Honoring the acts experiencing the greatest level of success in terms of popularity over the past year, the 2012 Billboard Music Awards nominees have just been revealed.
Shortly removed from a dominant effort at this year's GRAMMYs, it comes as little surprise to see Adele topping all contenders with a total of eighteen nominations.
The "Rolling In the Deep" singer is vying for prizes such as Top Female Artist, Top Pop Song and Top Pop Album, as well as the grand prize of Top Artist - which boasts a highly competitive field of fellow multi-nominated acts including Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry and Rihanna.
With confirmed performances to be offered up by Justin Bieber and Carrie Underwood, the winners will be announced live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20th.
CLICK HERE for The complete list of 2012 Billboard Music Awards nominees
Kicking off a long night on the town, Rihanna filled up on Italian cuisine at Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Thursday (April 19).
The 24-year-old "We Found Love" singer looked striking in a long white dress with sexy black and red hosiery - of which she tweeted an up-close shot with the words “#PinUpS**t”.
Hitting up Roxbury nightclub following dinner, RiRi was in high gear as she was among the many partiers celebrating the smokers' holiday of 4/20 as the clock struck midnight.
Tweeting of this, the Barbadian beauty messaged, "2night is gon' be a good one, I could feel it! #1LOVE #420 #MARLEY"
Aside from her eventful social doings, Rihanna has also been nominated for a whopping 13 Billboard Music Awards including the grand prize of Top Artist.
On top of this, she treated fans to a behind-the-scenes video (watch below!) of herself and choreographer Hi-Hat practicing their moves before shooting the upcoming music video for “Where Have You Been”.
The YMCMB star says she is unsure if she'll return to Twitter and ask fans to have patience.
After gaining millions of followers, Nicki Minaj deleted her Twitter account. Frustrated by what she felt were negative comments and actions against her, she said, "Goodbye" to followers on April 15. During a recent interview, she spoke on this, adding that she doesn't know if she'll return.
Minaj took to The Graham Norton Show to speak on why she left and why she may not come back.
“A voice in my head told me to delete my Twitter and that’s what I did,” she noted. “I had 11 million followers and I hope they will wait for me.”
When asked if she'd return to Twitter, she added that she is unsure.
“I don’t know yet, I’m thinking about it,” she explained. “I miss my Barbz, please bear with me.”
African pop giant and former Mo’hits boss Dapo ‘D’banj’ Oyebanjo has signed with Mercury Records, an imprint in the UK under the Mercury Records Group of Universal Music UK.
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the The Island Def Jam Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group.
Mercury Records lists D’banj on their official website as one of their acts alongside the likes of UK rock singer-songwriter Elton John, Soft Rock singer Taylor Swift Irish rock group U2, former The Beatles musician Paul McCartney and others.
Although his publicist and management are yet to respond to our E-mails concerning the signing, D’banj seems to have confirmed the news himself as he has updated the bio section profile on his Twitter page.
D’banj has also launched his personal website www.dbanjofficial.com where the Mecury Records logo boldly appears in the bottom right corner.
The new bio reads ‘DB/Good Music/ Mercury/IDJ’ (IDJ meaning Island Def Jam). When asked by a fan on Twitter what ‘IDJ’ means, he responded ‘island Def Jam bro’.
D’banj is however not listed on the G.O.O.D Music/Def Jam official roaster on the label’s website.
D’banj who recently parted ways with his former Mo’Hits label partner Don Jazzy has relocated to the US where he will continue to push his brand and music in the foreign music market.
The entertainer is set to officially release his smash single ‘Oliver’ (which recently made Scott Mills’ Radio 1 ‘Record Of The Week’) in the UK on May 14.
D’banj as announced earlier will also perform at the 2012 Barclaycard Wireless Festival which holds at the Hyde Park, London, on Saturday, July, 7 2012 and at the BBC Hackney Weekend 2012 in London come June 23 and 24.
Exiting to an abundance of frenzied fans, Nicki Minaj checkout out of her super-posh London hotel earlier today (April 20).
Showing off her always eye-catching trademark style, the purple-haired "Super Bass" songstress dressed in a bright multi-colored sleeveless top, neon yellow mini skirt and matching stockings and fuzzy legwarmers as she toted a similar-hued lollipop through the crowd.
It's no doubt that the outspoken rapper has garnered mass appeal, yet even after reaching a whopping 11 million Twitter followers, she unexpectedly decided to deactivate her account.
When asked about her sudden departure from the social media platform, Miss Minaj explained, "A voice in my head told me to delete my Twitter and that's what I did. I had 11 million followers and I hope they will wait for me."
As for when or if we can expect to see Nicki back Online, she told, "I don't know yet, I'm thinking about it. I miss my Barbz, please bear with me."
Satisfying the her fans hunger for new music, Cheryl Cole debuted her long-awaited latest single "Call My Name" earlier today (April 20).
The tune, which was produced by hitmaker DJ Calvin Harris, is the very first single off of the Brit beauty's forthcoming "A Million Lights" album, due out June 18.
Before dropping the track, Cheryl tweeted, “Oh my god.. There’s a RAVE on my timeline and it’s only 8.30AM!! LMAO Legggooooooo #CallMyName Love you!”
Sure to bring in fans from every genre, Cole's new record will feature several A-list collaborations, including mixes with will.i.am, Lana Del Rey and Alexa Da Kid among others. We can't wait!
"If a wrong is done to the young lady, she is bound to receive justice for that wrong," said Mr. Igbinedion, a Solicitor at Salus Populi Chambers.
In the suit, Mr. Igbinedion said that the young lady, while answering an "illegal" alter call, was trying to explain herself when the pastor gave her "a dirty and thunderous slap."
"The respondent (Mr. Oyedepo) made the alter call for witches to come out, he did not make a similar call for other categories of sinners like illicit drug dealers, contract inflators, fraudsters, adulterers, and fornicators in the church," read the suit.
Mr. Igbinedion, who represented the victims of the celebrated Pastor Emeka Ezeugo (popularly known as Reverend King) at the Magistrate court, in 2006; stated that cases of violence in the place of worship if not nipped in the bud could escalate into 'uncountable' dimensions.
Furthermore, he said the calling out of the young lady (and others) as witches are illegal, unconstitutional, and a breach of Section 34 of the Constitution of Nigeria, African Charter on Human and People's Right, and United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Right.
The suit asked the court to compel Mr. Oyedepo to issue a self-signed public apology to be published in two national dailies and one international satellite television station.
It also wants the respondent to issue a similar alter call for drug dealers, corrupt government officials, bribe-giving contractors, and other category of sinners who are members of the church.
In December last year, a video of Mr. Oyedepo viciously slapping a teenage girl during church service for saying she is "a witch for Jesus" appeared on popular site You Tube.
Though later removed, the video went viral within days with the pastor, fondly called Papa, receiving a lot of stick from outraged viewers and members of the public.
One viewer described the act as "unbiblical, barbaric, and a disgrace."
Days later, another video surfaced in which Mr. Oyedepo tried to justify his action saying "it is my ministry to slap" and that the fact that the witch, rather than going to court, apologized showed his superiority.
"People now complain on the Internet that I slapped a witch. If I see another one, I'll slap," he said in the video.
You wouldn't think a world famous African American rap star would vote Republican ... but most rap stars don't owe a favor to George W. Bush and Bob Dole ... like Pras from the Fugees.
Born Queen Chinyere Onokala , Kween is an outstanding songstress with the most captivating vocal range and texture combined with a professional stage craft and a highly embracing international appeal with an afrocentric feel. A symbol of royalty which stands by itself, she is a brand synonymous with intelligence and inspiring lyrics. For her, music is the core of her passion.
This irrepressible Diva hit the music scene in 1999 with a singing career with Zuma Rock Band in Sharaton till early 2001. She went solo in November 2001 with the release of her first single 'oluronbi' which featured Fuji Star Pasuma Wonder. In April 2006, she again released ‘Come with Me’. One of her greatest asset has been her lingual dynamism. This gives her the advantage of singing in English, Yoruba and Igbo as well as the Nigerian Pigin English with credit to her being Igbo but raised in Ogun state.
The tipping point of her career was marked with the release of her third single 'Jebele' in June 2007. 'Jebele's' prominence resulted in a quantum leap and this attracted Soundcity Music Video Award for Best Female Video 2008 as well as Best Highlife Music Video at Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) 2008. Prior to the NMVA Award, the single ‘Jebele’ was nominated for Best
Picture, Best Edited Video, Best Overall Music Video, Best Picture and Best highlife, a testimony of its exceptional quality. Since then she has released tracks which includes 'Gold digger' and 'Jowo Biko'-a track from off the recently released "Love Drunk Compilation" put together by Now Muzik Recordings. She also has a new video in the market titled 'playa' directed by the ingenious Clarence Peters and produced by Wole Oni nominated for the category of Best Indigenous Video AND Best
Use Of Costume at the Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) 2011. The tempo of her 'Playa' single which is a complete deviation of the usual traditional feel of her previous works showcases her dynamism and resolve to stay relevant. In August, she had an album listening party for her "kweendoncome" album. This self titled album that has been testified by industry henchmen as 'an excellent piece' and 'a timeless collection of music' is a fourteen (14) track album which includes among others 'Kadara', 'Black Widow', and 'Ready'. The rich maturity of this album cannot be over-accentuated. Both the premium and economy edition was released in chorus into the Nigerian music market last Wednesday December 7, 2011. Kween is happily married with two adorable sons. by itself, she is a brand synonymous with intelligence and inspiring lyrics. For her, music is the core of her passion.
DJ Khaled and Just Blaze cook up some new music in the studio.
DJ Khaled and Just Blaze recently hit the studio to work on the former’s upcoming album Kiss the Ring.
In a clip of the two working in the lab, Khaled explains to JB how he wants to create something that will stand out on the radio and that he wants to “hurt somebody when I play it.”
“The joint I do with you, we gotta go back to that… Shut everything down when you play something on the radio, you can’t play nothing after that. That’s the shit me and you gotta do. That’s the vibe coming back anyway. It’s needed, and people want it. I just need that ‘uh’ from it. I wanna hurt somebody when I play it. I don’t want no rules, no regulations. So when I play it, I want to be confident like this is the one. And he can’t say nothing because it is the one.”
She’s an endless source of creativity, and Whitney Port was busy unveiling her new clothing line at Apricot Lane Boutiques yesterday (April 19).
The former “Hills” hottie showed up the Ardmore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania store where she greeted fans and posed for pictures to help plug her new duds.
In a recent website post, Whitney gushed about her experience with her new Whitney Eve accessories line and how much fun she had designing it.
"The time has finally come!!!! The Bits & Bobs by Whitney Eve look book is here and I am so ready for you to check it out! I have absolutely loved designing this first season of jewelry and cannot wait for many more! It has been such an intriguing learning experience to work with metals. I had a blast going through the bins and bins of chains, beads, brooches and vintage jewelry in order to achieve what we have made."
Pop princess Britney Spears is said to be on her way to taking her spot back in the lime light after reportedly striking a deal to fill one of the judging seats on "The X Factor" - though she comes with a hefty price tag.
The 30-year-old is said to be raking in $15 million to fill one of the two openings available due to Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger's departures from the reality singing competition show.
Miss Spears' contract will be six times what former judge Abdul made during the show's first season - which was reportedly $2.5 million - but it seems as if Cowell is willing to do whatever it takes to get Britney into the seat next to him.
Simon told Billy Bush in February, “The fact that she’s one of the most talked about — not just pop stars, but people — in the world today means that you’ve got this star power, she’s still hot, she’s still having hit records, and she’s still controversial. There’s a reason for that.”
The former "American Idol" judge could only hope for a a boost in ratings with the pop megastar on board after expecting 20 million viewers for the show's debut season last year, but instead it averaged closer to 12 million.
Juvenile returns to the Big Apple to perform cuts from his catalogue.
Last night, Juvenile took over SOB's in New York City, New York to perform hits from his catalogue and celebrate the release of his new mixtape Nino The Magnificent.
During the show, Juvie ripped through some of his bigger cuts including "Ha" and "Back Dat Azz Up," captured on film by Pow-TV.
The New Orleans, Louisiana native is currently prepping the release of his new album Rejuvenation, tentatively set for a June 19th release. The LP has already spawned the single "Power" featuring Rick Ross, and is slated to feature a guest appearance from Drake.
