The 2007 Academy Awards are near, and today was the official announcement for all nominees! Academy members from the various branches selected the nominees in their corresponding award categories, with the exception of the Animated Feature and Foreign Language Film categories, in which nominations were determined by vote of screening committees composed of members from several branches. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees. Ballots were mailed to 5,830 voting members in late December and were returned directly to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the international accounting firm, for tabulation. For the official list of all nominees, CLICK HERE!

» Beyonce Enjoyed Singing Duet with Shakera
Beyoncé Knowles has lavished praise on Colombian pop sensation Shakira, insisting she is the perfect singer to join her on female empowerment duet “Beautiful Liar.” Knowles was thrilled to record the song with pop peer Shakira - which features on the reissue of the singer’s solo album B’Day - and is immensely proud of the song’s lyrics, which tell the story of two women who pull together to reject the advances of a dishonest lover. She tells MTV, “I’ve always loved her and I’ve always wanted to work with her, and the song fits perfectly. It basically talks about two women - the same guy is trying to get at both of them but instead of them fighting, they’re saying, ‘He’s a beautiful liar, let’s not fight, let’s stick together. Forget him!’ I think it’s a great concept.”

» Serena Williams Doesn’t Want to be Cocky
Tennis star Serena Williams is shunning the media’s match reports over fears positive press will turn her into an egomaniac. The sports ace avoids reading any stories praising her ability in case she becomes to cocky on the court. However, she does admit the raving write-ups have all been saved up to amuse her in retirement. Williams says, “I don’t read anything. One time, I think it was ‘99, I read this article. It was really good and I was like, ‘Oh yeah! I’m the bomb.’ I just got too headstrong. I don’t want to be like some of those celebrities walking around, just so full of themselves. I always want to be down to earth, want to be a person like when you meet them, they’re the same person that you think of them in the article or something. “When my career is over, I’ve been saving a lot of articles, I’ll go back and read them. I don’t want to be big headed (so) I can barely get through the door.” CONTINUE READING

» ULTIMATE BEATZ FOR THE FREAKZ!

 Common feat. Will.I.Am » “A Dream” » Download » (Full) » This is an old one, meaning I was suppose to post this a long time ago (it got omitted), but I really like the message given. ”I Have A Dream,” which features extraordinary producer Will.I.Am, is the theme for the inspirational movie Freedom Writers, which is out in theaters now and it could be found on the Freedom Writers Soundtrack as well.

 Ciara » “Like A Boy” » Download » (Full) » Now I hear this is going to be a single, not sure if it’s true or not, but who cares!? This woman is definitely on top of her game with this song, it has a tight beat and powerful statements. Congrats Ciara on your album, Ciara: The Evolution, going platium!!!

 Chamillionaire feat. Kelis » “Not A Criminal” » Download » (Full) » This is a brand new track from Chamillionaire’s new album Ultimate Victory, possibly the first single. This track is da bidness! Kelis also does her thing on it as well.
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I like the the song a lot, I like how they use the little “Mary Tyler Moore” sample on this track, and of course you got Cee-Lo, genius!

WHILE BOARDING A PLANE! - Michael Vick, QuarterBack of the Atlanta Falcons, reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that contained a residue “closely associated with marijuana.” Police said today that no charges immediately were filed. The 26-year-old Atlanta Falcons quarterback entered an airport concourse Wednesday morning with the 20-ounce bottle. He eventually handed it over and boarded his flight to Atlanta. But his initial reluctance to turn over the bottle aroused suspicion among airport security screeners, a police report said. Two Transportation Security Administration screeners recognized the 6-foot, 215-pound Vick.

The bottle was found to have a hidden compartment that contained “a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana,” the report said. The compartment was hidden by the bottle’s label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright, police said.

Police said the bottle was sent to the Miami-Dade County crime lab for analysis. It could be weeks before any decision is made on whether to file charges, said Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.

“We’ll do an analysis and see what it is. There’s no sense of urgency to it,” he said to. Vick did not immediately return a phone call early Thursday. “We plan to look into the matter and discuss it with Michael Vick before having any further comment,” Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said.

Haha nice going! What a way to land yourself on the No-Fly list. When will these people learn? You can’t bring sand to the beach, and you sure as hell can’t bring weed on a plane! This ain’t Soul Plane!

I’m really feeling this track produced by Karriem Riggins! It’s by Common [the best lyricist of all time in my opinion] and features Bilal and it will be on the “Smokin’ Aces” soundtrack, it has a very real message, it kinda of reminds me of Lauryn Hill’s ‘Final Hour‘ from off of her late 90’s album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; that album along with that track was pure crack man! Yes, it is on heavy rotation as I type this right now, I am proud to say that I STILL own Lauryn’s albums both The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Lauryn Hill’s MTV Unplugged 2.0 album. I also have conjured up a quick sneek preview of Smokin’ Aces, which stars Common and Alicia Keys, that will be hitting theaters January 26th 2007!!!

Common feat. Bilal » “Play Your Cards Right” » Download » (Full)

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Musiq Soulchild is back on the music scene with a new album - “LUVANMUSIQ” and a new single - “Buddy!” I’ve always been a fan of his old school style, and it’s good to see him bringing in 2007 with some new material. Thanks to my friend Amanda from Atlantic Records, you guys can stream the song via Windows Media & Real Player! Check out the links below. And be sure to look out for “LUVANMUSIQ” - in stores March 13, 2007!

 MUSIQ - “BUDDY” (Windows Media)
 MUSIQ - “BUDDY” (Real)

» Official Site: http://www.musiqsoulchild.com/
» Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/musiqsoulchild
» Ringtones: http://www.atlanticrecords.com/musiqsoulchild/ring tone/

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For those of you who don’t know him, Isaiah Washington plays the black doctor (Dr. Burk) on the hit ABC series, Grey’s Anatomy. The show took home the award for “Best Drama Series.” While in the press room conducting interviews, Isaiah Washington made the comment “No, I did not call T.R. a faggot. Never happened, never happened.” Smart move, Isaiah, smart move … NOT! Anyhow, he issued a statement today. Check it out below:

“I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance. By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on Grey’s Anatomy. I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I’ve asked for help. CONTINUE READING