On today’s music longevity
When we were growing up, some of the hits were legendary ones that you hear your whole life. But certain songs, I don’t know if you’ll ever hear them again. Because that’s what that music is, like a guilty pleasure, it’s right at the moment.
Author Archives: M.E.
More Pics of Nicki Minaj from her “ELLE’ Photoshoot
Nicki Minaj graces the cover of “ELLE” magazine for their “Women In Music” issue. In the five page spread Minaj tones it down a lil bit, rocking her long black hair ditching the colorful tresses.
SONGWRITER GOES AFTER KANYE & RIHANNA OVER PUBLISHING!
Songwriter Heather Bright is putting the music industry on blast for failing to acknowledge the people that write the bulk of its hits. She’s particularly singling out artists like Rihanna, Kanye West and Justin Bieber for failing to pay full publishing fees on songs they didn’t write.
“Rihanna takes publishing. Justin Bieber takes publishing. Kanye West takes publishing,” she said in an interview with Free Wired. “On all the stuff that they don’t write, they take publishing.”
Bright, who doesn’t actually cite any specific examples, co-wrote the Bieber smash ‘Somebody to Love’ as a track for Usher, yet after the song was released, she was surprised to see that the young pop star had received songwriting credit for her work. She gets no royalties when he performs the song in concert, either.
FBI Releases Documents On B.I.G. Murder; Rapper Killed With Rare Ammunition
Rapper Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace was shot and killed with a very rare form of ammunition, according to new documents released by the FBI under the Freedom of Information act.
While most of the information is known, the FBI documents reveal details into what the agency knew about the case.
The FBI investigation also stated that a variety Los Angeles Police Department officers, both on and off duty – with gang ties – helped the shooter escape, in addition to stymying the investigation, by not following up on witness reports, or properly documenting witness statements.
At one point, at least 10 witnesses were ready to provide information, but refused to talk to the LAPD.
They were willing, however, to talk to the FBI about the murder. The FBI also has uncut video of the shooting.
The documents states that while Death Row was making millions selling records by artists like Tupac, Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound, other associates working for the label were allegedly selling kilos of cocaine for $14,000, which were then re-sold on the East Coast, for $24,000.
According to the documents, B.I.G. was shot and killed with rounds of Gecko 9mm armor piercing ammunition, which is rarely found in the United States and made in Germany.
After an anonymous caller tipped other police that an unnamed Mob Piru Blood’s gang member was involved, Los Angeles Police Department officers obtained a search warrant and found 9mm guns and more Gecko 9mm rounds.
The LAPD never conducted ballistic tests and according to documents, more officers were involved in thwarting the investigation, including two of former Chief Parks’
Jennifer Hudson Does Elle
Grammy Awards Categories Get Revamped
Change has finally come to the Grammy Awards. In an announcement made today by the President/CEO of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow, and Academy Board Chair Emeritus, Jimmy Jam, it was revealed that the voting system of the prestigious ceremony has been restructured. The total number of categories for next year’s 54th Grammy Awards ceremony have been reduced from 109 to only 78 with all fields remaining the same. Furthermore, in the genres of Pop, R&B, Rap and Country music, all distinctions between male and female performances have been erased, and group performances and collaborations have been combined into a single category.
53rd GRAMMY Awards |
54th GRAMMY Awards |
| (109 categories) | (78 categories) |
| GENERAL FIELD | GENERAL FIELD |
| Record Of The Year | Record Of The Year |
| Album Of The Year | Album Of The Year |
| Song Of The Year | Song Of The Year |
| Best New Artist | Best New Artist |
| POP FIELD | POP FIELD |
| Best Female Pop Vocal Performance | Best Pop Solo Performance |
| Best Male Pop Vocal Performance | Best Pop Duo/Group Performance |
| Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals | Best Pop Instrumental Album |
| Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals | Best Pop Vocal Album |
| Best Pop Instrumental Performance | |
| Best Pop Instrumental Album | |
| Best Pop Vocal Album | |
| DANCE FIELD | DANCE/ELECTRONICA FIELD |
| Best Dance Recording | Best Dance Recording |
| Best Electronic/Dance Album | Best Dance/Electronica Album |
| TRADITIONAL POP FIELD | TRADITIONAL POP FIELD |
| Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album | Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album |
| ROCK FIELD | ROCK FIELD |
| Best Rock Solo Vocal Performance | Best Rock Performance |
| Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals | Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance |
| Best Hard Rock Performance | Best Rock Song |
| Best Metal Performance | Best Rock Album |
| Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |
| Best Rock Song | |
| Best Rock Album | |
| ALTERNATIVE FIELD | ALTERNATIVE FIELD |
| Best Alternative Music Album | Best Alternative Music Album |
| R&B FIELD | R&B FIELD |
| Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | Best R&B Performance |
| Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Best Traditional R&B Performance |
| Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals | Best R&B Song |
| Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance | Best R&B Album |
| Best Urban/Alternative Performance | |
| Best R&B Song | |
| Best R&B Album | |
| Best Contemporary R&B Album | |
| RAP FIELD | RAP FIELD |
| Best Rap Solo Performance | Best Rap Performance |
| Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration |
| Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | Best Rap Song |
| Best Rap Song | Best Rap Album |
| Best Rap Album |
Naked Mariah Carey Shows Off Baby Bump
Mariah Carey is about to give birth, but before she brings her twins into the world, the pop diva is posing nude for Life & Style. A glowing Mimi bares her pregnant belly on the magazine’s cover.
“I was feeling very vulnerable about taking pictures at all right now, but then I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to document this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Mariah tells Life & Style. “My ultimate goal was to share this incredibly personal moment with my true fans.”
The boy and girl are not due for another few weeks, but they are eager to meet their parents. “The babies were kicking almost the entire time; it was unbelievable,” she shares. “Especially the girl—clearly she’s a diva in training! We didn’t start shooting until 1:30 a.m. because I was in the hospital from the night before until the day of the shoot with contractions five minutes apart!”
Janet Jackson to Make History at Paris’ Louvre Museum
Janet Jackson is about to make history. The iconic performer has been tapped as the first female pop artist to perform under the I.M.Pei glass Pyramid at Paris’ famed Louvre Museum, with plans to give a live show during the biannual fundraising event “Liaisons au Louvre.”
The global superstar shared her excitement to be chosen to entertain at the black-tie affair on June 14. “The Louvre and its stunning glass Pyramid are equaled only by the priceless treasures that are housed within its impressive walls,” she exclaimed. “It is an honor to be asked to participate in such an incredible evening at this historic location. ‘Liaisons au Louvre’ will be an unequaled event, raising much needed funds for this institution and the preservation of art that moves the soul.”
Henri Loyrette, Président-Directeur of the Louvre Museum, added, “Janet Jackson is one of the world’s greatest artistic treasures. Accordingly, we are profoundly honored, and believe it most fitting, that her performance in the Louvre Museum will be yet another masterpiece captured under our glorious glass Pyramid. I believe the evening with Janet Jackson will be a great ‘coup’ for our institution!”
Ms. Jackson is currently on the final U.S. dates of her “Number Ones: Up Close and Personal” tour, wrapping in Las Vegas on April 24.
Nicki Minaj’s ‘All Pink Everything’ In DC
Sade’s “Ultimate Collection” Tracklisting
Sade are back with The Ultimate Collection to be released on May 3, just in time to make it the essential Mother’s Day gift. The must-have, 29-track, two-disc album will include four new, never-before heard songs including a remix to “The Moon And The Sky” (featuring Jay-Z). The Ultimate Collection also features 15 tracks that were not included on Sade’s 1994 “Best Of” album. Here for the first time, fans can find all of their favorite Sade classics including songs Lover’s Rock and Soldier Of Love.
Disc 1
1. Your Love Is King
2. Smooth Operator
3. Hang On To Your Love
4. The Sweetest Taboo
5. Is It A Crime
6. Never As Good As The First Time
7. Jezebel
8. Love Is Stronger Than Pride
9. Paradise
10. Nothing Can Come Between Us
11. No Ordinary Love
12. Kiss Of Life
13. Feel No Pain+
14. Bullet Proof Soul+
Disc 2
1. Cherish The Day
2. Pearls
3. By Your Side+
4. Immigrant+
5. Flow+
6. King Of Sorrow+
7. The Sweetest Gift+
8. Solider Of Love+
9. The Moon And The Sky+
10. Babyfather+
11. Still In Love With You**
12. Love Is Found**
13. I Would Never Have Guessed**
14. The Moon And The Sky (Remix Featuring Jay-Z)**
15. By Your Side (Neptunes Remix)+
+ Not on Best Of
** Never Released Before
Sade recently announced, the second leg of their ultimate summer tour kicking off on June 16th, marking their highly anticipated return to the world stage in ten years. Fans who pre-order The Ultimate Collection will have exclusive early access to tickets in select markets. For complete presale and ticket on sale information, visit Sade.com. Tickets for the newly announced dates go on sale to the public beginning April 2nd at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.
Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their twenty-seven year career. Since the release of their debut album, Diamond Life in 1984 the band has seen all five of their studio albums land in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart selling a total of more than 50 million albums worldwide to date. They’ve been nominated for American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and have won four Grammy Awards – first in 1986 for Best New Artist, then in 1994 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for “No Ordinary Love”, again in 2002 for Best Pop Vocal Album with Lovers Rock and most recently in 2011 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for “Soldier Of Love”




















