This Week ABC aired “Oprah The Next Chapter” a special on which Barbara Walters sat down for an in depth Interview with the media mogul herself Oprah Winfrey. The special detailed on Oprah’s life after the lights go down and the audience disappear from the most watched talk show on American television “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. For 25 years Oprah has been in the homes of over 6million viewers each day, but now Oprah has taken the well over due step of owning her “Own” television network. In reality who could create their own network of quality television out of their own pocket but Oprah?
The idea of owning her own network grew while having a conversation with her long time partner Stedman Graham about the state of quality programming particularly talk shows. Stedman then suggested she create her own net work, but at the time Oprah caste out the idea as ridiculous.Now 15 years later those ridiculous ideas have come into formation in a joint venture with the president of the Discovery Network David Zaslay to create OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Network .The feeling of failure something that most people would never remotely think would enter the mind of a woman that seems to sore an everything she puts her stamp on and reportedly earning over a million dollars a day.The pressure of delivering on her aim of producing mind full television is a prospect that admittedly has kept Oprah awake at night.With such a legacy behind her she expects as much of herself as the public has come too.
Production has already started on programs for the network with In-depth documentaries, realities shows, a series that follows Oprah in her daily life, the search for the next big talk show host and one of the most interesting shows Master Class a show that focuses on the minds of the leading thought leaders. From the previews, Master Class is really set to expand your way of thinking further than the box that we see.I believe if you have one seedling of inspiration, as long as the mind is exposed there are no longer any limits and there are no boundaries.
It is always interesting to see an interview between two journalists because there is nowhere to hide.Oprah has always said that Barbra Walters is one of the journalists she studied when starting her career almost 30 years ago. In this trusted environment Oprah also opened up about her charity work, personal life. Including the first graduate class of “The Oprah School For Girls” in South Africa and the joy of watching them search for University in the United States.
Oprah also touched on the persistent talks about her best friend of 30 years Gayle King and the basis of their relationship, saying that if they were in a romantic relationship she would have no reason to hide. On her controversial decision not to marry her long term partner Stedman she said that the huge expectations of being in a marriage would be too much for them , and if they had gotten married they would have divorced by now.She has never once regretted her choice not to have children because she didn’t want to be face with a child that one day to turn to her and said “Mum you neglected me for your career”. The most notable point of the interview was when Barbra asked Oprah about the abuse during her child hood that she openly talks about.She details going to school every day in the 5th grade worrying whether she was going to have a baby or not. That was a heart sinking moment for me because when a person is exposed to that experience as a child that is something you have to carry for life and the effects never go away.
I am excited about these new ventures Oprah will be bringing to television. OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Network is set to debut 2011
Quote of the day:
“Just Keep On Using Me Until You Use Me Up, That’s What I Say To God All The Time”
“I love this and I live it” Melanie Fiona truly lives up to her statement with the passion of her fiery stage presence and no hold soulfull warm vocals. The magic of Melanie’s live performances is her natural ability to capture each audience member from the moment she enters the stage and releases that first note. An undivided commitment to each lyric creates an atmosphere of emotional exchange with the audience in each one of her songs with a journey of emotional highs and lows.
Melanie gave a high energy performance in the intimate setting of the Luminaire, on the London stop of her European tour.
As Melanie belts out on of her signature songs “It Kills Me” it’s clear why she displays such confidence in her stage presence and also has a Grammy Nomination in her back pocket, she has the vocal ability to back it up! With an industry full of studio voices it’s a rarity to hear a singer who out does their studio cut to take the song to another level.
Melanie debut a brand new song called “Gone and Never Coming Back” from her new album, ‘The MF Life’ to be released early 2011. This new song flows in the vein of her new style of music Stadium Soul “I coined the sound stadium soul because its bigger, Its soul music but it is big. It’s the biggest drums, loudest electric guitar, liveist keyboards”. This song shows the growth in Melanie musically over the past two years, making her stamp on creating her own individual instantly recognisable style. While maintaining the quality of the lyrics, the freedom in her music bridges into The MF Life.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Melanie after the shows to talk; “The MF Life” and everything that comes with it, sleep sold separately.
While switching from her 5 inch stilettos into a comfortable pair of army style boots I asked Melanie how she has grown a reputation in her live shows that keeps familiar faces in her audiences.
“I would like to believe that they are enjoying my live show, because I put a lot of energy, emotion and physical thought into shows. I always base my music on emotion and I feel people feel that emotion when they listen to the music. It’s really important for me to capture each emotion on each song. Certain songs are happy, certain songs are sad, certain songs are angry and aggressive, I want people to go though the range of emotions with me, I think it’s an experience of release, it’s an exchange. I just hope that they keep loving it and each time they come and they enjoy it because I make the music for the people”
Melanie’s style of music is noticeably inspired by classic soul artist’s and her Guyanese heritage, with the album cover of The Bridge reminiscent of classic vinyl work from Diana Ross and Roberta Flack I asked her ideas on how she wanted her next album The MF Life to be presented visually.
“The Bridge I kept very universal, I kept it black and white I didn’t want people to see anything else other then music. This is now a little bit more introspective a little more personal. I certainly want people to see more colour and growth in my music I want them too see the growth in my eyes in everything in the words in my feelings. The visual is very important to me I want them to always get to know me a little bit better. The MF Life like I said out there in the show is a life style; it is the ups and downs that I go through so I’m going to show a lot of contrast, positives and negatives happy sad and by looking at the art work I want them to feel that okay I know what Melanie Fiona is trying to convey right now”
While listening to The Bridge it’s clear that the doors were left open creatively, in the many different sounds, genres and feelings Melanie could choose any direction with her next album.
“The direction I’m going with The MF Life, it’s bigger it’s better. Its growth really; it’s my growth personally as a performer, as a singer, a writer. It is really important for people to see that and feel that through the music. That was the thing about doing too many diverse sounds on the bridge it did allow me to go anywhere I wanted too and that album took me around the world. It allowed me to perform in huge stadiums large venues and tours with Alicia Keys and Kanye West. I kinda coined the sound stadium soul because it’s bigger, its soul music but it is big. So it’s the biggest drums, loudest electric guitar, liveist keyboards. You know making it that rockingist stadium soul that is just undeniable and just should be played in big concert arenas.”
I love being able to see and touch my fans in the intimate shows, but there is something very powerful and moving about being able to capture and keep the attention of 15 thousand people up high and low you see the cameras flashing. The people coming in and out and for them to stop and listen, it’s really quite an accomplishment. I’m still learning. I’m taking the experiences and learning all the time until I headline my own large venue tours.
Melanie gave me exclusive details on new material with Stephen Marley, and being part of a host of female singers coming together on one album to tribute Nina Simone
I did some really great things; we did some writing I got some tracks from him, I also wrote and did a song with him for his album. I did a compilation he’s putting together, that’s a Nina Simone tribute it’s really great, I’m waiting to find out when it’s releasing. It’s going to be a completion of female singer’s tributing Nina Simone, I covered one of my favourite Nina Simone songs. I hope that it makes the album
Which One?
Don’t explain (Melanie sings) I love it, so I hope it all works out
Melanie’s works with Andrea Martin have been her highest charting songs with tracks “It Kills Me” and “Give it to me right” their collaboration in the studio has proven to be a winning creative relationship that provided Melanie with her already signature tracks. Will they be creating music again for The MF Life?
“Of Course! GT massive for life Andria Martin is like my musical soul mate. I’ve never found a producer writer that I’ve connected with so freely that it’s like a blind relationship so that whether I’m there or not she will create from my prospective. When we’re are together we finish each other’s sentences she brings the best out in me, gives me the freedom to say what I want to do and help me tailor that to become even bigger and better. She’s the greatest teacher as well, and she’s written so many classics (Sings En Vogue - Don't Let Go) She’s Amazing”
So we’re talking about The MF Life?What is a day in the life of Melanie Fiona, ‘sleep till noon’?
O my gosh, I wish. I day in the life of Melanie Fiona right now I’ll tell you it is being on a European tour. Coming from LA, from a 12 hour rehearsal in Atlanta, flying across the ocean to Romania finishing a show at 3am going to a hotel then being picked up at 5am, flying to Albania doing a show being jetlagged, not being able to fall asleep till 7am, coming to London having meetings. Having your shorts fall apart before you have a show, having to go to north London Islington to have a tailor fix it before your show then putting on your shorts and the zipper brakes. Not going to sleep till 6am, having to get up at 9am then having a big label meeting tomorrow to play your new album having to be fresh and be excited then put on a 90min show for your fans. It’s an interesting life.
‘How do you keep up with it all? I remember that your were sick before an Alicia Keys show you were opening’
O I was so sick, it will catch up with you it always does. Truly I think I run off excitement and adrenaline for the most part. I live for this and I love it, I can sit and dwell on all the messed up shit that happens and makes it difficult, or I can keep going and jump over the hurdles and I can still do what I love, that’s how I look at it.
‘How do you maintain your voice that growling schedule?’
I pray to God every night, and thank full he pulls though for me. Sleep is really key for my voice it’s a muscle your vocal cords I’m singing, I’m performing and I’m recording all the time. I’m very grateful that it stays strong and some days it’s harder than others especially since I have a raspy voice. Raspy voices go very very fast especially with lack of sleep.
I asked Melanie how she felt about the mechanical trend of creating a star and the exposure these “singers” are getting; compared to an artist whose talent is natural. Who study their craft and the music is of a much higher quality but still don’t get the support from the executives, this is a singer’s game after all.
“I really think that the music industry has changed alot, the goals that the music industry has. It’s become more about business than the music. Some people are here strictly for money some people are here for fame. There are some people that live eat sleep sacrifice their whole life for this. Sometimes it becomes about everything else but the music, because it’s easier, it’s an easier route to get a pretty girl or a good looking guy off the street. They may not have the talent, but there is someone that wants to manipulate that person into creating a star. I really think a star is born, I think that created and manufactured stars, they fall every fast and it’s a sad thing but it’s a reality. I think that its important people are now exercising better judgment. I hope they have seen the people that have gotten called, out the people that have embarrassed themselves, the people who have said they have one thing then haven’t cut it, the people who have said that they were one thing and they were another. It’s up to the people to be objective and to really open their eyes and ears to everything that's out there. If you’re only focus on one type of artist and one type of music you’re only going to choose the best out of that. If you only listen to garbage you’re going to choose the best of the garbage. If you open yourself up and look around and see what other things are going on, you’re going to see and hear a whole other bunch of music, if you open your ears. So it’s up to the people so I feel it is the media’s responsibility to give the people everything and let them decide instead of plotting them with ABC.”
Exactly a lot of music people put out because it sounds good right now they don’t take into account of how it will sustain the long run
“You see that’s the thing you know some artist want to get in and get out quickly, I actually want a career.”
In creating a career for themselves artist particularly women fall into the stereotypical role and compromise their talent, give in to the pressure of an oversexed image to gain notoriety. A pressure a Melanie is adamant not to give in to.
“I just look around a see everybody doing it and think why would I want to be like everybody ells when I can just be different? So I figured channel other ways to be different, channel other ways to show sex appeal through beauty and intelligence and talent.”
At 19 Melanie decided she knew what she wanted. She put University on hold to pursue her singing career. Not before considering going down career paths of business, social work and medical research until a teacher said “You have too much personality to be sitting in a lab counting shit all day you’re destined for bigger things”. So at 21 she decided to take the passion for her music and chase the dream. She drove half way across Canada then flew to LA .
“What was I like when I was 19, O my gosh. I was excited, I was learning alot about myself I learned a lot about passion at 19 because that’s when I knew I was going to go for it. I put school on hold at 19 I decided I was going to pursue music I was going to work three jobs and I was going to drive across the country then fly to LA and do what I gotta do. At 19 I started my path, I really came into myself. I graduated high school and I was like okay I can go to university. There were a few things I wanted to do, I wanted to do medical research and my science teacher told me ironically. That I had too much personality to be sitting in a lab sorting shit all day so he said don’t do it.He said don’t do it and I said really no why? Your destined for bigger things. Then I thought I’ll try business, you know business is practical it goes with everything and my economics teacher was like really seriously you want to do business. I went to my social works teacher and said maybe I’ll do social work and the social worker at school said you’ll take people’s problems home.Then I said well if I’m destined to do bigger things and I care about the emotions of people then I guess I’ll have to do what I’m destined to do music.
Hard work, commitment and quality of her music has paid off. Melanie, 27 has two Grammy Nominations and recently won a Soul Train award for Best New Artist. How does she feel about receiving well deserve recognition?
“Thank you, it felt really good. I hope it felt exactly how it looked because I watched it and cracked up at myself. I was so shocked and really not expecting to win. My parents were there they surprised me they didn’t tell me they were coming and I didn’t see them until I got back to my seat was really over whelmed.”
Her love for music was sparked listening to her parent’s record collection of great vocalist like Sam Cook, Aretha and Whitney, as well as listening to her father’s band and singing while they practiced.
“My parents are the greatest support system I have they don’t miss a thing I do. My parents have flown in missed special occasions sacrificed money, and time health to be there for me, at all my major events I’m very lucky to have that. They are the proudest.”
Okay so some fire questions now
Prince or Michael Jackson?
O Jesus, Michael Jackson sorry Prince I love you but Michael.
First piece of music you ever brought?
Brandy her first album.
We are in a vinyl shop, what are you looking for?
Sam Cook I’m looking for Sam Cook
Holding up the wall or dancing like nobodies watching?
Oh no I’m in the middle of the floor, depends if I’ve had a couple drinks.
If you could tell your 15 year old self something, what would you say?
I would tell her you’re going to get your heart broken and you’re going to break some hearts.
You said you worked three jobs what was your first job?
My first job was a paper round, I rode around the neighbourhood with my best friend Ashley at the time and we threw papers around, and that lasted for all of 2 weeks. Then I started babysitting and my first real job I worked in the mall in retail. I when to work at this retail shop to I could get all the cloths for 50% off and I hooked up so many people at Christmas time, my brother got his girlfriend at the time, a whole wardrobe for 50% off.
So we have talked about your On day what’s your ideal Off day?
I would sleep I would get a message, I would eat a great meal
What are you eating, your favourite West Indian Dish?
Oww, my favourite West Indian Dish that’s a tough one, it would have to be my Mum’s curried shrimp roti home made from scratch amazing shout to my Mum
Can you cook it?
Absolutely not. I’m terrible at cooking especially West Indian food, because my mum is the Don of that I can’t even mess with her. I would eat a good meal I would have dessert, I would be surrounded with people that love me and that I love.Catch a movies maybe just really chill out and do nothing, I know that sounds lazy sometimes you don’t want to do a damn thing. Sometimes you just want to lay there and not think about anything or your phone ringing just being in your own space. That would be nice. Being in foreign places is nice but it’s hard you don’t feel quite at home, so yea stay in my pyjamas all day.
If you could have dinner with 3 people dead or alive who would they be?
Bob Marley, Ghandi and I would love to meet with Lauryn Hill
Show me the purple heart, what does the purple heart mean?
Purple Heart is fading I should probably get it touched up but I kind of like it faded now. It represents many things for me it represents a turning point in my life, from being new and fresh gaining a lot of experience. Being in love and not being in love, from being broken hearted and being stronger. Making a conscious decision to remind myself that I can really do anything and to be this strong. I did this at a time when I really felt I had earned it. If I could describe what I had been through at that time where I felt I’d over come and where I thought I was going.It’s a purple heart of courage, purple heart of strength and I wanted it to be seen on my mic hand I wanted people to see it and be inspired every time. I wear my heart on my sleeve which can get me into trouble some times, but I’ll get though it with my purple heart again.
What are the goals you wish to achieve in the next 5 and 10 years?
5 year plan, still making music maybe a couple of Grammys
10 year plan, I’ll have a family I will be married, I’ll be a mother and I’ll still be a worldwide singer
What do you want people to take away from your music?
Real life experience and I want them to know that we go though the same things
Her all or nothing attitude towards the stage, focus on the longevity of her career and raw talent proves Melanie Fiona is here to stay her while building the anticipation towards her next full album release in 2011.
Pressure, can Nicki Minaj create the same level of material and excitement she brings to her features on her own full length album? Was the doubt that surrounded the release of Nicki’s debut Pink Friday. With an army of barbie’s around her drafted from her mixtapes and guest appearances Nicki had to raise to high expectations and prove that she could hold her own.
The Young Money front woman expands herself from her most recognisable aggressive style of delivery and a host of characters. Nicki shows her otherwise hidden reflective side in tracks Save Me and Old Nicki were she sings about the tribulations of balancing her new found fame. Trying to maintain her personal growth while keeping hold of what made her fans love her when her was underground when she is growing into the main stream artist that she has the potential to be.
“Did I chase the gilts and glamour money fame and power, then if so that will go down forever as my lamest hour” – Old Nicki
“I drove for miles to find you, to find self. Feels like I’ve been driving for miles I still cant seem to silence the voices in my head. Please won’t you save me?” – Save Me
‘But you was underground I was main stream, now I live the life that we would day dream” – Old Nicki
Nicki shows her lyrical skills in tracks; I’m The Best, Did it On’Em, Here I Am and Eminem assisted track Romans Revenge. Where Nicki takes shots at Lil’Kim who publicly hasn’t taken a liking to Nick’s success
“So fuck I look like getting back to a has-been yeah, I said it, has-been”
“is it my fault that all of you bitches gone? shoulda sent a thank you note, you little ho now I’ma wrap your coffin with a bow N-N-N-Nicki, she’s just mad ’cause you took the spot word, that bitch mad ’cause I took the spot?” Ouch
While tracks like Check It Out and Your Love (which Nicki herself admits she isn’t a fan of) seem to limit her as the lyricist she has proven herself to gain pop success. Pink Friday has tried to cover all bases from underground hard core hip-hop heads to main stream pop radio listeners. Has Nicki tried to stretch herself to thin in this album being a jack of all genres but a master of none? This LP will be a regular on the playlists but struggle to gain long term recondition of the not easily impressed hip-hop heads.
This LP leaves the gate open to curiosity in what Nicki has in store for her next album. It’s evident that Pink Friday has only scratched the surface of Miss. Minaj
Genius and insanity are one of the same. What happens when the thing that builds someone up to be great is the same thing that tears them down before they are fully understood or appreciated?
Often the complexity of an individual’s mind is admired as long as we stay at its surface. When we try and deepen our knowledge to explore what inspires these expressions, we discover what we can’t understand or control. Whatever we as society experience as unfamiliar we outcast, this is where the theory of groupthink enters and why we accept it limiting are minds.
Is Kanye just one of the biggest Casualties of Group Think, an example to show how the media has the power to totally tell us how to act and what to think.
If you ask 10 people how they feel about Kanye West you will receive 2 different answers asshole and genius. Although if you ask how many of the individuals actually own a Kanye west album, watched a video or non-baits interview then most of the asshole comments prove invalid. Isn’t an artist’s individuality what makes them what they are and the reason they inspire?
Kanye was dropped from Lady GaGa’s tour for the Taylor swift incident. Was this huge deficit justified for voicing the same opinion that was on everyone’s mind whether they were present in that room or watching at home, they just chose not to voice their thoughts.
During Kanye’s Today Show interview the main focus was George bush reacting to Kanye’s comments on him being a racist and the Taylor Swift incident. While Kanye was explaining these moments, on a split screen the videos clips were being played which is common practice during an interview. Matthew Lauer promoted words regret and sorry into his explanations while staff talked loud enough to be heard in the back ground. The outcome of this interview caused Kanye to subsequently cancel his live performance later on that week. Who is to blame, The Today Show for prompting a false apology or Kanye for allowing the interview to be conducted knowing the line of questioning? The outcome of the interview is an all too familiar result of Kanye’s public image being more tarnished in the vulnerable state than it already stands.
“Because of what I’ve been though it’s, brought me to become a way more expressive artist, you can’t take anything away from me at this point. What are you going to do? Go to my Mamma’s house, I don’t have no mamma”
How much of an impact mentally, is it for a male to be raised solely by women, his mother, both maternal and paternal grandmothers to pass away within a year of each other. All while believing you are partly responsible for your mother’s death? Your very way of life in your foundation, security and boundaries disappears. People grieve in differently ways some disconcert themselves while others try and submerge themselves into their work before they fully deal with their emotions. It was clear from the themes of his “Glow In The dark Tour” and “808 & Heartbreak” album that he had not mentally dealt with death of the most important people in his life. His song themes changed from “Champion” and “Celebration” to “Heartless” and “Paranoid” it was evident that grief counselling was needed. If he had received counselling would the Kanye against the world and Kanye is crazy attitude be at the level it is now, I don’t’ believe so.
“I don’t say please look at my art, people come to me, so how can you attack me you came to me”
When Kanye’s film runaway was released it gave us in insight into his complexity, interpreting everyday life into a world that is initially so far gone. Although once we accept the fact that the phoenix can represent any outcast, it immediately becomes present. The biggest killer of imagination is growing old, a child’s imagination has no inhibitions when you can capture that into adult hood there are no ceilings. If the mind is exposed, even the smallest seedling of imagination and inspiration has no limits.
Hopefully we can stop stamping people crazy or strange, but take an interest on why people are the way they are.You can only beat somebody down so much before they fall from the ledge.
The foundation of a Mary J. Blige concert lays in her personal no hold connection with the woman from the front row to furthest corner of the arena speaking directly to her soul. “Music Saved My Life” and I’m going to sing like it was my last. Mary J. Blige Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul lived up to that statement at The 02 Arena on Tuesday November 2nd 2010. The relationship people have with Mary’s music while in their homes, cars and 3am realisations of self is taken to another level in her presence.
Mary J performed 30 of her biggest hits echoed by the audience, most who have followed her voice all the way from the baseball caps of “The 411” to the confident woman living and loving life in the fitted black cat suit on the stage.
Mary was joined by her dancers to open the show with up tempo songs “The One” “MJB Da MVP” “Good Love” “I Feel Good” and U.K Top 10 hit “Each Tear” from her new album “Stronger”. The audience was brought to their feet and others had formed a dance floor behind the control box holding glasses of wine as she reminisced on hits such as “I’m Going Down” “Be Happy” and “My Life”. All she needed was a stage and that microphone no need for complex and distracting stag design just raw emotion, vocals and lessons learned.
After a quick costume change Mary, her signature tattoo’s and thigh high 6 inch boots broke down in true New York City style “Real Love” “Not Gone Gone Cry” “Good Woman Down” and “Enough Crying”. Mary’s most emotionally charged song brought her to her knees and the audience standing on their seats was a track from her 2003 album “Love and Life” called “Your Child” about receiving a knock on the door one evening with a woman holding a baby with eyes just like her partner.
Mary’s set included broken down versions of songs “Be without you” and Chaka Khan cover “Sweet Thing” while pointing the microphone towards the audience trying to hit that signature Chaka note.
Mary proved her ability to connect with each and every audience member, so when you see a flyer for a Mary.J concert you already know you won’t find the same atmosphere anywhere els.
Concert Reviews Coming Month Of November Yonlanda Brown John Legend and The Roots
Concert Reviews Coming Month Of December Melanie Fiona (see The Vinyl Box's first post to learn more about Melanie Fiona her music and short review of her July concert)
Ne-Yo has released the track list for his 5th debut album Libra Scale due to be released November 22nd on Island Def Jam. Despite many of the tracks’ from the album being leaked online and his first single dance inspired track “Beautiful Nightmare” failing to make an impact on state side charts. Having a #1 hit here in the UK Ne-Yo is confident in the material for this album is his best work.
The question remains is anybody anticipating this album from Ne-Yo? His project has been seeminglyneglected in terms of promotion compared to label mates Rhianna andKanye West who Def Jam has already invested a reported $2million into his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy “ including projects like his mini movie “Runway” and “G.O.O.D Friday’s” a weekly free track release. Ne-Yo has also chosen the most competitive week in RnB/Hip-Hop this year in terms of the fight for #1 and first week album sales. The third week of November looks like this in terms of release dates:
When the weekly sales are announced no doubt the report will be very interesting to see which artist will be celebrating a highest first week sales and a #1 album.
Ne-Yo Libra Scale Tracklist:
01.Champagne Life
02. Making A Movie
03. Till The Morning Comes
04. Telekinesis
05. One In A Million
06. Miss Right
07. Songs About You
08. She Is
09. Cause I Said So
10. Beautiful Monster
11. What Have I Done
12. Crazy Love feat. Fabolous
Last night the Manchester Eco arena was set blaze by the 15th anniversary of the MOBO awards. Founded in 1996 by CEO Kanya King the MOBOs were the very first awards show in Europe to celebrate urban music. Over 15 years it has grown to be one of Europe’s power house awards shows hosting acts like Janet Jackson, The Fugees, Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z, Estelle, Destiny’s child, Dizzee Rascal, Chipmunk, Usher, Tina Turner and Justine Timberlake to name a few .
This year’s awards proved to live up to its 14 year legacy in the level of talent , production of the show and of course the performances. Tiny Tempah and JLS were big winners on the night each picking up 2 awards. Tiny won best song and best video for his #1 record “Pass Out” that dominated the summer its video could have easily held it’s owned amongst the worldwide heavy weights at the VMA’s. JLS won best album for the self entitled LP among other nominees; “Plan B – the Defamation of Strickland Banks” “N-Dubz – Against All Odds” “Chipmunk – I Am Chipmunk” and “Dizzee Rascal – Tongue in Cheek” this highlights the debate of whether awards should be given on the basses of the public vote or the award show board of industry executives? The public tend to vote for the personal favourite act rather than the act that produced the best quality music.
The show was opened by Mark Ronson and Business International performing their techno 70’s disco inspired hit “Bang Bang Bang”. Joined by Roll Deep to perform “Money in my Pocket” the two acts mixed perfectly to contrasted the strobe lights of dance and grit of grime based crews that perfectly depicts the nature of the awards show.
Raggie Yates and Alisha Dixon co-hosted the main stage while the members of N-Dubz hosted pre and post interviews back stage which gave an uncensored experience of what goes on back stage at an awards show in true N-Dubz style.
The first act to be presented with an award was Professor Green who won best Hip Hop the award that was presently by a member of the most famous family in the world the Jacksons. Jermaine Jackson dressed in his Arabic inspired suit stated “I’m so happy to be here at the mobile awards”....Right. Best new comer award that was won by JLS in 2009 was awarded to Tiny Temper who has had a #1 album “Disc-overy” and #1 single “Pass out”
The second performance of the night was a high energy well rehearsed and directed performance by one of the UK most popular groups N-dubz who have recently signed a state side deal was Island Def Jam . Performing their new single Bad Behaviour the recording process of this single was seen during their reality show “Being N-Dubz”. Fazer opened there performance on a baby grand piano stripping the song down to its melody’s Dappy of course brought the energy while Tulisa provided the harmonies although it wasn’t her strongest vocal performance they had the loudest applause of the night. After their performance the group when back stage and interviewed UK Cash Money/ Young Money artist Jay Sean about their transformation into the US music scene and the essential care package needed to survive in LA including; PG Tips, Rich Tea and Nob Nob biscuits and Nando’s sauce.
England proved too all international viewers that we are a nation of football lovers when two Everton football players were welcomed to the stage with Boo’s and jeers from a stadium full of home Liverpool supporters priceless looks of disgust were plastered on the face of Liverpool players sitting in the audience after there defeat earlier that week. Finally the audience subdued long enough for them to present the well deserved award for best R’n’B act to Plan B for his album “the Defamation of Strickland Banks”.
Best Gospel act was won by Guvna B he represents the new generation of gospel artist that blends the traditional message with the language and hard edge of UK hip hop. Guvna B is represented by Black Grape Productions London based company that host acts such as 2008 Jazz award winner Yolanda Brown and provides a venue for musicians and comics to display their talents.
Not all awards are handed to acts that lead with a trail of paparazzi behind them. The BeMOBO award was formed to honour organisations’ that are the unsung heroes working to uplift the community at the grass root level. This years’ honouree was Merseyside Dance Initiative in Liverpool. MDIs’ aim is to inspire the people of Merseyside of all ages and cultures though dance members have formed groups that develop local talent such as ; Merseyside Youth Dance Company, Dance and & Health, African Peoples Dance and LEAP Year Dance.
The MOBOs’ life time achievement award was presented to legendary Trinidad born and British raised artist Billy Ocean by veteran DJ Trevor Nelson. Billy Oceans career spans over 50 years and boasts a Grammy award, 50 million records sold and a catalogue that stores hit’s such as “Caribbean Queen” “Can We Go Round Again? “ “When the going gets tough, the tough get’s going” and the theme tune of the film The Jewel of the Nine “Love really hurts without you”. Billy Ocean continues to produce albums and tour worldwide.
She show was closed by Tinchy Strider smoke, heart stuttering base and pyrotechnics in a performance of his new single Gone. The performance met its climax when he was joined by leading UK hip hop acts Gigg’s , Professor Green and Tiny Temper. People who had never known Channel U existed or listened to a song that had more than 60 BPM were bouncing around in their front rooms enjoying this performance.
In the MOBO’s 15 years it has proved its stance in showcasing and awarding the best young urban talent the UK as to offer, growing its brand into an internationally recognised award show.
At the 2009 BET awards Jamie Fox announced with an aid of a video clip showing two notorious wigged women robbing a bank that “Skank Robbers” a movie that merges the hilarious characters Shanaynay and Wonda from comedies “Martin” and “In Living Colour” will be released.
If you have seen Jamie Foxx or Martin Lawrence in character as these women know this movie is going to be crazy. Now that it is 2010 the banter between Pam played by Tichina Arnald is going to be ridiculous with all the fresh new material what will be written. Arnald recently revealed in an interview with BET that if asked, she would sign on too reprise her role as Pam in the new movie.
“You know I would! Pam was a lot of fun to play because she was close to who I was and I just brought elements of different friends that I had. I loved playing that role because we had a lot of moments and developed the characters as we went along.”
When it come to brand new characters in the cast, none other than Oscar award winning actress Halle Berry has signed on as part of the cast. It’s unknown what character exactly Berry will be playing and how she will portray a comedic character since the majority of Berry’s roles are drama based, but she has the muscle as an actress to hold her own with the seasoned comedic actors and actresses. No doubt film is defiantly an exciting project if it all comes together.
Onika "Nicki Minaj" Maraj has set a new record on Billboard. Just a few months after gaining her first Billboard #1 with "Your Love" Nicki has set the record for being the artist with the most 200 best-selling songs of 2010 with
Your Love - 755,00 units (Nicki Minaj)
My Chick Bad - 1,246,000 (Ludachris)
Knock Out - 519,000 ( Lil' Wayne)
Bottoms Up - 518,000 (Trey Songz)
Lil' Freak - 508,000 (Usher)
Letting Go "Dutty Love" (377,000) - (Sean Kingston)
It Ain't The End (355,000) - (Jay Sean)
In a grand total of 4,298,000 in sales with no album released
The part that has me questioning this title is fact that only ONE of these songs that counted towards Nicki gaining this best-selling record has been Nicki’s own solo song. It begs the question can Nicki gain the same success on her own or is she just a feature artist. The lyrical content on a song like "Your Love" isn't up to the standard of her features on "Monster" or "Bottoms Up" on which she outshines the main artists.
Also on the singles she has released for the debut album "Pink Friday" due out November 23rd she has been "Singing" and not showing her skills as an MC that she has proves she has on the contributions to other artist’s songs and her mixtapes to released at the beginning of her career. Is this a tactical move to attract the Pop audience or Nicki falling short in delivering a whole album standard track?
Never the less you can't say that Nicki isn't leading the pack when it comes to female MC's let’s just see what she delivers come November 23rd
Nicki Performed on Regis and Kelly
Nicki Performed on Regis and Kelly this Monday
In the past 2 years Nicki has come from rapping on "The Come Up" DVD's to prime time TV performing songs from one of if not the years most anticipated album "Pink Friday". Even though Nicki's performance wasn't the strongest and she didn't seem to be in the forfront of her segment, I defiantly think when shes gains more experience in these kinds of settings she will fine tune her performance.
I'm just going to put this out there but do you think a time will come when Nicki becomes creatively constricted by her animated wardrobe, faces and "dance" moves? because it's evident that Nicki has talent and this persona isn't all she has to offer. Never the less we have no full body of work to judge her on, we will have come November 23rd...... pressure much?
