The Donda West Law

Just like most viewers and audience members, California Assemblywoman, Amina Carter was deeply moved by Kanye West’s performance at the 2008 Grammy Awards, when he performed “Hey Mama.” Unlike most viewers and audience members though, she has the power to do something that can potentially prevent fatal accidents like the one that occurred with Donda West. On February 22, Amina Carter proposed the “Donda West Law,” a preventative measure that would require prospective plastic surgery patients to receive clearance from a licensed doctor before undergoing any elective cosmetic procedures.

Carter told the Associated Press that she began working on the law after one of Donda West’s nieces spoke with her about it. After the conversation she began working with the California Medical Association to construct the bill and make sure it met well with both legal and medical provisions. After drafting an official bill, she presented it last Friday to the rest of the California legislature. Governor Schwarzenegger has already signed two of Amina Carter’s bills into laws, so hopefully this is lucky number three.

Just as a precautionary measure, you would think that this sort of thing would have already been a law. I’m sure that there have been plenty of other deaths that could have been avoided with a medical clearance, but it takes a “high profile” case like this one before anything gets done. Other states like New York, Illinois and Oklahoma are starting to draw up similar laws thanks to Carter. Let's pray this gets passed.

-Ant

Mike's Money Minute

Every time I turn on CNN, I am bombarded with the news reports and commentaries on the struggling economy. Constant notions of increased living expenses amidst stagnant salaries and diminishing jobs, it has become readily evident that a new day is upon us. It is time to keep up with the Joneses’, and the Joneses’ are cutting back and saving. USA Today published an interesting article this morning on how normal Americans are already cutting back in their everyday expenses. One such businesswoman indulged in an iced mocha latte from Starbuck’s around 4 times a week. With her cup of joe coming out at $3.46, in a month she was spending roughly $55 per month. When examined from an annual perspective, she was spending about $664 per year on coffee! Well in wake of this recession, said businesswoman is making her coffee at home and adding a squirt of Hershey’s syrup!

Think about your day-to-day spending. You know there is some little luxury that you could go with out. Whether it is bottled water, going out to lunch, or a $.99 bag of candy, this money is adding up and in the grand scheme of things, it is money that can be saved! I challenge you take your efforts a step further. We all have online banking (if you don’t you should!), and at the end of a week of eliminating take-out lunch or other amenities, transfer the funds that you would have spent to you
savings account. For instance, the past two days I have brought my lunch to work instead of going out to lunch and spending anywhere between $10-$20 dollars. On Friday, I will transfer the money I didn’t use to my savings.

Let’s not ignore the nature of our new economic situation. Let’s keep up with the Joneses’. Cut back and see your savings rise.

Check out the USA Today article here.

-Mike

MTB4 Recap: Episode 4

Thank You, Diddy. Thank You.

On this week’s installment of MTB4, Diddy was back at the forefront and provided me with his normal cocky banter. From the way he highlighted Q’s “bitchassness” to his standoff with Aubrella, Diddy is a one funny mutha… This week focused on the hardcore studio element of creating an album in just a few weeks. Diddy brings in the calvary of elite producers and songwriters, including, Bryan Michael Cox, The Clutch, and Seven to name a few. Sidenote: I guess the new model of the music industry is let’s give you the shortest window possible to record and album, yet expect the quality of months of work. Did they not learn anything from Beyonce and that two-week piece of fluff “B-Day” album? O well!

Girls, Guys and Donnie, each enter their respective studios and the Guys strike gold with B.Cox at the helm. The Girls on the other hand, disagree with the direction the album is taking and protest the song submissions. Once again, Aubrey mouths off (this time to A&R's Conrad Dimanche and Slam)but gets rather meek with the other ladies in front of Diddy. But in a twist, Diddy actually apologizes to the girls for the lack in direction and adheres to their wishes for an international pop record. Throw in an unnecessary Den Mother segment, a scripted food-fight, and a random drunk-walk from Robert and that is this week’s episode in a nutshell. Next week’s show is set to detail the budding relationship of Dawn and Q (wack bitchass!) and some sort of breakdown in Dawn’s world. Wonder what she is all upset about? It better not be Q!


Random MTB4 Questions:
1) In the words of my homie Britt, “Doesn’t D.Woods look like Davey Crockett?”

2) Don’t you think Diddy wants his very own “Den Momma”?

3) What the f#ck is Donnie on the show for? They never show him record any music and I really don't see him blowing up on the charts.

-Mike

A Raisin In The Sun

For all those at home not knowing what to watch on Monday night, before Making the Band 4, make sure you check out the world television premiere of the Broadway classic, A Raisin In The Sun. The tv movie stars Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Sanaa Lathan, Audra McDonald, John Stamos and many others who were in the revived stage play a couple of years ago.

Make sure you tune in tonight at 8pm ET on ABC.

-Ant

Paid In Full...

Stanford University just gained some major points in my book. The Ivy League school just took the financial pressure off of students scared to apply because of their financial situation. Starting Fall Semester ’08, if you get accepted into Stanford and your parents make less than $100,000 a year, then the school is covering your tuition. This money won’t be stripped if you have a bad semester like a scholarship, and it’s not going to chase after you when you graduate like student loans do. The school is paying the entire $36,000 (damn that’s a lot) that it costs to attend yearly. Even doper than that, if your parents make under $60,000 a year, the school will cover room and board as well.

The only catch to this is getting accepted to the school. A lot of applicants who seemingly have the academic and extra curricular criteria still get turned away. Last year Stanford only accepted 11% of the students who applied to the school. While getting in may be hard, things just got a lot easier on the 1/3 of students at the school, whose families don’t make $100,000. If you know someone in high school, who comes from middle to lower class income, and they meet the criterion to attend a school like Stanford, then encourage them to apply.

Maybe Black Colleges should look into something like this with all the money they got folks spending…hmm?

-Ant

Black T.V. - Is It a Wrap?

Another one bites the dust. The ever-constant theme of black sitcoms being abruptly snatched from the air has struck again with the long-running hit comedy, Girlfriends. A victim of the writer’s strike, it was reported late last week that Girlfriends, like many other shows, would not be returning once the writer’s pulled back out their pens. Girlfriends was in it’s 8th season and next year would have garnered the accolade of longest running black sitcom. Yet, it had already been determined that this was the finale season, but now there will be no closure at all. Despite sluggish ratings, the pulling of this show got me to thinking about how so many Black shows have been snatched off the air, without so much as a finale. The Wayans Brothers, Living Single, and New York Undercover.

I think it is time for our black networks, BET & TV One, to offer an opportunity for our black shows to thrive. When ABC, NBC, and the CW say no, why can’t we say YES. Why not develop some original programming instead of only providing reruns and reality tv. Let’s try something new, because it’s obvious that if we don’t do it for ourselves, we may not end up on the small screen at all.

-Mike

If Looks Could Kill...

Hilary look mad than a mutha don't she. Could be because Barack has now won 10, that's right 10 straight primaries dating back to Super Tuesday. He's 69 delegate votes ahead of her after winning Hawaii and Wisconsin.

Realistically she's gonna have to win Texas AND Ohio for her to still be in this thing and right now the momentum is not swinging in her direction. The democratic nomination is far from conclusion but Barack is staking his claim as the front runner for the election.

Cheer up Hil

-Ant

Kobe (Owner of Basketball) VS. Shaq = Crack

Attn: All Birds
Subject: Phone Calls

Don’t Call Me After 9pm ET…I’ll be tuned into ESPN

How does the NBA follow up one of the most exciting All-Star Weekends in recent history? Two words…KOBE & SHAQ.

Tonight the Lakers play the Suns, in a game that already featured a rivalry because these two teams have seen each other in the first round of the last two playoffs. Now there’s even more fuel added to the fire because Shaq is a Sun and the beef between him and Kobe stems pretty far. Kobe’s playing with a torn-ligament in his finger and Shaq is returning from a hip injury so we’ll see how well the two of them perform. If you watch basketball, then you know this isn’t one to miss.

-Ant

For The ATL Folks...

Should be a great show featuring some of the best R&B artists in the A.

-Mike

MTB4: Episode 4 (Aubrella)

Aubrey, Aubrey, Aubrey. What a Clown! Monday night's installment of Making The Band was a full-out platform for the antics of "pretty, pretty Aubrey". This episode revolved around the courtship of Donnie and Aubrey, and a short courtship it was. D and A grabbed a bite to eat, chopped it up about the pleasantries of newfound stardom and called it an early night. Early enough that Donnie decided to get up with the fellas and go out on a pseudo-date with some non-celeb chicks. For some reason, Mike, Willy, and Qwanell were invited on the romp, despite there not being enough ladies to go around. Thus Q gets on the phone with his "boo", Dawn, and invites her and Aubrey out to the spot. Next scene, Aubrey clownin' Donnie. Next scene, Donnie hoe'n Q like a pimp on 7 mile and a random Brian getting a couple spitfire remarks in on Q as well. So once I was able to stop laughing at all this commotion, I realized that my assessment of Q as "weak" is the last episode recap was remiss. He is weak as f#ck!!!! Donnie would have gotten bodyslamed trying to go hard on me. Despite his "bitchassness", Q did provide a quotable - "I know what you not gonna do, you not gonna put your hands on me!" LOL.

Once Q had been thoroughly chewed out, both guys and girls picked up their things and were shipped to MIA to record the albums. Diddy pimped their life with a crib fir for "Cribs". Once settled, Aubrey continued with her theatrics and pulled Donnie to the side to check him on the inappropriateness of his actions and the fact that she is not "regular". I felt Aubrey on the act of dropping her off and immediately going to get up with another chick being disrespectful, but it honestly has nothing to do with her being a celeb. But once again, I have to say this girl has some balls to say some of the things she does with a straight face. Props to Donnie for standing his ground. Didn't know he had it in him. Next week will delve into the recording of the albums and the struggle between A&R/Labels and Artists. Should be interesting.

Random Questions:

1) Is Shannon still on the show? She is invisible.

2) Doesn’t D.Woods look like chicken-rat with this hood ass haircut?

3) For all the Detroiters, Doesn’t Robert rep Detroit TERRIBLY? - too much bitchassness?

-Mike

Flashing...Lights!

I will be the first to say I am confused. Is this the whole video or a teaser? Regardless, babygirl in the video is killin it!!!

-Mike

MTB4: Episode 3

This week the adventures of Diddy's recruits were mainly focused in the studio. This episode was just okay, nothing special to watch. The guys, girls and Donnie had to present their current work to Diddy. Out of the 3, Diddy was only feeling the girl's song. Personally, I wasn't really impressed with anybody's work. Puff challenged the girls and guys to battle each other in creating a hit song to the same beat in 48 hours. Both teams went in and created to a frantic uptempo track. After presenting the songs to their A&R, Conrad Dimanche, both Day 26 and Danity Kane were hit with the notice that Diddy wasn't feeling either song. I felt the guys and girls did a good job with what I deemed a wack beat. It takes a hit track to make a hit song in most instances. Once again, Diddy was lowkey on the episode. I am looking forward to next week when everybody travels to MIA to record. Hopefully we get to see them work with some big-time producers (Who the hell is Battle Roy?).

Random Questions:

Is it just me or is Dawn fine as hell this year?

How could she be feelin a weak dude like Q?

Is Aubrey coming off like a dope fiend?

-Mike

They Scrappin!!!

Barack just put about five slaps to Hilary’s campaign over the last few days. In addition to stealing her base of women voters by nabbing nearly 60% in Maryland and Virginia, he just took the lead in the number of delegate votes. Obama had always led in pledged delegates, but until now, Clinton’s number of superdelegate votes had kept her ahead of Barack. After taking his first total delegate lead, Obama’s campaign manager went on to say that it was “next to impossible” for Clinton to gain the Democratic nomination. Obama also had the black vote locked up crucially getting nearly 90% in the Maryland and Virginia primaries.

The two are only separated by 25 delegate votes with primaries in Ohio and Texas coming up, so Obama hasn’t won anything yet. It looks like it’s going to come down to the superdelegate vote to determine the democratic nominee. Superdelegates are free to vote regardless of primary and caucus results, meaning they don’t have to vote for whoever is leading in pledged delegate votes. What also makes the superdelegate vote so critical is that they have the right to change their vote.

To learn more about superdelegates and their role in the democratic nomination, turn on CNN tonight at 8pm ET and watch CNN Election Center

-Ant.

BHM: Breaking New Ground

Just 11 days into Black History Month, We have some new monumental firsts as a people in the business world. In the realm of radio, XM has the distinction of being the first satelitte radio provider to have a 24 hour channel solely devoted to African American talk programming. With shows featuring politcal commentators Al Sharpton and Tavis Smiley to sports talk with The 2 Live Stews, XM has expanded programming and is truely offering listeners a diversity of African-American opinion and talent. Tune in starting today (Feb. 11) to check out new program offerings on The Power - XM Channel 169.



Late last week, serial entreprenurs Steve Stoute and Jay-Z announced their newest venture, Translation Advertising. Focused on the multicultural market, the new agency will work in conjunction with Translation Consulting and Brand Imaging, Stoute's consulting venture that we are to thank for endorsement deals such as Jay-Z and Reebok, Gwen Stefani and HP, and Beyonce and Tommy Hilfiger. The Interpublic Group of Companies in New York will own 49% of Translation Advertising. Hopefully this new agency will provide some diverse opportunites for minorities and recent grads.



Last on the list, Food Network has introduced it's first cooking program with African American hosts. "Down Home With The Neelys" is a 30 minute coooking show that highlights the unique offering of Memphis Bar-B-Que's "first family". I think it is surprising that the Food Network has been around since 1993 and this is their first black show. I definitely think that it is a good look and I wish the Neelys much success. Check out their show Satruday mornings at 11 a.m. on the Food Network.




-Mike

BHM: And The Winner Is....

Rap was in its golden age during the 80's. The Sugarhill Gang became the first rappers to appear on American Bandstand. Run DMC became arguably the first rappers to gain a crossover audience, but not even their massive popularity had landed them a Grammy win. No rapper(s) had taken home the coveted music award until 1989 when Jeffrey Townes and Willard Smith took home the first rap Grammy ever. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince had won over the ears of millions with their second album "He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper." The West Philadelphia duo released "Parents Just Don't Understand," as the lead single for the LP, and its humorous attacks on extreme parental guidance made it a hit with young audiences worldwide.

In 1989 the Grammy Award committee announced that it would be introducing a separate rap award category for the first time (Run DMC had previously been nominated for Best R&B Vocal Performance). This was a bittersweet moment for rap because it was later announced that the presentation of the award would not be televised. In a revolutionary move, some of the big names in rap, including DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, hosted a, "Boycott-The-Grammy's Party," on MTV during the ceremony. When the boycott ended however, it was Smith and Townes who took home the Gramaphone for Best Rap Performance.

It's hard to look at Will Smith now and remember him as a rapper. His success in television and film may be more celebrated, but he, along with Jeff Townes achieved something unprecedented. Hip Hop started in the 1970's, and no matter the age, or color, everyone could appreciate the artistry in this genre of music. Yet while the world was busy adoring rap, the Grammy Award committee had not even separated it from R&B. Despite what you think about DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince as artists, you'll always have to remember them as pioneers.

-Ant

BHM: The New Millennium Madame C.J. Walker - Lisa Price

Innovation and persistence. The keys to greatness in any field or industry. This notion remains true for Lisa Price, Founder and CEO of Carol's Daughter Personal and Beauty Care Items. Named after her late mother, Carol Price, Carol's Daughter is an innovative line of all natural, handmade beauty products and fragrances that have been over 10 years in the making. Dating back to Price's days working on the set of The Cosby Show, Lisa began creating these incredible products in her spare time out of her home. After opening a store in Brooklyn and becoming a chosen product among "in-the-know" consumers and celebrities alike, Price was met with the answer to her dreams. In 2005, heavy investment from celebrities (Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mary J. Blige) and business executives (Steve Stoute, Tommy Mottola) allowed Price the opportunity to take her incredible products to the masses. Now with a plethora of stores on the east coast, products sold in cosmetic superstore Sephora, and plans of mall stores in the near future (a first for an African American female founded establishment), Price has truly turned her dream in to reality. So with Valentine's day fast approaching, Instead of running out to the major department stores and "Vickie's" for those smell goods and lotions gift sets, why not support one of our own? Check out the valentine's basket below and hit up the Carol's Daughter website.

-Mike

Grammy Predictions: R&B Field

This is Part 2 of 3 for my Grammy Predictions. Let me know if you think I am on point.

-Mike

Field — R&B
Category 23

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Just FineMary J. Blige[Geffen]
When I See YouFantasiaTrack from: Fantasia[J Records/19 Records/S Records]
No OneAlicia Keys[J Records/MBK Entertainment]
If I Have My WayChrisette MicheleTrack from: I Am[Def Jam Recordings]
Hate On MeJill ScottTrack from: The Real Thing[Hidden Beach Recordings]

Alicia Keys will win this award for the mega-hit, “No One”, but Chrisette Michele should win because her vocals on “If I Have My Way” knock Alicia out the water.

Category 24
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

WomanRaheem DeVaughn[Jive Records]
B.U.D.D.Y.Musiq SoulchildTrack from: Luvanmusiq[Atlantic Records]
Because Of YouNe-Yo[Def Jam Recordings]
Future Baby MamaPrinceTrack from: Planet Earth[Columbia/NPG Records]
Please Don't GoTankTrack from: Sex, Love & Pain[Blackground/Universal Motown]

My prediction is that Ne-Yo will get the Best R&B male vocal, but truthfully, Tank can sing Ne-Yo under the table and “Please Don’t Go” was a better R&B track than the forgettable “Because Of You.”

Category 25
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

Same GirlR. Kelly Featuring UsherTrack from: Double Up[Jive]
DisrespectfulChaka Khan Featuring Mary J. Blige[Burgundy/Sony/BMG]
Hate That I Love YouRihanna Featuring Ne-YoTrack from: Good Girl Gone Bad[Def Jam Recordings]
BabyAngie Stone Featuring Betty Wright[Stax]
BartenderT-Pain Featuring Akon[Jive]

I predict Kells and Ush will take this one. Surprisingly, I think Chaka and Mary should win the gramophone. “Disrespectful” was a well produced (Rich Harrison of “Crazy In Love” fame) and well arranged collab between these two powerhouses.

Category 27
Best Urban/Alternative Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

Make A Baby - Vikter DuplaixT rack from: Bold And Beautiful[BBE]
That’s The Way Of The World - Dwele Track from: Interpretations: Celebrating The Music Of Earth, Wind & Fire[Stax]
Daydreamin' - Lupe Fiasco Featuring Jill Scott Track from: Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor[1st & 15th/Atlantic]
Fantasy - Meshell Ndegeocello Track from: Interpretations: Celebrating The Music Of Earth, Wind & Fire[Stax]
Dream - Alice SmithTrack from: For Lovers, Dreamers & Me[BBE Records]

I think this should and will be Lupe’s first Grammy win. Underrated but growing in popularity, I think this win will heighten Lupe’s profile right before the Kanye West Glow In The Dark Tour (Can’t you tell that I can’t wait for this concert, lol)

Category 28
Best R&B Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Beautiful Flower - India.Arie & Joyce Simpson, songwriters (India.Arie)[Universal Republic Records; Publishers: Gold & Iron Music Publishing, WB Music Corp.]

Hate That I Love You - Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Shaffer Smith, songwriters (Rihanna Featuring Ne-Yo)Track from: Good Girl Gone Bad[Def Jam Recordings; Publishers: EMI April Music, Sony/ATV Tunes]

No One - Dirty Harry, Kerry Brothers & Alicia Keys, songwriters (Alicia Keys)[J Records/MBK Entertainment; Publishers: Lellow Productions/EMI April Music, Book Of Daniel Music/EMI Music Publishing, D. Harry Productions]

Teachme - Ivan Barias, Adam W. Blackstone, Randall C. Bowland, Carvin Haggins, Johnnie Smith II & Corey Latif Williams, songwriters (Musiq Soulchild)Track from: Luvanmusiq[Atlantic; Publishers: Nivrac Tyke/Universal Publishing, Latif Music/Universal Publishing, Tetra Grammaton/Universal Music Publishing, Melodic Piano Productions, HC 1030 Publishing]
When I See U - Louis Biancaniello, Waynne Nugent, Erika Nuri, Kevin Risto, Janet Sewel & Sam Watters, songwriters (Fantasia)Track from: Fantasia[J Records/19 Records/S Records; Publishers: Breakthrough Creations/EMI April Music, S.M.Y. Publishing/Sony/ATV Tunes, Break North Music/Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Wayne Writers/Sony/ATV Tunes, J. Sewell Publishing, Golden The Super Kid Music]

Alicia will get this one even though Musiq deserves it.

Category 29
Best R&B Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

Funk ThisChaka Khan[Burgundy Records]
Lost & FoundLedisi[Verve Forecast]
LuvanmusiqMusiq Soulchild[Atlantic]
The Real ThingJill Scott[Hidden Beach Recordings]
Sex, Love & PainTank[Blackground/Universal Motown Records]

I think that Musiq deserves this accolade. “Luvanmusiq” was a great R&B record from start to finish and showed growth vocally and artistically. I think his only major competition is Jill Scott in this category.

Category 30
Best Contemporary R&B Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

KonvictedAkon[SRC/Universal Motown]
Just Like YouKeyshia Cole[Confidential Records/Geffen]
FantasiaFantasia[J Records/19 Records/S Records]
East Side StoryEmily King[J Records]
Because Of YouNe-Yo[Def Jam Recordings]

Unfortunately, I predict Akon will take this one home. Despite what I think of him as a vocalist, He really has put his stamp on the industry and is a hitmaker. I think that Emily King should win the award. She has a fresh sound and if you aren’t up on her, check her out.

"A Shoulder Pad To Cry On"

This was the funniest thing I saw today. A lady named Diana Porter, of Houston Texas won the Canon Photo Challenge: Why Do You Love Football. The picture got Porter a trip to this year’s Super Bowl.

Ironic right….

-Ant

Grammy Predictions: General Field

With the 50th Annual Grammy Awards less than a week away, I have to take the time to give my thoughts and predictions on the nominations. Kanye West leads the nominations with 8 nods in regards to his Graduation LP. Aside from the album being a work of art (much like his previous offerings, College Dropout and Late Registration) and appreciated by all genres, we know that there will be an element of a sentimentatlity in the voting due to Kanye’s tragic loss of his mom late last year. With that said, I personally think ‘Ye will be the star of the night and I expect a touching tribute to his mom somewhere in the night.

Read below to find out who I think should win versus who is going to win in the General Categories - R&B and Rap categories will follow tomorrow and Friday. COMMENT and let me know who you think is going to win and next Monday we can see who came out on top!

General Field
Category 1

Record Of The Year
(Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.)

· Irreplaceable
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles, S. Smith & Stargate, producers; Jim Caruana, Jason Goldstein & Geoff Rice, engineers/mixers
Track from: B'Day
[Sony Urban Music/Columbia/Music World Productions]

· The Pretender
Foo Fighters
Gil Norton, producer; Adrian Bushby & Rich Costey, engineers/mixers
[Roswell/RCA Records]

· Umbrella
Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
Kuk Harrell, Terius "The Dream" Nash & C. "Tricky" Stewart, producers; Kuk Harrell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers
Track from: Good Girl Gone Bad
[Def Jam]

· What Goes Around…Comes Around
Justin Timberlake
Nate (Danja) Hills, Timbaland & Justin Timberlake, producers; Jimmy Douglass & Timbaland, engineers/mixers
[Jive/Zomba]

· Rehab
Amy Winehouse
Mark Ronson, producer; Tom Elmhirst, Vaughan Merrick, Dom Morley, Mark Ronson & Gabriel Roth, engineers/mixers
Track from: Back To Black
[Universal Republic Records]

I think Beyonce may take this one home, but I think Rihanna, Dream and Tricky really deserve the honor. Umbrella had it’s own sound and whether you loved it or hated it, you had to admit it was completely different and a surefire hit.

Category 2
Album Of The Year
(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)

· Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Foo Fighters
Gil Norton, producer; Adrian Bushby & Rich Costey, engineers/mixers; Brian Gardner, mastering engineer
[Roswell/RCA Records]

· These Days
Vince Gill
John Anderson, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Diana Krall & The Del McCoury Band, featured artists; Vince Gill, John Hobbs & Justin Niebank, producers; Neal Cappellino & Justin Niebank, engineers/mixers; Adam Ayan, mastering engineer
[MCA Nashville]

· River: The Joni Letters
Herbie Hancock
Leonard Cohen, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza & Tina Turner, featured artists; Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein, producers; Helik Hadar, engineer/mixer; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer
[Verve]

· Graduation
Kanye West
Dwele, Lil Wayne, Mos Def & T-Pain, featured artists; Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Mike Dean, Eric Hudson, Brian "Allday" Miller, Nottz, Patrick "Plain Pat" Reynolds, Gee Roberson, Toomp & Kanye West, producers; Craig Bauer, Bruce Buechner, Andrew Dawson, Mike Dean, Anthony Kilhoffer, Greg Koller, Manny Marroquin, Nottz Raw, Tony Rey, Seiji Sekine, Paul Sheehy & D. Sloan, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
[Roc-A-Fella Records]

· Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Mark Ronson & Salaam Remi, producers; Tom Elmhirst, Vaughan Merrick, Dom Morley, Gary Noble, Derek Pacuk, Matt Paul, Mark Ronson, Gabriel Roth & Franklin Socorro, engineers/mixers; Stuart Hawkes, mastering engineer
[Universal Republic Records]

I think Kanye will and should take home the top prize of the night. Graduation was virtually perfect from beginning to end.


Category 3
Song Of The Year
(A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

· Before He Cheats
Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Track from: Some Hearts
[19 Recordings/Arista Nashville; Publishers: Big Loud Shirt Industries, Mighty Underdog Music/Sony/ATV Cross Keys]

· Hey There Delilah
Tom Higgenson, songwriter (Plain White T's)
Track from: Every Second Counts
[Hollywood Records/Fearless Records; Publisher: So Happy Publishing]

· Like A Star
Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriter (Corinne Bailey Rae)
Track from: Corinne Bailey Rae
[Capitol Records; Publisher: Global Talent Publishing]

· Rehab
Amy Winehouse, songwriter (Amy Winehouse)
Track from: Back To Black
[Universal Republic Records; Publisher: EMI Music Publishing]

· Umbrella
Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius "Dream" Nash & Christopher Stewart,
songwriters (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z)
Track from: Good Girl Gone Bad
[Def Jam; Publisher: Peer Music]

Not so sure about this one. Being that it is a songwriters award, I really should have a reference point for each song but I am gonna go out on a limb and predict Amy and “Rehab” for this one purely on it’s clever lyrics.


Category 4
Best New Artist
(For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)

· Feist

· Ledisi

· Paramore

· Taylor Swift

· Amy Winehouse

I think Amy or Feist will take this prestigious award home. Feist and Winehouse have had incredible buzz this year. I am glad Ledisi got the nomination though, if you aren’t up on her, google her.

MTB4 Recap: Episode 2 (Bitchassness)

So on this week’s episode of Making The Band 4, hook-ups and egos were on front stage. Robert (Detroit representative) was a major focal point due to the fact that he was struggling with finding his place in the group and grappling with a growing affinity for Danity Kane’s D.woods. A heated argument between the guys and Robert put him on the hot seat with Diddy. So what’s my take? Robert definitely is inflicted by the “bitchassness” that Diddy so cleverly coined. This dude completely thought he was in the driver seat going into this season/project and I think it was a harsh reality for him to see that he is one of five. Sidenote: I do think Willy and Brian are jealous of Rob though. They was hatin’ like two Republicans at a Barack Obama rally.

On the hook-up side of the episode: I think that the Rob/D.Woods match-up is scripted for TV, but Q/Dawn may be the real thing. Was it just me or was Diddy absent on this episode? Come on Puff, we need your rants and quotes to get us through the workweek! Thanks for “bitchassness” though. Also, isn’t Donnie turning into a forgotten character? I thought that signing with Bad Boy might have been a bad move for him since they have no expertise in his type of projects. We will just have to wait and see.

Next week’s preview showed Conrad Dimanche, A&R over both the Girls and Guys projects delivering some bad news to the groups and saying he is “going to pray” for them. I will be in front of the TV next Monday (10 p.m., MTV) to see what he was talking about.


Hit me back with Some FEEDBACK.

-Mike

18-1...

I'm about an hour past my bedtime but sleep is not an option. My archnemesis has fallen and I couldn't be happier. Tom Brady and the previously flawless New England Patriots have just been defeated. After finishing the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record, the Pats were supposed to win. After breaking just about every scoring record imaginable, the Pats were supposed to score. After Super Bowl XLII, the Pats did neither.


Eli Manning and the New York Giants have done what no other team could do this season; they brought down Goliath. Manning led one of the most entertaining drives in Super Bowl History to put the Giants up 17-14 with less than a minute left. From there they never looked back. Personally Peyton is my favorite Manning and the Colts are my favorite team, but for tonight credit must be given where it's due. Tonight the New York Giants proved to the world that being perfect only matters when it counts.

-Ant

BHM: Recommended Reading

Here is a bit of recommended reading to kick off our celebration of Black History Month...The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson. This is one of the great African American novels, written by one of the great African American authors. It was first released anonymously, however Johnson re-released the book under his real name after his prominence as a writer and political figure became apparent during the Harlem Renaissance.

In short it is a book about a black artist who spends a portion of his life “passing” as a white man. People believed the book to be Johnson’s actual autobiography, which he found gratifying because of the attention it brought to the book, however it is only fiction. I read the book in high-school and it’s definitely a fascinating literary work. It tackles identity and social class issues that blacks still face today. Pick it up if you get a chance...

-Ant

BHM: The History....

During the month of February, Mike and I will feature Black History Month posts in addition to our regular posts about what's going on in our world today. The title's of our Black History Month features will be designated with the heading "BHM."

Black History Month began as Negro History Week on Feb. 12, 1926. It was started by Carter G. Woodson, an African American born to former slaves. He enrolled in high school at age 20 and later earned a PhD in history from Harvard.

During his studies he realized that history books largely ignored black Americans. He founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and launched Negro History Week to bring national attention to the contributions of black people.

The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976.

Source: The Black Collegian, Free Press research