Author Archives: Jennifer White

Lil Duval Talks Success Of Smash Single ‘Smile' On BET Hip Hop Awards Green Carpet

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Comedian Lil Duval is usually jovial; it’s kind of his job. However, Duval took jovial to a new level as he boasted on social media about his single “Smile (Living My Best Life)” going number one. The Florida native, who’s been down with T.I.’s Grand Hustle family for over a decade, is enjoying the greatest success of his career with a song that’s being sung by everyone from Future to your next door neighbor.
“Smile” is that universal type of feel-good anthem that resonates with everyone, because who among us doesn’t strive to live that best life? Believe it or not, the song title is actually pilfered from an Oprah Winfrey mantra — seriously, check out O Magazine’s book “Live Your Best Life: A Treasury of Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration from O, The Oprah Magazine.” But Oprah references aside, the true genius in this record is in its aspirational notion that we should make the best of their current situation, no matter what.
These days we see Duval on stages way more for singing than his stand up.  
 
“41 years old, living my best life,” told us calmly on the green carpet of the BET Hip-Hop Awards, which air tonight on the network. Clearly success isn’t just for those in their 20s and 30s. “The only ones that’s surprised is the industry,” he added about his increased profile. “I been had fame. I been had support. It’s just new to the industry. It’s different how people see me, but it’s not that much difference to me.”
 
Besides Duval’s show stealing turn at the awards, he was looking forward to seeing his family T.I. perform as well as the “I AM Hip-Hop” award recipient Lil Wayne.
“Someone like Tip’s been doing this for so long. I’m doing what he’s been doing,” the funnyman determined. “He’s definitely one of the greatest. And Lil Wayne.”
 
Duval is working a full length LP and is releasing a new single before 2019.
 
“I got another song dropping, probably gonna drop it end of this year.”

Ariana Grande Calls Off Her Engagement

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OK, who had October 14th in the pool?

I’m kidding. It’s easy to make jokes about Ariana Grande’s relationship with Pete Davidson – they seemed so mismatched, he seemed so goofy and awkward and just… not on her level.

But this is yet another sad blow to Ari in a season of tough life events. One of the biggest, obviously, being the untimely death of her ex, Mac Miller. Sources are saying that was the ultimate breaking point of her relationship with Pete.

Ari failed to show up to a scheduled event on Saturday night, the F___ Cancer Gala in Los Angeles. Her manager, Scooter Braun, who is also involved with the foundation, spoke up for her.

“Someone that I am very close to could not be here today because of things that she is going through. She couldn’t be here today, and while I was frustrated, being a manager, my wife, being who she always is, said to me, ‘She needs this time.’ If people are just here to see her sing and not [wanting to] be here for the cancer foundation, I don’t want them here anyway.”

The next day, news started to leak that Ariana & Pete's engagement had been called off. Ultimately I’m happy she’s not marrying him – I think she can do better! -- but I feel sad that her life has been so rough lately.

Maybe she can get some closure with Slacker’s The Twenty: It’s Over.

CeeLo lends support to Taylor Swift

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While President Trump’s opinion of the newly outspoken-on-politics Taylor Swift (well, at least her music) has recently diminished by a whopping 25%, the superstar singer continues to get support from within the entertainment community. Over the weekend, Swift took to social media and gave a lucid, well-articulated explanation of why she chose now to break her political silence and to let the world know she was endorsing Democratic candidates in the upcoming mid-term elections in her home state of Tennessee. Fellow pop-star (and sometimes nemesis) Katy Perry and actor Josh Brolin are among the celebrities who publicly supported Swift’s sentiment. The growing list of Swift supporters can now add one Mr. CeeLo Green.
Green weighed in on Monday from his hometown of Atlanta, where the musical renaissance man is taking a break from his recording and touring to hang out with his son Kingston and new artist, Echelon, to discuss politics. The legendary performer said he likes that Swift has decided to get vocal.
 
“Kudos to Taylor Swift for owning up to her opinion and lending her influence and support to someone that she deems worthy,” the veteran MC applauded. “I have to respect that. It’s quite difficult because we’re bound by our opinions, our public opinions. IT can be picked apart. There’s no way to give politics poetic justice. It’s a conversation that only requires plain English. Just speak to the facts. Know your enemy, know your opposition and then know thy self and be true to thy self.”
 
Swift was the big winner last night at the American Music Awards. Not only did she open up the show with a performance, but she also took home Artist of the Year, Tour of the Year Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock and Favorite Album/ Pop Rock for Reputation.

Taylor Swift, Cardi B, XXXtentacion Rock The AMAs

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Last’s night’s American Music Awards might as well been called “Ladies Night.” Women dominated the proceedings by taking home awards and delivering jaw-dropping performances. One specific jaw belonged to Taran Killam of “Saturday Night Live” and “Wild N Out” fame, whose mouth agape reaction to Cardi B’s “I Like It" performance has made the internet rounds. But it was Cardi B who stole the night, as the Bronx native hit the podium three times to collect awards for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song (“Bodak Yellow”), Favorite Soul/ R&B Song (Bruno Mars’ “Finesse” remix) and Favorite Rap/ Hip-Hop Artist. Beyond the trophies, it was Cardi's colorful, cultural and instantly iconic performance that turned the entire Microsoft Theater into Carnaval in Cuba meets Fordham Road in the Bronx. 
 
Taylor Swift, fresh off of taking her first-ever public political stance, focused on music for the night as she lead off the broadcast with her single “I Did Something Bad.” There’s no more ironic song title for the proud Tennessean song bird, as it was all good for her. Even Donald Trump, who says he likes her music “25% less” since her Sunday politically charmed Instagram post, would have a hard time hating on Swift as she continued her reign winning the AMA’s top honor, Artist of the Year. Less forgiving of Switft may be the BeyHive, which likely had to take a double shot of Dusse to calm their nerves as Swift also was awarded Tour of the Year, beating out such notables the Beyonce and Jay-Z stadium extravaganza “On The Run II” and Bruno Mars’ “24 K Magic World Tour.” While that victory may have been a shocker, it was no surprise that Swift got Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock and that her Reputation LP was awarded Favorite Album/ Pop Rock. Swift’s wins saw her surpass Whitney Houston as the most decorated female ever at the AMAs. 
 
While Swift stayed away from any heavy statements, AMA host Tracee Ellis Ross was declarative in words and in her audaciously beautiful garments. The star of “Black-Ish” wore clothes made by black designers from the legendary Dapper Dan to CD Greene. The most outspoken of her night’s wardrobe changes was the simply stated but powerful “I Am A Voter” tee shirt. 
 
Ciara had the biggest assist of the night, bringing her longtime friend Missy Elliott out for “Level Up.” CiCi and her dancers wowed with premiere choreography. Jennifer Lopez’s “Limitless” performance concentrated more on her vocals than her traditionally pristine dancing, but she still had flair, as did the timeless Mariah Carey who debuted a new song “With You.” Everyone is talking about how Carey barley moved while singing, but she did have a gaggle of dancers, some of whom emerged from her pink dress.

Other highlights included Newjack Ella Mae, walking from the crowd to the stage during “Booed Up,” and Gladys Knight delivered an ultimate diva move by descending from Heaven to grace us all as she paid tribute to her friend Aretha Franklin. The 74 year-old was backed by nothing but perennial all-stars, Ledisi, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winas and Mary Mary. With a picture of a smiling Franklin angelically posted in the back of the stage, the Knight-led contingency erupted with a forceful and emotional medley of Gospel records that were stirringly soulful.
 
And of of course, one of the night’s most poignant moments occurred when XXXTentacion’s mom Cleopatra Bernard appeared onstage to accept her son’s posthumous win for Favorite Soul/ R&B album. “I’m so nervous, you guys,” said Bernard, who also was present to accept her son’s award Saturday at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Miami. “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of my son. I would like to thank the AMAs, his fans, and to everyone who made this possible. Thank you guys so much. I appreciate it.”

Click here for the full list of winners from the American Music Awards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Music_Awards_of_2018

Go On Tour With Panic! At The Disco!

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Brendon Urie takes us behind the scenes of week 6 of the Pray For The Wicked tour – everything from drumming in a unicorn onesie, to lip syncing to Steve Winwood, to interacting with fans. Get a look at what it’s like to be on the road with Panic!

And don’t forget, they’re bringing a Queen tribute to Tuesday night’s American Music Awards! Get psyched for the 2018 AMAs with The Slacker 20 here: https://www.slacker.com/station/the-twenty-amas

Mannie Fresh Says He and Lil Wayne Have 11 More Songs In Stash That Will be Released

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Some things just sound right and make you feel that all is right in the hip-hop universe. Lil Wayne and Mannie Fresh working together is one of those things. The energetic MC and charismatic DJ have made for one of music's best tandems during two-plus decades, creating major hits and influencing culture.  While obviously the two have branched out since their Cash Money heyday, it was still special to see Fresh listed as producer on the recently released blockbuster, Tha Carter V.  The Mannie-helmed “Start This Shit Off Right” and “Perfect Strangers” were two bullseye-hits on the 23 song LP.
Last night in Atlanta, Fresh performed a DJ set right before Wayne hit the stage as headliner at A3C, spinning Cash Money classics and hits from notables including Wayne and Notorious B.I.G. The producer/ DJ said he’s not surprised Wayne has had longevity on top of the game.
 
“I always felt homie was gonna hold his own,” Mannie told us backstage after his set. “Big ups to him for always answering the phone no matter what was going on.  I can I always say my dude — low point for me, low point for him [or] when we was up— always answered the phone. Before I knew Wayne, I knew his dad. His das was always like ‘this dude got star qualities.’ When I met him, he was right. First one there, last one to leave. It’s still that way. When we worked on Tha Carter [V], people don’t know we got like 13 songs, we dumbed it down to two. And we did that in three days. So the chemistry is still there, still crazy. Dude was like, 'let this ride and you can put those out.' The world will get to hear Mannie Fresh/ Carter. It’ll be ‘The Fresh File.’”
 
Fresh is currently crafting a solo LP and one of the MCs he most wants to work with is Kool G. Rap. 
 
Tha Carter, hit with major velocity since it’s release two weeks ago. It went gold in just a few days after being streamed around half a billion times it’s first week out (the second highest in history). The opus, Wayne’s latest in the series that started 14 years ago also debuted number one on the Billboard charts.