Tag Archives: alicia-keys

Swizz Beatz Recalls Sneaking Into Clubs To DJ, On ‘When I Was 17’

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I started off DJing for the high school prom, then I started DJing the college parties, then I started DJing the clubs,’ he says. By MTV News staff Swizz Beatz’s yearbook photo Long before he started producing tracks for Jay-Z, Chris Brown and Drake — and before he whisked Alicia Keys away to get married on the Mediterranean — Swizz Beatz was just a skinny kid trying to make a name for himself. And he couldn’t make a name for himself fast enough, which is why he started working the club scene long before he was old enough to order a drink from the bar.

Read more from the original source:
Swizz Beatz Recalls Sneaking Into Clubs To DJ, On ‘When I Was 17’

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Alicia Keys, Jay-Z And Sade To Perform At Black Ball NY

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The stars will take the stage at the seventh annual Keep a Child Alive fundraising event. By Mawuse Ziegbe Alicia Keys and Jay-Z Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and Sade will all grace the stage at the seventh annual Black Ball NY at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom. The event, which is mounted by Keys’ Keep a Child Alive organization, will take place September 30. “Sade? Jay-Z? Both icons and both major influences of mine. I am overwhelmed by their generosity in helping us continue the tradition of making the Black Ball the best fundraiser in NYC,” Keys said in a statement. “There are more surprises coming up! Stay tuned!” KCA also organized the Black Ball London this past May, where U.K. group Kasabian and British singer Bryan Ferry performed. The organization helps families struggling with HIV/AIDS throughout India and Africa and, since 2004, has generated more than $10 million. Keys co-founded KCA in 2003, and since then, the organization has assisted more than 250,000 people. KCA also provides financial support to orphan care and clinical centers in countries such as Rwanda and Uganda. Last year’s Black Ball in New York drew 1,000 guests, raised more than $2 million and was co-hosted by Keys, “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi and supermodel and entrepreneur Iman. The fundraiser was also held at Hammerstein Ballroom and honored former President Bill Clinton, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and Senegalese legend Youssou N’Dour for their work fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS. Keys, N’Dour, John Mayer and Coldplay’s Chris Martin performed. A range of celebs, such as Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Swizz Beatz, Nick Cannon, David Bowie, Spike Lee and Usher, came out to support the cause. What do you think of this year’s Black Ball lineup? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Alicia Keys Jay-Z Sade

Read the rest here:
Alicia Keys, Jay-Z And Sade To Perform At Black Ball NY

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Swizz Beatz Says Musical Connection To Alicia Keys Is ‘On Another Level’

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Anytime we in the studio, it’s just musical genius,’ the producer says of working with his fianc

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guru’s BET Awards Omission Due To A ‘Technical Glitch,’ Exec Says

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Stephen Hill says late Gang Starr MC will be honored during BET Hip-Hop Awards in the fall. By Mawuse Ziegbe Guru Photo: Gregg Delman The 2010 BET Awards had several memorable moments, including a diva-packed tribute to lifetime-achievement honoree Prince , a pregnant Alicia Keys rocking out harder than ever and comebacks from Kanye West , Chris Brown and El DeBarge . However, viewers have been abuzz since Sunday’s live broadcast about a moment that was noticeably absent from the show: a tribute honoring late lyricist Guru . A BET higher-up, however, has insisted that the lack of recognition for the Gang Starr MC, who succumbed to cancer earlier this year, was not an oversight but rather the product of a technical snafu. “It was nothing more than a technical glitch,” said BET Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Music Programming Stephen Hill, who was involved in staging the show, according to AllHipHop.com . Hill said the show had intended to honor other late stars but ran into issues with the tribute video. “It was the same reason you didn’t see anything about Naomi Sims, a black model who passed, and Marvin Isley of the Isley Brothers. So Guru, Naomi Sims and Marvin Isley were all tied to this one package that didn’t fire off the way it was supposed to. What was supposed to happen is you see this package and Naomi and Guru and Marvin end up on Gary Coleman. For some reason, we couldn’t get it to fire, and it kept Gary Coleman up there [as] a freeze [frame],” said Hill, referring to a moment in the show when an image of the late actor was displayed on a monitor. “That’s why it looks a little awkward when Todd [Bridges] started, because he was supposed to have a bit of a ramp-up,” Hill explained, referencing Bridges’ speech about his former “Diff’rent Strokes” co-star. “So Todd did his thing, and we continued on with [the] Lena [Horne] and Teddy Pendergrass [dedications].” Hill assured fans that Guru would be properly honored at the BET Hip-Hop Awards, which typically air in the fall. “You can best believe there will be something significant for Guru during the Hip-Hop Awards. We realized there was nothing we could do [during the BET Awards],” Hill lamented. “We had to keep it moving after that technical glitch. Guru, Naomi Sims and Marvin Isley were all victims of that technical glitch, all extremely influential in different ways.” Did you notice Guru’s omission from the BET Awards montage? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Gang Starr’s Guru Passes Away Related Photos Gang Starr’s Guru: A Life In Photos Related Artists Guru

Read the rest here:
Guru’s BET Awards Omission Due To A ‘Technical Glitch,’ Exec Says

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Janet Jackson Says ‘I Love My Life’

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It took me a good minute to get here, it really did,’ the pop star tells Essence in August cover story. By Mawuse Ziegbe Janet Jackson on the August 2010 cover of “Essence” Photo: Essence Communications To her fans, Janet Jackson would appear to have emerged from an especially taxing year. The pop star just marked the one-year anniversary of brother Michael’s death and, last year, ended her relationship with longtime boyfriend Jermaine Dupri . But despite her personal trials, Jackson recently revealed that she’s in a good place in her life. “It took me a good minute to get here, it really did. But I love my life,” Jackson tells Essence in the August issue hitting newsstands July 12. “I only wish I had this confidence when I was younger.” Although Jackson may have lacked confidence in her early years, the hitmaker maintained that she has no qualms about aging; an outlook the Jackson family matriarch, Katherine, instilled in her and her celebrity siblings. “Mother always raised us to believe that age was just a number. All of us — my sisters, my brothers — we’ll just tell you our ages because it’s all about where you are mentally and how you feel about yourself.” Perhaps Jackson’s attitude is also influenced by the new inroads she’s making in her career. The diva has ramped up her acting work in recent months, pulling off an emotional performance in “Why Did I Get Married Too?” Jackson is also scheduled to begin shooting the star-studded “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” helmed by Tyler Perry, and with such co-stars as Whoopi Goldberg and Kerry Washington. The megastar also relished her overall independence. “I’m so fortunate. I’m a free agent. I’m not trapped in a contract where I’m unhappy,” Jackson said. “I’m very free, and I love this feeling. I can do whatever I want.” And while Jackson may not be committing to any recording projects just yet, she isn’t shying away from the stage. The singer is slated to perform at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this weekend. Jackson will hit the stage alongside several acts, including Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige and Trey Songz. Are you eager to hear new music from Janet? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Janet Jackson

Link:
Janet Jackson Says ‘I Love My Life’

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Alicia Keys Baby Bump Watch: Live in NYC

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

She announced last month that she is pregnant and engaged to Swizz Beatz, but Alicia Keys is showing no signs of slowing down just yet. The singer performed her mega-hit “Empire State of Mind” and more for Good Morning America ‘s Summer Concert Series in NYC Friday. Is that the first traces of a baby bump we see? Baby bump or not, Alicia Keys looks terrific! This is the first child for Keys, 29, and it will be her first marriage. Swizz Beatz, 31, who has dated her for years, has two sons from previous relationships. Good timing, too: Keys’ four-month-long Freedom Tour wrapped up June 4 and she recently performed at the World Cup kickoff concert in South Africa.

Read more here:
Alicia Keys Baby Bump Watch: Live in NYC

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Prince Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award At BET Awards

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Alicia Keys, Janelle Monae, Patti LaBelle and more performed spirited renditions of the icon’s classics during tribute. By Rochell Thomas Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images The artist who will forever be known as Prince took the stage on Sunday to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 10th annual BET Awards . “I was pretty wild in my younger days,” the honoree said. BET’s award presentation for Prince united generations and musical styles. Janelle Monae opened the tribute with an energetic cover of “Let’s Go Crazy,” a song that hit big a year before the 25-year-old was born. Next Up: jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding, strumming a custom electric upright bass, sang “If I Was Your Girlfriend.” She was followed by five-months-pregnant Alicia Keys, who played the piano then climbed atop it to provocatively belt out “Adore.” R&B diva Patti LaBelle closed out with the classic “Purple Rain” before Chaka Khan joined her onstage to introduce the man himself. Wearing a flowing, silk pajama-like ensemble bearing the symbol that replaced his name for a time, Prince approached the mic, looking just a bit older, calmer and more subdued than his sex-fueled “When Doves Cry” days. “You don’t have to do what I did. You don’t have to make any of the mistakes I made,” he advised fellow musicians in the audience. Earlier in the show, R&B heartthrob Trey Songz performed his own tribute to Prince, covering “Purple Rain” during his set. The singer then waxed patriotic. “The future’s in your hands now and the world is really yours,” he said. “There is a change in America that’s going on right now. Everybody can feel it. We’re going to be a beacon to the rest of the world.” As known for his groundbreaking music as he is for his raunchy performances, Prince went through a religious conversion a few years ago and appeared humble tonight, soft-spoken even, a contrast to his earlier tendency to come off as eccentric and aloof. He thanked all of the performers who led his tribute as well as top BET executives Debra Lee and Stephen Hill. “Thank you so much Debra Lee and Stephen Hill for a wonderful night tonight,” he said. “I’ll never forget it for as long as he live.” Then he turned and walked offstage with his arms around LaBelle and Chaka Khan, both of whom are have previously been honored with the award. What did you think of the tribute to Prince? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Videos The 2010 BET Awards Related Artists Prince

See more here:
Prince Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award At BET Awards

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2010 BET Awards Belong To Chris Brown, Alicia Keys And Prince

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Performances from Eminem, Drake and Nicki Minaj also stand out. By Jayson Rodriguez Chris Brown Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images Chris Brown, Alicia Keys and Eminem shined the brightest among the star-filled Shrine Auditorium on Sunday night (June 27), wowing the audience at the 2010 BET Awards in Los Angeles. Brown put out a sizzling tribute to Michael Jackson , just days after the one-year anniversary of the pop icon’s death, with a medley that included “Remember the Time” and “Billie Jean.” The embattled R&B star’s take on “Man in the Mirror” was measured and emotional, tugging at the hearts of many as Brown broke down during the song’s refrain. The singer was decked out in full MJ gear, from the bandaged fingers to the high-waisted pants. As he struggled to finish the lyrics to the song, the audience assisted him, completing the lyrics he could not as he dropped and rose from his knees. Alicia Keys was just as stirring , performing her own solo set and contributing to the tribute to Prince, who was honored with a lifetime-achievement award. Patti LaBelle and Janelle Monae also joined Keys to pay homage to the Purple One. Keys, replete with her newly public baby bump, sang “Adore” and shocked those in attendance when she crawled atop her piano to finish out the sexy number. Eminem also performed twice , taking the stage with B.o.B for the “Airplanes” remix and his own “Not Afraid.” Drake was among the night’s big winners, as he and Young Money cohort Nicki Minaj took home trophies for Best Hip-Hop Artist, male and female, respectively. The Lil Wayne prot

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Alicia Keys Rocks Baby Bump In BET Awards Performance

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Singer, joined by gospel great Kim Burrell, brought audience to its feet with rousing rendition of ‘If I Ain’t Got You.’ By Mawuse Ziegbe Alicia Keys performs at the 2010 BET Awards Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage Alicia Keys and her growing baby bump made a memorable appearance at the 2010 BET Awards. The pregnant diva, who had already accepted the award for Best Female R&B Artist after kissing fianc

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

B.o.B, Soulja Boy Tell’em, N.E.R.D, More Rock BET Awards Pre-Show

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Drake, T.I., Nicki Minaj chat on the red carpet before main show. By Hillary Crosley N.E.R.D. at the 2010 BET Awards Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images Before the 10th annual BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (June 27), N.E.R.D kicked off a pre-show by performing “Hot and Fun” on a Murakami-inspired flatbed truck, surrounded by fans. Afterward, the guys chatted with “106 & Park” hosts Rocsi and Terrence J about their most anticipated show performances. “I got to see my man ‘Ye do it,” Pharrell said of Kanye West’s opening performance at the main show. “It’s gonna be hot.” Atlanta MC B.o.B followed, rocking his hit “Nothin’ on You,” featuring a new singer, Rico Barrino, filling in for Bruno Mars. Barrino, who is the brother of “American Idol” winner Fantasia, recently joined B.o.B as an artist on T.I.’s Grand Hustle record label, and their performance served as the singer’s introduction. T.I. came out to chat with B.o.B and Barrino following their performance. “This is my first time actually attending and being nominated three times,” B.o.B said. “I feel like three [nominations are] a charm.” “I’m looking forward to the surprise performances,” T.I. added, donning a blue suit with a matching tie. “[B.o.B] don’t even know yet, but I hooked it up. I got you performing on the big stage. So I’m looking forward to that performance, and it’s going to be a collaboration that the world ain’t ready for.” In a nod to “Glee,” the Crenshaw High Elite choir sang renditions of each of the Viewer’s Choice Award nominees a capella, including Beyonc

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,