Let EbenGregory tell it, we’re going to have peace even if we have to fight for it. In another serious topic of social commentary called THE JEWELRY REPORT, Suge Knight gets a free pass to the slammer after he gave his girlfriend of 3 years a hand necklace.
Let EbenGregory tell it, the woman who chooses the man who will choose her…ask Kim Kardashian. In another non-happy go lucky episode called THE JEWELRY REPORT, Ray J gets his ticket punched after VH1 green lights his new reality dating show. Two words: Uh-oh.
Jewelry Man One-Liners (Ne-Yo Edition).
Let EbenGregory tell it, the solution of every problem is another problem… ask DMX. In another happy go lucky episode of non-foolishness called THE JEWELRY REPORT, Juelz Santana reveals how Cam’ron balla blocked his money until he was sold to Def Jam for $2 million.
Let EbenGregory tell it, the time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing. In another not very serious episode of THE JEWELRY REPORT, Rick Ross’ goons allegedly give DJ Vlad the smack down after Vlad did too much reporting on the Boss’ C.O. scandal.
It is a new day for premier soul man JOE Thomas. After ten years signed to Jive Records, where he recorded the platinum discs All That I Am (1997) and My Name is Joe (2000), he has decided that now is the time to start taking chances. “Nothing against being signed to a major label, but most of the time it’s about what they want you to do as opposed to what the artist wants to do. I have nothing against Jive, but I really just wanted to be me. Seriously, I got tired of being held back.”
Teaming-up with his manager of 15 years, Kedar Massenburg, who also serves as executive producer on the much anticipated project, Joe has come back stronger than ever. Indeed, from the first listen to his soulful emancipation JOE Thomas,New Man (on 563 Music & Kedar Entertainment, distributed by Fontana Distribution), it is obvious from the looseness of his voice and the texture of his timbre that he was feeling a little different.
“Of course there is a happiness that comes with independence, but I also felt more confident in the studio,” JOE explains. “I was able to work at my own pace, choose my collaborators and sing the truth. Kedar and I have been working together forever, and we know how to make a great soul record.” Yet, just because JOE Thomas, New Man is an indie R&B record, does not mean that this is a bargain basement affair. “I’ve developed many close relationships with some of the best in the business,” Joe says. “When it came time for me to go into the studio I was able to call on my friends like Puffy, Bryan Michael Cox and (video director) Billie Woodruff to come through.”
In addition, Joe was also blessed with contributions from Nas, Game, Busta Rhymes, Mario and Trey Songz, Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy. “I only like working with people who can take their art to the next level. But, believe me, getting all the right folks for this project was a blessing.”
Releasing dual singles “ER” and “Why Just Be Friends,” the talented balladeer is more than ready to compete with his rivals on the radio. “The track “ER” was produced by a newcomer named D’Mile, a young and eager dude out of Brooklyn (Janet Jackson, “Feedback”),” Joe says. Serving as the opening for New Man, the theme of unrequited love is one that runs through the majority of the disc. “All of us know what it’s like to be feeling somebody who might not be feeling you,” laughs Joe. “For a lot of guys it’s not about what they have, but what they want.”
With a voice that is sweet as chocolate and strong as coffee, “Why Just Be Friends” is the perfect summer record detailing the carnal blight of dudes, as Joe explains, “gets caught in the friend zone too many times.” Produced by the Stereotypes, a crew hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Joe says, “They passed along some tracks, and I was really digging what these guys were doing. I mixed the song myself in a home studio I have owned for about eight years. I call it simply, Joe’s Crib Studio.”
Fact is, once the various tracks were perfect, most of Joe’s vocals were recorded from his home studio. “I like doing things quickly, and in the home studio I can get in the zone and work at my own pace.” On the club ballad “We Need to Roll,” the singer got a chance to make another musical dream of his come true.
“I recorded that song with Trey Songz and Mario, because you almost never hear R&B guys singing together,” Joe explains. “I remember how hyped I was when Quincy Jones put out ‘The Secret Garden,’ and I wanted that kind of vibe on the record.”
A southern boy who was raised by two preachers in his hometown of Columbus, Georgia and Opaleika, Alabama Joe mastered an array of instruments when he was still a kid. “I have nothing but respect for musicians,” Joe explains. “Though I don’t play on this project, I’m working on something special right now where I’m playing everything in the studio.” Admiring the genius and swagger of artists like Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway, Joe’s songs also share the sacred/profane dilemma in his music that elevates beyond the arena of his peers. From the sweet as cherry Kool-Aide lyrics on “Man In Your Life” to lonely teardrops of “Sorry” to the freaky deke of “Triple Black Room,” Joe continues to dig deep into his own psyche for the best material. “The artists who are my heroes, be it Marvin, Prince or Donny, were never too proud to reveal there true selves. It is impossible to be a true artists if your art isn’t honest. Although it might hurt sometimes, I have no problem baring the realness of my life in the songs.”
Coming across as a protector on the lush song “I Won’t Let Him Hurt You,” the track has slight Asian touches in the music that is beautiful. “I spend a lot of time overseas, and those sounds are as much a part of my influence as soul or gospel. I want to experiment, and mix a little of that flavor with what I do best.”
Smooth as butter and perfect as the pyramids the track “By Any Means” is one of those songs that lingers in the mind hours after you’ve heard it. Utilizing a cool groove laid-down by his homie Bryan Michael Cox (who has produced hits for Usher and Mariah Carey), this song is an obvious hit. “Bryan and I have worked together a few times in the past, and obviously his track record speaks for itself.”
Once nicknamed “the Casanova crooner” by Hip-Hop Soul magazine, New Man proves that Joe has lost none of his spunk or flavor. If anything, dude has simply gotten better. Let’s hear it for soul brother number one!
JOE Thomas, New Man is comes out on September 23, 2008 on Kedar Entertainment Group and is distributed by Universal Fontana Distribution.
Listen Here: Why Just Be Friends
Listen Here: Emergency Room
The sequel to 1999’s “Belly” starring West Coast rapper The Game hit retail stores yesterday.
Titled “Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club”, the film stars the Black Wall Street leader alongside actress Shari Headley. Unlike the original, which featured rappers DMX and Nas as drug dealers on the East Coast, the follow up is based in Compton, California.
The Game plays “G,” a recently released convict who gets back into the drug game. G meets Headley’s character, Alexis, who is secretly an undercover DEA agent. Both characters withhold the truth about their actual occupations, and their love relationship takes a dramatic turn as a twist is found at the end of the movie.
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Missy Elliott is still in the studio wrapping up her seventh studio album, “Block Party”. The album previously scheduled for a September release, has been pushed back.
The first official single “Best Best” was released last month. It’s a hot up tempo track produced by Danja. A video for the track is expected to be released soon.
Rolling Stone reported the album will feature “fun-for-the-club” beats, though Elliott tells that she and Timbaland are “trying different stuff, just going in blind and hoping that people will be with it.”
As previously reported by Yo! Raps, a warrant was issued for DMX’s arrest after her failed to show up for a scheduled court date. It seems that his failure to appear may not have been his fault, however, as his lawyer recently revealed he is actually in a Miami hospital.
X’s lawyer, Charles Kozelka, told MTV News yesterday (August 13) that the warrant is still active despite the judge’s acknowledgement of the rapper’s hospitalization.
Kozelka said the judge reject the idea of canceling the warrant because this is the second time X failed to show up in court and the court wasn’t advised of his hospital stay sooner.
Lil Jon’s life seems to be all about change right now. First, he hooked up with digital entertainment company The Orchard and sold his assets of bankrupt TVT Records to them. Now “everybody’s favorite hypeman” has decided to change the title of his album “Crunk Rock” as a reflection of his new musical direction.
“It’s totally given me a new energy, a new everything,” Jon said f the upcoming release. “When you have a lot of stress and negativity around you, when you cut that away, you cleanse…I’m starting over, basically.”
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