Stevie Wonder Releases Two New Songs

Stevie Wonder has released his first new music in 15 years. On Tuesday, the 70-year-old pop icon released two new songs, “Where Is Our Love Song” and “Can’t Put It In the Hands of Fate.” Wonder says all proceeds from the track “Where Is Our Love Song” will benefit the hunger organization Feeding America. The second track, “Can’t Put It In the Hands of Fate,” urges people to vote, and features Busta Rhymes. Both tracks will be released on his own label through Republic Records. Stevie Wonder has been on the Motown label since 1961.

(Source-NME.com)

 

Dr. Dre’s Estranged Wife Under Investigation For Embezzlement

“Things that’ll make ya say, hmmmm.”

The Los Angeles Police Department is reportedly investigating Dr. Dre’s estranged wife for embezzlement. After Nicole Young allegedly took out hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bank account of Dre’s Record One Studio, his business partner Larry Chatman has gone to the police. According to TMZ, Chatman filed a report with the LAPD claiming Young stole a total of 385-thousand-and-29 dollars from the company’s bank account. If convicted, Young could face jail time.

 

J. Cole Launches Dreamville Studios

J. Cole’s Dreamville Records has expanded. The company has announced both a media company, Dreamville Ventures, and a content studio, Dreamville Studios. Cole says Damien Scott and Candace Rodney will be leading the new division. In an interview with Variety, the “Forest Hills Drive” rapper said he believes they are “two of the smartest and most capable” execs in the business. Dreamville co-founder Ibrahim Hamad also echoed Cole’s sentiments. The news comes as Dreamville recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of their Grammy-nominated “Revenge Of The Dreamers Three” compilation effort.

 

“Coming 2 America” Coming To Amazon

“Coming 2 America” is coming to streaming. The sequel to the 1988 original with the same name is expected to land on Amazon December 18th after being sold from distributor Paramount Pictures for 125 million dollars, according to Variety. The sequel follows Eddie Murphy’s Akeem as he travels back to New York City to find a son he never knew — a street-savvy Queen-native named Lavelle. Murphy, along with Arsenio Hall and James Earl Jones, reprise their roles from the original, which grossed nearly 300-million worldwide.

Snoop Dogg’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot” Named Anthem For Mail-In Voting

Snoop Dogg is doing his part to encourage voting in the 2020 election. Snoop has allowed the Democratic National Committee to use his 2004 hit “Drop It Like It’s Hot” in a new ad campaign promoting mail-in voting. The Long Beach native has been very vocal about participating in the electoral process as he wants to get Donald Trump out of office. In June, he declared he’d vote for the first time in his life during an interview on Big Boy’s Neighborhood.

(Source-Variety)

Jay-Z offers to pay bail bonds for those arrested while protesting police shooting in Wisconsin

TIDAL X: Jay-Z B-sides in NYC

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty

WAUWATOSA, Wisc. — An organization founded by rapper Jay-Z has offered to pay the bail bonds and citation fees for those who were arrested in Wauwatosa Thursday night while protesting the decision not to charge a local police officer who shot and killed of 17-year-old in February.

Jay-Z is funding the bail bonds and citation fees through Team ROC, the social justice arm of the rapper’s entertainment company Roc Nation. The group also funded billboards calling for justice for Jacob Blake in the Kenosha area earlier this year.

Wauwatosa police said 24 people were arrested Thursday night while were protesting the decision to not charge Officer Joseph Mensah in the fatal February shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole. Those arrested included Alvin Cole’s mother, Tracy, and Alvin’s sisters.

In a statement issued Friday, Jay-Z and Team ROC called for Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to select a special prosecutor to “ensure justice is served.”

Team ROC says it also attempted to erect billboards to call for justice for Cole in Wauwatosa, but claims its request was apparently denied by the owner of the billboards, identified by the organization as the Lamar Advertising Company.

Team ROC says it also ran an advertisement in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel last summer, calling for Mensha’s immediate prosecution and firing. Mensah is currently suspended from the Wauwatosa Police Department but has not been fired.

“Our hearts break for the family of Alvin Cole and the Wauwatosa community,” Team ROC Director Dania Dia said in a statement. “Not only did the District Attorney’s Office fail to hold Officer Joseph Mensah accountable for killing Alvin, but the local police also arrested and injured Alvin’s mother Tracy and his sisters as they peacefully protested alongside Jacob Blake’s father. We will continue to stand with these families and support the peaceful protestors as we collectively fight for the legacies of Alvin Cole, Jay Anderson and Anthony Gonzales, who all died at the hands of Mensah. It’s imperative that Governor Evers appoint a special prosecutor to immediately rectify this miscarriage of justice.”

Michael Jackson Memorabilia Up For Auction

“If you have a few extra nickels”…

Some of Michael Jackson’s personal items are going up for auction. Guernsey’s auction house in New York is hosting the “Treasures Once Owned by Michael Jackson” sale on October 23rd. The items include a variety of things from artwork, to memorabilia from his early music career. People can now get their hands on The Jackson 5’s first label contract, 70 bronze sculptures that decorated the Neverland Ranch and a model of the Jolly Roger Pirate ship that Elizabeth Taylor gave Jackson.

Cardi B Partners With Reebok For New Sneaker

Cardi B is releasing a brand new Reebok shoe in honor of her birthday. The “WAP” rapper is partnering with the longstanding sneaker brand to release the Club Cardi C next month. Inspired by a “dystopian world,” the new sneaker is designed to be “unapologetically in your face” by taking the infamous Club C silhouette and adding Cardi’s flare for fashion and boldness. The Reebok sneaker is the latest birthday gift for Cardi, who already has a major fashion partnership with Balenciaga already in the bag. At her birthday bash in Las Vegas on Saturday, her estranged husband Offset decided to gift her a new Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The lavish offering from the Migos rapper comes as the two are still in the midst of a divorce, which Cardi filed for in September.

(Source–Forbes)

OutKast Celebrates ‘Stankonia’ 20th Anniversary With Digital Release

OutKast is celebrating the anniversary of one of their biggest albums, ‘Stankonia.’  As the project approaches its 20th anniversary on October 31st, Sony announced that the newly RIAA certified platinum singles “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad),” “Ms. Jackson” and “So Fresh, So Clean” – will be available in new bundles on all digital streaming platforms beginning October 30th.  According to a press release, each song comes bundled with instrumental, acappella and remixed versions in state-of-the-art 16 Bit sound.  Additionally, the “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)” bundle features three previously unreleased remixes from Cutmaster Swiff, Rage Against The Machine’s Zack de la Rocha and Beat Bullies.  ‘Stankonia’ itself will also be available digitally in 24 Bit and 360 Reality Audio on October 30th.  The newly-expanded version presents the original album in its entirety plus six bonus tracks.

(Source-Variety)

Master P To Receive ‘I Am Hip Hop’ Award At BET Awards

Master P will be honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards.  BET plans to celebrate the Hip Hop mogul’s career just a few months after the network aired its No Limit Chronicles documentary series, which detailed the story of P’s No Limit Records.  Past recipients of the I Am Hip Hop Award include legendary artists such as Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Rakim, LL COOL J and Salt-N-Pepa.  Last year, BET awarded Lil Kim with the honor.  The 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards will be hosted by The 85 South Show’s DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller and Chico Bean on October 27th.

 

Mariah Carey Writes Best-Selling Memoir

Mariah Carey is now a best-selling author.  The pop icon is number one on the charts again, but this time it’s the New York Times Bestsellers List.  Her new memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, is number one on the hardcover fiction list.  In the book, Carey talks about her romances, her career ups and downs and the racism she’s experienced.  She also shares the stories behind her long string of number one hits, many of which she wrote herself.  “The Meaning of Mariah Carey” is out now.

(Source–The Root)

Mariah Carey, Diddy & More Among “Most Dangerous Celebrities” In 2020

Fans might want to think twice when searching up their favorite superstars online. Security software company McAfee has released its annual list of the world’s “most dangerous celebrities.” The list features the celebrities who will most likely lead you to get malware or a virus if you search for them online. The number one most dangerous celebrity this year is Anna Kendrick. Number two is Sean “Diddy” Combs, followed by Blake Lively. Pop superstars Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake and Jason Derulo were among the top ten ‘most dangerous.’ Also on the list is Jimmy Kimmel, Julia Roberts and Kate McKinnon. The more popular a star is online, the more likely that scammers will find a way to attach malware to searches containing their names.

Eminem’s “Curtain Call: The Hits” Album Re-Enters Billboard 200

One of Eminem’s compilation albums has found its way back onto the charts. Billboard announced Wednesday that Slim Shady’s “Curtain Call: The Hits” project re-entered this week’s chart at Number 59. The album, which was released in 2005, pulled together 13 of Slim Shady’s biggest hits from his first four major label efforts and four new songs, including a live version of “Stan” with Elton John. Billed as Eminem’s second compilation album, the project debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200, selling roughly 441-thousand copies in its first week. “Curtain Call” already holds the crown for longest-running rap album in Billboard’s history, hitting 350 weeks in August 2017. It still trails far behind Pink Floyd’s 1973 classic “Dark Side of The Moon,” which remained on the chart for 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988.