Travis Barker celebrated the launch of his label DTA Records with the release of the single “Gimme Brain”, a collaboration with Lil Wayne and Rick Ross in December. Yesterday, the Blink-182 drummer returned with the Andrew Sandler directed music video. Barker takes viewers to a barren warehouse, where he’s banging on the drums with fluorescent lights flickering around him. A short time later, Wayne steps in with a Styrofoam cup in hand to deliver his verse, while pugnacious UFC fighter Nate Diaz makes a cameo appearance ready to brawl with anyone in his way. Ross invades the set with a highlighter-bright jacket, the same shade as the 2015 LaFerrari next to him, which is valued at $3 million. Trippie Redd also makes a cameo appearance before the clip comes to an end. Watch “Gimme Brain” below.

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Demario Dwayne White Jr., known professionally as Moneybagg Yo, is an American rapper/songwriter. In 2012, White released the mixtapes “From Da Block To Da Booth” and “October 20th.” In 2016, he released  three more, one of which won a Memphis Hip Hop Award for Mixtape of the Year. “Federal Reloaded”, a revision of the the first installment of the “Federal” series, featured special guest appearances by Y Grizzie, Young Dolph and OG Boo Dirty, among others. The followup, “E.L.O. (Everybody Lives On)”, included special guest appearances by Yo Gotti and Quavo of Migos. White collaborated with Yo Gotti once again on the joint effort, “2 Federal”, which was released in October 2016. “Heartless” was released in February 2017 and reached #177 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2018, White released the compilation album “Moneybagg Yo Presents: NLess Ent X Bread Gang.” On February 14, 2018, White released his sequel mixtape to “Heartless”, “Heartless 2.” In November 2018, White released his full length debut album “Reset.” His sophomore effort, “43va Heartless”, was released in May 2019, followed by “Time Served” in January 2020.

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Gabriella Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R., which is an ancronym for Having Everything Revealed, is a Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter. Before achieving notoriety as H.E.R., Wilson rose to fame by participating in Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing in 2009. Wilson was signed to RCA Records at age 14 and released the single “Something To Prove” under her real name. She re-emerged with a new persona in 2016 and released her debut EP “H.E.R. Vol. 1” on September 9, 2016. Her followup EP, “H.E.R. Vol. 2”, was released on June 16, 2017. The effort “I Used To Know Her” was released on August 30, 2019.

Happy Birthday

Singer/songwriter/producer/musician Harry “K.C.” Casey (K.C. & The Sunshine Band) 69

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

Tatiana Scott is a rising singer who isn’t a stranger to the stage. The New York City native attended the legendary fame school LaGuardia Arts, where she studied music. She’s performed at New York clubs Green Space and SOB’s as well. The single “IDCU (I Don’t Choose You)” is her first mainstream effort. A soulful, heartfelt moment of clarity, “IDCU (I Don’t Choose You)” is a song about the moment when you realize your worth and choose yourself over everything else. Tatiana received assistance from Venor Yard on guitar and Emmanuel Talton on piano. The track features string arrangements by Charlie Rosen. “IDCU” was recorded and mixed by Grammy award-winning engineer John Kilgore. Tatiana Scott serenades listeners while encouraging them to find strength in letting go. Scott wants her music to speak to the heart of  those who hear it. I’d say she’s off to a great start with “IDCU (I Don’t Choose You).” Following her spellbinding performance at the 62nd annual Grammy awards, R&B songstress H.E.R. returns with the single, “Sometimes.” On the offering, the Grammy nominated singer/songwriter fuses her beautiful tone with inspirational lyrics. “Sometimes” is the followup to H.E.R’s remix to “Slide”, her collaboration with Pop Smoke, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Chris Brown, released earlier this month.

PartyNextDoor needs time to finish his forthcoming album. After promising fans new music in January, he took to Twitter yesterday to let fans know that his next project will be released in February. The album, now titled “Partymobile”, was previously called “Club Atlantis” before the last minute change. “Partymobile” will be the followup to PartNextDoor’s 2016 effort. The Canadian crooner released the visual for the single “Loyal”, a collaboration with Drake in January.

Happy Birthday

Singer/songwriter/producer Jody Watley 61

Singer/songwriter/musician William King (The Commodores) 71

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Derrick Jones, known professionally as D-Nice, is an American DJ/beatboxer/rapper/producer/photographer from New York City. He began his career with the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions. Jones currently works as a DJ and photographer. He shot the covers for Carl Thomas’ 2007 album “So Much Better” and Pharoahe Monch’s 2011 album “W.A.R. (We Are Renegades).” He released the albums “Call Me D-Nice” (1990) and “To The Rescue” (1991).

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D Train was an American R&B duo that scored R&B hits on both the Billboard Dance and R&B charts during the first half of the 1980s. Three of their singles also reached the Top 30 on the UK Singles Chart. The group consisted of singer/songwriter James “D Train” Williams and keyboardist/producer Hubert Eaves. “You’re The One For Me” was released in late 1981 and reached number 1 on the US Hot Dance Club Play Chart that year. The song has been remixed and re-released on several occasions, and was covered by Paul Hardcastle with vocalist Kevin Henry in the United Kingdom. The duo’s self-titled debut album, which featured the “You’re The One For Me” title on the front cover, and eventually became known by that title, was released in 1982. Their sophomore effort, “Music”, was released in 1983. In 1984, D Train had its only Billboard Hot 100 entry with the single “Something’s On Your Mind”, which reached number 79. The song was covered by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. D Train disbanded in 1985. Following the dissolution of the group, James “D Train” Williams continued on with a successful solo career. D Train released the albums “You’re The One For Me” (1982), “Music” (1983) and “Something’s On Your Mind” (1984).

Sad news from the world of R&B. Singer/songwriter Thomassina “Toni” Smith, remembered for singing lead on the Tom Browne classic “Funkin For Jamaica”,  has died according to a post on her Facebook page. Although Smith largely worked behind the scenes, her impact on the music industry is undeniable. The Bronx, New York native initially came to the attention of music fans when she joined the vocal group The Crystals. A short time later, she met trumpet player Tom Browne, and they co-wrote “Funkin For Jamacia”, which became a smash around the world, topping the charts and elevating both in the music world, as they both simply tore the song up. The two worked together on several songs the next few years. With her beautiful voice, Smith became a sought-after background vocalist, working with Stephanie Mills and Jame Ingram among others. She also released several singles as a solo artist, but never achieved commercial success with those releases. Although she was largely unknown to the general public, she was revered by her peers. Ms. Smith left behind a musical legacy that will live on forever and will be missed. May she rest in peace.