“This is a huge loss. Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed.”
Etta James touched the world with her powerful voice and timeless music. Many of the artists she inspired took to Twitter to share their sadness and pay respect to the iconic singer, who died of complications from leukemia at the age of 73. From Beyoncé’s touching tribute to JoJo and Jessie J’s endearing words to a grateful Flo Rida’s thank you, the stars praised the late legend. Read their heartfelt messages below.
Mariah Carey: Rest in peace to one of the world’s most influential singers Etta James, you will be missed.
Christina Aguilera: Etta James was a force to be reckoned with. A true gift to music and a woman of great spirit and courage. Her raw tone and the passion she put forth on a record spoke to me at a very young age and has continued to influence and inspire me throughout my career. She will NEVER be forgotten, her voice will forever live on and she will inspire talent for generations to come.
Keri Hilson: Rest In Peace, Etta James.
Kelly Rowland: CLASSIC. ONE OF A KIND. PURE SOUL. ETTA JAMES! Thank You for gracing us with your incredible talent & presence!
Rihanna: #DearEtta may you rest in peace.
JoJo: Wow wow wow. We lost a legend today. #RIPETTAJAMES … she is one of the reasons I sing today. Major major inspiration. Peace be with you.
will.i.am: Showing respect appreciation and love for all the wonderful music and joy #ettajames brought to the world…#ettajamesforever
Flo Rida: I’m deeply saddened by the passing of the Great Etta James and I will be forever grateful for the gift she Blessed me with.
Lady Gaga: Tonight I will have one whole quart of brandy for Etta.
Justin Bieber: RIP to the great Etta James
Jessie J: Just been told the legend that is Etta James has passed. Thank you for your voice your dedication to us and your gift. Your voice is timeless and will forever live on. I will always look to you for inspiration. R.I.P ❤
Mya: R.I.P. ETTA JAMES
Anthony Hamilton: Etta James helped pioneer the heartbeat of a new generation w/ a musical style that allowed people 2 feel outside the box. She’ll be missed.
Jay Electronica: …got the rap game singing “at last” like #EttaJames.
Rico Love: Rest in peace Etta James….. #TTLO
Nick Cannon: RIP Etta James
Pink: RIP to the late and great Etta James. Your voice and your fight inspired me and many. I love that through recordings, people can live forever.
Diddy: RIP Etta James
Lil’ Kim: #RIPEttaJames
Marsha Ambrosius: R.I.P Etta James
?uestlove: rip tp Etta James. i will hold the torch high for The Roots name in your honor.
Dawn Richard: I sing the songs that people need to hear. Etta James RIP ETTA JAMES…. you will be missed.. your music touched millions…
Azealia Banks: R.I.P Etta James. 😦 ….. I got into LaGuardia singing “At Last”.
Toni Braxton: Rest in peace to the wonderful legend Etta James
Jazmine Sullivan: R.I.P Etta James
Melody Thornton: The music world has lost 1 of the best vocalists ever and at only 73 yrs old. #sadday bless her soul and RIP Etta James
Nicki Minaj teams up with famed director Hype Williams in the colorful video for “Stupid Hoe,” a single from her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, now due April 3. The animated Barbie rocks a closetful of wild and wacky looks in the explicit clip, which premiered online.
“Can’t premiere on a network b/c its important that my art is not tampered with, or compromised prior to you viewing it for the 1st time,” explained Nicki.
Unleash the beast.
Nicki Minaj is breaking hearts this Valentine’s Day. The “Super Bass” rapper has delayed the release of her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Originally scheduled to drop on February 14, it will now arrive on April 3, she announced via Twitter.
“New Album Date: April 3rd. Pink Friday: ROMAN RELOADED. But have no fear. Tons of surprises before then ;). Love Always, HB,” Nicki told her Barbz.
The album has spawned the singles “Roman in Moscow” and “Stupid Hoe,” for which a Hype Williams-directed video premiered on Friday.
Nicki hinted at a surprise guest on the follow-up to her 2010 debut Pink Friday. “Just got some heron from one of ur fave artists. In the studio shakin my fuckin head right now. WOW. Roman Reloaded,” she tweeted.
To promote the release, she will perform a new song live at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12 and travel overseas to London (Feb. 19-25), Paris (Feb. 26-27), Berlin (Feb. 28), and Tokyo (March 1-4).
A female fan of the rapper Layzie Bone, from the group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, says she was injured and permanently scarred when Layzie Bone whipped her in the face with a microphone during a concert.
According to the woman, she was standing in the crowd at a Missouri concert when Layzie began swinging his microphone. She says he then lost control of the microphone, hitting her in the head and causing bruises, contusions, and some permanent scarring.
The woman is suing for over $25,000.
The Grammys have appointed LL Cool J to be the ceremony’s first official host in seven years.
The star, whose hits include Mama Said Knock You Out and I Need Love, will follow in the footsteps Ellen DeGeneres and Queen Latifah.
In recent years, the position of “official” host has been replaced by a string of guest presenters.
Kanye West, Adele and Taylor Swift are among the acts expected to win awards at the event on 12 February.
“I’m thrilled to be part of music’s biggest night,” said LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith.
“I will always have fond memories of my first Grammy Awards and to now be hosting the Grammy show… is a dream come true.”
Performers at the ceremony have already been announced, and will include Bruno Mars, Foo Fighters, Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga – who will open and close the show.
“X Factor” contestant Astro is blasting off into the next phase of his career. The 15-year-old hip-hop sensation has inked a deal with Epic Records.
The Brooklyn-born MC, born Brian Bradley, will unite with his mentor L.A. Reid at Epic, where he will join his fellow “X Factor” alum including Chris Rene, Marcus Canty, and winner Melanie Amaro.
Astro captivated the attention of America following his 10-week run on Simon Cowell’s singing competition. As the only contestant to write new material each week, Astro thrilled with his versions of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” Naughty by Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray,” and Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On.”
“I’m excited to continue my journey with L.A. Reid and his staff at the new Epic Records,” said Astro, also known as the Astronomical Kid. “The first time L.A. saw me he said I’d be a star, and I can’t wait to get to work and prove him right. 2011 was Dope, but 2012 is gonna be Epic!”
Although he’s been rapping since the age of 10, Astro first burst onto the scene a few years ago with his original song “Stop Looking at My Mom,” which became a viral sensation.
Over the years, Beyoncé Knowles has amassed numerous honors in the world of music. Now the chart-topping vocalist can add another, as her name has been given to a previously un-named species of horsefly.
According to csironewsblog.com, the horse fly’s golden lower abdomen prompted Australian National Insect Collection researcher/ Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) scientist Bryan Lessard to officially “describe” the fly as Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae.
“It was the unique dense golden hairs on the fly’s abdomen that led me to name this fly in honour of the performer Beyoncé as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy – the naming of species,” Lessard said.
Sharing a name isn’t the only thing Knowles has in common with the horse fly. The site reports that the Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae, a rare species, was collected in 1981, the same year Beyoncé was born, from north-east Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, together with two other previously unknown specimens.
Beyoncé’s inclusion in the insect world follows recent news surrounding her new daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. TMZ states that several weed dispensaries in Hollywood are selling a new strain of marijuana called “OG Blue Ivy.” At this time, Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, have not issued a legal notice to the dispensaries regarding this situation.
A week after giving birth to Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé is enjoying motherhood. She got a visit from her friends Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams who say their fellow Destiny’s Child diva is a natural in her new role.
“She was born to be a mother,” Kelly Rowland told PEOPLE at Saturday’s taping of BET Honors in Washington, D.C. “She’s wonderful.”
Michelle Williams also praised her DC sister. “She has such compassion for people and humanity, period,” said Williams, adding that B and Jay-Z’s daughter is already one of the most stylish babies she’s seen.
But she didn’t expect the busy B to become the first mom of the group. “We were very shocked. We were laughing with each other the other day and she was like, ‘Can y’all believe it? I was the anti—like no children for me,’ and she’s the first one [of us to have a baby],” shared Williams. “So it was so amazing to see her.”
Brandy and Monica’s fans will get to hear the divas’ new duet sooner than expected. Their first collaboration in 14 years will be released next month.
RCA Records has announced a February 6 release date for the singers’ new single, “It All Belongs to Me.” Written and produced by Rico Love, the poignant song reunites the women for the first time since they topped the charts in 1998 with “The Boy Is Mine.”
The newly-minted record picks up where the original left off. “It’s a very soulful R&B song with pop sensibilities,” Rico Love stated in an interview. “I wanted to make sure I made it a classic R&B record, but I definitely wanted to make sure that it had enough appeal to cross over and become a Top 40 record.”
“The Boy Is Mine” held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks, won a Grammy for R&B Performance by a Duo or Group, and was declared the best-selling song of 1998.
“It All Belongs to Me” will appear on Monica’s upcoming album New Life, due March 6, and Brandy’s as-yet-untitled RCA/Chameleon Records debut, coming later this spring.
Dre Black So Fresh 