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Usher Preps Spring Release & Releases New Single “Climax” to iTunes
February 22nd, 2012
Due to popular demand, Usher’s new single “Climax” will now be available for sale on iTunes and all digital providers today, Wednesday, February 22, 2012, moved up from its original release date of 2/28. The new single written by Usher Raymond along with Ariel Rechtshaid, Redd Stylez and Diplo, who also produced the single, will appear on Usher’s forthcoming new album set for release later this spring on RCA Records.
”Climax,” a genre defying track, is receiving rave reviews – Pitchfork declares ”Climax” an exercise in the power of restraint, as Usher sings the woes of a romance stuck in limbo, alternating whispery falsettos and earnestly pained howls….Diplo shows uncharacteristic subtlety behind Usher’s sentiment, with a beat that seems to hang suspended in midair.” The Los Angeles Times writes “Climax” “is rooted in pure soul, with Diplo employing sexy synths behind a dripping downbeat. Draw the curtains, light a candle and take a listen.” Perez Hilton exclaims “LOVE IT!! This song is a trance-y, smooth HIT!!”
Usher has been ranked by the RIAA as one of the best-selling artists in American music history, having sold over 43 million albums worldwide. He has won numerous awards including seven Grammy Awards and was recently named the number one Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. Billboard named him the second most successful artist of the 2000s decade, with his career-propelling 2004 album Confessions being ranked as the top solo album of the 2000s decade. Usher has attained nine Hot 100 number-one hits (all as a lead artist) and has attained seventeen Hot 100 top-ten singles.
X-Factor’s Rachel Crow Signs New Deals w/ Nickelodeon & Columbia Records
February 22nd, 2012
In addition, Crow has been signed by Columbia Records/Syco, label home to some of the world’s leading recording artists.
“It’s such an honor to be signed to Columbia Records,” said Crow. “To think that I am signed to the same label as my idols is a dream come true. I can’t wait to get in the studio and start making music.” Added Crow, “And I am so excited to now be a part of the Nickelodeon family. I grew up watching Nick, and I’m a huge fan.”
Simon Cowell, The X Factor judge and Rachel Crow’s mentor during the show said, “I am incredibly happy for Rachel. This girl has it. We saw her potential at the first audition and Nickelodeon and Columbia are the right homes for her.”
“Rachel is an original,” said Kaplan. “She’s funny, genuine and has raw talent and a passion for performing. We’re delighted to be home to her first acting project and think she is poised to join the ranks of our next generation of Nick stars.”
In addition to plans for her to star in a new pilot for the network, Crow is slated to appear in a recurring role in Nickelodeon’s new comedy series FRED: THE SHOW appearing opposite Lucas Cruikshank. Crow will play Starr, an imaginative, confident but awkward teenager. Like Fred, Starr’s self-perception doesn’t match up with how the world sees her. To her classmates, she seems a bit eccentric, but in her own mind, Starr is a wildly talented actress and singer and ready to break out of her boring town. FRED: THE SHOW airs on Friday nights.
From Colorado, Rachel Crow was fostered as a young baby by Barbara and Kelly Crow. Crow sang her first song (Faith Hill’s “Breathe”) at 18 months old and first performed in public at age six as part of her school’s talent show. Her parents brought her to Los Angeles in 2010 to support her dream of being a performer and she auditioned at age 13 for The X Factor in early 2011. After being chosen as a contestant out of over 100,000 people who auditioned for season 1 of The X Factor (USA), she wowed audiences with her powerful voice and bubbly personality and placed fifth in the competition for the season. A fan favorite and darling among the judges, L.A. Reid deemed her a “funky, feisty singer with soul” with Simon Cowell declaring that audiences would be “hearing a lot more about her.”
Hip-Hop Weekly Salutes “Whitney Houston” With Collectible Issue
February 22nd, 2012
Hip Hop Weekly Magazine has released a special issue commemorating the life and achievements of the late pop icon Whitney Houston. The latest in a series of special limited editions, which have included such topical personalities as Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Beyonce and Jay-Z, this issue takes readers behind the mic and behind the rumors, chronicling the illustrious achievements of a beloved celebrity who sold over 170 million records worldwide.
Spearheaded by Editor-In-Chief Cynthia Horner, who was acquainted with Ms. Houston and her family, and was responsible for bringing Bobby Brown and New Edition to national attention in the media, Horner, along with editors T.J. Rudy, Cavario H. and Jamaal Bachelor, conducted a series of exclusive interviews with industry insiders who were able to provide much needed insight about the beloved singer who died on the eve of the Grammy Awards. The magazine design and special poster pull-outs were created by Wor Whosane and Roderick McZeal.
Hip Hop Weekly’s commemorative issue celebrates the life of Newark, New Jersey’s First Daughter, Ms. Houston, and takes readers into Whitney’s world, giving objective, positive editorial coverage to an artist whose significance to the entertainment industry has been at times overshadowed by lurid gossip. Rev. Al Sharpton, who contributed to the issue, states, “I am so troubled by all of the negative stories on Whitney. Whitney lived her life under the microscope and she had her challenges and problems like everyone else. It’s just because she was so big that everyone knew when she had a challenge and everyone knew when she had a problem.”
Also in the issue, which is on newsstands everywhere, are the following highlights:
SHANNA WYLIE: A BACKGROUND SINGER FOR WHITNEY HOUSTON
“Whitney took me on a United States tour. She called me onstage in New Mexico to sing ‘I Will Always Love You,’ I was front and center, she introduced me and told everybody who I was and I started singing and she came in at some point and she ended the song and they loved it. That was the first time we really publically sang together.”
MICHAEL ZAGER, PRODUCER
“I’ll always remember her as the sweet little girl that sang my backgrounds. She was a prodigy. It’ll be years before we see talent like that again.”
GERRY GRIFFITH, FORMER ARISTA RECORDS A&R REPRESENTATIVE WHO BROUGHT WHITNEY TO CLIVE DAVIS
“Whitney’s voice was so amazing that when she was in the studio with Kashif recording ‘You Give Good Love’ we only needed one take. Kashif was recording while she was singing, but she didn’t know it. We kept that one take.”
New Music: Unreleased Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes Track w/ Bootleg “Fantasies”
February 22nd, 2012
German-American digital imprint Block Starz Music has signed Bootleg of Gold certified hardcore Rap group The Dayton Family and has unveiled the rapper’s previously-unreleased collaboration with Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of TLC to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Pop star’s death on April 25, 2002.
Recorded a few months before her death, Left Eye‘s verse on the song “Fantasies” is reportedly the only 16-bar verse she ever recorded as a feature.
“I never met a female that was as strong, independent and confident as Left Eye,” says Bootleg, who will release his fourth, as-yet-untitled, official solo album this summer through Block Starz Music, with the project’s first single due out in late-March. “Left Eye’s music came from her soul and [there's] no one in the industry now that even compares.”
Bootleg (born Ira Dorsey) began dominating the Rap underground in the mid-90s with the release of The Dayton Family’s first two albums, “What’s on My Mind?” and “F.B.I.”, which was certified Gold by the RIAA, but his rise to mainstream popularity was derailed by various legal troubles, which landed the rapper in jail.
Bootleg came out of prison to release his 1999 solo debut, “Death Before Dishonesty”, which sold 100,000 copies in the first week. He released his second album, 2001′s “Hated By Many, Loved By Few”, through the Detroit-based Overcore label (Esham, Natas).
Bootleg reunited with original Dayton Family members Shoestring and Backstabba in 2009 to release “The Return: The Right To Remain Silent”. In 2010, the group signed with Insane Clown Posse’s subsidiary label Hatchet House to release 2011′s “Charges Of Indictment. I Declare War”, a collection of Bootleg’s collaborations with artists like Esham, MC Breed, C-Murder, and Pastor Troy was released this past summer.
“I am always working and staying prepared,” says Bootleg who just completed a 50-city nationwide tour with ICP. “So when Block Starz came along and was serious and willing to stand behind me and support my musical aspirations, I knew they were the right company to release another album from Bootleg.”
New Music: Ruben Studdard “Wear Me”
February 21st, 2012
Check out the brand new single from Ruben Studdard “Wear Me,” from his up-coming album “Letters From Birmingham” in stores March 13th via Shanachie Ent. Corp!
[Pre-Order] “Letters From Birmingham”
Official Tracklisting!
1. Letter #1
2. Turn U Out
3. Love Skies
4. Wear Me
5. Letter #2
6. Pure Imagination
7. Do It Right (feat. Chrisette Michele)
8. Today (Hallelujah!)
9. Letter #3
10. Twisted Love
11. Rock Wit’cha (feat. K Michelle)
12. All About U
13. Letter #4
14. Her 4 U
15. What’s The Reason
16. June 28th (I’m Single)
New Video: SWV’s “Co-Sign” from “I Missed Us” In Stores April 17
February 21st, 2012
Here it is, the brand new video from the lovely ladies of SWV, “Co-Sign” Directed by Derek Blanks. The song is the first single from their brand new album “I Missed Us” which we broke news will now be in stores April 17th!
Don’t forget to catch SWV on VH1‘s Big Morning Buzz Live on March 12th for a Performance & Interview!
Check it Out!
Cissy’s Farewell Letter to Whitney
February 20th, 2012
Cissy Houston‘s heartfelt letter to her daughter Whintey Houston, as written in Whitney‘s funeral program.
Dearest Whitney,
The presence of God blessed our home with life, love, joy and peace. You and your brothers were the center of divine love attracting God’s richest blessings. You were a child of God. We had so much love in our home that was truly from on high.
You always gave without expecting anything in return and our love was the force that multiplied these blessings higher and higher. I never told you that when you were born, the Holy Spirit told me that you would not be with me long and I thank God for the beautiful flower he allowed me to raise and cherish for 48 years.
God said it’s time Nippy; your work is done. The other day on Feb. 11th He came for you. But not without warning. For two months now I have been depressed, crying, lonesome and sad not knowing why.
On Saturday, before I found out about your transition, my doorbell rang. I went to answer it but there was no one there. It rang again and again, no one was there. I called the concierge to tell him someone was ringing my doorbell. He checked the cameras and told me that no one was there. You promised me you were coming to spend time with me after the Grammys. I believe the spirits allowed you to come after all.
How I love you Nippy and how I miss you, your beautiful smile, your special little things you used to say to me and sometimes you’d call just to say “hi Mommie, I love you so much,” I loved you so much more.
I love you.
I’ll miss you.
Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter.
Rest my baby girl in Peace; you’re now in the arms of Jesus.
Love, Mommie
[updated] JoJo Announces New Single & “Disaster” Single EP Release
February 17th, 2012
Singing songbird JoJo has been one of our favorites since we first interviewed her in 2004 months before her debut album release. Talented, beautiful and one of the best voices in her age group, she was destined to be a star! JoJo is currently putting the finishing touches on her third album “Jumping Trains” due this Spring. With the release of her current single “Disaster” which recently hit the Billboard charts and steady climbing up the dance charts, she will release a digital EP full of remixes of the song on March 6th!
UrbanBridgez.com has also confirmed through her label Interscope that her new single “Sexy To Me” from her Clearasil Commercial produced by Danja will be released to iTunes on February 28th! JoJo has stated via Twitter that, this is NOT the first single from her album! It looks like this is going to be the year of JoJo & fans are ready, it’s her time!
Films: Mario Van Peebles “We The Party” [Michael Jai White, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Snoop Dogg, YG, New Boyz, Quincy Brown & More]
February 17th, 2012
We The Party shows teenagers as they are, not as adults would like them to be. Set amidst the latest trends in music, dance and fashion, We The Party is a colorful, cutting-edge comedy set in an ethnically diverse Los Angeles high school during America’s first black president. The film focuses on five friends as they deal with romance, money, prom, college, sex, bullies, facebook, fitting in, standing out, and finding themselves. Evoking such classic teen comedies as The Breakfast Club and House Party but with an attitude and style all its own, We The Party captures the hopes, confusion, challenges and dreams of today’s teenagers as they plunge headlong into an uncertain future. A revealing look at contemporary youth culture from writer/director Mario Van Peebles.
The films cast includes Mario Van Peebles, Mandela, Van Peebles, Simone Battle, Moises Arias, Snoop Dogg, YG, The New Boyz, The Rej3ctz, The Pink Dollaz, Michael Jai White, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Tiny Lister, Melvin Van Peebles, Orlando Brown and Quincy Brown.
Check Out The Trailer: In Theaters April 6th!
