New Edition

Bobby Brown 'Blesses' Whitney Houston At Show

19 Feb 2012 11:13:13 EST

Brown honors ex-wife at Connecticut show hours after seating spat at New Jersey funeral.
By Ralphie Aversa

MONTVILLE, CONNECTICUT — Hours after the world paid its final goodbye to Whitney Houston in New Jersey, ex-husband Bobby Brown paid his alongside bandmates New Edition before a sold-out crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Brown's remarks came just hours after the singer's rapid departure from Houston's funeral services at Newark, New Jersey's New Hope Baptist church.

Brown sat out the night's first three songs, then took the stage for "Hit Me Off." He acknowledged the fallen icon before "Jealous Girl."

"I want to give blessings to my ex-wife, Whitney Houston. I love you," Brown said, pointing towards the sky. "I want to give a lot of blessings to my kids, my fiancée, my brothers, and all of you."

Brown and his New Edition band-mates powered through a set that lasted almost two hours, including hits from Brown's 1988 solo smash, "My Prerogative," to Bell Biv DeVoe's 1990 hit, "Poison."

"I lost three great people in my life, in the last year," Brown told the audience of over 7,000 before the sextet wrapped with "Home Again." "But, nothing makes me happier than to be right here, right now."

Some New Edition fans, like Lisa Pollock of Bridgeport, Conn., were simply happy just to see Houston's ex-husband in the building.

"[New Edition] just held it together. I can't imagine what today was like for them," Pollock said after the concert. "For them to come and do a show for all of us, definitely exceeded my expectations."

Serita Outlow of Norwich, Conn. also attended the show unsure if Brown would make it.

"I think he did an excellent job considering what he must have been feeling," she said. "I don't know what he went through with his voice today but I think he still pulled it off."

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New Edition Will 'Never Forget' Meeting Michael Jackson

18 Jul 2011 16:27:11 EDT

Ricky Bell recalls to MTV News 'going to the mansion and seeing him skip down the stairs.'
By Rob Markman

New Edition are fast approaching 30 years in the music biz, and the Boston boys have a ton of memories since dropping their debut album, Candy Girl, in 1983.

For Johnny Gill, his favorite came in 1990 when NE reunited on the MTV Video Music Awards; for Ralph Tresvant, his best memory came after hearing the group's song on the radio for the first time. Ricky Bell, nodded in agreement, but then recalled another special time — meeting the King of Pop.

"I guess Ralph took my number one, but number two would probably be meeting Michael Jackson, being invited to his house. Going to the mansion and seeing him skip down the stairs," Bell told MTV News before the group performed at DJ Cassidy's 30th birthday party in New York City on July 6. "Just to meet someone, that icon who inspired you, is a moment I'll never forget."

New Edition — which includes Bobby Brown, Tresvant, Gill, Bell, Ronnie DeVoe and Michael Bivins — are in the middle of a reunion run after performing in New Orleans at the 2011 Essence Music Festival. In addition to a number of shows they are performing together, NE also have a new album in the works, and if they have it their way, they will continue to add on to three decades' worth of memorable moments.

For Brown, though, it will always start at the beginning. "For me, 30 years would probably be just meeting them," he said of his bandmates. "Meeting them and being able to have friends in my life and have brothers in my life that weren't blood brothers, but they were my brothers and they took care of me."

Share your memories of New Edition's nearly 30 years in the comments below!

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New Edition Album 'In The Making,' Bobby Brown Says

08 Jul 2011 18:52:47 EDT

Pioneering pop&B boy band chop it up with MTV News about their reunion.
By Rebecca Thomas

NEW ORLEANS — Don't let the fancy footwork fool you: Bobby Brown says it took him two years to get back enough "muscle memory" to pull off the smoove moves that earned his group, New Edition, a permanent place in the annals of boy bands.

OK, maybe not two years, but Brown — whose shirtless onstage dancing once got him arrested, during his '90s heyday, in the state of Georgia — admitted it took some time when we caught up with him and his bandmates at last weekend's 2011 Essence Music Festival.

"It didn't take two years, but it took a little while to get back into, you know, not moving the way I used to move and get the steps and start dancing back on my toes instead of flat-footed," the onetime R&B bad boy laughed as he demonstrated a little shuffle.

"Bobby got on shoes. Let me tell you, he ain't had shoes onstage for the last 20 years," group heartthrob Ralph Tresvant teased the sneaker-rocking Brown. "So that's a testament to his dedication."

"It's a lot of things that I'm capable of doing, but New Edition steps, whether you think so or not, they're probably one of the hardest things in dance that you could do," Brown added.

In the '80s, those steps, paired with soulful vocals, took five young boys from a Boston 'hood to music-industry superstardom. Now celebrating 30 years in the business, New Edition — Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Tresvant, Brown and Johnny Gill (the only non-Bostonian brought into the fold in the '90s to take over for Brown) — put their indelible street stamp on the boy-band hustle.

And their influence rolls on — whether the bubblegum pop of their 1983 Candy Girl debut or the boys-to-men songs of their classic Heart Break album. Case in point, sought-after producer Jim Jonsin told MTV News this month that he would reference the New Edition sound for Justin Bieber's next album.

Backstage at the Superdome, the still-dapper guys, now in their early 40s, chatted with their arms flung around each other. In three decades, they've endured more than a few ups and downs — self-imposed hiatuses, label changes and infighting — and even spawned successful solo careers and subgroups like Bell Biv DeVoe. But gathered on this Fourth of July weekend in the Big Easy, they found they could recapture that magic, reducing grown women to squealing tweens.

"Through the love of just being around each other for many years and trusting that we were just gonna be there for each other, we were able to let [individual projects] go for a minute and jump out that car and jump into this one," Tresvant, in a stylish tan fedora, explained.

So could an album be in the works?

"We got a New Edition album in the making," Brown revealed. "We're thinking about it, we're talking about it, and it all starts with us, just thinking about making some good music together. ... I'm just glad to be a part of this and I'm proud to be a part of this."

Share your memories of New Edition in the comments!

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Michael Jackson Asked Bobby Brown, New Edition For Help With Dance Moves

28 Jun 2009 22:27:00 EDT

Group was disappointed their manager turned down Jackson's offer to spend the night.
By Jayson Rodriguez

LOS ANGELES — New Edition's Bobby Brown was renowned for his dancing and, believe it or not, he says his royal dance moves were once requested by the legendary King of Pop himself.

According to Brown, Michael Jackson — who died Thursday — asked his group, New Edition, to help out with some dance moves back during the Boston collective's heyday.

"We went to his house," Brown said, speaking at the press room at the BET Awards on Sunday night (June 28). "We were invited to teach him a couple of our moves. I'm not joking!"

Brown, flanked by NE members Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill, said the group didn't get to stick around much after dancing with Jackson, although they did get to see the video for "Thriller" before its official premiere, according to Tresvant. But what they really wanted from their encounter with Michael Jackson didn't quite pan out.

The late icon invited the guys to stay the night at his house but, according to Brown, their manager turned the invite down.

"We were always upset [about that], because we couldn't stay the night," Brown explained. "We were upset because we wanted to stay and get to know him better. I've spent a lot of time around some great artists, but he was definitely the greatest artist and person I've ever been around."

Brown, along with Gill and Tresvant, honored Jackson during the opening of the 2009 BET Awards by performing a medley of Jackson 5 hits. Brown led the way as their rendition of "ABC" and "The Love You Save" got a standing ovation from the star-studded crowd, which included Beyoncé, Kanye West and Jackson family members.

MTV will be paying tribute to MJ throughout the weekend with music videos, exclusive performances and calls and tweets from celebrity admirers and friends. For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Jamie Foxx, New Edition Open BET Awards With Rousing Michael Jackson Tributes

28 Jun 2009 21:49:00 EDT

Foxx does a decent Moonwalk; New Edition perform Jackson 5 medley.
By Kyle Anderson, with additional reporting by Eric Ditzian

Everyone knew Sunday night's BET Awards would focus on the lasting memory and legacy of Michael Jackson, who died Thursday afternoon at the age of 50. The show didn't waste any time, kicking off the proceedings with a 10-minute tribute that brought the packed crowd at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium to their feet, immediately establishing the show as a sort of wake for the fallen singer.

The show opened with a clip of Jackson's appearance on the 2003 BET Awards, where he performed with James Brown. It was a melancholy but inspiring introduction to the proceedings. The audience was then treated to a stunning performance by New Edition, who performed a medley of Jackson 5 hits. The iconic R&B group, led by Bobby Brown, sang and danced their way through classics like "ABC" and "The Love You Save." The choreography was especially impressive, considering that New Edition had so little time to rehearse.

Following the Jackson 5 songs, host Jamie Foxx walked onstage dressed like vintage Jackson: The Thriller-era red leather jacket and a single sparkling sequined glove. Foxx greeted the audience and immediately launched into a performance of "Beat It." Foxx, who has plenty of experience mimicking R&B icons, ran through the classic Jackson tune with aplomb, never missing a note.

After the ovation, Foxx told the audience that the show would be festive. "No need to be sad," he told the audience. "We want to celebrate this black man. He belongs to us and we shared him with everyone else." Foxx kept it light, poking fun at Jackson's nose and the change in his skin tone over the years. "Michael was all kinds of black. He was Wesley Snipes and Chico DeBarge at the same time."

Foxx wrapped up the show's opening sequence with a decent take on Jackson's signature dance move: the Moonwalk. The Shrine erupted once again as Foxx danced his way off the stage.

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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New Edition Reuniting Again — And This Time, Bobby's On Board

17 Jan 2006 16:05:00 EST

Group planning extensive tour — but not until 2008.
By Shaheem Reid

Dust off those "I Love Ralph" and "Ronnie Is So Sexy" T-shirts — New Edition are reuniting. An expanded lineup featuring the group's six members — Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill — will be hitting the road for an extensive tour that is planned to last at least two months. The catch: The tour won't happen until 2008.

The announcement was made by Bivins onstage in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Sunday, after Brown performed a couple of numbers with Bell Biv DeVoe.

The group has reunited in various forms before: All six for the 1996 LP Home Again and its troubled ensuing tour (not all six members were still in the group at the tour's end) and, minus Brown, for the Diddy-helmed One Love in 2004 (see "One Love But Two Sounds: Classic New Edition And '04 BBD Flow"). In recent months, various members have been performing shows and making sporadic appearances, including on BET's 25th anniversary show.

On Sunday, at an R&B show billed "Body & Soul" at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, Brown — who has also been touring solo (see "Ladies' Man Reborn: Bobby Brown Back In Shape At Atlantic City Gig") — jumped onstage twice to rapturous applause, once with Bell Biv DeVoe and once by himself.

"Your brother is here!" Brown said from the backstage while BBD performed. The group's lead singer Ricky Bell announced he was sick and was performing against doctor's advice. Although he did not disclose his ailment, it seemed like he was hampered by the flu because he could barely sing — the usually stellar crooner sounded more like the raspy Young Jeezy than he did himself. Brown joined the group and helped with lead vocals during "When Will I See You Smile Again?" and BBD's "Poison."

Brown returned later for a very brief solo set, wearing an all-black suit with an orange dress shirt. He tore into "Every Little Step," then "Roni," and when the music for "My Prerogative" came on, he tore open his shirt, sending buttons flying into the front row. He performed the song bare-chested, with his tie still around his neck and a fur coat on.

New Edition aren't the only R&B artists on the comeback trail: Keith Sweat, Guy and En Vogue also performed at "Body & Soul." Guy announced onstage that they will have a new LP out this year and it looks like En Vogue will be following suit: The Funky Divas performed a brand-new single at the show. For the most part, all of the "Body and Soul" performers look the same as they did a decade ago, and their voices stand the test of time well.

On a related note, SWV were not at "Body & Soul" but have been performing dates with Keith Sweat and Guy. They also have plans to release new material this year: an SWV LP and a solo gospel project from group member Coko.

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New Releases: Britney Spears, Ja Rule, Fabolous, New Edition, Vanessa Carlton, Neko Case & More

08 Nov 2004 23:07:00 EST

'SpongeBob' soundtrack, Elton John also hitting stores Tuesday.
By Alyssa Rashbaum

Before she exercises her prerogative to take another break from the music business, Britney Spears is giving her fans a parting gift.

The domestically inclined pop star is releasing an album of her biggest hits this week. Greatest Hits: My Prerogative includes her breakout hit "... Baby One More Time," coming-of-age track "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman," Madonna collaboration "Me Against the Music," and the Bobby Brown cover and title track "My Prerogative."

Ja Rule had a large amount of material to pick from as well when he put together his new album, R.U.L.E. The disc's 18 tracks were picked from around 25-30 songs Ja recorded in the studio. R.U.L.E. features collaborations with Ashanti, R. Kelly, Jadakiss and Fat Joe and the street single "New York."

Fabolous gives some Real Talk on his third album, produced by Just Blaze. The disc also features Lil' Mo, T.I. and Sean Paul. But the hottest grouping of artists can be found on the soundtrack to "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie." Avril Lavigne, the Flaming Lips, Wilco, Motörhead, the Shins and Ween are just a few of the artists who've recorded songs for the soundtrack.

Anticipation has been similarly mounting for the release of the soundtrack to the video game "Halo 2." The disc features tracks by artists including Incubus, Hoobastank and Breaking Benjamin.

Also out this week are albums by New Edition, whose last studio release was in 1996 (One Love); Vanessa Carlton, whose sophomore album is coming two years after the release of her debut (Harmonium); NOFX (The Greatest Songs Ever Written (By Us)); Neko Case (The Tigers Have Spoken); Elton John (Peachtree Road); and Handsome Boy Modeling School (White People).

Out Tuesday, November 9:

An Angle - And Take It With a Grain of Salt (Drive Thru/Sanctuary)
Tony Bennett - The Art of Romance (Columbia)
Vanessa Carlton - Harmonium (A&M Records)
Read: "Vanessa Carlton Recalls Her Days As A Naughty Ballerina"
Buy Now: Harmonium (A&M Records)
Bill Carrothers - Armistice 1918 (Sketch/Cryptogramophone)
Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken (Anti/Epitaph)
Will Downing - Christmas, Love and You (GRP)
Fabolous - Real Talk (Elektra/Atlantic)
Read: "Fabolous Breathes Easy With Lil Jon, Sean Paul, Lil' Mo On His LP"
Buy Now: Real Talk (Elektra/Atlantic)
Glide - Curvature of the Earth (spinART)
Grizzly Bear - Horn of Plenty (Kanine)
Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People (Atlantic)
Hellogoodbye - Hellogoodbye (EP, Drive Thru/Sanctuary)
Ja Rule - R.U.L.E. (Def Jam)
Read: "Ja Rule Nearly Extended His R.U.L.E."
Buy Now: R.U.L.E. (Def Jam)
Elton John - Peachtree Road (Rocket/Universal)
Toby Keith - Greatest Hits 2 (Dreamworks Nashville)
Love.45 - Love.45 (Rock Ridge)
Mystics - Hushabye Again (Collectables)
New Edition - One Love (Bad Boy)
Read: "One Love But Two Sounds: Classic New Edition And '04 BBD Flow"
Buy Now: R.U.L.E. (Def Jam)
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Dirt on the Strings: The Instrumental Collection (S&P)
NOFX - The Best Songs Ever Written (By Us) (Epitaph)
Carl Palmer - Working Live - Vol. 2 (Sanctuary Classics)
Queen - On Fire: Live at the Bowl (Hollywood)
Linda Ronstadt - Hummin' to Myself (Verve)
Seal - Best of 1991-2004 (Warner Bros)
Derek Sherinian - Mythology (InsideOut)
Britney Spears - Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (Jive)
Read: "Britney Fans, You Can Stop Speculating Now — Official Hits LP Track List Revealed"
Stray Cats - Rumble in Brixton (Surfdog)
Stroke 9 - All In (Rock Ridge)
Toothpick - Time Travelin' Couch (V1)
Shania Twain - Greatest Hits (Mercury Nashville)
Buy Now: Greatest Hits (Mercury Nashville)
John Wells - The Dash (Cross Movement)
Michael Wolff & Impure Thoughts - Dangerous Vision (Artemis)
Various artists - All-Star Bluegrass Celebration (Rainmaker)
Various artists - Give 'Em the Boot IV (Hellcat)
Various artists - "Halo 2" soundtrack (Sumthing Else)
Various artists - Music From the Chocolate Lands (Putumayo)
Various artists - "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" soundtrack (Warner Bros.)
Read: "Avril Lavigne Gives Squishy SpongeBob Song A Harder Edge"
Various artists - We Like to Party (V1)
DVD: Poi Dog Pondering - "Audio Visivo" (Koch)
DVD: Something Corporate - "Live at the Ventura Theater" (Geffen)

November 16:

Eminem - Encore (Aftermath)
Buy Now: Encore (Aftermath)
Bon Jovi - 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong (Island)
Destiny's Child - Destiny Fulfilled (Sony)
Read: "Destiny's Child: Reunited And It Feels So Good"
Buy Now: Destiny Fulfilled (Sony)
Lil Jon & East Side Boyz - Crunk Juice (TVT)
Read: "Lil Jon's Crunk Juice Finalized; Usher, Luda, Nas, Snoop, Chris Rock On Board"
Buy Now: Crunk Juice (TVT)

November 23:

U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope)
Buy Now: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope)
Gwen Stefani - Love, Angel, Music, Baby (Interscope)
Fantasia Barrino - Free Yourself (J Records)
Read: "Missy Elliott, R. Kelly Helping Fantasia With Her Debut LP"
Ruben Studdard - I Need an Angel (J Records)
Read: "Ruben Studdard Decides Christmas Just Isn't Spiritual Enough"
Buy Now: I Need an Angel (J Records)

November 30

Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (RCA)
Read: "Kelly Clarkson Tries For Another 'Breakaway' Hit"
Buy Now: Breakaway (RCA)
Nas - Street's Disciple (Sony)
Read: "Nas: A Fire Inside"
Buy Now: Street's Disciple (Sony)
T.I. - Urban Legend (Atlantic)
Buy Now: Urban Legend (Atlantic)

December 7:

Lindsay Lohan - Speak (Casablanca)
Ashanti - Concrete Rose (Def Jam)
Cam'ron - Purple Haze (Roc-a-Fella)
Diana DeGarmo - Diana DeGarmo (RCA)

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One Love But Two Sounds: Classic New Edition And '04 BBD Flow

08 Nov 2004 17:37:00 EST

Disc is veteran R&B group's first for P. Diddy's Bad Boy label.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Bridget Bland

As a group, New Edition have been together longer than plenty of marriages, so it made perfect sense for the group to engage in nuptials together.

Ricky Bell and his fiancee recently tied the knot alongside Ralph Tresvant and the leading lady of his life with a double wedding. The remaining members of New Edition — Michael Bivens, Johnny Gill and Ronnie DeVoe — also participated.

"It was the best experience of my life," Bell said. "Me and Ralph were best friends, we were engaged at the same time. It was actually his idea. We figured, hey, rather than have a whole month or a couple weeks of planning for two weddings — and we wanted each other involved in our wedding ceremony, along with the rest of the guys in the group — we said, 'Why not? Let's make it an event and do it together.' It worked out nice. The best part about it was to have everybody in the group involved in it. Mike was my best man. Johnny and Ron were groomsmen."

A little over a year ago, New Edition engaged in a different type of marriage ceremony with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. They signed a contract with Bad Boy, and their first release on Diddy's label, One Love, drops Tuesday. The single "Hot2Nite" is out now.

"It feels good to be able to put out some new music," Bivens said. "We've been on tour and doing shows since the summer of 2002. And finally we got a chance to put out a new record and help the concerts, 'cause that's what we do all year long. Walking around, seeing the faces recognizing us from being on TV, that's kind of special. It's a younger audience, and they connected to the 'Hot2Nite' video. With all the hard work we been putting in for these 25 years, it's paying off. The tours are doing well, and we don't have to worry about the record label taking all our money, 'cause we make our money on the road. Our fans love to see us."

"Being on Bad Boy is like any other label," Bell said. "The upside is that Puff is enthusiastic about the project. He gives a lot of energy. We've learned a lot in the business since the 20 years we've been in. We know our image and we know the way we like to be seen and marketed. He's given us the other side. It's a balance of re-establishing ourselves in the business with the fans that have grown up with New Edition and introducing us to a whole new audience. Puff is defiantly bringing it to the table and just mixing the old and the new, giving us a whole new sound."

Not entirely. Songs like "All on You" find DeVoe and Bivens bringing the BBD flow up to date, but on "That's Why I Lied," the vintage New Edition sound shines through.

"It's no kisses for you when I'm leaving in the morning," a remorseful Tresvant sings. "It's no roses for you when I know I've hurt your feelings/ I don't know what happened to us, I never saw it coming." Later on in the track, he tells his wife he was late: He was working, but it wasn't at his office — it was in a suite in the Marriott.

Gill came up with the concept for the song. " 'That's Why I Lied' is talking about a situation with a man talking about the reason he lied [to his wife]. It's to protect his home and her," Gill explained. "Sometimes in our relationships we do things we may not necessarily be proud of and we have to work with it the best way we can. There's some consequences behind our actions. With this song, it doesn't justify a person lying, but it justifies why he did what he did."

Gill takes the lead on another ballad, "Come Home With Me," which the fellas say should go over with the ladies on tour. "I'm standing here all alone, this night's about to end," Gill sings. "I'm looking for somebody to wild out with me, sexually."

"It's like you're trying to pick somebody out of the audience," Tresvant said. "It's a perfect concert song."

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis check in on "Come Home With Me" and "Newness," on which the guys sing about the constant rekindling of a flame.

"It's a relationship song," Bell said. "A guy is saying to his girl, 'Every time I see you, it's new all over again. Just like the first time we met. I get that same feeling of falling in love with you all over again. Every time we miss each and I see your face again, it's new again.' And we're New Edition, so we're always trying to bring the newness."

For now, there are no plans in place to add a new edition to New Edition, though there has been talk of founding member Bobby Brown rejoining his crew for a song or performance.

"It's been expected," Bell said. "It's not annoying. We expect people to ask about Bobby. 'Is he gonna be a part of it at some point?' Like we tell anyone else, Bobby has an open door to New Edition. ... As far as Bobby being in the group and coming and being down for the duration of New Edition, that probably won't happen. As far as him coming in and doing a song here or there, it's just a matter of when the time permits and when he feels like he wants to be down. That door is always open."

Whether or not Bob gets up with his homies from Beantown is still up in the air, but New Edition have been talking to other icons from the '80s and '90s about hitting the road. They have 20 U.S. tour dates coming up in December, and names that have been floating around to join them include Guy and Jodeci.

Besides Jam and Lewis, other One Love producers include P. Diddy, Mario Winans, Andre Harris and Vidal Davis, and Ron "Neff-U" Feemster.

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For The Record: Quick News On Ashlee Simpson, Andre 3000, Master P, New Edition, The Used, Talking Heads & More

14 Jul 2004 17:17:00 EDT

By MTV News staff report

Ashlee Simpson might not sit on the toilet like Jenny McCarthy did in her ad, but the reality show star is the next Candie's girl. "Candie's always does tongue-in-cheek, very funny advertising and they have a great sense of humor," Simpson said in a statement. "The ads are always sexy and this is actually the first sexy photo shoot I've done." Simpson is slated to appear in the company's fall advertising campaign, which starts in the September issues of fashion, entertainment and lifestyle magazines. She will also perform a live concert for Candie's customers and make two in-store personal appearances at select retailers in major markets, to be announced. Meanwhile, Simpson was just nominated for the Fresh New Face award at the Teen Choice Awards, to be broadcast August 11 on FOX. ...

Outkast's Andre 3000 was just voted the "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" in PETA's annual online poll — the first hip-hop star to make the list. Past winners have included Tobey Maguire, Shania Twain and Josh Hartnett. ... The hard-court dreams of Master P have once again clanked off the rim. The rapper and CEO of No Limit Records was cut from the summer league team of the NBA's Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, before the season even started. Master P has tried the b-ball thing before, having almost made it through training camps for the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors in 1999. He's played minor-league ball, too, most recently for the Las Vegas Rattlers of the ABA. ...

Hall of Fame-point-guard-turned-business-renaissance-man Magic Johnson has lined up the celebrities to join him at his annual charity event, A Midsummer Night's Magic. The two-day gala will feature New Edition and Carl Thomas performing on July 31 at the L.A. Center Studios and a celebrity b-ball game on August 1 at the Forum. Nick Cannon and Xzibit are among the stars who will hoop it up. ... There's nothing like seeing 10 35-year-old women chasing a limousine. That scenario came to pass Tuesday night in Brooklyn, New York, as New Edition finished their set at Wingate Park and tried to make an exit. For a solid hour, Ronnie, Ricky, Ralph, Mike and Johnny performed nothing but hits from their catalog, including "Popcorn Love," "Cool It Now," "Mr. Telephone Man," "Poison," "Sensitivity" and "My, My, My" as part of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series. One oddity at the show — the guys did not sing their current single, "Hot 2 Nite." The group was also given a New York City Proclamation from Brooklyn city council member Yvette Clarke for their years of performing. ...

ODB is readying the first single from his upcoming LP, Dirty. The track is called "Lift Your Skirt" and finds Dirt McGirt telling the ladies to do just that. ... Juvenile is moving in anything but "Slow Motion." He just signed a new deal with Atlantic Records and plans to release his next LP in early 2005. ... Two collections by the pioneering alternative rock band the Talking Heads will be issued on August 17. The first, The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads, will feature live material performed between 1977 and 1981. The recording was originally released in 1982 as a double album, but was previously unavailable on CD. The second, Best of the Talking Heads, features 18 of the band's biggest hits, including "Psycho Killer," "Once in a Lifetime" and "Burning Down the House." ...

A new album by the Used, In Love and Death, is set for release August 31. The John Feldmann-produced effort is the follow-up to the band's 2002 self-titled debut. ... A Duran Duran box set featuring the group's first three albums, Duran Duran, Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger, will be released on August 10. The package will include bonus music videos. ...

07.13.04

Paris Hilton no longer has "Screwed" — she's lost the song, which was to be her first single, to Haylie Duff, who says she blocked the hotel heiress from attempting to release the song. "Paris has talked to the people who wrote the song, and I think it's all under control now," Duff told USA Today. ...

Print and broadcast PSAs featuring Christina Aguilera and Outkast's Andre 3000 encouraging young people to vote will hit magazines and airwaves later this month. Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, is behind the ads, which were shot by fashion photographer/video director David LaChapelle. ... R. Kelly made an unexpected appearance in a Chicago court Tuesday (July 13) to ask permission yet again to travel. Kelly put in a request to perform in Detroit at the Detroit Music Festival on July 24, which would require him to leave Chicago on July 23 and return by July 26. The court granted his request. ... Rosa Parks will not be compelled to give a deposition in her lawsuit against Outkast and Arista Records. According to Parks' lawyer, a judge ruled in her favor at a hearing Tuesday (July 13) after the group's attorneys argued that they should be allowed to question her. Last month, a January 10, 2005, trial date was set for the lawsuit. In addition to this suit - in which Parks claims Outkast violated her trademark rights and defamed her when they named a song after her - Parks' lawyer said a second suit will be filed against Arista. That lawsuit concerns the song's placement on several compilations and the alleged willful defamation of Parks' name that occurred by having the video for the song directed by former pornographer Gregory Dark. ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers hold the honor of having staged the highest-grossing concert event at a single venue so far this year, their three-day sold-out stint at Hyde Park in London. The June 19, 20 and 25 shows took in more than $17 million, according to Reuters. Highlights from the shows have been captured on the upcoming double CD Live in Hyde Park, which comes out overseas on July 26, but which is not scheduled for release in North America. ... Britney Spears' fiancé, Kevin Federline, has been having a few troubles lately. He's being sued in small-claims court by a car dealership that claims he was delinquent with payments for his truck. Classic Chevrolet in Anaheim Hills, California, claims Britney's beau owes them $1,600. The truck has since been repossessed. Meanwhile, anti-Kevin shirts and hats — bearing logos such as "Kevin Federline Must Be Stopped" and "Just Say No to Kevin Federline" — are now available at http://www.cafeshops.com/sexandthecity/333057. ...

Prince has released an exclusive track called "Silver Tongue" at his online music store, www.npgmusicclub.com. The song is available for download for 99 cents for non-members of his fan club. ... Mandy Moore posted on her Web site on Monday that she's collaborating with Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz — whom she calls "one of my favorite people" — for her next record. "I guess he heard Coverage and really liked it and somehow we ended up writing some kick-ass music together," she wrote. "It's all very exciting. Hopefully some of it will end up on the finished album." ...

Alanis Morissette is now offering a ticket auction for her Au Naturale Tour with the Barenaked Ladies. Ticket packages include two seats in the front row and a meet-and-greet with the singer. The auction is taking place through www.stubhub.com and www.alanis.com. Proceeds benefit Equality Now, an international organization working for the rights of women and girls. The trek kicks off Tuesday in Cleveland. ... Rockabilly singer Ersel Hickey has died at the age of 70. Hickey, best known for his 1958 song "Bluebirds Over the Mountain," had been hospitalized at NYU Medical Center in New York after surgery to have his bladder removed because of a tumor, his friend Johnny Vallis told The Associated Press. The singer died after coming down with an infection. Hickey's "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" was re-recorded by the Beach Boys. He also wrote songs for such artists as Jackie Wilson and LaVern Baker. ...

After six years, the legal wrangling between Dead Kennedys members East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride and D.H. Peligro and singer Jello Biafra and his label Alternative Tentacles Records is finally over. The San Francisco Superior Court's May 2000 decision to award the bandmembers more than $200,000 in compensatory and punitive damages after finding Biafra guilty of fraudulently shortchanging them will now stand, as the singer has dropped all countersuits. ... First season "American Idol" runner-up Justin Guarini has signed on to star in "Good Vibrations," a musical based on the music of the Beach Boys about a group of teens on the beaches of Southern California. The production opens July 29 at the new Martel Theater at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. ...

Social Distortion, Pennywise, A Static Lullaby and Kottonmouth Kings will perform at Moto Music Mayhem, a festival blending music with motocross set for August 21 at the National Orange Show Events Center and Speedway in San Bernardino, California. ... The next set of Elvis Costello reissues has been slated for August 3. His albums Almost Blue (1981), Goodbye Cruel World (1984) and Kojak Variety (1995) will each feature an extra bonus disc with 27, 26 and 20 songs, respectively, of demos, outtakes and unreleased tracks. This marks the fifth batch of LPs from Costello's catalog that has been re-released over the last two years. ...

Sebadoh are expanding their tour and will be hitting the West Coast this summer. The tour kicks off J

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Da Band, Da Boss Both Part Of Busy Bad Boy Release Schedule

26 Feb 2004 16:50:00 EST

Carl Thomas, Mario Winans, 8Ball & MJG, New Edition all readying LPs.
By Shaheem Reid

P. Diddy is keeping it simple when it comes to titling his next LP. Diddy has named his project PD5, and it's due in November, according to Universal Records.

Technically, it'll only be his fourth album of all-new music (Diddy also has remix album under his belt, adding to his PD5 equation), and neither Universal nor Bad Boy had any word on who the man Farnsworth Bentley calls "The Chairman" will be working with.

In the interim, Diddy certainly has enough projects to keep him and his staff busy. Carl Thomas just shot a video for a track called "Make It Alright" from his second LP, Let's Talk About It. That opus goes to stores March 23.

Another soul crooner under the Bad Boy umbrella, Mario Winans, also just completed a clip. His "I Don't Wanna Know," which also features Diddy, should be airing in the next couple of weeks, and his album, Hurt No More, is slated for April 27.

Meanwhile, Bad Boy's wildest act, Da Band, is working on a second album. So far they've been in the studio with Tony Dofat and Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, but they're looking forward to opening the project up to more producers.

"The first album was fire, but this one is real beautiful because we got more experiences now," said Young City a.k.a. Chopper. "Man, you just gotta hear it. You would think we live right next door to Satan, how fire this album is gonna be."

For the third season of "Making the Band 2," the group did not have Lucifer as their neighbor, but Diddy was their roommate. All six members lived in his Manhattan mansion.

"You had to be on point," said Babs. "You never knew when he would pop up."

Before Bad Boy's Da Band drops this summer, look for new albums by 8Ball & MJG and New Edition.

Season three of "Making the Band 2" premieres March 4 at 10 p.m.

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