Alicia Keys, Jay-Z won't do World Cup song

Mo 'York'? That's the word today from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' camp, who were supposed to collab again to record an anthem for the World Cup.
The duo, who garnered immediate success with "Empire State of Mind," and gained an immediate groupie by the named of Lil Mama, couldn't put lightning in a bottle a second time. According to Keys, the pair didn't feel comfortable enough with the sport, with Keys indicating her unfamiliarity would hurt the music. "If we did a record about soccer it would be obvious we didn't know much more about the sport than who David Beckham is,” said Keys, who dropped "Empire State of Mind 2" on her album "The Element of Freedom".
Of course, that hasn't stopped music executives in the past from cashing in or trends, and it obviously hasn't stopped fans from buying songs by artists who they don't understand (Yeah, Souljaboy, YOU tellem).
While it's questionable as to whether the two would be able to produce a track with the same passion and truthfulness that "Empire" had, it's no question that Lil Wayne, if he were free, would have not only jumped at the chance, but put a few rhymes together in, say, the time it takes red syrup to be poured into Styrofoam.
Don't worry, A. Keys, and Jay, "Empire" is aging just fine, thank you.


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Alicia Keys: Tough streets made me wise up

Alicia Keys says she was scared straight by "drugs, sex, alcohol and death" as a youngster, according to media reports.
The "Element of Freedom" artist says she has taken pains not to fall victim to the vices of the world because of how she was brought up.
"I always make sure I stay connected to the real world." Alicia told You.
Keys, who recently moved into a New York City loft with longtime collaborator Swizz Beats, said seeing the underbelly of NYC streetlife made her want to stay away from it.
"I think that when you see that in your life, you know what it does to you and have no desire to do it."
Keys, whose hit song "Empire State of Mind," sings of the hardscrabble streets of NYC, was born Alicia Augello Cook in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. It's a good thing she's learned how to scrap too, because when Mashonda (Swizz's ex-wife) ever catches her in the same time zone ... I think that piano will be out of key for a bit. #justsaying:)


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Bey, Alicia Keys go Carnival style

Your favorite superwomen, Beyonce and Alicia Keys, got into the Carnival spirit recently with a video shoot in Rio de Janeiro recently. Keys, fresh off a condo buy in New York, has to be glad she's not back in the States after a blizzard came through this past weekend. The Brazil shoot is for the duo's song "Put it in a Love Song," which will be released shortly under Bey's catalog. According to the Associated Press, the Brazil slum where the women were is the same ghetto that Michael Jackson performed his "They Don't Care About Us" video. (cue the crotch-grab and primal yell here).

Swizz Beats, Alicia Keys buy Lenny Kravitz' loft

It looks like ultra-hot producer Swizz Beats and songstress Alicia Keys are putting down roots together. The somewhat scandal-infused couple bought the former loft of rocker Lenny Kravitz. Kravitz bought and was trying to sell it for $19 milli as far back as 2002, according to media sources. Keys, who is fresh off the release of her new album, "The Element of Freedom," and Beats reportedly paid $400,000 less than the $14.9 million asking price. Swizz's ex, Mashonda, is gonna be so hot.
The place knows scandal as well, both Nicole Kidman and Denzel Washington have lived their (Does the ghost of Tom Cruise's career still haunt the place?).

Celebrity Style: Alicia Keys boots up

Alicia Keys does GIANT mag

Crucial Keys does Giant magazine this month as the New York singer does the promo jaunt for her new album, featuring 'Empire State of Mind II' and other jams. But really now, when is she gonna speak on Swizz Beats? And the Twitter-airing wifey of his who swears A.Keys is a homewrecker?
Check out Giant mag.

A. Keys sings 'Empire State of Mind II' w/ Stephen Colbert

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

If you're into WTFreak, then you'll absolutely lose it at the 1:43 mark. And let me just say, Colbert has rythym.

Lil Mama. Spotted. Again

Lady GaGa: The Best Right Now?

A woman by the name of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta has the music world in her palm right now. Yeah, I said it. Not Beyonce, not RiRi, but Miss Germanotta, better known as Lady GaGa.
Lady GaGa is the No. 1-selling female of digital music in 2009. She has brought together the electronica camps all across the globe, and most importantly, she puts on a show.
GaGa is a walking fashion billboard, with styles that could easily fit into a "Blade Runner" stage play.
I can hear the critics now, "Can she sing?" they say.
"Do you have to" these days? is my response.
She's got the crown, who's gonna take it?

Jay, Bey and -- Lil Mama, AGAIN?

Your favorite rapper Jay-Z and his wifey Bey were spotted recently in Brooklyn getting their eats on. The popped into a quaint BK eatery and - gasp - who was it posted on the wall, but none other than Ms. "Lip Stick B. Poppins" herself, Lil Mama. (Wouldn't that be hilarious?) Poor Lil Mama, she'll learn next time to stay in her seat. Or at least off the stage.

Can You Come Out of the House AnyKindaWay?

You may see from time to time people in the grocery store (more than likely the liquor store) with rollers in their hair.
Is that appropriate in this day and age?
Used to be a time when the roller look was a lot more frequent, but not much anymore. Zat cool?
Just say you were in a crazy hurry for something, would you rock them rollers in public?
(By the way, Alicia Keys can obviously rock them. LOL)

Alicia Keys Dresses Up as Michelle Obama

You know you're big when other celebrities dress up to be you. First Lady Michelle Obama has inspired yet another celebrity to play the part: Alicia Keys donned first lady attire, complete with two little girls, to pull off a nostalgic photoshoot of icons (which also features Paula Patton as Dorothy Holiday) for Glamour Magazine. Okay, Alicia, where's Barack?


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The State of Female R&B

Ashanti isn't even in the building.
Neither is Eve.
But those that do make it inside, and into the diva room, are there precariously.
Music sales are just that bad.
Used to be a time when a viable female singer could be counted on to debut with 800,000 units sold. Some of them were one-hit wonders (Tweet?), others were riding off their producers (Amerie?), but now even that has eroded.
The top female music seller this year?
Well, you could have thought that Beyonce would own that, but it was only a short-lived victory.
Britney Spear's "Circus" album moved 505,000 units in its debut two weeks ago. Spears is the only act in Nielsen SoundScan history to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more in sales.
"I am ... Sasha Fierce" sold a respectable 482,000 in its debut three weeks ago.
Respectable, but nowhere near the numbers these artists are used to.
To be far, Bey's album sales have trumped Rihanna's, but RiRi has a bright future with longer legs in the business.
Now that the tallies are in, Alicia Keys (who in 3 months sold almost 3 million copies of her "As I Am" LP last fall) is the new standard-bearer for female R&B.
Not only has she brought artistry and live instrumentation back to music, but she has somehow managed to keep her clothes on (Cue Ciara Vibe cover right ... here.)
Rihanna is the artist with the biggest upside: Her latest album "Good Girl Gone Bad" has sold 6.2 million copies worldwide and has gone 2x Platinum in the Usa, 4x Platinum in the UK and Canada, 5x Platinum in Russia, and 6x Platinum in Ireland; helped by the deluxe LP "Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded".
One can't forget about the British Beehive, Amy Winehouse. Troubles aside her "Fade to Black" album is an instant classic, all the more spectacular by her Jewish soulfulness and apparent lack of refinement. Although her off-the-stage problems may well get the best of her, she is No. 1 when it comes to world acclaim and buzz (even if ASCAP doesn't see it that way).
Ciara is the only one that seems to be ready to accept the digital trends in music, opting for the voice coder that has made T-Pain an overnight success. Still, her album is in trouble before it can even get off the ground.
Of course, the portrait in the room would be Ms. Lauren Hill, with her prototype solo album, "The Miseducation of Lauren Hill," the holy grail of hip-hop/soul debuts. Although she could'nt duplicate her success sales-wise, Hill's album has quietly remained a best-seller among soul enthusiasts. With sales past 17 million and respect far surpassing that, she is the goal of today's R&B singer. And to think "Miseducation ..." was released 10 years ago.
But good music has staying power.