HRS News

Today saw the release of a number of exciting albums including The Essential Toni Braxton.

This comprehensive double disc offers 32 tracks from the stunningly sultry singer. Gems include classics such as “Love Shoulda Brought You Home,” and “You’re Makin’ Me High,” as well as remixes of newer songs like “He Wasn’t Man Enough.” This is a must for fans old and new.*

Also out today is the third album from Canadian emcee K-Os, who continues the eclectic rollercoaster ride of b-boy flavored hip-hop delivery, stirring singing vocals and a truck load of various musical genres.

For the underground set, there’s a thumbs-up set from Hell Razah. According to our reviewer, “the album’s consistency makes it go down like a hearty meal.”

Complete rap/hip-hop February releases
Complete R&B/Soul February releases 

In commemoration of the tenth year since the death of the Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), Diddy’s Bad Boy Records will release Greatest Hits, a compilation of 14 classic Biggie tracks as well as 2 previously unreleased tracks. The set, due March 6th, includes classics such as “Juicy,” “One More Chance,” “Big Poppa,” and “Hypnotize.”

“Christopher Wallace was more than an artist, he was my friend,” said Bad Boy CEO Diddy.  “The Notorious B.I.G., as most knew him, was a rapper, a story teller, and a prolific poet.  However, many didn’t have a chance to see the Father, Husband, and Man that I knew.  Through his words, persona, life, and music, he was able to open doors and create opportunities for Hip-Hop as a whole.  I wanted to celebrate his legacy, life, and work as we mourn his senseless death 10 years ago.  The release of ‘GREATEST HITS’ makes it clear to the world why the Notorious B.I.G is the greatest rapper of all time.”

Althoguh some disagree on just who is the GOAT (greatest of all time), none can doubt the power of his way-too-brief career. RIP Biggie.

THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. “GREATEST HITS tracklist:

1. JUICY
2. BIG POPPA
3. HYPNOTIZE
4. ONE MORE CHANCE Remix
5. GET MONEY
6. WARNING
7. DEAD WRONG
8. WHO SHOT YA
9. TEN CRACK COMMANDMENTS
10. NOTORIOUS THUGS
11. NOTORIOUS BIG
12. NASTY GIRL
13. UNBELIEVABLE
14. NI**AZ BLEED
15. RUNNING YOUR MOUTH*
16. WANT THAT OLD THING BACK*
17. F**KIN YOU TONITE

* Previously Unreleased

Ok, all you Michael Jackson freaks, fans, and believers. You may be disappointed he’s not going to appear on American Idol, but you’ll love to see him actually making music.

Check out this video of the King of Pop in the studio with Will.I.Am. Access Hollywood brings us this gem which shows us Jackson rolling up his sleeves and getting grimey on the sound boards.

It’s actually pretty exciting and some of the beats sound hot. Who knows, maybe MJ will go back to his roots after all and surprise the world. We’ll see…

VIDEO: Michael Jackson In the Studio

Jennifer Hudson has been chosen to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine and joins Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry as the only African-American actresses to do this. The Dreamgirls award-winner will grace the mag’s annual Power Issue.
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Fantasia is reportedly joining the cast of Broadway’s The Color Purple. According to EOnline, the American Idol will joining in the Spring and “Oprah is making a big deal out of it.”
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Michael Jackson fans have been in a tizzy with rumors of the Gloved One appearing on American Idol. However, the gossip was shot down by the shows executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe, who said “it’s not true.”  The rumors stemmed from reports of a meeting between American Idol creator Simon Fuller and Michael Jackson. As previously reported, the New York Post reported Fuller will be helping Jackson make a comeback.
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Legendary singer Smokey Robinson recently attacked Dreamgirls for what he sees as an inaccurate portrayal of Motown. ” ‘Dreamgirls’ is an affront to Berry, to Motown, to Diana Ross, to our legacy,” Robinson told the Los Angeles Times. “It defames something we’ve been building for 50 years.” No word yet on what was up with his face at last weekend’s Grammys.
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Grieving dad Eddie Levert talked to the Associated Press about his late son Gerald Levert, his new album and his untimely passing.
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The 2007 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition will feature Beyonce on the cover wearing a yellow-and-pink bikini.
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In a keynote delivered at the Direct Marketing Association’s Circulation Day last week, Vibe Magazine editor-in-chief Danyel Smith admitted that printed magazines will soon be a novelty and that “online is taking over.”

Jamaican-American rapper Mims is heating up with radio with his hit single “This Is Why I’m Hot.” The track, from his forthcoming debut Music Is My Savior, was recently the greatest airplay gainer on the Billboard charts. The fiery remix features dancehall great Cham and legendary reggae artist Junior Reid.

The Washington Heights (New York City) native started his music passion when he was 13, after his mom bought him DJ equipment. Tragically she passed away shortly after, following the birth of his younger sister. Two years before, he lost his dad, too, although he hadn’t grown up with him.

Despite losing both parents, Mims kept pressing on.

“Ultimately, it was up to me as to whether I was going to become a victim of circumstance,” he shared.”I could have been one of those cats to say, ‘F the world. I lost both of my parents and I can do anything I want right now because nothing limits me from doing that.’ Instead I said, ‘You know what? If I’m going to do anything or take anything out of this situation it’s going to be positive.’ I took the positive out of it and I feel like it made me stronger. It made me go out there and say, “I’m going to accomplish this because you only get one life to live. This is what I want in life and I’m going to make sure it happens.”

Music Is My Savior will drop April 3.

VIDEO: Mims – “This Is Why I’m Hot” Windows|Quicktime

AUDIO: “This Is Why I’m Hot” Blackout Remix featuring Cham and Junior Reid Windows|Real

Check out the new video for Diddy’s hit track “Last Night” featuring Keyshia Cole, who as we said before, rules this song.

VIDEO: Diddy – “Last Night” featuring Keyshia Cole
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Although many have slept on the talents of Amy Winehouse, she recently beat out the likes of Corinne Bailey Rae for Best Female Solo Artist at the Brits. She’s a’ight, but we’re not sure this tops Rae’s tunes. Check out Winehouse’s video for “You Know I’m No Good” and maybe you can shed light…

VIDEO:  Amy Winehouse – “You Know I’m No Good”

Eminem’s ex-wife Kim Mathers tried to kill herself recently when her twice-divorced ex-husband made fun of her (again) at a concert.

Kim was in the audience when Em took the stage with a hostile song dedicated to her. As he performed, he beat up a blow-up doll that looked like her before flinging it into the crowd. What took her over the edge was the crowd who, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, tore it limb from limb.

“Just seeing the crowd’s response and everybody cheering, singing the words and laughing and it just felt like everyone was staring at me,” she later said in an interview on an upcoming episode of the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. “I knew that it was about me and that night I went home and I tried to commit suicide.”
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Long-time rap joke Vanilla Ice has teamed up with TurboTax for a tax season rap contest. No, really. According to cbs2.com, aspiring rappers can submit videos of themselves rapping about paying tax. No, really. The lucky winner is promised $25,000 and all entrants get a free copy of the TurboTax software. No, really.
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Finally, blogger Carmen VanKerckhove explores the media’s alleged fascination with white rappers in her article “Are We Having A White Rapper Moment?”

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, R&B/pop hottie Lloyd drops the next single from his upcoming set called, of course, “My Valentine.”

The new album, also appropriately titled, Street Love, will be in stores March 13th and includes production by Big Reese, Tango Redd, Jasper Cameron, J-Lack, and Jazze Pha.

AUDIO: Lloyd – “My Valentine”  Windows|Real

Official Lloyd Site

Lloyd MySpace Page
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More romance comes from San Francisco’s J. Valentine, who refers to himself as the “King of R&Bay.”

His new track, “She’s Worth The Trouble,” is about a “playa” that accidentally falls in love with Ms. Right Now. The song’s set to hit radios radio on February 26th, but you can check it out below. His debut album, Conversation Piece (J Records), blends hyphy and R&B, features production from Scott Storch, Cool & Dre, and will drop in the Summer.

AUDIO: J. Valentine -  “She’s Worth The Trouble”  Windows|Real 

J. Valentine’s Myspace 

On the heels of an announcement of her part in an emerging supergroup, Remy Ma is in the midst of a flurry of activity that includes two new albums and a reality tv show.

3Some, the super trio of Remy, fellow rapper Jacki-O and Disturbing Tha Peace singer Shawnna, is gathering force for an upcoming album.

“I see how Diddy and Jay [-Z] and 50 [Cent] do it: they got they own alliance,” she told Billboard. “But girls, that one doesn’t hang with this one, and if you look at it, no one really has a legitimate reason. If [Lil'] Kim and Foxy [Brown] would have done that ‘Thelma and Louise’ album when they was poppin’, it would’ve been the craziest sh*t ever!”

The yet-to-be-titled set may also feature rappers Trina, Lil Mo and Young B, and lead to the N.E.W. (Never Enough Women) Tour.

Remy’s sophomre album is also in the works and does have a title. PunishHer, named to commemorate her late mentor Big Pun, will be her first since leaving the Terror Squad and should drop in late 2007.

Remy’s reality show, still in negotiations, is also anticipated to make an appearance at the end of the year on a major cable network.

Check out the latest track from Mya and her upcoming June 2007 release  Liberation.  “Lock U Down” features Lil Wayne and is produced by Scott Storch.

As previously reported, the singer’s fourth album is her first on Universal Motown Records and sees her express herself “with no limits.”

“If there’s a theme on the album it’s self- confidence that comes from my own personal experiences,” Mya says.

The follow-up to her 2003 Moodring, Liberation marks Mya’s growth as an artist and a woman.

“I started out in the industry as a young girl trying to find her way,” she continues. “I’ve definitely experienced my share of struggles and pain, but most of my experiences have taught me something great. The CD takes you on a journey of just that; it’s a guide to why I’m liberated and how I got there.”

We hope Motown treats Mya better than Brian McKnight and that her album really does drop in June seeing as it’s been releasing singles since August 2006 and was originally scheduled to bow in November.

AUDIO: Windows|Real