Part 2

Part 3

Jennifer Hudson may be getting that WeightWatchers money, but she needs to step her game up if she wants to sell any records. The former American Idol hopeful and Oscar winner is back in the studio working on her second album, but word is the songs she recorded aren’t poppin’. A snitch tells the NY Daily News,

“The songs she recorded so far were mostly Euro-dance music suited for Rihanna or Lady GaGa. The producers and songwriters unanimously agreed the music didn’t fit Jennifer and encouraged Larry to send her back into the studio.”

Apparently, producer Rich Harrison’s involvement in the project in the reason to blame. “The consensus was that the songs were not so not J.Hud,” added the snitch.

Meanwhile, J. Hud’s mouthpiece claims,

“We’ve received terrific feedback on the material,” and says she’s only “in the beginning stages” of recording her album.

But, according to another snitch, Jennifer “had to go back into the studio”. And this time “she’ll be adding some soulful, Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight type songs to the CD”.

“Jennifer’s first album managed to go platinum thanks to name recognition and the wave she was riding from ‘Dreamgirls,’ but it didn’t yield any major pop hits. She needs to really get on her game if she wants to continue her career as a recording artist.”

I’m a huge fan of J. Hud and I think she needs to stick with what works best for her. Jacking Lady Gaga and Rihanna is just going to kill her career. Glad they have her going back in the studio to bring back her sound and not that Gaga/Rihanna crap.

Check out the Queen of Hip-hop Soul Mary J. Blige’s new video for her third single “We Got Hood Love” featuring “Panty Dropper” aka Trey Songz off her album Stronger With Each Tear. The video is directed by Chris Robinson and was shot in two locations, NYC and Miami. In an interview with MTV News, MJB explained the concept behind the video:

“It’s a story. Basically, it’s what hasn’t been done in a long time. People don’t do stories anymore, and I wanted to keep that going.”

ON DECK or OFF DECK?!

The Queen of Hip-hop Soul Mary J. Blige is getting in touch with her rock n’ roll side! Mary recently hit the studio with Travis Barker, Randy Jackson, guitarist Steve Vai and Orianthi to remake rock group Led Zeppelin’s classic hit “Stairway to Heaven” as a bonus track for the international re-release of her album Stronger With Each Tear set to drop March 15th.

“I was thinking, ‘What is the most important rock and roll song in America?’ … and it’s this one,” she explains her reasoning for picking this track. “The record is just crazy. I think everybody would appreciate it if I can nail it.”

And I’m pretty sure Mary nailed it! Everything this woman does amazes me!

Looks like BET took note from MTV’s successful “Hope For Haiti Now” telethon which helped raise over $58 million– sparking the network to create its own telethon titled “SOS Saving Ourselves—Help for Haiti” to be hosted by Queen Latifah, Diddy and Pharrell Williams. The two hour event will take place at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami and will air on BET,  Centric, MTV and VH1 on Friday, February 5^th at 8 pm ET.

“Words cannot express how I felt watching the catastrophic events unfold in Haiti. I believe it is our duty to come together and help our brothers and sisters in Haiti, especially now, in their greatest hour of need. I have joined forces with Queen Latifah, Pharrell, BET and several of the biggest names in music today to raise funds for the Haiti Relief efforts. Together we can make a difference,” says Diddy.

A string of artists including Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson, Chris Brown, Jazmine Sullivan, Akon, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, Monica, Busta Rhymes, India Arie, Kirk Franklin, Nas and Damian Marley are set to hit the stage for this special event. In addition to musical performances, Mr. “Panty Dropper”  aka Trey Songz, Common, David Banner, Missy Elliott, Chrisette Michelle, Jeremih, The Dream, Jason Derulo, T-Pain, Sean Kingston and more will also make appearances.

“The devastation that has occurred in Haiti has broken my heart. My hope is that we can raise enough money to sustain a few of the relief organizations for quite some time as there is a lot of work to be done over there,” said Pharrell Williams. “The goal is not only to bring immediate relief to Haiti but to also rebuild the country and help the country move forward.”

Proceeds from the event will go to Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti, CARE, Project MediShare and Children’s Safe Drinking Water.

The Queen of Hip-hop Soul Mary J. Blige is using her soulful voice for a good cause! History will be made at this year’s Grammy Awards as Mary is set to perform with opera star Andrea Bocelli to raise money for Haiti’s relief effort. The two will cover Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” during a special fundraising segment on music’s biggest night of the year! Music lovers will be able to download MJB and Bocelli’s version of  “Bridge Over Troubled Water” on iTunes and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for those who were left devastated by the earthquake earlier this month. The 52nd annual Grammy Awards will take place this Sunday, January 31st at L.A.’s Staples Center and will feature performances by Lady GaGa, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and more! Tune in for the live broadcast on CBS at 8 pm.

Let just hope the American Red Cross doesn’t screw up like they did with Hurricane Katrina.

]]> http://str8nyc.com/2010/01/28/mary-j-blige-to-sing-for-haiti-the-grammys/feed/ 1 http://str8nyc.com/2010/01/25/in-case-u-missed-it-jay-z-beyonce-wycelf-more-do-hope-4-haiti-now-telethon/ http://str8nyc.com/2010/01/25/in-case-u-missed-it-jay-z-beyonce-wycelf-more-do-hope-4-haiti-now-telethon/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:14:35 +0000 J'More http://str8nyc.com/?p=32042 Tweet

Last Friday, your favorite performers including Rihanna, Wyclef, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige and a whole lot more came together for a good cause to help raise money for Haiti’s earthquake relief on “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon which was put together by actor George Clooney. The event was televised on nearly every channel and it also featured appearances by Hollywood’s heavy hitters Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, Chris Rock and more.

The King of New York aka Jay-Z teamed up with “Good Girl Gone Rated R” Rihanna and Bono to perform “Stranded-Haiti Mon Amour”.

Beyonce partnered up with Cold Play’s Chris Martin and sang her heartfelt medley “Halo” in which she remixed it by adding Haiti to the lyrics.

Haiti’s “ambassador”  Wyclef Jean performed “Rivers of Babylon” and “Yele” along with his sister Melky Jean on the hook. Wyclef definitely brought the Carnival vibe to the telethon with his rendition of “Yele”.

The Queen of Hip-hop Soul, Mary J. Blige tore down the house with Civil War-era ballad “Hard Times Come Again No More”.

Oscar winner/singer Jennifer Hudson sang the ish out of Beatles classic “Let It Be”.

“Hope for Haiti Now” proved to be a success as the telethon raised over $58 million from donations which poured in from all over the world. “Hope for Haiti Now” will continue to accept donations for sixth months via these methods:

Online: www.hopeforhaitinow.org

Phone: 877-99-HAITI

Text: Text “GIVE” to 50555

Mail: Hope For Haiti Now Fund

Entertainment Industry Foundation

1201 West 5th Street Suite T-700

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Proceeds will be split among Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Foundation.

So who does UK sensation Estelle look up to? Well, when asked in a recent interview who she considers to be her hero, the “American Boy” hit maker without hesitation revealed it’s the Queen of Hip-hop Soul Mary J. Blige. She says,

“Mary J Blige. I grew up listening to her and when I was 12 years old I was singing her songs. To me, she was just like me and she looks just like me. What you see is what you get. I’ve met her and she’s like a big sister to me. I love her.”

Awww…how cute! This is why we heart Estelle ’cause she never fails when it comes to keeping it real.