The Last Word: Ray J and Brandy Form “R&B,” Don Cheadle Replaces Terrence Howard in Iron Man Sequel, and Mel B Talks Nudity!
Good day folks. The end of another week has arrived and we got through it in one piece, despite gas prices going down, Obama and McCain going at each other again in their last debate and the Phillies making it to the World Series for the first time in 15 years (shout out to them). […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Nikka Costa – Pebble to a Pearl
Though Nikka Costa has been releasing albums since she was nine, her real introduction to America came with 2001s Everybody Got Their Something, her second album as an adult. As an early beneficiary of the now common practice of breaking songs through ads instead of the radio, Like a Feather was first known as that […]

Tour Log: The Return of Maxwell
Maxwell Tour (featuring Jazmine Sullivan)Radio City, New YorkLast week I had the pleasure of checking out the New York stop on Maxwells tour which also featured rookie soulstress Jazmine Sullivan. It all went down at New Yorks prestigious Radio City Music Hall. It had been such a long time since I had heard music from […]

Slim of 112: Flying Solo
It was the year 1996 when Q, Slim, Mike and Daron, who the world would come to know as 112, dropped their first single, Only You. I thought I told you that we wont stop, was the recognized catch phrase from the remix of their hit single, featuring the Notorious B.I.G and Mase. The ATL […]

Tour Log: Pepsi Smash with Missy Elliott, Nina Sky, and Jazmine Sullivan
Last week at the Nokia Theater in Times Square NY, Pepsi and New Yorks Hot 97 teamed up for Pepsi Smash, a showcase of both new and established artists.After brief looks at One Block Radius and Ace Hood, Nina Sky took to the stage to finally provide the crowd with songs theyd actually heard before. […]

Sunday Selection: Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy” vs. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”
Two words, shes back! And if all the other chicks in the game didnt put their music out prior to now, its a wrap. You will be overshadowed by the sights and sounds of Mrs. Carter. This week we were graced with two highly anticipated singles by Beyoncé, If I Were a Boy and Single […]

The Last Word: Beyonce Talks About the Wedding, Eva Mendes Talks More Nudity, and R. Kelly is Back in Court…AGAIN!
Whats the word, everybody? We have reached the end of another week and theres still scandal in the air with Obama and McCain having their second debate, the government bailing out insurance giant American International Group (AIG) and mixed martial arts favorite Kimbo Slice getting knocked the f out in 14 seconds by Seth Petruzelli. […]

“Love Lockdown” – The Remixes: Which Do You Like Best?
Its ironic that as I write this piece, my neighbor upstairs happens to have Love Lockdown blasting so loud that I can hear the 808s pounding like a heartbeat in my chest. A hit is a hit, and by no means am I surprised that this new single from Kanye West has caught the attention […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Michelle Williams – Unexpected
While the curse that seems to haunt the females that surround Beyonce was seemingly lifted by Solanges sophomore effort, the other Destinys Child member Michelle Williams picked a good time to conjure up her first mainstream project. Instead of continuing with Gospel releases, Michelle tackled the world of Club/Dance with Unexpected. Maybe in an effort […]

Brandy: The Evolution of B-Rocka Part Two (Brandy Raps and Talks About a Reunion with Monica)
Brandy’s road to the top didn’t have its fair share of bumps along the way. In Part Two, we learn about her sticking together with brother Ray J when the media gets brutal, her planning for her ’30s and her rap career that never was, and a “Boy Is Mine” Part Two? AllHipHop.com Alternatives: So […]

Brandy: The Evolution of B-Rocka Part One
Weve watched Brandy Norwood grow up right before our eyes. From her early days of wanting to be down to claiming the boy was hers over a full moon, Brandy has been that friend you saw on the regular. Even as Moesha, Brandy was always a relatable individual who never seemed to compromise her values […]

NOW HEAR THIS: Stones Throw’s Koushik
Koushik – Out My WindowGo ahead and say it who? Canadian musician Koushik Ghosh is far from a household name, but his place on the perennially respected Stones Throw Records alongside Madlib, MF DOOM and the late, great J Dilla is no mistake. While hes been kicking around the label for a few years […]

Sunday Selection: Nina Sky – “Curtain Call” featuring Rick Ross
Its been a minute since Ive heard an R&B song that was just, SMOOTH. So smooth that you wanted to hear it over and over. Well Nicole and Natalie, the ladies of Nina Sky have crafted a collaboration with Rick Ross titled Curtain Call that makes you feel good about R&B again. It’s one of […]

Get To Know: Myko
Artist: Myko Location: Atlanta, Georgia Influences: The Chi-Lites, The Stylistics and The Delfonics, The Manhattans Why You Should Know Myko: Ever wonder if new solo artists stepping into the music industry feel like it’s their freshmen year on a high school basketball team? You know, the butterflies you get when youre […]

Tour Log: Heineken Red Star Soul – Keyshia Cole and Raheem DeVaughn
Date: Wednesday, October 1stLocation: Mansion Nightclub, New York CityThis past Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to check out the New York stop on Heinekens Red Star Soul Concert series. The event, which took place at NYCs trendy Mansion Nightclub, featured DC crooner Raheem Devaughn and BET reality show star Keyshia Cole. Upon entrance, it was […]

The Last Word: Prince Preaches Celibacy, Terrence Howard Wants Women With Wet Wipes, and Will Smith as Captain America If Obama Wins?
Whats universal Planet Earth? With the House of Representatives voting today on the latest version of that $700 billion economic bailout package the Senate passed on Wednesday (Sept. 30), to the teams for this years World Series being decided with the MLB playoffs, Wall Street having its worst performance since the big stock market crash […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Everlast – Love, War & The Ghost of Whitey Ford
In case you havent been paying attention, since the days of House of Pain, Everlast started singing the blues, had a cup of day-old black coffee with Def Jam and an incident with Eminem. He also formed one of those Rap supergroups that usually never make an album (La Coka Nostra look it up […]

John Legend: Straight Talk
From his platinum selling debut Get Lifted and countless Grammy awards, to successfully launching HomeSchool records; Legend is a true American success story. Everything he touches turns to Gold. The most recent being that of British starlet Estelles album Shine, the first lady of Legends HomeSchool record label. It is definitely a far cry from […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson
Its rare when a natural born singer, who got the American Idol boot, wins an Oscar before ever getting nominated for a Grammy, but Jennifer Hudson was fortunate enough to see this unusual road. It was safe to assume a debut album of that unique caliber would have followed. Wrong.Jennifer Hudson’s self-titled debut album, which […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Robin Thicke – Something Else
After aligning with the legendary Andre Harrell at only 16, Thicke might have expected a smooth road to success. To the contrary, his first album took forever to see release, came out twice with two different names and was more or less ignored. A cosign from Pharrell wasnt an instant fix, but after Lost Without […]