The 2011 Grammy Awards

Big Winner: Esperanza Spalding shows off herGrammy for Best New Artistin the press room at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 13 in Los Angeles.- Latina.com

Esperanza upsets Bieber!!!!

Rising jazz star Esperanza Spalding was named best new artist at the 53rd Grammy Awards, besting a group of more mainstream and well-known artists. Spalding, who in 2010 released her third album, “Chamber Music Society,” has rapidly become something of a crossover star in the jazz community, having performed at the White House as well as at major pop festivals such as Austin City Limits. Source

My favorite look so far...... The SMITH Family!

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Check Jada's mane! Get it girrrrrrl. ;-)

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so much

"I Can't Wait"....for Brandy 2011

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Maybe I've been under a rock or something but I just heard Brandy's latest single I Can't Wait and I really like it! I appreciate the pulsing beat- how it skirts around the techno/dance club vibe that saturated the airways during the latter part of 2010 while not completing succumbing to it. I love how her last few albums have a mature pop sound that cannot be boxed into R & B but retain a sense of soulfulness that can only be attributed to the unique huskiness of her voice. Seems like she's had a good year with her show co-starring alongside brother Ray J and her stint on Dancing with the Stars. I am a fan of her voice and sound (not to mention her latest set of box braids!) and I hope 2011 proves to be a continued success for her.

Had you all heard the song already? If not, take a listen below and tell me what you think.

A Little "Star" Whips Her Hair on Ice!

OMG I just saw this and had to share it with you. This is the cutest thing ever! Star Andrews is a 9 year old amateur skater and she did a fantastic routine to a remix of Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair". You can see she channels the singer's unique fashion sense and funky hawk style ponytails. Aside from being extremely cute, this girl is really good! Give her a few years and she will be amazing. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Seal's Stunning "Commitment": A Preview

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I belive I mentioned before how much I love the singer Seal. I have listened to his music since I was in middle school and I am super excited to hear these new tracks from his upcoming album Commitment. I wish I could go to iTunes right now to get it but I guess I will have to hold my horses until September 28th like everyone else!

Click HERE to listen to 6 of the 11 new tracks on Commitment and prepare to fall in love with Seal all over again! I really really really like the third one, Secret.

NORWAY

pantie roses & top-not are pure romance.
thanks e-stan for this beauty!

the summer in norway, that's all...

rollerskates.

sorry.

new sensation-beck

"Mixed silhouettes"

And it won`t stop. Just another small set of some vectorized silhouettes.
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1 AI : 200 KB

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African Pride. No...not the grease!

Did you watch the Haiti Telethon this weekend? It was pretty good and they raised like 57 million dollars for aid. Amazing! The two performances that stood out

in my mind most were those of Wyclef Jean and Jay-Z/Rihanna. I remember that in Wyclef's he made a comment about being Hatian and furthermore being African.

So when I saw this video it made me think of that and how so many of our issues about hair, skin, etc stem from shame of our Blackness, our African-ness.

We are Africans. It's cool. We should be proud. You may not like all the song's lyrics or the video (some of it is quite silly,lol) but the message is clear.

Music

the shampoo playlist is always available for YOU.

Gorgeous.

Ahhh the lovely Corinne Bailey Ray. She looks like an ethereal fairy goddess. What else can I say?

Photo from here

Sunday Cuteness: Corrine Bailey Ray

The woman is super talented and simply stunning. I'm loving her grown out hair these days. She is totally Sunday Cuteness!

(Pic from here)

(Pic from here)

( Pic from here)

Mary J's New Banger- The One

I just heard this and I LOVE it! I love the hair, the beat, the colors, the sleek look, everything! Mary looks beautiful and Drake ain't bad either, lol! This song entitled The One has a street edge but is slick and melodious.

"Mary J. Blige has collaborated with Canadian rapper Drake for her new single “The One”, which got released on June 5, 2009. Blige’s new album, the ninth one she was realized so far, is scheduled for a November 2009 release date. She performed the single recently at the Hot 97’s 2009 Summer Jam Concert." ~Source

Check it out!....and if you like that, check out Stronger w/Chris Brown.

"Dope"

Bow wow wow. Same dope vectors with Snoop and Pac.
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Tiziano e Kelly

One of my favorite Italian singers, Tiziano Ferro, has a new song with Kelly Rowland. The Italian version does not feature her but there is an English version on which she sings. As I mentioned in my post on her newest song, When Love Takes Over, I really like when she ventures out and does something atypical as opposed to sticking strictly to R&B.

The Italian version of the song is called Indietro or Behind in English. The English version is called Breath Gentle. I the Italian version but I like that she sings on the English one, and they do sing a little in Italian at the end. So here is the duet version.

Sunday MmmMmmMmm-ness:Maxwell

Ok, so this Sunday Cuteness is dedicated to the one and only Maxwell. Ladies, not only his he fine but he is super talented. This past Wednesday, I was lucky enough to attend the final concert of his summer tour at the DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) in downtown Durham.

Let me just say, from the moment he stepped on stage till the last bow at after the energetic encore, Maxwell was the consummate performer. We all know he can sing like an angel, but did you know he can dance with the best of them?! I had no idea how well that man can move. And let me just say he turned the heat up in that house!

Whew, I am still catching my breath! He sang all the old favorites and a bunch of the new stuff, including Pretty Wings. His band, his moves, those pants.....omg ladies, this one was the one to see. I am so glad he's back and I have a completely new appreciation for what he can do!

Oh, and I thought I would miss the hair, but he's still absolutely beautiful without it. Here's a look at the old, the new, and the forever wonderful Maxwell!

Dance Forever-eva-eva!

Ok, so I know I just did two posts at one time but...eh who cares! This is so freakin cute I had to share. How sweet! Great coordination! Beautiful energy! And that dude at 1:14 was gettin it won't he?! I almost cried. Seriously.

Music for my Monday...

...and Tuesday! I love this song. For about 3 years dance music was an obsession. It has since simmered into slowly burning flame that gets stoked every so often when I hear a cool track like this one.

I have not heard this here in NC but I caught my first listen on the way to ATL this weekend. It reminds me of Mexico and Italy (two places you gotta go if you want to dance in really cool clubs) and I can't resist the urge to move when I hear it. I really hope Kelly makes a whole album like this. Her voice fits well with this type of music and she could finally truly set her self apart from Beyonce's pop and RnB songs.

So that's what I'll be humming on this lovely day...and this might just be my summer anthem. What's yours?

Jordin Sparks Ready for Combat on Battlefield

I said it once and I'll say it again. I love Jordin! It's not her virginal image or striking good looks. I'm simply a sucker for a good pop hook and she delivers that. Her new album Battlefield drops the day before my birthday.

'Jordin Sparks has said she recorded 30 songs for the Battlefield album. She says that she contributed in the songwriting on 12 of them. No duets for the album have been confirmed, but Jordin Sparks has said in interviews she hopes to collaborate with Leona Lewis on a power ballad. Among the producers who are working on the project are Stargate, Max Martin, T-Pain, Ryan Tedder, and Dr. Luke.' ~Top 40

I am liking the cover art for the new disc and dare I say she might go back to rocking her natural curls?! The long, straight, blown-out look was nice on her but I began to feel like she had been made over into typical black pop tart by her people to sell more records. Who knows. All I can say is I like what I see so far and I hope there is more curl where those came from on the inside artwork.

The track listing for Battlefield (deluxe edition) includes 14 cuts and there is a DVD portion as well.

1. Walking On Snow
2. Battlefield
3. Don’t Let It Go To Your Head
4. S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)
5. It Takes More
6. Watch You Go
7. No Parade
8. Let It Rain
9. Emergency (911)
10. Was I The Only One
11. Faith
12. The Cure
13. Postcard (deluxe edition bonus track)
14. Papercut (deluxe edition bonus track)

DVD

1. Hangin’ With Jordin Sparks
2. Battlefield Behind The Scenes
3. Battlefield Photo Shoot
4. Battlefield (music video)

From listening to the preview below, Walking on Snow, Let It Rain, The Cure & S.O.S. are some of my faves. There are also some great new promo pics!

Battlefield Preview:

"Michael Jackson"

R.I.P Michael Jackson. Some vector sillhouettes of the King of Pop.
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So sad...Goodbye Michael Jackson

I was literally at the gym in step class when I saw the news flash across the screen across the way. I had to stop, put up my step, and go home. How could I continue? I am so sad and music will never be the same without him. RIP Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

Image from lancedrummondsmusic


My favorite movie with MJ... Captain EO