Posts Tagged ‘Jay Z’

Beyonce’s latest decree is that girls run the world!

She took a break from sitting court side with hubby Jay-Z long enough to make this year’s next big single. Officially released last week, Beyonce’s “Run The World (Girls)” is gradually edging out other chart toppers and bringing along a bit of controversy, too.

“Run The World” samples Major Lazer’s Pon de Floor, a huge club hit from DJs, Diplo and Switch.

And fans and critics are divided on whether or not Beyonce’s new, female-empowerment anthem does the original version justice.

Check out the original and the Beyonce’ version.

Did Major Lazer do it better or do B’s vocals add the perfect touch?

Let me know what you think! And be sure to check back often for more of the latest music news and reviews right here on Positively Celebrity!

You know what they say…new year, new fight to become number one on the charts.

Well, actually, I’ve never heard anyone say that, but I know every solo artist and every member of your favorite band has thought just that.

While we mere mortals are making New Year’s resolutions to not procrastinate on getting our taxes done and to get out of bed before noon on weekends, the gods and goddesses of the music industry are preoccupied with that of a different resolve.

Our favorite artists are strategizing ways to ensure their records remain #1 on iTunes and doing damage control when their unreleased music gets “leaked” onto the internet.

Here are a few artists who’ve been in the news recently and are doing whatever it takes to stay relevant in 2011.

Keri Hilson

It’s no secret that Ms. Keri Baby has perfected her niche for penning hits for herself and for others, but as a “front woman,” I categorized her as the off-brand Ciara (who, as many believe is the reincarnate of Aaliyah).

The most recent Keri Hilson buzz, however, has been about her risqué video for song, “The Way You Love Me.”  A scantily clad Keri and crew are dancing quite provocatively, but honestly, it’s not that much racier than anything we’ve seen the Pussycat Dolls or Lady Gaga do.

“The Way You Love Me” shows an extremely sensual side of Keri that we’ve never seen – a far, far cry from the super-conservative, “Way I Are,” Timbaland days.

Hilson’s “X” factor to stay relevant in 2011 is clearly the “sex factor.”

Is it too much or just enough?

Paramore

The disbanding of a mainstream musical act hasn’t been this news worthy since Destiny’s Child became DC3.

Exit brothers Zac and Josh Farro.

Former Paramore musicians and founding members Zac (drummer) and Josh (guitarist) announced last month they were leaving the pop punk band because the group was a “manufactured product of a major label.”

Farro brothers also accused lead singer Hayley Williams of signing as a solo act to Atlantic Records, something that other Paramore members had not done.  Regardless of whether or not Paramore is, in fact, a manufactured product, songs like “Crushcrushcrush” and “The Only Exception” have proven the group has chemistry and talent.

But you know what they say… bad publicity is better than no publicity (and “they” really do say that). And with the back and forth blogosphere retaliations between Farro brothers and the remaining 3 members of Paramore, the group’s social media following has increased so much that they’re moving up Billboard’s Social 50 chart.

Paramore begins 2011 with increased Billboard popularity. In the long run, will the band member changes hurt or help the group?

Kanye West

I cannot decide if Kanye West’s ridiculous antics are fueled by his inability to be anything but a “d-bag” or if his public persona is a carefully crafted machine designed specifically to keep him in the news. For the life of me, I cannot figure it out.

And that’s exactly how Kanye wants it.

Here’s the abbreviated version of Kanye’s media melees: “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” comment in 2005, Taylor Swift incident at the 2009 VMAs, and the uncomfortable interview he gave to Matt Lauer towards the end of 2010.

After repeatedly dragging his reputation through the mud, Kanye West joined Twitter where he reveals links to his new music and posts album artwork twitpics to keep fans abreast on upcoming projects. Most recently, he unveiled the artwork for  H.A.M., his joint album with Jay-Z.

You would think that, with his bad-boy attitude, Mr. West would have 0 Twitter followers.  Instead, he has almost 2 million. And he follows no one.

Whether it’s through mainstream media or social media, Kanye West has managed to stay relevant by embracing and celebrating his tarnished image.

Does Kanye’s attitude affect your decision to buy his music?

What lengths are some of your favorite artists going to to keep their names in the news?

The camera pans the crowd, catching glimpses of crying, sweating concert goers sporting temporary tattoos bearing her name. From Africa to America, tens of thousands of screaming fans fill stadiums just to experience this larger-than-life entertainer.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones who hasn’t seen this Diva perform live, last week’s ”I Am…World Tour” Thanksgiving special gave an intimate look into how her Royal Hotness rules the world wearing nothing more than a leotard, Spanx, and 4-inch stilettos.

She is…BEYONCE!

Admittedly, I am one of the unlucky ones who hasn’t seen Ms. B live in concert. Well, I recant that statement. I DID see her perform when she was still the lead singer of Destiny’s Child in 2000 at Disney World’s Grad Nite. Mmmm…that was TEN years ago…I’m guessing that doesn’t qualify.

So, Beyonce,’ if you’re reading this, I will totally take you up on the offer if you want to surprise me and a group of friends with a private suite at your next show. Hey, just throwing it out there into the universe.

“I Am…World Tour” special starts with Beyonce’ taking a helicopter ride over NYC en route to a first rehearsal for her tour. Next, you see video clips of Beyonce’ “doing work” as she punctuates even the most minor details of her upcoming show. In the first few minutes, a rarely revealed side of Beyonce’ is exposed - very little make-up, her normally curly mane is bone straight, and she gets a bit assertive when talking to her crew about last minute preparations.

Immediately, I was excited to watch all 1 hour and 30 minutes of the show.

Now, I am a lover of many Beyonce’ trends. I never got down with the Predator braids from the days of “Say My Name…”

…But I have followed B’s instructions from “Get Me Bodied” and have done the Naomi Campbell walk across the club and have dropped down low and hit the floor.

Note: Supermodels rarely get their “eagle on” in public, so don’t attempt those two moves in the same night like I did.

And even though I dashed to the nearest American Apparel after the “Single Ladies” video premiered and bought a small arsenal of leotards, I always found a way to be critical of Beyonce.’

In one breath I would say, “Yeah, Beyonce, is a great performer, but you can tell she has to work hard at picking up choreography.” Ooooor I have even said, “Yeah, I like a lot of her songs, but she doesn’t really have any ballads. All her songs have a pronounced base line.”

She’s great, so why hate?

The “Naughty Girl” has always kept a barrier between herself and the media’s prying eye, so it’s easy to criticize when you can’t figure someone out.  Watching Beyonce’s behind-the-scenes action during “I Am” made me understand and appreciate her and her influence in a way that I never have before.

Okay…so maybe she has never emphatically said, “Yes, I am married to Jay Z.” But because she knows her fans want to feel connected to that part of her personal life, she brings Jay-Z on stage for guest duos, and throughout her performances, she throws up the infamous “Roc” diamond made popular by her hubby.

At one point, Beyonce’s music video factory was cranking out new videos seemingly every other week, and critics quipped that she was overexposed. Well, at her concerts, faithful fans recite each lyric, mimic every dance move, and cling to every note.  If you had millions of people depending on you to inspire and to entertain, you, too, would make sure your presence was always known – even if that meant there was a potential for over exposure.

Think back on all the one-note, Beyonce’ interviews you’ve seen in the past. You know the ones where she’s overly cautious and super secretive and avoids answering those “gotcha” type questions? “I Am,” if only a teeny bit, makes up for some of those cupcake interviews.

Spoiler Alert: She does NOT reveal the name or the projected birth date of her first born, but from watching, you do get the feeling that what you’re seeing is genuinely Beyonce.’

“I Am,” more than so many of Beyonce’s other ga-gillion accomplishments, is one of her best pieces of work. With each high-energy performance, you feel like you’re one barricade and security guard away from the real thing. Most importantly, the documentary really does show how deeply she respects her talents and how dedicated she is to cultivating her gifts.

With that kind of die -hard commitment and relentless work ethic, she will forever be 10 Louboutin steps ahead of the rest.

Be sure to check back for more of the latest music news from Erica Renee Davis right here on Positively Celebrity!

With the glitz, glam and drama that exists in the music world, sometimes we forget to embrace truly talented artists if their names aren’t breaking news in TMZ headlines.

And while I enjoy bobbing my head to my favorite manufactured sounding songs (and shamelessly following TMZ’s breaking news), I also like to remember that there are artists who stick to the core of what music is as an art form. From country to R&B, here are a few artists whose talents should be celebrated.

Luke Bryan

Admittedly, I am one of those people who will say, “Oh, I loooove country music. I have every Carrie Underwood and Shania Twain CD!” However, I am fully aware that real country music fans know what it’s like to sit on the back of a pick-up reciting lyrics to Travis Tritt songs while drinking beer out of mason jars and swatting mosquitoes.

So while my obsession with picturesque country couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw hardly qualifies as fan ship, it doesn’t stop me from knowing a good thing when I see one. And when it comes to country music, Georgia born and raised crooner, Luke Bryan, is that good thing.

He has written hit songs for other artists and has himself topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs charts. Charming tunes like “First Love Song” and “Do I” are some of his best songs.

But the recent buzz about Bryan stems from his four-city, Farm Tour which wrapped at the beginning of October. Performing songs from his debut and sophomore albums, I’ll Stay Me and Doin My Thing, Bryan and crew took the Farm Tour to towns and cities in Georgia in an effort to reconnect with his growing fan base.

According to lukebryan.com, 16,000 fans flocked to the farms to see his shows. Not bad for a guy with two first names!

Chrisette Michele

Lending her vocals to hooks on singles like Nas’s “Can’t Forget About You” and Jay-Z’s “Lost Ones” has given Chrisette Michele rap game credential, but if you don’t follow authentic R&B closely, then this soulful songstress might have flown under your radar.

Her voice makes you nostalgic for the Billie Holiday era, and even without knowing her personally, you can tell she is perfectly comfortable in her own conservative skin — even though many female artists her age are “sexing” up their images. Chrisette Michele’s song and video for ”If I Have My Way” perfectly embodies her essence – classic and jazzy.

Chrisette Michele’s second album, Epiphany, was released in 2009, and currently, she is working on a third studio release.

SOJA

Try counting the number of reggae albums in my music collection, and you’ll be forever stuck at ZERO. While it might be a bit shameful that I have never owned an entire reggae album, I figured that getting my healthy dose of Bob Marley on April 20 every year was enough to get me through the next 364 days.

That was until one of my good girlfriends introduced me to SOJA, a group of dread heads from Virginia making some pretty awesome reggae. From “Rest of My Life” to “I Don’t Wanna Wait,” these guys work hard to create great sounding music and put even more thought into writing meaningful lyrics.

Since becoming a group in 1997, SOJA, which is an acronym for Soldiers of Jah Army, has a discography six records long. And before they begin the Brazilian leg of their tour, SOJA will play shows in North Carolina, Virginia, and in Maryland.

Charice

I became completely enamored by and impressed with the maturity, range, and ability of Charice’s voice when she performed on Oprah a few years ago. Not only is her rags-to-riches story a heartwarming one, but sincerity oozes out of  every word she speaks and passion from every note she sings.

I mean, with legendary music producer, David Foster, backing your success and with Oprah and Celine Dion co-signing, the possibilities are endless!

Charice recently became a series regular on hit show, Glee, and her self-titled album topped charts internationally, so this singing chick will soon be a household name. But for now, let’s bask in the glory of her angelic voice and marvel at her innocence — and cross our fingers she doesn’t get all Miley Cyrus on us!

Who are some of your favorite artists whose music is under appreciated?

Comment below, and be sure to check back for more of the latest music news from Erica Renee Davis right here at Positively Celebrity.

Sporting her mohawk may only leave her with half a head of hair, but for Willow Smith, that’s just enough to “whip.”

The pint-sized priss debuted her first single, “Whip My Hair,” this week, and with major radio stations already adding this cute kiddie jam to their rotations, love it or hate it, you WILL hear it.

Not sure how well-versed a nine year old is in the art of “swagg,” but “Whip My Hair’s” infectious beat and catchy hook are hot enough to compete with hits from pop stars twice and three times Miss Willow’s age.  Her talent and style alone create a pretty solid foundation for this budding little rocker, and an added bonus is that, Hollywood ”IT” couple, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, are her parents.

And Jay-Z, one half of another Hollywood power duo, signed Willow to his Roc Nation label.

Three words: Set.For.Life

As we speak, I am sitting in front of the mirror, flat ironing my tresses so my hair will whip perfectly when I’m out on the town tonight.

I’m kinda feeling that Willow has a winner with this track.  Do you think ”Whip My Hair” will be a success?

The only thing better than traveling to the moon is having the coveted moon man statue on your mantle piece.  Yes! MTV has announced the nominees for this year’s best music videos. Check below to see who I think will be taking home the hardware this year!

Best Collaboration

In the best collabo category, we have the heavy weights of hip hop and of pop.  Jay- Z and Alicia Keys with “Empire State of Mind”:

Beyonce and Gaga in “Video Phone”:

and Gaga featuring Beyonce in “Telephone”:

All chart toppers that kept us all rapping, singing, and dancing.  Can the lesser known  B.o.B. with “Airplanes” and 3OH!3 featuring Ke$ha with “My First Kiss” hold their own against the stars?

For the past several months, it seems that everyone has been humming “I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now.” And 3OH!3’s “My First Kiss” is upbeat , energetic, and refreshing.  I’m all about the triumph of the underdog for this category.

My vote: “My First Kiss” by 3OH!3

Best Dance Video

Cascada, Enrique, Usher, Gaga, and David Guetta are battling it out for best dance video of the year.  Remember when dance videos actually had choreography? Think Janet’s “Rhythm Nation” or even Paula Abdul’s “Cold Hearted Snake.” Yeah. Not so much anymore.

Cascada’s “Evacuate the Dance Floor” is a great song, but the video hardly qualifies as a dance video.

After watching all the hot, bangin’ bodies in David Guetta’s “Sexy Chick”, I wanted to diet not dance.

The girls in the video are smoking hot, but again, not so much dancing going on there. Maybe I missed the memo, but can we mandate that a video in this category at least have an eight count of choreography?  Well, I have no choice but to credit the creative one for allowing us a glimpse into her monster world.

My vote: “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga

Best Female Video

Well, hi there, Beyonce and Gaga. These two rock stars show up again in this category with “Video Phone” and “Bad Romance,” respectively.  How do Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok,” Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and Taylor Swift’s “Fifteen”  measure against these divas?

“California Gurls”, with its cutesy, Candy Land theme, could be a contender:

And because “Tik Tok” was such a hit, Ke$ha might be waking up feeling like she has a moon man next to her.

And, no, it’s not the CMAs, but I am diggin’ Taylor Swift’s “Fifteen”:

The song is great, and the video feels like a whimsical fairy tale. The lyrics and visuals make you a bit nostalgic about your own adolescent days, and if a music video has the power to make you think and not just watch, then it gets my vote.

My vote: “Fifteen” by Taylor Swift

Video of the Year

Okay, so Lady Gaga is up against herself with both “Bad Romance” and “Telephone” for Video of the Year.  Because little monsters all over the globe will be voting ‘round the clock to support Gaga, she is bound to win this category.

However, 30 Seconds To Mars really impressed me with their “Kings and Queens” video:

If you live in LA, you probably spent the first couple times watching it and saying, “hey, I recognize that place!” And then you start wondering, “how in the WORLD did they film this video throughout the streets of LA with NO traffic!?!” I mean, really. When is there ever NOT traffic in LA? There’s literally not a stray car seen in the video. Accomplishing that feat alone warrants 30 Seconds To Mars a moon man.

My vote: “Kings and Queens” by 30 Seconds To Mars

For a full list of this year’s nominees, visit mtv.com. Be sure to watch the MTV VMAs on September 12 at 9/8 c, and find out if my predictions were correct!

Be sure to check out more great posts from Music Editor Erica Renee Davis right here at Positively Celebrity!

Immediately diving into raw flows about pistols and kilos, the “I’m Not a Star” intro is Ross’s facetious proclamation against what we know is the obvious. With first week projected sales of 180,000, Rick Ross plans to dominate this summer’s rap game with his latest release, Teflon Don.

“M.C. Hammer” is one of the album’s better tracks where Ross boasts about having Porsches, mansions, and money. In “B.M.F.,” Ross sucks you in with the contagious first line, “I think I’m Big Meech. Larry Hoover.”  I’m not positive who Big Meech and Larry Hoover are, but I am sure that line will be coming to a Facebook status near you.

Jay-Z, Diddy, and T.I. are a few hip hop heavyweights guest appearing on The Boss’s 4th album. And in true Kanye fashion, Mr. West does on  ”Live Fast, Die Young” what he so infamously does best- he steals the show with the tightest verse on the song.

With beats not nearly as bold as hits from Port of Miami, Trilla, or Deeper Than Rap, Ross’s rhymes, set over more melodious tempos, create the tone for a very mellow listening experience.

How likely is it, though, that Teflon Don can dethrone Eminem’s Recovery?

On 2009’s Relapse, Em failed to meet fans’, critics’, and even his own expectations. In ”Talkin 2 Myself,” Mr. Mathers acknowledges falling short of his rapping potential declaring “the last two albums didn’t count…I feel like I let ‘em down.”  Slim Shady, you left no one disappointed with Recovery.

From the self-deprecating “W.T.P.” to the unlikely but lively duet with Pink on “Won’t Back Down,” if it wasn’t for censorship, every song could be a radio hit.  You cheer for Eminem on “Cinderella Man” where he raps about maximizing second chances. You smile when you see the most gangster of them all singing Rihanna’s hook on “Love The Way You Lie.”  You pat yourself on the back for buying Recovery when Em ”peaces” out at the end of the ”Untitled” track.

Eminem proves that he’s more quick-witted than ever.  So clever is his flow, you find yourself rewinding tracks because you can’t believe he said whatever you thought you just heard.  Believe it.  His flow is really that sick.

Which album – Teflon Don or Recovery – comes out on top in this battle?

The undisputed winner is Recovery.

A die hard, buy-the-album-at-midnight, Rick Ross fan since 2006, it pains me to say that Ross left the boss at home on his latest effort.  You quickly become bored of the monotonous money, jewelry, women lyrics, and because each track sounds like the one before (and after), non-existent is a standout song from Teflon Don.  Recovery, in contrast, keeps you guessing, is colorful, and is the kind of album you can ride out to.

Eminem keeps his crown for now. Rick Ross, take notes from Slim Shady, recover your skills, and try again next summer.

Rich, famous, and charitable… That’s the trend that some celebrities are setting this year. Performing artists and actors alike are joining forces to use their celebrity statuses for a good cause.

According to the Associated Press, Alicia Keys has recently recruited ‘Empire State of Mind’ collaborator Jay-Z and music artist Sade to perform this year at her charity’s annual Black Ball.

The event will take place September 30^th at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom and will benefit the “Keep a Child Alive” AIDS organization. This event, which Keys co-founded, has helped raise over $10 million since 2004 for children and families in Africa and India.

It seems the idea of mixing ‘red carpet’ with ‘red cross’ is catching on.

The Hollywood premiere for the movie “Inception,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, on Tuesday July 13^th had a similar purpose of raising awareness.

The event took place at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, and according to Yahoo! News all the proceeds from the premiere ticket sales will go to Alliance for Climate Protection. Chairman of the organization, Al Gore, spoke at the sold-out event and told audience members, “Raising awareness of the climate crisis is our duty.”

Even if you weren’t lucky enough to snag an invite to one of these star-studded charity events, you can still contribute to the causes! For more information visit:

www.keepachildalive.org

www.allianceforclimateprotection.org

Want to hang out with the stars? Not a problem. You only need the right look, the right location and mostly – wads of cash. But other than that you’re in.

While we can’t help you out with your wardrobe or cash flow we can tell you where you’ll be likely to get a peek at some of your favorite celebs.

New York’s MEGU, which means “blessings” in Japanese, is  found at 62 Thomas Street, where you’ll find celebs like Jay Z, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Will Smith, Josh Harnett, and Leonardo DiCaprio…likely enjoying Megu’s specialty Sake drinks which range from $60 to $500 per glass.

All work and no play makes for one dull life. And celebs are anything but dull. That’s why you’ll want to check out CAMPBELL APARTMENT at 89 East 42nd Street. It’s a really hot spot in New York City, and rumor has it the hit show Gossip Girl was filmed on location here…and where some say its steamy sexy love scene at the bar was quite…uh…real. But with mega-stars like George Clooney, Liam Neeson, and Heidi Klum hanging out here, you might be able to get over that. Still, I’d be careful where you eat at the bar.

If you’re not in the know, here’s the scoop. Rapper Eminem has had an ongoing feud with Mariah Carey for denying that the two ever had a relationship. Mariah Carey fired back at Em with a single and video called ‘Obsessed’ which depicts a stalker of the singer – hinted to be Eminem.

So in a new single released by Eminem, entitled ‘Warning,’ Eminem attempts to set things straight. He threatens to reveal nude pictures and phone messages Mariah allegedly sent to him during their brief relationship. He also disses Mariah’s new husband, Nick Cannon, for having labeled his career as one that thrives on hate.

No arguments here. Eminem is clearly an artist with a lot of anger, anger that’s curiously directed only at Mickey Mouse celebrities. Ever hear Eminem diss DMX or Jay Z?

Didn’t think so. I guess in Eminem’s world everyone should care that he had a sexual encounter with Mariah and that she chose to lie about it. Aren’t there worse things to get riled up about, Em? Clearly the two artists have something in common as far as their careers lacking relevance.

I know, ouch.