In late 2010, a cover of Tweet’s “Oops” hit the web, yet it was not the reinvention of the 2002 track that had people buzzing. It was the video, which featured a chain smoking Lindsay Lohan getting close to a tattooed hipster in an unkempt hotel.

It turns out, the video was a collection of footage from a Muse Magazine photoshoot that the starlet had done. But who was the artist behind it all?

The raunchy montage was just the beginning of the public’s introduction to one of the most exciting newcomers in rap music.

At just 24-years old, Trinidadian born rapper Theophilus London has released some incredible tracks. One could argue that the world of Hip-Hop is in dire need of a socially conscious artist.

London’s lyrics evoke the cultural awareness of Tupac, while the danceable beats that accompany his words recall the initial releases of Kanye West.

London’s style is the product of a great many influences at work such as soul-pop and electro R&B.

London cites such influences as Michael Jackson and even “The Smiths,” the British indie rock group that rose to fame in the 80’s, but never actually reached superstardom, though they maintained a cult following for most of their career.

But unlike The Smiths, London seems destined for commercial success. After years of releasing mixtapes, it seems he has emerged from the pool of underground talent that New York has to offer.

His album, “Timez Are Weird These Days,” released last summer, boasts a diverse array of songs that range from danceable to poignant.

It also features notable collaborations. TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, Teegan and Sarah’s Sarah Queen, Solange Knowles, and Glasser all make appearances on the Timez.

London’s Caribbean background, Brooklyn upbringing, and brief residency in the Poconos are likely the reason for his uniquely crafted sound and style.

A perfect example of this may be found in his “I Stand Alone” video, in which he manages to pull off western and urban look simultaneously. The soundtrack ready song is one catchy personal anthem.

The album also features an 80’s inspired love song, “Why Even Try.” He masters a similar flare on “Love is Real,” which manages to be nightclub jam with haunting undertones.

After a standout performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival last summer, a local reporter revealed “Theophilus London is going to be big. Very big. The buzz has been building for some time.” And I couldn’t agree more!

Watch Theophilus London’s video for “I Stand Alone” below:

Written By: Justine Ashley
Contributing Editor for Gossip On This
http://twitter.com/Justine_Ashley

Now that Leona Lewis has been certified a superstar, it is time for another “X-Factor” champ to shine! Alexandra Burke is the latest champ from Britian’s hit talent competition series, “The X-Factor,” and will be dropping a single very soon. Alexandra won her way into the hearts of Simon Cowell and hundreds of fans when she entered the competition and only gained more as time went on. During the finals of the show, she performed “Listen,” the hit song from Dreamgirls, with her favorite artist, Beyonce. Throughout the show, she made it known that Beyonce was one of her heroes and when the two singers met, Beyonce took a liking to her and offered her tips and coaching.

After winning the show, Alex headed to the U.S. to start on her debut album. She met and worked with the likes of Phantom Boyz, Akon, Pharrell, Red One, Stargate, and even Beyonce and hubby Jay-Z. The power couple met up with Alex many times to offer her help on her debut album. Beyonce even offered Alex a chance to open for her during her “I Am…” tour but due to scheduling conflicts, the match never happened.

Now, Alexandra is finally ready to show the world what she’s got. She recently signed a”six-figure deal” with Dolce & Gabbana and she also announced that her upcoming single will be titled “Bad Boys” and will feature rapper Flo Rida. Promotion for the singer has begun and two new very “Sasha Fierce” looking promo pictures for her new project have surfaced (see above).

Hopefully, Alexandra can see the same success as her predecessor Leona Lewis. But of course, only time will tell. We are wishing her the best of luck and will keep you updated once her single drops this Tuesday, August 25th.

Pictures via: Toyas-World

[See post to listen to audio]

Born and raised in Yonkers, New York, Outasight (Richard Andrew) was brought up by a mother who decorated the walls with records and a guitar playing father. Constantly moving from apartment to apartment never gave him a true sense of home, but Outasight always found comfort in music. Whether it was fronting bands at such hallowed venues as the Knitting Factory and CBGB’s, or reciting spoken word at the Nuyorican Cafe and the Bowery Poetry Club, Outasight has always loved the stage. A once regular at drum and bass parties, it was at these parties where he really began to utilize both rapping and singing together. Using these life experiences, Outasight is creating a brand of music all to his own.

He’s received major buzz, and a stamp of approval from MTVU, in addition to big publications such as XXL and Giant Magazine. He’s also been featured on SOHH, Straight Outta NYC, Singersroom, Nah Right, and countless other blogs and hip-hop websites online. And he’s being featured right here, right now, on Gossip On This! Check out his latest single, “Good Evening (Dream Big)” by hitting play above. He cites influences from A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, The Beatles, Mos Def, and Stevie Wonder, so with the right promotion, he’ll definitely be a break-out star in 2009. The music definitely speaks for itself, and he definitely receives the stamp of approval from Gossiponthis.com, but let us know what YOU think in the comments!

MYSPACE.COM/IAMOUTASIGHT

Singer-songwriter Lady GaGa is pop, electronica , r&b – she is everything! Currently signed to Akon’s label Kon Live, distributed via Interscope, LG releases her debut effort The Fame in stores and online October 28th in the US.

The singer’s “Fame-o-licious” album will include the leadingly energetic single that has been blazing up the charts the Red One-produced “Just Dance”! LG’s LP will also include the second single “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” and the latest single from the album “Poker Face”, one of my personal favorites.

» Buy “Poker Face” on iTunes!

If you were one of the people singing along with Will.i.am‘s catchy tune “I Got It From My Mama“, from his recent album Songs About Girls (A&M), last Summer of 2007, then you were like me trying to figure out who the young lady singing was; It turns out it was actually new up and coming artist KG!

KATERINA GRAHAM does it all from singing, acting, dancing, producing and everything in between! KG first got her start into show biz at the tender age of six years old, from there on out she’s been starring in TV commercials, shows, and movies! She’s like this amazing quadruple threat and then some! Just recently she ended a world wide tour with The Black Eyed Peas, wrapped up a film entitled Seventeen Again and is currently working on another project directed by Cedric the Entertainer, which opposite Kel Mitchell entitled Chicago Pulaski Jones!

? Click Here To Listen to “Boom Kat”!

New R&B sensation Qui and daughter of former NFL player Jerry Rice, is ready to make her musical debut to the world. Her first single “Rev It Up” features David Banner. Qui’s album LUV ‘N LIFE is slated for release later on this summer! If you’re interested in checking out the song, check out the stream below! Qui’s bio can be found after the break.

? CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO “REV IT UP” F/ DAVID BANNER

Possessing talent is one thing. But equal measures of determination and focus are also required to succeed in today’s competitive music arena. Singer/songwriter/musician Jacqui “Qui” Rice is one of those talented few.

While maintaining a 4.0 average at Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown University,majoring in government and Spanish, with a focus on international relations, the college junior found time to pursue her long-held passion. Slated for a late summer release is Qui’s (pronounced “Kwee”) debut album, LUV ‘N LIFE (JJR Entertainment). The mix of mid-tempo, R&B/pop and ballads calls to mind such influences as Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson and Ciara. But LUV ‘N LIFE is definitely Qui’s show.

At a time when consumers are looking for more substantial melodies and lyrics, Qui’s music definitely fits the taste of today’s audience.

Born in Greenville, Mississippi and raised in Atherton, CA, Qui isn’t one of those paint-by-numbers artists who typify most contemporary music. Under the guidance of co-writer Francesca “Francii” Richard, and a team of talented production newcomers, Qui’s vocal talent, combined with her ability for writing relatable lyrics, shines against a backdrop of hypnotic grooves with across-the-board appeal.

On LUV ‘N LIFE, Qui chronicles the fun, yet scary rollercoaster ride, everyone experiences when it comes to relationships and love as well as the self-awareness that rises from this emotional journey. The siren intro and rousing beat of the opening track, “On the Line,” is infused with the exhilarating rush that happens when you meet “that someone” for the first time. Thrilled yet cautious, Qui explores her newfound feelings on the mid-tempo groove “Personal” and the poignant “Stay” (“You flipped the scenario/Every fear that I had/had to let it go).

Qui jumps into funky mode on the first single from her debut, the percolating dance joint “Rev It Up”. Her sultry vocals provide the perfect juxtaposition to the track’s featured guest, raspy-voiced, Mississippi-bred rapper David Banner.

Qui taps into her growing self-awareness as a young woman on the inspirational anthem “Girl Child.” Underscoring her subtly powerful vocal is a harmonizing chorus of girl-child voices backing Qui on the compelling hook (It’s hard being a lady when this world is crazy/Still I know it’s a blessing I was born a girl child). Love’s heartbreak is addressed on the moving ballad “It Was U,” while Qui’s awakening “a-ha” moment is expressed via the rock-infused “Solo.”

While recording LUV ‘N LIFE, Qui says her goal was to keep it “funky, fun and positive. You pretty much groove to every song on here.”

Emotion was a key factor as well. “It’s important to make people feel what you’re singing,” adds the artist whose musical influences also encompass pop/rock (John Mayer, Maroon 5), country (Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, rap (Snoop Dogg and David Banner) and gospel (Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin).

“Lyrics really inspire me,” adds Qui. “I was always writing random lyrics and poems in school in my assignment books. Finally getting to see these songs come to life is exciting.”

Listening to her paternal grandmother sing in church during summers spent in Mississippi as well as to her parents’ diverse oldies collection, which included Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Billie Holiday and Elvis, Qui began playing piano at the age of five. Then at the age of 10, she declared her intent to become a singer. That desire was put to the test at age 11 when Qui performed the national anthem before 62,000 football fans at a San Francisco 49ers game.

“Dancing, music and singing always went hand in hand for me,” she says. “I found I love performing in front of crowds. It’s an adrenaline thing.”

Her first formal introduction into the music industry occurred at 15 when Qui joined a teen quartet called Sorella (Italian for sister). Performing up and down the California coast during the summer at showcases and festivals in Florida and Texas, the multi-ethnic pop group signed with JJR Entertainment,an independent label established by Qui’s mother. After four years, the group disbanded.

Qui comes by her competitive drive and fortitude naturally. Her father is legendary NFL Wide Receiver and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who put himself through a different kind of intense pace while a contestant on “Dancing With The Stars. Mother Jacqueline is a former pre-med student who manages the day-to-day operations of JJRE. “My Mom taught me how to multi-task,” says Qui. “She took us to school, ran the household and made sure my brother, sister and I had plenty of extra-curricular activities. She and my Dad taught us to dream.”

Though her career is a family affair, Qui is quick to proclaim she wants to forge her own identity and not trade on her parents’ notoriety. “My lifestyle doesn’t depend on my Dad or Mom’s success,” she adds. “I want to make a first impression based on who I am alone.”

In spring, 2008, Qui became the first African American to be crowned Queen of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, an achievement that Qui is quite proud of. Now in its 81st year, the festival is an annual tradition in Winchester, Virginia, (West of Washington, D.C.) that attracts more than 250,000 people.

A college girl at heart, she loves old movies, cupcakes, pizza and barbecued chicken and shares a house with five other students. Qui admits its difficult balancing her studies and a singing career. However, her “can-do” spirit remains just as strong as her zeal for LUV ‘N LIFE and the promise it holds. “It’s been difficult, but somehow you make it work and it’s worth it,’ she notes. “Music is where my heart is.”

I know many of you may have heard of him but I felt like I had to post this. His name is Ben One. A Chicago native artist has a new single which is “Never Leave My Girl” featuring Shawnna and is currently signed with record label RCA. This song is blowing up!!! Stay clicked for a T2W video premiere soon!

♫ Click Here To Listen To Ben One – “Never Leave My Girl”

There’s a new artist on the scene and has the internet buzzing already. His name is LOVE AOK! and I gotta tell you that his sound is hot!!! He’s listed as a multi-talented artist that produces, writes, sings, and rap his own music. He’s unsigned right so record labels watch out for him. On his MySpace page he lists some of his influences, R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, TImbaland, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. You can also catch him on imeem.com and listen to some of his recorded tracks. The latest song from LOVE AOK! is titled, “Hush”. It’s a R&B record that I can see myself hearing on the radio today. Let me know what ya’ll think and leave comments! Check out the following links.

[See post to listen to audio]

LOVE AOK! ON IMEEM

LOVE AOK! ON MYSPACE

i15, a dynamic trio consisting of Das, 21, Castro, 21 and Flash, 23 reppin’ the West-coast, has a new single/video out called Lost In Love, produced by Polo Da Don. I don’t know if you recall or not but they made a cameo in Soulja Boy‘s Soulja Girl video. They are also signed to Zone 4/Interscope Records. Peep the video after the cut!

www.i15music.com

www.myspace.com/i15

Meet new artist VERBZ (or Verse), a Shopaholic emcee originally from London, England. Born to a Jamaican daddy and South American mother Natalia ‘Verbz’ Cappuccini, 21, is a hybrid of quite a few cultures; that including hip hop. I love this girl, the moment I clicked onto her MySpace page I felt a young, fresh, quirky aura – with sophistication. Shopaholic is fun and catchy, Swaggeriffic is self-explanatory, Dangerous has strikingly enticing beat, Heaven is a mild and melodic tune with much significance that meets the ear.

Verbz – Swaggeriffic – Page Link // Direct Link

Meet UNIQUE, an emerging new R&B act to Star Power Media and socialite to the stars. Unique Zayas, 18, is originally from Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. Unique has opened up for hot acts, and friends, like Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Tyrese and Tre Songz, Bow Wow, Ciara and Letoya Luckett. He has a pretty solid fan base on MySpace as well. His sound has a more urbanesque style than most R&B acts out right now, I loved a couple of tunes from his ‘Space, like Hooked and Lucky. A huge shout-out to Efua! =,

Unique – Hooked – Page Link // Direct Link

Now-a-days in the music industry you have to have the whole package, it’s not just about good looks anymore, you actually have to possess some sort of natural talent! New artist Jason Derulo is a multi-threat! He sings, he choreographs, he produces, and he acts! And all of this at the tender age of 19 Jason is well on his way to celebrity stardom! I’m so ‘uber-happy’ that he is reppin’ Miami, too! His new song ‘Cyber Love’, featuring hip hop act Mims, is completely revolutionary in anything that you have ever heard! ‘Harddrive’ has a whole new meaning now, even though I use to say that a lot too, he he! I love it! Git-it, git-it, git-it Jason! Make sure you request ‘Cyber Love’!

Jason Derulo ft. Mims – Cyber Love – page link

ADD HIM AS A FRIEND NOW!

Def Jam’s Karina Pasian is the truth! I wasn’t really checking for her when I heard that ‘With You’ remix a long time ago but after I heard ’16 At War’ I fell in love! Seeing how The-Dream wrote this song I’m not surprised at all about my immediate liking to it. This song is so relative at today’s age, it also would’ve been a good song for me when I was 16, it really would’ve helped. I think I grew up too fast during that time but then again I’m kinda glad I did. It made me a little smarter and wiser to say the least. Not to say I smoked or anything, but I was pressured so much and then made fun of, even when my mom couldn’t afford namebrand clothing. I still wore namebrand but not every single day like the rest of the kids, I often wondered how they could afford it living in the ghetto (becos I sure as hell couldn’t afford it). But anyway I’m glad I didn’t do any of that, most of the people I went to school with are now dead, in jail, or have babies — so thank God.

Karina Pasian – 16 At War – page link

New R&Ber and Jive records signee Lee Carr is about to make his official debut next month! I meant to post on Lee Carr after visiting his MySpace a couple of times. Well better now than never! Below is a little inside information about him …

You can also view the video of Jive rolling up on Carr at his job just getting ready to sign him on the spot! I can only imagine the emotions going on with him at that time of the signing to Jive. Congratulations Carr and best of luck with your music career!

Lee Carr – The Way We Used To Be – page link // direct link

Uh-oh! Does Young Chris Brown have some competition? Newly signed Epic R&Ber Casely makes his video debut “Emotional” just in time for Valentines Day! If you don’t know Casely, get to know him! Here’s the prelude: “In today’s music industry it’s a rare discovery to find a recording artist who truly epitomizes the word ‘Music’, but in R&B singer Casely that’s exactly what you’ll find. Casely, born and raised in South Florida to Trinidadian and Panamanian parents, is a shining new star that’s changing the music industry standard of what an artist and musician should be. [...]” Cont. via MySpace

Def Jam presents new R&Ber Razah performing his debut single “Rain”. Already receiving positive feedback on the radio Razah believes in making “timeless music and songs that uplift people,” he says, “I was raised by a single mom so I believe in writing music that celebrates women.” Look out for Razah in the near future and get ready for the eponymous album in Spring 2008!

Woo, I am soooo laaaate! I meant to do a new feature on Mr. Steph Jones, I did! I just wish I knew of him sooner and done so before, could’ve gotten an interview through Dominique, all well. Anyway! I remember visiting his MySpace page last year when I was doing promo for that DTP thing, I hear this nice, sophisticated voice, see this big afro and find myself ultimately in love with “Mr. Ordinary” and “Get Me Started!” He has a new song up called “La La Means Love” that I also love, on his MySpace. Jones’ sound with melodies and style are very simplistic but something you won’t forget and will always remember, I sort of love the contrast with the subtle calmness of his voice and his crazy style, with his ripped jeans and wild hair. I’m actually looking forward to more material from him.

Not even Sean Garret can salvage her music career! With that being said, I can’t wait for Her Name is Nicole (Interscope), believe it or not. I think everything has to do with timing, her people debuted her too early, people didn’t care about Nicole as a solo artist then (I don’t know why she left the PCD). But best believe she will have her time to shine soon, way too much was going on this year. That’s why I’m glad the label pushed her album back until next year, they ain’t playing that, very smart. Again, like I said, it’s the timing – with the right promotion, singles, and pull – 2008 could very well be her year.

More on Nicole Scherzinger:

Sterling Simms is definitely another artist to look out for in 2008. So far all of the material I’ve heard from his upcoming project, appropriately titled, Worth Your While (Def Jam) is solid gold! I’m real antsy to hear more material following him now. I just feel he could get acknowledged more (ahem … Def Jam) and gain some mainstream stuff with the right promotion.

More on Sterling Simms:

I really loved Solange’s work on Simply Deep (Columbia), her productions were always dark and/or mature, it was always refreshing to listen to so I’m most definitely looking forward to more material from her in 2008. It looks like they’re considering “White Picket Dreams” as a possible single choice from Hadley Street Dreams (Geffen), which is the song I automatically clicked to, that’s the kind of shit I’m into, dark, real deep production. She always delivers with this IMO, her sound is real alternative and explicit, I really like that!

More on Solange Knowles:

I’ve been following this young lady since Spring of 2007 and I’m loving what I heard so far from her! Tiffany Evans’ music is still age appropriate but has that appeal to other audiences as well, I knew she would be big, I’m so excited for her self-debut now! Ms. Tiffany is well on her way and with talent like her’s who knows what the future can bring.

More on Tiffany Evans:

MYSPACE

This is Def Jam/Island Urban’s new artist Rocko. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Rocko is the first to venture out on Jermaine Dupri’s Island Urban Music, his new street single “Umma Do Me” is receiving nice airplay and reviews and I’m pretty sure I heard it going up there before.

I’m sure you guys remember me posting on multi-cultural group The DEY a few months ago! Well, they recently released their new EP, The D.E.Y. Has Come (Sony BMG), exclusively on iTunes! The new EP will feature the trio’s new single “Give You The World,” you can listen to the streaming audio links below, the song was produced by J.R.! If you guys like what you heard you can also download the EP on iTunes via the link below also!

The DEY – “GIVE YOU THE WORLD”
Windows Media (96k) | QuickTime Player (195k) | MacroMedia

DOWNLOAD THE D.E.Y. HAS COME ON ITUNES NOW!!

Dammit, ok now I’m all on LEONA LEWIS’ tip becos of Toya =P

This is British singer Leona Lewis’ second UK single, “Angel,” from her upcoming LP (already released in the UK), Spirit, set to release in the U.S. January 2008 to my knowledge … Wow, her voice is so angelic and sort of flows for this song! And I agree with Toya, it does have an “Irreplaceable” feel to it, I guess becos it was produced by Stargate as well, as they did with Chris Brown’s second single, “With You,” from his upcoming Exclusive album. Anyway, I just wanted to see what you guys thought? I mean, I never really heard of her :s but I like her! We’ll see how well Miss Lewis does when she hits the U.S. I can’t wait to hear more material from this chick!

CLICK HERE FOR RADIO RIP!

ONE CHANCE – “MY WORD”
WINDOWS MEDIA | QUICKTIME MEDIA

Check out Usher’s brand new R&B sensations, ONE CHANCE, and their new single “My Word”. Album in stores Winter 2008

J VALENTINE – “SHE’S WORTH THE TROUBLE”
WINDOWS (Hi) | WINDOWS (Lo)

J Records would like to introduce the newest addition to their already talented music roster. Hailing from San Francisco, the king of R&Bay J Valentine is preparing to release his debut album, Conversation Piece this fall. Already an accomplished songwriter, J Valentine has already penned hits for N’Sync, Omarion, Tyrese and Mario just to name a few. Conversation Piece includes production from heavy hitters such as Scott Storch, Cool & Dre and Polow Da Don!

KID SISTER is a Club rapper originally from Markham, Illinois but currently resides in North Side, Chicago. Inspired by eighties joints and a more contemporary sound she makes Club music with her DJ/brother J2K, of Flosstradamus, how cool is that? Together they are completely unstoppable and taking the Chicago music scene by storm rocking at parties and causing an all around dance floor mayhem.

Kid Sister » “Control” » LISTEN » (Full)

Contemporary R&B musician and Songwriter Emily King reigns on East Side Story, her debut album set to release August 28th of next week. With a broad gain of musical influences, ranging from The Beatles, Nas and Michael Jackson, King has always had a deep-routed passion and love for music; using it as her emotional comforter. At the age of sixteen she got her GED, starting composing, and quickly immersed herself towards her goal.

Emily King then reached out to Chucky Thompson, a music producer, he was the member of Bad Boy Entertainment’s famed Hitman studio team. Thompson signed King to the production company, eventually landing her a major recording contract with J Records, they then began searching for the right sound to capture the songstress’ eclectic tastes and styles. King insists that she isn’t trying fit into anyone’s box, “I’m just finding my own culture within myself,” she explains.

I believe that there is great true to that statement, because conceptually, this album is stark brilliance! It almost brings you back to that genuine R&B/Hip-hop feel, as Ms. Hill revolutionized with all of her projects, with joints like “Business Man”. King also tears up this amazing cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” – absolutely amazing! To know more info on this gifted soul please visit EMILY KING’S MYSPACE or the singer’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE; spread the word peeps!

Emily King » “Walk In My Shoes” » LISTEN » (Full)
Emily King » “ColorBlind” » LISTEN » (Full)
Emily King » “Alright” » LISTEN » (Full)
Emily King » “U & I” » LISTEN » (Full)

In a world full of aspiring singers, dancers, and performers it can be tough to be a visionary who looks beyond the definitions, the labels, and the expectations of the music industry. While others are continually trying to come up with the right formula, some are busy creating their own. The rising star called Money is doing just that. A name that you might not be familiar with yet but are guaranteed to know as time goes on, Money is ready to share with the world her own formula. With her unique style, original voice, and, captivating choreography, Money is ready to give us an example of what the future of music will be. Having already caught the ear of famed producer/songwriter Walter Milsap III and the biggest producer in music today Mr. Timbaland himself, Money is well on her way to show the world how a true visionary thinks. [ READ MORE ]

Money (Timbaland) » “Fantasy” » LISTEN » (Full)

Ray Lavender aka “Ray-L” is a contemporary R&B singer who hails from Atlanta, Georgia and is currently signed to Akon’s record label Kon Live Distribution. His debut single “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend” from the album X-Rayted, slated to release later this Fall, has made such a marketable impact I just had to feature him as a new artist. They blow this song up crazy down here, so it’s nice to finally see the guy behind the song, and no T-Pain is not featured nor does he have a similar song out like this.

Ray-L » “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend” » LISTEN » (Full)

9 Lives, appropriately titled, is the debut album from new artist Kat DeLuna that drops August 7th – MAKE SURE YOU BUY IT! I had the pleasure of listening to the retail version and posting a review for the album. One of the singles lifted from the LP, “Whine Up,” features Dancehall artist Elephant Man; other featured album appearances include Shaka Dee. OK, it starts off with this little brief intro basically saying this is what she wanted to do and she’s finally fulfilling her dream – to share her natural born talent with the world! You know what? I think that’s what this record is mostly based around, testimonials. I mean, come on, the title in itself speaks to you! As far as the whole feel; very eclectic and diverse. This chick breaks it down from Spanish, Dancehall to fawwking Opera! This album is truly remarkable and does not vary whatsoever; looks like the basis really is pretty much LOVE, I mean, everybody needs love! Overall its a pretty decent joint, from an artistic standpoint, the lyrics and vocals are beautiful as if colorful harmonies racing through this chick one-hundred miles an hour! The arrangement? Muy bueno, just some feel good musica yo! I would definitely recommend this as a nice buy, my favorite songs are “Love Me, Leave Me”, “Be Remembered”, “Enjoy Saying Goodbye”, and my all time favorite “Am I Dreaming”. LOL, I love when artists do intros and get “A Little More Personal” (shouts to Lindsay)!

Kat DeLuna » “Am I Dreaming” » LISTEN » (Full)
Kat DeLuna » “Love Me, Leave Me” » LISTEN » (Full)
Kat DeLuna » “Love Confusion” » LISTEN » (Full)
Kat DeLuna » “In The End” » LISTEN » (Full) » (strongly recommended)

Like your girl TIFFANY EVANS, Keke Palmer is another young lady you all need to look out for pretty soon! Why isn’t Lil’ Mama singing about this type of stuff more? These girls prove that you can be young with your music still having a meaning, I love the song “Skin Deep” and “All My Girlz” (which was the leading song from the Akeelah and The Bee Soundtrack) , these are the role models young girls need to look up too! The 4 song EP will be released on iTunes on July 17th, and the full album, So Uncool, will be in stores September 18th! Watch the video for “All My Girlz” after the cut and make sure you CHECK HER OUT in the video “Keep It Movin” soon (pics above) … we’ll keep you posted!

Keke Palmer » “Keep It Movin” » LISTEN » (Full)
Keke Palmer » “Skin Deep” » LISTEN » (Full)

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Def Jam’s latest R&B signee, THE-DREAM. He’s the genius behind Rihanna’s #1 hit “Umbrella” (The-Dream wrote the track in under 12 minutes), and is married to R&B songstress Nivea (Animalistic baby!). His new single “Shawty Is A Ten” is currently blazing radio waves across the country and I can dig it!

THE-DREAM – “SHAWTY IS A TEN”
WINDOWS MEDIA | REAL MEDIA | MACROMEDIA

10 Things You Need To Know About The-Dream:

Blitz McBain, a 19 year-old out of downtown Manhattan, is best known for his multiple flows and creative side. With influences Jay-Z, Prince, and Kanye West, the man is not afraid to spark controversy. He first established a name in the New York hip-hop scene at the age of twelve when he involved himself in the music industry-related work of his uncle. With clever lines and street-ridden beats, Blitz consistently brings something fresh to the game. He focuses primarily on the music aspect of his career. “I have to stay clean,” he tells us in a downtown coffee shop. “I’m basing everything on what [my uncle] did wrong. He had an ego problem and a drinking problem. Liver problems prevented him from ever taking the spotlight as a major rapper.” The name Blitz, as you may already know, originates from the popular video game NFL Blitz. “When I used to fight, I would come with aggression. That’s how I got the name. And it stuck.” Blitz is now putting every second he has into his up-and-coming album, Look At Me Now. When asked his favorite song off the album, he replies, “My favorite song is ‘Comfort Me’. It takes place in the afterlife and how I think it’s gonna’ be once I die- like being an angel looking down on the world as somebody dies.”

Blitz McBain » “I’m A Beast” » LISTEN » (Full)

Yo I just recently peeped this guys MYSPACE, his name is Mr. J Medeiros. I was feeling his music so much that I thought I should do an artist spotlight on him. Mr. J Medeiros has a CD coming out August 24th called Of Gods And Girls, the album sampler on his MySpace is mad crazy, I suggest you check that out immegiately! I posted a couple of songs that stuck out to me, “Constance” (produced by Mr. J Medeiros) and “Half A Dream” featuring Marty James of One Block Radius (produced by 20Syl of Hocus Pocus), from Of Gods And Girls – the “Half A Dream” mixtape is also available for purchase on Mr. J’s MySpace! Out of the two songs posted, my favorite one would have to be “Half A Dream” …

That don’t mean nothing, wasting your time …
looking for something you’ll never find,
look through the make-up, it’s not all it seems
when will wake up from half of a dream? – Mr. J Medeiros

Thank you, I thought I was going crazy, something is seriously wrong when I see little girls my age emulating bullshit! They build them bitches!!! Wake up …

Mr. J Medeiros » “Constance” » LISTEN » (Full)
Mr. J Medeiros feat. Marty James » “Half A Dream” » LISTEN » (Full)

Los Angeles, CA – Mr. J Medeiros is an eloquent hip-hop artist on a mission to create massive social change through music, in more areas than one. In keeping with the release of his debut solo-album “Of gods and girls” on July 24th, 2007, Mr. J officially launches his anti child trafficking campaign “IamConstance.org” in Los Angeles today; a website that relates to the non-traditional, “hit” single off the album: “Constance”.

“Constance” is the true story of a girl raised in The Philippines, kidnapped, and forced into prostitution and internet pornography at a young age. The video for “Constance” (which has already compiled over 100,000 views on YouTube), illustrates how Americans support this scenario everyday through “legal” and “illegal” internet porn sites.

“People don’t see the connection between clicking on the internet here and someone being raped in a hotel room on the other side of the world,” exclaims J, “I want people to recognize our responsibility in what is happening here. Child pornography is a $3 Billion dollar market and the porn industry all together is $57 Billion worldwide; it brings in more money than professional football, baseball, and basketball franchises combined.”

The story of Constance aims to show the massive population of pornography users, that they may be fueling rape, abuse, human-trafficking, and child pornography. This is where the “IamConstance.org” campaign comes into play – the website hosts countless anonymous accounts from victims of trafficking, kidnapping and abuse. The purpose is to create change by revealing the magnitude of these atrocities.

The “I Am Constance Campaign” was born when J released the video online, and was immediately flooded with hundreds of YouTube comments, MySpace letters and personal accounts from women and men sharing their painful stories evoked by watching “Constance.” This sent Medeiros on a mission to tell these people’s stories, and show how many people are affected by this issue.

Mr. J’s hope is to increase awareness and accountability for these crimes. More than half of sexual assaults go unreported. J has partnered with organizations like HUMANTRAFFICKING.ORG, I Am Coming, and XXXchurch, in the hopes to break the silence about these crimes. They aim to rally support to demand that the UN increase minimum penalties for Human Trafficking worldwide. “800,000 women and children are kidnapped, trafficked and raped each year. That’s 2200 people each and every day, one every 39 seconds. Traffickers who are arrested may receive as little as 1 -4 years in prison. This has to stop,” demands J.

To watch the Constance video or to read like-minded “Constance” stories, and to visit Mr. J’s MySpace go to:

Meet The DEY, a dope trio consisting of Divine, Elan and Yeyo; all bilingual artists fused into an Afro-Latino, R&B, Pop and Hip-hop era. “We want to unify our communities,” Divine says of The DEY’s mission. “By being bilingual, we address all those people — the non-English speaker and the non-Spanish speaker — and we create a bridge between them, a space where they can all exist.” Their new single, “Get The Feeling,” was produced by Timbaland and The Royal Court who are responsible for the hits “Ice Box” and “Anonymous”. For more on The DEY, peep their MYSPACE

Capitol’s R&B crooner J. Holiday first hit the scene back in 2006 with his underrated single “Be With Me,” produced by infamous Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, lifted from the album Back of My Lac (set to drop September 25th). But it wasn’t until he released his latest single “Bed” that started generating buzz. With “Bed” Holiday breaks all boundaries, both melodic and sensual, the song starts off with a brief introduction fulled with soothing ad libs. Holiday explains how he’s going to “put you to bed” at what he calls a blissful night of lovemaking followed by an almost seemingly never ending climax of passion and ecstasy. Baby makin’ music basically!

Anyway, I wish him all the best! Visit his official WEBSITE or his MYSPACE for more information and updates. Watch “Be With Me” after the cut.

J. Holiday » “Bed” » LISTEN » (Full)

It was during high school that Shontelle first met Barbados’ current international star, Rihanna. “We were both active in the Cadets, and I was her Drill Sergeant…there was one occasion when I had to make her ‘drop and give me ten push ups’. We laugh about it now…I think she’s forgiven me.” Little did either of them know at the time that they would soon both be signing major record deals.

 AUDIO: ROLL
WINDOWS MEDIA | REAL MEDIA

WHO IS SHONTELLE?
Find out more about this up and coming artist after the cut! And be sure to check out her album “Shontelligence” when it hits stores this fall!

What’s a girl to do when she’s not only a beautiful and talented singer, but a straight-A college student as well? In the case of Shontelle Layne, it looks like the law career will have to wait — her musical star is on the rise and cannot be stopped.

Gifted as both a writer and performer, this 23 year-old Barbadian has already carved a reputation in the Caribbean music world over the last several years by crafting hit songs for a number of top artists, all while pursuing her degree at the University of the West Indies. But it was only a matter of time before she unleashed her talents as an artist and performer on the world stage, with the upcoming release of her debut album, “Shontelligence” (Universal), and its first smash single, “Roll”. Shontelle’s music is an infectious blend of dancehall, reggae and hip-hop, with unstoppable grooves and thought-provoking lyrics that will find fans in every corner of the world.

The oldest of 3 sisters, Shontelle was born in Bridgetown, Barbados. At school she was a first class academic student. On the sports field she was highly competitive too. “I did track and field, lawn tennis and represented my school and Barbados at swimming”, she recalls.

It was during high school that she first met Barbados’ current international star, Rihanna. “We were both active in the Cadets, and I was her Drill Sergeant…there was one occasion when I had to make her ‘drop and give me ten push ups’. We laugh about it now…I think she’s forgiven me.” Little did either of them know at the time that they would soon both be signing major record deals.

Shontelle has been surrounded by strong women. Her aunt, Kim Derrick, a celebrated Bajan musician, could see her potential at a very early age. “She used to encourage me even as young as 3 and 4. All my family were musical, all my cousins play the piano. They used to come over to my house and we would play at the piano for hours.”

Barbados-based music manager Sonia Mullins took Shontelle under her wing while she was attending college, and success soon followed: Shontelle scored one of the biggest Caribbean hits of 2005 as the writer of the girl power anthem “Roll”. Producers Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken of SRP Records, who had discovered Rihanna in Barbados and brought her to the world stage, heard the song on a Bajan radio station and felt that it had international hit potential. They sought out the writer of the song to license it for a cover version, and had a pleasant shock : ”We couldn’t believe that she was such a great singer and so young and beautiful, and hadn’t been discovered yet” says Rogers. They signed her immediately, and spent the next six months creating her debut album, co-writing with her as well as pulling in a-list producers such as Don Corleone (Sean Paul). Marc Jordan of Rebel-One management (Rihanna) also joined the team. When they brought her to Steve Rifkind at SRC, he wasted no time in putting her on the fast track for a 2007 release.

Shontelle has created a unique sound on her forthcoming album, “Shontelligence”, which will be released on SRP/SRC Universal/Motown this summer. On the album she’s pushed the musical boundaries of her Caribbean heritage and fused them exquisitely with soul and hip-hop. The spellbinding “Drop The Needle” threads hypnotic beats with Shontelle’s sweet vocal to create a mesmerising dance-floor experience, while “I Crave You” is a poem of yearning and desire over bittersweet guitars.

“Life Is Not An Easy Road” takes the beats down a gear, back to the sun drenched beaches of her native Barbados, while the lyrics punctuate the song with hard hitting social commentary. “I jumped out of bed in the middle of the night with this beat in my head. I started writing straight away. I was thinking about society, about poverty and the underprivileged. The song’s about struggle, holding on to your dignity and says that having faith in yourself gives you hope. I think the line in the song …. ’Keep yours eyes on tomorrow, but live for today’ kinda sums it up”.

And then there’s “Focus Pon Me”, a seductive slice of east meets west. Driving dancehall beats intertwine with Indian sitars and tablas to create a cultural workout that sonically seduces the listener.

Shontelle may have put the law degree on the back burner for now, but she certainly has no regrets. ”I think I’ve known all along that it was my destiny to perform on stage and give something to people with my music”, she says with calm conviction. And as 2007 looks to be the year that Shontelle arrives on the world scene , she’s eagerly anticipating the excitement and challenges that lie ahead. “I love music, it’s my passion , and I just can’t wait for people to hear what I have to say…and I’ve got a lot to say!”

David “DC” Yeager, formerly known for making the young women go crazy with his smooth R&B vocals in the hot late-90′s singing trio Youngstown (ironically from Youngstown, Ohio) is back and better than ever. If you still don’t recall, Youngstown had their very first hit song a while back called “I’ll be your everything” and were signed to Hollywood Records. Well anyway, I couldn’t help to noticed this talented young man’s true singing ability, so much so to the point he is now hooked up in a duet with R&B sensation Ne-Yo for the song “Let Me Know,” and let me tell you, he hasn’t lost his touch one bit! I also like the song “Not What You’re Use To” a lot, but please don’t take my word for it- have a listen for yourself! And make sure you check DC Yeager out on his official Myspace and add him as a friend!

DC Yeager » “Let Me Know” feat. Ne-Yo » LISTEN » (Full) – Credit: Hip & Pop

Out of the West Bank of New Orleans comes the Prince of The City…Baby Boy da Prince. His career began at the age of 16 opening up for No Limit Records artist Choppa. Baby Boy created a name for himself in New Orleans with a lavish on stage performances and catchy feel good records. Then in 2004 he stepped from behind the scenes and into the spotlight hooking up with a local management company, Bosshogg Entertainment (B.G., Juvenile, Choppa). After years of hard work, Bosshogg Entertainment inked a deal with indie label Extreme Entertainment. Baby Boy hit the road in early 2005 to spread his music and fan base further outside of New Orleans. He went on tour opening for platinum acts, Juvenile, Paul Wall, 50 Cent, and many more. Then in August 2005 Baby Boy’s world came crumbling down as New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Throughout the ordeal he vowed that he would get his life together and continue his dream of becoming one of Hip-Hops newest stars. Living in a FEMA trailer, Baby Boy began writing new material for his upcoming album. He continued to do shows in New Orleans to show his fans support. In 2006 Q93 in New Orleans began to play his hit single “The Way I Live”. The single became an instant hit and in 3 weeks was the number 1 record at the station. Baby Boy had reached a new plateau and proved that his music could perform with the best artists in the country. The buzz in the city started to spill over and major labels began to take notice. Universal Republic Records jumped on the opportunity and signed Baby Boy as their premiere Hip Hop act. Baby Boy’s hard work and dedication brought him out of the trials and tribulations that affected him throughout his career. His music is a testament to the revival of New Orleans and the people who live in it.

AUDIO: BABY BOY DA PRINCE – “THE WAY I LIVE”
WINDOWS MEDIA | REAL MEDIA

VIDEO: BABY BOY DA PRINCE – “THE WAY I LIVE”
WINDOWS MEDIA

YUNG BERG

He has a style that is undeniably fresh, surrounded by a crew that emulates HBO’s Entourage quad. At 21 years old, this Chi-town native is quietly plotting his take over of the phenomenon we know as Hip Hop. Possessing a flow that sounds as classic as a Marvin Gaye tune, with charisma more contagious then the common cold, Yung Berg is the definition of what happens when skills and swagger are pooled into one powerhouse. Previously signed to DMX’s Bloodline Records, Yung Berg got his first taste of the music business at the age of 15. Unfortunately Yung Berg’s bite of success left a bad taste in his parent’s mouths, which lead to a mandatory relocation to military school in 2001. This move would prove to be a blessing in disguise; with no television or radio available, it forced the budding lyricist to develop and hone a style all his own, free of the influences of the wave of hip hop that was popular at the time. Yung Berg decided to take a different road to stardom upon his return in 2003. Berg refocused his energy and decided that learning the “behind the scenes” aspect of the business was going to propel his career to the next level. So in 2005 he signed on as a hype man for Disturbing The Peace’s first lady of rap, Shawnna. The entrepreneur in Berg was cultivated during this time. Embodying every quality of a true leader, Berg launched his own entertainment venture – the Yung Boss imprint – currently comprised of a roster of equally talented producers and emcees. “We’re setting the standard for what’s acceptable,” says Berg. “Every other young dude was put on; we’re putting ourselves on.” Now a little older and a lot wiser, Yung Berg is signed to Epic Records, gearing up to release his debut album, Look What You Made Me. The record boasts a wide variety of material ranging from specially crafted songs for the ladies to street anthems made to resonate in anyone’s “hood”. Look What You Made Me is Yung Berg’s story in his own words and is poised to be one of the best new releases of 2007. Having snagged writing credits on albums for some of hip hop’s elite including Shawnna and Eve and dropping verses on mixtapes for the likes of Clinton Sparks, Young Berg is guaranteed to bring that same spark and energy to his own project. With a solid music foundation, a powerhouse creative machine and an increasingly growing fan base, Yung Berg is well on his way to becoming the voice of hip hop’s next generation. The combination has undeniably resulted in the birth of the most versatile and unique emcees to enter the game in quite some time, ultimately the reason why hip hop’s future is firmly in tact.

THE ALLIANCE

NCE (Nothin Comz Eazy) Records is the movement. THE ALLIANCE is the click. Comprised of rappers BLACKOUT, P.O.P., SKINNY, female rapper BLISS, and in-house producer TY-CUTTA, their hit song “TATTOO” featuring FABO, is sweeping the nation faster than you can say “Tat-Tat-Tatted Up”. This club banger is one that’s not going anywhere! One thing is certain; regardless of your set, the fact of the matter is that The Alliance inked up just right! The tattoo, whether if it’s displayed in clothing apparel designs or directly on the skin, is an expression of a lifestyle that represents total individuality and freedom of expression. Dripped in individuality, THE ALLIANCE, signed to Asylum / NCE Records, is able to hold it down as a group while each member is successfully able to rip the stage. As the brainchild of their manager, Q, THE ALLIANCE fulfills his vision that comprises of a strong unit but also one in which each member remains to stand on its own legs and reach the highest heights in music. They breed versatility and won’t allow themselves to be lumped into the ‘crunk’ category although the group is from Georgia. Instead, they want the world to know that they will eventually branch off in various directions with diverse sounds and solo projects. No one-hit wonders here! Instead they use THE ALLIANCE as a platform, just as the tattoo, as a vehicle for creative expression (and by the way- everyone in the group sports tattoos). The mastermind behind the tracks is TY-CUTTA. A native of Atlanta, he is a very dynamic element to the group. A source of raw and untapped talent, TY-CUTTA, with the help of engineer Scott, brings diversity to the table with each beat. His clever way of assembling drums and kicks makes his beats undeniable to any ear. Able to keep his ear to the streets and to THE ALLIANCE crew, he is able to hear each distinct rhythm, flow, and style and pushes his music to the depths of his creativity. Bliss, the sole female in the crew, always knew that she was destined for great things. After spotting rappers SKINNY, P.O.P. BLACKOUT and TY-CUTTA on-stage at a concert, the following actions changed the course of history for this sweet Georgia Peach. Jumping on stage to show off her lower back tattoo, this tiny femme-fatale, knew her destiny and claimed this concert as her opportunity to make a place in the rap game. Holding down the crew with her recognizable flow, sex appeal, madd tattoos, and cool laid back stance, BLISS reps the click well and is the 1st lady of THE ALLIANCE. Weighing in at 150 pounds with a head full of locks is SKINNY. Small, yet lyrically hard-hitting and full of energy, exudes a confident and compassionate lyricist. SKINNY, since age 11 has been writing the lyrics of his life and understood at an early age that he needed to become a financial don for his family. Overcoming challenges in the streets, music was his escape and his experiences make him an official street-music ambassador. P.O.P. inspired by music, learned at an early age, to play musical instruments, namely the keyboard. Although heavily influenced by his family, he knows and understands the daily struggles of the streets. With his family by his side, he continues to work to stay focused on his passions and roots them in his music. Through their motivation, has elevated his music game from playing instruments to writing. His penmanship is evolving him into a lyrical genius. Undergoing the struggles of living in a single parent home, crew member, BLACKOUT, used rap as his role model and escape. Instead of living up to the stereotype of what many anticipated BLACKOUT took full advantage of his time to develop his skills in free-styling. At an early age he was into word play. He took a strong liking to depth of poetry and the energy of rock and roll. As he grew older he made the two work for him and is able to successfully translate that into hip hop. Motivated by the past superiors of hip-hop BLACKOUT strives to inspire the younger generation of hip-hop like the greats of his time did for him. In many eyes hip-hop can be seen as a source of negative energy, however, THE ALLIANCE uses its momentum to pull their personal experiences into a positive light. ‘Real Life’ is the underlying thread of THE ALLIANCE. Overcoming trials and tribulations is each of their life stories as urban youth. It is by their life experiences that they are able to relate to each other and bring their real life stories to masses of people. They use great strategy and the negativity and jealousy that they get from naysayers as a catalyst to continue making hot crossover material that their fans love and appreciate. While they remain humble and hungry as they add to the overall culture of hip-hop they want everyone to know they are about the business of strategically putting out music the fans want to hear and that Nothing Comes Easy.

KIA SHINE

As the 2007 recipient of the Southern Entertainment Award for the Independent Artist of the Year, Memphis based recording artist Kia Shine has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with. Kia Shine is a major figure on the South’s hip-hop underground scene. Now with his national debut on Universal Motown Records entitled Due Season Kia Shine is finally stepping up to take his rightful place in the hip-hop world. Born in and raised in Memphis’ infamous Frazier neighborhood, Kia Shine witnessed first hand the devastating effect that drugs and poverty had on his community. “When I think about Frazier I think about New Jack City,” says Kia. “I remember when there wasn’t any such thing as crack and I remember when it first came into the neighborhood and how it was affected. It looked like you were either selling it or your folks were using it.” Thankfully Kia Shine was able to resist the temptation of the cheap high and the fast money that crack offered many ghetto youth. “I knew God had bigger plans for me. It just took me a little bit longer to realize that music was the thing that he wanted me to do.” While it may have taken him a while to figure out that music was his true calling, it was always a huge part of his life. He grew up listening great soul artist like David Ruffin, Willie Hutch and Womack & Womack and classic hip-hop by pioneers artists like Eric B & Rakim, Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five and Kurtis Blow. This music had a profound impact on him as a youth and would eventually mold Kia Shine into the artist/producer he is today. But before Kia Shine answered the call to be a rapper/producer he first answered to the call of corporate America, working for the casino conglomerate Harris Entertainment. He did well with the company, eventually earning a promotion that would have taken him to company’s headquarters in Las Vegas. But at that point the call to music was too loud for him to ignore. In 1998, Kia Shine’s little brother’s L.I. wanted to release a record. Kia Shine invested his own money and poured himself into his brother’s project from start to finish. Later that year the group dropped their album on a local label called Diamond Cut, which was distributed by Select-O-Hits through a deal procured by Kia Shine. Although the record wasn’t a huge hit locally, it opened many doors for Kia Shine. As luck would have it, a Universal Motown executive was in town trying to sign a local artist and bumped into the budding producer. Impressed with Kia Shine’s business savvy and entrepreneurship the executive urged him to come to New York and play some music for him. “At that time I was working on [L.I.’s] third album,” recalls Kia Shine. “So I went up to New York to try and let him hear the music. He didn’t really like the music but he liked one of the beats. I sold him that beat and came back and signed every hot producer that I could find in the city. I even bought some equipment and started making beats myself.” Kia Shine also teamed up with another burgeoning entrepreneur Jack Frost and formed Rap Hustlers Entertainment. Using buddy passes for Northwest Airlines Kia Shine would fly to New York and sell beats to high profile recording artists like Jersey Mone, Juvenile, 8 Ball and Ludacris. His work led to a production deal with Ruff Ryders and a publishing deal with Universal Music. He also went back to his independent roots in Memphis and signed some of the city’s biggest underground artists, including TVT recording artist Yo Gotti, La Chat, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Criminal Mane and Gangster Blac. Through indie deals with Koch and various other joint ventures Rap hustlers managed to sell over 200,000 units, making them one of Memphis’ most successful independent labels, but things soon fell apart. “At one point my company was going through some hard times,” explains Kia Shine. “I lost a lotta money recording for various artists, but I never got paid for my work. All my artists left me and before I knew it I was broke. God says do it yourself so that’s what I did.” Making the transition from producer to rapper was a natural progression for Kia Shine. In the past three years Kia Shine has featured on some of the South’s biggest underground hits like “TVs,” featuring 8 Ball and Kingpin Skinny Pimp “Dirty South Soldiers” featuring Lil Jon and “Round & Round” featuring Mike Jones. When he dropped the club banger “Respect My Fresh” the public was more than ready to receive their Kia Shine with open arms. They were even more receptive when he dropped “I Be Everywhere.” The song garnered over 5,000 Media Based spins. The buzz around Kia Shine piqued the interest of Universal Motown Records which promptly signed him to an unprecedented deal to release his debut CD Due Season. Due Season contains a bevy of bass-laded, trunk-rattling beats, catchy hooks and extra fresh rhymes that makes the album a unique listening experience. The CD is filled with club friendly joint like the blazing “I Be Everywhere,” featuring Jim Jones, an ultra hyper song with a thunderous bass line and a dark gothic strings that play a haunting melody. “Respect My Fresh,” is a funky ditty about Kia Shine’s reputation for wearing the freshest gear including his own line of high end sneakers called Traffic Jams. Built around a bubbling bass line, an arresting guitar riff and a pounding 808 beat, “Respect My Fresh” is one of the flyiest jams on the album. He continues to flaunt his fresh on the slamming heaters “Krispy” and “Wow.” Replete with bangers like these, Due Season proves emphatically that Kia Shine’s time to shine is right now. “Last year I made people respect my fresh,” says Kia Shine. “This year I made them respect my grind.”

SHOP BOYZ

It all happened so quickly. Or so it seems. One day Sheed, Meany and Fat were grease monkeys at a makeshift garage in their Bowen Homes neighborhood, the next they were swiftly-rising hip-hop stars, progenitors of a growing musical movement they call ‘‘hood rock.’ But like most overnight successes, Shop Boyz’s rise to fame took many years. Cousins Demetrius “Meany” Hardin and Richard “Fat” Stephens grew up with best friend Rasheed “Sheed” Hightower in the notorious Bankhead area of Atlanta, the stomping ground of some of the city’s most successful hip-hop artists (T.I. and D4L, among them). They worked on cars, hustled, did whatever they could to make ends meet and when their work was done for the day, they turned to their true passion: making music. Their unique, groundbreaking style didn’t go unnoticed. It wasn’t long before a local producer named Richard “Fire” Harris stepped up and offered to make beats for the group — free of charge. Fresh on his heels was an ear-to-the-street businessman named Brian “Bingo” Ward who took the guys under his wing, put them in his studio and recorded a bevy of songs on them, among them the group’s hit single “Party Like A Rockstar,” a clever, hook-driven joint that is as much about living life with fervor as it is getting your party on. Within four months of its release, “Party Like A Rockstar” set off a frenzy of activity at radio and clubs throughout the southeast and spread like wildfire across the country. The electrifying song with its contagious hook appeals to the spirited, carefree rocker in all of us – from school children and working class dads to hard-core hip-hoppers and blue-haired, Mohawk-wearing Punk Rockers. From note one, excited fans begin strumming air guitars, crowd surfing and building mosh pits that rival those of any major rock concert. “Rock stars party freely,” says Sheed. “They don’t hold back. That’s the way we like to party.” And it’s the way they like to make music. The guys say the hook to “Party Like A Rockstar” was stuck in Meany’s head for weeks. When he finally shared it with them, they knew it was different, that it was edgy and unlike anything else in the clubs or on the radio. It was the perfect introduction to their unique brand of music. “I think our sound is different,” says Sheed, “because we would listen to what everybody else was doing and we thrived on not doing what everybody else was doing. We didn’t want to be just like them and that’s not disrespecting them but we want to create our own lane, not follow somebody else’s path.” As for their definition of the newly-created sub-genre known as ‘hood rock, Sheed says, “It’s got energy and a rock feel to it but at the same time it’s all about rocking the club, getting the club charged up. We don’t want to say crunk because we’re not followers of the crunk movement. We’re trying to have our own sound that’s still energetic.” But in an industry that often encourages imitation over innovation, Shop Boyz knew that coming from a fresh perspective could be risky; still, they were willing to take the plunge. “Sometimes people are afraid to take risks,” says Sheed. “Meany came to us with that hook. He wasn’t scared to say something to us and take that risk and we weren’t afraid to get behind him on it.” And a popular deejay at Bankhead’s famous Pool Palace wasn’t afraid to put it to the test in the club. “We’re just glad that DJ T-Rock decided not to second-guess our music,” Sheed says. “It grew so fast that we were really chasing behind the song,” Meany adds. The song quickly transformed into a phenomenon and took on a life of its own, garnering airplay from Georgia to Texas to New York and everywhere in between. It wasn’t long before Shop Boyz found themselves and their label, ONDECK Records, negotiating a joint venture with Universal Music Group, a move that would truly catapult them beyond their southern boundaries and afford them the opportunity to test their brand in unfamiliar territory. The verdict: a hit is a hit is a hit. Like their Bankhead brethren, Shop Boyz project a sound and image that appeal to their street comrades but, at the same time, they shun over-the-top vulgarity and shy away from glorifying street life and the trials that accompany it. “We from the streets,” offers Fat, “so if you’re from the streets and I’m from the streets, there ain’t too much I don’t know about. I don’t wanna hear about you not having gas for your car when I can’t pay my rent. I want people to go on another level….If you say you sold drugs, I did too at one point. You stole a bike; I stole a bike at one point too. We come from Bowen Homes and Bowen Homes, at one point, wasn’t the place to be and it’s still like that. But in our music, we don’t have to talk about that. We can take it to another level.” Shop Boyz’s debut CD, “Rock Star Mentality,” is a sampling of the creativity and diversity that go into each and every song that this creative collective churns out. Whether they’re flossing and having fun on a track like “My Car” or showing respect for their ladies on “She Knows,” Shop Boyz tell new stories in new and exciting ways. “Rain Dance,” a sure standout, is bound to inspire some new moves on the dance floor. “It’s a lot of energy,” says Meany. “I think people are gonna like it because you gotta dance to it. It’s another movement.” And a group favorite, “Rollin’,” is a track the guys swear is actually hotter than their blazing “Party Like A Rockstar.” “It’s so next level,” says Meany. From spending hours with their heads under the hoods of hoopties in Bankhead to scheduling photo shoots and promo tours all over the country, Shop Boyz are enjoying their success. “It’s been great,” says Sheed. “We’ve been so blessed. You go from saying ‘Please God, please do this, please do that’ to ‘thank you God.’ I used to wonder why I had to grow up in Bowen Homes and why I had to see the things that I saw and why my mama and daddy had to have me out here. But now it’s all kinda coming together. I’m not looking at the fame and money part. What I’m looking at is the fact that my son don’t have to worry about nothing.”

Aye, thanks to Koriee for the heads up on this chick. Tynisha Keli is the frickin’ truth, just by hearing “Let It Go” I knew automatically I was diggin’ her. She is currently working on her debut album, Even If It Takes Forever, due out sometime later this year. It was confirmed that Tynisha’s official first single will be “I Wish You Loved Me” (Myspace). The single will debut on radio stations in the U.S. on May 24, 2007 (tomorrow!). Tynisha will also be shooting a music video for this song! Below are some old songs from Tynisha that blew her up on the Myspace game, similar to Cassie’s story. Fun Fact: difference is one of these young ladies can actually sing (I’ll let you figure out the one I’m referring to.) She recently took all of these vocally amazing songs OFF her myspace ugh! Lol… I heard because that was the past and now her label is now starting to push her a little more now because again of her myspace success, but let’s hope she gets marketed properly- Warner Brothers is whack- their last artist was Paris Hilton. No comment. Switch labels girl! Your voice is too extraordinary to waste like that.

Tynisha Keli » “Can’t Turn Back” » MIRROR » (Full)
Tynisha Keli » “Ooh Wee” » MIRROR » (Full)
Tynisha Keli » “The Right Man” » MIRROR » (Full)
Tynisha Keli » “Sitting In Bedroom” » MIRROR » (Full)

Surrounded by music since she was a small child, twenty-four year old singer, songwriter and composer Chrisette Michele has been blessed with an old soul and this Long Island bred songwriter and vocalist has a deep appreciation for the harmonic foundations that includes gospel and jazz. “I did my first solo when I was four years old,” Chrisette remembers.

Currently putting the finishing touches on her soulful debut album, an artistic exploration that fuses Chrisette’s diverse musical interest into a wonderland, the young artist couldn’t be more pleased. “I realize that I’m new to the music world, but I’ve been preparing for this moment for long time.”

Even before signing on the dotted line of her Def Jam contract last year, the multitalented soul sister had toured with more established artists like Kem and India Arie. “India saw me singing at the Village Underground in New York City. She came backstage that first night and graciously offered me a gig as her opening act.”

Working hard in the studio writing songs and recording demos, Chrisette finished an album worth of material before even trying to get signed. “I’ve been creating songs since I was twelve, so I knew I needed the right musical blend in order to stand-out from the many other performers trying to get a deal.”

While not hung-up on genre labels, Chrisette Michele says, “I’m excited about finding my place amongst young composers like Alicia Keys and Jill Scott. My goal from the moment I was signed by Antonio “LA” Reid, Chairman and CEO, Island Def Jam Music Group, was to create a seamless album that mixes soul and pop in a way that will have people coming back to again and again.” Favorite contemporary artists that are in high rotation include, Beyonce, Kanye West and NAS.

Days after giving LA “goose bumps” during the audition, the young singer found herself in a California studio called Brandon’s Way having a creative conversation with Babyface.

Over the course of a few days, the duo recorded seven tracks, four of which will be heard on her upcoming release. “Babyface and I got into a conversation about the love he has for his children,” she says. “So, the first song I penned was called ‘My Joy.’ It’s a song about a child speaking to his or her father, and I think it’s quite special. Observing the artistry that Babyface possesses has hopefully made me a better performer as well.”

Having grown-up in the suburbs of Long Island, Chrisette didn’t spend much time planted in front of the television. “My parents had me in girl scouts, tap class and piano lessons,” Chrisette says. “It wasn’t like I was cut off from the world, but there just wasn’t a lot of media influence in my life during those early years.”

Chrisette Michele has always been true to herself. “I don’t feel as though I was the typical deacon’s kid, because I was taught early on to speak my mind and not be afraid to think,” she says. “To me, that is one of things that helped keep me focused as an artist who is trying to do something different in music.”

A self-described “girly girl” Chrisette says, “I have definite older child syndrome. I helped my mom raise my brothers like they were my own children, but I also had the pleasure of being daddy’s little princess.”

In addition to her own relatives, Chrisette was blessed with an extended family that included the many folks that her mother allowed to room in their house. “If my mother saw a homeless pregnant woman on the street, chances are they would soon be staying with us,” Chrisette laughs. “I learned so much about the world listening to these folk’s stories, and to this day their experiences can be heard in my material.”

Though already a fan of gospel and classical, it wasn’t until Chrisette Michele was seventeen that she also developed a passion for jazz. “When I was still in high school a teacher introduced me to jazz singer Astrud Gilberto, and afterwards my life was all about jazz,” she remembers.

Majoring in music at 5 Towns College in Long Island, Chrisette cites the nurturing sway of her teachers for where she is today. “Although I did have talent, often that is not enough,” she says. “My professors taught me how to a professional and to be serious about my music. They taught me how to put the music that I dream about at night on paper in the morning.”

With the release of her debut album, Chrisette Michele will soon be sharing those musical dreams with the rest of the world.

‘I AM’ IN STORES JUNE 19TH!

» CHRISETTE MICHELE’S MYSPACE

Akon’s Brick & Lace (Konvict/Geffen Records) release the new single “Love is Wicked” from their forthcoming Summer album Love Is Wicked! Part urban singers and part urbane songstresses, sibling duo Brick & Lace are genre-busters who staunchly defy the 30-second pitch. The amalgamated sound that makes up their Kon Live/180/Geffen debut, Love Is Wicked, is unique, though also at once very familiar. Born to a Jamaican father and an American mother and raised predominantly in Kingston, Jamaica –on an opulent musical diet of reggae, R&B, hip hop, pop and country– 26-year-old Nyanda and 24-year-old Nailah Thorbourne couldn’t help but be trans-eclectic. “We are a hybrid,” affirms Nailah in her effortlessly sexy West-Indian lilt. “It’s not fabricated at all; it’s who we are.” Indeed, who they are is evident in their moniker: “Our mother came up with the name ‘Lace’ and we immediately liked it,” explains the incisively passionate Nyanda. “But we still felt that there was an edge missing, so I came up with ‘Brick.’ It has stuck with us ever since and has evolved with us.”

AUDIO: BRICK & LACE – “LOVE IS WICKED”
WINDOWS MEDIA | REAL PLAYER

To the ladies of Brick & Lace, their name represents the duality and complexity of the everywoman. “Sometimes you want to wear a cap and sneakers and look grimy,” Nyanda tells. “And sometimes you want to wear your sexy dress and heels and look cute.” Nailah puts it all in perspective: “People always ask: ‘Who is Brick & Lace?’ And we always tell them it depends on the day!”

This unpredictability and uncompromising expressiveness makes Love Is Wicked (the first release on Akon’s own label, Kon Live) an aural delight. On their agile down-bottom introductory single “Never Never,” over Akon’s seething sonic brew, Brick & Lace caution wayward suitors to behave themselves if they want a chance with the sisters. “The track’s so grimy that the lyrics and the arrangement just came to us,” Nailah recalls enthusiastically. “It was a very collaborative effort that was fun and exciting to record all the way.”

Like the best cooperative artists, each sister has her specialized lane. Nailah on Nyanda: “Her voice, tone and stylizing and the way she spits her lyrics is edgy. She loves to push the envelope.” Nyanda on Nailah: “She is versatile with a more R&B slant. She has a lot of presence and whatever emotion we need to get out of a record, she gets it, she’s there.” This versatility jives with the arsenal of other producers assembled for Wicked: most notably FULL FORCE, Cool & Dre, Tony “CD” Kelly and will.i.am.

Akon –whom Brick & Lace fondly describe as their “third member” and even the Jam & Lewis to their Janet– checks in again behind the boards and in co-writing capacity on “Get That Clear”—an ethereal, catchy copulation of Dancehall and R&B. On a sobering note, however, is the Cool & Dre helmed “Mr. Officer.” Based on an actual event from Nyanda’s past, the roots-reggae-meets-Wu-Tang-like programming underscores the sisters’ soulful pleading with an arresting officer to free their man and not sever their “lifeline.” The emotional truth exhibited is so pungent, you can smell it.

Brick & Lace’s dynamic as artists and their earnest appeal stems from their songwriting savvy. Nyanda and Nailah wrote or co-wrote every single song on Love Is Wicked. “I’d say we’re artists in the truest sense,” acknowledges the philosopher of the two, Nyanda. “Being an artist is when the essence of you comes through in your work. Sade and Van Gogh are artists, even Shakira is an artist.” Other household names recognize this artistry; the sisters Thorbourne have penned hits for Janet Jackson, Paris Hilton and The Pussy Cat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger.

With their industry currency and lyrical chops, the ladies of Brick & Lace are far from an overnight sensation or some pieced-together record company pantomime project. Having cut their teeth singing backup for Roberta Flack, Lauryn Hill and family friend Marcia Griffiths, Nyanda and Nailah went on to record their first song back in Jamaica with dancehall super-producer, Tony Kelly (who actually reunites with Brick & Lace on “Push It”—a racy dancehall track generously steeped in Duran Duranisms). They also went on to track several songs with heavyweight deejays, one of which includes a street smash with Bounty Killer.

After performances for vaunted urban music tastemakers Dallas Austin and L.A. Reid converted them into vociferous fans, the sisters’ phones just wouldn’t stop ringing; everyone wanted a piece of Brick & Lace. J Records beckoned, as did Universal/Motown and Geffen. But Geffen’s overt commitment to signing the siblings put them ahead of the pack. “They bit the hardest,” Nailah recollects. “They seemed really excited about us and also seemed to get the vibe of the music. Plus their presentation and roster of artists were bringing unique flavor to the table.”

Good things do indeed come to those who toil. Brick & Lace, now armed with a sterling debut, are locked and loaded and ever ready to capture the ears and hearts of those who appreciate the best in life: very good music. “I truly feel like it’s our time,” Nyanda says with a modest confidence while Nailah affirmatively nods.

She couldn’t be more accurate: Love is Wicked is here. Here to make you a believer.

WHO IS YUNG BERG? He has a style that is undeniably fresh, surrounded by a crew that emulates HBO’s Entourage quad. At 21 years old, this Chi-town native is quietly plotting his take over of the phenomenon we know as Hip Hop. Possessing a flow that sounds as classic as a Marvin Gaye tune, with charisma more contagious then the common cold, Yung Berg is the definition of what happens when skills and swagger are pooled into one powerhouse. Below you can listen to his single “Sexy Lady” and also read more about him after the cut!

Previously signed to DMX’s Bloodline Records, Yung Berg got his first taste of the music business at the age of 15. Unfortunately Yung Berg’s bite of success left a bad taste in his parent’s mouths, which lead to a mandatory relocation to military school in 2001. This move would prove to be a blessing in disguise; with no television or radio available, it forced the budding lyricist to develop and hone a style all his own, free of the influences of the wave of hip hop that was popular at the time.

Yung Berg decided to take a different road to stardom upon his return in 2003. Berg refocused his energy and decided that learning the “behind the scenes” aspect of the business was going to propel his career to the next level. So in 2005 he signed on as a hype man for Disturbing The Peace’s first lady of rap, Shawnna. The entrepreneur in Berg was cultivated during this time. Embodying every quality of a true leader, Berg launched his own entertainment venture – the Yung Boss imprint – currently comprised of a roster of equally talented producers and emcees.

“We’re setting the standard for what’s acceptable,” says Berg. “Every other young dude was put on; we’re putting ourselves on.”

Now a little older and a lot wiser, Yung Berg is signed to Epic Records, gearing up to release his debut album, Look What You Made Me. The record boasts a wide variety of material ranging from specially crafted songs for the ladies to street anthems made to resonate in anyone’s “hood”. Look What You Made Me is Yung Berg’s story in his own words and is poised to be one of the best new releases of 2007. Having snagged writing credits on albums for some of hip hop’s elite including Shawnna and Eve and dropping verses on mixtapes for the likes of Clinton Sparks, Young Berg is guaranteed to bring that same spark and energy to his own project.

With a solid music foundation, a powerhouse creative machine and an increasingly growing fan base, Yung Berg is well on his way to becoming the voice of hip hop’s next generation. The combination has undeniably resulted in the birth of the most versatile and unique emcees to enter the game in quite some time, ultimately the reason why hip hop’s future is firmly in tact.

Do not sleep on this young lady! You may recall Tiffany Evans, 15, from the previous post I wrote before. I believe I made a mistake, when I said she was a “New Artist,” I think she just switched labels. but anyway another track, “Girls Gone Wild,” from Tiffany (possibly second single we hope!) and produced by Brian Kidd, of the Clutch, who produces tracks under Timbaland Productions. I love this shit! The beat is madness and the lyrics are so strong like G (credit) said, I agree with everything he said. I encourage all these fast *cough* Deena Alleyne *cough* young HO’S ladies to take a listen!

Tiffany Evans » “Girls Gone Wild” » Download » (Full)

I know this is a little short notice guys, but I will be interviewing new artist Janelle Monáe tomorrow, so if you have any questions you would like to ask you may leave them in the comment section and I’ll see if I can fit them in.

This guy is a true renaissance man, from reporting the news to doing his thing with music, Evrod is indeed everything! He also writes, his influences are Stevie Wonder, Boys II Men, Michael Jackson, Brian McKnight, Usher, Mariah Carey, Craig David, Lauryn Hill, and Musiq Soulchild. Not a bad list, not a bad list at all! Evrod is signed to Cassimy Management. You can hear his brand new single, “Hypnotiq,” that’s sweeping the radio below! Be sure to drop a line over at Evrod’s MYSPACE or visit his official website at EVERYTHINGEVROD.COM

Everything Evrod » “Hypnotiq” » Download » (Full)

Tiffany Evans is a new R&B artist that is signed to Columbia right now, her new single features platinum recording artist Ciara entitled “Promise Ring” and production by Collipark! Her self-titled album is out in stores now- go pick it up and request “Promise Ring” at your local radio stations! For more information on Tiffany Evans visit her MYSPACE or TIFFANYEVANS.COM

Tiffany Evans feat. Ciara » “Promise Ring” » Download » (Full)

I know y’all know who this guy is, especially if you’ve been reading Think2wice for a while. We’ve been following him since his debut as a featured artist on Jay-Z’s “Dig A Hole” from his album Kingdom Come. And now, homeboy has a recording contract with Def Jam records, and is on the verge of blowing up! Earlier today, Mike posted Sterling’s new video Nasty Girl, and ironically, just hours later, my good friend Amina over at Thinktank Marketing sent us an invitation to interview Sterling Simms himself next week! So if you have any questions … you know what to do! Mike will try his best to squeeze them into the interview somehow, if possible… Check out his bio after the cut!

Choosing classic soul auteurs Teddy Riley, New Edition and Brian McKnight as musical inspiration could have been imposing for some, but in the case of newcomer Sterling Simms the truth is in the grooves. Like the missing link between new jack swing and the current R&B scene, Sterling’s debut disc is a welcome detour from the usual scenarios laid down by his contemporaries.  “My main goal while constructing my album was to create a different kind of soul album,” the Philadelphia native explains. “I wanted to capture diverse sounds that I once jammed to on the radio when I was a kid.” The first single, “Jump Off” is the perfect introduction to Sterling’s skills. Be it the bedroom or the club, “Jump Off” can provide the soundtrack. “Me and one of my writing partners Steve-O were in the studio one night, and “Jump Off” just flowed out of our pens,” Sterling explains. “After he had penned the hook, all it took was forty-five minutes for us to complete the song.”

On songwriting, Sterling commented, “I think the best songs are those many people can relate. In all of my songs, whether written by me or others, I want to convey truthful experiences that will connect with the public.” Perhaps the most stellar club track on Sterling’s debut is the addictive “Worth Your While.” Produced by the Cornerboys, the song became a Sterling favorite on first listen. “We had been in the studio for two days, but when I heard that beat, I knew I had to make it mine.” Like the best of new jack swing, “Worth Your While” balances soul and hip-hop. “As soon as I heard it, I knew that record was the one.” Growing-up in Philadelphia, Sterling reflects, “There were times when I felt a little rebellious and just wanted to run away from it all.” “Between my mom and grandfather, who also wrote and composed music, I realized that this was to be my life.”

After his grand-pa took a six-year-old Sterling to a recording studio for the first time, his future was sealed. “To this day, whenever I write a song I dedicate it to my grand-pa. I feel like I’m living his dream.” In addition to his childhood lessons, Sterling also performed in local theater productions as well as scribbling song lyrics in his notebook. Moving from the city of brotherly love to Atlanta when he was fifteen proved to be a culture shock in more ways than one. “I went from hanging in front of the corner store to eating chicken cheese steaks to eating fish and grits,” Sterling jokes. “But, living in Atlanta was one of the best things for my music. I always tell people, Philly made me into a man, but Atlanta made me into an artist.”

The diversity of Sterling’s artistry can be heard on track “Single.” Opening with supple simplicity of an acoustic guitar before layering on keyboards and vocals, “Single” is the perfect anthem for those who feel those who feel tied down in a relationship. Reminding one of the balladry of Babyface, “Single” is not a break-up joint, but it’s still far from a love song. Produced and written with his creative team known as The Knightwritaz (“Because some of our best work is done after dark”), Sterling says, “The idea for that song came to me when I was dating a girl who just stressed me out. I would be in the studio working a session and she would be on the phone working my nerves. We’re no longer together, so I suppose that song had something to do with it.”

Back when Sterling was nineteen, before he had made any real contacts in the music business, Sterling was trying to perfect his craft as a singer/songwriter while slaving the day away at an ATL carwash. “There were these producers who worked at the shop named Mr. Fist and Diggie Don who were working with Lil Zane,” Sterling says. “They were the first guys who took me seriously as an artist and gave me my first break.” Sterling penned a deal with Sony Records that later fell through. “Personally, I got tired of the ups and downs of trying to be an artist and decided to concentrate on just songwriting. For me, writing is the greatest therapy in the world. If I’m feeling tense, I can always sit down and pen a song. I know that’ll make me feel better.”

Forming the creative clique The Knightwritaz with six other writers, Sterling wrote songs for Mario and Tyrese. Sounding like an R&B version of the X-Men, Sterling explains, “With the Nightwriters, we feed off of each others energy as well as help each other out. We’re all friends, but we also get the job done.” As luck would have it, one of Sterling’s demos fell into the ears of another production company,”One Recordings.” Coincidentally, Ray Romulous, an up and coming Island Def Jam A&R executive, heard of Sterling and delivered his demo to “Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group. “After all those years, the hard work had finally paid off,” he laughs. After presenting Mr. Reid with fourteen songs, Sterling was signed to the label. “Working with “L.A.” was a dream come true,” says Sterling. “His track record as both an artist and executive speaks for itself.”

Laying it down hard with a voice soft as silk, Sterling’s debut definitely shines.

OK, I know Lumidee is not exactly a “New Artist” on account of her debut back in ’03, but this is a fresh start for her, plus she recently signed to TVT, “I’m coming out of left field. Nobody ever thought of me coming back on a street credible label like TVT, alongside acts like Pitbull, Lil Jon and the Ying Yang Twins. Actually, nobody ever thought of me really even coming back, period.” I know I didn’t. You can read more on Lumidee HERE! Lumidee’s album Unexpected is out in stores now, you can also she the video for her single “She’s Like The Wind” featuring Tony Sunshine after the cut – this is pretty hot! And CLICK HERE to purchase her new album – “Unexpected” – IN STORES NOW!!

Lumidee feat. Tony Sunshine – “She’s Like The Wind”

Ladies and gentlemen… meet Zion! A new reggaeton star, Zion will be dropping his first solo album entitled The Perfect Melody this summer! His first single, “The Way She Moves,” features Konvict Muzik’s Akon and it’s pretty hot too, a nice summer joint you can jam to, I like it- hear it for yourself below! You will definitely be hearing more from this guy, but in the meanwhile you can check his MYSPACE page out, and send him LOTS of friend request!

Zion feat. Akon » “The Way She Moves” » Download » (Full)

I know ya’ll like, “Purple Popcorn? Who the hell is that…” Well they are an all Rock/ Alternative / Hip Hop based group from Miami, yes I said ROCK, who’s gonna change the game. They recently re-did Mims’ “This is Why I’m Hot” called “This is Why I Rock,” which you can listen to below, and that shit is bangin! They also have been included in multiple projects with other artist like Pitbull, Trick Daddy, 8BALL & MJG, and of course Mims’ new album, Music is My Savior, out right now. For more information on Purple Popcorn please visit their MYSPACE!

Purple Popcorn feat. Mims » “This is Why I Rock” » Download » (Full)