Carmen Rodgers: It's Me

See this video on www.arsoul.com!

Esperanza Spalding Gets ‘A LOT of Advice’ from Prince

It was about a month ago when jazz singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding shocked the world by beating out Justin Bieber – not to mention Drake, Florence and the Machine and Mumford & Sons – to win the Best New Artist award at the Grammys.



The musician had mentioned that one of her mentors is none other than Prince. Us Magazine caught up with her to discuss their relationship and his influence on her music.


“Prince is a very kind and intelligent person,” she said. “We hit it off as friends at the same time we started jamming together, so his advice has always been musician to musician as well as from one friend to another.

“He gives me A LOT of sound advice about navigating through the business side of music, and he’s always my critical listener when I have a new musical idea. And that’s not even mentioning his musical genius which is of course a continual source of inspiration.”

NeoSoul Rhythms 117

NeoSoul Rhythms 117

1. This is how I feel - Amp Fiddler

2. Amadoda - Black Coffee Remix/ ft. Bucie
3. Amorous - Jesse Boykins III
4. Far Away - Marsha Ambrosius
5. Walking - Mary, Mary
6. I Understand - Dwele
7. INI - Amel Larrieux
8. Swept Away - The Roots
9. Bonita Applebaum - Tribe Called Quest
10. Gwebindlala - Culoe de Song/ ft. Thandiswa

Charlie Wilson, B.o.B., Cee-Lo Booked for Beale Street Music Fest

Charlie Wilson, Macy Gray, B.o.B. and Cee Lo Green are among the headliners for this year’s Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, according to an announcement from organizers Thursday.



The 35th annual festival will be held April 29 to May 1 at a scenic park along the Mississippi River. It’s part of the month-long Memphis in May celebration, which includes a world barbecue championship.

Other artists on the roster include Ke$ha, John Mellencamp, Stone Temple Pilots, Godsmack, The Flaming Lips, Buckcherry, Mumford & Sons, Jason Mraz, MGMT, Lucinda Williams, Cake and Everclear.


Jerry Lee Lewis, Kirk Whalum, Lucero, Al Kapone and other Memphis-related performers are scheduled to appear.



Reported by Eurweb.

Da Brat: ‘Every Female In Prison Wanted Me’

Newly free rapper Da Brat talked to TMZ about her nearly 2 ½ years behind bars, declaring she did not have romantic relations with any of the other inmates…even though they all would’ve jumped at the chance.



“Every female in prison wanted me … all of them wish they could have gotten these goodies,” she told the website.


Da Brat just completed a three year prison stint for attacking a waitress with a bottle in 2007. In her first post-jail interview with Vibe magazine, Brat said she was visited by her sister Lisa Raye, Katt Williams, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon.


She told TMZ, “Jermaine Dupri sent me the most money … and Omar Epps and his wife looked out. ”


Brat is currently on house arrest for the next 3 to 6 months — but says the first thing she plans on doing when she can leave her home is “making it rain at a club.”



Reported by Eurweb.

Dru Hill on New Album

Courtesy of Singers Room.

The Verdict is in: Michael Baisden Suit

What Say You? A Houston Federal Court reached a verdict in the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Michael Baisden. The mixed verdict allows for the return of Baisden’s copyrighted rights and allows him to proceed with upcoming movie and television projects.

In the lawsuit, Baisden claimed damages from past conduct of I’m Ready Productions and Image Entertainment for the unauthorized distribution of DVD’s based on two of his best-selling novels The Maintenance Man and Men Cry in the Dark.

I’m Ready Productions filed a counterclaim against Baisden seeking compensation related to a movie based on one of Baisden’s best-sellers that Baisden had originally planned to write and produce. In the end, neither Baisden nor the defendants were awarded monetary damages. “I have mixed feelings about the case.

On the one hand I am ecstatic that my copyrighted rights have been returned to me to allow me to proceed with upcoming movie and TV projects without continued interference from Image and I'm Ready Productions,” said Michael Baisden.

The Urban Buzz.