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Tag: artist

  • Jay Z vs. Beanie Sigel: It’s Nothing but Business as Usual

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    Consider it a strange dream, but I had some thoughts about the Jay-Z beef with the rapper Beanie Sigel. No, I’m not here to talk about keeping street cred. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Half of the artists in the hip hop industry are not nearly as hard or as real as they claim to be. They’re too smart for that. The guys who are really as hard as most rappers claim to be are either in a jail cell or a casket. That’s the truth.

    What got my attention was when Charlamagne Tha God was fired from 100.3, “The Beat” in Philadelphia. I’ve known Charlamagne for years from our work on The Wendy Williams Show, so this made me a little upset. What was even sadder is the allegation that Jay Z may have played a role in getting Charlamagne fired, in large part because Charlamagne conducted an interview with Jay-Z’s new rival, Beanie Sigel. This incident represents more than the standard thuggery that some might see on the surface. Instead, it brings forth a plethora of issues that relate to business, entertainment, money and corporate power. Here are some quick thoughts:

    1) Getting Charlamagne tha God Fired? An allegedly weak move, but a lesson on corporate influence. The smartest artist I’ve ever seen in hip hop is 50 Cent. He writes songs about going to the club, but he doesn’t go to clubs. He gets you to bob your head and pop bottles of Vodka and Petrone, but he doesn’t drink himself. Effectively, he knows the power of getting others addicted, while keeping himself from being vulnerable to the very addictions he is using to control you (remember Ice Cube’s famous line, “Don’t get high on your own supply”?). Jay-Z is similar, as he has rejected the ridiculous, “bling yourself to death and then get shot or go to jail” mindset that many rappers seem to possess. Instead, he preoccupies himself with being a businessman, which means he has ultimate control over his fate.

    So, in spite of the fact that I am irritated at the very weak and unethical move allegedly committed by Jay Z, the teachable moment here is that the corporate monsters are the ones who control hip hop or any other art form for that matter. Most rappers only work to get a place on the plantation, not to actually own one.

    2) The Jay Z beef with Beanie Sigel has been played out thousands of times throughout human history. Ever since the beginning of entertainment, there has always been a natural beef between the sources of capital and the entertainers themselves. Artists are natural risk takers and many of them don’t spend two seconds thinking about the business models that finance their activities. Many artists put their energy into their craft rather than engaging in the boring task of understanding accounting, finance, marketing and distribution. The corporate captains, on the other hand, are not natural risk takers and they are the ones who decide if the show is going to even take place. Given that the corporate chiefs are making the financial choices, and the artists themselves want to push their work out at any cost, there is typically going to be a conflict of interest. The truth, however, is that when these conflicts occur, the artist almost always loses the fight. Those who provide the capital control much of the process.

    3) You’ve got to take good care of the people who work for you. Some have criticized Jigga and Diddy for not taking good care of their artists. I am not sure if this is true or not, but I do know that if you are tempted by corporate greed, you can find yourself enslaving people rather than empowering them. The greatest temptation in hip hop is to take advantage of another person’s obsessive commitment to fulfilling their personal dream. Thousands of artists get signed to Draconian contracts that are skewed heavily in favor of the manager rather than the artist. The problem, however, is that when you design business models to exploit other people, you may find that it comes back to hurt you later on down the road.

    4) There is a financial value of manufactured beef. This might surprise you, but a lot of so-called “beefs” in hip hop are actually branding mechanisms designed to get media attention to sell records. Ever notice how there are a lot of artists who want to stab and shoot each other one minute and then end up making records together the next? Much of this is due to the fact that the lifeblood of any artist is media access. No media means you don’t eat. Given that artists are effectively hired slaves for the record labels who can be used up and dropped at any moment, they are willing to engage in any desperate ploy imaginable to get the cameras pointed in their direction.

    Want to sell some albums? Go out and get arrested. Want to build your brand for “keeping it real”? Get caught in the club with a gun on your hip. Want to keep your job at the record label? Start a beef with a popular artist and get him to respond to you. As hyper-masculine as most hip hop artists pretend to be, the reality is that they are scared little boys on the inside; absolutely petrified that their label is going to find another talented brother from the projects and give him the spotlight they’ve bet their life on. This is not always such a great place to be, which is why any athlete or entertainer needs to get educated.

    Hip hop is an enlightened and exciting industry. At the same time, it’s the same corporate machine controlling people of color and distracting us from true power by keeping us engaged solely in the act of entertainment. As much as I might criticize Jay Z for allegedly going after my friend Charlamagne tha God, the truth is that Jigga seems to be the only one who gets it. Hip hop is not about entertainment, it’s strictly business.

    If you want to hear an artist’s perspective on all of this, I spoke with the Kansas City rapper, Vigalantee about the beef between Jay Z and Beanie Sigel. Click below to hear the conversation:

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Lil Wayne’s Cash Money Label Bosses Issue Statement On Guilty Plea

    Posted by: www.mtv.com

    MTV.com

    “The Cash Money family will continue to support our artist and friend Lil Wayne in his current court case,” the Williams brothers said in a joint statement. …
    See all stories on this topic

  • Is Ke$ha The Mainstream Nicki MInaj?

    Posted by: BlogXilla

    New artist, Ke$ha who you might remember from Flo Rida’s song Right Round. Here is her first single and now I am officially a fan of hers. Her new song Tik Tok has Diddy on it, and she sounds like a Pop Nicki Minaj. Tell me what you think.

    In a recent interview she states she slept with ten women in one night, Being like Diddy, and how she just doesn’t give a…

    FOR MORE, CLICK HERE

     

  • Dr. Boyce Money: Rapper Nas in Serious Tax Trouble

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    Hip Hop Wired is reporting that the rapper Nas is having some serious financial problems. In addition to owing his wife Kelis $44,000 per month in child support, it turns out that the artist also owes the federal government another $2.5 million in taxes. Here are quick thoughts about Nas, love and money:

    1) Nas has a complicated life. His decision to marry the “love of his life” is going to cost him for the rest of his life. The rapper’s tax situation could be due to irresponsibility (as appears to be the case with Method Man and Nicolas Cage), or it could simply be a matter of using write-offs that were not allowed by the IRS. We can’t assume that Nas’ tax trouble automatically makes him into a horrible citizen.

    2) He is not as rich as you think. I remember Will Smith once explaining how “a million dollars really isn’t that much money.” After Uncle Sam takes half, and the agents and attorneys get their cut, you are lucky to have $350,000 left over. Sure, that’s plenty of money, but it may not be very much money relative to the cost of living the celebrity lifestyle, and taking care of all the friends and relatives begging you for financial support. Success is a beautiful thing, but the problem is that success draws attention and financial vacuum cleaners who want to suck you dry. So, I am not sure why every artist loves to show the world how rich he is. I’d be quiet about my wealth.

    3) Please explain $44,000 per month in child support? Many men who make the kind of money that Nas allegedly makes (reported to be $250,000 per month) are considered to have infinite wealth. The truth, however, is that much of his income as an artist is volatile, uncertain, and likely to go down over time. The idea that he is being asked to pay so much in child support seems to neglect the fact that his resources do not go as far as Kelis and others might be inclined to think. The next time someone wonders why wealthy celebs don’t want to get married, they only need to look at the case of Nas and Kelis to find the answer. Love is supposed to be priceless, but child support courts seem to know exactly what that price should be.

    When it comes to Nas, Kelis and the IRS, the bottom line is this: Nas needs a financial intervention to help him to realistically manage his financial life. By analyzing his situation and others, we also can learn how our personal decisions in love and life can affect our financial situation. The truth is that who you choose to marry and how you manage your relationships plays a huge role in your financial stability. Finally, I am a fan of carefully constructed prenuptial agreements, so that wealth can be shared in such a way that marriage doesn’t become financially devastating. They say love and money shouldn’t mix, but relationship mistakes should not cost millions.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the book, “Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • The Week That Was: Shyne not really free at last, Kim Zolciak Really Engaged to Big Poppa?

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    The Week That Was: Shyne not really free at last, Kim Zolciak Really Engaged to Big Poppa?The rapper Shyne, who was convicted of a club shooting in 1999, was reportedly released from a New York correctional facility Oct. 6 and then transferred into custody by immigration officials. Though the former Bad Boy Records star has a green card, news reports hint that he may be deported to his native Belize because of the felony conviction. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Mike Gilhooly would only tell media outlets that Shyne was in custody for being in violation of U.S. immigration law.

    Born Jamal Barrow, Shyne was on the verge of superstardom when he was arrested in 1999 for a shooting at the Club New York nightclub. His mentor and record label chief Diddy, and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, was also charged but acquitted at trial.

    While in prison, Shyne (now 30) changed his name to Moses Leviy in recognition of his Jewish mother. His father, Dean Oliver Barrow, is currently the prime minister of Belize.

    Attorney Oscar Michelen, told the ‘New York Daily News’ his client “is anxious to get released and is looking forward to seeing his family and being able to be free to do what he wants to do.”

    ShyneDespite what seems to be a smear campaign from a few mainstream gossip columns, Mo’Nique and her new late night talk show is a hit. Numbers do not lie. The comedienne -who is making headlines for not promoting the new Tyler Perry/Oprah Winfrey-produced film ‘Precious’ – has made history for BET with ‘The Mo’Nique Show,’ which netted 1.5 million viewers for its debut Oct. 5.

    The premiere episode featured appearances from Steve Harvey, R&B artist Monica, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as well as a performance by R&B recording artist Jeremih. A rep for BET said the show ranked as the network’s highest-rated show for the season and was the number two entertainment program on cable during its time slot. “The inaugural episode also outperformed the competition, coming in as the number one entertainment talk show on cable overall and the number one talk show among adults 18-49 (850,000),” said BET spokeswoman Tricia Newell. The show, a loud and colorful spectacle, tapes from Atlanta’s Turner Studios and airs on BET at 11 p.m. weeknights.

    *****

    Jennifer Hudson is getting back to work. As the Academy Award and Grammy Award winner celebrates the recent birth of her baby, she’s also getting into the holiday spirit. The TV special ‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll be Home for Christmas’ has been announced to air on ABC in December. According to reports, the show will feature the singer-actress reliving her childhood holidays with musical performances filmed at various locations around her hometown of Chicago. The chosen venues will be specific to her youth; they include her church and the music academy she attended. Hudson’s record label has no plans to release a holiday album to coincide with the TV special.

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    Anna Deavere Smith is something like a phenomenon. Her new show ‘Let Me Down Easy’ opened Oct. 7 at New York City’s tightly packed Second Stage Theater and a flurry of notable well wishers – including Gayle King, opera diva Jessye Norman, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage, actresses Dawn Lewis and Judith Light – came out to celebrate.

    For the Tony Award nominee’s latest one-woman, multi-character show, Smith explores the power of the body, the price of health, and the resilience of the spirit. The Anthony Foglia-directed tour-de-force where the McArthur Genius Grant winning wunderkind transforms herself into a dramatic range of characters, all of whom she’s interviewed and impersonates masterfully for the 95-minute play. But this is far from satire; ‘Let Me Down Easy’ is a thought provoking marvel about mortality channeled through journalistic accounts from a wide variety of sources, including fashion icon Lauren Hutton, super-athlete Lance Armstrong, playwright Eve Ensler, former boxing champ Michael Bent, late movie critic Joel Siegel and former Texas Governor Ann Richards.

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    Controversial reggae artist Buju Banton’s concert at the Voodoo Lounge in San Jose, California on Oct. 13 has been canceled. “After reviewing Buju Banton’s lyrics, I was appalled by their sheer hatred and encouragement of violence towards the gay, lesbian and transgender community,” stated David Powell, co-owner of Voodoo Lounge. “There is no place for these types of incendiary remarks at Voodoo Lounge or in San Jose.” Banton – who recorded the song ‘Boom, Bye Bye,’ in 1988, which incited the torture and murder of gay men – has been the subject of protest for his concert bookings.

    A website has been erected to boycott any promoter doing business with him. An open letter to his manager Tracii Mcgregor, a former editor at the Source magazine, has been published there also, calling her to task for saying that Banton was “only 15 years old when he recorded that song.” Powell maintained that the club’s ownership team “did not know the content of Banton’s lyrics. If we had known, we would not have scheduled this performance.”

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    Big Poppa Kim Zolciak Real Housewives of AtlantaSo is ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star Kim Zolciak really engaged to Big Poppa? Only God knows for sure. On last week’s episode of the televised guilty pleasure, the bleached-blond urban socialite showed off the new rocks that she got, and boasted of her engagement to her mysterious millionaire paramour (who has been identified as Lee Najjar). Hmmmm. Her TV show co-star Sheree Whitfield, who recently underwent a downsizing divorce from former football player Bob Whitfiled, wondered aloud (and on camera) about the validity of the engagement since the man is still married.

    A Bravo network spokeswoman couldn’t be reached for comment about the possible nuptials. But until that stone is uncovered, folks can see really how large the ‘Tardy for the Party’ singer is living — the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper got an exclusive look at her luxurious digs.

     

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  • Update: Fabolous Wasn’t In A Car Accident?

    Posted by: urbanreup

    According to many twitter posts DEF JAM RECORDING ARTIST “FABOLOUS” was involved in a *serious* car accident and is still hospitalized. There’s been a lot of talk on twitter about the accident. People have tweeted the following:  

    RT @kimmicupcakes In case u haven’t heard, @myfabolouslife was in an accident & still hospitalized #Pray4Fab #Pray4Fab #Pray4Fab #Pray4Fab

    UPDATE: Who says Twitter isnt a good source? Fab has explained whats going on:

     

     


  • The Week That Was: Fela! Sure to Wear Broadway Out, Chris Brown Has the ‘Power’

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    This fall, the Great White Way will feel one hell of a jolt when the new musical ‘Fela!’ hits the boards at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theater, starting Oct. 19. The show, which chronicles the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, was all the rave during its very limited and sold-out run at the 37 Arts Theater last fall. Created by Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones, the masterfully produced tour de force attracted fans such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Toni Morrison, Lou Reed, Fiona Apple and Charlize Theron.

    This week, BV Newswire was invited to an exclusive preview of this provocative hybrid of concert, dance and musical theater that will dazzle audiences for generations to come. (See VIDEO below.) Now wonder it won the 2009 Lucille Lortel Award for best musical. Two-time Emmy Award winner Kevin Mambo and Tony Award-winning vocal powerhouse Lillias White (pictured above, center and right) have been added to the multitalented cast, which is led by Sahr Ngaujah, whose breakout performance as the Afrobeat icon who died of AIDS in 1997, was a work of sheer theatrical genius. Tickets start at $27. For more information about ‘Fela!,’ visit www.FelaOnBroadway.com.

    *****

    Nick Cannon may be having the best year ever. The dashing and debonair host of NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ is getting a windfall of media attention on the day before wife Mariah Carey releases her new album, ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.’

    For those who don’t know, the San Diego native is the new chairman of Nickelodeon’s teen network, TeenNick.

    On Sept. 28, The N (current name) will rebrand itself as TeenNick and we will be airing a celebrity promo spot in connection with the launch.

    Various celebrities — including wifey, Ellen DeGeneres, Taylor Swift, Sharon Osbourne, Tony Hawk, Keke Palmer, and Ice Cube — are all featured in this promo congratulating Cannon on his chairman position.

    *****Fela

    LL Cool J‘s latest foray into television is off to a good start. According to the Hollywood Reporter, CBS scored big with its new series ‘NCIS: Los Angeles,’ which features the hip-hop superstar and movie star Chris O’Donnell. Apparently, Tuesday marked the network’s most-watched premiere night since 1993, thanks to the triple threat of drama in the form of ‘NCIS’ (20.6 million viewers), ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ (18.7 million) and Julianna Margulies‘ new series ‘The Good Wife’ (13.7 million). From 1995-1999, LL Cool J (real name James Todd Smith) starred in the NBC sitcom ‘In the House.’

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    Chris Brown is getting back to work – the kind that pays. The beleaguered R&B crooner with the dazzling smile and mean right hook can breathe a sigh of relief. His battery and assault of girlfriend Rihanna hasn’t hurt him among hip-hop fans. The Jive Records artist is due to headline the “Powerhouse” concert, an event hosted by New York City’s hip-hop radio station Power 105. According to EURweb.com, the ‘Run It’ singer’s Oct. 27 performance at the Izod Center in New Jersey is his first official live show since his February altercation with the Cover Girl spokesmodel earned him probation and community service. Also on the “Powerhouse” lineup: the-Dream, Fabolous, Keri Hilson, Trey Songz, Mario and Ginuwine.

    Black Music Notes June 1

      6/1/09: Minnie Riperton
      A very fitting homage will be paid to late, great songbird Minnie Riperton when a new batch of the acclaimed TV One docu-series ‘Unsung’ hits the small screen this month. Best known for her signature ballad ‘Lovin’ You,’ the Chicago-born singer/songwriter’s career and life were cut short after a three-year battle with breast cancer in the late 1970s. After Riperton’s cancer diagnosis, she went public instead of retreating, serving as a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. . She was only 31 years old when she died at the prime of her career. ‘Unsung’ premieres June 7 at 8 PM ET, repeating at 11 PM, as well as Thursday, June 11 at 10 PM and Friday, June 12 at noon and midnight.

      Wire Image

      6/1/09: Grace Jones
      The one and only Grace Jones has been tapped to perform live at the ‘We Love’ festival in Ibiza on Aug. 9. For the first time ever, the ‘Pull Up To The Bumper’ singer will grace the Spanish island’s celebrated summer concert series, as part of the Wall Of Sound recording company’s 15th anniversary. Last year, festival organizers bought The Chemical Brothers back to the Ibiza after a ten-year hiatus. This year, they are ready for Amazing Grace, who recently released a new music project titled ‘Hurricane’ on the United Kingdom based label. “We are putting on a line-up to inspire and one that will take all lucky enough to be there on a journey they will never ever forget,” Wall of Sound founder Mark Jones said.

      Getty Images

      5/28/09: Chaka Khan
      Fresh from a headlining gig at the 2009 St Lucia Jazz Festival, Chaka Khan is ready to take on the nation’s capital. The 10-time Grammy Award winning diva will fill in for previously announce headliner Natalie Cole, who is recovering from a live saving kidney transplant surgery, at ‘The 18th Annual Capital Jazz Fest’ running June 5 – June 7. The ‘I Feel For You’ chanteuse will join a slew of noted musical acts at the lovely wooded setting of Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. According to a spokesperson for the event, the line-up includes performances by Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Lalah Hathaway, Fourplay, Norman Brown, Roy Ayers, Will Downing, Kirk Whalum, Pieces of a Dream with special guest Phil Perry, Guitars & Saxes (f/ Jeff Lorber, Euge Groove, Jeff Golub and lady saxophone newcomer Jessy J) , Regina Belle, Marion Meadows and trumpeter Joey Sommerville.

      AFP/Getty Images

      5/28/09: Grandmaster Flash
      Grandmaster Flash will be honored with the Living Legend award at the Urban Music Awards USA 2009, set to be held at New York City’s Highline Ballroom on July 17. According to a spokesperson for the event, more than 175,000 music fans across the world have voted online for the hip hop veteran to receive the honor. “Flash is an absolute legend and he remains an inspiration to the hip hop culture all together by flying the flag from its inception to the success it has become today,” said Jordan Kensington, who is the C.E.O of Invincible Group & Founder of the Urban Music Awards. Nominees for the inaugural awards show include Amy Winehouse, Rihanna, Bobby Valentino, M.I.A, Day 26, The Dream, Estelle, Kat de Luna, Akon, Kanye West, Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo and Eminem.

      Getty Images

      5/21/09: Jay-Z
      Despite stepping down from his Def Jam presidency in late 2007, hip hop mogul Jay-Z has finally left the label as an artist. Rumors started surfacing online that the platinum-selling lyricist, who owed the label one last album, brought himself out of his contract for $5 million. “I can honestly say, working with Doug Morris and LA Reid has been a unique and fulfilling experience and I respect them immensely,” he revealed to hip hop site Rap Radar. “I’ve been in the family for almost my entire career. Doug and I spoke directly and had one of the most unique ‘negotiations’ ever…I thank him for allowing me to be a completely independent artist. Not every artist can say they own or are given the opportunity to own all of their music.”

      Frank Micelott, Getty Images

      5/19/09: Mary J. Blige
      Mary J. Blige recently expanded her brand by signing with The William Morris Agency. According to Variety, the diversified entertainment agency, which also represents Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Kanye West, and Prince (to name a few), will assist the Queen of Hip Hop Soul in all areas of her career including the expansion of her entertainment company, Matriarch Entertainment. This fall the Queen of Hip Hop Soul will make her feature film debut in Tyler Perry‘s ‘I Can Do Bad All by Myself,’ scheduled to hit theaters September 11. She can be heard in the trailers for the Oprah Winfrey-presented drama ‘Precious,’ due out in November.

      Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

      5/19/09: The Dream
      Following in the veins of fellow hip hop stars DMX and Tupac Shakur, singer-songwriter The Dream is planning on releasing his second album of 2009 entitled, ‘Love King.’ The R&B crooner, who recently released his certified gold album ‘Love vs. Money’ in March, revealed to Billboard magazine that he already has seven songs in the can and expects the album to hit stores in December. “I have to pace myself ’cause there’s so much time between here and then,” he said, “but the seven records I do have are timeless records. Whether they come out now or later it’s not really going to matter what kind of records they are.” In between recording sessions for ‘Love King,’ fans can now catch The Dream on tour with Keyshia Cole.

      Getty Images

      5/19/09: The Whispers
      After releasing classic hits such as ‘In The Mood’ and ‘Rock Steady,’R&B stalwarts The Whispers are set to release their first gospel album on Kingdom Records. Grammy Award-winning gospel star Fred Hammond is expected to produce a bulk of the tracks. “We’ve been wanting to do this for ten years,” explained founding member Nick Caldwell. “God has been really, really good to the Whispers. He was looking out for us even when we were ignoring Him. He allowed us to live long enough to do this inspirational CD that we want to use to inspire people to get closer to God.” The as-yet-untitled anticipated album is tentatively scheduled for release later this year.

      5/19/09: Mariah Carey
      On May 23, Mariah Carey is set to perform a one-hour set at the opening of the most expensive resort in Europe, The Mardan. Carey alongside legendary British soul singer Tom Jones will reportedly be paid £1 million each to perform at the exclusive £926 million Turkey development, which features five acres of fresh water swimming pools and a sunken aquarium. Actress Sharon Stone and Paul McCartney are among the many guests invited to the 560 room hotel opening.

      Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

      5/19/09: Will Downing
      Overcoming his bout with the muscle disorder Polymyositis, Will Downing has set the stage to release is latest musical offering, ‘Classique.’ The balladeer’s 14th album and second Peak Records project features his signature baritone vocals over 10 smooth-sensual tracks. Vocalist Phil Perry joins the ‘After Tonight’ singer for Marvin Gaye penned ‘Baby I’m for Real.’ Other album highlights include ‘Love Suggestions,’ ‘More Time,’ ‘Something Special’ and Barry White‘s classic hit ‘I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby.’ ‘Classique’ hit stores June 16.

      Verve

     

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