E-Spire Entertainment News

If you missed the opening of the BET Awards, you missed a spectacular performance by two dynamic singers. To see Jennifer Holiday on stage with Jennifer Hudson was classic. I could watch that performance over and over. They had me standing up out of my seat.

Monique did not disappoint when she made her grand entrance on to the stage with her rendition of Beyonce's Deja Vu. When she called LL Cool J up to take off her other shoe, I was floored. Me and every other woman was wishing LL was taking our shoes off.

Beyonce did her thing; have to give her props on how she came on the stage. She even brought back out Monique and she did an old school dance. Ms. B turned the stage over to Kelly Rowland and her & Eve did "Like This" and the performance ended with sort of a Destiny's Child reunion.

I must back up to the pre-show. Did anyone else see Lloyd perform? It's something about the 21 year old cutie from my home state that makes me wish I was just a few years younger. Back to his performance. He reminds me of a younger Michael Jackson; when Michael was Black. I hope to see Lloyd around for many years to come.

One of the most disappointing performances was that of 50 Cent. Now I'm not the person who choreographed his performance, but it sure looked like he forgot the words to his own song. There was like a 2 minute music break before he came back with the hook.

T.I.'s performance was okay but I felt it could have been better. I do like the song and can't wait to hear T.I.P's entire CD.

Lil' Kim did a surprise visit on stage during P Diddy's and Keshia Cole's performance. Up until now she's been keeping a low profile.

The performance that brought tears to my eyes was the tribute to Gerald Levert. Eddie Levert, Patti Labelle, & Yolanda Adams didn't just sing, they sung that song. I'm sure I wasn't the only one with tears in her eyes.

Public Enemy with Chuck D and Flavor Flav brought back memories with their performance that was dedicated to the godfather of soul James Brown. You'll be hearing folks say "I'm black and I'm proud" more often. Sadly, we have to be reminded.

Did you see Ciara diss Bow Wow with that move when she exited the stage?

You know you're a diva when you can just hold out your two arms in the air and folks just go clapping crazy. The original diva herself graced the stage after Erkya Badu, Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder sang a tribute in her honor. Ms. Diana Ross. "It took a lifetime to get here and I ain't going nowhere," Diana Ross said, as she graciously accepted the honor of being a BET Living Legend.

To see more pictures from the awards show, be sure to
CLICK HERE.

Rain written by acclaimed author V.C. Andrews stars Khandi Alexander, Faye Dunaway,Giancarlo Esposito Robert Loggia and Brooklyn Sudano as Rain.

Rain is a teenage prodigy who lives in the innercity. Her mother played by Khandi Alexander strives to provide for her and her two siblings although their dad, played by Giancarlo Esposito, lives with them. Rain is determined not to fall victim to the streets; however her younger sister is rebellious. While trying to protect her younger sister, Rain witnesses a murder and has to be sent away to live with her biological grandmother played by Faye Dunaway.

The movie Rain mixes urban with surbuban. The insert of a booklet with the DVD as a bonus was great. I enjoyed reading the backstory to the movie.

Rain is a movie that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. ~ Shelia M. Goss, entertainment writer and National Bestselling author of Paige's Web and My Invisible Husband

VIEW TRAILER

Young Cesar stars Clifton Powell, Sean Blakemore, Dominique Daniel and Sam Sarpong.

If Sean Blakemore is starring in a film, you already know what to expect--an urban thriller with a twist. His performance doesn't disappoint. Clifton Powell's character ends up behind bars and Cesar, played by Dominique Daniel, feels abandoned and ends up leading a life his father despises. Torn between his life as a drug dealer and keeping his brother Tariq from falling prey to the streets, Cesar begins to transform on screen. When he decides he wants to change his way of life, something keeps pulling him back in. Can he get out before it's too late?

Young Cesar is filled with twists and turns and shows the ugliness of what happens when you're living a life of crime. The theme for the movie should be - There's a price to pay for every deed done. ~ Shelia M Goss, entertainment writer and National Bestselling author of Paige's Web and My Invisible Husband

4 Life is an urban film based on Thomas Long's novel "A Thug's Life." It stars Elise Neal, Wood Harris, JD Williams, Page Kennedy, Kwame Patterson, Miguel Gaeton, and Sunday Carter. The movie is for mature audiences only.

The movie is about two friends who ran the streets of Baltimore. When Dayvon decides he wants out, Ty feels betrayed. Ty's feeling of betrayal sets up a chain of events that wreck havoc in both of their lives. I was surprised of Elise Neal's performance in 4Life, but she's believable as Dayvon's love interest.

4 Life shows that the streets are loyal to no one. It's a constant battle of who will be on top.

4 Life will be in stores on July 3, 2007 or order your copy online.



~ Shelia M. Goss, Entertainment Writer and National Bestselling author of Paige's Web and My Invisible Husband

Introducing DC Yeager.

DC Yeager caught my attention after listening to music on his myspace page.

Have you signed with a label yet?
No not yet.

Are you going to release any songs as an independent?
Right now we're just building the buzz and looking for the backing of a Major.

How did you & Ne-Yo team up for Not What You're Used to & the other songs on your myspace?
Ne-Yo is a great writer and he and I were working together since the first Youngstown album so it was only natural to collab with him on some records and the duet "Let Me Know".

Besides singing, are you a songwriter?
I am. I love bringing something to life from nothing.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Around the age of thirteen is when I really started developing my vocals and that's when people started to notice. I'd go to various Karaoke bars with my older friends just to sing on a mic and in front of strangers. I loved that rush and I was hooked ever since.

Random thoughts with DC Yeager...

What's your favorite past time? I enjoy writing. Songs, poetry, stories, etc. I watch a lot of tv too. lol I have some can't miss shows, so the DVR is one of my best friends at this point. lol
Where's your favorite vacation spot? There's a little spot down in North Carolina I like to go to. Right on the beach, very secluded, very quiet, & very relaxing. Then again I've never been to Hawaii so I might have to get back to you on this one.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Well, right now I'm more of a morning person because I'm usually up at about 6am.
Who are some of your favorite music artists? Boys II Men, Jodeci, Shai, Brian McKnight, Babyface, & Queen to name a few.
If I were to ask your friends about you, how would they describe you? They'd say I was really laid back and chill. The voice of reason and a joker...I've got a very sarcastic sense of humor and I make them fools laugh nonstop. Then again these ARE my friends we're talking about so who knows what kinda mess they'd come up with... lol

To learn more about DC Yeager and to hear some of his music, visit him on myspace:
www.myspace.com/dcyeagermusic.

Interview by entertainment writer Shelia M Goss and national bestselling author of Paige's Web (Nov. '07), My Invisible Husband and Roses are thorns, Violets are true. To learn more, visit her website at www.sheliagoss.com.

Is the traditional way of doing business in the music industry a thing of the past? MIXTAPE, INC. addresses that question and many more. The documentary highlights the evolution of hip-hop, mix-tapes and the legal battles some have faced. It showcases various deejays around the country and there are interview excerpts from various hip-hop artists (past and current) and lovers of hip-hop.

MIXTAPE, INC. is a must have for hip-hop fans and anyone who has ever considered being a deejay, rapper or in any occupation in the music business. ~ Shelia M. Goss, entertainment writer and National Bestselling author of Paige's Web and My Invisible Husband.

R Kelly's latest CD Double Up has several hit songs on it. "Same Girl" featuring Usher is one of my favorites. "I'm a Flirt" is one of my ringtones. Other songs to pay attention to is "Best Friend" featuring Keyshia Cole and Polow Da Don, "Rockstar" featuring Ludacrious and Kid Rock. He slows it down with "Sweet Tooth" and "Sex Planet."

Whatever you may think about R Kelly personally, there's no denying that the self-proclaimed King of R & B has skills. The CD is a perfect mix between R & B and Hip-Hop.

R Kelly's Double Up is well worth your money. Double Up is thumping and sexy. ~ Shelia M. Goss, entertainment writer and National Bestselling author of Paige's Web and My Invisible Husband

VIDEO I'm a Flirt (Remix) feat. T.I. and T-Pain

Watch the Same Girl feat. Usher video on MTV

Universal Republc www.myspace.com/shopboyz
Party Like A Rockstar VIDEO on YOUTUBE

"Party Like A Rockstar," the hit single, made me take notice of the Shop Boyz. Of course it's one of my favorite songs on the Shop Boyz new CD Rockstar Mentality. Another favorite of mine on the CD is Flexin. Overall, I would give the CD a four out of five stars...mainly for mixing two genres into one.

Would I recommend the CD? "Totally Dude." (which by the way is another song on Rockstar Mentality).

The Shop Boyz Rockstar Mentality is for the rap fan who likes rock and for the rock fan who likes rap. Its a perfect combination of both worlds. ~ Shelia M. Goss, entertainment writer and National Bestselling Author of Paige's Web and My Invisible Husband

"Bartender" Video:
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T-Pain "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin)" feat. Yung Joc
Click Here to Hear Single

Bartender and Buy U A Drank are the two best songs on T Pain's new CD Epiphany. There are 17 tracks on the CD with guest appearances by Akon, Yung Joc, Shawnna, and a few others. This is a CD that had to grow on me. To hear samples of the songs, click on the amazon button. Here's a full track listing.


1. Tallahassee Love
2. Church featuring Teddy Verseti
3. Tipsy
4. Show U How featuring Teddy Pain & Teddy Penderazdoun
5. I Got It
6. Suicide
7. Bartender featuring Akon
8. Backseat Action featuring Shawnna
9. Put It Down featuring Ray, Teddy Penderazdoun & Teddy Verseti
10. Time Machine
11. Yo Stomach featuring Tay Dizm
12. Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')Featuring Yung Joc
13. 69 featuring J Lyriq
14. Reggae Night
15. Shottas featuring Kardinal Offishall & Cham
16. Right Hand
17. Sounds Bad

Check out T-Pain on myspace: www.myspace.com/tpain.

The 24-Hour, 7-Continent Concert Series to Combat Global Warming Expected to Reach Over 2 Billion People on 7/7/07

Limited Tickets Available at LiveNation.com/LiveEarth

LOS ANGELES (June 22, 2007) –Taking Back Sunday and Keith Urban are joining the blockbuster line-up of performers who will be playing Live Earth New York at Giants Stadium on 7/7/07, Live Earth organizers announced today. A limited number of tickets are available at www.livenation.com/liveearth or by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171 and (201) 507-8900.

Taking Back Sunday, the New York-based melodic hardcore quintet, released Louder Now on April 25, 2006 and it skyrocketed to Number Two on Billboard’s Top 200 chart a week later, scanning more than 157,000 copies. Now gold-certified, Louder Now has led to multiple sold out U.S. headlining arena tours. Taking Back Sunday has established itself as a pioneering leader and industry role model on the issue of global warming. The band has implemented a set of sustainable standards to all of its tours, such as tour bus and venue recycling programs, organic cotton merchandising alternatives, tree planting and carbon offsetting programs and messaging campaigns to its fans on ways they can fight global warming.

“We all have our own beliefs, but I really feel that the issue of Global Warming is not a political issue up for debate. It’s strictly a case of our survival in the near future, and it is proven scientific fact,” said Fred Mascherino, lead guitarist for Taking Back Sunday. “The truth is that the more we know the more hope we all have.”

Mascherino added: “Our actions can directly help to change the course of the climate problem. Making small changes in your life can add up and make a big difference. That is what makes Live Earth monumental. The fact that all of these people around the world are coming together to make this statement gives me hope. It's not just a grassroots fable anymore. It's reaching all of us. It's not everyday that the people on all 7 continents unite for one event. I think it's an extremely appropriate measure for what we're up against and the message it sends out is that it involves ALL of us, so let's ALL get involved.”

Keith Urban, the Australian country singer-songwriter and musician, has enjoyed immense success in the United States over the last decade, with two of his albums, Be Here (2004) and Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing (2006) reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. In 2004, Urban was the first non-American to win a Country Music Award for Male Vocalist of the Year, an honor he has received for three years in a row. In 2006, Urban won the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "You'll Think of Me".

Live Earth New York will feature the following acts live on stage:
AFI
AKON
ALICIA KEYS
BON JOVI
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
FALL OUT BOY
JOHN MAYER
KANYE WEST
KEITH URBAN
KELLY CLARKSON
KT TUNSTALL
LUDACRIS
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
ROGER WATERS
SMASHING PUMPKINS
TAKING BACK SUNDAY
THE POLICE

“Live Earth is about engaging a mass movement of people to take action against the climate crisis,” Live Earth Founder and Producer Kevin Wall said. “The addition of popular music acts like Keith Urban and Taking Back Sunday will help us reach millions more people across the globe with the Live Earth message.”

Live Earth is being produced locally by Live Nation.

FUSICOLOGY.COM

It's Tuesday night. My friend is flying in to Los Angeles for the first time from New York. I need to impress her with best night out on the town. Where am I going to go? What are we going to do? What's the hottest spot, but yet while skipping the re-runs and blinged out sceensters. FUSICOLOGY.com....... but of course.

Fusciology, its newsletter and web site, has its finger on the pulse of the ten markets they have presence in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Washington DC, Detroit, Atlanta, SF Bay, Boston to New Orleans, with expansion plans to Miami, Houston, Philadelphia, Dallas and globally with the introduction of Amsterdam and London; FUSICOLOGY.com, has become the only source for what's happening in progressive music culture, arts, events, and the underground happenings of these cities inner cultures. Since its launch in 2003 FUSICOLOGY.com is the one stop source that has eliminated the need to search multiple sites or search engines to find out the latest clubs, parties, special events, with extensive listings and editorial coverage of that cater to all aspects of urban culture, from the most underground rap battles and funk concerts to the trendiest nightclubs and massive soul & electronic music events. The site sees 150,000 unique
monthly readers and receives OVER 3 MILLION HITS per month with a balanced demographic of urban men and women.

Fusicology, also provides sophisticated online marketing services and event production for major corporate clients including Puma, HBO, the Seattle Seahawks and Universal Records. The likes of Jazzy Jeff, Common, Vikter Duplaix and members of Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and the Roots have consulted with Fusicology on their record release events and promotions. Owner and founder Asya Shein states that "The dream is to be hub for progressive culture, like a Craig's list, but a site to also find out where to get your hair done in Dallas or where to get some good food in L.A. want to make it more of a community based thing. I want to do something possibly in print every month to highlight what's coming up...." Fusicology is the new essential Paradigm for the hottest urban street culture to date!
www.fusicology.com

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Palmer to perform in all 13 WNBA arenas throughout the Summer

Chicago native, Palmer goes home for special performance at Chicago Sky game on June 23

NEW YORK, NY – Critically acclaimed actress and singer, Keke Palmer is teaming up with the WNBA to perform at 13 games throughout the summer. The star of "Akeelah and the Bee" and Disney's "Jump In!," and winner of the coveted Best Actress Award at this year’s NAACP Image Awards, Palmer will perform songs from her upcoming debut album “SO UNCOOL” (Atlantic Records) featuring her first single “Footworkin’.” Halftime or post-game performances will take place in each of the WNBA's 13 arenas, offering fans a special chance to check out her songs before the album’s release in September 2007.

Palmer’s hit “Footworkin’” also appears in promotional spots produced by NBA Entertainment, featuring Palmer and her dancers along with WNBA game action. The spots will air in each WNBA market leading up to local concerts.

“The WNBA delivers family-friendly entertainment in arena, on TV and throughout local communities, so teaming up with Keke was a natural fit,” said Andi Poch, WNBA Senior Vice President, Marketing Partnerships & Business Development. “Like WNBA players, Keke is not only a tremendous talent but an inspiration to young people and encourages them to follow their dreams.”

In addition to the concert tour, Palmer has partnered with the 2007 WNBA BE Tour to help promote healthy living among youth. The league’s mobile fitness expo, traveling to WNBA markets through the summer, offers fans a variety of interactive activities including basketball, fitness and nutrition clinics, and player appearances. Palmer will visit the BE Tour at two upcoming stops -- New York on July 7 at the South Street Seaport and Detroit on August 26 at the Michigan State Fair -- to perform and sign autographs. BE Tour performances are free to the public.

“I love singing and acting but I’m already 5’6” and I’m only 13 so I’m keeping my options open by hanging with the WNBA!,” said Palmer.

A Chicago native, Palmer’s first concert is set to take place during halftime of the Chicago Sky vs. Washington Mystics game on June 23, at the UIC Pavilion. Below is the full schedule of Palmer’s WNBA game and BE Tour performances:

June 23 - Washington Mystics @ Chicago Sky – UIC Pavilion
July 7 - BE Tour – South Street Seaport, New York
July 11 - Connecticut Sun @ Sacramento Monarchs – ARCO Arena
July 18 - Chicago Sky @ Indiana Fever – Conseco Fieldhouse
July 20 - Washington Mystics @ Minnesota Lynx – Target Center
July 29 - Los Angeles Sparks @ Detroit Shock – The Palace of Auburn Hills
July 31 - Chicago Sky @ Connecticut Sun – Mohegan Sun Arena
August 2 - Minnesota Lynx @ New York Liberty – Madison Square Garden
August 3 - New York Liberty @ Washington Mystics – Verizon Center
August 7 - Phoenix Mercury @ Los Angeles Sparks – STAPLES Center
August 9 - Sacramento Monarchs @ San Antonio Silver Stars – AT&T Center
August 10 - Sacramento Monarchs @ Houston Comets – Toyota Center
August 11 - Los Angeles Sparks @ Phoenix Mercury – US Airways Center
August 26 - BE Tour – Michigan State Fair, Detroit

About Keke Palmer
Born Lauren Keyana Palmer in Robbins, IL, a small town just outside Chicago, Palmer began her career in acting at the age of 8. In 2004, Palmer made her big screen debut opposite Queen Latifah in the hit film Barbershop 2: Back in Business. In 2006, Keke appeared as the lead character, Akeelah Anderson, in the critically acclaimed, award-winning film Akeelah and the Bee. Palmer went on to win the 2007 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and a ShoWest Award for Most Promising Actress for her role in Akeelah. Keke also holds the record as the youngest actress to be nominated in the coveted Lead Acting category for the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) Awards. Shortly thereafter, Keke appeared in Tyler Perry's Medea's Family Reunion, which was number #1 at the box office for two consecutive weeks. She next lit up the small screen with her starring role in the Disney Channel hit movie, Jump In! In addition to all of Keke's acting fetes, she is set to debut her first solo album through Atlantic Records. Her debut album, "SO UNCOOL" will hit stores in September. The album, which Palmer co-wrote material, is jammed with the kind of music that Keke loves, ranging from up-tempo R&B tracks to inspirational songs to youthful, fun material that kids can relate to.

www.myspace.com/yungberg
http://www.yungberg.net/

"Sexy Lady" CLEAN AUDIO

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=250111114&id=250111092&s=143441

"Sexy Lady" Ringtones

WHO IS YUNG BERG?

He has a style that is undeniably fresh, surrounded by a crew that emulates HBO's Entourage quad. At 21 years old, this Chi-town native is quietly plotting his take over of the phenomenon we know as Hip Hop. Possessing a flow that sounds as classic as a Marvin Gaye tune, with charisma more contagious then the common cold, Yung Berg is the definition of what happens when skills and swagger are pooled into one powerhouse.

Previously signed to DMX's Bloodline Records, Yung Berg got his first taste of the music business at the age of 15. Unfortunately Yung Berg's bite of success left a bad taste in his parent's mouths, which lead to a mandatory relocation to military school in 2001. This move would prove to be a blessing in disguise; with no television or radio available, it forced the budding lyricist to develop and hone a style all his own, free of the influences of the wave of hip hop that was popular at the time.

Yung Berg decided to take a different road to stardom upon his return in 2003. Berg refocused his energy and decided that learning the "behind the scenes" aspect of the business was going to propel his career to the next level. So in 2005 he signed on as a hype man for Disturbing The Peace's first lady of rap, Shawnna. The entrepreneur in Berg was cultivated during this time. Embodying every quality of a true leader, Berg launched his own entertainment venture - the Yung Boss imprint - currently comprised of a roster of equally talented producers and emcees.

"We're setting the standard for what's acceptable," says Berg. "Every other young dude was put on; we're putting ourselves on."

Now a little older and a lot wiser, Yung Berg is signed to Epic Records, gearing up to release his debut album, Look What You Made Me. The record boasts a wide variety of material ranging from specially crafted songs for the ladies to street anthems made to resonate in anyone's "hood". Look What You Made Me is Yung Berg's story in his own words and is poised to be one of the best new releases of 2007. Having snagged writing credits on albums for some of hip hop's elite including Shawnna and Eve and dropping verses on mixtapes for the likes of Clinton Sparks, Young Berg is guaranteed to bring that same spark and energy to his own project.

With a solid music foundation, a powerhouse creative machine and an increasingly growing fan base, Yung Berg is well on his way to becoming the voice of hip hop's next generation. The combination has undeniably resulted in the birth of the most versatile and unique emcees to enter the game in quite some time, ultimately the reason why hip hop's future is firmly in tact.

Viewers get to pck and choose the next cast member!

http://realworldcasting.com/

If you missed Larry The Cable Guy’s Morning Constitutions on Comedy Central-here’s you’re chance to own it on DVD. Some call him a genius others call him Blue Collar, either way Larry the Cable Guy is funny, and one of the most successful comics to come out of the Blue Collar Comedy group. He continues to sell out theaters and arenas across the United States promoting his new comedy DVD “Morning Constitutions” –in stores now.

Daniel Lawrence Whitney better known as Larry the Cable Guy’s cd “The Right To Bare Arms” (Jack Records/Warner Bros. Records) debuted at # 1 on the Soundscan Comedy Chart, # 1 on the Country Chart, and # 7 on the Top 200 Chart. This marks the first time in the history of Soundscan that a comedy album has charted at # 1 on the Country Chart. It has been certified gold (500,000 units) by the RIAA. “The Right to Bare Arms” also received a Grammy nomination. Larry won Billboard’s 2005 Comedy Artist of the year and Comedy Album of the year. He was named to Forbes Celebrity 100 list (# 83), which lists the hottest and most successful people in the entertainment industry. Most recently Larry received the 2006 Billboard Top Comedy Tour Award. In addition, Larry is a bestselling author. His book “Git-R-Done,” was released on October 25, 2005 and debuted at # 26 on the New York Times bestseller list.

In 2005, he was featured in Gretchen Wilson's music video for the song "All Jacked Up," playing dual roles as himself and a transvestite bar patron. In 2006, he starred in the film Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, was the voice of Mater, the tow truck, in Disney/Pixar's Academy Award -nominated animated film Cars, as well as the voice of Ryder, a crazy cat in the Walt Disney animated film The Fox and the Hound 2.

His first comedy album release “Lord, I Apologize” reached gold status, selling more than 500,000 copies. The cd was # 1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts for fifteen weeks in a row. Larry‘s DVD special “Git-R-Done,” has sold more than 1 million copies and has been certified platinum. The special aired on Comedy Central and gave the network their second biggest Sunday night ratings in the channel’s history.

The highly successful concert “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” grossed more than 15 million dollars, which along with Larry, included the ensemble cast of Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall. The tour’s success led to “Blue Collar Comedy Tour, The Movie”, premiered on Comedy Central in November of 2003 and at the time was the highest rated movie in the channel’s history. The DVD has sold more than 4 million units. The sequel “Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again,” has sold more than 3 million units and is the 3rd most watched telecast in Comedy Central’s history. The soundtrack was released on November 23, 2004 and debuted at # 1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts. For further information you can also go to his website at www.larrythecableguy.com.

In honor of Iceland’s 63rd birthday, Reyka Vodka and Iceland Naturally have just announced a once in a lifetime contest for 1 lucky winner and 9 friends to fly to Iceland for three days and 2 nights of partying, soaking in the Blue Lagoon, sight seeing and to attend the world renowned Iceland Airwaves Music Festival.

Any US or Canadian resident over 21 can enter to win here: http://www.icelandnaturally.com/Reyka/

The Iceland Airwaves Festival runs from October 17-21 2007 and the Lineup includes:

Bloc Party * Of Montreal * !!! * Best Fwends * Mum * GusGus * Buck 65
Bonde de Role* Annuals & Others to be announced soon

Wild Hope, clearly influenced by consummate artists such as Joni Mitchell and Fleetwood Mac, commences with the striking song, “Extraordinary,” a collaboration with indie pop-folk duo, The Weepies and concludes with the breathtaking ballad, “Gardenia,” co-written by Chantal Kreviazuk. Moore penned songs like the upbeat “All Good Things” also with The Weepies, the revealing “Most of Me” with Lori McKenna and “Ladies Choice” –a steadfast & symphonious anthem - with Rachael Yamagata.

“Making this record has been the most exciting and fulfilling creative experience of my life,” Moore explains. “I knew exactly what type of album I wanted to make & firmly held my ground.” She continues, “It is therefore especially rewarding to be part of a venture in which artistic freedom is encouraged,” Moore proudly states in reference to the progressive label deal designed to better benefit artists, while affording them substantial creative input.

Moore, a multi-talent who has already achieved an impressive level of crossover success, will also appear in multiple films this year co-starring with the likes of Diane Keaton, Robin Williams and Billy Crudup, among other esteemed actors.

Mandy “Extraordinary” video
Windows
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Audio Stream

http://www.mandymoore.com/
www.myspace.com/mandymoore

"Untouchable" is the single from Melissa Jimenez's debut album Signed, Sealed, Delivered (in stores September 18th).

Audio Streams - "Untouchable"
Windows Media
Real Player

MySpace Page

Listen to You Finally Said Something Good (When You Said Goodbye)

“As strange as it may seem, country music was the music I was brought up on,” says Teddy Thompson, whose parents are British folk-rock legends Richard and Linda Thompson. “It’s the music that’s closest to my heart and the music that speaks to me the most, and it’s always been a big influence on my own songwriting. I was obsessed with country music when I was a kid, and it’s definitely had a huge influence on the way I write songs. I was always attracted to songs that had a brilliant pun or a clever turn of phrase, but came from a dark, bitter place. As a writer, I’ve always gravitated towards that feeling.”

Teddy Thompson’s self-produced Up Front & Down Low offers distinctive readings of beloved country classics: George Jones’ “She Thinks I Still Care,” Ernest Tubb’s “Walking the Floor Over You” and Merle Haggard’s “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers.” Equally impressive, however, are such lesser-known songs such as Boudleaux Bryant’s regretful “Change of Heart,” the yearning “Touching Home,” Dolly Parton’s bittersweet “My Blue Tears,” the tongue-in-cheek Bob Luman hit “Let’s Think About Living” and the Elvis Presley chestnut “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone.” The album also features a lone Thompson original, “Down Low,” whose heart-on-sleeve lyrics take on added resonance in this context.

Throughout Up Front & Down Low, the songs are supported by artful, evocative arrangements that often diverge from the material’s original country milieu. Six tracks feature distinctive string arrangements by legendary English arranger Robert Kirby, renowned for his groundbreaking work with Nick Drake, while “My Blue Tears” features strings arranged by frequent Thompson cohort Rufus Wainwright.

“The whole thing started off as a fun little project rather than an album,” Thompson explains. “And then I really started throwing myself into it and it grew into a whole other thing. I really tried to concentrate on the songs first and foremost, rather than feeling the need to use country instrumentation or make it sound like a ‘real’ country record.”

Born in 1976 in the London commune where his parents resided, Thompson "didn't listen to any music made after 1959 until I was about 16," and formed his first band in his early teens. After finishing school at 18, he moved to Los Angeles, where he began to pursue a musical career in earnest. His original tunes and live gigs generated sufficient buzz to win him a deal with Virgin Records. By the time he released his self-titled solo debut in 2000, he’d already played in his father’s touring band and contributed guitar and backing vocals to his albums You? Me? Us? and Mock Tudor. In 2002, Teddy played a key role in drawing his mother out of a 17-year musical retirement to record her landmark comeback disc Fashionably Late, which he co-produced and played on; he also led her live band when Linda toured to support the album. Teddy also found time to record a self-released six-song EP, Blunderbuss, and to tour as part of Rosanne Cash's band, before signing with Verve and releasing the acclaimed Separate Ways in early 2006.

Up Front & Down Low’s compelling blend of melancholy and uplift is consistent with Thompson’s prior work. “It was liberating,” he adds, “to be making a record of songs I didn’t write. I was able to be a bit more detached, and I didn’t stress over every little detail as much as I do with my own material. It was easier to concentrate on whether it was a good performance, and not worry so much about whether the snare sound was perfect.

Indeed, Up Front & Down Low marks a temporary departure from the London-born, New York-based singer/guitarist’s prior recorded work. Whereas his first two albums Teddy Thompson and Separate Ways showcased his formidable songwriting skills, Up Front & Down Low focuses on Thompson’s abilities as an interpreter of outside material. The collection finds him delivering personalized reworkings of a memorable assortment of songs drawn from America’s rich country music tradition, all delivered with a level of commitment and musical imagination that consistently cuts to the emotional heart of the material.
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Whether you're planning a romantic evening or relaxing by yourself, I recommend adding Joe's new CD Ain't Nothing Like Me to your playlist.
Congratulations on your new CD. I love it.
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

Why do you think you’ve had longevity in a fickle industry?
For me, it’s about remaining current. I try to do music that’s not only timeless, but music that’s happening at the moment. I also collaborate with artists that are pretty much on top of the charts at the time. I always keep me ear close to the radio so I can keep abreast of what’s going on.

Are your lyrics inspired by your own personal experiences?
A lot of my songs I write are from personal experiences. Some I’ve gone through or someone from my family. Watching how they deal with things. Just looking at the way life is and how the world goes. Finding what my destiny is in this world and I incorporate all of that into my songs.

What advice would you have for someone who is looking to be a songwriter?
Writing songs is a beautiful thing. Write a song that people can relate to.

I know it’s hard to pick a favorite song from your own CD, but identify three songs on your CD that you want people to really pay close attention to.
My Love --I think it’s one of the best ballads lyrically I have on the album. It’s like an old school ballad.

It’s Me - It has a great feel to it. It’s a nice ballad with a tempo.

Feel For You – It’s romantic and a wedding song in a sense. The chorus is the best part of the song. It feels like Prince when he wrote The Most Beautiful Girl. That’s the way I feel

Those songs are the ones that really stand out.

Did you find it hard to narrow it down to those 14 songs?
Yes, we actually recorded 25 songs for this album. The songs that didn’t make it, the vibe or lyrics may not have fit the idea for the album.

After someone listens to Ain’t Nothing Like Me, how do you want them to feel?
I want them to feel like they really got their money’s worth. It’s a lot of material out there these days. You have about 15 to 20 solo artists in each category. When I make a record, I want each song to be just as good as the single that’s on the radio. I want to give fans something to feel proud of and feel they got something good out of it.

You’re a role model for up and coming artists. When you first started, who were some of your role models?
A lot of my inspirations came from some of the old school artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, etc. They were really soulful. The music had a totally different feel because they always had bands to accompany the vocals. That’s what stuck with me as an artist

What do you in your down time?
I love sports. I play a lot of ball[basketball]. I go golfing every once in awhile. I like to travel. I love the Caribbean islands, especially Jamaica and the Bahamas. When I’m not traveling, I have a couple of businesses that I started. I’ve been working on a clothing company for the past few months. I have an alcohol business. There’s a tequila called SOKO and also a white wine.

Will your clothing line target the men or women’s market?
Focusing on the men’s line first and will build up to that point.

Do you have a name for your line yet?
I have one but it’s subject to change.

Did you always know you wanted to be in some form of entertainment?
It just happened that way.

How have you been able to keep your name out of a lot of scandals?
A lot of people who do get caught up in scandals look for the media attention and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m not running around the streets and hanging out at clubs all of the time. Normally I stick with a low key kind of crew. I got my family; my brothers are here. I keep a real small crew and a real low profile.

With a flair for singing beautiful love songs and as a leading R & B crooner, women want to know are you seeing anyone special right now?
No, I’m single at the time. I’m on the market (smile).

7 Random thoughts with Joe:

Besides your own CDs, what music do you play to set a romantic mood when you are seeing someone special? Sade’s Greatest Hit
What's your favorite color to see on a woman? Red
Do you prefer a woman to wear heels or flats? Heels baby
Her hair pinned up or hanging down? Like it hanging.
Dress or jeans? Either
Make-up or no make-up? No make-up. Natural skin is always beautiful.
Do you prefer a long romantic drive or walk? Driving can be complicated but can get you into better situations, but walking can be much more intimate. So walking, but that’s depending on where you are.

Anything else you want to say to your fans?
Thank you so much for the support. I hope you enjoy the album.

Interview by Shelia M Goss, an entertainment writer and author of My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Violets are true and Paige's Web. For more information, visit www.sheliagoss.com.

Rena Scott’s latest CD has a sultry smooth R & B sound. I had the honor of speaking with her about her CD and her musical background. Rena Scott’s “Raw and Uncut” interview inspired me and I hope it inspires you as well.

When I listened to your CD, it reminded me of Phyliss Hyman.
She’s one of my favorites. I loved Phyliss. We actually did some shows together….

You’ve worked with so many people over the years as well as toured all over the world. Tell me about Rena Scott.
I’ve been doing this since I was a little girl [since I was 5 or 6]. I started off singing church songs. Nobody paid attention until I was about 12 years old. I joined church and got in the choir. I was in Detroit.

One of my favorite songs to sing was Walk Around Heaven. My first time singing in front of anybody, people in the church went crazy. One of my choir members enrolled me in a major contest – the Motown Revue Shows. This big radio station in Detroit would sponsor at the Fox Theater. I was one of 10 out of the 500 contestants that was picked. It was great. I appeared with the original Temptations. After that point, my mother discovered I could sing and began getting me club gigs around Detroit.

I made my first record when I was 15. I got signed to Epic. I made my second record when I was 17. I kept singing in choir and at school.

Michael Henderson was looking for someone to do a duet. His wife saw me perform and told him about me. We met and did the song “Take Me I’m Yours.” I went on tour with him for a long while. Aretha Franklin was looking for someone to replace one of her background singers and at the time her brother Cecil was sort of semi-managing me.
Aretha was one of my #1 idols. When he asked me, I turned flips. I got a chance to do a major concert in Michigan at a ski resort. Afterwards, I went to California for the first time and sang background vocals on one of her albums and then we went to New York and did Carnegie Hall.

You can’t imagine singing with your idol. I had did clubs in the past, but never major concerts with full bands. It was so incredible. I toured with her for a couple of months and after that I got a record deal.

Buddha Records asked me first and I did my first full album with wonder producers like Mtume. Buddha started having problems. Gladys Knight was on their label too. Buddha went bankrupt and my album got dissolved in that situation but I continued to sing in clubs. I later got an opportunity to do shows in Las Vegas.

About 4 months after getting to California, I got a chance to go to Europe and tour with the Jazz Crusaders and take Randi Crawford’s place. I ended up with them on their European/American tour. Street Life was one of the popular songs.

I got a second record deal. It was called Love Zone. It was with an independent label. Everything was going fine until the distribution label went bankrupt. I was like Lord what is going on here. It was a long time after that before I got another record deal.

I did commercial jingles and got a chance to do soundtracks for movies. I continued to write.

There were times I felt like I couldn’t deal with the music business with the ups and downs and getting discouraged. My husband encouraged me and was like “you’re too talented not to continue.” We decided to do our own record label and started Amore Records.

We got distribution through KES Music and video distribution and they distribute worldwide. We’ve been real bless.

“Let Me Love You” got picked up for a feature film. It played all over the world. They played it twice in the movie before the “Love & Action in Chicago”starring Regina King and Courtney Vance.

The second single “Remember” was on the R & B/Hip-Hop Single Sales Chart for 18 weeks.

The third single “A Love Thing” stayed at #1 for 2 weeks in a row in the same category on Billboard.

What are you currently working on?
I’m working on my new album. I’m doing four cover songs by my favorite artists and also doing some originals.

I’m writing right now and I’m in the studio. I sing in the church choir and I have a wonderful husband.

I’ve come along way, but there’s still a lot of things I want to do. I want to write a book about my life. My parents had a violent marriage. I love them both, but it did a number on my life. I’m an advocate against domestic violence. I want to write about it.

I later found out the man who I thought was my father isn’t my biological father and that I’m bi-racial. My life has been pretty interesting.

Sounds like you have a lot to offer. Although you went through a lot to get to this point, you persevered. In fact, you’ve had a successful musical career. There are plenty of singers who wished they had accomplished some of the things you have up to this point.
I just thank God. I’ve come a long way. We grew up in the projects. I’m a little girl from Detroit from the projects with a good husband and children. We all support each other. I’m a very spiritual person. I wouldn’t be here right now without the Lord. I thank Him every day. The Lord is awesome.

It took me a minute and I had to go through a lot of things, but I’m okay with who I am. God is working with me everyday.

Was it hard to get your distribution deal?
The distributor has to feel that its (CD) of substance and can sell. They saw the vision. You can pay people for one thing but you can’t pay people to be dedicated.

Are you looking for new artists?
We will be, but we aren’t now. I’m sort of breaking the ground. It may be sometime next year. We’re keeping our ears open.

I want to be an inspiration to those 35 and older and say you can do this. You just have to work hard, pray a lot and believe.

The audience is still there. Some people want to hear songs that remind them of the classics. People want to hear singers who can truly sing.
I love good melodies. I love a good story. That’s why I love country and blues because they tell a story. I want to be classic, have music that lasts forever. Not here today but gone tomorrow.

To learn more about Rena Scott and to purchase her CD, go to:
www.myspace.com/renascott or www.renascott.net.

Interview by entertainment writer Shelia M Goss and national bestselling author of Paige's Web (Nov. '07), My Invisible Husband and Roses are thorns, Violets are true. To learn more, visit her website at www.sheliagoss.com.

What genre do you write in?
Supernatural Suspense/Sci-Fi/Fantasy. I grew up in the Christian Church
- Therefore my first encounter with the supernatural was stories in the
Bible. I've been fascinated with the supernatural/paranormal genre ever
since.

What motivated you to write Sleeping with a D-Man?
I was inspired to write Sleeping with a D-Man for my daughters but
especially my oldest daughter who was going off to college at the time.
I knew that she would encounter many young men while she was away at
school and I wanted to share with her in a non-preachy way that it was
important to know her own value before she engaged in any
romantic/sexual relationships.

I find that young people especially young women don't know who they are
and allow others (moms, dads, relatives, friends, boyfriends even
professors et al) to define him or her and map out a life before the
young wo(men) has a chance to do so for him/herself.

I chose to write Sleeping with a D-Man, however, in a supernatural
format to share the aforementioned message through an allegory of
sorts.

In doing so, and to illustrate the message I created Sleeping with a
D-Man's premise based on bible verses Genesis 6:2 -4 to tell the story.

Genesis 6:2 - 4 The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were
fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. ...There were
giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons
of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to
them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

My novel's plotline tackles the questions raised in the scripture where
it reads, "There were giants in the earth in those days and also
after".

• What if after the flood, offspring of angels still walked the earth?
• What if they were still around to this day? If so, how would a modern
woman know whether she has encountered a human man or an angel's
offspring? It seems as if antediluvian human women couldn't tell the
difference between angels and human men.
• In addition, what if a man didn't know he was half angel?
"Sleeping with a D-Man," answers those questions while telling a young
woman's story from a paranormal perspective while using a mixture of
Hebrew and African Antiquity to weave the tale.

How do you juggle writing with your day-to-day activities?
To be honest I don't juggle writing with my day-to-day activities. I've
yet to learn how to do it. I better learn fast because I'm in the
process of penning the sequel to Sleeping with a D-Man" that I expect
to publish in March 2008.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I was laid off from my cushy high profile
9-to-5 position when I decided to write my debut novel "Sleeping with a
D-Man". All I had was some savings, severance pay and unemployment
checks to sustain me while I wrote. Once I finished, however, it was
onto the business of selling the book and launching my own media
communications business, The LeadStory.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?
I've been a writer in various forms throughout my professional career so
writing comes naturally to me. However, it wasn't until I decided to
write a novel did I learn it takes discipline.
I believe everyone truly has at least one story in him or her,
therefore, it's important for an aspiring writer to choose one story he
or she wants to tell and stick with it until that story is complete.
Further, an aspiring writer should write his or her novel as if it's
the only shot to have his or her voice heard. We've heard that
so-and-so is voice of his or her generation; determine what story will
leave a lasting legacy.

How can readers learn more about you and your books?
Readers are encouraged to visit me at http://www.melhopkins.com/;
http://www.myspace.com/nickyjett;%20http://blog.myspace.com/nickyjett

CONFESSIONS OF A CALL GIRL
DVD available July 24
CODEBLACK ENTERTAINMENT

VIEW TRAILER

STARRING

Tamala Jones: (Next Friday, The Brothers, Two Can Play That Game, Head of State, Booty Call)
Clifton Powell: (The Gospel, Ray, Woman Thou Art Loosed, Love Chronicles, Never Die Alone, Knights of the South Bronx)
Lynn Whitfield: (Madea’s Family Reunion, The Wedding, Eve’s Bayou, Head of State, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate)
Angell Conwell: (Soul Plane, The Wash, Baby Boy)
Bokeem Woodbine: (Ray, Dead Presidents, Crooklyn, Jason’s Lyric)

ABOUT CONFESSIONS OF A CALL GIRL

Confessions of a Call Girl is a revealing story of a woman's struggle for balance as she battles a secret addiction while fighting to save her family and find herself.

Tory Adams (Tamala Jones) is the perfect wife, mother, best girlfriend, and boss. She is a successful doctor who runs her own medical practice in NYC. Married to an equally successful lawyer (Bokeem Woodbine), she and her husband live in a $3 million brownstone in Harlem with their 6-year-old daughter. Despite appearances of an idyllic life, there's one problem: Tory is secretly a high-class call girl who goes by the name Candy and is addicted to satisfying the fetishes of rich men. Nevertheless, Tory has convinced herself that her life is normal — until one of her clients becomes obsessed with her. This sets off a harrowing chain of events involving blackmail, rape, and ultimately murder. As her life spins out of control, Tory seeks therapy to help her deal with her deep, dark secrets, but her time is running out. When her obsessed client confronts her husband, it becomes a matter of life . . . and death.

Not Rated
Running Time: 104 minutes

"Bartender" Video:
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"Rep yourself on VIDEO and let me hear you say A Bay Bay... It's what we say in the clubs, on the streets, in the classroom, all over the place! We want to see your funniest and craziest 'A Bay Bay' moments. Go to www.youtube.com/hurricanechris in order to enter the "Funniest A Bay Bay Moment" video contest and submit your video clip. The best video will win an Apple Video iPod as well as be featured on Hurricane Chris' YouTube Channel, MySpace profile and Web-site. Don't be shy, get RACTHET and holla A BAY BAY!!"

Hurricane Chris (Polo Grounds Music/ J Records) - Video EPK
YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u6m3JMd3qI

Album Coming Soon on Polo Grounds Music/ J Records!!!

Hear New Single Here:

Windows Media

Real Player

‘DIDDY’ CREATES ULTIMATE ALL MALE GROUP IN MTV’S HIT REALITY SERIES "MAKING THE BAND 4"

PREMIERING MONDAY, JUNE 18TH AT 10PM ET/PT

New York, NY – It’s the return of the boy-band ‘Diddy’ style! MTV’s hit reality series “Making The Band” returns but this time around Diddy creates the ultimate R&B all male group! Fresh on the heels of creating the successful all girl group ‘Danity Kane,’ whose album debuted at number one, Diddy raises the bar and puts himself to the test once again. Check out the competition by going to MTV.com and get to know all the guys in the cast. Find out who has the right stuff to make history and become a part of the hottest new all-male group when MTV’s “Making The Band 4” premieres on Monday, June 18th at 10pm ET/PT. Mondays on MTV will include the premiere of MTV favorites, “My Super Sweet 16” at 9pm ET/PT and MTV News & Docs powerful documentary series “Engaged & Underage” at 9:30pm ET/PT.

After nationwide open auditions with the help of celebrity judges including New Edition’s Michael Bivens, R&B sensation Joe, choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson and superproducer Bryan Cox, Diddy selects 20 of the most talented young men from across the country to live together in a loft in Manhattan. The ultimate singing and dancing competition begins as these eager young men who hail from cities such as LA, NY, Detroit, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando and Charlotte try to impress one of the most successful men in the music business in hopes of becoming a part of the next hot all male-group. They’ll have to learn to live and work together and make it through Diddy’s unexpected tests to see who is worthy of being a part of the band.

Earlier this year aspiring superstars were able to log onto http://makingtheband.mtv.com/ to upload their singing audition for the world to see. Viewers were able to vote for their favorites. 25 candidates were selected to move on to Round Two, where they uploaded a dance audition. Producers rewarded 3 finalists with the opportunity to audition in person for Diddy. Tune in this season to see if those finalists made the cut.

The previous season of “Making The Band 3” ranked #1 in its time period among P12-34 versus cable competition and reached over 63 million total viewers in premieres and repeats.

Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ted Iredell and Perry Dance will serve as executive producers. Jacquelyn French is the MTV executive overseeing 'The Making The Band' franchise.

Francesca Spero is Producer for Bad Boy Entertainment.

SEAN COMBS, the CEO and founder of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group is a multifaceted entertainment powerhouse. Sean “Diddy” Combs was recently declared “One of the Most Influential Businessmen in the World” by Time Magazine and CNN. Combs, 36 oversees one of the world's preeminent urban entertainment companies, encompassing a broad range of businesses including recording, music publishing, artist management, television and film production, recording facility, apparel and restaurants.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc., is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services — MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 80 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

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“(You Want To) Make A Memory,” the first single from Bon Jovi’s new album LOST HIGHWAY- in-stores June 19th will debut the new music video on AOL Music. Bon Jovi is flush with the success of their record breaking world tour and multi-platinum album Have A Nice Day. The new album produced by Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts) and John Shanks (who co-produced Have A Nice Day, whose credits include Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Chris Isaak and others) LOST HIGHWAY will arrive in stores June 19th on Island Records/Mercury Nashville.

LOST HIGHWAY, an album Jon describes as “a Bon Jovi record influenced by Nashville.”

“I’ve been going to Nashville since 1991,” Bon Jovi explains. “Nashville is all about songs and songwriters. If you’re someone like me who loves songs and hanging out with songwriters, Nashville is the place. I thrive on that feeling and I’m inspired by that creative ambience.” The result, a haunting set of 12 new and original sounding songs, is a stunning, multi-layered look into the nature of love and life in all its glory. Love, like life, is lost, found, forgotten and reclaimed in this collection.

WINDOWS
REAL

http://www7.islandrecords.com/bonjovi/

Hurricane Chris (Polo Grounds Music/ J Records) - Video EPK

Windows

Quicktime

Hurricane Chris - "A Bay Bay" (Dirty)
Quicktime

Hurricane Chris - "A Bay Bay" (Dirty)
Windows Media

My Space: http://www.myspace.com/hurricane

According to Hurricane Chris, "A Bay Bay" has its genesis in the namesake of the Ratchet movement's cornerstone DJ, Hollyhood Bay Bay, who spins at a club called KoKo Pellis (Shreveport, Louisiana) . Whenever the DJ would come in the club the crowd would start chanting "hey Bay Bay, hey Bay Bay." After a while the crowd would do the chant whenever the club got ratchet regardless of who was on the wheels of steel.

"That became so catchy that I changed it from somebody's name to a slang 'A Bay Bay'," says Hurricane Chris. "Now it's a word, it means fa sho."

"Everybody likes 'A Bay Bay' because it's different," says Hurricane Chris. "It's real catchy. And it's something you can say. I bet that its gonna be a baby's first word because it's so catchy. It gets stuck in your head the first time you hear it. Everybody [can] relate to it, white folks, black folks, hustlers and thugs."

Album Coming Soon on Polo Grounds Music/ J Records!!!

Visit AOL and preview Kelly Rowland's upcoming CD. While on the page, vote for Kelly's next single. http://music.aol.com/songs/kelly-rowland-album-preview



Kelly Rowland
Ms. Kelly IN STORES JULY 3
http://www.kellyrowland.com/
www.myspace.com/kellyrowland

"Like This" featuring Eve (Audio)
"Like This" featuring Eve (Video)

Supa Nova is a hip hop artist with a movement: Unify the Hood, Heal the Hood --the title of his forthcoming debut release. The first single off the album is "G's Up Salute" featuring The Game and Jadakiss.

Coming fresh out of Brooklyn, Supa Nova's album has already started to gain traction, as has his call for social healing: after spending his teenage years running with gangs, Supa Nova had a wake-up call.

Before long, he found a better way of life and started taking it to the streets. His DVD/CD combo release, Holistic Wellness for A Hip Hop Generation has sold over 100,000 copies and continues to fly off the shelves. BET.com has noted it as "a documentary that is going to teach self-improvement to the hip hop generation."

Supa Nova has already proven that he has the mind of a CEO and the heart of a healer. With his debut album, he's bringing his skills as an MC front and center. Unify the Hood, Heal the Hood showcases a cast of hip hop's elite--on top of Jadakiss and The Game, Supa Nova is joining forces with Ice-T, Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, and others.

His movement is rapidly gaining momentum. Beyond the DVD and the upcoming album release, Supa Nova founded Unify the Hood, Heal the Hood, The Event---catering to the community---uplifting the streets. At 7pm, on Sunday, May 20th , Unify the Hood, Heal the Hood will be hosted in Brooklyn.

This event serves to entertain and educate---including a screening of the ground breaking film, Hooked: The Legend of Demetrius Mitchell, featuring special guest speakers: Rob Stone, President/CEO of Cornerstone Marketing; Michael Skolnik, film director; Ben Chavis, President of Hip Hop Summit Action Network; and OG T. Rodgers, Founder of Black P-Stone Nation B.L.O.O.D.S (LA Chapter)/Director of Sidewalk University and a live performance by SUPA NOVA SLOM.

With a debate raging over hip hop slang, Supa Nova 's efforts have a great urgency: "We are in a time when rappers and hip hop artists are being targeted for their lyrical content, but the core issue lies within our communities. There is always a cause and effect; so, if we want to encourage rappers to change their lyrical content, we must, first, as a collective, be accountable for our influence and encourage social change on the home front--within our hoods and our communities. We must elevate the consciousness of the people, overall, further inspiring constructive change in the future direction of hip hop." -- SUPANOVASLOM

"You know what time it is, " Unify the Hood, Heal the Hood" is how it's going down...Real talk...I Love It." - JADAKISS

"I'm ridin' or dyin' with my homie, Supa Nova..."Unify the Hood, Heal the Hood "-- that's what you should be doing!" - ICE-T

WEB: WWW.SUPANOVASLOM.COM

MYSPACE: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SUPANOVASLOMONLINE

SUPA NOVA SLOM E-CARD: www.pranamarketing.com/ecard/supanovaslom

COMMON
"Finding Forever"
G.O.O.D Music / Geffen Records
July 31, 2007
http://www.common-music.com/
http://www.myspace.com/common

COMMON - "The People" (prod. by Kanye West)
Window

COMMON - "The Game" (prod. by Kanye West with scratches by DJ Premier)
Window
Real

R. KELLY SING-A-LONG CONTEST

Users step up to the mic to sing "I'm a Flirt". Grand Prize winner's track is posted on R. Kelly's Myspace.com page and more! Check out details and contestant entries here!

AMERICAN IDOL’S
CONSTANTINE MAROULIS
TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM, CONSTANTINE AUGUST 7th, 2007
First Single “Everybody Loves” Available on iTunes

AUDIO – Everybody Loves
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In 2005 Constantine electrified America during season four of American Idol with his captivating delivery of Queen's classic "Bohemian Rhapsody." The Brooklyn-born, New Jersey-bred rocker will thrill his fans once again with the highly anticipated release of Constantine – his solo album out August 7th, 2007 (Sixth Place Records / Sony RED). Constantine debuted “Everybody Loves,” the first song off the album, on The Bold & The Beautiful on Wednesday, May 15th 2007. “Everybody Loves” is currently available on iTunes.

Since his unexpected departure from American Idol, Constantine has been hard at work, starring on Broadway in “The Wedding Singer” as well as in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway revival of “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.” In between, he devoted considerable time and effort into finding the right band, assembling a talented group of musicians that meshed into a cohesive and rockin’ ensemble. Constantine co-wrote several songs on the record and songwriters who lent their skills to the album include seminal singer/songwriter Willie Nile; Angie Aparo (Faith Hill); Marcel (Rascal Flatts); and Grammy nominated, Kevin Kadish (Jason Mraz).

Constantine recently became a featured star on The Bold and The Beautiful, which ranks as the Number Two most watched soap in the world. Constantine’s role, which was created especially for him, is based in part on his real life. Throughout his thirteen-week stint, the show will be incorporating music from Constantine. This extraordinary cross-promotion will bring Constantine’s music and personality to millions of viewers worldwide, an unprecedented opportunity for a young artist.

The album reflects Constantine’s commitment to an unprocessed, live feel and organic edge. As a result, Constantine was recorded in intimate studios in New York City, including co-producer Marc Copely's living room. “The album was cut live with my own band,” Constantine explains. “No programming, minimal overdubs. We’ve been playing these songs on the road and chose the tunes that got the best feedback from our audiences.” The songs on the album showcase the singer’s vocal versatility and the strong arrangements of the Maroulis band.

“Everybody Loves,” the first track off Constantine, which made it’s premiere on The Bold and The Beautiful, is the kind of song that is custom made for Summer, with a sing-along chorus listeners will find themselves unable to get out of their heads. “Girl Like You” bursts out of the speakers with a thunderous stomp-and-clap intro that will recall Queen's “We Will Rock You,” albeit set to the beat of the new millennium. “Child (You're the Revolution)” shows the hard rock side of Constantine that audiences identified with him during Idol. His snarling vocal and the band’s metallic attack makes the tune a potential youth anthem. Other tracks allow Constantine to show off his persuasive vocal power and true artistry.

The diversity of Constantine, the album, shows off the restless creative spirit of Constantine the singer and serves notice that he’s a musical force to be reckoned with.
http://constantinemaroulis.com/
http://www.myspace.com/constantinemaroulis
http://i-squad.com/Constantine.html

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Link it to www.sheliagoss.com

Thanks in advance!

Gwyneth Bolton turned her passion for reading romance into being a passionate romance writer. If you're looking for a tantalizing gripping story, pick up any one of her novels.

Why did you decide to write in the romance genre?
I have been a huge fan of romance ever since I was a
preteen. I started out sneaking my mom's Harlequin
Presents in the 80s. I've always known that I wanted
to be a writer. It took me a minute to decide that I
wanted to be a romance author. It wasn't until I
finished my first nonfiction book, that I realized
that I could actually finish a book. And once the
realization hit, I knew I had to write romance. I
adore the genre. On any given day, if I have a spare
moment to read a book, you can best believe it will be
a romance novel in my hands. So, it only made sense in
my mind to write in the genre I to read so much.

How does your family feel about you being a writer?
My family is really happy about me going after my
dreams of being an author. My mother loves telling her
friends that her daughter writes romance. And my
husband is going around telling everyone he can about
his wife's books. The funny thing is, I'm the only one
of my mother's kids who picked up the romance-reading
bug. None of my younger sisters admits to reading
romance. One loves mysteries only. Another has a thing
for vampires. One likes street-fiction. Another likes
true-life stories. But each of my sisters has read my
books and encourages me to keep going after my dream.
My family has been wonderful.

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
When I'm not writing or teaching or grading papers or
watching my favorite television show, I'm usually
reading. I have a huge book addiction and I love to go
to the bookstore to buy more books to feed my
addiction. My idea of the ideal weekend would start
with a trip to the bookstore on a Friday evening,
perhaps after dinner with the hubby. Then I would go
home and curl up with my new purchases and spend the
rest of the weekend making my way through my
to-be-read pile.

Tell me about your books.
My current book, SWEET SENSATION, is the second book
in my Hip-Hop Debutantes Trilogy. It's the story of
Deidre "Sweet Dee" James and Fredrick "Flex" Towns.
The idea behind my hip-hop debutante books is that
they are hip-hop remixes of classic romance
storylines. So in SWEET SENSATION we have a mix of the
secret child storyline and the lover's reunited
storyline. The book is set in the world of hip-hop and
has a lyrical aspect to it as well. One underlying
question of the novel is, what happens when hip-hop
heads grow up and have kids? It also looks at black
family relationships across several generations. I had
a ball writing it and so far it has gotten some
amazing reviews from RAWSISTAZ, Black Butterfly Review
and Romance Junkies.

I just signed my second contract with Harlequin Kimani
Romance for the first two-book in my Hightower Honors
series. Here's a brief look at what the series will
bring:

Cops and firemen bring sirens to mind--red-hot-blazing
sirens. And these men offer just that, loud,
heart-pounding sirens of seduction. Hightower Honors
is a four part series that chronicles the lives and
loves of four very hot and sexy brothers from a strong
upper-middle class Paterson, New Jersey family with a
rich legacy of public service. Most of the Hightower
men are either cops or firemen and have been in this
line of work for several generations. These Hightower
brothers add two cops and two firemen to the family
lineage of service.

In PROTECT AND SERVE, Jason Hightower is a police
detective for the Paterson police department who needs
to conquer his past by finally confronting the first
love he thinks betrayed him. He needs to do so before
a threat from her past takes her away for good. In
MAKE IT HOT, Joel Hightower is a fireman injured on
the job and forced to think about a career outside of
his dream job. Too bad he can't think around the
spunky physical therapist helping him recover. In
UPHOLDING THE LAW, the woman Lawrence Hightower finds
himself falling in love with could very well be a
criminal. He needs to figure out who she really is
before the criminals looking for her find her. In
SIZZLING SEDUCTION, Patrick Hightower is used to
putting out fires, but a sweet and sexy kindergarten
teacher breaks through his protective shield and gets
him thinking it might be more fun starting one.

The Hightower men are all tall, dark, handsome and
alpha. Their upbringing dictates that when push comes
to shove, they should always do the right thing. The
only catch is that sometimes the right thing in their
minds has to be done the right way, their way. Raised
by two loving parents, James and Celia Hightower, the
brothers know what real love looks like and they want
it for themselves. Eventually. On their own terms. The
Hightower Honors series offers four books about love,
family, and romance in sometimes gritty, urban
settings that explode with passion and deep emotion.
The two firemen stories are hot sexy, courtship tales
about the thrill of the chase and the glory of
surrender. The two cop stories are deeply emotional
and passionate stories with a hint of intrigue.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Never give up on your dream to write and be published.
Write as much as you can and read as much as you can.
Also, realize that publishing is a business. So do
your research on the business aspects. Find out a
company's history before signing the contract. And
just watch out for your business interests as well as
your creative interests. You'd be surprised how much
getting into business with the wrong publisher can
negatively impact your creative life not to mention
your finances.

To learn more about Gwyneth Bolton and her books, visit her
website: http://gwynethbolton.com/





Interview by Shelia M. Goss, National Bestselling Author of My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Violets are true and Paige's Web. For more information, visit her website: www.sheliagoss.com.

Keke Palmer played a national spelling bee contestant in the film Akeelah and the Bee and had a lead role in the Disney Channel Original Movie Jump In! but this talented young lady not only acts, she also sings. Keke was raised in a musical family where her mother and sister also sang and recorded original music in their basement studio. Music was in her blood so it is no surprise that she’s now busy completing her debut album for Atlantic Records, So Uncool.

So Uncool won’t be out for another few months but in the meantime, Keke is releasing her first single “Footworkin” to the Internet and beyond.

"Footworkin'" - Audio Streams
Windows Media
Real Media

So Uncool will be released September 18th with Atlantic Records.

Drake Bell Official Site:
http://www.drakebell.com/
or on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/drakebellonline

I Know Streaming Audio:

Windows Media
Real Player

Tour Dates:

DATE CITY VENUE
Sat Jul 07 Muskegon, MI Heritage Park
Wed Jul 11 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
Thu Jul 12 Los Angeles, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Fri Jul 13 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion At Concord
Sat Jul 14 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
Sun Jul 15 San Diego, CA SDSU Open Air Theatre
Wed Jul 18 TBA
Thu Jul 19 Denver, CO Coors Amphitheatre
Sun Jul 22 Monticello, IA Great Jones County Fair
Tue Jul 24 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Thu Jul 26 Austin, TX The Backyard
Fri Jul 27 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sat Jul 28 Dallas, TX Smirnoff Music Centre
Sun Jul 29 Kansas City, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Tue Jul 31 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
Thu Aug 02 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Fri Aug 03 Hartford, CT New England Dodge Music Center
Sat Aug 04 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Sun Aug 05 Washington, DC Patriot Center
Mon Aug 06 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
Wed Aug 08 West Allis, WI Wisconsin State Fair
Thu Aug 09 Columbus, OH Ohio’s State Fair
Fri Aug 10 Jackson, MI Jackson County Fair
Sat Aug 11 Springfield, IL Illinois State Fair
Sun Aug 12 Des Moines, IA Iowa State Fair
Tue Aug 14 Sedalia, MO Missouri State Fair
Wed Aug 15 Midland, MI Midland County Fair
Thu Aug 16 Hamburg, NY Erie County Fair & Expo
Fri Aug 17 Lewisburg, WV State Fair of West Virginia
Sat Aug 18 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
Sun Aug 19 West Palm Beach, FL Sound Advice Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 21 Atlanta, GA Gwinnett Civic and Cultural Center
Wed Aug 22 Raleigh, NC Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
Fri Aug 24 Saratoga, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Sat Aug 25 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
Sun Aug 26 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Stadium and Star Pavilion
Mon Aug 27 Essex Junction, VT Camplain Valley Exposition
Wed Aug 29 Cleveland, OH The Plain Dealer Pavilion
Thu Aug 30 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri Aug 31 Chicago, IL Charter One Pavilion
Sat Sep 01 TBA
Sun Sep 09 Allegan, MI Allegan County Fairgrounds

Young Cesar is a contemporary nail biting Urban Drama, exploring themes of family, fatherhood, promise, redemption and the consequences of limited choices of life in the rough streets of the inner city.

YOUNG CESAR DVD
available June 26
Pre-Order Here

CODEBLACK ENTERTAINMENTVIEW TRAILER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Mvfw3Vkm0

STARRING

Clifton Powell (Ray, The Gospel, Woman Thou Art Loosed, Norbit , TV Series Roc, Moesha, CSI)
Sean Blakemore (Woman Thou Art Loosed, Restraining Order, Motives)
Sam Sarpong (Love Don’t Cost a Thing, Street Kings,TV Series Boston Public)
Dominic Daniel (Causality, The Road to Canyon Lake, TV Series Charmed, The Shield)
Richard Gant ( Rocky V, HBO’s Deadwood, Daddy Day Camp, Nutty Professor 2, TV Series Eve, Special Unit 2 )
Art Evans (A Soldiers Story, Die Hard II, Metro, School Daze, Adventures in Babysitting)

ABOUT YOUNG CESAR

YOUNG CESAR is the story of Ali Dean (Clifton Powell) and his failure as a father to his two sons, Cesar (Dominic Daniel) and Tariq (Sam Sarpong). Ali is sentenced to a life behind bars for a vicious murder during a botched robbery attempt on the Dean family in the ’80s. In jail and unable to guide his sons through the perils of the rough streets on which they grow up, Ali sits helplessly as he watches Cesar become trapped within the growing and lucrative drug trade. The story speeds full circle as Ali is ultimately released from prison on the very same day that Cesar starts his own life sentence.

Young Cesar is a contemporary nail biting Urban Drama, exploring themes of family, fatherhood, promise, redemption and the consequences of limited choices of life in the rough streets of the inner city.

Not Rated
Running Time: 90 minutes