Posted by: Illmatic
I just wanna say thank you to all my supporters and subscribers who have been with me thus far. This is the biggest parody I’ve done so far and I couldn’t have gotten this far without you guys 🙂 I made this video as a parody of the ‘scuffle’ situation between President Barack Obama and Fox News.
This week has been quite busy for Chris Brown — to say least. On Monday, the ‘Gimme That’ singer officially announced the Dec. 15 release date for his forthcoming album ‘Graffiti.’ On Tuesday, Brown premiered his new video ‘I Can Transform Ya,’ in addition to taking the stage for a headlining performance at Power 105.1’s Powerhouse ’09 concert. The concert marked Brown’s first stage performance since his Feb. assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna. Head over to ‘MTV News’ for a complete recap of the show.
Meanwhile check out what Omarion and Polow Da Don had to say about Chris’ comeback below.
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Wyclef Jean and The Timberland Co. are teaming up to sell eco-friendly footwear and support reforestation of the singer’s native Haiti.
Filed under: Music
Arguably two of the most talented singers in the record books, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston have made names for themselves as commercially successful pop vocalists.
The careers of the two iconic beauties mirrored each other throughout the 1990s, with many people drawing comparisons between them. Both women were aligned with two of the most influential men in the music business, Tommy Mottola and Clive Davis, respectively, and both have survived controversy only to rise to the top of the charts again and resurrect their careers.
In our latest round of Tale of the Tape, we stack up “Mimi” and “The Voice” to see whether they had more in common than just their cultural impacts.
(M) Full Name: Mariah Carey 
(W) Full Name: Whitney Elizabeth Houston
(M) Birth date: Mar. 27, 1970
(W) Birth date: Aug. 9, 1963
(M) Place of Birth: Long Island, N.Y.
(W) Place of Birth: Newark, NJ
(M) Also Referred to As: “Mimi”
(W) Also Referred to As: “The Voice”
(M) Humble Beginnings: Carey’s parents divorced when she was 3, leaving her mother to juggle several jobs to support the family. When the songstress moved to New York to pursue a singing career, she also worked several part-time jobs to pay the rent, in addition to attending beauty school and singing as a backup singer for several artists.
(W) Humble Beginnings: Whitney lived in housing projects in Newark, NJ. Her parents divorced when she was a teenager, and she chose to live with her mother. After performing her first gospel solo at New Hope Baptist Church at the age of 11, she was fortunate enough to sing background vocals on Chaka Khan’s hit single ‘I’m Every Woman.’
(M) Connections to the Business: Dance/pop singer Brenda K. Starr (Mariah was a background singer for the ‘I Still Believe’ singer)
(W) Connections to the Business: Blues and gospel singer Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom); Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick (Whitney’s cousins) mariah and Whitney
(M) Album Debut: ‘Mariah Carey’ (1990)
(W) Album Debut: ‘Whitney Houston’ (1985)
(M) Record Company Affiliations: Columbia, Virgin, Island
(W) Record Company Affiliations: Arista
(M) Total Number-One Singles: 18
(W) Total Number-One Singles: 11
(M) Total Number-One Albums:6
(W) Total of Number-One Albums: 5
(M) Total Number of Albums Sold: Over 160 million (albums and singles)
(W)Total Number of Albums Sold: Over 140 million (albums)
(M)Total Marriages: 2
(W)Total Marriages: 1
(M) Children: 0
(W) Children: 1 (Bobbi Kristina with former New Edition singer Bobby Brown)
(M) Luther Vandross Affiliation: In 1994, Vandross and Carey recorded a duet of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross’s hit ballad ‘Endless Love’
(W) Luther Vandross Affiliation: Vandross produced, arranged and performed background vocals on Houston’s ‘Who Do You Love’ from her 1990 ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ album
(M) Aretha Franklin Affiliation:Carey performed a duet of The Queen of Soul’s ‘Chain of Fools’ with the legendary soul singer at the 1998 VH1 ‘Divas Live’ television special.
(W) Aretha Franklin Affiliation: Franklin is Houston’s godmother and appeared in a cameo in the ‘How Will I Know’ music video. The two also recorded a duet, ‘It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be,’ which appeared on Franklin’s 1989 album Through the Storm. .’
(M) Antonio “L.A.” Reid Affiliation: The LaFace founder executive produced Carey’s 2005 comeback album ‘The Emancipation of Mimi,’ as well as her subsequent Island Records releases, including her new ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.’
(W)Antonio “L.A.” Reid Affiliation: Reid, who previously produced songs on Houston’s ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight,’ was Arista head when her lackluster ‘Just Whitney’ album was released. What was promoted as her comeback album was Houston’s lowest selling album to date.
(M) Michael Jackson Affiliation: In 1992, Carey covered the Jackson 5’s hit ‘I’ll Be There’ alongside her background singer Trey Lorenz. She also sang the song at the late King of Pop’s memorial service.
(W)Michael Jackson Affiliation: In 2001, the ‘I Will Always Love You’ singer made headlines when she opened the Michael Jackson ’30 Anniversary Concert Concert’ looking extremely thin.
(M) Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott Affiliation: Elliott was featured alongside fellow female MC Da Brat on a remix to the ‘Fantasy’ singer’s ‘Heartbreaker.’
(W) Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott Affiliation: The ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ rapper produced and appeared on two Houston tracks: ‘In My Business’ from ‘My Love Is Your Love’ and ‘Things You Say’ from ‘Just Whitney.’
(M) Fugees Affiliation: Carey and the Fugees were both signed to Columbia Records in the 1990s. More recently, the Fugees’ Wyclef Jean just recorded a song called ‘Mr. Autotune’ with Carey’s husband, Nick Cannon, in 2009.
(W) Fugees Affiliation: Fugees front woman Lauryn Hill produced and sang background vocals on ‘I Was Made To Love Him,’ a spunky update of Stevie Wonder’s 1960s classic ‘I Was Made To Love Her’ on Houston’s 1998 CD ‘My Love is Your Love.’ Wyclef Jean produced what became Houston’s third best-selling single and the album’s title track ‘My Love Is Your Love.’
(M) Disney Connections: Disney Connections: Mariah Carey has never produced a Disney movie, unlike Whitney, but she still has love for the happiest place on earth. Two weeks after her Bahamas shotgun wedding to Nick Cannon, the couple headed back to the states for a very public vacation at Walt Disney World Resort to relive their childhood dreams. The ‘Fantasy’ singer, who previously performed at the 2004 Disney Christmas Day Parade, and her new hubby took pictures with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and rode tons of rides, including Space Mountain and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
(W) Disney Connections: ‘The Bodyguard’ actress appeared alongside Brandy in the made-for-television movie ‘Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,’ a revival of The Wonderful World of Disney series and produced by Disney. Houston has also served as a producer for the Disney franchises ‘The Cheetah Girls’ and ‘The Princess Diaries.’ 
(M) Total Number of Movies: 6 (including ‘Precious’)
(W) Total Number of Movies: 4
(M) Movie Box Office Grosses: Over $27 million gross
(W) Movie Box Office Grosses: Over $12 million gross
(M) Controversies: Marrying a much younger Nick Cannon after dating the ‘Bobby’ star for just a few months.
(W) Controversies: Caught with marijuana in her and then-husband Bobby Brown’s luggage on Jan. 11, 2000, at a Hawaii airport; getting fired from performing at the Academy Awards when she showed up jittery.
(M) Rehabilitations: Hospitalized in 2001 for exhaustion, which led to a physical and emotional breakdown
(W) Rehabilitations: Rumored to have entered drug rehabilitation programs several times in the past decade at the urgency of mentor Clive Davis and her mother Cissy Houston.
(M) Comeback Efforts: Many people counted the Grammy Award winner out of the music business until the release of her 2005 comeback album, ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’ Not only did the critically acclaimed record garner 10 Grammy Award nominations, but it was also the biggest selling album of 2005 – amassing 10 million albums sold worldwide.
(W) Comeback Efforts: Houston’s 2009 comeback album, ‘I Look to You,’ debuted at number one and became the best-selling first week sales of Houston’s career. To date, ‘I Look to You’ is also the best selling album by a female in 2009.
(M) Best Friend Forever: Background singer Trey Lorenz
(W) Best Friend Forever: Former long-time executive assistant and childhood friend Robin Crawford
(M) Failed Vanity Projects: Founded short-lived Crave Records imprint, which most notably released R&B girl group Allure‘s debut project; Automatic Princess Jewelry line
(W) Failed Vanity Projects: Mentored Newark gospel group Sunday; the panned ‘Family First’ song with Houston, her mother, Cissy and her cousin Dionne Warwick, which was featured on the soundtrack to Tyler Perry‘s ‘Daddy’s Little Girls’
(M)Famous Boyfriends: Mexican singer Luis Miguel, New York Yankee baseball player Derek Jeter
(W) Famous Boyfriends: R&B singer/sex tape star Ray J, movie star Eddie Murphy, NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham
(M) Family Feuds: Carey’s estranged HIV-positive sister Alison, who has been arrested twice for prostitution, shopped a tell-all book about her multi-millionaire sister in 2000. The tome was never released.
(W) Family Feuds: In 2002, associates for Houston’s 81-year-old father, John Houston, sued the pop star for $100 million, claiming unpaid compensation for helping negotiate her Arista Records contact. Houston claimed the dispute arose by people attempting to take advantage of her ailing father, and the suit was later dismissed.
(M) TV Interviews Gone Wild: In 2001, pushing an ice cream cart, Carey appeared on the popular MTV video countdown show ‘Total Request Live’ for an interview with VJ Carson Daly to promote her ‘Glitter’ movie. Wearing a small T-shirt and booty shorts, Carey performed a striptease and slurred “I just want one day off when I can go swimming and eat ice cream and look at rainbows.” Carey checked into the hospital for exhaustion shortly thereafter.
(W) TV Interviews Gone Wild: The Whitney Houston quotable “Crack is Wack” came from her infamous Diane Sawyer sit-down in 2002. When questioned about her rumored drug use, the troubled singer asked Sawyer to “show her the receipts” for the drugs, among other things. The interview was one of the last that Houston did before taking a hiatus from the media. Her first televised interview since Sawyer did not come until 2009 with a widely-publicized two-day special appearance on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’
(M) Famous Celebrity Battles: Detroit rapper Eminem and Carey were at one point rumored to be a couple, then things got ugly. She recorded diss records like ‘Clown’ and her current single ‘Obsessed’ aimed at the ‘Slim Shady’ lyricist. And though, the ‘Precious’ star is sticking to her story that she never slept with Eminem, he maintains otherwise. He dished on being intimate with her and replied to her latest hit with a song called ‘The Warning,’ directed at both the singer and her latest husband, Nick Cannon.
(W) Famous Celebrity Battles: Houston and radio-shock-jock-turned-talk-show-host Wendy Williams had an on-air beef that played out in 2003 in which Williams questioned Houston about her rumored drug use. Houston responded with curse words, most notably charging, “If this were back in the day in Newark, I’d meet you outside, but not now, because I’m a lady with class.” The New York Times best-selling author has since said she has buried the hatchet and is eager to have the ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ singer on her syndicated talk show.
Mariah Through The Years:
For Mariah Carey, having more number one songs than any solo artist in America has been a credit to the company that this five-time Grammy winner has kept since making her music debut in 1990. From people behind the scenes like L.A. Reid and Jermaine Dupri to some of her past loves like Tommy Mottola, Derek Jeter and now husband Nick Cannon, each man has played a significant role in inspiring the music that has made this 39 year-old singer/songwriter famous. Blackvoices.com takes a look at the men who have inspired Mariah Carey over the years.
Tommy Mottola – Husband
No one is more responsible for Mariah Carey’s success than former Columbia Records head Tommy Mottola. After receiving Carey’s demo from artist Brenda K. Starr, for whom Carey sang backup, he signed her on the spot. While recording her 1990 debut, the two became romantically involved and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in 1993. Just three short years later, they split, and a divorce was finalized in 1998.
Luther Vandross – Musical Collaborator
The five-octave singer was fortunate enough to be one of the few entertainers to record a duet with the late Luther Vandross. Their cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross‘s ‘Endless Love’ became Vandross’ biggest pop hit. It was the second single released from his ‘Songs’ album and was also included on two Carey albums: ‘Greatest Hits’ in 2001 and ‘The Ballads’ in 2008.
Trey Lorenz – Backup Singer
In 1992, Carey performed an MTV ‘Unplugged’ special to show nonbelievers that she was not a studio singer. Her cover of the Jackson 5‘s ‘I’ll Be There’ with her longtime backup singer Trey Lorenz was later released as a single and became a number-one hit in the United States. Lorenz was able to score a record deal from the duet, and Carey co-produced his debut. On July 7 of this year, the two performed the song at the Michael Jackson memorial, which was held at the Los Angeles Staples Center.
Jermaine Dupri – Producer
It’s not a well-known fact that Jermaine Dupri has been working with Carey for nearly 15 years. In 1995, Carey worked with the So So Def Records founder on ‘Always Be My Baby,’ from her ‘Daydream’ album. It became the most successful record on U.S. radio that year. And though these two worked on several remixes together over the years, their magic came a decade later when J.D. produced four songs on ‘The Emancipation of Mimi,’ Carey’s 10th studio album and most successful to date.
ODB – Musical Collaborator
Since rapping ‘Me and Mariah go back like babies and pacifiers,’ Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the late Wu Tang Clan MC, helped solidify Carey in the world of hip-hop and R&B. The 1995 remix to ‘Fantasy’ became a number-one hit. The friendship between Carey and ODB lasted throughout the years. The songstress even met the rapper upon his release from jail in 2003.
Mase – Musical Collaborator
‘Honey’ was Carey’s 12th number-one song. Before turning his life over to God and becoming a minster, Bad Boy rapper Mase appeared on the popular remix of the record, alongside the Lox and Diddy. The song, which also had its own video, was featured on Carey’s 2003 remix compilations, aptly titled ‘The Remixes.’
Derek Jeter – Alleged Beau
Shortly after divorcing husband Tommy Mottola in 1998, the five-time Grammy award winner met New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter at a Fresh Air Fund gala in New York. The couple connected over their interracial parents – black fathers and Irish mothers. The public romance ended short of the one-year mark. In an interview with Parade magazine, Carey said “It was the wrong time. …Our two worlds were just too much for that moment.”
Eminem – Alleged Beau
From ‘Clown’ to ‘Obsessed,’ Carey has documented her disdain for Detroit MC Eminem in her music. The ‘Glitter’ actress denies they ever slept together, but Slim Shady has consistently rapped that the two were intimate. The rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, sent threats to Carey via the 2009 diss track ‘The Warning,’ which was directed at both Carey and her husband, Nick Cannon.
Nick Cannon – Husband
Nick Cannon, 28, dated singer-actress Christina Milian and was even engaged to Victoria’s Secret model Selita Eubanks for five months before becoming Carey’s second husband. In 2005, he convinced the Teen Choice Awards to let him present Carey’s award for ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’ Two years passed, and the couple was reunited in 2007. Their whirlwind romance resulted in a quickie wedding in 2008 at Carey’s Bahamian estate, Windermere.
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Filed under: Music, Television, News, Theater, Celeb Updates, Radio, Video
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.
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.’
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Filed under: Music, Movies, Television, News, Theater, Celeb Updates
Video clips have surfaced of actress Maia Campbell. The former ‘In the House’ star became a top 10 trending topic on Twitter yesterday after the Web site WorldStarHipHop.com posted a video allegedly showing the actress-turned-prostitute on a drug-induced rant in Compton, Calif.
According to EURweb.com, the trending topics “#Maia Campbell” and “#pray4maiacampbell” were among the top five on the popular social networking portal. Actress Holly Robinson Peete (@hollyrpeete) were among the many Twittering out of sadness and concern for the 32-year-old Campbell, who is the daughter of late best-selling author BeBe Moore Campbell. Robinson Peete wrote: “Hope Maia Campbell being trending topic can get her HELP IF that’s really her in that video. (Amen – that video hurt my ?!)” Previous articles written about Campbell for Black Voices also became a hot search term topics over the last 24 hours.
The national tour of Oprah Winfrey‘s musical adaptation of ‘The Color Purple’ has launched a Hurricane Katrina fundraising campaign to build as many houses as possible in New Orleans by the time the show arrives there for its run at the newly refurbished Mahaila Jackson Theater, from Dec. 1 – 6. The show currently stars ‘American Idol’ winner Fantasia Barrino in the lead role.
Starting with this week’s engagement in Chicago at the Arie Crown, the tour will allow audiences to donate at each stop along the route. ‘The Color Purple’ is partnering with a local New Orleans’ organization, the St. Bernard Project (stbernardproject.org), a grassroots, volunteer-based nonprofit that rebuilds homes in less than 12 weeks for approximately $15,000 each. To kick off the fundraising initiative, the show’s producers and Alice Walker announced that they have collectively pledged to pay for the rebuilding of the first three houses.
“[We are] honored to be part of the first theater season in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. Since our show is so much about triumph over adversity, we would like ‘The Color Purple’ to give something back to the people of New Orleans,” said Lead Producer Scott Sanders. “We love the idea of ‘The Color Purple’ putting families into new homes for the holidays this year.”
Tia and Tamara Mowry are reuniting on screen. The ‘Sister, Sister’ actresses will star in the Lifetime movie ‘Double Wedding,’ which is a story about siblings who wind up dating the same man. Production on the project begins this month, with the goal of a June premiere, reported Daily Variety. The twin actresses and their mother, Darlene, are serving as the movie’s executive producers, along with Howard Braunstein and Michael Jaffe. The former child stars have cultivated flourishing careers in their adult years: Tamera appeared on the Lifetime series ‘Strong Medicine,’ while her sister appeared on the CW’s popular sitcom ‘The Game.’
Taye Diggs and his wife, actress Idina Menzel, welcomed their first child on Sept. 2. The ‘Private Practice’ star and Tony Award-winning actress are celebrating the birth of Walker Nathaniel Diggs this week. “Mother, father and son are all doing well,” the couple’s rep said in a statement. The couple, who wed in 2003, met on the Broadway production of ‘Rent’ in 1996. Diggs currently stars on the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ spin-off, and Menzel dazzled audiences in The Great White Way’s production of ‘Wicked.’ They both revived their roles for the movie adaptation of ‘Rent’ in 2005.
With the release of the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical ‘Passing Strange,’ director Spike Lee is returning to his roots. The ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ filmmaker will be among the presenters of ‘County of Kings,’ a show written and performed by the poet Lemon Andersen that will be performed at the Public Theater in New York City this fall. According to the New York Times, ‘County of Kings’ was featured at the Public’s “Under The Radar” festival earlier this year and tells Andersen’s story about growing up in Brooklyn during the birth of hip-hop. Jayson Jackson, who previously oversaw the careers of Lauryn Hill, D’Angelo and Tony Award winner Sarah Jones, will also present ‘County,’ while Elise Thoron will direct. It is scheduled to begin performances on Sept. 29, with an official opening of Oct. 12.
Rick Fox will be bringing the heat to ‘Melrose Place.’ The forBeBe Moore Campbell 72 Hour Holdmer-NBA-all-star-turned-actor has been tapped to play a recurring role on the new CW series, which is a resurrection of the popular 1990s FOX nighttime soap. According to Reuters, Fox will play the owner of the restaurant where all the aspiring actors on the show work. His previous acting credits include ‘He Got Game,’ ‘Oz,’ ‘One Tree Hill,’ ‘The Game’ and the movie ‘Meet the Browns.’ He even starred on ‘Ugly Betty,’ where he was featured alongside his ex-wife and series star Vanessa Williams.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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YOU WANNA SEE THE WOMAN WHO CAUSED THE FIGHT BETWEEN JUELZ SANTANA AND HIS BABY’S MOTHER … SHE’S A CUTE LATIN CHICK!!!
August 28, 2009. MediaTakeOut.com reported to you that earlier this week, rapper Juelz Santana and his baby’s mother got into an argument. As a result of the argument, Juelz was arrested for making terrorist threats towards his baby moms.
Well now MediaTakeOut.com is getting some details on what happened. Apparently the argument was over Juelz’ relationship with the below woman:
