TANK Returns With An Emergency

TANK returns to the R&B scene with his 1st hit single release "Emergency" from off of his new album entitled "Now or Never" to be released nationwide on Dec 14th. TANK also recently returned from overseas where he performed for U.S. Soldiers and Department of Defense (Federal Government Employees) stationed over at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, as well as, in Iraq. His single, Emergency, is available via digital download on iTunes.

First Lady Michelle Obama Caught Fashion Recycling

First Lady Michelle Obama has recently been spotted by Huffington Post recycling one of her outfits during a weekend spent at Camp David and then later in Ohio. Fashion recycling is a regular thing that many people have already learned to do on their own but now has become a chic fashion trend and even challenge for those who have more to try to force themselves to buy less in an effort to conserve money and eliminate unneccessary waste.

Around the same time frame that First Lady Michelle Obama was caught recycling her outfit, the Today Show aired a show segment all about fashion recycling and how one of their own staffers took up the fashion recycling challenge by wearing only 6 items or less in various styles for a period of 30 days.

The challenge was inspired by a website called Six Items or Less who calls the challenge an "experiment". Another popular website that encourages "women" to spend less time shopping and more time doing more productive and meaningful things in their lives is The Great American Apparel Diet.

Now that First Lady Michelle Obama has publicly been caught fashion recycling, I wonder will women all over the nation start doing the same?

To Give or Not To Give, That is The Question

You may have heard me tell this story many times before but I felt to bring it up again especially during these cold weather months. In Miami-Dade County, FL and even in other U.S. Cities/States - citizens have banned together to push to making it illegal to give homeless people food, money, etc. on the street. The reasoning is because you are aiding someone to both stay in the situation they are in and teaching them they can survive off of the generosity of others. The other issues that were raised included personal safety when being approached by someone with a mental illness, along with, the spreading of sickness and disease from not being able to wash and stay clean on a regular basis.

Some of my friends and I share similar views about the plight of homelessness in America. If you are someone who has always felt indifferent or believe it's not something you can relate to, you may want to think again. These past few years alone with the sudden and national spike in joblessness, more families and individuals found themselves seeking emergency shelter and government assistance. In places like Nevada, police are even assigned to patrol "tent cities" where a massive amount of men, women & children live year round.

If you remember what happened in Haiti recently then you are also aware that after tent cities were created and went up, bands of men were moving around during the late night hours amongst these tented communities stealing food, clothes & water and raping children and women of all ages.

Homelessness is a different experience or state of being in the lives of the many men, women and children who do not have a home to go to. Often we are taught to look away, look down or frown upon the plight of others who maybe less fortunate than ourselves. Most people even believe that the homeless population that exists is like a plague.

The truth and reality is that as a society we ourselves have evolved into a plague. We are infected with the disease of selfishness vs selflessness and we are egotistical because deep down inside we are saying that it will never be us in those situations when the reality is that one day it can be any of us in the exact or even worse situation than the people we chose to eradicate from our communities instead of providing assistance or temporary solutions to help those who can and desire to, get back on their feet.

When all of these food drives and requests for donations go around at your job, church or infront of your local store, I urge you to think two, three, four or even five times about whether or not to give because if you take the time out to realize it could be you one day, wouldn't you want the person on the giving end to think and feel the same?

To give or not to give, that is the question.

Written By: Violet B

Ciara Unleashes Her Basic Instinct

Grammy Award winning R&B singer Ciara has a new album project coming out entitled "Basic Instinct" which will be her fourth album release in her career. The music video, for the first single "Ride" featuring Ludacris, will premier on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Producer and singer The-Dream will be assisting with most of Ciara's next album project. Ciara also recently signed on with Adidas to be their new face in an upcoming advertisement campaign that will be launching soon.

Ciara's first album “Goodies” as a solo artist included producers Jazze Phae and Lil Jon which sold over 3.5 billion records worldwide. Her second album Evoluntion would sell over 1.5 million records worldwide. Her third album release "Fantasy Ride" did not do as well as her previous albums.

Aside from her professional singing career, she founded her own dance talent agency called UDT (Universal Dance Talent) to help place dancers with work opportunities and give them the experience and exposure they need for long-term professional careers.

The Full Exposure of Erykah Badu: Not Just a Window Seat

Turns out that Erykah Badu's music video for Window Seat wasn't exactly authorized with the City of Dallas in Texas. The neo-soul singer walked through downtown Dallas stripping an article of clothing every other block until she reached the area near the assassination of President Kennedy and collapsed onto the sidewalk as if having had been shot.

None of the people who were walking around the area, including parents of children who were there and saw the singer fully exposed, had come forward as a witness for police to be able to press charges against the singer. After the release of the now infamous "Window Seat" video, the police says they have a witness and will be mailing her a misdemeanor with a fine of $500 attached to it. She will not be picked up on warrant, arrested and taken to jail and will be able to decide whether or not to pay the fine or to show up in court.

The release of Badu's controversial music video was days before the March 30, 2010 release of her latest album project entitled "New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh".

Stefan The Scientist: Inspiring Environmental Awareness & Spiritual Growth

Stefan The Scientist began his production, gospel rap & gospel reggae music career in 1994 where he launched his his first reggae/hip-hop Marlin Award winning group. Through the years, he has worked behind the scenes as a producer for a variety of established Bahamian reggae artists. In late 2004, he collaborated with Nashville based Christian hip-hop legends and pioneers "Grits" and co-wrote their hit single "Hittin Curves" winning his first Dove Award with Grits in 2005.

Aside from being an international award winning producer and gospel reggae artist, Stefan is an accomplished environmentalist who works in the field of science promoting creative educational tools to inspire and encourage people to learn more about serious environmental issues in today's society. Stefan directs and founded a non-profit organization named "Solomons Minds" which is instrumental in helping him to accomplish this goal. Stefan The Scientist really is a scientist so to say. He has earned a Bachelor's Degree in both Chemistry and Biology, as well as, a Master's Degree in Environmental Science.

Stefan The Scientist will be releasing his next album project in July 2010 entitled "Origins".

T.I. is Back

Since one of down south's favorite bad boy's has been home since March after his release from a federal halfway house on felony weapons possession charges, T.I. has been keeping a some what modest and low profile not being seen publicly participating in too many social engagements and mostly communicating with fans via the use of his official website.

T.I.'s next upcoming album release is slated for August of this year and still remains to be titled. The first single released early from the project is "I'm Back" which is being sold online via Mp3 download from his official website. T.I.'s next album project will be released around the same time as the crime thriller movie he has a role in and also executive produced called "Takers" starring Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Hayden Christensen, Chris Brown and Zoe Saldana.

T.I. is also the spokes person for the K.I.N.G. Foundation launched by his record company Grand Hustle Records. The acronym stands for Kids In Need of Giving and helps to provide support to low-income families with emphasis on basic needs for children and family support programs such as youth mentoring and intervention, community outreach and scholastic enrichment.

The 50th Law: Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent

Curtis Jackson is not the average run of the mill aging rap artist fading away from the spotlight. The music industry may take his often public and highly vocalized opinions about himself and others as a much needed vacation but the last thing Curtis Jackson is doing is sleeping. In these past few years alone, he's tried his hand at acting, authored books: an auto-biography, a joint book project with Robert Greene (author of the 48 Laws of Power) and co-authored a crime/drug book, created a reality tv show featured on MTV, launched a successful social networking website named after himself, created a clothing and shoe line, released vitamin enhanced drinking water purchased by Coca-Cola that earned him well over $1 mil, branded actual platinum after his rap iconic name and has even written, directed and starred in his own movie that he released in 2009 as part of the album purchase, of the same title, Before I Self Destruct. A lot of people are both hating and sleeping on 50 cent not even realizing that he's 2nd in line, according to Forbes, as the next wealthiest rap artist after Jay-Z.

Shei Atkins: R&B Legend In The Making

Shei Atkins is a native of Houston, TX who grew up in the historical and once flourishing predominantly African American community that in time transitioned into an impoverished urban community known as the "Four Four" (44 Acres Homes). Shei Atkins childhood was colorful, fun and filled with cherished memories as she came from a strong Christ fearing and musically inclined family. Shei can recall singing as far back as she could start speaking from imitating songs from the radio to eventually singing in her church choir as a child. At the age of 19, Shei Atkins would marry her childhood sweetheart, Drathoven, who is also her producer.

Although her first official start in the music industry was in 1997 with Houston based rapper Lil O, it was short lived, due to a series of unfortunate events including the death of Ann Tillman (co-founder of Destiny's Child) her musical trainer. Years later, Shei Atkins would sign with SoulMuzick Recordings headed by Crazy C & Madd Hatta of KBXX Radio where she first appeared on SoulMuZick Recordings 2003 compilation cd entitled Street Gospel Vol. 1.

With her unique and versatile urban style, Shei Atkins music continues to widen and grasp audiences of all ages in the R&B and faith-based music markets especially reaching young girls and women who can relate to her messages of self-esteem, self-worth, self-love, relationships, healing, faith and more. Shei Atkins discography includes her first debut album release Shei Atkins Life in Stereo (2004) followed by her sophmore album The Lita Mae Show (2006) and her third album project a 2-disc cd Girl Talk (2007).

During the release of Shei Atkins 3rd album Girl Talk, she toured with Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child in Europe, did a remix with Tank for his song Please Don't Go and had Lil Flip of Houston, TX as the guest rap artist on her track Trunk Bangin' from off of the album.

Rob Young: Never Left The Industry

Rob Young is a native of North Carolina who sings, writes and produces his own music, as well as, collaborates with other music industry professionals and artists. Although his first solo debut album is not slated to be released until the end of 2009, Rob Young is no stranger to the industry.

During his youth, he and a few close friends in high school, formed their own entertainment company which produced and released several albums and a short film. During this period in his early professional music career, he and his fellow group mates graced the stage with artists such as Ja Rule, Pastor Troy, Lost Boys and Fatman Scoop, as well as, being afforded the opportunity to work with Black Sheep’s Mista Launge.

Just as quickly as he and his friends were experiencing a rise in their careers, it suddenly ended when various members of the company and group decided to part ways. After this heavy heart breaking blow, Rob Young re-grouped and refocused on a plan of action for what he wanted to do most.

With his down to earth, feel good R&B music, Rob Young is surely going to be a much welcomed addition to the already popular lists of R&B artists who many listeners can relate and grow with.