B13 Peer Review

Find out what New Radicals, Lou Bega, Backstreet Boys, Limp Bizkit and more are up to these days The Class of 1999 In many ways, 1999 was a peak year for the record industry. With millions of kids buying CDs at up to $18 each and the teen-pop juggernaut plowing full speed ahead, major labels were minting money. Who knew that a college kid named Shawn Fanning and his new peer-to-peer file-sharing program Napster were about to change the music business forever? Here's a look back at 10 stars who scored big in '99 and what they're up to now. By Andy Greene Lou Bega Then:  In 1999, German-born David Lubega (a.k.a. Lou Bega) took Perez Prado's 1949 instrumental "Mambo No. 5" and recut it as an irresistible dance-pop jingle. It became an unlikely hit, topping charts around the world. Here in the U.S., the song might have owed some of its success to the lyric "a little bit of Monica in my life," which felt particularly timely just a few month...

Pop star accuses them of losing tens of millions of dollars Rihanna By   Rolling Stone July 5, 2012 5:50 PM ET Neil Lupin/Redferns via Getty Images Rihanna has sued two former accountants and the New York-based Berdon LLP, accusing them of bad bookkeeping, a failure to recommend she cut expenses during a 2009 tour that was losing money, tens of millions of dollars in losses and an ongoing audit by the Internal Revenue Service,  the  Associated Press reports . Rihanna filed the suit in a Manhattan federal court under her real name, Robyn Fenty. Through her attorneys, she alleged that the defendants took millions from revenues from four national and international tours over five years. According to the lawsuit, by Rihanna's 2009 "Last Girl on Earth" tour, she discovered that her tour had managed "significant net losses," despite the fact that revenue was up. The suit goes on to claim that the defendants took 22 percent of said revenue whi...

Guitar virtuoso shreds to the heavens during 'Voodoo Child' and 'Purple Haze' "He's the baddest psychedelic blues cat around – man, you might say it's too much to even sit around and talk about him," deadpans one young Jimi Hendrix fan, in this exclusive clip from  Jimi Plays Berkeley  (out on July 10th) of the guitar virtuoso performing in Berkley in 1970. He's got a point: Language seems to stop as Hendrix unleashes his contorted, six-string slinging acrobatics and scorches his way through "Voodoo Child" and "Purple Haze." Does he shred a solo with his teeth on the latter? Yes. Yes he does. 

Posthumous collaboration will appear on rapper's new LP, 'Life Is Good' Nas and Amy Winehouse Heather Kennedy/WireImage; Mark Allan/WireImage By   Rolling Stone July 4, 2012 10:05 AM ET A new song from  Nas'  upcoming album  Life Is Good  has surfaced, and it's a posthumous collaboration with the late Amy Winehouse . "Cherry Wine," which premiered on BBC's Radio 1 on Tuesday night, was produced by Salaam Remi, a frequent collaborator of both artists. The tune will appear on the rapper's tenth LP, due out on July 17th.  Nas and Winehouse previously linked up for recording sessions with Remi in 2008, and one of the tracks, "Like Smoke," appeared on Winehouse's album  Lioness: Hidden Treasures , released after her death in July 2011. Read more:  http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-amy-winehouse-song-with-nas-cherry-wine-surfaces-20120704#ixzz1zjKT07GR

Joseline Hernandez,   Stevie J’s mistress/partner on the “reality” show   Love & Hip-Hop, Atlanta , is denying that she was injured in a brawl at a fan event, reports the Examiner.com. “Face smooth like a baby,” Joseline said via Twitter. She also made sure to post a picture (left) to prove it. Want to Keep Up With News B-13 Peer Review ? LIKE Us On Facebook! Online media exploded with the news that a fan approached the aspiring singer/stripper/alleged prostitute to ask about her —   spoiler alert   — abortion that will be revealed later in the season. She went on the attack, claiming the sites reporting the news were not credible and fans were stupid for believing the drama and staying on Twitter all day discussing it: “Once again MTO is always getting false statements I should take y’all to court for lying lol. I don’t have to b on this fake a** s**t all day. Is not real… find u a JOB or do something with your lives. “The government make th...

The rapper has called himself 'the sock king' Photo: Press Outkast 's   Big Boi   is set to release his own line of socks. Speaking to   GQ   in a recent interview, the rapper proclaimed himself to be "the sock king". After being complimented on his pink and green socks, he explained that he had his own line of socks coming out in conjunction with the   Crooks & Castles   label. He said of his footwear: I'm the sock king! They've got a cape on the back - that's how I flew here. I got my own socks line coming out with Crooks & Castles. Head over to 677 Antone Street, Atlanta, Georgia, 30318 and get some! Big Boi – whose real name is Antwan Patton – recently revealed plans to release his new album, 'Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors', on November 13. Speaking about the album's progress he said: "It's coming good, I just put out two records from it - 'She Said OK' with Theophilus London and 'Gossi...

Biography 2005–2010: Career beginnings Frank Ocean began his career with the producer duo The MIDI Mafia. Ocean joined Los Angeles-based hip hop collective OFWGKTA , whom he met through his connections, at the end of 2009. In late 2009, he met Tricky Stewart , who helped Ocean sign a contract with Def Jam Recordings as a solo artist, however, he was initially unable to build a relationship with the company. In 2010, he changed his name from Christopher Breaux to Christopher Francis William Ocean via a legal website. 2011–present: Nostalgia, Ultra and Channel Orange Ocean has written songs for Justin Bieber , John Legend , Brandy , and Beyoncé Knowles   Ocean has also worked with Nas (on whose 10th studio album Ocean is expected to feature, along with fellow Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Hodgy Beats ) and Pharrell Williams . On February 18, 2011, Ocean released his first mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra , to critical acclaim. His music...

The Odd Future crooner reveals that his first love was a man in Tumblr post Photo: Press Frank Ocean has opened up about his sexuality, suggesting that he is gay or bisexual. Addressing widespread rumours about his orientation, the singer and Odd Future affiliate has admitted in a post on his Tumblr that his first love was a man. Ocean's post began saying that he had originally planned to publish the open letter on the liner notes for his forthcoming new album 'Channel Orange', but had decided to go public with it now to address speculation. He prefaced his statement saying he hopes that “the babies born these days will inherit less of the bullshit than we did". He wrote: "4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile. Sleep I would often share with him...

Lil’ Kim, my girl, the Queen Bee is back. She was on fire on the stage during Wednesday’s premiere of the eighth annual “Rip the Runway.” She performed a medley of hits including smash singles “All About the Benjamins” and “Crush on You.” Kim’s body was tight. She was rocking a dazzling catsuit by L’Impasse and some bright yellow pumps by Michael Antonio Lavonne.

Seasoned R&B artist Ray Lavender has been killing tracks with his smooth voice and sounds since 2007. Previously signed alongside Lady Gaga on Akon’s Konlive record label via Interscope/Geffen, Lavender took his electric talent and personality to longtime friend, mentor, and founder of the Global Artist Group Andrew “Big Drew” Bryan.  More recently, the Atlanta native Lavender has exploded onto the scene with club banger “Tequila.”  Lavender talked to with  rolling out  about his sudden rise to future. What was your first time in the studio like? It was incredible.  The very first time was with this production company Headline Production when I was 18.  I didn’t really know what I was doing because the first time you record in a studio it doesn’t sound right.  Then I met with Akon the second time I got in the studio and I really got the grip of things.  By the time I got to Big Drew, he took me to Dallas Austin and it was history. ...