Having already notched up over 1 and half million views on Youtube, this hilarious video of the Top 60 Ghetto Black Names has become an internet sensation in the space of just a few weeks. 
Though no doubt laugh out loud funny, some have raised questions as to whether there are racist undertones…
What do you think?

Hot on the promotional trail for her latest effort ‘Fantasy Ride’, Ciara stopped by The Tonight Show With Jay Leno a few hours ago to perform current single ‘Never Ever’.
While I enjoyed the performance, I must say I’m hungry for another ‘Love Sex Magic’ live showing. However, as the Justin Timberlake assisted cut has already peaked inside the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, I guess more attention is being paid to ‘Never Ever’.
Tidbit: Look out for our interview with Ciara later this week.
What do you think of the performance?

Kelly Rowland made a brief stop in the UK this weekend, to perform at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival in Swindon. The ‘Like This’ singe gave a stunning acoustic rendition of ‘When Love Takes Over’, the cut she features on from David Guetta. It’s really not often that we hear Kelly belt a whole song out full voice; and how great it sounds. Awesome vocals, awesome performance. I’m really hoping we hear Kelly sing like this more on her next record. {Thanks Detron!}
What do you think of the performance?

Hot on the promotional trail for her new album ‘Fantasy Ride’, Ciara performed on Satueday Night Live last night. The 23 year old gave live renditions of current singles ‘Love Sex Magic’ (w/ Justin Timberlake) and ‘Never Ever’ which you can view above.
Having literally just rolled out of bed (it’s 9.23am here in London), I may be a tad over-excited in saying this; but that ‘Love Sex Magic’ performance IMO is Ciara’s best live showing ever! Say what you want about her, but that performance sold her, the song and album in ways I’ve yet to see an artist (sans ‘she who shall not be named’) do in a long long time. From the choreography, to the swagger, to the vocals (if they were live LOL, if not who cares!)…everything was straight fire. Awesome.
…’Never Ever’ was pretty good too LOL…
What do you think of the performances?


As one of the biggest acts to emerge from the UK scene over the last year, The Saturdays were to invited to perform at today’s BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend festival in Swindon. The fierce-five piece offered, somewhat, stripped down versions of their biggest hits (I’m guessing to go with the ‘festival’ theme). Peep a selection of their performances above and below, inclusive being ‘Issues’, ‘Work’ and ‘Beggin’: 


While their performance of ‘Issues’ was great, as was that of ‘Beggin’, the same can’t really be said for ‘Work’. The track which is hands down their best yet IMO didn’t transcend as well in this particular live setting. Where was the choreography, polished stage presence and whatnot? For what it’s worth, I liked the live instrumentation of the track, though. 
Tidbit: Why do people pay to go to shows to stand still and be mute? Don’t some people know it’s a recession?! Wack or otherwise, if paid for, I have to enjoy the show – it’s not even an option not to!  
What do you think of the performances?

The video for Mariah Carey’s ‘Love Story’, from her ‘E=MC2’ LP, premiered on the net today. Not to be mistaken as a single, the diva’s husband Nick Cannon released the video as a gift to Mimi’s fans (the ‘Lambs’) to commorate their 1 year wedding anniversary. The clip was also presented during the couple’s anniversary celebrations in Las Vegas a couple of weeks back. Interestingly, the footage is taken from scenes that were meant to feature in a proper video for the song, which was supposed to be the follow-up to ‘Bye Bye’.
About the video; it’s decent, I guess. Not much to say there…
However, discussing Mariah’s last project kinda brings back to my conciousness how shabby the handling of the project was (i.e. single choices) and how medicore the album itself was. Here’s hoping the record Mariah is currently putting the finishing touches to in the studio is better. The as-yet-untitled album is due out later this year.
Tidbit: Click here to read Nick Cannon’s blog laying into rapper Eminem for still having Mariah’s name in his mouth on his ‘Relapse’ album LOL.
Your thoughts?

Peep this behind the scenes look at the video for the Cassie’s, whose name is on everyone’s lips right now, new single ‘Must Be Love’.
I can’t say either the song or (what we’ve seen of the) video are rocking my world, to be honest. Maybe my judgement is clouded by the fact that I will forever wonder how Cassie has (and even secured) a record deal.
I’m still a little suspicious about the whole leaking of the nude shots of her earlier this week. With promotion for her new single and video ‘Must Be Love’ set to kick off shortly, the timing of the scandal seems oh so suspect.
Your thoughts?
Shocking: Nude Rihanna Pics Hit The Net!!!
First Cassie earlier this week, and now Rihanna; *fully* nude pictures of the ‘Umbrella’ singer have surfaced within the last hour on Perez Hilton. We won’t be posting the pictures here for several reasons, however they’re not hard to find. Peep the report below, though:

RIHANNA has become the latest star caught up in a nude photo scandal after salacious snapshots allegedly featuring the singer were posted online on Friday (08May09).

Rihanna’s face can clearly be seen in shots that show the Umbrella singer stripping provocatively for the camera, but other photos show only segments of a woman’s naked body.

The most incriminating full-length shot appears to feature the sexy star partially clothed taking a photograph of herself in the mirror of a large hotel suite bathroom. The messages ‘I love you’ and ‘I miss you’ are written on the mirror.

The girl in the photo definitely looks like Rihanna, but the subject’s face is covered by a BlackBerry phone camera.

The seven pictures led to websites like Imagehaven.net almost crashing as fans stormed the Internet looking for the scandalous photos, which reports suggest were taken at The London hotel in West Hollywood, where Rihanna once stayed with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown.

The new photos come just days after Rihanna made her first public appearance following an alleged fight with Brown in Los Angeles on the eve of the Grammy Awards in February (09).

The R&B star performed briefly alongside Kanye West at the Costume Institute Gala in New York on Monday (04May09).

Brown still faces jail time if he’s found guilty of allegedly beating his then-girlfriend and threatening to kill her during the fight. {Source}

WOOOOOWWWWW!!! This week has actually been nuts with all the celebrity ta-ta’s and va-jay-jay’s being seen across the net! Rihanna is the last person I’d expect to see this from; why, I don’t know…I just wouldn’t expect it. That said, it’s interesting that it’s the non-singing singers that this has been happening to. I really didn’t want to bring her name in this, but you wouldn’t see this from a Beyonce for example. Being so high-profile, taking such pics to begin with is always gonna be risque. SMH…

What this means for Rihanna career-wise will be interesting to see…
Your thoughts?
Beyonce To Take A Two Year Break?
In news that is sure to get tongues wagging, Beyonce recently expressed desire for a two year break from the limelight:

Beyoncé has announced that she is considering taking a two-year career break.

The ‘Halo’ singer admitted that she is keen to have an extended holiday once she completes her current tour.

“My priorities are slowly changing. So after this tour I might be tired and want to take two years off. I’ve worked hard enough to be able to do that. I’m in a very good place,” she told Marie Claire.

The former Destiny’s Child star revealed that she is conscious about scheduling time with her husband Jay-Z.

“We try to sync our calendars. I started working on my tour a year ago just to make sure that I had time at home,” she said.

“Any other woman who has to go to work and pick up the kids and make dinner – that’s way harder than what I have to do. At least I can say I’m taking two weeks off and really take two weeks off.”

Beyoncé recently dismissed speculation that she is planning to start a family soon. {Source}

In as much as Bouncy could do with a break, I doubt her work-a-holic nature would allow for it. Then again, too much exposure is never a good thing, so…

Your thoughts?

R&B star Kelly Rowland is currently here in Europe promoting David Guetta’s fantastic new single ‘When Love Takes Over’, which she features on. The 28 year old sat down, most recently, with MTV Lithuania to discuss the record, her new album, Destiny’s Child and more. 
A pretty decent interview…that is until the dumb-a** interviewer asks what has to be the silliest ish I’ve heard in a while: “do you know Beyonce personally?” Erm…right. Anyway, Ms. Kelly’s response was spot on and was refreshing in that it wasn’t what you’d expect. Good stuff.
Tidbit: We’re hearing an announcement as to Kelly’s new label is imminent…
Your thoughts?

R&B star Brandy played to a packed crowd at the Indig02 last night here in London. That Grape Juice was meant to be on-site at the event, but a clash with another commitment didn’t allow for it. Either way, I’m hearing Ms. Norwood tore down the house, revisiting many of her past hits as well as giving renditions of newer gems too. Peep the video above for her performances of ‘Afrodisiac’ and ‘Who Is She 2 U’. {Thanks Ernest and Mr Ezugwu!}
*Note: Keep checking this post, as more videos and reviews will be added, as and when they become available*

What do you think of the performance?

Did you attend the show? If so, what did you think?
Irv Gotti: 'I'm Dropping Ashtanti From The INC'Speaking to MTV recently, The INC owner Irv Gotti has controversially gone on record to publicly reveal that he is dropping Ashanti from the label – her recording home for 8 years:
Irv Gotti says he and Ashanti, the Princess of the Inc., will soon be parting company. He said they haven’t been on speaking terms for some time, and the label head/reality-TV star says there’s nothing he can do but end their musical and business affiliation.
“The relationship has run its course,” Gotti explained earlier this week while visiting the MTV offices. “The chemistry of what’s needed — we’re in two totally different places. You’re talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world, and it blew up. We [hold the record] for the [fastest] selling debut by a female R&B artist — 503 [thousand]. We did it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up.”
Ashanti’s last LP, The Declaration — her first in four years — came out in June of last year on the Inc. and was created with virtually no input from Gotti. The album was her first in-studio project not to go platinum. Gotti says it’s because the singer deviated from their winning formula and tag-team effort.
“I personally believe for her to be successful, it took the energy … when you seen her, it was 30 n—as around her, and she’s the princess so nice and pretty walking through,” he said. “The music was great, but it was the energy that was created. It wasn’t just her standing there and singing a song.
“We don’t really speak or talk or anything like that,” he continued. “It’s sad in a way. But in another, it’s like it’s all good.”
Well, maybe not that good. Gotti said it is best for them to part ways.
“I don’t think she can win. She needs some guidance with that,” Gotti added. “But she’s not thinking like that. Really, I couldn’t tell you what she’s thinking. So that relationship has run its course and honestly, I’m gonna just drop her.”
At press time, a rep for Ashanti had not granted MTV News’ requests for comment.
Gotti told MTV News that he’s maintained the rights to all of his artists, including Ashanti, Lloyd and of course Ja Rule. The exec says he’s working on a deal to reunite with his fellow Def Jam alumni Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles and Julie Greenwald over at the Warner Music Group. He says new albums by Lloyd, new rapper Newz and Rule are in the cooker. He explains the delay of Rule’s The Mirror is because they are trying to craft a classic LP.
Ouch! Granted, I’m sure Ashanti and her team must have had some inkling about this, doing it so publicy is so wrong on Irv’s part. Despite the tanking of ‘The Declaration’ (which is actually a great CD – her best IMO), Ashanti to-date is still the most viable artist on The INC (have you seen Ja Rule, Lloyd etc anywhere recently? Thank you). Hence treating her as such just makes Irv look like a bitter man; one’s whose label is done done done. SMH…
Anyway, what this means for Ashanti’s deal with Universal Motown, which was a joint venture with The INC, is currently unknown. I’m sure a better label would readily scoop her up…wouldn’t they? {Thanks Ms. Helen!}
Your thoughts?
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