Jay-Z throws huge Pre-Grammy brunch with Beyonce & Rihanna!
Feb 13th
Despite battling bronchitis and laryngitis, Rihanna still got fired up for Grammy weekend by joining her Roc Nation boss Jay-Z at the Gucci and Roc Nation pre-Grammy brunch held at Soho House in West Hollywood. Mrs. Carter also held court, while her sister Solange worked the ones and twos. The star-studded affair drew Will Smith, Cassie, Ne-Yo, The-Dream, Adrienne Bailon, Florence Welch, and more. Read the rest of this entry »
Ne-Yo is now a father to a beautiful baby girl…
Nov 15th
Ne-Yo is adding a new role to his already extensive résumé. The R&B crooner has become a father for the first time. His girlfriend, Soul Men actress Monyetta Shaw, gave birth Friday night to a baby girl.
The baby, originally due in the new year, was born in an Atlanta hospital. The “Beautiful Monster” singer, 31, was reportedly at a charity event for his foundation when he was informed that Shaw had gone into labor, but he made it to the hospital in time to witness the birth. A previously scheduled baby shower was to take place at the hospital Saturday.
“Much luv to my twit fam and everybody showin’ luv to my new addition!! She’s healthy and happy. Feels like I’m in luv for the first time,” tweeted the new father. “Welcoming that lil’ girl to the world last night defined for me what ‘willing to kill and die for’ truly means. My world, my life, all hers.”
Ne-Yo will perform at next Sunday’s American Music Awards before giving birth to his fourth album Libra Scale on November 22. “Brand new baby, brand new album. Life is GOOD!!!!”
I’m sure it is Ne-Yo from me congratulations! We are all so so so happy for you and blessing are with you forever and always! Read the rest of this entry »
Ne-Yo not stressed over album leak?
Oct 27th
A month before it hits U.S. stores on November 22, Ne-Yo’s fourth album Libra Scale has sprung a leak on the Internet. While promoting the project today in Japan, the singer-songwriter calmly accepted the premature release, but also had some words for those who leaked it.
“It has been brought to my attention that my album was hacked and leaked in the U.S. roughly a month before it’s U.S. release,” tweeted the R&B gentleman. “Initially this angered me. It’s stealing plain n’ simple. But then I started thinking. Why do I make music? To sell records, make money, or is it because I love it, love how it touches people, how it helps people? The honest answer is both.”
Despite his initial feelings, the 28-year-old chanteur has come to terms with the leak. “I’ve come to this place of mental peace. No longer stressing people that steal the music, how it’ll effect my sales,” he shared. “The bottom line is, I worked hard on this project. The music, the concept, the whole lot is for the people, respect or not.” He also expressed that he isn’t focused on record sales, as long as he’s happy with the material. “Ether way, the music, the concept, the whole lot, served it’s purpose. It gave the people something quality to vibe to. I’m not solely in the business of selling records. I’m in the business of making art. That’s what an artist does, period.” Read the rest of this entry »
Jay Z and Pharrell have a lot of catching up to do…
Oct 10th
Jay-Z spent on of his late nights catching up with Pharrell backstage at N.E.R.D.’s show with Gorillaz at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, wearing a blue sweatshirt depicting the artwork from his upcoming Decoded book. The image is one of Andy Warhol’s Rorschach inkblots.
Although he’s no longer signed to the label, Def Jam is planning to release Jay’s greatest hits package on November 23. The two-disc set, titled The Hits Collection Volume 1, will include five previously unreleased tracks and a 32-page mini-book bound in white linen with Hov’s diamond logo.
Jay-Z’s The Hits Collection Vol. 1 follows the release of last years The Blueprint Collection and The Blueprint 3. Jay-Z will also appear on West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. November 22nd marks a huge day for Def Jam as not only is Jay Z pushing out an album but also Kanye West and Ne-Yo also.
Jay-Z will be releasing The Hits Collection Vol. 1 while West will be releasing My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy; both albums will be released through Def Jam. Earlier this week West confirmed that he had in fact chosen to stick with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as his album title and he also revealed the name of the first single. Read the rest of this entry »
Ne-Yo’s album gets pushed back…yet again!
Aug 22nd
Ne-Yo will have to wait to tell his story. The R&B crooner’s storybook-themed album “Libra Scale” has been pushed back a couple weeks.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s fourth studio effort will now arrive at retailers on October 19, a day after his 31st birthday, The MoMo Show has learned. It was previously scheduled to drop two weeks earlier on October 5th 2010.
The sci-fi-influenced album was inspired by Ne-Yo’s passion for acting. “The songs on the album are all songs inspired by this story I wrote,” he told us, “Libra Scale is a question of morality. Weighed out on a libra scale, if you had to choose between money, power, fame, or love, which one would you put the most value on? Which one would prevail in your life?”
The father-to-be is riding on the current success of his dance single “Beautiful Monster,” which hit No. 1 in the U.K. His follow-up single, the inspirational “One Life,” surfaced last week. Ne-Yo is set to follow-up the chart-topping success of “Beautiful Monster“, with “One Life” later on next month
Though a competent enough effort, the song sounds like it’d be at home on Ne-Yo’s earlier albums. At this point, releasing a single with a little more ‘kick’ wouldn’t go amiss. Still, the Stargate produced cut is radio friendly enough (which seems to be the aim of the game with most of Shaffer’s releases), hence should be a hit. – Well…it better be! Read the rest of this entry »
Kelly Rowland recruits star studded team for October release
Jul 29th
With the buzz for Kelly Rowland’s new material at all-time high, the 29 year old has revealed that her 3rd studio album will now be hitting stores on October 26th. The record had previously been set to hit retailers on September 21st, however was postponed due to the Destiny’s Child singer hitting the studio with some of the industry’s biggest hitmakers.
Speaking of which, Rowland also confirmed that label-mate Akon will be producing on the as yet untitled album. The singer/songwriter /producer joins the all-star cast who have collaborated with Rowland on the record – inclusive being Tricky Stewart, Ne-Yo, David Guetta, Rico Love, Bangladesh, Jim Jonsin, Ester Dean, Dr Luke and Stargate.
Kelly Rowland recently said in an interview, “I remember hearing Janet Jackson saying once ‘With every album we grow, and we can’t be afraid of it. Because we never know everything, and we learn something new every day.” – it’s clear this child of destiny has really got her eyes on the goal, and with her huge single “Commander” still climbing charts it does looks like Kelly Rowland‘s album is going to shock a lot of people! The next single off the LP is scheduled to be “Grown Woman” – scroll over the check out the video to “Commander” and to pre-order the album now! The MoMo Show will be doing a “Commander” give-away Read the rest of this entry »
What is behind Ne-Yo’s new album?
Jul 29th
The MoMo Show was lucky enough to get a leak of the album form Island Def Jam. “Libra Scale” certainly boasts an intriguing and ambitious concept, which Ne-Yo should be commended for when considering the sameness’ of the music industry of today. What’s more, musically, he remains ever consistent (save for a few tracks).
However, the album’s story risks making the material come up short due to its lack of lyrical vividness or explicitness. By that, I mean – Ne-Yo informed us at the start of the playback that he was inspired by Michael Jackson’s out-of-the-box concepts to do something different. Yet unlike Jackson, he serves up little in the vein of ‘Annie are you ok?!’ or “the kid is not my son” – lyrics which forced listeners to create ‘imaginary worlds’ and replay the lyrics – as if they were there – in their heads. Rather, it feels as though he’s presenting a collection of (albeit good songs), which are largely about the same treaded-on subject matter (living the life, love etc), and tying them together with an interesting, yet somewhat confused story.
Maybe it’s just that we’re not used to seeing like acts such as Ne-Yo changing their musical direction? – We’ll have to wait and see for this one! Read the rest of this entry »
Ne-Yo “Beautiful Monster”
Jul 18th
“Beautiful Monster“‘s original cover art was revealed online on May 21, 2010, which was a close-up of Ne-Yo’s profile with a mysterious woman lurking in a forest in the background. Although another cover art was revealed with the forest background altered to a city including buildings and a flashing car light, the eventual cover was the original. The song was written by Ne-Yo and produced by longtime collaborators Stargate, responsible for producing some of his biggest hits such as “So Sick“, “Because of You“, and “Closer“. ”Beautiful Monster” was intentionally leaked online on May 25, 2010 and now is set for official release.
To be fair, I feel that Ne-Yo is trying too hard with this single. I mean the video is probably the worst he’s done and with no sense of direction. Which brings me to the next question, where is Ne-Yo‘s music going? Talking about creative progession Ne-Yo is artist that often does this well, but I mean – this single is trying to imitate those techno-pop hits of the late 2009. To be fair this track sounds more like a Racing Game background music than a Ne-Yo track! According to Island Def Jam officials, they are very happy with “Beautiful Monster” and that it’s now in heavy circulation both on TV and Radio. Read the rest of this entry »
Keri Hilson says “No, It’s money in the bank”
Jun 27th
Keri Hilson has talked about writing big hits for artists such as Britney Spears and Omarion and not keeping them for herself, but she doesn’t care as it made her a lot of money. She told us: “No, its money in the bank. That’s my means of living. There’s two sides of me, and neither takes preference. One is just a dream that I fought long and hard for. Songwriting was my Plan B. My whole life, I’ve fought to just do this. I didn’t know that I’d be able to take off as far, or as fast, as I did, but I knew I had a talent and that I should pursue it, because there’s money in it. When I wasn’t able to perform, and lost the record deal, I took the path of Plan B, and now I love them equally.
“I can’t have one without the other. Even at my biggest, I want to be writing for other artists. Even at my peak, the highest I can be as an artist, I always want to be keeping my creative juices flowing, keeping money in the bank, putting my intellectual property out there.” Even so, Keri Hilson hasn’t yet got a hit without the help of a duo or feature of the track! For example Ne-Yo/Kanye West and not forgetting Timbaland! I think what she was trying to say is, She don’t care if the next album flops, she making enough money through song writing, she don’t care! She got money in the bank! A little disappointed with Keri Hilson, I really thought tracks like “Energy” and “I like” could of done well, maybe it’s Keri Hilson‘s management not placing her right within her market? I’m sure the new album will have some hits, after all it’s Keri Hilson! Read the rest of this entry »
Ne-Yo expecting his first child
Jun 27th
“I do have my first child on the way, and I’m very, very, very excited about that,” the 30-year-old star told the magazine. “It’s a New Year’s baby and I’m just in a really good place right now.” – That’s right you herd it! Singer/songwriter Ne-Yo will be expecting his first child with Monyetta Shaw – well that put the “gay” rumours at bay…well for a little while that is.
The singer, who has written number one hits for Rihanna and Beyonce, said, “I am 30 and I do have my first child on the way and I’m very, very, very excited about that,” adding, “It’s a New Year’s baby.”.
In 2005 then-girlfriend Jessica White bore a son, Chimere (named after Ne-Yo, who was born Shaffer Chimere Smith). It later transpired that Ne-Yo was not the father. On learning the truth, he said at the time, “He’s known no other father but me since the day he was born, and though I did not make him, I am his father and he is my son.” - talk about “baby mama” drama!
Moving on, Besides promoting his new album Libra Scale, Ne-Yo is currently writing material for Leona Lewis‘ next album. He was also working on a track for Michael Jackson before the King of Pop’s untimely death a year ago. On the anniversary of Michael’s passing, Ne-Yo spoke of the moment he heard the news: “I remember crying like a family member had died and, like, literally asking myself, ‘Why am I crying like this?’…”. Read the rest of this entry »