For those who followed this artist on YouTube last year, you will be glad to know that Esha is back! Born Aisha Meacham-Abdullah to Nigerian parents, Esha, 21, took a break last year from YouTube but is finally back and better than ever. Esha has always been around music; her mother came to America as a background singer for a Nigerian group. Esha’s parents recall her learning the song “Let’s Chill” by Guy at the age of 18 months, and by the age of 2, she was standing on her dad’s briefcase and singing. “I didn’t know singing was an actual talent until I was 7 years old. After that it was a wrap,” she told us.

Esha’s number one influence is Michael Jackson because he is mainly what she listened to growing up. Next are Beyonce and Bobby Ray. She has released a pretty damn good mixtape titled “Esha: The Remakes” which you can download here. It features “Bed” (one of her best covers), “Kiss Kiss”, “Like You’ll Never See Me Again”, and more. She has also managed to gain well over 4.9 million views on YouTube, a feat that’s worthy of some props. She has been in touch with many labels through her career and has been reached by music insiders who complement her on her covers. This is not the last we’ve heard of Esha.

Follow the break for Esha’s studio version of “Bed” by J. Holiday, videos, and a short exclusive interview!

[See post to listen to audio]

“BUST YOUR WINDOWS” (JAZMINE SULLIVAN)

“RUDE BOY” (RIHANNA)

“UNTHINKABLE (I’M READY)” (ALICIA KEYS F/ DRAKE)

GOT: If you could compare yourself to one artist, who would it be and why?

“IT KILLS ME” (MELANIE FIONA)

GOT: If you could compare yourself to one artist, who would it be and why?

ESHA: Bobby Ray. It’s safe to say that I’m a female singing (even though he sings) version of him. And that will be more evident in my music to come. My spirit came to the physical realm to help usher in the evolution of earth’s collective consciousness, and so did his…so did Michael Jackson’s. “This is spiritual ya’ll, I’m wrestling beasts.” – Bobby Ray

GOT: Have you written any songs of your own? If so, where can they be heard?

ESHA: Yeah I have songs online that I recorded a few years back. They aren’t a solid reflection of the music I’ll be putting out in the future. Before Imeem did the move and partnered with MySpace all of my old music was on there. But I have a few on my YouTube page as well as Twitter.

GOT: Have you started to record an album though you do not have a label?

ESHA: Yep. I’m working on an album now. Some would call it a mixtape but it’s all original music so it deserves the respect of an album. It’s actually a collaboration with another singer named Poin Dexter. He’s an amazing artist & you’ll be hearing more of him soon.

GOT: What would you say have been your biggest accomplishments since entering the music scene?

ESHA: Honestly, my biggest accomplishment since entering the music scene is my spiritual development. I’m human, but more importantly I’m a spirit having a human experience. I’m not here to entertain, I’m here to make healing the mind entertaining. If I didn’t realize that, I’d probably have a deal by now, be on the verge of superstar status, and be one lost soul contaminating the minds of other lost souls.

GOT: Have you heard from any of the artists of the songs you have covered on YouTube?

ESHA: I sang “I’ll be in the Sky” by Bobby Ray and sent him a message on MySpace that said “Me singing your song”. His manager was logged on at the time and saw the video, called me the same night and I met Bob the next day at Grand Hustle studios. His manager now manages me and Bob and I are good friends. The man that discovered Rihanna also sent me a message on MySpace and said I killed the “Umbrella” cover. Most of the people that have hit me up to compliment me have been people who are on the teams of the people I sang the covers of.

GOT: Who are you must keen to work with in the industry? (Writers & Producers)

ESHA: Amazing writers and producers that the mainstream has never heard of. Shout out to the writers and producers that make millions, but a bigger shout out to the writers and producers that have yet to.

GOT: Have you been in contact with any labels?

ESHA: Yeah labels have contacted me throughout the years. It’s extremely humbling.

GOT: How hard has it been for you to get yourself out there and noticed?

ESHA: It’s been pretty easy. I’m the type of person though that if it’s not done right, I don’t want to do it at all. Which is why I have yet to come out with my own original project. I’m a perfectionist, and I don’t go by my time, or the industry’s time. The industry will always be there…they will always need a female singer and I will always be here. I work by Kairos, which is Greek for God’s time. So when God wants me to be noticed that’s when it’ll happen. Till then I’m living my life preparing for that time.

GOT: If you could collaborate with one male artist and one female artist, who would they be? Why?

ESHA: Michael Jackson for obvious reasons, and Beyonce. 

GOT: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

ESHA: Ten years from now I see myself as not only a successful artist, but a successful entrepreneur, wife, and mother.

GOT: What is the most important thing you have learned during your journey with music?

ESHA: The most important thing I learned is that I wasn’t given the gift of music to be idolized. I was given the gift of music to show just how diverse, fly, and creative the creator really is. Right now, Hip-Hop is looked at collectively as Satan’s music. Something that will stray you away from happiness, joy, peace and love…things every human strives for. Something that can’t be “conscious” “liberating” and “revolutionary” unless you sound like Talib and KRS One and you rock backpacks. So now, I can’t dress “street”, “urban” “hip” or whatever without being associated with something unholy. Hip-Hop and music period was God’s gift to earth before it was ever Satan’s trap. And I’m here to prove it. So I learned that it’s not about me. There really is a war going on people. And like Sade said, I’m a “soldier of love”.

GOT: Final word from Esha:

ESHA: Fact: Eon’s ago, earth was just a thought. Sleep on it.

By: Kenni Nwajagu
Contributing Editor for Gossip On This

Make sure to check out Esha’s YouTube page

The 51st annual Grammy Awards went down last night in Hollywood, despite all of the hoopla surrounding the whole Chris Brown and Rihanna situation, and dozens and dozens of the biggest names in celebrity entertainment showed up on the red carpet to pose for photos: Jay-Z, T.I., Keyshia Cole, Jennifer Hudson, T-Pain, Diddy, Robin Thicke and more! Continue reading for the rest of the photos.

CONTINUE READING TO PAGE 2 FOR MORE!

Singers Janelle Monae, J. Holiday and Anthony Hamilton all played dress-up earlier today at Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles at Day 3 of the 51st Annual Grammy Awards Style Studio event. You already know what to do to peep the rest of the photos! Hit that link below!

PHOTOS: WIRE IMAGE

Here’s the video premiere of “It’s Yours,” a brand new music video from R&B singer J. Holiday, who’s gearing up for the release of this second studio album, Round 2, which will be in stores March 10th 2009!

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA // FRIDAY, JULY 4TH 2008 » So many celebs came out to support, perform and attend the 2008 Essence Music Festival this year on Independence Day. Rihanna, Chris Brown, Kanye West and J. Holiday all performed friday night at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Louisiana Superdome. Solange, Bow Wow, Chris Paul, LeBron James, and more were all at the festival for the first day on the 4th. Check out more pics after the cut.

(PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES / WIRE IMAGE / FILM MAGIC)

]]> http://gossiponthis.com/2008/07/06/2008-essence-music-festival-day-1/feed/ 2 http://gossiponthis.com/2008/06/24/tag-records-launch-party/ http://gossiponthis.com/2008/06/24/tag-records-launch-party/#comments Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:10:24 +0000 GOT STAFF http://gossiponthis.com/?p=9408

Remember that post about Jermaine Dupri launching a new record label? Well, TAG Records was officially launched last night in L.A. More »

Remember that post about Jermaine Dupri launching a new record label? Well, TAG Records was officially launched last night in L.A. at Kress, and celebrities like J. Holiday, Tichina Arnold, Slim Thug, and more came out to show their support. TAG Records is a joint-venture between Jermaine Dupri, Def Jam, and TAG Body Spray, where JD will take the executive position as president and will be responsible for developing the label’s musical talent, in addition to setting the creative vision of the New York-based company. Check out more flicks from the party after the cut.

(PHOTOS: WIRE IMAGE)

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#1: SOULJA BOY

17-year-old rapper Soulja Boy has cranked his way all the way to the top of Forbes Magazine’s Hottest New Music Stars 2008 list. He shares the list with the likes of Sean Kingston (#2), J. Holiday (#4), Flo Rida (#5), Jordin Sparks (#7), and more. The list was populated by artists who had big hits in 2007. How were they determined, you ask? Check out the info below:

To compile a list of the hottest new stars of music, we examined several measures of popularity and success. To start off, we looked at the top searches and downloads on peer-to-peer networks during the past 12 months as measured by BigChampagne, as well as press mentions as measured by Factiva.

Then we looked at U.S. digital track downloads and album sales in 2007 and the first two months of 2008, as measured by Nielsen SoundScan. Finally, we took a look at “mastertone” ringtone sales during the same period, as measured by Nielsen RingScan (mastertones are ringtones that play a snippet of the actual recording of your favorite song). [ VIA FORBES » ]

#2: SEAN KINGSTON
#3: COLBIE CAILLAT
#4: J. HOLIDAY
#5: FLO RIDA
#6: PLIES
#7: JORDIN SPARKS
#8: HUEY
#9: HURRICANE CHRIS
#10: ONE REPUBLIC

Too bad a good 40 – 50% of this list probably won’t even be around in 2013!

Y’all know it’s that time of the year again. Spring Bling 2008, BET’s annual spring break celebration, was filmed this year in Riviera Beach, Florida. You already know this shit is gonna be on repeat for the next couple of months. So until that happens, maybe these flicks will hold you over!

Yeah … leave your comments, lol!

It has been confirmed by local news channel WMDT 47 in Salisbury, Maryland, R&B singer J.Holiday was arrested Thursday night after being pulled over on Route 50 for racing with another vehicle … and having some weed in the “back of his lac!” Sgt. Frank Russo said when the officers pulled J.Holiday (real name: Nahum Grymes) over, they picked up a strong odor resembling that of marijuana coming from the singer’s car, which led to a search of his vehicle. According to WMDT, a small amount of marijuana was found in the center console of the vehicle. Holiday and his passenger, George Jackson, both face charges of drug possession, while the driver of the other car, Rolland Wesley, faces traffic-related charges.

I’m still waiting on that mugshot to leak!

Sooner You Get To Love
Windows Media | Real Media

ASHLEE SIMPSON – “OUTTA MY HEAD (AY YA YA)” »

FAT JOE F/ J.HOLIDAY – “I WON’T TELL” »

FANTASIA AND HER 6-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ZION

According to a few sources, over the past 9 months Fantasia has been missing a few shows (50+ to be exact lol) due to exhaustion/being sick. Needless to say, the folks at Broadway weren’t happy. When the star doesn’t show, a stand-in fills in for them, and the people who attend the show are entitled to a refund. So they lose a lot of money when this happens. But anyhow, back to the rumor. Apparently the NY Post’s Michael Riedel added to the story stating that the American Idol winner was pregnanty with Young Dro’s baby, making it seem like that was the reason why she was missing all of the shows. Fantasia has since then come out and clarified all of the misconceptions with a statement:

It is true that she has missed some performances because she has gotten sick from time to time over the nine months, but doing eight shows a week is a lot so she missed a few.

Fantasia, who already has a 6-year-old daughter, Zion Quari, is scheduled to end her extended Broadway run as Miss Celie on January 6th. Chaka Khan and Bebe Winans join the cast as Sofia and Harpo on January 9th. Check out our clear up of the rest of the rumors after the jump!

SOULJA BOY’S MOM IS ALIVE AND WELL

SOULJA BOY AT THE “DIRTY AWARDS” BACK IN NOVEMBER / PHOTO: WIRE IMAGE

Soulja Boy, of the “Crank Dat” fame, was surprised himself to hear of a nasty rumor rooting from MySpace that his mother had lost her life in a car accident. The 17-year-old rapper posted a blog on his MySpace on Tuesday of last week clearing everything up.

I want to thank everyone for the support But my Mom is NOT DEAD and she WAS NOT in a Car Accident. I hate when people start rumors like that. I almost had a heart attack. I will see my mom when I hit ATL for the UCP Tour … I love yall who supporting me, peace!

Soulja Boy is currently on tour with Chris Brown as an opening act for the “Up Close and Personal (UCP)” tour and is planning to release a new single “Yahhh” and has already shot the video. This .. should .. be .. interesting =)

J. HOLIDAY DIDN’T DIE IN A PLANE CRASH

J.HOLIDAY AT TRL THIS PAST MONDAY (DECEMBER 17TH 2007) / PHOTO: WIRE IMAGE

This rumor wasn’t really publicized, but spread pretty quickly through text messages “paying respects” to J.Holiday. Apparently he had died in a plane crash Sunday (Dec.16) morning, but upon receipt of said text message I immediately knew it was fake. So I let all of my friends know that J.Holiday was okay and sent them a tour itenerary. The day before his alleged “plane crash” he was in Washington, and the next day he had a show in California. They usually use tour buses for short trips like that, so him even being on a plane was highly unlikely. He’s currently on tour with R Kelly and Keyshia Cole as an opening act for the “Double Up” tour.

R Kelly’s currently on tour with Keyshia Cole, Ne-Yo, and J.Holiday, and the crew touched down in Atlanta last night. I’m hearing Keyshia’s giving a little trouble behind the scenes though. I was reading on Fresh’s site that homegirl wasn’t too happy about her dressing room arrangement (and the show line-up) at the previous show in Columbus, Georgia. She did NOT go on stage that night because she didn’t wanna go BEFORE Ne-Yo! Why? Because she believes that she’s bigger than he is. Wow… Lol. Style Razzi has all the info on that. But it looks like they came to some kind of agreement cause she hit the stage last night in Atlanta. If anyone went to the ATL show last night, PLEASEEEEE hit us up! I wanna know who came first … Keyshia, or Ne-Yo?? Lol!

But on the real, she needs to chill out with that. Drama on the road is not cool, especially when you have to be around these people almost all day long for a period of 2 – 4 months. Wasn’t she the one causing issues a couple of years ago during Kanye’s tour?? It was something between her and Fantasia if I remember correctly.

“Suffocate” is the third single released from Holiday’s lastest album, Back Of My Lac’, in stores now! Here is the video premiere for that single as well as Sean Kingston’s new single, “Take You There,” and Styles P, “Blow Your Mind,” featuring Swizz Beatz, which you can view after the cut!!

Our photographer Frank Rivera sent me some photos from J.Holiday’s album release party on Monday. I wasn’t able to post them earlier due to our server issues this past week. But thankfully all of that is over and now we can get to updating! Anyhow, check out the pics below, and peep the rest after the cut.

PHOTOS BY MARK VON HOLDEN FOR WIRE IMAGE

Omarion hit up Fuse’s “The Sauce” this past Monday. He was probably promoting that album he and Bow Wow are coming out with. I forget the name of it, seeing as it’s not really in my list of top 10 things to remember.

AMERICA FERRERA DROPS BY MTV’S TRL »

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN LOVEKIN FOR WIRE IMAGE

America Ferrera, best known as “Ugly Betty” hit up MTV’s TRL this past Monday.

JOHN LEGEND PERFORMS AT PREMIERE OF STARBUCKS’ NOW PLAYING SERVICE »

PHOTOS BY SHAWN EHLERS FOR WIRE IMAGE

Apple recently launched a new feature for their iPhone/iPod Touch line where in (select) Starbucks locations, you can purchase songs playing in the shop. John Legend was at Starbucks Astor Place to perform for the event.

J.HOLIDAY “BACK OF MY LAC” ALBUM RELEASE PARTY »

PHOTOS BY MYCHAL WATTS FOR WIRE IMAGE

Here are a few photos of some folks who showed up for J.Holiday’s album release party for his debut album “Back of My Lac” on Monday. What the hell is up with Nik from America’s Next Top Model?! She used to be so fine. She looks like … “death.” I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s just not right in the face area.

BUY NOW: ATLANTIC | AMAZON | iTUNES

Trey Songz reigns on Trey Day! Equally up to par as his debut album, I Gotta Make It, if not greater! The album starts off with this amazing introduction from Bun B, of UGK, followed by a suit of sonic sounds and vast harmonies; Trey introduces a different side of him prior to I Gotta Make It, a combination of rapping and singing, with songs like “Long Gone Missin’”, the smash single “Wonder Woman” (produced by Danja) and, my favorite, “No Clothes On”. =D

Now, halfway into the album, it takes a more slow and seductive route with songs like “Sex For Yo Stereo,” “Last Time,” “Can’t Help But Wait,” and “Grub On”. The album next goes up tempo with “Fly Together,” another favorite of mine, featuring Jim Jones. Next is “Store Run,” a nice melodic Dre & Vidal production. This song I really like though, “Missin’ You,” mainly because it’s a Stargate production – I knew it, like the back of my hand, you can totally tell from jump! Anyway the album makes its culmination with “Role Play” and the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis production “We Should Be”.

BOTTOM LINE: Overall the album has a lot of variety compared to I Gotta Make It, I see more growth and uniqueness with harmonies, it’s just a real smooth R&B album – it’ll be a nice gift for your guy’s birthday or whatever. Make sure you get Trey Day in stores October 2nd or you can pre-order the album via the links above! See my album review for J. Holiday‘s Back Of My Lac after the cut!

Trey Songz » “Can’t Help But Wait” » LISTEN » (Full)
Trey Songz feat. Jim Jones » “Fly Together” » LISTEN » (Full)
Trey Songz » “Last Time” » LISTEN » (Full)
Trey Songz » “No Clothes On” » LISTEN » (Full)

BUY NOW: CAPITAL MUSIC GROUP

Now we have new artist J. Holiday and his debut effort Back Of My Lac’, this is the definition of real rhythm and blues, similar to Trey, Holiday tries out the whole rapping and singing thing. I was a little caught off guard with “Back Of My Lac’,” I wasn’t really feeling it at first, but I really got into the lyrics. “Ghetto” is visually groundbreaking and relatively unique with Holiday being an R&B artist. “Thug Commandments” is like an ol’ school flow song you thugs can really get into, treat this like a damn ritual, like a street commodity.

Then of course the album goes into “Bed,” another great Dream production, I think this is the record that “formally” introduced us to Holiday. “Betcha Never Had,” “Fatal” (produced by The Underdogs), “Without You” (produced by Drakchild) and “Fallin’” are all possible standout tracks from the album to me.

BOTTOM LINE: Aside from the recent material I’ve heard on the internet Holiday completely surprised me! I mean, wow, it’s almost elusive. I have nothing to say but expect the unexpected – raw, seductive, sexually explicit material. Back Of My Lac hit stores October 2nd – make sure you go out and support this record – you won’t regret it. Trust me. You can also pre-order the album via the linkage above!

J. Holiday » “Suffocate” » LISTEN » (Full)
J. Holiday » “Betcha Never Had” » LISTEN » (Full)
J. Holiday » “Without You” » LISTEN » (Full)
J. Holiday » “Fallin’” » LISTEN » (Full)

Above is said to be the official album cover to J. Holiday’s 2007 debut Back Of My Lac. The LP will include the R&B smash “Bed,” written by The-Dream. Despite half of the album already leaked, I am very much anticipating its release, so far the material is solid. Back Of My Lac hits stores October 2 and if I stand corrected so is Mario’s album. In other R&B news, J. Holiday recently did a feature with Yahoo! Music’s WHO’S NEXT? Ch-check it out!