HRS News

The BET Presents “Late Night Special Tour” will kick off March 23rd in Pretty Ricky’s home state of Florida and come to a close in May in Houston.

The group will perform material in suport of their sophomore set Late Night Special.

Plus, the brother quartet is making extended efforts to connect to fans through autographs, sweepstakes and a dance contest. Read more…

Wanna hear the latest R. Kelly songs? Call 312-278-3965 and hear a message from the R where he plays new tracks from his album. You can also leave your own messages.

Also check out the video trailer here.

Kelly Rowland is finally readying the release of her long-awaited sophomore album simply called Ms. Kelly.

Despite title changes and rumors that the set was delayed in order to not conflict with fellow ex-Destiny’s Child’s member Beyonce’s B’Day set, the album will drop June 26. It was originally scheduled for July 11, 2006.

“This album is very different from the last record. It was so alternative and this record is urban,” she told Billboard.com. “I wanted to go back to my roots [because] that’s where I started and that’s what feels natural to me.

Check out lead single “Like This” feat. Eve

Tentative track list:

“Gots To Go”
“Work Her Man”
“Still in Love With My Ex”
“Ghetto”
“The Show” featuring Tank
“Every Thought Is You”
“Better Without You”
“Wat It Do”
“Flashback”
“Tell Me”
“Can’t Do It Again”
“Just Me”
“Back On”
“This Is Love”

Disturbing Tha Peace artist Bobby Valentino and label head Ludacris recently shot down rumors that Bobby’s sophomore album, Special Occasion, leaked onto the Internet.

“Because of the success of my debut album, and the love for my fans, I wanted to take my time with this new album Special Occasion,” Bobby said in a statement. “So in the meantime, I put out a couple of songs that I knew weren’t going on the album on my myspace & mixtapes to give to my fans. This was just a little something for them to ride to until the album is released.”

Ludacris added his five cents by saying, “His new material shows even more growth and maturity and the songs that where leaked to the internet were a tease compared to what he has on the album.”

The mouth of the South listed his favorite songs from the album: “Let ‘Em Go,” “Anonymous,” and “Home Is Where U Belong.” Producers include Tim & Bob, Timbaland, Dre & Vidal, Brian Cox and Rodney Jerkins, and the set features guests such as Fabolous.

The official release date for Special Occasion is now May 8.

AUDIO: “Anonymous” featuring Timbaland  Windows|Real

Here’s the new single from the new 8Ball and MJG album Riding High which drops tomorrow.
AUDIO: “Cruzin” featuring Slim of 112 and Three Six Mafia Windows|Real

www.8ballandmjg.com
www.myspace.com/8ballandmjg

Since we’re not the cool people who make it their business to hop on planes and jetset to the annual SXSW, we’ll be the nerds to help you find some of the most useful coverage of this popular festival.

Embracing film, interactive and music, the 2007 SXSWeek runs March 9-18 in Austin, TX. If you’re not familiar with SXSW, or just want to get a handle on all the goings on (and there’s a lot), the best places to start are the official site’s about, music, interactive, or film pages.

The fun really begins with the varied amount of ongoing coverage. Start at the SXSW community blog, then mosey on to the any of the following: unofficial SXSW music festival blog, or the best SXSW parties.

Don’t forget to check out Public Enemy and X Clan on this leg of their tour.

And if you’re looking for some down-home soul music at SXSW, don’t forget to check out the newly rejuvenated Stax Records and its special revue on March 15. Booker T. & the MGs, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, and others are scheduled to perform a 90-minute revue, 7:30 p.m. at Antone’s.

Can’t find your peeps? Head over to Twitter. Now.

More: Official SXSW Blog, Free MP3s from SXSW bands, Wired Blogs, Rap/Hip-hop at SXSW, R&B at SXSW, SXSW Videos and Photos round up, XM radio coverage

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the still-unsolved murder of the rapper also known as Biggie Smalls. And while many celebrate his life and music, AOL Music has launched a memorial site featuring a video tribute with artists such as Jadakiss and Styles P.

“To leave a mark like that over two albums is ridiculous,” said Styles of Big’s short career. “You gotta think, he musta knew he was crazy to come out and say ‘my second album, I gotta do a double.’ And I’m gonna name it ‘Life After Death’ after I said I’m ‘Ready to Die.’”

Also included are remixes of the Bed Stuy emcee’s most popular hits, a streaming Biggie radio station and a listening party for the new CD, as well as an all-Biggie radio station.

As reported, Diddy’s Bad Boy Records honored the date with this week’s release of Greatest Hits, a compilation of 14 classic Biggie tracks as well as 2 previously unreleased tracks. Check out the new track “Want That Old Thing Back” feat. Ja Rule and Ralph Tresvant. RIP Biggie.
More Biggie:

Great fan site
Myspace blog

AUDIO: “Want That Old Thing Back” feat. Ja Rule and Ralph Tresvant Windows|Real

VIDEO: “Hypnotize”

Seminal soul label Stax Records recently announced their plans to begin releasing new material. The legendary record company celebrates its 50th anniversary two years after being acquired by Concord Music Group.

The first artists to be signed to the roster are Angie Stone and Isaac Hayes, who was instrumental in building the Stax sound and prestige back in the 70s.

“Stax always has been and always will be Soul Music,” the former South Park star said. “I am coming back to Stax because there is still so much to do. It’s like coming home.”

In the meantime, look for new albums comprising old material. Interpretations, a tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire, features artists such as  Questlove, Meshell N’degeocello, Chaka Khan and Kirk Franklin, while Stax 50: A 50th Anniversary Celebration, is a double-disc, 50-track anthology featuring Stax luminaries such as Hayes, Otis Redding, Booker T. & the MGs, the Staple Singers, and Sam & Dave.

Over 20 CDs and DVDs are slated for release this year, as well as a feature-length documentary on the label and its history.

Read about Stax history

Whether hip-hop is dead or not, not only is Nas getting ready to kick off his North American tour, he’ll also be starring with wife Kelis in a new MTV reality show called “Mr. and Mrs. Jones.”

Kelis, who was arrested and released on bail after a couple hours for disorderly conduct, wins hands down for best looking mugshot ever.

Meanwhile, Nas’ tour kicks off in Cleveland on April 2 and wraps in San Diego a month later. Dates are below

Dates:

04-02 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
04-03 Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Tavern
04-05 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
04-06 Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
04-07 Orlando, FL – House of Blues
04-08 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
04-10 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
04-11 Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theater
04-13 Washington, DC – Love Nite Club
04-15 Providence, RI – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
04-16 Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis
04-17 Toronto, Ontario – Kool Haus
04-19 Detroit, MI – State Theater
04-20 Chicago, IL – Congress Theater
04-21 Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom
04-22 Minneapolis, MN – Myth
04-23 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
04-25 Denver, CO – Fillmore
04-26 Salt Lake City, UT – Harry O’s
04-29 Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
04-30 Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
05-01 Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
05-02 San Diego, CA – 4th & B Concert Theater

Snoop Dogg is spicing up the horror scene with the soundtrack from the upcoming movie Snoop Dogg’s “Hood Of Horror.” The set, released last month, is the accompaniment to the scream flick set to open April 13.

Here’s two tracks to get your heart racing, Tha Doggfather’s “Welcome To The Hood” and Rainman’s – “Out Here.”

AUDIO:

Snoop Dogg – “Welcome To The Hood” – Windows

Rainman – “Out Here” – Windows

Check the tracklist below:

Snoop Dogg – “Welcome To The Hood”
Flii Stylz – “Beaztly”
Al Kapone – “My Dead Homie”
Rainman – “Out Here”
Snoop Dogg feat. Young Walt, Terrace Martin, & Tiffany Foxx – “Shake That Sh**”
The North Mississippi Allstars – “Goin’ Back To Dixie”
Percy Sledge – “24-7-365”
Rednex – “Cotton Eye Joe”
C-Ride feat. Dre – “Get Ghost”
Young Hugg & CJ – “Da Hood”
Ill Bill – “Thousand To M’s”
Flii Stylz feat. Dap – “Clownin’ Out”
Lordikim – “Stay Up”
Cool & Dre feat. Aries Spears & Pooch Hall – “Sod & Quon’s Theme (Dramacydal)”
Al Kapone – “Derelict’s Lair”

http://www.songsfromthehood.com