‘Rebel Heart’ hitmaker Madonna certainly has a heart for the impoverished African nation of Malawi, a love affair that’s not only seen her dedicate a number of charitable events to the country, but most recently return to celebrate the grand opening of a pediatric hospital.
Just days after covering People Magazine to dish on life at home, Madge was joined by CBS News and four of her six children – Mercy, Esther, Stella, and David (adopted from Malawi) – as she dropped by the city of Blantyre to tour the building named The Mercy James Pediatric Surgery Center (in honor of her eldest adopted daughter).
In a segment shot over the summer but aired this morning, she was introduced to the hospital staff and even spent time with some of the patients. A regal cause indeed, join the Queen of Pop on her visit to Malawi:
Black Hollywood showed up and out for TV’s biggest night – the 69th annual Primetime Emmy Awards (which aired live tonight from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater).
Hosted by ‘The Late Show‘s Stephen Colbert, the CBS-showing celebrates the excellent efforts of some of TV’s best and brightest, in front of and behind the lens.
But, before the telecast began handing out its coveted trophies, some of the night’s most talked about moments had already happened on the red carpet.
What once started as mutual respect between artists apparently turned sour somewhere in the planning of a collabo between rapper Tyler the Creator and One Direction graduate Zayn. Just two years ago the duo were singing each other’s praises on Twitter, even expressing interest in working together:
Fast forward to 2017, it’s pretty safe those feelings have since diminished:
It’s an all-star affair on today’s From The Vault pick. We are back this week with one of the Notorious B.I.G.’s biggest posthumous moment. ‘Nasty Girl.’
With 2005’s ‘Duets: The Final Chapter’, the late rapper proved that even in the afterlife, he could still get the clubs moving – worldwide.
Produced by Jazze Pha, ‘Girl’ featured Diddy, Jagged Edge, Nelly and Avery Storm. Biggie’s verse was lifted from ‘Nasty Boy,’ a track from his ‘Life After Death’ LP.
A moderate success in the US, where it peaked at #43, the cut earned the rapper his very first #1 in the UK – a year after rival – late Tupac – achieved his first chart-topper with the Elton John-assisted ‘Ghetto Gospel.’
The guestlist got even bigger for the track’s video: Pharrell Williams, Usher, Teairra Mari, Fat Joe, Christina Milian and Naomi Campbell joined the featured acts in the Sanaa Hamri visual.
Party atmosphere, celebrity cameos, video vixens all around, this essentially served as 2000’s version of his very own ‘One More Chance.’
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We’re welcoming of posthumous releases that aren’t all mournful and depressing, but instead upbeat and fun. It seems to us like the perfect way to keep an act’s legacy alive.
With so many top artists passing in the past decade, it’d be awesome to see their art celebrated in a colorful way as Biggie’s was in this releases. Michael Jackson’s ‘Xscape’ was definitely a step in the right direction; here’s hoping the likes of Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston’s estates follow suit.
As for Biggie Smalls, he remains one of the most cherished gems of Hip-Hop culture and it’s safe to say that shine is never going away.
Almost a year from the date Madonna fans threw ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ plagiarism claims at ‘Perfect Illusion’ – the first single from Lady Gaga‘s chart-topping last album, ‘Joanne’ – Little Monsters are doing the same to Nick Jonas thanks to his new single, ‘Find You.’
Unveiled in full September 15, the tune – the second release from his yet-titled follow-up to 2016’s ‘Last Year Was Complicated’ – has already shot to the top 20 of iTunes ahead of its video release. Yet, while his fans are praising the cut for its stripped, guitar driven instrumentation, some (namely Gaga fans) are saying its chord progressions sound a little too familiar.
Did Nick take a page out of the songstress’s playbook or is it just a coincidence? Listen to the two inside and tell us your thoughts:
Despite debuting her fifth studio LP, ‘Lust for Life,’ atop the Billboard 200 with some of the year’s biggest first week sales for a female, songstress Lana Del Rey has had quite a time keeping it near the top spot. In fact, just three weeks after its release the set saw an over 85% sales drop.
Nearly a month after announcing a tour to help support its sales, Lana’s finally unveiled the music video for ‘White Mustang’ – a fan favorite from the album. Will it be enough to help ‘Lust’ gallop back up the charts?
