Terrence J & Rocsi On BET's 106 And Park

Reports recently surfaced that Terrance J and Rocsi, hosts of BET’s flagship music countdown show, 106 And Park will be leaving their posts as its hosts  Both VJs joined the show in 2005 as part of BET’s “New Faces” talent search.  Prior to being discovered by BET, Rocsi contributed to the entertainment world by being part of Chicago radio station, WPWXFM.  Terrance J’s path to BET stardom was slightly different.  Terrence  graduated with a communications degree from North Carolina A&T State University, but fell on hard times when work was initially slow to come.  He recently discussed his pre BET struggles with GlobalGrind.com.

“At the time I was pretty much homeless, I was sleeping over peoples’ houses, I stayed with my brother’s friend on a cot in his basement for around two months. I didn’t really have a place of my own for awhile….”

At least for now, days of struggle appear to be behind the both of them.  Although they are leaving 106 And Park , Rocsi will continue her nationally syndicated radio show Rocsi On The Radio while moving to California to peruse acting projects already in development.  Terrence will also continue in his already growing acting career.  He has already had successful  roles in, Burlesque, Think Like A Man’,  BET’s ‘The Game and Stomp The Yard 2.

It is likely that their departure will leave a void in the entertainment experience of Hip Hop fans across the country.  Terrence also revealed in his talk with Global Grind that the show is doing the best that it’s ever done since it was created in September of 2000.  It’s pretty clear that the duo will be missed.

Scooter Braun And Justin Bieber

Universal Music Group (UMG) is expanding its global creative investments by entering into a broad-reaching agreement with prominent artist manager and entrepreneur Scooter Braun. The announcement was made today by Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO of UMG and Mr. Braun. This announcement builds upon Braun’s recent success—he’s currently involved with three artists who have had singles in the Top Ten on Billboard’s Hot 100 list for the past five weeks: “Boyfriend” by Justin Bieber, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen and “Glad You Came” by The Wanted.

“As a young man, you always look for more than just a business venture, but mentors,” said Mr. Braun. “Lucian has offered me both the opportunity to work with an amazing company with amazing resources, but even more so, the opportunity to draw from his vast amount of knowledge, having been in the business as long as he has. Lucian doesn’t just look at the business as a music business, but as a worldwide multimedia business. He’s allowed me to be as creative as I want with my artists so that we can build for the future to come.”

“With the barriers of entry to our industry nearly non-existent thanks to the global reach of the internet, it’s now easier than ever for music entrepreneurs to get started,” stated Mr. Grainge. “And we want to be at the forefront of that expansion. Through our global creative investment program, we put real resources and creative support behind entrepreneurs such as Scooter. This is a win-win: entrepreneurs benefit from our support and expertise, while our artists and business partners benefit from their innovation. And there is no one more representative of this than Scooter. He is among the very best in the next generation of entertainment executives and the fact that he’s accomplished so much at such a young age is testament to his vision and drive. I’m looking forward to our collaboration and the level of talent and creativity that will surely accompany it.”

Braun began his career as a party promoter and quickly leveraged his success into a marketing position at So So Def Records, working for Jermaine Dupri while still a sophomore at Emory University in Atlanta. He first discovered Asher Roth on MySpace, and broke him from the blogs with Roth’s 2009 Top 5 Billboard release Asleep in the Bread Aisle and his multiplatinum hit “I Love College.” At 25, he discovered then-13-year-old Justin Bieber and launched him into superstardom. Under Mr. Braun’s tutelage, Bieber’s first album, the seven-track EP My World became a huge success, making him the first artist to have seven songs from a debut album chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Bieber’s next album, My World 2.0 debuted at either number one or within the top ten in several countries. The single, “Baby,” is currently ranked as the most viewed and most discussed YouTube videos of all time. To date, Bieber has sold over 15 million albums worldwide. His newest addition to Schoolboy Records is pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen with her new hit “Call Me Maybe,” one of the fastest growing singles worldwide in UMG history. For more information on Braun’s ventures please visit www.scooterbraun.com.

UMG’s global creative investment program focuses on nurturing new creative talent and recognizes the importance of helping music entrepreneurs enter and navigate the music marketplace. UMG’s involvement builds on its expertise and long-term commitment to supporting new businesses, as it partners with some of the most innovative entrepreneurs in and out of the music industry, creating platforms for their growth that are specific to their own individual needs and priorities.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world’s leading music company with wholly owned operations in 60 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry’s leading global music publishing operation. Universal Music Group’s record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island Records, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Republic and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world’s most popular artists and their recordings. UMG’s catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes Global Digital Business, its new media and technologies division and Bravado, its merchandising company.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

Related Media

Justin Biebe Featuring Ludacris

“Baby”

From My World 2.0

RBMG/Island Records

Asher Roth

“I Love College”

From Asleep In The Bread Aisle

Schoolboy/Universal Motown Record Group

Carley Rae Jepsen

“Call Me Maybe”

Schoolboy/Interscope Records

The Wanted

“Glad You Came”

Mercury/Island Records/IDJMG

Video Still From Nicki Minaj's "Right By My Side" Music video

Nicki Minaj has exploded on to the music scene once again with the high profile debut of her latest music video for “Right By My Side” featuring Chris Brown. It is the second single released from her sophomore effort, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded , and the third music video from the to come from album.  One of the coolest things about the Benny Boom directed clip, is that even though the song guest stars Chris Brown, the male love interest in the video actually happens to be Rap legend Nas.

Nicki already exudes a natural ability to keep an audience’s attention in her music videos.  Therefore, its also only natural to assume that fan’s eyes would be glued to the video from start to finish when her appeal is boosted by the unexpected notion of her and Nas very clearly making out.  Like we said it is as if it’s a statement.  Does this mean more between the two Hi Hopers? If not, they sure did a good job at keeping us guessing.  Take a look and see what your take on it is.  We think you’ll agree that at the very least, its a great example of music based entertainment.

Bravo Nicki.  You’ve done it again.  Enjoy!

Nicki Minaj Featuring Chris Brown

“Right By My Side” (Explicit Lyrics)

Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Republic Records

Donna Summer

The Queen Of Disco Donna Summer died this morning, losing her battle with lung cancer at age 63 years old. The singer died early Thursday morning in Florida. Sources Close to TMZ.com who broke the news said

“the singer was trying to keep the extent of her illness under wraps, and was focused on trying to finish up an album she had been working on.” Several sources are beginning to report that Donna believed she contracted it by inhaling toxic particles after the 9/11 attack in New York City.

The singer’s family has released a statement confirming her death, stating they are “at peace celebrating her extraordinary life.”

“Early this morning, surrounded by family, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith. While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy,” her family said through her publicist. Summer is survived by husband Bruce Sudano, their two children and a daughter from her previous marriage.

Donna Summer, born LaDonna Adrian Gaines was an unstoppable force in Pop, R&B and Disco The five time Grammy winning singer/song writer shot to super stardom as part of the Disco era with iconic hits like “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.” Her star continued to rise throughout the 1980s with “She Works Hard for the Money” and “This Time I Know It’s for Real.” Summer made history by becoming the first female to win a Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (1979, “Hot Stuff”) as well as the first-ever recipient of the Grammy for Best Dance Recording (1997, “Carry On”). In 2004, she became one of the first inductees, as both an Artist Inductee and a Record Inductee (1977’s “I Feel Love”) into the Dance Music Hall of Fame

Donna Summer

“Last Dance”

From Bad Girls

Casablanca Records

Donna Summer

“I Feel Love”

Casablanca Records

Donna Summer

“Bad Girls” (Disco Mix)

From Bad Girls

Casablanca Records

Donna Summer

“Hot Stuff”

From Bad Girls

Casablanca Records

Donna Summer

“She Works Hard For The Money”

From She Works Hard For The Money

Mercury Records

Donna Summer

“This Time I Know Its For Real”

From Another Place In Time

PWL/Atlantic Records

Giorgio” Moroder Featuring Donna Summer

“Carry On”

From Forever Dancing

Virgin Records/EMI

T.I. "LIke That" Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records

Rapper T.I. has just released the second single from his new album called Trouble Man.  The track is called “Like That”.  It is produced by Lil C and Lamar “Mars” Edwards of his Grand Hustle Records.  We’ll keep you posted on Trouble Man details as they are made available.  Hope you enjoy it.

T.I.

“Like That”

From: Trouble Man

Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records

T.I. – Like That by MCEnthusiast7

bobbi kristina brown

The Lifetime Network has announced that they are prepping to do a reality show staring Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.  The show known as The Houston Family Chronicles, will follow Bobbi as she copes with the loss of her famous mother.  It will also feature her grandmother Cissy Houston, Cissy’s brother Gary and her manager/sister-in law Pat Houston.  When announcing the show to the press, Pat said that the show is the result of an idea that has been in development for some time.

“It is my hope that others will be enlightened as they watch our family heal and move forward,” she said in a statement.

Lifetime has reportedly ordered 10 episodes. Each episode is expected to be an hour long A premiere has not been set by Lifetime.

"A Day In The Life" WarriorPoets Inc./HULU LLC

Do you remember when we spotlit the documentary featured show by our friends at Worrier Poets Inc. known as A Day In The Life? Back in September we featured an episode focussed around Black Eyed Peas’ frontman Will I Am as he goes through a very packed day in Paris France.  Well now the Morgan Spurlock produced series is going strong with season 2.  This time they’ve decided to take viewers into the private world of The Roots drummer, ?estlove.  Naturally, this something that is right up our alley.

We enjoyed watching it yesterday and thought you would as well.  Take a look below and see what you think.  If you dig what you see, head over to HULU.com to checkout the rest of what Morgan and his A Day In The Life crew have to offer.  New episodes of A Day In The Life are published every Monday on HULU.  Enjoy.

A Day In The Life

“A Day In The Life Of ?uestlove Of The Roots

Warrior Poets/HULU LLC

Rick Ross Featuring Usher "Touchin' You" Maybach Music Group/Def Jam Records/IDJMG

(May 15, 2012 – New York, NY) Weeks ago, hip-hop’s elite gathered in a mid-town Manhattan hotel ballroom around the genre’s reigning boss – Rick Ross – in a show of unilateral respect and branding force befitting a man of his burgeoning stature. The occasion: the announcement of a July 31st release date for the most-anticipated album of 2012, Ross’ long-awaited God Forgives, I Don’t. Ever the consummate business man and boss, Ross used the occasion to promote upcoming releases from his growing Maybach Music Group empire; Self-Made 2, the solo debut from Meek Mill, and more.

Though his past four solo albums have debuted at #1, in the past year Ross’ stock has risen faster than ever. The arrival of his instant-classic mixtape ‘Rich Forever’ – a self-released behemouth that some are calling the best rap of the year thusfar – and the constant barrage of new material, features and online content that he and his MMG cohorts flood the streets with daily, has taken Ross to a new level.
“We believe that Rick Ross is among the elite; one of the most talented and compelling artists in the industry,” said Def Jam Recordings president Joie Manda. “He’s done an amazing job of building his brand and image, and together with Def Jam’s promotional muscle and marketing savvy, we intend to elevate Ross’ stature across the board. It’s an exciting time to be in the Rick Ross business.”

“There’s Jay-Z, Kanye, and Wayne—and Eminem is the king of his own domain,” Rap Radar’s Elliott Wilson recently told GQ. “And then there’s Rick Ross, right on that cusp.”

Not content with the cusp, and thoroughly determined to dominate the conversation, Ross has bossed up and partnered with the superstar Usher for his new single “Touch’N You.” Released to radio and online yesterday, the Rico Love-produced banger is the lead single from ‘God Forgives,’ and sets the tone for what will be Ross’ most epic, most ambitious album to date.

“Before I was ever in this position, I promised myself I would never take it for granted,” Ross told the expectant crowd gathered at his Manhattan press conference. “So that’s what I did with this project…it’s my best body of work yet. God Forgives, I Don’t is a very dark story…it’s extremely lyrical. The music is next level. I’m expecting nothing but the biggest results. That’s what’s needed, and I’m going to deliver”

Stay tuned for more on hip-hop’s biggest boss, Rick Ross, and the most-anticipated album of the year…God Forgives, I Don’t.

Rick Ross Featuring Usher

“Touch ‘n You”

From: God Forgives

Maybach Music Group/Def Jam Records/IDJMG

Lady Gaga On "The Simpsons"

Pop superstar Lady Gaga will be getting really animated for her next TV appearance. Everyone knows that with Gaga’s personality, getting animated could really mean a lot of thing, but in this case we mean it quite literally. Next Sunday Lady Gaga will be a featured guest star on the Season 23 finale of The Simpsons, appropriately titled, “Lisa Goes Gaga.” Recording sessions for the episode took place in Los Angeles, California during a period of four days from August 22–26^th, 2011.  In a related interview with EW.com, Gaga said that she was initially nervous of her appearance, adding that she “doesn’t do voice-overs every day of the week” Take a look at a cool preview of the episode below!

Lady Gaga On The Simpsons

Fox

G.O.O.D. Music Logo

(May 14, 2012 – New York, NY) G.O.O.D. Music, the independent record label formed by 18-time Grammy Award-winner (and 43-time Grammy nominee) Kanye West and signed to an exclusive long-term worldwide agreement last year with the Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG), has signed Teyana Taylor, the multi-talented young singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer/choreographer, and actress to G.O.O.D.’s expanding artist roster.

Details of Teyana’s first album and single releases will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead.  Meanwhile, her first mixtape, The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor, released last month, has spun off a pair of hot new tracks: “DUI” featuring fellow Def Jam artists Fabolous and Jadakiss, and “Make Your Move” featuring Wale.  The mixtape evokes classic ’80s and ’90s R&B, paying homage to Teyana’s influences including Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and especially Lauryn Hill.

More recently, Teyana shook up the Internet and Twitter world with her cover of Drake’s “Marvin’s Room,” dubbed “Her Room.”  Teyana closed out 2011 as the opening act for The Game’s European “Red Tour.”

21-year old Harlem native Teyana Taylor began as a protégé of Pharrell Williams (of the Neptunes), and was first signed at age 15 to his Startrak/Interscope label (a division of Universal Music Group).  Teyana has maintained an active profile on the pop scene ever since 2007, starting with her extravagant, ’80s-themed coming out party on MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” and as the petite pop locker in Jay-Z’s “Blue Magic” video.  Teyana’s debut album, From A Planet Called Harlem was released in 2008, featuring the chart single, “Google Me.”

Teyana has also begun to earn her share of songwriting credits, most recently co-writing “Right By My Side” (featuring Chris Brown), the newest chart single by fellow Trinidadian-American artist Nicki Minaj (from her brand new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded).  In addition to co-writing credits for Willow Smith, Chris Brown, and others, Teyana has also collaborated with A-list artists including Kanye West, on versions of “Dark Fantasy,” “Hell Of A Life” and “Runaway,” and 2010’s “Christmas In Harlem,” which Rolling Stone magazine called “the best rock n roll Holiday song in history.”  Other collaborations include “Rock Wit Me” with Jadakiss; and “Party Tonite” with fellow Harlemites Cam’ron and Jim Jones.

Beyoncé herself was so impressed with the young star’s dance moves that she asked Teyana to teach her the Chicken Noodle Soup, the popular dance Teyana helped innovate, for her “Ring The Alarm” video as well as her performance at the 2007 MTV VMA’s.  “That kind of love coming from Jay and Beyoncé was crazy,” recalls Teyana.

Her television appearances include MTV’s “Made,” ABC’S “Limelight,” BET’s “Rip The Runway,” “Spring Bling,” and a co-hosting stint on “106th & Park,” Oxygen’s “House of Glam” and “Hair Battle Spectacular,” and PBS’s “Electric Company.”

On the big screen, Teyana’s sassy style was seen in Stomp the Yard 2 (2010) opposite Columbus Short and Keith David.  Her breakout appearance took place in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family. In post-production are Gang of Roses 2 with Rocsi Diaz (BET) and Amber Rose; and The Love Section with Mekhi Phifer.

Taylor has also graced numerous magazine covers and spreads including VIBE, Teen Vogue, Nylon, Giant, Fader, Rap-Up, TRACE, Paper, and the New York Post’s Page Six, just to name a few.  She has also strut her stuff on the runway at the Diesel Fashion Show for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, The Lady Cavi runway show for Macy’s, and for high fashion designer Zac Posen on BET’s “Rip The Runway.”