Artist:  MelodieLocation: Bronx, New YorkInfluences: Aretha FranklinWhy You Should Know Melodie:As a little girl, Melodie Nicholson couldn’t help herself as she sang her own versions of classic songs like “Man In The Mirror” – deep down she was an artist. It was all set in stone as she became a student of the legendary LaGuardia […]

This is the first edition of the New Year, and I managed to force my way into the Last Word, which is usually a production of the Alternatives section of AllHipHop.com. Some people have considered me a bit alternative so I offered my services to get out of the day-to-day of rumor writing. (I promise, […]

No matter who becomes President, this election year is sure to bring change in Washington. Both parties are presenting candidates who want to learn from the mistakes of the Bush years and regain America’s standing throughout the world. Today, the Hip-Hop community represents an ever expanding range of backgrounds, ethnicities and experiences, so we have […]

With child pornography charges and the possibility of jail time looming, it would seem that R. Kelly would not have much to smile about,. but leave it up to R&B’s Pied Piper to find a way to remain upbeat while dodging the long arm of the law.   Fans not only read about Kelly in […]

When it comes to duets between rappers and singers, there is a formula that I believe undoubtedly leads to success. Straying from this formula often leads to very bad things – i.e. embarrassment, poor record sales, and sparse airplay just to name a few. ’07 definitely saw its share of winners and losers when it […]

  The last decade has been an extremely successful time for Kelly Rowland. Being part of the hit trio Destiny’s Child has garnered her accolades as an R&B solo artist, songwriter, actress and four-time Grammy Award winner. Over the years, Kelly has gracefully matured from a teenage girl into a beautiful Southern bombshell. She’s shown […]

It’s been a bizarre ride to the stateside for Lily Allen. While jousting with the media’s incessant need to place her and Amy Winehouse at war, Lily’s been keeping her head above water through harsh paparazzi and missing her family and friends back home. The UK starlet may have canceled half of her US tour, […]

When Chris Brown was discovered in 2005, the Virginian represented the young, fresh and new generation of ‘80s babies who, having grown up emulating the moves of their favorite entertainers, now had a chance to become stars in their own right. All of a sudden, people were buying into their “Goodies,” whilst demanding that the […]

Despite what your instincts might tell you, M.I.A. is not odd. As technology changes the way in which we communicate and globalization brings increased interaction between nations, more and more people are redefining the meaning of nationality and truly becoming citizens of the world. A self-proclaimed “walking mixtape,” M.I.A. not only combines musical influences from […]

Video: Brian Mapp   After a recent arrest and rumors of recording and label troubles, controversy seems to be the name of the game for T-Pain these days – but it doesn’t make his success any less sweet. The self proclaimed “rappa-ternt-sanga” has enjoyed multi-platinum ringtone sales for his own songs and his cameos, and […]

Sincerity is something missing in a lot of musicians who delve into the mainstream side of the art nowadays. Many artists get caught up in the “act” they put on and become that “alter-ego,” forgetting whom they actually are. That’s not the case with Fergie though. She’s kept a level head and is more than […]

Nobody predicted how successful the song “Ice Box” was going to be; not even Omarion himself. The song that propelled his sophomore album 21 straight to the top of the charts is now commanding attention across the world. It isn’t shocking though, since the charismatic triple-threat has earned his stripes in this game as a […]

What’s the deal, people? 2008 is fast approaching, and I’m still reeling from everything that’s gone down this year. From the downfall of sports heroes to the race to be the next leader of the free world to racial tensions still being front and center, it’s been an eventful 2007.  And with that, I had […]

During this holiday season it is important to remember that to many, the holidays are like any other day. To many Thanksgiving and Christmas are not marked with turkeys and gifts, but pain and poverty. Even more disheartening are the children all across the country who never had the chance to believe in Santa Claus. […]

What’s up everyone? The week was too much for me so I can’t even give you the non-entertainment highlights of the week. The only thing I can think of is the whole thing with Britney’s sister Jamie Lynn being pregnant, but that’s about it. I’ll have to come stronger next time.  In the mean time, […]

It’s hard to pin down Van Hunt. His music can range from soulful to rock to experimental. His lyrics can vary from overtly romantic to insistent. And during this interview, he was elusive and alluring; just like the words to your favorite Van Hunt song.Hunt has come a long way from writing Dionne Farris’ “Hopeless,” […]

A few months ago, J. Holiday shared his “Bed” with many when the record was introduced to the world, surging through the airwaves; it was anything but putting you to sleep. In the same wave, a handful of popular Hip-Hop and R&B artists expressed interest in the song, as multiple remixes began circulating featuring the […]

It seems that after a period where R&B was muddled with releases sounding more like Hip-Hop albums, true R&B is back in full effect. There is a laundry list of R&B releases that are or have been highly anticipated for ’07 and ’08. Pretty close to the top of that list is the next studio […]

Arist: VaneliLocation: New York   Influences: Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson   Why You Should Know Vaneli: The name Vaneli may not be on the tip of your tongue, but the 21-year-old singer’s voice has already invaded your earspace.   With a popular remix of rapper Fabolous’ hit song “Make […]

What it look like people of the world? We’ve reached the line finish of another five as we get closer to the Christmas holiday. More scandal for the week was front and center as Sen. George Mitchell puts Roger Clemens and other all-stars on blast with his report on steroid use in major league baseball, […]