B13 Peer Review

B-13 Peer Review Presents : The Most Incomparable Artist of All Time:  Grace Jones  Jones was an artist before her time, she preceded, Madonna, Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj, Janelle Monae, who is a force in her own right, and Lady Gaga. She has set the tone, and paved the way for the, in your face Socio political (Conscientious Rap) artists, like Chuck Dee, Grandmaster Flash and the ferious 5, NWA, etc.  Grace Jones has also had an in your face sociosexual, intimation in her music, like no other female artist since before nor in the foreseeable future. Grace Jones has yet to get the recognition she deserves. She has embodied every feminine facet of the human condition with class and grace however; clocked in a shroud of androgyny, and we loved, loved, and love it.  Jones was well before her time in an industry were labels are looking for the tripple threat in an artist. Jones was a quadruple threat, she sing, danced, rapped and act.  Socio...

» by Latifah Muhammad March 22, 2012, 16:15pm Roxanne Shante Back when beefing wasn't just too much of a gimmick, Roxanne Shante made a name for herself by battling  just about anybody who dared to step up. She showed the male dominated Hip-Hop world that a woman could hold her own. Hip-Hop is still very much a boy's club , but that doesn't mean that women haven't kicked down the doors and made a name for themselves. Over the years, a host of female MCs have come and gone by putting their body parts on display, spewing sluggish rhymes, and going at each other just to be hot—if only for a millisecond. Unlike what has tragically become the norm today, before the need to be an Internet star muddied the waters of the culture's authenticity, there were risk taking female rhymers who wanted nothing more than a platform to showcase their artistry. In honor of Women's History Month we're shinning a light on the female MCs who changed music fo...

GALLERY » by Alvin aqua Blanco March 11, 2012, 13:58pm Someone came up on a slightly used Maybach for a bargain price. The Maybach 57 that was torn apart and put back together for Jay-Z and Kanye West's Spike Jonze directed "Otis" video sold at auction for $60,000 on March 8th. It took all of five minutes to sell the customized whip, reports En Starz . The reason why the car went for a relatively dirt cheap price (less than the $100K to $150K it hoped to bring) is because the auctioneer, Phillips de Pury, stressed that although the sticker price is $350,000, this Maybach was now more art than auto, so prospective buyers should not have expected to drive it off the lot. A portion of the proceeds will go to Save The Children, a charity that aides starving children in Africa. "The funds raised from auctioning off the 'Otis' car are greatly needed to help sustain families over the next several mont...

Will 50’s vision become a reality or a nightmare? “Dream Machines” airs on April 10th at 10pm on SyFy.  Photo via SyFy By Sarah Brotherton 50cent is getting a new ride, and it’s not a Benz or  a Bentley. On April 10, the rapper is appearing on the series premiere of SyFy’s “Dream Machines,” a reality show that takes popular vehicles from TV, film, and comic books and brings them to life. Following Floridian brothers Marc and Shanon Parker of Parker Brothers Concepts, each hour-long episode will feature high-profile clientele or large organizations asking the brothers and their quirky crewman to make their fantastical visions a reality, with 50 as their first customer.  50 Cent Announces 'The Lost Tape' With DJ Drama Mr. Jackson will appear in the first two episodes of the series, as his request fell nothing short of extreme. In the episode titled“50 Cent’s Jet Car,” 50 asks for a Formula One race car with a futuristic space ship exterior. Hi...

Need to jazz up your new single? Never fear, Kanye West is here. Bad Boy's Cassie gets an assist from the one and only Mr. West to remix her new single, "King Of Hearts." Check it out Below.

Diddy was hospitalized this AM for an extreme migraine ... TMZ has learned. The mogul hosted a post-Grammy party at the Playboy Mansion Sunday night (below). After the party, Diddy went home and got a massive headache. Diddy's entourage became so concerned ... they drove him to the UCLA  emergency room -- btw, the same place where Michael Jackson was pronounced dead. Diddy was treated and is back at home ... feeling a lot better. A Diddy source tells us ... the migraine was unrelated to anything that went down at the Mansion. Also Read: * Sean “Diddy” Combs Talks New Cable Network, Revolt; Launching In 2013

  R&B singer Usher has signed on to play Sugar Ray Leonard in the upcoming movie, Hands Of Stone. If you see Usher running around in London, it’s part of his training for the role. “I’m in preparation for a very incredible role,” Usher said in a recent interview. “If you see me in the corners boxing, I’m doing that while working on this album.” The movie is set to start filming later this year. Usher will star opposite Robert De Niro and Gael García Bernal in the movie, which tells the story of Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán. Usher is also set to release his seventh studio album, Climax, later this year.

  by Sean Ryon posted March 30, 2012 Drake opens up about the "Marvin's Room" lawsuit and his real feelings for the plaintiff Ericka Lee. Earlier this year, Drake came under fire from singer Ericka Lee , who claims the YMCMB rapper failed to pay her for her contributions to his hit song "Marvin's Room." Now, Drake opens up about the legal situation and his feelings for Lee.   In the second of part of his interview with Tim Westwood , Drizzy explained the lawsuit and why he raised his middle finger to Ericka Lee at a recent performance. He explained that he felt that he had handled the situation with Lee as best as possible and that he was offended that she would try to lay claim to a song he wrote.   "It's more surprising, just out of nowhere 'cus I felt like I dealt with it so cordially," he admitted. "I'm a straight shooter when it comes to music. I think it's pretty...

It's official!  Bow Wow's long awaited Cash Money debut LP will be released to the masses in mid-June. The young veteran rapper is extremely excited about his upcoming project.  Despite the release of his single "Sweat" giving off the vibe that his album will have a "pop music" theme to it, Bow Wow has firmly stated otherwise. "I don't want to confuse everybody with 'Sweat.' That's kind of like the first look. I kind of did that just for my fans.  They wanted it so bad. I did it for the fans' sake.  You can't base the album off "Sweat." It's really the only pop record on there." The YMCMB management team seems to be just as excited about Bow Wow's album release as he is. They recently posted an energetic tweet on their YMCMB Promotions' Twitter page: "ATTENTION! @BowWow's Cash Money Debut "Underrated" Album Will Be Released June 12th! YMCMB" Mark your ...

Last week, it was revealed that the upcoming Men in Black 3 would shake up tradition and not feature a rap from Mr. Fresh Prince aka star Will Smith —but it wouldn't quite do away with the musical keystone either. Taking on the alien-infused hip-hop duties from Smith was it-performer Pitbull , who, like his rapper/actor predecessor, delivers equal doses charisma and melody into his pop chart hits. But the question reamined: could a newcomer really maintain the danceability and silliness that made the original 1999 hit "Men in Black" a huge hit? Now, Sony has released the singer's Men in Black single "Back in Time," which gives Smith's late '90s tie-in masterpiece a run for its money (and washes away any bad tastes left over from Men in Black 2 's "Black Suits Comin'"). The song, written by Pitbull (aka Armando C. Perez), Marc Kinchen, Adrian Trejo and Urales Vargas, features a sample of the 1950s R&B hit ...

  FilmMagic Rapper and medicinal marijuana enthusiast Snoop Dogg was arrested this weekend in Texas when a drug-sniffing dog discovered marijuana on his tour bus. The agents claim that a red prescription bottle with several joints was found in a trash can towards the back of the vehicle. While Snoop is legally prescribed with his medicine of choice in California, Texas has a zero tolerance policy towards weed. When stopped and caught at a border patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Snoop admitted to that the cannabis was his, was arrested and given a citation for misdemeanor drug possession. Sierra Blanca is the very same town where fellow weed enthusiast and Snoop's " brother from another mother " Willie Nelson was busted in 2010, provoking Snoop's now-famous "They better leave Willie the f--- alone" rant. Under a half-ounce of cannabis was confiscated from the tour bus. Snoop Dogg has been released but could face up to 180 days in...

  Al Pereira, Michael Ochs Archives   For the time being, former Bad Boy rapper Loon won't be sent home from Belgium -- where he was arrested late last year -- to face drug charges in the States. That's the good news. The bad news: He won't be leaving jail in Brussels anytime soon. As BallerStatus.com reports, the embattled MC has been ordered by a grand jury to remain in prison "for an unspecified time frame." His lawyer is appealing that decision with Belgium's Supreme Court, and U.S. authorities have yet to file extradition documents. Loon, born Chauncey Lamont Hawkins, fled the country in May 2011, after he was arrested and charged with "knowingly and intentionally" possessing and intending to sell heroin in North Carolina. After seeking asylum in Algeria, he landed in Belgium, where he was arrested in November. The former member of Mase 's Harlem World posse is best known for rhyming on Diddy 's 2002 hit 'I...

  Erika Goldring, Getty Images A month after giving birth to their first son , it is being reported that singer Fantasia 's relationship with Antwaun Cook is already on the rocks. A source tells RadarOnline.com that the 'American Idol' winner's boyfriend has been stepping out on her for the majority of their relationship, which began while Cook was still in married to his wife Paula. "Antwaun has been cheating on Fantasia all along, just like he cheated on his wife with Fantasia," the source revealed. "She was silly to think he'd remain faithful but it was wishful thinking, I guess. She purposely had this baby with him hoping he'd be a devoted father and boyfriend." The source further claims that Cook is also attempting to reconcile with his estranged wife, Paula, to whom he is still currently married. "He tries to get Paula to take him back all the time, but she wants nothing to do with him," explained Ra...

Singer Trey Songz debuts the first single off his forthcoming Chapter V LP and he's wearing his heart on his sleeve. "Heart Attack," produced by Benny Blanco and Rico Love, finds the Virginia native crooning about a love that is hurting his soul. When the track commences, a listener may think they're about to be swept into an electronic frenzy but then pulsing drums and Songz' soulful cooing brings the record back to R&B. "We shared something so common, still so rare/ And I'm in awe, never been here before/ So high, we're still climbing, even here inside these walls/ Breaking each others ' hearts/ And we don't care 'cause we're so in too deep/ Can't think about giving it up/ But I never knew love would feel like a heart attack," he belts out. He continues to admit this love is the worst pain he's ever had and even sheds tears over it. Earlier this year, Trey Songz spoke to The BoomBox about what's to com...

Kuffing a Kardashian ! Rob Kardashian was handcuffed and almost arrested in Miami past midnight on Sunday, photos and video at TMZ confirm. PHOTOS: Rob and his famous sisters as kids Kim, Khloe and Kourtney 's 25-year-old brother was reportedly joking around with a photographer snapping photos of him across the street. The reality star ran towards the snapper and followed him into a smoke shop -- all in jest. But, according to TMZ , the photographer misunderstood the star's intent, ran from Kardashian, and alerted the cops, who quickly handcuffed the Dancing with the Stars alum and threw him in the back of a police car.

Heavy Rotation Booking Agency is bringing the thunder down on DMX, as they claim that they entered into an exclusive deal with DMX to book all of his shows anywhere in the world for one year. However, DMX's legal troubles have impeded his touring schedule. X is currently battling two child support cases, which resulted in the courts placing a lien on his passport, thus barring him from touring overseas. Heavy Rotation say they've tried in every way possible to help DMX with his legal troubles to no avail. The agency was forced to cancel X's tour after he continued to cause many more problems for himself. DMX's manager, Jason, tells a different story concerning the situation, claiming that X dropped them after he felt they were using unsavory business tactics. Regardless of what the situation is, DMX is set to appear in court soon in relations to the case.

The babywatch countdown continues, folks! A very pregnant Jessica Simpson was spotted out with her fiancé, former NFL star  Eric Johnson , in Los Angeles on Sunday, where the duo braved the rain after enjoying lunch. Simpson donned a chic bright maxi-dress despite the less-than-desirable weather. The eight-month pregnant Fashion Star mentor recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and talked about her pretty sizable baby bump... "I feel like I have a bowling ball sitting on my hoo-ha!" Simpson joked of her baby bump to host Jimmy Kimmel . And before you ask, no, Simpson is not having twins. Of her large baby bump, Simpson explained, "Apparently I have a lot of amniotic fluid, so whenever my water breaks it'll be a like a fire hydrant." Last weekend, Simpson celebrated her baby shower with over 50 close friends, including sister Ashlee Simpson and pal Jessica Alba . Simpson and Johnson are expecting a baby girl and have reportedly already de...

Drake is known for pouring his heart out on his albums over past relationships, but an ex-girlfriend is suing over the track "Marvin's Room." Ericka Lee is claiming that she is the voice on the phone of Drake's hit single, and she's suing because Drake didn't share co-writer royalties on the song. Lee filed the lawsuit on February 2nd, claiming that she and Drake had a romantic and business relationship from early 2010 to mid 2011. Their business relationship consisted of trading poems, song lyrics and discussing joint creative projects. Lee also claims that before Drake began recording "Marvin's Room," they agreed to work together and split the proceeds. She was asked to provide the beginning monologue and the phone conversation, which serves as the framework for the single, where Drake yearns for an ex after fame got in the way. Drake allegedly acknowledged Lee's contributions on the single via text, saying ...

R&B singer Keith Sweat has fallen hard on financial times, as his home was foreclosed on and went to the bank, but he's still $250,000 in debt. TMZ broke the story, revealing that Sweat fell behind on the $450,000 mortgage for his Detroit home, which was already drowning underwater. When it sold for $200,000 the money owed wasn't even cut in half. PMI Mortgage then sued Sweat for the remaining balance, $253,000, and since Sweat failed to respond in court, the judge ruled in favor of PMI. The company has since filed a lien on Sweat's Georgia property in an effort to collect their money. Source: TMZ

Damon Dash has reportedly been selling Curren$y albums without the rapper's permission, and when Curren$y got word of the situation he made it clear that he's not one to be trifled with. Curren$y claims that he and Dash tried to reach an agreement to release music together in 2010, but nothing materialized. Dash is reportedly selling his albums despite Curren$y signing with Warner Brothers in 2011. In his lawsuit Curren$y is demanding that Dash quit profiting from his work, and is asking for $1.5 million in damages. A judge has yet to rule on the case, but Dash is claiming that he gained rights to sell Curren$y's albums, and added that Curren$y stabbed him in the back when he signed with WB.

Quote:  I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me. -- Muhammad Ali The Greatest (1975) NAME: Muhammad Ali                                                          OCCUPATION: Boxer , Philanthropist BIR...