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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > June > 04
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Monica Reality Show To Debut In August
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A month ago we were following reports on Media TakeOut and the like, that local Grammy winner Monica was going to be on a “Real Housewives Atlanta.”
Well her manager got right back to us and denied that, but added that the R&B singer was working on a TV show.
Now we know what it is: Peachtree TV will debut “The Single: Monica” in August. And the show will be about all that it took for her to come back with a hit (hopefully) for her upcoming CD, “Lessons Learned”.
“The Single: Monica” will be executive-produced by its creator James DuBose, who did Keyshia Cole’s reality series for BET.
“I really think this is going to be fun,” said Monica, above in a new Derek Blanks shot. “My main thing I hope to accomplish with this is, well, you know, I didn’t do things in my life in the order people may have felt I should have. But ultimately, I’ve found my balance.
“We’ve found our balance,” she continues, referring to the father of her two sons, rapper/producer Rodney “Rocko” Hill. “As artists, as parents, and just as human beings. I hope this shows that.”
“It’s going to be a ride, I can tell you that. I’ll probably have a moment or two on there, but I’m more than comfortable with me. I’ve never really been secretive about my life and what I’ve gone through…So you know, people will see that I live the same type of life of many women with children. I don’t hire a car service when the kids need to go somewhere. There’s no nanny, no chef over here. I take care of home, and then might have to spend 14 hours in the studio. And people will see that.”
Actually people will see Monica way before August as she’s set to introduce “Big Momma’s House” at Peachtree TV’s Screen on the Green tomorrow at Centennial Olympic Park.
Planning to be there Thursday? Interested in seeing what life is like at home with Monica and Rocko? And what it takes for her to conjur such searing R&B?
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A Special Delivery For Sugarland Fans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta country duo Sugarland will release a deluxe fan edition of its third CD, “Love On The Inside,” July 22.
(That’s the cover above).
It will include 17 tracks — “All I Want To Do”; “It Happens”; “We Run”; “Joey”; “Love”; “Genevieve”; “Already Gone”; “Keep You”; “Take Me As I Am”; “What I’d Give”; “Steve Earle” and “Very Last Country Song”— including five bonus singles — “Fall Into Me”; “Operation: Working Vacation” (which they performed at their last Fox Theatre date); “Wishing”; and live versions of “Life In A Northern Town” and “Come On Get Higher” — with different packaging and download features than the regular CD. (That hits stores July 29, with 12 songs).
Looking forward to the next Sugarland record? Are added features like an expanded CD booklet and being able to download exclusive music video and behind-the-scenes footage of interest to you? And is offering a deluxe edition of the album a week before the regular one better than doing it months down the line - like many acts do - to revive sales?
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Atlanta’s Shakir Stewart The Next Jay-Z?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid has promoted Atlanta executive Shakir Stewart (above) to the position of executive vice president of Def Jam Recordings. And according to the press release just hitting desks, that will make him responsible for the day-to-day activities of the legendary hip-hop label, including signing and developing new talent, overseeing producers and “guiding the creative vision and brand recognition” of Def Jam. You know, what hip-hop giant Jay-Z’s job was, before he left. But Stewart won’t go so far as to say that. “I don’t really say ‘I’m replacing Jay-Z’. He’s a personal friend. He’s a legend. He’s an icon. But obviously there was a void at the label when he left, and I have accepted that role to lead the company into the future, with L.A. Reid.” Reid and Stewart’s relationship goes back to the late ’90s, when the Morehouse College graduate identified the talent in a pre-superstar Beyonce and signed her to Reid’s Atlanta-based publishing company, Hitco. Stewart was also an A&R consultant at the now-closed Atlanta imprint, LaFace Records, and Arista Records, to which he signed local Grammy winner Ciara. Since 2004 he had served as senior vice president of A&R for Def Jam, and vice president, during which time he signed Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy and Miami hip-hop star Rick Ross. “The bold young management style that Shakir has established at Def Jam is one of the major reasons behind the label’s success today,” Reid says in the announcement. “From his solid roots in music publishing, he has grown to master the world of hip-hop and urban music.” Stewart will continue to be based in New York and Atlanta because, “Atlanta is still on the forefront of music,” said the Oakland, Cal. native. “This is where I grew up professionally. This is where my friends are. This is home. How could I just abandon a place where there is so much incredible, creative talent?” Were you at Morehouse when Stewart and fellow entertainment powers Ryan Glover, Christopher Hicks and Noonie used to throw parties as Ivory Coast Entertainment? Ever tried to get a record deal from him? Agree with what he says about the Atlanta music scene, now?
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Usher’s “Here I Stand” Is No. 1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The official Nielsen SoundScan figures are in from Billboard magazine, and Atlanta superstar Usher’s latest CD, “Here I Stand,” sold 433,000 its first week in stores and will debut as the No. 1 album in the country next week.
Those numbers will also give “Here I Stand” the second-highest, first-week total this year; with Mariah Carey’s 463,000 still No. 1. But it’s still the highest debut by a male artist, of any genre, in 2008.
Were you among the hundreds of thousands who have already bought “Here I Stand”, and if so, how would you rate it? Catch him on Leno last night? Seen the video for his latest single, “Moving Mountains”? (If not, watch it HERE ).
And who do you think will have the biggest first-week haul of 2008? Insiders were projecting Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter III” (in stores next Tuesday) would do a million, before upset mixtape DJs started leaking it on their sites this week.
