Friday, February 18, 2011

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

Ne-Yo Blasts "Singers" Who Rely On Autotune

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 08:59 AM PST

Say what you want about Ne-Yo, but dude is always a proponent of showcasing real talent.  And always keeps it real about folks who just don't have the voice or the star power to make it.

 

So, of course, he's giving his insight on why folks need to stop using autotune as wings and push their songs like their real artists.  Read on for his take...

Ne-Yo spoke out recently saying auto tuned should be used for what is there for--only to support the vocals of actual singers from time to time who don't want to compeltely wear out their voices because of constant performing and recording.

You don't want to blow your throat out trying to do the same note a thousand times, so you sing it a few good times and you let the Auto-Tune catch whatever notes fall out," Ne-Yo explained. "It was not meant to be wings. You were not supposed to strap it on your back and jump out the building, that is not what Auto-Tune was meant to be."

The singer/songwriter, whose production team Stargate, scored one of 2010's biggest hits with Wiz Khalifa's 'Black and Yellow,' continued to call Auto-Tune's saturated use in hip-hop "wack," saying artists who employ the effect as a signature sound like "robots."

"If you using it for what it's meant for, cool, fine and good," Ne-Yo continued. "I feel like the best singers do... Not 'I can't sing at all so let's just turn Auto-tune all the way up so that I sound like Willie the robot,' that's wack! That's terrible, it takes all the character outta your voice and you become a robot. You hear it on the radio and you go 'who is that?' and you have no idea because everybody sounds the same. If you're a singer, sing!"

Couldn't have said it better myself.  This "I want to become a star and tour and sell my record after I go speak into a mic and autotune it" ish is just becoming ridiculous.  It's always been a pet peeve of mine when random folks trying to be an artist purposely dumb down the music industry for consumers by pushing 100% autotuned songs.  And they're actually trying to become a star from it.  It's literally someone speaking into a mic and a machine turning it into a song.  Nothing special about the voice.  I'm not impressed and it's sad that this is becoming the standard of music now.

Glad somebody spoke out advocating raising our standards.  And I guess it's safe to say he won't be trading his beliefs and talents just for some airtime on the E! channel anytime soon, unlike other producers....

Source

HERE WE GO AGAIN: Mary Harvey Refutes Claims Made By Steve On "The View"

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 08:34 AM PST

Mary Harvey is STILL talking.  Not too sure just what their previous gag order covered, but whatever it was, nothing stops Ms. Mary from discussing her life with Steve Harvey.  Get the highlights from her recent interview with DC's Magic 102.3 after the jump.

 

We told you earlier that the judge has allowed Steve Harvey to disclose some points of tension concerning his divorce settlement.  And now, Mary is addressing those same points of tension.  She recently gave an interview to Magic 102.3 in Washington, D.C. and here's what she said in a nutshell:

 

On her son Wynton  -

Mary said that she decided to give up custody to Steve because Wynton wanted to spend more time with him and that she felt she couldn't adequately raise him to be a man. She added that Steve and Marjorie made the decision to keep her out of his life all together and that was not her plan.

  

On her real estate -

Of the three homes Steve gave her, one cost $200K and was for their staff. So when Steve went to Atlanta and took the staff, she pretty much let her assistant have that house because she was homeless. She said that another house was sold because it was where they lived and that she didn't want to stay there because of the memories. She said she thought she'd live in the 3rd house, which was the $5 million dollar mansion they were living in when they split, since Steve was ordered to pay the mortgage until it was paid off.  But he went to court and said paying it was a hardship, so they said to sell it and she was to get the proceeds. She said the proceeds just covered the mortgage so she didn't get anything.  

 

On the $1.5 million settlement -

She said the $1.5 lump sum he gave her was not a settlement. She said they both owned a ranch that he uses for his mentoring program and because he didn't want to sell it, he bought her out.

 

On the alimony payments -

She says of the $40k monthly payments he was supposed to give her, he only made 10 payments and then he stopped.

 

SMH.  This he said/she said won't end.  And each side does make their "story" sound very believable.

I guess the courts will decide who is right or wrong, but that always seems to go in the favor of the one with the most resources. 

 

And in defense of Steve, his morning co-host Shirley Strawberry told Sister 2 Sister:

“Steve is nothing if not one of the most sensitive people I've ever met in my life.  It drained him and the family. Some things you can't ignore when people attack your character, and that makes me pray harder for him and his family.

“I have known Steve for quite a while, through his second wife and now third.  He always treated them like queens, meaning that he doesn't miss a birthday or a holiday. I've seen a stand-up, giving man who cares about people. That’s the Steve Harvey I know.”

 

And Shirley's thoughts on Mary?

“I haven’t walked in her shoes, but [she should] let the past go," Shirley recommended. "Forgiveness is key, even if you think you were hurt or harmed in some way. We've all done things to hurt people, so forgive and move on with life."

 

Hmm.  What do we think of all this?

Erykah Badu Gets Her DJ On+Gabrielle Union Dishes On New Job From President Obama

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 07:32 AM PST

Gabrielle Union just landed a job....thanks to President Obama.  The YBF caught up with her backstage at Nicole Miller's Fall 2011 Show days ago.  And she told us about her new ambassador job given to her by Pesident Obama.

 

Read on for that, plus pics of Erykah Badu tapping into her DJ-girl side, when you read on...

Erykah Badu showed off her DJ skills at Marco Polo, Ivy Pool in Sydney yesterday as she tours the country as part of the Good Vibrations Festival:

 

Loves this.

 

We posted our vid previously as a part of YBF's exclusive Fashion Week coverage. Now, scroll to the 2:00 mark on our exclusive chit chat with Gabby Union at the Nicole Miller show just days ago as she reveals she's been given a job by Mr. President.

She was appointed by Obama to work with the National Advisory Committee for Violence Against Women.  Gabby's been very open through the years about her own experience with violence and rape, so she would be a perfect component of the work that Committee does.

Photos: SPLASH

ON THE SET: Jennifer Hudson's "Where You At?" Video, Performance On "Ellen"

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 06:33 AM PST

Now THIS is dedication.  Jennifer Hudson shot her new video for her "Where You At?" single during the Chicago blizzard weeks ago.  And the first pics from the set of the visual have been released.

 

The YBF chick still looked fab bundling up against the harsh winter storm.  Pics from the vid when you read on...

The Chicago bred J-Hud is pretty used to winter storms.  But we don't know if she ever had to rock her lingerie in one.  The first pics from the set of Ms. Hudson's new video for "Where You At?" show her in lingerie outdoors, as well as bundled up in the snowy craziness from several weeks ago.

This single is the second off her upcoming I Remember Me sophomore album, dropping March 22nd.  Directed by Anthony Mandler (pictured below), the beautifully shot performance video will premiere on BET’s 106 &Park and Vevo.com on February 24th.

“I’m excited about this album because it’s almost like a renewal for me, reflected through the chapters of my life,” comments Jennifer.  “I’ve called it ‘I Remember Me’ because of the journey I’ve been on.  I’ve learned that life constantly surprises you, no matter your plans.  My fans have been so loyal, I feel like they have been on this journey with me and I can’t wait for them to hear the new album.”

Pics:

She's looking gorgeous these days.

Jenny and David, Jr. also hit up "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" this week. She spoke about doing Weight Watchers to set a good example for her son, and she also performed her "Where You At?" single. Here's vids:

 

Photo credit: RCA

Chris Brown Cops A $1.75 Mill Condo...With A "Beverly Hills Housewife"'s Husband's Help

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 06:05 AM PST

Chris Brown just gave himself a pre-album treat.  As he readies his fourth album, F.A.M.E., dropping March 22nd, he copped some pretty luxe new million dollar living quarters.

 

Details and pics of Breezy's new penthouse pad, plus which Beverly Hills House-husband represented him in the deal, when you read on...

For $1.75 mill, Breezy now has a minimalistic, yet chic and understated luxe, new penthouse in West Hollywood.  The condo spans the entire penthouse level and is 3,000 sqft with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.

Features include floor-to-ceiling windows that show off a balcony overlooking the L.A. skyline, top of the line stainless steel appliances, private elevator access, and sleek bamboo wood floors.

His agent was none other than Mauricio Umansky of Hilton & Hyland, Beverly Hills.  You know...the ridiculously hot husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" fave Kyle Richards (Paris and Nicki Hilton's aunt).

Pics:

The bachelor pad has an open floor plan, high ceiling and a bar.  Perfect for that "No Bullsh*t" type company....

Source

MIDNIGHT SWEXY: Model Jessica White's 2011 Sports Illustrated Spread

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 08:38 PM PST

Jessica White just showed why she's one of the sexiest YBF chicks to hit the pages of Sports Illustrated.  The 2011 Swimsuit Edition recently hit shelves, and J. White is one of the few black models showing her 26-year old goodies.  The beauty was also featured in the 2009 issue.

 

We've got the perfect way to wind down your evening.  Check out her uber sexy beach pictorial when you read on...

 

Now we see why she was at every red carpet event under the sun over the past year or so.  This issue hit stands last week, and folks are going to want more.  Peep the gorgeous pics shot by Raphael Mazzucco in Boracay Island, Philippines:

Hot. 

Click the thumbnails:

 

Even though she didn't land the cover, it's good to see Ms. White getting back to landing big campaigns and shoots like this.  Work.

Behind the scenes video.

Credit: SportsIllustrated

Tameka “Tiny” Harris Tells "VIBE" About Life With And Without T.I.

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 01:50 PM PST

Hip-hop's Number One "Ride-or-Die" Chick Tameka "Tiny" Harris recently sat for an interview and photoshoot with VIBE magazine about her life with and without husband T.I.   Get the highlights and see behind-the-scenes photos from their photoshoot inside.

With her children by her side, Tameka "Tiny" Harris recently opened up to VIBE about her life with The King of The South.  And though many people have opinions about Tiny's life and her choices, one thing for sure is that she and her husband love each other and truly have a committment.  Whether its drugs, jail or guns...nothing comes between them. 

LIFE WITHOUT T.I.:

“It’s been like a roller coaster. Tip came home at the end of ’09, around Christmas time last year, and it was about getting the family back together.” But his career demanded attention, and he soon began work on his seventh album, No Mercy, as well as his third movie role [Takers]. “He started going back to work, so we was back to our regular schedule,” she recalls. “And then we got married. That was the high of the year, and then three months later he was gone—back again.”

THE WEDDING:


After being together for years, Tip and Tiny finally tied the knot last July, months after his release on federal weapons charges. “Jamie Foxx sung me down the aisle, and El DeBarge sung our first song,” Tiny recalls with a smile. Their guest list read like a past and present awards show lineup: Usher, Nelly, Ashanti, Trina, as well as fellow R&B-turned-reality-stars Toya, Monica, and Kandi Burress. “Jermaine Dupri DJ-ed for us; he was a great DJ. The reception was like a big, big party, so I had a ball,” she says with a chuckle. “Everybody was there. Everybody was drunk. Tons and tons of guests came to see us. It was great.”

BEING A RAP STAR’S WIFE:


“I’ve been with him before he was all of that, and once he became this big sex symbol... I understood what was going to come with it because I had already been in the business,” she says. Tiny and T.I. began dating in 2001; and they’ve learned to adapt to the stresses of a showbiz relationship. “I’m just comfortable in my position and where I stand and what our values are,” says Tiny. “We’re on the same page. Plus, understand I’m with him maybe 85, 95 percent of the time. A lot of times, while all of the attention is going down, I’m right there. I never have to tell someone to back off. Normally he does it first. If it gets that far, he never lets it get disrespectful.”

THE HONEYMOON THAT NEVER WAS:


“We didn’t really get a chance to go on a honeymoon, because he had to go to work three days after the wedding,” she says. They flew to Los Angeles for the premiere of Tip’s film Takers, and made plans for a honeymoon. “We were just enjoying life. The day that we got caught in California, when the incident happened, we were supposed to be going to the Virgin Islands, because he can’t really go a lot of places, so we had to find somewhere where we could just go. But they were having a hurricane and we weren’t able to go. And when I think back, I’m just like, ‘Why wasn’t we there? Because if we were, we wouldn’t be having this trouble right now. But you know, things happen for a reason. It is what it is.”

 

Swizz Beatz & Sons Will Appear On "The Electric Company" + Flavor Flav Fries Chicken On "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 12:07 PM PST

In a minute your kids will know exactly who Swizz Beatz is because he'll soon appear on the popular children's television show "The Electric Company."  Get the deets inside plus watch Flavor Flav fry up some chicken for Jimmy Kimmel after the cut...

 

Grammy Award-winner Swizz Beatz and his sons, Nasir and Kasseem, will rap about
literacy in an all-new episode of the PBS KIDS GO! series, 'The Electric
Company' premiering on February 21.  

When asked why he chose to create a music video for the children's
series, Swizz said:

"It was a honor to be able to have some educational fun with my sons. I feel
the more parents step up and be a support system for their kids the better
the world can be. I support 'The Electric Company' for creating a outlet
that can help the young generation."

Watch a preview of the appearance here:

 

 
And last night.... 
 

 

Flavor Flav stopped by "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" last night and cooked up some fried chicken with flavor.  Watch the clips below for Flav's recipe.

 

 

 

 

Watch part two here:

Waka's Mom Debra Antney Talks About Bus Shooting (VIDEO) + Chad OchoCinco's Baby Momma Revealed?!

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 11:14 AM PST

 

If you ever want the "T" on a dude, you have to go right to the source.  Not him...but his momma.  And Momma Wacka Flocka aka Debra Antney IS NOT PLEASED.  She's not pleased with what happened and she is definitely upset with how hip-hop music news is covered by the media.  Get the deets inside plus see a pic of Chad OchoCinco's "new" baby momma...at least until DNA proves otherwise. 

 

So what happened in Charlotte, NC when Waka Flocka's bus got shot at?  Well, Debra Antney taped an explanation that begins with "To my understanding..." which is street code for "I wasn't there but this is what I heard..."

Debra says Waka wasn't on the bus and no one knows why the bus was shot at.  But most importantly "We had no part in this."  It was a random shooting.  And Waka's security team returned fire.  Not anyone on the bus.  

Then she promotes her upcoming projects and gives a brief lesson on the birth of hip-hop.  SMH.

Watch Debra Antney break it down "Big Momma" style here:

 

 

And we told you earlier Chad OchoCinco may be expecting a child. Well, now we have an ALLEGED photo of "Paige," the baby momma to be. She sent the pic to Jonesy over at Power 99 in Philadelphia and this is what Power 99 is confirming to be the girl. She confirmed to Jonesy that she is expecting and currently 3 months into the pregnancy....SMH.  Something about this hip-to-a$$ ratio ain't right. But it is what it is. We're side eyeing the hell out this whole story.  But we're just the messenger....

 

 

 

Listen to a clip of the confirmation here:

Lil' Kim Debuts "Black Friday" (Nicki Minaj) Diss Video + Faith Evans Talks About Lil' Kim, "Notorious" And Raising CJ Wallace

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 10:56 AM PST

Lil' Kim soldiers on.  Where she is going and who/what exactly she is fighting is hard to discern; nevertheless, she just dropped the video for "Black Friday."  Of course this is her Nicki Minaj diss record and you can check out both the video and pics after the cut.  Also, we have a radio interview with Faith Evans talking about Lil' Kim, the Notorious movie and raising Biggie's son CJ Wallace.

 

For those of you waiting....we have the video for "Black Friday" from Lil' Kim's mixtape of the same name.  But first, here are a few screen captures from the "Black Friday" video:

 

 

 

 

Watch the video for "Black Friday" here:

 

 

In other music news.....

 

Faith Evans called in 89.9FM KMOJ to speak to radio personality Georgia recently and talked about her relationship with Lil Kim (there isn't one), her take on Nicki vs. Kim (she's "praying" for both), the accuracy of the movie Notorious (it was based on a book) & how it feels to be raising Biggie's son (it's just like parenting her other children).

 

 

 Pics: Lil Kim Fan Club

NO CHILD SUPPORT FOR YOU GABE! Gabriel Aubry Will Travel To NYC To Visit Daughter While Halle Films Movie

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 08:43 AM PST

We told you earlier that the Halle Berry/Gabriel Aubry war has been downgraded to an on-going skirmish and Halle is still in the lead.  Halle recently won the rights to take Nahla with her to New York to film a new movie and though Gabriel will be allowed to visit...he has to pay for it himself.  Deets inside....

 

Radar Online reports that a judge recently granted Halle's request to travel out of state with Nahla so she may film New Year's Eve in New York afterall.  But the judge stipulated that she must allow Gabriel to spend time with his daughter while she is there. 

And while the documents in the family law case are sealed, court records showed that the judge dismissed the child custody and support petition filed six weeks ago by Gabriel.

So all seems fair right?  Halle gets to travel to New York and keep working and Gabriel gets to see Nahla.  Yes...it worked out well. But Gabe still has egg on his face.

TMZ reports that Gabe NEVER wanted to go to New York and prior to their court battle, he refused Halle's offer of a week in a fancy hotel (on her dime) while she shot her scenes (which would only last a week).  Sources said he gave Halle an ultimatum that she could either go to NY and work or stay home and be a mother.  But he wouldn't allow Nahla to go to NY.

So if all of this is indeed true, Gabe just suffered a loss because now Nahla is going to New York and when he wants to see her, he has to pay for his own airfare and hotel. 

SIDE BAR:  TMZ says Gabe's not working right now. WOMP WOMP.  I guess he'll be flying coach...

 
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