Rock The Cradle – Week 3

I missed week 2 due to migraine, so I didn’t know that Jessie Money was voted off last week.  I’m more than a little surprised by that.  I really thought Chloe or Landon would be gone.  So, this week’s victim was A’Kieba Burrell-Hammer.  I liked her but I saw this coming because she’s too unpolished and raw.  No one should have to tell her how to dress properly for the stage (I did see pics from last week).  Her voice is good, but she’s not close yet.

I see that Jesse Blaze Snyder is killing ’em right now, untouchable for the second straight week.  I did really like how he sang that song and his stage presence is unbelievable.  But he’s not my favorite.

I thought this the first week and my second show, third week, I’m convinced: Lil’ Al cannot sing.  He has a decent voice but he’s all over the place and can’t stay in key if someone threatened to beat him.  Al is not helping because he needs to let Lil’ Al find his own voice.  His voice is not as smooth as his father’s, so pretty songs like Night and Day don’t really work for him.  He should definitely be voted off in the double elimination.  All that said, with the right producers he could be HUGE!

I still can’t decide if I think Landon can sing.  Landon can work a crowd and he’s less porn than Lil’ Al (which also hurts Lil’ Al with the judges).  Long-term, I don’t see Landon being successful.  He’s missing something, but I can’t put my finger on what just yet.  If he makes it through, perhaps I’ll be able to figure it out.

Chloe will definitely have a career.  She’ll never be huge because her sound is too distinct and will only appeal to a few.  But her audience will be loyal and will love her.  And as she gets over her stage fright and gets more confidence on the stage, she sings better, puts more emotion into her voice.

I’m not liking Lucy Walsh anymore and I think she needs to go.  She has a great voice, but she’s bland and cookie cutter.

Since I’m sucker for a dude with a guitar, I love Crosby.

So, my four are: Jesse, Chloe, Crosby and Landon.  See you next week.

Something About The Boy

Miss NJ:  I picked up on Romeo’s sex appeal about the time that he and Bow Wow had “beef.”  That does make me a pervert, but whatever.  He is quite tasty looking.

BK Diva:  He looks just like his Daddy & your going to jail!! LOL

It’s An Upgrade No Matter What

Miss NJ:  This is Eric Benet’s new chick.  Doesn’t she look like Halle?  Eyebrows are a little bushy but other than that clearly Halle’s twin.  As for why it’s an upgrade, BK Diva can cosign this: Halle’s crazy.  So, as long as this chick isn’t, then Eric’s all good.  It’s only a matter of time before the white boy runs screaming into the night like the rest of them.

BK Diva:  Damn, is this Halle’s long lost estranged sister????  Yeah, Halle’s mom’s forgot to take her prenatal meds……I personally got the 411 on her crazy ass from the ex’s.

When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong

Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma was led out of a Manhattan courtroom Thursday, weeping and in handcuffs, after being convicted of shooting a woman outside a nightclub last summer.

The defense had conceded that Remy Ma, whose real name is Remy Smith, fired a shot toward a friend she suspected of stealing $3,000, but said it was an accident.

Smith, 26, faces up to 25 years in prison following her conviction in state Supreme Court for assault, weapon possession and attempted coercion.

She quietly wiped away tears as the verdict was read, then wailed loudly and sobbed openly after she was outside the courtroom. Many of her supporters also cried.

Justice Rena Uviller ordered Smith jailed without bail while awaiting her April 23 sentencing.

Smith was nominated for a Grammy as part of the Terror Squad for the 2004 hit “Lean Back.” She also has appeared on recordings with Busta Rhymes and Eminem.

She was acquitted of witness tampering and gang assault, charges related to a Bronx nightclub attack on the boyfriend of a witness who ultimately testified against her.

Smith got into Makeda Barnes Joseph’s car after a party at the Manhattan nightclub on July 14, 2007, and demanded that she dump her purse.

Assistant District Attorney Michael McIntosh said the defendant “took an illegal .45-caliber automatic and loaded it with hollow-point bullets,” then used both hands to cock the weapon as she got into the car. “She took every step you had to take to shoot somebody,” the prosecutor said.

Defense lawyer Ivan Fisher said the gun went off accidentally as the women struggled over the bag.

Joseph, who was shot in the abdomen, testified that she underwent three operations during a three-week hospital stay.

Miss NJ:  I chose an attractive picture of Remy because I figured she shouldn’t go out looking like a tacky chick (even though she really is).  “Wailed loudly and sobbed openly,” huh?  Perhaps your ignorant ass should have thought of the consequences before you did that dumb ish.  No sympathy.  No pity.  Everybody wants to be a gangster but no one wants to be treated like one.  Young people, this is what happens to criminals.  Maybe not all of them, but most of them.  Especially the black ones.

Who Didn’t See This Coming?

– from NY Post

Usher’s wife, Tameka Foster, isn’t going to let any woman make moves on her man – even if that’s her job.

Foster was “domineering” and displayed her trademark “Tameka wrath” during a video shoot for Usher’s new song, “Love in the Club,” the weekend of March 15 in LA.

Our on-set source said Foster was upset when she found out stunning singer/songwriter Keri Hilson was personally picked by Usher to play his love interest in the video.

“It was supposed to be a sexy video shoot,” our spy said. “And Tameka was there the entire time guarding like a watchdog. It was ridiculous – she knows Keri and knows she’s no video ho or Karrine Steffans.” Steffans, nicknamed “Superhead,” wrote the book, “Video Vixen,” about her alleged flings with Usher and several other artists.

“Tameka is very insecure,” our source said. “Even in rehearsals she was weird and clearly not happy that Keri is so gorgeous. Tameka threw a lot of attitude. The day of the shoot, Tameka dressed Keri very badly – she looked like an extra. Tameka wouldn’t let Keri have her hairdresser there – she had to use the hairdresser who was doing the extras.”

Foster also took a dislike to Usher’s longtime choreographer, Jamaica, and banned her from the set. When Usher and Foster were spotted at the Beverly Hills Hotel last week, “They barely said one word to each other,” we’re told.

The two have had a choppy past. After they got engaged, Usher fired his mom, Jonetta Patton, as his manager and also axed his publicists. “Tameka was the one and only one to call the shots,” spies said.

They were supposed to wed last summer at L.A. Reid’s Hamptons estate – but the wedding was called off at the last minute. They wed a week later in Atlanta, and Foster gave birth to their son, Usher Raymond V, in November. Usher’s album, which may be called “Regret,” was supposed to have come out last year but was delayed due to his wedding and baby. It is now expected by June.

Usher’s manager, Benny Medina, said via e-mail: “Keri could not have been happier with Tameka’s choices in the styling, hair and makeup . . . Jamaica was flown out and arrived a day late to do Keri’s choreography, and was on-set at all times. The shoot itself went brilliantly.”

Miss NJ:  Should we start taking bets on the date they’ll announce their separation?

How Is This Good Marketing?

You can’t turn on MTV without hearing Puffy call you a bitch ass if you don’t buy his girl group Dannity Kane’s new album. So how come Diddy was too busy to show up for the chicks’ release party at Tenjune?

Miss NJ:  So, I’m a bitch ass for having taste?  Interesting approach to selling albums.

What Are They Fighting Over?

– from NY Post

The battle over Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s fortune continues. His family will head back to Brooklyn Surrogate Court on April 1, where the rapper’s mom, Cherry Jones, will challenge the role of her late son’s widow, Icelene Jones, as administrator of his estate. “Cherry claims Icelene is misusing the funds,” said a source. “It’s become mom vs. daughter-in-law and it’s up to the judge to decide.” Ol’ Dirty, formerly of the Wu-Tang Clan, died nearly four years ago.

Miss NJ:  Not for nothing, but doesn’t RZA have all the money from the Wu?  Meth, Ghost and the rest of the guys made money off their solo releases.  And Meth has TV and movie money, but I don’t recall ODB being a big moneymaker.  I would really love to know how much they are fighting over.  It’s probably no more than about $500K.

House Arrest Makes You Grateful For The Little Trips

– pics courtesy of SandraRose.com

Miss NJ:  I didn’t originally post the news that T.I. was going to church on Easter because if you didn’t know, you probably didn’t care.  This was the act of a desperate man.  Not that I don’t think he’s religious or any of that, but all he really wanted to do was get out of the house for a few hours.  And does Tiny look 6 months pregnant to you?  Either she’s camoflaguing really well or she’s smaller than she was last time.  We send good thoughts and happy dreams to Tiny and T.I. for this baby.

This Is What Happens When You Spend Other People’s Money On Yourself

– from NY Post

Jay-Z wants his own label, but can’t find a home for it. Jay-Z, who left his position as president of Def Jam to be an entrepreneur last year, is apparently asking “way too much,” an insider said. “He wants a label to give him $100 million for the Carter Music Group and provide for overhead, development and digital investment. It’s crazy. He wants the labels to basically be his venture capital fund – but unlike a venture cap, they won’t get 50 percent. This is not the ’90s anymore.” A rep for Jay-Z, who is branching out into hotels and bars, called this account “rumors.”

Miss NJ:  I believe this story based on stuff I’ve heard from people I know who know.  Recording studios are no longer personal piggy banks and the simple fact is Jay-Z has not proven himself a successful label head, in spite of the hype.  His only successes at Def Jam were Ne-yo and Rihanna and they are moderate successes considering all the overhead Rihanna costs them.  He did nothing with Chrisette Michelle’s album which was one of the best to drop this year.  He failed to promote what was one of LL’s best albums in years.  He recorded an album and took money from his own artists to spend on himself.  I won’t give diddley-squat either.

Is This Attractive?

Miss NJ:  To quote the woman herself, “What kind of f*ckery is this?”  People talk about Mariah’s love of Photoshop but can you imagine what had to wiped out of this pic?  I’m sure her tracks are visible even from here in black and white.