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ARTS
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BEST MOMENTS IN A&E
THIS PAST WEEK
MORIBA CUMMINGS | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR | MORIBACUMMINGS@YAHOO.COM
BEYONCE: BEST PAID BLACK MUSICIAN IN HISTORY?
NICKIMINAJ UPSETS PUBLIC WITH SINGLE ARTWORK
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It looks like Queen Bey's perfectionist spirit and industry dominance is leading her straight
to the bank as she is reportedly set to become the highest paid Black musician in history. Though
she has followed in the footsteps of predecessors and career inspirations Michael Jackson and
Tina Turner, Yonce is en route to surpass them both in financial lucrativeness.
According to MTV, the singer is “expected to make well over 200 million dollars by the
time ‘The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour’ wraps up this year. The tour... is set to become the most
successful of her entire career and make her the highest paid Black musician of all time!”
This past week, the Internet was sent into a frenzy following the abrupt release of Nicki Minaj’s new
unofficial single “Lookin' A** N****a.” While the boldly delivered hip-hop cut saw many praise the “femcee”
for resurrecting “old Nicki,” it also attracted its fair share of criticism from members of the African-American
and activist communities who took offense to the use of human rights activist Malcolm X's photo on the
single's artwork.
Prior to taking down the photo that she deemed “unofficial,” Nicki issued an incomprehensible
statement trying to justify using it. Malcolm X’s family and estate have expressed their distaste with the mat
ter, and had threatened to take legal action against the rapper if the photo was not taken down in 24 hours.
It was.
LIL' KIM IS PREGNANT!
RIHANNA NARROWLY DODGES BANKRUPTCY
Before the likes of Beyonce and Alicia Keys were breaking records on the Billboard charts, "The
Voice,” Whitney Houston, set the standard. On June 27, 1987, the iconic songstress became the
first female artist in music history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with her
self titled album, “Whitney.” In addition to the success of the now legendary body of work, the
LP’s lead single, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" proved to be a breakout
hit for the singer, snagging the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. If that wasn't history
enough, Houston became the first female artist to generate four No. 1 singles from one album.
ARETHA FRANKLIN: ‘I WILL NEVER RETIRE'
The Queen of Soul is set to be honored as the Musical Arts Honoree at the 2014 BET Hon
ors. During a recent interview with the network, the legend revealed that she would never lay
down the mic for good. After reminding viewers of her steady rise to fame and her transition from
traditional gospel to secular music, Franklin revealed her plans to always remain true to the art of
music.
"I'll never retire. I'll always be singing. Even if I'll be singing at a lady's bazaar, or a lady's
tea, or at church, I’m gonna be singing somewhere,” she said. "I'm not ever just going to go and
sit down somewhere and retire ... This is what I do. I’m in this game.”
LIL' WAYNE ANNOUNCES THA CARTER V’ RELEASE'
Information leaked last week about Rihanna's past financial troubles which almost led her to bankruptcy.
According to the TMZ report, in 2008, approximately three years after her debut, Rihanna suffered a bankruptcy
scare that was spearheaded by a supposedly inept accountant. The legal documents showed that the Def Jam
artist started 2009 with $11 million in cash to her name, and was left with $2 million at that year's end.
According to TMZ, “As for how Rihanna blew through $9 million in one year... she says her accountant
gave her the green light to buy a house priced between $7 and 7 1 /2 million. So she took his advice. She ultimately
sold the house for a $2 million LOSS.”
According to the report, the singer explained that her 2009 “Last Girl on Earth Tour” was losing money but
her accountant never notified her of the losses. . .. -
THE ‘DRUNK IN LOVE’ REMIX SPREE
Beyonce’s latest smash “Drunk In Love” has taken over music airwaves everywhere, and has
gradually become the Houston-raised singer's ticket to the Billboard Top 10. Thus far, it has peaked at
No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, blocked by Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” from the top spot.
As with any viral radio hit, other artists are now putting their individual spins on the catchy
record. Last week, The Weeknd, Diplo, and Kanye West released their versions of “Drunk In Love" to
varying reviews from fans. While each version is vastly different from the other, Bey ultimately chose
West’s as the official remix, posting the track with an accompanied promotional visual on her official
YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram pages
JOJO THANKS SUPPORTERS WITH ‘#L0VEJ0’ MIXTAPE
Hip-hop heavyweight Lil’ Wayne is gearing up to return to the music scene with some
new material. Guests who attended Sprite's NBA All-Star concert on Feb. 15 revealed that Wayne
appeared on stage as Drake's special guest, and confirmed to the crowd that his upcoming LP
‘Tha Carter V' is scheduled for a May 5 release.
The date was later echoed by Drake who said, “May 5, that's all we focused on,” before
transitioning into a performance of “HYFR.” This date sets Wayne head-to-head with R&B/pop
music icon Mariah Carey, who is set to release her new album the following day.
Newly freed from her contract with Blackground Music, JoJo is wasting no time as the
fresh Atlantic Records signee has recently released a free mixtape titled "#LoveJo" just in time for
Valentine’s Day. The four-song set, which is available on Soundcloud, features covers including
Anita Baker's "Caught Up In The Rapture,” Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home,” and a spine-chillingly
spirited cover of Kathleen Battle's "Oh, Glory." It has been more than seven years since JoJo has
released a full length LP, and with the top-notch delivery of this project, fans are undoubtedly in
for a treat.
DRAKE TO MACKLEMORE: ‘OWN YOUR SH*T’
ZIMMERMAN, THE CELEBRITY?
“Thrift Shop" performer Macklemore made headlines last month when he issued an apology to rising hip-
hop star Kendrick Lamar via text message, which he later published for the world to see on his Instagram page. The
“conscious rapper’s” apology expressed words of regret for “robbing" Lamar of his rightful win at the 2014 Grammy
awards.
The apology has, apparently, not gone over well with Young Money rapper Drake as he deemed it “weak,”
and inauthentic in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
"I was like, ‘You won. Why are you posting your text message? Just chill’ ... It didn’t feel genuine. Why do
that? Why feel guilt? You think those guys would pay homage to you if they won? He made a brand of music that
appealed to more people than me, Hov, Kanye, and Kendrick. Whether people wanna say it’s racial, or whatever, it’s
just the fact that he tapped into something we can’t tap into ... Own your sh*t."
Many have grown outraged at the attention that has been drawn to the George Zim
merman-led "celebrity" boxing match, as it was ultimately received as a mockery of Trayvon
Martin's murder. Furthermore, the term "celebrity” rubbed many the wrong way as it translates to
the public that Zimmerman, himself, is, in fact, now considered a reputable form of celebrated
pop culture. In actuality, the term “celebrity” should be accompanied by a more positive frame
work. The Zimmerman boxing match was subsequently cancelled shortly after it was announced
that troubled rapper DMX was set to be his opponent.