Frank Ocean Set to Make Big Splash on Charts with ‘channel ORANGE’

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Chris Brown is the current king of the charts, but another R&B crooner is set to take over next week. Frank Ocean is expected to make a big splash with his major-label debut channel ORANGE.

According to HITS Daily Double, the Odd Future crooner’s well-received album is on track to open with 110-125,000 copies in its first week based on preliminary estimates.

These figures are impressive considering the album is only available as a digital exclusive on iTunes. Physical copies won’t hit shelves until July 17.

The “Pyramids” singer made his television debut on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on Monday, where he announced that the project would go on sale immediately. Within an hour of its release, it soared to No. 1 on the iTunes charts and currently remains there.

ORANGE didn’t receive a traditional rollout and wasn’t supported with any singles or videos prior to its release. The press shy Ocean made headlines when he opened up about his sexuality in a letter on his blog.

Congratulations!!  Will his album soar like Adele’s 21 did??  It definitely has that potential!!

Gabrielle Union’s Says Homewrecker Rep Hurt Her Career

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Rumors have persisted for years that Gabrielle Union was instrumental in Dwyane Wade’s divorce from his wife Siohvaughn and Gabby says the rumors have hurt her career.

In a recent interview with T.T. Torez Gabby admits, 

“It’s hard because, aside from loving him, I want to protect myself. I’ve built my life. I built my own brand. I built my career and my career took a hit from that madness because some people refuse to see the truth, even when it’s presented to them time and time again. I love him but at some point it’s about self preservation.”

“I pay for my family. I pay for my mommy and my daddy and my sisters and her family. ‘D’ doesn’t write those checks, I do, so when something is starting to affect the way I make a living, ‘no no no baby,’ let me figure out a way for me to protect our home that me and Dwyane have with the kids.”

Frank Ocean Makes TV Debut on ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ [Video]

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With all the buzz surrounding his music and personal life, Frank Ocean made his television debut on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on Monday night.

To celebrate the release of his Def Jam debut channel ORANGE, which dropped a week early on iTunes, the acclaimed singer-songwriter was joined by The Roots and a string section as he performed “Bad Religion,” one of the cuts on the album that sparked rumors about his sexuality.

“It’s a it’s a bad religion/ To be in love with/ Someone who could never love you/ Only bad only bad religion/ Could have me feeling the way I do,” sings the Odd Future crooner, who will kick off his North American tour on July 13 in Seattle.

Something Refreshing!!! New Music: Frank Ocean f/ André 3000 – ‘Pink Matter’

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Frank Ocean teams with André 3000 on “Pink Matter,” one of the few collaborations on his new album channel ORANGE, which rocketed to No. 1 on iTunes hours afters its release. The OutKast MC adds a stellar verse (“If models are made for modeling/ Thick girls are made for cuddlin’”) and plays a funky guitar solo on the vulnerable record.

Big Boi revealed that Frank originally wanted both him and André on the track, but Three Stacks didn’t want an OutKast collaboration on anyone else’s album. However, Big Boi may still add his own verse to the song.

channelORANGE is a collective mixture of love and heartbreak that anybody can relate to.  Frank’s intimate and poetic way of telling stories make this CD even more stellar.  This CD definitely will go on my list of all time favorites.  It has been on constant #replay!!  Hope he gets that #1 album. 

You can stream the full channel ORANGE on Frank’s Tumblr page.  It will be in stores next week 07/17/12 and also now available on itunes.

New Music: Marcus Canty f/ Wale – ‘In & Out’

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Marcus Canty goes through the revolving doors of love on “In & Out,” the new single from his upcoming Epic Records debut. The former “X Factor” contestant grabs a verse from MMG’s own Wale on the bouncy club banger, produced by Harmony “H-Money” Samuels. “I be in and out of love, you know they just can’t lock me down,” sings the 21-year-old crooner.

Kid Cudi Links with Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Jaden Smith on ‘Indicud’

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Kid Cudi decided to leave the features off his rock project WZRD, but he’s called on some of his famous friends for his next album.

 The G.O.O.D. Music signee is deep into recording his fourth LP Indicud, which he previously compared to Dr. Dre’s The Chronic 2001. He has already roped in some major features, which he revealed on Twitter.  “Features thus far, Kanye, Pusha, Jaden, Kendrick Lamar, Chip, Cage, got something for Hov I wanna play him, still gotta link w 50 and Banks,” he tweeted. “Hopefully getting in the studio soon w Ratatat, Diplo, and I gotta reach out to MGMT as well.”

He likened the double-disc album to his 2008 breakthrough mixtape. “A KID named CUDI on DMT. Evolving,” said the rapper, who will tour this fall.

You can also hear Cudi on the G.O.O.D. Music compilation Cruel Summer, due August 7.

So Sad!! Usher’s Stepson Declared Brain Dead After Jet Ski Accident

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Usher’s 11-year-old stepson has been declared brain dead by doctors after he was struck by a jet ski over the weekend.  Kile Glover, the son of Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Foster, was floating in an inner tube with a female friend on Lake Lanier in Atlanta on Saturday when he was hit in the head by a jet ski driven by a 38-year-old man, who was reportedly part of their group.

“On Friday afternoon, a pontoon boat was pulling an 11-year-old male and 15-year-old girl on an inner tube when a jet ski ran over the two children,” Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Robin Hill told E! News.

Glover was unresponsive when he was taken from the water and airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.  The female victim was treated for a cut on the head and a broken arm.  Despite their divorce and ongoing custody battle, Usher chartered a plane for Foster so she could be by her son’s side.  The R&B singer arrived at the hospital on Saturday night.  On Sunday, TMZ reported that Glover had been declared brain dead by doctors.  A decision has yet to be made as to whether or not to take him off life support.

The family received an outpouring of support on Twitter from their friends including Monica, Ashanti, Toni Braxton, Jermaine Dupri, and Fantasia.

“My heart goes out 2 @TamekaRaymond thru this indescribable time.Im praying 4 u,Kyle,Ryan&ur family may God bestow his Blessings upon u all,” wrote Ashanti, while Fantasia added, “Everyone PLEASE pray for Usher and Tameka’s son! This is the time they really need your prayers!”

Kanye West Helped 2 Chainz with Artwork for “Based On A T.R.U. Story”

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In an exclusive interview with Billboard, 2 Chainz revealed that he enlisted the help of Kanye West’s design and creative company, DONDA, to create the artwork which simply features a black background and two gold chains.

“Kanye and I share a similar vision and think along the same lines creatively,” 2 Chainz told Billboard. ”When it came time to develop the imagery for my project, I trusted him and his team at DONDA to get the job done and communicate my sentiments. They were the first people I thought of.” 

“Their team is unprecedented,” he continued. “Expect next level imagery, sonics, and stage performance. This is curated art. The Louvre of rap.”

Beyonce’s Inspiring Message to Frank Ocean

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Beyonce is the latest celebrity to show support to Frank Ocean.  He is set to debut his album, Channel Orange, July 17th, 2012, and he is ready to leave his mark on the music industry.  He has shown and proved that TALENT and CHARACTER above anything else, will carry him far and separate him from his other contemporaries.  We salute u Frank!!!!

Destiny’s Child Ready Two ‘New’ Albums For November 2012

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For fans of Urban Pop trio Destiny’s Child, their split in 2005 is still somewhat of a bittersweet affair.  However, in what can only come as excellent news for these fans, their former manager Mathew Knowles has announced their long awaited chart return- set to kick off this November.

Speaking to The Huffington Post, Knowles said of the ‘reunion’:

We still have our joint venture with Sony and in November we’re putting out two Destiny’s Child catalog records with new material. So we’re going to start doing strategic things like that