MARY J SUED FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT December 23, 2008

 

Two producers have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Mary J. Blige and others claiming her track, “On My Grind,” is too similar to a tune they submitted to the song’s producer, reports TMZ.com.      

        New Jersey-based Jermaine Jumpp and Michael C. Adams say in their federal lawsuit that they handed a “compact disk” to the “office” of producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins that contained the song “On My Grind,” reports TMZ.com.       

       Four years later, Darkchild produced the track “Enough Cryin’” for Mary J., and the guys say it’s a rip off of “On My Grind.”       

       “Enough Cryin” was recorded and mixed in 2005 for Blige’s multi-platinum album “The Breakthrough.” Blige and Darkchild are credited with writing the tune, which features a rap segment from Brook-Lyn, Blige’s alter ego whom Mary created to give her lyrical freedom without the fear of damaging her own persona.       

       Jay-Z was also named in the lawsuit, although his role is unclear.

‘BET HONORS’ LAUNCHES INAUGURAL WEEKEND December 16, 2008

 

Filmmaker Tyler Perry and R&B superstar Mary J. Blige are among the luminaries to be saluted at the second annual “BET Honors.”

 

       The ceremony will be held on Jan. 17 and double as a kickoff to the network’s festivities surrounding the inauguration of America’s first black president, culminating Jan. 20 with BET’s first-ever Inaugural Ball.

 

       Magic Johnson, dance pioneer Judith Jamison, style guru B. Smith and South Carolina Congressman James E. Clyburn were also chosen to receive BET Honors, to be hosted by actress Gabrielle Union and broadcast on the network Feb. 9 at 9 p.m.      

       “‘The BET Honors’ recognizes excellence in achievement and celebrates inspiration,” said the network’s programming head Stephen Hill. “Last year’s inaugural show had a number of leave-your-seat performances dedicated to our honorees. This year, we’re finding new ways to musically pay tribute so look forward to fresh, unforgettable moments. The pride will show.”

 

       BET’s Inaugural Ball, to be held at DC’s Mandarin Oriental hotel, will benefit America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest non-profit alliance dedicated to the well-being of children and youth founded by Colin and Alma Powell.       

       Additionally, the Ball will support two institutions that are committed to the education and advancement of today’s youth in Washington, D.C. – Dunbar High School and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

 

       Also during the historic inaugural weekend, BET will air a one-hour special, “Yes We Will! BET’s Inaugural Celebration” on Jan. 20.

Bassett announces SAG noms; Naomi in Miami; BET & PlayPhone; Prince to rock Obama ball?; Marbury meeting fruitless; Hendrix in Grammy Hall December 2, 2008

 

ER’s” Angela Bassett and “Will & Grace” star Eric McCormack will announce the nominees for this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards in a live broadcast on Dec. 18. The nominees for five film and eight television categories will be revealed at 9 a.m. ET on TNT, with TBS.com carrying a live webcast, reports People.com. The 15th Annual SAG Awards Ceremony will air Jan. 25 on TNT and TBS at 8 p.m.      

       *Supermodel Naomi Campbell is in Miami to attend tonight’s “In Fashion Photo,” a retrospective of more than 50 photographs and illustrations of her from the past 20 years. Campbell was expected to throw her after-party for the expo at the Cipriani sales center in the former Saxony hotel, according to the New York Daily News, but the restaurant is currently dealing with some legal issues.  Instead, the bash will be held at SET nightclub down the street.

 

       *BET Networks has partnered with PlayPhone, Inc. to build and manage its mobile entertainment and personalization business.  The new BET Mobile destination (http://mobile.bet.com) powered by PlayPhone is a place where fans can download new and exclusive mobile content directly to their mobile phones. The service is accessible on the Web or WAP deck (wap.bet.com) and is also easy to access from more than 2,000 wireless devices across all major North American wireless networks.

 

       *Spike Lee, Anne Hathaway and Susan Sarandon are reportedly confirmed to attend the Creative Coalition’s Gala Inaugural Ball at the Harman Center, where two tickets cost $10,000. According to People.com, Prince, Rihanna and Elvis Costello are in talks to perform at the event celebrating Barack Obama’s presidential election, while Mary J. Blige and Common are reportedly interested.

 

       *An attorney for New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury said nothing was resolved during their meeting Monday with team president Donnie Walsh, who suspended the player for one game without pay and docked him an additional game’s salary last week after he reportedly refused Coach Mike D’Antoni’s request to play in a loss to Detroit last Wednesday. The athlete’s representative, Hal Biagas, wouldn’t say if Marbury was reinstated or if there had been any progress toward a buyout.

 

       *Jimi Hendrix’s famous version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that opened the 1969 Woodstock Festival is among 28 new recordings added to the Grammy Hall of Fame, a featured part of the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles opening on Dec. 6. Queen’s “We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You” also joined the Grammy Hall. Inductee “Let The Good Times Roll” by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five will be featured in a live performance by B.B. King and John Mayer on “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!” airing tomorrow (Dec. 3) at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Urkel writes a film; Harvey uses UDub!News; Griffey fronts Power Ice; Labelle contest; Shaq’s restraining order dropped; Diana Ross plays Monster November 14, 2008

 

Jaleel White, best known for playing Steve Urkel on the 1990s sitcom “Family Matters,” has written a screenplay that will be turned into a film for producers Matthew Cooke and Bert Marcus. “Did You Get My Text” is about a young man who starts a relationship with a girl on his friend’s phone, turning their courtship into a comedy of technological errors.

 

       *UDub!News, a subsidiary of mobile and digital content aggregator UrbanWorld Wireless, is now an official news resource for The Steve Harvey Morning Show (SHMS). UDub!News delivers breaking news in urban and pop culture, lifestyle and entertainment via email, SMS, MMS, RSS news feeds and video. The service will be featured daily on the SHMS Web site in its “What’s Now” section.  Listeners will have the opportunity to participate in contests and have access to exclusive music and ringtones from some of today’s biggest artists featured in UDub!News via the SHMS Web site www.steveharvey.com/whatsnow.  

 

       *Major League Baseball center fielder, Ken Griffey, Jr. has signed a three year endorsement deal with Integrated Beverage Group, Ltd. (IBG) for their new product, Power Ice, a frozen snack for active kids and healthy alternative to soft drinks and sports drinks. The Chicago White Sox player was chosen “because of his illustrious athletic career and inspiring dedication to young children,” read a statement from IBG. Griffey recently shot a 30 second TV spot highlighting the health benefits of Power Ice, which is available in two flavors of Lime Kicker and Orange Blast and is sold in three packs for $1.99 and team packs for $5.99.       

       *Win a chance to see the recently reunited Labelle perform live in the “Dress Like Labelle” YouTube contest. To enter, contestants should create a video of themselves sporting Labelle’s unique style. The video should be set to the full length audio of the single, “Roll Out” (featuring Wyclef Jean). Then, they should upload their video to the ‘Dress Like Labelle’ YouTube group and submit all basic information to the official Labelle contest page. The contestant who makes the winning video will win a trip to see Labelle live in concert! The contest ends Dec. 13. For official rules, click here (http://www.labelleisback.com/dresslikelabelle/rules.html).   

 

       *The woman who accused Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal of stalking and threatening her has dropped her request for a permanent restraining order against him in Georgia’s Fulton County Superior Court, reports TMZ.com. Shaq and Alexis Miller were due in court Thursday to address her accusations that he left her vulgar phone messages and texts after they broke off an alleged affair. O’Neal has denied the charges.

 

       *Diana Ross is the special guest for this year’s Monster Retailer Awards and Concert at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The event will take place on Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 at the Paris Hotel. Past Monster concerts have featured music greats like Mary J Blige, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Crosby, Stills and Nash and James Brown.  Attendance for the Monster 2009 Dealer Awards and Concert is by invitation only.

ARETHA FRANKLIN RANKED ‘GREATEST SINGER’ November 12, 2008

 

The Queen of Soul has just become the Queen of Rock in a new poll of the rock era’s 100 greatest singers, conducted by Rolling Stone magazine and due on newsstands Friday with four different covers.

 

       Aretha Franklin, 66, tops a list that includes Ray Charles at No. 2, Elvis Presley at No. 3, Sam Cooke at No. 4 and John Lennon at No. 5, according to the magazine’s survey of 179 musicians, producers, Rolling Stone editors, and other music-industry insiders.      

       The list also comes with testimonials from musicians. R&B singer Mary J. Blige, for example, writes that Franklin is “the reason why women want to sing.” Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, who was No. 15 on the list, describes Presley’s voice as “confident, insinuating and taking no prisoners.”      

       Besides Franklin, the only other living people in the top 10 were Bob Dylan at No. 7 and Stevie Wonder at No. 9. Marvin Gaye was No. 6, Otis Redding No. 8, and James Brown No. 10.      

       Other notables included Paul McCartney at No. 11, one place ahead of his idol, Little Richard; and Mick Jagger at No. 16, also one ahead of a key influence, Tina Turner. Among the top 25, 50-year-old Michael Jackson was the youngest, coming in at No. 25.

DIDDY WAS ‘STRAIGHT UP CRYING’ TUESDAY NIGHT November 7, 2008

 

Sean “Diddy” Combs began Election Day with cameras following him into the voting booth in Manhattan to cast his ballot for Barack Obama. By the end of the night, after Obama’s win, he was in tears.

 

       “I was straight up crying,” he confesses to People.com. “I was with my kids. It was a beautiful thing. I just thank God my prayers were answered.”        

       Tuesday’s victory for Obama also happened on Diddy’s 39th birthday.       

       “I don’t know why God blessed me by having my birthday [on Nov. 4], but we’re here to celebrate 80 percent of Obama being elected and 20 percent my birthday,” Diddy told reporters Wednesday night at a celebration sponsored by Ciroc Vodka at Mansion nightclub in New York.       

       Some of his celebrity guests: Mary J. Blige, Ben Stiller, Cassie and Cedric the Entertainer, who said his son Croix, 8, was full of questions: “‘What does the president do and what does it mean? And how old is Barack’s little daughter?’” I was like, ‘That’s what I’m talking about,’” the comedian joked. “‘Make that move!’”       

       On a more serious note, he says: “It was elating and it was just amazing talking to [him] about it.”

BLIGE, DIDDY, JAY-Z STUMP FOR OBAMA IN FLA November 4, 2008

 

Jay-Z, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Mary J. Blige and Russell Simmons appeared at a rally for Barack Obama in South Florida on Sunday to underscore the importance of enduring today’s potential long lines at the polls.

 

       “It’s bigger than us,” Diddy told the crowd of about 800 at Florida Memorial University’s Chester Robinson Athletic Center. “We have to do it for our children, we have to do it for the people that died for us to have the right to vote.”      

       Music executive Kevin Liles also joined the entertainers at the “Last Chance for Change” rally for the Democratic nominee.      

       “We stood in line to get the new Lil’ Wayne CD,” Liles said. “We stood in line to get a new pair of Jordans. We stood in line to get in here. So we ain’t afraid of no lines.”      

       None of the artists actually performed, instead using their time to stump for the candidate, according to the Associated Press. A DJ played as the crowd waited for the group to arrive, and a gospel choir and college step teams also performed.      

       “We have been doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result,” Blige said. “Please do something different. Barack Obama is a true example of something different. He’s a true example of something our children can have in the future, what they can look at and say: ‘Wow, we can really, really do something. We can really, really be something.’”

Open Letter From Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Kevin Liles and Diddy October 29, 2008

 

“With only 7 days left before we vote for change, let’s hold ourselves accountable and responsible” 

Where it stands today, we are on the verge of making history, the kind of history that will be apart of our cultures legacy.

It ain’t over, until it’s over. There is still so much work to be done. The thrill of victory is just 1 week away.  We hear it in the streets, we feel it in our hearts and it’s burning in our souls. Together we have successfully registered the most young voters in the history of the modern political process.

We called a State Of Emergency on October 3rd at 6:00AM and our culture stood up and recognized the importance of registering millions of voters. From 1st time voters who have just come of age to vote, to those who are participating for the 1st time in the voting process.  Your commitment to Change will continue to ring across our America, because we all are in the Right State Of Mind 

Where it stands today, we are on the verge of making history, the kind of history that will be apart of our cultures legacy. The kind of history that bridges the gap between race, religion and culture, the kind of history that will ignite a light that shines bright from generation to generation, screaming that our voice does matter and our vote does count. 

The kind of history that will enable the next generation of leaders to encourage vision, not division, to encourage hope, not hopelessness, to encourage the power of the people, not the power politics of the few. 

With only 7 days left before we vote for change, let’s hold ourselves accountable and responsible. No more excuses, no more mistakes and no more time to waste. If you have the opportunity to vote early in your state then vote today. If you are voting on November 4th, make preparation today.

Bring your family and friends and plan for the party at the poles. Make November 4th the day we celebrate change – The day we celebrate freedom of choice. The day we celebrate power of all people. Lets all come together on November 4th, because it’s a family reunion. It’s our time and we are all in the Right State Of Mind. 

We have 7 days to Vote for Change. 7 days to Vote to Make History. We can not slow down. We can not let up. We must push through to history until the final vote is cast and the last ballot is counted. We can, we must, and we will Make It Happen. Vote Obama/Biden on November 4th. 

God Bless, 
Diddy 
Jay-Z 
Mary J. Blige 
Kevin Liles 

NEW PROJECT COMING FROM ASHANTI September 22, 2008

    The Vault contains vocal recordings penned by Ashanti in 2001 while signed exclusively to AJM Records. This composite of work was completed before AJM’s joint venture with Murder Inc/Def Jam in 2002.

    Top notch producers added the finishing touches to The Vault, including 15-year-old producing wunderkind Miguel “Migs” Baeza. Migs produced the first single set to drop from The Vault, “Let’s Do Something Crazy.” (Listen to it here.)

    For the cut, Migs brought in hip-hop superstar Flo-Rida to drop a few rhymes, making “Let’s Do Something Crazy” a sure hit. “Although the track is not like any other Ashanti song heard before, I tried to please her already established fan base by maintaining the classic Ashanti style while at the same time indulging a new audience with an upbeat, exciting feel on this upcoming single,” says Migs. Migs also worked his magic on the irresistible “Satisfy,” another track from The Vault.

    Other producers on the album include Kidd Kold, AJM’s in-house producer who is responsible for the 2nd single “Imagine.” (Listen to it here.) Kidd has produced 8 tracks on The Vault and has worked with DMX and Foxy Brown. Additional producers include Nocko, Steven White and Kenny Flav. Nocko is no stranger to hit makers. He has worked with countless top artists like Mary J. Blige, T.I., Trina, Lil Mo, Monica, Teddy Riley, Ludacris, Nelly and Rick Ross. This dream team of producers has turned The Vault into a must have treasure.

    Get ready to discover the treasure of Ashanti: The Vault. Its musical gems are priceless recordings.

MARY J. BLIGE TO SPREAD ‘LOVE’ THIS FALL: Singer plans U.S. tour in support of ‘Growing Pains’ August 22, 2008

Mary J. Blige is coming to a city near you this fall to promote her eighth studio album, “Growing Pains.”

 

      The Love Soul Tour, which features Robin Thicke and newcomer Dave Young as supporting acts, will kick off Sept. 13 in North Charleston, SC, and visit cities from coast to coast through mid-October.

 

      The outing follows up Blige’s spring excursion with Jay-Z on the “Heart of the City Tour,” which also supported the December release of “Growing Pains.”

 

       As previously reported, the Queen of Hip Hop Soul has joined a dozen-plus female music stars to record “Just Stand Up,” a charity single for the Stand Up to Cancer initiative to raise funds for cancer research. The song, produced by Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “L.A.” Reid, will be released to radio and will be available for purchase at Apple’s iTunes store beginning Sept. 2.       

       An all-star television premiere of the tune will take place Sept. 5 when the ABC, CBS and NBC networks simultaneously devote an hour of commercial-free programming to the cause.

 

      Below is the itinerary for The Love Soul Tour:

September 2008
13 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum
19 – Virginia Beach , VA – Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
20 – Bristow, VA – Nissan Pavilion
21 – Raleigh, NC – Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
26 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
27 – Charlotte, NC – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
28 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre

October 2008
2 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
8 – Baltimore, MD – 1st Mariner Arena
10 – Sunrise, FL – BankAtlantic Center
11 – Tampa, FL – Ford Amphitheatre
12 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
14 – Chicago, IL – Arie Crown Theater
17 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
18 – Concord, CA – Sleep Train Pavilion