Rihanna – Take A Bow

Pussycat Dolls – Medley

Leona nailed it! I really have not seen the hype surrounding the song, which is currently #1 on the UK chart until now. Awesome performance.

It may come as a surprise to some, but Rihanna’s sheep-like bleating wasn’t half as annoying as usual. Dare I say, she actually turned in a solid showing.

Pussycat Dolls served up more of the same. Take from that what you will.

What do you think of the performances?

Christina Milian features on the cover of the Winter 08 /09 issue of Rap-Up magazine. In her interview, the singer speaks on former boyfriend Nick Cannon’s surprise wedding to Mariah Carey, getting dropped from Def Jam and what inspired her to return to the industry. Check out quotes from her piece below:

On the reason why she was dropped:

“It was a budget cut, I believe. [Def Jam] probably got rid of projects like mine to spend the money on [Rihanna].”

On who inspired her to get back into music:

“I bumped into Janet Jackson at a club. We talked for an hour and I was telling her I don’t know if I’m gonna do this, and she was like, ‘Girl, do not let them stop you. I’m a fan and you make good music.’ She’s a person I actually looked up to growing up, so her telling me that really was the day I was like, ‘I’m not gonna let these people hold me down. It’s time.’”

On Nick Cannon marrying Mariah Carey:

“I was surprised like everyone else. I was like, ‘Really?’ It just seemed like a weird match, but I was happy for him. I always feel Nick works hard to get what he wants, whether that be women—that’s how he got me.”

Interesting, no doubt. She seemed kinda salty with that Rihanna comment – and rightfully so IMO (no shade on Rihanna, personally). Pretty, talented and oozing with cross-over appeal, had she had the kind of backing Rihanna got (and continues to get), Christina could easily have been what and who Rihanna is today.

Tidbit: Janet, a Christina Milian fan? Things that make you go ‘hmmm’…

Your thoughts?

Entertainment Tonight last night ran a feature on Beyonce’s latest foray into the acting world – ‘Obsessed’, which also stars Brit Idris Elba and that woman from ‘Heroes’ (LOL). The movie, which hits theatres in April 2009, looks really good judging by the clip above.

I’m admittedly a bit cynical when it comes to Beyonce and her acting (‘Dreamgirls’ being her best movie showing to date), so I’ll definitely be paying close attention to this one, as it’s her first non-musical role.

Will you be going to see ‘Obsessed’?

Hot on the promotional trail for his new album ‘Intuition’, Jamie Foxx performed current single ‘Just Like Me’ on Good Morning America yesterday. Pretty good live showing. I’m really warming to the song a lot more now.

What do you think of the performance?

LOL. I guess someone has an album to plug. This PR/marketing stunt is so transparent it’s a joke. Baring in mind he is still in ‘one-hit wonder’ territory, it makes me wonder who these supposed ‘fans’ are. I mean, does anyone still even do the ‘Crank That’?

That said, maybe I should stop going in on the boy; label-influenced or not, more ‘positive’ message music is always a welcome contribution to the industry…

Or maybe not LOL…

Your thoughts?

Remember that video of Akon throwing a fan into the crowd last year? Well it seems it’s gotten the Senegalese singer into a spot of trouble – not as much as it could have, however. Check out the report below via Billboard.com:

Hip-hop star Akon is pleading guilty to harassment after he tossed a fan off stage at a concert last summer. He will serve no jail time as long he performs 65 hours of community service and pays a $250 fine.

Akon declined comment as he left court in Fishkill, N.Y.

The Senegalese-American singer, born Aliaune Thiam, was accused of picking up a teenage boy and throwing him off the stage during a June 2007 concert at a minor league baseball stadium near Poughkeepsie. Another concertgoer said she suffered a concussion when the teen landed on her.

With teen-grinding and fan-tossing being just a few of the controversies Akon has been able to escape(ish), here’s hoping he uses his brain a bit more. SMH…

Any thoughts?

After three film hiatus, Tyler Perry once again dons his Madea get up in the latest movie adaptation in the Madea series – ‘Madea Goes To Jail’. You can watch the extended official trailer for the movie, which comes out in the US in February 2009, above. Definitely looks like it’ll be worth a look-see.

Randomness: UK’ers, did you know – true story – that the reason films like Madea often never are released in Cinemas on this side of the globe is because, according to the big film companies, ‘there isn’t a large enough market for them’ here. SMH…

Will you be going to see ‘Madea Goes To Jail’?

R&B crooner dropped his new album ‘Intuition’ this week. One of his promotional stops a few days back was The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Foxx spoke on Obama, Diddy, his Bond ambitions and a whole lot more. Very funny, I must say. Tidbit: A performance of Jamie’s new single ‘Just Like Me’ is also included.

Randomness: For those who have listened to ‘Intuition’, what do you think of it?

Your thoughts?

Our friends over at Rap-Up.com are reporting that former Destiny’s Child star LeToya Luckett is set to release her sophomore effort ‘Lady Love’ on March 24th next year.

Luckett has been working with Chris Brown, Missy Elliott, Ne-Yo and more on the follow-up to her 2006 Platinum certified (self titled) debut. It’s being said that a track written by Mr Irreplaceable himself (Ne-Yo) is a strong contender for first single.

I’ve said this many a time, but LeToya’s first album stands as one of the most solid and consistent R&B efforts in recent times IMO, so I sure anything am looking forward to this new record.

Are you checking for LeToya’s new album?

Liking this one a little more. Still nothing album worthy here IMO.

With label drama sinking Janet’s latest effort ‘Discipline’, I’m still itching for new material from her – successful new material. If Madonna can still go out there and thrust her waist and crank out hits – there sure ain’t any reason why Janet can’t. Everything just needs to be right; here’s hoping it works out next go round.

Hit(s) or Miss(es)?