Music - Urban Belle Magazine

Chris Brown Death Threats Prompt Police Investigation

May 192013

Photo Credit: @chrisbrown Twitter

By: Taren Vaughan

Chris Brown death threats prompt police investigation? Chris Brown isn’t feeling the love again from his neighbors as the singer upset a number of them by painting graffiti with monster-like images on the front of his home, the heated neighbors’ main complaint being that Chris’ painting could cause their property value to plummet. And though Chris has already been fined over the graffiti painting, he had a few words for those who weren’t feeling his paintings and flat out said that he would not be removing it from his house. There was one bright spot for Chris throughout the whole ordeal as one of his neighbors did come to his defense as they feel like Chris is being targeted by the other homeowners in the neighborhood. But now, Chris is facing much more than angry criticism from his neighbors over graffiti as the LAPD is now investigating death threats that were phoned in to the singer’s attorney’s office, TMZ reports:

According to our sources, multiple threats were called in to the office of Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos. We’re told the caller threatened Chris’ life … but it’s unclear what, if any, specific threats were made.

Our sources say Geragos took the threats very seriously and immediately reported them to the LAPD, giving them all the information he had on the calls.

The website was also informed that Chris’ attorney filled out a report, in addition to the Los Angeles Police Department conducting an investigation.

Beyonce Tells Women to Handle Their Business & Be Leaders

Music 12 Responses »

May 192013

Photo Credit: @beyonce Instagram

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Beyonce is without a doubt, one of the most successful names in music. But like her hubby Jay-Z, she didn’t just stop with a music career. Instead, she managed to create wealth in numerous ways and her name alone has become a brand worth close to billions of dollars. Now that Beyonce manages herself after deciding to sever ties with her father professionally, the superstar has learned how to handle her business and understands the importance of making decisions that are best for her empire. However, in a recent interview with ITV Daybreak in which she is currently promoting her upcoming film “Epic,” she explains why she feels it’s so important for all women to handle their business and dream big in the process. The singer offered a few words of encouragement to women who have huge goals they hope to achieve in their own lives. Despite being such a huge brand, Beyonce says she’s still a big “goofball” but knows how important it is for her to take her business seriously:

“People take me a lot more seriously than I do. I’m aware of that (laughs). So I have to be conscious of it but definitely, I’m a goofball.

“A lot of people look up to me and I do respect that. Especially women. We need to stick together and we need to know how powerful we are. Take care of your business. Have your goals and your dreams and know it is possible. Be the leader, be the president.”

Check out the clip below:

Janet Jackson Confirms She’s Working on a New Album

Music 11 Responses »

May 192013

Photo Credit: Instagram

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Has Janet Jackson retired? Janet Jackson is known for keeping her private life out of the press, but although the singer recently confirmed she married her billionaire beau Wissam Al Mana and did it without most of the media even knowing it, many have speculated that the marriage was a true indicator she has decided to step away from music. Not too long after it was confirmed she had tied the knot again, rumors began to circulate suggesting Janet was retiring from music and converting to Islam. However, Janet decided to set the record straight with Billboard and she revealed that there is no truth to the rumors and she’s actually working on a new studio album now. Vibe reports:

Janet Jackson’s last solo album was 2008′s Discipline. Janet hasn’t been exactly quiet in those five years since. In 2011, she hit the road on the Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour behind her second greatest hits compilation. She also released the self-help book True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself . Speaking with Billboard about the 20th anniversary of janet., the Grammy-winning singer revealed she is back at it and working on new music.

“I am working on a new project now,” Jackson said. “We are creating the concept and initial thoughts on the music. I am excited about the direction we are taking. I don’t want to rush it… I don’t want to put a time constraint on the creative process.”

Although Janet hasn’t been on the music scene in quite some time, she did reveal that she’s a big fan of Kendrick Lamar, the rapper who recently paid homage to Janet with his hit “Poetic Justice.” She says:

“I have listened to the music that is out there and I love Kendrick’s ‘Poetic Justice.’ There are artists, true performers that have come before me who have been a big inspiration to me. I hope I do the same for others… I’m flattered that other artists consider me a role model.”

Kanye West Names New Album ‘Yeezus’ & Performs on SNL

Music 12 Responses »

May 192013

Photo Credit: NBC/SNL

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Kanye West’s album name has been the center of controversy several times this year, especially since the first rumored title pretty much screamed blasphemy. A few months ago, it was reported the rapper had titled his upcoming studio album “I Am God.” Kanye’s camp quickly shut down the rumor and instead claimed the rapper has a single entitled “I Am A God” which they know will be a smash hit, and up until now, everything reported has pretty much been proven to be false when it comes to what the creative rapper wants to name his next takeover in music. However, Rap-Up has now confirmed Kanye has decided to name his upcoming album “Yeezus,” and the site reports this album will be one with a very strong and heavy message:

Rap-Up.com can confirm that the follow-up to 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy will be titled Yeezus and arrive on June 18.

The G.O.O.D. Music rapper premiered a new song entitled “New Slaves” last night via projections on buildings in 10 cities across the world. The song, about modern day slavery, features vocals from Frank Ocean.

The 35-year-old West stirred speculation about the June 18 date with a tweet earlier this month.

During a trip to New York last month, the father-to-be stopped by his label Def Jam to play music. Hot 97 host Peter Rosenberg described the album as having a “dark” tone. “Everyone at the label listened to the album and loved it,” he said. “I heard it’s dark, but really good.”

Kanye’s girlfriend and baby momma to be Kim Kardashian also confirmed the album title on her Instagram account. So all signs point to “Yeezus” as being the official title for Kanye’s eighth studio album.

In related news, the rapper has premiered yet another single, and just one day after premiering “New Slaves,” he decided to drop his other controversial single “Black Skinhead.” He performed both tracks last night on Saturday Night Live. Check out the videos below:

Kanye West Compares Being Famous to Slavery in ‘New Slaves’

Music 13 Responses »

May 182013

Photo Credit: the_ml

By: Taren Vaughan

The Kanye West ‘New Slaves’ lyrics have people talking as the song was debuted by the rapper this past Friday night. While Kanye’s problems with the paps are continuing to be an issue for him, he may be on the verge of doing big things with the new music that he has on the way. And instead of doing a lot of screaming and ranting throughout the whole song, Kanye gets deep with the message that he is trying to send with ‘New Slaves’ as he talks about the new age racism that is present in our society and compares what celebrities go through to slavery. The song was accompanied by video projections that were displayed on the sides of buildings across the world, 66 buildings to be exact, showing Kanye rapping the controversial lyrics from the track.

In the song, Kanye raps:

“My mama was raised in an era when/Clean water was only served to the fairer skin
Doing clothes you would have thought I had help/But they wouldn’t be satisfied unless I picked the cotton myself
You see its broke n*gga racism/That’s that “don’t touch anything in the store”
And there’s rich n*gga racism/That’s that “come in and buy more”
What you want a Bentley, fur coat and diamond chain?/All you blacks want all the same things
Used to only be n*ggas /Now everybody play me
Spending everything on that Alexander Wang/New Slaves

You see it’s leaders and it’s followers/But I’d rather be a d*ck than a swallower
You see it’s leaders and it’s followers/But I’d rather be a d*ck than a swallower

I throw these Maybach keys/I wear my heart on my sleeve
I know that we the new slaves/I see the blood on the leaves
I see the blood on the leaves/I see the blood on the leaves
I know that we the new slaves/I see the blood on the leaves
They throwing hate at me/Want me to stay at ease
F*ck you and your corporation/Y’all n*ggas can’t control me
I know that we the new slaves/I know that we the new slaves
I’m about to wild the f*ck out/I’m going Bobby Boucher
I know that p*ssy ain’t free/You n*ggas p*ssy, ain’t me
Y’all throwing contracts at me/You know that n*ggas can’t read
Throw him some Maybach keys/F*ck it, c’est la vie
I know that we the new slaves/Y’all n*ggas can’t f*ck with me
Y’all n*ggas can’t f*ck with Ye/Y’all n*ggas can’t f*ck with Ye
I move my family out the country /So you can’t see where I stay
So go and grab the reporters/So I can smash their recorders
Yeah they confuse us with bullsh*t/Like the New World Order
Meanwhile the DEA/Teamed up with the CCA
They tryna lock n*ggas up/They tryna make new slaves
See that’s that private-owned prison/Get your piece today
They prolly all in the Hamptons/Braggin’ ’bout they maid
F*ck you and your Hampton house/I’ll f*ck your Hampton spouse
Came on her Hampton blouse/And in her Hampton mouth
Y’all ’bout to turn sh*t up/I’m ’bout to tear sh*t down
I’m ’bout to air sh*t out/Now what the f*ck they gon’ say now?”

Here’s the clip of Kanye’s new song ‘New Slaves’. Is ‘Ye taking you back to his ‘College Dropout’ days?

K. Michelle Will Drop First Single from Debut Album on Monday

Music, Reality TV 9 Responses »

May 182013

The official cover for K. Michelle’s new single V.S.O.P.

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

K. Michelle might bring the humor to VH1′s hit show ”Love and Hip Hop Atlanta,” however, she still considers music to be her priority. Now that the reality star has a record deal with Warner Bros., she plans to make her presence known in R&B music. In fact, the singer plans to bring the same rawness she lives by on the show into her new music, and she credits R. Kelly for mentoring her and teaching her how important it is to sing about real life. In a recent interview with OK! Magazine, when talking about her new music, she says:

“I sing about everything that i go through in life. My mentor is Mr. R. Kelly. He always told me to write life and not music and you’ll always have a job.

“The men in the business, they can try to be very dominant. But what I can say for me, I play a lot of roles and I put on a lot of faces. I really don’t let the men in the business conduct my business, so they might say I’m crazy, they might say I’m a b*tch…but I really work. And I get it done.

“The key to success I feel is you can’t just be a pretty face because they’ll go find another pretty face. You have to know what’s going on now. I keep up with my budget, what’s being spent on my studio time. I know how much producers are charging for tracks. I know how much my videos cost me, my website. I know everything. I know my content that’s going on, I approve everything. I do everything with my music and my other companies.”

With her new album reportedly dropping this summer, the singer took to her Twitter account to confirm that she will be dropping its first single on Monday. She tweets:

Study Claims Lil Wayne Has the Dumbest Fans

Music 19 Responses »

May 182013

Photo Credit: Instagram

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Lil Wayne hasn’t had the best month, considering he lost a multimillion dollar endorsement deal with Mountain Dew thanks to his offensive lyric that reference Emmett Till’s brutal beating and murder. Although the producer of the controversial song, Future’s “Karate Chop” remix, claims the lyric was never supposed to be released, it hasn’t managed to put an end to the controversy. Interestingly enough, as if the timing couldn’t be even more ironic, a new study came to the conclusion that Lil Wayne has the dumbest fans. The research based its findings on SAT results, and it claimed the rapper’s fans had the lowest out of other popular music artists. Baller Status reports:

According to Yahoo, data for a study gathered on Facebook concluded that Lil Wayne boasted the lowest SAT scores than any other artist.

The study’s author found kids from different colleges across the US, and compared their favorite music to the average SAT scores from those schools. Weezy fans averaged an SAT score of 876, giving his fans the title of “dumbest fans,” while fans bands like Radiohead, Counting Crows and singer Sufjan Stevens ranked in the 1200s.

The smartest were fans of Beethoven, who averaged the highest SAT scores at 1376. A perfect SAT score is 1600.

However, it appears that not all rappers have what the study concludes is “dumb” fans. Some rappers have fans that did manage to perform high on the SAT. The study claims that smarter individuals who listen to Beethoven, also enjoy listening to Jay-Z and Eminem because of their unique rap flows and rhythms.

Confirmed: Beyonce is Pregnant with Baby Number Two

Music 29 Responses »

May 172013

Photo Credit: Instagram

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

After days of speculation and a cancelled concert, it has now been confirmed that Beyonce is pregnant with baby number two. Apparently Beyonce’s camp has just confirmed to E! News that the singer is indeed pregnant with baby number two. E! News reports:

Blue Ivy’s gonna be a big sis!

That’s right: Superstar supermom Beyoncé is expecting her second child with hubby Jay-Z, multiple sources exclusively confirm to E! News.

The news follows rampant speculation that the “Countdown” songbird was pregnant, even as the couple remained tight-lipped about their ever-growing family.

Rumors first began churning that the Grammy winner was with child when, earlier this month, she walked the red carpet at the Met Gala wearing a custom-made Givenchy gown that deftly concealed her stomach, its bodice cinched high above the waist just as its intricate pattern made it difficult to discern any change in her silhouette.

While we’re still waiting on more details, apparently this is the sole reason Beyonce had to cancel her first concert ever. It sounds like Beyonce is in her first months, but of course none of that has been confirmed yet. With a new album slated to drop soon, we do have to wonder what this means for the new music. We also have to wonder if she’s going to push through and get through the rest of the tour. But knowing Beyonce’s work ethic, we surely expect her to.

Beyonce has been quite vocal about wanting to have more kids, however, she hoped it would happen after she wrapped up her tour. But sometimes God has other plans.

Congrats to Beyonce and Jay-Z!

Mariah Carey Gets Accused of Lip-Synching During ‘Idol’ Performance

entertainment, Music 5 Responses »

May 172013

Photo Credit: FOX/YouTube

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Mariah Carey may have one of the best voices the music industry has ever heard and a new song climbing up the charts, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be prone to controversy when it comes to her live performances. The other night, she performed on the season finale of “American Idol,” and although she did perform a lot of her biggest hits, there’s a group of people who are convinced she wasn’t singing live. In fact, most of these skeptics took to Twitter to slam the singer and accuse her of lip syncing. Apparently the skepticism got so out of control last night that Mariah’s spokesperson had to set the record straight not too long after the performance. ET Online reports:

After sitting at the judges table all season long, Mariah Carey stepped onto the American Idol stage in last night’s finale and delivered a medley of her biggest hits shortly after Candice Glover was crowned the next Idol!

While Carey’s fans came out in droves to lavish praise on the singer’s hotly anticipated performance, some on Twitter wondered if the megastar was lip-synching her performance. Well, ET can set the record straight as Mariah’s reps tell us she absolutely sang the entire medley — Vision of Love, Make It Happen, My All, Hero, We Belong Together and her new single #Beautiful — completely live! Not only that, but we hear she delighted the crowd in between live shots by singing additional hits.

Honestly, it doesn’t look or sound like she lip synched to us, but you be the judge:

Drake and Teyana Taylor Dating?

Gossip, Music 14 Responses »

May 172013

Photo Credit: @champagenepapi, @teyanataylor Instagram/Urban Belle

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Drake and Teyana Taylor dating? Many are starting to wonder if there is some kind of romance brewing between the Young Money superstar and the up and coming starlet of Kanye’s label G.O.O.D. Music. While there hasn’t been any major spotting of these two to cause for most to suspect anything was going on between them, last night an interesting Instagram post by Drake has pretty much put the rumors into motion. Early this morning, the rapper posted a pretty cutesy photo of him snuggling up and holding on to Teyana Taylor pretty tight, while kissing her on the cheek. In the caption, he writes:

@teyanataylor F*ck all ya’ll (sic) n*ggas…except my n*ggas…meet the exception. #DayOne

And here’s the photo that caused outrage amongst Drake’s female fans in the comment section:

Teyana wasted no time in reposting the photo onto her Instagram account and she writes in the caption:

No New Friends. #DayOne @champagnepapi

Now to be fair, this really could be completely innocent. For one thing, Drake has a known reputation for being a huge flirt when it comes to other (female) celebs, and he did the same thing not too long ago to actress Tatyana Ali, and nothing more came out of that but a possible one night stand that she blushed about but didn’t deny on the Wendy Williams Show a while back.

But we do have to admit if this was indeed a coming out for these two as a couple, they do make a very cute one. We’ll just have to see if anything more comes from this.

Mariah Carey Wins Big with New Single ‘#Beautiful’

Music 9 Responses »

May 162013

Photo Credit: Sgt. Michael Connors

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Mariah Carey is attempting to move past all that “American Idol” drama with fellow newbie judge Nicki Minaj, and while her fate for another season of FOX’s singing competition show is still unknown, what is clear is that she still has a place in music. Mariah just dropped her new single “#Beautiful” over a week ago, and it’s already made a strong impression on the Billboard Hot 100. If that isn’t good enough, the single has also done well in its first week sales, and it’s getting tons of radio play. Billboard reports:

The Hot 100′s highest debut belongs to Mariah Carey’s “#Beautiful,” featuring Miguel, which begins at No. 24. The track launched on Radio Songs at No. 44 last week with 31 million impressions after just two days of airplay, aided heavily on its first day (May 6) by coordinated airplay on Clear Channel Media and Entertainment stations. This week, with that hefty first day of spins now in the previous tracking period, “#Beautiful” maintains its No. 44 Radio Songs rank and 31 million in audience (up less than 1%). Following its first full week of sales, it enters Digital Songs at No. 10 (114,000), marking her eighth top 10 on the tally and first since “Obsessed” reached No. 6 in 2009. “#Beautiful” falls shy of the Streaming Songs chart with 461,000 first-week streams.

The lead single from Carey’s forthcoming 13th studio album charges 32-7 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and 16-2 on R&B Songs and debuts at No. 1 on R&B Digital Songs.

Producer Says Lil Wayne’s Emmett Till Lyric Was Never Supposed to Be Released

Music 14 Responses »

May 162013

Photo Credit: Instagram

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

The controversy surrounding Lil Wayne’s Emmett Till lyric doesn’t seem to be dying down any, despite the fact that he did eventually get dropped by Mountain Dew. Besides the statement he sent out to the Till family, the rapper hasn’t said anything about the lyric. But recently Future made the claim that he believes Lil Wayne’s lyric on the “Karate Chop Remix” actually made Emmett Till relevant to people who had no idea who he was before. Interestingly enough, it appears that the actual producer of the song is telling people that the actual lyric was not supposed to ever see the light of day and they actually believed it wasn’t a good look to keep it on the single. However, the producer says the reason it got out is solely the fault of a video hacker. Metro Boomin tells Vibe:

“…We didn’t even intend for it to come out like that. It was serious. I was like, “Honestly, it will be no good” so we took the line out. But there was a music video…The whole reason the song came out prematurely is [because] it got leaked. I’m not even going to say his name. He had ripped the song off the video director’s…Uh, I guess the video director fell asleep uploading the video, to his Vimeo. He [the ripper] always checks the Vimeo for content and one day he lucked up on the f*cking ‘Karate Chop’ video and he ripped the one with the Wayne verse and he put it out. On the mastered version, the final, that line wasn’t in there. He [the ripper] put it out and made everybody look like douchebags, but it wasn’t the plan.”

Older Entries