The Carnegie Group is pleased to announce that Ravenel Records and Sirius Radio's Hip Hop Nation have teamed up for a joint venture to release Nina B: "The Real Rap Supreme" mix-tape. "The Real Rap Supreme" which drops Friday the 13th boasts 13 tracks and is formatted like a live interview. The mix-tape touches on a variety of topics that allows the music world, fans, supporters, and yes even haters to get up close and personal with the bostress, Nina B. "The Real Rap Supreme" gives listeners an in dept look at who Nina B really is. It touches on the controversial subject of the reality show Miss Rap Supreme and why Nina opted out of being a contestant on the show. The mix-tape also includes an interview that Nina did with Sgt. Reggie Hawkins from Hip Hop Nation's after hours show.
"The Real Rap Supreme" will be available Friday, June 13 for FREE download at www.illroots.com reintroduces us to a female lyricist who hands down is a Real Rap Supreme (congrats to Reese Steele) With undeniable talent, dedication, a serious grind, and Ravenel Records behind her, there's no stopping Nina B; hip-hop's new leading lady!!
About Nina B Nina B is a native New Yorker who was born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn, two of hip-hop's breeding grounds. Hip-hop is her genre, and every rhyme she writes brings her one step closer to carving what will soon become her legacy in the history of the music game. At the tender age of six, Nina recorded her first rhyme on her playschool recorder. By age 9, she had written enough to have a catalog of poetry and music, which would soon pave the path to her becoming one of hip-hop's most promising female artist. As a young girl, Nina experienced the harsh reality of the streets and the trials and tribulations life had to offer. This attributes to the realness in the rhymes that she writes and her strength to overcome adversity.
Nina spent her teenage years writing and educating herself on the ins and outs of the music industry. By age 16, Nina was offered a major record deal, which she professionally declined. By nineteen, NINA B was an active participant in Russell Simmons/Bruce Willis Art Start and Hip-Hop Project, where she met Amber Ravenel, CEO of Ravenel Records. In 2003, Nina B signed with Ravenel Records, becoming the first female artist on their roster. Since then, Nina has released six mix-tapes, did a barrage of live performances at venues throughout the New York/Tri-State area, has been featured on some of hip-hop's most notable sites, and publications.
As a female artist signed to an independent label run by a woman, Nina B and Amber Ravenel have broken down barriers in what has always been considered a male dominated industry. Nina's song "Can't Stop" has been pick of the week on Hot 97's morning show with Miss Jones and DJ Envy. She has made four appearances on Rap City, a record for an independent female artist. She has also been highlighted on The Drhama Hour with DJ Kayslay and his Sirius Satellite Radio Show, Cipher Sounds "Don't Quit Your Day Job" Show, and "On The Spot" with DJ Green Lantern. These are all huge accomplishments for an artist not signed to a major record deal, being represented by an independent label. Combine Nina B's consistency, diligent work ethics, and lyrical flow, with the misfortunes of her past serving as her strength for her future, and you have a female artist whose future and success has no limits.
After 2 weeks on the Billboard charts, independent Texas rap trio, TMI Boyz, have jumped from #11 to #6 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop album chart with their debut, Grindin' for a Purpose, which hit stores nationwide on May 20th, making them a 'pacesetter.' They have also jumped from #88 to #79 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart.
Although the group is not supported by a major label, or have a current breakout radio single, TMI Boyz have made their presence felt to fans the old fashioned way - by grindin'. With Rap Coalition's Wendy Day at the helm, and the support of TMI Muzic CEO's Lil C and Mario Henchmen, TMI Boyz jumped in a van and hit the road, attending every rap-related event possible for over 6 months; ending with an FYE in-store promo tour that had the guys in over 50 cities in as many days.
Hailing from Galveston, TX and Houston's notorious South West, TMI Boyz are doing their small part to let the industry know that Texas is always going to play a major role in this rap game. The group has been featured in XXL, The Source, Ozone, Hip Hop Weekly and�Down, amongst many others, graced the front page of MySpace Music and had a video debut on BET's 106 & Park as a New Joint of the Day. Not bad for an independent group. TMI Boyz are consistently hailed as 'next to blow' by industry vets like Michael '5000' Watts, Bigga Rankin, Crisco Kidd�and DJ Smallz and as they continue to make their presence felt, that list keeps growing.
Those attending the Texas Urban Music Summit in Dallas this weekend can see TMI Boyz perform at the AllHipHop.com Breeding Ground event on Friday, June 27th and talks are being had for other major performance opportunities.
Snoop Dogg's first animated DVD, The Adventures of Tha Blue Collar Treatment DVD in Stores and On-Demand at CodeblackTV.com Today!
The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment is a psychedelic stream-of-consciousness trip through the magical mind of Snoop Dogg.This feature-length animated film showcases music from Snoop's smash hit album "The Blue Carpet Treatment," along with cameos and guest voices from many of hip hop's biggest stars such as E-40, The Game, Nate Dogg, Kurupt and B-Real from Cypress Hill. Comedians Mike Epps and Katt Williams also lend their talents to the film as well.
"The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment is a funky-fresh-fricassee of animated hood psychedelic mixed with the West Coast bounce and lean of creator Snoop Dogg's smash hit album, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment. The straight-to-DVD brings to life the Doggfather's magical mind state, full of colorful Roy G. Biv'S: blue rags, Pittsburgh Steeler low-low's and the stickiest of the green." - Kevin L. Clark of TheUrbanDaily.com
To purchase On-Demand, go to CodeBlackTV: Codeblacktv.com/ DVD Purchase Link
Official Trailer
Several students from the No More Victims, Inc. advocacy program, founded and headed by Marilyn Gambrell, made the big walk last Thursday despite the many odds against them doing so. These are children from Northeast Houston's M.B. Smiley High School who have one or more parent in prison, some of them doing life sentences. By the mere act of graduating these young people have been able to achieve success despite some very tough odds, something that is statistically not expected of them.
Smiley High is closing it's doors this year, making this the final graduating class from this school, so, to make this event very special, music publicist Nancy Byron worked with Gambrell to get nationally known rappers such as Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Trae tha Truth and Michael '5000' Watts, some of whom themselves attended Smiley,to participate and give the graduating kids some much deserved congratulations and encouragement to keep up the great work. The event was held at a Houston Pappadeaux's restaurant where the young graduates were dropped off in donated stretch limos.
Congratulations guys and all the best in the future!
No More Victim's, Inc. is an advocacy program for infants and children of incarcerated parents; offering counseling, mentoring, and educational assistance. To many of the children it is the only family they know. No More Victims, Inc. is a program unique to the city of Houston and currently has over 700 members, both past and present. The amazing work Marilyn has done with the children enrolled in her program (only 3% of the children who have gone through her program have ended up in prison themselves) has garnered not only national media attention (CNN, US News and World Report, People), but a motion picture, Fighting the Odds; The Marilyn Gambrell Story, was released by the Lifetime Television Network in 2005, starring Jami Gertz as Marilyn Gambrell, that continues to air on a monthly basis to this day. The film won an Emmy Nomination as an outstanding feature film.
LaFace/Zomba recording artist Usher debuts at No. 1 on SoundScan's Pop and R&B Albums charts with his fifth studio album, Here I Stand. This is the highest debut of the year for a male artist.
Here I Stand is the Atlanta-based singer's second No. 1 debut on the Top 200 Albums chart and his third No. 1 debut on the R&B Albums chart. This week Usher dominates international charts as well, bowing at No. 1 in Canada, Japan (International Chart), Australia, and for the third time in a row, debuts at No. 1 on the UK Albums chart. Additionally, Here I Stand enters Top 5 on album charts in Ireland, Switzerland, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
Fans and critics have praised the singer/songwriter's newest effort: The New York Times declares, "Usher knows what works in the suave come-ons that have made him the male R&B sex symbol for a generation;" Entertainment Weekly raves, ".Stand's tunes deserve a place in the dance-floor pantheon;" The Los Angeles Times observes, ". [Here I Stand] a more accomplished version of "Confessions," the hooks more effortless, the singing even better, the songwriting more consistent."
Usher's latest certified hit, "Love In This Club" featuring Young Jeezy, has remained a Top 10 staple on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart for 14 consecutive weeks and has sold close to 3 million digital units (digital singles, ringtones and ringbacks) to date. The poignant follow-up single, "Moving Mountains" is rapidly climbing the singles charts and the riveting video, filled with breath-taking special effects, recently debuted on MTV and BET.
Prima J Self Titled Debut Album - In Stores June 17th
Prima J - "Corazon (You're Not Alone)" - (audio)
Prima J Inside Out: Getting Signed(Episode 7)
About Prima J
The name of their debut single may be "Rock Star," but the two cousins that make up Prima J are everything but. In fact, Jessica and Janelle Martinez are so down-to-earth, it seems just as odd that their song is the lead track from the Bratz™ Motion Picture Soundtrack (released by Geffen Records July 31st, with the movie following August 3). Far from precocious and everything but bratty, the pair are actually a real-life version of the comradery and competitive edge captured in the movie.
Their recent discovery and success aside, Jessica and Janelle still can't believe that they've not only signed a record deal and are currently finishing their debut album for release later this year, but are also appearing in what is expected to be one of the summer's cinema hits and have recorded an infectious single destined to help make the soundtrack a smash. "None of this has hit either of us yet," says Janelle, 18. "I feel like I'm dreaming and someone needs to wake me up. It's one thing to record a song and a video, but it's another thing to hear it on the radio or see it on TV. That's where it'll really hit me."
Forgive the girls for not having teen-idol egos, but they're just too happy and excited to be doing the same thing they've been doing for most of their lives-singing and dancing. "We just did the video for "Rock Star,' and it was the greatest experience ever," says Jessica, 19, with an excited laugh. "We love dancing, and we were dancing all day. It's so great to get this opportunity to do it in front of a camera, and show people that we do belong here!"
Jessica and Janelle Martinez got their start as a duo when they were barely old enough to talk, performing choreographed cheerleading and dance routines for their family each week during halftime of Dallas Cowboys football games. With five uncles, two aunts, and at least three cousins with each, those family gatherings were large, which explains why the girls, then four, have no problem strutting their stuff in front of audiences now. Says Jessica, "We were always more into music than the rest of our family, and as we got older took every chance we'd get to perform, whether it was cheerleading, dancing, school plays, choir."
"She did all of the clubs, student government, and had straight-A's," says Janelle with a grin. "I was more the class clown, tom-boy type. I like to get my nails and hair done, but at the same time, like to kick it with my guy friends and do sports. She's the girly one that likes to be chill. I'm the bungee jumper and sky diver that likes roller coasters!" Together, they're a high-energy pair of real-life girls next door that blend the energy of Janet Jackson and the spunk of Gwen Stefani with the urban pop of TLC and the hip-hip bop of trailblazing duo Salt-N-Pepa.
Living in Rosemead, CA, a predominantly Latin American suburb of Los Angeles, the girls were active in choreography and dancing when they were introduced to Stefanie Ridel, a former bandmate of Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson in the pop act Wild Orchid. Ridel took the pair under her creative wing, and quickly realized that while trios are a lot more common in pop music than duos, this was one pair that would survive just fine on their own.
"We've always stuck together, and we've always had that fire and known that we really wanted to do this," says Jessica. "If one of us was good at something, the other was just as good, because we always did everything together." "And, if one of us ever thought we couldn't do something, we've always been there to support each other," says Janelle. "We're so close, we're like sisters, we're best friends and we're never apart. This is just a dream come true."
"Now that we've gotten this far, we've realized that it doesn't matter if you're the average, girl-next-door type," says Jessica. "It doesn't matter what you look like or where you're from, you should never think that you can't accomplish something."
As Mexican-Americans, they hope to be role models to both American and Latin girls, as they consider themselves the face of the new Hispanic in America, part of an emerging generation that "speaks English and lives Latin." They even go so far as to affectionately refer to each other as "chilosa," a made-up word that they feel defines Prima-J: two sassy, classy, spicy and feisty girls. They may be the girls next door, but they're also fun and fearless, with an independent spirit and deep sense of inner confidence.
"We want to have a good time, but we also want to send a message to younger people and be idols for American and the Latin community," sums Janelle. "Too many people don't know that if they set their mind to it, they can accomplish anything, just like we have." That's chilosa!
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LIL JJ'S: ALMOST GROWN VARIETY SHOW DVD available in stores June 3rd CodeBlack Entertainment Pre-Order DVD Here
SYNOPSIS
Almost Grown is a live variety / sketch show hosted by Lil JJ, the star of Nickelodeon's hit sitcom, "Just Jordan". Almost Grown showcases Lil JJ's comedy, acting, rapping and dancing talents. Almost Grown also features show stopping performances by teen heartthrob Lil Tre, the precociously talented nNocent, Life and the Almost Grown Dancers.
DVD BONUS FEATURES
Exclusive song and music video entitled "Almost Grown"
Hilarious behind the scenes footage of the making of Almost Grown
"Da Jammies" trailer & Music Video
VIEW OFFICIAL TRAILER
Ashanti brings her best game and more on her fourth studio album, the aptly titled The Declaration, arriving in June of 2008 as the most complete and compelling offering of her career. A soaring collection of new tracks, penned by the multi-talented artist, the intricately produced album captures her alluring presence and incredible vocal range.
The Declaration is an impressive rollout of A-list producers, including Jermaine Dupri, LT Hutton, Babyface, Pharrell Williams, Bryan Michael Cox and others. A sizzling snapshot of the heat-seeking Ashanti can be gleamed from the new single; "The Way That I Love You" produced LT Hutton. The song skillfully plays up the ever-present voice of the star. You can feel Ashanti reveling in her new-found independence, which she effortlessly displays with a powerful sense of purpose throughout every song on the new album. "One of the reasons I call the album "The Declaration,' is because I feel it's important to present all sides of what being a woman is about," she says. "Historically, we've always been relegated to the bottom of the totem pole, whether it's business or the battle of the sexes or just empowering each other. I want this album to make people feel stronger about themselves. I've always used the ups and downs in my own life as well as others close to me as a motivational tool and I hope my music comes off that way. I felt a lot of passion making this record. I loved every minute I was in the studio."
Singer/Songwriter, Actor, Author Ashanti is a native of Glen Cove, Long Island. She burst onto the music scene with her 2002 smash hit debut album self-titled Ashanti. The album landed at the #1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a whopping 504,593 units in its first week. Her first week set a Sound scan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in the chart's history, granting her a spot in the Guinness book of world records. Simultaneously, Ashanti also secured the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and the R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart with her song, "Foolish." She made Billboard history by having her first three chart entries land in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. She is the first female to accomplish this feat previously only attained by the Beatles. That year she was awarded 8 Billboard Awards. Her album "Ashanti" topped the Billboard Album Chart and also won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. In addition, that year she won 2 American Music Awards and the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the year Award. Her follow-up release, "Chapter II," debuted in the no. 1 slot on the Billboard Album Chart and spawned two Top-10 singles. In addition to her Grammy, she's also won an NAACP Image Award. Numerous Soul Train Awards, A MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award, A Comet Award (Grammy Equivalent in Germany), Lady of Soul Awards and a Teen Choice and Nickelodeon's Kid Choice Award, along with many other nominations including an MTV movie award nomination for "Coach Carter." Ashanti's other albums include "Ashanti's Christmas", "Concrete Rose", and a remix album titled, "Collectibles by Ashanti".
Ashanti is hot off the #1 box office hit, "Resident Evil Extinction" staring opposite Milla Jovovich for Sony Screen Gems. Previously, she stared in the hugely successful "John Tucker Must Die" in an ensemble cast composed of Ashanti, Brittany Snow, Sofia Bush, Ariel Kebble and Jessie Metcalfe. In her feature film debut "Coach Carter," she co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson. She can be seen as an Indian Songstress who sings in Hindi and English as she dances in the film, "Bride & Prejudice." Ashanti made her telefilm debut helming "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz," opposite Miss Piggy and Kermit. She got her start in acting on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," and portrayed Dionne Warwick on "American Dreams."
She has written her first book of poetry through Hyperion titled Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love which is currently in its sixth edition.
Ashanti is also an entrepreneur who has her own fragrance, "Precious Jewel" sold at Wal-Mart and other fine stores as well as a Dietary Supplement "Ashanti's OPC-3 Beauty Blend".
Her endorsements include: Herbal Essences, where she is the first African American to land a national campaign, Candies Apparel, as well as MUDD Jeans, "DELICIOUS CURVES".
Ashanti has performed before Presidents and Royalty. She has performed duets with the likes of Pattie Labelle, Smokie Robinson, Ronald Isley, Stevie Wonder and Kenny Chesney to name a few. She has appeared on shows ranging from Oprah, Ellen, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis & Kelly, Saturday Night Live, The View, Conan O'Brien, BET 106 & Park, MTV TRL, VH1 and Fuse TV among others. She has performed on virtually every music awards show from the American Music Awards to the Grammy's, the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Europe Awards, the Soul Train Awards and the Kids' Choice Awards. She is an American Favorite, singing the National Anthem and God Bless America for major events including the World Series.
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