Source: WENN

Well, this is a bit of an unexpected collaboration.

On Friday, Fantasia released her second single, “Without You,” featuring Missy Elliott and Kelly Rowland from her upcoming album Side Effects of You.  Co-written and co-produced by Kyle Stewart, Harmony Samuels, Al Sherrod and Missy, “Without You” is a ladies’ anthem of sorts, reminding their men that they’re lucky to have women like them in their lives.

Tasia Mae, as we affectionately call her, dropped the first verse and she is calling a spade a spade:

Really gon make me expose you for exactly what you are/And I’m feeling a little wavy so right now I don’t mind pulling your card/And as hard as you try to hide reality why, we know the truth/ so act brand new if you want to/But what you be without me, what would you be without me/ so what you blowing up just a little they knowing you a little don’t get a finger in the middle cuz my **** you would never be

Further in the song, Missy Elliott gives it to us a little “x-rated” in a way only Missy can:

“Your d**k is useless/Dude, I don’t need your sex, I’m moving to the next/ You frontin man, you stunting man, you worser than my ex/Ha ha ha ha ha, you think that Shyte funny/We know the truth boy, keep it one hunnit”

Well, if this isn’t a “talk that talk” song, I don’t know what is.  Side Effects of You is being presented as an album that shows Fantasia going through a heartbreak and getting back to who she is as a woman. This track definitely sounds like she is getting her confidence back.

“Without Me” could be  a big summer banger as the beat definitely knocks! Check the song out below and let us know what you think!

Rihanna singing live. Adam J. Sablich / Shutterstock.com

Atlantic Records once alleged that legendary R&B singer Ruth Brown owed them $30,000 from advances the company had given her. No, she said at the time, Atlantic actually owed her. She fought and fought, even gaining the support of the Reverend Jesse Jackson. In 1989, Atlanta “forgave” her debt and paid her $20,000 in overdue royalties. Because of her efforts, the royalty payment system was reformed.

We’ve all heard the Behind the Music stories of artists who sold millions but made next to nothing. Most recently, we got Toni Braxton’s take on her bankruptcy filing and the low pay she received despite being one of the biggest artists of the ’90s. TLC went to the press years ago with their money woes, claiming that they never received their fair share of  the money they generated for their record company and manager, Pebbles’s company Pebbitone. As the NY Times reported in 1996, “TLC’s contract with Pebbitone gives the group 7 percent of the revenues from the sale of the first 500,000 copies of the debut and second albums.”

And who can forget when Prince went around with the word “slave” written on his face, saying that his record company basically owned him and his music. At the time he stated, “I became merely a pawn used to produce more money for Warner Bros.” Eventually he was able to break his contract with the label.

Rihanna and Missy Elliot are following in the steps of Brown, and are fighting to reform the royalty system — this time in the digital arena. The artists were among a group of 125 singers and musicians to sign an open letter to Pandora Media Inc. opposing the online music company’s proposed changes to how artists are compensated.

Pandora is currently lobbying lawmakers in US Congress to pass the “Internet Radio Fairness Act,”  which would change regulation of how royalties are paid to artists for music streamed over the Web. According to the Internet music company’s website focused on the issue, laws have been passed as innovation in the music industry has developed. As a result, “satellite pays about 7.5% of revenues and cable pays about 15%, while Pandora pays more than 50% of revenue in royalties.”

So here’s the wrinkle, the new bill would cut by 85 percent the amount of money an artist receives when their songs are played over the Internet. Pandora says it needs to pay artists less in royalties in order for them to continue to stream music. “A sustainable Internet radio industry will benefit all artists, big and small,” Tim Westergren, Pandora’s founder and chief strategy officer said in a statement.

Pandora actually doesn’t make money off of streaming music. Most of Pandora’s profits come from advertising. While Westergren claims slashing the royalties are necessary, the company saw it share of total US radio listening rise to almost seven percent, up from about four percent. But, as Yahoo! reports, “Pandora’s success has been double-edged – the more customers it gains, the more money it has to pay overall for rights to stream music.”

The Internet Radio Fairness Act is a bipartisan bill. If Pandora does get its way, the change won’t come anytime soon. The current rate is set until 2015.

What’s interesting is that the artists are being asked to take a cut while listeners will get the same level of service. Do you pay to listen to online radio, something like Spotify’s premium service?

The MTV VMAs air tonight to celebrate the music videos they hardly ever play and hopefully bring about some yearly controversy. The show promises to be an over the top spectacle just as in years past, with alleged drama to come as MTV has practically been trying to get Chris Brown, Rihanna and Drake to sit next to each other. Never a dull moment with these awards, eh? If you don’t believe me, here are a few water cooler moments that left an impression (good or bad, that’s up to you) on the audience and those at home.

last.fm

Michael Jackson at the ’95 MTV VMAs
In 1995, the King of Pop opened the show. With backing from Slash, he performed for more than 10-minutes, and pumped out a medley of his greatest hits such as “Billie Jean,” “Dangerous,” “Beat It,” “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” and “Black or White.” Once again, he showed why there was everyone else and why there was just one Michael Jackson by putting on a mini concert. His night continued with wins in Best Dance Video, Best Art Direction and Best Choreography for “Scream,” his duet with sister, Janet.

Source: EurWeb

From EurWeb

Missy Elliott’s musical partner Timbaland spilled the beans Friday (Aug. 24) via Twitter.

“oh snap yall my sista @MissyElliott is dropping her singles #9thinning and #triplethreat labor day weekend. watch it world we back!!!”

Check out more details on Missy’s new songs on EurWeb.com.

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When I say that I love this song, I mean, like, I really LOVE this song. It gives me flashbacks of late ’90s Missy and Timbaland beats, and the fact that Missy is on the track and in the video also helps. She’s looking great with her long bangs and heavy eye makeup as she helps rapper J. Cole reiterate that indeed, “Nobody’s Perfect,” a track from J. Cole’s hot album, Cole World: The Sideline Story. I will say though, the video reminds me of Drake’s video for “Over,” and it does have its random moments at times (why is he just walking around a bedroom?). The video was directed by Colin Tilley, who is behind the camera for most of Chris Brown’s videos. I don’t really care for it, but I’ll still be jamming to this track on my iPeezy (iPod). What do you think of the video?

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LA Weekly recently spoke with Odd Future’s Syd the Kyd about her sexuality and what it’s like being a part of the musical group of singers, rappers, dancers, and producers which includes Frank Ocean and Tyler the Creator.

In speaking on her own sexual orientation, though, Syd decided to call out some well-known female entertainers who she says need to come clean about where their real sexual allegiance lays. She says:

“There’s Alicia Keys, who’s married to Swizz Beatz – we know that s*** ain’t real. You got Queen Latifah kissing Common in movies. Missy Elliott saying she don’t wanna hang with b****es. You know she loves her some b****es.”

Along those same lines, Syd explains why she decided to come out as a gay female in The Internet video, “Cocaine.”

“I decided to do it because I wish I had someone like that [an openly gay female artist] while I was coming up. People write on my Tumblr just thanking me for making the video, saying that I really inspire them, and they want to be like me. But I wasn’t always this way, this comfortable with myself, and I remember what that was like. So I figure, f*** it. Everyday people aren’t given this opportunity and I realize that.”

That may be all well and fine for Syd but I don’t think it’s her business to try to “out” women who she suspects are homosexual. From my limited knowledge of the whole idea of “coming out,” for some people, taking that step is like running up and down the street naked—you’re baring your sexual self in front of the world to be judged and the reaction you’ll get is never certain. Granted, most people these days don’t care so much whether someone is homosexual or heterosexual, but the decision to admit who you are sexually is still a very personal choice that people decide to disclose or keep to themselves for a number of reasons. Knowing that, and admitting that she wasn’t always comfortable enough to do so herself, I find it a little crazy that she’d try to put these women out there like that.

More importantly, why do these women need to admit anything? I understand that the whole coming out process signifies acceptance of who you are but I’ve personally never found it necessary. If heterosexual people don’t have to announce their orientation, why should homosexuals? Show up at the dinner party with your mate of the same sex and let people read between the lines just like they do with heterosexual couples.

I get wishing she had popular lesbian role models to look up to, but Syd’s just going to have to accept that Missy, Alicia, and Queen can’t be that for her and I don’t think that necessarily means they’re ashamed. We’ve seen pics of Queen Latifah with Jeanette Jenkins and it appears she’s already replaced her with another one—another one being a woman. Maybe these women don’t want their sexuality to overshadow their careers. If they are gay, the minute they admit it, that’s all anyone would want to talk about. Who wants to keep explaining what they do between the sheets at night? Maybe they don’t want to be the face of homosexual advocacy, which someone would surely expect them to be if they came out; and if they declined there would certainly be hell to pay. There’s also the possibility that these women just aren’t lesbians at all (except maybe the Queen).

In trying to speak up for gay artists, Syd marginalizes women in the same breath by suggesting it’s impossible for a woman to be heterosexual without showing T and A all day long. There’s more than one type of female MC and at the end of the day, no one has to explain their demeanor or orientation to anyone. I think Syd should take a lesson from her “lesbian” role model Missy Elliott and  “Stop talkin’ ‘bout who [she's] stickin’ and lickin,’ just mad it ain’t yours.”

What do you think about Syd’s comments on Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, and Alicia Keys? Do you think lesbian entertainers have an obligation to come out with their sexual orientation? Is choosing to remain in the closet a sign of shame?

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

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New music from Monica is always a good thing—throw in Missy Elliott and Jazmine Sullivan behind the scenes and you’ve got greatness. Monica has just released the video for her new single “Until It’s Gone” off of her album, “New Life,” scheduled for release November 29.  Warning: The video,  featuring Brian J. White and Malinda Williams,  is a bit of a tear jerker — so be prepared.

What do you think? Are you feeling Monica’s new single?

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

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I’ve probably said it millions of time, but where would we be without friends? If you’re looking to let your girls know how much they are appreciated outside of their birthdays and Christmas, but you’re not good with words, the following songs will go a long way. Granted, no one makes mix CDs for people like they used to, to leave on their desks or in their dorms or lockers, but feel free to post any of these 10 best buddy bangers on the Facebook walls of those you can count on most. What? Who isn’t on Facebook in this day and age?

With the help of a continuously embattled (but still Hot) Chris Brown, last week, Keri Hilson debuted the song and video “One Night Stand” from her album, No Boys Allowed. The Hot duet, scorching from the recording to the dark video and its synchronized dance breakdown, brought to mind all the dope duets in Hot R&B over the years. Not the lovey-dovey Ashford & Simpson or Marvin & Tammi type joints, but the make your ears melt and make you turn it down when people come around type tracks. There’s too many to narrow down, but here are a few you’ll need to get a hold of ASAP.

(AOL) — Black VoicesFor years, Mona Scott-Young has been behind the scenes effortlessly crafting the careers of Busta Rhymes,Missy Elliott and 50 Cent, to name a few.While filming a reality television show documenting the life of Harlem rapper and her client Jim Jones, Scott got a unique perspective about the complex relationship between his longtime girlfriend and mother.Through her Momami Entertainment company, she teamed with VH1 for ‘Love and Hip Hop,’ the natural transition from ‘Basketball Wives’ and ‘Football Wives,’ which uncovers the lives of the women behind some of the most famous rap stars out.BlackVoices.com got the scoop from mrs. Scott-Young on if these women should throw in the towel with their relationships, the future of hip hop music and why her show is different from the rest…

BV: was that difficult for you running the careers of big-name people and calling the shots as one of the few women around? MSY: The thing for me — and the one thing I’ve had to rely on not having degrees or experience of working at a company and having to figure it out on my own — I always had confidence in my skill set and went through it with blinders on. I’d be on the bus with a bunch of dudes and I gained a certain amount of control and respect, but also [I demanded] basic things like everybody is sharing rooms, I’m not. my clients respected the grind, and I always had their support. when I took on Missy as a client, I had both a client and an ally in terms of a woman battling her way in a male-dominated industry and not looking like a female pop star or a female rap star of that time. But, there is a camaraderie that exists amongst the men in terms of how they look out for and take care of each other.

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