Source: Global 14

Now last time The Dream spoke out about singers, ya’ll weren’t feeling his claim that R&B dudes have been trying to steal his sound, but this time he may actually have a point about music today.

In an interview with the Guardian in the UK, he spoke about the transfer of soul from the R&B genre to artists who you would expect to be more pop in the US, and how black artists have in turn adopted a more pop sound. He spoke on the genre he considers himself to be a part of, saying:

“It’s called rhythm and blues; they just took the blues out of it for so long.

“What’s crazy is that blacks can’t do soul records any more,” he said. “We love Adele singing it, but Beyoncé singing it? No, the tempo’s too slow, gimme the club hit. Now the blacks in America are responsible for the pop records, and everybody else is singing soulful records. It’s weird to me. We’re pigeonholed over there.”

On this, The Dream is absolutely right. This is an issue we talk about a lot, asking what is it that’s so unique about the Adeles, the Amy Winehouses, and the Duffys—basically soulful white singers from the UK that make a killing in the US—is it just that their sound is unexpected based on their looks and consumers go crazy over it? Is that what black artists are trying to do now by taking over the pop scene?

A friend just texted me this weekend asking me what was the deal with Chris Brown’s CD, saying he’s not R&B anymore, he’s strictly pop. That explained my confusion with his Grammy performance this year. But even Usher dabbled with the pop sound a bit on his last album, and no one would argue against the charge that Rihanna and Beyonce are extra heavy on the pop and light on the soul. The question is, is that the type of music these singers want to do or do they make this type of music because it’s the only music they can sell? There are obviously several black entertainers who have a soulful sound, but they’re not the ones getting the mainstream shine.

What do you think? Is it impossible for soulful black artists to have mainstream success in the US?

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

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Looks like there will be big changes to both the US and the UK versions of Simon Cowell’s “X Factor” competitions. Simon already nexted half of the judging panel in America, and rumor has it he’ll be cutting Kelly Rowland in Europe next.

According to sources with the Daily Mail, Kelly “failed to connect with viewers” and “annoyed production staff with her diva attitude.”

“I’ve been told: ‘Kelly has got to go. She was not right for the show,’” the source said. “The producers didn’t like her and her commitment level wasn’t there. There’s an understanding she didn’t work on the panel.”

I’m sure Kelly won’t like that news, particularly with word that her rival, judge Tulisa Contostavlos, is almost certainly guaranteed to return for next season.

Meanwhile in the US, Janet Jackson sorta-kinda let it slip that she’ll be joining the “X Factor’s” judging panel. When Anderson Cooper asked about the rumor during the singer’s recent appearance on his show, her laughter pretty much gave it away. She said she’s not a judge on the show and when Anderson restated, “You’re not currently a judge on The X Factor,” Janet replied, “No, I am not but that’s all I really think I should say.”

Sounds like confirmation. What do you think about Janet joining the “X Factor?” Will she fit in well with Simon and L.A. Reid?

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

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By Charlotte Young

If you’re Muslim in America, chances are you’re happier with your life than the general American public.  According to the Christian Science Monitor, a Pew Research Center survey reveals that 82 percent of Muslim Americans are happier with the way things are going in their lives.

The survey, which was created to study the demographics, experiences and opinions of Muslim Americans, also shows that 56 percent of Muslims are content with the US, compared to 23 percent of the general public. In 2007, a previous survey conducted on the Muslim American demographic, revealed that 38 percent of Muslim Americans were more content with the way things were going in this country, compared to 32 percent of the general public.

The survey, as well as its 2007 predecessor, was conducted by Pew researchers curious to find out if public fear of home-grown terrorism had led Muslim Americans to feel increasingly segregated in the US and in anger turn to support extremist views.

Scott Keeter, the Pew director of survey research, tells the Christian Science Monitor that “there’s been no increase in favorable views of Al Qaeda, of suicide bombing, or Islamic extremism.” In addition, although Muslim Americans admit that they do often face discrimination, they “do not regard the American people as particularly unfriendly to them.”

The recent results show Muslim Americans experienced a change of heart in their opinion of Obama. In 2007 only 15 percent were impressed with the president. The current survey results also reveal that they are more satisfied with President Obama’s leadership at 76 percent than the general public, which show at 46 percent.

Although 70 percent say they have “a very negative opinion” of Al Qaeda, the beliefs on Islamic extremism shift within the community. Native-born Muslims are more likely to support Islamic extremism that Muslims born elsewhere. And African-American Muslims are least likely to say they have a “very unfavorable view of Al Qaeda.”

As far as discrimination goes, 55 percent believe that being a Muslim has become more difficult after 9/11. Twenty-two percent say they have endured name-calling and 21 percent have underwent added scrutiny at airports.

According to the survey, 2.75 million Muslims currently reside in the US. About two thirds wire born abroad of those 18 and older, and 25 percent arrived in the US since 2000.

A report from the Journal of Health Affairs put out today says the new U.S. nutritional guidelines, now referred to as “My Plate” as opposed to everyone’s favorite food pyramid of yesteryear, would require Americans to dish out hundreds more dollars than they are already spending for food right now. According to MSNBC, the new guidelines called for Americans to try eating things with more potassium, dietary fiber, calcium and Vitamin D. Sounds simple, right? Nope. With the economy still putting folks in a tough position and it being more convenient to spend less for less healthy items, author of the report, Pablo Monsiviais says the new guidelines will be extremely hard to meet. In an interview with MSNBC, Monsiviais said because the foods recommended cost so much more, the guidelines are a bit unreasonable for people:

“Given the times we’re in, I think we really need to make our health guidance, in particular the dietary guidelines, more relevant to Americans.”

To be specific, Monsiviais says individuals would have to spend an extra $1.04 a day to get the foods recommended, racking up a healthy eating bill of $380 a year per person. Yikes! A study of the prices to come up with these numbers were done in King County, which includes Seattle, and food prices there are higher than most. So yearly costs could be cheaper depending on where you live, if not higher. The author says that if you skip the overly expensive salmon and rice pilaf that is cited as an example of healthy eating on the “Choose My Plate” website, and start encouraging people to get their nutrients from cheaper sources, the effects would be a lot better.

““If you were to guide people toward the most affordable sources of potassium, you could do it more cheaply.”

But do we really need someone to tell us what we can be eating that provides us the same nutrients for cheaper, or are folks just making TOO many excuses as to why they won’t trade McDonald’s for healthier options? What do you think?

To read more of Monsivais’ thoughts on the new healthy eating guidelines as well as other experts in nutrition’s thoughts, check out the full story at msnbc.com.

(Black Enterprise) –World stock markets reversed course after a weak start Wednesday, with shares heading higher amid news that China’s stock regulator is considering a state-owned bank’s plan for a record-breaking initial public offering. Oil rose to near $73 a barrel, bolstered by hopes of rising fuel demand ahead of weekly inventory figures. The dollar was weaker against the yen, and the euro dropped against the dollar.

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(FinancialTimes.com) — Home Depot, the largest US home improvement retailer, on Tuesday reported the first increase in same-store sales at its US stores for almost four years, reflecting the improving confidence of US homeowners.

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