Mariah Carey Takes Fans to “Infinity” and Beyond

Recently, Mariah Carey released her new song “Infinity” that will appear on her upcoming greatest hits album, #1 to Infinity. The artist sings about love and heartbreak on this track, and many feel it may be about her soon-to-be-ex-husband Nick Cannon.

In the song, Carey sings, “Name hold weight like kilos / Boy you actin so corny like Fritos / Wouldn’t have none of that without me though / Ain’t none of my business, this tea though.” Many feel that she could be talking about Cannon because they’ve split, and Nick is known for being “corny” when he hosts America’s Got Talent.

Mariah Carey rehearses for the 82nd annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. (Getty Images photo/Michael Loccisano).

Carey told EXTRA the real meaning behind the song. She stated, “Infinity is like love equals you first, the line, there’s a section of the song where it’s like a chant, it’s like ‘you’re leaving, you’re leaving you’re out the door infinity loving me more and more,’ meaning you have to love yourself first, it can’t be all about somebody else’s thing or their issues it has to be you and then you can deal with the rest of the things in your life.”

Although the singer is now releasing an album under a new record label, Epic, her singing style is just as vibrant and familiar as usual. The album is scheduled to release on May 18th. It will include 18 of Mariah’s most popular hits. She will also perform the songs from the album during her residency in Las Vegas at Caesar’s Place, which will start May 6th.

Duke Ellington Born 116 Years Ago Wednesday

Yesterday, Duke Ellington would have turned 116 years old. The legendary artist died back in 1974. He remains one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music, and is widely considered as one of the twentieth century’s best known African American personalities.

Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. in 1899. He wrote his first composition in 1914 called “Soda Fountain Rag.” Duke was working various jobs to support his music career and that work ethic paid off as he and his band became a recognizable act, playing for both African-Americans and whites during a segregated era.

Duke Ellington performing on July 20, 1973 in New York. (Getty Images photo/Santi Visalli).

The artist was very musically inclined. He was a swing-band composer, arranger, conductor of jazz music, and jazz pianist. Duke referred to his music as “American Music” rather than jazz, and liked to describe those who impressed him as “beyond category.” In all, the composer wrote over a thousand compositions.

Duke rose to fame in the 1940s when he composed several pieces, including “Concerto for Cootie,” “Cotton Tail” and “Ko-Ko.” Some of his most popular songs are “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing,” “Sophisticated Lady,” and “Prelude to a Kiss.”

The American composer has won many awards for his achievements in music. He has won 13 grammys, and even received the Pulitzer Prize. Also, the artist met two past presidents. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson presented him with the President’s Gold Medal. Three years later, he met President Richard Nixon who presented him with the Medal of Freedom. Throughout his career he influenced millions of people around the world, and is still honored today.

Deborah Cox Talks About Singing Whitney Houston’s Classics in Lifetime Movie

Three years have passed since the great Whitney Houston passed, but that hasn’t stopped fans from pining for the singer’s voice. To encourage fans to remember her musical contributions and the mark she had on the industry, the Lifetime network put together a 90-minute biographical movie that revisited some of Whitney’s most memorable accomplishments and events. Yaya DaCosta may have been the star of the film Whitney, but it is Deborah Cox who sang Houston’s classics in the film.

There are not many people who can pull of the proper representation of Whitney Houston’s voice, so Cox was more than happy to assist. With her voice and talent, the Lifetime movie was very well interpreted. However, she had mixed feelings about taking on the task, but she pushed them away to think of the bigger picture.

Deborah Cox attends the Broadway Opening Night of “Gigi” at the Neil Simon Theatre. (Getty Images photo/J. Countess).

Cox said in an interview with theboombox.com, “I think it’s serendipity: when things happen and you don’t even know the impact they’re going to have.” She continues with, “When I was first approached about doing it I had mixed feelings for probably one minute, and then I was like,’Okay, yes!’ I was nervous; I was scared, but I knew I had to rise to the challenge because I knew she had to be represented in a way for us to be reminded of what her gift was to the world.”

Deborah also hopes she herself represented the singer the way that was needed. The two were friends and Whitney often served as a mentor to Cox. Deborah states, “When you think of Whitney Houston, you think of that voice. We didn’t have a lot of time to do it either. It was a great, great honor to be a part of that, and I can only hope that I did her well.”

Japanese State Dinner Surprises with Haiku, Sake, and R&B

The first White House state dinner was surprising to some. At the dinner, the president recited haiku, toasts used sake instead of champagne, and the leader of Japan described relations between the countries using the words of a popular R&B classic.

Obama concluded he was the first president to recite a haiku, a form of Japanese poetry that consists of three lines and rarely rhymes, before offering his toast on Tuesday night in front of guests seated in an East Room. The room was awash in pink lighting and decorated with displays of orchids, cherry blossoms and other flowers.

President Barack Obama introduces Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the State Dinner. (AP photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais).

When it was his turn to give a toast, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan used the lyrics of an R&B song to describe what he said is a bilateral relationship between former World War II adversaries that is unlike any other. He stated, “Ain’t no mountain high enough. Ain’t no valley low enough to keep me from you.” He continued with, “The relationship between the United States and Japan is just like this.” These lyrics are from the Marvin Gaye song “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

After each toast, one could hear the distinctive clanking of sake-filled cups. Obama noted the break with tradition to give up champagne in favor of the rice-based beverage made in Yamaguchi, Abe’s home in Japan. In all, this was the President’s smallest state dinner. The dinner had just under 200 guests, and there were just a few celebrities.

Among the celebrities present were Star Trek’s George Takei who returned for his first state visit since Clinton was president. Another guest was Shonda Rhimes, who is the mastermind behind the hit shows “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal.” Also there, Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson declared the dinner “amazing.”

This just goes to show how influential R&B music can be in a society. Even in serious events, people can still be moved by the words of an artist. The Prime Minister of Japan felt the best way to show the relations between the two countries was to quote the inspirational lyrics of Marvin Gaye.

Sam Smith Cancels Australian Tour After Injury to Vocal Chords

Sam Smith has canceled the remaining dates of his Australian tour after being diagnosed with a hemorrhage to his vocal cords. The British singer confirmed the bad news via social media. The singer stated he was “deeply saddened” by the news.

Smith stated on Instagram, “I am deeply, deeply saddened to tell my Australian fans, I have to cancel my Australian tour,” Smith wrote on Instagram. “I have been vocally exhausted for a while now however last night in Sydney I had a small hemorrhage on my vocal chords. The doctors have told me I need to fully rest until my vocal chords have healed, otherwise this could become a huge long-term issue. I am so sorry to all who have bought tickets, I truly am. This kills me.”

Sam Smith attends the BRIT Awards 2015 at The O2 Arena. (Getty Images photo/Karwai Tang).

The singer launched his tour Saturday at Brisbane’s Riverstage and played Monday night for the first of two dates at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. Due to his injury, shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth have been canceled. Tour promoter, Frontier Touring, is reportedly working with Sam schedule a new tour for December 2015.

Sam Smith is a an English singer and songwriter. He became widely known in 2012 when he was featured on Disclosure’s single “Latch.” The song peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart. His first number one single would come a year after when he was featured on Naughty Boy’s “La La La.” Since becoming a success, Sam has won four Grammy’s. These awards were for Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album. His most popular songs are “Stay With Me,” “Lay Me Down,” and “I’m Not The Only One.”

Hip-Hop and R&B Community React to Baltimore Protests

The streets of Baltimore went from protests to riots after Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old victim of police brutality, was laid to rest at his funeral on Monday. Six police officers were suspended for his death. Gray died due to still-unknown spinal injuries that he seems to have sustained by the hands of police following his arrest a week earlier.

What was meant to be a demonstration to pay tribute to Gray turned into a battle between Baltimore police and local citizens. By nightfall, citizens looted stores and lit cars on fire. There has since been a 10 p.m. curfew issued starting today and continuing on for the next week. The National Guard was also called to try to restore peace. However, the violence hasn’t stopped, and many civilians and police officers were injured. So far, there has been a total of 247 arrests.

Police in riot gear monitor protestors gathering in honor of Freddie Gray on April 25. (Getty Images photo/Mark Makela).

Police spokesman, Capt. Eric Kowalczyk, referred to the demonstrators as “lawless individuals with no regard for the safety of people that live in that community” and said they would be identified and arrested. Police also reached out via Twitter and stated that many of the rioters were juveniles. They urged parents to bring their children home.

Due to the recent events going on in Baltimore, many hip-hop and R&B stars have spoken out. Missy Elliott stated on Twitter, “Watching the news I’m speechless I’m saddened my heart is heavy…” Questlove Gomez also commented via Twitter, “I assure you, they will review the footage and bring those responsible to justice. Sadly I’m NOT talking about Freddie Gray’s murder.”

Soul Singer Nneka Announces Tour This Summer

This summer, singer-songwriter Nneka will be touring across North America. The first date is scheduled for June 2nd in Seattle, WA. The singer will then make stops in cities like Oakland, L.A., Chicago, Toronto, and Philly. The last show is on June 23rd in New York.

The new tour will support Nneka’s new album, My Fairy Tales, that was released March 2nd. The songstress recorded the LP in France, Denmark, and Nigeria while living in Paris. Nneka continues to take on personal and political issues in her music, like she did in her previous album Soul is Heavy, released in 2012.

Nneka performs on stage at Circo Price Theater. (Getty Images photo/Carlos Alvarez).

The singer explained, “My Fairy Tales is a concept album, exploring the lives of Africans in the diaspora and the struggles they face,” she then added, “How we cope hustling in ‘another man’s land,’ but also the aspects of endurance, perseverance and gratitude.”

Nneka first got her start while performing as an opening act for reggae star Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark. Soon she met and began working with DJ Farhot and released her first album, The Uncomfortable Truth, in 2005. In the following years she would tour with artists like Femi Kuti, Bilal, Nas, Gnarls Barkley, and others.

Nneka Egbuna is a Nigerian hip hop/soul singer, songwriter and actress. She sings in both Igbo and English. The singer was born in Nigeria, but soon gravitated to Germany to start her career in music. Her most popular songs include “Heartbeat,” “The Uncomfortable Truth,” and “Africans.”

Actors Jussie Smollett and Yazz From “Empire” to Perform at 2015 Billboard Music Awards

Empire stars Jussie Smollett (Jamal) and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray (Hakeem) will perform with Estelle to sing a medley of the Fox drama’s songs, “Conqueror” and “You’re So Beautiful,” at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. Both actors were featured on the soundtrack, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Smollett told Billboard that he was happy to perform, “There’s no way I could possibly love music more than I already do. The Billboard Music Awards has been the epitome of celebrating some of the best of the best in music.” He added, “To be included as a performer on this year’s celebration is a huge honor.”

Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Gray from Empire on March 16, 2015 in New York City. (Getty Images photo/Astrid Stawiarz).

The Empire soundtrack was released March 10 through Columbia Records. It is the first TV soundtrack to debut at No. 1 since 2010, when three different Glee albums arrived atop the list. During release week, Jussie Smollett performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and on American Idol three days later.

The Billboard Music Awards airs May 17th in Las Vegas. Hosting the show will be Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen. Performances include Fall Out Boy featuring Wiz Khalifa, Kelly Clarkson, Hozier, Nick Jonas, John Legend, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Meghan Trainor, and others.

Empire is an American drama television series which debuted on Fox on January 7, 2015. The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment. It includes the drama among the members of the founders’ family as they fight for control of the company. The show was created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, and stars in the show, Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.

Luther Vandross Would Have Turned 64 on the 20th

Luther Vandross was one of the last truly great R&B singers. He would’ve turned 64 last Monday. The singer was born in 1951 in Manhattan, New York City. At the age of three, having his own phonograph, he taught himself to play the piano by ear.

Vandross started his career with various background contributions and songwriting credits. They included Chaka Khan, Ben E. King, Diana Ross and Donna Summer. After two failed albums as the leader of a soul group in the late ’70s, Vandross wrote commercial jingles for Mountain Dew, Juicy Fruit and others.

Luther Vandross performing on stage. (Getty Images photo/Kevin Winter).

The singer finally had a breakthrough in his career when he became the lead singer of a group called Change. In 1980, the group released its certified gold debut album, The Glow of Love, on Warner Bros. Records. A year later, Luther went solo and signed onto Epic Records. He soon released his debut album Never Too Much.

During his career, Luther sold over 25 million records worldwide, and received eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four different times. In 2004 he won a total of four Grammy Awards including Song of the Year for “Dance with My Father,” which was recorded not long before his death.

Luther Vandross was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his hits, “Dance with My Father,” “Never Too Much,” “Here and Now,” and “Any Love.”

Mary J. Blige Believes New Artists Can Learn From Rihanna

The fight to be unique in today’s music industry is easier said than done, especially when there is a record label calling the shots. R&B artist Mary J. Blige knows a thing or two about being your own individual, but she also understands that it’s a battle.

The singer tells Elle, “I think, and it’s not the artist, but they have to fight for what they want and their identities and stuff like that. The fact [is] that everyone at these labels wants to do what everyone [else] is doing. You have to look like her; you have to be like her; you have to sing like her, and no one can express themselves.”

Mary J. Blige and Rihanna attend the Zac Posen fashion show at Vanderbilt Hall. (Getty Images photo/Chelsea Lauren).

Blige said that Rihanna was the perfect example of an artist who does her own thing. She states, “I look at Rihanna and I am so proud of her.” She then added, “She speaks loudly! You have to stand up and clap. She expresses herself through fashion. She actually can sing. And her songs mean something, even to me, you know?”

Mary J. Blige is an American singer, songwriter, model, record producer, and actress. She started her career as a background singer on Uptown Records in 1989. Since releasing her first album in 1992, the singer has released 11 studio albums and made over 150 guest appearances on other albums and soundtracks. Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, and been nominated for thirty Grammy Awards. In addition, eight of Mary’s albums have reached multi-platinum status in the United States.