Many big name hip-hop heavyweights will be appearing at Phoenix, AZ’s Club Siders throughout the NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb. 13-Feb.15).
Starting tonight at 9 p.m., Bay Area rap legend E-40 will play host to the “Presidential NBA Star Studded Tip Of Party” along with Comedian Ricky Harris, Omar Gooding, Angel Conwell, Glasses Malone, and top model Toccara.
The night finds the celebrities judging over 100 models who are competing to become Show magazine’s next cover girl.
Continuing on Friday night, “Miss Rap Supreme’s YoYo will MC the “Who’s Who Celebrity Event” along with Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Lisa Raye and Joe Torry.
On Saturday afternoon Yo Gotti, Chamillionaire and Willy Northpole are set to appear at the ‘Hoops for Hope All-Star Charity Fun Fest” – a benefit thrown by the non profit organization aimed at providing care and hope to the 15 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Children form the area will be able to enjoy music, basketball and video games throughout the day.
The weekend concludes on Sunday (Feb. 15) with the “Grand Party Event,” which will be MCed by Shaquille O’Neal and hip-hop icon Dougie Fresh. Confirmed celebrity guests for the party include: Cedric the Entertainer, Amare Stoudamire and Ray J.
For more details and to purchase tickers peep www.2009nbaallstar.com.
Looks like Eminen, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent have made history once again, as their collaboration “Crack a Bottle” has jumped 78 spots to no. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 charts.
Billboard reports that when the sales figures are posted tomorrow, the song will officially make the history books. According to the Nielsen SoundScan the single has been downloaded a record-breaking 418,000 times in its opening week.
“Crack a Bottle” beats out T.I. and Rihanna’s “Live Your Life” which took the title in October with 335,000 downloads.
During a recent interview, Fif revealed that the track will be included on his upcoming album Before I Self Destruct.
Snoop Dogg will be teaming up with MTV once again as he is set to host his own variety series called “Dogg After Dark.”
The show is described as a weekly talk show with interviews sketch comedy bits and musical performances. Set to air every Tuesday on the network starting next week, the show will also feature the “Snoopadelics,” Snoop’s own in house band.
This is not the first time that the West Coast legend had his own series with MTV. Back in 2002 he starred in and produced the short-lived sketch comedy “Doggy Fizzle Televizzle.” SD also has a reality series about his family on the E! network called “Snoop Dogg’s Fatherhood,” which is in its 2nd season.
“Dogg After Dark” premieres on February 17th at 9 p.m. EST/PT on MTV.
In related news Billboard recently reported that Snoop is currently working on his new LP, Malice In Wonderland. Linking back up with his longtime producer Dr. Dre, Snoop is looking to drop the CD in September. As of press time, it is unclear what label the album will be released on.
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It’s difficult to tell what type of woman Bobby Valentino lusts after. Maybe it’s the toothsome temptress. Or could it be the wholesome angel? No matter the case, what’s most perplexing is how he intends to keep that woman during a seesaw of weak sentiments strung throughout his third studio album, The Rebirth (EMI).
Even with an early 2008 departure from rap star, Ludacris’ Disturbing tha Peace label, Bobby V. still seems to be making a few late night trips to the red-light district.
On “BEEP,” a song more silly than sexy, the crude crooner speaks of “doing it in the pool or the jeep jeep jeep,” over what resonates as a lazily rehashed Ray-J ditty. Yet, slide down nine slots to “Give Me Your Heart” and Valentino’s serenading his future wife with gospel shrills and family talk. Now climb up seven steps and his new devotion to monogamy sits dubious with “3 Is The New 2,” a ridiculously blunt ode to ménage à trois, that bumps along heavy loops of Chippendale-esque panting. But maybe he just spoke too soon.
Usually autonomy is applauded, but unlike his past DTP albums, Bobby’s first release under his imprint, Blue Kolla Dreams displays a strong lack of creative cohesion. In the past, Valentino’s mild success may have thrived with a never-play-the-prude approach to love. However a sharply lewd formula only weakens the structure of what was an already middling third effort.
The Tracklisting for The Rebirth
1. Make Me Say
2. Beep
3. Butterfly Tattoo
4. Hands on Me
5. Me & You
6. 3 is the New 2
7. Give Me Your Heart
8. You Are Not Alone
9. Your Smile
10. Another Life Time
11. Do You Really Love Me
12. On the Edge
Though Wrigley Gum was diplomatic in their statement as to why they’ve suspended Chris Brown from his endorsement deal with Doublemint Gum, The Milk Mustache campaign is cutting right to the chase:
"The Milk Mustache campaign is taking the allegations against Chris Brown very seriously," a company rep said.
"We are very proud and protective of the image of the Milk Mustache campaign and the responsible message it sends to teens. Mr. Brown's ad was launched last fall and is scheduled to end this week."
Brown being dropped is the second blow to the pop star’s career since his alleged fight Sunday, with girlfriend Rihanna. Rihanna was allegedly bloody and bruised after a reported scuffle, that caused her to back out of her Grammy performance Sunday.
According to the Los Angeles Times, she is currently building a domestic violence case against Brown, and is being fully cooperative with police investigators, who have reportedly called her injuries “devastating proof of abuse."
While he didn’t win a Grammy award for his last album – the controversial concept disc originally titled “Nigger” - Nas is currently in the studio with Damian “Junior Gong” Marley cooking up a follow-up project.
In an interview with MTV News the Queens-bred rapper seemed very excited about his collaboration with the son to Reggae legend Bob Marley. “Right now, I’ll tell you first, I’m working on an album with Damian Marley, and
we tryin’ to build some schools in Africa with this one, and trying to build empowerment,” he revealed. “We’re tryin’ to show love and stuff with this album. So, the record’s … all about really the ‘hood and Africa also as well. That’s coming out real soon.”
Esco says the CD may come out sometime in Spring but there is no official release date as of yet.
This isn’t the first time the two have teamed up. Nas appeared on “Road To Zion” off Marley’s 2005 album, Welcome To Jamrock.
In related news the rapper is preparing for the birth of his first child with his wife, singer Kelis. Nas has one daughter, Destiny, with his ex-girlfriend Carmen Bryan
Hip hop entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons will set out to conquer yet another task. Global Grind has announced today that Simmons, once a guest blogger and investor for the emerging website, will now serve as the site’s Editor in Chief.
Launched in 2008, Global Grind (www.globalgrind.com) was created to serve as a social and media network for the hip-hop community. The diverse site is designed for celebrities, personalities, and iconic leaders to keep in touch with their fans by blogging on various topics including
music, lifestyle, culture, politics and sports.
“I have worked as a facilitator of communication, and a promoter of creativity, entrepreneurship, giving, and political engagement,” says Simmons. “Whether you’re a celebrity, a politician, an artist, a comedian or an emerging blogger, Global Grind gives the community a powerful platform to speak to each other, the media and the world.”
The Global Grind Celebrity Blogger initiative will provide exclusive content including custom created profile pages that are direct links from the artists/celebrities to the users. Profile and Global Coverage pages will include celebrities and icons such as President Obama to Jay-Z, Paris Hilton, Steve Harvey, Kim Kardashian, Michael Moore and many others.
List of Global Grind Blogging Partners
Akon
Angela Simmons
Benny Boom
Bow Wow
Brandi Garcia
Brett Ratner
Damon Dash
DJ Cassidy
DJ D-Nice
DJ Khaled
DJ Whoo Kid
Free
Ed Lover
World Famous G-Mack
Gorilla Zoe
Jim Jones
John Legend
JoJo Simmons
Justine Simmons
Kevin Liles
LL Cool J
Militainment Crazy Raw Radio
Little X
Nas
Nelly
Ne-Yo
Nia Long
Rev Run
Sanaa Lathan
Toccara
T-Pain
Trey The Choklit Jok
Big Boy
Noemie Lenoir
LeToya Luckett
Mickey Factz
Vanessa Simmons
No one at the Grammys had swagger like Lil Wayne. The New Orleans rap giant, who led the 51st Annual awards ceremony with eight nominations, took home four trophies at last night’s event.
Weezy’s Tha Carter III took home the Rap Album of the Year award, which was presented by T-Pain and will.i.am, beating out Jay-Z’s American Gangster, Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, T.I.’s. Paper Trail and Nas’ self-titled project. His single “Lollipop” won for Rap Song of the Year, “A Milli” won for Rap Solo Performance of the Year and his effort on “Swagga Like Us” earned him a gramaphone for Best Rap Collaboration.
Wanye joined his “S.L.U.” partners in rhyme Kanye West, Jay-Z, T.I. as well as a very pregnant M.I.A. for a blockbuster performance of the hit song. Dressed in black tuxes with white button ups, each lyricist spit his verse while a live band worked the instrumentals. M.I.A., whose baby was due the same day as the ceremony, bounced around the stage and hyped up the crowd.
Each artist, with the exception of M I A, had their own sets. Kanye assisted Estelle’s “American Boy,” Jay-Z teamed up with Coldplay for the remix to “Lost,’ Lil Wayne and Robin Thicke gave a sincere dedication to New Orleans and Katrina victims on “Tie My Hands,” while T. I. and Justin Timberlake tore the stage down with their performance of “Dead and Gone.”
On the R&B side, Ne Yo, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson all performed at the awards gala. Whitney Houston presented J.Hud with the award for Best R&B album as the tearful songstress thanked both her family in heaven and her family on earth.
In a strange turn of events performances by both Chris Brown and his girlfriend Rihanna were canceled at the last minute, according to Billboard. Brown was charged with a domestic battery charge of an unidentified woman early Sunday morning and later turned himself in to local police.
The Grammys were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles California.
