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Marvin Gaye Tribute, Foxy Brown, Heavy D, Magic Johnson, TLC & Blaque, Soul Train Awards, Lil' Kim, Countess Vaughn & Tyrese.
Motown Announces Marvin Gaye Tribute Project
On the eve of what would have marked Marvin Gaye's 60th birthday, Motown Records announces the June 8 release of ``MARVIN IS 60,'' a tribute album dedicated to the legendary singer and songwriter.
``MARVIN IS 60'' is the first collection of contemporary soul stars performing songs that highlighted Gaye's career. Many of the performers on ``MARVIN IS 60'' view Gaye as the godfather of soul music. ``Gaye's vocal style and persona set the standard for today's male vocalist,'' explains contributor Will Downing.
``MARVIN IS 60'' includes performances from such modern day soul men as: Brian McKnight (``Distant Lover''), Will Downing (``You Sure Love To Ball''), Jon B (``Mercy, Mercy Me''), Profyle (``What's Going On''), Montell Jordan (``I Want You''), Gerald LeVert (``Let's Get It On''), El DeBarge (``Sexual Healing''), Joe (``Soon I'll Be Loving You''), Chico DeBarge (``Til' Tomorrow''), and Kenny Lattimore (``Just To Keep Her Satisfied''). Rounding out the package is a duet from Erykah Badu and D'Angelo (``Precious Love'').
Born April 2, 1939, Gaye's contribution as writer, producer, and songwriter blazed the trail for other male vocalists and popular music. Gaye's career with Motown began in 1961. As a solo and duet singer (with Tammi Terrel, Diana Ross, Mary Wells, and Kim Weston) he topped the charts with 39 Top 40 singles for Motown. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Since its inception, Motown has been committed to creating what founder Berry Gordy referred to as ``the sound of young America,'' music that transcends age, race, creed and socioeconomic barriers. The label's current roster includes Brian McKnight, Diana Ross, Chico DeBarge, Erykah Badu, The Temptations, 702, Profyle, Stevie Wonder, Will Downing, Raphael Saddiq, Grenique, Willie Max, A+, and Zhane.
FOXY SPEAKS ON NEW KIM SOUND
In the past we have lambasted Foxy Brown for her out of control ego and penchant for not writing her own lyrics. But the Def Jam rapper was in rare form during an interview with MJI. Asked why her voice and rhyme cadence resembles Lil' Kim on her latest release Chyna Doll, Foxy explained: "Me and Kim are from the same 'hood in Brooklyn. That's my girl...we came into the game together. I guess when you are...around strong influences [you] just get the same feel. Not everybody is going to be a Foxy fan, but you gotta take the good with the bad and just keep making records."
HEAVY D RETURNS!
Multifaceted plus-sized rapper Heavy D is on deck again with the aptly titled Heavy, a new record set for release on June 1.
D's seventh album follows his gold-certified 1997 disc Waterbed Hev, and will include guest appearances by Eightball, Big Punisher, Chico DeBarge, and Cee-Lo from Goodie Mob.
The record's first single, "Listen," will feature a guest rap by ex-Tribe Called Quester Q-Tip, who also co-produced the track.
In addition to Heavy, D, whose real name is Dwight Myers, will be adding a couple of big-screen notches to his acting belt this year, with performances in the Martin Lawrence/ Eddie Murphy buddy flick Life and a new adaptation of John Irving's novel The Cider House Rules starring Tobey Maguire.
The rapper had previously appeared in a handful of television series, including Roc and Living Single, as well as an award-nominated starring turn in actor Lawrence Fishburne's one-act play Riff Raff.
MAGIC PULLS WEIGHT
As He Signs Kelly Price, Ma$e & Boyz II Men!
20-year-old singing sensation Avant has signed with Magic Johnson Music/MCA Records, with a debut album due later this summer. Avant's album will be the premiere release on Magic Johnson Music (MJM), which recently inked a long-term marketing and distribution pact with MCA Records. In addition, a sub-division of MJM, Magic Johnson Music Management, has announced today artist management deals with Boyz II Men, Kelly Price, and MA$E.
A fresh new voice an the R&B scene, Myron Avant is not only a singer, but also a songwriter and producer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Avant began singing at age five. In 1995, he graduated from the Cleveland School of Arts where he studied music and drama. A frequent winner in mid-west talent competitions, Avant has received praise from several recording artists and producers such as Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. Avant co-produces most of his material with Steve Huff.
Separately, MJM Management has announced management deals with MA$E, Kelly Price (co-management deal with Priceless Music) and Boyz II Men (co-management deal with Qadree El-Amin, formerly of SouthPaw Entertainment), effective immediately. MJM's staff of managers responsible for handling the new deals include MJM Director Phil Robinson, Qadree El-Amin, Jeff Dyson, Karen Levy, and Damon Jones.
The newest entity of Magic Johnson Enterprises, MJM incorporates several entities that co-exist strategically. They include a record label distributed by MCA, a music management division, and a concert promotions entity. Additional divisions of Magic Johnson Enterprises include Johnson Development Corporation, Magic Johnson Management Group, Magic Johnson Productions, and Magic Johnson Entertainment.
TLC: Good At Being Bad!
They have had the number one album in the country for almost a month straight. Now it seems that the trio might be facing some trouble already. It seems the track "I'm Good At Being Bad", which takes a sample of Donna Summers 70's hit "Love To Love You, Baby" is going to be pulled from the disc. Donna Summer recently heard the un-edited version of the song, & almost fell out. The song which has the words nigga, bitch, fuck & other offensive words has Donna upset. You see when Donna previewed the track before it was released she heard the edited version & I can say I own both & the edited version isn't as bad because they change words & they edit out the end of the song, where T-Boz is just repeating "A bitch like me nigga, what a bitch like me". Donna Summer who is a born again chrstain wants the song re-moved from all of the albums on the shelfs. Kinda like when Mary J. Bilge asked that her vocals be removed from Faith Evans debut disc. They were & people like myself who got it early have Mary & Faith singing "Love don't live here anymore" instead of just Faith. That's what's gonna happen here looks like, the song will be removed, or Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis & prof t who wrote & produced the song with T-Boz & Left-Eye might re-do it without the sample.
Regardless, who ever already owns a copy will have a limited edition for real! Look for TLC's new video for the track "No Scrubs" to premiere April 1 on MTV & BET. The group is currently working on the next single "UnPretty" & might surprise many this friday if they show for the 1999 Soul Train Awards. To read the lyrics to "I'm Good At Being Bad" Click here Lyrics & Photo courtesy of the Cyber TlcWorld Web Site.
Left-Eyes new group Blaque is making a name for their self with-out even having a album out. Their single "808" hits stores today & the album isn't due until May 18. The group is from Atlanta & is on Left-Eye's Management company & Columbia & Trackmasters record label. The members are Shamari Fears, Brandi Williams, & Natina Reed all in their teens. The groups name stands for (Believing in Life and Achieving a Quest for Unity in Everything). The first single was written & produced by R. Kelly & is blowing up everywhere. On April 12 the group will go on tour opening for pop teen idols N'Sync. To listen to "808" Click Here!
SOUL TRAIN AWARDS THIS FRIDAY!
This Friday our favorite award show will air live from L.A on WGN. The 1999 13 Annual Soul Train Music Awards. Monica, Brian McKnight & model Tyra Banks will host. Performing on the show will be R. Kelly, Monica, Whitney Houston, Dru Hill, Lauryn Hill, Kirk Franklin, Brian McKnight & Busta Rhymes.
Scheduled to present awards are Kelly Price, NEXT, JD & Da Brat, Deborah Cox, Shanice, Ginuwine, Joe, Kci & Jojo & more. So make sure you watch the awards. THEMUSICHALL site will have all of the 411 on Saturday March 27, so stay tuned. To peep the nominees visit our special
Soul Train Awards section on this site.
LIL' KIM: The Return Of The Queen Bee!
It's been two years since she dropped her debut release "Hard core", now in 1999 she will drop the follow-up to the platinum debut. Kim is a woman with a past, a woman with a purpose & to many a homewreckin' hoochie, but to know Kim is to love Kim & to know Kim is to know none of the names fit this beautiful 22 year old lady who is ready to take over the world.
Lil' Kim's sexual content of her debut had many talking, some good some bad. But in reality who is to say what is right & wrong or good & bad? As Kim puts it "Kim Jones is me. Lil' Kim is what I use to get money". And as we all know sex sells, hell it sells alot. In a industry where sex sells more then real talent. Kim has proven on many levels that she is selling both. As a member of Junior Mafia a rap group put together by the late Notorious B.I.G, Kim proved that she could put it down alone. Still the only member to release a solo project. With Lil' Cease's project right around the corner on Lil' Kim's new label Queen Bee Entertainment distributed through Atlantic Records, Kim is the CEO. Where did Kim Jones come from? Where Kim Jones came from, is where Lil' Kim came in. Kim grew up in New York, everywhere from Manhattan to Queens. At an early age Kim was living on the streets with her mother after being put out by her godmother. At age 13 she went to live with her father in Brooklyn, after a short custody battle with her mother. The court decided that Kim & her brother would stay with their father. After a fight with her father over one of her wigs (she even wore them then) Kim left for nine months & met a guy that ended up being her boyfriend & stayed with him. He was 21 she was 14, he already had a girlfriend so after awhile Kim decided to go back home only to be kicked out by her father. So then Kim met this other guy in Virginia & stayed with him for about a week, decided to go back home again to find out her father was getting married to a lady she didn't like. After four months of being married Kim's father told her & her brother he was moving to Jersey & they could not come. So Kim was on the street's & that's where Lil' Kim was born. 
After getting back off the streets, Kim met Biggie who lived on the same block. And eventually they hooked up. That's where the homewrecker comes in being that B.I.G was married to Faith Evans shortly after they met. Kim says even with the drama that has followed she doesn't have a bad relationship with Faith. They don't have one, but it's not bad. One person she has a great relationship with, is the queen of hip-hop soul Mary J. Blige. the two met when Mary appeared in Junior Mafias video "Get Money" & have been friends every since. Kim now lives in New Jersey & is doing things her way. Since B.I.G died Kim has been dealing with a lot on a personal level & on a business level. Kim wants peoople to know that he did not write her rhymes she did. And with this new album she plans on proving it. Puffy & Kim are the excecutive producers & this album is a lot of Kim Jones, but more of Lil' Kim. But Kim wants people to get to know Kim Jones this time around. On the track "Cleapatra Jones" Kim takes us into who Miss Jones is. On other tracks like "Make Em Extinct" (tenative the first single) along with DMX, Lil' Kim re-appears. Seems like every CD these days has guest appearences & Kim stays with that trend as Brandy is set to record with Kim on the track "Nobody Else", you'll hear Kelly Price on "A Star Is Born". Other guest include Vanesa Del Rio, Cam'ron, Big Pun, Jay - Z, Mia X, Lil' Cease & more. Recording isn't the only thing Kim is doing these days, she made her film debut in She's All That & she will appear in the new horror flick Munchies along with singer/model Tyrese. On top of that Kim just did a photo shoot for Vogue Magazine & for a new book called Women Of The 20th Century. Mary J. Blige & Missy Elliott will also be featured in that book, it's due in November. So by the years end, this could be called the year of Lil Kim or Kim Jones!
Countess Steps Out!
She has played Kim, Brandy's funny side-kick on the UPN hit T.V program Moesha for the last four years. But this season she will step out on her own for the first time in her career as the star of her own show. The young lady who got her start on the hit talent show series Star Search as a junior vocalist champion, is about to star in her own UPN series. Countess will keep her charactor Kim on Moesha, but will take it to another level on the tenative titled show Countess. Comedian Monique will play her mother on the new show that starts shooting in April. Countess has already starred in the hit series 227, Hangin With Mr. Cooper, & Roc. She has also guest starred on The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, & Thea. Countess won a NAACP Image Award in 1998 for best supporting actress for her role on Moesha. Look for the show to be a huge hit, as followers of Countess are sure to love the series. Countess is also in the works to release her second album later this year, but due to the series all plans have been put on hold. But never fear, Countess will be giving vocalist like Shanice, Monica, & Deborah Cox a run for their money in no time. With a voice like hers, Countess Vaughn is sure to make it big at whatever she does!
Tyrese: A Man On A Mission
He's currently 19 years old & taking the entertainment field by storm. Well he's a singer, model, actor, songwriter & an around the way cool ass guy. Everywhere you turn these days you see Tyrese, if it's not in his videos. You see him in print ads for Tommy, on the walk way or hosting MTV Jams. Tyrese has come a long way from that young guy who was singing in talent shows at age 14 back in his home Watts, L.A. We all saw how he got his start at age 16 in the Coca-Cola Commercial & then signed with RCA Records. He's a busy guy, just last week he taped his part for the BET show Sprit Nite, that will air the night before this years Soul Train Awards where he will also be presenting. He's also running to New York twice a week to tape the MTV show MTV Jams a show he will be doing for the next two years. On top of all of that he's shooting the new video for his next single (tenative) "Lately", that should be out real soon. Now if that isn't enough, he's getting ready to star in his first motion picture along side rapper Lil' Kim in the film Munchies, this would not be his first acting job, he has already had guest roles on Martin & Hangin With Mr. Cooper. He's doing it all headed in the footsteps of his friend Usher. Tyrese is also a family man & plans on buying his mother a house & car this mother's day & on top of that. Plans on paying the mortgage for a year so his mother doesn't have to. Tyrese already bought his own house at age 16. This man is doing it. He wants the kind of success that Will Smith has, and to be loved by everyone. On top of his many duties he already has, he just signed with Visa to do a print campaign, the ads will be in Vibe, Rollingstone, Spin, Source & more. So look out because this man is on a mission & before he's 30 all of them are gonna be accomplished.
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