Tag: Music

Ashanti dropped from her record label

Irv Gotti, president of Ashanti’s record label Murder, Inc., said he will drop the singer.  

“Our relationship has run its course. We’re in two totally different places,” the Queens-born producer told MTV about his current relationship with Ashanti this week. “We don’t really speak or talk and it’s sad, but in another way it’s like its all good. I don’t think she could win – she needs some guidance, but she’s not thinking that and honestly, I’m going to drop her.”

Check out Gotti’s chat with MTV:

[HTML1]

Ciara keeps Chris Brown collabo on new album

With Tuesday’s release of her new “Fantasy Ride” album, Ciara decided to keep the song she recorded with Chris Brown.  Despite Brown’s recent legal troubles, Ciara thinks that “Turntables” is a great collaboration.

“You know what it is?” Ciara told MTV News.  “Honestly, with that record, it’s just more about the music for me.  I wanted to focus on the music and leave it at that, because it’s a record that I’ve had for a while, I love the way it sounds and it’s one of my most favorite records on the album. And if I alter it, it’s not gonna sound the same. So for me, really it’s nothing more than about the music, so I kept it there.”

Kelis and Nas divorce

Rapper Nas and his wife, “Milkshake” singer Kelis are calling it quits after five years of marriage, reports Vibe.com.  Kelis, who is seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child, filed divorce papers April 30. The couple separated April 20.  

Check out the divorce papers:

The Dream and Keyshia Cole to tour

Singer and producer The Dream announced that he will tour with R&B singer Keyshia Cole this summer, reports Billboard.  The tour will kick off May 13 in Cincinnati and conclude in Las Vegas on June 21.  On May 15, the two will perform at the Chicago Theater.

Maxwell’s “Pretty Wings” video

Check out Maxwell’s video for his new single, “Pretty Wings.”  He will begin touring in support of his new album, “BLACKsummers’night,” June 20th in Milwaukee and end August 2nd in Orlando, reports Billboard.

 

[HTML1]

Ruben Studdard to release new album in May

Our favorite velvet teddy bear, Ruben Studdard, hopes that his fourth album, “Love IS,” will connect him to all of his “American Idol” fans.  The May 19 release features production by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Studdard said his switch from J Records to Hickory Records, both distributed by SonyBMG is more in line with his fan demand for ballads sung by the reality competition winner.

“I think J Records didn’t do a good job with connecting me to my ‘American Idol’ fan base,” said Studdard to Billboard, whose 2006’s “The Return,” sold less then 240,000 copies. “I wanted to make sure we had an opportunity to make the music they want to hear, and we got that.”

Maxwell is back!

R&B crooner Maxwell will release his fourth studio album,”BLACKsummer’snight,” July 7 on Columbia Records, reports Billboard.  His first single, “Pretty Wings,” and its video debuted today.  

Maxwell produced the nine-song album, which was recorded with a ten-piece band.  To promote “BLACKsummer’snight,” Maxwell will be touring this summer and headlining the Essence Music Festival on July 4th. 

This is Maxwell’s first recording in nine years.

Kanye’s new ‘Amazing’ video

Here is Kanye West’s new video, “Amazing.”  It was filmed in Hawaii by director Hype Williams.  Very beautiful scenery that makes you want to go on vacation right now.

Amazing

BET and VH1 to launch new network

The VH1 Soul and BETJ cable networks will use its resources to create the Centric network in October, reports Billboard.  The new network will compete with Comcast/Radio One-owned TV One in targeting the 25-to 54-year-old African-American audience, while reaching out to other multicultural viewers

VH1 Soul and BETJ will continue as individual networks.  Centric will offer original programming such as “Monica: Still Standing,” a reality show starring R&B singer Monica.  Comedian Mo’Nique will also have her own nightly talk and variety show.  The “Soul Train Music Awards” will also be reinstated.

Jill Scott has a baby boy!

On Monday, singer Jill Scott and her fiance drummer Lil John Roberts welcomed their first child, a baby boy.  Jett Hamilton Roberts was born at 4:20 p.m. on April 20 and weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz.

After years of being unable to conceive, Scott said she discovered that she was pregnant right before leaving to film her HBO series, “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency,” in Botswana.

“At one point I was trying to gain weight for the role, and I noticed I had put on 7 lbs. in 7 days. And I thought, my god! What’s going on here,” she tells PEOPLE. “I thought something was wrong with me, and I found out I was pregnant the day I was supposed to leave for Africa.”