HRS News

The Black Eyed Peas came out as the big winners at this year’s American Music Awards, copping three awards during the live broadcast ceremony at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Winning three-for-three, the hip-pop quartet accepted their statuettes via satellite hookup straight from Costa Rica, where they were performing. The Peas won as favorite band in both the soul/R&B and rap/hip-hop categories, and their 2005 album “Monkey Business” won favorite rap/hip-hop album.

Other big winners for the 34th annual show included Mary J. Blige winning two as favorite female soul/R&B artist, while her album The Breakthrough snagged favorite soul/R&B album.

First-time AMA winner Jamie Foxx was named favorite male artist for “Unpredictable,” his No. 1 album of late 2005. Foxx, seated behind a piano for the set’s moving “Wish U Were Here,” Foxx dedicated the song to his late grandmother and the late Gerald Levert. In fact, he was the only one to mention the great R&B singer who passed away less than two weeks ago.

Eminem won favorite male rap/hip-hop artist while a stiff-looking Kirk Franklin received the award for contemporary inspirational music.

Lionel Richie made his AMA return in grand style with an introduction from his daughter Nicole Richie, and a flashback montage from the mid-80′s showing Richie receiving AMA awards as well as hosting the show. Richie then performed “I Call It Love” from his latest album, as well as 80′s hit “All Night Long.”

Other acts included show opener Beyonce, Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg.

Compared to the highly publicized Scream Tour which he will co-line with Omarion starting tomorrow (November 22), Ne-Yo’s additional current projects have been comparatively low key.

He recently took the time out of his super-busy schedule to give our editor Ifè Oshun a shoutout (listen) and exclusive info on his upcoming album, as well as the scoop on his new track and movie roles.

Ne-Yo Audio Interview

AUDIO: Ne-Yo- “Watch You Dance” – Windows

www.neyoworld.com

www.myspace.com/neyo

Former American Idol contestant, and Dreamgirls sensation Jennifer Hudson has recently signed a deal with Clive Davis’ J Records.

The singer who is being hailed for her performance in the upcoming musical is already being prepped for an Oscar nomination for her role as Effie in the flick based on the legendary Broadway musical.

According to Access Hollywood, the singer who was panned by Idol’s Simon Cowell, will start recording her set in January.

“My album, I’ll be recording my album,” she said. “I just signed my record deal 2 weeks ago. So I’m starting on that in January.”

The J Records roster includes legends Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, as well as fellow former Idol finalist Carrie Underwood, Idol winners Fantasia and Ruben Studdard, and reigning American Idol Taylor Hicks.

In related news, the venerable Chicago Sun-Times has sourced Mediatakeout regarding an alleged feud brewing between Hudson and Beyonce’s family.

According to the source, Bey’s parents, Mathew and Tina Knowles, treated Hudson like dirt when it was apparent that she was getting more attention than their daughter. Claiming Mr. Knowles demanded the movie studio edit Hudson’s scenes so Beyonce can shine more, the blog also goes on to say the former Destiny’s Child’s singer cried when she saw Hudson’s character come off stronger than her own.

Now that her Atlanta mansion has been auctioned off, Whitney Houston is facing the possibility of the same thing happening with her New Jersey estate in the New Year.

Bought in 2003, the five-bedroom Georgia home she shared with Bobby Brown was sold on the steps of Fulton County Courthouse earlier this month.

In addition, part of the Grammy winner’s 10-acre New Jersey estate will also be auctioned off January 4 unless she pony up $1 million in past due mortgage payments.

The part of Houston’s estate slated for the sale is reportedly worth $889,300, while the adjacent property she owns has been appraised for roughly $5.6 million.

Houston also owns a home in California, but as of press time it is not known whether this property is in foreclosure danger as well.

Last week, The Game, pulled a promotional stunt got arrested in New York after allegedly impersonating a police officer.

According to officials, on Thursday (November 16) about 10:30 p.m., the rapper whose real name is Jayceon Taylor jumped into a cab after taping a performance on the “Late Show With David Letterman.” He then told the cabbie he was an undercover officer, flashed a badge and ordered the driver to run red lights so he could get to where he was going quickly.

Doing as he was told, the driver was eventually pulled over by the cops more than twelve blocks into the ride. When driver told the officers why he sped through the lights, The Game was arrested, released on his own recognizance and ordered to appear before a judge within 30 days.

Game’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, denies it even happened calling the whole thing “ludicrous.”

“I’m stunned that they would actually make a case out of it,” he said.

Game’s new CD, Doctor’s Advocate, dropped last week.

Anticipation for Dreamgirls is reaching a fever pitch for fans, and has been fueled by the flick’s revival of the time-honored tradition of the roadshow as well as the highly anticipated appearance on today’s Oprah.

Oprah.com gives us a clear schedule of the show’s airing in your neck of the woods plus all kinds of tasty scoop via interviews with Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson and more.

Although it’s not scheduled to open for more than a month, the movie’s popularity has prompted the release of Dreamgirls – Original Broadway Cast Album: Special Edition, which is, according to BV, a double-disc featuring recordings from the legendary Broadway musical’s original stage production. Can you say Oscar nominations?

As we previously reported, today at 12 noon, Cleveland time, the public tribute for the late Gerald Levert began. However, in an amazing display of love for the singer, fans started lining up as early as 5 a.m.

The crowd wrapped up and down the street, waiting patiently to collectively remember the vocal powerhouse folks called “G-Bear.”

Thousands of folks waited outside in the cold precipitation, hailing from all over the country, many clutching teddy bears. Those outside included R&B superstar Usher (video), who later said, “When I came here, I expected to mourn [but] I cried. I actually cried tears of joy.”

Get the entire story…
Source: The extensive coverage at Cleveland’s WKYC

With the addition of explosive MTV fan outreach, the Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come promotional juggernaut is reaching critical mass.

The website for the music television channel recently unveiled an entire subdomain dedicated to the Brooklyn rapper. Jay-z.mtv.com will offer a wide assortment of goodies to tempt the palates of Jay-Z fans such as the “Video Vault Experience,” which offers users a detailed career timeline composed of footage from MTV’s archives, Hova’s music videos, and a ton of live performances.

Fans will also be privy to updates and performance clips from the rapper’s one-day “Hangar Tour.” As previously reported, the tour is a 17-hour, one day event that will span seven US cities.

In addition, MTV will air “Diary of JAY-Z: Water for Life,” a documentary program examining the world’s water crisis, on November 19, 2:00pm EST on MTV2 and on MTV on November 24, 9:00am EST.

Finally, the network will also run “The Jay-Z  Platinum Experience” contest. Users can visit www.mtvjay-zplatinumexperience.com for a chance to experience the life of a rap star including a private helicopter trip to NYC, a private tour of the Island Def Jam offices, a personalized JAY-Z platinum album, NJ Nets tickets and other goodies. The contest runs from November 18, 2006 through December 9, 2006.

In related news, the recently acquired Clear Channel Radio started running “Sneak Peek,” on November 14 which makes the entire album available to its audience. New York radio stations Power 105.1 and Z100 is also offering an album listening on their respective websites.

Jay-Z’s double-disc comeback set Kingdom Come is scheduled for a November 21 release.

For the millions of fans who will not be at the public tribute to Gerald Levert tomorrow in Cleveland, we’re sharing the program for the memorial service.

It opens with beautiful photos of Levert as a baby and later as the successful, big-hearted powerhouse we will always remember him as.

The beautiful full-color program also includes photos of Levert with family and at work in the studio and on stage, a list of his career accomplishments, a touching poem penned by his family, and tear-jerking words from his children, including his son Lemicah Edward Levert who said:

“I am no longer afraid of death because I now have someone waiting for me on the other side… my pops, my pal and my best friend.”

Download Program

Thanks to Kathy Shirley for the file

Popular American Idol winner Fantasia is prepping her highly anticipated self-titled sophomore set, scheduled to drop December 12. The set follows-up the big tracks left by her No. 1 monster album Free Yourself.

The first single, “Hood Boy,” features Big Boi and does a nice job of balancing a radio-friendly hot beat with Fantasia’s timeless vocals.

The energetic performer also teams up with Missy Elliot for three tracks as well as Babyface on “I Feel Beautiful” written by uber songwriter Dianne Warren.

Additional production is handled by Dre & Vidal, Swizz Beats and Kwame.
AUDIO:

Fantasia – “Hood Boy” feat Big Boi Windows|Real