R&B songstress Mya performed her new single ‘Ridin’ at the Spotlight Live in New York a few weeks back. I’m really liking the track and felt Mya did the song justice live. Mya’s long-awaited (and serially delayed) album ‘Liberation’ is confirmed for a September 18th release – here’s hoping that the date sticks. Be on the lookout for a potential Mya feature in the weeks and months ahead.

What do you think of the performance?

Singer Whitney Houston gave a surprise performance at the 2007 Sisters Conference with CeCe Winans. The pair performed their 1996 hit ‘Count On Me’ from the ‘Waiting To Exhale’ soundtrack. Though brief, it sounds like Whitney’s voice is back in great shape. I’m really waiting on that comeback album of hers. If the material is on-point (like the ‘My Love Is Your Love’ CD), then she may be onto a winner.

What do you think of the performance?

The situation with 50 Cent and Kanye West albums facing off against each other has escalated to new heights. Speaking to SOHH, 50 is now claiming that if he sells less than Kanye, he’ll hang up his mic for good (sort of). Check out what he had to say:

“They would like to see Kanye West give me a problem because I’ve worked myself into a space where I’ve become the favorite,” Fif told SOHH exclusively. “Everybody roots for the underdog when he goes against the favorite.

“Put it like this,” 50 told SOHH. “Let’s raise the stakes. If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I’ll no longer write music. I’ll write music and work with my other artists, but I won’t put out any more solo albums. [Listen to the audio here]

“And I bet this, when Kanye West’s sales come in, he’s gonna have a 70% decrease [the second week] ’cause Def Jam is gonna buy records to keep him closer to 50 Cent,” the Queens rapper added. “So watch the first week and then watch the second week. Watch his @#* drop off the planet. We keep our angles covered before we make a decent bet.”

50 is really becoming laughable. I’m guessing he thinks he’s creating a buzz around his CD by playing up to this ‘face off’, yet he’s coming across like a fool. Instead of feeding into the hype, Kanye is releasing great singles and building genuine interest around his project. For that reason, as well as 50’s cockiness, more people are likely to pick up Kanye’s CD {Itunes Pre-orders show West to be in the lead already}. I’m hoping Kanye comes out on top, so 50 can go sit down somewhere.


Your thoughts?

There really doesn’t seem to be any stopping Beyonce. As the superstar rounds up ‘The Beyonce Experience’ tour, the endorsement commercials keep coming. The latest sees the ‘Deja Vu’ singer front a campaign for L’Oreal Lip Colour. It seems we’ll be seeing a lot more of Beyonce, as campaigns for American Express and Armani are also in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, Solange stopped by The Today Show yesterday, along with her son Juelz, to promote Baby Jamz – their new line of nursery rhyme products with a Hip Hop twist. Initially I thought the concept was a joke, but the songs actually sound pretty good. Click here to check them out.

Any thoughts?

With Mario’s continually pushed back ‘Go!’ album set for an October 9th release, yet another track from the CD has surfaced. ‘Ghetto Love’ is a laid back mid-tempo – which showcases Mario’s musical maturity. The album definitely has better tracks than this, yet that doesn’t take away from the song. I’m hoping Mario is successful with this project, as – judging by his latest material – he’s really stepped his game up.Hit or Miss?

 

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Both Kanye West and Cassie serve as the cover models for the special edition August / September issue of Complex Magazine. Check out extracts from each of their interviews:

Kanye West

Complex: Anyhow, what’s the last time you heard a record that made you jealous?

Kanye: I know this statement might come off awkward or whatever, people won’t get the exact translation right, but when I saw the Eve video [for “Tambourine”], it made me want to go back and do more shots [on my video] from a style level. She had the Christopher Kane dress, the vintage Chanel glasses. When I saw her style level in that, it made me say, “Damn, I need to step my style level up.” Because it’s not a matter of just guys’ style and girls’ style or black style and white style, it’s a matter of who is the style god period and shit. Read More

Cassie

Complex: What’s the most hurtful thing that was said?

Cassie: That I slept my way into the industry. I think that’s really vicious. If it had nothing to do with talent, at least it had something to do with charm. But it was never jumping into bed with somebody. That’s just gross. As far as people saying I couldn’t sing, I did a bad job so I couldn’t hate. I was in a tough place for a second. I got really sick and was in the hospital in like November or December. It was stress and exhaustion, and I ended up going home to Connecticut. [Puffy] actually called me up when I was at home and asked me what I wanted to do. I was like, “I want to do another album.” Read More

Kanye’s comments, as well as most of his interview, are sure to raise a few eyebrows. As for Cassie, I feel kinda sorry for her; however, someone needs to explain to me how she got her deal then, because the musical talent just isn’t there – at all.


What do you think of the covers?
Despite putting out a solid sophomore effort in the form of ‘Ms. Kelly’, it’s common knowledge that since release the album has underperformed. Like many, I’ve been awaiting Kelly’s say on the matter. In a recent interview with MSNBC, she said the following:

AP: So, let’s talk about the album’s first week’s sales.

Rowland: Yes, I came in at No. 6 and sold 86,000 records — in a declining market, might I add. I’m very proud of that. Not everybody’s selling records like they used to. Even the biggest artists don’t come out and go platinum in a week anymore. It’s a different day and age in the music industry.

In fairness to Kelly, she had a point about coming in at a respectable number in a rapidly changing market. However, I’m really hoping she realizes that a ‘declining’ market is neither the main or only reason for her poor sales. Put simply, Kelly isn’t in a good situation – in terms of label priority or management. The sooner she realizes that, the quicker her chances of success will materialize.


Your thoughts?

I really have to give it to Akon – the man knows how to make money. Following the controversy surrounding the ‘dry-humping’ incident involving him and a teenage girl, the Senegalese star released this track ‘Sorry, Blame It On Me’ to radio. Then, I assumed it was contrived way of easing the criticism he was receiving. However, along with this video, the song will be released as the leading single from the re-packaged version of Akon’s ‘Konvicted’ album – due August 28th. The video isn’t saying too much, yet I doubt that was the objective. Like most of his singles, this will probably be a hit…SMH.

What do you think of the song/video?

It was announced a few months back that singer Beyonce was to be the face of Emporio Armani’s new ‘Diamonds’ fragrance. Check out the commercial above – she looks and sounds great. With an upcoming campaign for American Express also, Beyonce really is doing it big. Can’t hate on the woman for getting hers.

What do you think of the commercial?

In an exclusive interview with OK! Magazine (on newstands today), Kim Porter has finally spoken out about her split from Sean ‘Diddy’ Combes. After a rocky 10 year on-off relationship with the Hip Hop mogul, the couple called it quits two months ago. Check out extracts from the interview:

ON DIDDY:
“I’d been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Mr. Combs for about 10 years, and it came to a point where it was time for me to move on with my life. I had invested a lot of time in that relationship, and it wasn’t going where it should have been going. So it was time to [end it]. In a relationship, it’s important that the people are on the same page at the same time. And we weren’t on the same page.”

ON HIS ALLEGED CHEATING
“I will never sit here and say that Puffy — or any man — is 100 percent faithful. I just don’t believe it. Some of you are, but I’m not going to sit here and say that I didn’t believe that he cheated on me. I would never say that. I’m aware that he’s cheated.”

AND ON J.LO’S RELATIONSHIP WITH DIDDY
“It was an embarrassment. I never thought it was real. I knew what was going on with him. Despite what you see in print and when the cameras are flashing, what’s going on in someone’s heart may be totally different. He was still [in love] with me. I never looked at their relationship [as serious].”

When asked if Sienna Miller played a part in her break up, Porter states:
“They’re just friends. That wasn’t the cause.”

Your thoughts?
The nominations for the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards were announced yesterday (August 7th). Beyonce and Justin Timberlake tie for the most nominations – each clocking up an impressive seven. Following closely behind are rapper Kanye West and Rihanna, who both received five. British crossover success Amy Winehouse also racked up three nominations. The mentioned artists will all go head-to head in the main category – Video of The Year (‘Irreplaceable’, ‘What Goes Around’, ‘Stronger’, ‘Umbrella’ and ‘Rehab’). Click here to see the full list of nominations.
Performers on the night are set to include Justin Timberlake, Kanye West with Common and T-Pain, Timbaland with Keri Hilson, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Lily Allen, and Amy Winehouse. The VMA’s – as the event is commonly known- will air live on September 9th from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Though some of the nominations are kinda suspect, most of them were expected; I’m really pleased Amy Winehouse is doing great over there. Not really feeling the performers list, though – no one that would make the show unmissable.

What do you think of the nominations/performers?
With the release of Chris Brown’s sophomore CD ‘Exclusive’ rapidly approaching (August 28th), yet another track from the set has surfaced. Featuring T-Pain, ‘Kiss Kiss’ is an ‘ok’ mid-tempo track -although it sounds kinda repetitive. Neither Chris or T-Pain take the track anywhere either. I’ve felt a lot Chris’ new material to be real hit and miss; if he’s to avoid the ‘sophomore slump’ the album really needs to deliver – which I’m not sure if it will.

 

Hit or Miss?

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