Sisters With Voices better known as SWV the 90′s HIT female R&B trio have jumped back on the scene and they sound great! Still have that 90′s flavor that we loved and missed so much. Coko, Taj and Lelee have released their newest single “Co-Sign”, which was produced by Cainon Lamb. Seems like 2012 will be a good year for R&B!!
D.C. rapper Wale has added another milestone in his career – his first #1 record at Urban Radio.
Although he released a torrent of music and videos leading up to the release of his sophomore album Ambition, “Lotus Flower Bomb” (featuring R&B crooner Miguel) is the second official single off the album since Wale aligned with Maybach Music Group. It marks his first #1.
A video featuring “America’s Next Top Model – Cycle 5″ contestant Bre Scullark is currently in rotation on MTV and BET.
Ambition remains in the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 with over 270,000 units sold since its release in November. It features appearances from his MMG brethren Rick Ross and Meek Mill, as well as Kid Cudi, Big Sean, and a host of R&B’s finest to smooth out the record including Ne-Yo, Jeremih, Miguel and Lloyd. Diplo and Lex Luger each lend their talents to the album’s soundscape amongst a handful of talented up-and-comers.
A video for the dance floor banger “Slight Work” was shot in Los Angeles on Thursday (December 15), and was directed by Chris Brown. The Big Sean assisted video is set to debut at the top of the year.
Following the success of nearly 50-city Ambition tour that he launched in September, Wale is adding additional dates in the United States as well as Canada for the first part of 2012.
Dates for the new dates are below:
12/30 – Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues (Sold Out)
1/1 – Silver Spring, MD @ Fillmore
1/6 – Ann Arbor, MI @ U. Michigan
1/7 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
1/7 – Columbus, OH @ Long Street Live
1/8 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
1/9 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
1/19 – Montreal, Quebec @ Time Supper Club
1/20 – Toronto, Ontario @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
1/21 – London, Ontario @ London Music Hall
1/22 – Hamilton, Ontario @ The Studio at Hamilton Place
1/26 – Bridgeport, CT @ Webster Bank Arena
1/27 – Springfield, MA @ Mass Mutual Center
1/28 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
1/31 – Wichita, KS @ The Cotilion
2/1 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Hall
2/2 – Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
2/4 – Indianapolis, IN (Super Bowl Weekend)
2/10 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza (w/ Miguel) Lotus Flower Bomb / Valentines Show
2/13 – West Hollywood, CA @ Key Club (w/ Miguel) Lotus Flower Bomb / Valentines Show
2/14 – Las Vegas, NV @ Marquee Nightclub
2/15 – Reno, NV @ The Knitting Factory
2/16 – Salt Lake City @ Depot
2/25 & 26 – Orlando, FL (All Star Weekend)
3/2 & 3 – Charlotte, NC (CIAA Weekend)
3/6 – Nassau, Bahamas @ Colonial Island
I am seriously at a loss for words, I just don’t get it!! Who told Sheree Whitfield to go in a recording booth? Why do everybody and their mother Barbara feel the need to try and be a recording artist? People really need to stay in their lane, because this ish right here is pure foolery!!! But I’m sure some folks will get a kick out of the debauchery.
Nas and VH1′s live performance franchise “VH1 Divas” will pay homage to the late Amy Winehouse during this year’s show, titled “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul.”
Nas, who is featured on the track “Like Smoke,” will introduce a tribute medley that will be performed on behalf of collaborator Amy Winehouse, who died from alcohol poisoning in July.
The tribute will feature performances by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine and Wanda Jackson.
This year’s “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul” will pay homage to a variety of American cities that helped shape the sound of today’s popular music.
Singers like Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Erykah Badu, Estelle, Mavis Staples, Anita Baker, Travie McCoy and Boyz II Men will perform tributes to Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, London and Memphis.
Queen Latifah, Common, Nas, Terrence Howard and La La Anthony have been confirmed as presenters for VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul,” which will debut December 19 at 9:00PM.
Legendary poet Maya Angelou has publicly chastised rapper Common over his track “The Dreamer,” from his album The Dreamer, The Believer.
Maya Angelou, who wrote the poem contained on “The Dreamer,” was offended by Common’s lyrics on the track.
She was especially offended at Common’s usage of the “N-word.”
“I had no idea that Common was using the piece we had done together on [a track] in which he also used the ‘N’ word numerous times,” Maya Angelou told The New York Post.
Maya Angelou said that she was “surprised and disappointed” and that she had never heard Common use the word.
“I don’t know why he chose to do that. I had never heard him use that [word] before. I admired him so because he wasn’t singing the line of least resistance,” Maya Angelou said.
Common told The Post that the N word was “a part” of him, but he admitted that he never warned Maya Angelou about his lyrical content.
“I told her what ‘The Dreamer’ was about and what I wanted to get across to people,” Common said. “I wanted young people to hear this and feel like they could really accomplish their dreams.”
Via Concrete Loop
At the age of 18 months, William Brawner contracted the HIV virus. At the age of 5, his mother finally disclosed the news to him and told him to never tell anyone of his immunodeficiency, including close family and friends. 25 years and some girlfriends later, Brawner decided to come clean with his family, friends and past partners, while attempting to start life anew with his new wife, who is HIV-negatvie.
In the Mike Brown-directed documentary 25 To Life, a now 27-year-old William is forced to comes to terms with the consequences of his big secret. Many family, friends are of course shocked and disappointed that he couldn’t be honest with his sexual partners.
“I suppressed my HIV status so much that I minimized it. And because I couldn’t express it, it didn’t exist. Because things were a game to me, I was always looking for my next conquest. That’s how I expressed my man hood. That’s how I expressed my bravado. […] I know I’m a day late and dollar short, but I feel terrible and I want to
Hopefully, this brings more inisight and awareness about his story and will encourage others who may be dealing with similar situations. Watch the interesting trailer below:
If you ever find yourself embarrassed by your relatives, you only need to stop and thank God that you’re not related to any of the people in this video. Two grandmothers are in the hospital shortly after witnessing the birth of their grandson, and it gets real ugly from there. They are too old to be fighting like this – it’s ridiculous.
Via TMZ
Vanessa Bryant filed legal docs Friday afternoon, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ … Vanessa — who stuck by Kobe after he was charged with sexually assaulting a Colorado woman in 2003 — decided to end the marriage because she believes Kobe has been unfaithful … again.
As one source puts it, “She’s been dealing with these incidents for a long time and has been a faithful wife, but she’s finally had enough,” adding, “This one is the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
And our sources say … Kobe “desperately” wants to win Vanessa back and will do “whatever it takes” to save their 10 1/2 year marriage.
According to the legal docs, Vanessa is asking for joint custody of their 2 daughters — 8-year-old Natalia and 5-year-old Giana — but Vanessa is asking that Kobe get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.
We’ve learned the couple has NO PRENUP, so 29-year-old Vanessa is entitled to half of the empire Kobe built over the last decade.
She’s also requesting spousal support … which is typical in divorce cases. Kobe, who filed his response to the divorce minutes after Vanessa filed her petition, says he will pay her spousal support.
According to the docs, Vanessa is being repped by disso-queen Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein. Wasser reps oodles of celebs, including Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.
Kobe went to the Jay-Z concert Tuesday night in L.A. without Vanessa, and people who saw him there say he looked miserable.
Vanessa signed the divorce petition on December 1. Kobe signed his response on December 7.
Via Your Black World
Singer Etta James, the 73-year old musical legend, is terminally ill and about to die. All of this is according to her manager, who is asking fans to pray for her. The singer is best known for her 1961 hit, “At Last.” Her family says that she is in “the final stages of leukemia.”
Lupe De Leon, James’ friend, says that James is at home and simply isn’t expected to recover.
“Etta has a terminal illness. She’s in the final stages of leukemia. She has also been diagnosed with dementia and Hepatitis C. She’s in a home right now and mostly sleeps,” De Leon says. “She is under the care of a live-in doctor from Riverside Community Hospital (in Riverside, Calif.) and two others who have placed her on oxygen. Her husband is with her 24 hours a day, and her sons visit regularly. We’re all very sad. We’re just waiting.”
James’ doctor told the Press-Enterprise that her condition was untreatable about two weeks ago.
“I am Southern and Christian and would just ask for the prayers of her fans and friends,” Dr. Elaine James said.
James was portrayed by the singer Beyonce Knowles in the film, “Cadillac Records” in 2008. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle asked Beyonce to sing “At Last” during their inauguration dance.
Sean “Diddy” Combs toasts to the good life in the Frank Sinatra-inspired commercial for CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka. In the Anthony Mandler-directed clip, the mogul rounds up his very own Rat Pack made up of Hollywood stars Jesse Williams, Chad Michael Murray, and Aaron Paul, as they hit the town for a night out. The fellas celebrate with some sexy ladies including actress Dania Ramirez and models Eva Pigford and Christine Teigen.
“Frank Sinatra made some of the most iconic records of our time; it is truly an honor to use his music again for this campaign,” said Diddy. “The Rat Pack defined the art of celebrating in style. I cannot imagine a Spirit more suitable for commemorating life with family and friends than CÎROC; a brand that has become synonymous with celebratory occasions.”
Dre Black So Fresh 