us.

"It is true that she has missed some performances because she has gotten sick from time to time over the nine months, but doing eight shows a week is a lot so she missed a few."

Labels: Fantasia

Labels: R Kelly

“Zac and me was both in San Francisco a few months ago for a comic book convention or something, and we met at an afterparty at some bar,” he says, pausing to break down pieces of pungent pot to roll into a joint. “To get away from these girls that was chasing him, he ducked into the bathroom and I followed him in there. I was like, ‘What’s crackin’, my brother from another mother?’”

“What’s up, my nigga?” Efron says, giving Wayne a pound, a hug, and then, to my astonishment, a full-on kiss, reminiscent of the one Wayne famously gave his surrogate father Baby last year. (Obviously, Efron is going to have to work harder to squelch rumors surrounding his sexual orientation.)

“Hell, no! This is how I live! I get up in the morning, get my dick sucked four times, drink a Molson’s, and then hang out with Zac. What, do you want me to go to Hawaii for a vacation? You got a job, but this is my vacation right here.”

Adds Efron, “Word!”

Labels: Lil Wayne

Labels: Vivica A Fox

Labels: Lil Mama

Labels: The Wire

Labels: Fat Joe, J. Holiday

Labels: Amy Winehouse

"Yes, Otis. What ever you say Otis!"

Labels: Movies That Rock

Labels: Norwood Young

Clearly these two nuts belong together...is anyone really surprised that New York chose Tailor Made? The gotcha gotcha is that Tailor Made [aka George Wesigerber] is still legally married. His foolish wife came on the show already, so clearly she's in on it...however I've sure it will prove to be more drama for these wackos.

After Midget Mac left the show just went downhill...

You can read her post-show interview here.

Labels: I Love New York

Labels: Michael Jackson

Labels: Remy Ma

Labels: Jamie Foxx

Labels: Beyonce, J. Holiday

Labels: Bow Wow

Labels: Kanye West

Labels: Snoop

Labels: Mario

Labels: Beyonce, Jay Z

Labels: Amy Winehouse

Note to Claudia: leave flipping off the camera to the rappers...



What the hell does Mario have to talk about? Ridin' Diddy's ass...and writing poo-poo songs for Ashanti.

Labels: Jamie Foxx

Labels: Will Smith

Family, friends and fans all came in the wet weather to mourn the death of Chad "Pimp C" Butler, who many felt put Southwest Texas on the map. The services were held at the Robert A. Bowers Civic Center in his hometown of Port Arthur, Texas where about 2000 people gathered.

Pimp C's mother, Weslyn "Mamma Wes" Monroe, stepped on stage to a rousing ovation. She wore a UGK T-shirt and looked out on the crowd for a while.

Finally, she said, "I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, I'm all right. And you'll be all right because he's all right."

She said her only son was in heaven now. "He got there and told them, 'The South is here.' "

Labels: Pimp C

Winehouse is reportedly being supervised by doctors, which doesn’t quite sound like rehab per se, but is close enough. Her motivation? The upcoming Grammys. “Amy is thrilled to be nominated for six Grammys, and is very much hoping to attend,” said her rep. “She is determined to be ready and well for that performance.” [SOURCE]

Labels: Amy Winehouse

"We're going to start filming next year," she revealed. "And we've got Alicia."

The famous talk show host also pointed out that TV scribe Lloyd Kramer has been assigned to pen the script while admitting she still has no desire to return in front of the camera as an actress anytime soon. "I don't," she remarked. "I've let go of the need for that." [SOURCE]

Labels: Alicia Keys

"Britney is a friend and we correspond with each other. These alleged statements are completely false."

"Tyra was saying, really loudly, 'Britney should just go ahead and kill herself after the album and go out like Marilyn, very grand. She should have done it after the last album.'" [SOURCE]

Labels: Movies That Rock

In a promotional interview, Bow Wow talks himself into believing his new album with Omarion is going straight to the top!

Ballerstatus.com: What's your main goal for the release of this album?

Bow Wow: To make sure our audience is pleased with the product and to sell records. Sony is shipping 1 million records, they never shipped that many in a long time. Last year, I came out and sold 100,000 my first week. O came out and had the no. 1 album. No way we can't do 500,000 the first week. Right around the holiday season and our hardcore fanbase is kids and the young girls. Christmas time is for the kids and that's what make it hype and exciting. Don't let the album be $9.99. If the album $9.99, we might mess around and do 700,000.

Don't let it be more than $9.99 and they might not sell more than 100K! Seriously though, don't they look so depressed about the project at TRL...Way to sell it guys!

Labels: Bow Wow, Omarion

Labels: ANTM

Labels: Check It, Janet Jackson

Continue reading for more red carpet goodness...

Labels: Denzel Washington, Oprah Winfrey

Labels: Erykah Badu

Labels: Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith

"I named this album 'Nu AmErykah' because I'm dealing with whatever is to come instead of what was," said Badu, decked out in jeans, a red kimono and her trademark afro. "In taking on a project like this, I'm taking the responsibility to talk for my race and my planet. I'm sure the record company will make their money and they've given me the blessing of time." [SOURCE]

Labels: Erykah Badu

Solange is still on that Solo Star tip trying to make a comeback to the music scene...she signed a deal with Geffen Records to release her sophomore effort Hadley Street Dreams.

"Her record is totally bananas," Geffen Records chairman Ron Fair tells Billboard.com. "It's not what people would expect from her. The music is more eclectic and international. She's in her own lane."

"It's a touch of retro with beautiful R&B songs and influences of early Natalie Cole and Carole King, and she's only 21," he continues. "I'm crazy about the Pharrell Williams' record that she recently finished, called 'I Decided.' We're finishing the album now." [SOURCE]

The release is set for sometime in second quarter 2008. I am just curious as to why Daddy Knowles didn't work is voodoo on Columbia...doesn't he have his own label Music World? She has been grinding lately doing shows and attending hot Hollywood event...despite liking like a lost member of Blues Clues!

Labels: Solange

"When you're famous these days, it's just part of the deal -- unfortunately. People will make up all sorts of things that are not true... There ain't gonna be no wedding."

Labels: Queen Latifah

"No one calls Fred Claus the white Christmas movie. The Perfect Holiday is a movie about the holidays. It's not race-specific. If there's more than one black person in the movie, it's an urban romantic comedy, an urban thriller - it's just a flipping movie. The way kids think, the demographic they pander and chase - they don't care. The same way guys are like, 'Halle Berry's hot, Jessica Alba's hot' - they don't say, 'She's a hot black girl' or 'a hot Latina'. They notice trends, they buy movies they like, they Google people they like. It's not race-specific... Give me a break. It's an old-fashioned notion of marketing, and how they like to label things." [SOURCE]

Labels: Pimp C

"His debut is a sublimely skanky gallery of hormonal yarns, love triangles, androgynous falsetto and skittering digital beats. In 2007, freaks ruled the R&B roost, and The-Dream was the freakiest of them all." - BLENDER

Labels: The Dream, The Leak

Labels: Beyonce, Jay Z

Michael Jackson's wig game is killing them hoes! Step up your lacefront game, boo! That coupled with the jacket and the overly photoshopped face...The thiller is clearly looking at this cover...

Labels: Michael Jackson

Labels: Bow Wow

Check out more Mario online:

Official Mario Website | Mario on MySpace


IN STORES NOW!

Labels: Exclusive, Mario

Sean "Diddy" Combs is in love again. The hip-hop mogul made the decision to "cut off the various girls he has around the world" and settle down with on-and-off flame Cassie - at least for now. "She recently broke up with her boyfriend, and they're in Miami together now," our source said of the singer. Friends on both sides of the camp are whispering about their reunion. "They're holed up together in Miami, very low-key. He's really in love with her," said the insider.

Labels: Cassie, Diddy

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have been sentenced up to five years by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Vick, who turned himself in Nov. 19 in anticipation of his sentence, was wearing a black-and-white striped prison suit.

After Vick apologized to the court and his family, Hudson told him: “You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you.”

“Yes, sir,” Vick answered.

Vick acknowledged he used “poor judgment” and added, “I’m willing to deal with the consequences and accept responsibility for my actions.” SOURCE: MSNBC

Labels: Michael Vick

“I like porno, I ain’t going to hide the truth. I could stay in for a good two days with my stash. Can you love porn and be a good Christian? If you’re a normal person you have needs.”

Labels: Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey

Timbaland and Polow Da Don hosted a retro themed "Flashback" birthday party for Keri Hilson at The View, who turned 25. The singer/songwriter had a phenomenal year and rocked out with Nelly, J.D., and Bonecrusher, among others in Atlanta...

See more party fun after the jump!

Labels: Keri Hilson

I HOPE you understand why I'm writing this. We have spoken recently but many people will wonder why I haven't run down to whatever hotel you're staying in, scooped you up and taken you home for a hot bath and a steaming bowl of chicken soup.

It's because your father and I know what you're like, Amy.

We want to help you, but we know that unless you want to be helped— unless you come to us—anything we tried would be in vain.

So this letter is my way of making sure that you know that—that all you have to do is come to us, Amy, and we'll do everything in our power to get you well again.

After all, you are still my baby and you always will be.

Early fame has overwhelmed you, it's dizzied you and muddled your mind. For a moment, forget you're a superstar. You're also young and vulnerable. Remember you're just an ordinary human being, no stronger than any of the rest of us. You think you're strong enough to get through this on your own, darling, but you're not.

Labels: Amy Winehouse

I am also sorry to have to report the news of our separation. It is however a mutual decision for the both of us. We see this as an attempt to try and maintain the friendship we've developed since our marriage and also to allow growth for myself as well as him. Unfortunately I was not prepared for partnership or even real life for that matter. I am completely and truly grateful and thankful to God for sending him into my life and to him for everything that he has done for me and my family and that includes monetarily as well as spiritually and mentally, especially for myself, which was never his responsibility in the first place. None of you are aware of the real me and I plan to make that as clear as possible on this next album. I come from a sad and scary past that I am still in the process of overcoming and growing past, thanks to the man I love and always will. This is truly the only person I've ever known or heard of that is incredibly loving, passionate, wise, psychic, wise, creative, genius, and many more things that I could never put into words. I don't feel it is fair for neither of us, especially him, to continue this never-ending battle of the minds that he and i have continued for long enough. I want nothing more than for him and I to be happy. His happiness is all i want, for I could never repay him for what he has endured by being my friend, partner, and husband.

Labels: Exclusive, Nivea, The Dream

Labels: Vivica A Fox

Labels: Bow Wow

Labels: Exclusive, The Dream

"What did she say? Put it on my lipstick. I was too busy being conceited’. Like, how could you be conceited, you don’t even like your own face,” states Remy Ma. “ What are you talking about? Are you serious? How was I supposed to take that offensive.” “I don’t believe you,” stressed Remy. “ You don’t like your nose, you don’t like your cheek, you don’t like your chin, you don’t like your skin color, you don’t like your tits, you don’t like your stomach, you don’t like your teeth. What are you talking about?”

Labels: Lil Kim, Remy Ma

No need to hide it anymore Amy, we already knew...

Amy Wino was out and about with her powdered nose and the paps caught her outside her house. Apparently she was locked out, but when your 72 lbs, you can just shimmy under the gate.

This heffa is asking for that incurable staph infection! Just plain ol' nasty...

Labels: Amy Winehouse

Mary J. Blige ft. Usher - Shakedown

Continue reading to see Mary at her listening session in NYC at Club Cielos...

Labels: Mary J Blige

When was the last time you saw him?

We performed together in Dallas the day after Thanksgiving. And we attended the Young Jeezy concert together Thanksgiving. And that was the last time I physically saw him. We met, we hugged, said we loved each other. When we separate we always make sure we hug and say we love each other. And keep in mind, Pimp C and I, we didn't agree on everything. We had our differences about different things. And I know people are going to draw conclusions, but it's not like that. I've been knowing Pimp C since he was 16 years old. By nature, our personalities and our character tended to be at odds, but because of who we were and where we were from, and where we were trying to go and what we were trying to prove, we were always together in that respect. And I loved him, and he loved me, and we're never ashamed to say it. And I know we're in the era of "pause" and "no homo" and all that, and that's all fine and dandy, but if you really love your homie, don't feel like you can't tell him you love him. Who gives a fuck how somebody take it. Because when things happen, you're going to wish you had said it. You're going to wish you said it louder.

Labels: Bun B, Pimp C

Labels: Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye West, Rihanna

Part 1: The Basics...Back of my Lac

Melody: So, your album’s out!

J. Holiday: Yes, ma’am!

Melody: So how are you feeling about that?

J. Holiday: It feels good, I’m just at the point now where its time to turn on the after burners to make sure I stay here, you know, in the place that I’m at.

Melody: Right, you’re a pretty low-key dude, you’re real just chill, so did you wild out just a little bit for your release?

J. Holiday: Definitely! I did have 3 different release parties in New York, D.C., and Atlanta. Of course when I was in D.C. I saw my family. When I was in Atlanta I saw my music family and of course New York is New York, so did a little bit of wildin’.

Melody: Let’s go through the album, which is definitely one of the best albums of 2007, just off top. It was really highly anticipated, I think a lot of people where waiting for that album. The title track, “Back of my Lac” which is pretty much about how you wind down and get through things, so is that one of the most personal songs on the album?

J. Holiday: Yeah, definitely. We named it that because that is actually a song that I wrote that was on the demo package and it’s one of the songs that I got signed off of and that song is basically a song a that I wrote when I was about to quit. I’m like ‘Man, I don’t know if I want to keep doing this music thing, it’s pointless, it’s a waste of my time.’ I was just like, we have to name the album this, because this is what got me through, which got this album even out. That’s why we call it “Back of my Lac” and we ready to just keep it rockin’.

Melody: Let’s talk about some of the songs that you wrote on the album. I know you wrote “Fallin’,” “Ghetto,” and “Back of my Lac,” are there any others that you wrote?

J. Holiday: “Fallin’,” “Ghetto,” and “Back of my Lac,” I co-wrote on “Be With Me,” I co-wrote on “Without You” and I co-wrote on “Laa Laa.”

Melody: Okay, now “Fallin’,” I have a hard time picking a favorite, but that’s definitely one of my favorite songs on the album. Was that from personal experience?

J. Holiday: Actually that’s from a combination of a lot of stuff. I’ve been in more than one relationship, more than one serious relationship. Lets just say that every male would be a liar if they said they didn’t break up with a girl or that girl broke up with them, and they didn’t sit at home and wish they had them back. Every male is going to do that, I don’t care who you are, so that’s me just putting it on front street. Like, I know I messed up or whatever but I really need you back.

Melody: So “Ghetto” from the first verse, it just takes you, it captures you from the front so that’s definitely a hot song, is that one of your favorite songs?

J. Holiday: Um, anything I put my pen on is my favorites [laugh], yeah definitely. I mean I’m more of a soulful person anyway. I’m not this selfish type of artist, like I’m only going to the make music that I like to listen to. There’s people that like to listen to the real soulful music, and then there’s people who listen to the R&B classic type of music, and then there’s people that like to listen to the hip hop sounding music. It’s like I tried to put a little bit of all that into the album but anything soulful I love.

Melody: Speaking of sounds, I’ve read a lot of pieces and feedback and views and people kind of place you in the category of an R&B thug. Is that a misconception, do you embrace that, or is that something that you really don’t feel is accurate?

J. Holiday: I mean, what really an R&B thug?

Melody: I don’t know…

J. Holiday: You’d be pretty surprised, not to put anyone on front street but, as far as my music is concerned, I’mma always be me. I’mma show people who I really am. I’m not going to try to sugarcoat anything for the public or anything like that. Trying to make it seem like I’m this goody-goody two-shoes, now I’m in the club wildin’. If you can’t accept that through my music, then you really can’t accept me. And there are a lot of artists out here, that sugarcoat things, then they be out in the street and people see them, it’s ‘Oh my God, why is he acting like that?’ And it’s like, okay that’s who he really is but he did tell you that through his music, so you didn’t know that. So I don’t necessarily look at it as being an R&B thug, I just look at it like being me. You gotta look at it like my mom’s a preacher, so I can’t be that much of a thug. People don’t really listen to the story or really try to get involved the person or really listen to the lyrics that I’m really saying. Versus saying ‘Well, he said something about smoking didn’t he, oh that’s gotta be a thug’ or ‘oh he said something about drinking, oh that gotta be a thug.’ There’s preachers that take communion, that’s wine, you don’t call them no thug. So it’s like, people really need to figure out what their definition of R&B thug is.

Melody: You worked with a lot of great producers and up and coming producers and writers, is there any one that you worked with that you feel you connected the most with, that really got you as an artist?

J. Holiday: Actually the guy that produced “Ghetto,” he has a clique called State of Emergency, they’re basically a clique of live instruments, they play live instruments. He was definitely was real instrumental in my Marvin Gaye influences and he was there in the beginning stages of the demo. That’s just a relationship that I’ve had over the years, even when I was with my group [295]. We just always seem to make magical music together. We got songs that are reminiscent of Mint Condition and stuff like that. It’s just some songs that some people aren’t ready for yet, but that’s definitely one of the people that I connected with the most on the album. His name is Donnie Scantz.

Melody: Well shout out to him, he did you good on that song, I love “Ghetto.” Now you also worked with Ne-Yo on the album, but none of the songs made the album, is there a reason why?

J. Holiday: Actually, I worked with Ne-Yo in the way beginning stages of the album and he actually wrote some dope joints, but after years of preparation for the album, it got to the point of well, certain songs started getting pushed to the side. By me being a writer, of course they’re going to, the labels and everybody’s always like, well we have to make sure he makes some money. Which isn’t really a big deal to me, I feel as long as I’m doing what I’m supposed to do, I’m going to make money anyway. But they started leaning more to the songs that I was writing, because of course I’m the artist. But he wrote some dope stuff, and Ne-Yo, that’s one of my homies. I’m pretty sure we’re probably going to work on some stuff on this upcoming tour. We’re going to be out and about, so I’m sure we’re going to work on some stuff, might surprise you and put something together.

Melody: That’d be interesting, I’d love to hear that. There was only one song that had a collaboration, with 8 Ball & MJG, but it didn’t make the domestic release. Is there a reason why?


J. Holiday: Honestly, I wrote “City Boy,” I’m really not sure why it didn’t make it but I’m pretty sure it’s the politics, some people scared, everybody has their opinion of what song they think are hot and what songs they think are dope, so as long as it’s making a release, then I’m cool, I’m happy. I’m going to let God do his work.

Melody: Well, with technologies these days, eventually people will hear it.

LISTEN NOW: J. Holiday - City Boy

J. Holiday: Oh I know, if I have anything to do with it, they’ll hear it anyway.

Melody: Yeah, so people are going to hear it. Speaking of technology, your advance and a lot of songs got pretty much leaked early on over the last couple of months before and a lot of the songs that didn’t make the official release, but a lot of them were some wonderful songs.

J. Holiday: Thank you…

Melody: A lot of people would say ‘Well, why didn’t this song make it?’ and I know there’s a lot of politics, but just off top, from what I heard, “A Love of Your Own” and “Don’t Wanna Lose You” are…

J. Holiday: Actually, “A Love of Your Own” might, we’re supposed to be doing a re-release, and that may be one of the songs that make the re-release. People can still be looking out for that. Like I said, it’s politics, you’d be surprised how many politics going to making an album and that was personal situation. Actually, Donnie Scantz did that one too, big shouts out to him, but you know it’s sad that, especially African Americans, that we live so much off of status, that other things get pushed in the background because we still thinking about ‘Well. We want to be up here, so we’re going to hold somebody down there,’ or what ever the case maybe. That’s what I’m trying to get away from, I’m trying to get the people away from the politics and get back to making real music and making real decisions that make sense, versus it being that ego thing or it being something like ‘Well, if we put that song on there, somebody else’s song that I like better going to be taken off and I want to build that relationship.’ I don’t care about all that, I don’t care about none of that stuff. I want the best music for the album, anybody else that got their feelings hurt, they can keep it moving. That’s just how I look at it because it shouldn’t be about strictly relationships. It should be about the music.

Part 2: The Music

Melody: Definitely, that’s one of the things that I really, really like about you as an artist, and you as really a person, is your whole philosophy on music and bringing back real music and real R&B not really being with everything being status quo, and the politics of music. I know, but the average consumer definitely isn’t tapped into that...

J. Holiday: [laugh] …and it’s sad that, and this is why music is the way it is now and people do end up messing up because you’ll have artists that are really dope, dope artists and they’ll have people holding them back for so long that when they get a chance to make those decisions, they make all the wrong decisions. Because, like now, it’s like ‘I don’t care what you say, you’ve held me back for so long, I’m going to do what I want to do.’ Which you still help, you still need a little bit of guidance, but it’s like, let’s bring it back to the actual music. Where the artist will go sit down in the studio for two months and then come back and be like, ‘Aight, tell me which songs y’all like and which songs y’all don’t like.’ Versus saying, one by one, each song ‘Nah, I hate that song,’ let the artist be creative. That’s why my album sounds the way it sounds because those songs were done over such a spread out period of time that none of them can sound the same because I didn’t do them all back-to-back-to-back.

Melody: Well it was a well-crafted album…

J. Holiday: Thank you.

Melody: …so kudos to you! Now “Bed” was the last song to be recorded, right?

J. Holiday: Yes, exactly.

Melody: Did you record “Bed” after the release of “Be with Me?”

J. Holiday: Yeah, that was way after the release of “Be with Me.” Capitol and Virgin [Records] had just did a merger so a lot of people that we had working on “Be with Me” isn’t part of the system anymore. I just think at that point in time, it just didn’t get the right push. Because I lot of people are like ‘Yo, what happened to Be With Me?!’ and nobody knew about me and then when “Bed” came out, it was like ‘Oh this the same cat that did Be with Me?’ or ‘I heard that song before and just didn’t know who that was.’ Then what happened to this one? It’s like, it is what it is. It’s the politics, it’s the egos, it’s the everybody-wants-to-be-on-top, that’s what happened.

Melody: No, you're right, you are so very, very right…

J. Holiday: It’s like, I’m trying to get that. People always say, what happened to hip hop, or what happened to R&B? And real talk, it don’t start with the artist. It starts with the labels, I’m sorry to say that, but it does, ‘cause the label make the tell-all, be-all decisions.

Melody: Oh, definitely! I know a lot of artist get frustrated and to tell you the truth, man, you have some fans!

J. Holiday: Oh, they be scared to let me talk.

Melody: You have some fans who were ready to come tear down Capitol Records.

J. Holiday: [Laugh]

Melody: They were serious! No you really have some outstanding fans and they love you so much that they really have been like ‘We need to promote him, because they not doing it right!’ So, I’m so glad that you were getting the shine that you were getting because just hearing some of your other material, I was like ‘This album is going to be really great,’ and I think a lot of people will be happy to hear to hear it because it is real R&B…

J. Holiday: Right, I just tried to approach it like De’Angelo approached his first album. I’m going to do me, I’m going to make my music and see what the world like you know what I’m saying. I make all types of music, it doesn’t just stop with R&B, I do everything and I feel like artist should be able to do everything. It’s a growth thing, it’s a growth process. I’m going to take my time, I’m going to still be here. I’m going to be like Avant, even though people don’t respect Avant, Avant been around. You can’t nothing away from that man. He has faithful fans and he’s still here. As long as you stay true to yourself, it will happen for you.

Melody: Once you have a fan base, they will follow you and as long as you stay true to who you are and don’t lose yourself in the industry, you’ll be alright. So let’s talk about the Chocolate City Mixtape. That could have been a whole album.

J. Holiday: …and that’s the point that I was trying to get across. Just as an artist, I work all the time if I’m at home. I haven’t been able to get into the studio that much, but a lot of that mixtape I did at home. I have a Pro2 set up at my house and you would think that was a commercial studio but it wasn’t. It’s just that I’m trying to get people to understand, look get on your grind, work! I’m going to give you a whole free album, that’s basically what it was, just called it a mixtape. This a free album, even though it’s some commercial tracks on here, I’m going to give you all new songs. I’m going to show you that you can make music, you have to love what you do.

Melody: That comes out though, that comes out in your work.

J. Holiday: Yeah, I definitely was trying to get a couple of the fella’s attention and show them, I know I got “Bed” on the radio and of course it’s a big baby making song, but it’s like I make music for everybody. There’s just not one situation that happens, life is about a lot of things other than just love and getting somebody to bed. I just tried to portray that in the mixtape. Give a couple more songs for the fellas, and we are probably going to reprint that up too and start shipping that out.

Melody: That’s good though, when we first talked you would say this whole album – the ladies can listen to while they are in the tub but the guys can put this on their ride and ride to it too, and that’s not easy feat when you can put together an album that transcends different audiences and I think you did a good job with that.

J. Holiday: That’s how I grew up, man. I had church on Sunday and I was on the streets on Monday through Saturday.

Part 3: Life, Being a PK, and his Father...>

Melody: Let’s talk about that because that’s something we have in common, I’m a preacher’s kid too. I know I lot of people on the outside say, oh preacher’s kids, they like this or they like that. But being a preacher’s kids, it’s something that not everyone can identify with. I know you said your moms really supportive and a real preacher would support of their kid, but sometimes I call and I’m like I don’t want to talk to the preacher, I want to talk to my dad. Do you ever get that with your mom?

J. Holiday: Not now, I can talk to my mom just regular, like I’m talking to my other peoples. Growing up, of course, I didn’t talk to her a lot, that’s when I had my homies but I think for me, it also depends on the type of character that you have. Because a lot of preachers kids, both of their parents are in the church, the typical preachers kid, their mother and father are in the church. My dad was straight fresh out of D.C., my mom was from Carolina, my mom was a preacher, my dad was dude from the street. He didn’t go to church, he read the bible, he knew the bible like the back of his hand, but he didn’t go to church, smoked cigarette, drank beer, and that was my balance you know. It gave me that automatic, that thing in my head that said you know what, I can think for myself. If it’s something that I don’t want to do, or something that I don’t feel comfortable with, then I won’t do it or I just won’t feel comfortable. A lot of stuff I didn’t do in church because I didn’t want to be fake about it. I was like, I know that’s not where I’m at so I’m not going to be fake about it. I think most PKs, they’re forced. Like if I told my mom I didn’t want to do something and she knew I didn’t feel comfortable doing it, she didn’t make me do it. Most PKs are forced, and that’s when they rebel, like they just came fresh out of Babylon. It’s just I think I had that foundation to where I knew how far to take it.

Melody: I know a lot of people think that your dad just walked out, but your dad passed when you were young, you were 11…

J. Holiday: Yeah

Melody: and I know you said it’s still with you, so how does losing your father at a young age, how does that affect you now?

J. Holiday: Now I’m older, honestly it’s crazy because it’s a catch 22, because I love singing and I’ve always said that I would give all this up to have my pops back, but then on the reverse side, had he never died I probably would have never ended up here. Because a lot of the circumstance and situations that happened after him passing away led up to me being exactly where I’m at right now, so I can’t be mad but at the same time they always say everything happens for a reason. Even though it’s something that you may seek, you might be pissed, and you might even be mad at God, or whatever but it’s like God will never put more on you than you can’t handle. That was something that I had to go through to see exactly, it helps me be a better father to my daughter, it helps me say you know what, I’m going to make sure I don’t make that same decision. My daughter don’t have to grow up like I grew up and she can make whatever decisions she wants to make in life. So it helps, but then you get those time when you’re like, awe man, I wish I could share this, I wish I could share that, but it is what it is.

Melody: A lot of the things that we go through in life shape who we are today, so I can definitely identify with that, and I think that a lot of people can identify with that whether it be a loss of a parent or their parent just not being there in general.

Part 4: What's Next...

Okay, so let’s talk about “Suffocate” because that’s your second single and I know you took a lovely trip to Paris to shoot the video so when can we expect that?

J. Holiday: “Suffocate” should be adding on the radio around the 13th and the video should be coming soon after that. I just actually saw the second edit of the video yesterday and it’s looking pretty good. It’s looking pretty romantic!

Melody: Uh-Oh

J. Holiday: Well, we shot it in Paris so I don’t know how you could not look romantic in Paris.

Melody: So, Nik from America’s Next Top Model, she the love interest in the video?


J. Holiday: Nah, we were going to use her, but we ended up using Jennifer Gordon, she the same girl from the first [“Bed”] video, we wanted to make it something consistent to where it really is a story line. It’s not about having the next prettiest girl in your video, it’s about actually telling a story and being consistent. I think people have been scared to do that, like ‘Aw man, we need to go get the next flyest chick that was in the Maxim Magazine’ or whatever and it’s not about that.

Melody: Well, they were all gorgeous girls so…

J. Holiday: Oh yeah, definitely! But I think the consensus, for especially African American music, is to have the next best girl in your video because such-and-such just has so-and-so in the video and you have to outdo them. But now we got a girl that don’t want to do any other videos, so it’s like now what are you going do? Because you can’t get her, so now what are going to do? But we just trying to bring back the essence of saying we are going to build careers and relationships and have fun doing it.

Melody: Have you thought far enough ahead to what your third single might be?

J. Holiday: Honestly, I would like to switch it up a bit, because I don’t want people to get caught up into this strictly lovey dovey in it. Because that’s not what I am in whole, I got different sides to me just like everybody. Everybody has different sides to them and it’s just to show them the passion inside. That I can take care of my woman, and love my woman and then the side that may even mess up and say I did crazy stuff but I still need you back, or the side that says we need to better as African American males. Just getting people involved into Blackness again. What’s funny is, even though I say certain things on my records, always make sure you look at the credits, just because I said, doesn’t mean I wrote it. Like the two song you pointed out, I didn’t write those songs. Ride with me, get involved completely. That’s what I want people to do, get involved completely and understand just who it is that I am. I may cuss sometimes, I may get mad and say ‘Ah Shit!’ but that’s just life. It’s talking about a specific situation and you like, ‘Yo, you fine as a muthaf--’ that’s just what it is. It’s not that I’m going to walk around the house calling you a M-Fer, that’s just saying yo, right now, I’m trying to get at you. I’m going to make sure people ride with me and I got a lot of positive stuff to say. I’m like Common, I’m for the people. That’s one dude, I definitely respect and ain’t changing for nobody.

Melody: Definitely gotta admire you for that...

Outtake: The Haters...

Need more J. Holiday in your life? Check out:

J. Holiday's Official Website | J. Holiday on MySpace


Make sure to catch J. Holiday on the Double Up Tour in a city near you!



J...Holla atcha girl!

Labels: Exclusive, J. Holiday

Labels: Keyshia Cole

"They've shown that they're dedicated to push their resources for my projects," says the Cleveland native. "I look forward to a long lasting relationship with many, many hit records."

Avant will release his as-yet-untitled Capitol debut in the summer of 2008. The set will feature production from Rodney Jerkins and DJ Smurf, among others. A single will be released in March.

Meanwhile, Avant will be touring with TGT, the R&B trio made up of singers Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank, and will star in the play "Love in the Nick of Tyme," featuring Morris Chestnut. [SOURCE]

[click to see dates]

Labels: Avant

Some people think you’re oversaturating the market, though. Have you ever thought about that?

Listen. [Leans in, speaking directly into the recorder] Darling, I don’t care what nobody think. Talk to me like you talking to Martin Luther King or Malcolm X. You’re not about to ask him about what he think about what somebody said about him. You ’bout to ask him about his greatness, and his greatness only. I don’t care what nobody think. If I did, you wouldn’t be sitting on my muthafuckin’ million-dollar bus in my 15th year at the same muthafuckin’ company and business. I’m a role model. You should get like me. Get like you? No. Get like me. Ya understand me? I’m not hot. Hot dies out. Baby, I’m me. Who the fuck done this? Nobody. Compare me to people that’s not even living, baby. And they didn’t even do it—what they comparing me to. No disrespect to them. You found songs on those people after they died. I’m still living. See More at XXL

Labels: Lil Wayne

An American Gangster and a Pussycat Doll come together for the covers of Rap-Up’s December/January 2008 issue. The double cover features T.I. and Nicole Scherzinger with brand new photos and interviews inside. Also in this issue:

• T.I. is no stranger to controversy. The rapper who’s currently under house arrest shares how he maintains his fast-paced lifestyle, his plans to marry and start a family with girlfriend Tiny, staying out of trouble, his friendship with Suge Knight and Jay-Z, and retiring from rap.

• There’s more to Nicole Scherzinger than her smoldering looks. The Pussycat Doll speaks about going solo, her admiration for Beyoncé and Gwen Stefani, getting up close and personal with T.I., being a nerd in college, and dealing with the paparazzi.

Labels: Nicole Scherzinger, T.I.

[Thanks for the tip Donna]

Labels: Beyonce

Click to view Pimp C's mother interview

Labels: Pimp C

Chris Stokes premiered his clothing line, Christopher Brian's, Resort Collection with Kitson at the trendy, over-priced boutique. Bow Wow and Omarion performed for the event...gotta love a little cross-promotion.

_______________________________________________

LIFEBeat honored BET producer, Stephen Hill, at its LIVE BEATS event at the Highline Ballroom in NYC. I have no idea what the sam hell Stephen is doing...but it sure does look like he is acting a complete donkey!

Labels: Will Smith

Labels: Beyonce, Jay Z

Labels: Kelly Rowland

Labels: Pimp C

Labels: Beyonce

Pimp C, real name Chad Butler -- and one half of the rap duo UGK, was found dead in a hotel room this morning. He was 33.

L.A. County Fire responded to a 911 call at the Mondrian Hotel, located on trendy Sunset Strip in Hollywood. They arrived to his sixth floor hotel room to find him dead in bed. Source: TMZ.com

It is with great sadness that Jive Records announces the passing of Chad "Pimp C" Butler, a member of the celebrated rap duo UGK (Underground Kingz). Jive Records' President and CEO Barry Weiss states: "We mourn the unexpected loss of Chad. He was truly a thoughtful and kind-hearted person. He will be remembered for his talent and profound influence as a pioneer in bringing southern rap to the forefront. He will be missed and our prayers remain with his family and Bun B. I've known Chad since he was 18, and we loved him dearly and he was a cherished member of the Jive family."

Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Butler's father was a trumpet player who played professionally with Solomon Burke. Outside of his father, the 33-year old rapper's influences varied, ranging from Bobby Bland, Jimmy McGriff, the 1960's Motown artists to Run DMC. Butler met his inseparable partner Bernard "Bun B" Freeman in high school where they formed UGK. In 1992, the duo signed to Jive Records and went on release a total of eight albums for the label. They earned their highest achievement earlier this year when their most recent album, UGK (Underground Kingz), debuted in the number one position on the album pop chart. According to the New York Times, UGK "helped inspire a generation of Southern hip-hop stars, from OutKast to Lil Wayne."

Bun B is not available for comment at this time.

Labels: Pimp C

Labels: The Dream

Labels: Amy Winehouse

If your phone rings during sex, do you answer?

Hell no. No. No! That’s not making love. That’s fucking. Fucking is, [humping frantically, picking up the phone] “Hello!? Yeah, nigga!!! Man, you crazy!!” Nah, I wouldn’t answer the phone because I be screaming and everything. I’m sensitive, no homo. If you touch me, man. my shit is over-intense. I look at it as a blessing because it makes everything better.

What do you scream out during sex?



What’s the craziest thing a girl has screamed out to you during sex?

There was this one girl that used to always scream “Aiy! Aiy! Aiy!” and nobody could figure out what it meant. But that was just a jumpoff. When you’re making love, nobody’s screaming. You’re just in each other’s ear breathing and shit. I don’t do that ficking shit. I’m small, I mean, not my [dick] but my body, my legs and all that sh*t be hurting afterwards. I got a hernia and everything. My mama was like, “How did you get that” and the doctor said, “Well, it usually comes from strenuous activity. He probably was picking up heavy things.” My mama was like, “No, cause he don’t pick up a fuckin’ thing. He’s straining by fucking all them fuckin’ girls,” tellin’ em, “That’s what you’re doing, having too much fuckin’ sex.” So I’m layin’ there on the doctor’s table like, thanks, you might as well test me for AIDS now because she’s crazy. But naw, I don’t pound like that. That’s never been my thing. Animals fuck like that. I’m not an animal. If you wanna be fucked like an animal, go find a nigga that’ll fuck you like that, cause I’m not gonna do it. Not gonna do it!

Labels: Lil Wayne

"It wasn't presented to me as a complete song initially," Blige recalls. "They began to play this keyboard part and then the drums. Then they explained to me, 'We know what you're used to, but you'll be a part of a whole other party if you go with this record that we're about to make.' I went back to my room and when I came back the next day, they had the whole song.

"When I heard the beat, I was like, 'OK, this is hot. This is making my body move, and I'm having fun,'" she continued. "It sounded like something that needed to be more uplifting than, 'Woe is me.' (laughs) So I tried to make the song about how I appreciate the good days I do have and where I'm at right now, even though I still have challenges."

Labels: Mary J Blige

Labels: Whitney Houston

Labels: Beyonce

Continue reading for more party flicks...

Labels: Danity Kane, Diddy, MTB4

How can you not love Tamia? So underrated. This is her new single "Almost" from her latest album Between Friends which is that ish...you need it in your collection.

Plus, just in time for the holidays, she has a new Christmas edition of the album titled A Gift Between Friends with 3 bonus holiday tunes.

[click to buy]

Labels: Tamia

C: Do you think you will ever settle down with one woman?
LIL WAYNE: I think they don't commit to a nigga, they committed to a myth. I'll be on the road two weeks straight, the whole time I'm telling them, "oh I'm coming home, oh I love you blah, blah, blah" soon as I get there, I done pulled in about seven that evening, at 10 I'm going straight to the studio. Ain't no woman want to get into that. I got marriage in the future, though. I just don't talk too much about it, because I ain't sure yet, that's the example of saying I'm engaged and nothing happened and I ain't do that, but marriage in the future, hopefully. You know the person when you just ain't ask it yet, [laughs] I ain't ask her yet but...

C: Does she know who she is?
LIL WAYNE: Mmm-hmm. I was thinking hard, the [BET] Awards are tomorrow, so I had the ring-I don't have it with me, I was trying to get it for tomorrow, but it's a problem, fuck y'all up.

C: You were going to propose on stage?
LIL WAYNE: I was going to hopefully win the award, I was going to do it like this: if I had that ring I'm not going to do it on the reg, I'm only going to do it if I win the award. If I win the award then I'm supposed to get married, but no I didn't get the ring from them so I'm not going to do it. She'll be there tomorrow, though.

C: What scares you?
LIL WAYNE: Never having a wife, a not-leaving wife.

Labels: Lauren London, Lil Wayne

Beyonce covers the Hungarian Cosmopolitan, wearing her new Dereon dress line...very similar to the US issue cover.

Labels: Beyonce

Labels: Mary J Blige