Ludacris has launched a website www.wemix.com to seek out talented atists. WeMix is the people’s record label. Luda is giving talented artists a place to prove themselves – online. And then, if chosen, WeMix will connect you with the top musical producers to record your single in a studio. Go to www.wemix.com and join this community if you are interested. Even if you are not an aspiring artist, you can still join to comment on videos, songs, and interact with other members.
This is the third single from Trey Songz album Trey Day. The single was written and produced by Bryan Michael Cox. Let us know what you think.
Estelle is a british singer, songwriter, producer and rapper who has made much success in overseas and she is making her way to US music scene.
“This has been the story of my career-’we don’t know what to do with you because it’s not been done before’. So I just do it myself.”
This was the response that Estelle received from many record label executives. They have been confused by her rare and unique style. This pushed Estelle to start and run her own record label, Stellar Ents and she has released her own material through this – including two mixtapes and her debut album The 18th Day.
Now Estelle is one of the artists signed to John Legend’s Homeschool Records. Together, Legend and Estelle has prepped her upcoming album, Shine, the first release on Legend’s Homeschool Records. Kanye West, Mark Ronson, Swizz Beatz and Cee-Lo have all contributed with the album’s production.
The first single off the album, “Wait a minute (Just a touch)” which was produced by Will.i.am, is very eccentric and it showcases Estelle’s talent as a rapper and a singer. The second single “American Boy” features Kanye West.
Estelle definetly has a style that cannot be compared to any other artist in the game right now. In 2007 Rolling Stone named Estelle the “Artist to Watch” and it comes with no surprise.
Timbaland has signed a deal with Verizon Wireless to make the first “mobile album.” Timbaland will produce a collection of songs while on tour with Verizon Mobile Recording Studio Bus.
“Just producing a mobile album has never been done. I’m the first to ever do it,” Timbaland said last week.
According to Billboard.com, he will create one song per month in 2008 and work with a different artist on each. The album (with no title as of yet) will only be available to Verizon’s V Cast subscribers as downloads, ringtones, and ringbacks.
Now this is so different from what we expected it to be. The video is supposedly a “teaser” and there are more parts coming. Let us know what you think.
With no album release date, this past Sunday at the Grammy’s, Nas along with his wife Kelis and a few other friends made a statement on the red carpet. Nas and “friends” decided to promote his upcoming album by wearing tshirts with his album title “Nigger”.
CNN interviewed Nas and he said “Its all the experiences we go through every day, of all ethnicities, Black, White, indifferent. We’ve all at some point felt discriminated on, whether its in Dominican Republic, whether its in China, whether its in Iraq with soldiers getting their heads blown off for reasons we don’t know why,” he reasoned. “The meaning of the word is supposed to be ignorant.”
Wife Kelis ended the interview with saying, “By the way, John Lennon had a song called Women are the Niggers of the World, that was many years ago, and it hasn’t changed.”
With so many political figures out there trying to bury this degrading word, Nas believes that he is making a statement. Yes he is, but is it the statement that he is looking for? Maybe it is, but Nas believes that not only Black people are Niggers. He believes that everyone is a Nigger and that he wants people to think about what he’s thinking about today. Nas is receiving a lot of controversial buzz about this album title but is this the right way to get people to think what he is thinking? We are very interesred in what this hip hop legend has to say but is he going at it all wrong? Let MMIM know what you think.
You can watch the interview below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c2OQUWSQUE&rel=1&border=1]
Here is Ashanti’s first single from her upcoming anticipated album “The Declaration”.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWY45AaW468&rel=1&border=1]
Sporting her new hair color, Keyshia Cole performs “I remember” on Ellen. Enjoy!
Who is Brandon Hines?
Let the music critics tell it they will argue that quality R&B and soul music is now a rarity. Digging deep through record collection notables like Marvin Gaye, Jodeci and Luther Vandross, it’s tough to find a new artist that nestles comfortably among the greats.
Cultivated in Motown, Brandon Hines and his refreshingly natural singing talent are campaigning for legendary status. His smooth, baritone vocals command the attention of the ladies and his relatable lyrics are magnetic for the gentlemen. Hines lulls his sultry love songs in a distinct, raspy tone that sets him apart from others in the current music climate. Not only does he offer a soundtrack and a sexy backdrop, but Brandon Hines provides an experience. And he wants you to make love…Music that is.
That’s what Hines and his independent debut, Love Music: Fallin in Fallin Out, have been doing since 2005. The album has sold over 7,000 hard copies and over I-Tunes. Hines has a strong following among the younger crowd, but a classic appeal that transcends generations.
Writing his own lyrics since he was young, Brandon Hines developed a knack for composing songs that evoke emotion. The art of storytelling mixed with his carefully placed rifts and background vocals, result in the no-holds-barred medleys that are edgy and honest.
The bold sound that pours out of Brandon Hines is a product of passion and determination. He quelled his interest in being a musician until a tremendous response from his Howard University peers drove him to pursue his music career. With a growing fan base showering him with love,Brandon Hines became acquainted with his sound. Hines pegged moody, sultry music as his signature, paired with beats that tell a story by themselves. Synth-heavy, slow-rolling beats are the sturdy framework for songs like “10″ that revert you back to Ginuwine “So Anxious” days.
Brandon Hines works with up and coming producers NEZ & RIO and Miguel Graves. He has worked with R & B singers Trey Songs and Cassie, Troy Taylor, Ryan Leslie and Johnta Austin. Each collaboration has been a catalyst to the other as Brandon Hines is earning his credibility and making a name for himself in the industry.
Hines won the 2006 Who’s Next Award at a major music conference, solidifying the obvious: fans are eager to hear more. Like a steam pot ready to spillover, Brandon Hines and his love experience can hardly be contained. Driven and dedicated to his craft, Brandon is expressing
our lives through music. And his music is just like love: once you fall in, it’s hard to fall out.
Click here to listen to Ten by Brandon Hines
Click here to listen to Look Me in My Face by Brandon Hines
We at MMIM would like to know how you feel about Mr. Hines please bless us with your comments and let us know if you are feeling this talented artist.
According to the New York Times, Jay Z and mogul Steve Stoute are set to open Translation Advertising, an agency that will focus on reaching the multicultural market. The new agency will be apart of Translation Consultation and Brand Imaging, whose clientele includes McDonald’s, Reebok, Hewlett-Packard and GM.
The Interpublic Group, a large advertising holding company will own 49 percent of Translastion Advertising and the remaining stake will be owned by Jigga himself and Mr. Stoute, both men being under 40.
Translation Advertising has yet to disclose their clientele, but we at MMIM are very excited to see what this agency will unfold. Its amazing to see African American entrepreneurs make a difference and make their mark by taking ownership of companies and becoming an influence within society. What better way to start than with advertising? Many general advertising agencies have yet to find how to market products to the multicultural market. With ads that include people “pop lock and dropping it” in department stores and even ads where multicultural consumers are acting belligerent for no reason, I am interested to see how this agency comes up with a better way to reach the multicultural market who contributes to a huge portion of the retail market share.
Jay Z and Stoute are not the first to tap into the advertising market. Spike Lee owns the Spike DDB agency and Damon Dash has started Blocksavvy.com, an interactive ad agency and social networking site.
Hova said it best, I’m not a ‘Business-Man’! I’m a Business… man! Let me handle my business, damn!” He is doing just that. We at MMIM would love to hear your views about this new agency and whether or not you think it will beneficial or not.
Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige will come together to launch a 25 date tour beginning next month in Miami. The “Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z: Heart of the City” tour will kick off at Miami’s American Airlines Arena.
Check www.ticketmaster.com to buy tickets. Seats are going for $76 to $347. The tour dates are listed below and there are more to be announced soon.
March 22 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
March 26 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
March 27 Uniondale, NY Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
March 28 East Rutherford, NJ IzodCenter
March 30 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
April 2 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
April 3 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
April 5 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
April 6 Washington, DC Verizon Center
April 16 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
During the month of February, VH1 will celebrate Black History Month along with some of the best entertainers.
On February 25th, 8 p.m. EST, VH1 will premiere its “Storytellers” series with Mary J. Blige. This hour long show, will showcase Mary J. Blige performing her biggest hits and she will explain the inspiration behind her tracks (some of you may remember Jay-Z doing this a few months back; VH1 will also re-air this on February 11th at 8 pm)
On February 26, VH1 Soul will feature Erykah Badu. She will also perform and share stories to a few of her hits on “SoulStage” at 9 p.m.
SOHH reports that in partnership with Ebony and Jet Magazines, VH1 Soul will also begin on the “Soul Influencers” campaign, exploring the connections between contemporary legends and today’s up and coming icons. Among the featured legends are Stevie Wonder, George Clinton and Tina Turner, who all offer candid advice and anecdotes in promos set to air throughout the month.
Kanye West has launched his own fan-oriented internet search engine, www.searchwithkanyewest.com. The search engine rewards users with gifts and prizes. The search engine is powered by Google and Ask, every search on Kanye’s engine comes with digital dollars, dubbed Swag Bucks, which can be redeemed for Kanye prizes, including: autographed CDs, MP3 downloads, clothing, exclusive Kanye West merchandise and consumer electronics.
50 cent and Robert De Niro are promoting their new movie “Righteous Kill” on the cover of the March 2008 Vibe Magazine. Vibe magazine gave the duo double covers; check it out below and dont forget to check out the movie on April 12.
Kanye West is preparing to release and self-publishing his own book of advice entitled Thank You and You’re Welcome It is scheduled to be released this spring. I am looking forward to this book and reading the “Words of Wisdom” that Kanye will have to offer.
