Let me upgrade you. Beyonce has done just that with "The Mrs. Carter Show," which is currently underway in Europe.
Currently playing at London's O2, "The Mrs. Carter Show" has new costumes, new staging, lighting and of course, music from Beyonce's fifth studio album.
Teasing fans via video released Tuesday, Beyonce and her dancers share some of the changes that have taken place and some fun behind the scenes moments.
The White House will be filled with sounds of R&B, Soul and maybe a little Gospel this Thursday.
According to Billboard, First Lady Michelle Obama has tapped an amazing line up of guests to perform during "Women of Soul."
Set to take place this Thursday, March 6, "Women of Soul" will feature performances from Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Melissa Etheridge, Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, Ariana Grande and "The Voice" winner Tessanne Chin.
The event, "Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House," will be streamed live Thursday night on the White House website and will air April 7 on PBS.
Alicia Keys' forthcoming sixth studio album will be groundbreaking. That is according to Pharrell Williams, who says the music that has been recorded will "supersede anything that's out (now)."
"Alicia’s album is crazy. Harlem is gonna be real proud. New York is gonna be real proud. It supersedes anything that’s out," the "Happy" singer and producer told Angie Martinez during a recent interview at Hot 97.
According to Pharrell, Keys, a fellow Grammy winner, is on a completely different level.
"There’s just a whole other level of what she’s doing and I was very honored to have her on my album, and we actually worked on some records for her album while she was doing that for me. New York, be very proud because she’s done something next level," said Pharrell.
It's unclear when Keys' new album will be released or when we might hear the first single.
Her last album, "Girl On Fire," was released in 2012. It produced the hit title track and the Maxwell assisted hit "Fire We Make."
Ashanti will create some awareness around her newly released album, Braveheart, by singing the National Anthem at the upcoming Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, Jr. bout, a rematch between the two world class fighters.
“I’m such a huge fan of Manny Pacquiao! I have family in the boxing business – Howard Davis, Jr. and Dyah Davis,” said Ashanti. “When I found out we were sitting next to each other courtside at the Knicks game, I said to my Dad, ‘We should take a picture!’ I told Manny I was a big fan and was so excited when he asked me to sing the National Anthem at his upcoming fight and I can’t wait. I actually love boxing! Manny’s such a champion and I can’t wait to cheer him on!”
“Ashanti and I first met on February 5 in New York when we found ourselves sitting next to each other courtside at a Knicks game,” said Pacquiao. “I told her I was a big fan and asked her if she would sing the U.S. National Anthem at my fight against Timothy Bradley. She quickly checked her schedule and then said she could and she would. The Knicks may have lost that night but I felt like the biggest winner in the world when I walked out of Madison Square Garden.”
The welterweight title fight will broadcast live Saturday, April 12, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.
In related news, Ashanti released her much-delayed album Braveheart today via her label Written Entertainment. The set is led by the singles "Never Should Have," "I Got It," featuring Rick Ross, and "First Real Love," featuring Beenie Man.
They may have collaborated on the remix to his single "I Luv This Sh*t," but all is not well in the male R&B universe between rising star August Alsina and mainstay Trey Songz.
In an interview with Rap Up TV, August dished on how the collab came about, and kept it real about where he stands with both Chris Brown and Trey Songz after the hot remix. "We ain’t on the same page. He did some other sh*t and we just don’t rock," he said of his and Songz’s relationship.
When explaining the reason behind their falling out, August says it was because of Trey’s ego. "We were supposed to have a show together and it just went left ’cause I can’t deal with ni**as’ egos and attitudes ’cause I’m just a real ni**a comin’ through and I’m rockin’."
He continued, "Once ni**as go to talkin’ a certain type of way, that shit ain’t gon’ fly with me and that’s all that was and I just had to not do the show ’cause I can’t stand on side of a ni**a if I really got something that I feel in my heart. It just ain’t gon’ work, so I just had to dip and we didn’t do it, but it is what it is."
Sounds like August is saying that Trey was talking foul and snubbed August out of a show. However, there’s two sides to every story, and we haven’t heard Trey’s…
As far as Chris Brown, August says the two are cool insisting, "As far as Chris, that['s] my ni**a. That’s love. I spoke to him a while ago, he goin' through what he goin' through, his situation, and I just always try to uplift him with positivity and love."
What do you think Roomies, is Trey leary of the new kid in the game, August?
For four nights, February 20-23, legendary choreographer Maurice Hines paid homage to Black History Month by premiering a jazz musical that celebrated the greats: Duke Ellington, Count Baise, Mario Bauza, Lucky Millinder, Fletcher Henderson, Bessie Smith, Betty Carter, Big Maybelle, Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, and the Apollo's chorus line, The Gorgeous Hot Steppers.
The 90-minute production recognizes the richness in jazz history during the mid 1930's to the early 1950's. The play rediscovered the glitz and glamour and magic during this era by taking it center-stage at music's biggest landmark: The Apollo Theater. These were the perfect dates to take a train ride to Harlem to 125th Street.
The theater was nicely decorated as a night-club venue with performers showing off their spectacular dance routines, ravishing costumes, a swingin' 16-piece big band, and Maurice Hines' dynamic solo tap-dance performance.
Hines, a dazzling 70- year-old, still showed his style, creativity, originality, and humor on stage. It was an extra boost for everyone to remain fully alert on what was to come on stage. The Apollo Theater was a valuable tool for Hines to recapture fondest memories of living in New York City and dancing with his younger brother, the late Gregory Hines.
"Gregory and I were raised right here in Harlem on 150th and Amsterdam; this is like coming home, being here at the Apollo," said Maurice.
The Harlem play was a history lesson for audience members, old and young because we must honor our early jazz musical roots. It is just necessary in order to keep R&B or any other element of music alive. Music has evolved tremendously since the 1950's when swing groups were disbanding; however, another genre stepped on the scene: Rhythm and Blues.
Jazz saxophonist, vocalist, and King of the Juke Box, Louis Jordan is known for being an innovator for R&B music. His multi-faceted talent and charismatic persona are still recognized today in the music world. He was the first African American recording artist that crossed over and produced the "wild and jumpy" side of jazz and blues. Jordan's contributions in music elevated R&B music to much greater heights.
Even with the latest trends and transitions in R&B, it is still considered to be the "Soul of American Culture," thanks to Jordan's previous party lyrics and up-tempo music. As music lovers, we should take the time to recognize jazz as an important milestone in music. In today's society, jazz has an active range of styles because every artist, whether of R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, or Rock, have incorporated pieces of jazz in their work. Maurice Hines' message correlates with trombonist J.J Johnson’s statement about jazz when he says, "Jazz is restless. It won't stay put and it never will."
One of the best ways to find success in whatever it is that you're doing is knowing your weakness and either being able to fix it or find a way to cancel it out. For superstar Rihanna, the latter has been the driving force in her illustrious and historical music career.
In a new interview with U.S. Vogue magazine, which she also covers (March 2014 issue), the Bajan beauty opened up about the character of her voice, insisting she had to find other ways to express herself to stand out in the crowd.
“It's not all down to my voice. There's people with way more talent than I when it comes to singing. Bigger voices,” she tells the mag. “But people want to know who you are. Fashion is a clear indication, a way to express your attitude, your mood...”
Now, we all know Rihanna’s voice isn’t competitive with a Beyoncé, Toni Braxton or the late Whitney Houston, but what we do know is that she knows how to make/pick great music. And for Rihanna, the music has always been her first love.
She tells Vogue, “I did sing a lot as a child. A lot. I practiced hard to maneuver my voice. I love singing. I love it, and it doesn't feel like a chore. It's an expression.
The fame and notoriety were just an added bonus. She adds, “I never wanted to be famous. I just wanted my music to be heard all over the world. Then it happened and the fame came with it. I can't ever imagine feeling used to it.”
As far as using fashion as a platform for her success, Rihanna adds, “I don't go out of my way to be a rebel or to have that perception, but a lot of the decisions I make, a lot of the direction I want to move, is against the grain, or against society's tight lane, and I'm aware of that sometimes. It might not be fitting with the norm, but that's Ok for me.”
With almost a decade in music, Rihanna, who signed with Def Jam when she was 17 years old, is definitely doing something right! Check her resume!
If your mother is Mariah Carey, you can almost guarantee a feature on an album at some point in your life. For the superstar's three-year-old daughter Monroe, that time has come early: Carey confirmed one of "dem babies" will be having a small part on her upcoming May 6th album.
She told People Magazine in a recent interview, "It’s a song that I wrote with Bryan-Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri. There’s a part that Jermaine says on the song that [the kids] loved, and Monroe started to say it,” Carey told PEOPLE at the Empire State Building’s Love Above All lighting ceremony in New York City last Thursday. "I kept having to get my iPhone and record her. So I have all these different takes of her saying things, singing things. Then I’d be like, ‘This is your new ad lib — learn it!’ I have to make it fun for her."
With parents like Mariah and Nick Cannon as heavy-hitters in the entertainment industry, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be seeing more of Roc and Roe in the limelight in some way (as if Mariah’s Instagram isn’t enough!)
Cee Lo Green, his cat and/or bird will not be returning to "The Voice" for another season.
According to the Grammy winner, it's time to bid adieu to the reality singing competition that raised his profile over the last few years.
"I'm not coming back, guys," Green told Ellen during an interview on her daytime talk show that airs today, Wednesday, Feb. 19. "I’m going to continue my relationship with NBC. I have a television show development deal with them as well and hopefully some other talk show opportunities for later in the year. But yeah, I’m going to miss The Voice, too."
The shocking news comes just days before the return of Usher and Shakira on the Spring season of "The Voice." According to Green, a studio album will be part of his focus going forward.
"I just want to … I don’t want to wear out my welcome there. You know what I’m saying? I have so many other things that I want to do. I haven't released an album in four years. I’m almost done with my album," said Green.
