A few weeks ago Tiffany Evans raised eyebrows when she rent on a rant about “satanic” practices in the music industry, specifically blasting Rihanna’s new single “Russian Roulette”, a song she thinks is glorifying suicide and the devil. The lyrics start off: “Take a breath, take it deep/Calm yourself, he says to me/If you play, you play for keeps/Take a gun, and count to three/I’m sweating now, moving slow/No time to think, my turn to go”

Now although Rihanna sings the song Ne-Yo is artist who actually wrote it and here’s what he had to say in response to Evan’s comments: “It’s definitely dark, but if you think about it, ‘Thriller’ was dark, but it’s one of the biggest-selling records of all time. Nobody’s really going out to play Russian roulette or thinking about killing themselves or nothing like that. It was just an interesting topic over a crazy beat, and who better to pull that off than somebody like Rihanna?”

Meanwhile the producer of the song Chuck Harmony wasn’t having any of it! He called Evan’s rant “beyond stupid” and “immature” and also added: “There are no satanic messages in the music. Maybe if we did a remake of ‘Promise Ring’ (Tiffany’s hit single), then Rihanna wouldn’t be a devil worshiper. People are so closed minded. The song is not literal. Like most provocative art, its symbolism. Grow up.”

Singer Omarion added his two cents to the subject in an interview with TheBoombox.com and elaborated on the music industry’s “dark side”:

“I don’t personally know Rihanna’s beliefs but I think there’s a very dark and very sinister part of the entertainment business and I think it’s very visible…it really made me think that there is a [time as an artist] where there’s going to be a choice. The [entertainment] world [dictates] that you have to be with three or four women, or do this in order to get that [and] I think it’s really interesting. With God and the industry, it’s really dark. The dark side is having to get in, there’s a certain submission you need to have. Just like a gang [initiation], so to speak. You might have to do something against your moral code. I’m not saying that it’s always this way, but when you’re someone that is young and you’re coming up in the industry and you really don’t have a grip on your morals it can be very dark. The game is just about over saturation.

I don’t know if Rihanna [has fallen victim to those pressures]. I’ve never really heard her speak about it. I hope that she doesn’t believe in that stuff and I don’t think that she does, but I don’t know. It’s not just been a Rihanna thing, [there's has been religious speculation] about a lot of artists.”

Evans, like Omarion, made some good points on the music industry having a pull on an artist’s morals, but honestly I forgot she was even a recording artist before her rant so I wonder if she’s just trying to get some attention by going as far to say artists in the industry are “devil worshipers.” What’s your take on the whole controversy?

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Though she may have missed this Sunday’s Video Music Awards, Rihanna still managed to be on the brains of many who attended the show.

While on the red carpet for the event, Ne-Yo was asked about his work on Rihanna’s forthcoming album.

Her frequent collaborator acknowledged that he’s been in the studio writing music with Rih-Rih and noted that fans can look forward to a new sound from the pop star.

He said listeners can expect an “angrier, edgier” sound on her next album.

He added: “Rihanna says some things on this album that you’ve never heard her say before.”

Gee, I wonder what she could possibly be mad about.

Akon was also pulled for info about Rihanna’s new project. He apparently would rather see Rihanna with a grin on her face.

He said: “I’m not supposed to say anything, but I’m going to work on as many songs as possible with her. I’m going to lighten her up. I don’t want an angry Rihanna.”

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OK, so Ne-Yo took a picture with a tranny.

If I looked at the picture, I might not have known she was born with a tree between her legs, but does taking a picture with her instantly mean I’m trying to pick at her berries?

Unfortunately for Ne-Yo, this week he’s already been put on full blast for crying on stage. Now a picture of him with a woman born as a man surfaces – heightening gay rumors about him.

Normally, I’d go out of my way to talk about Ne-Yo The Ninja Turtle (No seriously, he looks like Leonardo), but in this instance, I don’t think it’s fair.

Willie from Day 26 took a picture with a tranny, but he’s not gay. Ne-Yo did the same thing, and unless there’s a Polaroid of him giving some ex-B2K member “special treatment” during a songwriting session, I’ll continue to believe he still likes the ladies with natural hips.

There’s already plenty of buzz surrounding last night’s BET Awards and while I was interested to see who would take home what award, I think we can all pretty much agree that everyone who tuned in was on the edge of their seats waiting to see what would be done to honor Michael Jackson.

Throughout all of the music and the moments paying homage to The King of Pop I was fixated on all of the the Michael-influenced fashions (No comment on Beyonce’s tiara-topped wedding/Victoria’s Secret Runway ensemble and T-Pain’s “Big A– Chain”)!  Michael’s trend-setting status, though more subtle than his musical impact, is undeniable.  From the leather jackets (specifically the red one in the “Beat It” video and the two-toned one in the “Thriller” video which designer Margiela recreated in 2008!), to the marching-band style jackets, to the sparkly socks and other distinct stage costumes you can definitely find traces of MJ’s style infused in the looks of stars like Beyonce, Rihanna, Usher and Chris Brown, just to name a few.

Last night I looked forward to seeing the stars bring it fashion-wise on the red carpet and during performances and while several kept their MJ nods low key by simply accessorizing with the iconic one-hand glove (shout out to Estelle, Alicia Keys, Day 26, Sean Paul etc!) some people really went all out with their outfits! Below were some of my favorites from the night.

As the night’s host, Jamie Foxx made several wardrobe changes and each look had a Michael theme. Now I have a feeling he was fronting and playing the air guitar during this performance of “Blame It,” but he looked every bit a rock star and his tee was plenty Bad.

The curly coif, the cropped pants with socks, the sparkly top?  Keri Hilson won in my book! Miss Keri baby, Mike would’ve been proud of the way you nailed his look!

Now the original Gloved One would’ve at least had the decency to rock a hat (*side eye* this bald look…) but Ne-Yo gets some points for his crisp leather jacket and crimson gloves.

I still don’t understand why Ciara did a sit-down ballad performance of “Heal The World” instead of, um, coming with an uptempo performance highlighting her strong suit: dancing, but at least she had the look down with this sequined and tassel detailed jacket.

Keyshia Cole’s bedazzled top and capris during this performance of “Trust” confused me, but Monica came with it modernizing Michael’s signature marching-band jacket style with long leather gloves and hip-hugging tights.

Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition/B.B.D fame channeled the ABC-era Michael in a fringed vest, newsboy cap and shades.

Who do you think rocked Michael’s signature looks best?

Click here for the complete red carpet run down!

There are some people highly pissed at Ne-Yo for telling this young woman that in order to share the stage with the likes of Beyonce, she’s going to have to run some laps, do some pushups, and trade in that double cheeseburger with bacon and a side of heart failure for a nice salad.

I suppose the argument is that Ne-Yo used to complain about being told he wasn’t handsome enough to compete with the Usher’s and Justin Timberlake’s of the world. Yet he came into the game, lied about his age and pretended his face wasn’t there (hey, they questioned his looks, not me) and still managed to rack up in album sales and awards.

In other words, if he could do it why wouldn’t he go and encourage that young woman to continue to go and get her Popeye’s on.

I don’t think Ne-Yo was being offensive. He was being honest. As he put it, if she wanted to go the Jill Scott route she would be accepted for who she is. But in a world of Pop/R&B full of blond weaves, nose jobs, and butt pads she might want to look into fixing her look a bit.

It’s an inconvenient truth that looks matter in pop music (and in general). Could she record a song like “Upgrade U” and still manage to get the same amount of love as Beyonce? Anything is possible, but it’s not likely. Ne-Yo is right: In pop music, most are shallow.

You mad?

Contributor: Runteldat

While promoting her new show, The Cougar, on the Today Show, Vivica Fox hinted that she might be into another rapper.

The two co-hosts asked her who does she want, then mentioned Ne-Yo and Flo’Rida to her. When Vivica answered for herself, she mentioned that Ne-Yo was just a friend but then blushed and looked into the camera when asked about Flo’Rida.

The two have been linked together in recent weeks, so she practically confirmed the two are friends without saying a word.

Oh, Aunt Viv. Have you not learned from the 50 Cent debacle? I know you like ‘em young – and I’m not mad – but why not go get you a nice quiet R&B singer?

The kind that won’t try to clown you in public the way Fif did.

Ne-Yo said he wanted to wait until he talked with his friends before offering up any words on the alleged altercation between singers Chris Brown and Rihanna.

While he hasn’t talked with Chris, he did chat with collaborator Rihanna, saying: “She says she’s fine. She didn’t go into detail about what happened. I understand it’s a painful situation; I didn’t push.”

“I saw the picture,” he said solemnly to MTV News. “That just really — that hurt me to my heart, man. Again, I still don’t know what happened, ’cause I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to Chris yet. But to take it to that level really hurt my heart. All I can say is, I’m praying for both of them. They’re both in my prayers. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Chris yet. I just wanna sit down and talk to that dude and just explain if he doesn’t understand: ‘That’s not something that’s excusable, bruh. You have to get a little smarter about whatever it is going on in your relationship. You have to get a little smarter about how you handle certain situations.’ ”

Ne-Yo went on, adding: ”I’m not going to crucify him. I’m not going to do that. That’s still my homeboy at the end of the day. For it to go to that level was wrong. I won’t say who was responsible. I won’t pick no sides. I’m just saying it was wrong [that] it had to happen like that, and I’m praying for the both of them.”

Ne-Yo has had very close ties to Brown and Rihanna. In 2006, Brown and Ne-Yo co-headlined a tour that featured Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana. Ne-Yo also penned his duet with Rihanna “I Hate That I Love You.”

As you can imagine, on the evening of the BET Hip Hop Awards, there were all kinds of parties to get into. Unlike most of the action at Atlanta-area clubs though, Ne-Yo’s birthday celebration at Mason Murer art gallery had a theme that went beyond bottle-popping.

Read the rest of this entry »

With Ne-Yo’s third solo album, “Year of the Gentleman,” set to drop Tuesday, there
just isn’t enough of him to go around as party goers recently found out.

Page Six reports:

SOME nightlife promoters are so desperate to fill their parties, they’ll even put
a fake performer onstage. On a recent Sunday night, the promoter group Party at
NYC rented out the club Mansion, on West 28th Street, and sold tickets to a Ne-Yo
concert. Too bad the rapper already had a gig and was around the corner, hosting
a party at Guest House, on West 27th. One source told us tickets to the fake Ne-Yo
concert “were sold for $20 in advance and $35 for VIP seats.” At about 1:30 a.m.,
the promoters “said Ne-Yo is in traffic and will be here in 45 minutes. Then, 20
minutes later, the audience was told Ne-Yo was there. Then they put a fake Ne-Yo
onstage, but it didn’t work, so they finally said Ne-Yo was stuck in the Gulf of
Mexico.” A rep for the performer told Page Six, “Ne-Yo was never confirmed to perform
at club Mansion that weekend, and there was never a performance scheduled or any
contracts signed for Ne-Yo to appear.”