Real Music People

Kanye West has finally released the official version of his music video ‘Paranoid’ which features Rihanna. It’s way more polished and less gratuitous than the incomplete version that was leaked last week. The rapper had been devastated that fans were able to see the video that wasn’t up to his standards. He wrote “It hurts me to see the old and very wrong version of the ‘Paranoid’ video get leaked all over the net while I was on an 11-hour flight and couldn’t do anything about it. It’s just frustrating when this stuff happens because I really care about the product and, since videos never get played anyway, you might as well tweak them and make them as special as possible.” And looking at the finished version, his standards are pretty high.

Irv Gotti of Murder Inc. has said that he is splitting ways with has-been singer Ashanti because “the relationship has run its course” and that the “chemistry” just isn’t there. In other words, the singer’s last album did not perform as well s her previous ones. June 2008’s ‘The Declaration’ was the only one of her studio albums to not go platinum. Sorry Ashanti but there are much hotter and original artists out there now than when you initially came into the scene. Her music just wasn’t that interesting anymore when singers like Rihanna and Lady Gaga were making waves last year.

Urban Music Award nominees have been announced We’ve got some great hip hoppers nominated this year, Akon, Flo Rida, Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Busta Rhymes and so many more

Here’s a list of nominees for the 2009 Urban Music Awards:

Artist of the Year 2009 (USA & UK)
Rihanna
The Dream
Rick Ross
Akon
Neyo
J. Holiday
Lil Wayne

Best Music Video 2009 (USA & UK)
Rihanna “Rehab”
Bobby V feat Lil Wayne “Ms Officer”
Day 26 ft. Young Joc & Diddy ‘Imma put it on her’
Akon ‘Beautiful’
Lady Gaga ‘Poker Face’
Ne-Yo ‘Ms Independent’

Best Album 2009 (USA & UK)
John Legend ‘Evolver’ (G.O.O.D/Columbia)
The Dream ‘Love VIS Money’ (RadioKilla /DefJam)
Kanye West ‘808’s & Heartbreak’ (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
Akon ‘Freedom’ (Konvict/Upfront/SRC/Universal Motown)
Seal ‘Soul’ (Warner Bros.)
Musiq Soulchild ‘On my Radio’ (Atlantic)
Keri Hilson ‘In a perfect world’ (Mosley/Zone4/Interscope)
JadaKiss ‘Last Kiss’ (Ruff Ryders/D-Block/Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
India Arie ‘Testimony: Vol2, Love & Politics’ (Soulbird/Universal Republic)

Best R&B Act 2009 (USA & UK)
Rihanna
Jazmine Sullivan
Robin Thicke
Bobby V
Keyshia Cole
J Holiday

Best DJ 2009 (USA & UK)
Green Lattern (USA)
Khaled (USA)
Tim Westwood (UK)
Fatman Scoop (USA)
Funkmaster Flex (USA)

Best TV Show (US only)
Making the Band – MTV
Bet 106 & Park – BET
American Idol – FOX
Rip the Runway – BET
Harlem Heights – BET

Best HipHop Act 2009 (USA & UK)
Lil Wayne
Giggs
Kanye West
Jay-Z
Lupe Fiasco
Kardinal Offishall

Best Magazine (Print & Online)
Yo Raps
Source
HipHop Weekly
Vibe
XXL

Best Male Act 2009 (UK & USA)
Flo’rida
Dizzee Rascal
Giggs
Kid Cudi
Ghetts
Bobby V
Day 26

Best Collaboration 2009 (USA & UK)
Kanye West ft Estelle ‘American Boy’
Taoi Cruz ft Sugababes & Busta Rhymes ‘Like a Star’
Jay Z ft Santagold ‘Brooklyn Go Hard’
T-Pain feat. Ludacris ‘Chopped & Screwed’
Sway feat. Akon ‘Silver & Gold’
Jim Jones & Ron Browz ft. Juelz Santana ‘Pop Champagne’
Musiq Soulchild ft. Mary J Blige ‘If U Leave’

Best Female Act 2009 (UK & USA)
Amy Winehouse
Estelle
Jazmine Sullivan
M.I.A
Chrisette Michelle
Rihanna
Keri Hilson

Best Producer 2009
Mark Ronson
Swiss Beatz
Timberland
Scott Storch
Ryan Leslie
Stargate

Best Single 2009 (USA & UK)
Tinchy Stryder feat Dappy ‘Number 1’
Busta Rhymes ft Diddy, T-Pain & more ‘Arab Money’
Ghetts ‘Sing for me’
T-Pain ‘Chopped & Screwed’
Eminem ft Dr. Dre & 50 Cent ‘Crack a bottle’
Kid Cudi ‘Day and Night’
Beyonce ‘Halo’

Over a million dollars worth in borrowed jewellery which was held by the LAPD as evidence in the case against Chris Brown will finally be returned to Rihanna. The Barbadian babe’s attorney, Donald Etra, made a request last week for the immediate return of the precious bling that were worn by Rihanna on the night of the alleged attack. The jewellers that loaned Rihanna the jewels wanted the singer to fork over $1.4 million if the court failed to hand over the bling. Thankfully, a deal has been drawn up and prosecutors have agreed that photographs of the said jewellery would suffice as evidence in place of the actual stuff.

According to a source, there’s some progress being made in the plea deal that Chris Brown has made in the Rihanna assault case. Exactly what that progress is remains unknown though. Chris is up against two felony charges following the violent February incident involving his now ex-girlfriend. Bargaining resumed yesterday and both parties tried to settle on a date for the R&B singer’s preliminary hearing. According to the source, however, though progress has been made, a solution is not “imminent” and “barring a last minute breakthrough”, it is unlikely that a deal will be announced anytime soon. I guess we’re going to have to wait for that hearing.

Rihanna hit the recording studio last week to lay down some track for her upcoming album. On Saturday night, the Barbadian babe made a surprise appearance at NERD’s concert in Kansas City. She was seen getting into the groove and even dancing on stage. It actually makes me think that she might be working with the group for her upcoming album. That would definitely be hot. It looks like she has really moved on from the darker days of her life. The only thing that can only make that thought better is if Chris Brown gets sent to jail for a long time.

The rapper who risks up to four years of prison for assaulting his now former girlfriend, Rihanna, is supposedly close to a plea bargain. Sources claim that Chris Brown’s lawyers are in very heated negotiations and have almost secured a deal. However, Chris Brown is expected to plead not guilty in his next hearing. Does anybody every expect him to plead guilty? Especially after he had tried to spark rumors that Rihanna was actually the one who attacked him? Still, it looks like Chris Brown is going to get off easy this time. Commendations are in order for the judiciary system that offers him such opportunities. After all, we wouldn’t want society to have to do without his amazing musical genius for four long years.

According to reports, Rihanna is a bit worried that Chris Brown could release a sex video that the two of them made. One source said “They’ve had tons of crazy nights in bed, and Chris has recorded many of them…They both have very kinky sides.” The source adds “Rihanna has no issues with her sexuality. But she’d be mortified if her friends and family found this out! This whole beating incident is terribly humiliating for her. She’s already traumatized and will do anything to make it all go away as quickly as possible. The last thing in the world Rihanna wants is to see herself in the sex videos all over the Internet! She’s an intensely private person.”

Nickelodeon Award producers may have stood their ground despite the increasing pressure to boot out Chris Brown from the Awards but what can they do when the awardee himself withdraws his name from consideration? This is exactly what happened after Chris Brown withdrew his name from the list of nominees for the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards amid mounting criticism he has received for the physical altercation between him and Rihanna last February. Chris Brown has been nominated for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song in the said Award body.

While Chris Brown appreciates the unrelenting support from his fans despite the incident his representatives said the controversy involving Chris Brown and Rihanna has shifted the focus from his music to whether or not he should be allowed to be nominated. Chris Brown would have liked to speak personally to his fans about this but he could not pending the legal proceedings at this time. Chris Brown’s name has been removed from the Kids’ Choice Website effective Wednesday morning.

The singer thinks his fellow performer should show a bit of remorse about what he supposedly did to Rihanna after they had their argument in Chris Brown’s car. Usher had this to say after he saw pictures of Chris Brown on a jet ski in Miami, a short time after the incident: “I’m a little disappointed in this. After the other photo? C’mon, Chris. Have a little bit of remorse, man. The man is on a jet ski? Like, just relaxing in Miami?” Pretty bold of Usher to judge Chris Brown only from a few pictures… why does he expect remorse anyway? It was self defense! Chris Brown is the one who got attacked, or so they say. Did Usher miss this small detail?

After making comments seemingly in support of Chris Brown, rapper TI and actor Terrence Howard are taking back their statements. Both have admitted to speaking insensitively before knowing all the facts surrounding the domestic assault case on Chris Brown after he allegedly hit Rihanna. In his retraction, Terrence said “When they (paparazzi) asked me about Chris Brown the other day, I was in no way aware of what he had been accused of. Had I known, I would have never had said something so insensitive.” TI also said that his comments were out of line because he “made a mistake of commenting before understanding the situation.” Lesson: think before you speak.

More updates are coming out about Rihanna’s condition after news broke that she and her boyfriend Chris Brown got into a violent fight early Sunday morning. Reports say that the 20-year old Barbadian babe’s injuries are more acute than previously speculated. As a result of whatever went down between her and Chris that Sunday, the singer suffered two huge contusions on both sides of her forehead, a bloody lip and bloody nose. One law enforcement officer compared Rihanna’s injuries to “an MMA figher or something… [It] looked like she was growing devil’s horns.” That is definitely not good news. Things are getting worse and worse about this.

Rihanna lent her support at the Black Eyed Peas Peapod Foundation benefit concert which was held inside the Conga Room at the Nokia Theatre LA Live this past Thursday in Los Angeles. Missing from the event was BEP member apl.de.ap, real name Allan Pineda Lindo, who was unfortunately mourning the death of his 21-year old brother, Joven Pineda Deala, who was gunned down in the northern Philippine town of Porac. On a happier note, BEP member Taboo, real name Jamie Gomez, and his fashion publicist girlfriend are expecting their first child this summer. Taboo also has a teenage son with a former girlfriend.

Rihanna showed off her rather funky but patriotic fingernails when she performed at the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert which was held at the Florida State Fairgrounds’ Ford Amphitheater last week. Her pinky had the image of President Barack Obama. In other Rihanna news, the 20-year old Barbadian babe and Timbaland are rumored to be throwing a Pre-Grammy party on February 6th in Los Angeles. Timbaland hosted a party last year with Fergie joining him in hosting. I bet a lot of people will be going to that party as there are reportedly a lot of parties being cut due to the economic situation.

Despite strong resentment from the opposition parties in Malaysia the central government has gone ahead and given a concert to be staged by singer Rihanna the go ahead. The concert slated to be held on February 13th shall happen as per schedule.

This was confirmed by the Malaysian minister for art, culture and heritage Mr. Datuk Seri Mohd. that the concert will be held at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

That really some news for the singer cos’ if I am correct then this show was supposed to be held late last year when she was on a world tour and she had successful shows in Australia and other south east Asian countries too were very receptive to her music but Malaysia opposed her holding a concert.

That because she refused to wear traditional clothes and the government thought it would be a bad influence on the young generation. And now in a few months her dresses would suddenly not be a bad influence. Completely double standards for the connivance of the government and event organizers.

Is it getting serious for Rihanna and Chris Brown? The couple was spotted last week getting their party on after one of Chris’ gigs. One spy witness said that Rihanna looked really happy back then. How could you not be happy with a new rock like that on your engagement/wedding finger? Ah! I can’t take this! They haven’t even come out about their relationship officially. I can’t wait for them to actually say that they’re engaged. Rihanna might already be pregnant before that actually happens. You can’t deny that they’ll make one very hot family though. I wonder if they are engaged.

Rihanna is finally yielding to the conservative Malaysian laws and covering up for her show there in February. According to their rules, female performers must be covered from shoulders to knees. Malaysian tour organizers are trying to avoid the protests and fines that plagued the tours of Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne and the Pussycat Dolls. Gwen made the sacrifice to cover up but the Pussycat Dolls wre fined $3000 for ignoring the laws. A district branch of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party says that Rihanna is sexier and more dangerous than the three aforementioned performers. I wonder what changes are going to be made on the Barbadian babe’s wardrobe.

Rihanna is going to be ringing in the new year with a compilation of remixes from her double platinum album ‘Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded’. The album is set to drop in stores on January 27th and will contain 12 tracks, 2 of which are remixes of her very popular hit ‘Umbrella’. Like I said, the 20-year old Barbadian babe can probably never do any wrong. She’s really just milking it while everybody still wants the cow. But how many times can one song be remixed or covered anyway until we finally get tired? Oh well, I still can’t wait to hear it.

Christina Milian is back on her first magazine cover ever since she parted way with Island Def Jam back in 2006. The 27-year old singer broke her silence to Rap-Up on the emotional past 2 years, her reaction to ex-boyfriend Nick Cannon’s marriage to Mariah Carey and her new album on MySpace Records. She said something pretty interesting on the reason why she was dropped from her label though. She said “It was a budget cut, I believe. [Def Jam] probably got rid of projects like mine to spend the money on [Rihanna].” Those are some fighting words missy. Rihanna is queen and you know it!

Rihanna has reportedly been asked by Nicole Richie to help her launch her solo music career. The reality star was previously part of a rock band called Darling back in 2004. Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of Black Sabbath Rocker Ozzy Osbourne, has also reportedly been asked to consult. According to a Daily News source “Rihanna and Kelly are coaching Nicole and giving her tips on how to perform.” If it is true, it may just be a hot product. Everything Rihanna touches is pretty much gold anyway and Kelly’s a pretty good performer too. Nicole has got some pretty amazing people vying for her.