HRS News

Born into a family of accomplished jazz musicians, singers/composers Marion Cowings and Kim Kalesti, Emily King has been around music even before she can remember.

After graduating high school at the early age of 16, her mother introduced her to a friend at Sony music publishing. Soon after, King met Bad Boy Entertainment’s famed Hitman studio team member Chucky Thompson. They hit it off immediately.

Read more… 

Ryan Shaw is getting a fair amount of press for helping to “revive” good ole soul music by way of his classic soul voice and delivery. His debut, This is Ryan Shaw, is dropping today and he’ll also hit the road with fellow soulster Joss Stone. Check his music and the dates below.

New hip-hop comes from Madlib & Peanut Butter Wolf, Too $hort and popular Christian emcee KJ-52.

AUDIO: Ryan Shaw – “Nobody”

Philadelphia, PA April 30th — Electric Factory
Austin, TX May 8th — Stubb’s ***
Seattle, WA May 24th — Paramount Theater
San Deigo, CA May 26th — KIFM 98.1 Gaslightlamp Festival ***
Chicago, IL May 30th — House of Blues
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA June 2nd — Kool Haus
New York, NY June 8TH – Central Park Summer stage
Boston, MA June 11th — Avalon Ballroom

 Check out the debut single “Sexy Lady” from Southside Chicago native Yung Berg.

Coming from the album, Look What You Made Me (due in August), the track is accompanied by a soon-to-hit video featuring Eve, Keyshia Cole, Ray J. and actress Drew Sadora. The song’s also been getting massive radio play. But is it any good? You decide.

AUDIO:

“Sexy Lady” Windows|Real

The upcoming release from Brooklyn’s own Fabolous has been pushed to June 12, but in the meantime, check out some tunes from the highly anticipated set.

From Nothin’ To Somethin’ sees Fab team up with Ne-Yo, Timbaland and Young Jeezy, Rihanna, Akon, Swizz Beats, and Lloyd. Production comes courtesy of heavyweights such as Jermaine Dupri, Polow Da Don and Jazzy Pha.

If you haven’t heard it already, check the single “Diamonds” below.

AUDIO:

Fabolous – “Make Me Better” feat. Ne-Yo Windows|Real

Fabolous – “Diamonds” – Windows|Real

“Umbrella” featuring Jay-Z is the lead single from Rihanna’s upcoming album Good Girl Gone Bad, which is due June 5.

Hear it below and also check out a leaked single “I Hate That I Love You.”

AUDIO: Rihanna – “Umbrella” featuring Jay-Z Windows|Real

Check out video of fans gushing all over Beyonce as she walks through a Japanese airport.

The singer is in the throes of her massive world tour (Tokyo on April 10) which will run until September. Following a brief break after wrapping the European phase of the tour, the North American leg begins July in New Orleans.

Beyonce Tour Dates:

July 2007
6 – New Orleans, LA – Louisiana Superdome
7 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum
8 – Saint Louis, MO – Scottrade Center
13 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
14 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
15 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center
20 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena
21 – Tampa, FL – St. Pete Times Forum
22 – Sunrise, FL – BankAtlantic Center
24 – Jacksonville, FL – Veterans Memorial Arena
27 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Bobcats Arena
28 – Raleigh, NC – RBC Center
29 – Hampton, VA – Hampton Coliseum

August 2007
1 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun
3 – East Rutherford, NJ – Continental Airlines Arena
4 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
8 – Baltimore, MD – 1st Mariner Arena
9 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center
10 – Philadelphia, PA – Wachovia Center
11 – Atlantic City, NJ – venue to be announced
12 – Boston, MA – TD Banknorth Garden
14 – Montreal, Quebec – Bell Centre
15 – Toronto, Ontario – Air Canada Centre
17 – Auburn Hills, MI – Palace of Auburn Hills
18 – Chicago, IL – United Center
19 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena
22 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
24 – Phoenix, AZ – US Airways Center
25 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM South
26 – San Diego, CA – venue TBA
31 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena & McAfee Coliseum

September 2007
1 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
2 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
4 – Vancouver, British Columbia – GM Place
6 – Calgary, Alberta – Pengrowth Saddledome

Fantasia is due to make her Broadway debut tonight in the Oprah Winfrey-produced “Color Purple.” The American Idol winner had never been to a Broadway show when she was given the role, but that hasn’t stopped her from pulling in serious money for the show.

Since the Feb. 22 announcement that she would join the cast, advance ticket sales have amounted to a staggering $6 million.

Fantasia is contracted to play the starring role of “Celie” for six months. Also joining her is Elisabeth Withers who will portray Shug Avery. Withers dropped her debut album, It Can Happen to Anyone, back in January  was released on Blue Note Records.

Joe is set to hit the road on an extended tour, much to the delight of fans in two continents.

Tomorrow he is set to play a second night in London before jetting off for an additional 2 shows in Sweden.

Then Joe is scheduled to join fellow crooner Brian McKnight for a tour that kicks off April 27 in Oakland, California.

Keep your eyes peeled for Joe’s forthcoming album, Ain’t Nothing Like Me, slated for April 24th. Guest include Papoose and Yung Joc and production comes from Jermaine Dupri, Dre & Vidal, Tim & Bob, Brian Michael Cox, Stargate and Sean Garrett. In the meantime check some audio.

Video: Joe – “If I Was Your Man” – Windows|Real

Joe European tour dates:
4/11 London, England – Hammersmith, Apollo
4/13 Stockholm, Sweden
4/14 Malmo, Sweden

U.S. tour dates with Brian McKnight:
4/27 Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
4/29 Los Angeles, CA – Gibson
4/30 Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
5/3 St. Louis, MO – Fox Theatre
5/5 Chicago, IL – Merrillville, Star Plaza
5/6 Cleveland, OH – State Theatre
5/9 Hartford, CT – Oakdale
5/10 Providence, RI
5/11 Westbury, NY – Westbury Music Fair
5/12 Washinton, DC – Constitution Hall
5/13 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
5/18 Miami, FL – Knights Center
5/19 Atlanta, GA – Chastain Park
5/20 Virginia Beach, VA – Verizon Wireless Theatre
5/24 Louisville, KY – Whitney Hall
5/25 Columbus, OH – Promo West Pavillion
5/26 Charlotte, NC – Cricket Arena
5/27 Orlando, FL – House of Blues
5/31 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
6/1 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
6/2 Dallas, TX – Nokia Theatre
6/3 Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theatre

Official Site

http://www.myspace.com/officialjoemusic

Last month was a vast improvement for new R&B releases (February was embarrassing), and now April is off to a good start.

So far, we’ve seen Beyonce revamp and re-release her current album, B’Day, with remixes and Spanish versions of “Irreplaceable,” “Listen,” and a collabo with Latina powerhouse Shakira on “Beautiful Liar.” Brand new material comes from Timbaland who offers his second solo album, while Anthony Hamilton releases  Southern Comfort, a collection of tracks recorded before he signed with So So Def.

March saw releases from Musiq Soulchild, Joss Stone, Shirley Murdock, Amy Winehouse, American Idol finalist Elliot Yamin, and Marques Houston. We spoke to Houston about his fourth album, Veteran, which sees the sexy singer define himself as an adult (listen) to his grown-up female fans.

“The more adult fans they come up to you like ‘What you doing tonight?’ Because I’m in a relationship I gotta watch myself.” (Listen)

Upcoming April R&B/soul releases include the sixth studio set from Joe, 80′s star Deniece Williams (check below for audio), the legendary Mavis Staples and of course Ne-Yo.

AUDIO: Deniece Williams

“This Time I’ll Be Sweeter”
“Love’s Holiday”

Putting an end to an era of serious relationships with older women (TLC’s Chili and sanitation queen Naomi Campbell are just two), 28 year-old Usher has finally settled on ex-stylist and long-time squeeze 38 year-old Tameka Foster.

According to the UK Sun, the mother of three has been divorced for less than a month from her ex-husband, despite sporting a boulder on her finger alledgedly given to her by the artist also known as Usher Raymond late last year.

No more details have been released, but an Usher fan site reports the singer maybe married by the end of the year.