Nenna Yvonne Pop Artist

Nenna Yvonne is an up and coming pop artist from New York City.  Her debut EP was released March 1 2010 which features Havoc of Mobb Deep, Konvict artist, Riz and Space Cowboys click here to listen to  a preview of Nenna's album visit her website here.

Click here to visit her facebook fan page.

Behind The Scenes : Alicia Keys & Beyonce "Put It On a Love Song" Video Shoot

Beyonce and Alicia in Carnival Outfits

I can't wait to see this video.

Brazil is so beautiful.

Alicia Key's and Beyonce are currently in Brazil filming the video for "Put it on a love song".  Here are a few behind the scene shots from the video.  I like the African (Boxxing Kitten) prints Beyonce and Alicia are wearing. Oh how I wish I was in Brazil right now to take in the warm weather and beautiful sights of Carnival coming up.  Beyonce is also performing the South American Leg of her tour in Brazil and will be performing in Trinidad for Carnival.

picture source:necole bitchie

Rafael Cepeda "The Patriarch of the Bomba and Plena"

Rafael Cepeda Atiles a.k.a. "The Patriarch of the Bomba and Plena" (July 10, 1910 – July 21, 1996) was the patriarch of the Cepeda family, known internationally as the exponents of Puerto Rican-African folk music.  Cepeda was born in Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Modesto Cepeda and Leonor Atiles.

 Cepeda was born into a family who have passed the traditional dances of the Bomba and Plena from generation to generation. The Bomba is a music, rhythm and dance that was brought to Puerto Rico by the West African slaves. The Plena is another form of folkloric music of Puerto Rico of African origin. According to Cepeda, he was born while his mother Leonor was in the middle of a Bomba dance. He attended San Augustin Catholic School until the 8th grade in San Juan. After Cepeda finished 8th grade he took up amateur boxing and worked as a carpenter. During his free time he continued to practice dancing the Bomba and Plena. Read more/source

Coko: The Winner in Me

Maxwell Interview by Trace Magazine

Maxwell discusses his music, Puerto Rican & Haitian heritage, and Africa

Wynton Marsalis in Vogue December Issue 09

Photographed by Anne Leibovitz

"If anyone can hear such nuance, surely Marsalis can. Born in sound-rich New Orleans, he came to New York as a seventeen-year-old prodigy to study at the Juilliard School and promptly started gigging with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. These days, as the most famous jazz trumpeter of his generation and the artistic director of the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center, Marsalis is America’s jazz maestro, effortlessly combining downtown cool with uptown finesse."

Read full article here.

Sade: Soldier of Love

The wait is now over. Epic Records is pleased to announce the release of SOLDIER OF LOVE, the highly anticipated new body of work from SADE. SOLDIER OF LOVE – which will be released WORLDWIDE on February 8, 2010 - is Sade’s first official studio album since the multi-platinum release of Lovers Rock in 2000. Check back for Sade updates, Sade music, Sade videos, Sade release information and Sade concert dates. source

Concha Buika, Singer

Concha Buika (born 1972 in Palma de Mallorca) is a Spanish singer. Her album Niña de Fuego is currently nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Buika's family is originally from Equatorial Guinea. She grew up in Mallorca among gypsies -who imbued in her the traditional "cante" flamenco- as the only person of African descent in her neighborhood. Her music mixes flamenco and coplas with soul and jazz. source

Paula Lima, Brazilian Singer

Paula Lima (born in São Paulo, 1970) is a Brazilian singer and composer whose music is influenced by bossa, percussion, samba, Brazilian soul and international funk music.source

Bad Habits, Maxwell

Milk & Honey: Goapele

Milk and Honey - Goapele from goapele on Vimeo.

Whitney Houston's New Album Cover

Whitney is looking good, her come back album is due in September/09

Sweet Dreams, Beyonce

This song has grown on me over the weekend.

Video: The Delfonics & The Fugees , Ready or Not

African Harps

Figure A: ZOROMO ZITHER , Tanzania

Figure B: MANGBETU HARP ,Democratic Republic of Congo

Harps and other stringed instruments are among the important art forms in Africa, used both as a musical instrument and as a work of sculpture significant in many religious and secular ceremonial functions, including dance, rituals and story-telling. Many examples incorporate the human form as the body of the instrument.

J-Hud's Album Cover

Jennifer Hudson's album is due out September 30 2008

Sisters In Song: Coko, Shanice & Nicci Gilbert Jam In Japan

'Lady Soul Greatest Hits' tour that featured R&B divas Coko of SWV, Shanice and Nicci Gilbert of Brownstone.

The ladies played 10 sold-out shows at Billboard Live venues in Fukuoka, Tokyo and Osaka.

'Lady Soul Greatest Hits' is an almost 90 minute show that features all three singers co-headlining. It has a very Las Vegas feel to it! source

BET.com celebrates Black Music Month 2008!

"BET.com celebrates Black Music Month 2008! What's going on in Black Music Now? Who's doin' it right? Which artists are putting their mark on the music now and taking it into the future for the next generation?" source

Ashanti @ NYSE

(Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

Universal recording artist Ashanti rings The Opening Bell^SM in recognition of Black Music Month.

About The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc.
The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization established in 1991, is dedicated to the preservation and development of the legendary Apollo Theater through the Apollo Experience of world-class live performances and education programs that honor the influence and advance the contributions of African-American artists and advance emerging creative voices across cultural and artistic media.

Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc.’s vision is to expand the reach of the Apollo Experience to a worldwide audience. The world famous Apollo Theater is more than a historic landmark - it is a source of pride and a symbol of the brilliance of American artistic accomplishment. With its rich history and continued significance, the Apollo Theater, considered the bastion of African-American culture and achievement, is one of the most fascinating chronicles in American history.

About Black Music Month 2008
President of the United States of America, George W. Bush has proclaimed June 2008 as Black Music Month encouraging all Americans to learn more about the history of black music and to enjoy the great contributions of African-American singers, musicians, and composers.

Black Music Month celebrates the extraordinary talents and creativity of African-American singers, musicians, and composers whose achievements have enriched our culture and enhanced our lives. source

Janet Is Going On Tour In 2008

Janet's performace on Ellen source

Janet Jackson has announced she will tour for the first time in seven years, kicking off the jaunt September 20th in Vancouver. Tickets will go on sale June 7th.

I hope this tour comes to Toronto I would love to see Janet perform live.