Happy Mother's Day [Video]: Sizzla - 'Thank You Mama' & Tupac - 'Dear Mama' (Live Performance)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Maestro Fresh Wes Celebrates 25 Years of “Symphony In Effect”

The godfather of Canadian hip-hop #MaestroFreshWes and friends celebrated the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking career on Saturday September 21st at Massey Hall in Toronto as part of the 7th annual Manifesto Festival. The landmark concert included performance from his JUNO Award winning debut album "Symphony In Effect" as well tracks off his 2013 collaborative album "Orchestrated Noise". Maestro celebrated with special guests including Kardinal Offishall, K-OS, Classified, Divine Brown, and more...

Read more and watch performance from the celebration and a throwback video...

THROWBACK VIDEO: HBD Michael Jackson [The Jacksons - Destiny Tour 1979 Live Full Length]

It's been a minute since I've posted a throwback video, and it is a perfect time to get back on track, in celebration of the "King of Pop" #MichaelJackson, as it is his 55th birthday today. 

I came across this amazing video recently which to me really hones in the Michael's gifted talents that sky rocketed MJ into mega super stardom; and an important element never to be downsized which played a major role and influence in MJ's journey and the everlasting impact in music history is The Jackson 5.

This full length concert filmed live in 1979 during The Jackson's Destiny Tour in New Orleans is unfortunately not in the best visual quality - but through the grainy picture and squiggly lines bouncing around, you can still capture just over an hour of majestic talent - these guys are working it! Before lip-syncing aided artists for concert runs, artists had to earn theirs, and did these five brothers ever! 

This concert is best watched in it's entirety!

MOVIE TRAILER: VH1 - “Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story” + Throwback Video: TLC on the Oprah Winfrey Show (1992)

The all female singing group #TLC, ruled the music charts in the 1990's as they busting on the scene with their colorful RnB, New Jack Swing, Hip Hop flavor, as well as their personalities on their 1992 debut album 'Oooooooohhh...On the TLC Tip'. The album was a huge success, being certified quadruple-platinum in the first year of release, supported by the smash hits "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg", "What About Your Friends", and "Baby-Baby-Baby". TLC has sold more than 65 million records worldwide, and more than 23 million albums in the United States alone....making Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, the second best selling female group of all time, behind another colorful girl group of the 90's The Spice Girls.

VH1 has documented the musical journey and lives of the members of TLC in the up-coming film titled "Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story" directed by Charles Stones III who work includes films 'Drumline', 'Mr. 3000', and 'Paid In Full'. The biopic stars KeKe Palmer (as "Chilli"), Lil Mama (as "Left Eye"), and Drew Sidora (as T-Boz")

Read more inside, watch the trailer for the film "Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story", and watch a throwback video of TLC, Kris Kross, and Marky Mark on the Oprah Winfrey Show.....

Throwback Video: Snow - Informer [1993]

Winter came early September of 1992 when a Canadian reggae artist made it 'Snow' - with the release of his single 'Informer' from Snow's debut album '12 Inches of Snow'. The single was released just before Snow went in to serve a one year jail term involving assault charges; by the time the singer/ dancehall artist was set free, the song was a chart topper around the world in several countries. Spending 7 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, won a Juno award for Best Reggae Recording in 1994 (Canadian version of the Grammy's); and is listed at #87 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's.

Watch the throwback video Snow - Informer, and details on his upcoming performance March 9th.

Prince To Perform On The Jimmy Fallon Show this Friday + Throwback Prince Video - 'U Got The Look'

#Prince is scheduled to perform on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this Friday (March 1st), it is reported the pop icon will perform two songs - one that may be Prince's latest released track 'Screwdriver' which is available via his website. Also preparations are being made to honor the legendary artist with the Billboard Icon Award at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, May 19th and will be live on U.S. network ABC.

Watch the throwback video inside...

Throwback Vid: Ginuwine - 'Pony' (1996)

Since he is coming to town, it's only fitting we take a look back at the 1996 massive hit by one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Ginuwine. The platinum-selling singers career took flight when he began working with his main collaborators, hit-makers "Missy" Elloit and "Timbaland" Mosely through the 1990's.

The lead single "Pony" off Ginuwine's debut album 'Ginuwime....The Bachelor', is a edgy yet smooth, catchy song that was heard bumpin' in the jeeps, all over the air-waves and in the clubs in the latter months of 1996. Written by Ginuwine, Static Major and Timbaland who produced the start-stop rhythm pattern, and it can be credited as the jump-off to Timbo's successful producing career.

Throwback Vid: Ashford and Simpson - 'Reach Out And Touch' (Live Aid 1985)

Ashford and Simpson wrote many hit songs including Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" (1978) and Teddy Pendergrass's "Is It Still Good to You?" As performers, Ashford & Simpson's best-known duet is "Solid (As a Rock)" (1984), which was sampled by MC Lyte's on her debut album 'Lyte As A Rock' in 1988. Ashford and Simpson have been sampled by many other artists borrowing from the vast pool of music, this includes the sound for the late Amy Winehouse’s 'Tears Dry On Their Own', also rapper DMX, RnB singer Tyrese, producer 9th Wonder and 50 Cent have all used a part of the duo’s work in some capacity. Nick Ashford passed away this past August...Read more and watch video inside of Valerie and their daughters reflect on his life, which aired on Oprah's Next Chapter.

Throwback Vid: LL Cool J - 'I Need Love' (1987)

Ladies Love Cool James better known as #LLCoolJ was one of, if not the biggest rap/ hip hop stars of his era...He burst on the scene in 1985 with his smash hit debut album Radio which made everyone take notice of the young up-and-coming star; with a powerful delivery which was not heard in that particular form at the time. The album went platinum with 1,500,000 sales, which was a landmark for Hip Hop music.

LL's second album was released in 1987's Bigger and Deffer; and the album featured the singles 'I'm Bad', 'Go Cut Creator Go', and a song that 'popped' into my head last night 'I Need Love' (wonders what that means!?). I believe this track cemented LL Cool J's success, as it was the first rap/ hip hop 'love song' that was directed to the ladies (another landmark), and all the ladies were on board for the ride.

Throwback Vid: Musical Youth - 'Pass The Dutchie' (1982)

A blast from the past....after listening to the reggae hit 'Girlie Girlie' by Sophia George in relation to out post on Patrick Chung and the Top 10 NFL Players Reppin the Caribbean, this song came to mind...Best remembered for their successful 1982 Grammy-nominated single, "Pass the Dutchie"....

Throwback Vid: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - 'They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)'

#PeteRock & C.L. Smooth are a  hip-hop collabo out of Mount Vernon, New York; they released their debut EP in 1991, All Souled Out and followed with 1992's LP Mecca and the Soul Brother; which contained the smash hit 'They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)',.....the track was a tribute for fallen friends—namely Troy "Trouble T-Roy" Dixon, a member of Heavy D & The Boyz.

The duo is preparing to perform together later this month for the first time in more than 10 years, and maybe offering new music in the near future....

Throwback Vid: Neneh Cherry - 'Buffalo Stance' (1988)

 

In 1988 #NenehCherry released her debut album Raw Like Sushi and the single 'Buffalo Stance' peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Canadian Top Singles #3, Canadian Dance/Urban Singles #1, and UK Singles #3.

Neneh Cherry talks about Buffalo Stance on her website saying the song is about sexual survival. Read more inside....

Throwback: En Vogue - 'My Lovin' (1990)

RnB female super group EnVogue has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music Awards, and seven Grammy nominations.

According to Billboard Magazine they were the 18th most successful act of the 1990s, and one of the most popular and successful female groups of all time.

En Vogue was formed in  Oakland, California in 1989 by original members Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson and Terry Ellis.

Watch vids for 'Hold On'...'My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) - live performance...Alicia Keys Feat. SWV & En Vogue & TLC (BET Awards 2008 - Live)

Throwback Vid: Starpoint - 'Object Of My Desire' (1985)

Starpoint was an R&B band from Maryland, USA that began recording in the 1980s, releasing a string of R&B hit singles. Their 1985 single "Object of My Desire", released on the Elektra label, reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #7 on the U.S. Dance Sales Chart.

"Object of My Desire" off the Restless album peeked to the #7 position on the U.S. charts in 1985.

Read more and watch the video inside....

Throwback Vid: Glenn Lewis - 'Don't You Forget It' (2001)

Glenn Lewis was born in Toronto, Canada to a Trinidadian mother, and a Jamaican father. From the ages of 8 to 14, he also lived in Trinidad before moving back to Toronto. After moving back to the city, he attended high school at Eastern Commerce Collegiate, where he won a talent contest by covering Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You".

After grinding the nightclub scene in the T Dot and a lot of hard work, he released his first single, "The Thing to Do" in 1997 on Beat Factory/BMG Music Canada, which earned him a Juno Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul Recording.....

Throwback Vid: Infinite feat. Divine Brown - 'Gotta Get Mine' (1997)

Classic throwback from Toronto's Infinite, who was a part of the hip hop Juno Award (Canada's verison of the Grammys) winning group Ghetto Concept. This track was originally released in 1997 on Volume 2 of the acclaimed Rap Essentials series from Beat Factory and it was also featured on Infinite’s 360 Degrees EP.

Check it out inside...

Throwback Vid: Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - 'The Message' (1982)

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was an influential American hip hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. Composed of one DJ (Grandmaster Flash) and five rappers (Melle Mel, Kidd Creole, Cowboy, Mr. Ness/Scorpio, and Rahiem), the group's use of turntablism, break-beat deejaying,choreographed stage routines & lyricism was a significant force in the early development of hip-hop music.

Throwback Vid: Rufus/ Chaka Khan - 'Do You Love Want You Feel' (1979)

Before making several member changing the R&B group/band Rufus was formed and released their first album in 1973 entitled 'Rufus'. They also went throught adjustments in their band name due to a firey, rock, soul front woman by the name of Chaka Khan. The group achieved great success in the 1970's, one being their smash single 'Do You Love What You Feel' which went to #1 on the US R&B chart in 1979.  Turn it UP inside....!

Throwback Vid: Janet Jackson - 'Nasty Boy'

"Miss Janet" if your nasty released her third studio album in 1986 Control and was certified five times platinum, and has sold over fourteen million copies worldwide. Five of the album's singles—"What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Nasty", "When I Think of You", "Control", and "Let's Wait Awhile" peaked within the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Turn it UP! inside...

Throwback Vid: Tamia - 'Stranger In My House' (2001)

Canadian native Tamia was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario not far from the Detroit border, with her mother and three younger brothers. She grew up singing in the church and by age 12 had already been involved in several musicals, and after years of hard work landed her first single produced by Qunicy Jones 'You Put A Move On My Heart' which appeared on his Q's Jook Joint album....