Rapper Eve is struggling to get used to her alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet. The hip-hop star was ordered to wear the SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring) after striking a plea agreement for her DUI arrest in April. But she admits it has not been easy. Yeah now she gets the thing, gulping down Heineken beer and more of alcohol beverages do not get you any awards just an ankle bracelet that is with in even when you go to bed. How irritating can that be, well I won?t like to have one for my self and that?s coz in do not drink alcohol as for Eve she?s made her choice her cannot leave the booze so she?s made friends with the ankle bracelet. Now what would be a nice thought for her is that she should be made to wear the bracelet in a position above her footwear so that we all can have a glimpse for that beautiful thing that she?s carrying with her right now.
Meet the Simon, Randy, Paula and Ryan of The Next Great American Band.
Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik, percussionist Sheila E. and Australian TV personality Ian “Dicko” Dickson (yes, really) make up the judge’s panel for the new reality venture, while New Zealand Idol host Dominic Bowden serves as the host, Fox announced Monday.
Rzeznik got his start in the music business two decades ago and led the Goo Goo Dolls to commercial success in the ’90s, selling 10 million albums and notching more than a dozen top 10 hits.
Sheila E. is perhaps best known for being the progeny of Prince, who took the legendary drummer under his wing in the ’80s. She has also performed with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, as well as Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross, in addition to touring with her own band, C.O.E.D. (Chronicles of Every Diva).
Dickson began his career at Creation Records, where he worked with acts including Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and Oasis. He later moved to Sony, where he represented LL Cool J and Midnight Oil.
Created by the producers of American Idol, American Band aims to incorporate many features of the hit talent show on the search to discover the next big act.
After the nationwide auditions, Rzeznik, Sheila E. and Dicko will be responsible for narrowing the hopefuls down to 10 semifinalist bands, who will perform each week before a live studio audience.
The judges will have the chance to offer their critiques after each performance, but, as with Idol, viewer voting will ultimately determine which acts stay and which act goes each week.
The bands will be forced to demonstrate a range of ability, as some weeks they will perform covers of songs by established artists and other weeks will be challenged to show off original tunes.
The battle of the bands will continue until only one act remains, with the winning group landing a record contract with 19 Recordings.
American Band premieres Oct. 19 on Fox and will air Fridays at 8 p.m.
Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am says he’s “really excited and nervous at the same time” about becoming a solo artist with the September 25 release of “Songs About Girls.”
“I was like, ‘How and why should I put out a solo project?’ I could just do another Black Eyed Peas record,” he tells Billboard.com. The hook, he says, was making “Songs About Girls” a semi-autobiographical conceptual piece “where all the songs could tell a story of falling in love, falling out of love, trying to get back in love, destructing love and destroying love and then starting a new situation. That journey is what makes this unique.”
The album features only one guest star, Snoop Dogg, on the electroclash-styled track “Donque.”
Besides the album’s 12 songs, will.i.am shot videos for eight of the tracks and stitched them together into “a movie about making a movie” that will accompany the CD.
will.i.am plans to perform some of the “Songs About Girls” material live when Black Eyed Peas hit the road for a two-month international tour on September 4 in Israel. The group will play in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and Mexico but not in North America. “There’s no Black Eyed Peas record out,” he explains, “and America’s weird like that. If you ain’t got nothing in the marketplace, (the fans) ain’t showing up.”
Jordin Sparks doesn’t have a name for her debut album yet, but she’s got a release date set in stone: November 20. In anticipation of the 19 Recordings/ Jive disc, the “American Idol” champ drew back the curtains on her first single on Friday (August 24), debuting “Tattoo”. she’s a bit nervous to be following in the wake of Clarkson and Carrie Underwood’s success. “They’ve risen the bar so high and I’m like, ‘I hope I can reach it,’ ” she said. “Hopefully [my LP will] sell well and people will like it.” …Firstly just stop trying to imitate the past winners, try being someone whose got some of her to talent that she wants to showcase or if she cannot do that then it will be easier becoming a mimckery artist and earn money copying others. And if she wants to make a name for herself then listen dear dare to be different and aim for the stars, and if you start daring then the star will fall at your feer. Yeah don?t start dreaming so fast and get to dizzy heights there a long away to go before you achieve the dizzy heights.
Former Savage Garden front man and still singer Darren Hayes was reportedly arrested in London last weekend. The really juicy part is that it was for a racially motivated verbal attack on a waiter at a Thai restaurant.
The manager at the Busaba Eathai restaurant in Soho confirmed what happened and that the matter was being investigated by the police.
While we all know that racism isn?t the best of things, is that really enough ground to get arrested in the UK?
In response to his arrest, Darren, via his solicitor, just posted a message on his blog saying that while he is cooperating fully, he is deeply upset with the allegation which he strongly denies.
Fans who’ve followed Lori McKenna since she was performing in small cafes, selling self-released CDs after a show, may have been a little nervous when the mainstream country establishment scooped her up.
In mere months, McKenna went from a critically acclaimed but under-the-radar singer-songwriter to a protege of country superduo Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. After McKenna penned Hill’s hit “Stealing Kisses,” she signed a record deal on McGraw’s label, opened for the pair on their huge nationwide tour and even sat next to Hill on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as Winfrey gushed about McKenna’s talents.
But don’t worry about McKenna trying to Faith Hill-ify her music and sacrifice her intensely personal, emotional songwriting. With “Unglamorous,” released this month, the 38-year-old makes such a seamless transition even she jokes it has been too good to be true.
“I keep telling my kids, these things normally don’t happen … it’s usually not this easy,” laughs McKenna.
But McKenna’s path to Nashville hasn’t followed the typical major-label debut trajectory. First off, she’s 38 years old and not trying to hide it. She’s also the married mother of five children, ages 18 to 3.
And she still lives the life of a typical juggling mom, living outside of Boston and writing songs in between school dropoffs and cleaning up after kid mishaps.
McKenna wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m just one of those people, I’ve been so blessed to do what I do, and be able to have my focus still be on the things that I love, which are my kids, and my family and my husband and my songwriting.”
McKenna has maintained this artful balance since 1998, when she put out her first album, “Paper Wings & Halo.” Though McKenna, the youngest of six kids, had been playing guitar since she was a teen and always had a passion for music, she didn’t start her career until after she became a mom. When “Paper Wings” was released, she had to borrow money from family and friends to get it released.
“Music was always one of those things that I sort of did on the side. I remember at first it was considered like, ‘Oh, it’s like a hobby for mom,’ because it’s something that would take me away from home, and I wouldn’t really make money on it,” says McKenna, whose husband is a plumber. “Then the next year, it was like, ‘Well, she’s making a little money, she helps with the grocery bills.’”
Soon, it was her second job, after being a stay-at-home mom. McKenna would load up her minivan and play gigs across the Northeast, often making it back home before the kids got up for school the next morning.
Her stature grew, especially regarding her songwriting, which is filled with strong characters, rich storytelling and haunting melodies.
Kanye West considers a certain ”SexyBack” singer his biggest rival. ”My biggest inspiration and biggest competition is Justin Timberlake,” the 29-year-old rapper tells. ”He’s the only other person that gets an across-the-board response and respect level – black radio, white radio.” What ever color of Radio he his more interested in this is in quite sometime that I have ever seen him talk something sensible and respectful about his competition. Yes true we all need some one to push us beyond our known limits and that?s when we probably get to see what we actually made of ? mud or steel. Some just can?t stand the pressure and fade off into deep darkness and others rise to the occasion and gradually fulfill unthought-of dreams and ambitions. Well may be its another salvo that West has fired at Justin asking him to up the ante as he is prepared for a long battle for supremacy.
Brit singer Lily Allen is most likely not going to make the MTV Video Music awards in a few weeks. But it?s not because MTV pulled her from the show as some rumors are saying.
A source close to the show leaked that the network ?wishes she could perform? but it looks like issues with her visa won?t be resolved by September 9th when the show airs. However, if she can get her immigration issues worked out on or before the said date, Lily ?has a standing invitation to attend the event?. And despite the rumors, the network would ?love? to see her perform on the show.
Rapper M.I.A. slips a modern history lesson about the plight of Sudanese refugees in Darfur into her latest single – to make sure the topic stays alive. The British born Sri Lankan star is passionate about raising awareness of the destruction of war in Sudan, and hope she can educate her fans. These are the kind of rappers the world needs and needs to have more of, it makes no sense screaming at 10-15 decibels points and shouting out crap of which half cannot be understood and half is not worth understanding. Lyrics should be inspiring and something what can be termed as awesome. M.I.A. I haven?t heard of her till date but surely if there is some meaning in her songs then I would be playing it on my Bose music system. There a moral duty that these celebs always avoid and never give importance to the ill happening of our world, so if she think she needs to do some good and bring international attention to the grim situation and I cast my vote for her. What does M.I.A. stand for by the way?
Last week, rappers UGK released their perennially delayed seventh album, Underground Kingz. The act, composed of longtime friends Chad “Pimp C” Butler and Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, hadn’t released an album’s worth of new material since 2002’s somewhat thrown-together Side Hustles collection ? an album that debuted at #70 on Billboard’s albums chart with 14,800 copies scanned during week one. This a nice jump from their previous release as the previous release debuted at 70 and this one has debuted at #1. But while Pimp C spent four years behind bars on assault charges, UGK’s legend and influence grew ? and the duo’s first new album in five years scanned almost 160,000 copies last week, making Underground Kingz the group’s first #1 on the Billboard albums chart.
They may be one of the biggest sell outs in the music industry but the Black Eyed Peas proved on Monday that they still have soul? scratch that, I meant Seoul.
At a press conference in the capital of South Korea, the United Nations quartet of Taboo, apl.de.ap, Fergie and will.i.am waved traditional Korean fans and sported the traditional gwanmo hats.
Is it me or do none of them look all that happy? Taboo can hardly be seen, Fergie is just smirking, will.i.am isn?t even smiling and apl.de.ap?s smile looks mighty forced. Oh well, nothing new. It doesn?t help their musical integrity gain points either way.
Amy Winehouse is still not completely out and about after her frightening drug overdose last week. And she?s keeping it that way.
The ?Rehab? singer has cancelled her appearance in Germany where she was supposed to open for the Rolling Stones. She also won?t be opening for them at another concert later in the week. Who the heck refuses the Rolling Stones? That is such an honor.
Anyway, Wino is still scheduled to perform at the V Festival in the UK this weekend but I?m willing to be that she?d cancel that too.
The girl needs some serious help. Can?t anyone do something?
Singer/songwriter James Blunt has blasted his critics, insisting people who hate him and his music need counseling. Blunt, whose hit song You’re Beautiful was voted the most irritating song of all time in a recent British poll, is fed up of being slammed by people who do not know him. This how you guys run this business and that?s what you get in return, simple give and take, you can?t expect the media to be going ga ga over your voice and terming you as a national treasure. Just keep doing the basic of this business right and you will survive, get your music right and have the fans swearing by your name, pose for the media and smile, they will like you. If his song is a hit they why call it irritating, like wise even that Titanic song from Celin Dion ? My heart will go on is often term the most irritating song, but people still play it again and again.
Pop singer Amy Winehouse has spoken out about her hospital visit earlier this week.
Winehouse was rushed to University College Hospital in London suffering from “severe exhaustion,” on Wednesday.
“I don’t know how to explain what happened. I don’t really know myself,” Winehouse told Britain’s News of The World of the incident.
“I can’t remember what I looked like. I couldn’t recognize myself. It was terrifying. I was terrified,” she added.
While Amy’s rep said only that the singer was suffering from “severe exhaustion,” News of the World claims, the “Rehab” singer’s hospital visit was due to the downing of several hard drugs combined with alcohol.
Though it appears, Winehouse did not comment to the paper on the drugs and alcohol allegations, the singer did say she herself was concerned over her trip to the hospital.
“I was so out of control. It just happened. It shocked me. I’m sorry. I just don’t know what got into me,” she said. “I never want to feel that way again.”
Winehouse’s biggest hit, “Rehab,” was written in response to her manager encouraging her to go to a treatment facility. The singer is known for enjoying her alcohol and is regularly spotted by the paparazzi in British pubs and at off license stores buying booze.
Earlier in the week, 50 cent said that he?s going to stop putting out solo records if his arch rival Kanye West?s new album outsells his when they drop on the same day next month. Get ready with your retirement plans 50.
They might be getting equal promotion at the very top of the iTunes store but Kanye is still outselling 50 when it comes to pre-orders. Kanye is up at #3 on the iTunes Top Albums chart while 50 is only at #9. On the singles chart, Kanye?s kick-off song ?Stronger? is at #2 while 50?s ?Ayo Technology? is at #10.
It seems that not even Justin Timberlake?s collaboration could help 50. Game over.
British singer Amy Winehouse was earlier reported the week to have been hospitalized due to ?severe exhaustion? but all you fans feeling sorry and pitiful for the singer can stop feeling so bad, as now there are reports which if believed tell that the singer is in hospital for a reason that plagues all of the entertainment industry today ? DRUGS! Her record company won?t comment on these reports and still is rigidly maintaining that the whole incident took place because of pure exhaustion, yes we know now that exhaustion = drug over dose, if so why would the medics had to pump her stomach. She?s now been taken to her home and has been advised complete rest. Amy has had to pull out of gigs in Norway and Denmark. They?re the latest in a long line cancelled shows. Now how could she be performing anywhere when she is addicted to drugs, she will be out of her minds most of the time, singing drug related tunes that won?t be understandable to her.
The best of the best got together on TRL last Tuesday as Timbaland, Kanye West, Robin Thicke, Rihanna and Chris Brown announced the nominees for the MTV Video Music Awards.
Justin Timberlake and Beyonce led the pack of nominees with seven nominations each. Kanye West and Rihanna both earned five nominations and Amy Winehouse came out with three. A list of performers were also announced. Performers will include Kanye West, Fall Out Boy, Amy Winehouse, Chris Brown, The Foo Fighters and Rihanna. The VMAs will air live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on September 9th.
With that list of nominees and performances, it will look to be a solid show. I?m watching!
