September 2008 Archives

Yahoo! Music premiered Alicia Keys and Jack Black's "Another Way To Die" video last night. The duet is the theme song for Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond film.Check out the video below:

Her album leaked online last week, but now J-Hud herself has been spilling details about what she calls the "biggest surprise" of her life, her 27th birthday beach date with boyfriend David Otunga that ended with his proposal.  Check out the details below.

It's almost that time. Robin Thicke's album Something Else drops on Tuesday and I can tell you now it's a good one. I should have my review ready for you on Monday but in the meantime I'll tell you that it's really different from the Evolution of Robin Thicke, but it's still very hot. For those of you interested in listening to the album early you can visit his MySpace at www.myspace.com/robinthicke. Check out a special peformance of "Magic" and his Something Else tracklist below.

If there is one thing to be said for Solange Knowles, it's that she definitely doesn't give a boring interview. After blacking out during a morning interview on FOX the singer now has a reputation that put journalists on alert to tread lightly when getting too personal with Solo.

Grammy nominated production duo MIDI Mafia (Dirty Swift and Bruce Waynne) received an ASCAP award for their work on Fantasia's smash single "When I See U," last year and are currently working their magic on Fantasia's currently untitled upcoming project. I had a chance to chop it up with them about the album as well as their work with Brandy and their new artist Shiré. Check out their interview and an exclusive video of Fantasia in the studio below:

SOHH Soul Rebel Presents: Top 5 Songs I Can't Get Out My Head...Featuring Rihanna, Keri Hilson, John Legend and more.

Written By Gyant

It looks like VH1 is going to have pull it off without him.

Written By Gyant

First off, I realize that this isn't the official Dr. Dre Detox album cover, but I still got some scoop on his new project. Could one of the most highly anticipated albums of the last few years finally be in our hands in December?

Written By Gyant

Isn't it nice to know that while many of us are losing our homes, our jobs and our overall way of life, that celebrities are still rolling in the dough. Forbes magazine has just released their annual "Worlds Best-Paid Music Stars". Have a look.

Written By Gyant

It looks like Hollywood wants no part of placing Kanye West in a motion picture.

Written By Gyant

West Coast rapper and accomplished actor, Ice Cube is opening up about some of his career choices of the past. Guess which movie he wished that he'd turned down. And the classic film that he let get away.

After the recent deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes it came to light that both men had shared some of their final time onscreen in an upcoming Dimension Films movie called Soul Men, which also stars Samuel Jackson. Since it will be the last that most of us get to see of Hayes and Mac, I'm sure more than a few fans have been looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out next month, but despite not even airing yet - there has already been some controversy over the movie.

After what seemed like a real drought, good music seems to be coming from all directions these days, particularly in the case of the recent releases from Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Benet. Check out my reviews below.

Remember all that fuss over how Mark Ronson was going to produce the theme for the new James Bond "Quantum of Solace" movie for Amy Winehouse to sing? Unfortunately, her crackish ways forced him to tell the whole world she wasn't ready so they ended up beefing and the movie producers picked Alicia Keys and Jack White to do the song instead. Then Amy got all wacko about it. Well the song is done, and I have to say Alicia is rocking pretty hard.

Written By Gyant

Word has broke that Outkast member, Antwan "Big Boi" Patton has decided to part ways with longtime manager, "Big" Blue Williams. There's just one problem; nobody told Big Blue.

Written By Gyant

Reggie Bush intends on marrying Kim Kardashian [Ray-J's sex tape jump-off]. At least that's what he just publicly announced.

Written By Gyant

While I hear that Ne-Yo's newest album isn't knocking it out the park like his previous projects, the song writing sensation is still not happy that he's not getting his respect. Check out his quote of the day.

It looks like Rihanna is no longer the only island girl to land stateside. Also hailing from Barbados, SRC/Universal singer/songwriter Shontelle is drawing the inevitable comparisons to the good-girl-gone-bad, but with her gift with the pen and melodic charms of her own she's quickly making a name for herself separate from her famous former cadet mate. I had a chance to chop it up with Shontelle last week and promise to bring you our full Q&A sooner rather than later. For now though, I figured I'd start things off by introducing her new video "T-Shirt". Check it out below:

The day has almost arrived for Joe Thomas (aka the artist formerly just known as JOE) to release his newest project, the appropriately titled New Man, which is particularly fitting not only in light of the name change but also in that Joe - a longtime staple of Jive Records - is now in control of his own career and is releasing the project independently via his and manager Kedar Massenburg's Kedar Ent./563 Entertainment. As a big fan of Joe classics like "I Wanna Know," "Let's Stay Home Tonight" and "All The Things (Your Man Won't Do)" I was excited to talk to him about his issues with R.Kelly, leaving Jive Records and making a comeback among a generation of youngsters and auto-tune devotees. Check it out below:

R. Kelly may not be the cleanest cut singer in the business but he's no dummy. Chicago's self-proclaimed "King of R&B" knows how to strike while the iron is hot, and with his BET interview fresh on everybody's minds Kells recently premiered a new video for his song "Skin."

Just in case you forgot, Janet Jackson is making sure everyone remembers how she gets down. Rihanna's not the only pop starlet with the dominatrix steez on lock. I caught a peek at some stills from her current "Rock Witchu" tour that literally made my jaw drop. Sorry, but to all the haters and imitators, nobody gets nasty like Ms. Jackson.

Soul Rebel Presents: Top 5 Songs I Can't Get Out My Head...Featuring Beyonce, Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West & More

Poor Ne-Yo. Despite being twice platinum, writing hits for just about everybody in the industry and winning a gang of money from R.Kelly's hatin' ass, Ne-Yo ain't happy with his spot in the music game. In a recent AP interview the producer/singer/songwriter also known as Shaffer Smith aired out his beef. Check the excerpts below!

Simon Cowell's favorite singer Leona Lewis is back with a new video for her song "Forgive Me," which was written and produced by Akon. I think the video is kind of strangely upbeat and dancey for a song that's about creeping around, but hey, apparently Leona has needs and she's happy about them! Watch below:

MTV's "TRL" is about to be a wrap. The show is ending this November with a two-hour Saturday afternoon finale special.  The show's executive producer Dave Sirulnick told the APthe show isn't ending for good, it just needs a break after an unprecedented run 10 year run.

I really really want to like Keri Hilson, but to be honest with you, I just couldn't get into her single "Energy". I'm pretty sure that feeling like I had the energy sucked out of me was not the desired effect of the song.  So long story short, I've been waiting for some new material from Keri ever since.

Fortunately Polow Da Don hooked up her latest song "Turn Off" with a feature from everybody's favorite feature artist Lil' Wayne.

It's been a long time coming but September 16th is finally here (almost)... Ne-Yo's Year of the Gentleman arrives in stores tomorrow. His first two albums both went platinum, will he do it again the third time around? Who is copping Ne-Yo's album tomorrow?  In the meantime check out this track from the album, "Lie to Me"

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

[Editor's Note: The views of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH.com]

Solange showed up for the Jimmy Kimmel show this Wednesday and gave such an interesting interview I wanted to make sure everybody saw it. Jimmy asked her about directing her own video, constantly being asked about Beyonce, and her special guest performer at a DC show. Watch below:

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

[Editor's Note: The views of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH.com]

The drought is over. Beyoncé laid in the cut for a little while, but prepare for the full court press in advance of her currently untitled third album, due out November 18th via Music World/Columbia. Just today a lil birdie left me a treat in my inbox and you know I'm always nice enough to share with you. There is no guarantee this is from the new album, but I'm digging the sound of Beyoncé over live guitar.

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

[Editor's Note: The views of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH.com]

Janet's "Rock Wit U" tour kicked off in Vancouver last night. Check out the pictures below.  Are you planning on going to the tour when it hits your city?

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

SOHH Soul Rebel Presents: Top 5 Songs I Can't Get Out My Head… Featuring Brandy, Pussycat Dolls, and Estelle. There's a little twist this week, go inside to see what it is.

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

[Editor's Note: The views of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH.com]

Last night Fashion Rocks 2008 aired on CBS and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it – it was a big step up from the MTV debacle known as the VMA's.  The fashion AND the performances were amazing. Here's a quick breakdown on what did it for me.

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

[Editor's Note: The views of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH.com]

Let's be real – I didn't care much for the VMAs either. They were corny – a shiny plastic commercial shell of shows long long past.  But when I read some comments from Courtney Love deriding the show for getting "so f*cking urban" I realized that the VMAs aren't the only thing best left in the past. Here's what the coke whore wrote on her MySpace blog:

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

[Editor's Note: The views of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH.com]

Two albums I'm actually excited about are dropping today.  The first is Eric Benét's Love & Life , congrats to him for having the #1 record at urban adult radio with "You're The Only One."  I'm still awaiting my review copy of Love & Life but I promise you'll get my thoughts on the album before the week is up. In the meantime I'm loving his second single "The Hunger."

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

Fox News thinks she's a brat, but plenty of other media outlets are still giving Solange positive play – particularly People magazine – who are featuring Solo and her three-year-old son Juelz in a story about child-appropriate music. Here are Juelz, favorite "Kid-Approved Jams":

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

Well I got suckered into watching the VMA's last night. It was a big disappointment as usual – particularly that weird guy they had hosting and all the Britney pity awards (does she really deserve 3 VMA's???) but the biggest surprise of the night to me was Kanye West's decision to perform his new song "Love Lockdown" – if he wasn't a pop artist before he's definitely one now.  Kanye's a singer guys.   Watch below:

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

It seems like his last album just dropped, but Trey Songz is already making moves with his next album Ready.  Gyant gave us a first listen to Trey's single "In Ya Phone" months ago but the final mix arrived in my inbox today and it sounds even better.  Check it out below.

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

It's been too long since Eric Benét's last album—fortunately he's back again—and I had the opportunity to talk to him about his new project Love & Life, which hits stores next Tuesday September 9th. Check out my Q& A with Eric below:

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

She's baaaaaaack! Yahoo Music premiered Brandy's new video for "Right Here (Departed)" last night.  Check it out below:

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

Happy Birthday to Beyoncé Knowles (Carter)!!! Looks like our girl B turns 27 today  so I gathered my inspiration for this week's 5 Songs from B and her family, friends and husband significant others.  Check mine out and feel free to list yours as well.

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

Usher will join Keith Urban and Natasha Bedingfield for an NFL season kickoff concert this Thursday at NYC's Columbus Circle. Starting at 3pm the show will precede the season opener between Superbowl champs New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. Ush told the AP he's already got his eye on a Superbowl spot of his own, in the coveted halftime show.

Written By SOHH Soul Rebel

Happy Labor Day folks! Hope you are enjoying your day off. It's been such a busy summer it just hit me today that the VMA's are less than a week away. I have to say I'm not all that excited for this year's show – I missed "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" so I have no idea who the host – British actor Russell Brand – is and the list of performers isn't exactly knocking my socks off.