the chal banz blog

Any news is good news. Greetings! It seems as if many R&B singers are getting pink slips from their perspective music labels they record music for. The newest person reportedly dropped from their record label is Mario. We all know Mario from hits such as Let Me Love You and Just A Friend 2002 . Most recently the singer topped the charts with his hit single Somebody Else featuring Nicki Minaj. His follow up single Fatal Distraction barely got any radio play and it was a doozy in my opinion. Even the leaked songs from Mario's recording sessions were trash in my opinion. I like Mario and its unfortunate if he is indeed dropped from his record label, RCA Records. Mario's former label mate Chris Brown is back in the slammer! Now don't act too surprised by the news! I'm not even going to go into full detail about this as I only know so much of the story myself. We all know Chris was in rehab for the last few months. I actually thought he was doing good but we should...

Mario is back with a new single titled Fatal Distraction . It is the second single lifted off his new album Evolve due October 1. The album also features the hit single Somebody Else featuring Nicki Minaj(also recorded by Chris Brown). Mario's album was previously titled Restoration . You all ready for a new Mario album?

Looks like September is the next month where we will see a Super Tuesday. Tuesday being the day that new music releases are generally released. This is of course if the release dates stick. As far as R&B releases are concerned these release dates are subject to change. Still you can get an idea of what's to be released. One R&B singer that has been out of the limelight for awhile is Mario. Mario will release his new album on September 17. The working title has been Restoration though I'm not sure if that's still the title at press time. His current single Somebody Else featuring Nicki Minaj is bubbling under the Hot 100 charts. The video clip to the song is a little eerie if you ask me. You'd have to check it out to see what I mean if you haven't watched it already. I am glad Mario is back though. He is severely underrated and I feel he sings circles around his R&B counterparts. Another bites the dust. In the never ending saga of push backs Ashan...

Mario finally unveils the video for his new single Somebody Else featuring Nicki Minaj. This version of the video is not the best quality as you will notice. The video has a weird feel to it when I watched it. The song, wasn't my favorite at first has now grown on me. Mario's upcoming album should be released sometime later this year.

Mario takes viewers behind the scenes as he shoots the video to his new single Somebody Else featuring Nicki Minaj. The single appears on the upcoming Mario album due later this year.

Mario is back with a new album! The new untitled album is set to be released in September. The album's first single Somebody Else features Nicki Minaj. Ironically Chris Brown also recorded the song(which recently leaked out). Elsewhere on the new Mario album expect collaborations with Sevyn Streeter(song: I Like It ) and J. Cole. I like Mario and I think he is severely underrated. I'm still on the fence about the new single but maybe I'll warm up to it eventually. Congratulations are in order for Tamar Braxton and husband Vince Herbert. The singer/reality star just gave birth to a baby boy. It wasn't long ago when Tamar revealed her pregnancy which came as a shock to many. On her reality show she was looking for a surrogate Mother. Obviously Tamar had a change of heart. Tamar's album Love & War is due to be released in September.

Mario is back! The singer known for his hit Break Up recently revealed that he is releasing a new single entitled Somebody Else . The song features none other than Nicki Minaj and will be available on iTunes on May 21. Mark your calendars because May 21 is also the date you can purchase Kelly Rowland's new single Dirty Laundry on iTunes. The controversial and revealing track features Kelly spilling the beans on an abusive relationship and Beyonce. It's a must hear if you haven't heard it and radio has already jumped all over this song. Ashanti continues to tease us with song snippets and an ever changing release dates for her new album BraveHeart now due July 30. The album features the new single Never Should Have . In other music news... India.Arie will release her new album Songversation on June 25. Robin Thicke will release his new single 4 The Rest Of My Life on May 28.

Mario has been posting videos of himself in the studio as he meticulously works on his upcoming solo album; "Restoration" due to be released February 7. Look for that release date to change. Here, the singer samples songs from his upcoming album and takes viewers around his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. I like Mario as a singer and all but the songs I've heard thus far aren't really clicking. I'm not using him this era. His current single; "The Walls" is cool but it got old really fast. I do like the leaked track; "My Bed" but I don't think no one else did.

Mario takes us behind the scenes as he crafts a new song; "Dodge The Bullet" from his upcoming album "Restoration". Judging from the video; Mario is very passionate about this upcoming album and the song featured here. Mario's "Restoration" is slated to be in stores this February. ---------------- Now playing: Ralph Tresvant - Sensitivity via FoxyTunes

A new Mario single; "The Walls" featuring Fabolous has leaked out. I believe its the first single from his upcoming untitled album. The album is said to be due in either November or January. The song was written and produced by Rico Love(worked with Pleasure P). A few other Mario songs have leaked out in recent weeks. That seems to always be the case when Mario gets ready to release a new album. His songs just don't seem to not be leaked out. Dawn Richard of Dirty Money and Danity Kane fame will release her debut solo album; "GoldenHeart" this Fall. The album will be apart of a trilogy. No word yet on the official first single but songs over the year have leaked out. Who knows if any of those will surface onto her debut album.

Joe is returning to the music scene with his new album; "The Good, The Bad & The Sexy" in stores and online August 16. The first single is titled; "Almost There" which I haven't heard but I'm sure its out there somewhere for streaming and downloading purposes. I hear that Monica's new single will be released to us any day now and its produced by none other than friend; Missy Elliott who also reportedly appears on the song with Lil' Kim. Like I said that's the rumor but we will know for sure soon. Monica's upcoming album is titled; "New Life" which refers to her recent marriage to NBA star; Shannon Brown. Mario just leaked what is considered his first single; "My Bed" from his upcoming untitled album. There is no release date as of now. Early word on the single is that people are comparing it to Chris Brown's "Look At Me Now". Also another song from Mario has leaked entitled; "Bermuda". "Ber...

Ne-Yo is still apparently voicing his frustration over the failure of his album; "Libra Scale" which oddly enough I liked. He felt he was too hands on with the other creative sources and not the music. I mean I'm sure he's not happy with the album not selling as well as his previous ones but get over it now. You don't have to keep making excuses anymore. Just move on to the next album. In other Ne-Yo news he and his friend are expecting another baby together. Wonderful! Mario is returning to the music scene with his first single; "Falling Down". The single is produced by Rico Love(worked with Pleasure P). I don't have any info on his upcoming album but as you all know; I will let you know when that info becomes available. I like Mario and I think music could use him right now especially with the over saturation of Chris Brown and Trey Songz; no disrespect; just saying. Nicki Minaj is reportedly in the talks to be a judge on FOX's "X-Factor...

Kelis' latest video from her current album, "Flesh Tone" is "Scream" which when originally leaked months ago was titled, "Scream & Shout". I truly miss the Kelis who did "Bossy", "Milkshake" and songs like that. Hopefully she will come back. I'm not really feeling this side of Kelis. Music Biz: Mario Speaks On Recent Arrest! R&B singer Mario has reached out to fans to clear up reports surrounding his arrest last week for allegedly assaulting his mother, insisting he loves her "very much". "I love my mother very much," Mario tells Us Weekly, insisting that he isn't "allowed to comment" on his recent arrest. The "Break Up" star was taken into custody and charged with second degree assault on Friday, October 1 after his mother, Shawntia Hardaway, told authorities he had been damaging property at their home in Baltimore, Maryland and had reportedly shoved her with his hands. ...

Justin Timberlake is making a lot of noise right now and its not because of his music but his role in the new movie, "The Social Network". The movie is based on the beginnings of social networking site, facebook. It's been awhile since Justin Timberlake has put out an album and I see he's definitely not rushing it. Music Biz: Mario Arrested! Baltimore-born R&B singer Mario was arrested and charged early this morning after police responded to an altercation that involved his mother, according to court records and two law enforcement sources. There are few details at the moment, but court records show Mario - whose full name is Mario Dewar Bennett - is charged with one count of second-degree assault. Sources said they were called to the 900 block of Fell St. after the singer's mother called police. He was held on $50,000 bond by a District Court commissioner, which he posted and was released. A few years ago, the singer started a charity to help young ...

With all the blackballing Chris Brown has gotten in the last few months; its nice to know some artists are still in his corner. Friend Mario is enlisting Chris Brown for his next album. Read more below about that as well as stories on Kelis' latest performance and Drake's album tracklisting. Mario is working on his next album, an effort he says will likely be filled with electronic/house sounds and if time permits, a collaboration with Chris Brown. "Stay tuned. I just came back from Europe — it's crazy out there," Mario said earlier this week. "It was incredible to see how many people are into house music and R&B music, and how house music influences R&B nowadays. You know, [it has a] real strong presence ... over there." After collaborating with Sean Garrett and Gucci Mane on his last album, "D.N.A," Mario has his eye on working with embattled singer Chris Brown. Calling the collaboration one "for the ladies,...

Mario's "Go" was a departure from his previous albums since Mario became more grown up and more explicit. The explicit title track was produced by The Neptunes and is one of my personal favorites. There is a lot of star power here in the form of producers including Akon on "Do Right" and Timbaland on "No Definition"(another favorite of mine). The star power and Mario's consistency on this album was somewhat overlooked since the majority of this album leaked out nearly a year before it was released in stores. The constant push backs of this album didn't make matters any better. Mario did manage to crank out a few hits including another favorite; "Crying Out For Me" which always reminded me of an Usher song. The first single; "How Do I Breathe" never really took off. It was pretty much denounced as as "Let Me Love You" like retread. All in all this was one of the better albums of 2007 and though Mario didn't have...

I think this would make a good single for Mario but I'm not sure I knew it was actually a single. It is a shame that Mario's 'D.N.A.' album fell on dear ears; it is a good album. It was one of the few albums I actually bought this year. Yea I still buy them from time to time. Some people are saying this video looks a little soft porn-ish and much like Trey Songz' 'I Invented Sex'. What do you think?

Mario's 'D.N.A.' is one of the few albums I actually bought this year. One of my favorite songs from the album is 'Stranded' which has been chosen as Mario's third single. Second single, 'Thinkin About You' is on the charts but not exactly setting the charts on fire like 'Break Up' did. Let's hope 'Stranded' can do that because I'm sure this is Mario's last chance before they cut all promotion off with this album.

So the much talked about and much hyped new album from Timbaland, "Shock Value II" will be in stores November 24. There is a huge guest list of artists featured(or said to be featured) on this album including Keri Hilson, Jay-Z, and Nelly Furtado among others. Music Biz: Mario Sets New Billboard Record! The last time Mario saw the pinnacle of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart was in 2005. That's when "Let Me Love You"-from his 2004 second album, "Turning Point"-reached No. 1. Four years and two albums later, the Baltimore crooner finds himself close to reclaiming that zenith. This week, "Break Up" logs its 11th week at No. 2 on the tally. Featuring Sean Garrett and Gucci Mane, it's the lead single from Mario's fourth album, "D.N.A." Debuting this week at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, the J Records/RCA Music Group set was released Oct. 13. "Break Up" also gives Mar...