GENERATOR: July 2010

Welsh 'Empire State Of Mind' Parody Blows Up The Internet

When Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" found its way to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 last year, it opened itself up for something that every massive smash may have to deal with over the course of its chart life:

The parody. While the chart-topping team-up between Jigga and Alicia Keys didn't seem especially ripe for mockery, a number of songs and videos have come over the horizon in the past few months that have gently nudged the song and also made its pop culture footprint even bigger.

The latest "Empire State of Mind"-biting track to take over the Internet is "Newport State of Mind," a track put together by rapper Alex Warren, singer Terema Wainwright and filmmaker Morgan-Jane "MJ" Delaney. The tune pays tribute to the Welsh town of Newport, and even though many of the references will be totally alien to American audiences, that didn't stop "Newport State of Mind" from becoming a viral hit (if only to hear Wainwright croon like Keys in her charming Welsh accent). The full title is "Newport (Ymerodraeth State of Mind)" ("Ymerodraeth" is the Welsh word for "Empire").


It's the latest in a long line of parodies, some of which have been more successful than others. On the excellent end of that spectrum is "Galactic Empire State of Mind," an incredibly sharp parody that runs through the plots of the original "Star Wars" trilogy. It features Darth Vader in the Jay-Z role and Princess Leia taking the Alicia Keys portion. Dreamed up by the folks at College Humor, it contains rhymes like "Get me to Cloud City/ I got Lando on payroll" and "Hell, I made wearing black more famous than that Jay-Z can."

There's also "Newark State of Mind," which pays tribute to one of the country's least glamorous cities in a tongue-in-cheek way. (In the narrative, the rapper is forced to live there because he lost his job and had to move out of Brooklyn.) Also excellent: "Minnesota State of Mind," which doesn't contain the sharpest rapping but does have references to the Canadian border and big trees. And in case you can't get enough, check out "Huge Dork," which features chorus lines like "A huge dork. Every figure from 'Lord of the Rings'. They're still in their packaging/ You're such a huge dork. The big bad wolf used to frighten you. And now he's your tattoo." Clearly, this tune has legs.

Alicia Keys interview

Alicia Keys is pregnant and, she says, she's gone 'from steel to silk'. The multi-million selling singer - and vocalist on Jay-Z's mega-hit, Empire State of Mind - talks to Chrissy Iley

t’s midnight and there’s a bank of paparazzi in front of me surrounding Alicia Keys’ trailer like big buzzing flies. They jostle and push; they feel very threatening.

I’ve been waiting to interview her since 4.30pm. Now, eventually, I’m inside the trailer. It’s a symphony of fawn and beige leatherette; dark and dank with chunks of newly cut hair from Keys’ hairpiece on the floor. Keys and her hairstylist, assistant and several other hangers-on are holed up inside. She says, 'It’s like being in jail in here.’

Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart

Alicia Keys Splits With Manager

20 July, 2010 - NEW YORK (Billboard) - R&B singer Alicia Keys has parted ways with her manager, ending a decade-plus business partnership that began at the onset of the singer's career.

Keys and Jeff Robinson announced the news Friday in a joint statement, saying their split was "mutually agreed upon and amicable." Keys will now oversee her own career through her own company AK Worldwide.

Her latest album, "The Element of Freedom," has sold 1.4 million copies in the United States since last December, less than half the total for her 2007 release "As I Am."

Welsh Parody Of Alicia Keys Is An Online Hit

A parody of Alicia Keys' Empire State Of Mind which celebrates the South Wales city of Newport has become an internet sensation after celebrity endorsement.

More than 100,000 people have rushed to view the video tribute, less than 48 hours after it debuted online.

Twitter queen Lily Allen has labelled it "amazing".

Retweets of support from the likes of Rob Brydon and Claudia Winkelman have also helped to fire it to the top of YouTube's UK comedy chart.

The unashamed homage, which features impersonators of Alicia and rapper Jay-Z around shots of the town centre and attractions, has earned praise from the Czech Republic to India.

Alicia Keys Was Not Ripped Off By Former Manager

The New York Post wrote a story last week which claimed that Alicia Keys had been ripped off by her manager of 15 years, Jeff Robinson.

The paper's sources claimed that Robinsojn had been taking 25% commission and above 33% during the early stages of her career, when the norm is between 15 - 20%.

The source said: “Swizz Beatz definitely played a huge part in killing him off. She got smart — and got a smart boyfriend — after years of people around her telling her she was crazy to let this continue to happen.”

But apparently Keys's reps have said that the story has no truth in it. They said: “That story is 100% false. Jeff Robinson was like a father figure to Alicia Keys. They never had a contract. It was a huge deal because Jeff loves her like she was his own kid! This whole article reeks of damage control and its obvious. How can you rip someone off when you don’t have a contract and they can walk away whenever they want?”

According to NecoleBitchie.com her reps also pointed out that if he had been ripping Keys off she would have fired him way before 15 years.

Her fiance, producer Swizz Beatz, has also been blamed for the end of Robinson's relationship with Keys and has now assumed the role of her manager. But Swizz Beatz has denied this and said that the rumours are "not true".

Beatz said: “I don’t have time to fire anybody. I’m super busy working on a million things. People must accept change and move on.”

Check out our pictures of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz along with other celebrities at 11th Annual Art For Life Benefit...

Alicia Keys' BET Awards Performance Was 'Amazing'

It was one of the most talked-about moments of last week's BET Awards show. During a tribute to Prince, Alicia Keys sat at a piano bench singing "Adore." As the music seemed to be getting good — to Keys and the screaming Shrine auditorium crowd — the Grammy-winner, now barefoot, crawled up from the bench to the top of the baby grand. "They know you are my fix," the visibly pregnant Keys wailed.

The cameras caught every square inch of shock on Prince's face, as he and everyone else watched the still-graceful, but expecting Keys performing atop the keys. Prince then looked over smiling at A.K.'s fiancé, Swizz Beatz, also in the audience, with an expression that as if to say, "are you seeing this bruh?"

In New Orleans over the weekend, Swizz told MTV News he was just as surprised as viewers at the Shrine Auditorim (and at home) when Alicia scaled that piano. He said he had no idea she was going to do that.

"I didn't even see Prince looking at me at the awards," Swizz said. "But when I went back and seen the replay of the show, I was like, 'Man, he must have been in my head, thinking what I'm thinking.' 'Cause I'm like, 'Wow, that's crazy! She's taking it there.' But I thought it was amazing. I thought it was an honor and it was a blessing even to be in Prince's circumference of greatness. ... He is a great person and he's a great friend as well."

Keys performed at the Essence Music Festival over the weekend. She was one of the main headliners alongside Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson, who also performed on separate nights during the three-day festival. On Saturday, Keys' night, the singer slipped and fell during "Love Is Blind," but she recovered so quickly, without missing a single lyric, that it didn't matter to the crowd. Keys was on the ground only a couple of seconds and went on to continue a successful performance.

Pregnant Alicia Keys falls onstage at Essence Music Festival but baby is fine

A pregnant Alicia Keys left audience members gasping when she took a tumble this weekend while performing at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

While singing "Love is Blind" on Saturday, the Grammy-award winner stumbled backward and fell, landing on her behind.

Despite the audience's reponse, Keys didn't miss a beat. The 29-year-old singer got right back on her feet and continued singing, although she finished out the song at a nearby piano.

Both Keys and her unborn baby were unharmed, according to the Huffington Post.

The 2010 Essence Music Festival began on Friday and lasted for three days with performances by Janet Jackson, Monica, Estelle, LL Cool J and Trey Songz.

The event was one of the Keys' last gigs beforeshe takes her unofficial maternity leave, reported E! Online.

Keys announced her pregnancy and engagement to fiancé Swizz Beatz in May.

Alicia Keys Falls Flat Literally—in Concert

Let's call this reason no. 87 why pregnancy and stilettos don't mix.

While performing at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on Saturday, pregnant songbird Alicia Keys took a tumble onstage while singing—somewhat ironically—"Love Is Blind."

Keys was only down for a second before popping back up, but it didn't stop gasps emerging from her nervous fans. This hot mama-to-be has some kind of luck, though: She fell on her bootylicious backside, so mom and baby were both unharmed. Phew!

The event is one of the singer's final performances before taking an unofficial maternity leave from her career, while she awaits the arrival of her first child with fiancé Swizz Beatz.

Alicia Keys says her pregnancy is the most brilliant gift

The Empire State of Mind singer says impending motherhood has changed her, making her seek a more stable life.

The singer – who is five months pregnant with her first child by her fiance, music producer Swizz Beatz – is loving every aspect of her pregnancy so far.

She said: “Oh, I love children and I love family and I love that interaction. Because I had a really close relationship with my mother I understand that deep powerful love, and it's so beautiful. To be a mother to a child is the most brilliant gift, it's gorgeous.”

And The Empire State of Mind singer also revealed impending motherhood has changed her, making her seek a more stable life.

She added to The Daily Telegraph website: “I'm definitely in a place where I have a different sensibility about things. I remember how I used to be, ‘I'm going on the road and I'm back when I'm back and I'm probably gone a long time’.

“I felt that's what I needed to do and nothing could stop me. There was no amount of love – no amount of anything – that could drag me down. That was then. And now there is a desire in me to have more stability.”

Tinchy Stryder plans gig at Shepherd's Bush O2 Empire for Alicia Keys' charity Keep A Child Alive

Generous Mr Stryder is putting on a gig at the Shepherd's Bush O2 Empire this autumn to raise money for Alicia Keys' charity Keep A Child Alive.

he London rapper is rounding up his showbiz pals to support him at the gig on November 4. The Star In The Hood singer tells us: "The work that Alicia Keys and Keep A Child Alive do to help those suffering with HIV and Aids in Africa and India is inspiring.

"I hope that by donating the proceeds from this gig I can help further their work."

Alicia Keys is top wedding singer: Poll

2010-07-17 - Singer Alicia Keys has beaten the likes of Bon Jovi, Usher and Green Day by topping the charts of top wedding singers.

People were asked in a poll which singing superstar they would want to serenade them during their first dance, and more than a third of voters opted for the pregnant Grammy Award winner, dailystar.co.uk reports.

The 'No One' hit maker, who is busy planning her own wedding to fiance Swizz Beatz, claimed 35 percent of the votes, ahead of Taylor Swift with 22 percent.

Rock legend Bon Jovi came in third with 19 percent votes, ahead of Usher and Green Day.

Alicia Keys named ‘Dream Wedding Singer’

LONDON - Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys has been voted as the top wedding singer in an online poll.

A part of the survey, visitors to WENN.com were asked which singing superstar they’d want to serenade them during their first dance.

More than a third of voters opted for the pregnant the singer, who is busy planning her own wedding to fiance Swizz Beatz, reports the Daily Express.

Keys claimed 35 per cent of the vote, ahead of Taylor Swift with 22 per cent.

Rock legends Bon Jovi landed the third spot with 19 per cent, ahead of Usher and Green Day. (ANI)

Latest Mens Hairstyles 2010

Latest Mens Hairstyles

Alicia Keys Keeps It Classy and Simple at Essence Music Festival

Although the program was running almost an hour late and it was about 12:25 a.m. by the time Jada Pinkett Smith introduced Alicia Keys at her headlining concert, Keys still wowed the audience with hardly any visuals and special effects other than her personal talents.

Saturday night was the 16th Essence Music Festival, and Keys started her set powerfully with the ballad “Love is Blind” from her 2009 album The Element of Freedom.

Throughout the night, she alternated between different types of pianos and keyboards, at times including a baby grand piano and a strap-on electronic keyboard. The musician swept through her hits, including “Fallin’ Diary,” "No One” and “Till You See Me Smile,” USAToday.com reported.

Other singers that performed during the EMF included Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, Earth, Wind & Fire and Estelle.

Even with the company of talented musicians and performers, Keys was awarded with the biggest applause of the night when she included in her set “Empire State of Mind Part 2” against a video backdrop of the Manhattan skyline.

Alicia Keys: ‘Fame Almost Destroyed Me’

Alicia Keys has a voice so big her mother used to say it could "bust through bricks". But right now the New York diva is whispering.
She's talking about how loved up she is with her producer fiancé, Swizz Beatz, 31. And suddenly she's gone from streetwise, 12-Grammy-Award-winning performer into a coy, giggling girl.

"Oh yes," she says dreamily. "I am very much in love. Right now love is my main inspiration. Love is the one thing we all want in our lives and I am completely surrounded by it. Love fills you up in a way nothing else can and it's the most amazing, amazing thing."
It's the first time she's publicly spoken about her feelings for Swizz - real name Kasseem Dean. Until now, Alicia has been tight-lipped about her boyfriend, refusing even to confirm they were an item until last month.

Alicia Keys’ Fiance Owes IRS and New York $2.2M

Music producer and rapper Swizz Beatz is facing tax liens and warrants from the Internal Revenue Service and the state of New York totaling more than $2.2 million.

The 31-year-old DJ, whose real name is Kasseem Dean, recently became engaged to Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys, who is expecting their child in November. The IRS filed a tax lien against Beatz for $652,727 on June 3 in Rockland County, N.Y., according to the Detroit News. New York State also filed a tax warrant against him and his ex-wife, singer Mashona Tifrere, for $162,300 in February of last year.

Back in August 2008, the IRS filed a lien against him and Tifrere for $556,986 in Rockland County. Earlier that year, the IRS filed a tax lien against him and his ex for $842,645 in Somerset County, N.J.

Beatz’s attorney told The Boombox website that they have been negotiating an “amicable resolution of the dispute” with the government.

Beatz won an award from the Urban Music Awards last year as best producer. He comes from a musical background. His father founded Terrence Dean Entertainment Management and his uncles founded Ruff Ryders Records, where Beatz began producing tracks at the age of 16.

Alicia Keys even looks hot in maternity gear

Alicia Keys is clearly a yummy mummy in the making - she even makes maternity gear look sexy. The five-months-pregnant singer was the talk of the BET Awards in her purple satin mini-dress, which had been customised to accommodate her baby bump.

Alicia, 27, also looked sensational in the sparkly black fringed corset top and leggings by Dolce and Gabbana. She changed before she and Janelle Monae performed a tribute to Prince, who received a lifetimeachievement award. And she won Best Female R&B Artist and Best Collaboration for Empire State Of Mind with Jay-Z. Phew.

Alicia Keys & Rihanna Help Cancer-Stricken Broadway Star

Thursday July 08, 2010 - Shannon Tavarez was performing as the young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway when her legs mysteriously started to hurt. The pain made walking – not to mention dancing – difficult. In April came the devastating diagnosis: At age 11, she had an acute form of leukemia.

The news "really hit me hard," says Tavarez.

Her struggle also struck a chord with Alicia Keys and Rihanna. The singers, who both started their careers when they were young, decided to help get the word out that Tavarez needs a bone marrow transplant to live.

Keys says she was touched when she visited Tavarez on July 2 in the Long Island hospital where she receives daily chemotherapy treatments. "For her, the sky is the limit, but now she's fighting for her life," the mom-to-be, who is asking fans to become donors, tells PEOPLE.

Keys hopes Tavarez and other patients like her to have the chance to "grow up to live their dreams."

Rihanna seconds that sentiment. "[Tavarez] should be performing on Broadway, but is confined to her bed, fighting for her life," Rihanna tells PEOPLE. "She needs to find a bone marrow donor to survive. I urge all my fans to register [as donors]. It's the most beautiful thing someone could do, to give the gift of life."

Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz Bless Baby

Rapper-producer Swizz Beatz, who recently announced he’s expecting a baby with fiancée Alicia Keys, appeared on Good Day New York Tuesday, revealing that the newly-engaged couple received a blessing during their recent trip to South Africa last week.

“We were doing an event for Bobbi Bear under a special tree where a lot of kids who have been abused come to get special healing to have positive energy in their lives,” Swizz said.

“It turned into this ceremony that I didn’t know about. I felt like I was on Punk’d or something! But, yes we had a special blessing [for our child].”

The U.K.’s Daily Mail revealed that the traditional ceremony took place last Wednesday in Durban, on the country’s eastern coast, and was performed by the elder women in the community. Keys — donning traditional jewelry and a blue robe — and her unborn baby were both given Zulu names during the blessing ritual while standing under a fig tree, known as a healing tree to locals. Keys’ mother and brother were also present.

Alicia Keys: "Phenomenal" to Be Home in N.Y.

Alicia Keys has 12 Grammy awards, has sold 30 million recordings and has givenof Billboard magazine's Artist of the Decade award. He rushed to the scene in 2001 with his debut album, "Songs In A-Minor."

And on Friday, off key to "The Early Show" stage to sing songs from his new album, "The Elements of Freedom," and his hit song "Empire State of Mind (New York)."

New York residents told her friends Harry Prasetyo eager to appear on "The Early Show" - he knew great. He said, "I feel very diharga, very happy, and only at home and become, you know, just with my family, you know I feel phenomenal, phenomenal.?"

Smith said that the Keys, though was at the art so long, was highly dependent on who they are.

"I would attribute that to my mother," said Keys. "You know, he is a remarkable inspiration to me, and he, you know, he sure knows how, because I was a little girl, I just continued on my end, so I think it really loud., Just for, only to find out how you need empathy for others, you need to understand what is happening around you. This is important, you know, not so stuck in what's happening with you all the time, but look at what's happening in the world, see What happens to your neighbor, and I think that really strong foundation for my .. "