We always laud the ’90′s and early 2000s as a time for great music. When we turn on the radio today, we realize they just don’t do it like they used to. And that’s true, that decade and the first few years of the new millennium provided us with some great music. And though there were songs and groups we used to swear by back in the day, if we listen again, we’ll realize that these songs just don’t do it for us these days. I have a theory that because the ’90′s was full of real vocalists, we didn’t mind the balance of musicians who had subpar vocals but made up for it in star quality. Here are the artists we really thought had something, only to listen now and realize they just don’t do it for us anymore.

Source: WENN

Celebrity publicity stunts get more and more desperate with each passing day.

Last week word got out that former B2K singer Raz B was injured in a bar fight during his performance in China. Although initial reports suggested that he would need minor surgery and stitches following the fight, it seemed like he would be fine. Then, over the weekend, TMZ received word that the 28-year-old singer had somehow fallen into a coma and had to be rushed to the hospital. Although it seemed rather far fetched that a person would fall into a coma after receiving and being treated for such minor injuries, most just went ahead a sent their get-well-soon wishes. Yesterday, TMZ received word from Raz’s camp that he had awaken from his coma and was doing better. A rep from the camp also said that doctors found his recovery to be miraculous. Today we’ve learned it was all a big hoax.

Raz B’s manager, Elayne Rivers, recently spoke to CNN and seemed to imply that the coma report did come from Raz’s camp, but it wasn’t from his appointed spokesperson.

“The comments about Raz being in a coma did not come from his official representative,” Rivers said.

Raz B’s brother, Ricky Romance, claims that he was “misled by unknown reasons” in regard to his brother’s medical condition.

“I was unfortunately unable to contact my brother at the time and then panicked. I then alerted as many people of this information hoping to gather facts… Since the source that gave me this information was what I thought to be legitimately reliable I didn’t question I just believed. I apologize if I seem like I jumped to conclusions but a coma is a serious situation and it was concerning my brother whom is my best friend as well. I sincerely apologize for the confusion I caused if that is the case,” Ricky said in a statement.

The original source of the story was Toy Jones, a woman who says that she was hired by Raz B’s family to get the story out about the singer’s condition.

“Doctor says Numerous Brain scans showed that Raz’s entire cortex- the parts of the brain that give us consciousness, thought, Memory and understanding is now functioning. Doctors say its a miracle and told his family that he stands a strong chance of survival and no signs of being brain dead for the rest of his life against all odds,Raz woke up this morning and is in stable condition We ask the the fans and media respect our family’s privacy,” Jones wrote in a raw, unedited statement.

I smell a rat. While Raz’s manager has yet to confirm Toy’s affiliation with the singer, she certainly hasn’t denied it either *side eye*. It appears that this was all one big publicity stunt concocted in some sick attempt to keep Raz B in the spotlight, but I guess we’ll just have to sit back and see how this all plays out.

Making it in the music industry as a solo artist is hard enough but when there are two or more people in a group, tensions are bound to arise because mo’ money plus mo’ people equal mo’ problems. Although they made beautiful music together, these 15 popular rap and R&B groups just couldn’t set aside their differences in the long run.

Arrested Development

Afrocentric alternative hip-hop group Arrested Development became very popular in the early 90′s. Founded by Speech and his former best friend, DJ Headliner, along with Dionne Farris and spiritual leader Baba Oje, they are best known for their song “Everyday People.” In 1993 the group won Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance. They were also tapped by Spike Lee to record a song for his “Malcolm X” biopic that same year. However, Arrested Development never eclipsed the success they had with their debut album. Their sophomore album was panned by critics and shortly after that the group broke up due to “creative differences.” The band patched things up four years later but things were never the same as they struggled to reclaim their popularity in the U.S. Today, the group continues to tour internationally and released their 10th album in 2012.

Getty

I’m probably one of the few people in my office right now who wants to see Omarion win. Probably because I used to be a B2K stan (though I had more of an affinity for Lil Fizz), and more or less because I’ve seen him at his best (“Touch” anyone?) and knows he can drop some chart topping stuff. And after watching him dance for his life in almost a comical fashion at the BET Hip Hop Awards a few months ago, I can tell he’s hungry–thirsty even. But at the age of 28, post his boy band heartthrob status and dropping four solo albums, the latter two which were received with lack of enthusiasm, can Omarion really blow up big again? Or better yet, as he says, can he ever be on the level of Michael during Thriller? Beyoncé during Crazy In Love? Justin Timberlake during his FutureSex/LoveSounds reign?

He seems to think so. When talking about his upcoming EP, Care Package, with Billboard, Omarion discussed why he believes that it’s his time now to drop a classic. He’s a new and improved and eclectic O, and he’s excited for the fans, and the haters, to hear what he’s got, especially since he personally feels like most people still look at him as teeny bopping “Bump Bump Bump” Omarion from B2K:

A lot of my fans are adults and have children and lives. It’s really interesting because they still come out and support, the fans that used to chase my car. I think they ready. This is the real grown-up me. This is that age when Beyoncé had ‘Crazy in Love’ and Michael Jackson had ‘Thriller,’ when Justin Timberlake had ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds.’ I feel like I’m at that age. I can’t wait to display this new me.

If he’s trying to show that he’s grown up and out of his dance friendly pop stuff from back in the day, it helps that he’s rolling with Rick Ross and MMG, as he got signed with Ross’ crew after they met up at a strip club of all places. Magic City is the perfect place to do business, right? And since then, he’s been so hype and full of enthusiasm that he’s not letting anybody bring him down. Don’t want to see an Omarion comeback? Well, homeboy says too bad, because it’s coming: “I hope that they hear the emotion and take away one thing, and that’s that I’m coming. I’m going to continue to create music. I’m here, and that’s what it is.”

While I do like Omarion, I can’t say that I really see him making an impact or the type of music that really blew people like Bey, Justin and MJ into the stratosphere of stardom. I feel like that opportunity came and went. But hey, you can’t knock a brotha for trying. Never hurts to be ambitious, or it least it doesn’t hurt much? Care Package drops for free on file sharing sites on November 29, will you check it out?

While jamming to your favorite songs, do you ever wonder about who wrote your favorite tune? Okay, probably not. But it’s still cool to see who helped put some of today’s major hits together, and most of the time, it’s  people who you didn’t expect. We started looking into the names behind some popular tracks back in March, and now we’ve compiled a few more. Here’s a list of some major songs by major artists that were created with a little help from their famous (or at the time, soon-to-be-famous) friends.

Graphic by Desire

“Baby” Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris (2009)

The-Dream/Tricky Stewart/Christina Milian

The song that threw Bieber into pop’s stratosphere, and was his highest charting single until 2012′s “Boyfriend,” was put together by former lovers The-Dream and Christina Milian and Dream’s writing partner Tricky Stewart (who has penned songs for Beyoncé, Rihanna, and more). The Dream claims that Milian only helped with the melody of the song- but there’s no way you can just get a royalty check and credits off a melody right? If so, then I stand corrected. Either way, it’s the jam folks of all backgrounds and ages can’t help but sing to, and it’s the song that pretty much made Bieber a household name.

Source: cwphilly.cbslocal.com

Chris Brown and Raz B have already shared some nasty twitter exchanges in the past but Breezy is threatening legal action now that the former B2K singer isn’t just talking ish anymore, he wrote it down in a book.

In what can only be described as a money making ploy—because no one cares enough about him otherwise—Raz B is releasing a memoir titled, This Boy’s Life, but he’s doing a lot more than talking about himself and the past molestation claims at the hands of B2K manager Chris Stokes. He’s outing several male celebrities like Omarion and the rest of his band; Lil Bow Wow, who he says was involved in sexual relationships with other B2K members; and he also says Marques Houston molested him.

His claims against Breezy go just a tad bit further, though. In one section of the book he wrote:

“I’ve never had issues with substances; even when I was at my lowest. I always thank God I never had a serious addiction like the Weezy’s [Lil Wayne] and the Breezy’s [Chris Brown].”

Then he adds:

“What type of man hits a woman? A man that does not honor womanhood or the fragility of it. I also read that most men who beat women have latent homosexual tendencies. So there you go.”

Really Raz? Breezy had about the equivalent of his “Good Morning America” flip out on Twitter when he heard about the accusations.

“Lying about somebody in a book is called defamation of character,” he tweeted. “Keep feeding people bulls**t and ima end up owning you and that book! RAZ B! God bless… My lawyers are handling it! Lol ima chill!”

Interesting no one else has spoken up about the book, although for Lil Wayne there would be no point. We all know he loves his purple drank. Raz B’s book comes out in September so there will likely be another media firestorm around that time, if anyone still cares at that point. I get wanting to share your molestation experience—somewhat—but outing other people, whether it’s true or not, is not cool.

What do you think about this book and what Raz B is claiming?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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