From The Vault is back this week with a Rap-Sung classic for the ages.

‘What’chu Like’ by Da Brat and Tyrese is today’s pick.

The single was released in the year 2000 as the second offering from Brat’s third LP ‘Unrestricted.’ Helmed by certified duo Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, the jam served as her last Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 peaking at #26 and reached the Top 10 of the Hot Hip-Hop/R&B songs tally.

The legendary Dave Meyers directed the song’s visual. Filled with beach-ready models, the clip featured the two artists living their best lives under the sun and later on partying together at a giant beach bash.

‘What’chu Like’ is renown for its showcasing of a more sensuous side of the rapper, embracing the demure, at least for a little while.

*********

For most of the 2010’s we had been longing for the days the female rap scene would offer us the diversity it originally had in its early years.

With Nicki Minaj undeniably elevating the game and making it more visible, and Cardi B’s rousing arrival, the mood is set for the femcee field as a collective to show the world how it’s done… again.

During the last year, the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, the City Girls and Saweetie showed up and showed out, we’re ready to see where these ladies and all the other talented queens take it next.

Your thoughts?

Omarion has been lodged in the headlines of late, yet ironically by no actions of his own.

The R&B star has watched on (as has the world) while his ex/baby mom Apryl Jones embarked on a highly public relationship with his B2K bandmate Lil Fizz. 

Aired in earnest during this season of ‘Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood’ (which both Jones and Fizz star in together), their union is rendered all the more awkward given that B2K just reunited for a sold-out US tour – with murmurs of future dates.

Now, after a notable silence, O has responded to the sticky situation during an interview with VLAD.

Details below…

(more…)

Harry Styles brought his eclectic brand of heat to Saturday Night Live. 

The former One Direction singer is hot on the promotional trail for new single ‘Lights Up’ and its parent album ‘Fine Line’ (due December 13th).

Since embarking on his solo journey, he’s quickly wracked up critical acclaim and will no doubt be aiming to further cement his status as one of music’s hottest properties.

Peep his performances of ‘Lights Up’ and new number ‘Watermelon Sugar’ below…

(more…)

Lizzo may be slaying on a global scale, but she isn’t resting on her laurels.

The chart-topper is currently in the UK and stopped by ‘The X Factor’ with a bevy of dancers to  deliver a dynamic showing of ‘Good As Hell.’

Originally released in 2017, the track is uniquely enjoying renewed success thanks to Lizzo’s heightened profile and growing chart portfolio. It also benefited from a remix featuring Ariana Grande.

That said, the Houston native was more than capable of leading the charge herself during the spirited performance.

Check it out below…

(more…)

Alicia Keys is going all out with new single ‘Show Me Love.’

Since its arrival last month, the Miguel assisted number has been presented in a number of guises – including a recent remix with 21 Savage and now in another language!

See (and hear) what we mean below…

(more…)

EGOT winner John Legend has demonstrated time and time again his talents know few limits, a feat evidenced once more when he served double duty on ‘Ellen’ Friday (November 15).

With resident host absent, the 40-year-old acted as host and musical guest.  Thrilling the audience with a rousing rendition of ‘Bring Me Love,’ a selection from the deluxe edition of his holiday album, ‘A Legendary Christmas,’ look inside to see this year’s recently anounced ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ (as we reported here) do his thing like only he can:

(more…)

Iggy Azalea‘s forthcoming EP, ‘Wicked Lips,’ hasn’t exactly had people talking – a truth that some point to as the cause of its recently announced delay (click here to read more).

And, while its Alice Chater-assisted lead single, ‘Lola,’ has garnered critically acclaimed aplenty, peruse of Spotify and iTunes sales charts suggest said fanfare isn’t being mirrored commercially.  To ramp up buzz for the ailing project, Iggy Iggz is inviting her faithful fans – affectionately called #Azaleans – to take a behind the scenes peek at the creation of the tune’s accompanying visual.

Curious to see how all the magic came to be?  Look inside:

(more…)

Princess Nokia is back…and this time she’s armed with ‘Balenciaga.’

The New Yorker has been determined to deliver high-end visuals for her growing fanbase in 2019 and pushes her own envelope with the video she shot to support the new single.

Why?

To support the record she will release in 2020.

I’ve got a hip-hop and soul record coming out, and it’s incredible. It’s probably my best work I’ve ever made so far, which will only last ‘til the next one after that.

It’s a really well composed, thought-out brilliantly musical project. I go back to hip-hop, acoustic, R’nB, soul, and there’s some Latin music on it. These lyrics are from the pages of my diary. It’s the diary of a young girl going through heartbreak, loss, betrayal, fame, insecurities, doubt, boundaries, self-care, and more than anything, healing. Healing as a young girl at the start of womanhood. Healing and being honest with everything that I’m feeling and experiencing, and bringing it into poetic light and making it very powerful.

I know that it’s going to make a lot of women cry. This is just a little taste of it.

A NSFW video awaits below…

(more…)

P!nk‘s latest LP, ‘Hurts 2B Human,’ may have opened at #1 on the Billboard 200, but the songs lifted in its support have been hitting sour notes (to say the least) on the Billboard Hot 100.

Coming as her first album since 2003’s ‘Try This’ to see all of its singles miss the top 40 (to date), a change in tide may be coming thanks to assistance from popular Country star Chris Stapleton after the two performed the rousing ‘Human’ duet, ‘Love Me Anyway,’ at this year’s CMAs (November 13).

Having already cracked Country charts, the tune’s made it to #96 on the Hot 100 (as of time of this report).  However, a peruse at iTunes sales tallies over the last few days indicate the CMAs was just the venue to introduce the heartfelt number to the masses as its grip on the chart’s summit hasn’t loosened since Thursday morning (November 14).

Could P!nk be well on her way to the hit ‘Human’ needs?

(more…)

Celine Dion has returned with ‘Courage.’

The hotly anticipated album marks the music maestra’s first English language effort in six years.

To celebrate its arrival, the songstress stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a fun-filled sit-down.

And despite tugging at each others’ funny bones, the pair also discussed Dion’s emotional rebuilding after the passing of husband/manager Rene Angelil.  

Watch the interview below…

(more…)

Fantasia fans without tickets to her ‘Sketchbook Tour’ may want to hurry, because the R&B star has revealed that the trek will be her last.

Full story below…

(more…)

Just days after a notable figure called for the celebration of Nicki Minaj, the femcee has been announced as the recipient of a major honor at Billboard Women In Music 2019. 

Details below…

(more…)

**