Suite 411 » Music

Jennifer Holliday remembers ‘Dreamgirls’

allison — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:04:41 +0000

Check out my interview in the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper with Tony- and Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Holliday as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Broadway production of “Dreamgirls.”

Read interview

Kanye West and Jay-Z sued over ‘The Joy’

allison — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:41:02 +0000

A federal lawsuit was filed Friday by a Chicago producer claiming his 1967 song “Different Strokes” was illegally sampled on “The Joy,” a song by rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z that is featured on their album, “Watch the Throne.”

Veteran soul singer Syl Johnson, whose real name is Sylvester Thompson, produced, sang, and recorded the 1967 song, “Different Strokes,” which has been sampled by other artists including Michael Jackson, Kid Rock, Tupac Shakur and rap group NWA, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

The suit claims that Kanye West and Jay-Z did not obtain permission from Johnson’s Syl-Zel Music Company to use a composition excerpt in the “The Joy,” a song featured on their “Watch the Throne” album.

Johnson owns the copyrights of the song and claims that West initially attempted to obtain permission to use a “Different Strokes” sample in the release of his 2010 album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” but was unable to obtain permission in time for its release, the suit said.

The “Watch the Throne” album was released about August 2011 with a song entitled “The Joy,” which featured a sample of “Different Strokes” that was not authorized, the suit said.

The five-count suit claims copyright infringement, unfair competition, and fraud. It seeks a jury trial, permanently restraining the rappers from performing the song “The Joy” in concert or distributing the recording. The suit also requests an order to impound all recordings of the song, an accounting of the revenues and a judgment for the balance due Johnson. It also seeks punitive damages, attorney fees and court costs.

So does he have a case? Take a listen.

Damian Marley becomes ‘Super Heavy’

allison — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:17:32 +0000

Reggae star Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley collaborates with Rolling Stones band member Mick Jagger to form all-star band, Super Heavy.

Super Heavy consists of British soul diva Joss Stone, Marley, Jagger, Eurythmics founder Dave Stewart and Oscar-winning Indian film composer A.R. Rahman.

Jagger and Stewart formed the band and decided to enlist Marley because they were fans of his 2005 Grammy-winning album, “Welcome to Jamrock,” USA Today reports.

The recently released 12-track, self-titled album, “Super Heavy,” was recorded in early 2009 in a Los Angeles music studio and is comprised of rock, soul, reggae, blues, pop and Indian music.

Common details life, Erykah Badu in memoir

allison — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:03:45 +0000

Rapper and actor Common is currently in his hometown of Chicago promoting his memoir in which he opens up about his break-up with soul singer Erykah Badu.

The book, “One Day It’ll All Make Sense,” is an autobiography by Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., aka Common, 39, and shares its title with his 1997 album, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

In the memoir, Common reveals how soul singer Erykah Badu broke his heart by dumping him over the phone in 2002. He also discusses growing up on the South Side of Chicago.

“I think we have a very true, authentic, warm sense about us coming from Chicago,” Common said. “There’s also some grit and rawness and ruggedness that exists, too. That comes out in things I’ve done. Some of those incidents I talk about where I got into fights, some street things I was involved in — it’s part of Chicago life, it’s part of me. People don’t always picture Common doing those things, but we’ve all got a past. I’m not afraid to look back.”

His new album, “The Dreamer, the Believer” is due out in November.

Video: Whitney Houston’s daughter covers Adele song

allison — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 07:35:16 +0000

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina posted a video of herself on Twitter Saturday singing Adele’s “Someone Like You.”

She also tweeted, “Just a little cover, nothing serious. Thanks all! & thank you@OfficialAdele for making this song, so beautiful, you are so incredibly talented.”

Video: Jill Scott feat. Anthony Hamilton ” So In Love”

allison — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:06:43 +0000

Jill Scott is gearing up for the June 21st release of her fourth album, “The Light of the Sun,” with a summer tour which kicks off July 28 in New York. Check out her new single “So In Love” featuring Anthony Hamilton.

The concert, sponsored by the Budweiser Superfest, will feature soul singer Hamilton and Mint Condition as the opening acts, while DJ Jazzy Jeff will spin the beats and Doug E. Fresh will host, reports Billboard.

See her upcoming tour dates under the cut.

Scott is also headlining the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans along with Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz and Kanye West from July 1-3.

Here are Scott’s upcoming tour dates:

July 28: New York, N.Y.
July 30: Detroit, Mich.
July 31: Chicago, Ill.
Aug. 3: Cleveland, Ohio
Aug. 4: St. Louis, Mo.
Aug. 6: Philadelphia, Pa.
Aug. 7: Washington, D.C.
Aug. 10: Los Angeles, Calif.
Aug. 14: Oakland, Calif.
Aug. 17: Memphis, Tenn.
Aug. 19: Atlanta, Ga.
Aug. 21: Virginia Beach, Va.
Aug. 23: Raleigh, N.C.
Aug. 24: Charlotte, N.C.
Aug. 27: Dallas, Tex.
Aug. 28: Houston, Tex.

Singer Teena Marie dead at age 54

allison — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:15:46 +0000

Soul singer Teena Marie died in her sleep of unknown causes Christmas night in her Los Angeles home. She was 54.

Born Mary Christine Brockert, Lady T is best known for classic songs such as “Portugese Love,” “Lovergirl,” “Square Biz,” and “Fire and Desire.” She is known for her collaborations with mentor and funk legend Rick James who died in 2004.

Her manager Mike Gardner said that her daughter found her body, according to CNN.

Enjoy her classic song,”Portugese Love.”

Miguel performs on Jimmy Kimmel Live

allison — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:44:44 +0000

I’ve been feeling the song, “All I Want is You” all summer. It is great that it is finally getting some shine. New artist Miguel performed the song Tuesday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He kind of reminded me of a young Prince with his stage performance. The half-Black, half-Mexican singer brought some theatrics. Gotta love it.

Check out his performance…

Miguel talks at his father’s home in South Central L.A. about his path to a music career.

Lauryn Hill headlines ‘Rock the Bells’

allison — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:55:50 +0000

Lauryn Hill performs at the annual hip-hop fest, Rock the Bells, this past weekend in San Bernadino, California. Here’s video of her performing the Fugees hit single, Ready or Not:

Video: Lauryn Hill performs live at Harmony Festival

allison — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 06:00:32 +0000

Last weekend, Lauryn Hill performed at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, CA. Hill performed her hit song, “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and the Fugees hit, “Fu-Gee-La”.