Toni Braxton Graces New Upscale Magazine Cover!

Toni Braxton is looking very healthy and radiant on the new issue of Upscale magazine. On June 28 starting at 10 a.m. you all can log onto Yahoo's Music Page to catch the premiere of the new Toni Braxton video; "Woman". The song appears on Toni's newest album; "Pulse" in stores now.

Music Biz:
Alicia Keys Has Unborn Baby Blessed!
Alicia Keys certainly doesn't look five months pregnant to me based on the recent pictures I have seen. Maybe it is because she has been covering it up so well. I mean it is no longer a secret now so why hide it! Embrace it!

Alicia Keys has had her unborn child blessed in a traditional Zulu ceremony while in South Africa for the World Cup.
The Grammy award-winning singer, who is around five months pregnant, joined hands with music producer fiance Swizz Beatz for the outdoor blessing near Durban, on the country's eastern coast.
Wearing tribal beads, Alicia and her baby were given Zulu names while standing under a fig tree known as the 'healing tree' by locals who believe it brings good fortune and health.

The star, 29, had the ritual performed by female elders on Wednesday after arriving in South Africa the previous week to headline the World Cup Kick-Off Concert in Johannesburg.
The R&B diva was given a blue robe to cover her shoulders, while Swizz, 31, donned a red sarong and leopard print sash.
Alicia was chosen to receive the blessing in return for her work with local children's charity Bobbi Bear, whose workers are paid by the singer.
Bobbi Bear director Jackie Bradfield said yesterday: 'Alicia has been made part of the tribal family because she really reached out to the people here.

Two female priests who practise a mix of Christianity and tribal custom chose new names for her and the unborn child, as a mark of respect. The names were kept between them, but were chosen to reflect Alicia's character.
'Alicia had to do a special dance with drums banging in the background, and was embraced by abused children who she has helped. She was chosen for the ceremony as a thank-you, because she has done a lot to keep children's lives afloat and for us to afford our support staff.
'Her partner came too - he held her hand and helped her sit down when she needed rest.'
Alicia's mother and brother were among a crowd of around 50 people who watched her by the tree where Bobbi Bear runs a weekly HIV clinic.

Tank Is Releasing A New Album!

Atlantic Records welcomes a new addition to its storied roster of legendary R&B artists with the signing of Grammy Award-nominated superstar Tank. The acclaimed singer/songwriter/producer is set to make his label debut this week with “Sex Music,” his first new solo track in more than three years. The single is just arriving at multi-format Urban and Rhythmic radio outlets nationwide, heralding Tank’s long awaited fourth album, to be entitled “NOW OR NEVER,” scheduled for release later this year.

Born Durrell Babbs, Tank first attracted attention while working as one of Ginuwine’s backing vocalists. In 2001, the Los Angeles-based artist released his RIAA gold-certified debut album, “FORCE OF NATURE,” which included his first Top 10 R&B hit, “Maybe I Deserve.” The album was also his first to make a #1 debut on Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart (coming in this time at #7 on the overall Billboard 200).

The following year saw the release of Tank’s second album, “ONE MAN.” The single’s success saw Tank become one of R&B/hip-hop’s most in-demand producer/songwriter and he spent the next five years collaborating with such stars as Jamie Foxx, Monica, Omarion, Dave Hollister, Brian McKnight, Tyrese, Joe, and Marques Houston. What’s more, Tank served as an associate member of the hit-making production team, The Underdogs, with further credits including the smash soundtrack to the 2006 musical film adaptation of Dreamgirls (in which he also made a cameo).

In 2007, Tank returned to his stellar solo career with his third album, “SEX, LOVE & PAIN,” which debuted atop Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart, while also coming in at #2 on the main Billboard 200. The album’s first single, “Please Don’t Go,” proved equally successful, serving 15 weeks as the #1 single in urban radio, and reaching #2 on Billboard’s “R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.” Furthermore, Tank received his first solo Grammy Award nominations for both “Best R&B Album” and “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (celebrating “Please Don’t Go”).

Since then, Tank has lent his distinctive vocals to tracks by Kelly Rowland and his new Atlantic labelmate, Plies, while also continuing to help create hit records for an array of top artists, including Keri Hilson, Pleasure P, Omarion, Chris Brown, and Jamie Foxx.

http://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2010/06/22/tank-preps-atlantic-debut-now-or-never/

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