Jill Scott, 'Hidden Beach Presents: The Original Jill Scott From the Vault Vol. 1'

When Jill Scott emerged on the scene in 2000 with Who Is Jill Scott? Words + Sounds, Vol. 1, a heavy sigh swept across the country. It was the collective exhaling of thousands of women who'd found a kindred spirit; a home girl who understood the depths of their passion, pain, self-determination and other life challenges, housed within a refreshing sanctuary of R&B/soul, hip-hop, gospel and jazz. Scott still has the touch: The Light of the Sun, her first album for Blues Babe/Warner Bros., debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in June. But fans are in for an added treat with this collection from her former label. Comprising new tracks, alternate versions and bonus material recorded during her tenure with the label, the project (available in standard and deluxe editions) transcends the thrown-together, unfinished feeling frequently associated with from-the-vault projects. Hand-picked by Scott and Hidden Beach, standouts include the moving "Wake Up Baby," the empowering "I'm Prettier" and Scott's revamp of the Bill Withers classic "Lovely Day." The raw emotion and range of Scott's voice and her remarkable gift for wordplay are consistent throughout. It's the evolution of a career artist in the making.

Kanye West's "Runaway": Reaction & Review

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

Just in case you missed it, last Saturday, October 23, Kanye West premiered his highly anticipated 35 minute video, locking down three major TV stations MTV, MTV2, and BET. This video's soundtrack was tracks from his upcoming album My Dark and Twisted Fantasy due for release on Monday, November 22, 2010.

Listen to Kanye explain the symbolism in the video:

ChinaBabe's Take:  This video is mostly a beautiful piece of abstract moving art with Selita Ebanks as the center of attraction.  I understand the phoenix represents his career and the rise from the ashes.  I even understand the dinner scene, being the "last supper" symbolizing his rebirth and renewed spirits.  There are great touches of brilliance moving toward genius throughout this short film. However, I believe that the genius will be lost to most people because of the cocky arrogance that is Kanye West. In some ways, I don't think that this production was completely necessary.  There were times where I just thought this is a bit much...but in true Kanye form, he was pleased with himself.  Kanye is beyond talented but this film will just be 35 minutes of confusion to most people...

To read the entire article, visit J9's MusicLife.

Erykah Badu Window Seat Spoof by @SpokenReasons

On Wednesday, March 31, Erykah Badu released her video Window Seat and The Future posted the hit single's video.

However, the next day Erykah’s major record label Motown Records pulled all the videos posted on youtube and other players.

The kid @SpokenReasons redid Erykah’s video for Window Seat and I think I almost died watching this video. Hilarity at it’s finest. In the video you can see the comedian Spoken Reasons walking through what looks like a college campus taking off his clothes. He has on like 100 shirts and he's thinner than JJ Evans. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the girl in the back picking up the clothes. OMG!!!

Check out the video and the twist at the end. It’s the best thing on the internet right now.

Erykah Badu’s Window Seat Video Uncut

Posted by Angela Wu

San Diego Entertainer Magazine

If you think Lady Gaga’s and Madonna’s music videos are controversial and shocking, then Erykah Badu’s newly released Window Seat video uncut will blow your mind. Badu’s most recent music video came out on March 28,2010, and already, it’s stirred up chatter and questions of all different kinds.

In her music video, Badu walks down a bustling street as she strips down to nothing; and the street she’s walking along also happens to be the very street in Dallas where JFK was shot. As if walking naked in public isn’t controversial and outrageous enough, doing so at such a monumental place is making people go crazy, and she might even be faced with criminal charges.

Erykah Badu has been an icon for many music lovers since early 1997. She exudes a style of hip-hop, R&B, and jazz that coalesces in a way that touches and moves people, not only through melodic rhythms, but also through her powerful lyricism. Her debut album Baduizm reached #2 on the Billboard Charts in ‘97, with her lead single On & On holding the 12th spot on the singles chart in both the US and the UK. Some of her other acclaimed singles include You Got Me co-written with Jill Scott, Bag Lady which was nominated for a Grammy, and Love Of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop) with past-lover Common, which won Badu her fourth Grammy in 2003.

Badu’s Window Seat lyrics are just as powerful as the impromptu music video is itself. At the end of the video, when she’s already naked and exhibiting her numerous tattoos, there is the sound of a gun shot as she falls to the ground, and the narration reads–

They feel most comfortable in groups, less guilt to swallow. They are us, this is what we have become, afraid to respect the individual. A single person within our circumstance can move one to change, to love ourself, to evolve. - We are QUICK to assassinate, what they don't understand.

Take a look at this revolutionary video and tell us how you feel.

Jill Scott is sued by her longtime record company

R&B star Jill Scott has been sued by her longtime record label, which has accused her of pulling out halfway through a six-album record contract.

By: BBC News

Industry paper The Hollywood Reporter said Hidden Beach Records is seeking damages for the money it would have made from the rest of the deal.

The complaint, filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court, said it was "shocked by her decision" to leave the label.

Ms Scott also stars in the HBO's original TV series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

In 2007 the Grammy award-winning star made her cinematic debut in the film Hounddog, before starring in Why Did I Get Married? later the same year.

She went on to win the lead role in The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

'Incredibly talented'

The legal action states that Hidden Beach's founder, Steve McKeever, helped launch Ms Scott's career, but was dumped in October after more than 10 years of collaboration.

"Hidden Beach is shocked by her decision, not only because Scott has apparently chosen to leave the Hidden Beach family, but also because Scott is contractually required to deliver three more albums to Hidden Beach."

Since breaking onto the scene with the double-platinum selling Who Is Jill Scott? album in 2000, Ms Scott's studio albums have generated millions in revenue.

Hidden Beach's alleged damages remain unspecified, but under California law they could total several million dollars.

Mr McKeever said he paid Ms Scott generous advances when he was not required to, allowed her to keep merchandising revenue and paid a large sum of money to fund a concert DVD that the singer later asked not be released.

"Hidden Beach feels that Jill Scott is an incredibly talented artist," the company's lawyer, Lawrence Hinkle, said.

"No one regrets that this lawsuit had to be filed more than Hidden Beach, but its hands were tied and it had no other option."

Ms Scott was unavailable to comment.