1.
Album
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Album, is a collection of audio recordings issued as a single item on CD, record, audio tape, or another medium. Albums of recorded music were developed in the early 20th century, first as books of individual 78rpm records, vinyl LPs are still issued, though in the 21st century album sales have mostly focused on compact disc and MP3 formats. The audio cassette was a format used from the late 1970s through to the 1990s alongside vinyl, an album may be recorded in a recording studio, in a concert venue, at home, in the field, or a mix of places. Recording may take a few hours to years to complete, usually in several takes with different parts recorded separately. Recordings that are done in one take without overdubbing are termed live, the majority of studio recordings contain an abundance of editing, sound effects, voice adjustments, etc. With modern recording technology, musicians can be recorded in separate rooms or at times while listening to the other parts using headphones. Album covers and liner notes are used, and sometimes additional information is provided, such as analysis of the recording, historically, the term album was applied to a collection of various items housed in a book format. In musical usage the word was used for collections of pieces of printed music from the early nineteenth century. Later, collections of related 78rpm records were bundled in book-like albums, the LP record, or 33 1⁄3 rpm microgroove vinyl record, is a gramophone record format introduced by Columbia Records in 1948. It was adopted by the industry as a standard format for the album. Apart from relatively minor refinements and the important later addition of stereophonic sound capability, the term album had been carried forward from the early nineteenth century when it had been used for collections of short pieces of music. Later, collections of related 78rpm records were bundled in book-like albums, as part of a trend of shifting sales in the music industry, some commenters have declared that the early 21st century experienced the death of the album. Sometimes shorter albums are referred to as mini-albums or EPs, Albums such as Tubular Bells, Amarok, Hergest Ridge by Mike Oldfield, and Yess Close to the Edge, include fewer than four tracks. There are no rules against artists such as Pinhead Gunpowder referring to their own releases under thirty minutes as albums. These are known as box sets, material is stored on an album in sections termed tracks, normally 11 or 12 tracks. A music track is a song or instrumental recording. The term is associated with popular music where separate tracks are known as album tracks. When vinyl records were the medium for audio recordings a track could be identified visually from the grooves
2.
Christmas
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In several countries, celebrating Christmas Eve on December 24 has the main focus rather than December 25, with gift-giving and sharing a traditional meal with the family. Although the month and date of Jesus birth are unknown, by the fourth century the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25. Today, most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar and this is not a disagreement over the date of Christmas as such, but rather a preference of which calendar should be used to determine the day that is December 25. Although it is not known why December 25 became a date of celebration, December 25 was the date the Romans marked as the winter solstice, the shortest, and therefore darkest day of the year. Jesus was identified with the Sun based on an Old Testament verse, the date is exactly nine months following Annunciation, when the conception of Jesus is celebrated. Finally, the Romans had a series of pagan festivals near the end of the year, so Christmas may have been scheduled at this time to appropriate, or compete with, one or more of these festivals. The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, the economic impact of Christmas has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world. Christmas is a form of Christs mass. It is derived from the Middle English Cristemasse, which is from Old English Crīstesmæsse, crīst is from Greek Khrīstos, a translation of Hebrew Māšîaḥ, Messiah, meaning anointed, and mæsse is from Latin missa, the celebration of the Eucharist. The form Christenmas was also used, but is now considered archaic and dialectal, it derives from Middle English Cristenmasse. In addition to Christmas, the holiday has been known by other names throughout its history. The Anglo-Saxons referred to the feast as midwinter, or, more rarely, Nativity, meaning birth, is from Latin nātīvitās. In Old English, Gēola referred to the corresponding to December and January. Noel entered English in the late 14th century and is from the Old French noël or naël, itself ultimately from the Latin nātālis, the canonical gospels of Luke and Matthew both describe Jesus as being born in Bethlehem in Judea, to a virgin mother. In the Gospel of Luke account, Joseph and Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census and it says that angels proclaimed him a savior for all people, and shepherds came to adore him. In the Matthew account, magi follow a star to Bethlehem to bring gifts to Jesus, King Herod orders the massacre of all the boys less than two years old in Bethlehem, but the family flees to Egypt and later settles in Nazareth. The Nativity stories of Matthew and Luke are prominent in the gospels, the first recorded Christmas celebration was in Rome in 336. Christmas played a role in the Arian controversy of the fourth century, the feast regained prominence after 800, when Charlemagne was crowned emperor on Christmas Day
3.
Ashanti (singer)
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Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas, known simply as Ashanti, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer and actress. Ashanti is known for her eponymous album, which featured the hit song Foolish. In 2003, the debut album won Ashanti her first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B album. Her second release achieved a certification and other top 10 singles. Later that year, she was acclaimed as the Princess Of Hip-Hop & R&B by her label and capped off her debut by winning eight Billboard awards. Ashanti cites Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Tupac Shakur, Mary J. Blige, Ella Fitzgerald, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, since 2013, she is currently working on her own publishing company titled Written Entertainment. Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas was born on October 13,1980, in Glen Cove and her mother, Tina Douglas, is a former dance teacher, and her father, Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, is a former singer. Her mother named her after the Ashanti Empire in Ghana, in this nation, women have power and influence and her grandfather, James, was a civil rights activist who associated with Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s. Growing up, Ashanti took dance lessons and joined the church choir, Ashanti went to Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, where she studied different dance styles, including tap, jazz, ballet, African, modern, and hip hop. She danced with the Senior Pro Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Avery Fisher Hall, and she also performed at the 1994 Caribbean Awards and dancing with Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Ashanti also performed in the 1989 Disney television film Polly alongside stars Keshia Knight Pulliam, Jomecia Moore, by the time Ashanti hit puberty, her mother was sending out demo tapes of her singing and dancing. The family could not afford to go to a studio and record a demo, so when labels called. While attending high school, she began to write songs, as a teenager, she performed in a local talent show and at the Soul Cafe, China Club, Madison Square Garden, Carolines Comedy Club, and Greek Fest 2000. In her first major singing performance, Ashanti performed Yolanda Adamss More Than a Melody and she also appeared in a number of big-name music videos, in addition to other dance work. Ashanti got her first taste of acting as an extra in Spike Lees Malcolm X. She was also one of the students in the 3-2-1 Contact Extra, What Kids Want To Know About Sex and she also had a couple of minor appearances in music videos, such as KRS-Ones MCs Act Like They Dont Know as well as 8-Offs Ghetto Girl. When Ashanti was 16, she was discovered by P. Diddys Bad Boy Records, initially, she went to Bad Boy Records and sang one of Mary J. Bliges songs in front of P. Diddy and Biggie Smalls. After being impressed by her ability, Diddy had her sign to a development deal
4.
Christmas music
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Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season. Music was a feature of the Christmas season and its celebrations. The earliest examples are hymnographic works intended for use in observance of both the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany, many of which are still in use by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The 13th century saw the rise of the written in the vernacular. In the Middle Ages, the English combined circle dances with singing, later, the word carol came to mean a song in which a religious topic is treated in a style that is familiar or festive. From Italy, it passed to France and Germany, and later to England, Music in itself soon became one of the greatest tributes to Christmas, and Christmas music includes some of the noblest compositions of the great musicians. During the Commonwealth of England government under Cromwell, the Rump Parliament prohibited the practice of singing Christmas carols as Pagan, like other customs associated with popular Catholic Christianity, it earned the disapproval of Protestant Puritans. Famously, Cromwells interregnum prohibited all celebrations of the Christmas holiday and this attempt to ban the public celebration of Christmas can also be seen in the early history of Father Christmas. The Westminster Assembly of Divines established Sunday as the holy day in the calendar in 1644. The new liturgy produced for the English church recognised this in 1645 and its celebration was declared an offence by Parliament in 1647. There is some debate as to the effectiveness of this ban, Puritans generally disapproved of the celebration of Christmas—a trend which continually resurfaced in Europe and the USA through the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. William Sandyss Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, contained the first appearance in print of many now-classic English carols, singing carols in church was instituted on Christmas Eve 1880 in Truro Cathedral, Cornwall, England, which is now seen in churches all over the world. Christmas festivities, including music, are celebrated in a more secular fashion by such institutions as the Santa Claus Village, in Rovaniemi. The tradition of singing Christmas carols in return for alms or charity began in England in the century after the Restoration. Also from the century, there was the English custom, predominantly involving women, of taking a wassail bowl to their neighbours to solicit gifts. The status of Christmas as an important feast within the year also means there is a long tradition of music specially composed for celebrating the season. S. This is in due to the efforts of amateur choral societies during the nineteenth century. When it was composed, it was performed during Passiontide, jakub Jan Ryba, Czech Christmas Mass Hey, Master
5.
Pop music
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Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid 1950s. The terms popular music and pop music are used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular. Pop and rock were synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they were used in opposition from each other. Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music. Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other such as urban, dance, rock, Latin. Identifying factors include generally short to medium-length songs written in a format, as well as the common use of repeated choruses, melodic tunes. David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop music as a body of music which is distinguishable from popular, jazz, according to Pete Seeger, pop music is professional music which draws upon both folk music and fine arts music. Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music, the music charts contain songs from a variety of sources, including classical, jazz, rock, and novelty songs. Pop music, as a genre, is seen as existing and developing separately, pop music continuously evolves along with the terms definition. The term pop song was first recorded as being used in 1926, Hatch and Millward indicate that many events in the history of recording in the 1920s can be seen as the birth of the modern pop music industry, including in country, blues and hillbilly music. The Oxford Dictionary of Music states that while pops earlier meaning meant concerts appealing to a wide audience. Since the late 1950s, however, pop has had the meaning of non-classical mus, usually in the form of songs, performed by such artists as the Beatles. Grove Music Online also states that, in the early 1960s pop music competed terminologically with beat music, while in the USA its coverage overlapped with that of rock and roll. From about 1967, the term was used in opposition to the term rock music. Whereas rock aspired to authenticity and an expansion of the possibilities of music, pop was more commercial, ephemeral. It is not driven by any significant ambition except profit and commercial reward, and, in musical terms, it is essentially conservative. It is, provided from on high rather than being made from below, pop is not a do-it-yourself music but is professionally produced and packaged. The beat and the melodies tend to be simple, with limited harmonic accompaniment, the lyrics of modern pop songs typically focus on simple themes – often love and romantic relationships – although there are notable exceptions
6.
Contemporary R&B
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Contemporary R&B, also known as simply R&B, is a music genre that combines elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, hip hop and dance. The genre features a record production style, drum machine-backed rhythms, an occasional saxophone-laced beat to give a jazz feel. Electronic influences are becoming a trend and the use of hip hop or dance-inspired beats are typical, although the roughness. Contemporary R&B vocalists are often known for their use of melisma, popularized by such as Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Craig David, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston. That same year, Teddy Riley began producing R&B recordings that included hip hop influences and this combination of R&B style and hip hop rhythms was termed new jack swing and was applied to artists such as Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Al B. Guy, Jodeci and Bell Biv DeVoe, the style became less popular by the end of the 1990s, but later experienced a resurgence. In 1990 Mariah Carey released Vision of Love as her debut single and it was immensely popular peaking at number 1 in many worldwide charts including the Billboard Hot 100, and it propelled Mariahs carrier. The song is said to have popularized the use of melisma. During the mid-1990s, Whitney Houstons The Bodyguard, Original Soundtrack Album sold over 40 million copies becoming the best-selling soundtrack of all time. Janet Jacksons self-titled fifth studio album janet. which came after her historic multimillion-dollar contract with Virgin Records, sold over twenty million copies worldwide. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey recorded several Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits, including One Sweet Day, Carey also released a remix of her 1995 single Fantasy, with Ol Dirty Bastard as a feature, a collaboration format that was unheard of at this point. Carey, Boyz II Men and TLC released albums in 1994 and 1995—Daydream, II and CrazySexyCool. In the late 1990s, neo soul, which added 1970s soul influences to the hip hop soul blend, arose, led by such as DAngelo, Erykah Badu. Hill and Missy Elliott further blurred the line between R&B and hip hop by recording both styles, beginning in 1995, the Grammy Awards enacted the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, with II by Boyz II Men becoming the first recipient. The award was received by TLC for CrazySexyCool in 1996, Tony Rich for Words in 1997, Erykah Badu for Baduizm in 1998. At the end of 1999, Billboard magazine ranked Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson as the first, simultaneously, in the second half of the 1990s, The Neptunes and Timbaland set influential precedence on contemporary R&B and hip hop music. R&B acts such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher, in 2001, Alicia Keys released Fallin as her debut single. It peaking at one on the Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Top 40
7.
Murder Inc Records
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Records is an American record label. After helping Def Jam Recordings with the success of DMX & Ja Rule, while watching Biography on A&E during gangster week a Murder Inc. logo appeared on the screen which gave Irv Gotti an idea what to call his label. He got the inspiration because Murder Inc. put out hits, in 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single Holla Holla and soon went platinum, in 2000, the label began to associate themselves with Lil Mo, who would record two popular duets with Ja Rule, Put It on Me and I Cry. That same year, Irv Gotti released the first Murder Inc. compilation, Irv Gotti Presents and they would sign Charli Baltimore and Ashanti during that year. Also in 2001, their friendship with Lil Mo would grow sour because her tracks that were set to be released on Jas third album were cut and replaced with duets with Ashanti and this would cause a minor feud with Lil Mo as she cut ties with the label. The label would soar to new heights from mid 2001 to early 2003, during that years award shows, Ashanti and Ja Rule both performed numerous times and won big, along with fellow Inc. artists like Baltimore. Baltimore scored two hits that year with both Ashanti and Ja Rule, during this time, Murder Inc. started associating with Nas as he started hinting to signing with the label and then collaborated with the Inc. s top two artists on several records. Murder Inc. would even sign Bobby Brown to the label, all of this success would soon come to an end despite Ja Rules next album still going platinum. It sold well but did not live up to its expectations, the label left Universal Motown searching for a major distribution deal. It is believed much of the money involved in starting up the Murder Inc. label came from Irv Gotti and his associates involvement in organized crime. He had ties to incarcerated Queens drug kingpin Kenneth Supreme McGriff, in late 2002,50 Cent released his official debut single Wanksta and his debut album in 2003 Get Rich or Die Tryin, which were both huge successes. 50 Cents past with Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, and Murder Inc. had been less than pleasant and once he became big in the industry, he again took aim at his long time rival. G-Unit would then not just Ja Rule, Irv and the male rappers of Murder Inc. but also the female artists of the label, including Ashanti. Due to 50 Cents rising popularity at the time, much of the public seemingly took his side of the feud while Ja Rules popularity would start to wane and his next album, took aim at 50 Cent and G-Unit but was a commercial disappointment. Ashanti however, continued her reign as her sophomore album topped the charts and she received three Grammy nominations in late 2003 for the album. Baltimore, however, struggled to release her album, The Diary before it was eventually shelved. She was still featured on the Rain On Me remix with Ashanti, on November 14,2003, Irv Gotti held a press conference about the recent changes at Murder Inc. the feuds, the scandal, the investigation from the IRS, and Ja Rules troubles
8.
Def Jam Records
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Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused predominantly on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group. In the UK, the takes on the name Def Jam UK and is operated through Virgin EMI, while in Japan. The label distributes various record labels, including Kanye Wests GOOD Music, Ludacris Disturbing Tha Peace, Def Jam was founded by Rick Rubin in his dormitory in Weinstein Hall at New York University and its first release was a single by his punk-rock group Hose. Russell Simmons joined Rubin shortly after they were introduced to other, according to one story. Another cites DJ Jazzy Jay as their connector, Rubin has said he met Simmons on the TV show, Graffiti Rock and recognized him then as the face of hip hop, He was five years older than me, and he was already established in the music business. And I had no experience whatsoever, the first single released with the Def Jam Recordings logo was T La Rock & Jazzy Jays Its Yours. The first releases with Def Jam Recordings catalog numbers were LL Cool Js I Need a Beat, the singles sold well, eventually leading to a distribution deal with CBS Records through Columbia Records the following year. A few years later, Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen started a label called Rush Associated Labels to handle Def Jam. RAL became the home to Nice & Smooth and EPMD after both acts were acquired due to the folding of their former label Sleeping Bag Records, other acts under the RAL umbrella included Redman, Onyx, Flatlinerz, Domino, Warren G and Jayo Felony. As the decade drew to a close, the label signed Public Enemy, Lyor Cohen became president of Def Jam/RAL in 1988, after winning a power struggle with Rubin, who would shortly thereafter leave the company to form Def American Recordings. Rubin would take Slayer with him to Def American in its initial stages, by 1992, despite recent multi-platinum selling releases from Public Enemy, and EPMD, Def Jam ran into severe financial troubles and was faced with folding. However, in 1994, PolyGram purchased Sonys 50% stake in Def Jam Recordings — subsequently bringing the label into its fold, following PolyGrams purchase, Def Jam distributed the Violator Records-signed artist Warren Gs Regulate. G Funk Era album, which went triple platinum and brought much-needed revenue to Def Jam through its distribution deal with Violator, PolyGram acquired an additional 10% in Def Jam Recordings in 1996, further strengthening its ownership of Def Jam. Shortly thereafter, Rush Associated Labels was renamed Def Jam Music Group, the label remained profitable as its veteran star LL Cool J released his successful album Mr. Smith in 1995. The label later signed Foxy Brown, whose debut album Ill Na Na became a seller in 1997. In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagram and merged with the MCA family of labels and it then purchased the remaining interest of Def Jam Recordings from Russell Simmons for a reported $100 million. UMG merged 14+ record labels including, Def Jam, Island Records, despite the formation of IDJMG, the Def Jam, Mercury, and Island labels continued to operate as separate imprints underneath the bigger umbrella. Lyor Cohen was appointed co-president of IDJMG, and Kevin Liles succeeded him as president of Def Jam, Def Soul also issued recordings by Musiq, Montell Jordan, Case,112, Patti LaBelle, and Christina Milian
9.
Record producer
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A record producer or music producer oversees and manages the sound recording and production of a band or performers music, which may range from recording one song to recording a lengthy concept album. A producer has many roles during the recording process, the roles of a producer vary. The producer may perform these roles himself, or help select the engineer, the producer may also pay session musicians and engineers and ensure that the entire project is completed within the record companies budget. A record producer or music producer has a broad role in overseeing and managing the recording. Producers also often take on an entrepreneurial role, with responsibility for the budget, schedules, contracts. In the 2010s, the industry has two kinds of producers with different roles, executive producer and music producer. Executive producers oversee project finances while music producers oversee the process of recording songs or albums. In most cases the producer is also a competent arranger, composer. The producer will also liaise with the engineer who concentrates on the technical aspects of recording. Noted producer Phil Ek described his role as the person who creatively guides or directs the process of making a record, indeed, in Bollywood music, the designation actually is music director. The music producers job is to create, shape, and mold a piece of music, at the beginning of record industry, producer role was technically limited to record, in one shot, artists performing live. The role of producers changed progressively over the 1950s and 1960s due to technological developments, the development of multitrack recording caused a major change in the recording process. Before multitracking, all the elements of a song had to be performed simultaneously, all of these singers and musicians had to be assembled in a large studio and the performance had to be recorded. As well, for a song that used 20 instruments, it was no longer necessary to get all the players in the studio at the same time. Examples include the rock sound effects of the 1960s, e. g. playing back the sound of recorded instruments backwards or clanging the tape to produce unique sound effects. These new instruments were electric or electronic, and thus they used instrument amplifiers, new technologies like multitracking changed the goal of recording, A producer could blend together multiple takes and edit together different sections to create the desired sound. For example, in jazz fusion Bandleader-composer Miles Davis album Bitches Brew, producers like Phil Spector and George Martin were soon creating recordings that were, in practical terms, almost impossible to realise in live performance. Producers became creative figures in the studio, other examples of such engineers includes Joe Meek, Teo Macero, Brian Wilson, and Biddu
10.
Irv Gotti
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Irving Domingo Lorenzo, Jr. better known as Irv Gotti, is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and is the founder of The Inc record label. Gotti was born in Queens, New York, and is of African American and Dominican descent and he is the youngest of eight siblings and the father of three children. A producer and music executive, he founded The Inc. with his brother Chris, the Inc. was originally Murder, Inc. but after legal troubles in 2003, the company was renamed in 2005. He has produced songs for artists as Jay-Z, Ja Rule. He produced Jay-Zs Can I Get A. Ja Rules Holla Holla, Gotti co-produced Vanessa Carltons third album, Heroes and Thieves, which was released October 9,2007, with Channel 7, Rick Rubin and Stephan Jenkins. In an interview with Angie Martinez in early May 2009, Gotti stated that his label and he has an estimated net worth of $15 million. In 2004, The Inc came under investigation for allegedly laundering money through the label for New York City drug kingpin Kenneth Supreme McGriff, on January 25,2005, Lorenzo and his brother Chris turned themselves in, alleging their innocence. They were released on $1 million bail, and would not be tried alongside McGriff for the charges against them, according to Haran, convicted drug dealer Kenneth Supreme McGriff, had shopping bags and shoe boxes full of cash delivered to the labels Manhattan office in 2000. The company then cut McGriff $280,000 in checks, authorities alleged that McGriff was permitted to funnel more than $1 million in drug money through Murder Inc. in return for serving as the labels protector and enforcer. Prosecutors additionally claim that the Lorenzos knew about a plot against platinum-selling rapper 50 Cent. On December 2,2005, Irving Lorenzo and his brother Christopher were acquitted of all money laundering charges, the brothers could have faced up to 20 years in prison. The defense countered all along that the brothers were victims of guilt by association with Kenneth Supreme McGriff, Gotti co-produced Vanessa Carltons third album, Heroes and Thieves, with Channel 7, Rick Rubin and Stephan Jenkins, which was released October 9,2007. Nicki Minaj’s hit “Moment For Life” was recently used in her Pepsi commercial as part of her ‘Live For Now’ campaign. During a behind-the-scenes interview with TheInsider. com on the set for the ad spot, Nicki revealed that producer and former Murder Inc. label head, Irv Gotti,1994 Shits Real 1996 Can I Live 1998 Can I Get A. Hot Spot 1999 Whats My Name Holla Holla 2000 Come Back in One Piece Between Me and You 2001 Whats Luv
11.
Chapter II (Ashanti album)
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Chapter II is the second studio album by American R&B singer Ashanti, released by Murder Inc. and Island Def Jam on July 1,2003 in the United States. The album involves production by Irv Gotti and Chink Santana and features a guest appearance by Ja Rule, chapter II spawned three singles including the Billboard Hot 100 number two song Rock Wit U, the R&B-ballad Rain on Me and the Irv Gotti-produced Breakup 2 Makeup. The album debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in July 2003 with first-week sales of 326,000 units, the album was certified Platinum on August 14,2003. It earned Ashanti three Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song, chapter II received mixed reviews from music critics. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA on August 14,2003, chapter II has sold 1.5 million copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The album was the 54th best-selling album of 2003, as of 2007, the album has sold 3 million copies globally. The first single from the album Rock Wit U peaked at two on Billboard Hot 100 and number four on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single became a commercial success stateside and Ashantis third top ten hit, the second single Rain on Me, peaked at number seven on Billboard Hot 100 and number two on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single became Ashantis fourth top ten hit and another success stateside and it was a moderate success internationally, reaching the twenty in United Kingdom and the top forty in Canada. Rain on Me contains a sample of Look Of Love by Isaac Hayes, then Ya Gone contains a sample of Aint I Been Good to You by The Isley Brothers. Then Ya Gone also contains a sample of One Day by UGK, feel So Good contains a sample of Playing Your Game, Baby by Barry White. The Story of 2 contains a sample of Dream Maker by Rick James, sweet Baby contains a sample of Im Glad Youre Mine by Al Green. U Say I Say contains a sample of Never Enough by Groove Theory, I Found Lovin is a cover of I Found Lovin by Fatback Band
12.
Concrete Rose
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Concrete Rose is the third studio album by American R&B singer Ashanti, released by Murder Inc. and Def Jam on December 14,2004 in the United States. The album involves production by Irv Gotti, Chink Santana, and 7 Aurelius, Concrete Rose spawned two singles, the 7 Aurelius-produced Only U and Dont Let Them. The album debut at seven on the Billboard 200 chart in December 2004 with first-week sales of 254,000 units. Concrete Rose was certified Platinum by the RIAA on January 14,2005, Concrete Rose received mixed reviews from music critics. Concrete Rose debuted at seven on the Billboard 200 album chart in December 2004. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA on January 14,2005, as of December 2005, Concrete Rose has sold over 1 million copies in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Outside the United States the album debuted or peaked at #25 in the United Kingdom, #98 in France, #35 in Germany and #66 in Switzerland. Turn It Up featuring Ja Rule was originally intended to be the first single but was used as a Buzz single, the first single from the album Only U reached number thirteen on Billboard Hot 100 and number ten Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single became Ashantis 13th Top 40 hit Stateside, although the album was successful and certified platinum by January 2005, it was all over shadowed by issues with The Inc and Def Jam. Label issues delayed the release of a second single, when it came down to either, Dont Let Them or Dont Leave Me Alone, Ashanti chose her personal favorite and came out of pocket to deliver a music video. The single was released in the US, where it failed to chart. Dont Let Them was never promoted by the label and was the single off Concrete Rose. Vaughn – A&R Andy West – art direction Concrete Rose at Metacritic
13.
AllMusic
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AllMusic is an online music guide service website. It was launched in 1991 by All Media Guide which later became All Media Network, AllMusic was launched in 1991 by Michael Erlewine of All Media Guide. The aim was to discographic information on every artist whos made a record since Enrico Caruso gave the industry its first big boost and its first reference book was published the following year. When first released onto the Internet, AMG predated the World Wide Web and was first available as a Gopher site, the AMG consumer web properties AllMusic. com, AllMovie. com and AllGame. com were sold by Rovi in July 2013 to All Media Network, LLC. All Media Network, LLC. was formed by the founders of SideReel. com. The following are contributors to AllMusic, as of this date, All Media Network also produced the AllMusic guide series that includes the AllMusic Guide to Rock, the All Music Guide to Jazz and the All Music Guide to the Blues. Vladimir Bogdanov is the president of the series, in August 2007, PC Magazine included AllMusic in its Top 100 Classic Websites list. All Media Network AllGame AllMovie SideReel All Music Guide to the Blues All Music Guide to Jazz Stephen Thomas Erlewine Official website
14.
Rolling Stone
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Rolling Stone is an American biweekly magazine that focuses on popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner, who is still the publisher. It was first known for its coverage and for political reporting by Hunter S. Thompson. In the 1990s, the magazine shifted focus to a readership interested in youth-oriented television shows, film actors. In recent years, it has resumed its traditional mix of content, Rolling Stone magazine was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and Ralph Gleason. To get it off the ground, Wenner borrowed $7,500 from his own family and from the parents of his soon-to-be wife, Jane Schindelheim. The first issue carried a date of November 9,1967. Some authors have attributed the name solely to Dylans hit single, At Gleasons suggestion, Rolling Stone initially identified with and reported the hippie counterculture of the era. In the very first edition, Wenner wrote that Rolling Stone is not just about the music, in the 1970s, Rolling Stone began to make a mark with its political coverage, with the likes of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson writing for the magazines political section. Thompson first published his most famous work Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas within the pages of Rolling Stone, where he remained a contributing editor until his death in 2005. In the 1970s, the magazine also helped launch the careers of prominent authors, including Cameron Crowe, Lester Bangs, Joe Klein, Joe Eszterhas, Patti Smith. It was at point that the magazine ran some of its most famous stories. One interviewer, speaking for a number of his peers, said that he bought his first copy of the magazine upon initial arrival on his college campus. In 1977, the magazine moved its headquarters from San Francisco to New York City, editor Jann Wenner said San Francisco had become a cultural backwater. During the 1980s, the magazine began to shift towards being an entertainment magazine. Music was still a dominant topic, but there was increasing coverage of celebrities in television, films, the magazine also initiated its annual Hot Issue during this time. Rolling Stone was initially known for its coverage and for Thompsons political reporting. In the 1990s, the changed its format to appeal to a younger readership interested in youth-oriented television shows, film actors
15.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
16.
The Christmas Song
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The Christmas Song is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé. According to Tormé, the song was written during a hot summer. In an effort to cool by thinking cool, the most-performed Christmas song was born. I saw a spiral pad on his piano with four written in pencil. Bob didnt think he was writing a song lyric and he said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written, I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics. The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the early in 1946. First recording, Recorded at WMCA Radio Studios, New York City, label credit, The King Cole Trio. Not issued until 1989, when it was included on the various-artists compilation Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits Rhino R170637 / R270637, second recording, Recorded at WMCA Radio Studios, New York City, August 19,1946. Label credit, The King Cole Trio with String Choir, issued November 1946 as Capitol 311. Third recording, Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, August 24,1953 and this was the songs first magnetic tape recording. Label credit, The King Cole Trio with String Choir, issued November 1953 as the new Capitol 90036 / F90036. Correct label credit issued on October 18,1954 as Capitol 2955 / F2955, label credit, Nat King Cole with Orchestra Conducted by Nelson Riddle. This recording is available on the 1990 Cole compilation CD Cole, Christmas, & Kids and it was also included, along with both 1946 recordings, on the 1991 Mosaic Records box set The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio. This version is played on the radio during the Christmas season and is nearly identical to the popular 1961 recording. It is easy to tell apart from the 1961 version in that the final notes sounds faster, fourth recording, Recorded at Capitol Studios, New York City, March 30,1961. This rendition, the first recorded in stereo, is played on radio stations during the Christmas season. The instrumental arrangement is identical to the 1953 version, but the vocals are much deeper
17.
BET
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Black Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is owned by the BET Networks division of Viacom. It is the most prominent television network targeting African American audiences, the channel has offices in Washington, D. C. New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, programming on the network consists of original and acquired television series and theatrically and direct-to-video-released films. After stepping down as a lobbyist for the industry, Freeport. Johnson would soon acquire a loan for $15,000 and a $500,000 investment from media executive John Malone to start the network, the network, which was named Black Entertainment Television, launched on January 25,1980. Initially broadcasting for two hours a week as a block of programming on Nickelodeon, the lineup consisted of music videos. BET launched a program, BET News, in 1988. In 1996, the talk show BET Tonight debuted with Tavis Smiley as host, in 2001, in 1991, the network became the first black-controlled TV company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2001, the network lost its status as a business when it was bought by media conglomerate Viacom for $3 billion. In 2005, Johnson retired from the network, turning over his titles of president, by 2007, the network had launched two more music-oriented networks, BET Hip-Hop and BET Gospel. BETs president of entertainment Reginald Hudlin resigned from the network on September 11,2008 and he was then replaced by Stephen Hill, who is also executive vice president of music programming and talent. BET announced in March 2010 that Ed Gordon would return to the network to host a variety of news programs, original programming currently seen on BET include Real Husbands of Hollywood, and Being Mary Jane. By the early 2010s, the only regularly airing urban music video program on BET was 106 & Park, BET also airs a program block called BET Inspiration which features Christian programming. In the years after the cancellation of 106 & Park, would BET resume airing infomercials in early mornings and, in 2017, its Christian programming block changed its name to BET Rejoice. In addition, the channel broadcasts acquired television series, primarily in the form of sitcoms, drama series, feature films released theatrically and on home video are also aired on the channel, comprising much of its primetime and weekend schedule. The BET Walk of Fame Awards were established in 1995 by BET, the BET Awards were established in 2001 by the network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET, BET commissioned Artist/Sculptor and Hip-Hop culture icon Carlos Mare139 Rodriguez to design the Award sculpture. Global promotion is provided by Kroszover Entertainment, the BET Honors were established in 2008 by the network to honor the lives and achievements of African-American luminaries
18.
MTV
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MTV is an American cable and satellite television channel owned by Viacom Media Networks and headquartered in New York City. Launched on August 1,1981, the originally aired music videos as guided by television personalities known as video jockeys. In its early years, MTVs main target demographic was young adults and it has received criticism towards this change of focus, both by certain segments of its audience and musicians. MTVs influence on its audience, including issues involving censorship and social activism, has also been a subject of debate for several years, in recent years, MTV had struggled with the secular decline of music-related cable media. In April 2016, MTV announced it would start to return to its original music roots with the reintroduction of the classic MTV series MTV Unplugged. It was also reported that the series MTV Cribs would be making a return on Snapchat, MTV has spawned numerous sister channels in the US and affiliated channels internationally, some of which have gone independent. As of July 2015, approximately 92,188,000 US households have received MTV, several earlier concepts for music video-based television programming had been around since the early 1960s. The Beatles had used music videos to promote their records starting in the mid-1960s, CBS rejected the idea, but Williams premiered his own musical composition Classical Gas on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, where he was head writer. The series featured clips from various popular artists, but was canceled by its distributor in 1971. The channel, which featured video disc jockeys, signed a deal with US Cable in 1978 to expand its audience from retail to cable television, the service was no longer active by the time MTV launched in 1981. The QUBE system offered many specialized channels, One of these specialized channels was Sight on Sound, a music channel that featured concert footage and music-oriented television programs. With the interactive QUBE service, viewers could vote for their favorite songs, the original programming format of MTV was created by media executive Robert W. Pittman, who later became president and chief executive officer of MTV Networks. Pittman had test-driven the music format by producing and hosting a 15-minute show, Album Tracks, the inspiration for PopClips came from a similar program on New Zealands TVNZ network named Radio with Pictures, which premiered in 1976. The concept itself had been in the works since 1966, when record companies began supplying the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation with promotional music clips to play on the air at no charge. Few artists made the trip to New Zealand to appear live. A shortened version of the shuttle launch ID ran at the top of hour in various forms. The first music video shown on MTV was The Buggles Video Killed the Radio Star and this was followed by the video for Pat Benatars You Better Run. Sporadically, the screen would go black when an employee at MTV inserted a tape into a VCR, MTVs lower third graphics that appeared near the beginning and end of music videos would eventually use the recognizable Kabel typeface for about 25 years
19.
This Christmas (Donny Hathaway song)
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This Christmas is a song by American soul musician Donny Hathaway released in 1970 by Atco Records. Phil Upchurch said the song was absolutely the premiere holiday song written by an African American and it was written by Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor. This Christmas was recorded at Audio Finishers Studio on Ontario Street, and Donny Hathaway was a genius. This Christmas was released as a single in 1970, where it saw little success and it made Billboards special Christmas Singles chart on the week of December 23,1972, peaking at No.11. In 1991, Atco Records released an edition of their 1968 compilation album Soul Christmas that included This Christmas. After the 1991 release of Atco Records Soul Christmas, the song became particularly notable for the popularity of its numerous covers by artists, particularly pop. Prior to this re-release, artists who recorded cover versions included The Temptations, Gladys Knight & the Pips, as well as Patti LaBelle, a previously unheard recording of the song by Diana Ross from 1974 was released on Motown Records compilation album Christmas in the City in 1993. A cover of the song by Chris Brown, recorded for the 2007 film of the same name, covers by Seal and by American band, Train each went to No.1 on Billboards Adult Contemporary chart in 2015 and 2016, respectively
20.
Donny Hathaway
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Donny Edward Hathaway was an American jazz, blues, soul and gospel singer, songwriter, arranger and pianist. Hathaway signed with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, The Ghetto, in early 1970, where Is the Love won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1973. At the height of his career Hathaway was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was known to not take his prescribed medication regularly enough to properly control his symptoms. On January 13,1979, Hathaways body was found outside the luxury hotel Essex House in New York City, his death was ruled a suicide. Hathaway, the son of Drusella Huntley, was born in Chicago but raised with his grandmother, Martha Pitts, also known as Martha Crumwell, Hathaway began singing in a church choir with his grandmother, a professional gospel singer, at the age of three and studying piano. He graduated from Vashon High School in 1963, Hathaway then studied music on a fine arts scholarship at Howard University in Washington, D. C. where he met close friend Roberta Flack. At Howard, he was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Hathaway formed a jazz trio with drummer Ric Powell while there but during 1967 left Howard just before completing a degree, after receiving job offers in the music business. Hathaway worked as songwriter, session musician and producer for Curtis Mayfields Curtom Records in Chicago and he did the arrangements for hits by the Unifics and took part in projects by the Staple Singers, Jerry Butler, Aretha Franklin, the Impressions and Curtis Mayfield himself. After becoming a producer at Curtom, he also started recording there. Hathaway recorded his first single under his own name in 1969 and they also recorded the duet Just Another Reason, released as the b-side. That year, Hathaway signed to Atco Records, then a division of Atlantic Records and he released his first single of note, The Ghetto, Pt.1, which he co-wrote with former Howard roommate Leroy Hutson, who became a performer, writer and producer with Curtom. The track appeared the year on his critically acclaimed debut LP, Everything Is Everything. His second LP, Donny Hathaway, consisted mostly of covers of pop, soul. His third album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was an album of duets with former Howard University associate and label mate Roberta Flack that established him and it sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA on September 5,1972. The album also included a number of covers, including versions of Carole Kings Youve Got a Friend, Baby I Love You, originally a hit for Aretha Franklin. Perhaps Hathaways most influential recording is his 1972 album, Live, the album can also be found on the British online music and culture magazine The Quietus list of 40 Favourite Live Albums. It was recorded at two concerts, side one at The Troubadour in Hollywood, and side two at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, Donny Hathaway is also known as the co-composer and performer of the Christmas standard, This Christmas. The song, released in 1970, has become a staple and is often used in movies, television
21.
Silent Night
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Silent Night is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared a cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011. The song has been recorded by a number of singers from every music genre. The version sung by Bing Crosby is the third best-selling single of all-time, the song was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a village in the Austrian Empire on the Salzach river in present-day Austria. A young priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had come to Oberndorf the year before and he had written the lyrics of the song Stille Nacht in 1816 at Mariapfarr, the hometown of his father in the Salzburg Lungau region, where Joseph had worked as a co-adjutor. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the village of Arnsdorf. Before Christmas Eve, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody, together they performed the new carol during the mass on the night of 24 December. The original manuscript has been lost, however, a manuscript was discovered in 1995 in Mohrs handwriting and dated by researchers as c. 1820. It states that Mohr wrote the words in 1816 when he was assigned to a church in Mariapfarr, Austria. This is the earliest manuscript that exists and the one in Mohrs handwriting. The version of the melody that is used today is a slow, meditative lullaby or pastorale, differing slightly from Grubers original. Today, the lyrics and melody are in the public domain, the carol has been translated into about 140 languages. Max Reger quotes the tune in the Christmas section of his organ pieces Sieben Stücke, several theatrical and television films depict how the song was ostensibly written. Most of them however are based on a legend, about the organ breaking down at the church in Oberndorf. The Legend of Silent Night TV film directed by Daniel Mann Silent Night, Silent Mouse television special directed and produced by Robin Crichton and narrated by Lynn Redgrave. org Text and music, Stille-Nacht-Association, Salzburg Silent Night Chapel, origin of song
22.
Joy to the World
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Joy to the World is a popular Christmas carol. The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on the half of Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts collection, The Psalms of David, Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. Watts wrote the words of Joy to the World as a hymn glorifying Christs triumphant return at the end of the age, the nations are called to celebrate because Gods faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world. As of the late 20th century, Joy to the World was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America, the name Antioch is generally used for the tune. Likewise, the first four notes seem to match the beginning of the choruses Lift up your heads, other hymnals credit the tune to Lowell Mason, who introduced it to America in 1836 as arranged from Handel. But, in 1986, John Wilson showed that Joy to the World was first published in two English collections, one firmly dated 1833. Being three years earlier, this is thought to exclude Lowell Mason from being the composer, verse 1 Joy to the world. The Lord is come, Let earth receive her King, Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, verse 2 Joy to the earth. The savior reigns, Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. Verse 3 No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground, He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. Verse 4 He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love, And wonders of his love, And wonders, wonders, of his love. In the Latter-day Saint hymnal, the refrain in the first verse is And Saints, modern recordings, including those aimed at children such as VeggieTales and Disney Sing-Along versions, often omit the third verse. Mariah Careys version was first released as a promo only in November 1994, the song was re-recorded, taken from her fourth studio album Merry Christmas. It combines the chorus of the Hoyt Axton song Joy to the World with the traditional Christmas song, a year later, it was released as a commercial single in Australia. There were several club mixes made of the song remixed by David Morales, the video features the songs Celebration edit. First recorded in 1954 on his Music of Christmas LP, it was re-recorded in stereo in 1959 as Columbia 8176, in 1965, The Supremes recorded the song for their album Merry Christmas. Andy Williams recorded the tune in a ballad style in his 1974 Christmas Present LP
23.
Billboard (magazine)
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Billboard is an American entertainment media brand owned by the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group, a division of Eldridge Industries. It publishes pieces involving news, video, opinion, reviews, events and it is also known for its music charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200, tracking the most popular singles and albums in different genres. It also hosts events, owns a publishing firm, and operates several TV shows, Billboard was founded in 1894 by William Donaldson and James Hennegan as a trade publication for bill posters. Donaldson later acquired Hennegens interest in 1900 for $500, in the 1900s, it covered the entertainment industry, such as circuses, fairs and burlesque shows. It also created a service for travelling entertainers. Billboard began focusing more on the industry as the jukebox, phonograph. Many topics it covered were spun-off into different magazines, including Amusement Business in 1961 to cover outdoor entertainment so that it could focus on music. After Donaldson died in 1925, Billboard was passed down to his children and Hennegans children, until it was sold to investors in 1985. The first issue of Billboard was published in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 1,1894 by William Donaldson, initially, it covered the advertising and bill posting industry and was called Billboard Advertising. At the time, billboards, posters and paper advertisements placed in public spaces were the means of advertising. Donaldson handled editorial and advertising, while Hennegan, who owned Hennegan Printing Co. managed magazine production, the first issues were just eight pages long. The paper had columns like The Bill Room Gossip and The Indefatigable, a department for agricultural fairs was established in 1896. The title was changed to The Billboard in 1897, after a brief departure over editorial differences, Donaldson purchased Hennegans interest in the business in 1900 for $500, to save it from bankruptcy. That May, Donaldson changed it from a monthly to a paper with a greater emphasis on breaking news. He improved editorial quality and opened new offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, London and he also re-focused the magazine on outdoor entertainment like fairs, carnivals, circuses, vaudeville and burlesque shows. A section devoted to circuses was introduced in 1900, followed by more prominent coverage of events in 1901. Billboard also covered topics including regulation, a lack of professionalism, economics and it had a stage gossip column covering the private lives of entertainers, a tent show section covering traveling shows and a sub-section called Freaks to order. According to The Seattle Times, Donaldson also published articles attacking censorship, praising productions exhibiting good taste
24.
Ashanti discography
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This is a comprehensive listing of official releases by Ashanti, an American pop, and R&B singer. As of March 2014, she has released five albums, twenty-four singles. Ashantis self-titled debut studio album was released in April 2002, and it produced the number-one hit Foolish and two more top fifteen hits, Happy and Baby. Her second album Chapter II, another platinum-seller, was released a year after and enjoyed chart success. The singers third studio album Concrete Rose was released in December 2004 stateside, a minor success in international music markets, however it produced two singles only, including the top twenty hit single Only U. Following a hiatus and a switch from Murda Inc to Motown. Throughout her career, Ashanti has sold over 15 million records worldwide
25.
Ashanti (album)
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Ashanti is the eponymous debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Ashanti, it was released on April 2,2002, by Murder Inc. The album was recorded between 2001 and 2002 in Crackhouse Studios and SoundCastle Studios, during the period of time where Ashanti was writing for other artists. Ashanti worked with a variety of producers including Irv Gotti, Chink Santana,7 Aurelius, Jared Thomas and its music incorporates R&B, hip hop, hip hop soul and urban. The album features guest vocals from The Notorious B. I. G, Ashanti debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with first-week sales of an impressive 503,000 units, the biggest first-week sales for a debut female artist. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 3,000,000 copies on December 17,2002. It earned Ashanti three Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Contemporary R&B Album, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Ashanti also received two additional Grammy nominations in the same year for other projects, both in the category of Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Billboard magazine ranked Ashanti at number 100 on its Top 200 Albums of the Decade, when Ashanti was 14, she was discovered by P. Diddys Bad Boy Records. Initially, she went to Bad Boy Records and sang one of Mary J. Bliges songs in front of P. Diddy, after being impressed by her singing ability, Diddy had her sign to a development deal. In the end, due to a bad contract, Ashanti did not sign with Diddy and this ultimately led to a record deal with Jive Records in 1994. This relationship soured when Jive tried to make Ashanti into a pop singer, Ashanti subsequently involved herself in schoolwork, cheerleading, and running on her schools track team. She was a student in English and belonged to the English club where she began writing poetry. She was also in the Drama club and performed in a few plays and she put college pursuits aside when Epic Records approached her with a contract in 1998. However, the management changes quickly made Ashanti a low priority. She continued to perform at local New York clubs and began hanging out at the Murder Inc. recording studio, Ashanti was first noticed by Irv Gotti because of her vocal skills. Ashanti initially asked him to produce a few songs for her to record so she could say she had some strong tracks by the big time producer. He asked her to pen hooks for his rap artists and to perform them in duets. Ashanti provided the response to their call. Ashanti was first featured as a background vocalist on rapper Big Puns song How We Roll, in the same year, Ashanti was featured on fellow labelmate Cadillac Tahs singles Pov City Anthem and Just Like a Thug
26.
The Declaration
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The Declaration is the fourth studio album by American R&B/pop singer Ashanti. It was released on June 3,2008, the album includes the single The Way That I Love You. This is her last album to be released on Irv Gottis label The Inc, the Way That I Love You was referred to as the real first single in press material and media reports. It was released in February 2008 to Urban radio and it was released to digital retailers in March 2008 and to Rhythmic radio in April 2008. It reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Ashantis first song to reach the top forty since Only U in 2004, Good Good was released to urban radio stations on July 16,2008. The song contains elements of Elton Johns 1974 single Bennie and the Jets, in mid-2007, MTV News reported that the first single from The Declaration was Switch, which was produced by Shy Carter and released digitally in the United States on July 24,2007. It was later reported that Switch will not be included on the track listing. Hey Baby was released to radio and digital outlets on October 16,2007, the music video premiered in September 2007. The song, which does not appear on the U. S. editions of the album, body On Me was recorded not only for Ashantis The Declaration, but also for Nellys fifth studio album Brass Knuckles. The track is produced by Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort and it went to number one on Billboards Hot Videoclip Tracks chart in its first week, becoming the first number one single from Nellys album. Ashanti performed the song, Shine, at the 2008 Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as on FOX News in December, Shine was also played near the end in one of the televised previews for Will Smiths December 2008 movie, Seven Pounds. The back insert for the physical CD release of the album has the runtimes misprinted, the Declaration received generally mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics. Music UK was impressed saying that the album may be The best album of Ashantis career, shanel Odum of Vibe gave a mixed review to the album saying that More than half of the album is lukewarm, but also said, is the albums Diamond in the rough. Christian Hoard also had a review to the album stating, This season, while R&B fans spin albums by Mariah, Usher and Janet. Ed Richardson – A&R Manager Universal-Motown The album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200, as of February,2014 the album has sold 297,000 copies in U. S
27.
Braveheart (Ashanti album)
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Braveheart is the fifth studio album by American recording entertainer Ashanti. Released on March 4,2014, it is her first album in six years, since The Declaration, in 2012, Ashanti formed her own record label Written Entertainment, which was independently distributed worldwide by eOne Music. Never Should Have was used in the season 7 finale of the TV show Army Wives, despite not charting, the song was the only previously released single to be included on the album. On November 26,2013, Ashanti released I Got It, french Montana, Jeremih, Rick Ross and Beenie Man are all featured on the album too. On the charts, Braveheart opened at number ten on the U. S. Billboard 200, becoming Ashantis fifth consecutive top-ten album and it also debuted in the top-thirty of the UK R&B Albums Chart and top-forty of the UK Indie Albums Chart. Braveheart is primarily an R&B album with electro, trap, on June 3,2008, Ashanti released her fourth album The Declaration, which spawned the singles The Way That I Love You, Body on Me and Good Good. The first peaked within the top-forty on the Billboard Hot 100, while Body on Me peaked at number forty-two and these singles became the lowest charting among Ashantis career thus far. While The Declaration peaked at six and sold 86,000 copies in its first week. The Declaration became her first album to not to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, just under a year later in May 2009 Irv Gotti, the president of Ashantis label Murder Inc. told MTV News that Ashantis affiliation with the label was over. He said The relationship has run its course, the chemistry of whats needed — were in two totally different places. Youre talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world and we for the selling debut by a female R&B artist —503. My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up, in February 2010, Ashanti begun work in recording studios for a brand new album, and in December the same year, Ashanti confirmed that fans could expect new music in 2011. In July 2011, a picture was released announcing that new music was on the way. On July 26,2011, Ashanti announced that her album would be the first to be independently released via her own newly established record label. Details of the label and distribution came out in December, when it was unveiled that Written Entertainment would be distributed worldwide through eOne Music. In a press release, the President of eOne Music, Alan Grunblatt said, eOne is proud to have a partnership with Ashanti, Ashanti truly has the independent entrepreneurial attitude that eOne was built on, and were thrilled to be working with her. Ashanti added, Im so excited to have my own record label, with eOne as my distributor, I feel that their innovative and ambitious approach to the music industry, really gives my label a worldwide presence. They have the top people in the business and are hungry to win
28.
Can't Stop (album)
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Cant Stop is a compilation of American R&B early recordings attributed to singer Ashanti released first in 2004. Cant Stop features material that Ashanti recorded on July 15,1997, the tapes resurfaced in September 2004 and was re-mixed and mastered by Genard Parker and Ernie Lake. Ashanti claims she recorded the material for demo-shopping purposes and never intended the recordings to be released to the public, I was just a teenager following my dreams when I signed with Parker. Me and my mother went to his house to work on some songs hoping to launch my career, Genard couldnt deliver for me and he signed a release permitting me to go to another record company. Further, on two of the tracks she only sings background vocals, while on another she is not performing at all, ashaniti filed suit to stop distribution. In addition to Genard Parker, Big Records Australia, Farm Records, simply Vinyl, Team Entertainment, ZYX Music and others are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The album has a date of February 21,2005. Genard Parker, sued Ashanti for breach of contract and the jury awarded $630,000, when Ashanti got a record deal, he let her out of the contract she signed with him, with the understanding that hed get to produce some songs for her and earn royalties. Although the jury took Parker’s side, they give him everything he asked for. He had sued Ashanti for $2.2 million, Ashanti sought an injunction to block the release and damages in excess of $1 million. September 19,2006, Ashanti has settled a lawsuit with her first producer, Genard Parker, out of court on Tuesday, can’t Stop was first released in 2004 and then on January 25,2006 in United States. It was re-released multiple times under different labels throughout 2007 and it was released on May 31,2012 for digital download in United Kingdom only
29.
Foolish (Ashanti song)
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Foolish is the debut single by American R&B singer Ashanti from her debut album. It was written by Ashanti,7 Aurelius, Mark DeBarge, verse from his song F--king You Tonight. The song was released as the lead single on January 29,2002. It spent ten weeks at one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song became Ashantis second number one and third top ten on both charts, the song was in the top ten in United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Germany and Japan. In 2009, it was named the 19th most successful song of the 2000s on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. As of June 2012, it is the second best selling single of the 21st century. The filming session of the video for the single took place during January 2002 and it was directed by Irv Gotti himself. In supporting roles we can also see Charli Baltimore, Vita, Ja Rule, the video is set in the fashion of the movie Goodfellas, with Ashanti in the role of Karen Hill and Terrence Howard in the role of Henry Hill. Irv Gotti and Ja Rule are also in a scene appearing to take the roles of Jimmy Conway, the video was a three-time nominee at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video, Best R&B Video, and Best New Artist. A book called Foolish/Unfoolish - Reflections on love contains Ashantis teenage poems and it was followed by an audio book with the same name defined as A spoken word album - read by the author released by Hyperion. European CD Single Foolish -3,52 Foolish -3,52 Australian/U. S
30.
Happy (Ashanti song)
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Happy is the second single by American R&B singer Ashanti from her debut album. Released on May 21,2002, it was written by Ashanti, Raymond Calhoun, the song contains a sample of Gap Bands Outstanding, written by Calhoun. Happy reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the U. S. Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, the single became Ashantis fourth top ten hit on both charts. The song was in the top ten in the Netherlands, top twenty in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, the remix was produced by Chink Santana and featured rapper Charli Baltimore and further integrates a sample of Outstanding. It was later included on the Murder Inc. remix-compilation Irv Gotti Presents, The Remixes
31.
Baby (Ashanti song)
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Baby is the third single by American R&B singer Ashanti from her debut album. It was written by Ashanti, Irving Lorenzo, Andre Parker, Brad Jordan, Mike Dean and it contains musically interpolates of Scarfaces Mary Jane which was also ghosted produced by 7 Aurelius. A remix of the song also features Scarface, the song was released as the albums third and final single on November 17,2002. Baby reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the U. S. Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, the song is her fifth top ten entry on the Hot R&B Songs chart. The song only managed to chart at numbers forty-eight and eighty-nine on the Netherlands, the music video features actress Nia Long. It is directed by CEO and founder of Murder Inc, Irv Gotti, a video was made for a remix which featured labelmate Crooked I. Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
32.
Rock wit U (Awww Baby)
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Rock wit U is a song by American R&B singer Ashanti. It was released in May 2003 as the single from her second studio album. The song peaked at two on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 and became her first international hit from her second album, reaching number seven in the UK. The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on June 16,2010, the music video was directed by Paul Hunter) and was filmed in Miami. The video was nominated at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards for Best R&B Video, lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
33.
Rain on Me
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Rain on Me is a single released by R&B singer Ashanti in 2003 from her second album Chapter II. The single reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, in the video Ashanti plays a superstar abused by a jealous boyfriend, played by actor Larenz Tate. The video was released on August 28,2003, the video was shot in Barcelona, Spain, and directed by Hype Williams. It contains a sample of The Look Of Love by Isaac Hayes, the rap remix found on her Collectibles album interpolates Can I Live. by rapper Jay-Z, which also samples the same Hayes song. The remix also features Hussein Fatal and fellow The Inc, records labelmates Charli Chuck Baltimore and Ja Rule. There are two videos for the song, in 2004, the song earned Ashanti a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Ashantis lyrics for Rain on Me address the pains and challenges of facing, and eventually overcoming, an abusive relationship. We wanted to make a movie that was real — that showed that no matter if youre rich or poor, black or white, famous or not. The abusive boyfriend was played by actor, Larenz Tate, best known for starring in Dead Presidents, a film which also features The Look of Love by Isaac Hayes. This promotion, in conjunction with heavy rotation on MTV, BET and it has also helped to raise money for the cause with proceeds from the $5 mini-disc going toward helping to stop domestic violence. When we heard Rain on Me and saw the Ashanti LidRock mini movie, Ashanti wrote an amazing song that, by itself, has incredible power and emotional resonance. The Family Violence Prevention Fund is extremely proud to be partnering with Ashanti and LidRock on a project that has potential to raise awareness about domestic violence. For more than two decades, the Family Violence Prevention Fund has worked to end violence against women and children around the world, lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
34.
Only U
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Only U is a song by American singer-songwriter Ashanti from her third studio album, Concrete Rose. The songs introduction uses a sample of Club Nouveaus 1986 song Why You Treat Me So Bad, Only U is an R&B and rock-tinged song, that finds Ashanti in love and willing to do anything, no matter the cost to make sure hes her boyfriend. Released in January 2005 as the lead single, the track reached number thirteen on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 in January,2005. It peaked at two in the United Kingdom and number 4 in Ireland, becoming her most successful single in both countries. The song received favorable reviews from music critics, with most praising its sexy lyrics. However, the album received overwhelming negative reviews and didnt provide much success on the charts, later in September 2004, she collaborated with Ja Rule and R. Kelly on the track Wonderful for Rules sixth studio album, R. U. L. E. The song was a success, topping the UK Singles Chart, a month later, on October 26,2004, Only U was released through iTunes and Amazon, as the lead-single from her third studio album Concrete Rose. However, the song was released to radio stations on January 11,2005. The official remix was included on Ashantis 2005 compilation album Collectables by Ashanti, and features Caddillac Tah, Young Merc, Ja Rule, There is a second official remix that replaces Caddillac Tah and Young Merc with Dipset rappers Camron and Juelz Santana. Only U was written by Ashanti,7 Aurelius, Selan Lerner Jerry Barnes and Irv Gotti, with production done by 7 Aurelius, Only U is an R&B and rock-tinged song. The songs introduction uses a sample of Club Nouveaus 1986 song Why You Treat Me So Bad, followed by a guitar riff, taken from the song Presence by 7 Aurelius. Oh I cant wait to get next to you/ Oh I just cant leave you alone/ Boy you got me doing things that I would never do, she sings. In the chorus, she emphasizes that the guy is one who makes her feel in love and turned on, Only u can make me feel and only u can take me there. Only U received generally favorable reviews from music critics, hattie Collins of The Guardian called it a deliciously dark song. Chuck Arnold of People Magazine wrote that the rock-edged Only U, khalil Regarty of The Age called it a No. 1-single-by-numbers in which Aurelius Linkin Park-style guitar riffs sit atop a shuffling beat the Trackmasters or the Neptunes could have put their hands to, low Key of MV Remix wrote that Only U finds Ashanti taking a risk with a rock-influenced sound, which thankfully works out well. Ashanti sounds better than ever over Seven Aurelius smashing guitar riffs and ambient sirens, steve Jones of USA Today praised the song for having engaging beats and airy vocals, writing that it works well. The Bland Is Out There review was positive, writing that, There isnt any high-pitched screaming or an excess of babys for her to sing
35.
Don't Let Them
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Dont Let Them is the fourth and final single from Ashantis third studio album, Concrete Rose. It also samples Raekwons Heaven & Hell, ashanti fans wanted Dont Leave Me Alone as the second single because it was a fan favorite. However, Def Jam refused to release it, ashanti later came out of pocket to deliver a second single, Dont Let Them, to her fans. However, fans still refused to support Dont Let Them, the single also gained minimal success in Ireland, peaking at 41. The music video is a very romantic video because it shows the relationships between a couple. It starts off with her early in the morning and she also introduces the video play system. The video was shot on March 2005, early in the morning, the Inc. recording artist Chick Santana made a cameo in the music video. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
36.
Breakup 2 Makeup
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Breakup 2 Makeup is a by American R&B single Ashanti from her first remix album Collectables by Ashanti featuring labelmate Black Child. It only reached number 76 on the U. S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, the song was used as a third single of the original version on Ashantis second album, Chapter II. The video was produced by Irv Gotti and it was released in early 2004 to BETs 106 & Park. Breakup 2 Makeup Breakup 2 Makeup Breakup 2 Makeup Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
37.
Still on It
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Still on It was the first and only single from her remix album Collectables by Ashanti. The single was released in late November 2005, the single generated less interest than previous Ashanti singles, just reaching #115 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Europe, the album and the single were not promoted by Murder Inc Records, in China and Japan, the single wasnt released. The remix of the single was released in the U. S. later on in the 2006 year, the track samples Knowledge Me by Original Concepts and Born to Roll by Masta Ace. These are the formats and track listings of promo single-releases of Still On It, Still On It Still On It Still Down Still On It Still Down Still Down Still Down Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
38.
The Way That I Love You
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The Way That I Love You is a song recorded by American recording artist Ashanti, for her fourth studio album The Declaration. It was written by Ashanti alongside the songs producer L. T. Hutton and it was released as the lead single for the album. The music video was directed by Kevin Bray, Ashanti said she chose him for his work with shows like CSI, Crime Scene Investigation, Law & Order, and Heroes. It starts with Ashanti speaking on the phone to a 911 operator, asking for help to be sent and then shows Ashanti in a bathtub, submerging herself. The video reveals that Ashanti discovered that her boyfriend was cheating on her, via messages on his Sidekick and credit card and she stabs him repeatedly and goes to trial for her crime. Throughout the video, Ashanti sings with a silver dress in a prison cell. In the end of the video, it was revealed that Ashanti did not actually kill her boyfriend, she dreamed about it. February 26,2008 March 18,2008 April 1,2008 May 28,2008
