EJ Johnson Serves Plenty Of Face And Bawwwdy At Dinner At Catch EJ Johnson stepped out in West Hollywood for dinner at Catch Restaurant with a fully beat face and his collarbones on fleek. Looks like EJ was rocking a full body sheer stocking paired with a long black maxi with two slits in the front. You like? EJ has previously denied speculation that he had plans to transition to a woman, but continues to wear women’s clothes and makeup. Guess that’s just his way of expressing himself through fashion. Here’s another angle. All jokes aside, EJ has a closet full of great items. Pass the murses EJ. Wonder if he has to get his heels custom made. EJ is damn near 7 feet tall. He probably wears at least a size 13. No disrespect to EJ or the queen Grace Jones but his style totally gives us Grace in “Boomerang”. Sashay strangé! SplashNews
Up & Coming Singer Wants To Bring Real R&B Back Ran Christian channels a James Bond theme in the video for his new single, “Dead or Alive.” The Harlem native said the song – produced by French Montana’s producer Rick Steel – is about someone wanting another person so badly that they’ll take them any way they can. “The concept of the video was a James Bond theme,” Christian told BOSSIP. “It’s really simple and not too much scenery…It was a great vibe, and we wanted to try something different.” Christian, 27, said he grew up listening to Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Dave Hollister and Usher, and he said he wanted to bring some of that old school feel into his own music. “I see so many artists come in, a lot of artists that come out, and everything is kind of sounding the same,” Christian said. “I’m not afraid to try new things, and that old sound…I want to bring that sound back.” “Dead or Alive” is on his mixtape “Made in Harlem” on datpiff.com, and he said he plans to drop an EP this summer.
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson Breaks Up With Crystal Bates After Birth Of Their Daughter Welp… Looks like Ochocinco isn’t having any luck cleaning up his act and settling down. According to BOSSIP sources the former NFL baller has dumped Crystal Bates , the woman who recently gave birth to his fifth child, shattering her dreams of them moving in together and raising their combined family of 9 kids (they each had four before the birth of baby Kennedi)!!! According to our source, Ochostinko met Crystal in the strip club where she waitressed — she promptly quit that gig after he purchased a Range Rover and other expensive gifts for her. But those things have come to a halt since the baby’s birth. “It’s a sad story,” the source tells BOSSIP. “He did her dirty. Got her pregnant and sold her a dream. She wants to marry him and he won’t even let her and her 5 kids move into his house.” SMH. To make matters worse, the source tells BOSSIP Crystal is now living in a section 8 apartment (with the gifted Range parked outside!!!) and is applying for WIC. Chad reportedly does not help financially and Crystal soothes her rattled nerves by tweeting all day, listening to Luther Vandross, KEM and Anita Baker and watching p**n. She has teenage kids as well who often end up babysitting when she heads out to blow off steam by partying at strip clubs — like the one she visited just three weeks after giving birth. To make matters worse, Chad has been following and DM’ing random chicks telling them he loves them. Hit the flip for the tweets. Twitter/Instagram
Pulling raw talent from the footnotes of rock ‘n’ roll history and splashing their names up on the marquee where they belong, Twenty Feet From Stardom wages a compelling crusade to get background singers some long-overdue recognition. Featuring such stalwarts as Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer and Tata Vega — many of whose voices are well known even if their names are not — this rousing group portrait should have commercial legs as long as its subjects’, leaving satisfied audiences everywhere listening with new ears. Director Morgan Neville’s loving spotlight, produced by late A&M Records exec Gil Friesen, ensures their contributions will go unsung no more. Not everyone is cut out for stardom, observes Bruce Springsteen at the outset, and the film ultimately hammers its “coulda been a contender” point a little too hard when circling back to that idea in the final stretch. But for most of its running time, this personality-packed docu is nothing short of absorbing as it recaps the essential role African-American background singers played in shaping the sound of 20th-century pop music. Hailing from the gospel tradition (all the big names grew up singing in church, and many had preachers for parents), these vocal powerhouses were the soul of a new sound being practiced by everyone from Ray Charles to Elvis Presley , replacing the earlier model, in which clean-cut crooners performed alongside two or three white ladies. Now in her 70s and reunited here with the Blossoms, Love paved the way for black women to support some of the most successful names in rock history, occasionally even “ghosting” for other acts who took the credit. That’s Love singing lead on the Crystals’ hit “He’s a Rebel,” for example, though producer Phil Spector personally stood in the way of her solo career. Most of the time, the music-buying public had no idea whom they were listening to, but the industry folks certainly did, creating opportunities for the likes of Clayton, who recalls screaming “Rape! Murder!” for the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” in the middle of the night with curlers in her hair, and the Waters Family, featured on “Thriller” and “The Circle of Life” (who, amazingly, also recorded dino-bird sounds on Avatar ). In virtually every minute of its first hour, the film reveals fresh details many might not already know about songs they’ve heard countless times, reinforcing its points with sound bites from Mick Jagger , Stevie Wonder and Sting. These stars aren’t merely endorsing the vocalists they swear by, either; speaking candidly, they offer meaningful observations about the vagaries of the biz. Neville’s approach establishes a real intimacy with the half dozen singers he follows most closely, varying the camerawork and editing just enough among them to capture the distinct personality of each. The featured ladies represent several generations of success and struggle, and the pic brings the myriad talking points to life with rare TV appearances, half-forgotten milestones and other archival treasures, while nifty graphics help direct viewer attention, putting the sidelines in our sight lines. And then comes the heartbreak. Though a few have broken out of the background to become headliners — like male example Luther Vandross, who started out singing support for David Bowie — most rely on the generosity of other artists for what limited exposure they get. At one point, Love was reduced to cleaning houses, and former “Ikette” Claudia Lennear (who posed for Playboy at the height of her celebrity) now works as a Spanish teacher. Some, like Grammy winner Fischer, seem more comfortable enriching others’ performances, while up-and-comer Judith Hill (who sang at Michael Jackson’s funeral) risks undermining her personal momentum every time she accepts a supporting gig. As the film’s title wistfully suggests, many background singers have musical talent far exceeding those for whom they have performed — a subject rich enough to have fueled the tuner Dreamgirls . And yet, for various reasons ranging from market forces to the fact they didn’t write their own songs, they never managed to launch successful solo careers. Just as entire documentaries could be made about one-hit wonders, the discussion of near-miss stardom is almost a distraction from the enormous contribution these vocalists have made to contemporary music, while reducing the measures of success to fame and fortune. And yet, this perceived injustice gives the pic a catchy hook, no doubt creating fresh career opportunities for its subjects, if not necessarily the stardom that has so long eluded them. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
50 Cent Supports Frank Ocean 50 Cent says if President Obama says it’s ok to be gay , then he thinks so too. “Anyone that has an issue with Frank Ocean is an idiot,” 50 Cent told MTV UK. “I think Frank Ocean is a talented artist, I think he’s created material that made me know his name, that impressed me, with things he said on a song like ‘Novacane.’ “ For Fif, Ocean’s efforts in the studio are way more important than his goings-on in the bedroom, and because Frank has delivered exemplary performances on record, his romantic revelation is a non-issue for the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ MC. “It could be revolutionary or it could be a tragedy,” he said before noting the timing of Frank’s announcement and his Channel Orangealbum release. “You can call it brave or you can call it marketing, because it was intentional; it wasn’t an accident.” 50 compared Ocean’s situation to late R&B icon Luther Vandross or Intro singer Kenny Greene. Vandross was rumored to be gay, though such reports were never confirmed. Greene however, admitted in a 2001 interview that he was bisexual shortly before he died from complications caused by AIDS. “There are artists before who have made these choices just not having made the choice to expose it to the general public before an actual release of music,” 50 said. Still, 50 remarked on the changing times, alluding that sexual preference just isn’t as taboo anymore — at least it isn’t for him. “Obama is for same-sex marriage,” 50 pointed out. “If the president is saying that, then who am I to go the other way?” Great to see the hip-hop community coming together to support one of their own. On another note though, we’d love to see Fif rock that curl again. Wouldn’t you? Source
A Nate Dogg sex tape featuring the late rapper/singer and an unidentified female lover has surfaced and is being shopped to various media outlets, TMZ reports . The tape, shot several years ago, is pretty standard by sex tape standards. Read: There is a lot of sex going on, from various positions, while a sexy Luther Vandross soundtrack plays in the background. Almost sounds romantic, no? The person in possession of the Nate Dogg sex tape is currently shopping it around to the usual sex tape purveyors/studios. So far, no takers. But just wait. If nothing else, the private collector that just paid big bucks to snap up the Tupac sex tape might want another addition to his pile of random celebrity porn. Nate Dogg died last March at the age of 41. [Photo: WENN.com]
Where: (click below to visit venue on Foursquare) William Howard Taft High School 240 East 171st St, Bronx, NY 10457 When: 1969 What: The velvet-voiced singer/songwriter graduates high school and dives headfirst into his musical career, eventually selling over twenty-five million albums and winning eight Grammy Awards. « PREVIOUS NEXT » In celebration of Black Music Month, TheUrbanDaily’s “It’s All Black Music” presents 100 Rewarding Black Music Moments , sponsored by Southwest Airlines . Each Black Music Moment is associated with an actual place that you can visit. During the month of June, check in to at least three of these places on Foursquare to unlock TheUrbanDaily’s exclusive “It’s All Black Music” Badge . Check out the locations and details on our Foursquare page !
We take a look at what the semifinalists need to do to stay in the race. By Eric Ditzian “American Idol” top 13 Photo: FOX Word on the reality-show street is, Wednesday’s (March 9) “American Idol” theme will have the top 13 contestants singing the tunes of artists they worship, but that’s the farthest we’ll drive into spoiler territory. Producers made the decision to pretape the performance episode , and while the Web is rife with info about what went down during the show, we’ve chosen to avoid all that. What’s the fun in reading about a reality competition before actually seeing it? So diving into the upcoming episode with only past shows to inform us, let’s take a look at each singer: who we’re excited about, who we honestly don’t care for and who better step it up or risk getting the boot on Thursday night. Ashthon Jones The 25-year-old has a whole lotta potential, but as someone wiser than us once said, potential just means you ain’t done sh– yet. Jones displayed boatloads of confidence and stage presence last week, yet never set sail toward the front of the “Idol” pack. She’s got some R&B gifts, but something about her take on Monica’s “Love All Over Me” felt too self-consciously like she was reaching for a diva moment. Ashthon, you’re not quite there yet. There’s a reason the judges had to use a wild card to save you. Show us your fun, energetic side first. Win some voters over. Wait a few more weeks before going diva again. Casey Abrams This kid has two things going for him: a free-wheeling, blues- and soul-infused instrument and a likable, everydude demeanor. Whether he’s too quirky to win the whole shebang (see: Bowersox, Crystal) is an open question. But there’s no doubting he’s a fan favorite, and even if his new performance doesn’t even approach his eyebrow-raising take on Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You,” Abrams will be safe. We think we can count on him bringing the blues on Wednesday. Let’s see if he can tone down the growls a bit. Haley Reinhart Hey, we didn’t feel her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” but America clearly did, voting her through to the next round. If she delivers another performance with notes that ping-pong across the musical scale, she might be in trouble. Like Jones, we encourage Haley to dial back the diva-tude and realize she’s never going to out-belt someone like Keys. Song choice will be the key to her survival, or lack thereof. Jacob Lusk Last week, we argued that while Lusk is potentially on the brink of a breakout performance, he’s not quite there; there was something simply too old-fashioned about it. Though a Luther Vandross tune is already on his “Idol” r
We take a look at what the semifinalists need to do to stay in the race. By Eric Ditzian “American Idol” top 13 Photo: FOX Word on the reality-show street is, Wednesday’s (March 9) “American Idol” theme will have the top 13 contestants singing the tunes of artists they worship, but that’s the farthest we’ll drive into spoiler territory. Producers made the decision to pretape the performance episode , and while the Web is rife with info about what went down during the show, we’ve chosen to avoid all that. What’s the fun in reading about a reality competition before actually seeing it? So diving into the upcoming episode with only past shows to inform us, let’s take a look at each singer: who we’re excited about, who we honestly don’t care for and who better step it up or risk getting the boot on Thursday night. Ashthon Jones The 25-year-old has a whole lotta potential, but as someone wiser than us once said, potential just means you ain’t done sh– yet. Jones displayed boatloads of confidence and stage presence last week, yet never set sail toward the front of the “Idol” pack. She’s got some R&B gifts, but something about her take on Monica’s “Love All Over Me” felt too self-consciously like she was reaching for a diva moment. Ashthon, you’re not quite there yet. There’s a reason the judges had to use a wild card to save you. Show us your fun, energetic side first. Win some voters over. Wait a few more weeks before going diva again. Casey Abrams This kid has two things going for him: a free-wheeling, blues- and soul-infused instrument and a likable, everydude demeanor. Whether he’s too quirky to win the whole shebang (see: Bowersox, Crystal) is an open question. But there’s no doubting he’s a fan favorite, and even if his new performance doesn’t even approach his eyebrow-raising take on Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You,” Abrams will be safe. We think we can count on him bringing the blues on Wednesday. Let’s see if he can tone down the growls a bit. Haley Reinhart Hey, we didn’t feel her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” but America clearly did, voting her through to the next round. If she delivers another performance with notes that ping-pong across the musical scale, she might be in trouble. Like Jones, we encourage Haley to dial back the diva-tude and realize she’s never going to out-belt someone like Keys. Song choice will be the key to her survival, or lack thereof. Jacob Lusk Last week, we argued that while Lusk is potentially on the brink of a breakout performance, he’s not quite there; there was something simply too old-fashioned about it. Though a Luther Vandross tune is already on his “Idol” r
‘I have a problem,’ he jokes to MTV News about his moves. ‘Pray for me.’ By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Kara Warner Jacob Lusk Photo: 2011 Getty Images The judges on “American Idol” have marveled at the vocal force of Jacob Lusk ever since the gospel-drenched singer blew them away during Hollywood Week . But Lusk isn’t just a potential heir to the Luther Vandross velvet-ballad throne; he’s also a dance machine. On Thursday night, after he and 12 other “Idol” singers made it into the show’s top 13, Lusk showed off his now-signature celebration hoofing . “It’s just a happy dance. When I get happy, it starts off with a stomp, and then I just kind of get a little carried away,” he smiled when asked to demonstrate the move. “It usually happens in church. That’s kind of where it stemmed from, is from church. … I kind of have no boundaries. I have a problem. Pray for me,” he joked about his moves and how the “Idol” ride so far has inspired him to mix in some dancing with his singing. But when it comes to those rich vocals, Lusk said he has a plan for sounding modern without losing his old-school roots. “I want to stay contemporarily classic,” he explained. “For me, whatever music I sing, it doesn’t matter as long as when I’m finished singing that I’ve touched you, that something’s affected you. You can do that with a club joint, you can do that with a ballad … but I’m definitely going to try and mix it up a little bit as the season continues on.” Lusk will get another chance to be himself on Wednesday, when the top 13 take the stage for the first round of live performance and results shows and get a taste of the pressure that comes with singing on live TV every week. Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: ‘American Idol’ Party
