Tuesday, July 26, 2011

#MsLMstatus: RIP Amy Winehouse, Passes Away Due To Overdose (July 17th-23rd)


Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz.
Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her 2006 follow-up album, Back to Black, led to six Grammy Award nominations and five wins, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night, and made Winehouse the first British female to win five Grammys, including three of the "Big Four": Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. On 14 February 2007, she won a BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist; she had also been nominated for Best British Album. She won the Ivor Novello Award three times, one in 2004 for Best Contemporary Song (musically and lyrically) for "Stronger Than Me", one in 2007 for Best Contemporary Song for "Rehab", and one in 2008 for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for "Love Is a Losing Game", among other distinctions. The album was the third biggest seller of the 2000s in the United Kingdom
British singer Adele had credited Winehouse's success in the United States for making her and fellow British singer Duffy's journey to the United States "a bit smoother". American singer Lady Gaga credited Winehouse with paving the way for her rise to the top of the charts. She appeared to be using a metaphorical analogy to explain that Winehouse made it easier for unconventional women to have mainstream pop success. The "Winehouse phenomenon" has been credited by Sebastian Danchin, author of Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Soul, of kick-starting a revival of soul music that has been ongoing since 2000.
Danchin quoting Raphael Saadiq, Anthony Hamilton, and John Legend said "Amy Winehouse was produced by people who wanted to create a marketing coup. The positive side is that it reacquainted an audience with this music and played an introductory role for others. This reinvigorated the genre by overcoming the vintage aspect".
The release of Back to Black and the emergence of Lily Allen has been credited by The Sunday Times as directly creating the market for the media proclaimed "the year of the women" in 2009 which has seen five female artists nominated for the Mercury Prize. After the album was released record companies sought out female artists with a similar sound and fearless and experimental female musicians in general. Adele and Duffy were the second wave of artists with a sound similar to Winehouse's. A third wave of female musicians that has emerged since the album was released are led by VV Brown, Florence and the Machine, La Roux and Little Boots.[80] In February 2010, rapper Jay-Z credited Winehouse with revitalising British music, saying, "There's a strong push coming out of London right now, which is great. It's been coming ever since I guess Amy (Winehouse). I mean always, but I think Amy, this resurgence was ushered in by Amy." In March 2011 the New York Daily News ran an article attributing the continuing wave of British female artists that have been successful in the United States to Winehouse and her absence. Spin magazine music editor Charles Aaron was quoted as saying "Amy Winehouse was the Nirvana moment for all these women," "They can all be traced back to her in terms of attitude, musical styles or fashion". According to Keith Caulfield chart manager for Billboard "Because of Amy, or the lack thereof, the marketplace was able to get singers like Adele and Duffy," "Now those ladies have brought on the new ones, like Eliza Doolittle, Rumer and Ellie.

Winehouse's battles with substance abuse were the subject of much media attention. In various interviews, she admitted to having problems with self-harm, depression and eating disorders. In 2005, she went through a period of drinking, heavy drug use, violent mood swings and weight loss. People who saw her during the end of that year and early 2006 reported a rebound that coincided with the writing of Back to Black. Her family believes that the mid-2006 death of her grandmother, who was a stabilising influence, set her off into addiction. In August 2007, Winehouse cancelled a number of shows in the UK and Europe, citing exhaustion and ill health. She was hospitalised during this period for what was reported as an overdose of heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and alcohol.

After her death was announced, media and camera crews appeared as crowds gathered near Winehouse’s residence to pay their respects. Winehouse's record label, Universal Republic, released a statement that read in part: "We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer."

#MYOL News: 35 Yrs Ago Hank Aaron Broke A Major Record! (July 17th-23rd)


Hit the 755th & Final Home Run of His Career!

#MYOL News: Swizz Beatz Donates 50K To A Bronx Charter School (July 17th-23rd)


Superstar producer/rapper Swizz Beatz teamed up with Pepsi Cola North American Beverages to donate a combined $60,000 to the Bronx Charter Schools for the Arts. “I’m from the South Bronx and giving back to the community you came from is very important, and I feel honored and blessed to give back,” said Swizz Beatz.

Swizz Beatz, DJ Enuff, Fred Da Godson and graffiti artist Cope 2 hosted about 250 parents, students and faculty members from the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, to a day of fun to launch the Pepsi “Bronx Flavor” campaign. The event featured music, dance stations and a live art installation to celebrate the campaign, which aims to provide Bronx residents with healthy lifestyle decisions that embody the spirit of the city.

-Allhiphop.com

#MYOL News: Pharrell Presents Qream Liquor ft Robin Thicke (VIDEO)


Big shouts out to Karen Civil, definitely #MsLMstatus! Check out karencivil.com!

#MYOL News: Jay-Z – A World Of Amnesia (VIDEO) (July 17th-23rd)

Documentary: "Watch The Throne" Documentary #INSTANTCLASSIC (July 17th-23rd)

Documentary: The Making of Wale’s “Ambition” (Part 1) (July 17th-23rd)


Hip Hop History: Happy Birthday Guru, #MYOL & WERS 88.9 FM 2010 Guru Dedications (July 17th-23rd)



Keith Edward Elam better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The name Guru is a acronym that stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal and the less-often used God is Universal; he is the Ruler Universal, which are both references to the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths. He was also known for lending his voice for 8-Ball in Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. Keith Elam was born in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Harry, was a judge and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of libraries in the Boston public school system. He attended Cohasset High School in Cohasset, Massachusetts for high school. Elam graduated with a degree in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta and took graduate classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. He later dropped out to pursue a hip hop career. Elam worked briefly in social services.
      
First and foremost, RIP Guru. A year and a half ago a lot of things were different in my life. I was the APD at WERS 88.9 FM in Boston and got the opportunity to do a tribute to Guru on radio and that is my most memorable moment on radio with Krumbsnatcha (Guru's Protege) and Big Shug (Gangstarr Foundation) (listen below). I never got to meet Guru but through his music I feel like I got a sense for the enlightened and motival person he was. As an MC and teacher Guru was always one of my favorites. With tracks like "Royalty", "Disicpline", etc. he always had dome time of message behind his lyrics. Later in his career Guru did his Jazzmatazz albums which opened up the sound of Hip Hop in a whole different lane by collaborating with musical legends like Chaka Khan, Roy Ayers and more. DJ Premier provided some of the craziest beats ever in Hip Hop for Guru to drop jewels on anyone who would listen like its never been done before with a MC and DJ combination. It is highly overlooked that Guru is from Roxbury, MA but NYC was the only place for Guru to show and prove amongst the best MCs in the world. So I will remember Guru for the endless amount of knowledge that I still listen to and use in my life everyday and being the biggest Lane Maker out of MA$$ Hip Hop ever even though he was one before he began rapping. #MYOL


Hip Hop: Pusha T ft. Tyler the Creator – Trouble On My Mind (VIDEO) (July 17th-23rd) #VA #FarEast #NYC


Hip Hop: DJ Khaled ft. Mary J. Blige, Fabolous and Jadakiss – It Ain’t Over Til’ It’s Over (July 17th-24th) #MIA #NYC

Ace Hood ft. Meek Mill – Same Dream (Video) (July 17th-23rd) #FL #3rdCoast #Philly #FarEast


Hip Hop: LOS – Worth The Wait (MIXTAPE) #Baltimore #FarEast


Download Los' "Worth The Wait" Mixtape HERE!

R&B/Hip Hop: Tyrese ft. R Kelly & Rick Ross – I Got A Chick That Love Me (Remix) (July 17th-23rd)


R&B: Jazmine Sullivan – Never Land (July 17th-24th)


R&B: Kelly Rowland - Feelin' Me Right Now (July 17th-23rd)