Janet Teams With MTV For Talent Show It appears any rift between Janet Jackson and MTV has been dissolved, as the Pop superstar and the network have joined forces for a new show. Check out the report via Variety below:

Janet Jackson is getting into the reality TV business, developing a music competition with 25/7 Prods. for MTV.

Untitled project, which has already started casting, will feature Jackson as she mentors a group of aspiring singers and dancers. Project will be shot in the coming months as Jackson prepares for her world tour, which launches on Sept. 10.

“It’s really about finding who’s the next Janet Jackson or Justin Timberlake or Usher,” said exec producer Dave Broome. “And we’ll find it from a pool of people who you wouldn’t typically find it from. We’ll go to YMCAs, church groups, local community centers and try to cast the show.”

Show will also take place in various street locales, rather than on a studio soundstage. Producers are still ironing out the prize – but it could potentially relate to Jackson’s tour.

Deal also reps the latest chapter in the recent turbulent relationship between the channel and Jackson. MTV produced the infamous Super Bowl halftime show that featured Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction.” After that, fans accused MTV of blackballing the singer from the channel.

But Jackson has been seen more often on MTV lately, having appeared on TRL to promote her latest CD in February. She also starred in a series of shorts spoofing MTV series like “The Real World” as part of MTV’s “52 Artists/52 Weeks Total MTV Takeover.”

Broome’s credits include “The Biggest Loser,” “The Radio Music Awards” and NBC’s Tsunami benefit.

Gil Duldulao and Jackson are behind the show’s concept; Jackson, Duldulao, Broome, Kenneth Crear and Johnny Wright are all exec prodcers.

It’s good to see Janet on her grind, despite her much publicized issues with label Island Def Jam. It’s even better to see that her relationship with MTV is back on track, as there’s no doubt the show – the concept of which sounds pretty interesting – will help ‘re-sell her’ to her what, undoubtedly, is one of her key audiences.


Will you be tuning into Janet’s MTV show?
Teedra Moses Speaks On Label BankruptcyFollowing the news of TVT Records bankruptcy back in February, many have been wondering about the status of R&B singer Teedra Moses – who was signed to the label. The critically acclaimed songstress has addressed her current situation in a recent interview with All Hip Hop Alternatives:

Then I’d have a situation where I’m not well promoted, and they really couldn’t facilitate that at the time. So it was a blessing. Part of me was like “Yeah!’’ and the other part was like “Dang!” But it is what it is.

AHHA: Before they went into bankruptcy, I’m sure you had a lot of meetings with them about the album and the release date. What reasons were they giving you about why the album had to keep getting pushed back?

Teedra: Our communication was just horrible. The person I was dealing with [from TVT] was Brian Leech. He was the A&R that came to the studio and listened to what you were doing. Through him I was able to communicate with the label.

I’m not the type of person that can easily sit in the midst of all the technical stuff. I try to stay away from all that so I can be creative and do what I do without the restraints of thinking about what [A&Rs] have to do. That’s why I have people around for those jobs.

So once Brian left, there was really no way to communicate with them as an artist. There was no music person there. There were a couple other A&Rs, but they used to be assistants. There was no music person to really communicate with that could understand the vision I had.

You have to have that person to translate the vision to the label. It was a hard situation because everything was in disarray, and after Brian left, everything just started to fall apart. There were a lot of people underneath Brian that left too, and it kinda fell apart, unfortunately.

AHHA: So are you a complete free agent at this point?

Teedra: Not exactly; I’m not off TVT yet, but it’s something I’m moving towards. It’s very, very near.

It’s great to see that Teedra is moving forward. Like many, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of her sophomore effort ‘The Young Lioness’. Here’s hoping we’re able to hear it soon.

Any thoughts?

The Game Sentenced To 60 Days In JailFollowing the news earlier this month that rapper The Game will serve time in the slammer on gun charges, BBC News reports he was, today, handed his sentence:

US rapper The Game has been jailed for 60 days after he admitted possessing a gun at a basketball game at a school. The Game – real name Jayceon Terrell Taylor – was also given 150 hours of community service and ordered to spend three years on probation.

Considering it was previously reported he’d be serving 4 months, I think he got off lightly. Saying that, what’s up with these artists and abiding by the law. SMH…


Any thoughts?
Since announcing the ‘N*gga’ as the title of his forthcoming album, rapper Nas has been facing mounting criticism from leaders in the black community including as Rev. Jesse Jackson. In light of the controversy, the ‘Hip Hop Is Dead’ rapper has modified the album’s title to ‘N*gger’ (from ‘N*gga’). Still, Nas – real name Nasir Jones – had choice words for his critics:

“I’m a street disciple,” Nas told MTV News. “I’m talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain’t got no business worrying about what the word ‘nigger’ is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me. Whether you in the NAACP or you Jesse Jackson. I respect all of them … I just want them to know: Never fall victim to Fox [News] . Never fall victim to the sh*t they do. What they do is try to hurry up and get you on the phone and try to get you to talk about something you might not know about yet.

“If Cornell West was making an album called Nigger, they would know he’s got something intellectual to say,” Nas continued. “To think I’m gonna say something that’s not intellectual is calling me a nigger, and to be called a nigger by Jesse Jackson and the NAACP is counterproductive, counter-revolutionary.”
{Source}

Though I can see more of where he’s coming from with his reason for naming the album as such, I still think it’s controversy not worth generating.

What’s your take on the CD’s title?
Former B2K member Raz B has finally addressed the persistent rumors surrounding his sexuality. Speaking out via MySpace, the singer denied being gay, however I’m thinking the way he went about it had the opposite effect. Here’s what he had to say…(it’s long):

Let me put something out on the table right now. Here is my official response to all these gay rumors going around about myself.

1. Yes I heard the radio interview Fizz did.

2. No I am not upset with him and we do not have beef.

Now, a lot of people seem to believe I am gay. Well I am here to say IT’S NOT TRUE. I have expressed that many many times and frankly if some people can not understand that and still want to be ignorant about the subject matter then so be it. As I said before in a magazine interview and excuse my language, but I love pussy..I love the female body and I just have love for women in general.

I have nothing against the gay community, yes I support them. Why discriminate against someone due to their sexual orientation? I’m not close minded and I’m not stuck in a primitive decade. They have feelings to because they are human just like a hetrosexual male or female. Who is anyone to judge just because others discriminate against it? In a way that’s no different than being a racist. I said in a way..I didn’t say it was exactly the same, so don’t send me messages saying “it’s not the same thing” if u disagree.I have love for everyone even if they do hate my guts.

The Bible says “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (Matthew 5:38-44) ” In my case it’s all love and I do my best to look the other way.

Aside from that, people feel that I am gay because I have performed at the gay pride festival a couple of years ago. Well ya know what, that community is an audience like any other people. Why deprive them of a performance because of their sexual orientation? I am not the only musician who has performed for that group of people. Musicians who are on a bigger status have performed there, so why pinpoint me out and make me out to be the black sheep? Lets also get another thing straight, I never performed at a gay club. I made an APPEARANCE at one club, which means I signed autographs. Again, I’m not going to not fullfill my commitment to a group of people who were willing to come out to visit with me just because of their sexual perference.

Also just because I did the whole mohawk thing, doesn’t mean anything either. I was trying a different look and it certainly grab attention, which was my intention, but who knew it would grab so much negativity. And last but certainly not least, JUST BECAUSE I DID NOAH’S ARC DOES NOT MAKE ME GAY. I did it for the purpose behind the meaning of that particular episode which touched on HIV. Nothing more, nothing less other than receiving a pay check for it.

Do you know how many straight male actors have played gay roles? The Rock, Will Smith, The male actors on Will and Grace, Taye Diggs, Robin Williams, Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, Bruce Willis, Marlon Brando, Forest Whitaker, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.The list goes on, so therefore if they can act in such roles and continue on in life without the world wondering about their sexuality, then why can’t I? If I didn’t feel comfortable with the role then I wouldn’t have taken it. It’s called acting, that doesn’t mean I live that lifestyle.

So please hear me and understand me, I am in no way shape or form a gay male. I have nothing against that community. But I would appreciate it if people would stop with the false accusations. If you just asked me the question in recent times, this is not against you, I’m pointing this out for other purposes.Indeed I do realize majority of the public could careless in what I say and believe what they want, but overall it doesn’t matter because myself, my family and my friends know the real me. If you seem to have an issue with what I stated, then I don’t know what to tell you, but God Bless.

Hmmm…

What do you think of Raz B’s denial?
World renown supermodel, Naomi Campbell has been sentenced to five days Community Service for assaulting her maid with a mobile phone. Campbell, who pleased guilty to the offence last year, will clean the streets of New York as part of her punishment. Similar to when Boy George served the same punishment late last year, the paparazzi will no doubt be out in full force to catch a glimpse of this.
This woman is mad. I swear this is like the 3rd or 4th time she has beaten up one of her assistants?! It’s kinda funny though; she don’t look the type to go ‘GANSGTA’ on anybody but she obviously does. It wouldn’t surprise me if she did it again.
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