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- Is This the First Year Lady Gaga and Beyoncé are Both Nominated for Grammy Awards? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet
- Beyoncé and Jay-Z are Hollywood's Most Powerful Couple - The Washington Informer
- Blue Ivy Is Beyoncé's Mini-Me in This Rare Birthday Instagram Photo - Oprah Mag
- Look Back at Wendy Williams' Biggest Celebrity Feuds - E! NEWS
- Who Has Won More Awards: Beyoncé or Jay-Z? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet
- Megan Thee Stallion on Beyoncé, “Texas Fever,” and Selling Her “Hot Girl Summer” Wardrobe on Depop - Vogue
- Saweetie Talks Debut Album, Aaliyah, Beyoncé & More | Up Close & Personal - Recording Academy | Grammys
- How S1's 'Pray, Focus, Plan & Execute' Mantra Led Him to Work With Beyonce, Kanye and J. Cole - Billboard
- Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Gaga, Pink and Kesha cleared the way for women in the 2010s - NBC News
- Penpix of the Top Women's Contenders at the Australian Open - The New York Times
Posted: 09 Jan 2020 12:00 AM PST The two divas of pop music are branching out and conquering, other avenues. Beyoncé recently appeared in and wrote music for the Disney photo-real adaptation of The Lion King. Lady Gaga starred in and wrote music for the Golden Globe award-winning film, A Star is Born. Is 2020 the first year both Lady Gaga and Beyoncé could win a Grammy Award? Here's our look into these artists and their history with this ceremony. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is one of the artists with the most Grammy Award nominations and winsAs one of the most-nominated artists at the Grammy Awards, as of 2019, Beyoncé has 70 nominations with this award show. Her solo work, in culmination with her role in Destiny's Child and her album released with Jay-Z, The Carters, earned Beyoncé 23 Grammy Awards. "It's important to me to show images to my children that reflect their beauty, so they can grow up in a world where they look in the mirror, first through their own families — as well as the news, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the White House, and the Grammys — and see themselves, and have no doubt that they're beautiful, intelligent and capable," Beyoncé said during her 2017 Grammy speech, according to the New York Times. Lady Gaga already earned Oscars for her role in 'A Star is Born'Lady Gaga earned a handful of Grammy Awards and nominations herself. As of 2019, Lady Gaga has 9 wins and 27 nominations with this award show. That includes nominations for her album with Tony Bennett, Cheek to Cheek. However, the artist recently earned Golden Globes and Oscar Awards for her work with the film, A Star is Born. Both awards were for the song "Shallow." "It's not about winning," Gaga said of her first Oscar win. "What it is about is not giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it. If there is a discipline or passion, it's not how many times you get rejected or you fall down or are beaten up. It's about how many times you stand up and are brave and keep on going." ![]() Is this the first year both Lady Gaga and Beyoncé could win Grammy Awards?About 10 years ago, both Lady Gaga and Beyoncé earned Grammy Awards in their respective categories. In 2009, Beyoncé won six Grammy's, including Song of the Year for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Halo." Lady Gaga won two awards for Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic/Dance Album. In 2010, these artists earned the Grammy nomination, Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, for their song, "Telephone." Now, Beyoncé is nominated for her song "Spirit" from Disney's The Lion King. Lady Gaga is nominated in the same category, Best Song Written for Visual Media, for "I'll Never Love Again (Film Version.)" The Grammy Awards broadcast on Jan. 26, 2020. Music by Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, including the soundtrack for A Star is Born and The Lion King: The Gift, are available on Spotify, Apple Music, and most major streaming platforms. |
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are Hollywood's Most Powerful Couple - The Washington Informer Posted: 17 Jan 2020 05:00 AM PST When Beyoncé married Jay-Z in 2008, the skeptics were as loud as the audience at a sold-out Destiny's Child concert. At its worst, critics expected that the marriage would be Bobby and Whitney all over again – a hip-hop bad boy meets a sexy songstress with a squeaky-clean, all-American image. Some of those critics believed the marriage would only last as long as the union between Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley – an odd and uncomfortable 20-month marriage that ended with Elvis' daughter filing for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. After a dozen years, hundreds of millions of records sold — and one infamous elevator fight at a Met Gala between Jay-Z and Solange Knowles, (Beyoncé's little sister) — Hollywood's preeminent power couple are still "dangerously in love." "I believe Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been successfully married as a Hollywood power couple for so long because they can see beyond the wealth, fame and materialism that comes with a Hollywood lifestyle," said hip-hop artist and activist Sean XGL Mitchell. "The music business can be brutal so artists and couples who are grounded, in touch with reality and are consciously aware of who they are, have the keys to success and longevity," Mitchell noted. "In particular, when you watched Beyoncé's Super Bowl performance a few years ago, she paid tribute to the Black Panthers while performing her new hit 'Formation.' Their costumes and choreographed dance routine, which included a fist in the air, was a true sign of self-knowledge and pride," Mitchell added. "It was equally apparent in Jay-Z's lyrics in the song the 'Story of O.J.' When you have two people who are more than just artists, who can transcend power, you have the making of a successful partnership and marriage," he said. According to medium.com, the average divorce rate of Hollywood celebrities is 52 percent, slightly higher than that of the general public. The length of celebrity marriages can be as short as hours, while the average is about six years, the website reported. That Jay-Z and Beyoncé have doubled that time and are still going strong, doesn't exactly surprise experts who've followed their careers and relationship. Dr. Fran Walfish, a Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist and regular expert child psychologist on CBS-TV's "The Doctors," said it's no secret the power couple has overcome big problems in their marriage. At a Met Gala event in 2014, cameras caught Solange hitting and kicking Jay-Z as Beyoncé watched quietly. Later, it was revealed that Solange confronted her brother-in-law over cheating rumors, and things quickly escalated. "The critical key is that they hung in together with a solemn commitment to each other and the couple ship," Walfish said. "Today, it seems, they are doing better than ever and are parents to a 7-year-old daughter and 2-year-old twins." In a 2017 interview with The New York Times Style Magazine, Jay-Z opened up about his infidelity and the near-demise of his marriage. "You know, most people walk away, and like the divorce rate is 50 percent or something because most people can't see themselves," Jay-Z told the Times. "The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone's face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself. So, most people don't want to do that. You don't want to look inside yourself. And so, you walk away." Walfish said that Jay-Z's interview with the Times was telling. "The hardest part for him was seeing the pain on his wife, that he caused," Walfish said. "That is accountability and owning up to a huge mistake. Beyoncé, on the other hand, had to be open to forgiveness. Her love and non-judgmental character, along with probable therapeutic help, allowed for repair in the relationship. The secondary gain is that this type of relationship deep repair can bond a couple even more strongly together than before," Walfish added. Born Sean Carter in Brooklyn, NY in 1969, Jay-Z has won 22 Grammy Awards with hits that include "Hard Knock Life," "99 Problems," and "Run this Town." With a net worth of more than $1 billion, Jay-Z also has produced several films, and he owns the streaming service, Tidal, and other companies. Born in 1981 in Houston, Beyoncé rose to fame with the singing group Destiny's Child in the 1990s. Her solo career took off in 2002 with the release of the album, "Dangerously in Love," which included a collaboration with Jay-Z. Beyoncé has won 23 Grammy Awards and owns and operates Parkwood Entertainment, a company that includes various brands of music, movies, videos, and fashion. Forbes Magazine has placed Beyoncé's net worth at approximately $500 million. "These two powerhouse moguls understand the nature of engagement that is vital in a marriage," said Dr. Allana Da Graca, a psychologist, and self-styled persistence expert. "I think they both understand the arduous journey to fame that can also blur lifelines of meaning and authenticity amongst themselves. They hold one another accountable and maintain the muse of each other," Da Graca said. |
Blue Ivy Is Beyoncé's Mini-Me in This Rare Birthday Instagram Photo - Oprah Mag Posted: 08 Jan 2020 12:00 AM PST ![]() Alberto E. RodriguezGetty Images
It's hard to believe that Beyoncé and Jay-Z's eldest child, Blue Ivy, is 8 years old. After all, this writer still remembers when the singer delivered a chilling medley of Lemonade songs while pregnant at the 2016 Grammys. But a recent picture of Blue Ivy has rendered us speechless. Why? Because in it she looks grown—and just like her mom. Seriously, Blue Ivy is Beyoncé's mini. The image, shared by Matthew Knowles on Instagram, was posted in honor of Blue's birthday. In the shot, Blue Ivy can be seen wearing an off-the-shoulder orange top and cherry-covered skirt. Her hair is straight and long and a pineapple backpack is slung over her shoulders. Knowles captioned the photo: "Happy Birthday to my beautiful and oldest granddaughter Blue Ivy. Love, Papa G." He also added some cute animations, including stars, confetti, and a big "Happy Birthday" message. Of course, this isn't the first time fans (and even Blue's family) have noticed similarities between her and her parents. When she was born, Beyoncé admitted Blue looked just like Jay-Z. Last week, Megan Thee Stallion posted a pic of Mama Bey and Blue, prompting one follower to write "Beyoncé made blue by herself." And last year, the "Single Ladies" singer posted a side-by-side comparison. "Someone made this comparison of me at age 7 and Blue at age 7," the singer wrote, adding "my baby is growing up." As for the couple's twins, Rumi and Sir, many believe the former looks just like Beyoncé and Blue Ivy too. Who do you think the kids most resemble? For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for ournewsletter! |
Look Back at Wendy Williams' Biggest Celebrity Feuds - E! NEWS Posted: 16 Jan 2020 08:32 AM PST Wendy Williams came under fire this week for her comments about Joaquin Phoenix. The host made a remark about a scar on the actor's upper lip during Tuesday's episode of The Wendy Williams Show. "When he shaves off his mustache, he's got a hairline fracture. He's got one of those — what do you call it? Cleft lip, cleft palate," she said. She then proceeded to pull up her top lip. "He's got this," she said. "No, I find it to be very attractive." Many viewers, including Winnipeg Blue Bombers player Adam Bighill, slammed Williams and accused her of mocking people with a cleft palate. "@WendyWilliams mimics a cleft lip and palate person!!" he tweeted. "I have a cleft lip and palate, so does my son who was just born, her actions are hideous and offensive. Promoting bullying, with her platform, that's IRRESPONSIBLE!! #EndBullying." Williams later issued an apology. "@Bighill44 We're thinking about Beau today as he is in surgery," she tweeted. "I want to apologize to the cleft community and in Beau's honor, our show is donating to @operationsmile and @AmerCleftPalate and encourage our Wendy Watchers to learn more and help support the cleft community." In an October 2019 cover story, Vanity Fair wrote Phoenix's scar was "not a surgically fixed cleft, he says, but a nonsurgical scar he was born with." This wasn't the first time Williams has made headlines. To look back at her biggest celebrity feuds, check out the gallery. ![]() Mindy Small/FilmMagic; Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for SiriusXM Bow WowThe rapper came under fire in 2019 after he posted a picture of Williams wearing a black bikini and wrote, "They say it's a hot girl summer." Many accused Bow Wow of body-shaming Williams. However, she wasn't afraid to clap back. "Please refrain from your body shame," she said at the time. "You don't have to like it, but someone does." ![]() Shutterstock Nicki MinajAfter Williams referred to Nicki Minaj's husband Kenneth Petty as a "killer" and a "sex offender," Minaj fired back, calling her "demonic" and "vicious." "It's not about doing your job," Minaj said on Queen Radio. "There are people who report the news and there are people who do it with an evil intent in their heart, viciousness. And I pray for you because I know you're hurting and I know you must be sick and humiliated." She later added, "I didn't know that in our society, you have to be plagued by your past. I didn't know that people can't turn over a new leaf. I didn't know that your viciousness and evilness was this deep rooted." ![]() Steve Granitz/WireImage; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Ariana GrandeIn 2015, Williams was accused of body-shaming Ariana Grande. "She's 21. She'll forever look 12," Williams reportedly said. "And I don't mean that in a good way. It's nice to look younger than you are, but when you look too young and then you're short—she's only like 4'11. I don't look at her as, like, a woman." The comment fueled so much backlash that the hashtag #CancelWendyWilliams was trending. Article continues below ![]() Getty Images Kim Zolciak-BiermannAfter Williams accused the reality star of staging her 2015 hospitalization and "mini stroke" to gain sympathy for Dancing With the Stars, the Don't Be Tardy celeb clapped back. "Absolutely appalling!! @wendywilliams how disgusting for you to insinuate I 'faked' my mini stroke on your show this morning!! You mad cause I didn't come on your show! This clearly shows your warped mentality!!" she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of what appeared to be an email inviting Zolciak-Biermann to appear on the show. Zolciak-Biermann did appear on The Wendy Williams Show in 2019. ![]() Getty Images;NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images NeNe LeakesAfter Williams shaded Leakes over her Birkin bag in 2014, Leakes issued a reply. "What you need to do is stop spewing hate!" she wrote in part of an open letter. "When it comes to gossip you are the lowest of the low!" She also explained the bag was for charity. ![]() Getty Images LeAnn RimesAfter Williams commented on LeAnn Rimes' relationship with Eddie Cibrian in 2010, the singer clapped back. "All I know is Wendy Williams done pissed my mamma off! I don't wanna be in her path. To say, 'I've reserved myself a place in hell?!' I'm incredibly disappointed to see someone with that kind of platform use it for such negativity and could be so mean and judgmental about a situation they know nothing about," Rimes reportedly wrote in a since-deleted tweet. Rimes later apologized and even appeared on Williams' show. "Such a wonderful time on @WendyWilliams today," she tweeted in 2013. "It airs on Wednesday. I adore her!!!" Article continues below ![]() Gary Gershoff/WireImage, Roy Rochlin/Getty Images Lil' KimIn 2013, Williams commented on Lil Kim's look. "Do you want to talk about Lil' Kim and that face of hers?" Williams said at the time. She later added, "It's filled so tight now, Kim, it looks like a pin would just pop you." She also later said, "Kim, in my mind, I know your goal was always to look like La Toya Jackson. You've out-La Toya'd La Toya in your new look, and don't blame Photoshopping. Blame your plastic surgeon, girl." The rapper then blasted the TV host. "@WendyWilliams Bitch Y didn't u show the side by side pic," the Grammy-winner posted. "This pic is photoshopped & U know it. U hating Bitch." But during a 2014 HuffPost Live, Williams said they were "cool." ![]() Getty Images BeyoncéIn 2012, the talk show host described herself as a "Beyoncé fan" and expressed her intent to watch her HBO documentary. However, she felt the Beyhive's sting after she made a comment about the singer's voice. "I'm watching because, fortunately, one of the TVs in our kitchen has closed captioning. So, I'll be able to understand what she says," she told her audience at the time. "You know Beyoncé can't talk. Beyoncé sounds like she has a fifth-grade education. She can't talk." Fans were also buzzing after Williams alleged Queen B and Jay-Z had paid Rachel Roy to stir up some drama ahead of the release of Lemonade. "So Rachel Roy, first of all, you're not this fighting girl," Williams began. "Unless you're on Jay Z and Beyoncé's payroll, and they pay you to mix it up for I guess sales for the Lemonade." ![]() Kevin Winter/Getty Images), Dominik Bindl/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows) Will SmithIn his 2005 track "Mr. Nice Guy," Will Smith rapped, "Wendy Williams, you don't know me/ I'm not your punching bag/You gon' blow me up girl you better leave me alone/Before I buy your radio station and send you home." When asked how she felt about the insults in Smith's song—as well as the insults in songs by Mariah Carey, Tupac and Jay Z—Williams told The Hollywood Reporter, "Without those song mentions, I might not be on TV right now. There is a large segment who may have never heard about me on the radio, but they heard Tupac tell me I needed to go to Jenny Craig. Or Mariah Carey tell me that I'm all up in her business. So I love them for that." Article continues below Watch E! News weekday mornings at 7 a.m.! And don't miss our 2020 Grammys: E!'s Inside Guide special Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 11 p.m. for a Grammy Awards preview! |
Who Has Won More Awards: Beyoncé or Jay-Z? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet Posted: 31 Dec 2019 12:00 AM PST Beyoncé and Jay-Z are separately two of the biggest names in the music industry, and together, they make one of the most famous and successful couples in music history. But who has been more successful: Beyoncé or Jay-Z? Who has won more awards? To answer this question, we'll first take a closer look at each of their respective music careers, how they broke into the music scene, and what they've been up to in recent years. How did Beyoncé and Jay-Z become famous?![]() Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé performed in singing and dancing competitions as a child, but she first found fame as the lead singer for Destiny's Child in the late '90s. Beyoncé then began starring in movies and recorded her first solo album – Dangerously in Love – in 2003, which debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Once Destiny's Child broke up, Beyoncé continued to further the success of her solo career, releasing her second solo album, B'Day. She also started her acting career, starring in films such as The Pink Panther, Dreamgirls, and Obsessed. In 2008, she married Jay-Z, which many cite as a big influence for her third album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. The album went on to earn a record-setting six Grammy awards in 2010. Born and raised in New York City, Jay-Z began his musical career after founding the record label Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995. He then released his debut studio album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996. His newly released album solidified his standing in the music industry, but Jay-Z wasn't planning on just being good at one thing. He also began venturing into the business world, founding the clothing retail company, Rocawear, in 1999, and founding the luxury sports bar chain, 40/40 Club, in 2003 – both of which have evolved into multi-million dollar corporations. Jay-Z went on to release twelve additional albums, which have all attained generally positive critical reception and commercial success, including the full-length collaborative albums, Watch the Throne (2011) with Kanye West, and Everything is Love (2018) with his wife, Beyoncé. Who has won more awards in their lifetime – Beyoncé or Jay-Z?When you crunch the numbers and look at the stats, Beyoncé has both been nominated for more awards (182) and won more awards (76) than Jay-Z. Jay-Z has more than held his own, winning more awards (34) than many artists dream of along with 114 nominations. Beyoncé is the most nominated woman in Grammy Award history, with a total of 23 wins. She is also the highest-paid black musician in history as of 2014. Jay-Z, on the other hand, has won a total of 22 Grammy Awards, the most by a rapper, and holds the record for the most No. 1 albums (14) by a solo artist on the Billboard 200. What's in store for the couple in the future?In 2019, Jay-Z was officially named the first hip hop billionaire, making him the third wealthiest African-American and the wealthiest American musician, according to Business Insider. He also recently bought the tech company Aspiro and took over their media streaming service Tidal, which has since become the world's third-largest online streaming company. Beyoncé, for her part, seems to be thriving just as much as her husband, if not more. She recently starred as the voiceover role of Nala in the cinematic The Lion King remake, and she also produced an accompanying album titled, The Lion King: The Gift, comprising of music fully curated by Beyoncé. Despite the ups-and-downs of their relationship, which is often heavily covered by the media, the couple seems to be heading in 2020 doing as well as two people can do – and a lot better than many. |
Posted: 15 Jan 2020 07:02 AM PST ![]() Last year, three little words went viral. "Hot girl summer" was the phrase that defined the middle and end of 2019, a term that was spun, at hyper-speed, into the cultural consciousness by a 24-year-old female rapper out of Houston, Texas. Her name is Megan Thee Stallion, otherwise known by her given name, Megan Pete, and by her Twitter handle, "Hot Girl Meg." She released an album titled Fever in May of last year and, playing on her virtual moniker, printed the following on the cover: "She's thee hot girl and she's bringing thee heat." In a post-release tweet, Pete explained the meaning behind her words: "Being a Hot Girl is about being unapologetically YOU, having fun, being confident, living YOUR truth, being the life of the party etc." Thus, a million memes were born and "hot girl summer" became common jargon for, well, a lot of different things: hotness, coolness, fearlessness, and so on and so forth. It also came to define a certain sense of sexy and wildly bold style, one that Pete became the official spokeswoman for. Now, the rap sensation is giving some of that hot girl magic to her fans. She's partnered with Depop, the global social shopping app featuring independent sellers, on a special sale of items from her closet, as well as items from the "Hot Girl Summer" and "All Dat" videos. Launching Friday, the sale is Texas themed, in honor of Pete's home state, and also includes pieces from Depop's top sellers in the Houston area. The curated shop is called "Texas Fever" and it includes items like Pete's red cowboy hat and matching fringe-and-fur-trimmed mini dress, as well as a vintage Mickey Mouse University jacket, denim shorts, and body chains. Pete says she was happy to collaborate with Depop because the app "gives the creative community something big that they can be a part of." She adds, "The creative community in Houston is kind of hidden, you wouldn't even know there are so many young people here designing and selling their own clothes." Pete says that she's "all about the eco-hottie vibe. I can find vintage pieces and not have to buy something new. I've been trying to use less plastic after my beach cleanup last year and I'm definitely going to try and buy more cool vintage pieces now that I'm on Depop." Pete has always been a fan of vintage clothing, especially classic Texan wardrobe staples like cowboy boots, hats, and chaps. "Those are the things that never go out of style and will always be in my closet." Her personal style muse? "Beyonce is the O.G. Houston hot girl," Pete explains. "I love how she always gives love to Texan style, even on the red carpet." So will "Texas Fever" become the latest viral phrase from Pete? She'd like to think as much and hopefully her Depop sale will help shine a light on that "hidden" creative community in Houston. As Pete defines it, "'Texas Fever' is about celebrating Texan attitude. It's about big hoops, big hair, we got the whole cowboy and cowgirl aesthetic that everyone now wants to wear, but we all know who started it first. I definitely think Texans have a unique style. I mean, everything's bigger in Texas!" Spoken like a true hot girl. |
Posted: 10 Jan 2020 01:39 PM PST ![]() If you got down to "My Type" last year, you already have a taste of who rising West Coast rapper Saweetie is. The stylish 26-year-old, born Diamonté Harper in Hayward, Calif., has been on a steady rise since the viral success of "ICY GRL" (which samples Khia's "My Neck, My Back") in 2017. With several buzzy rap hits, countless confident bars and two EPs under her belt, as well as a busy 2020 tour schedule ahead, Saweetie is ready to shake up the hip-hop world with her icy swag and heavy-hitting bars. She is also expected to release her anticipated debut album this year, with a bigger taste of her bold sound and style. The "My Type" rapper recently stopped by the Recording Academy headquarters for our latest episode of Up Close & Personal to talk about her breakout hits, what we can anticipate on her first full-length, her biggest influences and more. You can watch part of the conversation above and read the full interview below. You can also visit on our YouTube page for a longer version of the video, as well as for other recent episodes. Watch: Omar Apollo Talks Being Young, Indie & Latinx | Up Close & Personal On "My Type," you served up a fresh 2019 sample of Petey Pablo's "Freek-A-Leek," which is amazing. Can you explain where the inspiration began? What's funny about "My Type" is, its actually the last song I added to the EP and it's the song that did the best. But it was just that my EP was missing something and I wanted something that got me excited as a little girl. When I was little, me and my cousins would listen to "Freek-A-Leek." I mean we didn't know what he was talking about, but we really loved the song. So just taking that, flipping it and then making it my own hit, feels amazing. The "My Type" music video was shot in the Bay Area, where you grew up. Was filming it there as much fun as it looked? Definitely, it was. I went home on purpose because my family and my friends are out there. I wanted to basically do everything that I did as a little kid, but as an adult. The barbecue picnic, the side show, the basketball court, those are all moments from my childhood that I revisited. And even my hairstyles were stuff that I would've worn as a little kid. And how do you feel that growing up in the Bay influenced your music and style? In the Bay Area, we're very strong on uniqueness. By telling my story and really just being fly; we're very fly, down to earth individuals and when you go to the Bay Area you feel that. The girls out there are pretty but they're doing a thiz face. We've got a whole bunch of swag and a whole bunch of personality. Looking through your IG, you're rocking killer looks all the time. How would you describe your style? Thank you. I would describe my style as not being able to describe it, only because it really just depends on my mood. If you go through the performance outfits or a day to day outfit, everything is just based on how I feel then. I like to make my outfits custom a lot. Many of the fan favorites are things that came from my imagination; I collaborate with my stylist and we bring it to life. Yes! Playing dress-up every day. Girl, playing dress-up every day. I love to do that. I heard you're working on a new album. What's your biggest hope and excitement for this project? My excitement with this project is, with any project, we're starting from scratch, and I feel like through trial and error and through just recording a lot, I'm able to feel like what kind of direction I really want to go in for my sound. Because I'm still a developing artist, but for this time around, I really want to focus on the artistry and the instruments and really creating from scratch. Watch: Ashanti Talks "Getting Back To R&B Roots" On New EP | Up Close & Personal And then back in 2017 when you uploaded "ICY GRL" to SoundCloud, did you ever imagine it would take off the way that it did? I didn't imagine "ICY GRL" taking off. It kind of felt like a great mistake, in the sense that I didn't expect for it to be a song. It was one of the raps that I was just rapping in my car and my manager was like, you need to record this. And I want to say within a week of uploading it, every major hip-hop blog and website picked it up and featured me as upcoming, poppin'. "ICY GRL" was a viral sensation. So it was great to just see it take a take a turn for the best. Was there a moment when you decided or even dreamed that you would pursue a career in hip-hop? Definitely. When I was 14 I realized that music is what I wanted to do. I always had dreams of being a musician when I was a little girl. When I was a little I was really into Aaliyah, Ashanti, the R&B girls, but I couldn't sing like that. And when I was 14 I realized that I could rap. Read: "Say My Name" 20 Years Later: Why The Destiny's Child Staple Is Still On Everyone's Lips What was the first CD you ever bought? And the first concert you ever went to? Okay, so I think the first CD that I asked my mom to buy was probably Aaliyah. Back in the day they had the special edition CDs with the music videos on it, so I would sit in front of the TV all day just trying to mimic Aaliyah's dance moves. I loved her so much. And the first concert I ever went to was probably a Destiny's Child concert. It was so amazing. When I saw them perform I was like wow, this is what real artistry is. Who are your biggest role models? I feel like a great role model would be Beyoncé. I really love how she's sexy, she's classy, she's a businesswoman, she's a great performer. She's just a mogul that and she's self-made, and that's something that I strive to be. I feel like being an "Independent Woman"—which is her record with Destiny's Child—is extremely important. And that's what I strive to be. I have my own label, I have my own company, Icy. I have my own jewelry, I have my own beauty line and all of these things are doing really well. I'm about to start getting into acting and I feel like these are all the areas that she touched. So I feel like she's a great imprint for younger girls like me. JAMESDAVIS On Their Latest Album 'MASTERPEACE,' Music Industry Advice & More | Up Close & Personal |
Posted: 16 Jan 2020 01:50 PM PST For S1, blessings in his career have come at just the right moment. From his early days as a rough-and-tumble producer in lauded underground hip-hop collective Strange Fruit Project to competing in and generally losing in beat battles, Symbolic One has persevered over the past few decades, with opportunities coming from taking steep risks that paid off and the generosity of others stepping in when he didn't even ask for help. The Waco, Texas native traces the trajectory of his by-the-bootstraps career in his freshly released book Pray.Focus.Plan.Execute: A Memoir, a compelling read that contextualizes moments throughout his life through the lens of faith and self-assurance. Born Larry Darnell Griffin Jr., the 43-year-old discusses everything from his endurance as a hip-hop hustler to getting his first shot after meeting Rhymefest and giving him free beats for his sophomore album, on the promise that he would introduce his music to Kanye West if and when he had the opportunity. When the rapper delivered, S1 elevated his career to the next level, producing "Power" for West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and going on to work on Jay-Z and West's Watch the Throne, Madonna's Rebel Heart, Beyonce's 4 and tracks for Lorde, Lil Uzi Vert and Eminem. Throughout the course of the memoir, S1 details each opportunity by sprinkling in behind-the-curtain gems, from West giving him $20,000 at the moment he and his family needed it most to meeting Beyonce during the Watch the Throne sessions and spinning it into producing her 4 single "Best Thing I Never Had." But he does so with insight and perspective, capping each chapter with meditations on those experiences, and how they tied into believing in God and sticking to the tenants of the book title's mantra. With work set for upcoming albums from J. Cole, Lecrae and Eminem, S1 speaks on why he decided to write a memoir at this point in his career, and how keeping the faith paid off. What inspired you to write this book? It wasn't until later on that I realized that I was actually writing this book in the process of living it. When I got to the point where I could step back from everything -- once everything slowed down -- I started to reflect on certain moments and experiences that I had, and I just had these "wow" moments. I felt like in the moment of doing these things and accomplishing these things, I wasn't really living in the moment. It was always, do this and move onto the next thing. The idea for the book started about two and a half years ago. I would just write out little things. I would pick a song or a situation and pull my notepad out on my phone. And then over time, as I started to look, I was like, "Oh, I really do have a lot of stories I could share that would be impactful for people." The book is filtered through the tenants of Pray.Focus.Plan.Execute. Where did you come up with this mantra, and have you been applying this to your career for a while? Now, of course, it's my brand and my mission statement. However, it wasn't until I started writing the book that I realized these four principles were present in all of my achievements. That gave it more power, when I started to realize that. In all of these situations, I was always praying, I was always trying to focus and block out distractions and find the space where I can focus on only the things that matter. Of course, I'm a habitual planne,r to where I always write things out -- where it's my goals or to-dos or tasks I need to complete. I was always drawing a map for my life and vision. And then the last part of it is execute, which is taking the plan and executing it. Completing ideas and making them come to life. I looked back and realized all these things were present in all of my experiences and situations that I lived. A point made throughout the book is that you put yourself out there so consistently, particularly in describing the beat battles you did. What was your mentality focusing on and bringing those beat battles to the page? There were three parts to my career. There was of course the learning, but then creating my group project, the Strange Fruit Project, because that was when I was able to shape a sound for a group. But then after having great underground success with that, it was like, I don't want to be stuck in just having this sound for this particular group, so how can I transition out of that? I think the production showcases were putting me on a platform to show people I could do other things. That was the main reason for that, just to show that yes, this is my group and I can create a sound for that, but I can do this type of music or provide this type of sound as well. You mention in the book that you gave Rhymefest two free beats on the promise that he'd get back at you someday. Why would you take that risk? At that moment, I just felt there were some things I would have to take risks in. That's one of the things. Because I had had conversations with Rhymefest -- from those conversations is what naturally convinced me what my decision should be in that situation. If I was going to have a conversation with him and getting a negative vibe, I probably wouldn't have given him those two beats. But because our situations were so genuine, and he was a really good person, that's what my decision was based on. The book sprinkles nuggets of information that are very compelling, like recording more with Kanye than we've heard, or Beyoncé having an unreleased cover of Mayer Hawthorne's "Rain." Was there more you wanted to put in? There was so much more. It got to the point where me and my wife were having conversations where it was so much and I had to make sense with the story I was trying to tell. There were a lot of chapters that I may have removed. At the same time, I may release a chapter or two in the next three months or something like that. I'll find something to do. Nowadays, it seems like you have more of an ability to pick who you work with. How do you go about doing that? Once I decided my purpose in life, and that is to give back, encourage and motivate others, every decision I make, whether it's music or partnerships, it has to align with that purpose. Even musically, even now, with certain projects, I have to be excited about it. It was a point in my career where I just had to work on everything, whether it was being stuck in a publishing deal and just completing the song commitment terms. Now that I'm in a more comfortable space, I have to be excited about working on music. I never want it to feel like a job. So if I work on a project that feels like work, then it's probably not a good fit for me. Since faith is such an integral part of who you are, have you entertained the idea of doing more faith-based music? Yeah, always. Lecrae is about to release a new album. I worked on maybe three or four songs on that that I produced. And then Andy Mineo, I've been working with him. A couple of other really dope Christian rappers as well, but I'm open to doing more in that world. And then Kirk Franklin as well. I'm up for a Grammy for his album Long, Live, Love, which came out third quarter last year. I'm always working in that world. What else are you working on? There are three or four projects I've been really focused on. Those are J. Cole -- I've been working with him quite a bit over the past five, six months. Knocking out a lot of music with him. Eminem, I've been working with him a bit. And then Lecrae. But I've been doing a song here for this artist or a song there, but those are the ones I've been focused on contributing to. What do you hope people take from the experience of learning more about your life through this book? I think the main thing with people reading my book -- of course they're going to learn more about me as a producer and person. However, the main thing I want them to get from the book is: I just want them to know that there's no difference from me and what I've accomplished and the possibilities of them accomplishing as well. That's the reason I wanted to write this book in a very down-to-earth format and I wanted to highlight within these stories less of my achievements, but more of the failures that got me to those achievements, the process of getting to those achievements. I want people to know that as long as you're applying the principles every day, consistently, that you will accomplish whatever you set out to accomplish. That's the message that the whole book conveys. |
Posted: 28 Dec 2019 12:00 AM PST ![]() The first No. 1 single of the 2010s was a blippy, raunchy ode to partying by a young pop newcomer with a dollar sign smack in the middle of her name. "TiK ToK," the debut single by the brash Ke$ha, greeted the decade with a bedheaded, yet confident, opening line — "Wake up in the mornin' feeling like P. Diddy," in honor of the hip-hop mogul — and a feeling that the party would never end. Which party was that? As the aughts had ended, there wasn't much cheer on pop's business side: Sales had sunk, record stores were closing and the revenue gap between $16.99 compact discs and 99-cent single songs didn't seem to be narrowing. But Ke$ha was part of a phalanx of young women, who were ruling radio and selling out arenas with outsized personalities and even larger-than-life songs — P!nk, Rihanna, (Lady) Gaga, Taylor (Swift) and Beyoncé. It was an auspicious beginning to the 21st century's teen years, although the way things turned out in the decade for these six women varied widely. Kesha dropped the currency symbol from her name and became one of the avatars for #MeToo in the industry, taking on her one-time mentor Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald — whom she accused of physical, sexual and mental abuse — in a series of lawsuits. (Gottwald, for his part, retreated behind the scenes, accusing Kesha of lying and allegedly continuing his producing career under pseudonyms.) Her biggest hit in the latter part of the decade, "Praying," is a smoldering poison-pen letter to those who have hurt her that climaxes in a high note — the mirror inverse of "TiK ToK," but no less potent a listen. P!nk was already the veteran solo artist of this group at the decade's outset, having released her first album before Y2K. Her earlier hits such as "Family Portrait" and "Don't Let Me Get Me" established her as one of pop's realest-talking stars of the early millennium, and she continued to hone that aspect of her music as the years went on. While her end-of-decade singles like the politically charged "What About Us" and the storming "Walk Me Home" didn't score big on top-40 radio, both scored on adult-contemporary radio — a format where her music has performed exceptionally well since the early 2000s, when programmers began incorporating more teen-pop singers into the mix of Celine Dion and Shania Twain hits. Rihanna's aughties hits included "Pon de Replay," "S.O.S." and 2007's massive "Umbrella," and then continued her torrid run by putting out an album every November between 2009 and 2012, collections that showed her seemingly innate ability to predict what kinds of music would hit big on radio and with listeners. While the lack of an eighth album in the fall of 2013 — and 2014, and 2015 — surprised some fans, she maintained her visibility by appearing on a handful of singles, including collaborative efforts such as "FourFiveSeconds" with Paul McCartney and Kanye West and "This Is What You Came For" with Calvin Harris, as well as with solo efforts like like "Bitch Better Have My Money." The moody, genre-agnostic "Anti," which came out in early 2016, garnered praise from critics for its showcase of her musical curiosity — it included a cover of Aussie psych-rockers Tame Impala's "Same Ol' Mistakes," cameos from stars such as SZA and Drake and forays into hard-edged electro and dancehall — and vocal ability, which particularly shone on the torchy "Love on the Brain." In the latter part of the decade, Rihanna became more of a mogul than a pop star, releasing makeup, lingerie, and high-fashion lines that sent shock waves through each industry, but her presence in music is still strong enough that she's regularly being asked about the release date for her next album in Instagram comments and on red carpets. Dec. 2, 201900:42 Get the think newsletter. Lady Gaga kicked off the decade with the audacious "Born This Way," which included powerhouse singles, like the Clarence Clemons-assisted "The Edge of Glory" and the drama-heavy "Marry the Night." But on its followup, 2013's "Artpop," she seemed to lose the plot, its halfhearted songs backed by her puddle-deep proclamations of being a serious artist. This foray into performance-piece gibberish wound up being a perfect setup for her rise back into capital-a Authenticity, though, beginning with 2016's "Joanne," which wasn't as countrified as the pink 10-gallon hat she wore on its cover implied but which did contain a couple of stirring piano ballads. Her efforts at remaking herself then crested with the 2018 remake of "A Star Is Born," which contained the world-conquering power ballad "Shallow." Those triumphs — as well as her collaborative record with Tony Bennett and her Las Vegas residency "Enigma," both of which showcased her ability to channel old-school crooners — put the indulgent "Artpop" era far in the rear view mirror. (She's also franchised her name with her Amazon-distributed makeup line Haus.) Taylor Swift's decade wasn't as up-and-down as Gaga's, although the moment when observers seemed invested in turning her public tussles with Kanye West into pop's most era-defining feud was perhaps their most embarrassing time. She released five albums in the 2010s — "Speak Now," "Red," "1989," "Reputation," and this year's "Lover" — that engaged directly with the way people were discussing her, while mostly avoiding the trap of celebrity self-indulgence. ("Reputation," which shrouded her in monochrome newsprint, is probably the worst offender on this point, although in the glow of "Lover," it now comes off as a more darkness-before-the-dawn moment.) Swift, who in the early part of her career was dismissed for her youth, also grew into a place where she garnered respect not just from listeners, but also from critics. The artist who weathered the music industry's travails of the 2010s with the most gusto was likely Beyoncé, who blazed the trail for remaking the pop-star ideal with her 2011 album "4." An ode to inner bliss that recalled the R&B that harkened back to her childhood, it did well among the ever-more-fervent Beyhive and among online fans, but thanks to radio programmers turning away from R&B and embracing sounds borrowed from dance clubs, it didn't spawn a single top-10 pop hit. Indeed, over the 2010s, when she definitely was one of pop's most mega of stars, she only hit the Hot 100's top 10 twice — and her lone No. 1 hit came when she hopped on a track by jack-of-all-trades moppet Ed Sheeran. But Beyoncé, who pioneered the surprise-release strategy with her 2013 self-titled album and epitomized what the synergy of streaming music and streaming video could mean for an album with 2016's "Lemonade," also helped chart a new path for pop stardom by operating outside the gate-kept realms of radio and the male-dominated world of the streaming charts. Her cultivation of a fervent fan base led to sold-out stadium shows both on her own and with her husband, Jay-Z, a strategy that mirrored the outside-the-box successes of fiercely beloved artists such as Carly Rae Jepsen and Kacey Musgraves; her surprise-release blueprints were copied by many, including the chart-topping Ariana Grande. Pop music underwent a lot of sweeping changes in the 2010s. The way these six women, all of whom are still considered capital-p Pop Stars, weathered its shifts defied conventional wisdom about how women in the spotlight can hold on to their status — and laid the groundwork for late-10s world-beaters such as Lizzo and Grande to upend expectations with even more gusto. More from our decade reflections project: • THINKing about 2010-2019: Where we started, how we grew and where we might go • A decade of Black Lives Matter gives us a new understanding of Black liberation • How our phones became our whole lives in just 10 years • College in the U.S. is at a crossroads. Will it increase social mobility or class stratification? • The 'me too' movement's success took a decade of work, not just a hashtag. And there's more to do. • The decade in LGBTQ: Pop culture visibility but stalled political progress • Egg freezing and IVF in the 2010s brought us the next phase in women's lib • How Netflix, Star Wars and Marvel redefined Hollywood — and how we experience movies • Opioids, pot and criminal justice reform helped undermine this decade's War on Drugs • Climate change became a burning issue in the past decade, but also an opportunity • Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow made the 2010s the decade of health and wellness misinformation • White Christian America ended in the 2010s |
Penpix of the Top Women's Contenders at the Australian Open - The New York Times Posted: 16 Jan 2020 11:10 PM PST ![]() (Reuters) - Penpix of the top women's contenders at the 2020 Australian Open (Prefix denotes seeding): 1-Ash Barty (Australia) World ranking: 1 Born: April 24, 1996 (Age: 23) Grand Slam titles: 1 WTA career titles: 7 Best Australian Open performance: Quarter-finals (2019) Not many players in recent years have shown as impressive an ability as Barty to block out outside noise and stay focused on the tennis court. Her varied game means she has more options that most on court but her mental toughness will be put to the test again as she looks to become first homegrown winner of an Australian Open singles title since Chris O'Neil in 1978. 3-Naomi Osaka (Japan) World ranking: 3 Born: Oct. 16, 1997 (Age: 22) Grand Slam titles: 2 WTA career titles: 5 Best Australian Open performance: Winner (2019) When Osaka sealed her second Grand Slam title triumph in Melbourne last year and clinched the top ranking, she looked set to become the new dominant force in the women's game. But struggling to cope with injuries and expectations, she suffered early exits at Wimbledon and U.S. Open before wrapping up the season on a positive note with back-to-back titles in the Asian swing. After a relaxed off-season, which included a dream meeting with Beyonce, Osaka feels she could finally put her accomplishments into perspective and enjoy the defense of her title in Melbourne. 4-Simona Halep (Romania) World ranking: 4 Born: Sept. 27, 1991 (Age: 28) Grand Slam titles: 2 WTA career titles: 19 Best Australian Open performance: Runner-up (2018) Despite losing the number one spot in the WTA rankings and having to deal with a lingering back injury, the Romanian captured her second major at Wimbledon last season. Although Halep has revealed that her main priority for 2020 is the Tokyo Olympics, she vowed to give her "maximum" to win her third career Grand Slam in Melbourne, with former coach Darren Cahill back in her corner. 6-Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) World ranking: 7 Born: March 10, 1997 (Age: 22) Grand Slam titles: 0 WTA career titles: 4 Best Australian Open performance: Fourth round (2016) When Belinda Bencic suffered a third-round exit in Melbourne last year, she was ranked 55th. The Swiss has since emerged as the most improved player on the WTA Tour after a brilliant 2019 campaign in which she racked up 49 singles match wins and broke into the top 10. She stunned Osaka on her way to the U.S. Open semi-finals last year and will look at the Australian Open as an opportunity to secure her maiden Grand Slam crown. 8-Serena Williams (U.S.) World ranking: 9 Born: Sept 26, 1981 (Age: 38) Grand Slam titles: 23 WTA career titles: 73 Best Australian Open performance: Winner (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017) Williams kicked off the new season in style by claiming her first WTA title in almost three years and she will hope it is a stepping stone on her path to an elusive 24th Grand Slam title. The American, now in her fourth decade as a professional, has lost her last four Grand Slam finals. Williams may not need statistics to prove her standing in the game but she still remains the player to beat in Melbourne. (Compiled by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru) |
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