STRAIGHT TO HELL

If you were ever asked to pray for something that you never wanted to be in your later years.........THIS IS IT!

4 MINUTES OF POP MADNESS

So I really wanted to hate the new single from Madonna and Trousersnake. I really wanted to sooooooooooo badly unfortunately, my first encounter with the promotional video came at a lighthearted time of a dull evening where I was susceptible to liking anything with a Timbaland bassline.

I was very shocked to discover that 4 minutes with Madonna and Timberlake wasn't at all bad and quite honestly, I was impressed.

The single titled strangely '4 minutes' is lifted from the upcoming Hard Candy album which is quickly generating buzz in Pop land but then again with A-list producers, Pharrell Williams and Timbaland - are we really surprised?

I'm not sure what to think about Madge's sudden embrace of HIP-POP although I suspect this is another calculated transformation from Mrs. Ritchie. It will be interesting to hear what the entire record sounds like but I must say I really tired to dislike the very concept.

In the meantime, this is 4 minutes of pure good pop madg-ness!

ASHLEE IS AFTER THE OAPs

Is Ashlee

'plastic nose'

Simpson trying to diss Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Kylie all on her new single 'Out of my head (Ay ya ya)?

This is the 1st single taken from her upcoming third album due for a April Release date. Bizarrely, the track is produced by Timbaland. She claims the video was inspired by Salvador Dali, "one of her favorite artists".

We are like - whatever, something is fishing with this. She's trying to tell the 'older' sexy symbols to take a hike, she's got better legs.

BADGE OF HONOUR: WILEY

It seems doing a dance track over grime lyrics is the formula for chart success these days. We are really feeling the new Wiley single, Wearing my Rolex, he has been one of those British chaps although basking in plenty industry acclaim, he has been robbed with mediocre record sales.

Maybe things will change with this hot single.

We like the video - BIG TIME!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE AN AMERICAN RECORD DEAL MAKES..

So....Ms Shine/ Ms Number #1 (finally) seems to have forgotten where she was 3 months ago. I'm talking about Estelle - British songstress that went cross Atlantic to get a record deal.

In recent weeks since she released American Boy featuring Kanye, she seems to have not only worked with him but adopted his persona. Can someone please tell this girl that she is good but we humour her half the time.

It all started with a radio interview I heard on Choice FM, UK where she got into lip-war with an anchor after they tried to play an April's Fool joke on her. Next, she goes on record criticizing British songstress Duffy and Adele (both have better voices than her). At Renaissance man, we are like Estelle - DON'T GET ABOVE YOURSELF. It's only been 3 minutes.

We thought we should remind her where she was a year ago, just cause you're wearing Vivienne Westwood now, don't mean you've arrived.

Look at the highlights in her hair from back in the day. No comment!

THE 'VOGUE' ISSUE

Sometimes the blogosphere can trigger some bull discussions on what is politically correct and what isn't and sadly since the 24-hours news stations are so desperate for content they decide to engage.

I was astonished to see how much news coverage the recent Vogue magazine cover featuring LeBron James and Gisele is getting.

Some ESPN black anchor described the cover as derogratory to black athletes and something about making these altheles look like "animals". WTFuss? Others have drawn comparisons to King Kong and Fray Wray - What?

I don't care what anyone thinks about the "Beauty and the Beast" esque shoot (Oooooh...I think I'm going to stir up some controversy), did anyone actually look at what the theme for the month's issue was?

This desperate need to draw correlations to the race issue will continue to ruin America yet they all claim to be ready for CHANGE. What-f*****-ever!

BADGE OF HONOUR: BEN WESTBEECH

One of the most important voices in the British music scene of the last year. Here's Ben Westbeech and his new single 'Hang around'. If you like the sound of this please go out and support his debut album 'Welcome to the Best Years of your life' or even better go see him live.

MISSEN IDENTITIES: SKEE-LO

Does anyone remember the one-hit wonder, Skee-lo (the short, quarter-length trouser wearing rapper who wanted to be a baller) yep, him.

Let's not even front, we all bought that record - otherwise how did it become a number one smash in dozen countries.

We wonder what ever happened to him in South Central LA, perhaps was used as bait for a game of Dominos - if you have seen him in recent times, tell him we are fans at the Renaissance Man.

It's all love!

OUT & ABOUT

So we were at the Cabaret Membership Club the other night and bumped into Ozwald Boateng looking sharp with a beautiful blond bombshell.

A very humble man indeed unlike Ms Kelly Osbourne who was too up-her-own-pipes at Bungalow 8 to speak to my face. Bloody-cowfoot!!

BADGE OF HONOUR: BLACK & GOLD

This is by far the most memorable thing on the UK charts at the moment. It's the relatively unknown Sam Sparro with his infectious single 'Black & Gold'

It has one of the best melodies I've heard in a little while. So refreshing!!

This is going to be big till the Summer months. Trust me!

I APPLAUD

I'm not sure how many of you heard Senator Barack Obama's response to allegations made by his pastor earlier in the week. I will not go into detail of this sensitive topic, however I'd like to draw all our attention to the articulate speech delivered by the presidential hopeful. The speech dealt with the broad issue of race relations currently facing America and my word - it was a joy to hear this.

Here's an extract, I know it seems long but we find time to read other crap why can't we read this.

I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton's Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I've gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world's poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slaveowners - an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.


It's a story that hasn't made me the most conventional candidate. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts - that out of many, we are truly one.


Throughout the first year of this campaign, against all predictions to the contrary, we saw how hungry the American people were for this message of unity. Despite the temptation to view my candidacy through a purely racial lens, we won commanding victories in states with some of the whitest populations in the country. In South Carolina, where the Confederate Flag still flies, we built a powerful coalition of African Americans and white Americans.


This is not to say that race has not been an issue in the campaign. At various stages in the campaign, some commentators have deemed me either "too black" or "not black enough." We saw racial tensions bubble to the surface during the week before the South Carolina primary. The press has scoured every exit poll for the latest evidence of racial polarization, not just in terms of white and black, but black and brown as well.


And yet, it has only been in the last couple of weeks that the discussion of race in this campaign has taken a particularly divisive turn.


On one end of the spectrum, we've heard the implication that my candidacy is somehow an exercise in affirmative action; that it's based solely on the desire of wide-eyed liberals to purchase racial reconciliation on the cheap. On the other end, we've heard my former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, use incendiary language to express views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide, but views that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation; that rightly offend white and black alike.


I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. For some, nagging questions remain. Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely - just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed.


But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. They weren't simply a religious leader's effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country - a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam.


As such, Reverend Wright's comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems - two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change; problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian, but rather problems that confront us all.

HOT RIGHT NOW: ONNA EHRLICH

It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to the great work of a young designer Onna Ehrlich. Following the footsteps of renowned Nigerian accessory labels, Tiger Tem and Just Nibi, Onna is taking a leaf out of her African roots to produce a unique accessory line featuring everything from handbags hand made with vibrant, lush leathers to unbelievable snake skin belts.

A graduate of the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Ehrlich takes her Nigerian heritage and combines it with the laid back sophistication of California. In under two years, Onna has quickly emerged as a designer to watch, with her designs making splashes in US fashion and design magazines.

Her celebrity client list is fast-growing with the likes of new-mum Halle Berry, Lindsay Lohan, Sophia Bush, and Eva Longoria donning her creations.

Visit her on www.onnaehrlich.com

VIDEO OF THE MONTH: MY GIRL

People, People, People Lumes Flowne is back again!

This is the promotional video for the toxic single, "My Girl", the video sees Lumes in a natural light. Radio stations across london (pirate & commercial) can't seem to get enough of the single and it's no suprise, Lumes Flowne serves us his dose of vigourous word play and the lady star ain't bad either.

We love this, you gon' love this, London loves this.

Enjoy!



You need to check out: www.lumesflowne.com

STYLE ALERT: BLUE

For the wardrobe-challenged men out there and you know who you are, the fashion world has made things very easy for you this summer. The season colour is BLUE, yes the trusted, lazy colour has been redressed, re-engineered and remodelled to look "high-fashion".

All you have to do is go to any store and buy any shade of blue (aqua,indigo, azure) and voila - you're fashionable. Easy enough for you?!

Take a look at some of our hot favourites and if you really want to be fashion-forward buy yourself some blue briefs.

HALLE GOT A BABY

We are sending mad love to Halle Berry on the birth of a beautiful baby girl.

May she grow up and be as fine as her mama and hopefully never get to hear Will.I.Am's classic

"Baby where’d you get your body from?/ Tell me where’d you get your body from/ I got it from my mama"

DO SOME GOOD TODAY

I'm usually sceptical about certain "Africa" campaigns adopted by corporate giants with biased corporate social responsibility blinkers on their heads however the new Benetton Microcredit Africa campaign has trully challenged my cynicism about the issue.

Benetton has puts the spotlight on entrepreneurial Africa. This campaign is designed to celebrate the hard working men and women on the streets of Sub-saharan Africa struggling to make tiny profits from their respective crafts. The spotlight highlights current challenges facing fishermen, decorators, musicians, jewellery-makers, farmers, tailors, textile sellers and athletes.

The 2008 global communication campaign aims to promotes the Birima micro-credit programme in Senegal, a co-operative credit society founded by the Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour. The programme will also receive financial support from Benetton Group.

The campaign slogan was developed by Fabrica and has quickly dominated billboards leaving millions of impressions on the print and online community around the globe. The campaign was unveiled in last month and it features Senegalese workers who have used micro loans to start small, productive businesses. Photographer James Mollison portrays them with the tools of their trade against a neutral background.

These images are tangible symbols of an Africa that uses the dignity of work to fight poverty, promote equitable development, maximise its resources and take back responsibility for creating its future.

We can all show our support by purchasing more benetton goods. Their new range is fantastic so we have litle excuses.

For further information,

http://www.benetton.com/africaworks-press/en/press_information/1_1.html

MOTOWN PHILLY BACK AGAIN....NOT TOO HARD AND NOT TOO SOFT

Will there ever be another boyband like Boyz II Men?

I bet you've never thought about this question - will this looks-orientated talentless music industry allow four chubby boys from (Lord knows where there from) with bad dress sense (faded jeans, ties and biker jackets) to win countless grammys and record some of the best harmonies the music world has ever heard again?

The answer remains to be seen but we can't deny the magic these men gave us - classics like Motownphilly, Yesterday, Water runs dry, I'll make love to you, Song for Mama, 4 seasons of loneliness - are you out of breath yet? Their magic was untouchable and don't get me wrong there has been some great bands in recent times - Jagged Edge, etc but not many have made ladies wet their Victoria's secrets like these chaps.

BET needs to induct these guys into their Hall of Fame cause you know MTV ain't. We'll take second best, it's okay all the guys are out-of-shape anyways, it could be quite disturbing for the TRL kids.

We salute you Boyz II Men. Thank you Thank you Thank you

THE ENEMY'S THIS SONG

Often a band or an artist release a song which lyrically captures what is happening in the world or their respective country. British-indie group, The Enemy have released a brilliant single 'This Song' and I was shaken by the truthfulness of the lead singer's words. Here's an extract

Half the kids who you grew up with,
Were pushin prams by the time that they were just sixteen,
If love is a drug then where is the cure,
For the girl who used to talk to you about her dream.
And all the boys with all their toys,
Couldnt see the signs as we scortched out eyes with nicotine,
And the grown ups said, listen to your head,
But our hearts were crying out for heroes on TV screens.

Half the kids that arnt pushing prams,
Are pushing pills to boys and girls who are half their age

And the pubs and clubs are full of drunks,
They dont remember the day the were born or even their mum or the names.

An old man sings a tune but hes drowned out by a fight next to a fruit machine.

And all of this, our hearts, our nation,
A total lack of civilization,
Will it ever be the same?

Now this song is about you,
Now this song is about...

This is so true about the British population. There's only so much we can categorize as "ASBO" until we tackle some of the issues pointed out in this song - we've got a social epidermic on our hands. This is our future.

AMERYKAH

There is no doubt that this is going to rub people up the wrong way but I'd rather speak than swallow this.

It is the infamous Ms.Badu again and her creative juices. I'm done with trying to defend and justify her perceived "eclecticness" it is just damn tired!

I'm guessing the world has heard the album - oh my bad, let me rephrase - I'm sure a handful of you have heard her new produce <em>'Amerykah'

I actually spent the better half of this morning debating what possessed me to buy an album with such a self-indulging title in the first place. Jesus Lord, help this lady. I don't understand why Lauryn Hill is considered crazy and deranged when Erkyah is an "artist". I don't buy it.

This 11-track record is frankly dull. The attempt to communicate personal beliefs with the world in a confusing and agenda-driven manner is shocking. There is nothing here for music lovers to hold on to. It is full of not-quite-there moments and we have experienced this in previous efforts 'Mama's Gun' and the last one with the unpronouncable title.

You're a singer Erykah, sing - don't fill an album with interludes and public service announcements. C'mon, do something.

How hard can it be to translate your live magic to record. This is so unfair on fans and I'm not even a fanatic.

BADGE OF HONOUR: HOT CHIP

You all probably think I'm part of this group's PR team but sadly I don't have that luxury. The truth is I know very little about the band and their music. I recently discovered Hot Chip during a screening on BBC's Jools Holland show. I was instantly sold and the rest is history.

They've just released an album which is quickly burning up the UK Charts. The album is

Made in the Dark

and it is seriously toxic. If there is an album you should take a chance on this season, this is it!

Very few dance records since Massive Attack's Protection show this much diversity and range. The production quality is so good that you tend to envisage a bunch of keyboard geeks getting the buzz of their lives in the studio.

Standouts include Wrestler, Shake a Fist, Ready for the Floor and Don't Dance and incredibly, there are some great ballads. Yep, you heard me - ballads.

Take a chance today with some HOT CHIP.

EVERYBODY GET ROWDY.....OR MAYBE NOT!

Super Producer Dallas Austin (post-the cocaine bust, post-TLC) launched his clothing line in September last year. The label is 'Rowdy' - a collection focusing primarily on casual-wear - hooded tops, classic polos, etc.

Dallas' justiifciation for the line goes like this "I found that there was a lack of men's clothing that spoke to the new generation. I wanted to fill that void by creating a brand that exemplifies cutting edge style, and a collection that breaks ethnic boundaries." The line, which is described as having "punk and prep influences, with a distinctive European militant touch," will feature jeans, classic polos, bomber jackets, military jackets and sneakers.

Personally, we dont find anything inspiring about his line. It looks like just another "cutting-edge" mediocre line in London or LA. Perhaps better luck with picking the lead designer next time mate.

SNEAKER ALERT: REEBOK 'WHITE' HI TOPS

Say good bye to your Nike 'Hi' Dunks, we don't care if you paid £500 on a pair. They are dated and they certainly don't look good with skinny jeans - stop kidding yourself!
The Reebok 'White' Hi-Top is going to be the must-have footwear for the summer, just think NWA 'Straight outta Compton, it's the mutherfucker.........'

Yep, you better believe it, we are bringing the year 1990 back in a big way. Rumor has it, Ronald Reagan once received a customised pair from the late Eazy E during his courtesy visit to the White Horse - go figure!

This is BIG. You will say we told you so.

THE B.I.G.G.I.E EFFECT

You know I was having a Biggie moment around 2 am this morning. I was completely enthralled in the words from his first-ever single 'Juicy'. I absorbed every single sentence like an eager kindgarden toddler. It was particularly refreshing to finally put my finger on why I've always admired Biggie's music although never quite the fanatic as I was relatively younger in his prime to understand his many wordplays.

I think what Biggie had (and what a lot of current rappers lack) is the capacity to convince. I don't need to regurgitate his verses but I'm most certain that we all know them off by heart and we usually recite them with more joy and vigour. Why? Because we believed the man, we liked what he was saying, we liked the way he delivered it, we liked the charisma is his lines.

I was really moved last night. I'm once again a Biggie fan so go dust off your 'Ready to Die' album. That's what you need to be doing right now!

GNARLS BARKLEY IS BACK

The new Gnarls Barkley video is out. It is fabulous and in true Gnarls Barkley style, it is quickly stirring up controversy.

The fantastic video for the upcoming single 'Run' is comical and colourful. MTV sources are rumoured not consider it fit for viewing because of its strobe effects, which caused the clip to fail the Harding Test - guidelines established to prevent TV images from triggering epileptic seizures.

We personally don't see anything wrong with it and if some people do - then they should throw a pair of sunglasses on. This is too good to miss featuring Trousersnake as Micheal Jackson. It is sublime.

The video centers around the fictional public access TV show "City Vibin"' and is set in the early '90s. A new album will follow titled "The Odd Couple," released on April 8.

Start saving people.

MARIAH WANTS YOU TO ...............

I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS MS CAREY'S BACKSIDE IN WEEKS TO COME IN THE WAKE OF HER NEW SINGLE 'TOUCH MY BODY'

Although, it is always good to have Mariah drop another great album on us, it is always daunting and often cringing to watch her prance about in the video in nothing but her underwear. I love Mariah dearly but I don't wanna do her......not because she isn't hot but because there's nothing left to the imagination.

It is just damn-right depressing!

ENRIQUE GETS ALL WEEZY

Just in case you thought collaborations in Black America couldn't get any worse than Ricky Martin featuring Fat Joe and Amerie, there's a new one on the block and you know what it isn't bad.

The song is called 'Push' and it's far superior to all the shit Mr. Hero has been dropping on our MTV-watching ass in recent years.

Make up your mind.

BADGE OF HONOUR: GOLDEN BOYS

This is a modern classic. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give to you, RES

WHEN WHITE BOYS DO SOUL JA BOY....

I'm actually speechless

CHILL-LARY

After watching the Democratic Debate last night in Ohio, it is clear that if Hilary Clinton loses the next two superdelegates states (Ohio & Texas) she might deal with her entire campaign team - bitch-slapping each and everyone of them.

She was furious with Barack about past allegations and she looked like she might bite his ass on stage. We therefore renamed her as CHILL-LARY.

We know there's nothing like power but seriously......accept defeat if it comes - gracefully!

UNDER-21 POWER COUPLE

Looking at this exclusive Chris Brown and Rihanna photo, doesn't it look like they were having that infamous argument 'You're cute...no, you're cutier.....no no no, you're like way hotter....no, you are like way hotter.....".

Jackpot Chris-boy - hold on to that trophy. She's very hot!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, BeJay-once!

JUST 'RAP' MUSIC

You know when Chris Rock famously commented "...it's hard to defend rap music", we all laughed and took it as a general exaggeration but the more these rappers get paid, the more random ridiculousness they spit.

I'm sure we've all heard the new Plies Ft. Akon single 'Hypnotize'. Please judge these profound words for yourself....

It's two o'clock in the mo'nin', I'm 'gnaced up and I'm ho'ny
All I need now is some moanin', that pussy got me zonin'
Her vibe tell me she want it, she got to fuck how she on me
I got her now 'cause she jonin', I know in the panties she foamin'
I locked eyes on that monkey, I know she wet 'cause she told me
That ass on her she pokin', every nigga in here scopin'
I see me up in her pokin', she bent over and I'm strokin'
Her cheeks spread wide open, I'm beatin' it and I'm focused

THEN THE 'GENIUS' CHORUS -

You got me so hypnotized, the way yo' body rollin' 'round and
Round, that booty keep bumpin', titties just bouncin', up and down
You got me so hypnotized, the way yo' body rollin' 'round and
Round, that booty keep bumpin', titties just bouncin', up and down

Isn't this something?

MISSEN IDENTITIES

This is a new segment where we try and find some of our older favourite stars. Often, our childhood heroes are no where to be found in today's cut-throat media world but it doesn't mean we ever stopped loving them.

So if you know where they're hiding, or living, or dealing - please get in touch!

Our search starts with (i) Karyn Parsons (remember Hilary from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?)



(ii) Skin >(the leader singer of Skunk Anasie). We want to know where the very talented and stylish singer of the Brit indie-group is. Any clues?

THIS BOY MUUUUUUUUUST WIN

American Idol always has one young person that makes us all weak because of their raw talent and I must quote Simon Cowell when he described this chap's performnace 'When you got it, you got it....."

He's only 17 years old but when this boy opens his mouth, you just have to shut up. He is the business and more so, he is so well mannered.

We vote David Archuleta. Any day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KEITH LEMON: BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR '93

This is the new comedy KING! He is absolutely off-his-nut.

He has crowned himself "The Ming-magnet"

LET'S ALL SWITCH OFF.....

This is simply brutal but effective. I spilted my tea out of horror.

The message is very strong and I think too often we all feel invincible. Please watch!

GUESS WHO'S BACK?

Our boy Owen Wilson made an appearance at last night's Academy awards ceremony looking sharp in his tuxedo. Donning the trademark shaggy haircut, he looked healthy as he presented the award for best animated short film. He also received a warm and loud applause from his peers at the Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles.

Welcome back buddy!

OSCAR ROYALTY: TILDA SWINTON

Hot-off winning the Best Supporting Actress accolade at last night's Academy Awards for her role as the fierce lawyer in Micheal Clayton, we think our Brit is a breath of fresh air. She was genuinely pleased at her triumph and we just loved her speech.

Oh, no. Happy birthday, man. I have an American agent who is the spitting image of this. Really truly the same shape head and, it has to be said, the buttocks. And I'm giving this to him because there's no way I would be in America at all ever on a plane, if it wasn't for him. So, Brian Swardstrom, I'm giving this to you. And Tony Gilroy walks on water, it's entirely official as far as I'm concerned, and Jen Fox and Steve Samuels, our incredible producers.And Sydney Pollack, and George Clooney, you know, the seriousness and the dedication to your art, seeing you climb into that rubber bat suit from "Batman & Robin," the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume, on the set, off the set, hanging upside-down at lunch, you rock, man.

GENIUS!

We also praise Cate Blanchett (officially the greatest actress of this generation) but something tells us she will have many many more Oscar moments to live. We love you Cate!

MY COUNTRY SIDE

Don't worry, I'm not moving to Nashville or telling you to start wearing cowboy hats to bed. I just have a lot of respect for country music. I think the genre artists make extremely honest music coupled with emotional vocals.

My new addiction is Kenny Chesney's Don't Blink. It is so powerful, it makes me bleed emotionally.

Please enjoy AND think!

MARY J BLIGE: GROWING PRIDE

It is always exciting whenever Ms Blige decides to drop another album. We have all become pretty used to her usual routine of releasing a clubber banger as the opening single followed by a huge ballad (My Life, Share my World, No More Drama, What's the 411)

It's incredible how over the years Ms Blige's authenticity hasn't diminished and she continues to win crowds rather than lose them as her sound evolves.

Growing Pains I must confess creept up on me. The end of last year had been filled with such good debuts that I could happily have not purchased another album for a while.

I sampled this album on my MP3 as I always do - everything sounds better on headphones. The opener 'Work that' is trademark Queen-of-R&B-soul - quick lyrical delivery over Dr Dre-esque production. It certainly is a feel good number.

One of my immediate favourites follows 'Grown Woman' featuring Ludacris, testimony to what's going on in Black music in 2008 - obscure beat programming ridden with speak-style singing. Ludacris' verse is a key highlight "LUDA! I ain't lying, I think I'm in love wit a grown woman/ She stay stunnin' /Got sweet lovin' & home cookin'/ Be known to make'em moan to da break of dawn/ A lil lady in da streets, but at home I give her a grown whoppin/ Yea!/ I hit the jeweler and I make a chain flawless, white diamond and I put that on everything/ Mami stylish she knows how to accessorize and we some stair master i make her get her exercise wit ya sexy thighs body got me memorized/ Lil boys are scared and other guys be putrefied"

"Just Fine" is the feel good single that makes me what to replicate her Micheal Jackson-esque moves in the video. Then suddenly the ballads appear - and you know what - they are very good. They get better with every listen, "Feel like a woman", "Stay down", "Hurt again" are all classic Mary and very reminiscent of the MY LIFE album.

Some incredible vocals are unleashed on "Fade Away" and "What Love is" - these two are the peak of the album. Inspiring words like "And it feels like joy, and it feels like pain/ And it feels like sunshine, feels like rain/ An excuse for dying, reason to live/ And if you don't know, that's what love is/ Love is" are belted out over extremely polished beats.

'GROWING PAINS' exceeds my expectations and it certainly makes 'BREAKTHROUGH' seem like a rushed produce. We don't need to reiterate that Ms. Blige is in a good place as it is written all over the record.

A compelling effort.

Who is Feist?

Many of us know her as the voice to the iPod nano but I'm not sure enough people know her as the very talented singer songwriter. She has racked up an impressive resume even performing at the recently concluded Grammy awards show.

She is canadian. She performs as a solo artist under the name Feist, and has been a member of the indie rock supergroup Broken Social Scene.

I'm urging us all to go buy her album, Reminder.

KANYE: OVER-INDULGENCE?

I'm reviewing the new "arty" Kanye video for "FLASHING LIGHTS". I can't decide if this is actually credible or over-indulgent.

What do you think?

BRITISH SPARE PARTS!

£2.5 MILLION FOR WEDDING PICTURES OF THESE UGLY MUTTS? I THINK NOT!

IF ANYONE I KNOW BUYS A COPY OF THE PUBLICATION - I WILL NEVER SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN. THAT'S A PROMISE!

BUT WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?

Just in case you thought, The Church of Scientology couldn't 'acquire' more weird members. I reveal a pioneer to you all - ISSAC HAYES. Yep!

SUCH A GOOD MOVE GEORGE!

Has anyone noticed that our dear President can never help himself whenever he hears music. He just has to move his hips, here he is in Kenya- doing the dammmmmn thang!

THE TRUTH ABOUT WILL & I

Will, Will, Will

My love-hate relationship with Will smith has lasted as long as I can remember. I don't know what happened considering I was a huge fan of the Fresh Prince (I'm convinced I'm one of the few that has seen every single episode - no joke!) but as the "movie-star" appeared in the late 90s, something happened to our connection.

I think I blame some movie roles and the over-celebration of Hollywood tagging him as the "acceptable" one and it irritated me that he could command £20m and real black actors like Forest Whiatker - post Oscar, didn't.

Last night, I watched the very very heart-warming, In Pursuit of Happyness. I melted. I melted at the story. I melted at the performance. I melted at the vision of picking on such a strong topic and succeeding at telling the very compelling tale.

I know remembered some of his original roles which myself and my brother loved, Six Degrees of Seperation, etc.

There is no doubt, this man is very talented and more importantly he stands for something much more greater than just an actor and either you love him or loathe him, you can never deny him this.

JAMES LEWIS

I was watching my regular dose of American idol and I came across the very talented James Lewis. Please watch, just to think no one encoouraged him to take the world by storm.....how could people be so cruel.

Let my people gooooooooooooooooo!

DON'T GET IT TWISTED

Unless you've been living with apes over the past half-decade will you not have encountered the voice of either Akon or his partner/protege T-Pain. These men have become as linked to guest featuring as Pharrell Williams was at the start of the millennium. And they are good infact very good.

I write as I respond to a comment that I heard on hot97 about T-Pain taking over from Akon as he has more diversity in his approach to music. My initial reaction was "...isn't that a bit harsh" considering Akon paved the way for his protege to build a following.

I was watching the new T-Pain promotional video for 'Church' and I satrted to think - the boy is truly talented. He can dance, sing, produce and rumor-has-it, ACT! There is something very engaging about the way he approachs his music and although neither one are particularly remarkable singers - they make up for this with therir charisma. I'm a fan of both men and I don't think we should get involved in the "who's better" debate - especially not from pioneers HOT97.

BADGE OF HONOUR: HOT CHIP

Now I don't care what you're into, or what you think you're into or what you think you ought to be into. You need to check out this electro-group, HOT CHIP. They are simply magnificient and they also remind me of some of the missen ingredients in Dance music today. A seamless execution of a well-put together track.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is HOT CHIP

BADGE OF HONOUR: SEXUAL ERUPTION

Snoop never disappoints. Never ever ever ever forever ever.....

I have been hearing this song for weeks and was unsure who did it until today and I just take my hat off to this very original sound that the 'Doggfather' is lacing us with. Let's just hope the new album doesn't fall into the usual 'snoop pit' - 4 good tracks, 9 rubbish..... we shall see.

V.I.V.I.C.A

So have you seen the tape? That is some piece of work, nasty as you wanna be.

I just don't get it, first it was 50 cent, now it's this?

Oprah needs to get her ass on the sofa for some good 'ole female empowerment dialogue.

WANNA LOOK LIKE THIS AT 60?

Good golly, Miss Molly, sure like a ball.
When you're rockin' and a rollin' can't hear your momma call.

I am going to the corner, gonna buy a diamond ring.
Would you pardon me if it's a nineteen carat golden thing.
Good golly, Miss Molly, sure like a ball.
When you're rockin' and a rollin' can't hear your momma call.

YEAH........................RIGHT!

MISS THANG

I ain't a Beyonce hater or anything but I find most of her shows particularly boring and uninspiring, however at this year's Grammy Awards show, I had to eat my words and big the girl up!

She continues to demonstrate why she's the crop of those to be celebrated from our generation and for that we must give the lady kudos.

Perhaps her stocks can rise even higher in my books if she changed that blond locks (sooooooooooooooooooo 1999!!!!). Sometimes, it's good to be styled by other 'fashion houses' other than the HOUSE OF DERON. Just some modest advise - don't sue me!

VINCE GILL ON KANYE

I always tell people that when it comes to the music industry - it is not the rappers that one should be afraid of, it's those COUNTRY SINGERS.

You know the ones in their tightstonewash jeans and cowboy hats. You know not to mess with them as they write songs about murdering their wives and their father-in-laws and that shit ain't censored either. Those mutherfuckers are CRAZZZZZZY.

At the Grammy's, I loved it when Vince Gill took a dig at Kanye and eventhough he apologized you know that man MEANT EVERY WORD. 10/10.

Someone needed to knock those white 'sunglasses' off Kanye's face anyway.

BADGE OF HONOUR: THE LYNX AD

This is such a brilliant ad from Lynx (don't hate, I know you buy a can from time-to-time fellas). it's actually brillant especially when the girl on the bus takes a bite of his ass.

ENJOY!

EVA MENDES IN REHAB?

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT EVA MENDES IS DOING IN REHAB?

Is there a new addiction called 'Hotness' or a new potential overdose of 'Sex Appeal'. It's only okay to be a frequenter of Rehabs if you are not particularly good looking or need a lot of work to get there (no offence Lindsay Lo)

What the hell is Eva doing in rehab? What could she possibly have a problem with? I bet ya it's to do with a man. It's always us.....some asshole who has 'emotionally scarred the woman that many men desire'

ALICIA'S ELOQUENCE

This might sound like a broken record to many of y'all but I cannot get over how proud Alicia Keys makes me whenevr I see an interview or an apperance with her. She is the embodiement of success and this is why the likes of Clive Davis will always remain the true engineers of how to 'create a star'.

Alicia opened the 50th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles with a high-technology performance with Frank Sinatra; throughout the performance I was mesmorized by her candour and presence and I kept thinking very few artist have the diversity that this young lady has.

It is just so reassuring that we can still nurture artists like this who have not compromised on who they are nor what their talent requires of them.

I just adore her.

HEIDI FROM THE HILLS

This train of shit just never stops. It just goes on and on and on until we all explode with diahorrea. 'New' word-on-the-street is Heidi from The Hills (A MTV semi-reality, semi staged show about three girls in LA struggling through the clutter of bullshit friendship and romance) has gone solo and even worse wait for it............she's working ona debut album. Yep....the girl that couldn't string more than three sentances together has decided to sing.

She currently has a promotional video on youtube that utterly mimics the Paris Hilton video for 'Stars are Blind' - sadly, I will never show such mediocry on this blog, you will have to do the research yourself to find the gem.

What the fuck? Is MTV allowing itself to be used as a platform for no talent considering it is supposed to be an advocate for good music. I'm personally appalled by this new revelation - when will the public learn and what is deeply saddening is this girls have a "fan base" because you know no record label will sign an artist without doing their feasibility report on who their potential audiences are.

This is just f**** up.

5 GRAMMYs

Congratulations, well deserved!

'Record of the Year', 'Song of the Year', 'Best New artist', 'Best Pop Vocal Performance' should I go on.................

YES WE C.A.N

Irregardless of what your political beliefs are, I think we should all hear this beautiful message that has been crafted by Will.I.Am using a speech delivered by Senator Barack Obama at the New Hampshire Primaries.

This is indeed very inspiring. Ladies and Gentlemen, here's YES WE CAN

AMY DENIED

I'm going to be very careful in my views on the refusal of the US to grant Amy Winehouse a visa to perform on Sunday's Grammy Awards. As we all know, Amy had been nominated for 6 prestigious grammys including Artist of the Year, Record of the Year (Rehab) and Album of the year (Back to Black)

Quite frankly, I'm slightly unimpressed by this rash decision. I do understand that she is a role model and must display exemplary behaviour however I find all this rather hypocritica considering many, many other artists (including Pete Doherty) have been giving visas despite their well-known addictions.

Is Amy really a scape goat? Is she simply a victim of media scrutiny and more importantly how far will the media go to destroy lives and career?

I want the world to recognise that the whole 'crack-video' scandal was completely planted by the Sun Newspaper in the UK so was her bra-sleep walking stunt.

The entire world has become emotionally-opinionated about Amy and her antics and I think it is imperative that we all know when to differentiate fact from fiction and the media that we rely on to give us first-hand information, don't always do just that.

Let's marinade on this for a second.

SAME MISTAKE

We like this very much, such powerful words by Mr. Beautiful(!!!)!

CONDELEZZA RICE

Very few people will not know who the iron-lady is. She is the iron-lady behind George Bush's policies and reforms. In the last eight years, she has swayed public opinion from her perception of a battle-axe to the today's soft-spoken power house in Chanel.

Quite frankly, I like the new Ms. Rice - always looking dashing in Chanel and Gucci shirt-suits. I was watching a special feature on Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement on CNN to celebrate Dr. King's birthday. During this feature, there was a story on a church that was burned in Alabama where three girls were caught-in-the-blaze.

It was revealed that 2 out of the 3 girls died in the blast and the only emerging one been the young Ms Rice.

These facts struck a chord with me as I pulled on the old cliche "Some are simply born to be great" - isn't this something!

We salute you Ms Rice - you should run for presidency in 2013.

Go figure!

Ms BADU

Ms. Badu is back. I am still debating what I really think about her new offering meanwhile, you enjoy HONEY!

MA$E

I was having a bad boy moment last night and I played classics from 112 (Only you), B.I.G (Big poppa), Craig Mack (Flava in ya Ear) and Total (Can't you See) and I couldnt help put reminisce as these songs were the soundtrack to my teenage-pubscent years.

I forgot how much I admired P.Diddy and his 'shiny-suit' artists. For pit sake, I bought a swimming google hoping to rock it as a pair of sunglseese. I blame Puffy!

Now, you can't rememeber Bad Boy Inc. without thinking about M A dollar sign E. The candy-non threatening puffy protege that made the world recognise Harlem world but some how disappeared faster than Hilary Rodham Clinton from South Carolina.

So I ask, what in the world happened to MA$E. I've heard rumours over the years about him turning to religion, smoking crack until I saw him appear next to 50 Cents in the 'Window shopper' video then I branded him "LOST".

Anyway, I will never forget how many girls loved "Tell Me What you want from me" featuring original Bad girls - TOTAL.

Please note how foxy the lead singer Keisha looked in this video. Too Hot.

WE ALL JUST WANNA BE BIG ROCK STARS

I know we have all heard Nickelback's infectous single Rock-Star. I really like the song and I just wanted to share an extract from the song with you:

'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars and
Live in hilltop buses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blonde hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary of
Today's who's who
They'll get you anything
with that evil smile
Everybody's got a
Drug dealer on speed dial, well
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar

What I find interesting about this is, it isn't just Rockstar that live by this oath - every one of us try to live like this and it's just so amuisng when it's been conveyed in worlds - we all look pathetic and desperate.

SPOT THE SIMILARITIES IN THESE VIDS

Today, we are going to play a game called "Is there a differences between these videos"
We feel the videos we are about to compare have strong similiarities in conceptual and technical terms.

First, newcomer Adele's Chasing Pavements and Coldplay's The Scientist. We love both songs though, it's just strange that their promotional videos are so familiar.






NEXT UP, The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony and Amy Wino's Tears dry on their own





It's okay, you dont have to choose a favourite!

LOSERS OF THE WEEK: THE SUPER EAGLE

As you all know, the Nigerian football team has played like amateurs so far at the 2008 African Cup of Nations, they make me want to hand in my green passport. This is just a pathetic state-of-"football" affairs.

Only if Abacha was still in power, he'd set fire on all their asses. Nonsense!

DAVID JORDAN: DROP HIM LIKE IT'S HOT....

When will someone shut this man down. I warned you all last year of a new artist 'David Jordan' and his unusual blend of pop music. Like his presence on stage wasn't scary enough, his new video is beyond frighetening. I don't know which is more scary - his falsetto or Micheal Jackson tribute crotch-grabbing antics.
The A&R executive behind this artist needs to be kidnapped. It's never going to happen, even the british music-buying public is not going to fall for this one.

MIA: MISS "I HAVE A OPINION"

Most artists want to be politicians and most politicans want to have musicians' street cred. MIA is a classic case, she continues to fool people with her "views" on the state of the world, the middle-east and civil rights yet she's not changing nothing but the highlights in her hair.

MIA is a British vocalist, songwriter, composer, record producer and visual artist, and a Tamil of Jaffna origin. Her work in music often features a range of elements of genres including grime, hip-hop, ragga, dancehall and electro.

Her critically-acclaimed album "KALA" has won huge reviews and her new single "Papaer Planes" is banging. I must confess I haven't heard her debut album, simply because I'm tired of young people shooting their mouths-off on issues that they know little about but anyway lets enjoy this video in the meantime and hopefully (and just hopefully) she'll learn to shut the hell up.

LUMES FLOWNE: BOY 'BETTER KNOW

This is Lumes Flowne - the London based Nigerian rapper with harder punch-lines than Curtis Jackson. He has several mixtapes out at the moment, the most recent been 'The Mixfolio'

He is crisp, fresh and gunning for the throne and by the looks of his recent promotional video 'Tidy', it's only a matter of time.

SUNDANCE CHIC - CHECK YOURSELF B4 YOU WRECK YOURSELF!

The Sundance Film Festival has been in full effect this week. Equally as important as the showcased films are the leading girls & boys. Since the Golden Globes red carpet were cancelled and the Oscars likely to take the same fate, we have decided to ditch glamour for avant-garde chic. It's sooooooooo progressive.

Here are some of our winners, Ladies & Gentlemen we introduce you to Evan Rachel Woods (image 1) - she is sizzling.

JUSTIN: I CAN BE DOWN.....

Oscar-worthy and all round thespian Justin Timberlake is at it again. Yep, trying to position himself with 'cool' black people to reinforce his message of 'I'm really down, really'

We've all seen images of Mr SexyBack grinning in pictures with the likes of 50 Cent and Denzel. At the recent Sundance Film Festival, we see trouser-snake crowding Samuel L. Jackson's space again. When will this boy stop? It's okay, we've all accepted you and you put out the best R&B album in 2007 - get over yourself!

Won't it be funny if Justin gets caught dropping the N word - that will be such a moment!

200 POUNDS AND HIDING: THE INFLATION OF MARSHALL MATHERS

The word on the street is Eminem has been hospitalized for pneumonia and has allegedly ballooned in weight. I heard this a few weeks ago on MTV News but dismissed it as sensational journalism but it has showed its head once again via several blogs and podcasts. The problem is we have no pictures and it's really hard to back this up with facts but wouldn't this be funny?

Remember his several derogatory references (on old albums) to Elvis' weight and resulting demise.

Go figure!

THIS IS BIG SPONSORSHIP BUCKS

The new Gillette fusion advertising campaign is packing more heat than my torso. Is this possible?

It has the three highest sports achievers in the sporting world today. Actually maybe that isn't entirely true, I wouldn't rate Thierry Henry in the same league as Tiger Woods and Roger Federer but let's move on.

All three men appear in the new adverts looking as chessy as a Cheese & Onion packet of Crisps donning black suits whilst walking on a treadmill.

This is big sponsorship power at its peak and I know most men shave (the justification for this stupid budget allocation) but come on, Gillette has little to no competition why would their marketing department flock out this much on these endorsements.

I'm guessing each althete must have pocketed at least $20m. I read a clause in their contract and it states that these men must never be caught (on camera or film) unshaven. Now ain't that a b****!

Small price to pay for big bucks! I'll save my legs for that.

IS COMMON HITTIN' ALICIA?

Common and Alicia Keys obviously ignore the huge budgets allocated for 'love interest' in music video productions. Both artists have continued to chose each other to kiss and caress, obviously because it's more 'artistic' and you are sad if you don't see their artistic competence...yeah Whatever!

We all remember how stunning she looked in his 'I Want you' video and most will have noticed his more recent cameo on her new single 'Like you'll never see me again', which leads to the question - what is up peeps? This is a PR moment for their respective publicists and I'm suprised they're not exploring it further. This could lead to some great leads or perhaps I'm just too media savvy......yeah, that's probably it!

WHO IS TOM BAXTOR?

I don't know anything about this guy, except I heard him for the first time after I heard the Heath Ledger tragedy and it was so appropriate. So if you like the sound of his new single, go and buy his album 'SKYBOUND' it continues to receive fantastic reviews from my trusted newspaper columnists.

TOM SHARES SOME LIGHT FOR THE KIDS

I must say I can't b****/curse the most powerful man in Hollywood as I know he has spies monitoring blogs, podcasts and websites that dare to slay his name, so here - MY BIG GOBB IS SEALED. My black (Nigerian) ass cannot afford to be sued at the moment, my mother is still alive.

This is so funny! That Kate Holmes babe needs to reconsider, I applaud the Australian one - shit, I'm not supposed to comment.

CRAIG DAVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVID (PROPER BOOOO!)

I know I critized him for deliberately making himself look like a steroid-addict but if I must admit I found myself dancing to his new single last night at a club. I'm not sure if I enjoyed its strong-resemblance to Amerie's One hit, 1 thing (get it!!) or its rather authetic Dap-kings' production but I enjoy the song - very much.

Here it is, tell me what you think.

YEP.....THE 'J' IS BACK................AGAIN

So Aunt Janet is back!

Yep, you heard me.....it seems like yesterday whe she released that sorry excuse for an album 'Damita Jo'. Well, if you are a fan, she's serving us another plate of JD produced noise.

The new single is Feedback, I saw the promotional video for the first time last night and all I have to say is, why the leather outfits? Why the extensions in the air? Her duet with Busta Rhymes was sooooooo 10 years ago (literally!)

TRAGIC TIMING: HEATH LEDGER

Heath Ledger is dead. What the f***?

I just walked into my hotel room during engagements in Athens to this grim story. I will have to apologise for this incoherent rant but I did like and respect many of this young actor's work (I not there, Brokeback Mountain, etc.)

He always came across as nervous, shy and clean living. I'm even more shocked by recent reports on CNN that the NYPD had reported a rolled up $20 and some prescripted sleeping medicine.

So I ask was this another depressed hollywood actor that the world had forgotten untill this tragic demise. He recently split from Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek) last fall and I think he probably never recovered.

I have 2 scenarios -

(i) After watching Brokeback Mountain, I was convinced that this story was particularly close to his heart as I felt he excelled far better than his co-star & film love interest Jake Gyldellehal. Could this be a reason for his split for his wife? Could he have been a repressed gay man?

(ii) We also know that he had a substance abuse problem for years although it has been alledged that he has been clean for a year. Could it be that he had become dependent on the drug once again after his seperation from his wife?

This is a sad death and I do not think IT JUST HAPPENED. Nothing just happens to celebrities in NY.

I feel so sad for his daughter. Another toddler to live with a sad demise of a famous parent.