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news, reviews and banter on r'n'b, hiphop, garage, grime, bassline, soul, electro and house. standard.

Duplate Drama...

Published by Warren Dell under on Friday, February 17, 2006
Back on the your screen this sunday for a feature length showing of all 6 episodes. If you missed it first time make sure you tune in/tape it/sky plus it or whatever the kids are doing these days. Channel 4 11.40pm.

Lemar wins a Brit...

Published by Warren Dell under on Thursday, February 16, 2006
Lemar won a Brit award last night for best urban act. Congrats go to the guy but in all honesty the award doesn't hold that much weight these days. Last year wasn't the best for urban acts in this country but there should have been some recognition of a nomination for the likes of Lemar, Kano et al in some of the main catagories rather than pushing them into their own box. Instead the panel honour the likes of James 'cockney rhyming slang' Blunt and the Kaiser Chiefs. Imagine the outcry if Kano or Dizzee came out with a song called I Predict A Riot - regardless of what the lyrics were...

Another sad day...

Published by Warren Dell under on Wednesday, February 15, 2006
The last few days in the black music world haven't been the greatest with Jay Dee passing away on Friday and now with great sadness the news has broke that UK soul sensation Lynden David Hall has lost his battle with cancer aged 31. He had been suffering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a rare form of the disease that affects young people in their 20's and around 1400 people are diagnosed with it every year. Lynden never really got the success his talent deserved, a so often common theme for UK artists, particularly soul stars. He released two albums including his biggest hit single 'Sexy Cinderella' before an absence from the scene while he was diagnosed with the disease. He still managed to release his latest set 'In Between Jobs' through DJ Diggz Random Soul label last summer and although he wasn't in attendence, a benefit for his Wish Charity was held in November with Ms Dynamite, Shola Ama, Roachford, Courtney Pine and Beverley Knight all performing to raise money for cancer charities. The tributes and condolence messages have already began to flood in with Trevor Nelson and Ronnie Herel speaking on the BBC website:

Trevor said "It's the loss of a great talent unfulfilled. At the time, in my capacity as an A&R man, he was one of the biggest talents of his time, and ahead of his time in many ways... he was a very unassuming guy, very quiet and introverted, not your typical wannabe pop star. It's a sad day for British black music, but knowing Lynden as I do, I hope the attention that this brings him will make people go and re-visit his music"

Ronnie reiterated Trevor's thoughts "My heart sunk when I heard that Lynden passed away, my heart goes out to his family and friends at this time. Medicine 4 My Pain was a landmark album for UK black music. It wasn't for the glory but simply for the music, to meet him you wouldn't know that he was pure genius. I knew Lynden quite well at the time he put out his debut album out, he was a cool, sweet guy who lived for his music and that's how I'm going to remember him."

Buy a star for the day...

Published by Warren Dell under on Wednesday, February 15, 2006
You can buy all sorts of tat on ebay these days from fake G-Unit chains to a blood stained Rick James jumpsuit, but now you can literally buy your favourite rapper/singer. Well an hour of their time at least. As part of the Lunch With A Leader celebrity online auction fanatics and stalkers out there can buy lunch with Alicia Keys or Russell Simmons amongst others, which helps the Communities In Schools organisation who deal with dropout prevention. Snoop Dogg is offering an hour of studio time with the shizzle himself with the winners money going towards the Habitat For Humanity Operation Home Delivery Fund which looks to help rebuild houses in wake of the Hurricane's Katrina and Rita.

Lunch With A Leader
Snoop Studio Time

Other stars are sure to follow and at present it's uncomfirmed whether a selection of titles from Kanye Wests porn treasure chest to Janet Jackons clothes (circa 2005) have found it's way online.

R.I.P JayDee...

Published by Warren Dell under on Monday, February 13, 2006
JayDee 1974-2006

As you may have heard already over the weekend, one of Hip-Hop’s greatest producers JayDee sadly passed away on Friday due to complications from lupus. Late last year he was in the UK and fans were shocked to be greeted with the man carried on stage and performing from a wheelchair. At the start of last year he spent time critically ill in hospital but managed to come through and until those London gigs seemed to have come through the bad times. Long-term friend and fellow founding member of Slum Village T-3 lead the tributes from his myspace pages and JayDee’s label Stones Throw carried this message on their site:


Quote: “It is with great sorrow that the Family and Friends of J Dilla announces his spiritual transition on the morning of February 10th, 2006 in the loving arms of his mother, Maureen Yancey.

J Dilla had suffered for over three years with an incurable blood disease, and had also been diagnosed with lupus.

A public viewing (closed casket) will take place Monday, February 13, 2006, 430PM-900PM at Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries, 1712 South Glendale Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205.
A private funeral will follow.”

The producer/rapper was a founding member of the group Slum Village as well as working with the likes of Q-Tip, D’Angelo and more recently on Common’s critically acclaimed Be – last week on his 32nd birthday he released his second solo project called Donuts.

R.I.P JayDee – Hip-Hop won’t be the same without those soulful sounds of his.

The results are in...

Published by Warren Dell under on Thursday, February 09, 2006
Well I managed 9 out of 13 from my predictions which isn't too bad. Although it could have been ten - how did Don't Phunk With My Heart win best Rap by a group or duo?

The winners...

The Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Mariah Carey – We Belong Together

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
John Legend – Ordinary People

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
So Amazing – Beyonce and Stevie Wonder

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Aretha Franklin – A House Is Not A Home

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
Damien Marley – Welcome To Jamorock

Best R&B Song

Mariah Carey – We Belong Together

Best R&B Album
John Legend – Get Lifted

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Mariah Carey – Emancipation Of Mimi

Best Rap Solo Performance
Kanye West – Gold Digger

Best rap Performance By A Group Or Duo
Black Eyed Peas – Don’t Phunk With My Heart

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Jay-Z and Linkin Park – Numb/Encore

Best Rap Song
Kanye West – Diamonds

Best Rap Album
Kanye West – Late Registration

In the general awards John Legend won Best New Artist and Stevie Wonder’s From The Bottom Of My Heart won Best Male Pop Vocal performance.

The 48th Grammy Awards...

Published by Warren Dell under on Wednesday, February 08, 2006
The music industry’s premier event The Grammy’s takes place tomorrow night at The Staples Center in Los Angeles and below is the Hip-Hop/R’n’B categories with my predictions in bold for who I think will walk away a winner.

The Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Alicia Keys – Unbreakable
Amerie – 1 Thing
Beyonce – Wishing On A Star
Mariah Carey – We Belong Together
Fantasia’s – Free Your Self

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

Jamie Foxx – Creepin
Usher – Superstar
Mario – Let Me Love You
Stevie Wonder – So What The Fuss
John Legend – Ordinary People

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

So Amazing – Beyonce and Stevie Wonder
If This World Were Mine – Alicia Keys and Jermaine Paul
Cater 2 U - Destiny’s Child
So High - John Legend and Lauryn Hill
How Will I Know – Stevie Wonder and Aisha Morris

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Aretha Franklin – A House Is Not A Home
Mariah Carey – Mine Again
Alicia Keys – If I Was Your Woman
Fantasia – Summertime
John Legend – Stay With You

Best Urban/Alternative Performance

Mos Def – Ghetto Rock
Damien Marley – Welcome To Jamorock
Floetry – Superstar
Van Hunt – Dust
Gorillaz – Dirty Harry

Best R&B Song

Mariah Carey – We Belong Together
Destiny’s Child – Cater 2 You
Fantasia – Free Yourself
John Legend – Ordinary People
Alicia Keys - Unbreakable

Best R&B Album

Earth, Wind and Fire – Illumination
Stevie Wonder – A Time To Love
John Legend – Get Lifted
Alicia Keys – Unplugged
Fantasia – Free Yourself

Best Contemporary R&B Album

Mariah Carey – Emancipation Of Mimi
Destiny’s Child – Destiny Fulfilled
Amerie – Touch
Mario – Turning Point
Omarion - O

Best Rap Solo Performance

Eminem – Mockingbird
50 Cent – Disco Inferno
T.I – U Don’t Know Me
Ludacris – Number One Spot
Common – Testify
Kanye West – Gold Digger

Best rap Performance By A Group Or Duo

Ying Yang Twins – Wait (Whisper Song)
Black Eyed Peas – Don’t Phunk With My Heart
Common and Last Poets – The Conrer
The Game and 50 Cent – Hate It Or Love It
Eminem, 50 Cent & Dr.Dre - Encore

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Ciara and Missy Elliott – 1,2 Step
Destiny’s Child, T.I and Lil Wayne – Soldier
Jay-Z and Linkin Park – Numb/Encore
Gwen Stefani and Eve – Rich Girl
Common, Kanye West and John Legend – They Say

Best Rap Song

50 Cent – Candy Shop
The Game and 50 Cent – Hate It Or Love It
Kanye West – Diamonds
Black Eyed Peas – Don’t Phunk With My Heart
Missy Elliott, CIara and Fatman Scoop – Lose Control

Best Rap Album

Eminem – Encore
50 Cent – The Massacre
Kanye West – Late Registration
Common – Be
Missy Elliott – Cookbook

Results will be posted tomorrow...

Man dies on set of Busta video shoot...

Published by Warren Dell under on Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Busta Rhymes bodyguard was shot dead while on set of his latest video, with police keen to speak to G-Unit member Tony Yayo in connection to the studio shooting.

Although not an official suspect police want to question Yayo after he was involved in an argument with the videos producer, before storming off set ahead of the shooting.

Bodyguard Israel Ramirez was shot in the back and pronounced dead at Woodhull Hospital at 1:10am Sunday morning. According to varying reports he either jumped in the way to prevent the alleged target Busta being hit or Ramirez may have been the intended target after being involved in an on set scuffle.

Whether this was the same incident which involved Yayo is yet to be seen, and police are having trouble tracking down Busta and at least 50 other people believed at the shooting scene.

Busta was shooting a video for his latest single Touch It remix in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, New York. The video's cameo appearance list included G-Unit members 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks, DMX, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott and other high profile celebrities.

Sway - This Is My Demo...

Published by Warren Dell under on Thursday, February 02, 2006

Tracklisting...

This Is My Demo
Products
Hype Boys
Little Derek
Pretty Ugly Husband
Flo Fashion
Up Your Speed
Download
Loose Woose
Sick World
On my Own
Back For You
Slow Down
Month In The Summer

The big release is this Monday! A must buy for everyone. Now I’m all for supporting UK talent over Americans when the music is great but just for the sake of being English is something I don’t agree with. This artist is not the case though and is a big talent with music to match anything the Americans are producing at the moment. There is a bonus DVD included as well featuring appearances on Westwood, in America and in the studio.
 

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