Jacques Webster, known professionally as Travis Scott is a rapper/songwriter from Houston TX. He began his career as a record producer and eventually entered  a partnership with friend Chris Holloway, with the two calling themselves The Graduates. In 2009, the duo released their first untitled EP on MySpace. In 2010, they joined OG Chess in a group they called The Classmates. In 2011, The Classmates released the albums “Buddy Rich” and “Cruising USA”, with Scott doing all the production work on both projects. In 2011, the group disbanded following some financial disputes. Scott was later befriended and helped by Mike Waxx, who owned a website called Illroots, whose purpose was to record and release music. He has since released the albums “Rodeo” (2015) and “Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight” (2016).

Solana Rowe, known professionally as SZA, is a singer/songwriter. She was born in ST. Louis MS and relocated to Maplewood New Jersey later. Her music has been described as neo soul with a mixture of hip hop, ,minimalist rap, cloud rap, ethereal R&B witch house and chillwave. She met the members of Top Dawg Entertainment in 2011 and was signed to the company in July 2013. She announced the released of her debut album recently.

Happy birthday

Singer/songwriter/producer/musician Harry Wayne “K.C.” Casey (KC & The Sunshine Band) 66

Remembering singer Marvin Junior (January 31, 1936-May 29, 2013-The Dells)

Haitian actor/director Jean-Claude LaMarre announced during an Instagram Live session that he plans to create a biopic on the legendary hip hop group The Fugees. According to ThatGrapeJuice.Net, LaMarre revealed that he’s in the beginning stages of the project, but will complete the project he’s currently working on, “Chocolate City 2 And Kinky”, which stars Vivica Fox, Dawn Richard and Robert Ri’Chard. The Fugees consisted of Lauryn Hill, Pras and Wyclef Jean. The group rose to prominence with the album “The Score.” The album went on to sell six million copies in the U.S., earn the group two Grammy awards and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The group disbanded, as relationships between the band members deteriorated. However, each  member went on to achieve individual commercial success. If the film is completed, it should be excellent. Congratulations to rapper/producer Pharrell Williams and his wife Helen Lasichanh are in order. The couple welcomed triplets this month. Vanity Fair revealed the news. A representative for Williams didn’t reveal the babies names or genders but stated that everyone is healthy and happy. The latest  trailer for Disney’s “Beauty & The Beast” premiered during last night’s airing of “The Bachelor”, giving fans a closer look at several scenes during Belle’s encounter with Gaston and her relationship with the Beast, all before the last peddle drops. Fans also got a first listen to John Legend and Ariana Grande’s duet of the classic song. The song, written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, was originally sung by actress Angela Lansbury. It was later recorded by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson for the film’s soundtrack and won an Academy Award,
Golden Globe and Grammy Award that year. In the remake of the film, Emma Watson stars as Belle, while Dan Stevens plays the Beast. Rounding out the cast is Ewan McGregor (Lumiere), Stanley Tucci (Cadenza), Audra McDonald, Ian McKellen, (Cogsworth) and Emma Thompson (Mrs. Potts). “Beauty & The Beast” will be released in theaters March 17, while the soundtrack will be released on March 10. Singer/songwriter Bruno Mars graces the cover of Latina magazine for the first time. Speaking from his favorite pizza shop in Los Angeles, the pop star discussed his mixed heritage, diverse musical influences and his late mother. The article is a revealing look at another side of the performer rarely seen and is  definitely worth a read.

Rappers Wale and Lil Wayne collaborate on this sparse, funky  track.

Singer/songwriter Faith Evans confirmed that the collaborative album between she and  her late husband, The Notorious B.I.G. will see the light of day this year. This is one of two tracks released via the internet.

Happy birthday

singer/songwriter/producer/musician William “Wak” King (The Commodores) 68

Singer/songwriter/producer/dancer Jody Watley 58

It appears that fans will see the collaborative album between singer Faith Evans and her late husband, rap legend the Notorious B.I.G., come to fruition this year. After mentioning the project in 2014, Evans confirmed the project in 2016. Now, two songs from the forthcoming project have hit the internet. The first being “”NYC”, which finds Evans doing the hook while a rare verse from B.I.G. blends over the track, which also features an appearance from rapper Jadakiss. The second song, which may be the first single, “When We Party”, features a west coast beat with a verse from Snoop Dogg, who trades verses with B.I.G.’s verse from “Going Back to Cali.” Evans told the Dame Dash Show last year that had B.I.G. been alive the couple would have completed the project. She added that using his vocals give the project new life and fans will enjoy it. However, there’s no official release date for the album. Producer Jermaine Dupri  recently previewed a snippet of Mariah Carey’s collaboration with rapper YG during last night’s episode of “Mariah’s World.” During the show, Carey was shown in the studio recording the breakup anthem with Dupri, who produced the track with Brian Michael Cox. Carey removed  her engagement ring, which has raised speculation that it’s a message to ex-fiancé James Packer. The show documents the couple’s split as well as Carey’s budding romance with dancer Bryan Tanaka. After signing with Epic Records, Carey is now preparing a follow up to 2014’s “I am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse.”

Rapper Tracy T collaborates with label boss Rick Ross and Pusha T. on this hard hitting track. The MC’s deliver bars regarding choices we all make.

Following the unveiling of legendary R&B group New Edition’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the airing of the BET miniseries “The New Edition Story”,  BBD released their first album in 16 years “Three Strikes” today. The above mentioned single, “I’m Betta” finds the group in several locations while performing the hard hitting track.