HRS News

Pretty Ricky‘s sophomore effort, Late Night Special, is sitting pretty at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The album sold 132,000 in its first week, according to Billboard. The group’s 2005 Bluestars debuted at No. 16.
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Look out for “Memoirs Of A Super Freak,” the autobiography of Rick James completed just before his death in 2005. There is also a new album due in May via James’ Stone City Records.
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Chamillionaire has dropped the lead single from his upcoming sophomore mainstream release. “Not a Criminal” featuring Kelis is the first track from Ultimate Victory. As part of his effort to communicate, the Houston rapper will retire his diamond grill.

“I need people to pay attention to what I have to say, instead of just staring at my mouth,” he said. “I speak with a purpose and definitely want people to know that I’m not just some rapper with diamonds in his mouth. As soon as they get past the materialistic stuff and listen to the message on my album then I will feel like I have won.”
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Not only will he be involved in the new Nike marketing juggernaut, Juelz Santana has also teamed up with Lil Wayne for a new mixtape called I Can’t Feel My Face, according to AllHiphop. The set has already been leaked and will be fodder for an upcoming album from the duo.
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Justine Simmons, wife of rap legend Reverend Run, recently spoke out about the death of her baby girl, expected by millions who watched the Simmons family’s reality show. “The peace I had almost scared me,” she said. “I guess you just really have to have a situation, to know the strength of God or the peace of the Lord really works. It’s just amazing.” Mother to five children, Simmons is also releasing a religion-based book, God, Can You Hear Me?, for children ages 5-10.

The circumstances surrounding Brandy’s December 30 car accident have just gone from “really bad” to “extremely bad.”

One day after cops suggested she be charged with vehicular homicide, the singer/actress has been slapped with a 50 million lawsuit by the family of the woman who was tragically killed in the fatal car wreck.

The wrongful-death suit  was filed on behalf of Aboudihaj Ahmed and Labridi Zohra in Los Angeles Superior Court, for their daughter, Awatef Aboudihaj, 38, whose Honda was struck by Brandy’s Land Rover before losing control, hitting the divider, being sideswiped and hit head-on by additional vehicles in the deadly domino effect accident.

In light of Brandy’s cooperation with the authorities and condolences expressed to the family, many think it is possible the suit will be settled out of court.

“The accident was a terrible tragedy, and Brandy’s heart goes out to Awatef Aboudihaj’s family,” Brandy’s spokesman said. “But for legal reasons we cannot comment on this lawsuit.”

Hip-hop warriors and Wu-Tang affiliates, The Wisemen, are working on their debut album, Wisemen Approaching, scheduled to be released February 27.

The trio of Detroit natives Kevlaar 7, Phillie and Salute (the Kid) were brought together by producer Bronze Nazareth, who made a big splash on 2005′s Think Differently Music: “Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture.”

Guest appearances include GZA/Genius, Killah Priest, Vast Aire, Planet Asia and more, while the overall sound takes folks back to the “golden era of hip-hop.”

For more info visit: www.babygrande.net/wisemen, www.crackspace.com/wisemen, and www.babygrande.com. In the meantime, download “Iconoclasts” feat. Killah PriestT and Vast Aire (Cannibal Ox).

AUDIO: “Iconoclasts” feat. Killah PriestT and Vast Aire

In the wake of a December car accident that saw Brandy involved in a fatal car crash, police have recommended that the 27-year-old singer/actress be charged with a single misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter.

As previously reported, on December 30 Brandy failed to stop her Land Rover from striking the car in front of her on a Los Angeles freeway. The driver of the struck vehicle, 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, died when her car slammed into a third vehicle head on,  hit the center divider and broad-sided by a fourth vehicle.

If convicted, Brandy could face a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Fans of mainstream, middlestream and underground rap have cause for celebration with the announcement of Clipse‘s Hell Hath No Fury tour dates, additional Snoop Doog/Diddy tour info, and a confirmed date for the 2nd Annual Paid Dues Festival.

As previously reported, rap heavyweights Snoop Dogg and Diddy are teaming up to perform songs from their latest albums, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment and Press Play, respectively, during a 3-week European tour. Check below for the updates dates.

Meanwhile, Virginia’s power duo, Clipse (photo) have just announced tour dates in support of their latest, and slept on, Hell Hath No Fury. Malice and Pusha T will rock North America for over a month on a trek that kicks off February 25 in Baltimore. Check dates below.

And finally, independent hip-hop fest, Paid Dues will take place on March 24 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA. Presented by Living Legends emcee Murs 3:16, and hosted by Lucky I Am, the line-up includes Felt (Murs w/ Slug & Ant), Sage Francis, Brother Ali, Blackalicious, Jean Grae, Visionaries, Mr Lif, Zion I & The Grouch, Devin The Dude, Evidene w/ Alchemist, Pigeon John, and more.

Tickets for the all-ages Paid Dues fest go on sale Friday, February 2. The well-received festival is on track to beoming a national tour as well as a documentary film in the future.
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Los Angeles fans of British soulster Joss Stone have a chance to score free admission to an exclusive taping of her peformance at Nissan Live Sets.

The show is taking place at a secret location, Monday, January 29 at 7 pm.

The first 200 fans to email Invites@YahooLiveSets.com will get in so don’t hesitate. Send your name, your location, and tell them how much you love Joss.

In the meantime check out two new tracks (below) from her upcoming March 20th release, Introducing Joss Stone and tell us what you think.

In related news, Stone’s label, Virgin Records will be merging with Capitol Records. The labels’ parent company, EMI Group PLC, announced the resulting company, Capitol Music Group, is the result of a restructuring program designed to save $217 million a year. EMI is the third-largest music company in the world and is home to artists such as Stone, Corinne Bailey Rae, Faith Evans, Norah Jones, LeToya Luckett, Purple Ribbon Allstars, Sleepy Brown, Bizzy Bone, Beenie Man and Chingy.

Jermaine Dupri stepped down last year as Virgin’s head of urban music, as previously reported.
AUDIO:

Joss Stone – “Tell Me ‘Bout It” Windows|Real

Joss Stone – “Tell Me What We Gonna Do” (featuring Common) Windows|Real

Five-time Grammy winner Usher was found guilty last week in connection with a speeding charge stemming from a July 4 Georgia incident where he was pulled over for driving 103 mph.

On January 16, he was fined $425 and mandated to perform 20 hours of community service.

After the judgment was handed down, the 28-year-old singer/actor spent about a half hour outside the courthouse signing autographs.

After reports that he had been released from prison, authorities have clarified that Mystikal still remains, serving a six-year sentence at a Louisiana state prison.

According to AllHiphop, confusion arose when the time being concurrently served for tax evasion came to term.

The six-year term is the result of a sexual assault charge the “Shake It Fast” rapper incurred in 2004.

James Brown‘s six adult children filed an emergency petition yesterday, claiming that the Godfather’s valuable estate was “mismanaged,” according to Billboard.com. Claiming that  some of Brown’s assets are in danger of being “lost or dissipated or stolen,” they have requested the trustees be removed.
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A highschool band slated to be the opening act for a Ludacris concert has now been told they cannot do it due to parents concern about the rapper’s lyrics. Ludacris’ February 22 Kentucky appearance has caused controversy within the Lexington Bryan Station High School after the administration reneged with the show’s promoter to let their band open for the rapper. There is no word yet on who will replace the band.
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After causing a domino effect car accident that left a 38 year-old woman dead, Brandy could very well be found to be primarily at fault or criminally negligent in the December 30 crash. The 25 year-old singer/atress was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash, and has been cooperating completely with authorities.
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Grammy nominees Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend and John Mayer are slated to collaborate for a Grammy performance during the February 11 ceremony. Other confirmed acts include Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Gnarls Barkley, Ludacris, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake.
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The Wu-Tang Clan will reunite, again, to release the 8 Diagram in 2007. Their first album in will mark the first time they’ve recorded without the late founding member Ol’ Dirty Bastard. According to MTV.com, ODB’s vocals will be featured on the set, which will also contain the dedication track “Life Changes.”
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The Beastie Boys are currently in the studio working on a new record in Australia. They will debut some new material next month when the oldschool trio headlines the country’s Good Vibrations Festival.
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Snoop Dogg has pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing a deadly weapon. The Doggfather was charged with the felony count after a security screener at John Wayne Airport saw a collapsible police baton in his luggage on September 27, 2006. Snoop claimed it was a prop for an upcoming movie.

January is always a slow month when it comes to new albums and 2007 is definitely no exception.

Nevertheless, a few decent releases have made their way to stores and iTunes such as the inspirational, family-oriented soundtrack to Tyler Perry’s latest film “Daddy’s Little Girls.”

Featuring new tunes from Whitney Houston, Anthony Hamilton, R. Kelly and other big names, the soundtrack is one of the few out there that can boast 100% of tracks written for the actual movie. Read the review.

Additional new stuff comes from Pretty Ricky, Diana Ross, and as mentioned before Sunshine Anderson (read the review).
New rap/hip-hop comes from New Jersey’s Deviants of Reality. Their Love, Sex and Situation features their brand of thought provoking music that’s made them favorites on college radio. Additional rap/hip-hop releases come from underground hip-hop mammoth Stones Throw (read the review), Ultramagnetic MCs and more.

New Rap/hip-hop releases January 2007

New R&B/soul releases January 2007