El DeBarge: Stay With Me
In today’s world, our youth have little or no idea of who El DeBarge is. A founding member of the legendary, family group DeBarge and recovering cocaine addict, El DeBarge finds peace in knowing that he’s been given one more chance. What today’s youth do know are Hip-Hop radio killers like Rich Boy’s “Throw Some […]

John Legend: Sharing the Spotlight
In the new world of old-school revival R&B, John Legend is essential in that ensemble. In efforts to set himself apart, hes dipping into the business end of things. Proof that this musician is on his businessman tip, Legend has teamed up with Atlantic Records and erected his new record label Homeschool Records. On the […]

The Last Word: Akon’s Finds Legal Troubles, Beyonce Makes the Naughty List, and Fergie Uses Her Body For Peace
Whats poppin people? Another weekend dawns on us as we make it to the end of another five. From Democrats criticizing Pres. Bush for not knowing until last week that Iran had stopped work on its nuclear weapons in 2003 to Jena 6 member Mychal Bell being sentenced to 18 months in jail after pleading […]

Kevin Michael: Grammy Bound
Armed with an undeniable sense of humor and big dreams, this Philly native with an afro is bound to catch your eye. But for the musician in Kevin Michael, the most important of the five senses to capture is your hearing. Equipped with this arsenal, theres little doubt you won’t, at least, take notice of […]

Quincy Jones: A Life Less Ordinary Part Two
AHHA: You really witnessed Hip-Hop in its infantile stages.Quincy Jones: Oh yeah, well theres always been spoken word in Black music. We have a major legacy and heritage and evolution, and the more [Hip-Hop] gets to know where it comes from, the easier it can know where its going. We were talking to the kids […]

Quincy Jones: A Life Less Ordinary Part One
How do you spell legend? With just one letter: Q. Quincy Delight Jones Jr. is a man who for the past six decades has carved a path so strong in the music industry, that his footprints were deep enough for others to follow. As Michael Jacksons Thriller just celebrated its 25th Anniversary (December 1), it […]

Nicole Scherzinger: Remember the Name
The embodiment of sexy is the major thing audiences have come to associate with Nicole Scherzinger. As the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, much of their success can be attributed to the sex sells mantra. The groups unique mix of edgy, gymnastic defying, dance routines and pop songs with urban sensibilities (thanks to production […]

The Last Word: Ashanti’s Back, Beyonce Turns Country, and the Jacksons Have Officially Reunited
Whats good? The holiday season has arrived, and I just got through polishing all the leftovers from Thanksgiving. Its been an active week to report on as Vice President Dick Cheney suffers an irregular heartbeat, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney take the gloves off in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination and Brazilian race-car […]

Cassie: Pure Magic
Cassie may have a sweet, vivacious personality, but she is someone who knows what she wants and is willing to take risks to get it. However, it hasnt all been smooth sailing for this young exotic beauty. While promoting her debut album in 2006, Cassie stopped at New Yorks Hot 97, and in one of […]

Raheem DeVaughn: The Man Behind the Melody
The tide has changed in the music industry, and as its been said, you can either sink or swim. Raheem DeVaughn does neither. The self-proclaimed “R&B Hippie Neo-Soul Rock Star” has managed to stay afloat by changing the current. Hes just waiting for the world to get on board. Since amassing a cult-like following in […]

Get To Know: Joy Ike
Artist: Joy IkeLocation: Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaInfluences: Sara Groves, Corrine Bailey Rae, Norah Jones, Regina Spector, Sufjan Stevens, Amy WinehouseWhy You Should Know Joy Ike:When you think of Pittsburgh, thoughts of blue-collar sweat, hard work, and the daily grind immediately come to mind. Known as The Steel City, Pittsburgh is not a city known for its burgeoning […]

The Last Word: Thanksgiving Edition
Happy Turkey Day, folks. With everybody thinking about Thanksgiving leftovers, football, and the challenge of getting through the busiest shopping day of the year in one piece, I figured Id switch up and try a different Word for this week. Trust me, it was a busy week, but Im saving the best of the best […]

Erykah Badu: rEvolution Part Two
*Photo credits – Bode HelmAllHipHop.com Alternatives: The new single Honey is very different than anything youve done in the past; definitely a new feeling. Erykah Badu: Honey is probably the most straight-down-the-line song there is on the project. It would be the safest song, and I think thats why the label put it out there […]

Erykah Badu: rEvolution Part One
*Photo credits – Bode HelmErykah Badu isn’t easily forgotten. Whether it’s her eclectic attire, her philosophically empowered music or her enigmatic personality, once you experience the phenomenon that is Baduizm, her presence becomes tenacious; just ask her former paramours Andre Benjamin and Common. As ambiguous as she is grounded, Erykah Badu conveys a truth that […]

The Last Word: Beyonce Starts a Ruckus, Erykah Badu Is Back, and Alicia Keys Gets Wild
Whats the word good people? We got over another week and managed to be around still to tell the story. As for highlights, we’ve got a continuing writers strike thats shutting Hollywood down, John McCain answering a question from a woman who labeled Hillary Clinton as the B-word, a school in Maryland threatening jail time […]

Anthony David: Georgia Pride
When singer Anthony David packed up and moved from the small town of Savannah, Georgia to Atlantas then budding metropolis, a collegiate career was on his mind. Despite being the cousin of Boyz II Men member Shawn Stockman, music found him rather than the other way around. After hitting Atlantas many club scenes, he was […]

Mario: Go Time
Like most of the world of entertainment, music has always had a revolving door of relevant characters. So much that we often take for granted the artists that we have grown with. One such character is Mario. Weve watched the songbird grow from a teenager asking girls to braid his hair, to a man asking […]

Keri Hilson: Heat Seeker
Atlanta has become the fastest-growing music center in the U.S., particularly as a hotbed for R&B and Hip-Hop. Keri Hilson is heating up the core as one of the few female singer/songwriter/vocal producers our time, and shes only 24. Its likely that Hilson has penned a song by your favorite artist somewhere along the line, […]

The Last Word: Michael Jackson’s “Smelly,” Prince Fans Are Mad, and Chris Brown Runs a Math-a-Thon
Whats up, party people? Welcome to the end of the week. Say goodbye to another slow, but busy five days as we witnessed the face of King Tut, unrest in Pakistan amid emergency rule imposed by President Pervez Musharraf, Oprahs devastation over the scandal surrounding her South Africa-based leadership academy for young women, Rudy Giuliani […]

Kenna: Facing the Gun
In this day and age youd have to be insane to try putting an album out. Everything is expensive as hell, the fans are finicky, and most people will probably download it anyway. Even if you managed to get signed to a label that matters, theres still a pretty good chance the whole thing will […]