Ludacris, Christina
Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake and Carrie Underwood have been added
to the list of the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, organizers announced today (Jan.
18). Ludacris and company join previously announced performers that includes Gnarls
Barkley, Beyonce, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dixie Chicks and others. Presenters
during the evening include The Black Eyed Peas, Nelly Furtado, Ciara, Terrence
Howard and Samuel L. Jackson. Ludacris was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Unpredictable" with Jamie Foxx, Best
Rap Performance By A Duo or Group for "Georgia" (with Field Mob and
featuring Jamie Foxx), Best Rap Album for Release Therapy and Best Rap
Song for "Moneymaker." The 49th Annual Grammy Awards will air live on
Sunday, Feb. 11, from the Staples Center in Los AngelesActor/rapper
Mos Def has been tapped to serve as a juror for the U.S. dramatic film competition
at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. According to The Hollywood Reporter, MOs Def
will join director Catherine Hardwicke, director Dawn Hudson, film editor Pamela
Martin and actress-director Sarah Polley and others in judging entrees in the
documentary competition of the festival, which kicked off yesterday (Jan. 17)
in New York and runs until Jan. 28. Winning films in The Sundance Film Festival
will be announced Jan. 27 at an awards ceremony at the Park City Racquet Club.
Kanye
West, Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas and John Legend are among the artists who
will be showcased in the NFL’s Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert Series, which takes
place Feb. 1-2 in South Florida. West, Legend and Fergie will open the two-day
concert series on Feb. 1 at 7:00 pm. The evening will be hosted by actor Taye
Diggs and taped for for airing on VH1 on Feb. 3. On Feb. 2 at 8:00 PM, latino
artists Don Omar, Ivy Queen and Aventura will take to the stage for a concert
that will be taped for airing on Telemundo on Feb. 3 as well. The concert series
will take place at the Pepsi Smash Concert Arenta, which is next to Dolphin Stadium,
where the 41st Annual Superbowl is taking place. Tickets for both concerts are
on sale now at www.Ticketmaster.com.Pioneering
record label Tuff City recently launched a chat site, which will feature open
dialog with the label’s early roster of Hip-Hop artists, which includes Fearless
Four, Lakim Shabazz, 45 King and others. The first chat will take place Jan. 22
at 2:00 PM with legendary rapper Spoonie Gee, who released such singles as "Spoonin’
Rap" and "The Godfather." According to representatives for Tuff
City, the label hopes the chat’s will be a part of an ongoing program. The chat
room will open 30 minutes early for participants to chat amongst themselves. To
participate in the chat, log on to http://www.tuffcity.com/chat.
