Whenever big events are taking place we’re always anticipating who our favorite celebs will bring as their dates. Just when we think it’ll be a model, they make us fall in love them even more by bringing  their mamas instead. I always find it cute when they show mom dukes that she will always and forever be their leading lady. Video vixen, models, singers… fall back because the mothers are running this show.

Any time you’re trying to describe an artist, there’s always a temptation to compare them to someone else. It’s easier to say “Keyshia Cole is like Mary J. Blige” than to say “Keyshia Cole makes raw, soul-infused R&B filled with themes of pain and personal transformation.” I get that. But sometimes the comparisons go too far, and we try to place up-and-comers in the same category as legends whose legacies have left an indelible mark on the musical landscape.

The late, great Michael Jackson is probably the most frequent victims of suspect comparisons. It seems that anyone who can dance and sing reasonably well is at some point dubbed the new or next version of The Gloved One. Usher is the new Michael Jackson. Chris Brown is the new Michael Jackson. Beyoncé is the new Michael Jackson. In the name of all that is holy, this must stop. I have seen all three of these “new Michael Jacksons” live, and I can attest that any one of their shows will change your night, if not your life. Usher is a consummate entertainer, Chris Brown is the best dancer I have ever seen anywhere, and Beyoncé
will leave you out of breath just watching her.

That said, to compare these entertainers to the King of Pop, a man who was arguably the most innovative, groundbreaking and important artist of all-time, hurts my feelings in ways I can’t begin to describe. I could possibly tolerate something more specific like “he can sing and dance well, kind of like a young Michael Jackson.” But to compare artists to someone who was incomparable won’t fly.

Another questionable comparison involves Trey Songz. I’ve heard him described as the next R. Kelly and/or D’Angelo. I’m sorry, what did you say? Just because you take your shirt off and sing sex-laced ballads does not make you heir to the throne of Kells or the inimitable D’Angelo. So I’m going to need people to cease and desist equating any crooner with a sexed up catalogue and a six-pack to either of these two very unique and musically-gifted individuals.

And then, there is perhaps the most egregious comparison I’ve heard yet: that Frank Ocean is this generation’s Luther Vandross or Marvin Gaye. For the love of Tyler Perry, we must stop this madness. I think we’ve all heard more than enough Luther and Marvin to know that Frank is neither, so I will kindly ask the people making these comparisons to have a seat for eternity.

Young Frank and his unique brand of R&B has certainly taken the world by storm. But to compare an individual with a mixtape and an album to legends who shaped entire eras, who left us with some of the most memorable music we have, whose musical styles don’t even resemble Ocean’s, is simply ludicrous. In the words of Claudette Wyms, one of my favorite characters on the former FX drama The Shield, “You’re stretching, son. Try yoga.”

These ridiculous comparisons also occur in the rap spectrum. I think we all laughed off the idea that Ja Rule was the new DMX, but among the more outlandish claims I’ve heard is that Kendrick Lamar is the new 2Pac. Girl, bye. I can’t even dignify that with a response.

Sure, there are similarities between artists, and comparisons are inevitable. Nicki Minaj is like Lil Kim or Foxy Brown, female rappers who blend sexuality with serious bars. Justin Bieber is like Justin Timberlake; they’re both white r&b/pop artists who got their start as teen idols. Lady Gaga is like Madonna; they’re fearless females who push the envelope and weave religious imagery and sex into their music.

But no one is the new or next anyone, much as each generation might want to lay claim to their own version of some superstar. Chris Brown is not the new Michael Jackson and Frank Ocean is not the new Luther Vandross. There is one Michael and one Luther and one Marvin and one 2Pac, and there will never be some newfangled knockoff. They’ll come through and create their own lane and legacies. But we lessen the legacies of certain icons by claiming there is some updated version, like they are a line of soft drink or an old computer program. What these people did is unmatched and will remain unmatched. Without taking anything away from these talented young artists — who deserve to be seen in their own light, and not in someone else’s shadow — let’s not pretend a legend who brought us something we’d never seen before and will never see again can somehow be duplicated.

What’s the craziest musical comparison you’ve ever heard? Sound off in the comments.

Lauren Carter is a Boston-based wordsmith who writes about music, pop culture, race and relationships. Connect with her on Twitter @ByLaurenCarter or check out her blog at www.bylaurencarter.com.

We filled you in a couple days ago on the fact that Essence has a MAJOR lineup in order for this summer’s annual music festival. From Beyoncé and Jill Scott to Maxwell and Brandy, the hitmakers are headed to NOLA this July. And did we mention that their recent cover boy, LL Cool J, is also performing as well? Here’s to hoping his performance will be a bit more entertaining than what he did at the Grammys….Anyhow, we now can add Bey’s sister Solange and R&B stud Trey Songz into the mix, as Essence just revealed that they have been added to the lineup. They’ve also tapped the very underrated Tamia and Faith Evans to perform as well. While Solange and Trey will probably hit a main stage, Tamia, Evans, as well as the additions of Mali Music and singer Rachelle Ferrell, will perform in the festival’s superlounges.

And if you’re hoping to take part in changing that body from within instead of just shaking it down to the ground, the festival will of course have opportunities to speak with and learn from life coaches, fitness experts, members of the clergy and more through something called the Essence Empowerment Experience. There you can get fed with the help of the brilliant Iyanla Vanzant, as well as Steve Harvey, and I don’t know, maybe get some business advice or something from Kenya Moore (?) of Real Housewives of Atlanta. They’re also bringing in other big names to help, including John Lewis, Denise Warren, Karen Peterson, Kim Burrell, Kurt Carr and many others.

Once again, if you’re trying to be a part of all this fun, the Essence Music Festival is from July 4-7, and weekend packages are already for sale online. Get moving!

Whether it’s Trey Songz crooning he’s about to “Dive In” or Chris Brown moaning about how he’s going to make me “Wet The Bed,” I must be getting old and sensitive because love and hip-hop is a little too raw for me.  Not even 5 years ago, I was attracted to men who were vulgar and explicit and thought those sweet, sensitive guys singing lullabies about walks in the park and candlelit dinners were clowns.  But after years of blatant honesty, I find myself missing the days of middle school when a guy would send me a candy gram in class asking, “Will you go with me?”

A few months ago my colleagues and I decided that we needed some music to break up the monotony of our office days that are otherwise filled with calls from probation officers about parenting classes and random UPS diaper deliveries.  With the help of Pandora, soon we had Marvin Gaye and Sade to serenade us through those long eight hours.  We chose channels that we thought were “safe” for an office of women ranging from their early twenties to their late fifties.  And by “safe” I mean we didn’t want to run the risk of Rihanna exclaiming, “I love it when you eat it,”  in the event that a donor walked through the door. By choosing the Toni Braxton channel, I figured we were in the clear.

Nonetheless after a few times haul assing to my phone to change the channel when I heard the first few notes of “Neighbors Know My Name” drop, it hit me: There aren’t too many men singing about love anymore.  Even back in the day our parents clearly knew exactly that Ronald Isley wasn’t just talking about a hug when he sang “I feel your love surrounding me” on “In Between the Sheets,” but it was a lot more subtle than, “Girl I like the way it opens up when you throw it back baby,” as Chris Brown sings  on 2012.  I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I have my random ratchet moments where a little wine and some Rick Ross “Diced Pineapples” or “She Will” by Lil’ Wayne doesn’t make me feel like the sexiest broad to ever sip Yellowtail on a Saturday.  When it comes to raunch and romance, I like Chris Brown and Trey Songz because they “go there.”  But sometimes I just want to fall back and hear a man tell me how beautiful I am, not how fat my a** is.

It’s not like thug love didn’t exist when I was a teen. Boys II Men might have been on bended knee begging to make love, but Jodeci didn’t hesitate to hump the stage and let us know that every freakin day they wanted to freak our bodies in every freakin way.  A few years later even LL Cool J and Fabolous had their share of public displays of affection through singles like Hey Lover and Baby. There was a balance back then, but recently when I try to think of anyone mainstream that’s actually singing about love the only artist who comes to mind is Ne-yo and recently he seems to making more songs for the club than for couples.  It’s no wonder why teens today can’t see anything beyond breaking headboards when it comes to relationships.  Women are becoming the worst offenders. When did a man become soft or a sucker for being a gentleman?  Any time a man reveals the slightest bit of sensitivity or emotion we are quick to label him as “soft” or “gay,”but don’t let him refer to us as “bitches” and we’re ready to swing on him…unless of course he’s a rapper and he’s telling us to drop down and get our eagle on. There’s nothing like a little fame and money to make the rules of the regular not apply. Even I must admit it’s been me on some occasions looking all silly and doe-eyed when a man tells me how “bad” I am or that I look like a video vixen. But on some level it’s sad that “I can tell that you’ve been practicin’” is seen as the ultimate form of flattery these days.

I think it’s great that people are talking so openly about sex especially when it comes to people not fearing they’ll be judged for what gender they choose to love or young people being able to ask questions without people assuming they are trying to make a pregnancy pact.   But sometimes people being so TMI about their sexual intentions kills the mystery which as a result kills the mood.  I think that’s why I enjoy Drake so much; he can just as easily hold his own surrounded by bouncing booties on a single like “Pop That” and then turn around and express how vulnerable he actually is on a song like “Hate Sleeping Alone.”

There’s time and place for passion, but as women we can’t wonder where the romance and respect  went when any man who isn’t telling us to bend over and look back at him is considered a clown.  Ladies if we want romance and candlelight, we have to think more about love than dropping it low and spreading it wide.  Fellas, sometimes revealing what you want to stick and lick isn’t nearly as arousing as telling a woman that you just want to hold her.  Romance and ratchet don’t mix and we don’t always want baby-making music as much as we want to boo love.  The subtle art of flirting and courtship needs to be brought back not only to hip hop, but to relationships every where.  That doesn’t have to mean cliched rose petals leading to the bedroom or Barry White and candlelight, but try being a little creative.  I like it rough, but take a note from Otis Redding and try a little tenderness.

Can you think of any R&B artists who still sing about love?

Toya Sharee is a community health  educator  and   parenting education coordinator who has a passion  for helping  young women  build  their self-esteem and make  well-informed choices  about their sexual  health. She  also  advocates for women’s  reproductive rights and blogs about  everything  from  beauty to love  and relationships. Follow her on Twitter   @TheTrueTSharee or visit  her blog Bullets  and  Blessings .

Source: WENN

We’re used to male artists tooting their own horn when it comes to what clothes, cars, jewelry, and houses they can afford, not to mention the women they can pull. We’re even used to hearing rappers like Kanye, Jay-Z, and Nas referring to themselves as “the best rapper alive” but now their modesty has been flushed down the drain in a whole different ball game; their skills in the bedroom.

None of us should take everything that comes out of these artists mouths as fact, but when a man is constantly making references to pleasuring a woman with a “hurricane tongue” or having women feeling like he invented sex, we simply can’t help but wonder; do they really got it like that?! Here are 15 artists who don’t shy away from mentioning the way they can get your juices flowing in the bedroom, on the staircase, on the balcony… and the list goes on and on:

FayesVision/WENN.com

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but unfortunately some truly talented individuals fell victim to some really subpar musical tributes to their favorite artists. Whether it was age, nerves or just a mismatch between honorers and honorees, these performances fell pretty short in their aim to salute the works of music’s greatest talents. Though many of the musicians being saluted took their lackluster tributes in stride, we can definitely say one woman who may just happen to be the Queen of Soul certainly didn’t look amused. So without further adieu we bring you 15 of the worst musical tributes to ever hit the stage. OK, that was dramatic.

Nikki Nelson / WENN.com

Trey Songz Takes On Prince

In theory this could have been a great match. Here you have incredible hot, wonderfully talented Trey Songz tapped to salute the one and only Prince at the 2010 BET Awards. Though a cliché choice, you can’t go wrong with “Purple Rain.” Well, that was until Trey Trey got a hold of it. Doing this weird fusion of “Yo Side of the Bed” and “Purple Rain” – not to mention the atrocious American Idol-esque, amateur oversinging — not only made Prince give the stank eye, but everyone watching had an undeniable look of the WTF variety. Come on, man. You don’t mess with a classic and you certainly don’t mess with Prince.

Instead of taking it to the streets, these celebrities are taking it to the courtroom — or being taken there. You’d be surprised at what you can learn about a celebrity from the bills they don’t pay, the people they wrong and the dirt they get up to. Allegedly, of course. That’s why we have public records to see whose done people so wrong they’re getting sued for it. Check this list of offenders.

Photo Credit: PNP/ WENN.com

RZA

RZA is being sued by Thea Van Seijen: the chick who sang hooks on a lot of his songs. She says that she’s never gotten any royalties but was afraid to demand them and ruin her career. RZA says he found the woman on the street, gave her food, a place to stay and 15 minutes so they’re even. See you in court I guess.

Rex Features via AP Images

Who would have thought Trey Songz would be a movie idol? It seems he is the reason why Texas Chainsaw 3D  cashed in at the box office last weekend, despite bad reviews.

Exit polls conducted by research firm Marketcast found that one in three Chainsaw ticket buyers under 25 said they went to the movie because of Songz.

And get this. When the director, John Luessenhop, told Hollywood studio execs they wanted to cast Songz as the leading man, most had never heard of the R&B singer.

“People at Lionsgate were uncertain, saying, ‘We’ve never heard of him. We don’t know who he is,’” Luessenhop told the LA Times. And according to the newspaper, after Tim Palen, the studio’s chief marketing officer, Googled Songz, and found he “was a two-time Grammy nominee with 5.6 million followers on Twitter and 14 million fans who ‘like’ his Facebook page,” the studio backed Luessenhop’s decision.

Luessenhop’s gamble paid off. The movie debuted with $21.7 million. It is not the first time Luessenhop pulled in urban music artists for his movies. In the past he has cast both Chris Brown and T.I., helping them to transition into the film world. The horror film director told the Times he first saw Songz at the 2011 BET Awards and was so impressed with his performance and presence, he tracked down Songz’s agent.

Songz has already completed his second film gig; he will next appear in this summer’s dramatic comedy Baggage Claim.

Songz has been heavily promoting ‘Chainsaw’ on his Twitter account, reminding his fans to head to the movie theater and retweeting positive reactions to the film.

Turns out Songz, who has made an impressive return to music with Chapter V (which was Grammy nominated this year) wasn’t just satisfied with merely acting in the movie. He was hands on in the marketing campaign  as well. According to the Times it was Songz who asked Lionsgate to create a custom 90-second trailer of the film that would play prior to his song “Don’t Be Scared” during his Chapter V Worldwide Tour, which hit the road in November.

“I wanted [Lionsgate] to know that this film was truly a priority for me,” Songz wrote in an email to the Times from Germany, where he is currently on tour. “The fan reaction could not have been better. They loved the clip. They were scared for themselves, they were scared for me, it worked out perfectly.”

It’s been a long time coming for Trey Songz. One minute he was just a scrawny kid with braids trying to get some respect in the industry, and the next, he was the sex-driven singer making all the ladies sweat with his risque videos and songs. And now, with all the success that has come with him turning up the heat a little bit, he can also say that he’s a movie star. One of very few big names starring in the reboot of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Trey’s appearance (and a lot of scary gore we’re guessing) helped propel this movie to number one at the box office with some big weekend numbers. He’s already having a good year, and in honor of that success, and the fact that he’s just a cutie in general, we thought we’d honor homeboy with an evening eye candy gallery. Plus, some of you asked for it a while back. Enjoy!

Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

It’s a time for happiness and good cheer, drinks and laughter, good times and spending days with friends and family. But no holiday celebration can truly be complete without the proper soundtrack. So to help you in selecting the perfect songs, Madame Noire brings you the 15 best tracks for the the Christmas season. Happy holidays, everyone!