Drake- I’m Ready For Ya (Song Leak)

By Kia O. Moore (kia@mingleberry.com)

What do you get when you intertwine the vocals of Nigerian-German, hip-hop/soul singer Nneka into a melodic hip-hop beat? Drake’s latest leak: I’m Ready For Ya.

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Can Chris Brown keep it DRAMA FREE?

 Article provided by SoulSummer.com

 By Kia O. Moore (kia@mingleberry.com)

I am sitting in the car, the air conditioner is broken, and it feels like 102 degree weather. The radio is on, but I am not really listening to it. The thick North Carolina humidity plus the usual Charlotte 5′oclock traffic jam has my musical focus turned way down. Then I hear, “Here is your No. 1 requested jam of the day: Chris Brown’s Deuces.” My ears perk up and a turn the volume dial on high.

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Longing for the Moonwalker

By Kia O. Moore      (kia@mingleberry.com)

It has been three days since the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. I have been googling my brain for three days trying to figure out a way to pay tribute to the man that introduced me to my soul mate: music.

The year was 1988. The song had a pronounced bass guitar melody that pervaded my ear canal, thumping my eardrums as I moved in time to the beat. I mimicked every move he made on my TV screen. At the age of 3 the “smooth criminal” had me in his grasp. Band-Aids on my fingertips, a fedora atop my head, and the rhythm in my feet. Michael Jackson and me only needed the music.

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2010 BET Awards in Review: The Overview

By Kia O. Moore    (kia@mingleberry.com)

When BET announced Queen Latifah was going to host this year’s awards, I was not so sure about that decision. With past years being hosted by comedians like Jamie Foxx, Mo’ Nique , Steve Harvey & Cedric the Entertainer and others, I was not confident that Queen was going to keep me thoroughly entertained during those down moments between performances.  But the Queen was a class act, taking us down memory lane with her many costume changes: from her award-winning Matron “Mama” Morton from the musical Chicago to her latest character from the motion picture Just Wright.

The movie character that stole the show was Cleeo from Set it Off. Cleeo was the comic relief when T.I. and she transitioned into one of the many BET performances. As Cleeo made a motion that looked as if  she was reaching for a gun tucked in her waist, T.I. jokingly made reference to a flashback of his bad run-in with gun possession charges and award shows. But, what really won me over on BET’s decision to have Queen Latifah host the show was when Queen let the MC out and spit over Drake’s radio-beloved track Forever.

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2010 BET Awards in Review: Top 10 Performances

By Kia O. Moore   (kia@mingleberry.com)

It took ten years, but after a decade of practice BET executed its Award Show in an exquisite manner. The nominees, the honorees, the sets, and YESSSSS the performances made 2010 BET Awards one you won’t mind watching repeatedly throughout the year. (This is BET we are talking about. You know they are going to play the BET Awards 10, like, twice a day until March 2011.)

To get the overview of the overall show click here.

BET Awards 10 | Top 10 Performances

The performances are what made this year’s awards show the best of all the BET Awards Shows of the past decade. Mingleberry.com put together its own awards list for the BET Awards 10 performance. We welcome your comments, so add some categories of your own.

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2010 BET Awards in Review: Chris Brown’s Teary-eyed tribute to MJ

• What’s your take on the performance?

• How do you feel toward Chris Brown now?

Leave your comments below.

Hip-Hop Luminary Guru Succumbs To Cancer

Hip-hop icon Keith “Guru” Elam died Monday as a result of cancer-related causes, MTV reports. He was 43 years old.

Guru was hospitalized in March, and while some outlets reported that he suffered a heart attack, it was never confirmed.

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Diggy Simmons signs deal with Atlantic Records

By Kia O. Moore                               (kia@mingleberry.com)

It’s time to Get Down with the Young King: Daniel “Diggy” Simmons.

Diggy inked a deal with Atlantic Records on Monday, March 22. The wave of industry buzz surrounding his latest freestyle “Flow Stoopid” made the major label look Diggy’s way. His visceral flow over Nas’s rugged headnodder “Made You Look” caused internet chatter among well respected katz in the hip-hop industry. Kayne West, Common, Lupe Fiasco and Swizz Beatz gave Diggy’s track the much sought after “hip-hop cosign.”

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Next Level: Roc Nation’s J. Cole puts NC on the hip-hop map

J. Cole is the first artist signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label.

By Kia O. Moore (kia@mingleberry.com)

Fayetteville native Jermaine Cole (J. Cole) posses the talent to make the hip-hop world recognize N.C. as the miniature N.Y.C. of the South. With the demeanor and lyrical dexterity of the great Regional Era (’93-’00) MC’s, this fresh faced rap rookie is gunning for the summa cum laude¹ title in hip-hop’s New School Class of rappers.

This magna cum laude² St. John’s University alum was the first artist signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label. He was handpicked by Mr. S. Carter himself, and was featured on the Blueprint 3 album. Jay-Z allowed him to lay a verse down on the track “A star is born.” It is not uncommon for Jay-Z to feature unknown artists and producers on his tracks. In an Associated Press article Jay-Z said that he loves the energy that raw talent brings to his albums. He also loves to give newcomers the opportunity to crossover into the mainstream.

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2009 Queen City Awards Winners

Hip Hop

Hip Hop Artist of the Year (Male): Cutty Boy

Hip Hop Artist of the Year (Female): Shelly B

Hip Hop Group of the Year: Tripple Threat

R&B

R&B Artist of the Year (Male): Joe Barrino

R&B Artist of the Year (Female): Neesha

R&B Band: Intertwyne

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