thevinylbox: October 2010

Friday, 22 October 2010

The Fight for #1 + Ne-Yo Libra Scale Official Track List

Ne-Yo has released the track list for his 5^th debut album Libra Scale due to be released November 22^nd 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 seemingly neglected in terms of promotion compared to label mates Rhianna and Kanye 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:

Sunday November 21st

Mariah Carey “Mery Christmas 2” (Island Def Jam)

Monday November 22^nd

Ne-Yo “Libra Scale” (Island Def Jam)

Nicki Minaj “Pink Friday” (Cash Money/Young Money)

Lloyd Banks “Hunger For More 2” (G-Unit)

Tuesday Novenber 23rd

Kanye West “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (Island Def Jam)

Tuesday November 30th

Beyonce “I Am Tour “ DVD (Music World)

With Def Jam releasing three albums in the space of three days and their CEO LA Reid being recently fired by the board members, are they in the best position to support the release of all three albums by major artist of the label? Is Ne-Yo going to be over shadowed by the hype of Kanye, Rhianna and the sequel to Mariah’s classic Christmas album Def Jam featured on the home shopping network last week to boost pre-sales a plan that proved to be a success. Lets’ not forget the global “Barbie” community that will be supporting Nicki Minaj’s album “Pink Friday” who already has achieved a record setting seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2010 alone without even releasing and album. She is in a great position sweep the #1 album positions away from the well established artist competing for the title. Of course power house Beyoncé wouldn’t be left out of the running to proving her strength when it comes to the public buying power. She is releasing her tour DVD “I AM….” (Recorded almost a year ago) Beyoncé is known to sell more live concert DVD’s than most artist sell albums.

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

Thursday, 21 October 2010

The MOBOs 2010

Last night the Manchester Eco arena was set blaze by the 15^th 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.

Tuesday, 12 October 2010

Jamie Fox and Martin Lawrence Skank Robbers Green Lighted

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.

Friday, 8 October 2010

Nicki Set's Billbord Record........?? + Nicki and Will.I.Am perform on Regis and Kelly

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?

Performance HERE

Keep A Child Alive Black Ball 2010

Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Janelle Monae AND Sade sharing the same stage! You knew that something huge had hit New York City this past September 30th. All these artists came together for one night only at the annual Black Ball to support Keep A Child Alive. KCA is an organisation founded by Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys that provides the essential Anti-retroviral therapy which keeps children alive who have contracted HIV/AIDS.

KCA has been working relentlessly for the past 8 years to provide the AIDS care that is desperately needed through; treatment, testing centres, doctors, nutrition, medication centres, orphanages, shelters, communities centres, counselling and support groups.

KCA aims to help each person it comes into contact with to be self sufficient while receiving medication; re-building and supporting communities helping people help themselves.

In Africa and India there are currently 9.5 million people with HIV/AIDS and only 42% have access to the Anti-retroviral therapy many of who are vulnerable children, 80% of children who have AIDS will die before the age 5. There are currently 15.2 million children orphaned by AIDS, KCA supports their future by investing in their care preventing them from falling into the traps of sexual exploitation and the recruiting of child soldiers.

On the night of the ball the New York city winds couldn’t hold back the supports of KCA. The room was filled with celebrities who came out that night for KCA. Everyone from Whitney Huston who was letting all the photographers know Whitney has arrived true diva style , Sade who at 50 was looking better than most 30 year olds in the room, Usher, Clive Davis, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Janelle Monae, Jay Sean, Una Thurman and of course the host herself Alicia Keys and her Husband Swizz Beats. The newlywed couple are expecting their first child together in the coming weeks and are apparently naming their son Egypt.

The night consisted of an auction that included a holiday to the Turks and Caicos Islands and Michael Jackson memorabilia. The most anticipated part of the night was without question the performances. Alicia graced the stage with Jay-Z, Swizz and Sade herself for a duet. Jay-Z performed a set of his hit’s with Alicia on the piano introducing him on with a melody of “Dead Presidents” and “PSA” (yes you read me correctly, Crazy!) and his New York anthem “Empire state Of Mind”, he also performed “On To The Next One” with Swizz Beats. Janelle Monae performed a set that would have you trying to keep up with the quick feet of her tightrope dance all night. Sade performed a set which included Solder of Love and a wish you were there duet with Alicia Keys of her hit “Love Is Stronger than Pride”.

At the end of the night the 2010 Black ball raised a huge grand total of $2.4 Million for KCA to continue their vital work.

By Venessa Byron