|
|
UK Interviews
Front Page
US Music News
US Interviews
Special Features
Nightclubs
Events + Concerts
Album Reviews
Games
Music Videos
Chat Room
| ||||||||||||||
|
Lil’ Kim is set to return to our TV screens in the next series of the hit reality show, Celebrity Big Brother. The Sun newspaper reports that Kim refused the initial offer of £255,000 to appear on the program, instead demanding a minimum of £400,000. While it is unclear whether the rapper has reached an agreement with Channel 4 bosses, The Sun also reported Kim’s demands as including: final approval of all her footage, a personal assistant in the house, and her own make-up and hairstylists. The show starts next Wednesday, (Jan. 3rd, 2007), with other celebrity guests rumoured to have held negotiations with Big Brother producers including Jermaine Jackson, Britney Spears’ ex, Kevin Federline, and ‘American Pie’ actress Tara Reid. Mel B to take Murphy ‘to the cleaners’ Former Spice Girl, Mel B, has hired a top celebrity lawyer in an attempt to prove actor Eddie Murphy is the father of her unborn baby. The singer was sensationally dumped live on Dutch television earlier this month, but has vowed to “take him to the cleaners” as she starts legal proceedings against the ‘Beverley Hills Cops’ star. She has enlisted the services of celebrity attorney Don Engel, and a source close to Melanie ‘Mel B’ Brown said, “Mel is refusing to lie down and let Eddie walk all over her – and this is reflected in her choice of lawyer. She wants to hit him where it hurt the most – in the pocket.” They added, “Don’s services don’t come cheap but he is one of the best lawyers around. Most would relish taking on an A-list star and Don will surely be no exception. This is a war and if Eddie doesn’t know it, he will very shortly.” Reports estimate the former chart topper could win around £15,000 in lifelong payments for her unborn child if Murphy is proved to be the father. Chart news In the UK Singles Charts this week, X Factor winner Leona Lewis topped the charts with her debut single ‘A Moment Like This’, securing her place as the 2006 Christmas Number One. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Akon featuring Eminem is still flying high at No.9, Gwen Stefani slips eight places to No.11 with ‘Wind It Up’, while P. Diddy and Christina Aguilera falls five spots to No.13 with ‘Tell Me’. Nelly Furtado’s ‘All Good Things’ is at No.15, Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland is at No.18 with ‘My Love’, and Beyoncé rounds out the Top 20 with ‘Irreplaceable’, falling six places from No.14. Further down in the charts, Mary J. Blige is the only new urban entry at No.33 with ‘MJB Da MVP’. |
Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy have expressed their disappointment at not being able to go ahead with their 
Gnarls Barkley’s No.1 hit ‘Crazy’ has been named the biggest selling single of 2006, after the song reached the top of the UK charts on internet downloads alone – a new record itself – and going on to sell around 700,000 copies. The X Factor winner, Leona Lewis, also made the top sellers’ list, with her debut single, ‘A Moment Like This’ in second place, after selling 100,000 copies in its first two days.
R&B singer Jamelia has criticised Emma Bunton, saying the former Spice Girl should stick to dancing, because she lacks the vocal talent to sing. Bunton, who is currently competing on celebrity dance competition, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, recently released ‘Downtown’, a cover of Petula Clark’s 1965 hit song. Jamelia snared, “Her career is going ‘Downtown’ – but at least she can dance.”
Mel B shocked by Murphy’s claims
Melanie Brown has hit back at former lover Eddie Murphy’s comments questioning the paternity of her unborn child. The former Spice Girl dated the actor for over five months, and only found out she was dumped when Murphy announced it live on Dutch television last Tuesday (Dec. 5). The ‘Beverley Hills Cop’ star denied he was the father of her baby, and demanded a DNA test. Brown responded in a statement, “I was astonished about what Eddie said – there is absolutely no question that Eddie is the father.” She continued, “I am obviously upset and distressed at some of the comments made by Eddie to the media. I have no idea why anybody would want to conduct themselves in this kind of manner about such a personal matter in such a public way.” Just one day after splitting from Mel B, Murphy was pictured courting TV producer Tracey Edmonds at the New York premier for his new movie, Dreamgirls.
Nelly Furtado tour dates
‘Maneater’ Nelly Furtado has announced several live dates in the UK next year as part of her European tour. The sexy singer will be playing the following dates:
February 16, 2007 – M.E.N. Arena, Manchester
February 17, 2007 – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow
February 20, 2007 – NEC, Birmingham
February 21, 2007 – Hammersmith Apollo, London
Tickets are priced from £23.50 + booking fee, and are available now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
HUGO URBAN RULES concert
After a successful launch in London this summer, HUGO URBAN RULES is back for the second round. The event will head to Birmingham on February 21 and 22, 2007, and will feature performances from Amy Winehouse, Jay Sean, and a set by DJ Steve Sutherland.
Amy Winehouse and Steve Sutherland will also take part in the Q&A session on the day of the concert, where participants will enjoy several masterclasses on subjects like vocal coaching, choreography, and the music business. Flexy Stu, of the dance group The Funkstylerz, who worked with Madonna, will lead the dance session.
To participate, musicians need to upload music to the website (www.hugofrangrances.com) or post their demos to the mailing address on the website. The closing date for entries is February 6, 2007, when an expert panel will shortlist the most promising bands and artists to attend the Birmingham auditions and masterclasses. The overall winner will be chosen on the day by judges including Winehouse herself. The lucky entrant will get to be the support act for Amy and Jay Sean on the night, record a track with a professional producer in a top studio, have one of their tracks included on a compilation CD for the promotion of HUGO Frangrances in Spring 2007, and appear on MTV and MTV Base.
Music fans can apply for complimentary tickets to the exclusive gig by registering on the website to enter the competition.
Chart News
In this week’s UK Top 40 Singles Chart, the only new urban entry is Gwen Stefani, who is in at No.8 with ‘Wind It Up’. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Akon slips one place to No.3 with ‘Smack That’ featuring Eminem, Nelly Furtado moves from No.4 to No.5 with ‘All Good Things (Come To An End)’. She is followed closely by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland at No.6 with ‘My Love’, while Beyoncé holds on to the No.7 spot with ‘Irreplaceable’, and Jamelia scrapes into the Top 10 with ‘Beware of the Dog’. There are only two other new urban entries in the Top 40 this week: P. Diddy ft. Christina Aguilera is in at No.20 with ‘Tell Me’, whilst Jay-Z returns to the charts at No.38 with ‘Show Me What You Got’.
Chamillionaire will be hitting the road in the UK this week, after his original dates were postponed to allow the rapper to attend the 2006 BET Awards. Cham will be at the Glasgow Academy on Sunday 26, Manchester Academy on Monday 27, Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall on Tuesday 28, and at the London Forum on Thursday 30. The Bristol date has been cancelled completely. All original tickets remain valid for the new dates – refunds are available from ticket source and should be requested prior to the rescheduled date.
UK rap duo beaten in final stage of World Rap Championships
British duo Whashisface and Possessed 2-1 lost out on the top prize at the first ever World Rap Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, last weekend. The pair were beaten to the $10,000 cash payout by American emcees The Saurus and Illmaculate.
Set across various Las Vegas rooftops overlooking the famous strip, the Playoff-Finals were the climax to a 10-week regular season where each of the teams had flawlessly won their respective divisions with impeccable, unbeaten records. Starting back in July, the unique 2-on-2 tag-team format made up of 12 teams across two divisions; London and New York, featured a gruelling regular season of 60 battles, where teams battled each other twice and were awarded points for either a Win or a 'Murder'. With all the battles, including the finals, being broadcast for free exclusively online on Jump Off TV, over 200,000 viewers tuned in worldwide to watch hip hop history as the world’s first professional rap sports league was born.
Plans are already underway for next year’s World Rap Championships, scheduled to start in July 2007, where the prize money will be $100,000 and is set to include eight divisions: London (UK), Sydney (AUS), Toronto (CA), New York, Houston, LA, Miami and Chicago.
You can watch the World Rap Championships exclusively here: http://www.jumpoff.tv/wrc.php
Vauxhall Tribes hits the road
Following the success of the London Vauxhall Tribes event earlier this year, the organisers are taking the show on the road with a Regional Tour that kicks off this weekend in Leeds on Saturday (Nov.25) and Birmingham on Sunday (Nov.26).
The tour will continue on to Brighton and Newcastle the following weekend (Nov.2 and 3).
The shows are open to budding B-boys/B-girls, beatboxers, streetdancers, emcees and singers to perform in front of some of the industry’s finest to compete for a £1,000 prize.
For full details of the Regional Tour, please visit http://www.vauxhalltribes.co.uk.
Mary J. Blige releases greatest hits LP
The undisputed queen of contemporary soul music and three-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige is set to release a greatest hits collection, ‘Reflections – A Retrospective’ on December 4th. ‘MJB DA MVP’, Mary’s stunning mini-autobiographical reflection on her glorious career to date, utilising the music track from The Game’s classic ‘Love It Or Hate It’, will be released as a single on December 18th.
‘Reflections – A Retrospective’ is Mary’s first release since her hugely successful 2005 album ‘The Breakthrough’, which entered the US charts at No.1 and has sold over three million copies. The success of ‘The Breakthrough’, which featured the UK No.2 single ‘One’, Mary’s remarkable duet with U2, confirmed Blige as one of the music world’s biggest selling and best loved artists.
The album takes the listener on a journey from her childhood in the projects of Yonkers, New York, to her early successes plagued with drama, to her current position as an artist at the very top of her game.
For more information, please visit: http://www.mjbligeuk.com.
Chart news
In the UK Top 40 Singles Chart this week, Akon moves into the No.1 spot with his Eminem-featuring ‘Smack That’, closely followed by Mr JT at No.2 with ‘My Love’ featuring T.I., while Beyoncé sticks at No.5 for the second week running with ‘Irreplaceable’. Meanwhile, in the album charts, the only new urban entry is The Game at No.21 with his sophomore release, ‘Doctor’s Advocate’.
Ms Dynamite was involved in a high speed car crash last week while filming for Sky One’s reality TV show, ‘The Race’. The rapper/singer, born Niomi McLean-Daley, was treated for minor injuries on site, but was airlifted to nearby Northampton General Hospital for safety, where she stayed overnight.
The accident occurred when fellow contestant Brian Johnson of AC/DC fame, clipped the back of Ms Dynamite’s Formula Ford car, sending her vehicle spinning off the Silverstone track more than 50 metres.
Omar big winner of 2006 UMAs
British soul legend Omar was the big winner at the 2006 Urban Music Awards held in London on Friday (Nov. 10) night, walking away with two awards – Best Neo Soul Act and Outstanding Achievement Award. R&B trio Fun*damental 03 did well to take away two of their own gongs, for Best R&B Act and Most Inspiring Act. Nathan won the Best Music Video award for ‘Cold As Ice’, Akala was awarded with Best Hip Hop Act, and Best Newcomer went to Soundbwoy Ent. For the full list of winners, please go to www.urbanmusicawards.net.
Sway named Best UK Act at BET Awards
UK rapper Sway won the gong for Best UK Act at the first ever BET Hip Hop Awards last weekend (Nov.11). He was voted for by MTV Base viewers and listeners of BBC 1Xtra, beating off competition from the likes of Plan B, Kano, Dizzee Rascal and Blak Twang.
Pharrell live
Pharrell Williams will be playing two exclusive dates in the UK next month. Catch him at the Manchester Apollo on December 14, and at the Brixton Academy in London on December 20. Tickets are £32.50 for the Manchester date, and £35 for the London gig. Prices exclude booking fees. Please check www.gigsandtours.com for more details.
Joss Stone plans return with Raphael
British-born songstress Joss Stone has enlisted the help of the legendary Raphael Saadiq to work on her upcoming album. Saadiq, who has worked his production magic on artists including D’Angelo, The Roots, Erykah Badu, and Mary J. Blige, is reported to be working with Stone in a studio in the Bahamas. This new project will be the singer’s third album, following her critically-acclaimed sophomore set, ‘Mind, Body & Soul’.
Love Music Hate Racism Benefit
The anti-racism campaign’s major fundraising event for the year takes place on Thursday 30th November at London’s infamous Fabric club, with a line-up of hip hop, grime, drum ‘n’ bass, indie and rock set to make the event one of the highlights of 2006. Akala and the Heartless Crew will be leading the way for the urban room, while Andy C, Dynamite MC and L Double will be turning up the beats in the drum ‘n’ bass section. The event runs from 8pm to 3am, tickets are £16 and can be purchased on www.ticketweb.co.uk. For more information, please visit www.lovemusichateracism.com.
Chart news
There were only two new urban entries in the UK Top 40 Singles Chart this week: Akon enters at No.12 with ‘Smack That’ featuring Eminem, and Justin Timberlake featuring T.I. is in at No.14 with ‘My Love’. Beyoncé sticks it out in the Top 10 with ‘Irreplaceable’ moving only one place from No.4 to No.5, while elsewhere in the chart, Cassie falls seven places to No. 21 with ‘Long Way 2 Go’, Justin Timberlake’s ‘SexyBack’ slips two spots to No.23, P. Diddy’s ‘Come To Me’ shifts four places to No.24, and The Game’s ‘It’s OK’ drops to No.36 from No.26 last week.
The 2006 MTV European Music Awards have been the highlight of the week, with news of Kanye West’s outbursts at not winning the award for Best Video the most talked-about point of the ceremony last Thursday (Nov. 2) in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, the rapper has now apologised for his behaviour, blaming his actions on “a little sippy, sippy”, telling MTV UK: “I don’t have anything against the group that won. I’m gonna download their album right now. I didn’t mean to be offensive in any way. I love you guys. I never heard of you [but] I am your friend.”
West crashed the stage as friends of Justice Vs Simian went up to collect the gong for Best Video, unleashing a bitter curse-filled tirade at his loss. Claiming that he should have won the award for his single ‘Touch The Sky’, West ranted, “F*ck this! [My video] cost a million dollars; Pam Anderson was in it, I was jumping across canyons and sh*t! If I don’t win, the awards show loses credibility. Nothing against you (Justice Vs Simian), but hell, man!”
However, West proved that he isn’t always a sore loser, after host Justin Timberlake beat him to Best Male. “Obviously Justin should have won, he’s on fire and he’s an inspiration to me,” he said. Immediately following West’s gate-crashing speech, Timberlake quipped, “After the show, Kanye will be in the parking lot accepting awards he did not win. Seriously though, I’ve got sexy covered, it’s good to see someone’s doing crazy!”
The ‘SexyBack’ star also won Best Pop, whilst the other big winner of the night was Gnarls Barkley, who took home Best New Act and Best Song for ‘Crazy’.
West was named Best Hip Hop, while Def Jam signee Rihanna won the gong for Best R&B.
Alesha splits with Harvey
R&B star Alesha Dixon has split from rapper-cum-actor husband MC Harvey, after the So Solid member was caught having an affair with pop singer Javine Hylton.
Harvey and Javine have been co-starring in the hit musical 'Daddy Cool' in central London.
The former Mis-teeq beauty was alerted of Harvey's betrayal after the pair were caught in bed at Javine's house by her boyfirend, producer Karl 'KG' Gordon.
A source revealed, "Alesha is beside herself with anger, disbelief and pain. She is in pieces. She thought her relationship with Harvey was strong. She thought she'd be with him for ever. She has known Javine for a long time and even raved about her performance in Daddy Cool."
Chart News
In the UK Top 40 Singles Chart this week, there were only two new urban entries from The Game at No.26 with ‘One Blood’, and Sean Paul at No.31 with ‘(When You Gonna) Give It Up To Me’ featuring Keyshia Cole. Elsewhere in the charts, Beyoncé moves up one spot to No.4 with ‘Irreplaceable’, while Cassie’s ‘Long Way 2 Go’ slips from No.12 to No.14, and P. Diddy’s duet with Nicole Scherzinger, ‘Come To Me’, slips seven places to No.20.
Justin Timberlake is set to play a string of live dates across the country next year, starting in April. The ‘SexyBack’ singer will be kicking off his tour on April 24, 2007, in Belfast, stopping at Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, and Dublin, before wrapping up the tour in London on July 7, 2007. For the full list of dates and venues, please visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
Ne-Yo live in London
R&B star Ne-Yo is playing at London’s Hammersmith Palais this Thursday (2nd November), performing his hit singles ‘So Sick’ and ‘Sexy Love’, plus many more. Ne-yo will be performing with a full band, and supported by the 2006 MOBO award winners, Nu Life. Tickets are £22.50 or £27.50 for VIP tickets plus booking fee, and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or the 24-hour hotline 0870 151 4444.
Jaguar Wright & Dwele
Soul sensation Jaguar Wright will be live in the UK this December, with two dates at Neighbourhood in Ladbroke Grove, London. She will be live in the capital on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th December, and supported by Detroit’s finest, Dwele. Opening the show will be the UK’s own FLOetic Lara & Band. For more information, please visit www.ticketweb.co.uk or call 08700 600 100. Tickets are £20 and £22.50 plus booking fee.
Chart News
In the UK Top 40 Singles Chart this week, Beyoncé moves up nine places to No.5 with ‘Irreplaceable’, while Amy Winehouse also slides up the charts to sit at No.7 with ‘Rehab’. The only new urban entry this week is Rihanna’s ‘We Ride’, which is in at No.17. In the album charts, John Legend debuts at No.10 with his second LP, ‘Once Again’.
Chicago rapper Rhymefest was "impressed" by Conservative Party leader David Cameron after meeting with the politician in London's House Of Commons for a head-to-head on Thursday (Oct. 19). The hip-hop star, who won a Grammy Award in 2005 for co-writing Kanye West’s hit single ‘Jesus Walks’, wrote an open letter to Cameron in August this year, (see News for Oct. 16).
He says of the meeting, "(Cameron) seemed to have a genuine concern. I was impressed that he even bought me to his office for a discussion.” He continued, “Whether you say that it was for the publicity or not, that's more than a lot of other politicians are doing. We talked about the future of responsible music and what can be done. He talked about UK record companies implementing change, and schools too. (Cameron) said that actions speak louder than words. So we'll wait and see what he does."
The Game to party with Prince Harry
The Game is set to shun his rap entourage for a night out with Prince Harry. The rapper, real name Jayceon Taylor, has revealed that he is the prince’s biggest fan, and admires the way he has courted controversy with his non-stop partying and rumoured love affairs. He tells MTV, “Prince Harry knows what's up. That's my homie. He knows that when he's on the West Side I'm gon' hold him down. Whatever he wants: girls, a good drink, a good smoke, just holler Prince Harry. Being a rebel is good. I've been a rebel all my life. Rebel! It's that time, man.”
Jamelia too “overwhelmed” to meet Mandela
Pop/R&B star Jamelia has admitted that she regrets turning down the chance to meet the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, because at the time, she was too “overwhelmed”. The ‘Thank You’ singer said, “It wasn't because I didn't want to meet him. It was purely because I was overwhelmed. It was strange, because I was actually in the same room as him." She went on, “I'm an extremely emotional person - not the type of person you want at a wedding or anything vaguely emotional. I just thought maybe I'd embarrass myself or faint or something like that. I do think it was a missed opportunity. It's something I would have liked to have done. If I get the chance again, I'd meet him."
Chart News
In the UK Top 40 Singles chart this week, P. Diddy has slipped two places to No.7 with his latest single, ‘Come To Me’ featuring Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, while Justin Timberlake moves out of the Top 10 with ‘SexyBack’ sitting at No.12. Beyoncé is a new entry at No.14 with ‘Irreplaceable’, which is in stores this week; Amy Winehouse’s ‘Rehab’ is also new at No.19, and Cassie just makes it into the charts with ‘Long Way 2 Go’ getting a new entry at No.38. In the UK Top 40 Album Charts, the only new urban entry is P. Diddy, who enters at No.11 with his fifth solo outing, ‘Press Play’.
Chicago rapper Rhymefest is meeting the Conservative Party leader David Cameron this Thursday (Oct. 19) to challenge his views on hip hop music – music the politician has accused of “encouraging people to carry guns and knives”.
The ‘Jesus Walks’ co-writer will meet with Cameron at the House of Commons to try to change his views on rap music and culture. The meeting is reportedly going to be covered by journalists from MTV and the BBC.
Cameron criticised BBC’s Radio 1 last June (2006), when he singled out the station’s flagship Saturday night programme, including DJ Tim Westwood’s Hip Hop show.
In response to his comments, Rhymefest wrote an open letter aimed at changing the views of the party leader, saying, “My challenge, is to ask that you sit down and have a cup of tea with me. In fact, let me come and perform for you. I am sure you will see that rap music is more than murder music or knife culture.”
He continued, “This generalisation is not all of us, it’s just a few bad apples that spoil the bunch… Let’s solve the problem of the rap community in a civilised way and in a way that music can still be entertaining.”
Rhymefest was surprised to learn that Cameron had accepted his invitation and later wrote on his MySpace blog: “Whoever thought that the power of the pen was truly mightier than the sword? Coming from a ghetto on the South Side of Chicago, I know I didn’t. Well, maybe now it’s time for me to accept my responsibility, face my trial and take my place in history.”
UK hip hop recognised at first annual BET Hip Hop Awards
British rappers Dizzee Rascal and Sway were recognised in the nominations for the first ever BET Hip Hop Awards, announced last week (Oct. 12). The American awards show named the artists along with Plan B, Kano and Blak Twang in the new international category, Best UK Hip Hop Artist. The winner will be announced when the ceremony takes place on November 12.
Kyra to play BBC Electric Proms Next Stage
At only 18, Acton-born Kyra is set to light up the BBC Electric Proms Next Stage on Sunday 29 October.
Raised in London by her English mother and Domincan father, Kyra was influenced by her parents' extensive record collection including jazz, reggae, funk and classic soul. When Kyra was just 15, neo-soul star Musiq Soulchild invited her over to America after hearing her sing at a London gig, but a combination of school and Kyra's love for the UK kept her feet firmly rooted on home soil.
Since then, Kyra has recorded a number of self-written tracks and performed on various radio stations. Inevitably, the labels have started to show interest and offers to release her debut album have materialised. At the moment however, she’s sensibly keeping her options open.
Kyra was selected for Next Stage by BBC 1Xtra’s 100% Homegrown.
The Next Stage gig is going to be something special. Not only is it your chance to see so many artists in one go, but you’ll also see the best new talent the UK has to offer. The event takes place at the Barfly in Camden on Sunday 29 October from 2pm. Entry is free – all you have to do is turn up on the day. For more information, please visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/electricproms/index.shtml.
Foot Locker host free music event
The Rbk Daddy Yankee sneaker makes an explosive debut at the UK’s only destination for sneaker aficionados; Foot Locker. To celebrate this new release, Foot Locker is inviting all sneaker fans to the special Rbk ‘Now Playing’ event.
Only in Foot Locker London and Manchester, the Rbk ‘Now Playing’ event is a showcase of live urban music from the UK’s top grime and hip hop artists such as Mobo award winner Akala, SkinnyMan, Baby J, Excalibah, and Mr Ti2bs.
Foot Locker sneaker fans will receive free demos and workshops on the art of spitting and scratching. Fans will also be able to try their hand at producing, rapping or using the turntables as well as being in with a chance to win the new Daddy Yankee sneaker from Reebok.
Regarded as one of the most respected and influential reggaeton artists, Yankee is the latest star to join Reebok’s music roster that includes Grammy award winners Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Nelly.
This exclusive one day event will play at Foot Locker London Oxford Street on the 28th, and Manchester Market Street on the 26th October.
The London event will take place between 12 and 9pm at Foot Locker on Oxford Street on Saturday 28 October, and will be hosted by MK and Fusion from Kiss 100.
Soul Glo @ Jazz Café
Soul Glo will be coming to the Jazz Café on Thursday 26th October, showcasing soulful UK talent by the likes of Leon King, Kele Le Roc, Lee Henry, Jason Jermaine and Kyra.
The night is a representation of the talent on British shores and the artists will be accompanied by a full love band. Music on the night will also be supplied by Funksy and DJ Maurice, who will be playing contemporary and classic soul, R&B and swing.
Doors are open from 7pm and performances start at 9pm. Tickets can be purchased from the Jazz Café website (http://www.jazzcafe.co.uk) or, if you’re on the funk’d-up promotions guestlist, you can get in a discounted rate of £10. Email funkedup.promotions@gmail.com for more information.
Chart News
In the UK Top 40 Singles Charts this week, P. Diddy has slipped one space to No.5 with his new single, ‘Come To Me’ featuring Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, while Justin Timberlake remains at No.9 with ‘Sexy Back’. The only new urban entry this week is Corinne Bailey Rae, who debuts at No.32 with ‘Like A Star’. In the Album Charts, the late Luther Vandross enters at No.12 with ‘The Ultimate’ and G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks scraps in at No.40 with his new release, ‘Rotten Apple’.
So Solid Crew’s Dwayne ‘Megaman’ Vincent spoke out for the first time after being acquitted of murder last month. He was cleared of any involvement in the killing of Colin Scarlett in November 2004, and though he awaited the trial in prison, the rapper/producer says he is not bitter about the time spent behind bars.
“I ain’t gonna let prison get me angry and then spend my life battling the system,” he said. “Prison for me was a blessing in disguise. I didn’t appreciate the little things [before].” He continued, “The hype, the glamour [of fame], a lot of things get to you and in the midst of trying to stay focused you tend to slip off and be an a**ehole now and again. I’ve learnt a lot, but through the pain and tears there’s gonna be a lot of happy days.”
Jamelia’s relationship 'on the rocks' for months
Jamelia's relationship with footballer Darren Byfield has been on the rocks "for six months", according to reports. Byfield, who is alleged to have cheated on the singer with blonde model Jaclyn Evans, confessed to friends that he moved out of their Essex, England, home after blazing rows with the 25-year-old ‘Thank You’ star.
A source tells the Daily Mirror, "Darren has been telling pals that they've been unhappy for six months and are rowing constantly. He won't say specifics - but he says they argue about everything, particularly him going partying with the lads, so it's just been easier for him to stay away."
Other reports claim the Millwall footballer felt threatened by Jamelia's success.
The singer, who has a one-year-old daughter, Tiani, with the soccer ace, announced the couple's marriage plans last month, saying they plan to tie the knot next summer. However, Byfield appears to have other ideas. The source says, "He has no plans to marry her. He says it's always Jamelia answering the questions about getting hitched." A spokesman for the pop star refused to comment, saying, "Jamelia is not ready to talk."
BBC launches BBC Blast website
BBC Blast is a website dedicated to giving you the opportunity to upload your music, art, writing, film and dance productions for public viewing. Not only can people see what you’re made of, but you can also communicate with others in the industry to gain hints and tips to making that vital breakthrough.
There’s already a whole heap of music to be listened to for your audible pleasure at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/music and your music can be there too, whether it’s grime, hip hop, R&B or slow jams.
The website is also launching a dance competition for all you budding movers and shakers, called the BBC Blast Bust-a-move. All you need to do is film your dance moves and send them in, either by post or as an email attachment, to BBC Blast at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/dance/showcase for your chance to win a dance masterclass with Top of the Pops choreographer Lyndon Lloyd. For more information, check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast
Join the Circle of Life
Black, Asian and mixed-race celebrities have signed up to support the National Blood Service’s (NBS) Circle of Life campaign, aimed at highlighting the shortage of Black and Minority Ethnic blood donors. The NBS works to maintain sufficient blood supplies by collecting and distributing blood from donors in England and North Wales. The NBS needs to collect 8,000 donations of blood every day in order to ensure patients get the treatments they need, but at present, only three per cent of the NBS donor base are from the Black and Minority Ethnic community.
With the 'Circle of Life' campaign, Black, Asian and Mixed Race celebrities have created circular designs to add their own interpretation of the 'Give Blood' message. Designs range from the touching to the tongue-in-cheek, with famous faces pulling together to raise awareness of the situation.
TV presenter Reggie Yates, commented, ‘‘I’ve seen those close to me affected by the great need for blood donation. When I was eight years old, my babysitter had a sickle cell seizure, and it’s one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen. If our community can just spend a little time to give something that costs nothing, we can help stop the pain and save lives.’’
The celebrity ‘Circle of Life’ artworks highlight issues relating to health, community and charity and will be on display at The Hospital Gallery, Covent Garden this month. They will then be auctioned on lastminute.com to raise money for the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust, Sickle Cell Society, UK Thalassaemia Society and Ibrahim’s Appeal.
Celebrity artists taking part include Radio 1 and MTV presenter Trevor Nelson, boxing champion Amir Khan, singer Jamelia, actress Preeya Kalidas, Footballers’ Wives star Chucky Venice and Celebrity fitness guru Harvey Walden.
Donors can ring the National Donor Helpline on 0845 7 711 711 (open 24hrs) or visit www.blood.co.uk to register their details and find the venues and times for their nearest blood donation session.
If you are aged between 17 - 59 years of age (you can give blood on your 60th birthday), in general good health and weigh over 7st 12lbs (50kgs) you could support the campaign, just call the Donor Helpline to find out more about where you can make your donation to help save someone’s life.
African rapper K*Naan to tour the UK
K’Naan is one of the most exciting talents emerging in the hip hop scene right now and if you don’t already know about him, then you better get to know, and what better way to do that than at one his live dates this October. The Somali spitter who releases his highly anticipated debut 'The Dusty Foot Philosopher' early next year is coming to the UK as part of his The African Way tour fresh from supporting Damian Marley and Mos Def.
Those who attend the London leg of the tour at the infamous Jazz Café on Sunday October 22nd are in for a special treat as a surprise guest appearance will be made by a leading hip hop figure on stage with K’Naan.
In addition to his headline gigs, K’Naan will also be doing a series of workshops in colleges and universities as part of October Black History Month looking at his experience in the Diaspora.
For more info check out www.thedustyfoot.com or www.myspace.com/knaanmusic.
Chart News
In the UK Top 40 Singles Chart this week, P. Diddy climbs up to the No.4 place from No.30 with the first single from his new album, ‘Come To Me’, which features Pussycat Doll, Nicole Scherzinger, whilst Justin Timberlake’s ‘SexyBack’ slips down four places to No.9. Just outside the Top 10 sits Nelly Furtado with ‘Promiscuous’ featuring Timbaland, followed by the Pussycat Dolls’ ‘I Don’t Need A Man’ at No.12. Shakira and Wyclef share the No.13 spot with ‘Hips Don’t Lie’, and Jamelia moves further down the charts to No.17 with ‘Something About You’.
In what will be one of the most talked about music events in years, Coldplay’s Chris Martin is confirmed as one of the special guests joining Jay-Z on stage at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, when he plays the closing date of his UK tour there this week.
Beyoncé Knowles was the biggest winner at the 2006 Music Of Black Origin Awards last week, despite not being able to attend the awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall. Whilst busy promoting her new album ‘B’Day’ in France, the former Destiny’s Child singer won the MOBOs for Best Song and Best Video for ‘Déjà vu’, as well as scooping the award for Best International Female. However, there were boos from sections of the crowd as the star was awarded her second gong, with people criticising the singer for not attending the ceremony, despite having been in the country for most of the week with boyfriend Jay-Z.
There are few big new entries in the UK Top 40 Singles Charts this week, with only Lemar new in at No.12 with ‘It’s Not That Easy’, Janet Jackson and Nelly at No.18 with ‘Call On Me’, and the Pussycat Dolls’ new single, ‘I Don’t Need A Man’ at No.21. In the Top 10, Jamelia has moved up one spot to No.9 and Shakira’s ‘Hip Don’t Lie’ moves up one place to No.6, whilst Justin Timberlake slips down from No.2 to No.3, Nelly Furtado stays put at No.4 with ‘Promiscuous’, and Fergie’s ‘London Bridge’ goes down two places to No.5.
In the album charts, Fergie’s debut solo set, ‘The Dutchess’ is new at No.27, whilst DJ Shadow’s ‘The Outsider’ is in at No.24.
Hip Hop’s brightest new MC, Chamillionaire, is set to storm the UK this November when he takes to the stage in five cities across the UK.
Supporting Chamillionaire on tour is the UK’s brightest young Hip Hop star – Akala. Having performed with 50 Cent on his UK tour last year, Akala is nominated for Best Hip Hop at this year’s MOBO Awards alongside Kanye West and Busta Rhymes. Critically acclaimed for his socially aware lyrics and fusion of British Hip Hop and mainstream pop, Akala will perform tracks from his debut album ‘Its Not A Rumour’.
The dates are as follows:
12th November – Academy, Glasgow
13th November – Academy, Manchester
14th November – Academy, Bristol
15th November – Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
16th November – The Forum, London
With Chamillionaire gearing up to release his hotly awaited follow-up UK single ‘Grown and Sexy’, his tour this November is guaranteed to be the most talked about debut of the year. Don’t miss your chance to be there! Tickets are on sale now and are available from the 24-Hour hotline: 0871 230 4422 or online @ www.aeglive.co.uk. Tickets are £18.50 plus booking fee for the London show, £16 elsewhere.
Rihanna joins MOBO line up
Def Jam’s Barbadian songstress Rihanna has been unveiled as the latest addition to the star-studded line-up at the 2006 Music Of Black Origin Awards. The star will jet in especially for the performance, as she is currently in the middle of an extensive American tour. Rihanna will join the likes of LeToya, Jamelia and Sway on the bill, with the awards being presented by comedienne Gina Yashere and rapper Coolio.
A few tickets are still available from www.mobo.com. The show will be broadcast live this Wednesday (Sept. 20) on BBC Three at 9pm, with highlights shown on BBC One on Friday, September 22 at 11.25pm.
Chart News
Justin Timberlake no longer reigns supreme on the UK Top 40 Singles Chart, with ‘SexyBack’ falling to No.2 as the Scissor Sisters take the No.1 spot. Fergie’s solo debut single is in at No.3, Nelly Furtado and Timbaland’s ‘Promiscuous’ is down one place to No.4, and Jamelia moves up into the No.10 place with her new single, ‘Something About You’. Elsewhere in the charts, the only new urban entries come from Lupe Fiasco at No.25 with his single ‘Daydreamin’ ft. Jill Scott, and Cherish’s ‘Do It To It’ ft. Sean Paul. In the album charts, Justin Timberlake has reason to smile as his sophomore solo album, ‘Futuresex/Lovesounds’ enters at No.1, whilst Lemar’s new album, ‘The Truth About Love’, is in at No.3.
September 19th, 2006 is the 10th anniversary of legendary rapper, 2Pac’s death. To mark the occasion, Madame Tussauds London is launching a figure of Tupac, which is to be flown over from their sister attraction in Las Vegas.
Tupac Shakur was immortalised in wax in April this year for the American waxwork museum, and is based on the infamous photo of a shirtless ‘Pac, sporting a bandana and showing off his numerous tattoos. The sculptor, Jeni Fairey, known for her waxwork of Beyoncé Knowles, used hundreds of photographs and measurements provided by the rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur. Fairey even drew and hand-painted all of ‘Pac’s tattoos onto the figure to make it as lifelike as possible.
The 10th anniversary of 2Pac’s death is being marked by a world tour, with the sculpture appearing at galleries across the world, including Hong Kong, Shanghai and London, before being exhibited at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Centre for the Arts in Atlanta, Georgia.
Speaking of the Tupac waxwork launch, BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ said, “Tupac was one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century. He was the voice of the voiceless; Tupac talked about things that people were scared to say.”
“It’s tragic that he was taken away from us at such an early age, but he continues to be an icon and an inspiration to all. His spirit lives on in his music and continues to touch millions around the world.”
To book tickets for Madame Tussauds, please visit www.madame-tussauds.com.
Stars speak out to support Oxjam
Stars including Roots Manuva, Mylo and Mercury Prize-nominated Hot Chip are supporting Oxjam, a unique month-long music festival taking place across the UK in October.
They are joining Oxfam in calling on budding DJs, MCs, producers and clubbers to get involved by supporting Oxjam events in their area, or by organising an event themselves.
Where Live 8 was all about global music stars performing in front of the public, with Oxjam, every single participant is the star. It will form the biggest music festival in Britain, spreading across the whole of the UK for an entire month.
More than 1,000 events – big and small – will take place across the UK as part of this unique festival, all organised by members of the public using their passion for music to take action against poverty. With four weeks remaining until Oxjam events across the country begin to take place, there are already more than 500 events in place, with thousands of people committed to getting involved by staging an event.
UK hip hop legend, Roots Manuva encouraged like-minded music fans to do their bit in October: “I love this concept: rave should have a reason; rave with reason. Do the Oxjam dance, sing and shout for a conscience cause.”
Gareth Simpson, spokesperson for Oxfam, said: “We’re delighted that some of the biggest names in music are putting themselves forward to support Oxjam. What we need now is for every aspiring Mylo, Roots Manuva and Alexis Taylor to follow their lead and put on their own event. Together we can all fight poverty and make some great music at the same time.”
There are dozens of Oxjam club nights, DJ sets and live performances happening throughout October. The money raised from each event will go to help Oxfam fight poverty in more than 70 countries in which it operates. To find out how to get involved with your own Oxjam event next month, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam or call 0870 850 6246.
Pussycat Dolls announce tour with Rihanna
The Pussycat Dolls are to tour the UK with R&B singer Rihanna later this year. The dates were announced last Thursday (Sept. 7) with tickets going on sale on Friday morning. The dates are as follows:
November 24 – Point Theatre, Dublin
November 26 – SECC, Glasgow
November 28 – M.E.N. Arena, Manchester
November 30 – NEC Birmingham
December 1 – Wembley Arena, London
Tickets are from £26 + BF. For more details, please go to www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
Chart News
In this week’s singles charts, Justin Timberlake’s ‘SexyBack’ has fallen one place to No.2, losing the top spot to the Scissor Sisters. Nelly Furtado moves up to No.3 from No.15 with her Timbaland collab. ‘Promiscuous’, while Shakira ft. Wyclef is at No.5 this week. Lemar is the only new top ten entry at No.7 with ‘It’s Not That Easy’, whilst Beyoncé’s ‘Déjà vu’ with Jay-Z falls to No.8 and Chamillionaire’s ‘Ridin’ slips to No.10. Elsewhere in the charts, Kelis is a new entry at No.22 with ‘Bossy’ ft. Too Short, BEP’s Fergie is in at No 25 with ‘London Bridge’, and Jamelia’s new single, ‘Something About You’ is at No.28.
In the album charts, Beyoncé returns with her sophomore solo set, ‘B’Day’ entering at No.3, whilst Missy Elliot’s greatest hits LP, ‘Respect M.E.’ is new at No.7.
Def Jam Recordings is calling all the hottest MCs in the country to battle! From the 21st August to the 22nd September, Def Jam UK is hosting a competition to find the MC with the best rhymes and flow where the winner will be rewarded with two London concert tickets to see the main man, President Carter… Jay-Z!
Rappers in the making have until the 17th September to simply call the Def Jam number (0906 200 8363 - £1/min from BT landline), throw down 16 bars of their best lyrics and then wait for the fans to pick the best. Each week Def Jam will pick the Top 5 spits and upload them onto their Wap site where fans can hear them and then vote for their favourite. The Top 5’s can also be heard at Def Jam UK’s website www.defjam.co.uk. The final Top 5 will be in the grand final and their raps will be on the Wap site from the 19th September to midday on the 22nd September…the day when the winner will be announced.
Def Jam’s Wap site can be found at wap.defjam.co.uk and it is the home to all their mobile content. On the Wap site, fans can buy ringtones and soon it will be extended to include full tracks, videos, speechtones and much, much more. For now, the Wap site is focusing on this amazing competition.
The competition is the first of its kind in the music industry with an approach that encourages music fans’ interaction with their mobile phone. The importance of the mobile phone to music cannot be under-estimated and Def Jam, alongside Wap services provider Graphico, have created a ground-breaking initiative that will increase Wap site traffic, integrate activity across a number of platforms from web to print and point the way to the future untold possibilities.
Dynamite performances for MOBO 2006
This year’s Music Of Black Origin Awards is the eleventh annual event for organisers, and the ceremony on September 20 is set to be the biggest yet. To celebrate this prestigious event, three talented females will be taking to the stage: Corinne Bailey Rae, LeToya and Keisha White.
The UK’s very own shining star, Corinne Bailey Rae, will be jetting in from her world tour to grace the MOBO stage. As the first UK female artist in recent times to successfully break the US and with tickets to her UK tour this autumn selling at record speed, the MOBO Awards are honoured to have the talented Corinne Bailey Rae perform at this year’s Awards. With her hits continuing to climb the charts, her performance at the MOBO Awards 2006 is set to be a treat for all music fans.
Fresh from her massive US success, original Destiny’s Child member LeToya will be making a triumphant return to the spotlight when she takes to the MOBO stage with her first UK appearance since leaving the group. Having already caused a huge storm Stateside with her self-titled debut solo album, LeToya is poised to replicate her success this side of the water with her exclusive performance at the MOBO Awards this September.
And if that wasn’t enough, following the MOBO tradition of exceptional duets, soul icon Sam Moore (‘Soul Man’, ‘Hold on I’m Coming’) will be performing with the much loved Keisha White who will blend her new school sound with one of the greatest R&B living legends, a performance guaranteed to bring the house down.
Guest presenters on the night include Olympic medal winner Colin Jackson, Love Island’s Kelle Bryant and recent Bad Boy signing Cassie, who will be making her first UK appearance following the major success of her debut single, ‘Me and U’.
All the action takes place on September 20 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. For tickets, please visit www.mobo.com. The show will be broadcast live on BBC Three at 9.00pm, with highlights from the MOBO awards on BBC One on Friday September 22nd at 11.25pm.
Timberlake takes No.1
Justin Timberlake has stolen the No.1 spot from Beyoncé in the UK Singles Charts this week. His massive new single, ‘SexyBack’, took the pole position ahead of Shakira, whose single ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ sits at No.2, followed by Beyoncé’s ‘Déjà vu’ featuring Jay-Z at No.3. Timberlake sold more than twice as many records as any other artist to become this week’s top runner. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Chamillionaire moved down three places to No.6 with ‘Ridin’, and Cassie’s ‘Me & U’ falls to No.9. In the album charts, the only new entry is Cassie’s self-titled debut, which is new at No.33.
It has been announced that Jay-Z will stage the first ever hip hop show at the Royal Albert Hall. The hip hop heavyweight has just announced he’ll play the London venue on September 27th as part of his UK tour.
It’s bound to be a spectacular showcase, with the top price tickets offering you your own private balcony and champagne. Meanwhile, Mr Beyonce turned up on stage at Mariah Carey’s New York gig on August 24th where he accompanied the diva on her tune, 'Heartbreaker'.
Here are those dates in full:
MEN, Manchester – September 21
SECC, Glasgow – September 22
NIA, Birmingham - September 23
Wembley Arena SOLD OUT - September 24
The Point, Dublin - September 26
Royal Albert Hall – September 27
Tickets for the Royal Albert Hall show are on sale from now and are available through the 24-Hour hotline: 0871 230 4422 or online at www.aeglive.co.uk.