At a time when Ciara is busy with marriage and motherhood, we salute one of the R&B star’s most bodacious bops. Her 2006 hit ‘Get Up’ is this week’s From The Vault pick.

Helmed by Jazze Pha and featuring rapper Chamillionaire, ‘Up’ was serviced as a promotional single for dance flick ‘Step Up’ starring couple-to-be Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.

A few months later, the track was also included in the singer’s sophomore effort ‘The Evolution’. It quickly became a hit in the US, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and giving CiCi her seventh Top 10. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as successful in other countries – due to a lack of promotion.

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For the song’s visual, a newly-brunette Ci went for an “All Black Everything” approach, with she and her dancers reigning supreme over a dark city. Joseph Kahn directed the video which boasted ample special effects. The film’s leading duo make an appearance too.

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We’ll echo this again (and again): Ciara is one of the greatest entertainers of her generation, it’ grating in a way to see her uphill battle to achieve success as easily as she once did. We sincerely hope her next project will be “the one” that finally helps silence the naysayers when it comes to her artistic abilities as well as her chart viability.

The game and lane is Ci’s for the taking. Fingers crossed she plays her cards right.

Your thoughts?

The fall-out between former friends Kanye West and JAY-Z is getting all sorts of ugly.

For, just days after Jigga released a new album featuring a jab at his one time comrade, it’s been revealed that ‘Ye has left his TIDAL streaming service.

And the split is far from amicable, primarily because TIDAL insist that he…well..can’t.

Unbeknownst to the masses, West’s lawyers sent a letter to TIDAL last month claiming that the rapper – a part owner of the platform – was owed $3 million. Due to alleged non-payment, they assert that his contract has thus become void.

What was the money for, you may wonder?

Well, West’s ill-fated album ‘The Life Of Pablo’ added 1.5 million new subscribers to the service last year – something his team claim he was supposed to receive a bonus for and didn’t.

Additionally, Yeezy asserts that a portion of the amount owed is from money he spent on music videos that TIDAL were supposed to reimburse him for. He says they haven’t.

Upon receipt of the letter, both sides spent two weeks trying to resolve the issue to no avail. Once it became apparent that a deal couldn’t be struck, West’s legal counsel once again fired off a notice insisting that that his contract is terminated.

TIDAL are, in effect, saying “Not so fast.”

Sources close to the service say West didn’t deliver the videos required by his contract. His response? The visuals will be handed over when he’s paid what he’s owed.

TIDAL’s final stance, which they have relayed to West’s team, is that he is still legally bound by the terms of his contract. And, should he defect to another streaming service, they will sue.

Sources say Ye is ok to walk away, but should he be sued then he’ll countersue right away. Meow.

The melee comes on the heels of Jay using the song ‘Kill Jay Z’ to label West ungrateful for ranting about him and Beyonce on-stage last year, after he invested $20 million in West’s fashion line.

Word is that this current legal tussle has nothing to do with that, principally because West knew nothing about the lyrics pre-release. The plot thickens.

[Source]

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An actual, legitimate, mess! In any case…

Kanye has become the first of TIDAL’s high-profile “artist-owners” to leave. At least publicly.

With this, one has to wonder whether he’ll be made an example of or lead the way for more exits. TIDAL’s group  of owners includes the likes of Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, and Beyonce. All of whom have had varying levels of success using the platform for their commercial benefit.

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: Getty]

Rihanna, Bryson Tiller and DJ Khaled have nabbed a Top 5 debut with their smash hit single ‘Wild Thoughts’.

Though doing little to support sales of Khaled’s set ‘Grateful’, the song finds itself gliding to glory thanks to sales and streams generated by praise garnered by Rihanna’s performance in its visual.

Where it debuted? #4.

How? Pure sales of 89,000 units and 36.3 million streams!

Billboard adds:

“Thoughts,” from Khaled’s new album, Grateful, released Friday (June 23), and which samples Santana’s “Maria Maria,” a 10-week Hot 100 No. 1 (featuring The Product G&B) in 2000, marks Rihanna’s 31st top 10, the third-best total dating to the Hot 100’s Aug. 4, 1958, launch.

Wild.

Your thoughts?

The ever-changing game of friends on Bravo’s ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ continues this year.

The latest development? The feuding between former pals NeNe Leakes and Porsha Williams as shooting for its tenth season kicks off this month.

Rising as a fan favourite following Leakes’ hiatus from the series, the fun-loving Williams was quizzed on her feelings towards her return on the latest episode of ‘Dish Nation’.

Porsha Williams Reacts To NeNe Leakes’ Return ? Shade Or Nah? ? #RHOA #RHOA10 #PorshaWilliams #NeNeLeakes #DishNation Video Via @DishNation

A post shared by Real Housewives Of Atlanta ? (@realhousewivesatlanta) on Jun 21, 2017 at 5:25pm PDT

Her response prompted this message from Leakes (who is now friends with Williams’ nemesis Kenya Moore).

A post shared by Real Housewives Of Atlanta ? (@realhousewivesatlanta) on Jun 22, 2017 at 2:42am PDT

How the viewers feel about NeNe’s defection from Camp Porsha to Kenya’s Clan?

So now Nene has a problem with Phaedra and Porsha ? y’all say cynthia is a flip flopper but it’s really Nene #RHOA #RHOAReunion #WWHL

— Cinthia (@0_lala) May 1, 2017

Nene, you knew it, but you befriended her during your final seasons! You’re the BIGGEST FLIP FLOPPER, for whoever rides Team Nene. #RHOA

— Kween_SugarBaby (@BossLadySdotD) May 8, 2017

NeNe been searching for a storyline and Porsha that girl who gives the girls one the last 2 seasons https://t.co/4GzeInjAaE

— MILLI (@SoMilli_) June 22, 2017

Now that Nene is making her return to season 10 of #RHOA, we all know she’s going after Porsha now that Pheadra isn’t there?

— Movie & TV Show Talk (@MovieTvShowTalk) June 17, 2017

Do you agree?

Keyshia Cole has seasoned history with reality TV and is adding a new chapter by starring in the upcoming season of ‘Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood.’

Set for a July 23rd premiere, this cycle of the show – which also stars Brooke Valentine – will see the R&B belle juggling the personal and the professional:

Peep Cole’s official synopsis:

Keyshia prepares for the release of her highly anticipated new album while juggling her co-parenting relationship with ex-NBA star Daniel “Booby” Gibson. Though she may be new to the cast she is definitely already a staple in the industry. Will she able to find the right balance between her music and her personal life?

Here’s her intro…

The ‘Heaven Sent’ singer will be appearing alongside a slew of returning names including Ray J, Princess Love, Teairra Mari, Safaree, Moniece Slaughter, and Miss  Nikki Baby.

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Some may scoff at Keyshia, but what’s to lose?

It’s a new day and age and with upcoming album ’11:11 Reset’ to plug, a million plus viewers on VH1 every Monday sounds like a powerful platform. As long as she’s not shaking tables or pulling wigs. Although, that has oddly worked for some in the past. Who knows.

In any case…

Your thoughts?

Camila Cabello kicked off the international push for her solo career tonight on the grandest of stages – ‘Britain’s Got Talent.’

Watched on by millions tuning in to the ITV hit, the former Fifth Harmony singer delivered a dynamic performance of current singles ‘Crying In The Club’ and ‘I Have Questions.’

How did she do? The answer awaits below…

Ecco la performance completa di Camila al #BritainsGotTalent ? #CamilaOnBGT pic.twitter.com/Mg8SBnoMbQ

— Camila Cabello Italy (@CCabelloIT) May 30, 2017

Dancers wouldn’t have gone amiss, but that was solid nonetheless.

Perhaps it’ll lend the songs enough juice on the charts in the UK to become hits there.

Your thoughts?

‘Dark Horse’ hitmaker Katy Perry may not be riding hits to the top of the charts in ways she’s been accustomed to in the past, but the absence of her chart dominance has by no means minimized her number of rides to the bank.  Case in point?  Her ‘American Idol’ pay.

As we reported last week, the Grammy-nominated songstress was not only the first confirmed judge of ABC’s ‘Idol’ reboot, but she was set to pocket a cool $15 million for the gig.  While Perry has yet to confirm if the reports are true, what she did recently confirm (via an interview with New York’s KTU radio) was that the sum she negotiated was higher than any male judge has ever received over the show’s 15-season history.

Hear her relish in the accomplishment below:

(more…)

Following her short-lived yet entertaining run on ‘The X Factor Australia’ Iggy Azalea has announced that she intends to join ABC’s ‘American Idol‘ revival!

Should she get her wish, she’d join Katy Perry on a panel which is currently being created by the aforementioned ABC who are to pay Perry a reported $15 million.

Click here to learn more!

Iggy’s new LP ‘Digital Distortion’ will impact retailers later on this year and will serve as her first set since the unveiling of her debut album ‘The New Classic’ which delivered the smash hit single ‘Fancy‘.

Do you think Iggy would make for a good judge?

Share your thoughts below!

Who run the world? Girls!

As the charts and tour tallies highlight, females remain a formidable force in the music industry.

Forbes highlights the lofty levels noted names have ascended to with their newly released list of Wealthiest Female Musicians Of 2017.

Head below to find out where your fave ranks…

1. Madonna ($580 million)

Her Rebel Heart tour, which ended in March 2016, grossed $170 million. She also cashes in on clothing and perfume. A savvy spender, Madonna has scooped up New York real estate and fine art–reportedly including works by Picasso and Man Ray–as well as a stake in Jay Z’s Tidal streaming service.

2. Celine Dion ($400 million)

Last February, Dion resumed a Las Vegas residency that had been on hiatus for a month after her husband’s death. She’s back to playing 70-odd times a year at Caesar’s Palace, where she made $27 million in 2016; a Canada native, she’s earned most of her money in Sin City, hence her inclusion here.

3. Barbra Streisand ($390 million)

Her $46 million gross for 14 shows last year added to a career tour tally in the hundreds of millions. Streisand has also been shrewd with that haul, particularly with her real estate investments: sources believe her Malibu compound, reportedly purchased for under $20 million, could be worth close to $100 million.

4. Beyoncé ($350 million)

Last year’s Lemonade was her sixth solo No. 1 album—and spawned the Formation World Tour, which grossed a quarter of a billion dollars. Expecting twins with her husband, Jay Z, Beyoncé is taking a break from the stage, but has still taken time to voice support for causes like Black Lives Matter.

5. Taylor Swift ($280 million)

The success of her 1989 tour, which smashed North American touring records en route to a quarter-billion-dollar gross in 2015, established Swift as one of the world’s top entertainers. Even when she has a quiet year, as she did in 2016, she continues to earn from music, endorsements and merchandise.

[Click here for full list]

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Kudos to all the ladies mentioned.

We’re quite surprised at the omission of a certain Ms. Fenty, though. Things that make you go hmm.

Your thoughts?

It looks like Katy Perry may have to put in a call to Olivia Pope & Associates or an equivalent service. Because her new single ‘Bon Appétit’ is bombing – and in a big way.

Unleashed only a week ago, the Migos assisted track has experienced an uncharacteristically bad chart run.

Indeed, signs looked bad when it failed to ever reach the top 10 of US iTunes – a reality virtually unheard of for a “Katy Perry” release.

Fast forward a week and the track has vanished from the top 100 of the market leader’s digital store.

As at writing, it sits at #103.

Fascinatingly, its below its preceding single ‘Chained To The Rhythm’ (#83) and older efforts from the likes of Lady Gaga (see: ‘Million Reasons’ / #69).

With streaming figures looking equally problematic, it’s unlikely (although not impossible) that even a video will help this.

It definitely makes one wonder: If Katy is struggling to sell / stream singles, what fate awaits her album?

Your thoughts?

Kendrick Lamar has the masses saying ‘DAMN’ for more reasons than one this week.

The Hip-Hop force earned the year’s highest album sales debut with the LP and now has cause for celebration with its latest single ‘HUMBLE.’

For, in climbing #3-#1 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100, the track has become K. Dot’s second song to reach the top of the tally. Taylor Swift’s ‘Bad Blood (Remix)’ being the first.

In doing so, it uproots Ed Sheeran’s monster smash ‘Shape Of You’ – which logged 12 non-consecutive weeks at #1.

So how did Lamar pull off the feat?

‘HUMBLE.’ increased a colossal 56% in streaming to amass a US one week total of 67.4 million Stateside streams. It also wracked up 56,000 US downloads.

Elsewhere on the chart, the TDE star earned the week’s highest new entry with fellow ‘DAMN’ track ‘DNA’ (#4).

We’re still getting our life to the ‘HUMBLE.’ video. Watch the Dave Myers production below…

Your thoughts?

Guess which entertainer stepped out and shared this snap of himself enjoying downtime with his girlfriend hours ago.

Hint: The Southern gentleman picks up a reported $1.9 million a year and, when he isn’t rocking stadiums with his unmatched skills, can be found rubbing shoulders with some of Pop’s more influential purveyors.

Still unsure?

Our mystery man’s identity below…

It’s Odell Beckham Jr!

The 24-year-old athlete made his way to Six Flags hours ago with his new love interest after enjoying all Coachella had to offer him last weekend!

Beckham plays for the New York Giants and was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Hit the play button on the video to learn more about him!

Who did you think it was?