news /
artist of the month /
contests /
top hits /
sounds /
videos /
photo gallery /
message board /
issues board /
foxy brown/
nas (new) /
brandy /
ginuwine (new) /
next /
tlc /
usher /
links /
chat room /
sign
guestbook /
view
guestbook
TMH NEWS SECTION
D'angelo, WGCI Seminar, Roger, Suge Knight, Eminem, BLACKstreet, Brandy, Destinys Child & 702
D'ANGELO'S FOREVER DELAYS!
It's been called one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. I'm talking about D'Angelo's new album Voodoo. First of all, the bad news is we're still not sure when the album will be released because his record label, Virgin Records, wasn't sure either. They just said (at press time) that D'Angelo was still busy in the studio trying to get it together and that the project might be ready for release late this summer. But the good news is that they did give us a peek as to what we can expect from his brown sugar butt! Once again, D'Angelo's working with Tony, Toni, Tone's Raphael Saadiq. Raphael is doing some co-production on the album and you know Raphael co-produced D'Angelo's big hit "Lady" from his first album. Oh, and Voodoo will also have guest performances by Ahmir (?uestlove) from The Roots, horn blower Roy Hargrove and bass player Pino Palladino. There's also a song called "Left and Right" that features Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest and there's another song called "Playa, Playa" that was inspired by James Brown. D'Angelo also has a song that isn't yet titled that's a tribute to Prince and he's even got a song called "Send It On" that was inspired by the birth of his son.
WGCI SEMINAR!
Well it's over, the 8th Annual WGCI Music Seminar. I attended the event Sunday May 2 in Chicago. It was a event full of surprises & full of entertainment one way or the other. The event actually started on Saturday May 1st at The Clique Night Club in Chicago, where Eric Benet' did his showcase (after a very late start). Also a event where Jon B wore dark sun glasses in a already dark room, no comment! So on the the seminars. There were 6 seminars. The R&B #1 with Tyrese, Narada Michael Walden, Songwriter Travon Pitts ("Angel Of Mine") & more. Shanice was also supposed to appear, but had flight problems. Then there was the R&B #2 with Eric Benet', Rapheal Saadiq, Mark Shimmel from LaFace & more. Jesse Powell & Jon B were both no shows (considering Jon was at the club the night before?). Then there was the Gospel workshop with Bebe Winans, Percy Bady & more. The Hip-Hop workshop with Jermain Dupri, Chris Lightly (Violator), Big Jon (So So Def & EMI) & more. The producers workshop had Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis & more. And last the How to make a record workshop with Gerald Levert & more. I attended the Hip-Hop & R&B #1 workshops, they were all held at the same time so I went back & fourth. Both were very informing & very different in there own way. Jermain held his workshop way different then Michael Johnson (from RCA) held the R&B #1 workshop. Producer Jon Gotti from Def Jam (Foxy Brown, DMX, etc.) was the highlight of the Hip-Hop workshop. He was very real & honest on a lot of points. Jermain was out of it at first but came around.
To set up to you all how it went for those of you who were not there. All the artists & record company excecs were on the panel & we could ask them questions. Some people had some "wild" questions, but they were all answered. Tyrese was the coolest person in the R&B workshop he's a real down to earth & real cool person it was my first time meeting him. After the workshops was the luncheon & Quincy Jones was honored. Jesse Powell along with Bebe Winans sung the black national anthem. While Divine, Youth Edition & The Soul Children opened the luncheon. Then Quincy was honored, Quincy is from Chicago & that was his first award from his home town. Shortly after Quincy was honored the showcase started & Rayshi, Arvell & Minnesota's own now living in Chicago, Maniac M.C performed. Maniac which I'm very proud of won first place & single's contract, look for her new album "Problem Child" due this month. After the showcase it was time for L.A & Babyface who were the keynote speakers. They were asked various industry questions & gave very informing & straight answers. They also spoke on the future of urban music, where Babyface stated. "That if we don't teach our kids how to play instruments, there ain't gonna be anymore music left due to sampling". I have to agree, thank God for The Roots, Mint Condition & a few more. After L.A & Babyface it was time for the afternoon performances. Where Jesse Powell performed his current hit "You" (the Rodney Jerkins remix). Then Tyrese performed selections from his now platinum debut album, including "Sweet lady". Then due to Tevin Campbell who lost his voice & was scheduled to perform earlier. My favorite artist Shanice performed her new single "Yesterday" & the hit "When I Close My Eyes" in where she got a standing ovation. Public Announcment ended the performances with tunes from their new album due in Aug. They also introduced their new lead singer (who can blow) so look for their new single "John Doe" soon! So if you missed the event this year, don't worry. There's always next year, so make sure you catch it!
ROGER TROUTMAN MURDERED!
Roger, a member of the duo Roger and Zapp, was killed
in what authorities believe was a murder suicide by his brother,
Larry Troutman. Reports say Roger was found in back of his
recording studio and was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital
where he died of multiple gunshot wounds while in surgery. His
brother was found several blocks away in a car (police say
matched the description of one leaving the crime scene) with
a bullet in his head. Roger and Zapp may be best remembered
for their 1980 smash hit "More Bounce To the Ounce," & "Computer Love"
among others
If there ever is an institution built for the teaching of Hip-Hop,
there should be a special wing for Roger and Zapp. The duo's
classic funk cut, "More Bounce To the Ounce," has been sampled
more times than cheddar cheese on toothpicks at your local mall.
Everyone from Heavy D and Ice Cube to The Sugar Hill Gang and
every rapper in between has sampled their music or has incorporated
the mechanical voice sound that Roger Troutman pioneered into
their music. And of course who can forget the pairing or Roger,
Dr. Dre and TuPac Shakur on the hella-funky, "California Love."
Roger Troutman was 47. His brother Larry was 54.
DID SUGE HAVE B.I.G MURDERED?
Record Executive Investigated in Rapper's Slaying
By MATT LAIT(L.A Times Staff Writer)
Homicide detectives have identified imprisoned rap music executive Marion "Suge" Knight as a key suspect in the ambush slaying of rapper Notorious B.I.G., police sources confirmed Tuesday.
The focus on Knight--founder of Beverly Hills-based Death Row Records--builds on earlier speculation that the March 9, 1997, murder stemmed from a feud between East and West Coast rappers.
According to police sources, Knight was behind bars at the time investigators suspect he took a prominent role in a murder-for-hire plot against Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace.
Wallace, a 24-year-old rap sensation from Brooklyn, N.Y., was shot to death as he sat in a car preparing to leave an industry party at the Petersen Automotive Museum in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles.
On Tuesday, detectives served search warrants on four locations linked to Knight. Police said a dark, metallic-purple Chevrolet Impala seized at one of the sites matches witnesses' descriptions of the vehicle used in the shooting.
Investigators also served search warrants on the offices of Death Row Records, once the most successful rap label in the country with artists such as Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, but now struggling to survive.
Knight, a flamboyant 315-pound former University of Nevada at Las Vegas football star with an extensive police record, is serving a nine-year prison term in connection with an unrelated 1992 attack on two aspiring rappers in a Hollywood recording studio.
Attorney David Kenner, who represents Knight, said he was unaware of the searches when he was contacted Tuesday afternoon. Later in the day, Kenner said that he had no information on the searches, but that he expected a statement from Death Row Records on the matter.
Bitter Feud Between Stars
According to police and music industry observers, tensions ran high between Knight's Death Row Records and the New York-based Bad Boys Entertainment, which was the label for which Wallace recorded.
Six months before Wallace's death, Shakur--the star of the Death Row label--was slain during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, in a crime that remains unsolved. Knight, who was sitting next to Shakur in the car, was slightly wounded in that attack. Police sources allege that Knight believes Bad Boy Entertainment was somehow behind that attack. Such a link has never been proved.
In the years before their deaths, Wallace and Shakur were involved in a public feud that came to symbolize the rivalry and rift between the two rap labels. Shakur had accused Wallace, Bad Boy Entertainment founder Sean "Puffy" Combs and others of being involved in a 1994 robbery in New York in which Shakur was shot several times and lost $40,000 in jewelry.
At a music awards show in 1996, Wallace's bodyguard brandished a weapon and got into a scuffle with armed members of Shakur's entourage outside the Shrine Auditorium. Also that year, Shakur taunted Wallace in a song, calling him a "fat mother . . . ," and claiming that he had sex with Wallace's wife.
Knight also was said to believe that Combs was behind the murder of a Death Row employee who was killed at a music industry party in Atlanta in 1995.
The Wallace shooting apparently was payback for previous squabbles between the two labels, police sources allege.
It was unclear whether charges will be brought against Knight. But because he is in prison, authorities have no fear he will flee their investigation. As part of a plea agreement in the 1992 attack on the two aspiring rappers, Knight's nine-year sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation. In November 1996, however, Knight was imprisoned after he was found to have violated his probation by kicking a man during a scuffle at a Las Vegas hotel--an altercation that was captured on a hotel surveillance tape.
Police officials declined to discuss the investigation into Wallace's death. Police sources would not say what evidence they have linking Knight to Wallace's murder.
Investigators descended on Death Row's Beverly Hills offices on Wilshire Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon to search for evidence. A large LAPD motor home from the Robbery-Homicide Division was parked in a lot next to the building, as investigators went in and out of the offices. The Chevrolet Impala was towed to the Death Row office, loaded on a flatbed truck and hauled to an undisclosed location.
Police declined to identify the other locations they searched.
The investigation into the murder originally was handled by detectives in the LAPD's Wilshire Division. It later was turned over to the department's Robbery-Homicide Division, which handles the city's most sensational and difficult investigations. Although Wallace's murder occurred in front of dozens of witnesses, police have said the investigation has been hampered because many potential witnesses were reluctant to come forward with information. As the investigation has dragged on, friends and relatives of Wallace--especially his mother--have grown frustrated waiting for the case to be solved.
EMINEM: ON TOP OF HIS GAME!
In three short months, twenty-four year old Marshall Bruce Mathers III has gone from white trash to white hot.
By Anthony Bozza (Rolling Stone)
The Michigan rapper, who calls himself Eminem -- and whose debut, The Slim Shady LP, sold 480,000 copies in its first two weeks -- was a cook in a Detroit grill before his obscenity-strewn, gleefully violent, spastic, hilarious and demented ryhmes landed him in the studio with rap honcho Dr. Dre.
The blue-eyed MC is dealing with the instant fame and simultaneous criticism well enough -- much better, actually, than he is dealing with the fifth of Bacardi he downed an hour ago.
On a chilly Friday night in New York, he emerges bleary-eyed from the bathroom of his manager's office. "I just threw up everything I had, he says in his slow-roll drawl, which is a bit slower at the moment. All I ate today was that slice of pizza. Feel good now, though."
His manager exhales slowly in relief. Eminem has three club gigs tonight, and the first one starts in less than an hour. The crew (nine including DJ Stretch Armstrong and Dennis the security guard ) ambles toward the elevator. Downstairs awaits Eminem's partner in rap, Royce the 5'9'', who looks to be about seven people of his own in tow. Em hops into a giant white limo as fellow honky Armstrong cops a ryhme from Eric Clapton's Cream. "In the white room, with white people and white rappers," he bellows. A minute later there's a knock on the window and one of Royce's posse gives Em the first of the three hits of ecstasy he will consume over the course of the night. Down it goes in a swallow of ginger ale as the car zooms off toward Staten Island.
Out on New Dorp Lane, there is a crowd of kids, a mere fraction of the number already inside the Lane Theater. The all-ages show is packed, and Eminem is the evening's main course. The mob is being controlled by the club's security, but when the rapper moves inside, the burly dudes are no match for the crush of shouting teens. "You look good!" one girl shouts. "Oh, my God, he looks better in person," shrieks another. Everywhere, kids have tiny glow sticks in their mouths, which, here in the dark, look like neon braces. At the back of the club, up a ladder, is the minute dressing room, where the very proud owner of the club is waiting. "Hey, nice to meet ya," he says. "My daughter told me to get Eminem, so I got Eminem. It's her fourteenth birthday. Hey, say hi to her and her friends."
Eminem soon grabs four bottles of water and heads to the stage. He owns this audience. These predominantly white kids know every word, every nuance, and can't get enough. If Slim Shady's rhymes about sex with underage girls ("Yo, look at her bush, does it got hair?/F--- this bitch right here on the spot bare/Till she passes out and she forgot how she got there") bother them any, they don't show it. In fact, the filthier the material, the louder the cheers.
On The Slim Shady LP, Eminem says, "God sent me to piss the world off." Interscope Records is Em's label -- a perfect fit for a company that's home to controversial artists like the late Tupac Shakur and Marilyn Manson. Eminem has been condemned as a misogynist, a nihilist and an advocate of domestic violence, principally in an editorial by Billboard editor in chief Timothy White, who attacked The Slim Shady LP as "making money by exploiting the world's misery." "My album isn't for younger kids to hear," Eminem says. "It has an advisory sticker, and you must be eighteen to get it. That doesn't mean younger kids won't get it, but I'm not responsible for every kid out there. I'm not a role model, and I don't claim to be." On the album, his alias, Slim Shady, hangs himself from a tree by his penis, dumps the girlfriend he's murdered in a lake with the help of their baby daughter, takes every drug at once, rips "Pamela Lee's tits off" and heads out into the night yelling, "To all the people I've offended, yeah, f--- you, too!"
For the complete story, check out RS (April 29, 1999), currently on newsstands.
BLACKstreet: THE RETURN!
In the late 80s, an East Coast trio emerged on the scene,
igniting the hearts of teen girls everywhere, introducing the funky
grooves of "New Jack Swing." From the party anthems "Groove Me,"
and "Teddy's Jam" to the painful poignancy of "Good-bye Lover"
and "Piece of My Love," Guy solidified quite a place in R&B. After
awhile Teddy Riley and brothers Aaron and Damion Hall parted
ways. Teddy then teamed up with Chauncey, Levi Little and Dave
Hollister to form BLACKstreet. The group's latest release is another
chapter of the winds of change. The group is still going through
some growing pains. Teddy says this is what took them so long
to come out with another album.
"We decided to call this CD 'Finally' because we looked at other
people's lives and our own and we all go through ups and downs and
trials and tribulations. This CD is called 'Finally' because finally we
made it through the storm."
Teddy says that this is the kind of album that the group always
wanted to do but could not. If that sounds a bit strange to you then
take into account the themes that they've tackled within their previous
albums. Teddy breaks it down. He says it all comes down to timing.
"What kinda kept us from not making this CD was we didn't get
a chance to get in people's lives and get into what's going on. You
know, everything is worked by timing. You know, you have to do it
in perfect time, and this sort of subject came up in our lives. If it
woulda came up (before), then we woulda made an album like this.
But this type of subject was a real strong subject for us. We had
to get it out there"
Although they were under pressure to turn out a CD that would
equal the success of "Another Level," they knew "Finally" was a gem.
They were pushing for a November release. But, Interscope Records
finallly took notice of it's value, making sure it was promoted properly.
It was pushed back to March 23 when it was "finally" right.
Featured on the album are Janet Jackson ("Girlfriend/Boyfriend")
and JA-Rule featuring Jay-Z. The album is in stores now.
BRANDY'S SUMMER TOUR!
Brandy will hit the road with Tyrese, C-Note, and Silk in tow in mid-June. No dates are confirmed for the R&B blow-out at press time, but further details might possibly be announced next week, according to a source.
The tour will seemingly compete with the Boys of Summer tour, which stars 'NSync, Jordan Knight, and Five. That tour kicks off July 7 in Virginia Beach, Vir.
As for the individual players on the Brandy tour, MTV VJ and model Tyrese, whose major-label debut, Tyrese (RCA), was recently certified platinum, is currently tearing up the airwaves with his hit "Sweet Lady." His next single, "Lately," is expected to drop soon. The singer will also be performing at the World Music Awards in Monaco on May 20.
Silk scored a major R&B hit with 1992's "Freak Me," from the Atlanta quintet's major-label debut, Lose Control. This time around, the band is touring in support of the recently released Tonight (Elektra). Silk will not be appearing on the entire tour, but rather only on selected legs which are undecided at press time, according to a spokesperson for the band at Norwood Entertainment, the band's management company.
Transcontinental Media, the Orlando, Fla.-based management/ talent company responsible for developing the Backstreet Boys and 'NSync, will go for the trifecta with C-Note, a more Latin-tinged boy band whose Epic Records debut, Different Kind of Love, hits stores on May 25. The band's first single, the catchy "Wait Till I Get Home," is currently making inroads at pop radio. The song samples the beat from Hall & Oates' 1981 hit, "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)."
>
As for Brandy, well, she is everywhere, but most notably she will appear on the second installment of VH1 Divas Live on April 13 at New York City's Beacon Theater.
-- Kevin Raub (of Rocktroplis)
VH-1's feature on Brandy!
DC RETURNS WITH NEW MUSIC!
Destiny's Child blew up the spot at last year's Soul Train Lady
of Soul Awards. Nobody expected them to win anything but they
carted away three awards that night including Album of the Year.
Now these four lovely lovelies are back and preparing to do it all
over again.
"God is good. We worked really hard. I'm not saying that we
deserved the award. But God is good. We were really excited and
really surprised. We said that there was no way that we were going
to win the album of the year award, but when they announced our
name we ran across the stage."
A lot of folks felt that the group's material was part of the
reason why people were digging their sound so much. Now the
group is going in an opposite direction.
"Our next album is called 'The Writings On the Wall' and we
worked with a lot of great producers.
We worked with Shakespeare,
he did TLC's 'No Scrubs.' He produced most of our album and it was
a pleasure to work with him. We worked with Darryl Simmons, Dwayne
Wiggins and Missy Elliot and they all were great. This album is a lot
more youthful. It's not about love, but about relationships. How things
don't always go right and how life isn't always fair. It's more real.
Plus we had an opportunity to write on most of this album so
it's more from us."
One song in particular that the girls think we should check out
is called "Confessions." It was written and produced by Missy Elliot
and (of course) they think it's the bomb.
"Missy did that cut. 'Confessions' is about a girl and a guy that
have been separated and they talk about what they did behind each
others backs while they were apart. It's real."
Destiny's Child says that they wrote on about ten of the CD's 16
cuts and that they, not the producers, came up with it's feel and tone.
This album sounds like it may take some of their fans for a loop, but
talent always shines through and we're sure their talent will as well.
The first single is slated to be "Bills, Bills, Bills."
"The Writings On the Wall" will be hitting stores on June 8th
so keep a sharp eye (and ear) out for it.
702: Back In The Music Game!
Misha, Irish & Meelah together known as 702. Will release their first album since 1996's"No Doubt" on June 15. The album is called, well 702. The first single was written & produced by Missy Elliott. A fly track called "Where My Girls At?". Missy also did two other tunes for the new set. "Gotta Leave" & " Curiosity". The new album is excecutive produced by Kedar Messenburg & Bruce Carbone. Kedar just got control over Motown Records. What has 702 been up to since their last record? Well a few things first they have changed management & is now with Norwood & Norwood, Brandy's moms company. What does 702 think about Brandy? Well all the girls say Brandy is the homey & she is just too sweet, sounds like our Brandy. Meelah also stated that 702 will most likely open for Brandy this summer on tour. The girls have already made an guest appearence on her UPN show Moesha & they will make a cameo in Brandy's & Diana Ross's up-coming film Double Platinum set to air on ABC on May 16. Their new single is getting a lot of props from fans as well as radio. The video is slammin, but there is one thing everybody notices in the clip. Group member Misha is pregnant, so we at TMH had to find out. And yes she is & set to have a baby boy any day now. So how will that effect the group? Well it won't because the've got it covered. One of the reasons the album is now due in June. And she's not a teenager no more, for those who care she's 20 years old. So get ready for 702 to blow up the charts once again with a whole new sound & image. The Las Vegas girls have returned!
MORE NEWS!
shanice world /
monica's place /
mn music scene /
deborah cox exclusive interview /
divine & 4kast exclusive interview /
soul train awards /
grammy award winners /
