Posts Tagged ‘Lil’ Wayne’

A songstress gets motivated, Koreans make their mark, and hip-hop’s most famous last name gets more famous.

Here’s your Summer Hot List 2011: Part Two!

Summer of Kell

If Kelly Rowland’s New Year’s resolution was to stop playing second fiddle to Beyonce,’ then I’m pleased to announced she’s successfully completed her mission.

The track, her vocals, the lyrics, and the video’s choreography are reminiscent of the hotness that was Ciara’s “Promise” back in 2006. Kelly’s hit, “Motivation,” featuring Lil Wayne is HANDS DOWN 2011’s sexiest summer single.

Unleashing her super sultry inner seductress with “Motivation,” it’s the former DC3er’s biggest solo hit.  Nothing says Here I Am like dancing your way to #1 in a trench coat and combat boots. Positively Sizzling!

Korean Pop

Billboard announced the launch of K-Pop Hot 100, a chart ranking Korea’s most popular music. So if you’ve been procrastinating on signing up for those Korean language classes, I suggest you put a rush order on your Rosetta Stone.

Since being honest is the summer’s coolest trend, I must admit that it’s only been recently that I’ve gotten acquainted with Korean pop. At best, I’ve marveled at the colorful music videos that often accompany K-pop songs but usually always muted.

Assuming you’re in the same boat as I am, learning to appreciate K-pop and its eclectic vibrance will be equally adventurous and advantageous for us all. Billboard earns Summer Hot List honors for bringing continued cultural awareness to the music industry.

Check out Sistar, the group sitting atop K-Pop Hot 100 chart!

Summertime Simmons

His dad’s group, Run-DMC, ruled the 80s, his socialite sisters dominate the fashion scene, and he – well, he’s exploding onto the music scene securing his relevance in the Simmons dynasty.

Bieber Fever is so first-part-of-this-year. Tweens and teens have a new summer love, and it’s Diggy Simmons.

You probably remember watching him as a kid on “Run’s House” or from this AT&T commercial:

Not long ago, Diggy was Vanessa and Angela’s bratty little brother, but now, the 16 year old is is maturing into a megastar.

His kid-friendly raps are upbeat and fun, and Diggy’s expanding his brand beyond music and is delving into shoe and fashion designing. Watch the video for his latest single, “Copy, Paste.” You’ll agree that Diggy Simmons is one of this summer’s hottest teen heartthrobs!

Would love to know who made it onto your 2011 Summer Hot List! Comment below, and be sure to check back often to Positively Celebrity for all the latest music news and reviews from Erica Renee Davis!

Now that we’ve all come down from our Twitter high, let’s recap last night’s VMAs using more than 140 characters!

Not to specify names (ahem, my very own sister), but there are some hardcore anti-Lady Gaga people among us. Beware because the anti-Gaga faction has as much steam behind it as do her little Monsters. And after her VMA performance last night, the chasm has officially widened.

Whether you consider Gaga’s VMA, male alter-ego submersion to be ridiculous or genius, it was certainly engaging.

Jay-Z and Kanye West’s performance of single, “Otis,” was about as uneventful and uninteresting as its video. C-. But since I love Otis Redding, used to be slightly obsessed with Jay, and respect Kanye’s music, I’ll grade it a (reluctant) B. However, Jay-Z is X months away from being a new daddy and Beyonce’ is his baby’s mama, so okaaaay…I give it an A+.

Nicki Minaj has assumed lots of roles lately; Hip Hop’s newest Princess, YMCMB Sweetheart, and the music biz’s very own life-sized cartoon character. She’s got a shiny new Moon Man to decorate her colorful world since “Super Bass” snagged the award for Best Hip Hop Video.

I tip my pink-colored wig to Katy Perry and Kanye for winning Best Collaboration for “E.T.” This confirmed that I’m not the only one who gets upset when the radio plays the original version instead of the remix. Attention Radio Stations: It’s a remix for a reason. Play it.

Whenever I start making enough money to pay someone to sing my emotions to me, Adele is so hired. She brought the house down with nothing but a microphone, a piano accompaniment, and years of raw emotion. Simply dynamic.

Full of theatrics and several minutes of aerial acrobatics, Chris Brown’s set was one of the night’s most superb performances. But did anyone else find it curious that TLC’s “Scrubs” was the song the house band performed immediately after C Breezy performed?

By the way, Jessie J and her ensemble were a positively fantastic house band! Whenever I can afford to pay a live cover band to sing the soundtrack of my life, I’m ringing Jessie J, and I will demand she bring that white chair.

I will not apologize for having a crush on Russell Brand. He was very matter-of-fact but charming and compassionate when introducing Amy Winehouse’s tribute. “Valerie” is one of my fave Amy Winehouse songs, so kudos to Bruno Mars for his excellent rendition.

The competitors didn’t stand a chance against Katy Perry’s “Firework” in the Music Video of the Year category. And using YouTube view counts as my parameter, Perry won fair and square (Bruno Mars’ YouTube views of “Grenade” were a mere 202 million, about 27 million short of Perry’s).

Leave it to MTV to ice the cake with a MONSTER of a closer by Lil Wayne. His performance, complete with animal print skinny jeans and skater kid shoes, makes it clear that “Toonchies” is a rock star trapped in a rapper’s body. Although, according to Wayne, I’m not supposed to call him Toonchies. Wonder what happens since I did.

A lot of cool moments from this year’s VMAs. What were some of your faves? Comment below and be sure to check back often for more of the latest music news and reviews from Erica Renee Davis right here on Positively Celebrity!

It’s that time of year again!  MTV’s Video Music Awards, or VMAs, air Sunday night.  Previous hosts include Russel Brand, Chelsea Handler, Chris Rock and Ben Stiller, just to name a few.  This year, they’re being hosted by…no one?

My hunch is, they asked a few people, and it didn’t work out.  In a recent interview with Billboard, MTV Exec Amy Doyle said,  “It’s going down to the wire. Hosting is such a unique element…We’re really challenging ourselves to find the right person so that the show feels complete.”  Mmmm hmmmm.  No big deal, they’re having so many performers, who has time for a host?!

So far, MTV has announced the best of the best, and here there are:  Beyonce, Pitbull, Adele, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne and Young The Giant!

Not to mention, they’re handing out a few Moonmen here and there.  Personally, I’m hoping Adele wins a few of the SEVEN nominations she’s up for (get ‘em girl!), and I’m loving Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” for Best New Artist!  Don’t forget to get your vote in – head to MTV’s site here to cast your vote!

MTV has also announced there will be a special tribute to Amy Winehouse, on top of an already announced tribute to Britney Spears, who will be in attendance.  Countless other celebs will be in the house as presenters…can you handle it?!?

So who are you looking forward to seeing perform on the VMAs?  Who do you think will give us a legendary, memorable performance?  Leave us a comment right here on Positively Celebrity and let us know!

Spotify, the London based music streaming service, has officially made the move across the pond to the United States! Boasting free music available legally to all users, Spotify provides a plethora of available tracks and albums, all via licensing agreements with multiple record labels.

Started in 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden, Spotify has grown to a global force, with an estimated company worth of $1 billion. Initially Spotify accounts followed the Rhapsody model of music sharing, offering music for those who signed up and paid a monthly fee; now, however, Spotify offers multiple levels of membership including free and premium accounts.

Spotify allows you to not only listen to over 15 million tracks of music on your computer, but also allows you to create playlists and share them with friends, as well as link your Facebook account so that you can share your music tastes via the social networking website. A radio option, akin to Pandora (another great internet based music application), is also available to Spotify users, and is excellent in pairing artists to help listeners discover new bands within a particular genre.

Streaming to your favorite smartphone is another great feature that Spotify currently is offering for a multitude of devices, including the Apple iPhone and iPod, as well as the Android, and allows users to keep their stored music to a minimum, freeing up valuable memory.

With an estimated 10,000 tracks of music being added to their library daily, Spotify is definitely a must have for any music lover! Whether in your home or travelling the world, the application provides amazing content for both free and premium members.

From David Guetta to Madonna to Lil’ Wayne to Texas independent rock gods Zlam Dunk, Spotify has something for everyone! To sign up for Spotify in the United States click here for invitations from Sprite (http://www.spotify.com/us/sprite/) and Coca-Cola (http://www.spotify.com/us/coca-cola/).

Positively Celebrity absolutely loves the service, and have been spreading the word to our friends and family. Please feel free to share this article and do the same!

And be sure to check back for more of the latest celebrity news and features from Richard Munassi right here at Positively Celebrity!

Here’s a quick look at a few of my recent favorite videos!

“Radio Message”

There’s something awesomely nostalgic about hearing R. Kelly’s voice ring out over one of his signature ballads.

Whether you own a dusty 12 Play cassette tape or have been reluctantly amused by the Trapped In The Closet saga, R. Kelly has probably been a part of your life.

His newest video for “Radio Message” meets the R. Kelly, gold standard for love songs.

“Radio Message” is from R. Kel’s latest release, Love Letter.  Now that I’m obsessed with Message, I know my fixation with the album is only a “repeat” button away.

“I’m Into You”

Jennifer Lopez is officially “undecided” on whether or not she’s returning to the American Idol judging panel.

If the former Fly Girl is too busy to judge the ten millionth season of AI, it’s only because she’s somewhere working on getting sexier and prettier…which leads me to my 2nd favorite video:

“I’m Into You” featuring Lil Wayne.

Her hits’ contagious beats, I’m convinced, are responsible for most of her musical success. In other words, I never pay attention to J.Lo’s lyrics.  But even if you do pride yourself in knowing Ms. Lopez’s songs, watching this latest vid of hers makes it virtually impossible to hear anything she’s singing.

She’s too hot. Her make-up, hair, and wardrobe are smokin.’ The male model’s body … well, let’s just say he hasn’t missed a workout in a while.

And as much as I love Lil’ Wayne, I am as grateful for his crafty rap verses as I am that he doesn’t guest appear in the video.

“That’s Not What I Heard”

Satisfying your appetite for propaganda-filled news is as easy as reading your local paper or tuning into “Fux News,” according to Ninja Gun’s video for “That’s Not What I Heard.”

Ridiculing how news media outlets persuade viewers to believe everything they broadcast, I appreciate the punk rock group’s music video-turned-political satire.

After all, it’s not every day that a bunch of cartoon bunnies challenges us to reconsider the trustworthiness of our conventional news sources.

What videos are your current faves? Comment below, and be sure to check back for more of the latest music news and reviews from Erica Renee Davis right here on Positively Celebrity!

Rappers rule the world these days! See who made my Hip Hop Hot List this week!

The undisputed champion of my Hip Hop Hot List is Travis Barker with his new album, “Give The Drummer Some.” Popularly known as your “favorite rapper’s favorite drummer,” don’t be shocked that the Blink-182 musician’s first solo effort has hip hop oozing out of every track. Rick Ross, Luda, and Twista are a few rappers making appearances on Barker’s hard-hitting, rhyme mixed with rock, debut.

Snoop Dogg adds his West Coast flare to “Knockin,” and “If U Want To” boasts Pharrell’s signature sound in a collaboration featuring Lupe Fiasco. Reminding me just a little bit of Masta Ace’s “Born to Roll,” “Jump Down,” featuring the Cool Kids, is my fave song on the album.

March has been a busy month for Chris Brown. An explicit sext pic of the singer surfaced earlier this month, he tells Page Six Magazine he’s not apologizing for the Rihanna incident anymore, and his song, “Look At Me Now,” is climbing the charts. The song features Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne, and its recently released video is just as hot as the track itself. C Breezey is back in the building. Comeback, anyone?

Who knew pop starlet Katy Perry had some hip hop running through her veins? Now that Mrs. Russell Brand has teamed up with Kanye West for the remix of “E.T.,” the California Gurl officially has earned her street cred.

“Real Gs move in silence like lasagna” is the most positively awesome lyric of the year so far, and no one other than hit maker, Lil Wayne, could design a line so clever. Actually, Wayne’s latest single, “6 Foot 7 Foot,” is full of witty verses, and its chart performance (it peaked at #9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #2 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs) is proof that even a stint in prison can’t stifle Lil Wayne’s success.

Hip Hop heads have been anticipating Dr. Dre’s Detox for years. And now that Dre has dropped the album’s 2nd single, “I Need a Doctor,” fans are one step closer to the April 20th release.

Skylar Grey’s hook is haunting, Eminem’s verses are provocative, and Dre’s last verse is perfection.  Love the video and the nostalgic flashback photos of Dre’s life that are seen throughout.  It still gets my Hip Hop Hot List vote…even if the track is basically a love song between Em and Dre!

Who’s on the top of your Hip Hop Hot List!?! Comment below, and be sure to check back often for more music news from Erica Renee Davis right here at Positively Celebrity!

The last two years have been a wild ride for New Orleans rapper Lil’ Wayne.

The eccentric musical genius, born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr, closed out his wildly successful “I Am Music” tour, released a rock album entitled “Rebirth,” was featured on 60 minutes, found himself being name dropped in speeches by President Barack Obama, served an 8-month prison sentence on weapons charges and recently collaborated with fellow rap superstar Eminem to perform music duties on Saturday Night Live.

This holiday season, the musical savant took time away from his always hectic schedule to give a special gift to the mother of one of his fans: the gift of mobility.

While being held in Rikers Island on weapons charges from 2007, Lil’ Wayne sought a way to stay connected with his fans. WeezyThanxYou.com was born, a blog that kept fans updated on the rapper’s thoughts during his incarceration.

The website also gave fans an opportunity to send letters to the Grammy award winning star, sending him well wishes and support, and the rapper quickly found himself awed by his fans.

“I laughed with some of you, reasoned with some of you, and even cried with some of you,” he wrote. “I never imagined how much impact my words and life can have.”

One particular fan, Ronda Austin, stood out amongst the many. Every week during his 8-month stint (which was cut down from a year due to good behavior) a letter came from Ronda letting Lil’ Wayne know that he had the support and well wishes from all of his fans, and that his music changed her life.

The rapper was so overwhelmed that upon his release he surprised Ms. Austin with a phone call to thank her. During the phone call, he also surprised Ronda by telling her he had a gift for her mother.

“I couldn’t believe it. I never asked for nothing,” Ronda told the NY Daily News. “I just told him all kinds of different things about me. I never even said I needed help.”

Evelyn Austin, Ronda’s mother, is a 64-year-old disabled former nurse who has been confined to a wheelchair for over 15 years. Two years ago while leaving church, Mrs. Austin fell and her wheelchair was damaged. Lacking the financial resources for another chair, Evelyn found herself bed-bound for nearly two years.

Ronda shared her story with Lil’ Wayne in her letters to the rapper, and they did not fall on deaf ears; he decided that the best way to thank his fan would be a special gift for her mother: an $11,000 motorized wheelchair that would allow her the freedom to finally leave the confines of her home.

Though Lil’ Wayne would not comment on his gift to the Austin family, Nina Packer, who heads Lil’ Wayne’s charitable foundation, stated, “It was something that he was compelled to do. He wanted to buy Mrs. Austin the Maybach of wheelchairs.”

Mrs. Austin herself had some kind words for the rapper. “I pray for him every night thanking him for this chair. I love every bit of it. It changed my life.”

It’s clear to all of us here at Positively Celebrity that Lil’ Wayne is doing his best to follow through on his promise that was made upon his release from Rikers Island: “I will be the same Martian I was when I left, just better,” the rapper posted.

We wish him the best of luck on his future projects, and wish him strength on his journey to stay clean and on the straight and narrow!

Girl groups used to be the “in” thing. Remember?   The time when everyone sang along to 3LW songs…

…or fought with friends about who got to be which Spice Girl?

During the early and mid parts of last decade, estrogen fueled female singing groups were mainstays on pop charts.  There were the “Independent Women” of Destiny’s Child of whom we became completely obsessed…

…and there were the girls of Dream – a quickly forgotten group whose 15 minutes was fun while it lasted!

And despite waning popularity, the Pussycat Dolls keep showing up on  radio stations and in party club mixes with hits like “Don’t Cha” and “Buttons.”

And I must admit, after Nicole Scherzinger (allegedly) left the Dolls, I thought we were finished with girl groups for at least 10 years.  Baby boomers probably felt similarly after the Supremes had their run.

Note: My mom still does the same dance seen at 17 seconds at weddings and at social functions.

But lately, there has been a resurgence of girl groups on the music scene giving me suspicions that the female pop group is attempting to sneak back into our lives.

Beach Girl5

Before seeing them on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, I had never heard of Beach Girl5 (also known as BG5), so kudos to their PR team for scoring the girls face time on one of E!’s most watched shows.

In this particular episode, Kris was facing the highly dramatized decision of whether or not she should manage the new group especially considering the demanding amount of time required by her current “talent”  roster.  But in true reality tv fashion, Kris was moved to tears after seeing the group perform their single, “Scratch,” at a talent showcase and decided (at least for the sake of the episode) to add the girls to her client list.

Richgirl

It was up-tempo. It was sassy.  And it became one of my favorite iPod, push it to the limit, workout songs last year. It  was “He Ain’t Wit Me Now” by Richgirl.

How shocked are you that there is a little-known group out there complete with JLo and Kelly Rowland look-a-likes!?!  These Richgirls recently released another single, “Swagga Right,” featuring Fabolous and Rick Ross. While they pretty much “swagga jack” Ciara’s “Promise” video concept, it’s still a sexy little pre-game song you jam to while getting dressed for girls’ night!

Electrik Red

Though they’re signed to Def Jam, have super producer, The-Dream, on their team, and have collaborated with hit makers like Lil’ Wayne, you still might not know the hotties that make up Electrik Red. Another group seeking platinum status stardom, Electrik Red’s debut album, “How to Be a Lady: Volume 1,” had dismal sales, but the track, “So Good,” featuring Weezy is an iTunes must have!

Seemingly, the formula is simple: group a handful of beautiful girls together, hire top-notch stylists, the best choreographers and song writers, and just like that, you’ve got yourself a potentially successful, finished product! But one common thread that I recognize as girl groups attempt to make a comeback is this – most of the girls seem to be professional dancers who just happen to carry a tune.

Groups like En Vogue…

and SWV…

commanded attention and enjoyed longevity…because of their fabulous voices and because they were committed to their careers for the long haul –and not for the trendiness of having a record deal.

By now, you should know I don’t discriminate and that I appreciate a hot track whether it’s belted by Beyonce or manufactured by a studio sound machine.  So many of today’s girl groups are doing too much of the latter, and then they have more sex appeal than they have singing skills.

So I am convinced that this, too, is just a trend, and the recent spike in the number of  girl groups will soon fade away.

What do you think? Comment below at positivelycelebrity.com, and be sure to check back for more of my music blogs.