G-Magazine Now

RANKED: 50 Greatest #1 R&B/Hip-Hop Hits Of 2000-2009

This decade in music saw a healthy competition for the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop across all sub-genres of urban music.  From pop divas to R&B crooners and east coast emcees to southern-slanged rappers and in between, over 100 songs topped the aforementioned charts in urban music.  G-Magazine Now compiled a list of the 50 top-charting singles that changed the game, made lasting impressions upon listeners and deserved their spot at the top.  Check out the list below.

    

50. "I Remember" by Keyshia Cole (2007)

49. "A Milli" by Lil' Wayne (2008)

48. "So Sick" by Ne-Yo (2006)

47. "Foolish" by Ashani (2002)

46. "So Gone" by Monica (2003)

45. "Try Again" by Aaliyah (featuring Timbaland) (2000)

44. "I'm Real (remix)" by Jennifer Lopez (featuring Ja Rule) (2001)

43. "Oops (Oh My)" Tweet (featuring Missy Elliott) (2002)

42. "All For You" by Janet Jackson (2001)

41. "Always On Time" by Ja Rule (featuring Ashanti) (2002)

 

40. "Bootylicious" by Destiny's Child (2001)

39. "Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip-Hop)" by Erykah Badu (featuring Common) (2002)

38. "Low" by Flo-Rida (featuring T-Pain) (2008)

37. "He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton (2000)

36. "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child (2000)

35. "Live Your Life by T.I. (featuring Rihanna) (2008)

34. "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake (featuring Timbaland) (2006)

33. "S.O.S. (Rescue Me)" by Rihanna (2006)

32. "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys (2003)

31. "Let's Get Married" by Jagged Edge (2000)

 

30. "Need U Bad" by Jazmine Sullivan (2008)

29. "I Wish" by Carl Thomas (2000)

28. "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani (2005)

27. "Bag Lady" by Erykah Badu (2000)

26. "Stronger" by Kanye West (2007)

25. "Ms. Jackson" by OutKast (2000)

24. "Blame It" by Jamie Foxx (featuring T-Pain) (2009)

23. "Boom Boom Pow" by Black Eyed Peas (2009)

22. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" by Beyoncé (2008)

21. "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé (2007)

    

G-Magazine Now's Gifts For Celebrities

G-Magazine Now has created its own Christmas gift exchange party - celebrity edition.  G-Magazine Now has pulled the names of the following celebrities and has decided to give them gifts that come straight from the heart.

Jermaine Jackson: a bald fade (haircut); nicknames for his children

The Kardashians: talent; lady-like etiquette

Ray J: singing voice; attention

Tiger Woods: a Black woman, HIV test, an endorsement for Trojan condoms

Mariah Carey: maturity (in fashion and song selections)

Beyonce Knowles: honesty; real choreography; 18-month vacation from the entertainment industry 

Jay-Z: children (by Beyonce or a jump-off)

Rihanna: stage presence; a fashion line

Buffie The Body, Deelishus and other hip-hop video and magazine whores: gym membership; butt reduction; self esteem; class; self-respect

R. Kelly: female dates over the age of 25

Lil' Wayne (and all his baby mommas): HIV test and condoms

Lil' Wayne: drug rehab

Wendy Williams: a breast reduction

Sarah Palin: White Trash of the Decade trophy

Amy Winehouse: a bath, rabies shot, two-year rehab stint

Lady Gaga: corporate business attire

Whitney Houston: her old singing voice (circa 1987)

RANKED: 15 Hottest R&B & Hip-Hop Albums Of 2009

 

While many R&B and hip-hop albums were released in 2009, only a small handful made impressionable reactions from critics and fans.  While some artists experimented with new sounds and deep, personal lyrics, other perfected their genre in singing and composition.  Comprising of the finest in R&B, hip-hop and reggae, check out G-Magazine Now's top 15 albums of 2009.

 

15. Imperial Blaze by Sean Paul

a strong collection of the hottest sounds of dancehall reggae

14. Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel by Mariah Carey

a unapologetically youthful, edgier version of her classic 1997 Honey album

13. Love Vs. Money by The-Dream

a very polished, smooth southern R&B sophomore effort with hood love

12. The Ecstatic by Mos Def

an uncompromising east coast-flavored hip-hop album with one great rhyme after another

11. Man On The Moon: The End Of Day by Kid Cudi

one of the finest album debuts with Kanye West-inspired tracks and diverse subjects

 

10. Testimony: Vol: 2, Love & Politics by India.Arie

self-indulgent, self-loving, self-affirming and self-teaching collect of tunes at its best

 

9. Rated R by Rihanna

a genuine self-reflective work with an in-your-face, bad ass mentality

 

8. Turn Me Loose by Ledisi

once an underground R&B diva, now a commercially soulful starlet with even more sass

 

7. The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z

the hip-hop king's outstanding thesis on why he deserves keeping the crown

RANKED: Top 30 R&B & Hip-Hop Music Singles Of 2009

With so much good music released in 2009, G-Magazine Now compiled its list of the hottest music single in R&B and hip-hop.  The list has been based on the songs that has charted well, became favorites of G-Magazine Now, and reviewed well by fans, critics and bloggers.  Some of your favorite music artists including Ne-Yo, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Rihanna, Drake and Chrisette Michele have more than one song listed here.  See if your favorite tunes have made the cut

    

30. "The One" by Mary J. Blige

29. "Rockin' That Thang" by The-Dream

28. "Becky" by Plies

27. "If This Isn't Love" by Jennifer Hudson

26. "Successful" by Drake (featuring Trey Songz)

25. "So Beautiful" by Musiq Soulchild

24. "Turn My Swag On" by Soulja Boy Tell 'Em

23. "Doesn't Mean Anything" by Alicia Keys

22. "Live Your Life" by T.I. (featuring Rihanna)

21. "She Got Her Own" by Ne-Yo (featuring Jamie Foxx & Fabolous)

20. "Pretty Wings" by Maxwell

19. "Trust" by Keyshia Cole (featuring Monica)

18. "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" by Alicia Keys

17. "Blame It On Me" by Chrisette Michele

16. "Best I Ever Had" by Drake

15. "Epiphany (I'm Leaving)" by Chrisette Michele

14. "Regret" by Letoya (featuring Ludacris)

13. "Day 'N' Nite" by Kid Cudi

12. "Bad Habits" by Maxwell

11. "Heartless" by Kanye West

MUSIC VIDEO: "Hard" by Rihanna

Check out the Rihanna's music video for "Hard," the third single from her Rated R album.  In summary, she shuts down all her competition in the music video game and fashion department here.  This should make Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Britney Spears, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Brandy, Toni Braxton, Janet Jackson, Monica, Mya, Amerie, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, and whoever else really think outside the box in their future music videos and gives us fans an eyeful and not the predictable.  Well, Lady Gaga is the only pop diva that is still ahead of the music video game.

Enjoy!

Is Mariah Carey Back On Drugs? Check Out This Interview

Let's face it.  One of favorite pop divas, Mariah Carey, has gone bonkers and needs help -- mentally.  Her career steadily languishes as she continues to expose herself to be clowned by the bloggers, critics and fair-weathered fans.  The aforementioned are justified because we want to see the crazy pop singer be a sophisticated, singing diva the world grew to love through the early 90's and in 2005.  Instead, Ms. Carey-Cannon prefers to be an aging 39-year-old wearing unflattering outfits that look better on 18 year-olds and whispering throughout childish lyrics rather than belting out soulful tunes that her made the reigning pop queen for many years.

Check out this interview on "Live With Regis & Kelly" that took place yesterday.  There are many things wrong with this interview for Mariah.  First, with her worst selling album of her career continuing to be unnoticed, Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel got less than five seconds of promotion while its was overshadow by conversations about her 2008 marriage to Nick Cannon and her mini-performance on the critically acclaimed film Precious.  Apparently, the TV hosts were not interested in her music like the majority of the people that bought The Emancipation Of Mimi.  However, that was not the most startling situation in this interview.

Did Mariah answer questions as if she was inebriated or drugged up?  Also, what is up with her diction?  In her earlier days as a songwriter, Mariah used plenty of collegiate words in her lyrics effortlessly, yet in this interview, she mention how she "was like" every time she wanted to express herself in conversations with others.  This was no MTV interview as the target audience of "Regis" are baby boomers rather than teens.

When will Mariah learn that she will continue to fail when does not submit to the easy demands from her fans?

MUSIC VIDEO: "H.A.T.E. U" by Mariah Carey

R&B/pop megastar Mariah Carey released the music video to "H.A.T.E. U," the third single off her Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel album.  It is obvious that Mariah's creative genius and hit making days are far behind her in this video.  Visually, this one appears to be her most boring video ever.  With two beach scenes with Mariah showing off her body in different bathing suits, the songbird seems to be making a desperate attempt to land a cover photo on the next Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

When will Mariah learn to tone down her whimper-singing, oversexed image and bring back the singing, subtle sexy image that made her be the reigning pop diva during the majority of the past two decades?

Enjoy!

Mary J. Blige Album Cover Revealed

R&B queen Mary J. Blige's secret to maintaining A-list status in the music industry is growth.  With each album and single Blige has released, the maturation of the diva's style has ascended.  Check out the newly unveiled album cover for Stronger (With Each Tear).  Her ninth studio album boasts such a simple, yet strong, sophisticate photo of Blige.

This is one of the classiest album covers ever.  Hopefully, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Rihanna and Beyonce will follow suit.

Alicia Keys Duets With Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Jay-Z On New Album

 

R&B songstress Alicia Keys has unveiled the tracklisting of her upcoming The Element Of Freedom album, and the guest appearances look very impressive.  Only a true A-list musician would only duet with other A-list talent, impressive underground artists or artists signed to their own management.  Obviously, people cannot wait to hear the results from the songs with Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Jay-Z.

Perhaps the next album will include duets with Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Usher, Rihanna, Lauryn Hill, John Legend, Black Eyed Peas and Whitney Houston.  We could only dream.

Check out the song list below from The Element Of Freedom: 

1. "The Element of Freedom (Intro)"
2. "Love is Blind"
3. "Doesn't Mean Anything"
4. "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart"
5. "Wait Til They See My Smile"
6. "That's How Strong My Love Is"
7. "Unthinkable (I'm Ready)"
8. "Love is My Disease"
9. "Like the Sea"
10. "Put It In a Love Song" (featuring Beyoncé)
11. "This Bed"
12. "Distance and Time"
13. "More than Just Friends" (duet with Mariah Carey)
14. "How It Feels to Fly"
15. "Empire State of Mind (Part II)" (featuring Jay-Z)

MUSIC VIDEO: "I Want To Know What Love Is" by Mariah Carey

R&B/pop superstar Mariah Carey finally drops the new music video for the second single from her Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel album title "I Want To Know Love Is."  The video of the cover song, which was originally recorded by pop/rock Steve Perry and his band Foreigner, was shot in New York City by the ubiquitous Hype Williams.

"Love Is" is the classiest single Ms. Carey has released in a long time.  The video captures more of the emotion of the song and family bonding rather than the singer's skimpy, sexy image that Carey forces onto viewers.  Thus, a beautifully produced video was born.

Noticed a Black male couple featured frequently in the video?  That is a rarity among music video.  It is a surprise that Lady Gaga did not concoct that idea first.

Enjoy!

PREVIEW SONGS: Snoop Dogg | Toni Braxton | Mary J. Blige | Mariah Carey | Joss Stone

Listen to these recently leaked tunes by your favorite music artists by clicking onto the song titles.

"Gangsta Luv" by Snoop Dogg (featuring The-Dream)

"Yesterday" (remix) by Toni Braxton (featuring Trey Songz)

"Skycap" by Mary J. Blige

"Candy Bling" ("I Remember" remix) by Mariah Carey (featuring T-Pain)

"Governmentalist" by Joss Stone (featuring Nas)

PREVIEW SONGS: Mariah Carey | Keri Hilson | Slim | Omarion | Olivia

Check out these newly leaked songs from your favorite artists.

"Sky Diving" by Mariah Carey

"Heart Attack" by Keri Hilson

"Don't It Feel Good" by Slim (featuring Maino)

"I Get It In" by Omarion (featuring Gucci Mane)

"Take It Off" by Olivia

Enjoy!