Beyonce Covers EbonyR&B superstar Beyonce features on the cover of the April issue of Ebony magazine. I’m feeling most of Bouncy’s spread, yet the feature article is equally as good. Check out a preview below:

When asked who is the real Beyonce, she tells the magazine:

“I’m a daughter, I’m a friend, I’m a wife, I’m a sister. All those things first. I’m artist. I’m a businesswoman. I’m multifaceted. I’m a lover. I’m inspired by love. I make decisions from the heart.”

When she makes decisions about what projects to do, her priority is not money but personal growth.“I turn down million dollar offers all the time because it’s something that does not feel true for what I’m trying to say. I have to be passionate about it. Love inspires and growth inspires me…If it is not going to be iconic, something I can love 10 years from now, I’ve learned I should not waste my time with it.”

She says her and Jay-Z stay out of each other’s business dealings.

“He was very successful before I met him and I was very successful before I met him. So we have so much respect for each other, and respect for each other artistically. We are very close friends, and I believe he is the ultimate artist and he has the same feelings for me.”

Asked to describe herself as a wife:

“I don’t know how to talk about it because I don’t like to talk about it. But I have a great example of a great wife, and that’s my mother. And I have great friends around me that have been married, so I’m lucky to have really good examples. And a great husband.”

She says they are just like any other couple. She is learning to cook and he’s getting over his single-guy habits.

One thing she does to get on his nerve: “I’m a little messy. Oh, yeah. Whenever I’m out in public, I have to be put together. When I get home, I rebel against it and I don’t want to take care of anything. I drop it. I’m relaxed. I don’t have any shoes on. No makeup. My purse is in the kitchen. I think that is most difficult thing for him. He’s very, very organized. I’m extremely organized when I’m working, and I work so much that when I get home I don’t want to think about anything.”

As for what Jay-Z does that get on her nerves: She laughs, “I won’t say.”

She said she doing charity work such as working with women and children through shelters and organizations. She says she is mentoring and counseling them.

Asked about a quote from years ago where she said she wanted to retire by age 21. She says she could have retired at that age but now she has no intention of ever retiring.

“I’ve worked so hard on my craft, and I will never stop. I will never retire. I love it way too much.”

Beyonce Covers Ebony Beyonce Covers Ebony
Beyonce Covers Ebony Beyonce Covers Ebony

Your thoughts?

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Peep Danity Kane star Dawn Richard baring all in her feature spread in the latest issue of KING magazine. While she certainly looks great, didn’t she sling mud at a certain Ms. O’Day for stripping off for the cameras? Just saying…

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What do you think of the pics?

According to Day-26.com, Bad Boy collective Day26’s sophomore effort is titled ‘Forever In A Day’ and will be released on April 14th. The set will be preceded by confirmed lead single ‘Put It On Her’, which you can listen to above.
Those of you who have been keeping up with the latest season of Making The Band 4 will have seen the guys express their desire for a more uptempo sound this go round – something they’ve achieved with this gritty, club banger. Great track.
Tidbit: Diddy and Yung Joc are supposedly to feature on the final version of the track.
Hit or Miss?
Aubrey: 'I Would Go Back To Danity Kane'
In a recent interview, former Danity Kane vixen Aubrey O’Day didn’t rule out the possibility of re-forming with the Platinum selling group at some point:
Aubrey O’Day has claimed that she would never turn down the chance to reform her previous band Danity Kane if there was interest in a reunion.
The singer-model denied reports that she had been invited to return to the fourth season of Making The Band, telling MTV News that she would not be asked back because she was fired from the group.
O’Day said: “I know what they have confirmed to me, and that is what I said in the season finale.
“Danity Kane was a wonderful group, and like all things, nothing is forever. We had a great run and we were very successful.
“If there was ever interest in me coming back… and making music with the girls, I would never say no to something like that.”
She added that she would not comment on any negativity from her former bandmates in the media.
O’Day recently posed for Playboy magazine, saying that sex can be “beautiful”, “comfortable” and “empowering”. {Source}
For all the seeming finality of the Danity Kane ‘split’, I’ve still yet to swallow the idea that they are done – especially after watching the most recent episodes of Making Then Band 4. Granted the ladies iron over their differences, I can’t see why they wouldn’t make another go of the group. Afterall, being BFF’s with your group members isn’t a requirement – just do you job and do it well. 
Tidbit: For all those awaiting out for our interviews with D.Woods and Dawn, hold tight! You’ll most likely see the D. Woods interview sooner than you can say ‘Sam the man, the Kelly Rowland Stan’ LOL…with the Dawn interview following soon after.
Your thoughts?

Review in a bit…
In the meanwhile…
What do you think of the song / video?
Ciara & LeToya To Go Head-To-Head In Chart Battle
R&B stars Ciara and LeToya will see their much delayed new albums, ‘Fantasy Ride’ and ‘Lady Love’ respectively, finally released on May 19th. 
The news comes after CiCi’s ‘Fantasy Ride’ was bumped from its April 7th retail date, following the release of yet another single – ‘Love, Sex, Magic (ft. Justin Timberlake)’ this past week. Speaking in an interview with Ed Lover on Power 101.5 last night, the singer explained the reason for the latest date being that the label wants to launch the record at the same time ‘globally’ – which I, guess, is a viable reason (this time).
As for LeToya, there’s no word on why she was pushed back; however the fact the video for her new single ‘Not Anymore’ has yet to premiere, I’m sure, factors into the reason for the album’s delay. I’m also assuming they will be going for a ‘2-single-before-album’ release strategy with this record. Time will tell…
That said…
Who will you be supporting on May 19th:

Ciara, LeToya, Both? 

With Chris Brown’s career currently in tatters, the male R&B market definitely seems to have an opening for a new heavyweight – (re)enter Omarion. The former B2K front-man has enjoyed limited success in his quest for solo stardom, however looks set to make another crack at the big time with his new label deal with Timbaland’s Mosely Group / Interscope imprint. While it’s unknown when exactly Omarion’s 3rd LP will drop, this new cut called ‘Comfort’ is said to be the record’s first single.
Produced by Timbaland and featuring Lil’ Wayne, ‘Comfort’, put simply, is a pretty decent mid-tempo (with a thump) which could very well prove a hit in the current marketplace – which seems to favour the repetitiveness of a chorus (“Comfort, comfort, comfort”). What’s more anything Lil’ Wayne touches these days seems to turn to gold. As to whether I like the song myself…I can’t say it moved me much.
Hit or Miss?
Ciara stopped by BET’s 106 & Park yesterday to talk about her new project ‘Fantasy Ride’ project. Among the discussed, the 22 year old spoke on her collaboration with embattled label mate Chris Brown, a track called ‘Turntables’ and whether it will remain on the album, the LP’s release date (please believe it has changed again!) and more. Peep part 1 above and part 2 of the interview below:
Though Ms. Harris always comes across pretty well in interviews, these constant push-backs of her album don’t bode all that well. Hopefully everything works out with the record; for what it’s worth the radio reception of her and Justin’s collabo ‘Love, Sex, Magic’ has been pretty good.
Tidbit: I guess Chris Brown won’t be making it onto the album. Though I’m awaiting the full details in the ‘ChRihanna’ drama, it really is seeming like he’s done – his own label yanking him off his label mates album.
Your thoughts?
Cherish Split; Twins Form Duo
Following the poor performance of Cherish’s sophomore LP ‘The Truth’, which dropped last year, it appears the sister group have parted ways with each other (as well as their label Capitol Records). This news comes as twin sisters, Fallon and Felisha, who fronted the group, revealed that they have formed a duo, aptly called Fallon & Felisha. The pair have reportedly been in the studio with producers Bryan-Michael Cox, Eric Hudson, Don Vito, Adonis, among others. 
By clicking the link below you can listen to a new track by the duo called ‘Infected’ on their MySpace. Listening back to the cut had me very sceptical about where exactly these girls are going with this group, as the song sounds strikingly similar to the material they churned out with Cherish. (Good) Material being one of the group’s biggest problems as well as a major lack of individuality/uniqueness among the members (try naming all 4 members of the group off-head…LOL). Still, it’ll be interesting to see where this duo idea takes them.

Your thoughts?

The video for Bow Wow’s latest single ‘You Can Get It All (ft. Johnta Austin)’ premiered today. Directed by Hype Williams, the clip – which was shot on Malibu Beach, is pretty much ‘standard’. The song, too, which features on Bow Wow’s forthcoming ‘New Jack City II’ LP (due March 31st) doesn’t show anything in the way of artist growth on Bow Wow’s part; not even the TLC ‘Baby Baby Baby’ sample could save this one on the production tip either. Sub-par.
What do you think of the song / video?

After a lengthy hiatus from the music scene following the abysmal performance of her last LP ‘Brave’ and the birth of her twins, Jennifer Lopez is prepping a return to the limelight. Word has it the singer/actress is readying a greatest hits set, which will also feature new material – ‘Hooked On You’, reportedly, being one of them. Produced by Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins Chris & Teeb, the song unsurprisingly bares striking similarity to Janet Jackson’s ‘Feedback’, also a Jerkins produced cut, with its aggressive, thumping, club-ready beat underpinned by Lopez’s ‘soft’ vocals.
Though this isn’t a ‘Feedback’ (Janet hit a homerun with that…she needs another ‘FB’ IMO), this one sounds like a winner. Jenny’s lacking/annoying vocals (at times) aside, the production on this is *hot hot hot*, while the bridge and “My neck and my back” nod spelt *S-W-A-G-G-A*
Hit or Miss?

Superstar Beyonce took to the stage at last night’s 81st Annual Academy Awards to perform a rousing medley called ‘Musicals Are Back’ alongside Hugh Jackman, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried, and High School Music stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.
The Baz Lurhmann produced performance was awesome (even though mimed – it’s understandable)! Beyonce really shone and it was great seeing her give renditions of songs we’ve yet to hear her put a spin on such as ‘Lady Mamalade’.
What do you think of the performance?
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