Get ready for May 15th! Kanye West is coming to the Tweeter Center, located in Mansfield Massachusetts for his Glow in the Dark Tour directed by Larry Charles. The artist will be joined by popular R&B and pop singers Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D. This fabulous line consists of Grammy winners and top seller artists.
Recently, Kanye West has been getting media attention for his top selling album Graduation that includes three top hits: Stronger, Flashing Lights, and Good Life. He released his debut album, The College Dropout, in 2004, and his second album, Late Registration, in 2005. He is a nine time Grammy award winner and also runs his own record label GOOD Music. West's mascot and trademark is a teddy bear which has appeared on the covers of his three albums. He enrolled at Chicago State University but later dropped out to continue pursuing his music career, which is how he developed the name for his first album. In July 2007, West changed the release date of Graduation, from September 18, 2007, to the same release date as 50 Cent's album Curtis, September 11, 2007. 50 Cent later claimed that if Graduation were to sell more records than Curtis, he would stop releasing solo albums. In the end, 50 Cent ended this bet. The album has been certified double platinum, with guest appearances from T-Pain, Mos Def, & Lil Wayne.
Rihanna, a native from Barbados, is currently heating up the charts with her new album Good Girl Gone Bad, which hit stores June 5, 2007. The artist has recently changed her image from a sweet innocent teen, to a feisty, sex image. Her hit “Umbrella” became the number 1 hit single for ten consecutive weeks in the United Kingdom, and was played all summer on the radio in the United States. Rhianna has won many awards including World's Best-Selling Pop Female Artist & Entertainer of the Year at the 2007 World Music Awards, "Favorite Female Artist - R&B" at the 2007 American Music Awards. Her hit "Shut Up and Drive" won best R&B song at the 2008 People's Choice Award, while "Don't Stop the Music" won best international song at the 2008 NRJ Music Awards in France.
Lupe Fiasco is a Grammy-winning American Hip-hop artist, who is also the co-founder and vice-president of 1st & 15th Entertainment, a record label under Atlantic. Lupe is open about discussing his Islamic beliefs, and one of his musical influences happens to be Kanye West. Fiasco, a Grammy winner for the 2008 Best Urban/Alternative Performance ("Daydreamin' (feat Jill Scott)"), hasn’t been recognized for any other awards, however he’s been nominated for many. These nominations include BET Awards Best New Artist of 2007, Grammy Awards 2007, Best Rap Album: Food & Liquor, BET Hip Hop Awards 2007 for Hip-Hop CD of the Year (Food & Liquor) and Hip-Hop Video of the Year ("Kick Push”). His most recent hit song is “Superstar” from his 2007 album Lupe Fiasco's the Cool featuring Matthew Santos. “Superstar” was the first single off his album released September 25, 2007.
N.E.R.D. is an alternative rock band consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, and their friend Shay Haley. When asked what n.e.r.d. stood for, Pharrell Williams, the lead singer replied, “N.E.R.D stands for No One Ever Really Dies.” Their second album, Fly or Die, went on sale on March 22, 2004. The album went top 10 in the USA, featuring their hit single, “She wants to move.” Their most recent album, Seeing Sounds is due to be released June 10, 2008. The group is currently promoting it during their tour with Kanye West.
If you are anyone you’ll be at the concert Thursday, May 15th! We hope to see you there!
Read more!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Kanye West’s Glow in the Dark Tour
Monday, February 4, 2008
Zoey 101 to Pregnant Pop Star: Jamie Lynn Spears
Jamie Lynn Spears is 16 years old and has recently announced her pregnancy with her boyfriend, Casey Aldridge. She has decided to keep the baby and raise it with the help of her mother, Lynne Spears. Lynne was shocked when Jamie Lynn informed her of her pregnancy over Thanksgiving. Lynne has been quoted saying, "She's never late for her curfew. I was in shock. I mean, this is my 16-year-old baby." The pregnancy is not the only issue Jamie Lynn is facing. Her boyfriend, who is 19 years old, might be charged with a misdemeanor for having intercourse with someone under the legal age. Even with all of her struggles, Jamie Lynn seems optimistic about her mothering abilities, “I love babies, and I have my nephews that I love.”
Jamie Lynn has the power to influence adolescent girls all around the world through her popular television show. In fact, despite her pregnancy, she is still filming her hit Nickelodeon show, “Zoey 101”. This move proved controversial due to her current condition. Concerned parents everywhere have the same question: “What kind of message is this sending to young girls?”
Does Jamie Lynn stand behind her choices? Apparently she does, "I definitely don't think it's something you should do; it's better to wait," she says. "But I can't be judgmental because it's a position I put myself in." Concerned parents also ask, “Could this have been prevented through more effective sex education? Is it right to allow a 16 year old to raise a child?”
After asking Beaver kids, we learned that some students feel that we, at Beaver, do not have adequate sex education. “Our teachers fail to acknowledge that kids are sexually active,” stated one Beaver student. Although many students feel Beaver does not have the best sex education, they seem confident that they have the ability to make an informed decision. One student commented, “Jamie Lynn Spears is a bigger idiot than anyone else at our school.” Although students do not envy her position, they do feel sympathy for her, “I feel bad for her, and celebrities are under a lot of pressure.” Hopefully, Jamie Lynn Spears will be able to handle the paparazzi and a new born. We will just have to wait and see.
Read more!
