Gregory Isaacs.. one of the most popular and versatile reggae singers of the late-1970s, and the smooth-voiced dancehall crooner behind the genre’s landmark 1982 LP Night Nurse… passed away this morning at his London home following a year-long battle with lung cancer, the BBC reports. Isaacs was 59. “Gregory was well loved by everyone, his fans and his family, and he worked really hard to make sure he delivered the music they loved and enjoyed,” Isaacs’ wife Linda said. “He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.”
Over the course of his prolific career… in which he released an estimated 500 albums within Jamaica, the UK and the U.S…. Isaacs collaborated with reggae, dub and dancehall icons like Lee “Scratch” Perry, King Tubby, Sugar Minott, Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and Errol Holt. After spending the 1970s building a reputation as both a top-notch roots reggae singer and a soulful “lovers rock”-style crooner, Isaacs recorded his masterpiece Night Nurse at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studios in 1982, the year after Marley’s death.
Isaacs was poised to become a worldwide star when Night Nurse climbed to No. 32 on the British charts, but instead found himself sentenced to six months in a Jamaican prison on illegal firearm charges. (Isaacs’ police record is almost as prolific as his discography, with over 50 reported arrests in his lifetime.) Dubbed the “Cool Ruler” by fans, Isaacs wrestled with drug addiction throughout his career, eventually losing his teeth and jeopardizing his legendary voice from persistent drug use, but he continued to make music, releasing his final album, Brand New Me, in 2008.
Brandy recently admitted that she’s been celibate for years, and now she gives her reasons why in an interview with Life & Style.
The magazine’s press release follows:
R&B star Brandy Norwood opens up to Life & Style about her shocking admittance on the Oct. 11 episode of Dancing with the Stars that she hadn’t been intimate with someone in 6 years.
In an exclusive interview, Brandy clarified her remark. “I haven’t been with a man seriously and in love in six years,” says Brandy, 31. “And, honestly, I tend to abstain if I’m not in a relationship.” So has she been celibate for six years? “Um, no. But it’s been a long time. We’re talking years,” Brandy admits.
The opportunity has certainly been there. “I actually went on a blind date a couple months ago that was very interesting but nothing serious,” she says. She even confirms her interest in rapper Flo Rida. “I was very interested in him,” Brandy says. “I mean, how can you not be — he’s very attractive. But there was just something about us that didn’t click.”
Until Brandy meets the right guy, DWTS is helping her feel confident again. “I always relate sexy to being in love,” she says. “But I’m starting to realize that if I put on a little leotard like when I danced the rumba, I could feel sexy a lot more!”
Beyonce Knowles better brush up on her lullabies. Sources says and has comfirmend that Jay Z and Beyonce are expecting their first child, according to a report. Despite the happy news, no one was more surprised than the singer herself. “B was shocked. She loves kids, but she wasn’t ready to be a mother just yet,” says a source of the singer, who married rapper Jay-Z in 2008. “She really wanted to get her album done and tour the world again.”
Still, another insider says that the singer, who is in her first trimester, realizes that “this is a gift from God and she’s so happy.”
Friends of the couple are already expressing their well-wishes for the parents-to-be.
“Jay has been all about family since I met him, and he’s always going to be,” record executive Kevin Liles, who has known the rapper for years, says. “I wish them the best.”
Beyonce’s spokesman refused to discuss the pregnancy report, while a rep for Jay-Z did not immediately respond to calls seeking comments.
“No comment,” said Alan Nierob, Beyonce’s publicist. “We don’t respond to private-matter inquiries.”
Beyonce will reportedly continue to work through the pregnancy, says source.
The couple wed in a tented, rooftop, candlelit ceremony in April 2008, but have always been discreet about their personal relationship. Beyonce wasn’t seen sporting a wedding ring until four months later, when she flashed a big rock at the Fashion Rocks concert at Fashion Week.
The couple started dating in 2002 after they collaborated on several projects
Cupid done struck R & B singer, word is Monica and her boyfriend, Shannon Brown of the Los Angeles Lakers are engaged!!
We realize people will have their opinions. That’s the way of the world. But we know who we are & who’s we are.We pray 2 an awesome God 2gether. And that is what keeps us strong. So for all my real supporters who are happy for me. I thank u, I love u, & I’m realistic enough about life. To know my journey has just begun.
The two met on her “Love All Over Me” video set – where I guess you can say Love prevailed. CONGRATS to them both.
Word is, according to public records, the man Raz B loves to hate owes $110,585 in federal taxes to the IRS. Here is the gitty: The IRS filed a $35,210 lien against Omarion on May 18 with the Orange County (Calif.) Recorder of Deeds. The IRS filed a $25,660 lien Oct. 29, 2009, in Orange County. The IRS filed a $49,715 lien Aug. 6, 2009, with the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds. He owes income taxes from 2003, 2005 and 2006, according to the lien.
Foxy Brown is back. And this time she wants to be considered for political position as The Youth Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago. Foxy says of her potential to hold down the political position:
“Who else but me? I am a staunch supporter of American-Caribbean relations and my music targets the exact same demographic and genre of young people I want to stand up for. I’ve forged many political alliances and I’m well-versed, articulate and educated. Beyond just having a vast amount of music industry experience, I am a staunch believer in being the voice for our young Trinidadian people.”
Kanye West told an audience at a screening of his film, “Runaway,” that he thought about killing himself, but now feels a responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to pop culture and art.
Describing himself as a pop icon and “soldier for culture,” West told the crowd “there were times that I contemplated suicide.” However, he said, “I will not give up on life again.”
“There’s so many people that will never get the chance to have their voice heard” as loudly as his, West said Monday. “I do it for them.”
West, who didn’t say when he had considered suicide, is credited as director of the abstract 35-minute film, which features portions of nine new West songs, boldly colorful visuals and off-kilter camera angles. The mostly dialogue-free piece, set to premiere this weekend on MTV, VH1 and BET, will accompany West’s upcoming album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” which will be released Nov. 22.
After a prelude featuring narration from rapper Nicki Minaj, West’s character, Griffin, is seen driving a black MTX Tatra supercar down a country road. Lying next to a hole in the pavement is a phoenix fallen to Earth, played by model Selita Ebanks in pink, gray and brown feathers.
He takes her home and offers this advice: “First rule in this world, baby: Don’t pay attention to anything you see on the news.”
The phoenix sits on a lawn with a deer, rabbit and sheep, then joins West at a private parade featuring fireworks, a marching band and a float depicting Michael Jackson.
Playing over those visuals are West’s next single, “All of the Lights,” which he said features Elton John on piano and an all-star chorus including Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Fergie and John Legend.
Ballerinas in black tutus perform in a scene featuring his current single, “Runaway.” When the tune ended, there was applause from both the on-screen and live audience. In attendance were Morgan Spurlock, Ryan Phillippe, Pete Wentz and others in the entertainment industry.
The 33-year-old West told them that after a “long, hard year,” he’d found his “creative sweet spot” by thinking like “a 5-year-old at all times.” Besides his mother Donda West’s death in 2007, West said he’d also lost three other parental figures in the last three years.
“Everything has been taken away from me,” he said. “I’m so not … scared. I so don’t care.”
After the Taylor Swift incident last year, which he called “a moment of sincerity,” West took a six-month break. (At the MTV Video Music Awards, Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video for “You Belong with Me” was disrupted by West, who took the microphone to say Beyonce should have won instead for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”)
West said he moved to Rome and “was interning at Fendi” before finding the inspiration to get back to music.
He has hinted at the subject of suicide in his recent song “Power,” which includes the repeated lines: “Now this would be a beautiful death – I’m jumping out the window, I’m letting everything go.”
That song’s remix is among the 10 tunes that West has released for free in recent weeks through his website, a buzz-building initiative he dubbed “G.O.O.D. Fridays” for his label imprint, Getting Out Our Dreams Music.
The producer-turned-rapper said that after “Fantasy” – recorded in Hawaii with the likes of Q-Tip, DJ Premier, RZA and Pete Rock – he will release an album of songs with Jay-Z and another with Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams under the name Child Rebel Soldiers
Although Rihanna and Eminem’s “Love The Way You Lie” is still in heavy rotation on radio stations and music networks across the country the duo has reportedly already recorded a sequel to the song.
ThisIsRnB.com reports that the song, which will be titled “Love The Way You Lie (Part 2),” will instead focus on Rihanna as the lead artist on the song. The song will be produced by Alex Da Kid, a UK producer whose credits include songs by Nicki Minaj, B.o.B, and Avril Lavigne.
“Even angels have their wing cut schemes, and you take that to new extremes, but you will always be my hero, even though you lost your mind,” sings Rihanna on the track.
“Love The Way You Lie (Part 2)” will be featured on Rihanna’s upcoming album entitled Loud when it’s released on November 16.
The original “Love The Way You Lie” was the second single to be released from Eminem’s Recovery album.
Alicia Keys and Usher lead the pack of Soul Train Awards nominees with four nods apiece.
Keys is nominated for Best R&B/Soul Artist Female, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Record of the Year, while Usher will compete in the Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Dance Performance categories.
Drake follows close behind with three nominations, including Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Ne-Yo, Monica, B.o.B., Nicki Minaj, Erykah Badu, Dondria, Janelle Monáe, Fantasia and Sade all received two nominations.
High off his “When a Woman Loves” single, R. Kelly is set to open the show. Other performers on the bill include Cee-Lo, Erykah Badu, Rick Ross, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monáe, Faith Evans, Keyshia Cole, Eric Benét, Chrisette Michele, Lalah Hathaway, Tamia, Tank, Freddie Jackson, Gyptian and Jeffrey Osborne.
Ron Isley and Anita Baker are on deck to be this year’s Legend Award recipients. Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, will return to master the ceremony for the second consecutive year.
The 2010 Soul Train Awards are set to tape at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre November 10 and premiere on Centric and BET November 28 at 9 P.M.
See a complete list of nominees below and visit CentricTV.com.
BEST NEW ARTIST
Melanie Fiona
B.o.B.
Nicki Minaj
Dondria
Wale
BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE
Alicia Keys
Erykah Badu
Monica
Fantasia
Mary J. Blige
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Everything To Me” – Monica
“There Goes My Baby” – Usher
“Un-Thinkable(I’m Ready)” – Alicia Keys
“Soldier Of Love” – Sade
“Nothing On You” – B.o.B. feat. Bruno Mars
BEST HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
“Love The Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna
“B.M.F. (Blowin Money Fast)” – Rick Ross feat. Styles P
“Your Love” – Nicki Minaj
“Find Your Love” – Drake
“Shutterbugg” – Big Boi feat. Cutty
“I Got Your Back” – T.I. feat. Keri Hilson
BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE
Usher
Kem
Trey Songz
Ne-Yo
Jaheim
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Alicia Keys – “The Element Of Freedom”
Usher – “Raymond vs. Raymond”
Sade – “Soldier of Love”
Drake – “Thank Me Later”
Erykah Badu – “New Amerykah Part Two-Return of the Ankh”
BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD
Gyptian
Damian Marley
Mr. Vegas
Jah Cure
Vybz Kartel
Gramps Morgan
CENTRIC AWARD
Jesse Boykins III
Dwele
Dondria
Corrine Bailey Rae
Janelle Monáe
BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE, FEMALE OR GROUP
Youthful Praise feat. J.J. Harrison
Fred Hammond
Marvin Sapp
Lisa Page Brooks
Hezekiah Walker & LFC
Tye Tribbett
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Fantasia – “Bittersweet” (Charles Harmon, Claude Kelly, Michael Mentore)
El Debarge – “Second Chance” (songwriters: El Debarge & Mischke)
Drake –“Find Your Love” (songwriters: Bhasker, J; Graham, A; Reynolds, P; West, Kanye)
R.Kelly – “When A Woman Loves” (songwriter R. Kelly)
Alicia Keys – “Un-Thinkable(I’m Ready)” (songwriters: Keys, Aubrey Graham, Brothers, Noah “40” Shebib)
“How many of us really want to achieve in life and do something great?” hip-hop artist Common shouted into a packed high school auditorium.
Lincoln High students cheered and raised their hands high in response.
He continued, “Everybody in here has the opportunity to do something great and it starts first with education.”
Common was addressing a crowd of students at a Philadelphia high school as part of the Get Schooled campaign’s campus visits.
This isn’t the artist’s first foray into promoting education — in fact, it’s been an enduring mission for the Chicago-born actor, musician and author.
Common recently spoke about the importance of education and how he’s working to make a difference for young people.
The son of a school teacher, Common credits his mother’s influence for his success. “Education goes beyond your homework,” he recalls her saying.
His mother worked tirelessly to ensure her son got a quality education beyond the classroom, filling his free time with museum visits and book reports. The hard work paid off when Common won a scholarship to Florida A&M University, where he studied business.
He speaks proudly of his mother’s over 20-year career in South Side Chicago public schools and feels teachers get too little credit for their efforts. “Being a teacher is a big responsibility,” he says, one for which “there is no glory.”
In 2007, the star solidified his commitment to education by establishing the Common Ground Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes educational programs.
“When I got a platform to achieve some…dreams I had, I wanted to help others achieve theirs,” he says
One of the more noteworthy initiatives in the organization is The Corner Book Club, which Common envisions as “a network of young people that want to learn.”
Each month, users are encouraged to read the same book and use online discussion boards to participate with their peers.
Common also plans to continue participating in the Get Schooled initiative, speaking to young people across the nation. Funded by AT&T, Viacom and the Gates Foundation, Get Schooled aims to boost high school graduation rates and college readiness across America.
“I thoroughly enjoyed Lincoln High School,” he laughs. He feels the campus visits are a “fun way to get the message to inspire our youth.”
Common says, “I want to inspire. That’s one of the biggest goals of my life.”
Supporters can make a donation to the Common Ground Foundation or pledge to make a difference for education by getting involved in the Get Schooled campaign.
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