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Details Emerge In Whitney Houston’s Death; Rappers Mourn

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) More details surrounding the death of Whitney Houston have emerged.

The 48-year-old singer was found dead earlier this afternoon (February 11) inside of the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles.

Sources stated that friends found her unconscious in her fourth floor hotel room.

Paramedics attempted to a resuscitate Whitney Houston, but their efforts failed.

“She has been positively identified by friends, family and co-workers that were with her at the hotel and the next of kin have already been notified,” LT. Mark Rosen said. “There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent at this time and it’s thoroughly being investigated by Beverly Hills Police detectives.”

Representatives for Whitney Houston’s ex, Ray J., have denied reports that he was the person that discovered Whitney Houston’s body.

Sources told AllHipHop.com said that Houston was found by her brother Michael, who discovered the singer dead in the bathtub.

Meanwhile, the news of the six-time Grammy Award winning artist’s death sent shockwaves through the hip-hop industry.

“I hate to say these words about my sister & friend R.I.P To the Great Whitney Houston you will always be loved in this world!! #Deans,” said Swizz Beatz, who produced Whitney’s single “Million Dollar Bill.”

“I had the pleasure of knowing /wking w whitney. Known her 4 long time. My prayers r w/fam, robyn, bob, ect.. RIP whitney “THEVOICE,” Q-Tip tweeted.

“Smh… She was GREAT… I’m tired of the “GREATS” passing b4 their time,” Royce Da 5’9 tweeted.

@Damn this a classic pic of Pac & Whitney http://t.co/lqlHDzP2 Heaven got all the greats!! #RIP,” The Outlawz tweeted.

“rip 2 a Legendary Diva, Icon, Mother & Friend Whitney Houston. 1 of the greatest voices ever. u will be truly missed. R.I.P Whitney Houston,” Timbaland tweeted.

Whitney Houston was in Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards.

Sources stated that a number of artists are scrambling to pull together a tribute for Whitney Houston at the Grammy Awards, which are slated to take place tomorrow (February 12).

Ironically, Clive Davis, who discovered Whitney Houston, is hosting his legendary pre-Grammy bash tonight, with Whitney Houston’s, ex, Ray J.

“Six-time GRAMMY® winner Whitney Houston was one of the world’s greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades,” Neil Portnow President/CEO The Recording Academy/Grammy’s.

“Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs. A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice,” Portnow said.

A source told AllHipHop.com that her former husband Bobby Brown is currently in Mississippi, where he is due to perform with New Edition.

The source said that Bobby Brown was “devastated.”

Clive Davis and Ray J.

Whitney Houston: The Greatest Love of All

By: seandrasimsCategory: Uncategorized

If you’re at least 25 years old, your life has somehow, at some point, been touched by legendary songstress Whitney Houston. Whether it was her classic ballads being blasted through your parents’ stereo speakers, or during the more recent years, when we watched at times in awe – she impacted us all.

For me, it was Whitney’s classic rendition of the song, “The Greatest Love of All.” Nearly every elementary school music teacher required it at some point back in the day, and in 1985, the radio couldn’t break its addiction to playing it repeatedly. On nearly all radio stations. On Earth. Sure, the lyrics were good enough, but it was Whitney’s soul-stirring, high note-climbing vocals that made people believe in themselves just a little bit more after hearing it….”I believe the children are the future…”

I scored a solo the year we sang that song at my end-of-the-year, 6th grade awards assembly. I wasn’t one for the spotlight, but for two weeks, an 11-year-old Seandra practiced in the mirror, reaching (unsuccessfully) for the unreachable heights that Whitney had taken the song’s lyrics to. I was a shy kid, but for some reason, the song – and singing along with Whitney in the mirror – made all the difference in my summoning up the courage to shine….“teach them well, and let them lead the way.”

In the years to come, I would love her songs even more. Whitney had album after album of chart toppers – universal music that knew no color boundaries, that had taken a somewhat ‘hood girl from “The Oranges” to the big screen, the awards podium, and eventual tabloid notariety. Even as I watched her life unravel, I never gave up hope in her ability to just be…human. Her frailties with Bobby made us cringe, and her personal desperation was hard to watch (and easy to judge) in many interviews, TV reality episodes, and paparazzi photos. Whitney constantly reminded me how the spotlight blinds the rest of us. But what I’ve learned in this job is that we are all human – especially celebrities….“show them all the beauty they possess inside.”

To the relief of many, Whitney rallied back in recent years. And I cheered for her, pumping my fist just days ago, as I laughed in the AllHipHop offices while viewing photos of her and Ray J in a car together. “On a passenger ride to Cougar Town!” I thought, not mad at her one little bit. So, before the ongoing media coverage that will last for days on end, where we analyze and pick apart your life and times, at times not considering the toll it will take on your family and legacy, I wanted to say THANK YOU, Whitney Houston. Hopefully I wasn’t the only kid in that auditorium way back when who was inspired to strive harder and be better because of a song….”I found the greatest love of all inside of me.”

Whitney Houston “The Greatest Love of All” (Live at the 1987 Grammys)

Our icons are leaving us far too soon. R.I.P., Whitney.

Seandra Sims is AllHipHop.com’s Managing Editor. Follow her on Twitter (@SeandraSims).

Whitney Houston Dead At 48

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) Representatives for legendary R&B singer Whitney Houston have confirmed that the singer has died.

Details are still being released and the cause of death is currently not known, but her publicist Kristen Foster confirmed that Whitney Houston died today (February 11).

Whitney Houston, was just 48 years old when she died.

More details will be released through the evening.

Whitney Houston has sold over 200 million records world-wide.

She was well known for her documented struggles with drugs.

Whitney is survived by one child, Bobbi Kristina, with her former husband, Bobby Brown.

Concert Recap: Wale and Miguel Celebrate Valentine’s Day With “Lotus Flower Bomb” Show in NYC

By: JP DelaCuesta (@JPdelacuesta)Category: Features

Warner Bros. signees Wale and Miguel performed the first of two special, cross-country Valentine’s Day weekend shows last night (February 10) in New York City.

After Wale associate Black Cobain opened and officially ripped the stage, RocNation songstress Bridget Kelly performed a number of songs, including one of her most buzzed about records, “Thinking About Forever.”

Miguel then hit the stage with a full band and a glowing mic stand. The singer surprised the crowd with a full 45 minute-set that included fan favorites like “Girls Like You,” “Sure Thing,” “Pay Me,” “All I Want Is You,” and even a rendition of Tupac’s “I Get Around,” which served as the perfect transition into one of his biggest hits of 2011, “Quickie.”

From the look and vibe of those in attendance, it was readily apparent that Miguel’s success is no fluke. The man was so full of energy, soul, and love for not just the music he was performing, but for his fans as well, that whether you were there to see him or Wale, he made sure his performance would be unforgettable.

After Miguel’s stellar set, it was time for Washington, D.C. native and Maybach Music Group artist Wale to take to the stage. After opening with the song “No Days Off,” off his recently released album, Ambition, he went into “90210” from his 2009 debut, Attention Deficit. Later, Wale performed tracks like “That Way,” “Nike Boots,” “Chain Music,” “No Hands,” “Bad Girls Club,” as well as a few songs from his critically acclaimed Mixtape About Nothing.

Although the bill was dubbed as the “Lotus Flower Bomb” show with Wale and Miguel, fans likely expected a surprise or two – and they weren’t disappointed. As Wale paused to show New York City some love, the Harry Fraud-produced beat for “Shot Caller” dropped and Bronx native French Montana took the stage, running through both “Shot Caller” and his verse from Rick Ross’ “Stay Schemin”. The fans went nuts as French exited and Wale began winding his set down.

Miguel joined Wale on stage to assist in performing their current hit single, “Lotus Flower Bomb.” As the song concluded and the crowd cheered wildly, Wale officially ended his set with his current single, “Slight Work,” which boasts R&B star Chris Brown as the director of its accompanying music video.

Overall, the concert was great and well worth the ticket price to fans. And, witnessing Miguel and Wale, two of 2011’s biggest artists, join forces to commemorate an early Valentine’s Day was a special treat. For eager fans on the West Coast, the second show will take place on February 13 at the Key Club in West Hollywood, CA.

Check out a gallery of pictures from last night’s concert below:

Nikon and Warner Music Group Team Up for a SXSW Residency and New Artist Contest

By: JP DelaCuesta (@JPdelacuesta)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) Nikon, the world leader in digital imaging, and Warner Music Group have teamed up to host a star-studded three-day event at the upcoming 2012 South By SouthWest Music and Media Conference (SXSW) in Austin, Texas this March.

“The Warner Sound Captured By Nikon” event will feature live showcase performances from acts such as Santigold, B.O.B., Meek Mill, and a number of other performers signed to the music conglomerate. A full lineup for the March 13-15 showcase at La Zona Rosa will be released in the coming weeks.

In addition to the three-day SXSW residency, Nikon and WMG are also teaming up to search for the next great music superstar with their “Your 1 Shot” contest. The contest offers new artists a chance to perform live at the SXSW residency. Bands, artists, and groups are invited to submit one live performance video to the “Your 1 Shot” contest site.

One winner will be selected by a panel of industry experts and will be brought to Austin for a live performance at the La Zona Rosa on March 14. In addition to the performance, the winner will receive a brand new Nikon 1 J1 camera kit, travel fare, three nights’ accommodations in Austin, and VIP access to the “Warner Sound Capture By Nikon” event.

Online voting for the contest is set to take place from February 21-27, with the winner to be announced on March 6. For more information, visit www.TalentHouse.com.

Big Sean “Two Can Win”

By: Steve Raze (@SteveRaze)Category: Music

[ahh_audio src=/2-11-12/Big_Sean_-_Two_Can_Win.mp3]

In honor of J. Dilla being one of the most influential producers of all time, I decided to lay a verse to one of my favorite tracks off of J. Dilla’s Donuts. Being from Detroit I feel I have a responsibility to honor his legacy n continue it in my own way. His soul will live forever… RIP J. Dilla

Daily Word: The Side Hustle: How to Start a Business While Working a 9-to-5

By: seandrasimsCategory: Lifestyle

If this were a classroom, and I asked how many people have a “side hustle,” I can guarantee that almost everyone would raise their hands. When I say “side hustle,” I mean something that you love doing that gives you extra money, but is not your main source of income. It can be DJing, promoting parties, your Hip-Hop blog, or selling your mixtapes on the weekend.

We all have our “side hustles,” and if this were a perfect world, our “side hustle” would be the main. But why isn’t it? Starting a business is not an easy task, but with the right preparation, dedication, and focus, you can free yourself of that dreaded job you hate so much. All action isn’t created equal, so it’s important that you follow certain steps so that you can increase the chances of your endeavor being successful.

Starting a business should be done in an effective way, instead of just doing it for the sake of just doing it. The following are a few steps to take in order to start a business effectively:

1. Find Time – First you need to put aside at least two to three hours a day to focus on your business. No matter how crazy you may think your life is, I can guarantee you that with proper time management you can find two to three hours.

2. Set Goals – Once you’ve flushed out all of your ideas and have come up with a strategy to execute them, make sure you set goals for you and your business so that you have something to be held accountable to. Make sure that your goals are S.M.A.R.T., which stands for Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Realistic – & Time-bound. They should also be broken up into short and long term.

3. Take Care of Legal and Administrative Stuff – Now that you know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there, you have to search for and create a business name. Once you find an available name, go to either Dreamhost.com or GoDaddy.com to register it and create your website. Complete forms on Legalzoom.com or WeThePeople.com to legally set up your business as a sole proprietorship, Corporation, LLC, DBA, or LLP. Lastly, you need to go to the IRS and get a Federal Tax ID number. It’s free, and you can print it out in seconds by visiting IRS.gov.

4. Learn More about Your Business – There’s never a such thing as too much knowledge. Whenever you have some free time, preferably on the weekends, make sure you are taking online classes, workshops, and seminars pertaining to your business.

5. Launch and Spread the Word – Now you’re ready to start making some money! Once you launch your business, it’s imperative that you tell your friends, family, co-workers, church congregation, classmates, strangers, and whoever else you run across.

6. Stay Focused and Committed – Now that you’re officially a business owner, you have to remember one thing; not all days are going to be the same. Some days, business is going to be great and others not so great. The important thing is to work your plan and stay committed to your success.

Congratulations!! You are truly a boss! Keep grinding and make those dreams become reality! Again, NOTHING CAN STOP YOU!!! THE WORLD IS YOURS!!! -Ash’Cash

TO HEAR THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE DAILY WORD – CLICK HERE.

Ash’Cash is a Business Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Financial Expert and the author of Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom. For more information, please visit his website, www.IamAshCash.com.