I know Jamoris is happy about #8 and #10 of this list.
“This is an artist who kind of had to fight with his label to get this album out,†MTV News producer Steven Roberts said during our Hottest MCs roundtable debate. “I think it was a great thing that as soon as he put out this album, they saw that there was a fanbase there.â€
Nicki will be on the cover of the Spring Fashion 2012 issue of New York magazine. Below, she explains her wacky alter-egos.
What’s the story with your different alter egos? I have different personalities, so I just started naming them. Like, there’s one that’s angry, a little more in-your-face. I named that person Roman. He guest stars on my new album. There’s also his mother, Martha. She guest-stars as well. She’s from London. I also have a Barbie character that comes out every now and then. She’s soft-spoken, really sweet, and polite. She’s got a kid’s voice.
Beyoncé log onto her website and sympathized on the death of Whitney Houston. She reflected on their first encounter and her musical influence.
“The loss of Whitney Houston is painful. I remember meeting Whitney for the first time when I was 15. She was the ultimate legend. The ultimate woman. Not only was she confident, poised, stunningly beautiful and intelligent, but she was sincere and kind. She took the time to make everyone feel like they were very important to her. I, like every singer, always wanted to be just like her. Her voice was perfect. Strong but soothing. Soulful and classic. Her vibrato, her cadence, her control. So many of my life’s memories are attached to a Whitney Houston song. She is our queen and she opened doors and provided a blueprint for all of us. God bless her.†– Beyoncé
21, Adele [Winner]
Wasting Light, Foo Fighters
Born This Way, Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Bruno Mars
Loud, Rihanna
Record of the Year:
Adele – Rolling In The Deep [Winner]
Bon Iver – Holocene
Bruno Mars – Grenade
Mumford & Sons – The Cave
Katy Perry – Firework
Best Rock Album:
Wasting Light, Foo Fighters [Winner]
Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul, Jeff Beck
Come Around Sundown, Kings of Leon
I’m With You, Red Hot Chilli Peppers
The Whole Love, Wilco
Best Rap Album:
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West [Winner]
Watch the Throne, Jay-Z & Kanye West
Tha Carter IV, Lil Wayne
Lasers, Lupe Fiasco
Pink Friday, Nicki Minaj
Best New Artist:
Bon Iver [Winner]
The Band Perry
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
Best Alternative Music Album:
Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Codes And Keys, Death Cab For Cutie
Torches, Foster The People
Circuital, My Morning Jacket
The King Of Limbs, Radiohead
Song of the Year:
Adele – Rolling In The Deep [Winner]
Kanye West f. Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie – All Of The Lights
Mumford & Sons – The Cave
Bruno Mars – Grenade
Bon Iver – Holocene
Best Pop Performance By a Duo Or Group With Vocals:
Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse – Body And Soul [Winner]
The Black Keys – Dearest
Coldplay – Paradise
Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie – All Of The Lights [Winner]
Beyoncé & André 3000 – Party
DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne – I’m On One
Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey – I Need A Doctor
Rihanna & Drake – What’s My Name?
Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne – Motivation
Best Pop Vocal Album:
21, Adele [Winner]
The Lady Killer, Cee-Lo Green
Born This Way, Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Bruno Mars
Loud, Rihanna
With the death of ex-wife Whitney Houston, and his daughter Bobbi Kristina in the hospital, sources close to Bobby Brown tell TMZ he is on his way to Los Angeles be with his daughter … and skipping a concert to do so.
According to our sources, Bobbi Kristina has not been alone since her mother passed — she’s had Bobby’s family by her side the entire time.
New Edition has a concert tonight in Nashville, but we’re told Bobby will skip the show so he can get to Los Angeles to be with Bobbi Kristina.
As TMZ first reported, Bobbi Kristina has been in the hospital twice since Whitney passed away.
Correction: in a previous post I said that Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party was cancelled due to Whitney’s death, when in fact is went off as a tribute instead. Above is Clive’s speech regarding the recently passed legend.
Sources close to Ray J tell TMZ he went straight to the Beverly Hilton to try and see Houston as soon as he got the call that she had passed away. He had not been with Houston at all that day or the night before.
We’re told when he arrived, law enforcement turned him away just as they did Bobbi Kristina. Ray J can be seen in the photo above, moments after, outside Whitney’s room on the 4th floor.
According to our sources, Ray J is “crushed” by Whitney’s passing.
While you’re purchasing your tickets, you can also check out his latest single he dropped earlier today.
The autopsy of Whitney Houston is complete, TMZ has learned, but the results will be deferred pending a toxicology report.
According to our sources, a cause of death cannot be determined until the toxicology results … which typically takes 4-6 weeks.
As TMZ first reported … although the cause of death is unknown, it is increasingly looking like Whitney may have fallen asleep or lapsed into unconsciousness in the bathtub and drowned.
According to our sources … Bobbi was taken out of the Beverly Hilton on a stretcher (see photo above). It’s the same hotel where Whitney was found dead.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ police and fire responded to a call for a medical emergency, but would not confirm who was transported.
According to our sources, Bobbi Kristina went to the hospital last night as well, but was not transported via ambulance. We’re told she was “hysterical, exhausted and inconsolable.”
As TMZ first reported, Bobbi Kristina got into an angry shouting match last night with police officers outside the hotel room where her mother was found dead.
A rep for the studio expressed deep sympathy for the loss of the icon to MTV News.
“Like all those who knew and loved her, we are shocked and saddened and the world has lost an incomparable talent. Right now our thoughts are with her daughter, her family and her friends.”
The film’s producer, Bishop T.D Jakes, also expressed his sadness upon hearing the news:
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely passing of Whitney Houston, whom we were blessed to have just completed work with on the remake of the film ‘Sparkle.’ We ask the world to join us in lifting up Whitney’s family in prayer and ask God for their strength and comfort during this devastatingly difficult time,” Bishop wrote in a statement. “At the apex of her career, Whitney had no peer, with a voice that shaped a generation. She has left behind a musical and film legacy that will endure. … She will be sorely missed by us all.”
“Sparkle” is a remake of the 1976 Irene Cara film about three talented young musicians who struggle with addiction. The 2012 version features “American Idol” alum Jordin Sparks as the titular character Sparkle and Houston, who also served as executive producer after having acquired the rights to the film more than a decade ago, as her mother, Emma.
Houston’s co-producer on the project, Howard Rosenman, told the Los Angeles Times he was in total shock upon hearing the news.
“I have no idea about the impact [of Houston’s death] on ‘Sparkle,’ which I saw last night,” he told the newspaper of screening a rough cut of the recently wrapped film. “[Houston] was unbelievably fantastic in it.”
“Sparkle” was Houston’s first movie in 16 years, since her performance alongside Denzel Washington in the 1996 holiday feel-good film “The Preacher’s Wife.” Her most memorable and celebrated role was in the 1992 romantic drama “The Bodyguard.”
As the world mourns the loss of the iconic Whitney Houston, Grammy producers have been making frantic changes to tonight’s show, so as to honor the late, great, superstar.
Hence, in a move we can only commend, vocalist Jennifer Hudson has been drafted in to tribute the singer.
Speaking to the media this morning, Grammy executive producer Ken Ehrlich said:
“Our plan at this point, I’ve asked Jennifer Hudson to come. We’re really, at this point, talking about what she’s going to do, but it will be something respectful. t’s not going to be a full-blown tribute, to me that feels like it’s too early, it’s too fresh at this moment, so we’re working on something that will be really respectful and appropriate to Whitney’s memory.â€
There is also strong suggestion that Chaka Khan will be involved.
Source: That Grape Juice/johnjohn on Vimeo.
Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music’s queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, has died. She was 48.
Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unclear.
At her peak in the 1980s and `90s, Houston the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world’s best-selling artists.
Among her hits were “How Will I Know,” “Saving All My Love for You” and “I Will Always Love You.” She won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year.
Her success carried her beyond music to movies like “The Bodyguard.”
But by the end of her career, drug use took its toll as her record sales plummeted and her voice became raspy and hoarse.
Bow Wow’s 2012 is off to a rather litigious start — not only is he buried in tax liens, and a wanted man in Georgia for ducking a civil lawsuit … but now he’s being sued by a limousine company, just for good measure.
According to a lawsuit filed this week in Georgia, Bow Wow (real name Shad Moss) stiffed the limo company to the tune of $3,594.87.
Our sources say the bill goes all the way back to 2008 and stems from services provided in California.
Calls to Bow Wow’s rep were not returned.
Crazy! Also check out Harvey speaking on the matter (and how they twisted his words a bit) in this video from This Is Max.
Last week, the So Solid Crew rapper revealed to the publication details of his supposed fling with Chezza, stating he became close to the 28-year old after her divorce from Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole in 2010.
Harvey – real name Michael Harvey Jr – went as far as telling the mag that he would have married Cheryl, dismissing her rumoured romance with dancer Derek Hough, confessing he was dating the Geordie babe instead.
His revelations sparked a Twitter battle with Cole, with the Girls Aloud star denying all knowledge of their rumoured hook-up, accusing Harvey of “smoking something.”
The 32-year old then claimed to have evidence of their relationship, with Harvey tweeting: “Do you actually want me to tweet some of the messages you emailed me @cherylcole pipe down and stop playing the saint in front of your fans.”
Now has since confirmed that Harvey has ‘dozens of messages’ from Cheryl, stating that they have even seen some emails from her mother, Joan Callaghan – which reportedly say she was happy her daughter was ‘moving on with her life.’
Read the full article here.
Kanye West is a big name and a huge artist, which means he’s entitled to make certain demands of his crew while he is on tour. Most artist’s riders have lists of drinks and foods an artist wants at their disposal at all times, but Ye isn’t just any performer.
So, on his rider, not only does he insist on having Versace towels shipped over, which are then cut into smaller sizes so he can use them onstage (GASP!!!), but he has banned all man-made fibers in his presence. In other words, his drivers and crew are required to wear nothing by 100% cotton while working with him … or else they’re history!
On Jan. 26, new parents Beyoncé and Jay-Z filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect the baby’s name — and reserve it for a future line of baby carriages, baby cosmetics, diaper bags and other undoubtedly fabulous accoutrements for the fashion-forward infant.
In the superstar industrial complex, trademarking your baby’s name is just smart business. There all sorts of folks who might try to slap it on some tacky baby bib.
To wit: Fashion designer Joseph Mbeh, who submitted an application to trademark “Blue Ivy Carter NYC†on Jan. 11 — just four days after the baby was born. Another applicant filed on Jan. 20 for “Blue Ivy Carter Glory IV†to use on a line of fragrances. The trademark office has already denied both filings, saying the name belonged to a “very famous infant †and consumers would falsely assume that the products were approved by the celebrity parents.
Read more baby name wackiness after the jump.
Mbeh, who intended to produce children’s dresses, skirts, and underwear using the name, issued a groveling statement after his Jan. 25 smackdown from the feds. A big misunderstanding!: He planned to pitch the idea to Beyoncé and Jay-Z and never, ever, intended to poach any of their baby bucks.
The application by BGK Trademark Holdings — Beyoncé’s company — is pending but is basically a done deal because parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of their minor children, experts say.
However, some in the field have raised an eyebrow over the unusual swiftness with which the feds have taken action on the Blue Ivy filings. Did the superstar parents and occasional White House visitors get special treatment?
A typical trademark application takes three to four months, explained Chris Ott, a trademark attorney with Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease. It’s usually first come, first serve, with a long, long line. It’s worth the wait: A trademark identifies the source of goods and services and protects business from unauthorized use of potentially valuable brands. “You can make a ton of money with t-shirts,†said Ott.
But it’s not a given that Blue Ivy was fast-tracked because of her connections. In fairness, the folks at the trademark office follow the news just like the rest of us.
The office gets thousands of applications a year —398,667 in 2011 — and most end up in what we’ll call the normal (slow) line. But now and then a name or phrase emerges in the culture — “Shock and Awe,†“The Situation,†“Occupy,†“1%,†“99%†— and the office sees a sudden spike in filings.
“The agency will identify actual or potential filing trends for trademarks with similar examination issues,†explained Cynthia Lynch, administrator for trademark policy and procedure. All those zeitgeisty applications get pulled aside and channeled to examiners who can research and quickly rule upon similar filings. When Blue Ivy was born, officials anticipated the name would show up and were ready to bat down imposters.
Except. . . for one lucky boutique in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The clothing store “Blue Ivy†filed for trademark on Jan. 19, 2011 (before Beyonce was even pregnant) and received approval on Aug. 23. The store owners now have the right to use that name on their store, Web site and related items as long as they want. Or they can sell the trademark if, say, some multimillionaire star made an offer.
Reps for Beyoncé and Jay-Z didn’t respond to requests for comment.
