HRS News

Here’s a little video interview with T-Pain which includes clips from the “Buy U A Drank” video. The track has been burning up charts for weeks and is currently No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list.

Get more of this week’s Rap/Hip-hop and R&B/Soul charts here and here.

Producer Chris Styles, responsible for 50 Cent’s “Disco Inferno,” and several G-Unit hit singles including “Window Shopper” and 50′s new track, “Amusement Park,” recently took the time to address an internet rumor alleging that he sold the “Amusement Park” track to Jim Jones.

“The beat was done for 50.  I never sold the track to anyone,” denied Styles. “This only reveals just how much heat Dangerous LLC is bringing to the industry.  We create the type of tracks that artists with completely different styles can vibe to.”

Beside work on 50′s upcoming set, Styles’ Dangerous LLC is also recording for a slew of folks including LL Cool J and Swizz Beats, as well as developing its own artists such as singer Deemi whose album, Soundtrack Of My Life, will be released Fall 2007. The company will also be scoring the soundtrack for the upcoming biopic on Wendy Williams.

Despite all the activity, Styles still takes the time to acknowledge the positive effect 50 has had on his career.

“I appreciate 50, he’s the big homey and he’s like a mentor and a big brother to me.  He was the first one to give my joints an ear and bring it to the people. We make a great team.  This is my sixth release with 50 and G-Unit Records not including mixtape and video game tracks. We have a history of creating hits together. I look forward to people hearing the hot joints we have coming for the next album.”

www.dangerousllc.com

The Game announces his retirement here. Did he say 3 classic albums?? What happened to artists who were in it for life, for the love, the art? Whatever…

Thanks to complexity for the heads up.

The Third Annual Atlanta HipHop Film Festival recently announced this year’s honorees which include Master P (for a humanitarian award) and Nick Cannon.

Hosted by Yo Yo and actor Malik Yoba, the 3-day festival jumps off August 24th and closes on the 26th. The festival will focus on Hip-hop genre films and Hip-hop artists that have made a successful transition into the world of acting.

www.AtlHipHopFilmFest.com
Reginald Hudlin – Ultimate Filmmaker – Hudlin will be honored for his collection of works as filmmaker, executive producer and writer
Master P – Humanitarian -AHFF is extremely proud to recognize Master P’s community outreach activities such as starting his own foundation dedicated to providing jobs to inner-city youth and creating Team Rescue to assist Hurricane Katrina victims.
Nick Cannon – Triple Threat – This award is in recognition of Cannon’s work as an actor, executive producer and rapper.
Cindy Campbell – Jack the Rapper – Campbell is saluted for organizing and promoting the infamous “back to school party” along-side her brother DJ Kool Herc, that ultimately led to the creation of the “Block Party” – a HipHop cornerstone.
House Party I – HipHop Throwback – The HipHop Throwback Award celebrates films which were the foundation of the HipHop film genre. House Party I not only launched many successful acting careers, it accurately reflected the essence of a true house party.
Idlewild – HipHop Futuristic – The HipHop Futuristic Award celebrates creativity and innovation in current HipHop films. AHFF is proud to recognize a film which broke all barriers for HipHop musicals.
Danny Hoch – HipHop Theatre – AHFF is excited to celebrate great work in theatre and applaud Hoch’s efforts to bring HipHop to audiences worldwide using a new outlet.
About AHFF: This three-day festival, beginning August 24th and closing on the 26th, will consist of panel discussions, workshops, special events, film screenings; showcasing filmmakers from around the globe, a star-studded awards ceremony and the latest addition, AHFF Youth Corner. The festival will focus on HipHop genre films and HipHop artists that have made a successful transition into the world of acting.

Bow Wow and Omarion are keeping fans buzzing with the announcement that their collaborative album has finally received a release date.

Scheduled for Nov. 13, the yet-to-be-titled set is a long awaited effort from the two superstars who have joined forces on a number of projects throughout the years.

“Me and O have been trying to put this together for so many years, and now we’ve got the opportunity to do it,” Bow Wow told Billboard.com earlier this month. “We’re in the creative process right now, coming up with ideas daily, so the process is real smooth. We’re anxious to make this whole thing happen. It’s gonna be a special event. It’s gonna be crazy, something the people have been waiting on – the girls have been waiting on – for years. O’s one of my best friends. Anytime you get a chance to work with somebody you’re best friends with, it’s not even work, it’s like working with family.”

Meanwhile, the grown and sexy fans are getting the towels ready for an upcoming tour, aptly named Shirts Off, featuring the newly formed TGT. Comprising Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank, the sexy supergroup is also working on an album.

“With all the support our fans have given us individually over the years and for our distinct signature styles, collectively we felt our fans deserved to hear great music in a way that they could never have imagined, said Tyrese. “I’ve known these guys for years and they truly are like brothers, so it only feels right to come together as a trio to make history!”

An added bonus will be TGT’s search for a fourth member, an unknown talent culled from a nationwide audition effort much like TLC’s Are U That Girl?

Just in case you’ve been in a cave for the past few months, R. Kelly dropped his latest album today.

Despite featuring a good dose of rap (guests include Snoop Dogg and Kanye West), the set’s being called “vintage R. Kelly” (USA Today).

“To me, rap and R&B are like two hands holding one another,” said R. Kelly. “Double Up is about 70% hip-hop, but, that being said, I’m always going to make songs for the ladies.”

So if you have been in a cave, or are just waking up from a Memorial Day Weekend substance-induced slumber check out the goods below… then go out and buy (or download) the album.

Download Double Up

VIDEO: R. Kelly TV

www.r-kelly.com
www.myspace.com/rkelly

After referring to 2006 as the “worst year of my life,” Mississippi native David Banner is gearing up to release his next album, The Greatest Story Ever Told.

The socially active emcee spent last year working out issues for everyone else while his career was taking a turn downward.

“My father had brain and lung cancer, and I had high blood pressure because I was working 18-hour days,” he explained to Billboard. “I took on too much responsibility. I did volunteer work for six months for Hurricane Katrina but my own business wasn’t right.”

Slated for a late Summer release the set will feature Banner’s usual mix of club, cruising and rock tinged tracks.

In addition, Banner’s animated series, That Crook’d Sipp, recently debuted on the Cartoon Network. He offers the voice of the main character, a young progressive black man named Virgil who tells the story of the Beauregards, a white family trapped in the 1800′s in Mississippi but living in 2007.

BET Access Granted and Yahoo.com will both premiere EVE’s new video for  “Tambourine”  today, May 24 at 8pm EST (5pm PST). Eve’s new album Here I Am is due August 7 and you can check out pics from the video shoot below. Enjoy.

“Tambourine” AUDIO  Window|Real

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/eve
Eve Official Site: http://www.evefans.com

May releases: The wife of Miles Davis is a legend in soulful rock and is featured here in this set originally dropped in 1973 and repackaged with unreleased bonus tracks, rare photos and archival material. *

Also new:

Paris Bennett – Princess P - The perky American Idol 5th runner-up makes her debut on this commendable album. *

Maysa – Feel the Fire - The contemporary soul goddess covers classics such as “You Are My Starship,” “Ain’t No Sunshine” and the title track. *

Tank – Sex, Love and Pain - The chiseled crooner returns with an album featuring strong cuts to get you in the mood for sex, love and maybe pain. *

The complete R&B/Soul release list  for May

Rihanna and her new single “Umbrella” featuring Jay-Z has grabbed the No. 1 spot on the United Kingdom’s singles chart through download sales alone.

She is the first woman to accomplish this feat and the second artist since Gnarls Barkley who did it last year with the classic “Crazy.’

“I can’t believe it, finally,” Rihanna responded when she heard the news. “I always stay at No. 2 in the U.K., but thanks to the fans that get it, it’s a great thing. My first No. 1 in the U.K., it’s a great feeling. The single isn’t even in the stores yet, a lot of people have got it digitally, so thank you to them.”