Hot Music Beat

Did you guys know that R Kelly is illiterate? According to a speech that the singer gave at the Midwest Music Festival in Chicago, the R&B star says he barely graduated from elementary school. R Kelly said “I don’t even read really and I’m not afraid to say that. The only reason I graduated from grammar school is because I had a great jump shot. I went to high school and [my teacher] told me, ‘You will be one of the greatest writers of all time. I believed. You [have to] believe it. You can’t believe [anything] if you’re hating.”

It seems that the R&B group Earth, Wind and Fire and the legendary pop band Chicago have teamed up yet again as it does wonders for both their careers. The bassist of Earth, Wind and Fire, Verdine White, said the following about the new alliance: “The first time turned out really great. The second time was better, and this one’s over the top, because now everybody really gets it and people really dig it.” Actually, this one might prove to be a bit redundant since it’s the third time around and people might actually get bored of the idea. Actually, what am I saying? Given how much originiality is appreciated these days, they’ll probably have better success than they would’ve had each releasing a new record separately.

Even though Adam Lambert seems to be the favorite for the first place on American Idol, his competition is not likely to be giving up to easily. Kris Allen goes for a very bold song choice by doing Kanye West’s “Heartless”. The surprising part is that he does it only with his voice and guitar… a bold move for which he is commended by the judges… even Simon Cowell who says that with this performance, Kris Allen managed to wipe away the failure of his first song for the evening. It’s a really tough race it seems and Kris Allen has a good starting speed… especially considering that he actually made Kanye West’s music sound like real music.

It’s long been rumored that the reason that Usher’s mom hates his wife Tameka Foster is because Usher fired mom in favor of the wifey. The R&B singer wants to clear that all up in the July issue of Vibe saying “My mother and I decided to change her situation, together. I decided to not fire, not get rid of but … to retire her to be a full-time grandmother.” I guess he was getting tired of being slammed about leaving his mom jobless to give his rumored gold digger wife a job. Me thinks he should have done this clearing up thing last year if he really wanted to save face.

R&B star Lloyd will return to the game with his third effort, Lessons In Love. The July 15th release comes strapped with the hard-driving lead single “How We Do It” featuring Ludacris. Lloyd will be playing a string of tour dates along with a FREE concert live on DeepRockDrive.com on Sunday May 25th at 4PM PST. The concert will allow fans to interact with Lloyd with digital applause, song requests, and more.

Fans can pick up their FREE tickets here to see Lloyd

at the Pepsi Free Concert Series on DeepRockDrive.com. Ticket quantities are limited so get yours now!

The R Kelly kiddie-porn trial has already begun on Friday with jury selection but a new bombshell has dropped. It is being reported that an aide for the singer may have paid off a woman for the return of a potentially incriminating tape. The problem: the woman in question is going to testify against him. Kelly’s lawyers have already filed a motion for the delay of the trial, most likely because of the woman set to testify. Unfortunately, the judge scrapped the motion and the trial will go on. It’s about time! Over 5 years is enough of a delay!

Rihanna and Chris Brown are certainly heating things up in their rumored romance. The Barbados singer even took the R&B crooner home! Rihanna turned 20 on Wednesday in London and immediately flew to her hometown to meet up with her new paramour for what was dubbed ‘Rihanna Day’ by the national government on Thursday. She received a hero’s welcome as she was honored in a massive ceremony in Bridgetown and was named Ambassador for Culture and Youth for Barbados. She was then presented with a huge birthday cake which boy toy Chris helped her cut. I guess it’s meet the family, the town, the government and the country all in one.

Brandy has been deposed in the civil case which stemmed from that fatal car accident back in December 2006. The R&B singer was spotted when she was dropped off at her lawyer’s office on Thursday in a gold Range Rover. It looks like she’s not that far away from trouble yet.

Just last month, in a long-awaited decision, the LA City Attorney decided to not file criminal charges against the singer whose car struck the vehicle of Awatef Aboudihaj on December 30, 2006. Aboudihaj, a mother of two, died the next day. Her husband is suing Brandy for an undisclosed amount.

R Kelly is a wanted man once again. A judge has entered a bench warrant for the R&B singer because he did not show for a court hearing on Wednesday in Chicago. The reason for the no show was said to be because Kelly’s bus was delayed in Utah.The judge has entered the warrant but did not enforce it just yet unless of course, Kelly didn’t show up for the hearing the following morning. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Cook County prosecutors pressed the judge noting he had already shown considerable leeway in Kelly’s case. Someone has got a lot of explaining to do.

Here is Lil’ Mama new song titled “Shawty Get Loose” featuring T-Pain. Lil’ Mama will be releasing her debut album entitled “Voice of the Young People” in 2008.

R Kelly did it again. He might deny it, his label might deny it, but we all know it’s true. R Kelly can’t stand a double tour with a person that threatens to become to tour star. He must be the only one to get all the attention, otherwise…he continues touring alone.
It’s not the first time when a double concert tour needs to be ended. Some years ago, R Kelly parted the tour he was taking with Jay Z.
The Double Up tour he is on had as a performer along his side a young rap singer, called Ne-Yo. It seems that the 24 year old was getting too much attention, and Kelley probably got offended.

Beyonce was snapped giving a warm hug to a hanbok-clad (traditional national costume) girl who brought her bouquets of flowers at Incheon Airport on Thursday in Seoul, South Korea.

The singer is scheduled to play her first set of concerts ever in Korea on the 9th and 10th of November as part of her B’Day World Tour. Before jetting off to Korea, Beyonce also performed at a concert in the Philippines where she played to a sold out crowd at the Fort Bonifacio Open Field in Metro Manila.

I’m guessing that the only reason people are still fawning over her in other places is because she’s from some place other than theirs and their not being saturated with her stuff.

Rapper 50 Cent has recently shot the music video for his upcoming single entitled “I’ll Still Kill” with R&B singer Akon.
Looks OK.

Rihanna has urged the media to stop criticizing Britney Spears’ MTV Video Music Awards performance. The “Umbrella” star believes Spears’ disastrous stageshow at the Las Vegas ceremony earlier this month was the result of her not having performed much recently coupled with the stress of her ongoing child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline. She did not do her best. My brother’s partner was one of the dancers that danced with her. She did not show up to most of the rehearsals and when she did she did not participate. I guess it is nice that some artists are trying to stick up for her but give me a break. She deserves all the criticism she is getting. What’s more that the artist who are speaking in favor or against her do not know anything about what happened behind the scenes during the practice, yet they have their opinions which really funny, some hate Britney so they speak against her and other’s who like her speak in her favor that the whole thing going on.

Who knew that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was so into the times and such a ladies’ man? He’s got a girl on his mind and it turns out to be the bootylicious Beyonce.

According to CNN, Barack was asked what his top list of tunes was composed of during a recent campaign stop in Creston, Iowa. Barack is said to be a big fan of old soul and new pop and even likes some of the newer songs that us young ones like.

Barack even went on the record saying “I tell you what. I can tell you the kinds of stuff that I love dancing to… I’m sort of the generation of Stevie Wonder and ‘Earth, Wind and Fire’.” But he also reveals his love for Beyonce when he said “I’m sort of hip to the younger stuff. You know, like Beyonce’s ‘Crazy in Love’. That’s a good song to dance to.”

The song won the prize for Best Original Music and Lyrics for the program Saturday Night Live at the 59th Creative Arts Emmy Awards on the September 8 in Los Angeles.

Timberlake teamed up with comic Andy Samberg to make the song, which spoofed early-’90s R&B/pop acts like Color Me Badd.

Samberg told the audience : “Justin, if you’re out there, congrats to you, kid.”

The video beat two songs from a musical version of Scrubs to win the award.

Samberg said : “I think it’s safe to say that when we first set out to make this song, we were all thinking, ‘Emmy!’

“The other thing we were thinking was, ‘Hey! There’s this young up-and-comer, Justin Timberlake, who is clearly very talented and could really use a break.”

Although Timberlake was not present at the ceremony Samberg said he would be willing to perform the song with the singer at the main Primetime Emmys ceremony, to be held in Los Angeles on September 16.

Eve showed up to and performed at the Herbal Essences’ Great Escape to the MTV Video Music Awards party at the Palms on Friday night. That happened to be the last night that she had to wear her SCRAM anklet which prevents her from having too much fun and committing another DUI.

On Saturday, the female rapper took of the ankle monitoring bracelet that has been on her for the last 45 days. Eve is finally free!

Now maybe she can drink that champagne that was given to her at the MAC Cosmetics event from New York Fashion week. Cheers!

R&B singer Usher Raymond and his pregnant wife Tameka Foster still don’t know if they’re having a girl or a boy but Usher is wishing and hoping for a son.

In a recent appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show, Usher reveals that if he gets his way, he’s naming the little tyke after himself. “I’m hoping to name him that. I’ve been playing with a few names. I’m the fourth. Usher Raymond IV. I just want to pass the name on. Maybe I’ll change the middle name.”

Welcome to the world Usher Raymond V. Here’s to hoping that you don’t lose much money because of therapy.

Lawyers for R&B singer Bobby Brown asked a California judge on Friday to throw out his divorce from Whitney Houston and reopen the question of custody over the couple’s 14 year-old daughter.

“He did not have his day in court,” Brown’s attorney Stacy Phillips told the Orange County Superior Court.

The uncontested divorce judgment, which became final in April, ended the couple’s stormy 15-year marriage, and Houston got sole custody of daughter Bobbin Kristin Brown.

Phillips said Brown believed the pair were working on their marriage and that Houston had told him not to worry about the divorce proceedings. She said the two had made an agreement.

“Who is he going to rely on the most?” Phillips said. “The woman he loves. He thinks they’re working on their marriage.”

Houston moved from Atlanta to Orange County, south of Los Angeles, when the couple split last year and she went into drug rehab for the third time in three years.

Brown has a history of arrests for failure to pay child support, drug possession and drunk driving. Houston’s lawyer said Brown could appeal or vary the custody award without throwing out the divorce.

Judge Claudia Silas said she would have to listen to testimony from both singers before deciding the issue, and she set a hearing for October 22.

Lawyers for both sides must decide whether the estranged couple can testify by video or should appear in person.

R&B star Sean Kingston will play slain rap heavyweight Notorious B.I.G. in an upcoming biopic. The singer, who is dominating the charts with summer hit Beautiful Girls, has landed the lead role in the movie, which is being produced by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. This is a different issue but would the producers ever ask him to cut his weight and look a bit better as an appearance for the movie as they do for the female leads. Oh, I think they won’t be complaining about his weight since they have already had an audition with him and has been told that he will be playing the role in the movie. Now if it were a plum actress should have been asked sign the dotted line with an agreement clarifying that she should be able to shed such and such pounds or else could be facing an axe. Look at Sean he looks a truck full of garbage to me and my views do not in any way speak about his singing skills. Just his size to huge and would rather be better for a comic role.