Source:Soultrain.com

We knew Kandi Burrus was getting her own spinoff series on Bravo TV but details of the show were pretty slim. Now, “The Kandi Factory” is ready to make its debut and Bravo has given viewers a sneak peak of what’s to come this season.

From the first look, the show has sort of an MTV “Made” feel. Each week, Kandi will be working with two wanna-be pop stars to whip them into shape vocally and she’ll also lend her choreographer and production team to help make these aspiring singers into acts with real talent. The inspiration for the show seems to be Kim Zolciak’s rise to “fame” with Kandi’s “Don’t be Tardy for the Party” track, so if she can make Kim work, she ought to be able to help anybody.

The show is set to debut March 4 at 10pm on Bravo. Check out the Sneak Peak of The Kandi Factory and tell us what you think. Will you tune in on Sundays?

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

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Source: jusflippin.com

If you didn’t know how you felt about the song, “It All Belongs to Me”–Brandy and Monica’s first collaboration in 14 years–after we posted the song a few weeks back, you might like it a bit more after watching the soul sisters belt the jam out live, doing so last Thursday on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I must say, Brandy’s voice sounded amazing! She started off a bit deeper than normal, however, once she got in the groove, I was almost tempted to throw my hands in the air (and wave them like I just didn’t care). Monica sounded awesome as usual, and as this was a pre-Whitney funeral performance, she rocked a shirt with Whitney’s image on it, and they dedicated the performance to the late singer. If you haven’t seen it already, please let us know what you think of the the ladies rocking the house below. And ignore the numerous references to Facebook in the track…:

2122173143 by YardieGoals

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In celebration of Black History Month, instrumental leaders and trailblazers are often acknowledged in the realms of political and social change.  But just as there are many instrumental figures in these roles, there are also a variety of influential black leaders in style. These style icons have set trends, graced magazine covers and displayed personalized taste that still serve as inspiration for some of our fashion choices. Some made a conscious choice to be style blazers, while others did it effortlessly with no intention. We discussed our favorite hair mavens the other day, now it’s time to acknowledge the fashionistas.

From the style icons of the past to present day trendsetters making their marks for years to come, these women all share one commonality: they influence style.

Read the rest of this entry »

Note:Remember the piece, “9 Artists Who Should Have Blown Up…But Didn’t“? Well, one of our readers has a list of her own of artists that need way MORE shine. Some are big names, others are fairly unknown, but they all are highly underrated in her book.

By Monique H.

Have you ever heard a great song and wondered who was that and why aren’t they mega famous yet? Well, I have a few times.

Over the last few years, in the entertainment business, we have heard an enormous group of unknown, underground, or underdog artists say that the music industry shut them out because they didn’t have the “it” factor. Every record label wants the next Beyoncé. I consider myself to be a musical connoisseur. I have a vast collection of music from “independent” artists who I think should be bigger than many of these non-singing singers (Rihanna, J.Lo, Ciara, Ashanti, etc). Not that I am not picking on them, but I don’t believe that they have the vocal talent to be in the same class as Beyoncé, Adele, Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston.

So while record companies may be scrambling for the next big thing with a little, thin voice, in my personal opinion I believe this group of artists has just the opposite of that. If given the proper promotion and financial backing from a great record label rather than the artist having to do it all alone, I believe these singers can fill the void that the mainstream music scene needs badly.

So let me introduce you to a few singers with talent that should be given a chance on the big stage, as well as some known ones who need to be on superstar status…like years ago.

If you haven’t seen our story “9 Artists Who Should Have Blown Up…But Didn’t,” you’re missing out on a great list of super talented people who deserve more success. But obviously, by the title above, today’s list is more dedicated to the people whose talents are a bit on the questionable side, but whose success is a bit more than they probably should be getting. While all of these people have had a few songs that had us wopping out in the club, I’m pretty sure we’ve all seen people on the train who can sing and perform better for a dollar. But to each their own.

Ashanti

I’m not going to lie, this chick had a few bangers that I was bouncing my head to in the car (“Rain on Me,” “Baby”), but still, we all know her voice was a bit too paper thin. However, when homegirl first dropped, her album was #1 on the Billboard 200, going triple platinum selling six million copies (that’s huge by today’s industry sales), she was awarded the Soul Train Aretha Franklin “Entertainer of the Year” award in 2002, and won a Grammy for her self-titled album. But still…I mean, if the video for “Happy” doesn’t justify why she was highly overrated, I just don’t know what would.

You know, when I flip through my parents’ records and listen to their old albums, I can say they didn’t own one with a singer with a questionable or crappy voice. Back in the day, singers could SANG, and I’m sure if they couldn’t, someone would have told them to sit down. But in this new era of music, where you’re no longer trying to sell your voice but your a** in too-little designer clothes, just about anybody can claim they’re a singer. Well, you might claim it, but baby, that doesn’t make it so. Here are some folks that I think are great people, but should leave singing responsibilities to the real singers out here (I see you MTA performers!).

Just a heads up, if you were thinking this was going to be one of those posts that idolizes “blue-eyed soul singers” or says folks are out here trying to “sound black” (as if there’s one way to sound black), you’re mistaken. This is a list about a few individuals with voices that we accidentally assumed at one point and time belonged to black people. It wasn’t until videos popped up for some of our favorite jams that we didn’t see a black man or woman, but a white man or woman–and it surprised the hell out of us. A lot of these singers are probably your personal favorites by now, some you may have never heard of, but don’t lie, you know you were telling your friends at one point or another, “Oh snap, I just assumed he/she was black…”

You’re not the only one.

I understand that competition in the R&B game is pretty fierce, but there’s just something weird about throwing such obvious shade at another chick in the game–and Keri Hilson did that while on the red carpet at the Soul Train Awards recently.

In the past, Miss Keri Baby has been known to let other singers in the game know (indirectly) that they aren’t real competition. Back in ’09 on the remix to her hit single “Turnin’ Me On,” everyone was saying Hilson allegedly threw subliminal jabs at both Beyoncé and Ciara. Lyrics included the following:

“Your vision cloudy if you think that you da best/You can dance/she can sing/but need to move it to the left… She need to go have some babies/she need to sit down she fake/them other chicks ain’t even worth talkin’ bout”

AND the icing on the cake, some say was for Ci-Ci, who Hilson has penned songs for in the past, came out like this: “Go head tell these folks how long I been writing your songs/I been putting you on/check the credits hoe!…If you want me you can find me in Decatur hoe.”

After people took sides and people kept asking the ladies if they had beef, Hilson and Ciara did manage to put on a united front, appearing together on Ustream together to talk about how everything was all good. And while it may be all good between them, Hilson still seems to have some issues with “King B.” While on the red carpet at the Soul Train Awards, she was asked by Juicy magazine to hold one of their issues and do a “drop” for the publication (“This is ____ with Juicy magazine!). But when she saw Beyoncé and Jay-Z on the cover, she had a major change of heart. Not only did she ask “Who is that?” but when she found out who it was, she replied, “No, I’m sorry, I can’t do that.” After that exchange, she seemed pretty pissed off at the interviewer and cut her the death face.

I’m not sure what the problem is or where the drama lies, but Hilson’s behavior wasn’t very cute, and she’s too cute for that! Especially since it wasn’t about liking or promoting Beyoncé, but about helping out the magazine. But what do you think? Was she dissing her or is this whole thing being blown out of proportion? Let us know!

Check out the video of the exchange with Juicy magazine below:

Rihanna was forced to cancel her concert at the Malmo Arena in Sweden yesterday after she was hospitalized. Fans were concerned after she tweeted an image of her arm with an IV in it, but luckily it’s just a case of the common flu.

The “We Found Love” artist apologized to her stans in a statement:

“I am sorry to everyone who was coming out to my show in Malmo, Switzerland. I was so excited to perform for you all.

“It would have been a great time… so much better than being sick with the flu, ugh! I’m really disappointed I couldn’t be there.”

Hopefully she’ll be back on her feet soon—well wishes!

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

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Mary J. Blige is gearing up to release her new album, “My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act I)” on Nov. 21 and she’s given us a hot new track with Drake, “Mr. Wrong.”

I love the beat and the vocals sound like the Mary we’ve adored since “Real Love.”  What do you think of her Young Money/Cash Money collabo?

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

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