Shoutout to Greg for sending me this track!!
Off Keyshia's brand new album soon to be released I believe this fall....
Click here to download
Saturday, May 26, 2007
New Keyshia Cole - "Let It Go" featuring Lil Kim
Shoutout to Greg for sending me this track!!
Off Keyshia's brand new album soon to be released I believe this fall....
Click here to download
Bobby Valentino Goes After a Babyface Classic
Bobby Valentino sings a cover of Babyface's "As Soon I Get Home" live.
Watch the video
What do ya think?
David Banner Tells "The Greatest Story," Gears Up For New Release
After a brief hiatus, rapper/producer David Banner is planning to come back with a vengeance, dropping a new album by the end of summer.
The Mississippi native, who is known just as much for his philanthropic endeavors as his hard-hitting rap style, recently revealed to Billboard his plans for a new album.
Banner's upcoming project The Greatest Story Ever Told will feature appearances from Chris Brown, Jim Jones, UGK, Snoop Dogg, Lil' Wayne, Carl Thomas and former Xscape singer/songwriter Kandi Burruss. In addition to rapping, Banner also logs in time behind the boards, joining producers Nitti, Akon, Cool & Dre and Get Cool 3000 who contributed tracks for the project.
"I have a tendency to want to change music," Banner told Billboard. "But I realized that people just want hits. The ladies want a "Play," I made a "Cadillac on 22's," and I made a few "Like a Pimp" records. I did a rock song that's probably going to get me hung. Let's just say the record was written three years ago-it's just truthful."
Never one to mince words, Banner revealed that his last few years have been marked by struggle.
"2006 was the worst year of my life," Banner told Billboard. "2007 has been the best year of my life. I've learned to say no and not take on everyone's problems. My father had brain and lung cancer, and I had high blood pressure because I was working 18-hour days. You have to value the person you are."
During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Banner was applauded for jumping into action, organizing fundraisers in an effort to help those affected by the tragedy, but Banner revealed that his good deeds came at a cost to his career and personal life.
"I took on too much responsibility," Banner said. "I did volunteer work for six months for Hurricane Katrina but my own business wasn't right."
Never one to sit still, Banner has recently expanded into other areas of entertainment, appearing in the film Black Snake Moan and producing and providing voiceover for the new Cartoon Network program "That Crook'd 'Sipp." In addition to his upcoming album, Banner has also recently created tracks for Famlay, Lil' Wayne, Snoop, Chris Brown and the Shop Boyz.
The Greatest Story Ever Told is expected in stores by the end of Summer 2007 via SRC/Universal Records.
SOHH
The Mississippi native, who is known just as much for his philanthropic endeavors as his hard-hitting rap style, recently revealed to Billboard his plans for a new album.
Banner's upcoming project The Greatest Story Ever Told will feature appearances from Chris Brown, Jim Jones, UGK, Snoop Dogg, Lil' Wayne, Carl Thomas and former Xscape singer/songwriter Kandi Burruss. In addition to rapping, Banner also logs in time behind the boards, joining producers Nitti, Akon, Cool & Dre and Get Cool 3000 who contributed tracks for the project.
"I have a tendency to want to change music," Banner told Billboard. "But I realized that people just want hits. The ladies want a "Play," I made a "Cadillac on 22's," and I made a few "Like a Pimp" records. I did a rock song that's probably going to get me hung. Let's just say the record was written three years ago-it's just truthful."
Never one to mince words, Banner revealed that his last few years have been marked by struggle.
"2006 was the worst year of my life," Banner told Billboard. "2007 has been the best year of my life. I've learned to say no and not take on everyone's problems. My father had brain and lung cancer, and I had high blood pressure because I was working 18-hour days. You have to value the person you are."
During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Banner was applauded for jumping into action, organizing fundraisers in an effort to help those affected by the tragedy, but Banner revealed that his good deeds came at a cost to his career and personal life.
"I took on too much responsibility," Banner said. "I did volunteer work for six months for Hurricane Katrina but my own business wasn't right."
Never one to sit still, Banner has recently expanded into other areas of entertainment, appearing in the film Black Snake Moan and producing and providing voiceover for the new Cartoon Network program "That Crook'd 'Sipp." In addition to his upcoming album, Banner has also recently created tracks for Famlay, Lil' Wayne, Snoop, Chris Brown and the Shop Boyz.
The Greatest Story Ever Told is expected in stores by the end of Summer 2007 via SRC/Universal Records.
SOHH
Peedi Crack Speaks Freely, Jim Jones "Can't Rap," Papoose "Is Trash" & Yung Joc "Is Wack As Shit"
In a recent interview, State Property member Peedi Crack took shots at Yung Joc, Jibbs and New York mixtape standout, Papoose.
During the Q&A, the Philly bred rapper also addressed Jim Jones' rapping ability and business saavy while also applauding the South's dominance of the industry.
"They are working it and they doing it independently. Them ni**as don't wait on the label to do nothing. Them ni**as been through it all. Do you know how hard it's been for down South to get into the game? That's why I ain't mad at them. They deserve this time, they deserve the shine, let them air it out." [Watch Here]
"I always liked Trick Daddy and ni**as like that. I like South ni**as. I ain't gon' say down South is corny, just the mainstream ni**as," he continued, "the ones that try to make them radio joints. Like f**king Yung Joc, he's wack as sh*t! Jibbs, that ni**a wack. Jibbs is horrible"
One of Peedi's associates would interrupt his rant saying Jibbs "is only sixteen" but the Philly rapper would still cling to his opinion.
"So what? He's wack!" stressed Peedi. "He could be nine, that ni**a wack. You know who else is corny for the record? Papoose is horrible, I don't give a f**k what anybody talk about. Papoose is trash."
"Pap, you garbage," Peedi added, pointing to the camera. "Ain't no disrespect to you dog but it's business. Shout out to Kay Slay, I know he's your old head. I f**k with Kay Slay. They be beefing this ni**a like he's that ni**a. That ni**a is horrible, my son rap better than you."
"My son's five years old , he'll murk you" he continued. "I don't know why Jadakiss did a song with that ni**a , Kiss you trippin'"
Surprisingly, Peedi who dissed Jim Jones and Juelz Santana late last year, supported the Dipset Capo's business skills despite criticizing his lyrical ability.
"Jim can't rap but he's one helluva business man," said Peedi. "Jim used to rap better back in the day. I heard some old s**t back when Jim was with Cam'ron and Cam was fat as s**t. Jim was murking that s**t . Now he don't be murking that s**t, he be making some whatever s**t. He making that cake so I ain't mad at him. Helluva business man, straight up".
According to Peedi, his debut album will be dropping this summer via Rocafella/Def Jam.
SOHH
During the Q&A, the Philly bred rapper also addressed Jim Jones' rapping ability and business saavy while also applauding the South's dominance of the industry.
"They are working it and they doing it independently. Them ni**as don't wait on the label to do nothing. Them ni**as been through it all. Do you know how hard it's been for down South to get into the game? That's why I ain't mad at them. They deserve this time, they deserve the shine, let them air it out." [Watch Here]
"I always liked Trick Daddy and ni**as like that. I like South ni**as. I ain't gon' say down South is corny, just the mainstream ni**as," he continued, "the ones that try to make them radio joints. Like f**king Yung Joc, he's wack as sh*t! Jibbs, that ni**a wack. Jibbs is horrible"
One of Peedi's associates would interrupt his rant saying Jibbs "is only sixteen" but the Philly rapper would still cling to his opinion.
"So what? He's wack!" stressed Peedi. "He could be nine, that ni**a wack. You know who else is corny for the record? Papoose is horrible, I don't give a f**k what anybody talk about. Papoose is trash."
"Pap, you garbage," Peedi added, pointing to the camera. "Ain't no disrespect to you dog but it's business. Shout out to Kay Slay, I know he's your old head. I f**k with Kay Slay. They be beefing this ni**a like he's that ni**a. That ni**a is horrible, my son rap better than you."
"My son's five years old , he'll murk you" he continued. "I don't know why Jadakiss did a song with that ni**a , Kiss you trippin'"
Surprisingly, Peedi who dissed Jim Jones and Juelz Santana late last year, supported the Dipset Capo's business skills despite criticizing his lyrical ability.
"Jim can't rap but he's one helluva business man," said Peedi. "Jim used to rap better back in the day. I heard some old s**t back when Jim was with Cam'ron and Cam was fat as s**t. Jim was murking that s**t . Now he don't be murking that s**t, he be making some whatever s**t. He making that cake so I ain't mad at him. Helluva business man, straight up".
According to Peedi, his debut album will be dropping this summer via Rocafella/Def Jam.
SOHH
50 Cent's Curtis pushed to September!!
50 Cent's third album Curtis, which was previously scheduled to drop next month, is now slated for release on September 4.
Representatives from Interscope confirmed to SOHH.com today that 50's highly anticipated Curtis album will not be released on June 26, as originally planned. In order to facilitate a simultaneous worldwide release, the nearly completed album will instead be released on September 4.
"I'm an international artist. My fans worldwide deserve to receive my album at the same time as my fans here in the US. Taking that into consideration moving the album to September was a necessary course of action," 50 Cent said via statement.
As SOHH previously reported 50's album Curtis will feature production from Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, Polow Da Don as well as usual suspects Eminem and Dr. Dre. The album also features guest appearances from Em, as well as Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake, Akon, and former Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger.
In related news, 50 fans still have plenty of Fif to look forward to this Summer; the Queens-bred rapper is scheduled to hit the stage on June 26 for the 2007 BET Awards. This year BET is allowing fans to determine what 50 performs at this year's show. Fans can text BANK to 23898 to vote for "Straight to the Bank" or text PARK to 23898 to vote for "Amusement Park."
The 2007 BET Awards hosted by Mo'Nique, airs live on June 26 from L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium. 50 Cent's third album, Curtis, hits stores September 4.
SOHH
Representatives from Interscope confirmed to SOHH.com today that 50's highly anticipated Curtis album will not be released on June 26, as originally planned. In order to facilitate a simultaneous worldwide release, the nearly completed album will instead be released on September 4.
"I'm an international artist. My fans worldwide deserve to receive my album at the same time as my fans here in the US. Taking that into consideration moving the album to September was a necessary course of action," 50 Cent said via statement.
As SOHH previously reported 50's album Curtis will feature production from Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, Polow Da Don as well as usual suspects Eminem and Dr. Dre. The album also features guest appearances from Em, as well as Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake, Akon, and former Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger.
In related news, 50 fans still have plenty of Fif to look forward to this Summer; the Queens-bred rapper is scheduled to hit the stage on June 26 for the 2007 BET Awards. This year BET is allowing fans to determine what 50 performs at this year's show. Fans can text BANK to 23898 to vote for "Straight to the Bank" or text PARK to 23898 to vote for "Amusement Park."
The 2007 BET Awards hosted by Mo'Nique, airs live on June 26 from L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium. 50 Cent's third album, Curtis, hits stores September 4.
SOHH
NEW R. Kelly track
Brand new R. Kelly titled "Ringtone", a track that was cut off Double Up; this joint was produced by Polow Da Don.
Click here to download
Second download link
Click here to download
Second download link
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tyrese, Ginuwine, Tank Form The 'Ultimate R&B Fan Experience'
'I want the ladies in the audience to forget about the men in their lives,' Tyrese said about new group, TGT.
By Shaheem Reid
B2K? Broken up. 112? Broken up. Dru Hill? Broken up. New Edition, Boyz II Men, Jodeci? No new music in years. With Jagged Edge and the fairly new Pretty Ricky and B5 seemingly the only male R&B groups left standing, the days when fans had an endless array of acts to choose from — such as Troop, Silk, Guy, Today and Intro — have been long gone. But now there's a trio that want to give the game a "jolt."
Singers Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank have formed a trio called TGT — which stands for Tyrese Ginuwine Tank, of course — and have an album and tour in the planning stages.
"Imagine us putting all three of our worlds together for the ultimate R&B fan experience," Tyrese said Tuesday via phone from his house in L.A. "Me, Tank and Ginuwine been talking about this forever. The reason why this makes sense is that besides all of us being R&B singers, we're all good friends. In this industry, you can't have a real conversation with a lot of people. It almost feels like you're having a conversation with somebody famous, instead of having a real conversation. Every time I see Tank, every time I see Ginuwine, we all had good energy regardless."
Ginuwine revealed that the three have roots that go back deeper than just politicking at industry functions.
"Tyrese is my boy," G said. "Tank is my boy. I'm the first artist he's ever been on the road with. We go all the way back to 'Pony.' He was my background singer on my tour. Tyrese was my best man at my wedding. Needless to say, we are all close. I always wanted to experience the group thing.
"There's a void," he continued, referring to the lack of male R&B groups. "This is the perfect time for Tank, Tyrese and myself to give that jolt. You have a lot of solo artists out here. ... R&B is at a downfall, it needs something to shock it. I think this is just the thing. So I brought it to them and said, 'Are y'all up to it? It's gonna be a whole lot of work, but let's get it done.' They both said, 'Yeah.' We figure we can handle it. Now the particulars have to get sorted out."
As G puts it, the biggest obstacle concerning the project is choosing which label to release an LP through. After over a decade on Sony Music, Ginuwine recently made the move to upstart independent label King Music. Tyrese is signed to Clive Davis' J Records and Tank is signed to Universal/Republic.
"Now you're talking about three labels, three R&B artists, it's gonna be situation," Ginuwine predicted. "I'm the one in the group that's trying to dot all the I's and cross all the T's. If all goes well, we should be in the studio in September."
"Everything can be worked out," Ty optimistically declared. "That's just the truth. How is it gonna happen? I don't know. I think when anything makes sense, you figure out a way to work it out."
That also applies to the three men trying to find time in their schedules to actually make the album. Tank's Sex Love & Pain just debuted at #2 on the Billboard albums chart (see "Linkin Park Rule The Albums Chart: New LP Has Best First-Week Sales Of The Year"), so he's been all over the country promoting and doing concerts. Tyrese has a busy concert schedule as well, and he's also promoting his July 4 flick, "Transformers" (see " 'Transformers,' 'Die Hard' Sparking A Totally Rad '80s Revival"). Ginuwine has also been a fixture on the stage the past couple of years — but mostly in an acting capacity, in musicals such as "Mama's Sweet Potato Pie," "Men, Money & Gold Diggers" and, most recently, "The Bachelorette Party." He begins work on his next LP, New Beginning, in July.
"It'll take scheduling. Some things might not happen," Tyrese admitted of the group's agenda.
This isn't the first time Ginuwine has tried his hand at making a supergroup. Ten years ago there was talk of him, Sisqó and Usher joining forces, but that never panned out. R&B hasn't seen a project like TGT take shape since the late Gerald LeVert teamed with Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill to form LSG in the '90s. They released two albums as a collective.
"Most of the things that people who have tried to do supergroups have done wrong in the past has ended up in the papers, so you learn from that," Tyrese said.
"I think when someone doesn't know their lane, when someone doesn't understand what they bringing to the table," he added about why supergroups sometime run into problems. "I'm bringing R&B and hip-hop R&B and the Hollywood side to the table. Ginuwine is bringing most of the #1 records to the table. Tank is fairly new, but he's on fire. What Tank hasn't done for himself, he's done for other people. He has the respect of everyone in the game with all of [the] #1 hits [he's written] as well as how big his record ['Please Don't Go'] is. So he's bringing that weight up, which is a lot of weight."
All three artists have an idea about who they want to work with. Producers and songwriters such as R. Kelly, Timbaland, Scott Storch, Tim & Bob, the Underdogs, Rodney Jerkins and Bryan-Michael Cox come up unanimously.
"Anybody that has hits, man," G said. "We're not gonna turn down no hits. We're looking at 10-12 songs on the album. I believe we can have at least eight songs that are smashes, that are able to be first singles. Whoever wants to be a part of this history-making CD, that's who we're gonna go at. It ain't about no check. It's about wanting to win. Changing the game and wanting to win."
TGT's first song together will be the remix to Tank's "Please Don't Go." Tyrese recorded his part Tuesday and Ginuwine is supposed to lay down his vocals within the next couple of days. From there, the group is hoping to hit the studio in September and launch a tour — which already has a name, the Shirts Off Tour — in November.
"As far as when it comes out, realistically, I would say next year," Ginuwine said about the album. "The tour hasn't really been set to where we wanna set it at. We want to meet Tank on a lot of the dates he's doing and give [audiences] a taste. Once we meet him on the road, we'll see what the reaction is to that. We're gonna try to change what he's doing into a Shirts Off-type thing.
"I want the ladies in the audience to forget about the men in their lives that night and make it do what it do," Tyrese added about the tour. "We gonna go out and do records from TGT first. Then the individual records they all love. It don't get no better than that."
Source
By Shaheem Reid
B2K? Broken up. 112? Broken up. Dru Hill? Broken up. New Edition, Boyz II Men, Jodeci? No new music in years. With Jagged Edge and the fairly new Pretty Ricky and B5 seemingly the only male R&B groups left standing, the days when fans had an endless array of acts to choose from — such as Troop, Silk, Guy, Today and Intro — have been long gone. But now there's a trio that want to give the game a "jolt."
Singers Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank have formed a trio called TGT — which stands for Tyrese Ginuwine Tank, of course — and have an album and tour in the planning stages.
"Imagine us putting all three of our worlds together for the ultimate R&B fan experience," Tyrese said Tuesday via phone from his house in L.A. "Me, Tank and Ginuwine been talking about this forever. The reason why this makes sense is that besides all of us being R&B singers, we're all good friends. In this industry, you can't have a real conversation with a lot of people. It almost feels like you're having a conversation with somebody famous, instead of having a real conversation. Every time I see Tank, every time I see Ginuwine, we all had good energy regardless."
Ginuwine revealed that the three have roots that go back deeper than just politicking at industry functions.
"Tyrese is my boy," G said. "Tank is my boy. I'm the first artist he's ever been on the road with. We go all the way back to 'Pony.' He was my background singer on my tour. Tyrese was my best man at my wedding. Needless to say, we are all close. I always wanted to experience the group thing.
"There's a void," he continued, referring to the lack of male R&B groups. "This is the perfect time for Tank, Tyrese and myself to give that jolt. You have a lot of solo artists out here. ... R&B is at a downfall, it needs something to shock it. I think this is just the thing. So I brought it to them and said, 'Are y'all up to it? It's gonna be a whole lot of work, but let's get it done.' They both said, 'Yeah.' We figure we can handle it. Now the particulars have to get sorted out."
As G puts it, the biggest obstacle concerning the project is choosing which label to release an LP through. After over a decade on Sony Music, Ginuwine recently made the move to upstart independent label King Music. Tyrese is signed to Clive Davis' J Records and Tank is signed to Universal/Republic.
"Now you're talking about three labels, three R&B artists, it's gonna be situation," Ginuwine predicted. "I'm the one in the group that's trying to dot all the I's and cross all the T's. If all goes well, we should be in the studio in September."
"Everything can be worked out," Ty optimistically declared. "That's just the truth. How is it gonna happen? I don't know. I think when anything makes sense, you figure out a way to work it out."
That also applies to the three men trying to find time in their schedules to actually make the album. Tank's Sex Love & Pain just debuted at #2 on the Billboard albums chart (see "Linkin Park Rule The Albums Chart: New LP Has Best First-Week Sales Of The Year"), so he's been all over the country promoting and doing concerts. Tyrese has a busy concert schedule as well, and he's also promoting his July 4 flick, "Transformers" (see " 'Transformers,' 'Die Hard' Sparking A Totally Rad '80s Revival"). Ginuwine has also been a fixture on the stage the past couple of years — but mostly in an acting capacity, in musicals such as "Mama's Sweet Potato Pie," "Men, Money & Gold Diggers" and, most recently, "The Bachelorette Party." He begins work on his next LP, New Beginning, in July.
"It'll take scheduling. Some things might not happen," Tyrese admitted of the group's agenda.
This isn't the first time Ginuwine has tried his hand at making a supergroup. Ten years ago there was talk of him, Sisqó and Usher joining forces, but that never panned out. R&B hasn't seen a project like TGT take shape since the late Gerald LeVert teamed with Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill to form LSG in the '90s. They released two albums as a collective.
"Most of the things that people who have tried to do supergroups have done wrong in the past has ended up in the papers, so you learn from that," Tyrese said.
"I think when someone doesn't know their lane, when someone doesn't understand what they bringing to the table," he added about why supergroups sometime run into problems. "I'm bringing R&B and hip-hop R&B and the Hollywood side to the table. Ginuwine is bringing most of the #1 records to the table. Tank is fairly new, but he's on fire. What Tank hasn't done for himself, he's done for other people. He has the respect of everyone in the game with all of [the] #1 hits [he's written] as well as how big his record ['Please Don't Go'] is. So he's bringing that weight up, which is a lot of weight."
All three artists have an idea about who they want to work with. Producers and songwriters such as R. Kelly, Timbaland, Scott Storch, Tim & Bob, the Underdogs, Rodney Jerkins and Bryan-Michael Cox come up unanimously.
"Anybody that has hits, man," G said. "We're not gonna turn down no hits. We're looking at 10-12 songs on the album. I believe we can have at least eight songs that are smashes, that are able to be first singles. Whoever wants to be a part of this history-making CD, that's who we're gonna go at. It ain't about no check. It's about wanting to win. Changing the game and wanting to win."
TGT's first song together will be the remix to Tank's "Please Don't Go." Tyrese recorded his part Tuesday and Ginuwine is supposed to lay down his vocals within the next couple of days. From there, the group is hoping to hit the studio in September and launch a tour — which already has a name, the Shirts Off Tour — in November.
"As far as when it comes out, realistically, I would say next year," Ginuwine said about the album. "The tour hasn't really been set to where we wanna set it at. We want to meet Tank on a lot of the dates he's doing and give [audiences] a taste. Once we meet him on the road, we'll see what the reaction is to that. We're gonna try to change what he's doing into a Shirts Off-type thing.
"I want the ladies in the audience to forget about the men in their lives that night and make it do what it do," Tyrese added about the tour. "We gonna go out and do records from TGT first. Then the individual records they all love. It don't get no better than that."
Source
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Def Jam Singer Chrisette Michele Talks New Album, Working With Jay-Z & Nas
Chrisette Michele,the Def Jam songbird whose voice blessed singles for both Jay-Z and Nas, speaks in this SOHH exclusive about struggles in the music industry, what we can expect from her debut, and working with the former rap rivals.
"It was surreal because they are the greatest rappers who ever lived, and who live right now," Chrisette said of her appearance alongside Jay-Z and Nas on "Lost Ones" and "Can't Forget About You" respectively. The singer described the experiences as very different.
Me and Jay-Z worked together (in the studio). I wrote a hook, I went into the studio and I sang it and he said 'come back out.' I got to the 5th hook and that was the one he decided to use. He's very meticulous; whereas with Nas, he wasn't in the studio, we spoke over the phone. I heard the concept, and I just wrote something and he told me to use that, as well as four other songs. He was much more laid back I guess," Chrisette recalled.
Though relatively new to many audiences, the Long Island powerhouse practically grew up onstage dancing and singing, frequently visiting Manhattan to perform.
"I would perform in the city a lot from the age of 17 to 23...I was working with India.Arie, Angie Stone, Kem and touring with those types of people," Chrisette told SOHH.
For her debut album I Am, Chrisette enlisted production from will.i.am (who also raps on the album), as well as Salaam Remi, John Legend and Babyface,among others. Two singles, "If I Have My Way" and "Your Joy," an ode to Chrisette's father are being prepared for release this month. Listeners can expect I Am to showcase both Chrisette's golden voice as well as her songwriting skills.
"I wrote every song on the album...because I write my songs it's easier to write for myself than if somebody else was to give me music, just because my voice isn't like everybody else's. One of my biggest frustrations is finding music that my large voice can fit over," Chrisette revealed.
In addition to taking charge of her music, Chrisette Michele has also been doing her own styling. While the shapely singer says she hasn't felt pressure from her label to lose weight, she once bumped heads with a wardrobe stylist.
"He [L.A. Reid] is very adamant about me being myself," Chrisette revealed. "It's not really a frustration. I did go to a photoshoot one time and somebody handed me a size 0 and a size 4 and I was really ready to punch her in her face, and that's me talking as a good person. I cried that day. After that I did my own shopping."
Chrisette Michele will open for Musiq Soulchild's North American Tour this summer from July 6 - August 6. Her debut album I Am is scheduled to hit stores on June 19 via Def Jam Recordings.
[Preview Michele's music on her myspace page]
SOURCE
"It was surreal because they are the greatest rappers who ever lived, and who live right now," Chrisette said of her appearance alongside Jay-Z and Nas on "Lost Ones" and "Can't Forget About You" respectively. The singer described the experiences as very different.
Me and Jay-Z worked together (in the studio). I wrote a hook, I went into the studio and I sang it and he said 'come back out.' I got to the 5th hook and that was the one he decided to use. He's very meticulous; whereas with Nas, he wasn't in the studio, we spoke over the phone. I heard the concept, and I just wrote something and he told me to use that, as well as four other songs. He was much more laid back I guess," Chrisette recalled.
Though relatively new to many audiences, the Long Island powerhouse practically grew up onstage dancing and singing, frequently visiting Manhattan to perform.
"I would perform in the city a lot from the age of 17 to 23...I was working with India.Arie, Angie Stone, Kem and touring with those types of people," Chrisette told SOHH.
For her debut album I Am, Chrisette enlisted production from will.i.am (who also raps on the album), as well as Salaam Remi, John Legend and Babyface,among others. Two singles, "If I Have My Way" and "Your Joy," an ode to Chrisette's father are being prepared for release this month. Listeners can expect I Am to showcase both Chrisette's golden voice as well as her songwriting skills.
"I wrote every song on the album...because I write my songs it's easier to write for myself than if somebody else was to give me music, just because my voice isn't like everybody else's. One of my biggest frustrations is finding music that my large voice can fit over," Chrisette revealed.
In addition to taking charge of her music, Chrisette Michele has also been doing her own styling. While the shapely singer says she hasn't felt pressure from her label to lose weight, she once bumped heads with a wardrobe stylist.
"He [L.A. Reid] is very adamant about me being myself," Chrisette revealed. "It's not really a frustration. I did go to a photoshoot one time and somebody handed me a size 0 and a size 4 and I was really ready to punch her in her face, and that's me talking as a good person. I cried that day. After that I did my own shopping."
Chrisette Michele will open for Musiq Soulchild's North American Tour this summer from July 6 - August 6. Her debut album I Am is scheduled to hit stores on June 19 via Def Jam Recordings.
[Preview Michele's music on her myspace page]
SOURCE
New Keri Hilson!!
"I hate heels....I hate heels....love how they look but hate how they feel"
Nobody other than the beautiful talented songwriter-singer Timbaland protegee Keri Hilson, ATL's newest freshest string of air. Listen to a clip of new song "High Heels" produced by The Cornaboyz.
Click here to download
Nobody other than the beautiful talented songwriter-singer Timbaland protegee Keri Hilson, ATL's newest freshest string of air. Listen to a clip of new song "High Heels" produced by The Cornaboyz.
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T.I. Getting Ahead Of His Selves With Second Clip From Alter-Ego LP
'That's a wonderful problem to have,' rapper says after finishing another T.I. vs. T.I.P. video.
By Jayson Rodriguez
MIAMI — When you're making music for two, sometimes it means you not only have to work twice as hard but also twice as fast.
Take T.I., for instance.
The Atlanta MC is putting the final touches on his forthcoming personality-splitting project, T.I. vs. T.I.P. — which is due July 3 on Grand Hustle/ Atlantic — and he's already finished the album's first two videos (see "T.I. Gives 'Rappin' Fool' Eminem A T.I.P. About Alter Egos").
The lead single, T.I's "Big Things Poppin'," was just shot a couple of weeks ago and should debut soon (see "T.I. Has 'Big Things Poppin' ' With Mannie Fresh, Himself On T.I.P.").
And now his alter ego Tip is getting in on the action as he shot the clip for "You Know What It Is" earlier this week in Miami. The song, produced by and featuring Wyclef Jean, doesn't even have a release date yet. But that didn't stop T.I. from going full-scale for the video, even as "Big Things Poppin' " is just picking up steam.
"That's what you call high-class problems," he explained to MTV News from the South Beach set. "Not knowing when to put your second single out because your first one is doing so well. That's a wonderful problem to have. [So] I'm not gonna rush it."
According to T.I., the video for "You Know What It Is" is set to pick up where "Big Things Poppin' " leaves off. The latter ends with T.I. on a stage — at the start of the second clip, 'Clef offers his rougher alter ego, Tip, a proposition.
"[He's] basically saying, 'Well, if you done doing your rapper thing, I got some business that I want to handle with you. Come holler at me,' " T.I. said. "And he says he needs me to drive him, and you probably thinking in a car, [but] then you see us in a plane, in a boat, in this car, at the house, in Haiti. So basically he wants me to come to Haiti with him to handle some business, and from there we come back to Miami and we go back to our regular lives."
The "You Know What It Is" video was shot over two days, complete with shots of mansions, yachts and airport arrivals. Director Chris Robinson — who has worked with T.I. from the rapper's very first video up through their collaboration on the movie "ATL" — wanted to complement the song, he said, with its own unique presentation. That's why he didn't direct "Big Things Poppin' " after shooting every video for T.I.'s last album, King.
"I was like, 'You know what, I think for that video, let's find a young boy to do that, you want to get out there [with that energy], that joint is like that,' " Robison explained. "I really want to tell stories, and the truth is for me, me and T.I. always say, 'I'm Scorsese and he's De Niro,' so that's the kind of relationship we want to build. We want it to go beyond music videos. This [video] has a lot of pieces that you would see in the normal hip-hop video — the beautiful house, the beautiful girls, the boats — but it's the way we're shooing it. It's the story behind us actually flying into Haiti with Wyclef. So we always try to do something not necessarily different from the industry but different from what we've done before together."
The group, however, wasn't able to actually trek down to Haiti. Instead, Robinson was able to re-create the country's gritty setting outside a local pub in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood. Rainy conditions, power outages on the set and roosters swarming about might seem like they set the perfect scene for the MC, but he said he wants to mix up his personas more in videos as opposed to distancing the two, like he's doing on his album.
"I'm trying to show people that Tip can do what T.I. can do and T.I. can do what Tip can do, just as well," he said. "Maybe not the same way, maybe not as much, maybe not as good, but it can be done. Accept it. I say the same way you would think wearing a [fancy] shirt like this, riding in a nice big boat, riding private jets, you would think that's T.I., but Tip is like, 'Hell, I can do that too. Give me a shot, let me see how I like it.' And whereas everyone may think [they're seeing] Tip if you in Little Haiti ... [or] just in the 'hood in Harlem, chillin' — you expect that to be Tip, but T.I. is like, 'People got love for me around the word, I can go where I want to. Just because that ain't what you see me do most of the time don't mean that I can't do it.'
"We just merging these personalities together," T.I. continued. "Trying to give them their own individuality, but at the same time make them coexist."
Sunday, May 13, 2007
New Cormega featuring Foxy Brown
Brand new track from Cormega (formerly of The Firm with Nas, Az, and Foxy Brown)....featuring the deaf/dumb sideline ho named Foxy Brown aka Push My Album 170,000 Times. When will this girl release an album? Never? Probably never, since Jay ain't studdin' her ass, he's more focused on the money-bringing whores (aka Ne-Yo and Rihanna). Regardless though, this track is nice, great to hear from Cormega, even though Foxy sounds like she's trying HARD to bite off Remy Ma's swagger. Click here and see for yourself.
Is Foxy Brown ready to come back?
I've received word that Foxy will be making a supposedly "big" comeback this year. Her first single is a song titled "I Never Left" featuring no other than Ne-Yo...interesting. If this girl really wants a hit single, she better team up with Akon. He will get her to least go gold, that's for sure. But whatever, nobody's really checkin for her ass anyway, she's another washed up deaf dumb screwed up sideline ho that Jay probably fucked in the ass already. (The other ones is Amil and Beyonce). Eve stepped in and took her shine....this bitch will never have the glory or the glamour of any sort. She better go sit down and learn to how write her own rhymes before someone can take her seriously.
Remy Ma, get at ya boy!!
Remy Ma, get at ya boy!!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Bobby V TV: Blackberry Molasses, Plus An Appearance By Lloyd
Ever wonder what happened to those other guys that were in MISTA, the group that Bobby V was a part of before going solo and joining DTP?
In this episode, Bobby reunites with the crew, performs at Ladies Night in Atlanta and clowns around with fellow R&B crooner Lloyd.
Nathaniel "Danja" Hills will be all over Britney's new LP
Britney Spears Collaborator Says Her LP Is 'About Feeling Good, Celebrating Womanhood
''She didn't let none of her personal life into what she was doing,' Nate "Danja" Hills says.
By Jennifer Vineyard
Don't expect any insight on Britney's breakdown on her forthcoming album — yet another collaborator says the LP will just be about good times.
"She didn't let none of her personal life into what she was doing," Nate "Danja" Hills said. "There was no, 'I need to let it all out.' She said she deals with that in another way."
As one of Britney Spears' main collaborators, Danja has co-written and produced seven to eight songs with the singer so far, in sessions with songwriters Keri Hilson and Corte Ellis. Other songwriters and producers on the yet-untitled effort include Pharrell, Sean Garrett, Scott Storch, Dr. Luke, J.R. Rotem, Ne-Yo, T-Pain and Kara DioGuardi (see "Ne-Yo Gets Frisky With An 'Ex,' Avoids K-Fed Songs For Britney" and "Britney's New Music Is 'The Next Level,' Producer Says"). Danja is a frequent Timbaland collaborator who worked extensively on the latest albums from Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, among many others (see "Timbaland Protege Danja Makes His Own Noise With DJ Khaled, Trey Songz").
Hills' sessions with Spears started in July — before the divorce, the all-night partying, the head-shaving and rehab (see "Britney Spears, Kevin Federline Reach Divorce Settlement"). He says that despite all the bumps in her personal life, her professional life has remained right on track. "As far as her work ethic, I haven't seen anybody come in like that and do what you go to do," Hills said. "Boom, boom, boom, and get it done. So as an artist? She's ready to go.
"Spears' game plan to make a fun, danceable album has also remained steady, Hills said. Instead of scrapping tracks and starting over once her life started changing, the singer stuck to her strategy to keep the tunes as high-energy, uptempo — and decidedly private — as possible. "She wanted to stay away from being personal," the producer said. "It's fun, it's basic and there's nothing wrong with that. It's about feeling good, celebrating womanhood. And if you don't dance to it, I really don't know what you're listening to.
"While the song titles have yet to be "100 percent" determined, Hill said that overall, Spears' sound is "bigger" and "more mature" than what we've heard from her before. "It's a new Britney," he said. "I come from hip-hop, so it's underlined with hip-hop, but I throw it down. It's got everything, it's electric, it's just wild." One song sounds like it belongs in a video game, while another has a hook and chorus that makes him laugh just thinking about it: "It's weird! It's catchy, but it's weird. It's hot."
Now that Hills is moving into the mixing stage, he's just waiting to find out if any of his songs are contenders to be the album's first single, which is due to impact around the end of the summer, according to Spears' record label. "It's ready to hit the clubs," Hills said. "You're going to hear it getting ready to go to the clubs, while you're getting your clothes on, in the car on the way to the clubs, everywhere. You're just going to hear it. Be prepared."
SOURCE
''She didn't let none of her personal life into what she was doing,' Nate "Danja" Hills says.
By Jennifer Vineyard
Don't expect any insight on Britney's breakdown on her forthcoming album — yet another collaborator says the LP will just be about good times.
"She didn't let none of her personal life into what she was doing," Nate "Danja" Hills said. "There was no, 'I need to let it all out.' She said she deals with that in another way."
As one of Britney Spears' main collaborators, Danja has co-written and produced seven to eight songs with the singer so far, in sessions with songwriters Keri Hilson and Corte Ellis. Other songwriters and producers on the yet-untitled effort include Pharrell, Sean Garrett, Scott Storch, Dr. Luke, J.R. Rotem, Ne-Yo, T-Pain and Kara DioGuardi (see "Ne-Yo Gets Frisky With An 'Ex,' Avoids K-Fed Songs For Britney" and "Britney's New Music Is 'The Next Level,' Producer Says"). Danja is a frequent Timbaland collaborator who worked extensively on the latest albums from Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, among many others (see "Timbaland Protege Danja Makes His Own Noise With DJ Khaled, Trey Songz").
Hills' sessions with Spears started in July — before the divorce, the all-night partying, the head-shaving and rehab (see "Britney Spears, Kevin Federline Reach Divorce Settlement"). He says that despite all the bumps in her personal life, her professional life has remained right on track. "As far as her work ethic, I haven't seen anybody come in like that and do what you go to do," Hills said. "Boom, boom, boom, and get it done. So as an artist? She's ready to go.
"Spears' game plan to make a fun, danceable album has also remained steady, Hills said. Instead of scrapping tracks and starting over once her life started changing, the singer stuck to her strategy to keep the tunes as high-energy, uptempo — and decidedly private — as possible. "She wanted to stay away from being personal," the producer said. "It's fun, it's basic and there's nothing wrong with that. It's about feeling good, celebrating womanhood. And if you don't dance to it, I really don't know what you're listening to.
"While the song titles have yet to be "100 percent" determined, Hill said that overall, Spears' sound is "bigger" and "more mature" than what we've heard from her before. "It's a new Britney," he said. "I come from hip-hop, so it's underlined with hip-hop, but I throw it down. It's got everything, it's electric, it's just wild." One song sounds like it belongs in a video game, while another has a hook and chorus that makes him laugh just thinking about it: "It's weird! It's catchy, but it's weird. It's hot."
Now that Hills is moving into the mixing stage, he's just waiting to find out if any of his songs are contenders to be the album's first single, which is due to impact around the end of the summer, according to Spears' record label. "It's ready to hit the clubs," Hills said. "You're going to hear it getting ready to go to the clubs, while you're getting your clothes on, in the car on the way to the clubs, everywhere. You're just going to hear it. Be prepared."
SOURCE
New Common featuring DJ Premier
Brand new track from Common, called "The Game", featuring DJ Premier, and produced by Kanye West.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Brand new David Banner exclusives
Save for a DJ Shadow guest spot, a dope-yet-slept-on mixtape and a..."collaboration" with Justin Timberlake and Cristina Ricci in Black Snake Moan, David Banner has kept fairly quiet after the release of his last LP, Certified. Sure, he gave away beats to everyone from BG to Jibbs, but where were the solo Banner bangers we've come to know and love? The headbuss anthems? THE DAVID BANNER "YEH!"S?!?!?!?
Fortunately, the last month or so has seen an explosion of music from our man in Missisippi. "9MM," with Akon, Wayne and Snoop, is the clear comeback single, filled with crazy synth work (and Weezy comparing himself to Leanne Rimes). But when you add in the UGK collab "Suicide Doors", sounds to us like an album's on the way...
David Banner's new album is supposedly titled The Greatest I've Ever Told and it's due later this year.
Jim Jones And Cam'ron Part Ways?
XXL reports that in a post on Hot 97’s Miss Info blog , the infamous radio jockey claims that the long rumored beef between Dipset founder Cam’ron and Jim Jones is indeed true.
According to the post, Jim claims that he hasn’t spoken to Cam in over a year and that tension has been building between him and the rest of the camp for some time now.
“I kept quiet out of loyalty, I felt like if we cant be friends then at least we can do business together, Jimmy is quoted as saying. “But now I can’t be next to you. I’m through with being in hot water because of you.”
The Dipset Capo is scheduled to visit Funkmaster Flex’s show on Monday to discuss his statements. According to Miss Info, he reportedly has “some shocking suspicions” about what really happened between Cam and Roc La Familia artist Tru Life outside New York’s Club Stereo last week. While Cam’s camp has denied it, Tru Life has stated that he personally assaulted the Dipset boss.
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