Real Music People

Naughty by Nature member, Treach, was given a ticket for driving with a suspended license after he was pulled over for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. The rapper was busted on Tuesday after police were called to the area because of a report that shots were fired. What’s the connection? Treach was wearing a bullet proof vest when he got popped. While he was pulled over in “the immediate area of the shooting incident” Newark PD isn’t pointing any fingers on him as they think that Treach is only “a potential witness at this time”. Here’s a tidbit – it’s not a crime to wear a bullet proof vest in New Jersey unless it’s worn during illegal activity.

Tragedy is never easy to take, but how much is too much? Another Levert has died and the sad part is, this one died in jail. Sean Levert, son of O’Jays singer Eddie Levert and brother of late R&B legend Gerald Levert died last weekend while in a Cleveland jail. Levert had been in jail serving time for failing to pay child support when he collapsed late in the night. He was rushed to the hospital where he passed away. Police were said to be unaware of any condition he was suffering from and they are now investigating the cause of death.

Sean was a member of the 80s group Levert. He was also featured in a few movies, including ‘New Jack City’.

The drummer of famous 80s hair band Poison was arrested on Monday on a rape warrant out of Mississippi just as he got off a flight from New Zealand at LAX. The 46-year old rikki Rockett was busted by the Airport Division of the LAPD as he was going through customs. The LA Daily News first reported that the musician was transported to the LA County Jail where he was booked on a felony fugitive sexual assault warrant out of Neshoba County, Mississippi.

Rockett and singer Bret Michaels founder Poison together. Rockett was in New Zealand to reunite and perform with the other original members of the band at a huge heavy metal show.

It looks like the explosive report written last week by a Pulitzer Prize-winning LA Times reporter that linked Diddy to the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur was a big hoax. According to The Smoking Gun, it was perpetrated by a con artist in Federal prison who fabricated many of the so-called FBI reports on which the story was based. The supposed FBI reports and lawsuits Sabatino says he filed were apparently created in the Allenwood Federal Penitentiary in White Deer, Pennsylvania and can’t be found in the bureau’s database. The writer, Chuck Phillips, couldn’t be reached for any comment but the paper has announced that it would be investigating the supporting documents.

Rapper and 50 Cent protégé Tony Yayo has finally gotten his name cleared of assault charges after the guy he was arrested with came clean and said that Yayo had nothing to do with the alleged crime. Marvin ‘Yayo’ Bernard was in court in New York on Thursday where the assault case against him was dismissed. The rapper actually pleaded guilty to a violation but it won’t go on his record as Lowell Fletcher, his co-defendant, told cops that he was the one responsible for the beating of the young victim and that Yayo was actually trying to restrain him.

Unlike what happened with R. Kelly, there are very little delays to getting Remy Ma on trial. The female rapper was in Manhattan Criminal Court last week where the judge in her assault and witness-tampering case set a temporary date of February 25 to begin the trial. It’s what you can call a speedy trial date.

Remy was arrested in July 2007 for allegedly shooting her friend. If you do the math, it’s only been about 8 months since her arrest to her trial. The time between R. Kelly’s arrest and court date took five and a half years to set. Where’s the justice in that?

Lenny Kravitz wants to duet with Sir Paul McCartney. Well who wouldn’t?

The ‘American Woman’ singer, who owns a mixing desk from London’s Abbey Road Studios, famously used by The Beatles, wants the legendary musician to fly out to his Miami home to record a song with him.

Lenny said: “All the Beatles’ albums were recorded on that mixing desk and I got it when my first album ‘Let Love Rule’ came out in 1990, as I came into a bit of money. I’d seen a documentary in England made about it by one of the sound engineers and I knew I had to have it. It’s an incredible piece of gear. At the time I blew all of my money on it but if you offered me $10 million for it today I wouldn’t take it.

“When you see pictures of John Lennon sitting at the desk it’s just priceless. I’d love to bring Paul McCartney back to my place and make a record with him. How cool would that be?”

Kravitz’s new album ‘It’s Time For A Love Revolution’ is released next month.

We’ve already established that Kanye West has a rather large ego on him. For those of you that aren’t aware, pick up the new issue of Spin and take note of the following quote:

“I’m a pop enigma. I live and breathe every element in life. I rock a bespoke suit and I go to Harold’s for fried chicken. It’s all these things at once, because, as a tastemaker, I find the best of everything. There’s certain things that black people are the best at and certain things that white people are the best at. Whatever we as black people are the best at, I’m a go get that. Like, on Christmas I don’t want any food that tastes white. And when I go to purchase a house, I don’t want my credit to look black.”

When you lose someone you love, you just can’t help but grieve. And that’s what the Weslyn ‘Mama Wes’ Monroe, the mom of the late Pimp C, did in an interview with KFDM News.“C’s business manager found his body in his hotel room in Los Angeles and we know he died in his sleep. Past that, we don’t know anything. This is a terrible shock. Mama is just a little tougher than most, but I break too.”

She also added how she has received a great amount of support from family, friends, artists and other entertainers. “The phone won’t stop ringing. It feels good, if anything can feel good now.”

Rapper Spice 1, a legend in the Bay Area, is in critical condition after being shot in the chest. The Hayward California Police Department is saying that the rapper, whose real name is Robert Green Jr., was seriously injured but that the injury is not life threatening.

Police are saying that there is currently no suspect regarding the shooting and no arrests have been made. Investigation on the who’s, how’s and why’s regarding Spice 1’s shooting is currently going on.

Spice 1 has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the rap industry, including Method Man, 2Pac and Ice-T.

After a long absence Kylie Minogue is struggling to regain her place on the celebrity podium. Not only is she planning a long and fantastic European tour the next year, but she will also appear on the stage of the honorific Nobel Prize concert to celebrate the winners of 2007. She will be performing for Nobel Prize winners: the climate chance panel of the United Nations and ex-vice president Al. Gore. The prize is offered to the combined parties for their united effort in trying to wake the world up and realize an inconvenient truth: the global warming that is threatening to destroy our planet and our race along with it.

Kylie will join on the stage various celebrity females like Annie Lennox and Alicia Keys. It seems like on December the 11th only women are worthy to honor the giving of a Nobel Prize, as all singers will be members of the beautiful sex.

Can you say pathetic? I can understand love struck but this is just dumb. Amy Winehouse has cancelled her UK tour and all promotional appearances through 2008 because she’s too upset about her husband Blake Fielder-Civil being in jail. Professionalism is definitely not in her vocabulary.Wino released a statement on Tuesday saying “I can’t give it my all onstage without my Blake. I’m so sorry but I don’t want to do the shows half-heartedly; I love singing. My husband is everything to me and without him it’s just not the same.”

The few shows she has done have been slammed by critics and fans. It at least saves everyone else and they get refunds too.

Baby Boom

There appears to be congratulations in order for singer Usher and his wife; as their first child arrived into the world at 9.30pm on Monday (26-11-07). Originally, they named baby son, Usher. Usher Raymond V to be precise.

So is that like calling him Junior? Well, if so, little Jr. was a healthy 7lb 9oz; and the couple are overjoyed. “We are so happy and proud of our beautiful son. What a blessing!”

I have to say it’s lovely and refreshing to not be writing about crazy stars doing drug related, alcohol related or generally weird related things for once. I have already mentioned this week the planned wedding of Kanye West and his girlfriend; and now the happy family here. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy… until tomorrow when someone is bound to have done something stupid. Again.

The 80’s nostalgia ends up tragically as the lead sing of Quiet riot has been found dead in his home.
Police discovered his lifeless body after performing a search once they got phone calls announcing he was missing. Friends and family are devastated, and former band members show their grief.

The band was currently active, singing from time to time and releasing albums once in a while, so the relationships between him and his colleagues were still good. No one seems to know what happened, but as in most cases when it comes to musicians, I suspect it was a suicide. As police didn’t reveal many details about his death, or the causes, I can’t assume anything or imagine the circumstance. But I think that if they would have found signs of unusual presences in his home or burglar steps they would have announced that.

Bobby Brown may be going through a career change by trying to make it in country but did you ever fathom that Beyonce could do that same?

In a surprising move, Beyonce put a sweet country twist to her massive hit ‘Irreplaceable’ and even brought in Sugarland country crusaders Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush at the 2007 American Music Awards.

Beyonce was also recognized with the International Artist Award of Excellence. It’s a huge achievement because not only is she the first female artist to ever receive it but she also joins a list of legends including Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, the Bee Gees and Aerosmith.

It’s always annoying when a rapper says that he’s retired then comes back only to retire again and then come back again. But in Jay-Z’s case, no one should care as long as he’s number 1.

The rapper may have flashed two fingers when he passed paparazzi on his way to TRL on Monday. But as of the middle of the week, he hit number 1. As it was projected by music insiders last week, his American Gangster-inspired album took the top spot on the Billboard charts and knocked the Eagles down a notch.

Congratulations to Jay-Z. This is his 10th #1 album!

Eminem is refusing to embark on any future U.S tour in fear of upsetting his young daughter, according to rapper 50 Cent. The In Da Club hitmaker says his pal’s daughter Hailey, six, dislikes him being away from home - and Eminem is adamant fatherhood comes before his career. Now isn’t that such an inspirational thought from a cult singer and doesn’t it inspire the likes of David Beckham and Brad and all the other’s to give up a little on the hectic lifestyles to spend some time with their kids and if this speak doesn’t then I don’t know what will. Man come on after you have the millions in your bank account what is there that is stopping you from taking a early Christmas break and going on a vacation with the family. What are you all filthy rich dads waiting for, till when you retire at that time the kids would have left the nest and shall be free birds. This is the time to enjoy with the kids. Eminem has his priorities all right and this makes him my idol.

If you were looking for a truly impressive night out then you are going to want to see what you can do about getting yourself tickets to take in the “Cover Your Eyes” Tour which is sure to be a great night out whether you decide to attend with family or with friends. Featuring such acts as Kenotia and City Sleeps as well as Bedlight for Blue eyes, this tour promises to be an amazing night out that you are not going to want to miss so make sure you see what you can do about getting yourself tickets to catch these great bands and more in action.
Highlights of this tour include stops at such venues as Jaxx in West Springfield, Virginia on November 15, The Brewery in Raleigh, North Carolina on November 16, Soapbox in Wilmington, North Carolina on November 17, The 7 Venue in Douglasville, Georgia on November 18, The Pit in Jacksonville, Florida on November 19, Island Oasis in Winter Park, Florida on November 21, Dark Room in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on NOvember 24, Fat Daddy’s Sound Shack in Lewisville, Texas on November 25, White Rabbit in San Antonio, Texas on November 26 and The Blue Goat in Salina, Kansas on November 28 as well as The Foundry in Joplin, Missouri on November 29 and The Cellblock in Mesa, Arizona on December 4. There are also a slew of other performances that you know you aren’t going to want to miss out on!

Emo dudes vary the heartbreak guitars with string ballads and a faux show tune for years, say anything leader Max Bemis has had to deal with bipolar disorder, but judging by his band’s third album, he’s got something else to gripe about — namely, bad, bad love. Loosely based on one of Bemis’ own relationships, the album mostly sticks to serrated emo but ranges from big, string-laden ballads (”Plea”) to a faux show tune (”That Is Why”). When Bemis is on –shuffling between a touching Latinate melody and an ace, bloodletting chorus on “Hangover Song,” delivering the sugar-rush pop of “Shiksa (Girlfriend)” –his songs are tuneful and invigorating. “Retarded in Love” is sort of like a Springer episode: You don’t want to watch someone fall apart before your eyes, but you don’t want to look away, either. Lyrics about his love interest, a “slender slave with sluttish, sleepy eyes,” should have stayed in Bemis’ journal. Still, it’s hard not root for him — if he could only handle ladies with the same ease with which he turns out good melodies, he’d be all right.

British pop star Mika has been granted permission to perform in Brussels after a woman of the same name appealed to Belgian courts to ban him from entering the country. The relatively unknown reggae singer sued the British musician - real name Mica Penniman - in a bid to stop him from further “ruining” her chance at fame. If this other lady is really that good at what she does…her work should speak for itself rather than her worrying about somebody else with the same name. People who are big enough fans know who they are listening to/going to see in concert….I doubt if people are seriously confusing the two artists! She needs to get over it! If she wants to be as famous that Mika the singer then she should try doing it the hard way, that’s working hard to earn fame and money. This guy has probably worked his ass for days and nights together not just to be stopped by some sick ass lady to use his fame.

Keith Sweat, the celebrated master of the slow jam, unwraps his first-ever holiday music collection, proving there’s no one better qualified to deliver a Yuletide disc titled A Christmas Of Love. The R&B and soul superstar’s new album of newly recorded contemporary Christmas songs will be available November 20 at all retail outlets and online.

The album’s nine songs spotlight the Harlem-born singer’s signature mix of smooth vocals coupled with warm, supple groove. Sweat puts his unmistakable mark on the classic “The Christmas Song,” as well as “Under The Tree,” “Once A Year” and “It’s Christmas Again”– a trio of songs Sweat cowrote. With “Point Of Christmas,” the religious artist pays tribute to the “reason for the season.”

He has sold more than 14 million records and garnered five #1 R&B albums, 15 Top 10 R&B singles, six #1 hits, four Top 5 pop singles, three multi-platinum and three platinum albums, two platinum and three gold singles, widespread critical acclaim and a rabid international following. Today, Sweat hosts his own syndicated radio show, The Sweat Hotel, in 19 markets.

If you are a fan of R. Kelly, and let’s face it, he does have a wide array of fans located all throughout the world, then you are undoubtedly going to want to take this chance to see R. Kelly perform live as he tours all throughout the United States and beyond.

Highlights of this hip-hop performer’s tour includes stints at such locales as the Columbus Civic Center in Columbus, Georgia on November 14, Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on November 15, The Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 21, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York on November 23, American Airlines Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 30 and Sprint Center in Kansas City, MIssouri on December 7 as well as Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 8 and FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee on December 9. OF course these dates are merely a handful of the slew that R. Kelly is embarking upon for this tour of the United States.

You know you aren’t going to want to miss out on the fun that these concerts will be sure to bring to life

“Deja Vu” suffered from being a bit too familiar and a frenetic accompanying video that turned off more than a few fans. “Ring the Alarm,” tricked out with sirens and a video of Beyonce conjuring memories of Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, failed to maintain attention for more than a few listens. However, “Irreplaceable” could change all that.

“Irreplaceable” was co-written by Ne-Yo and produced by StarGate, one of the most potent hitmaking teams of the year. They have collaborated on Ne-Yo’s own “So Sick” and Rihanna’s “Unfaithful,” to name just a pair of successful hits. “Irreplaceable,” with its instantly memorable melody and irresisible “to the left” hook should follow in those songs’ footsteps.

An element that makes “Irreplaceable” resonate deeper after hearing it multiple times is that the subject matter of female strength and independence is at the core of the entire B’Day enterprise. This song will remind many listeners of concepts central to Terry McMillan’s Waiting to Exhale which remains a cultural touchstone 14 years after its release. Look for “Irreplaceable” to help Beyonce regain her pop momentum just in time for her end of the year starring role in the film version of Dreamgirls.

Meet the new king. Not the same as the old King.Garth Brooks, who edged out Elvis Presley in 1999 for the title of best-selling solo artist of all time, only to lose it five years later, reclaimed the crown from the King Monday, according to the tab keepers at the Recording Industry Association of America. Ok, now I will admit that Garth Brooks has definitely made his mark in country music, and he’s won every kind of award there is…and once upon a time I drooled everytime I saw his face… but dethrone Elvis??? GET SERIOUS, PEOPLE!!! NO ONE, least of ALL Garth Brooks, could ever dethrone Elvis! I don’t care if he sold a million copies of cd’s every day for the rest of his life…he’ll NEVER come CLOSE to Elvis on ANY level. My advice to the writers of these kinds of articles… PLEASE choose your words more carefully!! Stats are for real but yet could be misleading. Garth could be great but certainly not the greatest and still not greater than that man called Elvis.

While Nelly Furtado won her own award and should get an award for being fabulous with her red carpet look, I can’t say the same for Avril Lavigne. Honestly, I would never say it even if she looked like Charlize Theron. She looked like a wannabe prom queen from the 80s.

The 23-year old ‘Girlfriend’ singer picked up the award for Most Addictive Track at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007 in Munich, Germany on Thursday. Avril accepted the award and said “This is amazing. I’d like to thank the fans for voting for me.”

It’s not that they wanted to. It just so happens that the song is so annoying and was stuck in their heads during the whole voting process.

Amy Winehouse gave one of her usual bombed-out performances at the MTV Europe Music Awards. She was even booed off the stage when she could barely say the word “Thanks” after receiving her Artists’ Choice award. However, the new drug-free Pete Doherty says that Amy is on “the straight and narrow,” Holy crap…I was going on and on about how freaking ugly she is (all the time when I see her pics on the internet and music news sites)…then I got a look at her husbands teeth! Sweet mother of Jesus! Can you imagine kissing that thing! It looks like he’s never brushed a day in his life. Bet it smell reals nice, jack! He wouldn’t be a bad looking guy though if he wasn’t so messed up on drugs and hadn’t messed up his body. Yipes; these 2 are obviously not good for each other. I bet there’s some serious mental & emotional abuse going on, in addition to the drug abuse. Hope she gets out of that situation alive.

This week, Dwight Yoakam releases Dwight Sings Buck, a tribute to his idol that recalls Buck Owens’ very own excellent songbook albums, 1961’s Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard and 1963’s Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins. Sings Harlan Howard arrived early in Buck’s career: it was only his second album, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that his classic sound hasn’t quite gelled yet — he’s relying heavily on steel guitar and fiddle instead of electric guitars, bringing this closer to the vibe of barroom country. Part of the reason this doesn’t quite sound like classic Buck is that he was still getting the Buckaroos off the ground. His right-hand man Don Rich was aboard, yet he’s only on three cuts, playing fiddle (plus a lead acoustic guitar), not his trademark electric guitar, which doesn’t give this album the twangy snap of Buck’s best-known hits, yet it’s possible to hear that sound beginning to take shape here.Dwight’s new offering, do exactly what a songbook album should do: they’re affectionate tributes but they’re thoroughly entertaining in their own right. Plus, they perform a valuable service in turning listeners onto music they may have missed. It’s hard to imagine any Dwight fan that hasn’t listened to a bit of Buck, but after hearing Dwight Sings Buck, they might want to dig deeper into Owens’ catalog and they could bypass those hits comps and start with either of these albums. There might be some hits you’d miss, but you’d get the greatness of the man. Then, after you’re done, you can follow Buck’s lead and dig into Harlan Howard (his lone 1965 LP, All Time Favorite Country Songwriter, a boast that was largely true) and Tommy Collins (start with 2005’s The Capitol Collection), another pursuit that is thoroughly rewarding

When you’ve built up a back catalog of eight studio albums and walk the earth as one of the biggest, most high-profile artists of the ’90s and 2000s, you’re bound to get some mixed signals from those who pay attention to you.

While several tracks connected to specific scenes are also rooted in productions trading in the regal grit that made up so much ’70s soul, the album is not a straight narrative, broken up by tracks like the boom-clap of “Hello Brooklyn” (produced by Bigg D) and the glitzed-out pair of “I Know” (a half-icing Neptunes layer cake) and “Ignorant Shit” (where Just Blaze transforms the Isleys’ quiet storm staple “Between the Sheets” into a high-gloss anthem). And while Jay mentions American Gangster and protagonist Frank Lucas directly, and intersperses some tracks with dialogue, the connection does not overshadow the album. It’s not like he’s yelling “Shaft’s Big Score 2K7!” or “Leonard Part Six, Part Two!” It’s all as natural as Scarface riffing off Scarface.

And that might be the most common complaint about the album — it’s really just another case of Jay-Z being Jay-Z, albeit with different presentation. Unless you know each verse from Reasonable Doubt through Kingdom Come, it might sound like he’s dealing with no variation on well-worn themes, the exact same thoughts and emotions, that make up older tracks about his past as a drug dealer — the rise, the arrogance, the conflictedness, the fall, and all stages in-between. One could say that’s not really saying much, but regardless of context, this is a very good Jay-Z album. He is, for the most part, doing what he has done before: what he does best.

Sharon Jones, who recently released 100 Days, 100 Nights, a definite contender for one of the year’s top albums, has just premiered the video for the title track, a song that shows off the more soulful direction the singer has taken on the record. The video, which was shot for $50, looks like it’s straight from 1960s television, in blurry black-and-white, the band on risers behind her as Jones herself takes center stage.

If you haven’t seen Jones and her band, the Dap-Kings (who’ve also worked with Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson, including in this video), live in action, you’ll soon have your chance. The diminutive 51-year-old singer is just about to start a tour, and if it’s anything like her past ones (besides the excellent, and very funky, musicianship, last year she danced with fans on-stage and played a James Brown medley, among other things), it’s definitely worth checking out.

Billed as the first Santana compilation to span his entire career, it is true that Ultimate Santana does indeed run the gamut from 1969’s “Evil Ways” to 2002’s “Game of Love,” but if you think that means it handles all phases of his career equally, you’d be sadly mistaken. Essentially, this 18-track set plays like a collection of highlights from his Supernatural-era comebacks, spiked with a couple of classic rock oldies — because that’s what it really is.

It contains no less than ten superstar duets, including new numbers with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger (the streamlined and smoothed “Into the Night,” which has little of Kroeger’s trademark growly histrionics) and Jennifer Lopez and Baby Bash (”This Boy’s Fire,” a dance number where Santana seems incidental), plus a version of “The Game of Love” with Tina Turner (don’t worry, the lighter, brighter, superior Michelle Branch version is here too)

In other words, this is certainly not a hits disc for the fan of his earliest music, or his most adventurous music either; it’s for the pop fans won over by his latter-day comeback, and for those listeners, it’s the hits disc they’d want — but for everybody else, it’s better to seek out other compilations or original albums, because those paint a better picture of what Santana was all about than this crisp, clean collection of lifestyle pop.