News

Essence’s Queens Of R&B, Estelle’s Bubblin’, Nas Interviews A-Plenty, New Bun B ft Lupe, Everybody Nose Video, T.M. Interview, 88-Keys x Izza Kizza.

• This June, Essence magazine features three of R&B’s first ladies: the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning chart-toppers Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, and our very own Jill Scott! Read a preview of the interview with all three ladies and hear how they feel about their 1st album’s debut success, how they cope with the pressure, their feelings about the record labels, and their idea of the perfect song. For more, pick up Essence on stands this June. For more amazing R&B check out DJ Soul’s “The Saint Tropez Mix,” Diddy X DJ Soul. Recorded for Diddy (who was lounging in St. Tropez) after spinning that 80s R&B we all miss at the CFDA Awards after-party, DJ Soul is giving away this treat for FREE, full of classics.

• Speaking of R&B divas, the newest lady on the rise is UK singer (and rapper)Estelle. Read this exclusive interview where she gets into her style, her sound, working with John Legend and Kanye West, and her thoughts on the music industry.

• Nas has gone on a media frenzy as of late. With all of this momentum and publicity he has been receiving his album may actually drop on it’s July 1st release date. So to catch you up with his most recent interviews, first is one with MTV News where he previews the album and breaks down a few of the tracks. Next, an interview with DJ Green Lantern, where he discusses much of the same. Finally, an interview with OnSmash. The most interesting part of this one was him singing praise for Jay Electronica and MF Doom, with whom he is trying to collabo for the new album DOPE. After going through all of those you should be able to formulate your opinion on Nas’ intentions with this new project.

• II Trill is in stores next Tuesday, and it’s sounding like a must-have so far. If you need more motivation to go get Bun B’s album check this song out as Bun teams up with Lupe Fiasco for “Swang On ‘Em.” Lupe kills it with that southern twang over the horns.

• Now for the daily N.E.R.D. segment of the update (we promise we’ll take a break after today). N.E.R.D. recently stopped by the Letterman show (where hip hop lives) to perform “Everybody Nose.” With that I think we can stop talking about this song because they have have finally released the official video for “Everybody Nose.”

• Here is a new video interview with our dudes Tanya Morgan where they talk about themselves (only cuz they were asked), hip-hop, and stuff. From SOCIETY, spotted on 2dopeboyz. The Lessondary stand up!

• Trailers for podcasts? 88-Keys & Izza Kizza, two guys with projects in the pipeline (and the same manager), have teamed up with URB to unleash their brand of collective goodies to the world wide internet. Here’s a preview.

-shamz, gingerlynn & dantana