From Me to You...

Merry Christmas Everyone! Thanks for reading!

Fantasia is back to work!

Fantasia is back in the studio!

After taking an almost three year break from new solo music, Fantasia is said to be wrapping up production for her third studio album.

The as-yet-untitled album set for release in 2009 already has an exciting collaboration -- Raphael Saadiq!

Saadiq confirmed his work with the former "When I See You" singer this week. Calling their project together "soulful but really strong," Saadiq says "a little bit of Aretha (Franklin) mixed up with a little bit of Labelle".

Fantasia's self titled sophomore album, released in 2006, featured production from Babyface, Bryan Michael Cox, Danja, Dre & Vidal, Missy Elliott, Kwame' and Swizz Beatz.

In related news, Fantasia has been nominated for her part in Jennifer Hudson's popular record "I'm His Only Woman". The duo will face off with fellow Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals nominees Anthony David and India Arie.

Monica is starting the New Year off right!

Monica is dropping her highly anticipated new album as soon as the New Years Ball hits the ground! "Lessons Learned" features her internet released single 'Still Standing' and features collaborations with Keyshia Cole and Missy Elliott.

This album gets into what she's been though in life, including love and business. It's a straight R&B joint, just like what we know and love from her.

Get Ready For J. Holiday!

That's right, the man that wants to put you to Bed because he's Suffocating is about to release the first single off of his upcoming album "Round 2". The single is called "It's Yours" and has already hit the airwaves.

Personally, I think it resembles 'Bed' a little too much, but you can check it out on my stream and let me know what you think!

Round 2 hits the stores February 24.

More on Mariah

Mrs. Cannon has reportedly canceled her "E=MC2" tour. According to NY Daily News, the Diva received word that she is indeed pregnant, although her rep insists there has been no confirmation.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people to add to the unemployed list due to this cancellation. Costume designers and dancers were all called on Wednesday with the bad news.

Mariah Carey's Latest Collection

January 20th is the release date of Mariah Carey's latest collection, "Mariah Carey: The Ballads". The 18-track set will include:

Hero One Sweet Day (Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men)
Vision of Love
Without You
Can't Let Go
Love Takes Time
I'll Be There (Featuring Trey Lorenz)
Thank God I Found You - Make It Last Remix (Featuring Nas & Joe)
Endless Love (Featuring Luther Vandross)
I Still Believe
My All
The Roof
When You Believe (Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston)
Anytime You Need A Friend
Always Be My Baby
Dreamlover
How Much (Featuring Usher)
Reflections

So those of you planning to get it might want to swing by the drug store on your way home if you don't plan on having any babies anytime soon!

**Also... a big Congratulations goes out to Ursher and his wife Tameka on the birth of their newborn baby boy born early Wednesday morning. This becomes his second and her fifth child. Feel free to comment below.....

Checkin up on Tank

Tank is working hard on his nearly complete fourth album. The not-yet-titled album has about 13 tracks and is set to be released early next year.

This busy man can also be heard on Pleasure P's "Introducing Marcus Cooper" album, and Jamie Foxx's upcoming album "Intuition". You can also check him out in the soon to be released film "The Preacher's Kid" along with Dawnn Lewis and Clifton Powell (Pinky from Friday).

Don't Call It A Comeback....

Speaking of comebacks, Ginuwine is working hard on his next album, so far untitled. He's signed a new deal with Notifi Records and although a release date hasn't been revealed yet, sources close to Ginuwine expect the first single to be released next month, followed by the full album to be released possibly in April.

Ginuwine has tapped some serious songwriters and producers for this project, including Timbaland, Bryan Michael Cox, Oak, The Clutch, and Johnta Austin.

Sounds to me like it's gonna be a hot one! You know when the single drops I'll let you know!!

D'Angelo is coming!

That's right! Mr. How Does It Feel nekkid in the video is on his way back and has released a new single from his up and coming album! If you haven't already heard it, it's called I Found My Smile Again. It starts off slow but gets a pretty nice mid tempo thing goin on. It's definitely got an old school feel to it which makes me wonder... he's been gone so long, can he compete with this generation of R&B? I can tell he's emulating Prince a little bit and I don't knock that at all, but even His Purpleness has a little trouble connecting with the younger crowd these days.

At any rate, after all D'Angelo has been through since his first album and the HIGH anticipation of this long awaited for sophmore album, I truly hope it's not just a success, but a new start to a very long career.

I Found My Smile Again is in rotation, so tune in!

http://apple.neostreams.info:12634

Finally the answer to BBD!

It's been 20 million years since Johnny replaced Bobby then went solo along with Ralph while Ronny, Ricky and Mike did their own thing. Well now Johnny, Ralph, and yes even Bobby have gotten together to form The Heads of State.

I don't know about ya'll but I barely recognized Bobby, Johnny and Ralph in this pic but here they are... Bobby lookin like Uncle Otis right after they snatched that drink out of his hand for the pic, Johnny lookin like Eddie Murphy from his Raw days (insert your Eddie jokes here), and Ralph lookin like Eddie King from the Five Heartbeats... I still got it!

But on the real, these are three of the most unique voices in R&B history teaming up. At a time when male groups are becoming more and more rare, It'll be interesting how far they get.

Did you sign up for the newsletter yet?!

I know how busy things can be in life, especially for those of you with 'second' ones! The balancing act is crucial and adding a blog to read on a daily basis can be challenging. So I'm doing a newsletter that will give a recap... PLUS some freebies that I know you'll love! There will also be contests and special offers, as well as a Q&A section where you can send your musical questions for me to answer!

So if you haven't already done so, take a moment and stick your email address in the little box on the left. You'll be glad you did!

Thought for the day:

The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. ~ Heraclitus

News Tid Bits

Peace, Love, and Soul?

Can somebody please tell me what happened to Don Cornelius?? He was charged last month with spousal battery, assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness from making a police report. Mr Soul Train is 72 years old... she must have walked across his lawn or something... anyway, he pleaded innocent and is due in court next month. Are we gonna hafta go through the "FREE DON" crap like we did for James Brown!??! I hope not...

If you are in Atlanta, run, don't walk to the Center Stage tonight!! Kindred the Family Soul is kicking off their "House of Love Tour" promoting their new album "The Arrival". they'll be in DC, NY and Philly over the next week or so, and in Dallas on Dec 14. Check your local venues so you don't miss this!!

I am SOOOO happy to see some good news for Jennifer Hudson in the media today! After all she's been though in the last few months, she deserves to feel good about these Grammy Nominations. I don't know about ya'll but I'm predicting her next album to be even better than this one! She's grown so much since her America Idol days hasn't she!

Last but not least, Keith Sweat just put out a song called 'Ode to Chicken Nuggets'. Seriously. You can check it out at his site here thesweathotel.com...

Thought for today:

It is not the strongest of the species that survive,

nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
~Charles Darwin

Have a great day!
*~DJ Honey~*

Grammy Nominations Are Out!!

The 2009 Grammy Nominations just came out and I must say that I'm excited to see that nearly 30 R&B/soul singers ranging from Al Green to Chris Brown were nominated!

Ne-Yo is the frontman with the most nominations in this genre, picking up six nominations, just behind Lil Wayne who picked up eight nominations. I'm also very proud of newcomer

Jazmine Sullivan and her five nominations. She's against some really popular talent for Best New Artist like the Jonas Brothers, but I'm hoping she can pull out the win.

Jennifer Hudson received four nominations including the collaborations she did with Fantasia, "I'm His Only Woman" that was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Al Green's latest album "Lay It Down" earned three nominations, including a nod for Best R&B Album.

I'm a little disappointed to see that there weren't any nods toward Mariah Carey or Erykah Badu for their newly released albums this year. Erykah's video for "Honey" (That's my jam ya'll!!), however, was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video.

Others nominated include Leona Lewis, Raphael Saadiq, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Keyshia Cole, Jordin Sparks, Mary J Blige, Trey Songz, Raheem DeVaughn and more. (See below for the full list or R&B related nominees)

2009/ 51st Annual GRAMMY Award Nominees List
(By Artist, First Name)
*Updated (See Additional General Field Nominees Below)
*Updated (For Hip Hop/Rap Nominees Click Here)


Al Green
- Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals
"Stay With Me (By The Sea)" feat. John Legend

- Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
"You've Got The Love I Need" feat. Anthony Hamilton

- Best R&B Album "Lay It Down"


Alicia Keys
- Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
"Lessons Learned" with John Mayer

- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "Superwoman"


Anthony David
- Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals
"Words" feat. India.Aire


Beyonce
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "Me, Myself and I"
(Track from: The Beyonce Experience Live Audio)


Boyz II Men
- Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals
"Ribbon In The Sky"

- Best R&B album "Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA"


Chris Brown
- Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals "No Air"
- Best Male R&B Vocal Performance "Take You Down"


Chrisette Michele
- Best Urban/Alternative Performance "Be OK" feat. Will.I.Am


Eric Benet
- Best Male R&B vocal Performance "You're The Only One"
- Best R&B Album "Love & Life"


Estelle
- Song of the Year "American Boy"
- Best Rap/Sung Collaboration "American Boy" feat. Kanye West


Fantasia
- Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals
"I'm His Only Woman" w/ Jennifer Hudson


India Aire
- Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals
"Words" w/ Anthony David (Sixes called it!)


J.Holiday
- Best Contemporary R&B Album "Back of My Lac"


Janelle Monae
- Best Urban/Alternative Performance "Many Moons"


Jazmine Sullivan
- Best New Artist
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "Need U Bad"
- Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance "In Love With Another Man"
- Best R&B Song "Bust Your Windows"
- Best Contemporary R&B Album "Fearless"


Jennifer Hudson
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "Spotlight"
- Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals
"I'm His Only Woman" feat. Fantasia

- Best R&B Song "Spotlight"
- Best R&B Album - Jennifer Hudson


John Legend
- Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals
"Stay With Me (By The Sea)" w/ Al Green

- Best Rap/Sung Collaboration "Green Light" feat. Andre 3000


Jordin Sparks
- Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals "No Air"


Justin Timberlake
- Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals "4 Minutes" w/ Madonna


Karina Pasian
- Best Contemporary R&B Album "First Love"


Keyshia Cole
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "Heaven Sent"
- Best R&B Song "Heaven Sent"


Leona Lewis
- Record of the Year "Bleeding Love"
- Best Female Pop Vocal Performance "Bleeding Love"
- Best Pop Vocal Album "Spirit"


Maiysha
- Best Urban/Alternative Performance "Wanna Be"


Mary J.Blige
- Best Contemporary R&B Album "Growing Pains"


Natalie Cole
- Best Traditional Pop vocal Album "Still Unforgettable"


Ne-Yo
- Album of the Year
- Best Male Pop Vocal Performance "Closer"
- Best R&B Male Vocal Performance "Miss Independent"
- Best R&B Song "Miss Independent"
- Best Contemporary R&B Album "Year Of The Gentleman"
- Best R&B Song "Spotlight" (songwriters award) (Jennifer Hudson)


Raheem DeVaughn
- Best R&B Song "Customer"


Raphael Saadiq
- Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals
"Never Give You Up" feat. Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton

- Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance "Love That Girl"
- Best R&B Album - The Way I See It


Rihanna
- Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
"If I Never See Your Face Again" w/ Maroon 5

- Best Dance Recording "Disturbia"


Trey Songz
- Best Male R&B Vocal Performance "Can't Help But Wait"


Usher
- Best Male R&B Vocal Performance "Here I Stand"


Wayne Brady
- Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
"A Change Is Gonna Come"


General Field (Record Of The Year, Best New Artist)

Record Of The Year
- Adele "Chasing Pavements"
- Coldplay "Viva La Vida"
- Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love"
- M.I.A. "Paper Planes"
- Robert Plant & Alison Krauss "Please Read The Letter"


Album of The Year
- Coldplay "Vivla La Vida" / Death And All His Friends
- Lil Wayne "Tha Carter III"
- Ne-Yo "Year of the Gentleman"
- Robert Plant & Alison Krauss "Raising Sand"
- Radiohead "In Rainbows"

Song of the Year
- Estelle "American Boy"
- Adele Adkins & Eg White "Chasing Pavements"
- Jason Mraz "I'm Yours"
- Sara Bareilles "Love Song"
- Coldplay "Viva La Vida"

Best New Artist
- Adele
- Duffy
- Jonas Brothers
- Lady Antebellum
- Jazmine Sullivan

Before we get started, lemme say....

Happy Birthday Marcus!!