Category Archives: R&B

Christina Aguilera select dates of her Liberation Tour in 2018

Christina Aguilera heading to Chicago and Oakland and all points in between

by Tamara Jenkins

GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Christina Aguilera has announced rap superstar Big Boi will join her tour as a special guest this fall on select dates of her Liberation Tour.

The tour will be produced by Live Nation and will kick off the limited engagement run on September 25th and travel to 22 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

This is Aguilera’s first tour since 2008 and she will perform at many of North America’s most intimate venues including two dates at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, two dates at The Chicago Theatre, and stops in Boston, Oakland, Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and more.

Big Boi is a seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winning, RIAA diamond-certified musician and is currently celebrating his third full-length solo album, BOOMIVERSE. The project includes hit track “All Night,” “In The South” featuring Gucci Mane and Pimp C and singles “Mic Jack” featuring Adam Levine and “Kill Jill” featuring Killer Mike & Jeezy.

Christina Aguilera

Christina released new song “Accelerate feat. Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz” and “Twice” earlier this month, the first songs from her forthcoming and highly anticipated album, Liberation. She will also be performing “Fall in Line,” her newly announced duet with Demi Lovato, at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20th.

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning today at 10 am local time through Thursday, May 17th at 10 pm local time. Tickets are on sale to the general public starting Friday, May 18th at 10am local time at Ticketmaster.com.

Liberation will be released Friday, June 15th and is available for pre-order now. Every online ticket purchased for Christina Aguilera’s 2018 tour includes a standard CD copy of her new album, Liberation. Instructions on how to redeem a copy will be provided by Ticketmaster within 24 hours of ticket purchase via email.

Ne-Yo to Release Non-Fiction on January 27th

Superstar hitmaker NE-YO returns with his first album in two years, Non-Fiction, which will be released in the U.S. on January 27, 2015 by Motown Records/Compound Entertainment. The international release will follow on February 16. See below for track listing.

Non-Fiction finds NE-YO collaborating with some of the most talented names in music today. Juicy J is featured on the new single, “She Knows,” which was produced by powerhouse pop guru Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus). Billboardhailed the track as “spare and hard-hitting” while Complex praised its “traditional R&B style.”

“This track is dedicated to the kind of strong, confident woman who demands attention when she walks in the room. All you can think of is, ‘yeah she knows.’ She knows she is beautiful. She knows all eyes are on her. She knows how to command the room,” explains NE-YO. “Dr. Luke’s production is incredible and J brings his club swag to the track. No matter what the song is about, he can always take the subject matter home.”

Other featured artists include Candice, David Guetta, Jeezy, Charisse Mills, Schoolboy Q and T.I. “Time of Our Lives,” NE-YO’s new collaboration with Pitbull, appears on both Non-Fiction and Pitbull’s new album.

The pre-order for Non-Fiction launches today. Fans who pre-order Non-Fictionon iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon will instantly receive “She Knows” feat. Juicy J, “Money Can’t Buy” feat. Jeezy and “Religious.” Non-Fiction will be available in standard and deluxe configurations. The iTunes and Target editions of the deluxe album will each contain two additional tracks exclusive to those retailers.

As its title suggests, every song on Non-Fiction is derived from a true story. Some are NE-YO’s own personal tales while others were submitted by fans on social-media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

“I didn’t just want to tell my story. I like letting people try to guess which is which!” explains NE-YO. “I’m a storyteller: with this album, I wanted to put a magnifying glass on that. I wanted Non-Fiction to feel cinematic: each track gives listeners something entertaining, yet if they take their time with it, they’ll discover different dimensions and subplots.”

NE-YO was joined in the studio by production mainstays from throughout his career such as Shae Taylor and Stargate plus new associates Key Wayne and Glass John and members of his own Compound Music production team, including Corporal. DJ Camper (JAY Z, Kanye West, John Legend) also worked on many tracks.

The new songs are the kind of ultra-relevant narratives blended with powerful hooks that NE-YO became renowned for – both on his own hits like “So Sick,” “Closer” and “Miss Independent” and tracks he’s helped craft for Rihanna, Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Whitney Houston, Pitbull, Ciara and many others.Non-Fiction follows his late 2012 release, R.E.D. (Realizing Every Dream), which received stellar reviews. USA Today noted, “There isn’t a more natural singer/songwriter in contemporary R&B than NE-YO” and The Washington Post hailed him as an “extremely gifted and versatile songwriter.” NE-YO‘s first three studio albums debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan chart and were all certified RIAA Platinum. He is a three-time GRAMMY® winner and a two-time winner at the BET, MOBO and Soul Train Music awards.

Track Listing – Non-Fiction

Standard Edition

Run feat. Schoolboy Q
Integrity feat. Charisse Mills
One More feat. T.I.
Who’s Taking You Home feat. David Guetta
Time of Our Lives with Pitbull
Coming With You
Good Morning
Make It Easy
Money Can’t Buy feat. Jeezy
Religious
She Knows feat. Juicy J
She Said I’m Hood Tho feat. Candice
Story Time
Congratulations

Chris Brown & Trey Songz Between the Sheets Tour

Multi-platinum selling artists Chris Brown and Trey Songz upcoming BETWEEN THE SHEETS TOUR will kick off in 2015. Produced and promoted exclusively by Live Nation, the BETWEEN THE SHEETS TOUR will take the two entertainment heavyweights to 25 cities across North America starting Jan. 28, 2015 in Hampton, Va. at the Hampton Coliseum, with additional dates lined up in Brooklyn, Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia,Chicago, Toronto, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Tyga will be a special guest on the tour. A full list of tour dates is below.

Tickets for the general public went on sale Monday, Nov. 17.

Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Chris Brown recently made his sixth #1 album entry on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart with his latest release X (RCAS Records). The album also debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top Albums chart, marking his sixth album debut within the Top Ten. X sold over 140,000 units in its first week while Spotify streams of the album continue to rise. With his incredible national television debut performance of the album’s title track on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and recent much-buzzed about performance of “New Flame” with Usher at the iHeart Music Festival, combined with the ongoing chart-topping success of “Loyal,” there’s no question why the talented Chris remains a mainstay at top of the charts.

His latest album, Trigga, debuted at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart and is the sixth studio album by the Grammy-nominated entertainer/artist known as Trey Songz. The album was released onJuly 1, 2014, by Songbook and Atlantic Records. Following the release of his fifth studio album Chapter V (2012), which also debuted #1, Songz made his acting debut in Texas Chainsaw 3D and Baggage Claim in (2013). The same year Songz began work on his sixth studio album collaborating with artists including Nicki Minaj, Mila J, Ty Dolla $ign, Justin Bieber and Juicy J.

BETWEEN THE SHEETS TOUR
All dates and venues below subject to change.

Wed Jan. 28	Hampton, VA	Hampton Coliseum
Thu Jan. 29	Brooklyn, NY	Barclays Center
Sat Jan. 31	Baltimore, MD	Royal Farms Arena (on sale Nov. 22)
Tue Feb. 03	Atlanta, GA	Phillips Arena
Thu Feb. 05	New Orleans, LA	Smoothie King Arena
Fri Feb. 06	Dallas, TX	American Airlines Center
Sat Feb. 07	Houston, TX	Toyota Center
Mon Feb. 09	Charlotte, NC	Time Warner Cable Arena
Tue Feb. 10	Greensboro, NC	Greensboro Coliseum
Thu Feb. 12	Sunrise, FL	BB&T Center
Sat Feb. 14	Columbus, OH	Nationwide Arena
Sun Feb. 15	Detroit, MI	Joe Louis Arena
Wed Feb. 18	Philadelphia, PA	Wells Fargo Center
Thu Feb. 19	Worcester, MA	DCU Center (on sale Nov. 22)
Sat Feb. 21	East Rutherford, NJ	IZOD Center
Sun Feb. 22	Washington, D.C.	Verizon Center (on sale Nov. 22)
Tue Feb. 24	Montreal, QC	Bell Centre (on sale Nov. 15)
Wed Feb. 25	Toronto, ON	Air Canada Centre
Fri Feb. 27	Rosemont, IL	Allstate Arena
Sat Feb. 28	Cincinnati, OH	U.S. Bank Arena (on sale Nov. 24)
Sun March 01	Nashville, TN	Bridgestone Arena
Tue March 03	Minneapolis, MN	Target Center
Fri March 06	San Jose, CA	SAP Center
Sat March 07	Las Vegas, NV	Mandalay Bay Events Center
Sun March 08	Los Angeles, CA	The Forum

Mary J. Blige To Release The London Sessions December 2nd

Mary J. Blige has once again confounded expectations and ventured into new musical territory by crossing the Atlantic to collaborate with some of this decade’s most celebrated UK musical talent – including Disclosure, Eg White, Emile Sandé, Jimmy Napes, Naughty Boy, SAM ROMANS and Sam Smith – and recorded a new studio album, The London Sessions. This extraordinary new collection will be released December 2 on Capitol Records.

According to Capitol Music Group Chairman Steve Barnett, “Mary J. Blige created a one-of-a-kind blend of hip-hop and soul that has excited fans for more than 20 years, making her one of the most successful and acclaimed artists in any genre of music. The London Sessions is a fantastic album; another step forward for this great and enduring artist, and I am thrilled that she is now an important member of our Capitol Records family.”

“It’s all about the London Music scene and I’m so excited to have been part of it, to record my album,” says Blige. “The songs are fun, therapeutic and soulful. This is a beautiful change for me and I’m proud of what we have done here.”

”The London Sessions is, number one, the bravest thing, and number two, just so honest,” says Smith, who co-wrote lead single,“Therapy,” with Blige and Eg White (Adele, Florence + The Machines, James Blunt). Disclosure adds, “It’s the reason that people like Mary are so successful – they’re just not afraid to change what they do completely.”

This fearlessness propelled Blige to London’s thriving musical community, who embraced her fully and helped her create an album that displays the true evolution of an artist. Each of the collaborators worked with Blige to create a new body of work driven by her one-of-a-kind voice. The results are altogether thrilling.

The album’s debut track, “Therapy,” borrows from Doo-wop with its simple beat, minimal instrumentation and backing harmonies, as it glides along Blige’s signature soulful voice. The song will become available as an instant grat track on September 23, as part of the album pre-order on iTunes.

Blige will make her next appearance at the iTunes Festival in the UK on September 25.

With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 31 nominations), a 2012 Golden Globe nomination, and four American Music Awards, Blige is a global superstar. And in ensuing years, the singer/songwriter has attracted an intensely loyal fan base – responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums.

Mary J. Blige To Release The London Sessions December 2nd

Blige will make her next appearance at the iTunes Festival in the UK on September 25.

Keyshia Cole Sets October 7 Release Date For Point Of No Return

Multi-platinum recording artist Keyshia Cole will release her sixth studio album, Point Of No Return, on October 7. The album features her sexy new single “She” which depicts Cole’s commitment to self love. Among the guest artists featured on the album are Wale, Future, 2 Chainz, Juicy J, andAugust Alsina. Prominent producers on Point Of No Return are Mike WiLL (Miley Cyrus,Kanye West, Rihanna, 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Lil Wayne), Stargate (Beyonce, Rihanna), DJ Mustard (YG, 2 Chainz).

With two top-rated series under her belt at BET Networks, Cole returns this fall with her new show “THE UNTITLED KEYSHIA COLE PROJECT” This 6-episode docu-series reveals her continued struggles with the real-life issues that face all of us including career complications, marital strife, and motherhood challenges. Laced with humor, drama and a hefty dose of love, the series will document Keyshia’s painful setbacks and personal victories as she continues to defy her critics.

The Autobiography of Rick James Now Available

Rick James and acclaimed music biographer David Ritz met in 1979 in Marvin Gaye’s studio while Ritz was interviewing Gaye for a biography. Intrigued, James urged Ritz to interview him, too, for a biography. Decades of those interviews and research have become GLOW: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF RICK JAMES (Atria Hardcover; 978-1-4767-6414-6; July 8, 2014; $26), a posthumously published memoir-in James’s own words-of the tumultuous life of the disco-age music superstar.

Famous for his shamelessly raunchy dance songs, Rick James never made a secret of his sex- and drug-loving lifestyle. In GLOW, he narrates his life from the setting of Folsom Prison, where he spent time in the 1990s as part of his sentence for assault and kidnapping. There, he met a fellow inmate named Brother Guru, and GLOW is written as a conversation with Guru, whose probing questions forced James to assess his past behavior.

Little James Ambrose Johnson was a voracious reader and musical prodigy whose mother worked as a cleaning lady and ran numbers at night to support her eight kids in Buffalo, New York. Noticing his interest in music, she sneaked him into nightclubs-where, hidden underneath cocktail tables, he was mesmerized by the performances of jazz musicians such as Etta James and Miles Davis. Years later, he would wander to Toronto, where he ended up playing with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, and then California, to ultimately create music that led him to become a household name in the 1980s with hit songs like “Super Freak,” “Mary Jane,” and “17.” Later in life, his unstoppable addictions to sex and drugs led him to prison.

In the pages of GLOW, readers learn of Rick James’s connection with dozens of music industry icons, including David Crosby, Marvin Gaye, Berry Gordy, Teena Marie, Prince, Diana Ross, Stephen Stills, Steven Tyler, and Stevie Wonder. He describes his epiphany, as a young man, at seeing John Coltrane and Jackie Wilson on the same night; explains the inspiration behind many of the tracks on his albums; shares how Stevie Wonder was the one who suggested he change his name to Rick James; reveals that the story crediting Diana Ross with discovering the Jackson 5 was fabricated-and who really discovered them; admits that he had several secret overdoses and sought one of the many Beverly Hills “Dr. Feelgoods” to prescribe pain pills; and regrets how he ruined a precious sketch of himself just created by the great artist Salvador Dali.

In GLOW, Rick James describes himself as “A rebel, a renegade, and artist-singer-writer-producer-bandleader intent on branding my identity in the most dramatic terms. My music was about me-a man deep into drugs, sex, and funk.” Yet, despite his bad boy behavior, Rick James was an undeniable talent and a unique, unforgettable human being. His “glow” was an overriding quality that one of his mentors saw in him-and one that will stay with readers who taste this wildly entertaining, profound autobiography of the man who left an indelible mark on American popular music.

RICK JAMES (1948-2004) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, best known for popularizing funk music in the late 1970s and early 1980s with million-selling hits.

For more info, visit http://www.defmix.com.

New Album “Bridges” by singer-songwriter Joe NOW AVAILABLE

The eleventh studio album “Bridges” by Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Joe arrives in stores today. Described as a therapeutic retrospect, “Bridges” takes a look into the multi-talented singer, songwriter-producer’s outlook on life’s relationship endeavors and where they have taken him. Derek “DOA” Allen (Tyrese, Wale, Smokey Norful), Edrick Miles (Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne), Gerald Isaac (Mary J. Blige, Mario, Angie Stone) and Taj Jackson (Ne-Yo, Monica, Janet Jackson) are among the producers and songwriters. Album collaborations include Kelly Rowland and 50 Cent.

On BRIDGES, Joe again brings to the forefront the elegant simplicity and amazing vocals that have made him one of music’s most accomplished and popular singers with a strong foothold in today’s R&B music. Songs like “Sex Ain’t A Weapon,” with its strong shuffle beat reminiscent of Marvin Gaye, keeps you grooving on the subject matter of the women who choose to hold back or deprive their man of lovin.’ A Queen B should never hold back the honey…not later but sooner girl you’ll hear the rumor that other fish been swimming around in your sea.”

Then there’s the powerful and thought-provoking ballad “If You Lose Her.” The song positions Joe as a spokesman encouraging guys or the gambling man to think about the consequence of neglect through their own selfish pleasures, placing them at the very cusp of losing a good woman. If you lose her, there’ll be a hole in your soul, no grave deep enough to bury the pain….Other songs include the future ladies anthem “First Lady,” “The Rest Will Follow,” the party driven “Take It To The House,” “Blame Her Broken Heart On Me,” and the eloquent soul-stirring ballad “Till The Rope Gives Way.

Joe, who has collaborated with some of today’s most contemporary artists, will be on a national and international tour in support of BRIDGES. He will perform his hit single, “Love & Sex Pt. 2,” in addition to his other hit songs that include: “All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do),” “All That I Am,” “No One Comes Close,” “Love Scene,” and “I Wanna Know.”

Tracklisting:
1. Future Teller
2. Dilemma
3. Do a Little Dance
4. If You Lose Her
5. Sex Ain’t a Weapon
6. Love & Sex, Pt. 2 feat. Kelly Rowland
7. Blame Her Broken Heart on Me
8. First Lady
9. Take It 2 The House
10. Till the Rope Gives Way
11. The Rest Will Follow
12. Mary Jane (Remix) feat 50 Cent
13. Bridges
14. Love Sex Hollywood
15. For Love
16. Love Undefeated

Tamar Braxton, K. Michelle And Wale Among Performers For Soul Train Awards 2013

Jennifer Hudson , Tamar Braxton , Smokey Robinson , K. Michelle, Ron Isley , Wale, Eric Benet , Candice Glover , Kem, Chrisette Michele, Bobby Caldwell and Joss Stone will be hitting the stage as performers for SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2013. This year’s show pays homage to the soul soundtrack of the 90’s, allowing fans to reminisce on a decade of influential black cinema and music. Charged with keeping the party going throughout the night are Grammy Award winning producers 1500 or Nothin’ and legendary keyboardist Greg Phillinganes who have both been tapped as music directors for the show. As previously announced, comedian and actor Anthony Anderson will host the event in Las Vegas on November 8th, which will air on CENTRIC and BET, December 1, 2013 at 8PM ET/PT.

“We are gearing up for a big show this year, and the performers set to take the stage are just the beginning of what’s to come. I hope everyone is ready because Centric is bringing the party to Las Vegascome November 8th,” said Paxton Baker, General Manager and Executive Vice President, CENTRIC. “We are forever grateful for the involvement of so many amazing performers and their loyalty to the Soul Train and Centric brands. Music is the core of Centric’s DNA and our diverse roster of new talent and legendary artists display our continued commitment to providing quality programming for soul music lovers.”

For the first time, SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2013 will be held at the Orleans Arena, one of the nation’s leading mid-size arenas. Also marking a first for the award show is the addition of a second stage, which will feature a rotating mix of celebrity DJs. Hip-hop sensation Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s nominations with six nominations across multiple categories, including: Best New Artist, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Tied with five nominations each are Miguel, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke,Chris Brown, Tamar Braxton and Janelle Monae.

Tamar Braxton Invites Everyone To Her First Christmas Album “Winter Loverland” Nov. 11th

Tamar Braxton wants listeners everywhere to join her inWinter Loverland . Her very first Christmas Album, Winter Loverland , is available for pre-order at amazon.com and arrives in stores and through online retailers November 11 via Streamline/Epic Records.

Preserving the season’s spirit, she takes a few timeless holiday tunes such as “Santa Baby” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” for a spin, adding her very own panache to each. Meanwhile, the real gift arrives in the form of brand new original festive anthems, namely “She Can Have You” and “No Gift”, from Braxton. Each song captures the spirit of the season, while showcasing her inimitable style. Get ready to un-wrap the year’s most soulful Christmas jams on Winter Loverland .

In addition, the singer, songwriter, television producer, and actress has just been announced has a performer at the 2013 Soul Train Awards. The ceremony tapes on November 8, 2013 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV and airs on CENTRIC and BET December 1, 2013 at 9pm ET/PT.

The songstress is up for awards including “Best New Artist” and “The Chaka Khan Best R&B/Soul Female Artist”. Meanwhile, her breakout single, “Love & War”, stands nominated for “Song of the Year”, “Video of the Year”, and “The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award”. The nominations round out a phenomenal year for the artist as she has cemented her status as one of R&B’s leading ladies.

Recently, her debut album Love and War hit #2 on the Billboard Top 200 upon release, making for the year’s highest debut from a female R&B artist. Meanwhile, it also topped the Billboard Top R&B Albums Chart and iTunes Top R&B Albums Chart. Press acclaim also showered the release. Vibe described the record as “Emotional and amazing”, while ARTISTdirect.com called it “everything a classic R&B record should be and so much more”. After gracing the cover of Ebony Magazine, she celebrated the album’s release with performances on Good Morning America, Live With Kelly & Michael, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

Tamar is also seeing continued success with her hit series Tamar & Vince currently airing at 9pm on WE tv; and this fall, Tamar and her sister are back with the dramatic and highly anticipated season 3 conclusion of Braxton Family Values. Sparks continue to fly amongst this sassy, outspoken and tight-knit group of women all striving for stardom while loving, laughing and feuding as only sisters can.

Spend this Christmas with Tamar Braxton in Winter Loverland .

Winter Loverland  Tracklisting
1.       Sleigh Ride
2.       Santa Baby
3.       Santa Claus is Coming to Town
4.       No Gift
5.       Away In A Manger / Little Drummer Boy
6.       Merry Christmas Darling
7.       The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)
8.       She Can Have You
9.       Silent Night
10.    Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

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