June 2006 Archives

While at India.Arie's album release party last night, I tried to confirm the rumor I heard about Christina Milian signing with Motown. I searched high and low for a confirmation or a denial.

While you were wondering why are two of the three most popular hosts on BET (Black Entertainment Television) aren't actually black and why none of the hosts on Telemundo are, we here at SOHH Soulful have been scrolling through a stolen iPod to compile our Top 5 Songs of the Moment!

Lawd y'all, where do we begin...

Thankfully, Jennifer Hudson's role as Kelly Rowland, I mean Effie in the upcoming movie Dreamgirls won't signify the beginning of a dream deferred. It's actually the beginning of her dreams becoming a reality.

If you weren't standing outside of Radio City Music Hall last night searching for last minute tickets to Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt" concert, then chances are you were wondering, "when is India.Arie's new cd Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationships being released?" Well wonder no more, tomorrow (June 27th) you'll be able to legally purchase arguably one of the most honest and introspective albums Mary J. Blige's The Breakthrough.

Mmmm... my lips hurt!

Ok SOHH here is the latest on Janet...

While you were wondering how a "big bang" could only sell just about 200,000 copies after damn near 8 months of promotions, shootings, deaths, remixes, a guest appearance by Mary J. Blige and a ton overstated self importance, we here at SOHH Soulful have been battling it out over the Top 5 Songs of the Moment... and this ain't a bunch of New York shit!

I do admit that when I first heard B2K, I wasn't impressed. I thought, "Gee great... another boy band." Although all the members had their own following, everyone knew it was all about Omarion.

It's a shame that Diddy can't make a band after three seasons of his hit show MTV's "Making the Band" and Beyonce can seemingly make one in a matter of days.

Two of the most anticipated songs impacting radio within the last week were Beyonce's "Deja Vu" featuring Jay-Z and Janet's "Call On Me" featuring Nelly.Two very different songs, with two very different styles. SOHH let's go ahead and get this out the way and see what all the hoopla is about.

SOHH... Janet Jackson's US Weekly cover is the biggest selling cover in the history of that magazine. Remember when she broke records at Rolling Stone during the Janet era? Not to mention, Janet will be featured on the covers of FHM, Giant, Vibe, Essence and the walls of umpteen college dorm rooms.

However none of them have this image.... sha BAM!

While you were swooning over Usher's philanthropy and reading Christina Milian's blog entries, we here at SOHH Soulful have been on Limewire like a muhfugga downloading our top 5 songs of the moment.

Not everyone that makes good R&B has their video in heavy rotation on "106 & Park" or makes the countdown on the popular radio stations. These people are kinda on the D list so to speak. Let's face it, it'd be great to have your label engage in payola or your manager pull strings and call in favors for your gain. Such gimmicks have become the norm, but there are still some artist going the traditional route. They are pursuing a Grammy the old fashion way... through blood sweat and tears!

Janet Jackson has updated her website JanetJackson.com with another message for the fans, but this time Janet also addresses the nay sayers in what began as a press release but reads more like a warning.

In preparation for their upcoming season, MTV ran a marathon of episodes of "Making The Band 3" this past Saturday (June 10). I know I was still a bit hung over and hazed by the time the shows aired but something seemed odd.

SOHH it seems that in order to be affiliated with G-Unit, one must have a beef with another rapper or singer or someone. Such is the case with R&B trio Next, who just signed with G-Unit. Yeah you read that right, Next. We all know that money makin' 50 Cent has a penchant for reinventing those who are no longer "commercially" successful. Just like Olivia and Mobb Depp -- RL, TLow and Tweety join the ranks of those swinging from Fiddy's gonads!

and a part of me is asking why....

LeToya Luckett has been a busy girl. She's got a self titled debut CD coming on July 18th, she's been performing up and down the east coast working that ex-Destiny's Child drag for all it's worth. And I can't say that I am mad.

Less than a month after Christina Milian released her third studio CD, So Amazing, the higher ups at Def Jam said sorry boo, your numbers aren't that AMAZING and rather than pump tons of money into properly marketing you like we do Rihanna, we're just gonna drop your phony ass from the label.

Legendary crooner Teddy Pendergrass (your parent's version of Jaheim) has an interesting interview on AOL Black Voices.

Says Teddy:

The music that I listen to, I listen to adult contemporary stations that play '70s and '80s music. But when I do listen to radio to I try to see what's different. There was a young man several years ago that I thought had a really great R&B voice. Jaheim. He had a really, really nice smooth, but forceful when he needed to be, voice. I thought his voice was great. I don't know what became of the gentleman, but I loved his voice. Anthony Hamilton, I like his sound. I like his voice quality.

June 19th is the day Janet's new single "Call On Me" featuring Nelly from her upcoming CD, 20 Years Old, hits radio. Preparations are being made in the Jackson camp to properly launch her new project. She was spotted recently in Miami where she shot what she calls a "super sexy" cover for Vibe Magazine and a new video.

I for one am happy that Cassie, Bad Boy's newest bad girl, got a lot of her shine from hustling MySpace.com.

As we mentioned yesterday, Solange Knowles-Smith is the new face of the junior division for the House of Dereon. Like we couldn't see that coming. Nepotism is a bitch! When she isn't peddling rags for her sister, Solange can be found...